General Information
Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind, Texas Workforce Commission
101 East 15th Street Mc 1403
Austin,
TX 78778
512-936-3388
[email protected]
https://www.twc.texas.gov/programs/older-individuals-who-are-blind
Brief Description
The Division for Blind Services (DBS) assists blind or visually impaired individuals and their families. Depending upon their goals and needs, DBS offers services to help regain independence or find a job. DBS staff work in partnership with Texans who are blind or visually impaired to get high quality jobs, live independently, or help a child receive the training needed to be successful in school and beyond.
Services Offered
- Counseling
- Offers vocational rehabilitation counseling, psychiatric evaluation, psychological testing. Also offers individual, group, and family/parent counseling.
- Employment/Job Training
- Offers evaluation, prevocational and vocational training, placement in job, vending stand programs, business enterprise program, follow-up.
- Recreation Services
- Offers recreation and socialization services provided as part of home-based independent living programs.
- Daily Living Skills/Independent Living Skills Training
- Offers adaptive independent living rehabilitation and vocational rehabilitation program. Provides training in home management, personal management, and communications skills. Provides home-based and group independent living skills training for elderly and other populations.
- Assessment
- Provides assessment of specific adaptive technology needs of blind or visually impaired clients for the workplace.
- Braille and Reading Instruction
- Provides instruction in braille.
- Professional Training
- Offers internship/fieldwork placement in orientation and mobility, rehabilitation counseling, social work, special education teaching, nursing, general rehabilitation. Conducts regular in-service training.
- Travel/Orientation and Mobility
- Provides orientation and mobility training.
- Health
- Contracts for diagnostic, medical, and surgical treatment.
- Housing Services
- Works with consumers to access public housing resources.