Volume 22 - August, 2022

Lighthouse logo on a blue background with the words ILLUMINATIONS under the logo

Like Father, Like Son - Not Exactly

Donald sitting in front of a computer typing on an adaptive/low vision keyboard

This month our client spotlight is on Donald Lewis


Meet Donald Lewis, a 60-year-old heart transplant patient, and client of the Lighthouse, who spent his entire childhood living with a major secret that no one knew, not his family, friends or teachers. Donald graduated from high school, married, and obtained a full-time job as a nurse assistant/hospital orderly and still no one knew – Donald was illiterate.


Donald grew up in Savanah, Georgia raised by a single father with six siblings and had a rare genetic disorder - Marfan syndrome. Sometimes known as Marfans, is a disorder of the connective tissue that affects the skeleton, lungs, eyes, heart and blood vessels. People with the condition may also have vision problems; many are near-sighted, and about 50 percent suffer from dislocation of the ocular lens. In Donald’s case his symptoms started with his eyes, due to his inability to see much and his overwhelming shyness, he was afraid to tell his teachers or father that he could not see. He lived in fear throughout his school years afraid he would be discovered, and due to his inability to see – he never learned to read. His father was so busy working two jobs and raising six children that he never took the time to ask about his homework, to attend parent-teacher conferences or even read books with him.


“Parents play an important role in a child’s development, in my case my father assumed the school was teaching me and helping me develop intellectually, looking back I don’t blame him as it took everything he had to just keep a roof over our heads,” said Lewis. “However, perhaps the greatest gift he gave me was the knowledge and motivation to not make the same mistake as he did.”


Yes, Donald had a son, yes, he too was born with Marfans and yes he too, due to his vision loss could not read. But this is where the story differs from his. One day Donald asked his son, who was about 6 years old, to read a book to him. His son described what was happening in the photos, he was not reading the text. Without condescension, he gently asked, “Can you read this?” His son admitted he could not. Donald, learning from his father’s mistake, went to the school and told the teacher; his teacher had no idea he could not see, nor read. He immediately went to a bookstore, bought a phonics book and together, they learned to read. Just a few months ago Donald’s son graduated with his PhD in Higher Education from the University of Miami.

But the story does not end here, in 2014 Donald was diagnosed legally blind due to glaucoma that progressed and in 2015 had a heart transplant both due to Marfans. Needless to say, he was laid off from job as he could not work in the hospital environment with the visual impairment and heart condition. He gradually recovered from the transplant surgery, but not his loss of vision - so enter the Lighthouse.


He came to Lighthouse a few years ago, unemployed, depressed and in serious need of training to try to find employment. But again, due to his lack of reading and writing skills, never learned how to type or use a keyboard so he could use a computer.

“Mark Gracey changed my life, he helped me learn to use a computer and keyboarding skills, he taught me to be patient and how to not get frustrated, as I did often at the beginning. When I came to Lighthouse, I had no idea of my potential, but the education and skills I learned at the Lighthouse – it woke up my potential and now I know I can do anything. I don’t wish this syndrome on anyone, but it has taught me to never give-up and I hope this story can inspire and help others,” Donald concluded. 

August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month


Recent Poll Suggests Half of Parents in America Are Unaware of Issues That Can Affect Children’s Eye Health


Half of all parents in America may have inaccurate perceptions of activities that affect their child’s eye health and vision according to a recent poll released in July from the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital at the University of Michigan.


Some experts have pointed out the reasons for this could be the combination of increased screen time and less time outdoors.

“Many parents may not be aware of both the short and long-term health issues linked to excessive screen time, including its effect on children’s eyes,” says Sarah Clark, co-director of the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.

“Parents should encourage at least one to two hours of outdoor time per day because exposure to natural light benefits eye development. This excessive screen time may put children at higher risk for developing myopia, or nearsightedness, which can lead to serious eye problems in the future,” said Clark. “The rate of nearsightedness in children has increased dramatically in the past 30 years. Research is ongoing but studies suggest outdoor time protects against myopia. Some research has also indicated associations between working up close—like reading or using a tablet—increase the odds of myopia.”


Therefore, it is important that parents should get vision tests for their children at least every two years to make sure eyes are developing properly,” Clark says. “It’s important to identify and treat vision problems as early as possible, because undiagnosed issues can lead to serious eye conditions in the future, including permanent vision loss.”


Lighthouse for the Blind of the Palm Beaches agrees, and partners with numerous organizations throughout our community to offer free vision screenings for children under 5 years of age. If your child has not yet had a vision test, visit Lighthouse at the Cox Museum of Science’s Stroller Daze on Wednesday, August 24 9 am to 12 noon. Admission is FREE for kids under 5 and $5 off general admission for adults and kids ages 6-12! 

Graphic display of two children sitting at a desk with a computer in front of it saying  Kids and Screens: How Much Harm?
Black and white image of people holding hands with a green box over it that says celebrating National Nonprofit Day

Wednesday, August 17 is

National Non-Profit Day


Lighthouse for the Blind is celebrating National Non-Profit Day along with the other 94,000 in Florida. These organizations play a vital role in community development by offering disability services and support, food banks, affordable housing, medical care, the arts and much more. Another important contribution of the nonprofit sector is after-school activities; the enrichment opportunities they provide are vital assets to our communities. In fact, Lighthouse partners with nearly 60 other non-profits in our community to better serve our clients, as well as theirs.


The nonprofit sector is also a significant contributor to the state economy, according to the Florida Nonprofit Alliance 2020 report, nonprofits directly employ more than 629,000 people, or 6.5 percent of Florida’s workforce and generate nearly $105 billion in annual revenue.


In celebration of this important day - please consider donating

to Lighthouse for the Blind, $5, $20, $50, $100 or perhaps include Lighthouse in your planned giving.

Please make your donation below or call Lighthouse to discuss including us in your will or estate planning - 561-586-5600.

DONATE NOW

SAVE THE DATE

Caregivers Support Group Monday, September 12 6 pm - 8 pm at the Lighthouse
Calendar of Events:

Friday, August 20 - 12:00 noon - 1:00 pm - Friday Book Club virtual or in person at the Lighthouse.  E-mail dsalina@lhpb.org for more information. The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish


Wednesday, August 24 - 9:00 am - 12 noon - Free Vision Screenings at Stroller Daze at the Cox Science Museum.

Visit www.coxsciencecenter.org/stroller-daze for more information.


Friday, September 2 - 10:00 am - noon - September Focus Club 

E-mail rmulero@lhpb.org for more information.


Monday, September 12 - 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm - Caregivers Support Group. Includes dinner. Please R.S.V.P. to rmulero@lhpb.org.

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