The Lighthouse For The Blind

Mary E. Ryder, a prominent St. Louisian, founded The Lighthouse for the Blind, originally known as Industrial Aid for the Blind, Inc., in 1933. Through her compassion and imagination, she identified the need for a place whereby the blind could count on developing new, productive skills while simultaneously earning a steady income.

Our first facility manufactured brooms, mops, doormats, and various other articles. In 1968, we began production of ballpoint pen cartridges for the government and other blind agencies.

In the 1980's, we added aerosol paints and liquid cleaner items to the product mix, and were successful in obtaining a contract with General Services Administration (GSA) for the purchase of aerosol paint products.

As a result of this contract and new growth, we expanded from our main office to an additional satellite facility in Berkeley, Missouri. This new operation facilitated the addition of aerosol filling and packaging capabilities. This expansion allowed us to broaden our spectrum of products, provide greatly increased storage for production warehousing, and add a new maintenance area.

In 2002, we began producing large scale medical kits and recently added specialty bandage packaging and sterilization in 2010.

Currently, the Lighthouse holds over 20 contracts with Government agencies covering over 200 products. The current product mix includes Aerosol Cleaners, Bio-based Cleaners, Liquid Cleaners, Office Cleaners, Maintenance Products, Repellent, Paints and Coatings, Medical Products, and the first Green Seal Certified Environmentally Preferred Cleaners.

To our knowledge, we are the only aerosol manufacturing facility in the world operated by primarily blind individuals.

In January of 2005, we launched the first of our See the Future programs. These programs have grown to include assistance to students in areas of technology adaptations, activities of daily living skill development, professional career development for professionals in the field of vision, scholarships to educational and recreational camps, older adult assistance with low vision aids and, a mobile low vision clinic.

In Fall 2011, the Lighthouse expanded our Trenton manufacturing plant to add on 17,000 sq. ft. of medical manufacturing and kitting space along with training rooms for our Activities of Daily Living (ADL) programs.

We are a member agency of the National Industries for the Blind and participate in the Ability One Program. Currently, between our two plants, we employ a total of 108 individuals, of which 65 are blind or visually impaired! Approximately 90% of our direct labor force is legally blind.

With our extensive growth, we continue to increase our employment opportunities and build upon our children's and adult programs.

For an overview of our company and our special mission watch our Corporate Video: