The AbilityOne Base Supply Center (BSC) program, an outlet for sales of SKILRAFT products, also offers people opportunities for employment and training in more than just manufacturing and retail jobs. This year, the BSC Excellence Awards commended three outstanding stores:
U.S. Army Fort Jackson in Columbia, SC, operated by LCI: The Fort Jackson BSC opened in 1996 and is a key supporter of the installation’s primary mission. Currently, the store employs three people who are blind, low vision, or visually impaired. The Fort Jackson BSC has collaborated extensively with the South Carolina Commission for the Blind and has received two awards from them.
The store proudly employs three wounded warrior veterans. LCI has made significant strides in adaptive technology development, incorporating new scanning capabilities, text-to-speech software, and accessible applications. The store promotes cultural initiatives through ZoomText and JAWS Support groups, which meet weekly to share knowledge and experience. Store leadership enhances AbilityOne awareness. Chris Graham, the store and district manager, shares new merchandising techniques, displays, and information with other LCI stores, NIB, and other AbilityOne agencies.
Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, CA, operated by South Texas Lighthouse for the Blind: This is the second BSC Excellence Award for South Texas Lighthouse for the Blind. The store has become a one-stop shop, providing an outstanding customer experience. This team is operationally focused and takes great pride in providing the base with office supplies, playing an essential role in the base’s mission. Additionally, the BSC team has put great effort into limiting commercial offerings, with 56% of their inventory dedicated to AbilityOne. They have remained ETS free for many years and employ between one and three people who are blind or visually impaired. Team Travis is always willing to go the extra mile to offer job opportunities for people who are blind, low vision, or visually impaired and to provide service members with all of their supply needs.
Department of Energy in Washington, D.C., operated by IFB Solutions: The Department of Energy (DOE) BSC opened in May 2001, and has been the primary source of office supplies and outstanding customer service for the Department of Energy. The DOE BSC has employed between two and four people who are blind, low vision, or visually impaired for many years. They have also remained Essentially the Same (ETS) product free, with more than 60% of the inventory dedicated to AbilityOne items. The store’s team, led by manager Shawn Blanks, is always ready to enhance the customer experience. DOE leadership values having an AbilityOne BSC on site providing job opportunities for people who are blind, and the store’s commitment to DOE’s mission.
