In 1990, a crowd gathered on the south lawn of the White House to witness President George H. W. Bush sign into law the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The Act was the Nation's first comprehensive civil rights law addressing the needs of people with disabilities. The ADA prohibits discrimination in employment, public services, public accommodations and telecommunications. Over 43 million disabled Americans hoped this would break down the barriers to employment and allow the disabled community the opportunity to attain the American dream just as their non-disabled peers. At the time of signing, the unemployment rate for disabled Americans was a staggering 70%.

After 20 years as a tech leader for several Fortune 500 companies, one thing troubled me. Regardless of the company, I was always the token blind guy. Why just me? The Blind and Visually Impaired (BVI) and disabled communities are filled with talented professionals who possess the skills the corporate world is desperately seeking - problem solving, active Listening, adaptability, loyalty and tenacity. I embarked on an endeavor to find the reasons why more people like me were not employed by corporate America. What I found troubled me even more. Today, nearly 30 years after the signing of the ADA, the unemployment rate amongst the disabled community remains the same - 70% and an even more disheartening, 80% of the blind and visually impaired are either unemployed or under-employed. Through my research, the "why" kept coming back to one issue - the lack of opportunity. Very few organizations are willing to give these talented professionals a chance. President Bush's statement still rings true 30 years later: "this is a tremendous pool of people who will bring to jobs diversity, loyalty, proven low turnover rate, and only one request: the chance to prove themselves." I developed a plan and began a journey to find a way to give people with disabilities that chance.

Over 6 years ago, I founded the Blind Institute of Technology™ (BIT). BIT's mission is to prepare people with disabilities, and the employers that hire them, for success in the workplace. Our vision is a world in which people with disabilities have the same employment opportunities as their peers. Our belief is that through education, preparation and opportunity, we can accomplish this. BIT recruits talented, corporate-ready professionals from the disabled community and connects them with hiring managers in Fortune 500 companies who are serious about bringing in top talent and building a diverse and inclusive workplace. We developed the BIT Academy™, which is dedicated to workforce development and providing our candidates with the skills employers are looking for. We work with our employer partners to break down unconscious bias through interactive seminars and developing best-in-class digital accessibility, both on their internal and external systems, so everyone can benefit from their respective goods and services.

Today, companies all over America are developing Diversity and Inclusion initiatives in an effort to make their workplace better reflect America's population. These initiatives have thus far targeted 4 pillars of the minority population: gender, ethnicity, LBGTQ and Veterans. The disabled community, although the largest minority group, is still being left out of the conversation.

I have traveled all over this nation speaking with the Fortune 10,000 space and what I have found is that our biggest challenge is still stigma and misperception. Organizations can't wrap their heads around how it would work to hire a disabled person. How could a blind person do this job? BIT's mission is to get businesses to get over the "How" hump. The answer is a tech solution. With assistive technology, a BVI or disabled person can perform the essential functions of any job, just as their non-disabled peers can.

This epidemic isn't just a social one, but an economic one. In the working lifetime of a BVI, that person will consume an estimated $1 million in government aid, including Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid, food assistance, subsidized housing and other benefit programs. If we can get just 1,000 people off public assistance and contributing back into the system, this is a net back.

This will save Social Security. People with disabilities are the greatest untapped resource on the planet, based on numbers alone.

BIT has experienced many successes over the past 6 years, but we still have far to go. Our goal is to help 10,000 people with disabilities find and retain gainful employment in corporate America. My hope is that organizations will one day initiate the recruitment and retainment of people with disabilities. That social narratives change and people with disabilities are viewed as a true talent source just like anyone else.

Thank you for honoring me with the 2019 GlobalMindED Inclusive Leader Award in the non-profit category. I look forward to seeing you June 6-8, 2020 in Denver with other inclusive leaders from all corners of the US and the globe.