Earlier this month, I was invited to attend the Washington Seminar in DC to advocate for three legislative initiatives that form the NFB’s legislative agenda that will improve the lives of blind Americans. Through Congressional legislative appointments, we introduced the three legislative initiatives to the offices of the House of Representatives and Senators and I got the opportunity to advocate for them. 

The Access Technology Affordability Act (ATAA) (H.R. 2086/S. 815)The Greater Access and Independence through Nonvisual Access Technology (GAIN) Act (H.R. 3929)The Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education (AIM HIGH) Act (H.R. 5312/S. 3095)

The legislative initiatives were received positively and we eagerly wait for a positive outcome.  

What is your purpose? A key question asked throughout high school, adolescence is a time for each individual to find what drives them. As high school students, not only do we attempt to understand the world around us, but we attempt to understand ourselves. For me, it has been my community service and the Loretto values of Faith, Community, Justice, and Respect that aid me in gaining this understanding. I’m thankful for the Loretto tradition of working for justice and acting in peace through service-learning. I have learned a lot working with the blind and visually impaired community and grown as a person. My journey has just begun. By sharing my story, I hope to inspire others to be catalysts for change and foster positive development within themselves.