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Blind Lauderdale woman gets independence, confidence
in new job
By Brian Feldman
Special Correspondent
Posted April 21 2003
Loreen Dixon today is a new person after 22 years
of blindness.Dixon, 41, of Fort Lauderdale says
she owes her new life to the Lighthouse of Broward
County, because for the first time in a lifetime
of hardships, she has independence, unshakeable
self-esteem and a positive attitude that sees
right through her permanent darkness. It all came
together because she's working at her first job.
Through a training and rehabilitation program,
the Lighthouse works to promote useful, safe,
productive and independent lives for people who
are blind or visually impaired.Dixon lost her
sight at age 19 from retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative
eye disease. "I was a very different person
then," she said. "My self-esteem was
terrible. I was so down. I was on the wrong track,
doing the wrong things and headed nowhere."Dixon
has been going to the Lighthouse for nearly 10
years, developing the skills to lead a sightless
life, but a job readiness program gave her the
one thing she coveted the most, a way to earn
a living. And she just received a paycheck for
the first time.Melissa Mandel, a vocational development
coordinator for the Lighthouse, said she knew
Dixon would be an ideal candidate for the intensive
program, three-hour classes three times a week
for six weeks."This was the cherry on the
top of the cake," Mandel said. "She
already had the other skills -- mobility training,
how to take care of herself, how to cook, how
to use a cane and how to take a shower. Now she
was ready for a job."In class, she was very
highly motivated, very determined, and enthusiastic
and a warm personality. She was never late, always
handed in assignments on time and never missed
a class. Loreen was very determined and worked
very hard to succeed."Through the course,
Dixon learned Braille typing skills, how to use
a computer and a how to use software that allows
her to read what she types. She also learned the
art of job hunting, resume writing and job interview
techniques.She is now a telemarketer making $8
an hour plus commission for the Handicapped Sales
Workshop in Pompano Beach, which produces advertising
items with custom logos. Handicapped workers produce
the items; she sells them in another part of the
facility.Dixon says of herself: "I'm more
beautiful than I was 22 years ago when I went
blind. My attitude is beautiful, my personality
is outstanding and I have a lot of good thoughts
about myself. I have a job -- my first job, really
-- and it's a good feeling."The independence
that having a job brings is what Dixon cherishes
the most. "I am independent, but I want to
be more independent. I have a lot of self-motivation.
I want to be out in the world more."I know
now that I can survive in the world on my own.
I don't have to wait for people to take care of
me, take me places. Before my job, I thought I
wasn't able to do things for myself. Now I know
I can, and it really feels good," she said."I
am a changed person, my outlook is very different.
I am an outstanding person, and I owe it all to
the Lighthouse of Broward for making me what I
am today."Do you have a recent story of hope?
Have you overcome adversity in raising a family,
been involved in a rescue or beaten the odds medically?
Contact Steve Plunkett at splunkett@sun-sentinel.com
or 954-356-4775.
Copyright © 2003, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
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Lenihans do well by
doing good
By Cindy Kent
Staff Writer
February 24, 2003
Where many business owners and managers look
to consolidate job tasks and cut workers, Joe
Lenihan does the opposite and expands his work
force.
With his wife, Elyse, Lenihan founded Handicapped
Sales Workshop in 1989. The Pompano Beach company
began with 20 workers making promotional products
for businesses, organizations and special events.
Some savings, and a bank loan of about $75,000,
got the 8,000-square-foot shop up and running.
The company made $300,000 its first year.
Now in 31,000 square feet, Handicapped Sales
averages $7 million in annual sales.
Part of its strategy: breaking down product assembly
into smaller tasks so workers can handle segments
they are comfortable with. "If it takes three
people to assemble a pen and print a logo on it
-- it's worth it," Lenihan said. "Those
pens are perfect."
Lenihan pats the shoulders of the members of
the pen-assembly team, then heads to the area
where T-shirts are being silk-screened. He holds
up a shirt with a freshly imprinted logo. "This
is good, clean work, no stray ink anywhere."
The team smiles and Lenihan heads over to the
key chain assembly area, where the workers are
mostly students from an independent living facility.
"This is a fine group of young people,"
he said.
The company recently won recognition as 2002
"Employer of the Year" by Broward County's
Advisory Board for Individuals with Disabilities.
About three-fifths of Handicapped Sales' 190 employees
are physically or emotionally challenged, with
learning disabilities and physical limitations
resulting from polio, spinal cord injuries, birth
defects, hearing and visual impairments. Employees
include disabled veterans and former nurses and
teachers, as well as the elderly.
The company has an innovative concept, said John
Batey, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator
for Broward County, Office of Equal Opportunity,
Disability Affairs Section. "Their ability
to hire and retain so many people, not just with
disabilities -- but with a variety of disabilities
-- is impressive," he said.
The Lenihans created the company years after
Joe had grown up with a cousin who was disabled.
As an adult, Lenihan began to question why there
was no way for her to obtain gainful employment.
Lenihan said that inspired him to find ways to
employ those with disabilities.
Lenihan determined that if the company created
a "desk environment," most jobs could
be accomplished. He matches tasks to abilities.
Machines equipped with foot or hand pedals allow
employees to focus on what they do instead of
what they can't do.
The telemarketing division has created a nationwide
market for the firm -- last year Handicapped Sales
processed 51,000 custom orders. Looking to expand
the division, the company recently installed voice
recognition technologies for workers who are blind,
but who can hear and speak.
Lenihan said the business is poised for growth.
"We've just begun to expand into the Hispanic
market," he said. "The future is made
up of our people: disabled doesn't mean unabled."
Cindy Kent can be reached at ckent@sun-sentinel.com
or 954-356-4662.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/local/sfl-ybprofile24feb24.story
Copyright © 2003, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
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November 18, 2002
Handicapped Sales Workshop, Inc. (HSW)
celebrates its 13th Annual Company Picnic.
One of the most important events to the HSW family
is our annual company picnic. This year's picnic
was the largest in our company history. On November
16th, HSW gathered their entire staff, family
and friends totaling more than 425 people for
a day full of fun, with activities for everyone.
There was a bounce house, an 18 ft. inflatable
slide, pony rides, and face painting for all of
the HSW children and young-at-heart. Longtime
HSW supporter, "All Star DJ's" provided
all the extraordinary entertainment. Everything
from dance contests to a wonderful group sing-a-long
of this year's theme, "God Bless the U.S.A.".
To quote one of our HSW pen assemblers, "It's
the rock'n'est party ever". Through the continued
support of the extended HSW family, there will
be many more days like this. Days when we all
remember, "Disabled does not mean unable".
Our sincere thanks go out to all of our supporters
for remembering the purchase our products does
more than provide quality advertising for your
business. It provides quality of life for men
and women who need and want to work and deserve
the opportunity to do so.
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October
23, 2002
Handicapped Sales Workshop, Inc.
(HSW)
Named "2002 Employer Of The Year" in Broward
County
HSW was recently named, "Employer of the
Year" by Broward County's Advisory Board
for Individuals with Disabilities. A ceremony
was held in the Broward County Commission Chambers
on October 22, 2002, to recognize HSW for its
efforts in addressing the employment of individuals
with disabilities.
HSW is a for-profit company owned by Joseph and
Elyse Lenihan and has been in business since 1989.
They provide a working environment for people
with and without disabilities to become skilled
workers, earn an income and receive a full benefits
package. Currently, their workforce has over 180
employees, and more than half suffer from disabilities
including polio, spinal cord injuries, birth defects,
hearing and visually impaired, cognitive, as well
as disabled veterans and elderly, who need and
want to work.
HSW's mission is to "employ the disabled".
It encourages abilities, rather than disabilities,
while producing top-quality, custom imprinted
promotional products that will promote businesses,
organizations and special events. HSW has trained
hundreds of men and women with and without disabilities.
These jobs are as diverse as the people who fill
them, from administration to graphic arts, proofreading,
printing, shipping and more. HSW's hard-working
employees are proving without a doubt that the
company's motto "Disabled does not mean unable"
is what the company believes in.
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October 20, 1999
Handicapped Sales
Workshop Takes Commerce On-Line
Customer: Handicapped Sales
Workshop
IBM Business Partner: Cable and Wireless
USA
The Background:
Handicapped Sales Workshop, Inc., based in Pompano
Beach, Florida, is a custom silk-screening company
that puts into practice its philosophy that "Disabled
does not mean unable" -- over half of HSW's
employees are disabled or hearing impaired. Handicapped
Sales Workshop recognized the potential of e-commerce
to expand the business -- and create more jobs
for disabled workers.
The Challenge:
Handicapped Sales Workshop, a 10 year old firm,
hires and trains special education students, seniors,
disabled and hearing impaired people to work in
silk screening. HSW believes in matching the talents
of the workers with a wide range of jobs within
the firm. The firm currently generates $8 million
in revenue and wanted to increase revenues and
job opportunities through e-commerce.
However, with a staff of 125, and no IT department,
building an e-commerce business would prove to
be a challenge. HSW also required a solution that
could be developed and maintained by its Vice
President, Jim Francis, and one of its hearing
impaired employees, Steve Scalia.
The Solution:
HSW turned to Cable & Wireless USA, with its
WebReady offering. WebReady is an "e-commerce
in-a-box" solution that combines Cable &
Wireless T1 access with IBM e-business technologies.
WebReady consists of IBM's Netfinity Server, Lotus
Domino R5 Mail Server, WebSphere Application Server,
and WebSphere Studio. The bundled offering is
on Windows NT. Combined, the solution gives HSW
an integrated email, Web server and Internet access
for comprehensive e-commerce. Handicapped Sales
Workshop also took advantage of IBM educational
classes to train the two employees who would build,
manage and maintain the solution.
The Benefits:
According to HSW CEO Joe Lenihan, "We have
been thrilled with WebReady since the day we bought
it." After product installation by IBM technical
representatives, and training in IBM e-business
solutions, HSW was able to deploy their new e-commerce
site, www.hsw.net, in six weeks. Most importantly,
WebReady is so easy to use and "user friendly"
that HSW is able to put the entire solution in
the hands of two employees who do not have technology
backgrounds.
Comments Lenihan, "We had very specific
requirements for our e-business solution. Not
only did it have to provide key functionality
such as scalability, security and integrity, but
it also had to be easy for us to use. After much
evaluation of the offerings on the market, we
decided that Cable & Wireless's IBM-based
WebReady solution was the most comprehensive e-commerce
package available."
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