Federal grants are made to MCB under Title 7, Chapter 2 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended by Title 4 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. MCB’s OIB Program provides support services for people aged 55 and older whose severe visual impairment makes competitive employment difficult to obtain but for whom independent living goals are feasible.
Concentrating on the unmet needs of elders coping with limitations imposed upon them by legal blindness, advancing age, and social isolation, MCB’s Older Independent Blind Program provides direct and purchased services to eligible consumers so they can live independently and confidently in their homes and communities.
MCB’s Older Independent Blind Program provides services to residents of Massachusetts:
• Who are age 55 and older;
• Who are legally blind;
• Whose ability to function independently at home or in the community is substantially limited due to legal blindness; and
• And for whom the delivery of independent living services will substantially improve their ability to function, continue functioning, or progress toward functioning independently in their home or community.
Depending on the individual need, the following services may be provided by MCB’s Older Independent Blind Program to eligible consumers:
• Case management and advocacy
• Rehabilitation teaching, including independent living skills training, meal preparation, housekeeping, grooming, safety, and medication management
• Orientation and mobility training
• Low vision evaluations and devices, including video magnification, handheld magnifiers, and other identified devices
• Assistive technology and training
• Counseling on adjustment to blindness
• Information and referral to community resources
• Diabetes education
• Presentations regarding vision loss to enhance public education
Older Independent Blind services are available statewide and subject to the availability of grant funding.
MCB provides funding to the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired and Sight Loss Services to help host free peer support groups across the state.
Contact the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired by email at mabvi@mabcommunity.org or by phone at 888-613-2777.
Contact Sight Loss Services by email at info@sightloss.org or by phone at 508-394-3904.