NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. -- The mission of the Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind is to help its clients adapt and adjust to any environment. COVID-19 has forced the agency to do the same.
- COVID-19 Presents Unique Challenges for the Blind and Visually Impaired: LVIB Youth Programs Coordinator and Social Worker Heather Tuck, who is also blind, said that people with vision issues rely on their other senses to navigate the world, including touch. "Being able to keep our hands sanitized all the time because we use our hands all the time is no new task for us, but not being able to reach out in the world and be able to understand what's in front of us or what's around us with our hands makes it very, very difficult to be able to navigate," she said. Social distancing is also a challenge because visually impaired individuals may be independent but still rely on people for rides to the store or other assistance. This precaution can also be especially isolating for the blind.
- The Lighthouse Adapts: LVIB has expanded its offerings to include wellness checks, help filling out online forms, and assistance with grocery shopping. "Mental mapping is a very big part of the life of someone who's visually impaired. Most of us have mentally mapped out all of the stores that we go to," said Tuck. One-way aisles in grocery stores that are marked by signs on the ground have disrupted those memorized store layouts.
- Doors Closed, Services Continue: In addition to its expanded offerings, the Lighthouse continues to offer regular services. Tuck said one example is the teen pre-employment transition program. Participants would normally meet in person to take part in a variety of lessons aimed at getting them ready for college and the workforce. Now, teens take part in weekly Zoom meetings where Tuck said they've taken a virtual tours of manufacturing plants in Oklahoma and working with Pasco-Hernando State College's student services department for lessons about applying to college. "It means to me that there are still people out there who care about how we learn and navigate around different environments," said Valencia Williams-Abbatiello, 18, one of the program participants.
- Beacon of Hope: LVIB offers programming to children, teens, and adults in Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus Counties who are blind and visually impaired. It is the only Division of Blind Services' Community Rehabilitation Program in those counties. Programs are aimed at teaching blind and visually impaired individuals skills they can use to live independently and succeed in the workforce. "We have to adapt to what's going on around us right now. It's imperative that we be that example for our clients so they can see that, 'Wow, okay, well, we can still keep going, keep moving."
- For more information, visit lvib.org.