VIDBE-Q 2026 Volume 71 Issue 1
to ask for help or suggestions, even while working with a familiar student.
Whenever possible, I try to observe other service providers and classroom teachers
to help generate strategies, whereas before, I mainly sought ideas at conferences
for vision professionals. The unpredictability that I experienced over multiple
school years has helped me become more resourceful, much like I had to be when
my career was first starting in Bolivia.
From the beginning of my career to the present, I am convinced that my
greatest opportunity was receiving the OSEP grant. Without the grant, I would
have been deterred from pursuing graduate studies in low vision and blindness.
Instead, it enabled me to reach my goal of helping others live more independently
and pursue their interests. I have been fortunate to witness students gain the skills
and confidence needed for a variety of activities, from accessing information to
safely crossing streets and using public transportation. I am grateful for the
opportunity that I received to go to graduate school, and I remain committed to
empowering individuals with visual impairments to lead independent, fulfilling
lives.
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