Strategies for Life: Outreach Services for Ages 55 and Older

Perkins Strategies for Life: Outreach Services for Ages 55 and Older have been discontinued as of June 2010. 

We are very proud of all we accomplished during the last nineteen years, both in the community and in the ELC (Elder Learning Center) classes on campus. A special thank you to: the foundations and donors dedicated to helping older adults continue living safe, happy and productive lives; the many volunteers who have supported this program; this program’s wonderful Rehabilitation Specialists; all of the in-home clients and ELC participants; and the numerous professionals, families, Perkins staff and community resources that supported this program.

For further information please feel free to contact: Beth Caruso, Director of Outreach Services at 617-972-7434 or beth.caruso@perkins.org

Perkins resources continuing for older individuals include:

• Braille & Talking Book Library

• Adaptive Technology, a Division of Perkins Products

• Scout Information Clearinghouse on Blindness & Visual Impairment

• Senior Times Newspaper Columns

• For additional Massachusetts resources, visit the Massachusetts Resource Directory of Agencies

Local Blindness Service Providers

The following list, although not endorsed or exhaustive, of local blindness agencies & service providers may be useful for seniors with vision loss:

• Carroll Center for the Blind – Rehabilitation Services 617-969-6200

• Deafblind Contact Center 627-254-4925 (email) DBCC_MA@yahoo.com

• Descriptive Video Service (DVS) at WGBH Educational Foundation 617-300-3490

• Lowell Association for the Blind (LAB) 978-454-5704

• MAB Community Services 617-738-5110

• National Braille Press 617-266-6160

• Sight Loss Services, Inc. Cape Cod and the Islands 508-394-3904

• Talking Information Center (TIC) 781-834-4400

• Veterans Administration: Visual Impairment Services Team (VIST) 617-232-9500 x2847

• Visions of Independence 781-784-3320 

State Agencies

• Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB) 617-727-5550 

• Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission 617-2024-3600

Consumer Groups

• Bay State Council of the Blind 781-893-6251

• Blinded Veterans Association – Massachusetts Chapter 617-303-5691

• National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts 508-679-8543