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Welcome to the Lighthouse of the Big Bend Home Page
(Previously named the Florida Institute of Rehabilitation Education or FIRE)
Who
we are
The Lighthouse of the Big Bend is a nonprofit
agency dedicated to guiding people through vision loss. Our mission is to assist people with vision loss in their pursuit of independence. Free services
are provided on an outreach (one on one) or group basis and are provided without charge, without regard
to individual or family income level, race, creed, age, disability or
national origin. We are also the organizer of Tallahassee's Dining in the Dark event!
Who we serve
Any child age 0-5 or individual aged 14 to 114+ who is legally blind and lives in the following counties is eligible
for free services. Counties served include: Franklin, Gadsden, Hamilton,
Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor, and
Wakulla.
What we do
To enroll in the Lighthouse, individuals complete an intake referral
form, or fill one out over the phone with a Lighthouse staff member. Clients are then assigned a Specialist. The Specialists
help each client plan and implement a training program that will insure they
receive the best services possible. Services may include individual instruction
or classes in techniques of daily living (home and personal management),
communications, assistive technology including computers, orientation
and mobility (moving safely around the home and community), leisure
activities, self advocacy, and individual or family adjustment counseling.
For more details,
please go to the Services page.
How to Contact Us
For free services, please call the Lighthouse at (850) 942-3658 or toll-free at (888) 827-6033. You can also email the Lighthouse at info@lighthousebigbend.org. Our facility is located at 1286 Cedar Center Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32301, and you can click here for a map.
How to
Help
Check out the Lighthouse
Volunteer page for opportunities to assist the Lighthouse with your time and energy.
If you can help financially, please consider a tax-deductible gift to the Lighthouse by clicking on the
Network for Good & Guidestar link for NEW online donations!
Or, you can help by donating to our annual Dining in the Dark benefit scheduled for Sunday, October 18, 2009, and consider getting our specialty license plate "A State of Vision" benefiting the agency serving the blind in the county where your car is registered. So - if you buy the $25 tag in one of the Lighthouse's eleven counties, the money will come right back to Lighthouseof the Big Bend to help your neighbors, friends and family who may have lost their vision. Below is an image of the tag. You can buy a specialty tag gift certificate, as well, which might be a wonderful gift for the holidays. Much thanks to Representative Loranne Ausley who bought the first tag 2/7/07 and to all those who have already bought the tag!
Visit your local tag agency to find out how to get "A State of Vision" plate.
Updated 6/25/09
The Lighthouse of the Big Bend (formerly FIRE) is supported through contracts with the Florida Department of Education, Division of Blind Services, as well as grants through the United Way, Leon County, Capital Medical Society Foundation, and numerous corporate and private donations. ~ Thank you!
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