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The Lighthouse of Houston is a private, non-profit education and service center dedicated to assisting blind and visually impaired people in the Houston, Texas metropolitan area to live independently. The Lighthouse serves approximately 9,000 people each year and is a member agency of the United Way of Greater Houston.
In 1939, Nellie Mae Wimberly, a legally blind teacher who ran a home education program for blind people in Houston, joined with James G. Donovan, a prominent attorney, to secure funding and support for a program that would help blind people become more productive and independent. Wimberly, Donovan and E. M. Biggers formed the Harris County Association for the Blind – chartered by the State of Texas as a private, nonprofit organization to provide educational and vocational opportunities for blind and visually impaired people in Harris County, Texas. Wimberly served without pay as the organization's first executive director, and Donovan became president of the first Board of Directors.
That same year, a textile department was opened with sewing machines donated by the Houston Area Lions Clubs. With no permanent headquarters of its own, the Lighthouse moved from place to place.
In the 1940s, the Lighthouse began producing pot holders, pillow cases, aprons, rag dolls, brooms, mops, woven rugs and bath mats. It also began caning chairs. Its products were available at a concession stand in the lobby of Houston's City Hall. It was during this period that the Lighthouse became a United Way agency.
In the 1950s, the Lighthouse hired its first paid executive director, Geraldine Rougagnac, and the Lighthouse was able to move into a newly built facility at 3530 West Dallas, which today houses the agency's Industrial Division. At that time, the building housed a training center, home economics room, cafeteria, occupational therapy, a pre-school nursery, vending stand and the workshop. The Lighthouse began selling its products door-to-door, and trained and certified volunteer braillists, recruited from Temple Emanu El Sisterhood and Temple Beth Israel, began transcribing reading materials for the blind.
The 1960s saw the expansion of the warehouse and the sub-contract department. The Lighthouse bought five Perkins Braille-writers and contracted with the Texas Education Agency Textbook Division to transcribe textbooks for blind children in public schools. It negotiated a long-term lease with the city of Houston for the land at 3602 West Dallas and built a new children's building, library and gym there. It discontinued door-to-door sales, began training in medical transcription and clerical skills, and expanded its facility to include a Rehabilitation Center.
The Lighthouse continued to expand during the decade of the 1970s, building a second floor wing of the Rehabilitation Center and opening the Lighthouse Library. The Lighthouse Industrial Division began manufacturing pine oil disinfectant and cleaner detergent, which it sells to the federal government under the Javits–Wagner–O'Day Act. Rehabilitative services expanded to include orientation and mobility, residential independent living skills training, recreation and a sheltered workshop operating under a 50 percent training certificate issued by the Department of Labor. With a grant from the Texas Commission for the Blind, the Lighthouse developed an Employment Skills Development Program.
In 1980, the executive director position was changed to president, with Gibson M. DuTerroil coming on board in that role.
The 1980s were a decade of tremendous growth for the Lighthouse. Many new programs focused on children and teenagers, including a cooperative Early Intervention Program for children ages birth to three in conjunction with the Spring Branch Independent School District, a Summer Camp for children, a Career Day for blind and visually impaired high school students, a summer work experience program, a Saturday Educational Enrichment Program, an after-school program, and the first Beeping Easter Egg Hunt.
The Lighthouse opened a Multi-Care Center for the elderly and a Career Center for the Visually Impaired, with medical-clerical training, computer programming, employment skills development and a job club. It also began offering Adult Basic Education and GED programs, plus pre-vocational and residential training for deaf-blind young people and an ESL program. The Lighthouse also added two Living Centers for blind and other disabled individuals, a Low Vision Clinic, and the Lighthouse store, featuring low vision aids and devices.
In 1988, the Community Services Center opened at 3602 West Dallas.
In the 1990s, the Lighthouse opened a Technology Training Unit and began providing medical transcription services for the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and later PBX switchboard services for the VA Hospital in Houston. During this decade, the agency began a cooperative special education program with the Houston Independent School District and Customer Service Representative Training with the Houston Community College System-College Without Walls. It opened the Community Services Center-Southwest and a second Multi-Care Center, and began a Diabetic Education Program, licensed by the State of Texas as a home healthcare provider. The Industrial Division expanded its line of products and entered into an arrangement with the S.C. Johnson Corporation to produce and sell floor care products to the federal government – the first such co-branding arrangement permitted by the President's Committee.
Medical transcription contracts expanded, and the Lighthouse began providing switchboard operators for the Houston Chronicle and the Veterans Administration Hospital in Long Beach, California, and mail processing services for the Internal Revenue Service in Houston and Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
On November 30, 2000, the Lighthouse's 61st anniversary, the Center for Education and Adaptive Technology opened.
The new millennium saw Lighthouse begin working with blinded veterans from the Gulf War, providing services to more than 400 servicemen in the decade that followed.
In 2005, Lighthouse President Gibson DuTerroil was elected chairman of the board of TIBH, a private, nonprofit corporation that helps provide employment for Texans with blindness and other disabilities. Three years later, TIBH named an annual award for an outstanding worker with a disability for Artie Lee Hinds, former chair of the Lighthouse Board of Directors.
In October 2008, the Lighthouse hosted the Annual Training Conference sponsored by National Industries for the Blind and the National Association for the Employment of People Who Are Blind. Lighthouse Certified Medical Transcriptionist Jennifer Parrish was named Employee of the Year by the NIB. [1]
During this period, the Lighthouse Diabetes Education Services Program was recognized by the American Diabetes Association for Quality Self-Management Education; three acres of land in Cut and Shoot, Texas, were donated to store the detergent produced by its Industrial Division; an innovative training was held on the use of GPS with guide dogs; [2] and Reflections – Houston's first art show and reception featuring an exhibit of watercolors by artists who were blind or visually impaired – received citywide attention. [3] The event was underwritten by the Houston Delta Gamma Foundation.
Office Skills Training focuses on basic office skills and adaptive techniques for performing standard office tasks. Training includes keyboarding, office equipment, introduction to computers, introduction to Windows Vista (with or without adaptive software), introduction to Word (with or without JAWS, an adaptive speech software), basic office math, grammar, spelling and vocabulary building. Upon completion of this course, more specialized training programs are available in telecommunications, customer service or medical transcription.
The Customer Service course is designed to prepare a student with the basic office experience or training needed to perform the job duties of a customer service representative. Training includes intermediate keyboarding, introduction and intermediate use of databases, customer service techniques, and communication methods.
The Telecommunications course is designed to prepare a student with the basic office experience or training needed to perform the job duties of a switchboard operator or receptionist. Training includes intermediate keyboarding, intermediate Windows (with or without JAWS), basic telephone system terminology, customer services, phone etiquette, and basic switchboard operation.
The Lighthouse of Houston has been offering Medical Transcription Training since 1973. A minimum typing speed of 50 words per minute and post-high school level spelling and grammar are required to begin the program. Training includes advanced medical keyboarding, medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, human diseases, introduction to laboratory, pharmacology, and medical ethical issues. In 2006, the Lighthouse began offering Distance Medical Transcription Training on the Internet.
Computer and Technology Training is available through The Lighthouse of Houston's Computer Learning Center and the Technology Training Unit. Both facilities provide access to adaptive equipment developed specifically for people with visual impairments.
The Computer Learning Center offers self-guided computer training, designed to provide the adaptive technology and materials necessary to master various software programs in a self-paced lab environment for high-functioning, self-motivated students. This program provides the equipment and instructional material on audio software for the following training: introduction to personal computing, Windows, Word, Excel, Outlook, JAWS for Windows, JAWS for Word, JAWS for Excel, and screen magnification. Group Instruction in using the Internet, emailing and specific computer programs such as Vista and Microsoft Office 2007 is also available.
Adaptive Technology Evaluations consist of one-on-one assessments of adaptive technology with an experienced instructor. These evaluations are required by state agencies prior to state purchase. They are also a way for individuals to test out adaptive hardware and software devices before they buy them. The Lighthouse provides evaluations on CCTVs, portable CCTVs, screen reading software, OCR scanning technology, screen magnification software, voice recognition software, QWERTY note takers, Braille note takers, and displays and printers.
Adaptive Technology Training is designed to provide one-on-one instruction in adaptive technology equipment and application software, including Internet and E-mail instruction. This instruction can take place at the Lighthouse or off-site in the home or at work.
The Adult Day Care program provides structured day activities for persons who are blind and have a medical condition that qualifies them for multi-care services. Adult clients, many of whom are seniors, participate in an array of therapeutic activities, education, and other support services throughout the day. Transportation is provided as well as daily telephone contact with client and/or family members.
The Community Independence Program focuses on meeting the needs of blind and visually impaired individuals living in the community by reducing isolation and enhancing ties to the sighted community.
The Community Outreach Component provides community organizations with resource and referral and information on technologies for vision impairment.
Therapeutic Recreation programs for the blind and visually impaired include an on-site fitness facility, swim lessons, art and cooking classes, monthly tandem bike rides, field trips, animal therapy, dance classes, camping trips and other activities.
Infant, Youth and Child programs provide opportunities for children and their families to interact and have fun while learning new skills. Activities include Summer Camp, the School's Out Program, parent-Infant meetings, the annual Beeping Easter Egg Hunt, [4] Teen Enrichment Program and Saturday recreation activities.
The Vision Rehabilitation Clinic offers on-site clinical evaluations and recommendations to help individuals maximize low vision in order to participate in everyday activities. Staff members provide one-on-one assistance with rehabilitation exercises and adaptive aids such as magnifiers and microscopes.
The Diabetes Education Management Services Program, certified by the American Diabetes Association, provides full-service education and training to visually impaired diabetics using adaptive medical equipment.
Orientation and Mobility Training instructors teach the blind and visually impaired to travel independently in the community.
The Lighthouse Living Centers are HUD 202 subsidized apartments for people who are blind, visually impaired or physically disabled. Residents must have a certified physical disability and be able to live independently. Rents are based on income.
The Reflections store offers adaptive aids such as talking clocks, Braille watches, mobility canes, computer hardware and software as well as hundreds of other items.
A screen reader is a form of assistive technology (AT) that renders text and image content as speech or braille output. Screen readers are essential to people who are blind, and are useful to people who are visually impaired, illiterate, or have a learning disability. Screen readers are software applications that attempt to convey what people with normal eyesight see on a display to their users via non-visual means, like text-to-speech, sound icons, or a braille device. They do this by applying a wide variety of techniques that include, for example, interacting with dedicated accessibility APIs, using various operating system features, and employing hooking techniques.
The CNIB Foundation is a Canadian charitable organization and volunteer agency dedicated to assisting Canadians who are blind or living with vision loss, and to provide information about vision health for all Canadians. Founded in 1918 as the Canadian National Institute for the Blind to assist soldiers who had been blinded in the First World War, CNIB originally offered sheltered care and specialized employment to people with vision loss. It has since expanded to include other programs and services, including research, public education, rehabilitation counselling and training, advocacy and an alternative-format library for people living with a print disability. It is a member of the Braille Authority of North America.
Iowa Braille and Sight Saving School was a state-operated school for the blind. It was replaced by the Iowa Educational Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Vinton, Iowa, hosted the school and continued as host of the state agency that replaced it until 2020.
The Maryland School for the Blind (MSB) is a school in Baltimore for children and youth who are blind or Low-vision, including those with multiple disabilities.
The Nebraska Center for the Education of Children Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired (NCECBVI) is located in Nebraska City, Nebraska, United States. It was founded in 1875 and serves children from infancy to adults age 21. NCECBVI's program offers the expertise and specialized skills of the center's staff to blind, visually impaired, and other disabled students in residential, day, and outreach settings. Services are provided to local school districts, students, families, teachers, and other support staff, upon request. It was previously the Nebraska School for the Visually Handicapped (NSVH).
The Catalan Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired, with headquarters in Barcelona, is a non-profit organization, registered in the Registre d'Associacions de la Conselleria de Justícia de la Generalitat de Catalunya with the number 14,965 and declared of Public Utility by the Ministerio del Interior on December 29, 1997.
Orientation and Mobility, or O&M, is a profession which focuses on instructing individuals who are blind or visually impaired with safe and effective travel through their environment. Individual O&M specialists can work for schools, government agencies or work as private contractors. The Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP) offers certification for vision rehabilitation professionals in the United States.
Braille technology is assistive technology which allows blind or visually impaired people to read, write, or manipulate braille electronically. This technology allows users to do common tasks such as writing, browsing the Internet, typing in Braille and printing in text, engaging in chat, downloading files and music, using electronic mail, burning music, and reading documents. It also allows blind or visually impaired students to complete all assignments in school as the rest of their sighted classmates and allows them to take courses online. It enables professionals to do their jobs and teachers to lecture using hardware and software applications. The advances in Braille technology are meaningful because blind people can access more texts, books, and libraries, and it also facilitates the printing of Braille texts.
The Associated Services for the Blind & Visually Impaired (ASB) is a private non-profit organization in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It assists those living with vision loss to achieve independence through education, support services to advance necessary skills, and community connections. ASB collaborates with local, regional and national partners to provide additional resources and opportunities to clients.
Telesensory Systems, Inc. (TSI) was an American corporation that invented, designed, manufactured, and distributed technological aids for blind and low vision persons. TSI's products helped visually impaired people work independently with computers and with ordinary printed materials.
Wayfinder Family Services (WFS), Founded in 1953 as the Foundation for the Junior Blind and previously known as Junior Blind, is a United States-based nonprofit organization for services for the blind. The organization's mission is to help children and adults who are blind, visually impaired, or multi-disabled achieve independence. Located in Los Angeles, WFS offers individualized methods of early intervention, education, recreation, and rehabilitation to nearly 10,000 children and family members throughout California.
A sighted child who is reading at a basic level should be able to understand common words and answer simple questions about the information presented. They should also have enough fluency to get through the material in a timely manner. Over the course of a child's education, these foundations are built on to teach higher levels of math, science, and comprehension skills. Children who are blind not only have the education disadvantage of not being able to see: they also miss out on the very fundamental parts of early and advanced education if not provided with the necessary tools.
The Braille Institute of America (BIA) is a nonprofit organization with headquarters in Los Angeles providing programs, seminars and one-on-one instruction for the visually impaired community in Southern California. Funded almost entirely by private donations, all of the institute's services are provided completely free of charge. The organization has seven regional centers: Anaheim, Coachella Valley, Laguna Hills, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego and Santa Barbara, as well as outreach programs at more than 200 locations throughout Southern California. It is a member of the Braille Authority of North America.
The Cleveland Sight Center (CSC) is a non-profit organization that provides services to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Founded in 1906, it is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and serves around 10,000 clients annually in Northeast Ohio. The organization also has radio-reading and community outreach programs that benefit a larger number of individuals.
Mitra Jyothi established in 1990, is a charitable trust registered under Indian Trust Act based in Bangalore. Its aims to support the visually impaired through various programs it offers. These programs include Talking Book Library, Computer Training Center, Independent Living Skills, Braille Transcription Center and Job Placement. It received State Award in 2010 from the Directorate of Disabled Welfare and Senior Citizens, Government of Karnataka for its exemplary service for persons with disabilities. Mitra Jyothi is also a member of the DAISY Forum of India (DFI). DFI is a forum of Not for profit organizations from India who are involved in production of books and reading materials in accessible formats for persons who cannot read normal print.
Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind (CLB) is an organization founded to help the blind or visually impaired population of the greater Washington, D.C., region, including the deafblind community, deal with the challenges of vision loss. The goal of CLB is to try to help people who are blind or visually impaired to remain independent, active and productive in society.
The Council of Schools and Services for the Blind (COSB) is a consortium of specialized schools in Canada and the United States whose major goal is improving the quality of services to children who are blind and visually impaired.
Chakshumathi is a nongovernmental, not for profit organization based in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, working for developing resources for the use of visually impaired people. It is an "Empowerment and Assistive Technology Centre for Blind". The organization, which was inaugurated in June 2011, is a member of DAISY Forum of India. The organization is currently headed by V.K. Damodaran, a former President of Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad.
Travis Association for the Blind, also known as the Austin Lighthouse, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization employing over 400 Texans of which approximately 200 are legally blind in four facilities in southeast Austin, Texas, as well as a facility in Taylor, Texas. Travis Association for the Blind warehouses, distributes, manufactures, and repairs a wide variety of merchandise for local, state, and federal government as well as private industry.
The LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization, and is the oldest and largest of its kind in Northern California.
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