Signed in as:
filler@godaddy.com
Seeking an enriching experience for your upcoming event? Dr. Folska offers more than words - she brings depth, insight, and inspiration to every presentation. Connect with Claudia today to bring her unique perspective to your experience.
Dr. Claudia Folska, a visionary leader and renowned public speaker, is a trailblazer in her field. Founder of Eyecycle, a nonprofit promoting accessible cycling, she's also the first blind woman elected to public office in Colorado. Claudia's remarkable achievements include cycling across North America, averaging 100 miles per day, from Santa Monica to Washington, D.C., and biking from Pakistan to China on the Karakuram Highway to the Khunjerab Pass, the world's highest paved pass. She's also starred in her own cooking show, "Cooking in the Dark," on Rocky Mountain PBS. With dual PhDs in Architecture Planning and Cognitive Science, Claudia has authored influential publications on wayfinding and environmental cognition. Her dynamic speaking style captivates audiences as she advocates for accessibility, equity, and inclusion. She often says, "Equity is being invited to the dance; inclusion is being asked to dance."
"As I was driving last week, I was introduced to Claudia Folska, a blind dual doctorate student at the University of Colorado in Denver. She is studying urban design and cognitive science, which she is putting to use in proposing ways that the city of Denver can make life more navigable for people who are blind. She suggests, for example, that public emergency phones might emit audible signals so that everyone can find them when needed. It was a fascinating interview on the NPR show 'Talk of the Nation' and I recommend it to you. But the part I found most interesting – and refreshing – was her response to one of the questions the host asked her. After a 20 minute or so conversation in which she offered innovative ideas and talked about projects she is working on, on top of preparing to defend her dissertation, the host asked her what else she is working on. She answered, 'Isn’t that enough?'
Isn’t that enough? I was driving alone in my car when I heard this. I laughed out loud and said, out loud, 'Good for you!' What a great way to turn the question on its head, to illustrate the problem with the question itself, to refuse to take it on its own terms. That’s creative thinking. And oh so refreshing."
- Deborah E. Lewis, The Wesley Foundation at the University of Virginia
"The funny thing is I wasn't some avid cyclist who had spent my entire life dreaming of that one day that I too might be able to ride a bike across America. For me, it was an experiment. The ride was a test of will. Each and every one of us has the ability to conquer big ideas.
Whatever you think is a challenge beyond your capability, then this story is meant for you. I hope you will be encouraged to believe in yourself and have the courage to fulfill not only your dreams, but the challenges you set for yourself, both big and small.”
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.