Aria Mia Loberti ’20, a renowned actress, activist and now author of her first published book, returned to the university for her first book launch event on Oct. 2.
Loberti is an advocate for disability rights, particularly those who are blind or vision impaired. She launched her book at the Higgins Welcome Center, sharing the book’s lessons about resilience, leadership and advocacy.
She was an honors graduate, majored in philosophy, communication and political science, and minored in rhetoric in ancient greek.
Loberti said her journey has not always been easy. She was born with achromatopsia, a rare genetic eye condition that has very limited vision, and though she has regained much of it, she could not partake in most of the activities a typical college student would partake in during her time at URI without Ingrid, her guide dog.
Loberti introduced her new book that is written from her guide dog’s perspective about the journey dogs have to take to earn their vest and achieve their goal of becoming a guide dog.
Ingrid is family and is a main contributor to Loberti’s success, according to Loberti. Loberti read her new book aloud with her passionate and humorous writing style.
Loberti answered the audience’s questions about her and Ingrid’s journey together. Loberti left the audience with an important message for students dealing with a disability to hold on to as they traverse the campus daily.
“I think the biggest thing that I learned throughout my entire college education, but particularly through actually writing this book, is how to be a self advocate, and I wouldn’t think that this book would have taught me anything less about that experience,” Loberti said.
Loberti has regained most of her vision. While she said this is an exciting advancement, it does result in changes in the characters she is willing to portray in her acting.
“I am a sighted person now, and that is a lot for me to handle,” Loberti said. “I’ve realized that my perception of my own vision, impairment and my experience of it, while authentic and honest and still very genuine, is not present anymore.”
Loberti went on to describe her experience at URI.
“URI was the very first place that somebody who wasn’t a blood relative of mine told me that I mattered,” Loberti said.
The event was wrapped up with book signing and photographs.
The University of Rhode Island Women’s Leadership Council put together the event. The evening started with a few words from Sarah Lobdell, the council’s vice president for development, and Marilyn Zartarian ’70, philanthropy chair.
These two women prefaced the night by explaining the importance of the Women’s Leadership Council as well as its impact in the past 20 years. The two described the Women’s Leadership Council Scholarship, which assisted Loberti in paying for her education at URI.
The leadership scholarship is made eligible to those who are strong advocates, curious and have a strong intellect, according to Lobdell.
The council is part of the URI Foundation & Alumni Engagement, and its purpose is to support the personal and professional growth of women at the university, according to the Women’s Leadership Council website. Its vision is centered around uniting, celebrating, empowering and educating women.
Loberti will be hosting a story time with Ingrid at Sunny’s Bookshop in Los Angeles on Sunday.
