Whether you’re learning about Blind Employment Awareness Day (BEAD) for the first time or you’ve participated in the past, there are many ways to get involved and help spread the word about this important day. But it’s about more than just awareness—it’s about getting involved and doing our part to make the working world more accessible and inviting for people who are blind or visually impaired.
BEAD came to life in 2019 when IBVI partnered with the City of Milwaukee to bring attention to the importance of creating opportunities for those who are blind or visually impaired. At IBVI, more than half of our staff are blind or visually impaired—but we know the mission is bigger than us.
So, how can you get involved with BEAD?
Join Us on Social Media
Leading up to and on the day of BEAD, we will share videos and other information across our social channels and our blog with messages from employees, partners, and city officials. You’ll also be able to take a virtual tour of our three facilities in West Allis, Menomonee Falls, and Janesville. By sharing and interacting with our content, you can be an advocate for blind employment and help spread crucial awareness.
Help Spark Conversations
In addition to tuning into our social pages before and on May 10th, there are other ways you can help get the BEAD message out. Social media is a powerful tool, and we hope you’ll use it to help start a conversation. Because blind employment doesn’t just give people jobs—it empowers them to be more financially independent and be a part of a community. Follow our pages and be on the lookout for graphics, blogs, and videos you can share to your pages to show support and spread the BEAD message.
Get Your Organization Involved
Of course, IBVI isn’t the only place where people who are blind or visually impaired can find employment. Unfortunately, though, many businesses aren’t equipped to bring on staff with visual impairments. However, with the right tools, technology, and training, nearly any business can employ people who are blind or visually impaired. We encourage you to ask your organization what they’re doing to make your workplace accessible and see if you can take steps to improve the experience for your blind or visually impaired employees and customers.
Share Opportunities
The main goal behind an awareness day like BEAD is to increase blind employment. And you can help with that! You can visit our careers page for information on available job opportunities. If you’re blind or visually impaired, we invite you to apply. If you’re not but you know someone who is, feel free to share open opportunities with them too. You can play a role in providing the people around you with fulfilling and meaningful employment.
Go Deeper
If you want to get involved on an even deeper level, we’d love to connect with you! Fill out the Contact Us form on our website and we’ll have someone reach out to you to provide more resources.
Thank you for being a part of our mission to employ and empower those who are blind or visually impaired.
