Created in 1976 to serve the needs of the blind and visually impaired, the mission of The Lighthouse in Tyler, Texas is the rehabilitation, education, training and employment of people who are blind or visually impaired. To accomplish that, The Lighthouse offers a wide range of programs and services including employment, adaptive equipment, independent living skills training, orientation and mobility training and a full stocked low vision aids store. These services are provided through our three divisions, The Lighthouse for the Blind Rehabilitative Services, Horizon Industries, and Lighthouse Graphics.
The Lighthouse for the Blind Rehabilitative Services is located at 727 E. Front Street in Tyler. Along with a Low Vision Aids Store, this 4,600 square foot facility features a model kitchen and home setting for Independent Living Skills training. The Adaptive Equipment Program features a wide array of technology that can remove barriers to independence through a simple application process and training. With an emphasis on White Cane independence, our certified Orientation and Mobility specialist will provide the blind with the tools and training they require for purposeful, safe and independent travel. Our goal is to mainstream the blind and visually impaired back into the community and an independent lifestyle.
Horizon Industries occupies a 92,000 square foot facility at 500 N. Bois d' Arc in Tyler and employs 70 blind and visually impaired employees. Horizon converts paper products into industrial wipers for General Services Administration and its customers. In 2010, Horizon employees converted 5,334,187 pounds of industrial wiper material. That's 2,667 tons of paper or approximately 133 truckloads of raw materials. Horizon also converted 188,290,080 feet or 35,661 miles of parachute cord for the Department of Defense. Most of this cord was shipped directly to our troops deployed in Iraqi and Afghanistan. Horizon Industries has been empowering blind Americans through employment since 1976.
Lighthouse Graphics offers "Creative Marketing Apparel" and is located at 500 N. Bois d' Arc in Tyler. With commercial and non profit accounts as primary customers, its state of the art screen printing and embroidery facility offers unequaled quality. Through advanced technology it provides vocational training and jobs in the graphics field that previously had been considered impossible for the blind and visually impaired.
