I was lucky enough to get a tour and inside look at this place. Located in the heart of Winston, not many people know it’s here or how big they are. It’s actually called Industry For the Blind. They employ mostly people with some type of vision loss or complete blindness. They use to have a full service optical center that served the community and was amazing, unfortunately that section was closed, they no longer sale glasses but do vision test by appointment. The rest of the facility makes products that are sold all over the world, including a good amount of US military bases. From pens, markers and backpacks to mattresses. Their building is huge and is amazing to see their employees navigate it with ease. They definitely made it friendly for the blind. They also have a warehouse in Clemmons as well as other locations. They make affordable products that are in stores everywhere and the best part is that our military gets to save money while supporting a part of our community that is often forgotten and here they feel a sense of belonging. They also have a school on the premises specifically for blind children to start learning to be independent. If you are ever around, stop in, they will be glad to give you a tour, it’s amazing to see them in action.
