$150,000 grant awarded for information technology program expansion
June 10, 2024
NSITE, the talent management enterprise launched by National Industries for the Blind in 2021, provides a continuum of employment services that connect employers with talented, dedicated people who are blind or visually impaired, including veterans. This spring, NSITE was awarded a $150,000 grant by Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation (MEAF) to fund expansion of its information technology (IT) programs. Mitsubishi’s grants are focused on providing access to careers in technology and the trades for youth with disabilities.
NSITE will use the grant to fund its IT training programs for people who are blind or visually impaired and career laddering for individuals who are already working in technology fields. In addition, the grant will be used to fund consultants needed for training.
“NSITE aims to remove barriers to employment and lower unemployment rates by providing people who are blind and visually impaired with meaningful, industry-recognized training to jumpstart their careers though NSITE,” said Dr. Jonathan Lucus, NSITE’s executive director.
MEAF funding will support the expansion of NSITE Academy, the nation’s first program that adapts Cisco’s industry-recognized training into a format that is accessible and accommodates the learning styles of people who are blind or visually impaired. This will allow NSITE to add specific IT courses and certifications to its portfolio of stackable skills training, in turn providing people who are blind with career entry into the IT field at all levels and in a variety of knowledge-based professional roles. These could range from entry-level positions in Google Data Analytics to more sophisticated roles in CompTIA A+ and even advanced careers in cybersecurity or as Cisco Certified Support Technicians (CCSTs) and Certified Cisco Networking Associates (CCNAs).
Additionally, through the MEAF grant NSITE will be able to offer these programs to a wider audience of individuals with disabilities across the country – NSITE now provides training in nearly 45 states.
This spring, MEAF announced its commitment to provide $2 million in new grants and $615 in continuing projects. The funding supports MEAF’s new Access to Careers in Technology and the Trades Inclusion Initiative, which “is designed to empower youth with disabilities to lead productive lives through increased employment.”
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About NSITE
NSITE provides a continuum of employment services that connect employers with talented, dedicated people who are blind or visually impaired to meet their workforce needs. NSITE’s services are also available to veterans. NSITE works with job candidates and employers equally to ensure that finding the right employee-employer match is as smooth and seamless as possible. With a range of offerings that include talent development, corporate diversity awareness training, and job placement services through the proprietary NSITE CONNECT job board, NSITE is the go-to consultancy for blind and visually impaired talent and corporate leadership to substantially reduce the unemployment rate for members of the blind and visually impaired community. Visit www.nsite.org for more information or connect with NSITE: LinkedIn, Facebook and X.