"My career history is somewhat untraditional."

 

I began my career 40 years ago at Access Living as a case manager and independent living counselor. I took a leave from the work force to raise my 3 children.  Wanting to be home with my children, but also wishing to be active in my community I began my second “career” as a lay leader holding almost every position on multiple not for profit boards over the next 30 years. I have held   the position of president, development chair, chair of board governance, I’ve been on strategic planning committees, compensation committees and outreach committees on the boards of schools, camps and social service agencies in Chicago.

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I then took my mental health background in another direction becoming certified as a life coach, helping people transcend the limitations and barriers in their lives to achieve their goals. 

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Harnessing all that experience, and the experiences and knowledge as a woman who is blind, I began speaking to school age children from preschool to high school, organizations and anyone who would have me, on disability awareness. This then led me to the writing of my book Close Your Eyes, a children’s’ book about a young girl who is blind.

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Now I am taking my 30 years of expertise and knowledge of board leadership, my passion for disability awareness and advocacy and my skills as a leader to bring disabled  representation to organization’s tables of power and influence.

​I  currently serve  as the board chair of Keshet ,serve as a member of the JDC Israel Unlimited Global Advisory committee and am a member of Disability lead.  I continue to work as a life coach, speaking in schools , writing on disability related issues and I’ll always be a passionate disability advocate committed to working with communities and organizations to bring disabled representation to the tables of power and influence, and create a more inclusive and just world for my children and grandchildren!

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- Michelle Friedman