News

Creating Unique Business Opportunities for People with Disabilities
July 25, 2007

Bethlehem, PA – Billy Simmons will soon realize his dream of owning his own business. Thanks to assistance from Via of the Lehigh Valley, Billy’s Tropical Fish Farm, an on-line retailer of aquarium fish, will be open for business in August. Billy’s Tropical Fish Farm will supply customers with next day delivery of a wide variety of uncommon aquatic pets. A long time aquarium hobbyist, Simmons, age 30, will now share his passion for fish with the rest of the world through his web site, www.billystropicalfish.com.

“I like fish because they are cool and they’re really colorful,” said Simmons.

“I have two fish tanks at home and I love fish. I like building the fish tanks and taking care of them. Plus, I want to make money.”

This opportunity for Simmons became possible because of a Customized Employment pilot program funded by a grant from Lehigh County and the Pennsylvania Office of Developmental Programs. In addition, NISH, the national institute for people with severe handicaps, and the Via Foundation provided additional grant money for the program to help five individuals with developmental disabilities, including Simmons, explore unique employment opportunities.

“Customized Employment improves employment results for people with disabilities. Via works with adults who have complex needs and require more assistance to achieve their job goals. This pilot program will allow us look at employment in more creative ways,” said Raegan Owens, Customized Employment coordinator for Via.

Starting any small business has it complications, and requires hard work and money. But often, for adults with disabilities, it takes a village. Simmons found a mentor in Bob Raidline, owner of Lehigh Valley Aquarium Maintenance. Raidline and Owens helped Simmons build his business literally from the ground up. The trio spent countless hours building racks to hold fish tanks for stock and Raidline has been teaching Simmons how to care for the fish he intends to sell on his website.

“Billy and I have a common interest in fish and I want to help him be successful and make go of it on his own,” said Raidline.

“Billy really picks up on the all different types of fish and he loves it. He’s learned how to take care of the fish, build fish tank systems to maintain his stock and is mastering a shipping system to send out the fish he sells online.”

Because Simmons was not a traditional candidate for a small business loan, it took creativity, resourcefulness, and a lot of commitment and support from people and organizations who believe that Simmons should have the same opportunity to pursue his dreams as everyone else. Simmons receives technical know-how from Raidline, business management guidance from Via’s Entrepreneurship Committee and day-to-day support from Owens. Owens helped Simmons determine the direction of his business from the beginning.

“Once Billy was identified as a candidate for the Customized Employment pilot program, we started the process of determining the direction for his business,” said Owens.

“After looking into a wide range of interests from bike repair to baseball cards, Billy’s passion became clear after repeated visits to his home. From the moment I walked in the door, Billy wanted nothing more than to tell me about the latest addition to his fish tank, hence Billy’s Tropical Fish Farm. Now we had to make his dream a reality and we relied heavily on the guidance from Bob and the Entrepreneurship Committee.”

Via of the Lehigh Valley’s Entrepreneurship Committee, a consortium of local business leaders with an interest in seeing economic development become a reality for adults with disabilities, provided guidance along the way.

“Via is a leader in the Lehigh Valley in providing support, opportunities and resources to people with disabilities,” said Karen Whitehill, Via Board Chair, Entrepreneurship Committee member and KNBT Senior Vice President.

“Via wants to help people with disabilities to be as independent as possible and lead productive lives with rewarding careers of their choice. Our Entrepreneurship Committee strives to provide guidance and connect adults with resources in the community so they can realize their career dreams. And one of first steps with Billy was helping him set-up a business checking account set-up with KNBT Bank.”

Simmons story is just one of many emerging from Via’s commitment to providing unique career opportunities for adults with disabilities through the Customized Employment pilot program.

Ben Yorgey, a 2006 graduate of Emmaus High School, began volunteering at Macungie Park through encouragement from friends and family. He also volunteered with Whitehall High School’s swim team but Yorgey developed quite an attachment to Macungie Park due in part to the fact that Yorgey’s great grandfather, Robert Wendling, was a founder of the park in early 1960’s. Although Yorgey, age 22, benefited from his volunteer work, he still wanted a paying job like many other high school graduates. Due to budget constraints, Macungie Park was unable to hire Yorgey outright, so Yorgey’s family of Lower Macungie Township contacted Via of the Lehigh Valley to assist him in finding a job.

After discussions with Macungie Park it was determined that the park was spending a lot of money using old equipment to clean their pool daily.

“We thought a new employment approach called Resource Ownership would be the perfect fit for Ben,” said Corey Smith, Via Community Employment Director.

“Resource Ownership allows an employee to bring equipment with them to a business to make them more attractive to a prospective employer. In this case, the equipment was pool cleaning and maintenance supplies – it was the perfect fit for Ben’s love of the park and the park’s need for an efficient cleaning service.”

As part of the pilot program, three pieces of equipment were purchased - a robotic pool skimmer, leaf blower and snow blower - making Yorgey a more marketable employee. A highly-responsive Park board agreed to hire Yorgey because of the added value of the equipment he brought with him. Because of the commitment of Yorgey’s family and friends, he now has a job he truly enjoys.

Jodi Oberto, a 1996 graduate from Whitehall/Coplay High School, worked in the food service industry for a number of years. Because of budget issues, Oberto, age 32, was laid off and unable to find employment for over a year and a half. Oberto’s family was invested in her returning to the work world and was referred to Via for help.

Through the pilot program, Via was able to secure funding for Oberto to bring equipment with her to the job at Lomae Foods, a cafeteria vendor for the Morning Call. Oberto, of Egypt, purchased a pressure washer, ice cream freezer, micro-wave, and a portable salad bar and was hired by Lomae Foods.

“Another example of Resource Ownership, Jodi uses this equipment at work which helps Lomae Foods generate more revenue to support her position,” said Smith.

“Jodi and her family are really happy with her new employment arrangement and Jodi is thrilled to be working again.”

Simmons and the others will face the same challenges as any other small business owners and employees. Fortunately, they will have Via staff, like Owens, and Via’s Entrepreneurship Committee on their side to help him through their new ventures.

“We’ll provide guidance to Billy as long as needs us, whether it is for the next year or next 10 years,” said Owens.

“Because of the pilot program, Via is able to provide ongoing support for Billy until he no longer needs us. Additional funding is always needed to help maintain programs like this one and we hope to tap into the generosity and rich entrepreneurship spirit of the Lehigh Valley to ensure the continued success of our program.”

“Billy, Ben and Jodi are great examples of what possibilities are out there for adults with disabilities. It is not always an easy road but with help from friends, family and local employers who are willing to take a chance on someone who desperately wants to work, we can make the Lehigh Valley a place where work is available to everyone who wants a job, including adults with disabilities,” said Smith.

Via of the Lehigh Valley is a non-profit human service agency that provides services for children and adults with disabilities. Via’s staff help more than 1,000 individuals and families from birth through retirement focusing in four areas: Children’s Services, Community & Volunteer Services, Employment Services and Residential Services.

Via works with children up to age three in their homes and daycares to address disabilities and delays. Via trains daycare center staff so children with disabilities can go to school and learn with their peers. Via finds jobs in the community for adults and provides coaching and training for successful employment. And Via helps people volunteer in the community, participate in leisure activities, and find or purchase affordable, accessible housing. Via believes that personal satisfaction and dignity are achieved through individual success and independence and is committed to helping people live full and productive lives.

Lisa Walkiewicz
Communications Director
L.Walkiewicz@vianet.org • 484-893-5390