We are a group of dedicated blind individuals that want to foster positive change around blindness training.
Want to learn more, support, and get in touch?
Vision: Our vision is to empower the blind in the United States, with a particular focus on Spanish-speaking communities, with innovative skill-based, mentor-centered, positive programing that empowers self-determination and growth.
Mission: METAS is a nonprofit organization that aims to spread training on blindness skills in the United States, with a particular focus on Spanish speaking communities, though a lens of structured discovery and cultural sensitivity, and channel support and resources towards blind and low-vision communities in Latin America. We provide the expertise to teachers and professionals working with blind and low-vision adults and children so that local professionals can continue to foster a positive atmosphere. We use research based practices in working with the blind and professionals in the field. METAS works to build a community of inclusion around Spanish-speaking blind and low-vision students.
Objectives:
- Increase independence through the instruction of cane travel and independent living skills.
- Foster self-determination by helping students be better advocates.
- Provide educators with best practices in working with blind students using a train-the-trainers model.
Our Beliefs
DISABILITY JUSTICE
“Disability Justice is the cross-disability (sensory, intellectual, mental health/psychiatric, neurodiversity, physical/mobility, learning, etc.) framework that values access, self-determination, and an expectation of difference. An expectation of difference means that we expect difference in disability, identity, and culture. To be included and part of society is about being able to be our “whole self” (all of our identities together). Disability Justice includes space for self-care, reflection, and hard discussions.
Disability Justice redefines beliefs about productivity, attractiveness, and the value of human life. Beyond challenging what is considered normal, Disability Justice addresses the deeply held fear of vulnerability by practicing the value and act of interdependence.
The Disability Justice framework is practiced on an individual, cultural and societal level. It asks us to be responsible for both what we do to make change and how we go about doing the work to make it. The focus expanding from educating and advocacy around systems and attitudes, to working with other oppressed groups educating ourselves and creating solutions and community power that can serve everyone.”
–Naomi Ortiz, writer, poet, facilitator, and visual artist
DISABLED PEOPLE LEADING
We believe in Disability Justice and that the most powerful work is done by leadership by those most impacted. Thus, most of our staff and board are blind themselves. We live and use the skills daily and, therefore, are equipped to teach others. Blindness professionals are great allies if they are sighted, however, they are tourists in the blind world, whereas we live there every day. Find more information about this core pillar of our beliefs here.
ABOLITION
“Prison-industrial complex abolition is a political vision, a structural analysis of oppression, and a practical organizing strategy. While some people might think of abolition as primarily a negative project—“Let’s tear everything down tomorrow and hope for the best”—PIC abolition is a vision of a restructured society in a world where we have everything we need: food, shelter, education, health, art, beauty, clean water, and more things that are foundational to our personal and community safety. […] PIC abolition is a positive project that focuses, in part, on building a society where it is possible to address harm without relying on structural forms of oppression or the violent systems that increase it.”
-Mariame Kaba, We Do This ‘Til We Free Us
Meet our METAS team
Conchita Hernández Legorreta
METAS Chair
Dr. Maria (Conchita) Hernandez Legorreta was born in Mexico and grew up in California. She advocates for the rights of blind children and their parents in the public-school setting in the United States and abroad through a lens of intersectionality focusing on social justice. Conchita received her Bachelor’s degree from Saint Mary’s College of California, majoring in International Studies, Spanish, and History. She then went on to Louisiana Tech University where she received her Master’s in Teaching with a focus on teaching blind students. Conchita also earned a master’s certificate in working with Deaf-Blind students from Northern Illinois University. She received a Doctoral degree in Special Education with a focus on neuroscience from George Washington University. Conchita is a Biden Presidential Appointee to the National Board for Education Sciences. She has been published in Future Reflections and Rooted in Rights. Conchita keeps up with research in special education and serves as a peer reviewer on the Journal of Blindness Innovation and Research. She conducts workshops on best practices for educators and professionals in the field of disability and advocacy in the United States and internationally. Conchita is the founder and Chair of METAS (Mentoring, Engaging, and Teaching All Students), a nonprofit organization that trains educators in Latin America that work with blind/low-vision students and other disabilities, as well as Spanish speaking families in the United States. In this role, she engages lawmakers in policy discussions around people with disabilities and inclusion. Conchita is also a co-founder of the National Coalition of Latinx with Disabilities that seeks to amplify the voices of disabled Latinxs in the disability rights movement. Conchita strives to be a voice for change for educators, professionals, and advocates to make full inclusion a reality for people with disabilities in Latin America and the United States.
Rolando Hernández
METAS Vice Chair
Alberto Rolando Hernández is a Mexican-born lawyer with strong U.S. convictions. As a graduate from the Universidad Del Valle de México, Coyoacán Campus, he’s well known for his love of accessible technology and his passion for music, especially rock. His commitment to inclusion and the integration of disabled people manifests through his support for two organizations, METAS and the NFB, both of which aim to promote blind people’s independence in diverse parts of their lives, such as workplace, educational, family, and personal settings.
Ana Marquez
METAS Secretary
Ana Marquez was born in 1978 in the city of Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences with a specialization in Journalism from the University of Sotavento, Villahermosa Campus. From 2007 to 2008, she completed professional internships at the radio station La Mejor FM in Villahermosa, Tabasco, 98.3. In 2009, she underwent training at the Louisiana Center for the Blind (LCB) in the United States.
From 2011 to 2015, she directed the Civil Association (CIPDHI AC) in the state of Tabasco, Mexico, focused on defending human rights and the inclusion of the most vulnerable groups. In 2016, she got married in the United States and settled in Houston, Texas. Since 2018, she has been working for the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) of Texas as an editor and director of the Spanish Content channel for the NFB-NEWSLINE news service for the blind in Texas. She is also collaborating with METAS, a nonprofit organization that works with people with disabilities in Latin America.
Jose Marquez
METAS Board Member
Jose Marquez was born and raised in Houston, Texas by Mexican parents who immigrated to the United States in the late 1970s. He’s currently employed as a healthcare interpreter helping Spanish speaking individuals communicate with their healthcare providers. Jose became a Certified Healthcare Interpreter with the Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters in 2014 and has been a practicing interpreter since 2008. In 2006, he received his Bachelor of Arts from Texas A&M University. Jose currently serves on the Scholarship Committee and the Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity Committees with the National Federation of the Blind of Texas. Previously, he served as chapter president of the Houston chapter and 1st Vice President of the NFB of Texas. Jose was born blind with congenital Glaucoma. He’s currently married and resides in Houston, Texas.
Hilda Hernández
METAS Board Member
Hilda Hernández was born and raised in Brownsville, Texas. She currently lives there with her husband and two daughters. Hilda graduated with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Master’s in Spanish Translation and Interpretation. She currently works from home as a Spanish-interpreter. Hilda enjoys volunteering with METAS and the National Federation of the Blind in various capacities. She also enjoys spending time with her daughters, taking them to their various activities, such as school, swimming lessons, and ballet. Hilda does all of this independently by using the various resources her community offers.
Irma Pyka
METAS Board Member
Irma Pyka is originally from Mexico. She lives in Austin, Texas, where she works for the Older Individuals who are Blind Program, providing seniors with the skills to remain independent at home and have the confidence to fully integrate into their community to continue living fulfilling lives. Irma has 18 years of experience in the blindness vocational rehabilitation field, working with adults to gain confidence and obtain employment related skills to find jobs to reach their professional and personal goals. She has facilitated trainings on areas such as home management, Braille, phone accessibility, non-visual organization, and personal care including makeup application. Irma has presented to blind youth mentoring programs, NFBTX Silver Bells, National Blind Senior Division, and has traveled with METAS to the first blindness conference in Guadalajara, Mexico.
She’s organized senior social events, where her clients have had the opportunity to network, learn of resources, and find support by building community during their vision loss journey.
Irma is the proud mother of a beautiful, smart, and kind girl. She is her greatest gift in life. Irma is totally blind due to Retinitis Pigmentosa. In her free time, she enjoys audio books, exercising, travel, shopping, and meeting new people at community wellness events.
Her blindness is not an obstacle. Sometimes an inconvenience, but there’s always a way to face challenges. Afterall, it’s always about getting your white cane and facing life with a smile and good attitude. Happiness is not something you have to see, so she can say she is truly blessed.