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 | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry Alexander | 2387 NW 99th Terrace Miami, FL 33147 |
(O) (305) 494-4682 (F) (303) 693-3094 Ab4zq@juno.com |
Business and Industry | 2009 |
| Rufus Brown | 2558 Regal River Road Valrico, FL 33596 |
(H)813-684-2033 rufbrown19@verizon.net |
Parent of Blind | 2009 |
| Sheryl Brown | 1106 W. Platt Street Tampa, FL 33606 |
(O) (813) 251-2407 (F) (813) 254-4305 rehabmgr@tampalighthouse.org |
Business and Industry | 2009 |
| Kathy C. Davis | 121 Deer Lake Circle Ormond Beach, FL 32174 |
(H) 386/677-6886 (C) 386/453-1195 kdavisnfbf@cfl.rr.com |
VR Counselor | 2009 |
| Paul Edwards | 20330 N.E. Court Miami, FL 33179 |
(O) (305) 237-1146 pedwards@mdc.edu or edwpaul@bellsouth.net |
Advocacy Group (FCB) | 2011 |
| Becki M. Forsell | 4508 Stonehenge Road Tampa, FL 33624 |
(O) (813) 935-5696 (C) (813) 420-7708 Yesunited2@msn.com |
Independent Living Council (ILC) | 2010 |
| Ted Hull | 607 South Albany Ave #2 Tampa, FL 33606 |
(H) 813/251-9245 hullted@verizon.net |
Business and Industry | 2010 |
| Brian Johnson | 4411 Sheridan St. Hollywood, FL 33021 |
(O) (954) 967-1493 (F) (954) 967-1496 brianj@advocacycenter.org |
Client Assistance Program | 2010 |
| Paul Kaminsky | 4295 Powderhorn Court Middleburg, FL 32068 |
(H) (904) 291-0576 pkaminsky@bellsouth.net |
Advocacy Group (BVA) | 2011 |
| Robert T. Kelly | Conklin Center 405 White Street Daytona Beach, FL 32114 |
(O) (386) 258-3441 robert@conklincenter.org |
Community Rehab Provider | 2010 |
| Vacant | Business and Industry | 2009 | ||
| Jodi Lamm | 4469 Parkwood Square Niceville, FL 32578 |
(O) (850) 833-4240 ext 224 (C) (850) 974-7979 jodinkeith@cox.net |
Former Client | 2010 |
| Bruce A. Miles | 590 Hammock Court Marco Island, FL 34145 |
(O) (239) 394-1020 Brokerbruc@aol.com |
Advocacy Group (LIONS) | 2011 |
| Jay Naiman | 8912 Northwest 40th St. Coral Springs, FL 33065 |
(H) (954) 346-3727 jnaiman@bellsouth.net |
Former Client | 2010 |
| Joyce Hildreth | Florida Department of Education 325 W. Gaines St. Suite1114 Tallahassee, FL 32399 |
(O) 850/245-0300 (F) 850/245-0363 Joyce.Hildreth@dbs.fldoe.org |
Director of Blind Services | 9999 |
| Dawn Saunders | Florida Department of Education 325 West Gaines Street Suite 601 Tallahassee, FL 32399 |
(O) 850/245-0478 (F) 850/245-0955 dawn.saunders@fldoe.org |
State Educational Unit (IDEA) | 2010 |
| Dwight D. Sayer | 259 Regal Downs Circle Winter Garden, FL 34787 |
(O) 707-430-0324 (F) 707-430-0324 misteradvocate@aol.com |
Advocacy Group (NFB) | 2011 |
| Suzanne Townsend | 321 Oak Fern Circle Ormond Beach, FL 32174 |
(O) 386-677-7760 Town111@bellsouth.net |
Parent Training Center | 2009 |
| Vacant | State Workforce Investment Board | 2007 | ||
| Phyllis Dill | 14 W. Jordan Street Suite 1M Pensacola, FL 32501 |
850/595-5282 ext 11 Phyllis.Dill@dbs.fldoe.org |
Council Staff |
Updated 11/05/2008
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 mailing address, business phone number and email address as of 9/15/2009.
Chairperson
Tom Spiliotis
501 Hillside Drive
Auburndale, FL 33823
Business Phone: (863) 595-8118
Email Address: tspiliotis@tampabay.rr.com
Vice-Chairperson
John Klindtworth
P.O. Box 840249
St. Augustine, Fl 32080
Business Phone: (352) 284-3020
Email Address: klindtworthvending@hotmail.com
District 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. Georgia Kellogg, (Alternate)
5032 Capital circle SW
Suite 2, Box 275
Tallahassee, FL 32305
Business Phone: (850) 528-9185
Email Address: tallygeorgia@nettally.com
District Two
Randy Shuster, (Representative)
1420 Avondale Way
Tallahassee, FL 32317
Business Phone:(850) 321-7393
Email Address: rrss66@juno.com
Ron Moore, (Alternate)
3150 Windsong Drive, Apt. #2-301
Tallahassee, FL 32308
Business Phone:(850) 922-7707
Email Address: rtmoorejr@juno.com
District Three
Don Tuell, (Representative)
532 NW Brinkley Terrace
Lake City, Fl 32055
Business Phone:(386) 365-0415
Email Address:jazz1959@hotmail.com
John Kalivoda, (Alternate)
6146 SW 84th Street
Ocala, FL 34476
Business Phone:(352) 895-4541
Email Address:
District Four
Mary Hayes, (Representative)
2716 Adele Road
Jacksonville, FL 32216
Business Phone: (904) 234-3146
Email Address: HayesEnterprise@gmail.com
Bill Perret, (Alternate)
317 Glenlyon Drive
Orange Park, Fl 32073
Business Phone: (904) 772-7216
Email Address: perret46@comcast.net
District Five
Phil Bluschke, (Representative)
PO Box 95
Brooksville, Fl 34605
Business Phone: (352) 793-7971
Email Address: philndeb@tampabay.rr.com
Victor Rosario, (Alternate)
PO Box 621113
Orlando, Fl 32862
Business Phone:(407) 452-9824
Email Address: district5dbs@hotmail.com
District 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.net
District Seven
Tom Saunders, (Representative)
51 Main Street, Suite #2
Dunedin, Fl 34698
Business Phone: (727) 582-6329
Email Address: caecus@tampabay.rr.com
Kathy Warth, (Alternate)
1859 North Washington Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33755
Business Phone: (727) 742-9771
Email Address: kathleenwarth@verizon.net
District Eight
Shirley Smart, (Representative)
140 Harbor Boulevard
Port Charlotte, Fl 33954
Business Phone: (941) 421-4860
Email Address: ssmart1674@comcast.net
Steve Barnes, (Alternate)
5405 8th Avenue Drive West
Bradenton, FL 34209
Business Phone: (941) 518-2481
Email Address: rde76ff@hotmail.com
District 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) 292-8711
Email Address: mary_sk@yahoo.com
(Note the Underscore between mary & sk)
District Ten
Leslie Francis, (Representative)
110 NW 116th Street
Miami, FL 33168
Business Phone: (305) 401-9684
Email Address: dalefrancis@interconti.com
Lonnie Wilcox, (Alternate)
1100 NW 114th Street
Miami, FL 33168
Business Phone: (786) 348-8344
Email Address: law51@bellsouth.net
Florida 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 Web site at http://flailc.org/. They also have information about independent living centers.