Adult Oriented Programs & Services:
Independent Living Skills for Adults
With our growing and aging population, more people in Pinellas County every day are facing the challenges of age-related vision loss. Each year we see an increase in the number of older adults who benefit from our rehabilitation training and services. Our services enable seniors to take care of their homes and personal needs using special techniques and devices, travel safely and independently with the use of a white cane, use low vision magnifying devices, learn to read and write Braille, use computers with assistive technology, and gain the skills and confidence to return to activities they previously enjoyed. Counseling and support groups are available to ease the adjustment to vision loss. Services are provided in the home, at Lighthouse of Pinellas, and in the community.
Orientation and Mobility (Traveling Safely and Independently)
The ability to travel safely and independently is one of the greatest challenges for people who are blind and visually impaired. Our staff of university trained and certified orientation and mobility specialists teach techniques for traveling safely in homes, schools, workplaces and the community.
Access Technology
Advances in computers and technology have created exciting opportunities for individuals in the workforce who are blind and visually impaired. We teach computer skills with assistive technology such as speech software, screen magnification software, and portable note takers. Assistive technology training benefits students by enabling them to fully participate in their educational curriculum. This can include independently taking and reviewing class notes and completing homework assignments. Our senior clients want to be part of the information highway too. They use the training to communicate with family and friends, access the Internet to do research on health issues, shopping and banking.
Life Enrichment Program
This program is for adult clients who have completed their individualized rehabilitation programs and would like to continue to attend Lighthouse of Pinellas to maintain the skills they have learned and for socialization. It is staffed primarily by volunteers. Some of the classes include: Current Events, Creative Writing, Lifetime Fitness, Yoga, Healthy Cooking, and Beginning Spanish.
Community Education and Awareness
The purpose of this program is to inform and educate the general public on vision loss and the services available to them at the Lighthouse. Agency staff and volunteers give presentations at retirement homes, mobile home parks, to civic and social groups, and schools. Tours of our facilities are offered to view our classes and services, see demonstrations of assistive technology, and visit the on-site product store. Training on working with individuals with severe vision loss is available to staff of retirement homes, nursing homes, senior centers and other organizations.
The Sight Shoppe: On Site Product Store
The newly expanded product store located at the Lighthouse of Pinellas is owned and operated by Magnifying Solutions and has the largest selection of low vision technology available anywhere in the State. It is open to the public and features hundreds of specialty low vision items and adaptive products like magnifiers, all types of video magnifiers, customized lighting, talking watches and clocks, big button phones, large print calendars and address books, check writing guides, and talking scales.
Transportation
For a nominal fee, transportation is offered to clients attending classes at our Agency through a special agreement with a local cab company.
