Page 5 - Goodwill of the Finger Lakes Annual Report

Be Trustworthy
B Finding meaningful work can be difficult for anyone,
Those Who Adapt—Will by Nature—Transform Kim Kline & Access Technology

but for the blind and visually impaired, the barriers can
be exponentially larger. Kim Kline, who has dealt with
progressive vision loss throughout his life, has first-hand
experience with these barriers. He pivoted from his original
career because the adaptations he needed did not yet exist,
and struggled through challenging years before learning
programming languages and joining the organization 34
years ago to be a trainer in adaptive tech. After 14 years in
that role, he pivoted again to developing adaptive solutions in the IT department.

Adaptive technology can refer to any modification of technology that allows people
with disabilities or physical impairments to use that technology. In Kim’s work, these
adaptations take many forms, including programs that read out or enlarge text and
refreshable braille displays. As Goodwill of the Finger Lakes [GFL] takes on new IT systems,
it’s Kim’s job to develop new adaptations—original, untested solutions that put his creative
problem-solving to 'live goodwill BLUE' use.

Kim first did this work at GFL during a period when his genetic eye disorder was progressing
and he was losing the limited vision he had. This means he was adapting IT technologies
while also adapting his workspace and his home, applying his inventiveness to these
simultaneous challenges. As Kim says, it was a matter of “physician, heal thyself!”

Kim’s integrity has been showcased in his recent
Lisa Jackel | Director of IT Services achievements involving GFL’s migration to the
“ Kim meets challenges head on,
and doesn’t give up until he finds Salesforce software platform. Many of the platform’s
a solution.” controls, Kim discovered, did not work well with text-
to-speech programs. For example, where sighted
people can use a computer mouse, people using text-to-speech programs typically use
the keyboard to navigate. Kim’s adaptations made the program usable with only a keyboard.
He also adapted the visually busy screen to make it easier to interpret. Using Kim’s
innovations, Goodwill Vision Enterprises’ blind and visually impaired staff have been
able to use the software platform effectively, allowing the Contact Center to grow and
its valued employees to succeed. Kim’s dedication and reliability throughout his 30+ years
at GFL has led other areas of the organization to seek out his expertise in order to provide
professional opportunities in which blind and visually impaired employees can thrive.