Business prides itself on improving quality of life for blind

Ability Printing produces high-quality printing using digital presses to produce a wide range of printed material, but printing services are only a part of the story. Ability was created and is managed by Louisiana Association for the Blind.

LAB board chair Judd Callicoatte said LAB employs many visually impaired in our area.

“Close to 85 percent of its direct labor employees are visually impaired,” Callicoatte said. “They produce high-quality products that are used in government and commercial applications every day, and support for LAB stays right here in the Shreveport and surrounding areas.”

LAB was established as The Shreveport Association for the Blind in 1927 and has a successful history of sound business ideals and partnerships with such companies as Western Electric and 3M, as well as Barksdale Air Force Base. Today, the Louisiana Association for the Blind is dedicated to improving the quality of life for the blind through training, services and employment.

LAB’s Low Vision Rehabilitative Center is the only total source in the Ark-La-Tex area to address the needs of the visually-challenged community and houses Northwest Louisiana’s only complete Sensory Aids Store. The center provides training and services for people of all ages, including orientation and mobility training, braille, computer training, independent living and job readiness. The center also provides evaluations, a children’s program and a senior connection.

“Our life instructors use devices like adaptive technology to teach people how to navigate their living space,” Audra Muslow, community development manager at LAB, said. “For example, the Rehabilitative Center has ovens with braille on the knobs in order to learn to cook safely in an appropriate environment. Orientation and mobility helps them learn to navigate on their own.”

Tony Jones is a finisher at Ability Printing who received training at LAB’s Low Vision Rehabilitative Center. Jones has low vision (his center vision is gone), but he received intensive life skills training just in case his vision worsens and he becomes completely blind.

“The training gets you wellprepared for anything,” he said. “I wore a blindfold while I was learning how to cook and how to label my food. It was kind of scary at first, but you get the hang of it. The hardest thing is learning to cope, but once you come through the training, it prepares you. Then you can face the world knowing you have those skills.”

Jones wanted to encourage people not to be afraid to seek out LAB for help. “People that have low vision, they don’t have to be scared,” he said. “LAB is a great place. There are people out here with low vision, too. They understand, and they want to help.”

Muslow said joy and camaraderie is common among the people learning and teaching at LAB.

“Encouraging and supporting each other ... we see that all the time,” she said. “It’s wonderful to see that transformation after they have completed their training.”

Community businesses that choose Ability Printing for their printing needs get state-of-the-art digital print services, such as stationery, business cards, brochures and catalogs. Ability also offers mailing services, book binding, large format printing, T-shirt printing and graphic design services.

Alison Young is a sales associate there and said one of her favorites is the new wide format printer.

“It has the capability to print large banners with grommets, signs and posters on a variety of materials including canvas. We also have a design team that can assist in the creative process. I love the fact that all of our services are competitively priced and in many cases much lower, plus, all proceeds from Ability Printing go to support the heart and soul of our organization, which is our Low Vision Rehabilitation Center.”

Cory Goodwin, managing assistant at Elton B. Richey & Associates, said Ability has done a great job on everything for the business.

“I love that they are communityoriented, and they help provide jobs to those who are visually impaired, but they are an all-around great company,” Goodwin said. “Once when we asked them to design and print some cards, we were requesting changes up to and beyond the printing deadline and just before the mailing deadline. The wonderful and helpful staff not only accommodated our last-minute requests, but mailed the cards out a day earlier than originally anticipated.”

Other nonprofits have also found working with Ability to be a win-win partnership.

“Working with LAB supports another nonprofit in our community, but Ability Printing just provides great customer service, going to extremes to make sure they provide the product in a timely fashion,” Noel Haacker, executive director of Renesting Project Inc., said. “They take great pride in their work.”

LAB and Ability demonstrate what nonprofits and businesses can accomplish together.

“My very first day at Ability Printing, I met a young lady that had recently gone through our rehabilitation program,” Young said. “She lost her sight at a young age and is now teaching others with visual impairments how to cook, clean and live an independent lifestyle. She is full of joy and truly amazing. When I met her, a few co-workers told her to describe me. She placed her hand on my arm and was able to tell me what color my eyes were, what color I was wearing and what my hair looked like. It blew me away and showed me how valuable our mission truly is.”

For more information, go to abilityprinting.com or call 635-6471.

– Susan Reeks