ORANGE, NJ – Thomas Grate spent 17 years working as a custodian at the Lester C. Noecker School in Roseland before retiring. In the ensuing years, Mr. Grate lost much of his eyesight, but not his will and “can do” attitude. Students at the school had the opportunity at a recent school assembly to listen to the former custodian's inspirational story of overcoming his loss and the people who helped him turn his life around.

Mr. Grate credits the SCILS staff at The First Occupational Center of New Jersey (OCNJ), who help visually impaired seniors regain independence after a vision loss, with helping him continue to live his life to the fullest. Over 500 students listened intently as he shared with them his fears and misconceptions of blindness.

“The staff and volunteers with SCILS believed in me more than I believed in myself,” Mr. Grate said.

Mr. Grate said he felt strongly that the encouragement he received from the Orange-based agency gave him the impetus to move forward with his life. A closed-circuit television donated by the agency enables him to enlarge type and pictures onto a large screen so that he can continue to read.

Joe Ruffalo, SCILS Program Specialist who is also blind, gave an overview of the services and programs offered at OCNJ and demonstrated several pieces of adaptive equipment and demonstrated the use of a white cane. Kernel books written by the blind and Braille cards were distributed to all the students.

The First Occupational Center of New Jersey is the state's oldest and largest vocational and job placement agency, providing annual services to developmentally disabled, visually impaired elderly and economically disadvantaged New Jersey residents and their families since 1954. OCNJ uses an entrepreneurial approach to training and securing jobs with the goal of helping workers move from dependence to independence. The Center provides jobs through its seven wholly-owned and operated companies, including Recycling, Building Services and Groundskeeping, Production Services, Micrographics, Abbry Security, and the OCNJ Driving School, as well as within the community.