Summer 2008

Kirk Adams, President – Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind

Variety is the spice of life. We are fortunate here at the Lighthouse to work in an environment filled with variety and diversity. This edition of our Horizons newsletter makes that fact abundantly clear. Just think about an organization that stands out as a leader in so many different areas:

Aerospace machining. For over fifty years, we have partnered with The Boeing Company to advance employment and training opportunities for blind and Deaf-Blind adults. Our machining operations today center on making precision parts for Boeing commercial airplanes. Dozens of blind and Deaf-Blind people are responsible for making quality airplane parts of the highest caliber.

Innovative assistive technology. Through computer assistive technology, new opportunities are opening up to blind people every day. Our new Okuma machining stations are the perfect example of how assistive technology opens doors to greater possibilities. These stations have been adapted with screen-reading technology and large print displays, allowing blind operators to set up and run complex machining jobs.

Deaf-Blind retreat. This year, our Deaf-Blind retreat celebrates its thirtieth anniversary. This exceptional retreat offers a completely accessible experience designed expressly for Deaf-Blind people. Our retreat has become a national and international event through the years, with Deaf-Blind people from across the United States, Australia, India, Japan, and the United Kingdom coming together to build a strong and vibrant community. For our anniversary, we will welcome many of the people who came together through the years to help make the retreat what it is today.

Training programs. From computer training to braille classes to mobility instruction, our program staff are hard at work every day providing skills training to empower people with visual disabilities to achieve their goals. Through training, members of the blind and Deaf-Blind communities are achieving greater skills competency, upward mobility, and self-sufficiency.

The variety and diversity that makes this such a special place to work is made possible through the support of caring people in our community. We could not provide equipment, employment, and programs without the generosity of community donors and partners. You are truly making the Northwest a leader in blind employment and access. Thanks to you, we have been able to provide these opportunities for the past ninety years, and with your support we will continue to provide them for the next ninety years.

Working together as customers, suppliers, community partners, employees and donors, we are building an organization providing an amazing variety of opportunities for people who are blind.

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