Family Support Division

Rehabilitation Services for the Blind

What’s New at RSB

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. (More about vocational rehabilitation)

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. (More aboutAssistive Technology)
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. (More about independent living rehabilitation)

Children’s Services

RSB provides services for children ages birth - fourteen years to assist in their growth, education and development. (More aboutChildren’s Services)

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. (More about the State Older Blind Services Program.)

Transition Services

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

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. (More about the Business Enterprise Program)
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. (More about the Prevention of Blindness program)

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. (More about the BEST - Children’s Vision program)
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. (More about the State Rehabilitation Council for the Blind)
Criteria For Services
  • Legal blindness or other severe visual impairment; and
  • the physical or mental impairment creates a substantial barrier to employment; and
  • vocational rehabilitation services are required.
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. Services are provided on a nondiscriminatory basis.
Employment Opportunities at RSB

Visit merit system job opportunities for rehabilitation positions working with the blind at:

  • www.ded.mo.gov/wfd/ (Published by the State of Missouri, Office of Administration, Division of Personnel)
Referral
Anyone interested in the services offered by Rehabilitation Services for the Blind can get further information or referral information by calling (toll free) 1-800-592-6004. FSD county office staff may refer persons to the RSB central office or to one of the district office locations. Information can also be requested by Email addressed to: askrsb@dss.mo.gov

Links to Other Internet Resources