August 5, 2020
National Industries for the Blind (NIB) is honored to present the 2020 R.B. Irwin Award to Dr. A. Gidget Hopf. The Irwin Award, NIB’s highest honor, recognizes Dr. Hopf for her innovative work creating employment opportunities for people who are blind. Dr. Hopf recently retired as CEO of NIB associated nonprofit agency Association for the […]
July 30, 2020
NIB has always been dedicated to creating innovative career opportunities for people who are blind and developing innovative solutions when we run into stumbling blocks. When we realized we were having trouble recruiting people who are blind into higher-level positions, we had to find the reason and a solution. Our analysis revealed one big outlier: […]
July 23, 2020
In the 30 years since President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law, the accessibility gap for people with disabilities—including people who are blind— has narrowed in every aspect of public life. Among the accessibility features for which we can thank the ADA are audio cues in crossing signals on […]
July 8, 2020
Growth by its very nature requires change, and NIB has always been about growth. Not just growing the number of people who are blind employed in our associated nonprofit agencies but growing new opportunities for people who are blind to pursue careers in fields of their choosing. And as technological advances have changed our economy, […]
July 1, 2020
They get up early each weekday, often traveling great distances to assist their fellow Floridians in need. During tough economic times and record high unemployment, they consider themselves fortunate to have jobs. And despite diverse backgrounds, they share a common bond: blindness or visually impairment. Meet members of the Lighthouse Works 4Sight360 call center team […]
June 25, 2020
June 25 marks the 82nd anniversary of the Wagner-O’Day Act, the law that created what is today known as the AbilityOne® Program. When the Act was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938, society had a very limited view of the capabilities of people who are blind. Passage of the Act and […]
June 17, 2020
Utilizing its extensive textile operations and its team of experienced sewing operators, many of whom are blind, NIB associated nonprofit agency IFB Solutions is manufacturing thousands of cloth face masks to aid in the fight against COVID-19. The masks are being made for the United States Air Force and general public, and donated to VA […]
June 10, 2020
NIB recently announced the 2020 class of Advocates for Leadership and Employment. The Advocates program targets high-potential employees who are blind working at NIB associated nonprofit agencies who are interested in learning about the public policy process and communicating with elected officials about our shared mission and outstanding work. The current Advocates – nearly […]
June 3, 2020
Since COVID-19 struck, NIB and its associated nonprofit agencies have been working tirelessly to help our nation respond. Nearly 4,000 Americans who are blind working at 40 NIB associated agencies are producing more than 1,500 different products being used in the response. In many cases, these employees are helping to save lives by producing critical […]
May 27, 2020
It was already a leader in the production of safety vests, coveralls, and other protective gear, so when the clarion call was sounded for more resources to fight COVID-19, New York’s Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany (NABA) was pleased to step up to the plate. Founded in 1908, the NIB associated nonprofit agency […]