TAMPA LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND INC
1106 West Platt Street, Tampa, FL 33606 www.lighthouseblv.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: To maximize independence and provide employment opportunities for persons who are blind or visually impaired.

Adjustment Training: Provides instruction to blind or visually impaired individuals in daily living activities. 163 older adults received independent living training that enabled them to remain safe and independent in their own home. Additionally, over 2,234 individuals received information or referral, attended or participated in an event, tour or speaking engagement, or visited our on-site store. Meet Greg! At age 19 he was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) an eye disease that gradually deteriorates the peripheral vision and causes night blindness. Due to the gradual onset, Greg was still able to drive for many years and was a successful leader on the Philadelphia Board of Education. Like Greg, many individuals with a gradual vision loss may not recognize the slow decrease in vision and how life is about to change. One day as he was leaving work, he prepared to walk across a busy 5-lane highway. Not seeing any cars, he began to cross and was shocked when a bicyclist ran over his foot as they zipped in front of him! It was at that moment that he realized his vision was worsening. Often, in moments such as these, one begins to wonder about their future and their independence. Despite this scary experience at a street crossing, Greg never received training in adjusting to his progressive vision loss. About 11 years after moving to the Tampa Bay area, he reached out to the Lighthouse for the Blind & Low Vision for assistance in Independent Living Skills and Orientation and Mobility training. In this class, he met others who were experiencing vision loss, learned new skills, and discussed this major life adjustment. He experienced a new-found freedom of movement to which he credits one of our Orientation and Mobility instructors. With the lessons and use of a white cane, he was no longer fearful of stepping off an unseen curb or running into out-of-sight obstacles. He thanks our Independent Living instructor with motivating him to do things on his own. One day she asked the class "What brings you great satisfaction that you are not doing now because of your vision loss?" Greg quickly spoke up and said he used to love to write poetry. Through the instruction in class on adaptive writing skills and even accessible technology discussed and practiced in class,she told him there is no reason why he is not writing now. He went home that day and wrote an inspiring poem on independent living that was shared at our 2020 Celebration.

Service Contracts: Provided employment opportunities for 2 legally blind persons and rehabilitation technology to individuals who are seeking to become employed.

Vocational Services: Provides vocational evaluations, job placements, and computer training to blind or visually impaired individuals who are seeking to become employed in competitive employment. 126 adults received training to prepare for college or employment. 28 adults with additional disabilties received help seeking employment and training on the job. 748 individuals around the State of Florida received technology assistance for college and employment. 167 visually impaired veterans received technology assistance in their home to use the computer or IPad.

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Data for this page was sourced from XML published by IRS (public 990 form dataset) from: https://s3.amazonaws.com/irs-form-990/202131169349301368_public.xml