Paying It Forward: Honoring Our Influencers

The heart of The Dot Experience, APH’s new museum, comes from the real stories and lives of those who are blind or low vision. We have invited artists, adventurers, businesspeople, advocates, parents, students, teachers, and innovators to share their authentic experiences with us and are incorporating their stories into The Dot Experience. Their voices, along with historical figures like Helen Keller and Louis Braille, will join those of everyday APH customers, community, and staff to provide well-rounded perspectives on their successes, struggles, realities, hopes and hurdles. Along with their stories, we want to celebrate those who have made a significant difference in their lives and the field of blindness and low vision.

Our fundraising initiative, the Influencer Campaign, encourages individuals or groups to honor someone who has significantly impacted their life. Their influence could have been through school, work, family, community, church, an advocacy group, or some other avenue. Big or small, they have made an impact. With a $250 donation, you can honor your influencer and their name will become an integral part of a tactile display in The Dot Experience.

APH is filled with passionate people who have dedicated their careers to helping others and have significantly influenced the field themselves. One such person is APH President, Dr. Craig Meador. Annie, Emily, Joe and Pam, former coworkers at the Washington State School for the Blind, chose to honor Craig together. They said “Working with Craig for many years at the Washington State School for the Blind, we witnessed his inspiring leadership firsthand. Leading from a place of innovation, compassion, and humor, Craig inspired us to positively change the lives of blind students while also facilitating our own personal and professional growth”.

Just as Craig influenced others in the development of their career, he also was influenced by someone in his. Read below to find out more about Craig’s influencer, Neil Kliewer:

My first job in the field of blindness and low vision was at the Oregon School for the Blind (OSB). I was hired as an evening dorm worker assigned to a group of students to help train them in skills for daily life. I remember being very overwhelmed, not by the students and their unique needs, but by the team at OSB. It was a dedicated group of individuals that had deep knowledge and a heavy acronym language that I did not understand. Neil Kliewer was the Director. He was perhaps the most positive person I had ever met. He led with a servant’s heart and was deeply connected to the students, the staff, and most importantly, the mission of OSB. He worked tirelessly for the school, meeting with state legislators, educators, and service organizations to build bridges of support. Despite his busy schedule, I can remember several times when he would stop by in the evening to check in on the students and us young workers. I was always amazed that he would take the time to talk with us about our studies at the university and our hobbies outside of work. I soon realized that he did that with everyone. Neil was a nurturer. He was a model leader that lifted others to do their best work. I feel very thankful that he provided me with the opportunity to become a part of this field which has been an incredible adventure.

A donation of $250 ensures the legacy of your influencer will forever be a part of The Dot Experience. Honor your Influencer(s) anytime throughout 2024. Learn more about The Dot Experience and other ways you can support APH.

Please contact Development@aph.org for any additional questions