Retired Walgreens executive and best selling author of No Greatness Without Goodness, Randy Lewis will speak about lessons learned as the parent of a child with autism coming up from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on February 5th at the Barrington Area Library. Learn what Randy wishes he had known when his son was still in school during this special event hosted by AFFECT 220, a Barrington community of parents, teachers and others supporting families of children with unique needs and abilities.
A Barrington resident, the former Walgreens SVP will also share how his son with Autism inspired him to see how he could make business more inclusive. During his last ten years at Walgreens, Randy created a program in its distribution centers to integrate large numbers of people with disabilities as equals into its workforce.
Since retiring from Walgreens in 2013, Randy Lewis has been working for inclusive recruitment around disability, highlighting the advantages of hiring those with disabilities. His book, No Greatness Without Goodness shares how seeing the world through the eyes of his son led to the realization that we all have a greater responsibility to make the world a better place for everyone, including those with disabilities. Randy founded NOGWOG, a non-profit disability initiative dedicated to the expansion of hiring the disabled by Fortune 500 companies based upon the Walgreens experience. Learn more about Randy’s story, work and mission at NOGWOG.org.
During the session Protected Tomorrows founder, Mary Ann Ehlert will also discuss how to make the most of resources available for children with disabilities and their families. Protected Tomorrows provides webinars and resources on topics relevant for anyone who is planning for their child with special needs. That includes government benefits, financial planning, residential living options, education, healthcare, employment and more.
All are welcome to attend the event at the Barrington Area Library from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, February 5th. There will be a Q&A session for roughly the last 20-30 minutes of the event, which is a great opportunity to share thoughts and get your questions answered.
If you need childcare, you must register for this event to ensure space. You can sign in and drop children off starting at 6:15pm. This event is free for all and open to everyone. Registration is not required if you do not need childcare.
Click here to register today.
AFFECT 220 stands for Amazing Family Friends Educators Coming Together. It’s a community group in the Barrington 220 school district supporting the social, emotional and academic needs of children with unique needs and differing abilities. Their goal is to create a spirit of increased inclusion and acceptance in Barrington for children with disabilities. AFFECT 220 events provide opportunities for children to have fun and socialize with others. They also allow parents to connect and learn about available resources. Learn more at AFFECT220.org.
