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Monday 9am - 5pm Tuesday 9am - 5pm Wednesday 9am - 5pm Thursday 9am - 5pm Friday 9am - 5pm

Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind

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Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind

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Serving people who are blind and visually impaired in the Greater Washington DC region since 1900.

10/28/2026

If you are not sure whether a coworker who is blind or has low vision wants help, ask. "Would you like a hand with that?" is always welcome. "No, thanks" is a complete answer.

10/28/2026

Last week our team joined M&T Bank to talk about building workplaces where people with disabilities thrive.

The panel, "Unlocking Potential: Cultivating Workplaces Where Unique Abilities Thrive," was part of National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

The conversation covered three things employers can act on now: hiring for skills, mentorship that leads to real career growth, and partnerships with community organizations that already know how to support people with disabilities at work.

Thank you to M&T Bank for hosting, and to everyone who came ready to learn and to hire. If your organization wants to build a workplace where people who are blind or have low vision can thrive, we would love to talk: clb.org/contact

10/27/2026

We are honored to receive the 2026 Outstanding Employer Award.

The award comes from the DC Department on Disability Services (DDS) and its Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA), and was presented on White Cane Safety Day, October 15. It recognizes employers who open doors for people with disabilities. It means a great deal to us, because many members of our own team at Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind are blind or have low vision.

Thank you to DDS and RSA for this recognition, and for the partnership behind it. Every day, our vocational rehabilitation work with RSA helps people who are blind or have low vision in DC prepare for, find and keep jobs they want.

Independence looks different for everyone. For many people, a job is a big part of it.

10/15/2026

Our 125th anniversary celebration was everything we hoped for. And the work it supports is just getting started.

Earlier this month, friends, clients and partners came together to celebrate 125 years of Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind. Thank you to everyone who made the night what it was.

As our President and CEO Rebecca Liko said that evening, none of us does this alone. We do it together. And as our Chief Operating Officer Zachary Brewer put it, our history is not a reason to stand still. It is the foundation that gives us the courage to move forward.

Moving forward looks like this: training in daily living skills, braille and orientation. Assistive technology our clients receive at no cost. Programs for children who are blind or have low vision. Career preparation with employers across the region. Independence is what we work toward every day, and your support is what makes it possible.

Our 125 for 125 campaign is close to its $125,000 goal and is still open: clb.org/125years

One more thing. Giving Tuesday is December 1, and we are looking for businesses that want to multiply their impact with us. If your company would like to partner on a matching gift for Giving Tuesday, we would love to talk. Reach us through clb.org/contact and a real person will follow up within a business day.

10/15/2026

Today is White Cane Safety Day. If you've ever wondered whether to help someone using a white cane, here's our advice: ask first.

A white cane is a working tool. It finds the curb or the step before the person using it gets there, and it tells drivers and people nearby that the person is blind or has low vision. Most of all, it means someone is getting where they need to go on their own.

So say hello, introduce yourself, and ask, "Would you like some help?" If the answer is yes, offer your arm and let the person take it just above the elbow, rather than taking hold of theirs, and never touch their cane. If the answer is no thanks, take them at their word. They are the best judge of what they need.

That advice is what we teach every day. In our orientation and mobility training at Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind, people who are blind or have low vision learn cane and safety techniques, with hands-on practice at home, at work and out in the community. Today our team is leading a community training in DC on exactly this, with lunch on us. A real person reads every RSVP: clb.org/events/white-cane-safety-day

Programs like these are vital, and they run on the generosity of this community. Every contribution helps someone get where they need to go on their own.

The day goes back to 1964, when President Lyndon B. Johnson proclaimed the first White Cane Safety Day and called the white cane a symbol of a person's ability to come and go on their own. More than 60 years later, that is still what it stands for, and it is still what we teach.

If you or someone you know in DC, Maryland or Virginia is adjusting to vision loss and wants to get around with more confidence, talk with us. It costs nothing to ask: clb.org/services/orientation-and-mobility

10/01/2026

Last call. The CLB 125th Anniversary Silent Auction closes tonight at 8:30 pm ET. Many of our 57 donated items still have no bids, so your first bid could win. Bid at clb.org/silentauction, or text the item number and your bid to (240) 624-9454.

10/01/2026

Tonight, we celebrate 125 years of Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind at National Industries for the Blind in Alexandria. We are at $112,400 of our $125,000 goal, and the silent auction closes at 8:30 pm ET. Bid from anywhere at clb.org/silentauction.

09/30/2026

Five signed copies of Inside the Owner's Box by David M. Rubenstein are in the CLB 125th Anniversary Silent Auction. Each copy is its own item, ITEM53 to ITEM57, so five people can win one.

Register once, then bid online at clb.org/silentauction, or text the item number and your bid to (240) 624-9454. Bidding closes Thursday, October 1 at 8:30 pm ET. On Instagram, the link is in our bio.

09/30/2026

Gift Cards & Certificates, part of the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind 125th Anniversary Silent Auction. 1 of our 57 donated items is in this collection:

ITEM43. Mixology Hair Salon $80 Gift Card. An $80 gift card to Mixology Hair Salon.

Every item was donated by friends of CLB, and every bid supports people who are blind or have low vision in the Washington region.

Register once, then bid online at clb.org/silentauction, or text the item number and your bid to (240) 624-9454. Bidding closes Thursday, October 1 at 8:30 pm ET. On Instagram, the link is in our bio.

09/30/2026

Professional Services, part of the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind 125th Anniversary Silent Auction. 1 of our 57 donated items is in this collection:

ITEM42. Two Hour IT Strategy Consultation with ETTE's CTO and President. 2 hours one-on-one with the leadership of DC IT firm ETTE.

Every item was donated by friends of CLB, and every bid supports people who are blind or have low vision in the Washington region.

Register once, then bid online at clb.org/silentauction, or text the item number and your bid to (240) 624-9454. Bidding closes Thursday, October 1 at 8:30 pm ET. On Instagram, the link is in our bio.

Address

1825 K Street NW
Washington D.C., DC
20006

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12024546400

Website

http://www.clb.org/

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