Findley and Chris Talk Truth with NLS Director Jason Broughton

Co-presented with the Prince George's County Office of Human Rights

The Prince George's County Office of Human Rights and PGCMLS host a new discussion series that explores the intersections between disabilities, identity, and access. Hosted by disability advocate Findley Eve Holland and special education teacher Christopher Neuhaus. This month's guests include Jason Broughton, Director, National Library for the Blind and Print Disabled.

Jason Broughton is the Director of the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS). Prior to joining the Library of Congress, Broughton became the first African American to serve as Vermont State Librarian, where he engaged in strategic planning for the Department of Libraries and establishing a long-term vision for the State Library. For over a decade, Broughton held numerous library roles in South Carolina and Georgia, where he used his prior training as an educator to focus on such issues as workforce development and public outreach engagement. Broughton earned his M.S. in Library and Information Science from the University of South Carolina, an M.S. in Public Administration from the University of South Florida and a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Florida A&M University.

John Owen has been the Director at the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled since 2019 and on staff at LBPD since 2016. In this capacity, he oversees a staff providing access to audiobooks and braille books, reference and information services, programming, assistive technology training, and textbook conversion for blind, low vision and print disabled citizens in every county in Maryland. He previously held positions for 14 years in Baltimore County Public Library in several branches across the county, both in buildings and bookmobiles. John earned a B.A. in Music from Furman University and an M.L.S. from University of Maryland College Park. 

Findley Eve Holland is a young disability activist and writer. She was diagnosed with autism and co-existing specific learning disabilities, dyscalculia and dysgraphia, when she was seven-years-old. A later than average talker, Findley was also functionally illiterate into the fifth grade, when she found the world of books-on-CD and her avid reading career began. In the Autumn of 2019, Findley developed severe joint pain and has been diagnosed with a connective tissue disorder. She is currently undergoing genetic and other medical testing for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. She was appointed to Greenbelt’s Youth Advisory Committee in 2016, where she has worked on such initiatives as successfully lowering the voting age to 16 and raising awareness about human trafficking among youth. As a young person with multiple disabilities, Findley welcomes the opportunity to speak on her experience and to educate members of the public about living with disabilities. In 2021 Findley graduated high school with a 4.0 and is now a student at Towson University.

Christopher Neuhaus is an experienced special education instructor in DC Public Schools. He currently works at Ludlow-Taylor Elementary in the H Street NE corridor and is a proud Prince George's County resident. He has worked for DC Public Schools for four years and previously held positions at KIPP DC and Bridges Public Charter School. He began his teaching career in DC as a Special Education Capital Teaching Resident. He is currently completing a Post Master's Certificate in Educational Leadership & Administration at George Washington University, and holds a Master's in Special Education - Learning Disabilities from American University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Franklin & Marshall College. He worked as a teaching assistant at Real Colegio Nuestra Señpra de Loreto de Madrid in Spain, as a big brother mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lancaster County, and was a PIT Planning Intern at Franklin & Marshall College.

ASL interpretation provided.