Changing the Perception of Blindness

Celebrating NDEAM E10

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Celebrating NDEAM E10

In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, Terell Welch, Frank Vance and Isaac Shapiro joined host David Steinmetz in a conversation about the benefits of hiring people with disabilities. Terell stated that a recent study has shown that companies that championed people with disabilities outperformed others — driving profitability and shareholder returns. Revenues were 28 percent higher, Net income 200 percent higher, and Profit margins 30 percent higher.

Isaac Shapiro stated that he noticed a positive shift in company culture, performance and empathy after he implemented his DEIA initiative that includes people who are blind or have other disabilities.

AZ Job Connection is a web-based job-matching and labor market information system. AZ Job Connection provides job seekers, employers, and training providers with easy-to-use tools that support a wide range of activities. As a service of the public workforce system, AZ Job Connection is completely free for you to use. You only need a computer and internet access to do the following:

• Create and post a resume or job posting
• Determine whether you’re eligible for state- or federally funded workforce programs
• Search for the ideal job or job candidate
• Search for the ideal training or service provider
• Research labor market information
• And much more!

Terell Welch was born and raised in Southern California, moved to Arizona following his honorable discharge from the United States Army, and after two years of study at Biola University in La Mirada, CA.

Shortly after moving to Phoenix, Terell was accepted into a one-year Leisure & Hospitality Management training program. Built on a hands-on approach to leadership, which has stayed with Terell in his various stages, from trainee to VP of Operations over his twenty-five plus years in the industry.

The Arizona Department of Economic Security hired Terell in 2010 as food operations consultant for the Business Enterprise Program and was later promoted to the Program Training Officer II. Later, Terell was invited to transfer to the Employer Engagement Administration where he works as an Employment Coordinator/Liaison.

He and his lovely wife Sharon Monica have been married for forty years on the 23rd and have two sons, two daughters-in-law and four grandchildren, where he specializes in everything grand.

The Arizona Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a local not for profit agency that provides services for persons who are legally blind or visually impaired. Many of these programs are for persons who are adjusting to living with vision loss and who wish to acquire enough independence to reenter the labor market.

Frank Vance is a native Arizonan who has worked for ACBVI since 1985. He holds degrees in Psychology and Counseling from Arizona State University.

His position at ACBVI is Director of Rehabilitation Services. Frank’s hobbies include camping, reading, and community service.

Nothing feels as good as being nice and clean. For Cleanlogic, it’s more than a feeling, it’s the way they run their business, make their products and treat their customers.

It’s why they offer a full line of bath and shower accessories that not only get you clean, but that you can feel good about using. It’s why they use plastic-free packaging and offer a line of products made from sustainable materials.  It’s why they have Braille on all of their packaging and donate a portion of their profits through technology grants that empower visually-impaired people to lead more independent lives.

Headquartered in Audubon, Pennsylvania U.S.A., IMS Trading has more than 15 years’ experience designing and manufacturing personal care accessories. Our leading brand, Cleanlogic, has been the fastest growing bath and skin care accessory brand in the U.S. for the last three years, and the #1 brand in the U.S. grocery channel.

Husband and new father of a ten-month-old, Isaac Shapiro has been the CEO and Co-Founder of IMS Trading, the parent company that owns Cleanlogic, for the last 20 years. Isaac’s inspiration for becoming a social entrepreneur is thanks to his mother, Beatriz, better known as Bea.

Bea was born and raised in Mexico and started losing her vision at seven years old, eventually diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Her entire family moved to New Mexico so she could attend a school for the blind, where she received mobility training and became a very independent person from a young age.

After graduating from college and being employed by the U.S. Military as an operator for the White House and the Pentagon since she was highly skilled with technology, Bea, her husband, and her children moved to Arizona, where she started volunteering for the Tucson Association for the Blind, training students at the Association and building a $2 million assistive technology computer program for the blind and visually impaired community to obtain employment, where she worked 80-90 hours a week to grow her business.

Isaac attended Arizona State University, double majoring in supply chain and marketing. Isaac knew he wanted to start his own business early on, just like his mom. In 2006, Isaac and his business partner, Mike Ghesser, came up with and launched Cleanlogic, a line of high-quality bath and skincare tools.

Isaac knew he wanted to give back to the blind and visually impaired community, so Cleanlogic first started to add Braille product descriptors to some of its products, to call attention to the blind and visually impaired community to help individuals lead a more independent life, coining the mission, “Brands with Braille.”

Later in March of 2021, Cleanlogic underwent a rebrand on its packaging, now being more sustainable with paper replacing plastic, which has also allowed the brand to include Braille product descriptors on 100% of its products. Another way Cleanlogic is helping the community is by recruiting and providing opportunities in the workforce at their headquarters in Audubon, Pennsylvania for blind and visually impaired employees, in addition to differently abled employees.

Along with the launch of Cleanlogic in 2006, Isaac and his mom created the Inspiration Foundation, which is a nonprofit organization that provides technology for those with vision loss as well as award grants to other blind and visually impaired nonprofits, focusing on his mom’s passion for using adaptive technology.

Isaac joined and started working with VisionServe Alliance, a leadership collective of organizations and individuals dedicated to improving the quality of life with and for people with vision loss. They shifted their original idea and decided to donate to VisionServe to give grants to agencies providing adaptive technology training.

Over the last 16 years, the Inspiration Foundation has awarded over 70 grants and gained 35 foundational partnerships. All of this that Isaac has worked for lives in Cleanlogic’s mission, “Inspiring All to achieve Independence & Success.”

Follow Cleanlogic on LinkedIn and Facebook and Instagram.

About Your Host

As the manager of Community and Public Relations, David Steinmetz uses his expertise, education, and personal experiences to “change the perception of blindness.”

Diagnosed with RP, a blinding retinal disease, at the age of 19, David uses his personal story to drive change that leads to improved employment outcomes and community integration for people who are blind or visually impaired.

Mr. Steinmetz graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Economics. Additionally, Steinmetz has continued his education by graduating from the Business Management Training (BMT) program provided by Darden Graduate School of Business, University of Virginia.

In 2008, David was the national recipient of the National Industries for the Blind Milton J. Samuelson Career Achievement award. This prestigious award recognized Mr. Steinmetz for his career achievements and community service work.

David Steinmetz is a member of the Governors’ Council on Blindness & Visual Impairments, is a Board Member at the Arizona Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired (ACBVI) and serves his community through the Chandler Lions Club.

Connect with David on LinkedIn and Instagram.

About the Show

Changing the Perception of Blindness; One Conversation at a Time is dedicated to breaking down barriers, de-mystifying blindness and promoting real world solutions that empower people who are blind to live a full and inclusive life.

Host, David Steinmetz connects with organizations, industry professionals and thought leaders who are working to bridge the gap that creates a world accessible for all.

About Arizona Industries for the Blind

Arizona Industries for the Blind is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating employment opportunities for people who are blind. It’s employees, more than half of whom are blind, deliver a variety of products and services, including a full-service Warehousing and Distribution Center, confidential Digital Data Scan (DDS) services for private businesses and government and the operation of Base Supply Centers located at each of Arizona’s three military bases under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Labor’s AbilityOne program.

Follow AIFB on LinkedIn and Facebook.