Donna W. Hill, Author, Songwriter, Advocate for the Blind

Donna W. Hill  is changing what it means to be blind. Legally  blind from birth and a two-time breast cancer survivor, Donna, who has three recordings, writes, sings and speaks about success, perseverance and blindness. Hill, who will soon publish her first novel "The Heart of Applebutter Hill," writes for theonline magazine Suite 101 about everything from folk music and wildlife conservation to blindness issues, chocolate and knitting. An experienced talk show guest and guest blogger, her essay "Satori Green" appears in Now, Embracing the Present Moment (2011, O Books) by Rick Singer. Hill's volunteerism was recognized in 2010 by. Stanford University's Stanford Social Innovation Review; she was featured on John Brothers' Third Sector Grit: http://www.ssireview.org/opinion/entry/donna_hill_a_profile_in_third_sector_grit/ When Hill talks to young people about overcoming adversity, she mentions that many people said she would never graduate from college, live independently or marry.  When asked if they think she knew all along that those people were wrong, audiences invariably say, “Yes.”  "I was afraid they were probably right," she counters, "The difference was that I didn't want them to be right. Unfortunately, many of us are programmed to believe that those who overcome obstacles are those who never doubt and are never afraid. Most of us, however, stumble, fall and pick ourselves up again repeatedly." Hill was part of the first wave of blind children mainstreamed in public schools in the '50s. She received little help and lots of bullying. “Teachers would either assume I was faking my vision problem, or they wouldn’t let me try anything.