Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind/Independant Living Services Program

OVRB/Independent Living Services Program provides services to assist legally blind individuals adjust to their blindness by becoming more able to care for their specific needs. The eligibility criteria for the Older Blind Program is age 55+ and legal blindness. The Part B eligibility requirements are legal blindness, significant secondary disability, and any age. For both programs, gainful employment may not be feasible but independent living goals are feasible.

Some of the services we provide are:

• Recommendation and/or provision of appropriate and necessary aids and appliances, such as, talking clocks, writing guides, low vision aids, etc.
• Referral to other agencies and services, such as Library Services, Radio Reading Services, Bible on Tape, etc.
• Functional low vision assessments
• Independent living skills training
• Peer support groups
• Center based training (Addie McBryde or REACH)
• Other appropriate services designed to assist a person who is blind in coping with daily living activities.
• Orientation & mobility training

Referrals may be made to Lynda Hall, Program Manager,

or to the Independent Living Counselor in your area.

VRB Independent Living Services Directory

Lynda Hall, Program Manager
207 Industrial Park Rd.
P. O. Box 824
Starkville, MS 39760
Phone: 662.320.6656
Fax: 662.324.1873

District I

Jamilia Ivy
P.O. Box 1111
51 CR166
Oxford, MS 38655
Phone: 662.234.4532

Counties Served: Benton, Calhoun, Coahoma, DeSoto, Grenada, LaFayette, Marshall, Panola, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tunica, Yalobusha

District II & III

Fadeelah Williams

2620 Traceland Drive
P. O. Box 2760
Tupelo, MS 38803
Phone: 662.840.0967

Counties Served: Alcorn, Chickasaw, Clay, Itawamba, Lee, Monroe, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tishomingo, Union, Webster

District IV

Shirley Griffin
2550 Peachtree Street
P.O. Box 5314
Jackson, MS 39296-5314
Phone: 601.364.2695

Counties Served: Clarke, Jasper, Kemper, Lauderdale, Leake, Neshoba, Newton, Scott, Smith

District V

Victoria Barnes
#18 John Tatum Industrial Dr.
Hattiesburg, MS 39401
Phone: 601.544.1676

Counties Served: Covington, Forrest, Greene, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lamar, Marion Pearl River, Perry, Wayne

District VI

Dianne Dewees
10280 Larkin Smith Drive
Gulfport, MS 39503
Phone: 228.897.7604

Counties Served: Biloxi, George, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Stone

District VII

Patsy Spring
1400 A Harrison Drive
P. O. Box 1408
McComb, MS 39648-1408
Phone: 601.249.4644

Counties Served: Adams, Amite, Copiah, Franklin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lincoln, Pike, Simpson, Walthall, Wilkinson

District VIII

Nancy Beal
2550 Peachtree Street
P.O. Box 5314
Jackson, MS 39296-5314
Phone: 601.364.2678

Counties Served: Claiborne, Hinds, Madison, Rankin, Warren,

District IX

Jessica Peacock
201 Hwy 7 South
P.O. Box 543
Greenwood, MS 38930
Phone: 662.459.9770

Counties Served: Attala, Bolivar, Carroll, Holmes, Humphreys, Leflore, Issaquena, Montgomery, Sharkey, Sunflower, Washington, Yazoo

Vocational Rehabilitation for the Blind Contact Information