(l to r) TAC CEO Mary Brandstetter, TAC employee and disabilities advocate Jennifer Lemmons, Senator Rob Portman, Jennifer’s friend Holly Aldrich-Foster, and SourceAmerica representative Tina Linden.
Representatives of nonprofit agencies from across the country who have come to Washington, D.C. to advocate on behalf of people with disabilities who want choices, including the opportunity to work. TAC CEO Mary Brandstetter is front row center in the polka-dot dress.
TAC – The Abilities Connection (also known as TAC Industries) has combined efforts with dozens of similar nonprofit agencies to advocate on behalf of people with disabilities at the SourceAmerica Grassroots Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C., June 12-15.
SourceAmerica is a 501(c)(3) national leader in disability employment and choices. The organization hosts member nonprofits from across the country to Capitol Hill so they can tell their personal stories and help to shape their legislator’s disability employment decisions.
TAC-The Abilities Connection CEO Mary Brandstetter, along with self-advocate Jennifer Lemmons, travelled to Washington D.C. early this week to meet with our nation’s legislators and aids. Jennifer had an opportunity to tell her story, to advocate on behalf of herself and her coworkers at TAC, and explain how important work is to her.
Jennifer assembles straps in the TAC cargo net repair facility, and truly enjoys her work. All individuals with disabilities who choose to work in the production areas of TAC earn a paycheck, self-esteem, and pride in a job well done.
TAC has repaired cargo nets for the U.S. Air Force since 1984, and continues this important work more than 30 years later. Since 2005, the agency has also been the sole source supplier of new cargo nets to the U.S. Air Force. Both cargo net repair and new cargo net production take place at the Old Selma Road and Progress Drive (Springfield Business Park) locations in Springfield.
The top and side cargo nets are used to secure both military and humanitarian aid cargo on pallets during shipment via plane.
ABOUT: TAC – The Abilities Connection is a leading organization with a long history of providing employment, training, and dignity for people with disabilities. While the names, places, and staff of TAC have changed over the years, the mission has not: to employ, connect, and care for people with disabilities in community settings of their choice.