Inside Lighthouse Guild: A CBS New York Special Feature with John Elliott

CBS New York — Special Feature Coverage

From Assistive Technology to Adaptive Athletics: CBS New York Spotlights Lighthouse Guild

Coverage by John Elliott, CBS New York  

CBS New York journalist John Elliott visited Lighthouse Guild for an in-depth look at how we empower people who are blind or have low vision — through adaptive athletics, assistive technology, peer-to-peer mentorship, and skills building.

Watch the Full CBS New York Segment

Full segment courtesy of CBS New York. Individual program segments are featured below.

We were proud to welcome John Elliott of CBS New York to our headquarters. Over the course of his visit, John witnessed firsthand the breadth of Lighthouse Guild’s programs — from our adaptive sports teams and cutting-edge assistive technology to independent living training and career development services — capturing the human stories that make our mission real.

One Morning. Seven Stories.

Thomas Panek & Kiana Glanton: Mission, Community & Team Unstoppable

Thomas Panek, President & CEO, opens by speaking to Lighthouse Guild’s century-long legacy and what it means to serve tens of thousands of people navigating vision loss. His vision of care extends far beyond the clinic — healthcare, wellness, sport, and community, all in service of one mission: helping people live fully.

Kiana Glanton of our Development team joins the conversation to talk about Team Unstoppable — Lighthouse Guild’s 2026 Five Boro Bike Tour team. Riders who are blind or have low vision ride tandem with sighted guides through all five boroughs on Sunday, May 3rd. To join the team or support a rider, visit the Events section at lighthouseguild.org.

Kiana Glanton: Vision Loss, Baseball and a Life Fully Lived

Kiana Glanton began losing her sight at 16 due to sarcoidosis — an autoimmune condition that affected her eyes. Nearly 25 years later, she is a Lighthouse Guild client, a member of our Development team, and a decorated blind baseball player.

On display beside her during the interview: a blinged-out baseball bat, her award from 2023. When John asks how many times she strikes out, her answer is immediate: never. Kiana’s story is the human face of Lighthouse Guild’s mission — not what vision loss takes away, but what becomes possible with the right support behind you.

Shanell Matos & Fitz Martin: The Technology Changing Lives Today

Shanell Matos, Assistive Technology Program Lead, demonstrates the Meta AI glasses she uses every day — including the morning of the shoot, when she used them to select her on-camera outfit. The glasses use a built-in camera and microphone to recognize and describe the visual world in real time.

Fitz Martin, Lighthouse Guild Ambassador and music producer, demonstrates the Monarch — a multiline braille display that allows braille users to read math and documents in full context for the first time, the way sighted students see them on a page. When John asks what he’d say to someone facing vision loss, Fitz’s answer is direct: “Don’t stay in your head. Reach out and get some help. The Lighthouse Guild is here.”

Tech Pals: Learning from Someone Who’s Been There

Kevin and Lenise are participants in Lighthouse Guild’s Tech Pals program — which pairs younger people with vision loss with older adults who share the same lived experience, to teach technology skills built on empathy rather than expertise alone.

Lenise describes what technology has given her: normalcy. The ability to read her own mail, see her own texts, know what’s in the chat. Kevin speaks to why lived experience matters as much as technical skill — and why having a mentor who truly understands your situation changes everything. As Lenise puts it: “It’s not the end of your life. There are so many things now in place.”

Jeremy Morak: Low Vision Services to Career Development

Jeremy Morak has been coming to Lighthouse Guild for years — first for a low vision exam, then for career development services that helped him find and keep a job. He’s also on the blind baseball team, has done the bike tours, and describes himself as “fully engulfed in all things Lighthouse Guild.”

Jeremy demonstrates a contrast sensitivity chart and a portable electronic magnifier — tools used in a low vision exam that go far beyond the standard eye chart. He explains why the blind and low vision community faces disproportionately high unemployment rates, and what Lighthouse Guild’s career development services do about it: interview coaching, GED support, workplace accommodation guidance, and the skills to get a job — and keep it.

Shanell Matos: Independence, One Skill at a Time

Back in Lighthouse Guild’s fully equipped training kitchen, Shanell Matos shares a part of her story she doesn’t tell in every room: when she lost her vision, she couldn’t make a sandwich. Today, she cooks meals for her entire family — and leads the Assistive Technology program.

“When you come to Lighthouse Guild, it doesn’t matter where you are — they will meet you where you are and help you get where you want to go.” Shanell’s arc, from client to program lead, is one of the most powerful illustrations of what Lighthouse Guild makes possible: not just services, but a complete transformation of what someone believes is within their reach.

Love Found at Lighthouse Guild: Fitz & Jasmine

At the end of his morning, John Elliott finds himself in an unexpected moment. He spots Fitz Martin standing with a woman he hasn’t met, and asks if they know each other. Her answer stops him: “I’m his wife.” The two are newlyweds — married about a month and a half. They met right here, at Lighthouse Guild.

It’s a simple statement, and it says everything. Lighthouse Guild is not just a place people come for services. It is a community where people who are blind or have low vision can show up fully — and sometimes, find each other.

Want to read rather than watch? A full written transcript of the CBS New York feature is available.