Milestone marks service to the U.S. armed forces and federal government and creation of jobs for people who are blind
[Shreveport, LA] – Louisiana Association for the Blind (L.A.B) is recognizing the 25th anniversary of the AbilityOne Base Supply Center® (BSC) program by highlighting the workplace capabilities of people who are blind and their support of our nation’s military and the federal government. The Base Supply Centers located at Barksdale and Fort Polk provide meaningful employment and career opportunities for people who are blind in their surrounding communities.
The AbilityOne BSC program harnesses the resources of a nationwide network of providers to offer thousands of quality products to government and military customers. Today, more than 150 BSCs are located on military bases and federal installations across the country, including Barksdale and Fort Polk. BSCs provide military, government, and civilian personnel with convenient access to thousands of SKILCRAFT® products manufactured by people who are visually impaired or severely disabled.
“The 25th Anniversary of the BSC program is a significant milestone in the Ability One Program’s history. We are honored to provide this necessary service to military communities,” said Libby Murphy, President, and CEO of L.A.B. “We are proud of our years of service not only helping our men and women in uniform but also providing opportunities for people who are blind to gain greater independence through rewarding employment.”
The BSC Stores located at Barksdale Air Force Base and Fort Polk are operated by L.A.B. in partnership with National Industries for the Blind (NIB), the nation’s largest employment resource for people who are blind. The production and sale of SKILCRAFT® products and services through the AbilityOne Program allow NIB and its associated nonprofit agencies to employ nearly 6,000 people who are blind nationwide.
“The success of our Base Supply Centers over the past two decades demonstrates the tremendous value people who are blind bring to the workplace,” said NIB President and CEO, Kevin Lynch. “We are proud to continue working with Louisiana Association for the Blind to expand job opportunities for people who are blind, including our nation’s veterans, as well as supporting the military and federal government.”
Visit us at https://labstoreplus.com/ or https://www.labsssc.com/. Learn more about the AbilityOne BSC program at https://www.nib.org/products/base-supply-centers/.
About Louisiana Association for the Blind
Established in 1927, Louisiana Association for the Blind (L.A.B.) is a private, non-profit community service organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people who are visually impaired through training, services, and employment. As a part of National Industries for the Blind (NIB), L.A.B. participates in the nation’s AbilityOne Program, providing recycled content copy paper and 3M™ Safety-Walk™ nonskid material to the federal government, made by Americans with visual or severe disabilities.
About National Industries for the 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® products and services of the AbilityOne® Program. For more information about NIB, visit NIB.org.