Children's Services
Click here for common
symptoms of vision problems in children
The Transition Program
The Transition Program is year-round program with an intensive summer
program designed to help young persons 14-20 years transition successfully
and confidently into their future college or employment, family, and all
that adulthood brings. This program focuses on building self-confidence
and self-esteem. Participants discover skills, interests and careers that
fit them and learn how to get and keep a job. Real-life job experience,
through job shadowing, volunteering, or a paid work experience are also
available. The opportunity to work on improving travel skills, orientation
and mobility and independent living skills needed to live and work
independently. Enjoy recreational activities that build confidence, social
skills and are just plain FUN!
For more information or to request an application for the Transition
Program, contact
Tatiana Palma, Assistant Director of
Rehabilitation Services (For information about The Shimmy Club, please
visit
www.theshimmyclub.org).
Children's Services
The Little Lighthouse program was established to give children
beginning at birth an opportunity to begin discovering our world as the
sighted population does.
The Lighthouse believes that education and training is never ending and
the earlier one can get started the better for the child and family. Life
is always changing and we are here to provide you with support. Our
focus is on the individual child, and progresses throughout adulthood.
For more information please contact
Children’s Services.
The STAR (Summer Training And Recreation) Program – Children Ages 5-13
This program provides a fun learning environment where children can
sharpen their blindness skills, learn computers, and enjoy recreational
activities such as swimming, ice skating, and crafts.
The STAR program has been divided into two age groups:
STAR I for ages 5 to 9
STAR II for ages 10 to 13
For 2008 summer program dates and information,
click here.
Family Support Days
These specially planned events provide fun and informative activities
for our children and their families and caregivers. Families and
caregivers are educated on issues concerning their children who are blind
or visually impaired and advised of community resources. Social activities
are also planned to involve all family members.
Summer Activities
STAR and Transition summer campers had a busy summer!
STAR kids enjoyed many outings, like horseback riding, courtesy of Harvey
and Ellen Amster, where the children got to touch, and ride the horses.
Each of them also received a horseshoe from the blacksmith. It was a very
exciting day. The kids also made trips to the local pool…
In addition, the kids enjoy music time, arts and crafts, games, and
reading on a daily basis, all of which help to better their motor skills
and social awareness.
The kids also loved their trips to the Miami Children’s Museum, the animal
farm, the beach, the movies, and many more exciting places!
Transition students were out and about as well. They had a great time at
places like the Dadeland Mall, the bowling alley, Oleta State Park,
kayaking, golfing, and Tango dance lessons. The dance lessons happen 3
times, weekly and will continue throughout the year. Tatiana Palma, a
transition instructor commented that “it is so amazing to watch their
confidence and dancing skills grow. They are really enjoying it.”
Tango gives the kids the opportunity to work in close proximity to their
dancing partner, where it is necessary to be mindful of one’s own movement
as well as his or her partners, and move together. They are learning to
feel the rhythm of the music and are also gaining better kinesthetic
coordination. The wonderful instructors from the Shimmy Club help to make
this a great experience.
Transition students have also been busy in the music studio, working on
creating beats and R&B songs that they perform for the Lighthouse staff
and clients at events like special lunches and the talent show.
Both transition and STAR students participated in the talent show, where
they displayed singing, rapping, dancing, and even joke telling! It was a
great exhibition of the talented people we have learning and growing at
the Lighthouse.
All of these special events were made possible through the help from our
wonderful volunteers.
Copyright © 2003-2008 Miami
Lighthouse for the Blind. All rights reserved. Terms
and conditions.
This web site was designed and developed by BizSolutions,
Inc.
|
