Your Stories, Your Words: The Lighthouse Walks the Talk
I came to The Chicago Lighthouse looking for help navigating vision loss. What I found was opportunity and a path forward.
I built my career in sales and marketing, managing key accounts for global manufacturers of consumer goods. I traveled across the country developing business, launching new products, and strengthening customer relationships. My eyesight was never an issue; I had close to 20/20 vision.
About ten years ago, that changed.
An inherited retinal disease went from a minor annoyance to a restrictive disability fairly quickly. I lost my ability to drive. Working on a computer became extremely challenging. Both skills were essential for doing my job. Almost overnight, the career I had built became uncertain.
I came to The Chicago Lighthouse not looking for a job, but for help. My goal was to learn adaptive technology and ultimately find a position in the corporate or government sector that could benefit from my experience.
During that process, I learned about the Chicago Lighthouse Industries program, which manufactures and sells office and consumer products. At the time, there wasn’t a role that matched my background. But I believed I had something to offer. I stayed persistent, continued conversations with leadership, and when the right opportunity eventually became available, I stepped in and was able to contribute immediately.
But getting to that point didn’t happen overnight.
When my vision loss was first becoming a disability, I had no idea what tools were available. The technology that could help me seemed overwhelming and often very expensive. Even when tools were accessible, the learning curve was steep. Trying to develop those skills on my own while managing vision loss was frustrating and discouraging.
That’s why The Chicago Lighthouse was so helpful for me.
They provide the three things that I feel are critical for someone with vision loss:
- The Tools — adaptive technology that makes independence possible
- The Training — guidance on how to use those tools effectively
- The Opportunity — a real chance to work, contribute, and build a career
Anyone can talk about hiring people with disabilities. The Chicago Lighthouse actually does it.
—Rick Sullivan, Director of New Business Development, Chicago Lighthouse Industries
