Reports

The Blind Babies Program is a year-round service provided by 14 ASB non-profit agencies specializing in services to visually impaired throughout Florida.  Most, but not all, have “Lighthouse” as part of their name.  Babies/Toddlers, birth to age 5 learn to use all their senses and whatever remaining vision so they reach child development stages and enter kindergarten ready to learn.  Parents learn to apply parenting skills and specific supportive interactions with their child to foster age-appropriate developmental growth.  

717 babies served in 2021.

A Story from one of our members: “I remember the day we realized that he couldn’t see, as if it was yesterday.  He was 8 months old, and he wouldn’t reach for his toys.  His eyes rolled but he couldn’t find my face when I spoke his name.  He was my first child.  We were terrified.”  Now his teachers say he has what it takes to be in college.  “I’ll tell any mother, ‘Keep pushing.  Don’t take blindness for a weakness and don’t give your child a pity party. Try anything and get your family to go along with it.’”

The Children’s Program, provided by 11 ASB non-profit agencies specializing in services to visually impaired  throughout Florida.   Most, but not all, have “Lighthouse” as part of their name.  Each program offers Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) instruction to children in K – 12 who are blind or visually impaired.  The year-round program takes place at members’ facilities and at community sites during non-school days, Saturdays, and summer months.  This curriculum goes beyond what is available in public, private or charter schools and also addresses the inherent social isolation in schools by bringing children from an entire county together in one place.  The program includes parent support groups to offer support, advocacy and sharing solutions to child-rearing challenges.

282 children served in 2021.

A Story from one of our members:  When Mason was 6 weeks old, we were devastated to learn he may not be able to see at all.  As time passed, we now know he does have some vision and is able to accommodate extremely well for his loss.  Lighthouse has helped our son to adapt and grow to being a very confident boy and has been just as important to us as parents to help build our confidence and teach us how to help.  Mason is now in second grade, in a mainstream classroom.  He has learned to be a dual reader, he can read text but he can read quicker with braille.  Outside of school, he is a very creative, active and social 8-year-old boy.  He loves playing outdoors, drawing, Transformers, Minecraft and roller coasters.  Lighthouse has a way of teaching independent living skills that is so important to learn at this age.  They have the specific tools and different approaches to teaching that we may never have thought of. 

Services to older blind persons are provided by 17 non-profit agencies specializing in services to visually impaired throughout Florida.  Most, but not all, have “Lighthouse” as part of their name.  Independent living skills and low vision rehabilitation assist individuals to “aging in place,” which means living in the home they know or in a more assistive setting if they prefer.  Receiving instruction in the home and/or at the agency’s facility, seniors learn safe travel, fall prevention, managing medications, handling finances, preparing nutritious meals, and using remaining vision with magnifiers and other aids.  Use of technology including smart phones, computers, iPads, etc., is also offered along with socialization opportunities.   

2985 Seniors served in 2021.

A Story from one of our members:  Marion and her husband were married for 59 years.  They raised two sons who became accomplished in their fields.  Then her husband died and for the first time she was living alone.  “I was lost.”  But she remembered a friend had told her to go to the Lighthouse, back when her husband was homebound and on a feeding tube.  “I knew my vision was failing, but I couldn’t leave him.  And he was my eyes.”  So now she went and learned to label her appliances and walk safely down the steps from her second-floor apartment and across the street.  “I learned you can do a lot of things even though you can’t see.”  She returned to her many volunteering interests.  “If I hadn’t come to the Lighthouse, I wouldn’t be living in my condo.  I can eat when I want, do what I want.  I like my independence.”  

The Teen Program, is a year-round program provided by 14 non-profit agencies specializing in services to visually impaired throughout Florida.  Most, but not all, have “Lighthouse” as part of their name.  Youth aged 13 – 21 learn skills for independent living, achieving in higher education/technical schools and succeeding in competitive employment.  

446 Teens served in 2021  

A story from one of our members:  Amanda explains how she tackles her heavy academic load, in preparation for her college-bound goal.  “I handle my courses with books in Braille that we order 6 months in advance.  Then I do my homework almost entirely with my iPad and iPhone and also my BrailleNote (a portable computer with no screen, just speech and braille output).  However, the math is graphs and slides and formulas.”  Her mother adds, “Without the Lighthouse, there is no way she would have accomplished the math part.”  Amanda also has summer jobs and college experiences including independently handling apartment/dorm living with roommates, prepared by the Lighthouse.  Her mom says, “The Lighthouse has fueled Amanda’s independence and gave her the confidence and courage to pursue other interests and succeed at them.”  

The Program for Working Age adults is provided by 16 non-profit agencies specializing in services to visually impaired throughout Florida.   Most, but not all, have “Lighthouse” as part of their name.  Independent living skills and low vision rehabilitation assist individuals in regaining control of their daily lives prior to addressing their return-to-work goals.  Besides learning safe travel indoors and outdoors, managing finances, using magnification aids with remaining vision, and household skills, there is an emphasis on technology including smart phones, computers, and iPads.  Skills learned in earlier adult employment are combined with new skills as pertain to new goals.

1316 working age adults served in 2021

A Story from one of our members:  Guy has been a hard worker all his life.   Coming from a three-sport high school career, and then joining the family construction business, he moved into the corporate world, and built a family, had kids, bought a house.  Then, besides vision loss, he lost the job, the wife, and the house.  But “I didn’t want disability, I wanted to work.”  So first, he went to the Lighthouse.  Before long he was walking confidently along busy streets and enrolled in the Lighthouse’s Nike Fuel Band program.  “I lost 55 pounds walking 3.2 miles a day.”  He started volunteering again, then started training referees at a family-oriented youth sports program.  “If they ask if the ref is blind, well, yes I am!”  He ended up Site Manager at three locations and then added the role of sports counselor.   The Lighthouse “got me back on track.”