Miami Lighthouse for the Blind

With a mission to prevent blindness, our Florida Heiken Children's Vision program provides free eye exams and prescription glasses where needed to financially disadvantaged students in Pre-K through 12th grade throughout Florida. 👓 You can support this initiative by attending Music Under the Stars on May 13th, where we are celebrating the 34th anniversary of this incredible program! 🥂 Since 1992, our Heiken program has provided more than 238,000 comprehensive eye exams, and in the 2024–25 school year alone 16,494 students received exams and 10,829 received glasses! 👏 This is more than just screening vision; these exams detect serious medical conditions that can lead to permanent blindness if untreated. You can impact the continued success of this program, purchase your tickets to Music Under the Stars now! Ticket link ➜ /2026MusicUnderTheStars.asp Together, we prove it's possible to see without sight! 👁️💙 #MiamiLighthouse @thechildrenstrust @cscbroward @healthy_fla @colliercffl @baptisthealth_foundation @heartofoceanreef @florida.health @beaconcouncil @miamirotary @miami_optometry @marlinsimpact @heartofoceanreef @lionsclubs @sfm_services @miamikidsmagazine @abbopticalgroupfamily @abbopticalgroup #MusicUndertheStars #CommunityLeaders #MiamiLeaders #FloridaHeiken

#BlindSoccer ⚽🥅 Trying out blinders for the first time, Miami Lighthouse Bright Beacons early elementary schoolchildren and the teen participants in our Pre-Employment Transition Program learn how to play blind soccer on our mini pitch, the only one of its kind in Miami, from our very own USABA-trained blind soccer coach, @edeetjen . Did you know? In Blind Soccer, all participants wear blinders so the playing field has equal access, with players using ear foot coordination as the soccer ball rattles across the field. This makes the sport ideal for those with visual impairment and without to play and thrive together. Miami Lighthouse is proud to bring Comprehensive Blind Soccer to South Florida and beyond! We have the largest number of USABA-trained blind soccer coaches in the state leading this first-of-its-kind program, and our very own Senior Technology Specialist, Oseas de Leon, is on the USA Blind Soccer Men’s National Team! #MiamiProud The Miami Lighthouse Blind Soccer program is made possible with support from the @abrahamfoundation , @thechildrenstrust , @florida.blue , as well as continued support from the @honda USA Foundation and the Al & Jane Nahmad Family Foundation. 🙏 #ThankYou Together, we prove it's possible to see without sight! 💙 #MiamiLighthouse @usaba1 @usablindsoccer @miamischools To donate to support Blind Soccer at Miami Lighthouse, visit - /Support-Blind-Soccer-at-Miami-Lighthouse.asp #MiamiLighthouseBlindSoccer #SupporttheBlind #Inclusive #MiamiLeaders #CommunityLeaders #LowVision #SchoolfortheBlind #AccessibleSports #AccessibleSoccer #InclusiveEducation #CommunitySupport @fwc26miami @fifa @fifaworldcup @fifaclubworldcup @leomessi

Register your child today! Miami Lighthouse Academy, located in West Brickell, offers a free Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) for 4-year-olds, as well as afterschool care! 🏆 This past academic year our students scored in the top 95th percentile district-wide on state testing! Our Academy is inclusive, serving children who are blind, visually impaired, and sighted in a supportive and engaging environment. 📚✏️ While the State of Florida's rule is that VPK providers must offer a minimum of 3 hours of VPK, at Miami Lighthouse Academy we go above and beyond for our students and we provide a full school day to our VPK through 3rd grade classes, from 8:35am to 2:05pm, with after school care. 🍎 All of our Academy classes, from toddlers to third grade, have Florida Certified classroom teachers as well as certified Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVI's). 🍎 Our school is a Florida Gold Seal and nationally Accredited Professional Preschool Learning Environment, an "Apple Accredited" inclusive early learning program. While our Academy's VPK enrolls children who are sighted in our inclusive preschool along with students who have visual impairments, we also offer Kindergarten and 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Grade to students who are visually impaired. To learn more visit 🔗 MiamiLighthouseAcademy.org or call 786-362-7483. Together, we prove #ItsPossibleToSeeWithoutSight 💙 #MiamiLighthouseAcademy #NowEnrolling @miamischools @elcmdm @educationfl @thechildrenstrust @highscopeus @thechildrenstrust #MiamiLighthouse #SupporttheBlind #MiamiLeaders #CommunityLeaders #LowVision #BlindServices #AccessibleEducation #SchoolfortheBlind #FloridaVPK #MiamiLeaders

🥂🌟At Miami Lighthouse for the Blind's annual Music Under the Stars event, our community comes together to raise awareness and support our Florida Heiken Children's Vision Program. Florida Heiken provided 16,500 comprehensive eye exams and over 11,000 prescription eyeglasses to underserved Florida children in need, just last year, referred to our program after failing their school vision exam. Through our four mobile eyecare clinics and our Heiken network of optometrists, this Program truly provides the "Gift of Vision". 👓 A highlight of the event: incredible live musical performances by Alfonso Villalobos, award-winning singer-songwriter, internationally acclaimed jazz guitarist Leo Quintero, renowned jazz artist Jeff Zavac, Cuban-born vocalist Odelkis Savignon, emerging Miami talent Daliany Camacho, and a performer we are especially proud of, Silvio Plata, a Miami Lighthouse programs alumnus. 🎶 Silvio started at Miami Lighthouse as a baby and grew up here in our programs, learning to play piano and read music in our classrooms. We are proud to share that Silvio now goes on to pursue his law degree at @univmiami on a full scholarship, and he will be a voice instructor in our Youth Music Program this summer! We thank our partners, the Miami Dade Optometric Physicians Association, and Miami-Dade Schools for their support. Together, we prove it's possible to see without sight!™ 💙 #MiamiLighthouse @thechildrenstrust @miamischools @miami_optometry #CommunityLeaders #MiamiLeaders #MusicUndertheStars #SupportingtheBlind

🥂🌟 Last night Miami Lighthouse for the Blind celebrated our annual Music Under the Stars event, where our community comes together to raise awareness and support our Florida Heiken Children's Vision Program. Florida Heiken provided 16,500 comprehensive eye exams and over 11,000 prescription eyeglasses to underserved Florida children in need, just last year, referred to our program after failing their school vision exam. Through our four mobile eyecare clinics and our Heiken network of optometrists, this program truly provides the "Gift of Vision". 👓 A highlight of last night's event: incredible live musical performances by Alfonso Villalobos, award-winning singer-songwriter, internationally acclaimed jazz guitarist Leo Quintero, renowned jazz artist Jeff Zavac, Cuban-born vocalist Odelkis Savignon, emerging Miami talent Daliany Camacho, and a performer we are especially proud of, Silvio Plata, a Miami Lighthouse programs alumnus. 🎶 Silvio Plata first became a Miami Lighthouse client at just two months old and as he grew, our programs provided the support he needed, from early intervention, through our children’s programs and into in our teen programs. It was at Miami Lighthouse that Silvio learned to play the piano by our instructor Julio Fumero, and as he grew in our programs, he continued to receive one-on-one musical training with our instructors, and even had a special lesson with Miami Lighthouse guest Andrea Bocelli. 👏 Silvio's journey is a testament to how Miami Lighthouse for the Blind is a lifelong support system for individuals with visual impairment; we are proud to share that Silvio now goes on to pursue his law degree at @univmiami on a full scholarship, and he will be a voice instructor in our Youth Music Program this summer! We thank our partners, the Miami Dade Optometric Physicians Association, and Miami-Dade Schools for their support. Together, we prove it's possible to see without sight!™ 💙 #MiamiLighthouse #CommunityLeaders #MiamiLeaders #MusicUndertheStars #SupportingtheBlind

On our next Future Call, we’ll explore how Miami Lighthouse Academy, a division of @themiamilighthouse , supports blind and visually impaired children. Mara Gonzalez, Academy Director and Michael Berger, Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TVI) at Miami Lighthouse Academy will share how their education, training, research and vision enhancement programs provide hope, confidence, and independence to people of all ages; including environments that meet the need for all early learners. The conversation will highlight how their evidence-based curriculum and program structure cultivate a sense of belonging for all children and families and how communities can thoughtfully support all learners. Visit the link in bio to register. #EarlyLearning #EarlyChildhood #TheChildrensMovement #TheFutureCall #ForFloridaChildren #FloridaParents #FloridaBabies #VirtualEvent #SouthFlorida #CentralFlorida #NorthFlorida #Florida

Miami Lighthouse Blind Soccer was mentioned by the co-chair of the FIFA World Cup Miami host committee, Rodney Barreto, in a recent interview by the @nytimes and @theathletichq ! 🗞️ Miami Lighthouse Blind Soccer is a community effort, supported by the Children’s Trust, community leaders, and most recently the FIFA World Cup Miami host committee, a new partnership that we celebrated last month at the One Game, One Future Blind Soccer Clinic, a grant activation that took place at Miami Lighthouse on our on-campus blind soccer mini-pitch. 🕶️⚽ Here's an excerpt from the New York Times article- “If you were there, you would have tears in your eyes to see the kids,” Barreto said, having attended the session. “The technology is (very clever), the way the ball makes a noise so they can hear the ball. Then, if it goes out of bounds, it makes a different noise. That’s going to be a legacy so that they can pursue an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors and enjoy playing soccer.” 🗞️ To read the full article, visit - /athletic/7260086/2026/05/07/world-cup-ice-rubio-stadium-trump-fifa/ We thank @fifafoundation , @thechildrenstrust , @usaba1 , @fwc26miami , @rodmiami15 , @abrahamfoundation , as well as @miamischools and @educationfl , for supporting our blind soccer program. 🙏 Together, we prove it's possible to see without sight!™ 💙 #MiamiLighthouse #BlindSoccer To contribute to Miami Lighthouse Blind Soccer, visit ➜ /Support-Blind-Soccer-at-Miami-Lighthouse.asp #CommunityLeaders #MiamiLeaders #Inclusivity

Miami Lighthouse Academy students from toddlers to 3rd graders celebrated Mother's Day by inviting moms into the classroom to enjoy arts and crafts together, dancing, and a gift exchange! 💝✨ 🌹 Happy Mothers Day! #WeLoveYou 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘞𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦, 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 "𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦" 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶! Miami Lighthouse Academy offers- 🍎 APPLE accredited free VPK for children who are sighted 👓 inclusive preschool for students with visual impairments ✏️ Kindergarten and 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Grade for students who are visually impaired 🏆 Our Academy is a fully accredited Gold Seal Quality Care Program provider, in partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Transportation and therapies provided! Learn more, register your child, or book an Academy tour here ➜ Together, we prove it's possible to see without sight!™ 💙 #MiamiLighthouseAcademy Our Academy is made possible with support from: @thechildrenstrust @elcmdm @miamischools @eseoutreach @mdcps_ese @educationfl 🙏 Miami Lighthouse Academy has accreditations from: @faccm_apple @faeraware & more! #InclusiveClassrooms #VisualImpairment #MothersDay

Happy Mothers Day! 💙💕 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘞𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦, 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 "𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦" 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶! #MothersDay #ThankYou #Moms #WeLoveYou

In the News: Miami Lighthouse for the Blind 🎥 @CBSMornings "Opening Up the Music World to Blind People" We thank CBS Mornings News for shining a light on our Braille music literacy program! This news report features interviews with Miami Lighthouse programs alumnus Silvio Plata and the creator of our Braille Music Certification curriculum, Jin Choi. 🎼 Silvio first became a Miami Lighthouse client at just two months old. As he grew, our programs provided the support he needed, from early intervention through our children’s programs, and then later in our teen programs when he received one-on-one training with our Braille music and performance instructors, as well as very special guest, Andrea Bocelli! 🤩 Silvio's journey is a testament to how Miami Lighthouse can be a lifelong support system to help individuals with visual impairment to thrive; Silvio now goes on to pursue his law degree on a full scholarship at the University of Miami. The Miami Lighthouse Braille Music Certification Program is one-of-a-kind, designed for blind and visually impaired students with advanced braille literacy skills who aspire to a career in music. This exclusive program is application-only. 🖥️🎵 Learn more, here ➜ /MusicBrailleOnlineCourse.asp To contact the instructor, Jin Ho Choi, call (786) 362-7458 or e-mail [email protected]. Together, we prove it's possible to see without sight! 💙 #MiamiLighthouse #BrailleMusic #BrailleLiteracy #Inclusion #MusicBraille

It's Teacher Appreciation Week and we are full of gratitude for our team of Florida Certified classroom teachers 🥰. This reel shows candid moments at Miami Lighthouse Academy, featuring Academy teachers smiling for the camera, colorful spring classroom decorations, our early elementary students at lunch, and Academy Kindergarteners coming in from recess and in class. 📸 Teachers featured: Natali Timothee, Kisses Cabuquit, Mary Camacho, TVI Michael Berger, and Diego Muñoz. 🙏 Thank you teachers, for being a guiding light in the lives of our students at Miami Lighthouse Academy! 💛✨ Together, we prove it's possible to see without sight!™ 💙 #MiamiLighthouseAcademy #TeacherAppreciation #ThankYou Miami Lighthouse Academy offers- 🍎 APPLE accredited free VPK for children who are sighted 👓 inclusive preschool for students with visual impairments ✏️ Kindergarten and 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Grade for students who are visually impaired 🏆 Our Academy is a fully accredited Gold Seal Quality Care Program provider, in partnership with Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Transportation and therapies provided! Learn more, register your child, or book an Academy tour here ➜ Our Academy is made possible with support from: @thechildrenstrust @elcmdm @miamischools @eseoutreach @mdcps_ese @educationfl 🙏 Miami Lighthouse Academy has accreditations from: @faccm_apple @faeraware & more! #InclusiveClassrooms #VisualImpairment

Next week, we celebrate together at Music Under the Stars: Bon Appétit Miami 🌟, an annual event benefitting our Florida Heiken Children's Vision Program, which provides free eye exams and prescription glasses to Florida students in need. 👓🤲 🥂 At Music Under the Stars, we gather at Miami Lighthouse to enjoy: • Performances by Miami Lighthouse's award-winning musicians • A Miami Lighthouse Youth Music student performance • Expert Emceeing by Barry Johnson, former President of The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce • Presentations honoring Miami-Dade County School Board Chair, Mari Tere Rojas • Moments of recognition for the Miami-Dade Optometric Physicians Association • Special guest performances by Leo Quintero, Grammy award-winning jazz guitarist, and Jeff Zavac, saxophone extraordinaire. • Culinary treats by the best in Miami! All to help support our Heiken Program, on its 34th anniversary! 🌟🥂 Don't miss out! Get your tickets here - /2026MusicUnderTheStars.asp When: Wednesday, May 13th 6pm-9pm Where: Miami Lighthouse for the Blind (601 SW 8th Ave.) Together, we prove it's possible to see without sight! 💙 #MiamiLighthouse #MusicUndertheStars @thechildrenstrust @dalianycamachoa #CommunityLeaders #MiamiLeaders #FloridaHeiken