The following list of links are a collection of state government services designed to assist the blind and visually impaired. The Wisconsin Council of the Blind and Visually impaired has worked with many of these agencies in the past but is unable to make additional recommendations or endorsements other than listing their contact information here.
If you know of additional links that should be included on this page, please send them to our webmaster.
While every attempt is made to keep current with all links, it is impossible to guarantee 100% accuracy with all links. If you find a broken link, please e-mail our webmaster.
Organizations
| Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals | Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals Established in January 2000, the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) is a private, non-profit 501 (c) (6) organization. It is an independent and autonomous legal certification body governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. ACVREP’s mission is to offer professional certification for vision rehabilitation and education professionals in order to improve service delivery to persons with vision impairments. It is committed to quality certification programs that meet rigorous recognized standards. Programs are designed to offer certificants the means to demonstrate knowledge, skills, and professionalism. ACVREP offers certification in three disciplines: Orientation & Mobility, Rehabilitation Teachers, Low Vision Therapy. Contact: ACVREP 3333 N. Campbell Ave., Suite 2 Tucson, AZ 85719 Phone: 520-887-6816, Fax: 520-887-6826, |
| Access To Independence | Access to Independence, Inc. is a non-profit, consumer controlled Independent Living Center (ILC) that provides an array of services to people of all ages with all types of disabilities in Dane, Columbia, Green, and Dodge counties in south-central Wisconsin. ILC's are a nationwide network of consumer controlled disability resource centers, where the majority of board and staff are people with disabilities. Through our Independenct Living (IL) Philosophy, we help people develop the tools and skills to make informed choice for themselves and work to increase the choices available to people with disabilities. Contact: 301 S. Livingston - Suite 200, Madison, WI 53703 Phone: (608) 242-8484 [voice], TTY: (608) 242-8485, Fax: (608) 242-0383 Email: info@accesstoind.org |
| Alumni Association of the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped! | The Alumni Association of the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped (AAWSVH) is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit corporation formed to support the future interests of the school. Contact: AAWSVH c/o Kathy Hudziak, 1700 W State St Janesville, WI 53546 |
| Center for Independent Living for Western Wisconsin, Inc. | The Center for Independent Living for Western Wisconsin (CILWW) advocates for the full participation in society of all persons with disabilities. Our goal is empowering individuals to exercise choices to maintain or increase their independence. Our strategy is providing consumer-driven services at no cost to persons with disabilities in Western Wisconsin. The Center for Independent Living is a private non-profit agency providing services to people with disabilities in a ten county area. CILWW operates as a 501c3 non-profit organization and all donations are tax-deductible.All donations are used to directly benefit people with disabilities and are not reduced by administrative costs. Contact: CILWW - Main Office, 2920 Schneider Avenue East, Menomonie, Wisconsin 54751 (715) 233-1070 Voice / TTY, 1-800-228-3287 Voice / TTY, (715) 233-1083 Fax |
| Badger Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired | Provides low vision consulting, adaptive appliances, residential options, Volunteers in Visual Assistance, information, referral, advocacy, self-help groups and many other programs, activities and events. Contact: 912 N. Hawley Road, Milwaukee, WI 53213, (414) 258-9200 Toll Free: (877) 258-9200, Fax: (414) 256-8744 |
| Center for Deaf-Blind Persons, Inc. | Contact: 3195 South Superior Street, Milwaukee, WI 53207 414-481-7477 Voice/TTY/Braille Access TTY, 414-481-7481 Fax |
| Blinded Veterans Association of Wisconsin, Inc. | The Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) is an organization of blinded veterans helping blinded veterans. Through our service programs, regional groups, resources, and advocacy before the legislative and executive branches of government, we hope to make life better for blinded veterans. We also hope to be there with encouragement and support. There is no charge for any BVA service and membership is not a prerequisite to obtain help. All legally blinded veterans are also eligible for BVA’s assistance whether they become blind during or after active duty military service. Contact: Tel: 1-800-669-7079 E-mail: bva@bva.org |
| Independent Living Resources, Inc. (ILR) | Independent Living Resources will provide services to persons with any disability of any age within our service area. Most services have no eligibility requirements and are available at no cost to the consumer. ILA serves the following counties in Wisconsin: Buffalo, Crawford, Grant, Iowa, Jackson, Juneau, La Crosse, LaFayette, Monroe, Richland, Sauk, Trempealeau, Vernon Contact 888-474-5745 (Voice) 888-378-2198 (Toll Free TTY) E-mail: advocacy@ilresources.org |
| Midstate Independent Living Consultants | MILC provides information, training and support to assist people with disabilities in making an informed decision on their disability-related needs. Services are consumer directed. The individual decides which services they wish to participate in and work with staff to establish goals and determine steps to meet those goals.You are eligible for services if you are a person with a disability and you reside in Adams, Florence, Forest, Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Oneida, Portage, Taylor, Vilas or Wood counties. Contact: 3262 Church Street, Suite 1, Stevens Point, WI 54481, 715-344-4210 V/TTY, 800-382-8484 V/TTY, 715-344-4414 FAX, 715-344-4799 PAS Program FAX |
| North Country Independent Living | North Country Independent Living provides a wide variety of Services and Programs to those people with disabilities in Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Price, Sawyer and Washburn Counties. Contact:: Superior Main Office 2231 Catlin Avenue, Suite 16, Superior, WI 54880, 715-392-9118 V/TTY, 800-924-1220 V/TTY, |
| Options For Independent Living | Options is committed to assist people with disabilities in Northeast Wisconsin and the Fox Valley to live independently. As part of the independent living philosophy of consumer directed services, our staff will provide information so consumers can make informed choices and achieve their objectives. Contact: Options For Independent Living, 555 Country Club Road, Green Bay, Wisconsin 54307, Phone: 920-490-0500, Toll-Free: 888-465-1515, Fax: 920-490-0700, TTY: 920-490-0600, |
| Prevent Blindness Wisconsin | Prevent Blindness Wisconsin is a non-profit volunteer organization, founded in 1958, and an affiliate of Prevent Blindness America. Our mission is to prevent blindness and to preserve sight in Wisconsin. We serve the state by promoting healthy vision and eye safety through eye screenings, information and referral services, and public and professional education. Contact: Prevent Blindness Wisconsin, 759 North Milwaukee Street, Suite 305, Milwaukee, WI 53202, Phone: (414) 765-0505, Fax: (414) 765-0377 |
| Society's Assets | Society's Assets is an Independent Living Center, providing comprehensive services to assist people with living independently. Society's Assets provides assistance to seniors and people of all ages with disabilities. A skilled and experienced staff offer consumers comprehensive in-home services. Serving Racine, Kenosha, Walworth, Jefferson and Rock counties Contact 5200 Washington Ave., 225, Racine, WI 53406-4238, Phone: (262) 637-9128, Toll Free: (800) 378-9128, Fax: (262) 637-8646, TTY: (866) 840-9761 |
| Visual Impairment Services Team (VIST) | The mission of Blind Rehabilitation Service is to coordinate a healthcare service delivery system that provides a continuum of care for blinded veterans extending from their home environment to the local VA facility and to the appropriate rehabilitation setting. These services include adjustment to blindness counseling, patient and family education, benefits analysis, comprehensive residential inpatient training, outpatient rehabilitation services, the provision of assistive technology, and research. A VIST coordinator provides outpatient services to blinded veterans for physical, social, and psychological needs, and reviews benefits once a year. Contact: Zablocki VA Medical Center 5000 West National Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53295 or Jane Ludwig, MSW / VIST Coordinator, William S. Middleton Veterans Hospital, 2500 Overlook Terrace, Madison WI 53705, 608-280-7247 / Jane.Ludwig [at] va.gov |
| Audio & Braille Literacy Enhancement, Inc. | ABLE provides high quality audio, digital, and braille transcriptions of printed materials ranging from books and magazines to restaurant menus and wedding programs. Contact: Audio & Braille Literacy Enhancement, Inc. Central Library Building, 803 West Wells Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233, Voice: 414.286.3039, Fax: 414.286.5450, Email: info@ablenow.org |
| Disability Rights Wisconsin | Disability Rights Wisconsin is a private non profit organization which was founded in 1977. Designated by the Governor to ensure the rights of all state citizens with disabilities through individual advocacy and system change, DRW is part of a national system of federally mandated independent disability agencies. DRW is completely independent of government and the disability service system in order to be free of any conflicts of interests which would undermine our capacity to advocate vigorously on behalf of the human and legal rights of people with disabilities. Disability Rights helps people across Wisconsin gain access to services and opportunity through its advocacy and legal expertise. We regularly challenge systems and society to create positive change and improve the lives of people with disabilities. Committed board and staff members are among the strongest advocates in the state. We support the right of each person to live in dignity, to work and to attend school in the mainstream of society. The agency also works on disability issues with state and local governments. Disability Rights Wisconsin receives financial support from individuals and private foundations and from training fees and government grants. Disability Rights Wisconsin has offices in Madison, Milwaukee and Rice Lake Contact: 131 W. Wilson St., Suite 700, Madison, WI 53703, 608-267-0214, TTY: 888-758-6049, Fax: 608-267-0368, Toll Free: 800-928-8778 |
| Wisconsin Optometric Association (WOA) | Contact the Association for a list of low vision optometrists in your area. Contact Wisconsin Optometric Association 6510 Grand Teton Plaza Suite, 312 Madison, WI 53719, Phone: 608-824-2200 Fax: 608-824-2205 |