If you are 55 or older and have a vision problem that makes everyday tasks difficult, Older Individuals Who Are Blind services may be able to help you gain the confidence you need to live independently. Successful independent living training can help you:
- Accomplish everyday tasks
- Participate in your favorite activities
- Communicate with family and friends
- Gain a better understanding about your vision impairment
- Get back confidence you may have lost
What We Do
Living Skills
Disability Services
Services
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Eligibility
The Older Individuals Who Are Blind Program provides services to customers 55 and older:
- Who have a significant visual impairment
- Whose ability to function independently in the home, family, or community is substantially limited due to visual impairment
- For whom the delivery of independent living services will substantially improve their ability to function, continue functioning, or move toward functioning independently in the home, family, or community
Services
Depending on the individual need, the following services may be provided by TWC to eligible consumers:
- Independent living skills training, provided in a customer’s home or in the community
- Orientation and mobility training
- Low vision evaluations and low vision devices, including video magnification, hand-held magnifiers, and other identified devices
- Diabetes education
- Deafblind evaluations and equipment
- Counseling on adjustment to blindness
- Other services as necessary, such as ancillary services provided to support skills training
For more information about eligibility and services provided by TWC’s Older Individuals Who Are Blind Program, please contact us at: (844) NEED-OIB or by email at: oib.info@twc.texas.gov.
Other Independent Living Services
There are additional services.
Eye 2 Eye
Eye2Eye is a free, phone-based, peer support program, designed to assist adults who are blind or visually impaired
and their families. It is part of Rutgers Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation & Counseling Professions.
They offer:
- Emotional Support
- Community Connection
- Assessments of Needs and Wellbeing
- Goal Setting
- Information and Resources
- Referrals
- Services for Families and Loved Ones
- Virtual Peer Support Groups
- Services in Spanish
Website: Eye2Eye - Rutgers - Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation & Counseling Professions
Time To Be Bold
Adults who are 55+ can take charge of their vision loss and their life. Time To Be Bold empowers you to connect with services and resources.
Time To Be Bold empowers you to connect with services in a way that is comfortable to you. A person with vision loss or their family can:
- Call and speak to a person immediately through APH connect hotline
- Learn practical coping strategies for everyday tasks, engage in remote discussion groups, and speak to learning experts by engaging with Hadley’s free on-line material.
- Explore the helpful information provided on Time To Be Bold and continue learning on VisionAware.org
Website: Independent Living For Older Blind Individual | Time To Be Bold
The Health and Human Services Commission:
provides a broad array of independent living services to people of all ages and with all disabilities through the network of Centers for Independent Living. TWC is working closely with these Centers to ensure a smooth referral process and non-duplication of services. For more information, contact the Health and Human Services Commission’s Independent Living Services.