This page is an excerpt of our book, Sailing Farther Than the Eye Can See.
Bios of the 2021 Writing Team
EMMA ROLPH
My name is Emma Rolph. I'm a 21-year-old visually impaired college student studying the fields of psychology and human services. I enjoy writing songs, listening to and learning about folk and American roots music, and I am passionate about humanitarian issues from Ethiopia, to Syria, to Gaza, to Yemen, and I am a strong advocate for disability rights. I began working with Envision Success Project in 2017 and it has been pivotal in preparing me for a life of stimulating work. I have interned at the Jewish Community Center, using my music and singing to entertain and educate children. I was interviewed by Liz Miska, the founder of WalkFit, about my experiences as a visually impaired person. I’ve spoken publicly about disability rights and conducted research into the lives and work of blind blues musicians. I’m a part of the Writing Team for Trades Win. My mentor Karen introduced me to the project and I was attracted to it because I enjoy doing research and writing and because my greatest strengths are curiosity and creativity. I hope to find a job where I can fulfill my passions and make a difference in the world.
JUAN FIGUEROA
My name is Juan C. Figueroa and I’m 40 years old. I’m originally from the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and I now live in Holyoke, Massachusetts. I received an associate degree in computer information systems from Holyoke Community College in 2013. I live with my mom and I also have three brothers and one sister. I belong to the Greater Springfield Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), and I’m currently the treasurer of my local chapter. I like to read digital books from BARD (Braille and Reading Download), and I also read Grade 2 Braille and am currently learning Unified English Braille (UEB). I love to travel anywhere in the United States when I have the chance. I’m a busy writer and have written two novels so far and have plans to write more. I’m on the writing team for Trades Win; I learned about the project in March 2021 from my vocational rehab counselor at MCB and was eager to participate in it. As a bilingual person my work for Trades Win has helped me gain confidence as a writer in the English language. I’m quick at mastering technology and teaching others how to use it to improve their lives. I’m a people person and a leader, and I love to communicate and inspire.
Bios of the 2022 Writing Team
ASHLEY FRACCALOSSI
Ashley is a believer in the power of storytelling and its ability to advocate towards changing societal narratives around disability. Having gone legally blind in her late teens and unilaterally deaf in her early twenties, and while living with chronic illnesses, she continues to work toward pursuing her passions professionally and creatively.
She is a lover of creative writing; yoga; golf; photography; going to the movies; wandering her favorite museums; taking a train to a stop she’s never been to; traveling; walking the beach no matter the season; watching one of many of her favorite Bravo shows; and standing up for what she thinks is right, always.
Ashley received a degree in Communications & Media Studies with a minor in Writing & Literature from Emmanuel College in Boston. She hopes to continue her education with a path toward working in media law.
She credits her strength and perseverance despite her physical to the incredible support of her family and friends; that has been a guiding light toward achieving her dreams.
In taking part in this Trades Win project, she hopes fellow blind/visually impaired individuals will find inspiration, hope, and encouragement towards pursuing their passions and careers.
EMILY POOLE
I was born on February 27, 1992, weighing one pound. Once I was delivered, I was sent to the NICU. I was there several months. During those months my right retina was detached. The doctor did both a laser and cryo-surgery which put my right eye back but caused me to become legally blind in that eye. Eventually I was sent home with round-the-clock nurses. Since I was born so early at 23 weeks, I have spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. This means I have spasms and can’t use my arms or legs. It also means I have a lot of tone which means my muscles get tighter.
When someone is not available to help me, I use a HeadMouse which tracks a dot that moves the mouse. I use a software called DwellClick to do my clicking and an onscreen keyboard to help me type.
Through my schooling I had many surgeries. This includes day surgeries such as Botox and overnight surgeries which focus on legs during one surgery and arms during another.
I attended Roger Williams College and then transferred to Bristol Community College where I studied General Education. In my spare time I like to read. I do this through an online library where I can make the font larger, and it can be read to me. I love reading fiction and especially love books with a twist.
I found this internship through my MCB counselor. She emailed me and told me about it and I found it interesting to try. I serve the team by helping to prepare questions for the interviews and envisioning the overall concept of the book.
CAROL WHITE
Carol White loves to create. She is a writer, composer and performer. A native of Massachusetts, she has lived and worked throughout the United States.
Carol was born prematurely and has been totally blind since infancy. As a 2-year-old, she rode her tricycle all over Newton sidewalks, dodging trees and showing her “radar” to the neighborhood kids, Mainstreamed in preschool and kindergarten, her teachers created original reasonable accommodations before the concept was widely known.
Entering 1st grade, she found an unprepared teacher. So, she arrived at Perkins School for the Blind. There, she reveled in the rich music program through 8th grade. Mainstreamed again in high school, she won medals for forensic speaking, continued studying piano and joined preeminent adult choruses in her home city of Worcester. At Boston University, she majored in piano and studied organ and voice, graduating with a Bachelor of Music degree.
She traveled to Connecticut and became a church music director. At that time, she was invited to play organ recitals in Germany. She flew there with her first Seeing Eye dog.
Then, with scoring movies in mind, she moved to Los Angeles, found herself rejected by many producers and took graduate early music courses at UCLA. UCLA had a renowned Asian music department. In 1984, Carol played in a Balinese gamelan orchestra which performed as a part of Olympic ceremonial concerts.
The ‘90s found Carol doing public affairs work for the Department of Defense. Many members of Her family were veterans of World War II and the Korean conflict. Unable to serve in the military because of blindness, she finally felt a part of their milieu by supporting soldiers and their families. She wrote news stories and coordinated exhibits. She is most proud of the disability awareness events which she conducted every October.
Also known as Carolinn Skyler, she commissioned the world’s largest glass harmonica in 1999. She is the first blind artist to be accepted into the Mass. Cultural Council roster. Her programs for tourists dazzled visitors to Philadelphia. She has appeared with prominent orchestras including the Pittsburgh Symphony.
Always ready to work at something new and different, she currently enjoys working with a talented team of writers for the Polus Center for Economic Development. Bringing opportunities to the fore, the Center’s newest book and podcasts will have a significant, lasting, and beneficial impact on the lives of blind and visually impaired people.
ERIN WILLIAMS
Hi, I’m Erin and I am visually impaired, and I also have cerebral palsy and have had both disabilities for my entire life. When it comes to my cerebral palsy, not much slows me down except for certain activities like cutting and holding things with my right hand. With my vision issues, there are certain aspects of life that are very difficult for me and others in which I show my independence and strength. For instance, my greatest frustration is not being able to drive and take charge of my own transportation and timing. On the other hand, I’m independent when it comes to my college studies, a great deal of cooking and caring for my home, and in my friendships. When it comes to my free time, I like to play computer games, go on walks in the summer, watch my favorite tv shows and sports teams, and be with my family. At college, I’m studying art history and graphic design. I’ve always loved art and have taken every art class I could, and these days I like to do digital art. The person I’m becoming has a great job in the field of graphic design, possibly designing packaging for people with all different kinds of disabilities. I learned about this internship through my MCB counselor and was excited about the possibility of growing as a writer and working with a team to create a book that can help others like me.
Other Team Members
JOSH PEARSON
RICK ELY
KATE CHADBOURNE
I’ve been proud to serve as the Writing Mentor for the Trades Win Writing Team in 2021 and 2022 and grateful to have helped to guide such wonderful writers. Outside the project, I’m a teacher of Irish language and folklore, of music and singing, and of poetry and writing. I’m also a singer, storyteller, composer, and poet, and I travel around New England performing concerts of songs and stories and meeting great people everywhere.