People With Disabilities Help Troops Stay Prepared

Turn on the news and you'll hear the valiant stories of troops in the
U.S. military. And helping to support the troops are many other
courageous patriots, in particular the people with severe disabilities
who help keep servicemen and women equipped with the supplies they need.

Turn on the news and you'll hear the valiant stories of troops in the
U.S. military. And helping to support the troops are many other
courageous patriots, in particular the people with severe disabilities
who help keep servicemen and women equipped with the supplies they need.

Many of the products that help protect U.S. troops are produced by more
than 45,000 people who are blind or have other severe disabilities
working through the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Program. Also known as the JWOD
Program, it is the largest single source of employment for people with
disabilities, providing them with the job skills and training necessary
to earn equitable wages, benefits and greater independence.

The JWOD Program, administered by the Committee for Purchase From People
Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, the federal agency that oversees the
program, with assistance from NISH-Creating Employment Opportunities for
People with Severe Disabilities and National Industries for the Blind,
is designed to help reduce the nearly 70 percent unemployment rate among
people who are blind or have severe disabilities. The program stems from
the Wagner-O'Day Act passed in 1938 under President Franklin D.
Roosevelt, which allowed agencies serving people who are blind to sell
products to the federal government.

In 1971, under the leadership of Sen. Jacob Javits, Congress amended the
Wagner-O'Day Act to allow people with severe disabilities to participate
in the program. It also allowed agencies in the JWOD Program to provide
services as well as products to the federal government.

NISH works with more than 600 nonprofit agencies to provide employment
to people with disabilities. The following are some of the critical
supplies produced through the JWOD Program.

* Chemical protective garments used to shield soldiers from biochemical
weapons.

* Military clothing, including the new Army Combat Uniform, fleece
jackets, camouflage fatigue trousers, overalls and dress slacks for the
Navy and Air Force.

* Individual first-aid kits. The Marines worked closely with a
JWOD-affiliated agency on the design and development of a first-aid kit
pouch to increase the speed with which soldiers can administer aid to
others or to themselves.

* Bandages. Millions of bandages in 14 sizes are produced each year for
the armed services.