APH Welcomes Paul Schroeder as New Vice President, Government and Community Affairs

APH is pleased to announce that Paul Schroeder has been hired as the Vice President, Government and Community Affairs. He will succeed Gary Mudd who will retire on December 31, 2020 after 34 years.

“We are very happy to have added a new member with Paul’s accomplishments, experience, knowledge, and vision to our executive leadership team,” said Craig Meador, Ed.d, APH President. “Paul’s expertise will further our mission as we continue to provide educational resources and enhance the quality of life for people who are visually impaired.”

In his new role, Paul will serve as a key advisor on matters pertaining to all government activities at APH, including the activities related to the Act to Promote the Education of the Blind. He will also educate U.S. Congress members by raising awareness of the unique learning needs of the visually-impaired and the products and services they need, something Paul knows firsthand.

“As a student, I learned with books and products from APH, and as a professional in the visual impairment field, I appreciated the wealth of knowledge and expertise available at APH. I am honored to help advance the work of this great organization locally, nationally, and internationally,” said Schroeder.

Paul has more than 30 years of experience and leadership in the field of blindness and visual impairment. Most recently, he was Vice President, Public Policy and Strategic Initiatives at Aira Tech Corp., in La Jolla, California, from 2017-2020. He served in several leadership positions, including Vice President, Programs and Policy at American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) from 1994-2016 in Washington, D.C. He also worked as the Director of Governmental Affairs at American Council of the Blind in
Washington, D.C., from 1991-1994 and as the Special Projects Coordinator at the Governor’s Office of Advocacy for People with Disabilities, in Columbus, Ohio
from 1985-1991.

Schroeder’s move to APH reflects a growing partnership between APH and Aira. APH provides to support students through the development of innovative, accessible educational products and services, and Aira continues to strengthen their ability to support distance learning and other student needs in the K-12 and university markets. Together, APH and Aira are investigating new initiatives that would offer support to students learning from home.

Schroeder received his bachelor’s of arts, cum laude, in Political Science and International Studies from American University and currently sits on multiple boards and committees. He lives in the Washington, D.C., area with his wife and enjoys playing the guitar in his downtime.