[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 62 (Wednesday, May 18, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 18, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
              IN HONOR OF THE FLORIDA CENTER FOR THE BLIND

                                 ______


                           HON. CLIFF STEARNS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 17, 1994

  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Florida 
Center for the Blind in my hometown of Ocala, Florida. The mission of 
this non-profit organization is to facilitate the complete integration 
of the blind into society on a basis of equality.
  I have had the pleasure to learn first-hand about the wonderful work 
the Florida Center for the Blind has done for the visually-impaired in 
North Central Florida. The Center was founded in 1987 by a small group 
of blind persons who realized that the region's blind population were 
without services that would be of benefit to them.
  Mr. Speaker, these dedicated individuals, with the help of the United 
Way and contributions from the community, have established a remarkable 
organization over the past several years that has offered the visually-
impaired a wide variety of needed services. These include 
rehabilitation and assistance for the blind in adjusting to their 
environment; job skills training; establishment of support groups for 
the blind and their companions; an area resource library on blindness; 
advocacy for the blind concerning their civil rights; and serving as a 
liaison between the blind and the social service agencies that can be 
of assistance to them.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in congratulating 
the Florida Center for the Blind for its outstanding service to the 
visually impaired. They truly are a beacon of light and they serve as 
an inspiration to the people of Florida.

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