[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 56 (Monday, April 7, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E536-E537]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       CONGRATULATING BOSMA INDUSTRIES AND THE ABILITYONE PROGRAM

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SUSAN W. BROOKS

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 7, 2014

  Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the 
outstanding work of Bosma Industries and the AbilityOne Program. 
AbilityOne is an outstanding program committed to providing 
``employment opportunities for people who are blind or have significant 
disabilities in the manufacture and delivery of products and services 
to the Federal Government.'' Unfortunately, over 70 percent of those 
who are blind and visually impaired are unemployed. Thanks to the 
efforts of AbilityOne, over 50,000 people who are blind or have 
significant disabilities have found gainful employment. Since 1915, 
Indiana's very own Bosma Enterprises has been a partner of the program 
by providing job training, employment services, rehabilitation and 
outreach programs for people who are blind or visually impaired. In 
fact, Bosma is Indiana's largest employer of people with vision loss. 
Last year alone, Bosma helped 179 blind people find gainful employment 
and assisted over 700 people in acclimating to their vision loss.
  This is about more than numbers though. It is about the people they 
are assisting. Take the example of Robert. In the sixth grade, he was 
diagnosed with a learning disability and

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he also has impaired hearing and a speech impediment. Despite these 
obstacles, Robert was able to graduate high school. He then went on to 
earn a certification in welding from the Upper Valley Joint Vocational 
School in Ohio. Unfortunately, Robert's vision then began to decline. 
While Robert's vision declined, he was able to work at Walmart for 15 
years. Then, in 2010, he lost his vision entirely to glaucoma and was 
no longer able to work. A year after he was declared legally blind, 
Robert found Bosma Industries and a whole new purpose in life. He went 
through the rehabilitation program and later began utilizing Bosma's 
employment services. First, Robert was taught how to acclimate himself 
to the outside world. He was hesitant to leave the comfort of his 
community but with Bosma's orientation to mobility training he began to 
come out of his shell. Robert learned how to build a computer, write a 
check, repair a broken door and other life skills. He even learned 
sculpting and pottery at Bosma. Bosma got Robert ready to take on the 
world through counseling, workshops on resume writing and how to find 
different ways of performing everyday tasks. Robert currently enjoys 
his time volunteering at Goodwill Industries, and hopes it will lead to 
a paid position soon. Bosma Industries empowers people to succeed.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to extend my support to the AbilityOne 
Program. I also want to thank Lou Moneymaker, the President and CEO of 
Bosma Industries and their staff for their dedication and support to 
changing the lives of Hoosiers struggling with blindness or vision 
loss. They have forever transformed these lives and have had a positive 
impact on all of our communities.

                          ____________________