Amy Koehl: The Heart Behind a Lifetime of Service
Amy Koehl, VP of Employee and Community Services
Four Decades of Leadership at The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.
For forty years, Amy Koehl has been the steady, compassionate force at the center of Employee and Community Services at The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.’s corporate office. More than a leader, she is widely regarded as the heart of the programs that support individuals who are blind and DeafBlind, someone whose life’s work has been dedicated to helping others live with independence, dignity, and opportunity.
Koehl joined the Lighthouse in 1986, at a time when opportunities for individuals who were blind or DeafBlind were far more limited. What began as a job quickly became a calling. Over the decades, she has grown alongside the organization, helping to shape not only its programs, but its culture – one rooted in respect, access, and the belief that everyone deserves the chance to thrive. Her deep institutional knowledge and unwavering presence have provided continuity through decades of change, guiding the Lighthouse as it evolved into a nationally recognized leader which empowers people who are blind, DeafBlind, and blind with other disabilities through sustainable employment and transformative services for independence and career advancement.
Leading Employee and Community Services Programs
Today, Koehl oversees eight programs that support independence both in the workplace and at home. Her portfolio includes Lighthouse Accessibility initiatives, a Computer Training Program for blind employees, Interpreting Services, Orientation and Mobility Services, Supported Employment for individuals with additional developmental disabilities, and in the past, a Braille Training Program and Braille Library. She also leads all components of the Lighthouse’s DeafBlind Program, an area in which the organization is a North American leader. Among her most meaningful recent accomplishments is helping bring the Lighthouse Low Vision Clinic to life, turning a recognized community need into a vital resource through her leadership and persistence in securing King County support. The clinic now serves as a critical bridge between medical care and everyday independence, helping individuals maximize their remaining vision and continue living full, engaged lives.
Expanding Independence Through Accessible Services
At the core of Koehl’s work is a simple but powerful belief: access changes lives. Whether it’s ensuring someone can communicate through DeafBlind interpreting, navigate their environment safely, or gain the skills needed for employment, her work has always been about opening doors. Under her leadership, these services are not just programs, they are lifelines that allow people to participate fully in their communities, their workplaces, and their own lives.
Building the Independent Living Program
The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.’s Independent Living Program (ILP), which Koehl helped imagine, create and grow, empowers people who are blind or low vision to live safely, confidently, and independently in their own homes and communities. Through personalized, in-home instruction, certified specialists teach practical daily living skills such as medication management, meal preparation, home organization, communication technology, and adaptive techniques for everyday tasks. Orientation and Mobility (O&M) training also helps individuals navigate their homes, neighborhoods, and public transportation with greater confidence. Administered in partnership with the Washington State Department of Services for the Blind, the program enables people to maintain their independence, remain connected to their communities, and continue living the lives they choose despite vision loss.
Strengthening the DeafBlind Community
But Koehl’s impact goes beyond programs and services. She has built lasting relationships across the community, creating spaces where individuals can connect, learn, and advocate for themselves. Through DeafBlind Community Classes, the annual DeafBlind Retreat, and countless everyday interactions, she has helped foster a sense of belonging that extends far beyond the walls of the Lighthouse.
When asked about one of Amy Koehl’s key career accomplishments she answered,
“One thing I’m proud of is that the DeafBlind program, DeafBlind community class and the DeafBlind Retreat are all headed by people who are DeafBlind. Others can help in support roles, but DeafBlind people are in the leadership roles for these programs, and that is a big change from the past, which impacts everything about the retreat, but especially communication. It’s been a very positive change.”
Community Leadership Beyond the Lighthouse
Her dedication to service also reaches into the broader community. Serving on the Renton Human Services Committee from 2014 through 2022, in the role of s Vice Chair the last four of those years, Koehl brought her experience and perspective to regional efforts that strengthened support systems for those most in need. The Human Services Advisory Committee works to identify and understand the human service needs of Renton residents. The committee evaluates community needs and recommends funding priorities to the mayor, city council, and city staff for programs and projects that provide meaningful support. It also helps shape policies related to human services and stays informed about community issues and initiatives that may affect the availability, accessibility, and quality of services throughout Renton.
“The committee read many, many applications from organizations and decided which would receive grants from the city and recommended the dollar amounts, in addition to conducting site visits. It was really interesting and was a good way to learn more about the community and the services that make a difference in peoples’ lives,” reflected Koehl.
Supporting Educational Opportunity in Washington
In addition, Amy was on the board for Seattle Education Access in 2007-2008, a nonprofit dedicated to helping low-income and marginalized young adults overcome barriers to higher education. The organization provided individualized academic advising, career counseling, tutoring, scholarships, and advocacy to students—many of whom had experienced homelessness, foster care, poverty, or other significant challenges—empowering them to successfully pursue college and build pathways to long-term economic opportunity. Today, the organization continues this mission as Northwest Education Access, serving students throughout the Puget Sound region.
Education, Experience, and Lifelong Commitment
A graduate of Indiana University with a degree in psychology and a Master’s in Not-for-Profit Leadership from Seattle University, Koehl pairs professional expertise with personal commitment. She is an American Sign Language user and reads braille by sight, skills that reflect not only her role, but her deep connection to the people she serves.
While much of her work has taken place behind the scenes, its impact is deeply felt. Thousands of individuals have found pathways to employment, independence, and connection because of the programs she has nurtured and the culture she has helped build. For Koehl, this has never been just a career – it has been a life’s work.
Amy Koehl’s Lasting Legacy
In a world where leadership often comes and goes, Amy Koehl’s four decades of service stand as a testament to what sustained care, commitment, and belief in others can achieve. Her legacy lives not only in the programs she has built, but in the lives she has touched quietly, consistently, and profoundly.
