FSU Inducted into Division of Blind Services Awards Program

By Vivian El-Salawy on October 24, 2016

Florida State University is recognized for having a program that promotes the advancement of independence for blind and visually impaired individuals.  According to Health News Florida, in recent celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Florida Division of Blind Services, the FSU College of Education’s Visual Disabilities program was inducted into its “Successful 75”.

Image via Lighthouse Big Bend

The overall mission of the curriculum of the College of Education’s Visual Disabilities program is to improve the opportunities for individuals who are blind or have low vision.  The program at Florida State provides the necessary skills in order for individuals to fulfill the necessary personal and professional commitment required in acquiring their mission.

Florida State’s program additionally offers a variety of opportunities for students to engage with the local community through providing a variety of services for those who are blind or have low vision and lay a clear foundation on instruction as well.

According to the programs website:

“Results from a recent study indicate that there is a need for 5,000 new Teachers of Children with Visual Impairments (TVIs) and a need for 10,000 new Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Specialists to work with children and adults with visual impairments across the U.S.”

The Visual Disabilities program works not only with individuals that are visually impaired, but their families, educators, and rehabilitation centers as well.  Through inserting themselves into this network, students are better able to serve those in which are visually impaired, as well as immerse themselves into the community.

Image of FSU’s College of Education via FSU News

Graduates of this program have a 100% job placement rate, as there is a high demand for individuals who have acquired a Florida Professional Educator’s Certificate in Visually Impaired (K-12) both in the state of Florida and nationwide.

If you are interested in involving yourself with the local community for individuals in which are visually impaired, there are a variety of charity and social services organization such as “Heritage for the Blind of Tallahassee”, the “Division of Blind Services”, “Lighthouse of the Big Bend”, and so on.

Another local program is “Independence for the Blind”, which operates under a similar goal of FSU’s program that promotes the involvement of community members in bettering education for the blind.  According to the organization’s website, it is the “only nonprofit entirely devoted to educating the blind and visually impaired in West Florida”. 

Image via The Roaring Times

There are plenty of opportunities both on and off campus to involve yourself with the visually impaired community of Tallahassee, regardless of whether or not it is in your field of study.  Regardless of whether you are a student, a teacher/professor, or just an interested member of the community – many of these organizations will take you in with open arms.

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