The 2011 Vision Summit:
Invited Guests
All Elected Statewide Officeholders, all State Senators & State Representatives, all State Agency Heads, Members of Congress from Florida, Vision Care Professionals, Nonprofit & Industry Leaders, Visually Impaired & Blind Floridians, the Media & the Public.
Co-Hosts
The Florida Legislature’s Vision Caucus &
The Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind (FAASB)
The Vision Caucus is a Bipartisan, Bicameral Caucus of Legislators. FAASB is a Statewide Nonprofit Association of 17 Community-based Nonprofit Agencies that Provide Direct Support Services to Floridians who are Visually Impaired or Blind.
FAASB's on-going goal is to hold an annual Vision Summit where everyone interested in vision issues can come together, discuss the issues, define the problems, raise public awareness, and urge our State leaders to address these critical issues. In it's fifth year, the Florida Vision Summit raises public awareness and prompts State government to address the concerns and issues of Florida’s blind and visually impaired residents. Through the Summit, we all gain a better understanding of these issues and improve both our prevention efforts and blind services.
The Fifth Annual
Florida Vision Summit
Guest Speakers & Invited Participants
We have an impressive and influential line-up of speakers and participants for today’s 2011 Florida Vision Summit. We will hear from State government policymakers including legislators, agency heads, and education officials; leading experts from the private sector, including eye care physicians and professionals, leaders of statewide professional associations, leaders of community-based nonprofit organizations; and most importantly we will hear from some inspiring Floridians who are blind or visually impaired.
State Officials
The senior State officials participating in today’s Vision Summit oversee both the Florida Legislature and the Executive Branch agencies that have a direct impact on Floridians who are visually impaired or blind at various life stages.
In the Executive Branch, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) touches the lives of blind babies. The Florida Department of Education (DOE) provides for the pubic education of visually impaired and blind children. The Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) is keenly focused on the rapidly growing incidence of age-related vision loss among senior Floridians. Lastly, the Florida Division of Blind Services, a Division of DOE, coordinates multiple services for visually impaired and blind Floridians of all ages and needs. We will hear from all of them today.
Additionally, the Florida Legislature is responsible for funding all of these Executive Branch agencies and their services to Floridians who are visually impaired or blind. We will also hear from legislative leaders today. The invited State officials are all listed on the following pages.
Private Sector Professionals & Advocates
The private sector is also well represented at today’s Florida Vision Summit. Joining us are professionals from the fields of medicine, health care, and vision care. We have invited Florida’s best ophthalmologists, optometrists, opticians, and leaders from community-based nonprofit organizations. Lastly, and most importantly, we have invited some of Florida’s most respected and effective vision advocates. These individuals serve Floridians who are visually impaired and blind on a daily basis; and some have the added knowledge, experience and perspective of living with their own low vision or blindness. We encourage you to talk with any of the Florida Vision Summit speakers and participants today. All of the invited private sector experts and advocates are also listed on the following pages.
Legislative Breakfast Agenda
2011 Florida Vision Summit
7:30 AM – 8:30 PM, February 8, 2011
State Capitol, 22nd Floor
7:30 AM Buffet Breakfast Service
7:30 AM Call to Order & Invocation
By Representative Dennis Baxley
Chair, Florida Legislature’s Vision Caucus
Member, Florida House of Representatives
7:33 AM Pledge of Allegiance
By Mr. Paul W. Kaminsky, Cdr, USN-Ret
Past President, Blinded Veterans Association, Florida
7:35 AM Entertainment
William Benjamin, Guitarist
“Blind Willy”
8:10 AM Welcome Remarks & Introduction of State Officials
By Representative Dennis Baxley
8:15 AM Welcome Remarks, Introduction of Sponsors & Nonprofit Leaders
By Mr. Robert Kelly,
President, FAASB
Executive Director, Florida Lions Conklin Center for the Blind
8:20 AM Award Presentation
To: Representative Dennis Baxley
By: Fred Sanguiliano
8:25 AM Award Presentation
To: Joyce Hildreth,
DBS Director
By: Charles E. Young,
President of Hadley School for the Blind’s Florida Project
8:30 AM Adjourn
General Session Agenda
2011 Florida Vision Summit
9:00 AM – 12:30 PM,
February 8, 2011
The OLD Capitol, House Chambers
9:00 AM Call to Order & Invocation
Robert Kelly, Anne Hebrock
9:05 AM Pledge of Allegiance
Mr. Paul W. Kaminsky, Cdr, USN-Ret
9:07 AM Singing of the National Anthem
Lynda Jones
9:10 AM Introduction of Sponsors and Friends
Robert Kelly
9:15 AM Dennis Baxley will be in for a short visit to welcome everyone
Special Segment: DBS Budget for FY 2011-12
9:20 AM DBS’s Budget for FY 2011-12
DBS Director Joyce Hildreth
9:30 AM FAASB’s Legislative Priorities for FY 2011-12
Mr. Robert Kelly
Special Segment: Blind Babies’ Early Intervention
9:40 AM Personal Perspective:
Gina Taranto
9:50 AM Personal Perspective:
Ginette Baxley
Special Segment: Deaf-Blind Services
10:00 AM Support Service Providers (SSP) for
Deaf-Blind Floridians
Ms. Cheryl Rhodes
Vice President, FDBA Board of Directors
Special Segment: Integration of Vision Care and Rehabilitative Services
10:10 AM The Avalanche of Need & Development of Resources
Gale S. Pollock, Major General, Retired, CRNA, FACHE, FAAN
Initiating a Harvard University program to educate eye care professionals
and meet consumer’s needs
Special Segment: Invited Guest Speakers
10:20 AM Invited: Senate President Mike Haridopolos
& House Speaker Dean Cannon
Special Segment: Advances in Ophthalmology
10:30 AM Advances in Ophthalmology (Power Point)
Dr. Stephen Schwartz, MD
President, Florida Society of Ophthalmology
10:40 AM Roadmap to World Class Vision (Power Point)
Dr. Eduardo Alfonso, MD
President, Florida Society of Ophthalmology
Special Segment: Youth & Education
10:50 AM Florida’s Pre-K-12 Education System
The Honorable Eric J. Smith, PhD
Florida Commissioner of Education
10:55 AM Hadley School for the Blind’s Florida Project
Charles E. Young, President
11:00 AM Florida’s Higher Education System
Dr. James Murdaugh, PhD
President, Tallahassee Community College
Special Segment: Advances in Optometry
11:10 AM Advances in Optometry
Dr. R. Andrew Wiles, OD
Chairman, Florida Optometric Association
Special Segment: Workforce
11:20 AM Florida’s Blind & Visually Impaired Workforce
Ms. Sheryl Brown
Rehabilitation Service’s Manager, Tampa Lighthouse for the Blind
Special Segment: Advances in Opticianry
11:30 AM Advances in Opticianry
Mr. James Reese, LDO
President, Professional Opticians of Florida
Special Segment: Seniors
11:40 AM Personal Perspective:
Paulette Gellar
Closing Remarks
11:50 AM Closing Remarks
Robert Kelly/Dennis Baxley
12:00 PM Adjourn
MOBILITY DIRECTIONS
1.) Directions to Breakfast:
If you are standing with Monroe Street and Apalachee Parkway to your back, the Old Capitol is directly ahead of you. The New Capitol is right behind the old one. Walk to your right (North) around the old Capitol. Continue to circle around the Old Capitol to the courtyard. The Old Capitol steps will be on your left, and the entrance to the New Capitol will be on the other side of the courtyard to your right.
When you enter the New Capitol at first floor, volunteers will be assist you in finding the elevators to the 22nd floor for breakfast. Volunteers will also direct you back to the Old Capitol for the General Session after breakfast. You will exit the New Capitol at the first floor, walk directly across the courtyard and proceed up the Old Capitol stairs on the outside to the second floor. The House Chamber is on the second floor to your left. A handicap accessible door is also available under the outside stairs with an elevator to the second floor. Volunteers will be available to assist you.
Directions to go to ONLY the General Session
2.) Using Stairs: If you are standing with Monroe Street and Apalachee Parkway to your back, the Old Capitol is directly ahead of you. The New Capitol is right behind the old one. Walk to your right (North) to circle around the old Capitol. There is a large set of outside stairs on the west side of the old capital, which will be on your left after you circle halfway around the Old Capitol. There is one flight of steps which takes you directly to a door on the second floor. Entering the door, do NOT walk forward and down the stairs directly ahead. Take an immediate left and go to the wall. Then turn right and follow the walkway to a hallway on your left. The hall will take you to the House Chambers and reception table. Volunteers will be available to assist you.
3.) For Elevator Entry: If you are standing with Monroe Street and Apalachee Parkway to your back, the Old Capitol is directly ahead of you. The New Capitol is right behind the old one. Walk to your right (North) around the old Capitol. Continue to circle around the Old Capitol to the courtyard. The Old Capitol outside stairs will be on your left. The Handicapped Accessible door is located under these outside stairs, on the north side of the stairs. Security has allowed the door to be held open between 8:30-9am. If you arrive after 9am, you will need to push the button to request access and an audible sound occurs signifying the door unlocking and opening. The door opens out so please back up and wait for the door to open before entering. Once entering, take two steps and turn to the left approximately 45 degrees. The side of the stairway will be ahead of you. You may intersect the middle of the stairs, so please be cautious not to hit your head and use protective arm techniques. If you want to take these stairs follow them to the right in order to go up the stairs. To find the elevator, turn left, and bypass the stairs. You will pass underneath the stairs and go to the right and continue to the entry of a hallway. The elevator is down the hallway on the right. Take the elevator to the second floor. On the second floor, exit the elevator and turn left. Continue forward until you encounter a railing, turn right continue trailing the railing until reaching the ribbon we will place there. Turn right and head straight into the hallway leading to the House Chamber and reception table. Volunteers will be available to assist you.
If you have any mobility questions, please call the Lighthouse of the Big Bend at 850-942-3658 and ask for a Mobility Instructor.
Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind