Director - Rehabilitation Services

One of Bosma’s key philosophies is that the organization doesn’t help ‘the blind,’ but rather we help people who are blind or visually impaired. This emphasis on helping the whole person is personified by the work done by James Michaels, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. As Director of Rehabilitation Services for Bosma, James takes a holistic approach to working with people. He believes strongly in facilitating each individual’s highest potential. As a visually impaired man, he has insight into the feelings and emotions that accompany failing sight and is generous in his willingness to help others working to overcome fears associated with their disability.

Prior to coming to Bosma, James worked for a number of organizations that serve people who are deaf or blind. He worked in residential services at the Indiana School for the Deaf, and then took a position as the Psychiatric Social Services Specialist at the Indiana School for the Blind. Just before joining Bosma Enterprises, James spent three years at the state-run Bosma Rehabilitation Center as their Counselor. James’ interest in working with the blind and deaf communities goes back to his childhood, when as a child with significant vision loss he wanted desperately to not be ‘different.’ A transfer from public school to the Indiana School for the Blind during high school made all the difference in the world – it helped James to come to the realization that he was not so different, he just sees things differently than others. The sense of a weight being lifted from his shoulders led James to choose a career that allowed him to share his insights with others coping with vision loss. This career choice provided James with a recent honor for which he is very humbled by. In November of last year James was honored by the National Industries for the Blind with their 2007 Milton J. Samuelson Career Achievement Award.

James attended IUPUI and holds Baccalaureate and Masters degrees in Social Work. He and his wife

Connie are the proud parents of son Jesse. James is a very active volunteer – he is the Chair of the Indianapolis Mayor’s Advisory Council on Disability and an Advisory Board member of the Indiana Reading and Information Services (IRIS). He is also a member of the National Association of Social Workers. In his free time James is one of the Captains of the Indy Thunder Beep Baseball team. He also enjoys playing the guitar and writing music.

Experience
Indiana School for the Deaf – residential services
Indiana School for the Blind - Psychiatric Social Services Specialist
Bosma Rehabilitation Center - Counselor.

Education
IUPUI – B.S., Masters, Social Work

Affiliations
National Association of Social Workers

Volunteerism
Indianapolis Mayor’s Advisory Council on Disability - Chair
Indiana Reading and Information Services (IRIS) - Advisory Board Member

He and his wife Connie are the proud parents of son Jesse. In his free time James is one of the Captains of the Indy Thunder Beep Baseball team. He also enjoys playing the guitar and writing music.