Intended to aid state departments of social services, the publication focuses on social implications of severe visual impairment and the provision of needed services. Chapters are given to the following topics: the relationship between the social service worker and the client who is blind, general terms and special services related to blindness, common caseload characteristics, children and blindness, blindness in the young and middle adult years, and the elderly blind. Stressed are the importance of coordination among various services and the role of the social worker to inform and encourage clients in the use of available resources. A list of suggested references, films, and sources of information is included. (DB)