Lighthouse Of Pinellas Inc

THE MISSION OF LIGHTHOUSE OF PINELLAS IS TO ADVANCE THE INDEPENDENCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE FOR INDIVIDUALS IN PINELLAS COUNTY WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED. FOR 66 YEARS, LIGHTHOUSE OF PINELLAS, INC. HAS PROVIDED COMPREHENSIVE REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS IN PINELLAS COUNTY WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED. LIGHTHOUSE OF PINELLAS HAS BEEN ACCREDITED SINCE 1994, FIRST BY THE NATIONAL ACCREDITATION COUNCIL FOR AGENCIES SERVICING THE BLIND AND VISUALLY HANDICAPPED (NAC) AND CURRENTLY BY THE ASSOCIATION FOR EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION OF THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED (AER). TRAINING IS OFFERED IN OUR SPACIOUS CENTRALLY LOCATED FACILITY, AS WELL AS IN CLIENTS' HOMES, WORKPLACES, AND OTHER LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY.

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OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE:INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE: INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED TO PEOPLE WHO NEED ONE-TIME SUPPORT FROM OUR PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM STAFF. ASSISTANCE PROVIDED ARE THINGS SUCH AS A HOME VISIT TO REPLACE A BROKEN WHITE CANE, APPLYING BRAILLE TOUCH BUTTONS TO ADAPT A KITCHEN FOR SOMEONE WHO IS VISUALLY IMPAIRED, OR AN INTAKE INTERVIEW FOR OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICES WHEN THE INDIVIDUAL IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR LIGHTHOUSE OF PINELLAS SERVICES. THIS FISCAL YEAR, 70 PEOPLE RECEIVED ONE-TIME INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE SERVICES FROM LIGHTHOUSE OF PINELLAS PROFESSIONAL STAFF. TEEN TRANSITION PROGRAM: TEENAGERS, 14 YEARS OF AGE THROUGH THEIR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION, ARE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROGRAM. SERVICES ARE OFFERED TWICE A WEEK DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR AND FOR FOUR WEEKS DURING THE SUMMER. THIS PROGRAM HELPS EACH YOUNG PERSON LEARN TO BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT AND PREPARE FOR COLLEGE, JOB PLACEMENT OR VOCATIONAL TRAINING. ONCE-A-MONTH FIELD TRIPS ARE ALSO OFFERED. SKILLS SUCH AS PERSONAL, FINANCIAL, AND HOME MANAGEMENT; HOW TO COMPLETE A JOB APPLICATION; INTERVIEW SKILLS AND USE OF ADAPTIVE COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY ARE LEARNED THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR. THE SUMMER PROGRAM GIVES THE STUDENTS THE EXPERIENCE OF VISITING A COLLEGE CAMPUS FOR A WEEK TO LEARN FIRST-HAND WHAT LIFE ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS IS ALL ABOUT. STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRACTICE HOME MANAGEMENT SKILLS IN A DIFFERENT BUT REALISTIC ENVIRONMENT. THIS HELPS THEM TO LEARN HOW TO GET AROUND SAFELY ON THE CAMPUS AND HOW TO ADAPT THE ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING THEY HAVE RECEIVED TO MASTER NEW EXPERIENCES. STUDENTS IN THE SUMMER TRANSITION PROGRAM ARE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN A PAID WORK EXPERIENCE TO DEVELOP JOB SKILLS AND GAIN VALUABLE EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE. THIS FISCAL YEAR, 16 YOUNG PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN THE TEEN TRANSITION PROGRAM AND 15 CHILDRENS PARTICIPATED IN THE CHILDREN'S PROGRAM FOR AGES 6-14 YRS.

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