Today we’d like to introduce you to Hugh McElroy.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Hugh. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Currently celebrating our 86th year, the Dallas Lighthouse is a 501 (c)3 nonprofit with the mission to create jobs and promote the quality of life and independence for people who are blind and visually impaired in North Texas. We are the largest employer of the blind and visually impaired in North Texas, with 121 of our 222 employees being blind or visually impaired. The majority of our blind or visually impaired employees are employed in our manufacturing facility where we produce approximately 335 items across 14 different product categories.
We serve 11 counties covering 7,600 square miles and with a population of 5 million. Currently, it is estimated that there are 150,000 people who are blind or visually impaired in North Texas. By 2030, this population is expected to increase to 300,000.
We must double our efforts just to maintain current impact, but that is not enough. The reality is 60% of the blind are unemployed and 30% live below the poverty line. We must transform and innovate in order to create jobs. To do so, we provide many services including career placement & coaching, call center training, assistive technology training, “Serving Our Seniors” in-home visitation & support, social activities and community investment.
Senior leadership at the Dallas Lighthouse has over 100 years of collective operating, finance, sales, marketing and service experience. In addition, there are textile department leaders with 100+ years of textile experience. Manufacturing and equipment maintenance leaders have over 50 combined years’ experience. As a team, we are masterfully positioned to carry out a successful and strategic 10-year growth plan.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There are always challenges in life. When we have challenges in our business we consider the challenges our clients face due to blindness or visual impairment, and press forward. Our clients are an inspiration to all of us really. Their determination and talents make any challenges surmountable and well worth the effort.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind – what should we know?
The Dallas Lighthouse is currently engaged in a period of transformation and positive change. Under new leadership, we are already seeing progress, including new product additions, lean process improvements, factory space optimization, equipment upgrades, talent acquisition and main campus refurbishments. In 2016, the Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind broadened our portfolio and successfully entered into the manufacturing of women’s high-fashion garments under the TISHCOX label. We also added commercial draperies manufacturing in support of global hotel chains. We increased our industrial textile base load supporting TXDOT, NTTA and other Texas State and Federal programs. In December 2016, a distribution agreement was formed between the Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind and Evergaze, a Richardson, TX based manufacturer of “seeBoost.” An emerging technology, “seeBoost” is a wearable miniature device designed to assist patients with Age-related and Juvenile Macular Degeneration (AMD, Stargardt disease), Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and Diabetic Retinopathy. In 2017, we will open a new call center and training facility in Richardson, Texas in order to employ and serve more people who are blind and visually impaired. We also anticipate opening a low vision clinic in the coming year.
The Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind is developing a Call Center, Low Vision Clinic & Training Center in our new Richardson, Texas facility. Capital renovations for the new center include:
• Low Vision Clinic
• Customer Care Call Center
• Assistive Technology Training Center
• Successful Living Lab
• Orientation and Mobility Lab
The new DLB facility at 111 W. Spring Valley Road is a two story, 56,000 square-foot brick building with surrounding grounds and garden. Built in 1982, the atrium was designed with community gathering in mind, and provides both a focal point for the building and a place for organizing large groups. With its central location and proximity to public transportation, the new facility offers the perfect opportunity for expansion of the Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind. In the fall of 2017, DLB anticipates moving business services and services for people who are blind, visually impaired or low vision to this new location.
The DLB Low-Vision Clinic will provide clinical services that specifically focus on blindness prevention (when sight restoration is feasible) or offer treatment options (when a cure isn’t possible and blindness is imminent). At its ultimate capacity, the clinic will serve between 1,000 – 3,000+ individuals annually, and provide innovative treatment options. Additionally, the DLB is currently developing partnerships with doctors who are experts in blindness and vision impairment and with organizations focused on developing emerging and innovative technologies such as SeeBoost –a wearable low vision device that expands the field of vision for people who have experienced vision loss due to macular degeneration, and the Ocutech Explorer Telescopic –a device that enables a person with deteriorating vision to maintain their ability to drive. The DLB Training Center will focus on providing training that builds independence, mobility and job opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired.
The Dallas Lighthouse Capitol Avenue will continue to provide ongoing job placement, assistive technology training and other social support and continue to provide assistance in the 11 counties we service.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
We are most successful when we are living our mission to create jobs and to promote the quality of life and independence for the people who are blind and visually impaired in North Texas.
All we do, all business that we attract, all support we receive is directed to achieving this mission and to sustaining the ability to deliver services to people who are blind and vision impaired and all others who need us.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4306 Capitol Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75204
- Website: www.dallaslighthouse.org
- Phone: (214) 821-2375
- Email: Development@DallasLighthouse.org
- Instagram: @dallaslighthousefortheblind
- Facebook: @dallaslighthouse
- Twitter: @dallaslighthous
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
