A newly formed partnership between Beyond Vision and Snap-On, a Wisconsin based manufacturer of high end tools, has led to the creation of a program making a huge impact on the Beyond Vision mission. On January 1, the partnership launched the SKILCRAFT® Pro-Grade line of screwdrivers and socket sets designed primarily to meet the needs of the U.S. military. The majority of the purchasers of the new tools product line will be US military repair shops servicing heavy duty vehicles like tanks, planes and ships.  The partnership will create additional job opportunities for people who are blind.

Quality was a huge consideration in the decision for Snap-On to partner with Beyond Vision.   The men and women using these tools demand the highest quality tool given the nature of the work. As an ISO 9001:2008 certified organization with a dedicated and skilled workforce, Beyond Vision is capable of meeting the quality standards for our customers who demand the best. National studies show that individuals with disabilities have equal or higher job performance ratings, higher retention rates and lower absentee rates than employees without disabilities. Yet seven out of ten (70%) of working-age Americans who are blind are not employed. Ryan Hoffmann, Beyond Vision’s Government Products Supervisor, says this statistic is “alarming.” “I’d put our workforce against any workforce in the state.”

The program will make a significant impact on our employment mission, creating jobs for people like Jackie Ackley (pictured above), who works on the Pro-Grade Tools product assembly line. Jackie produces custom foam packaging for the nine new Pro- Grade socket sets, assembles each set together, stamps them with the SKILCRAFT logo and packages them.