03/31/2026
This month’s spotlight is Andrew, whose story began early in life. Born blind, his childhood was shaped by learning how to navigate his home, school, and community with independence and confidence. His story is one that highlights Andrew’s remarkable spirit and how he tackles new challenges on his journey to employment.
Andrew graduated from Saint Xavier High School in 2025, where he excelled academically taking all Advanced Placement courses and earning an impressive 4.58 GPA. He also played trumpet in the marching band. When he decided he wanted to march, he approached the band director, who immediately volunteered to step in as his guide during practice and performances throughout his freshman year. In the years that followed, fellow students volunteered to support him. First a peer guide who marched alongside him for two years, and later that student’s brother, who continued as Andrew’s guide for the remainder of his time at Saint Xavier.
Andrew now attends Purdue University, where he is majoring in Computer Science. When asked why he chose Purdue he noted their outstanding disability services department and top-ranked Computer Science program. Before arriving on campus, Andrew had to determine how he would be able to navigate this new and complex environment safely. Through the Delta Gamma Sorority’s Service for Sight project, he found an incredible support network. Each week, Andrew shares his schedule, and sorority members sign up to es**rt him to and from his classes. Andrew would not be able to navigate campus without their support. This support is especially meaningful because, during his freshman year of high school, Andrew lost hearing in his left ear. While he can still hear through his right ear, this change significantly impacted his ability to navigate his environment using sound or echolocation. His left hearing aid is only a microphone that feeds the sound to his right hearing aid. As a result, he cannot tell which direction sound is coming from. This makes navigation difficult. With a full course load of 16 credit hours, the assistance he receives from Delta Gamma plays a vital role in his success at Purdue.
Andrew began his first semester having all his textbooks converted to Braille. Now in his second semester, most of his coursework is available to him digitally, which saves him time as he completes his studies. Andrew’s hard work is paying off as he was recently accepted into Purdue’s Computer Science Honors Program and is on track to graduate in the 2028–2029 academic year! When asked about his plans after college, he said that he will assess his career options once he graduates. He also mentioned that he has a big interest in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Machine learning is the process of teaching computers to learn and adapt. He is particularly interested in applying these technologies to gaming, with the goal of making games more accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Andrew’s family attributes much of his success to the natural supports within his community. Without the marching band guides in high school Andrew would not have been able to have be an active member of the band. In addition, the Delta Gamma Sorority’s Service for Sight Program has been a support that otherwise would have made attendance at Purdue very difficult. Thanks to Delta Gamma, Andrew can now confidently and safely walk to and from class each day. These natural supports have allowed Andrew to fully participate in school life and build meaningful relationships along the way. His mother relayed that “As parents of a deaf-blind young adult they enjoy watching him participate and be integrated. Having volunteers step up as guides warms their hearts and allows Andrew to socialize without parent involvement.”
Andrew is just beginning his journey to employment, but he has already demonstrated the skills, discipline, and drive needed for long-term success. With a strong academic foundation and a clear passion for innovation, he is well-positioned to contribute to the fields of computer science and accessibility in impactful ways.
NOMINATIONS:
Do you know someone who is successfully working in a vocational training program or in community employment? If so, you can nominate them to be featured in an upcoming Employment Spotlight by emailing: cheri.cummings@warrencountydd.org.
