AbilityOne Participating Agency
Mississippi Industries for the Blind is proud to be an agency that participates in the AbilityOne program. Through this program, MIB manufactures numerous products for Federal Government agencies. Some of these customers include the Department of Defense (DOD), U.S. Postal Service (USPS), General Services Administration (GSA), and the Department of Agriculture (USDA). The range of products purchased by these agencies go from barracks bags to cellulose sponges to cotton mopheads to fire fighting tools and straps.
The AbilityOne Program, established by the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act, helps nearly 50,000 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. It coordinates participation with nearly 600 nonprofit agencies throughout the United States and represents nearly $3 billion in products and services purchased by the federal government. The AbilityOne Program operates at nearly 1,000 locations representing 40 government agencies nationally.
The AbilityOne Program is administered by the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled (operating as the U.S. AbilityOne Commission), an independent federal agency, with assistance from SourceAmerica (the new name for NISH as of July 1, 2013) and National Industries for the Blind.
For additional information about the Javits-Wagner-O’Day (JWOD) Act, the AbilityOne Program and the governmental guidelines, visit www.abilityone.gov.
Related Links
MS Library Commission Blind and Physically Handicapped Library