STAR (ages 5 – 13) from June 14th to July 23rd
Transition (ages 14 – 20) from June 21 to August 13th

The Transition Program is a year-round program, including an intensive summer camp component, that helps young people age 14-20 transition successfully and confidently into their future. The program focuses on building self-confidence and self-esteem, as kids discover their skills, interests and career possibilities. Many participants receive real-life job experience through job shadowing, volunteering, or paid work. We also work on improving skills for travel, orientation and mobility and independent living, and enjoy fun recreational activities that build confidence and social skills.

For more information or to request an application for the Transition Program, contact Abigail Miller, Transition Program Coordinator.
 

Little Lighthouse

The Little Lighthouse Blind Babies program at Miami Lighthouse gives blind and visually impaired babies and toddlers the opportunity to begin discovering our world. Ordinarily more than 80 percent of early learning is visual, so these children need special attention from birth onward. Miami Lighthouse also provides a supportive and instructional environment for moms and other caregivers.

Direct Intervention Services- Support program that provides in-home intervention for children ages birth to five with a visual impairment that impedes their ability to function independently and learn incidentally through vision. Individual services are identified in each child’s individual service plan resulting from assessment and parent information.

Consultative Services- Support services available to assist families in identifying and/or accessing needed resources to promote growth and development of child and family well-being.

Playgroup- Playgroups are held at the Miami Lighthouse once a week and designed to provide participating children with further opportunity for skill and social development.

Family Support Groups- Family support groups are available on a monthly basis and cover a variety of topics. The group seeks to provide peer support as well as community resources.

Professional Training- Professional development workshops are available to the community and include information on different eye conditions, identification of possible visual impairments, classroom modification and adaptation, compensatory skill development, and available resources.

For more information please contact Children’s Services.

The STAR Summer Program

The Summer Training and Recreation Program (STAR) is a six week summer camp providing services to blind or visually impaired children ages 5- 13. The program offers fun, engaging, and enriching activities including literacy, physical fitness, social skills development, art and music.

This year’s 2010 summer program will include yoga, dance & movement, rowing and much more.

For more information please contact Children’s Services.

Family Support Days

These events provide fun and informative activities for our children and their families and caregivers. Families and caregivers are educated on issues concerning their children who are blind or visually impaired and advised of community resources. Social activities are also planned to involve all family members.

Summer Activities

STAR and Transition summer campers had a busy summer!

STAR kids enjoyed many outings, like horseback riding, courtesy of Harvey and Ellen Amster, where the children got to touch, and ride the horses. Each of them also received a horseshoe from the blacksmith. It was a very exciting day. The kids also made trips to the local pool…

In addition, the kids enjoy music time, arts and crafts, games, and reading on a daily basis, all of which help to better their motor skills and social awareness.

The kids also loved their trips to the Miami Children’s Museum, the animal farm, the beach, the movies, and many more exciting places!

Transition students were out and about as well. They had a great time at places like the Dadeland Mall, the bowling alley, Oleta State Park, kayaking, golfing, and Tango dance lessons. The dance lessons happen 3 times, weekly and will continue throughout the year. Tatiana Palma, a transition instructor commented that “it is so amazing to watch their confidence and dancing skills grow. They are really enjoying it.”

Tango gives the kids the opportunity to work in close proximity to their dancing partner, where it is necessary to be mindful of one’s own movement as well as his or her partners, and move together. They are learning to feel the rhythm of the music and are also gaining better kinesthetic coordination. The wonderful instructors from the Shimmy Club help to make this a great experience.

Transition students have also been busy in the music studio, working on creating beats and R&B songs that they perform for the Lighthouse staff and clients at events like special lunches and the talent show.

Both transition and STAR students participated in the talent show, where they displayed singing, rapping, dancing, and even joke telling! It was a great exhibition of the talented people we have learning and growing at the Lighthouse.