Overcoming Vision Loss and Building Empowering Careers for People Who Are Blind With Matthew Koch
Release Date: 11/06/2025
Building Accessible Career Pathways for People With Disabilities With Kevin Webb
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Kevin Webb is Head of Sustainability and Social Impact for Mitsubishi Electric in the Americas and Executive Director of the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation. He leads the foundation’s mission to empower young people with disabilities through corporate philanthropy, celebrating its 35th anniversary and supporting initiatives across 45 states. With a background in international relations and public administration, Kevin focuses on building inclusive communities and expanding access to technology and trade careers for young people. In this episode… Creating accessible career pathways...
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Overcoming Vision Loss and Building Empowering Careers for People Who Are Blind With Matthew Koch
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Matt Koch is the general manager of Virginia Industries for the Blind (VIB). This self-supporting Virginia state agency provides direct employment and career pathways for people who are blind or visually impaired through manufacturing, retail, and service contracts. Under Matt’s leadership, VIB has grown to employ around 160 people — including 80 individuals who are blind — with an annual budget close to $60 million, and boasts a 94% employee satisfaction rate. Despite losing most of his vision in his early 30s, Matt has held senior leadership roles in both government and...
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Rebecca Martin on How Partnering With NSITE Helps Her VR Clients Succeed
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Rebecca Martin is a Certified Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with North Dakota Vocational Rehabilitation Services, a state agency that helps people with disabilities prepare for, obtain, and maintain employment. She provides counseling, guidance, and access to assistive technology to support her clients in securing employment. In this episode… Securing meaningful employment is often a steep climb for people with vision loss or other disabilities, especially when access to resources and opportunities is limited. However, with the right training, adaptive tools, and support...
info_outlineMatt Koch is the general manager of Virginia Industries for the Blind (VIB). This self-supporting Virginia state agency provides direct employment and career pathways for people who are blind or visually impaired through manufacturing, retail, and service contracts.
Under Matt’s leadership, VIB has grown to employ around 160 people — including 80 individuals who are blind — with an annual budget close to $60 million, and boasts a 94% employee satisfaction rate.
Despite losing most of his vision in his early 30s, Matt has held senior leadership roles in both government and private sectors. He is dedicated to empowering individuals with vision loss, helping them achieve professional success and independence.
In this episode…
Losing one’s vision can shatter a career and identity. But for Matt Koch, it became the beginning of a new mission. After 15 years as a Navy helicopter pilot, Matt was diagnosed with a pituitary tumor that led to near-total vision loss and medical retirement. Rather than give in to despair, he rebuilt his life and found purpose leading Virginia Industries for the Blind (VIB), a self-sustaining state agency that provides meaningful employment and career development for people who are blind, low vision, or visually impaired.
In this episode, Matt joins host Dean Thompson to share how he turned personal loss into a legacy of empowerment. He reflects on his journey from flying missions at sea to managing a multimillion-dollar organization that employs more than 160 people — half of whom are blind. Matt discusses how VIB’s innovative model combines manufacturing, service contracts, and professional training to create pathways to independence. He also highlights success stories of employees who have gone from public assistance to homeownership, and the growing collaboration with NSITE to expand career opportunities nationwide.
Matt’s story is a testament to the fact that blindness is not a limitation, but rather an opportunity to create new perspectives on what's possible. Through resilience, mentorship, and a deep belief in human potential, he shows how challenges can inspire us to see beyond our circumstances.