About
Mission Statement
We provide instruction and resources through certified teachers and volunteers to those affected by vision loss in assistive technology, travel, and daily living skills.
Our story
iSight Connections is a nonprofit organization founded in 2019 initially to provide support groups for individuals with vision loss in the Colorado Springs area but we have expanded our services. Thanks to a generous grant from Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments, we now offer FREE in-home and remote vision rehabilitation services to seniors 60 and over, which includes Assistive Technology (AT), Orientation and Mobility (O&M), Daily Living Skills (DLS), and Low Vision Training (LVT) to individuals with vision loss in Colorado Springs and surrounding areas.
iSight Connections’ founder Tim Richard is passionate about helping those with vision impairment learn how to thrive independently and enjoy the quality of life they deserve.
Currently, there are many who do not qualify for vocational rehabilitation services because they are not planning to go back to work. This means that crucial instruction in vision rehabilitation training is unavailable to them – skills like reading, writing, using a computer, cooking, traveling and shopping.
This is why iSight Connections’ team of certified instructors offer free remote and in-home instruction to blind and low vision adults who do not qualify for other services.
iSight Connections continually seeks to partner with foundations and like-minded individuals to create opportunities for the visually impaired to gain independence, confidence, and adjust personally and psychologically to their vision loss.
“Tim has brought me into the electronic world with my phone, tablet, and JAWS. He is really patient and has his own way of teaching beyond what the computer does so that it just sticks better in your head. He is great to work with!”
—Monica, client
Our Team
iSight Connections’ certified instructors provide training and material aid to blind and low vision clients to help them learn to live independently.
Tim Richard
President
iSight Connections founder Tim Richard has worked in the field of blindness and low vision for 25 years. He has served as an instructor at a number of nonprofits, including Braille Institute in Los Angeles, Junior Blind of America, Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind, and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.
He holds dual master’s degrees in Vision Rehabilitation Therapy and Orientation and Mobility, and is one of a small group of nationwide Certified Assistive Technology Instruction Specialists.
Tim’s passion is to help those with vision impairment learn how to thrive independently and enjoy the quality of life they deserve.
Nancy Barron
Certified Instructor
Nancy joined the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind in 2019 as a teacher of assistive technology. Previously, she taught both adults and children with visual impairment in the Pittsburgh area for more than 25 years. During her time in Pittsburgh, she worked as a rehabilitation teacher, a teacher of the visually impaired, an orientation and mobility specialist, and a low vision therapist.
Nancy has a Master’s of Education in Rehabilitation Teaching and her certifications include: Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist for People with Visual Impairments (CATIS), Teacher of Students with Visual Impairment (TVI), Certified Low Vision Therapist (CLVT), and Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS).
Jared Graham
Volunteer Program Manager
Helping others to navigate the world of visual disability and blindness is one of the many things Jared loves to do. Jared has Retinitis Pigmentosa and two of his four brothers have the same disorder. He loves being active and has worked hard to stay active as his diagnosis worsens.
Jared’s other endeavors include leadership development and working toward his PhD in marriage and family therapy because he has a passion to help marriages with one or more disabled spouses.
“No obstacle, including vision loss, is able to keep me from a full and thriving life, and I believe in teaching others to do the same.”
Jared has been married to his best friend for over 26 years and he is the father of three brilliant and incredible children.
Mary Graham
Executive Assistant
Mary has a colorful medical background driven by her enthusiasm for helping others and working with seniors, especially those experiencing vision loss. She has been married for eight years to Jared Graham, who is legally blind, and is passionate about this experience to find solutions for those affected by vision loss.
She balances her work with iSight Connections with raising and homeschooling her three young children and enjoying the beautiful nature in her backyard of Colorado. A lover of continued learning, she never stops finding opportunities to bring comfort and assistance to the community around her.
Ann Carlisle
Trainer
Ann is a veteran of nonprofit management, retiring as CEO of the Pikes Peak Chapter of the American Red Cross now American Red Cross of Southeast Colorado. She works coaching nonprofits with a proven track record in project management, financial development, team building, and new program rollout. Helping to support clients as they build their strategic directions for the future. Ann develops and conducts training for staff, Board Members, and clients. Ann believes in investing in her community and working to improve the quality of life for others makes life sweeter.
Her work includes iSight Connections, Space Foundation, Song of the Mountain Threshold Choir, Colorado Department of Human Services, El Paso County Department of Human Services, Office of Child and Family Services in New York State, Rutgers University, American Humane Association, Healing Light, Humble Hearts, Colorado Springs Conservatory.
Evan MacDonald
Assistive Technology Instructor
Evan started his career in the field of low vision and blindness at the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind in 2018 as a teacher of the blind and visually impaired. Previously, he attended George Mason University where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Communications. Later on, Evan would find a great passion for teaching and helping others. He applied and graduated from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs with a teaching certification in Social Studies.
From there, he applied and was accepted to Western Michigan University (WMU). He pursued his master’s degree in Teaching Children with Visual Impairments and graduated in May of 2022. While at WMU, he learned about the field of assistive technology. From that point forward, Evan knew that was the path that he wanted to follow. He is currently pursuing a certification in assistive technology. He is certified in both ZoomText and JAWS. He hopes to be one of the few people in Colorado to become a Certified Assistive Technology Instructional Specialist.
Tommi Sue Celli
Assistive Technology Instructor
Tommi Sue was born and raised in Colorado Springs and graduated from The Classical Academy. Tommi Sue has been teaching for thirteen years in various environments. She holds an undergraduate degree in Geography from the University of Colorado, a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction for Elementary Education also from CU, a master’s degree in Special Education emphasized in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education, again from CU, and a master’s degree in Visual Impairment from the University of Northern Colorado. She is currently going back to school to earn her Certification in Assistive Technology Instruction Specialist (CATIS) through Northern Illinois University and her Certification in Orientation and Mobility (COMS) from the University of Northern Colorado. It is a passion of Tommi Sue’s to help promote and support independence.
Tommi Sue, her husband and 4-year-old son enjoy being outside, eating good food and sitting on a beach in Mexico. Tommi Sue feels blessed to be working with Tim and the team at iSight Connections as well as the community members.
Jeanette Fortin
Community Outreach Coordinator
Jeanette Fortin worked as the Older Individuals With Blindness specialist at the Independence Center in Colorado Springs for 11 years. She worked with low vision/blind seniors assisting them with adjusting to vision loss in their daily lives. She lead several support groups for low vision/blind seniors and her passion is working with seniors to continue to live independently and thrive in their community. She looks forward to continue to work with seniors with iSight Connections.
Lori Mattick
Daily Living Skills and Braille Instructor
Lori has been involved with learning about blindness and vision loss for 23 years. The first blind person she met was her daughter! Lori was an elementary school teacher for many years. However, her daughter’s blindness caused her to become interested in the education of visually impaired children. Lori had received her Bachelors degree in education from the University of Saskatchewan in Canada. She obtained her Master’s degree in Special Education for Students with Visual Impairments from the University of North Dakota. Lori has worked as a Teacher of Students with Visual Impairments (TSVI) for the last 14 years. She has worked in the Outreach department for North Dakota Vision Services, in the transition department at the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind, and is currently working as an itinerant TSVI in Falcon School District #49. Lori and her husband are currently empty nesters with their 2 daughters in college in two different states. Lori is passionate about working with individuals with vision loss to help them to lead the lives they desire!
Our Board
Tim Richard
President
iSight Connections founder Tim Richard has worked in the field of blindness and low vision for 25 years. He has served as an instructor at a number of nonprofits, including Braille Institute in Los Angeles, Junior Blind of America, Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind, and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. See full bio above.
Betty Pearson
Secretary
Betty has been a part of iSight Connections since its early beginnings. After being diagnosed with macular degeneration, she took an early retirement from Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, Texas where she worked as a medical clerk, and moved to Los Angeles to attend the Braille Institute, to learn both physical and emotional skills needed to live independently as an older individual with vision loss.
While attending the Braille Institute, not only did she learn daily living skills, but orientation and mobility, adaptive technology, and most of all the confidence and courage to go back to college after forty years. School is never easy, and going back in your sixties with a disability comes with its own set of challenges and dreams. However, in 2017 Betty graduated from UC Denver, with a degree in Psychology.
Shortly after graduation, Betty moved to Colorado Springs, where she became a part of the initial iSight Connection Group, while completing a work-study program at the Independence Center. as a facilitator and advocate for older individuals with blindness. Betty says, change is never easy, and for older adults with blindness it can be frustrating and scary, so she hopes that her experience can encourage and inspire others not to fear change and never stop learning.
Christopher Humlicek
Treasurer
Chris graduated from Drake University with a Bachelors degree in Public Administration, and completed his MBA at the University of Iowa Tippie School of Management. He currently serves in an HR Leadership role at Progressive Insurance and also serves on the leadership team with the Colorado Springs Christian Church. Chris has served in various volunteer positions with other non-profit boards over his career.
Along with his wife and boys, Chris enjoys spending family time camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities in the Colorado area. His favorite quote is: “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.”
Chris is honored to be a part of the team and the important work that iSight Connections is doing.
Jay Maloney
Member at Large
Jay grew up in Rye, New York, a nice town located on Long Island Sound just north of NYC. He served with the Army in Vietnam in the late ’60 where he spent his year there as a medic in a hospital Emergency Room in Chu Lai. After returning to the states, Jay attended and graduated from Colorado College where he met his wife, Dawn Beattie. They got married in 1977 and have two daughters and two grandsons.
After graduating, Jay had a four-decade career as a development officer and foundation executive primarily in support of healthcare and higher education. He founded the Penrose-St. Francis Foundation, served as Centura Health’s first Sr. Vice President for Philanthropy, and as Chief Development Officer for Colorado College. Jay retired in 2015 from his final career position as President and CEO of Catholic Health Initiatives ( now Common Spirit Health ) Foundation.
Jay remains engaged with veterans, serving as Sr. Vice Commander of VFW Colorado District 5 and as Senior Past Commander of VFW Post 101. He created and leads “Coming Home Haunted,” a project with VFW and Mt. Carmel VSC (Veterans Service Center) for combat veterans who seek to gain wisdom from war-related Moral Injury.
Paul Tompkins
Member at Large
Paul Tomkins brings legal expertise and a commitment to service to his role as a Board Member of iSight Connections. Paul is a seasoned Corporate Counsel and Litigation Attorney with a career spanning over two decades. He currently serves as the Director of Compliance and In-House Counsel for the family of companies including Government Works, Inc., Brainwave Science, Inc., and eHealthcare Works, Inc. In this role, Paul has successfully navigated multi-state and international litigation, serving as first chair trial counsel to his employer within complex intellectual property, trade secret, and employment law matters. His efforts have led to a number of positive resolutions, including favorable outcomes before the International Centre for Dispute Resolution and securing permanent state and federal court injunctions. Additionally, Paul has substantial experience in corporate governance, non-profit governance and compliance. Paul regularly provides support to domestic and international non-profit Boards of Directors.
Throughout his career, Paul has earned the trust of his fellow attorneys and the courts. He has accepted court appointments to serve as a special prosecutor in matters involving government official misconduct and as a court-appointed referee in civil litigation matters.
Paul’s dedication to his community is evident through his volunteer work. He has served as a CASA-Trained, Court-Appointed Guardian Ad Litem, advocating for child victims of neglect and abuse. Paul has also contributed his legal expertise to the American Civic Association, which promotes cultural diversity through immigration services, refugee resettlement, and educational programming, and co-founded The Healing House, a peer-supported community organization that helps adult survivors of childhood abuse on their paths to recovery. Additionally, Paul has been a Youth Coach and Volunteer Counsel for USA Rugby Programs, supporting young athletes in North Carolina and Colorado.
Paul holds a Juris Doctor from The State University of New York School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Government from St. Lawrence University. He is admitted to practice law in the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, the United States District Court (NDNY), the United States Tax Court, and the Colorado Supreme Court.