[Massachusetts-NFB] Member to Member Getting To Know Each Other

[sharawinton at gmail.com]

Thank you Bronwen and Stephanie. Great job! I am truly looking forward to learning so much about all of our members. 
Bronwen, I truly appreciate your taking this on and bringing us all closer together. 

Warmly, 
Shara


Shara Winton
President, National federation of the Blind of Massachusetts
www.nfbma.org
sharawinton at gmail.com
617-304-0347

-----Original Message-----
From: Massachusetts-NFB <massachusetts-nfb-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Bronwen Tedesco via Massachusetts-NFB
Sent: Wednesday, November 5, 2025 5:24 PM
To: massachusetts-nfb at nfbnet.org
Cc: Bronwen Tedesco <bronwen.tedesco at gmail.com>
Subject: [Massachusetts-NFB] Member to Member Getting To Know Each Other


Welcome to our very first edition of member to Member! This new interview series is designed to get to know all of our members: their lives, hobbies, as well as their journey to the NFB. In our very first Member to Member, we will get to know Stephanie Valdes, president of the Massachusetts blind Parents division, IEP advocate, coordinator of the Massachusetts Bell academy, 2022 national scholarship winner, and member of the sports and recreation division, as well as the Cambridge chapter. Stephanie was born and raised in Trujillo Altro, a town in Puerto Rico next to San Juan . She grew up with her parents and sister where she attended Catholic school her entire childhood. When she was in high school, she ran track and played softball. Soon after graduating high school in 2013, her family moved to Boston to reunite with other family in the area and receive better health care for her health.

Stephanie did not grow up blind. Toward the end of high school, she experienced health issues that ultimately resulted in her losing her vision. When discussing this time in her life, she said, “Me losing my vision was hard but that was not the hardest part. The hardest part was the lack of knowledge. I had it in my head that I was going to sit around and do nothing because I’m blind.” She then went on to attend the Carroll Center in 2014 then in 2015, she started college. This same year, she applied for an NFB scholarship through Massachusetts where she participated in her first convention. Meeting so many different blind people involved in various activities and with many different experiences motivated her to remain involved. In 2018, she was on the board for the Massachusetts Association of Blind Students, (MABS), then soon went on to attend Blind Inc, graduating in 2019. “I knew how to get around. I knew I could do all these things but when I graduated blind Inc, there was a difference. I really had that confidence,” Stephanie said when reflecting on her training experience. When asked if she had any advice for new members or people new to blindness, she said, “Try to keep an open mind. Not everything works, but there’s a lot out there, so see what works for you.” After training, she then went on to have children, create a skin care business, then receive her batchelors degree in French in hopes of becoming an interpreter. She now works full-time as an end development communications associate for the federation of Children with special needs. She enjoys volunteering, running, and her skin care business Blind delights. She is also fluent in English, Spanish, and French and enjoys fencing as well. It’s been great getting to know you, Stephanie!

 
Bronwen M. Tedesco
831-359-8514
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