The anniversary tour kicks off October 2 in Pensacola and concludes October 29 in Fort Myers, with stops planned for Miami, Tallahassee, and Daytona Beach. These regional gatherings serve as more than commemorations; they act as networking hubs for employers, families, and participants to address the reality that 7.3% of Floridians with disabilities remain unemployed, significantly higher than the state’s general jobless rate.
Florida Division of Blind Services Marks 85 Years of Workforce Advocacy
Over 538,000 Floridians live with vision loss, a demographic the state’s Division of Blind Services has supported for eight decades. This October, the agency launches a five-city tour to celebrate its 85th anniversary, spotlighting new initiatives designed to bridge the persistent employment gap facing the visually impaired community.
A focal point of the month occurs on October 15 in Daytona Beach, which coincides with White Cane Day. The agency will host the grand reopening of its Career, Technology & Training Center, a facility dedicated to the vocational and adaptive skills required for modern professional environments. Beyond the center, the Division continues to champion programs like its Web Accessibility Specialist apprenticeship—the first of its kind led by a state agency—and the Business Enterprise Program for blind entrepreneurs. Interim Director Trina Travis emphasized that the milestone serves as a bridge to future growth, focusing on the intersection of training, technology, and employer partnerships to ensure long-term independence for the state’s blind population.
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