Lilac Services for the Blind Spokane

12/14/2025

Understand the impact of crime and domestic violence on individuals who are blind or low vision. Know your rights and safety tips.

12/02/2025

Counting Steps When Blind Is a Myth: Here’s the Reality

A lot of people assume that blind or visually impaired individuals navigate the world by counting every step. That is a myth!

Navigating when blind or visually impaired isn’t about memorizing step counts. In fact, step counting is unreliable, inconsistent, and not a safe way to travel. What actually keeps someone oriented are real, teachable skills like:

1. Landmarks: Stable, identifiable cues such as a doorway, carpet change, railing, or texture underfoot.

2. Clues: Helpful hints in the environment, like airflow, echoes, or the sound of traffic.

3. Cardinal directions: Using north, south, east, and west to build a mental map.

4. Shorelining: Using tactile information along a surface or boundary to stay aligned.

5. Auditory cues: Listening to traffic patterns, echoes, or open spaces.

Counting steps doesn’t create independence.
Real O&M skills do.

If you want to learn more about how blind and visually impaired people truly navigate the world, follow along.

11/28/2025

TW: mention of suicidal thoughts.
Maintaining or improving mental health is one of the most vital goals Lilac Blind has when working with our clients. Newfound blindness can be an alarming change in people’s lives that, if not addressed and properly adapted to, often leads to a reduced quality of life due to inactivity, anxiety, depression, mismanagement of home and health conditions, or injuries. To combat this, we show those living with vision loss just how much they are still able to do. All they need are the right tools, training, and support to learn how to do things differently 💜

11/28/2025

There is so much to be grateful for today, but we'd like to give a special thanks to all of the wonderful supporters of our mission. Thanks to friends like you, we are able to continue serving those living with blindness or low vision across North Central and Eastern Washington 💜
Happy Thanksgiving, friends of Lilac Blind!

Photo description: white text reads "Happy Thanksgiving" against a dark background of a table in the top left corner with a pumpkin pie, an apple pie, an assortment of spices like star anise and cinnamon sticks, mini pumpkins, and oak leaves all sitting on the right of the photo.

11/11/2025

To all who attended, thank you so much for coming out to our workshop!

11/06/2025

Dining does not have to be stressful. Discover practical tips for eating and pouring when blind or low vision at home or in restaurants.

11/03/2025

07/22/2025

We have some truly incredibly news, friends!
One year ago, we became aware of an urgency to replace our extremely outdated HVAC system. With no air conditioning and minimal heating and air flow, our building became an uncomfortable, even unhealthy environment for our staff and visitors. The cost of removing our current system and installing a new one was a daunting sum. Nevertheless, we set out to apply for the funding to accomplish this vital project.
We are now proud to say that we have been awarded a substantial grant of $325,469 through Avista Utilities' Named Communities Investment Fund! This grant will completely cover our HCAV replacement project from start to finish.
We cannot fully express the gratitude we hold for Avista and this incredibly generous grant. With this sum, we are now able to completely replace our aging and inefficient HVAC system, which will vastly improve our indoor air quality and finally allow for proper heating, cooling, and air flow throughout our building. Thank you so much for making this critical project a reality!

01/01/2025

We want to wish all friends of Lilac Services for the Blind a Happy New Year! May your year be filled with happiness, love, success, and more 💜

Image description: Gold foil balloons in the center say 2025. Underneath in white cursive lettering reads Happy New Year! Gold and silver circles overlap on the top and sides of the image.

12/03/2024

Https://www.paypal.com/US/fundraiser/charity/2185173

This , please consider supporting our mission of increasing independence and quality of life for those living with blindness or low vision. Your donation will help fund the necessary adaptive devices, training, and support needed for our clients to reach their desired level of independence!

Photo description: an outline of two hands holding a watercolor pink and purple heart, with the Giving Tuesday logo underneath, and the text "Support Lilac Blind with a Donation Today!"

12/03/2024

Amplifying Leadership for an Inclusive and Sustainable Future: International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2024 | Dr. Kirk Adams
https://drkirkadams.com/intl-day-of-persons-with-disabilities-2024/

December 3rd, 2024, marks the annual International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD), a day set aside by the United Nations in 1992 to recognize the contributions of people with disabilities and promote their full inclusion in society. This day is particularly meaningful to me, both as a blind professional and as someone who has spent a lifetime advocating for disability inclusion. IDPD reminds us not just to reflect on the challenges faced by individuals with disabilities, but to actively commit to removing barriers and unlocking potential.

11/28/2024

Lilac Services for the Blind wishes you all a Happy Thanksgiving! We are so grateful for all of the support from friends of Lilac Blind 💜

Image description: a pink outline of a pumpkin, with autumn leaves on the upper right and lower left corners. In the center, the words "Happy Thanksgiving" in capitalized brown letters.