In 1970-1971, the Department of Social and Health Services set up 12 regional committees to study the needs of those the department serves. They established one committee in the Spokane area with Lew Hendrix as its chairperson. Eventually the committees became inactive, with the exception of Spokane's committee. This committee incorporated as a 501c3 nonprofit agency entitled, Lilac Industries for the Visually Handicapped on March 9, 1971.

The name was changed to the Lilac Blind Foundation in May of 1975. On June 10, 1975, the agency was offered space in the Holly-Mason building at 157 S. Howard St. and the Comstock Foundation advanced $22,000 to begin the remodeling process. The Delta Gamma Society arranged for the Boy Scouts to provide cleaning and other tasks. From 1971 to 1975, volunteers provided all of the services.

Since then, the Lilac Blind Foundation has evolved from a single teacher/director agency providing all of the services, into one with an executive director, several rehabilitation teachers, counselor, office manager and office assistant, development director, accountant, adaptive computer lab trainers, Braille transcription service, and many volunteers. A volunteer Board of Directors governs this agency. We wholeheartedly believe in our mission and continue to provide our services free of charge.

In December of 2007, the name was changed to Lilac Services for the Blind, which better reflects our mission to serve communities of Eastern Washington, and helps to distinguish us from other area organizations.  Our new name is consistent with our focus of providing life-changing opportunities for independence.