From Utica, NY to Capitol Hill: Human Technologies Helps Recognize Congressman John Mannion as an AbilityOne Congressional Champion.
What began with a visit to Human Technologies nearly a year ago came full circle on Capitol Hill. During the 2026 SourceAmerica Grassroots Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C., representatives from Human Technologies had the honor of presenting Congressman John Mannion with his AbilityOne Congressional Champion recognition, honoring his support for the AbilityOne Program and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. The moment marked the culmination of a journey that began when Congressman Mannion visited HT, met members of our team and saw firsthand the people, mission and work behind the AbilityOne Program.
The AbilityOne Congressional Champions Program recognizes members of Congress who demonstrate support for the AbilityOne Program and the employment opportunities it creates for people who are blind or have significant disabilities. Becoming a Congressional Champion involves several steps, including meeting with an AbilityOne nonprofit agency, touring an AbilityOne contract site, supporting the program through procurement and publicly expressing support for AbilityOne. Human Technologies had the opportunity to play a role early in that journey, making it especially meaningful for our team to be there when Congressman Mannion received the recognition.
Representing Human Technologies in Washington was Adam Barnes, who participated in the Grassroots Advocacy Conference as a self-advocate. The conference brings employees with disabilities and nonprofit organizations from across SourceAmerica’s national network to Capitol Hill, creating opportunities for self-advocates to share their experiences directly with members of Congress. For Adam, it was an opportunity to bring his own voice and experience to Washington while representing the people and mission of Human Technologies.
For HT, the experience demonstrated the importance of building relationships locally and carrying those relationships into the national conversation. Our mission is to create employment for people with disabilities while delivering exceptional products and services to our customers. Advocacy provides another way to advance that mission by ensuring the experiences and perspectives of the people we employ are represented in conversations surrounding disability employment and the future of the AbilityOne Program.
We are proud to have played a role in Congressman Mannion’s journey to becoming an AbilityOne Congressional Champion, and especially proud that members of our team were there to help recognize that commitment on Capitol Hill. What started with a visit to Human Technologies in Utica ultimately led to a moment together in Washington, D.C., bringing the experience full circle and demonstrating The Power of People with Purpose.
