Blind Institute of Technology (BIT)

Four adults stand indoors in front of a fake tree and plants. Two women and one man wear badges and hold white canes. The woman on the right, smiling, stands with them. Warm lighting fills the space.

Lights. Camera. Action. 🎬

Filming for our upcoming docu-short with BBC StoryWorks wrapped earlier this week and we’re excited about what’s coming next!

This story is shaping up to be something special.

Stay tuned.

#TeamBIT #BBCStoryWorks

Event poster for SXSW panel "Zero-Gravity, Zero Barriers: The Future of Inclusive Spaceflight" with four speakers’ photos (Russ Gautier, Sheila Xu, Michael Hess, Eric Ingram), space imagery, and event details for March 16, 2026, at JW Marriott.

🚀 Attending @sxsw.com?

Don’t miss “Zero-Gravity, Zero Barriers: The Future of Inclusive Spaceflight.” BIT Founder Mike Hess joins innovators exploring accessibility in space.

🗓 Mar 16
⏰ 11:30AM CT
schedule.sxsw.com/events/PP116...

#SXSW #AccessibilityInAction #TeamBIT

Global partnerships create real career pathways.

Tomorrow with ITG and SOPA, we’re sharing how we’re expanding Salesforce careers in the Baltic region for professionals with disabilities - including success in Estonia.

Register: www.linkedin.com/events/74294...

#Salesforce #TeamBIT

Eleven adults stand together indoors, smiling while wearing black sleep shades. They pose in a classroom or conference room, some crouching. A man at center holds a white cane. A large screen behind them displays a slide that says "Thank you".

ADA Title II deadlines are driving remediation nationwide.

But accessibility isn’t “set it and forget it.”

The City of Gresham is leading with a people-first model – leadership alignment, cross-team collaboration, and shared ownership.

A blueprint for what works.

blindit.org/city-of-gres...

The Golden Hoodie has entered that chat!

Filming with BBC StoryWorks is officially underway in North Macedonia – and we can’t wait to share what’s coming. 🎥

Hang tight. This one’s special.

#TeamBIT #BBCStoryWorks #TeamBIT

Last week, BIT’s Mike Hess boarded a plane (his first international solo trip) to film with BBC StoryWorks in North Macedonia.

Because the future of workforce development isn’t local - it’s global.

We’re excited to share more soon! Stay tuned.

#TeamBIT #BBCStoryWorks #WorkforceDevelopment

A professional flyer featuring "Meet Christine" in bold text. Christine, a smiling woman with long brown hair in a dark blazer, is pictured on the right. The flyer details her work in digital accessibility, her impact, and contact info, set on a green and white background.

🎉 Celebrating Christine Aurigemma!

Through BIT’s Digital Accessibility Analyst course, Christine deepened her expertise in WCAG and assistive tech. Today, she leads accessibility strategy at scale.

#TeamBIT #CPACC #WorkforceEquity

Funded by U.S. Department of Education, Grant H421F240171

BIT Academy® - Blind Institute of Technology BIT Academy™ “The program at BIT is one the greatest blessings of my life. Not only did they help me discover my own abilities, they helped fine tune them to not only change my life, but the life of my entire family. Without BIT I would have never learned to stop saying 'can not' and

Link to enroll: blindit.org/bit-academy/

BIT Academy® - Blind Institute of Technology BIT Academy™ “The program at BIT is one the greatest blessings of my life. Not only did they help me discover my own abilities, they helped fine tune them to not only change my life, but the life of my entire family. Without BIT I would have never learned to stop saying 'can not' and

Link to enroll: blindit.org/bit-academy/

A close-up of a computer keyboard with a large green key labeled "ENROLL NOW" in bold white letters, replacing one of the standard keys. The adjacent black keys are visible, including one labeled "pause" in the lower left corner.

Salesforce Admins - what’s next? 🤖

BIT’s Agentforce Specialist course gives certified Admins hands-on AI automation training.

⏰ Enroll by Feb 20, 2026
🗓️ March 4-April 29
👉 bit.ly/dynamic-bit-...

Admin cert + technical interview required.

Funded by U.S. Department of Education Grant H421F240171

Promo for Blind Institute of Technology featuring a woman with glasses and blonde hair. Text highlights “Meet Tiffany” from Reno, NV, describing her positive experience with BIT, new opportunities, and commitment to accessibility and advocacy. Contact: tiffany.kleinhans@gmail.com.

Meet Tiffany, BIT’s newest CPACC professional in Reno, NV!

Tiffany is building a career at the intersection of accessibility, advocacy, & disability rights — using accessibility as a foundation for change. 🎉

Funded by U.S. Department of Education, Grant H421F240171

A professional profile for Dora from Texas features her photo on a light green background. Text highlights her experience, goals, and impact in accessibility. The BIT logo is in the upper righthand corner. Dora's contact email and icons for location and email appear on the profile.

Meet Dora our newest CPACC professional based in Texas. 👏

Through BIT, Dora is building a career in digital accessibility – helping organizations move beyond checklists to create experiences that work for users.

Funded by U.S. Department of Education, Grant H421F240171

A close-up of a clock with the words "TIME TO GET CERTIFIED" replacing the numbers on the upper half. The clock has a silver frame, black marks for hours and minutes, and long black hour and minute hands pointing near 12, with a red second hand.

Level up your Salesforce skills with AI 🚀

BIT’s Agentforce Specialist Course is a 6-week, instructor-led program for Salesforce Admin-certified professionals.

Apply by Feb 20, 2026
Cohort: March 4-April 29, 2026
👉 bit.ly/dynamic-bit-...

Funded by U.S. Department of Education, Grant H421F240171

A group of 17 adults stands indoors, all wearing black blindfolds labeled "BIT." Most are dressed in business casual clothing. One person in the middle holds a white cane and wears a golden hoodie. The room has modern decor, with light walls and a large screen behind them.

BIT's Mike Hess brought Art of Blinders to Cox leadership in Atlanta – creating space to slow down, listen differently, and reflect on how everyday decisions shape workplace experiences.

Grateful to the Cox team for engaging so openly.

Funded by U.S. Department of Education, Grant H421F240171

A woman with sunglasses and headphones sits at a desk using a laptop, with a black guide dog standing near her feet. Text beside her advertises an upcoming Salesforce course by the Blind Institute of Technology, with details on registration, course benefits, and contact info.

🌍 Our newest international #Salesforce cohort kicks off March 31, 2026!

Designed for professionals with disabilities outside the U.S. looking to build in-demand Salesforce skills and career momentum.

🗓️ Apply by Feb 2
📘 ITS must be completed by Mar 30

👉 Start here: bit.ly/dynamic-bit-...

A profile flyer with a green background introduces Digna from Seffner, FL. It features her headshot outdoors, text about her career, a sunburst graphic, and BIT branding. Icons for email appear at the bottom left.

👏 Meet Digna, a new CPACC professional from Florida!

Through BIT’s training, she’s applying her expertise to help teams build thoughtful, human-centered digital experiences.

#TeamBIT #CPACC #AccessibilityInAction

Funded by U.S. Department of Education, Grant H421F240171

Flyer for "Apprenticeship Open House Webinar" by Blind Institute of Technology. Details event date, time, and registration info. Shows three people at a table with laptops—one is a woman using a wheelchair. Contact and website info included at the bottom.

Thinking about what comes after training or how apprenticeships support long-term tech careers? Join BIT’s Apprenticeship Program Open House this Friday to find out!

Friday, January 30 | 9AM MT | Virtual

Register: us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Funded by US Dept of Education Grant H421F240171

A woman wearing glasses and a lightly colored headscarf is smiling. The poster introduces Asma from Pakistan, describing her expertise in digital accessibility, her CPACC certification, and her advocacy for disability rights. Contact details are shown below.

👏 Meet Asma, a new CPACC professional from Pakistan!

With a background in law, advocacy, and public speaking, she’s focused on bridging accessibility, technology, and disability rights.

#TeamBIT #CPACC

Funded by U.S. Department of Education, Grant H421F240171

A professional flyer features a woman with a red bindi and black hair, wearing a beige top. She is introduced as Sridevi from Orange County, CA, discussing her accessibility work, background, and achievements. BIT’s logo and Sridevi's contact details appear on the flyer.

Meet Sridevi Sandhini Banerjee, CPACC – one of BIT’s newest accessibility professionals! 👏

She’s pursuing a career in accessibility education while advancing credentials in CPACC, DHS Trusted Tester, and a Master of Law program.

Funded by U.S. Department of Education, Grant H421F240171

Flyer for "Apprenticeship Open House Webinar" by Blind Institute of Technology. Details event date, time, and registration info. Shows two people at a table with laptops—one is a woman using a wheelchair. Contact and website info included at the bottom.

Want to learn how a Nationally Registered Apprenticeship can lead to a tech career? Join our live webinar on BIT’s Apprenticeship Program.

🗓️ Jan 30 | ⏰ 9AM MT / 11AM ET

👉 us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Funded by U.S. Department of Education, Grant H421F240171

Please register at bit.ly/intl-its-cou...

A group of eleven adults poses in a classroom, all wearing dark glasses and black eye masks. One person holds a white cane and wears a gold cape. Behind them is a screen displaying a presentation with "Thank you" and accessibility topics.

💛 Golden Hoodie sighting: Gresham, Oregon

We brought Art of Blinders to the City of Gresham, using hands-on activities to explore assumptions, perception & workplace decision-making — while helping kick off a digital accessibility initiative.

Funded by US Department of Education, Grant H421F240171

A woman with sunglasses and headphones sits at a desk using a laptop, with a black guide dog standing near her feet. Text beside her advertises an upcoming Salesforce course by the Blind Institute of Technology, with details on registration, course benefits, and contact info.

🌍 Our newest international #Salesforce cohort kicks off March 31, 2026!

Designed for professionals with disabilities outside the U.S. looking to build in-demand Salesforce skills and career momentum.

🗓️ Apply by Feb 2
📘 ITS must be completed by Mar 30

👉 Start here: bit.ly/bit_26intl_c...

A man with short dark hair and glasses is smiling, wearing a black suit jacket over a light blue shirt. He is standing indoors in front of an orange-lit background with a black staircase and a microphone stand visible behind him.

We are deeply saddened to share the passing of James “Jim” Berz, a cherished friend of BIT whose energy, humor, and generosity helped make our galas so meaningful. His presence left a lasting impact on our community. Our thoughts are with his loved ones.

From the United Nations with Salesforce Accessibility to stages worldwide, the Golden Hoodie represents BIT showing up for accessibility and workforce equity. 🩵

Here’s a look at where the Golden Hoodie – and our mission – traveled over the past year and beyond. 🌟

#GoldenHoodie #TeamBIT

Festive card with gold pine branches, cones, red stars, and snowflakes on a white background. Text in the center reads “HAPPY HOLIDAYS. BIT will be closed 12/24-12/25 and 1/1.” BIT logo appears at the bottom.

Happy Holidays! 🎁

BIT will be closed 12/24-12/25 and 1/1. ❄️

Wishing you a wonderful season and a bright start to the new year! ✨

Three people smile at the camera at a formal event. The woman on the left wears a zebra-striped jacket, the person in the center wears a shiny jacket, and the woman on the right wears glasses and a black dress. The background is dim with tables and illuminated screens

Happy birthday and thank you to Zenita Henderson (“Z”) for four amazing years on the BIT Board! 🎉

Z’s leadership and support helped guide BIT through growth and change. We’re so grateful — and wish her all the best in what’s next. 💚

A large, diverse group of people pose and smile together in an office space with large windows. Some people kneel in front, while others stand. There is a guide dog, plants, and a screen in the background reading "Agentforce." The mood is cheerful and collaborative.

#TeamBIT attended Salesforce’s Agentforce Nonprofit Community Sprint in San Francisco last week and got hands-on with Agentforce. Great to see accessibility in action — including a service dog supporting one of our team members.

Funded by U.S. Department of Education, Grant H421F240171

BIT’s apprenticeship model meets professionals where they are and supports their growth holistically.

Kristy Schenderlein explains how coaching and behavioral support help apprentices thrive.

Learn more: dif.blindit.org/employer-par...

Funded by U.S. Department of Education, Grant H421F240171

Sight Tech Global 2025 promotional graphic with dark blue abstract tech background. Header reads "Proud to Present at Sight Tech Global 2025" with the Sight Tech Global logo in the top right corner. Main title in white text: "Spotlight - Bridging the Gap: How BIT Opens Tech Careers for Professionals with Disabilities." Four circular professional headshots below - from left to right: Mike Hess (Founder and Executive Director, BIT logo beneath) wearing sunglasses and smiling; Elliott Natale (Academy Director, BIT logo beneath) with beard smiling; Luis Salazar (Workforce Development Technical Associate, Salesforce logo beneath); Taylor Sone (Apprenticeship Program Manager, BIT logo beneath) smiling. Footer text reads "A Vista Center Production - Dec 9th and 10th."

BIT is excited to join Sight Tech Global 2025!

Join us Dec 9-10 for this FREE virtual event on AI & accessibility.

Register: forms.gle/MF36RTSxaxHn...

#SightTechGlobal #Accessibility #AI #TeamBIT #SalesforceAccessibility

Funded by U.S. Department of Education, Grant H421F240171