Michigan and Local Organizations & Services

Please note: These resources, compiled staff, are provided for your information only, without any official endorsement or guarantee. If you find any links that do not work, please contact martinr15@michigan.gov.

Consumer Organizations (organizations of people who are blind or visually impaired)

• Michigan Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired (MCBVI),  promoting cultural, social, personal growth, and understanding toward progress, dignity, equality, in issues related to blindness and visual impairment. Chapters and members function as support groups and resource providers.
• National Federation of the Blind of Michigan (NFBM) goals include educating the public to understand that blindness does not have to be a handicap; helping blind individuals lead richer, more meaningful lives; gaining fuller independence; and achieving first-class citizenship. 

DeafBlind Services 

• DB Central (DeafBlind Central)  serves children and youth from birth through 25 years of age who are suspected of having both a hearing and a visual impairment. Students who are deaf-blind and have additional disabilities are also eligible for services. 
• DeafBlind Services, provides statewide services at no cost to adults and high school students who are legally blind and have moderate to profound hearing loss, to help them achieve employability and/or function independently in society.
• SHI-M=DB (Self Help For Independency in Michigan Equalizing the DeafBlind) is for anyone who has both a vision loss and a hearing loss. For more information, contact Jill Gaus, 517-764-6178 or jagaus@sbcglobal.net.

Employment Services

• Michigan Works! is a 25-region statewide network of approximately 100 service centers providing a wide variety of programs designed to help workers find and keep good jobs and help employers recruit and hire skilled workers.

  Eye Doctors

If you want to find an eye doctor, you may find these resources helpful. (Please note that there are licensed eye doctors who choose not to be members of either organization.)

• Michigan Optometric Association (MOA) 
• Michigan Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons (MiSEPS) 

Library Services 

• The Braille & Talking Book Library serves people who are blind or visually impaired, who cannot physically hold a book and turn the pages, or who have a physically based reading disability. The library offers best-sellers, mysteries, westerns, biographies, how-to books and other types of materials found in a public library. The only difference is that the books are audio recordings or Braille. 

Parents of Blind Children, Organizations and Services

Radio Reading Services 

• Detroit Radio Information Service (DRIS)
• The Sight Seer (Radio Reading Service, Grand Rapids) 
• WKAR Radio Reading Service (East Lansing) 

Recreation and Sports 

• Michigan Blind Athletic Association 
• Michigan Ski For Light (cross-country skiing with a sighted guide)

Services for Seniors

• AFB Senior Site, for seniors learning to live with vision loss, by the American Foundation for the Blind
• Area Agencies on Aging
• Services for Blind Seniors (Independent Living Program) 

Other Organizations and Services

• Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services (MCRS) provides support and assistance through program planning, policy development and delivery of services to both designated state units (DSU's) in Michigan.
• incompass Michigan formerly MARO members provide employment and rehabilitation training to thousands of people with barriers. MARO members also manufacture products for, and provide industrial services to, hundreds of Michigan companies. 
• Disability Network/Michigan (Centers for Independent Living), contact information and websites 
• Michigan Disability Resources, which includes the Division on Deaf and Hard of Hearing, responds to and advocates on behalf of Michigan's 1.9 million people with disabilities. 
• Michigan Rehabilitation Services works with people with a wide range of disabilities other than those who are legally blind. 
• Michigan Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) is an organization of individuals who represent the interests of people with disabilities across Michigan. Council members are appointed by the Governor, and a majority must be people with disabilities.