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Richard Simpson loves coming to work at the Lighthouse. Being legally blind doesn’t stop him! Many would consider just getting to and from work an insurmountable task which might account in part for the high unemployment rate among working age adults who are blind or have significant vision impairment. But not Richard - a ten minute walk, riding two buses and a train, many times before sunrise or after sunset, is just what he does. He gives his daily commute no more thought than you and I when we jump in our vehicles every morning.
From the moment he arrives for work – usually before the starting time – Richard is geared up and ready to go. He conveys one of the best work attitudes and doesn’t shy away from any job assignment or request. Richard enjoys any challenge his supervisor throws at him and is always eager to learn something new. His fellow workers respect him and find him easy to work with. “He is considerate, consistent and highly productive even under the most stressful of situations,” describes supervisor Richard McManaway. “Because of his can-do attitude, strong positive work ethic and pleasant disposition, Richard has been named the Lighthouse’s 2012 AbilityOne Employee of the Year.”
Simpson will be honored locally at the Lighthouse’s upcoming annual meeting and then again in the fall at the National Industries for the Blind Conference and Expo along with other honorees from around the country.
Diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa in 1994, Richard has limited vision. Richard has also been hearing impaired since birth requiring him to wear a hearing aid. Married for 18 years and a father of two children and three stepchildren ranging in age from 26 years to 15 years, Richard grew up in Benbrook and graduated from Western Hills High School. When he is not working at the Lighthouse, he is spending time with his seven grandkids, fishing, hanging out at Texas Motor Speedway watching NASCAR or watching Rangers baseball.
Prior to coming to the Lighthouse in 2004, Richard worked in home building and remodeling. He also drove a van around the state delivering wholesale fresh flowers. Eventually, his vision impairment limited his abilities to do these jobs. At the Lighthouse, Richard not only found employment with a paycheck but he also found his niche within the manufacturing operations. He has discovered that working at the Lighthouse provides him the opportunity to be a part of a caring community and company that empowers him and instills in him a confident attitude. He resolves each and every day that he is going to be the very best husband, father, grandfather and Lighthouse employee that he can be.
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