Organization
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
The oldest and largest blind and low-vision services organisation in Northern California, founded in San Francisco in 1902. LightHouse provides skills training, assistive technology, employment support, and community for blind and low-vision Californians.
About
Founded in 1902 as the Reading Room for the Blind in the San Francisco Public Library, LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired has grown through more than a century of mergers and expansion into Northern California's premier blind services organisation. The LightHouse's landmark 9th–11th floor headquarters at 1155 Market Street was designed in part by blind architect Chris Downey and opened in 2016.
What They Do
LightHouse offers orientation and mobility training, access technology instruction, employment immersion programmes, health and wellness activities, and peer community events. The organisation also operates Enchanted Hills Camp — a fully accessible residential summer programme in Napa County — and LightHouse Industries Sirkin Center. Additional locations include East Bay, Marin, and North Coast sites.
Who They Serve
Blind and low-vision people of all ages throughout California, with a concentration in the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California. LightHouse serves approximately 3,000 individuals each year through direct programmes and community engagement.
Related Organizations
National Federation of the Blind(NFB)
FeaturedBaltimore, MDNationalThe NFB is the largest organisation of blind people in the US, with over 50,000 members organised in chapters in all 50 states. Led entirely by blind people, NFB is known for its strong civil rights stance, its flagship Jernigan Institute, and landmark accessibility litigation including the Target.com lawsuit.
Disabled-LedBlind / Low VisionAdvocacyAmerican Council of the Blind(ACB)
Alexandria, VANationalACB is a national membership organisation of blind and low-vision Americans that promotes independence, security, equality of opportunity, and quality of life for all people who are blind or visually impaired. It operates numerous special-interest affiliates and coordinates a broad network of state and local chapters.
Disabled-LedBlind / Low VisionAdvocacyAmerican Foundation for the Blind(AFB)
New York, NYNationalAFB is a national non-profit that works to create a society where people who are blind or visually impaired can achieve equality in access and opportunity. Best known for the AccessWorld technology review publication, AFB was also Helen Keller's employer for over 40 years.
Professional-LedBlind / Low VisionResearch