JWOD and Skilcraft

The JWOD Program creates jobs and training opportunities for people who are blind or who have other severe disabilities. Its primary means of doing so is by requiring Government agencies to purchase selected products and services from nonprofit agencies employing such individuals. As a result, JWOD employees are able to lead more productive, independent lives.

Named for its enabling legislation, the Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Act of 1971, 41 U.S.C. 46-48c, the JWOD Program is a mandatory source of supply for Federal employees. The JWOD Program is administered by the Committee for Purchase from People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled. Two national, independent organizations, National Industries for the Blind (NIB), and National Industries for the Severely Handicapped (NISH), help State and private nonprofit agencies participate in the JWOD Program.

Benefits of the JWOD Program to the Federal Government and to the taxpayer include:

• High-quality supplies and services
• On-time delivery
• Reasonable prices
• Reduction of paperwork and pre/post award costs
• Central points of contact to solve problems/facilitate action
• Reduced disability payments and increased tax revenues

While the purpose of the Program is--first and foremost--to provide jobs and training for persons with severe disabilities, it does not represent a handout. Nonprofit agencies employing persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities must demonstrate that they can offer the Government quality supplies and services at reasonable prices.

JWOD work provides nonprofit agency employees with invaluable vocational opportunities not otherwise available, which result in additional income and increased independence. Two tremendous advantages realized are:

• A stable work experience
• Attainment of marketable job skills

Through expanding their scope of experience and enhancing their abilities, some employees are able to take on assignments at increasingly higher levels of difficulty. This experience prepares them for a wider variety of jobs either within or outside of the nonprofit agency.

NIB-associated agencies provide over 2,000 products and services to the General Services Administration (GSA), Department of Defense, U.S. Postal Service, Department of Veterans Affairs, military commissaries and exchanges, and other departments of the federal government.

By purchasing supply items featuring the Skilcraft logo, you can be assured that your supply orders are complying with the JWOD Program.

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