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MAB Community Services/Massachusetts Association for the Blind

General Information

MAB Community Services/Massachusetts Association for the Blind
200 Ivy Street
Brookline, MA 02446
(617) 738 5110
fweisse@mabcommunity.org
http://www.mabcommunity.org

Brief Description

Founded in 1903, MAB Community Services is the oldest social service agency in the country providing services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Since that time, MAB has broadened its scope to include services for adults with developmental disabilities and adolescents with brain injuries.

MAB offers a multidisciplinary rehabilitation approach to helping elders, adults, and adolescents with disabilities live full and meaningful lives in their communities.

It services to persons who are blind or visually impaired are presented under the division name: Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, MAB Community Services, in offices located in Brookline and Worcester.

Services Offered

  • Employment/Job Training
    • Vocational programs train adults with developmental disabilities and blindness.

  • Daily Living Skills/Independent Living Skills Training
    • Offers activity program for adults with developmental disabilities and blindness: activities of daily living, communications skills, mobility and pre-vocational skills.

  • Information and Referral
    • Responds to requests by telephone, mail, e-mail, and in person.

  • Travel/Orientation and Mobility
    • The Vision Habilitative Services Department provides Orientation and Mobility and Low Vision Services for adults with developmental disabilities and vision loss who live in the Metro Region of the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Disabilities. Referrals should be sent by an individual's DDS Service Coordinator.

  • Low Vision Services
    • Low vision services provided in Holyoke, Springfield, and Worcester.

  • Support Groups
    • Offers Peer Support Groups for individuals coping with vision loss.

  • In-Home Services
    • Elder Rehabilitation Project teaches specialized in-home skills and provides adaptive equipment to elders first experiencing sight loss who are not legally blind.

  • Volunteer Services
    • Community volunteers are matched statewide with consumers who are blind or visually impaired to assist with shopping, reading mail, writing checks, etc. Transportation is provided by volunteers in Worcester Area. Volunteers assist with leisure time activities in Worcester area.