Visual/Reading Aids

Visual/Reading Aids

Provider: BRAILLE INSTITUTE

The agency provides services for people with disabilities related to blindness or visual impairments in Southern California. Services include assistive technology purchase assistance, braille instruction, braille materials/collections, career development for people with visual impairments, disease/disability information on blindness and visual impairments, independent living skills instruction, job search/placement, library services, low vision aids, orientation and mobility training, parent support groups, prejob guidance for adults and adolescents, recordings for the blind, technical assistance related to visual impairments, visual/reading aids and volunteer opportunities. There are no geographic restrictions.

Programs focus on the individuals' needs and are designed to enable people to develop the skills that are necessary for independent living. Programs available include adult education and training, employment services, a braille press department, student services, a braille and talking book library, and public education. The institute also offers specialized services for youth and provides services at local community centers. The agency serves people who live in Southern California.

Adult education programs include training in independent living; communication skills such as braille reading and writing; and psychosocial skills like arts, crafts, and music. Services for students include counseling, assistance with career planning, adaptive technology, visual aids consultations and demonstrations, and job placement referrals.

Employment services include vocational development services, prejob guidance in the form of job readiness preparation training, and job search and skills development. The program also provides School-to-Work transition services for young adults, age 19 to 30. The agency also provides technical assistance to employers to address questions regarding visual impairment in the workplace.

The Braille Institute's Library is the Southern California branch of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), a network coordinated by the Library of Congress. The library is available on-site which provides books, magazines, periodicals and other reading material in braille or in recorded format; people may arrange to check out library materials for use at home. The agency operates a braille press and publishes books, pamphlets, magazines, directories and other reading material.

A student store, Vistas, sells devices and aids to assist people who are blind or visually impaired to be self sufficient; the store is open to the public. Three mobile vehicles, "Mobile Solutions", travel to senior centers and other locations in the community with a selection of low vision aids such as magnifiers and lighting devices to help people with low vision problems. The mobile vehicles' schedule is available through the 800 number and on the agency's website.

The community awareness/education program provides publications, seminars, films and slide presentations about vision loss and the stereotypes and misconceptions associated with blindness and people who have lost their sight; speakers are available, on request, for community presentations. The agency also provides technical advisement to screenwriters, producers and directors for TV and film. Tours of the facility are also available.

The agency has a child development program that provides parent support groups for parents whose children are legally blind or visually impaired, ages birth to 5 years old. The groups are facilitated and discuss various topics and have speakers on occasion. Child care is provided during the group meetings. APPLICATION PROCEDURE People may call or visit the agency for information; an appointment and a doctor's certification of legal blindness are needed to apply for most services. No appointment is needed to use the library or to visit the store. Call for information about community center locations, services in surrounding counties in Southern Callifornia, or access information on the agency's website: www.brailleinstitute.org. FEES/PAYMENT SOURCE There are no fees for training programs or for people to use the library.

Address

741 N. Vermont Ave.

Los Angeles , CA 90029 (Physical)

Get directions
Service hours
Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm; Vistas store hours are Monday through Friday, 9:30am to 4:00pm.

Service/Intake

(800) 272-4553 (Information and Referral Line) (323) 663-1111 (Los Angeles Center)

FAX

(323) 663-0241

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