Councils
There are many state and local councils working to improve services for individuals with disabilities. Information is provided about the following three councils:
- Florida Rehabilitation Council for the Blind
- Florida Committee of Vendors
- Florida Council for Independent Living
Florida Rehabilitation Council for the Blind
The Florida Rehabilitation Council for the Blind consists of 19 members appointed by the Governor. The council's main function is twofold:
- assist the Florida Division of Blind Services in the planning and development of statewide rehabilitation programs and services and
- recommend improvements to such programs and services on behalf of Floridians with visual impairments.
Public comments are always wanted. Find out when the council meets and read current minutes.
The following individuals are on the Florida Rehabilitation Council for the Blind. E-mail address, where available are listed by the Council member. Each name is followed by the category for which the member represents.
| NAME | ADDRESS | PHONE/FAX/E-MAIL | CATEGORY REPRESENTING | TERM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Henry Alexander |
2387 NW 99th Terrace Miami, FL 33147 |
(O) (305) 494-4682 (F) (303) 693-3094 |
Business/Industry |
2009 |
Rufus Brown |
2558 Regal River Road Valrico, FL 33596 |
(H)813-684-2033 |
Parent of Blind |
2009 |
Sheryl Brown |
1106 W. Platt Street Tampa, FL 33606 |
(O) (813) 251-2407 (F) (813) 254-4305 |
Business/Industry |
2009 |
Kathy C. Davis |
121 Deer Lake Circle Ormond Beach, FL 32174 |
(O) 386/506-3369 (F) 386/947-3150 (O) davisk@dbcc.edu |
Vocation Rehabilitation Counselor |
2009 |
Jesus Garcia |
5955 West 16th Lane Hialeah, FL 33012 |
(O) (305) 471-0441 Ext. 444 |
Advocacy Group( FCB) |
2008 |
Joyce Hildreth |
Lighthouse Central Florida 215 E. New Hampshire St. Orlando, FL 32904 |
(O) (407) 898-2483 |
Former Client |
2010 |
Ted Hull |
607 South Albany Ave #2 Tampa, FL 33606 |
(H) 813/251-9245 |
Business/Industry |
2010 |
Brian Johnson |
4411 Sheridan St. Hollywood, FL 33021 |
(O) (954) 967-1493 (F) (954) 967-1496 |
Client Assistance Program |
2010 |
Robert T. Kelly |
Conklin Center 405 White Street Daytona Beach, FL 32114 |
(O) (386) 258-3441 |
Community Rehab Provider |
2010 |
S. Craig Kiser |
256 CoCoa Lane Venice, FL 34293 |
(H) (941) 493-6702 |
Business/Industry |
2009 |
Jay Naiman |
8912 Northwest 40th St. Coral Springs, FL 33065 |
(H) (954) 346-3727 |
Former Client |
2010 |
Marilyn Coble Palmer |
Panama City, FL 32404 |
(O) 850/784-3936 (F) 850/784-3937 |
Advocacy Group (LIONS) |
2008 |
Stephen G. Rittaco |
Rm 1114, Turlington Bldg. 325 W. Gaines St. Tallahassee, FL 32399 |
(O) 850/245-0300 (F) 850/245-0363 |
Director of Blind Services |
9999 |
Dawn Saunders |
Florida Department of Education 325 West Gaines Street Suite 601 Tallahassee, FL 32399-0400 |
(O) 850/245-0478 (F) 850/245-0955 |
State Educational Unit (IDEA) |
2010 |
Dwight D. Sayer |
259 Regal Downs Circle Winter Garden, FL 34787 |
(O) 707-430-0324 (F) 707-430-0324 |
Advocacy Group (NFB) |
2008 |
Michael E. Taylor |
574 Pine Forest Drive N. Orange Park, FL 32003-8006 |
(O) 904/264-0884 |
Advocacy Group (BVA) |
2008 |
Suzanne Townsend |
321 Oak Fern Circle Ormond Beach, FL 32174 |
(O) 386-677-7760 |
Parent Training Center |
2009 |
VACANT |
|
Independent Living Council (ILC) |
2007 |
|
VACANT |
State Workforce Investment Board |
2007 |
||
PHYLLIS DILL |
14 W. Jordan Street, Suite 2G Pensacola, FL 32501 |
850/595-5282 ext 11 |
Council Staff |
Florida State Committee of Vendors
The Florida State Committee of Vendors consists of one representative and one alternate from each vending facility district and a chairman and vice-chairman. The committee represents the vendors in the state Business Enterprises Program based on geographic location and facility type. The committee actively participates with the state licensing agency (Florida Division of Blind Services, Business Enterprises Program) in major administrative decisions, policy and program development, transfer and promotion opportunities for vendors, and acts as advocate for the vendors with grievances. In addition, the committee, with state assistance, sponsors a biennial seminar for training and election of officers.
The following is a list of State Committee of Vendors with their address and phone numbers as of 12/4/2007
CHAIRPERSON
Tom Spiliotis 501 Hillside Drive Auburndale, FL 33823 Business Phone: (863) 965-0585 Email Address: tspiliotis@tampabay.rr.comVICE-CHAIRPERSON
John Klindtworth P.O. Box 809 Wellborn, Fl 32094 Business Phone: (352) 284-3020 Email Address: klindtworthvending@hotmail.comDISTRICT ONE
Steve Schneider, (Representative) 3044 Ironwood Drive Tallahassee, FL 32309 Business Phone: (850) 294-1851 Email Address: bepdist_1@comcast.net(Note the Underscore between bepdist & 1)
Ms. Debby Malmberg, (Alternate) 7680 Henderson Smith Road Milton, FL 32570-9132 Business Phone: (850) 266-3753 Email Address: G_irl8233@yahoo.com(Note the Underscore between G & irl8233)
DISTRICT TWO
Stephanie Zolin, (Representative) 1292 Mosswood Chase Tallahassee, FL 32312 Business Phone: (850) 590-1595 Email Address: stepaniezolin@hotmail.com Martin Gadd, (Alternate) 5060 Tillie Lane Tallahassee, FL 32305 Business Phone: (850) 488-1363 Email Address: gaddbstr1@aol.comDISTRICT THREE
Don Tuell,(Representative) 532 NW Brinkley Terrace Lake City, Fl 32055 Business Phone: (386) 365-0415 Email Address: jazz1959@hotmail.com Gene Harper, (Alternate) 8350 Commonwealth Avenue Jacksonville, FL 32220 Business Phone: (904) 693-4848 Email Address: vharper1@msn.comDISTRICT FOUR
Dan Angelicola, (Representative) 1421 Kipling Lane Ponte Vedra, FL 32081 Business Phone: (904) 292-2203 Email Address: joydan32@bellsouth.net Bill Perret,(Alternate) 317 Glenlyon Drive Orange Park, Fl 32073 Business Phone: (904) 772-7216 Email Address: perret46@comcast.netDISTRICT FIVE
Phil Bluschke, (Representative) PO Box 95 Brooksville, Fl 34605 Business Phone: (352) 793-7971 Email Address: philndeb@tampabay.rr.com Victor Rosario, (Alternate) 14442 Huntcliff Parkway Orlando, Fl 32824 Business Phone: (407) 452-9824 Email Address: district5dbs@hotmail.comDISTRICT SIX
Randall Crosby, (Representative) 1286 Little Oak Circle Titusville, FL 32780 Business Phone: (321) 867-3763 Email Address: rcrosby2@cfl.rr.com Bob Murray, (Alternate) 2510 Merri Oaks Court Cocoa, FL 32926 Business Phone: (321) 867-2214 Email Address: bubbadawson@earthlink.netDISTRICT SEVEN
Tom Saunders, (Representative) 51 Main Street, Suite #2 Dunedin, Fl 34698 Business Phone: (727) 582-6329 Email Address: caecus@tampabay.rr.com James Warth, (Alternate) 1859 North Washington Avenue Clearwater, FL 33755 Business Phone: (727) 742-9660 Email Address: jameswarth@verizon.netDISTRICT EIGHT
Gyorke Alger, (Representative) 1701 Emerald Drive Clearwater, Fl 33756 Business Phone: (727) 656-6913 Email Address: rbacon@tampabay.rr.com Steve Barnes, (Alternate) 5405 8th Avenue Drive West Bradenton, FL 34209 Business Phone: (941) 518-2481 Email Address: rde76ff@hotmail.comDISTRICT NINE
Joel Rose, (Representative) 3923 Carambola Circle North Coconut Creek, Fl 33066 Business Phone: (954) 475-0211 Email Address: jr@ikidu.com David Kaplan,(Alternate) 3100 NW 42nd Avenue #D-106 Coconut Creek, Fl 33066 Business Phone: (954) 462-8368 Email Address: mary_sk@yahoo.com (Note the Underscore between mary & sk)DISTRICT TEN
Kenneth Moore, (Representative) 18900 NE 3rd Court #535 N Miami, FL 33179 Business Phone: (305) 349-7569 Email Address: kmoo@netzero.com Willer Dieuveille, (Alternate) 11036 SW 221st Terrace Miami, FL 33170 Business Phone: (786) 425-0703 Email Address: sncafeteria@hotmail.comFlorida Council for Independent Living
The Florida Council for Independent Living is a federally mandated body responsible for the development of the State Independent Living plan with both the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the Division of Blind Services. This council also monitors and evaluates the implementation of the plan. Under the plan, 13 consumer-controlled Centers for Independent Living receive federal and state funds to provide information and referral, independent living skills training, peer counseling, and individual and systems advocacy at the local level. The Florida Division of Blind Services receives authorization for funds to provide independent living services to older blind persons and some funds to provide independent living services to other individuals residing in Florida. To find out more about the Florida Council for Independent Living visit their website at http://flailc.org/. They also have information about independent living centers.