About

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.

AbilityOne Program

The AbilityOne Program, formerly Javits-Wagner-O’Day, 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. It coordinates participation with more than 600 nonprofit agencies throughout the United States and represents $2.3 billion in products and services purchased by the federal government. The 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, an independent federal agency, with assistance from NISH 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.