Lighthouse Of Southwest Florida Inc

Blind babies and children's programming early intervention programming to assist families prepare their children to access the visual world in a non-visual manner. Parent education groups to share pertinent information and resources with parents and caregivers of our children with low vision and blindness. After school meetings & technology training to practice specific skills. Proper use of a white cane with our certified orientation & mobility specialist. Summer camps for students in grades k-8 to continue learning.

Vocational rehabilitation services for adult clients looking to maintain or obtain employment.

Public relations lighthouse of swfl, in its 50th year of providing services, engages in a robust outreach and public relations program that includes collaboration with new and existing community partners to increase cross-referrals and general awareness to the community-at-large, and local elected officials, about vision loss and services offered by lighthouse of swfl. Across southwest florida, we reach our community-at-large in the following ways: press releases: these are sent to local media outlets, both print and broadcast, as programs are added or changed, or as an event necessitates creation and dissemination. A strong relationship has also been built with florida weekly as they have been consistent event sponsors and have helped lighthouse of swfl by printing our press releases and event photos. We have also built a solid relationship with the breeze newspaper group which publishes weeklies in five southwest florida communities. Over the past year, they have twice featured lighthouse of swfl on the cover of their n. Ft. Myers neighbor publication, with an extensive feature article and photos included in each. Newsletters: lighthouse of swfl utilizes electronic and print newsletters to reach our clients, funders, donors and community-at-large, both of which are created in-house. Our electronic newsletter, created through constant contact, is sent weekly to nearly 900 subscribers. Our eight-page printed enlightened newsletter is written, edited and designed in-house, professionally printed and mailed quarterly to more than 1,600 supporters. Community awareness events: each october 15th, lighthouse of swfl organizes a free white cane day event to bring awareness to those low vision and blind individuals utilizing white canes for mobility. In addition to informational displays and presentations from organizations such as the florida department of transportation, lee county department of human and veteran services, lee tran, florida division of blind services, southwest florida council of the blind, event attendees also have the opportunity to be blindfolded and utilize a white cane to be led safely around by our certified instructors. This event is held to bring attention to not only those in our community who have low vision or blindness, but to the white cane law. The law states that when a pedestrian is crossing, or attempting to cross, a public street or highway, guided by a dog guide or carrying in a raised or extended position a cane or walking stick which is white in color or white tipped with red, the driver of every vehicle approaching the intersection or place where the pedestrian is attempting to cross shall bring his or her vehicle to a full stop before arriving at such intersection or place of crossing and, before proceeding, shall take such precautions as may be necessary to avoid injuring the pedestrian. A white cane is an important mobility tool for people with low vision or blindness and is a symbol of their independence. Health fairs & presentations to the community: the leadership team of lighthouse of swfl routinely conducts presentations and speaks with key referral sources, such as ophthalmologists, optometrists, social workers, and other members of the health and human services arena in southwest florida. This past year, lighthouse of swfl has participated in health fairs at amavida resort retirement community, cypress cove, the palms retirement community, del tura golf & country club, the north fort myers recreation center, heritage palms golf & country club, pelican preserve, and an awareness event held by the southwest florida council for the blind. Each year, we are also asked to be present at the southwest florida optometric association educational retreat attended by all our area's optometric professionals. Here, we provide information on our services for those with low vision and blindness to local optometrists, as well as how they can refer patients for services at lighthouse of swfl. Social media: facebook and linkedin are the agency's preferred social media platforms. Photos, stories and other information are posted to these sites two to three times per week. Lunch and learn events: these events are free and held in the price room within our building to bring together low vision and blind clients of all ages and walks of life to learn about a specific subject that would pertain to them or about a service that may be helpful. As an example, a recent lunch and learn was offered for our clients to learn about the services provided by accessible pharmacy, a comprehensive, home delivery pharmacy service specializing in the needs of people who are blind or have low vision. We also held a lunch and learn to provide information about low vision devices and other technology available to our clients. At this event, clients were also afforded the opportunity to try out various devices that may suit their needs. Branded fleet of vehicles: lighthouse of swfl is fortunate to have a fleet of eight vehicles, thanks to the florida department of transportation, that are used to transport clients to and from our office for vision rehabilitation services, as well as to transport our professional staff to provide services to clients in their homes, daycares or schools in hendry and glades counties. All of our vehicles are branded with the lighthouse of swfl logo and phone numbers on large magnets on both the driver and passenger side doors. Fundraising events: each year, lighthouse of swfl hosts at least one fundraising event. Other transition - for lighthouse of swfl teens, programs include after school programs, community outings, summer camps and teaching advocacy to increase one's-self confidence in asking for and utilizing reasonable accommodations. Transportation - fleet of 8 vehicles comprised of vans and cars funded by the florida department of transportation (fdot). Allows lighthouse of swfl to initially help our clients by getting them to our office for services or for our staff to go out in the community to them.