Community Organizations

Adapted Physical Education Consultant
(207) 624-6657
Adapted Physical Education Consultant Contact: Jayne Chase (207) 624-6657 Jayne works for the Department of Education as an Adapted Physical Education Consultant throughout Maine. Website: www.maine.gov/doe
Website: www.maine.gov/doe
Alpha One
Contact: Bangor: (207) 941-6553 - (877) 229-8954 • Portland: (207) 767-5387 - (207) 767-2189
For more than two decades, Alpha One has been responsive to the needs of individuals with disabilities, initiating, advocating for, and implementing systems change to overcome the barriers that prevent people with disabilities from living independently.
Website: www.alphaonenow.com
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American Council of the Blind of Maine
Contact: Nancy Matulis, President • (207) 426-2651
ACBofMe purpose is to promote the independence, security, equality of opportunity, and quality of life for all the people of Maine who are blind and visually impaired. ACB also works to advocate through legislative bills and provides education opportunities through scholarships. Current President: Mary Ellen Frost (207) 426-2651
Website: http://www.acbmaine.org
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American Printing House for the Blind
The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) is the world's largest nonprofit organization creating educational, workplace, and independent living products and services for people who are visually impaired.
Website: http://www.aph.org
Area Agencies on Aging of Maine
Area Agencies on Aging of Maine Find your local AAA for locale resources for people with disabilities and the aging population. Website: www.maine.gov/dhhs/oes/resource/aaa.htm
Website: www.maine.gov/dhhs/oes/resource/aaa.htm
Blind Bowlers
Contact: Rolfe Frost • (207) 217-3720
Bowling league in Augusta for adults from October to April. Picnic held Labor Day Weekend.
Blind Bowlers Program
Contact: Harrison Clark
Bowling League in Brewer from September to June for all ages.
Blind Veterans Association
Contact: Ed Kennedy • (207) 542-7632
The Maine Regional Group of the Blinded Veterans Association is a group of military service veterans, grouped by state and operate under the charter of the National Blinded Veterans Association. The BVA was formed in about 1947 to help the injured troops who had visual injuries when they returned home from WWII. It is known by a quote that says " Blinded Veterans Helping Blinded Veterans.” The Maine Regional Group meets several times a year at the Togus VA Center in Augusta, Maine.
Website: http://www.bva.org
Catholic Charities of Maine
1-800-781-8550
Education Services for Blind and Visually Impaired Children is a statewide service of Catholic Charities Maine providing assessment, instruction and consultation to blind and visually impaired children, their parents and school personnel.
Website: http://www.ccmaine.org
Central Maine Adaptive Sports
Contact: Cindy Dubois • (207) 786-3062
Central Maine Adaptive Sports focuses on students abilities rather than their disabilities. The goal is to provide a safe and enjoyable skiing experience for both students and instructors. Also we strive to provide the most up-to date training for volunteer instructors, and support a technologically sound equipment inventory. The main goal of the Central Maine Adaptive Sports program is to teach disabled persons with any disability to ski with a sponsor or family member. Since their meager start, hundreds of adaptive ski lessons have been given to people of all ages with physical, mental and developmental handicaps.
Website: http://www.cmassports.org
Disability Rights Center
Disability Rights Center The Disability Rights Center’s mission is to “enhance and promote the equality, self-determination, independence, productivity, integration, and inclusion of people with disabilities through education, strategic advocacy and legal intervention”. Website: www.drcme.org
Website: www.drcme.org
Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired
DBVI provides a plethora of services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired including Vocational Rehabilitation, Business Enterprise programs, Independent Living services, Education Services for Children and Financial Services.
Website: http://www.maine.gov/rehab/dbvi/
GoMaine
Contact: Carey Kish, Program Manager • (207) 774-9891
GoMaine provides transportation opportunities through vanpool, carpool, walking groups and more. Visit the website for further information about transportation.
Website: http://gomaine.org
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Lion's Club International
(207) 246-5555
Contact: Anthony Arruda (207) 246-5555 Lion's are volunteers and Members of the Largest Volunteer Service Organization in the World who are striving to eliminate preventable blindness in our lifetime. Towards this goal, we support Diabetes Awareness and prevention, vision screening for glaucoma, macular degeneration and other common vision problems. We also support Community youth and elderly activities and strive to make our Community a better place to live. Website: www.mainelions.org
Website: www.mainelions.org
Lutheran Blind Mission
Contact: Kim Slininger • (207) 356-4554
Lutheran Blind Mission provides material to people worldwide to promote leadership and growth within the blind and visually impaired community. Hope Lutheran Church in Bangor has events for people within the bilnd and visually impaired community.
Website: http://www.blindmission.org/
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Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation
Contact: Voice/TTY- 207-824-2440 • Toll Free/TTY- 800-639-7770
Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation After 30 years of being known as Maine Handicapped Skiing, we are now Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation. Under our new name, we are proud to continue offering year-round adaptive recreational programs that teach adaptive sports activities to people with physical disabilities, ages four and up. www.maineadaptive.org
Website: www.maineadaptive.org
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Maine AIRS
Contact: Les Myers
This special news and information radio program broadcasts extensive material from Maine's daily and weekly newspapers to individuals who are visually impaired or print disabled. Volunteer readers present information not usually accessible in audio form such as community calendars, shopping news and obituaries.To hear Maine AIRS without a computer, you need an SCA (subsidiary channel audio) receiver.
Website: http://www.theiris.org/maine-airs/programming
Maine Arts Commission
Contact: Keith Ludden • (207) 287-2725
The Maine Arts Commission strives to provide arts access for everyone! Work is ongoing to ensure that meetings, programs, events and facilities are fully accessible to people with disabilities. All agency meetings are open to the public and are fully accessible, and all grant programs must also be fully accessible.
Website: http://www.mainearts.com/
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Maine Senior College Network
This is a site where people, 50 and older, can access continuing education opportunities throughout the state of Maine.
Website: http://www.maineseniorcollege.org/find_senior_college.html
Maine State Library
Contact: Christopher Boynton, Director, Maine State Library Outreach Services • 1-800-762-7106
Maine State Library provides digital and cassette book services for Maine residents with visual and physical disabilities, and we also work with Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, MA to provide Braille services to eligible Maine residents.
Website: http://www.maine.gov/msl/outreach/lbph/
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Minds Eye Travel
Contact: Sue Bramhall • (207) 542-4438
Mind's Eye Travel is an organization that plans tours and travel for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Website: http://www.mindseyetravel.com/
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National Association of Parents of Children with Visual Impairments
Contact: John & Jane Allen • (207) 934-7726
NAPVI is a national organization that enables parents to find information and resources for their children who are blind or visually impaired, including those with additional disabilities. NAPVI provides leadership, support, and training to assist parents in helping children reach their potential. NAPVI is dedicated to: Giving emotional support, Initiating outreach programs, Networking, Advocating for the educational needs and welfare of children who are blind or visually impaired.
Website: http://www.spedex.com/napvi
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National Federation for the Blind of Maine
Contact: Steve Sawczyn - Current President • (207) 344-8292
The NFB improves blind people’s lives through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. Current President: Patty Estes (207) 344-8292 Website: www.nfb-me.org
Website: www.nfb-me.org
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Contact: Lori Fecteau • 1-800- FIGHT MS
The Greater New England Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society serves 19,000 people with multiple sclerosis and their families in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont. The National MS Society helps each person address the challenges of living with MS through education, support, advocacy, services and research. MS interrupts the flow of information between brain and body and can stop people from moving forward in their lives. The progress, severity, and specific symptoms of MS in any one person cannot yet be predicted, but advances in research and treatment are moving us closer to a world free of MS.
Website: http://www.msnewengland.org
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New England Blind Athletic Association
Contact: Mark Sinclair, Director • (207) 831-5229
Provides Sports Education Camp to students who are blind or visually impaired.
Website: http://www.nebaamaine.org/
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New England Regional Ski for Light
Contact: Marie Hennessey • (781) 667-9270
NERSFL is a non-profit organization that offers physically demanding activities to people who are blidn or visually impaired. Winter activities include skiing and snowshoeing. Summer activities include hiking, picnincing, kayaking, biking and more.
Website: http://www.nersfl.org
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Northeast Passage
Contact: Voice (603) 862-0070 TTY • 603-862-0070
For over 20 years, Northeast Passage has been a nationally recognized leader in the field of therapeuticrecreation. As a non-profit affiliated with the University of New Hampshire-50 miles north of Boston-we specialize in providing innovative solutions for individuals with disabilities including children, adults and our nation’s military personnel. We are staffed by a passionate, highly-skilled group of professionals with the sole purpose of empowering individuals with disabilities to define, pursue and achieve their therapeutic recreation goals.
Website: http://www.nepassage.org/
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Pine Tree Guide Dog User’s
Pine Tree Guide Dog User’s Current President: Pauline Lamontagne nera2@myfairpoint.net Pine Tree Guide Dog User’s is a group of people who have service dogs. They have an annual “Spring Fling” and promote safety and advocacy related to guide dog use. Website: www.ellsworthme.org/pinetree/
Website: www.ellsworthme.org/pinetree/
Spectrum Generations
Contact: Leslie Bray • 1-800-464-8703
Spectrum Generations, the Central Maine Area Agency on Aging, has been a leading provider of information and advice, referrals, programs and activities for adults for over 30 years.
Website: http://www.seniorspectrum.com/
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The Disability Right Center
The Iris Network
774-6273
The Iris Network works to provide services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired including Maine AIRS, Low Vision Clinic, Vision Rehabilitation and Community Integration.
Website: http://www.theiris.org
Theater Project
Contact: Wendy Poole • 207-729-8584
The Theater Project was founded in 1971 as a non-profit community-based theater in Brunswick, Maine. Since then, we have provided innovative, entertaining performances, designed programming for members of our community with special needs, and taught theater to thousands of children from Maine to the Middle East and beyond. The Theater Project is committed to offering the community stimulating performances that encourage audiences and participants to think and feel; to laugh and cry. We are equally committed to an educational program that enables participants to take risks, to discover their creative spirit while problem solving and working together, and to take responsibility for what they accomplish.
Website: http://www.theaterproject.com
Togus VA – VIST/BROS Services
Contact: Lila Gies • (207) 623-8411 X 5305
The Visual Impairment Service Team (VIST) is designed to ensure that Veterans are brought into contact with the restorative services which can help individuals overcome the effects of a visual impairment. Contact: Michelle Mason (207) 623-8411 X 5305
Website: http://www.togus.va.gov/
VSA of Maine
(207) 607-4016
VSA arts of Maine is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing arts, educational and cultural opportunities for children and adults with disabilities in Maine. Through innovative and inclusive arts programs, VSA arts of Maine promotes the creative power in people with disabilities. Formerly named Very Special Arts, VSA arts changed its name in 1999 in a move designed to put the focus on the artists' work, rather than on their limitations.
Website: http://vsartsmaine.org
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YMCA's of Maine
YMCA’s of Maine A resource for local YMCA’s and Camps. The YMCA is a nonprofit organization reaching over 165 communities in Maine. Website: www.ymcasofmaine.org
Website: www.ymcasofmaine.org