Heard & Empowered

Lise Pace lost her vision due to Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) and she discovered life isn't over when you lose your sight. You just have to find ways to do things differently. Listen to her journey from sight loss to success as Executive VP at Bosma Enterprises.

NIB’s Heard & Empowered podcast offers invaluable insights into overcoming challenges, finding job inspiration, and seizing career opportunities.

For full transcript and show notes, please visit: https://heardandempowered.org/7

Welcome to the Heard & Empowered Podcast, brought to you by National Industries for the Blind, where you're not just a listener, but a catalyst for change.

Are you blind or visually impaired (BVI) or know someone who is? Are you considering the professional world but don't know where to start? Or are you just curious about the daily work life of someone with a visual impairment?

Well, you're in the right place! This podcast is where the blind and visually impaired community finds job inspiration, career opportunities, and a path to success.

Imagine a workplace where you're not just accommodated, but celebrated, where your talents are harnessed, not hidden. Believe it or not, such places do exist, and we're here to help you find them. The Heard & Empowered Podcast is your go-to resource to help you thrive professionally in a sighted world, and here's why the National Industries for the Blind has embarked on this journey:

Let's talk about our host, Dr. Hoby Wedler, a name that many of you might know or will soon become inspired by...

"I'm your host, Dr. Hoby Wedler. And I'm qualified to be the host of this show because I was born completely Blind. When I finished school, I had the opportunity to apply for a job, a very senior-level position at a global company, and everything went great until it didn't. The interviews went fine. Everything went okay until I got a call saying that I didn't get the job. I later found out from a colleague that the HR department saw me as a liability and not as an asset."

We share Dr. Wedler's story because it captures the essence of what many in the blind and visually impaired community encounter. Misperceptions, misunderstandings, and missed opportunities. But what if we told you, we want to put an end to those days? Through success stories, insider tips, and expert advice delivered weekly, this podcast aims to rewrite that narrative, open minds, and hearts, and reduce the staggering unemployment rate in the BVI community.

If you're ready to transform your life and unlock your career's potential, be sure to subscribe or follow this show wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode.

And for more game-changing resources, visit heardandempowered.org.

Your future starts today! Be heard. Be empowered.

Have you ever wondered how state programs can create meaningful job opportunities for people who are blind or have low vision? In this episode, we dive into the life-changing work being done by the New York State Preferred Source Program for New Yorkers Who Are Blind (NYSPSP).

Our guest, Christopher Burke, is the executive director of NYSPSP. With a background in public administration and social entrepreneurship, Chris shares his passion for empowering people who are blind or have low vision through gainful employment. He explains how NYSPSP partners with nine agencies across the state to provide a wide range of products and services to government entities, while ensuring at least 50% of their workforce comprises people with blindness or low vision.

Tune in to discover how this innovative program is providing meaningful and well-paying jobs and setting an example for other states to follow. You’ll be inspired by the stories of people who have found stability, purpose, and upward mobility through NYSPSP’s entrepreneurial approach to creating job opportunities.

For full transcript and show notes, please visit: https://heardandempowered.org/40

Heard & Empowered was created to show that anything is possible when you show up with the right mindset and attitude. Our guest this week, Jonathan Lucus, exemplifies this ethos in everything he does as the director of NSITE, which is National Industries for the Blind’s (NIB) talent management enterprise.

NSITE works with public and private corporations as much as with the AbilityOne® Program to place people who are blind or low vision in a variety of positions, including many executive and senior leadership roles. Its job board, NSITE Connect, is an invaluable resource that people can access to find currently available jobs. NSITE also provides opportunities outside the AbilityOne Program for people who want to work in Corporate America.

Tune in this week for a deeper understanding of how NSITE helps people enter the U.S. workforce effectively and make a positive contribution through a career in the private sector. Jonathan discusses NSITE Connect’s triple-pronged approach, NSITE’s career training certifications, entrepreneurship programs, and how NIB and NSITE are driving real change in how the corporate world embraces people who are blind or low vision.

For full transcript and show notes, please visit: https://heardandempowered.org/37

In this week’s episode, Dr. Hoby Wedler is joined by Brandye Lacy, the marketing coordinator at Travis Association for the Blind, also known as Austin Lighthouse. With a passion for writing and advocacy, she excels at crafting and telling compelling stories while championing causes that break down barriers to equality and equity. Brandye began losing her vision when she was in seventh grade and initially tried to hide it. Despite this, her passion for communications never wavered. By combining her love for this field with her advocacy for the empowerment of people who are blind or visually impaired, Brandye has excelled at promoting this cause to bring about beneficial changes in public policy.

Tune in this week to discover why and how Brandye is advocating in Washington, D.C. for Congress to mandate that the Department of Defense (DOD) allocate 1% of its procurement budget to the AbilityOne® Program. This increase from the current 0.55% to 1% would nearly double the funding, making a huge difference by boosting employment opportunities and economic independence for people who are blind, visually impaired, or have significant disabilities. Brandye will discuss the direct impact of this policy change and its effects on the broader community of individuals who are blind and visually impaired and work outside the AbilityOne network of agencies.

For full transcript and show notes, please visit: https://heardandempowered.org/35