About VAVF!
The Visual Aid Volunteers of Florida, Inc. (VAVF) is a non-profit association that was formed in 1975 with a small group of members in Central Florida, and now has members from all over the state and across the country.
The membership of VAVF is open to all persons, schools, agencies, groups, and organizations affiliated with, or interested in, the education and the general welfare of all individuals who are blind or visually impaired. VAVF members include certified braille transcribers, braille learners, and tactile graphics specialists. In addition, our members include teachers of students who are blind or visually impaired, school district braille transcribers and paraprofessionals, and agency personnel.
The purpose of VAVF is to provide education, mentorship, and training to our members who produce reading and instructional materials in a tactile format for persons in Florida who are blind or visually impaired. Certified braille transcribers and others proficient in using the various braille codes transcribe print books, graphic images, and other reading materials into braille and/or tactile graphics.
VAVF members work closely with the Florida Instructional Materials Center for the Visually Impaired (FIMC-VI) and local teachers of students who are blind to obtain transcription assignments. Regional braille groups also provide instruction leading to braille certification, reading and producing braille using a braille writer and/or braille transcription software, and training in producing tactile graphics.
Annually, VAVF hosts a conference for the purpose of training and collaboration of those involved with braille production and/or working with blind or visually impaired individuals. Generally, the conference is held in the spring.
VAVF Leadership
- President: Lynnette Taylor (Conference Chair), Switzerland, FL
- President Elect:
- Vice President of Membership:
- Secretary: Sue Farnsworth, Winter Springs, FL
- Treasurer: Holly Cleveland, Jacksonville, FL
- Past President: Jane Thompson (Communications Chair), Louisville, KY
- Board Member: Pat Gray, Jacksonville Beach, FL
- Board Member: Shawn Greiner, Augusta, GA
- Board Member: Darrin Porter; Tampa, FL
- Board Member: Lucia Hasty, Colorado Springs, CO
- Board Member: Susan Widmann, Brandon, FL
- Board Member: Mariann Witengier (Scholarship and Hall of Fame Chair), Orlando, FL
- FIMC-VI Liaison
- Liz Anderson (Supervisor), Tampa, FL
- Kathy Kremplewski (Braille and Accessible Assessments Specialist), Tampa, FL
VAVF Skills Consultants
Skills Consultants volunteer their time and knowledge to assist with your questions. If you need to contact a skills consultant with a question about that topic, please contact us!
- BRAILLE2000: Shawn Greiner, Augusta, GA (contact)
- BRAILLEBLASTER: William Freeman, Louisville, KY (contact)
- BRAILLE FORMATS: Lynnette Taylor, Switzerland, FL (contact)
- SCANNING: Pat Gray, Jacksonville Beach, FL (contact)
- TACTILE GRAPHICS: Lucia Hasty, Colorado Springs, CO (contact)
- TRANSCRIBER INSTRUCTION: Mariann Witengier, Orlando, FL (contact)
- UEB: Kyle DeJute (contact)
- UEB MATH/SCIENCE: Jonathan Carson, Louisville, KY (contact)
- UEB with NEMETH: Shawn Greiner, Augusta, GA (contact)