Persons with disabilities remain an untapped resource in the country's workforce, with an unemployment rate of 70%.
NISH, a nonprofit that helps secure federal contracts for agencies that employ people with disabilities through the JavitsWagnerO'Day program, strives to change the status quo.
The organization has introduced a new program based on which designated agencies such as "centers of excellence" serve as mentors aother organizations to help them improve the quality of the services and products they provide to the federal government.
The Javitswagnero'Day program is the largest source of employment in the United States. for people with disabilities.
Often indicated as a JWOD program, it provides employment opportunities for more than 45,000 blind people who have other serious disabilities.
Through the JWOD program, NISH works with a network of more than 600 nonprofit organizations that employ and train people with disabilities.
The program stems from the WagnerO'Day Act, passed in 1938, which provided employment opportunities forthe blind by allowing them to produce mops and brooms for sale to the federal government.
In 1971, Congress changed the law to include people with severe disabilities and allow agencies to provide services and products.
According to a recent Harris Interactive survey, two out of three people with disabilities who are networkers want to work, but lack of opportunities and accessibility issues prevent them from finding work.