Eye Health Center

National. Founded 1978. Support for persons suffering from macular diseases and their families. Distributes information on vision equipment. Supports national eye bank donor projects devoted solely to macular disease research. Quarterly newsletter, phone support network, participates in seminars and group development guidelines. Dues $20/year.
Write:
Association for Macular Diseases
210 E. 64th St.
New York, NY 10021
Voice: 212-605-3719 (eve.)
Fax: 212-605-3795
Website: http://www.macula.org
Verified: 1/28/2011

National. 72 affiliates. Founded 1961. Aims to improve the well-being of all blind or visually impaired people and their families through education, support and advocacy. National conference, information and referrals, phone support, state and special interest affiliates e.g. guide dog users, blind lawyers, teachers and students. Magazine published ten times per year (available in Braille, half speed cassette, large print, CD-ROM, online or via e-mail). College scholarships. Online job bank. Chapter development guidelines.
Write:
American Council of the Blind
1155 15th Street NW, Suite 1004
Washington, DC 20005
Voice: 1-800-424-8666 or 202-467-5081
Fax: 703-465-5085
Website: http://www.acb.org
E-mail: info@acb.org
Verified: 8/26/2011

National. 34 groups. Founded 1903. Support network for persons coping with sight loss. Sponsors support groups for elders and mixed ages. Outreach services and community volunteers.
Write:
Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired
200 Ivy St.
Brookline, MA 02446
Voice: 617-926-42321 1-800-852-3029 (MA only) (Mon.-Fri., 9am-5pm EST)
Fax: 617-738-1247
Website: http://www.mabcommunity.org
E-mail: fweisse@mabcommunity.org
Verified: 9/12/2011

National. 53 regional groups. Founded 1945. Support, information and outreach to blinded veterans including those who were blinded in combat and those suffering from age-related macular degeneration and other eye diseases. Help in obtaining prosthetic devices and accessing the latest technological advances to assist the blind. Information on benefits and rehabilitation programs. Quarterly newsletter. Regional meetings.
Write:
Blinded Veterans Association
477 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Voice: 1-800-669-7079 or 202-371-8880
Fax: 202-371-8258
Website: http://www.bva.org
E-mail: bva@bva.org
Verified: 8/26/2011

National. 52 affiliates. Founded 1940. Serves as both an advocacy and a public information vehicle. Contacts newly blind persons to help with adjustment. Provides information on services and applicable laws. Student scholarships. Assists blind persons who are victims of discrimination. Literature, monthly meetings and magazine. Assistance in starting new groups.
Write:
National Federation of Blind
200 E. Wells St.
Baltimore, MD 21230-4998
Voice: 410-659-9314
Fax: 410-685-5653
Website: http://www.nfb.org
E-mail: nfb@nfb.org
Verified: 8/26/2011

International. Founded 1979. Encourages low vision people to make full use of vision through use of equipment, technology and services. Education, advocacy, quarterly magazine, group development guidelines, scholarships, conferences, information and referrals.
Write:
CCLVI
2200 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22201
Voice: 1-800-733-2258 (Mon.-Fri, 9am-4pm EST)
Website: http://www.cclvi.org
E-mail: webmaster@cclvi.org
Verified: 1/26/2011

National. 25 chapters. Founded 1983. Serves as both an advocacy and public information vehicle. Provides information on services available. Offers positive philosophy and insights into blindness and practical guidance in raising a blind child. 'Future Reflections' magazine, parent seminars, free parents' information packet, meetings and conventions. Dues $8.
Write:
National Organization Parents of Blind Child
200 East Well St.
Baltimore, MD 21230
Voice: 410-659-9314 ext. 2287
Fax: 410-685-5653
Website: http://www.nopbc.org
E-mail: nfb@nfb.org
Verified: 9/21/2011

Resource. Mission is to overcome vision impairment for people of all ages through rehabilitation services, education, research and advocacy. Free literature on eye diseases (macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, diabetes and more) and various resource lists (reading options, adaptive computer technology, financial aid, etc.) Provides contact information for support groups, low vision services, rehabilitation agencies, state agencies and advocacy groups.
Write:
Lighthouse International
111 E. 59th St.
New York, NY 10022
Voice: 1-800-829-0500 or 212-821-9200 (Mon.-Fri., 9am-5pm EST)
Fax: 212-821-9707
TDD: 212-821-9713
Website: http://www.lighthouse.org
E-mail: info@lighthouse.org
Verified: 1/13/2011

Online. 750 members. Founded 1999. Provides a listserv for persons who are interested in sharing, support and information relating to the genetic disorder.
Website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lca
E-mail: LCA-owner@yahoogroups.com
Verified: 9/16/2011

National network. Founded 1986. Provides information and support to persons with keratoconus, an eye condition where the cornea progressively thins causing a cone-like bulge. Newsletter, phone support, information and referrals. Online support group. Encourages research into cause and treatment.
Write:
National Keratoconus Foundation
6222 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 260
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Voice: 1-800-521-2524
Fax: 310-623-1837
Website: http://www.nkcf.org
E-mail: info@nkcf.org
Verified: 8/26/2011

International. Founded 2002. Offers supportservices, phone support, pen pals, online e-mail support, chatrooms, promotes and assists in research studies, medical testing/data collection, and host an internation biannual medical conference for families with aniridia physicians and researcers. Conferences include education, social support, testing, low vision exhibit hall and a limited free clinic to be seen by doctors with extensive experience in aniridia in their own subspecialty field. Events and presentations or exhibits that focus on the awareness of the low vision or bling community who also experience many of the same conditions which make up this syndrome such as glaucoma, cataracts, cornea and retinal problems, and medical issues such as glucose intolerance,diabetes, obesity, depression, autism spectrum disorders and pancreas issues.
Write:
Aniridia Foundation International
c/o University of Virginia School of Medicine
P.O. Box 800717
Charlottesville, VA 22908-0715
Voice: 434-243-3357
Website: http://www.research4vision.org
E-mail: info@aniridia.net
Verified: 9/9/2011

National. Founded 1914. Support for persons of all ages who are visually impaired, blind and those with additional disabilities. Telephone support network brings together parents from around the country whose children have the same condition (Retinopathy of Prematurity, Retinitis Pigmentosa, Cortical Visual Impairment, Leber Congenital Amaurosis CHARGE Syndrome and a group for blind teenagers planning to attend college) to speak with parents in the same situation. Newsletter and literature available on the website or in hard copy.
Write:
The Jewish Guild for the Blind
15 West 65th Street
New York, NY 10023
Voice: 1-800-284-4422 or 212-769-6200. For direct information on the tele-support network call Dan Callahan 212-769-7815
Website: http://www.jgb.org
E-mail: info@jgb.org
Verified: 8/25/2011

International. 134 chapters/affiliated groups. Founded 1995. Provides information and support for people who are affected by macular degeneration and similar retinal diseases. Large informational website, monthly webcasts, email discussion group, message board, telephone and live support groups, telephone help line.
Write:
MD Support
3600 Blue Ridge Blvd.
Grandview, MO 64030
Voice: 816-731-7080
Website: http://www.mdsupport.org
E-mail: director@mdsupport.org
Verified: 8/26/2011