LIGHTHOUSE GUILD INTERNATIONAL INC
The leading organization dedicated to addressing vision loss.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Behavioral Health Services
Multi-disciplinary psychiatric clinic providing crisis intervention, individual therapy, psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, social services and therapy groups designed for people with vision loss and other disabilities
Vision Rehabilitation Services
Programs that help people of all ages who are blind or visually impaired gain or regain function, maximize their useable vision and recognize and develop the skills they need to remain engaged, safe and independent in all aspects and stages of their lives. In addition to
one-on-one training with adult clients, we run weekend group sessions for adolescents and teens designed to enhance and supplement their traditional schooling. Programs include: Academic and Communications Skills, Adaptive Technology Training, Career Services, Independent Living Skills and Orientation and Mobility
Healthcare Services
Optometrists and ophthalmologists specializing in low vision providing vision evaluation and low vision therapy. An optical dispensary is available.
Also available are comprehensive medical services as a full service clinic, offering primary care and selected specialty medical services such as: diabetes care and endocrinology, occupational therapy, optometry, physical therapy and podiatry — geared to people who are blind or visually impaired and to people with diabetes.
Professional Training
Professional training program that promotes improved care and well being for people with vision loss as well as those at risk. Healthcare professionals in all care settings are trained in low vision rehabilitation to identify functional vision problems, address vision issues in the care setting and refer patients to low vision services.
Advocacy
Lighthouse Guild engages local, state and federal policymakers to raise awareness of the need for access to vision rehabilitation services and to advocate for appropriate legislative responses to issues affecting people with vision loss.
Research
Recognizing and rewarding research in vision science that leads to breakthroughs in vision loss and vision care.
Where we work
Awards
Notable Health Care Leaders - Dr. Calvin Roberts 2021
Crain's
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of clinic visits provided
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with disabilities
Related Program
Behavioral Health Services
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Our Behavioral Health work helps people who are visually impaired to address physical and emotional challenges, and forge a path of care to achieve goals. We also support families and caregivers.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Lighthouse Guild is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing exceptional services to individuals with vision loss through coordinated vision and health care, rehabilitation, education and training, and other support to inspire them to attain their goals. We do this by delivering clear guidance, coordinated services, and a community of support. With Lighthouse Guild, people who are at risk for or affected by vision loss have access to the resources necessary to lead full, independent, and productive lives.
Each year, people of all ages with vision loss, including those with multiple disabilities and/or chronic medical conditions, turn to Lighthouse Guild for help, hope, and resources. The vast majority of our clients come from low-income and ethnically diverse backgrounds, are medically underserved, and may require services that are not covered by health insurance but do not have the means to pay for them. We provide services to thousands of people of all ages in-person in the five boroughs of NYC, and in Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and the Albany area through our Adult Day Health Care (GuildCare) program which provides medical support and care for individuals with vision loss and physical or mental impairments. We also run community outreach programs, Tele-Support Network, website, vision loss education and training for healthcare professionals/para-professionals and a Research Institute designed to translate scientific and technological advances into useful solutions.
Our goal is to empower and support 3,800 and 4,200 each year through our health clinic, behavioral health work, rehabilitation, GuildCare, and tele-support. We also reach thousands more through professional education, outreach activities (with education about vision health), and podcasts/presentations.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Through our Health Center, people who are visually impaired can access medical care, diabetes education and management, and low vision optometry specialists who diagnose eye conditions and provide low vision intervention. We also provide specialized behavioral health services for people with vision loss. Our team of behavioral health specialists, including clinical social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists, provide individual and group psychotherapy services for patients with anxiety, depression and other behavioral health needs resulting from their vision impairment.
Lighthouse Guild uniquely combines this care with rehabilitation and other skill-building and educational programs to address challenges related to vision impairment and to improve our clients’ ability to achieve their goals. Rehabilitation support includes assistive technology and training; vocational rehabilitation and independent living skills training; and preparation for careers and college; and youth programs designed to empower young people who are visually impaired.
Finally, Lighthouse Guild is now embarking on a major initiative to build the most advanced Technology Center in the United States offering evaluation and training on assistive devices, innovation and research. We are coalescing a community of innovators and end users to advance the development of new technologies to enhance the capabilities and independence of people who are blind and visually impaired.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Lighthouse Guild is a leader in services for blind and visually impaired individuals regionally and nationally. We uniquely provide both behavioral health and healthcare services, and Lighthouse Guild’s GuildCare is the only adult day health care program specialized in working with visually impaired people, and we are also the only provider of academic and high school equivalency training for people with visual impairments. As a result of our breadth of services while specializing in vision, we are uniquely qualified to treat the whole person. In addition, Lighthouse Guild is an emerging leader in assistive technology for people with visual impairments, from our 25-year history of technology training in vocational rehabilitation to our podcast exploring the possibilities of technology to improve the lives of people with blindness.
To date, Lighthouse Guild Health Clinic has received recognition from the NCQA New York State Patient-Centered Medical Home and the NCQA Diabetes Recognition Program. Lighthouse Guild was recognized by the City of New York for outstanding efforts to promote volunteerism and engage New York through service in 2018. Our CEO, Dr. Calvin Roberts, was recently named on Crain’s List of 2021 Notable Healthcare Leaders. Cheryl Pemberton-Graves, Chief Volunteer Officer, received a community service award from the Williamsbridge NAACP Early Childhood Education Center in 2019. Leaders in our organization, including Dr. Roberts, Dr. William Seiple, and Dr. Andrea Zimmerman, are frequently invited to speak and publish articles on topics including eye health, ophthalmology, technology and emerging vision research. Dr. Seiple in particular holds many distinctions and board and faculty positions, including Research Professor of Ophthalmology, New York University School of Medicine; Invited Scholar, École des Neurosciences de Paris, France and Chair of the Visual Neuroscience Program Committee, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Over the last year, we have adapted our services to deepen our telehealth and tele-support programs, building the infrastructure to expand our reach. The core services of Lighthouse Guild, providing critical skills and healthcare, are still at the heart of our work and have evolved to meet our clients where they are – with in-person and virtual options. Three recent highlights include:
• The Remote Care Network is a particular highlight, increasing services available to clients who cannot receive services in person due to the pandemic, mobility challenges, or geographic distance. Our Tele-Support Network started over ten years ago, is designed to help people of all ages and their families cope with vision loss by providing support programs and resources. Lighthouse Guild offers a range of support groups for parents of children with visual impairment, for teens, young adults, and older adults. Our Tele-Support Network currently has enrolled 550+ parents, teens, young adults, and adults from 42 states, Puerto Rico, Canada, and South America.
Looking forward, Lighthouse Guild is embarking on a major initiative to build the most advanced Technology Center in the US offering training on assistive tech and driving future innovation. With low vision expertise and almost three decades of adaptive tech experience, we are bringing together a community of developers, entrepreneurs, academics, physicians, and (critically) end users to develop and share new technologies enhancing the capabilities and independence of people who are visually impaired.
The Center will have a vast array of assistive technology, personalized training focused on individuals’ skills and goals, plus a “smart home” where patients can test tech in settings such as an office or kitchen. For people with vision loss, there is an urgent need for this technology combined with expert training.
We believe that, with personalized training, technology can have a profound impact on people’s lives. Adaptive devices which change lives range from simple magnifiers to wearable options like the OrCam which converts text to speech, identifies objects like currency, and recognizes faces. There are innovations around mobility for individuals (like the WeWalk “smart” cane) and for navigating the broader world (like NaviLens which provides essential guidance in easy-to-read QR codes).
All of these new innovations are only as effective as the preparation and support that goes with them. In the new Technology Center, Lighthouse Guild experts will provide assessments to determine clients’ visual capacity, lifestyle needs, personal goals, and comfort with technology. And our experienced adaptive technology specialists and occupational therapists will provide essential training and opportunities to learn with the technology itself.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, Staff find it hard to prioritize feedback collection and review due to lack of time
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
LIGHTHOUSE GUILD INTERNATIONAL INC
Board of directorsas of 02/13/2024
James Dubin
Madison Place Partners
Term: 2013 - 2022
Lawrence E. Goldschmidt
Goldschmidt & Goldschmidt
Marios Damianides
Omnicom Group
Eric Maidenberg
Plastiks
Pauline Raiff
Volunteer
Ronald G. Weiner
Perelson Weiner LLP
Calvin W. Roberts
Lighthouse Guild International
Rachel Zacharia Brier
Tutoring for Children, Ltd.
Thomas S.T. Gimbel
Gimbel Financial Associates LLC
Thomas G. Kahn
Kahn Brothers Group
Barry Honig
TruckPay Inc.
Andrew Marks
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
Christopher Starr
Weill Cornell Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital
Ann D. Thivierge
Circle Financial Group, Ltd.
James Dubin
Madison Place Partners
Edward S. Kornreich
Proskauer Rose LLP
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data