Congressman Tours Base Supply Center
January 6, 2012, HUNTSVILLE, AL, – Earlier this week, the Redstone Arsenal Base Supply Center (BSC) hosted Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL-05) for a special tour of its operations. Rep. Brooks had the opportunity to meet with some of the high-skilled employees who are blind and provide high-quality products and services to military personnel.
The Redstone Arsenal BSC is operated by Alabama Industries for the Blind, which is a component of the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind, established in 1858, and one of 90 nonprofit associated agencies of National Industries for the Blind (NIB). For more than 80 years, Alabama Industries for the Blind has served the blind and visually impaired of Alabama.
Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) said, “Today I had the opportunity to visit the Redstone Arsenal Base Supply Center store. The store not only provides mission critical supplies to our men and women in uniform, but also creates employment opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired. The impressive customer service and the quality of the products available is a testament to the unlimited capabilities of people who are blind.”
The facility at Redstone Arsenal is part of the AbilityOne® BSC program, which provides one-stop shopping to several branches of the armed forces and their families and Federal employees. Redstone Arsenal and more than 140 other BSC stores across the country have the ability to tailor its inventory for base needs and can quickly add items in the event of a rapid deployment.
“It was an honor to welcome Congressman Brooks to the Redstone Arsenal Base Supply Center and to share with him the exciting employment opportunities the AbilityOne Program helps to create for people who are blind,” said Billy Sparkman, Executive Director of Alabama Industries for the Blind. “We appreciate the Congressman’s support and we look forward to working with him to advance the program.
The sales of SKILCRAFT® products through AbilityOne BSC stores contribute to sustaining and growing employment for more than 47,000 persons who are blind or severely disabled across the country.
“The employees at the Redstone Arsenal Base Supply Center ensure that our men and women in uniform have the equipment and the supplies that they need to do their jobs, said Dr. Terry Graham, President of Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind. “We were delighted to give Congressman Brooks a firsthand look at the critical role that our employees who are blind or deaf they play in the community.”
In addition to Rep. Brooks, AIDB Trustee Frances Taylor, Redstone Arsenal’s Colonel Hamilton and AIDB Vice President for Adult Programs John Mascia also participated in the tour.
###
About Alabama Industries for the Blind www.aib-aidb.com
Alabama Industries for the Blind (AIB) is a division of The Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB) and is associated with National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and the AbilityOne Program. Our product lines include a variety of twist wire brushes, brooms, mops, various paper products, military flyers kit bags, highway safety vest and flags, toner cartridges, screenprinting and embroidery.
About National Industries for the Blind (NIB) www.nib.org
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 90 associated agencies serve as the largest employer for people who are blind by the sale of SKILCRAFT® products and services through the AbilityOne Program, established by the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act.
Contact:
Lynne Hanner
Alabama Institute of the Deaf and Blind
256.761.3206
Hanner.Lynne@aidb.state.al.us
www.aidb.org
Gail Adams
National Industries for the Blind
703-310-0568
gadams@nib.org
www.nib.org
