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Dear Colleague,

October is Blindness Awareness Month. Please join us in recognizing those who are blind or live with other visual impairments.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides helpful resources for the blind or visually impaired so that they can access our programs and services. They include materials in alternate formats. There are also resources available from other federal agencies to help people who are blind or visually impaired access their programs and services. Some of the resources include:

• Our webpage, If You Are Blind or Visually Impaired and our publication, If You're Blind or Have Low Vision - How We Can Help.
• We offer our publications in PDF and audio formats and also in alternative media such as Braille, large print, and on audio CD.
• The Bureau of Engraving and Printing's (BEP) U.S. Currency Reader Program provides iBill currency reader devices to U.S. citizens and legal residents, at no cost. BEP's free mobile applications, EyeNote for iOS and IDEAL Currency Identifier for Android, can also assist with recognizing the denomination of U.S. currency notes.
• The National Library's Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) free audiobook and braille program. This program offers free circulation of books and magazines, in audio and braille, via instant download or delivery by mail. Books and magazines circulated by NLS can be accessed using NLS-provided audio playback equipment and refreshable braille displays. Other resources found on the NLS webpage Informational Publications.
• The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) webpages, IRS Resources and Services for Visually Impaired Taxpayers and Accessibility Guide. These pages have tax forms, instructions, and publications in Braille, large print, and Section 508-compliant PDF formats.

Please share these resources with your colleagues, family, and friends.

Sincerely,

Dawn Bystry
Deputy Associate Commissioner
Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
oea.net.post@ssa.gov
@SSAOutreach