Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Fostering a more diverse, equitable and inclusive community is paramount to The Vision Council’s mission to create more opportunities for community-building and encourage industry growth.

Recent efforts to build a more diverse and inclusive vision care community include: the launch of The Vision Council’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force in 2020; the fielding of a comprehensive industry survey on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Survey in 2020; and the creation of an online certificate program in partnership with Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR) in 2021.

Mission Statement

As the industry that gives the world sight, we cannot be blind to the prejudices that minorities regularly confront. The Vision Council’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion task force is committed to working with all segments of the vision industry to amplify and embrace everyone’s voices. In order to push forward a more equitable agenda for the eyewear and eyecare industry and to build a more diverse and inclusive community, The Vision Council is focused on creating opportunities for more courageous and impactful engagements within the communities we serve.

Recent Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives

Opening Your Eyes: The Vision Council Scholarship Fund

Opening Your Eyes: The Vision Council Scholarship Fund is a program of the Better Vision Institute, the related educational foundation of The Vision Council. The program is designed to support minority high school students who have an interest in pursuing a career in the optical industry. The program supports selected students through monetary scholarships to opticianry school. The intent of the program is to launch a far-reaching effort that can expand to other segments of the industry.

For more information on the scholarship program, click here.

To Donate

To contribute to the scholarship program directly, click here.

Please contact Ashley Mills with any questions.

Advancing Diversity & Inclusion: A Cornell Certificate for Optical Professionals

In 2021, The Vision Council launched Advancing Diversity & Inclusion: A Cornell Certificate for Optical Professionals, an online four-course and capstone certificate program customized specifically for members of the vision community by Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR). The certificate program leads attendees through the perceptual, institutional and psychological processes that impact employee interactions in an effort to build a truly aware and inclusive work culture.

Members now have access to Cornell’s comprehensive Executive Certificate portfolio at a discounted rate.

2020 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Survey Report

In April 2021, The Vision Council released the 2020 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Survey Report. The report provides an in-depth analysis of the custom survey The Vision Council fielded to the vision care community in November 2020. 

For more information on the survey, click here.