Employment

Confidently pursue the career you want—we share resources and mentors to help you. And we help employers recruit, hire, and train blind talent. 

Welcome to the Center of Employment Opportunity. With opportunities to compete in the workplace in terms of equality, blind people can achieve careers based on their dreams, talents, and abilities. The National Federation of the Blind will provide working age blind people with an opportunity to compete in the workplace on terms of equality. We assist blind people in gaining the skills and confidence necessary to achieve an employment outcome that is commensurate with your talents and abilities. We provide employers with the tools you need to recruit, hire, train, and promote competent blind employees.

Pursue the career you want. Connect and support with more talent.

Upcoming Opportunities

Wednesday, October 18, 2023 – Where the Blind Work Webinar 

8:00-9:15 p.m., eastern, via Zoom | Unemployment and under-employment persist as among the most stubborn factors affecting blind people’s pursuit of cultural and economic equity in society. Join us to celebrate the work and accomplishments of blind and low-vision people with a panel discussion. Our panelists will be:

  • Jennifer Wenzel, Human Resources Generalist, Wisconsin
  • Kris Kolcock, Certified Work Incentive Practitioner, Washington
  • Rachel Kuntz, Community Relations Liaison, Arizona 

Register for Where the Blind Work to receive Zoom details. 

Thursday, October 26, 2023 – National Federation of the Blind Virtual Career Fair 

1:00-4:00 p.m., eastern, via Zoom | Join our fall virtual career fair to find your occupational passion (employees) or add talent to your team (employers). This event is free of charge for both employers and jobseekers. Registration opens on September 22, 2023. You must register by October 16, 2023.

For more information about the career fair, please contact Jennifer Wenzel, Employment Committee Chair and Employer Liaison, at [email protected] or Rachel Kuntz, Jobseeker Liaison, at [email protected].

Convention Events, Sponsored by Employment Committee

We prioritize employment opportunities for the blind. Our Employment Committee offers many opportunities for jobseekers and young professionals at our national convention, including:

  • The annual Employment Committee Meeting, July 1, 9:00-11:00 a.m., central: Join the committee for fascinating presentations and to learn about past and future events, opportunities to support the committee’s mission, ask questions, and influence the direction of the committee.
  • JOBS Seminar, July 1 2:00-5:00 p.m., central: Two separate rooms with guided discussions: “Explorers” focus on career preparation and “Seekers” focus on getting jobs. Choose the one that fits you best.
  • In-person Career Fair, July 2: Meet national and regional employers, including some convention sponsors, interested in hiring you. This is your first step to a great future. Career Fair registration is required.
  • Upward Mobility Seminar, July 3, 7:00-9:00 p.m., central: You have a job, but what’s next? Consider innovative and entrepreneurial means to further your career.

Career Quest

Sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind, up to twenty-five pre-employment transition services (Pre-ETS) qualified students from vocational rehabilitation agencies around the country will attend the 2023 National Federation of the Blind Convention. Participants will attend seminars focusing on the five required Pre-ETS areas of service, culminating in an intensive curriculum that will help them develop independence skills, explore career opportunities, learn about self and organizational advocacy, and so much more. Read the full announcement. For further information, please contact Daniel Frye at [email protected]; 410-659-9314, extension 2393.

We look forward to offering you these and other opportunities to raise expectations of the blind.

Job Seekers: Pursue Your Dreams

The National Federation of the Blind provides working age blind people with an opportunity to compete in the workplace on terms of equality.

Know Your Rights: Self-Advocacy Employment Tool Kit

Your right to employment is important. The National Federation of the Blind encourages you to familiarize yourself with your federal protections and the actions you can take to prevent and resolve access barriers and disability discrimination. Also, you should access the network of blind professionals who are members of the Federation to learn more about individual experiences and receive guidance on employment. Connect with your local affiliate and chapters, or there may be a division with your career interest. Please visit the resources gathered below and let us know of other resources that have been helpful to you.

Career Mentoring: Build Professional Development

We seek connects blind and low-vision students with successful blind role models who help them navigate their path from education to career success.

Hi, My name is Emily, and I recently joined mentor program with NFB, but I’ve already gotten so much out of it. Living in a sighted world as a blind person can feel really isolating sometimes. So knowing that there so many supportive people out there willing to assist you in your journey and independence and getting ready for your career and life itself is very good to know. It prepares you for other things in life.

Pearson Corporate Disability Mentoring Program

The Pearson Corporate Disability Mentoring Program expands our career mentoring program through the development of mentoring triads consisting of blind young adults, blind professionals from the NFB, and sighted professionals from Pearson. This three-sided approach has a positive, exponential impact on all participants through the relationships that are created.

Learn more about the Pearson Corporate Disability Mentoring Program.

Employment Committee: Enhancing Our Opportunities

More details coming soon.

Employer Connections: Recruit More Talent

As America’s membership organization of the blind, the National Federation of the Blind has an extensive community already in place as well as more than eighty years’ worth of knowledge in areas directly related to employment.

The National Federation of the Blind offers several resources for employers.

  • Job Accommodations Network
  • Employer Leadership Network
  • Direct Source
  • Participate in the upcoming career fair
  • Develop and support internships
  • Professional agencies

Learn more about our information for Employers.

More Information about Center of Employment Opportunity

We look forward to continuing to build the Center of Employment Opportunity. If you have questions or feedback, please email [email protected].