Who We Are
Who We Are
Our Mission
To help professionals with disabilities, and the employers who hire them find success in the workplace.
Our Values
At BIT, we are guided by four core values that define our purpose and approach.
Accessibility
We are committed to making employment opportunities digitally accessible to all, ensuring that every individual, regardless of disability, can find meaningful employment that aligns with their skills and aspirations.
Impact
We understand the transformative power of employment and its ripple effects on individuals, families, and communities. Our mission is to create a positive impact by connecting the right people to the right jobs, fostering growth and prosperity.
Collaboration
We believe in the strength of collaboration. By working closely with job seekers, employers, and the community, we build bridges that foster understanding, innovation, and collective success.
Equity
We are champions of equity, striving to level the playing field and promote fairness in the employment process. Our commitment is to address systemic disparities, promote diversity, and create an inclusive environment where every person’s potential can flourish.
Together, these core values shape our company’s purpose, guide our actions, and drive us to create a world where meaningful employment is accessible to all, leading to lasting impact and shared success.
Our Story
Following a successful nearly 20-year career as a software engineer within the telecommunications industry, Mike Hess, the Founder and Executive Director, departed the corporate realm in 2013 to establish the Blind Institute of Technology. This decision was prompted by Mike’s frustration at perpetually being labeled the “token blind guy” in every company he worked for. He firmly believed that his blindness enhanced his skills as a software engineer rather than hindered them.
Unveiling the alarming statistic of an 80% unemployment and underemployment rate among the blind and visually impaired (BVI) community, Mike recognized that there were other BVIs possessing the expertise and capabilities required for success in the corporate landscape. Driven by this conviction, he directly engaged the top echelons of corporate America, thereby commencing BIT’s transformative journey.
Presently, BIT stands as a global nonprofit staffing and recruiting agency exclusively dedicated to professionals with disabilities. Through the establishment of the BIT Academy, the organization’s workforce development division, offering courses in Salesforce Administration and Digital Accessibility Analysis, BIT holds the distinction of being the sole proprietor of two Registered Apprenticeship programs for the blind and visually impaired at the national level under the aegis of the US Department of Labor.
Retaining an unwavering commitment to enhancing employment prospects for professionals with disabilities, BIT has expanded its portfolio to encompass both a professional Salesforce Consulting and Accessibility consulting service, and an exhaustive corporate training catalog. This catalog is strategically designed to guide companies from the concept of inclusivity towards cultivating a robust culture that wholeheartedly champions the principles of inclusion and accessibility. These initiatives are in addition to BIT’s core professional staffing services.
Having already made a tangible impact by assisting over 600 professionals with disabilities and collaborating with industry titans including Randstad, JPMorgan Chase, Salesforce, CVS Health, Ball Corporation, Allstate, and numerous others, BIT’s ambitions remain resolute. With a target of securing employment for 10,000 professionals with disabilities, BIT propels ahead with its steadfast commitment to fostering meaningful employment opportunities.
Our Vision
BIT’s Vision envisions a future where professionals with disabilities are acknowledged and esteemed as an exceptional talent pool, making significant contributions to an organization’s strategic hiring endeavors, financial performance, and overall culture.
Meet The BIT Team
Meet the team that is making an impact
Contact Us
Email Us
For Candidates: Candidates@BlindIT.org
For Sales: Sales@BlindIT.org
For Academy: Academy@BlindIT.org
For Press: Press@BlindIT.org
Call Us
Mail It To Us
Blind Institute of Technology
13062 Spruce Place, Thornton, CO 80602
Connect With Us On Social Media
Timeline
2/2013
Blind Institute of Technology officially files as a nonprofit organization with the US IRS, beginning its services with corporate trainings and staffing services with only 2 employees
2015
BIT adds a11y Consulting services
2015
BIT begins to capture attention with featured articles in the Denver Business Journal, The Denver Post and Network World
1/2016
Mike Hess Appointed to the Commission for People with Disabilities, City and County of Denver, by Mayor Michael B. Hancock
2/2016
BIT holds first Dining in the Dark gala
2016
BIT gains more media attention from CBS NEWS
11/2016
Mike Hess appointed to the Disability Funding Committee by Colorado State and Gov. John Hickenlooper
3/2017
BIT launches BIT Academy beginning with Salesforce Administration Certification course
2018
BIT Academy goes virtual, allowing students from all around the world to access courses
4/2020
BIT launches Salesforce Consulting Services
6/2020
BIT and Salesforce Office of Accessibility begins partnership
12/2020
Denver Commission for People with Disabilities nominates BIT for
12/2021
BIT acknowledged as Salesforce’s Official Training Provider for People with Disabilities
12/21
US Department of Labor officially recognizes BIT Salesforce Admin program as the first Nationally registered apprenticeship program for blind and visually impaired professionals
2/2023
BIT expands BIT Academy to include Digital Accessibility Analyst course
5/2023
BIT and Salesforce collaborate to produce the Greatest Equalizer DocuShort
8/23
US Department of Labor officially approves BIT’s Digital Accessibility program as only the second National registered apprenticeship program for blind and visually impaired professionals
9/2023
Mike Hess presents on the big stage at Salesforce’s Dreamforce
9/12/2023
Trailblazer Golden Hoodie Award Winner, Michael Hess
1/2024
BIT receives prestigious Anthem Award for collaboration with Salesforce Workforce Navigator program.
05/2024
BIT authors an article for C2HR titled, ‘Breaking Barriers: Embracing Inclusion The Imperative of Hiring People With Disabilities’.
07/2024
BIT is proud to announce that our Founder/Executive Director, Mike Hess, has been honored with the prestigious C2HR Content & Connectivity Human Resources Game Changer Award in the Ignitor category for his outstanding commitment to creating clear pathways for employment opportunities for professionals with disabilities. Mike’s efforts have truly transformed the landscape for professionals with disabilities.
Check out all the 2024 award winners: https://c2hr.org/2024-winners/
Today
BIT employes over 40 professionals with disabilities spanning all programs, has found employment for over 125 professionals with a median starting income of 60K, offers 5 BIT Academy courses, and has served over 600 of professionals with disabilities on 6 continents