Ep #37: NSITE and Corporate America: Creating Job Opportunities for People Who Are Blind or Low Vision

08/07/24 • 34 min

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

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

Previous Episode

Ep #36: How AI is Changing Jobs and Creating Opportunities for People Who Are Blind with NSITE’s Doug Goist

Dr. Hoby Wedler welcomes returning guest Doug Goist to the podcast this week. Doug is a program manager for workforce development at NSITE where he helps people who are blind and visually impaired find employment by providing training opportunities. Blindness doesn’t get adequate coverage in most diversity training, so NSITE created a program called “Blindness, Equity, Inclusion,” where Doug helps companies in the commercial sector audit themselves and discover how they can support people with blindness and vision impairments in the workplace.

Doug also has a deep passion for artificial intelligence (AI) and technology. After losing his sight, technology became his key to navigating a challenging world. Tune in this week as he discusses the many ways in which AI is revolutionizing the world for people who are blind or visually impaired. Technology is now available to help individuals create and decipher visual content, navigate their surroundings, “see” inside things, and so much more, opening up numerous opportunities in the workplace and every aspect of life.

For full transcript and show notes, please visit: https://heardandempowered.org/36

Next Episode

Ep #38: Resumes and Recruiting for People Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision with NSITE’s Maurice Crittendon

Maurice Crittendon is the senior specialist for talent acquisition at NSITE. After losing his sight due to diabetic retinopathy, Maurice ventured to Minneapolis for orientation and mobility training before returning to the Washington, D.C. area. Accepted into National Industries for the Blind’s (NIB) Fellowship for Leadership Development, his journey was interrupted by a 6.5-year period on hemodialysis.

In 2017, Maurice received a life-changing kidney and pancreas transplant, enabling him to continue his career at NIB. Maurice leverages his personal journey and professional experience to bridge the gap between talented people with blindness and inclusive employers.

Tune in this week to find out how Maurice developed his passion for recruiting and event management. He details the important work he’s done at NIB and NSITE, his experience in crafting effective resumes, and the details of how NSITE helps people who are blind or have low vision find corporate jobs through the NSITE Connect job board.

For full transcript and show notes, please visit: https://heardandempowered.org/38