- Can I receive help looking for work?
DBVI can offer: Vocational guidance & counseling, vocational assessments, job development & job search assistance. Evaluation of job accommodation needs, work experience, on the job training, adaptive equipment, adaptive aids, education and training as needed. Assistance with uninsured health related expenses, which relate to your disability and impact your ability to achieve your goals. DBVI works in partnership with you, to inform you, support your choices and facilitate your ability to achieve your goals.
- I am working but in danger of losing my job due to vision loss. What assistance is available?
DBVI can offer: Evaluation of job accommodation needs, adaptive equipment and adaptive aids and training. Advocacy with employer. Low vision, rehabilitation teaching, and orientation & mobility as appropriate. Assistance with uninsured health related expenses, which relate to your disability and impact your ability to achieve your goals.
- I am a high school student. Can I receive help in planning my future?
DBVI can offer: Transition planning, career exploration counseling, vocational assessments, vocational guidance and counseling, work based learning experiences for summer and after school, college planning and tuition assistance, workplace readiness training, and instruction in self advocacy skills. Low vision, rehabilitation teaching, orientation and mobility, and adaptive equipment, as appropriate. Assistance with uninsured health related expenses, which relate to your disability and impact your ability to achieve your goals.
- I am having trouble performing homemaker tasks in my home. What is available?
DBVI can offer: Services to allow you to retain your independence as a homemaker. Low vision, rehabilitation teaching, orientation & mobility. Adaptive equipment & aids. Assistance with uninsured health related expenses, which relate to your disability and impact your ability to achieve your goals.
- I am having trouble retaining my independence and continuing with my hobbies. Can you help?
DBVI can offer: Low vision, Rehabilitation teaching, Orientation and Mobility as needed. Adaptive equipment & aids. Assistance with uninsured health related expenses, which relate to your disability and impact your ability to achieve your goals.
- I need new eyeglasses. Is there any assistance available?
DBVI can offer: An assessment to see if you are eligible for services. Your vision would need to be impaired even with your new eyeglasses.
- What is the difference between the Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DBVI) and the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (VABVI).
DBVI is the state agency that is responsible to provide vocational rehabilitation and independent living services to Vermonters who are blind and visually impaired. It also offers vending opportunities through its Business Enterprise program. VABVI is a private non-profit agency which provides low vision, rehabilitation teaching, orientation and mobility, volunteer transportation, peer support groups and assistance for school aged students. These two agencies will often collaborate in serving Vermonters who are blind and visually impaired.
- What are low vision services?
Provision of optical aids and devices and training in their use. These aids may include eyeglasses, magnifiers, telescopic devices and lighting. A low vision exam by a low vision optometrist may also be appropriate.
- What are rehabilitation teaching services?
Instruction in performing tasks using adaptive aids and non-visual techniques. This can include tactile and speech related aids.
- What is orientation & mobility?
Instruction in techniques of safe independent travel using a long white cane or a guide dog. Orientation to designated locations. Learning sighted guide techniques.
- What is adaptive technology?
Equipment, devices or software that translate text into accessible formats: large print, speech and braille.
- What is an ophthalmologist?
A physician who specializes in the diagnosis and medical and surgical treatment of diseases and defects of the eye and related structures.
- What is an optometrist?
A person who is trained and licensed to examine and test the eyes and to treat visual defects by prescribing and adapting corrective lenses and other optical aids, and by establishing programs of visual training.
- What is a low vision specialist?
A licensed doctor of optometry, who is trained to treat individuals who are visually impaired, through the prescription of specialized eyeglasses, contacts, magnification, telescopic devices and other specialized optical aids and devices.
- What is visual impairment?
When one or more parts of the eye or brain that are needed to process images become diseased or damaged, loss of vision can occur. There is a resultant decrease in visual acuity, visual fields or ocular motility (double vision). In these cases, vision can't be fully restored with medical treatment, surgery, or corrective lenses like glasses or contacts.
- What is legal blindness?
Visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in the better eye with correction or less than 20 degrees of visual field.