Inspirational Leadership E13
Jared Kittelson and David Steinmetz discussed some of the misconceptions of what blindness is and and when appropriate training and technology are provided, people who are blind are able to compete and be successful in the workplace.
When talking about leadership skills, Jared said that it is important for leaders to be authentic, otherwise people it will be difficult to inspire others.
The Foundation for Blind Children was founded in 1952 by parents of blind children who wanted services for their blind children in Phoenix, instead of having to send them to the State Institution for the Blind in Tucson.
The Foundation for Blind Children serves the blind and visually impaired of all ages, from birth to currently 102 years old. As the only agency of its kind in Arizona, the Foundation for Blind Children is an essential resource to families and children with blindness or low vision.
With three Valley locations (East Valley, West Valley and Central Phoenix), we strive to serve as “the” community’s resource for blind, visually impaired, and multi-handicapped children, adults, and their families.
Jared Kittelson is the Associate Chief Executive Officer at the Foundation for Blind Children (FBC), a 70-year-old organization that provides education and services to individuals with visual impairments of all ages.
Since joining FBC in 2017, Kittelson has helped grow programs by building collaboration between delivery models and creating infrastructure to support the demand for vision services in Maricopa County and beyond.
To address the shortage of Teachers of the Visually Impaired (TVI), partnered with Arizona State University to create a one-of-a-kind program that marries the classroom knowledge with real world application. During the pandemic, FBC was not only able to survive, but thrived. FBC became a national leader through hosting webinars with attendance from all over the world. FBC families never missed a day of service due to pandemic, as the staff came together to navigate the new reality.
Prior to coming to FBC, Kittelson spent time as an Executive Director at the Legacy Foundation Chris Town YMCA and was a Superintendent of charter schools throughout the country.
Connect with Jared on LinkedIn.
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.
