Non-profit honors special employers

Workers sat in rows lining the large room, laughing and talking, but focused on their tasks. In many ways, the employees are just like any other factory workers, but in one common way they're unique -- each employ has either physical or mental disabilities.\nSome are wheelchair-users, some have sensory impairments -- but they're all cooperating with Stone Belt Center to participate fully in the life of the Bloomington community. \nThe Center, located on East 10th Street, is a non-profit organization that serves over 1,000 clients in Monroe, Lawrence, Owen, Bartholomew and surrounding counties. It aims to both provide disabled persons with in-house employment as well as area business placement -- all at competitive wages. Clients can do contract work for other employers, or they can work in Stone Belt's leather, woodworking or tie-dye businesses.\nTo acknowledge Disabilities Awareness Month, Stone Belt applauded 11 local employers for providing outside employment opportunities to persons with disabilities at its business recognition ceremony on Tuesday. While Stone Belt works with more than 150 employers, the 10 percent who meet certain criteria are recognized annually. \nThree local Starbucks stores were among those awarded at the convention center this year.\n"It's very unusual that we have three Starbucks (stores)," said Marketing and Training Consultant Elizabeth Hall. "But in their mission statement, they are very supportive of hiring a diverse workplace."\nRed Lobster was another recognized business, which Hall said was unusual because Red Lobster was recognized in 2003, and most employers are only recognized every five years.\n"Red Lobster is an outstanding employer," said Hall. "Manager Paul Lutz at one time employed the most challenged employee in the state. She was deaf, blind and disabled but has worked for him for seven years." \nThis year, Lutz was awarded for his work with an employee named Sarah Fox. Lutz said that Fox rolls silverware for the restaurant and has picked up others' shifts to work Wednesday through Saturday.\n"Sarah rolls silverware at a really good rate," said Lutz. "She rolls what we expect of our servers, close to 160 an hour. When she's motivated and feeling really good, she does pretty well."\nLutz has worked for Bloomington's Red Lobster for 20 years and said that he has been involved with Stone Belt's employment placements since its started in 1986.\n"We were approached by the placement people when we opened, and they were pretty forward," said Lutz. "I'm glad they were because as a new employer, we may not have sought them out."\nThe Indiana University Motor Pool, IU Parking Operations, McDonald's Read Center and the IU Biology Greenhouse were the four IU employers that were recognized by Stone Belt this year.\nStone Belt honored Mark Hardesty, manager of the IU Motor Pool for more than three years, for his employment of participant Rosie Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick, who works as a custodian, has worked for four years with Hardesty.\n"Rosie is a joy to be around," he said. "She's very conscientious of her work and is a good fit for the motor pool."\nThe organization also recognized Danielle Keene, customer service representative and office assistant for IU Parking Operations, along with Doug Porter and Heather Staggs for their work with Angie Deel.\nDeel, who has worked for IU Parking Operations for 10 years, files, shreds and puts tickets in order for the office.\n"It is good to recognize that people with disabilities can still be good employees," said Keene, who is also Deel's assistant. "Angie is always on time and excited to be here."\nOther businesses recognized were Kroger Seminary Square, Scholars Inn Bakehouse East and Lowe's.