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By Guest Blogger Kevin A. Lynch, President and Chief Executive Officer, National Industries for the Blind in disability.gov
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and a prime opportunity to recognize the impressive abilities of people who are blind or have other severe disabilities. It is a chance for employers to appreciate how individuals with disabilities contribute to our workplaces in so many ways and discover their true capabilities.
This month, National Industries for the Blind is also marking the 15th anniversary of the AbilityOne Base Supply Center (BSC) Program.
Both NDEAM and the 15th anniversary of the BSC program are important opportunities for us to think about employing people who are blind.
For 15 years, AbilityOne Base Supply Centers have supported federal customers with a full-service, flexible, on-site operation. The BSCs provide 24/7 year-round one-stop shopping to armed forces and federal government employees at 140 locations across the country.
Because creating employment opportunities for people who are blind is NIB’s mission, I want to share some important numbers with you that demonstrate the success of this program.
The AbilityOne Base Supply Center Program is directly responsible for the employment of more than 300 Americans who are blind or have severe disabilities. These dedicated team members provide customer service, shelf stocking, purchasing, inventory and retail store management in support of each participating military base’s mission.
Additionally, sales of SKILCRAFT® and other AbilityOne products and services to military personnel provide jobs and career advancement opportunities for nearly 40,000 people with disabilities, who make SKILCRAFT products or provide services through the AbilityOne Program. Since nearly 70 percent of individuals who are blind are unemployed, the job opportunities provided by National Industries for the Blind help our employees gain economic independence and the pride and confidence associated with working.
Today, we are celebrating the anniversary of the original AbilityOne Base Supply Center at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, which is supported by the local Durham, North Carolina, agency LC Industries.
In today’s economy, I believe more than ever before, Americans have a deeper understanding of the important value and benefits of a good job. LC Industries’ BSC employees work every day to enhance their personal freedom, their economic freedom and America’s freedom as they support Fort Bragg’s mission.
Our celebration at Fort Bragg today is an affirmation of America’s willingness to knock down barriers to freedom at home and abroad. It is a celebration of how the American dream is created in business opportunities, followed by hard work, innovation and quality service. This is a celebration of the success that is being achieved in North Carolina and throughout the United States.
National Industries for the Blind and our 90 community-based associated nonprofit agencies provide jobs for people who are blind. Our organizations offer resources, training and adaptive technologies to help promote economic opportunities. Our mission is creating and sustaining jobs. People who are blind operate stores, run distribution centers and produce goods and services that directly benefit our federal government and armed forces.
In October, we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month and applaud the contribution people who are blind make to support our military and the federal government through the AbilityOne Program.
Kevin A. Lynch is the President and CEO of National Industries for the Blind. His career at NIB, and at some of its associated agencies, spans nearly 30 years. NIB’s associated agencies are the largest providers of employment and rehabilitative services to Americans who are blind, presenting them with opportunities to master new job skills based on their interests and abilities.
Full ArticleOctober is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) and a prime opportunity to recognize the impressive abilities of people who are blind or have other severe disabilities. It is a chance for employers to appreciate how individuals with disabilities contribute to our workplaces in so many ways and discover their true capabilities.
This month, National Industries for the Blind is also marking the 15th anniversary of the AbilityOne Base Supply Center (BSC) Program.
Both NDEAM and the 15th anniversary of the BSC program are important opportunities for us to think about employing people who are blind.
For 15 years, AbilityOne Base Supply Centers have supported federal customers with a full-service, flexible, on-site operation. The BSCs provide 24/7 year-round one-stop shopping to armed forces and federal government employees at 140 locations across the country.
Because creating employment opportunities for people who are blind is NIB’s mission, I want to share some important numbers with you that demonstrate the success of this program.
The AbilityOne Base Supply Center Program is directly responsible for the employment of more than 300 Americans who are blind or have severe disabilities. These dedicated team members provide customer service, shelf stocking, purchasing, inventory and retail store management in support of each participating military base’s mission.
Additionally, sales of SKILCRAFT® and other AbilityOne products and services to military personnel provide jobs and career advancement opportunities for nearly 40,000 people with disabilities, who make SKILCRAFT products or provide services through the AbilityOne Program. Since nearly 70 percent of individuals who are blind are unemployed, the job opportunities provided by National Industries for the Blind help our employees gain economic independence and the pride and confidence associated with working.
Today, we are celebrating the anniversary of the original AbilityOne Base Supply Center at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, which is supported by the local Durham, North Carolina, agency LC Industries.
In today’s economy, I believe more than ever before, Americans have a deeper understanding of the important value and benefits of a good job. LC Industries’ BSC employees work every day to enhance their personal freedom, their economic freedom and America’s freedom as they support Fort Bragg’s mission.
Our celebration at Fort Bragg today is an affirmation of America’s willingness to knock down barriers to freedom at home and abroad. It is a celebration of how the American dream is created in business opportunities, followed by hard work, innovation and quality service. This is a celebration of the success that is being achieved in North Carolina and throughout the United States.
National Industries for the Blind and our 90 community-based associated nonprofit agencies provide jobs for people who are blind. Our organizations offer resources, training and adaptive technologies to help promote economic opportunities. Our mission is creating and sustaining jobs. People who are blind operate stores, run distribution centers and produce goods and services that directly benefit our federal government and armed forces.
In October, we celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month and applaud the contribution people who are blind make to support our military and the federal government through the AbilityOne Program.
Kevin A. Lynch is the President and CEO of National Industries for the Blind. His career at NIB, and at some of its associated agencies, spans nearly 30 years. NIB’s associated agencies are the largest providers of employment and rehabilitative services to Americans who are blind, presenting them with opportunities to master new job skills based on their interests and abilities.
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