| |
Adult Services
|
|
|
|
|
Adult
Services are designed to enable blind and visually impaired individuals to
regain independent living skills, allowing them to maintain meaningful
roles in their family, community, work and/or school.
All classes are available in English, Spanish and Creole.
Instruction and training at work and in the home is also provided to
ensure practical skill use in everyday situations.
|
|
|
|
Clients meet with a counselor or social worker and are
orientated within a small group class to discuss available classes and
services. We emphasize using one’s own life experiences to regain skills
using remaining vision and other senses. Social workers act as advocates
and information providers and teach the skill of self-advocacy.
Contact a social worker
Click here to learn about the Transition Program for students
ages 14-22.
|
| |
Orientation and Mobility
 O&M services allow the individual gain
better spatial awareness and travel independence. Our instructors provide
thorough training for:
-
Cane skills
-
Moving safely within the home and stores
-
Effective use of public transportation
i.e.: Busses, metro-rail
Proper training from our
university-trained, certified instructors builds confidence and
independence for an individual maneuvering in a sighted-world.
For more information, please contact
Orientation and Mobility
Personal Management
Personal management instruction aims for individuals of
all ages to remain independent. Personal Management offers:
- Home skills, kitchen safety, basic meal preparation,
all taught from on-site facilities including working washers and dryers,
stove-top ranges, ovens, and cooking utensils
- Grocery shopping, organization of one’s home,
personal affairs, and other tasks that must often be re-learned are
taught by our personal management instructors
- Make-up and grooming, personal hygiene, clothing
selection and other similar skills restore a sense of personal style and
identity
- Money identification, telephone dialing,
phone/internet shopping and banking, and the use of talking clocks and
calculators return control over finances and daily schedules
- Writing guides, check writing templates, Braille and
various labeling techniques provide options for handling the many
reading and writing tasks associated with a busy schedule. Use of the
Talking Books program introduces one avenue of enjoying leisure time.
For more information, please contact
Richard
Nieves or
Natalie Duarte de Escalante.
Computer and Technology Training
-
Growing advances in technology allow an visually
impaired individual to lead a more independent life, therefore it is
necessary to have the proper training to learn, and in many cases
re-learn the skills needed to utilize what is available.
-
Miami Lighthouse has computers adapted to provide
either enlarged images or speech output of the information on the
screen, and can be used for basic word-processing and e-mail. We are
also equipped with computers using JAWS (Java Application with Sound)
software, a program that reads allowed virtually every keystroke on
the computer, allowing the user to listen to emails and other
documents, and navigate computer programs as a sighted person might.
-
Small talking note-takers make it possible to remember
appointments, and get quick access to telephone numbers and personal
information.
-
Learning to use computers with speech or large print
access offers blind and visually impaired individuals an avenue for
which further employment and education are made possible
Other special equipment such as Braille note-takers and
laptop devices also enable greater flexibility on a daily working basis.
Similar to a PDA, these devices allow the user web access, access to a
calendar, contacts, notes, documents and much more. Learning to use this
puts the world literally at your fingertips.
For more information please contact
Bill
Rivera.
Job Readiness Program
  Miami Lighthouse helps analyze a blind or visually
impaired individual’s skills and interests to assist in the search for
employment. Increasing one’s personal independence allows for greater
opportunities in the work environment.
- Participants develop a career plan geared towards
achieving sustainable employment.
- Training provides individuals with skills needed to
enter, remain in or return to suitable employment.
- Participants acquire skills such as effective resume
writing, job searching techniques and interview skills are practiced
with expert coaches.
For more information please contact
Brendan Gibson.
Job Placement Program
 Unemployed blind or visually impaired candidates who are seeking
employment complete the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program offered at
Miami Lighthouse for the Blind. Our goal is to obtain or continue
employment and educational activities for individuals as full participants
in the community.
During their training at Miami Lighthouse, clients learn computer
skills adapted to their vision impairment. VR clients also receive
high-quality training in adaptive computer access using auditory screen
reading and large print magnification devices as well as Braille
reading/writing and the use of electronic book readers and electronic
Personal Digital Assistance access. In addition to work readiness skills,
social skills and basic communication are part of the program currently
offered. A Job Developer provides additional assistance with skills
assessment, interview skills, job opening searches, and preparation for
specific job opportunities to help visually impaired individuals obtain
competitive jobs in Miami-Dade or Monroe counties. The Job Developer also
searches for appropriate job fairs and prepares blind or visually impaired
job candidates to participate in these events.
For more information please contact
Jeanne Westphal.
Social Group Activities
Social Group Activities offer leisure
activities that also aid in perfecting one’s blindness skills. Ceramics
and Arts and Crafts improve dexterity, necessary for Braille
comprehension. Field trips to local parks, malls and other areas of
interest, group discussions, language classes, and exercise classes are
also available, and are offered free of charge.
For more information, please contact
Nelba
Gonzalez.
Click here
to watch the Lions for the Blind Project PowerPoint.
Low Vision Services
A wide array of magnifiers and other
devices can assist with specific tasks. These include:
-
Handheld magnifiers
-
Closed-circuit television read/write
systems
-
Miniature spotting scopes
-
Specialized lighthouse
-
Text and product code scanners/readers
-
Accessible cell phones
-
Bold line markers
Miami Lighthouse instructors will assist in
the selection of these devices to fit your needs, and provide training in
their use.
Diabetes Education
Loss of vision increases the challenge of managing and
understanding diabetes, a complex condition that often leads to vision
loss.
Talking devices that enable independent monitoring of blood sugar levels
and special insulin delivery devices can help you manage your condition.
Miami Lighthouse also provides information about meal plans, exercise, and
personal health care.
For more information on
Adult Services, please call.
Florida Client Assistance Program (CAP)
Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
in compliance with the State of Florida is providing our clients with
information regarding the Federal CAP program. The following information
will provide you with contact information and the summary of services
given by the CAP program.
Advocacy Center for Persons w/Disabilities
2671 Executive Center Circle West
Suite 100
Tallahassee, FL 32301
Telephone: Voice 850-488-9071 / 1-800-342-0823 / TDD
866-346-4127
Fax: 850-488-8640
Email:
info@advocacycenter.org
CAP assists anyone with a disability that is
interested in applying for and receiving services from rehabilitation
programs, projects or facilities funded under the Rehabilitation Act. CAP
helps individuals understand and deal effectively with programs
established to provide these services, such as Florida's Division of
Vocational Rehabilitation, the Division of Blind Services and Centers for
Independent Living. CAP can investigate, negotiate and pursue
administrative, legal and other remedies to ensure that client rights are
protected.
Internet Location:
http://www.advocacycenter.org/programs/cap/index.html
|
|
|
