Blind Broadcast Journalist Pursues Her Dreams
Photo credit: Randy Lee Belice, Lisa Birmingham and The Chicago Lighthouse
She co-hosts a segment on one of Chicago's top-rated radio stations. She dishes out news and information on her own podcast. She even serves as captain of her "beep baseball" team.
However, what gives Kalari Girtley, who is totally blind, the most joy are her three children.
"I have been truly blessed," she smiles, and I hope that others who are blind or disabled will find their niche and realize their dreams as well!"
A native of the Windy City, Girtley, 40, lost her vision at the tender age of 6. With the strong support and encouragement of her family, she still persevered, earning a journalism degree from the University of Illinois and a master's from Columbia College Chicago.
"As long as I can remember, I've had a passion for journalism," Girtley recalls, noting that from an early age, she possessed all the requisites for an intrepid reporter.
"I've always had a love for reading, was curious about the world around me and have been inquisitive or downright noisy about other people's business," she laughs.
Her career got a big boost in 2014 when Girtley joined The Chicago Lighthouse, a nationally respected social service enterprise assisting people who are blind, visually impaired, disabled and Veterans.
While employed as a call center representative, Girtley also had a chance to hone her journalism skills through Chicago Lighthouse Media, a multi-faceted platform that fully utilizes the talents of blind broadcasters, writers and researchers.
"In addition to preparing copy, I had a chance to produce and host my own podcast, "Coffee with Kalari," she says, "which focused on such topics as education, lifestyles, employment, recreation and health."
When Lighthouse Media partnered with WBBM-AM, the city's powerhouse all-news and information station, to broadcast the "Disability Minute," Girtley was tapped as a co-host and regular contributor for the weekly segment, which examines issues of interest to the city's often overlooked blind and disabled community.
"It is an amazing opportunity for my colleagues and myself to get this kind of top-notch experience with a major market radio station like WBBM," she acknowledges.
When asked what makes for a successful interviewer, Girtley points to being a good storyteller.
"Everyone has a story to tell and my job is to dig beneath the surface, to get to know the person I'm speaking with and ask probing questions," she states.
Girtley further polishes her craft by being actively involved in professional associations, including the Disabled Journalists Association and National Association of Black Journalists.
In addition, she also is an accomplished athlete who enjoys playing beep ball, a form of baseball for individuals who are blind, which uses audio cues and special equipment to alert and guide players.
In fact, Girtley helped the local beep ball team, the Chicago Comets, win its first ever championship in 2003.
Going forward, she expresses optimism about the future. "There is still a lot I want to do," she smiles. "My personal philosophy is to not take no for an answer, to keep pushing, always have a sense of purpose and never stop believing in yourself!"
