Lighthouse Louisiana
Lighthouse Louisiana is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1915 that empowers people with disabilities in Louisiana through vision rehabilitation, deaf services, employment programs, assistive technology retail, and a federal-contract manufacturing division employing primarily blind workers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1915
- HeadquartersNew Orleans, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Lighthouse Louisiana does
Lighthouse Louisiana is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in New Orleans, Louisiana, operating manufacturing, retail, and human services programs to empower people with disabilities. Founded in 1915 as the Louisiana Commission for the Blind and rebranded in 2012 to reflect a broader disability mandate, the organization serves individuals who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, hard of hearing, or have other disabilities across 42 Louisiana parishes through vision rehabilitation clinics, deaf services, employment support programs, youth services, transportation, and benefits counseling.
The organization operates a diversified revenue model combining federal manufacturing contracts, charitable donations and grants, and retail sales. Its Manufacturing Division produces paper and utility products (cups, paper towels, deck swabs, biodegradable plates) in an ISO 9001:2008-certified facility, with 87% of manufacturing employees being blind or visually impaired. The Federal Government is the largest customer through the AbilityOne Program via GSA and Defense Logistics Agency contracts. Two Visual Aids Boutiques in New Orleans and Baton Rouge retail assistive devices, supplemented by Shopify e-commerce. The flagship $10M Pathways to Success initiative, funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Disability Innovation Fund, deploys AI-powered contact center technology and the LETEC training center to create competitive integrated employment in telecommunications and customer service across 30 parishes.
Go-to-market is hybrid: community-led referrals drive individual services through Louisiana Rehabilitation Services, American Job Centers, healthcare providers, and schools, while federal procurement channels and employer partnerships (including Loyola University, Sodexo, and Dan's Landscaping) drive employment placement and B2B service contracts. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors with documented C-suite leadership and is the largest employer of people who are blind in Louisiana.
Lighthouse Louisiana firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lighthouse Louisiana
- Legal name
- Lighthouse for the Blind in New Orleans, Inc.
- Website
- https://lighthouselouisiana.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1915
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Lighthouse Louisiana is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1915 that empowers people with disabilities in Louisiana through vision rehabilitation, deaf services, employment programs, assistive technology retail, and a federal-contract manufacturing division employing primarily blind workers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lighthouse Louisiana industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability and Rehabilitation Services
- NAICS
- Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Accessibility, Accommodations & Assistive Services (EDALAFAN), Note-Taking, Interpreting & Communication Access Services (EDALAGAD)
Keywords
Where Lighthouse Louisiana is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New Orleans
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Lighthouse Louisiana business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Manufacturing and Government Contracts: Operating a modern manufacturing facility producing paper and utility products (cups, paper towels, deck swabs) and providing packaging services. Federal Government is the largest customer through AbilityOne Program contracts with General Services Administration, Defense Logistics Agency, and military base stores.
- Donations and Grants: Receiving charitable donations from individuals and organizations, including a $10 million grant from U.S. Department of Education's Disability Innovation Fund for the Pathways to Success project
- Retail Sales (Visual Aids Boutique): Operating retail stores in New Orleans and Baton Rouge selling visual aids including magnifiers, talking watches, electronic magnifiers, and sunglasses
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Other | Free services for people with disabilities |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Retail pricing for visual aids |
| Unit Pricing | Multi-year contract | Competitive pricing for manufactured products |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
Lighthouse Louisiana product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lighthouse Louisiana is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers comprehensive disability services — including adult and youth vision rehabilitation, deaf and hard-of-hearing services, employment support (Supported Employment, Ticket to Work, WIPA benefits counseling), and door-to-door transportation — to people with disabilities across 42 Louisiana parishes. It also operates a social-enterprise manufacturing division producing paper and utility products for federal AbilityOne Program customers and a retail Visual Aids Boutique, all staffed largely by blind, visually impaired, and deaf employees.
Product overview
Lighthouse Louisiana operates as a comprehensive disability services organization offering a multi-faceted portfolio of products and services unified by its mission to empower people with disabilities. The core service portfolio spans vision rehabilitation (Low Vision Clinic, Adult Vision Rehabilitation Services, Youth STEP Program), deaf services (hearing aids, adaptive equipment, ASL interpreting), employment services (Supported Employment, Ticket to Work, WIPA benefits counseling), and transportation. The organization operates a Social Enterprise Manufacturing Division producing paper products for federal customers through the AbilityOne Program, and a Retail Visual Aids Store. Its flagship technology initiative, Pathways to Success, leverages AI-powered contact centers and the Lighthouse Employment Training and Education Center (LETEC) to create competitive integrated employment through advanced technologies, funded by a $10M Department of Education Disability Innovation Fund grant.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Low Vision Clinic Full-service vision rehabilitation clinic staffed by Occupational Therapists specializing in low vision; provides evaluations, adaptive techniques, and hands-on assistance to help adults and children maximize remaining vision and function independently with vision loss.
- Adult Vision Rehabilitation Services Comprehensive vision rehabilitation for adults covering Occupational Therapy Vision Rehabilitation, New Vision Classes, the CANE Program (orientation and mobility training), Tech Connect (assistive technology), Fun 101 classes, and Information & Referral services.
- Youth Vision Services (STEP Program) Three-tier youth program for children with visual impairments: Baby Steps (infants 0-3), Light Steps (transition to kindergarten with pre-braille and mobility skills), and Forward Steps (school-age development with adaptive skills, summer programs, and transition preparation).
- Deaf Services Comprehensive services for d/Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deafblind, and speech-impaired individuals including the Hearing Aid Program, Telecommunications Equipment Program, Adaptive Equipment (amplified phones, visual alerts), and ASL Interpreting services for Regions 1, 2, 3, and 9.
- Employment Services Workforce development offering Supported Employment, Ticket to Work program, WIPA benefits counseling, Upward Mobility training, job coaching, and work-readiness training for people with disabilities seeking competitive integrated employment.
- Pathways to Success Advanced-technology workforce-development program funded by a $10M U.S. Department of Education grant; creates Competitive Integrated Employment opportunities through an AI-powered contact center, the Lighthouse Employment Training and Education Center (LETEC), work-based learning experiences, and employment-specialist training across 30 Louisiana parishes.
- Work Incentives Planning & Assistance (WIPA) Social Security Administration-funded program providing free benefits counseling to disability beneficiaries through certified Community Work Incentives Coordinators (CWICs) across 30 Louisiana parishes.
- Ticket to Work Social Security program supporting career development for people ages 18-64 receiving disability benefits, including employment preparation, job placement, and benefits planning to achieve financial independence.
- Transportation Services Door-to-door transportation service for individuals with disabilities, including rides to medical appointments and to Lighthouse services, plus the Assistance Card Program in partnership with the Regional Transit Authority (RTA).
- Manufacturing Division (AbilityOne Social Enterprise) ISO 9001:2008-certified manufacturing facility producing stock hot and cold cups, single-fold paper towels, deck swabs, sponges, mess trays, and biodegradable plates and bowls, plus packaging services for federal government customers through the AbilityOne Program (87% of employees are blind or visually impaired).
- Visual Aids Store (Magnifiers and More) Retail boutique operating the largest selection of visual aids in the Gulf South, with locations in New Orleans and Baton Rouge selling magnifiers, talking watches, electronic magnifiers, sunglasses, and adaptive devices; also serves customers in Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast through an online store.
Companies that use Lighthouse Louisiana
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Lighthouse Louisiana technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability5 records
Feature3 records
Lighthouse Louisiana partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- US AbilityOne CommissioncoreLighthouse Louisiana participates in the AbilityOne Program, established by the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act, which helps nearly 50,000 people who are blind or have other severe disabilities find employment through federal contracts for goods and services.
- National Industries for the BlindcoreNational partner organization supporting employment of people who are blind through the AbilityOne Program and related initiatives.
- Louisiana Commission for the DeafcoreLighthouse Louisiana serves as Regional Service Center for regions 1, 2, 3, and 9, facilitating the Hearing Aid Program (HAP), Telecommunications Equipment Program (TEP), and Interpreting Program (TERP).
- Louisiana State University (LSU)majorPartnership for workforce development; LSU Health Sciences Center provides West South-Central WIPA services. Dr. Seema Walia from LSU serves on Lighthouse Louisiana board.
- Louisiana Rehabilitation ServicescoreState agency partnership for vocational rehabilitation services, providing supported employment and training opportunities for people with disabilities seeking competitive integrated employment.
- Vision Serve AllianceminorNational alliance of vision rehabilitation organizations providing networking and support for member organizations.
- Loyola UniversitymajorNearly 10-year partnership providing meaningful employment for individuals with disabilities at Loyola's Residence Life department.
- American Job Centers (Louisiana and Mississippi)majorNetworking with 25 American Job Centers to develop training resource database for program participants and strengthen workforce development connections.
- Goodwill Industries of Southeast LouisianaminorCommunity partner collaboration at the Thriving With HIV conference for benefits planning and supported employment education.
- Crescent Care Legal ServicesminorCommunity partner at Thriving With HIV conference providing comprehensive services to underserved populations.
- General Services Administration (GSA)coreFederal procurement agency purchasing manufactured products from Lighthouse Louisiana through AbilityOne Program contracts.
- Defense Logistics AgencycoreFederal defense logistics agency purchasing manufactured products from Lighthouse Louisiana through AbilityOne Program.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Lighthouse Louisiana competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- National Industries for the Blind (NIB): National umbrella organization coordinating the AbilityOne Program for people who are blind; Lighthouse Louisiana participates through NIB. Most directly comparable as the network backbone for blindness-related employment and manufacturing.
- Hadley: National nonprofit providing free online education, training, and support to people with vision loss. Comparable in providing vision rehabilitation services but focused on distance-learning delivery model.
- Lighthouse Guild: New York-based nonprofit providing vision rehabilitation, behavioral health, and disability employment services. Directly comparable as a multi-program vision/disability nonprofit with both clinical and employment offerings.
- Perkins School for the Blind: Massachusetts-based nonprofit serving children and young adults who are blind, deafblind, or visually impaired. Comparable in vision-focused disability services with education and rehabilitation offerings.
- Bosma Enterprises: Indiana-based nonprofit providing rehabilitation, training, and employment services for people who are blind or visually impaired. Directly comparable service and workforce development mission.
- Helen Keller Services for the Blind: New York-based nonprofit serving individuals who are blind, deaf-blind, or have combined vision and hearing loss. Comparable in multi-disability rehabilitation and employment services.
- Chicago Lighthouse: Chicago-based nonprofit serving people who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, and disabled through manufacturing, employment, and clinical services. Closely aligned multi-disability service and manufacturing model.
- LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired (San Francisco): San Francisco Bay Area nonprofit providing vision rehabilitation, training, and employment services for people who are blind or have low vision. Directly comparable mission and service portfolio.
- The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. (Seattle): Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit manufacturing products and providing services for people who are blind or have low vision. Closely aligned AbilityOne manufacturing and rehabilitation services model.
Regional players
- Goodwill Industries of Southeast Louisiana: Local Goodwill affiliate serving southeast Louisiana with workforce development and disability employment services. Comparable in disability employment focus within the same geographic market.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Lighthouse Louisiana social profiles
Digital presenceLighthouse Louisiana financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lighthouse Louisiana leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles25 records
Lighthouse Louisiana funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lighthouse Louisiana M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lighthouse Louisiana
What does Lighthouse Louisiana do?
Lighthouse Louisiana is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers comprehensive disability services — including adult and youth vision rehabilitation, deaf and hard-of-hearing services, employment support (Supported Employment, Ticket to Work, WIPA benefits counseling), and door-to-door transportation — to people with disabilities across 42 Louisiana parishes. It also operates a social-enterprise manufacturing division producing paper and utility products for federal AbilityOne Program customers and a retail Visual Aids Boutique, all staffed largely by blind, visually impaired, and deaf employees.
Is Lighthouse Louisiana a public or private company?
Lighthouse Louisiana is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Lighthouse Louisiana founded?
Lighthouse Louisiana was founded in 1915. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Lighthouse Louisiana based?
Lighthouse Louisiana is headquartered in New Orleans, United States, in the North America region.
How does Lighthouse Louisiana make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Manufacturing and Government Contracts are the primary driver. The others are donations and Grants and retail Sales (Visual Aids Boutique).
Who are Lighthouse Louisiana's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are National Industries for the Blind (NIB), Hadley, Lighthouse Guild, Perkins School for the Blind, Bosma Enterprises, Helen Keller Services for the Blind, Chicago Lighthouse, LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired (San Francisco) and The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. (Seattle). Goodwill Industries of Southeast Louisiana is listed as a regional player.
Does Lighthouse Louisiana have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lighthouse Louisiana.
What industry is Lighthouse Louisiana in?
Lighthouse Louisiana's product category is Disability and Rehabilitation Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAEAG, Disability Services & Independent Living Support, with a secondary code of BPAGACAG, Disability Services & Independent Living Support. Its NAICS code is 624120 and its SIC code is 8300.