“I always stay positive. I like to think happy thoughts.”
– Paloma Rambana, student and advocate for rights of the visually impaired
At the outset, Paloma Rambana comes across just like any other 12 year old. She likes to swim, loves to play, and enjoys life. So what makes her so special? Underneath the cheerful demeanor, lies a young girl who has risen above disability. She not only embraces life’s challenges associated with being visually impaired, she uses them to help others.
Courage in the Face of Adversity
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. And Paloma ranks among the very tough ones. She was born with a congenital visual impairment called Peter’s Anomaly. This left her with poor vision. However, instead of groveling in self-pity, Paloma chose to overcome her disability. She decided to advocate for the rights of visually impaired children like her. Her transformation from being a victim of circumstances to a champion of advocacy has been challenging but immensely gratifying.
Helping Others Dream
“Sometimes I get upset because I can’t see as well as other kids. But then I think about how so many other kids can’t see as well as I do, and I want to help them,” says Paloma. Clearly, she chooses to see the brighter side of life instead of brooding and complaining about her problems. It’s her positivity and self-belief even in adverse situations that makes her a cut above the rest.
Paloma noticed that children between the years 6 and 13 are not eligible for state funding in Florida. Paloma seeks to bridge the funding gap for this age group through advocacy. She managed to raise an impressive $1.25 million towards her Fund the Gap initiative. She routinely organizes campaigns, meets legislators, governors, and members of Congress, and explores avenues that help ameliorate situations for the visually impaired.
“It’s important that kids like me have the tools they need to be successful in school,” says Paloma. She may be a 12 year-old but her maturity belies her age. She recently helped the Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind raise a considerable sum of money.
Paloma is a passionate speaker. Her little voice carries much weight. She has spoken at many forums, including the Fall Conference at Florida in 2015. Named Oprah Winfrey’s 2018 Health Hero, Paloma has won several awards including Hasbro Community Action Hero, Childen Have the Power to Empower distinction, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, and many more. President Obama called her “one of tomorrow’s leaders.” An outspoken advocate, she has been featured in People Magazine, and Huffington Post, among other media outlets including the Tallahassee Democrat.
Paloma has shown the world how striving for change can transform lives of many.
