People who are blind or visually impaired face many challenges in finding and maintaining employment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate for people with a disability was 12.6% in 2020, more than twice the rate for people without a disability (5.9%). Among people with a disability, those who are blind or visually impaired often encounter additional barriers, such as lack of accessibility, low expectations, and discrimination.
However, there are also many opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired to participate in the workforce, especially in the manufacturing sector. Manufacturing is one of the largest and most diverse industries in the U.S., accounting for 11.9% of the gross domestic product and 8.5% of the employment in 2020. Manufacturing also offers a wide range of skills and tasks that can be performed by people who are blind or visually impaired, such as machining, fabrication, assembly, kitting, packaging, plastic injection and blow molding, chemical blending and filling, and textile cutting and sewing.
In this article, we will explore how nonprofit agencies associated with National Industries for the Blind (NIB) provide manufacturing opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired across the country. We will also highlight some of the benefits and challenges of working in the manufacturing sector for people who are blind or visually impaired, and some of the best practices and innovations that enable them to succeed.
National Industries for the Blind: A History of Providing Manufacturing Jobs for People Who Are Blind
NIB is the nation’s largest employment resource for people who are blind. NIB was established in 1938, following the enactment of the Wagner-O’Day Act, which required federal agencies to purchase certain products made by people who are blind. NIB serves as the central nonprofit agency responsible for allocating government orders to its network of nearly 100 associated nonprofit agencies across the country. These agencies train and employ people who are blind to work in their manufacturing facilities, producing a wide variety of products for government and commercial customers.
NIB and its associated nonprofit agencies have been providing manufacturing jobs for people who are blind for more than 80 years, creating opportunities for personal and economic independence. NIB and its associated nonprofit agencies are the largest employer of people who are blind in the U.S., creating and sustaining thousands of U.S.-based manufacturing jobs each year. In 2020, NIB and its associated nonprofit agencies employed 3,481 people who are blind in manufacturing jobs, and produced 4,141 different products.
NIB and its associated nonprofit agencies offer manufacturing services such as:
- Machining: Using machines such as lathes, mills, drills, and presses to shape metal or plastic parts.
- Fabrication: Cutting, bending, welding, and assembling metal or plastic components into finished products.
- Assembly: Putting together parts or components to form a product, such as a stapler, a pen, or a flashlight.
- Kitting: Combining multiple items into a package or a kit, such as a first aid kit, a hygiene kit, or a tool kit.
- Packaging: Wrapping, labeling, sealing, and shipping products to customers.
- Plastic injection and blow molding: Heating and injecting plastic into a mold to form a part, or blowing air into a heated plastic tube to form a hollow part, such as a bottle or a container.
- Chemical blending and filling: Mixing and filling liquids, gels, or powders into bottles, tubes, or containers, such as hand sanitizer, soap, or detergent.
- Textile cutting and sewing: Cutting and sewing fabric into products, such as clothing, bedding, or bags.
Some of the products manufactured by people who are blind include:
- SKILCRAFT: The brand name for products manufactured by people who are blind, such as office supplies, janitorial supplies, food service and operating supplies, paint, hardware, tools, and safety supplies.
- Military uniforms: Fire-retardant and infrared-coded uniforms for the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.
- Medical supplies: Surgical masks, gowns, gloves, and bandages for hospitals and health care facilities.
- Personal protective equipment: Face masks, face shields, gloves, and hand sanitizer for protection against COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
- Aerospace parts: Precision machined parts for aircraft engines, landing gear, and other components.
Benefits and Challenges of Working in the Manufacturing Sector for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
Working in the manufacturing sector can offer many benefits for people who are blind or visually impaired, such as:
- Income and benefits: Manufacturing jobs can provide a stable and competitive income and benefits, such as health insurance, retirement savings, and paid leave.
- Skill development and career advancement: Manufacturing jobs can offer opportunities to learn new skills and advance in one’s career, such as becoming a supervisor, a trainer, or a quality inspector.
- Independence and empowerment: Manufacturing jobs can foster a sense of independence and empowerment, as people who are blind or visually impaired can demonstrate their abilities and contribute to society.
- Social inclusion and support: Manufacturing jobs can promote social inclusion and support, as people who are blind or visually impaired can interact with their co-workers, customers, and community.
However, working in the manufacturing sector can also pose some challenges for people who are blind or visually impaired, such as:
- Accessibility and accommodation: Manufacturing jobs can require accessibility and accommodation, such as adaptive equipment, software, or tools, to perform the tasks safely and efficiently.
- Training and education: Manufacturing jobs can demand training and education, such as technical, vocational, or on-the-job training, to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge.
- Attitudes and stereotypes: Manufacturing jobs can encounter attitudes and stereotypes, such as low expectations, discrimination, or stigma, from employers, co-workers, customers, or society.
Best Practices and Innovations for Enabling Success in the Manufacturing Sector for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
To overcome the challenges and maximize the benefits of working in the manufacturing sector for people who are blind or visually impaired, some of the best practices and innovations that NIB and its associated nonprofit agencies have implemented include:
- Providing comprehensive and customized training programs that cover both technical and soft skills, such as machine operation, quality control, communication, and teamwork.
- Utilizing accessible and assistive technology that enhances the performance and safety of people who are blind or visually impaired, such as audible feedback, tactile indicators, voice recognition, and magnification.
- Developing and maintaining partnerships with government and commercial customers that ensure a steady and diverse supply of orders and contracts, as well as feedback and support.
- Creating and promoting a culture of inclusion and empowerment that values and respects the abilities and contributions of people who are blind or visually impaired, as well as their co-workers, customers, and community.