Arizona Resources for the Visually Impaired

Tucson Society of the Blind (TSB)
TSB, meets every Tuesday from 9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at Christ Presbyterian Church, 6565 E. Broadway. TSB provides educational, social, and recreational support for the visually impaired. TSB has weekly programs with informative guest speakers, luncheons, and field trips. If you know of someone who is visually impaired, please call Barbara, 298-2427 or Tom 721-1029. For copies of newsletters go to www.tucsonsocietyoftheblind.org.

Arizona Braille and Talking Book Library
800-255-5578 or 602-255-5578
Get a free talking book player, headphones, and access to over 600,000 books of all genres, from romance to biographies and mysteries. The free talking book player is easy to use. Also available are Descriptive Movie DVD’s with audio description that describes the action between the dialogues. You can download books from BARD on the computer or iPhone onto a thumb drive to put into the book player. You can also download books from BARD on iPhones, iPads, and Victor Stream book players. You must fill out an application to sign up for service.

Sign up for Newsline to hear over 60 newspapers and magazines, (including the Arizona Daily Star and USA Today) read aloud to you by telephone. Just ask your Talking Book Advisor to sign you up. Free!

AZ Vocational Rehabilitation and Independent Living Blind
Supports all free services provided by the state. You must be 55 and older and you must fill out an application. Call 888-282-9857 for classes, orientation, mobility, and assistive technology training.

SAAVI (SAAVI Services For The Blind)
520-795-1331 Email kgomez@saavi.us
Still needs to sign up with Independent Blind Skills Program, number above, to get services and get on wait list. Call Katie Gomez for information. SAAVI provides special services for the visually impaired), 3767 E. Grant, . SAAVI offers free classes on dealing with vision loss with resources available. Free exercise programs are also available. SAAVI will provide orientation and mobility (White cane training) to help people travel independently. Computer and iPhone training also available.

American Council of the Blind (ACB)
800-424-8666
www.acb.org
Advocacy and promotes legislation to help blind. Call John McCann, AZ State President, for more information, 571-212-3100. ACB offers great community zoom and phone calls on many topics. Sign up at community@acb.org

Direct Services for Independence
1001 N. Alvernon Way
520-624-6452
direct@directaz.org. Ask for Hannah to register for services.
Direct can offer rehab teaching, lessons in independent living skills such as cooking, and learning Braille. Some assistive technology training is available as well as orientation and mobility training. Direct services are free and there is no waiting list.

National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
410-659-9314
www.nfb.org
Tucson NFB chapter meets the first Saturday of the month from 1:00-3:00 p.m., 3767 E. Grant, SAAVI. Call Bob Kresmer, 520-733-5894 NFB 888-899-6322, or go to www.nfb.org. NFB advocates for legislation for the blind. Also, you can order a free long cane for mobility. NFB in the market place, 410-659-9314, ext. 2216, order specialized products, such as talking watches and digital recorders.

Sign up for Sun Van Para Transit for city-wide service by filling out an American Disability Act (ADA) application Call 791-4100 to qualify. Sun Van will provide door to door service. Economy and regular fares are available. Call the reservationist at 520-798-1000, up to one week in advance to make reservations.

For those living outside of Tucson but still in Pima County, Dial a Ride gives rides. Call 792-9222.