Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Inc.

#VirginiasCorner 11th Edition | Virginia Jacko, President and CEO of the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind writes a letter to the editor, "Florida children need comprehensive eye exams as a standard part of healthcare" in the Miami Herald. Virginia writes, "For many children, a pair of glasses isn’t just about seeing clearly. It’s about unlocking their full potential in school and life. Yet far too many children still lack access to essential eye healthcare. Miami Lighthouse for the Blind encounters these challenges daily. Addressing children’s eye health is the sole mission of our subsidiary, the Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program. With funding from the Florida Department of Health, The Children’s Trust and others and through a network of licensed optometrists, we have provided 225,000 comprehensive dilated eye exams and glasses when prescribed to underserved children across the state at no cost, specifically 19,000 annually. These exams go beyond basic screenings — they detect serious conditions that could lead to permanent blindness if left untreated." 👓 Read the rest at: https://lnkd.in/e33_easE Together, we prove it's possible to see without sight! 💙🦯 #MiamiLighthouse #FloridaHeiken STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH The Children's Trust of Miami-Dade County 👓 To learn more about our Florida Heiken Children's Vision Program, visit https://lnkd.in/e_4yt62m #MiamiLeaders #SupportKids #EyeExams #HealthyEyes #LettertotheEditor #CommunityLeaders #SupportingtheBlind #Healthcare

Of the youth at Miami Lighthouse for the Blind, ages ranging from 1 to 22, nearly all participants have a vision disability. And now they have the opportunity to learn the sport of Blind Soccer here on our campus in Little Havana. ⚽🕶️ We thank MDCPS Superintendent Jose L. Dotres, Ed.D. for meeting with us to discuss our collaboration to "Champion the Unseen" together with Thomas Anthony Abraham and with support from The Children's Trust of Miami-Dade County. We thank The Children's Trust for their Innovation Grant funding 💚. Together, we prove it's possible to see without sight!💙🦯 #MiamiLighthouse #MiamiLighthouseAcademy #BlindSoccer Pictured: Jose L. Dotres, Virginia Jacko, Thomas Abraham #Miamileaders #MiamiSchools #Inclusion #InclusiveSports #SupportingtheBlind #NewProject #IntheWorks | Anthony R. Abraham Foundation, Miami-Dade County Public Schools

⚽🕶️ Blind Soccer: not as easy as it looks! Have you ever heard someone say that Blind Soccer looks 'easy'? We beg to differ! Check out this footage of a goal in the 2020 Paralympics Games in Tokyo, Argentina vs. Brazil, highlighting the amazing skill of the blind soccer players! The speed, accuracy, and skill is incredibly impressive, one might say even better than many sighted players. At Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually impaired, together we prove it's possible to see without sight! Our innovative Blind Soccer Program is the first-of-its-kind. We have the largest number of credentialed blind soccer coaches in the state, 12 blind soccer coaches, thanks to the USABA and funding from The Children's Trust. #SupporttheBlind #MiamiLeaders #CommunityLeaders #Soccer #Accessibility #AccessibleSports #AccessibleSoccer #InclusiveEducation U.S. Association of Blind Athletes - USABA The Children's Trust of Miami-Dade County Video source: https://lnkd.in/eBFWXEvX Learn more about blind soccer in this CNN article "Blind soccer explained: What are the rules and why are some players allowed to see?" here- https://lnkd.in/eXB2CVCr

Adorable moments from our Blind Soccer Field Inauguration! The toddlers from Miami Lighthouse Academy Early Learners have a blast learning comprehensive blind soccer on our new mini soccer pitches! Thanks to support from The Children's Trust Innovation grant, we are excited to make soccer accessible for our blind and visually impaired little ones. 🕶️⚽💚 Together, we prove it's possible to see without sight! 💙🦯 #MiamiLighthouse #BlindSoccer The Children's Trust of Miami-Dade County Miami-Dade County Public Schools Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe U.S. Association of Blind Athletes - USABA #SupporttheBlind #MiamiLeaders #CommunityLeaders #MiamiLighthouseAcademy #AccessibleSports #InclusiveEducation

Did you see the news? 👓 Miami Lighthouse CEO Virginia Jacko writes a letter to the editor, "Florida children need comprehensive eye exams as a standard part of healthcare" in the Miami Herald. Virginia writes, "For many children, a pair of glasses isn’t just about seeing clearly. It’s about unlocking their full potential in school and life. Yet far too many children still lack access to essential eye healthcare. Miami Lighthouse for the Blind encounters these challenges daily. Addressing children’s eye health is the sole mission of our subsidiary, the Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program. With funding from the Florida Department of Health, The Children’s Trust and others and through a network of licensed optometrists, we have provided 225,000 comprehensive dilated eye exams and glasses when prescribed to underserved children across the state at no cost, specifically 19,000 annually. These exams go beyond basic screenings — they detect serious conditions that could lead to permanent blindness if left untreated." Read the rest at: https://lnkd.in/e33_easE Together, we prove it's possible to see without sight! 💙🦯 #MiamiLighthouse #FloridaHeiken To learn more about our Florida Heiken Children's Vision Program, visit https://lnkd.in/e_4yt62m #MiamiLeaders #SupportKids #EyeExams #HealthyEyes #LettertotheEditor #CommunityLeaders #SupportingtheBlind #Healthcare

It's 2025 and our students are back to school! We are excited to announce that we have officially opened our mini soccer pitches at Miami Lighthouse Academy! 🕶️⚽ Our new Comprehensive Blind Soccer Program is made possible with support from The Children's Trust Innovation Grant 💚 Thank you! Together, we prove it's possible to see without sight! 💙🦯 #MiamiLighthouse #SupportingtheBlind The Children's Trust of Miami-Dade County Miami-Dade County Public Schools Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe #BlindSoccer #SupporttheBlind #MiamiLeaders #CommunityLeaders #MiamiLighthouseAcademy #MiamiNonProfits #Accessibility #AccessibleSports #AccessibleSoccer #InclusiveEducation

Happy World Braille Day! 🌎🕶️📖🦯 Today, we celebrate Miami Lighthouse for the Blind's Library of Congress Literary Braille and Music Braille certified instructor Jin Choi, as well as our three Teachers of the Visually Impaired who instruct our Academy students, and our adult program Braille instructors, including Oseas de Leon, Senior Technology Specialist. 👏👏 World Braille Day, celebrated since 2019, is observed to raise awareness of the importance of Braille as a means of communication. It is celebrated on this day to honor the birth of Louis Braille, the inventor of the touch reading and writing system. His revolutionary system has transformed the lives of millions of individuals who are blind and visually impaired, offering them a vital tool for communication and learning. This day also highlights the importance of ensuring equal human rights for people with visual impairments. The Miami Lighthouse Braille Literacy and Technology Program offers a comprehensive Braille education in math, science, arts, and technology. Our students learn the Nemeth Code, the standard code of braille notation used for math and science. 📝 🎶💻 Our first-of-its-kind Music Braille Online Course brings access to music instruction to students who are blind around the globe, with a curriculum designed especially for blind and visually impaired people of all ages. To learn more about the Miami Lighthouse Music Braille Online Course and to submit an enrollment form online visit this link- https://lnkd.in/eJHVpNyQ Get all the info about Miami Lighthouse Academy here-https://lnkd.in/exj88Q26 To learn about Miami Lighthouse's Adult Programs, visit https://lnkd.in/eQJPswAm . Together, we prove it's possible to see without sight! 💙 #WorldBrailleDay #MiamiLighthouse #HappyBirthday #LouisBraille #BrailleDay #LearnBraille #CommunityLeaders #MusicfortheBlind #Artsforall #Accessibilityforall

Last month we screened 'Blind AF', a documentary on Shawn Chesire, the first person with blindness to cross the country alone on a bicycle. 🕶️🚲 Read more about this epic story in the WSVN-TV 7News news story "Blind Broward athlete’s historic cross-country bike ride shines in new documentary" here- https://lnkd.in/e5RVytis Pictured is the movie Director Gina LeVay, Shawn Chesire, and Miami Lighthouse CEO Virginia Jacko inside our Miami Lighthouse for the Blind facility. Together, we prove it's possible to see without sight! 💙 #MiamiLighthouse #ItsPossibleToSeeWithoutSight #MiamiLeaders #CommunityLeaders #SupporttheBlind #SupportingtheBlind #BlindAF #BlindAthletes #Accessibility #Accessibilityforall #MiamiLighthouse #Film

January is National Braille Literacy Month, in celebration of the birthday of Louise Braille, the inventor of the Braille touch reading and writing system. 🕶️📖🦯 Tomorrow is Louise Braille's birthday when we celebrate World Braille Day! The Miami Lighthouse Braille Literacy and Technology Program offers a comprehensive Braille education in math, science, arts, and technology. Our students learn the Nemeth Code, the standard code of braille notation used for math and science. Our first-of-its-kind Music Braille Online Course brings access to music instruction to students who are blind around the globe, with a unique curriculum designed especially for people who are blind and visually impaired. To learn more about the Miami Lighthouse Music Braille Online Course and to submit an enrollment form online visit this link- https://lnkd.in/eJHVpNyQ Get all the info about Miami Lighthouse Academy here- https://lnkd.in/exj88Q26 To learn about Miami Lighthouse's Adult Programs, visit https://lnkd.in/eQJPswAm Together, we prove it's possible to see without sight! 💙 #MiamiLighthouse #BrailleLiteracy #LouisBraille #BrailleLiteracyMonth #CommunityLeaders #MiamiLeaders #FortheBlind

Today, we celebrate an integral member of our Leadership Team, Miami Lighthouse Chief Program Officer, Carol Brady-Simmons! Carol, we congratulate you on your 36 years of dedication, leadership, and exceptional contributions to the Miami Lighthouse. Your tireless efforts and commitment have made a profound impact on countless families who have benefited from the programs you have led - Thank you! 🏆👏 Here are just a few of Carol's achievements at Miami Lighthouse that have contributed to providing hope, confidence, and independence to people of all ages- • 36 years ago, Carol began her journey at Miami Lighthouse starting out as an Orientation and Mobility (O & M) instructor, and to this day she is a highly credentialed leader and educator in the field of O & M. Numerous Orientation and Mobility instructors throughout the nation and the state of Florida have learned from Carol through Miami Lighthouse's on-campus training provided to Florida State University students, as well as other university students. • Carol started our crucial Blind Babies Early Intervention Program in 2003 by advocating with the Florida Division of Blind Services to the legislature for new statewide funding for in-home services for Blind Babies. • When the Miami Dade County Optometric Association and Health Foundation of South Florida merged our Florida Heiken Children’s Vision Program with Miami Lighthouse in 2007, Carol led this new initiative including the expansion to state-wide eyecare service for schoolchildren. • With Carol's leadership, we have grown from serving a few hundred program participants when Carol began 36 years ago, to over 26,000 annually 👏. Thank you, Carol, for your leadership and dedication! Together we prove it's possible to see without sight! 💙 #ThankYou Miami-Dade Optometric Physicians Association Health Foundation of South Florida Florida Division of Blind Services #GratitudePost #Leadership #MiamiLeaders #MiamiLighthouse #ItsPossibletoSeeWithoutSight #FloridaHeiken