Khadija Bari is the College Career Program Manager in the Workforce Development department at VISIONS/Services for the Blind & Visually Impaired.
Bari lives in Queens, New York with her husband, stepdaughter and their dog. Bari was born in Pakistan and immigrated to the United States at the age of 22. It is then that she learned she had a disability and was diagnosed as being legally blind. Bari wrote a personal reflection that RespectAbility published during Women’s HERstory Month in 2020.
Bari earned her Master’s degree in Economics from Hunter College of the City University of New York. She then began her career at Queens College of the City University of New York, working with first-generation college students in their learning in freshmen and sophomore Algebra and Calculus courses. The next step in her career advancement led her to VISIONS, switching her focus to the professional development of college students and job seekers with visual impairments and other disabilities, and she partners with companies to foster inclusivity in their workplace.
After attending several RespectAbility events and trainings, Bari was selected to participate in its Women’s Speakers Bureau: NYC. Bari was also invited to serve on the Board of Advisors of RespectAbility. In January 2021, in partnership with two others, Bari opened a restaurant in Manhattan called Meat and Bread. She helps manage marketing and administrative aspects of the business, and in continuing to identify ways to make dining a more inclusive experience for all visitors.