Vision Loss Awareness Training
All LightHouse volunteers receive Vision Loss Awareness Training: an overview designed to answer some of the immediate questions that new volunteers may have about blindness.
New volunteers have two options each month for training. There is a two-hour session that takes place during the work week, and a longer, more in-depth training on Saturdays. Most sessions take place at the LightHouse, covering topics such as common causes of visual impairment, myths and facts about blindness, use of adaptive aids, and practice of the human guide technique. Training consists of a combination of discussions, practical exercises and informative videos.
For individuals who choose the more comprehensive Saturday training, there is an added component. We will walk to a nearby restaurant, taking turns being guided under sleep mask. Each individual is responsible for the cost of his/her own lunch.Once at the restaurant, everyone will eat lunch under sleep shade. Though it is important to note that this is not an exact simulation of a well-adjusted blind person's experience —as blind people have a myriad of alternative tools and techniques they employ on a daily basis— it will provide a glimpse into some of the immediate challenges faced by an individual just beginning to experience vision loss.
At the end of the day, we encourage all participants to give honest feedback and share their experiences openly.
