The following organizations provide information, products and/or services to parents or teachers of blind and visually impaired children. In addition to these organizations, contact your state education department for early intervention and childhood learning enhancement information. This list is neither intended as a complete list nor as an endorsement of any organization or publication listed.
Organizations
Books, Publications, and Other Products
Toys, Games, Books and Software for Blind and Visually Impaired Children
Organizations
ACB Families
c/o American Council of the Blind
225 Reinekers Ln., Suite 660
Alexandria, VA 22314
(202) 467-5081
fax: (703) 465-5085
Email: [email protected]
Web site: https://www.acb.org/
Provides support and information for parents of blind and visually impaired children, holds an annual conference and publishes a newsletter.
Affordable Colleges Online
1101 Red Ventures Drive
Fort Mill, SC 29707
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/college-resource-center/resources-for-students-with-disabilities/
Has online guidebook, “College Resources for Students with Disabilities.”
American Printing House for the Blind
1839 Frankfort Ave.
Box 6085
Louisville, KY 40206
(502) 895-2405
Toll-free: 1-800-223-1839
Fax: (502) 899-2284
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.aph.org/
Manufactures educational aids for blind and visually impaired people, has an educational research program and sells books in braille, large print, disk and audio format. Has database for locating textbooks and other materials in accessible media. Has FamilyConnect Center with useful information for parents, families and teachers.
Association for Education & Rehabilitation of the Blind & Visually Impaired (AER)
5680 King Centre Drive, Suite 600
Alexandria, VA 22315
Phone: (703) 671-4500
Fax: (703) 671-6391
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.aerbvi.org/
An organization which renders support and assistance to professionals in all phases of education and rehabilitation of blind and visually impaired children and adults.
Center for Parent Information and Resources
c/o Statewide Parent Advocacy Network
35 Halsey St., Fourth Floor
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 642-8100
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.parentcenterhub.org/
Serves as a central resource of information and products to the community of Parent Training Information (PTI) Centers and the Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs), so that they can focus their efforts on serving families of children with disabilities. Materials are available in English and Spanish.
Council for Exceptional Children
3100 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 600
Arlington, VA 22201-5332
Toll-free: 1-888-232-7733
TTY: 1-866-915-5000
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://exceptionalchildren.org/
Works to improve the educational outcome of students with disabilities, has information on educational opportunities, and publishes a number of books and journals on disabilities and gifted education. Also has a learning library containing live and pre-recorded webinars.
Easterseals Inc.
141 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 1400A
Chicago, IL 60604
(312) 726-6200
Toll-free: 1-800-221-6827
Fax: (312) 726-1494
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.easterseals.com/
Services for individuals with disabilities and special needs. Major services include medical rehabilitation, job training and employment, inclusive, child care, camping, recreation and adult day services.
EduBirdie
Toll-free: 1-888-337-5415
Website: https://edubirdie.com/blog/resources-for-students-with-disabilities
Has a list of helpful resources for students with disabilities.
The Hadley Institute for the Blind
700 Elm St.
Winnetka, IL 60093-2554
(847) 446-8111
Toll-free: 1-800-323-4238
Fax: (847) 446-9916
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.hadley.edu/
The Hadley School for the Blind offers over tuition-free distance education courses to blind and visually impaired students. Class offerings include braille, daily living skills, adjustment to vision loss, recreation (from games to bird watching to gardening – and more), technology (Android, Apple, Alexa, Zoom, and more), and work-related topics.
National Association of Private Special Education Centers (NAPSEC)
200 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 434-8225
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.napsec.org/
NAPSEC’s member programs provide educational therapeutic services to both publicly and privately placed individuals who are not able to be successfully educated in the regular education environment. These services include infants and toddlers that are served by our early intervention service members and our postsecondary college experience and adult living programs that serve individuals who have graduated or who are over 21 and are no longer eligible for services under IDEA.
National Family Association for Deaf-Blind
PO Box 1667
Sands Point, NY 11050
Toll-free: 1-800-255-0411
Fax: (516) 883-9060
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.nfadb.org/
NFADB exists to empower the families of individuals who are deaf-blind and advocate for their unique needs. It trains and supports families as they advocate for the needs of their child and family; connects families to other families with similar interests and needs; collaborates with other organizations to make sure the voices of consumers and families are heard at the state and national levels; and advises professionals researching best practices for educating, training and assisting individuals who are deaf-blind.
National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled
Library of Congress
Washington, DC 20542-4962
(202) 707-5100
Toll-free: 1-800-424-8567
Fax: (202) 707-0712
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.loc.gov/nls/
NLS offers a number of helpful resources for parents in accessible format available through your regional NLS library. NLS also provides reference services on blindness-related topics.
The National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation (NOAH)
PO Box 959
East Hampstead, NH 03826-0959
(603) 887-2310
Toll-free: 1-800-473-2310 (U.S. and Canada)
Fax: (603) 887-6049
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.albinism.org/
NOAH is a volunteer group for people with albinism and their families. It works on self-help and promotes research and education. It publishes a quarterly magazine, “Albinism InSight” and information bulletins on topics specific to living with albinism, sponsors workshops and conferences on albinism, and has a network of local chapters and contact people. NOAH also offers scholarships to Space Camp, as well as college scholarships.
PACER, Inc.
8161 Normandale Blvd.
Minneapolis, MN 55437-1044
(952) 838-9000
Toll-free: 1-800-537-2237
Fax: (952) 838-0199
To send an email, go to https://www.pacer.org/forms/.
Website: https://www.pacer.org/
Offers individual help by telephone, email or by postal mail. Provides free written materials for parents and professionals, and workshops for parents of children and young adults with disabilities. Has an assistive technology lending library, a camp for girls, a youth event group, a grandparent group, and so much more.
Pediatric Retinal Research Foundation
Administrative Office:
PO Box 1926
Birmingham, MI 48012-9998
(248) 838-9102
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.pediatricrrf.org/
The foundation’s mission is to support the community of families impacted by blinding pediatric retinal diseases and champion the quest for cure.
Wayfinder Child Development Services (formerly Blind Babies Foundation)
2381 Mariner Square Drive, Suite 275
Alameda, CA 94501
Phone: (510) 446-2229
Toll-free: 1-888-400-4522
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.wayfinderfamily.org/program/blind-babies-foundation
In California, offers no-cost home-based early intervention, giving support and advocacy to families, and in-service training and consultation for professionals.
Wayfinder Family Services (formerly Junior Blind of America)
5300 Angeles Vista Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90043
(323) 295-4555
Toll-free: 1-800-352-2290
Fax: (323) 296-0424
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.wayfinderfamily.org/
Provides expert, individualized support and services to children, youth and adults, from those who have vision loss or profound special needs to foster youth with serious medical conditions or trauma, and their families. Runs Camp Bloomfield, a summer residential camp for blind and visually impaired children, those with special needs, and other sessions for foster/adoptive families. Also runs an early intervention program for children from birth to 3 years old; a special education school for ages 5 to 21 for those with moderate to severe disabilities; and group homes for children and adults.
Books, Publications, and Other Products
ACB Students
c/o American Council of the Blind
225 Reinekers Ln., Suite 660
Alexandria, VA 22314
Toll-free: 1-800-424-8666
(202) 467-5081
Fax: (703) 465-5085
Email: [email protected]
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/acbstudents
A membership organization of blind and visually impaired college students with support and information available through their state chapters and their annual meeting.
Brookline Booksmith
279 Harvard St.
Brookline, MA 02446
Phone: (617) 566-6660
Fax: (617) 734-9125
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.brooklinebooksmith.com/
Offers audio books via download, as well as hard-copy print books.
Brookes Publishing
PO Box 10624
Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
Toll-free: 1-800-638-3775
Fax: (410) 337-8539
Website: https://brookespublishing.com/
Publishes books helpful to families with children with disabilities.
Exceptional Teaching Inc.
PO Box 2330
Livermore, CA 94550
Toll-free: 1-800-549-6999
Fax: (925) 961-9201
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://exceptionalteaching.com/
Offers a wide assortment of educational games and toys for teaching exceptional children. There are motivational reading games, teaching aids for those with special needs and learning disabilities, living aids products for blind individuals, and much more! You will find an assortment of braille products and braille curriculum, too, including the Mangold Basic Braille Program, and the SAL2 Mangold Braille Reading Program, one for young readers and one for teens and adults.
Lighthouse Guild
250 W. 64th St.
New York, NY 10023
Toll-free: 1-800-284-4422
Website: https://lighthouseguild.org/
Has a National Tele-Support Network for Parents of Children with Visual Impairment. Also offers a parent blog and parent support newsletter, as well as a teen telephone support group.
Special Needs Project – America’s Disability Bookstore
1000 E. Maple Ave.
Lompoc, CA 93436
Phone: (805) 962-8087
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://specialneedsproject.com/
Offers books on disabilities, assistive technology, fidget items, books on parenting and special needs, and more.
The National Research and Training Center on Blindness/Low Vision
108 Herbert - South, Room 150
Industrial Education Department Building
PO Drawer 6189
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, MS 39762
(602) 325-2001
Fax: (602) 325-8989
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.blind.msstate.edu/
The NRTC has published “Career Advantage for V.I.P.s” and other books, many of which are available to download directly from the web site.
National Braille Press
88 Saint Stephen St.
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 266-6160
Toll-free: 1-800-548-7323 ext. 520 (U.S. only)
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.nbp.org/
Publishes books on computer use and access, self-help, and lifelong learning, as well as children’s braille and braille-and-print books. Has children’s braille book club, the maps from The Princeton Braillists, and many more offerings. Also produces “Our Special” magazine, written and edited by blind women; it covers careers, fashion, parenting, cooking, crafts, travel, maternity, dating, health and more.
Oakmont Visual Aids Workshop
6637 Oakmont Drive, Suite A
Santa Rosa, CA 95409
(707) 539-1611
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.teachersaidsforblindchildren.org/
The Oakmont Visual Aids Workshop is a group of 45-50 senior volunteers who hand-make 38 items, which include books in Braille with tactile illustrations, puzzles, braille flash cards, games, and math and alphabet study aids using donated materials. Call to request a catalog, or view the items online.
PRO-ED, Inc.
1301 W. 25th Street, Suite 300
Austin, TX 78705-4248
(512) 451-3246
Toll-free: 1-800-897-3202
Fax: (512) 451-8542
Toll-free fax: 1-800-397-7633
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.proedinc.com/
Their focus is primarily special education. Offers a wide variety of publications and assessment tools for students with various disabilities, including autism, intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, and more.
ZERO TO THREE: National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families
2445 M Street NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20037
Toll-free customer service: 1-800-899-4301
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.zerotothree.org/
This group works to spread information on successful programs and new approaches in child development to professionals and parents. Publishes the “Zero to Three Journal” and a variety of fact sheets.
Toys, Games, Books and Software for Blind and Visually Impaired Children
A Gentle Wind
Box 3103
Albany, NY 12203
(518) 482-9023
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.gentlewind.com/
A Gentle Wind is an indie record label for quality and award-winning songs and stories for children. The majority of its recordings are music. They are available through our website on CD, and many of them are available for download through popular platforms as well.
American Foundation for the Blind
1101 Wilson Blvd., 6th Floor
Arlington, VA 22209
(212) 502-7600
To send email, go to https://www.afb.org/about-afb/contact-afb.
Website: www.afb.org
Helen Keller Archive: https://www.afb.org/HelenKellerArchive
AFB offers a Helen Keller Kids’ Museum online.
American Printing House for the Blind
Toll-free: 1-800-223-1839
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.aph.org
FamilyConnect site: https://familyconnect.org/
Items include early childhood development items, large type and tactile maps and globes, puzzles and toys, wooden construction sets, children’s books and more. Now offers Braille Bug, an interactive site created to teach sighted children about braille and to encourage literacy among all children, sighted and visually impaired. It has games, information about braille and Louis Braille, and much more! Also has the FamilyConnect site, designed for parents and chock full of useful information, from “after the diagnosis” to educational resources in English and Spanish.
BOOMERANG
75 Pescadero Rd.
La Honda, CA 94020
(650) 339-4908
Toll-free: 1-800-333-7858
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.boomkids.com/
Boomerang! is an audio program for kids ages 6-12. In each hour-long episode, kids will present stories about big ideas: science, current events, history, economics, poetry, jokes, geography, mysteries, and much more. Episode 49 features “The Dirt on Food.” Other classic episodes feature Rachel Carson, Sophie Scholl, Dr. Seuss, among others.
CAPTEK/Science Products for the Blind
PO Box 144
Southeastern, PA 19399
(610) 296-2111
Toll-free: 1-800-888-7401
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.captek.net/
The company sells talking currency counters/identifiers, talking coin counters/sorters, talking credit card terminals, light sensors, talking calculator/shop tools, magnifiers, telescopes.
Enabling Devices
Toys for Special Children
50 Broadway
Hawthorne, NY 10532
(914) 747-3070
Toll-free: 1-800-832-8697
Fax: (914) 747-3480
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.enablingdevices.com
This company offers a catalog of specially adapted toys, sensory devices, books, useful devices, activity guides and product tips, product comparison charts, and many other items.
Learning Ally
20 Roszel Rd.
Princeton, NJ 08540
Toll-free: 1-800-221-4792
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.learningally.org
Founded in 1948 as Recording for the Blind, Learning Ally serves K-12, college and graduate students, as well as veterans and lifelong learners – all of whom cannot read standard print due to blindness, visual impairment, dyslexia, or other learning disabilities. Learning Ally’s collection consists of more than 70,000 digitally recorded textbooks and literature titles – delivered through Internet downloads, mainstream computers and devices like iPhone and iPad, as well as specialized assistive technology devices.
LS&S, LLC
145 River Rock Dr.
Buffalo, NY 14207
(716) 348-3500
Toll-free: 1-800-468-4789
Fax: (716) 873-3848
Toll-free fax: 1-877-498-1482
To send email, go to https://lssproducts.com/contact-us/.
Website: https://www.lssproducts.com/
Products include bell soccer balls, bell football, bell basketball, soft, fabric-covered foam balls, large magnetic letters and numbers, alphabet braille blocks, number braille blocks, tactile alphabet book, Wikki Stix, braille board books, raised-line coloring books, bump dots, and more.
Perkins Access
175 N. Beacon St.
Watertown, MA 02472
(617) 972-7308
Fax: (617) 926-2027
To send email, go to https://perkinsaccess.org/contact-us/.
Website: https://www.perkins.org/access
Provides accessibility consulting services, helping organizations provide adaptive work and learning environments that enable every individual to recognize his or her potential.
School Specialty
W6316 Design Drive
Greenville, WI 54942
Phone: 1-888-388-3224
To send email, go to https://help.schoolspecialty.com/s/contact-support.
Website: https://www.schoolspecialty.com/
Has a variety of catalogs with useful products for teachers, parents, and professionals. Catalogs include early childhood, special education, arts and crafts, physical education, and education essentials, among others.
Seedlings Braille Books for Children
P.O. Box 51924
Livonia, MI 48151-5924
Toll-free: 1-800-777-8552
Fax: (734) 427-8552
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.seedlings.org/
In addition to braille chapter books, Seedlings offers print and braille books, as well as print and braille picture books, e-braille books, shirts and other novelty items.
TFH Special Needs Toys
4537 Gibsonia Rd.
Gibsonia, PA 15044
Toll-free: 1-800-467-6222
Fax: (724) 444-6411
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.specialneedstoys.com/usa
Products include toys and games, music CDs, wind chimes, fans, light panels, mirrors that make noise, aromatherapy, scentsory putty, bead balls, gel balls, tactile matching mazes, and much more.
The Toy Foundation
1375 Broadway, Suite 1001
New York, NY 10018
(212) 675-1141
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://toyfoundation.org/
The Toy Foundation (TTF) is a 501(c)(3) children’s charity whose mission is to provide joy and comfort to children in need through the experience of toys and play. Donates millions of dollars’ worth of toys to children in need annually.
VTech Electronics North America, LLC
1156 W. Shure Dr., Suite 200
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
Toll-free: 1-800-521-2010
Fax: (847) 400-3601
To send email, go to https://www.vtechkids.com/support/support_form/.
Website: https://www.vtechkids.com/
Carries a variety of talking products, including stuffed toys and electronic educational/fun products.
ZBS Foundation
174 N. River Rd.
Fort Edward, NY 12828
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.zbs.org/index_new.php/home
Produces science fiction-fantasy, mystery, humor, film noir, drama and poetry, and spiritual material on CD and downloadable MP3 files for the whole family.
Updated May 9, 2023