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Carroll Center for the Blind

General Information

Carroll Center for the Blind
770 Centre St
Newton, MA 02458
617-969-6200
dina.rosenbaum@carroll.org
http://www.carroll.org/

Brief Description

The Carroll Center serves the needs of blind and visually impaired persons of all ages by providing independent living skills training, vocational preparation, technology instruction and youth programs. to achieve independence.
Established in 1936, the Center has pioneered innovative methods for blind persons to gain independence in their homes, in class settings, and in their work places. New and evolving technologies, combined with time-tested adaptive methods, individualized instruction, and personalized therapies developed by the Carroll Center staff, have provided thousands of blind and vision impaired persons with diverse opportunities for success and independent living.
Carroll Tech is a web-based distance learning service intended to assist blind and visually impaired individuals, as well as to train education and rehabilitation professionals. Instruction is offered in access technologies such as screen readers, screen magnifiers, braille embossers, note-takers, and scanners. Each course is comprised of text, videos, exercises, quizzes, and chat sessions.

Services Offered

  • Counseling
    • Offers individual, group, and family sessions.

  • Employment/Job Training
    • Internship experiences are offered to students in existing programs. Vocational Transition Program for young adults provides independent living and job experience over a 4 month program. Project Search provides on the job training with placement in a nine month program.

  • Professional Training
    • Offers university internships, in-service and staff development network. Provides computer training for teachers on educational software, workshops and seminars for allied health professionals, technical training.

  • Recreation Services
    • We offer a variety of outdoor enrichment program that often include skiing, skating, camping, sailing, bicycling, hiking. The Carroll Center hosts SailBlind teams nationally and internationally.

  • Daily Living Skills/Independent Living Skills Training
    • Intensive 12-week courses in independent living (low vision training, personal management, braille, technology, audio devices, orientation and mobility, and sensory development) are offered to consumers who are struggling with vision loss/blindness. A Community Essential skills training just for elders is offered for 2 weeks as well as a mini-training sessions in the community.

  • Assessment
    • An assessment determines a blind/low vision individuals' current skills functioning in activities of daily living, travel ability, use of remaining vision, information management, personal health care, and adjustment to vision loss.

  • Computer Training/Assistive Technology
    • The Carroll Center Computer training department provides state of the art evaluation, instruction, tech support and guidance on the latest assistive technology and computer devices. Individual, group and distance learning training available

  • Consultation/Technical Program Assistance
    • Workshops, professional consultations and technical assistance are offered for educators, administrators, rehab professionals, parents, and related services providers.

  • Braille and Reading Instruction
    • Offers training in communication skills, GED, ESL for students age 16 years and older.

  • Community Outreach Programs
    • Monthly information days, training for elders at senior centers and presentations at support groups, assistive living facilities are held through out the year.

  • Assistive Products
    • The Carroll Store sells canes, magnifiers, sunglasses, and adapted high and low tech devices for daily living. Available on-line as well at www.carroll.org/the-carroll-store.

  • Low Vision Services
    • Evaluations, training, demonstrations and loans of magnification devices are provided to help consumers find the most productive solutions for low vision.

  • Distance Education
    • Offers the following online courses: Accessible CellPhones; Beginner Series for JAWS Users; Introductory and Intermediate Level Excel with JAWS; Introduction to Excel with MAGic, Window-Eyes, or ZoomText; Introduction to Outlook with JAWS, Window-Eyes, or ZoomText; Introduction to PowerPoint with JAWS; Introduction to PowerPoint 2000 with JAWS; Windows for TVIs: Achieving Mouselessness; Using Accessible Graphing Calculator; Using TGD Pro; and Using the Duxbury Braille Translator. Diabetes Education

  • Travel/Orientation and Mobility
    • Learning to travel safely with a visual impairment is an important skill for any age. Orientation and Mobility Training provides individuals with skills to travel outside the home safely and confidently. Available for elders just learning to travel around their home; adults commuting to work or college/school age children who need to navigate a campus.

  • Health
    • Diabetic Self–Management helps diabetics with vision loss learn to manage their diabetes independently through individualized, home-based services.

  • Summer/Day Camps and After-school Programs
    • The Carroll Kids program offers elementary school students both day and overnight options for targeted learning in orientation and mobility skills, daily living activities, social skills, technology, and recreational activities. This fun and individualized program supports the development of students’ self-determination and provides the opportunity to build meaningful friendships among true peers.