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Lorem Ipsum Dolor Spring 2016
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with grace and confidence about the resilience, challenges, and strengths of
people with CHARGE Syndrome, a leading cause of deafblindness. She
spoke of her work with the CHARGE Syndrome Foundation, an organization
led by family members and of the work that they do to support research and
best practices in the field. When Aubrey was asked about what teachers,
interveners and professionals should know, she responded that no two
people are the same, but that a teacher should see the student's strengths
and to build instruction and support from those strengths. Paloma Rambana,
a 10-year-old student from Florida, spoke about her advocacy as a student
with visual impairments. Paloma's successful campaign to raise millions of
dollars for assistive technology for students with visual impairments also
brought her acclaim at the CEC. This year Paloma was recognized as a "Yes
I Can" award winner. When she was asked about what she would do in her
future, Paloma stated first that she would pursue a Senate seat and later the
Presidency, to wild cheers of approval at the forum. Later, during the time
when participants were visiting sponsor tables and networking, Joseph
Boggs, a young adult with deafblindness who won a CEC "Yes I Can" award
from Kentucky, came to the forum and was introduced with his Teacher of the
Visually Impaired, Gerald Abner, and Dr. Donna Brostek Lee from Kentucky.
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