Aria Mia Loberti ’20 is a triple major, honors student, world traveler, activist, yoga teacher, United Nations youth delegate, aspiring philosophy professor, and Harry Potter fan. This inspiring young woman also happens to be visually impaired. Her guide dog, Ingrid, is her exceptional teammate.
On the first day of her junior year, Aria Mia Loberti ’20 learned just how far her guide dog, Ingrid, would go to keep her safe. The pair left their dorm room in Burnside Hall—Ingrid in her harness on Loberti’s left—and approached Lower College Road. Loberti, who was born legally blind, didn’t hear the approaching car, whose driver was texting and careening toward them. But Ingrid knew what to do. The petite black Lab made a sharp and sudden right, body-bumping Loberti back to the safety of the curb.
Ingrid, who will turn 4 in September, is one in a million, quite literally. Only a tiny percentage of dogs have the temperament and intelligence to become guide dogs. Ingrid is the best of the best, learning commands that 99 percent of her peers would fail. Ingrid began her training with California-based Guide Dogs for the Blind in her first month of life, and was schooled intensively for 20 months before being matched with Loberti.
Loberti, who has a passion for philosophy and rhetoric, gave a TEDxURI talk last spring on the importance of speaking up and being a good ally. “We should never stay silent in the face of our own or others’ oppression,” she asserts. She envisions and works tirelessly for a future in which disability is not seen as weakness, stereotype, or a fault of the body, but instead as a positive and enriching part of cultural diversity.
—Ann Martini
8:25 a.m. RISE AND SHINE Braiding one’s hair can be a challenge—but Loberti has this down from her years studying ballet. “People assume that because I can’t see, I shouldn’t care how I look. It’s the exact opposite.” Loberti admits to having a “slight obsession” with Doc Martens, and Ingrid, equally fashion-conscious, wears her pearls daily.
8:25 a.m. RISE AND SHINE Braiding one’s hair can be a challenge—but Loberti has this down from her years studying ballet. “People assume that because I can’t see, I shouldn’t care how I look. It’s the exact opposite.” Loberti admits to having a “slight obsession” with Doc Martens, and Ingrid, equally fashion-conscious, wears her pearls daily.
9:30 a.m. MORNING COMMUTE “Take me to Quinn Hall,” Loberti commands in a soft voice. Ingrid knows the locations of 15 campus buildings just by name, shows Loberti which elevator buttons to push, has learned the days of the week, and how to count from 1 to 5. “Now she is learning to count from 5 to 10,” says Loberti, who lovingly adds, “Nerd.”
9:40 a.m. IT’S ALL GREEK TO ME Ingrid rests quietly under Loberti’s chair in Quinn Hall during Greek 101 class. “Most of the class didn’t even know she was here for the first two weeks,” says Professor Daniel Carpenter. ”But on Ingrid’s third birthday, Aria brought her in wearing a birthday hat, and everyone took note. Now she’s just part of the class.”
12:32 p.m. WORKING LUNCH Loberti’s majors in philosophy, political science, and communication studies mean long hours of studying, reading, and collaborating with other students and professors. Ingrid stays on duty during lunchtime in the Honors study lounge in Lippitt Hall.
3:10 p.m. PLAYTIME Ingrid enjoys daily playtime on the volleyball court next to Loberti’s dorm. When Ingrid’s leather harness and head collar are on, she’s been trained to be all business. But when the harness comes off, Ingrid knows she can play and snuggle to her heart’s content.
4 p.m. PEAS AND CARROTS “Can you take me to the carrots, Ingrid?” Loberti asks as they enter Belmont Market in Wakefield, Rhode Island. Ingrid moves quickly, past the greeting cards and the butternut squash, stopping squarely in front of the carrots. Ingrid has memorized the locations of Loberti’s favorite foods, including cheese, bread, and frozen peas. Loberti also uses a special app on her phone to read and enlarge food labels.
6:27 p.m. DOWNWARD FACING DOG Loberti teaches a yoga class in the Fascitelli Fitness and Wellness Center each Sunday. Ingrid, who has her own mat and a spot right next to Loberti, is an excellent teaching assistant.
7:15 p.m. SHE’S GOT THIS Taking a sharp knife to a tough butternut squash is a hazardous task. But Loberti handles it deftly. Her petite frame belies remarkable strength and determination. Whether she’s speaking as a youth delegate in front of the United Nations, running across the Quad to class, or making dinner, she exudes confidence.
9:55 p.m. LEARNING CURVE Ingrid rests while Loberti studies. With glasses and the right lighting, she can make out large fonts and her own handwriting by getting very close. Loberti is a lover of literature, art, and architecture, and she uses her exacting sense of touch to help her feel and perceive the beauty of things. She is also a huge sci-fi and fantasy fan.
