Michael Phillips, of Travis Association for the Blind/Austin Lighthouse, has been selected as the 2026 Milton J. Samuelson Career Achievement Award Winner.
Presented annually, the Samuelson Award recognizes an individual who demonstrates career advancement at an NIB associated nonprofit agency or in the private sector.
While Michael, a mission services training supervisor, knew he had been nominated for the honor, but admitted he didn’t pay too much attention to the nomination. At least not at first.
“I’ve been here for many years, and I heard about these nominations and awards,” he said, adding when he was told he won, it came as a huge surprise. “I’m still in shock, more than anything. No one here has ever done this before.”
Michael has been with the agency for a total of 22 years, and while he left briefly, returned and has been there now since 2014. In the last five years he has advanced swiftly in his career.
“I was a direct employee for many years, then moved into a training position, became an indirect employee, then became a supervisor,” he said. “I’ve taken leadership development classes, and it doesn’t stop, my career just gets better and better.”
Michael lost his sight at 26 after doing something most people wouldn’t think twice about: taking ibuprofen.
“I took Motrin. I’m sure I’d taken it before,” he said. “But that’s where it started.”
Prior to his vision loss, Michael had worked a number of different jobs, including construction and, since he had a CDL, driving trucks.
“When this happened, I was like, ‘what do I do now?’ Then my girlfriend – now my wife – found this job at a warehouse staffed by the Lighthouse,” he said, adding he was hired and for years was content to be a warehouse specialist. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t trying to improve.
“I was trying to find the easiest, fastest way to do things as a blind person. Then I started helping other people, and a light went off. I saw how the trainers operated.”
When a trainer position opened up, Michael applied. He got the job, and hasn’t looked back.
“I love being able to help people in my situation, people who don’t know that they have options, that want to learn,” he said. “I want to give back. I came into this place not knowing anything about it. “
Now, Michael oversees four other trainers, and works with employees who may also join the Lighthouse, like he did, not knowing what to expect. He helps them understand that people who are blind can do so much, it just might take a little bit more time.
“It’s more about giving trainees the reassurance they can do it, and positive feedback,” he said. “One of my biggest things here at the job is communicating, because not everyone is the same. People process things differently.”
A devoted father, Michael also loves cars, and still works on them in his spare time. He even changes his wife’s brakes, which many people would think was impossible for someone who is blind.
He knows from experience, though, that it is. He even made a video to prove it.
Looking back, Michael admits he didn’t think he would be where he is today.
“I didn’t think it was possible. I thought ‘I’m going to be a worker ant and pull orders all day, I’m going to be stuck at the bottom.’ But I tried new things, and it changed,” he said, crediting his colleagues who supported him along the way. “It had to do with the people I worked with.”