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Who We Are

BIT’s mission, values, and the story from 2013 to today.

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.

  • AccessibilityWe 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.
  • ImpactWe 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.
  • CollaborationWe 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.
  • OpportunityWe believe every professional should have the opportunity to build a meaningful career based on their skills and potential. We work to remove barriers in the employment process and help create workplaces where professionals with disabilities have the opportunity to contribute, grow, and succeed.

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.

Today, BIT is a global nonprofit dedicated to creating career opportunities for professionals with disabilities. BIT Academy provides industry-focused training in areas such as Salesforce and digital accessibility, while BIT’s U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship program provides real-world experience and pathways to long-term employment.

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 designed to guide companies from awareness to action—strengthening workplace practices centered on accessibility and removing barriers for professionals with disabilities. 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 is a future where professionals with disabilities are recognized as an exceptional talent pool, contributing to strategic hiring, organizational performance, and stronger workplaces.

Timeline

  1. 2/2013Blind 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
  2. 2015BIT adds a11y Consulting services
  3. 2015BIT begins to capture attention with featured articles in the Denver Business Journal, The Denver Post and Network World
  4. 1/2016Mike Hess Appointed to the Commission for People with Disabilities, City and County of Denver, by Mayor Michael B. Hancock
  5. 2/2016BIT holds first Dining in the Dark gala
  6. 2016BIT gains more media attention from CBS NEWS
  7. 11/2016Mike Hess appointed to the Disability Funding Committee by Colorado State and Gov. John Hickenlooper
  8. 1/2017BIT honored with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Business Award
  9. 3/2017BIT launches BIT Academy beginning with Salesforce Administration Certification course
  10. 2018BIT Academy goes virtual, allowing students from all around the world to access courses
  11. 9/2018BIT collaborates with SMART CITIES Planning
  12. 4/2019BIT takes its message of accessibility and presents at Google NXT
  13. 4/2020BIT launches Salesforce Consulting Services
  14. 6/2020BIT named to 2019 GlobalMindED Leaders
  15. 6/2020BIT and Salesforce Office of Accessibility begins partnership
  16. 10/2020International Labour Organization Features BIT
  17. 12/2020Denver Commission for People with Disabilities nominates BIT for Denver Mayor’s D&I Award
  18. 12/2021BIT acknowledged as Salesforce’s Official Training Provider for People with Disabilities
  19. 12/2021US Department of Labor officially recognizes BIT Salesforce Admin program as the first Nationally registered apprenticeship program for blind and visually impaired professionals
  20. 3/2022BIT holds first gala outside Denver at the Georgia Aquarium
  21. 10/2022BIT celebrates 9 3/4 Birthday at Dining in the Dark gala
  22. 2/2023BIT expands BIT Academy to include Digital Accessibility Analyst course
  23. 5/2023BIT and Salesforce collaborate to produce the Greatest Equalizer DocuShort — The Greatest Equalizer
  24. 8/2023US Department of Labor officially approves BIT’s Digital Accessibility program as only the second National registered apprenticeship program for blind and visually impaired professionals
  25. 9/2023Mike Hess presents on the big stage at Salesforce’s Dreamforce
  26. 9/2023Trailblazer Golden Hoodie Award Winner, Michael Hess
  27. 1/2024BIT receives prestigious Anthem Award for collaboration with Salesforce Workforce Navigator program. Learn More About The Award and Project
  28. 5/2024BIT authors an article for C2HR
  29. 7/2024BIT 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/
  30. TodayBIT employs 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

Meet the team that is making an impact

Meet The Team