Advocacy for People Who Are Blind
Doing Right by Individuals Who Are Blind
The Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Act requires that certain goods and services be set aside for purchase exclusively from AbilityOne Program agencies. Unfortunately, contracts set aside for the AbilityOne Program are not honored by all federal agencies.
When GSA ceased to be a mandatory source in 1988, federal procurement became more decentralized. The subsequent issuance of hundreds of thousands of credit cards caused significant leakage in the Program with many federal employees bypassing AbilityOne products to purchase similar commercial items.
This is not intentional. Many purchasing officers do not realize the importance of the mandate or the ease in purchasing from the AbilityOne Program.
The end result is fewer jobs for people who are blind. Congress should consider mechanisms to enhance the Committee for Purchase’s ability to address non-compliance by federal agencies.
Public Policy Forum
Each spring, representatives from the NIB network of associated agencies gather in Washington, D.C., to discuss policy concerns that affect the AbilityOne Program and to Make a Difference by taking their voices to congressional leaders on Capitol Hill. The following documents are used in conjunction with this event:
Public Policy Forum 2010
Supporting Modernization of the JWOD Act
Through effective modernization of the JWOD Act, our goal is to work with the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled to generate additional employment opportunities at all levels for people who are blind working in our associated agencies and to improve advocacy for and accountability of the AbilityOne Program.
We have developed solutions that encourage and reward upward mobility and ensure more effective advocacy, accountability (compliance) and results (employment) to continue to be the nation’s leading federally supported employment program for people who are blind. To read more, click one of the following links: JWOD Modernization and Enhanced Competition Model.
Counting Employment Outcomes Through the Workforce Investment Act
Until recently, the Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) did not recognize AbilityOne manufacturing jobs as employment outcomes. In turn, NIB associated agency executives and employees expressed concern to their senators and representatives about the impact of this policy.
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee responded by contacting the RSA to request clarification of the policy. RSA released Technical Assistance Circular 06-01 on November 21, 2005 to clarify that AbilityOne manufacturing jobs can be considered employment outcomes if certain criteria are met. As a result, some state VR agencies now count some AbilityOne manufacturing jobs as employment outcomes.
While the RSA guidance allowed state VR agencies to count AbilityOne manufacturing jobs, it does not require them to do so. As a result, a manufacturing job in one state may be counted as an employment outcome while the same job in a neighboring state does not qualify.
Reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act provides an opportunity for Congress to clarify that all above-minimum-wage AbilityOne manufacturing jobs count as employment outcomes.
To get involved in generating change, visit the NIB Action Center and get in touch with your federal representatives today!
