Q: How many people with visual impairments do you employ?
A: Out of the 79 people currently employed at Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind, approximately 78% are blind or visually impaired.

Q: What does legally blind mean?
A: Legal blindness in the U.S. is defined as either having vision that cannot be corrected beyond 20/200
in the better eye or having a visual field restricted to 20 degrees or less in the better eye.

Q: What does visual impairment mean?
A: "Visual impairment" or "vision impairment" is vision loss (of a person) having reduced vision as to
constitute a handicap or a significant limitation of visual perception/visual capability resulting
from disease, physical trauma or a congenital or degenerative condition that cannot be corrected by
conventional means, including refractive correction, medication, or surgery.

Q: What are the causes of visual impairment?
A: Visual impairment can be caused by a number if conditions including: macular degeneration,
diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, cataracts and eye injury.

Q: How many blind people are there in the United States?
A: There are approximately 1.3 million blind people in the United States today.
(source: American Foundation for the Blind)

Q: How many Americans experience vision loss?
A: 21.2 million Americans report experiencing vision loss.
(2006 National Health Interview Survey)

Q: How many blind children are there in the United States?
A: There are approximately 57,696 legally blind children in the U.S.
(According to the 2007 Annual Report from the American Printing House for the Blind)

Q: How many blind or visually impaired people are there in the Greater Washington
metropolitan region?
A: Across the Greater Washington area, approximately 58,000 people are visually impaired or blind.

Q: What is the unemployment rate for blind people?
A: 30% of people who are blind and of working age are employed, 40% are
not seeking employment or not available for work so that 30%
are technically unemployed.

Q: Why is the unemployment rate so high for people who are blind?
A: Many employers and members of the public are unaware of the assistive technology available to people
who are blind or visually impaired that enable them to do their jobs. In addition, the lack of visibility of
people who are blind or visually impaired in society contributes to misconceptions and bias towards
people with visual disabilities.

Q: What kind of jobs do people who are blind or visually impaired do at Columbia
Lighthouse for the Blind?
A: People who are blind or visually impaired fill a wide range of positions including human resources,
assistive technology trainers, career specialists, switchboard operators, mailroom clerks, receptionists,
administrative assistants, and management staff.

Q: What services does Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind offer?
A: In addition to offering employment opportunities, CLB also offers orientation and mobility (O & M)
training, computer training programs, independent living skills, job development training, assistive
technology training, braille instruction, rehabilitation services, case management, support groups for
adults and teens, children's programs and Braille Book Club for children.

Q: How can I support Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind?
A: People can support the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind by making a tax deductable contribution to the
organization, volunteering or sponsoring an event that benefits the visually impaired and blind communities.

Q: Do you provide any low vision care services?
A: Yes, Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind offers various low vision care services including: consultations
with our specially trained optometrists for a comprehensive low vision evaluation, consultations with our
rehabilitation specialist, consultations with our assistive technology specialist, orientation and mobility
training and teen/adult support groups.

Q: Where is your visionary store located?
A: Our visionary store is housed in our Silver Spring office, located at 8720 Georgia Avenue, Suite 210,
Silver Spring, MD 20910.

Q: How are you funded?
A: The majority of Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind's operations are funded through government contracts,
grants, foundations and state governments.
Community support includes financial contribution from local corporations, foundations, service organizations,
and individuals. This funding is critical to preserving and expanding the existing programs and
creating new opportunities for the people we serve.

Q: When did the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind begin operating?
A: The Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind traces its roots back to 1900.