Tampa Lighthouse For The Blind Inc

Service contracts: provided rehabilitation technology to individuals who are seeking to become employed.

Vocational services: provides vocational evaluations, job placements, and computer training to blind or visually impaired individuals who are seeking to become employed in competitive employment. 133 adults received training to prepare for college or employment. 25 adults with additional disabilties received help seeking employment and training on the job. 688 individuals around the state of florida received technology assistance for college and employment. 203 visually impaired veterans received technology assistance in their home to use the computer or ipad.

Expenses 220,039 early intervention helps to develop skills for school readiness, improve self-sufficiency, and maximize physical, emotional, mental and social development. 53 children, from birth to 5 years, received training at home, preschool or a childcare center to prepare them with skills needed for kindergarten. Expenses 52,743 low vision aids and appliances provides a direct source for community members and clients to purchase adaptive aids that will help enable them to function independently. Expenses 436,283 the transition program assists blind and visually impaired youth to be ready to work, go to college or attend a technical school upon completion of high school. 39 teens received training in career exploration, technology, independent living and employment skills to prepare for college or work upon graduation from high school. Expenses 12,210 the mental health counselor program was created to support other programs by offering individual and group therapy to assist individuals in their adjustment to vision loss. The counselor, whom is visually impaired, provides assistance to individuals in moving forward in their personal journey. Transition program success story: meet joseph bosetti joseph bosetti and his family moved to polk county in 2022. His family is a military and has moved around a lot. He stated up to that point; his vision services were the best when they were living in germany. They have family here in polk county and chose to settle here. Joseph is very personable and outgoing. He completed his eagle scout for boy scouts of america. Joseph had never met another visually impaired person until he started at the lighthouse for the blind & low vision in february 2022. He has actively been participating in teen program since that time. He attends school at lakeland christian school, but since it is a private school, he is without the services of the vision program. He is active at school playing in the band. He has accessed the vision services and orientation and mobility (o&m) services provided by the teen program at lighthouse for the blind & low vision in winter haven. He has been a real joy to have as part of our program. He participated in our year-round teen program and then participated in the summer work experience at party city the summer of 2023. He was very successful. Last year he participated in a band camp and a boy scout camp, so he missed the summer work experience. Joseph continues to be active in our year-round teen program. The teen program has played an integral part of his training to prepare for independence and to have the opportunities not afforded him at the private school with his visually impaired peers. Some of the skills we focused on were assistive technology, home management- safety in the kitchen, cooking, shopping, understanding your visual impairment- laws, job readiness-applications, job skills, etc. Joseph is a senior and will graduate this spring with the class of 2025. He was recently accepted to florida polytechnic university where he will start classes in august and plans to live on campus. He was recently awarded the "make a lasting impact award" by inneract alliance and the uthmpact coalition he plans to participate in the summer work experience this summer prior to starting school in august. We are so excited for him and very proud of joseph you generous donations make it possible for us to help individuals like joseph achieve their goals. If you prefer to make your gift online, please visit www.lighthouseblv.org/donate.