<div dir="auto">Bronwen thank you for such a wonderful experience being interviewed by you. I just have to make three corrections i have 1 brother. It is Annette Davis Harris who asked me to go to state convention with her in 2013, lastly I enjoy bowling as a hobby. <div dir="auto">I want to thank Shara for being state president she inspired me to run for president in 2021 her positivity.l. cooperation and lovely personality mentoring me throughout is invaluable! </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Thank you to all the federationists you inspire me daily </div><div dir="auto"><span style="font-size:16px">Theadora Williams</span><br>
<span style="font-size:16px">president of the </span><br>
<span style="font-size:16px">National Federation</span><br>
<span style="font-size:16px">of the blind of Greater</span><br>
<span style="font-size:16px">Springfield Inc. Chapter</span><br></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Sun, Jan 11, 2026, 2:02\u202fPM Bronwen Tedesco via Massachusetts-NFB <<a href="mailto:massachusetts-nfb@nfbnet.org">massachusetts-nfb@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><p style="margin:0px;font-stretch:normal;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal">Welcome to our next Member to Member! Today we will get to know Theadora Williams, Springfield Chapter and board member.</p>
<p style="margin:0px;font-stretch:normal;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal;min-height:14px"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0px;font-stretch:normal;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal">Theadora was born in Thesaloniki, the second largest city in Greece where she lived with her parents and two brothers. She thought that she had trouble seeing because when her mom would point things out to her, she would have trouble seeing them. When she was eight, she was told she had cataracts, later on being diagnosed. She realized something was different when she was in fourth grade and struggled to see the board. She went on to express that because of that, she sacrificed time having fun to be a good student. When she was twelve years old, she moved to the US. Not only did she need a proper diagnosis, but her mom was an immigrant, the US felt like home to her, and she wanted to return. She soon learned she had an optic atrophy. After graduating high school, she majored in liberal arts economics at Mount Holyoke, graduating with a bachelors degree in 2007. In college, she had the same experience of having to sacrifice free time to be a good student. She landed a job as a junior contract analyst then was laid off in 2010. It was then that she went back to the eye doctor and was officially diagnosed with Leber\u2019s Atrophy. She was then referred to the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind and learned about resources available to blind people. She found part time job as a front desk assistant at the South Hadley library.</p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 0px 72px;font-stretch:normal;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal;min-height:14px"><br></p>
<p style="margin:0px 0px 0px 72px;font-stretch:normal;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal">Theadora discovered the NFB in 2012. As part of a blindness group called the Visionary Club, she was told about the NFB and participated in her first state convention in 2013. She continued to be involved. The support, someone she enjoyed spending time with, and her growing enthusiasm about the cause and making a change kept her involved, soon<span> </span>becoming the vice president of the Springfield Chapter in 2021, then be president in 2022 when she attended her first National convention. In 2023, she became a board member as well. When asked if there was any advice she had for anyone who has recently lost their vision or joined the NFB, she said, \u201cIt is not the end. Be positive. You can still do all the things you used to. You just have to learn to do them a different way.\u201d She lives by the quote \u201cVision is not the same as sight,\u201d by Annette Harris Davis, who introduced her to the NFB. She currently lives with her husband Allen and her two rabbits and enjoys bulling and going to the movies. It\u2019s been great getting to know you Theadora! Stay tuned for our next Member to Member!</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 0px 72px;font-stretch:normal;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal"><br></p><p style="margin:0px 0px 0px 72px;font-stretch:normal;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal">Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year! Can't wait to get to know more of you!</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 0px 72px;font-stretch:normal;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal"><br></p><p style="margin:0px 0px 0px 72px;font-stretch:normal;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal">Sincerely,</p><p style="margin:0px 0px 0px 72px;font-stretch:normal;font-size:12px;line-height:normal;font-family:Helvetica;font-size-adjust:none;font-kerning:auto;font-variant-alternates:normal;font-variant-ligatures:normal;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-feature-settings:normal">Bronwen</p></div>
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