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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>Nice bio!!!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif'> Massachusetts-NFB <massachusetts-nfb-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Bronwen Tedesco via Massachusetts-NFB<br><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, January 25, 2026 10:54 AM<br><b>To:</b> massachusetts-nfb@nfbnet.org<br><b>Cc:</b> Bronwen Tedesco <bronwen.tedesco@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> [Massachusetts-NFB] Member to Member - Getting to Know Each Other<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p style='margin:0in'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'>Welcome to our next Member to Member! Today we will get to know me, Bronwen Tedesco.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch:normal;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'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch:normal;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'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'>I was born in West Palm Beach, Florida then when I was four, I moved to California. I was briefly in Aptos, then Soquel, then I lived in Bonny Doon, a suburb of Santa Cruz from when I was seven, then moved to Tucson, Arizona when I was ten. I grew up with my parents and my older sister, Taylor. When I lived in California, I enjoyed going to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, surfing, and skiing at Lake Tahoe. When I was in Arizona, I enjoyed swimming in the pool.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch:normal;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'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch:normal;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'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'>I attended public school from kindergarten to sixth grade, then went to Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind (ASDB), then attended Perkins my junior and senior year. I realized there was something different about me when I was in kindergarten. Everyone else had a pencil, but I had a brailler. I was confused, telling my aid that I wanted to use a pencil like everyone else then when I got home, standing in my parents\u2019 room, I proudly proclaimed that I was going to quit braille. Sometimes because of noticing this difference, over the years, I rebelled when I had to work with my TVI. Interestingly though, there was no anger about losing vision since I was born with Lebers, I just knew there was something different and felt like an outsider. That feeling, along with the lack of support, bullying, and not having that normal school experience that kids have made me decide to attend a blind school from seventh grade on where I made friends, played Goalball and ran track, and where I was just another kid at school.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch:normal;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'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch:normal;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'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'>When given the choice to stay in Tucson or go to Rhode Island when I was sixteen, I chose Rhode Island because I felt there would be more for me. I attended Perkins, then attended Lesley University, graduating in 2022, with a bachelors degree in English. Initially I was going for education, but ultimately decided it was not what I wanted to do. That November, I attended the Louisiana Center for the Blind, graduating in 2023. I landed my first real job as an assistive technology specialist at Mabvi in 2024, then a cashier at Target that same year. I also took and passed the Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC) exam which is about assistive technology for various disabilities as well as basic web accessibility and disability laws in hopes to work in digital accessibility. Unfortunately, it was extremely difficult to find such a job, considering I would need two years of experience before I could take the web accessibility specialist exam. n February the following year, I landed a job as a reservationist for the ride where I remain today. I am hoping to find another job soon related to technology whether I work on an accessibility team, for Apple, or another company that creates with accessibility in mind.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch:normal;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'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch:normal;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'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'>When I was in high school, I attended summer programs to gain independence, and that was when I discovered the NFB. It was when I attended my first National convention in 2014 with SAAVI, southern Arizona Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Unlike the other teenagers in the program, I was interested in general session and my passion grew for the cause. I became involved in 2018 when I was in college, and stayed involved ever since as a member of the Cambridge Chapter. My advice to anyone who has recently lost their vision or joined the NFB is that you can do anything. You may have to do it differently, but you can still do it. There will always be people behind you. Really embrace being in a community that has those shared experiences because those people can teach you, help you, and encourage you and if you have the option to go to training, go! I currently live independently in Arlington and enjoy filming, fashion, going to the mall, traveling, listening to music, singing, and learning about technology.<span class=gmail-apple-converted-space> </span>While I currently live in Arlington, I am hoping to someday return to the Coolidge Corner area in Brookline, or live in the heart of Boston. It has been great getting to tell you about myself! Stay tuned for our next Member to Member!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch:normal;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'><span style='font-size:9.0pt;font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch:normal;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'><span style='font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'>Stay safe in the storm!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch:normal;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'><span style='font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch:normal;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'><span style='font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'>Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style='margin:0in;font-stretch:normal;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'><span style='font-family:"Helvetica",sans-serif'>Bronwen<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></div></body></html>