Due to damage caused by Hurricane Ian, the Lighthouse office is under construction.
We have temporarily moved to:
1506 Bayshore Gardens Pkwy Bradenton, FL 34207

+1 (941) 359-14047318 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34243
Hope and Empowerment for the Visually Impaired

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Florida Residents

On this page, one will find resources specifically for residents of Florida. Browse through the categories of applications, councils, counseling services, deaf/blind, diabetes, housing, low vision doctors, phone services, reading services, recreation/ leisure, support groups, and other services.

Applications

DBS Florida ID card –

  • Contact Case Manager for application 

I-Bill Reader

  • Contact Case Manager for application 

Councils

Florida Council for the Blind

Counseling

Tidewell Hope Line (Grief Counseling)

Samaritan Counseling of the Gulf Coast

Deaf/Blind

Florida Coordinating Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Diabetes

Florida Diabetes Services

Housing

Affordable Housing Online

Florida Housing Search

For Rent

Rentals

Social Serve

Apartment Home Living

One Stop- Housing

Low Vision Doctors

Thomas Blom, OD

  • Address: 245 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, FL 34239
  • Phone Number: 941-925-3937

Steven C Bovio, OD

  • Address: 2940 South Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34239
  • Phone Number: 941-208-3398

Lissa Rivero, OD

  • Address: 3400 Bee Ridge Road Suite 200, Sarasota, FL 34239
  • Phone Number: 941-921-5335

Tad Kosanovich

  • Address: 150 South Indiana Avenue, Englewood, FL 34223
  • Phone Number: 941-473-1392

Walter Rutkowski, OD

  • Address: 5005 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton, FL 34209
  • Phone Number: 941-794-1315

Phone Sevices

Florida Telecommunications Relay, Inc.

Reading Services

Daytona Library- Talking Books

Recreation and Leisure

Accessible Cruises

Rise & Nye’s Coffee and Ice Cream Shop

  • Address: 1534 State Street Sarasota, Florida 34236
  • Phone Number: 941-217-6449
  • Website
  • “For too long, differently-abled individuals have been kept in the shadows. Rise & Nye’s, proudly located in the heart of downtown Sarasota, is about inclusion, acceptance and opportunity for all.”

Support Groups

Autism Society Florida

Other Services

Division of Blind Services (DBS)

Department of Elder Affairs