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Overview
If you are 55 or older and have a vision problem that makes everyday tasks difficult, Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind may be able to help you gain the confidence you need to live independently. Successful independent living training can help you:
- Accomplish everyday tasks
- Participate in your favorite activities
- Communicate with family and friends
- Gain a better understanding about your vision impairment
- Get back confidence you may have lost
Eligibility
The Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind Program provides services to consumers 55 and older:
- Who have significant visual impairment
- Whose ability to function independently in the home, family, or community is substantially limited due to visual impairment
- For whom the delivery of independent living services will substantially improve their ability to function, continue functioning, or move toward functioning independently in the home, family, or community
Services
Depending on the individual need, the following services may be provided by TWC to eligible consumers:
- Independent living skills training, provided in a consumer’s home or in the community
- Orientation and mobility training
- Low vision evaluations and low vision devices, including video magnification, hand-held magnifiers, and other identified devices
- Diabetes education
- Deafblind evaluations and equipment
- Counseling on adjustment to blindness
- Other services as necessary, such as ancillary services provided to support skills training
For more information about eligibility and services provided by TWC’s Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind Program, please use the following table to identify the staff contact in your area.
| IL OIB Worker | Coverage Areas, VR Region | Office Address | Phone Number | Counties Served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Vacant Caseload # 5636 |
Wichita Falls, Lubbock Region 1 |
TBD |
940-264-9216 Cell: 940-217-9927 PS: Crystal Stark Asst: USA Cindy Cox |
Archer, Baylor, Childress, Clay, Cottle, Crosby, Dickens, Foard, Garza, Hall, Jack, Hardeman, Haskell, Kent, King, Knox, Lubbock, Lynn, Montague, Motley, Stonewall, Throckmorton, Wichita, Wilbarger, Young |
|
Teresa Berger Caseload # 5672 |
Abilene, San Angelo, Midland Region 1 |
500 Chestnut St. Suite 1000 Abilene, TX 79602 |
325-795-4200 Cell: 806-241-3207 PS: Crystal Stark Asst: USA Rozzana Mata |
Andrews, Borden, Brown, Callahan, Coke, Coleman, Comanche, Concho, Dawson, Eastland, Fisher, Gaines, Glasscock, Howard, Irion, Jones, Kimble, Martin, Mason, McCullough, Menard, Midland, Mitchell, Nolan, Runnels, Schleicher, Scurry, Shackelford, Sterling, Stephens, Sutton, Taylor, Tom Green |
|
Jesus Donacio Caseload # 5612 |
El Paso, Region 1 |
8825 North Loop Drive, Suite 123 |
915-834-7014 Cell: 915-526-0653 PS: Bonnie Notargiacomo Asst: USA Margie Trevino |
Brewster, Crane, Crockett, Culberson, Ector, El Paso, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Loving, Pecos, Presidio, Reagan, Reeves, Terrell, Upton, Winkler |
|
Amber Pearson Caseload # 6079 |
Amarillo Region 1 |
3120 Eddy Street, Amarillo, TX 79106 |
806-350-7159 Cell: 806-672-5182 PS: Crystal Stark Asst: USA Bonnie Murkeldove |
Armstrong, Bailey, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Cochran, Collingsworth, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Donley, Floyd, Gray, Hale, Hansford, Hartley, Hemphill, Hockley, Hutchinson, Lamb, Lipscomb, Moore, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman, Swisher, Terry, Wheeler, Yoakum |
|
Cherome Phillips Caseload # 5653
|
Dallas Region 2 |
6500 Greenville Ave, Suite 250 |
214-378-2666 Cell: 214-587-7966 PS: Bonnie Notargiacomo Asst: USA Janine Friesen |
Counties: Dallas*, Ellis, Kaufman, Navarro *Covers the city of Dallas and all other cities in Dallas County not covered by Ms. Rangel. |
|
Roxana Rangel Caseload # 5571 |
Dallas Region 2 |
6500 Greenville Ave, Suite 250 |
214-378-2666 Cell: 469-263-3608 PS: Bonnie Notargiacomo Asst: ATS Jason Taylor |
Counties: Collin, Dallas*, Denton, Grayson, Fannin, Hunt, Rockwall *Covers the following cities in Dallas County: Addison, Carrollton, Coppell, Farmers Branch, Irving, Sachse |
|
Brooke Lewis Caseload # 5167 |
Fort Worth Region 2 |
2400 Circle Drive, Suite 200 |
817-759-3515 Cell: 214-587-8414 PS: Crystal Stark Asst: RA Regina Ellerson |
Cooke, Erath, Hood, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker, Somervell, Tarrant, Wise |
|
Adrianna Lerma Caseload #: 5481 |
Waco, Temple, Austin Region 3 |
104 S. Lutterloh Gatesville, TX 76528 |
512-533-7100 Cell: 254-644-7769 PS: Crystal Stark Asst: RA Tisha Pool |
Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays, Llano, Milam, Travis, Williamson |
|
Vacant Caseload # 5108 |
Austin, Bryan/College Station Region 3 |
TBD |
512-533-7100 PS: Crystal Stark Asst: RA Ralph Lujan |
Bell, Bosque, Brazos, Burleson, Coryell, Falls, Freestone, Grimes, Hamilton, Hill, Lampasas, Lee, Leon, Limestone, Madison, McLennan, Mills, Robertson, San Saba, Walker, Washington |
|
Peggy Joseph Caseload # 5247 |
Beaumont, Region 4 |
5504 Winfree Street, Beaumont, TX 77705 |
409-600-2671 PS: Crystal Stark Asst: USA Martha Evans |
Angelina, Hardin, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, Tyler |
|
Kammy Mathis Caseload # 5579 |
Tyler, Region 4 |
3800 Paluxy Drive, Suite 325 |
903-571-0167 PS: Crystal Stark Asst: RA Whitney Brummett |
Anderson, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Cherokee, Delta, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hopkins, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Panola, Rains, Red River, Rusk, Smith, Titus, Upshur, Van Zandt, Wood |
|
Carlos Vasquez Caseload # 5576 |
Houston Region 5 |
4424 North Freeway Suite A |
713-692-7755 Cell: 713-299-8037 PS: Bonnie Notargiacomo Asst: RA Angela Gill |
Austin, Fort Bend, Harris, Montgomery, Waller |
|
William Driggers Caseload # 5246 |
Houston Region 5 |
Gulf Freeway 12148 B Houston, TX 77075 |
713-576-2580 ext. 2655 Cell: 281-770-4433 PS: Bonnie Notargiacomo Asst: RA Angela Gill |
Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Harris, Liberty |
|
Rosalind Livings Caseload # 5370 |
San Antonio Region 6 |
3652 Bluemel Road, 2nd Floor, San Antonio, TX 78229 |
210-785-2783 Cell: 210-380-5217 PS: Bonnie Notargiacomo Asst: RA Teresa Alacorn |
Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Colorado, Comal, Edwards, Fayette, Frio, Gillespie, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kinney, Medina, Real, Uvalde, Val Verde, Wilson |
|
Macarena Pena Caseload # 5368 |
McAllen Region 6 |
2101 S. 2nd Street, McAllen, TX 78503 |
956-302-0802 Cell: 956-249-9606 PS: Bonnie Notargiacomo Asst: RA Teresa Alacorn |
Brooks, Cameron, Dimmitt, Duval, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, La Salle, Live Oak, Maverick, McMullen, Starr, Webb, Willacy, Zapata, Zavala |
|
Ursula Odom Caseload # 6076 |
Corpus Christi, Region 6 |
120 S. Main Street, Ste. 100, Victoria, TX 77901 |
361-578-0341 Cell: 361-676-5944 PS: Bonnie Notargiacomo Asst: RA Cecelia Gutierre |
Aransas, Bee, Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Lavaca, Matagorda, Nueces, Refugio, San Patricio, Victoria, Wharton |
See Also
Other Independent Living Services
Centers for Independent Living
The Health and Human Services Commission provides a broad array of independent living services to people of all ages and with all disabilities through the network of Centers for Independent Living. TWC is working closely with these Centers to ensure a smooth referral process and non-duplication of services. For more information, contact the Health and Human Services Commission’s Independent Living Services.
Older Individuals who are Blind Technical Assistance Center (OIB-TAC)
Time To Be Bold is a national public service awareness campaign through the Independent Living Older Individuals who are Blind Technical Assistance Center at the National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision. The OIB-TAC and this campaign are funded by the Dept. of Education Rehabilitation Services Administration, which also funds services and training for individuals with visual impairments, including vocational rehabilitation (VR) and the Independent Living Older Individuals who are Blind (OIB) programs nationally.
The TimeToBeBold campaign is designed to educate, engage and empower people who are 55+ with low vision to maintain/regain their independence by utilizing the free or low-cost services provided by the RSA-funded OIB programs. Go to timetobebold.org for a list of free or low-cost services in your state that will give you the tools, technology, training, and support you need to live your bold, best life.
Contact
Contact the TWC Older Individuals who are Blind Helpline:
- Call: 512-936-3388
- Email: oib.info@twc.texas.gov
Resources
- Fact Sheet: Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind
- Brochure: Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired (English)
- Brochure: Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired (en Español)
- Guide to Independent Living for Older Individuals Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
- Guide to Independent Living for Older Individuals Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired (large print)
- Helpline for Independent Living for Older Individuals Who Are Blind (English)
- Una línea de ayuda para los Servicios de Vida Independiente para Personas Mayores Ciegas (En Español)
- A poster for the Independent Living for Older Individuals Who Are Blind Helpline (English)
- El póster de la línea de ayuda para los Servicios de Vida Independiente para Personas Mayores Ciegas (En Español)
