Hines VA Blind Rehabilitation Center

Our Mission

To provide high quality blind rehabilitation through the provision of a broad range of rehabilitation, education, and research/technology.

The goal of the Center is to help visually impaired and legally blind veterans to become as independent as possible in all aspects of daily life, and to assist them in their adjustment to blindness.

Blind Rehabilitation Services

The core of blind rehabilitation training revolves around five distinct skill areas  . Veterans are introduced to each area, work one-on-one with Instructors to establish goals and complete training in a paced manner conducive to their unique needs.

Living Skills - Veterans complete assessments in Activities of Daily Living, Adaptive Kitchen Skills, and Communications. Each program is individualized based on the assessment results, the Veteran’s personal goals, and the input of the Instructor.  Veterans are taught a variety of skills and techniques to make the completion of everyday tasks such as meal preparation, cleaning, taking notes and handling finances easier and more efficient.

Orientation & Mobility - Instructors perform a functional assessment to determine a Veteran’s travel needs. Emphasis is placed on knowing where you are, where you are going, and how to get there safely. Veterans are trained to travel with a long white cane or other adaptive mobility devices. Training can take place in both indoor and outdoor environments during all seasons of the year.

Visual Skills - Instructors work with the Veteran to effectively use their remaining vision in conjunction with their prescribed devices. Aids may include handheld optical magnifiers, closed circuit televisions, monocular, portable electronic magnifiers, and head mounted devices.

Manual Skills - This is the area where Veterans learn to use non-visual senses and skills. Examples include the sense of touch, organizational skills, visualization, problem solving, and spatial awareness. Activities include leatherwork, copper tooling, basic home maintenance, guitar, piano, small engine repair, and basic woodworking. The activity is not the most important aspect, but rather, what it takes to do that activity with non-visual senses and skills.

Access Technology - Technology training is designed to teach the Veteran skills necessary to operate specialized access software and/or technology devices (e.g. computer, smart phone, additional electronic aid) to meet a Veteran’s goals whether they are a novice, intermediate, or advanced user. This includes assessing the Veteran’s ability to use large print, synthetic speech, voice recognition, and/or braille access devices to perform desired functions on recommended technology devices.

Clinical Services

Within the Center, we house various clinical providers to ensure the provision of complete and comprehensive care for our Veterans.

Medical - Medical staff includes nurses stationed in the center 24 hours per day, a dedicated Nurse Practitioner, doctors, and as needed specialists, all working together to ensure the overall well-being of our Veterans.

Optometry - Our Low Vision Optometrist examines each Veteran during their first week, prescribes appropriate low vision devices and assesses each Veteran’s ocular health during their inpatient stay.

Social Work - The Social Worker meets with each Veteran during their first week to address issues related to mental health, benefits, advance directives, and community resources. Veterans can schedule additional support meetings with Social Work upon request.

Psychology - The Psychologist meets with each Veteran during their first week to discuss ideas and techniques best suited for the Veteran’s learning style as well as to address any mental health concerns. Veterans have the opportunity to schedule additional support meetings with Psychology as needed.

Recreation Therapy - Veterans meet with our Recreation Therapist during their first week. Recreational and other activity-based interventions are used to address the assessed needs of each Veteran.  Activities may include golfing, water aerobics, horseback riding, fishing, kayaking, and snow skiing.  

Community Integrated Outings  - Veterans are offered to attend various activities such as recreational outings, social gatherings, and retail shopping. These activities serve as an opportunity to implement newly learned skills and tools in the real world.

Whole Health Group Class - On a weekly basis, we host a Whole Health group class for all Veterans which focuses on various aspects of self care including mindfulness, nutrition and well being, and sleep health.

Our Facility

The Blind Rehabilitation Center is located on the Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital campus. Built in 2005, our current center replaced the historical building we started in. From adjustable lighting to tactual markers to contrasting colors, our unique, two story facility was created with vision loss in mind. The Center has secure keycard entry limited only to staff and Veterans of the building. 

Lobby

Our lobby welcomes you as you arrive through the front door. It serves as a meeting place for our Veterans learning their way around the building, as a place to gather for group classes and activities, and as a rendezvous point for admitting and discharging Veterans. 

Individual Rooms

Each Veteran is assigned a private room that has adjustable lighting and thermostat, attached full bath, a closet, desk, lockable nightstand, recliner, laundry basket, talking book player, satellite TV, phone, and radio. 

Dining room

Three meals per day are served in our dining hall which also acts as a gathering place. During evenings and weekends, Veterans enjoy sports events, movies or local area newscasts, play adaptive card and board games, and utilize the coffee station and kitchenette. 

Nursing Station

Centrally located within the Center and staffed 24 hours per day, our Nursing Station is the hub where Veterans receive their care. Services include dispensing and administering of medications as needed, routine evaluation throughout one’s stay, and monitoring the various aspects of a Veteran’s overall health. 

Gym 

In support of our whole health model, we have a gym within the center. It has various fitness equipment including a stationary bike, treadmill, elliptical, rowing machine, multi-function cable machines, free weights, and resistance bands.

ILP Apartment

The Independent Living Program, known as the ILP, is the capstone to a training program for Veterans who are in pursuit of living independently. The ILP is an apartment-like room within the Center that models a one bedroom unit with attached bathroom and full kitchen. Veterans participating in this program move into the ILP apartment for the final portion of their inpatient stay. Here, they implement learned skills, techniques, and tools to complete various real-world assignments such as shopping, cooking, cleaning and form completion, all designed to create an independent living experience.

Laundry Room 

We have two laundry rooms within the Center. Each has multiple washers and dryers that are audibly and tactually adapted for accessible use by Veterans.

Courtyard 

The private courtyard is another common gathering area. Especially in the warmer months, one can find Veterans relaxing at the picnic tables, practicing learned skills, or enjoying the outdoors.

Our History 

Hines Hospital prides itself on housing the VA’s first Blind Rehabilitation Center. It was established in 1948 under the direction of Russell C. Williams, a Veteran who was blinded in World War II. The charter staff of this new center included eight Instructors and nine beds. Through this initiative, the long white cane was born. The white cane is now a universal identifier for people who are blind and visually impaired and aids individuals in safe and independent travel.  

Types Of Training

Inpatient Training - The most common mode of training is inpatient.  Every program is unique and tailored to the assessed needs and goals for each Veteran. Our modern training center, one-on-one instruction, and structured teaching methods all combine to make the inpatient model the most comprehensive and thorough program.

Outpatient Training - A model for local Veterans in which they travel to and from the center on a daily basis and participate in various classes based on their assessments and goals.

In-Home Training - Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialists, known as BROS, travel throughout the country to provide basic and supportive services such as setting up issued Blind Rehabilitation devices, familiarizing Veterans to their surroundings, or helping to make their home more accessible.

Remote Training - We offer remote training where approved Veterans can receive certain Blind Rehabilitation Services via telephone or video calls to their home.  Remote training requires a Veteran to be able to prepare for the daily calls, whether on their own or with help from someone else, set up the training equipment, and to attend consistently. 

Eligibility

All honorably discharged Veterans with significant or severe vision loss are eligible for blind rehabilitation services. The cause of vision loss need not be related to a Veteran’s active duty service.

Application Process

To apply, please contact your VIST (Visual Impairment Service Team) Coordinator to discuss and begin your application. To find out who your assigned VIST Coordinator is, contact your local VA Hospital or us for assistance.

Contact Us

Telephone:  
Address: Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Blind Rehabilitation Center, Building 113, MSC 124, Hines, IL 60141