With These Hands at SALB

James Ellison-Lackland Cashier

James Ellison is a native of San Antonio and has been an employee of the San Antonio Lighthouse for over 22 years. In that time he has experienced first-hand amazing changes in opportunities for blind individuals.

When James was thirteen years old a “boys will be boys” accident took his left eye – tossing rocks with his buddies one landed in his left eye – destroying the nerves and leaving it sightless. Unfortunately for James another incident happened when he was 16 that would take away most of the sight in his right eye – he was playing baseball and the ball hit his right eye with such force it irrevocably damaged the eye – leaving his right eye in a legally blind state.

After graduating from school James worked in construction – he never shared with his employers that he was legally blind– James was afraid they wouldn’t hire him…. He knew he would be fine as long as he didn’t have to read anything with small print.

But James wanted more for himself and in 1975 he attended a trade school to learn how to repair small appliances and air-conditioners. He did really well and one of the tasks was to build a make-shift washing machine. His teacher realized that he had a vision problem and doubled checked the wiring to make sure he was spot on.

In 1977 there was a great opportunity to work at St Luke's Episcopal Hospital/Texas Heart Institute in Houston so James packed up and moved – the position was for a steam fitter. They called the trade school he attended in San Antonio for references and they sang his praises but did mention that he had difficulty seeing. The hospital didn’t want to lose him so they made accommodations for James and hired him as their Maintenance Dispatcher.

James stayed with St. Luke’s until 1981 when family issues brought him back to San Antonio. James had several odd jobs during that period until 1989 but craved more stability in his life. He went to the Texas Commission for the Blind to see how they could help him, after certifying that he was legally blind, they referred him to the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind.

That was the beginning of what James says was an incredible opportunity for him. He went through an evaluation and work adjustment program with the SALB and his official date of hire was August 1, 1989. James worked as a general assembler on the pencil line and even tried sewing. They didn’t have computerized sewing machines back then or assistive technology to meet his needs to do that task so he was moved to heat sealing lighters that would be easier on his vision.

James has witnessed many outstanding changes in the advancement of assistive aids that allow people with vision impairment to live their lives with dignity and he is very proud of that. He is also very proud of working at the San Antonio Lighthouse and loves being a cashier at the Lackland Base Service Store – assisting the Military with whatever purchases they need to make. The SALB means a sense of security for James….contributing to the economy and pride for his accomplishments. James says….If you apply yourself you will get your just rewards…..and the SALB is certainly rewarded for having an employee like James.

James dotes over his daughter Denise and his 5 grandsons ages 11 to 19.