National Industries For The Blind

Specialties

NIB operates under the Javits-Wagner-O’Day (JWOD) Act and the AbilityOne Program, a federal purchasing program that enables people who are blind to work and provide quality SKILCRAFT products and services to federal and commercial customers. Like other businesses, NIB and its associated agencies around the country work to deliver quality products on time and at competitive rates. NIB mentors and supports its agencies through business development; product and service research and development; program management; distribution channel development and support; marketing; sales and contract administration.

History

Established in 1938.

For more than 70 years, the misson of the National Industries for the Blind (NIB), has been to enhance the opportunities for economic and personal independence of persons who are blind, primarily through creating, sustaining and improving employment. NIB and its associated agencies serve as the largest program responsible for the employment of people who are blind through the AbilityOne Program (Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act).

The AbilityOne Program helps more than 43,000 people who are blind or have other severe disabilities find employment. The Program coordinates its activities with nonprofit organizations across the country to employ these individuals and provide goods and services to the federal government at fair market prices.

The AbilityOne Program is the largest source of employment for people who are blind or have other severe disabilities in the country. The Program operates at nearly 1,000 locations representing 40 government agencies nationally.