Thought Leadership

In 1992, the United Nations declared December 3 the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPWD), a day dedicated to appreciation, celebration, and advancement of the more than 1 billion people around the world living with disabilities. National Industries for the Blind (NIB) is proud to support IDPWD and to work with institutions spanning a […]

Every October, National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) reminds us of the value employees with disabilities bring to their communities and organizations. 2020 was a special year, marking both the 75th anniversary of NDEAM and the 30th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. As we wrap up NDEAM, National Industries for […]

National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), celebrated in October, is an annual recognition of the work employees with disabilities do and the value they bring to their colleagues and organizations. This fall, amidst one of the most challenging situations our country has faced, NDEAM serves as a reminder to employers across all industries of the […]

September is Disaster Preparedness Month and it appears 2020 will be another bad year for natural disasters, with California already experiencing its second-largest wildfire season and 13 hurricanes forming in the Atlantic Ocean before September. The deadly wildfires and hurricanes highlight the need to be prepared for disasters and provide aid when tragedy strikes. At […]

For more than 80 years, NIB and its associated nonprofit agencies have embraced creativity and innovation to expand employment opportunities for people who are blind. Back when NIB was formed in 1938, society had a very limited view of what people who are blind could accomplish. Those who were able to find work were often […]

National Industries for the Blind (NIB) is honored to present the 2020 R.B. Irwin Award to Dr. A. Gidget Hopf. The Irwin Award, NIB’s highest honor, recognizes Dr. Hopf for her innovative work creating employment opportunities for people who are blind. Dr. Hopf recently retired as CEO of NIB associated nonprofit agency Association for the […]

In the 30 years since President George H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) into law, the accessibility gap for people with disabilities—including people who are blind— has narrowed in every aspect of public life. Among the accessibility features for which we can thank the ADA are audio cues in crossing signals on […]

Growth by its very nature requires change, and NIB has always been about growth. Not just growing the number of people who are blind employed in our associated nonprofit agencies but growing new opportunities for people who are blind to pursue careers in fields of their choosing. And as technological advances have changed our economy, […]

June 25 marks the 82nd anniversary of the Wagner-O’Day Act, the law that created what is today known as the AbilityOne® Program. When the Act was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938, society had a very limited view of the capabilities of people who are blind. Passage of the Act and […]

The ongoing COVID-19 crisis continues to have tremendous impact on everyone, regardless of ability or disability. For people who are blind, assistive technology is now more critical than ever for staying connected to the world. As we all adjust to social distancing and teleworking, we’ve put together a few resources to help everyone navigate this […]