Leah Katz-Hernandez isn’t shy around the political arena – in fact, she welcomes the opportunity to give a voice to the deaf community and other individuals with disabilities. A 2010 Magna Cum Laude graduate of Gallaudet University, she gained national attention during the 2008 presidential election with her bi-partisan blog, The Deaf Perspective, which examined the political process through American Sign Language (ASL) video blogs (vlogs), which were also transcribed in English. Leah used this platform to emphasize the importance of being an informed voter.
Although she has been fascinated by politics her entire life, Leah didn’t consider it as a career path until choosing to major in government. In the summer of 2009, she participated in the American Association of People with Disabilities’ (AAPD) Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation Congressional Internship Program. The 10-week experience piqued her interest in disability advocacy and gave her insight into lawmaking and public policy development.
“I met many leaders with disabilities, and I wanted to be like them,” Leah explains. “I think it’s really important to find something you’re passionate about and keep working away at it.” Following her graduation, she interned for the White House Office of Public Engagement and was elected executive director of Deaf Youth USA, a social justice advocacy group.
Today, Leah serves as the 2011 HSC Foundation Youth Transitions Fellow at AAPD. Through her fellowship, Leah works closely with the Greater Washington Internship Coalition and the Youth Training Collaborative to expand career opportunities for transitioning young adults and Veterans with disabilities. Her responsibilities include coordinating event logistics, networking with students and representatives from various organizations and developing outreach materials for the program. Last fall, she travelled to colleges and universities across the nation to encourage students to seek internships and prepare for their careers.
Leah is also a fellow at the U.S. House of Representatives where she supports the Congressional Internship Program for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities, which was established by the Committee on House Administration in partnership with George Mason University’s Mason LIFE Program. “It’s a really great program, because it gives individuals with intellectual disabilities, like Down’s syndrome or Fragile X Syndrome, the chance to intern on the Hill,” says Leah. She not only assists the director of communications with outreach about the program, but also coordinates the internship program orientation for Congressional staffers as well as day trips for the interns.
Along with using a sign language interpreter to communicate with hearing people during meetings, Leah relies on a video phone to make calls from her desk. “Technology innovation is extremely important to the disability community in terms of improving our lives. The future is in the Internet, and it must be accessible, no question about it.” In the future, Leah plans to get her law degree, while continuing to represent the deaf community and advocate for accessibility.
Leah,
Congratulations on your accomplishments. Keep up the great work and don’t let anyone or anything stand in the way of what you want to accomplish.
Good luck,
Sharon
Kudos to Leah and all of you that are trying to accomplish your dreams. I never dreamed one day I would find myself in a situation that rendered me disabled. As I have healed by faith, drive and determination, I have faced one road block after another.
The roadblocks I face are the very places that say; “We are here to help you achieve your goals.” With that statement, I continue to call, email or write to the agencies; only to be told I have to wait.
The worst part of this story is the one doctor that I met a few months ago. When I told the doctor that I was working on my RN degree, he laughed at me. He said; “How do you think you are going to do this?”
I could have let him drag me down but I know in my heart of hearts it just takes one door to open and I will receive the help I need.
Leah, you are a role model and you are an inspiration to many. We need to hear the good, bad and ugly. We need to continue to write our leaders and band together to enforce our rights as human beings trying to get off of disability or for those that need it be allowed to receive what they need to help them. After all are we not living in the United States of America? The land of the free?
I have a daughter who has been borderline deaf all her life. We tried to file for SSI for her (we lived in California) and they turned us down due to my husband’s earnings. She is going on 47 yrs old and takes home somewhere around $1200.00 a mo., less her health insurance and it comes to $800.00. She has learning disabililities also due to being a ruebella baby in 1966. She lives in Texas and has a 13 yr old son with disabilities also due to being born at 26 weeks. He receives SSI and yet she doesn’t qualify for anything? Texas says she makes too much for food stamps, etc…is there anything that can be done for her? Or someone that we can contact for some kind of help?
Hi Judy,
You may wish to contact your local Center for Independent Living (CIL) to find out what resources may be available for your daughter and her son. To find contact information, visit http://www.ilru.org/html/publications/directory/texas.html.
Best,
The Disability.Blog Team
I AM KAPELE LUKE, THE COORDINATOR OF THE ASSOCIATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN EASTERN DRC. I WOULD LIKE INFORMATION ON YOUR AVAIR FOUNDATION.
THANK YOU
Sorry I can’t say very much because I really can’t spell and am not very good at writing. Am just learning to use the computer, but i wanted to let you know how happy i am for you. Don’t let anything stand in your way. I did and it’s almost too late for me. But it makes me so happy that somewhere out there, there’s a girl like you. Thank you.
I need a agent to get in touch with me so I can start my paperwork to be able to apply for disabilty.
I wish we had more people like this…
Congratulations, Leah! You make us all proud and your a wonderful role model!
Congratulations Leah!
My 19 year old son is profoundly deaf anad has been denied SSI, & appeal based on his ability to hear with a chochlear implant he received 17 years ago. He has receptive and expressive language disorder and only received a partial implant following bacterial menengitis at age two. He tried J.C. following H.S. graduation and they placed him in classes such as English 119; a prescription for failure since he did not pass the C.A. Language Arts requirement following three attempts in H.S. (he passed the math requirement). I am fearful that without help or the ability to learn a trade he will be resigned to a life of washing dishes or the like. He currently works part time in a pizza restaurant where they only allow him to wash dishes since he is unable to provide customer service. (unable to hear with background noise). He is enrolled in a county rehab program which seems to fall short in regards to long term goals. Any ideas would be helpful and greatly appreciated. He is a remarkable young man and I am very proud of him. Also, there is a very small deaf community in the county where he lives.
Congratulations, Leah! You’re a role model and make all of us proud!