Lighthouse Center for Vision Loss

General Information

Lighthouse Center for Vision Loss
4505 W Superior St
Duluth, MN 55807
218-624-4828
[email protected]
http://www.lcfvl.org

Brief Description

The Lighthouse Center for Vision Loss is a comprehensive rehabilitation training center for people with all stages of vision loss. We pride ourselves on our small size, friendly atmosphere, state-of-the-art technology center, and our highly individualized approach to training.

Services Offered

  • Counseling
    • Offers consultation and referral services, individual/group/family counseling.

  • Recreation Services
    • Provides instruction in leisure skills and adaptive woodworking skills.

  • Daily Living Skills/Independent Living Skills Training
    • Daily living skills training includes learning adaptive ways of doing everyday tasks including cooking, home maintenance, financial management, and more. Topics vary based on an individual's goals but may include ways to identify and label items, adaptive techniques for meal preparation, safe and efficient measuring, peeling, and chopping, laundry skills, sewing and clothes organization, management of medications, and more.

  • Assessment
    • Provides technology, closed-circuit television, and daily living assessments.

  • Information and Referral
    • Information and referral services provided.

  • Community Outreach Programs
    • The Lighthouse offers a variety of education programs to serve community members, businesses, healthcare providers, social service agencies, and community organizations. Our services range from one-hour awareness seminars to intensive, multi-day training for human service and healthcare professionals. We offer pre-designed and custom-designed programs.

  • Professional Training
    • Offers in-service training to professionals working with blind or deaf-blind people.

  • Reading Services
    • Twin Ports Newspaper of the Air.

  • Braille/Electronic/Audio/Large Print Production
    • Small documents requested by groups or individuals.

  • Support Groups
    • The Lighthouse Center for Vision Loss facilitates several support groups for individuals experiencing vision loss. Support groups offer a place to connect with others experiencing vision loss and and share ideas for living independently with vision loss. The Lighthouse's Low Vision Support Groups meet monthly throughout NE Minnesota. Contact us for details.

  • Health
    • Offers diabetes information services.

  • Low Vision Services
    • The Lighthouse offers optometric low vision evaluations as well as Low Vision Occupational Therapy.

  • Assistive Products
    • The Low Vision Store at the Lighthouse Center for Vision Loss offers one-stop shopping for handy tools that enhance work, home life and leisure for people with vision loss. From state-of-the-art reading magnifiers and writing aids to specialized kitchen tools and talking watches, we offer products designed to make everyday tasks easier.

  • Employment/Job Training
    • The Lighthouse employment readiness course is designed to empower our clients with the skills, practices and self-confidence they will need to be successful in the workplace. Clients will learn concrete skills like resume writing and how to find job postings of interest. They will gain practical skills in job interviews. They will become more aware of both obvious and unspoken expectations on a job. And, they will gain insights into how to make difficult judgment calls, like when and how to disclose their disability and how to request accommodation.

  • Computer Training/Assistive Technology
    • The Lighthouse Assistive Technology instructors help individuals who are blind or have low vision learn new ways to access computers and other technology. Through a variety of available adaptive technologies, including magnification software, voice output, and/or refreshable Braille devices, clients are able to continue using computers at work and at home. Clients also have the opportunity to learn to use the adaptive features on Apple products, the iPhone, iPod Touch and the iPad. Read books, listen to music, watch movies, take notes, edit documents, and even print from these devices using their built-in applications: VoiceOver and Zoom. Clients can learn to use a range of technology, including: ZoomText and Magic, JAWS and NVDA voice output screen readers, OCR software, Barcode Scanners and Labelers, Typing software, Kindle and other book readers and apps, money identifiers, and more.

  • Travel/Orientation and Mobility
    • Many clients first learn pre-cane travel skills, like how to walk most effectively with another person guiding them, as well as systematic search patterns to find items in the home or work. They may then progress to using a cane indoors using the touch technique, diagonal technique, and stair travel. Subsequently, clients may learn outside travel like locating curbs and sidewalks, walking along sidewalks, how to cross streets and uncontrolled and lighted intersections, and how to plan and follow routes. Clients may also learn readiness skills necessary before obtaining a guide dog.

  • Braille and Reading Instruction
    • Lighthouse clients are typically introduced to both Grade One and Grade Two Braille. Grade One Braille consists of symbols from the Alphabet, basic punctuation and numbers. Grade Two Braille, often called Contracted Braille, consists of a large number of contractions â€" abbreviations for common words. Proficient Braille readers must memorize all of these contractions. Lighthouse clients also often learn to write Braille by using a Slate and Stylus or a Braille Writer.