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Veteran Health Indiana

 

Visual Impairment Services Team VIST

 

 The VIST program helps legally blind and severely visually impaired Veterans and their families adjust to vision loss. 

 VIST Services 
  • Annual VIST Review: A yearly examination assessing Veteran's vision, hearing, health, and VA benefits;
  • Monthly Support Group: A monthly support group takes place the 2nd Friday of every month from 2:00pm-3:30pm at the Indianapolis medical center;
  • Quarterly Newsletter;
  • Encouragement of recreational activities: VIST patients are encouraged to be involved in recreational activities including an annual bowling tournament, golf tournament, Golden Age Games (if applicable) winter sports clinic, and more.

Who May Benefit from VIST Services? 

If a Veteran requires the assistance of another person or exhibits any of the following functional deficits, a referral to VIST may be indicated:

  • Difficulty reading mail, newspaper, medication labels or other standard size print with regular eyeglasses or contact lenses;
  • Difficulty performing activities of daily living, such as managing their medications, grooming, cooking, using the phone, telling time, etc., as a result of their visual impairment;
  • Diabetic Veterans who have difficulty seeing to measure their insulin or seeing to check their blood sugar with regular eyeglasses or contact lenses;
  • Difficulty ambulating safely and independently as a result of blindness or visual impairment.

Referral to VIST 

Any Veteran who is legally blind or severely visually impaired, even while wearing conventional glasses, and who is eligible for VA health care, may participate in the VIST program.  If you are unsure if you are eligible for VA health care benefits, please contact the VIST Coordinator to assist in determining eligibility. 

Referral Services

  • VA Blind Rehabilitation Services (BRS) training programs including the Indianapolis clinic;
  • Computer Assistive Technology (CATS) training programs which are adapted for use by blind or visually impaired persons;
  • Low Vision Evaluations by a Low Vision Optometrist;
  • National Library Service (NLS) Talking Book Program;
  • Local community organizations that provide services to individuals with vision loss.

Prosthetic and Sensory Aids Service  (PSAS)

Veterans are often issued prosthetic/blind aids which may include optical devices such as hand magnifiers, electronic magnifiers such as CCTV, large print or talking computer system, canes, talking watches, audible prescription readers, adapted recreational devices or other assistive devices based on assessments by blind rehabilitation professionals.

Contact Information
     Visual Impairment Service Team (VIST) Coordinator: Deanna Austin, 317-988-2576 or 888-878-6889 X2576

Important Links*:   

* These links lead you to a web site outside of the Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA).  The VA does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of this linked web site. 


  

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Contact Info

Location

  • Deanna Austin
    VAMC, D wing, 2nd floor

Contact Number(s)

  • 317-988-2576

Hours of Operation

  • 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.