Lisa Maurer

Hello; my name is Lisa Maurer. I was born in Long beach California, though I have lived in Washington, since I turned five years old. I was born premature,
and have been blind all of my life. Though I am visually impaired, I enjoy life, go places with friends, take part in activities at the University Unitarian
Church, do my own housework cooking gardening, sing and play guitar and other instruments, write poems and stories, knit, crochet, sew, and make ceramics.
I am also a member of the residentsÂÂÂÂ' council of the apartment complex, where I live. I do the best I can to promote ideas and activities to improve the
lives of the disabled residents who live here and in the community.

Other activities I enjoy are: going to concerts, including Folk Life and Bumbershoot, listening to music, dancing, walking in the various Seattle parks
with my friend from church, collecting rocks and figurines, shopping, going to carnivals and theme parks to ride the biggest and wildest rides, swimming, working on my computer, building web sites, and going to Starbucks for there wonderful caramel lattés. My favorite singer is
Joan Baez. I love listening to her music, and greatly admire the causes that she stands for. I also love listening to folk and other world music. My favorite
radio stations are: KBCS; a public radio station, owned by Bellevue Community College, Radioio Acoustic; an internet only station that plays lots of folk and acoustic music, and Folk Alley; another internet only station that plays folk music. IÂÂÂÂ've also joined XM Radio online; the internet version of XM Satellite Radio. I am also a fan of the Mariners.

Though I am blind, I have attended public schools all of my life, with Braille and mobility instructors working with me at designated times, so that I could
learn with the other students. I learned how to type on a regular typewriter, when I was in third grade, and this skill proved to be useful throughout
my education, including my BA degree at the University of Washington. Since then, I have learned computer skills at the STAR Center across the breeze way
from my apartment complex. With the help of the screen reader, called ÂÂÂÂ"Jaws,ÂÂÂÂ" I can hear what is presented on the screen. As I type, the screen reader
talks, so I can hear the words. I can also read documents and browse the Internet, using Jaws. This gives me even more independence than the typewriter,
since I can proofread my own work and do more tasks on the computer.

I often take public transportation. Taking the bus increases my independence, and I often meet people along the way, who support some of the goals that
I work towards. I have friends who drive me to places that are not on the bus line, or just to places where we want to go together.

These are just some of the ways I live my life to the fullest, while doing my best to help others in the community, making new friends, and sharing what
I can, to work towards making the world a little better, to the best of my ability.