Building Momentum Toward Workforce Access

In 2025, BIT expanded its impact in workforce development and accessibility. We strengthened our U.S. Department of Labor-registered apprenticeships with additional employer partners and advanced our mission through the DIF grant. Year-to-date, we hired 24 new apprentices, both within BIT and with employer partners including Salesforce, Dell, and Women for Women. Most notably, within our very first year of the grant, we reached a milestone we weren’t expected to hit until year five – securing placement on 30 Eligible Training Provider Lists (ETPLs). This early achievement underscores both the urgency of the need and the momentum behind our mission. 

In addition, we successfully launched all three Academy courses and are on track to launch the final two in grant year two. Our team also continues to share expertise on global stages such as Dreamforce, M-Enabling, and Sight Tech Global, while developing new marketing assets and thought leadership to highlight the value of accessible workforce solutions. 

Most importantly, dozens of professionals with disabilities earned certifications, secured apprenticeships, and moved into thriving careers that are transforming lives and workplaces alike.

In 2026, BIT continued to accelerate its momentum in workforce development, and contribution to employer education on accessibility. We expanded our impact by continuing to scale our registered apprenticeship programs and cementing new employer partnerships that broaden career pathways for professionals with disabilities. Across the first three quarters, we onboarded 11 new apprentices and facilitated crucial career transitions into full-time roles, demonstrating the long-term success of our placement model. Year-to-date we onboarded 36 new apprentices with 29 remaining active in the program and 1 successfully transitioning into competitive integrated employment upon completion.

BIT Academy® also saw significant growth, further strengthening the professional development pipeline. We launched and concluded successful cohorts in Salesforce Agentforce, Platform App Builder, and Business Analyst tracks to further support industry-level certifications of participants. Year-to-date we had a cumulative total of 16 unique participants throughout these courses, reaching a total of 41 participants across our Registered Apprenticeship and BIT Academy™ combined.

Beyond technical training, we deepened our impact on employers by delivering our signature employer workshops—Art of Blinders and Train the Trainer—to corporate partners, equipping leaders with actionable strategies to eliminate bias, increase accessibility awareness, and support workplace accessibility.

Our advocacy efforts reached new heights this year. We successfully secured approval to offer GI Bill® education benefits through our Nationally Registered Apprenticeship Program, creating vital support for veterans with disabilities. We participated in the 12th Annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW) 2026, hosting the webinar, “Real Pathways That Work: BIT’s Registered Apprenticeship Program Experience,” featuring U.S. Department of Labor leadership, Meghan Baird, and National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP). Through these sessions, BIT expanded targeted regional outreach for candidate referrals, workforce center connections, and employer partnerships.

BIT’s work also received international visibility through a BBC-produced docu-short that highlights the transformative impact of accessible technology and employment opportunities for professionals with disabilities. Featuring members of the BIT community and key partners, the film brings global attention to the value of untapped talent and the importance of creating pathways to meaningful careers.

Additionally, we attended the Disability Innovation Fund Project Directors’ Conference in February; Council of Schools and Services for the Blind Virtual Summit in March; American Rehabilitation Counseling Association in April; National Association of Workforce Development Professionals in May; GlobalMindED and Foundation for Fighting Blindness in June and numerous Salesforce events throughout the first few quarters. We are concluding Q3 of Grant Year Two with a presentation session at the Disability Innovation Fund Conference on June 24, 2026 on the impact of our model. These initiatives continue to solidify BIT’s position as a thought leader, driving systemic change in how organizations recruit, train, and support professionals with disabilities.

Check back in 2027!

Check back in 2028!

Check back in 2029!