Neal Eastep turned his blindness into the opportunity to run his own business rather than letting it become a barrier.

Since 2006 he has been the snack bar vendor at the Morgan County Courthouse. Born with glaucoma, his vision was totally gone by 1992. He sought to deal with his condition by bettering himself through the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services. Eastep enrolled in the Business Enterprise Program and learned to become a vendor at E.H. Gentry Technical Facility in Talladega.

Today, he’s comfortable with running his business and knows his customers by the sound of their footsteps. Courthouse customers say they admire the personal attention he gives. One customer called him an asset to the courthouse. Eastep should serve as a model and encouragement for others, especially during a stressed economy.

 

Eastep leaves a lasting impression.