By the year 2030, according to a Duke University study, more than 4 million people in Florida will be blind or visually impaired, due in part to a growing population of people over 60 who are outliving their eyesight. Broward County has one of the nations highest incidences of visual impairment. An estimated more than 53,000 people in the community have severe vision loss.
Thanks to the new State of Vision license tag, which is now available through County Tag Agencies, some relief may be coming to help support this growing population.
Agencies in Florida that serve the blind or visually impaired, such as the Lighthouse of Broward, will be the beneficiaries of the new tag. The Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind (FAASB) has 14 member agencies.
(l to r) Rep. Franklin Sands; Dr. Elly du Pré, executive director of the Lighthouse of Broward; Jennifer West (knealing) and her son, Jackson, 2, who has been blind since birth; Dr. Judi Schaeffer, president of Broward County Optometric Association; and Clarence Hayes, with his guide dog, Soda. Photo credit: RCWhite/IDS
“Clearly, this projected level of vision impairment is going to affect us all,” said Elly du Pré, DPA, executive director of the Lighthouse of Broward, who predicts an income of at least $25,000 in new funds to her agency from the tags within five years. The Lighthouse of Broward serves more than 400 individuals every year, ranging in age from new-born infant to over 90 years old.
“The State of Vision license plates will help raise critically-needed money to help thousands of Floridians who live with limited vision or blindness everyday. Im proud and thankful that the Florida Legislature had the inspiration to create this new license plate,” she added.
Florida House of Representatives Speaker pro Tempore Dennis Baxley (R-Ocala), who sponsored legislation creating the “A State of Vision” specialty license tag said: “This was the very first project of the Florida Legislatures new Vision Caucus; and it will help thousands of Floridians with vision loss. My wife and I will proudly display one of these tags on our car.”
“This is one of the most important projects we could possibly be working on,” added Florida House Representative Franklin Sands (D-Weston), who serves on the Vision Caucus. “I’m glad Florida had the vision to be the first to do this.”
The State of Vision tags can be purchased at any County Tag Agency office or affiliate, or through a car dealership if purchasing a new or used vehicle.
