For the Newly Blind or Visually Impaired
If this is your introduction to being visually impaired or blind, welcome to the many resources available for you. You still have all of your resources, knowledge and experience you have ever had except--that your vision is diminished. You will learn techniques and acquire devices that will help you in your adjustment to a new environment. In one sense you are like an immigrant to a new land, except that you don't have to learn English or the customs of the country.
The fact that you are able to read this information means that you have the where-with-all to have access to the rich information on the web. There are others just like you who are starting the journey, well on their way, or have made the successful adjustment to their new condition.
Let us start. First, here are the resources available in San Mateo County, and nearby .
Center for Independence of the Disabled, Inc. (CID)
1515 S. EI Camino Real, Suite 400
San Mateo, CA 94402
Phone: 650-645-1780
e-mail: [email protected]
also
355 Gellert Blvd., Suite 256, Daly City, CA 94015
Phone: 650-991-5124
Source of counseling, living skills and referrals.
California State Department
of Rehabilitation
1500 Fashion Island Boulevard Suite 104, San Mateo, CA 94404-1576
Phone: 650-358-4180
e-mail:[email protected]
Should be your starting pont in getting services and assistive technology.
Santa Clara Valley Blind Center, Inc.
101 North Bascom Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128
Phone: 408-295-4016
e-mail:[email protected]
Has low vision devices, teaches daily living skills, computer training, braille
materials, social as well as recreational activities.
National
Association for Visually Handicapped
3201 Balboa Street, San Francisco, CA 94121
Phone: 415-221-3201
e-mail: [email protected]
Low vision support groups, education,
library, and recreation
VISTA Center
for the Blind and Visually Impaired
2470 El Camino Real, Suite 107, Palo Alto, CA 94306
Phone: 650-858-0202
e-mail: [email protected]
Support groups, training in daily living skills, orientation and mobility, computer
training, job placement, low vision exams and devices.
Prevent Blindness Northern
California
4200 California Street, Suite 101, San Francisco, CA 94118-1367
Phone: 415-387-0934
e-mail: [email protected]
Ask for their excellent booklet of resources, Coping with Sight
Loss in Northern California.
Rose Resnick Lighthouse
for the Blind and Visually Impaired
214 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: 415-431-1481
e-mail: [email protected]
Low vision devices, support groups, daily living skills, orientation and mobility,
computer classes, and the Enchanted Hills Camp.
Veterans
Administration: Western Blind Rehabilitation Center
Building 48, 3801 Miranda Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304
Phone 650-493-5000 ext. 64361
e-mail: William.Ekstrom@med.va.gov
Helps blind and visually impaired veterans with orientation and mobility, living
skills, and low vision devices.
For additional listings see Coping with Sight Loss in Northern California
To better understand your condition, you should know the structure of the eye