Location: Norwood, MA
Challenge: Little Person / Blind
Ashley Bernard born in Iowa where it became clear immediately that she was blind and had Dwarfism. Ashley and her mom quickly relocated to massachusetts, where I have spent most of my life.
Ashley says "Growing up in the state of Massachusetts, music had always been my passion. From singing at church to talent shows, school performances and learning the words to any track that met my ears, music was always my life".
Ashley learned quickly, with the help of occasional braille lyric sheets and case upon case of CDs. As she got older, her mother made sure to nurture the passion. Ashley adds "I was enrolled in guitar, flute, and piano classes. I learned to read basic braille sheet music and adaptive methods of playing the guitar as I was unable to turn my hand to go underneath the instrument and reach as needed".
By the time Ashley reached high school, she had won awards for jazz band performances and solos that just came naturally. Soon she began writing her own words, singing them to her own tunes and sending them to a studio so that music could be put to the songs and Ashley could record original tracks.
Ashley adds "This arrangement worked well but my family and I had bigger and better plans". Despite her total blindness Ashley began learning computer software that allowed her to produce my own instrumentation, as well as learning her way around a mixer so she could hone in on certain aspects.
Now, Ashley am in her second year of college studying communications. When not doing school work or hanging with friends, Ashley enjoys writing music and working with technology.
While growing up Ashley wanted nothing to do with advocacy work. That is, until may of 2013, when she saw a post Facebook about how Simon Cowell used the “M” word on TV and most people didn’t blink twice. Ashley says "It occurred to me that the average person is unaware of the word’s negative connotations, and for this reason it is still frequently used".
So, Ashley has thrown herself full force into all kinds of advocacy and she loves every moment of it despite its occasional challenges. Ashley adds "I even changed my major for this reason, having realized that working for a disability related non-profit was exactly what I wanted to do".
Now, Ashley is releasing her third CD. She adds "with the help of a now very well trained musical ear, screen reading software and music tech that is slowly but successfully becoming accessible".
Her music ranges from pop to light rock, religious, country, and more. Ashley says "I write about what matters, love, loss, life experiences and my beliefs. When I released my first album, In His Arms, I sold any sales from it as a fundraising campaign for the National Braille Press in Boston".
Most recently, Ashley released a song created to raise awareness around the stigma of dwarfism for dwarfism awareness and the Little People of America.
Ashley Bernard - "Little Things (live)"