[Ohio-Talk] Kinshuk Tella's Article is in the body of this email - FYI.

Mon Apr 11 02:42:55 UTC 2022

Ohio,

Thank you all for all the nice words. Your support means so much to me!

On Sun, Apr 10, 2022 at 4:09 PM Patricia McPherson via Ohio-Talk <
ohio-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:

> Wonderful article and wonderful  inspiration for future stem students!
> Pat and Jim,
> Greater Akron Chapter
>
>
>
>
> > On Apr 9, 2022, at 1:30 PM, Barbara Pierce via Ohio-Talk <
> ohio-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >
> > Thank you so much for dropping this into the message. I loved the
> article, and I am also proud of Kinshuk!
> > Barbara
> > Barbara Pierce (she, her, hers)
> > President Emerita
> > National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
> > Barbara.pierce9366 at gmail.com
> > 440-774-8077
> >
> >
> > The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
> characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise
> expectations for blind people because low expectations create obstacles
> between blind people and their dreams. You can live the life you want;
> blindness is not what holds you back.
> >
> >> On Apr 9, 2022, at 1:10 PM, ali benmerzouga via Ohio-Talk <
> ohio-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >>
> >> Great job Kinshuk! Keep it up!
> >> Thanks Marianne for sharing!
> >>
> >> The Article starts here:
> >>
> >> Allyship and Advocacy
> >>
> >> Kinshuk Tella receives an award at Miami University.
> >>
> >> From the Editor: Kinshuk Tella is a junior at Miami University in
> Oxford,
> >> Ohio, where he is majoring in geology and environmental science. At the
> 2021
> >> NFB National Convention he was awarded an Oracle Scholarship valued at
> >> $8,000, given to a blind student in a STEM field.
> >>
> >>
> >> I'm sure many blind students can relate to my journey into a STEM field
> >> (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Like many blind
> high
> >> school
> >> seniors, I researched colleges, visited campuses, and talked to
> professors
> >> and disability service officers. By the last semester of my high school
> >> experience,
> >> I had narrowed my search down to two schools: The Ohio State University
> and
> >> Miami University.
> >> To make my final decision, I visited Miami University and met with the
> head
> >> of the environmental science department. I'll call him Dr. S. My
> parents and
> >> I sat in Dr. S.'s office, talking about my interest in the natural
> sciences
> >> and earth science. I explained that I wanted to do research and explore
> >> various
> >> possibilities for my career path.
> >> Dr. S. recognized my interest, and he was enthusiastic about having me
> >> enroll. He told me about a wonderful program he organized, taking
> >> undergraduate
> >> and graduate students to Zimbabwe. The students worked on
> hydrogeological
> >> projects to help local communities. I was sold! I couldn't wait to go to
> >> Zimbabwe
> >> with this guy!
> >> Eventually, however, I had to bring up the issue of disability
> >> accommodations. At that time I was in a very different place in my life
> >> regarding my blindness
> >> from where I am now. I did not even own a cane, let alone use one! In a
> >> first encounter it was not obvious that I'm blind. Dr. S. was not aware
> of
> >> my blindness
> >> until I raised the topic myself. I had to discuss the access barriers I
> >> might encounter as a blind student in my major and explain how
> >> accommodations would
> >> make it possible for me to complete my coursework.
> >> As soon as I mentioned blindness accommodations, the conversation
> shifted.
> >> Dr. S. explained that the school offered a less demanding degree in my
> >> field.
> >> I could earn a degree that involved less fieldwork, less research, and
> fewer
> >> presentations. There was no further talk about Zimbabwe.
> >> As I listened to Dr. S., I didn't fully realize what was happening.
> Later,
> >> though, on the drive home, I started to ponder. Dr. S. was enthusiastic
> >> about
> >> the Zimbabwe trip when he wanted to encourage me to enroll at the
> >> university. Why did he suddenly change gears and start talking to me
> about
> >> easier options?
> >> I realized the change happened because I had revealed my disability.
> >> Despite these concerns, I decided to enroll at Miami University. On my
> first
> >> day on campus I realized I had to take control of my education. I
> deserved
> >> a proper education like everybody else in my class, and to receive that
> >> education I had to advocate for myself. I had to work on building
> >> relationships.
> >> I had to learn to talk to my professors, to engage with them on many
> levels.
> >> Through my efforts at self-advocacy, I even managed to change Dr. S.'s
> mind
> >> about my potential. He is now one of my advisors, and he has written
> >> numerous references for me. With his help and the support of the
> department,
> >> I have
> >> been able to travel and present my research on several occasions. Last
> >> summer, I worked in San Diego for a power company. I worked on issues
> around
> >> compliance
> >> with environmental regulations. I'm now on track to earn a masters and a
> >> doctoral degree.
> >> Geoscience is a tough field, and it gets harder and harder every
> semester.
> >> For a blind student, studying in a STEM field 'is very challenging
> because
> >> STEM
> >> subjects are taught very visually. There are endless labs and group
> projects
> >> that involve creating charts and diagrams. I remind myself that every
> field
> >> has its challenges, and what matters is to follow your passion.
> >> The field of geoscience is the least diverse of all the STEM fields-and
> STEM
> >> is incredibly non-diverse to begin with. I live with the intersection
> of two
> >> minorities-I am blind, and I am South Asian. Living and working as a
> dual
> >> minority really takes a toll on you!
> >> One of the most important things I've learned from my experiences is
> that
> >> allyship is your best friend. It's not only important to have allies,
> but to
> >> have allies who are active on your behalf. Active allies are those who
> >> understand your experiences. Not only can they help you directly, but
> they
> >> can model
> >> how others should treat you. One person who really understands you can
> make
> >> all the difference! Your ally can be a professor, an advisor, or even a
> >> peer.
> >> That person can be a model for others, showing others how to serve you
> >> better.
> >> I have learned that proactivity and frequency of contact are vital when
> I
> >> communicate with professors and disability services coordinators. I
> arrange
> >> my
> >> first meetings with them even before I register for class. We talk
> about how
> >> the class is run and how I can get access to all of the course
> material.
> >> It isn't enough for me to communicate with the professor and disability
> >> coordinator once or twice at the beginning of the semester. Throughout
> the
> >> course,
> >> I make sure to have frequent communication. We talk about labs and
> >> assignments. We discuss how my studies are going and ways my access can
> be
> >> improved.
> >>
> >> Working out accommodations can be incredibly difficult sometimes! Right
> now
> >> I'm taking a structural geology course where the labs are based on
> >> straight-up
> >> mapping. It's very difficult for me to navigate my assignments
> nonvisually!
> >> We take it lab by lab and find solutions to each problem as it arises.
> It
> >> may
> >> take an extra week or two for me to complete the work, but I make sure
> I get
> >> the lab done.
> >> If you're a person who is considered diverse in a STEM field, you often
> have
> >> to work harder than others to get the same results. Furthermore, you
> have
> >> to carry a lot of responsibilities. You may discover that you want to
> be an
> >> advocate for other people on your campus and beyond.
> >> I have learned a great deal by advocating through NFB and through
> >> organizations on campus. People in underrepresented groups often are
> asked
> >> to serve on
> >> committees to help make the school more equitable and accessible. When
> work
> >> on one committee is completed, another committee pops up. If you're not
> >> careful,
> >> you may find yourself spending more time on committees than you spend on
> >> your academic work. This is where self-care comes into play. You can
> only
> >> serve
> >> other people when you take good care of yourself.
> >> I'm learning all the time how to advocate for myself and how to
> advocate for
> >> other people as well. I truly feel that the NFB is a great community of
> >> mentors
> >> and peers, dedicated to supporting everyone. By working together, we can
> >> take control of our lives.
> >>
> >> End of the Article.
> >> Ali
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >
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-- 
Kinshuk Tella
He/Him/His
937-708-9930