Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Inc.

Through education, training, research and vision enhancement, Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired provides hope, confidence, and independence to people of all ages.

It's Possible to See Without Sight™

601 Southwest Eighth Avenue, FL 33130 · Ph: 305.856.2288 · Fx: 305-285.6967 · info@miamilighthouse.org 

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Contact Us

Contact Information

601 SW 8th Avenue
Miami, FL 33130 
Click Here for Directions
Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday, 8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.
Client Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 A.M. - 3:30 P.M.
Please call for holiday hours.

For General Inquiries:

Telephone: 305-856-2288 
Fax: 305-285-6967 
Email: info@miamilighthouse.org

Directory

Executive Office

Virginia A. Jacko

President & Chief Executive Officer

305-856-4176

     

Heidy Farinas

Senior Development Database Manager

786-362-7510

     

Natalya Lopez

Development Database Coordinator

786-362-7511

     

Lisa Sanabria

Executive Administrative Assistant

786-362-7500

Senior Staff

Richard Fernandez

Chief Financial Officer

786-362-7475

     

Carol Brady-Simmons

Chief Program Officer

786-362-7480

     

Cameron Sisser

Senior Vice President for External Relations

786-362-7515

     

Brenda Williamson

Director of Compliance and Program Grant Development

786-362-7512

     

Cristina Rodriguez

Interim Director

786-362-7468

Adult Services

Carol Brady-Simmons

Chief Program Officer

786-362-7480

     

Vicky Larrea

Database/Data Entry Specialist

786-362-7459

Personal Management

Raquel Van Der Biest

Occupational and Low Vision Therapist 786-362-7529
     

Karima Garcia

Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant 786-362-7509
Case Managers

Corina Hernandez

Senior Case Manager

786-362-7445

     
Computer Technology Services

William (Bill) Rivera

Technology Director

786-362-7455

     

Jin Ho Choi

Braille & Assistive Technology Specialist

786-362-7458

     

Oseas de Leon

Braille and Technology Literacy Coordinator

786-362-7457

     

Jorge Hernandez

Manager of Technology

305-856-2288
ext 7547

     

Juniette Alvarez

Computer Technology Services Instructor

786-362-7547

     

Mirna Garcia

Computer Technology Services Instructor

786-362-7547

Orientation & Mobility

Florian Utchitel

Director for Rehabilitation Programs

786-362-7509

     

Samly Melendez

O&M Specialist

786-362-7447

     

Judith Porro, COMS, CVRT

O&M Specialist

 

Social Group Activities

Jose Gonzalez

Senior Group Activity Instructor

786-362-7453

     

Aaron Hill

Senior Group Activity Instructor

786-362-7453

     

Ruth Marcus

Dietitian

305-856-2288
ext 7548

     

Diana Cheng

Activities Coordinator

786-362-7453

Transition Program

Betty Chavarria

Manager of Transition and Education Services

786-362-7523

     
Job Readiness

Jorge Hernandez

Manager of Technology

786-362-7449

Blind Babies Program

Jehiel Guzman

Manager of Children's Programs

786-362-7484

     

Alexandra Watson

Family and Children Support Specialist

786-362-7484

Miami Lighthouse Academy

Francesca Crozier-Fitzgerald

Director of our CVI Collaborative Center

786-636-6498

     

Demetrius Morgan

Associate Director for TVI

786-362-7483

     

Michael Berger

Associate Director of Miami Lighthouse Academy

786-362-7483

     

Tania Perez

Associate Director of our CVI Collaborative Center

786-362-6509

     

Carmen Flores

Teacher Assistant

786-362-7483

     

Yara Frignani

Early Childhood Education Teacher

786-362-7483

     

Marcia Labat

Early Childhood Education Teacher

786-362-7483

     

Fany Ferrufino

Early Childhood Education Teacher

786-362-7483

     

Maria Leonor

Teacher Assistant

786-362-7483

     

Dawn Swinehart-Jones

Teacher of the Visually Impaired

786-362-7483

     

Sarai Mendoza

Lead Teacher Assistant

786-362-7483

     

Silvia Volonte

Early Childhood Education Teacher

786-362-7441

     

Brianna Perez

Program Coordinator

786-362-7483

     

Natali Timothee

Teacher Assistant / Substitute

786-362-7483

     

Gency Chacon

Teacher Assistant

786-362-7483

     

Karolina Gonell

Teacher Assistant

786-362-7483

     

Perla Zarruk

Teacher Assistant

786-362-7483

     

Ylianne Llana-Leon

Occupational Therapist

786-362-7483

     

Karla Padilla

Case Management & Compliance

786-362-6504

     

Melinda Roman

Early Childhood Education Teacher

786-362-7483

Florida Heiken Children's Vision Program

Dannielle Dixson

Heiken Children's Vision Program Director

786-362-7527

     

Dr. Scott Schatz

Heiken Quality Assurance

786-362-7469

     

Oscar Godoy

Optometric Technician Driver

786-362-7525

     

Katia Quintana

Optometric Technician Driver

786-362-7467

     

Carmen Arguijo

Heiken Optometric Technician Driver 786-362-7522
     

Christian Fernandez

Data Entry 786-362-7504
     

Virginia Perdomo

Heiken Children’s Vision Program Assistant Manager 786-362-7528
     

Anabel Paco-Cano

Program Coordinator 786-362-7528
     

Shanoc Mejia

Program Coordinator 786-362-7528
     

Denisse Hernandez

Data Entry 786-362-7528
Low Vision

Scott Gartner, O.D.

Consulting Optometrist 786-362-7469
   

 

John Garcia

Manager of Vision Solutions 786-362-7489
   

 

Raquel Van Der Biest

Occupational and Low Vision Therapist

786-362-7529

     

Milagros Garcia

Low Vision Receptionist

786-362-7470

Music Department

Antonio Cobo

Music Instructor

786-362-7531

     

Oman Pedreira

Music Instructor

786-362-7531

     

Julio Fumero

Music Instructor

786-362-7531

     

Gerlado Ubieda

Music Instructor

786-362-7531

     

Audrey Carballo

Manager of Music Programs

786-362-7535

Development

Heidy Farinas

Development Database Manager

786-362-7510

     

Natalya Lopez

Development Database Coordinator

786-362-7511

     

Marlen Munoz

Manager of Grant Administration

786-362-7472

External Relations

Cameron Sisser

Vice President for External Relations

786-362-7515

Human Resources

Jose Riopedre

Human Resources Director

786-362-7513

Finance and Business Services

Richard Fernandez

Chief Financial Officer

786-362-7475

     

Yuderquis Ciriaco

Senior Accountant

786-362-7476

     

Anthony Espinal

Senior Accountant

786-362-7517

     

Martha Perez

Accountant

786-362-7477

     

Yenisel Trujillo

Junior Accountant

786-362-7476

Transportation & Facilities

Jesus Pina

Cook

786-362-7442

     

Gustavo Quevedo

Driver

786-362-7441

     

Ariel Sanchez

Manager of Transportation

786-362-7441

     

Elizabeth Cera

Driver

786-362-7441

     

Jose Garcia

Driver

786-362-7441

     

Felix Rivas

Driver

786-362-7441

Front Desk Reception

Andreiy Seda

Client and Guest Relations Coordinator

305-856-2288

     

Furious Berrain

Back-up Receptionist

305-856-2288

Directions to Miami Lighthouse

From the North: 
  • Take I-95 South to the SW 7 Street exit.
  • At the bottom of the ramp, turn right onto SW 7 Street.
  • Proceed to the next traffic light, which is SW 8 Avenue and turn Right.
  • Our parking lot is on the right-hand side, about ½ block down. 
From the South: 
  • Take US 1 North until it becomes I-95 North.
  • Take the SW 8 Street exit.
  • At the traffic light go straight ahead to the next traffic light, which is SW 7 Street.
  • Turn Left.
  • Go to SW 8 Avenue (a traffic light) and turn Right.
  • Our parking lot is on the right-hand side, about ½ block down. 
From the West: 
  • Take the Palmetto to 836 east.
  • Proceed to I-95 South.
  • Take I-95 South to the SW 7 Street exit.
  • At the bottom of the ramp, turn right onto SW 7 Street.
  • Proceed to the next traffic light, which is SW 8 Avenue and turn Right.
  • Our parking lot is on the right-hand side, about ½ block down. 
From the West via SW 8th Street:
  • Head east on SW 8th STREET to SW 8th AVENUE.
  • Turn left onto SW 8th Avenue.
  • Go 1-1/2 blocks north.
  • Miami Lighthouse on the right.
 
 
   

Miami Lighthouse for the Blind is committed to providing a fully accessible website experience.
Click here for Website Accessibility Statement

   
   
                   

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 prestigious 2020 award for "Best in Nonprofit" campaign by PRWeek referred to as the "Oscars of the PR industry".

 

Miami Lighthouse ranks among the elite 1% of U.S. nonprofits having earned 13 consecutive 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator, the nation's premier independent nonprofit evaluator. Receiving such a distinction reflects our sound fiscal management, responsible use of donor dollars, and financial strength.

 

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.