Scroll down below the National & State resources for organizations that help with eye exams & glasses! Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom of the page for all types
of resources!
ALSO: We had SO many resources listed, we had to go to 2 pages! Click on the link
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT & NATIONAL PRIVATE RESOURCES:
American Foundation for the Blind
AFB Headquarter Office:
1101 Wilson Blvd. 6th Floor
Arlington, VA 22209
Phone: 212-502-7600
AFB has been a leader in expanding possibilities for the nearly 5 million Americans
living with vision loss. We champion access and equality, and stand at the forefront
of new technologies and evidence-based advocacy. We address the most pressing
needs of people with vision loss and their families, breaking down societal barriers
and promoting broad systemic change.
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
National Memorial and Headquarters
2750 N. Lakeview Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614-1889
Phone: 773-755-4700
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Mchigan Elks Association
PO Box 141605
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Phone: 616-723-2763
Helping Michigan's Children:
The Michigan Elks will assist any special needs child in Michigan, regardless of race,
creed or color, who is unable to obtain assistance from other agencies or organizations;
whose family’s income will not allow them to give the child the needed treatment.
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Special Needs are defined as any handicap in a child that restricts his or her ability to
tfunction in a normal manner. We offer assistance from birth through the 17th year.
The types of services we provide are through awards made on behalf of the individual children as requested, paid directly to the approved vendor, camp, doctor or therapist
and include approved therapies, attendance at therapy camps located throughout the
State of Michigan, medical equipment, technology items such as iPads for assistance
with communication as well as therapeutic activities, hippotherapy and much more.
Friends of Man
P.O. Box 937
Littleton, CO 80160-0937
Phone: 303-798-2342
At Friends of Man we are a 501(c)(3), non-profit, tax-exempt charity using 100% of
donations for charitable assistance. We work through Referring Professionals (case-
workers, case managers, healthcare workers, social workers, school counselors,
teachers, clergy) who apply on behalf of their patients and clients needing mobility
equipment, prosthetics, glasses, dentures, hearing aids, and much more!
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General Assistance Program
Helps people of all ages in Colorado with a large variety of needs. Assists people
who live outside of Colorado with a limited range of needs.
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Transplant Medication Program
Assists people who can’t afford on-going post-transplant medication.
iCanConnect - National Deaf Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP)
Phone: 800-825-4595
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Michigan Office:
DEAF C.A.N.!
2111 Orchard Lake #101
Sylvan Lake, MI 48320
Phone: 248-332-3331 VP Phone: 248-209-6437
Website: http://www.deafcan.org
iCanConnect is a national program with local contacts to help people stay connected
with friends, family, their community, and the world. iCanConnect provides free equip-
ment and training to people with both significant vision and hearing loss who meet disability and income guidelines. In Michigan, Perkins School for the Blind is respon-
sible for iCanConnect, and
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People eligible for iCanConnect receive an assessment to identify solutions to support
their distance communication goals. Then, participants are provided equipment and
training that meets their needs. Examples include: smartphones, tablets, computer &
braille devices.
JBI INTERNATIONAL
110 E. 30th
New York, NY 10016
Phone: 212-889-2525 Toll Free: 800-433-1531
Dedicated to meeting the Jewish cultural needs of individuals who are blind or visually impaired. We offer a free library of Jewish interest books, magazines, and special pub- lications in Braille, Large Print, and Audio format for individuals who are visually im-
paired, blind, physically handicapped, or reading disabled.
National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
Baltimore, MD 21230
Phone 410-659-9314
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Michigan Affiliate
State President
Robert Parsons
Phone: 269-216-8640
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is an organization of blind people in the
U.S. It is the oldest and largest organization led by blind people in the United States.
The National Federation of the Blind offers many programs, services, and resources
for blind and low-vision people in the United States.
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Free White Cane Program
The National Federation of the Blind has distributed more than 64,000 free white canes
since 2008. The white cane gives blind people the ability to achieve a full & independent
life, allowing us to travel freely and safely. We started our free white cane program be-
cause we believe that no blind person should be without a white cane, regardless of his
or her ability to pay for it. For more information, please contact us at freecane@nfb.org
or 410-659-9314.
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Free Slate and Stylus Program
The National Federation of the Blind will distribute a plastic, four-line, twenty-eight cell
slate along with a saddle stylus to those that need them. That includes those that are
blind and low vision who know Braille or want to learn Braille. The slate and stylus have long been and continue to be valuable tools for writing Braille, which is vital to literacy
for the blind. It is the only Braille-writing device that has the same portability, flexibility,
and affordability as a pen and pencil. From labeling your canned goods to jotting down
a phone number, the uses and advantages of the slate and stylus for the blind are as
varied as those of a pen and pencil for the sighted.
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National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (State Contact)
Phone: 215-527-5149
NEW EYES FOR THE NEEDY
549 Millburn Ave.
Short Hills, NJ 07078
Phone: 973-376-4903
New Eyes For The Needy purchases new prescription eyeglasses through a voucher program for children & adults in the U.S. who cannot afford glasses on their own.
New Eyes accepts, recycles & distributes donated glasses for poor people overseas.
The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled
Library of Congress
1291 Taylor Street NW
Washington, DC 20542
Phone: 202-707-5100 Toll-free: 800-424-8567
Sign up to use NLS services. Learn how to receive equipment and materials through
the mail and register for online downloads.
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NLS serves its patrons through a network of cooperating libraries. Your local network
library can help you sign up for free special-format library service, assist with issues concerning equipment, suggest and locate titles of interest to you, and help you receive access to the BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) website and app. All of these interactions can be done remotely, via telephone, fax, postage-free mail, or e-mail.
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All network libraries provide access to NLS-produced braille and talking books and magazines, which they circulate via postage-free mail. Some libraries have additional collections, including large-print books and described DVDs. Contact your library today
to find out what services they can offer you.
Find your local library here:
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Health Eligibility Center / Blind and Low-Vision Rehabilitation Services
810 Vermont Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20420
Phone: 202-461-7317
If you’re a Veteran or active-duty service member who is blind or has low vision, you
be able to get advanced vision care & rehabilitation services through VA to help you
live an independent life.
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Does VA provide guide dogs for blind Veterans?
No. But we do work with non-VA agencies that provide guide or service dogs. Many
of these organizations don’t charge for the dog or the dog’s training. And if you’re
eligible for a guide or service dog, we’ll pay for the veterinary care and equipment
(like a harness or backpack) that you’ll need for the dog to work at its best.
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How do I access these services?
To learn more about VA blind rehabilitation services, contact the Visual Impairment
Services Team (VIST) Coordinator at your nearest VA medical center.
Vision To Learn
Administrative Office:
12100 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1275
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Phone: 800-485-9196
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Michigan Office: Tressel Flaggs, Program Manager Eastern Michigan
Phone: 313-413-4899
Vision To Learn provides free eye exams and free eyeglasses to children in 13 states
and D.C.
STATE & COUNTY GOVERNMENT & PRIVATE RESOURCES
NOTE: MEDICAID WILL NOW PAY FOR EYE EXAMS & GLASSES
Medicaid will begin paying for one eye exam and one pair of glasses (if needed) every
2 years. You MAY have a co-pay of $2.00. For information if you are on full Medicaid,
call 800-642-3195. If you are on one of the Health plans, call their Member Services
number.
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If you have diabetes, MEDICARE will help pay for eye exams! Diabetic eye disease
can affect anyone with diabetes, it often has no symptoms or pain and if undetected,
can cause severe vision loss or blindness.
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If you are a person with diabetes, who has a family history of glaucoma, an African-American age 50 or older or a Hispanic age 65 or older.......Medicare will cover an
eye exam to detect glaucoma once every 12 months. Patients must pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount after the yearly Part B deductible. Glaucoma often has
no warning signs & if untreated, it can lead to vision loss. Call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit www.medicare.gov.
Bookshare
Phone: 650-352-0198
Who Can Join:
Bookshare makes reading easier. People with dyslexia, blindness, cerebral palsy, and
other reading barriers can customize their experience to suit their learning style and
find virtually any book they need for school, work, or the joy of reading.
Braile and Audio Reading Downloads (BARD)
Taylor Community Library
12303 Pardee
Taylor, MI 48180
Phone: 734-287-4840
Local provider for the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled. Search
NLS catalog and order thru the website!
CORKTOWN HEALTH (formerly Health Emergency Lifeline Program)
1726 Howard
Detroit, MI 48216
Phone: 313-832-3300 Toll-free: 888-435-5655
Prescription eyeglasses are provided for eligible low-income clients who lack eyeglass insurance coverage. Must have HIV/AIDS and/or Hepatitis C.
Detroit Radio Information Service / WDET 101.9 FM
4600 Cass Ave.
Detroit, MI 48201
Phone: 313-577-4146
The Detroit Radio Information Service (DRIS) is southeast Michigan’s Radio Reading/
Audio Information Service for people with disabilities. It is a special audience service
of WDET 101.9 FM — Detroit’s NPR station and Wayne State University. DRIS is a com- prehensive, service provided by WDET- Detroit’s NPR station, to visually impaired in- dividuals connecting our community’s most underserved population group to life
changing information. Since 1978, DRIS has filled an information void in the blind &
print-impaired population by offering a simple method of accessing printed and visual
news and information published in hundreds of daily, weekly, and monthly periodicals.
DRIS aspires to offer even more, including news and public affairs programming spec-
ifically for and about its target audience of blind and print-impaired people.
Detroit Receiving Hospital & University Health Center
Visually Impaired Services
4201 St. Antoine
Detroit, MI 48201
Phone: 313-745-4510
Serves people aged 16 and older.
Greater Detroit Agency for the Blind and Visually Impaired
(formerly Upshaw Institute for the Blind)
26777 Central Park Blvd., Suite 150
Southfield, MI 48076
Phone: 313-272-3900
GDABVI takes a whole-person approach to sight loss by meeting people where they are
in their vision journey. We provide daily living skills, technology training, orientation and mobility, support groups, case management for basic needs, information and resources, and opportunities to socialize for blind and visually impaired individuals. Our programs foster independence, safety, and overall well-being across the lifespan. Serving Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston, Washtenaw, Monroe & St. Clair Counties.
HFHS Ruth Ellis Health & Wellness Center
77 Victor
Highland Park, MI 48203
Phone: 313-365-3338
Serves clients 10-21 years old. If this person comes to the health center for a checkup /
well exam, we can give them a voucher for free exam and free pair of eyeglasses at Henry Ford OptimEyes.
HOPE Clinic
Ypsilanti Clinic:
518 Harriet
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Phone: 734-436-1186
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Wayne Clinic:
33608 Palmer
Westland, MI 48186
Phone: 734-710-6688
Adults (18+) who are not pregnant can schedule a free vision exam at the Hope Clinic, courtesy of University of Michigan SIGHT program. Free & low-cost eyeglasses available.
To Set Up An Appointment:
Call 734-436-1186
INFANT SEE
243 N. Lindbergh Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63141
Phone: 314-983-4286 Toll Free: 888-396-EYES (3937)
InfantSEE®, a public health program, managed by Optometry Cares® -The AOA Foun-dation, is designed to ensure that eye and vision care becomes an essential part of
infant wellness care to improve a child's quality of life. Under this program, partici-
pating Doctors of Optometry provide a comprehensive infant eye assessment between
6 and 12 months of age free of charge regardless of family income or access to insur-
ance coverage.
Kiwanis Club of Woodhaven
22019 Crestwood
Woodhaven, MI 48183-5227
Phone: 734-771-0552
Provides eyeglasses to needy Woodhaven-Brownstown children.
Lions Club of Michigan Service Foundation / Sight Restoration Program
5730 Executive
Lansing, MI 48911
Phone: 517-887-6640
The Lions of Michigan Foundation is a public charity that was created in 1984 to help Michigan Lions Clubs provide community services. We work in partnership with our member Lions Clubs and other organizations to provide disadvantaged individuals & families with access to affordable medical care and services designed to help improve
their quality of life.
Michigan Braille and Talking Book Library
702 West Kalamazoo
P.O. Box 30007
Lansing, MI 48909-7507
Phone: 517-373-5614
The Braille and Talking Book Library (BTBL) lends audio and braille books to Michigan residents unable to comfortably read standard print materials due to a visual, physical,
or reading disability. Apply for service to access thousands of books that can be down- loaded directly with BARD, or request one of our digital talking book players & books
can be delivered directly to you on cartridge through the regular U.S. postal service.
And best of all, this service is FREE, there is not even a charge to mail materials to the library.
Michigan Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP)
Detroit Office:
3038 W Grand Blvd. Suite 4-450
Detroit, MI 48202-2038
Phone: 313-456-1646
CENTRAL OFFICE-LANSING 800-292-4200 TTY: 888-864-1212
Provides training and other services to help blind or visually impaired persons achieve employment and independence. Provides counseling and training in skills for daily living without vision. Senior Blind is an independent-living program for adults age 55+ who are legally blind.
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Senior Resource Connect
Phone: 734-971-9781 #8
Senior Resource Connect (formerly Ahead of the Curve) is a program of Catholic Social Services of Washtenaw County. Through compassionate service, we help people live meaningful and independent lives. Visit us at csswashtenaw.org.
Mission Cataract USA
1233 E. Brandywine
Fresno, CA 93720
Phone: 559-797-1629
Mission Cataract USA offers free cataract surgery to people of all ages who have no
means to pay. Thanks to the dream of one eye surgeon in Fresno, California, one day
a year on Mission Cataract Day, hundreds of people throughout the U.S. are given the
gift of sight at no cost to them or to Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance.
MI-UCP
1325 S. Washington Ave.
Lansing, MI 48910
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23077 Greenfield Suite 205
Southfield, MI
Phone: 248-557-5070
Assistive technology is “any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether
acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities.”
Our Children's Fund
c/o WBSD Special Services
5810 Commerce
West Bloomfield, MI 48324
Our Children’s Fund is able to supply backpacks, school supplies and clothing as well
as financial assistance for summer school classes and academic enrichment. Through
donations to the WB / KH Blessing in a Backpack program, food is also provided. 100%
of all contributions are used to help students and families in need.
Only for the school children of this district!!
Penrickton Center for Blind Children
26530 Eureka
Taylor, MI 48180
Phone: 734-946-7500
Through the years, Penrickton Center has constantly changed to meet the needs of
visually impaired children in the Metro Detroit area. In the late 1950’s, Penrickton Cen-
ter added a 5-day residential program to better serve children in the community. In the
early 1960’s, we initiated a program to serve blind children with one additional handicap because no such program existed to meet these special needs.
Currently, we specialize in working with children who are visually impaired, ages one through twelve with at least one additional handicap such as deafness, cerebral palsy, developmental delay, seizures, etc. Serves children ages 1-12 who live within approxi-
mately 120 miles of Taylor.
ReSpectacle
ReSpectacle is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that uses the power of the internet
to facilitate redistribution of high-quality, donated eyeglasses to under-served indivi-
duals & communities worldwide. Donated glasses are cleaned, categorized, & loaded
into our online database based on their prescription. ReSpectacle limits orders to 3
pairs of managing and shipping free spectacles to recipients all over the world.
Robert R. Frank Student-Run FREE Clinic
1234 Porter
Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: 313-444-5490
This clinic provides high-quality, non-emergent, free primary care including:
Saline Area Social Services
1259 Industrial Dr.
Saline, MI 48176
Phone: 734-429-4570
Our mission is to help our struggling neighbors within the Saline Area School District
by providing them the extra aid, tools and resources to help improve their lives. Has eyeglass financial help.
Seedlings Braille Books for Children
P.O. Box 51924
14151 Farmington
Livonia, MI 48151
Phone: 800-777-8552
Seedlings Braille Books for Children is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing
high quality, low-cost children's books in braille. Our small staff works hard transcribing, proof-reading, printing, binding, and shipping over 20,000 books per year. In addition, we are always diligently working to obtain grants and donations which enable us to keep our prices affordable for you. Our books are sold for approximately half of the actual product- iion price, and our prices have not been increased for over 20 years!
St. John Hospital & Medical Center Holley Ear Institute
Professional Building 1, Suite 223
22151 Moross
Detroit, MI 48236-2172
Phone: 313-343-3165
Who We Are:
Located on 214-acres of quiet lakefront woodland Carls Family Village (affiliated with
The Holley Institute), is a non-profit established to serve those with hearing loss, vision
loss or deafness. For over 27-years we’ve been providing programs to assist families
with their DDBHH children as well as programs for teens to enhance & encourage self-esteem and self-confidence. We also offer programs for Deaf / Blind and American Sign Language classes.
Our Mission:
The mission of The Holley Institute is to provide life-enhancing programs for those exper- iencing hearing loss, vision loss or deafness. We also provide programs for parents with children with hearing loss, vision loss or deafness. We screen all infants for hearing off
and provide outreach programs and services and education relating to hearing loss for
the community at large. Affiliated with The Holley Institute, we have been providing pro- grams for parents with a child/children who are Hard of Hearing or Deaf for more than twenty-five years. We offer programs for Deaf-Blind, American Sign Language and Teen programs.
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Holley Family Village, Inc.
aka The Carls Family Village
1142 DeSales Dr.
Brooklyn, MI 49230 -2103
Phone: 517-592-6283 (Voice)
University of Michigan MI-SIGHT Program
The University of Michigan MI-SIGHT program helps people with limited access to eye
care receive eye disease screening and free or low-cost glasses. We are partnering with
the Hope Clinic, a free clinic in Ypsilanti, MI, and the Hamilton Community Health Network,
a Federally Qualified Health Center in Flint, MI to carry out this program.
If you are age 18 or older (AND)
If you would like to participate at the Ypsilanti, MI site please contact our study team at
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If you would like to participate at the Flint, MI site please contact our study team at 810-
VSP Eyes of Hope (formerly SIGHT FOR STUDENTS)
VSP GLOBAL CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
3333 Quality Dr.
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
Phone: 800-852-7600
Adults or children in need of vision care, we may be able to help you access an eye
exam and glasses at no cost to you.
Wayne County Dept. of Health, Human and Veterans Services
33030 Van Born
Wayne, MI 48184
Phone: 734-727-7100 Service / Intake 734-727-7088
Part of your child's success in school depends on good hearing & vision. Periodic
hearing and vision screenings during the preschool and school age years are impor-
tant in identifying a hearing or eye problem early. Hearing & Vision Screenings for
children ages 3-18 years are offered in schools, preschools, nurseries, day care cen-
ters and Head Start. If a child is suspected of having a hearing or vision problem, the
parent or guardian will be notified & recommended to see a physician of their choosing.
Free hearing and vision screenings are available by appointment the 3rd Friday of each month. To schedule an appointment, call 734-727-7136.
