On this episode of Change Makers, we are live from APH’s 154th Annual Meeting. Held October 5–7 at the Hyatt Regency Louisville in Downtown Louisville, Ex Officio Trustees (EOT) , EOT Census Assistants, Online Ordering Assistants, and other attendees came together to share news, ideas and inspiration.
Additonal Links:
On this episode of Change Makers, we are live from APH’s 154th Annual Meeting. Held October 5–7 at the Hyatt Regency Louisville in Downtown Louisville, Ex Officio Trustees (EOT) , EOT Census Assistants, Online Ordering Assistants, and other attendees came together to share news, ideas and inspiration.
Additonal Links:
Welcome to Change Makers, a podcast from APH. We're talking to people from around the world who are creating positive change in the lives of people who are blind or have low vision. Here's your host.
Sara Brown:Hello and welcome to Change Makers. I'm APH's Public Relations Manager, Sara Brown. And today we are recapping our 154th Annual Meeting held October 5 through the 7th at the Hyatt Regency in Downtown Louisville. Ex Officio Trustees, EOTs, census assistants, online ordering assistants, and other attendees came together to share ideas, news and inspiration. Have a listen as I take you through the InSights Art, Hall of Fame induces, and speak to just about anyone and everyone. Here's a listen at some of the sounds from this year's Annual Meeting.
Jay Wilson:I'm Jay Wilson from the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Sara Brown:Wonderful. Now, is this your first annual meeting?
Jay Wilson:Uh, no. I've been to multiple. Well, it's always, that's the best part of APH is just the networking and reaching out to individuals from the different schools for the blind or different vendors and seeing all the products. So it's great to be back in, in person.
Amy Parker:I'm, I'm Amy Parker. I work at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon.
Sara Brown:And can you tell us what's it feel like to be back in person?
Amy Parker:Oh, it's a joy. It's a joy to see people, how they've changed, how they've grown, to have conversations that maybe you wouldn't have online or maybe just don't have time. So seeing somebody and just sitting for a few minutes and hearing about what they're doing is just, it's just a joy.
Sara Brown:And is there anything that you're, you've learned over the course of a coup of these past few days that you know you're gonna take back with you and try to implement? It's
Amy Parker:Just so good to be reminded of that inclusion mindset of being empowered. I loved Leona's talk. It was just perfect in terms of how we see the world differently and how we can partner and ally with, with people wherever we are, wherever we're living and working. We can do that work there and be a part of it.
Sara Brown:And one final question. Is there anything you're excited for that's in the pipeline for next year? Or whether it's new products, new services, any ideas, or a lot of people have said networking and facilitating that relationship in the new year. Is there anything you're looking forward to for 2023?
Amy Parker:Well, I just keep hearing good things about the Hive and it's just a way to strengthen relationships. So I teach at the university, so we use those talks, we use the products, our students use them, but it's just a real strengthener for our programs. The quality of the content is so good, um, that it's just a relief and a joy to be able to work with The Hive. And Leanne and Amy Campbell, just wonderful.
Sara Brown:Those are some great people you just mentioned. Okay, Amy, thank you so much for joining me today on Change Makers.
Amy Parker:Thank you so much.
Dr. Antonio McGee:I'm, uh, Dr. Antonio McGee. I'm a EOT for, Mississippi and work at Mississippi School for the Deaf and the Blind.
Sara Brown:Wonderful. And now is this your first Annual Meeting?
Dr. Antonio McGee:This is, I've only been a EOT for, well, in September, officially a year.
Sara Brown:Congratulations on that one year anniversary. That's awesome. So how does it feel to be at your first annual meeting?
Dr. Antonio McGee:It's great. It's an opportunity to network, uh, more. Uh, we did attend a brief cohort of new EOT's in April, but it's opportunity to network more with, uh, people from around the United States and to get that, I guess, that message that we've been looking for and being more effective in serving our kids with visual impairments.
Sara Brown:Wonderful. Antonio, thank you so much for coming on Change Makers and welcome to the team. Welcome to APH. Thanks. Welcome as an EOT.
Dr. Antonio McGee:Right, Thank you.
Abby Hodge:I'm Abby Hodge and I am with the Kentucky Office of Vocational Rehabilitation.
Sara Brown:How does it feel for your first Annual Meeting?
:It's Nice. It's very, um, very, um, very welcoming, very helpful. It feels nice to kind of connect with, um, people who make the products that you use every day with, I teach adults, so it's really nice to kind of meet the people who create.
Greg Gerhart:Hi, my name's Greg Gerhart and I'm from Pennsylvania.
Sara Brown:How does it feel being back in person for APH's Annual Meeting?
Greg Gerhart:Oh, it's wonderful to make connections with, with new people, with people that you've met in virtual meetings, through social media, and come together and, uh, really enjoy all these sessions together. It's been real, real fun time.
Sara Brown:What's the one takeaway you're taking away from this Annual Meeting? Is there anything that you're like,"I can't wait to implement this at work?
Greg Gerhart:Uh, I think all the developments that are coming, uh, there's so many new, exciting developments that are in our field, and this just such a good opportunity to see where the future, what's, what's ahead in the future, and the exciting news and changes in our, I I work with students who are blind and visually impaired, um, with the Department of Education, and it's just really neat to see what's gonna be available for school age students in the future.
Sara Brown:Gregory, thank you so very much for coming on today on Change Makers.
Abby Hodge:Thank you.
James Caton:Uh, James Caton, Superintendent at the Arkansas School for the Blind.
Sara Brown:How does it feel to be back in person after two years of virtual?
James Caton:It's very exciting, you know, to see everybody and, you know, there's just such a presence at APH and so it's nice to be part of that again.
Sara Brown:What has gotten you the most excited? What are you excited to implement when you go back to Arkansas?
James Caton:Oh, all my notes that I've taken<laugh>, so I would have to pull them out.
Sara Brown:All right. And one last question. Is there anything else you'd like to say about your time here at Annual Meeting?
James Caton:Well, I wish we had maybe another day or so, but, uh, we don't, so it'll come to an end, but, uh, I've really enjoyed it so
Sara Brown:Far. All right. James, thank you so much for joining me today on Change Makers.
James Caton:All Right.
Jill Dunway:My name is Jill Dunway. I'm with the Center for Assistive Technology Training. We are a federally funded partnership between Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind and American Printing House for the Blind, and we are proud to be partners with APH.
Sara Brown:And how does it feel to be back for our Annual Meeting?
Jill Dunway:It's great to be back in person. Virtual events are wonderful, but it's really nice to get to connect face to face.
Sara Brown:And is there anything that you've taken away from any of the, the sessions that you've attended that just have you super excited?
Jill Dunway:Probably the thing that I'm most excited about is as a braille user myself and as a TVI is Polly. I think everybody's super excited.
Sara Brown:I think so too. That's a big one. That's a big one. And is there anything that you've taken from the sessions that you're excited to implement when you go back home?
Jill Dunway:Just a renewed dedication to our mission and what we do and how important it is that we serve our, our kids and teachers and parents and families.
Sara Brown:Wonderful. Thank you so much for joining me today on Change Makers.
Jill Dunway:Thank you.
Jay Wilson:I'm Jay Wilson from the Indiana School for the Blind, individually impaired.
Sara Brown:How Does it feel to be back in person? Well,
Jay Wilson:It's always, that's the best part of APH is just the networking and reaching out to individuals from the different schools for the blind or different vendors and seeing all the products. So it's great to be back in, in person.
Sara Brown:Is there anything that you're taking away from anything that you've learned here that you're gonna take back and implement in your daily life back at, back in Indiana?
Jay Wilson:Well, I think, yeah, I think all the, all the APH products, you, you can have a, get a hands on look in what they're doing and some of the different things you're doing, so then you can take that back to your staff.
Sara Brown:Jay, thank you so very much for joining me today on Change Makers.
Jay Wilson:Right, thank you.
Nancy Moulton:My name's Nancy Moton. I'm with Education Services for Blind and Visually Impaired Children through Catholic Charities, Maine.
Sara Brown:How, how does it feel to be back in, in person and what's got you most excited from the session?
Nancy Moulton:Um, I'm loving being back in person, connecting with all of my colleagues across the country and seeing all the things that APH is working on.
Sara Brown:Nancy, thank you so much. Thank You.
Robert Hair:I'm Robert Hair, I'm the superintendent at the Maryland School for the Blind.
Sara Brown:Is this your first Annual Meeting?
Robert Hair:No, I've been many, many times probably for 25 years.
Sara Brown:Oh, wow. Now, well, how does it feel to be back in person?
Robert Hair:Oh, the, you, you can't connect on the same level as when we're in person, so we're so glad to be back. Uh, we've missed all of our colleagues and, uh, spending that one to one time and group time together.
Sara Brown:Now. Is there anything that you've taken away from the sessions that just has you so excited, so pumped and eager to implement or looking forward to next year?
Robert Hair:Well, um, I thought the keynote speaker today was fantastic. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>. Um, and really understanding the sort of the intersectional is, is like issues of being blind or, or as well as all the other things that we were working on societally, like<laugh> towards more, um, inclusivity and diversity and just changing your mindset. I thought it was a fantastic, fantastic presentation.
Sara Brown:Thank you, Robert. Have a good rest of your time.
Robert Hair:Okay.
Speaker 11:I'm Cara Kennett from Indiana.
Sara Brown:And is this your first Annual Meeting?
Cara Kennett:This is my first Annual Meeting.
Sara Brown:Okay. Now, how does it feel to be at your first APH Annual Meeting?
Cara Kennett:Well, I think the, the theme is empowering. So it's very empowering to learn new tools for my toolbox as well as take back and help, um, my employees with, um, giving them tools for their toolboxes so my students can be more successful.
Sara Brown:And one last question. Is there anything you're looking forward to, to implementing when you get back to work? Or is there anything you're looking forward to, whether it's products or services that you've seen in some of these sessions for next year?
Cara Kennett:Um, absolutely. I think the expanded core curriculum is a huge push, so I'm gonna grab some tools for my toolbox to use that and take it back. And we're gonna go from there.
Sara Brown:Let me get you to introduce yourself.
Mata'afa Fa'atino Utuampu:Hi, I'm Mata'afa Fa'atino Utuampu, I'm American Samoa.
Scott McCallum:Hello, I'm Scott McCullum. I'm, uh, from the Washington State School for the Blind.
FAU:Hi. So FAU TVI from American Samoa
Sara Brown:Now, who's been to APH's Annual Meeting before? Have you all three been before or is this your first time?
FAU:This is my first time.
Sara Brown:Okay. So for the first timers, how does it feel to be here in Louisville, Kentucky, seeing all the sites and sounds and being a part of peach's annual meeting?
Mata'afa Fa'atino Utuampu:Awesome. My, I I, it's a great experience to be here meeting a lot of people. Um, having to have assistant that we, we never knew before, that we have a lot of assistant that can assist us back home with materials and products that we can use for our blind students.
Sara Brown:Wonderful. And what's been the coolest thing you've seen here so far at APS annual meeting or just here in Louisville, Kentucky?
FAU:Um, I'm able to actually connect with the supporters or the consultants that we'll be providing support for us at American Sam.
Sara Brown:Awesome. Now we've got Scott McCallum and you're a veteran here. Yeah. Talk about some of the things that you've seen and some of the, just the amazing things now that we're back in person. It, I've, this is my first time in person, third time annual meeting, but it feels so good and I don't even know what it was like before.
Scott McCallum:Yeah. It's just so wonderful to be here and get to meet people and, uh, make some new friends from American Samoa. And we're starting a new program with APH, so that includes American Samoa and so I'm really excited to meet people from there. Um, honestly, there's just this energy here and so yes, there's lots of really cool products and services that we learn about, but the energy here and the connections we get to make with professionals who are all serving blind and low vision children around the, the world, really. It's awesome.
Sara Brown:It is awesome. It's so wonderful just to be in person. That's one thing I'm hearing a lot of is back in person watching this over Zoom. You can't get that over zoom this, this feel and this electricity that we all have. Is there anything else anybody wants to say about APH's Annual Meeting before we conclude?
Scott McCallum:I wanna say here's to new friends. We're super excited to meet everybody here.
Mata'afa Fa'atino Utuampu:I wanna say I'm glad to meet Scott. Uh, I know he will be a great help for us back home in American Samoa.
Sara Brown:Anything else?
FAU:Great to actually hear from the, the, the individuals who actually produce the products.
Sara Brown:Wonderful. Okay. Thank you all so much for joining me today on Change Makers. Have a rest, Wonderful rest of your time. Thank you.
Scott McCallum:Thank You.
Paige Challenger:I'm Paige Challenger and I'm from Arkansas Educational Services for the Visually Impaired.
Sara Brown:And this is your first APH Annual Meeting?
Paige Challenger:Yes, it is.
Sara Brown:Oh, wonderful. Well, how are you liking it so far?
Paige Challenger:I, I like it. It's very interesting. It's great to be able to see product and hear the latest things going on.
Sara Brown:And is there anything that you've learned that you're just so excited for, whether it's a product or a service that you've seen?
Paige Challenger:Um, well what I really enjoyed was from the Michigan Department of Ed. That was, uh, the independent lessons li you know, and all I thought that was really interesting and, and I can't wait to
Sara Brown:Use it. Is there anything else you'd like to say about APH's Annual Meeting or any products that you've seen that you're just like super excited and can't wait to see?
Paige Challenger:The Polly? I can't wait for that to come out and all. Um, a lot of us were talking about that in my group. You know, what we can see as, um, a useful tool for a beginning Braille to continue with braille just very useful and, and well rounded tool.
Sara Brown:Paige, thank you so much for joining me on Change Makers today.
Paige Challenger:Thank you.
Michelle Arakawa:I'm Michelle Arakawa, I'm with the Hawaii Department of Education and I also have my teacher of visually impaired from Hawaii here.
Erika Hopper:Hi, I'm Erika Hopper.
Sara Brown:Okay. Welcome ladies. Can you talk about what it's like and what you're learning here at APH's Annual Meeting?
Michelle Arakawa:I'm learning much about how other states are doing amazing things and giving me ideas to take back to our state of how maybe we can connect with them or, um, really just reach out and use their resources too to help our program.
Santori Little:My name is Santori Little and I'm with AIDB Center for Assisted Technology Treatment.
Sara Brown:And is this your first Annual Meeting?
Santori Little:It's my very first Annual Meeting.
Sara Brown:Well, how long have you been in the position in the field?
Santori Little:I've been in the field about four years.
Sara Brown:Wonderful. And this is your first Annual Meeting, so how does it feel to attend an APH Annual Meeting?
Santori Little:It feels wonderful. Get to see all the things that we give students and their parents and even teachers. It is a great thing to see it because I'm really, really astonished by it
Sara Brown:All. And is there anything that you're, that you've learned that you're gonna take away with you and implement when you get back home?
Santori Little:Self-advocacy. So that's a big thing for me. I am the same way. I want people to be able to do what they can do without having too much assistance, cuz it gives them a sense of confidence.
Sara Brown:Is there anything that you've, from your sessions that you've attended, is there anything you're looking forward to that's coming in the future? Whether it's a product, a service, or anything?
Santori Little:I'm looking forward to the Mantis. I really like the Mantis because what I've learned today is not only just a reader for a young child, but it can also grow with the child as they grow.
Sara Brown:So thank you so much for joining me today on Change Makers.
Santori Little:Thank you. You have a great day.
Audrey Graves:Hi, I'm a Audrey Graves. I'm with, uh, Nebraska Center for the Education of Children who are blind or visually impaired. I'm the director of programs.
Sara Brown:Wonderful and welcome. Is this your first Annual Meeting?
Audrey Graves:Oh, no. No. I've been to many of these. I love it every year.
Sara Brown:Now. How does it feel to be back in person? I know this is my first and it feels awesome. So what about you? You're a veteran here.
Audrey Graves:It feels amazing. I mean, with COVID and with everything being virtual came with a lot of things that we learned on how to serve everyone. But to be in person, there's nothing like it. This is the most welcoming group of professionals that I've ever been with. So I love it.
Sara Brown:Now is there anything you've heard or learned in your sessions that you've attended that's got you excited to implement when you get back home?
Audrey Graves:Oh yeah, I mean here I get excited to see things such as the Polly. I think our students will love the Polly because it's a game and it's a learning game. Um, also went to a session with the Michigan. So lots of independent living, um, skills modules, also with the APH products that you can use with it. Um, I'm trying to think of everything else. I love, um, hearing from the APH Scholars because they always have fresh takes on everything we're doing.
Sara Brown:Audrey, thank you so much for joining me today on Change Makers.
Audrey Graves:Thank you so much.
Jonathan Carley:My name is Jonathan Carley from Des Moines, Iowa.
Sara Brown:Is this your first Annual Meeting?
Jonathan Carley:This is, yes.
Sara Brown:So tell us about it. How's it feel to be at an APH Annual Meeting?
Jonathan Carley:Yeah. It feels great to be here. I've heard many stories throughout the years of people having positive experiences here. So this is my first time. Um, I was able to do the APH Museum Tour yesterday and it was great to see where all of that happens and all of our materials comes from. Um, yeah, so far so good. Just enjoying meeting everybody from around the country and hearing all the same stories that we have.
Sara Brown:What are some of the things that you're excited to, you know, implement when you go back to work, implement or just see coming, whether it's in the pipeline, whether it's new products or services, anything like that? What are you looking forward to?
Jonathan Carley:Um, so, so far today I've learned about the Polly, um, and having conversations about how we can bring that to Iowa and how we can implement that with students. Um, but then the bigger one was about independent living skills and, um, from the Michigan um, independent living skills checklist and the modules they've created and kind of systematically how we can implement that across the board with many students. So lots of ideas going through my head at this point. All
Sara Brown:Right. Well Jonathan, thank you so much for joining us today on Change Makers.
Jonathan Carley:You bet. Thank you very much.
Yvonne Ali:I'm Yvonne Ali, I'm EOT for the state of Missouri.
Sara Brown:Okay. And you said you are retired now, but you're here at our Annual Meeting?
Yvonne Ali:Yes. I'm here to put a period on my working career<laugh> to change to close the chapter. Uh, in the book and start a new one.
Sara Brown:How long were you in the game?
Yvonne Ali:20 years here. Wow. Years as an EOT. Um, prior to that I did a myriad of other things, uh, other industries, but I enjoyed this the most.
Sara Brown:I see you stayed for 20 years, so hey, why not? Okay, so you put a period on it, you're saying goodbye to your colleagues. How does that feel to to be for this to be done? This is it.
Yvonne Ali:It's actually wonderful because there are a lot of people that have either helped me or I've helped them. We've truly worked together. Um, there are other EOTs that I wanted to say goodbye to as well as other employee. There's some APH folks that I love dearly and I wanted to come and personally say I appreciate you and um, best of luck.
Sara Brown:All right. Is there anything you wanna say for, for those out there listening as your final appearance at APH's Annual Meeting?
Yvonne Ali:Yes, I think it's important to realize that you don't have to touch someone to touch them, and that's what we do as, as trustees. Um, as those who work work for on the behalf of the students that we serve and that we do have the ability to touch lives. Uh, we may not get the opportunity to know that the people that we serve have have appreciated it. Um, but we do.
Sara Brown:Well congratulations on the retirement. That's huge. Enjoy, enjoy doing whatever you want, when you want and how you want. Okay, take care.
Yvonne Ali:Absolutely. It's liberating<laugh>.
Sara Brown:Thank you so much. Now we're gonna shift from the roving interviews and visit the Insights Art exhibit. Multiple pieces of artwork were on display and for sale, I managed to speak with the InSights Art coordinator and an artist who had her work on display. We're here at Insights Art and we've got the InSights Art Coordinator, Meg Outland here. Hello Meg.
Meg Outland:Hi.
Sara Brown:We're back in person and you've got all these beautiful artworks. Talk to us about what it means and how it feels to be back in person, because it's just a different type of feeling that you just can't get over the computer screen.
Meg Outland:So our last in-person ceremony was in 2019 and it's been a very long time, so I'm very happy to see everybody, um, exploring the exhibit. And I'm also very excited because it's my personal first time in person, so it just means a lot to me and to the folks that are here as well.
Sara Brown:And there's been a lot of comments, um, about seeing the work in person. What have some of the comments that you have you heard?
Meg Outland:Um, I think a lot of people enjoy seeing such a variety of different mediums. We have a lot of canvases like acrylic paints, we have photography, we have sculptures, we have fiber art and tapestries. So it's really fun to get such a mixture of different artists with various backgrounds.
Sara Brown:Now is there any piece of artwork that's like,"oh my gosh, this is, this is, this is so cool." What have, what especially you, I know there's something about what a, um, a a mayor purchased a piece?
Meg Outland:Yes. So the Miami Mayor purchased an artwork in the gallery that's called Savior Earth, the Sea Turtles. That was created by third grade students at the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind in Florida. And it is a big globe that was constructed with a hula hoop. And then there are a bunch of different little sea turtles swimming around it. And all of the sea turtles have tactile shell, uh, shells over the top. So those were created with bowls and it's really cute. It's four by four I believe. Mm-hmm.<affirmative>. So it's a fairly large canvas.
Sara Brown:Yes, it is most. All right. And is there anything else you wanna say about InSights Art for those out there listening that might not have been able to make it today or tomorrow, but are interested in coming next year?
Meg Outland:As soon as Annual Meeting reps up, the entry form for the 2023 season will be online, so be sure to look out for that. Um, you can send a physical or digital entry, whichever is your preference, and I look forward to seeing everybody's artworks
Sara Brown:Wonderful. And we'll be sure to put a link to in the show notes about how you can submit artwork for our next year's 2023 Insights Art competition. All right, Meg, thank you so much.
Meg Outland:Thank you.
Sara Brown:I'm here with Kylie Sykes and for you Change Makers listeners, um, we've had Kylie on earlier this year talking about Insights Art about a month or two ago. Hello Kylie, how are you?
Kylie Sykes:I'm fine, thank you. How are you?
Sara Brown:Good, thank you. So how does it feel to see your work and all the other work here at InSights Art?
Kylie Sykes:It feels wonderful to be able to be in the same spot as my artwork.
Sara Brown:<laugh>. Oh, good. Now what else are you seeing? Anything that you like or anything that's inspiring you here at InSights Art?
Kylie Sykes:Um, yes, I've seen quite a few different artworks that I've enjoyed.
Sara Brown:And is there anything else you wanna say? Standing here at InSights Art, looking at all the artwork that you would, you know, care to share with someone who's intimidated about pursuing art because they are blind or low vision?
Kylie Sykes:The thing I will say is if you are blind or low vision, try, uh, see what you love. And then if you think that you're not gonna like it, try it because you never know.
Sara Brown:Thank you so much Kylie today for talking to me.
Kylie Sykes:You're welcome. Thank you for having me.
Sara Brown:Now we're gonna go from InSights Art to the special Award Ceremony. We're gonna hear from the Navigator Award, Horizon Award and Louis Award winners. The Navigator Award recognizes creative and caring individuals who continually pursue new ideas that result in the, in the development of innovative products designed to improve the quality of life for people who are blind in low vision. This year's winner was Vista's Education Partners National Homework Hotline. Monique Coleman, President of Vista's Education Partners and founder of the National Homework Hotline accepted the award and had this to say,
Monique Coleman:This recognition to means a lot to me because as a teacher, the visually impaired in the field for many years, over 22, I've, uh, been deeply embedded to the APH and the products and services, uh, and programs it offers. And so to receive this recognition from this organization is truly special. And I'm extremely honored and grateful because it also means that the grassroots organizing that I have done, along with my colleagues, all volunteer driven all around the mission of supporting blind and low vision youth with meeting their educational needs at home with the support they need. Uh, just having that work being recognized on this stage and this platform is truly special. So I'm grateful for that.
Sara Brown:The next award given was the Horizon Award, and this award recognizes creative and caring individuals who continually pursue new ideas that result in the development of innovative products designed to improve the quality of life for people who are blind and low vision. This year's winner was the DAISY Consortium. I spoke with George Kersner, Chief Innovation Officer.
George Kersner:Well, we're, we're deeply honored to receive this award from from APH. APH has always been a major player in the field. And, uh, this recognition and the understanding that American Printing House has joined the DAISY Consortium as a full member, uh, is just going to be very impactful to, to many people around the world. So we're just delighted that APH is stepping up to the world stage to be a leader on standards and access to information.
Sara Brown:The final award given out during the award ceremony was the Louis Award, This award named after Lou Louis Braille recognizes the impact and creativity of a product idea method or promotional effort that increased the availability or awareness of braille or tactile graphics. Christine Muse, creator of the McCall Braille Code accepted the award.
Christine Muse:Uh, in all honesty, I'm still so surprised that I'm here. Um, I'm hugely honored at this. This is such a prestigious award, the Louie Award. It, you know, it's not given out regularly. So to have my work recognized, um, by APH in that way was just incredible. And I'm really thankful that so many people see the importance in it that I did.
Sara Brown:The next day was another special day of recognition. The Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends in the Blindness Field is an honor that is organized by leaders in the field established in 2001. The award is dedicated to preserving, honoring, and promoting the tradition of excellence manifested by the specific individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame and through the history of outstanding services provided to people who are blind and low vision. This year's inductee were Dr. Kay Farrell and Trisha Zorn-Hudson. I caught up with both ladies and here's what they had to say about being among the 68 esteemed professionals who have shaped the history, philosophy, and knowledge and skills of the blindness field for the past 200 years. Well,
Dr. Kay Farrell:It's something I would never dream of. I had never dreamed of being inducted into the Hall of Fame. And to think that it's happening while I'm still alive is just amazing.
Sara Brown:And what does it feel like when you see your name up there with all the other legends? How does that, how does that make you feel, especially when you first started out in your career and now you're on that you're on that list? Well,
Dr. Kay Farrell:I'm fortunate that I actually know about a third of the prior inductee. I've either met them or worked with them or something. So it's neat to see their names up there and to think that I'm gonna join them is just blows me away.
Trisha Zorn-Hudson:Oh, it is quite the honor. Um, very humbling. And, um, it's quite the honor to be, um, recognized for, uh, my work and my accomplishments, not just professionally, but you know, in my, uh, former career as a sports athlete. And it's, uh, something that, you know, you don't anticipate or you don't expect. So when it comes around, it's quite, uh, surprising. And, um, you know, it's what I've been doing, um, my whole life is, you know, trying to make an impact in people's lives and every day who I meet. And, um, I think, uh, being inducted into the Hall of Fame here at the American Printing House for the Blind, it's, um, something that's going to be eternal and it's going to be forever. And if people can see that and see what you know, I've done and overcome and broken barriers, then you know, that gives them hope.
Sara Brown:And those were the wise words of Dr. K Farrell and Trisha Zorn-Hudson. As we conclude this Annual Meeting recap, I would just wanna say thank you to all who attended our Annual Meeting. We couldn't do it without you, and we're looking forward to seeing everyone again next year. If you're interested in submitting a piece of artwork for Insights Art or nominating someone for the Hall of Fame, I've put links in the Show notes, so be sure to check that out. Thank you so much for listening to the special episode of Change Makers and as always, be sure to look for ways you can be a change maker this week.