The AbilityOne Program provides employment opportunities for over 36,000 Americans who are blind or have other severe disabilities by orchestrating Government purchases of products and services provided by nonprofit agencies employing such individuals throughout the country. In 1938, the Wagner-O'Day Act was passed under President Franklin D. Roosevelt in order to provide employment opportunities for people who are blind by allowing them to manufacture mops and brooms to sell to the Federal Government.

In 1971, under the leadership of Senator Jacob Javits, Congress amended this Act (41 U.S.C. 46-48c) to include people with severe disabilities and allow the Program to also provide services to the Federal Government. The AbilityOne Program is a mandatory source of supply for Federal employees. Over sixty years later, this extraordinary program provides Federal customers with a wide array of quality products and services, while providing thousands of people with severe disabilities real jobs and increased independence. The AbilityOne Program is administered by the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled. Two national, independent organizations, National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and NISH, help State and private nonprofit agencies participate in the AbilityOne Program.

The AbilityOne Program creates jobs and training opportunities for people who are blind or have other severe disabilities. As a result, AbilityOne employees are able to lead more productive, independent lives. By expanding their scope of experience and enhancing their abilities, employees are able to tackle new assignments at increasingly higher levels of difficulty. This experience prepares them for a wide variety of jobs within or outside of the nonprofit agency.

AbilityOne work provides nonprofit agency employees with invaluable vocational opportunities not otherwise available, which result in additional income and increased independence. Benefits of the AbilityOne Program to the Federal Government and to the taxpayer include:

• High quality supplies and services
• On-time delivery
• Reasonable prices
• Reduction of paperwork and pre/post award costs
• Central points of contact to solve problems/facilitate action
• Reduced disability payments and increased tax revenues  

Support of this program through purchases of goods and services will continue to provide employment opportunities for the blind and severally handicap citizens. AbilityOne works, but only with your support.