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History

In 1900, two blind men from Connecticut, Francis R. Cleveland and H.R.W. Miles, founded Columbia Polytechnic Institute for the Blind in a small building in Northwest Washington, DC. Now called Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind, the organization has changed its location, size and scope for over 100 years, but its overall mission has remained the same – to help the blind and visually impaired population of the greater Washington region overcome the challenges of vision loss and enable people of all ages who are blind or visually impaired to remain independent, active and productive on our society.  

Having been involved with work for the blind in their native state of Connecticut, Cleveland, an attorney, and Miles, a graduate of the Perkins Institute for the Blind, arrived in Washington in 1899 with plans to open an agency in the nation's capital. This agency would serve as a model institution for the rest of the country, demonstrating to the sighted world the capabilities of blind individuals. After months of preliminary work, the Columbia Polytechnic Institute for the Blind was incorporated on May 17, 1900, with the stated purpose of educating and fostering the employment opportunities for Washingtonians who were blind.  

The incorporators and trustees of the Institute, prominent men of their day, were instrumental in securing a $5,000 Congressional appropriation to start up the non-profit agency. Payment was made on the original building at 1808 H Street, N.W., and the remaining funds invested in a printing plant, which would become a source of income as well as provide employment for people who were blind. Blind workers learned to "feed" the press and to fold, stitch, insert and trim magazines and pamphlets. A monthly magazine, Talks, Tales and Public Opinion was published. The magazine featured book reviews, travel articles, stories and poetry, serving as a medium for the exchange of information and ideas. Later, this magazine was merged to become a quarterly publication titled, Voices from Dark Lands. However, by 1918, both the printing department of the Columbia Polytechnic Institute and the quarterly magazine were discontinued.

In the meantime, a chair-caning operation had been set up at the Institute as well as other activities designed to increase revenue and employment. A number of blind individuals associated with the Columbia Polytechnic Institute were gifted musicians and music rooms were made available, where blind teachers gave music lessons to their sighted students.

In March 1911, Congress gave the Institute an additional appropriation of $3,000. This money was used to purchase new machinery, furthering the Institute's income-producing endeavors. Following World War I, the Columbia Polytechnic Institute for the Blind was designated as a convalescent home and training facility for blinded veterans. Veterans were given assistance in adapting to and coping with blindness, enabling them to live independent lives despite their vision loss.

The first Braille instructor was employed by Columbia Polytechnic Institute in 1933. The Institute expanded its mission and scope, focusing more intensely on academic and vocational training. A department of furniture repair and chair reseating was introduced, where a number of blind individuals received training and employment. Braille, typewriting, piano tuning and voice instruction were also offered and, for those persons unable to attend classes at the Institute, a home teaching service was inaugurated.

With the onset of World War II, Columbia Polytechnic Institute expanded its facilities to include subcontract work. Nearly 20 blind individuals were employed through various defense contracts, marking the highest level of employment achieved by the Institute since its inception in 1900. The Institute also collaborated with the Veterans' Administration, providing vocational training and assistance to wounded veterans, as they returned from overseas.

In 1947, there was considerable turnover in Columbia Polytechnic Institute's Board of Trustees. A group of young businessmen became interested in improving the services available for Washington's blind community. Mr. Page Hufty, a member of the Board of Trustees since mid-1930, became president of the Board in 1949 and took steps to ensure that the Institute became better known to the public. More services were provided by the Institute, and staff size was increased. Mr. Hufty served as an Honorary Chairman of the Board until his death in February 2001.

In 1950, Columbia Polytechnic Institute sought the help of two leading national service organizations for the blind, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), and the National Industries of the Blind (NIB), to undertake a survey of Washington to identify blind citizens and to make recommendations about how the Institute could best meet needs.

These consultants recommended substantially increasing rehabilitation services and expanding workshop facilities. Accordingly, an expansion program was adopted and steps were taken to obtain a larger "home" for the organization. Also in 1950, the Columbia Polytechnic Institute for the Blind renewed its charter and changed its name. Just two years later, a renovated school building at 9th and E Streets, S.W., became the new headquarters of the newly named Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind. Later, Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind moved to 1421 P Street, N.W.

In December 2000, Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind moved to its current headquarters in the heart of the federal business district at 1120 20th Street, N.W., Suite 750 South, and in May 2001, celebrated its 101st anniversary.

In April 2001, Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind opened a regional office in Riverdale, Maryland. Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind’s education and training programs and services assist more than 20,000 blind and low vision children, adults and senior citizens in the metropolitan Washington, DC area to lead independent, productive and active lives.  Through its training and consultation services, Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind reaches hundreds of others across the nation.  Programs and services include:

• Assistive Technology Training
• Assistive Technology Consultations
• Staffing and Career services
• Children's Programs
• Low Vision Care
• Older Adult Services
• Rehabilitation Services
• Volunteer Programs

The Visionary store regularly stocks items for use by people who are blind or have low vision, including magnifiers, talking clocks, canes and Brailes watches

While the mission of promoting independence for people who are blind or have low vision continues to be Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind’s focus, its emphasis on achieving that goal has changed with time.  In today’s increasingly technological society, training in assistive technology can better prepare people who are blind or have low vision to compete in school or in the job market. Therefore, Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind places great emphasis on technology training as well as staffing and career services.

Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind has also expanded its services to include people who have low vision. Contrary to popular belief, more than half of those who receive services from Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind have some useable vision.  As a result, a full-time clinic, directed by a Doctor of Optometry who specializes in low vision care, offers individuals an opportunity to receive examinations and prescriptions of low vision aids.