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Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired

General Information

Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
2500 El Camino Real
Suite 100
Palo Alto, CA 94306
650-858-0202
info@vistacenter.org
https://vistacenter.org

Locations

  • 101 N. Bascom Ave
    San Jose, CA 95128
  • 3315B Mission Drive
    Santa Cruz, CA 95065
  • 3315 B Mission Drive
    Santa Cruz, CA 95065

Brief Description

Low Vision Clinic, Support Groups, Youth and Adult Services, Transition, Orientation and Mobility, Assistive Technology Training, Recreation and Leisure activities and classes

Services Offered

  • Counseling
    • Offers individual and peer counseling and support groups.

  • Daily Living Skills/Independent Living Skills Training
    • Provides training in personal management, medical management, home management, recreational, social, daily living, and communication skills, including braille.

  • Professional Training
    • Offers in-service professional training and internships for master's degree program participants desiring credentials in orientation and mobility or daily living skills.

  • Assistive Products
    • Low vision devices and canes. Store on site at both Palo Alto and Santa Cruz offices.

  • Library Services
    • Maintains the Health Library at Vista Center, a branch of the Stanford Hospital Library, with books about scientifically based information about vision loss and rehabilitation. Volunteers do online searches for medical information for those who are blind or visually impaired.

  • Low Vision Services
    • Provides low vision evaluation with demonstration of optical aids and referrals to other Vista Center services. Prescribes and orders low vision devices and provides training in their use. Offers a low vision education class, "Choices and Changes."

  • Community Outreach Programs
    • Speakers give presentations about agency services to other organizations and classrooms.

  • Information and Referral
    • Provides information and referrals to other sources in the community.

  • Computer Training/Assistive Technology
    • Computer training is offered to students of all ages and at all levels of competency, using access technology.

  • Assessment
    • Provides initial assessment in client's home to determine needs.

  • Travel/Orientation and Mobility
    • Provides orientation and mobility training for all ages. Contracts with school districts to provide individual O&M instruction to students.

  • Support Groups
    • Offers support groups for seniors and people of working age and Spanish speaking clients.

  • Services for Students
    • Youth Group provides recreational as well as educational opportunities for developing and improving social and living skills. Also provides TVI, O&M and ADL to the school districts in Santa Clara and San Benito Counties.

  • Volunteer Services
    • Trained volunteers provide one-on-one assistance to clients.