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Office for the Blind - Independent Living Program
Department for Workforce Investment, Education Cabinet
Overview:
The Independent Living Services of the Office for the Blind are those services that primarily assist an individual with a
severe visual disability to live independently and function within the family or community. Services offered under the
Office for the Blinds Independent Living Program include: 1) Information; 2) Outreach & Referral; 3) Counseling; 4)
Community Integration; 5) Use of low-tech adaptive devices in the home, assessment and training in communication skills and
activities of daily living, and use of remaining vision.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Be resident of Kentucky
- A person must have a visual disability
AT Services Provided/Covered:
- Training/Technical Assistance
AT Devices Provided/Covered:
Application Process:
- Contact the Independent Living counselor at the nearest regional OFB office to apply for services (See Appendix B
for regional OFB offices).
Contact Information:
The Office for the Blind
P.O. Box 757
209 St. Clair Street
Frankfort, KY 40602-0757
Local (502) 564-4754 or
Toll Free (800) 321-6668
Website: http://blind.ky.gov
Additional Information:
Unlike the regular program of the Office for the Blind, services provided by the Independent Living program are not
specifically vocationally related. Instead, the services are intended to improve the ability of the individual to
function independently in the community.
Bridges & Potholes:
Bridges
- The OFB has an impressive record of providing assistive technology services to individuals with visual impairments.
Potholes
- OFB is an eligibility program, not an entitlement, program. If the evaluation process determines that a person is
not eligible for services, there is no possibility of receiving funding from this source.
- The funds from this source are intended for specific disability groups. If an individual is not blind or
does not have a visual impairment of some kind, there is no need for her or him to apply to this source
- Only a small amount of money is available through this funding source which predominantly comes from Older Blind
funds. Purchases are usually limited to small, relativity inexpensive items.