Vision Loss Support Groups: How to Find One in the US

If you have recently lost vision, or someone in your family has, a support group is one place to meet people who have been through it. This guide covers where US groups meet, what happens in them and how to choose one. It gives no medical advice, and each program sets its own rules, so check its page.

Key points

• What it is: VisionAware says "Support groups bring people together who share a similar life challenge" (VisionAware).
• Not therapy: the same page says they are "not the same as group therapy sessions."
• How they meet: by phone, online or in person. Some are led by peers, others by professionals.
• Where to look: national programs you can join from home, NFB and ACB state affiliates near you, and the VA's VIST Coordinators for veterans.
• Families: there are groups for family members, partners and parents.
• Before you commit: ask who leads it, how often it meets, whether it has a waitlist and whether it costs anything.

Where to look at a glance

What a vision loss support group is

VisionAware, a program of APH ConnectCenter, describes a support group this way: members "offer mutual support in a safe and confidential setting," and they "exchange ideas and information." Friends and family can attend too, because they often need support of their own (VisionAware).

Who runs the group matters. Some are peer-led, by a layperson who is blind or has low vision or by someone close to it, such as a family member. Others are offered through nonprofits or rehabilitation agencies and led by professionals such as vision rehabilitation therapists, social workers or nurses. Some groups are mostly educational and others focus on emotional support.

A group is not a substitute for talking to a doctor or a licensed professional about how you are doing.

What happens in a group

It depends on the group. VisionAware says the format may include "topical discussions, guest speakers, hands-on workshops, and product demonstrations." Three real examples show how different they can be.

• Hadley's discussion groups are call-in groups that meet monthly. Hadley's page says "Listen in. Chime in. It's up to you." Topics on its schedule include recreation, writing, books, resources, everyday technology, cooking and braille (Hadley). To join live discussions you create a no-cost Hadley account.
• Hadley's Adjusting and Coping Together is a small virtual group with hour-long sessions held weekly for 8 sessions, online or by phone. Hadley describes it as a place to share and discuss difficult emotions and "learn some ways to cope" (Hadley).
• Lighthouse Guild's group for adults 35 and older meets by phone or online. "A licensed professional will lead the discussions," with guest speakers who share their stories and expertise (Lighthouse Guild). When we checked on October 30, 2026, that group was full, and the page asked people to join a waitlist.

Some groups ask for more than a single visit. Lighthouse Guild's general page on support groups says "a minimum commitment to the group is usually required" (Lighthouse Guild). Ask before you sign up.

Find a group by phone or online

Phone and video groups are an option if getting out is hard or no group meets near you.

Hadley. Hadley says it serves people affected by vision loss, their families and those who support them "online, by phone, or by mail, and at no cost" (Hadley). Besides the monthly groups above, it runs Peer to Peer, which connects you by phone with someone who "can relate to the challenges and adjustments that come with vision loss." Hadley says it can help make that connection with someone who has a similar eye condition, level of vision or shared interests (Hadley).

Lighthouse Guild. Its virtual groups are listed by age and situation: adults 35 and older, young adults 20 to 34, teens, parents of children with vision loss, parents who have vision loss themselves, and partners of people with vision loss (Lighthouse Guild). Each has its own sign-up page.

Eye2Eye. The Eye2Eye Peer Support Program describes itself as a "free, phone-based, peer support program" for adults who are blind or visually impaired and their families (Eye2Eye). VisionAware adds that it uses trained peer support specialists who are also blind or have low vision.

Calls for older adults. The Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss, a special-interest affiliate of the American Council of the Blind, says it holds "weekly support calls, where you can chat with others losing their vision" (AAVL). VisionAware's list also includes phone programs for older adults who may not have internet access, such as the monthly ILVSG TeleSupport call from MD Support. We could not open MD Support's own page for that call, so confirm it is still running.

For a longer list, VisionAware's support group page has a "Find a Support Group" section with programs and peer networks, and APH ConnectCenter keeps a page of support resources with listings of state, private and VA agencies.

Find a group near you

For in-person meetings, start with organizations that have local chapters. Our guide to organizations for the blind explains how each is run.

• National Federation of the Blind (NFB). It has affiliates in every state, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Its page says "Connect with your local affiliate to access resources, support, and activities near you," and has a section on local chapters and chapter meetings (NFB). Its join page says the NFB welcomes "those losing vision." If there is no chapter near you, you can join as a member-at-large, which the page says "might not include as many networking and friendship-building opportunities" (NFB). The NFB also has a Seniors Division.
• American Council of the Blind (ACB). Its site lists state affiliates, and it lists special-interest affiliates too, including the Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss, ACB Families, the Braille Revival League and the Low Vision Alliance (ACB state affiliates, special-interest affiliates).
• Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB). FFB's mission is to drive research on retinal diseases. Its chapters hold seminars and meetings that provide research information and low vision resources, and FFB says the chapter network has three areas of focus: "education, resources, and revenue" (FFB). The page lists VisionWalks and dinners among the ways chapters raise money.
• Local agencies and your eye doctor. VisionAware says some groups are offered through nonprofits and rehabilitation agencies. The National Eye Institute says to "ask your eye doctor about vision rehabilitation" if vision loss is getting in the way of everyday activities, and lists "Sharing resources to help you cope with your vision loss" among the things a vision rehabilitation specialist can do (NEI).

The NFB and ACB also do advocacy, so ask what a typical chapter meeting is like.

Groups for veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides Blind and Visual Impairment Rehabilitation Services to "eligible Veterans and active duty Service members" (VA). Eligibility is decided by the VA, so ask what applies to you.

The VA's contact point is the Visual Impairment Services Team (VIST) Coordinator. Its directory page says: "please reach out to your VIST Coordinator" so they can connect you with resources and services, and it lists coordinators by state (VA). The VA pages we read describe rehabilitation services rather than support groups. Ask your coordinator what peer options exist near you.

The Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) lists regional groups by district, with district directors and the states each covers (BVA). Its home page has a news item about expanded membership criteria; check it for who can join.

The VA's page also lists the Veterans Crisis Line: call 988, then select 1 (VA).

Groups for family, partners and parents

Vision loss affects the people around you too. Several programs run groups for them.

• Family and friends. Hadley's Family and Friends Adjusting Together is for family members, friends and caregivers who are working through the emotional impact of a loved one's vision loss (Hadley).
• Partners. Lighthouse Guild runs a virtual group for spouses and partners, led by a licensed professional (Lighthouse Guild).
• Parents of children with vision loss. Lighthouse Guild says its "free virtual support groups meet weekly, and are professionally moderated," and you are welcome to listen without taking part (Lighthouse Guild). The National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC), a division of the NFB, is a membership and advocacy organization of "families and friends of blind children," and its page offers connections with blind people who can serve as mentors and role models (NOPBC).
• Parent-to-parent groups near you. APH FamilyConnect suggests asking your child's teacher of students with visual impairments, an orientation and mobility specialist, or the nearest school for the blind, and it has tips for starting a group if none exists (FamilyConnect). (See teacher of the visually impaired.)

How to choose a group

VisionAware lists questions to ask when selecting a group (VisionAware):

1. Is it geared toward a specific condition or age group?
2. Is the location convenient, and is there transportation assistance?
3. Who is the facilitator or moderator?
4. Is it confidential and comfortable?
5. Does it have established ground rules?
6. What is a typical meeting like?
7. Is it free, and if not, what are the fees?
8. Does it meet your needs?

A few more things worth asking:

• Peer-led or professional-led. VisionAware describes both kinds without ranking them. Pick the one you would feel comfortable talking in.
• Phone, online or in person. If you use a screen reader, ask whether the video platform works with it.
• Waitlists and commitments. Some groups fill up, and some expect a fixed number of meetings.
• Trying it first. Hadley's discussion groups say you can "Listen in" before you chime in.

If the first group is not right, try another. VisionAware's advice: "Find one that fits you and is comfortable."

What people learn in a group

VisionAware's list of what a group can offer includes "Discovering resources, services, and devices that meet your needs" and getting practical advice and information. In practice, the topics are often everyday ones. Hadley's monthly Tech It Out group is for learning "tips about everyday technology" and sharing experiences, and its Resource Roundtable is for finding and sharing resources about vision loss (Hadley). More on daily life: how blind people do everyday things and jobs for blind people.

Some groups cover braille. Hadley's Embracing Braille group meets on the first Thursday of every month at 11:30 a.m. Central, and discusses topics related to "learning, reading and writing braille" (Hadley, Embracing Braille). Hadley itself was founded by William Hadley, "an educator who lost his eyesight later in life" (Hadley). If you are wondering whether braille is realistic for an adult, our guide to learning braille as an adult looks at what the research says about age.

Nobody has to learn braille, or any other skill, because they joined a group. You can hear from people who have done it and decide for yourself.

Where Braillito fits

Braillito, our app, teaches braille. It teaches the braille cells in lessons with exercises you play, with lives, levels and a daily streak: 59 lessons in 8 worlds in English. It also has a translator, a dictionary and a cell builder. The English lessons are uncontracted braille (grade 1); they don't teach contracted braille or transcription, and Braillito isn't a braille transcriber.

Braillito is not a support group and does not replace one, a vision rehabilitation provider or a braille teacher. If you or someone close to you has recently lost vision, braille is one skill you may want to try, and a group such as Hadley's Embracing Braille is where you can talk with other people who are learning or using it. The translator on braillito.com shows how a word or short phrase looks in UEB, but it only applies the rules a program can apply, so it doesn't replace a transcriber. Without paying, the braille translator works in any browser.

Braillito is a subscription with no free version; depending on the plan, it starts with a free trial or a discounted first period, if it's your first subscription (is Braillito free?). Get Braillito.

Frequently asked questions

Are vision loss support groups free?

Several of the programs above are, but each sets its own terms. Hadley says its help is "at no cost," Eye2Eye calls itself a free program, and Lighthouse Guild says its parent groups are free. Other pages we read do not state a price, and VisionAware's checklist includes asking whether a group is free and what the fees are.

Do I have to be legally blind to join?

The programs above set their own rules. Hadley says it serves "anyone with a visual impairment," and the NFB says it welcomes "those losing vision." The VA decides who is eligible for its services. Legally blind is a US definition used for some benefits; see what is legally blind.

Can family members go to a support group?

Yes. VisionAware says friends and family members can also benefit from group attendance, and Hadley and Lighthouse Guild run groups for family, friends, partners and parents.

Is a support group the same as therapy?

No. VisionAware says support groups are "not the same as group therapy sessions." For questions about your health, talk to a doctor or a licensed professional.

What if there is no group near me?

Try a phone or online group: Hadley, Lighthouse Guild, Eye2Eye and the Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss all meet that way. Where there is no NFB chapter, you can join as a member-at-large.

Who can I call to find a group?

Hadley's pages list 1-800-323-4238, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central, and VisionAware says that line helps with "connecting to resources and online discussion groups." You can also contact your NFB or ACB state affiliate or, as a veteran, your VIST Coordinator.