Become an AbilityOne Champion
An AbilityOne Champion supports the enhancement of opportunities for economic and personal independence of persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities. An AbilityOne Champion is an elected federal policymaker who has demonstrated support for the AbilityOne Program and for related community-based not-for-profit agencies in his or her district or state through congressional actions.
The following are the four criteria to become a Champion:
- Meet with an AbilityOne Program associated nonprofit agency representative in your Washington, D.C., office.
- Visit an AbilityOne Program associated nonprofit agency employment location and meet employees who are blind producing products or providing services for federal agency customers.
- Purchase and use SKILCRAFT® and products produced through the AbilityOne Program in your office.
- Support the AbilityOne Program through one of the following "on the record" communications:
- Letter of support
- Press conference statement
- Congressional Record statement
- Introduction of AbilityOne Program to a federal agency
- Sponsorship of legislation supporting the AbilityOne Program
Check out all of our AbilityOne Champions who are currently in office.
Congratulations to our 2012 AbilityOne Champions!
- Senator John Boozman (AR)
- Representative Dan Benishek (MI)
- Representative Blake Farenthold (TX)
- Representative Tim Griffin (AR)
- Representative Richard Hanna (NY)
- Representative Vicky Hartzler (MO)
- Representative James Lankford (OK)
- Representative Paul Tonko (NY)
If you have any questions on the criteria to become an AbilityOne Champion, contact Tony Stephens, Public Policy Specialist, at 703-310-0473 or astephens@nib.org.