ATCH was an instant success in the community. In the first year, 30 people with disabilities joined the organization. They learned job skills by making durable goods at the ATCH Sewing Center on East Blacklidge and in their homes. Many of the products that they produced, such as ponchos and planters, found their way to the shelves of well-known Tucson stores such as Cele Petersons.

Businesses in the community took notice. Employers began to use ATCH to help their company produce more products or to provide support services for their businesses, while facilitating the transition of people with disabilities into the workplace, a step that supported the company's goal.

Over the years, as ATCH grew to keep pace with the increased demand for services, the organization went through several changes. It ran a book binding business, assembled complex circuit boards and electronic components for businesses, changed its name more than once, and created a more comprehensive array of services for people with disabilities. Each year there were new successes and new challenges, and there were always more people to serve. In 1997 our services expanded to the Phoenix Metropolitan area. Further expansion occurred in 2000 when our Scottsdale office was opened.

Today, ATCH is known as Beacon Group Corporation. The name has changed several times over the years but the company's focus hasn't. Beacon Group Corporation serves approximately 1600 people with disabilities each year and continues to uphold the high standards of service that began with Home crafters in 1952. By providing an array of programs, Beacon Group has been able to offer employers creative business solutions while helping people with disabilities become productive members of our community.