Annual Report
2007 Report to the Community

Creating Opportunities

“I didn’t have any idea I could have an opportunity in a place like this company. I love my job. I like to work with disabled people and find out about all the wonderful things they can do”

— Nelly Barnett, Production Planning Assistant

In 2007, our top priority was building opportunities for greater upward mobility for individuals with visual disabilities. Blind and Deaf-Blind employees work in all levels of the organization, from the top executive position to jobs in information technology, administration, customer service, sales, communications, human resources, and manufacturing.

Highlights in building opportunities in 2007 include:

• Adapting Machine Equipment. In 2007, we adapted three state-of-the-art Okuma milling machines to be accessible to blind machinists. An electronic screen-reading program guides blind machinists through each step of the milling process while large print, white-on-black displays support machinists with low vision. We began Okuma training in 2007 and our first blind employee has been certified to run the equipment.
• Leaders at All Levels. Tony Jorgenson, a certified Leaders at All Levels trainer, traveled to National Industries for the Blind agencies in Sunnyvale and San Francisco to present leadership training.
• Employee Achievement: Last year, six blind employees were promoted to new positions. We applaud their hard work and achievement: Andy Bacon, Carla Abbott, Keri Brent, Linda Elliott, Mike Scheschy, and Steve Harrison.
• Don Swaney, business analyst, completed the intensive Business Management Training program at the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business Administration.
• Jordan Clodfelter was honored as our employee of the year and Carolyn Kennicott was honored with the President’s Award.

Lighthouse Employees FY 2007
Blind employees with no other disability: 109
Deaf-Blind employees: 26
Blind or Deaf-Blind employees with developmental disabilities: 30
Deaf employees: 6
Sighted employees: 119
Lighthouse Employee Total: 290

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