Cerebral Palsy Woodworker Celebrates Milestone
Built by Ernie celebrates 10 years — a woodworking business run by a man with Cerebral Palsy. This inspirational story highlights how hands-on craftsmanship can overcome physical challenges and build a successful enterprise over a decade.
The business "Built by Ernie" originated from the significant windstorm that struck Spokane, Washington, in November 2015. The storm brought wind gusts of up to 71 miles per hour, causing widespread damage and power outages for over 180,000 homes. This severe weather event toppled hundreds of trees across the region, providing an unexpected source of raw material. Faced with a downed fence and a need to finance its repair, the founder, Ernie, decided to salvage the wood. This resourceful beginning led to the creation of his first products: children's tables and chairs, flower boxes, and knick-knack boxes. This marked the start of his woodworking enterprise, turning a moment of adversity into a new business venture. The 2015 windstorm was a historic event for Spokane, described as the worst in the history of the local utility company, Avista. The scale of the destruction left a lasting impact on the community, with cleanup and repairs taking a significant amount of time. Today, "Built by Ernie" has expanded its product line to include a variety of handcrafted wooden items. The business now offers signs, key hangers, flags, and holiday decor, showcasing a development from its initial, more utilitarian pieces.
