The Travis County Association for the Blind/Austin Lighthouse opened its Microsoft Certification Center on Oct. 18 at 4512 S. Pleasant Valley Road, Austin.

The center was specifically created for people who are blind, visually impaired or with other disabilities, to become certified in high-tech platforms such as Microsoft, Cisco and Salesforce.

"This new service will assist people with disabilities to start or advance their careers," said Al Perales, Austin vice president of business innovation.

According to the website, the association offers education, training, advocacy and community for blind and visually impaired individuals in Travis County and its surrounding areas. It is its mission to assist people in building or restoring their independence through skills training, education and employment opportunities that encourage them to be gainfully employed, become involved in their community, and give voice to blind and visually impaired Texans.

For more information, call 512-442-2329 or visit https://austinlighthouse.org/.