About the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind

The San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization incorporated in the State of Texas. Serving people who are blind or visually impaired for more than 78 years, the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind provides rehabilitation services as well as employment for the blind in its light manufacturing assembly plant.

Our Mission

The mission of the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind is to provide rehabilitation services and employment opportunities that will enable blind and visually impaired individuals to live high quality, independent lives.

What We Do

The San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind is proud to be San Antonio’s icon for training and educating both the blind and severely visually impaired, in addition to being a leader in manufacturing for the military and government agencies.

Founded in 1933, the Lighthouse began as a small sewing plant on the south side of San Antonio and has since grown into an agency that provides employment for more than 500 employees in a 70,000 square foot manufacturing and rehabilitation facility.  More than half of our employees are blind or visually impaired.

The San Antonio Lighthouse manufacturing operation supports our nation’s military efforts by manufacturing office supplies (Mechanical Pencils, Rollerball Pens, Highlighters, and Clam Clip Fastening systems), Military helmet chin straps and textile apparel, Spill Kits and Absorbent Products, and Aerospace Insulation Blankets and floorboards for Boeing’s KC135 airplanes. The SALB is ISO9001 and AS9100 certified, which ensures that we have top quality management systems in place in the manufacturing and aerospace industries.

The SALB Rehabilitation Center provides vocational training, technology training, and independent living rehabilitation services that increase the independence of individuals who are blind or visually impaired, as well as those with other disabilities.

The San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind also operates 14 Base Service Centers on 11 military installations located in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. These stores operate under the AbilityOne Program, which helps blind and disabled employees nationwide find jobs. The AbilityOne program also partners with non-profits to provide AbilityOne products made by the blind and disabled to the federal government at fair market prices. The SALB Base Service Centers sell office supplies and mission support products for the military and provide additional employment opportunities for blind individuals.

While our products and employment opportunities may have changed over time, the SALB focus on improving the lives of the blind and visually impaired has remained steadfast.