State agencies help the visually impaired
- posted: Jun. 10, 2022
- Macular degeneration, Stargardt Disease, Albinism, Bioptic telescopic glasses, Microscopic glasses, Bioptic glasses for driving, Low vision specialist, low vision doctor, Legal blindness, Hemianopsia, Diabetic Retinpathy, low vision doctor near me, low vision glasses Roanoke, low vision glasses Harrisonburg, Low vision glasses Charlottesville, low vision glasses Richmond, low vision doctor Roanoke, Low vision doctor Harrisonburg, Low vision doctor Charlottesville, low vision doctor Richmond, Low vision doctor Blacksburg, Low vision glasses Blacksburg
This morning I’m quite disappointed with some of my optometric and ophthalmology colleagues. I need to get something off my chest.
In the past two days I have helped two young people with Stargardt Disease. One is about to enter graduate school and is asking for my help with seeing the front of the classroom as well as taking notes and reading material on her desk. The other, an energetic boy nine years old, told me with a smile on his face that he is the only one in his family who is legally blind. Both of them have been seen by several optometrists and ophthalmologists and are being followed (monitored) by retinal specialists. I will be able to help them with telescopic glasses and other devices.
Because they are both students they are eligible for help from Virginia Department for the Visually Impaired, a state agency. The DBVI will probably pay for some of the things that will help them function better in school. Neither had been referred to the DBVI by the many previous eye doctors. Help is available but no one told them about it. I hear this from patients way too often. That is very disappointing to me. It’s not hard to do and can make a tremendous difference to the visually impaired person. I have given them contact information so they can begin the process that will lead to assistance from the state.
For your information here are the agencies and their phone numbers for Virginia and surrounding states. Give your state’s agency for the visually impaired a call. They are there to help you and will guide you through the process. Good Luck.
Virginia Department for the Blind and Visually Impaired
800 622-2155
West Virginia Division for Rehabilitation Services
304 356-2060
Tennessee Blind and Visually Impaired Services
800 628-7818
North Carolina Division of Services for the Blind
800 422-1881
Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services, Office for Blind Services
888 554-0334
Visit our Office
Call for free telephone consultation
