Our Services
The Lighthouse of Collier provides training and rehabilitation services for babies, children, youth, adults (working and nonworking) and seniors (over 55) who are blind and visually impaired, at no charge, to help those in the community who are blind and visually impaired community.
The services provided have increased and the programs provided continue to expand based upon needs in the community. Lighthouse of Collier holds a Guidestar Platinum Status and is nationally accredited by NAC, the National Accreditation Council for Blind and Low Vision Services.
An individual must meet the following criteria in order to qualify for services: must be diagnosed with a corrected bilateral visual impairment, which constitutes a substantial impediment in their ability to live independently, or must have the presence of a progressive bilateral eye impairment that will result in a substantial impediment to the individual’s ability to live independently.
All programs are tailored to the client’s individual needs and are year round in a group and/or on an individual bases depending on the needs of the client.
Lighthouse of Collier is the only agency in Collier County providing services to individuals of all ages living with vision loss.
Inspirational Stories
Success Story
One participant had trouble operating the touch controls on her kitchen range even with tactile accommodations. Despite using tactile adaptations, including bump dots, the flat touch panel was difficult to operate safely. This not only made meal preparation frustrating, but it also limited her independence in the kitchen.
Her skillset changed drastically after learning how to use an Alexa-enabled multi-cooker. She discovered that voice-activated technology could eliminate many of the barriers she previously experienced while cooking. Through guided practice, she became comfortable using voice commands to operate the appliance safely and independently. Over time, she developed confidence in completing cooking tasks on her own and no longer needed to rely on trial and error or assistance from others. Recognizing how much this technology improved her ability to cook, she purchased an Alexa-enabled full-size range for her home. A TVI did a follow-up home visit to pair the appliance with her existing Alexa device, offer individualized training, and reinforce troubleshooting strategies. The visit also provided an opportunity to personalize the device settings and practice common cooking tasks as she transitioned to using the new technology in her daily routine. She now uses her oven independently and reports that she is once again able to bake with confidence using voice commands rather than relying on inaccessible touch controls. This individualized training and follow-up support restored an important daily living skill, increased her confidence in the kitchen, and allowed her to safely return to an activity she truly enjoys.
