The AbilityOne Program & NISH –
Creating Employment Opportunities for People with Significant Disabilities
The AbilityOne Program provides employment opportunities to more than 45,000 Americans who are blind or have other severe disabilities. It is the largest single source of jobs for such individuals in the United States. The AbilityOne program uses the purchasing power of the Federal Government to buy products and services from participating, community-based nonprofit agencies nationwide who are dedicated to training and employment individuals with disabilities.
To carry out its mission, the AbilityOne committee works closely with National Industries for the Severely Handicapped (NISH) to assist more than 600 community based nonprofit agencies that obtain Federal contracts through the program.
Established in 1974, NISH is one of two national nonprofit agencies designated by the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled [a federal government agency] to support nonprofit agencies (NPAs) participating in the AbilityOne Program. AbilityOne provides employment opportunities for people who are blind or have other significant disabilities by procuring federal contracts for goods and services.
Headquartered in Vienna, VA, NISH supports a network of more than 1,300 NPAs as well as federal customers by providing the legislative and regulatory assistance, communications and public relations materials, information technology support, engineering and technical assistance, and extensive professional training needed for successful contract management.
