“Seeing what’s possible” is what the Lighthouse has been all about for the last 100 years, and “Seeing What’s Possible” is what the Lighthouse will be all about for the next 100 years.

Many of you know that I have been legally blind my entire life. When I entered high school, my ophthalmologist referred me to The Chicago Lighthouse. I was not able to read any of my school books (I was mainstreamed into the local school along with the sighted students and at that time Braille and large print books were not available to students with visual impairments. Of course, now The Chicago Lighthouse supplies all blind children in Illinois with their Braille or large print books).  So at that time, my doctor referred me to a new program at The Chicago Lighthouse, the Low Vision Clinic. The Clinic examined patients who had small amounts of remaining vision, and prescribed special low vision lenses to help improve functional vision.

I remember sitting in the Lighthouse waiting room. I was 14 years old, a freshman in high school. I remember thinking, “It is not possible for me to finish high school. It is not possible for me to get a job. It’s not possible that someone will love me, especially if I don’t have a job. It’s not possible for me to some day have my own family. It’s not possible for me to be able to live independently.” Very profound thoughts for a child, but actually very common thoughts for children who are blind. Most parents and adults don’t realize that blind children would have such thoughts.

In the exam room, the doctor looked into my eyes. During the course of the examination, he went over to a counter and picked up a pair of spectacle frames with a special low vision lens and he placed it on my face. The doctor took some reading material and placed it in my hand, and then he took my hand and moved it up to the lens. I was immediately stunned, shocked! I could see the print. I could see regular print for the first time.  Previously, I could barely see headlines in the newspaper.

The word “seeing” has two meanings. The first meaning is “the ability of the eye to perceive.” The second meaning of “seeing” is “to understand, to know.” A few minutes earlier, when I was in the waiting room, I thought it was not possible to finish high school, and that it was not possible for me to be President of anything. After the low vision examination, I understood. I knew “what was possible.” Anything and everything was possible.

As I look back over the past 100 years, thousands of people who went through Lighthouse programs had this same experience; a renewed hope, setting new goals, understanding and knowing that they did have a bright future, and seeing what’s possible.

Jim Kesteloot
Chicago Lighthouse President