Lighthouse Vision Loss Center

Teen participant Cooper spent the afternoon building independence and confidence during an Orientation & Mobility (O&M) lesson at UTC Mall with O&M Specialist Latricia Gambrell.
Throughout the lesson, Cooper practiced navigating a busy public environment using the skills and techniques he has been learning. He successfully worked on ascending and descending stairs, using elevators and escalators, and utilizing the mall directory to locate stores he wanted to visit.

To conclude the lesson, Cooper demonstrated his growing independence by using the Starbucks app on his phone to order a Frappuccino on his own.
Experiences like these help participants develop the real-world skills, confidence, and independence needed to navigate their communities successfully. 👏☕️🛍️

Our students enjoyed a wonderful day exploring a local farm and meeting some amazing animals, including Highland cattle, High Park cattle, miniature donkeys, and the majestic Mammoth donkeys! 🐄🫏❤️

Through hands-on experiences and sensory exploration, students learned about animal characteristics, farm life, and the importance of caring for animals while building confidence, connections, and lasting memories.

While every student had their own favorite animal, there was one thing they all agreed on—the farm was incredibly clean and didn't even smell like a farm! 😊

The excitement was contagious, and by the end of the visit, everyone was already asking when they could come back. In fact, many are hoping next year's adventure might even include an overnight camp experience in the farm owner's guest house!

Thank you to our wonderful community partners for providing meaningful experiences that help our students learn, grow, and explore the world around them.

🍎👩‍🍳 Cooking up confidence, creativity, and fun!

Our Lighthouse Children's Program participants recently spent time in the kitchen learning valuable cooking skills while creating delicious treats together. From measuring ingredients and following recipes to teamwork and trying new foods, every moment was an opportunity to build independence and confidence.

Learning happens in so many ways, and sometimes the best lessons come with a side of laughter and a sprinkle of fun!

We are so proud of these amazing young chefs and can't wait to see what they cook up next. 💙✨

🌟 Welcome, Karel! 🌟

We're excited to welcome Karel Dib, a sophomore at Florida State University, to the Lighthouse Vision Loss Center as our summer intern!

Through the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce's Opportunities For All program, Karel will be working alongside our team throughout June and July, gaining valuable experience while helping support the important work we do each day.

Please join us in giving Karel a warm Lighthouse welcome. We are thrilled to have her as part of our team this summer! 💙

❤️🏕️ A HUGE thank you to the Pathfinder Program and Dayspring Campground for providing such an incredible experience for our Lighthouse Transition teens!

Over the past few days, our teens stepped outside their comfort zones, faced challenges, conquered fears, built confidence, developed leadership skills, strengthened teamwork, and discovered just how capable they truly are. 💪🌲✨

From climbing trees and navigating obstacle courses to participating in team-building activities and making lifelong memories, every experience helped foster greater self-esteem, resilience, independence, and self-advocacy. 🧗‍♀️🌳🤝🎯

We are incredibly grateful to Dayspring Campground for hosting us and providing such a beautiful and welcoming environment for learning, growth, and adventure. 🏕️🌿 Your facilities and hospitality helped create an unforgettable experience for our teens.

We are also so thankful to the amazing Pathfinder staff for creating a supportive, encouraging, and empowering environment where our teens could grow, learn, and thrive. Their dedication made a lasting impact on each of them.

A very special shout-out to Bryce and Ally for being absolutely phenomenal camp guides throughout the experience! 🌟👏 Your enthusiasm, patience, encouragement, and ability to connect with our teens helped create an environment where they felt supported, challenged, and empowered to try new things. Thank you for being such positive role models and for making this experience so meaningful and memorable for everyone involved. ❤️

Thank you all for helping our teens discover that they are stronger, braver, more resilient, and more capable than they ever imagined. The confidence, friendships, and memories created during this experience will stay with them for years to come. 💙🦯✨🏕️

✈️🌟 Taking Learning to New Heights! 🌟✈️

Our Children's Program recently had the incredible opportunity to visit Tampa International Airport, where students explored the exciting world of aviation, transportation, and travel.

From watching planes take off and land to learning about airport operations, safety, and the many careers that keep an airport running, this hands-on experience brought classroom learning to life in a meaningful way.

Experiences like these help build confidence, curiosity, independence, and an understanding of the many possibilities that await our students in the future.

A huge thank you to Tampa International Airport for helping inspire the next generation of explorers, dreamers, and future professionals! 💙

Today we pause to remember and honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Their courage, dedication, and selflessness have helped protect the freedoms we hold dear.

As we gather with family and friends, we take a moment to reflect with gratitude and remember those who gave everything.

From all of us at Lighthouse Vision Loss Center, we honor the fallen and extend our deepest appreciation to those who have served.

❤️🤍💙

✨ EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT ✨

Meet Megan, a dedicated team member at the Lighthouse Vision Loss Center, serving in Outreach and Low Vision Services—and a vital part of our Marketing Department!

Megan plays a powerful dual role in making an impact across our community. Through her outreach work, she connects with local organizations, coordinates presentations, and helps spread awareness about the life-changing programs and services Lighthouse provides. She also spearheads our White Cane Awareness Day efforts, helping bring visibility, education, and advocacy to the forefront in a meaningful way.

In addition, Megan provides personalized magnification consultations, working one-on-one with clients to find the right tools and technology to maximize their remaining vision. From helping someone read again to making everyday tasks more accessible, her work directly supports independence and confidence.

Megan is truly irreplaceable—her passion, devotion, and commitment to our mission shine through in everything she does. Whether she’s out in the community or working closely with a client, she brings heart, expertise, and purpose to every interaction.

Thank you, Megan, for helping us bring the light every day. 💙

LOCAL BUSINESSES — WANT FREE HELP THIS SUMMER? 👀💼

We’re looking for businesses across Sarasota, Manatee, DeSoto, Highlands & Charlotte counties to host amazing teens from our Lighthouse Transition Program.

📅 July 13 – August 10

✨ Motivated teens ready to learn
✨ Extra hands to support your team
✨ NO cost to you
✨ Ongoing support from our program + job coaches

This is more than just help…
it’s a chance to build confidence, independence, and real futures ❤️

You get support.
They gain experience.
Everyone wins.

👇 OWN A BUSINESS OR KNOW SOMEONE WHO DOES?
Tag them below, share this post, or message us to get involved!

📞 Courtney Rayne
(941) 359-1404
[email protected]

👉 “Tag a business that should be part of this 👇