The first time Aria Mia Loberti spoke publicly, she was just 4 years old. But unlike many child advocates, she didn’t sing, dance, or wave a flag. She talked about laws — and that despite them, Loberti’s needs as a child who was visually impaired were not being met.
Loberti had joined her parents at Rhode Island’s House of Representatives, where the trio were advocating for children’s equal access to education. There were simple fixes to Loberti’s visual impairment, but despite their availability — like sitting toward the front of the classroom or being provided with anti-glare paper — more often than not, Loberti was forced to make do on her own.
So, the preschooler stood before her state legislature and explained how every child, disability or otherwise, had a right to quality education.
About the author
Elissa Miolene
Elissa Miolene reports on USAID and the U.S. government at Devex. She previously covered education at The San Jose Mercury News, and has written for outlets like The Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, Washingtonian magazine, among others. Before shifting to journalism, Elissa led communications for humanitarian agencies in the United States, East Africa, and South Asia.
