e-NewsLetter
New CEO Envisions Job Opportunities for Blind Americans
Deanna Hartley 08-29-2008A classified ad in a local newspaper would forever change the life of one man, as well as the path of the national organization he now runs.
Kevin Lynch recently was selected as president and CEO of National Industries for the Blind, an organization responsible for creating employment opportunities for a large number of blind people in the United States.
Lynch worked in the organization for three decades and said the blind population is "an unbelievably valuable, untapped resource of dedicated and qualified personnel. "
He said only three out of 10 Americans who are blind are employed.
"The individuals we have are skilled, [but] because of society's perception, they are overlooked, " Lynch said. "Organizations need to look at people who are blind and disabled as a real resource. "
Several decades ago, Lynch received an industrial arts education degree and sought to be a woodshop or metal shop teacher. His indecision about teaching or using his technical skills led him to apply to an ad in the paper where he could do both - as production floor supervisor at an agency that employed blind people.
He said he fell in love with the job and gained a lot of valuable experience, but his responsibilities brought home just how many false perceptions society has - namely, that people who are blind have limited capabilities.
"The biggest hurdle a person who is blind has to overcome is the fact that society - like myself at that time - really thought they were so limited in what [they were] able to do, " he said.
Lynch said he soon found out there were few job functions that the blind or visually impaired cannot do. Further, these employees often are extremely dedicated, which is particularly important in today's high-turnover business environment.
"They come to work in snowstorms when nobody else will get there, " he said. "[People who are blind have] the work ethic and want to overcome those perceptions that have prevented them from successfully landing a job before - they're there to prove the point that they can do it. "
Another reason for companies to employ people who are blind is to give them the opportunity to be productive and become taxpayers, Lynch said. For instance, there are a substantial number of people who are blind and are trained in the information technology field, with skills that would prove useful to any employer.
The first step Lynch said he plans to take in his new role as CEO of National Industries for the Blind will be to provide employment opportunities for Americans who are blind, solidify relationships with existing customers and develop innovative lines of business to attract new ones. He said he has his sights set on winning over the federal government, the Department of Defense and other smaller organizations as clients to create and sustain jobs.
Accommodating Veterans in the Workplace
It is not uncommon for veterans to have a hard time finding employment after leaving the military. Employers are often hesitant to hire veterans and others with traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder that are common in those coming from the battlefield.
In an effort to encourage employers to hire veterans - in particular, the estimated 300,000 that think tank RAND Corp. estimates survived of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - the United States Department of Labor recently launched an initiative titled "America's Heroes at Work " to make employers more receptive to veterans transitioning into civilian life and joining the workforce.
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao has said being employed and productive can play an important role in veterans' recovery.
The Department of Labor also has created a Web site (www.americasheroesatwork.gov) to educate employers and provide guidance and instructions on how to accommodate veterans, and those who have suffered similar injuries, in the workplace.
Urban League Fights Against Discrimination in Chicago Schools
The Chicago Urban League sought to close a substantial funding gap between white and minority students in Illinois by filing a lawsuit against the State of Illinois and the Illinois State Board of Education.
The lawsuit alleges the state has racially discriminated against minority children -in particular African-Americans and Latinos - for decades by financially depriving them of a high-quality education.
State revenue to public schools has gradually decreased over the years - from 48 percent in 1976 to 27.8 percent last year, according to the suit.
The Chicago Urban League, which strives to eliminate racial discrimination and achieve economic parity for African-Americans, stated minority students are typically given a second-class education due to a lack of sufficient funding compared to white students who hail from wealthy communities.
The group referred to the system of funding public schools using property taxes as fundamentally flawed. This takes into account that schools in minority communities are typically associated with low test scores and high dropout rates.
The purpose of the lawsuit is to encourage the state of Illinois to take the necessary steps to close the quality-of-education gap between white and minority students so minority children will be well equipped to compete for jobs in the global marketplace.
