BRIEF: New Alphapointe call center in Kansas City provides jobs for the visually impaired

Oct. 23--Jobs for up to 60 workers who are blind or visually impaired have been made possible by a new "contact services center" that will have its grand opening Friday in Kansas City.

Alphapointe, at 7501 Prospect Ave., timed the event to October's National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The new unit actually began doing business in August and already employs 39 workers.

The nonprofit agency's Kansas City site employs more than 200 people who have eyesight disabilities. The new call center, situated within Alphapointe's existing facility, already had other contact center operations in place.

Alphapointe employees provide telephone switchboard and contact services to a variety of business, government, nonprofit and academic organizations, including about 30 colleges and universities.

The agency has been shifting over the years to provide more white collar jobs to the visually impaired instead of the light manufacturing or piecework jobs that once characterized the industry that serves people with disabilities.

To reach Diane Stafford, call 816-234-4359 or send email to stafford@kcstar.com.

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