Welcome to FIRE's Home Page

NEW! The 4th Paula Bailey Dining in the Dark Benefit is now scheduled for Sunday, October 19, 2008; and for the first time, online (credit card & pay pal) donations accepted!

Who we are
FIRE is a nonprofit agency dedicated to assisting people who are visually impaired or blind to achieve a maximum level of independence in their lives. Free services are provided on an outreach (one on one) or group basis and are provided without charge, without regard to individual or family income level, race, creed, age, disability or national origin.

Who we serve
Any child age 0-5 or individual aged 14 to 114+ who is legally blind and lives in the following counties is eligible for free services. Counties served include: Franklin, Gadsden, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor, and Wakulla.

What we do
To enroll in FIRE, individuals complete an intake referral form, or fill one out over the phone with a FIRE staff member. Clients are then assigned a Specialist. The Specialists help each client plan and implement a training program that will insure they receive the best services possible. Services may include individual instruction or classes in techniques of daily living (home and personal management), communications, assistive technology including computers, orientation and mobility (moving safely around the home and community), leisure activities, self advocacy, and individual or family adjustment counseling. For more details, please go to the Services page.

How to Help
Check out FIRE's Volunteer page for opportunities to assist FIRE with your time and energy.
If you can help financially, please donate online to FIRE by clicking on the Network for Good & Guidestar link (NEW!), check out our our Donations page, and don't miss our next Dining in the Dark, scheduled for Sunday, October 19, 2008!

Also - on sale now is a new specialty license plate "A State of Vision" benefiting the agency serving the blind in the county your car is registered. So - if you buy the $25 tag in one of FIRE's eleven counties, the money will come right back to FIRE to help your neighbors, friends and family who may have lost their vision. Below is an image of the tag - yet another way to support FIRE. Much thanks to Representative Loranne Ausley who bought the first tag 2/7/07 and to all those who have already bought the tag, as well!

GIFT CERTIFICATES now available
You can now purchase a gift certificate for our specialty license plate!

Visit your local tag agency to find out how to get "A State of Vision" plate.
For FIRE's service area, each county's tax office website is listed below:
Franklin County Tax Collector
Gadsden County Tax Collector
Hamilton County Tax Collector
Jefferson County Tax Collector
Lafayette County Tax Collector
Leon County Tax Collector
Liberty County Tax Collector
Madison County Tax Collector
Suwannee County Tax Collector
Taylor County Tax Collector
Wakulla County Tax Collector

Updated 4/28/2008

FIRE is supported through contracts with the Florida Department of Education, Division of Blind Services, as well as grants through the United Way, Leon County, Capital Medical Society Foundation, and numerous corporate and private donations.