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This month, Lighthouse of the Big Bend launched a new class for our clients in the Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program titled Vocational Rehabilitation Foundations. The 4-week series covered a variety of topics to help clients learn about the essential skills and resources needed to help them succeed in the workforce, including: • Communication and Interpersonal Skills • Self-Advocacy • The Americans with Disabilities Act • Social Security Disability Work Incentives • Transportation Services • Resume Writing, Interviewing, and Attending Job Fairs LBB invited guest speakers to present on these topics and provided a forum for clients to share their personal experiences in the job market. Clients were also encouraged to provide feedback on what they gained from the series and how we can improve it in the future. The next VR Foundations class will be in October. Image description: VR Foundations program graduates enjoying pizza following their completion of the program!

Lighthouse is grateful to the Capital Medical Society Foundation Board and their Executive Director, Tom Block for their generous gift again this year❤ Image description: Tom Block wearing glasses and a green and white stripe shirt is on the left and Tina Torrance wearing glasses and wearing a colorful flower shirt is on the right. #guidingpeoplethroughvisionloss #seeingindependence #capitalmedicalsocietyfoundation

Our Lighthouse team provided our Blind Friendly Business Training to the staff and volunteers at Goodwood Museum & Gardens on Tuesday. The class was full, and participants were engaged and eager to learn. Staff and volunteers had thoughtful and meaningful questions, and it was truly a pleasure to work with them. They had the opportunity to use our vision simulator goggles which mimic various eye conditions, and they also had the opportunity to learn and practice proper sighted guide techniques. The sighted guide technique is a safe method for assisting a person who is blind or visually impaired. We would love to provide this training to your staff! Give us a call at 850-942-3658 to schedule for your business or organization! Image descriptions: Photo 1: Lighthouse specialist Jennifer Stephens instructs the group on the elements of the sighted guide technique with 2 ladies demonstrating. Photo 2: A lady is offering her elbow to a gentleman wearing goggles depicting a visual impairment as they practice utilizing the sighted guide technique. Photo 3: Lighthouse specialist, Sharon Scherbarth Simmons is sharing a blindfold with a lady so that she can experience what an individual who is blind experiences. Photo 4: A lady wearing goggles simulating a visual impairment is practicing the sighted guide technique with a gentleman guiding her. #guidingpeoplethroughvisionloss #seeingindependence #BlindFriendlyBusinessTraining #goodwoodmuseumandgardens

Happy 4th of July! Wishing you and your family a safe and happy holiday weekend! Image description: Happy 4th of July LBB will be closed Thursday, July 2nd through Monday, July 6th. In the center of the image is the Statue of Liberty and the American Flag in red, white, and blue.

The Beginning Braille Group with LBB's specialist Janet Acheson, Ed.S. TVI, used tactile creativity by “drawing” with Wikki Stixs. Participants used Wikki Stix to create a line drawing and then exchanged and viewed with the creator revealing the contents of their drawing. Wikki Stix are similar to pipe cleaners but thinner with a coated waxy finish that allows them to easily create a design, affix to any surface, and be safely removed. Creating, exploring, and interpreting with our sense of touch is essential and can be fun as well. Image description: Photo shows the Braille Group with specialist, Janet Acheson, working on their project with Wikki Stix. #guidingpeoplethroughvisionloss #seeingindependence #lighthousebigbend #LBB #beginningbraillegroup

LBB hosted our inaugural Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Foundations 4-week class supporting our client’s goal of achieving employment. The VR Foundations series will cover a variety of topics, including self-advocacy, communication skills, Social Security work Incentives, transportation services, and resume writing. Clients will also have an interactive experience, where they will engage with their peers and expert presenters, to help them gain the essential skills and confidence to compete in the workforce. Today’s agenda included clients sharing their job interests and preferences, Planning for Success, and Principles of Self-Advocacy, presented by Sila Miller with the Florida Department of Education, Division of Blind Services. Image description: Photo of the VR Foundations group sitting around a table and listening to presenter Sila Miller. #guidingpeoplethroughvisionloss #seeingindependence #lighthousebigbend #LBB #VocationalRehabilitation #vocationalrehabilitationfoundations #vr

Wishing you a safe and Happy 4th of July Holiday weekend! Lighthouse will be closed Thursday, July 2nd through Monday, July 6th. Image description: Happy 4th of July LBB will be closed Thursday, July 2nd through Monday, July 6th with the Statue of Liberty and the American Flag in the center of the graphic.

Excited for the first ever LBB Accessibility Consultation! In an effort to make their space accessible as possible, Goodwood Museum and Gardens reached out to us and requested an Accessibility Consultation. We were thrilled to oblige! We were provided a private tour of the buildings and grounds, and we offered suggestions and recommendations throughout. Goodwood Museum and Gardens is our Blind Friendly Business Training workplace location for July, and we are excited to return to provide this valuable training to their staff and volunteers. If you would like us to provide this training to your staff, reach out to us! #seeingindependence #goodwoodmuseumandgardens #accessibility #AccessibilityMatters Image description: LBB's Tina Torrance and Jennifer Stephens stand with Goodwood's Stephany Cecil.

LBB's office will be closed Friday, June 19th in observance of Juneteenth. Graphic image is on a yellow background with 4 hands in red, orange, green, and black followed by the words Junetenth freedom day LBB's office will be closed Friday, June 19th in observance of Juneteenth.

Lighthouse of the Big Bend
3071 Highland Oaks Terrace
Tallahassee, FL 32301
850-942-3658
850-942-4518 (fax)
djump@SeeingIndependence.org

Federal Tax ID (EIN) 59-2288754

© 2026 LBB

LBB is supported through contracts with the
Florida Department of Education, Division of Blind Services.

LBB is proud to again receive the AER Accreditation Council's 5 year accreditation as of July 2023.