Our Services

Each year, the Commission for the Blind helps hundreds of people who are legally blind find or maintain employment or remain independent within their homes and communities. The commission accomplishes this by providing many valuable services, including:

Employment

Vocational Rehabilitation Services assist eligible consumers with finding, maintaining, or regaining employment. Our Business Enterprise Program helps qualified individuals become entrepreneurs and operate their own vending or food service business. Business Services assist consumers with finding work-based training opportunities, and businesses with finding talented individuals to meet their workforce needs.

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Independence

Children’s Services assist children ages 3 to 12, ensuring they have assistive technology available at home and in school, and with building confidence and self-sufficiency from an early age. Older Blind Services assist those 55 and older in remaining independent within their homes and communities by providing specialized training and low vision devices.

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Prevention

We provide education on Prevention of Blindness and eye safety around the state, and financial assistance for sight-saving surgeries for individuals who otherwise could not afford it.

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Eligibility

A person may be eligible for services if they have a vision impairment that affects their daily activities at work, school, or home. For most services, a person must meet one of the following conditions:

  • Meet the legal definition of blindness:
    • Have a central visual acuity of 20/200 in the better eye even with the best corrective lens (they see at 20 feet what a person without a visual impairment would see at 200 feet), OR
    • Have a visual field of 20 degrees or less (they see objects within 20 degrees of the direction they are facing while a person without a visual impairment would see objects within 180 degrees).
  • Have a progressive visual condition that will result in legal blindness.
  • Legal blindness or a visual disability must be verified by an eye examination that is current within one year.

Individualized services

Since no two individuals are alike, we work with you to provide a personalized experience. We ensure your concerns are addressed and together we create an individualized plan designed to meet your needs and help you achieve your goals.