Javits–Wagner–O’Day Committee for Purchase From People

Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled

2005-2006 Annual Report on the

AbilityOne Program
b 2005-2006 Committee Annual Report

The AbilityOne (Formerly JWOD) 

Program Mission and Vision

The mission of the AbilityOne Program is 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 vision of the AbilityOne Program is:

The AbilityOne Program enables all people who are blind or have other 

severe disabilities to achieve their maximum employment potential.

This vision will be realized when:

n Every person who is blind or severely disabled and who wants to work 

is provided an opportunity to be employed productively.

n Every AbilityOne employee earns not only the Federal minimum wage 

(or higher applicable state minimum wage) but also a living wage 

and benefits package appropriate to his or her geographic locality. 

n AbilityOne employees are provided the training and development they 

need to be successful in their current positions, and ultimately 

achieve their maximum employment potential.

n Every AbilityOne employee is provided the opportunity, with or without 

accommodations, to advance to his or her maximum employment 

potential, including internal or external competitive placement or 

management and administrative positions.

n All AbilityOne products and services provide best value to Federal 

customers, thus earning their continued support and loyalty.

AbilityOne (formerly JWOD) Program History

In 1938, the Wagner-O’Day Act was passed to provide employment 

opportunities for people who are blind by allowing them to manufacture 

commodities, such as mops and brooms, to sell to the Federal 

Government. The Javits Amendment of 1971 created the Javits-WagnerO’Day (JWOD) Act (41 U.S.C. 46-48c) and amended the Act to include 

providing employment opportunities for people with other severe 

disabilities and allowing the Program to also furnish services to the 

Federal Government. In addition, the amendment established the 

Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled 

as an independent Federal agency to administer the JWOD Program. In 

2006, the Committee deliberated and elected to change the JWOD 

Program umbrella name to AbilityOne to give a stronger, more unified 

identity to the program and to show a connection between the program 

name and the abilities of those who are blind or have other severe 

disabilities. Currently providing employment opportunities to over 

47,000 Americans who are blind or have other severe disabilities, the 

AbilityOne Program is the single largest employer of such individuals in 

the United States.

Senator Robert Wagner (NY)

1877–1953

U.S. Senate Historical Office

Senator Jacob Javits (NY)

1904–1986

U.S. Senate Historical Office

Representative Caroline Love

Goodwin O’Day (NY) 1875–1943

Library of Congress
Chairperson’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

AbilityOne Program Name Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Committee Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

About the Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Program Organization/NIB & NISH Partnership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

About AbilityOne-associated Nonprofit Agencies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Responding to Critical Needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

AbilityOne Program Strategic Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

AbilityOne Program Legislative Recommendations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Committee Semiannual Regulatory Agenda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Program Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Wages Paid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Program Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

E. R. “Dick” Alley Career Achievement Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

AbilityOne-associated Nonprofit Agency Results by State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Customer Satisfaction/AbilityOne Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

AbilityOne-associated Nonprofit Agency Listing by State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

TABLE OF CONTENTS

AbilityOne

2005-2006 Committee Annual Report 1
2 2005-2006 Committee Annual Report

MESSAGE

Chairperson’s

C

hange, evolution and transformation. These 

words define both the era in which we live 

and the environment in which the AbilityOne (formerly Javits-Wagner-O’Day or 

JWOD) Program pursues 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. To that end, the AbilityOne Program 

is today the largest single source of employment for 

people who are blind or have other severe disabilities in the United States. The 

Program currently employs over 

47,000 individuals at more than 

600 community-based nonprofit 

agencies nationwide.

It is my honor and pleasure to 

present to you the combined 

2005-2006 Annual Report of the 

Committee for Purchase From 

People Who Are Blind or Severely 

Disabled. The period covered in 

this report marks the transition of 

the former JWOD Program to the 

AbilityOne Program, and demonstrates how this nearly 70 year-old nationwide 

initiative is as relevant today—if not more so—as it 

was when Congress created it in 1938.

AbilityOne products are ubiquitous throughout 

government offices, warehouses, military installations, and maintenance facilities. We are proud to 

know that U.S. soldiers depend on AbilityOnemanufactured clothing and equipment in Iraq and 

Afghanistan. In addition, its associated State and 

local nonprofit employees are familiar faces seen 

every workday from the halls of Congress to the 

Statue of Liberty; from Federal courthouses to 

military dining facilities. These skilled employees 

deliver mail, answer phone inquiries, maintain 

building grounds, clean offices and handle warehouse functions, among other tasks in service to our 

Government and our country. Without question, the 

AbilityOne Program works for America!

In Fiscal Years 2005 and 2006, the AbilityOne 

Program continued to increase employment for the 

underutilized population it serves. There was an 

increase by more than 2,000 in the number of 

individuals who have jobs through this Program. At 

the same time, we saw a notable increase in wages 

earned by workers on AbilityOne 

contracts. In 2005, these employees 

earned total wages of $389 M, with 

an average hourly rate of $9.51. In 

2006, total wages surpassed $403 M, 

with an average hourly rate of $9.78. 

In addition to their wages, AbilityOne 

employees typically earn benefits such 

as paid vacation and medical leave, 

health insurance and retirement 

accounts. Beyond providing Federal 

offices needed products and services at 

fair market prices, the Program also 

provides the American taxpayer an 

added bonus, as AbilityOne workers achieve greater 

independence, thus reducing dependence on Government assistance and becoming taxpayers themselves. 

The AbilityOne Program is moving forward with 

its 2007-2009 Strategic Plan, and we are excited 

about the many new types of job opportunities that 

will be available to people who are blind or have 

other severe disabilities, through new lines of 

business, expansion of core businesses and advances 

in technology. The AbilityOne Program strives to be 

a solution provider to our Federal customers, while 

at the same time, a quality employer of people with 

disabilities. Everyone should have an opportunity to 
2005-2006 Committee Annual Report 3

participate in the American work experience, earn 

equitable wages and build skills that foster career 

advancement. This is our expectation for AbilityOne 

employees, as well.

This Annual Report resumes the practice of 

recommending changes to our enabling legislation, 

the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act (41 U.S.C.§ 46-48c), 

as authorized. The Committee has not included such 

a recommendation in its Annual Report since 1987. 

The recommendations contained in this Annual 

Report have been coordinated with the Office of 

Management and Budget.

 This report also contains a list of AbilityOneparticipating State and local nonprofit agencies by 

state. These organizations employ, train, and often 

provide daily living skills to individuals who work 

on Federal contracts under the auspices of the 

Program. We invite members of Congress and its 

staff to contact a member of the Committee staff to 

arrange a tour of participating agency facilities and 

witness the contributions of the AbilityOne workforce 

to the business of the Federal Government first hand.

I close with a quote that has special meaning for 

the Committee and our program: “Far and away the 

best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard 

at work worth doing.”

—Theodore Roosevelt, 1858-1919

Sincerely,

Andrew Houghton

Chairperson
William Shakespeare put it aptly when he 

penned, “What’s in a name? That which we 

call a rose by any other name would smell as 

sweet.” That said, the mission and the vision of the 

AbilityOne Program remains resolutely the same as 

when Congress first created the program nearly 70 

years ago: 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.

As you review this report, you will find the 

JWOD and AbilityOne names used throughout the 

text. The names are interchangeable and reference 

the same Program. During the transition period, 

AbilityOne will remain connected to its legacy 

name so as to ease into the new identity while 

keeping confusion to a minimum for participating 

AbilityOne nonprofit agencies, Federal customers, 

members of Congress, other stakeholders and the 

public at large.

Meanwhile, change always gives birth to 

opportunity. Even as the AbilityOne Program 

evolves, the Committee, with assistance from our 

partners at National Industries for the Blind and 

NISH (serving people with a range of disabilities), is 

committed to accomplishing program goals. The 

AbilityOne Program will continue to be a solution 

provider of choice for our valued Federal customers 

while delivering employment opportunities that 

offer individual choice, equitable wages and 

benefits, upward mobility and personal satisfaction 

for people who are blind or have other severe 

disabilities. AbilityOne is as relevant to the lives of 

the people we serve today as it was in 1938 and 

continues to work for America.

The period covered in this report was, indeed, a time of change and evolution for America’s 

largest single source of employment for individuals who are blind or have other severe 

disabilities. One of the most exciting transformations occurred in 2006, when the Committee 

deliberated and elected to change the Javits-Wagner-O’Day (JWOD) Program umbrella name 

to the AbilityOne Program. The Committee voted to adopt the new name in order to give a 

stronger, more unified identity to the program and to show a connection between the program 

name and the abilities of those who are blind or have other severe disabilities.

still works for America

AbilityOne

4 2005-2006 Committee Annual Report

AbilityOne-associated employees at Goodwill Industries of South Florida sew internment 

flags on a Department of Veteran’s Affairs contract
2005-2006 Committee Annual Report 5

of the committee

Members

Andrew Houghton, Chairperson

Private Citizen–Nonprofit Agency Employees 

with Other Severe Disabilities

March 2003 

Steven B. Schwalb, Chairperson, 2005

Chief Operating Officer, UNICOR

Corporate Management

Federal Prison Industries

Department of Justice

November 1994 

Frederick R. Beaman, III 

Chief, Air Force Labor Advisors

Department of the Air Force

July 2003 

Steven R. Bernett

Deputy Commander

Defense Supply Center Philadelphia

Defense Logistics Agency

Department of Defense

July 2003 

Robert J. Henke

Assistant Secretary for Management

Office of Management

Department of Veterans Affairs

May 2006 

Osborne Day 

Private Citizen–Obstacles to Employment 

of Persons Who are Blind

July 2005 

W. Roy Grizzard, Jr., Ed.D.

Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy 

Office of Disability Employment Policy

Department of Labor

September 2004 

Robert T. Kelly, Jr.

Private Citizen–Obstacles to Employment 

of Persons with Other Severe Disabilities

July 2003 

Felipe Mendoza 

Associate Administrator

Office of Small Business Utilization

General Services Administration

July 2003

James H. Omvig

Private Citizen–Nonprofit Agency 

Employees Who are Blind

March 2003 

Michael Sade

Director for Acquisition Management 

and Procurement Executive

Department of Commerce

July 2003

Sandra O. Sieber

Director of the Army Contracting Agency 

Department of the Army

August 2003 

Rear Admiral Daniel H. Stone

Commander, Naval Supply Systems Command 

and Chief of Supply Corps 

NAVSUP 

Department of the Navy 

May 2005 

James E. House*

Director, Office of Small and Disadvantaged 

Business Utilization

Department of Agriculture

May 2006 

Perry E. Anthony**

Deputy Commissioner

Rehabilitation Services Administration

Department of Education

*John Surina held this seat in 2005 May 2006 **The Honorable Joanne Wilson held this seat in 2005
agencies comply with Committee rules and 

regulations (through on-site reviews of agency 

operations, annual certifications and other 

means); and

n Works with Federal customers to facilitate their 

AbilityOne Program purchases. 

the Committee for Purchase From People

Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled

About

6 2005-2006 Committee Annual Report

Mops and brooms were the first commodities that AbilityOne-associated nonprofit agencies 

offered to Federal customers when Congress passed the Wagner-O’Day Act in 1938.

T

he Committee has 15 members, all of whom 

are appointed by the President. Representatives 

from Federal Agencies include the Departments 

of Agriculture, Air Force, Army, Commerce, 

Defense, Education, Justice, Labor, Navy, Veterans 

Affairs, and the General Services Administration, as 

specified in the Act. The remaining four members 

are private citizens knowledgeable about the 

employment problems of people who are blind or 

have other severe disabilities, including those 

employed by nonprofit agencies associated with the 

AbilityOne Program. Among its responsibilities, 

the Committee:

n Determines which products and services are 

suitable for purchase by the Federal Government, and thus, added to the Program Procurement List. Once included on the list, Federal 

customers buy the items/service from AbilityOne-participating nonprofit agencies; 

n Sets the fair market prices for these products and 

services, and revises the prices when appropriate; 

n Ensures that AbilityOne-associated nonprofit 

The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled is the small, 

independent Federal Agency responsible for administering the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act 

(41 U.S.C. 46-48c). The Committee’s mission is to generate job 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 Committee’s primary means of doing so is through 

the Federal acquisition system, where the purchase of products and services furnished by 

nonprofit agencies participating in the AbilityOne Program enable the employment of such 

persons nationwide. 
2005-2006 Committee Annual Report 7

Many AbilityOne-associated nonprofit agencies are involved in the manufacture of military 

and agency unique apparel and other products- making the AbilityOne Program a critical 

partner in the U.S. military industrial base.

The Committee has a full-time staff with offices 

located in Arlington, Virginia. The staff receives and 

reviews information submitted by its two designated 

Central Nonprofit Agencies, National Industries for 

the Blind (NIB) and NISH (serving people with a 

range of severe disabilities) proposing to add or 

delete products and service projects to or from the 

official Procurement List. The purpose of the review 

process is to ensure that the Committee has adequate 

information to determine the suitability of proposed 

additions and/or deletions to or from the Procurement List. Suitability and pricing information 

compiled by the staff is submitted to Committee 

members for their deliberation and decision regarding such changes to the Procurement List. Other 

responsibilities of the Committee staff include:

n Communicating to Federal customers the 

benefits and processes associated with purchasing AbilityOne Program products and services;

n Identifying and researching issues of interest to 

the AbilityOne Program for review and discussion by the Committee;

n Reviewing and analyzing recommended fair 

market prices for current and proposed 

AbilityOne Program products and services;

n Assisting nonprofit agencies in complying with 

Committee rules and regulations and those of 

other Federal agencies; and 

n Implementing technology infrastructures to 

facilitate communication and rapid access to 

information electronically among Committee 

members, Committee staff, Central Nonprofit 

Agencies, Nonprofit Agencies, and Federal 

customers.

Through NIB and NISH, the Committee 

currently works with more than 600 nonprofit 

agencies across the country, as well as in Puerto 

Rico and Guam. Federal customers’ purchases of 

AbilityOne products and services provided by these 

participating agencies, and the people who are blind 

or have other severe disabilities they employ, helps 

battle the high unemployment rate faced by this 

untapped labor resource, 70 percent of whom are 

not employed.

Committee Meetings

During FY 2005-2006, the Committee held 13 

formal meetings on the following dates:

October 14, 2004

November 4, 2004

January 13, 2005

March 10, 2005

May 24, 2005

July 14, 2005

September 8, 2005

November 10, 2005

January 12, 2006

March 9, 2006

May 1, 2006

July 13, 2006

September 28, 2006

“Freedom is no half-and-half affair. If [a] 

citizen is guaranteed equal opportunity 

in the polling place, he must have equal 

opportunity in the marketplace... We 

are poor indeed if this nation cannot 

afford to lift from every recess of 

American life the dread fear of the 

unemployed that they are not needed 

in the world.”

—President Franklin D. Roosevelt
T

he Javits-Wagner-O’Day (JWOD) Act authorizes the Committee to designate “a central 

nonprofit agency or agencies to facilitate the 

distribution” of Government orders of Procurement 

List products and services among nonprofit agencies 

employing people who are blind or have other 

severe disabilities. 

The Committee has designated National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and NISH (serving people 

with a range of disabilities) as the national nonprofit 

organizations that perform this and other functions 

that assist nonprofit agencies to participate in the 

AbilityOne (formerly JWOD) Program. NIB and 

NISH work closely with contracting activities and 

nonprofit agencies to match Government requirements with nonprofit agency capabilities.

Each of the more than 600 community-based 

nonprofit agencies participating in the AbilityOne 

Program during FYs 2005-2006 is associated with 

either NIB or NISH. Major functions carried out by 

these two organizations include:

n Allocating Government orders for AbilityOne 

projects among nonprofit agencies;

n Assisting nonprofit agencies in the development

of new AbilityOne projects for the Committee’s 

consideration, including the negotiation of 

proposed AbilityOne contract prices, addressing 

production/service provision concerns, and 

compliance with Committee regulations;

n Evaluating Federal customer needs and nonprofit 

agencies’ capabilities to provide specific products 

and services, and facilitating distribution 

channels;

n Obtaining item procurement histories from 

Federal contracting activities and other information required by the Committee.

NIB and NISH also provide their associated 

agencies with many other services, including: 

National Industries for the Blind and NISH

About

8 2005-2006 Committee Annual Report

legislative and regulatory assistance, communications and public relations materials, information 

technology support, engineering, financial and 

technical assistance, and professional training 

programs.

NIB is headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia. 

In FY 2005-2006, 74 NIB-affiliated agencies 

participated in the AbilityOne Program. NISH is 

headquartered in Vienna, Virginia, with regional 

offices in California, Washington, Georgia, Virginia, 

Texas and Illinois. In FY 2005, 566 nonprofit 

agencies participating in the AbilityOne Program 

were affiliated with NISH while the number of 

NISH-affiliated agencies numbered 560 in 2006.

AbilityOne Program Organization Chart

President

Committee Staff

Headquarters–Arlington, VA

National Industries for the Blind

Headquarters–Alexandria, VA

Participating Agencies

(74-2005-2006)

NISH

Headquarters–Vienna, VA

Technical Center Regional Offices

Earth City, MO

Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled

Committee Chairperson

Participating Agencies 

(566-2005; 560-2006)

Northwest

WA

West

CA

North/Central

IL

South/Central

TX

South

GA

East

VA
2005-2006 Committee Annual Report 9

standard prescribed by the Secretary of Labor; 

and

n At least 75 percent of the hours of direct labor 

performed annually by the nonprofit agency 

must be performed by workers who are blind, in 

the case of agencies associated with NIB, and by 

workers who are blind or have other severe 

disabilities, in the case of agencies associated 

with NISH.

To maintain its qualification under the JavitsWagner-O’Day Act, AbilityOne-participating 

nonprofit agencies must, along with the initial 

guidelines outlined above:

n Provide the Federal Government with a quality 

product or service, on time, and at a fair

market price;

n Comply with the applicable compensation and 

employment standards as prescribed by the 

Secretary of Labor;

n Comply with directives or requests issued by the 

Committee in furtherance of the objectives of the 

Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act or its implementing 

regulations;

n Maintain appropriate medical and competitive 

employment documentation for each individual 

performing direct labor who is blind or has a 

severe disability;

n Maintain records of direct labor hours performed 

in the nonprofit agency by each employee;

2005-2006 Committee Annual Report 9

The AbilityOne (formerly JWOD) Program is a 

unique public-private initiative. Nonprofit organizations participating in the AbilityOne Program may 

be privately incorporated, state-owned, or stateoperated organizations. They are located in 

communities across the United States. The AbilityOne-participating nonprofit organizations are the 

Program’s on-the-ground source for creating 

employment opportunities for people who are blind 

or have other severe disabilities. At the same time, 

these organizations provide products and service 

solutions to meet their Federal customers’ needs.

All nonprofit agencies participating in the 

AbilityOne Program are affiliated with either NIB or 

NISH. To be recognized as a “qualified nonprofit 

agency” under the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act:

n The nonprofit agency must be organized under 

the laws of the United States or of any State, 

operated in the interest of individuals who are 

blind or have other severe disabilities, and the 

net income cannot inure in whole or in part 

to the benefit of any shareholder or other 

individual;

n The nonprofit agency must comply with any 

applicable occupational health and safety 

2005-2006 Committee Annual Report 9

AbilityOne-participating Nonprofit Agencies

About

“People might not get all they worked 

for in this world, but they must certainly 

work for all they get.”

—Frederick Douglas, 1817-1895

The safety goggles worn by this AbilityOne employee are in compliance with Occupational 

Safety and Health Administration safety standards.
10 2005-2006 Committee Annual Report

n Make its records available for inspection to 

representatives of the Committee or the central 

nonprofit agency representing the nonprofit 

agency;

n Maintain an ongoing placement program to 

assist those individuals capable and desirous of 

competitive employment;

n Provide to the Committee, through NIB and 

NISH, appropriate Annual Certification data; 

and

n Pay to the central nonprofit agency a fee, not to 

exceed the fee limit approved by the Committee, 

to fund the central nonprofit agency’s role in 

facilitating the nonprofit agency’s participation 

in the AbilityOne Program. 

What is legal blindness?

The Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act and the Committee’s 

regulations define legal blindness as:

“central visual acuity which does not exceed 

20/200 in the better eye with correcting lenses 

or... visual acuity if better than 20/200... 

accompanied by a limit to the field of vision 

in the better eye to such a degree that its 

widest diameter subtends an angle no greater 

than 20 degrees.”

“Continuity of purpose is one of the most 

essential ingredients of happiness in the 

long run, and for most men this comes 

chiefly through their work.”

—Bertrand Russell, 1872-1970

What is a severe disability?

The Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act and the Committee’s 

regulations define a severe disability other than 

blindness as:

“a severe physical or mental impairment (a 

residual, limiting condition resulting from an 

injury, disease, or congenital defect) which so 

limits the person’s functional capabilities 

(mobility, communication, interpersonal 

skills, self-care, self-direction, work tolerance 

or work skills) that the individual is unable to 

engage in normal competitive employment 

over an extended period of time.”

The dining galley at Great Lakes Naval Training Center in Great Lakes, Illinois is a 

sterling example of the AbilityOne Program’s commitment to quality customer service. 

Goodwill of Southeastern Wisconsin is the NISH-associated AbilityOne nonprofit agency 

responsible for the food service contract.
Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma

A dozen AbilityOne (formerly JWOD)-participating 

nonprofit agencies located in Louisiana, Florida, 

Mississippi, and Texas, were affected by what 

proved to be a devastating hurricane season for 

hundreds of thousands of Americans in 2005. The 

combined effects of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and 

Wilma on the region impacted operations on more 

than 50 AbilityOne contracts for products and 

services being supplied to the Federal Government, 

as well as the livelihoods of the hundreds of people 

who are blind or have other severe disabilities those 

contracts employed. But during these difficult times, 

many AbilityOne-participating nonprofit agency 

employees in the affected areas put aside concerns 

for their own personal safety during the hurricanes, 

and personal challenges and losses afterward, to 

support the needs of their Federal customers. And, 

nonprofits outside of the area also stepped up efforts 

to meet the needs of Federal and local humanitarian 

response activities.

2005-2006 Committee Annual Report 11

to critical needs

Responding 

Serving Beyond the Call of Duty

Lakeview Center, Inc., of Pensacola, Florida, 

operates the food service contract for the Armed 

Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, Mississippi. 

With Hurricane Katrina approaching, all 15 AbilityOne employees volunteered to stay and assist the 400 

residents who were not evacuated. When the first 

floor of the retirement home suddenly flooded, three 

of the retirement home’s employees were trapped 

inside a storage room that was quickly filling up 

with water. The rushing water was pushing against 

the door, making it impossible for those inside to 

escape. Two AbilityOne employees assisted other 

members of the retirement home staff in forcing 

open the door and rescuing those trapped inside.

Mississippi Goodworks of Gulfport, Mississippi, 

operates the switchboard operation contract at 

Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi. During 

Hurricane Katrina, four MS Goodworks employees 

stayed and ran the switchboard throughout the 

storm. They remained on their jobs for days until 

relief was flown in from another Air Force base. 

Thanks to the dedication and positive attitude of 

the MS Goodworks employees, the switchboard 

remained in operation before, during and after the 

storm without disruption.

Mississippi Goodworks employees also cleaned 

more than 100 rooms in record time at the 

“All labor that uplifts humanity has 

dignity and importance and should 

be undertaken with painstaking 

excellence.”

—Martin Luther King, Jr., 1929-1968

The destruction and calamity in the wake of the 2005 hurricane season impacted more

than a dozen AbilityOne-associated nonprofit agencies and hundreds of their employees. 

Still, AbilityOne-associated employees rose to the occasion performing heroically in

meeting critical customer needs.
12 2005-2006 Committee Annual Report

Air National Guard in Gulfport, Mississippi, just 

before Hurricane Katrina hit, in preparation for an 

influx of troops. They performed this with their 

normal crew and before the deadline for evacuation.

St. Tammany Association for Retarded Children 

(STARC) in Slidell, Louisiana, operates a laundry 

facility, which, after Hurricane Katrina, was flooded 

with more than 4 feet of water. STARC’s largest 

customers, who were also hit by the hurricane, 

cancelled their laundry contracts. STARC reacted 

quickly to restore operations by repairing the 

laundry facility and placing a bid with the Federal 

Government’s prime contractor to provide laundry 

support for personnel living in the tent city that was 

installed at Naval Air Station Belle Chasse. STARC 

won the bid and had just a few weeks to move 

damaged equipment out and repair their building. 

Just 7 weeks after the hurricane hit, STARC began 

performing laundry services for the prime contractor.

Like many other AbilityOne employees, a 

number of people with severe disabilities employed 

at Goodworks New Orleans lost everything they 

had during Hurricane Katrina, but that did not stop 

them from fulfilling their commitment to provide 

grounds maintenance services at Naval Air Station 

Belle Chasse. To continue to meet their customer’s 

needs, many of these employees are living on site at 

the base in Recreational Vehicles provided through 

NISH grants.

LC Industries for the Blind of Durham, North 

Carolina operates a number of Base Supply Centers 

(BSCs) on military installations including Naval Air 

Station Jacksonville, Florida; Naval Air Station 

Mayport, Florida; and Naval Air Station, Pensacola, 

Florida. To meet the needs of ships being deployed 

to the New Orleans area, the BSCs at Naval Air 

Stations Jacksonville and Mayport were open for 16 

hours a day, several days in a row. On Labor Day, 

the NAS Mayport BSC provided needed blankets, 

sheets, pillowcases, water cans, sterile gloves, and 

assorted cleaning supplies to the US Navy Hospital 

Ship, USNS COMFORT, allowing it to be underway 

to the Gulf of Mexico region by late afternoon. The 

NAS Mayport BSC also provided assistance to the 

USS Stephen W. Groves and the USS John B. Hall, 

which were both ported at NAS Pascagoula, 

Mississippi, and ordered to sea to avoid the hurricane. These two ships were also utilized after the 

hurricane to carry badly needed relief supplies from 

NAS Mayport to NAS Pascagoula. In the wake of 

hurricane Katrina, LC Industries also immediately 

loaded trucks full of relief items from its distribution 

center in Durham, North Carolina, to stock its BSC 

at Naval Air Station Pensacola, which had been 

designated as the Navy’s staging area for hurricane 

relief effort. 

At Camp Shelby, Mississippi, LC Industries also 

provided needed supplies for the Federal Emergency 

Management Agency, the Mississippi Emergency 

Management Agency, and the Joint Task Force 

Katrina, which was headquartered at the camp. The 

BSC was honored with a Certificate of Appreciation 

from the Joint Task Force Commander, LTG Russell 

L. Honoré. 

“We love to work because it gives us 

genuine happiness, the posting and 

solving of problems, the joyful exercise 

of the imagination.”

—Joyce Carol Oates

NISH President and CEO, Robert Chamberlin (7th from left) with representatives and 

employees of New Orleans area AbilityOne-associated nonprofit organizations acknowledges the commitment and bravery they demonstrated in service to their nation and 

communities during Hurricane Katrina.
2005-2006 Committee Annual Report 13

The J.M. Murray Center in Cortland, New 

York, provided the U.S. Navy with an order of 

2,000 dental care kits, each containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss, to go aboard the 

aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman for provision 

to people in the coastal areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

TARC Industries Employment Services of 

Topeka, Kansas, provided 45,000 breakfast and 

dinner kits to National Guard units from Kansas, 

New Mexico, and Oklahoma, being deployed to 

Louisiana to assist the Louisiana National Guard in 

recovery efforts. 

The Louisiana Association for the Blind in

Shreveport, Louisiana, which operates a BSC at 

Barksdale Air Force Base, donated sheets and 

pillows from the store inventory to the 926th 

Fighter Group stationed in New Orleans, which 

was eventually relocated to Barksdale AFB. 

Meeting the needs of local communities

The J.M. Murray Center in Cortland, New York, 

has provided approximately 10,000 of the items 

they manufacture and/or produce in their facility 

including toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, and 

trash bags, to displaced children as well as to people 

with disabilities and caregivers who had been 

relocated to a Lafayette, Louisana shelter. 

National Industries for the Blind and its associated agencies donated more than 30 boxes of 

supplies, including first aid kits, medical supplies, 

clothing, and dog and cat food, which were distributed to those in need by two NIB employees living 

and working in areas deeply affected by the storms. 

Meeting the needs of AbilityOne-participating 

nonprofit agencies

NIB and NISH came to the aid of their impacted 

affiliated nonprofit agencies with various forms of 

financial, technical, and logistical assistance and 

support. They provided nonprofit agencies with 

grants and interest-free loans to: restore operations; 

supplement affected employees incomes; rebuild 

facilities; provide temporary housing and office 

space; provide immunizations; secure new contracts; 

and purchase necessary supplies and equipment. 

Members of NIB and NISH staff also spent time 

on-site at affected nonprofit agencies to coordinate 

assistance efforts and to help bring operations on 

AbilityOne contracts back online.

NIB also created a fund to collect financial and 

in-kind donations from its employees and those of 

its associated agencies, as well as from private 

donors and professional partners, to assist blind 

employees at affected NIB-associated agencies 

reestablish their lives and replace personal property. 

NISH created a Disaster Relief bulletin board on its 

Web site to pair nonprofit agencies that had been 

affected by the hurricanes with nonprofit agencies 

that wanted to provide assistance. Many NIB- and 

NISH-associated agencies offered supplies, housing, 

and jobs for employees at affected agencies. 

Affected AbilityOne-Participating 

Nonprofit Agencies:

AbilityWorks, Inc. of Harrison County, Long Beach, MS

Calcasieu Association for Retarded Citizens, Inc., 

Lake Charles, LA

Goodwill Industries Industrial Contracts and Temporary 

Services, Beaumont, TX

Goodwill Industries of South Florida, Inc., Miami, FL

Goodworks, Inc., New Orleans, LA

Lakeview Center (also known as Gulf Coast Enterprises), 

Pensacola, FL

L.C. Industries for the Blind, Inc., Durham, NC 

(Gulfport satellite location)

The Lighthouse for the Blind in New Orleans, 

New Orleans, LA

Louisiana Industries for the Disabled (also known 

as Upliftd), Baton Rouge, LA

Mississippi Goodworks, Gulfport, MS

St. Tammany Association for Retarded Citizens, 

Slidell, LA

Statewide Consolidated Community Development 

Corp, Inc., Beaumont, TX
Background Introduction

In 1938, the Wagner-O’Day Act was signed into law 

by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in order to 

provide employment opportunities for people who 

are blind by allowing them to manufacture mops 

and brooms and other commodities to sell to the 

Federal Government. The Javits Amendments of 

1971 created the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act (41 U.

S.C. 46-48c) and amended the Act to include 

providing employment opportunities for people with 

other severe disabilities and allow the Program to 

also provide services to the Federal government. 

The amendments established the Committee for 

Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely 

Disabled (Committee) as an independent Federal 

agency with a professional civilian staff to administer the JWOD Program. The Committee voted to 

change the JWOD Program name in 2006 to the 

AbilityOne Program in order to give a stronger, 

more unified identity to the program and to show 

a connection between the program name and the 

abilities of those who are blind or have other 

severe disabilities.

Executive Summary For the AbilityOne Program

FY 2005 – 2007

Strategic Plan

14 2005-2006 Committee Annual Report

FedCap, a New York city NISH-associated AbilityOne nonprofit is responsible for maintaining 

the Statute of Liberty and Ellis Island visitor center in one of the first environmentally 

responsible janitorial contracts with the Department of the Interior National Park Service.
The Committee accomplishes its mission by 

working through the AbilityOne Program’s two 

Committee-designated Central Nonprofit Agencies 

(CNAs), National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and 

NISH (serving individuals with a range of disabilities), to identify Government procurement requirements that can generate employment opportunities 

for individuals who are blind or have other severe 

disabilities. The Committee places such product 

and service requirements on the AbilityOne Procurement List to be furnished by state and private 

nonprofit agencies (NPAs) employing people who 

are blind or have other severe disabilities. If Federal 

agencies have a requirement to procure such 

products and services, and the NPA can meet the 

Government’s needs, the Federal agency procures 

such products and services from Committeeauthorized NPAs at Committee-established fair 

market prices.

Strategic Goals and Objectives

This section documents the AbilityOne Program’s 

high-level strategic goals for FY 2007 through FY 

2009. Specific objectives are identified under each 

goal. The activities to achieve the objectives will be 

incorporated into specific Action Plans.

Goal 1. Employment for People Who Are Blind or Have 

Other Severe Disabilities

Continue to expand employment opportunities for 

people who are blind or have other severe disabilities (people who are currently unable to engage in 

normal competitive employment over an extended 

period of time) under the AbilityOne Program, 

including wage progression, benefits, upward 

mobility and personal job satisfaction.

Goal 2. Customer Satisfaction

Partner with Federal customers to increase customer 

satisfaction and loyalty, so the AbilityOne Program 

becomes their preferred source for products and 

services.

Goal 3. Process and Procedures

Improve efficiency and effectiveness of the AbilityOne 

Program (the Committee, CNAs, and NPAs) by 

streamlining and automating processes and

procedures, and improving communication, while 

continuing to ensure program integrity.

Goal 4. Communication and Information Sharing

Expand awareness, understanding and preference 

for the AbilityOne Program within the public, 

Congress, Federal agencies, the disability community, and other AbilityOne stakeholders through 

effective communication and information sharing.

Goal 5. Market Development

Strategically develop new markets and expand 

existing markets in which the AbilityOne Program 

can provide best value products and services to 

Federal customers in order to expand employment 

opportunities that meet the needs of people who are 

blind or have other severe disabilities.

You may review the Committee’s Strategic Plan in 

its entirety, including Key Measures and Objectives 

detailed in the plan, at the Committee’s website at 

www.abilityone.gov.

2005-2006 Committee Annual Report 15

“Change is the constant, the signal for 

rebirth, the egg of the phoenix.”

—Christina Baldwin, American Writer

AbilityOne jobs pay good wages and offer health insurance, vacation and sick leave and 

other benefits to AbilityOne-associated employees working on Federal contracts.
16 2005-2006 Committee Annual Report

Legislative RECOMMENDATIONS

Program

In accordance with Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act (41 U.S.C.§ 46-48c) the Committee has the 

authority to transmit to the President and to the Congress a report which shall include any 

recommendations for changes in this Act, that it determines are necessary. For the first time 

since 1987, the Committee is including in its Annual Report a recommendation of this nature. 

The following broad principles have been coordinated with the Office of Management and Budget 

and would contribute to the modernization of 

the Act: 

n Sustain and improve the initial/recurring employment opportunities for people who are blind or 

severely disabled employed under this Act.

n Sustain and improve the upward mobility 

employment opportunities for people who are 

blind or severely disabled initially employed 

under this Act. 

n Streamline the statutory processes used to justify, 

add, delete, and transfer projects to/from the 

Procurement List.

n Ensure that the entire AbilityOne Program 

system, including the participating nonprofit 

agencies, central nonprofit agencies and Federal 

agencies, accept and comply with the highest 

levels of accountability, ethical and integrity 

standards. 

“I have come to know by experience that 

work is the nearest thing to happiness 

that I can find.”

—Zora Neale Hurston, 1891-1960

Dependable and capable, AbilityOne-associated employees play an integral role in the 

U.S. military industrial base.
2005-2006 Committee Annual Report 17

agencies would clarify the meaning and applicability 

of the term “essentially the same,” which appears in 

the Committee’s regulations but is not defined.

AbilityOne Program Ratio Requirements

The Committee plans to propose to amend its 

regulations by adding a requirement that for total 

AbilityOne project work, the direct labor hours 

performed by people who are blind or have other 

severe disabilities must be at least 75 percent, and 

for individual AbilityOne projects, the direct labor 

hours performed by people who are blind or have 

other severe disabilites must be no lower than 60 

percent. This proposed rule would also provide a 

mechanism for the phase-in of projects that cannot 

initially meet the direct labor hour percentage 

requirements set forth in the proposal.

Suitability Criteria and Determinations

The Committee plans to propose to amend its 

regulations by revising and clarifying the current 

suitability criteria, in 41 CFR 51-2.4, that the 

Committee uses to make determinations regarding 

whether a commodity or service is suitable to be 

added to the Procurement List.

Responsibilities of Central Nonprofit Agencies

The Committee plans to propose to amend its 

regulations by revising and clarifying the current 

AbilityOne Program responsibilities of CNAs 

designated by the Committee. These responsibilities 

are set forth at 41 CFR 51-3.2 of the regulations.

SUMMARY: This document sets forth the regulatory agenda of the Committee for Purchase

From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled. 

The agenda lists regulations that are, or will be, 

under development or review during the next

12 months.

Accountability Standards for Designated CNAs

and AbilityOne-Participating NPAs

The Committee is proposing to require designated 

CNAs and other participating NPAs take specific 

steps to adhere to accountability standards established by the Committee. This proposed rule’s key 

element is to ensure that executive compensation 

generated through the AbilityOne Program’s 

authority does not unreasonably inure to an 

individual, executive, or professional staff member. 

The proposed rule is also intended to ensure that 

only qualified, capable, and compliant CNAs and 

NPAs can receive and retain Javits-Wagner-O’Day 

Act sponsored Government contracts. This rule

will require CNAs to adhere to the fee guidance 

established herein.

Determining Whether Commodities are

“Essentially the Same”

The Committee proposes to amend its regulations 

by adding guidelines for Federal agencies’ use in 

determining whether commercial commodities are 

“essentially the same” as items on the Procurement 

List, the official list of commodities and services that 

the Committee determines are suitable for provision 

to the Government by NPAs employing people who 

are blind or have other severe disabilities, and that 

pursuant to the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Act and the 

regulations, must be purchased from the source the 

Committee designates. The guidelines for Federal 

Semiannual Regulatory Agenda

Committee
18 2005-2006 Committee Annual Report

2005 – 2006 Strengthening an Economic Citadel

AbilityOne

T

o tens of thousands of Americans who are 

blind or have other severe disabilities, the 

AbilityOne (formerly Javits-Wagner-O’Day/

JWOD) Program is an economic citadel. It represents a fortress of opportunity that affords them the 

chance to participate in the American work experience and thus, achieve greater personal and financial independence. In 2005 and 2006 the Committee 

for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or 

Severely Disabled focused its energy on strengthening the foundation of this nearly 70-year-old 

Program so that it continues to be relevant for 

generations to come.

During this period, the AbilityOne Program 

reengineered itself—evaluating business processes, 

implementing its strategic plan, and continuing to 

target strategic goals while at the same time, 

focusing on generating job opportunities for the 

population it serves.

The AbilityOne Program is a best value solution 

provider to its Federal customers. As such, the 

Committee continues its drive to deliver quality 

While the number of employees increased during this 

timeframe, so too did the number of direct labor hours they 

worked. In 2005, AbilityOne-associated employees worked 

40,945,943 hours. In 2006, AbilityOne-associated employees worked 41,258,300 direct labor hours. These figures 

represent an increase for the period of 463,932 additional 

direct labor hours over 2004.

In 2005, 46,753 Americans who are blind or have other 

severe disabilities worked under the auspices of the 

AbilityOne Program, an increase of 1,450 over the 2004 

figure of 45,303. Another 882 jobs were added in 2006 

when AbilityOne-participating nonprofit agencies employed 

47,635 people with severe disabilities. The total increase 

for the two year period was 2,332.

Employment

AbilityOne Employees (in thousands) AbilityOne Direct Labor Hours (in millions)

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

10 20 30 40 50

47.6

46.8

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

10 20 30 40 50

41.3

40.9
2005-2006 Committee Annual Report 19

Total wages paid to AbilityOne-associated employees in 

2005 amounted to $389,366,499; in 2006, wages earned 

increased to $403,608,916. For the 2005-2006 period, 

AbilityOne-associated employees earned $37,387,320 

additional wages over 2004’s $366,221,596.

The average hourly wage paid to AbilityOne-associated 

employees also increased. In 2004, the average hourly rate 

paid to AbilityOne-associated employees was $8.98 per 

hour. The average increased to $9.51 in 2005 followed by 

another increase to $9.78 in 2006.

Wages

AbilityOne Direct Labor Wages (in millions) AbilityOne Direct Labor Hourly Wage

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

10 20 30 40 50

$403.6

$389.4

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

$9.78

$9.51

$1 $2 $3 $4 $5 $6 $7 $8 $9 $10

products and services in a timely manner and at a 

fair market price to the Government marketplace. 

Along the way, the Program meets challenges headon and continues to grow. Today, the AbilityOne 

Program is the largest single source of employment 

for these individuals who face tremendous obstacles 

to steady, stable employment.

The AbilityOne Program has a new name, a 

new look and feel. However, the mission remains 

the same, and the Committee will continue to 

strive for policy and business improvements and 

efficiencies that will allow National Industries for 

the Blind and NISH, along with the more than 600 

AbilityOne-associated nonprofit agencies across the 

nation to generate quality jobs and stable incomes 

for Americans who are blind or have other severe 

disabilities.

A Skookum Educational Programs (Port Townsend, WA) employee performs maintenance 

on an AbilityOne vehicle maintenance service contract at Fort Lewis.
20 2005-2006 Committee Annual Report

AbilityOne Sales by Year 

(in millions)

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

2004 2005 2006

While AbilityOne office, cleaning, medical and military and 

agency unique products continue to be an important source 

of job creation, providing service solutions is a growing 

business line for the AbilityOne Program. The following is a 

break down of the products and services provided to Federal 

customers in 2004-2006: 

Products

Services

Products Services Total

2004 $1,031,661,567 $1,031,661,567 $2,048,326,986

2005 $1,156,833,546 $1,084,496,651 $2,241,330,197

2006 $1,117,584,594 $1,148,789,657 $2,266,374,251

Of course, this sustained growth could not be possible 

without the continued support of our Federal customers. 

In 2004, Federal military and civilian agencies purchased $2,048,326,986 worth of products and services 

from AbilityOne-associated nonprofit agencies. In 2005 

that figure grew to $2,241,330,197 and continued this 

upward trend in 2006, with $2,266,374,251 in sales of 

both AbilityOne products and services. Despite this 

increase, however, the AbilityOne Program only accounts 

for one-half of one percent of all Federal procurement 

dollars spent.

FY 2005 FY 2006

DLA $710,233,010 $673,294,654

Navy $239,678,587 $256,708,305

Air Force $208,641,394 $235,063,605

Army $216,837,266 $228,596,331

GSA-PBS $154,165,629 $167,903,970

GSA-FSA $135,233,114 $140,387,306

Authorized Distributors $87,309,362 $90,716,000

DeCA $104,018,291 $89,300,996

Veterans Affairs $65,333,360 $77,776,668

Treasury $37,693,099 $42,209,754

Agriculture $73,455,395 $37,398,944

Postal Service $37,466,673 $32,434,099

Homeland Security $10,186,807 $27,760,659

Military Resale $18,574,264 $19,079,000

Social Security $17,987,645 $18,220,487

Justice $14,779,148 $16,421,677

DoD other than DLA $15,459,136 $14,055,507

HHS $9,911,987 $13,191,239

Interior $8,237,579 $11,291,438

Transportation $6,846,646 $8,030,238

NASA $6,712,858 $7,386,285

EPA $5,904,460 $6,848,478

Commerce $7,296,069 $5,754,554

Other Agencies Total $49,368,418 $46,544,052

DoD Total $1,494,867,684 $1,497,019,398

Totals $2,192,073,884 $2,204,683,648

Other Category Total $49,256,313 $61,690,598

Grand Total $2,241,330,197 $2,266,374,251

AbilityOne Sales by Purchaser
officers. Through her leadership, NAVFAC entrusts 

AbilityOne employees to perform highly-skilled 

service contracts such as ones at the Bremerton 

Washington Naval Complex. At this location, 

AbilityOne-associated employees at Skookum 

Industries, of Port Townsend, WA, perform asbestos 

abatement services following earlier success there in 

providing grounds maintenance services. Due to her 

efforts, 1,000 jobs were created.

2006 E. R. “Dick” Alley Award Winner

Dennis Dudek

Dennis Dudek, Director of 

Supplier Operations Clothing & 

Textiles at the Defense Supply 

Center Philadelphia (DSCP) is a 

widely recognized ambassador of 

the AbilityOne Program within 

the Defense Logistics Agency. A 

contracting professional for over 

30 years, Mr. Dudek consistently identifies new 

AbilityOne opportunities within DSCP. Mr. Dudek 

demonstrated his commitment to the AbilityOne 

Program while serving as the driving force behind 

the Virtual Prime Vendor (VPV) Program. The VPV 

initiative requires AbilityOne-associated nonprofit 

agencies to order, receive, store and distribute 

recruiting and organizational military clothing items 

to regional U.S. locations. Both NIB and NISHassociated nonprofit agencies provide services under 

the VPV contracts.

Due in large part to Mr. Dudek’s efforts, AbilityOne/DSCP Clothing and Textiles contracts provide 

more than 1,000 jobs for people who are blind or 

have other severe disabilities. For FY 2005 alone, 

his organization awarded contracts to AbilityOne 

nonprofit agencies in excess of $583 million in 

products and services, while adding 250 National 

Stock Numbers to the Procurement List. 

Career Achievement Award

E. R. “Dick” Alley

The E. R. “Dick” Alley Career Achievement Award 

was established in 1998 in honor and recognition 

of Dick Alley who provided more than 25 years of 

dedicated service to the AbilityOne (formerly 

JWOD) Program as the Deputy Executive Director 

of the Committee for Purchase From People Who 

Are Blind or Severely Disabled. The award 

recognizes individuals who demonstrate extraordinary achievement and sustained efforts in 

utilizing the Federal procurement system to 

create jobs for people who are blind or have 

other severe disabilities under the auspices of 

the AbilityOne Program.

2005 E. R. “Dick” Alley Award Winner

Linda G. Wright

During her 31 years of 

support for the Program, Ms. 

Linda G. Wright, Associate 

Director, Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Naval 

Facilities Engineering Command 

(NAVFAC), Washington, D.C. 

has strongly advocated for a 

NAVFAC/AbilityOne partnership, the first between 

the AbilityOne Program and one of its customers. 

The partnership stresses responsiveness and flexibility in meeting contracting officers’ changing needs 

while at the same time creating additional jobs 

under the AbilityOne Program. Examples of Ms. 

Wright’s commitment to the partnership include the 

AbilityOne training she provides to NAVFAC 

personnel and the development of an AbilityOne 

Services Contracting Guide for field contracting 

2005-2006 Committee Annual Report 21
22 2005-2006 Committee Annual Report

AbilityOne Participating NONPROFIT results

Alabama 10 10 679 678 789,647.69

Alaska 5 5 262 229 213,468.92

Arizona 11 11 625 687 591,884.76

Arkansas 5 5 348 231 284,094.73

California 44 45 3,091 3,077 3,239,768.93

Colorado 7 7 1,045 666 881,881.64

Connecticut 6 6 739 757 201,536.70

Delaware 3 3 14 16 23,612.00

District of Columbia 6 5 487 522 508,376.83

Florida 15 18 2,444 3,113 2,022,090.76

Georgia 18 17 1,199 1,038 1,012,723.35

Guam 1 1 107 97 62,961.55

Hawaii 7 7 234 257 210,390.39

Idaho 8 8 1,059 836 827,480.13

Illinois 24 27 1,585 1,359 835,172.03

Indiana 13 13 624 639 527,477.69

Iowa 4 4 129 190 68,592.07

Kansas 7 6 435 340 332,725.24

Kentucky 7 6 2,082 2,042 879,978.40

Louisiana 12 12 594 553 562,230.63

Maine 4 4 276 298 255,289.33

Maryland 15 16 3,044 2,711 3,008,849.02

Massachusetts 13 13 773 893 433,689.57

Michigan 20 20 1,483 1,334 1,435,460.23

Minnesota 6 6 526 766 451,265.95

Mississippi 10 10 484 374 387,699.60

Missouri 10 11 686 622 466,014.30

Montana 4 4 196 270 96,629.95

Nebraska 5 5 272 251 183,691.15

Nevada 5 5 236 189 295,525.67

New Jersey 9 9 523 493 445,696.75

New Mexico 7 7 286 300 349,442.31

New York 45 46 2,291 2,598 1,941,589.54

North Carolina 18 16 2,170 1,995 2,187,353.23

North Dakota 7 7 226 210 201,548.78

Ohio 20 19 821 793 707,852.20

Oklahoma 9 9 456 566 421,356.16

Oregon 13 13 272 255 298,227.48

Pennsylvania 36 35 1,519 1,415 980,604.50

Rhode Island 4 4 248 191 152,246.41

South Carolina 18 18 921 1,276 586,957.01

South Dakota 6 6 214 225 218,799.61

Tennessee 10 10 523 593 412,374.10

Texas 36 38 4,028 4,764 3,997,689.42

Utah 4 4 260 243 350,532.28

Vermont – – – – –

Virginia 28 26 2,606 2,856 2,695,181.15

Washington 24 23 1,153 1,206 1,321,225.31

West Virginia 12 12 282 290 353,132.40

Wisconsin 13 14 2,158 2,285 2,193,858.05

Wyoming 3 3 38 46 40,066.63

Totals 627 629 46,753 47,635 40,945,943

2005

AbilityOne Nonprofits

2005

AbilityOne Employees

2005

AbilityOne DL Hours

2006

AbilityOne Nonprofits

2006

AbilityOne Employees
2005-2006 Committee Annual Report 23

Alabama 825,135 $6,336,876.27 $6,928,757 $28,711,058.06 $30,077,588

Alaska 202,187 $2,543,011.77 $2,661,853 $10,023,407 $10,568,455

Arizona 573,333 $5,420,509.31 $5,371,694 $24,102,187 $21,637,584

Arkansas 282,211 $2,283,413.68 $2,377,203 $11,643,041 $9,908,653

California 3,291,266 $33,068,666.54 $34,884,462 $135,170,346 $147,227,314

Colorado 563,674 $8,796,485.25 $6,246,802 $24,288,007 $19,004,058

Connecticut 220,914 $1,679,011.18 $1,811,296 $8,961,719 $8,044,338

Delaware 25,048 $337,015.81 $352,918 $731,294 $1,131,545

District of Columbia 435,547 $5,385,187.58 $4,922,199 $16,788,154 $14,405,215

Florida 2,120,605 $17,309,917.29 $18,844,620 $79,730,704 $78,594,696

Georgia 1,099,930 $8,670,482.09 $10,261,956 $35,933,083 $39,071,511

Guam 86,744 $466,499.04 $656,664 $2,144,786 $2,588,432

Hawaii 200,202 $1,944,450.12 $1,884,631 $9,740,218 $9,523,341

Idaho 706,085 $8,754,363.88 $7,656,742 $25,115,973 $24,535,806

Illinois 847,501 $7,855,427.89 $8,203,387 $33,108,345 $33,205,892

Indiana 430,868 $3,342,186.22 $3,133,905 $43,642,604 $35,574,832

Iowa 83,102 $604,267.90 $652,821 $1,304,658 $1,483,252 Kansas 338,611 $2,335,035.94 $2,602,059 $48,013,151 $41,034,239 Kentucky 1,128,828 $6,510,687.81 $8,813,475 76,553,258.45 $96,565,290

Louisiana 409,941 $4,643,676.19 $3,828,777 $31,178,558 $34,058,043

Maine 284,259 $2,336,507.60 $2,578,902 $29,630,863 $34,610,602

Maryland 3,081,933 $30,151,534.74 $32,140,985 $118,435,843 $124,901,958

Massachusetts 450,866 $4,827,940.63 $4,953,970 $17,254,558 $17,128,692

Michigan 1,164,435 $12,784,312.58 $11,880,267 $100,848,775 $70,691,096

Minnesota 620,060 $3,870,566.77 $5,471,789 $21,483,045 $30,958,576

Mississippi 262,818 $3,572,219.48 $2,632,621 $17,738,028 $15,818,657

Missouri 456,051 $3,748,931.14 $4,101,121 $27,381,498 $26,947,885

Montana 85,471 $419,519.35 $374,507 $1,829,896 $1,350,191

Nebraska 182,450 $1,403,903.22 $1,508,019 $12,569,771 $15,947,468

Nevada 226,494 $2,869,145.55 $2,395,048 $10,780,723 $9,760,507

New Jersey 459,114 $4,933,034.32 $5,069,383 $16,130,086 $19,172,942

New Mexico 345,452 $3,520,019.35 $3,641,136 $10,897,184 $12,851,979

New York 1,879,576 $23,491,383.22 $23,445,151 $116,073,709 $137,166,355

North Carolina 2,199,079 $17,554,214.00 $17,723,684 $151,363,055 $138,143,152

North Dakota 183,564 $1,548,929.15 $1,456,204 $5,263,641 $5,178,552

Ohio 773,223 $7,509,815.60 $7,899,033 $31,400,143 $45,349,938

Oklahoma 421,310 $3,503,426.69 $3,497,018 $19,783,151 $18,704,423

Oregon 281,120 $3,713,824.42 $3,781,538 $8,935,537 $9,922,109

Pennsylvania 1,000,115 $6,668,129.82 $6,693,720 $36,806,614 $48,709,166

Rhode Island 169,897 $1,982,980.93 $2,004,123 $4,452,651 $4,121,938

South Carolina 579,195 $4,604,135.54 $5,062,124 $13,265,951 $13,075,730

South Dakota 233,192 $1,698,708.74 $1,988,575 $5,912,928 $6,428,377

Tennessee 335,121 $3,550,035.65 $2,832,351 $66,031,171 $34,153,774

Texas 4,658,062 $37,513,150.80 $42,527,970 $439,211,940 $425,453,242

Utah 324,012 $3,877,089.67 $3,704,903 $8,796,706 $9,436,004

Vermont–––––

Virginia 2,785,777 $26,623,663.49 $28,534,817 $101,943,563 $109,276,460

Washington 1,265,150 $18,066,369.55 $16,871,972 $59,594,138 $58,632,950

West Virginia 354,010 $3,256,579.89 $3,392,545 $8,783,197 $9,196,330

Wisconsin 2,282,411 $21,053,640.87 $22,875,131 $130,731,375 $153,819,273

Wyoming 42,349 $429,614.76 $474,091 $1,115,907.25 $1,225,839

Totals 41,258,300 $389,370,499 $403,608,916 $2,241,330,197 $2,266,374,251

2006

AbilityOne DL Hours

2005

AbilityOne Wages

2006

AbilityOne Wages

2005

AbilityOne Sales

2006

AbilityOne Sales
Batteries for the Defense Logistics Agency

Eastern Carolina Vocational Center (ECVC) of 

Greenville, North Carolina, is one of the twenty 

largest battery distributors in North America as a 

result of its contracts to provide batteries to the 

Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). Since 1994, ECVC 

has seen its business with DLA increase owing to its 

outstanding performance and competitive pricing. 

During FY05, ECVC handled 17,000 orders for 

DLA, totaling 12 million batteries (nearly 9 million 

of which were provided under contracts obtained 

through the AbilityOne Program, and the remaining 

3 million being provided through competitively 

awarded contracts). In October 2005, ECVC 

became DLA’s sole source for ten commercial 

battery types, eight of which are the most commonly 

used by the U.S. Military. ECVC shipped more than 

30,000 orders, totaling 34 million alkaline and 

lithium batteries, to DLA during FY06.

These contracts include a shelf life provision, 

requiring inventory to be managed by the manufacture date. Depending upon battery chemistry, ECVC 

is required to provide only batteries that have been 

manufactured within a specific number of months 

prior to the date that the customer receives them. 

This requirement ensures that optimal power is 

available for equipment vital to the success of the 

U.S. Warfighter. The contracts also require accelerated shipping directly to DLA customers: orders 

received on Monday or Friday must be shipped 

same day; orders received on all other weekdays 

must ship by close of business the following day. 

Finally, ECVC must also be able to meet surge 

demands.

To provide DLA with a superior product, ECVC 

worked with a paper industry leader to develop 

moisture resistant packaging for lithium batteries 

(which are more prone to damage from such exposure). This packaging, similar to that used in the 

pharmaceutical industry, exceeds the quality of the 

standard paperboard cartons, plastic bags, or shrink 

wrap that had been provided to DLA in the past—

and ECVC is able to provide it at a lower cost.

In addition to meeting the needs of the U.S. 

Warfighters, these battery contracts obtained through 

the AbilityOne Program also employ 27 people with 

severe disabilities, who are responsible for the 

products’ packaging, warehousing, and distribution. 

The capabilities and dedication of these individuals 

allow ECVC to maintain a perfect DLA vendor 

rating of 100% for on-time delivery and quality.

Energy Dissipation Pads for the 

Department of the Army

Since 1998, the U.S. Army Soldier Systems Center at 

Natick has entrusted the manufacturing of the 

energy dissipation pad, or “honeycomb,” exclusively to the Lighthouse for the Blind in Fort Worth, 

Texas, under the auspices of the AbilityOne Program. U.S. Warfighters are the most rapidly deThe AbilityOne Program collaborates with its Federal customers to satisfy their needs with 

best value products and services. AbilityOne-participating nonprofit agencies (NPAs) are 

capable of meeting or exceeding industry quality standards. The following are examples of 

the superior customer service found within the AbilityOne Program.

Customer Satisfaction

AbilityOne

24 2005-2006 Committee Annual Report
ployed forces worldwide, in part to the success of 

the Army’s logistics chain in safely and securely 

delivering necessary materials to troops in-theater; 

these pads are an integral component of that system.

In the air-drop system, several layers of pads sit 

on a base plate under supplies or equipment parts; 

Army riggers customize the size of the layered pads 

to the load they drop. Since supply planes must drop 

their loads from high altitudes to minimize personnel risks, these loads’ packing materials must 

withstand the additional trauma from the increased 

impact. Each pad crushes upon impact and thus 

absorbs shock to protect its military supply load 

from damage. Soldiers of the 82nd Airborne 

Division’s 782nd Main Support Battalion rely on the 

pad’s performance when air-dropping humanitarian 

supplies, as well as equipment and tools.

Besides protecting shipments, the pads have an 

important secondary function: they are fully 

recyclable by on-hand military personnel for 

temporary roofs, walls, floors, and dry mats. The 

AbilityOne Program meets both of these needs of 

the military with this unique product.

Nine AbilityOne employees are responsible for 

producing the honeycomb, which entails operating 

a 50-foot long machine to glue kraft paper sheets 

to the pad’s core, expanding the core to form a 1⁄2-

inch cell honeycomb, laminating kraft paper to the 

bottom and top of the core, and cutting them as 

specified. During FY 2005, the Lighthouse supplied the Army with approximately 150,000 

dissipation pads, with a 100 percent on-time 

delivery rate. 

Custodial Certification Program 

and Centers of Excellence

In FY 2005, NISH completed the development 

of its Custodial Certification Program for all 

General Services Administration Public Buildings 

Service (GSA/PBS) contracts, which further enhances 

consistency and quality of custodial services 

provided to Government customers through the 

AbilityOne Program. Nonprofit agencies that 

complete the certification process offer a customerfocused, quality assurance management system 

based on nationally recognized practices in the 

custodial industry. This process has resulted in 

increased customer satisfaction, reduced contract 

deductions, and, most importantly, increased 

employment opportunities for people with severe 

disabilities.

Certification represents the AbilityOne Program’s ongoing commitment to continual process 

improvement and customer satisfaction in custodial 

services. The Program examines quality control and 

assurance, customer satisfaction, contract management and experience, strategic planning, training, 

compensation, and regulatory compliance. Requirements are determined based on the size or amount 

of a nonprofit agency’s overall GSA/PBS custodial 

business in terms of dollars and full-time equivalent 

(FTEs) positions. The participating nonprofit 

2005-2006 Committee Annual Report 25

AbilityOne-participating nonprofit agencies performing custodial contracts for the General Services Administration Public Building

Service must be certified under a Custodial Certification Program developed by NISH to ensure quality cleaning standards.
26 2005-2006 Committee Annual Report

agency’s competency is enhanced at each level of

the certification process, in keeping with industry 

benchmarks. Certification is awarded to agencies 

that have successfully completed a thorough review 

of their business practices to ensure all elements of 

their quality assurance systems are integrated to 

provide greater efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Each of the approximately 180 AbilityOneassociated nonprofit agencies currently performing 

custodial services for GSA/PBS are required to 

complete the certification process by 2007. The

first two agencies to receive their certification in FY 

2005 were FedCap of New York, New York, and 

Lakeview Center of Pensacola, Florida. In addition, 

these two agencies are recognized by NISH as 

Centers of Excellence for their outstanding performance in the custodial services field. As Centers of 

Excellence, the nonprofit agencies serve as mentors 

to other agencies either currently providing, or 

seeking to provide, specific service lines. FedCap and 

Lakeview Center also provide guidance to agencies 

undertaking the custodial certification process.

Hospital Housekeeping Center of Excellence

Another participating NPA designated by NISH as 

a Center of Excellence during FY 2005 was Professional Contract Services, Inc. (PCSI), of Austin, 

Texas, for its exceptional performance in providing 

hospital housekeeping services.

Since 1999, PCSI has been providing hospital 

housekeeping services at Evans Army Community 

Hospital at Ft. Carson, Colorado, where 70 AbilityOne-associated employees with severe disabilities 

service the hospital and twelve outlying buildings. 

The hospital, which houses 2600 rooms and 78 

operating rooms, together with its outbuildings 

comprise a total of 536,730 square feet that is 

serviced by PCSI. Services provided by PCSI to 

Evans Army Community Hospital include aseptic 

cleaning of hospital rooms; cleaning of operating 

rooms, surgical suites, and MRI units; and hazardous waste transportation.

During FY 2005, Evans Army Community 

Hospital provided services to more than 425,000 

patients. The hospital is expected to continue to

be in demand as more soldiers are assigned to

Ft. Carson and return home from Iraq and other

duty posts. And, recommendations outlined in the 

current Base Realignment and Closure report will 

result in making Ft. Carson the largest Army post

in the United States by 2008.

Results of the hospital’s most recent Joint 

Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare 

Organizations (JCAHO) accreditation review in 

November 2005 placed Evans in the top 10% of all 

healthcare organizations in the country—with zero 

findings hospital wide, fewer recommendations for 

improvement than any other facility, and numerous 

compliments for PCSI housekeeping staff. 

“All of our citizens should have the 

opportunity to live and work with dignity 

and freedom...we...recognize the 

talents, skills, and dedication of 

disabled Americans who are a vital 

part of our workforce.”

—President George W. Bush

Professional Contract Services, Inc. of Austin, Texas holds an award winning custodial 

contract at Evans Army Community Hospital at Fort Carson, CO.
ALABAMA (11)

Anniston

Opportunity Center Easter Seal 

Rehabilitation Facility (NISH)

Birmingham

Alabama Goodwill Industries, Inc. 

(NISH)

Easter Seals of the Birmingham 

Area (NISH)

United Cerebral Palsy of Greater 

Birmingham, Inc. 

Huntsville

Huntsville Rehabilitation 

Foundation (NISH)

The ARC of Madison County, Inc. 

(NISH)

Loxley

Association for Retarded Citizens 

of Baldwin County, Inc. (NISH)

Mobile

GWI Services, Inc. (NISH)

Montgomery

Goodwill Industries of Central 

Alabama, Inc. (NISH)

Muscle Shoals

Northwest Alabama Easter Seal 

Children’s Clinic—Rehabilitation 

Center (NISH)

Talladega

Alabama Industries for the Blind 

(NIB)

ALASKA (5)

Anchorage

Assets, Inc. (NISH)

M. C. Resources Management 

(NISH)

MQC Enterprises, Inc. (NISH)

Fairbanks

Fairbanks Resource Agency (NISH)

Juneau

REACH, Inc. (NISH)

ARIZONA (10)

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, Inc. (NISH)

Participating NONPROFIT AGENCIES, 2005-2006

AbilityOne

J.P. Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Southern Arizona Association for 

the Visually Impaired (NIB)

Yuma

Yuma WORC Center, Inc. (NISH)

ARKANSAS (5)

Fort Smith

Abilities Unlimited of Ft. Smith, 

Inc. (NISH)

BOST, Inc. (NISH)

Jacksonville

Pathfinder, Inc. (NISH)

Little Rock

The Arkansas Lighthouse for the 

Blind (NIB)

Pine Bluff

Jenkins Memorial Children’s 

Center and Jenkins Industries, 

Inc. (NISH)

CALIFORNIA (45)

Bakersfield

The Bakersfield Association for 

Retarded Citizens, Inc. (NISH)

Baldwin Park

Work Orientation and Rehabilitation 

Company, 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)

Lakeside

Bona Fide Conglomerate, Inc. 

(NISH)

Lancaster

Desert Haven Enterprises, Inc. 

(NISH)

Lompoc

Life Options, Vocational and 

Resource Center (NISH)

Los Angeles

Asian Rehabilitation Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

Exceptional Children’s Foundation 

(NISH)

Goodwill Industries of Southern 

California (NISH)

Mountain View

VTF Services (NISH)

Mt. Shasta

Siskiyou Opportunity Center (NISH)

Napa

Napa Valley PSI, Inc. (NISH)

Oakland

Calidad Industries, Inc. (NISH)

The Independent Way (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

Rubicon Programs, Inc. (NISH)

Ridgecrest

Desert Area Resources and 

Training (NISH)

Rohnert Park

North Bay Rehabilitation Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

Roseville

PRIDE Industries (NISH)

Sacramento

Crossroads Building Services, Inc. 

(NISH)

Easter Seal Society of Superior 

California (NISH)

2005-2006 Committee Annual Report 27

The growing demand for 

computer and electronics 

recycling is creating more 

business opportunities for 

AbilityOne-participating 

nonprofit agencies and more 

jobs for their employees.
28 2005-2006 Committee Annual Report

San Diego

Job Options, Inc. (NISH)

The San Diego Outsourcing 

Systems, Inc. (NISH)

The ARC of San Diego (NISH)

San Francisco

Rose Resnick Lighthouse for the 

Blind (NIB)

The Janet Pomeroy Center (NISH)

Toolworks, Inc. (NISH)

Santa Ana

Landmark Services, Inc. (NISH)

Santa Clara

Hope Services (NISH)

Project HIRED (NISH)

Santa Maria

VTC Enterprises (NISH)

South El Monte

Lincoln Training Center and Rehabilitation Workshop (NISH)

Stockton

Valley Service Connection, Inc. 

(NISH)

Torrance

Social Vocational Services, Inc. 

(NISH)

Truckee

Pacific Coast Community Services 

(NISH)

Vallejo

Solano Diversified Services (NISH)

Ventura

Association for Retarded Citizens—Ventura County, Inc. (NISH)

Woodland

Yolo Employment Services (NISH)

COLORADO (7)

Colorado Springs

Aspen Diversified Industries, Inc. 

(NISH)

Goodwill Industrial Services 

Corporation (NISH)

Denver

Bayaud Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Platte River Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Fort Collins

Foothills Gateway, Inc. (NISH)

Pueblo

Pueblo Diversified Industries, Inc. 

(NISH)

Westminster

North Metro Community Services 

for Developmentally Disabled 

(NISH)

CONNECTICUT (6)

Bridgeport

The Kennedy Center, Inc. (NISH)

Enfield

Greater Enfield Allied Rehabilitation Centers, Inc. (NISH)

New Britain

CW Resources, Inc. (NISH)

Uncasville

Easter Seals Connecticut, Inc. 

(NISH)

Waterbury

Easter Seal Rehabilitation Center 

of Greater Waterbury, Inc. (NISH)

Windsor

Easter Seals Greater Hartford 

Rehabilitation Center, Inc. (NISH)

DELAWARE (3)

Milford

Kent-Sussex Industries, Inc. 

(NISH)

New Castle

Delaware Industries for the Blind 

(NIB)

Wilmington

Opportunity Center, Inc. (NISH)

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (6)

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 (18)

Clearwater

Abilities, Inc. of Florida (NISH)

Daytona Beach

ACT CORP. (NISH)

Ft. Lauderdale

United Cerebral Palsy of Broward 

County, Inc. (NISH)

Gainesville

Association for Retarded Citizens 

Alachua County, Inc. (NISH)

Green Cove Springs

Challenge Enterprises of North 

Florida, Inc. (NISH)

Jacksonville

GINFL Services, Inc. (NISH)

Lake City

CARC—Advocates for Citizens 

with Disabilities, Inc. (NISH)

Miami

Easter Seals Miami-Dade, Inc. 

(NISH)

Goodwill Industries of South 

Florida, Inc. (NISH)

Orlando

Goodwill Industries of Central 

Florida (NISH)

Pensacola

Lakeview Center, Inc. (NISH)

Rockledge

Brevard Achievement Center, Inc. 

(NISH)

The ARC of Brevard, Inc. (NISH)

St. Petersburg

JobWorks, Inc. (NISH)

Tampa

MacDonald Training Center, Inc. 

(NISH)

Tampa Lighthouse for the Blind 

(NIB)

Vero Beach

Abilities Resource Center of Indian 

River County, Inc. (NISH)

West Palm Beach

Gulfstream Goodwill Industries, 

Inc. (NISH)

GEORGIA (17)

Americus

Middle Flint Behavioral HealthCare—Sumter County Mental 

Retardation 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

Blind & Low Vision Services of 

North Georgia (NIB)
2005-2006 Committee Annual Report 29

Thomasville

Thomas-Grady Mental Retardation 

Service Center (NISH)

Warner Robins

Epilepsy Association of Georgia 

(NISH)

Houston County Association for 

Exceptional Citizens, Inc. (NISH)

NAMI—Central Georgia, Inc. 

(NISH)

GUAM (1)

Tamuning

Able Industries of the Pacific 

(NISH)

HAWAII (7)

Hilo

The ARC of Hilo (NISH)

Honolulu

Goodwill Contract Services of 

Hawaii, Inc. (NISH)

Lanakila Rehabilitation Center 

(NISH)

Lanakila Rehabilitation Center for 

the Blind (NIB)

Network Enterprises, Inc. (NISH)

Wahiawa

Opportunities for the Retarded, 

Inc. (NISH)

Wailuku

Ka Lima O Maui, Ltd. (NISH)

IDAHO (8)

Blackfoot

Dawn Enterprises, Inc. (NISH)

Caldwell

Western Idaho Training Company, 

Inc. (NISH)

Couer d’Alene

TESH, Inc. (NISH)

Eagle

Trace, Inc. (NISH)

Idaho Falls

Development Workshop, Inc. 

(NISH)

Lewiston

Opportunities Unlimited, Inc.

(NISH)

Pocatello

New Day Products, Inc. (NISH)

Sand Point

Panhandle Special Needs, Inc. 

(NISH)

ILLINOIS (27)

Alton

Challenge Unlimited, Inc. (NISH)

Belleville

St. Clair Associated Vocational 

Enterprises, Inc. (NISH)

Bloomington

Occupational Development Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

Carthage

Hancock County Mental Health 

Center, Inc. (NISH)

Chicago

Ada S. McKinley Community 

Services (NISH)

Chicago Association for Retarded 

Citizens (NISH)

Community Counseling Centers of 

Chicago, Inc. (NISH)

Habilitative Systems, Inc. (NISH)

Jewish Vocational Service and 

Employment Center (NISH)

Lester and Rosalie Anitxter Center 

(NISH)

The Chicago Lighthouse for People 

Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired 

(NIB)

Thresholds Rehabilitation Inc. 

(NISH)

Danville

WorkSource Enterprises, NFP 

(NISH)

Highland Park

Opportunity, Inc. (NISH)

Lanark

Rolling Hills Progress Center, Inc. 

(NISH)

Mt. Vernon

Jefferson County Comprehensive 

Services, Inc. (NISH)

Murphysboro

Specialized Training for Adult 

Rehabilitation (NISH)

Paris

Human Resources Center of Edgar 

and Clark Counties (NISH)

Peoria

Community Workshop and Training Center, Inc. (NISH)

Quincy

Trasnitions of Western Illinois, 

Inc. (NISH)

Rock Island

Association for Retarded Citizens 

of Rock Island County (NISH)

Innovative Partnerships, N.F.P. 

(NISH)

Rockford

OMNI Business Services, Inc. 

(NISH)

Rolling Meadows

Clearbrook Center, Inc. (NISH)

Skokie

The Douglas Center (NISH)

Springfield

united Cerebral Palsy of the Land 

of Lincoln (NISH)

West Frankfort

Franklin-Williamson Human 

Services, Inc. (NISH)

INDIANA (13)

Bloomington

Stone Belt ARC, Inc. (NISH)

Fort Wayne

The Arc of Northeast Indiana, Inc. 

(NISH)

Gary

Tradewinds Rehabilitation Center 

(NISH)

Indianapolis

Bosma Industries for the Blind 

(NIB)

Crossroads Rehabilitation Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

GW Commercial Services, Inc. 

(NISH)

Lafayette

Wabash Center, Inc. (NISH)

Linton

Four Rivers Resource Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

New Albany

Rauch Rehabilitation and Developmental Services, Inc. (NISH)

Paoli

Orange County Rehabilitative 

and Developmental Services, Inc. 

(NISH)

Rockville

Child-AdultResource Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

Shelbyville

Shares Inc. (NISH)

Vincennes

Knox County Association for 

Retarded Citizens, Inc. (NISH)

IOWA (5)

Des Moines

Goodwill Solutions, Inc. (NISH)

Iowa City

Goodwill Industries of Southeast 

Iowa (NISH)

Jefferson

Genesis Development (NISH)

Rock Valley

Hope Haven, Inc. (NISH)

Shenandoah

Nishna Productions, Inc. (NISH)

KANSAS (7)

Junction City

Great Plains Enterprises, Inc. 

(NISH)

Lawrence

Cottonwood, Inc. (NISH)

McPherson

MCDS Federal Contracting, Inc. 

(NISH)

Topeka

Topeka Association for Retarded 

Citizens (NISH)

Wichita

Business Technology Career Opportunities (BTCO) (NISH)

Center Industries Corporation 

(NISH)

Envision, Inc. (NIB)

“Nothing ever comes to one that is 

worth having, except as a result 

of hard work.”

—Booker T. Washington, 1856-1915
30 2005-2006 Committee Annual Report

“Let us realize that the privilege to work 

is a gift, that the power to work is a 

blessing, that love of work is success.”

—David O. McKay, 1873-1970

KENTUCKY (6)

Corbin

Southeastern Kentucky Rehabilitation Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Danville

Pioneer Vocational/Industrial 

Services, Inc. (NISH)

Hopkinsville

Pennyroyal Regional Mental 

Health—Mental Retardation 

Board, Inc. (NISH)

Louisville

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

Goodwill Industries of Kentucky 

(NISH)

Owensboro

Opportunity Center Workshop, Inc. 

(NISH)

LOUISIANA (12)

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)

New Orleans

Goodworks, Inc. (NISH)

The Lighthouse for the Blind in 

New Orleans (NIB)

Shreveport

Louisiana Association for the 

Blind (NIB)

North Louisiana Goodwill Industries Rehabilitation Center, Inc. 

(NISH)

The Arc of Caddo-Bossier (NISH)

Slidell

St. Tammany Association for 

Retarded Citizens, Inc. (NISH)

MAINE (4)

Auburn

Pathways, Inc. (NISH)

Augusta

Motivational Services, Inc. (NISH)

Belfast

Group Home Foundation, Inc. 

(NISH)

Portland

Northern New England Employment Services (NISH)

MARYLAND (15)

Aberdeen

The Arc Northern Chesapeake 

Region, Inc. (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

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 (13)

Boston

Community Workshops, Inc. (NISH)

Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries (NISH)

National Telecommuting Institute, 

Inc. (NISH)

Braintree

Employ&Ability, Inc. (NISH)

Chicopee

Sunshine Village, Inc. (NISH)

Concord

Minute Man Arc for Human 

Services, Inc. (NISH)

Hyannis

capeAbilities, Inc. (NISH)

Malden

Massachusetts Commission for 

the Blind Ferguson Industries for 

the Blind (NIB)

Marshfield

Road to Responsibility, Inc. (NISH)

North Quincy

Work, Inc. (NISH)

Pittsfield

Berkshire County Arc, Inc. (NISH)

Springfield

Goodwill Industries of the Springfield/Hartford Area, Inc. (NISH)

Worcester

Seven Hills Occupational & Rehabilitation Services, Inc. (NISH)

MICHIGAN (20)

Alpena

Northeastern Michigan 

Rehabilitation and Opportunity 

Center (NEMROC) (NISH)

Ann Arbor

Washtenaw County Community 

Support and Treatment Services 

(NISH)

Auburn Hills

New Horizons Rehabilitation 

Services, Inc. (NISH)

Battle Creek

Calhoun County Community 

Mental Health Services (NISH)

Navigations, Inc. (NISH)

Brighton

Work Skills Corporation (NISH)

Caro

Tuscola County Community Mental 

Health Services (NISH)

Grand Rapids

Hope Network Services 

Corporation (NISH)

Holland

Kandu Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Kalamazoo

MidWest Enterprises for the Blind 

(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

The Arc 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)

MINNESOTA (6)

Duluth

Goodwill Industries Vocational 

Enterprises, Inc. (NISH)

Minneapolis

AccessAbility, Inc. (NISH)

Tasks Unlimited, Inc. (NISH)

Rochester

Ability Building Center, Inc. (NISH)

St. Paul

MDI Government Services, Inc. 

(NISH)
2005-2006 Committee Annual Report 31

Thief River Falls

Occupational Development Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

MISSISSIPPI (11)

Aberdeen

AbilityWorks, Inc. of Monroe 

County (NISH)

Greenville

AbilityWorks, Inc of Washington 

County (NISH)

Greenwood

AbilityWorks, Inc. of Greenwood 

(NISH)

Gulfport

Mississippi Goodworks, Inc. (NISH)

Jackson

AbilityWorks, Inc. of Jackson 

(NISH)

Mississippi Industries for the 

Blind (NIB)

Long Beach

AbilityWorks, Inc. of Harrison 

County (NISH)

Meridian

AbilityWorks, Inc. of Meridian 

(NISH)

Oxford

AbilityWorks, Inc. of Oxford (NISH)

Ridgeland

Goodwill Industries of Mississippi, 

Inc. (NISH)

Vicksburg

Warren County Association for 

Retarded Citizens, Inc. (NISH)

MISSOURI (11)

Cape Girardeau

Cape Girardeau Community 

Sheltered Workshop, Inc. (NISH)

Harrisonville

Casco Area Workshop, Inc. (NISH)

Independence

Independence and Blue Springs 

Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Kansas City

Alphapointe Association for the 

Blind (NIB)

The Helping Hand of Goodwill 

Industries Extended Employment 

SWS (NISH)

Marshfield

Web-Co Custom Industries, Inc. 

(NISH)

Monroe City

Learning Opportunities/Quality 

Works, Inc. (NISH)

Sedalia

Cooperative Workshops, Inc. 

(NISH)

Springfield

Springfield Workshop, Inc. (NISH)

St. Louis

Lighthouse for the Blind (NIB)

MGI Services Corporation (NISH)

MONTANA (4)

Billings

Community Option Resource 

Enterprises, Inc. (NISH)

Butte

BSW, Inc. (NISH)

Helena

Helena Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Missoula

Opportunity Resources, Inc. (NISH)

NEBRASKA (5)

Fremont

Outlook-Nebraska, Inc. (NIB)

Grand Island

Goodwill Employment Services of 

Central Nebraska, Inc. (NISH)

Lincoln

Goodwill Services, Inc. (NISH)

Nebraska City

Region V Services (NISH)

Omaha

Goodwill Specialty Services, Inc. 

(NISH)

NEVADA (4)

Las Vegas

Blind Center of Nevada, Inc. (NIB)

Opportunity Village Association for 

Retarded Citizens (NISH)

Reno

High Sierra Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Washoe ARC (NISH)

NEW JERSEY (9)

Cedar Knolls

Employment Horizons, Inc. (NISH)

Eatontown

Monmouth Center for Vocational 

Rehabilitation (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)

Orange

The First Occupational Center of 

New Jersey (NISH)

Runnemede

Bestwork Industries for the Blind 

(NIB)

Somerset

New Jersey Association of the 

Deaf-Blind (NIB)

NEW MEXICO (7)

Albuquerque

Adelante Development Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

New Mexico Industries for the 

Blind (NIB)

RCI, Inc. (NISH)

Artesia

Door of Opportunity, Inc. (NISH)

Clovis

ENMRSH, Inc. (NISH)

Las Cruces

Tresco, Inc. (NISH)

Santa Fe

Presbyterian Medical Services 

(NISH)

NEW YORK (46)

Albany

Northeastern Association of the 

Blind at Albany (NIB)

Amsterdam

Montgomery County Chapter, 

NYSARC, Inc. (NISH)

Astoria

Goodwill Industries of Greater New 

York and Northern New Jersey, Inc. 

(NISH)

Binghamton

Able Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment, Inc. (NIB)

Brooklyn

Federation Employment and 

Guidance Service (NISH)

New York City Industries for the 

Blind, Inc. (NIB)

Buffalo

Elizabeth Pierce Olmstead, 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)

Fairport

Continuing Developmental 

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)

NYSARC, Inc. NYC Chapter (NISH)

The Corporate Source, Inc. (NISH)
32 2005-2006 Committee Annual Report

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)

Sardinia

Suburban Adult Services, Inc. 

(NISH)

Schenectady

Uncle Sam’s House, Inc. (NISH)

Scotia

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 

& 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., Seneca-Cayuga 

Counties Chapter (NISH)

Watertown

Jefferson County Chapter, NYSARC 

(NISH)

Watkins Glen

Schuyler County Chapter, NYSARC, 

Inc. (NISH)

NORTH CAROLINA (16)

Brevard

Transylvania Vocational Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

Charlotte

Lions Services, Inc. (NIB)

Durham

Durham Exchange Club Industries, 

Inc. (NISH)

L.C. Industries for the Blind (NIB)

Fayetteville

Employment Source, Inc. (NISH)

Greensboro

Industries of the Blind (NIB)

Greenville

Eastern Carolina Vocational 

Center, Inc. (NISH)

Hertford

Skills, Inc. (NISH)

Hillsborough

OE Enterprises, Inc. (NISH)

Jacksonville

Coastal Enterprises of 

Jacksonville, Inc. (NISH)

Kinston

Lions Industries for the Blind 

(NIB)

Marble

Industrial Opportunities, Inc. 

(NISH)

New Bern

CETC, Inc. (NISH)

Raleigh

Raleigh Lions Clinic for the Blind 

(NIB)

Washington

Beaufort County Developmental 

Center, Inc. (NISH)

Winston-Salem

Winston-Salem Industries for the 

Blind (NIB)

NORTH DAKOTA (6)

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 (19)

Akron

Community Support Services, Inc. 

(NISH)

Weaver Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Canton

The Workshops, Inc. (NISH)

Cincinnati

Cincinnati Association for the 

Blind (NIB)

Greater Cincinnati Behavioral 

Health Services (NISH)

Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries 

Rehabilitation Center, Inc. (NISH)

The Clovernook Center for the 

Blind (NIB)

Cleveland

VGS, Inc. (NISH)

Dayton

Eastway Corporation (NISH)

Goodwill Industries of the Miami 

Valley (NISH) 

Elyria

Murray Ridge Production Center, 

Inc. (NISH)

Mansfield

Richland County Board of Mental 

Retardation & 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 (8)

Anadarko

APEX, Inc. (NISH)

Lawton

Goodwill Industries of Southwest 

Oklahoma, Inc. (NISH)

Midwest City

Mid-Del Group Home, Inc. (NISH)

Moore

Work Activity Center, Inc. (NISH)

Muskogee

Golden Rule Industries of 

Muskogee, Inc. (NISH)
2005-2006 Committee Annual Report 33

Oklahoma City

Dale Rogers Training Center, Inc. 

(NISH)

The Oklahoma League for the 

Blind (NIB)

Woodward

Oklahoma’s Action Rehabilitation 

Centers, Inc. (NISH)

OREGON (13)

Ashland

Pathway Enterprises, Inc. (NISH)

Astoria

Clatsop County Developmental 

Training Center Association (NISH)

Hood River

Hood River Sheltered Workshop 

(NISH)

Klamath Falls

Klamath County Mental Health 

(NISH)

Lebanon

Willamette Valley Rehabilitation 

Center, Inc. (NISH)

Medford

Living Opportunities, Inc. (NISH)

Portland

Blind Enterprises of Oregon (NIB)

DePaul Industries (NISH)

Portland Habilitation Center, Inc. 

(NISH)

The Port City Development Center 

(NISH)

Roseburg

Sunrise Enterprises of Roseburg, 

Inc. (NISH)

Salem

Garten Services, Inc. (NISH)

The Shangri-La Corporation (NISH)

PENNSYLVANIA (36)

Aston

Elwyn, Inc. (NISH)

Athens

Penn-York Opportunities for the 

Handicapped, Inc. (NISH)

Bethlehem

Via of the Lehigh Valley, Inc. 

(NISH)

Chester

Center for the Blind and Visually 

Impaired (NIB)

Coatesville

Chester County Branch of the 

PAB (NIB)

Erie

Dr. Gertrude A. Barber Center, Inc. 

(NISH)

Greensburg

Rehabilitation Center and 

Workshop, Inc. (NISH)

Westmoreland County Blind 

Association (NIB)

Harrisburg

Goodwill Services, Inc. (NISH)

Indiana

Indiana County Blind Association 

(NIB)

Johnstown

Cambria County Association for 

the Blind and Handicapped (NISH)

Goodwill Industries of the 

Conemaugh Valley, Inc. (NISH)

Lancaster

Susquehanna Association for the 

Blind & Visually Impaired (NIB)

Lebanon

Quality Employment Services and 

Training, Inc. (NISH)

Lewistown

Juniata Association for the Blind 

(NIB)

Meadow Lands

Arc Human Services, Inc. (NISH)

Mechanicsburg

Cumberland-Perry Association for 

Retarded Citizens (NISH)

New Castle

Lark Enterprises, Inc. (NISH)

New Kensington

Family Services of Western PA 

(NISH)

Philadelphia

Horizon House, Inc. (NISH)

Pittsburgh

ARC—Allegheny (NISH)

Blind and Vision Rehabilitation 

Services of Pittsburgh (NIB) 

Goodwill Commercial Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

Life’sWork of Western PA (NISH)

The Easter Seal Society of Western 

PA (NISH)

Pottsville

Avenues, Inc. (NISH)

Scranton

Allied Health Care Services (NISH)

Sharon

Keystone Vocational Services 

(NISH)

Somerset

Somerset County Blind Center, 

Inc. (NIB)

Stroudsburg

The Burnley Workshop of the 

Poconos, Inc. (NISH)

Washington

Washington-Green County Branch, 

PAB (NIB)

White Haven

White Haven Center (NISH)

Wilkes-Barre

United Rehabilitation Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

Williamsport

Hope Enterprises, Inc. (NISH)

North Central Sight Services, Inc. 

(NIB)

York

ForSight Vision (NIB)

RHODE ISLAND (4)

Cranston

CranstonArc (NISH)

Middletown

Newport County Chapter, Rhode 

Island Association for Retarded 

Citizens (NISH)

North Providence

Greater Providence Chapter, 

Rhode Island Association for 

Retarded Citizens (NISH)

Providence

In-Sight, Inc. (NIB)

SOUTH CAROLINA (18)

Aiken

The Tri-Development Center of 

Aiken County, Inc. (NISH)

Beaufort

Beaufort Vocational Rehabilitation 

Center (NISH)

Charleston Heights

Charleston Vocational 

Rehabilitation Center (NISH)

Columbia

Lexington Vocational 

Rehabilitation Center (NISH)

Conway

Horry County Disabilities and 

Special Needs Board (NISH)

Easley

Pickens County Board of Disabilities and Special Needs (NISH)

Florence

Florence County Disabilities and 

Special Needs Board (NISH)

Greenville

Greenville County Disabilities and 

Special Needs Board (NISH)

Greenville Rehabilitation Center 

(NISH)

North Charleston

Goodwill Industries of Lower South 

Carolina, Inc. (NISH)

Orangeburg

Orangeburg County Disabilities 

and Special Needs Board (NISH)
34 2005-2006 Committee Annual Report

Rock Hill

York County Mental Retardation 

and Developmental Disabilities 

Board (NISH)

Seneca

Oconee-Pickens Work Training 

Center (NISH)

Spartanburg

The Charles Lea Center for Rehab 

and Special Education, 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)

SOUTH DAKOTA (6)

Aberdeen

Adjustment Training Center, Inc. 

(NISH)

Box Elder

BH Services, Inc. (NISH)

Hot Springs

Southern Hills Developmental 

Services, Inc. (NISH)

Huron

Huron Area Center for 

Independence (NISH)

Pierre

OAHE, Inc. (NISH)

Sioux Falls

Sioux Vocational Services, Inc. 

(NISH)

TENNESSEE (10)

Clarksville

Progressive Directions, Inc. (NISH)

Cookeville

Advocacy and Resources 

Corporation (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)

Shelby Residential and Vocational 

Services, Inc. (NISH)

Morristown

Lions Volunteer Blind Industries 

(NIB)

Nashville

Ed Lindsey Industries for the Blind 

(NIB)

Goodwill Government Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

TEXAS (39)

Abilene

Abilene Goodwill Industries, Inc. 

(NISH)

Austin

Austin Task, Inc. (NISH)

Goodwill Industries of Central 

Texas (NISH)

Professional Contract Services, 

Inc. (NISH)

Relief Enterprise, Inc. (NISH)

St. Vincent DePaul Rehabilitation 

Services of Texas, Inc. (NISH)

The 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)

Nueces County Mental Health 

Mental Retardation Community 

Center (NISH)

South Texas Lighthouse for the 

Blind (NIB)

The LC Foundation (NISH)

Dallas

Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind 

(NIB)

El Paso

El Paso Lighthouse (NIB)

Goodwill Industries of El Paso 

(NISH)

ReadyOne Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Fort Worth

Expanco, Inc. (NISH)

Goodwill Industries of Fort Worth, 

Inc. (NISH)

Tarrant County Association for the 

Blind (NIB)

Houston

CRI Federal Services (NISH)

The Lighthouse for the Blind of 

Houston (NIB)

On Our Own Services, Inc. (NISH)

Southeast Vocational Alliance, 

Inc. (NISH)

The Arbor School (NISH)

Lufkin

Burke Center, Inc. (NISH)

San Angelo

Concho Resource Center (NISH)

Mental Health-Mental Retardation 

Services for the Concho Valley 

(NISH)

West Texas Lighthouse for the 

Blind (NIB)

San Antonio

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

East Texas Lighthouse for the 

Blind (NIB)

Wichita Falls

Beacon Lighthouse, Inc. (NIB)

North Texas State Hospital (NISH)

Work Services Corporation (NISH)

UTAH (4)

Clearfield

Pioneer Adult Rehabilitation 

Center Davis County School 

District (NISH)

Ogden

Enable Industries Incorporated 

(NISH)

Salt Lake City

Community Foundation for the 

Disabled, Inc. (NISH)

Utah Industries for the Blind (NIB)

VIRGINIA (26)

Alexandria

Federal Dispute Resolution Center 

(NIB)

ServiceSource, Inc. (NISH)

Arlington

Sheltered Occupational Center of 

Northern Virginia, Inc. (NISH)

Bristol

Highlands 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)

Hampton

The Arc of the Virginia Peninsula, 

Inc. (NISH)

Leesburg

Every Citizen Has Opportunities, 

Inc. (NISH)

Lynchburg

Lynchburg Sheltered Industries, 

Inc. (NISH)

Manassas

Didlake, Inc. (NISH)

“There is joy in work. There is no 

happiness except in the realization 

that we have accomplished something.”

—Henry Ford, 1863-1947
2005-2006 Committee Annual Report 35

Norfolk

Goodwill Industries of Hampton 

Roads, Inc. (NISH)

Louise W. Eggleston Center, Inc. 

(NISH)

Petersburg

Association for Retarded Citizens, 

Petersburg Area, 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)

Salem

Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, 

Inc. (NISH)

Springfield

Mt. Vernon-Lee Enterprises, Inc. 

(NISH)

Virginia Beach

Community Alternatives, Inc. 

(NISH)

Diversified Industrial Concepts, 

Inc. (NISH)

Sara’s Mentoring Center, Inc. 

(NISH)

Winchester

NW Works, Inc. (NISH)

Wytheville

Mount Rogers Community MH-MR 

Services Board (NISH)

WASHINGTON (25)

Bellingham

Cascade Christian Services (NISH)

Lake Whatcom Residential and 

Treatment Center (NISH)

Bremerton

Holly Ridge Center (NISH)

Peninsula Services (NISH)

Clarkston

Asotin County Board of 

Commissioners—Developmental 

Services (NISH)

Ellensburg

Elmview (NISH)

Issaquah

AtWork! (NISH)

Kennewick

Columbia Industries (NISH)

Oak Harbor

New Leaf, Inc. (NISH)

Olympia

Morningside (NISH)

Port Angeles

Diversified Resources (NISH)

Port Townsend

Skookum Educational Programs 

(NISH)

Republic

Ferry County Community Services 

(NISH)

Seattle

Northwest Center for the Retarded 

(NISH)

Provail (NISH)

Seattle Mental Health Institute, 

Inc. (NISH)

The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. 

(Seattle Lighthouse) (NIB)

Spokane

Career Connections (NISH)

Good Works, Inc. (NISH)

Skils’kin (NISH)

Sumner

VADIS (NISH)

Tacoma

Goodwill Contracting Services 

(NISH)

Vancouver

Vantech Enterprises N.W. (NISH)

Walla Walla

Lillie Rice Center (NISH)

Yakima

Yakima Specialties, Inc. (NISH)

WEST VIRGINIA (12)

Buckhannon

Buckhannon-Upshur Work 

Adjustment Center, Inc. (NISH)

Charleston

Goodwill Industries of Kanawha 

Valley, Inc. (NISH)

Clarksburg

Job Squad, Inc. (NISH)

Craigsville

The Sheltered Workshop of 

Nicholas County, Inc. (NISH)

Huntington

Goodwill Industries of KYOWVA 

Area, Inc. (NISH)

Prestera Center for Mental Health 

Services, Inc. (NISH)

Maben

Integrated Resources, Inc. (NISH)

Parkersburg

SW Resources, Inc. (NISH)

Ronceverte

Gateway Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Star City

PACE Training and Evaluation 

Center, Inc. (NISH)

Weirton

Hancock County Sheltered 

Workshop, Inc. (NISH)

Wheeling

Russell Nesbitt Services, Inc. 

(NISH)

WISCONSIN (14)

Eau Claire

L. E. Phillips Career Development 

Center, Inc. (NISH)

Elkhorn

VIP Services, Inc. (NISH)

Fond du Lac

Brooke Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Green Bay

ASPIRO, Inc. (NISH)

La Crosse

ORC Industries, Inc. (NISH)

Riverfront Activity Center, Inc. 

(NISH)

Madison

Madison Area Rehabilitation 

Centers, Inc. (NISH)

Milwaukee

Associated Industries for the 

Blind (NIB)

Goodwill Industries of Southeastern 

Wisconsin, Inc. (NISH)

Milwaukee Center for 

Independence, Inc. (NISH)

Wiscraft Inc.—Wisconsin 

Enterprises for the Blind (NIB)

Racine

Lakeside Curative Services, Inc. 

(NISH)

West Allis

Industries for the Blind, Inc. (NIB)

Wisconsin Rapids

ODC Government Services, Inc. 

(NISH)

WYOMING (3)

Casper

Northwest Community Action 

Programs of Wyoming, Inc. (NISH)

Cheyenne

Goodwill Industries of Wyoming, 

Inc. (NISH)

Magic City Enterprises, Inc. (NISH)
36 2005-2006 Committee Annual Report

Committee for Purchase From People

Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled

1421 Jefferson Davis Highway

Jefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800

Arlington, VA 22202-3259

Telephone: 703-603-7740

Fax: 703-603-0655

Email: info@abilityone.gov

Internet: www.abilityone.gov

Committee Staff:

Office of the Executive Director

Leon A. Wilson, Jr., Executive Director

Patrick Rowe, Deputy Executive Director

G. John Heyer, General Counsel

Stephanie Hillmon, Assistant General Counsel

Angela Phifer, Executive Assistant

Business Development

Kimberly M. Zeich, Director

Claudia Addison, Operations Analyst

Eric O. Beale, Commercial Distribution Coordinator

Emily A. Covey, Business Management Specialist

Robert M. Hartt, Manager, Legislative Affairs & Program Outreach

Amy B. Jensen, Business Management Specialist

Stephanie N. Lesko, Public Affairs Specialist

Betty Joan Smith, Business Management Specialist

Information Management and Pricing

Sheryl D. Kennerly, Director

Patricia Briscoe, Business Management Specialist

Janice L. Coleman, Technology Administrator

Michael Jurkowski, Business Management Analyst 

Dacia Rogers, Information Management Specialist

Sandra Scafone, Administrative Assistant

Janet Yandik, Information Management Specialist

Edward Yang, Information Technology Specialist

Program Analysis and Evaluation

Louis R. Bartalot, Director

Margaret Hansen, Compliance Specialist

Barry Lineback, Operations Analyst

Stephen Maguire, Compliance Manager

Josephine Neish, Asset Manager

Resource Management

Connie C. Mehr, Director

Donald Stockton, Administrative Assistant

National Industries for the Blind

1310 Braddock Place

Alexandria, VA 22314-1691

Phone: 703-310-0500

Fax: 703-310-0498

Customer Service Hotline: 800-433-2304

Email: info@nib.org

Internet: www.nib.org

NISH

National Office

8401 Old Courthouse Road

Vienna, VA 22182

Phone: 571-226-4660; Fax: 703-849-8916

TDD: 703-560-6412

Email: info@nish.org

Internet: www.nish.org

East Region

8401 Old Courthouse Road, Suite 200

Vienna, VA 22182

Phone: 571-226-4600; Fax: 703-849-8741

Email: eservices@nish.org

Binghamton Office

425 Robinson Street

Keeler Building, Room 246

Binghamton, NY 13901

Phone: 607-722-3938; Fax: 607-722-1543

Toll Free: 888-800-9912

Richmond Office

10106 Krause Road, Suite 100

Chesterfield, Virginia 23832

Phone: 804-717-8237; Toll Free: 866-400-8237

Fax: 804-717-9438

South Region

112 Town Park Drive, Suite 200

Kennesaw, GA 30144

Phone: 770-424-9093; Fax: 770-426-7666

Email: sservices@nish.org

South Central Region

2401 E. Randol Mill Road, Suite 200

Arlington, TX 76011

Phone: 817-622-7000; Fax: 817-652-1032

Email: scservices@nish.org

North Central Region

1400 East Touhy Avenue, Suite 300

Des Plaines, IL 60018

Phone: 847-789-8400; Fax: 847-789-3240

Email: ncservices@nish.org

Northwest Region

200 West Mercer, Suite E-301

Seattle, WA 98119

Phone: 206-272-3500; Fax: 206-285-8558

Email: nwservices@nish.org

Pacific West Region

2633 Camino Ramon, Suite 150

San Ramon, CA 94583

Phone: 925-543-5100; Fax: 925-328-1907

Support Team: 

Pleasanton, CA 94566

Phone: 925-485-4100; Fax: 925-417-6888

Email: wservices@nish.org

AbilityOne (formerly JWOD) COnTACTS

Printed on 100% Postconsumer Recycled Content Process Chlorine Free Paper

2007/1,000 

Committee for Purchase From People 

Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled

1421 Jefferson Davis Highway

Jefferson Plaza 2, Suite 10800

Arlington, VA 22202-3259

Phone: 703.603.7740

Fax: 703.603.0655

info@abilityone.gov

www.abilityone.gov