Email: rschroeder@mail.acb.org
Cellphone number: (407) 924-7264
1. Please introduce yourself, indicate the position you are seeking, and explain why you are interested in serving in this role.
Hello, my name is Rachel Schroeder from Springfield, Illinois. I am seeking your vote to serve a second term as a director on the ACB Board of Directors. It has been my privilege and honor to serve and I would like to continue bringing my 30 years of experience in ACB to contribute to the success of this organization.
2. What do you consider your strongest contribution to ACB at the national, state, special-interest affiliate, or local chapter level? Please explain why you view this as your most significant contribution.
Although I’ve had many contributions in various leadership roles on the local, state and national levels, I believe that one of my most meaningful contributions to ACB is that I can work well with others. I try to listen to and understand all sides of an issue, keeping in mind my responsibility to our organization and our members when considering how to proceed. I also try to see the strengths and talents of others and provide a level of mentorship and encouragement that can allow them to be involved and serve in a manner that utilizes their own talents and strengths for their own personal growth and the organization’s benefit.
3. In your view, what is the most important challenge currently facing ACB? How would you work to help address this challenge if elected?
I think one of the biggest challenges of ACB is preparing for our future and ensuring that we strive as an organization, to do our best to make things better for the generations that follow ours. We need to impart knowledge, share experiences and mentor our next generation impressing upon them the importance of keeping the work of ACB going so that future blind and visually impaired people will have even greater life experiences than we do now and the current accessibility barriers will no longer exist.
One thing I will continue to do if re-elected to the ACB board is continue to make myself available to hear concerns and share ideas both with board members and affiliates and individuals to bring their concerns and ideas to the table.
4. What do you see as the most pressing issues facing the blindness community we serve, and how would you work to advance meaningful change in this organization?
I believe we need to continue working in the advocacy space for better transportation, web sites and applications access among others. I will hear concerns and do my part to promote our efforts and stress the importance of accessibility to others who have influence in this space.
Thank you for reading and I would sincerely appreciate your vote.