[NFBOH-Cleveland] The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Cleveland Chapter Honors Sheri Albers, In recognition of Women History Month

[Suzanne Turner]

The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Cleveland Chapter

Honors

Sheri Albers, Ohio Affiliate Vice President

In recognition of Women History Month

 

Sheri Albers Bio

 

I was born in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey which is about 30 minutes outside
of New York City. My parents brought me to a lot of Broadway shows when I
was young, and I grew up loving plays and musicals. My absolute favorite is
Les Misérables, but I really cannot tell you how many times I have seen it,
because I have lost count.

I went to college at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio to pursue a Finance
degree. I wanted to be connected to the banking world, to follow in my
father’s footsteps. Why Miami? To my parents, it was because they had a
great business school. To myself, I was following my boyfriend, whom I later
married!

After graduation, I got a job with SEIKO Corporation of Americas a Treasury
Analyst in New York City. I had a watch for every suit and a suit for every
watch! The work was very demanding, and there was little room for women in
management in a Japanese company at that time. I worked for eight and a half
years before my vision loss took over and I needed to resign. It was
devastating for me because the job was my identity.

My husband got a job transfer, and we moved to Loveland, Ohio. I then began
my career as a Mom. I poured myself into raising my two daughters; helping
at school, church, girl scouts, Kindervelt, and whatever else anyone asked
me to do. I was very, very busy denying the fact that I was losing my
vision. It never crossed my mind to get back into the working world.

I then stumbled upon the National Federation of the Blind in 2003, when I
met my sister who was attending the Louisville convention. My whole world
has changed since then. I no longer felt that I had to prove myself to
anyone, but that I was OK being blind.

I then became immersed into my local Cincinnati chapter of the National
Federation of the Blind of Ohio. I got a long white cane and mobility
training at age 40. Five years later, I woke up one day and realized that I
was illiterate because I could not read print, nor could I see well enough
to write. I took it upon myself to learn Braille. 

I got more involved with NFB by becoming a member of the Board of Directors
and then President of the Cincinnati Chapter. I was so inspired by what my
fellow members were doing with their lives that I decided to go back to
school. I stepped down as chapter president to devote time to my studies at
the University of Cincinnati where I received an Associate’s Degree in
Addictions, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Substance Abuse Counseling. I
graduated Suma Cum Laud in April 2017.

In April of 2016, I was appointed Vice President of the National Federation
of the Blind of Ohio. I also coordinated the NFB BELL Academy that summer,
converting the program from a two-week day camp to a one-week residential
program. Even though I still had a year of school to complete, I knew that
the work of the Federation was of the utmost importance to me in my life.

I am back as the President of the Cincinnati chapter of the National
Federation of the Blind of Ohio, as well as still serving as the Vice
President of the Ohio Affiliate. I am the co-chair of the Legislative
Committee and Convention Coordinator. I just started a new job working for
Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities. As busy as I am, I would not
change a thing. 

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