Global Survey Offers Insight on Employment Trends of People Who Are Blind

At its recent General Assembly, the World Blind Union (WBU) released findings from an Employment Survey sponsored by National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and several other organizations benefitting people who are blind. The results offer insights into workforce trends for people who are blind or visually impaired, including information about some of the largest […]

New AbilityOne Commission Members, Leaders

This summer has been a time of transformation for the U.S. AbilityOne Commission®, as several veteran leaders retired and staff members stepped up to carry the torch while the Commission conducts searches for permanent replacements. The AbilityOne Commission administers the AbilityOne® Program, one of the nation’s largest employment resources for people who are blind or […]

Register for the 2021 Training Conference and Expo!

Registration is now open for the 2021 NIB/NAEPB Training Conference and Expo, October 12-15. at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia. This year’s in-person conference will feature a variety of interesting and informative speakers at our general session on Wednesday morning, October 13, including some of the outstanding associated agency employees nominated for […]

NYSPSP Names New Executive Director

NIB manages the New York State Preferred Source Program For New Yorkers Who Are Blind (NYSPSP), a state-mandated initiative that creates and sustains employment for people who are blind. NYSPSP directs state and local government agencies in New York to purchase pre-approved products and services produced by affiliated nonprofit agencies in the state that employ […]

Expertise on Loan (part 2)

The Department of Defense Public-Private Talent Exchange (PPTE) offers participants professional development opportunities to expand their functional expertise and acquire the new skills and knowledge critical to innovation. In 2020, The PPTE provided NIB with two DOD employees who helped to develop a new service line of business. Rob Clemens, who served in the Marine […]

Expertise on Loan (part 1)

When leaders at NIB learned about the Public-Private Talent Exchange (PPTE) program offered through the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), interest in participating was immediate. The PPTE program offers participants professional development opportunities to expand their functional expertise and acquire the new skills and knowledge critical to innovation. It also strengthens DOD and industry partnerships […]

New AbilityOne Commission Chair Sets Agenda

In remarks at the 2021 NIB/NAEPB Virtual Public Policy Forum, Jeff Koses, AbilityOne Commission® Chairperson, outlined an ambitious agenda for the future. Before doing so, however, Koses, who also serves as senior procurement executive at the General Services Administration (GSA), said his first order of business was extending his appreciation and congratulations to NIB’s Employees […]

50 Years of the JWOD Program

Today, NIB celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Javits-Wagner-O’Day (JWOD) Act. Thanks to the JWOD Act, each day, people who are blind continue to build rewarding careers at NIB associated agencies, manufacturing thousands of critical products and providing much-needed services for federal government customers, in addition to performing work in nearly every sector of the […]

NIB Celebrates 2020 Milton J. Samuelson Award Winner Sarah Heesen

Praised as a self-starter and team player with a tireless commitment to helping others, the recipient of the 2020 Milton J. Samuelson Award, Sarah Heesen, credits her success to other women who are blind who have inspired her. “While I am enormously grateful, I must admit that the Samuelson honor came a bit out of […]

NIB Celebrates 2020 Peter J. Salmon Award Winner Pam Chesser

Widely respected for her exemplary work record, professionalism, and positive attitude, it was Pam Chesser’s reputation as the go-to person at NIB associated nonprofit agency Travis Association for the Blind, better known as the Austin Lighthouse, that helped her bring home the Peter J. Salmon Award. The Award, which honors employees who excel in their […]