Advocacy and consumer groups
American Council of the Blind of Indiana (ACB-I)
John Huffman, President
(317) 228-0496
E-mail: j.huffman@verizon.net
The Indianapolis chapter meets at 10:30 A.M. on the third Saturday of most months. Meetings are held downtown, in the State Library (140 N. Senate).
Client Assistance Program (CAP)
4701 N. Keystone Ave. Ste. 222
Indianapolis., IN 46205
(317) 722-5555
(800) 622-4845
E-mail: kpedevilla@ipas.state.in.us
CAP assists people who are having difficulties seeking or receiving services from Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) or other VR programs. CAP is administered by Indiana Protection & Advocacy Services.
National Federation of the Blind (NFB) of Indiana
(317) 205-9226
(800) 326-9190
E-mail: pmaurer@nfb.org
Indianapolis has two chapters. The Circle City Chapter meets the first Saturday of every month from 10:00 to noon at the First Trinity Lutheran Church located at 5321 E. 42nd St. The Indianapolis Chapter meets the second Saturday of every month from 9:30 to 11:30 at the English Foundation Bldg. (615 N. Alabama).
Marion County Association of Workers for the Blind
Gloria Franklin
1709 Lesley Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46218
(317) 357-1468
This is a social gathering with guest speakers. This is not an advocacy organization! Except for Jan. and Feb., meetings are held on the fourth Saturday of the month in Room 6 of the English Foundation Bldg. (615 N. Alabama).
Vision Aware
Dr. Pris Rogers, Vision Aware Program Director
11030 Ables Lane
Dallas, TX 75229
(214) 438-5314
VisionAware helps adult who are losing their sight continue to live full and independent lives by providing timely information, step-by-step daily living techniques, a directory of national and local services, and a supportive online community.
Eye health resources
Eye Care Community Outreach (ECCO)
(317) 321-1413
Coordinates vision care resources in central Indiana to provide uninsured individuals access to donated professional eye care. Also provides vision information, referral, education and assists with other medical or social needs.
Indiana Academy Of Ophthalmology
(317) 577-3062
The Indiana Academy of Ophthalmology promotes the highest quality, comprehensive vision, medical and surgical eye care.
Indiana Optometric Association
(317) 237-3560
Provides resources on eye doctors, eye care, eye conditions certifications and other useful resources.
Support groups in Indiana
Anderson Outreach Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Christ Lutheran Church
716 Rainbow Blvd.
Anderson, IN 46012
Barb Kyle (765) 642-0887
Meetings are held the last Saturday of the month at noon.
Low Vision Support Group
First Presbyterian Church
221 E. 6th St.
Bloomington, IN 47408
Ashley Hillman (812) 935-2513
Meets the 2nd Monday of each month at 1 p.m.
Atria Low Vision Support Group
3109 E Bristol St.
Elkhart, IN 46514
(574) 266-4508
Meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month at 1:30 p.m.
Bosma Enterprises Hendricks County Support Group
Hendricks County Senior Center
1201 Sycamore Lane
Danville, IN 46122
Debbie Waller (317) 704-8230
Meetings are 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Bosma Enterprises Lebanon Low Vision Support Group
Eye Openers
Boone County Senior Center
515 Crown Point Dr.
Lebanon, IN 46052
Jill Thomas (765) 447-7683
Meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month from 1:00 to 2:30.
Bosma Enterprises Marion County Low Vision Support Group
Robin Run Village
5354 W. 62nd St.
Indianapolis, IN 46268
Debbie Waller (317) 704-8230
Meetings are held the fourth Wednesday of the month from 2:15-3:15 p.m.
Clay County Sight Loss Support Group
United Methodist Church
201 Meridian
Brazil, IN
Danny Wayne Beemer (812) 298-9455
Meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month at 10:30.
Crawfordsville Low Vision Support Group
Alice Yates, director of activities at Crawfordsville Parks and Recreation.
(765) 364-5175
Meetings are held at noon (for lunch) the third Thursday of the month.
Crossroads Low Vision Support Group
4740 Kingsway Dr.
Indpls., IN 46205
Erica O'Neil (317) 466-1000 Ext. 2488
Katy Messuri (317) 466-2001 Ext. 3087
A group of individuals who are blind or visually impaired serve as a network where friends strengthen one another. Meetings are held the first Wednesday of every month from 11:00 to 1:00. Except for months such as June and December, when there are special occasions, a monthly fee of $5 is charged for lunch.
Evansville Association for the Blind Low Vision Support Group
PO Box 6445
Evansville, IN 47719
Patty Haas (812) 422-1181 OR (812) 421-4535
E-mail: eabcdc@evansville.net
Website: http://www.evansvilleblind.org/
Meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of the month.
Eyesight Insight Low Vision Support Group
321 S. Adams St.
Marion, IN
Linda Taylor (765) 664-9999
Meetings are held the first Monday of each month.
Henry County Support Group
New Castle Public Library
376 S. 15th St.
Room AB
New Castle, IN 47362
Jessica McGrew (765) 520-6838
Meetings are the fourth Tuesday of the month at 1:00.
League for the Blind and Disabled, Inc.
Consumer Education Group
5821 S. Anthony Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN
Patrick Robinson (800) 889-3443 or (260) 441-0551
Meetings are held the second Thursday of the month from 1:00 to 3:00.
League for the Blind and Disabled, Inc.
Insight Forum
Cameron Woods Senior Living
701 W. Harcourt Rd.
Angola, IN
(260) 624-2197
Fred Fulkerson (800) 889-3443 or (260) 441-0551
Meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month from 1:00 to 3:00.
League for the Blind and Disabled, Inc.
Social/Recreational Group
Fort Wayne, IN
Call Fred Fulkerson for location (800) 889-3443 or (260) 441-0551
Meetings are held the fourth Thursday of the month from 1:00 to 3:00.
League for the Blind & Disabled, Inc.
Structured Support Group
Fort Wayne, IN
Call Patrick Robinson for location (800) 889-3443 or (260) 441-0551
Meetings are held the fourth Thursday of the month from 1:00 to 3:00.
League for the Blind and Disabled, Inc.
Structured Support Group
Fort Wayne, IN
Call Patrick Robinson for location (800) 889-3443 or (260) 441-0551
Meetings are held the second Monday of the month from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
League for the Blind and Disabled, Inc.
Structured Support Group
DeKalb County Heimack Center
1800 E. 7th St.
Auburn, In
(260) 925-3311
Fred Fulkerson (800) 889-3443 or (260) 441-0551
Meetings are held the third Thursday of the month from 1:15 to 3:00.
League for the Blind and Disabled, Inc.
Structured Support Group
Miller's Merry Manor
787 N. Detroit St.
LaGrange, IN
(260) 463-2172
Fred Fulkerson (800) 889-3443 or (260) 441-0551
Meetings are held the third Wednesday of the month from 1:30 to 3:30.
League for the Blind and Disabled, Inc.
Structured Support Group
Woodcrest Retirement Center
1300 Mercer Ave.
Decatur, IN
(260) 724-3311
Fred Fulkerson (800) 889-3443 or (260) 441-0551
Meetings are held the third Tuesday of the month from 1:30 to 3:30.
Low Vision Support Group of Wayne County
Independent Center of Eastern Indiana
1818 W. Main St.
Richmond, IN
Jackie Speicher (877) 939-9226
Meetings are held the fourth Thursday of the month.
Macular Degeneration Support Group of Indiana Inc.
Irma Jakositz (317) 596-9923
Deanna Austin (317) 251-6443
Meetings are held 4 times a year in the Cooling Auditorium at St. Vincent Hospital at 10:00 the second Saturday of February, May, August, and November.
Madison County Chapter for the Blind
Anderson Public Library, 3rd Floor
1200 Main
Anderson, IN 46011
Barb Kyle (765) 642-0887
Meetings are held the third Tuesday of the month at noon.
Marquette Manor Low Vision Group
Marquette Manor Assisted Living
8140Township Line Rd.
Indpls, IN 46260
Dianne Bratten (317) 337-9200
Currently serves only the residents of Marquette Manor. Meetings are held quarterly.
Mishawaka Support Group
St. Joseph Mishawaka Public Library
204 Lincoln Way West
Mishawaka, IN 46544
(574) 259-5277
Meets the first Wednesday of the month from 10:00 to 11:30.
Valparaiso Low Vision Support Groups
Verne Sanford (219) 464-1867
Two groups meet in Valparaiso at the following locations.
First United Methodist Church
103 N. Franklin
Valparaiso, IN 46383
Meetings are held the second Tuesday of every month from 6:00 PM to 7:15 PM.
Pines Village Retirement Communities
3303 Pines Village Circle, Room 201
Valparaiso, IN 46383
Meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of every month at 10:00.
For free transportation within the local area contact the First United Methodist Church at (219) 465-1661, no later than the Friday before each meeting.
Vigo County Low Vision Support Group
Serves the Terre Haute area
Westminster Village
1120 E Davis Dr.
Terre Haute, IN 47802
Rosemary & Jim Morgan (812) 242-4876
Meetings are held from 10:00 to 11:00 the third Wednesday of the month.
Vigo County Sight Loss Support Group
Sycamore Manner
25th and Ohio
Danny Wayne Beemer (812) 298-9455
Meets the first Wednesday of each month at 10:00.
VIP Support Group
Von Tobel Community Building
115 W. Pearl St.
Winamac, IN 46996
Johanna Gudas (574) 946-6126
Maurine Wilder (574) 946-3836
Meetings are held the second Tuesday of the month from 1:00 to 2:30.
VIP - Visually Impaired Persons of Northwest Indiana
East Chicago Public Library
East Chicago, IN
Katie Averett (219) 398-5165
Meetings are held the second Tuesday of the month at 1:00.
VIP - Visually Impaired People of Shelbyville
Crossroad Community Church
475 Progress Parkway
Shelbyville, In 46176
Kathy Beal (765) 525-6408
Meetings are held the third Tuesday of the month at 1:00.
Vision Loss Support Group for Veterans
Richard L. Roudebush, VA Medical Center
1481 W. 10th Street
Room C1202
Indianapolis, IN 46202
Deanna Austin, VIST Coordinator
(317) 988-2576 or (888) 878-6889 Ext. 85276
Meets the second Friday of each month from 2:00 to 3:30.
VISION - Visually Impaired Support In Our Neighborhood
Muncie-Delaware County Senior Center
2517 West 8th St.
Muncie, IN 47302
Dena Polston, Facilitator
Phone: (765) 284-4539
E-mail: dlpolston@bsu.edu
Dee Ann Hart, Secretary
Home Phone: (765) 282-7257
Cell Phone: (765) 215-1211
E-mail: dawhart@sbcglobal.net
Meetings are held the 2nd Wednesday of the month from 10:15 AM to 12:00 PM. "Lunch Bunch" will now be by reservation at the Muncie-Delaware County Senior, LifeStream Services lunch site and the cost will be $6.75.
Wabash County Council on Aging
Winchester Senior Center
PO Box 447
239 Bond St.
Wabash, IN 46992
Kay Batdorf (260) 563-4475
E-mail: kaywccoa@kconline.com
Meetings are held the second Tuesday of the month from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM.
Transportation
Amtrak
(800) 872-7245, or (800) usa-rail
Offers discounts for passengers with disabilities. You are required to provide written documentation of disability at the ticket counter, and when boarding the train. Special fares are only available by calling the above number.
Greyhound
Customers with Disabilities Travel Assistance
(800) 752-4841
Call 48-hours in advance to request assistance. Assistance is provided during transfers, meal/rest stops, and other times as reasonably requested. Sighted guides traveling with customers who are legally blind can receive a 50% discount.
Indianapolis Yellow Cab
3801 W. Morris
Indianapolis, IN 46242
(317) 247-6233
Individuals with disabilities can purchase a book of 20 coupons ($1.00 per coupon) for $16.00. There is no limit.
IndyGo
(317) 635-3344
Provides a variety of transportation options for residents of Indianapolis.
IndyGo Open Door
(317) 917-8747 (Reservations)
(317) 917-8758 (ETA/Same Day Cancellation)
(317) 635-3344 (Complaints/Comments/Questions)
Provides alternative transportation within Marion County for qualified individuals with disabilities. North Side Dial Ride is provided to all residents of the north side of Indianapolis. Call reservations to sign up.
Senior Transportation Program
(317) 263-6279
Marion County residents age 60 are eligible for a 50% discount off taxi services. A sheet of ten tickets, valued at $1.00 per ticket, can be purchased for $5.00. There is a limit of 30 tickets per month. Discounts are also available for individuals who use a wheelchair.
Transportation Resource Guide - Indianapolis, Indiana
A resource detailing all transportation options in Marion County. Provided by the Office of the Mayor of Indianapolis' Council on Disabilities
Accessible books, movies, and library services
Audible.com
A great site for downloading recorded books on the computer.
Descriptive Video Service (DVS Home Video®)
(317) 579-0439 (customer service/order videos)
(800) 333-1203
A variety of services are offered that help to make television and movies accessible.
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
(800) 424-8567
Books, magazines, music scores, and lessons for playing a variety of instruments are available in braille, large print, or on audiotape. Special playback equipment is provided for members who borrow recorded materials.
Learning Ally
(800) 221-4792
E-mail: custserv@LearningAlly.org
Website: http://www.LearningAlly.org
Offers an extensive library of digitally recorded titles. This is an excellent source for students who need accessible textbooks. Anyone with a documented disability which makes reading standard print hard to read is eligible to use RFB&D's services. The cost of an individual membership is $35 a year, plus a registration fee of $65.
The Hadley School for the Blind
(847) 446-8111
(800) 323-4238
Promotes independent living through lifelong, distance education programs for blind people, their families and blindness service providers. This school offers more than 90 distance education courses to eligible students completely free of charge.
Dog guide schools
EDF Training Center
8252 South 15th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85041-7806
(602) 276-0051
E-mail: eyedogaz@uswest.net
Eye Dog Foundation for the Blind
211 S. Montclair St., Suite A
Bakersfield, CA 93309-3165
(800) 393-3641
E-mail: eyedog@arrival.net
Eye of the Pacific Guide Dogs and Mobility Services, Incorporated
747 Amana Street, Suite 407
Honolulu, HI 96814
(808) 941-1088
E-mail: info@eyeofthepacific.org
Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation, Inc.
103 Old Iron Ore Road
Bloomfield, CT 06002
(860) 243-5200
E-mail: info@fidelco.org
Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind
1210 Hardscrabble road
Cassville, NY 13318
(315) 822-5132
E-Mail: freedomdog@juno.com
Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind, Inc.
371 East Jericho Turnpike
Smithtown, NY 11787-2976
(800) 548-4337
E-Mail: info@guidedog.org
Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc.
(For general communications, refer to California Campus contact information.)
California Campus
350 Los Ranchitos Road
San Rafael, CA 94915-1200
(800) 295-4050
E-Mail: iadmissions@guidedogs.com
Oregon Campus
32901 S.E. Kelso Road
Boring, OR 97009
Guide Dogs of America
13445 Glenoaks Blvd.
Sylmar, CA 91342
(800)459-4843
E-Mail: guidedogs@earthlink.net
Guide Dogs of Texas, Inc.
11825 West Avenue
Suite 104
San Antonio, TX 78216
(210)366-4081
Toll Free in TX: 1(800)831-9231
E-Mail: larrytuttle@guidedogsoftexas.org
Guide Dogs of the Desert International
PO Box 1692
Palm Springs, CA 92263
(760)329-6257
E-Mail: info@guidedogsofthedesert.org
Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Inc.
611 Granite Springs Road
Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
(800) 942-0149
E-Mail: info@guidingeyes.org
Kansas Specialty Dog Service (KSDS, Inc.)
124 West 7th Street
Washington, KS 66968
(785) 325-2256
E-Mail: ksds@ksds.org
Leader Dogs for the Blind, Inc.
1039 South Rochester Road
Rochester, MI 48308
(888) 777-5332
E-Mail: leaderdog@leaderdog.org
Pilot Dogs, Inc.
625 W. Town St.
Columbus, OH 43215-4496
(614) 221-6367
E-Mail: jgray@pilotdogs.org
Southeastern Guide Dogs, Inc.
4210 77th Ave. East
Palmetto, FL 34221
(800) 944-3647 (800-944-DOGS)
E-Mail: info@guidedogs.org
The Seeing Eye, Inc.
PO Box 375
Morristown, NJ 07963-0375
(800) 539-4425
E-Mail: info@seeingeye.org