Bridge to Work

There are numerous amounts of veterans living in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area are blind or visually impaired. Many require additional assistance and services to secure and maintain employment. Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind (CLB) created the Bridge to Work initiative to address these unmet needs. Bridge to Work will ensure that blind or visually impaired veterans seeking employment have the skills, resources and training they need to succeed. 

This program will allow veterans to:

• Participate in job preparation training to secure employment.
• Learn how skills obtained during military service can be applied in a civilian workplace.
• Access a specially trained case manager who will assess your current skills and training needs
• Obtain group or one-on-one training on assistive technology and computers.
• Consult with our rehabilitation professionals who can help with adjustments to low vision or blindness and teach daily living techniques.

Employer Education:

Many employers have concerns about hiring individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Most of these concerns arise from misconceptions about the types of jobs they can do, the skills that they may have, productivity, as well as the burdens it might place on the company in terms of transportation needs, equipment, ect. Part of CLB's mission is to educate employers and dispel these myths.

This program provides employers the ability to:

• Hire highly-skilled professionals who have been trained on adaptive devices, enabling them to work independently.
• Gain access to assistive technology that can be utilized in the workplace.
• Take advantage of employer-related services offered by the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind.
• Enjoy the satisfaction of employing those who have served our country. 

To learn more about the Bridge to Work program and how you can get involved, please contact our Veteran Programs Manager, Eddie Jones at (240) 737-5105. He can also be reached by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .