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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