Daybreak

Welcome to the Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind. We've been providing opportunities and assistance to visually impaired individuals for more than 75 years. We enhance the lives and opportunities of our clients through job training, employment, and a multitude of community services. The visually impaired clients we work with lead successful lives in their workplace, at home, and in their community.Freedom Scientific is the world's leading manufacturer of assistive technology products for those who are vision impaired and products for the special education and learning disability market.National Industries for the Blind ( NIB ) President and CEO Kevin Lynch Visits the Dallas LighthouseOn Wednesday, February 16, we hosted a special visitor from from Washington DC: Kevin Lynch, president and CEO of National Industries for the Blind ( NIB ). Kevin oversees the national organization of NIB Associated Agencies in the U.S., which include the Dallas Lighthouse, that provide employment for people who are blind.Kevin met with members of our staff and visited with employees in the Industrial and Sewing Centers as he toured our facility. We were all very proud to present him with a gift basket containing an array of fine products made the Dallas LighthouseThe Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind will be the beneficiary of a fundraiser to be held on April 6 by the Mary Immaculate School ( MIS ) in Farmers Branch. The school is hosting a fun run for students and their families to raise money in support of the Dallas Lighthouse as well as MIS second grader, Zach Thibodeaux, who was recently diagnosed with a progressive retinal degenerative disease. Dallas Lighthouse board chairman Marcel Brunel, also an MIS parent, helped make the connection between the school and the Dallas Lighthouse. In addition, he helped organize a tour of our facilities for MIS students and administrators, including Zach, his parents and Zach's mentor, Drew Bernet, a wrestling coach and MIS alumnus who lost his sight two years ago. To read a feature story about Zach, Drew and the fundraiser that Mary Immaculate is planning, please click here.Recently, Eric Aasen, a staff writer from The Dallas Morning News, visited the Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind to learn about our organization and how we serve blind and visually impaired people by providing employement and enabling independence. The result was a powerful feature story that appeared on the front page of the Metro section on Wednesday, February 2.The Dallas Lighthouse was honored to receive LC Industries Vendor of the Year Award for 2010 "for outstanding service and support"! The award was voted on by corporate staff, as well as BSC store managers. Improvements made this year in customer service and on-time delivery were cited. Pictured from left to right: Lyn Cossey, Senior Director, Operations; Debbie Hawley, Assistant Manager, Customer Service; and Larry Williams, Supervisor, Warehouse. Congratulations, team!!The Dallas Lighthouse Earns National Industries for the Blind Award for Sustaining and Increasing Employment for People Who Are Blind"We are proud to provide employment opportunities for people who are blind, " said Nancy Perkins, president & CEO. "Our team members who are blind represent a qualified, dedicated and loyal workforce in manufacturing, business services and assistive technology instruction. We are honored to serve as an example in the community of the capabilities of people who are blind."The 2010 Employment Award winners receive cash payments from a $1 million fund created to recognize and encourage NIB associated agencies that grow or sustain employment for people who are blind. Emphasis is also placed on efforts to increase upward mobility in the workplace and job placements. With a 70 percent unemployment rate for working aged Americans who are blind, all efforts to create jobs for this population help to change this statistic and provide economic and personal freedom for people who ar