Kirk Adams PhD in

Kirk Adams PhD

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Executive Director at Institute for Sustainable Diversity & Inclusion
📍 Seattle, Washington, United States

Dr. Kirk Adams is the Executive Director at the Institute for Sustainable Diversity & Inclusion, leveraging over three decades of experience in disability employment and inclusion. As the former CEO of the American Foundation for the Blind and The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. , he is a recognized leader in creating accessible, equitable career pathways.

Driven by his personal experience of losing his sight at age five, Dr. Adams is a lifelong advocate for people with disabilities. He moved back to his home city of Seattle to be closer to his family, including his first grandchild, illustrating a deep commitment to both his professional mission and personal life.

Unique fact: His PhD dissertation was an ethnographic study of blind adults who are successfully employed in major American corporations.

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Experience
25 Years
Current Role
Executive Director
Job Level
Senior
Location
Seattle, Washington, United States
Personality Overview

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Communication Style
Decision Approach
Work Preference

Behavioral traits and communication patterns that shape how this person evaluates opportunities, builds trust, and makes decisions in professional settings.

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Priorities

Topics Kirk cares about

Disability Inclusion
A lifelong advocate, he focuses on helping companies implement disability inclusion strategies, viewing it as a strategic advantage rather than a compliance exercise.
Accessible Technology
He frequently speaks on how technology, from assistive devices to haptic feedback for sports, can create more inclusive experiences for blind and low-vision individuals.
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Career

Work history

12-2025
Executive Director
Institute for Sustainable Diversity & Inclusion
7-2022
Disability, Equity, and Inclusion Advisor
Innovative Impact LLC
11-2022
Strategic Advisor/Business Development
CurbCutOS, Inc.
5-2016 - 6-2022
President and CEO
American Foundation for the Blind
6-2000 - 5-2016
President and CEO
Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.
In the press

Media appearances

Institute for Sustainable Diversity & Inclusion (ISDI) Welcomes Dr. Kirk Adams to Board of Directors. Featured in AT Newswire
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Education
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD
Antioch University
2010 - 2016
Master's Degree
Antioch University
Social presence
in
Behavioral profile

DISC profile (public)

DISC behavioral profile

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