October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and the Austin Lighthouse is joining the campaign to raise awareness of the workforce capabilities of people who are blind.
Nearly 70 percent of blind Americans are unemployed. The rate is even higher for those who are deafblind. At the Austin Lighthouse, also known as Travis Association for the Blind, we’re doing our part to decrease those numbers by offering employment opportunities and training services that help with career success.
Employment Opportunities
We employ over 250 blind Texans, including disabled veterans, at our Austin and Taylor facilities to produce and distribute high-quality products and services for federal, state, and military customers. These workers fill positions in various departments, including production, shipping, accounting, training, warehousing, and marketing.
Production workers in our manufacturing departments produce over one million military uniform belts a year and nearly three million textile items for all branches of the military annually.
Through our co-brand partnership with GOJO Industries, our Skin Care workers produce and distribute over a million bottles of GOJO, MICRELL, and PURELL SKILCRAFT soap and sanitizer products each year.
During the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic, our team shipped out three million bottles of sanitizer, making the Austin Lighthouse the go-to agency for the hand hygiene products the government needed on the front lines.
Warehouse Specialists use the latest technology at our distribution warehouses, such as Bluetooth headsets, blind-operated turret trucks, and autonomous mobile robots, to complete their job duties. Visit our job board to view and apply for open positions.
Vocational Support
Our vocational specialists are here to help you prepare for the employment of your choice. First-time job seekers and those looking for a career change after vision loss can develop and strengthen their skillsets through our specialized program. Click here to learn more.
Adaptive Technology Training
Students at our technology training center receive one-on-one training to learn and enhance their computer skills. These individualized classes help people who are blind gain the knowledge needed for entering and advancing in the workforce. To learn more about available classes, click here.
Learn More
Explore our website to learn more about our training and employment opportunities. To hear from our employees, watch the video below.