Miami Lighthouse for the Blind

👁️ Today, a team of the best in the industry from the Miami Lighthouse CVI Collaborative Center presented the findings of their ongoing, first-of-its-kind research at the Envision and VisionServe Alliance 2026 Conference in Columbus, Ohio.👏

Presenters:

• Virginia Jacko, President & CEO of Miami Lighthouse for the Blind
• Professor Carlos Mendoza-Santiesteban, MD PhD, Neuro-Ophthalmologist and Surgeon, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami
• Michael Berger, TVI, Miami Lighthouse Academy
• François Sainfort, MD PhD FACHE Chair and Professor, Nova Southeastern University

During the past two years, Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired has collaborated with the University of Miami Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Nova Southeastern University , and Nicklaus Children's Hospital to address the number one cause of bilateral visual impairment in children in the developed world, Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI).

🧠 Also referred to as Cerebral Visual Impairment, CVI is a vision disorder resulting from damage to the brain central visual pathways and/or the cortex involved in visual processing.

CVI accounts for 18% of childhood blindness in the United States.

This research is crucial; less than 20% of patients with CVI are receiving an accurate diagnosis!

Learn more in our article in the Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, here ➜ https://doi.org/10.1177/0145482X261439126

To learn more about our CVI Collaborative Center, visit ➜ https://miamilighthouse.org/CVICenter.asp

Together, we prove it's possible to see without sight™! 💙

Today, Miami Lighthouse for the Blind Chief Program Officer Carol Brady-Simmons received the Cathy Holden Excellence in Managerial Leadership Award at the VisionServe Alliance Envision 2026 Conference! Congratulations, Carol! 🏆

Nominated by Miami Lighthouse President & CEO Virginia Jacko, Virginia writes, “I nominated Carol because her 37 years with Miami Lighthouse has empowered many thousands of Miamians affected by uncorrectable vision loss, far exceeding her peers and colleagues. As Chief Program Officer, Carol now oversees 37,000 program participants annually." 👏

Learn more about Carol and her award on the VisionServe Alliance website here ➜ https://visionservealliance.org/2026-annual-award-recipient-carol-brady-simmons/

Together, we prove it's possible to see without sight!™ 💙

We're on our way! 🚚💨 The Florida Heiken Children's Vision Program provided 16,500 comprehensive eye exams and over 11,000 prescription eyeglasses, all at no cost, to underserved Florida children in need just last year. That's what we call "giving the gift of vision". 👓

🚚😎 Florida Panthers Foundation

The Florida Heiken Children's Vision Program is made possible with support from The Children's Trust, Florida Department of Health (DOH), Children's Services Council of Broward County, Lions Clubs International Foundation, Baptist Health Foundation, AD Henderson Foundation, Quantum Foundation, The Batchelor Family Foundation, Dunspaugh-Dalton Foundation, Collier Community Foundation, Ocean Reef Community Foundation, and other crucial private foundations and individual donors. 🙏

Learn more online at FloridaHeiken.org

Land of the free, because of the brave ❤️🤍💙

On Memorial Day, a national holiday of remembrance and unity, Americans pause their activities and reflect, as we remember those who gave their lives for our freedom.

“How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes” – Maya Angelou

Reminder: Miami-Dade County Public Schools, as well as the Region and District offices, will be closed on Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day. We will reopen on Tuesday, May 26.

Today is the 15th annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day, raising awareness and promoting digital inclusion for the more than 1 billion people worldwide living with disabilities. 🌐🤝

Since 2014, Miami Lighthouse has been a leader in Website Accessibility Auditing and an advisor to Presidential Campaigns and more than 300 businesses, advising both the 2020 presidential campaigns and 2022 mid-term election campaigns on website accessibility.

Using our copyrighted scorecard, our auditing team of assistive technology IT specialists, most of whom are blind, help businesses in all sectors to ensure accessibility for users with disabilities and compliance with WCAG v2.0/2.1.

📞 Request a Website Audit Today! Send us an email at [email protected] or call 305-856-4176.

Visit our website to learn more -https://miamilighthouse.org/ADACompliance.asp

Together, we prove it's possible to see without sight!™ 💙 ADA National Network

You can make a difference! Donate now ➜ https://secure.miamilighthouse.org/Donations.asp

This past weekend, the Miami Lighthouse Youth Music Program performed on the student stage at the South Beach Jazz Festival, and at the Power Access Honors and Awards Brunch, three of our student musicians received scholarship awards! 🎵👏

Congratulating: Justus Arison, Christa Pineda, and Facundo Chirino 🏆👏

We thank the South Beach Jazz Festival, our incredible team of instructors and musicians, and our community for supporting our talented students!

📣 There's a few spots left in our Youth Music Summer Program, open to ages 12-18! It's a free, inclusive music program for both the visually impaired and sighted to learn and practice guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, violin, viola, cello, and vocal skills, together! Transportation, snacks, and lunch are provided. Camp starts June 16th! To apply, visit https://miamilighthouse.org/Music_Program.asp and scan the QR code.

Together, we prove it's possible to see without sight!™ 💙

Images via: South Beach Jazz Festival, MasterWing Creative Agency

Our music program is made possible with support from: The Children's Trust, The Mockingbird Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts, and more 💙