NIB Connection

NSITE partners with state vocational rehabilitation agencies and NIB associated agencies to bring a range of career services to people who are blind or visually impaired, even in areas where NIB doesn’t have a physical presence. Imagine this scenario: A case manager at a state vocational rehabilitation agency determines a client who is blind or […]

Let’s face it: When the artificial intelligence research project OpenAI announced the public release of ChatGPT in 2023, no one expected the quirky chatbot to dominate world headlines for weeks to come. What is ChatGPT? Using large language modeling (LLM), OpenAI researchers fed a dataset of an estimated 175 billion words of text into ChatGPT, […]

National Industries for the Blind (NIB) – in partnership with the National Association for the Employment of People Who Are Blind (NAEPB) – held its annual Public Policy Forum May 13-16 in Alexandria, VA.   The event, which has taken place for more than 15 years, was held at the Westin Old Town Alexandria, with 42 […]

After retiring April 30 from a 44-year career at National Industries for the Blind and its associated agencies, Kevin Lynch, president and CEO emeritus, was honored May 14 with the R.B. Irwin Award.    The recognition took place during the General Session of the annual NIB/NAEPB Public Policy Forum. During the ceremony, Lynch was presented with […]

Advocacy makes legislators aware of the needs of their constituents, including people who are blind, and nobody is better equipped to tell the NIB story than the people who live it.   NIB launched the Advocates for Leadership and Employment program in 2012 to help people who are blind represent their community to their elected officials. […]

Alicia Howerton was advocating for members of the blind or visually impaired community even before her involvement with NIB as an Advocate for Leadership and Employment. Her professional advocacy journey began years earlier, in the Ohio statehouse, where she and others from the Cleveland Sight Center (CSC) worked diligently with legislators advocating for insurance coverage […]

Despite experiencing poor vision throughout childhood and progressive vision loss as a working adult, Gary Wagner lived most of his life trying to adapt to the sighted world. It wasn’t until he connected with NIB and the AbilityOne® Program through Visually Impaired Advancement (VIA), an NIB associated nonprofit agency in Buffalo, NY, that he began […]

Rebekah Grieb wasn’t concerned at the age of 12 when an eye doctor recommended she have some tests done. She was an athlete, active in basketball, volleyball, and softball. “There was no vision loss in my family that glasses wouldn’t fix,” she says, “or that wasn’t related to old age.” The eye specialist told Rebekah […]

When David Epstein moved to Sedona, Arizona, several years ago, he looked forward to regular hikes with his wife through the picturesque red sandstone formations along the outskirts of the popular tourist destination. Epstein, who has the incurable inherited retinal eye disease retinitis pigmentosa, soon found hiking with his wife increasingly difficult — especially at […]

Each January, people across the globe celebrate Louis Braille’s genius communication system of tactile raised dots representing visual alpha-numeric print. January is National Braille Literacy Month, and January 4 is World Braille Day.  Born in France on January 4, 1809, Louis Braille fell victim to a tragic accident in his father’s leather-harness-making shop as a […]

On November 29, NIB launched Heard & Empowered, a groundbreaking podcast that shares job and career insights, inspiration, and insider tips specifically tailored to the blind and visually impaired community.  People who are blind have one of the highest unemployment rates at 70%. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the jobless rate for people with […]

In this season of gratitude, NIB and its nationwide network of associated nonprofit agencies thank our supporters for aiding in our mission to empower people who are blind to achieve greater independence and engagement in their communities. We wish you and yours a happy Thanksgiving and joyous holiday season.

Employees who are blind working at NIB associated nonprofit agencies produce thousands of products for the U.S. armed forces and military veterans every year. From neckties for dress uniforms to fatigues to helmet components, hundreds of employees work each day to provide critical supplies. Still others operate switchboards for medical centers operated by the Department […]

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), an annual recognition of the workplace contributions of people with disabilities sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Disability Employment Policy. This year’s NDEAM theme, “Advancing Equity and Access,” emphasizes the need to ensure people with disabilities have equal opportunities to prepare for and succeed […]

Despite having a successful 12-year career in management and owning a flooring business for 13 years, Craig Ellis struggled to find employment after he became blind due to macular degeneration. “Most of my flooring business was tied to new construction, so I was hit hard by the housing crash of 2008. After I lost my […]

Mary Elizabeth Clare distinctly remembers starting her job as a store clerk at the AbilityOne Base Supply Center® (BSC) operated by Envision at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho. It was March 2020, and the next day the base closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Deemed essential, the BSC remained open, but customer traffic […]

Thanks to today’s digital revolution, there is no shortage of new technologies available for people with visual or hearing impairments. But for the estimated 7 million people in the world who have both visual and hearing impairments (according to World Health Organization data), assistive technology options are few and far between. When I learned of […]

According to VisionServe Alliance, a forum of U.S. and Canadian organizations working to build a better world for people with vision loss, at least 12 million people in the U.S. age 60 and older report significant difficulty seeing. In addition, at least half of Americans aged 65 and older are at high risk of developing […]

In 1938, the United States was nearly a decade into the Great Depression. The unemployment rate was up, and production rates were down. The world had a very limited idea of what people who were blind could do, making employment even harder to obtain. However, there was hope on the horizon. President Franklin D. Roosevelt […]

In 1967, the General Services Administration (GSA) had a problem. The standard-issue U.S. government pen had been redesigned to stringent new specifications, which the private company making the pen couldn’t meet. Instead, they delivered 13 million defective pens to GSA. Looking for a new supplier, GSA Commissioner Heinz Abersfeller asked National Industries for the Blind […]

This year marks an important holiday in the history of our nation: The 50th anniversary of the passage of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. While most people are familiar with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which will be 33 years old on July 26, fewer are familiar with the Rehabilitation Act. But the Rehab […]

Sunday, June 25, marks the 85th anniversary of the Wagner-O’Day Act, the legislation that led to the creation of National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and ultimately, the AbilityOne® Program. The act, signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938, directed government agencies to give priority to suppliers employing people who are blind […]

As the labor market remains strong, employers looking to retain valued employees are renewing efforts to provide workplace accommodations. A recent study from the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) offers good news – a majority of workplace accommodations cost less than $500 to implement, with nearly half having no cost at all. From January 1, 2019, […]

On May 8, Jeff Mittman, president and CEO of NIB associated nonprofit agency Bosma Enterprises and president of the National Association for the Employment of People Who Are Blind (NAEPB), spoke with FOX 5 DC, the network affiliate in Washington, D.C., to discuss NIB’s recent Advocacy Day and some of the challenges people who are […]

Davina A. De BrauxNewView Oklahoma As lead contract closeout specialist for NewView Oklahoma, Davina De Braux ensures the accuracy and completeness of work and facilitates coordination with customers and government. A member of the Virginia State Bar, Davina received her law degree from Iowa University, a Master of Laws degree in taxation and a certificate […]

For NIB associated nonprofit agency Bestwork Industries for the Blind, 2023 is full of promise. Bestwork is diversifying from a successful textile manufacturing facility making uniform apparel for the U.S. military into a multi-faceted operation pursuing new lines of business and initiating rehabilitation services.  Founded in 1981 by WWII veteran Jim Varsaci, who lost his […]

On March 9, 2020, Orcam, the Israeli assistive hardware maker that developed the powerful wearable Orcam MyEye, announced the release of Orcam Read, a hand-held alternative for scanning and reading text from nearly any surface.  Launching Orcam Read seven days before the U.S. went into lockdown for COVID-19 was unfortunate, but the reading pen is […]

NIB forms strategic partnerships with government agencies, commercial businesses, and training organizations to carry out its mission to enhance the personal and economic independence of people who are blind. These partnerships enable both partners and customers to gain an appreciation of the capabilities of people who are blind.  Commercial Partners Expand Product Offerings  For more […]

To enhance the personal and economic independence of people who are blind, NIB forms strategic partnerships with government agencies, commercial businesses, and training organizations. These partnerships champion NIB’s mission and enable both partners and customers to gain an appreciation of the capabilities of people who are blind. Government Partners Help Grow Opportunities In October 2020, […]

Jonathan Lucus, executive director of NIB’s talent management enterprise, NSITE, joined Washington Business Journal (WBJ) Publisher Alex Orfinger recently on WBJ’s Executive Insights to discuss the challenges companies face in today’s tight labor market. Lucus explained how NSITE is working to open up new avenues for employers to diversify their talent search by connecting them […]

In the fall 2017 issue of Opportunity I reviewed the breakthrough real-time service offered by Aira Tech, a San Diego venture startup that aims to make life easier for people who are blind. The Aira service pairs users who are blind or visually impaired with vetted, trained “visual interpreters” who are on call 24 hours […]

The NIB annual report for fiscal year 2022 is now available on the NIB.org website. The 2022 annual report, Focus Forward, spotlights NIB’s significant achievements in 2022 and new initiatives aimed at growing employment opportunities for people who are blind, including public policy advocacy, partnerships with leaders in information technology to provide job training, and […]

As 2022 draws to a close, NIB and its nationwide network of associated nonprofit agencies wish you and yours a pleasant holiday season and a healthy and prosperous 2023. The NIB Connection will return on Wednesday, January 4, 2023.

Longtime advocate Lauren Branch is passionate about the need for organizations serving people who are blind to come together and find common ground to advance their interests. As president and CEO of NIB associated nonprofit agency NewView Oklahoma, a member of the NIB board of directors, and chair of the VisionServe Alliance executive committee, she […]

As families and friends gather, NIB and its nationwide network of associated nonprofit agencies wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving and joyous holiday season.

As Veterans Day approaches, NIB and its associated nonprofit agencies are proud to recognize the vital role veterans of the U.S. armed forces play in today’s workforce. As an organization, we’re honored to count more than 500 veterans as employees in our nationwide network of associated agencies. Together with our associated agencies and our talent […]

For nearly 90 years, NIB associated nonprofit agency Lighthouse for the Blind, St. Louis, has provided employment opportunities as well as educational and support services for people who are blind. The agency distinguishes itself by directing most of its community outreach efforts — and proceeds from its manufacturing activities — toward serving school-age children and […]

To say Jennifer Holladay keeps busy as manager of information and volunteer services at the Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CABVI) is an understatement. Her role involves leading four staff members and hundreds of volunteers who help the agency throughout the year with special events, mailings, audio information services, and more. “My […]

For Warren Walker, the 2022 Peter J. Salmon Employee of the Year Award winner from Bestwork Industries for the Blind in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, being nominated by his co-workers as the agency’s employee of the year was particularly meaningful. Being selected by NIB as the national winner of the Salmon award is something he […]

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), a national observance led by the U.S. Department of Labor that’s dedicated to recognizing the work of employees with disabilities and the value they bring to the workplace. This year’s theme, “Disability: Part of the Equity Equation,” emphasizes the vital role people with disabilities play in building […]

When Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services (BVRS) of Pittsburgh opened its doors as a manufacturer in 1910, no one could have imagined the opportunities it would present to people who are blind or visually impaired in 2022. Over the years, the NIB associated nonprofit agency has pursued cutting-edge employment opportunities and training while never forgetting […]

Previously known as rehabilitation engineering, NIB’s productivity engineering program offers a wide array of services to associated nonprofit agencies. Programs include facility planning, safety and ergonomics assessments, training, process analysis, and efficiency improvements – all designed to boost employment for people who are blind while ensuring workplace safety. “We believe the term ‘productivity engineering’ better […]

NSITE, NIB’s a talent management enterprise, supports employers and job seekers who are blind, visually impaired, and/or veterans throughout the career life cycle. Part 1 of this blog series looked at NSITE’s genesis and what it offers both job seekers and employers. This concluding post of the series provides an overview of the variety of […]

It’s never easy to embark on a new venture, particularly during the height of a pandemic, but that’s just what NIB did when it launched NSITE, a talent management enterprise designed to support employers and job seekers who are blind, visually impaired, and/or veterans throughout the career life cycle. NSITE offers a continuum of employment […]

In 2010, the federal government had a problem: Millions of taxpayer dollars appropriated for completed contracts were in financial limbo. The executed contracts hadn’t used all of the funds appropriated, but the money couldn’t be returned to the government until the contracts were closed out, and the government lacked enough trained personnel to do that.   […]

My December 9, 2020, NIB Connection post introduced BARD Mobile, the talking books smartphone app released by the United States Library of Congress. The excellent BARD Mobile app provides access to the worlds’ largest collection of free talking books for people with print disabilities. In fact, it is my portable go-to for accessing fiction and […]

Headquartered in Baltimore, NIB associated nonprofit agency Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM), has been providing employment opportunities and life skills training programs to people who are blind or have low vision since 1908. Its multifaceted manufacturing operations employ nearly 500 people at three Maryland locations — Baltimore, Federalsburg, and Salisbury — and in […]

NIB’s Advocates for Leadership and Employment program prepares high-potential employees who are blind to advocate for themselves, their agencies, and the greater community. NIB Advocates for Leadership and Employment participate in intensive training during the annual the public policy conference, but the training doesn’t stop when the conference ends, explains NIB Public Policy Vice President […]

NIB’s Advocates for Leadership and Employment program prepares high-potential employees who are blind to advocate for themselves, their agencies, and the greater community. The brainchild of NIB President and CEO Kevin Lynch, the Advocates for Leadership and Employment program is celebrating ten years of representing NIB, its associated nonprofit agencies, and people who are blind. […]

NIB’s Advocates for Leadership and Employment program is a signature initiative of its Public Policy Team. Each year, new employees who are blind working at NIB associated nonprofit agencies across the country join the two-year training program, where they learn about the public policy process and meet with members of Congress on Capitol Hill or […]

Reynaldo Villareal’s rise at NIB associated nonprofit agency Valley Center for the Blind (VCB) in Fresno, California, has been meteoric, and for good reason. “His ability to connect with people and support them through challenges has made him invaluable at the agency,” says VCB Executive Director Shellena Heber. “Reynaldo is a wonderful leader, a caring […]

NIB associated nonprofit agency Bosma Enterprises packages and ships more than half a billion exam and surgical gloves a year, so the need for speed and accuracy is critical. The agency got both in Emily Kanis, the 2021 national Peter J. Salmon Award winner. The award, which honors employees who excel in their positions at […]

Since 1906, The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired has been one of the nation’s most comprehensive organizations serving people who are blind, visually impaired, and disabled, including veterans. While the Chicago Lighthouse has seen its share of history – including two World Wars and global pandemics –it’s made history of […]

Employees at NIB associated nonprofit agencies take great pride in the work they do, particularly on behalf of the military and veterans. But their pride — and interests — don’t stop when the workday ends. For many, employment at NIB associated agencies empowers them to not only live more independent lives, but to make meaningful […]

Employees at NIB associated nonprofit agencies take great pride in the work they do, particularly providing SKILCRAFT® products and services to the military and veterans. But their pride — and interests — don’t stop when the workday ends. For many, employment at NIB associated agencies empowers them to not only live more independent lives, but […]

Cynthia Watson would take exception to Thomas Wolfe’s assertion that you can’t  go home again. The Texas native is indeed back home as president and CEO of the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, where she is making history herself as both the first female president and CEO and the first president […]

Throughout fiscal year 2021, NIB and its associated nonprofit agencies found themselves in a place few expected as continuing uncertainty and disruption required that they Adapt and Advance in the face of the lingering coronavirus pandemic. Yet despite the challenges of COVID-19, NIB made significant progress in enhancing the independence of Americans who are blind. […]

NIB Textiles Product Manager Donielle Lorelli recently penned a blog article for SEAMS, a proponent of the Made in America movement that deems itself the “association and voice of the U.S. sewn products industry.” The association provides an opportunity each month for members of the millennial generation to share their thoughts on the SEAMS blog. […]

Doug Goist, workforce development program manager for NSITE, National Industries for the Blind’s (NIB) talent management enterprise, spoke with Shelly Howser, host of the Disability Talks: Don’t Dis My Ability podcast for Abilities in Motion in November and December 2021. Abilities in Motion, located in Berks County, Pennsylvania, offers services, education, and advocacy for more […]

As 2021 draws to a close, NIB and its nationwide network of associated nonprofit agencies wish you and yours a pleasant holiday season and a healthy and prosperous 2022. The NIB Connection will return on Wednesday, January 5, 2022.

Last week, NIB hosted 26 new associated nonprofit agency leaders at NIB headquarters for New Executive Orientation (NEO). NIB hosts NEO each year to provide new members of the executive teams at associated agencies an introduction to NIB senior leadership and other key stakeholders, as well as an overview of how NIB can support their […]

Launched in June 2010, the Quality Work Environment (QWE) program is an initiative of the U.S. AbilityOne Commission® that focuses on skill development and upward career mobility for employees who are blind. Recognizing that dynamic work environments require a flexible and continuous approach to improvement, the AbilityOne Commission developed the QWE program to help NIB […]

NIB and its nationwide network of associated nonprofit agencies wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving and joyous holiday season.

Each year, NIB recognizes associated nonprofit agencies for outstanding efforts to carry out our mission in three categories: Overall achievement, the Quality Work Environment initiative, and AbilityOne Base Supply Centers®. Overall Achievement NIB recognizes three associated agencies that achieve excellence in compliance, contract performance, and efforts to retain or increase employment for people who are […]

“Being blind doesn’t stop me from serving my country,” says Scott Smith, U.S. Navy veteran, 2020 Employee of the Year from NIB associated agency IFB Solutions, and an outspoken advocate for people who are blind. Smith followed two generations of his family into the Navy, serving for four years as a boiler technician in the […]

The National Industries for the Blind (NIB) Military Resale (MR) program supports two of the best perks available to military personnel, retirees, and their families: The commissaries and exchanges found on military bases, which sell groceries and goods at substantial savings to help families stretch their budgets. Approximately 400 people who are blind working across […]

Two of the best perks available to military personnel, their families, and retirees are the commissaries and exchanges found on military bases. Commissaries — the equivalent of grocery stores — and exchanges — the equivalent of a department stores — sell goods at substantial savings, helping military families stretch their budgets. Products produced in National […]

National Industries for the Blind President and CEO Kevin Lynch was recently recognized by Virginia Business magazine as a member of its “Virginia 500” list. The Virginia 500 list acknowledges influential leaders throughout the state of Virginia who are making meaningful impacts in their communities. Virginia Business magazine covers news and economic activity in every […]

Opportunity, the award-winning magazine published by National Industries for the Blind (NIB), covers news and developments at NIB and its associated nonprofit agencies. The publication also tells the stories of people who are blind – their careers and capabilities, and the difference meaningful employment has made in their lives. One Opportunity article that brings all […]

Employees who are blind working at NIB associated nonprofit agency NewView Oklahoma, in Oklahoma City, are playing an important role in fighting the fires ravaging the western United States this year. Since August, the agency has had 20 or more full-time employees who are blind – including the plant manager – assembling wildland fire hoses […]

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), a national campaign led by the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Office of Disability Employment Policy. NDEAM raises awareness about employment issues facing people with disabilities and celebrates their contributions to our country. NDEAM’s roots go back to 1945, when Congress enacted a law declaring the first […]

Industrial Equipment News recently published an interview with National Industries for the Blind (NIB) President and CEO Kevin Lynch that explains how NIB became a pivotal provider for the U.S. government and military after its establishment in 1938 and how it continues to fill that role today. Noting the NIB and its network of associated […]

Many leaders would be content to have a dramatic impact on one organization. Lee Nasehi, however, has a broader vision. She’s on a mission to expand public awareness and understanding of the capabilities of people who are blind. Currently the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of VisionServe Alliance (VSA), a St. Louis-based consortium of […]

As the season winds down and people look forward to one final long summer holiday weekend, it is important to pause and remember what Labor Day is about: A day to recognize the social and economic achievements of the people who make up the American workforce and their many contributions to our country’s strength, prosperity, […]

At its recent General Assembly, the World Blind Union (WBU) released findings from an Employment Survey sponsored by National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and several other organizations benefitting people who are blind. The results offer insights into workforce trends for people who are blind or visually impaired, including information about some of the largest […]

This summer has been a time of transformation for the U.S. AbilityOne Commission®, as several veteran leaders retired and staff members stepped up to carry the torch while the Commission conducts searches for permanent replacements. The AbilityOne Commission administers the AbilityOne® Program, one of the nation’s largest employment resources for people who are blind or […]

NIB associated nonprofit agency Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany (NABA) is adept at finding solutions to difficult problems, so its ability to rise to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic is no surprise. In addition to the rehabilitation services offered to people who are blind in eastern New York, NABA also creates […]

Registration is now open for the 2021 NIB/NAEPB Training Conference and Expo, October 12-15. at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia. This year’s in-person conference will feature a variety of interesting and informative speakers at our general session on Wednesday morning, October 13, including some of the outstanding associated agency employees nominated for […]

NIB manages the New York State Preferred Source Program For New Yorkers Who Are Blind (NYSPSP), a state-mandated initiative that creates and sustains employment for people who are blind. NYSPSP directs state and local government agencies in New York to purchase pre-approved products and services produced by affiliated nonprofit agencies in the state that employ […]

Since its founding in 1955, NIB associated nonprofit agency The Blind Center of Nevada, located in Las Vegas, has focused on helping people who are blind adapt to vision loss. But the Center also helps members develop their creative potential through a variety of programs focused on the arts. A strong performing music program offers […]

The Department of Defense Public-Private Talent Exchange (PPTE) offers participants professional development opportunities to expand their functional expertise and acquire the new skills and knowledge critical to innovation. In 2020, The PPTE provided NIB with two DOD employees who helped to develop a new service line of business. Rob Clemens, who served in the Marine […]

When leaders at NIB learned about the Public-Private Talent Exchange (PPTE) program offered through the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), interest in participating was immediate. The PPTE program offers participants professional development opportunities to expand their functional expertise and acquire the new skills and knowledge critical to innovation. It also strengthens DOD and industry partnerships […]

Since its premier in November 2023, National Industries for the Blind’s Heard & Empowered podcast has amassed more than 1,700 unique downloads and countless listens. Its inspiring content, which is specifically tailored to people who are blind and visually impaired, has been heard around the globe, from Australia to Zambia, and 19 other countries in […]