One day, a friend, also diagnosed with macular degeneration, told me about Lighthouse Central Florida. At first I was reluctant to call, but finally made an appointment for an interview. Shortly after, I enrolled in the Independent Living Skills class, and learned how to do a lot of things that I thought I would never be able to do again. During that class, I learned new ways of how to do other every day skills that I took for granted before I lost much of my sight, including how to safely navigate the kitchen. The instructors taught our class how to chop vegetables without cutting our fingers off, heat things like soup up on the stove, bake and clean up after ourselves. I had never thought that doing things like putting a key in a lock or threading a needle would be difficult, but our teachers showed us how to do these things a little bit different than the way we did before.

The skills I learned were very important, and best of all I gained back the hope and self confidence I had lost along the way. My experiences at Lighthouse changed my life in wonderful ways. I learned that I don't have to apologize to anyone for having poor sight.

While the staff at Lighthouse could not restore my vision, they taught me better ways to cope with it and gave me a sense of pride in my accomplishments. For that I shall always be grateful.

It was very frustrating for me to lose access to my computer when I lost my sight, because it was my main source of communication. Since taking the class, I have a new understanding of practical programs such as Word, Excel, and Windows Mail, and I have been able to become proficient in typing. It is now no problem for me to complete business projects and communicate with friends across the nation. I feel that I have received the skill set to be successful when returning to school. My instructor, Casey, was very thorough, informative, and patient. I am thankful for the sense of normality and accomplishment that Lighthouse has given me. I now have a new vision of what I can do even with a sight impairment.

Not anymore. “I just got back from taking a train trip solo across the United States,” Schneider says. “If it wasn’t for Lighthouse, I wouldn’t have been able to do that.” The “Lighthouse” of which Schneider speaks is Lighthouse Central Florida, the region’s only nonprofit provider of rehabilitative services for people who are blind or have severe vision loss. The agency serves residents of all ages in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties.

Classes for adults include independent living skills, such as how to meet personal and household needs; orientation and mobility skills including how to get safely from one place to another; and reading and writing skills, including technologies such as computers, electronic note-taking devices, scanners, and voice recognition tools.

As a result of his training, Schneider is not only taking care of everyday life and getting around confidently, he’s gradually taking steps to get back to work and is about to begin pursuing his doctorate in electrical engineering. He gives the staff at Lighthouse Central Florida a significant share of the credit. “They were such a professional team. They’re not just going out there and checking off the box – they’re thinking outside the box. It was a superb experience.”

Later, the most impacting change of my life came at age 13. During a presentation by a teacher I was asked “Marisa, what am I holding up?” I answered, “A block?” The teacher asked, “Would someone else like to try?” To which another student answered, “A paper towel.” Shortly after that incident I had my vision tested, and was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, just like my mom. I was in shock, knowing that I was slowly losing my hearing and my vision. “Why me?” I cried inside for a minute thinking about all the dreams that were crushed by this sudden discovery. I won’t be independent in going to school or going out with my friends at my time or schedule.

I then started to attend the Transition program at Lighthouse that allows 14-20 year olds to meet with others their age and create a social life. Not only does the Transition program allow us to make new friends with those who understand our frustrations, but it teaches us how to become successful in life tasks such as: job seeking and interviewing, computer skills and ability statements. Being visually impaired can make it difficult to find a job, so Lighthouse’s Transition program teaches us how to present ourselves to potential employers.

The future can be scary for someone without their vision. But, Lighthouse Central Florida has given me the training and services to help prepare me for the many years ahead.

In the next two days that followed the clean up began and the dull numbing pains continued. Finally on the evening of the third night, I told my family I needed to rest. I was just not feeling well. The decision was made to call the doctor; to let him know how I was feeling. The on-call nurse recommended I come in to the hospital to get checked out. Once I arrived, I was surprised to find out that I was in labor and had already begun to dilate. Everything seemed to be going fine up to this point. I was very healthy. But, this was my first and I did not know what sort of things to expect medically.

On August 19, 2004 Raquel Renay was born weighing 2 pounds and 3 ounces! It is indescribable to see how small she was. She was breathing on her own, had a full head of hair and the longest fingers I have ever seen. However, her eyes were still fused together.

In the days, weeks and months that followed, my family and I received quite an education on the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) wing of Florida Hospital. Tests and more tests all were coming back with good results except for one. There seemed to be a cloudy film over both of Raquel’s eyes. At first, the doctors believed she had some type of infection. They began to treat it with eye drops, hoping that it would clear up. When it never did the doctors seemed to be at a loss. The most heart wrenching day of my life was when I received a phone call from the pediatric ophthalmologist telling me that Raquel was blind and there was absolutely nothing that could be done. Devastated, I met with her treating neonatologist. He believed that one of his colleagues may be of some help. We were directed to see a doctor in Miami at the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute. Many examinations and meetings later, a name was given to what was wrong with Raquel’s eyes. She has Peter’s Anomaly. We made the decision to try a surgery which could potentially help restore some of Raquel's sight. On May 24, 2005 she had a cornea transplant in her left eye. On November 18, 2005 she received a cornea transplant in her right eye.

I've heard that the day you bring your baby home from the hospital is one of the happiest days of your life. What I remember feeling was overwhelmed and scared. Yes, I was happy to wheel her into the fresh air after a three month stay at the hospital. But, I was heartbroken for all her suffering and for the uncertainty that was ahead concerning her eye sight. The charge nurse handed me a stack of papers on our way out the door highlighting Lighthouse Central Florida as an organization that I should contact regarding Raquel’s vision impairment.

Raquel started her vision therapy with Lighthouse’s Early Intervention program after her first transplant. It has been amazing to see her development and her progression in learning to interact with the environment around her. After her second transplant it has been equally exciting to see her discover her new world. Each day is a little step forward. I am eternally grateful that there is an organization such as Lighthouse Central Florida that is available. There has been such a wealth of education and experience provided. We are so thankful for the unconditional support and concern of Lighthouse’s Early Intervention instructor. The benefit of having the instructor come to my home is such a blessing. I never take for granted the huge effort it takes for them to travel to provide me with services.

My family and I believe that the cornea transplants are a modern day miracle. I recently wrote a letter to the transplant family. I thanked them for their family’s loving generosity, and told them that all the beautiful sentiments in the world weigh less than a simple loving action. What the heart gives away is never lost… it is kept in the hearts of others.

Our road still continues. The thought of cornea rejection is constant. The story of Raquel is still not fully written.

Time has a wonderful way of showing us what really matters. He had made everything beautiful in its time. - Ecclesiastes 3:11

Tien then met, Susan Mayton, a Lighthouse Central Florida Early Intervention Mentor, at his community–based preschool at this point in his life. He was very shy and would try to avoid challenging activities that involved using his vision. His responses were too often “I don’t think so,” “No thank you”, or the more direct “I can’t do it.” He was held back in preschool because he was not independent in toileting or feeding himself. Over the past two years of working with Susan he has made great progress. Using adapted materials and optical aids he has learned self care skills and pre-academic play. He has stopped saying, “I can’t” and has started saying, “Sure I can!” On Susan’s last day with Tien she assessed him for school readiness and found that his scores placed him at or above age level – he was ready for kindergarten. When Susan asked him what she should tell his mother, Tien said, “tell her that I am smarter than smart, and gooder than good!”

I also met with David Ushiro, who teaches Access Technology. He sat me in front of a computer and asked me what I could see. “Not much,” I quickly replied, but to David that was no problem. I soon found out that he is blind…and was going to be my instructor. Talk about the blind leading the blind! David was a remarkable instructor, and taught me how to navigate Windows, Microsoft Word, Excel, the Internet and my e-mail with the JAWS program, a screen reader for the blind. After twenty-seven classes, I was ready for re-entry to the work place.

My Orientation and Mobility instructor, Steve Luther, taught courses on safety procedures. He taught me the skills needed to travel outside my home environment. I had been walking with a cane for almost three years at this point, but my technique needed to be refined. He also taught me to “play in traffic.” I had never crossed a busy intersection on my own and frankly did not see any reason to try. But, I learned that traffic is our friend-it keeps you orientated. By listening to the traffic pattern, you can understand when it is safe to cross even the busiest of intersections.

At first I wasn’t so sure about the Independent Living Skills class. I had been living independently as a blind person for three years. “What could these instructors teach me, that I had not already taught myself?” But, the knowledge I gained was invaluable. I learned the skills it takes to live and thrive in any environment. I learned that the kitchen could once again be a safe place for me, once it was made user friendly. I also learned many more things like labeling cleaning products, threading a needle, sewing on a button, personal hygiene techniques and applying makeup. I can now use mascara without looking like a raccoon!

Lighthouse Central Florida helped me get back into the community. My newfound freedom replaces the thoughts of loneliness and isolation I had during the first few years I struggled with my vision loss. Lighthouse has phenomenal programs and resources. My only regret is that I did not know about the program three years earlier. It needs to be our endeavor to make sure the residents of Central Florida are aware of what is available at Lighthouse. I know, as I go about the rest of my life, that I am better off because of my experience with Lighthouse Central Florida.

I had no idea what I was getting into, or what to expect, but I figured I had nothing to lose. On my first day at Lighthouse, I found that teachers and staff were kind and considerate of the class and immediately made us feel at home. The students in my class had a variety of ranges of vision. Some students had a little sight, while others were completely blind, but we were all in the same boat. We all had to learn how to do simple tasks, in new ways.

The instructors created a pleasant atmosphere in class. We all learned to be able to laugh at ourselves, and came to understand that we shouldn't worry about what we were lacking, but instead be thankful for what we still had.

The first session at Lighthouse was the beginning of getting my life in order. I gained the confidence and skills needed to do things for myself, and made some wonderful relationships with people that cared about me. The Lighthouse became a Brighthouse for me, because it gave me back a part of my life that I had lost. I now have the privilege of volunteering at Lighthouse and am honored to be able to do something to help others that were in my situation. Thank God for the Lighthouse and all they do.

A few years later, I had to give up driving. It really hurt my pride to give up the independence that a car provides. I couldn't even take my family anywhere. I could also no longer work on my car engine... something that I had enjoyed for many years.

Within a few years, my wife and I moved to Orlando to be near our family. My wife worked all day, so I was left alone in a world of darkness for hours at a time. One day, I just got on the city bus and rode it around the city all day long. I had no where to go, and no one to see.

A doctor recommended I call Lighthouse Central Florida and look into the services they offered. I soon signed up for the Independent Living Skills class. When I first met the instructor, Ms. Judy, I thought she had good vision, but she told me that she had been blind since she was a baby. All of the teachers and staff at Lighthouse are very kind, knowledgeable and encouraging. I learned how to do a lot of things on my own, without any help from others. They even taught me new ways to cook without my vision. I always liked to cook, but hadn't been able to since I had lost my vision. I was so pleased to be able to cook dinner for my wife. Now, I often have supper waiting on the table when she gets home from work.

There are so many things that I have learned from the people at Lighthouse Central Florida. They showed me that I can do many things that I was scared to do before. Now I can even change the oil in my wife's car. I also sit with the neighborhood boys and describe how to do engine work. They ask me how I know where each part is, when I can't see, but I just tap my forehead and tell them it's all in there, and vision isn't everything.

I have been so blessed by Lighthouse Central Florida. The staff taught me so many things I couldn't do prior to attending classes. Before I came to Lighthouse, I was about to give up. But, I found that I am not the only one in my situation. Now I don't have to ride the bus around all day. I have somewhere to go where I can be with people who understand and care about me.