Company Profile
Company Overview
National Industries for the Blind
Seven out of ten working age Americans who are blind are not employed.
At National Industries for the Blind (NIB), it is our mission 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 Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act.
Our Agencies
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 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.
Our Future
Today, NIB's role in the AbilityOne Program is considered an employment model that encourages private/public partnerships and empowers people who are blind to become more economically integrated. NIB's strategy for moving forward includes plans to further diversify employment opportunities for people who are blind; to create product and service awareness within government agencies; to aggressively market the highest quality products and services; to generate public and private partnerships; and to provide technical, operational, marketing and business development services to its associated, community-based agencies. As the service industry rapidly expands in the United States and new technologies emerge, NIB will continue to deliver new and exciting career opportunities for people who are blind.
Company History
National Industries for the Blind (NIB) can trace its beginnings to a handful of individuals who came together at a national level and generated the start of the 1938 Wagner-O’Day Act. On August 10, 1938, NIB was incorporated as a 501C3, private, nonprofit corporation "to promote the welfare of blind persons in general and blind workers in particular."
1938 President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Wagner-O’Day Act.
1943 NIB expands services to associated agencies to include liaising with government agencies, distribution and product development.
1949 The General Services Administration (GSA) is established in June, and the Bureau of Federal Supply is transferred from the Treasury Department to GSA.
1950 NIB opens an office in Washington, DC, to maintain liaison with government departments.
1952 NIB launches SKILCRAFT™, the brand name for quality consumer products made by people who are blind.
1969 NIB establishes a rehabilitation services division to increase skills and abilities of people who are blind or have other disabilities.
1971 Senator Jacob K. Javits sponsors legislation adding the purchase of services and including agencies serving people with other severe disabilities to the original Wagner-O’Day Act. The legislation becomes known as the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act.
1975 NIB establishes its first financial assistance program for associated agencies and creates a subcontract department to assist associated agencies with subcontract work.
1977 NIB forms legislative affairs and public relations departments to develop a greater presence in government and public affairs.
1981 NIB establishes a compliance department to assist associated agencies with legal and regulatory requirements.
1984 NIB constructs a new Technical Center to provide staff with advanced laboratory facilities, production line testing, rehabilitation engineering and training capabilities.
1995 NIB associated agencies take on new service contracts in warehousing and distribution; customer service; order entry; invoicing; data entry; and database management.
2007 Committee for Purchase changes name of program from the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Program to AbilityOne. The name and purpose of the act remain unchanged.
Benefits
We also offer a pension plan, life insurance, paid holidays, and the best people you can ask for to work with just to name a few.