Florida Division of Blind Services

Welcome to the Florida Division of Blind Services Web site.

The 19th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

Many people will be celebrating the 19th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act during the month of July. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990, by President George H. W. Bush, and later amended with changes effective January 1, 2009. The ADA is a wide-ranging civil rights law that prohibits, under certain circumstances, discrimination based on disability.

President George Bush
Remarks at the Signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act
July 26, 1990

"...We're here to rejoice in and celebrate another 'independence day,' one that is long overdue. With today's signing of the landmark Americans for Disabilities Act, every man, woman, and child with a disability can now pass through once-closed doors into a bright new era of equality, independence, and freedom. As I look around at all these joyous faces, I remember clearly how many years of dedicated commitment have gone into making this historic new civil rights act a reality."

To learn more about ADA you can take advantage of several free on-line classes offered at the ADA Training Resource Center. CEUs are offered.

For people concerned about specific legal requirements, you might be interested in the ADA Regulations and Technical Assistance Materials offered on the Department of Justice's homepage.

Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week

Poster from Helen Keller CenterAs the result of a Presidential Proclamation in 1984, the week of June 27th is proclaimed Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week. This is because Helen Keller was born on June 27th, 1880. There are two reasons for Deaf-Blind Awareness Week. The first reason is to celebrate Helen Keller’s achievements. The second reason is to increase public awareness and understanding of deaf-blindness.

Governor Charlie Crist also feels that it is important to remember this week. He signed a Florida proclamation declaring June 21-27, 2009 as Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week in Florida. You can celebrate this week by learning more about Helen Keller and deaf-blindness. There is a lot of information available about Helen Keller. Two web site resources are listed below.

You might also want to read a book by or about Helen Keller. Here is a suggested reading list.

When you think of deaf-blindness, do you think a person can hear nothing and see nothing? Do you think specifically of Helen Keller? This year’s theme is “Deafness Didn’t Stop with Helen Keller”.

Many people associate deaf-blindness with Helen Keller and believe that most people who are deaf-blind hear nothing and see nothing. But many people who are deaf and blind have some useable hearing and/ or some useable sight. About 50 percent of people in the deaf-blind community have Usher Syndrome. This is a genetic condition where a person is born deaf, hard of hearing, or with normal hearing, and loses his or her vision later on in life from Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). You can learn more about Usher Syndrome at http://www.nationaldb.org/ISSelectedTopics.php?topicCatID=13

The reasons for the deaf-blindness vary and the onset of the blindness or deafness may occur at birth, or later in life. A person can have vision loss and later become deaf, or vice versa.

Some people may hear better than they see and others may see better than they hear. So there is not just one way that a person who is deaf and blind might communicate. Some people use sign language (adapted to fit their visual field), while others may use tactile sign language, tracking, tactile fingerspelling, print on palm, Tadoma (tactile lip-reading), Braille, speech, or speech reading.

The communication methods vary from person to person, depending on the degree of their combined vision and hearing loss, their background, and their education. You can learn more about types of communication at the American Association of the Deaf-Blind.

Today, there are many types of technology and equipment that people who are deaf and blind can use. Some examples include mobility canes, closed circuit televisions (CCTV), Braille, Braille TTYs(Talk to You), TTYs with large print displays, and Braille or large print watches or clocks- to name only a few.

Eye Safety Awareness Week

June 27 through July 5 is Eye Safety Awareness Week. Eye injuries on the job, in the home, and when having fun often are preventable. Learn more about workplace eye safety and home and sports eye safety.

Fireworks Safety Month

Have fun during the 4th of July weekend. But be sure to protect your eyes. Learn about fireworks safety. It could save your vision.

Hurricane Safety

hurricane June 1 until November 30 is hurricane season in Florida. It is best to start planning for a hurricane now. Read about how planning for a hurricane or find your county's home page and contact information on the Emergency Management Contact List.

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 II follows 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.

Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities

The Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Labor (DOL) will again co-sponsor in the annual Workforce Recruitment Program (WRP) for College Students with Disabilities.  The WRP is recruiting approximately 1,600 students from over 200 colleges and universities across the United States this year. 

The Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP) will again assist by providing assistive technology and accommodation services to WRP participants. By working through WRP, CAP helps to ensure a successful Federal employment experience while cultivating an accessible information environment for WRP participants.

For more information about WRP, please visit the WRP Web site: www.wrp.gov.

For more information about CAP or to submit an accommodation request please visit www.tricare.mil/cap.

Credit Reports Now Accessible

Effective December 17, 2008, people who are blind or visually impaired can obtain their free annual credit reports in accessible formats. As a result of an agreement signed earlier this year by the American Council of the Blind, the California Council of the Blind, and others, credit reports are now available in an accessible format online. Reports in Braille, Large Print and Audio formats can also be ordered by phone.

Online accessible reports

Federal law requires the three major credit reporting agencies in the United States to provide consumers with one free credit report each year. These reports are available on line on the Annual Credit Report Web site. Online reports available through this site are now designed to meet the standards set forth in Priorities 1 and 2 of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). For security purposes, the site includes a CAPTCHA designed to prevent computers from hacking into the site. There is an alternative, audio CAPTCHA for blind consumers who cannot see the standard visual image of distorted letters and numbers.

Ordering by Telephone

People who are blind or visually impaired within the meaning of the Americans with Disabilities Act may order Braille, Large Print or Audio credit reports from any of the three credit reporting agencies by calling, toll free:

  • 877-322-8228

Additional credit reports not covered by the free annual credit report system are also available in alternative formats. These may be ordered from each credit reporting agency individually at the following numbers:

  • Equifax: 800-685-1111
  • Experian: 888-397-3742
  • TransUnion: 800-888-4213

Please note that when ordering a credit report by calling any of these numbers you will not reach a live person, but will be given the option of selecting Braille, Large Print or Audio formats.

Accessible Credit Report Agreement

The Accessible Credit Report Agreement was negotiated using the Structured Negotiations Process. The three companies have worked in good faith to negotiate and implement the agreement. If you are a person who is blind or visually impaired and encounter any problems in obtaining your free annual credit report, please Contact Lainey. You can also read the Accessible Credit Report Agreement.

Top Stories Related to Blindness

Keeping up with top stories related to blindness and visual loss isn't easy. Read Top Stories Related to Blindness including topics like assistive technology, business, and talking books.


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.

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