American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
Future Reflections Convention Issue 2025 NOPBC BOARD MEETING
Discovering Possibilities
by Narjis Karimipour
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Introduction by Cassie McKinney: We heard from the mom of our next speaker earlier today. I think her dad is in the room, too. We like to highlight at our sessions our children who are living the lives that they want, who are excelling in their education and in life. I asked Narjis to come and share with you all, and here she is!
Hello, everyone! My name is Narjis Karimipour, and I’m an eighth grader here in New Orleans. I could tell you that technology changed my life, but that wouldn’t quite cover it. It’s more like technology built a bridge between me and the world. Some of you may already know that I’m deafblind. Because of that I rely heavily on technology for chatting with friends, surviving school assignments, and sending sneaky text messages to my friends. [Laughter]
Now, you might be wondering how exactly does someone who’s deafblind communicate. It’s a great question. While many deaf people use hearing aids or sign language, my situation is a bit unusual. My hearing loss doesn’t even have a name, so I gave it one: selective hearing. [Laughter] Not the kind parents accuse their kids of, but close. Basically, I hear most sounds just fine, but human speech? It’s like listening to someone mumbling through a tube while underwater! Trust me, it’s not ideal!
Shouting at me won’t help. What works best is speaking clearly, slowly, and not like you’re auditioning for a speed-talking contest. Sign language could be great, too, but not everyone knows how to sign. That’s where my technology comes in. I use the Brailliant BR-40 Braille display paired with my iPhone and Bluetooth keyboard. It’s a kind of tag team approach. Someone types on the keyboard, the phone shows what they type, and I read off the Braille display. Sometimes I type back, especially when I want to pass notes without being caught!
There is a bit of delay in this communication system, but let me tell you, it has been a lifesaver! After being diagnosed with an auditory hearing impairment, I felt disconnected from the world. Some of you may know I love to talk and be social. At school I’ve got a similar system with my QWERTY Braille display, Windows laptop, and JAWS screen reader. Someone can type on my laptop, and I can follow along on my Mantis while reading lessons, taking notes, and participating in class discussions. It’s my way of staying in the loop. No one deserves to be left out just because the world wasn’t designed with them in mind! [Applause]
But here’s the thing—you can hand someone the coolest gadget on the planet, but if they don’t know how to use it, it’s basically just high-tech paperweights. That’s why the National Federation of the Blind has been a game changer for me. My first technology teacher was also deafblind. She has taught me many things, such as navigating the refreshable Braille display, using an iPad with VoiceOver, doing Google searches, and the list goes on. When I became deaf I didn’t feel alone, because I knew Miss Rox’e was there as my mentor.
My second mentor from NFB was the incredible Ms. Treva Olivero—my deepest sympathy and condolences for her loss! She has really been missed by us here today. Let’s please remember her with a moment of silence. [Long moment of silence] She believed in me, and she taught me so much! Because of her I was able to learn to access Google Classroom and complete all of my assignments independently.
Before my mom started transcribing my materials into Braille, most of my work assignments were on the computer. I did not know how to navigate around a document or complete my assignments. Ms. Treva taught me all the key commands, and I was able to navigate the screen.
Ms. Treva didn’t stop helping me when I lost my hearing. In fact, she found new ways to teach me before most people even understood me. My technology lessons were on Zoom, and she tandem-connected to my JAWS, typing in real time to a Word document when speech wasn’t an option anymore. Even when her health declined, she made sure I was not left behind. She connected me with my current teacher, the brilliant Mrs. Ashleigh Moon. [Applause]
Ms. Ashleigh hasn’t just taught me how to use the computer. She’s taught me how to think through the technology. She is the absolute definition of an amazing technology teacher! Ms. Ashleigh has taught me how to explore the menus and find the hidden features and be curious. Learning tech isn’t just about memorizing computers and key commands. It’s about discovering possibilities.
She has helped me with my computer skills and how to better use my iPhone for day-to-day communication, using various apps.
Let’s be honest—technology isn’t just for watching YouTube or playing video games. It’s a tool, one that opens doors in this world that wasn’t exactly designed for people like me. Not everyone is willing to step into my world, so I use tech to step into theirs. Accessibility isn’t to make the world perfect. It’s about making it possible. Thanks to tools, teachers, and tech in my life, I don’t just communicate, I connect, create, and grow—and yes, occasionally I sneak a text in the middle of class. [Applause]
Thank you for listening to me today. I hope I have enlightened you with my journey and did not bore you. I always like to end my speeches with, “Blindness is not a disability, but a different ability. Braille rocks!”