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Lighthouse of Southwest Florida is a beacon of hope and inspiration aimed at “Guiding the Way to Independence.”

visually impaired persons

HOW IT STARTED

Our History

Visually Impaired Persons (VIP) of Southwest Florida was incorporated in Florida in 1974.

In September 2012, the name and logo were changed to Lighthouse of Southwest Florida in order to be more easily recognized as serving those with low vision and blindness, as are hundreds of other similarly-named agencies throughout the United States.

 

Lighthouse of SWFL - Guiding the Way to Independence

A BEACON OF HOPE

Our Mission

Lighthouse of Southwest Florida’s mission is to enable people of all ages living with a visual impairment or blindness to remain independent, active and productive in our society.

Our talented team of credentialed professionals provides a variety of vision rehabilitation and support services to people who are experiencing low vision and blindness.

We offer our services in Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties to people of all ages, from babies to older adults, as well as support and education for their families and caregivers.

Lighthouse of SWFL, a proud United Way Partner Agency, is accredited by the National Accreditation Council for Blind and Low Vision Services in the areas of Management, Consumer Involvement, Rehabilitation Counseling Services, Orientation & Mobility, Recreation Services, Rehabilitation Therapy Services, Technology Instruction Services, Low Vision Clinic Services, Infant & Preschool Programs and Community Integration Services.


OUR TEAM

Agency Leadership

The Lighthouse of Southwest Florida Leadership Team provides management and support to program and support staff in the areas of curriculum development, agency operations, public relations, fundraising and human resources.

Kathy Y. Carter, MSG

Interim Chief Executive Officer

Anissa Barksdale

Chief Financial Officer

Todd Cordisco, B.A., CDE

Director of Development & Communications

Kinsey M. Stapleton, MSW

Program Services Supervisor

Melanie Jackson

Executive Assistant & HR Coordinator

Rhonda Scheckel – Cady

Fleet & Maintenance Manager

2023-2024

Board of Directors

The Lighthouse of SWFL Board of Directors are community volunteers providing mission-driven leadership and governance to assist staff with achieving strategic goals. The Board of Directors also serves as ambassadors for community outreach and engagement.

Jill Turner

President

Children’s Advocacy Center (Retired)

Gwynetta Gittens

Vice President

Gwyneducation, LLC

Patricia O’Donnell

Treasurer/Secretary

O’Donnell Landscapes

Kathy Bridge-Liles

Board Member

Lee Health Board Member, Dist. 5

Kathy Y. Carter

Board Member

Community Volunteer

Michael Ciccarello

Board Member

Vice President, Office Services, Colliers International

Jordan Jacobson

Board Member

Dorcey Law Firm

Armando Llechu

Board Member

Chief Officer of Hospital Operations, Lee Health

Chantale Napier

Board Member

President, Southwest Florida Council of the Blind

opportunity just ahead

JOIN OUR TEAM

Careers at LHSWFL

Lighthouse of SWFL is an equal opportunity employer and adheres to all federal, state and local regulations regarding the same.

We also believe it’s important to celebrate accomplishments and successes and make a point of doing so with our employees in a variety of ways.

Join our talented team of professionals that provides a variety of rehabilitation and support services and support to children and adults in Lee, Hendry and Glades counties experiencing vision loss and blindness.

In addition to a competitive wage, we offer a four-day work week and generous paid time off. We also offer an array of benefits such as 100% employer-paid health insurance for eligible employees and a 401(k) retirement savings plan.