[NFBOH-Cleveland] The Cleveland Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Recognizes, Daniel Martinez, In Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month

[Suzanne Turner]

The Cleveland Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, ,

 

Recognizes, Daniel Martinez

In Celebration  Of Hispanic Heritage Month

 

  

Daniel Martinez - A Proud Hispanic 

“As a mentor, I believe that my responsibility is to support the personal
growth of my protege. Mentoring is a way to lead by example, and to share
the skills and confidence that I learned from my own mentors.”

Daniel Martinez is a Blind Children’s Specialist and Mentor in the Rio
Grande Valley of Texas who helps people with disabilities learn how to
effectively advocate for themselves. He believes everyone has the potential
to accomplish their own personal goals and live fulfilling lives. He defies
society’s misconceptions and low expectations as he believes that
disabilities do not stop people from being successful. He trusts that high
expectations help challenge people with disabilities to push themselves a
little further.

As a member of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) since 2007, Daniel
has served as a mentor to blind children, teens, and adults across Texas and
beyond. He joined the Federation as a protégé in the NFB of Texas Mentoring
Program, and became a mentor himself in 2015 to share the skills and
confidence he gained with others.

Daniel holds several leadership positions. Currently he is a board member of
the NFB of Texas, and Vice President of the Rio Grande Valley Chapter and
the Texas Association of Blind Students. He has coordinated, instructed, and
collaborated in programs such as the Texas Braille Enrichment for Learning
and Literacy (BELL) Academy for blind children ages 3-12, NFB-NEWSLINE Texas
Silver Bells Senior Training, and the Cambiando Vidas programs for blind
Spanish speakers. In 2019, the NFB’s President, Mark Riccobono, reached out
to Daniel and gave him the opportunity to become the Spanish interpreting
chairman at the NFB’s national convention.

In May 2018, Daniel played a major role in coordinating a training weekend
for 16 Spanish speaking blind south Texas residents and their families,
sponsored by the NFB of Texas and METAS. He led the recruitment effort,
coordinated logistics, and provided one-on-one mentorship to participants
and family members at the Cambiando Vidas program. The program provided
hands-on workshops in topics such as braille literacy, cane travel, adaptive
technology, daily living skills and aids, and positive blindness philosophy.
Subsequently, the NFB of Texas entrusted Daniel as Coordinator of the
Cambiando Vidas events in Matamoros, Mexico and in Pharr, Texas. 

In 2018, Daniel joined the METAS team in their efforts to empower the blind
in Mexico. He attended a week long training at a school for the blind, where
he provided instruction in cane travel skills and in Braille literacy; even
jamming out with the children playing guitar and imparting the federation’s
philosophy through music from the Rhythm of the Movement Album. Then in July
of 2019 he had the honor of presenting at the Cambiando Vidas Conference, in
Guadalajara, where he imparted seminars regarding Braille literacy,
adjustment to blindness, adaptive technology, and regarding the importance
of mentoring in the blindness community.

Daniel is passionate about helping others, particularly those who are in
need. He is currently enrolled at the University of Texas – Rio Grande
Valley pursuing his graduate degree in Early Childhood Special Education to
compliment his skill set and enable him to help an even broader spectrum of
people with disabilities.

Daniel’s hobbies include playing guitar, accordion, and other musical
instruments. He can often be found playing guitar at Sunday mass and rocking
out at family parties at night.

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