[Ohio-Talk] The national rep for our state convention.

[Richard Payne]

	Meet Shawn Callaway
Shawn Callaway is a locally acclaimed disabilities advocate, motivational
community leader, and currently a Program Specialist for the United States
Department of Health and Human Services. For more than 23 years, he has
leveraged his own experience, professional career, and personal time toward
helping others to overcome obstacles that are highly attributed to the
attitudes, misconceptions, and perceptions of what it means to a person with
disabilities. In his current position as a Program Specialist, Shawn manages
grant programs that focus on establishing innovative opportunities for
individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and traumatic
brain injuries. Shawn has also dedicated a portion of his professional
career as a Social Worker, currently for the Columbia Light House for the
Blind, and previously for the DC Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) and
the Catholic Communities non-profit organization. In these roles, Shawn
worked with consumers struggling with a variety of conditions related to
vision loss, mental health, or addiction. He facilitated peer support groups
and helped them gain access to resources to assist them in having the best
quality of life.

Shawn is familiar with having unexpected circumstances and life-altering
events that impacted his life moving forward. After graduating from high
school, Shawn planned to obtain a BA degree from South Carolina State
University. Unfortunately, in 1991 Shawn was involved in an accident that
caused him to become permanently blind. But Shawn did not allow his
circumstances to hold him back. A few years after the accident, he entered
the Workforce Technology Center (WTC) in Baltimore, MD and obtained
independent living skills, assistive technology training, and Braille
reading training. His efforts at WTC became the catalyst to propel Shawn
forward in pursuing higher education degrees including his associate's,
bachelor's, and master's, as well as his licensure in Graduate Social Work.

In 2011, Shawn was elected President of the National Federation of the Blind
of the District of Columbia and in 2016 he was elected to the NFB National
Board of Directors. Shawn is inspired by the NFB's mantra "You can live the
life you want; blindness is not what holds you back." This quote has
motivated Shawn to continue his efforts in helping others live the lives
they want to, in upholding multiple leadership positions and affiliations to
give back to his community. Within the NFB Shawn is Chairman of the
Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee, President of the National
Organization of Blind Black Leaders, and Chairman of the Blind Greek and
Masonic Group. He has served as Chairman of the DC State Rehabilitation
Council and as previous Boards for the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind and
the D.C. Center for Independent Living. Shawn is a member of the Alpha Phi
Alpha Fraternity Incorporated and the Fort Stevens Lion's Club. In addition,
Shawn's influence can be heard on Takoma Radio 94.3 airing every first and
third Monday of each month. Shawn is a co-host of the radio show titled
"Open Our Eyes" which focuses on the inclusion of persons with disabilities
within our society. In 2016, Shawn received a citation from U.S. Senator
Chris Van Hollen, for his leadership in bringing awareness to the needs of
the blind community regarding employment. Shawn currently resides in
Washington, D.C. with his lovely wife of 18 years Latonya Callaway, raising
their 9-year-old daughter, Camille.  

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS:
Licensure: Licensed Graduate Social Worker
A.A. in Psychology I Essex Community College I 1995
B.A. in Psychology I University of Maryland College Park I 1997
M.S.W. in Social Work I Catholic University of America I 2000


Richard Payne,  President
National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
937/829/3368
Rchpay7 at gmail.com <mailto:Rchpay7 at gmail.com> 
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.


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