Chicago Lighthouse
Encyclopedia
The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired is a non-profit organization located in Chicago, Illinois.
The Lighthouse is one of the oldest social service agencies in Chicago
. Among the many programs it offers are a school for children with multi-disabilities; job training and placement; a low vision clinic; and a manufacturing facility that boasts the nation’s sole contract to supply clocks to the U.S. government. The Lighthouse is regarded as the most comprehensive agency of its kind in the Midwest and a model agency nationally.
During its existence, the Chicago Lighthouse has improved the quality of life for people who are blind
or visually impaired and has provided opportunities toward increased independent living
.
into society
and to provide basic care.
By 1918, The Chicago Lighthouse trained and placed 46 people, both men and women, who were blind or visually impaired in competitive work. Job opportunities included crafting coffin handles and edges, assembling various products such as electrical wires for Edison Appliance Company
, and hand weaving baskets, which were later to be sold as gift items in the shops and holiday catalogs of Marshall Field's
.
In 1931, The Chicago Lighthouse’s original name, “Improvement Association for the Blind,” is changed to “The Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind.”
In 1955, The Chicago Lighthouse hosted a dedication ceremony of a new building at which Helen Keller
was the keynote speaker. Helen Keller
was a common visitor to the lighthouse's annual dinners during the 1940s and 1950s.
The Chicago Lighthouse Low Vision Clinic – the first of its kind in the Midwest and the second in the nation – was formally established in 1957, involving both the Illinois Optometric Association and the Chicago Ophthalmological Society, to provide low vision services for people whose vision cannot be improved with standard corrective lenses.
The agency officially changed its name from “The Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind” to “The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired” in 1999.
or visually impaired. It has grown from a workshop environment in the early years to a professional manufacturer in the last three decennia.
The Chicago Lighthouse was awarded a contract with the Federal Government
in 1977 to produce wall clocks. A year later, Chicago Lighthouse Industries was officially initiated. The wall clocks are sold to several departments of the Federal Government
, including the Department of Defense
, and to and through various commercial entities.
On February 2, 2005, The Chicago Lighthouse was featured on the front page of The Wall Street Journal
. The article by Michael J. McCarthy covered how the Lighthouse Industries was coping with competition from foreign countries like China
.
However, in 1938 President Roosevelt
signed the Wagner-O'Day act which directed the government to purchase products manufactured by blind Americans. In 1971, Senator Jacob Javits introduced legislation extending the act to severely handicapped individuals known as the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act
. For a long time, Chicago Lighthouse had a lock on the wall clock business. Today, not every government buyer is aware of Chicago Lighthouse's favored status as a manufacturer, because the government more than a decade ago decentralized buying and encouraged individual departments to seek bargains.
The issue has since raised the attention of Senator
Barack Obama
, who visited The Lighthouse in the summer of 2005. Congressman Danny Davis
reminded officials on the House Floor
in Washington
to purchase from the Lighthouse:
The Lighthouse is one of the oldest social service agencies in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Among the many programs it offers are a school for children with multi-disabilities; job training and placement; a low vision clinic; and a manufacturing facility that boasts the nation’s sole contract to supply clocks to the U.S. government. The Lighthouse is regarded as the most comprehensive agency of its kind in the Midwest and a model agency nationally.
During its existence, the Chicago Lighthouse has improved the quality of life for people who are blind
Blindness
Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...
or visually impaired and has provided opportunities toward increased independent living
Independent living
Independent living, as seen by its advocates, is a philosophy, a way of looking at disability and society, and a worldwide movement of people with disabilities working for self-determination, self-respect and equal opportunities...
.
History
The Chicago Lighthouse was founded by a group of blind and sighted women volunteers in 1906 and was called the “Improvement Association for the Blind.” Its founding purpose was to integrate people who are blindBlindness
Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...
into society
Society
A society, or a human society, is a group of people related to each other through persistent relations, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or virtual territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations...
and to provide basic care.
By 1918, The Chicago Lighthouse trained and placed 46 people, both men and women, who were blind or visually impaired in competitive work. Job opportunities included crafting coffin handles and edges, assembling various products such as electrical wires for Edison Appliance Company
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
, and hand weaving baskets, which were later to be sold as gift items in the shops and holiday catalogs of Marshall Field's
Marshall Field's
Marshall Field & Company was a department store in Chicago, Illinois that grew to become a major chain before being acquired by Macy's Inc...
.
In 1931, The Chicago Lighthouse’s original name, “Improvement Association for the Blind,” is changed to “The Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind.”
In 1955, The Chicago Lighthouse hosted a dedication ceremony of a new building at which Helen Keller
Helen Keller
Helen Adams Keller was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree....
was the keynote speaker. Helen Keller
Helen Keller
Helen Adams Keller was an American author, political activist, and lecturer. She was the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree....
was a common visitor to the lighthouse's annual dinners during the 1940s and 1950s.
The Chicago Lighthouse Low Vision Clinic – the first of its kind in the Midwest and the second in the nation – was formally established in 1957, involving both the Illinois Optometric Association and the Chicago Ophthalmological Society, to provide low vision services for people whose vision cannot be improved with standard corrective lenses.
The agency officially changed its name from “The Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind” to “The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired” in 1999.
Chicago Lighthouse Industries and China
Chicago Lighthouse Industries is a manufacturing facility that employs people who are blindBlindness
Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...
or visually impaired. It has grown from a workshop environment in the early years to a professional manufacturer in the last three decennia.
The Chicago Lighthouse was awarded a contract with the Federal Government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
in 1977 to produce wall clocks. A year later, Chicago Lighthouse Industries was officially initiated. The wall clocks are sold to several departments of the Federal Government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
, including the Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
, and to and through various commercial entities.
On February 2, 2005, The Chicago Lighthouse was featured on the front page of The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
. The article by Michael J. McCarthy covered how the Lighthouse Industries was coping with competition from foreign countries like China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
- "The clock is ticking for Chicago Lighthouse," writes McCarthy, "which faces heavy new competition from China. In the past four years, U.S. imports of wall clocks -- most of them from China -- have increased by 24%, totaling $121 million in 2003."
However, in 1938 President Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
signed the Wagner-O'Day act which directed the government to purchase products manufactured by blind Americans. In 1971, Senator Jacob Javits introduced legislation extending the act to severely handicapped individuals known as the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act
Skilcraft
Skilcraft is a trade name of the National Industries for the Blind, an organization created by the Wagner-O'Day Act of 1938 to create employment opportunities for blind Americans. Products bearing the Skilcraft brand are commonly used in United States federal government institutions, including the...
. For a long time, Chicago Lighthouse had a lock on the wall clock business. Today, not every government buyer is aware of Chicago Lighthouse's favored status as a manufacturer, because the government more than a decade ago decentralized buying and encouraged individual departments to seek bargains.
- "But China isn't cleaning Chicago Lighthouse's clock just yet," adds McCarthy. "The company's sales have actually crept up a bit in recent years amid a push to make its clocks available to corporations and the general public."
The issue has since raised the attention of Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
, who visited The Lighthouse in the summer of 2005. Congressman Danny Davis
Danny K. Davis
For other persons named Danny Davis, please see Daniel Davis .Daniel K. Davis is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1997. He is a member of the Democratic Party.-Early life, education and career:...
reminded officials on the House Floor
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
to purchase from the Lighthouse:
- “We are always looking for the most cost-efficient way of doing business. We also better look at the needs of our people and we better look at the needs of the people in our community to provide opportunities for blind people to work, to have dignity, to have pride, to have a sense of self-worth. We should not let anything erode that, we should not let anything take that away and so I would urge us, as we purchase, as we continue to purchase clocks, that we remember something the bible says: 'Where there is no vision, the people perish.' Some people can see but have no vision; sometimes our policies reflect the ability to see, but not in a visionary way. Please, America, let’s not put the people at The Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind out of work. Let’s keep them working and hopefully all the rest of us will be able to see.”