Blindness Does Not Stop Pine Bluff Man from Succeeding in Business and Being Nominated for Award

Mr. Steven Tidwell of Pine Bluff has been nominated as a candidate for the Annual Consumer of the Year Award to be presented by Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of Services for the Blind (DSB). The overall winner will be named at the end of the year.

“It is a great honor to be nominated for consumer of the year by Services for the Blind. Even though I am blind, I have never let my blindness get in the way of doing whatever I wanted to do,” says Tidwell. “I started Steven's Radio Service on October 15, 2006, because I wanted to provide radio communication service to local fire departments and other emergency agencies. Shortly after that I began selling lights and sirens, and in the last six months added Nightstick flashlights.”

Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Minnie Rasberry nominated Tidwell because he is only 26 years old and has already achieved his vocational goal of owning and operating his own business, despite being totally blind. She says, “I nominated him because of his great achievement and because of his relaxed and friendly persona.”

“It is awesome to know that someone with a disadvantage can start his own business and now he has been nominated for Consumer of the Year,” says his mother Debbie Tidwell.

Tidwell is totally blind due to Retinopathy of Prematuity (ROP), an eye disease that affects prematurely born babies. The condition causes abnormal growth of blood vessels in the retina, which may result in scarring and detachment of the retina. ROP can be mild and resolve spontaneously, but it can be more serious and lead to blindness.

Tidwell is very committed to success in operating his business. He keeps in constant touch with the DSB office personnel and has developed a positive relationship with DSB. He eagerly discusses his ideas with the counselor and asks for opinions and suggestions.

At the time of referral to DSB, Tidwell was the manager of the family’s restaurant business. He was also the dispatcher for the Sulphur Springs Fire Department. These work experiences have enabled him to manage and operate his own business successfully.

DSB provided financial assistance for Tidwell to start his mobile radio repair and sales shop and has assisted him in implementing his marketing ideas. His business has expanded with the addition of new product lines.

“The Division of Services for the Blind purchased some necessary equipment to help me to get my business started. They have advertised in the AT&T Yellow Pages; helped purchase my opening order to make me a distributor of Nightstick flashlights, which has been my best seller; and most recently bought a booth at the Pine Bluff Business Expo and a membership to the Chamber of Commerce. They also purchased a flashlight sales kit. DSB has really helped my business” said Tidwell. DSB also provided counseling and guidance; information and referrals for other services; and an update for Job Access with Speech (known as JAWS) software.

Tidwell is active in the community and is a member of the Greater Pine Bluff Chamber of Commerce. He is aware of what is going on in his area and participates accordingly for marketing exposure of his business. He has placed advertising fliers with the police, sheriff, and fire departments in Pine Bluff and surrounding areas. He has an advertisement in the Pine Bluff/Jefferson County area AT&T telephone directory and the Yellow Pages, which are delivered to homes and businesses throughout Southeast Arkansas counties and cities. Steven’s Radio Service received great exposure when he was one of 150 vendors participating in the 2009 Business Expo held at the Pine Bluff Convention Center. This is the largest Business Expo held in Southeast Arkansas and draws interest from the surrounding states as well as the local area.

Tidwell is more than a number to DSB; he’s a success and an inspiration. DSB is privileged to recognize Tidwell for a job well done and trusts that success will continue to follow this deserving individual, who has demonstrated that with determination, blindness is not a barrier to competitive employment. Hundreds of Arkansans with a disability return to work each year after receiving vocational rehabilitation services.

DSB provides vocational rehabilitation services to individuals who are blind or severely visually impaired and whose goal is successful employment. DSB also serves youth and older blind individuals. People wanting information about DSB’s programs and services can call 1-800-960-9270 or 501-682-5463 or visit the DSB website at http://www.arkansas.gov/dhs/dsb/NEWDSB/index.htm.