Causes: Blind & Visually Impaired Centers, Disabilities, Human Services

Mission: To provide vision rehabilitation, eye health services and education that promote independence, to collaborate with and train professionals, and to conduct research in related fields.

Results: Of the approximately 8,000 charities evaluated each year by Charity Navigator, Miami Lighthouse is ranked among the top 2% in the nation and is the only nonprofit in Miami with nine consecutive 4-star ratings. Miami Lighthouse is Florida’s oldest and largest nonprofit vision rehabilitation organization, celebrating 85 years of service. Employing nationally recognized best practices and evidence-based curriculum, services for people throughout Miami-Dade County cover all ages ranging from early intervention for blind babies and Pre-Kindergarten for three- and four-year-old old children to low vision rehabilitation for seniors. Our subsidiary, Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program, provides eye care to underserved children throughout Florida. The agency follows and has also spearheaded, nationally-recognized best practices in rehabilitation and other vision-related services. Miami Lighthouse has been continuously accredited by the National Accreditation Council for Blind and Low Vision Services since 1978.This accreditation demonstrates our agency’s leadership in the field of vision rehabilitation and dedication to improving the quality of life for people with vision loss.

Target demographics: Blind and visually impaired individuals from babies to seniors in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, Florida, and low-income children statewide who have failed state-mandated vision screenings but have no resources to pay for an eye exam and prescription glasses.

Direct beneficiaries per year: More than 15,000 blind and visually impaired children and adults with vision rehabilitation services and/or comprehensive eye examinations and glasses for schoolchildren at no cost to them, 30 times as many as in 2004.

Geographic areas served: Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, Florida and statewide

Programs: For blind and visually impaired individuals in Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, Florida: for adults and young adults orientation and mobility, personal management and communications, computer, technology and employment training, adult basic education, GED preparation and English as a Second Language courses, Senior Group Health and Activities program; Better Chance Music Production Program™ enables teens and adults to learn music composition, performance, recording, sound engineering and business skills to prepare them for employment in the mainstream music industry; low vision services for seniors suffering from age-related vision loss including low vision functional assessments by an optometrist specializing in low vision and on-site and in-home services by a low vision occupational therapist; Vision Solutions Center offering assistive devices such as magnifiers and task lighting and guidance on how to use one’s vision to its fullest potential. Children’s services include early intervention/blind babies, birth to age 5, pre-kindergarten inclusion program for blind and visually impaired three- and four-year olds and their sighted peers; Summer Training and Recreation for ages 5-13, year-round Braille and technology literacy, transition program for ages 14-22 to prepare students for transition to adulthood and college or employment, family support and community outreach. Schoolchildren: Florida Heiken Children's Vision Program provides free comprehensive eye exams and glasses to low-income children statewide who have failed state-mandated vision screenings.