The Florida Department of Education’s Division of Blind Services announced a statewide celebration marking its 85TH anniversary, themed “85 Years of Impact and a Future Beyond Limits.” The five-city celebration tour throughout October 2026 will honor more than eight decades of empowering Floridians who are blind or visually impaired to achieve independence, pursue meaningful careers and build the futures they choose.
The celebration will travel to five communities over five weeks, opening in Pensacola on Friday, October 2, and closing in Fort Myers on Thursday, October 29. Each stop will bring together 50 to 100 invited guests — clients, families, employers, partners and community leaders — to recognize the people behind every milestone and look toward the Division’s next chapter.
A centerpiece of the series is the October 15 celebration in Daytona Beach, which coincides with White Cane Day and the grand re-opening of the Division’s re-branded Career, Technology & Training Center (CTTC) — a hub for the vocational training, technology and skills that help blind Floridians enter and advance in the workforce.
“The Division of Blind Services represents Florida’s longstanding commitment to expanding opportunity and empowering individuals to reach their full potential. This 85-year milestone reflects the impact of investing in talent, strengthening communities and creating pathways to employment and independence for generations of Floridians,” said Dr. Henry Mack, Florida’s Commissioner of Education.
“For 85 years, the Division of Blind Services has helped Floridians who are blind or visually impaired pursue their goals, achieve greater independence and contribute their talents in communities across our state,” said Trina Travis, Interim Director of the Florida Division of Blind Services. “As we celebrate this milestone, we also look ahead. The future is beyond limits when individuals have access to opportunity, training, technology and the support they need to succeed.”
According to the American Foundation for the Blind, Florida is home to more than 538,000 residents with vision difficulty or blindness. Today’s labor statistics show that 7.3% of Floridians with disabilities are unemployed, compared with 4.5% statewide — an under-tapped talent pool the Division works every day to connect with Florida employers.
Throughout the anniversary year, the Division is spotlighting the programs that set it apart, including:
• the Career, Technology & Training Center (CTTC), re-opening in Daytona Beach on October 15;
• the first-in-the-nation Web Accessibility Specialist registered apprenticeship — the nation’s first state agency-led registered apprenticeship for blind individuals, launched in March 2023;
• the Business Enterprise Program, which helps legally blind entrepreneurs operate food-service and vending businesses across the state; and
• the Braille and Talking Book Library, a statewide resource supporting education, independence and lifelong learning.
The 85TH anniversary celebration schedule is as follows:
• Friday, October 2, Pensacola
• Thursday, October 8, Miami
• Thursday, October 15, Daytona Beach
• Friday, October 23, Tallahassee
• Thursday, October 29, Fort Myers
For 85 years, the Florida Division of Blind Services has worked alongside individuals, families, educators, employers and community partners to expand opportunities and create pathways for success. As the Division looks toward the future, it remains committed to helping the next generation of Floridians who are blind or visually impaired achieve their goals and thrive in school, work and community life.
Individuals and families seeking services can learn more at blindjobsfl.com, while employers interested in building a more accessible workforce can explore resources and partnership opportunities at blindjobsfl.com/business.
Follow the celebration on social media with #85YearsOfImpact and #DBS85.
About the Florida Division of Blind Services
The mission of the Florida Division of Blind Services is to ensure that blind and visually impaired Floridians can achieve success — both personally and professionally. As part of the Florida Department of Education, the Division provides vocational rehabilitation, job placement, adaptive technology, training and independent-living services that help Floridians who are blind or visually impaired find, keep and advance in employment and live independently. Learn more at blindjobsfl.com or dbs.fldoe.org.
