Our employees are proud to support our troops. images appear dark when viewed from an angle. The first time, I came into contact with a Woobie was about the time I could walk. Economic Security since the 1980s. Products and services with an impact. These new products produced by NIB associated agencies are now available
am today.Photograph: Misty Stenberg, Milton J. Samuleson Career Achievement Award recipient, MidWest Enterprises for the Blind
sailors, Airmen, Marines, police, firefighters, and
operate as a private, independent
to learn what makes NIB
Your email address will not be published. Capabilities at-a-glance: Product assembly of Lexmark-, HP-, and Xerox-
would bring
appointee and one private citizen
SKILCRAFT Cellulose Scrubber Sponges
Jeu was named DeCA director and
quality, and business relations." Blind stocks more than 43 million items to
After they
Military and federal agency
Boucher joined NIB in 1969, working his
NIB associated agencies go the extra mile in performing their
NIB is doing its part to keep
national policy and endorses effective
60,000 emergency ration kits and 70,000 general purpose
impaired are proud to support the U.S. Army by sewing
size of 4 x 37 mm. variety of complex backgrounds. Headquarters: New Orleans, Louisiana
supplying our military with the best, and regularly
Dan Boucher the 2017 R. B. Irwin Award
As I stepped out onto my balcony, a pleasant female
worked with AFBs Chairman M.
products produced by people who are blind, visit NIB.org/products. feel and quality, before settling on a line
assembly-line style, sewing the same
in the JWOD Program, providing 3.8
career opportunities in high-demand,
Bio-based pulp food trays with hinged lids and secure
THE PRESIDENTServing with Honor
steadfast ally, supporting employment
I wrapped up my first archery doe in it to keep the trunk of my Mazda GLC clean; it mostly worked. Your source for comprehensive hunting reviews and buying guides. secretary of labor in the Office of
14 OUR VOICES. of Independence Award
contracting led McElroy to seek out
helped both organizations leverage
n 1971 to include the work of people
here, we truly believe where theres a will,
AGENCIESInformation on agency locations,
We used it as a picnic blanket or my sister and I would wrap ourselves up in it on long trips. experience was part of my free 30-minute onboarding
Natoli, who is also legally blind, takes pride
IN THE WORKFORCE
10 GET TO KNOW
Aira started in 2014, after company co-founders Suman
Our team of experts is bringing you best camping gear reviews and buying guides.
The people at Dallas
Photograph: Brothers Bryan and Bradford Manning moved production of their clothing line to Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind to keep up with growing demand. may one day become a powerful tool for access to greater
envelopes, all made of durable, water-and-tear resistant
(The employees at Pinnacle Mercantile make tent stakes, too!). Logo: National Industries for the Blind
who have significant disabilities and
Now, everyone, including former military personnel who had lost ordamaged their original issue, can purchase the Pinnacle Mercantile Authentic Woobie withoutenlisting or re-enlisting. disabilities to achieve their
was awarded the 2017 Joseph Roeder
IFB produces eyewear under its Twenty200 brand at its Winston-Salem lab. Services and
under the Arizona Department of
Logo: Connect To 2017 NIB/NAEPB Training Conference and Expo
everybody including people who are blind
Earlier this year, the organization
oversee implementation of the Wagner-
With the assistance of staff, it handles a
own way of serving. publicly traded international aviation
diseases, and at the same time, help a
Nuestras mquinas expendedoras inteligentes completamente personalizadas por dentro y por fuera para su negocio y lnea de productos nicos. Photograph: Kevin A. Lynch President and Chief Executive Officer
rehabilitation and deaf services. replace. If you havent served, well forgive you for not knowing what the woobie is. Superior Supplier
outer layer (EWOL) parka, is fire- and water-resistant, and
completed her MBA at Georgetown and embarked on a career
blind as a central nonprofit agency (CNA)
IFB Solutions is a nonprofit organization and the largest employer of people who are blind in the country.It is the primary manufacturer of the U.S. military-issued woobie, producing about 1,000 woobies per dayat the IFB manufacturing location in Asheville, North Carolina, where 25 employees are involved with thefull manufacturing process from sewing of the various components to final assembly and packaging. Management Agency (DCMA) but, according to Oliver, IOB
executive chairman. PREVIOUS PAGE
transporting even the heaviest loads effortless. 20 READY TO LAUNCHNIB associated agencies
Did you know? COVER STORY
Independence Award at a retirement
independent. Likes: unique beer, dogs, stories. Amamos lo que hacemos y nos encanta poder seguir construyendo y emprendiendo sueos junto a ustedes brindndoles nuestra experiencia de ms de 20 aos siendo pioneros en el desarrollo de estos canales!
agency "has created and maintained
Southern Tier Association for the Visually Impaired
Stability and a Human Touch
Logo: 84 Lumber
WITH USFacebook Icon
beads to employees. Disappointingly for many, though, serving our
shipping and logistics operations, heavy-duty hand trucks make
warfighters at home
TECH CORNER
In 2014 he managed IFBs merger with
The Commissions primary functional
As someone with a visual impairment, he was thrilled to find both an employer and a community that understood his needs and, as an avid outdoorsman, he was immediately drawn toproduction of the woobie, citing the importance of lightweight, multi-use tools in the field. Logo: Arizona Industries for the Blind
chairperson and vice chairperson for
the general unpredictability of federal
different perspectives in problem-solving
Essential for facilities management, maintenance shops, and
Self-stick Page Markers in assorted neon colors
Lighthouse do just perfect work.
situations leads to better solutions, said
FEATURE STORY
money transfer and handset accessibility in Africa. Blind from birth, Elaina Beth Tillinghas
adaptive technology for employees who are blind
But now, for the first time ever, the woobie is available for allthrough IFBs Amazon site, Pinnacle Mercantile, for $99.While the origin of the woobie nickname is up for debate, the government-issued multi-purpose poncho liner was introduced around 1962 for use by special forces troops in Vietnam and has been standard issue to every soldier since. Logo: FARO
trays degrade in approximately 90 days under appropriate
what we do every day.Photograph: Irenessa Olmo, Peter J. Salmon Employee of the Year Award recipient, Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Rochester, New York
Vice President, Communications
I want to be clear, I personally have never earned my own woobie, but my heart goes out to every single U.S. soldier who has earned their own.
It
agency with responsibility for overseeing
Greenville, South Carolina, to join IFB Solutions. in inbound and outbound tech support. LEVELS FROM $89 TO
Its a design thats meant to be dirty, so you wont mind actually using it outside. after 47 years of working to expand
Did you know?
By procuring quality products and services through National Industries for the Blind, an AbilityOne Authorized Enterprise, you provide meaningful employment for people who are blind. The Woobie measures 91.5 inches by 65.5 inches (about 7.5 feet by 5.5 feet) and weighs about 1.5 pounds. employment for people who are blind
ANOTHER
40 employees to more than 70.
The U.S. AbilityOne Commission empowers people who are
nationwide network of more than 550
US Army WOODLAND Camouflage Wet Weather PONCHO LINER Woobie Blanket US A, New Military Issued Camouflage Wet Weather Poncho Liner Woobie Blanket, Military Issued Camouflage Wet Weather Poncho Liner Woobie Blanket, US Army WOODLAND Camouflage Wet Weather PONCHO LINER Woobie Blanket US V, US Army WOODLAND Camouflage Wet Weather PONCHO LINER Woobie Blanket Mili, Camo Wet Weather PONCHO LINER Woobie Blanket, Us Military Issue Poncho Liner Wet Weather Woobie Blanket, Military Woodland Wet Weather Poncho Liner Camouflage Woobie Blanket, Acu Digital Camouflage Wet Weather Poncho Liner Woobie Blanket Euc, US Army WOODLAND Camo Wet Weather PONCHO LINER Woobie Blanket Military N, 2022 - WorthPoint Corporation | 5 Concourse Parkway NE, Suite 2900. garments literally protect the troops. It comes with a pair of tie-offs on each corner and in the center of each side. CORRECTION
seating is needed, indoors or out. 2015 we had no machines and no people, Swindle
for people who are blind,
Logo: Defense Logistics Agency
After making more than 3 million blankets for the military since 1991, Pinnacle Mercantile made the Authentic Woobie blanket available to the public for the first time this past winter. Closed-loop post-consumer recycled (PCR) resin produces a
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. Another
Assistive Technology Scholarship. SKILCRAFT Side-Loading Expansion Envelopes
IFB Solutions, Boucher looked for ways
friends in a crowd, or anything else requiring vision.
them is even more so: The warehouse and its employees
02 LETTER FROM
NAEPB National Symposium.Photograph: A staff working at the Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind. ones go through, to helping the federal government recoup
the AbilityOne Program.
to leverage collective marketing
1938 KGV Set. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor Jennifer Sheehy breaks down workplace barriers and
says Swindle. Industrial Home for the Blind in New
SKILCRAFT Self-Stick File Tabs, Dura Tabs, and Page Markers
agencies serve their country
legally blind, relocated to Asheville from her home of 55 years
The woobie is a win-win. Profits
percent on-time shipping rate for routine orders, exceeding
day IOB employees make 300 advanced physical fitness
have led the Dallas Lighthouse to
Its even given rise to Kickstarter-born brands dedicated to the camp blanket. A Publication of National Industries for the BlindVolume 10 | Issue 4 | Fall 2017
Hiring employees with diverse abilities
NIB associated agency NewView Oklahoma has a 60-year
Logo: Kimball Midwest
More info: st-avi.org
Many wanted to serve but couldnt
the 93 percent standard. Photograph: Tina Ballard, executive director of the U.S. AbilityOne Commission, leads a full-time staff of 25 civil service employees in performing oversight, stewardship, and day-to-day activities for the AbilityOne Program. IN VISUAL
community we love so much to improve
Certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute,
higher quality product with less plastic, lowering environmental
Steven T. Brice
way up to vice president of marketing
Logo: Southern Tier Association for the Visually Impaired
the field stretchers they assemble, or the supplies and
Headquarters: Elmira, New York
AWARD
NIB and its
as a guide to make straight lines.
resource employers can turn to for
employment for people who are blind. To purchase thePinnacle Mercantile Authentic Woobie ($99) at IFB Solutions Amazon store, Pinnacle Mercantile, clickhere. Logo: AIRA
by identifying suppliers with the
CEO in 2011, the capstone of a 38 year
and exceeds requirements with 99.78% on-
We tested one to find out. Organize, label and color-code papers, project files, and
rate has stood at 99.8 percent for more than 14 years. and improving employment for people
availability, you surprise yourself. and t-shirts. Logo: Cyber Timez
Ergonomically contoured with an extra-wide seat and back
is finished with eight sets of 9-inch nylon cord ties that facilitate multiple uses and configurations. It is also available at NIB.org/opportunity. Committee on Purchases of Blind-Made
about the employment challenges
manufacturing specs, including the ability to fit undetected
IFB Solutions Asheville location makes 300 to
dropped signals and maximizes Airas bandwidth-hungry
Logo: JLL
Photograph: 2017 NIB/NAEPB National Symposium atendees. The agency recently purchased a call
By 1980, 7,500 people were employed
closures are ideal for transporting and storing hot or cold
Atlanta, Georgia 30328 | 877.481.5750. Doug Goist is program manager for IT services projects
federal government. Highlights from the 2017 NIB/
filter removes easily for shared viewing without damage to
ASSISTANCE
As passed in 1938, the Wagner-
I take great pride in making sure I do it right the
military with uniforms and life-saving medical
Hand Trucks
sewing poncho liners for the Army the Asheville facility makes
Camp blankets have enjoyed a comeback of sorts in the last few years. $11.6 million in direct labor wages. blessing for you!Photograph: Jill Barbon-Fish, Peter J. Salmon Employee of the Year Award nominee, Blind Industries and Services of Maryland
It made for a wonderful fort, and was sometimes at the bottom of our tent for a little added warmth. on level of business with DLA
capacity. nonprofit agencies in the AbilityOne
Butler, of Lions Volunteer Blind Industries, as Kenny Bower,
different products for commissaries as
imagined life
sheets of paper. services. time designated by their agencies,
nothing seems impossible.
Damn near any brand that makes a sleeping bag has one, but the craze has also swept up hard goods brands like YETI and Dometic. themselves to you, McElroy said. month and can change or cancel the service at any time. Since
used in federal offices and by members of the armed
can answer the call to serve in their own way. clarity when the monitor is viewed from the front, but makes
I used it exactly as it was meant to be used: I wrapped myself up in it first thing in the morning and then again when the sun went down at camp. characteristic that defines
Personal Care and Safety
well as beyond the Lighthouse. just realized I cant retire, ever. Each night, the warehouse receives an average of 1,000
Highly durable chairs
OPPORTUNITIES Jennifer Sheehy breaks
U.S.A. organizations employing people who are
YouTube Icon
Duffy-Protentis is majoring in
sews the yoke and adds Velcro, and can also sew lower sleeves. "Photograph: Mitch Erwin, Milton J. Samuleson Career Achievement Award nominee, East Texas Lighthouse for the Blind
from 14 to 52 inches the largest is big enough to hold a
function is the responsibility to monitor
NIB and Skilcraft Ad: Connect to what matters.
does not mean lack of vision. AbilityOne Base Supply Centers, and
people of differing backgrounds and
A recognized
folding chairs are the perfect solution when additional
the agency produces 46 different types of ballpoint
Purchase of Products and Services of the
taxpayer funds to be de-obligated in the course of closing
Boucher retired
and veterans employment and initiatives. a needle breaks. in Manhattan finance to launch the
maximum employment potential. different operations to produce one jacket, says Jay Swindle,
I am honored to make the woobie forour military, and now the public. Whats more, its equipped service members and provided jobs for people who are blind and have low vision. associated nonprofit
But as a piece of standard-issue kit, its history dates back to the mid-20th century and the introduction of technical poncho liners.
is one of the nations top experts and
effective July 1, 2017. PREVIOUS PAGE
We have unprecedented
Among
sewing and 62 different machines to ensure the
recognize NDEAM and communicate
From biking, running, and (not enough) surfing, to ball sports, camping, and cattle farming if it's outside, it's worth doing. in visual assistance. uniform jackets each day, a complex process that involves
supplied American troops in Operations
The above
Since President Franklin D. Roosevelt
DLA AGAIN NAMES NIB A SUPERIOR SUPPLIER
Aira users choose one of three pricing plans, currently
and Page Markers. only thing thats going
Brothers business, as well as other
authorized distributors and wholesalers
workplace practices to ensure an
Use on
IFB employees, 18 of whom are blind or visually