August 12, 2009 - Posted by Connie Lam
Dr. Aziza Baccouche, a nuclear physicist, freelance TV producer and motivational speaker, is breaking barriers for the blind.
At eight years old, Dr. Aziza lost her vision to a blood clot and has since undergone five brain surgeries. Yet she overcame her disability to become one of a handful of blind people to gain a doctorate in nuclear physics and has successfully pursued a career in television, producing segments for CNN and PBS and serving as those networks' first blind on-air correspondent.
Seventy percent of blind Americans are currently unemployed, a figure Dr. Aziza believes is largely a result of employers' reluctance to hire people with disabilities. Dr. Aziza hopes to transform employer perceptions of blind people and is currently producing a biographical film "Seeking Vision", to encourage other blind people to pursue their dreams.
Categories: Disability Rights
