These workers, operating under the AbilityOne Program, fulfill essential roles ranging from manufacturing military uniforms and maintaining vehicle fleets to supporting NASA missions and managing mail delivery for service members. Richard Belden, president and CEO of SourceAmerica, emphasizes that these positions provide more than just income; they offer the autonomy to support families and foster community connections. Despite the protections established by the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, the gap in workforce participation remains a persistent challenge for the disability community.
SourceAmerica Highlights the Economic Role of Workers with Disabilities
As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, nearly 63% of working-age Americans with disabilities remain outside the labor force. SourceAmerica is using this milestone to push for broader inclusion, highlighting the critical federal contracts that currently employ over 41,000 individuals with significant disabilities or blindness across the country.
Currently, the AbilityOne network integrates over 2,800 veterans and thousands of civilians into the national economy, spanning every state, Washington, D.C., Guam, and Puerto Rico. To bridge the gap for those still seeking work, the organization maintains a digital job board providing access to 250 skills-based training courses and direct connections to employers. By streamlining the path to federal contracts, SourceAmerica aims to transform these individual contributions into a broader standard for inclusive hiring.
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