ESCANABA - Two employees from Lakestate Industries were recently recognized at the Speaker's Library of the state capitol.

In a meeting hosted by the Michigan Rehabilitation Council, Service Coordinators Brooke Buckley and Cara Brockway were honored for their leadership by hiring people with disabilities. The two were among 13 other employers from around the state who contribute to the employment assistance of the disabled.

The Michigan Commission for the Blind (MCB) and Michigan Rehabilitation Services co-hosted the event which took place earlier in the month. "The award was for placing an individual who has a sight impairment here at Lakestate," said Buckley. "She is a front end receptionist and she is working part-time."

In order to have a sight impaired receptionist, Lakestate had to implement certain technologies to make completion of the work possible. "The Commission for the Blind provided the tools to assist our receptionist," said Buckley. "The main one they provided is called the Acrobat Camera System and works by projecting onto a computer screen any paper products with names or any written information on it."

The receptionist was also provided with tools like a talking calculator, which aids her when she completes tasks like accounts receivable or payable. "This calculator will announce the totals, so that when she adds the numbers up, she knows she is correct," adds Buckley.

Two other important tools are called writing guides and 20/20 pens. According to Buckley, the are hard plastic guidelines outline the places on documents where information will be written. "In addition to the guides, she has the 20/20 pens, which are somewhat like a marker," said Buckley. "These pens will enhance the writing for someone who is visually impaired."