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Overview
If you are 55 or older and have a vision problem that makes everyday tasks difficult, Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind 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
Eligibility
The Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind Program provides services to consumers 55 and older:
- Who have 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 consumer’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 Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind Program, please use the following table to identify the staff contact in your area.
|
IL OIB Worker |
Coverage Areas, VR Region |
Office Address |
Phone Number |
Counties Served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Vicky Shumate |
Abilene, Region 1 |
4309 Jacksboro Hwy, Suite B |
(940) 217-9927 |
Archer, Baylor, Brown, Callahan, Clay, Coke, Coleman, Comanche, Concho, Cottle, Crockett, Eastland, Fisher, Foard, Hardeman, Haskell, Hemphill, Irion, Jack, Jones, Kimble, Knox, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Mitchell, Montague, Nolan, Reagan, Runnels, Schleicher, Scurry, Shackelford, Stephens, Sterling, Stonewall, Sutton, Taylor, Throckmorton, Tom Green, Wichita, Wilbarger, Young |
|
Teresa Berger |
Amarillo, Region 1 |
2002 W. Loop 289, Suite 117 |
(806) 765-5038 |
Armstrong, Bailey, Borden, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Childress, Cochran, Collingsworth, Crosby, Dallam, Dawson, Deaf Smith, Dickens, Donley, Floyd, Gaines, Garza, Gray, Hale, Hall, Hansford, Hartley, Hockley, Howard, Hutchinson, Kent, King, Lamb, Lipscomb, Lubbock, Lynn, Moore, Motley, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman, Swisher, Terry, Wheeler, Yoakum |
|
Jesus Donacio |
El Paso, Region 1 |
8825 North Loop Drive, Suite 123 |
(915) 834-7014 |
Andrews, Brewster, Crane, Culberson, Ector, El Paso, Glasscock, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Loving, Martin, Midland, Pecos, Presidio, Reeves, Terrell, Upton, Ward, Winkler |
|
Cherome Phillips
|
Dallas Region 2 |
6500 Greenville Ave, Suite 250 |
(214) 378-2666 |
Counties: Dallas*, Ellis, Kaufman, Navarro *Covers the city of Dallas and all other cities in Dallas county not covered by Ms. Rangel. |
|
Roxana Mendez-Rangel |
Dallas Region 2 |
6500 Greenville Ave, Suite 250 |
(214) 378-2666 |
Counties: Collin, Dallas*, Denton, Grayson, Fannin, Hunt, Rockwall *Covers the following cities in Dallas county: Addison, Carrollton, Coppell, Farmers Branch, Irving, Sachse |
|
Brooke Lewis |
Fort Worth Region 2 |
2400 Circle Drive, Suite 200 |
(817) 759-3515 |
Cooke, Erath, Hood, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker, Somervell, Tarrant, Wise |
|
Adrianna Lerma |
Austin Region 3 |
6400 E Hwy 290 Suite 300 |
(512) 533-7100 |
Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays, Llano, Milam, Travis, Williamson |
|
Zebedee Johnson |
Waco, Region 3 |
1416 S New Road |
(254)296-5295 |
Bell, Bosque, Brazos, Burleson, Coryell, Falls, Freestone, Grimes, Hamilton, Hill, Lampasas, Lee, Leon, Limestone, Madison, McLennan, Mills, Robertson, San Saba, Walker, Washington |
|
Peggy Joseph |
Beaumont, Region 4 |
5405 Winfree Street |
(409) 600-2671 |
Angelina, Hardin, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, Tyler |
|
Carlos Vasquez |
Houston Region 5 |
4424 North Freeway Suite A |
(713) 692-7755 |
Austin, Fort Bend, Harris, Montgomery, Waller |
|
Rosalind Livings |
San Antonio Region 6 |
4241 Woodcock Drive, Suite A-105 |
(210) 785-2783 |
Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Colorado, Comal, Edwards, Fayette, Frio, Gillespie, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kinney, Medina, Real, Uvalde, Val Verde, Wilson |
|
Macarena Pena |
McAllen Region 6 |
801 W. Nolana, Suite 115 |
(956) 661-0930 |
Cameron, Dimmitt, Duval, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, La Salle, Live Oak, Maverick, McMullen, Starr, Webb, Willacy, Zapata, Zavala |
|
Ursula Odom |
Corpus Christi, Region 6 |
4102 N Navarro Street, Suite D |
(361) 580-5700 |
Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Lavaca, Matagorda, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Victoria, Wharton |
|
Kammy Locascio |
Tyler, Region 4 |
3800 Paluxy Drive, Suite 325 |
(903) 571-0167 |
Anderson, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Delta, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hopkins, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Panola, Rains, Red River, Rusk, Smith, Titus, Upshur, Van Zandt, Wood |
|
William Driggers |
Houston, Region 5 |
10060 Fuqua |
(713) 948-7968 |
Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Harris, Liberty |
See Also
Other Independent Living Services
Centers for Independent Living
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.
Older Individuals who are Blind Technical Assistance Center (OIB-TAC)
Time To Be Bold is a national public service awareness campaign through the Independent Living Older Individuals who are Blind Technical Assistance Center at the National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision. The OIB-TAC and this campaign are funded by the Dept. of Education Rehabilitation Services Administration, which also funds services and training for individuals with visual impairments, including vocational rehabilitation (VR) and the Independent Living Older Individuals who are Blind (OIB) programs nationally.
The TimeToBeBold campaign is designed to educate, engage and empower people who are 55+ with low vision to maintain/regain their independence by utilizing the free or low-cost services provided by the RSA-funded OIB programs. Go to timetobebold.org for a list of free or low-cost services in your state that will give you the tools, technology, training, and support you need to live your bold, best life.
Contact
Contact the TWC Older Individuals who are Blind Helpline:
- Call: (512) 936-3388
- Email: oib.info@twc.texas.gov
Resources
- Fact Sheet: Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind
- Brochure: Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired (English)
- Brochure: Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired (en Español)
- Guide to Independent Living for Older Individuals Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
- Guide to Independent Living for Older Individuals Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired (large print)
- Helpline for Independent Living for Older Individuals Who Are Blind (English)
- Una línea de ayuda para los Servicios de Vida Independiente para Personas Mayores Ciegas (En Español)
- A poster for the Independent Living for Older Individuals Who Are Blind Helpline (English)
- El póster de la línea de ayuda para los Servicios de Vida Independiente para Personas Mayores Ciegas (En Español)
