The Florida Division of Blind Services has a rich history of providing services to persons who are blind or have severe visual impairments and to persons who have disabling conditions that make it difficult to read regular print. Persons of all ages living in Florida who are blind or who require alternative reading materials may benefit from our agency's services.
Services are provided through 12 district offices, the Division's Orientation and Adjustment Center for the Blind, local community rehabilitation programs serving the blind, or through a local Center for Independent Living. Below you will find summaries of the various types of services that we sponsor or that are provided directly by us.
Blind Babies Program
The Blind Babies Program provides community-based early-intervention education to children from birth to 5 years of age who are blind or visually impaired, and to their parents, families, and through community based provider organizations.
Children's Program
The Children's Program serves children who are blind from 5 years of age through transition to the Vocational Rehabilitation Program. This program supplements services already offered by the school system to foster the child's learning and ability to function independently. The child's parents, guardian, and family members should be an integral part of the program in order to foster independence.
School-to-Work or Transition Program
The goal of the School-to-Work Program (transition services) is to assist young people in meeting their future employment goals through transitioning from school to work or from school to a higher educational program. Transition services are generally provided through the Vocational Rehabilitation Program. However, they could also be provided through the Children's Program. In either case, the student will have a Plan of Services. The types of services to be provided through Blind Services are normally incorporated into the student's Individual Education Plan as well.
Independent Living Services
Independent Living Services are provided to enable individuals who are blind or severely visually impaired to live more independently in their homes and communities with a maximum degree of self-direction. Successful outcomes enable individuals to live more independently in their community and/or transition to the working world.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Vocational Rehabilitation Services are provided to assist blind and visually impaired individuals seeking employment. Qualified individual must have a bilateral visual impairment which constitutes or results in a substantial impediment to employment and need services to prepare for, enter, engage in, or retain gainful employment. Successful outcomes lead to achievement of employment goals.
Employer Services
Information services are provided to employers who need to know how to make a job accessible to an employee with a visual impairment. Employers seeking to hire a qualified employee can also contact us for this information as well.
Business Enterprise Services
The Business Enterprises Program provides job opportunities in the food service sector for eligible blind persons under the Randolph-Sheppard Act. Job opportunities include: Snack Bar, Cafeteria, Highway Vending Machines, or Non-Highway Vending.
Braille and Talking Book Library Services
The Florida Division of Blind Services also provides information and reading materials needed by individuals residing in Florida who are unable to use standard print because of a visual, physical, or reading disability. These services are provided through its Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services.
Since 1950, the bureau has been designated by the Library of Congress/National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) as the regional library for Florida and loans Braille and recorded books and magazines to all eligible residents of the state. In addition, the bureau has established eleven sub-regional libraries to provide local talking book services to residents of metropolitan areas. Reading materials are sent to and from customers via postage-free mail and all services are provided at no charge. As the largest library of its kind, the bureau currently has more than two million books in Braille and recorded formats available for loan to individuals with print disabilities.
The Division of Blind Services Provides the Following Programs
Children and Blind Babies Programs: This unique outreach program assists blind and visually impared children, enabling them to reach their fullest level of participation within their families, communities and educational settings.
Rehabilitation Center for the Blind: The Orientation and Adjustment Center provides temporary living facilities for the visually impaired. The center offers programs for both adults and children.
Business Enterprise Program: This program provides job opportunities to blind individuals and teaches them how to gain employment and operate their own business.
Braille and Talking Book Library Services: These services include information and reading materials that assist Florida residents who are unable to use standard print publications.
Bureau of Client Services: Timely, caring response is the key for this agency which offers a wide range of services, with assistance from State and Federal agencies.
Vocational Rehabilitation: Those with needs are offered professional services to gain, regain, or retain employment through individually tailored educational paths.
Independent Living Services: Independence is critical in maximizing one’s sense of self esteem and achieving individual goals. This program provides assistance to the blind and visually impaired to help them live in their own homes.
Print this page I Previous Page
