AbilityOne: People Make It Happen; National Disability Awareness Month

National Industries for the Blind Celebrating NDEAM at Annual Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio Oct 6-9, 2010

National Industries for the Blind (NIB), the largest employer of people who are blind in the U.S., is celebrating October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month with a nationwide awareness campaign featuring local programs at many of its 89 associated agencies; 140 AbilityOne Base Supply Center stores and special events throughout October.

NIB is honoring 62 “Employees of the Year” who are featured guests at its Annual Training Conference in Cincinnati, OH October 6-9, 2010. Two employees will also be honored as national award winners: Joyce Talbert, Bosma Enterprises, Indianapolis, Indiana will be presented the Peter J. Salmon Employee of the Year Award. Kenneth Fountain, Winston-Salem Industries for the Blind will be presented the Milton J. Samuelson Career Achievement Award. All employees produce SKILCRAFT® products or provide services sold to the federal government or Department of Defense through the AbilityOne Program (see the Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy online).

President Barack Obama (pictured left) issued a presidential proclamation recognizing October 2010 as National Disability Awareness Month. In his proclamation, Obama said: “We also know we are stronger when our country and economy can benefit from the skills and talents of all our citizens. No individual in our Nation should face unnecessary barriers to success, and no American with a disability should be limited in his or her desire to work. During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we renew our focus on improving employment opportunities and career pathways that lead to good jobs and sound economic futures for people with disabilities.”

In July, President Obama signed an Executive Order to increase jobs for people who are blind or disabled: “This directive requires Federal agencies to design model recruitment and hiring strategies for people with disabilities, and to implement programs to retain these public servants. To ensure transparency and accountability, agencies will report on their progress on hiring people with disabilities, and the Office of Personnel Management will post the results of agencies' efforts online for public evaluation.”

The full text of President Obama’s text is available at www.nib-abilityone.blogspot.com or www.nib.org

About the National Industries for the Blind
NIB’s (www.NIB.org), mission is to enhance the opportunities for economic and personal independence of persons who are blind, primarily through creating, sustaining and improving employment. NIB and 89 associated agencies serve as the largest employer for people who are blind by the sale of SKILCRAFT® products and services through the AbilityOne Program. (Pictured left: SKILCRAFT logo and AbilityOne Program logo. SKILCRAFT slogan: Every Purchase Creates Jobs)