 |
|
 |
 With These Hands…
While working in the Sewing Department of the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind creating fleece jackets for the United States Navy is a far cry from owning his own taxi company, John Powers is making the most of what life has given him.
While John spent the majority of his life in charge of his own business, it took some serious adjustment when he was diagnosed seven years ago with Macular Degeneration, a disease that is often misdiagnosed because it usually doesn’t affect people until later in life.
“They used to just call it old age,” laughs John.
As he began losing his vision, it became almost impossible for him to drive, especially at night, so his taxi business had to fall by the wayside.
“I was depressed and devastated,” recalls John of the way he felt upon having to quit his livelihood. “It almost ended my marriage.”
Not knowing where else to turn, John contacted the Texas Commission for the Blind in order to find a training program that could help him reenter the workforce.
“I was 62 with no computer skills, and I was legally blind. I wasn’t exactly a prime candidate for employment,” he says.
The Commission directed him to the San Antonio Lighthouse where John found not only the training he needed, but also hope and inspiration.
“The training and atmosphere were excellent,” he explains. “I was around others who didn’t want to be a burden to society.”
The impact on John was instantaneous. “It helped me so much emotionally to see people who were worse off than I was, working. I realized that I am not so bad off.”
|
 During his training, a position opened at the Lighthouse and John took it. The rest is history.
When he is not busy earning a living, John can be found cooking (a pastime he loves), spending time with his wife of 13 years, his son, and his 10 grandchildren.
He is also dedicated to finding a company that can make a voice menu and marketing it to restaurants. Although he realizes that some restaurants have them now, he wants to find a brand that is user-friendlier than what’s currently available.
“I want it to have a keypad like a phone,” he describes.
Awarded the Employee of the Year honor for 2004-2005, John is proof that even when life throws you a curveball, you are never too old to hit it out of the park.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
