History
HISTORY - GETTING STARTED
During 1959, parents who were affiliated with several associations approached the Lexington Junior League to present a need in the central Kentucky area. They indicated that there were people who were disabled and who were falling through the "Safety Net". Many of these people needed additional skills in order to be eligible and/or to fully benefit from services from the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services.
Over the next two years, under the leadership of Hallie Shouse, the Junior League became aware of the needs of people who had physical and/or mental disabilities which prevented them from obtaining employment thus creating a vocational handicap. Contacts were made with leaders of industry, business, professions, and agencies from both the private and public sectors.
On September 1, 1961, this community need became Opportunity Workshop of Lexington, Inc. (OWL) as a nonprofit 501-(c)-3 rehabilitation workshop. The Junior League presented OWL with $30,000, from their annual horse show, as seed money to start the operations.
