Blind & Visually Impaired Services

The Division of Rehabilitation Services offers several programs to assist individuals who are blind or visually impaired. These services include:

Vocational Rehabilitation

Independent Living Services
The Rehabilitation Teaching Program is designed to provide services to individuals of all ages who are blind or visually impaired to better enable them to live independently in their homes and communities. Eighteen (18) professionally trained Rehabilitation Teachers across the state provide a wide range of independent living services to preschool children and their families, working age adults, and older individuals who are visually impaired. Teachers work with customers both on a one-on-one basis in the individual's home and in group settings. The Teachers are also active in establishing and nurturing support groups in the communities. All services are customized to meet the individual's needs and may include:

* Guidance and Counseling
* Family Counseling
* Orientation and Mobility Services
* Instruction in Communication Skills such as Braille, use of tape recorders, talking books, etc.
* Home Management Training
* Personal Adjustment Services
* Instruction in Recreational Activities; and,
* Information and Referral

Services to children who are visually impaired are available through the Rehabilitation Teacher Program. Teachers may work with parents, guardians, school personnel, and other service providers to provide useful information about the child's visual impairment, the availability of specialized services, and things that parents can do to prepare their children to live more independently. For more information about services available from the Rehabilitation Teachers, contact our regional office nearest to you.

Tennessee Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired receives special funding from the U.S. Department of Education to provide independent living services to older individuals who are blind or visually impaired. The Older Blind Project is administered by the Agency's eighteen (18) Rehabilitation Teachers who direct the efforts of nine Teacher Assistants. These Assistants work exclusively with individuals who are at least 55 years old and have a visual impairment. These Assistants provide direct services to individuals on a one-on-one basis and coordinate services which may be available from other agencies and organizations. They also work closely with the Area Offices on Aging and senior citizen centers across the state to assist persons who are visually impaired to access services available through those agencies. All services are provided under the supervision of a Rehabilitation Teacher.

Deaf-Blind Services

Newsline for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Register for the Blind

Tennessee Business Enterprises

Links

Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

DisabilityInfo.gov

Tennessee School for the Blind

Contact Information Telephone: (615) 313-4914 Toll Free: 1-800-628-7818 (In-State Only) TTY: (615) 313-6601 (Local) TTY: 1-800-270-1349 (Long Distance) Fax: (615) 313-6617