Arizona Department of Economic Services has a new video featuring the 13th Anniversary of the Focusworks Base Supply Center and the 15th Anniversary of the AbilityOne Base Supply Center program August 31, 2010.
This is a great overview of what the five blind and five sighted employees do in support of America's warfighters 24/7 365 days a year at Luke Air Force Base, Glendale, Arizona.
Focusworks is operated by Arizona Industries for the Blind. The Arizona Department of Economic Development is the state oversight agency for the AIB program and headed by Neal Young, Director.
Arizona Industries for the Blind is an associated non-profit agency that works with National Industries for the Blind on AbilityOne Program contracts that provide employment for people who are blind who make SKILCRAFT products or deliver quality services to the federal government and Department of Defense (DoD).
Showing posts with label DoD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DoD. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
RFID Technology Aids People Who Are Blind in the Workplace on Department of Defense Contracts
Warrenton, Va. September 7, 2010 – A new technological system that allows people who are blind to work more accurately and efficiently was recently installed at four US locations, all factories that manufacture garments for the United States Department of Defense.
The company that developed and implemented this system is SimplyRFiD, a Warrenton, Va.-based software company.
Since 2005 a federal mandate has required that Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tags be affixed to any clothing or other supplies sold to the DoD. The RFID tags are used to help the DoD better manage their inventory. The tags ensure that all shipments have come from verified providers, and that all packages contain the items they are meant to contain.
Many of the facilities that manufacture goods for the DoD are staffed by workers who are blind. The National Industries for the Blind (NIB), a non-profit organization that helps improve employment opportunities for people who are blind, became interested in ways that RFID technology could be used not only to fulfill government mandates, but to aid factory workers with certain tasks. NIB works with the DoD through the AbilityOne Program.
The NIB wondered whether a system could be created that would allow employees who are blind to accurately pack boxes with the correct type and quantity of an item.
Engineers at SimplyRFiD developed such a system. By linking RFID tags with audio equipment and allowing workers to communicate via a touch-screen, it is now simple for employees who are blind to know how many items are in a box they are packing, whether the items are the correct items, and which items to remove if a box is packed incorrectly.
“It’s almost a foolproof system,” said Mike Sebach the operations manager at Blind Industries and Services of Maryland, located in Salisbury, which was the pilot location for this technology. “If [SimplyRFiD] hadn’t done what [they] did we would have had to give these jobs to sighted employees.”
Sebach said his workers are now able to pack boxes more accurately than sighted workers would. “The system will actually not allow us to over pack or under pack a carton.”
So far, in addition to the Maryland location, this system has been installed in facilities in Texas, New York, and North Carolina. Plans are underway for SimplyRFiD to implement the program at garment factories across the nation that employ workers who are blind.
“This technology could work in any warehouse, absolutely,” Sebach said.
Contact: Emily Darrell, Marketing Specialist
SimplyRFiD
6599 Commerce Ct., Suite 100, Warrenton, VA 20187
Tel. (703) 343-1689
Email: emily.darrell@simplyrfid.com
The company that developed and implemented this system is SimplyRFiD, a Warrenton, Va.-based software company.
Since 2005 a federal mandate has required that Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tags be affixed to any clothing or other supplies sold to the DoD. The RFID tags are used to help the DoD better manage their inventory. The tags ensure that all shipments have come from verified providers, and that all packages contain the items they are meant to contain.
Many of the facilities that manufacture goods for the DoD are staffed by workers who are blind. The National Industries for the Blind (NIB), a non-profit organization that helps improve employment opportunities for people who are blind, became interested in ways that RFID technology could be used not only to fulfill government mandates, but to aid factory workers with certain tasks. NIB works with the DoD through the AbilityOne Program.
The NIB wondered whether a system could be created that would allow employees who are blind to accurately pack boxes with the correct type and quantity of an item.
Engineers at SimplyRFiD developed such a system. By linking RFID tags with audio equipment and allowing workers to communicate via a touch-screen, it is now simple for employees who are blind to know how many items are in a box they are packing, whether the items are the correct items, and which items to remove if a box is packed incorrectly.
“It’s almost a foolproof system,” said Mike Sebach the operations manager at Blind Industries and Services of Maryland, located in Salisbury, which was the pilot location for this technology. “If [SimplyRFiD] hadn’t done what [they] did we would have had to give these jobs to sighted employees.”
Sebach said his workers are now able to pack boxes more accurately than sighted workers would. “The system will actually not allow us to over pack or under pack a carton.”
So far, in addition to the Maryland location, this system has been installed in facilities in Texas, New York, and North Carolina. Plans are underway for SimplyRFiD to implement the program at garment factories across the nation that employ workers who are blind.
“This technology could work in any warehouse, absolutely,” Sebach said.
Contact: Emily Darrell, Marketing Specialist
SimplyRFiD
6599 Commerce Ct., Suite 100, Warrenton, VA 20187
Tel. (703) 343-1689
Email: emily.darrell@simplyrfid.com
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
FEDERAL NEWS RADIO INTERVIEWS NIB CEO KEVIN LYNCH
Washington, DC, June 22, 2010This week, host Larry Allen talks with Kevin Lynch, President and CEO, National Industries for the Blind. NIB’s mission is to enhance the opportunities for economic and personal independence of persons who are blind.
Larry and Kevin discuss:
* An update on traditional NIB product offerings through the AbilityOne Program.
* How NIB is partnering with private sector partners
* Why NIB feels that they need to expand into services and what type of services they're exploring
* And federal contract support services being offered by NIB to the federal government and Department of Defense
Download or listen to Kevin Lynch’s interview with Larry Allen
Coalition for Government Procurement provides a voice for commercial service and product companies selling in the federal market. The Coalition has 29 years of working with decision makers in and out of government on acquisition rules and procurement issues and provides a unique perspective from their members that is shared whenever procurement policy is debated.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Federal Workers Play Strong Role to Help Increase Job Opportunities
Survey Shows Wide Acceptance for Capabilities of People Blind, Severely Disabled, Despite 60 Percent Unemployed
ARLINGTON, VA (October 22, 2009) — As part of October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the AbilityOne Program’s central nonprofit agencies are releasing survey results that demonstrate Americans have an overwhelming acceptance of the work capabilities of people who are blind or have other significant disabilities. The survey findings also reveal that more than 9 out of every 10 Americans believe the government should support employment opportunities for people who are blind or have other significant disabilities through programs like the federal AbilityOne Program.
This strong support of people who are blind or have other significant disabilities is an important part of the efforts to reduce the unemployment rate of people with disabilities, which hovers above 60 percent.
The national survey, conducted by Greenfield Online®, polled 1,000 Americans, 18 to 55+ years of age, regarding their attitudes and views on the capabilities of people who are blind or have other significant disabilities to create quality products and services. Results show:
• Broad acceptances among Americans that people who are blind or have other significant disabilities are capable of producing quality products and services. A majority of people surveyed (78%) said they were comfortable with the ability of people who are blind or have other significant disabilities to make quality products and services for the government and armed forces. Additionally, 8 out of 10 people surveyed (80%) said they were comfortable with the government and armed forces purchasing products and/or services made by people who are blind or have other significant disabilities.
• Overwhelming belief that the government should support employment opportunities for people who are blind or have other significant disabilities. Almost all of the survey respondents (92%) say it is important for the government and armed forces to support the AbilityOne Program.
“The AbilityOne Program is the largest source of employment for people who are blind or have other significant disabilities” said Robert Chamberlin, President and CEO of NISH – Creating Employment Opportunities for People With Significant Disabilities.
Products for purchase from AbilityOne include: military uniforms, TSA gloves, airplane parts, office and computer supplies as well as environmentally-friendly cleaning supplies. Services include call center management, contract administration, fleet management, laundry services, as well as warehouse, shipping.
"Federal employees should feel incredibly empowered that they are helping to reduce unemployment for people who are blind or have other severe disabilities by purchasing AbilityOne products and services. With every purchase of AbilityOne products and services, federal procurement officers literally create and sustain more jobs for this underutilized, but highly qualified workforce," Kevin Lynch, President and CEO, National Industries for the Blind said.
The AbilityOne Program is supported by the National Industries for the Blind and NISH, both organizations work with more than 600 nonprofit agencies to provide employment for people who are blind or have other significant disabilities. These agencies sell products on through the federal procurement process to 40 government agencies, the U.S. military; and, to military personnel through 133 base supply centers. In Fiscal Year 2008 alone, $2.3 billion of products and services purchased by the Federal Government were made by people who were blind or have other significant disabilities by way of the AbilityOne Program.
In an effort to educate the American public about issues related to disability and employment, Congress designated each October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).
About the AbilityOne Program
Providing employment opportunities to more than 40,000 people, the AbilityOne Program is the largest single source of employment for people who are blind or have other significant disabilities in the United States. More than 600 participating nonprofit organizations employ these individuals and provide quality goods and services to the federal government at a fair market price. 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 National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and NISH-Creating Employment Opportunities for People with Severe Disabilities. For more information, please visit www.abilityone.org.
About NIB
In the United States, seven out of 10 people 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. For more information regarding how the NIB and NIB-associated agencies continue to provide opportunities to blind Americans, please visit: www.NIB.org.
About NISH
Established in 1974, NISH (http://www.nish.org) is one of two national, nonprofit agencies designated by the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled to support nonprofit agencies (NPAs) participating in the AbilityOne Program. NISH provides employment opportunities for people who are blind or have other severe disabilities by procuring Federal contracts for goods and services. Headquartered in Vienna, Va., NISH supports a network of more than 2,100 NPAs as well as Federal customers by providing legislative and regulatory assistance, communications and public relations materials, information technology
ARLINGTON, VA (October 22, 2009) — As part of October’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month, the AbilityOne Program’s central nonprofit agencies are releasing survey results that demonstrate Americans have an overwhelming acceptance of the work capabilities of people who are blind or have other significant disabilities. The survey findings also reveal that more than 9 out of every 10 Americans believe the government should support employment opportunities for people who are blind or have other significant disabilities through programs like the federal AbilityOne Program.
This strong support of people who are blind or have other significant disabilities is an important part of the efforts to reduce the unemployment rate of people with disabilities, which hovers above 60 percent.
The national survey, conducted by Greenfield Online®, polled 1,000 Americans, 18 to 55+ years of age, regarding their attitudes and views on the capabilities of people who are blind or have other significant disabilities to create quality products and services. Results show:
• Broad acceptances among Americans that people who are blind or have other significant disabilities are capable of producing quality products and services. A majority of people surveyed (78%) said they were comfortable with the ability of people who are blind or have other significant disabilities to make quality products and services for the government and armed forces. Additionally, 8 out of 10 people surveyed (80%) said they were comfortable with the government and armed forces purchasing products and/or services made by people who are blind or have other significant disabilities.
• Overwhelming belief that the government should support employment opportunities for people who are blind or have other significant disabilities. Almost all of the survey respondents (92%) say it is important for the government and armed forces to support the AbilityOne Program.
“The AbilityOne Program is the largest source of employment for people who are blind or have other significant disabilities” said Robert Chamberlin, President and CEO of NISH – Creating Employment Opportunities for People With Significant Disabilities.
Products for purchase from AbilityOne include: military uniforms, TSA gloves, airplane parts, office and computer supplies as well as environmentally-friendly cleaning supplies. Services include call center management, contract administration, fleet management, laundry services, as well as warehouse, shipping.
"Federal employees should feel incredibly empowered that they are helping to reduce unemployment for people who are blind or have other severe disabilities by purchasing AbilityOne products and services. With every purchase of AbilityOne products and services, federal procurement officers literally create and sustain more jobs for this underutilized, but highly qualified workforce," Kevin Lynch, President and CEO, National Industries for the Blind said.
The AbilityOne Program is supported by the National Industries for the Blind and NISH, both organizations work with more than 600 nonprofit agencies to provide employment for people who are blind or have other significant disabilities. These agencies sell products on through the federal procurement process to 40 government agencies, the U.S. military; and, to military personnel through 133 base supply centers. In Fiscal Year 2008 alone, $2.3 billion of products and services purchased by the Federal Government were made by people who were blind or have other significant disabilities by way of the AbilityOne Program.
In an effort to educate the American public about issues related to disability and employment, Congress designated each October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).
About the AbilityOne Program
Providing employment opportunities to more than 40,000 people, the AbilityOne Program is the largest single source of employment for people who are blind or have other significant disabilities in the United States. More than 600 participating nonprofit organizations employ these individuals and provide quality goods and services to the federal government at a fair market price. 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 National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and NISH-Creating Employment Opportunities for People with Severe Disabilities. For more information, please visit www.abilityone.org.
About NIB
In the United States, seven out of 10 people 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. For more information regarding how the NIB and NIB-associated agencies continue to provide opportunities to blind Americans, please visit: www.NIB.org.
About NISH
Established in 1974, NISH (http://www.nish.org) is one of two national, nonprofit agencies designated by the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled to support nonprofit agencies (NPAs) participating in the AbilityOne Program. NISH provides employment opportunities for people who are blind or have other severe disabilities by procuring Federal contracts for goods and services. Headquartered in Vienna, Va., NISH supports a network of more than 2,100 NPAs as well as Federal customers by providing legislative and regulatory assistance, communications and public relations materials, information technology
Monday, October 5, 2009
Department of Defense to Honor Outstanding Contributions by Employees with Disabilities
The Secretary of Defense will recognize the superior contributions by Department of Defense (DoD) employees who are blind or have other disabilities. The Department will also honor DoD components with outstanding affirmative employment programs for people with disabilities. These recognitions are part of the DoD recognition of October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month.
"I urge each of you to renew your commitment to the employment and advancement of Americans with disabilities," Gail McGinn, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Plans), who is performing the duties of the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) said in a September 30, 2009 statement.
Winners will be recognized on December 8, 2009 as a pre-conference event for the Perspectives on Employment of People with Disabilities Conference which begins December 9, 2009.
The Department of Defense is the largest customer of products and services produced by NIB and NISH and sold through AbilityOne and under the SKILCRAFT brand name.
"I urge each of you to renew your commitment to the employment and advancement of Americans with disabilities," Gail McGinn, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Plans), who is performing the duties of the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness) said in a September 30, 2009 statement.
Winners will be recognized on December 8, 2009 as a pre-conference event for the Perspectives on Employment of People with Disabilities Conference which begins December 9, 2009.
The Department of Defense is the largest customer of products and services produced by NIB and NISH and sold through AbilityOne and under the SKILCRAFT brand name.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
National Disability Employment AwarenessMonth (NDEAM)
October 2009 is National Disability Employment AwarenessMonth.
In an effort to educate the American public about issues related to disability and employment, Congress designated October as National Disability Employment AwarenessMonth (NDEAM).
What is NDEAM all about. It's about educating and informing the world that people who are blind or have other severe disabilities are capable of participating in today's competitive economy.
DID YOUR KNOW:
• Employment is the key to economic security and personal independence of all Americans, especially those with disabilities.
• According to a national survey, 92 percent of consumers feel more favorably toward companies that hire individuals with disabilities.
• To stay competitive, both public and private employers must seek quality employees from non-traditional employee pools, including the 54million Americans who have disabilities.
• People who are blind or have other severe disabilities remain one of America’s greatest untapped labor resources, with more than 60 percent of this population not employed.
Learn more about AbilityOne online at www.abilityone.org or contact communications@nib.org.
In an effort to educate the American public about issues related to disability and employment, Congress designated October as National Disability Employment AwarenessMonth (NDEAM).
What is NDEAM all about. It's about educating and informing the world that people who are blind or have other severe disabilities are capable of participating in today's competitive economy.
DID YOUR KNOW:
• Employment is the key to economic security and personal independence of all Americans, especially those with disabilities.
• According to a national survey, 92 percent of consumers feel more favorably toward companies that hire individuals with disabilities.
• To stay competitive, both public and private employers must seek quality employees from non-traditional employee pools, including the 54million Americans who have disabilities.
• People who are blind or have other severe disabilities remain one of America’s greatest untapped labor resources, with more than 60 percent of this population not employed.
Learn more about AbilityOne online at www.abilityone.org or contact communications@nib.org.
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