Changes for the Better for children and youth with disabilities

Success Stories: 2009

MEAF Intern Wins Leadership Award

posted September 01, 2009
Prior to coming to Washington this summer as a MEAF/AAPD Congressional Intern, Leah Katz-Hernandez was already making a name for herself in the political world. In fact, the Latino Inaugural Celebration Committee honored her with the Local Grassroots Community Leadership 2009 Award for her organizing efforts during the 2008 presidential campaign. Recipients of this award must have proven leadership skills and commitment to community participation, have volunteered and encouraged others to do so for a grassroots cause, and have significantly impacted a large population.

Leah, a fourth year student at Gallaudet University majoring in Government and English, passionately believes that citizens should exercise their right to vote and that everyone should get involved in the political process. As a multiply-hyphenated American -- Hispanic/Japanese/Jewish/Deaf --Leah’s personal experiences drive her commitment to equal participation for all.

During the months leading up to the election, Leah did all of the following and more: encouraged fellow students and members of the Deaf community to vote, facilitated filling out the paperwork required for absentee ballots in different states, and created a nonpartisan movement to get more people involved in the political process.

In August 2008, she launched the blog The Deaf Perspective to chronicle her experience at the Democratic National Convention. The site quickly became a widely used source of campaign information and a guide to empowerment. Leah also helped to organize activities like a voter-canvassing trip to Virginia.

Just one year later, Leah completed her MEAF internship on Capitol Hill in the office of House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD). She wants to become a lawyer working for a nonprofit advocacy organization focusing on accessibility, bilingual education, equal treatment, and better job opportunities for the disability community.

Speaking about her internship, Leah feels “as if a door to golden opportunity has been opened and by walking through the doorway, I gained invaluable experience in Congress. I am extremely honored and will use this opportunity to share my experience with rest of the Deaf and hearing community -- to show that indeed the Deaf can do anything, but hear.”

Check out Leah’s blog—The Deaf Perspective at:
deafcampaign2008.blogspot.com

Leah was also featured on the Faces of Gallaudet, Profiles at: admissions.gallaudet.edu/Academics/FOG/Leah_Katz.htm
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