Agencies Serving Blind & Partially Sighted People

By country sorted alphabetically

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Australia

Association for the Blind of Western Australia
61 Kitchener Avenue, Victoria Park 6100, Western Australia.
Contact person: Dr. Margaret Crowley, CEO
Tel: +61 8 9311 8202
Fax: +61 8 9361 8696
Email: info@guidedogswa.com.au
Web: www.guidedogswa.com.au
Activities: Adaptive technology and nationally recognised training; low vision centre; family and children's services; occupational therapists; social workers; orientation and mobility; recreation; braille and talking book library. The Association is the official provider of guide dogs in Western Australia.
Last updated: 10/02/2010

Aurora School
96 Holland Road, Blackburn South, Victoria 3130, Australia.
Tel: +61 3 8878 9878
Fax: +61 3 8878 9800
Email: aurora.sch@edumail.vic.gov.au
Web: www.auroraschool.vic.edu.au
Activities: Aurora School is a Department of Education school which specialises in early intervention and early education programs for deaf children and deafblind children. The school provides three speciality programs: early intervention, early education and deafblind education. The early intervention program aims to provide parents with support, knowledge and skills they neeed to promote their children's development, especially their communication and language development, during the early years. The early education program specialises in education programs for young deaf children from three years of age. There is a strong emphasis on the development of communication skills and effective use of both expressive and receptive language. The deafblind education program offers specialised education for students aged three to eighteen years, who have visual and hearing impairments and communication difficulties.
Last updated: 10/02/2010

Australian Blindness Forum
c/o National Disability Services, Locked Bag 3002, Deakin West, ACT 2600, Australia.
Contact person: Tony Starkey
Tel: +61 8 8223 6222
Fax: +61 8 8223 7836
Email: tstarkey@rsb.org.au
Web: www.australianblindnessforum.org.au
Last updated: 10/02/2010

Australian Deafblind Council (ADBC)
PO Box 1213, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia.
Contact person: Alisa Wills
Tel: +61 3 9882 8596
Fax: +61 3 9882 9210
Email: info@deafblind.org.au
Web: www.deafblind.org.au
Activities: The purpose of ADBC is to be a national council representing people who are deafblind, their support networks and organisations working in the field. Its objectives are: to encourage self-organisation and self-determination by people who are deafblind; to serve as a national assembly for meetings, communication and interchange; to provide a forum for collective expression and discussion; to work for improvement throughout Australia in education, health, welfare, rehabilitation, employment and recreation for deafblind people; to cooperate with kindred organisations such as the NFBCA and the Deafness Forum; to disseminate information; to solicit support from government at various levels for people with deafblindness.
Last updated: 10/02/2010

Blind Citizens Australia
Level 3, 247-251 Flinders Lane, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia.
Contact person: Robyn Gaile
Tel: +61 3 9654 1400
Fax: +61 3 9650 3200
Email: bca@bca.org.au; robyn.mckenzie@bca.org.au
Web: www.bca.org.au
Activities: The united voice of blind and vision-impaired Australians. Our mission is to achieve equity and equality by our empowerment, by promoting positive community attitudes, and by striving for high quality and accessible services which meet our needs.
Last updated: 10/02/2010

Blind Welfare Association of South Australia Inc
PO Box 163, Greenacres 5086, South Australia.
Contact person: Mr. Len Cloither, General Manager
Tel: +61 8 8334 8000
Fax: +61 8 8334 8001
Email: info@blindwelfare.org.au
Web: www.blindwelfare.org.au
Activities: The Blind Welfare Association of South Australia is a committed team focusing on providing support to South Australia's vision impaired through a variety of ways including, residential accommodation, financial support through loans and subsidies, in home support and centre based activities.
Last updated: 08/05/2007

CanDo4Kids - Townsend House Incorporated
Street address: Townsend House, 28 King George Ave, Hove 5048, South Australia.
Postal address: PO Box 43, Brighton 5048, South Australia.
Contact person: Claire Cotton, Community Services Manager
Tel: +61 8 8298 0900
Fax: +61 8 8377 1933
Email: info@cando4kids.com.au
Web: www.cando4kids.com.au
Activities: To provide therapy, recreation, technology, training and support services to children and young people who have a sensory impairment, including those who have a communication disorder, and their families across SA. To support them to become as independent as possible and to assist young people to have greater access to education and employment so that they can achieve an enhanced quality of life.
Last updated: 08/05/2007

CBM Australia
PO Box 348, Box Hill, Victoria 3128, Australia.
Contact person: Mr. John Jeffries, National Director
Tel: +61 3 8843 4401
Fax: +61 3 8843 4545
Email: cbmiaus@cbmi.org.au
Web: www.cbmi.org.au
Activities: CBM is an international Christian development organisation committed to improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities in the poorest countries of the world.
Last updated: 10/02/2010

Deafblind Association (NSW) Inc
PO Box 1295, Strathfield, New South Wales 2135, Australia.
Contact person: Janne Bidenko, Public Officer
Tel: +61 2 9744 0160
Fax: +61 2 9744 0171
Email: dba@dbansw.org.au
Web: www.dbansw.org.au
Activities: Advocacy; Monthly social outings ; Monthly Newsletter "Rainbow News"; Monthly committee meetings; Contact with other national and international Deafblind Organisations; Liaison with all sensory and other disability services; Lobbying for funding for people who are deafblind.
Last updated: 10/02/2010

Deafblind International (DbI)
c/o Senses Foundation, PO Box 143, Burswood, WA 6100, Australia.
Contact person: Elvira Edwards
Tel: +61 8 9473 5400
Fax: +61 8 9473 5499
Email: secretariat@deafblindinternational.org
Web: www.deafblindinternational.org
Activities: Promotes services for deafblind people. Brings together professionals, researchers, families, deafblind people and administrators to raise awareness of deafblindness. Publishes a journal, provides information in various media including on the internet, encouragement and development of networks providing access to support from international development agencies, and supporting events.
Last updated: 19/03/2010

Guide Dogs NSW/ACT
PO Box 1965, North Sydney, New South Wales 2059, Australia.
Tel: +61 2 9412 9300
Fax: +61 2 9412 9388
Web: www.guidedogs.com.au
Activities: Providing guide dogs to people with vision impairment is only a fraction of our services. We provide advice, assessments and training for the blind and vision impaired community of New South Wales and ACT.
Last updated: 08/05/2007

Guide Dogs Association of SA.NT
251 Morphett Street, Adelaide 5000, Southern Australia.
Tel: +61 8 8203 8333
Fax: +61 8 8203 8332
Email: info@guidedogs.org.au
Web: www.guidedogs.org.au
Activities: Orientation and mobility training to allow people with vision impairment to travel independently. Guide dog training. Education and training in the use of mobility aids. Mobility aids for the blind and vision impaired - including guide dogs, electronic devices, identification, support and collapsible canes. Public education and awareness for medical/paramedical professionals, schools community groups. SEETEC Assessment and training for people with vision impairment as a result of a neurological incident (e.g. stroke or head injury). The Association also has a vision impairment unit in Darwin (NT). All aids and instruction are provided free of charge to the individual.
Last updated: 08/05/2007

Guide Dogs Victoria
Private Bag 13, Kew, Victoria 3101, Australia.
Contact person: Brian Ritter, Chief Executive Officer
Tel: +61 3 9854 4444
Fax: +61 3 9854 4500
Web: www.guidedogsvictoria.com.au
Activities: Guide Dogs Victoria is committed to providing quality services for people with vision impairments that will enable them to enjoy safety, independence and equal rights, opportunities and responsibilities. Our services, delivered by integrated teams of professionals, supported by skilled volunteers, include: Breeding and training of Guide Dogs; Guide Dog Mobility; Neurological Mobility; Children's Mobility; Intensive Orientation and Mobility; Occupational Therapy; Community education and awareness.
Last updated: 08/05/2007

Guide Dogs Queensland
PO Box 50, Bald Hills, Queensland 4036, Australia.
Contact name: Chris Laine, Chief Executive Officer
Tel: +61 7 3261 7555
Fax: +61 7 3261 7500
Web: www.guidedogsqld.com.au
Activities: Guide Dogs Queensland provides mobility services to blind and vision impaired Queenslanders. Services include guide dog breeding, training and placement; orientation and mobility training, including long cane, identification cane and support cane training; special education programs for children; low viision clinics, pets as therapy; visiting pet program; Community and professional education workshops. All services are provided free of charge and delivered from regional offices throughout the state.
Last updated: 08/05/2007

Hear A Book Service, Inc.
PO Box 229, North Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia.
Contact person: John L Gard, General Manager
Tel: +61 3 6234 1101
Fax: +61 3 6234 2382
Web: www.tased.edu.au/tasonline/hearbook/
Activities: Production and supply of recorded books for people with print disabilities throughout Australia and New Zealand. Books available through the Public Library system.
Last updated: 08/05/2007

Queensland Blind Association Inc
PO Box 444, Annerley, Queensland 4103, Australia.
Contact person: Ms. Stella Haralampou
Tel: +61 73 848 8888
Fax: +61 73 848 6989
Email: qba@qba.asn.au
Web: www.qba.asn.au
Activities: The objective of the Queensland Blind Association is to maximise the potential of a blind person's physical, social and emotional environment so that each person may live comfortably within the general community. The Association provides financial assistance towards home ownership and maintenance, adaptive technology and in cases of hardship assistance for the necessities of life. Families with school-aged children receive a grant at the start of each year to help with the purchase of schoolbooks and uniforms. We offer for sale low vision and talking products for independent living.
Last updated: 28/04/2010

Queensland Braille Writing Association
Braille House, 507 Ipswich Road, Brisbane, Queensland 4103, Australia.
Contact person: Barbara Oziganow, Coordinator
Tel: +61 7 3848 5257
Fax: +61 7 3848 8099
Email: qbwa@bigpond.com
Web: www.e-bility.com/gbwa
Activities: Braille reading and writing, and Moon reading taught to adults; Free lending libraries for braille and Moon; Transcriptions into braille done on request.
Last updated: 10/02/2010

Royal Guide Dogs Association of Tasmania
PO Box 82, North Hobart, Tasmania 7002, Australia.
Contact person: Mrs. Pam Hincks
Tel: +61 3 6232 1222
Fax: +61 3 6232 1221
Email: admin@guidedogstas.com.au
Web: www.guidedogstas.com.au
Activities: Orientation and mobility, occupational therapy, adaptive technology; vocational services; guide dog services. Royal Guide Dogs Association of Tasmania is the sole provider of services to the blind and vision impaired in Tasmania.
Last updated: 08/05/2007

Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children
361-365 North Rocks Road, North Rocks, New South Wales 2151, Australia.
Contact name: John Berryman, Chief Executive
Tel: +61 2 9871 1233
Fax: +61 2 9871 2196
Email: info@ridbc.org.au; online@ridbc.org.au; jan.north@ridbc.org.au
Web: www.ridbc.org.au
Activities: Services for children with vision or hearing impairment (including children with additional disabilities). Services include a comprehensive assessment and planning service, a centre-based and home-based early learning service, a rural and remote area early education service via video conference, pre-school programs, mainstream preschool support programs, the conduct of special schools, an itinerant teacher support service, alternative format publications and a diagnostic audiology centre. In affiliation with University of Newcastle, we conduct a centre for research and professional study in the education of children with sensory impairment. This includes a Master of Special Education (Sensory Disability) which is offered on campus and by distance education (including a number of overseas students).
Last updated: 10/02/2010

Royal Society for the Blind of South Australia
Knapman House, 230 Pirie Street, Adelaide 5000, South Australia.
Contact person: Andrew Daly
Tel: +61 8 8223 6222
Fax: +61 8 8223 7836
Email: adaly@rsb.org.au
Web: www.rsb.org.au
Activities: The RSB is the primary service provider to South Australians who are blind or vision impaired. RSB provides a range of comprehensive services through 8 locations across South Australia and assists over 11,000 clients. Services include the RSB Guide Dog Service, Low Vision Centre, Adaptive Technology Centre, Orientation and Mobility, Employment Services, Recreation and Leisure, Outreach Services, Counselling, Print Alternatives, Digital Library, Systemic Advocacy, Health Professional Training and Community Education. In 2009, the RSB cleebrated its 125th year of service.
Last updated: 10/02/2010

St Edmund's School
60 Burns Road, PO Box 582, Wahroonga, New South Wales 2076, Australia.
Tel: +61 2 9487 1044
Fax: +61 2 9489 0069
Email: principal@stedmunds.nsw.edu.au
Web: www.stedmunds.nsw.edu.au
Activities: St. Edmund's School is a Year 7 - 12 co-educational High School for students with vision impairment and other special needs.
Last updated: 08/05/2007

Seeing Eye Dogs Australia
17 Barrett Street, Kensington, Victoria 3031, Australia.
Contact person: Leigh Garwood
Tel: +61 3 9381 6400
Fax: +61 3 9381 6464
Email: info@seda.com.au
Web: www.seda.com.au
Activities: To enhance the mobility and independence of blind or vision impaired people throughout Australia by providing seeing eye dogs, mobility training and rehabilitation services. Also located in New South Wales and Queensland.
Last updated: 16/04/2010

Senses Foundation Inc
11 Kitchener Avenue, Burswood, WA 6100, Australia.
Contact person: Debbie Karasinski, Chief Executive Officer
Tel: +61 8 9473 5400
Fax: +61 8 9473 5499
Email: admin@senses.asn.au
Web: www.senses.asn.au
Activities: The Senses Foundation is a non government, not for profit organisation. It provides services to people with disabilities, particularly people from this original client group of people who are blind and deafblind and to their families and carers. These services include accommodation support, information, advice, life skills and specialist communication training, therapy services, respite programs and recreation. Senses is also a resource for other service providers involved with people with disabilities.
Last updated: 09/05/2007

South Australian School for Vision Impaired
1B Duncan Avenue, Park Holme, SA 5043, Australia.
Contact person: Ms. Kay Berry-Smith, Principal
Tel: +61 8 8277 5255
Fax: +61 8 8277 5051
Email: admin@sasvi.sa.edu.au
Web: www.sasvi.sa.edu.au/
Activities: To demonstrate leadership and best practice in the delivery of education programs for students with vision impairment.
Last updated: 09/05/2007

South Pacific Educators in Vision Impairment (SPEVI)
c/o Vision Australia, 333 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125, Australia.
Contact person: Ms. Tricia d'Apice, Secretary
Tel: +64 1 9808 6422
Fax: +64 1 9808 2194
Email: triciadapice@gmail.com
Web: www.ebility.com/spevi/index.php
Activities: South Pacific Educators in Vision Impairment - SPEVI - acts as the professional body in matters pertaining to the education of people with a vision impairment within the South Pacific region.
Last updated: 08/11/2006

Statewide Vision Resource Centre
PO Box 201, Nunawading, Victoria 3131, Australia.
Contact person: Deb Lewis, Manager
Tel: +61 3 9841 0242
Fax: +61 3 9841 0878
Email: svrc@svrc.vic.edu.au
Web: www.svrc.vic.edu.au
Activities: For registered students with vision impairments and those who support them. Offers professional development and workshops to visiting teachers, class teachers, teaching assistants, parents and students with vision impairments. Maintains lending library and resource collection for use by students and professionals. Produces alternative format materials for use by registered students braille, large print, audio tape, tactile graphics, e-text. Library of teacher reference, teaching aids, specialized equipment, alternative format materials.
Last updated: 10/02/2010

Villa Maria Disability Services and Aged Care
6 Studley Park Road, Locked Bag 20, Kew, Victoria 3101, Australia.
Tel: +61 3 9854 5111
Email: villamaria@villamaria.com.au
Web: www.villamaria.com.au
Activities: People with a disability have special needs that must be met. Villa Maria's services for people with a disability meet these needs across the whole continuum of life. Villa Maria offers the following services for people with a disability: Shared Accommodation and Support Services; Disability Support; Disability Respite; Ageing with a Disability; Homefirst; Adult Day Programs - Gateway Kew, Mount Waverley and Wantirna; Education - St. Paul's College, incorporating Early Childhood Intervention Services; and Support Services.
Last updated: 09/05/2007

Vision Australia
454 Glenferrie Road, Kooyong, Victoria 3144, Australia.
Contact person: Kevin Murfitt
Tel: 1300 VISION (1300 847 466) - Australia; +61 2 9334 3333
TTY: +61 2 9334 3260
Fax: +61 2 9747 5993
Email: info@visionaustralia.org.au
Web: www.visionaustralia.org.au
Activities: Vision Australia works in positive partnership with Australians who are blind or vision impaired to help pursue the opportunities they choose in life. We assist more than 38,000 children and adults to experience life to its fullest. We do this by developing practical solutions to everyday challenges, providing comprehensive training and enabling easy access to information. Vision Australia offers products and services in low vision, DeafBlindness, independent living, employment, child development, recreation, information and library services, technology and training. Vision Australia was formed through the merger of Royal Blind Society, the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind, Vision Australia Foundation and the National Information and Library Service.
Last updated: 26/01/2010