LOW VISION RESOURCES
WASHINGTON METRO AREA RESOURCES
The following is a list of local (Metropolitan Washington
DC) resources that may be useful. This list will be amended and updated
regularly to insure accuracy. As new resources are brought to OUTA Sight's
attention, they will be included in this list.
The goal is to organize this list in a clear and logical
fashion. There are six main categories (listed alphabetically) and entries
within each category are also listed alphabetically.
Here is an abbreviated version of this list:
AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS
ASSISTIVE PRODUCTS
LEISURE ACTIVITIES
SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS
SUPPORT GROUPS
TRANSPORTATION
AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS
Blinded Veterans Association
477 H Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 371-8880
Service organization for veterans which provides counseling and referrals
to field representatives of state of residence. Bulletins and brochures
bi-monthly.
Web address: www.bva.org
Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind
1120 20th St. NW #750 South
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 454-6400
Maryland Office: 6200 Baltimore Ave. #100
Riverdale, MD 20737
(240) 737-5100
Full-service rehabilitation program
Newsletter: "A New Outlook" published monthly
Web address: www.clb.org
DC Center for Independent Living
1400 Florida Ave, NE
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 388-0033
Provides low vision evaluation, eye care screening, older blind program,
independent living program, mobility training (training provided in home
or at center).
Web address: www.ilusa.com/links/ilcenters.htm
DC Rehabilitation Services
Administration
Visually Impaired Section
810 First St. NE 9th Floor
Washington, DC 20002
(202) 442-8628
Full-service rehabilitation program for DC residents
Web Address: www.dccare.org/spdcrsa.htm
ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia (ECNV)
3100 Clarendon Blvd
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 525-3462
Accommodates those of all challenges; offers peer counseling; advocacy
groups; social events
Monthly Newsletter
Web Address: www.ecnv.org
Foundation Fighting Blindness
11435 Cronhill Dr.
Owings Mills, Md 21117
(800) 683-5555
Research on inherited retinal degeneration; support groups nationwide;
physician referral
Newsletter: "The Fighting Blindness News" (research news)
Web Address: www.blindness.org
Internal Light
Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington
6125 Montrose Rd
Rockville, MD 20852
(301) 881-0100 ext. 6748
Contact person: Evelyn Saile
For visually impaired seniors in NW DC and suburban MD;
counseling for psychological impact of loss of vision; aids and appliances;
information on medical research
e-mail address: eval@starpower.net
Maryland Department of Rehabilitation
Contact Glenn DiCheira: Staff Specialist for Visual Impairment
(410) 554-9405
Will direct you to the appropriate local facility in Maryland
Full-service rehabilitation program
Prevention of Blindness Society
Macular Degeneration Network
1775 Church Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 234-1010
Macular Degeneration Network meetings
First Connection Share Group
Saturday mornings once a month
Sibley Memorial Hospital
Newsletter: "Your Eyes Today": List other lectures and share
group meetings for low vision seniors in MD and VA
Web Address: www.youreyes.org
Richard Hoover Services for Low Vision and Blindness
6569 N. Charles St. #505 PPW
Baltimore, MD 21204
(410) 828-2658
Low vision eye examination (exam covered by insurance); $75 for training
on optical devices.
Services for the
Visually Impaired
8720 Georgia Ave #210
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 589-0894
Braille training; in-home living skills training; computer classes;
recreation/social events
Web address: www.servicesvi.org
Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Social Work Services
Contact person: Lillian Kennedy
50 Irving St NW
Washington DC 20422
(202) 745-8621
Full-service rehabilitation program for veterans
Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision
Impaired
11150 Main Street #502
Fairfax, VA 22030
(703) 359-1100
Full-service rehabilitation program
Web address: www.vbbvi.org
ASSISTIVE PRODUCTS
American Printing House for the Blind, Inc. (APH)
1839 Frankfort Ave
Louisville, KY 40206
1-800-223-1939
Mail order catalog of accessible books and educational materials for all
ages
Web address: www.aph.org
AssisTech, Inc.
8639-B 16Th Street, #258
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(240) 447-2151
Fax: 240-331-8775
Demonstration, sales and training of assistive technology
New and used equipment
Email address: edevincenzi@earthlink.net
Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind Visionary Shop
1120 20th St, NW Mall Level
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 454-6490
Visit in person and see a variety of products for the visually challenged
Web address: www.clb.org
Lighthouse International
111 East 59th Street
New York City, NY 10022-1202
1-800-829-0500
Mail-order catalog of products that "make life easier"; assistive
devices
Web address: www.lighthouse.org
Low Vision Information Center (LVIC)
7701 Woodmont Ave #302
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 951-4444
Call and make an appointment for a hands-on demonstrations of a variety
of low vision aids in a home-like environment; sells some smaller items
Monthly newsletter: Vistas
Web address: www.lowvisioninfo.org
Services
for the Visually Impaired White Cane Store
8720 Georgia Ave, #210
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 589-0894
Visit in person and see a variety of aids for the visually impaired;
SVI also provides a display of selected items at the Ballston Commons
Commuter Store in the Ballston Commons Mall in Arlington, VA on 2nd Sat.
of the month, 11am-4pm and 3rd Friday of the month from 11am-2pm
Web address: www.servicesvi.org
LEISURE ACTIVITIES
Audio-description Theaters: A number of local theaters offer audio-description
of stage productions for those who are visually challenged. How this works
is that a visually challenged person is provided with an earphone to be
placed on one ear. Through this earphone, one will hear a running commentary
on what the stage looks like, the scenery changes, characters as they
enter the stage, action that is taking place on stage, etc. These commentaries
are done in such a way as not to interfere with the dialogue occurring
on stage. This is a true enhancement to theater lovers who have difficulty
seeing the action and recognizing characters on stage.
You may call these local theaters to find out when their
audio-descriptor performances are and also to get on a mailing list of
future performances.
Arena Stage: (202) 488-3300 (option #4)
1101 6th St. SW
Washington, DC
Kennedy Center: 202-416-8528
2700 F St NW
Washington, DC
National Theatre: 202-628-6161
Specific Sunday matinee performances
1321 Penn Ave NW
Washington, DC
Shakespeare Theatre 202-547-1122
450 7th St. NW
Washington, DC
Services
for the Visually Impaired - Monthly Recreation Activities
8720 Georgia Ave #210
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 589-0894
Talking Books
Library of Congress
Washington, DC
1-800-424-8567 (option 4: reference)
202-707-9275 (local direct line to reference)
Will provide phone number of facility that handles Talking Books in your
area.
OR you can call your local public library for information on Talking Books
Special Tours at Local Attractions:
Kennedy Center
Touch Tours
(202) 416-8528
Smithsonian Institution
Accessible Exhibits
(202) 786-2942
United States Capitol
Senate Special Services
Accessible Tours and Large Print Information
(202) 224-4048
Washington Ear
35 University Blvd East
Silver Spring MD 20901
(301) 681-6636
Radio receiver; telephone dial-in newspaper and magazine service
SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS
Capitol YMCA Project Venture
Saturday program for differently-challenged individuals to learn how to
use different workout equipment and facilities
Contact: Shirley Gillespie (301) 248-2681
Capitol Area Rail Blazers CARB (bowling)
Tuesdays, 6:45 PM (Sept - April)
Local Chapter of the American Blind Bowling Assoc (ABBA)
US Bowling
100 South Picket Street
Alexandria, VA 22304
Contact persons: Richard Benham (703) 451-5372
Disabled Sports USA
451 Hungerford Drive, #100
Rockville, MD 20850
(301) 217-0960
Web address: www.dsusa.org
Magazine: Challenge (3 issues per year)
US Association of Blind Athletes (USABA)
33 North Institute Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Provides recreational opportunities for people visually challenged
Publishes magazine: USABA
Web address: www.usaba.org
e-mail address: media@usaba.org
SUPPORT GROUPS
American Council
for the Blind
Monthly magazine: Braille Forum (in braille, large promt, cassette, cd-rom
and direct e-mail)
(202) 467-5081
DC Council of the Blind (local affiliate)
Offers local support groups for specific categories such as lawyers
For information, leave msg. For Oral Miller (same #,ask for his voice
mail)
DimView
Martha Washington Library, Alexandria, VA
1st Saturday: 10am - noon;
Little River Glen Senior Center, Fairfax, VA
2nd Friday, 10am - noon;
Contact: Fairfax Access Services (703) 324-8380
Independence and Information for the Blind and Visually
Impaired (IIP)
First United Methodist Church
6201 Belcrest Rd
Hyattsville, MD 20782
Meets 1st Thursday of month; 10am-2pm
Contact: Gloria Garrett (301) 248-5044
Internal Light for Senior Adults with Low Vision
Jewish Community Center,
6125 Montrose Rd.
Rockville, MD
3rd Thursday at 10am;
Gaithersburg Senior Center
80A Bureau Dr.
Gaithersburg, MD
2nd and 4th Mondays 12:30 - 1:45pm;
Contact person: Evelyn Saile 301-881-0100 Ext. 6748
Low Vision Support Group
(For employed and employment seeking individuals)
Jewish Community Center
6125 Montrose Rd.
Rockville MD
4th Tuesday of month 7 -8:30pm
Contact: Anita Cohen 301-299-7077
Macular Degeneration Network
Sibley Hospital
5255 Loughboro Rd.
Washington, DC
Meetings one Saturday a month;
Holiday Park
Silver Spring MD
3rd Wednesday, 1:15-3 PM;
Fairfax Co. Government Center
Fairfax, VA
(Time and Date varies)
Friendship Heights Community Center
Chevy Chase, MD
4th Tuesday, 11 AM - 2 PM
Contact: Prevention of Blindness Society (202) 234-1010
National Capitol Citizens with Low Vision (NCCLV)
Cleveland Park Library
3310 Connecticut Ave, NW
Washington, DC
4th Tuesday of month 6:45-8pm
Email address: ncclv@yahoo.com
Contact: Barbara (703) 645-8716
NOVA Northern Virginia Council for the Blind and Visually
Impaired
1st Thursday of month 5pm dinner, 7-8:30pm meeting at
Summers Restaurant
1502 N. Courthouse Rd (corner of Wilson Blvd)
Arlington, VA
Contact: Billie Jean Keith (703) 528-4455
VIP Support Group
Reston Regional Library
Reston, VA
1st Friday of month 2-4pm;
Patrick Henry Library
Vienna, VA
3rd Thursday of month 10:30am - 12:30pm;
Contact: Fairfax County Public Library Access Services
(703) 324-8380
TRANSPORTATION
Metro Bus/Rail Information
(202) 637-7000
You provide address of where you are leaving from and where you are going
to, and they will provide you with the most direct public transportation
route with times. If you tell them what time you want to arrive at destination,
they will tell you what time to start out.
MetroAccess
Accessible Transportation
Requires application and approval
Can reserve trips within specific travel area (generally within Washington
Metropolitan area) on 1-day reservation and/or regular daily schedule.
(301) 562-5360
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