Catherine Hale

WWII Production

WWII Production

Dr. Helen Keller

Modern Production

Modern Facilities

In 1911, Catherine Hale, whose brother was blind, brought together a group of blind men and women for recreation near her home in northeast Kansas City. When her brother joined The Workers for the Blind of Greater Kansas City in 1911, she accompanied him to his meetings. Five years later, in 1916, she helped the group incorporate as the Kansas City Association for the Blind. The Association started a workshop in 1918 that made brooms, mats and other hand-made items. In that same year, again with Ms. Hale's guiding hand, the association opened a home for blind women. The group quickly outgrew the first home at 2908 Flora Avenue and moved to 2918 Tracy Avenue, a location that was rebuilt and expanded several times. The home was named by the residents as the Catherine Hale Home and housed up to 40 women, some living there more than 20 years.

Continuing its tradition of providing an expanded array of services to people who are blind, Alphapointe looked for new ways to serve the community throughout its history. In the 1950's a Braille library was opened and with the help of the Junior League of Kansas City and the Delta Gamma Alumnae chapter the Kansas City the Nursery School for Blind Children (now known as Children's Center for the Visually Impaired was established. In the mid-1980's a Senior Adult Services program was started. Basic job training and employment for the blind with multiple disabilities was started in the mid-1980's. In 1993 the Kansas City Association for the Blind changed its name to Alphapointe Association for the Blind, meaning First Point in Quality and Services.

In the year 2000, Alphapointe added the Center for Blindness and Low Vision to provide more services for visually impaired people.

Providing Work Opportunities for People Who Are Blind

The workshop that opened its doors in 1918 was self-supporting within six months and soon employed women. In the early days, the business served the local community, but with the onset of World War II, the program became involved in the War effort.

During World War II, Kansas City Association for the Blind workers were employed to produce brooms, mats and ropes. The KCAB was given the Army-Navy "E" award for outstanding work.

Dr. Helen Keller presented a certificate of recognition in 1955 to the Kansas City Association for the Blind for its service as a supplier of blind-made products to the United States government.

With this new experience and demonstration of its workers' performance, Alphapointe began manufacturing pens for the federal government in the mid-1960's. As this business continued to expand and provide more and more work opportunities for Kansas City residents who are blind, the broom operation was finally phased out in 1969.

Over the years, various business lines have been added to provide workers with varied job opportunities. In 1994, Alphapointe began manufacturing prescription bottles for the Veterans Administration. Alphapointe established base supply stores at Little Rock AFB, AR and Fort Leonard Wood, MO and also began offering 24/7 switchboard operations at the Kansas City and Columbia VA hospitals to provide additional job opportunities for blind citizens in the area.

In 2005 Alphapointe began offering AbilityOne (formerly JWOD) approved office products, office furniture, janitorial and technical products to Federal Government agencies through its e-Commerce website: www.alphapointeonline.com. Today alphapointeonline.com is a leader in providing office supplies to the Federal Government using an effective, easy-to-use online supply store, an efficient delivery system, and a helpful sales and customer service team.

The Alphapointe of today is a fitting tribute to the vision Mrs. Hale had for people who are blind or visually impaired. Alphapointe is a multi-million dollar business enterprise with operations in two states and sales to customers throughout the United States. Alphapointe is ISO9001-2000 certified, proof positive that people who are blind can and do produce to world class standards.

Sitting on 35 acres of what used to be the Fairyland Amusement Park which closed in 1977, our facility employs nearly 100 Kansas City residents who are blind or visually impaired.

The headquarters is located at:
7501 Prospect
Kansas City, Missouri 64132

Executive Staff

• Reinhard Mabry, President and Chief Executive Officer
• James E. Van Winkle, Vice President, Administration and Chief Financial Officer
• Clay Berry, Director of Education and Rehabilitation
• Judi Moritz, Director of Marketing
• Brent Harlow, Director of Manufacturing and Facilities
• Gina Gowin, Director of Development and Public Relations
• Ed Prusia, Director of Human Resources
• Denise Thacker, Manager, Quality Assurance

Board of Directors

• Mr. Stephen Hilliard, Chair
• Ms. Sheri Johnson, 1st Vice Chair
• Ms. Paulette Markel, 2nd Vice Chair
• Mr. Kent Gedman, Secretary Treasurer
• Ms. Judith Train, Immediate Past Chair
• Mr. Trey Barnes
• Mr. James Barry
• Mr. Cornelius Boersma IV
• Dr. John Cowan
• Mr. Jack Ferguson
• Mr. Mark Flora
• Mr. Greg Kallos
• Mr. Stephen Mock
• Mr. Jimmy Nickell
• Mr. Robert Payne
• Mr. Kenneth Roberson
• Mr. Tom Saul
• Mr. Archie Smith III
• Ms. Kimberly Young

Membership and Accreditations

• National Association for Employment of People Who are Blind (NAEPB)
• AbilityOne Program formerly JWOD - www.abilityone.org
• Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER)
• VisionServe Alliance - www.agenciesfortheblind.org
• National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Impaired (NAC)
• IRS Certification as 501(c)(3) charitable organization
• Heart of America United Way (member agency)