Welcome to the first edition of Interviews to Empower where we introduce you to someone who can inspire you to never give up. This week you will meet an inspirational lady who never allows her disability to get in the way. Her motto in life is "Fun, Fitness, and Friendships". She feels as a person, whether blind or not, these things are important for success. Join us today as we interview Donna Brown.
Q: What is your name, and can you tell us about yourself?
A: My name is Donna Brown. I was born and raised near Philadelphia, PA. I am a graduate of the Overbrook School for the Blind in Philadelphia, and I received my undergraduate degree from Kutztown University in PA.
Q: Our blog is about blindness. Are you blind, or do you work with clients or students who are blind?
A: I am totally blind, and have been since birth. I also teach school-age students who are blind or have low vision. I have been a teacher at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind for 34 years.
Q: What subjects do you teach?
A: I am a technology instructor. I teach our students how to use assistive technology, screen readers, refreshable braille displays, and IOS devices. I also work with the other teachers to assist them with incorporating technology into their curriculum. I also coach our swimming and track teams.
Q: You said you attended a school for the blind. How long were you a student there?
A: I went to the Overbrook School for the Blind from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Q: How would you compare your experiences as a blind student to that as a blind professional?
A: As a blind student, all of my educational materials were provided in accessible formats. However, many of my experiences as a blind student prepared me for my professional career as a blind person. In my professional life, I have to do a lot more advocating for myself for such things as obtaining important information in accessible formats and for better and more up-to-date technology for my students.
Q: What role did extracurricular activities play for you as a blind student?
A: The extracurricular activities assisted me in developing good time management skills so that I could still get my school work done. These activities also provided me with experiences that I would not have had otherwise. Experiences such as traveling to a wide variety of places, and meeting new people.
Q: what got you into sports and was there ever a moment where you thought you might not be able to do it because you are blind?
A: I have always been an active person, and I have always liked to listen to professional sports on the radio. The only time I was concerned about my blindness interfering with my participation in sports was when I first went to college. I wanted to run on the track team, but it was hard to find people to run with me. So I decided to check out the possibility of being on my college swim team. That worked out well because little to no accommodations are needed to swim on an organized team.
Q: When you became an adult, how did you involve yourself in extracurricular activities, including sports and community activities?
A: I have always been a person who likes to get involved. When I first came to West Virginia, I became part of the WVSDB family. I got to know people rather quickly, and through these friendships, I found the church that I am still involved with. I was invited to Lions Club meetings, and later joined the club. Over time and just talking to people, I found a Masters swim team to join. The old saying "It's not what you know, but who you know" fits my involvement in extracurricular activities.
Thank you, Donna for allowing us to interview you.
On the 4th Thursday of every month we will be interviewing many different individuals. Some will be persons who are blind or visually impaired, while others will be sighted. All will inspire and empower you to never give up.
Thank you for reading, and be sure to come back next Thursday when we will be talking about advocacy.
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