Missouri Rehabilitation Services for the Blind

"Our mission is to create opportunities for eligible blind and visually impaired persons in order that they may attain personal and vocational success.

Rehabilitation Services for the Blind (RSB) provides services to people with varying degrees of visual impairment, ranging from those who cannot read regular print to those who are totally blind.

These services are provided on the premise that with adequate preparation and reasonable accommodation, each blind or visually impaired person will be able to achieve his or her maximum potential in the home and community, in educational settings, and in employment. Services are provided through the following programs:

Vocational Rehabilitation – Eligible individuals are provided with services needed to enter, remain in, or return to suitable employment. Services include diagnosis and evaluation; counseling and guidance; physical or mental restoration; training, including college or university, technical or trade; job development and job placement; rehabilitation engineering; and follow-up services to ensure that the rehabilitated person is performing satisfactorily on the job.

Assistive Technology – Information, tips and resources for computer assistive technology for blind and visually impaired computer users. This page contains links to manufacturers, updates of the most recently available software and hardware, and discussion of how this can be of use to consumers of vision-related assistive technology.      

                                                                                                                         

Other Locations:  

Kansas City North

615 E. 13th St., Rm 409 

Kansas City, MO 64106 

816-889-2677 

Fax 816-889-2504      

 

Kansas City South 

4309 East 50th Terrace, Suite B

Kansas City, MO 64130-2800 

816-929-7171 

Fax 816-929-7170                                      

 

St Louis North District

9900 Page Ave, Suite 105

St. Louis, MO 63132-1431 

314-877-1532

Fax 314-877-1545

TTY: 314-877-1546                                        

 

Mid-Missouri District

3418 Knipp Dr., Ste. A-2

PO Box 919

Jefferson City, MO 65102

573-751-2714

Fax 573-526-4526                

 

St Louis South District

3867 Magnolia Ave.

St. Louis, MO 63110

314-933-7311

FAX 314-933-7323

TDD 314-933-7327        

 

Southwest District

149 Park Central Sq.

Springfield, MO 65806

417-895-6386

Fax 417-895-6392                                  

 

Southeast District

106 Arthur St., Ste. E,

P.O. Box 369 

Sikeston, MO 63801

573-472-5240

Fax 573-472-5393

 

Independent Living Rehabilitation – Services to eligible blind and visually impaired persons are provided so that they can function independently in their homes and communities. Services include the teaching of alternative techniques in the activities of daily living, communication skills in the medium that is best utilized by the individual, and homemaking activities. 

Children’s Services – RSB provides services for children ages birth – fourteen years to assist in their growth, education and development. 

Older Blind Services – Adding Life To Your Years, Free Services Provided in Your Home! The programs of Rehabilitation Services for the Blind are offered without regard to sex, age, race, color, religion, national origin or type of disability in addition to blindness. 

Transition Services – RSB provides services to help high school students prepare for the transition from school to either post-secondary education or work. 

Business Enterprise Program – Self-employment opportunities are provided to legally blind persons. The program includes vending facility operations in public buildings, in private industry, and in roadside rest areas of the interstate highway system.

Prevention of Blindness – Diagnostic services and needed eye care are provided to medically indigent persons in order to prevent blindness. Vision screening and glaucoma testing clinics are provided for early detection of eye pathology that could lead to blindness.

BEST (Blindness Education, Screening, and Treatment) Program – The BEST (Blindness Education, Screening, and Treatment) Program: Provides Blindness prevention through Education, Screening, and Treatment for eligible individuals who do not have insurance to cover these costs. Treatment services are provided through the Prevention of Blindness Program. Based on availability, specific funding is set aside to pay for comprehensive eye exams for 1st and 3rd grade children with no insurance when potential problems are identified through the screenings conducted in schools. Vouchers for payment of these exams may be provided to the local school districts. 

Employer Services – Rehabilitation Services for the Blind has a variety of services which can benefit an employer. We can be a valuable and dependable resource in your efforts to increase the efficiency and productivity of your business. Services range from on-site job task analysis to placement of well-trained employees to consultation on ADA requirements. (More information on employer services)

State Rehab Council for the Blind – The Missouri State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind (SRC), provides advice and recommendations to RSB on rehabilitation programs, policies and processes. The SRC is made up of consumers, as well as representatives of businesses, other programs that serve persons who are blind and visually impaired, and state agencies, as appointed by the Governor. "