NEW YORK—Lighthouse International acquired the National Association for Visually Handicapped (NAVH), effective Jan. 29, 2010, according to the boards of both organizations. “By combining forces, we will be better able to serve the needs of the community,” said Roger O. Goldman, chairman of the board of directors of Lighthouse International.

According to Marvin Sandler, president, NAVH board of directors, “Because of its excellent reputation for services in the community, we determined that joining with Lighthouse International would be in the best interests of our organization and the people we have served for 55 years.”

Both organizations have a shared mission and a long history of helping New Yorkers who are visually impaired through a wide range of programs from low vision services to assistive devices to support groups, according to an announcement from Lighthouse International. Lighthouse will continue this tradition of service by creating a new program named in honor of NAVH founder and CEO Emeritus Lorraine Marchi L.H.D.

The new program will help clients overcome the challenges of vision loss through counseling, support groups, educational materials and referrals to other services available at the Lighthouse, state and other agencies. The program is expected to begin in the Spring.

According to a spokesperson for Lighthouse, many of the services and programs of NAVH will be kept intact. Certain NAVH programs, specifically social work and mental health services, will be expanded and added to the programs currently offered through Lighthouse.

NAVH clients or referring physicians can contact Miriam Rosen, executive director of NAVH, at (212) 821-9458, mrosen@lighthouse.org for further information.

Based in New York City, NAVH is a national health organization solely devoted to serving individuals who currently have visual impairments as well as those who have eye diseases that could lead to serious visual deficiencies. Throughout its 55-year history, the organization has specialized in setting standards for large print books, educated the medical community about low vision, and offered educational materials and support services to families of and individuals with low vision.

Founded in 1905, Lighthouse International is a leading non profit organization dedicated to fighting vision loss through prevention, treatment and empowerment. For more information about vision loss and its causes, contact Lighthouse International at (800) 829-0500 or visit Lighthouse.org.