How Liaisons Can Help
As a Government wide program, the success of JWOD depends on the
leadership and interest of key liaisons in every Federal agency.
On an ongoing basis such individuals help the JWOD team understand
how it can best meet each agency's unique acquisition needs. JWOD
Liaisons also serve as knowledgeable resources who help communicate
to agency personnel how support of this program helps to generate
critically needed employment and training opportunities for thousands
of Americans who are blind or have other severe disabilities.
Each liaison brings a unique combination of experience, creative energy
and vitality to the way in which the JWOD message is communicated.
Listed below are a number of suggested activities that JWOD Liaisons
can discuss with representatives from the Committee, NIB, NISH or
local NIB- and NISH-associated nonprofit agencies.
Advocate
Monitor the growth of JWOD support within your area and help promote
program visibility by reporting on the level of JWOD products and
services that have been purchased. Also be aware of acquisition
plans within the agency in order to identify new opportunities for
the provision of JWOD items. Periodically report progress and growth
to your supervisor and senior procurement officials.
Help arrange visits for acquisition personnel and others in your
office to JWOD contract sites or NIB and NISH participating nonprofit
agencies employing people with severe disabilities.
Arrange for key JWOD team members to make courtesy calls on senior
procurement officials, particularly when a new contact person starts
working with the agency.
Help the JWOD team locate other individuals in your agency who
may also be interested in serving as a liaison with the JWOD Program
due to a key job responsibility or personal interest in advocating
for people with disabilities.
Recommend an awards program or some other appropriate recognition
for agency employees who support the JWOD program.
Communicate
Establish electronic links on appropriate agency sites utilized
by acquisition personnel and purchase card users, as well as publication
of announcements and articles about the JWOD program via agency
web sites, e-mail, newsletters, magazines and other media.
Periodically transmit policy memoranda and/or letters of support
which explain the status of JWOD as a mandatory source of supply
for the Federal Government and how to support the program.
Educate
Identify opportunities for JWOD representatives to make presentations
and/or exhibit at agency conferences.
Help arrange briefings and training sessions for key groups, such
as purchase card program coordinators, purchase card users, human
resource managers, contracting officials and acquisition staff.
Sponsor "JWOD Week" events using the suggestions in the resource
book produced each year for this activity.
Attend and encourage others to attend annual JWOD training conferences
sponsored by National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and NISH. Attend
other JWOD meetings and events, such as periodic meetings held for
JWOD Liaisons or a monthly meeting of the Committee for Purchase
From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled.
Collaborate
Share your ideas with other JWOD Liaisons! Provide Joan
Smith of the Committee staff with a monthly update of your JWOD
Liaison activities so that they can be shared with your peers on
the JWOD Liaison's "What's New" page of this website.
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