NATIONAL

TREASURES

U.S. AbilityOne Commission

ANNUAL REPORT 2011
Often referred to as Fort Knox, it 

is the U.S. Bullion Depository that 

houses much of the Nation’s gold 

reserves. But, the real national 

treasure lies within the American 

people. People who are blind or 

have other significant disabilities are 

indeed “coins” of the same realm. 

To paraphrase President 

Calvin Coolidge, “The engine of 

America is business.” Without 

the industry of its people—all its 

people—the Nation’s business 

could not succeed. It is clearly in 

our country’s best interests to see 

to it that all who want to work can 

find meaningful employment. The 

AbilityOne® Program is focused 

on the abilities of all the people 

we serve by providing them with 

opportunities to work and fulfill their 

personal dreams.

A Banner Year 

for AbilityOne

To underscore the talent and 

industry of nonprofit agencies 

employing people who are blind 

or have significant disabilities, and 

despite a sluggish economy, the 

AbilityOne Program was able to 

set new records in FY2011 for 

jobs created—more than 50,000 

in all, including more than 300 

employees promoted to supervisory 

or managerial positions! Earnings 

for our constituents, members of the 

most chronically underemployed 

segment of our potential workforce, 

rose 5.83 percent to nearly $600 

million. Currently, people who are 

blind or have significant disabilities 

are employed by more than 600 

nonprofit agencies (NPAs) that 

make up the AbilityOne Network 

and provide nearly 3,000 highquality products and services to 

the Federal Government at fair 

market prices—with more added to 

the Procurement List all the time.

More Than Just 

a Paycheck

As you can surely understand, a 

paycheck provides a person with 

more than just money. For people 

who are blind or have significant 

disabilities, it can mean:

z

z

z

z

z

Greater self-esteem

 Being able to provide for a family

 Knowing you are contributing to 

the greater good along with your 

fellow countrymen and women

 Having an impact on the world 

around you

 Supporting our men and women 

in uniform

z Helping people at home and 

around the world survive natural 

disasters or catastrophes—as 

it did when a tsunami hit Japan 

in 2011.

Immeasurable ROI: 

Invaluable Inspiration 

The financial investment by the 

American people in supporting 

AbilityOne is minimal. The ROI—

return on investment—cannot be 

fully or even adequately measured. 

But, as the numbers indicate and 

as testimonials from AbilityOne 

employees and customers alike 

show, it is money well spent.

In the U.S. AbilityOne CommissionTM 

FY2011 Annual Report, you will 

meet people who happen to be blind 

and manufacture eyeglass lenses 

for the sighted, contract closeout 

specialists with a near-zero error rate 

who have significant disabilities, and 

wounded warriors who return from 

the field of battle able to re-enter the 

workforce and work their way up into 

management positions.

In this report, you also will learn 

how AbilityOne Program employees 

help preserve, conserve and protect 

many of our Nation’s heritage assets, 

including the U.S. Capitol building 

in Washington, D.C.; the Statue of 

Liberty in New York; and the 

USS New York moored in Norfolk, Va.

Message FroM The

ExEcutivE DirEctor AnD cEo

Tina Ballard Executive Director and CEO
Table oF ConTenTs

Message from the Commission 

Chairperson: J. Anthony Poleo .......................2

Message from the Commission 

Vice Chairperson: James M. Kesteloot ..........4

Year in Review: FY2011 Accomplishments ....6

Program Structure..........................................8

Presidential Appointees .................................9

National Treasures:

Heritage Assets in Brief ...............................10

New AbilityOne Contracts for FY2011 ..........14

Small Business Partnerships .......................16

At a Glance: AbilityOne Sales ......................18

At a Glance: AbilityOne Employment ...........20

Quality Work Environment:

Incorporating Best Practices ........................22

Customer Spotlight ......................................26

AbilityOne Contract Management Support ...29

Total Facilities Management ........................30

The Greener Good ......................................32

FY2011 Commission Awards .......................33

Connecting Wounded Warriors 

with Employment Opportunities ...................36

NPA Leadership Profiles ..............................38

Crisis Support: AbilityOne Responds...........40

Strategic Partnerships .................................42

AbilityOne Network of 

Nonprofit Agencies FY2011 ..........................44

AbilityOne National Network Map................48

AbilityOne FY2011 Stats by State ................49

Democracy Defined

Some might say a country is defined by its 

geography, its natural resources, the imposing 

buildings it erects or its inventiveness. But I think 

more than anything, a country is defined by its 

culture, its traditions and its industry, all of which 

are the direct output of its people; and that most 

certainly includes people who are blind or have 

significant disabilities.

In our democracy, everyone has value and worth.

The AbilityOne Program allows its constituents 

to demonstrate just that, and by doing so, 

enables them to contribute to the very fabric of 

our society.

There are more than 11 million Americans 

who are blind or have significant disabilities, 

according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2010 

American Community Survey. Although the 

AbilityOne Program is successful, we clearly 

have much more work to do. With your support, 

we will continue creating jobs until the time 

comes when all who want to work will find work.

Thank you for your continued support!

Sincerely,

Tina Ballard

Executive Director and CEO 

U.S. AbilityOne Commission

1

www.AbilityOne.gOv
It is my pleasure to present to you 

the U.S. AbilityOne CommissionTM 

FY2011 Annual Report. Within 

its pages are reflected the reallife success stories of people 

who are blind or have significant 

disabilities, working hard to become 

independent, wage-earning, taxpaying members of society.

This is also the story of how 

many of the more than 50,000 

employees in the AbilityOne 

Program have a little-known 

but valuable role in conserving 

and preserving our national 

treasures for future generations.

Did You Know...?

z

z

 Did you know that AbilityOne 

Program employees help 

maintain some of our country’s 

most beloved monuments and 

symbols of democracy? [See 

National Treasures, Page 10]

Did you know that AbilityOne 

Program employees have helped 

reverse the effects of pollution 

in our Nation’s waterways and 

water tables through the use 

of environmentally friendly 

cleaning agents and chemicals 

while creating aseptic hospital 

environments? [See The Greener 

Good, Page 32]

Did you know that approximately 

3,000 veterans with disabilities 

are employed through the 

AbilityOne Program and 

participate in a wide variety 

of job functions ranging from 

contract closeout specialists to 

call center operators, custodial 

staff to crew leaders? [See 

Wounded Warriors, Page 36]

Many Benefits to 

AbilityOne Employees 

and U.S. Taxpayers

In my “day job” as the chief 

financial officer of the Defense 

Logistics Agency, my focus 

is on employing taxpayer 

resources in the most costeffective manner in support 

of our warfighters. It has 

been my experience over the 

last 30 years that AbilityOne 

Program employees and 

the AbilityOne Program 

fulfill that requirement on 

many levels. A quick look 

at the numbers reveals that 

despite a sluggish economy 

in FY2011, the AbilityOne 

Program set new records 

in jobs created, number 

of hours worked, hourly 

wages paid and total 

revenue generated and 

saved. [See AbilityOne 

Employment, Page 20]

z

Now, if you were to speak to the 

AbilityOne Program employees 

themselves, you would learn—

among other things—that the 

AbilityOne Program helps them:

z Achieve a sense of pride 

 Learn new skills and take on 

 Earn a steady income and put 

Boost self-confidence

 Make friends and develop 

 Become less reliant on local 

z

z

z

z

z

Message FroM The

commiSSion chAirPErSon

h Fascinated by t e Statue 

oung boy, of Liberty as a y

Jose Gutierrez, a Fedcap 

o is deaf, was employee wh

m thrilled to get his drea

assignment providing 

green custodial services at 

the Statue of Liberty and 

Ellis Island.

J. Anthony Poleo

Chairperson

2 AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011
Compliance is Paramount

In times of restricted budgets and amid frequent 

news reports of abuse of the public trust, it is 

the Commission’s continued responsibility and 

commitment to maintain the high standards 

set by the landmark legislation that created the 

Program in 1938. Compliance with all Federal 

regulations is paramount in all AbilityOne 

operations, large and small. This includes the 

603 national nonprofit agencies (NPAs) and both 

central nonprofit agencies (National Industries 

for the Blind (NIB) and NISH) through which the 

Commission administers the Program. Our team 

of compliance specialists has increased the 

number of agency audits it conducts annually, 

helping to ensure taxpayer funds are spent in 

accordance with the rules.

Win-Win for All

In addition to instituting cost-cutting measures 

across the Federal Government, in August 

2011, the Administration passed legislation 

mandating the Federal Government increase the 

number of people hired who are blind or have 

significant disabilities. It is a clear signal that the 

bar is being raised to assure greater diversity in 

the workplace.

Contracting through AbilityOne is bound to 

become a best practice in helping to fulfill the 

Federal Government-wide mission of diversity 

and inclusion, as well as to institute cost-cutting 

measures. It is a win-win situation for all involved. 

It’s that simple.

Eyes on the Prize: Continued 

Employment Growth

Building on the record number of jobs created 

in FY2011 through the AbilityOne Program, it 

is our intent as an agency, and my intent as 

chairperson, to fuel continued employment 

growth by:

z Increasing awareness of AbilityOne by 

educating acquisition professionals and their 

customers about the Program

z Exploring new business opportunities 

 Working hand-in-hand with small businesses 

 Streamlining the Procurement List addition 

 Adding to the AbilityOne reputation for 

 Building on the overwhelming success of 

 Honoring our employment commitment to the 

z

z

z

z

z

Most of all, we intend to increase job and career 

growth opportunities for people who are blind 

or have significant disabilities while supporting 

our national treasures and providing outstanding 

customer service to all of our Federal customers. 

I look forward to working with you all in this effort.

Sincerely,

J. Anthony Poleo, Chairperson

U.S. AbilityOne Commission

In 1971, Senator Jacob Javits

(right) sponsored the JavitsWagner-O’Day (JWOD) Act 

to amend the Wagner-O’Day 

Act, named for Rep. Caroline 

Love Goodwin O’Day (left) 

and Sen. Robert Ferdinand 

Wagner (center), to create 

job opportunities in the 

services sector for people with 

severe disabilities. 

AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011 3
Greetings to you from the great city 

of Chicago, home of the Bears, Bulls 

and Blackhawks!

I’m kicking off my message in 

a lighthearted way to get to an 

important point quickly. Records 

are fine, but a cardinal rule in sports 

says records are set and meant to 

be broken.

In FY2011, the AbilityOne® Program 

partners all had a hand in creating 

50,000 jobs for the first time in the 

Program’s nearly 75-year history. 

This was accomplished through 

successful fulfillment of contracts 

by more than 600 participating 

nonprofit agencies (NPAs) in the 

AbilityOne Network. Honestly, we 

are all delighted to have arrived at 

such a moment.

Creating More 

Employment 

Opportunities

According to the U.S. Census 

Bureau’s 2010 American Community 

Survey, more than 70 percent 

of people who are blind or have 

significant disabilities do not 

have jobs. We cannot rest on our 

milestone successes. Time is of the 

essence if we are to develop people’s 

potential—all people’s potential.

It is my aim to work with Chairperson 

Tony Poleo, Executive Director 

Tina Ballard and the other members 

of the U.S. AbilityOne CommissionTM 

and staff to improve the lives 

of those who are blind or have 

significant disabilities by creating 

AbilityOne jobs that are well-paid, 

career-oriented and offer real 

possibility for advancement.

Visualizing Success

 Imagine, if you will, never having 

received a paycheck in your life. 

Essie Jackson received her first 

paycheck at the age of 42, thanks 

to the AbilityOne Program. When 

asked how she felt, she said, “I cried, 

that’s how good it felt. It meant I can 

work and support myself.”

 Or, imagine shedding years of 

public assistance as did Renisha 

Brockington, age 32. Unemployed 

for more than two years before 

taking a part-time night job with 

Melwood in 2011, in early 2012, she 

landed a full-time day position with 

benefits at Melwood. Renisha can 

now support herself and her four 

children, ages 8–12. She said, “It 

feels great to have a good paycheck 

and be able to take care of my family 

instead of waiting for a check. My 

children also like it that I’m home in 

the evenings when they are.”

Or even imagine wanting to 

somehow help the country and 

be part of the national outcry that 

followed the grim days of 9/11. The 

employees of Winston-Salem 

Industries for the Blind were able 

to do just that when they provided 

combat uniforms for our soldiers 

in Afghanistan.

My involvement in the “disability 

business” is the direct outgrowth of 

my own coming to terms with my 

blindness. As a child, I received 

services for low vision through the 

Chicago Lighthouse for People 

Who are Blind or Visually Impaired. 

Through services from the Illinois 

Division of Rehabilitation Services, I 

received my bachelor’s degree from 

Loyola University. Upon graduation 

in 1966, I obtained a job with a Cook 

County rehabilitation agency, which 

provided job training in its industries 

program and various service 

areas as well as competitive job 

placement services to people with 

various disabilities.

In 1969, I went to work full time for 

the Lighthouse as a job placement 

counselor while attending DePaul 

University as a full-time student, 

ultimately earning a master’s degree 

in the Management of Rehabilitation 

Services in 1977. Later, I managed 

the Lighthouse Industries program 

when the Lighthouse received its 

first AbilityOne contract, supplying 

clocks to government facilities.

I was able to work my way up the 

Lighthouse career ladder, and 

became the chief executive officer in 

1996. I also served two terms on 

Message FroM The

commiSSion vicE chAirPErSon

James M. Kesteloot

Vice Chairperson

4 AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011
NIB’s board of directors, including as a member 

of the executive committee.

It was my honor and privilege to be appointed 

by two Illinois governors to the state’s Blind 

Services Planning Council, as well as to be 

appointed by Mayor Richard M. Daley to his 

Task Force on the Employment of People with 

Disabilities. While on the Mayor’s Task Force, 

the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance 

giving contract priority to “businesses owned or 

operated by people with disabilities.”

Perhaps the capstone to my career was 

being appointed by President Obama to the 

Commission in July 2010. Today, I also serve 

on the board of directors of the American 

Foundation for the Blind.

Payback and Paying it Forward

My relative success comes on the heels of 

sacrifices and struggles of those who came 

before me. Through my work as vice chairperson 

of the Commission, and by the time my term 

in office expires, I would very much like to 

reduce the unemployment rate for people who 

are blind or have significant disabilities by a 

significant percentage.

Since my arrival in July 2011, I’ve initiated a 

few projects, such as the Commission’s no-fee 

Speakers Bureau, established a renewed 

relationship with the Randolph-Sheppard Blind 

Vendors of America Association, and proposed 

revamped responsibilities for members of the 

Commission to help ensure step-by-step success 

in implementation of the current strategic plan.

Extraordinary People

As you leaf through the pages of this report, 

you will read about some extraordinary work 

being performed by extraordinary people facing 

extraordinary challenges, as AbilityOne Program 

employees help maintain, conserve and preserve 

national treasures across the country. Whether 

it is the Pentagon in the East or White Sands in 

the West, the Library of Congress on Capitol Hill 

or the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida, 

they are unsung heroes helping assure these 

treasures will be around for future generations 

to enjoy.

Sincerely,

James M. Kesteloot, Vice Chairperson

U.S. AbilityOne Commission

Linda Allen (second from right), sewi

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Brevard Achievement Center,

Rockledge, Fla., provides 

custodial services at NASA’s 

r. John F. Kennedy Space Cente

AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011 5
Year in review:

FY2011 AccomPliShmEntS

In partnership with National Industries for the Blind (NIB), NISH-Creating Employment 

Opportunities for People with Significant Disabilities and the more than 600 nonprofit 

agency (NPA) members of the AbilityOne® Program Network, the U.S. AbilityOne 

CommissionTM succeeded in its mission by having:

z Set a historical AbilityOne 

C ontinued to generate new 

 Exceeded its goal of having 25 

 Achieved an 85 percent 

z

z

z

z Realized higher than 80 

Cond ucted surveys of online 

 Welcomed new leadership with 

z

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rector Vice Adm. Alan Thompson and DLA Di

NISH President and CEO Bob Chamberlin at 

phia. the DLA Troop Support fair in Philadel

 addresses Chairperson Tony Poleo

NIB and associated agency employees 

at the 2011 NIB/NAEPB Annual 

Training Conference.

6 AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011
z Hosted the Procurement Panel at 

 Conducted a panel discussion 

 Reported a better-than-99-

z

z

z Exhibited products produced 

 Issued the second edition of 

 Launched its administrative Policy 

z Hosted three AbilityOne Day 

 Delivered Program update 

 Garnered two awards for its 

z

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COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR SEVERELY DISABLED

www.abilityone.gov INSIDE: 

Learn how AbilityOne®

outfits our soldiers!

s ec y tiv h olog e T n The Hands-on Assi

eld during the 2011 NIB/ Showcase, h

ning Conference, NAEPB Annual Trai

s the opportunity ttendee provided a

tions in ve the latest innova to test dri

. accessible echnology t

 Assad (left); Susan Kroetch (second Shay

ASA(P); from left), director, SAAL-PB, D

 (right), former and Andrew D. Houghton

Commission chairperson, present a 

rtificate to Commitment in Action ce

honoree Col. Scott Svabek.

ard-winning Cover of the aw

FY2010 Annual Report

AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011 7
Key Terms and acronyms

AbilityOne Employees—People employed at 

nonprofit agencies working on Federal contracts under 

the AbilityOne Program

BSC—Base Supply Center

CMS—Contract Management Support

CNA—Central Nonprofit Agency

DeCA—Defense Commissary Agency

DHS—Department of Homeland Security

DLA—Defense Logistics Agency

DOC—Department of Commerce

DoD—Department of Defense

DOJ—Department of Justice

DOL—Department of Labor

ED—Department of Education

FTE—Full-time equivalent jobs for people who are 

blind or have significant disabilities

GSA—General Services Administration

IRS—Internal Revenue Service

JWOD (Javits-Wagner-O’Day)—the name of the 

Congressional Act that governs the AbilityOne 

Program and the former name of the program

NIB—National Industries for the Blind

NISH—NISH-Creating Employment Opportunities for 

People with Significant Disabilities. Along with NIB, 

one of the two Central Nonprofit Agencies (CNAs) 

through which the Commission administers the 

AbilityOne Program.

NPA—Nonprofit Agency

PL—Procurement List

TSA—Transportation Security Administration 

U.S. AbilityOne Commission—Operating name for 

the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are 

Blind or Severely Disabled

USDA—U.S. Department of Agriculture

VA—Department of Veterans Affairs

PrograM sTruCTure

Operating as the U.S. AbilityOne CommissionTM, the 

Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or 

Severely Disabled is the independent Federal agency that 

administers the AbilityOne® Program. The Commission began 

using the name on Oct. 1, 2011. Members of the Commission 

are appointed by the president of the United States and 

oversee the AbilityOne Program in its mission to provide 

employment opportunities for people who are blind or have 

other severe disabilities in the manufacture and delivery of 

products and services to the Federal Government.

The Commission is composed of 15 members: 11 who 

represent Federal Agencies and four who are private citizens 

knowledgeable about the employment challenges faced by 

people who are blind or have significant disabilities. The 

Commission is supported by an Arlington, Va.-based full-time 

staff, led by a career Senior Executive Service employee.

The Commission has designated two central nonprofit agencies 

(CNAs) to assist with Program implementation: National 

Industries for the Blind (NIB) and NISH-Creating Employment 

Opportunities for People with Significant Disabilities. Together, 

the Commission and the CNAs—along with a national 

network of more than 600 nonprofit agencies (NPAs)—create 

employment for more than 50,000 people who are blind or have 

significant disabilities through the AbilityOne Program.

OC MM TI TEE FOR PURCHASE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR SEVERELY D SI ABLED

President of the United States

DOC DOJ

DOL

ED

GSA

USDA

VA

DoD Citizen

Air Force Citizen

Army Citizen

Navy Citizen

U.S. AbilityOne Commission

Presidential Appointees

Nonprofit Agencies

Employing People

Who Are Blind

Nonprofit Agencies

Employing People with 

Significant Disabilities

Federal Customers

Commission Staff Congress

(Legal Authority) 41 USC 8501-8506

8 AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011
PresidenTial aPPoinTees

In FY2011, the Committee held meetings 

on the following dates:

Nov. 18

Jan. 13

March 10

May 24

July 14

*Appointed during FY2011

J. Anthony Poleo

Chairperson

Chief Financial Officer

Defense Logistics Agency

Department of Defense

Paul M. Laird

Regional Director

North Central Region

Federal Prison Industries

Department of Justice

Pamela C. Schwenke 

Director

Budget Investment

Office of the Assistant 

Secretary of the Air Force 

for Financial Management 

and Comptroller 

Department of the Air Force

William Sisk*

Assistant Commissioner 

for General Supplies and 

Services for the Federal 

Acquisition Service

General Services 

Administration

Lisa M. Wilusz* 

Director of the Office 

of Procurement and 

Property Management

Department of Agriculture

Dr. Carol E. Lowman* 

Deputy to the 

Commanding General 

Army Contracting 

Command

Department of the Army

Kathleen Martinez

Assistant Secretary 

for Disability 

Employment Policy

Department of Labor

Karen McCulloh*

Private Citizen

Representing Nonprofit 

Agency Employees with 

Significant Disabilities

James H. Omvig 

Private Citizen

Representing Nonprofit 

Agency Employees Who 

Are Blind

James M. Kesteloot

Vice Chairperson

Private Citizen

Obstacles to 

Employment of Persons 

Who Are Blind

P. Edward Anthony 

Deputy Commissioner

Rehabilitation Services 

Administration

Department of Education

Jan R. Frye* 

Deputy Assistant 

Secretary for Acquisition 

and Logistics

Department of 

Veterans Affairs

Robert T. Kelly, Jr. 

Private Citizen 

Obstacles to Employment 

of Persons with 

Significant Disabilities

AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011 9
As defined by the Federal 

Accounting Standards Advisory 

Board, heritage assets are 

property, plant and equipment 

that are unique for one or more of 

the following reasons: historical 

or natural significance; cultural, 

educational or artistic (e.g., 

aesthetic) importance or significant 

architectural characteristics.

Heritage assets consist of 

(1) collection-type heritage assets 

such as objects gathered and 

maintained for exhibition, like 

museum collections, art collections 

and library collections; and (2) noncollection-type heritage assets such 

as parks, memorials, monuments 

and buildings.

For the U.S. AbilityOne Commission 

FY2011 Annual Report, we are 

proud to highlight national treasures 

and heritage assets for which 

AbilityOne® Program employees play 

an important role in the maintenance, 

conservation and preservation for 

future generations.

Statue of Liberty

Perhaps the most iconic symbol of 

American democracy is the Statue of 

Liberty, a gift of friendship from the 

people of France to the people of the 

United States. The Statue of Liberty 

was dedicated on Oct. 28, 1886, 

designated a National Monument in 

1924 and restored for her centennial 

on July 4, 1986.

Fedcap of New York (NISH) 

has performed the highly 

visible and environmentally 

friendly custodial contract 

at the Statue of Liberty 

and Ellis Island for the 

Department of Interior 

since 1999. The contract 

typically provides 22 fulltime equivalent (FTE) jobs 

for people with significant 

disabilities, although 

that number has been 

temporarily reduced while 

the Statue of Liberty is 

closed for renovations. 

Fedcap provides 

custodial services seven 

days a week, 364 days 

a year (closing only for 

Christmas Day) for the 

Statue of Liberty and 

Ellis Island National 

Museum as well as 

maintains security screening tent 

areas in Battery Park, Liberty State 

Park and Liberty Island.

Pentagon

The Pentagon is the headquarters 

of the Department of Defense 

(DoD), AbilityOne’s largest customer, 

and it is the world’s largest lowrise office building. The Pentagon 

houses approximately 26,000 

military and civilian employees 

and about 3,000 non-DoD support 

personnel dedicated to protecting 

our national interests. The Pentagon 

has approximately 6.5 million 

square feet of space, 280 restrooms, 

7,750 windows, 130 stairways, 40 

escalators, 17.5 miles of corridors 

and 700 water fountains.

Didlake, Manassas, Va. (NISH), 

is the prime contractor for the 

majority of the custodial services 

at the Pentagon, working with 

subcontractors The Chimes, Inc., 

of Baltimore, Md. (NISH) and 

commercial firm TK Services. 

The AbilityOne contract created 

124 FTE jobs for people with 

significant disabilities.

Didlake spearheads the green 

cleaning mandate at the Pentagon. 

Didlake recruited and hired 

key personnel with experience 

in Leadership in Energy and 

Environmental Design (LEED) 

Certification and Green Seal 

custodial supplies. Didlake also 

helped establish the Pentagon’s 

Stewardship Team, which leads 

recycling and green cleaning 

efforts and pursues and maintains 

10 AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011
LEED certification. As the Pentagon undergoes 

renovations throughout its five wedges, it is 

being certified under LEED.

The AbilityOne Base Supply Center (BSC) store 

has served the Pentagon since 2002. Operated 

by Virginia Industries for the Blind (NIB), the 

store currently employs four people who are 

blind. The AbilityOne BSC carries 1,200 different 

SKILCRAFT® and other AbilityOne products 

chosen specifically for Pentagon customers.

U.S. Capitol

The U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., is 

among the most architecturally impressive and 

symbolically important buildings in the world. It 

has housed the meeting chambers of the Senate 

and the House of Representatives for over two 

centuries. Begun in 1793, the Capitol building 

has been built, burnt, rebuilt, extended and 

restored; today, it stands as a monument not only 

to its builders, but also to the American people 

and their government.

AbilityOne Program employees provide custodial 

services at the Capitol Visitor’s Center, a 

580,000-square-foot underground addition to the 

U.S. Capitol that opened in late 2008. The threestory complex includes historical exhibit galleries; 

theaters; a cafeteria; studios; formal meeting 

rooms; and office space for congressional 

members, committees and staff. It also serves 

as a single point of entry for tourists visiting the 

Capitol. AbilityOne employees of Fedcap 

provide green custodial services for this center 

that attracts approximately 7,000 visitors daily. 

The contract provides 38 jobs for people with 

significant disabilities.

OfficeMax® has the contract to supply AbilityOne 

items in the U.S. House of Representatives Office 

Supply store. Its contract was recently renewed 

with the store. The House Office Supply store 

carries commercial items along with SKILCRAFT®

and other AbilityOne products. If customers 

require any AbilityOne items that are not stocked 

at the store, they can order the products at the 

customer service counter in the store.

Fort Knox

Yes, there really is a Fort Knox, but that is 

not where all the gold is kept. America’s gold 

repository is adjacent to Fort Knox, and it is 

actually called the U.S. Bullion Depository.

Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM) 

began operating the AbilityOne BSC at Fort 

Knox, a U.S. Army post in Kentucky, in 2005. In 

2009, BISM (NIB) opened a brand-new, top-ofthe-line store facility. Today, the store provides 

seven job opportunities for people who are 

blind. The BSC serves more than 12,000 people 

on base with approximately 2,200 SKILCRAFT 

and other AbilityOne products stocked in the 

store continuously.

National Treasures, continued...

PenTagon

uAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011 11
AbilityOne NPAs provide total facilities management 

(TFM), contact center services and hospital 

housekeeping at Fort Knox. For TFM, NISH is the 

prime contractor supporting the Fort Knox Mission 

and Installation Contracting Command as well as the 

Directorate of Public Works. NISH subcontracted with 

NPA Lakeview Center of Pensacola, Fla., for custodial 

services and recruiting assistance and with the Ginn 

Group, a service-disabled, veteran-owned business, for 

maintenance functions. The project includes 65 FTEs 

in custodial services and also provides 15 FTEs to 

learn maintenance functions. NISH partnered with the 

Fort Knox Army Wounded Warrior Program to recruit 

wounded servicemen and women and currently has 

12 wounded warriors working on the contract.

Two NPAs, InspiriTec, Inc. (prime contractor), Philadelphia, 

and ServiceSource, Alexandria, Va. (NISH), process 

inbound telephone inquiries, email and digital mail for the 

U.S. Army Human Resources Command consolidated 

contact center. Contact center agents answer benefits, 

retirement and insurance questions for U.S. Army soldiers 

and veterans and their families. The project employs 

65 people with significant disabilities, including veterans 

and wounded warriors.

Professional Contract Services, Inc. (PCSI), of Austin, 

Texas, (NISH) provides 24/7 hospital housekeeping 

services at the U.S. Army’s Ireland Community 

Hospital in Fort Knox. PCSI is responsible for 

all management, labor, supervision, training, 

transportation, equipment and materials for hospital 

housekeeping at the main hospital and 13 outlying 

facilities. PCSI employs 49 people with significant 

disabilities on this contract.

USS New York

The USS New York LPD-21 was constructed at Northrop 

Grumman Ship Systems shipyard in Avondale, La. The 

U.S. Navy commissioned the USS New York into service 

on Nov. 7, 2009. This ship, built with 7.5 tons of steel 

pulled from the World Trade Center in her bow, honors 

the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

The Louisiana Association for the Blind (LAB) designed, 

converted and packaged Safety WalkTM anti-skid floor 

strips for the entire ship. LAB (NIB) employees converted 

bulk Safety Walk material into 1,440 made-to-order 

pieces, ranging in size from slightly more than three 

square feet to more than 500 square feet. These custom 

pieces were then applied to surfaces throughout the ship 

to help improve traction.

The Arc of the Virginia Peninsula, Hampton, Va., 

performs ship provisioning for the U.S. Navy’s InterService Supply Support Operations Program at the 

USS New York’s home port in Norfolk. The Arc loads 

dry, chilled and frozen foods on the USS New York and 

approximately 75 other ships home ported in Norfolk. 

This project is part of The Arc’s nationwide contract for 

ship provisioning at all major U.S. Navy ports, employing 

about 250 people with significant disabilities at The Arc 

and four NPA subcontractors.

National Treasures, continued...

Ed Sanderson, Safet

di

y W

v

al

is

k

io

TM 

n employee (LA

r

B

emoves and organize

) 

pe

s t

e

h

le 

and-stick materia

s

l

up

. L

p

A

lied

B h

 s

a

l

s 

ip-resistant

to t

 ma

h

t

e U

eri

.

a

S

l

. N

s 

avy since 1988.

AbilityOne BSC, operated by BISM since 2005, 

serves more than 12,000 people on base at 

Fort Knox. Jacob Whitlock (left), Lakeview 

Center, works on TFM at Fort Knox.

12 AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011
USS NEW YORK

“people WHo ARe

BlinD cAn’t seRVe in

tHe MilitARY,

so tHis is one WAY FoR tHeM

to GiVe BAcK AnD

Also HonoR

tHose WHo lost tHeiR

liVes on 9/11.”

Shelly Taylor

President and CEO 

Louisiana Association for the Blind

AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011 13
The AbilityOne® Program partners invested significant time and effort to develop new 

business opportunities for people who are blind or have significant disabilities. Despite a 

challenging Federal contracting environment, AbilityOne business development efforts—

combined with the invaluable support of Federal customers—led to the addition of several 

new services and products to the AbilityOne Procurement List.

Textiles for the Troops

In March 2011, Blind Industries and Services of Maryland 

(BISM) (NIB) was awarded a contract for the Extreme 

Cold Weather Clothing System Layer 4 Jacket issued 

by DLA Troop Support. The jacket is designed to act 

as a shell layer, optimizing the performance of moisture 

wicking along with insulating layers when combined 

with Body Armor or the Army Combat Uniform. BISM’s 

production capability allowed for an accelerated 

conversion to the Operational Camouflage Pattern for 

use in Afghanistan. This award produced 42.94 blind 

work years.

ANSI-Compliant Safety Vests

Bestwork Industries for the Blind, Inc., of Runnemede, 

N.J., and Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc., of Dallas, 

Texas (NIB), updated their current Procurement List 

safety vests to achieve ANSI/ISEA 107-2010 compliance 

and enhance their existing lines by offering sized vests in 

both the Class 2 and Class 3 versions.

Federal Highway Administration ANSI standards give 

real definition to “visibility” as it applies to people in traffic 

control areas or anywhere where being seen is important 

for individual safety. Since then, ANSI-compliant 

safety vests account for more than 90 percent of the 

safety vest market and are distributed by the General 

Services Administration.

bo S en w teph Grier rks a fa ric 

ltimore r machine in Ba spreade

bat 

las he he ps make Army Com

. r our warfighters Uniforms fo

Shown at left: Extreme Cold Weather Clothin

S

g 

ystem Layer 4 Jacket. Right: ANSI-Complian

Sa

t 

fety Vest (Class 2 and Class 3).

14 AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011
FEMA Louisiana Recovery Office

Upliftd of Baton Rouge, La. (NISH), began providing custodial 

services for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s 

(FEMA’s) Louisiana Recovery Office in March 2011. Custodial 

services include floor maintenance, waste disposal and carpet 

cleaning. Located in a 1930s community landmark—a former 

Baton Rouge department store, Goudchaux’s—this FEMA Joint 

Field Office houses 600 Federal and state employees who deliver 

community recovery programs to eligible applicants affected 

by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and other major disasters. This 

contract employs nine individuals who have significant disabilities.

Fort Meade Base 

Operations Support

Skookum in Bremerton, Wash. (NISH), launched base operations 

support for the U.S. Army Directorate of Logistics at Fort Meade. 

The contract includes the entire logistics function, including 

provision of supplies and services, maintenance and management 

of material and equipment, movement of material and personnel, 

logistical support planning and logistical readiness. The contract 

provides 41 FTEs for people with significant disabilities, including 

12 veterans with disabilities and five wounded warriors.

Position:

Sewing Machine Operator

Nonprofit Agency:

exas Travis Association for the Blind, Austin, T

Career Highlights: 

Has worked in departments for skin care 

products, shrink wrap, drill press, leather 

key holders, Army combat helmet chin 

straps and trouser belts; received NIB’s 2011 

Peter J. Salmon Employee of the Year Award.

Personal Achievements: 

Born with retinitis pigmentosa; moved to 

Austin at age 16 to attend the Texas School 

for the Blind; member of the Lighthouse 

Strikers bowling team; volunteer for the 

Austin Right to Life Walk, Juvenile Diabetes 

Walk and other causes; prepared meals

for people displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

In Her Words:

“I like the name AbilityOne because it 

tells us that if we are persistent, patient, 

flexible and open for change, we 

can and we have the ability to make 

essential products for our families, 

our communities and our country.”

Kudos:

“Linda is a great asset to our 

workforce. Her can-do attitude 

positively affects people around her 

and raises the ambitions of all,” said 

Jerry Mayfield, executive director, 

Travis Association for the Blind.

Linda Allen

UpLiftd provides 

custodial services 

for FEMA’s Louisiana 

Recovery Office, 

located in a 1930s 

Baton Rouge landmark.

o Juluis Washingt n drives 

a bus at Fort Meade, where 

Skookum provides base 

operations support. 

AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011 15
Everyone benefits when members of the AbilityOne® Network partner with 

small businesses. The partnerships create jobs for people who are blind or have 

significant disabilities and enable small businesses to expand their customer base to the 

Federal marketplace.

PARC Assembles 

Mountaineering Kits, 

Harnesses Supplied by 

Small Business

Mountain troops deployed all 

over the world depend on 

mountaineering kits assembled by 

the Pioneer Adult Rehabilitation 

Center (PARC), Clearfield, Utah 

(NISH). PARC assembles three 

kinds of kits for the U.S. Army 

Research and Development 

Command in Natick, Mass., using 

components from over a dozen 

companies, including several 

small businesses. One such 

small business is Misty Mountain 

Threadworks of Blowing Rock, 

N.C. Founded in 1985, Misty 

Mountain Threadworks had a 

small but devoted following among 

rock climbers, but by the late 

2000s, competition from low-cost, 

foreign-made harnesses had put 

the company into several years of 

double-digit losses. Business started 

to turn around again for this small 

business when it began producing 

climbing harnesses for the Army 

and, two years later, military sales 

account for more than a third of 

Misty Mountain’s total sales.

Goodwill Commercial 

Services Partners with 

Minority-Owned 8(a) 

for Floor Care

in Indianapolis, where Goodwill 

Commercial Services provides 

custodial services, shelf-stocking 

and warehouse operations for the 

Defense Commissary Agency 

(DeCA). Camacho stripped and 

finished the hard floor surface and 

trained Goodwill employees on 

how to maintain the floor. Camacho 

performed so well that Goodwill 

Commercial Services partnered 

with Camacho to periodically 

strip and finish the floors for all 

10 of its AbilityOne contracts for 

customers such as DeCA, U.S. 

General Services Administration, 

Federal Aviation Administration, 

Veterans Affairs and U.S. Army 

Reserve Command.

When nonprofit agency Goodwill 

Commercial Services (NISH) 

needed assistance with floor care 

on its AbilityOne contracts, it 

reached out to Camacho Janitorial, 

a minority-owned 8(a) small 

business in Greenfield, Ind. Goodwill 

Commercial Services, a division 

of Goodwill Industries of Central 

Indiana, Indianapolis, first hired 

Camacho to perform floor care at 

the Harrison Village Commissary 

C m ring kits ountainee Soldiers use PAR

xercise at 

on a belaying and rappelling e

er n Warfare Training Cent the Norther

in Black Rapids, Alaska.

A “Prusik” knot provides a 

lifeline for mountain-warfare 

trainee Spc. Sarah Egbert.

Army photos by Staff Sgt. Trish McMurphy, USARAK Public Affairs

16 AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011
Position:

Floor Care Team Leader 

Nonprofit Agency:

The Helping Hand Goodwill 

Industries, Kansas City, Mo.

Career Highlights:

Cole started as a part-time janitor on 

the office cleaning crew for the General 

Services Administration Bolling Federal 

Building. Cole demonstrated he was 

a dedicated, hardworking and reliable 

AbilityOne employee, and his hours and 

responsibilities gradually increased. In 

March 2008, he became floor care team 

leader at the Bolling Federal Building.

Personal Achievements:

When he first joined Goodwill, Cole 

faced a number of barriers to finding and 

maintaining employment—his mental 

disability compounded with living in a 

homeless shelter. Having a steady job and 

a regular paycheck enabled Cole to afford 

independent, permanent housing. Cole 

is active in his community church, and 

volunteers in a number of ways—from 

teaching Sunday school, to taking care 

of the facilities by mowing the lawn, 

cleaning and other maintenance work.

Kudos:

“On the job, he sings, he smiles—he 

looks like he’s enjoying his job, and 

that energy is transferred to his team,” 

said Anne Maloney, Goodwill vice 

president for Workforce Development.

North Central Sight Services (NCSS) 

Partners with Media Wholesaler

For more than a decade, NCSS, Williamsport, Pa. (NIB), has partnered 

with Data Memory Marketing, Inc. (DMMI), of Gahanna, Ohio, one of 

the largest media wholesalers in the country, to provide a full line of 

high-quality media CDs, DVDs and recordable media that are sold to 

the military and other Federal customers. DMMI supplies blank media 

to NCSS, and employees who are blind configure the technology to 

Federal specifications and distribute the finished products, which 

are on the AbilityOne Procurement List (PL). The partnership 

enables NCSS to employ 12 people who are blind in its media 

production department and allows DMMI to expand its customer 

base to the Federal marketplace. DMMI and NCSS are preparing 

to propose nine new products to the PL, which are projected to create 

more employment for people who are blind, increase NCSS sales and 

generate additional revenue for DMMI.

Alphapointe Partners with Woman-Owned Small 

Business to Distribute Pens and Markers

AbilityOne Network member Alphapointe, Kansas City, Mo. (NIB), 

recently partnered with SKM Industries, a woman-owned small 

business in Olymphant, Pa., with a 30-year history of manufacturing 

markers, pens and a variety of office supplies. SKM specializes in 

manufacturing unique ink formulas and complex delivery systems for 

high-quality correction pens and permanent paint markers. As a small 

business with 15 employees, SKM simply did not have the infrastructure 

or ability to reach the Federal marketplace on its own, so it partnered 

with Alphapointe to handle large-volume production and distribution 

to Federal customers. Together, SKM and Alphapointe have produced 

1.2 million pens and markers. SKM products now reach a network of 

143 AbilityOne Base Supply Centers at military installations across the 

country as well as other Federal customers. The partnership helps keep 

jobs in the United States.

Lloyd Cole

Alphapointe employee 

Troy Nevels assembles 

multi-color packs of Paint 

Markers at its Kansas City 

manufacturing facility.

AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011 17
Data Synopsis

AbilityOne® operates at 1,000 locations nationally, across 

40 government agencies, and has a presence at nearly 

every U.S. military installation. AbilityOne has supported 

Department of Defense and civilian Federal customers 

with a variety of products and services for nearly 

75 years.

Service sales have increased every year for more than 

a quarter century. The trend continued in FY2011 with a 

6.33 percent increase from 2010 to $1.65 billion.

Products sales steadily increased in the first half of the 

last decade, dipped in 2006 and 2007, and increased 

again every year since the upturn in 2008. Product sales 

achieved a new Program record in FY2011—$1.33 billion, 

an increase of 3.39 percent from 2010.

Combined, AbilityOne product and service sales totaled 

nearly $3 billion in FY2011, representing a 5 percent 

increase from FY2010.

DeCA 3.67%

Distribution Channels 4.27% 

Veterans Affairs 4.07%

Agriculture 2.64%

Justice 1.76%

Homeland Security 1.93%

Other agencies, 

each less than 1%

Treasury 1.71%

DoD other than DLA 1.41%

Other 1.25%

Acronym Key

DeCA

Defense Commissary Agency

DLA

Defense Logistics Agency

GSA-FAS

General Services Administration-Federal 

Acquisition Service

GSA-PBS

General Services Administration-Public 

Buildings Service

Army

17.99%

DLA

17.92%

Navy

11.7% Air Force

9.29%

GSA-FSA

7.05%

GSA-PBS

7.39%

Top Government Agency AbilityOne Sales FY2011

18 AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011
Position:

Supervisor of switchboard operations, 

Bronx Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center

Nonprofit Agency: 

Association for Vision Rehabilitation and 

Employment Inc. (A.V.R.E.), Binghamton, N.Y.

Career Highlights:

Started at A.V.R.E. in 2008 as a 

switchboard operator at the VA Hudson 

Valley Healthcare Center; graduate of NIB’s 

Business Management Training program; 

received NIB’s 2011 Milton J. Samuelson 

Career Achievement Award.

Personal Achievements:

Born in Sarajevo; developed brain tumors 

that damaged her optic nerves; holds a 

bachelor’s in political science from Bard 

College; developed the Visible/Invisible 

Disabilities Awareness Program (VIDAP) 

and later the Citizens’ Association—VIDAP 

in Serbia; pursuing a master’s in public 

administration at Baruch College.

In Her Words: 

“This opportunity that the AbilityOne 

Program has given to us and A.V.R.E. has 

given to me personally is something we 

have to remind ourselves everyday how 

blessed we are to have... and you have to 

remember that only the sky is the limit.” 

Kudos: 

“Nina has received two Charles V. Costello 

Memorial Scholarships from A.V.R.E. She 

exerted the on-site leadership necessary 

to turn a struggling switchboard 

operation into a highly successful one 

that is now a model for others,” said 

Bob Hanye, president and CEO, A.V.R.E.

Fiscal Year

2002200320042005200620072008200920102011

Sales In Millions

Products

Services

$1800

$1600

$1400

$1200

$1000

$800

$600

$400

$200

0

$960.5

$698.2

$768

$1,148.8

$1,328

$1,653.6

AbilityOne Sales of Products and Services

Nina Bektic-Marrero

Tyrone Johns, The Chimes, 

Baltimore, Md., works on th

a

e 

gency’s AbilityOne custodi

c

a

o

l 

ntract at the Departmen

C

t o

ommerce. Built in 1932, th

f 

D

e 

epartment of Commerce’s 

headquarters building, the 

Herbert C. Hoover Building, 

is a Pennsylvania Avenue 

National Historic Site.

Highlighted points represent the lowest, middle and highest 

amounts between FY2002 and FY2011. 

AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011 19
Data Synopsis

Three prime factors reflect AbilityOne® Program growth 

for FY2011: employment, direct labor hours and wages.

z Employment: The number of people who are blind 

or have significant disabilities employed through the 

AbilityOne Program increased 6.65 percent from 

2010, establishing a new record of more than 50,000 

jobs created.

 Direct Labor Hours: The direct labor hours worked 

by AbilityOne employees increased for the fourth 

year in a row, up 2.58 percent from 2010 to a total 

of more than 49 million hours—the highest in the 

Program’s history.

Wages: AbilityOne employee wages increased by 

5.83 percent to more than $599 million.

z

z

Although the AbilityOne Program set a new record 

for number of jobs created, FY2012 will pose new 

challenges given the size of announced budget cuts and 

other cost-saving measures at the Program’s largest 

customer, the Department of Defense. AbilityOne is 

preparing for this coming change by exploring new 

product and service additions to the Procurement List 

(PL), streamlining the process by which a new product or 

service is added to the PL, establishing new relationships 

with Federal agencies not currently purchasing requisite 

supplies and services from AbilityOne, and renewing 

prior partnership agreements with current customers. 

Also, with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan winding down, 

renewed emphasis is being placed on creating jobs for 

returning troops and wounded warriors. This is in direct 

support of the president’s announced initiative to employ 

more veterans across the Federal spectrum.

50

40

30

20

10

0

Fiscal Year

Number of Employees

(In Thousands)

2002200320042005200620072008200920102011

38,882

43,388

50,580

A major milestone was 

reached in FY2011 when 

the AbilityOne Program 

surpassed 50,000 jobs!

AbilityOne Employees

20 AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011
Position:

Final Inspection Processor 

Nonprofit Agency:

Vocational Guidance Services 

(VGS), Cleveland, Ohio

Career Highlights:

Hired by VGS Power Sewing Division, 

Ogletree overcame challenges of a noisy 

production environment and completed 

training to advance his skills. As the last 

inspector of military uniforms, Ogletree 

is part of a division that produces 100 

percent of the slacks required by the 

U.S. Army and Navy and a majority 

required by the Marine Corps.

Personal Achievements:

Diagnosed with autism early in life, it 

is difficult for Ogletree to interact with 

others, maintain focus and hold steady 

employment. Through his employment at 

VGS, he not only gained independence but 

also confidence, enabling him to interact 

well with staff and coworkers. He received 

NISH’s 2010 William M. Usdane Award.

In His Words:

“My family taught me the meaning of hard 

work and determination... The way to 

succeed is by setting goals, working hard 

and not letting anything stand in the way.”

Kudos:

“David’s very in tune to what’s going on 

all around the workplace,” said Donna 

Reisz, assistant general manager at 

VGS. “He’s stepped up to the challenges 

of his disability and improved his 

focus and social interaction.”

$600

$500

$400

$300

$200

$100

0

Fiscal Year

Direct Labor Wages

(In Millions of Dollars)

2002200320042005200620072008200920102011

$599.1

$414.6

$279.2

Direct Labor Wages

letree David Og

Direct Labor Hours

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Fiscal Year

Direct Labor Hours

(In Millions)

2002200320042005200620072008200920102011

49.3

33.9

41.3

Highlighted points represent the lowest, middle and 

highest amounts between FY2002 and FY2011. 

AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011 21
QualiTY work environMenT:

incorPorAting BESt PrActicES

The Commission’s Quality Work Environment (QWE) initiative is a collaborative 

grassroots effort to assist AbilityOne® nonprofit agencies in sharing best practices. 

The initiative’s guiding principles state AbilityOne employees should be provided 

opportunities to do the work of their choice with competitive wages, benefits and 

appropriate workplace flexibilities; ongoing training opportunities; and a clear path for 

career advancement.

NIB and NISH agencies credit 

the QWE process with improving 

communication, increasing 

employee engagement, making 

facilities more accessible and 

providing more training opportunities. 

Many of the agencies formed 

employee-led Employment 

Practices Implementation 

Committees to conduct agency 

self-assessments and administer 

their QWE action plans.

The QWE initiative has led to 

the launch of agency activities 

ranging from job shadowing, cross 

training, internal job-posting 

procedures and individual career 

planning. Some agencies have 

made accessibility improvements 

at individual workstations and 

throughout their facilities.

Other improvements include 

recognition and benefit programs, 

development of core values, 

community volunteer opportunities 

and flexible work options.

Improving 

Communications, 

Accessibility

The Louisiana Association for the 

Blind in Shreveport implemented 

a recorded phone system for 

employees to dial in and listen to 

news about internal job postings 

and agency information, replacing 

the practice of posting employee 

announcements on bulletin boards. 

An employee who has a visual 

impairment operates the system 

and records updates weekly.

Employees at San Antonio 

Lighthouse for the Blind (SALB) tune 

in to bilingual audio news broadcasts 

on Monday mornings that cover 

topics ranging from weather to job 

vacancies and upcoming events.

Facility improvements have 

contributed to the “best place of 

work” goal of SALB. SALB has 

To improve the safety of its 

employees who are blind, 

SALB installed an audible 

pedestrian signal on the 

street between its main 

building and activity center.

22 AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011
added more accessible restrooms, sidewalks with stone edging, a 

walking track and outdoor barbecue grill area, talking microwaves, 

improved exterior lighting and an audible pedestrian signal in front of 

the main building.

To increase productivity and employee wages, Crossroads Industrial 

Services, Indianapolis, maintains hourly charts at work locations 

that allow employees to see how they are performing in relation to 

production goals.

Increasing Employee Engagement

Some agencies invite employees to write for employee newsletters and 

mentor their peers. At Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually 

Impaired in Cincinnati, employees who are blind serve as “Employee 

Ambassadors,” guiding visitors through the agency’s facilities and 

describing how the business works. For many visitors, the interaction 

with their tour guide is the first personal interaction with a person who 

is blind.

ServiceSource in Alexandria, Va., held 37 focus groups that included 

147 employees with disabilities with the goal of increasing employee 

engagement in strategic planning. Feedback from the focus groups led to 

a new goal to develop and implement a comprehensive training program. 

As a result of QWE, Grand Traverse Industries in Traverse City, Mich., now 

includes employees with disabilities in its new hire interview panels.

Encouraging Upward Mobility through 

Training Opportunities

In a three-month period, approximately 100 employees at Alabama 

Industries for the Blind in Talladega participated in a job shadowing 

program to gain exposure to agency functions not part of their current role. 

One-third of that group has enrolled in adult education courses to increase 

skills for upward mobility.

As part of a QWE strategic action plan, Lakeview Center in Pensacola, Fla., 

focused on training supervisors to empower its employees with disabilities. 

Supervisors now receive training on how to bring the best out of their 

staff and incorporate those traits in a career plan. Supervisors are held 

accountable for taking ownership of employee career development plans 

through performance assessments and fiscal incentives.

To ensure that all AbilityOne nonprofits can participate in QWE activities 

regardless of their size, NIB and NISH launched a variety of incentives 

in 2011. These ranged from more direct staff support with planning and 

implementation to an awards recognition program and, in some cases, grants.

Position:

Marketing Manager

Nonprofit Agency: 

Virginia Industries for the Blind 

(VIB), Charlottesville, Va.

Career Highlights: 

Assistant supervisor in NIB’s Customer 

Care Center; graduate of NIB’s Business 

Management Training Program; completed 

Business Basics courses at Hadley School for 

the Blind in partnership with NIB; promoted 

to supervisor in NIB’s Customer Care Center; 

advanced to marketing manager at VIB.

Personal Achievements:

Diagnosed with visual impairment due 

to macular degeneration at age 15; won 

the state high jump championship in 

high school; earned a bachelor’s in 

Integrated Marketing Communications 

from Clemson University; coached 

high school track athletes.

In His Words: 

“It’s all about the people and jobs. I’m 

here to make the general public and 

government agencies aware of VIB, the 

excellent value we bring through our 

products and services and our wide range 

of employment opportunities in Virginia.” 

Kudos: 

“Will has been on board less than a 

year but is already making an impact 

promoting VIB’s mission and advocating 

for employment opportunities for 

Virginia’s blind community,” said 

Jim Meehan, general manager, 

Virginia Industries for the Blind.

AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011 23

aughn William V
From the Grand Canyon in the West to 

the Pentagon, U.S. Capitol and Statue of 

Liberty in the East, AbilityOne® Program 

employees help maintain, conserve and 

preserve America’s national treasures for 

future generations. For more about their 

roles maintaining treasures across the 

country, see Page 10.

PenTagon

Michele Howard from Volunteer 

Blind Industries works in the Mattress 

Production department, which 

supplies mattresses for the Navy.

Michael Nash, Safety WalkTM division 

employee, Louisiana Association for the 

Blind, works on a computer-aided design 

(CAD) for slip-resistant materials. 

) provides property Trace, Inc., Boise, Idaho, (NISH

yon for the management services in the Grand Can

Department of Interior National Park Services at 

the Horace M. Albright Training Center.

24 AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011
AbilityOne and Fedcap paved the way for 

Fernando Santiago to achieve economic 

independence. Today, Santiago manages a 

14-person AbilityOne team that keeps the 

Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis 

Island pristine for 5 million annual visitors.

Mat Riendeau works 

in Writing Instrument 

Production at Industries for 

the Blind, Inc., Milwaukee.

The Chimes, Baltimore, Md., employs 105 people with 

significant disabilities who perform custodial services 

at the Library of Congress, which houses some of the 

most valued documents of our country’s history. The 

AbilityOne contract began in March 2000.

s, N.M., have AbilityOne employees of Tresco, Inc., Las Cruce

e (WSMR) since 1989. supported White Sands Missile Rang

SMR, Tresco, Inc., has four current AbilityOne contracts at W

. employing nearly 100 people with significant disabilities

ning, facility and Services provided include commissary and di

lity, and test support for the High Energy Laser System Test Faci

facility support for the Naval Surface War Center.

lorida, Miami, sews Eva Pastor, Goodwill Industries of South F

t of Veterans Affairs. an interment flag for the Departmen

ntsville 

Goodwill, North Bay Rehabilitation Services and Hu

Rehabilitation Foundation have produced more than three 

million flags used at burials to honor our deceased veterans.

AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011 25
CusToMer sPoTlighT

The success of the AbilityOne® Program would not be possible without the tremendous 

cooperation of our Federal customers. This section highlights just a few of the Program’s 

supportive government agencies with a sampling of products and services they purchase 

from the AbilityOne Network of nonprofit agencies (NPAs).

Department of  

the Treasury

FY2011 marks the ninth year 

Winston-Salem Industries for the 

Blind (WSIFB) (NIB) has operated 

a Base Supply Center (BSC) at 

the Department of the Treasury 

in Washington, D.C. The store 

is managed and solely operated 

by Kenneth Fountain, blind since 

birth. FY2011 sales have increased 

30 percent over FY2010. In fact, 

sales increased dramatically 

throughout Fountain’s tenure; as 

a result, he received NIB’s annual 

Milton J. Samuelson Career 

Achievement Award in October 2010.

SW Resources (NISH) provides 

custodial services for two large 

office buildings at the Bureau of 

Public Debt in Parkersburg, W.V. 

Now in its seventh year, the project 

provides 17 full-time equivalent 

(FTE) jobs for people with significant 

disabilities. SW Resources also 

subcontracts to a commercial 

company providing file maintenance 

for the Bureau of Public Debt, 

providing three additional FTEs.

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)

AbilityOne’s partnership with the 

IRS, an arm of the Department 

of Treasury, began in 1984 with a 

grounds maintenance contract for 

the IRS Center in Andover, Mass. 

This contract, with WORK, Inc., a 

NISH-affiliated NPA in Quincy, 

Mass., is still operational today and 

employs four people with significant 

disabilities. Custodial services were 

added later for the IRS Center in 

Chamblee, Ga. Goodwill Industries 

of North Georgia performs that 

contract, which provides 18 FTE 

jobs. The IRS-AbilityOne partnership 

expanded even more so, and by 

the early 2000s, multiple custodial 

contracts, mailroom operations 

contracts and secure document 

destruction services contracts 

were added.

NISH has held a nationwide IRS 

contract for secure document 

destruction services since October 

2009, following seven successful 

years with NISH as prime contractor 

for regional IRS contracts. NISH 

now leads 63 NPA subcontractors 

that provide secure document 

destruction services for more than 

500 IRS sites. 

Defense Logistics 

Agency (DLA)

In FY2011, DLA purchased more 

than $534 million in AbilityOne 

products and services, making it the 

Program’s second largest customer. 

AbilityOne NPAs produce some 

500 products for DLA, ranging from 

apparel and equipage to medical 

supplies and packaged food. Some 

top selling products for DLA in 

FY2011 include chemical protective 

overgarments, fleece cold weather 

generation III jackets and fullspectrum battle equipment.

Peckham, Inc., a NISH-affiliated 

NPA in Lansing, Mich., manages 

DLA’s Customer Interaction Center 

in Battlecreek, Mich. For this 24/7 

operation, Peckham employs 120 

people with significant disabilities who 

answer logistics-related calls from 

warfighters around the globe. Peckham 

recently launched a new contract for 

DLA that will, over the next two years, 

consolidate seven IT help desks into a 

single Tier 1 help desk operation. The 

project created 35 new FTE jobs. 

Department of Homeland 

Security (DHS)

Two AbilityOne Network members 

in California provide administrative 

services for the DHS’s SENTRI 

(Secure Electronic Network for 

Travelers Rapid Inspection) Program, 

which allows motorists to use a 

dedicated lane for expedited travel 

across the Mexico border. AbilityOne 

26 AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011
Program employees of the Arc of Imperial Valley, El Centro, Calif., 

and Job Options, Inc., San Diego, both NISH-affiliated NPAs, serve 

as customer care representatives at the SENTRI Enrollment Centers 

in Calexico and Otay Mesa, Calif. Representatives answer phones, 

process applications for SENTRI, issue and replace lost or damaged 

identification cards, coordinate installation of transformers and decals 

on applicant vehicles, collect fees and answer questions. The contract 

employs 22 bilingual people with significant disabilities.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

TSA originally approached NIB to manufacture blue nitrile (synthetic 

rubber) gloves for its airport screeners. TSA also sought a single 

source to ensure that screeners receive only those gloves that meet its 

stringent requirements. Central Association for the Blind and Visually 

Impaired, Utica, N.Y., was able to meet these requirements and drive 

down costs for TSA by consolidating purchasing power nationwide into 

a single purchasing agreement.

NIB enables a state-of-the-art purchasing 

experience through its Oracle-based 

website, timely delivery through East 

and West Coast distribution centers, 

and customer care tailored to TSA’s 

needs. More resilient and punctureresistant than natural rubber gloves, nitrile 

protective gloves provide a non-allergenic 

protective barrier against germs. In the future, the array of nitrile products 

may be expanded to include additional sizes and a line of pink gloves to 

support Breast Cancer Awareness.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

The Arkansas Lighthouse for the Blind produced a new line of biobased 

spiral notebooks that will soon be certified as USDA BioPreferred. 

Lisa Wilusz, director of the Office of Procurement and Property 

Management for the USDA and member of the Commission, attended 

the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the 

Arkansas Lighthouse in early April. Also, 

AbilityOne showcases 

and promotes sales of 

its biobased products 

in its PaperClips store 

at USDA headquarters 

in Washington, D.C. 

Wilusz is a true booster 

of the biobased 

notebooks and carries 

one with her to every 

meeting she attends.

Customer Spotlight, continued...

Position:

Recycling Project 

Manager for Scott Air Force Base 

Nonprofit Agency:

Challenge Unlimited, Alton, Ill.

Career Highlights:

Started as a custodian at Scott Air Force 

Base, was promoted to crew leader after six 

months and to crew supervisor by the end 

of his first year on the job. Today, Gibbs 

oversees two Illinois state highway rest 

stops as well as the recycling contract 

for Scott Air Force Base. He manages 21 

employees, including nine with disabilities.

Personal Achievements:

Returned to work five years after being 

crushed between two vessels while docking 

river barges for a living, shattering his 

back. Shares custody of his teenage son.

In His Words:

Upon receiving NISH’s 2009 

Evelyne Villines Award, “It shows 

that people with disabilities can be 

productive within society and make 

a difference in the workplace.”

Kudos:

“The safety and the quality of his work 

is fantastic. I’d love to have a thousand 

Scotts, to tell you the truth,” said Tom 

Moehn, Challenge Unlimited CEO.

elie nitr le g ov s Blu

r A t o rkansas Ligh house f

ures the Blind manufact

ade spiral notebooks m

from 100 percent postconsumer recycled paper 

or tree-free “bagasse” 

ue of paper from the resid

processing sugar cane.

Scott Gibbs

AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011 27
AbilityOne received outstanding 

support from USDA’s Office of 

Small and Disadvantaged Business 

Utilization through Acting Director 

Dexter Pearson, Deputy Director 

Joseph Ware and their team. 

They organized a well-attended 

AbilityOne Day expo at USDA 

headquarters in April. Additional 

awareness and training events are 

scheduled at other USDA divisions, 

including the Animal and Plant 

Health Inspection Service (APHIS). 

WSIFB operates two BSCs with 

USDA: one in Washington, D.C., 

and one in Maryland.

Three AbilityOne Program 

employees of Occupational 

Development Center (ODC), 

Inc. (NISH), Thief River Falls, 

Minn., provide custodial services 

for the U.S. Forest Service’s 

Chippewa National Forest Historic 

Supervisor’s Office. Made from 

100-year-old native red pine, this 

8,500-square-foot building was 

added to the National Register of 

Historic Sites in 1976.

Defense Commissary 

Agency (DeCA)

DeCA received NIB’s Excellence 

in Government Award. The award 

was presented to Joseph H. Jeu, 

DeCA director and CEO, in 

appreciation of the DeCA team’s 

outstanding support that led to the 

creation of 37.6 additional FTEs 

to the Military Resale Program 

for FY2009–2011. Didlake, 

Manassas, Va. (NISH), has 

managed custodial services at the 

Quantico Commissary in Virginia 

since October 1990 and provides 

nine FTE jobs for people with 

significant disabilities. At Andrews 

Air Force Base, Right 2 Work 

(NISH) provides custodial, shelf 

stocking and warehousing services, 

creating nearly 25 FTE jobs for 

AbiiltyOne employees.

Department of Veterans 

Affairs (VA)

The Commission worked with the 

VA to promote and standardize 

the use of Clarity double-life toner 

cartridges from Alabama Industries 

for the Blind through three Federal 

Strategic Sourcing Initiative vendors. 

The new toner cartridges are 100 

percent recyclable and guarantee 

two to three times the yield of other 

toners. In the latest full month of 

available data, the VA purchased 

well over 3,000 cartridges and 

slashed the price per page by 

more than 50 percent compared 

to previous cartridges. Thanks to 

the far higher yield of AbilityOne 

Clarity double-life cartridges the 

VA will benefit from lower shipping, 

inventory, and cartridge switching 

costs. Fewer cartridges also 

mean less waste and a smaller 

environmental footprint. 

Department of the Army

At more than $536 million in 

sales in FY2011, the U.S. Army 

is AbiiltyOne’s biggest customer. 

One new contract for FY2011 is 

a consolidated contact center for 

the Army’s Human Resources 

Command in Fort Knox, Ky., 

where two NPAs—InspiriTec, Inc., 

Philadelphia, and subcontractor 

ServiceSource, Alexandria, Va.—

employ 65 people with significant 

disabilities to process inbound 

telephone inquiries, emails and 

digital mail; and answer benefits, 

retirement and insurance questions 

for all Army employees and 

veterans, and their families.

Another recent Army initiative is the 

First Sergeants Barracks Program 

(FSBP). Relieving soldiers of 

property management tasks, FSBP 

enables soldiers to better prepare 

for deployment. An AbilityOne NPA 

manages Army barracks as part 

of FSBP—Professional Contract 

Services, Inc. (PCSI) (NISH), at 

Joint Base Lewis-McChord in 

Washington, providing 53 FTE 

jobs for people with significant 

disabilities. PCSI is responsible 

for assigning/terminating rooms; 

identifying, tracking and ordering 

maintenance; coordinating 

handling of furnishings; validating 

occupancy rates; and providing 

support 24/7.

Customer Spotlight, continued...

Aaron St. Amand, ODC, maintains 

the Chippewa National Forest 

Historic Supervisor’s Office.

Maria Ayon, Arc of Imperial Valley, El Centro, 

Calif., is a customer care representative 

for the Department of Homeland Security’s 

SENTRI Enrollment Center in Calexico.

Clarity DoubleLife Toner

28 AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011
AbilityOne® Contract Management Support (CMS) services include non-inherently 

governmental services, such as contract closeout and administrative support. The 

AbilityOne CMS Program offers exceptional upward mobility opportunities for welltrained and qualified personnel who are blind or have significant disabilities while 

delivering valuable services to customers.

What began as a pilot program in 

2009 to provide a proof-of-concept 

to potential customers has expanded 

into one of the most successful 

joint service initiatives between NIB 

and NISH. Additionally, AbilityOne 

has partnered with the Department 

of Defense’s Defense Acquisition 

University to provide the core training 

courses required for establishing a 

foundation in contract management. 

The training is conducted in two 

tracks. Track 1 focuses on contract 

closeouts and requires a fouryear degree or equivalent work 

experience. Track 2 requires a fouryear degree and 24 business credits 

and focuses on direct placement in 

the Federal Government as an 1102 

Contract Specialist.

In FY2011, the CMS program 

created more than 20 jobs 

at AbilityOne nonprofit 

agencies, including:

z Challenge Enterprises of North 

 The Chicago Lighthouse 

 Greater Richmond ARC, 

 The Lighthouse for the 

Los Angeles Habilitation House

 San Antonio Lighthouse for 

z

z

z

z

z

z ServiceSource Delaware,

Wilmington, Del.

 Susquehanna Association for the 

Blind and Vision Impaired

Virginia Industries for the Blind

 

z

z

Those jobs were created in support 

of the following customers:

z Air Combat Command 

 Defense Logistics Agency 

 Defense Information Systems 

 Mission and Installation 

 National Capital Region 

 Naval Supply Systems Command 

 Navy Medical Logistics Command 

z

z

z

z

z

z

Christina Tran is legally blind and 

seout serves as the lead contract clo

specialist on all CMS contracts at 

The Chicago Lighthouse for People 

Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired.

Barbara Ann Henderson, 

contract specialist at the 

San Antonio Lighthouse for 

the Blind, provides contract 

management support services 

at Fort Sam Houston.

AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011 29
ToTal FaCiliTies ManageMenT

AbilityOne® Total Facilities Management (TFM) services to the Federal Government are 

valued at more than $100 million annually and create jobs for more than 1,000 people 

with significant disabilities. With more than 15 years of experience, the expected growth 

of the TFM program is driven by collaboration among nonprofit agencies (NPAs) and 

Federal Government customers; specialized trainings and capacity building; the creation 

of diverse, higher-paying new jobs; and customer commitment.

The central purpose of TFM is to 

maintain clean, safe, comfortable, 

well-maintained working facilities. 

The advantage of AbilityOne 

TFM for the Federal Government 

customer is that it brings together a 

range of hard-to-manage technical 

services into a single, client-friendly 

interface. It fosters a long-term 

partnership between the government

and AbilityOne NPAs, eliminating 

expensive reprocurement costs 

and repeat startup costs as well 

as precluding the loss of historical 

project knowledge and performance 

requirements. TFM contracts also 

assist the government with the 

migration from cost plus to fixed 

price contracts, fully supporting 

administration efforts at cutting and 

controlling costs.

In FY2011, AbilityOne launched a 

TFM contract for the Washington 

Headquarters Service at the Mark 

Center, a new Department of 

Defense complex in Alexandria, 

Va. AbilityOne Network member 

ServiceSource, Alexandria, Va., 

manages the TFM contract 

and serves as a single point 

of contact for the government. 

ServiceSource works with two NPA 

subcontractors—CW Resources 

of New Britain, Conn., and Able 

Forces of Front Royal, Va.—as well 

as 15 small business subcontractors. 

The Mark Center buildings, which 

were constructed to Leadership in 

Energy and Environmental Design 

(LEED) Gold Certification, house 

up to 6,500 personnel from eight 

DoD agencies and field activities. 

AbilityOne is responsible for facilities 

maintenance, grounds maintenance 

and custodial services for the entire 

complex, including offices, parking 

garages, conference centers, retail 

stores, a cafeteria, gym and medical 

facility. The contract created 135 

full-time equivalent jobs for people 

with significant disabilities. There 

are 64 veterans employed in various 

positions, including 45 veterans with 

service-connected disabilities and 

nine wounded warriors.

Robert Patterson, WORK, Inc., Left: 

keeps an eye on the control room at the 

John F. Kennedy Library. AbilityOne 

employees provide total facilities 

management at the national landmark.

Right: Aubrey Womack, CW Resources, 

works on the TFM contract for the 

Mark Center.

30 AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011
AbilityOne also commenced a TFM contract at Fort Knox, Ky., where 

NISH is the prime contractor supporting the Fort Knox Mission and 

Installation Contracting Command and the Directorate of Public 

Works. For details, see National Treasures, Page 10.

PCSI, Inc., of Austin, Texas, performs AbilityOne TFM services 

at several locations: the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Va.; 

Annex to Buckley Air Force Base in Denver; and U.S. Army Camp 

Bullis in Texas. According to PCSI Vice President of Operations 

and Marketing Keith Walker, “TFM contracts create a wide variety 

of jobs, especially in technical areas like plumbing and electrical. 

It has helped us change misperceptions about what people with 

significant disabilities are capable of achieving in the workplace.”

For new TFM contracts to succeed, diverse teams must collaborate on 

contracts, finance, operations, quality assurance, human resources, 

payroll, accounting, information technology and legal teams.

In Boston, WORK, Inc., manages the TFM contract for the 

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. WORK, Inc., 

CEO James Cassetta shared that the TFM contract has created 

“phenomenal opportunities for people with disabilities” that surpass 

in complexity more traditional AbilityOne jobs. “TFM contracts create 

‘career ladders’ for people with disabilities,” Cassetta said. “You find 

out what an individual can do and what they would like to do and you 

build a work plan around their goals. Because of our TFM contract, we 

are sending some of our AbilityOne employees to vocational training 

to become certified as electricians or HVAC technicians.” A win-win 

situation indeed.

Position:

Safety Facilitator

Nonprofit Agency: 

Outlook Nebraska Inc. (ONI), Omaha, Neb.

Career Highlights: 

Hired in 2011 as a production employee 

and promoted to safety facilitator. Served 

11 years in the U.S. Army with combat 

deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan and 

Korea. A wounded warrior, lost his 

vision through the explosion of an 

IED (improvised explosive device).

Personal Achievements:

Chairs the company’s Safety Board and is 

a member of the Employment Practices 

Implementation Committee. Through 

the American Red Cross, he is learning 

to teach cardiopulmonary resuscitation 

and automated external defibrillator 

first aid practices and plans to develop 

programs to train others who are blind.

In His Words: 

“I love working here because of our unique 

workforce. I am looking forward to the 

challenges of this new position, and I’m 

here to benefit the lives of the blind and 

visually impaired in any way that I can.” 

Kudos: 

“Josh’s dedication to the overall 

mission of ONI is clearly demonstrated 

through his unwavering commitment 

in enhancing the organization’s safe 

working environment for all. He is a 

great addition to the HR department,” 

said Mark Plutschak, Human Resources 

Manager, Outlook Nebraska Inc.

Left: WORK, Inc., employee 

electrician Ray Garcia rewires a 

speaker at the John F. Kennedy 

Library in Boston.

Right: Michael Thompson, CW 

M Resources, works on a new TF

r. contract at the Mark Cente

Joshua Scarborough

AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011 31
The greener good

The Obama Administration recently directed the Secretary of Agriculture to work with 

the AbilityOne® Program to promote the purchase of biobased products produced 

by people who are blind or have significant disabilities. Procuring SKILCRAFT®

products through the AbilityOne Program also helps Federal agencies meet government 

requirements for green purchasing.

When Federal customers ask for 

new green products, AbilityOne 

not only listens, it also delivers. In 

fact, AbilityOne produces more than 

2,000 environmentally responsible 

SKILCRAFT products, including 

a wide range of office supplies 

as well as supplies for cleaning 

and maintenance purposes. 

These include:

z Recycled materials

Biobased products

Biodegradable products

 Chlorine-free paper stock

Non-toxic or less 

toxic components

Environmentally preferred

products

Environmentally friendly

packaging and ingredients

z

z

z

z

z 

z 

In March 2011, products made 

and distributed by two members 

of the AbilityOne Network were 

among those approved by the U.S. 

Department of Agriculture (USDA) to 

use USDA’s new label designation 

as “Certified Biobased Products.” 

Travis Association for the Blind, 

Austin, Texas, sells hand sanitizer 

under the SKILCRAFT brand made 

with 100 percent naturally renewable, 

plant-derived ethanol in a readily 

biodegradable formula. SKILCRAFT 

liquid hand soap, with 98 percent 

biobased content, is manufactured 

by the Lighthouse for the Blind, 

St. Louis.

Many new AbilityOne green 

products are now showcased in the 

SKILCRAFT Select catalog:

z Notebooks—Produced with 

bagasse, a biodegradable 

paper made from crushed sugar 

cane stalks, 100 percent postconsumer waste

Recycled Binders—Made with 

a minimum of 82 percent total 

recycled materials by total weight. 

New patent-pending feature 

facilitates recycling of both metal 

and cover components.

 Straight-Cut File Folders— 

100 percent recycled, chlorinefree processing

Correction Tape—70 percent 

biobased and biodegradable 

by weight. Casing is made of 

cornstarch-based resin.

z

z

z

In addition to manufacturing green 

products, AbilityOne also offers 

many greener services. 

AbilityOne Network NPAs clean 

and distribute more than 40 million 

pounds of laundry and linens every 

year for Federal agencies, including 

U.S. Army and Navy hospitals and 

Veterans Affairs Medical Centers. 

Even in these notoriously energyand water-intensive activities, 

AbilityOne is able to save the 

government 125 million gallons of 

water, 10.2 million BTUs (heat) and 

3.3 million kWhs (electricity).

AbilityOne also provides secure 

document shredding services for 

numerous agencies, including 

the Army Corps of Engineers, 

the Department of Treasury, the 

Veterans Administration and the 

Forest Service. AbilityOne secure 

document destruction services use 

extensive recycling programs to 

preserve trees and other resources 

used to produce paper. 

eriALSKI CR FT B o-W ite p n

Biobased 

Laundry 

Detergent

32 AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011
FY2011 CoMMission awards

E.R. “Dick” Alley Career 

Achievement Award

The Alley Award is bestowed on one Federal 

employee whose sustained dedication 

and support of the AbilityOne® Program 

are exemplary, and worthy of the agency’s 

highest recognition. The award is named 

for the late Dick Alley, who gave 25 years of 

dedicated service to the Commission as its 

deputy executive director.

Thomas Bouchard, Deputy Chief, Natick 

Contracting Division, Soldier Systems 

Branch, Army Contracting CommandAberdeen Proving Grounds, U.S. Army

During his career, Bouchard helped create jobs 

for more than 1,000 people who are blind or 

have significant disabilities. He routinely invites 

AbilityOne nonprofit agencies (NPAs) to be 

involved in the manufacturing and development 

process and initial production runs to ensure 

successful outcomes, and his support has led 

the U.S. Armed Forces to procure hundreds of 

AbilityOne apparel and equipment items, such 

as the Army Extreme Cold Weather Clothing 

Systems; a new chemical protection suit for 

combat vehicle crews; the Army Combat Shirt; 

the Air Force fleece jacket; the Navy Working 

Uniform; and the Special Operations Forces 

Protective Combat Uniform. Bouchard also 

helped develop a contract for high school 

graduates with disabilities to assist Natick 

with reviewing open government contracts to 

identify unused procurement monies and assist 

the government in recapturing unspent funds 

and closing out the contracts.

FDR Award for Leadership and Service

Established to recognize sustained, 

extraordinary accomplishment related to the 

agency and the AbilityOne Program, this new 

award honors an outstanding leader who 

consistently demonstrates strength, integrity, 

industry and a relentless commitment to 

public service. This award may be presented 

sparingly to a current/former appointed 

member of the Commission or a current/former 

member of the staff.

Andrew D. Houghton, U.S. AbilityOne 

Commission Member, 2003–2011

The inaugural recipient was Commission 

chairperson from July 2006–July 2011. 

Appointed to the Commission by President 

Awards, continued...

(Left to right) Executive Director Tina Ballard, 

Vice Chairperson James M. Kesteloot, 

Alley Award winner Thomas Bouchard and 

Chairperson J. Anthony Poleo).

s H. Omvig, then- ) Left to right Jame (

resents 

Commission Vice Chairperson p

ent Andrew D. Houghton with 

recipi

the agency’s first FDR Award.

AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011 33
George W. Bush in March 2003 and reappointed in 

May 2006, he served as a private citizen representing 

the interests of NPA employees with severe disabilities. 

Houghton was the first private citizen and first person 

with a significant disability to serve as chairperson in the 

Commission’s nearly 75-year history. His tenure saw the 

rebranding of the JWOD Program to “AbilityOne” and the 

creation of the Quality Work Environment (QWE) initiative. 

Through his personal conduct and results-oriented 

leadership, Houghton earned and sustained a high 

degree of public confidence and trust through his ability 

to succeed in balancing the needs and perspectives of 

people who are blind or who have significant disabilities, 

Federal customers and other stakeholders in achieving 

organizational results.

Osborne A. “Oz” Day AbilityOne 

Awareness Award

This award recognizes a Federal employee, service 

member or agency subcomponent for extraordinary 

efforts in advocating and promoting AbilityOne. It is 

named in honor of Osborne A. “Oz” Day, a private 

citizen Commission member from 2005 to 2008.

Rear Adm. Mark F. Heinrich, SC, U.S. Navy, 

Commander, Fleet and Industrial Supply Centers

Heinrich was responsible for the Navy’s first task order

for Contract Management Support services under the 

AbilityOne Program. He also orchestrated NPA trips 

for his organization, raising awareness of AbilityOne 

and facilitating increased contract opportunities. These 

visits were uplifting not only to the leaders of these 

organizations but especially to the employees of 

NewView in Oklahoma City and the Lighthouse for the 

Blind in Seattle.

Outstanding Contributions Award

This award recognizes Federal employees for their 

efforts in creating employment opportunities on Federal 

contracts for people who are blind or have significant 

disabilities under the AbilityOne Program.

Pamela Munoz, Director, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, 

MICC, Contracting Directorate, U.S. Army

Munoz’s efforts recently led to the addition of more than 

300 AbilityOne jobs to the Procurement List. She actively 

promotes AbilityOne with contracting peers at other 

installations and has hosted fleet management training 

classes and maintenance site tours to DoD customers 

She also served as an advisor to the Commission on 

ways to improve Program processes.

Vicki Taft, Chief, Base Support Flight, 72 CONS/PKA, 

Tinker Air Force Base

Taft participates on conference panels and works with 

contracting officers from other commands to educate 

them about AbilityOne capabilities. Through two decades 

of support, she has created more than 180 AbilityOne 

jobs through contracts in food services, basewide 

grounds maintenance, custodial services and vehicle 

operations/maintenance.

Awards, continued...

(Left to right) 

Houghton, former 

chairperson, presents 

the Outstanding 

Contributions Award to

Pamela Munoz.

(Left to right) Vicki Taft 

receives the Outstanding 

Contributions Award 

from Poleo.

r ard esent the Oz Day Aw (Left to right) Ballard and Poleo p

. Heinrich, along with Kesteloot. to Rear Adm. Mark F

34 AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011
Chairperson’s Award for Leadership

This new award recognizes leaders who 

consistently meet or surpass the Commission’s 

statutory and regulatory requirements, 

fulfill its guiding principles for a QWE, and 

exhibit business acumen that leads to 

increased employment opportunities for the 

AbilityOne constituency.

A. Gidget Hopf, ABVI-Goodwill of Greater 

Rochester, N.Y.

During her 25 years as president and CEO, Hopf 

has transformed ABVI-Goodwill into an industry 

leader of vision rehabilitation services. Through 

her service on the AbilityOne Enterprise CEO 

Forum, NIB Board and National Association for 

the Employment of People Who Are Blind, she 

has been a strong advocate for the AbilityOne 

Program. She was instrumental in establishing 

the original celebration for the Program’s 

enabling legislation, “JWOD Week.” She ensured 

ABVI was among the first 10 NIB-associated 

agencies to complete the self-assessment 

and rollout of QWE, and she places emphasis 

on upward mobility through continual ABVI 

production goals.

Richard (“Rich”) Gilmartin, Lakeview Center 

(now operating as Gulf Coast Enterprises), 

Pensacola, Fla.

Lakeview Center was one of the QWE initiative 

early adopters, with Gilmartin one of its main 

proponents. While serving on the QWE Steering 

Group, he identified inclusion practices and 

chaired the physical and cultural barriers 

subgroup. He was a leading member of the CEO 

Forum, implementing the statutory “Definition of 

Disability,” and has participated as a speaker at 

multiple national events, including the AbilityOne 

division of ACCSES, which represents 80 

organizations as the voice of disability service 

providers. Under his leadership, Lakeview Center 

has established a multi-state footprint in several 

business lines, with widespread acclaim for 

quality performance.

Most Valuable Liaison Award

This award recognizes an AbilityOne liaison for 

efforts in supporting AbilityOne.

Susan Pollack, Senior Procurement Analyst, 

Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, 

Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, 

Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy

Pollack coordinated the Pentagon’s AbilityOne 

National Disability Employment Awareness 

Month event for six years, transforming it into a 

high-level award ceremony hosted by the Deputy 

Secretary of Defense. With her assistance, DoD 

leadership has signed numerous memorandums 

of support for AbilityOne, including one 

directing mandatory use of AbilityOne 

contract management support and a DoD joint 

memorandum to ensure AbilityOne contracts are 

not adversely impacted by insourcing initiatives.

(Left to right) Ballard and Poleo present the 

Most Valuable Liaison Award to Susan Pollack, 

along with Kesteloot.

(Left to right) NISH COO Dennis Fields, Commission 

COO Kimberly Zeich, Honoree A. Gidget Hopf, 

Houghton, Honoree Richard (“Rich”) Gilmartin, 

and NIB COO C. “Scottie” Knott.

AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011 35
ConneCTing wounded warriors

With EmPloYmEnt oPPortunitiES

Years before the United Nations popularized the notion that a Nation’s true wealth or 

treasure is its people, the U.S. AbilityOne CommissionTM began living that mission. 

Year after year, through its nationwide network of associated nonprofit agencies, the 

AbilityOne® Program regularly helps thousands of civilians who are blind or have 

significant disabilities find productive employment by producing products and delivering 

services for Federal Government customers. In addition, AbilityOne is committed to 

helping wounded American veterans return to work when they come home, enabling them 

to support themselves and their families.

According to the Department of 

Defense, approximately 13 percent 

of all wounded service members 

from Iraq experienced a serious 

eye injury, the highest percentage 

for any war in American history for 

which records are available.

Through National Industries for 

the Blind’s (NIB) Wounded Warrior 

program, AbilityOne reaches out 

to recently blinded soldiers at job 

fairs, conferences, professional 

networking events, military hospitals 

and veterans organizations such 

as the American Legion and the 

Blinded Veterans Association. In 

FY2011, in addition to participating 

in large group events, NIB’s 

Wounded Warrior representatives 

met one-on-one with approximately 

300 wounded veterans, giving the 

soldiers valuable information about 

NIB and its programs.

The aim is to connect wounded 

warriors, and sometimes their 

spouses, with NIB’s job training and 

employment opportunities—a vital 

step in the process of successfully 

transitioning to civilian life. 

Job opportunities include the 

production, assembly, warehousing 

and distribution of products 

manufactured by NIB associated 

agencies such as military uniforms 

and equipment, office supplies, 

green cleaning products and 

plastics. Careers in the services 

sector range from administration, 

customer service, mailroom 

operations, marketing, document 

imaging and medical transcription to 

Base Supply Center operations and 

upper-level management.

AbilityOne Network members also 

reach wounded veterans, many 

of whom have multiple injuries 

resulting in disability. For example, 

Skookum in Bremerton, Wash., 

(NISH) brings veterans back into the 

military culture to provide vehicle 

maintenance, warehousing and 

distribution and sanitation services 

at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. 

These jobs allow veterans to 

leverage their experience in military 

supply and maintenance procedures, 

continue serving our country and 

interact directly with soldiers. 

Skookum also offers veterans jobs 

through its contracts with the U.S. 

Navy Region Northwest for hospital 

housekeeping at Naval Hospital 

Bremerton as well as custodial, 

grounds maintenance and food 

service contracts throughout the 

Navy region. At Fort Riley, Skookum 

employs veterans who maintain 

“with the unemployment rate among oiF/oeF/

ond vets, specifically disabled vets, reaching 

historical highs, the abilityone Program has 

provided organizations like servicesource’s 

warrior bridge the opportunity to put america’s 

wounded heroes back to work.”

Scott owens

contract Specialist, Warrior Bridge Ambassador, u.S. Army

36 AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011
vehicles. Skookum received NISH’s 2011 Performance 

Excellence in Hiring Veterans with Disabilities.

Project HIRED in San Jose, Calif. (NISH), provides 

service dogs free of charge to injured veterans with 

specific medical needs. Project HIRED’s service 

dog program has the stated goals of “increasing 

independence, offering social support and improving 

employability of veterans with injuries, including 

traumatic brain injury.”

Following a needs assessment, soldier and dog are 

paired up and live together while receiving intensive 

training twice a week with an instructor. Learning to work 

with their service dog and practicing specific tasks helps the 

individuals actively participate in their own recovery. The 

dogs can be trained to do almost anything a veteran needs. 

Some dogs are trained to notice subtle cues that indicate 

an oncoming seizure or anxiety attack. Others help their 

veterans by turning on lights, retrieving items or helping with 

bulky prosthetics. The dogs also provide the veterans with 

encouragement and a sense of security that gives them the 

confidence to reenter the working world.

For more information about how AbilityOne 

works with veterans and wounded warriors, visit 

www.abilityone.gov/abilityone_program/veterans.html

Wounded Warrior 

David Kendrick, Jr.

“When I started working for Unistel, CDS Monarch’s 

employment training division, an AbilityOne® nonprofit 

agency, I did not know what to expect. I knew little 

about the organization and even less about AbilityOne 

contracting. After about a week at Unistel, I noticed that 

the individuals who work there package and ship spices 

I used when I was in combat. This sparked my interest 

and I wanted to find out more about my nonprofit. I 

came to work for Unistel while going through the Warrior 

Salute program at CDS Monarch. This program provided 

me valuable clinical and vocational skills I needed to be 

successful in civilian life. One major accomplishment 

was being able to stand up in front of people and share 

my story, something I would have not been able to do 

without the help of Warrior Salute and AbilityOne.

Upon entering the speaker’s bureau for NISH, I had the 

chance to see a wide variety of military equipment made 

by other AbilityOne contractors. I was blown away to 

find out that an AbilityOne contractor helps package 

the Combat Application Tourniquet—the product that 

saved my life in combat after getting shot by a sniper 

in my femoral artery. It was then I learned how vital my 

work is in support of the mission to fight terrorism.

Working for AbilityOne allows me to serve my fellow 

veterans without being on the front lines. In the Army 

we say we are ‘in the rear with the gear.’ Little did 

I know that this gear was being manufactured by 

people with disabilities. I am proud to be a part of the 

CDS Monarch family and their initiative to support 

the U.S. military. For me, it’s not work, it’s more of 

an honor to know that somewhere in combat the 

products that Unistel and other AbilityOne contractors 

manufacture are being used on the front lines.”

In His Own Words

Jeremiah Gaches, 

U.S. Army veteran with 

traumatic brain injury 

and post-traumatic 

stress disorder, was 

paired with Rocky, a 

one-year-old German 

Shepherd/Husky mix 

through Project HIRED. 

AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011 37
Executive Director, The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired

A highly respected researcher, Szlyk is only the second woman to lead the agency in its 100-plus year history. 

Oversaw completion of the Lighthouse’s major expansion that added 12,000 square feet. Transformed the 

Lighthouse into a state-of-the-art facility offering comprehensive vision care, adaptive technology and education

programs for Chicago residents. Created 50 new positions through new call centers and retail operations.

Szlyk expressed her appreciation to the U.S. Army for providing meaningful job opportunities. “We are very 

pleased to partner with AbilityOne and the U.S. Army to extend employment to several individuals who are 

visually impaired.”

President and CEO, San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind (SALB)

SALB is the only company in San Antonio to be awarded “Best Place to Work” by the San Antonio Express 

News and Texas Monthly Magazine and ranked in the country’s “Top 50 Non-Profits” by the Non-Profit 

Resource Center, all in the same year.

“San Antonio is a better place to live because of the AbilityOne Program, and the AbilityOne Program is better 

because of the support and leadership provided by the Commission,” says Gilliam.

President and CEO, Bestwork Industries for the Blind, Inc., Runnemede, N.J.

Succeeded in growing Bestwork Industries for the Blind, Inc., by over 400 percent and expanding employment 

into Philadelphia and South Jersey. Since 1991, developed core competencies in military clothing and apparel, 

order processing services for GSA and telecommunications services. Bestwork is positioned as one of the 

largest suppliers of commodities through New Jersey’s state use program, CNA Services.

“Our employees come to work each day expecting to work hard and to exceed the customer’s expectations. 

It’s my job to ensure that the opportunities are there,” says Moore.

President, Hope Enterprises, Inc., Williamsport, Pa.

Since 1999, increased annual budget from $10 million to more than $23 million by expanding 

services, in part through mergers with C.M.S.U. Service System and Children’s Development 

Center. Hope now provides service to more than 800 families daily and employs more than 200 in 

its programs. Led agency’s effective performance of three AbilityOne custodial contracts, including 

a longstanding contract with the local Herman T. Schneebeli Federal Building and Courthouse.

He says, “success at Hope Enterprises is a direct result of teamwork in carrying out our mission.”

Executive Director, Outlook Nebraska, Inc. (ONI)

In FY2011, ONI, a producer of toilet tissue and other paper products, installed a new rewinder 

machine outfitted with adaptive technologies such as voice output and SmartBoards for 

low vision operators that doubles the production capacity of single-roll tissue.

He says, “I would like to recognize the great partnership that ONI shares with the Commission and 

National Industries for the Blind. These organizations provide leadership as we serve our government 

customers and men and women in uniform with quality products made by people who are blind.”

Mike Gilliam

Dr. Janet Szlyk

Belinda Moore

Eric Stueckrath

Dr. James Campbell

38 AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011
President and CEO, Huntsville Rehab Foundation, Phoenix, Huntsville, Ala.

Since 1981, Phoenix has grown from serving 22 people with disabilities through various programs to 

nearly 1,000 people in 2011, of whom 600 were employed on AbilityOne contracts. During that period and 

coinciding with Dodson’s tenure at Phoenix, annual sales rose from just under $1 million to over $35 million.

“Declining government budgets are challenging AbilityOne nonprofits like Phoenix to be more creative... We 

have jobs and contracts today that no one could have imagined 31 years ago,” says Dodson.

President and CEO, Goodwill Industries of South Florida, Miami

In 1979, Pastrana left Goodwill Industries International and came to Miami to head a small, financially 

stressed Goodwill Industries agency operating a few thrift stores with annual revenue of $2.1 million. He led 

the nonprofit to full recovery, transforming it into one of the largest and most diversified Goodwill Industries 

affiliates, employing over 2,500 people, the high majority with disabilities. The Miami nonprofit was the first 

AbilityOne full food service provider and the first AbilityOne manufacturer of complex combat clothing.

“We believe in the mission and passionately follow the premise that vocational rehabilitation and family 

strengthening are our core values, and people with significant disabilities should have choice of the ‘Power 

to Work,’” says Pastrana.

President and CEO, United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of the Land of Lincoln, Ill.

Under Yarnell, UCP grew from a staff of eight and a budget of $100,000 to employing 240 people with 

significant disabilities and a budget of $6.2 million. Led UCP to CARF accreditation. Incorporated Baldrige 

Criteria for Excellence. Received Lincoln Bronze Award for Commitment to Excellence, 2008 and 2010. 

Served on Illinois Planning Council, Facilities Advisory Council for Rehabilitation Services, Illinois Assistive 

Technology Program, UCPA Professional Council and NISH Board of Directors.

“Strategic planning that includes looking five to 10 years in the future is essential for nonprofit organizations 

to survive.” says Yarnell.

Executive Director, Chesapeake Service Systems (CSS), Chesapeake, Va.

Took CSS from a $300,000 to a $7 million operating budget, serving over 600 people with significant 

disabilities. Employed 56 people with significant developmental disabilities from local state institution, 

documenting dramatic outcomes such as a person who spoke for the first time at age 38. Earned $5 million 

in grants to build a new Laundry Occupational Center in Portsmouth, Va., serving more than 100 people with 

significant developmental disabilities. Directed CSS performance of AbilityOne laundry contracts for Camp 

Lejeune Marine Base, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and Cherry Point in North Carolina. CSS earned the 

2008 Google Award for Innovation and the 2010 Bank of America Neighborhood Builders Award. Named 2010 

Nonprofit Chief Executive of the Year by Volunteer Hampton Roads.

“Future success of AbilityOne lies in competitive pricing for our government partners and by developing new 

lines of business, ensuring that people with the most significant disabilities are not left behind,” says Swanston.

President and CEO, Susquehanna Association for the Blind and Vision Impaired (SABVI)

Started as case manager and rose through the ranks. Grew SABVI from $750,000 in annual sales with 20 

employees who are blind in 1983 to $25 million and 70 employees today. Helped add surgical masks, headbands 

and custodial and bio-based cleaning products to AbilityOne Procurement List. Led SABVI in AbilityOne CMS pilot 

program. Partnered with two companies for production of granola and gluten-free products. 

Born with congenital cataracts and nystagmus, he says, “For over 70 years, AbilityOne has been an essential 

partner in the efforts of people who are blind to achieve economic independence through the creation of 

employment opportunities. The Program has had a positive impact on tens of thousands of blind Americans.”

Dennis Pastrana

Dennis Steiner

Bryan Dodson

Thomas Swanston

Brenda Yarnell, Ph.D.

AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011 39
Crisis suPPorT:

ABilitYonE rESPonDS in timES oF nEED

When disaster strikes, the AbilityOne® Program supports the American people. Since the 

2010 earthquake in Haiti, AbilityOne Program employees who staff the National Passport 

Information Center (NPIC) have provided invaluable assistance to U.S. citizens abroad, 

most recently to Americans in Egypt and Japan. Following natural disasters within U.S. 

borders, AbilityOne Network members provided cleanup support as well as collected and 

delivered much-needed supplies.

Peckham Provides 

Crisis Management 

Support, Operates 

24/7 Contact Center

AbilityOne employees of Peckham, 

Inc., Lansing, Mich. (NISH), provided

24/7 contact center services 

following the January 2011 political 

upheaval in Egypt and the March 

2011 earthquake and tsunami in 

Japan, connecting U.S. citizens 

abroad with their loved ones back 

home. Peckham, which typically 

answers passport-related questions 

for its AbilityOne contract at NPIC 

for the Department of State, first 

provided crisis management support

after the January 2010 earthquake 

in Haiti.

“When some extraordinary situation 

suddenly happens, our AbilityOne 

employees are eager to step up to 

help citizens away from home and 

perform well beyond the call of duty,” 

said Matt June, Peckham director of 

business services. “Our team was 

fully equipped to assist callers within 

a few hours of notification. We were 

ready to start 24/7 operations within 

a day’s notice of the earthquake, 

tsunami and nuclear aftermath in 

Japan. And we were just as effective 

during the chaos in Egypt.”

In each situation, AbilityOne 

Program employees performed 

valuable customer service 

and phone operations. Their 

communications expertise and 

previous experience helped track 

persons unaccounted for via a 

computer program used by the 

State Department to manage 

and maintain information on U.S. 

citizens overseas.

“I’m blown away by what AbilityOne 

employees at the NPIC achieve on 

a daily basis,” said Jason Mackie, a 

liaison officer with U.S. Department 

of State Passport Services. “They 

manage major challenges as 

a matter of course and do so 

without complaint.”

“During our crisis operations, I take 

calls from Americans overseas 

on passport issues, help them 

contact their embassy when 

they need to, assist people 

with illness and injuries, and 

connect them with loved ones at 

home,” said Ryan Frasier, NPIC 

customer service representative. 

“AbilityOne gives me the 

opportunity to do my best and 

provide my fellow citizens with a 

truly useful service when they need 

it most,” Frasier said.

According to Frasier, the Egypt 

effort was very challenging. Caught 

in the crossfire of revolution, many 

Americans had to cope with injuries 

and medical issues for which 

immediate aid was not available.

“I got an urgent call from a man 

whose diabetic father was trapped 

in Egypt,” Frasier recalls. “He 

needed meds to stay alive, but had 

no access to insulin. The caller 

was desperate to reach the U.S. 

embassy, so I found him a list of 

oyees at Contact center empl

Peckham, Inc.

40 AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011
phone numbers. It took only 

six minutes to provide all the 

information he needed to make 

the attempt to help his father.”

Alphapointe Helps 

After Tornado Strikes

Fort Leonard Wood

On New Year’s Eve 2010, a 

tornado struck Fort Leonard 

Wood, near Rolla, Mo., where 

Alphapointe of Kansas City, Mo., 

operates a Base Supply Center 

(BSC). The tornado caused extensive 

damage to housing at the base.

Over the next several days, Alphapointe 

employees lent a hand, delivering 

more than $16,000 in supplies donated by their 

vendors and several other NIB-associated 

agencies. The team quickly responded to 

requests for boxes and packing materials to 

help families move out of the damaged housing 

and additional relief items needed by the United 

Service Organization (USO).

Alphapointe’s BSC store manager, Scott John, 

noted that many local residents, not on base, 

needed assistance after the storm. After the 

base leadership agreed to allow the USO to 

ship excess personal needs supplies to Rolla 

residents, the USO contacted the Alphapointe 

team, who loaded and delivered three truckloads 

to the Salvation Army.

Outfitting Deployment Needs 

through a Crisis

On April 25, 2011, a tornado struck Little Rock 

Air Force Base (AFB), causing severe damage 

to several buildings on the base, including the 

BSC/Individual Equipment Element operated 

by Alphapointe Association for the Blind. The 

tornado destroyed the entire storefront at 

the BSC, collapsed a large section of the 

ceiling and caused a power outage lasting six 

days. Additionally, both BSC delivery vehicles 

were destroyed.

Little Rock AFB was in the midst of a major 

deployment when the tornado struck, and the 

services of the BSC were still required along 

with support needed to help provide supplies for 

a base-wide cleanup. Alphapointe employees 

cleaned up the store and effectively supported 

all requirements in support of base cleanup and 

the deploying units, outfitting employees with 

headlamps required for effective operation and 

deployment during the extended power outage.

AbilityOne Agencies Support 

Flood Relief

Following the September flood caused by 

Tropical Storm Irene, the Association for Vision 

Rehabilitation and Employment (A.V.R.E.) in 

Binghamton, N.Y., coordinated donations of relief 

supplies from other NIB-associated agencies. 

A.V.R.E. received and distributed items such 

as cleaning supplies, protective gloves and 

masks, plastic bags and food service paper 

products to recovery and relief centers in the 

Binghamton area.

In honor of the national support it received after 

Hurricane Katrina, The Lighthouse for the Blind 

in New Orleans sent supplies and a monetary 

donation to help A.V.R.E. employees displaced or 

severely impacted by the flood.

e Alphapointe employ es at the 

B BSC at Fort Leonard Wood AF

load trucks with relief supplies to 

deliver to the Salvation Army after 

a, Mo. a tornado strikes near Roll

Employees at the Association for Vision 

.R.E.), in Rehabilitation and Employment (A.V

Binghamton, N.Y., say “thank you” to fellow 

NIB-associated agencies for sending relief 

d supplies and monetary donations that helpe

r severely A.V.R.E. employees displaced o

cal impacted by the flood caused by Tropi

Storm Irene.

AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011 41
The AbilityOne® Program has forged strategic partnerships with Department of Defense 

(DoD) prime contractors, 3M and FedBid to expand employment opportunities for people 

who are blind or have significant disabilities and increase exposure for the Program.

Industry Partnerships

DoD has been a champion of the 

AbilityOne Program, encouraging 

industry partners to include 

AbilityOne nonprofit agencies (NPAs) 

as an essential component of its 

contracting efforts.

DoD partner Boeing Commercial 

Airlines has 30 contracts with 

AbilityOne NPAs in the Northwest 

U.S. region for an estimated 689,000 

work hours annually. Each year, 

AbilityOne NPAs manufacture more 

than two million Boeing parts.

In FY2011, Boeing added 

SKILCRAFT® office supplies, 

produced by people who are blind 

or have significant disabilities, to 

its catalog of products available 

for purchase by its employees. 

OfficeMax®, an authorized 

AbilityOne Program distributor 

since 1996, offers Boeing 

employees the option to select 

SKILCRAFT products produced 

by 33 AbilityOne NPAs.

NIB presented Boeing with its 

Partner in Excellence Award in 

recognition of Boeing’s support 

in providing professional CMS 

employment opportunities through 

an internship program for talented 

individuals who are blind. In 

FY2011, Boeing offered a full-time 

internship to Ian Elliot, who is blind, 

to provide contract management 

support (CMS) to its Network 

and Space Systems and Digital 

Receiver Technology divisions. 

Elliot completed the AbilityOne 

CMS training program conducted 

in partnership with the Defense 

Acquisition University.

In May 2011, a new prime contractor 

agreement was launched with 

defense technology and aerospace 

giant Northrop Grumman. Similar 

to the Boeing Memorandum of 

Agreement, the agreement is 

designed to increase opportunities 

in employment, education and 

knowledge transfer.

In addition to program-wide 

partnerships, NISH and its affiliated 

NPAs are building strategic 

partnerships with prime contractors. 

In late 2010, Northrop Grumman 

entered into a DoD mentor-protégé 

agreement with MVLE, Springfield, 

Va. (NISH). Northrop Grumman 

is completing its second year 

of providing technical training 

and job opportunities to MVLE. 

Northrop and MVLE were recently 

approved to extend the agreement 

for a third year. MVLE received 

one of Northrop Grumman’s 

2010 Socio-Economic Business 

Program recognition awards and 

is currently providing document 

scanning services for the company’s 

information systems sector.

AbilityOne is building strategic 

relationships with management 

and technology consulting firm 

Booz Allen Hamilton and global 

security company Lockheed 

Martin. AbilityOne NPAs have 

helped Booz Allen Hamilton and 

Lockheed Martin fill a variety of 

roles, including contract program 

managers, analysts, accountants, 

training and program support 

personnel, document management 

personnel, maintenance support 

and various areas of information 

technology support.

AbilityOne Employee 

Gains Experience at 

3M Corporation

Al Avina, an AbilityOne employee in 

the NIB Fellowship for Leadership 

Development, completed an 

eight-month internship at 3M’s 

Government Markets Office in 

Washington, D.C. NIB’s Fellowship 

for Leadership Development is a 

paid internship program for highpotential, legally blind individuals. 

3M partnered with NIB NPAs to 

supply materials for the production 

of office supplies and other products 

and is the first private sector 

organization to partner with NIB to 

host a fellow.

42 AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011
While at 3M, Avina developed a new contact relationship 

management system to identify new business opportunities, focusing 

on 3M/AbilityOne Program partnerships with the General Services 

Administration and the Defense Logistics Agency. The system is 

a digital document repository and the first of its kind at 3M. Avina 

visited 3M’s Innovation Center in St. Paul, Minn., and offered insights 

on hiring people who are blind or have significant disabilities.

“Our partnership with NIB delivers value to our customers, and we 

look forward to hosting more NIB fellows. It’s a win-win relationship,” 

said Robert Council, 3M’s general manager of government markets 

and member of NIB’s board of directors.

Avina entered the Fellowship in September 2010 after serving in the 

U.S. Army and at the state of Washington’s Department of Labor.

FedBid

In the three years since AbilityOne established a Memorandum of 

Understanding (MOU) with FedBid, Inc., the Buyer-Driven Online 

Marketplace®, sales of several AbilityOne products have increased 

by 131 percent to nearly $2 million in FY2011. Access to Buys posted 

through the FedBid Marketplace has improved AbilityOne’s oversight, 

Essentially-The-Same conversion, and buyer awareness of the 

AbilityOne Program.

Signed in June 2009, the MOU provides greater access for 

authorized AbilityOne commercial distributors to competitively 

bid on government requirements for commodities. FedBid helps 

Federal Government procurement personnel interact with distributors 

nationwide. It uses a reverse auction model that connects buyers with 

the most competitive sellers of commodity goods and simple services.

FedBid developed an AbilityOne seller group of authorized 

distributors that has been registered and trained on FedBid. In 

the last two years, the list has grown from 250 to 306 authorized 

AbilityOne distributors.

Position:

Custodian 

Nonprofit Agency:

Skookum, Bremerton, Wash.

Career Highlights:

Performs housekeeping and aseptic 

cleaning services for the Naval Hospital 

in Bremerton, Wash. Provides highquality work despite coping with chronic 

pain and tremors brought about by the 

advanced stages of Parkinson’s Disease. 

With leadership qualities and a positive 

mind-set, he brings out the best in his 

co-workers and has a lasting impact on 

how customers view the capabilities 

of AbilityOne Program employees.

Personal Achievements:

Received NISH’s 2009 

William M. Usdane Award.

In His Words:

“I don’t want to be sitting there by 

myself feeling sorry for myself.”

Kudos:

“He not only gets the job done very well, 

but when I see him in the morning come 

off the elevators early on, I see him with 

a big smile on his face. He’s always 

friendly to me, he’s always friendly to 

the patients and he’s just got a great 

attitude,” said Capt. Mark Brouker, 

Naval Hospital Bremerton.

Crescendiano Pelias

Al Avina (left), NIB 

fellow, pictured with 

Robert Council, 3M 

general manager of 

government markets, 

was hired as an intern 

in the 3M Government 

Markets Office.

AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011 43
Mission 

44 AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011
ALABAMA

Anniston

Calhoun-Cleburne Mental 

Health Board, Inc. (NISH)

The Opportunity Center 

Easter Seal Facility—The 

Ala ES Soc, Inc. (NISH)

Birmingham

Alabama Goodwill 

Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Easter Seals of the 

Birmingham Area (NISH)

United Cerebral Palsy 

of Greater Birmingham, 

Inc. (NISH)

Dothan

Wiregrass Rehabilitation 

Center, Inc. (NISH)

Huntsville

Huntsville Rehabilitation 

Foundation (NISH)

The Arc of Madison County, 

Inc. (NISH)

Mobile

GWI Services, Inc. (NISH)

Montgomery

Goodwill Industries 

of Central Alabama, 

Inc. (NISH)

Muscle Shoals

NW Alabama Easter 

Seal Children’s Clinic—

Rehabilitation Center 

(NISH)

Talladega

Alabama Industries for the 

Blind (NIB)

ALASKA

Anchorage

Assets, Inc. (NISH)

M. C. Resource 

Management (NISH)

MQC Enterprises, 

Inc. (NISH)

Fairbanks

Fairbanks Resource 

Agency (NISH)

Juneau

REACH, Inc. (NISH)

ARIzONA

Bisbee

Cochise County Association 

for the Handicapped (NISH)

Nogales

Santa Cruz Training 

Programs, Inc. (NISH)

Phoenix

Arizona Industries for the 

Blind (NIB)

Goodwill Community 

Services, Inc. (NISH)

Tempe

The Centers for Habilitation/

TCH (NISH)

Tucson

Beacon Group SW, 

Inc. (NISH)

Catholic Community 

Services of Southern 

Arizona (NISH)

J.P. Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Southern Arizona 

Association for the Visually 

Impaired (NIB)

Yuma

ACHIEVE Human Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

ARKANSAS

Fort Smith

BOST, Inc, (NISH)

Hope

Rainbow of Challenges, 

Inc. (NISH)

Jacksonville

Pathfinder, Inc. (NISH)

Little Rock

The Arkansas Lighthouse 

for the Blind (NIB)

United Cerebral Palsy of 

Central Arkansas (NISH)

Pine Bluff

Jenkins Memorial Children’s 

Center and Jenkins 

Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Van Buren

Abilities Unlimited of Fort 

Smith, Inc. (NISH)

CALIFORNIA

Bakersfield

The Bakersfield Association 

for Retarded Citizens, 

Inc. (NISH)

Blythe

Sheltering Wings 

Corp. (NISH)

Culver City

Exceptional Children’s 

Foundation (NISH)

El Cajon

Bona Fide Conglomerate, 

Inc. (NISH)

El Centro

ARC Imperial Valley (NISH)

Imperial County Work 

Training Center, Inc. (NISH)

Fontana

The Fontana Rehabilitation 

Workshop (NISH)

Fresno

Arc Fresno, Inc. (NISH)

Hanford

Kings Rehabilitation Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

Lancaster

Desert Haven Enterprises, 

Inc. (NISH)

Lompoc

Life Options, Vocational and 

Resource Center (NISH)

Long Beach

Los Angeles Habilitation 

House (NISH)

Los Angeles

Asian Rehabilitation 

Services, Inc. (NISH)

Goodwill Industries of 

Southern California (NISH)

Mountain View

VTF Services (NISH)

Mt. Shasta

Siskiyou Opportunity Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

Napa

Napa Valley PSI, Inc. 

(NISH)

Oakland

Calidad Industries, 

Inc. (NISH)

Pasadena

Foothill Workshop for the 

Handicapped, Inc. (NISH)

Perris

Valley Resource Center for 

the Retarded, Inc. (NISH)

Red Bluff

Tehama County Opportunity 

Center, Inc. (NISH)

Redding

Shasta County Opportunity 

Center (NISH)

Richmond

Pacific Coast Community 

Services (NISH)

Rubicon Programs,

Inc. (NISH)

Ridgecrest

Desert Area Resources and 

Training (NISH)

Riverside

The Arc of Riverside 

County (NISH)

Rohnert Park

North Bay Rehabilitation 

Services, Inc. (NISH)

Roseville

PRIDE Industries (NISH)

Sacramento

Crossroads Diversified 

Service, Inc. (NISH)

Easter Seal Society of 

Superior California (NISH)

San Diego

Job Options, Inc. (NISH)

San Diego Outsourcing 

Systems, Inc. (NISH)

The Arc of San 

Diego (NISH)

San Francisco

Lighthouse for the Blind and 

Visually Impaired (NIB)

Toolworks, Inc. (NISH)

San Jose

Hope Services (NISH)

Project HIRED (NISH)

Social Vocational Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

San Leandro

The Arc of Alameda 

County (NISH)

Santa Ana

Landmark Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

Santa Maria

VTC Enterprises (NISH)

Santa Rosa

Earle Baum Center of the 

Blind Inc. (NIB)

South El Monte

Lincoln Training Center 

and Rehabilitation 

Workshop (NISH)

Stockton

Goodwill Service 

Connection, Inc. (NISH)

Vallejo

Solano Diversified 

Services (NISH)

Ventura

The Arc of Ventura County, 

Inc. (NISH)

Woodland

Yolo Employment 

Services (NISH)

COLORADO

Colorado Springs

AspenPointe 

Employment (NISH)

Goodwill Industrial Services 

Corporation (NISH)

Denver

Bayaud Industries, 

Inc. (NISH)

Jewish Family Service of 

Colorado (NISH)

Fort Collins

Foothills Gateway, 

Inc. (NISH)

Pueblo

Pueblo Diversified 

Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Westminster

North Metro 

Community Services 

for Developmentally 

Disabled (NISH)

CONNECTICUT

Enfield

Allied Community Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

New Britain

CW Resources, Inc. (NISH)

Trumbull

The Kennedy Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

Waterbury

Easter Seal Rehabilitation 

Center of Greater Waterbury, 

Inc. (NISH)

Windsor

Easter Seals Capital 

Region & Eastern 

Connecticut, Inc. (NISH)

DELAWARE

Milford

Kent-Sussex Industries, 

Inc. (NISH)

New Castle

Delaware Industries for the 

Blind (NIB)

Wilmington

Opportunity Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

DISTRICT OF 

COLUMBIA

Washington

Anchor Mental Health 

Association (Anchor Services 

Workshop) (NISH)

Columbia Lighthouse for the 

Blind (NIB)

Davis Memorial Goodwill 

Industries (NISH)

Lt. Joseph P. Kennedy 

Institute (NISH)

Service Disabled Veterans 

Business Association (NISH)

The Arc of the District of 

Columbia, Inc. (NISH)

FLORIDA

Boca Raton

Habilitation Center for the 

Handicapped, Inc. (NISH)

Clearwater

Abilities, Inc. of Florida (NISH)

Daytona Beach

SMA Behavioral Health 

Services, Inc. (NISH)

Gainesville

The Arc of Alachua County, 

Inc. (NISH)

Green Cove Springs

Challenge Enterprises of 

North Florida, Inc. (NISH)

Jacksonville

GINFL Services, Inc. (NISH)

The Right 2 Work 

Corporation (NISH)

Lake City

CARC-Advocates for Citizens 

with Disabilities, Inc. (NISH)

Miami

Easter Seals South Florida, 

Inc. (NISH)

Goodwill Industries of South 

Florida, Inc. (NISH)

North Fort Myers

GW Services of SWFL, 

Inc. (NISH)

Pensacola

Lakeview Center, Inc. (NISH)

Rockledge

Brevard Achievement Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

Bridges BTC, Inc. (NISH)

St. Petersburg

JobWorks, Inc. (NISH)

Louise Graham Regeneration 

Center, Inc. (NISH)

Starke

The Arc of Bradford 

County (NISH)

Tampa

MacDonald Training Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

Tampa Lighthouse for the 

Blind (NIB)

West Palm Beach

Gulfstream Goodwill 

Industries, Inc. (NISH)

GEORGIA

Americus

Middle Flint Behavioral 

HealthCare—Sumter County 

MR Center (NISH)

Atlanta

Bobby Dodd Institute, 

Inc. (NISH)

Goodwill Industries of North 

Georgia, Inc. (NISH)

Augusta

Easter Seals East Georgia, 

Inc. (NISH)

Bainbridge

Georgia Industries for the 

Blind (NIB)

Columbus

Power Works Industries, 

Inc. (NISH)

Dublin

Middle Georgia Diversified 

Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Jonesboro

WORKTEC (NISH)

LaGrange

New Ventures Enterprises, 

Inc. (NISH)

Macon

Good Vocations, Inc. (NISH) 

Marietta

Nobis Enterprises, 

Inc. (NISH)

Savannah

Goodwill Industries of the 

Coastal Empire, Inc. (NISH)

Smyrna

Vision Rehabilitation Services 

of Georgia, Inc. (NIB)

Thomasville

Thomas-Grady Mental 

Retardation Service 

Center (NISH)

Warner Robins

Houston County Association 

for Exceptional Citizens, 

Inc. (NISH)

GUAM

Dededo

ICAN Resources, Inc. (NISH)

Tamuning

Able Industries of the 

Pacific (NISH)

HAWAII

Hilo

The Arc of Hilo (NISH)

Honolulu

Goodwill Contract Services of 

Hawaii, Inc. (NISH)

Lanakila Rehabilitation 

Center (NISH)

Network Enterprises, 

Inc. (NISH)

Wahiawa

Opportunities and Resources, 

Inc. (NISH)

Wailuku

Ka Lima O Maui, Ltd. (NISH)

IDAHO

Blackfoot

Dawn Enterprises, 

Inc. (NISH)

Boise

Trace, Inc. (NISH)

Caldwell

Western Idaho Training 

Company (NISH)

Coeur d’Alene

TESH, Inc. (NISH)

Idaho Falls

Development Workshop, 

Inc. (NISH)

Meridian

Reliant Services, Inc. (NISH)

Pocatello

New Day Products, 

Inc. (NISH)

ILLINOIS

Alton

Challenge Unlimited, 

Inc. (NISH)

Arlington Heights

Clearbrook Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

Belleville

St. Clair Associated 

Vocational Enterprises, 

Inc. (NISH)

Chicago

Ada S. McKinley Community 

Services, Inc. (NISH)

Envision Unlimited (NISH)

Jewish Vocational 

Service and Employment 

Center (NISH)

Lester and Rosalie Anixter 

Center (NISH)

The Chicago Lighthouse 

for People who are Blind or 

Visually Impaired (NIB)

TRI Industries (NISH)

Danville

WorkSource Enterprises, 

NFP (NISH)

Lanark

Rolling Hills Progress Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

Mt. Sterling

Hancock County Mental 

Health Center, Inc. (NISH)

Mt. Vernon

Jefferson County 

Comprehensive Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

Murphysboro

Specialized Training 

for Adult RehabiliTation 

(START) (NISH)

Northbrook

Glenkirk (NISH)

Paris

Human Resources Center 

of Edgar and Clark 

Counties (NISH)

Peoria

Community Workshop and 

Training Center, Inc. (NISH)

Rock Island

Innovative Partnerships, 

N.F.P. (NISH)

The Arc of the Quad Cities 

Area (NISH)

Rockford

OMNI Business Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

Skokie

The Douglas Center (NISH)

Springfield

United Cerebral Palsy of the 

Land of Lincoln (NISH)

West Frankfurt

The H Group, B.B.T. 

Inc. (NISH)

INDIANA

Bloomington

Stone Belt ARC, Inc. (NISH)

Fort Wayne

Anthony Wayne Rehabilitation 

Ctr for Handicapped and 

Blind, Inc. (NISH)

The Arc of Northeast Indiana, 

Inc. (NISH)

Gary

TradeWinds Services, 

Inc (NISH)

Indianapolis

Bosma Enterprises (NIB)

Crossroads Rehabilitation 

Center, Inc. (NISH)

GW Commercial Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

Kokomo

Bona Vista Programs, 

Inc. (NISH)

Lafayette

Wabash Center, Inc. (NISH)

Linton

Four Rivers Resource 

Services, Inc. (NISH)

New Albany

Rauch, Inc. (NISH)

Paoli

Orange County Rehabilitative 

and Developmental Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

Rockville

Child-Adult Resource 

Services, Inc. (NISH)

Shelbyville

Shares Inc. (NISH)

Vincennes

Knox County Association 

for Retarded Citizens, 

Inc. (NISH)

IOWA

Des Moines

Goodwill Solutions, 

Inc. (NISH)

Iowa City

Goodwill Industries of the 

Heartland (NISH)

Jefferson

Genesis Development (NISH)

Rock Valley

Hope Haven, Inc. (NISH)

Shenandoah

Nishna Productions, 

Inc. (NISH)

Sioux City

Goodwill Community 

Rehabilitation Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

KANSAS

Lawrence

Cottonwood, 

Incorporated (NISH)

Topeka

Topeka Association for 

Retarded Citizens (NISH)

Wichita

Center Industries 

Corporation (NISH)

Envision, Inc. (NIB)

KENTUCKY

Corbin

Southeastern Kentucky 

Rehabilitation Industries, 

Inc. (NISH)

Danville

Pioneer Vocational/Industrial 

Services, Inc. (NISH)

Hopkinsville

Pennyroyal Regional Mental 

Health-Mental Retardation 

Board, Inc. (NISH)

Lexington

Employment Solutions, 

Inc. (NISH)

Opportunity Workshop of 

Lexington, Inc. (NISH)

Louisville

C.G.M. Services, Inc. (NISH)

Goodwill Industries of 

Kentucky, Inc. (NISH)

Owensboro

Opportunity Center 

Workshop, Inc. (NISH)

LOUISIANA

Baton Rouge

Louisiana Industries for the 

Disabled, Inc. (NISH)

Berwick

Bayou Industrial 

Maintenance Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

Jena

LaSalle Association for the 

Developmentally Delayed, 

Inc. (NISH)

Lake Charles

Calcasieu Association 

for Retarded Citizens, 

Inc. (NISH)

Leesville

Vernon Sheltered Workshop, 

Inc. (NISH)

Many

Association of Retarded 

Citizens of Sabine, 

Inc. (NISH)

Metairie

Goodworks, Inc. (NISH)

New Orleans

The Lighthouse for the Blind 

in New Orleans (NIB)

Shreveport

Goodwill Industries of North 

Louisiana, Inc. (NISH)

Louisiana Association for 

the Blind (NIB)

The Arc of CaddoBossier (NISH)

Slidell

St. Tammany Association 

for Retarded Citizens, 

Inc. (NISH)

MAINE

Auburn

Pathways, Inc. (NISH)

Augusta

Motivational Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

Belfast

Group Home Foundation, 

Inc. (NISH)

Portland

Northern New 

England Employment 

Services (NISH)

MARYLAND

Aberdeen

The Arc Northern 

Chesapeake Region, 

Incorporated (NISH)

Baltimore

Alliance, Inc. (NISH)

Blind Industries & Services 

of Maryland (NIB)

Goodwill Industries of the 

Chesapeake, Inc. (NISH)

Sinai Hospital of Baltimore 

(Vocational Services 

Program) (NISH)

The Arc of Baltimore, 

Inc. (NISH)

The Chimes, Inc. (NISH)

Columbia

Athelas Institute, Inc. (NISH)

Humanim, Inc. (NISH)

Easton

Chesapeake Bay Industries, 

Inc. (NISH)

Frederick

Jeanne Bussard Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

Hagerstown

Hagerstown Goodwill 

Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Hollywood

The Center for Life 

Enrichment, Inc. (NISH)

Rockville

The Arc of Montgomery 

County, Inc. (NISH)

Silver Spring

CHI Centers, Inc. (NISH)

Upper Marlboro

Melwood Horticultural 

Training Center (NISH)

MASSACHUSETTS

Boston

Community Workshops, 

Inc. (NISH)

Morgan Memorial Goodwill 

Industries (NISH)

National Telecommuting 

Institute, Inc. (NISH)

Chicopee

Sunshine Village, 

Inc. (NISH)

Concord

Minute Man Arc for Human 

Services, Inc. (NISH)

Dorchester

WORK, Inc. (NISH)

Hyannis

capeAbilities, Inc. (NISH)

Pittsfield

Berkshire County Arc, 

Inc. (NISH)

Springfield

Goodwill Industries of the 

Pioneer Valley, Inc. (NISH)

Worcester

Seven Hills Occupational 

& Rehabilitation Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

MICHIGAN

Alpena

Northeastern Michigan 

Rehabilitation and 

Opportunity Center 

(NEMROC) (NISH)

Auburn Hills

New Horizons Rehabilitation 

Services, Inc. (NISH)

Battle Creek

Calhoun County 

Community Mental Health 

Services (NISH)

Navigations, Inc. (NISH)

Berrien Springs

Gateway (NISH)

Brighton

Work Skills 

Corporation (NISH)

Escanaba

Lakestate Industries (NISH)

Grand Rapids

Hope Network Services 

Corporation (NISH)

Holland

Kandu Industries, 

Inc. (NISH)

Kalamazoo

MidWest Enterprises for the 

Blind, Inc. (NIB)

MRC Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Kingsford

Trico Opportunities, 

Inc. (NISH)

Lansing

Peckham Vocational 

Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Muskegon

Goodwill Industries of West 

Michigan, Inc. (NISH)

Port Huron

Community Enterprises of 

St. Clair County (NISH)

Saginaw

SVRC Industries, 

Inc. (NISH)

Sault Ste. Marie

Northern Transitions, 

Inc. (NISH)

Southfield

Jewish Vocational 

Service and Community 

Workshop (NISH)

Traverse City

G.W. Services of Northern 

Michigan, Inc. (NISH)

Grand Traverse Industries, 

Inc. (NISH)

Vassar

Tuscola County 

Community Mental Health 

Authority (NISH)

Ypsilanti

Washtenaw County 

Community Support and 

Treatment Services (NISH)

MINNESOTA

Duluth

Goodwill Industries 

Vocational Enterprises, 

Inc. (NISH)

Fergus Falls

Productive Alternatives, 

Inc. (NISH)

Minneapolis

AccessAbility, Inc. (NISH)

Tasks Unlimited, Inc. (NISH)

Rochester

Ability Building Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

St. Paul

MDI Government Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

Thief River Falls 

Occupational Development 

Center, Inc. (NISH)

MISSISSIPPI

Aberdeen

AbilityWorks, Inc., of Monroe 

County (NISH)

Greenville

AbilityWorks, Inc., of 

Washington County (NISH)

Gulfport

AbilityWorks, Inc., of 

Harrison County (NISH)

Mississippi Goodworks, 

Inc. (NISH)

Jackson

AbilityWorks, Inc., of 

Jackson (NISH)

Mississippi Industries for the 

Blind (NIB)

Meridian

AbilityWorks, Inc., of 

Meridian (NISH)

Oxford

AbilityWorks, Inc., of 

Oxford (NISH)

Vicksburg

Warren County Association 

for Retarded Citizens, 

Inc. (NISH)

MISSOURI

Bethany

Harrison County 

Sheltered Workshop 

Association (NISH)

Cape Girardeau

Cape Girardeau Community 

Sheltered Workshop, 

Inc. (NISH)

Harrisonville

Casco Area Workshop, 

Inc. (NISH)

Independence

JobOne (NISH)

Kansas City

Alphapointe (NIB)

The Helping Hand of 

Goodwill Industries 

Extended Employment 

SWS (NISH)

Marshfield

Web-Co Custom Industries, 

Inc. (NISH)
Nueces County Mental 

Health Mental Retardation 

Community Center (NISH)

South Texas Lighthouse for 

the Blind (NIB)

Dallas

Dallas Lighthouse for the 

Blind, Inc. (NIB)

El Paso

Let’s Go To Work (NISH)

ReadyOne Industries, 

Inc. (NISH)

Fort Worth

Expanco, Inc. (NISH)

Goodwill Industrial Services 

of Fort Worth, Inc. (NISH)

Lighthouse for the Blind of 

Fort Worth (NIB)

Houston

Arbor Products, Inc. (NISH)

CRI Federal 

Services (NISH)

The Lighthouse of 

Houston (NIB)

On Our Own Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

Southeast Vocational 

Alliance, Inc. (NISH)

Lufkin

Burke Center, Inc. (NISH)

San Angelo

Concho Resource 

Center (NISH)

MHMR Services for the 

Concho Valley (NISH)

West Texas Lighthouse for 

the Blind (NIB)

San Antonio

Endeavors Unlimited, 

Inc. (NISH)

Goodwill Industries of San 

Antonio (NISH)

Mavagi Enterprises, 

Inc. (NISH)

San Antonio Lighthouse for 

the Blind (NIB)

South Texas Housing and 

Community Development 

Corp, Inc. (NISH)

Training, Rehabilitation, 

& Development Institute, 

Inc. (NISH)

World Technical Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

Tyler

Horizon Industries (NIB)

Wichita Falls

Beacon Lighthouse, 

Inc. (NIB)

North Texas State 

Hospital (NISH)

Work Services 

Corporation (NISH)

UTAH

Clearfield

Pioneer Adult Rehabilitation 

Center Davis County 

School District (NISH)

Ogden

EnableUtah (NISH)

Salt Lake City

Community Foundation for 

the Disabled, Inc. (NISH)

Utah Industries for the 

Blind (NIB)

VIRGINIA

Alexandria

ServiceSource, Inc. (NISH)

Arlington

Linden Resources, 

Inc. (NISH)

Atkins

Mount Rogers Community 

Services Board (NISH)

Charlottesville

Virginia Industries for the 

Blind (NIB)

WorkSource 

Enterprises (NISH)

Chesapeake

Chesapeake Service 

Systems, Inc. (NISH)

Farmville

Southside Training 

Employment Placement 

Services, Inc. (NISH)

Fredericksburg

Rappahannock Goodwill 

Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Front Royal

Able Forces, Inc. (NISH)

Hampton

The Arc of the Virginia 

Peninsula, Inc. (NISH)

Harrisonburg

Friendship Industries, 

Inc. (NISH)

Leesburg

Every Citizen Has 

Opportunities, Inc. (NISH)

Lynchburg

Lynchburg Sheltered 

Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Manassas

Didlake, Inc. (NISH)

Norfolk

Community Alternatives, 

Incorporated (NISH)

Louise W. Eggleston Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

Petersburg

Progressive Adult 

Rehabilitation Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

Portsmouth

Portco, Inc. (NISH)

Richmond

Goodwill Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

Richmond Area 

Association for Retarded 

Citizens (NISH)

Roanoke

Goodwill Industries of the 

Valleys, Inc. (NISH)

Springfield

MVLE, Inc. (NISH)

Virginia Beach

Sara’s Mentoring Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

Winchester

NW Works, Inc. (NISH)

WASHINGTON

Bellevue

AtWork! (NISH)

Bellingham

Cascade Christian 

Services (NISH)

Lake Whatcom 

Residential and Treatment 

Center (NISH)

Bremerton

Holly Ridge Center (NISH)

Peninsula Services (NISH)

Skookum Educational 

Programs (NISH)

Clarkston

Asotin County Community 

Services (NISH)

Kennewick

Columbia Industries (NISH)

Oak Harbor

New Leaf, Inc. (NISH)

Olympia

Morningside (NISH)

Seattle

Northwest Center (NISH)

Provail (NISH)

The Lighthouse for the Blind, 

Inc. (NIB)

Spokane

Good Works, Inc. (NISH)

Skils’kin (NISH)

Sumner

VADIS (NISH)

Tacoma

Goodwill Contracting 

Services (NISH)

Walla Walla

Lillie Rice Center (NISH)

Yakima

Yakima Specialties, 

Inc. (NISH)

WISCONSIN

Eau Claire

L. E. Phillips Career 

Development Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

Elkhorn

VIP Services, Inc. (NISH)

Fond du Lac

Brooke Industries, 

Inc. (NISH)

Fort Atkinson

Opportunities, Inc. of 

Jefferson County (NISH)

Green Bay

ASPIRO, Inc. (NISH)

La Crosse

ORC Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Madison

Madison Area Rehabilitation 

Centers, Inc. (NISH)

Marinette

Goodwill Industries of 

Northern Wisconsin & Upper 

Michigan, Inc. (NISH)

Milwaukee

Associated Industries for 

the Blind, Inc. (NIB)

Goodwill Industries of 

Southeastern Wisconsin, 

Inc. (NISH)

Milwaukee Center for 

Independence, Inc. (NISH)

Wiscraft, Inc. (NIB)

Racine

Lakeside Curative Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

Waukesha

Waukesha Training Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

West Allis

Industries for the Blind, 

Inc. (NIB)

Wisconsin Rapids

ODC Government Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

WEST VIRGINIA

Bridgeport

Job Squad, Inc. (NISH)

Buckhannon

Buckhannon-Upshur 

Work Adjustment Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

Charleston

Goodwill Industries of 

Kanawha Valley, Inc. (NISH)

Craigsville

The Sheltered Workshop 

of Nicholas County, 

Inc. (NISH)

Huntington

Prestera Center for 

Mental Health Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

Maben

Integrated Resources, 

Inc. (NISH)

Morgantown

PACE Enterprises of West 

Virginia, Inc. (NISH)

Parkersburg

SW Resources, Inc. (NISH)

Ronceverte

Gateway Industries, 

Inc. (NISH)

Weirton

Hancock County Sheltered 

Workshop, Inc. (NISH)

Wheeling

Russell Nesbitt Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

WYOMING

Cheyenne

Goodwill Industries of 

Wyoming, Inc. (NISH)

Magic City Enterprises, 

Inc. (NISH)

Worland

Northwest Community 

Action Programs of 

Wyoming, Inc. (NISH)

Monroe City

Learning Opportunities/

Quality Works, Inc. (NISH)

Sedalia

Cooperative Workshops, 

Inc. (NISH)

Springfield

Springfield Workshop, 

Inc. (NISH)

St. Louis

MGI Services 

Corporation (NISH) 

The Lighthouse for the 

Blind (NIB)

MONTANA

Billings

Community Option 

Resource Enterprises, 

Inc. (NISH)

Butte

BSW, Inc. (NISH)

Helena

Helena Industries, 

Inc. (NISH)

Missoula

Opportunity Resources, 

Inc. (NISH)

NEBRASKA

Grand Island

Goodwill Employment 

Services of Central 

Nebraska, Inc. (NISH)

Nebraska City

Region V Services (NISH)

Omaha

Goodwill Specialty Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

Outlook Nebraska, 

Inc. (NIB)

NEVADA

Las Vegas

Blind Center of Nevada, 

Inc. (NIB)

Great Plains Enterprises, 

Inc. (NISH)

Opportunity Village 

Association for Retarded 

Citizens (NISH)

Reno

High Sierra Industries, 

Inc. (NISH)

Washoe Ability Resource 

Center (NISH)

NEW JERSEY

Cedar Knolls

Employment Horizons, 

Inc. (NISH)

Edison

Edison Sheltered Workshop, 

Inc. (NISH)

Hackensack

North Jersey Friendship 

House, Inc. (NISH)

The Arc of Bergen 

and Passaic Counties, 

Inc. (NISH)

Mt. Holly

Occupational Training 

Center of Burlington 

County (NISH)

Runnemede

Bestwork Industries for the 

Blind, Inc. (NIB)

Somerset

Cambridge Industries for the 

Visually Impaired (NIB)

New Jersey Association of 

the Deaf-Blind, Inc. (NIB)

NEW MExICO

Albuquerque

Adelante Development 

Center, Inc. (NISH)

LifeROOTS, Inc (NISH)

Artesia

Door of Opportunity, 

Inc. (NISH)

Clovis

ENMRSH, Inc. (NISH)

Las Cruces

Tresco, Inc. (NISH)

Santa Fe

New Mexico Commission for 

the Blind (NIB)

Presbyterian Medical 

Services (NISH)

NEW YORK

Albany

Northeastern Association of 

the Blind at Albany (NIB)

Amsterdam

Montgomery County 

Chapter, NYSARC, 

Inc. (NISH)

Batavia

Genesee County Chapter, 

NYSARC (NISH)

Binghamton

Able Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Association for Vision 

Rehabilitation and 

Employment, Inc. (NIB)

Brooklyn

New York City Industries for 

the Blind, Inc. (NIB)

Buffalo

Elizabeth Pierce Olmsted, 

M.D. Center for the Visually 

Impaired (NIB)

Phoenix Frontier, Inc. (NISH)

Canandaigua

Ontario County Chapter, 

NYSARC, Inc. (NISH)

Canton

St. Lawrence County 

Chapter, NYSARC (NISH)

Cortland

J.M. Murray Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

Elma

Suburban Adult Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

Fulton

Oswego Industries, 

Inc. (NISH)

Herkimer

Herkimer County Chapter, 

NYSARC, Inc. (NISH)

Jamestown

Chautauqua County 

Chapter, NYSARC (NISH)

Kingston

Gateway Community 

Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Malone

Citizen Advocates, 

Inc. (NISH)

Menands

The Workshop, Inc. (NISH)

Middletown

New Dynamics 

Corporation (NISH)

Occupations, Inc. (NISH)

New York

Fedcap Rehabilitation 

Services, Inc. (NISH)

Federation Employment and 

Guidance Service (NISH)

NYSARC, Inc., NYC 

Chapter (NISH)

The Corporate Source, 

Inc. (NISH)

Niagara Falls

Niagara County Chapter, 

NYSARC (NISH)

Oakdale

Skills Unlimited, Inc. (NISH)

Olean

Cattaraugus County Chapter, 

NYSARC (NISH)

Penn Yan

Yates County Chapter 

NYSARC, Inc. (NISH)

Plattsburgh

Clinton County Chapter, 

NYSARC, Inc. (NISH)

Rochester

Association for the Blind 

and Visually Impaired—

Goodwill Industries of 

Greater Rochester (NIB)

Lifetime Assistance, 

Inc. (NISH)

Rochester Psychiatric 

Center (NISH)

Rochester Rehabilitation 

Center (NISH)

Schenectady

Schenectady County 

Chapter, NYSARC, 

Inc. (NISH)

Slingerlands

Albany County Chapter, 

NYSARC, Inc. (NISH)

Syracuse

Aurora of Central New 

York (NIB)

Onondaga County Chapter, 

NYSARC, Inc. (NISH)

Utica

Central Association for 

the Blind and Visually 

Impaired (NIB)

Human Technologies 

Corporation (NISH)

The Arc, Oneida-Lewis 

Chapter, NYSARC, 

Inc. (NISH)

Walton

Delaware County Chapter, 

NYSARC, Inc. (NISH)

Waterloo

NYSARC, Inc., SenecaCayuga Counties 

Chapter (NISH)

Watertown

Jefferson County Chapter, 

NYSARC (NISH)

Watkins Glen

Schuyler County Chapter, 

NYSARC, Inc. (NISH)

Webster

CDS Monarch (NISH)

NORTH CAROLINA

Andrews

Industrial Opportunities, 

Inc. (NISH)

Brevard

Transylvania Vocational 

Services, Inc. (NISH)

Charlotte

Lions Services, Inc. (NIB)

Durham

Durham Exchange Club 

Industries, Inc. (NISH)

LC Industries, Inc. (NIB)

Elizabeth City

Skills, Inc. (NISH)

Fayetteville

Employment Source, 

Inc. (NISH)

Greensboro

Industries of the Blind, 

Inc. (NIB)

Greenville

Eastern Carolina Vocational 

Center, Inc. (NISH)

Hillsborough

OE Enterprises, Inc. (NISH)

Jacksonville

Coastal Enterprises of 

Jacksonville, Inc. (NISH)

Kinston

Lions Industries for the Blind, 

Inc. (NIB)

Raleigh

RLCB, Inc. (NIB)

Washington

Beaufort County 

Developmental Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem Industries 

for the Blind, Inc. (NIB)

NORTH DAKOTA

Bismarck

Pride, Inc. (NISH)

Devils Lake

Lake Region 

Corporation (NISH)

Fargo

Vocational Training 

Center (NISH)

Jamestown

Alpha Opportunities, 

Inc. (NISH)

Minot

MVW Services, Inc. (NISH)

Valley City

Open Door Center (NISH)

OHIO

Akron

Community Support 

Services, Inc. (NISH)

Weaver Industries, 

Inc. (NISH)

Canton

The Workshops, Inc. (NISH)

Cincinnati

Cincinnati Association 

for the Blind and Visually 

Impaired (NIB)

Greater Cincinnati Behavioral 

Health Services (NISH)

Ohio Valley Goodwill 

Industries Rehabilitation 

Center, Inc. (NISH)

Clovernook Center for 

the Blind and Visually 

Impaired (NIB)

Cleveland

VGS, Inc. (NISH)

Dayton

Eastway Corporation (NISH)

Goodwill Easter Seals Miami 

Valley (NISH)

Delaware

The Alpha Group of Delaware, 

Inc. (NISH)

Elyria

Murray Ridge Production 

Center, Inc. (NISH)

Mansfield

Rehabilitation Service 

of North Central Ohio, 

Inc. (NISH)

Richland County Board 

of Developmental 

Disabilities (NISH)

Marion

MARCA Industries, 

Inc. (NISH)

Newark

Licking-Knox Goodwill 

Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Springfield

TAC Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Stryker

Quadco Rehabilitation Center, 

Inc. (Northwest Products 

Division) (NISH)

Toledo

ContracTech, Inc. (NISH)

xenia

Greene, Inc. (NISH)

Youngstown

Youngstown Area Goodwill 

Industries (NISH)

OKLAHOMA

Anadarko

APEX, Inc. (NISH)

Muskogee

Golden Rule Industries of 

Muskogee, Inc. (NISH)

Oklahoma City

Dale Rogers Training Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

NewView Oklahoma, 

Inc. (NIB)

OREGON

Ashland

Pathway Enterprises, 

Inc. (NISH)

Hood River

Hood River Sheltered 

Workshop (NISH)

Lebanon

Willamette Valley 

Rehabilitation Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

Portland

Blind Enterprises of 

Oregon (NIB)

DePaul Industries (NISH)

Portland Habilitation Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

Roseburg

Sunrise Enterprises of 

Roseburg, Inc. (NISH)

Salem

Garten Services, Inc. (NISH)

PENNSYLVANIA

Aston

Elwyn, Inc. (NISH)

Athens

Penn-York Opportunities for 

the Handicapped, Inc. (NISH)

Bethlehem

Via of the Lehigh Valley, 

Inc. (NISH)

Carlisle

The Arc of Cumberland and 

Perry Counties (NISH)

Chester

Center for the Blind and 

Visually Impaired (NIB)

Coatesville

Chester County Branch, 

PAB (NIB)

Erie

Dr. Gertrude A. Barber Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

Greensburg

Westmoreland County Blind 

Association (NIB)

Harrisburg

Goodwill Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

Homestead

Blind and Vision 

Rehabilitation Services of 

Pittsburgh (NIB)

Houston

Arc Human Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

Johnstown

Cambria County Association 

for the Blind and 

Handicapped (NISH)

Goodwill Industries of 

the Conemaugh Valley, 

Inc. (NISH)

Lancaster

Susquehanna Association 

for the Blind and Vison 

Impaired (NIB)

Lebanon

Quality Employment Services 

and Training, Inc. (NISH)

Lewistown

NuVisions Center (NISH)

New Castle

Lark Enterprises, Inc. (NISH)

North Warren

Bollinger Enterprises (NISH)

Philadelphia

Horizon House, Inc. (NISH)

InspiriTec, Inc. (NISH)

Pittsburgh

Arc—Allegheny (NISH)

Family Services of Western 

Pennsylvania (NISH)

Goodwill Commercial 

Services, Inc. (NISH)

Life’s Work of Western 

PA (NISH)

The Easter Seal Society of 

Western Pennsylvania (NISH)

Pottsville

Avenues, Inc. (NISH)

Scranton

Allied Health Care 

Services (NISH)

Stroudsburg

The Burnley Workshop of the 

Poconos, Inc. (NISH)

Washington

Washington-Greene County 

Branch, PAB (NIB)

Wilkes-Barre

United Rehabilitation 

Services, Inc. (NISH)

Williamsport

Hope Enterprises, Inc. (NISH)

North Central Sight Services, 

Inc. (NIB)

York

ForSight Vision (NIB)

RHODE ISLAND

Cranston

CranstonArc (NISH)

Newport

James L. Maher 

Center (NISH)

North Providence

Greater Providence Chapter, 

Rhode Island Assoc. for 

Retarded Citizens (NISH)

SOUTH CAROLINA

Aiken

The Tri-Development Center 

of Aiken County, Inc. (NISH)

Beaufort

Beaufort Vocational 

Rehabilitation Center (NISH)

Conway

Horry County Disabilities and 

Special Needs Board (NISH)

Florence

Florence County Disabilities 

and Special Needs 

Board (NISH)

Greenville

Greenville County Disabilities 

and Special Needs 

Board (NISH)

Greenville Rehabilitation 

Center (NISH)

SC Vocations & Individual 

Advancement, Inc. (NISH)

North Charleston

Charleston Vocational 

Rehabilitation Center (NISH)

Goodwill Industries of Lower 

South Carolina, Inc. (NISH)

Orangeburg

Orangeburg County 

Disabilities and Special 

Needs Board (NISH)

Seneca

Oconee-Pickens Work 

Training Center (NISH)

Spartanburg

The Charles Lea Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

Summerville

Dorchester County Board 

of Disabilities and Special 

Needs (NISH)

Sumter

Sumter County Disabilities 

and Special Needs Board, 

Inc. (NISH)

The Genesis Center (NISH)

Walterboro

Walterboro Vocational 

Rehabilitation Center (NISH)

West Columbia

Lexington Vocational 

Rehabilitation Center (NISH)

SOUTH DAKOTA

Aberdeen

Aspire, Inc. (NISH)

Elsworth AFB

BH Services, Inc. (NISH)

Huron

Huron Area Center for 

Independence (NISH)

Pierre

OAHE, Inc. (NISH)

Sioux Falls

South Dakota Achieve (NISH)

Volunteers of America, 

Dakotas (NISH)

TENNESSEE

Chattanooga

The Orange Grove Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

Clarksville

Progressive Directions, 

Inc. (NISH)

Johnson City

Dawn of Hope Development 

Center, Inc. (NISH)

Knoxville

Goodwill Industries—

Knoxville, Inc. (NISH)

Knox County Association for 

Retarded Citizens (NISH)

Memphis

Memphis Goodwill Industries, 

Inc. (NISH)

Morristown

Lions Volunteer Blind 

Industries, Inc. (NIB)

Nashville

Ed Lindsey Industries for the 

Blind, Inc. (NIB)

Government Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

TExAS

Austin

Austin Task, Inc. (NISH)

Blue Solutions (NISH)

Professional Contract 

Services, Inc. (NISH)

Relief Enterprise, Inc. (NISH)

Travis Association for the 

Blind (NIB)

Beaumont

Goodwill Industries Industrial 

Contracts and Temporary 

Services, Inc. (NISH)

Conroe

Tri-County Mental Health 

and Mental Retardation 

Services (NISH)

Corpus Christi

Goodwill Industries of South 

Texas, Inc. (NISH)

U.S. ABILITYONE COMMISSIONTM

1421 Jefferson Davis HigHway, JP2, suite 10800 ★ arlington, va 22202-3259

telePHone: 703-603-7740 ★ fax: 703-603-0655

info@abilityone.gov ★ www.abilityone.gov
“it MAKes Me

feel good. 

i KnoW tHAt tHeY 

ARe oVeR tHeRe

FiGHtinG FoR ouR

countRY.

it Just MAKes Me 

Feel pRouD &

honor tHAt i cAn... MAKed

e A

pRoDuct

tHAt WoulD 

help Them.”

Donald Hill

AbilityOne Employee

Southeastern Kentucky 

Rehabilitation Industries

AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011 47
Abilityone national n
 

48 AnnuAl RepoRt FiscAl YeAR 2011
 
State or 

Territory 

Number of 

Agencies Hours Employees Wages Average Hourly Wage

abiliTyone® fy2011 sTaTs by sTaTe
 

etwork 

Commission Headquarters 

NIB National Office 

NISH National Office 

NISH Producing NPAs 

NIB Producing NPAs 

Alabama 12 1,269,259 976 $14,352,251 $11.31 

Alaska 5 206,537 303 $2,863,238 $13.86 

Arizona 10 653,672 499 $7,252,910 $11.10 

Arkansas 6 280,538 351 $2,667,255 $9.51 

California 46 3,952,316 3,430 $52,192,818 $13.21 

Colorado 7 478,840 584 $5,667,993 $11.84 

Connecticut 5 378,197 1,535 $5,079,317 $13.43 

Delaware 3 91,303 126 $1,051,651 $11.52 

District of Columbia 5 407,277 327 $5,472,358 $13.44 

Florida 21 3,469,325 3,700 $35,442,879 $10.22 

Georgia 16 1,453,002 1,245 $15,605,352 $10.74 

Guam 1 157,235 230 $1,814,174 $11.54 

Hawaii 6 277,732 239 $3,411,599 $12.28 

Idaho 7 761,668 955 $9,166,204 $12.03 

Illinois 23 820,105 928 $9,188,338 $11.20 

Indiana 15 504,972 733 $4,338,539 $8.59 

Iowa 6 62,148 228 $690,102 $11.10 

Kansas 3 435,669 486 $3,623,286 $8.32 

Kentucky 7 655,960 1,047 $6,131,926 $9.35 

Louisiana 12 445,154 546 $4,456,156 $10.01 

Maine 3 302,034 206 $2,894,210 $9.58 

Maryland 17 3,429,756 2,765 $39,787,326 $11.60 

Massachusetts 11 420,304 826 $5,502,705 $13.09 

Michigan 22 3,564,652 3,467 $33,540,997 $9.41 

Minnesota 8 250,826 343 $2,496,868 $9.95 

Mississippi 9 334,656 352 $3,828,339 $11.44 

Missouri 12 464,172 594 $4,889,505 $10.53 

Montana 4 79,930 261 $422,824 $5.29 

Nebraska 4 203,190 275 $1,846,779 $9.09 

Nevada 5 273,250 423 $2,801,230 $10.25 

New Hampshire 1 58,417 106 $939,193 $16.08 

New Jersey 7 435,732 426 $5,137,717 $11.79 

New Mexico 7 361,520 395 $3,647,328 $10.09 

New York 43 2,142,934 2,391 $30,454,944 $14.21 

North Carolina 15 2,848,690 2,393 $27,459,632 $9.64 

North Dakota 6 181,314 217 $1,752,054 $9.66 

Ohio 21 814,511 957 $9,200,925 $11.30 

Oklahoma 4 393,535 315 $4,141,227 $10.52 

Oregon 8 258,960 201 $4,374,340 $16.89 

Pennsylvania 33 959,083 1,223 $10,254,196 $10.69 

Rhode Island 3 85,434 114 $1,052,762 $12.32 

South Carolina 16 526,885 943 $5,192,588 $9.86 

South Dakota 6 234,143 260 $2,082,592 $8.89 

Tennessee 10 331,890 429 $3,230,053 $9.73 

Texas 36 6,101,144 4,870 $66,717,366 $10.94 

Utah 4 246,554 183 $3,160,275 $12.82 

Virginia 24 3,673,520 3,366 $42,846,202 $11.66 

Washington 19 1,475,760 1,795 $22,426,549 $15.20 

West Virginia 11 355,729 291 $3,698,429 $10.40 

Wisconsin 15 1,672,463 1,643 $22,311,591 $13.34 

Wyoming 3 1,672,463 1,643 $22,311,591 $13.34 

603 49,288,796 50,580 $559,147,300 $11.46 

AbilityOne NPAs employ people in all 50 states, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin 

Islands and Guam; some participating NPAs perform work in multiple states, and the data above 

are based on the location of the NPA headquarters. 

www.abilityone.gov 49 
The CommiTTee for PurChase from 

PeoPle Who are Blind or severely 

disaBled Began oPeraTing as 

The u.s. aBiliTyone CommissionTM 

on oCT. 1, 2011

1421 Jefferson davis highWay

JP2; suiTe 10800

arlingTon, va 22202

(703) 603-7740

info@aBiliTyone.gov 

WWW.aBiliTyone.gov

OC MM TI TEE FOR PURCHASE FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR SEVERELY D SI ABLED