Student Advisory Board

My name is Quinlynn Benally, I’m a junior in high school in Southern Utah. I joined the board because I thought it seemed like a great opportunity to help advocate for other students in similar situations as me. I plan to go to college and get a degree in psychology.

Hello, my name is Josiah Heesen. I am 17 years old. I currently attend the Wisconsin School for the Blind and Visually Impaired as a junior. I wanted to join the student advisory board because I wanted to meet other people my age who are visually impaired. I also wanted to learn from how other people approach their schooling. In the future, I plan on going to college and getting a degree in cybersecurity. My long-term goal is to be a digital forensics investigator at a government agency.

Hi, my name is Charles Johnson. I am a high school senior at the Washington State School for the Blind. I also take college courses at Clark College through the Running Start program, which allows me to earn both high school and college credit. I was born with a degenerative vision condition, Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), and this has compelled me to become an advocate for blind/low vision youth. I have advocated for accessibility and inclusion for blind/low vision youth in the conversation around climate justice and voting rights. After I graduate high school, I will continue working toward my bachelor’s degree in history, and plan to go to law school where I want to study environmental law.

I'm Hayden. I’m a 17-year-old living in Tennessee, and currently a junior in a public high school. I aspire to enter the medical field as an X-ray technician. I joined the visual board to raise awareness about visual and other disabilities, helping others understand my experiences and those of others facing similar challenges.

I am Mackenzie Karbash. I am a junior at a public high school in Wisconsin. I wanted to join the Student Advisory Board to help develop a better understanding of blind and visually impaired education. In the future, I want to attend college and get a degree in animals or math.

I am a second-year part-time college student in the College of DuPage, Illinois. I am also enrolled in my high school’s district transition program. I wanted to join the advisory board to connect with others with visual impairment and learn more about different resources or/and opportunities. I want to be an educator and work at a daycare with young children. I also more specifically want to work at a Montessori school.

My name is Jessica Myers. I am currently in the 11th grade in the state of Wisconsin. I wanted to join the board because I aspire to make an impact on people who share my disability, helping them find their independence and thrive. My career goals are to attend an undergraduate school, double major in sociology and political science, and then pursue graduate studies at Madison Law School to become a lawyer specializing in human rights cases.

My name is Alivia Parks, and I’m an 11th-grade student at a public school in Tennessee. I’m passionate about making a difference in my community, which is why I’m excited about the opportunity to join the Vision Board. As someone who believes in the power of education and inclusion, I want to help create better opportunities for individuals with visual impairments to thrive in all areas of life. I feel that joining the board will allow me to contribute to meaningful changes while learning more about advocacy and leadership. Looking toward my future, I plan to attend nursing school after high school and continue my education to become a Nurse practitioner. I’ve always been drawn to helping others, and I believe a career as a Nurse Practitioner will allow me to provide compassionate care to those in need. By combining my dedication to making a difference with the skills I’ll gain as a Nurse practitioner, I hope to not only serve my patients but also continue advocating for greater accessibility and understanding in healthcare and beyond.

Hi! My name is Addison Woebke, I am a Junior at a public school in Oregon. I wanted to join the Student Advisory Board because sharing my voice and experiences with others is important and I enjoy advocating for people. I hope to go to a four-year college, and I want to be an Event Planner or a Disney Imagineer.