[Massachusetts-NFB] Member to Member Getting to know Each Other

[Bronwen Tedesco]

Welcome to our next Member to Member! Today we will get to know Cullen
Gallagher, state Cambridge Chapter and At Large Chapter secretary, NFB
historian, and helps run NFBMA social media.


Cullen was born in Boston, but grew up in Quincy. He grew up with his
parents and his sister came when he was eight. He first became aware of his
blindness when he was four and asked if his mom was blind too. He attended
Perkins from the infant-toddler program through the end of his senior year
of high school. After graduating from Perkins in 2017, he attended Eastern
Nasmarine College, a Christian college in Quincy. He started out majoring
in computer science then changed to communication arts his sophomore year
then graduated with a bachelors degree in communication arts in 2021. After
graduating from college, he took a year exploring his options then in March
of 2023, he did screen reader testing for Fable. While continuing to do
work for them, he also did a scholarship program through the Poly Center.
He currently does podcast editing for the Poly Center, continues to test
for Fable, and still looks for more permanent freelance options.


Cullen discovered the NFB when he was on Newsline when he was ten. He kept
hearing about National convention and the exhibit hall and was very eager
to go. When he attended his first convention in 2015, not only did he go to
the exhibit hall, but also the general sessions. He was disgusted that
blind people still faced certain issues such as sub-minimum wages and the
lack of parental rights, motivating him to become involved. He has attended
national convention every year since then and participated him is first
state convention in 2016, then started going to chapter meetings in 2018.
In 2020, he was on the state board and second Vice President, then the
Cambridge Chapter secretary, then Cambridge Chapter Vice President, then
the Cambridge Chapter president from 2021-2022. When asked if he had any
advice for people who have recently lost their vision or joined the NFB, he
said, “Be patient with yourself. Obviously it’s an adjustment, but it’s not
the end of the world. Cullen currently lives in Quincy with his grandmother
and enjoys traveling and exploring new technology. It has been great
getting to know you, Cullen! Stay tuned for our next Member to Member!


Hope everyone had a good holiday! Have a great week and enjoy this crazy
unpredictable weather!


Sincerely,

Bronwen
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