Florida Instructional Materials Center for the Visually Impaired

The Hillsborough County Alliance for Citizens with Disabilities and the Tampa Mayor’s Alliance for Persons with Disabilities are excited to partner with the Straz Center for the 2026 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Celebration on July 24!

The Straz Center is currently seeking performers ages 13 and older with disabilities to participate in this year’s celebration. Submissions can include individual and group musical numbers, spoken word, monologues, and other creative disciplines.

Interested performers should prepare a one-minute video submission and send it to [email protected] by Friday, June 26, 2026.

For more information and to apply, please visit: https://www.strazcenter.org/about-us/auditions/ada-celebration/

Please call 813-222-6419 if you need further assistance.

CATT is delighted to announce that they are launching a pilot AT mentoring program this summer, CATT Connections!

The summer portion of the program will take place in Decatur, AL the dates of July 19 - 23 with transportation, lodging, and meals included. This program is for students ages 14-21 who are blind or low vision, who are interested in helping to mentor others to develop their AT skills. Deadline to apply is July 3. Learn more and apply:

hillsborough.sharepoint.com

Are you an expert in Assistive Technology? Do you enjoy helping others be successful in a variety of areas related to the ECC? We are looking for you!! Consider joining the FIMC-VI team! Application deadline is 6/16.

Join the FIMC-VI Team! Join the FIMC-VI Team!

FIMC-VI is hiring a Statewide Educational Specialist for the Visually Impaired. Are you an expert in the ECC and Assistive Technology? Is your passion sharing what you know with others and helping them to grow so students can be successful? Are you local to the Tampa Bay area? Consider joining our team! Learn more and apply:

Join the FIMC-VI Team! Join the FIMC-VI Team!

Parents and family members! The program is now available for Family Cafe and registration is still open. Don't miss this amazing opportunity to learn and connect with other families. June 12-14.

View the Full Program for The 28th Annual Family Cafe The event program includes details about everything on the agenda for The 28th Annual Family Cafe this June 12-14 at the Hyatt Regency Orlando!

Research survey opportunity parents and caregivers out of Texas Tech University! Please share!
Well-being & Health Among Low Vision and Blind Youth (WHALABY)
Learn more here:

Well-being & Health Among BLV Youth Well-being & Health Among BLV Youth

Congratulations to Florida’s four Braille Challenge Finalists who will be competing in the international competition in Los Angeles, California on June 26-27, 2026!! Only the top 50 contestants from four continents qualify for the Finals! See the entire list of Finalists at https://www.brailleinstitute.org/braille-challenge/finalists.

APH is seeking field testers: Iris Board
From American Printing House (APH):
APH is seeking participants for a field test of the Iris Board, a new low-cost device designed to help blind and low vision students build typing and computer literacy skills. By removing common barriers, the Iris Board offers an accessible and affordable way to introduce touch typing early.
Field testing will run from mid-April through May, with a sign-up deadline of April 13.
No additional equipment is required, though the device can connect to an external monitor and keyboard. If available, we encourage using both the Iris Board and external peripherals to fully explore its capabilities.
We are looking for teachers who provide technology instruction and students currently enrolled in computer or technology classes, with a focus on early introduction to touch typing.
Join us in shaping the future of accessible typing tools—your feedback will help refine and improve the Iris Board.
If this sounds like something you’re interested in, click the link below.
Get started:

User Research Platform | All-in-One, Enterprise-Grade Recruit participants. Run user interviews, surveys & prototype tests. Store, analyze & share insights. All in one secure, enterprise-grade UX research platform.

Are you in an AER-accredited O&M program? Scholarship Opportunity!

The AER Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Division
2026 DONALD BLASCH SCHOLARSHIP
Deadline: March 9, 2026
AER’s O&M Division presents an annual scholarship competition for students enrolled in AER accredited O&M programs. The scholarship recognizes the vital contributions of the late Donald Blasch to the profession of O&M during his long tenure at Western Michigan University.
Two scholarships are awarded each year (depending on availability of funds).
Individuals selected for the scholarship receive an award of $1,000.
THE DEADLINE FOR RECEIVING APPLICATIONS FOR THE BLASCH SCHOLARSHIP IS MARCH 9, 2026.
For more information and to download the Application form, visit the Donald Blasch Scholarship page: https://www.aerbvi.org/donald-blasch-scholarship/
All O&M students enrolled in AER-accredited programs are encouraged to apply. For a list of AER-accredited programs, visit https://www.aerbvi.org/orientation-mobility-om-programs/

Donald Blasch Scholarship - AERBVI AER’s O&M Division presents an annual scholarship competition for students enrolled in AER accredited O&M programs. The scholarship recognizes the

CONGRATULATIONS to the seven Florida Finalists who competed at the 2026 APH National Abacus Bee Finals on February 28 in Louisville, KY!! They met up with old friends from around the country, made new friends, supported fellow contestants, and did their best with a LOT of brain power!! Florida students placed first and second in the Blasters, first in the Flyers, first in the Riders, and first and second in the Movers groups. All contestants were recognized and celebrated at the awards ceremony for their phenomenal achievements!