Hearing and Vision
To see an alphabetical list of all our resources click here
Connections Beyond Sight and Sound (CBSS)
Is a project designed to meet the unique needs of children and youth with both vision and hearing impairments.
• CBSS serves any parent, family member, or care provider of a child with dual sensory impairment age birth through 21 who lives in Maryland or DC, or any school personnel involved in providing service to such a child.
• CBSS plans activities and provides technical assistance and training based on student, family and service provider needs.
www.CBSS.UMD.EDU Tel: 301-405-0482
Maryland Centers for Independent Living
Centers for Independent Living teach skills of independence, advocacy training and offer technology resources. Each Center provides a mix of services dependent on community needs. Please check for the center that works with your county and contact them for more information.
- For Anne Arundel & Howard Counties:
Accessible Resources for Independence, Inc.
Katie Collins-Ihrke, Executive Director
Email: kihrke@arinow.org
1406-B Crain Hwy South, Suite 206
Glen Burnie, MD 21061
Phone: 443-713-3914
Fax: 443-713-3909
www.arinow.org
https://www.facebook.com/AccessibleResourcesforIndependence/ - For Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Talbot, Wicomico, Worchester Counties:
Bay Area Center for Independent Living (BACIL)
Katherine Jones – Executive Director
Email: kjones@bayareacil.org
909 Progress Circle, Suite 300
Salisbury, MD 21804
Phone: 443-260-0822
Fax: 443-260-0833
www.bayareacil.org
https://www.facebook.com/BayAreaCIL/ - For Montgomery & Prince George’s Counties:
Independence Now, Inc.
Sarah Sorensen, Executive Director
Email:ssorensen@innow.org
12301 Old Columbia Pike, Suite 101
Silver Spring, MD 20904
Phone: 240-898-2183
Fax: 301-625-9777
www.innow.org
https://www.facebook.com/InNowOrg/?rf=161719140522454 - For Allegany, Garrett & Washington Counties:
Resources for Independence, Inc.
Lori Magruder, Executive Director
Email: lmagruder@rficil.org
735 East Oldtown Rd - Cumberland, MD 21502
Phone: 301-784-1774
Fax: 301-784-1776
www.rficil.org
https://www.facebook.com/Resources-for-Independence-inc-211242995554679/ - For Calvert, Charles & St. Mary’s Counties:
Southern Maryland Center for Independent Living
Lidiya Belyovska, Executive Director
Email:LBelyovaska@smcil.org
38588 Brett Way, Suite 1
Mechanicsville, MD 20659
Fax: 301-884-6099
Phone: 301-884-4498
www.smcil.org
https://www.facebook.com/SMCIL-1666139436962807/ - For Carroll & Frederick Counties
The Freedom Center, Inc.
550 Highland St., Suite 150
Frederick, MD 21701
Phone: 301-846-7811
Fax: 301-846-9070
www.thefreedomcenter-md.org
https://www.facebook.com/The-Freedom-Center-390196474380232/ - For Baltimore City, Baltimore & Harford Counties:
The Image Center of Maryland
Michael Bullis, Executive Director
Email:mbullis@imagemd.org
300 East. Joppa Road, Suite 312
Towson Maryland 21286
Phone: 410-982-6311
Fax: 410-372-4037
www.imagemd.org
https://www.facebook.com/theimagecenter/
Maryland Relay
If you, or a loved one, have difficulty using a standard telephone, Maryland Relay makes it easy to place and received calls. Maryland Relay services are available free. You are responsible for paying your monthly telephone bill to your chosen service provider. Long distance rates may apply.
Get the telecommunications equipment needed to independently make and receive phone calls. The Maryland Accessible Telecommunications (MAT) program, a service of Maryland Relay, offers a wide variety of solutions and tools – from amplified phones to Braille TTY’s – to support day-to-day communications. The MAT program has a solution for virtually anyone who has difficulty using a standard telephone – we can even custom-create a solution for you.
Please visit www.mdrelay.org for more info or call 800-552-7724 or 410-767-6960
Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (MD-LBPH)
Provides free library services for people who are unable to read standard print because of a visual, physical, or reading disability. MD-LBPH offers books and magazines the way you want them: in braille or audio formats, mailed to your door for free, or instantly downloadable. Our talking-book players feature large buttons, braille letters beside the controls, a sleep timer, and built-in audio instructions. The BARD Mobile app allows users to quickly and easily download audiobooks directly to iOS and Android devices. To receive an application for service, call 410-230-2443,
email reference.desk@maryland.gov, or visit our website at www.lbph.maryland.gov
Maryland Technology Assistance Program (MDTAP)
The Maryland Technology Assistance Program (MDTAP) is a program run by the Maryland Department of Disabilities. Our mission is to enhance the lives of all Marylanders with disabilities, older Marylanders, and their families by helping support access to assistive technology (AT) devices through AT demonstrations, device loans, trainings, and financing. http”//www.mdtap.org
U.S Currency Reader Program
Blind and visually impaired citizens and legal residents are eligible to receive a currency reader at no cost. The iBill works in Vibration, Tone or Speech mode. To learn more and print out application click here: https://www.bep.gov/maprogrambackground.html