Organizations in Massachusetts and across the country that serve, advocate for, or are run by people who are blind or have low vision.
Massachusetts organizations
Carroll Center for the Blind
A nonprofit vision rehabilitation center in Newton, founded in 1936, that teaches people who are blind or visually impaired the skills to live independently: orientation and mobility, assistive technology, braille, daily living skills, and programs for job seekers and young people.
Visit the Carroll Center for the Blind website
Disability Law Center
Massachusetts’s Protection and Advocacy agency. It provides free legal advocacy and representation to people with disabilities on issues such as discrimination, access, education, housing, and abuse and neglect.
Visit the Disability Law Center website
Disability Policy Consortium
A disability-led advocacy organization working for equity for people with disabilities in Massachusetts, through research and advocacy on health care, long-term services and supports, and public policy.
Visit the Disability Policy Consortium website
Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (MABVI)
Since 1903, MABVI has helped people of all ages live well with vision loss, through vision rehabilitation, assistive technology training, peer support groups across the state, and a volunteer program that matches volunteers with people who want help at home or in the community.
Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB)
The state agency for Massachusetts residents who are legally blind. It offers vocational rehabilitation, independent living and social services, orientation and mobility training, and assistive technology. Registering with MCB as legally blind is the first step to many of these services.
Visit the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind website
Massachusetts Statewide Independent Living Council
The council promotes independent living for people with disabilities across Massachusetts. Its directory lists the state’s Independent Living Centers, which are run by and for people with disabilities and offer peer support, skills training, advocacy, and information and referral.
Find an Independent Living Center on the Statewide Independent Living Council website
National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts
The Massachusetts affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind, a national organization of blind people, with local chapters, advocacy, and programs for blind adults and children.
Visit the National Federation of the Blind of Massachusetts website
Perkins School for the Blind
Founded in Boston in 1829 and now in Watertown, Perkins was the first school for the blind in the United States. It educates children and young adults who are blind or visually impaired, including those with additional disabilities, and supports students, families and educators around the world.
Visit the Perkins School for the Blind website
VIBUG: Visually Impaired and Blind User Group
A Massachusetts group for blind and visually impaired people who use computers and other assistive technology. Members get email support, attend meetings online and can take special technology classes; membership is $20 a year.
National organizations
American Council of the Blind (ACB)
BSCB’s parent organization: a national grassroots membership organization of people who are blind or visually impaired, working to increase independence, security, equality of opportunity and quality of life for all blind and visually impaired people. BSCB is ACB’s Massachusetts affiliate.
Visit the American Council of the Blind website
ACB’s special interest affiliates bring together members who share an interest, profession or background, such as guide dog users, students, educators, business owners and music lovers.
See ACB’s special interest affiliates
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
Founded in 1921, with Helen Keller among its most famous champions, AFB works to create a world of no limits for people who are blind or have low vision, through research, public policy work, and resources such as its free technology magazine, AccessWorld.
Visit the American Foundation for the Blind website
Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI)
A special interest affiliate of ACB and a national organization of guide dog users. It advocates for the rights of guide dog teams, supports people working with or considering a guide dog, and educates the public about guide dogs.