 | Washington State |  |
|
| ||
Service Organizations
Government Agencies and Services
Washington State Department of Services for the Blind (DSB)
3411 S Alaska Street, Seattle, WA 98118-1631
Phone: 206-721-4422
1-800-552-7103 (Toll free state-wide)
Fax: 206-721-4103
URL: http://www.wa.gov/dsb
Offices also in Olympia, Tacoma, Vancouver, Yakima, and Spokane.
DSB offers a wide range of services to increase the independence, employment potential, and quality of life for people who are blind and visually impaired statewide. Services include the Vocational Rehabilitation program, a residential Orientation and Training Center, the Independent Living program, Child and Family program, the Business Enterprise Program, and the Assistive Technology center.
Nonprofit Organizations
Community Services for the Blind/Partially Sighted (CSBPS)
9709 Third Avenue NE, #100, Seattle, WA 98115-2027
Phone: 206-525-5556 (King County)
1-800-458-4888 (Toll free state-wide)
Email: csbps@csbps.com
URL: http://www.csbps.com
Service area: King, Snohomish, and Skagit counties for home visits; people throughout the Northwest use low vision service, specialty products store, and educational services. A private not-for-profit agency offering comprehensive rehabilitation services to people with impaired vision, CSBPS offers counseling and support groups; instruction in safe and independent travel; skills for independent living; low vision assessment and training; adaptive aids store and mail order catalogue; assistive technology center; volunteer assistance; and educational services including free newsletter and free statewide resource guide.
Edith Bishel Center for the Blind
482 N Arthur, Kennewick, WA 99336
Phone: 509-735-0699
Service area: Southeastern Washington, Northeastern Oregon
Provides rehabilitation services, independent living skills, counseling and support groups, low vision clinic, computer classes, Braille instruction social activities, and library resources. Low vision aids available for loan and sale. Open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Lilac Blind Foundation
N 1212 Howard, Spokane, WA 99201-2410
Phone: 509-328-9116
1-800-422-7893 (Toll free)
A nonprofit organization serving blind and visually impaired persons in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. Services include rehabilitation teaching, orientation and mobility, communication skills, home teaching, aids and appliances, daily living skills training, Braille training, peer support, counseling, low vision services, recreational activities, library services in cooperation with the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library, volunteer services, and public education. Serves: Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Orielle, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman, and Yakima counties. Idaho: Kootenai, Bonner, Boundary, Shosone, and Benewah counties.
Tacoma Area Coalition of Individuals with Disabilities (TACID)
6315 S 19th Street, Tacoma, WA 98466
Phone: 253-565-9000
TACID, a nonprofit organization, provides the following services: independent living skills training for blind/visually impaired adults including home and personal management, Braille instruction, activities of daily living, and orientation and mobility. ASL interpreter referrals and advocacy are provided for deaf/hard of hearing individuals. Also available are disability support groups, information and referral to community services, and volunteer services. Serves Pierce and Thurston counties.
American Council of the Blind (ACB)
1155 15th Street NW, #720, Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202-467-5081
1-800-424-8666 (Toll free)
Email: ncrabb@acb.org
URL: http://www.acb.org
ACB is a national membership organization established to promote the independence, dignity, and well-being of blind and visually impaired people. It works to enhance civil rights, employment, rehabilitation services, safe and expanded transportation, travel and recreation, Social Security benefits, accessibility, and more.
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)
11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300, New York, NY 10001-2018
Phone: 212-502-7600
1-800-232-5463 (Toll free)
Email: newyork@afb.org
AFB has offices in many of the nation’s larger cities and can be found locally by calling your area’s general information number. AFB is a national clearinghouse for information concerning non-medical aspects of blindness and visual impairment. It provides information and referral about programs, products, technology, and support groups.
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
1800 “L” Street NW, Washington, DC 20507
Phone: 1-800-669-3362 (Toll free)
The EEOC provides regulations, technical manuals, and other information relating to employment requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
National Industries for the Blind (NIB)
1901 N Beauregard Street, Suite 200, Alexandria, VA 22311
Phone: 703-998-0770
NIB coordinates production of industries with a majority of workers who are blind or visually impaired in 36 states. They also provide recruitment services in many states.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
ADA Work
Phone: 1-800-232-9675 (Toll free)
A comprehensive service that provides clarification of non-legal information about ADA compliance. Connected with the Job Accommodation Network.
ADAptations Inc.
13333 Bel-Red Road, #213, Bellevue, WA 98005
Phone: 425-746-2227
1-888-252-9123 (Toll free)
ADAptations Inc. is an interior design firm specializing in designing residential and commercial environments that meet the accessibility needs of all people and promote independence, self-esteem, safety, and freedom of choice. Also specializes in ADA interpretation and compliance.
Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
West Virginia University
PO Box 6080, Morgantown, WV 26506-6080
Phone: 1-800-526-7234 (Toll free)
URL: http://janweb.icdi.wvu.edu
Provides information to help companies comply with the ADA, and to help people with functional disabilities return to work or perform more easily and productively. Produces information in English, Spanish, and French, as well as Braille, large print, tape, or disk.
Northwest Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center
PO Box 9046, MS 6000, Olympia, WA 98507-9076
Phone: 1-800-949-4232 (Toll free)
Provides information, technical assistance, referrals, and training to those who have responsibilities and those who have rights under the ADA. Services extend to all provisions of the ADA. Operated by the Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues and Employment with funding from the US Department of Education.
Assistive Technology
Washington Assistive Technology Alliance (WATA)
University of Washington
CHDD South Building #104, Box 357920, Seattle, WA 98195-7920
Phone: 206-685-4181
1-800-214-8731 (Toll free)
URL: http://www.wata.org
The goal of WATA is to increase awareness of and access to devices and services that help maximize an individual’s ability to live and work independently. WATA provides referral to local resources for individuals with functional limitations due to aging, illness, or disability, or their families, caregivers, employers, teachers, health care and social service providers, or any others throughout Washington.
Assistive Technology Program
Washington State Department of Services for the Blind (DSB)
3411 S Alaska Street, Seattle, WA 98118-1631
Phone: 206-721-4422
1-800-552-7103 (Toll free state-wide)
Provides technical support and product information to persons who use computer screen access devices.
Audio Taping Services
Olympic Recording
3640 Green Mountain Road, Bremerton, WA 98312
Phone: 360-830-0531
Weekly time-indexed tapes of the “Talking Television Guide” (includes cable channels). Daily tapes of Kitsap County local news.
Braille: Information, Instruction and Transcription
Braille Access Center/ Washington State School for the Blind (WSSB)
2214 E 13th Street, #201, Vancouver, WA 98661
Phone: 360-696-6321, Ext. 158
Serves the needs of the Washington State governments and the private sector on a fee-for-service basis. The preferred method of transcription is for the customer to provide a computer file. Scanning and re-keying capabilities also available. Prices vary according to type of document.
Father Palmer Memorial Braille Service/The Lilac Blind Foundation
Phone: 509-325-1442
1-800-422-7893 (Toll free)
Transcribes literary and textbook material into Braille and sponsors transcribing classes. Also does tactile drawings and maps; thermoforming; binding; and Bex computer programs.
The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.
Barbara Hicks (Contact person)
2501 S Plum Street, Seattle, WA 98144-4711
PO Box 14959, Seattle, WA 98114-0959
Phone: 1-800-799-0402 (Toll free)
Fax: 206-322-4419
Email: Sales@SeattleLH.com
URL: http://www.lighthousestore.com
Lighthouse for the Blind offers business card printing services in Braille and large print. Offset printing cost is $16.19 for a minimum of 215 cards, and additional charges may apply such as $50 for Braille printing. Each card accommodates four lines of 13 characters and, although they may be customized, the cards typically state the name, title, and phone number of the businessperson.
Louis Braille Center
320 Dayton Street, #125, Edmonds, WA 98202-3590
Phone: 425-776-4042
A nonprofit organization offering Braille instruction for blind and sighted individuals, teachers, and transcribers. Publishes Braille books for sale. Provides print/Braille greeting cards, Braille instruction materials, and Braille transcription. Bank statement transcription services for clients of Washington Mutual. Supports an affiliate organization in Bangladesh (library/educational program). Publishes a free newsletter and catalog in Braille and print.
Northwest Braille Services
PO Box 234, Ferndale, WA 98248
Phone: 360-714-1630
Northwest Braille Services is a nonprofit charity whose purpose is to provide Braille materials and education. Annual dues: $5/individuals and $25/groups or agencies. Braille transcription and embossing for textbooks and recreational reading. Rates negotiable.
Infinidot Access Services
Judy Jones (Contact person)
4303 S “M” Street, Tacoma, WA 98408
Employment
Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues and Employment
PO Box 9046, Olympia, WA 98507-9046
Phone: 360-428-3168
Advocacy group for people with disabilities that researches and distributes information on disability issues and access for disabled persons. Produces a variety of publications on these subjects.
The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.
2501 S Plum Street, Seattle, WA 98144-4711
PO Box 14959, Seattle, WA 98114-0959
Phone: 206-322-4200
1-800-799-0402 (Toll free)
Fax: 206-322-4419
The Seattle Lighthouse, a local nonprofit organization, is a diversified industrial manufacturing company. It provides employment and on-the-job training for people who are blind or deaf-blind, as well as vocationally related rehabilitation services. The Service, Office & Systems (SOS) Training is a vocational educational program designed to help people who are blind enter careers in customer service, clerical support, and related fields.
Libraries
Library Equal Access Project (LEAP)
Seattle Public Library
1000 Fourth Avenue, Third Floor, Seattle, WA 98104
Phone: 206-386-4690
Service area: Greater Seattle/King County
LEAP provides adaptive equipment access to the more than one million items in the library’s collection. LEAP patrons have open access to the Kurzweil personal readers, adaptive word processing computers, CCTVs, adaptive access to the Internet, the library’s adapted automated catalog system, audio-described videos, as well as many other resources and services.
Washington Talking Book and Braille Library (WTBBL)
2021 9th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121-2783
Phone: 206-615-0400
1-800-542-0866 (Toll free state-wide)
WTBBL provides talking, Braille, and large print books, a print collection on various disabilities, a professional reference service, and the Evergreen Radio Reading Service. Books about the Northwest or by Northwest authors are transcribed into Braille or onto tape. Anyone unable to read or use standard printed materials because of visual impairment or other disability is eligible for free services.
Funding Resources
US Social Security Administration (SSA)
Phone: 1-800-772-1213 (Toll free)
The SSA administers Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for low-income elderly or disabled people, Social Security income, Disability Program benefits, Medicare, and Survivor’s Benefits. Call the 1-800 number for information about these programs, referral to the nearest office, benefit payment problems, etc.
Work Opportunity and Welfare-To-Work Tax Credits (WOTC)
Employment Security Department
WOTC Administrative Unit
PO Box 9046, Olympia, WA 98507-9046
The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is a federal income tax credit that encourages employers to hire eight targeted groups of job seekers who begin work any time after July 1, 1999 and before December 31, 2001. As re-authorized and amended on the October 21 Tax and Trade Relief Extension Act of 1998, the WOTC can reduce employer federal tax liability by as much as $2,400 per new hire. The WOTC is one tool in a diverse toolbox of flexible strategies designed to help job seekers most in need of employment gain on-the-job experience and move towards economic self-sufficiency. This employer tax incentive joins other employment program and targeted tax credit initiatives aimed at helping American workers and increasing American productivity and economic growth.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Mark Pitzer, Attorney (Contact person)
Office of Chief Counsel, IRS
1111 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20224
Phone: 202-622-3110
Authority on the tax incentives available to businesses that hire people with disabilities, such as: the Small Business Tax Credit (IRS Code Section 44, Disabled Access Credit) and the Architectural/Transportation Tax Deduction (IRS Code Section 190, Barrier Removal).
Go back to Employer Handbook Table of Contents