Florida Division of Blind Services

Welcome to the Florida Division of Blind Services Web site.

Joyce Hildreth -- Division Director

Joyce Hildreth, Division DirectorMs. Joyce Hildreth was selected as the Florida Division of Blind Services' Director in September of 2008. She served as the Chief Operations Officer for Lighthouse Central Florida in Orlando.

Lighthouse Central is a non-profit organization that offers comprehensive vision rehabilitation services to citizens in the Central Florida regions. Joyce is an esteemed professional who has worked ten years as a state employee and ten years in vision rehabilitation.

She holds a Master’s Degree from Florida State University in Visual Disabilities. She is nationally certified as a Rehabilitation Therapist by the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals, and was a member of the State of Florida Rehabilitation Council for the Blind prior to her appointment. As Director she also serves on the Council.

Be Sure to Get Counted

With the 2010 U.S. Census underway, we want to tell you about a website, www.myfloridacensus.gov, the Florida House of Representatives launched to make sure every Floridian gets counted, and they need your help! Each Floridian not counted means between $900 and $3,000 dollars a year in missed federal funds. Florida will need to make up those lost funds by local taxes or less services.

MyFloridaCensus is a simple online tool that allows anyone in Florida to tell the House whether or not they have been counted in the 2010 census. With that information in hand, the Florida House of Representatives is able to work with other census partners to help analyze (and thereby minimize) which streets, neighborhoods and communities may be missed in the 2010 census.

Here are the ways you can help:

  1. Please go to www.myfloridacensus.gov, enter your address and click on the button to tell if you have been counted by the census or not. This puts a point on the map to show where the census has or has not reached people.
  2. Post the www.myfloridacensus.gov link on your website or social network site. We attached graphics you can post as a button or banner on the website.
  3. Go to the MyFloridaCensus Facebook page and become a friend; then ask your friends to join as well.

If you have any questions please contact the House at feedback@myfloridacensus.gov. You can watch a video explaining how the program works at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeTkMEQuq5g. Or you can read the help file at http://www.myfloridacensus.gov/h_Instructions.htm

Thank you for helping Florida by telling our elected leaders if you have been counted by the census or not. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Florida House of Representatives at feedback@myfloridaCensus.gov.

One Stop Initiative

The University of South Florida is conducting a research study to examine the relationship between job seekers with disabilities and the One-Stop Service Centers in Florida. Funded by a grant from the Florida Developmental Disabilities Council, information gathered from this study will be used to develop a comprehensive report to the Council that will include recommendations and strategies that correspond with our findings. Additionally, as part of this initiative, the final report will include an action plan to implement the recommendations.

In Florida, there are eighty-seven (87) One-Stop Centers located in twenty-four (24) areas under the umbrella of Regional Workforce Boards. The primary function of the One-Stop Centers is to assist individuals to find employment and advance their careers.

As part of this study, we are seeking information from individuals with disabilities and people who may play a role in the job search (a parent, family member, or service provider). You do not need to be a current or former customer of any One-Stop Center in order to participate. Participation is voluntary and any information that you provide will be kept completely confidential. Further, there are no negative consequences should you choose not to participate and you may choose to skip any question that you prefer not to answer.

To take part in this study, please click on the link(s) below and complete the brief survey; available in both English and Spanish. We estimate that it will take approximately five minutes to complete. Surveys will be made available in accessible formats, upon request. Hard copies of the survey are also available in either English or Spanish and can be mailed via regular mail with postage-paid envelope included. Requests for these alternative formats should be directed to Sharrine Garrett, Project Assistant, at stgarret@fmhi.usf.edu or phone (813) 974-4612.

English survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/OSSCIenglish

Spanish survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/OSSCIespanol

Any questions about this study or the survey may be addressed to Dr. Tammy Jorgensen-Smith, Principal Investigator, at (813) 974-1263 or via E-mail to tjsmith@fmhi.usf.edu. You may also contact the Division of Research Integrity and Compliance at (813) 974-9343.

2010 Career and Health FAER

November 18 and 19, 2010

Join us in Tampa, Florida, Nov. 18 & Nov. 19, 2010, for the FAER Annual Conference!  Learn new information and network with other colleagues.  For information or to register go to:

www.FLaer.org

  • Vendor hall open Nov. 18 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
  • Early Bird registration is only $85 for members registering by October 15
  • Registration after October 15 is $95 for members
  • Hotel deadline for reserving rooms is October 27
  • $99.00 per standard hotel room (includes resort amenities such as fitness center, pool and self parking)
  • Rooms available Nov. 17th and 18th.
  • Complimentary transportation within 2 miles including Tampa International Airport
  • Located near two large malls
Doubletree Hotel Westshore
4500 West Cypress St.
Tampa, FL 33607       
813-879-4800
www.tampadoubletree.com

For more information contact:

Kay Ratzlaff, Chair
Phone 813-837-7826

Video Description Survey

The American Council of the Blind (ACB) is an integral part of a Technical Working Group at the Federal Communications Commission.  The group is examining issues and concerns with pass through of video description.  ACB can't explore the issues and concerns unless they hear about the problems.  If you use video description on your TV, please complete the attached Video Description Survey and send to Eric Bridges at ebridges@acb.org. Your comments will help make a difference.

Get Social Security Documentation in an Accessible Format

Are you receiving Social Security?  Are you blind or severely visually impaired?  Are you tired of needing someone else to read your letters from Social Security to you?  Thanks to a class action lawsuit by the American Council of the Blind, you now can request paperwork in an accessible format.

By law, Social Security will automatically grant requests for the formats listed below:

  1. Standard print notice by first class or certified mail
  2. Standard print notice by first class mail and a follow-up telephone call to read the notices to you within five business days of the date you get the print notice
  3. Standard print notice and Braille by first class mail (delivery begins April 15, 2010)
  4. Standard print notice on a Microsoft Word compact disc by first class mail (delivery begins April 15, 2010).  The compact disc may be used on a computer that has the software needed to access Word, but not on an audio CD player.

You may also request another format by calling 1-800-325-772-1213.

To select your format you can contact the Social Security office using the following methods:

  1. Go to the Social Security website at www.socialsecurity.gov/notices and follow the steps provided
  2. Call Social Security toll-free at 1-877-708-1776.  If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call the TTY number at 1-800-325-0778
  3. Write or visit your local Social Security office.

Testimonies

We’ll be featuring a series of testimonials from members of prominent organizations of and for the blind.  You can learn about organizations that are dedicated to the promotion of individuals who are blind or severely visually impaired from members of these groups.

This month we are featuring the Florida Lions Club. The testimony is narrated by Bruce Miles, Lions Club member and a representative of our Rehabilitation Council for the Blind.  If you don't have an mp3 player installed, you can download a free version of winamp at http://www.winamp.com/.

Our first testimony was narrated by Sila Miller from the Florida Council of the Blind.

Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar

Did you know that the United States Congress authorized a silver dollar to commemorate Louis Braille? Louis Braille’s system of six raised dots has been adapted to almost all languages. The system literally brought reading to the finger tips of countless people who have severe visual impairments or who are blind. Therefore, the United States Congress wanted to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Louis Braille’s birth with a silver dollar that bears his image. More important this is the first coin in the history of the United States that has readable Braille on it.

silver dollar - head sideThe head of the coin displays a portrait of Louis Braille designed by United States Mint Artistic Infusion Program (AIP) Master Designer Joel Iskowitz and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor/Engraver Phebe Hemphill. It is inscribed with “Liberty”, “In God We Trust”, “Louis Braille”, “1809” and “2009”.

Silver Dollar - tail sideThe tail of the coin shows a child reading a book in Braille. It was designed by United States Mint AIP Master Designer Susan Gamble and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor/Engraver Joseph Menna. The word Braille (abbreviated B r l in Braille code) is written in the upper field. The word “independence” is featured on a bookshelf behind the child. It also is inscribed with “United States of America”, “One Dollar” and “E Pluribus Unum.”

The US Congress authorized surcharges from sales of the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar to be given to the National Federation of the Blind to further its programs to promote Braille literacy.

New Resources for Employers

Two new resources were recently released by the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), Department of Labor. The full title of these documents, a short description, and links to the documents are noted below.

Roadmaps II For Enhancing Employment of Persons With Disabilities Through Accessible Technology

Roadmaps II is a report that looks at the issue of AT and employment from the perspective of AT service providers and disability stakeholders who work directly to assist individuals with disabilities. Roadmaps II is a result of the work of the AT Collaborative - a group of national organizations funded by ODEP and CESSI to address AT issues and provide policy recommendations related to the employment of individuals with disabilities. Roadmaps IIfollows the January 2008 release of Roadmaps I, which is a report on the consensus Roadmaps developed by participants in the 2007 Business Dialogue on Accessible Technology and Disability Employment for how best to enhance the hiring, retention, and advancement of persons with disabilities and others through accessible technology. Read more about the Roadmaps at http://www.dol.gov/odep/categories/employment_supports/roadmaps.htm

New Disability Employment Resource for Employers Released

To meet the need for a comprehensive, portable, and easy to understand guide for employers who are looking to recruit, hire, and retain employees with disabilities, ODEP just released its new Four-Step Reference Guide. The online version of this valuable resource, which covers topics such as Incentives & ROI, Recruiting, Interviewing & Hiring, and much more, also provides a wealth of links and other resources. The Guide is available in PDF format at http://www.dol.gov/odep/documents/Flip%20Guide_FINAL_3%2030_508%20compliant2.pdf and in Word at http://www.dol.gov/odep/pubs/publicat.htm (scroll down to the "other" category). The print version of Diversifying Your Workforce, A Four-Step Reference Guide to Recruiting, Hiring & Retaining Employees with Disabilities will be available later this year.

Reference Points is administered by PACER Center http://www.PACER.org as a technical assistance activity of the TATRA Project. The TATRA Project is funded by the Rehabilitation Services Administration.

The mission of Florida Blind Services is to ensure blind and visually impaired persons living in Florida have the tools, support, and opportunity to achieve success.

The Blind and Visually Impaired Ring
Powered By Ringsurf