Services for the Community

The Lighthouse’s Community Service and Rehabilitation Division and its various programs provide extensive outreach and support services for visually impaired individuals in the Fort Worth area. This division responds annually to over 1,400 individuals. By 2010, the Lighthouse estimates that numbers to be served will grow by 33% to over 1,800 and by 2015 to 2,400 or more individuals; our expanding visually impaired senior population will continue this growth.

Orientation and Mobility instructors teach people to use a mobility cane and other techniques to allow them to move about their homes, workplace and the community.

Services for Seniors with Vision Loss helps people 55 and older with assistance using adaptive devices, building their communication skills, promoting positive interaction with family and friends, and connecting them with available community and state resources, a network often difficult for sightless seniors to navigate.

Work Adjustment teaches a sight-impaired person to develop good work habits or improve his or her job performance.
                       
Summer Transition for Students helps visually impaired or blind students gain experience in the real working world at the Lighthouse or a commercial business.

Information & Referral provides Community Services Specialists to assist visually handicapped individuals and their families in obtaining services from local, state and federal resources. Information and referral services are carried out over a 37 county area in North Central Texas, from Fort Worth to Wichita Falls and San Angelo.

The Community Services Division is funded with income from contributions, state agency fees and Endowment earnings.

The Future

The Board of Directors established a 3-5 year plan for the future:

• Expand employment opportunities for people who are blind.
• Expand Community Service programs to meet the growing needs of the elderly and blind.
• Expand the Endowment Trust to meet the expenses of expanded services.