Local Resources
This is a short list of resources for people living with low vision in Houston, TX. If you are searching for help, reach out to your health or vision care team, as they can can provide you with personalized support.
Education & Peer Support
Houston Area Visually Impaired Network (HAVIN)
About HAVIN: “HAVIN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization comprised of various volunteer groups and organizations from across Houston that serve the information, resource, and support needs of the blind and visually impaired. Our vision is to educate, provide peer support, and unify the blind and visually impaired community in the Greater Houston area. Our mission is to provide training, education, workshops, seminars, and mentorship to the blind and visually impaired Community, providing skills and resources to help individuals live full and independent lives.”
HAVIN website: http://www.havintx.org
Low Vision Support Group
Dan Arnold Center for Vision Rehabilitation, Cizik Eye Clinic, UTHealth Houston
About the Cizik Eye Low Vision Support Group: “We usually meet every second Friday of the month from 1-2:30 p.m. in the Cizik Eye Clinic Conference Room on the 18th Floor of Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza. Support groups cover a wide a range of topics from coping with vision loss to workshops, new strategies and latest tools in low vision. Meet others with vision loss and see how they cope. Bring a strategy that has worked for you and learn many more new ideas.”
Cizik Eye Low Vision Support Group website: https://med.uth.edu/ophthalmology/robert-cizik-eye-clinic/low-vision-rehabilitation-education-and-support
iBlind Users Group (iBUG)
About iBUG: “iBUG Today, Inc. is a non-profit organization promoting the individual independence, social integration, and educational development of the blind and visually impaired community through accessible technology training. iBUG (iBlind Users Group) endeavors to transform the blind community through accessible technology training so they can live extraordinary lives full of independence, productivity, communication and social integration in a world where everything is within the realm of possibility.
More and more of our community are finding Apple and Android devices to be useful, assistive technology tools in their daily lives. Whether at home, at work or school, or on the go, the accessibility features of Apple and Android devices have cleared new pathways for the visually impaired to be more productive, consume online content, stay connected through social media and just have fun.”
iBUG website: https://ibugtoday.org
Hadley
About Hadley: “Founded in 1920 by William Hadley, an educator who lost his eyesight later in life, Hadley offers practical help, connection and support free of charge to anyone with a visual impairment, their families and professionals supporting them. With Hadley, you can discover new ways to do things that have become more difficult due to vision loss and connect with a network of peers who "get it." And you don't need to come to Hadley. Hadley's help comes to you; online, on the phone or through the mail.”
Hadley website: https://hadleyhelps.org
Housing & Transportation
Houston Center for Independent Living (HCIL)
About HCIL: “HCIL [is] under contract with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), is the provider of Independent Living Services for people with disabilities in the Texas Gulf Coast area.”
HCIL website: https://hcil.cc/il-services
METROLift
About METROLift: “This ADA accessible, shared-ride paratransit service is available for prequalified customers. It operates in most of Harris County including portions of Kingwood, Humble and Clear Lake. All other METRO-owned transit vehicles are also ADA accessible. So, if possible, we encourage people with disabilities to ride METRO bus, light rail, METRORapid and/or METRO curb2curb. If you're already a METROLift customer, you can ride those services for free with up to one assistant.”
METROLift website: https://www.ridemetro.org/riding-metro/transit-services/metrolift-paratransit
Note: See our blog post about applying for the free METROLift transit service.
Additional Resources
Talking Book Program
About the Talking Book Program: “The Texas Talking Book Program (TBP) provides free digital audio, large print and braille books and magazines to Texans of all ages who cannot read standard print due to a visual, physical, or reading disability. In addition, TBP lends refreshable braille display machines, audiobook playing machines, and accessible games to patrons. Adult and youth patrons can enjoy a rich catalogue of in-person and virtual programming, such as book clubs, author talks, and a summer reading program. The Disability Information and Referral Center (DIRC) is a division within TBP that allows anyone in Texas, whether a TBP patron or not, to get disability or health-related information such as fact sheets, guides, and catalogs for assistive technology, trainings, and more. Plus, for those interested in giving back to the program, TBP operates an audiobook recording and production studio in Austin, TX which is always accepting volunteers. Call TBP’s friendly call center from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Central), Monday through Friday (except holidays) to ask staff any questions you may have about our offerings!”
Talking Book Program website: https://www.tsl.texas.gov/tbp/index.html
The Lighthouse
About The Lighthouse: “For more than 85 years, The Lighthouse of Houston has been supporting individuals who are blind or low vison through our health services, assistive technology resources, community and support programs, vocational skills training, and internal employment opportunities. We serve over 14,000 individuals annually through our programs, services, activities and events. We foster communities of belonging with accessible resources that enable personal and family well-being, learning, development and employment. Of those we employ, 58% are blind or low vision. Through our Premium Business Services, we offer businesses solutions that matter to help reduce overhead costs, improve efficiencies, increase customer service satisfaction and achieve diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility goals. We create jobs for people who are blind or low vision through Premium Business Service sales development.”
The Lighthouse website: https://houstonlighthouse.org