On this page:
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 |
Office Address |
Phone Number |
Counties Served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Vicky Schumate |
Abilene, |
4309 Jacksboro Hwy, Suite B |
(940) 217-9927 |
Archer, Baylor, Brown, Callahan, Clay, Coke, Coleman, Comanche, Concho, Cottle, Crockett, Eastland, Fisher, Foard, Hardeman, Haskell, Hemphill, Irion, Jack, Jones, Kimble, Knox, Mason, McCulloch, Menard, Mitchell, Montague, Nolan, Reagan, Runnels, Schleicher, Scurry, Shackelford, Stephens, Sterling, Stonewall, Sutton, Taylor, Throckmorton, Tom Green, Wichita, Wilbarger, Young |
|
Teresa Burger |
Amarillo, |
2002 W. Loop 289, Suite 117 |
(806) 765-5038 |
Armstrong, Bailey, Borden, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Childress, Cochran, Collingsworth, Crosby, Dallam, Dawson, Deaf Smith, Dickens, Donley, Floyd, Gaines, Garza, Gray, Hale, Hall, Hansford, Hartley, Hockley, Howard, Hutchinson, Kent, King, Lamb, Lipscomb, Lubbock, Lynn, Moore, Motley, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Roberts, Sherman, Swisher, Terry, Wheeler, Yoakum |
|
Jesus Donacio |
El Paso, |
8825 N Loop Drive, Suite 122 |
(915) 834-7014 |
Andrews, Brewster, Crane, Culberson, Ector, El Paso, Glasscock, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Loving, Martin, Midland, Pecos, Presidio, Reeves, Terrell, Upton, Ward, Winkler |
|
Roxana Mendez-Rangel |
Dallas |
6500 Greenville Ave, Suite 250 |
(214) 378-2666 |
Counties: Collin, Dallas*, Denton, Grayson, Fannin, Hunt, Rockwall *Covers the following cities in Dallas county: Addison, Carrollton, Coppell, Farmers Branch, Irving, Sachse |
|
Cherome Phillips |
Dallas |
6500 Greenville Ave |
(214) 378-2666 |
Counties: Dallas*, Ellis, Kaufman, Navarro *Covers the city of Dallas and all other cities in Dallas county not covered by Ms. Rangel. |
|
Brooke Lewis |
Fort Worth |
2400 Circle Drive |
(817) 759-3515 |
Cooke, Erath, Hood, Johnson, Palo Pinto, Parker, Somervell, Tarrant, Wise |
|
Adrianna Lerma |
Austin |
6400 E Hwy 290 #300 |
(512) 533-7100 |
Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays, Llano, Milam, Travis, Williamson |
|
Zebedee Johnson |
Waco, |
1416 S New Road |
(254)296-5295 |
Bell, Bosque, Brazos, Burleson, Coryell, Falls, Freestone, Grimes, Hamilton, Hill, Lampasas, Lee, Leon, Limestone, Madison, McLennan, Mills, Robertson, San Saba, Walker, Washington |
|
Peggy Joseph |
Beaumont, |
510 Park Street, Suite 100 |
(409) 600-2671 |
Angelina, Hardin, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, Tyler |
|
Carlos Vasquez |
Houston |
427 W 20th Street |
(713) 692-7755 |
Austin, Fort Bend, Harris, Montgomery, Waller |
|
Rosalind Livings |
San Antonio |
4241 Woodcock Drive, Suite A-105 |
(210) 785-2783 |
Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Edwards, Fayette, Frio, Gillespie, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Kinney, Medina, Real, Uvalde, Val Verde, Wilson |
|
Macarena Pena |
McAllen |
801 W. Nolana, Suite 115 |
(956) 661-0930 |
Bee, Brooks, Cameron, Dimmitt, Duval, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, La Salle, Live Oak, Maverick, McMullen, Nueces, San Patricio, Starr, Webb, Willacy, Zapata, Zavala |
|
Ursula Odom |
Corpus Christi, |
4102 N Navarro Street |
(361) 580-5700 |
Aransas, Calhoun, Colorado, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Lavaca, Matagorda, Refugio, Victoria, Wharton |
|
Kammy Locascio |
Tyler, |
3800 Paluxy Drive, Suite 320 |
(903) 571-0167 |
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 |
|
William Driggers |
Houston, |
10060 Fuqua |
(713) 948-7968 |
Brazoria, Chambers, Galveston, Harris, Liberty |
See Also
Other Independent Living Services
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.
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)