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State services for people who are blind or have low vision

Live Fully

Every state and the District of Columbia has an agency that teaches the skills of living and working with vision loss: travel with a cane, assistive technology, job training and everyday independence. Most of it costs you nothing. Find yours below.

Find your state agencyWhat happens after you apply

At a glance

Who's eligible
Vision loss that gets in the way of work or daily lifeYou do not need to be legally blind. The main program, vocational rehabilitation, is for people preparing for, keeping or returning to work, including students. Most agencies also run independent-living and children's programs.
What it costs
Usually nothingServices are funded by federal and state money. When a state can't serve everyone at once it uses an "order of selection," so apply early even if your vision is still good.
What to have ready
A recent eye exam reportYour ophthalmologist or optometrist can send the vision records the agency asks for. Bring any genetic test result too; it isn't required.
How long it takes
A decision within 60 days, a plan within 90Federal rules give agencies 60 days to decide eligibility after you apply and 90 days after that to write your plan with you, unless you both agree to more time.

Find your state agency

Fifty states and the District of Columbia. Search by state, or narrow by region.

Showing 51 of 51 agencies

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What happens after you apply

The steps are the same in every state. Two of the deadlines are set by federal rules, and your agency can only extend them with your agreement.

  1. Day 1

    You apply

    By phone, online or in person. You're assigned a counselor who works with people with vision loss.

  2. Within 60 days

    Eligibility decision

    The agency reviews your eye records. People already receiving SSI or SSDI are presumed eligible.

  3. Next

    Assessment

    A look at your vision, skills and goals. It may include an assistive-technology assessment and an orientation and mobility screening.

  4. Within 90 days

    Your written plan

    You and your counselor write an Individualized Plan for Employment, or an independent-living plan, that lists services, goals and timelines.

  5. Then

    Services begin

    Training, equipment, travel instruction, counseling or job support, for as long as the plan runs.

Deadlines from federal vocational rehabilitation regulations (34 CFR 361.41 and 361.45). Independent-living and children's programs follow each state's own rules.

What these agencies can teach and provide

Not every state offers every item, and names differ. Ask your counselor which of these are in your plan.

  • Assistive technology trainingScreen readers (JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver), magnification software, braille displays and everyday devices. Equipment is often provided as part of your plan.
  • Orientation and mobilityWhite-cane travel, safe street crossing, public transit and route planning with a certified instructor.
  • Vocational rehabilitationJob placement, résumé and interview help, workplace accommodations and employer education.
  • Independent living skillsCooking, labeling, money management, organization and other daily tasks adapted for low vision.
  • Adjustment counselingSupport for adapting to vision loss, one to one or in a group, for you and sometimes for your family.
  • Business Enterprise ProgramTraining and support to run vending and food-service businesses in public buildings under the Randolph-Sheppard Act.
  • Transition services for studentsPre-employment skills, college planning, summer programs and mentoring with blind professionals, usually from your early teens through 21.
  • Equipment loans and financingMany states lend devices for a trial period or offer low-interest loans for buying assistive technology.

About this directory. A Race Against Blindness is not affiliated with any state agency. Program names, eligibility and waiting periods change; the agency's own staff have the final word. This page is for education and is not legal or medical advice.

Sources

  • 34 CFR 361.41 (eligibility decision within 60 days of application), 361.42 (eligibility; presumption for SSI and SSDI recipients; order of selection in 361.36), 361.45 (plan within 90 days of the eligibility decision).
  • Each agency's own website, checked on the date shown in the finder.

Medical Disclaimer

This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. It is not a substitute for seeking medical opinions, nor an endorsement of any treatments, research, or organizations. Trial information is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov and public press releases. Genetic testing and clinical management should be performed by qualified healthcare professionals, including ophthalmologists and genetic counselors.