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
Meet Jeremy
Jeremy is a 17-year-old boy with cortical vision impairment. Although his eyes are healthy, damage to the brain’s pathway affects his ability to understand and interpret what he sees. Jeremy is further challenged with cerebral palsy, affecting his ability to control his muscles. Jeremy receives services from the Lighthouse in his home with interventions focused on increasing his responses to visual, tactile, and auditory stimulation. He also attends monthly group events through the Lighthouse; his favorite activity is touching the alligator and bear skins at the Naples Zoo!
Jeremy’s mom invited Lighthouse staff to attend a recent Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting at his school. She was eager for the team to find new ways to engage Jeremy in his high school experience, especially interacting with peers. The Lighthouse instructor shared that Jeremy can activate a switch to turn on electrical devices such as a blender, radio, fan, and Christmas lights. She suggested that Jeremy apply this skill at school to access a recorded social greeting to respond to peers and staff. In addition, she suggested placing a notebook of conversational facts about Jeremy on his wheelchair, so classmates would be prompted to interact with him.
The team embraced the ideas and goals were added to the IEP. Jeremy’s participation at the Lighthouse enabled professionals to network and find solutions to enhance his life experience as a teenager.
