Other Resources

A – B


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Accessible Pharmacy

Accessible Pharmacy Services for the Blind is a comprehensive, home delivery pharmacy service specializing in the needs of people who are blind, DeafBlind and have low vision. We are the only provider of its kind and the largest blind-owned healthcare company in the country.

They are holding a free online Blind Health Expo on December 2 from 7 AM to 1 PM PT

They also have recordings from their Breast Cancer Information for Blind Women webinar, and Breast Self Exam for Blind Women.



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American Council of the Blind

ACB strives to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunity, and quality of life, for all blind and visually-impaired people.

Phone: 1-202-467-5081


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American Foundation for the Blind

"We're the dreamers and the doers, improving the lives of the more than 20 million Americans who experience blindness or vision loss by amplifying those voices and ensuring equitable access for all."



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Bookshare

Bookshare makes reading easier. Access a huge collection of ebooks for people with reading barriers.


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Braille Bookstore

Future Aids, The Braille Superstore is a forward-thinking company with exciting new products for the blind and visually impaired. We offer Braille supplies, talking gadgets, household items, card and board games, audible toys, cool gift ideas, and so much more. Whether you need a commonplace item at a low price, or cutting-edge technology everyone can afford, we can help!


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Breast Cancer Support Group

For questions, call Lori Scharff at 516-887-1336, or lorischarff@gmail.com



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C – D


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California Braille and Talking Book Library (BTBL)

BTBL NEWS, The Braille and Talking Book Library newsletter, BTBL News, features articles on topics of interest to Braille and Talking Book library patrons and the organizations that serve them, including information about new services, existing services, events, staff, and more.

BTBL and the San Francisco Talking Books & Braille Center are co-hosting a new program: Sheltering In Place Conversations.

Initially hosted by San Francisco and designed to discuss personal experiences of city residents sheltering in place while blind, this program is being expanded to include all Northern California BTBL patrons. While initial conversations may still be concentrated on the pandemic experience, we plan to explore more general topics of interest to our patrons, like music, food, hobbies, travel, recreation, and pets.

Mark your calendars for the 2nd Wednesday of each month, 12pm-1:30pm. Call in to 1-888-788-0099 and then enter Meeting ID: 4155574253, or join us on Zoom at sfpl-org.zoom.us/j/4155574253 Join Meeting ID: 4155574253.

(916) 654-0640

btbl@library.ca.gov


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California Council of the Blind

California Council of the Blind is a non-profit tax-exempt organization composed primarily of Californians who are blind or have low vision.

Toll-Free in California: 800-221-6359

Outside California: 916-441-2100



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Caring.com

Caring.com has a new resource for seniors across the US.

Social Security is a vital source of income for retirees and is pivotal in keeping older Americans out of poverty. In fact, According to the National Academy of Social Insurance, it is the sole source of income for about 20% of people over 65.

To help seniors and their families, we created a resource that provides detailed information about eligibility and how to claim benefits.



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Consumer Reports Webinars

Consumer Reports hosts webinars on various topics. If you are interested, follow the link above to RSVP for any you want to attend.






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Disability Remodeling - What is the Average Cost to Renovate?

If you're looking to renovate your home so as to be more accommodating to a person with a disability, then there are many considerations that you will need to keep in mind. For starters, you will need to think about the limitations that the person's specific disability has on them; do they have difficulty getting up and down stairs? Are they required to use a wheelchair to get around? By knowing the answers to these questions, you can begin to create an appropriate layout when planning a renovation that will make the home more accommodating to those with a disability.


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E – G


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Ears For Eyes

A nonprofit public charity. We provide, free of charge, audio lessons that teach Adaptive daily living skills to the vision impaired and their caregivers.


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Emergency Whistles

There are many emergency whistles available to buy online. At the time of this writing, here are a few of those that are available.

Temu has several at very low prices. The bad news is that your order has to be at least $25. I have found them to be reliable. Amazon and eBay also have many.

Temu: 160db High Quality Outdoor Alloy Double Hole Survival Whistle Keychain Silvery/Golden, 2.17" x 0.55" x 0.31", $0.89 for silver and $0.80 for golden.

Temu: Portable Survival Whistle Keychain, Suitable For Outdoor Camping, Travel, Hiking, Mountaineering, Emergency EDC Equipment, 160 decibel, 2.17" x 0.55" x 0.31", $0.89.

Amazon: S.O.L. Survive Outdoors Longer Slim Rescue Howler Whistle (2-Count), Orange plastic, 100 decibel, 2.25" X 0.9" X 0.31", $6.89.

Amazon: Product Movement Storm World's Loudest Outdoor Safety Whistle | Includes Lanyard, 130 decibel, weird shape, maybe 2" x 3" overall, $9.99 each, $25.99 for 3.

eBay: Metal Survival Whistle - Super Loud 120dB Emergency Distress Whistle, 2.2" x 0.6" x 0.3", $4.99.

eBay: 3 PCS 120db Outdoor Whistle Camping Hiking Emergency Survival Key chain, 2.17" x 0.55" x 0.3", $6.95 for 3.

eBay: 120db Outdoor Whistle Camping Hiking Emergency Survival Keychain, 2.2" x 0.6" x 0.3", $5.85.



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Fire Safety for People with Disabilities: A How-To Guide for Prevention and Evacuation

Roughly 15,700 people are injured and 3,280 died in 2016 due to fire, according to the National Fire Protection Association. While fires are dangerous for anyone and everyone, people with disabilities must deal with unique challenges in these situations. Not only might people with disabilities have a hard time escaping a fire, they may also have challenges preparing ahead of time without the help of a caregiver, family member or friend.


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Guide Dogs for the Blind

Guide Dogs for the Blind empowers lives by creating exceptional partnerships between people, dogs, and communities.

800-295-4050


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Guide Dog Users, Inc.

Guide Dog Users, Inc. Publishes "A Handbook to Help People Who Are Blind Decide If the Guide Dog Lifestyle is Right for Them." Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI), the largest membership and advocacy organization representing guide dog handlers in the United States, is pleased to announce the recent publication of a revised handbook for perspective guide dog users which shares comprehensive information about acquiring and using a guide dog for safe and independent travel. "A Handbook for the Prospective Guide Dog Handler" is available as an E-book and in print from Amazon.com, Smashwords, and other online sellers. Visit this link for further information and to explore options for purchase: www.dldbooks.com/GDUIHandbook/.


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H – M



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International Travel with a Service Animal

If you plan to take your service animal while you travel internationally, there are a few things you need to be mindful of. You will also typically need a minimum of six months to prepare.…


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Legislative Hotlines - current issues for blind persons:

CALIFORNIA CONNECTION

1-800-221-6359, after 5 PM and weekends

WASHINGTON CONNECTION

1-800-424-8666, 3-9 PM and weekends



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Lighthouse For the Blind and Visually Impaired

Promote the equality and self-reliance of people who are blind or visually impaired through rehabilitation training, employment placement, Enchanted Hills Camp and other relevant services.

415-431-1481


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LightHouse's MAD Lab

Happy Spring from LightHouse's MAD Lab! We have exciting news to share with you for the month of April. If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area and use the public transit system, you may request up to five free tactile maps of BART stations and the Salesforce Transit Center!

The Bay Area is full of wonderful opportunities for dining, entertainment, outdoor activity, shopping, and more, much of it available to residents and tourists alike by using BART and other facets of our public transportation system. We all know a good map is key to understanding how to get around efficiently so the LightHouse has created tactile and braille maps of BART stations for people who are blind or are tactile readers.

Thanks to a grant from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5310 Program the LightHouse has mapped all 50 BART stations and the Salesforce Transit Center—street, concourse, and platform views; because you want to know not just where trains go, but how to get in, out, and around stations as well.

Here is how it works: People can explore a map at home and orient themselves to the BART stations they'll be visiting, plan a path of travel from their starting point (home, bus stop, rideshare drop off, etc.) to the entrance of the station, to the fare gates, to the platform, to the train, and at their destination station plan it in reverse.

San Francisco Bay Area residents are eligible under 5310 to request up to five free tactile maps of BART stations and the Salesforce Transit Center. Please complete the BART Map Request Form

https://lighthouse-sf.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=f40e17a83bbae60b5969a0798&id=c68b09d965&e=58aad3db96

specifying which maps you would like. We are taking pre-orders now to be fulfilled beginning in June. We will let you know when to expect your maps in the mail.

If you prefer to order by phone, please call Adaptations at 415-694-7301. If you have any trouble with this form, email madlab@lighthouse-sf.org.


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Making Meetings Accessible for Colleagues with Disabilities

If you're working with a colleague with a disability in a new capacity, you probably have questions about how to address their needs. You and your organization can easily make accommodations for your colleague, whether you're working with them remotely or in person. Here's how to respectfully hold meetings with or onboard a disabled colleague.


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Medical Alert Systems for Blind Seniors

"At MedicalAlert.org, we believe that medical alert systems and other assistive technology can drastically enhance the lives of seniors and their families by coupling an independent lifestyle with safety and peace of mind. Through ever adapting technology, these systems can help caregivers and family members stay connected to their elderly loved ones – ensuring that assistance is always available should there be a fall or medical emergency. Countless lives have been saved and further injury has been prevented through medical alert systems."



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N – R


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National Braille Press

Supports a lifetime of opportunity for blind children through braille literacy and provides access to information that empowers blind people to actively engage in work, family, and community affairs.

617-266-6160 or 888-965-8965



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Nvision's Internet Navigation for Individuals with Low Vision or Blindness

My current project to help fill some key informational gaps across the web for people with disabilities. One of these gaps that we've identified is a lack of consolidated, practical info on internet accessbility for the visually impaired.

It's a serious issue for low-vision and blind users, but one with readily available solutions for those who know where to look. There are many common tools and features available to increase accessibility, but even basic options can be tough to find for less technology-savvy users.

Nvision's Internet Navigation for Individuals with Low Vision or Blindness provides a practical, clear overview of features like screen readers and text adjustments. It also includes more advanced but popular options.

Sarah Martell

Web Advocates


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Online Shopping For Consumers With Disabilities

From capitaloneshopping.com, a blog guide designed to help people with vision impairment and other common disabilities regain their independence by shopping online. The resources mentioned will help individuals with low vision, colorblindness, or dyslexia have a positive online user experience by helping them read what's on their computer, tablet, or smartphone screen.


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Online Writer's Group for the Blind

Our goal is to improve the quality of our writing by sharing and discussing our work with each other. If you are a lover of fine writing, we encourage you to join us. Even if you're not an author yourself, you can help by critiquing.

We have created a mailing list, WritersRetreat on groups.io. There you can post any writing you wish the group to discuss. To subscribe to the group, send email to writersretreat+subscribe@groups.io. The direct link to the group is groups.io/g/writersretreat/topics.


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Penny Forward

Penny Forward is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization offering accessible financial wellness education and counseling programs for people who are blind or disabled.

To subscribe to the free newsletters, Penny Forward Podcast Updates (about bi-weekly) and Penny Forward News And Updates (at least monthly), go to www.pennyforward.com, search for "Subscribe to our free newsletters" and fill in your name and email.

"Our self-paced online courses will provide you with tools and techniques you can use to navigate the complicated landscape of personal finance. In addition, you will also have access to exclusive member-only Zoom chats where you can ask questions and practice your growing money management skills with other members and our instructors. You can also schedule one to one sessions for more personalized help. If that isn’t enough, you’ll also get early access to all Penny Forward podcast episodes, a members only newsletter, and bonus content created exclusively for our members. All of this costs just $9.99 a month or $99 a year."


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PG&E Power Saver Rewards Program

The program rewards participants for temporarily reducing energy use when demand for electricity is high.

Power Saver Rewards Program event days are triggered by the state's grid operator, the California Independent System Operator, calling a Flex Alert and/or an Energy Emergency Alert Watch between May 1 and Oct. 31.

Customers who sign up and reduce energy use between 4 PM and 9 PM on event days will receive an automatic credit of $2 per kilowatt hour (kWh) on their energy statement after the program season ends. There is no penalty for not reducing energy.

Visit https://enroll.powersaver.pge.com/i/pg/pacificGasAndElectricPsr to enroll.


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Resume Builder

From Resume Builder's "Resume and Employment Guide for People With Disabilities":

According to the Social Security Administration, there are over 8 million disabled workers in the United States. These workers often face challenges such as stereotyping, discrimination, and a lack of accomodations. Thankfully, there are a variety of legal protections and employment resources available that help people with disabilities overcome these challenges and advance their careers.

Below, we'll go over best practices for resume writing, laws that protect you from discrimination, and several other topics that you should know about as a disabled worker.


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S – Z


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Silicon Valley Independent Living Center (SVILC)

A non-profit, non-residential organization which serves all people with all types of disabilities, including seniors with disabling conditions, who live in Santa Clara County.

408-894-9041


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Transportation Options for Seniors Who Don't Drive

At Neptune Society, we know that seniors of all ages often want to remain mobile throughout retirement. Whether that means traveling the country or making weekly trips to the local grocery store, we also know accessible transportation isn't always easy to find.


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Vision Center

Vision Center is a web guide created for those seeking information about eye care and health, contacts, glasses, sunglasses, LASIK eye surgery (and other vision correction options), and other optometry needs. All content published on Vision Center is researched, written, and edited by licensed optometrists, experienced journalists, and other medical writers in the industry. All pages and topics on the website are fact-based and sourced from recent scientific research, scholarly articles, textbooks, government agencies, and medical journals. Sources of funding do not influence the content topics on this site or affect the quality of the content. Our website does not host any form of advertisement.

They have recently updated Cheap Eye Exams and Glasses and Hyperopia (Farsightedness).


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VISTA Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Empowers individuals who are blind or visually impaired to embrace life to the fullest through evaluation, counseling, education and training.

1-650-858-0202 or 800-660-2009

2500 El Camino Real, Suite 100, Palo Alto, CA 94306


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VTA/Access

VTA ensures a comparable paratransit service is provided to eligible individuals with disabilities who cannot use conventional public transit service due to their physical, visual or cognitive disabilities. Read to learn more about paratransit Service, eligibility, and how to apply.

VTA Access: Call 408-321-2380. After dialing the VTA Access number, press 1 for English or press 0 for an agent and you'll get the recording you need. Then press 1 to schedule a ride, 2 to cancel a ride, 3 for status of a ride (late vehicle), and 4 for general info and client account info. With complaints, concerns, or compliments: call Robert Gebo at 408-321-5954.


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Your Guide to the Disability Process PDF

The Patient Advocate Foundation is a national non-profit organization that serves as an active liaison between the patient and their insurer, employer and/or creditors to resolve insurance, job retention, and/or debt crisis matters relative to their diagnosis through case managers and attorneys. Patient Advocate Foundation seeks to safeguard patients through effective mediation assuring access to care, maintenance of employment and preservation of their financial stability.


Zocdoc Blog - How Do Disabilities Affect Oral Healthcare Outcomes?

There are a variety of disabilities and chronic conditions that can negatively impact oral health and make it more complicated to find care. Conversely, maintaining good oral health can reduce the chance of some serious illnesses and support better outcomes for people with many types of disabilities. Here are some of the topics our article covers:

  • The relationship between disability and dental health
  • Chronic conditions with oral health concerns
  • Providers’ inability to assist people with disabilities
  • Policies for improving oral healthcare outcomes
  • Specialized training for hygienists and technicians