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Adult Services
Adult Services are designed to enable blind and visually
impaired individuals to regain independent living skills, allowing them to
resume meaningful roles in their family, community, work and/or school.
All classes are available in English, Spanish and Creole.
Instruction and training at work and in the home is also provided to
ensure practical skill use in everyday situations.
Clients meet with a counselor or social worker and are
orientated within a small group class to discuss available classes and
services. We emphasize using one’s own life experiences to regain skills
using remaining vision and other senses. Social workers act as advocates
and information providers and teach the skill of self-advocacy.
Contact a
social worker
Orientation and Mobility
O&M services allow the individual gain better spatial
awareness and travel independence. Our instructors provide thorough
training for:
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Cane skills
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Moving safely within the home and stores
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Effective use of public transportation i.e.: Busses,
metro-rail
Proper training from our university-trained, certified
instructors builds confidence and independence for an individual
maneuvering in a sighted-world.
For more information, please contact
Orientation and Mobility
Personal Management
Personal management instruction aims for individuals of all ages to
remain independent in one’s own home and establish and independent life.
Personal Management offers:
- Home upkeep, kitchen safety, basic meal preparation, all taught from
on-site facilities including working washers and dryers, stove-top
ranges, ovens, and cooking utensils
- Grocery shopping, organization of one’s home, personal affairs, and
other tasks that must often be re-learned are taught by our personal
management instructors
- Make-up and grooming, personal hygiene, clothing selection and other
similar skills restore a sense of personal style and identity
- Money identification, telephone dialing, phone/internet shopping and
banking, and the use of talking clocks and calculators return control
over finances and daily schedules
- Writing guides, check writing templates, Braille and various
labeling techniques provide options for handling the many reading and
writing tasks associated with a busy schedule. Use of the Talking Books
program introduces one avenue of enjoying leisure time.
For more information, please contact
Asteria
Fernandez.
Computer and Technology Training
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Growing advances in technology allow an visually impaired individual
to lead a more independent life, therefore it is necessary to have the
proper training to learn, and in many cases re-learn the skills needed
to utilize what is available.
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The Lighthouse has computers adapted to provide either enlarged images
or speech output of the information on the screen, and can be used for
basic word-processing and e-mail. We are also equipped with computers
using JAWS (Java Application with Sound) software, a program that
reads allowed virtually every keystroke on the computer, allowing the
user to listen to emails and other documents, and navigate computer
programs as a sighted person might.
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Small talking note-takers make it possible to remember appointments,
and get quick access to telephone numbers and personal information.
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Learning to use computers with speech or large print access offers
blind and visually impaired individuals an avenue for which further
employment and education are made possible
Other special equipment such as Braille note-takers and laptop devices
also enable greater flexibility on a daily working basis. Similar to a
PDA, these devices allow the user web access, access to a calendar,
contacts, notes, documents and much more. Learning to use this puts the
world literally at your fingertips.
For more information please contact
Bill
Rivera.
Employment Opportunities
The Lighthouse helps analyze a blind or visually impaired individual’s
skills and interests, in conjunction with today’s business environment to
assist in the search for employment. Increasing one’s personal
independence allows for greater opportunities in the work environment.
- Job placement and on-the-job assistance is given in conjunction with
the Florida Division of Blind Services
- Job readiness classes, work evaluation, and assistance with job
finding are still more of the services offered by DBS
- Already employed? We can help you with the job you have, if loss of
vision is an issue for you.
- Are you an employer? We can help you retain the valued employee for
whom loss of vision has become an issue.
Social Group Activities
Social Group Activities offer leisure activities that also
aid in perfecting one’s blindness skills. Ceramics and Arts and Crafts
improves dexterity, necessary for Braille comprehension. Field trips to
local parks, malls and other areas of interest, group discussions,
language classes, and exercise classes are also available, and are offered
free of charge.
For more information, please contact
Nelba
Gonzalez.
Low Vision Services
Beyond eyeglasses there exists a whole world of special
magnifying devices to assist with specific tasks including:
Sunshades and special lighting are also available, as well
as instructors who can provide assistance with selection and guidance to
use one’s vision to its full potential.
Diabetes Education
Loss of vision increases the challenge of managing and understanding
this complex condition.
Special talking devices permit independently checking blood sugar
levels and special insulin delivery devices, as well as up to date
information about meal plans, exercise, and personal health care restore a
sense of control.
Support is also provided for dealing with the emotional impact on the
individual and the family.
For more information on
Adult Services, please call.
Copyright © 2003-2008 Miami
Lighthouse for the Blind. All rights reserved. Terms
and conditions.
This web site was designed and developed by BizSolutions,
Inc.
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