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Mission Moment: Van Doan
For Van Doan, life has been a series of outstanding achievements despite being legally blind.

Currently, Van is the lead cashier at the San Antonio Lighthouse’s Tinker Air Force Base supply store and a nominee for the Peter J. Salmon Award.

This award honors the accomplishments of blind employees at National Industries for the Blind (NIB) associated agencies who excel in their positions.  

Van joined the Lighthouse in 2008 and leads the store in the most tickets processed per year. She also has a remarkable five percent return rate for items sold.

“Van takes pride in her store and it shows to anyone she interacts
with,” said Craig Recker, director of San Antonio Lighthouse Base Supply
Centers. “She receives compliments from our customers on a daily basis due to
her professionalism and outstanding customer service.”

Photo of Van with quote "Van takes pride in her store and it shows to anyone she interacts with. - Craig Recker, Base Supply Centers Director San Antonio Ligthhouse.
107% of your Donation Empowers People who are Blind and Vision Impaired
We're thrilled to be a part of Valero's Champions Fore Charity event this year!

Donate to our cause through Champions fore Charity and 107% of your donation goes directly to San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind.
Shop Deals on Our New Discount Website
We're excited to debut our new outlet website with great deals: SALBoutlet.com.

You’ll find many of the items we have in our 14 Base Supply Centers across Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma. Products featured include boots, eyewear, clothing, watches, hats, gloves and much more at rock bottom prices! New products are added weekly.

All proceeds support jobs and services for people with visual impairments.

Tech Tip: Aira App
Navigating the world with a visual impairment can be difficult. But as technology advances, services become readily accessible at the touch of your fingertips.
Aira is an app that connects people who are blind or vision impaired with a live, trained agent that provides visual information of your surroundings. By using the app and your smartphone camera, an agent will assist you by describing what’s around you and helping you navigate.

Agents can also help with reading documents and signs. With their app, Aira’s mission is to “remove barriers and make the world more accessible with visual interpreting.”

Want to learn more? Visit https://aira.io/ .
Meet the Board: Natalie Watkins

Why do you serve on the San Antonio Lighthouse Board?

The Lighthouse has been such an integral part of my own blindness rehabilitation journey. Having learned assistive technology from the technology team, I use the knowledge I gained from the Lighthouse every day. When I was employed the Lighthouse helped me select a closed-circuit television, which resulted in my being able to continue my job for years. In summary, I have personal first-hand experience with the power of the Lighthouse in the lives of the blind and visually impaired. 


Photo of Natalie Watkins smiling with the sun in her hair. Quote that that reads "The Lighthouse has been such an integral part of my own blindness rehabilitation journey." -Natalie Watkins Board Secretary San Antonio Lighthouse Logo