In a bad economy, jobs can be hard to come by. Those opportunities are even more limited for the disabled.
One Lynchburg business is trying to reverse that trend.
Most businesses like to keep their best workers. That's not the case at T-Shirts Plus.
"We look for ways to be able to get them jobs," says T-Shirts Plus owner Pete Parziale, who considers it an honor, not an insult when his best and brightest leave for other work.
"I would like to see all of them get part-time or full-time employment outside of us," Parziale.
In many ways, T-Shirts Plus is like other sheltered industries, companies that put the disabled to work.
"Our primary product that we make and sell is silk screen products," said Parziale.
The difference here is a program that allows employees to integrate with the community. The small business atmosphere is a training ground for something greater.
"We train them in the world of work," said Parziale. "We give them tools they can use in the workplace."
Workers learn skills like typing.
Kris Roca plans to use what she learns here to one day "be a secretary," adding that she gretaly enjoys her work T-Shirts Plus and would rather stay employed there if given the option.
Parziale's company also offers a program called "Life Skills Plus," which conducts classroom training on skills like telling time.
For everyone who walks through the door, Parziale sets the bar high.
"My desire for them is a always lot higher than they may be willing to take themselves," said Parziale, who pushes his workers to consider careers that are outside the box.
"We look for niches or certain types of things in trades that may be a little off the beaten path." Parziale recently started a side business that gives workers the opportunity to refurbish old sporting equipment. Golfers are bringing by old clubs and workers are replacing the grips for a small fee.
"That teaches them a skill that they could maybe use for outside employment or home employment," said Parziale. "When they do that, they become a vital part of the community and not just a consumer, but a producer."
Parziale says he's had great success in finding outside work for his employees. Many of the Lynchburg businesses that buy products from T-Shirt's Plus end up offering the disabled staff a job in their own workplace.
