These are a selection of stories written by staff members at the Lighthouse of Collier. Our team members develop unique and special relationships with each client, which is reflected in this retelling of each clients’ successes.
Rachel is a 70-year-old woman living with a visual condition that causes blind spots and peripheral field loss. When first coming to the Lighthouse, Rachel expressed that she had given up on completing most of her daily tasks due to frustration. The Lighthouse instructor visited her home and provided her with training to organize and label items in her pantry, and adaptive techniques for managing her finances. The instructor took the time to label her kitchen appliances, including her stove, oven, microwave, and Keurig.
In addition, Rachel has participated in the Lighthouse’s weekly cooking class. Now she raves that she has begun cooking dinners at home again for the first time in years, and is able to brew coffee for herself and her husband!
Roy is a 50-year-old man living with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), which has resulted in total vision loss. He recently came to the Lighthouse of Collier seeking services to assist him in attaining employment. Roy does not speak English. A Lighthouse of Collier instructor visited his home to complete an initial assessment. Roy participates in the Lighthouse’s weekly cooking class and regularly expresses that he will recreate the recipes at home for his wife.
Joey is a 12-year-old boy with a condition affecting his central vision. When he came to the Lighthouse a year ago, he had difficulty reading his assignments at school. The Lighthouse of Collier provided him with an electronic magnifier to use at school and a large CCTV (closed circuit television) to use at home to magnify print so he could do his homework. Joey is thriving academically with his new accommodations.
In addition to academic success, Joey has an ear for music. After only a few months of instruction, Joey played Besame Mucho at his recital, complete with a violinist and another pianist accompanying him. Collaboration between the Lighthouse and the piano teacher was instrumental in creating a successful learning environment for Joey.
If you would like to own one of these cocktail table books, please donate a suggested selling price of $35.00 to Lighthouse of Collier and we will send you one straight away.
Lighthouse of Collier dedicated the book to Art Bookbinder, a man who could see beyond blindness. He was a great friend and leader. May he rest in peace. August 1942 – April 2020.
