Miami Lighthouse Mission Moment - Gift of Vision
"A world-class learning environment where children can thrive."
-Matthew Mears, the Chancellor of Early Learning, Florida Department of Education-July 2022
To learn more or schedule a tour of our Miami Lighthouse Academy please contact our Program Coordinator at (786)362-7483 or e-mail our Academy Director, Mara Gonzalez, at MGonzalez@miamilighthouse.org.
Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired - in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Early Steps and the Early Learning Coalition - offers an inclusion environment for pre-kindergarten, and a kindergarten, first grade and second grade for blind and visually impaired students. As a certified Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) Provider, the Miami Lighthouse Academy pre-kindergarten enrolls students with and without vision impairment promoting an inclusive program and resulting in a sense of belonging for all children and families. In support of our mission, children without vision impairments are selected to aid the learning environment for children with vision loss.
Miami Lighthouse Academy is a national Accredited Professional Preschool Learning Environment (APPLE center).
Using the evidence-based HighScope Curriculum, blind or visually impaired students are supported in a print/braille rich environment. Miami Lighthouse is the first vision rehabilitation educational institution in the U.S. using the international HighScope Curriculum, and this is the first time that HighScope has been applied to blind learners in a fully inclusive model. Click here to read more about the HighScope Curriculum.
Learning in all classrooms is conducted by Florida-certified early childhood teachers, Florida-certified teachers of the visually impaired and teaching assistants. Currently, research faculty from the University of Miami is conducting a four year longitudinal study of the participating children and families as we help prepare them for mainstreaming into our public-school system.
Please also read our peer-reviewed article that was recently published in the Early Childhood Education Journal, entitled "Associations Between Peer Play Interactions and Empathy within an Early Childhood Inclusion Program for Children with Visual Impairment".
To learn more or schedule a tour of our Miami Lighthouse Academy please contact our Program Coordinator at (786)362-7483 or e-mail our Academy Director, Mara Gonzalez, at MGonzalez@miamilighthouse.org.
Read more about our collaboration with University of Miami and our innovative early childhood program, the first and
only one of its kind in the nation.
Click here to read the four year longitudinal research collaboration between Miami
Lighthouse Academy™ and the University of Miami.
Click here
to watch UMTV coverage about our collaboration.
Kayler enjoying his school breakfast
Liam expressing his joy after receiving a gift
Aimee using a slant board during Phonics
Miley enjoying a STEAM activity
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Miami Lighthouse is AER accredited distinguishing that an agency or school operates at the highest level of quality and is positioned to generate the outcomes needed by the clients.
Miami Lighthouse received the coveted Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce 2023 Nonprofit Business Innovative Excellence NOVO Award with an organizational budget of $2 million and above.
Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired has received 14 consecutive 4-star ratings, the highest rating possible, from the nation's premier independent nonprofit evaluator Charity Navigator. Attaining a 4-star rating indicates that our organization adheres to sector best practices, exceeds industry standards, and executes its mission in a financially efficient way.
Early Intervention Blind Babies Program Named the Children's Trust 2016 Program of the Year. This most prestigious award recognizes this Early Intervention Program, in particular, for including parents as teachers.
Miami Lighthouse Learning Center for Children™ is a Florida gold seal and nationally Accredited Professional Preschool Learning Environment (APPLE)
Miami Lighthouse was recognized at the 2015 Florida Blue Foundation Sapphire Awards luncheon as an organization that has demonstrated excellence and innovation in community health.
Miami Lighthouse received the prestigious 2015 Beacon Award in Education at the 13th Annual Beacon Council Awards.
Miami Lighthouse is a two-time Charity Partner (2013 and 2014) of the Marlins Foundation and a 2017 Major League Baseball All-Star Game Legacy Partner. Our Florida Heiken Children's Vision Program has received over $300,000 in charitable donations through these partnerships.
Miami Lighthouse received the prestigious 2008 Concern Award from Health Foundation of South Florida.
Miami Lighthouse received a Silver medal at the 2016 Miami Today Gold Medal Awards Ceremony.
Miami Lighthouse named "Best of Miami" Charity 2017 by the New Times.
Miami Lighthouse received United Homecare's 2012 Thelma Gibson Community Service Award at the 18th Annual Claude Pepper Memorial Awards Ceremony.
Miami Lighthouse received the prestigious South Florida Business Journal 2011 Excellence in Health Care Award in the Community Outreach category.
Miami Lighthouse honored by being named the recipient of the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce 2010 Non-Profit Business Diamond Award.
Miami Lighthouse received the prestigious 2020 award for "Best in Nonprofit" campaign by PRWeek referred to as the "Oscars of the PR industry".
Miami Lighthouse is proud to be a strategic partner with ABLE United, Florida's disability savings program, to learn more visit www.ableunited.com
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