Formerly San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind and Vision Impaired

Dear Friend,

When eight-year-old Arianna Soto first walked through the doors of Vibrant Works, then known as the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind, she found something she hadn’t experienced before: a place where she felt completely understood.

Through our Children & Youth Program, Arianna joined art, cooking, and tool camps — experiences that introduced her to a community that understood blindness in a natural and empowering way. For Arianna, who was often the only student with a visual impairment at school, that sense of belonging was life changing.

"Vibrant Works taught me that blindness wasn’t something to be embarrassed about; it was something I could navigate proudly," Arianna shared.

For more than 90 years, Vibrant Works has created opportunities for individuals who are blind or visually impaired through employment, training, and community programs. We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with vision loss to lead independent and fulfilling lives.

As she grew older, Arianna returned to volunteer at the same camps. She uses the strategies her instructors taught her to guide other children learning to navigate blindness, helping them gain the confidence she once found. Today, she is a student at the University of Texas, pursuing her dream of becoming a landscape architect with support from the Emma Freeman Scholarship through Vibrant Works.

I see Arianna’s journey reflected in my own. I was diagnosed with vision loss at age nine, and Vibrant Works supported me while I was in college, providing assistive technology training and that allowed me to succeed academically. That foundation, along with the opportunity to pursue my MBA, opened doors to professional opportunities I never imagined. Education and upward mobility are deeply personal to me, and they remain at the heart of why I am committed to expanding our programs for every individual we serve.

Stories like Arianna’s show the profound impact your generosity makes possible: a community where people with vision loss are understood, empowered, and equipped to reach their full potential.

As the year comes to a close, I hope you will help us continue this life-changing work. Your gift ensures that children, teens, adults, and seniors with vision loss can experience what Arianna and I did: confidence, independence, and the freedom to pursue their dreams.

Together, we can ensure that vision loss never limits what is possible.



With heartfelt gratitude,

Cindy Watson

Vibrant Works President & CEO

Your support empowers individuals with vision loss to lead independent and fulfilling lives at every stage of their journey.