The Ability One Program (formerly Javits-Wagner-O’Day) is administered by the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled, an independent federal agency, with assistance from NISH and National Industries for the Blind (NIB). 

Through this program, the Lighthouse has obtained the following Ability One contracts:

1. Manufacturing wall clocks for the Federal Government and State of Illinois agencies
2. Operating the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers warehouse in Champaign, IL
3. Doing clerical work for the Chaplains’ Office at Great Lakes Naval Base
4. Janitorial Ability One contract with a VA facility in McHenry, IL.

Through the Randolph Sheppard Act, which gives the right to people who are blind to operate businesses in federal buildings and encourages businesses operated by blind vendors in city, state, county and private business buildings as well, the Lighthouse agency cafeteria and vending machines are operated by a manager who is blind.

Additionally, through this act, the Lighthouse has a store at Midway Airport which sells coffee, pop, snacks, etc. The store employs six people who are blind and operates seven days a week, 24 hours a day. The Lighthouse partners with the City of Chicago, a private company/Midway Airport Concessionaires (supplies the products sold) and Randolph Sheppard Act vendors.  The vending machines in the TSA security areas are also operated by the Lighthouse.

In October 2008, the state awarded the Lighthouse the Randolph-Sheppard contract to find new business locations for people who are blind.  Federal funds are made available to establish these businesses through the Act, including the design, building and stocking of new vending business sites for blind vendors.  The groundbreaking initiative enabled the Lighthouse to build a model system, the Business Enterprise Program for the Blind, to develop businesses for blind vendors in Illinois.