My name is Melissa, and I live in Greeley, CO. I am blind and have some other health conditions. I graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with degrees in early childhood and both English literature and letters and psychology. I also have coursework in the teaching of blind and multiply disabled students. I am one of the very few blind people to hold a Daycare Director license for large childcare centers. I have been employed as a Montessori school and daycare center director, assistant social security benefits and work incentives counselor, administrative assistant, and a community impact associate for the United Way of Weld County. I have also taught braille and English to a staff in India, and I have worked with many children and adults throughout my career. I have been blessed with many opportunities.
I am passionate about people with disabilities becoming more active in their community. As a result of my passion, I serve on various organizations. Many are related to the Disability community. I also serve on the Rocky Mountain ADA Center Advisory Committee.
My mission statement is to achieve growth, continued learning for life, and to assist others to make their dream a reality. This is by any possibility necessary to help them. This is so true for children with disabilities.
Two unique things about me are that I have was dropped off in a random place in Denver and had to find my way back to the original building. Next, I had to plan, shop, and cook a meal for 40 people. These activities were a part of my training at the Colorado Center for the Blind. It is a point of pride, because I hadn’t grown up in Denver, and the task of finding my way back was a huge accomplishment. I am excited to add my involvement with the Rocky Mountain ADA Center as a part of my journey and a part of my growth as a person, a contributor as an advocate, and as a person with a disability.
As a person who survived an accidental overdose, ensuring that prescription labels are accessible has become a passion of mine. This way, no person who is blind and/or print disabled will suffer from taking a medication. No caregiver will administer the wrong dose. A new law in Colorado requiring accessible labels goes into effect on July 1, 2025 (see important information below).
I have many hobbies. I love to read. This love of reading has allowed me the opportunity to participate in a podcast, which is entitled Book Bistro. With a group of blind women, we have a themed episode each week. The episodes include but are not limited to rainy day books, books about mothers, romance reading, and many more. Another thing is that I am a Scentsy consultant (Scentsy consultant readerlissa.scentsy.us). This allows me to run my own small but growing business.
Lastly, I have been able to contribute to many books, as a blind adult and as a beta reader. I have enjoyed each of these activities. It fits in well with my other hobbies. It is also nice to be asked to contribute to various books and articles. I enjoy the opportunity to help authors tell and share their own story by providing them with my opinions and editorial talents.
Starting Jul 1, 2025, pharmacies in Colorado are required to provide patients who have difficulty seeing or reading standard labels on a prescription drug container with an accessible method to read the information on the prescription drug label free of cost to the patient. The National Federation of the Blind of Colorado, through its statewide office and local chapters, is eager to work with local pharmacies to help in the implementation of Colorado's accessible prescription labels law, HB24-1115.
For further information, contact:
Jessica Beecham, President
National Federation of the Blind of Colorado
2233 West Shepperd Avenue
Littleton, Colorado 80120
Phone: 303-778-1130, Extension 219
Email: JBBeecham@gmail.com
For additional information, please visit the websites: https://www.scriptability.com/scriptability-product-suite