Items related to Lewis, Willie Fay
The Texas Commission for the Blind sent Willie Fay Lewis to Fort Worth and charged her with the assignment of “finding a handful of blind people and see what she could do to help them.”
Operating in a six-room house at 1710 Washington, a...
Lewis, Willie Fay
The Texas Commission for the Blind sent Willie Fay Lewis to Fort Worth and charged her with the assignment of “finding a handful of blind people and see what she could do to help them.”
Operating in a six-room house at 1710 Washington, a persistent Mrs. Lewis organized a small group of blind workers in the production of pillowcases, rugs, brooms and mops, other hand-sewn items and the caning of chairs. Considered the first Executive Director, Mrs. Lewis’ goal was to encourage and empower members of the blind community to become independent and productive through gainful employment.
In addition to the production workers, blind salesmen canvassed the Fort Worth community,
going door to door in welcoming neighborhoods selling the locally made mops and brooms. A small retail store was also opened.
Thanks to Mrs. Lewis, Lighthouse for the Blind of Fort Worth was the first Lighthouse in the nation to pay their employees a standard hourly rate, making a significant statement about the rights of all employees being entitled to fair treatment and fair wages in any workplace.
Source: https://lighthousefw.org/about-us/the-history-of-lighthouse/ accessed March 27, 2019.