A Publication of National Industries for the Blind

OPPORTUNITY Volume 13 | Issue 1 | Winter 2020

Supplying 
the Troops

NIB’s kitting, warehousing, 
and distribution services are 
intricately choreographed 
global operations



Opportunity is published quarterly in 

the winter, spring, summer, and fall. 

It is also available at NIB.org/opportunity.

Jennifer Click

Editor-in-Chief

Laura Reimers

Vice President, Communications

Mike Johnson

Director, Communications 

Jermaine Eubanks

Communications Design Specialist

Opportunity welcomes news and stories

about the careers and capabilities of people 

who are blind. Contact communications@nib.org.

To add or change a mailing address, contact 

communications@nib.org.



NIB Executive Team:

Kevin A. Lynch

President and Chief Executive Officer

Angela Hartley

Executive Vice President and Chief Program Officer

Steven T. Brice

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Jon Katz

Vice President, Business Development and Channels

Tom Mikrut

General Counsel

Andy Mueck

Vice President, Operations 

Carrie Laney

Executive Director, New York State 

Preferred Source Program for New Yorkers Who Are Blind

Since 1938, National Industries for the Blind (NIB) has focused 
on enhancing the opportunities for economic and personal 
independence of people who are blind, primarily through creating, 
sustaining, and improving employment. NIB and its network of 
associated nonprofit agencies are the nation’s largest employer 
of people who are blind through the manufacture and provision of 
SKILCRAFT® and other products and services of the AbilityOne® 
Program. For more information about NIB, visit NIB.org.



LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

THE 
STRONGEST 
LINK


In today’s dynamic 
environments, a quick 
response can mean the 
difference between success 
and failure. Nowhere is 
this more true than in the 
military, where the ability 
to respond effectively to 
a variety of scenarios can 
literally mean the difference 
between life and death.

It’s a requirement made all 
the more difficult by the fact that forces are deployed to more 
than 150 countries, and constantly on the move. Working 
with the Defense Logistics Agency, NIB associated agencies 
are developing, storing, and delivering specialized kits that 
provide the tools and materials military members need to meet 
varied and complex missions around the world.

In this issue of Opportunity magazine you’ll read about the 
work our associated nonprofit agencies do to supply our 
troops in the field. From putting together first responder 
and investigation kits to providing all of the pieces to equip 
a mobile operating room, employees who are blind gather 
materials and assemble them to exacting specifications so that 
military members have the right instrument at the right time, 
whether performing surgery or constructing a building.

People who are blind working in NIB associated agencies are 
proud to play a critical role in the carefully choreographed 
operations of our military’s global supply chains that help our 
nation’s warfighters successfully execute their missions in 
every corner of the globe. 


Kevin A. Lynch

President and 

Chief Executive Officer




6
SUPPLYING 
THE TROOPS

NIB’s kitting, warehousing, 
and distribution services 
for the U.S. military are 
intricately choreographed 
global operations.


ON THE COVER

Dennis McDuffie checks 
first aid kits at LCI in 
Durham, North Carolina


CONTENTS WINTER 2020

02 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

 The Strongest Link

04 LONGTIME ADMIRER

 DLA Troop Support Commander Gen. Gavin Lawrence is a 
fan of NIB associated agencies and their mission.

10 SHAPING THE FUTURE

 NIB associated nonprofit agencies help prepare children 
and teens who are blind for independent lives.

12 ALL IN 

 Highlights from the 2019 NIB/NAEPB Training Conference and Expo.

14 AGENCY SPOTLIGHT

 Outlook Nebraska provides innovative community support 
programs and jobs for people who are blind.

16 READY TO LAUNCH

 NIB associated agencies introduce and update SKILCRAFT® 
products.

17 TECH CORNER

 Bonocle puts braille translation in the palm of users’ hands.

18 NEWS & NOTES

 • Business Management Training Class of 2019

 • NIB Sponsors Salute to Vets

 • Effective Supervision Class Graduates in Wichita

 • NIB Recognized for Veterans Advocacy

 • NIB Receives Award for Programs Building Independence

 • Save The Date! 2020 NIB/NAEPB National Events



PROFILE

LONGTIME ADMIRER

DLA Troop Support Commander Brigadier General Gavin 
Lawrence is a longtime fan of NIB and associated agency 
employees’ dedication to the mission.

BY DOMINIC CALABRESE

Image caption- Defense Logistics 
Agency Troop Support 
Commander Brigadier 
General Gavin Lawrence is 
committed to supporting 
the AbilityOne® Program 
and breaking down barriers 
for people who are blind.

Remembering the support 
he first received from NIB 
agencies as a soldier, Army 
Brigadier General Gavin A. 
Lawrence, commander of 
Defense Logistics Agency Troop 
Support (DLA-TS), looks forward 
to growing the partnership 
between the two organizations.

“We are committed to 
building on our partnership 
because you are crucial to our 
success,” he told attendees at 
the 2019 NIB/NAEPB Training 
Conference and Expo.

A native of the Philadelphia 
area, Lawrence returned to 
his hometown in June to 
oversee a global workforce of 
approximately 2,900 civilian 
and military personnel who 
annually provide more than 
$17 billion worth of food, 
clothing, medical supplies, 
pharmaceuticals, equipment, 
and other necessities to all 
branches of the U.S. military.

In a July interview with DLA 
public affairs, Lawrence 
emphasized that he wants DLA 
to be warfighters’ first choice 
when it comes to supply 
chain solutions. He said his 
plans include re-examining 
processes to ensure the 
organization is as effective 
and efficient as possible.

“I firmly believe that the 
American taxpayer wants 
our military to be the 
best fighting force in the 
world,” he said. “In order 
to maintain a premiere and 
ready fighting force, DLA 
Troop Support must focus on 
developing responsive and 
innovative solutions across 
all of its supply chains.”

Pointing to the strong ties 
NIB and the U.S. military 
have long shared, Lawrence 
commended NIB’s track record 
of success, affirming his own 
commitment to breaking down 
barriers for people who are 
blind or visually impaired.

“While we recently marked 
our 58th anniversary, the 
relationship between NIB and 
the U.S. military, including 
DLA, goes all the way back 
to World War II, when NIB 
delivered tens of millions 
of pillowcases, brooms, 
and other materials to 
assist our men and women 
in uniform,” he noted.

Before assuming command 
of DLA, Lawrence compiled a 
distinguished military career, 
including service in Iraq 
and three deployments to 
Afghanistan. He also served 
as executive officer to the 
U.S. Army, deputy chief of 
staff, G-4; deputy director of 
operations at Department 
of the Army headquarters 
(HQDA) G-4; and aide de 
camp to the commander of 
the DLA Defense Supply 
Center Philadelphia. His 
service decorations include 
the Legion of Merit, Bronze 
Star, and several medals 
for Meritorious Service.

Lawrence earned a Bachelor 
of Science degree in 
International Relations from 
the United States Military 
Academy at West Point, a 
Master of Arts in National 
Security and Strategic Studies 
from the U.S. Naval War 
College, and a Master of Arts 
in Strategic Studies from 
the U.S. Army War College.

A self-described “diehard 
sports fan,” he plans to take 
full advantage of his time in 
Philadelphia to root for the 
Eagles, Flyers, Phillies, and 
76ers. The city’s rich history as 
the birthplace of U.S. freedom 
resonates with Lawrence, who 
was honored to administer 
the oath of enlistment to 
new soldiers during special 
Fourth of July observances at 
historic Independence Hall.

Lawrence appreciates the 
opportunity to return to 
Philadephia and to DLA. “To 
come back to your hometown 
and lead an organization 
like this is special.” ¨

Dominic Calabrese, a 
freelance writer, professor, 
and consultant in Columbia, 
South Carolina, previously 
served as senior vice 
president, public relations, 
at The Chicago Lighthouse 
for People Who Are Blind 
or Visually Impaired. 


“We are committed to building on our partnership 
because you are crucial to our success.”

— Brigadier General Gavin A. Lawrence



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Blind delivers quality products, services, and custom solutions to 
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Navy Veteran, Machine Operator


COVER STORY
Supplying the troops 

NIB associated agencies’ kitting, warehousing, and 
distribution services for the U.S. military are more 
than well-oiled machines—they’re intricately 
choreographed global operations.

BY SHARON HORRIGAN

Image caption - Rachel Kunkel assembles a 
leader point-of-capture kit, one 
of several kits for evidence 
collection and detained 
processing produced by NIB 
associated nonprofit agency IBVI.

NIB associated agencies are 
always on the lookout for 
ways to expand business 
offerings that help carry out 
their mission of creating jobs 
for people who are blind. 

To grow opportunities for 
steady employment, some 
are now providing kitting 
services to the Defense 
Logistics Agency (DLA) for 
the U.S. Armed Services. 
Kits of all shapes and sizes 
are needed for troops on the 
move, from basic first-aid 
kits to portable surgeries and 
more. It’s an exciting area 
to move into that requires 
the precise movement 
of people and goods.

The Choreography of Kitting

When leaders at LCI in 
Durham, North Carolina, 
decided in 2014 to try their 
hand at kitting for the U.S. 
military, they knew they 
could make a valuable 
contribution, says DuWayne 
Gilbertson, vice president 
of business development. 

“We knew that DLA’s kitting 
structure wasn’t satisfying 
the military’s needs,” explains 
Gilbertson, who says the 
agency also believed it could 
cut the time needed to develop 
and launch a new kit. The key, 
LCI Business Development 
Manager Robert Renquist 
said, was working closely 
with customers and vendors 
in a collaborative role. 

Today, LCI provides custom 
kits with as few as 25 items 
and as many as 2,500 items. 
The King Kong of kits 
produced by LCI is the U.S. 
Navy Expeditionary Medical 
Facility Roll 2 Light Maneuver 
Equipment Set (R2LM), which 
is a mobile operating room 
used to support Special 
Operations Forces around the 
world. “The Navy had been 
using a kit adapted from a 
mobile operating room kit 
originally developed for the 
U.S. Air Force,” explains 
Gilbertson. “But a mobile 
operating room designed for 
land and air operations wasn’t 
going to work on Navy ships.” 

Image caption - Employees at Arizona 
Industries for the Blind know 
the work they do is vital to 
keeping U.S. troops supplied 
and ready to move.




LCI worked closely with the 
Navy, holding countless 
meetings with all stakeholders 
who would touch the kits to 
design one with their specific 
needs in mind. Waterproof 
cases were a “must,” as were 
cases designed to fit through 
tight shipboard doorways and 
submarine spaces. Equally 
important was a snug fit for the 
tools and supplies inside the 
cases to keep them in place 
even when ships encounter 
rough weather at sea.  


Image caption - NIB associated agency LCI is ready to ship this completed 
U.S. Navy Expeditionary Medical Facility Roll 2 Light 
Maneuver Equipment Set containing 2,500 pieces packed in 
23 separate cases that ship on eight pallets.



Gilbertson says once LCI 
understood stakeholders’
needs, it developed the custom 
product in less than six months.

The kit contains 472 unique 
line items and 2,500 different 
pieces, with each piece fitted 
into a custom configuration 
within the cases to meet 
the functional requirements 
of expeditionary surgery. 
Assembling a kit takes 5-6 
hours because the pieces 
must be placed precisely — 
in some cases, the ability 
to quickly grab the right 
instrument could be a matter 
of life or death. The full kit 
comes in 23 different cases 
that ship on eight pallets.

LCI also makes smaller 
trauma kits for Special 
Operations forces in Africa, 
and three distinct medical 
kits for the U.S. Navy’s Sixth 
Fleet, each with different 
components but using the 
same portable, water-resistant 
medical pack. The agency 
also provides the U.S. Air 
Force with a custom surgical 
kit consisting of six unique 
surgical packs that give 
medical personnel everything 
needed to care for a patient.

Regardless of size or number 
of pieces, each kit is unique 
and requires careful planning. 
“Medical personnel need 
to not only know what’s in 
each kit, but where they 
can find it at a moment’s 
notice,” explains Renquist. 

The 23 employees who work 
in the kitting division at two 
LCI locations — Durham and 
Fayetteville, North Carolina 
— enjoy the challenge the 
work entails because each 
kit is so unique. But it’s 
more than that, Renquist 
says. “They know they’re 
supporting our troops and 
that the kits are saving lives.”

More than a Typical Tool Kit

In 2015, when C.J. Lange 
assumed the role of president 
and CEO of Industries 
for the Blind and Visually 
Impaired (IBVI) in West Allis, 
Wisconsin, the agency was 
already contemplating making 
some strategic changes.

“Until that point, we had 
focused more on one-time 
transactional, customer-
focused functions like running 
base supply centers (BSCs),” 
says Lange. Developing 
kitting capabilities would allow 
IBVI to take on contracted 
work and build long-term 
relationships with customers 
to create more jobs for people 
who are blind. The agency 
still operates BSCs, but 
the expansion into kitting 
puts it in a better position 
to retain employees during 
economic downturns. 

Image caption - At IBVI, Easton Kos assembles the components for the 
Vertical Skills Engineer Construction Kit into cases that are 
then packed on pallets for shipment.

“We knew kitting would 
move us in a new direction 
while helping us fulfill our 
mission of offering meaningful 
employment to people 
who are blind or visually 
impaired,” explains Lange. 

IBVI launched its kitting 
program in 2014, starting with 
the design and assembly of 
a small machinist tool set 
for the U.S. Army. Today, the 
agency makes first responder 
and investigation kits for the 
military, and kits for evidence 
collection and detained 
processing used by military 
police, special operations, 
military intelligence, and 
criminal investigation units. 

The agency’s largest kit is 
the massive Vertical Skills 
Engineer Construction 
Kit (VSECK), which Army 
engineers use to build 
structures in the field. The 
VSECK kit is comprised 
of 1,000 different pieces, 
including enough scaffolding 
to reach the second story 
of a building and seven tool 
chests with custom-cut trays 
to keep tools securely in 
place during transport. Since 
2018, 22 IBVI employees have 
made 1,300 VSECK kits. 

Easton Kons, one of the 
employees who are blind that 
works on the kits, builds the 
cases that go into the crates. 
“I’ve been doing that for 
about three years now, and 
I’m proud of my work,” says 
Kons. “I know what we are 
doing is important, so I always 
try to exceed expectations.” 

When Matt Baumeister 
joined the team as a tool 
kitter, he imagined a 
completely different type 
of work. “I thought it would 
be like putting together an 
automotive tool kit, like the 
ones you used to see in 
the Sears catalog,” recalls 
Baumeister. “I’d be picking 
up some tools and tossing 
them in the right drawers.”

“It’s nothing like that. We fit 
entire hardware stores into 
giant cases with foam cutouts 
designed to fit each tool 
exactly. We need to assemble 
them accurately so Army 
engineers can find and use the 
tools they need on the fly.”

Baumeister, who is legally 
blind, takes advantage of his 
nearsightedness to examine 
tools for quality, and to make 
sure all of the parts work.

“We know they are going to 
our troops in the field. If a 
tool or part is defective, they 
can’t run to the store and 
swap it for a new one,” he 
explains. “That’s why I inspect 
every piece of equipment 
that goes into a kit. I take 
my work very seriously and 
I’m proud of what I do to 
support our troops. Each 
and every one of us are.”

Warehousing and Distribution 

Putting together kits and 
supplies for the troops is 
only half of the story — 
materials need to be delivered 
to the field. That’s where 
NIB associated agencies 
experienced in warehousing 
and distributing supplies 
to DLA come into play.

Meeting and 
Exceeding Standards

In 1995, Arizona Industries 
for the Blind in Phoenix 
opened its first warehouse 
and distribution center to 
house, package, and ship 
goods to the U.S. military. 
The 40,000 square foot 
facility that employed 13 
people has grown to 175,000 
square feet and employs 
63 people who manage 
more than $100 million in 
inventory — including more 
than 25,000 SKUs — and ship 
packages all over the world. 

Launching the warehouse 
and distribution center nearly 
20 years ago wasn’t easy, 
says Tim Adams, manager 
of fulfillment services, but 
agency leaders had faith 
their workforce could go 
toe-to-toe with other DLA 
depots. “We knew soon after 
we opened that we could 
compete, because we had 
better customer service, 
faster response times, 
and outstanding inventory 
control,” says Adams. 

Arizona Industries for the 
Blind currently has three 
contracts with DLA: one 
for lighting products, one 
for military insignia, and 
one for springs. The center 
ships about 325,000 orders 
annually, consistently meeting 
or exceeding DLA guidelines 
for order turnaround. 

“We take great pride in 
meeting or exceeding DLA 
guidelines,” says David 
Steinmetz, manager of 
community and public 
relations. The agency has 
a 99.7% on-time fill rate, a 
performance level that has 
twice led DLA to name the 
agency its AbilityOne Vendor 
of the Year. In addition to 
this outstanding fill rate, 
Arizona Industries for the 
Blind has a 99.8% inventory 
accuracy rating and a 100% 
rating for quality control. 

Achieving those ratings 
requires a team of dedicated 
employees who work together 
seamlessly to consistently 
deliver for the troops. It’s 
an intricate dance that is re-
choreographed on a near-
daily basis as order types 
and volume fluctuate. 


Image caption -Susan Vawter, a shipper-packer 
at Arizona Industries for the 
Blind, wears a Talkman headset 
that guides her in picking items 
for a customer order.



Three different but integrated 
software systems help 
fulfill orders. A warehouse 
management system transmits 
orders to Talkman, a voice-
activated picking software 
system that provides audio 
directions to employees 
who are blind to help them 
locate and pick items.

After the items are picked, 
employees move the orders 
to packaging, where they 
undergo quality control 
checks before being packed. 
Packaged orders move on to 
shipping, where a software 
system that interfaces with 
DLA computers loads the 
latest shipping address on 
file for the customer. The 
interface with DLA’s system 
is vital to ensure the most 
up-to-date address for 
military customers who are 
frequently on the move. 

Behind all this technology 
are agency employees 
who locate, retrieve, pack, 
and ship orders as they 
are received. It’s a mission 
warehouse and distribution 
employees take great pride 
in carrying out, says Adams.

“We’re successful because 
of the incredible work ethic 
of our workforce,” says 
Adams. “Our employees who 
are blind know their work is 
vital to keeping our troops 
supplied and ready to move.”

Saving Time and 
Taxpayer Dollars

Industries of the Blind (IOB) in 
Greensboro, North Carolina, 
also entered the DLA warehouse 
and distribution business in 
1995. “At the time, we knew 
that if a soldier needed a single 
lightbulb, he or she would 
submit a request to DLA and 
DLA would ship an entire case,” 
explains Richard Oliver, director 
of community outreach and 
government relations. “We 
told DLA that we could break 
the case and send the single 
lightbulb the customer needed.”


Today, IOB warehouses and 
distributes not only light bulbs, 
but also springs, wire ropes, 
cables, and chains of all sizes. 
The order fulfillment process 
is similar to Arizona’s, using 
integrated software systems 
to receive and process orders 
and a cadre of dedicated 
employees working together 
to pick, pack, and ship. IOB’s 
warehouse and distribution 
center fulfills an average of 600 
orders each day, says Oliver. 

IOB is proud of its track record 
for meeting or exceeding DLA 
guidelines for processing 
orders. “We operate under 
the same DLA delivery 
guidelines as Arizona,” says 
Oliver. “Our internal goal, 
though, is to have every 
order processed and shipped 
within 24 hours. We meet that 
internal goal 99 percent of the 
time, a metric all warehouse 
and distribution employees 
are extremely proud of.” 


Image caption -At IOB Greensboro, Daryl Wells inspects bins to ensure 
the product and quantity are correct before orders are 
processed for shipment to government customers.



“A government official once 
told me that IOB’s warehouse 
and distribution center was 
54 percent more efficient 
than when they ran it,” 
says Oliver. “Our work has 
saved government labor 
and warehouse dollars.”

When IOB opened its 
warehouse, it was 80,000 
square feet and employed 
12 people. Over the years, 
they’ve expanded to 150,000 
square feet and 38 employees. 
“We’ve worked hard to make 
as many positions as possible 
accessible to employees who 
are blind,” notes Oliver.

Jolie Harding, who has been 
with IOB since 1990, recalls 
moving to the warehouse 
and distribution center as 
a shipping and receiving 
clerk when it was “an empty 
shell.” Harding worked 
her way up to her current 
position of EDI programmer, 
where she serves as the go-to for employees who 
need help troubleshooting 
a software issue. 


Image caption -Since joining IOB Greensboro in 1990, Jolie Harding has worked 
her way up to become the agency’s expert on troubleshooting 
software issues in the warehouse and distribution center.



“The work we do here is so 
important,” says Harding. 
“We’ve seen Desert Storm, 
Afghanistan, 9/11. Troops 
can’t move if they don’t 
have the materials they 
need. A single lightbulb 
can ground an aircraft.” 

Daryl Wells has seen the 
value of warehouse and 
distribution center operations 
from both sides. Wells, who 
served in the military until a 
head injury left him legally 
blind, joined IOB in 2004 and 
moved to the warehouse and 
distribution center in 2006.

Like Harding, he learned 
new skills and took on 
responsibilities to his reach 
his current supervisory 
position, where he ensures 
work orders meet quality 
standards and keep moving. 
“Having served in the 
military, I know first-hand 
how important it is to have 
supplies delivered quickly 
and accurately,” says Wells. 

And as for the daily dance: 
“We have a great staff,” 
he says. “We all take great 
pride in what we do. We 
really are a family.” ¨

Sharon Horrigan is a 
freelance writer based in 
Asheville, North Carolina.



FEATURE STORY

NURTURING THE NEXT 
GENERATION

NIB associated nonprofit agencies provide programs that help 
families prepare children and teens who are blind for life as 
independent adults.

BY ROSEMARIE LALLY, J.D.

NIB associated nonprofit 
agencies are known for 
providing employment 
opportunities for people who 
are blind, but many provide 
a continuum of services that 
help children and teens who 
are blind learn to navigate 
the world independently 
and achieve their dreams.

Serving Young Children

Learning that a child is 
blind or has a significant 
visual impairment can be 
overwhelming for parents. 
VISIONS, an NIB associated 
agency serving the greater 
New York Metropolitan 
area, provides services for 
the whole family to help 
parents and siblings learn to 
navigate their “new normal.” 

First Steps, a one-week 
summer residential program 
for very young children with 
vision loss, including those 
with multiple disabilities, 
addresses vision rehabilitation, 
orientation and mobility, and 
sensory and socialization 
challenges. “The program 
allows specialists to identify 
deficits and let parents 
know about home services 
available through the New 
York State Commission for 
the Blind,” explains Cathleen 
McGuire, director of vision 
rehabilitation and outreach. 

A second residential program, 
Rehab and Rec, serves 
children aged 6-10 and 
includes siblings and parents. 
The children participate 
in group skill-building 
activities, such as cooking, 
communication skills, 
and sports, while siblings 
enjoy recreation programs. 
Parents participate in 
discussion groups and share 
information learned through 
their own experiences.
“It’s an amazing experience 
to bring these families 
together and allow them to 
build friendships with other 
parents of kids with multiple 
disabilities,” McGuire says. 
“They become a community, 
a support system for each 
other — not just the children, 
but also their siblings 
and parents. Many come 
back year after year.”

Image caption -Jose Torres and son Dylan enjoy a family activity during the 
Rehab and Rec program at VISIONS. The program provides 
skills-building activities for kids who are blind, support 
programs for parents and siblings, and fun.
Connecting with Teens

As children grow, services 
provided by NIB associated 
agencies guide them 
toward independence. At 
the LightHouse for the Blind 
and Visually Impaired in San 
Francisco, monthly recreational 
activities and family programs 
foster friendships and greater 
confidence, while providing 
parents with support and 
counseling on common issues, 
such as developing Individual 
Education Plans for their 
children attending public school.

Youth Services Coordinator 
Jamey Gump says the 
monthly events focus on 
teaching young people life 
skills while having fun. 

The students gain confidence 
through the activities, especially 
mastering independent travel 
and using a white cane rather 
than relying on a guide. “Some 
take more time to open up to 
trying new things — it may take 
years,” Gump says. “Everyone 
works on their own internal 
schedule to get there, but the 
results are exciting to see.”
Many recreation program 
participants progress to the 
Youth Employment Series 
(YES), which prepares teens 
and young adults aged 16-
24 for higher education 
and employment, explains 
Transition Program Coordinator 
Ann Wai-Yee Kwong. Strong 
friendships formed through 
the recreation programs 
encourage students to take on 
challenges in this transitional 
phase together, she said.

One weekend each month, eight 
to 16 YES participants practice 
life skills and cooperative 
learning in the city. The agency 
provides residential space in 
its offices for themed sessions 
that range from pitching a 
business plan and collaborating 
on makerspace projects to 
practicing advocacy skills. 

“Mentorship and friendship 
are the key,” Kwong says. 
“Building a rapport with 
teens is critical and the 
relationship has to be built 
on trust and respect.” 


Interns in the agency’s four-
week Summer Academy are 
paired with a local business 
partner. The first week of 
the internship is spent on 
foundational skills; in the 
second week participants travel 
to the National Federation of the 
Blind annual convention. The 
final two weeks are devoted 
to commuting in small groups 
to and from their internship 
placements in San Francisco.

“Most participants go on 
to college or employment, 
continuing to network and build 
on what they’ve learned,” Kwong 
says. “The partner organizations 
sometimes hire our students 
because they realize they’re 
assets to their business.”

Transitional Activities for Pre-
Employment and Socialization 
— a pilot program launched in 
2019 by VISIONS in New York 
— is a six-weekend experience
designed to guide children ages 
10-15 toward higher education 
and employment. The program 
mixes fun activities with an 
introduction to the skills needed 
for post-secondary success, 
says Director of Workforce 
Programs Heather Hanlon. 

Image caption -A camper ziplines through the woods in Asheville’s nature 
park as part of the IFB Solutions Student Enrichment 
Experience Adventure Camp at the Nantahala National 
Forest in western North Carolina.

“We have guest speakers, field 
trips, a college visit, a visit 
to a vocational institute, job 
shadowing, and public speaking 
opportunities,” Hanlon says. 
“It’s important that students 
hear from successful adults 
who are blind about steps they 
took to get where they are. We 
want to open up kids’ ideas 
about what they want to do.”

The program also advises 
parents on career 
expectations for their children, 
with social workers explaining 
how parents can encourage 
independence to groom 
their children for success. 
“Parental involvement is key,” 
Hanlon said. “Parents who 
believe their kids have the 
same opportunities to achieve 
as their sighted peers are 
a huge component in their 
children’s ultimate success.”

VISIONS’ Summer Transition 
Program provides a four-week 
residential experience for 20 
high school students. Melissa 
Phipps, senior director of youth 
services, says participants 
build independence through 
mastering everyday activities 
from cleaning, laundry, and 
meal planning, to learning 
to use assistive technology, 
note-taking apps, and 
public transportation. 

VISIONS also offers a summer 
pre-college program for high 
school juniors and seniors 
at Manhattanville College 
in Purchase, New York, 
that introduces students to 
college life, teaching them 
safe independent navigation 
to and from dorms and 
around campus. Participants 
learn how to access campus 
disability services, the college 
library, and the cafeteria, while 
an online writing course covers 
techniques critical for college 
success, culminating with a 
required three-page paper.


Serving the Community

At IFB Solutions, based in 
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 
community service programs 
include demonstrating that 
“people who are blind can — 
and do — excel,” says Executive 
Vice President of Strategy 
and Programs Dan Kelly. 

Kelly says the agency’s 
Sensitivity to Blindness 
Training is one of its most 
impactful outreach initiatives. 
The program, taught by people 
who are blind, educates 
community members about 
issues that many are unfamiliar 
with, such as proper etiquette 
for interacting with a guide 
dog and how to give change 
to a person who is blind. 

Focused on the capabilities of 
people who are blind, the program 
has been offered to law firms, 
businesses seeking diversity 
training, and even staff at a local 
McDonald’s. “It is a memorable 
experience that participants can 
call on in the future, regardless 
of setting,” Kelly says.


Image caption -Monthly recreational activities at the San Francisco LightHouse, 
like this tactile arts workshop, foster friendships and build 
greater self confidence among youth program participants.



Blindside, a version of the 
program for grades K-12, 
helps students understand 
what it’s like to navigate with 
a white cane and use assistive 
technology to do schoolwork. 
Kids are less inhibited, Kelly 
says, “so we often get better 
questions from them, like ‘How 
do you match your clothes?’ ”

IFB’s support groups for adults 
who are blind include working 
with guide dogs, mastering 
public transportation, living 
with retinopathy, losing 
weight, and a special group 
for military veterans.

Included in its variety of youth 
programs is the Student 
Enrichment Experience (SEE), 
which offers two one-week 
residential summer camps 
for rising 8th-12th graders. 
At SEE Camp Abilities H2O, 
15 teenagers can swim, row, 
kayak, paddleboard, and fish 
at Lake Norman and visit the 
National Whitewater Center 
in Charlotte, North Carolina. 
SEE Adventure Camp hosts 
18 teens for a week of hiking, 
rafting, climbing, swimming, and 
ziplining around the Nantahala 
Gorge in western North Carolina. 
Staff members include certified 
teachers of the visually impaired, 
orientation and mobility 
specialists, and counselors, 
both blind and sighted.

“It’s encouraging for families to 
see people who are blind living 
independently and mastering life 
skills,” says Kelly. “The path to 
employment starts with giving 
kids responsibility for taking out 
the garbage when they’re 5 years 
old. Whether through fun or 
practical skills building, the most 
important thing is to develop self-
reliance and responsibility.” ¨

Rosemarie Lally, J.D. is a 
freelance writer and editor 
based in Washington D.C.


FEATURE STORY


More than 700 registrants 
attended the 2019 NIB/NAEPB 
Training Conference and 
Expo, held October 15-18 in 
Arlington, Virginia, where 
the refreshed SKILCRAFT® 
brand was introduced. 
Each day was packed with 
activities, informative training 
tracks, and interest group 
meetings. Attendees at the 
general session enjoyed 
presentations by DLA Troop 
Support Commander Brigadier 
General Gavin Lawrence; Kim 
Herrington, acting principal 
director of Defense Pricing and 
Contracting; Tom Robinson, 
U.S. AbilityOne Commission® 
chairperson and director of 
contracting for the Air Force 
Life Cycle Management 
Center at Wright-Patterson 
Air Force Base; Tina Ballard, 
Commission executive director; 
Jim Kesteloot, a private citizen 
who is the immediate past 
chair of the Commission; and 
GSA Senior Procurement 
Executive Jeff Koses, whose 
nomination to the Commission 
is pending confirmation. 

Training tracks and interest 
group meetings laid the 
groundwork for participants to 
reach new goals in the coming 
year as they work to increase 
employment opportunities for 
people who are blind. Thursday 
afternoon’s Expo and NIB 
Marketplace gave prospective 
customers an excellent 
chance to learn more about 
the wide variety of products 
and services available through 
NIB associated agencies and 
business partners, and provided 
opportunities to discuss future 
needs and business prospects.


“Working with Seattle, NIB, 
and the AbilityOne Program 
has helped me to regain 
my self-confidence.”

Tamara Airhart

Team Lead,

Contract Management Support

The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc., 
Seattle, Washington


“I have confidence in the fact 
that I am a valuable asset and 
bring purpose to the people who 
I work for and who work for me.”

Peggy Jackson

Site Supervisor,

Contract Management Support

Virginia Industries for the Blind


“NIB’s Business Management 
Training and the Advocates for 
Leadership and Employment program 
“have really helped to mold me to 
become a leader and find a voice to 
advocate for people who are blind.”

Richard Oliver

Director, Community Outreach and 
Government Relations Industries of the 
Blind, Greensboro, North Carolina



“The NIB conference is an 
opportunity for us to share 

our passion for what we do.”

Tina Ballard

Executive Director,

U.S. AbilityOne Commission
“I went into the interview 
knowing that I actually had 
a chance, and that’s not 
something I can say with every 

job interview I’ve been on.”

Derek Suarez

Switchboard Supervisor,
Association for Vision 
Rehabilitation and Employment




“The Department of 
Defense is ‘all in’ on 
working to bring more 
jobs to our nation and to 
the AbilityOne Program.”

Kim Herrington

Acting Principal Director, 

Defense Pricing and Contracting

Office of the Secretary of Defense


“The agencies 
represented here 
today are crucial to our 
mission success and 
the support we provide 
to the warfighter.”

Brigadier General 

Gavin Lawrence

Commander,

Defense Logistics Agency

Troop Support



AGENCY SPOTLIGHT

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

In just 20 years, NIB associated agency Outlook Nebraska has 
expanded to provide innovative community support programs 
in addition to jobs for people who are blind. 

BY SHARON HORRIGAN

When Outlook Nebraska 
opened its doors as a 
nonprofit organization in 
February 2000, it had just four 
employees who were blind 
or visually impaired and a 
single mission: To provide 
employment opportunities 
for people in the Omaha area 
who were blind or had low 
vision. It wasn’t long, though, 
before that mission expanded. 

“As we grew, we realized 
there were other services 
and experiences we could 
provide to enrich the lives 
of people who are blind and 
visually impaired,” says Eric 
Stueckrath, president and 
CEO of the NIB associated 
nonprofit agency. Outlook 
Nebraska expanded its 
offerings to include assistive 
technology training, 
then added recreational 
opportunities like sports 
teams and camps, and other 
educational opportunities. 

Image caption- Rachel Carver, senior public 
relations specialist at Outlook 
Nebraska, educates community 
members about blindness at 
the agency’s monthly Insight 
and Impact lunches.

As the mission expanded, 
so did the agency. “As we 
continued to physically grow, 
we bought our building and 
some adjacent land,” says 
Stueckrath. Leasing space 
in the building to other 
organizations created an 
income stream that helped 
support other agency 
initiatives operated under the 
Outlook Nebraska name.

“Over time, we realized that 
we needed to take a more 
enterprise-wide approach 
to our operations,” says 
Stueckrath. “We needed a way 
to operate that could provide 
administrative support to 
each area, while still allowing 
them to work independently 
to fulfill their goals.” Outlook 
Collaborative was formed in 
2019 with four subsidiaries: 
Outlook Nebraska, Outlook 
Enrichment, Outlook 
Business Solutions, and 
Outlook Properties. 


Image caption- Employee Michelle Poteet produces the Natural Roll Towel on 
the Amica Unica Converting Swingline. The new machinery 
increased production capacity at the agency by 40%.


The newly formed parent 
organization gives each 
subsidiary a degree of 
autonomy to meet its unique 
mission, while providing 
centralized support services 
to consolidate costs. Outlook 
Business Solutions will offer 
marketing services to local 
businesses and Outlook 
Properties will manage the 
Collaborative’s real estate 
assets and lease holders. 
With 75 full-time employees, 
Outlook Collaborative is the 
largest employer of people 
who are blind or low vision 
in a seven-state region.

Educating the Community 

The agency’s robust offerings 
aimed at helping Omaha 
area residents who are blind 
or visually impaired meet 
goals for personal growth 
and career enhancement will 
continue under the Outlook 
Enrichment name. In addition 
to assistive technology 
training, Outlook Enrichment 
hosts art workshops, bowling 
leagues, tandem bike clubs, 
a golf academy, goalball 
team, and more. The agency’s 
assistive technology training 
includes digital eyewear 
demonstrations and computer 
and digital device training.

Outlook Enrichment also has 
an outreach function that 
educates service providers 
and community members 
about working with people 
who are blind or visually 
impaired. The community 
education offerings include 
Insight and Impact lunches, 
monthly events where Omaha 
residents can learn more 
about Outlook Nebraska’s 
mission, experience what 
it’s like to use assistive 
technology, and see how 
Outlook Nebraska employees 
who are blind put assistive 
technology to work. 

Outlook Enrichment also 
hosts an annual Vision 
Resource Fair, where people 
who are experiencing 
vision loss or supporting a 
family member with vision 
loss can learn more about 
the latest technology, 
tools, and services 
available. In 2018, Outlook 
Enrichment’s programs 
saw approximately 4,500 
participants, providing nearly 
17,000 hours of services. 

Providing Jobs and 

Upward Mobility

Outlook Nebraska will 
continue its work through 
the AbilityOne® Program, 
including making paper towels 
and toilet paper using 100% 
recycled fiber with at least 
30% post-consumer materials 
that meet or exceed federal 
procurement guidelines. 
The agency recently added 
a new multifold towel to its 
product line, the thirty-sixth 
unique, sustainable paper 
product it produces, and 
plans to add more products 
to the line this year. Eighty 
percent of employees working 
on AbilityOne products are 
blind or visually impaired.

To meet those ambitious 
plans, the agency purchased 
a new production machine 
in 2019. The Amica Unica 
Converting SwingLine, 
which increased production 
capacity by 40%, can produce 
products that Outlook 
Nebraska previously made 
using two different machines. 

Purchasing and installing 
the machine was a huge 
undertaking, says Johnny 
Botsford, assistant converting 
manager, who worked on the 
installation. Botsford, who is 
blind, was part of a four-person 
team who traveled to Bologna, 
Italy, where the SwingLine is 
made, to examine the machine 
and make sure it would meet 
the agency’s needs. He was 
excited to participate in the 
process of finding the right 
machinery and installing 
it because the SwingLine 
promises new jobs and new 
challenges for people who are 
blind and visually impaired. 

“I love what I do,” says 
Botsford, who started at 
Outlook Nebraska in 2012 
as an entry-level machine 
operator and has steadily 
risen through the ranks 
since joining the agency. “I 
love the hands-on nature 
of the work we do and 
working with people.”

One of the first participants 
in NIB’s Emerging 
Professionals program, 
Botsford said he also loves 
“how Outlook invests in 
people and our growth.” 

Rachel Carver, senior 
public relations specialist 
at the agency, agrees. 
For Carver, who has been 
blind all of her life, joining 
Outlook Nebraska as a 
communications associate 
was the culmination of 
an 18-month search for a 
career position after she 
earned a degree in media 
studies and English. “When 
I interviewed here, there 
was no communications 
department,” she recalls.


Image caption- Assistant Converting Manager Johnny Botsford makes an 
adjustment to the 715 rewinder machine. Botsford joined 
Outlook Nebraska in 2012 as an entry-level machine operator.



In the communications role, 
Carver interviewed agency 
associates and wrote a 
bi-monthly newsletter. 
“About six months into 
my job they told me I was 
heading to Washington, 
D.C., to participate in NIB’s 
Advocates for Leadership and 
Employment program,” she 
recalls. Through the program, 
Carver learned to advocate for 
the interests of people who 
are blind on Capitol Hill and 
in the Omaha community. 

Today, Carver’s role includes 
writing, government relations, 
managing freelance writers, 
and supporting the entire 
Outlook Collaborative. 

“I love working here,” she 
says. “I’ve been given 
great opportunities to 
learn and develop.” 

As the agency looks to the 
future, Stueckrath is quick 
to recognize that being 
part of NIB’s network of 
associated nonprofit agencies 
has helped fuel Outlook 
Nebraska’s exponential 
growth in only 20 years.

“People at NIB and in NIB 
associated agencies are 
always willing to share 
information and their 
experiences,” he says. “This 
helped us immensely as 
we grew, because we could 
learn from the lessons others 
had learned before us.” 

“We all do this because it’s 
our mission and passion” 
Stueckrath says. “We want to 
show the world the abilities 
of people who blind and 
visually impaired.” ¨

Sharon Horrigan is a 
freelance writer based in 
Asheville, North Carolina.


NEW PRODUCTS

READY TO LAUNCH

These new SKILCRAFT® products produced by NIB associated 
nonprofit agencies are now available to federal government 
customers through the AbilityOne® Program.

1. SKILCRAFT® Hanging File Folders 

Keep documents organized with these 
versatile SKILCRAFT® letter-size 
hanging classification folders featuring 
2-inch Tyvek expansion gusset bottoms 
and pivoting hangers that can be folded 
down for carry-along convenience. 
Choose folders with one divider and 
four sections, or two dividers and six sections with choice of 
straight top or right-of-center tabs. Folders contain 60% total 
recycled fiber including at least 30% post-consumer waste, 
while dividers contain at least 30% post-consumer waste. Made 
in the U.S.A. and TAA compliant. Produced by Clovernook 
Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired in Cincinnati, Ohio.

2. SKILCRAFT® Eco-Bottle Pens

Help reduce plastic waste with 
SKILCRAFT® pens made of recycled 
water bottles. Smooth-writing stick or 
retractable pens with a unique water-
bottle inspired design are an ideal 
option for those who prefer eco-friendly 
products. Choose black or blue ink 
in medium or fine point. TAA compliant; assembled in the U.S.A. 
Produced by West Texas Lighthouse for the Blind in San Angelo.



3. SKILCRAFT®/Zebra® Retractable Gel Pen 

Jot down notes or compose a masterpiece 
with SKILCRAFT®/Zebra® retractable, non-
refillable gel pens. Designed with a latex-
free, non-slip grip for comfort, the ultra-
smooth, quick-drying, water-based gel 
provides a flowing, crisp writing experience. 
Available in blue, black, red, or green ink 
with your choice of 0.5mm, 0.7mm or 1.0mm 
tips. Produced by Industries of the Blind in 
Greensboro, North Carolina.

4. SKILCRAFT® Laser Toner Cartridges – HP Compatible 

Competitively priced, remanufactured HP-compatible SKILCRAFT® 
Laser Toner Cartridges are designed using precision color 
cartridge technology to meet HP standards for page yield, image 
quality, and color precision. Cartridges are made using 35% post-
consumer content and meet ISO 14001 recycling standards. 
Satisfaction guaranteed with one-year warranty from date of 
purchase. Assembled in the U.S.A. and TAA compliant. Produced 
by Alabama Industries for the Blind in Talladega.

NEW PRODUCTS Continued from page 41



5. SKILCRAFT® Fiberglass Extension Handle 

Extend the reach of paint rollers, 
brushes, squeegees, and more 
with this heavy-duty fiberglass 
extension handle featuring a 1¼-
inch outer tube and 1-inch inner 
tube. Telescoping 5-foot pole 
extends to 10 feet, with plastic 
hand grip and a threaded end made 
of zinc. TAA compliant; made in the 
U.S.A. Produced by IBVI in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

6. SKILCRAFT®/FlexSweep® Cleaning Tools

Keep surfaces in industrial environments clean with 
SKILCRAFT®/FlexSweep® Cleaning Tools featuring 
the Flex-Power connector. Attached to brooms, 
brushes, or squeegees, the shock-absorbing, 
unbreakable Flex-Power connector maneuvers 
tools around obstacles with little impact to the head 
and withstands even the toughest environments. 
EasyFlip™ blades double the lifespan of the 
squeegee with a simple flip. Made in the U.S.A. 
Produced by IBVI in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.


These and thousands of other products are available for 
purchase at AbilityOne.com, GSAAdvantage.gov, your local 
AbilityOne Base Supply Center®, or through AbilityOne 
authorized distributors. For more information about how to 
purchase SKILCRAFT and other products produced by people 
who are blind, visit NIB.org/products.



TECH CORNER
Product: Bonocle

 Cost: $350

For more information, 
visit NIB.org/TechCorner


BONOCLE: 
BRAILLE 
TRANSLATION 
IN THE PALM 
OF YOUR 
HAND

BY DOUG GOIST

In the spring 2019 issue of 
Opportunity Magazine’s Tech 
Corner I reviewed WeWALK, 
a device developed in 
Istanbul, Turkey. WeWALK 
transforms a standard white 
cane into a “smartcane” 
that detects obstacles using 
sonar, provides spoken turn-
by-turn walking directions, 
and incorporates Amazon’s 
Alexa voice assistant.

Winner of the 2019 Pioneer 
Award for accessible 
technology at the renowned 
international Consumer 
Electronics Show (CES) 
held each January in Las 
Vegas, WeWALK is one 
representation of the work 
of a growing group of 
young assistive technology 
startups located in areas 
well outside the U.S.

Another international startup 
I visited on the CES exhibitor 
floor in 2019 has a back story 
very similar to WeWALK’s. 
Like the WeWALK smartcane, 
Bonocle — a device its inventors 
proclaim is “the next big thing 
in the assistive technology 
market” — was invented by 
young university students and 
friends, this time from Doha, 
Qatar, on the Arabian peninsula.



Twenty-five-year-old co-
founder Mahmoud Eltouny 
said the idea for the device 
came after a university friend 
broke his right hand in a car 
accident and had tremendous 
difficulty taking notes in 
class. Seeking an assistive 
device from the Qatari 
university’s disability office, 
Eltouny and his friend were 
shocked by the complexities 
involved in helping students 
who are blind transcribe 
electronic class notes into 
physical braille documents.

In a recent TED Talk, Eltouny 
used the comparison of the 
seventh volume of the Harry 
Potter series to prove his point. 
While the paperback version of 
the book weighs in at a little over 
a pound, Eltouny said the same 
Harry Potter novel weighs in at 
a staggering 20 pounds when 
embossed on braille paper.

With a scant 5% of the 
world’s literature available 
in printed braille, Eltouny 
said there have been no 
significant breakthroughs 
in Braille technology in 
the past 30 years.

Bonocle, a shortened name 
for “braille monocle,” is a 
computer-mouse-sized hand-
held device that bypasses the 
need for braille embossers, 
which can cost anywhere from 
$2,000 to $150,000 each. Using 
Bluetooth to connect to a 
computer, tablet, iOS, or Android 
device, Bonocle instantly and 
wirelessly translates electronic 
text source material from any 
of these devices into braille 
under the user’s fingertip.

Moving the device left-to-right 
as one would move a computer 
mouse across any flat surface, 
users feel small metal pins 
push each translated Braille 
letter into their fingertips in real 
time. What’s more, Bonocle 
purports to have the ability to 
download and store thousands 
of e-textbooks and documents 
internally for easy braille 
reading in any environment, a 
feature that can be particularly 
helpful for people who 
frequent noisy spaces or 
who have difficulty hearing
audiobooks, talking books, ortext-to-speech synthesizersdue to hearing loss.

Bonocle’s three bright,
20-something co-foundersinclude a mechanical engineer,
an electrical engineer, and acomputer scientist. The teamwas hoping to release Bonocleto the public in late 2019, but
are still striving to find sufficient
funding for a large rollout.

In the meantime, interested 
braille readers can submit 
their email addresses and 
contact information on 
Bonocle’s website and be 
among the first to know 
when the device, projected 
to cost around $350, is 
ready for pre-order and 
ultimately, distribution.

Eltouny said the biggest 
lesson the team of inventors 
has learned through their 
four-year journey developing 
Bonocle is a message they 
constantly share with others: 
Don’t sympathize with and 
for people with disabilities 
— empower them.

For more information 
on the portable, battery 
powered Bonocle, go to 
http:www.bonocle.co ¨

Doug Goist is program manager for IT 
services projects at National Industries 
for the Blind. A recognized leader in the 
field of technology accessibility, Doug 
has worked with the U.S. Department of 
Defense, the military services, federal 
agencies and private sector partners. In 
2013, he served as the technical steering 
committee representative for the U.S. 
Agency for International Development 
on a study of mobile money transfer and 
handset accessibility in Africa.



NEWS & NOTES

BUSINESS MANAGEMENT TRAINING CLASS OF 2019

Twenty-one 
employees who 
are blind from 17 
NIB associated 
nonprofit agencies, 
NIB, and CNIB 
in Canada 
graduated from 
NIB’s Business 
Management 
Training (BMT) 
program in 
September. Over 
the course of 
the 15-month program 
the participants, who 
were selected through a 
competitive application 
process, attended five 
intensive 3½ day graduate-
level educational sessions 
taught by faculty from 
George Mason University’s 
(GMU) School of Business.

Image caption -Graduates of the 2019 class of NIB’s Business Management 
Training program, pictured left to right (front row) Shawn 
Dobbs, Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.; Marisa Beekman, 
Outlook Nebraska; Josh Crunkleton, NIB; Chris Helvoigt, 
Arizona Industries for the Blind; David Demers, CNIB; Christian 
Gorshing, NewView Oklahoma; (middle row) Thomas Stivers, 
Travis Association for the Blind; Nikki Bare, LCI; Aaron 
Simoneau, NIB; Tevin Price, IFB Solutions; Georgia Woods, 
Lions Volunteer Blind Industries; Henry Allen, Lighthouse for 
the Blind, St. Louis; Samantha Long, Olmsted Center for Sight; 
Brandon Smith, Louisiana Association for the Blind; (back row) 
Katrina Martin, NIB; Jim Martino, Central Association for the 
Blind and Visually Impaired; Gay Young, Lighthouse Louisiana; 
Danara Barlow, Envision; Jake Schmude, Blind Industries and 
Services of Maryland; Sarah Heeson, Beyond Vision; and Melva 
Henderson, Envision Dallas.


Roy Hinton, associate 
dean of the business 
school at GMU, joined 
NIB President and CEO 
Kevin Lynch to present 
each graduate with a 
certificate for completing 
the 15-month program; 
graduates also earned a 
Certificate in Business 
Management from GMU. 
The 2019 class joins 
98 graduates of the 
program, 70% of whom 
report earning at least 
one job promotion since 
completing BMT. To 
date, 47 NIB associated 
agencies have participated 
in the BMT program. ¨


NIB SPONSORS 
SALUTE TO VETS

NIB was a presenting sponsor 
of the 2019 Alexandria Chamber 
of Commerce Salute to Veterans 
event on November 6. The 
event celebrates the impact of 
servicemen and servicewomen 
on the local community 
by recognizing veteran-
owned local businesses and 
businesses making significant 
strides in employing veterans. 
NIB President and CEO Kevin 
Lynch provided opening 
remarks at the event, where 
he was joined by several NIB 
employees who are veterans. ¨



EFFECTIVE SUPERVISION CLASS GRADUATES AT WILLIAM 
L. HUDSON BVI WORKFORCE INNOVATION CENTER

Eighteen participants graduated from NIB’s Effective Supervision: 
Making an Impact training program on October 24, 2019, at the 
William L. Hudson BVI Workforce Innovation Center in Wichita, 
Kansas. Effective Supervision helps participants develop skills to 
perform supervisory jobs with greater productivity, effectiveness, 
and responsibility. The unique program includes self-study and 
classroom sessions, plus a session on performance coaching for 
managers, who play a significant role in guiding participants as they 
apply classroom learning to real-life situations in the workplace. ¨


Image caption -Graduates of the 2019 Effective Supervision Training program, 
pictured left to right (front row) Shelley Adams, CNIB; Jimmy 
Dean, Alabama Industries for the Blind; Doug Wampler, Outlook 
Nebraska; Michael Edwards, Lighthouse for the Blind, St. Louis; 
Tim Wills, Bosma Enterprises; Tanee Wall, VisionCorps; Todd 
LaFlame, Lighthouse Works!; (back row) Vanh Vue, LCI; Amber 
Wallenstein, Cleveland Sight Center; Brian McCann, IBVI; Anne 
Cyboron, Envision; Derek Suarez, AVRE; Dustin Bradford, 
The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.; Daniel Molina, Envision; 
Rosemary Nedimyer, Olmsted Center for Sight; Mike Mote, IFB 
Solutions; Gerald Robertson, NewView Oklahoma; Heather 
Tuck, Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind.



COALITION FOR GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT 
RECOGNIZES NIB ADVOCACY FOR VETERANS 

NIB received the 2019 Excellence in Partnership Award in 
the Advocating for Veterans category from the Coalition 
for Government Procurement. The Coalition’s Advocating 
for Veterans Awards recognize organizations or individuals 
in the Department of Defense, civilian federal agencies, 
and private industry that promote and execute successful 
programs in support of our nation’s veterans.

NIB President and CEO 
Kevin Lynch accepted 
the award at a November 
20, 2019, ceremony 
that brought together 
dozens of organizations 
and individuals across 
the federal government, 
military, and private sector. 
“NIB has been an important 
voice in advancing federal 
procurement through the 
AbilityOne Program,” said 
Roger Waldron, president 
of the Coalition for 
Government Procurement. 
“We’re pleased to 
recognize NIB for these 
contributions and for the 
work they do in support of 
our nation’s veterans.” ¨


Image caption -Bill Gormley, chairman of 
the Coalition for Government 
Procurement (left) with NIB 
President and CEO Kevin 
Lynch; Aubrey Wolley, Coalition 
vice president of public policy; 
and Coalition President Roger 
Waldron; at the Coalition’s 
Excellence in Partnership 
awards dinner.



NIB RECEIVES AWARD FOR PROGRAMS BUILDING 
INDEPENDENCE FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND

NIB Board of Directors Chair Susan Costlow 
accepted the Columbia Lighthouse for 
the Blind (CLB) Lighting the Way Gala 
Achievement Award on October 29, 2019. 
The award recognizes NIB’s success in 
promoting independence for people who are 
blind through employment. CLB provides 
programs and services for people of all ages 
living in the Washington, D.C., region who 
are blind or visually impaired. ¨


Image caption- NIB Board of Directors Chair Susan Costlow accepted the 
2019 Lighting the Way Gala Achievement Award from CLB 
President and CEO Tony Cancelosi.


SAVE THE DATE! 2020 NIB/NAEPB NATIONAL EVENTS

NIB and the National Association for the Employment of People 
Who Are Blind (NAEPB) are changing the format for 2020’s 
national events. The Public Policy Forum, slated for May 19-20 
at NIB headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, will bring together 
members of the Advocates for Leadership and Employment 
program and other NIB associated agency personnel from around 
the country to discuss key issues affecting employment for people 
who are blind with members of Congress and their staffs. 

The Training Conference and Expo, scheduled for October 13-16, 
at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia, will feature 
recognition of NIB associated agency employees of the year, 
comprehensive training on the AbilityOne Program, exciting guest 
speakers, an awards luncheon recognizing outstanding customers 
and partners, and the Expo and NIB Marketplace.

Mark your calendars and stay tuned for additional details. ¨




Back cover Ad
Exceptional Quality. Extraordinary Impact.
Learn more at NIB.org/SKILCRAFTSKILCRAFT® is a registered trademark owned and licensed by National Industries 
for the Blind, the nation’s largest employment resource for people who are blind.
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NIB ASSOCIATED NONPROFIT AGENCIES 
AND ABILITYONE BASE SUPPLY CENTERS


HEADQUARTERS AND SATELLITE LOCATIONS AS OF JANUARY 1, 2020 

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ALABAMA 
Alabama Industries for the Blind Talladega and Birmingham, AL 

ARIZONA 
Arizona Industries for the Blind Phoenix, AZ 
Southern Arizona Association for the Visually Impaired Tucson, AZ 

CALIFORNIA 
Earle Baum Center of the Blind Santa Rosa, CA 
Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired Berkeley, Eureka, Napa, 
San Francisco, San Leandro, and San Rafael, CA 
Valley Center for the Blind Fresno, CA 
Wayfinder Family Services Los Angeles, CA 

COLORADO 
Ensight Skills Center Fort Collins, CO 

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 
Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind Washington, DC; Riverdale and 
Silver Spring, MD 

FLORIDA 
Center for the Visually Impaired Daytona Beach, FL 
Florida Center for the Blind Ocala, FL 
The Lighthouse of Broward County Fort Lauderdale, FL 
Lighthouse Central Florida Orlando, FL 
Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind Port Richey, FL 
Lighthouse Works! Orlando, FL 
Tampa Lighthouse for the Blind Tampa and Winter Haven, FL 
True Light Center Miami, Florida 

GEORGIA 
Center for the Visually Impaired Atlanta, GA 
Georgia Industries for the Blind Bainbridge, Albany, and Griffin, GA 
Vision Rehabilitation Services of Georgia Smyrna, GA 

HAWAII 
Ho'opono Workshop for the Blind Honolulu, HI 

ILLINOIS 
Chicago Lighthouse Industries Chicago, IL 
The Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired 
Chicago, IL 

INDIANA 
Bosma Enterprises Indianapolis, IN 

KANSAS 
Envision Wichita, KS 

LOUISIANA 
Blind Ambitions Baton Rouge, LA 
Lighthouse Louisiana New Orleans and Baton Rouge, LA; Gulfport, MS 
Louisiana Association for the Blind Shreveport, LA 

MARYLAND 
Blind Industries and Services of Maryland Baltimore, Cumberland, and 
Salisbury, MD; Raleigh, NC 
Métier Services Rockville, MD 

MASSACHUSETTS 
The Carroll Center for the Blind Newton, MA 
New England Employment Services for the Blind Dorchester, MA 

MICHIGAN 
Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired Grand Rapids, MI 
MidWest Enterprises for the Blind Kalamazoo, MI 

MISSISSIPPI 
Mississippi Industries for the Blind Jackson and Meridian, MS 

MISSOURI 
Alphapointe Kansas City, MO, and Queens, NY 
The Lighthouse for the Blind Berkeley and St. Louis, MO 

NEBRASKA 
Outlook Nebraska Omaha, NE 

NEVADA 
Blind Center of Nevada Las Vegas, NV 
Nevada Blind Children’s Foundation Henderson, NV 

NEW JERSEY 
Bestwork Industries for the Blind Cherry Hill, NJ 
Everas Community Services Somerset, NJ 

NEW YORK 
Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired – Goodwill Industries of 
Greater Rochester Rochester, NY 
Association for Vision Rehabilitation and Employment Binghamton, NY 
Aurora of Central New York Syracuse, NY 
Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired Utica, NY 
Elizabeth Pierce Olmsted, M.D. Center for the Visually Impaired Buffalo, NY 
Lighthouse Guild International New York, NY 
My Blind Spot New York, NY 
Northeastern Association of the Blind at Albany Albany, NY 
Southern Tier Association for the Visually Impaired Elmira, NY 
VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired New York, NY 

NORTH CAROLINA 
IFB Solutions Little Rock, AR; Winston-Salem and Asheville, NC 
Industries of the Blind Greensboro, NC 
LCI Durham and Raleigh, NC; Daytona, FL; Louisville, KY; Hazlehurst, 
Jackson, and Tupelo, MS 
Lions Industries for the Blind Kinston, NC 
Lions Services Charlotte, NC 

OHIO 
Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired Cincinnati, OH 
Cleveland Sight Center Cleveland, OH 
Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired Cincinnati, OH, and 
Memphis, TN 
Diverse Enterprises for the Blind Columbus, OH 
The Sight Center of Northwest Ohio Toldeo, Ohio 

OKLAHOMA 
NewView Oklahoma Oklahoma City, OK 

OREGON 
Blind Enterprises of Oregon Portland, OR 

PENNSYLVANIA 
Associated Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired Philadelphia, PA 
Blind and Vision Rehabilitation Services of Pittsburgh Homestead and 
Pittsburgh, PA 
Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired Chester, PA 
Chester County Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired 
Coatesville, PA 
Keystone Vocational Services Hermitage, Meadville, New Castle, 
and Sharon, PA 
North Central Sight Services Williamsport, PA 
The Sight Center of Northwest Pennsylvania Erie, PA 
VisionCorps Lancaster, Lebanon, Leola, Philedelphia, and York, PA 
Washington-Greene County Blind Association Washington, PA 
Westmoreland County Blind Association Greensburg, PA 

RHODE ISLAND 
IN-SIGHT Warwick, RI 

SOUTH CAROLINA 
Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired Charleston Charleston, SC 

TENNESSEE 
Lions Volunteer Blind Industries Morristown and Johnson City, TN 

TEXAS 
Beacon Lighthouse Wichita Falls, TX 
Dallas Lighthouse for the Blind Dallas, TX 
East Texas Lighthouse for the Blind Tyler, TX 
Lighthouse for the Blind of Fort Worth Fort Worth, TX 
The Lighthouse of Houston Houston, TX 
San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind San Antonio, TX 
South Texas Lighthouse for the Blind Corpus Christi and Victoria, TX 
Travis Association for the Blind Austin and Taylor, TX 
West Texas Lighthouse for the Blind San Angelo, TX 

UTAH 
Utah Industries for the Blind Salt Lake City, UT 

VIRGINIA 
Virginia Industries for the Blind Charlottesville and Richmond, VA 

WASHINGTON 
The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. Seattle and Spokane, WA; Summerville, SC 

WEST VIRGINIA 
The Seeing Hand Association Wheeling, WV 

WISCONSIN 
Associated Industries for the Blind Milwaukee, WI 
Beyond Vision Milwaukee, WI 
Industries for the Blind and Visually Impaired West Allis and Janesville, 
WI; North Charleston, SC 

Visit NIB.org/agencies for a current list of NIB associated nonprofit agencies