Donna W. Hill
Born blind from Retinitis Pigmentosa, she has a black Lab guide dog named Hunter. He is her forth guide from the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind in Smithtown, NY. She taught herself to read Braille after graduating from college with a BA in English Lit. She uses a computer with the popular screen reader, Jaws for Windows.
Donna works to foster understanding of and improve opportunities for blind Americans, as a volunteer publicist for the nonprofit Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind: http://www.padnfb.org
An 18-year breast cancer survivor who found both tumors herself, she also promotes self-exam. Her articles cover a wide range of topics including politics, literature and humor.
She is working on her first novel -- a fantasy. Her other interests include playing piano and guitar, writing music, knitting afghans for her local interfaith ministries and traveling with her husband Rich and Hunter. She has also written several editorials about the Harry Potter books for Mugglenet.com.
Contact Information
Articles by Donna W. Hill
November 18, 2009
When the online indie music store CDBaby launched its new site in July, they encountered many problems – not the least of which is that they removed features which made the site accessible to blind consumers and recording artists. CDBaby doesn't intend to address the accessibility issues until after the holiday season. Struggling blind recording artists and their fans have been speaking out for months, but have received little satisfaction from the company. Comments from CDBaby illustrate how little even professional programmers know about the accessibility issues. Blind recording artists are expecting a slow holiday season, which will impact non-profits like the Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind as well as struggling blind and sighted musicians.
November 04, 2009
Oregon's 2006 Golden Pioneer award winner Jeanne Marie Moore has been fighting for equal rights and opportunities for Americans with disabilities for decades. From starting a disability resource center at the University of Denver in the '70s and ensuring that California state exams were offered in accessible formats, to her work with the Women's Braille Press and her efforts to make the election process accessible to all voters, she offers insights into the struggle for equality. A clinical therapist, musician and avid advocate for the use of Braille, her triumphs in the face of personal difficulties, as a blind child growing up in an abusive environment, are an inspiration for anyone.
October 22, 2009
We were in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania when it happened. Rich, my soon-to-be husband, Curly Connor, my nine-year-old half Labrador/half Golden Retriever, and I enjoyed frequent day-trips to the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, when we lived in the Philadelphia area. We would walk the roads fo...
September 06, 2009
This is an insightful examination of the major aspects of this summer's healthcare reform controversies. The author of "Hop up on the Table, Honey: Does Good Insurance Guarantee Good Healthcare?" and "Pharming Out Healthcare: Who's Really Deciding Your Treatment?" addresses the motives and misinformation behind the antireform efforts. Learn about the shady background of the founder of one of the most powerful anti reform campaigns and the way industry insiders twisted the words of a Republican senator to further their agenda.
Attempts by patient advocates and AARP to separate fact from fiction are discussed. Hill explains the difference between two groups with similar names and diametrically opposed agendas. Find out where groups like the March of Dimes and Microsoft stand.
The article criticizes Obama for not addressing tort reform and suggests provisions not included in the current legislation. The author uses Greek mythology and the Declaration of Independence to share a few thoughts about the passing of Senator Ted Kennedy.
September 04, 2009
Have you ever seen big pharma representatives visiting your doctor? Perhaps, you've noticed the little gifts they bring, such as clipboards, pens and charts – all emblazoned with the company name. The author of "Hop up on the Table, Honey: Does Good Insurance Guarantee Good Healthcare?" explains the influence of multinational companies on how your doctor looks at disease as well as what medicines you receive.
Hill discusses the ubiquitous TV and magazine ads for prescription drugs. Learn the tricks of advertising which make drugs look more affective than they are and how to better gauge your risks and benefits.
September 04, 2009
The author, a cancer survivor with excellent insurance coverage, uses personal and family experiences to illustrate the big and small problems facing the American healthcare system. Issues include flaws in education of healthcare professionals and a myriad of paperwork anomalies. An interview with About.com's patient advocate Trisha Torrey provides valuable information for those facing decisions about major surgeries as well as what every patient needs to know about American healthcare.
July 28, 2009
If it was up to you to teach legally blind children, would you insist that they use their remaining vision as much as possible, even if it meant that they were functionally illiterate and one day they would walk in front of a truck with their young child? Or, would you want to give them the tools and awareness to become successful adults who could function independently and safely? The answer may seem obvious, but thousands of America's blind kids are being forced to settle for a substandard education, leading to lives of dependence with little chance for employment and unnecessary danger. Jody Ianuzzi is a Major in the Civil Air Patrol and a martial arts instructor. Along with her friend Debbby Bracket, who holds a master's in early childhood education, she is changing what it means
Jody Ianuzzi to be blind.
June 30, 2009
Role models for blind children are scarce in mainstream American life. For blind girls, they are almost impossible to find without doing some serious digging. Here are three examples – two of them women -- of blind adults who were raised in military families and are all highly educated, talented and successful. Best of all, they are all giving back to their communities. Though their paths never crossed before, they are now helping to provide scholarships for blind students majoring in the performing arts.
June 10, 2009
Michigan psychologist and Christian homeschool Mom Beth Brown shares her views on Braille. She has a wealth of experience which highlight the advantages of teaching Braille to students with visual impairments. She has witnessed first hand the increased independence experienced by Braille readers, as well as the struggles, limitations and dependence encountered by people who are trained to rely on faulty vision. Her recommendations are a must read for families who have a child with low vision. Other families will enjoy a look at the Brown's thriving home school.
May 25, 2009
If you were a modern American educator would you expect a legally blind child to rely upon his remaining vision to use power tools or go snow tubing? How slow would a child have to read print for you to consider teaching him Braille? How bent over would he have to be, before it occurred to you that he might benefit from a white cane? Now that Carrie Gilmer's son is headed off to college, she can talk about their ten-year ordeal. As President of the Minnesota chapter of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children, she knows that her experiences are unfortunately all too common. From her initial reactions to learning that her son was legally blind to the mistakes she hopes other parents won't make, she is candid about the fight she has just been through. Carrie's story is a must read for anyone with a friend or loved one dealing with poor vision.
May 18, 2009
Anna Walker is a legally blind eight-year-old second-grader who is fully mainstreamed in her public school. She has finished at the top of her grade level for two years in a row in a national Braille reading contest. In Pennsylvania, where the Walkers live, advanced certification for Braille instructors is not required as it is in some states. This means that many low vision children are expected to accept a substandard education. But Pennsylvania has Anna's Mom, a lawyer and president of the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children, who volunteers to help parents of blind and low vision children obtain the education their children deserve. Carlton Anne Cook Walker shares valuable insights into the special education system and the often overlooked issues facing students with severe visual limitations who are not totally blind.
May 11, 2009
NASA knows it, even Congress gets it, but very little mainstream press has been devoted to informing the American public. America has a Braille literacy crisis, which will continue to increase the taxpayer's burden unless something is done. The non-profit National Federation of the Blind -- in partnership with Congress and NASA and a host of celebrity spokespeople – is at the forefront of the battle. Hill's series will look at Braille literacy from the point of view of rehabilitation counselors, Braille teachers, parents and blind people themselves. This article is an introduction to the subject.
April 10, 2009
Lori Hunter of Heber Springs is a tireless advocate for blind and disabled people in and out of her native Arkansas. Her latest appointment to Arkansas's Independent Living Council is one of many ways this country recording artist and Christian songwriter gives back to her community. From working for scholarships for blind musicians to helping local residents dealing with Altzheimers, Lori, who is legally blind, has an inspirational story for all.
March 17, 2009
As we approach the eighth anniversary of the passing of science fiction satirist Douglas Adams, creator of "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy," sci-fi fans, lovers of humor, comedy and irony as well as trivia buffs will enjoy a look at one of the world's most unusual collections. So, grab your towel and take a trip through the galaxy on Adams' favorite number.
March 07, 2009
When PETA's VP for Cruelty Investigations criticized everything about guide dog programs and the blind people who benefit from them on the LA Times web site in January, she probably didn't think any of the people she was criticizing would ever know. Her remarks, which challenge everything from the schools' breeding programs to the fitness of blind people to meet the health needs of their guides, however, started a firestorm of controversy that continues to burn. Are the radical animal rights advocates right, or simply exploiting social bigotry?
Jazz/PopSinger, Harvard Grad & Mom of Twins with Kidney Disease Heads Scholarship for Blind Students
February 28, 2009
What motivates some people to devote themselves to giving back to their communities? Easy jazz/easy pop Recording artist Lisa Ostrow is a tireless advocate for blind performers and people with kidney disease. She volunteers for both the Performing Arts Division of the National Federation of the Blind and the Polycystic Kidney Disease foundation.
February 28, 2009
Becoming a grad student in opera performance and being honored along the way are extraordinary achievements in and of themselves. Taking on a leadership role in a nonprofit helping blind entertainers, however, sets Beth Allred apart from her peers.
February 28, 2009
Some people like NYC's Dennis Holston, not only overcome great obstacles; They end up giving back to their communities in major ways. Af-Am songwriter Dennis Holston struggled with blindness, adoption and more. His efforts are now helping young blind entertainers as well as African-American kids.
February 23, 2009
From introducing blind people to computers with text to speech software in the '80s to creating scholarships for blind students majoring in the performing arts, Mindy Jacobsen has dedicated her life to improving opportunities for blind Americans. "Sound in Sight," a multi-genre compilation of original tracks & covers all donated by blind recording artists, supports the Mary Anne Parks Performing Arts Scholarship.
February 24, 2009
Chances are you don´t know any blind people personally, but that is about to change. By 2050,three times as many working-age Americans will lose their sight from diabetes. How well do sighted people do when blindness comes? Is society putting up road-blocks that increase the financial burden on the tax-payer?
February 17, 2009
Now that the US has its first African-American president, some may think that bigotry is a thing of the past. For one minority, however, massive unemployment, discrimination and poverty haven´t changed much in decades. One nonprofit believes that a new generation of minority entertainers can make a significant difference.
Articles by Donna W. Hill From Other Sources
Finding My Calling, Donna Hill's Own Account of her Struggle with Blindness, Breast Cancer & More...
February 16, 2009
published in Shapes of Success