Because there is still hope.
About Us
The Chicago Lighthouse was founded in 1906 by a group of women volunteers, both blind and sighted, working out of the basement of a doctor’s home offering clothing and food to Chicagoans who were blind, many of them homeless. Since then, the Chicago Lighthouse has evolved into the most comprehensive private rehabilitation and educational facility in the nation dedicated to assisting children, youth and adults who are blind, visually impaired or multi-disabled.
Many Chicago Lighthouse programs were “firsts” in the Midwest: the first Low Vision Clinic, the first Center for Blind and Multi-Disabled Children, the first Adaptive Technology Center for computer users. For 100 years, the Lighthouse has been responding to the emerging needs of people living with blindness, now helping people across the nation as we begin another century of service.
From humble beginnings back in 1906, we have evolved into one of America’s most comprehensive social service agencies. In fact, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley has called us the most comprehensive social service agency in the U.S.!
Housed under our roof are the nation’s oldest and most prominent Low Vision Clinic; one of the few clock manufacturing facilities left in the U.S., in which our visually impaired workers produce clocks that are distributed around the world; a nationally acclaimed school for children with multi-disabilities; an innovative Legal Clinic to assist people who are blind in combating discrimination; and a VA program to assist veterans in all 50 states.
With the unemployment rate among blind people surging near 70%, the Lighthouse (under the leadership of our past executive director, Jim Kesteloot) has worked tirelessly to protect and expand job opportunities for people with visual impairments. In that effort, we are proud to have solicited the past support of President Barack Obama, US Congressman Danny Davis and many others. At the Lighthouse, helping people with visual impairments find jobs is job one! In addition to offering a wide array of educational and training programs, we offer extensive job counseling and placement services.
Services
The Chicago Lighthouse is well regarded nationally as a model agency for the wide range of programs provided to make a comprehensive, wrap-around menu of services that address an individual’s changing needs across a lifetime. “Because there is still hope.”
Clinical Low Vision Rehabilitation
- Sandy and Rick Forsythe Center for Comprehensive Vision Care
- The Pangere Center for Inherited Retinal Disease
- Bergman Institute for Psychological Support
- Clinical Research
Education
- Birth to Three Early Intervention Program
- Chicago Lighthouse Children’s Development Center
- Illinois Instructional Materials Center
- The Chicago Lighthouse Scholarship Program
- Youth Transition Services
Employment
- Chicago Lighthouse
- Communications Center
- Chicago Lighthouse Industries
- Customer Service Training Program
- Job Readiness and Placement Program
- Job Retention Program
- Office Skills Training Program
- Recipient Identification Number (RIN) Program
- Work Adjustment Training Program
Independent Living/ Advocacy
- Adaptive Technology Center
- Adult Living Skills (ALS) Program
- Arthur and Esther Kane Legal Clinic
- CRIS Radio (Chicagoland Radio Information Service)
- Deaf/Blind Program
- Orientation and Mobility
- Seniors Program
- Veterans Supply Administration Program
Retail Programs
- The Chicago Lighthouse Convenience Store
- The Chicago Lighthouse Shoppe at Navy Pier
- Tool for Living™ Retail Store
Chicago Lighthouse Industries
A division of The Chicago Lighthouse, Lighthouse Industries has served the federal, state, local government, and business community for many years. We are best known for making wall clocks. 95% of our employees who make these clocks are legally blind, some with additional disabilities. The Chicago Lighthouse brand is the only major brand of clocks that is manufactured/assembled in the United States. Every clock is tested and inspected before it is packaged and shipped. We are creating jobs in America for those who have the greatest difficulty in finding employment. We offer quality, service and dependability at a reasonable price. Our three year warranty is among the best anywhere.
Over the years, we have performed numerous packaging operations. We have recently developed new offerings in Dry Erasable Wall Calendars and Planners, Monitor Arms, and Footrests. In the service area, we are now successfully offering call center services on a contractual basis. We are interested in pursuing any activity in manufacturing or service that will provide meaningful employment opportunities for good individuals who are disabled, but ready to compete in today’s global business community. Please get in touch, and see for yourself.
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