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National Federation
of the Blind
Of Kentucky
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Links pertaining to other resources located to the right of the screen or click this link to jump to other resource page links.

EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES

If you are a disabled person seeking employment, try these resources:
National Business & Disability Council and click on "Job Seekers" or call 1-800-839-6163.

Job openings for the entire state of KY government.

IBM Project Able Recruiting Program for People with Disabilities: Millie Desbiens, Project Manager 914-765-5497 or Yvette Thompson, IBM Staffing Contact at 919-850-7871.

BLIND US VETERANS INFORMATION

VIST INFORMATION

Vision Impairment Service Team
Louisville VA Medical Center
Contact: Maurice W. Jeffries, MSW
VIST Coordinator (11C)
VA Medical Center
800 Zorn Avenue
Louisville, KY 40206
(502)894-6883

I would like to introduce you to the Visual Impairment Services Team (VIST) Program at the Louisville VA Medical Center. As the coordinator, it is my responsibility to identify the legally blind veterans throughout the state of Kentucky and make referrals to community and VA programs.

VIST programs are part of the Blind Rehabilitation Services (BRS) Program which was started by the VA in 1947. The rehabilitation program model designed by BRS is regarded as one of the finest in the world. The Louisville VA Medical Center VIST program is a community-based service designed to identify legally blind veterans, provide **front-line** diagnosis and treatment services, as well as referrals to Blind Rehabilitation Centers who provide comprehensive training in adjustment to sight loss.

Services offered by the VIST program are available to both service connected and non-service connected veterans who are legally blind. Legal blindness is defined as best corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye, or a visual field of 20 degrees or less in the better eye. VIST services include annual physical examinations (including lab, x-ray and EKG), ophthalmalogical and audiological evaluations, prosthetic and sensory aids reviews, Veterans Benefits Review and psychosocial assessments.

Blindness is a treatable condition and the VIST program provides an avenue for treatment. The Visual Impairment Services Team is composed of administrative and medical professionals who use a multi-disciplinary approach to assist legally blinded veterans in improving their quality of living and restoring normalcy to their lives.

By far, the biggest challenge ahead is identifying legally blinded veterans. Nationally it is estimated that there are over 93,000 legally blinded veterans, however only 27,000 have actually been identified. In Kentucky, only 387 legally blinded veterans have been identified when it is estimated that there are over 1,200 in the state.

We need your help in identifying and reaching the 900+, legally blinded veterans who do not know about our services. If you would like more information, write or call:

Maurice W. Jeffries, MSW
VIST Coordinator (11C)
VA Medical Center
800 Zorn Avenue
Louisville, KY 40206-1499
(502) 894-6883

OTHER Links For Blind or VI Veterans

RESOURCES for the BLIND - GENERAL INTEREST LINKS

National Association of Guide Dog Users

Being a Division of the National Federation of the Blind, NAGDU provides a forum for guide dog users and seeks to promote a positive philosophy of blindness and the use of such dogs by blind individuals. By doing this NAGDU works to fulfill the over-all goal of the National Federation of the Blind to integrate the blind into society on a basis of equality with the sighted. Visit the NAGDU information webpage to access the listserv and contact information.

GUIDE DOG SCHOOLS MAILING LIST

This is a list for people who are graduates, former graduates, puppy raisers, and anyone who is interested in the various guide dog schools.

Are you applying for a guide dog and don't know which program to attend? Do you have a question about a specific school? Would you like to talk to other graduates from a specific school?

This list is for you. To subscribe, go here to send an email: Guide Dog Schools

INTRO-DATE - EMAIL LIST FOR BLIND SINGLES

There is now a new e-mailing list called Intro-Date for blind single people where you can send in lengthy introduction messages in the hopes of meeting that special someone.

Please give your real name, age, city you are from, your interests and qualities you are seeking in that special person. Please remember to be honest and open so that others can get to know the real you.

This is not a discussion list and is only for introduction messages. If you decide to come and join this group to meet your soul mate, please do not lurk in the background. No one will be able to get to know you if you remain quiet.

This group is open to straight, gay and bisexual people. In your introduction messages, please give a way for others to contact you such as an email address, phone number, cell phone number or voicemail.

To join, send this blank email to Intro-Date Subscribe and you will receive an email to which you must reply in order to confirm your subscription.

Thank you and good luck to you in making new friends and starting new relationships.

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"The National Federation of the Blind does not speak for the blind, it is the blind speaking for themselves."

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