SourceAmerica Statement on U.S. AbilityOne Commission Declaration

SourceAmerica appreciates and supports the declaration by the U.S. AbilityOne Commission. We share their vision to maximize the employment potential of all individuals with disabilities consistent with initiatives that SourceAmerica has championed for years including Pathways to Careers and Quality Work Environment. We look forward to working collaboratively with the Commission and the National Council of SourceAmerica Employers toward the goals outlined in the declaration.

We also appreciate the aspirational nature of the declaration. It makes maximum wages a priority and maintains the full spectrum of employment opportunities and choices available to all individuals ensuring no person with a disability is left behind. The AbilityOne Program has always been about the dignity and value of work and earning a fair wage. While this change may enhance outcomes in some instances, we cannot lose sight that wages are important and are not the sole characteristic upon which the value of a job is based.

For over 50 years, SourceAmerica has been the leading source of job opportunities for a dedicated and highly qualified, yet largely untapped workforce – people with significant disabilities. Through our work, we make the American dream more accessible to a segment of the population where nearly 80 percent do not have jobs. SourceAmerica's mission is to create employment opportunities and choices for people with significant disabilities. As an organization, it is our ultimate vision that every person with a disability be able to find employment in a quality work environment. This is what we work toward each day.