[September 09, 2010] AbilityOne program helps blind support themselves and military Tweet Sep 09, 2010 (The Frederick News-Post - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Fort Detrick's year-old base supply store and its three blind employees Wednesday celebrated the 15th anniversary of a program that employs blind and disabled people. For 15 years, military base supply stores have been stocking their shelves with products and services produced by blind or severely disabled people, as part of the AbilityOne program, said Kevin Lynch, president and chief executive officer of National Industries for the Blind. More than 140 military base supply stores participate and they directly employ about 300 blind people, he said. National Industries for the Blind is designated as the central nonprofit to work with 91 agencies serving the blind and severely disabled as part of AbilityOne. The AbilityOne program developed from the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act, a procurement program to increase employment opportunities for the disabled. "The base supply program has been a game changer for us," Lynch said. Skilcraft brand products, which the stores carry, are sold only for federal use and are manufactured by more than 6,000 blind employees at more than 200 sites nationwide, Lynch said. He would like word to spread that blind people are capable of doing many jobs, for the good of the country and themselves. Stacey Goff, Karen Brake and Charlene Tarnowsky are newly employed at Fort Detrick's base supply store. Their blindness makes it harder to find a job, but they said they like their opportunities at the store. Store Manager Tim Selby said he hopes soon to have them working computers and cash registers as equipment is upgraded. The women inspire him, Selby said. "These are the most special ladies that ever walked," he said. For Goff, it is her first job, and it was a step she was afraid to take. "The whole idea was overwhelming," she said. Since May, she has changed her mind. "I really love it," she said. "The people here are fabulous." Selby plans to train Goff on the cash register so she can ring up customers. Tarnowsky worked at a credit union in Johnstown, Pa., when she lost her eyesight, she said. She was able to continue working there using a computer, and hopes to do the same at the Army post. When she moved to Frederick, she wanted to find another job. "I wanted to get out and meet new people," she said. Brake already rings up customers and checks on back orders. She also works at Goodwill Industries. Base supply stores are filling a need, "supporting the war fighter and ... providing a channel for independent living," for the blind, said Tom Boyer, senior vice president of Industries for the Blind out of Milwaukee. Brake, Goff and Tarnowsky said they learned about the base program through the Maryland Department of Rehabilitation Services. "Maryland has a really good program," Boyer said. During his anniversary remarks, Lynch said that while AbilityOne employs 6,000 blind people, 70 percent of the blind population remains unemployed. "Not a really great statistic," he said. The event included planting a tree near the store. In addition to adding a green element, it is to serve as a lasting symbol of growing opportunities for the blind, Lynch said. To see more of the Frederick News-Post or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.fredericknewspost.com. Copyright (c) 2010, The Frederick News-Post, Md. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail [email protected], or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544). [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]