Miami Lighthouse For The Blind And Visually Impaired Inc

AS A CENTER OF LEARNING, THE MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION IS, "THROUGH EDUCATION, TRAINING, RESEARCH AND VISION ENHANCEMENT, MIAMI LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED PROVIDES HOPE, CONFIDENCE, AND INDEPENDENCE TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES."

OUR FLORIDA HEIKEN CHILDREN'S VISION PROGRAM, LLC TAKES PRIMARY EYE HEALTH CARE DIRECTLY TO FLORIDA SCHOOLCHILDREN TARGETING TITLE ONE SCHOOLS USING OUR FOUR MOBILE EYE CARE UNITS THAT VISIT OVER 500 SCHOOLS ANNUALLY AS WELL AS PROVIDING VOUCHERS IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR NETWORK OF 1,200 OPTOMETRISTS. DURING 2021, 11,992 LOW-INCOME SCHOOLCHILDREN RECEIVED A DILATED EYE EXAM AND 75% REQUIRED AND RECEIVED PRESCRIPTION GLASSES AT NO COST TO THEIR PARENTS. OUR RESEARCH STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE ELIZA RESEARCH TEAM FOUND THAT 77% OF PARENTS SURVEYED REPORTED ACADEMIC IMPROVEMENT BECAUSE OF THEIR CHILD'S PRESCRIPTION GLASSES, AND 96% OF PARENTS REPORTED OVERALL SATISFACTION WITH OUR HEIKEN EYE CARE PROGRAM.OUR LOW VISION PROGRAM PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENTS AND EYE EXAMINATIONS AS WELL AS INSTRUCTION ON ASSISTIVE DEVICES AND OPTICS FOR SENIORS WITH AGE-RELATED VISION LOSS. THESE LOW VISION SERVICES ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO ASSIST INDIVIDUALS IN UTILIZING THEIR REMAINING VISION TO ACHIEVE AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE AND MAINTAIN THEIR MAXIMUM INDEPENDENCE. EXAMS ARE PROVIDED UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF OUR LOW VISION CONSULTING OPTOMETRIST ASSISTED BY OUR CERTIFIED LOW VISION OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST, CERTIFIED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANT, AND LICENSED DISPENSING OPTICIAN. IN 2019, WE WERE THE RECIPIENT OF A COVETED INNOVATIONS IN HEALTHCARE FOUR-YEAR RENEWAL GRANT FROM THE FLORIDA BLUE FOUNDATION AS AN EXPANSION TO A PROJECT THEY FUNDED INITIALLY IN 2015. THE ORIGINAL INITIATIVE RESULTED IN PUBLICATION OF A PEER-REVIEWED, ARCHIVAL JOURNAL ARTICLE "BRINGING LOW VISION ASSESSMENTS AND INTERVENTIONS TO UNDERSERVED SENIORS AFFECTED BY AGE-RELATED EYE DISEASE," BRITISH JOURNAL OF VISUAL IMPAIRMENT. A FOUR-YEAR GRANT RENEWAL ENABLES MIAMI LIGHTHOUSE TO PROVIDE LOW-VISION PROGRAMS FOR SENIORS (55+) IN VULNERABLE, LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS IN ALLAPATTAH, BROWNSVILLE, LIBERTY CITY, AND OVERTOWN. WE CREATED A YOUTUBE SERIES DUE TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS AT INNER- CITY COMMUNITY CENTERS.IN 2021 WE PROVIDED 5,134 COMMUNITY MEMBERS PRIMARILY AFFECTED BY AGE-RELATED EYE DISEASE WITH "LEARNING TO LIVE WITH LOW VISION" PRESENTATIONS AND ADMINISTERED 437 LOW VISION EXAMS, 167 PATIENTS (139 ADULTS + 28 ACADEMY STUDENTS) RECEIVED OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, 12 PATIENTS RECEIVED SPEECH THERAPY, 14 PATIENTS RECEIVED PHYSICAL THERAPY, 1,282 PEOPLE VISITED OUR SOLUTIONS CENTER, AND OUR ONLINE LIGHTHOUSESHOP.ORG PLATFORM RECEIVED 9,637 VISITORS SEEKING DEVICES TO ASSIST THEM WITH EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES.

PRE-EMPLOYMENT TRANSITION SERVICES AND VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION CLIENTS OUR PRE-EMPLOYMENT TRANSITION SERVICES PROGRAM IS A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES YOUTH 14-22 THE OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP SKILLS TO ENTER THE WORKFORCE OR POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THIS FLORIDA DIVISION OF BLIND SERVICES FUNDED PROGRAM IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED STUDENTS AND YOUTH WHO ENTER COMPETITIVE INTEGRATED EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING AND/OR POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION. THESE OBJECTIVES ARE FULFILLED BY THE PROVISION OF HIGH-QUALITY COMPREHENSIVE AND COORDINATED PRE-EMPLOYMENT TRANSITION INSTRUCTION THAT ENHANCES EACH INDIVIDUAL'S ABILITIES TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING AND ACADEMIC SETTINGS. STUDENTS ARE TAUGHT LIFE SKILLS LIKE HOME AND PERSONAL MANAGEMENT, COMPUTER/ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGY, JOB READINESS, ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY, SOCIAL SKILLS AND COMMUNITY INTEGRATION. STUDENTS LEARN ESSENTIAL SKILLS THAT PREPARE THEM FOR THE WORKFORCE. ADDITIONALLY, STUDENTS IN OUR ABLE TRUST HIGH SCHOOL HIGH TECH COMPONENT OF THE PRE-EMPLOYMENT TRANSITION PROGRAM ARE TAUGHT HOW TO PREPARE RESUMES, PARTICIPATE IN MOCK JOB INTERVIEWS AND CAREER PREPARATION. OUR GOAL IS TO HELP THESE YOUNG ADULTS REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. SIXTY-FOUR YOUTH WERE SERVED IN OUR PRE-EMPLOYMENT TRANSITION PROGRAM. AS OUR WORLD EXAMINES THE IDEA OF INCLUSION AND EQUITY, IT IS IMPORTANT WE USE THE TOOLS AVAILABLE TO US TO ENSURE THAT THOSE WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS ARE NOT LEFT BEHIND IN THESE CONVERSATIONS. TWO OF THE GREATEST EQUALIZERS WE HAVE AT OUR DISPOSAL ARE TECHNOLOGY AND EDUCATION. THROUGH TECHNOLOGY MANY PEOPLE WITH A VISUAL IMPAIRMENT CAN PERFORM JOBS AS WELL AS OR BETTER THAN THEIR SIGHTED PEERS AND EDUCATION IS PIVOTAL FOR TEENS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR VARIED CAREER OPTIONS AS THEY TRANSITION OUT OF SCHOOL. THROUGH OUR TRANSITION PROGRAM OUR FOCUS IS TO REMOVE THE CONVENTIONAL LIMITATIONS THAT ARE OFTEN IMPOSED ON SOMEONE WITH A VISUAL IMPAIRMENT. WE WANT TO CREATE A GENERATION OF VISUALLY IMPAIRED LAWYERS, ARTISTS, TEACHERS, RESEARCHERS AND OTHER PROFESSIONALS TO CREATE A MORE INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE THAT REFLECTS DIVERSE ABILITIES. OUR VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAM IS FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED ADULTS THAT ARE EITHER WORKING OR WANT TO GO BACK TO WORK. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING IN SELF-HELP SKILLS, COMPUTER/ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGY, AND JOB READINESS. OTHER TOPICS COVERED IN THE PROGRAM INCLUDE ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY, LOW VISION SERVICES, AND PERSONAL AND HOME MANAGEMENT. WE PROVIDED 184 CLIENTS THIS SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION AND DURING THIS PANDEMIC PLACED 10 ADULTS IN JOBS AT PLACES SUCH AS AMAZON, FLORIDA BLUE, AND THE MIAMI-DADE BEACON COUNCIL.IN A DIGITALLY DEPENDENT WORLD, ACCESSIBLE WEBSITE DESIGN HAS NEVER BEEN MORE VITAL. UNFORTUNATELY, NOT ALL WEBSITES ARE ACCESSIBLE. OUR WEB AUDITING SERVICES HELP ENSURE THAT ENTITIES WITH ONLINE PRESENCE HAVE ACCESSIBLE WEBSITES THAT ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA). FOR EXAMPLE, MIAMI LIGHTHOUSE HAS PROVIDED ASSESSMENTS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, LAW FIRMS, HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, SUPERMARKETS, ENTERTAINMENT VENUES, HOSPITALS AND AIRLINES. THROUGH 2021, WE HAVE PROVIDED OUR WEBSITE AUDIT SERVICES TO MORE THAN 160 COMPANIES TO MAKE THEIR WEBSITES FULLY ACCESSIBLE. EXPERTISE ALONG WITH ACCESSIBLE WEBSITE AUDITING HAS BROUGHT SIGNIFICANT NATIONAL MEDIA ATTENTION TO MIAMI LIGHTHOUSE BY ENTITIES SUCH AS TIME INC., FORBES, AND NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO.

EARLY INTERVENTION AND LIGHTHOUSE LEARNING CENTER FOR CHILDREN PROGRAMSTHE MIAMI LIGHTHOUSE EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM PROVIDES HIGH QUALITY SERVICES FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED BLIND BABIES, TODDLERS, AND THEIR PARENTS/CAREGIVERS IN THE CHILD'S NATURAL ENVIRONMENT WHICH TYPICALLY IS IN THE CHILD'S HOME. ONE HUNDRED NINE CHILDREN WERE ENROLLED IN THIS PROGRAM, AND SUPPORT WAS PROVIDED TO THEIR FAMILIES. THE PROGRAM UTILIZES PARENTS AS TEACHERS, AN EVIDENCE-BASED MODEL TO SUPPORT FAMILIES IN THE HOME AND IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITY. THROUGH INDIVIDUALIZED CHILD AND FAMILY PLANS, THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AS WELL AS ADDRESSING THEIR UNIQUE NEEDS AND BUILDS UPON THE ASSETS OF THE ADULTS IN EACH CHILD'S LIFE. PROGRAM GOALS INCLUDE FACILITATING DEVELOPMENTAL FUNCTIONING OF PARTICIPATING CHILDREN (AGES BIRTH TO FIVE); INCREASING THE LEVEL OF PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN THEIR CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT; INCREASING THE CAPACITY OF OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS TO ADDRESS VISUAL IMPAIRMENT PROBLEMS; AND PREPARING CHILDREN TO ENTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SUCCESSFULLY. OUR BLIND BABIES EARLY INTERVENTION HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AS CHILDREN'S PROGRAM OF THE YEAR BY THE CHILDREN'S TRUST OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. OUR MIAMI LIGHTHOUSE ACADEMY, LLC WAS CREATED AS A SEPARATE LEGAL ENTITY, REPLACING THE MIAMI LIGHTHOUSE LEARNING CENTER FOR CHILDREN TRADEMARKED PROGRAM NAME. OUR EARLY LEARNING PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS, AGES ONE UP TO AGE FIVE, IS AN ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL PRESCHOOL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT (APPLE) FOR EARLY LEARNERS. THIS PROGRAM, USING THE HIGHSCOPE CURRICULUM, IS THE ONLY FULLY INCLUSIVE PROGRAM IN THE U.S. THIS PROGRAM MODEL IS UNIQUE IN MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND IS PARTIALLY SUPPORTED BY MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS (M-DCPS). IN 2019 KINDERGARTEN WAS ADDED FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED CHILDREN AND, IN 2020 WE BEGAN OFFERING FIRST GRADE FOR BLIND CHILDREN WITH SECOND GRADE OPENING IN FALL 2021. EIGHTY-FOUR PRE-SCHOOL, PRE-KINDERGARTEN, KINDERGARTEN, FIRST AND SECOND GRADE STUDENTS WERE ENROLLED.

ALTERNATIVE REHABILITATION PROGRAMSMIAMI LIGHTHOUSE PROVIDES A VARIETY OF ALTERNATIVE SERVICES THAT ARE FUNDED BY NUMEROUS SOURCES. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE SENIOR GROUP HEALTH AND ACTIVITIES, MUSIC PERFORMANCE AND PRODUCTION, INDEPENDENT LIVING, ADULT BASIC EDUCATION AND ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESOL) IN COLLABORATION WITH M-DCPS ADULT EDUCATION.OUR SENIOR GROUP HEALTH AND ACTIVITIES (SGA) PROGRAM TARGETS FINANCIALLY DISADVANTAGED BLIND ADULTS PRIMARILY OVER 55 YEARS OF AGE TO DEVELOP A FULLER, MORE WELL-BALANCED LIFE. THIS IMPORTANT PROGRAM ENABLES BLIND SENIORS TO STAY OUT OF EXPENSIVE ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES AND REDUCES MEDICAL COSTS. OUR SGA PROGRAM INCLUDES GROUP DISCUSSIONS, LANGUAGE AND COMPUTER CLASSES, FITNESS, NUTRITION MANAGEMENT, AND MUSIC INSTRUCTION AS WELL AS FIELD TRIPS. ART CREATION AND MUSIC APPRECIATION ARE INTEGRATED INTO THIS COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMMING. CLIENTS MAY ALSO PARTICIPATE IN OUR GED/ESOL ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM AS PART OF A GRANT FROM MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ADULT EDUCATION. THESE SGA CLIENTS ALSO BECOME PART OF A PEER COMMUNITY, WHICH RESEARCH HAS SHOWN INCREASES FEELINGS OF SELF-ESTEEM REFLECTING A MORE POSITIVE SELF-IMAGE, A GREATER ACCEPTANCE OF THEIR BLINDNESS AND A WILLINGNESS TO HELP THEIR PEERS OVERCOME SIMILAR OBSTACLES. WE PROVIDED INSTRUCTION TO A TOTAL OF 165 CLIENTS. WITH COVID-19, WE HAD TO FIND A WAY TO SUPPORT OUR SENIORS WHILE STILL ADHERING TO CDC PROTOCOLS. BY LAUNCHING OUR "FRONT- PORCHPROGRAM" WHERE OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF PROVIDE SENIORS WITH PIVOTAL SERVICES AT THEIR FRONT DOOR WHILE MITIGATING THE HEALTH RISK ASSOCIATED WITH ISOLATION. FOR MANY OF OUR SENIORS THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN THEIR SAVING GRACE AND MANY HAVE REPORTED WITHOUT IT THEY WOULD BE LOST. IN ADDITION, WE HAD MULTIPLE FOOD DRIVES TO GUARANTEE THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR SENIORS HAD FOOD DURING THESE TUMULTUOUS TIMES. DURING A FRONT PORCH SESSION ONE OF OUR STUDENTS CREATED A BEAUTIFUL PAINTING THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE ARTS4ALL COMPETITION IN TALLAHASSEE, FL AND WON FIRST PLACE. UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF OUR ART INSTRUCTORS, PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS WITH LOW VISION HAVE BECOME RECOGNIZED ARTISTS WITH THEIR WORK DISPLAYED AT ART EXHIBITS AT ART BASEL AND THE CORAL GABLES MUSEUM. OUR MUSIC PROGRAM PROVIDES AN INNOVATIVE YEAR-ROUND MUSIC EDUCATION INITIATIVE TARGETING SIGHTED AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED YOUNG ADULTS UTILIZING MUSIC APPRECIATION, INSTRUCTION, AND EXPLORATION AS TOOLS TO FOSTER WORK READINESS SKILLS AND ENHANCE SELF-EFFICACY AND POSITIVE PEER RELATIONS. TEENS AND ADULTS LEARN MUSIC COMPOSITION, PERFORMANCE, RECORDING, SOUND ENGINEERING AND BUSINESS SKILLS. TRAINING INCLUDES THE USE OF JAWS SCREEN-READING SOFTWARE AND ZOOMTEXT SCREEN ENLARGEMENT SOFTWARE TO ACCESS STANDARD MUSIC INDUSTRY SOFTWARE SUCH AS MIDI (MUSICAL INSTRUMENT DIGITAL INTERFACE) AND PROTOOLS ON THE MAC COMPUTER. BRAILLE MUSIC IS TAUGHT THROUGH DISTANCE LEARNING TO STUDENTS AROUND THE GLOBE. MUSIC APPRECIATION AND INSTRUCTION FOR CHILDREN IN OUR MIAMI LIGHTHOUSE ACADEMY IS ALSO PROVIDED. THERE WERE 188 CLIENT PARTICIPANTS IN OUR MUSIC PROGRAM. BRAILLE MUSIC IS TAUGHT THROUGH DISTANCE LEARNING TO STUDENTS AROUND THE GLOBE. THE PLATFORM WE DEVELOPED OVER TEN YEARS AGO WAS INSTRUMENTAL AS OUR CLIENTS BEGAN TO USE REMOTE LEARNING; NOT ONLY DID WE USE THIS PLATFORM FOR BRAILLE MUSIC BUT IT GAVE OUR TECHNOLOGY TEAM AN ACCESSIBLE ONLINE PLATFORM TO TEACH OUR STUDENTS. OUR PROGRAMS NEVER STOPPED EVEN DURING THE PANDEMIC. WE WERE ABLE TO CONTINUE PROVIDING OUR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS TRAINING TO MAXIMIZE THEIR INDEPENDENCE AND LEARN NEW SKILLS. OUR INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM IS FOR VISUALLY IMPAIRED INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT EMPLOYED AND INTEND TO REMAIN IN THEIR HOMES. THESE CLIENTS RECEIVE ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY TRAINING AND PERSONAL MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTION WHICH OFFERS HELP IN SUCH AREAS AS HOME AND KITCHEN SAFETY, BASIC MEAL PREPARATION, NUTRITION, GROOMING, PERSONAL HYGIENE, MONEY IDENTIFICATION, ORGANIZATION, LABELING AND MEDICATION MANAGEMENT. CLIENTS ALSO LEARN BRAILLE AS NEEDED TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION AS WELL AS IPHONE AND COMPUTER SKILLS. LOW VISION SERVICES AS WELL AS COUNSELING SESSIONS ARE AVAILABLE. OUR INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAM CONSISTS OF TWO AGE GROUPS: INDEPENDENT LIVING ADULT PROGRAM (AGE 54 AND UNDER) AND INDEPENDENT LIVING OLDER BLIND (AGE 55 AND OVER). THE TWO INDEPENDENT LIVING PROGRAMS ENROLLED 230 CLIENTS. WE CONTINUED PROVIDING INSTRUCTION VIA ONLINE APPLICATIONS SUCH AS ZOOM AND MICROSOFT TEAMS AS WELL AS ON-CAMPUS LEARNING. OUR BRIGHT BEACONS PROGRAM IS FOR CHILDREN AGES 6-12. WE OFFER BOTH YEAR-ROUND INSTRUCTION AND AN INTENSIVE EIGHT-WEEK SUMMER CAMP. ONE HUNDRED TWENTY ONE STUDENTS WERE ENROLLED IN THESE PROGRAMS. THE BRIGHT BEACONS PROGRAM PROVIDES INSTRUCTION DEVOTED TO BRAILLE AND TECHNOLOGY LITERACY ON SATURDAYS AND HOLIDAYS DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. THE GOAL OF THESE PROGRAMS IS EDUCATION, DEVELOPMENT OF SCHOLASTIC SKILLS, AND CONTINUOUS REINFORCEMENT OF BRAILLE KNOWLEDGE. THE SUMMER CAMP IS DESIGNED TO ENHANCE LITERACY SKILLS, ENCOURAGE PHYSICAL FITNESS, AND PROMOTE SOCIAL INTERACTION. THE PROGRAM OFFERS AN ENRICHED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOCUSING ON LITERACY, TECHNOLOGY, PHYSICAL FITNESS, SOCIAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, ART, AND MUSIC. WE HAVE ALSO ADDED AN EARLY INTERVENTION SUMMER CAMP FOR YOUNG CHILDREN AGES ONE TO FIVE TO PREVENT THE "SUMMER LEARNING REGRESSION" THAT OFTEN HAPPENS TO CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES WHEN THEY ARE NOT IN SCHOOL. OUR ADULT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM IS MADE UP OF TWO COMPONENTS, OFFERED IN COLLABORATION WITH MIAMI-DADE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ADULT EDUCATION. 49 ADULTS PARTICIPATED IN THESE PROGRAMS. OUR ADULT BASIC EDUCATION/GED AND ESOL PROGRAMS PROVIDE ADULT CLIENTS THE EDUCATION TO EMPOWER THEM TO EARN THEIR GED IN ORDER TO PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION AND TO POSITION THEMSELVES FOR EMPLOYMENT. OUR ESOL PROGRAM GIVES ADULTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO MASTER THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE WHICH IS REQUIRED IN ORDER TO MOVE INTO THE GED PROGRAM.