Born more than a century ago in a Kansas City woman’s living room, Alphapointe is a nonprofit manufacturer and service organization that creates products and professional services while employing people who are blind or visually impaired. Its production work ranges from custom molded plastics to tactical medical products, with manufacturing carried out alongside vision rehabilitation, job training, and employment support. Alphapointe is now one of the largest U.S. employers of people with vision loss.
ISO 9001
certification
ISO 9002:2015
certification
Central Association for the Blind and Visually ImpairedSince 1929, Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired has paired comprehensive vision rehabilitation with a social-enterprise manufacturing operation that creates jobs for people who are blind or visually impaired. Its Central Industries division employs more than 120 people—about half legally blind—to produce and ship goods for federal and New York State customers, while business revenue helps fund CABVI’s services across Central New York.UTICA, NY
Industries of the Blind, IncSince 1933, Industries of the Blind has operated a Greensboro manufacturing and distribution workplace where people who are blind or visually impaired make products and perform contract work for government and commercial customers. Its roots are in a six-person mop-making program, while today the nonprofit produces everything from its long-running SKILCRAFT pens to military apparel and equipment. At least 75% of its direct labor is performed by people who are blind, connecting everyday production with the organization’s goal of greater independence.WARWICK, NY
Blind Industries & Services of Maryland (BISM)Since opening a small Baltimore mop-making shop in 1908, Blind Industries & Services of Maryland (BISM) has grown into a nonprofit manufacturer and service organization that creates products for government, military, and private customers while employing blind and low-vision people. BISM also provides independence training and rehabilitation for people of all ages, with manufacturing and training operations spanning four states and the District of Columbia. Its textile operations are registered to ISO 9001:2015, and BISM describes itself as Maryland’s largest employer of blind and low-vision individuals.FORT GEORGE G MEADE, MD
Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually ImpairedFounded in 1911 by a small group making brooms and mops, Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired (CABVI) now combines vision and information services with social-enterprise manufacturing that creates jobs for people who are blind or visually impaired. Its Industries Program turns mill-sized paper and tape rolls into retail-ready products while providing job training and on-the-job experience, continuing a century-old employment mission. CABVI is a private nonprofit serving the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area, and its manufacturing operation has been ISO 9001 certified since 2012.CINCINNATI, OH