Leaving the Heart Open by Penny McPherson

March 8, 2013 by Patricia Porter Leave a comment

Penny McPherson, a blind Braille & Adaptive Technology instructor at the Lighthouse, knows how the loss of vision can impact a life, and she knows how valuable training is to ensuring hope, confidence and independence. Penny, on the right in the picture below, teaches students, that include Donna, Becky and James, to use computers with magnification and speech technology. In addition to being an instructor, Penny is a mother, and a poet. In her poem “Leaving the Heart Open”, a beautiful life without vision is realized with determination and training.

A photo of Penny with some of her students in the Lighthouse computer lab.

Students Donna, Becky and James in the computer lab with Penny, one of the Assistive Technology Instructors at the Lighthouse.

Leaving the Heart Open

Losing vision is like leaving one garden to live in another.

Exchanging definition of form and focus, and profusion of color… for what?

A shock to the system, once the door of vision slams shut—

Variegated emotions: Grief, Loss, Frustration, Fear, Uncertainty once the curtain falls …

It’s hard at first—Yet, I have seen green shoots poking,

Nudging their way up through fertile soil, Determined to adapt to the

Garden’s changed landscape … And the miracle is: They Do!

They press through no matter what; fortitude, their signature fragrance

Having adaptation’s roots firmly fixed, they are dauntless

Emigrés, leaving familiar lands, their situation—another garden path to explore.

How eager their attitude! How ready to embrace the unknown!

Every fruitful one has learned the secret of prospering.

Averting defeat by refusing to drop out … give up …

Risking failure in hopes of something more

They covet the blossoms of the diligent, going to any lengths.

Only thing I can say is: Keep going. Keep trying.

Persist. Plant. Water. Fertilize. The harvest will come. When it does,

Every effort you’ve ever made will scent the Air: Fragrant …

Nothing so beautiful as learning to embrace the dance of shifting circumstance …

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Filed under Fundraising, Lighthouse, Technology Tagged with Accessibility, blind, Blindness, Blindness and Visual Impairment, braille, donations, Independent Living, Lighthouse, Low vision, Vision loss, Visual impairment

Lighthouse Celebrates 30 Years of Service

March 6, 2013 by Patricia Porter Leave a comment

30 Years Serving People With Vision Loss

30th Anniversary Logo designed by
Lighthouse Volunteer Stephen Mortimer
http://www.smortimerphoto.co.uk/Design

Submitted by Lighthouse Volunteer,
Caryl Melancon

Back in 1983, there were no rehabilitation programs for the visually impaired and blind in Pasco County. Therefore, the Florida Division of Blind Services held a town hall meeting at the West Campus of the Pasco Hernando Community College to determine if there was a need for local services. Over 150 people attended and voiced strong support for the establishment of a center. In May of the same year, the First Methodist Church of New Port Richey donated a house and the B.L.I.N.D Club of New Port Richey donated $500. The Suncoast Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired was born and, in October, 1983, began helping the visually impaired and blind members of the community to acquire the skills needed for maximum independence.

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Filed under Events, Fundraising, Info about Blindness, Lighthouse, Success Stories Tagged with anniversary, assist, blind, Blindness and Visual Impairment, donations, Vision loss, Visual impairment

PRESS RELEASE: 2013 LARGE PRINT CALENDARS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE

December 19, 2012 by Patricia Porter Leave a comment

PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Lighthouse – Darlene Jones, Receptionist/Administrative Assistive – 727-815-0303

Large Print Calendars Available for Purchase

Now is the time to think about getting a calendar for the upcoming year. But for the visually impaired that’s not so easy – they need a large print calendar which can be difficult to find. Because Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind knows that visually impaired individuals often have difficulty in finding things that they need, they operate two stores, one in Pasco and the other in Hernando, that offer large print calendars as well as other adaptive items needed by the visually impaired.

The large print calendar is now available in both stories for a price of $10 a portion of which will be used to help fund the many programs offered free of charge to the blind and visually impaired by the Lighthouse. The Pasco store is located in Port Richey at 8610 Galen Wilson Blvd., the Hernando store is at 6492 California St. in Brooksville.

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Filed under Info about Blindness, Lighthouse, Technology Tagged with Blindness, Blindness and Visual Impairment, calendars, donations, large print, Vision loss, Visual impairment

White Cane Awareness Walk & Picnic–Friday, October 12, 2012

October 8, 2012 by Patricia Porter Leave a comment

Everyday, millions of Americans who are blind or visually impaired use a white cane or dog guide to get to work, school, shop and travel. Florida’s White Cane law requires drivers to come to a complete stop when approaching pedestrians using a white cane or guide dog. For the safety of individuals who are visually impaired, please be aware of and on the lookout for individuals using the cane or dog guide. As a user of a white cane or dog, please proceed with caution.

White Cane Awareness Events are held annually, in several parts of the country, to educate the public, to keep walkers safe, and to celebrate the independence of persons who are visually impaired and blind. This year, our event is being held on October 12. Everyone is invited:

Friday, October 12, 2012, 11am-1pm
Delta Woods Park, 3400 Deltona Blvd., Spring Hill
RSVP: events@lvib.org | 352-754-1132
Sponsored by Amanda Murphy

We hope to see you there!

Learn about Lighthouse Orientation and Mobility training.

Filed under Events Tagged with blind, Blindness and Visual Impairment, Low vision, Vision loss, White Cane Awareness

You’re Invited! The Lighthouse Opportunity Center Grand Opening — April 27, 2012

April 5, 2012 by Patricia Porter Leave a comment

The Lighthouse Opportunity Center Grand Opening Event

5944 Pine Hill Road
Port Richey, FL 34668
Friday, April 27, 2012
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Persons living with vision impairment and blindness want to work and together, we can help give them the OPPORTUNITY!

Please join us at the Grand Opening to learn more.

RSVP by calling (727) 815-0303 or by emailing lighthouse@lvib.org.

You can also visit:

Lighthouse adds jobs for vision-impaired

Employment at the Lighthouse

Filed under Events Tagged with blind, Blindness, Blindness and Visual Impairment, Disability, Employment, Vision loss, Visual impairment

Why is February Low Vision Awareness Month?

February 6, 2012 by Patricia Porter Leave a comment

Submitted by Lighthouse Volunteer, Caryl Melancon

Middle aged couple walking together along the water.

Don’t let low vision get in the way of your normal activities. Visit our website to learn about vision rehabilitation.

February has been designated as Low Vision Awareness Month in an effort to raise awareness about low vision. Only 16% of adults over the age of 18 have heard of low vision, therefore awareness campaigns are essential for people to learn about disease, prevention and services that can help.

Low vision is defined as vision that is 20/70 or worse that cannot be corrected with eyeglasses or by medical or surgical therapy. While low vision interferes with daily activities, it is not the same as being blind. People with low vision usually have some useful sight but few know about services that can help.

While low vision may occur at any age, the elderly are primarily affected. It is estimated by Lighthouse International that one in six Americans 45 or older have some form of vision impairment but for Americans age 75 or over that estimate rises to one in four. But, contrary to what many people think, low vision is not a natural part of aging. The normal changes in our eyes as we get older usually don’t lead to low vision. The common causes of low vision include macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts and diabetes. As with all eye impairments, early detection of the problem makes treatment more effective.

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Filed under Info about Blindness, Lighthouse Tagged with awareness, blind, Blindness and Visual Impairment, Independent Living, Low vision, Vision loss, visually impaired

January is Braille Literacy Month

January 9, 2012 by Patricia Porter Leave a comment

Submitted by Lighthouse Volunteer, Caryl Melancon

Young man sitting in front of a braille embosser.

Ninety percent (90%) of employed persons with vision impairments use braille to effectively read and write. Unfortunately, only 10% of children with vision impairments are currently learning braille.

There is a literacy crisis among the blind in America. Literacy is defined as the ability to read and write. For many persons with total or profound vision loss, the only way they can effectively read and write is by using Braille, a system of raised dots invented by a blind Louis Braille.

The Braille code was introduced in the United States in 1869, but was not adopted as a Standard English code until 1932. From that point into the early 1960’s, many blind children were taught to read and write using Braille. Unfortunately, from 1965 on, the Braille literacy rate declined. Today, according to the National Federation for the Blind (NFB), over 90% of the 1.3 million legally blind people in the United States do not read Braille, and it is being taught to only 10% of blind children.

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Filed under Info about Blindness, Lighthouse, Technology Tagged with Accessibility, blind, blind babies, blind children, Blindness, Blindness and Visual Impairment, braille, Braille literacy, Communication Disorders, donations, Employment, Lighthouse, Literacy, Low vision, Vision loss, Visual impairment

Children’s Christmas Party!

December 23, 2011 by Patricia Porter Leave a comment

Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas! For your viewing enjoyment, we just posted pictures from our 2011 Children’s Christmas Party. Please see the slideshow on our website. And now Santa’s gotta go! Busy you know!

Filed under Events Tagged with blind, blind babies, blind children, Blindness and Visual Impairment, Braille literacy, donations, tax exemption, Vision loss, Visual impairment, volunteer

Make a donation to help Lily, and to help other people who are visually impaired

December 19, 2011 by Patricia Porter Leave a comment

Blindness and vision loss is for most a frightening thought, but the Lighthouse helps people face those fears and develop the confidence and skills needed to live independent and successful lives. Help us help make this happen by sharing in our mission to ensure individuals and families have the opportunity to participate in the Lighthouse training and services at no cost to them.

In our fiscal year ending June 30, 2011, the Lighthouse served over 800 persons living in Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Of this number, 241 persons with vision impairments and blindness were provided with extensive vision rehabilitation programs and 46 family members and professionals were provided with services in support of persons with vision loss. As 2011 comes to an end, we would like to share one of our ‘little’ success stories with you.

Lily is a visually impaired child, born with a very rare combination of visual defects. During her first few months, her parents, Jennifer and Peter, brought Lily to numerous professionals. They were desperate to know if their baby could see. Jennifer and Peter also were in fear for Lily’s future—at that point they did not know about services specifically designed to support blind children in meeting their childhood milestones. Finally a pediatric ophthalmologist, Dr. Derek Hess, suggested that they bring Lily to the Lighthouse.

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Filed under Client Profiles, Lighthouse, Success Stories Tagged with blind, blind babies, blind children, Blindness and Visual Impairment, Braille literacy, donations, tax exemption, Vision loss, Visual impairment, volunteer

LVIB IN TOUCH, Fall 2011/Winter 2012 Edition

December 16, 2011 by Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind Leave a comment

Click here to download the print version.

Agency Update From The Executive Director

Loss of sight is something most of you can only imagine, but there are more persons than you know that experience the loss of their sight, a loss that impacts every aspect of life. If you are a sighted person, I’d like to ask you to imagine a few things:

Imagine if you woke up tomorrow and were blind. How would your life change? Could you still live independently, play ball with your child, operate your computer, ride a bike, or read a book? The answer is yes—with training from the Lighthouse. Every day the Lighthouse sees this reality in the lives of persons who are blind and visually impaired—from babies to seniors—who are living life to their maximum independence.

15 month old Lilly sitting in Santa's lap

15-month-old Lily is using “Little Lighthouse” Early Intervention Services to develop the skills needed to succeed.

Imagine if you were blind and needed to work. Persons who are visually impaired and blind experience an over 70% unemployment rate, and the Lighthouse is working on reducing this staggering statistic in the areas we serve. In 2012, we are planning some exciting new programs and enterprises that will create employment for individuals who are blind.

In 2011, the Lighthouse served over 800 people. Our clients are more independent and lead a higher quality of life because of our support and services. Please read our newsletter to learn how we are helping persons who are visually impaired, like Lily, pictured with Santa, to live successfully with vision loss.

On behalf of the Lighthouse Board of Directors, staff, volunteers and those we serve, I wish all of you a Happy Holiday season. Thank you to all who have supported independence for persons who are blind and visually impaired. Now more than ever, we need your support. The number of persons who have vision loss is increasing, and we want to keep up with the demand for service.

Please consider making a donation towards our 2011 Yearend Appeal for Support. There are several ways to make a donation to the Lighthouse which include joining The Friends of the Lighthouse Annual Giving Program. In-kind donations are always accepted as well. Please see our Wish List at http://lvib.org/help/donate/wish-list for details.

If you like our newsletter, please share it on Facebook. Thank you!