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The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. logo

Our Mission

We empower people who are blind, DeafBlind, and blind with other disabilities through sustainable employment and transformative services for independence and career advancement.

Portrait of Nick, a light-skinned man in his 30s holding a small dog guide and standing and smiling in a garden in Seattle

“I feel empowered to provide for me and my family.”

Nick Nathan

CNC Machinist I Aerospace
Learn more about Nick’s story.

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Portrait of Carla, a light-skinned middle aged woman smiling and sitting on a couch

“I encourage my team to learn skills and be more independent.”

Carla Abbott

Production Supervisor Defense
Learn more about Carla’s story.

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Portrait of Melinda, a light-skinned middle aged woman wearing a floral top and holding a white cane in a garden and smiling

“I’m eternally grateful for the ability to work.”

Melinda Slovernick

Administrative Assistant
Learn more about Melinda’s story.

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Nick Nathan working in the Machine Shop in the Seattle facility

Nick Nathan

Having grown up with a father who was blind, Nick Nathan never doubted that people who are blind could work. However, before joining the Lighthouse, Nick faced several challenges. “Before I started at the Lighthouse, I didn’t really know what I was doing in life,” he admits. “I got to the point in my life where I wondered what I was going to do. And so, working here means a lot to me, because they were able to give me an answer to that question.”

“The Lighthouse has stood by me and not only watched me grow my machining skills, but also helped me grow as a human being,” he shares.

Nick has been a part of the Lighthouse for seven years. He began his journey in the deburring department and quickly progressed from there. Nick is now a CNC Machinist I Aerospace.

Click here to read the full article about Nick.

Opening

[SOFT MUSIC]

Blindness doesn’t affect anybody’s mental ability, unless they have something on top of it.

Someone being purely blind doesn’t affect them from being a totally capable human being.

My name is Nicholas Nathan.

And I am a CNC Machinist I.

Nicholas’s Experience with Blindness

I grew up with a father who was totally blind, so I was not new to blindness growing up.

I had his cancer, which is retinoblastoma.

And it attacks the retinas of your eyes.

So my left eye is totally prosthetic.

And my right eye, they were able to save some of it, but most of the vision is gone.

Removing the cataract did not give me as much gain with my vision as I thought it would, which in the end, actually, ultimately helped me to accept who I was going to be in life, because I had been wondering, “If I got that removed, would I change?” And now I know.

Before The Lighthouse

So before I started at the Lighthouse, I didn’t really know what I was doing in life, not that the blindness caused that.

But I personally chose a bunch of bad decisions, which didn’t get me anywhere fast.

And so by the time that I came to the Lighthouse, in life, I was already behind several years.

Growth at The Lighthouse

Working here, they have stood by me and not only watched me grow with my machining skills.

But they’ve also helped me grow as a human being, and being patient, and teaching me things that I probably should have already known before I came here.

And so working here means a lot to me, because they’ve able to give me an answer to the question that I always asked myself.

And not that blind people are incapable.

But like I said, I made a lot of wrong decisions.

And I didn’t really do the right thing.

I didn’t finish school.

It means everything to me because they built me up into having a career.

And I have a family.

And I’ve gotten married.

And so it’s changed my whole life.

Community and Belonging

So the things that I enjoy most about working at the Lighthouse — I like the people here, honestly.

And that took me a while to say that.

I always said that I didn’t want to be involved in the blind community and that I didn’t want that to be my life.

And now most everybody in my life is in the blind community.

And then as well as the sighted folks here that help all this happen as well.

It’s just an amazing group of people in the organization.

Independence Through Work

For me to have a job as a blind person — like I said, I grew up with my dad.

So I never believed that blind people couldn’t work.

But for me, I like the fact that I can come to work and do my job by myself.

I’ve gotten off of Social Security disability through working here.

And to be able to make all my own money, and pay all my own taxes, and to not let blindness hold me back or to be on special programs, means the world to me.

So working at the Lighthouse makes me feel, at the end of the day, like I’ve gone to work.

And I did it to my best of my ability.

When I walk out the door, and I walk down to the bus stop on my own, I feel empowered and independent that I was able to go and provide the things that I need to provide for not only me, but everybody in my family.

Closing

The Lighthouse for the Blind, Incorporated.

Learn more at LHBlind.org.

[SOFT MUSIC]

Carla Abbott

“I was born with juvenile macular degeneration and, congenital aniridia, which means there is no iris,” shares Carla Abbott, Production Supervisor at the Lighthouse. “During the course of years, my vision has become worse. I’ve slowly learned to adapt with the vision that I have, and I just keep brushing up my skills and learning how to adapt with the changes of my vision every day,” she continues.

Carla began working at the Lighthouse in April 2005, initially taking on the role of a production worker. “A former employee told me about the Lighthouse and encouraged me to come check it out,” she recalled. Over the years, she has progressed in her role to become a Production Lead and eventually a Production Supervisor.

“Working at the Lighthouse has impacted my life greatly,” Carla shares. “I feel like I’m a member of society that contributes to our community. And that I can be a person just like everybody else.”

Click here to read the full article about Carla.

Opening

So I’m grateful to have a job, and I’m glad that I can make products every day.

I really love working, and I’m really enjoy when I’m sitting one on one with my employees.

They need a jig made, or they have a great idea to improve product line and efficiency — I listen, I help them, we work together, and I enjoy when they succeed at what they’re doing.

Carla’s Role

My name is Carla Abbott and I’m a Production Supervisor Defense at The Lighthouse for the Blind, Incorporated.

Carla’s Vision

So I was born with macular degeneration and congenital aniridia, which means there is no iris.

During the course of years, my vision has become worse.

I’ve only have fairly good sight in one eye, but I’ve slowly learned to adapt with the vision that I have.

And I just keep on brushing up my skills, and learning how to adapt with the changes of my vision every day.

Becoming a Supervisor

I am proud to be a supervisor.

I’ve worked hard to become a supervisor.

I’ve taken many courses, and I’ve attended the NIB supervisor training.

So I learned all these good skills that I could bring back to the Lighthouse and integrate it with our team, and work together to be successful on the production floor.

Opportunity and Independence

The Lighthouse, I feel, is a great opportunity for people to learn skills and make them more independent, because society thinks people are blind, they’re just going to sit at home.

But we have great skills.

We have things that we can offer outside the community, too.

Supporting Her Team

With working with my team, I encourage them to gain new skills.

I motivate them every day.

Don’t be afraid of learning something new.

If you don’t get it the first time, it’s OK.

You’ll just take some time, and we keep on working to achieve the goals that they want to be successful at their job.

Closing

The Lighthouse for the Blind, Incorporated.

Learn more at LHBlind.org.

Carla working the production floor and speaking with her crew
Melinda sitting at her desk and smiling

Melinda Slovernick

Meet Melinda Slovernick, Administrative Assistant for the AbilityOne Base Supply Centers. Her story is a testament to resilience, determination, and the profound impact of organizations that believe in the potential of every individual, regardless of their circumstances.

“In 2002, I was in a horrific car accident that took my eyesight. It took me a long time to adjust to it. At that time, I was a single mom,” Melinda shares.

Despite her accounting background, finding employment was difficult following her accident. Many employers were unwilling to provide training and accommodations. “After going blind, I could not find anybody to employ me. And nobody was willing to see if I could even do the job,” Melinda shares. “It was very, very difficult.”

Melinda’s favorite part of her job is the satisfaction of knowing that her contributions help everything run smoothly. “I love my job,” she says. “I can now say after working for AbilityOne Base Supply Centers that this is the best job that I’ve ever had, sighted or not. I just love being a part of our team.”

Click here to read the full article about Melinda.

Opening

I can say after working for The Lighthouse for the Blind, Incorporated, that this is the best job that I’ve ever had, sighted or not.

And I just love being an integral part of our team.

And wherever I can help out is fabulous.

Melinda’s Role

My name is Melinda.

And I am the Administrative Assistant for the AbilityOne Base Supply Centers on the West Coast.

I have worked for The Lighthouse for the Blind for 7 years.

Losing Her Vision

So in 2002, I was in a horrific car accident that took my eyesight.

And it took me a long time to adjust to it. At that time, I was a single mom.

And so I really just used all the resources that were available to get the places that my daughter and I needed to go.

Finding The Lighthouse

After my blindness, I could not find anybody to employ me.

And nobody was willing to train me to see if I could even do the job.

I found the Lighthouse because I was looking for mobility training. So I called the Lighthouse.

And they’re like, oh, yeah, sure, come on down. We’ll pick somebody to give you mobility training.

And then we were in the mobility instructor’s office.

And she’s like, “You know, we’re hiring.”

And I’m like, “What? Really? I can work?!”

Oh my gosh, I — it was the best experience that I could have ever asked for.

Mobility Training

The mobility training that I received at The Lighthouse for the Blind, Incorporated, makes me feel like I can travel anywhere with the use of my white cane.

Career Growth at The Lighthouse

I have worked several jobs at the Lighthouse. I started in packing.

And then I did an internship in the contact center. From that job, I started being the administrative assistant.

And that job started in 2018.

And I’ve been the Administrative Assistant for the AbilityOne Base Supply Center ever since.

Gratitude

So I owe me being able to help my family because of The Lighthouse for the Blind.

I’m eternally grateful for giving me the ability to work.

Closing

The Lighthouse for the Blind, Incorporated learn more at LHBlind.org.

August 29th, 2021|Overview Campaign|

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