Category: Careers
Welcome to our Careers category, where you’ll discover inspiring stories and practical information about the diverse jobs blind people are successfully doing, how they navigate their roles, and the paths they took to find these opportunities. Whether you’re pursuing employment or self-employment, this section is filled with advice, insights, and real-world examples to help guide you toward your career goals. Explore this space for the encouragement and tips you need to thrive professionally.
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Why the Latest Executive Orders Threaten Blind Americans—And How We Can Fight Back
Recent executive orders are putting accessibility programs and workplace protections for blind and disabled Americans at risk. Learn why this matters, what’s at stake, and how you can take action to protect our rights and financial independence.
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National Federation of the Blind: Time-Sensitive Legislative Alert Regarding Subminimum Wages for People with Disabilities
The following email was sent to us by Justin T. Young at the National Federation of the Blind. On December 4, 2024, the US Department of Labor released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding the phaseout of Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The National Federation of the Blind fully supports this…
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Strengths, not Stress: Embrace the Tools That Free Your Time
The activities that bring us the most joy are also often the ones that make us the most money. On the flip side, the little and not-so-little tasks that fill up our days—managing household chores, dealing with inaccessible systems, or fumbling with overly complicated tech—rarely bring in income.
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FAQ: Knowing What You Want – The Key to Financial and Personal Growth
As an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®), one of the most fulfilling aspects of my work is helping people achieve their financial goals. Whether it’s buying a home, retiring comfortably, or simply gaining control over day-to-day expenses, seeing someone succeed is incredibly rewarding. But here’s the thing: to reach any goal, you first have to know…
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Start Now or Finish the Plan First? The Truth About Starting Your Business
Starting a business is a popular path for many people who are blind or have low vision to increase their income and pursue their passions. So, it’s no surprise that I often get requests to help people develop their business plans. Recently, while working with a client on her business plan, she asked me, “Do…
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Breaking Bias: Navigating Blindness and Career Success
One of the most common questions we receive about employment is, “When and how should I disclose my blindness or vision impairment?” It’s a tricky question with no clear-cut answers, and one that we grappled with when developing our Employment Essentials course, which we released earlier this year. On the one hand, you don’t want…
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Labor Day Message: The Power of “Let Me Help” and the Importance of Feeling Useful
In the classic “Star Trek” episode, “City on the Edge of Forever,” Captain Kirk says to Edith Keeler, “Let me help. A hundred years or so from now, I believe, a famous novelist will write a classic using that theme. He’ll recommend those three words even over “I love you.”” This seemingly simple line, referencing…
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Building and Maintaining Good Credit: Why Dave Ramsey Isn’t Always Right
A Message from Penny Forward Founder and CEO, Chris Peterson Hello Penny Forward community, I hope you’re all doing well! Today, I want to talk about something that’s been on my mind since I came across a post from Dave Ramsey on Facebook last week. Now, before we dive into it, let me just say…
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From Crisis to Creativity: The Inspiring Journey of Penny Forward Member Desiree Christian
How would you make a living if you were a blind single mother with two medically fragile children who were constantly in and out of hospitals? That was the challenge for Desiree Christian of Portland, Oregon, a determined woman who decided to transform her hardships into a thriving business. Born legally blind into a family…