Community Rehabilitation Programs Contact
The following list of Community Rehabilitation Programs (CRPs) serving the blind are listed by the city the facility is located unless the facility is residential. Most CRPs in Florida serve more than one county. The list includes agencies which are funded through Florida Blind Services as well as those which are solely supported by other funding sources. Please contact us if an agency serving the blind is not listed so it can be added.
Charlotte Harbor | Daytona Beach | Fort Lauderdale | Gainesville | Jacksonville | Largo | Leesburg | Miami | North Fort Myers | Ocala | Orlando | Pensacola | Port Richey | Saint Augustine | Sarasota | Statewide | Stuart | Tallahassee | Tampa | West Palm Beach | Winter Haven
Charlotte Harbor
VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS OF CHARLOTTE COUNTY INC. Ms. Shirley Gilmore, Director 22107 Elmira Blvd. Port Charlotte, FL 33952 Tel: (941) 625-8501 FAX: (941) 625-8032 Email: vipofcc@daystar.netEstablished in 1987 by a group of concerned citizens and volunteers.
Daytona Beach
CENTER FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED (CVI) Ms.Ronee M. Hudson, Executive Director 1187 Dunn Avenue Daytona Beach, FL 32114 Toll Free: 1-800-227-1284 Tel: (386) 253-8879 FAX: (386) 253-9178 Toll Free: 1-800-227-1284 Email: cvisight@bellsouth.netEstablished in 1989 by a group of community volunteers and the Board and staff of Extended Family. Learn more at the Center for Visually Impaired website.
Fort Lauderdale
THE LIGHTHOUSE OF BROWARD COUNTY Elly du Pré, DPA Executive Director 650 North Andrews Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311 Tel: (954) 463-4217 Ext. 11 FAX and TDD: (954) 764-3825 Email: edupre@LHOB.orgOriginally established in 1972 as the Broward Center for the Blind by volunteers in Ft. Lauderdale. To find out more, check out their website at http://www.lhob.org/.
Gainesville
ELDER CARE OF ALACHUA COUNTY Ms. Lynne Zirkelbach, Coordinator 4026 NW 22nd Drive Gainesville, FL 32605 Tel: (352) 265-9040 FAX: (352) 265-9041 Email: zirkel@shands.ufl.edu Email: kleinpa@shands.ufl.eduJacksonville
INDEPENDENT LIVING FOR ADULT BLIND (ILAB) PROGRAM Ms. Becky Simpson, Director Florida Community College, College Box 172 101 West State Street Jacksonville, FL 32202 Tel: (904) 633-8307 FAX: (904) 632-5107 Email: bsimpson@fccj.eduOriginally established in 1971 by the Gateway Hope Center, the program is now a part of Disabled Student Services at Florida Community College at Jacksonville. You can get more information from their website located at: fccj.edu.
Largo
LIGHTHOUSE OF PINELLAS, INC. Daniel T. Mann, President and CEO Melba Kert, Vice President, Director of Programs 6925 112th Circle North, Suite 103 Largo, FL 33773 Tel: (727) 544-4433 Ext. 222 (Melba Kert) FAX: (727) 544-5511 Email: dmann@lighthouseofpinellas.org Email: mkert@lighthouseofpinellas.orgFounded in 1956. Established in 1984 as a result of the merger between Channel Markers for the Blind in Clearwater, and the Community Center for the Blind in St. Petersburg. Get more information by visiting their website at: www.lighthouseofpinellas.org
Leesburg
LIGHTHOUSE OF CENTRAL FLORIDA - LAKE COUNTY EXTENSION Ms. Connie Stolp, Program Coordinator 32634 Blossom Lane Leesburg, FL 34788 Tel: (352) 365-1544 FAX: (352) 365-6970 Email: cstolp@lighthousecentralflorida.orgOriginally established as the LITE (Learning Independence through Education) Program in 1988 by Lake-Sumter Community College, the program was assimilated by CITE of Orlando in 1993. For more information, visit their website at: www.lighthousecentralflorida.org.
Miami
EASTER SEAL SOCIETY OF DADE COUNTY, INC. Ms. Catherine Rabbito, Executive Director 1475 N.W. 14th Avenue Miami, FL 33125 Tel: (305) 325-0470 FAX: (305) 325-0578 Email: essdade@aol.comJEWISH VOCATIONAL SERVICE Ms. Sylvia Goldsmith, Director 735 N.E. 125th Street North Miami, FL 33161 Tel: (305) 899-1587 FAX: (305) 899-8728 Email: sgoldsmith@jvsfla.org
MIAMI LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND Ms. Virginia Jacko, Acting Executive Director 601 S.W. 8th Avenue Miami, FL 33130 Tel: (305) 856-2288 FAX: (305) 285-6967 TDD: (305) 670-9099 Email: vjacko@miamilighthouse.com
Originally established in 1931 as the Florida Association of Workers for the Blind, by a group of concerned Miami citizens. To find out more, check out the Miami Lighthouse website.
RECORDING FOR THE BLIND AND DYSLEXIC Ms. Christine McCarthy 6704 South West 80th Street Miami, FL 33143 Tele: (305) 666-0552 FAX: (305) 667-2505 Email: cmccarthy@rfbd.orgNorth Fort Myers
VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS (VIP) OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Ms. Mary Lou Tuckwiller, Executive Director P.O. Box 3464, 35 West Mariana Ave. (Zip 33903) North Fort Myers, FL 33918-3464 Tel: (239) 997-7797 FAX: (239) 997-8462 Email: vip.mtuckwiller@earthlink.netThe organization was originally established in 1974 by a group of blind and visually impaired persons and their families primarily for recreation and socialization purposes. The organization was expanded in 1981 to include a rehabilitation program taught by a professional staff. Learn more by visiting their website at www.vipcenter.org.
Ocala
FLORIDA CENTER FOR THE BLIND Mr. John Richards, Executive Director 7325 S.W. 32nd St. Ocala, FL 34476 Tel: (352) 873-4700 FAX: (352) 873-4751 Email: director@flblind.orgOriginally established in 1987 by the Citrus County Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind, the agency has relocated to Ocala. Get more information by visiting their website at: http://www.flblind.org.
Orlando
LIGHTHOUSE CENTRAL FLORIDA Ms. Lee Nasehi, Executive Director 215 East New Hampshire Street Orlando, FL 32804 Tel: (407) 898-2483 Ext. 12 FAX: (407) 895-5255 Email: lnasehi@lighthousecentralflorida.orgOriginally established in 1976 by Valencia Community College, the program was converted to a private, not for profit agency in 1991 by the Friends of CITE. Get more information by visiting their website at: www.lighthousecentralflorida.org.
Pensacola
INDEPENDENCE FOR THE BLIND OF WEST FLORIDA Mr. Richard Burdess, Executive Director 1302 Dunmire Street Pensacola, FL 32504-6625 Tel: (850) 477-2663 FAX: (850) 479-4025 Email: email@ibwest.orgOriginally established as the Skills Center for Independent Living (SCIL) by Pensacola Junior College in 1980, the program was converted to a private, not for profit agency in 1995 through the assistance of Independence for the Blind in Tallahassee. Get more information by visiting their website at: http://www.ibwest.org.
Port Richey
LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED AND BLIND Dr. Don Griffin, Executive Director 8610 Galen Wilson Blvd., Suite B Port Richey, FL 34668 Toll Free: 1-800-785-3937 Tel: (727) 815-0303 FAX: (727) 815-0203 Email: dgriffin@lighthouse-pasco.org Email: bbarber@lighthouse-pasco.orgOriginally established in 1983 as the Suncoast Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, by the B.L.I.N.D. Club of New Port Richey. Get more information by visiting their website at: http://www.lighthouse-hernando.org.
Saint Augustine
FLORIDA SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND THE BLIND - PARENT INFANT PROGRAM Ms. Kathy Mankinen 207 North San Marco Avenue St. Augustine, FL 32084 Tel: (904) 827-2232 Ext. 2233 (Debra) FAX: (904) 827-2234 Toll Free: (800) 356-6729 Email: Mankinenk@mail.fsdb.k12.fl.usTo find out more check out the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind website.
Sarasota
MANA-SOTA LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED Ms. Janice Felski, Director 7318 N. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34243 Tel: (941) 359-1404 FAX: (941) 359-2373 Email: mana.lighthous@verizon.netEstablished in 1987 by a group of concerned citizens in Manatee and Sarasota Counties.
Statewide
CONKLIN CENTER FOR THE BLIND Mr. Robert Kelly, Executive Director 405 White Street Daytona Beach, FL 32114 Tel. and TDD: (386) 258-3441 or SC 380-2450 FAX: (386) 258-1155 Email: Robert@conklincenter.org Established in 1979 by the Florida Lions.To find out more, check out the Conklin Center for the Blind website.
Stuart
20/200 FELLOWSHIP INC. Ms. Amy Steinmetz, Executive Director P.O. Box 1208 Port Salerno, FL 34992-1208 Tele: (772) 220-0095 FAX: (772) 221-2122 Email: info@20-200fellowship.orgYou can get more information on their website by visiting: www.20-200fellowship.org.
Tallahassee
FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF REHABILITATION AND EDUCATION (FIRE) Ms. Barbara Ross, Executive Director 1286 Cedar Center Drive Tallahassee, FL 32301 Tel: (850) 942-3658 Ext. 201 FAX: (850) 942-4518 Toll Free Number: (888) 827-6033 Email: fireinformation@earthlink.netOriginally established in 1983 as the Rural Center for Independent Living in Gadsden County, and was later known as Independence for the Blind. Serves eleven counties including Franklin, Gadsden, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor and Wakulla Counties. For more information, visit their website at: www.firesight.org/
Tampa
TAMPA LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND Mr. Clifford Olstrom, Executive Director 1106 West Platt Street Tampa, FL 33606 Tel. and TDD: (813) 251-2407 FAX: (813) 254-4305 Toll Free: 1-866-251-2407 Email: Director@tampalighthouse.orgEstablished in 1940 by the Council of Jewish Women. To find out more, check out the Tampa Lighthouse for the Blind website.
West Palm Beach
THE FLORIDA OUTREACH CENTER FOR THE BLIND, INC. Carolyn Lapp, Executive Director 1280 N. Congress Avenue, Suite 108 West Palm Beach, FL 33409 Tel: (561) 640-6029 E-Mail: info_focb@bellsouth.netTo learn more, visit the Florida Outreach Center for the Blind Website at www.flblindcenter.org
TopWinter Haven
TAMPA LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND - POLK COUNTY DIVISION Mr. Clifford Olstrom, Executive Director 206 Avenue D, Northwest Winter Haven, FL 33881-4148 Tel: (863) 299-3633 Fax: (863) 229-3559 Toll Free: 1-866-251-2407 Email: Director@tampalighthouse.orgEstablished in 1992 by the Tampa Lighthouse for the Blind in response to recognized needs of persons with visual impairments. To find out more, check out the Tampa Lighthouse for the Blind website.