Studies suggest that the benefits of hiring people with disabilities include improvements in profitability, competitive advantage, and inclusive work culture, to name just a few. Yet, few blind and visually impaired Americans are in top levels of leadership in the workforce. Creating the widespread systemic change AFB desires will require a more significant presence of people with vision loss at the highest levels of leadership, which is the idea behind the AFB Blind Leaders Development Program.
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Neva Fairchild—AFB's Blind Leadership Development Program
VIP Online Toastmasters Blog
Helping blind and low vision leaders advance
As president of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER) after having served on its board of directors since 2018. Neva Fairchild oversees the America Foundation for the Blind's Blind Leaders Development Program.
Participants (Fellows) in the Blind Leaders Development Program receive extensive training in leadership, networking, communication, and other key skills for advancing in their careers and improving their effectiveness as they achieve higher levels of authority and influence. Other facets of the program included following the Leadership Challenge curriculum, attending a series of webinars, and being paired with a successful blind or low vision Mentor who provided honest advice and feedback about what it takes to succeed in the workforce.
Ted Shelly, who is a member of VIP Online Toastmasters, is a Mentor in the 2022-2023 Blind Leadership Development Program.
To learn more, visit www.afb.org.
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