DELAWARE INDUSTRIES FOR THE BLIND TO HOST COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE SEPT. 19

NEW CASTLE (Aug. 28, 2014) - Delaware Industries for the Blind (DIB) will host an open house from 10 to 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, to showcase products and services produced by DIB staff to the community.

The open house will be in the Biggs Building, Door No. 5, on the Herman Holloway Campus at 1901 N. DuPont Highway near New Castle. The event will include tours, food, displays, demonstrations in engraving, embroidery, custom framing and silk screening, a live broadcast by WJBR and an opportunity to place an order.

Established in 1909, Delaware Industries for the Blind is one of the oldest agencies of its type. The nonprofit company is organized within the Department of Health and Social Services' Division for the Visually Impaired (DVI). Each year, DVI serves approximately 1,000 individuals with visual impairments, and the Delaware Industry for the Blind employs 22 individuals with visual impairments.

"Delaware Industries for the Blind offers critical employment opportunities for Delawareans who are blind or have a visual disability," DHSS Secretary Rita Landgraf said. "The ability to work and to earn a living has such a positive impact on the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and their families. And at the same time, inclusion of individuals with disabilities often changes the culture of an entire workplace while contributing to a better bottom line."

DIB specializes in providing quality products and services including engraving, award plaques, certificates, trophies and other promotional items; embroidery and screen printing; T-shirts, sweatshirts and other clothing items; assembly packaging; light industrial shipping and delivery; and mailing.

"The Delaware Industries for the Blind exists as part of the Delaware Division for the Visually Impaired, an organization founded over 100 years ago to support the community of persons with visual impairments in Delaware," said Division Director Daniel Madrid. "As an agency that serves and is supported by our community, we are proud to frequently open our doors to the public to feature the innovative products, programs, and talented individuals that comprise our agency."

DIB contracts with federal agencies and the state to provide items such as awards, plaques, engraving and custom clothing items. Since 2010, the agency has achieved the coveted International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification. ISO is the world's largest developer and publisher of international standardization, which assists the agency in applying for competitive contracts by assuring customers that DIB has a world-recognized quality management system in place.

For more information on Delaware Industries for the Blind: (302) 255-9855 or promoplace.com/dib

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.