At Mississippi Industries for the Blind (MIB), people who have experienced vision loss have the opportunity to work for an organization that produces a variety of government supplies while employing workers who are blind or visually impaired through the AbilityOne™ Program.

Nationwide, seven out of 10 working age Americans who are blind are unemployed. NIB associated nonprofit agencies like Mississippi Industries for the Blind work to change this by providing opportunities for employment in jobs that pay competitive wages and provide benefits. Producing high-quality SKILCRAFT® products for the government, AbilityOne authorized providers like MIB are able to create many different job opportunities, so your purchase supports the jobs of people who are blind.

The stories of two employees at MIB reflect the mission of the agency and the relationships that make its work possible. Herb and Gary each have unique stories of their journey to Mississippi Industries for the Blind that make it clear how important the agency has become in their lives

Gary, currently employed in procurement and production, is very knowledgeable about different products made at the agency. He worked in production positions for much of his life before coming to Mississippi Industries for the Blind.

“My entire family has had eye problems,” Gary said. “I was born with cataracts, but was able to have several surgeries on my eyes.” In high school, he experienced further vision problems, undergoing another operation that was largely successful.

But in recent years, his vision deteriorated, and he had to leave his job in the private sector. “My age caught up with me – years ago I developed glaucoma and retina problems, and my left eye lost a lot of peripheral vision.”

“I’ll be honest with you – when I first lost the ability to work in my old job, I went into a state of, like, thinking I wouldn’t be productive, and went into a depression. But then I remembered I had a lot of friends, and it got me out here and I saw the opportunities here.”

“My mom worked at MIB in the 1950s, and both of her brothers worked here, then we had cousins work here,” says Gary. “I knew about it all my life and am very thankful for the opportunities that they have provided.”

When he found opportunity at MIB, Gary was “incredibly encouraged” to not only keep working, but to be accepted “right away” by others who had been with the agency for 10 or more years. Witnessing people around him accomplishing difficult tasks with even less vision that he has gave Gary hope and gratitude, he said.

“When I came in here I started in production, in the sponge department, a best-selling AbilityOne product. I’ve also made mops and mop heads, and microfiber dust mops” Gary said. “With my background, I’ve been promoted to procurement, and if they need an extra set of hands in production I can help.”

“A general day has me checking the system, making sure that we’re providing a good quality service. Each person has a certain task they do and on to the next, like a well-oiled machine. It’s pretty amazing what they can do.”

“We do quality work,” Gary said of his team. “I like coming in to work every day.”

“There’s a lot of folks here. Coming from the private sector and seeing what folks do here with no vision, it amazes you. I’ve known vision problems my whole life, but actually seeing it, it will amaze you.”

“I’m willing to do everything to ensure the success of MIB,” Gary said. “I’m happy where I’m at now though, and happy to do whatever they need me to.”

Outside of work Gary keeps busy with his family. “My wife and I stay very busy. We’re highly involved with church, in choir and on the praise team. We have five boys. They’re all grown and left for college, last year.”

“We work with people with hearing loss as well. It’s a big part and it keeps us busy,” Gary said. “There’s always something going on. I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Herb has worked at MIB for 4 years. He was first offered a position in the call center in 2014 and later promoted to public relations specialist. He then advanced to advocacy coordinator, and is now working in both public relations and public policy for the agency.

Herb said his job with Mississippi Industries for the Blind focuses on sharing the stories of people working in the agency. His own story before finding MIB begins in the military, where he started out in the army reserves. “But my unit got activated for the first Gulf War from ’90 to ’91,” he said. “I came back, then went back, then became a member on base in Monterey.”

Then, he said, he noticed a vision loss, and eventually moved back home to Brookhaven Mississippi, and later to Jacksonville Florida.

He eventually left the military due to his vision loss, Herb said, then learned about Mississippi Industries for the Blind. “I noticed how great it is to work for the agency. There have been a lot of opportunities.”

After working in the call center, Herb did a variety of work in customer service before landing his current position in public relations and advocacy.

On an average workday, Herb does a lot of public speaking. “I do a lot of standing engagements in October to lecture, to advocate for people who are blind, and have discussions with local stations… to make sure our name and brand are out there and that we are available for people,” he said.

Herb is in charge of communications with the general public, and develops rapport with whoever he works with. Each year, he helps prepare for the National Industries for the Blind National Symposium, where he joins advocates from other NIB associated agencies to speak on behalf of their agencies and the AbilityOne Program with members of Congress.

In his personal time, Herb and his wife, Lynn (who is legally blind), are very active in their community. Lynn is “officially” retired, but still works part-time at the agency in document imaging.

Herb sings with his church choir and is also a DJ and plays guitar in a band. “I’ve been playing music since I was 12,” he said, playing trumpet in his high school’s marching band, wind ensemble, and jazz band and minoring in music in college. He has also been studying Tai Kwon Do for 2 years, and recently tested for his brown belt.

For Herb, the rewards of working with the public are high. He finds great fulfillment in his work for Mississippi Industries for the Blind, reaching out to people and advocating for the needs of people who have vision loss. “I feel good about what I did in the military, but this job is probably as fulfilling if not maybe a lot more, because I get to speak on behalf of a lot of people who can’t speak for themselves.”

Mississippi Industries for the Blind focuses on giving people who are blind the opportunity to continue working and expanding their skillsets, despite partial or total vision loss.

The Mississippi agency works to ensure there are opportunities for people who are blind by continuing to produce high-quality products. That’s why your purchase of AbilityOne products is so important: You are supporting the program that makes it possible for people around the nation to keep working despite experiencing vision loss.

Each purchase helps keep agencies like Mississippi Industries for the Blind contributing to communities across the USA, ensuring they can continue providing job opportunities and training to people experiencing vision loss. Help make a difference in the lives of people who are blind or visually impaired – purchase AbilityOne products today.