Most voter poll respondents are aware of, and support, government contracts with nonprofit organizations that employ people who are blind.
ALEXANDRIA, Va., August 15, 2024—National Industries for the Blind (NIB) contributed three key questions to a recent Suffolk University/USA Today national voter poll.
“We sincerely appreciate the inclusion of these questions in the national voter poll,” said Soraya Correa, NIB president and CEO. She stressed that unemployment for people with disabilities remains about twice that of the rest of the population.
“Recognizing that there is substantial public support for creating employment opportunities for people who are blind will help inform our work going forward,” Correa added. “At NIB, we focus on building careers for people who are blind, low vision or visually impaired. By leveraging the purchasing power of the federal government, we are able to help people who are blind live the American dream.”
The three NIB questions included in the poll were:
1. Are you aware that there are nonprofit organizations that manufacture products and provide services to the federal government employing primarily people who are blind or visually impaired?
Response: 61% said yes, 36% said no
2. Do you believe nonprofit organizations that primarily employ individuals who are blind or visually impaired should be provided with preferences or advantages for securing government contracts?
Response: 60% said yes, 31% said no
3. Do you believe profit-making organizations that receive federal government contracts should be required to set aside a portion of the contract for nonprofit businesses that primarily employ individuals who are blind or visually impaired?
Response: 59% said yes, 32% said no
The nationwide survey, authored by Suffolk University faculty, was conducted June 28-30, 2024, through live interviews of 1,000 registered voters residing in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Quota and demographic information, including region, race and age, were determined from 2020 national census data. States were grouped into four general regions—Northeast, South, Midwest, and West. Surveys were administered in English and Spanish. The margin of sampling error for results based on the total sample is +/- 3.1 percentage points.
“These are communities that are overlooked and more research like this needs to be conducted nationally,” said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center. “At Suffolk University, we take this very seriously. In fact, our Office of Disability Services is committed to ensuring that students with disabilities have equal, effective, and meaningful access to all programs and opportunities at Suffolk University.”
The results for the three questions above within the Suffolk University/USA Today national voter poll were posted this summer. They can be accessed online via Suffolk University’s website.
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About National Industries for the Blind
Incorporated in 1938, NIB is the nation’s largest employment resource for people who are blind, and through its network of associated nonprofit agencies, is the largest employer of people who are blind in the U.S. NIB creates opportunities for people who are blind to become wage earners and taxpayers, reducing their reliance on government support and increasing engagement in their communities. The organization offers career training and assists employers and employees in developing mutually beneficial workplaces. NIB’s vision is that blindness is not a barrier to employment. In 2021, NIB launched a national talent management enterprise known as NSITE. NSITE provides a continuum of employment services that connect employers with talented, dedicated people who are blind or visually impaired, including veterans. For more information, visit www.nib.org or www.nsite.org.