Photo Courtesy of Assemblyman Weprin’s Office
Lt. Gov. Hochul and Assemblyman Weprin (third from r.) presented Alphapointe officials Anthony Luisi (second from l.) and Scott Thornhill with a proclamation for their efforts to train and employ workers who face high unemployment prospects.
By Forum Staff
Lieutenant Gov. Kathy Hochul and Assemblyman David Weprin (D-Richmond Hill) recently honored a Richmond Hill organization that is one of the largest employers of legally blind individuals in New York.
Hochul and Weprin on Monday toured the 138,000 square-foot facility of Alphapointe, which manufactures a variety of items from mops to military products and counts 200 visually impaired or blind workers among its staff. Alphapointe moved from Brooklyn to the century old edifice on 123rd Street in 2017. The building features millions of dollars in improvements that were made for the visually impaired workers, including technological innovations such as GPS devices that help employees navigate interior spaces with their phones and spoke to staff who noted previous difficulty finding employment due to their disabilities.
At the end of the tour, Hochul presented Alphapointe officials with a proclamation for their efforts to train and employ workers who face high unemployment prospects.
According to the National Federation of the Blind, nearly 70 percent of working age individuals with severe vision impairments lack full-time employment.
“As former chair of the Assembly Task Force on People with Disabilities, I am inspired by Alphapointe’s efforts to employ people with vision impairments. It is my hope that by bringing Lt. Gov. Kathleen Hochul to this facility, we can replicate this successful enterprise across the state,” Weprin said. “I thank Alphapointe for making this meaningful investment in my district and I thank Lt. Gov. Hochul for visiting Queens.”
