October is National Disability

Employment Awareness Month

During this month we pay tribute to the accomplishments of Americans with disabilities whose work helps keep our nation’s economy strong; and by reaffirming their commitment to ensure equal opportunity for everyone in America.

But this is just the beginning of the story…

Employment should be an opportunity available to

all

...but UNEMPLOYMENTamong the visually impaired

and severely disabled is at a

staggering 70%

Finding Employment and holding onto it are difficult

Their path to employment is filled with many obstacles

• Lack of Appropriate Jobs• Employer Negativity

• Transportation • Employee Negativity

And they often need help overcoming these

obstacles

Our Goal is to help by building AWARENESS about the overwhelming odds these individuals face while seeking employment because…

…awareness creates opportunities

That is where the true spirit of NDEAM’S message lies…

…in the efforts of those who desire to create this awareness…efforts evident in the observances held at the grassroots level across the nation every year.

Are you willing to become a part of this

EFFORT

IT REQUIRES TEAMWORK!

The

is yours…

• PETERSON AFB, CO• GRAND FORKS AFB, ND• MCCONNELL AFB, KS• FAIRCHILD AFB, WA• US AIR FORCE ACADEMY, CO

• F.E.WARREN AFB, WY• MINOT AFB, ND• MOUNTAIN HOME AFB, ID• WHITEMAN AFB, MO• OFFUTT AFB, NE• FT. CARSON, CO

MEET OUR TEAM• NAS LEMOORE, CA• NSA MID-SOUTH, TN• BUCKLEY AFB, CO• FT. RILEY, KS• FT LEAVENWORTH, KS

Your decision to make a change in the lives of these individuals will set you on a journey that will never end….

And progress comes one life at a time, like the individual pieces of a

jigsaw puzzle slowly coming together.

So together we must OPTIMIZE all of our resources - our talents, our knowledge, our creativity and our

ideas!

Your efforts will

achieve

And lives will be changed!

Are you ready? Then let’s Go!

Welcome to the Envision Xpress celebration of NDEAM!

Growing Awareness

Growing AbilityOne

Dollars

Employment, made possible through the AbilityOne program, brings sweet dividends

for two of McConnell’s visually impaired employees

Everyone enjoyed cake at McConnell’s recent NDEAM celebration but John Moore, manager treated his visually impaired employees, Michelle and Bryan with their very own cupcakes. Both employees are examples of how NDEAM and the AbilityOne program pay off huge dividends. They have overcome the obstacles and succeeded!

McConnell

Fort Riley made sure their customers knew what the celebration was all about

Fort Riley

The message was right on target…

…and Millington’s interactive tour gave employees the perfect opportunity to

chat with attendees about NDEAM and AbilityOne

Millington

Mountain Home

National Disability Employment

Awareness Month!There was no shortage of posters touting the benefits of the AbilityOne Program at Mountain Home’s celebration

EMPLOYMENT – The final breakthrough of success!

A representative from “A Ticket to Success “ was on hand at Lemoore’s celebration to explain how they play a part in securing employment for the visually impaired and severely disabled.

Lemoore

Anyone for a game of Connect Four….

BLINDFOLDED??

Leavenworth’s visually impaired employee demonstrates adaptive aids as well as her skill at Connect Four!

Leavenworth

Was it the tale of the one that got away or the

breadth of the value of the AbilityOne program?

Whiteman

The adaptive aids display at McConnell’s NDEAM celebration gave attendees an IDEA of the aids available and how they can help the visually impaired overcome obstacles in the workplace

McConnell

Millington’s visually impaired employee, Christian Mister uses his magnifying glass so all can see the carving in this special tree created just for their NDEAM celebration.

Christian knows, all too well, the reality of this message. In his words – “ I am a living witness of the truth of that message”.

October offers the perfect

time of year to celebrate NDEAM

Millington

WHAT’S NDEAM?Lemoore Employees were ready to greet customers and answer any questions about the reason for the celebration. Making others aware is what the event is all about…one more piece of the puzzle!

Lemoore

NDEAM 2012There was no mirror, mirror on the wall but plenty of banners and posters helped to spread the word of the special celebration at Whiteman Air Force Base

Whiteman

Mountain Home

Offutt’s NDEAM celebration included educating the attendees

Offutt’s manager demonstrates a simulator of various types of visual impairments while their visually

impaired employee demonstrates adaptive aidsOffutt

It was a great time to cook and eat at Peterson’s

NDEAM celebration!

Peterson

Never Doubt the Power of Pink, Pizza or AbilityOne!

Air Force Academy

I see something you don’t see and it’s……yeah sure; does she really think a little camo can hide THAT

HAT??

Buckley

National Disability

Employment Awareness Month!

The Banners and Cake

at Buckley Air Force Base left

no doubt of what the

celebration was all about.

Looks like everyone at Millington enjoyed

“BUILDING AWARENESS” But the trick is, doing

it in less than 30 second

s and making

it stay

!

Millington

Minot

Where’s the Beef - or is that Venison or Moose or Bear or…?

Feeding folks is a sure way of getting them to your NDEAM celebration

Ladder Toss was the hit of the day at F.E. Warren’s

NDEAM Celebration

F.E. Warren

BUILDING AWARENESS – OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

Gloria Bradler, Customer Service Representative at Ft. Carson takes advantage of their recent NDEAM celebration to demonstrate how adaptive aids help visually impaired employees to overcome obstacles in their every day work duties.

Ft. Carson

They all pulled together and got this feast ready just in time for their

NDEAM celebration

Leavenworth

Study First, Snack Second, Door Prize Third!

Flyers were on hand to educate attendees about NDEAM and AbilityOne

Lemoore

One piece, two pieces….oh this BIG piece will fit

nicely right here!

Air Force Academy

Pizza was the treat of choice at Air Force Academy’s recent NDEAM celebration

It’s easy to smile when you know your purchases provide employment for over 46,000 visually impaired and severely disabled individuals

Whiteman

…and AbilityOne products provided this Peterson employee with the perfect opportunity to tell others about NDEAM

Peterson

Banners, posters…

Lemoore

AWARENESS and Chili Go Hand-in-Hand at Lemoore For many years a chili cook-off has proven to be a sure winner for drawing a crowd

Education sometimes comes piece by piece until you have the whole picture

A table displaying adaptive aids along with an Envision/AbilityOne video help to spread AWARENESS

Ft. Riley

The Plan: Entice them with donuts and fill them with

valuable knowledge of NDEAM and AbilityOne – one bite, one fact at a time!

Ft. Carson

MAPPINGthe destination of over 46,000 visually impaired

and severely disabled individuals with AbilityOne dollars

Interactive stations placed throughout the store offered guests at Millington an opportunity to see how important their AbilityOne dollars actually are

Millington

Just Like AbilityOne – With Spin-a-Prize everyone is a WINNER!

Lemoore

A table full of goodies was a sure crowd pleaser at Fort Riley’s NDEAM

celebration

Ft. Riley

Offutt’s team was ready for questions about NDEAM and the AbilityOne Program

Offutt

The real message behind the celebration at AFA was flying high and wide

Air Force Academy

Minot

Congrats Minot!It looks like you came up with the most logical

answer of where to hang that second banner….by the food!

Mountain Home Air Force Base

From near and far, your AbilityOne team provides quality products and services to the federal government

Mountain Home

Visitors from several different commands enjoyed the festivities at Offutt’s NDEAM celebration

Offutt

Teamwork and planning spell SUCCESS for Ft. Carson’s annual NDEAM celebration.

Ft. Carson

Grand Fork’s Employees were ready for the NDEAM celebrations of the day

Grand Forks

Hmmm….pink hat distraction again. I’m going for the GOOD Stuff!!!!

It looks like this pink hat was all a part of a master plan at the AFA NDEAM Celebration!!!

Air Force Academy

With AbilityOne-Every Penny

Counts!

Millington

And concentration counts when you’re

guessing the weight of our pennies!

F.E. Warren

The food was great and the games

were fun, but the rewards of the AbilityOne program are life-

changing!!

When you just don’t have the answers, adaptive aids can provide a solution

McConnell

A visually impaired employee at McConnell demonstrates a money identifier for one of their customers.

Treats

Celebrating NDEAM withsnacks is always fun and tasty!!

Grand Forks