Profile: Division of Blind Services, Tampa District Office

Florida Division of Blind Services is a proud recipient of the 2007 Recipient Governor’s Sterling Award.

The Florida Division of Blind Services has a rich history of providing services to persons who are blind or have severe visual impairments and to persons who have disabling conditions that make it difficult to read regular print. Persons of all ages living in Florida who are blind or who require alternative reading materials may benefit from our agency's services.

Services are provided through 12 district offices, the Division's Orientation and Adjustment Center for the Blind, local community rehabilitation programs serving the blind, or through a local Center for Independent Living. Below you will find an example of the various types of services that we sponsor or that are provided directly by us.

Blind Babies Program
Children's Program
School-to-Work or Transition Program
Independent Living Services
Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Braille and Talking Book Library Services

Since 1950, the bureau has been designated by the Library of Congress/National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) as the regional library for Florida and loans Braille and recorded books and magazines to all eligible residents of the state. In addition, the bureau has established eleven sub-regional libraries to provide local talking book services to residents of metropolitan areas. Reading materials are sent to and from customers via postage-free mail and all services are provided at no charge. As the largest library of its kind, the bureau currently has more than two million books in Braille and recorded formats available for loan to individuals with print disabilities.