Blindness Resources
In our efforts to provide Blindness-related sites that are ADA compliant and universally accessible, we realize that some of the resources listed below do not follow standardized web guidelines. We will, however, continue to carry the links because they have within them what we consider valuable content to those seeking information on Blindness.
Able Data
ABLEDATA is a federally funded project whose primary mission is to provide information on assistive technology and rehabilitation equipment available from domestic and international sources to consumers, organizations, professionals, and caregivers within the United States. The ABLEDATA database contains information on more than 30,000 assistive technology products (over 20,000 of which are currently available); detailed descriptions of each product including price and company information; and information on non-commercial prototypes, customized and one-of-a-kind products, and do-it-yourself designs. Note: ABLEDATA does not produce, distribute or sell any of the products listed on the database, but they will provide you with information on how to contact manufacturers or distributors of these products. They also do not produce any type of catalog.
URL: http://www.abledata.com/
Advance Corporation Braille-Tac Division
The Advance Corporation Braille-Tac Division manufactures architecturally designed interior/exterior way-finding sign systems using standard and custom ADA compliant signs.
URL: http://www.advancecorp.com/brailletac/
AgingEye Digest
Aging Eye Digest, published by the University of Illinois Eye & Ear Infirmary Physicians, is an online aging eye journal that provides free access to current medical information and future research and development on diseases that may cause low vision and blindness in the elderly. Current information on potentially blinding diseases like cataract, glaucoma, dry eyes and macular degeneration.
URL: http://www.agingeye.net/
All About Vision - Low Vision Information Guide
The Low Vision Guide from All About Vision aids in vision correction, exploring contact lenses, eyeglasses and laser surgery, as well as occupational disfunction correction such as computer screen magnifiers and screen display software.
Also locate doctors and learn about eye diseases and conditions.
URL: http://www.allaboutvision.com/lowvision/
American Academy of Ophthalmology
On the American Academy of Ophthalmology website read about the professional associations of ophthalmologists, find a doctor, and learn about eye problems.
URL: http://www.aao.org/
American Council of the Blind
One of the most ADA compliant and accessible sites online, the American Council of the Blind serves as a representative national organization of blind people, offering resources on emergency evacuation and disaster preparedness. Also includes ACB radio station, job bank, braille forum and announcements from Washington.
URL: http://www.acb.org/
American Foundation for the Blind
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is a U.S. nonprofit organization enabling blind or visually impaired people to achieve equality and access. Provides information and referrals about living with visual impairment. Helen Keller devoted over 40 years of her life to AFB. Includes abstracts from their monthly journal and well as links to newsletters, press releases, and FAQs on blindness and on the Foundation.
URL: http://www.afb.org/
American Optometric Association
With American Optometric Association online, find tips on how to keep healthy eyes healthy. Separate sections for Doctors, Patients, Media and Hispanics.
URL: http://www.aoa.org/
American Physical Therapy Association
The American Physical Therapy Association offers lists of publications of interest, research, advocacy and education to parents and educators of handicapped children
URL: http://www.apta.org/
Blind Golf
As of this writing, the Blind Golf site is poorly designed and sadly ADA incompliant, which is difficult for those with impared site and people using screen readers or other software that allows them access to the site. Included in the depths of all the unnecessary code are resources that provide links to blind golf associations in Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia. Includes the Midnight Golfer newsletter.
URL: http://www.blindgolf.com/
A Blind Net
Another horribly designed website, Blind Net seems more a place to educate the sighted as to the reality of the blind than a disability resource. In their defense, the site offers lists of support organizations and an index of companies offering products and services for the blind. The one major broken link is "other resources," so don't bother being disappointed twice.
URL: http://www.blind.net/blindind.htm
Blindness Related Resources
Blindness Related Resources connects to an extensive list of sites for the blind and deaf, blindness related organizations, assistive technology resources, legal resources, product services and much more.
URL: http://www.hicom.net/~oedipus/blind.html
Blindness Resource Center
The Blindness Resource Center contains information on blindness including history of braille, university programs, vendors. Covers eye diseases and details the latest research.
URL: http://www.nyise.org/blind.htm
Disability Resources Monthly
Disability Resources Monthly (DRM) is a web resource focused on disability issues. Includes publications, software, videos and databases.
URL: http://www.disabilityresources.org/
Duxbury Systems - Worldwide Braille Translation Leader
Along with their Braille Translation Software, Duxbury Systems offers products, support techs, discussion groups, resources on braille and blindness, web sites, vendors and more.
URL: http://www.duxburysystems.com/
Erickson Labs Northwest
Scleral Cover Shells, Artificial Eyes and Custom Ocular Prosthetics
In addition to providing Custom Ocular Prosthetics, Erickson Labs Northwest also describes their prosthetics and how they are made, directions for their use, and lists products available for artificial eyes.
URL: http://www.ericksonlabs.com/
Eye Care Source
Eye Care Source provides resources and information about Vision, Eye Care, Contacts, Eyeglasses, and much more for eye care professionals, visitors, or anyone to research through and find information easily.
URL: http://www.eyecaresource.com/
Family Village - Blindness and Visual Impairments
The Family Village - Blindness and Visual Impairments is an exhaustive resource of networking sites that offer details for support services, a collection of chat rooms and mailing lists, and links to medical sources.
URL: http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu/lib_blnd.htm
Guide Dogs for the Blind
Guide Dogs for the Blind is a non-profit organization that provides guide dogs and training in their use to visually impaired people. Includes breeding, kennel and veterinary care, locations, events etc.
URL: http://www.guidedogs.com/
Housing & Mortgages for People with Disabilities
Although provided by a mortgage company (we are phasing out our links to sales sites) Housing & Mortgages for People with Disabilities by Mortgage Loan is a comprehensive information sheet on home buying for the disabled. Includes tips on the process of buying a house, terminology and financial assistance.
URL: http://www.mortgageloan.com/disabilities/
The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research - TIRR Memorial Hermann
Continually recognized as one of America's Best Hospitals, The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research - TIRR Memorial Hermann is considered a national leader in medical rehabilitation and research. Sets the standard as a teaching hospital for Baylor College of Medicine and The University of Texas Medical School at Houston. Rehabilitation services for catastrophically impaired individuals, constant care and medical services.
URL: http://www.memorialhermann.org/locations/tirr/default.aspx
Judo for Blind Athletes
Judo for Blind Athletes is a listing of Judo resources for the blind, including coaching tips, rules, and links.
URL: http://judoinfo.com/usaba.htm
LASIK FYI
Lasik Information from the DocShop offers information on laser vision correction and a directory of nationally recognized LASIK surgeons.
URL: http://www.docshop.com/education/vision/refractive/lasik/
Lighthouse International
The Lighthouse International has delivered information and resources on education, research and low vision for over a century. Find links to the Lighthouse Education Center and the Lighthouse Rehabilitation Center.
URL: http://www.lighthouse.org/
Low Vision Research Group Network
The Low Vision Research Group presents recent and ongoing research on low vision, as well as discussion groups, answers to FAQs, and resourceful sites.
URL: http://www.varrd.emory.edu/LVRGNet/index.htm
The Mayo Clinic
The nationally renown Mayo Clinic provides "Reliable Information for a Healthier Life" including large sections on nutrition, weight loss programs and advice, and fitness.
URL: http://www.mayoclinic.com/
MaxiAids
MaxiAids offers products for independent living, including low vision watches, talking clocks, bathroom aids, cooking products, and many others that help those living with vision and other disabilities. Though we are eliminating most sales sites, this is a distributor that caters universally to those with special needs.
URL: http://www.maxiaids.com/
Medem - Healthcare Network, Medical Resource
Medem is the premier physician practice communications network, focusing on secure, HIPAA-compliant physician-patient communication patient care & communication. Browse through an extensive medical library of patient education information, provided by medical societies and other reliable sources.
URL: http://www.medem.com/
Microphthalmia and Anophthalmia in Children Society
Microphthalmia and Anophthalmia in Children Society: Discovering your child is born with Anophthalmia, Microphthalmia or Coloboma can be a devastating experience. The group aims to offer emotional and practical support from parents who have been through similar experiences.
URL: http://www.macs.org.uk/
Mississippi State University Rehabilitation and Research Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision
The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision (RRTC) has a mission to enhance employment and independent living outcomes for individuals who are blind
or visually impaired through research, training, education, and dissemination.
URL: http://www.blind.msstate.edu/
NABA
The Northeastern Association of Blindness at Albany (NABA) contains a helpful list of agencies serving the blind in New York State.
The National Eye Institute (part of National Institute for Health)
The National Eye Institute is an organization supporting over 80% of eye research in the US. Find details about current research, publications, grant info, plus keyword search.
URL: http://www.nei.nih.gov/
National Industries for the Blind
National Industries for the Blind is a nonprofit organization provides vocational training and employment to the visually impaired. Find programs and contact details.
URL: http://www.nib.org/
National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation (NOAH)
National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation (NOAH) provides forum for questions and answers, event schedules. Lists topical publications.
URL: http://www.albinism.org/
National Organization for Rare Disorders
The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) offers this clearinghouse of info on rare diseases, including genetic metabolic disorders and birth defects.
URL: http://www.rarediseases.org/
Online Center for Biotechnology Information, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man search site
OMIM, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, a database of human genes and genetic disorders developed by staff at Johns Hopkins and hosted on the Web by NCBI.
URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?db=omim&TabCmd=Limits
Pacer
Pacer provides assistance to individuals and families. Includes workshops and materials for parents, professionals and leadership in securing free and appropriate education for all children.
URL: http://www.pacer.org/
The Puppy Place
The go-to resource on seeing-eye dogs, The Puppy Place is devoted to promoting Seeing Eye and Guide Dog programs and schools located throughout the United States. Includes training tips and FAQ.
URL: http://thepuppyplace.org/
Surgical Eye Expeditions
Surgical Eye Expeditions (SEE) International is a non-profit humanitarian organization that provides medical, surgical and educational services by volunteer ophthalmic surgeons with the primary objective of restoring sight to disadvantaged blind individuals worldwide.
URL: http://www.seeintl.org/
Texas Commission for the Blind
DAR's Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a state agency that aids the blind and visually impaired in obtaining quality jobs and live independently. Includes programs, policies, laws, reports, news, links and more.
URL: http://www.dars.state.tx.us/dbs/index.shtml
Texas Optometric Association
Use the Texas Optometric Association website to find out about eye care news, career information and Q&As. Includes information on membership.
URL: http://www.texasoptometricassoc.org/
University of Houston College of Optometry
The University of Houston College of Optometry contains information for prospective students, current students, alumni visitors, and includes quick links to the university eye institute, continuing education, admissions, academic programs, faculty and research research centers, library, and publications.
URL: http://www.opt.uh.edu/
Wilmer Eye Institute's Information Source at Johns Hopkins
The Wilmer Eye Institute's Information Source at Johns Hopkins is an exhaustive resource of information regarding the care and prevention of eye ailments. Includes information on clinical services, education, and research.
URL: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/wilmer/
