Sheltered Work Shop

History of Organization Historic

The organization of the Sheltered Workshop for the Disabled, Inc. (SWS, Inc.) was established to answer a need within the Triple Cities for a facility to provide employment opportunities for the disabled people of the area, who, because of their limitations were unable to obtain jobs in regular industry.

SWS, Inc. was co-founded and incorporated in 1942 by Thomas H Fogarty of Hinman, Howard and Kattell and Mr. Chester B. Lord, then President of the First National Bank of Binghamton. The first workshop was located in the YWCA building on the corner of Exchange and Hawley Street on October 12, 1942 with six workers including the director. By 1943, the disabled workforce increased to 25. With the assistance of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, generous citizens and local industries, a new one-story facility was constructed in 1947 to accommodate increased work loads. The years form 1948 to the 1980’s were years of growth, expansion, and refinement of SWS, Inc. Various property acquisitions resulted in the renovation of existing manufacturing space, the construction of a three-story building at Court and Stuyvesant Street, and the completion, in 1966, of a new two-story facility at 203 Court Street. The disabled workforce expanded from 151 to 265 fulltime employees during this time. Today SWS continues to employ the able and disabled alike. Many of the people are involved in contract manufacturing which provides a revenue stream aiding SWS in its mission.

The mission statement includes the following goals:

To assist diversely-abled persons in attaining their highest level of personal, social, and economic independence, through a multi-disciplinary individualized plan, based upon principles of self-determination.
To advocate, mentor, and provide a network of services, including rehabilitation, training, and job placement which would foster community inclusion, and improve an individual’s quality of life in the least restrictive environment.
To provide sheltered employment opportunities.
To provide competitive employment opportunities.
To accomplish this mission as a private, non-profit company to minimize any financial burden on our society.