AbilityOne Program
History Timeline
1938
President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Wagner-O’Day Act on June 25, 1938. Congress established the Committee on Purchases of Blind-Made Products and President Roosevelt appointed the first Committee members.
(l to r) President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Senator Robert Wagner-NY, and Rep. Caroline O'Day-NY.
1939
National Industries for the Blind (NIB) is incorporated and begins operations.
1941
NIB supplies the military prior to World War II – a longer history than many companies!
1952
NIB launches SKILCRAFT® - the brand name for quality products made by people who are blind.
1955
The first military resale products reach the shelves in commissary stores.
1969
NIB establishes a rehabilitation services division to increase skills and abilities of people who are blind.
1971
Senator Jacob K. Javits sponsors legislation adding the purchase of services and including agencies serving people with other severe disabilities to the original Wagner-O’Day Act. The legislation becomes known as the Javits-Wagner-O’Day (JWOD) Act.
Senator Jacob K. Javits - NY
The Act provides for a full-time civil servant staff to support the Committee Members.
1974
National Industries for the Severely Handicapped (later to become NISH) is incorporated and begins operations.
1980
The JWOD Program provides jobs to 7,500 people, provides 3.8 million direct labor hours, pays an average hourly wage of nearly $3.00, and pays $11.6 million in direct labor wages.
1988
GSA implements changes in procurement practices in the government marketplace relating to the Federal Supply System and government purchase cards. The JWOD Program responds by collaborating with its federal customers to satisfy their needs with the best value products and services.
1991
Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm create a massive production surge in JWOD-participating nonprofit agencies, which met the challenge of supplying American troops with millions of dollars worth of critically-needed products. Never before have JWOD-participating nonprofit agencies been called upon to deliver so many products and services in so short a period of time.
1996
The Committee authorizes first commercial distributors for JWOD products.
2001
The JWOD Program provides surge support during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. There is a significant growth in employment opportunities and the program expands product and service lines to provide military-unique requirements including chemical protective garments, uniforms, fleet vehicle maintenance, and document destruction.
2005
In response to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, NIB and NISH came to the aid of their impacted affiliated nonprofit agencies and employees with various forms of financial, technical, and logistical assistance and support. NIB and its affiliated nonprofit agencies donated more than $250,000 to assist affected employees who were blind. NISH authorized $5 million and created a Disaster Relief bulletin board on its web site to pair affected nonprofit agencies with those providing assistance.
2006
For the first time, the Committee elects a Chairperson who is a Private Citizen and a person with a disability. The Committee also, for the first time, elected a Vice Chair who is a Private Citizen and who is blind.
The Committee changes the name of the JWOD Program to the AbilityOne Program for people to recognize the brand and immediately know the program; and subsequently the Committee approves the logo.
2008
President George W. Bush signs memo of support for AbilityOne Program; and the First Lady holds a recognition event at the White House with employees of the year.
Today
The AbilityOne Program sales and services to the federal government are valued at more than $2 billion. While the AbilityOne Program continues to experience growth in wages paid to its more than 40,000 employees, AbilityOne Program sales to the federal government account for less than one percent of all federal procurement dollars spent.
