Press Release

Javits-Wagner-O'Day Program Achieves Record-Breaking Employment in FY04

JWOD Continues to be the Single Largest Source of Employment for People Who are Blind or Have Other Severe Disabilities

February 7, 2005
For immediate release
Contact: Annmarie Hart-Bookbinder
Manager, Communications
Phone: (703) 603-2128
Fax: (703) 603-0655
Email: abookbinder@jwod.gov

Arlington, VA - The Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Program provided jobs for more than 45,000 people who are blind or have other severe disabilities in fiscal year 2004, a new Program record. This growth translates into more than 3,000 additional employment opportunities in local communities nationwide for a population that continues to experience an exceptionally high unemployment rate - in sharp contrast to the national unemployment rate of 5 percent, nearly 70 percent of people with disabilities are not employed. The JWOD Program was created by Congress to help alleviate this employment inequity. Notably, the JWOD Program has become the single largest employer of Americans who are blind or have other severe disabilities, by identifying Federal contract work to be performed by these individuals.

In addition to providing a record number of jobs, the JWOD Program reported a significant increase in the wages earned by JWOD employees, totaling more than $325 million and delivering an average hourly wage of $8.98. The skills, experience and wages earned on JWOD work often enable employees with disabilities to move into employment opportunities outside the JWOD Program.

Much of the Program's growth over the past year may be attributed to its support of national defense efforts; during Fiscal Year 2004, more than 50 percent of all JWOD products and services provided to the Federal Government were sold to the Department of Defense (DoD) in support of the U.S. warfighters. Some of the products furnished under the JWOD Program include chemical protective suits, uniforms, and first-aid kits. Noteworthy services include call center operations, commissary shelf stocking, and vehicle maintenance-a contract that provides JWOD employees with an average wage of nearly $18 per hour.

"The JWOD Program is proud to be a vital part of both our military industrial base and many of the overseas humanitarian efforts supported by our Government," said Steve Schwalb, Chairperson, Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, in noting the JWOD Program's record accomplishments.

Increased employment and wages under the JWOD Program are also a result of the identification and addition of new types of Federal contract opportunities to employ people who are blind or have other severe disabilities that leverage the Program's nationwide network of community-based nonprofit agencies. For example, the JWOD Program was able to meet the Internal Revenue Service's National Mail Centers' need for a nationwide document destruction and digital imaging contract, resulting in the creation of 100 jobs for people who are blind or have other severe disabilities at 28 nonprofit agencies located in 24 states.

The JWOD Program is a cost-effective way to help people who are blind or have other severe disabilities achieve greater independence, and provide the Federal Government with a quality source of products and services. JWOD Program employment enables many individuals to reduce dependence on Government support, join the ranks of taxpayers, and contribute to the Federal Government's critical missions.

The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled is the independent Federal agency that administers the Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Program, which creates jobs and training opportunities for persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities. Established by Congress, the JWOD Program is a public-private partnership through which the Federal Government uses its acquisition policies to support this important socioeconomic objective. National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and NISH (creating employment opportunities for people with severe disabilities), are two national nonprofit organizations designated by the Committee to help Federal agencies and nonprofit organizations that employ persons with severe disabilities participate in the JWOD Program.

For more information about the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled and the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Program, visit www.jwod.gov.

For more information about National Industries for the Blind, visit www.nib.org.

For more information about NISH, visit www.nish.org.