Lighthouse of Collier would like to invite you to participate in our White Cane Safety Awareness Day Zoom Edition | October 15, 2020 Co-hosted by our sister agency, New Vision for Independence This is the nationally observed day to celebrate the white cane as a tool for independence and to inform the public that a…
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The Lighthouse of Collier is pleased to announce that we have received 2 generous grants. $10,000 Moorings Park Foundation The Community Grants Program strives to improve the quality of life and healthy living in Collier county by providing project-based funding to non-profit agencies that serve local seniors in need. $25,000 Richard Schulze Family Foundation The…
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WGCU (PBS and NPR for southwest Florida) Navigating the Pandemic with Vision Loss – July 8, 2020
Check out the story featuring Lighthouse of Collier by WGCU, the local NPR station. It focuses on what it is like for people who are vision-impaired to navigate a pandemic where touch is being limited. We are in the news! Visit WGCU to read and listen to the story.
We are very pleased to announce that Governor Ron DeSantis has signed the Fiscal Year 2020 – 2021 Florida State Budget and the Lighthouse special grant request of $85,000 has been funded. These funds will allow us to continue to help visually impaired and blind clients who live in Collier County and surrounding areas maintain…
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Our camp concluded today with a Virtual closing & rewards ceremony which included a video of our activities and learning experiences throughout the week! A Special thank you goes out to our sponsors: Concept Elevator Group, LLC Florida Division of Blind Services NCEF (Naples Children and Education Foundation) Schulze Family Foundation Two Guys Kitchen &…
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The Lighthouse of Collier Children’s Camp started Monday, June 8th. Bins full of activities, snacks, and instructions were delivered to all the participants prior to the camp starting. Thank you so much to Ryan from Pawsitive Companions for being our guest speaker on the 1st day of camp and teaching our campers about animal training….
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The Lighthouse of Collier is pleased to announce that the Board Of Directors has established a Fund at the Community Foundation of Collier County in the name of Arthur Bookbinder. Art will be dearly missed by all of us at Lighthouse of Collier. From the origin of the Lighthouse of Collier in 2009, he was…
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We missed you! All of us at Lighthouse of Collier hope that you and your family and friends are healthy, safe and doing well. We are so excited to announce that we will be opening our center/office with limited services starting Monday, May 18th under “Phase 1” of our re-opening process. The Lighthouse of Collier…
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All of us at Lighthouse of Collier hope that you and your family and friends are healthy, safe and doing well as we navigate this global pandemic and these turbulent times. We miss seeing you at the Lighthouse of Collier and at community events. We look forward to the day when we can all be…
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A little over four years ago, Bob lost his wife of more than 30 years to diabetes. Naturally, he felt depressed and isolated. His situation was even more difficult as he is totally blind and profoundly hearing impaired due to a condition called Usher syndrome. Without a partner at home or family nearby to help him drive, shop, or read mail, Bob was vulnerable. A concerned neighbor urged Bob to go to the Lighthouse for help. Bob enrolled in classes to learn how to access his iPhone, attended support groups, and received orientation and mobility training.
Now, Bob has mastered the use of his iPhone. He can send texts, read emails, schedule calendar appointments, use Uber, and other important tools. He has also developed a close network of friends who are blind or visually impaired, and who help each other navigate difficult times.
Most recently, Bob reached his ultimate orientation and mobility goal of completing a “drop-off lesson.” A drop-off lesson is when a person is dropped off at an unknown location by his mobility instructor and required to find his way home. Bob was dropped off several blocks from his house. To find his house, Bob needed to use the tools, tips, and techniques he had learned. He successfully used the “Where Am I” feature of Siri, his iPhone compass, the orientation of the sun, his mental map of the neighborhood, and landmarks to return home. Bob’s positive attitude, perseverance, and ability to overcome obstacles while living his life as deaf-blind are inspiring to all.
