U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs: Eastern Blind Rehabilitation Center (EBRC)

Rehabilitation Agency

VA Connecticut Healthcare System

124 950 Campbell Avenue

West Haven, CT 06516

Phone #1: (203) 932-5711 x2175 (Local)

Penny Schuckers, Chief, Penny.Schuckers@va.gov

General Information

Established: 1969.

Mission: To coordinate a healthcare service delivery system that provides a continuum of care for blinded veterans extending from their home environment to the local VA facility and to the appropriate rehabilitation setting. .

Auspices of organization: Public: Public, Federal.

Geographic area served: East Coast from Maine to Virginia.

Eligibility requirements: Legally blind veterans only; referral by local Veterans Administration Visual Impairment Service Team Coordinator.

Ages served: 18 and above.

Hours of operation: Mon.-Fri. 7:30 AM-4:00 PM

Accessibility: Fully accessible. Transportation available to and from facility.

# of Staff: 47.

Staff description: Administration, Regional Consultant, Visual Impairment Service Team Coordinator, Blind Rehabilitation Outreach Specialist, Recreation, Optometry, Nursing, Blind Rehabilitation Specialists, Computer Access Training Instructors.

Additional information: Received a second 3-year CARF accreditation as of September 2003.

Services Offered

Computer Training Computer operating systems Database software Optical character recognition systems Screen magnification systems Speech output systems

Computer Access Training is provided to all qualified applicants after they have completed the rehabilitation program. Training introduces veteran to assistive technology.

Counseling

Assists in making an emotional and behavioral adjustment to blindness through individual counseling sessions and group therapy meetings.

Health/Medical

Full-time nursing staff is available at center twenty-four hours a day to assist veterans with medical concerns and train on self medication, hypertension, and diabetes. Hospital Support of ancillary services such as audiology, and occupational therapy.

Rehabilitation Services

Offers a variety of skill courses designed to help blinded veterans achieve a realistic level of independence. These skill areas include orientation and mobility, communication skills, activities of daily living, manual skills, visual skills, computer access training and social/recreational activities.

Services for Seniors Assistive technology training Books in alternate formats Braille instruction Counseling services Daily living skills training Employment Services Famly/caregiver services Independent travel training Low vision device prescription/training Low vision evaluation/eye examinations Reading services Recreation activities Referrals to aging programs Support groups

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