In support of Beyond Blindness's mission to empower children with visual impairments, a new five‑session Leadership Academy welcomed more than a dozen students with a visual impairment and siblings of students with visual impairment.
Over the course of six weeks, participants gathered on-site at Beyond Blindness to explore the foundations of leadership, engage with guest speakers on advocacy and policy, learn about civic participation, and practice what it means to foster leadership in others.
A standout moment of the program included a session led by motivational speaker and Orientation & Mobility Specialist Daniel Kish, who spoke about independence, empowerment, and living with confidence. Blind since 13 months old, Kish offered students a powerful reminder of what is possible when resilience and self-belief are nurtured.
Leadership Academy Highlights
"Leadership isn't about perfection, but about using what you have to make an impact." – Edwin Moos, Teacher of the Visually Impaired
Students also heard from Individualized Education Program (IEP) expert Jay Shupin, who encouraged them to advocate for themselves, understand their role in the IEP process, and take an active part in shaping their own educational journeys.
The program culminated on a field trip to Disneyland, where students participated in the "Leadership the Disney Way," and enjoyed a day celebrating their progress individually and as a team.
