Laying the foundation for a sheltered workshop

This is part two in a four part series about Ontario ARC's Abbey Industries work center, which is scheduled to close this spring.  This week's post is about the earliest beginnings of Abbey Industries.  Last week, I posted information about Maxine Abbey, who is widely considered one of the first advocates for people with developmental disabilities in Ontario County.  The work center was named in her honor.

As Ontario ARC grew in the 1960s, it  realized the needs for a vocational program that would assist individuals with developmental disabilities.  By 1967, the agency was sponsoring a pre-vocational training class for adults in Geneva, where students worked on "reading signs, safety, home economics, and socialization." Now, they needed place to work and continue expanding upon the skills learned.

In November 1970, Ontario ARC has established its first "sheltered workshop" -- a supportive work environment for individuals with developmental disabilities to learn job and employment skills.  Located at 70 State Street in Geneva, the workshop originally provided 26 adults with vocational training and employment.  A year later, the program was so successful that the Chapter rented space at 258 Exchange Street in Geneva to accommodate its expansion.  Among its first contracts were Sarah Coventry Jewelry, Stern's Nurseries of Geneva and Seneca Knit.

By 1973, the Board of Directors and Chapter staff faced the same problem again -- as the contracts came pouring in, the limited space at both facilities became an issue.  Sarah Coventry Jewelry had doubled its work need and an International Paper Co. contract promised to be more expansive than that.  In addition, Gould Pump , the local March of Dimes chapter, and the Geneva Chamber of Commerce were all looking to negotiate contracts.  The agency realized it needed one central work location for its work contracts and vocational training.

Pictured: 70 State St., Geneva -- the home of Ontario ARC's first sheltered workshop