 One, two, three, four… after several taps from her cane, Karol Lunde is positioned precisely where she wants to be. Five, six, seven, eight, nine… thirty-eight, thirty-nine, forty! Locating her chair, Karol sits down and eagerly begins preparing her work area for another day on the job.
Born blind, Karol has never let any of her disabilities hold her back from doing things she loves. At 53, she welcomes each day with a smile and looks forward to going to work at Pine Ridge Industries, where she has worked for the last 25 years, rarely missing a day. She enjoys her job, being around her co-workers who have become good friends, and earning a paycheck.
At the end of the day, Karol boards an agency bus and is off to ARC’s Ketchum House, where she enjoys the privacy of having her own room and personal phone line. When Karol isn’t on the phone making plans, you may find her using her Braille writer or typewriter, both of which she uses to stay in touch with friends.
Frank Sinatra, Tom Jones, the Beatles and Mel Torme are just a sample of this music lover’s 45 collection. Karol also enjoys playing her organ and keyboard, singing at church, attending parties, arts & crafts, and shopping.
At home, Karol is responsible for getting herself ready for work each day. Her color-coordinated closet makes that task an easier one. Karol also assists staff with household chores such as dishes and laundry.
Karol began receiving services from Schenectady ARC in 1981, when she attended Maple Ridge. By 1983 she began working at Pine Ridge Industries in its original location and moved with the facility to its current location in Scotia. In addition, Karol’s services include vocational rehabilitation, Ridge Health Services, transportation and residential services.
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