CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A North Carolina nonprofit has unveiled a new mural to help empower employees who are blind and visually impaired.
Lions Services manufactures products for the U.S. Department of Defense under the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act.
They provide employment opportunities to the blind and visually impaired, building their confidence and independence so they can flourish in their communities. It’s now empowering employees before they walk through the doors.
Lions Services recently hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony, unveiling a mural and newly renovated patio at the Bob Elliot Center for the Blind.
The idea for the mural and patio came into fruition with help from Lions Services president and CEO, Philip Murph.
Murph is legally blind.
“I was born where I could see shadows,” Murph said. “As I got older, my vision increased. I was born with optic nerve hypoplasia, which means the optic nerve never fully developed.”
Murph graduated from Belmont Abbey College before working at Lions Services.
“I was hired to answer the phone. I made it my mission to learn as much about the company as I could,” Murph said. But he didn’t stop there, eventually getting his master's of business administration.
He became president in June 2021.
“The company means a lot to me because I not only can relate to the employees here, but it’s my mission to help blind people. Every day I go home, I feel fulfilled,” Murph said.
But he didn’t stop there, later being inspired to revamp the outside building space for blind and visually impaired employees. So he reached out to development director Agatha Bisbikis.
“She put her hat on and came up with the idea of making it a patio that’s accessible for blind employees. She got nine tables [through donations and sponsors], a fence and labor donated. Then she found us a grant to pay for the mural," Murph said.
He says he’s proud of the work his team and artists have done to bring the mural and its message to life.
“I wanted the mural to say blind without saying blind,” Murph said. “In the mural, you can see the guide dog for the blind, but who is blind? Is the gentleman holding the leash blind? Or is the lady holding his arm blind? I think this gives a great perspective of blindness. For instance, in the typical community, people tell me they would never know I was blind unless I told them. That’s the same thing this mural is portraying.”
According to the National Industries for the Blind, approximately 70% of working age Americans who are blind are not employed.
Lions Services employs 210 workers, 100 of whom are blind.
Murph hopes this mural helps put a spotlight on ways employers can support the blind community in the workplace, while erasing stereotypes about those who are blind.
“Across the surrounding counties there’s 16,000 individuals that have blindness or some type of visual debilitating issue. We’re only unpacking just a fraction of that. It’s very important for Charlotte to understand blind citizens should not be put in a corner,” he said.
He says he wants to change common perspectives about blindness.
“We had a truck driver who was ready to end his life because he went blind. He came here and met people who’d never seen the sunshine before and were so happy to come to work,” Murph explained. “That changed his whole outlet on life. What I want the community to understand is blindness is just a characteristic.”
Another employee, Norman Fairley, has been working at Lions Services for seven years.
He said Lions Services motivated him to succeed during a challenging part of his life.
“I have an eye disease,” Fairley said. “I used to drive and everything and be dependent on my own. Losing it one day, I went through a deep depression. Me finding like-minded people going through the same thing I’m going through let me know everything was going to be all right.”
He says the mural serves as a reminder that many care about his well-being and others.
“It lets me know that people really care and understand we are people, too,” Fairley said.
Lions Services said it is looking to raise more funds and provide jobs for the blind and visually impaired.
“That’s going to be fully funded by donations," Murph said. “We’re looking for approximately $700,000. My goal for the company (besides manufacturing for the Department of Defense) is to expand our portfolio either in services or products where it’s made by blind or supported by blind employees.”