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CopingwithBlindness
PersonalTalesofBlindnessRehabilitation
AlvinRoberts
SouthernIllinoisUniversityPress CarbondaleandEdwardsville

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Copyright1998byAlvinRoberts Allrightsreserved PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica 010099984321 LibraryofCongressCataloginginPublicationData Roberts,Alvin. Copingwithblindness:personaltalesofblindness rehabilitation/AlvinRoberts. p.cm. 1.BlindRehabilitationUnitedStates.I.Title. HV1795.R631998 362.4'1'092273dc21986840 [b]CIP ISBN0809321602(alk.paper) ThepaperusedinthispublicationmeetstheminimumrequirementsofAmericanNationalStandardforInformationSciencesPermanenceofPaperforPrinted LibraryMaterials,ANSIZ39.481984.

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Tothefewhundredcommittedteachersandcounselors, blindandsighted,whofanoutacrossthenationevery morning,providingrehabilitationservicestothesixty thousandAmericancitizenswhobecomeblindeveryyear

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CONTENTS
Preface PartOne LearningtoLivewithBlindness:RehabilitationTeaching 1.Where'sWillie? 2.TheBrailleBible 3.TheMissingPage 4.TheRehabilitationofRobertIngersol 5.ColorBlind 6.TheEqualOpportunityRobbers 7.BeyondtheCallofDuty PartTwo LearningtoWorkwithBlindness:VocationalCounseling 8.TheWrongWright 9.TheWetConvertible 10.BehindtheShakingDoor ix 1

5 12 19 24 31 37 44 58

61 67 75

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PartThree LearningtoTravelwithBlindness:OrientationandMobility Instruction 11.HoldOldSam 12.TheMobilityRace ABlindnessRehabilitationGlossary

81

83 91 105

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PREFACE
Afterfortyyearsofenablingblindpeopletocopewiththechallengesoflivinginaworldofseeingpeopleandstrivingtoremovesocietalbarrierssothattheblind couldfullyparticipate,Icouldnotwriteabookthatdidnotconveyasocialmessageorintent.Myintent(or,atleast,myhope)isthatthroughthesestories,someof the1.7millionAmericanswhoareblindorareintheprocessoflosingtheirvisionwillbereassuredthatblindnessneednotbetheendofactivelifebutratherthe beginningofalifeinwhichtheywilldependontheirresidualsenses.Ihopethatthisreassurancewillbeconveyedbytheeffectivenesswithwhichtheteachersand counselorsportrayedinthesenarrativesassistvisuallyimpairedpersonstoreenterthemainstreamofsociety. Beyondmydesiretoassurethoseexperiencingvisuallossthatcompetentprofessionalhelpwiththeadjustmentprocessisavailable,Ialsowishtoacquaintreaders withthehumorousaspectofthedailyworkofthissmall,dedicatedgroupofprofessionals.Thosewhobecomeblindbringtothisunchosenconditionthefullarrayof personalitycharacteristics,includingasenseofhumor.Infact,someofthefunniestpeopleIhaveknownwereblind.TakeBobIngersol,ablindmanfrommy hometown,forinstance.ManypeoplewhoknewandlovedhimwereoftentherecipientsofBob'spracticaljokes.Asahighschoolstudent,farfromhomeatthe IllinoisSchoolforthe

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BlindinJacksonville,IlookedforwardtoBob'sencouragingandnewsfilledletters,whichusuallyendedwithsuchbitsofearthyhumoras,"Somefinaladvicefrom yourfriendlystockbroker:SitonyourAmericanCanandholdyourWater."Lloyd,ablindpianotuner,wouldslipafewpiecesofthefamilysilverinthecoatpockets offriendswhowerevisitingforthefirsttimeinordertoenjoytheirreactionswhenhe"accidentally"discoveredtheseitemswhilehelpingthemonwiththeirwraps. ThentherewasFloyd,alifelongfriend,whowouldrespondtotheinquiriesofwaitressesastohowmuchcreamhelikedinhiscoffeewith"justenoughtoseeifthere isaflyfloatinginit."Ofcourse,thesepeoplewereserious,hardworkingfolksmostofthetime,but,liketheirseeingpeers,theyhadtheirlighterside.Ihaveobserved thatanactivesenseofhumorisadefiniteassettothosewhoarerequiredtoadjusttoalifewithoutvision,anditcertainlymakestheworkoftheadjustmentteacheror counselorlessstressfulandmoreenjoyable.Iftheseaccountscanhelptodispelacommonlyheldnotionthatblindpeopleareuniformlysomberandthatthosewho assistthemworkundergrimconditions,thisbookmaysucceedinloweringsociety'sgeneralizedfearofblindness. Themotivationtowritesomethingthatcouldprovideemotionalreassurancetothepublic,particularlytheelderlywhoaremostatriskofbecomingvisuallyimpaired, hasbeenwithmeformanyyears.Theproblemwas"packagingthemessage,"astheadvertisingandpublicrelationspeopleputit.Myofficeandhomelibraryarefilled withbooksonhowtolivewithblindness,includingoneIwrote,PsychosocialRehabilitationoftheBlind,but,accordingtovariouspublicopinionsurveys,society's fearofblindnesshasnotbeenreducedbythiswealthofpublishedmaterial.Inordertosucceedinreplacingfear,whichcreatesmythsandapprehension,withfacts andcommonsense,Ibelieveditwouldbenecessarytocommunicatefactualmaterialaboutblindnessbyanchoringittopositiveemotionsandoptimismaformidable task. Wehaveknownsinceantiquitythatfactsarerememberedlongerwhenpresentedinstoriesofpeopleandevents.Thisiswhymost

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ofuslearnhistorybetterfromhistoricalfictionthanfromhistorytexts.Atsomepoint,itoccurredtomethatthemosteffectiveavenuetotheemotionalacceptanceof factsaboutblindnessadjustmentwouldbetoletthepublicreadaboutreal,believablepeopleengagedwiththeirteachersandcounselorsintheprocessoflearningto livewithvisualimpairment.Personalexperienceandconversationswithcolleaguesprovidedmewithawealthofincidentsonwhichtobasestoriesofworkerswiththe blindgoingabouttheirdailytasks.Mytaskwastodeveloptheseincidentsintobelievablestories,addingdescriptivematerial,action,andconversationtoenhance plausibilityandcreateinterest,amusement,orexcitement.Althoughsomecharactershavebeeninventedtoroundoutthestories,severalcolleagueswhofurnished materialforaparticularnarrativesuchasLouisDavis,DorothyDykema,HarkerMiley,EdithIngersol,andVerleWesselarenamed.Andalloftheaccountsare factualandaccurateregardingcounselingorinstructionandblindnessadjustmenttechniques,strategies,andmethods.

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PARTONE LEARNINGTOLIVEWITHBLINDNESS:REHABILITATIONTEACHING
Ifyousuddenlybecameblind,fromwhomwouldyouimmediatelyseekservices?Aphysiotherapist?Anoccupationaltherapist?Avocationalcounselor?A psychologist?Youmightneedtheservicesofanyoralloftheseprofessionalsatsometimeduringyouradjustmenttovisualimpairment,butyourmostimmediateneed wouldbetheabilitytocarryoutthenecessarytasksofdaytodayliving.Youwouldneedsometechniquesthatdonotrequiresightforperformingsuchroutinetasks ascolormatchingyourclothes,identifyingyourmedication,pouringyourmorningcoffee,andsettingthethermostatonyourheatingorcoolingsystem.Inotherwords, youwouldneedarehabilitationteacher. Don'tbediscouragedbysuchaclinicalsoundingname.Althoughrehabilitationteachersarehighlytrainedprofessionalswhoenablevisuallyimpairedpersonstocarry outvirtuallyalloftheirdailyactivities,theydonotpracticetheirprofessionwithinthelimitedconfinesofsomedistanthospitalorrehabilitationcenter.Infact,many stateshaveacommission,bureau,ordepartmentforthevisuallyimpairedthatemploysrehabilitationteacherstoinstructblindpersonsintheirownhomes

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usingtheirownappliances.Toemphasizethisfact,theseteacherswereoriginallyknownas''hometeachersoftheadultblind.'' RehabilitationteachinghaditsbeginningwiththeLondonHomeTeachingSocietyin1855.TeachersweredispatchedthroughoutEnglandtoteachembossedreading systemstotheblind."Hometeaching"cametoAmericawiththeestablishmentofthePennsylvaniaHomeTeachingSocietyin1882.Today,rehabilitationteaching programsexistineverystate.Inadditiontothedeliveryofinstructiondirectlyintothehomesofvisuallyimpairedpersons,manypublicandprivaterehabilitation hospitalsandcentersnowemployrehabilitationteachersasmembersofmultidisciplinaryteams,whichcanalsoincludemobilityinstructors,vocationalcounselors, socialworkers,andpsychologists. BesidesinstructingvisuallyimpairedpeopleinsuchdailylivingtasksasreadinginBraille,writingwithtactilehandguides,andhomemaking,rehabilitationteachersare alsopreparedtounderstandtheemotionalimpactofvisuallossontheimpairedpersonandhisorherfamily.Teachersusethisunderstandingtoenhancethesuccess oftheteachingprogram.Forexample,oneofthefirstassurancesavisuallyimpairedpersonmightreceivefromarehabilitationteacheristheinformationthatheorshe isnottheonlypersonfacingthelossofsightonthatparticularday.Theknowledgethat179otherpeopleinthenationhavealsoexperiencedvisuallossduringthe previoustwentyfourhoursmaylessenthefeelingofisolation.Applyingtheformulaof.00253legallyblindpersonsper1,000peopleintheUnitedStates,theIllinois DepartmentofRehabilitationServicesestimatesthatthereare29,182legallyblindpeopleinthestate,forexample.(Legalblindnessisdefinedasvisualacuityof 20/200inthebettereyeoravisualfieldof20degreesorless[180degreesisconsiderednormal].)Applicationofthe.00253formulatoanestimatedUnitedStates populationof260millionresultsinaprojectionof657,800legallyblindpeopleinthenation.Ofthisnumber,weestimatethat65,780becameblindwithinthepast yearapproximately180withinthepasttwentyfourhours,asmentionedabove. Anotherserviceprovidedbytherehabilitationteacheristhe

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organizationofsupportgroupscomposedofjustsuchnewlyblindedpersons.Inthesegroups,peoplereceiveencouragementfromeachotherandknowledgefrom invitedspeakersabouteyeconditionsandtreatment,specialdevicesforpeoplewithvisualimpairments,careerinformation,andthelike. Whethertheservicesofarehabilitationteacherwillbereadilyavailabletothe65,780peoplewholosetheirsighteachyearisnotcertain.Thisdilemmaisrelatedto theaverageageofthetypicalnewlyblindedpersonandtheamountoftimeneededtobeaneffectiveitinerantrehabilitationteacher.Thefastestgrowingsegmentofthe populationwithvisualimpairmentsisoversixtyfiveyearsofage,andmostofthesepeoplewillcontinuetoreceiveinstructionintheirownhomesontheirown equipmentratherthanattendacomprehensiverehabilitationcenter,whichisusuallyconsideredmoresuitableforyoung,vocationallyboundclients.Therefore,thetime ittakesfortheteachertotraveltothehomesofstudents,alongwiththetimenecessaryforrecordkeeping,willcontinuetoinfluencetheamountoftimetheteacher canspendwithstudents.Recordsindicatethat,ifteachersvisiteachstudenteveryotherweekforoneandahalfhoursandrelyonfamilymembersandother volunteerstomonitorprogressinsuchareasashandwritingandsewing,theaveragenewlyimpairedpersonwillrequireoneyeartocompletehisorherprogram. Researchandexperiencehaveshownthatarehabilitationteachercancompleteteachingserviceswithapproximately30clientsinatwelvemonthperiod.To determinethenumberofteachersneededtoservethe65,780peoplewhowillbecomeblindintheUnitedStateseachyear,wedivideby30andfindthatthenumber is2,193.Thistranslatesinto97teachersneededinthestateofIllinoisalone. DeterminingthenumberofrehabilitationteachersneedediseasierthandeterminingthenumberactuallyavailablethroughouttheUnitedStates.Accordingtoestimates byexpertsinthefield,therearebetween500and700teachersinthenation.Evenifwearbitrarilydoublethisto1,400,thisisstill793fewerteachersthanare necessarytoservethethousandsofAmericancitizenswholosetheirvisioneachyear.Thebestadvicetoany

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personwhobecomesvisuallyimpairedistogetonanapplicationlistofanagencyforthevisuallyimpairedassoonaspossible.Fortunately,blindnessusually progressesslowly,allowingthepersontocontinueperformingmostactivitiesatreducedefficiencyuntilteachingservicescanbearranged.Finally,ifitisnecessaryfor aperson'snametobeputonawaitinglist,mostagencieswillreferthatpersontoanotherprogramsuchastheRegionalLibraryfortheBlindandPhysically Handicapped,whichprovidesrecordedbooksatnocosttothepatron. Thesevenstoriesincludedinpart1illustratethetremendousvarietyofworkperformedbyrehabilitationteachersandthespiritandcommitmentdemonstratedby thesehighlytrainedprofessionals.

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1 Where'sWillie?
Fiveo'clockFridayafternoonwastheunderstoodmeetingtimeforthoseofusintheCarbondale,Illinois,areaengagedintherehabilitationoftheblind.Without writtennoticeor,inmostinstances,evenaphonereminder,BobWright,TomNorth,orIwouldswingthroughthefrontdooroftheCarbondaleAmericanLegionat about5:15P.M.andaskWally,Pete,orwhoeverwastendingbarifeitherorbothoftheothershadarrived.Usually,thefirstonetorollinwouldorderaroundof beers,makingsuretoselecttheothers'preferredbrand,whichwouldbesetbeforethemassoonastheymountedabarstool.TheunwrittenagendafortheseFriday gettogethersregularlyincludedsomefriendlybanteringamongthepatronsupanddownthebar,areviewofthemajorhappeningsaroundtownduringtheweek,and, atsomepoint,adiscussionofsomeaspectofrehabilitationpracticethathadoccurredsincelastFriday'sgettogether.Oftenthisdiscussionoftheweek'sworkwould digressintotheswappingofyarnsandamusingincidentsthatwehadexperiencedatsometimeduringourcareersinrehabilitation.ItwasduringoneoftheseFriday afternoongatheringsinthemid1960sthatTomNorth,whowascurrentlyemployedintheBusinessEnterpriseUnitoftheIllinoisDivisionofVocationalRehabilitation, recalledan

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experienceduringhistenureasahometeacheroftheblindinthe1940sthatinvolvedateenageblindgirlwhowassofearfulthatTomwasplanningtoplaceherinthe residentialSchoolfortheBlindinJacksonville,Illinois,thatshewouldhideoutinthewoodswhenhevisitedthehome. WhilePetewassettingupanotherround,Bob,whowastherehabilitationcounselorfortheblindinthesouthernsixteencountiesofIllinois,toldaboutthetimeanew clientthoughthewasaneyedoctor.Themanhadbeenreferredbyhisdoctorforfinancialassistanceinpurchasingeyeglasses.WhenBobhadcompletedthe applicationforservices,theclientaskedforhisglasses.AlthoughBobhadbeenreadingtheapplicationinBrailleandrecordingtheanswerswithhisPerkinsBraille writer,theclienthadexpectedhimtoprescribeandfitthecorrectivelenses. AfterBobhadfinishedhisstory,IrecalledastrangeencounterIhadhadwithastudentinthe1950s.Althoughmyprimaryjobdutyatthetimewastheteachingof Braille,typing,homemaking,andotheradjustmentskillstonewlyblindpersonsintheirhomes,Iwasalsoresponsibleformaintainingtalkingbookmachines (phonographsprovidedbytheLibraryofCongresstoblindpeopleforlisteningtobooksonlongplayingrecords).Anunscheduledmaintenancecheckononeof thesemachineswasthesettingformystory. WillieJonesresidedinUllin,asmallsettlementlocatedonRoute51aboutfifteenmilesnorthofCairo,Illinois.VisitstoclientsonRoute51comprisedoneofthefew tripseachmonthforwhichIwaspermittedtouseacaranddriver,themostcostlymodeoftransportation.Inthosedays,rehabilitationteachersandotherhuman serviceworkers,blindorsighted,wererequiredtotravelbytrainorbus,butneithertrainsnorbusesstoppedinmanyofthesmalltownsalongHighway51. Therefore,oneortwotimeseachmonth,adriverwouldpickmeupabout8:00A.M.,andwewouldspendthedaytravelingtothehomesofblindpersonsinthe communitiesbetweenCarbondaleandCairoforthepurposeofteachingcanetravel,Braille,cooking,andothersubjectsneedingspecialmethods

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andequipmentfortheblind.WealsomadeannualvisitstomaintaintalkingbookmachinesforpatronsoftheLibraryfortheBlind,manyofwhomwereformer students. Atthetimeofthisincident,WillieJoneswasoneofmyformerstudentswhostillreceivedanannualtalkingbookcheck.Histeachingprogramhadbeencompleted abouttwelvemonthspriortothisvisit,atwhichtimehewasinformedthathewouldbecontactedeachyearforthepurposeofinspectinghisrecordplayerandmaking anyminorrepairs,suchastubeandneedlereplacements. Asthedrivershiftedmy1953Plymouthstationwagonintofirstgearandeasedouttheclutch,IreadthenameonthetopBraillecardintheUnionCountyaddressfile andinformedFredthatwewouldbemakingourfirststopatthehomeofNancyWilliamsinCobden,abouttwentymilessouthofCarbondale.Myattentionwasthen giventoexaminingthenotesoneachstudentweweretovisitthatFridaymorning.TheselessonplannotesremindedmethatNancywouldbelearningtopeel vegetablesbytouch,descendstepswithawhitecane,andreadBrailleJackWebbwasgoingtotakehisfirstsolocanetriptothepostofficeandBeulahBellwould beworkingonarugthatshewasweavingforherdaughter'sweddinggift.TherewerenonotesforWillieJones,whowouldbeoursecondcontactatabout11:00, becauseWilliewasscheduledforaroutinelibrarycheck. IstoppedreadingwhenFredturnedontheradioandHankWilliams'svoicefilledthecarwith"I'mSoLonesomeICouldCry."IlightedaWinstonandbegan wonderinghowWilliewasmakingout.Hehadbeen"atthebottomofthebarrel,"asheputit,whenwehadfirstmetin1957.HewasreferredbytheCounty DepartmentofPublicAidafewmonthsaftermovingtosouthernIllinoisfromMemphis,Tennessee,wherehehadmadehislivingplayingtheguitarandsingingblues andcountrymusic.Whenhelosthissightfromglaucoma,Willie'sselfconfidencelefthim.Hestoppedbookingjobsandstayedinhisapartmentuntilhismoneywas goneandhisgirlfriend,whohadtakencareofhim"likeababysincemyblindness,"

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lefthimtoreturntoherhusbandinMississippi.Williedidtheonlythinghecouldthinkof:Heswallowedhisprideandaskedsomefriendsatanightclubwherehehad workedlasttotakeupacollectionforhistransportationtothehomeofhissisterinUllin,Illinois. Hehadbeensittingonthefrontstepsofhissister'shouse,strummingaguitarandsinging"I'mSoLonesomeICouldCry,"whenIgotoutofthecarandintroduced myselfasthehometeacheroftheblind.Inarichtenorvoicetingedwithsadness,Willieofferedmeaseatonthestepsandmusedthatthemostvaluablelessonhe couldlearnwashowtomakemoneywithouthissight.Hetoldhisstory,endingwithhisarrivalatthehomeofMaryMaeAllan,hisyoungersisterwholivedinthis housewithherhusband,Josh,andtwochildren.HewasnotreceivingBlindAssistanceyet,andlivingoffofhisbrotherinlaw,whowasworkingparttime,wasa drainonthefamily'smeagerresources. AfteralengthyinterviewontheactualbarrierstoWillie'sresuminghisemploymentasamusician,hehadagreedtolearnsomealternatemethodsofcompensatingfor hislostsight,suchasusingawhitecaneforfoottravel,managinghismoneybyfoldingbillsdifferentlyaccordingtodenominationandfeelingthedifferencesamong coins,andlearningtowritethechordsequencesofnewsongsinBraille.Inaseriesofbiweeklyvisitsoveratwelvemonthperiod,Willielearnedenoughoftheseskills tosatisfyhimself,andhisteachingcasewasclosed.Atourlastteachingsessioninthespringof1958,hehadreportedthathewasworkingthreenightsaweekina localnightspot.Themoneywasn'tnearasmuchashehadmadeinMemphis,buthewasabletocontributetothefamilyincomeonaregularbasis.Also,hehad begun"keepingcompanywithanicewidowladyImetattheAbyssinianMethodistChurch,"wherehehadbegunsinginginthechoir.Overall,Williefelthislifewas improving. BythetimeIfinishedanotherWinston,wewerecrossingthebridgeovertheIllinoisCentraltrackatthenorthsideofCobden.NancyWilliamswaswaitingformein herporchswing,sowebeganwiththelessononascendingherfrontporchstepsby

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firstcheckingthewidthanddepthofthestepswiththecaneandthenpositioningthecanesothatitpointeddownatananglefromherrighthandtocontactthefront edgeofeachstepjustbeyondherleftfoot.Whenshereachedthebottom,thecanecoulddropnofurther,notifyingherthatshehadreachedthelaststep.After practicinggoingupanddownstepsforaboutthirtyminutes,wemovedintoNancy'skitchenwhereshereceivedinstructioninpeelinganddicingapplesinpreparation formixingaWaldorfsalad.Thissaladwastobeasurpriseforherhusband,whohadbeenperformingthemoredangerouscookingtasks,suchaspeelingandfrying foods,sinceNancy'svisualloss. Wewerebackontheroadby10:00A.M.,andafterstoppingforcoffeeinDongola,wepulledintoWillie'ssister'syardabout11:00A.M.IwassurprisedwhenFred saidtherewerethreeothercarsalreadyparkedintheyard,becauseMaryMaeandJoshhadnotownedanautomobilewhenIhadlastvisitedin1958.Walkingup thefrontsteps,Icouldhearseveralvoicesinsidethehouse.IwasgreetedwarmlybyMaryMaeandofferedaglassofKoolAidafterbeingseatedinacomfortable chair. Thereseemedtobeaboutsixorsevenpeopleinthelivingroom.IknewMaryMae,Josh,andtheirtwochildren,RebeccaandDaniel,andMaryMaeintroducedme totheothers,whowereWillie'scousins.AftersomesmalltalkabouttheniceweatherandhowwellthefishwerebitingatHorseShoeLake,MaryMaesaidshe guessedIhadcomefortherecordplayer.IrepliedthatIhadreallycometoseeWillie.InasombervoiceJoshsaidthateveryonepresentappreciatedmyvisitandthe helpWilliehadreceivedfrom"theblindprogram."AcknowledgingJosh'skindwordswiththestatementthatWilliewasagoodstudentwhoknewwhatheneeded andappliedhimselftolearnit,Isaid,"BythewaywhereisWillie?"Sinceweweretalkingabouthim,Iassumedhewasintheotherroomorhadgonesomeplace withafriendorrelative. ItwasMaryMaewhospokeinatearfulvoice."He'srighttherebesideyou.Youcantouchhishand."Andshetookmy

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handandplaceditonWillie'scoldone.MyshockatfindingoutthatWilliewasdeadmusthaveshownonmyfacebecauseMaryMaesaidtheythoughtIhadheard aboutWillie'sheartattackandhadbeensentbythegovernmenttopickupthetalkingbookmachine. IadmittedthatIwassurprisedandsaddenedbyWillie'spassingandwentontoexplainthatIhadonlycometoseeifWilliewashavinganytroublewithhismachine ortheLibraryfortheBlindatJacksonville.JoshinformedmethatWilliehadcomplainedofseverepaininhisleftarmshortlyafterbreakfastthepreviousmorning.He summonedaneighborwhotransportedWillietoSt.Mary'sHospitalinCairo,wherehewaspronounceddead.AftergivingmeanothercupofKoolAidtosettlemy nerves,MaryMaesaidtheyhadseenmystationwagonturnoffthehighwayanddecidedthatIhadbeennotifiedofWillie'sdeathandhadcomefortherecordplayer sosomeotherblindpersoncouldhavetheuseofit. Afterthebodyhadbeenpreparedbytheundertaker,Williewaslaidoutinhissister'slivingroom,andothermembersofthefamilywerenotified.Relativeshadbegun arrivingaboutsixthepreviousafternoon,and,accordingtocustom,theydividedthemselvesintoteamsoftwoorthreetositbesideWillieuntilthefuneral,which wouldbeSaturdayafternoon.MaryMaesaidthatotherrelativesandfriends,includingWillie'sformersweetheart,wouldarriveSaturdaymorning,andinthe meantime,sheandtheotherlocalrelativesandfriendswouldmakesurethatthebodywasnotleftunattended. Againexpressingmysinceresympathytotherelativesclusteredinthatsmalllivingroomwheretheheatofthesummersunwasmoderatedbythecoolbreezedrifting throughtheopenwindowsandourwordswereaccompaniedbythesongsofbirdsperchedinthetallpoplartreesintheyard,IacceptedthetalkingbookthatJosh placedintotherearofthestationwagon.AsIclosedthedoorandFredstartedthePlymouth,Ifinallyformulatedthequestionthathadbeenrattlingaroundinmy subconscious.

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"Josh,yousaidWilliepassedawayyesterdaymorning.SowhydidMaryMaeassumeIknewWilliehaddiedbeforeIgothere?" Josh'svoicetookonaconfidentialtone."Well,Mr.Roberts,weallknowthegovernmenthaswaysoffindingoutthings,'speciallythePensionDepartment.Why,they seemedtoknoweverytimeWillieoranyoftheseoldagepensionersaroundheremadeadollarbecausetheywouldtakeitoffoftheirchecks.Wefiguredthe pensionpeoplecalledyouroffice."IoncemoresaidthatIhadnotbeenawareofWillie'spassinguntilMaryMaehadmademeawareofit.AsFreddroveoutofthe yard,JoshsaidhehopedthatwhoevergotWillie'smachinewouldenjoythetalkingbooks. AsIrecall,thelessonswithJackandMrs.BellwentwellthatFriday,butmythoughtskeptreturningtoWilliehowhehadmadepeacewithhisblindness,resumed hismusicalvocation,andevendevelopedarelationshipwith"anicewidowlady."ButWillie'slifeasarehabilitatedblindpersonhadendedyesterdayafterbreakfast withaseverepaininhisleftarm.Iwonderedifhehadfelthelplessandaloneagainattheend.Thatnight,IspentsometimelisteningtosomeoldHankWilliams records,including"I'mSoLonesomeICouldCry,"andthinkingaboutWillie.

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2 TheBrailleBible
Onasunnyafternooninthespringof1982,funeralceremonieswerecompletedformyfriendL.D.''Jack''Norman,andthemournersweregatheredinsmallgroups aroundtheircarsengagedinquietconversation.DickTauber,TutBollinger,DickSwank,andtheotherpallbearers,allofushavingbeenclosepersonalfriendsas wellasworkassociatesofMr.Norman,beganrecallingamusingexperienceswehadsharedwithJack.Ourreminiscencestookmymindbackto1954andthe morninginJack'sofficewhenhetoldmeofoneofhisearlyexperienceswiththefirstrehabilitationteacherassignedtotheCarbondaleofficeoftheDepartmentof PublicWelfare. Jack,thefirstregionaldirectoroftheDepartmentofPublicWelfarefieldoffices,wasresponsibleforapproximatelytwelvesocialworkers,twosocialwork supervisors,fouryouthcommissionstaff,andonehometeacheroftheblind,thepositionIwasappointedtoonJanuary1,1954.Duetothetechnicalnatureofmy work,mysupervisionwasprovidedbyI.N.Miller,whoworkedoutoftheIndustrialHomefortheBlindinChicago,butIwasresponsibletoMr.Normanforroutine administrativeactivity,whichrequiredoneortwomeetingseachmonth

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todealwithsuchmattersasexpenseaccounts,cooperationwithotherlocalagencies,andpublicrelations. Duringoneofthesemeetings,IplacedmyBraillelistofdiscussionitemsonhisdesk,andweconcentratedonthedispositionoftheseitemsforaboutthirtyminutes. Finally,helightedacigarandsaid,"Youknow,whenIgaveyouaridetotheIllinoisSchoolfortheBlindatJacksonvillethefallafteryoureighthgradegraduation,I neverthoughtaboutyoucompletingcollegeandworkinghere.Why,whenHeinzAdamaskedmetotakeyoutoJacksonville,hewasnotsureyouwouldcomplete highschoolbecauseyouweredeterminedtomakeyourlivingasamusician." Mr.HeinzAdam,myfirstrehabilitationteacher,waslargelyresponsibleformychoosingthesameprofession.HeinzfirstappearedattheSightSavingClass,whereI wasablindstudenttryingtofitintoaclassinwhichtheotherstudentsusedlargeprint,sometimeduringthe194445schoolyear.Atfirst,Ihaddifficulty understandinghimbecauseofhisverypronouncedGermanaccent.AssoonashewasabletomakemeunderstandthathehadasystemknownasBraillethatwould enablemetoreadbooksmyself(Ihadbeendependingonotherstudentsandmymothertoreadforme),IbuckleddownandlearnedtoconversewithHeinzinshort order.HecontinuedtoshowupforaBraillelessoneachweekuntilmygraduationfromgradeschool,bywhichtimeIwasabletoreadabiographyofJohn Gutenbergandtakenoteswithaslateandstylus.Mr.Adamwasthekindofteacherwhoseemedtoknowexactlywhathisstudentswerecapableofaccomplishing, andhesimplydidnotacceptlessfromthem. Jackcontinued,"Yes,althoughHeinzwasworriedaboutyourcompletinghighschool,hesaidheknewyouwerecapableofcompletingcollege,andhewasgoingto keepworkingonyouuntilyouwereconvincedthatcollegewasyourbesttickettoagoodjob.Whenhesaidthat,Ishouldhaveknownthatyouwouldfinishcollege, becauseHeinznevergivesupwhenhedecidesonacourseofactionforoneofhisstudents.Well,that

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is,healmostnevergivesup.LetmetellyouoftheonetimeIknewHeinztogiveuponastudent."Jackrelightedhiscigarandbeganthefollowingnarrative. HeinzwasassignedtothenewlycreatedfieldofficeoftheDepartmentofPublicWelfarelocatedovertheWCILradiostationinCarbondalein1944.Havinglivedin ChicagosincemovingfromGermany,hearrivedinCarbondaletoassumethepositionofhometeacheroftheblindwithnoexperienceinruralAmericabutwith boundlessenthusiasmandenergy.HavingcompletedcollegeandspecialcoursesinhometeachingatYpsilanti,Michigan,hebeganlearningthemoreroutineaspects ofhisjob,includingtheroutesoftheCarbondaleHarrisburgBusCompany,whichwouldenablehimtovisitstudentsinthelargertownsofCarmi,Cairo,DuQuoin, andMt.Vernon.But,inthe1940s,alargepercentageofthepopulationresidedonisolatedfarmsaccessibleonlybyunpavedroadsindryweather.Heinzhadto dependonhisnewboss,JackNorman,orasocialworker,whomightbevisitingclientsnearby,fortransportationtotheseisolatedstudents. Oneofthese,MadgeUnderwood,livedwithherhusbandaboutamilewestofalittlesettlementinFranklinCountyknownasBoneYardWoods.Madgewas referredtotheDivisionofVisitationoftheAdultBlindbytheFranklinCountyDepartmentofPublicAid.Therefore,itwasaneasymattertoarrangefortransportation totheUnderwoodfarmonamoreorlessregularbasiswiththecaseworkerwhocalledonaidrecipientsinthevicinityofBoneYardWoods.Infact,itwasMrs. Underwood'spublicaidcaseworkerwhofirstintroducedMr.AdamtoherandherhusbandandpersuadedMr.Underwoodthathometeachingmightenablehiswife toresumesomeofthecookingandhousekeeping,whichwouldpermithimtospendmoretimefarming.SoHeinzbeganmakingmonthlyvisitstoMadgeUnderwood forthepurposeofteachinghersuchcookingtechniquesaspeelingvegetablesinwatersothatresidualpeelingwouldbeeasilyperceivedbytouch,usingthechanging odorsoffoodstogaugedoneness,andusingnestedmeasuringcupsandspoonstodeterminethecorrectamountofingredi

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entsinrecipes.Heaugmentedthesecookinglessonswithhousekeepingtechniquesincludingsweepingfloorsinbarefeetinordertofeelanyremainingdirt,dividing largeareasintosmallsectionsthatcouldbethoroughlycleanedandinspectedbytouch,andseparatingMr.Underwood'scoloredsocksforthelaundrybypinning eachpairtogetherassoonashetookthemoff.Madgewasalsoabletoresumemendingclothingbyusingneedlethreadersandothersewingtechniquesdevelopedby teachersoftheblind. Oncecooking,cleaning,andlaundrymethodswerelearnedandMadgefoundshestillhadfreetimeduringthedaywhenherhusbandwasbusyinthefield,Heinz beganreviewingthenotestakenduringhisfirstvisitinordertodiscusshobbiesandintereststhatMadgecouldresumeforpersonalandspiritualenrichment.Having beenaccustomedtoregularBiblereadingandchurchattendance,sheembarkedonthestudyofBraillewithenthusiasm.Mr.Underwoodshowedlessacceptancefor thisphaseofhiswife'srehabilitation,sayingthatshehadenoughhouseworktokeepherbusy,buthemadenostrenuousobjection,"aslongasshecanmanageher houseworkwithouttiringherselfout." So,HeinzcontinuedregularBraillelessonsthroughthewinterandspringexceptwhentheroadtotheUnderwoodfarmwasimpassablebecauseofsnow,mud,or highwater.ItwasmidJunewhenJackNormanfoundHeinzwaitinginhisofficeoneMondaymorningwiththerequestforassistanceindeliveringtheBrailleBible, whichhadbeenshippedtotheofficefromtheAmericanBibleSociety.JackhadbeenplanningaswingthroughFranklinCounty,sohereadilyagreedtodrivebythe Underwoodfarm,whichwasonlytwoorthreemilesoutofhisway. JackdidnotbecomeawareoftheproblemuntilhearrivedattheofficethefollowingMondaytopickupHeinzandtheBrailleBible.ParkinghisStudebakercoupein frontoftheoffice,JackopenedthefrontdoorandwasfacingHeinzacrossthreelargeboxes.LearningthattheseboxescontainedtheentireBible,Jackexplainedthat loadingthemintohiscoupe

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wouldbeaboutasimpossibleasforcingabattleshipintoaboxcar.Eveniftheycouldwedgetheboxesintothesingleseat,therewouldbenoroomforpassengers. TheyfinallysolvedtheproblembyuncratingthenineteenlargeBraillevolumesandsqueezingtenintothetrunkandwedgingsixbehindtheseat,whichleftHeinz holdingthree.Heinzapologizedastheloadedcarpulledintothelineoftraffic. "Chack"(whichwashowHeinzpronouncedJack),"IwouldnothaveimposedonyouthiswayifthisBrailleBiblehadnotbeensovitaltoMrs.Underwood's rehabilitation.Yousee,sheisoneofthemostmotivatedBraillestudentsIhavemetinsouthernIllinois,andallbecauseshewantstoreadtheBible." Jacksaidsomethingencouraginglike,"Whateverwecandotoencourageourclientsisagoodinvestment,"ashemadeaslowturnontoEastMaininordernotto shifttheloadofbooksbehindhisseat. TheycoveredthethirtyfivemilestotheturnoffleadingtoBoneYardWoodsandultimatelytotheUnderwoodfarminfiftyminutes.AsHeinzdirectedJackontothe ruttedroadleadingtothefarm,Jackshiftedthecarintolowgearandslowedtoaboutfivemilesperhoursothatthemufflerwouldnotbetornoff.Themotorstalled whentheyhitarockwheretheroadcrossedadrycreekbed.Jackrestartedtheengineandslowlyeasedupthesteepinclinewiththesoundofmetalgrindingonrock underneathandlowhangingtreelimbsbeatingontop,warningofpossibledamagetothecar.Afterabouttenminutesofinchingforwardinlowgear,theypulledout ofthetreesintoaclearing.Drivingthroughawiregate,whichHeinzopenedandclosedbehindthecartokeepthecowsfromescaping,Jackparkedthecarinfrontof averysmallhouseinneedofpaintingwithoneoftheporchstepsbroken. Apleasantlookingplumpwomanwearingasunbonnetwasseatedinaporchswingcoolingherselfwithafan.HeinzintroducedJackandexplainedhowhehadbeen abletoobtainanentireBrailleBibleatnocosttoMrs.Underwood,whowaslavishinexpressingherappreciation.However,Jacknoticeda

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changefromhappinesstoconcerninherexpressionastheycarriedvolumeaftervolumeintothesmalllivingroomfilledwithrockingchairs,alibrarytable,asewing machine,andaheatingstove. AsJackplacedthelastvolumesinoneoftherockingchairs,thetableandsewingmachinebeingstackedseveralfeethigh,theyheardateamandwagonpullintothe yard.Jacklookedoutthefrontdoorandsawastockymanofaboutfiftyyearsinspectingthenumbersonhislicenseplate.Afteraminute,heunhitchedtheteamof sweaty,grayhorsesanddisappearedwiththemaroundthehouse,probablytoabarnfornoonfeeding,thoughtJack.Inafewminutes,theyheardthebackscreen doorslam,andtheheavysetman,whoHeinzintroducedasMr.HermanUnderwood,camethroughfromthekitchen.Hedidnotacknowledgetheintroductionbut turnedonHeinzwiththequestion,"Whatinthenameofhellisallthisstuffyou'recarryinginhere?" HeinzbegantoexplainthatMrs.UnderwoodwantedaBrailleBiblesothatshecouldresumeherdailyreligiousworshipbyreadingthewordofGodfirsthand.She wouldalsobeabletotakeherturninreadingScriptureinSundayschoolbycarryingselectedvolumestochurch.AsHeinzstartedtocontinuehisexplanation,the farmertappedhimonthechestwithaforefinger."Iknowyou'remightnearblind,"hesaidfirmly,"butyourbuddy,here[pointingatJack],cantellyouthatthere'snot adamnfootofemptyspaceleftinthishouse,letaloneenoughroomforawagonloadofbooks." WhenHeinzprotestedthatthebookshadbeenprovidedfreeandshippedtoMadgebyaChristianorganization,Hermansaidinaloudvoice,"You'llhavetotake themtosomebodythat'sgotmoreroom." "Howaboutthis?"askedHeinz."LetyourwifekeeptheBibleuntilIcomeback,justtofindoutifyoucanfititinsomewhere.Allthevolumesdon'thavetobekeptin oneroom,oreveninthehouse,ifyouhaveadryoutbuilding." "Itoldyou,"thefarmershoutedashebeganpitchingthe

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volumesoutthefrontdoor,"you'renotleavingthisdamnmesstoclutterupourhouse!" "Youcan'tdothat!"Heinzprotested."That'sanewBrailleBible,neveropeneduntilthismorning." Pitchinganothervolume,whichlandedontopofJack'scar,thenowredfacedMr.Underwoodyelled,"Idon'tgivetwohootsinhellifit'sGonewiththeWind!This junkisnotstayinginmyhouse."BythistimeMrs.UnderwoodwascryingandtellingherhusbandthatshewouldnothaveaskedfortheBibleifshehadknownit wouldtakeupsomuchspace.ItwasatthispointthatJacksteppedintothesituation,assuringtheiratefarmerthatheandHeinzwouldreturntheBibleand apologizingtobothhimandhiswifeforanydiscomfortcausedbyHeinz'swellintentionedeffortstohelpMrs.Underwoodlearntolivewithherblindness. Afteralittlemoreconversation,Hermanapologizedfor"flyingoffthehandle,"butsaidthatJack,beingsighted,couldcertainlyseehowitwouldbeimpossibletostore suchalargecollectionofbooksinsuchasmallhouse.HeevenassistedJackandHeinzinwedgingthelastfewbooksbehindthecarseat,assuringHeinz,asthecar easedthroughthewiregate,thatMadgehadlearnedalotaboutkeepinghouseandthatshewouldn'tneedanyfurtherhelp. Theyrodedownthehillintothetreesinsilence.Thecaragainstuckontherockinthecreekbottom,buttheabsenceofaloudroarfromarupturedmuffleroranoil trailfromaleakingoilpanseemedtoindicatenopermanentdamageastheycontinuedbacktoRoute37.Afterridingforseveralmileswithhisforeheadrestingonhis righthand,Heinzfinallybrokethesilence."Well,Chack,"hepronouncedinasubduedvoice,"youknow,youcan'thelpeverybody."Jacksuggestedthattheyatleast helpthemselvesbystoppingforapleasantlunchonthesquareinBenton,afterwhichtheywouldjustgoonabouttheirbusinessofhelpingthosewhoneededand wantedtheirservices,whichtheyproceededtodoformanymoreyears.

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3 TheMissingPage
Blindsincechildhood,RaymondDickinsonbroughthistraininginsocialworktohisjobasahometeacheroftheblindintheearly1930s.Shortlyafterbeginning employment,hebecamechairmanoftheIllinoisBrailleCommittee,whichproducedtheIllinoisBrailleSeriesof1933.Thisbookhasbeenusedthroughouttheworld forteachingpersonswhobecomeblindinadultlife.Revisedin1952,1960,and1992,thistexthasenabledatleast100,000blindpersonstoreadandwriteBraille. Thefirstrevisiongotunderwayin1951whenRayDickinsonhadan11:00A.M.appointmentwiththethreemembersoftheIllinoisBrailleCommittee.Thewomen showntothechairsarrangedaroundhisdeskwerethebestBrailleteachersonhisstaffandrepresentedawiderangeofpersonality,experience,andtalent.Anna Johnson,thesecondrehabilitationteacheraddedtothestafffollowingthecreationofthehometeachingprogramfortheblindin1911,wastotallycommittedto improvingthelivesofherstudents.Shewascharacterizedbyotherteachersandstudentsasaveryprimandproperlady,whostroveforperfectionandexpected otherstodothesame.FlorenceHorton,arecentgraduateofSouthernIllinoisNormal

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UniversityatCarbondale,wasastaffveteranoffiveyears.AformerstudentattheIllinoisSchoolfortheBlind,shewasaBrailleexpertandextremelycapableinall areasoffunctioningwithoutvision.Beforejoiningthehomerehabilitationteachingstaff,FlorenceworkedattheIllinoisIndustriesfortheBlind,afirmthatemployed blindpeopleintheproductionofbedlinensandothermaterialsusedbythearmedservicesduringWorldWarII.DorothyDykema,theyoungestandnewestmember ofthestaff,wasanaccomplishedmusicianaswellasanenergeticteacherwhowasalwaysanxioustotrynewteachingmethods.Raytoldhimselfthathehadselected acommitteewithjusttherightmixofexperience,education,values,andtemperamenttoproducea1952revisionoftheBrailleSeriesthatwouldretainthehighquality andrelevancetotheneedsofthecurrentgroupofstudentsthathadmadethe1933textsosuccessful. Heoutlinedthecommittee'sassignment,explainingtheneedtoholdtothebasicplanofthe1933textwithitsemphasisonsuchstudyaidsastheinclusionofraised printletterseachtimeanewcharacterwasintroduced.Thisselfhelpfeaturewasvitalbecausestudentswereexpectedtostudyassignmentsindependentlybetween teacherhomevisitsthatoccurredeverytwoorthreeweeks. Aworkplanwasagreedupon:Eachcommitteememberwouldworkindependentlyonaparticularsectionduringtwoweekperiods,andthefullcommitteewould meetatAnna'sapartmenteveryotherFridayafternoontoironoutdifferences.Theworkwasprogressingwellbythelatespringof1951.Severalselectionsinthe 1933textthathadbeenreprintedfromelementaryschoolreadershadbeenreplacedbystoriestakenfromtheGreatAmericanSeries,whichweremoreappropriate andinterestingforadultstudents.SomeminorregroupingofBraillecontractionsandtheadditionofatesthadresultedinaslightlylargertext. BytheFridayafternooninlateMaywhenthecommitteeencounteredthestrangephenomenonofthemissingpage,thefinal,perfectmastercopyofthecompleted 1952BrailleSerieswasbeingproofread.Asusual,FlorencearrivedatAnna'sapart

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mentfirstbecauseDorothyhadtotravelallthewayfromthesouthside.ThearomaofwarmapplepiegreetedDorothywhenAnnaopenedthedoortothethirdfloor apartment.AnnouncingthatMyrtle,Anna'sroommate(whoalsohappenedtobeblind),wasbakinganapplestrudelfortheirafternoontea,AnnashowedDorothyto ahighbackedrocker,andthethreeteachersengagedintheproofingoftheBrailletext,eachreadingaselectionwhiletheotherslistenedintenselyforgrammatical errors.ThematerialhadalreadybeencheckedseveraltimesforspellingandpunctuationerrorsaswellasforthecorrectuseofBraillecontractions. Afterthisfinalreading,thebookwouldbesenttotheprintshopattheSchoolfortheBlindinJacksonville,whereLouisRodenberg,manageroftheprintshop,would useaheavydutyBraillewritertocopythetextonverythinleadplates,whichwouldbeusedtopressthedotsintoheavypaper.Theseleadplatescouldemboss threethousandcopiesbeforetheybecamesoflattenedthattheBraillewasunreadable. Afterworkingforabouttwohours,AnnaaskedMyrtlewhetheritwastimetobreakfortea.Myrtleneededabouttenmoreminutes,soAnnatoldDorothyshewould havetimetoproofthenextselection.Itwasonlyonepage,butitwasveryimportantitwasacompositionbySuperintendentRaymondDickinson. "ItsimplywouldnotdotooverlookanerrorinMr.D'scomposition,"Annastatedemphatically.Dorothyarrangedtheproofpageontheboardplacedacrossthe armsofherchairtokeepthematerialflatandreadverydeliberately,carefullypronouncingeachsyllable.Asthereadingconcluded,Myrtleannounced,"Teaforfour," andeachpersonreceivedasteamingcupandawarmservingofstrudel.Thenexthalfhourwasconsumedwiththeexchangeofnewsabouteachmember'slifesince thelastmeeting. Whenthebreakwasover,themanuscriptwaspassedtoFlorence,whowastocontinuethereading."Didyouplantorecheckthatlastpiece?"Florenceinquired. "Igaveeverythingtoyou,"Dorothyanswered.

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''Noteverything,''repliedFlorence."ThatpiecebyMr.Dickinsonisn'there." Dorothyfranticallysearchedherbriefcasewhereshehadplacedthemanuscriptduringtheteabreak.Theothersalsocheckedtheirmaterialsforthemissingpage. "Itjusthastobethere,Florence!"Dorothysaid. "Idon'tknowwhathappenedtoitunlessyouateitwithyourstrudel,butitisnothere,"respondedFlorence,atingeofirritationinherusuallypleasantvoice.Theblind womencontinuedtosearch,checkingthebookcase,coffeetable,chairs,andeventhekitchencounter,justincaseMyrtlehadsomehowfoldedthemissingpageinto thedessertdisheswhenshecarriedthemtothekitchen. Whentheyhadexhaustedtheirideasforplacestolook,theladiessatinsilence,exceptfortherhythmicrockingofDorothy'schair.ItwasAnnathatstartledthegroup bycommanding,"Dorothy!Moveyourchairawayfromthewall.Therockeristearingthewallpaper."Dorothymaintainedthatshewasnotnearthewall,which causedAnnatokneelbehindherchairandfeelforherself."Standup!"sheordered,andwhenDorothycomplied,Annaremovedthemissingpage,whichhadbeen crumpledbeyondrecognition,frombeneaththerocker. AftereveryonetriedunsuccessfullytodecodetheBraillecharactersfromthemutilatedpaper,Annaannouncedthattherewasonlyonethingtodo.Underno circumstancescouldtheytellthebosstheyhaddestroyedhiscomposition,sotheymustcompletethetediousprocessofreembossingthepage.Thisinvolvedlocating thefaintimpressionsonthecrumpledpageandreperforatingthemwithastylus.Followingsomequickcalculation,Dorothy,whoknewshewouldbetheonetoredo thepage,askedAnna,"DoyourealizethatthereareapproximatelysevenhundreddotsonaBraillepage?"Afterfurtherconsiderationofthetimeandeffortrequired toreconstructthecomposition,DorothystilldecidedthatshewouldratherredothepagethanexplainthesituationtoMr.Dickinson. Whetherthecompositionwastotallycorrectwasdifficulttodetermine.Atleast,theauthornevermentionedanyerrorsto

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themembersoftheIllinoisBrailleCommitteewhogatheredatAnnaJohnson'sapartmentonthatbalmyMayafternoonalmostfortyfiveyearsago.

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4 TheRehabilitationofRobertIngersol
Manytimesduringmyfortyyearsofteachingnewlyblindpeopletheskillstoreestablishtheirproductive,independentlives,Ihavewonderedwho,amongthe thousandsofmyblindacquaintances,hasmadethemostsuccessfuladjustmenttothelossofeyesight.Theblindunderwaterdiverwhoengagedincontractsalvageof materialsfromsunkenbargesontheOhioRiver?Hecertainlyhadanunusualoccupation.ThemanblindedfromachemicalaccidentwholearnedBrailleinthree lessonsandthenrefusedtousethissystembecausehecouldnolongerreadseveralhundredpagesinanevening?Theyoungwomanwhobecameblindinherlast yearatmedicalschool?Throughsheerwillpower,hardwork,andassertiveness,shecompletedhereducationandbecameapracticingphysician.Orwasitthecollege professorwhomasteredBraille,typing,andmobilityinfourmonthswithonlythreehoursofrehabilitationteachingeachFridayafternoon?Thishighlymotivated professorneverinterruptedhisteachingscheduletoattendarehabilitationcenter,insistingonfittinghistrainingintohisregularroutine,and,afterthecompletionofhis program,hecontinuedpublishingarticlesinprofessionaljournals,eventuallybecomingchairmanofhisdepartment.

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Eachofthesepeoplewasremarkableinfacingblindnessheadonandlearningthenecessaryskillsandstrategiestocarveoutalifestyleofhisorherownchoosing. However,thereisonepersoninmymemorywhowasbiggerthanlife,eventhoughheweighedonly135poundsandstoodfivefeetfiveinchestallbeforearthritis fusedhishipjoints,leavinghimstoopedsothathislegsandtrunkformedaninetydegreeangle. IwasfirstintroducedtoBobIngersolandhiswife,Edith,bymyrehabilitationteacher,HeinzAdam,in1946.ThestatedreasonfordroppingbytheIngersolhome thatafternooninlateAprilwasformetohearBob'stalkingbookmachine,arecordplayeronwhichhe"read"booksonsubjectsrangingfromphilosophytowild Westfiction.IfIlikedwhatIheard,HeinzsaidhewouldarrangeformetoborrowoneofthesemachinesfromtheLibraryofCongress,whichalsoprovidedthe recordedbooks. Lookingbackonthatvisit,IthinkHeinzhadamuchmoreimportantreasonforintroducingmetoBob.IwashavingdifficultyacceptingHeinz'sideasaboutmygoing tohighschoolandpossiblyevencollege,andIthinkhewantedmetobecomeacquaintedwithBobinordertoseeformyselfjusthowfarapersoncouldgoin overcomingthelimitationsofblindness.Likeme,Bobwasblind,buthewasalsoseverelycrippled.Yet,itsoonbecameapparentthatBoblivedafullerlifethanmost people,eventhoughheseldomtraveledfartherthanthefewfeettothedinetteortohisbedroom.Hehadfiveassetsthatbroughttheworldandthepeopleinittohim, sincehecouldnotgoouttothem:hisradio,histalkingbookmachine,histypewriter,histelephone,and(mostimportantly)hispersonality. NothavingknownRobertGrantIngersolpriortohisbecomingtotallyblindandorthopedicallydisabled,Icannotcommentextensivelyonthedevelopmentofhis charismaticpersonality.Accordingtohiswifeandseveralofhisadolescentpeers,Bob'scapacitytoimpressandinfluencepeoplewasevidentmanyyearspriortohis disability.Perhapsthemostconvincingevidencethathepossessedthosetraitsisthathisfriendsandassociates,sightedandblind,actuallylosttheirawarenessofhis physicalimpairmentswhentheywereinteractingwithhim.

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Bobhadaclear,resonantvoicethatexudedfriendliness,andhewasabletoprojecthisspeechinsuchamannerthatheseemedtobelookingstraightathislistener, althoughhewasunabletoseewhetherthelightswereonoroff.Bobwasabletokeepinformedoflocalandworldaffairsbylisteningtotheradioandthereadingof newspapersbyEdithandthefemalecollegestudentswhorentedspareroomsintheIngersolhouse.Hereadmorethanahundredbookseachyearonawiderange ofsubjectmatter,enthusiasticallysharinghisacquiredknowledgeandlifeexperiencewithfriends,suchashisstudentrenters,whoweredoingschoolassignmentsor tryingtocopewithlife'schallengesandproblems.ManyofthepeoplewhobenefitedfromBob'swisdomduringtheircollegeyearskeptincontactwithhimuntilhis deathin1972.Althoughaslowtypist,Bobregularlywrotelettersfilledwithnews,humor,andadvicetofriendslocatedthroughouttheUnitedStates. AnothercharacteristicthatendearedBobtohisfriendswashissenseofhumor.Heenjoyedpracticaljokes,eitheronhimselforononeofus.Afavoriteprank involvedashortrangeradiotransmitterthatBobhadorderedfromacatalog.Whensomeonewhodidnotknowaboutthetransmitterwasvisiting,Bobwouldexcuse himselfandgointohisbedroom.Anaccomplice,Edithoroneofhisfriendswhohadbeenthevictimofthisprank,wouldturnontheradioforthestatedpurposeof catchingtheweatherforecastorthenews.Bobwouldtheninterruptthecurrentprogramtotransmitabulletinannouncingthattheunsuspectingguesthadjustwonthe IrishSweepstakesorsomeotherastoundinginformation.Ofcourse,wewouldenlightentheguestbeforeanyharmwasdone,andeveryonewouldhaveagoodlaugh. ConsideringBob'senjoymentofpracticaljokes,itseemsfittingthathisrehabilitationwas,tosomeextent,duetoajokeplayedonhimbyhisrehabilitationteacher,A. P.Gillick.PopGillick,ashewasknown,becameahometeacheroftheblindintheearly1930s,whenthequalificationforthispositionwasonlyahighschool diploma.AlthoughPopdidnothavethe

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advantageofcollegepsychologycourses,hewasamasteratsizinguppeople.HisquestioningofthosewhoknewBob,coupledwithhisknowledgeofhuman behavior,seemtohaveprovidedthenecessaryinsighttodevelopastrategyforjumpstartingBobintoovercomingtheangeranddepressionthatwereimpedinghis adjustmenttoblindness. PopwasabletopiecetogetherageneralsketchofBob'slifepriortotheonsetofhisdisabilitiesandconcludethathehadbeenarathersuccessfulyoungman.Bob hadcompletedoneyearofhighschoolandworkedasayardclerkfortheIllinoisCentralRailroad.HehadspentsometimeintheU.S.Navy,afterwhichhemarried EdithFallonandbeganworkingforhisfather,apaintingcontractor.Bobmusthavebeenacrackerjackpainterandwallpaperhanger,becausehewasstilladvising peopleoncolormatchingandwallcoveringtechniquestwentyyearsafterhebecametotallyblind. Onlyfouryearsafterhismarriagein1921,Bobbeganexperiencingthecripplingeffectsofrheumatoidarthritis.Althoughhebecameunabletowork,hewasableto drivehiscaruntilthemid1930s.HeandEdithspentmuchtimefishingandjustdrivingabouttovisitwithfriendsandseethecountryside,whichdivertedhismindfrom hisinabilitytoearnthemoneyforkeepinguphisandEdith'slivingstandard.However,whenhelosthissightin1935,Bobsaidhetotallygaveuptrying,spendingas muchtimeaspossibleinbed.Basedonthisbriefsketch,Mr.GillickconcludedthatRobertG.Ingersolwasaverysociablemanwhoenjoyedaction,learning,and earningmoneytoprovideforhimselfandhiswife,whomheloved. Withthismuchinformation,Mr.GillickfelthecouldconvinceBobtobeginlearningtodosuchthingsaseatwithoutaccidents,getaboutinhishome,readBraille,and, perhaps,acquiresomeskillorproductthatcouldprovideincometosupplementhiswife'searningsfromrentingroomstocollegestudents.Theonlyproblem encounteredbyA.P.wasthatBobwouldnotcomeoutofhisbedroomtotalktohim.AfterspendingtimetalkingtoMrs.Ingersolontwohomevisits,hesimply

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askedhertoshowhimthewaytoBob'sbed.Gillicklocatedthebedwithhiscaneandsaid,"Stickoutyourhand,brother,andshakehandswithanotherblindman." Here,wepickupthestoryfromBob,ashetoldittomemanyyearslater.Hesaidthisbig,happysoundingmanploppeddownonhisbedandfeltarounduntilhe foundhishand,whichheshookvigorouslywhilekeepinguparunningcommentaryonthebeautifulweather,Bob'sgoodfortuneinhavingsuchaprettywife,andhow wonderfulitwastobealive.Bobsaidhisfirstthoughtwasthatanyblindpersonwhothoughtlifewasworthlivingandactedashappyasthisguyhadtobecrazy. Therefore,hedecidedtohumorhimlongenoughtoendthevisitandtoinstructEdithnevertolethiminthehouseagain.Reasoningthat,beingastateemployee,his visitor'spaymightbebasedonthenumberofpeoplewholistenedtohispitchaboutallthethingshecouldteachthem,Bobfeltitwouldbeunkindtorefusetolistento thispoorblindman,who,afterall,neededanymoneyhecouldgettoprovideforhisfamily. Bobwithdrewhishandfromthegripofhisvisitorandmadehimselfascomfortableaspossibletoendurethepresentation.Itwasn'taseasyashethought.Theman keptaskinghimquestionssuchaswhetherhewouldliketolearntoreadagain,writeonatypewriter,orbuildbirdhouses,withBobansweringnegativelytoall inquiries.Whenthefellowfinallyranoutofquestions,Bobhadoneforhim. "What'sthatstrangesoundyoukeepmaking,kindoflikeapieceoffishinglinebeingpulledthrougharingorloop?"A.P.informedBobthathewasusingleather lacingtoassembleawalletandaskedifBobwouldliketotryit."WhatwouldIdowithawalletifIcouldmakeone?Idon'thaveanymoneytoputinit,"Bob responded. "Puttingmoneyinblindfolk'spocketsispartofmyjob,"Poplaughed."Yousee,hometeachersnotonlyteachblindpeople,theyalsohelpthemgetintosomekindof paidworkifpossible." "Doyouexpectmetobelievethatyoucanfixthingssoablindmancanearnmoneyinthemiddleoftheworstdepressioninhistory?"

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ThetoneofBob'squestionmusthaveconveyedasubtleshiftawayfromabsoluterejectionoftheservicesoffereduptothispoint,forPopplayedahunch."It'ssortof likethat.Yousee,wehavetogivetheblindfolksalittleedge,sowehavearrangedforthemtobetheonlypeoplewhocanselltheseblindmadeproducts,"Pop explained.Hewasbeingalittlemisleading,butheknewhewouldprobablyloseanyfurtheropportunitytohelpthisalert,resourcefulindividualifhedidnotleavethe interviewwitharayofhopeforimprovinghisfinancialsituation.Besides,itwashisjobtodevelopemploymentforpersonswhowereblind,andthereweresome organizationsinlargecitiesthatmarketedproductsmadebyblindpeople.Nodoubt,hecouldarrangethesaleofafewitemstokeepBobmotivateduntilsuccess rebuiltalittleselfconfidence.TheVocationalRehabilitationProgramfortheBlindwasnotestablisheduntilafterWorldWarII,butinthe1930stherehabilitation teacherswerechargedwithprovidingemploymentforpeoplewhowereblind.Pophadsuccessfullyassistedanumberofthesepeopleinestablishingsmallbusinesses, suchasthemanufactureandsaleofbrooms,furniturerepair,andassemblingbirdhousesforsale,buthewasnotconvincedhecouldfindaprojectthatBobcoulddo successfullybecauseofhisorthopedicimpairment. Well,hewouldhavetocrossthatbridgewhenhecametoit.Rightnow,hehadtogetBobgoingonsomethingthatwouldbuildhisselfconfidence,sotheyspentthe nexthourworkingonassemblingawallet,whichBoblearnedquickly,displayinggoodhanddexterityinspiteofhisarthritis. Beforeleavingthatafternoon,Pophadastrokeofgoodluck.HelearnedthatoneofthestudentrentershadasisteremployedatafactorynearEastSt.Louis,where Pop'sofficewaslocated.HearrangedwiththesistertoordersomeitemsfromBob,whowouldbelearningtomaketheseitemsduringthenextfewmonths.This wouldprovidetheincomehehadpromisedBob. EvenPopwassurprisedatBob'ssuccess.ThesisterofBob'sstudentrenterandherfriendsboughtmorethaneighthundreddollarsworthofitems.Bythetimethese salesbegantodropoff,Bobwaslearningtocanechairs,andhismanycontacts

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throughoutsouthernIllinoisenabledhimtoobtainmorechairreseatingthanhecoulddo.Asaresult,heevenhadtotrainanassistanttokeepupwiththevolumeof workduringthe1950s.ThisfreedupthenecessarytimeforBobtomaintainhisbusinessrecordswiththeuseofBrailleandtyping,whichhehadalsolearnedfrom Mr.Gillick. AstheyearspassedandBobbecamemoresuccessfulandinfluential,heoftenjokedaboutthetrickusedbyPopGillicktogethimstartedontheroadofadjustment toblindness.Hewouldendthestorybysaying,withachuckleinhisvoice,"BythetimeIfoundoutthatblindpeopledidn'thaveamonopolyonthesaleofleather goods,Ihadalreadymadealittlemoneyandhaddecidedthatblindnesswasn'tsobadafterall." ThatBobIngersolwasabletosuccessfullyoperateahomebusinessrequiringcontinuousphysicaleffortandmanualskillwithoutsightandwithseverephysical limitationsimposedbyarthritisistrulyremarkable.Whatismiraculousisthedegreetowhichhewasabletoovercomethestereotypedimagesofblindnessinthe perceptionsofthehundredsofSouthernIllinoisUniversitygraduates,whoknewhiminhiscapacityasalandlord,andotherfriendswhoperiodicallycontactedhimfor advice,emotionalsupport,andfellowshipthroughouthislife.

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5 ColorBlind
Atacolleague'sretirementpartyin1992,IbumpedintoLouisDavis,whohadjoinedtheIllinoisServicefortheBlindin1953whenIwasaninternattheold IndustrialHomefortheBlindinChicago.SinceLouishadbeenaninternthepreviousyear,hehadgoneoutofhiswaytohelpmewithsomeoftheroutinesinvolved inthedailypracticeofrehabilitationteaching,andwehaveremainedfriendsduringthesucceedingfortyyears. Lougreetedmewithoneofthosemagicphrasesthatevokeasnapshotmemoryofasharedexperience."Haveyoushakenuptheoldestablishmentlately?"heasked. Asweexchangedafewpleasantriesandbroughteachotheruptodateonpersonalevents,mymindlingeredonthememoryhisquestionhadevoked,andIcontinued tosavorthislongpastexperienceuntilthepartywasoverandIwasdriftingofftosleep. ThesituationthatLou'sgreetingbroughttomindhadoccurredonawarmsummereveningin1956.Theweekbefore,theswitchboardoperatorhadnotifiedmethatI hadalongdistancecallfromChicago.LouisDaviswasonthelinetellingmethegoodnewsthathewouldbeattendingthetwoweekrehabilitationseminarofferedby SouthernIllinoisUniversity.Althoughhewouldbestayingoncampusandattendingclass

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from8:00A.Mto4:00P.M,includingSaturday,Louishopedwecouldgettogetherfordinnerandafewdrinks.Ijumpedatthechancetoreturnsomeofthekindness LouhadextendedwhenIhadbeenservingmyinternshipfarfrommyhometownofCarbondale.Louhadinvitedmetoseveralsocialactivities,whichenrichedmy fourmonthresidencyintheWindyCity.IassuredhimthatanightonthetowninCarbondalewouldbeaninterestingexperience.WeagreedthatIwouldmeetLouis athisdormonFridayeveningfollowinghisarrival,andwewouldtakeawalkingtouroftherestaurantsandbars. BetweenLouis'sphonecallandouranticipatednightonthetown,ItoldseveralacquaintancesatsuchlocalwateringholesasBill'sTavern,theLongBranch,John's Cafe,andtheRatHolethatIwouldbeintroducingthemtoateacheroftheblindfromChicagowhohadbeeninstrumentalinhelpingmesucceedinmyinternship.As LouisandImadetheroundsthatFridayevening,thehospitalityexceededmyexpectations.Severalbartenderssetupfreedrinks,andmanyoftheCarbondalenatives shookhandswithLouandaskedhimabouthiswork.Thesecongenialencountersoftenendedwiththelocalsaffirmingthat,ifLouwasafriendofmine,hewasa friendoftheirs. WepolishedofftheeveningwithanexcellentdinnerattheHubCafe.Again,theownerofthisestablishmentrolledouttheredcarpet,seatingusatalargetableina cornerwherehesaidwecouldenjoyourfoodundisturbed.Havingspentmostoftheeveninggreetingandswappingyarnswithothers,weappreciatedtheopportunity todiscussworkandpersonalmatters.LoutoldofanamusingincidentinvolvingBruceMcKenzie,ourdownstatesupervisorofrehabilitationteachers.Itseemsthat Bruce,whowasfromKentuckyandacountrymusicfan,heardLouis,ahighlytrainedclassicalvocalist,performattheIllinoisFederationoftheBlindbanquet.As Louiscompletedhisrenditionofseveralclassicalselectionsandsteppedofftheplatform,Brucegraspedhishandandsaid,''Louis,youdidagreatjobofsinging! Why,ifyoukeeppracticing,you'llbeasgoodasErnestTubb,theTexasTroubadour.''WhilewewerespeculatingabouthowLouiswouldsoundwithacountry band,the

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steakscame,andwespentseveralminutesquietlyenjoyingourmeal. Overcoffeeandcognac,theconversationturnedtotheseminarLouiswasattendinganditsrelevancetothepracticeofrehabilitationteachingoftheblind.Hesaid therewasalotofemphasisbeingplacedonthenecessityofassistingnewlydisabledpersonsincomingtotermswiththeirdisabilityandgearingtherehabilitation programtotheintrinsicmotivationoftheclient.Developingresourcestoenhancetheclient'srehabilitationwithinhisorhercircleoffriendsandassociateshadalso beendiscussed.Onelecturer,aMr.PorterfromWashington,D.C.,hadcomplimentedthefieldofworkfortheblindforleadingtheentirerehabilitationofthedisabled movementinthedevelopmentoftechniquesforteachingactivitiesofdailyliving,suchasidentifyingcoinsbytextureandsizeandusingBraillelabelsforidentifying foodsandmedicines. Asweweresettlingourbill,Nick,therestaurantowner,rusheduptoaskifourfoodhadbeentastyandtheservicesatisfying.AmblingbacktoLouis'sdorm,I suggestedhejoinmefordinnerattheHubCafemoreoftenbecauseoftheVIPtreatmentwehadreceived.Imentionedthatmyusualencounterwiththestaffofthe Hubconsistedofthenecessaryverbalexchangetolearnwhatwasonthemenu,placemyorder,andpaythebill.Why,wewereevenassignedaquietcornertable awayfromthenoiseandconversationoftheotherdiners.LoujokedthattherestaurantstaffrecognizedasophisticatedmanfromChicagoandweretryingtomakea goodimpression.OurtalkcontinuedinalightheartedmanneruntilwepartedinfrontofLouis'sdormandIreturnedtomyapartment. Becausetheweekendwasroutinecleaningtheapartment,cookingandeating,catchinguponreadingandwritingpersonallettersIwasoutbrightandearly Mondaymorning.Leavingfortheofficeanhourearly,IstoppedbyWastella'sCareforabreakfastofbiscuitsandgravy.WhenthebillwaspaidandIwasclosingthe frontdoorbehindme,Wastellasaid,"Becareful,anddon'tcausetoomuchtrouble." MynextstopwasBart'sshoeshinestandinRay'sJewelry

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Store.Beyondgivingthebestshoeshineintown,BartwasasourceofinformationaboutthepoliticalandsocialactivitiesandintriguesinJacksonCounty.Heresided inMurphysboro,thecountyseat,andwasamemberofseveralactivistgroups,suchastheNAACP.Ashedeftlysnappedtheragtocreateashine,whichhesaid wouldreflecttheimagesofthegarterbeltswornbythecoedsIpassedonthestreet,hefilledmeinontheprogressofhisnephewwhohadbeenaclassmateofmine atSouthernIllinoisUniversity.Handingbackthequarterchangefromahalfdollar,Bartslappedmeonthebackandsaid,"Keepupthegoodworkforthecause, brother." "Whatcause?"Iwondered,closingthedoorandwalkingtowardmynextstop,Walgreen'sDrugstore,acrossthealleyfrommyplaceofemployment.Accepting thirtyfivecentsforapackofWinstoncigarettes,Tom,theproprietor,saidmybusinesswasgreatlyappreciatedandthathehopedmyfriendsandIwouldcontinue patronizinghisstore.Ithoughtthiswasaratheroddremark,butitwaspossiblethatTom'spoorhearingcausedhimtomisunderstandsomethingIsaid,soIassured himthathehadmybusinessaslongashisstoreremainedopen. AnticipatingacheerfulgreetingfromDoris,ourreceptionist,IwassurprisedtohearthevoiceofKatie,theofficemanager:"MisterNormanwantstoseeyouinhis officeimmediately."Sheseparatedandemphasizedthefirstsyllableoftheregionaladministrator'snamesothatitsoundedlike"MisssTernorman."WhenKatietalked likethis,itmeantthatJackNormanhadsomethingseriousonhismind. Jackwasoneofthecalmest,mostincommandadministratorsIhaveeverknown,andanurgentsummonstohisofficeindicatedrealtrouble.Whenheclosedthe door,somethingherarelydidduringroutinebusinessconferences,mythroatbegantofeeldryandtheoffice,whichwasairconditioned,seemedunusuallywarm.Jack lightedacigar,leanedbackinhislargeswivelchair,andsaid,"Itseemslikeyougotsomepeopleexcitedaroundherethisweekend." SinceIhadnotleftmyapartmentexceptforatriptothecornergrocerystore,Isaidthatmycontactwithpeoplehad

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beenpracticallynonexistentovertheweekend.Jackexplainedthathehadreceivedseveralphonecalls,includingonefromamemberoftheCarbondaleCityCouncil, regardingmyactivitiesofthepreviousFridayevening.ThisreallyconfusedmebecauseIhadspentaquieteveningdiningwithacolleaguefromChicagoandtaking himtoafewneighborhoodbars.ItoldJackthatitwasdifficulttoseehowsuchblandactivitycouldexcitethecityfathers. JacktookalongpullonhisDutchmastercigaranddrawled,"Well,yousee,itreallywasn'ttheactivitythatstirredupthecommunity.Itwasyourfriend.Didyouknow hewasaNegro?" "Yes,"Ireplied."Atleast,hesaysheisaNegro,but,youknow,blackandwhitedon'thaveahellofalotofmeaningtoablindman.Besides,LouisDavisisa professionalcolleagueofmine,andtheleastIcandowhenafellowteachercomestotownistreathimtodinnerandafewdrinks." Jack'svoicebecameapologetic,"Don'tgetmewrong.I'mnotimplyingthatyoushouldnotextendcourtesytoprofessionalcolleagues,black,white,oryellow,but therehavebeensomemeetingsaroundhereatwhichtheideahasbeendiscussedofboycottingrestaurantsandotherbusinessesthatdiscourageblackfolksfrom comingin.ThepeoplewhocalledmewerenotriledupsomuchaboutyoubringingablackpersonintotheHubCafeasaboutyourpossibleintentions.Someone heardLouissaythatheisfromChicagoandconcludedthatyouhadteamedupwithanoutsidecivilrightsorganizertocreateanincidenttoprovoketheboycott." ExplainingthatIhadnoulteriormotive,thatmysoleintentionwastowelcomeafriendandprofessionalcolleaguetomytown,Iconcluded,"SinceIdon'tactuallysee people,Itendtoidentifythemmorebytheirvocations,ideas,andmannersthanbycolor.Tome,Louisisafriend,ateacher,andamusician." Jacktookseveralpuffsonhiscigarandsaid,"That'samazing.Youguysarenotonlyblind,you'recolorblind.Maybethat'soneofthefewadvantagesofbeing blindacceptingpeopleaccordingtotheiraccomplishmentsratherthantheirskincolor.Ifseeingpeoplehadyouradvantage,maybethere

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wouldn'tbeanyracialprejudice."Hewentontosaythathewouldconveymyexplanationtotheconcernedmerchantsandcityfatherswhowould,nodoubt,be greatlyrelievedandceaseanyfurtherinquiries. Ofcourse,subsequentsocialactivismandcivilrightlegislationbroughtabouttheintegrationoftheentirebusinessestablishment,butLouandIcanstillreminisceabout howwewerepioneersintheintegrationofCarbondalewithoutevenrealizingituntilJackNormanexplainedit.

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6 TheEqualOpportunityRobbers
Ifeelfortunatetohaveattendedaresidentialschoolwheresharedexperiencesandaspirationsnaturallyresultedinfriendshipsthathaveenduredoverthepastforty years.OfthefortyorsohighschoolstudentswhoattendedtheIllinoisSchoolfortheVisuallyImpairedbetween1946and1950(formerlytheIllinoisSchoolforthe Blind),atleasttwentyofushaveremainedinclosecontact. OnNewYear'sEvein1991,severalofusformerstudents,withourspouses,gatheredatthehomeofBobandNormaWrighttoringinthenewyearandrenewour bondsoffriendship.Aheateddiscussionbegantobuildoverwhetherblindpeoplearemorevulnerabletorobberyandassaultthansightedpeople.Someoneoffered theopinionthatcriminalsmighttendtogiveblindpeopleabreakbecausetheywouldfeelguiltyforattackingvictimswhocouldnotseetodefendthemselves.Another guestwonderedifcriminalsmighttendtoruleoutblindvictimsbecauseofthegenerallyknownfactthatatleastseventypercentoftheblindpopulationisunemployed and,therefore,areunprofitableprospectsforrobbery.Cathy,mywife,vehementlydisagreedwiththepreviousspeakers,pointingoutthatsheandIhadbeen attackedbyamuggerwhoforciblytookmywalletcontainingeightydollarsandtwocreditcards.

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Thisinterjectionofapersonalencounterwithacriminalshiftedthefocusofconversationnowthegroupbegantorecallsituationsinwhichblindpeoplehadbeen selectedasvictimsbycriminals.HelenHuddlestonrelatedacaseinwhicharapisttestifiedathistrialthathechoseablindvictimbecausehebelievedshecouldnot identifyhimincourt. Afterrefreshingourdrinksandpassingaroundadishofhotpopcorn,BobtoldofanexperiencewithawouldberobberjustbeforeChristmasof1990.Hehadtaken abustoadowntownDecaturbanktowithdrawtravelfundsforatriptoChicagothefollowingday.Heplacedthetwohundreddollarsinhisinsidecoatpocket beforeleavingthebanklobbytoboardacitybusforthethreemileridetohishome.Arrivingatthebusstopseveralminutesbeforethebuswasdue,Bobpulledup thecollarofhisLondonFogcoattoprotecthimselffromthewindandblowingsnow.Leaningagainstapost,whichblockedalittleofthebitingwind,hewas approachedbyayoungsoundingmanwhoannouncedthathehadaweaponanddemandedmoney.Noticingthattherewerenoothervoicesnear,Bobdecidedthat yellingforhelpmightbefutileandcouldcausethemantoattackhim.Thinkingquickly,asBobusuallydid,heturnedtotherobberandaskedinavoicefilledwith condescendingsarcasm,"Now,justwhyinthehelldoyouthinkIwouldbestandinghereinthecoldwaitingonabusifIhadenoughmoneytotakeataxi?" Tensinghismusclesinreadinessforselfdefense,justincasehisantagonisticquestionprovokedphysicalviolence,Bobextendedhisopenedhandcontainingthebus coinsandcontinued,"I'vewalkedhomeinthecoldbefore,sotakethedamnbusfareifyou'resohardup." "That'sreallyallyou'vegot?"complainedtherobber. Feelinghewasgainingcontrolofthesituationandhearingadieselmotor,whichwasprobablythebusapproaching,Bobreinforcedtheassailant'sgrowingbeliefthat busfarewastheonlybootietobetakenwiththequestion,"Haveyoueverheardofarichblindman?" "Screwyou!"thevoicepuffedintoBob'sface,alongwitha

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cloudofcigarettesmoke.ThesoundofthebusdooropeningjustbehindhimalertedBobthatnowwasthemostopportunetimetoact.Unlesshewastotally irrational,therobberprobablywouldnotharmhimwiththebusdriverandpassengersaswitnesses.Hopingthathewouldnotbestabbedorshotintheback,Bob turnedaround,locatedthebusstepswithhiscane,andboarded.Hefelthisentirebodyrelaxwhenthedoorclosedbehindhim. "Firstseatonyourleft,"advisedthedriverashebeganmovingthebusawayfromthecurb.WhenthebushadmergedintothelineofmovingvehiclesandBobwas seatednexttothedooronthelongbenchreservedfortheelderlyandhandicapped,thedriverglancedathimandremarked,"Itsurewasniceofyourfriendtohelp youtothebusstopandwaitwithyouuntilyouboarded." JohnRobinsonaskedBobhowthedriverrespondedwhenhelearnedthatthemanwaitingwithBobwastryingtorobhim."Ifiguredthedriverwouldwasteanhour ormorewithauselessinvestigation,soIjustsaidthatgoodfriendsarehardtofindandstartedlisteningtomyradio." Afterbringinginmorewoodforthefire,Bobcontinued."IthoughtIheardsomeonementionsomethingaboutDonMcBridegettingrobbedinEastSt.Louisway backinthesixties.Doesanybodyknowtheparticulars?" DaveGentrysaidthat,sinceIhadbeenDon'ssupervisoratthetime,Ishouldbethebestsourceforthisstory.IacceptedafreshcanofOldMilwaukeefromBob andbegantotellhowDonMcBrideencounteredarobber,mugger,orbeggar(Donneverwassurewhich)onecoldafternoonintheearly1960s. DonMcBridemovedtoEastSt.LouisfromOklahomawithhiswifeandtwosmallchildrenin1963toacceptthepositionofrehabilitationteacheroftheblindfor southwesternIllinois.HisofficewaslocatedinafivestorybankbuildingonthebusycornerofFifthStreetandMissouriAvenue.Becauseheprovidedcounselingand instructiontonewlyblindedpersonsintheirhomes,Donusuallyspentonlyonefulldayinhisofficewritingprogressreports,makinglessonplans,anddoingother

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officeworktheotherfourdaysoftheweekwerespentprovidinginstructioninBraille,typing,andcookingandadministeringotherservicestostudentsthroughouta tencountyarea. AsignificantnumberofthesestudentsresidedinEastSt.Louisneighborhoodswherereportsofburglaryandrobberywerecommon.Althoughlargeofstaturesix feetthreeand240poundsDonexpressedafearofbeingattackedbyanarmedassailantwhiletravelingbybustoteachstudentsindangerousneighborhoods.Ashe explained,"I'mnotafraidofhandtohandcombat,becauseI'mbiggerthanmostpeople,butablindmanisnotveryeffectiveagainstaknifeoragun."Having participatedinwrestlingattheOklahomaSchoolfortheBlindandhavingbeeninvolvedinotherphysicalcombatduringhisyouth,Donknewhecouldholdhisown whentheothercombatantsreliedonlyonhandsandfeettoinflictinjuryhowever,abulletorsomeothermissilecouldcomefromanydirectionandcausemortalinjury withnowarning.SoDonwasalwaystensewhentravelinginareaswherethecrimeratewashigh,buthedidnotfeelthistensionasmuchinthedowntownarea aroundhisoffice. OnMonday,Don'sregularofficeday,hisvagueuneasinessaboutbecomingacrimevictimbecameaclearandpresentdanger.Justashefinishedpackinghis briefcasewiththeweek'steachingsuppliesandwasheadingfortheelevatorattheendoftheworkday,thereceptionistannounced"anurgentcallforMr.McBride." Returningtohisoffice,DonbecameengagedinalongdistancecounselingsessionwithanewlyblindedclientwhomhehadseenthepreviousFriday.Thisman apparentlyhadbecomedepressedovertheweekend,andittookalmostanhourtoreassurehimthatlearningsuchskillsastyping,Braille,andcanetravelcould enablehimtoresumehislifestyleandaccomplishhisgoalofreemployment. BythetimeDonreachedtheelevator,thereseemedtobenooneleftinthebuilding.However,whenhereachedMissouriAvenue,itseemedtobepopulatedwith Christmasshoppers.Manywereapparentlyburdenedwithpackages,accordingtotherustlingsoundsofpaper.

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Donstoppednearthealleyandplacedhisbriefcaseonthewalkinpreparationforthetenminutewaitforthenextscheduledbus.Ashewaited,theshoppingcrowd seemedtothinout,althoughtherewerestillpeopleenteringandleavingthesurroundingstores.Hesuddenlybecameawarethatsomeonewasstandingverycloseto him.JustasDonstartedtostepasidetomakewayforthenewcomer,aman'svoicespokeverynearhisleftear. "Listen,blindman,"healmostwhispered,"I'mnotgoingtohurtyou,butIneedmoney."Theimpressionofbeingstabbedandshotatthesametimeoverwhelmed Don,andwithapurereflexaction,hedroppedthewhitecanefromhisrighthandandswunghisfistwith240poundsofforceatthequietvoice.Atthesameinstant, Donbeganshouting,"Help!Callthepolice!I'mbeingrobbed!'' Aspeoplebegantogatheraround,areassuringvoice,whichDonrecognizedasbelongingtothecigarstoreproprietor,said,"You'reokay,Don.Whoeverwas botheringyouhasgone."HandingDonhiscaneandbriefcase,theproprietorturnedtothegatheringspectatorsandaskedifanyonehadseenwhathappened.Alady withseveralpackagesspoketentatively. "Ididn'tseethebeginning,onlytheendwhenthemangothit,butitlookedlikehewasmoreinneedofhelpthantheblindman."ShehadseenDondrophiscaneand strikethemanwhohadbeentalkingwithhimsquarelyinthemouth.Themanappearedtoskidalongthealleyasthoughpropelledbyastrongwindforaboutfifteen feet,thenregainedhisbalanceandranbehindabuilding,leavingbehindafewdropsofblood. MakingsurethattheassailanthadnottakenanythingandthatDonwasnotinjured(exceptforthecutonhisrightknuckle,probablycausedbytheassailant'steeth), thecigarstoreownertoldthecrowdhewouldmakesureDonmadehisbusconnectionwithoutfurtherdifficulty.AsthespectatorsdriftedawayandDonpreparedto boardhisbus,asmallboypressedatiny,hardobjectinhishand."Yousurenailedthatguy,"thechildannouncedreverently."Ithoughtyoumightliketohaveoneof histeeth.Ifounditinthealley."Donthankedtheboyandboard

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edhisbusforthethirtyminuteridehome. AsthebusslowlyworkeditswayupStateStreet,openingandclosingitsautomaticdoorsateachcornertopickupordischargepassengers,Donkeptwondering whatwerethetrueintentionsofthequietspokenmanwhosetoothheheldinhispalm.Certainly,therehadbeennothreateitherinthevoiceormanner.Infact,the manhadassuredhimthatheintendednophysicalinjury.Well,Donthought,continuingtopondertheman'sintentionsandtheappropriatenessoftheresponsecould notalterthesituation.Donclosedhismentalexaminationoftheincidentwiththecomfortingthoughtthat,ifhehadencounteredarobber,hisquick,reflexactionhad preservedbothhishealthandhismoney. ''Thatwasagreatstory,"BryceHuddlestonpronounced."Can'tyoujustseeMcBridebeltthatguy?Why,that'sasgoodastheaccountofthegirlsbeingrobbedin St.Louis.""Thegirls"wereCathy,mywife,Carol,John'swife,andHelen,Bryce'swife.ThetrioinsistedthattheMcBridestorywasmuchbetterthantheaccountof theirrobberyattheSteelGuitarConventioninSt.Louis,butitwasdecidedthateachpersoninthegroupshouldhavetheopportunitytojudgethemeritsofboth stories.Cathywaselectedtoreadtheirtale,whichIhadhadpublishedinthewinter1989issueoftheIllinoisBrailleMessenger.Normabroughttheissuefroma bookcase.
"I'llberightback!"Cathyshoutedintomyrightearoverthemusicofasteelguitarandthestageband."I'mgoingtotakeHelenandCaroltotherestroom,"shecontinued. HelenandCarolweretwoofthefivetotallyblindpeopleattendingtheSteelGuitarConventionheldeveryLaborDayweekendattheClarionHotelinSt.Louis.Theothertotally blindpersonsinthegroupwereCarol'shusband,John,Bob,andI.Mywife,Cathy,ispartiallysighted,havingenoughvisiontoreadandtravelunassistedbyspecialtravel devicesorsightedguides. Asthethreewomenfiledouttotheladies'room,Bryce,Helen'shusband,handedoutcoldbeersfromthecoolerrestingonthefloorbetweenhimandBob,andweallsettledback toenjoyHerbWallaceandthebandplayseveraltunesfromHerb'snewestalbum.Whenhefinishedtheseselectionsaboutthirtyminutes

Page43 later,Johnmused,"IwonderifthemgirlsgotlostorranawaywithsomeofthemfancyguitarpickersfromNashville?" Whilethenextactwassettingupequipmentonthestage,someonetappedmeontheshoulder.Cathy'stensevoicewhispered,"Wehaveaproblem.We'vebeenrobbedinthe ladies'room!" Everyoneadjournedtotheladies'roomuponhearingthisnews.WhenCathyapproachedtherestroomarea,asecurityguardshouted,"Lady,yourfriendswon'tletusinthe bathroom!Canyouhelp?" Cathyquicklyexplainedthatshehadadvisedtheothervictimstolockthedoorbehindherwhenshelefttherestroombeforethefiveminutewaitingperiodorderedbytherobber. Shethenaccompaniedtheguardtothedoorandassuredtheirfriendsthatitwassafetoopenup. Thenexthourwasspentbythesecuritypeopletakingdownstatementsfromeachofthevictimsastotheirexactmemoryoftheincidentandtheitemstheyhadlost.Then,weall returnedtoBobandNorma'sroomforanightcapandalittleunwinding.Asthegatheringbrokeup,someonesaidthattherobberhadnotshownanymercyfortheblind.John joked,"Blindpeoplesaytheywanttobetreatedjustlikeeverybodyelse.So,lookatitthiswayyoufolksencounteredanequalopportunityrobber."

WhenCathyfinishedreading,theguestswerestilldividedintheiropinionsofwhichwasthebettertale.Itwasgenerallyagreedthatafairjudgmentwouldbepossible onlyifIcommittedtheMcBridestorytopaper.Thishasnowbeenaccomplished,andthetwostories,alongwithBob'snarrativeofhisexperiencewiththerobberin frontofthebank,areherepresentedforalltojudgetheircomparativemerits.

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7 BeyondtheCallofDuty
IwasinWichita,Kansas,intheearly1980s,catchingupondevelopmentsinworkfortheblindsincethelastMidAmericaConferenceofRehabilitationTeachers.I waswithBob,arehabilitationteacheremployedbytheKansasAgencyfortheBlind,whenapleasantfemalevoiceasked,"Bob,isthatyou?" Respondingintheaffirmative,heintroducedthenewcomertomeasJaneFrost,"ThefamousrehabilitationteacherfromHays,Kansas."Now,thehistoricalparticulars ofthisstoryhavefadedfrommymemory,ashastherealnameofthisyoungwoman,buttheintenseemotionsofsuspense,fear,andadmirationthathertalecreatedin mehaveremainedvivid. TomyinquiryaboutthesourceofMs.Frost'sfame,BobexpressedsurprisethatIhadnotheardofherontheeveningnewsthatpastwinter.Hewentontoexplain thathehadinvitedJanetodinnertogetafirsthandaccountofwhathadhappened.Janereadilyagreedtomybecomingthethirddinnerpartner. OncewewereseatedinthehoteldiningroomandhadfinishedorderingfromtheBraillemenupreparedespeciallyforourconvention,Jane,anattractiveyoung womanaboutthirtyyearsoldwhospokeinapleasant,clearvoicewithnonoticeableethnicorgeographicalaccent,sharedabriefsketchofher

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lifeuptothedayshehadencounteredtheblizzardthathadchangedherlife.Havingahistoryofcongenitalglaucoma,whichhadbeencontrolledbymedication,Jane's visionfailedrapidlyduringhersenioryearincollege,whereshereceivedaB.S.ineducation.Bythetimeofourdinnerengagement,hersightwaslimitedtolight perception,althoughshecontinuedwearingglassesfromhabit,shesaid. Encounteringdifficultyinobtainingemploymentasapublicschoolteacher,JanefinallywaspersuadedbyherrehabilitationcounselorfromtheMissouriBureauforthe BlindtospendseveralmonthsatLions'World,anadjustmenttrainingcenterfortheblindinLittleRock,Arkansas,whereshelearnedhomemakingmethodsforblind people,Braille,typing,andcanetravel.Whileintraining,JanelearnedofanopeningforanitinerantrehabilitationteacherinHays,Kansas.Withsomeadditional traininginsuchareasaspsychologicalimpactofblindness,shewasabletosecurethispositionandmovedtoHays. WithinayearofJane'sacceptanceoftheteachingjob,hermotherandfather,whohadretiredfrommedicalpractice,purchasedalarge,comfortablehomeinHays, andJanedecidedtogiveuphersmallapartmentandresidewithherparents.Shefinishedherbriefbiographywiththestatementthatshemightsoonmoveoutofher parents'homeagain,asshehadbecomeengagedtoMaxWinn,thestatepatrolmanwhohadrescuedherlastwinter. Itseemsthat,besidesthephysicalattraction(Jane,withshoulderlengthashblondehair,wasaboutfivefeetthreewithher130poundswellproportioned),Maxhad beencaptivatedbyherbraveryinthelifethreateningblizzardandherpositiveoutlookonlifeingeneral.Duringthenexthour,whileBobandIateanddrankinsilence, exceptforafewquestionsforclarity,wewereprivilegedtohearafirsthandaccountofwhathastobeoneofthemostthrillingstoriesintheannalsofrehabilitation teachingoftheblind. JaneusuallyspentMondayinherofficeworkingwithhersecretary,SissyMaynard,onprogressreportsandreferralsofherstudents,answeringletters,andplanning lessonsforthe

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week.TuesdaythroughThursdaywereusuallyforschedulinglongteachingexpeditionsintooutlyingcounties,withFridayreservedforstudentsintheHaysarea.The longteachingexcursionsofteninvolvedthreedaysoftravelandtwonightsinmotelsforJaneandherdriver,PeggyMatthews,amiddleagedhousewifewhodoubled asanAvondistributorandchauffeur.ItwasoneofthesetripsintothecountiesnorthwestofHaysinlateJanuarythatbecameawakingnightmareforPeggyandJane. WhenJanecamedowntobreakfastthatTuesdaymorning,sheheardthecrackleofherfather'snewspaperbeingfoldedevenbeforeshesmelledhiscigarette.Asshe satdownatherusualplacetotheleftofhim,hetossedthepaperonthebuffetbehindhimandadvised,"Bettereatagoodbreakfast,TootsyouandPegmayhaveto pushthatoldjalopyoutofasnowdriftbeforedinner.SaysherethatahellofasnowstormispushingsoutheastacrossNebraskaandKansas,windsuptofiftymiles perhourpilingsnowintodriftssixfeethighinplaces.Istronglyrecommendthatyoutaketheadviceofyourfamilydoctorandcancelthisfooltripuntiltheweather moderates.NoneofthoseblindfolksexpectsyoutoriskyourlifetogivethemaBraillelesson." "WhenyoufirstpracticedmedicineinNorthDakotabeforegoingtotheArmy,didyoucancelyourruralvisitseverytimeitsnowed?"Janeteased,knowingthe responsethatwoulderuptfromherfather. "Damnittohell,Janey,youknowthecircumstancesweredifferent.Thosefolksweresick,someevencritical!" "Justteasing,Dad,"Janelaughed."IjustheardarevisedweatherreportfromKansasCity.ThefrontisstalledinNebraskaandwon'tmoveintoKansasuntillate tonightortomorrow.PeggyandIplantomakecallsrightinPlainvilleandStocktonandholeupintheLongHornMoteltonightandjustwaitoutthestormtomorrow ifitistoobadtodriveoncountryroads.Ifnecessary,wecanextendourtriptothreedaysandworkuparoundLenoraonThursday.I'lljustcallSissyfromthemotel andhaveherreschedulemyThursdaytripdownsouthtowardLawrence."Afterfurtherassurancethatshewouldnotleave

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pavedhighwaysuntilthestormpassed,herfathersnappedhispaperopentothesportspageandcontinuedhisbreakfast. WhenPeggypulledupinherfourwheeldriveScoutinsteadofherBuicksedan,Jane'sfathermuttered,"There'sasmartdame,preparedfortheweather."Assuring himthatPeggywasanativewhoknewandrespectedthechangeableweather,Janerandownthefrontstepswithherbriefcaseandsuitcaseinherlefthandandher caneandpurseinherrighthand.Asthecarpulledintotraffic,JanewastellingPeggyaboutherfather'scommentsonPeggy'sshrewdnessindealingwithlocalweather conditionswhenshenoticedtheywereheadingwestonHighway70ratherthannorthon183towardPlainvilleandStockton. "Whyarewegoingwest?"Janeinquired. "YousaidIwassmartabouttheweather,"Peggyreplied."AfterlookingatthatitinerarySissyhandedmeyesterdayandstudyingseveralweatherbulletinsfrom KansasCity,I'vedecidedtoswitchtodayandtomorrow,ifit'sallrightwithyou.Yousee,"shecontinued,"thatisarealblizzardmovingintonight,anditmaydropup toafootofsnow.Withthefiftymileperhourwindsbeingforecasted,theroadsaroundPrairieDogmaybeimpassableforaweek,andIheardyousayyoujusthad toseethatMr.WohlwendwholivesbyhimselfonthatgodforsakenrancheastofPrairieDog." Janethoughtforamomentandasked,"DoyoureallythinkwecangetinandoutofJessWohlwend'splacebeforetheblizzardhitswithfullforce?"Shewas compelledtoseethewidowerwhohadconsideredsuicideafterlosinghiswifetocancerandhisvisiontoglaucomawithinthepastyear.Hewasjustbeginningto thinklifemightbeworthliving,butshefearedthatlackofcontactwithanyonebutthemailmanmightcausehimtosinkbackintodepression.Ifshecouldspendan hourortwoprovidinganothercookinglessonandhelpingJessreflectonthepositiveadjustmentsmadebyotherblindpersonswhoseautobiographieshewasreading ontalkingbooks,perhapshewouldkeepuphiscourageuntilspringwhenotherranchingactivitieswouldoccupyhisthoughtsandhewouldbenefitfromsocialcontact withhisseasonalemployeesandneighbors.

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WhileJanewasthinking,PeggyexplainedthattheycouldmakeaquickstopinKeeneytodeliverthelargeprintcookbookJanehadorderedforMrs.Atherton,who stillhadenoughvisiontotravelwithoutacaneandmowherlawn.Skippinglunch,theycouldspeednorthupHighway183totheturnoffleadingthefivemilestoMr. Wohlwend'sranchhouse,arrivingabout1:30P.M.Iftheycouldleaveby3:30,theywouldbebacktoLenoraonHighway183bydark.Iftherewerenorooms availableatthemotel,theycouldstaywithPeggy'ssister,whohadplentyofsleepingaccommodationssinceherchildrenhadmarriedandmovedaway. AsPeggypulledintoMrs.Atherton'sdriveway,Janesaidshewouldcompletethelessonassoonaspossible.Afterreviewingtheformatofthelargeprintcookbook, JaneleftMrs.AthertontryinganewrecipeforappledumplingsassheclosedthefrontdoorandwalkedrapidlytowardthesoundoftheScout'sidlingmotor. PeggyswitchedonthewindshieldwiperastheyturnedontoHighway183."Itakeitthatthesnowhasarrived,"Janeobservedtentatively. "Justafewflakes,"Peggyanswered,"butIthinkwebettergostraighttoMr.Wohlwend'ssowewillbesuretogetbacktoLenorabeforethedriftsbecometoo deep.Thewindisalreadypickingupalittle."TheironlystopwastofillthetwentygallongastankataselfservicestationjustnorthofKeeney.Peggybroughttwo steamingcupsofcoffeewhenshereturnedfrompayingforthegasoline,andtheyenjoyedasnackofcoffeeanddoughnutswhileproceedingnorthonHighway183 towardPrairieDogatasteadysixtyfivemilesperhour.Thedoughnutsweresotastythatthetravelersdecidedtoskiptheoranges,potatochips,andHersheybars thatPeggyhadalsopurchased.Peggytunedintoanearbyradiostation,andtheylistenedtoPaulHarveywhilewaitingforacurrentweatherreport.Thesnowstorm wasbeginningtopushslowlyintocentralKansas,accordingtotheforecaster. About2:15P.M.,afterdrivingthroughthewindblownsnowthatcutvisibilityandcollectedonthewindshieldfasterthan

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thewiperscouldremoveit,PeggyparkedtheScoutinfrontoftheWohlwendranchhouse.JessWohlwendexpressedsurpriseandconcernasheheatedapotof coffeeandinquiredabouttheconditionoftheroadbetweenhisranchandthehighway.Hehadfiguredtheywouldcancelthismonth'svisit,whichwasscheduledfor thefollowingday,whenheguessedtherewouldbeatleastfifteeninchesofsnowontheground.WhenPeggyreportedontheroadconditionandtheheavyrateof snowfall,JesssuggestedthattheyeitherstartbacktoLenoraimmediatelyorplantostayoutthestormathisplace.Peggywassuretheycouldmakethereturntrip safelyiftheycouldstartbackwithinanhour.SettlingherselfinJess'slivingroomwithacrosswordpuzzle,sheurgedJanetogetonwithherlessonsotheycouldleave assoonaspossible. JaneandJessmovedintothekitchenwheresheproceededtoteachhimtoattachtinyplasticreplicasofbeans,earsofcorn,andotherfruitsandvegetablestocansof foodsohecouldidentifytheseitemsbytouch.TheyalsospenttimediscussinganautobiographyofanEnglishgentlemanentitledWhereasIWasBlind.Peggy terminatedthiscounselingsession,inwhichJanewasusingatechniqueknownasbibliotherapytofacilitateJess'sadjustmenttohisdisability,byannouncingfromthe livingroomthattheyhadtoleavenowiftheyweregoingatall. Again,Jessrecommendedtheystayathisplaceuntilthestormpassed.WhenthewomenassuredhimtheycouldmakeitbacktoLenora,Jessplacedinthebackof theircarafivegalloncanofgasdrawnfromthestoragetankusedtofuelhisfarmequipment."Ifyougetstuck,atleastyou'llhaveextragastokeeptheheatergoing," Jesstoldthemasheclosedthecardoorandmadehiswaythefewfeetthroughtheswirlingsnowtohisfrontporch. PeggynoticedbythesluggishwaytheScouthandledthatthesnowwasmuchdeeperthanithadbeenanhourago.Foraninstant,sheconsideredtakingJess Wohlwend,thatkindheartedoldGerman,uponhisinvitationtoremainathisranchuntilthestormabated,buttheprospectofbeingisolatedawayfromherfamilyfor anindefinitetimeandherconfidenceintheabil

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ityofhervehicletoplowthroughthedriftscausedhertoforgeahead. WiththeScoutinfourwheeldrive,theymadeslowbutsteadyprogressuntiltherightrearwheelskiddedintoadeeprutasPeggywasmakingasharpleftturnatthe bottomofahilltheScoutthencametoasuddenstop.PeggyshiftedintoreverseandtriedtoeasetheScoutbackwardontothecenteroftheroad,butthewheels spuninplace.Finally,Janesuggestedthatshewouldtrypushingthecarfrombehindinhopesthatheraddedforcewouldbeenoughforthewheelstocatchandpull thevehiclebackintothecenteroftheroad.AlthoughJanewasphysicallyfitandshethrewherentirestrengthintotheforwardthrustoftheScout'schurningwheels, nothingmoved.JanefeltherwaybackalongtherightsideoftheScoutuntilshelocatedthefrontdoorhandle.Shehoppedintothepassenger'sseat,quicklyclosing thedoortokeepoutthestingingsnow,whichwasnowmixedwithsleet. Peggyretrievedtheshovelthatshestoredinthebackofthecarforthistypeofemergencyandremovedsomeofthesnowinfrontofeachwheel.WithJanepushing again,shetriedinchingtheScoutforward.ThefrontwheelsseemedtobecatchingbecausetheScout'sfrontendbeganrockingslightlyasfirsttherightandthenthe leftfrontwheelgainedtraction.Afteraboutaminute,Peggyletthemotoridle,andJanereenteredthecar."I'msorryIgotyouintothis,"Peggysaidthroughangry tears,"butifwekeepourheadsandworktogether,wecanwaithereuntilsomebodycomestohelp." "Thatshouldn'ttaketoolong,"Janesaidhopefully."Whenwedon'tarrivefordinneratyoursister'sinLenora,shewillcallJessWohlwend,andhewillarrangeforthe statepolicetorescueus.Weshouldn'tbestuckhereformorethanafewhours,eveninthisblizzard." InsteadofreflectingJane'soptimism,Peggybegancryingoutloudandsaid,"I'vescrewedupthingsmorethanyouknow,Jane.NotonlydidIchangeourschedule, butIdidn'teventellmysisterwewerecoming.Asfarasanyoneknows,weshould

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beinStockton,downonHighway183.Wemaybeherefordays.That'swhyIsaidwehavetoworktogether.Wecan'tmakeanymistakes,andwehavetoration everythingsowecanmakeituntilhelpcomes.'' SuddenlyJanebegantofeellikethecarwasclosinginonher.Shehadanillogicalcompulsiontoleapfromthevehicleandruntosafety,buttherewasnoplacetorun exceptintothesnowstormsnarlingjustbeyondhercardoor.SherealizedthatPeggy'slossofcontroloftheirsituationwascausingherfriendtopanic,andJanetook severaldeepbreathsinordertocalmherselfbeforerespondingtoPeggy'sdistressinganalysisoftheirprospectsforsurvival.Sheintuitivelyunderstoodthatshemust behavecalmlyandrationallyinordertoreassurePeggy,whosepastexperience,judgment,andeyesightwerevitaltotheirsurvival. "Okay,"Janesaidwithasmuchbravadoasshecouldmuster,"sowe'reinalittletrouble!Let'sfigureouthowtostaywarmandentertainourselvesuntiltheposse arrivestorescueus."Jane'sshowofconfidencemusthavehadasettlingeffect,becausePeggy'svoiceconveyednosignoftearsordespairwhenshespoke. "Firstthingsfirst!Tokeepfromfreezingwecan'texpecttostaywarmwewillhavetorunthemotoraboutfifteenminutesoutofeveryhour.Thismeansthatunder nocircumstancescanwebothsleepatoncebecauseoneofusmuststartthemotoreveryhour,ortheenginemaygettoocoldtoturnover,andwemightquietly snoozeourselvesintoicebergs." Theydecidedtoalternatesleepperiodsthroughthenightandtrytostayawakeduringthedayinordertorespondquicklytoanyrescueefforts.Peggyestimatedthat therewasatleastsixteengallonsofgasinthetank.Iftheyranthemotorataboutfortymilesperhour,whichtheycouldgaugebysound,theyshouldbeabletostay fairlywarmforaboutthirtytwohours.Attwentymilespergallon,shecalculatedtheywouldconsumetwogallonseveryhourwiththemotorturningatfortyMPH. Thiswouldgivethemabouteighthoursofmotoroperation.Byrunningthemotorfifteenminuteseveryhour,theycouldmake

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itthroughthenextdayandmostofthefollowingnight,maybelongerifthewinddieddownandthesuncameouttowarmthecarduringtheday. Turningtheirattentiontoassuringthattheirfoodlastedaslongastheirgasoline,theygatheredalltheireatablesonthefrontseat:twoHersheybars,sixdoughnuts,two oranges,andasmallbagofpotatochips.''Itwillbebesttosavethewrappedstuffandbeginwiththedoughnuts,whichwillgetdriedoutnowthatwehaveopened them,"Janeobserved,reachingforone. "You'reright,"Peggyreplied,flickingonthedomelighttolookatherwatch."It's5:04P.M.Ifweeachhaveadoughnutnow,anotherinthemorning,andoneeach aboutnoontomorrow,wewillnothavetostartonthepackagedstuffuntilninetomorrowevening.BysplittingtheorangesandHersheybarsandrationingourselves toahalfofaHersheyororangeandafewchipsforeachmeal,wewillhavefourmoremealsthatwilltakeusthroughtomorrownight."Theinsideofthecarwassilent forseveralsecondsexceptforthewindandsnowbeatingagainstJane'sdoor. FinallyPeggycontinued,"Ihatetoeventhinkthis,letalonesayit,butifhelpdoesn'tarrivebydayaftertomorrow,wewon'tneedit." "Let'scrossthatbridgewhenwegetthere,"Janesaidwithjustthehintofatremorinhervoice."Fornow,let'sthinkofhowwecankeepoccupiedforthenextcouple ofdays."Peggysuggestedthattheylistentothecarradiowhenthemotorwasrunningsothebatterywouldremainedchargedtheymightneedthelightsand continuedaccesstoradioinformationevenafterthegasolinewasallused.Janerememberedthatshehadhertapeplayerandarecordedbookshewasreturningto thelibraryforJessWohlwend.Thebatteryinthetapeplayerwouldlastabouttenhours. SotheybegantheirlongvigilwithJanetakingthefirstfourhourwatch.WhilePeggyslept,Janeoccupiedherselfbyreviewingherlifeinminutedetail,beginningwith herfirstmemoriesofplayingwithhertoyterrier,Tiny,ataboutagethree.Shealso

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startedthecarmotorandlistenedtotheradiofifteenminuteseveryhour,keepingthevolumelowinordernottodisturbPeggy. AsPeggyslept,thesoundofwindblowingkeptenteringherdreams.Mostofthetime,thewindwaswovenintodreamsofKansassummersfilledwiththesoundsand visionsofwheatandcornbeingrustledbythewarmprairiewinds,butonceshedreamedofbeinginatornadoinwhichherhousewasseverelyshaken.Whenshe awoke,thewindwasblowingandJanewasshakingher. "Peggy,I'msorrytowakeyou,butit'stimeforyourwatch,and,besides,Ihavetogetoutofthecartogotothebathroom."PeggyaskedJanetoslideoutthedriver's side,asthiswouldleavethewallofsnowthathadblownagainstJane'ssideofthevehicleintact,formingawindbreak.Returningtothewarmcar,whichPeggyhad started,Janehadnotroubledriftingintoasoundsleep.Herdreamscenteredaroundtheearlychildhoodmemoriesshehadbeenrecalling.Justbeforeshewokeup, shesawherselfinthemidstofawinterafternoonplayingwithhertoyterrierinthesnow,buteverythingturnedunpleasantwhenthedogbecamelostinasnowdriftand herfatherappearedtoberateherforherpoorjudgmentintakingthelittleanimaloutinsuchdeepsnow.WhenPeggyarousedherforthe2:00A.M.watch,shewas coldandwantedsomethingtoeat,butPeggyremindedherthatitwouldbealongtimeuntillunchifsheatebreakfastattwointhemorning.Shesettledforahandfulof snowandbeganlisteningtotheradioforanymentionoftheirbeinglostintheblizzard. WhenPeggyrousedaboutsix,herfirstwordswere,"Haveyouheardanythingaboutasearchpartyyet?"Janehadn'theardathingaboutanyonebeinglost,butshe immediatelyswitchedontheradiotoalocalstationthatcarried"TheSunriseNews"and,withinfiveminutes,heardanitemabouttwowomenfromHayswhohad beenmissingforabouttwentyfourhours.TheannouncerexplainedthattheyhadnotbeenseensinceleavingHaysyesterdayfortheStocktonarea,wheretheywere scheduledtoconductstatebusiness.Theitemwas

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clusteredwithmanyemergencyannouncementssuchasschoolclosings,electricalpowerfailures,andhighwayclosures,includingHighway183northofLenora,which wasimpassableduetodriftingsnow. "Lookslikenorescuepartywillbecomingup183today,"Peggyobserved. Aftertheirbreakfastofdoughnutsandmeltedsnow,theyspentanhourlisteningtotherecordedbook,diligentlydevotingfifteenminuteseachhourtowarmupthecar andturnontheradio.Theyfollowedthesameschedulethroughtheafternoonandevening,withtwoorthreehoursoutfornapsandconversation.Thewinddied downaboutnoon,andthesuncameoutabout2:30,warmingtheinsideofthecarandconservingaboutagallonofgas.The3:00P.M.newscarriedtheannouncement thatanairsearchwasbeingconductedwithinafiftymileradiusofStockton,whichwasverydiscouragingtoPeggyandJanetheywereprobablybeyondthe perimeterofthesearcharea.Oncetheyheardanaircraftflyoveratahighaltitude.ScurryingfromtheScout,theywavedadarkblanketthattheyhadbeenusingfor warmth,butthepilotmadenomaneuverofrecognition. Withonlythreemealsleftaftertheirdinnerofahalfofanorangeandafewchipseach,theytalkedforalongtimeabouttheirprospectsandwhattheycoulddoto improvethem.Lookingoutherwindowattheglareofthemoononthemilesofsnowinalldirections,Peggysuddenlysaid,"Thatmoonwillbedownaboutmidnight, andIhaveanideaforattractingsomeattention.Mostpeoplemaybeasleep,butallweneedisforonepersontoinvestigatethefire." "Whatthehellareyoutalkingabout?"laughedJane."Areyouplanningtoburnthecar?" "Notexactly,"Peggysaid."Iforgottotellyouthatthereisahaystackaboutfiftyfeetoutsidemywindow.YourememberthatfivegalloncanofgasJessputinthe backoftheScout?Well,Ifigurewecantaketheshovelandtunnelintothedryhayandsetitafirewithaboutahalfagallonofgastogetitstarted.Itwillbevisiblefor milesonsuchaclearnight,andsomebody

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isboundtogetcuriousandinvestigate."So,theyeachworkedtenminuteshiftsuntiltheyburrowedfarenoughintothehaystacktoreachdryhay,afterwhichthey excavatedasmallholeupthroughthehayuntiltheshovelbrokethroughintothemoonlight.Thisholewouldserveasachimneyforthefireplace.Janeworriedabout thesparks,butPeggyassuredherthattherewasenoughsnowonthecartoextinguishanysparks. Peggysaturatedthedryhaywithgasolineandwovesomestrawsintoalongstripsoshecouldusethemtolightthehayfromadistanceofseveralfeet.Janewaitedin thecarwithPeggy'sdooropensoshecouldquicklyretreattosafetyifthehaystackexploded.Thisprecautionprovedunnecessary,however,becausethefirespread slowlyatfirst,allowingPeggyampletimetoretreatbehindtheclosedcardoor,whereshewasabletoobservetheflameprogressslowlyintothetunneltheyhaddug untilitreachedthesmallverticalshaftthenthehaystackerupted,peltingthecarwithamixtureofsnowandsparks.Bothwomenduckedreflexively,butPeggyhad beenrightinassumingthatthelayerofsnowwouldextinguishanyburninghaythatreachedthecar.Withinafewseconds,theexplodinghaystackhadsettledintoa brightmoundofflamethatcouldbeseenforseveralmiles. Astheminutesgrewintohoursandnorancherappearedtodeterminewhohaddestroyedhisvaluablesupplyofcattlefeed,thewomenresumedtheirformerroutine, discouragedbytherealizationthattheirsalvationwouldnotdependonhelpfromothersbutontheirowningenuityandefforts.Afterthefiredied,Peggysomberly pouredtheremaininggasolineintotheScout'stanksotheycouldstayrelativelywarmforanotherday,andtheysharedthelastorangeandtheremainingchipsfor breakfastjustaftersunrise. AsPeggyswitchedoffthe10:00A.M.news,whichreportedthatthesearchforthemissingfemalestateemployeeswascontinuingaroundStockton,sheplacedher rightarmaroundJane'sshouldersandsaid,"Listen,kid,wecan'tjustsithereandwaitfortheendwithouttrying.Thereprobablyisenoughgasinthetanktokeepthe carwarmuntiltomorrow,ifyoudepend

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ontheheatofthesunthroughtheday."JanebegantofeellikeherstomachandheartwerecontractingandknewshewasexperiencingpanicbecausePeggywas tellingherthatshewouldhavetostayalonewhilePeggywentforhelp.Andwhatifshedidn'tfindany? Peggywassaying,"Byusingthesunfordirection,Icanwalkduewestandstrikethehighway,whichcan'tbemorethanamile.ThenIcanheadsouthtowardLenora forhelp.Ihatetoleaveyouherealone,notonlybecauseyoumayfeeltrappedinthecarbythesnow,butbecauseI'mscaredtodeathtostartoutacrossthatopen whiteprairiewithoutanotherpersonalongforencouragement.Ihavetodoit,though,becausethetwoofuswouldmovetooslowlytoreachhelpintime." JanehadtoexertallofherselfcontroltokeepfromphysicallyrestrainingPeggyasshestuffedoneofthetworemainingHersheybarsintohercoat,kissedJane reassuringlyonthecheek,andclosedthecardoorbehindher.Ignoringthelossofpreciousheatstoredinsidethevehicle,Janerolleddownherwindowandlistened tothesoundofPeggy'sbootsuntilherstepsdisappearedintothesilenceoftheKansaslandscape.Sincetherewasnochillingwind,thesunquicklyreheatedthe interiorwhenthewindowhadbeenclosed,butJanecouldn'tstandtheisolationandagainloweredthewindowtolistenforthesoundofabirdoranyotherlivingthing. Whenshebegantoshiverfromthecold,sheagainrolledupthewindowandswitchedontheradio.Humanvoices,evendisembodiedvoiceswithwhomshecould establishnocontact,mightbeabletodistractandcalmhertemporarily.Janepulledtheblankettightlyaroundher,whichseemedtoreduceherfeelingofsolitude slightly,andtunedtheradiotoaclassicalmusicbroadcast.Finally,thesoftmusicandthewarmthofthesunshiningonherblanketrelaxedJane,andshedriftedintoa comfortablesleep. Afterwhatseemedanindefiniteperiodoftimeduringwhichshewasfloatinginawarmandsecureenvironment,Janebecameconsciousofahandonherwristanda kindmalevoice."Jane,canyouhearme?"itasked.Insleepyconfusion,sheas

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sumedthevoicebelongedtotheradioannouncer,andthefeelingsofisolationanddespairoverwhelmedher.Whenshebegantocryandburrowfurtherintoher blanket,herwristwasreleased,andacomforting,strongarmenfoldedher.ItsuddenlyoccurredtoJanethatradiovoicesdidnothugpeople. Thevoiceresumed,"You'resafe,Jane.I'mMaxWinn,ahighwaypatrolman,andI'mgoingtotakecareofyou."MaxexplainedthathehadfoundPeggywalkingon Highway183ashewasdrivinghisJeepnorthfromLenoratodetermineiftheroadcouldsafelybereopened.ShewaswaitinginthewarmJeepforMaxtowalkto theScoutandrescueJane,asnotevenaJeepcouldtraversethebackroads. JanecouldnotwaittogetoutofthecarandstartforMax'sJeep.Theytrudgedthroughkneedeepsnowforaboutahalfmilebeforeascendingashortbutsteephill, andPeggy'scheeryvoicewelcomedthembackintothevehicle.IttookaboutthirtyminutestogetbacktoPeggy'ssister'shouseinLenora,whereshehadhotfood andabathwaitingforthem,havingbeencontactedbyphonefromstatepoliceheadquartersfollowingMax'sradioreport. BobandIrelaxedasJanefinishedherstorywithanaccountofhowMaxhadcontinuedtovisither,ostensiblytofillinnecessaryinformationonhisrescuereport, finallyaskingherforadate.Onedateledtoanother,andnowtheyhadsetaweddingdate.AccordingtoJane,theweddingwasdevelopingintoamedia extravaganzabecauseoftheextensivepresscoveragefollowinghersurvivalandrescuefromtheblizzard.Shehadevenreceivedaproclamationfromthegovernor recognizingherdevotiontodutyunderadverseconditionsalongwitharesolutionfromthestatelegislaturepraisingherbraveryandcommendingMaxforheroismin rescuingherfromalifethreateningsituation. AsItookleaveofJaneandBobattheentrancetothehoteldiningroom,IsuggestedtoJanethatherstorycouldbemadeintoahitmovie,and,afterpreparingthis sketchatleastfifteenyearssincehearinghernarration,myopinionhasnotchanged.

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PARTTWO LEARNINGTOWORKWITHBLINDNESS:VOCATIONALCOUNSELING
Theoldesthistoricaldocumentsrelatingtoblindpeopledescribeeffortstoplacetheminjobsthatcouldbeperformedwithouteyesight.AnancientChineseruler decreedthattheoccupationsofsoothsayerandmasseurwouldbereservedexclusivelyforblindpersons,andspecialschoolswereestablishedtopreparethemfor thesetrades.InancientRome,blindboyswereemployedasoarsmen.Around1800,theFrenchgovernmentestablishedaprogramtoincorporateblindpeopleinto theirsocietybyseparatingthemaccordingtofivelevelsofeconomicfunctioning:thosewhoengagedinbusinessandprofessionssuchaslaw,music,orteachingthose whoperformedskilledcrafts,suchaspianotuningthosewhoengagedinhomeindustrythosewhoworkedandlivedinshelteredworkshopsattachedtocommunal livingfacilitiesandthoseblindpersonswho,becauseofadditionaldisabilitiesorage,wereunabletodoanysignificantworkandwerehousedinwhatwemightterm grouphomestoday.WhenwerememberthatEmperorNapoleonwasinvolvedinthegreatestmilitaryexpansioninEuropeanhistory,itseemsremarkablethatthe Frenchgovernmentwouldhavehadthecompassionorresourcestoengageinsuchanelaborateemploymentprogramforarela

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tivelysmallgroupofitsdisabledcitizens.However,thisrelationshipbetweenmilitarismandtheexpansionofemploymentopportunitiesfortheblindhascontinued downtothepresentcentury. Duetothesedentaryandrepetitivenatureofassemblylinework,leadersinworkfortheblindrecognizedtheopportunitiesfortheirclientsinmanufacturinginthe earlypartofthetwentiethcentury.DuringWorldWarI,forexample,theCrockerWheelerCompany,amanufacturingfirminNewark,NewJersey,employedone hundredblindworkersinaspecialunitthatinspectedandpackedfinishedproducts.FollowingWorldWarII,theRadioCorporationofAmericaestablishedthe practiceofemployingoneblindworkerforeverythousandsightedworkers. Becausethepublichadlittleunderstandingortoleranceofdisabledpeopleintheearlytwentiethcentury,itisdifficulttounderstandhowworkersfortheblindwere abletopersuadeemployerstopermitblindpersonstotourtheirfactories,letaloneactuallyallowthemtooperatemachinery.Thisseeminglyimpossibletaskof securingindustrialemploymentforblindpersonswasaccomplishedlargelythroughthedirectdemonstrationofcapableplacementagentswhowereblindthemselves, suchasJoeKlunk.Klunkwassosuccessfulintalkinghiswayintofactories,wherehewoulddemonstratetheperformanceofselectedjobswithoutsight,thathe becamethefirstdirectoroftheU.S.OfficeofVocationalRehabilitationfortheBlind.Withtheestablishmentofcollegetrainingprogramsinrehabilitationcounseling,it waspossibletocombinetheacademicknowledgeofcollegetrainedcounselorswiththejobplacementskillsdevisedbysuchpioneersasJoeKlunktoprovide agenciesfortheblindwithplacementcounselorswhocouldaddressthepsychologicalproblemsofadjustingtoblindnessandconfrontthepracticalproblemsof securingemploymentforblindpersons. Thestoriesinthischapterwereselected,inpart,becausetheyfocusonthepersonalcharacteristicsoffierceindependence,mentalandmanualcompetency,and personalintegritydemon

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stratedbysuccessfulvocationalcounselorsoftheblind,suchasJoeKlunk,J.D.McCawley,andGeorgeMagers.AcentralcharacterinthesenarrativesisBob Wright,whograduatedfromtheIllinoisSchoolfortheVisuallyImpaired,earnedamaster'sdegreeinrehabilitationfromtheUniversityofIllinois,andcompletedthe trainingcourseinjobplacementoftheblindconductedbyLouisVieceliatSouthernIllinoisUniversity.Bothinhispersonallifeandthirtythreeyearcareerasa vocationalcounselorfortheblind,Bobdemonstratedoutstandingabilitytodomanualworkanddealwithcomplicatedconceptsofeconomics,industrialrelations,and rehabilitation.Hewasateaseinagraduateseminar,workingonplumbingandotherhomerepairs,orcuttingfirewoodwithhischainsaw.Particularlyin"TheWrong Wright,"Bob'sbehaviorrevealstheindependence,resourcefulness,andadventurousspiritthatarethefoundationalcharacteristicsofasuccessfulvocational rehabilitationcounselorofblindpersons.

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8 TheWrongWright
OntheFourthofJuly,1971,IwascontemplatingtheDeclarationofIndependencewhenthephoneinterruptedmyreverie.''Doyouknowwhatdaythisis?" demandedagruffvoice.ItwasBobWright,myclosestfriendandprofessionalcolleagueinthefieldofblindrehabilitation,invitingmetojoinhimattheAmerican LegionlaterthatdayforafewdrinksincelebrationoftheFourth.Accordingly,Inotifiedmywifethatsomeurgentbusinessrequiredmyattentionandheadedforthe Legion. Theodorofcigarettesmokeandstalebeergreetedme."Yourbuddyisalreadyhere,"Pete,thebartender,toldme.Bobwasseatedonastoolaboutmidwaydown thebar,flankedonhisrightbyBobDickerson.ItookthestoolontheothersideandacceptedthecanofPabstthatBobhadorderedwhenheheardmyheelcleats comingthroughthedoor.BothBobandIhadbegunwearingmetalcleatswhenwewerestudentsattheIllinoisSchoolfortheBlindinthelate1940stoenhance auditorydetectionofobjectstheechoescreatedbythesoundofthecleatsbouncedoffcars,posts,andthelike. BillCargillmountedthestooltomyleftandbegantellinghowakidtossedalightedcherrybombunderhistruck,almostcausingawreck.SettingabeerbeforeBillto settlehisnerves,

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PeteremarkedthatitwasfortunatethatBillhadencounteredthecherrybombonthewaytotheLegion,ashewouldhavebeeninpoorshapeforavoidingawreck afteracoupleofsixpacks.Bill'sincidentwiththecherrybombpromptedothersatthebartorecallpastexperienceswithfireworks.Onepatrontoldhowheand someotherboyshadoncearrangedaracebetweentwotomcatswithfirecrackerstiedtotheirtails,wageringonwhichcatcouldrunfasterwhenthefirecrackers exploded.Someonetoldofafriendwhohadlosthissightwhenafirecrackerexplodedinhisface,andB.J.toldofateenagersettingoffacherrybombinthe restroomofabushewasdriving.BobWrightsaidhewouldtellafirecrackerstoryifIwouldbuyaround.WhenPetehadservedthedrinks,Bobbeganhistale. Bobexplainedthathehadalwaysbeenfascinatedbyfirecrackersandotherthingsthatmadeloudnoises.Forexample,hetoldofsittingunderarailwaybridgenear theSchoolfortheBlindwhenhewasabouttenyearsoldinordertoexperiencetheexcitementoftherumblingnoisecreatedbythetrainspassingoverhead.AsBob grewintoanadult,headoptedthepracticeofcelebratingtheFourthofJulywithplentyoffireworks. In1951,BobhadbeenmakingplanstocelebratetheFourthofJulywithTooneyJordonsincethebeginningofthespringquarteratSouthernIllinoisUniversity.Bob andTooney,hisfriendandformerschoolmateattheIllinoisSchoolfortheBlind,hadcelebratedthe1950Fourth,alongwithseveralotherfriendsfromBob'swork, withasmuchvigorandenjoymentasakegofbeerandtwentyfivedollarsworthofassortedfirecrackerscouldprovide.BobphonedTooneyinearlyMayof1951to lethimknowthatthisyear'sIndependenceDaywouldbeevenmoreexcitingbecauseBobwouldarriveatTooney'splaceinChicagothedaybeforetheFourthwitha suitcasefilledwithfireworks. OnthenightofJuly2,BobpackedhisSamsonitesuitcasewithashavingkitandtwochangesofclotheswrappedaroundasmanyfirecrackers,cherrybombs,Roman candles,andotherassortedfireworksashecouldstuffintotheremainingspace.Earlyonthemorningofthethird,heheftedtheheavycaseand

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walkedthefourblocksfromhisroomovertheUniversityDrugStoretoJohn'sCafe,whereheusedfiftycentsofhisfivedollarmealtickettoeataheartybreakfast beforesettingoffonhishitchhikingtriptovisitTooney.WhenIrene,John'swife,punchedthemealticket,sheremarkedthatBobmustbeleavingforanextended vacation,judgingfromthesizeofhissuitcase.BobassuredherthathewouldbebackintowninaweekandheadednorthtoMainStreetwherehecouldcatchhis firstride. Stationinghimselfunderalargetree,Bobbeganholdinguphisrighthandwiththethumbextendedeachtimeheheardthemotorofanoncomingvehicle.Luckwas withhim,becausethefourthcarglidedtoastopandanotunfriendlyvoicesaid,''You'vegotaride,son.Getin!" Aftertravelingafewmiles,thecarslowednoticeablyandpulledintoaparkingspace. "Wherearewe?"Bobasked. Thevoicefromthedriver'sseatquipped,"BeingfromIndiana,Iknowyou'realittlebackward,butIcan'tbelieveyouneverseenapolicestationbefore." "Ifyou'regoingtobeherelong,I'lljustwalkbacktothehighwayandcatchanotherridebecauseI'mkindofinahurry,"Bobinformedhiscompanion. "Notuntilwehavealittletalk!Soyoujustquietlygetoutandfollowmeintomyofficewithoutanyfuss,"drawledthedriver. "Whoareyou,anyway?"Bobasked,anoteofbelligerenceinhisvoice. "ThisbadgeyouseeonmycoatsaysI'mthesheriffofJacksonCounty,"thevoicesaid,whilehustlingBobintothesouthentranceoftheJacksonCountyCourthouse. Justinsidethefirstdoorontherightofthehallleadingtotherotunda,Bobtrippedonachairbutquicklyregainedhisbalance. "Littleshakyonyourfeet,areyou?Hereisacupofcoffeetosettleyournerves.JustrelaxinthatchairyoukickedandreadthiswirefromtheWhiteCountysheriff andtellmewhereyouleftthecaryouborrowedfromthatgrocerystoreoperatorinCarmi,"orderedthesheriff. "Ohshit!"thoughtBob."He'sgotmemixedupwithsome

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bodyelse,andhethinksIcansee."Takingalargeswallowofthehotcoffee,Bobsaid,inwhathehopedwasaconfidentandrationalvoice,"Sheriff,thislittle confusioniseasytostraightenout.YouthinkI'msomeguywhostoleacar,but,yousee,mynameisWright,andI'mastudentatSIU." "Accordingtothattelegramyou'reholding,youarehalfright.YournameisWrightMcGee,butyourmostrecentaddresswastheWhiteCountyjail.Afteryou walkedawayfromaworkdetail,yourobbedtheRedandWhiteGroceryinCrossville,tooktheowner's1947Fordsedan,whichyouditchedsomewhere,andwere tryingtothumbyourwaytoSt.LouisorChicagowhenIconvenientlynoticedthatyouprettywellfitthedescriptionfromtheWhiteCountysheriff."Thesheriff removedthepaperfromBob'shand,andhisnowfamiliarvoiceread:"'Fivefeetfiveinchestallabout140poundsverymuscularbrowneyesandhair.'Apretty accuratedescription,wouldn'tyousay?" Bobclearedhisvoiceandreplied."I'lladmit,itlookslikeI'myoursuspectfromthatdescription,butthereisonefactyouareforgettingthatmakesitimpossibleforme tobetheguywhostolethecar.Ablindpersoncan'tdrive." Thesheriffpitchedthetelegramonhisdesk,leanedbackinhiscreaking,swivelingchair,andobservedBobforseveralsecondsbeforespeaking."You'rereachin' prettyfaroutforanalibi,Wright.Youarelookingstraightatme,youdidn'thaveanytroublegettingintomycarorwalkinginhere,exceptwhenyourfootcaughton thatchairlegbecausebeingsoneartoanothercountyjailmadeyoualittlenervous,andnoblindmanwalksonahighwaywithoutadogorcane.Besides,you answeredtothenameofWright,"thesheriffstated,finalizinghisreasoning. Bobwonderedwheretogofromherewithhisattempttoconvincethesheriffhehadmadeamistake.Shouldhetellthelawmanthathehadacanefoldedinhis suitcase?Noway!Thiswouldgethimarrestedforillegaltransportationoffireworks.Hewouldhavetoconvincethesheriffthathehadforgottentopackhiscane, thoughBobhadafeelingthatthisexplanation

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wouldnotsatisfyhisinterrogator.Well,itwasthebestthinghecouldthinkofatthemoment. Bobfinishedhiscoffeeandbegan."Astomyseemingtoknowmyownname,mynameisRobertWright.YoujustcalledmeWright,whichI'musedtobecausealot ofmyteachersandfriendscallmethat.Ican'texplainwhytheguyyouareconfusingmewithhasthesamefirstnameasmylastname.Maybeyoucouldaskhis mother.ThereasonI'mnotcarryingacaneisbecauseIliketoseeifIcangetaroundwithoutone.Besides,IwouldhavehadoneifIhadn'tleftitinmyroomoverthe UniversityDrugStore."WhenBobfinished,therewasanotherlongsilence. Finally,thesheriffinformedBobthathewouldmakeinquiriesinCarbondale,andifBob'sstorycheckedout,hecouldbeonhiswaytowhereveritwashewasgoing. "Howlongwillthistake?"Bobasked. Thesheriffresponded,"Afewhours." Itwasalready8:30inthemorning,andBobcouldimaginearrivingatTooney'saftertheFourthwasover.Heplayedhislastcard. "Look,"Bobsaidinwhathehopedwasaconcernedvoice,"Iknowyouareverybusycheckingonsuchcrimesasillegalsalesoffireworks"abadexample"soI haveawaytosaveyouthetimeofgoingtoCarbondaleandtalkingwithpeoplewhocanvouchforme.I'msureyouknowwhereJohn'sCafeisonSouthIllinois StreetinCarbondale.Ijusthadbreakfastthereaboutanhourago.YoucanjustphoneJohnorhiswife,Irene,andeitherwilltellyouwhereIliveandthatIeatthere everydayexceptSundayonamealticket.'' ThiscourseofactionseemedtoappealtothesheriffbecausehebeganturningpagesofwhatBobfiguredwasaphonebook,afterwhichhespokethephonenumber ofJohn'sCafetotheoperator.BobcouldhearIrene'sraisedvoicefromthephoneacrosstheroomafterthesheriffinformedherofhisdetentionandwhatthecharge was.WhenthesheriffaskedifBobhadeatentherethatmorningandifhehadacane,Irene'svoiceagain

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filledthephoneforseveralseconds.Herexplanationmusthavebeensatisfactorybecausethesheriffsaid,"Hegoesallovertownbyhimselfwithoutacane?" Hangingupthephone,thesheriff'snowveryfriendlyvoicesaid,"Mr.Wright,Ioweyouanapology.MissIreneassuresmethatyouare,indeed,aregularcustomer, anoutstandingstudentatSIU,andaclosefriendofMayorWrightofCarbondale."HeofferedtomakeamendsforhiserrorinconfusingBobwithWrightMcGeeby takinghimbacktohisroomandhelpinghimpackhiscaneinhisbag.Notwantingthesheriffwithinamilewhenthesuitcasefilledwithfireworkswasopened,Bob convincedhimthathecouldpickupanothercanewhenhestoppedtovisithisparentsinShelbyville.Thesherifffinallyfelthehadbeenhelpfulenoughwhenhetook BobtoatruckstopandputhimincontactwithatruckdriverwhogavehimarideallthewaytoPana,Illinois. AfterarrivingatTooney'splaceabout2:00A.M.ontheFourthofJuly,Bobsleptinuntilaboutnoon,buteveryoneatthatIndependenceDaycelebrationreportedthat Bob'sfireworksmadethepartymorefunthanthe1950blowout.

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9 TheWetConvertible
Therhythmictapofshoecleatsstoppedinfrontoftheticketwindow,alertingHerb,theticketagentofthePeoriaRockfordBusCompany,thatapotentialcustomer hadarrived.Completingtheentryinhistarifflog,hepeeredoverthetopofhisreadingglassesatBobWright,aregularriderwhousedthebusseveraltimesamonth fortravelingtocommunitiesinsouthernIllinoistoperformhisjobofrehabilitationcounselorfortheblind.Today,hewasembarkingonatwodaytriptoHarrisburg, wherehecouldjoinupwithanothercounselor,HarkerMiley,forthepurposeofcallingonjointclientsandpotentialemployersfortheseclients.Bobscoopeduphis roundtripticketandthetwentyfivecentschangefromhisfivedollarbill."Havethesedamnbusticketsgoneupagain?"heasked. "Thisisthe1960s,"repliedtheagent."Whenyoustateworkersgetaraise,mytaxesgoup,andIpasstheincreaseontomybusriders,"Herbjoked."Accordingto theSouthernIllusion''Herb'snicknamefortheSouthernIllinoisannewspaper"GovernorKernerhaspromisedyouboysabigraise,sowewentaheadand raisedtheticketsinordertogetthejumponyou." "Sinceyou'reraisingmybusfareevenbeforeIgetaraise,I

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guessyou'reprovidingadditionalserviceslikestoringmybaguntilbustimefreeofcharge,"rejoinedBob. HerbsteppedfrombehindthecounterandtookBob'ssuitcaseceremoniously,statingthatitwouldbeanhonortolookaftertheluggageofanimportantstate employee.Withanappropriateresponse,BobleftthebusstationandcrossedthestreettoSobery'sBakery,whereheboughtadozendoughnuts,afterwhichhe walkedablocknorthtotheCarbondaleofficeoftheDepartmentofPublicWelfare. Likethebusagent,IheardthesoundofBob'sheelcleatscomingdownthehall.Steppingintomysmalloffice,heannounced,"Mr.Roberts!Thisisanofficialcallto discussjointcases,butIdon'tsupposeyouwouldmindeatingacoupleofdoughnutswhilewetalk."LeavingBobtoarrangehispapers,Iwentacrossthealleyto Walgreen'sDrugstorefortwocupsofcoffee,afterwhichwegotdowntobusiness. SincetheHarrisburgbuswouldnotleaveforanotherhour,wehadtimeforabriefreviewofthejointcasesBobwouldbeworkingonduringthenexttwodays.Sally Meyer,agetwenty,wasahighschoolgraduateinneedofconcentratedtraininginBraille,canetravel,typing,andotherbasicskillsofindependentlivingthatwould necessitateherspendingfourmonthsattheIllinoisVisuallyHandicappedInstituteinChicago.Asmalltowngirlwithclosefamilyties,Sallywaspresentingonereason afteranotherwhyshecouldnotgotoChicago.BecauseBobwascertainthatshewouldnotsucceedinthejobmarketwithoutthesebasicskills,wespentsometime brainstormingstrategiesthatwouldconvinceSallytoatleastbeginthetrainingprogram.SallyfeltshemusthavehelpfromtheDivisionofVocationalRehabilitationin ordertoachievehergoalofbecomingasecretary,soitwasfinallydecidedthatBobwouldpresentherwiththeoptionsofeitherproceedingwiththenecessary trainingorelsechangingherobjectivetosomeunskilledjobthatrequiredminimaltrainingathome.Iwouldmakeafollowupvisitinacoupleofweekstooffer supportandunderstandingofherreluctancetoleavethesecurityofherhomealongwithsuchincentivesasanescortforthetraintripto

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Chicago.TwoothercasesrequiringjointplanningwerereviewedsothatBobcouldbegintoimplementchangesinapproachduringhistwodayitinerarywithHarker Miley,whoworkedoutoftheHarrisburgDVRoffice. Inthosedays,vocationalcounselorsfortheblindprovidedtechnicalconsultationonblindnessandjobplacementservicestogeneralcounselors,likeMr.Miley,who actuallymanagedallrehabilitationcases,includingtheblind,deaf,orthopedicallydisabled,andothercategories.Therefore,BobandHarkerwouldplantwoorthree dayseverymonthforjointcontacts,withHarkerprovidingthetransportationbecause,asHarkerexplained,"I'mabetterdriverthanBob." ExactlyfiveminutesbeforedeparturetimefortheHarrisburgbus,BobreplacedhisBrailleslateandconferencenotesinhisbriefcaseandrushedacrossthestreetto thebusstation.MythoughtsdidnotreturntoBobuntilabout5:30FridayafternoonwhenwemetattheAmericanLegiontorehashtheweek'sworkandunwindwith afewbeers.TomNorth,thebusinessenterprisecounselorforthedisabledinsouthernIllinois,andBobwerealreadysettledatatablenearthebowlingmachinewhen Icamein. Tomasked,"What'sthelatestadventureofCounselorMiley?Isheengagedinanynewbusinessventureorotherexcitingactivity?" "ThemostexcitingthinginHarker'slifethisweekishisnewconvertible,ashinyredPontiacwithleatherseats.Wejustspentadayandahalftakingthisredbeautyon amaidenvoyagearoundSaline,Galatin,andMassacCounties,"Bobanswered,finishinghisfirstcanofPabst. "KnowingyouandHarker,IsupposeyouchristenedthisnewchariotwithalittleJackDaniels,"Tomhypothesized. "You'reprettyclosetowhathappened,"Bobsaid,beginninghisstory. AfterleavingmyofficetoboardtheHarrisburgbus,Bobtookhisbagfromtheticketagent,whosaidaMr.MileyhadphonedtosaythathewouldmeetBobatthe Harrisburgbusstationwithasurprise.BasedonpastexperiencewithHarkerMiley,

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Bobspentsometimeduringthehourlongridetryingtoimaginewhatpracticaljokewouldbeawaitinghimwhenthebuspulledintothestation. "Becarefulthatlaststepisahighone,"saidthedriver,graspingBob'sleftelbowashehoppedtothepavementwithhissuitcaseinonehandandbriefcaseinthe other. AfamiliarvoicespokeasBob'sbagswerewhiskedaway."Robert,getoffthatrustyoldbusandcomewithme.Fromhereon,we'regoinginstyle."Ifhehadnot knownthisvoicebelongedtoHarkerMiley,BobmighthaveimaginedhewasbeingchauffeuredbyClarkGable,forMiley'slaughandvoicetonecouldeasilybe confusedwithRhettButler's.AfteranexaggeratedperformanceinwhichHarkeropenedthecardoorforBobandplacedhisbagsonthebackseat,thecarwas speedingawayfromthebusstationwhenBobnoticedthewindflowingoverthewindshield. "Whatthehellkindofcaristhis?"heasked."Don'ttellme,you'veborrowedaconvertibletoimpressourclientsandemployercontacts." "ItoldtheguyintheCarbondalebusstationtotellyoutoexpectasurprise,"MileyshoutedoverthewindasthecarturnedonRoute45andacceleratedlikean airplanetakingoff."Thisisthesurprise,abrandspankingnewPontiacconvertible,redwithwhitewalltires,AMandFMradio,andgenuineleatherseats.Bobby," Mileyshoutedintothewind,"wewillbethemostpopulargallantsinOldShawneetowntonight." RemarkingthattheywouldhavetowaituntiltheafternooncallswerecompletedbeforetheycouldenjoythepleasuresofOldShawneetown,Bobsettledbackto enjoythefullexperienceoftheconvertibleridetoEldorado,wheretheirfirstclientresided. Whentheconvertiblepulledintotheyard,ayoungwomanofabouttwentyyearsandamiddleagedcouplewereseatedinmetallawnchairsunderanelmtreenextto aonestoryframehousewithascreenedfrontporch.Theyoungladyhadbeenthesubjectoftheconsultationinthepublicwelfareofficethatmorning.Boband HarkerspentanhourtalkingabouttheneedfortheyoungerwomantoattendtheIllinoisVisuallyHandi

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cappedInstituteinChicagoorelsetochangehervocationalgoaltoanoccupationrequiringfewerspecializedskills.Atlast,withtheencouragementofherparents, sheagreedtoattendtheinstituteifsheandherfamilycouldbesurethattherehabilitationteacherfromtheCarbondaleofficewouldarrangeforanescortonherfirst triptoChicagoandhandlesomeotherissuesrelatedtothecontinuanceofherpublicassistancegrant. Thesecond,andlast,contactthatafternoonwaswithablindmanwhopracticedtheunusualoccupationofdivingintoriversandlakestorecoversubmergeditems. ThismanandhissontookturnsdivingonsunkenbargesandothersubmergedvesselswiththeuseofWorldWarIIdivers'gear.DuetothemurkinessoftheOhio Riverwater,thefather,whowastotallydependentonnonvisualinformation,couldoftenlocateandsecureunderwateritemsbetterthanhissightedson.Themost publicizedprojectcompletedbythisunusualteamwastheraisingofseveraldozennewcarsthathadbeendumpedintotheriverwhenabargecapsized.Thereason forthisvisitwastodiscussarequestforhelpinpurchasingsomenewequipment.Althoughthedivingtwosomewereabletoearnenoughtomeetbasiclivingneeds, theycouldneversaveenoughtoupdatetheirobsoletedivingrig.Itwasfinallydecidedthatthecasewouldbereferredtothebusinessenterprisecounselor,and HarkerheadedtheconvertiblesouthtowardOldShawneetown. BobandHarker,theirhairrumpledandfacestinglingfromthewind,spentapleasanteveningvisitingtheestablishmentsonbothsidesofthemainstreetinOld Shawneetown.TheybeganwithafiddlercatfishdinneratLogston'sTavern,thencrossedthestreettoabarlocatedinwhatappearedtobeanabandonedstoreor warehouse.Havingnowindowsexceptatthestreetdoor,theplacewasilluminatedonlybyacoupleoflightbulbsextendedfromtheceilingandtheneonsignsbehind thebar.Afteranhourinadancehall,similartothepreviousestablishmentwiththeexceptionofathreepiecebandandseveralcouplesdancingtocountrymusic,Bob andHarkerdrovebacktoHarrisburgwiththeconvertibletopdownandtheradioblaring.AsBobenteredthelobbyoftheHorningHotel,hecouldstillhear

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themusicfromtheconvertibleradioasHarkerturnedthecornerandheadedforhishomeinEldorado. WhenBobleftthehotelthefollowingmorning,anightrainhadfreshenedtheair,andtheearlywarmthofthesunseemedtoenhancetheodorofdampgrassflavored withlilacsgrowingintheyard.HemetwithHarkerathisofficeinHarrisburg,wheretheycompletedarundownofwhatneededtobeaccomplishedwiththeirfour scheduledclients.Pickinguptheconvertibleintheparkinglot,theyheadedforRosiclaire. Therideintheopencarrefreshedandinvigoratedthepassengers,whohadbeenalittlesluggishfrominadequatesleepthepreviousnight.Turningnorthoffthestate highwayjusteastofRosiclaire,Mileypickedhiswayoveraroughgravelroad,pullingintoalanethatterminatedatthetopofasteephill.Therocklaneendedabout twofeetfromthekitchenporchofthefourroomhousewheretheblindclientresidedwithherhusbandandsixmontholdbaby.SinceBobwasvisitingtoreviewa listofadaptedhomemakingandchildcareequipmentrecommendedbytherehabilitationteacherforpurchasebytheDivisionofVocationalRehabilitation,Harker decidedtoremaininthecartocatchuponhispaperworkandenjoythebeautifulsummerweather. TheyoungmotherappearedinthekitchendoorholdingherbabyandgreetedBobwarmly.Shewaslavishinherappreciationforthehelpbothsheandherhusband, whomshehadmetattheIllinoisVisuallyHandicappedInstitute,werereceiving.Theplanforthissmallfamilywasforthetraininginhomemakingreceivedatthe institutetobesupplementedwithspecialequipmentandtrainingfromthelocalrehabilitationteacher.Thisequipmentandtrainingwouldenablethenewmothertocare forherchildandhouseindependently,allowingherhusband,whoretainedpartialvisionandhadbeendoingmuchofthehousework,tobecomegainfullyemployed. Bobspentaboutthirtyminutesdiscussingexactlyhoweachitemofequipmentwouldrelievethehusbandfromhouseholdduties.JustashewasreplacinghisBraille writerinitscase,the

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youngwomaninsistedonbringinghimaglassoficedteafromthekitchen.Handinghimtheglass,shesaid,"JustenjoyyourteaforaminutewhileIdumpmycold dishwater.Youknow,wehaven'tgotsewageouthereyet,butwehopetoafforditifJohngetsajob." ThenextsoundsBobheardweretheslamofthekitchenscreendoor,acarmotoreruptingintoaction,andtiresspinningongravel.Returningtothelivingroom,the youngwomansaid,"Istheresomeonewaitingforyouinacar?IheardacarleavewhenIwentouttodumpthedishwateroverthebackporchrailing." LikeBob,Harkerhadheardthescreendoorslamandglancedupfromhisnotebook.Whentheyoungwomansteppedtotheporchrail,heknewthathisred convertiblewasgoingtobechristenedwiththebreakfastdishwaterandanyfoodresiduefloatinginit.Withonebodymovement,heshiftedintoreverseandhitthe starter.Asthecarshotbackward,acloudofgreasybrownsudsseemedtohangintheairoverthehoodandwindshield,finallysettlinglikeagentlyfallingblanket fromthetopofthewindshieldtothefoxtailornamentonthegrill.Miraculously,therapidbackwardmovementofthecarhadsavedtheleatherupholstery.Therewere onlyacoupleofbrownspotsontherearviewmirror,whichMileywipedwithhishandkerchief. Hearingthecarturnaroundatthefootofthehillandheadforthemainroad,BobrealizedthatHarkerhadprobablygonetoacarwash.Therefore,hepassedanother halfhourinpleasantconversationwiththeclient,inquiringaboutherfamily,askingaboutfriendshipsdevelopedduringhertraininginChicago,andadmiringherbaby. Atlast,thecarlaboredabouthalfwayupthehillandstopped.BobsurmisedthatHarkerwastryingtokeepoutofdishwaterthrowingrange.Takingleaveofthe younglady,heusedhiscanetolocatetheporchstepsandwalkeddowntotheparkedconvertible,whichfeltascleanasawhistlewhenhetrailedhishandalongthe rightfrontfendertolocatethedoor. Turningaroundtowardthemainhighway,Harkersaid,"Bobby,yourclientsaredangerous."Hewentontoexplainhis

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goodluckinescapinganywaterdamageinsidetheconvertible."Afiftycentcarwash,whichmeansyouowemeadrink,erasedalltracesofthegreaseandscum,"he elaborated. Theothercallswerecompletedwithoutanysurprises.Avisittoaplumber,recentlyblindedwhenthechemicalhewasusingtoopenacloggedsewerexploded, resultedinhisdecisiontoinvestigateguidedogtrainingbeforechoosinganewvocation.Arrangementsforaclientinhermidthirtiestovisitacafeteriaoperatedby anotherblindwomanwassetforthefollowingmonth.Shewantedfirsthandinformationonthistypeofemploymentinordertodecideifshewantedtoentervending facilitytraining.ThelastvisitbeforeHarkerdroppedBoboffatthebusstationwastocheckonthesuccessofaman,blindfrombirthwithnoformaleducation,who hadrecentlybeenprovidedmachineryformanufacturingbroomsforsalethroughoutsouthernIllinois.HarkerandBobworkedwiththismanonaplanformarketing anddistributinghisproduct.SincehislackofbasicmathandreadingskillsruledouttheuseofBrailleforbookkeeping,itwasdecidedthattheclientwouldentersales andothertransactionsonataperecorder,whichwouldenablehisbrother,wholivedwithhim,tomaintainabusinessledger. BobnappedduringthebusridetoCarbondaleandthencarriedhisbagstotheLegionwherehenarratedthestoryofthewetconvertible."Soyousee,Tom,your remarkaboutMileychristeninghisnewconvertiblesizedupthesituationprettywell."

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10 BehindtheShakingDoor
Amindteaserencounteredbymostpersonswhoaredeaforblindis,''Whichismorelimiting,deafnessorblindness?"Ofcourse,theanswerusuallydiffersaccording tothedisabilityofthepersonrespondingtothequestion.Adeafperson,havinglearnedtodependonvisiontoperceiveinformationusuallyacquiredthroughhearing, willmostoftenconsiderblindnessthemorelimitingcondition.Conversely,theblindperson,trainedtodependonhearingforobtaininginformationacquiredbysighted peersthroughvision,oftenbelievesthatdeafnessisthemorelimitingdisability.Probablytheonlydefinitiveanswerwouldcomefrompersonswhoaredeprivedof bothsightandhearing,ofwhomthereareseveralthousandintheUnitedStates.Themostwellknown,ofcourse,wasHelenKeller,buttherehavebeenmanyothers whohaveachievedfameinliterature,education,rehabilitation,andotherprofessionsaswellasamuchlargergroupengagedinmanufacturingandserviceoccupations. PeoplewhobecomebothdeafandblindareoftenservedbytheBlindnessRehabilitationSystem,and,althoughfewinnumber,thesemultiplydisabledpersons presentrehabilitationteachersandcounselorswiththemostcomplicatedchallengetotheirprofessionalcompetency.Astothequestionofwhetherdeafness

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orblindnessisthemorelimitingdisability,professionalsdisagree,butmostdoagreethatthecombinationofdeafnessandblindnesscreatesahandicapmuchmore severethaneitherwouldbyitself.Personsdisabledinthiswayaredeniedaccesstosuchperceptionsasmusicandpainting,differentialmovementofpeopleand objectsthroughspace,easeofcommunicationwithothers,andthesecurityofvisualandauditorywarningsintheirenvironments. Becauseofthehighdegreeofprofessionalcompetencyrequiredtofacilitatetherehabilitationofthissmallbutextremelydeservingandimportantgroupofmultiply disabledpersons,thoseofusinvolvedinthehiringofprofessionalworkersfortheblindusuallyfocusasegmentofeachemploymentinterviewonthecandidate's potentialforworkingwithpeoplewhoarebothblindanddeaf.ThisphaseoftheinterviewinApril1976weighedheavilyinmyselectionofJoCarolGulleyforthe positionofrehabilitationteacherforthefiveIllinoiscountiesborderingtheMississippiRiversouthofSt.Louis.Besideshavingadegreeinspecialeducationandan enthusiasticmanner,Johadperformedwellinherpracticeteachingassignmentataschoolforthedeaf.Itseemedreasonablethatshewouldbeabletoacquirea workingknowledgeoftheelevensystemsforcommunicatingwithdeafblindpersonscontainedinthesmallreferencemanualMethodsofCommunicationwiththe DeafBlind,foundinthebookcaseofeveryrehabilitationteacheremployedbythestateofIllinois.Communicationwithdeafblindpersonsdiffersfromsigningtodeaf people,whoperceivesignsvisually,becauseofthenecessitytoformlettersandsignsinthehandofthedeafblindperson.However,Jowasabletoadapther communicationstyletothedeafblindwithease.Firstasarehabilitationteacherandmorerecentlyasavocationalcounselor,shehascontinuedtodemonstrate professionalcompetencyinprovidingrehabilitationservicestopersonswhoarebothblindanddeaf. Duringonehomevisittoadeafblindcollegestudent,Jobecameinvolvedinanembarrassingandpotentiallydangeroussituation.ShefirstbecameacquaintedwithJeff Kelleyduring

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hissophomoreIndividualEducationalPlanning(IEP)conferenceattheIllinoisSchoolfortheVisuallyImpairedinJacksonville.Eachspring,allvocationalrehabilitation counselorswhohadhighschoolstudentsfromtheirlocalareasinattendanceatthisschoolwererequiredtobepresentatthestudents'IEPconferences.Jeff's conferenceswereusuallymorecomplicatedandtimeconsumingthanthoseofotherstudents,partlybecauseJeffwasbothdeafandlegallyblindandpartlybecause hisvocationalgoalofbecominganeducatorinvolvedhisgoingtocollege.Hismentalcapacityforcollegewasnotinquestion(heconsistentlyscoredabove120on I.Q.tests)butthemultitudeofarrangementsforobtainingspecialtextbooksandequipment,workingoutconvenienthousing,locatingnotetakersforlectures,and preparingJeffandhisfamilytodealwiththemanyotherbarrierscreatedbyhisdualdisabilitiesresultedinlongconferences.Althoughcompletelydeaf,Jeffdidretain 20200visualacuity,whichistheupperlimitoflegalblindness,andhehadlearnedtoreadlargeprintandwritefluently.Duringhisjuniorandsenioryears,healso becameproficientinusingapersonalcomputerwithamonitorthatcouldmagnifyprint. HavingbeenontheswimmingandwrestlingteamsattheIllinoisSchoolfortheVisuallyImpaired,JeffcontinuedinthesesportsatSouthernIllinoisUniversity,along withsuchotherextracurricularactivitiesasattendingpartiesanddating.Probablybecauseofhisoutgoingpersonalityandwillingnesstoexplainthenatureofhis disabilitiestoothers,hefoundmanyablebodiedstudentswillingtoinvestalittleextratimetocommunicatebyprintinglettersinhispalm,writingonanotepadhe carriedjustforthispurpose,orlearningtheonehandedalphabetforthedeaf.JeffconsistentlymadeB'sandafewA's,andhewasgenerallypopularwithhis professorsandotherpeopleinthecommunity,includingseveraldeaffriends. DuringhisfirstyearatSIU,JeffmetfrequentlywithCounselorGulley,butasarrangementsforhousing,transportation,notetakers,andothernecessarysupports becameroutine,thetimebetweencounselingsessionslengthenedtothreeorfourmonths.Sometimeshewouldcomeintotheofficetodealwith

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someprobleminprocessingpaymentfortuitionorforotherservices,butmoreoftenJowouldvisitathisresidence.Becauseanappointmentletterwouldarriveathis dormafewdayspriortoJo'svisit,Jeffwasusuallyexpectingher.ThispatterncontinuedwithnoproblemuntilJeffmovedinwithafriendwhowasdeafbuthad normaleyesight. ThemoveoccurredinthemiddleofthelastsemesterinJeff'ssenioryear.JowasanxioustobeginregularcounselingsessionsinpreparationforassistingJeffin locatingandsecuringasuitableteachingposition.TheproblemwasthatJeffhadleftnoforwardingaddressand,therefore,couldnotbenotifiedofJo'sintendedvisit bytheusualappointmentletter.Afterseveralcontactswithmembersofthedeafcommunity,JolearnedthatJeffwassharingatrailerwithafriendwhowasemployed atamanufacturingplantandwasalsodeaf.ThetwoyoungmenwerelocatedinatrailercourtbetweenCarbondaleandHerrin.Shecouldnotobtainamailing address,butJeff'sfriendwasabletodescribethelocationofthetrailerintheparkbecausehehadattendedapartytherethelastweekend. OnaclearTuesdaymorninginearlyApril,JodroveherToyotasedanintothetrailerparkwhereJeffKelleyandhisfriend,AndySprague,resided.Shesteppedout ofthecartoinquireabouttheexactlocationofJeff'strailerfromanelderlymanmowingthelawnaroundadoublewidemobilehomewithnewlyplantedmapletrees androckborderedflowerbedsattractivelyplacedabouttheyard.ThemanglancedatJo'sIDcardwith''DepartmentofRehabilitationServices"printedacrossthe top.HesaidDORSwaswelcometoanyassistancehecouldgive,explainingthathewasfamiliarwiththedepartmentbecausehisgranddaughter,whohadaspeech impairment,wasreceivingcollegetuitionfromthisagency.HecouldnotidentifyJefforAndybynamebutsaidthereweretwodeafboyswholivedinthetraileracross thedrive.Hehadnotseenthemleave,buthedoubtedtheywouldbeupsoearlybecausethey"hadonehellofapartylastnight:beer,food,girls,andthewholenine yards."Hecontinued,"Theremusthavebeentwentydeafpeopleoverthere.Youwouldthinkdeaffolkswouldn't

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makemuchnoisebecausetheytalkwiththeirhands,buttheymustsignsomerealfunnyjokesbecauseIneverheardsomuchlaughinginmylife.Ithinkitwas somebody'sbirthdaybecauseoneofthegirlsbroughtacakewithcandles." JoproceededacrosstheroadtotrytocontactJeff.Thetrailerwasnotonasolidfoundation,andJothoughtshemightbeabletocreatesufficientvibrationtoattract theirattentionbyshakingthedooraslongastheywerenotsleepingtoosoundly.RetrievingapairofworkglovesfromthetrunkoftheToyotaandputtingthemon toprotectherhands,Joapproachedthetrailer.Graspingthedoorknobwithherrighthandandametalairconditionersupportwithherleft,sheplantedherfeetsolidly onthegroundandengagedherfivefoottwo,120poundframeinviolentlyshakingthemobilehomeofJeffKelleyandAndySprague.Anuninformedobservermight havethoughtshewastryingtodislodgetheairconditionerorperhapsrockthetraileroffofitsblocks,becauseeachthrustofherenergywaspunctuatedbythe swishingofherhoneyblondehairfromsidetosideandtheupanddownmotionofthewindowairconditioner. WhenJoceasedherexertionforamoment,eithertoregainherstrengthortolistenforanysignofmovementinside,sheheardacardoorslambehindherandagirl's voiceyellsomethingthatshecouldnotunderstand.AsJoturned,shesawaratherattractiveredhairedgirladvancingtowardherwithaveryangryexpressiononher face.Thegirl'swordswereincomprehensible,buttheywereaccompaniedbyobscenehandsignsthatimmediatelytoldJothatherconfrontorwasdeaf.Concluding thatthemenacingyoungwomanhadmistakenherforanenemy,Jobegantobacktowardhercarwhilepointingtoherselfandsigning"DORS." Bynow,asecondgirlhadgottenoutofthecarandwaspacingJoinherslow,backwardretreattotheToyota.Shecouldunderstandthisgirl,whohadspeechsimilar totheangryone."Shesaysshewillbeatyourassifyougothroughthatdooragain.Sheheardsomegirlwassneakingoutheretosleepwithherboyfriend,Andy,and nowshecaughtyoutryingtogethimtoopenthedoorforyouinbroaddaylight."

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Jofeltthecaragainstherbackandquicklyenteredthevehicle,closingthedoorbehindher.Snatchingherwalletfromherpurse,sheflippeditopenedtodisplayher photoIDcard.Recognizingthedepartmentname,theyoungwomanwiththeunderstandablespeechshoutedandsignedtoherfriend:"DORS!DORS!It'sJeff's rehabcounselor."PointingatJo,shecontinued,"WemetherattheCenterforIndependentLiving.Don'tyouremember?" Afterfurtherexplanationandreassurance,Andy'sgirlfriendapologizedandofferedtohelpraisethesleepingoccupantsofthetrailer.Bythen,Jodidnotfeeluptoan hourlongcounselingsessionthatshewouldhavetoconductinsignlanguage.Therefore,sheleftanoteinthemailboxinformingJeffthatshewouldreturnthefollowing Fridayat3:00P.M.Joturnedthecar'sairconditionertohighandsettledbacktorelaxandrestoreherserenityduringthehourdrivetohernextclientinthequietvillage ofShawneetownonthetranquilbankoftheOhioRiver.

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PARTTHREE LEARNINGTOTRAVELWITHBLINDNESS:ORIENTATIONANDMOBILITYINSTRUCTION
[T]hegreatestneedofthosewhocannotseeis,andalwayswillbe,communicationonalllevelsofexistencewiththosewhocansee. AlanEaton,BeautyfortheSightedandtheBlind

Dr.Eaton'swordsareasrelevanttodayaswhentheywerewrittenmorethanaquartercenturyago.Inthisinformationage,almosteveryhumanactivity,from orderingaBigMactoperformingone'sjob,dependsontheabilitytoprocesswrittencommunication,muchofwhichisintheformoficonsandothergraphicsymbols notreadilyaccessibletoblindpersons.If,however,themostsevereproblemofthosewhoareblindcontinuestobethespeedyandaccurateprocessingofwritten communication,thesecondmostseriousproblemremainsthedifficultyoftravelingfromonepointtoanotherinordertoengageinsocialandeconomicactivity. Infact,theproblemofmobilityoutdatestheproblemofwrittencommunicationbyhundredsofyears.Reportsofblindpeopleusingcanestoexploretheirpathsdate backatleastasfarasthe

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MiddleAges,whenbandsofrovingblindfolktraveledaboutEuropeseekingfoodandshelter,usingtheirlongcanestofindtheirwayandsometimestoattack unwillingbenefactors.Independenttravel,requiringextremeconcentrationofone'sperceptualandphysicalabilities,hasremainedaseriouschallengeforpersonswho cannotseedowntothepresentday,indicatedbytheoverwhelmingnumberofblindpersonswhoemploythecanemethodforindependentmobility.Oneofthestories includedinthischapter,"HoldOldSam,"focusesontheteachingofcanetravelbyrehabilitationteachers,whoassumedresponsibilityforthisphaseofadjustmentto blindnessbetweentheintroductionofthelongcanemethodbyDr.RichardHooverandthegeneralavailabilityofcollegetrainedinstructorsofmobilitytoagencies servingthecivilianblind."TheMobilityRace,"ontheotherhand,describestheworkofacollegetrainedinstructorandexploressomeoftheissuescreatedbythe birthofthisnewdiscipline.

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11 HoldOldSam
IsteppedoutoftheelevatoronthefourthflooroftheChancellorHotelinChampaign,Illinois,usedthebackofmyrighthandtocountfourdoors,andenteredwith themagneticroomkeythatthedeskclerkhadmarkedwithapieceoftapesoIcouldinsertitproperlywithoutsight.WhenthelargeboxofBraillebooksslidfrom myshoulderandthuddedtothefloor,JohnCraig,myroommateforthetrainingconferenceonthe1992RehabilitationAmendments,asked,"What'sinthebox,the Bible?" "Playboy,completewithBraillepictures,"Iquipped,althoughwebothknewthatthehundredsofpagescontainedthesectionsoftheIllinoisAdministrativeRules incorporatingthe1992FederalRehabilitationAmendments.Afterafewminutesofsmalltalk,Iheadedforthebar,alsolocatedonthefourthfloor,wherefreedrinks andpopcornwereservedtohotelguestsbetween5:00and6:00P.M. AtleasthalfoftheadministrativeandsupervisoryemployeesoftheIllinoisDepartmentofRehabilitationServiceswerealreadyinthebarpartakingofthelargess. Pickinguptwofreebeersfromthebar,IinchedovertothetablewhereIheardthevoicesofRickRegan,aregionaladministratoroftheBureauofBlindServices, andhisrehabilitationteachersupervisor,Verle

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Wessel.Afterwedebatedthemeritsofprofessionaleducationversusapprenticetrainingforrehabilitationteachersoftheblind,Verleofferedtoshareanamusing storyresultingfromhiswork. ThisparticularsituationoccurredwhenVerlewasayoungrehabilitationteacheroftheblind.Hehadenteredthisprofessioninpartbecauseofhisgraduatetrainingin counselingandinpartbecauseofsuccessincopingwithhisownblindness.Verlesaidhehadbeenteachingindependentlivingskillstonewlyblindedpersonsforonly aboutoneyearwhenhefirstvisitedSamAdkinsinthelivingroomofthecomfortablehomehesharedwithhiswife,Tilley,onaquietstreetinChampaign.Having learnedofthebeneficialeffectontherehabilitationprocessofengagingnewlyblindedpeopleinconstructiveactivitiesasearlyaspossible,Verlefocusedhisattention onidentifyingtasksthatwouldinterestSamandbuildhisselfconfidence.Duringthisinitialhomeinterview,Verleguidedtheconversation,searchingforthosepastimes andhobbiesthathadbeenparticularlyrewardingforSam,withthepurposeofencouraginghimtoresumethosethatdidnotrequirevision.Theproblemwasthat almosteverythingSamenjoyedrequiredexcellentvision.Asayoungman,hehadbeenanamateurjockey,switchingtoracecardrivinginmiddlelife.Hehadearned hislivingasatruckdriver,andhisprimaryreadinginterestswerenewspapersandracingforms.Inshort,therewasn'tmuchthatVerlehadtoteachthatSamfeltwould helphim.AsSamputit,"Thereain'tmuchasixtyyearoldblindguycandothat'sworthdoin'." Mrs.Adkins,whowaspreparingdinner,interjectedthecommentfromthekitchenthatshehadplentytokeepSambusy.Sam'sresponsewas,"Whothehellwantsto bebusy,anyhow?"HetoldVerlefirmlythathehadnointerestinlearningtomakehomerepairsandthatcookingwashiswife'sjob.Theonlysuggestionthatsparked alittleinterestwasVerle'soffertoteachcanetravel.Samsaidhehadenjoyedwalkingwhenhewentsquirrelhunting,sohetoldVerletobringacaneonhisnextvisit tobeginteachinghimtouseit. Duringthenextsixweeks,Samlearnedthatthewhitecanecouldbemuchmorethananinanimateobjectonceaperson

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wastaughttouseiteffectivelyandinterprettheinformationconveyedthroughtouchandhearing.Byswingingthecaneaboutoneinchabovetheterrainandtappingit atthepointwherehewouldtakehisnextstep,Samfoundhecouldlocateevenlowobstaclesanddepressionsinhispath.Thesoundofthecanetoldhimwhetherhis nextstepwouldbeongrass,concrete,orsomeothersurface.Helearnedtofollowtherightedgeofthesidewalkbyextendinghiscaneswingalittletotherightand detectinggrass,retainingwalls,orsomeother''shoreline."Finally,helearnedtowalkstraightacrossstreetsbyaligningthetoesofhisshoeswiththecurb,imagininghe couldseethesidewalkdirectlyacrossthestreetandheadingbrisklyforit. Bythefourthmobilitylesson,Sam'senthusiasmforlearningtowalkabouthisneighborhoodwasdefinitelyontheincrease.Hewaseagertobegintheassignmentthat Verleoutlinedforhimassoonashehadcorrectlydescendedhisfrontsteps.Verle'sdirectionswereforSamtocombinehisknowledgeoftheneighborhoodwith whathehadlearnedaboutusingthecane,employingsoundandtouchtodeterminebearingsanddirections,andmakingmentalmapsofhistravelroute.Samwasthen instructedtoselectabusinessorsomeotherdestinationafewblocksfromhishomeandapplyhisknowledgeoftravelingwithoutsighttoplanarouteandthentake Verletotheestablisheddestination.SamseemedtobeindeepthoughtforatleasttwominuteswhileVerlewaitedpatiently,notingthetapofawoodpeckerina nearbytree,theodoroffreshasphaltfromaneighbor'snewlyoileddriveway,thehighpitchedwhineofanelectricdrillseveralhousesdownthestreet,andtheheavy trafficonHighway45,locatedtwoblockseastofSam'sproperty.VerledidnotwantSamtochooseadestinationinvolvingthecrossingofthisbusyhighway, becausehistraininghadnotincludedtechniquesfortravelinginheavytraffic.Hewasrelievedwhen,afterdrawinganimaginarymapofthewalkwithhiscane,Sam chosearoutetothewestofhishomewheretrafficwouldbelight."Let'sseeifthisolddogcanrelearnacoupleofoldtricks,"Samsaidwithachuckle,startingoff downthestreetawayfromtheheavytrafficonRoute45.

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"Wherearewegoing?"askedVerleashehurriedtokeepupwithSam,whowasmakingexcellentuseofhisnewlylearnedmobilityskillstocrossthefirststreetand beginwalkingnorthatabriskpace. "Don'tworry!You'llfindoutwhenwegetthere,"Samanswered.Samwalkedtwoblocksnorthandoneblockfurtherwest,becominglostonlyoncewhenhehadto crossagasstationdriveandveeredintowardthepumps.Herecoveredhisbearingsquicklybyusingthesoundofthepassingcarstoguidehimbacktothesidewalk. Justpastthegasstation,Verleheardalargefanandsmelledtheodoroffryingfishfromwhathethoughtwasatavern,duetotheslightodorofbeermixedwiththe fishsmell.VerlewonderedifthiswasSam'schosendestination. Sureenough,Samclimbedthetwostepsandenteredthroughthescreendoorasthoughhehadmiraculouslyregainedhissight.BythetimeVerlewasableto negotiatethestepswithhiscane,findthedoorknob,andgetinside,Samwasbeinggreetedbyseveralpeopleatthebar,andagruffmalevoice,probablythe bartender,Verlethought,wastellingsomeonetovacatethecornerstool."ThatwasalwaysSam'sstool,"thegruffvoicesaid,"andwe'vebeensavin'itforhimeven thoughheain'tbeenheretositonitsincehewentblind."Everyonestoppedtalking,andthegruffvoicefrombehindthebarcontinuedinasubduedmanner,"Gosh, Sam,Ididn'tmeantoinsultyoubymentioningyourblindness.I'msorry!'' "Don'tworryaboutinsultingme,"Samlaughedashereclaimedhiscornerstool."I'msohappytobebackwithmyoldfriendsandhearyourgravellyvoiceagain,Jess, thatnothingcouldinsultme.Besides,comingdownheregivesmeachancetogetawayfromtheOldLadyforawhile."Sam'sdisclaimerofhurtfeelingsseemedto relievethetension,andeverybodyresumedtalkingatonce. Afemalevoice,whichVerlelaterdiscoveredbelongedtoMickey,thebartender'swife,said,assheplantedaloudkissonSam,"I'llbettheOldLadyisgladtogetrid ofyou,youoldfart." SamgaveMickeyabighugandintroducedVerletoherand

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alltheothersastheteacherresponsiblefor"gettingmeoutofmyrockin'chairandbackamongtheliving." SamandVerlepassedapleasanthalfhourinJess'sTavern.Samcaughtuponwhathadbeengoingoninthelivesoftheotherpatronsandfilledtheminonhis activities,orlackthereof,sinceacuteglaucomahadtotallyblindedhiminamatterofhours.Whensomeoneaskediftheglaucomahadbeenpainful,Samrepliedthatit wastheworstpainhehadeverexperienced,withtheexceptionbeingthementaltortureofinstantblindnesswithoutanypriorpreparationforthiscondition.Heagain creditedVerlewith"helpingmerejointheliving,"explainingthatheconsideredthedayVerleplacedthewhitecaneinhishandas"thefirstdayofmynewlife."Atthis pointinthereunionofSamandhisfriends,JesssaidhewassohappytoseeSamoutandaboutagainthathewasprovidingaroundofdrinksonthehouse. Inafewminutes,SamtoldhisfriendsthathewasinthemiddleofatraveltraininglessonandthatVerlehadonlysomuchtimetoteachhimbeforemovingontothe nextblindstudent.Againshakinghandswithhisfriends,hesaidhewouldbeseeingthemoften,nowthathecouldnavigatetoJessandMickey'splace.Withthis pronouncement,Samsteppedthroughthefrontdoorandledthewaybacktohishousewithoutahitch. Verleleftonatwoweekvacation,leavingSamtheassignmentoftraversingroutestotheneighborhoodgrocerystoreanddrycleaner,neitherofwhichwasmorethan threeblocksfromSam'shomenorinvolvedthecrossingofbusystreets.Beingthewellorganizedandconscientiousteacherthathestillis,Verlewassurprisedanda littleconcernedwhenhewasgreeteduponhisreturnbyhissecretary,BonniePorter,withthemessagethathewastoreporttohissupervisor,BruceMcKenzie,at once.ToVerle'squestionregardingwhyBrucewantedtotalkwithhim,BonniecouldonlysaythataladyhadbeenwaitingforBrucewhenhearrived.AsBruce escortedherintohisoffice,theladywassayingsomethingaboutthepoorteachingserviceherhusbandhadreceivedfromthisagency. Whilestoringhislunchandhanginghiscoat,Verlementally

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reviewedtheassignmentshehadgivenhisstudentsforanythingthatcouldhavebeentoodifficultorunsafe.HadheleftBraillewritingequipmentwithoutthoroughly teachingitsuse,givenacookingassignmentwithoutteachingthebasickitchensafetytechniques,or,perhaps,madeacanetravelassignmentthatwastooadvanced andtherehadbeenanaccident?Thatwasit:SamAdkinshadbeenhurt,andMrs.Adkinswasblaminghim.VerleknewBruceMcKenzieasasupervisorwho adheredtohighstandardsofrehabilitationteachingandwhoexpectedhisstafftodothesame.Brucehadanationalreputationintheprofession,havingservedas presidentoftheMidAmericaConferenceofRehabilitationTeachersandasaleaderinestablishingstandardsforteachersthatwereadoptedbytheNational AccreditationCounselofAgenciesfortheBlind.VerlewasalsoawarethatBrucewascurrentlydefendingthecompetencyofblindteachersinanationalcontroversy regardingmobilitytraining.Becauseofhispositioninthisdebate,Brucemightnotappreciateoneofhisteachersoverestimatingthecompetencyofastudentinvolved inanaccident,eveniftheteacherwasnotatfault.VerlecollectedhisthoughtsandhiscourageandopenedthedoortoBruce'soffice. McKenzie'srichKentuckydrawlgreetedVerle."Comeonin,Hoss.Mrs.Adkins,here,wouldliketohaveawordwithyouaboutherhusband."Verlegreetedthe ladyseatedacrossfromBruceandaskedhertoexplainherconcern. "Ijustthinkit'snotrighttocomeintomyhomeandinfluencemyhusbandtostartgoingallovertheplacewhenhe'stotallyblind."ToVerle'sinquirywhetherSamhad beeninjuredduringhiswalks,Mrs.Adkinsreplied,"Certainlynot.I'llbethecouldfindhiswaytoGibsonCitywiththatcaneandnotgetascratch." ThislaststatementbaffledVerle.IfSamwasassafeatravelerasMrs.Adkinsthought,whywasshesoangryattheteacherwhohadtaughthimsafecanetravel? Verle'sexpressionmusthaverevealedhisbewilderment,forsheresumedheranswertohisquestionaboutSamhavinganaccident."Mycomplaintisnotthatyou didn'tteachhimtogetaboutsafely.Ifanything,you

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taughtSamtoowell.IhadbeentryingforatleasttwentyyearstokeepSamoutofthattavern,and,Godforgiveme,whenhewentblind,Ifinallysucceeded.This stayingathomewastheonlygoodthingaboutSam'sgoingblind.Mostofthetime,hewassadandwouldn'ttrytodoanythingforhimself,butatleasthedidn'tstopat Jess'sTavernonhiswayhomefromworkeveryafternoon." BrucesaidMrs.Adkins'sproblemwasalittlelikethatofafarmerheknewbackinKentucky.Thisfellowhadthebestcoondoginthecounty.OldBlue,asthedog wascalled,neverletacoongetawayoncethefarmerhadclimbedthetreewherethecoonwashidingandshookhimout.Well,onenight,thefarmerlefthisson holdingOldBluebythecollarashecarefullyclimbedtothelimbnexttowherethecoonwasperched.Justashereachedtoshaketheadjacentlimb,thefarmer'slimb broke,andthelastthingherememberedbeforestrikingthehardearthwashisownvoiceyelling,"HoldOldBlue!"BrucesaiditseemedtohimthatwhatMrs.Adkins neededwasawayto"holdOldSam,"oratleastslowhimdownalittle. "Youputthingsincolorfulwords,likemygrandfatherwhocameherefromVirginia,butyou'reright.IcouldstandSamgoingdowntheretwoorthreetimesaweekif hejustwouldn'tstaysolong." BrucepolitelyaskedMrs.AdkinsifshehadanyreluctanceaboutenteringatavernandhowSamwouldfeelaboutherdoingso.Sherepliedthatshehadbeeninsuch aplaceonlyonceortwiceinherlifebecauseSamthoughtitwasnotproperconductforawifeandmothertospendtimeinbars. "Well,there'showwecanslowOldSamdown,oratleastgethimhomeintimefordinner."HethensuggestedthatTilleyAdkins,motheroffourandgrandmotherof seven,informSamthat,onthosedayswhenhevisitedhisfriendsatJess'sTavern,shewouldmeethimthereforadrinkaboutfiveo'clockorwhatevertimeshe wantedhimhome.Shelikedtheideaandsaidshewouldtryit. EverysooftenduringthetimeVerlecontinuedteachingSamBrailleandothersubjectshedecidedtostudy,Mrs.Adkins

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wouldreportonthesuccessofherstrategyforgettingSamhomeontime,andshehadtomeethimforadrinkonlyonceshortlyafterhervisittoVerle'soffice.

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12 TheMobilityRace
Wipingtheperspirationfromhisspectaclesandreplacingthemonhisface,OscarSevereopenedthelastofthefivecasefilesplacedonthedeskbeforehimsome twohoursbeforebyDanielFoster,hisfieldworksupervisor,andremarked,"NancyLucasaninterestingname.Iwonderifit'sGreek?" "Iwouldn'tknow,"repliedDanFoster,aBostonianwhohadcompletedthegraduateprograminparapetologyatBostonCollegeonlytwoyearsbeforeandwas alreadysupervisinggraduateinternsinhiscapacityoforientationspecialistattheIndustrialHomefortheBlindinChicago."Besides,"hecontinued,"theetymologyof students'nameshasnorelevancetotheteachingofparapetology,astaughtinBaston,"whichwasthewayDanpronouncedBoston.Oscar,whowasfromTennessee andwasinhislastsemesterintheorientationandmobilityprogramatWesternMichiganUniversity,thoughtDanhadastrangewayofpronouncingcertainwords,but heseemedtobeverycompetentinteachingblindpeopletotravelbyusingthelongcanemethoddevelopedbyDr.RichardHooverfortrainingblindedveteransof WorldWarII,andthatwaswhatreallycountedwiththeinterns,anyway.ItseemedtoOscarthatDanwasalittleoverzealousinmaintaininghisprofessionalim

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age,whichsometimescausedhimtoseemcondescendingandhumorless.HegottheimpressionthatDanconsideredparapetologists,thenamebestowedonthose teachersofcanetravelwhograduatedfromBostonCollege,superiortoorientationandmobilityteachers,thenamebestowedonWesternMichigangraduates. Dan'svoiceinterruptedOscar'sthoughts."Whynottakeyourglassesoff?Perspirationiscollectingonyourlenses,andyoucould,nodoubt,readbetterwithoutthem, consideringtheexcellentlightinginthisoffice."Itwastruethefirstfloorofthethreestoryresidencebuilding,constructedin1895,hadbeenconvertedintooffice spaceinthe1950sandretrofittedwithverybrightfluorescentlights,butthemodernizationofthefacilityhadnotincludedairconditioning.Oscarhesitatedtoadmitany weaknessbecausehesensedthat,somehow,itmightlowerDan'sprofessionalconfidenceinhim.Ifheremovedhiseyeglasses,heknewhewouldhavetoplacehis nosealmostagainstthecasefilebeforehecouldreadit,sohecouldseenowaytoconcealhisextremelypoorvision. "Yousee,Dan,I'mlegallyblindwithoutmyglasses,"Oscaradmitted."Ibeganwearingtheminfourthgradewhenmybookswerereducedtostandardsizeprint.My glasseskeptmefromcompetingincontactsportsinhighschoolandcollege,whichiswhyItookupsuchactivitiesashiking,bowling,andskeetshooting."Hehoped thatmentioningskeetshooting,whichrequiresrapidvisualmonitoringandaccurateeyehandcoordination,wouldallayanyconcernDanmighthaveabouthisvisual capacitytoassurethesafetyofblindmobilitystudents,butDan'snextcommentinformedOscarthathisvisionwasstillafactorinDan'sprofessionalassessmentof him. "WerethereanystipulationsonyourmobilitypracticebytheWMUGraduateSchool,suchasarequirementthatyouwearcorrectivelenseswhenteaching parapetology?" "Thesubjectnevercameup,"Oscaranswered."Ihadanunrestricteddriver'slicenseandneverhadanyproblemkeepingtrackofmystudents,evenwithoutmy glasses,soIguesstheWMUprofessorsweresatisfied."

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Danemittedadisparaginggrunt,whichOscarinterpretedtomean,"Suchlackofattentiontovisualrequirementswouldnotbetoleratedinafirstclassschoollike BostonCollege." Oscarventuredtheopinionthathehaddifficultyunderstandingtheneedfortherequirementthatmobilityinstructorspossessvisualacuityof2020."Inmoststates, 2050qualifiesapersonforadriver'slicense,anditwouldseemthatanyonewhocandriveacarintrafficwouldhaveadequatevisiontosuperviseablindmobility student,eveninheavytraffic." "Basically,Iagreewithyou,Oscar.Furthermore,I'llletyouinonalittleknownreasonforthatrequirement."DanlightedhisDutchmastercigarandcontinued."After WorldWarII,themoreresponsibleleadersinblindrehabilitationobservedtheefficientwayinwhichveteransusedthelongcanemethoddevelopedbyDr.Hoover andrealizedthatthismethodcouldenableblindpeopletomoveindependentlywithinthemainstream.Theprimaryprobleminmakingthissystemavailabletoallblind personswouldberesistancefromthelargenumbersofblindteachers,inourfield,whowouldrefusetoadoptthisnewsystemforthemselvesorteachitbecauseof theirdevotiontotheirownindividualtraveltechniquesdevelopedoveralifetime.RatherthanspendyearstryingtogainacceptancefortheHoovermethod,itwas decidedthattheprofessionofparapetologywouldbecreatedwithallnewpractitionerswhowouldacceptthisclearlysuperiormethodwithoutprejudice." "Areyousayingthatthereasonforrequiringmobilityinstructorstohavenormalvisionwastobarblindteachersfromourprofession?"Oscarinterrogated. Danleanedfarbackinhisswivelchairandslowlyexhaledacloudofcigarsmoke,whichblottedoutthefluorescentlightforafewseconds."That'ssubstantiallywhat happened.Ofcourse,safetyofstudentswasamajorfactorinincorporatingavisionrequirementintotheprofessionalqualifications,buttheneedtoridtheHoover methodofeffortstoweakenitseffectivenessbyincludingpractitionerswhowouldincorporatetheirownunscientifictraveltechniqueswasaprimary,unwritten rationaleforrigidadherencetothe2020visionrequirement."

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DansuggestedthattheyshouldturntheirattentiontoOscar'slaststudentfileiftheywantedtofinishstaffingbeforethedinnerchimessounded.Glancingatthesocial andeducationalhistory,Oscarnotedthathisstudent,NancyLucas,hadgraduatedfromthestateschoolfortheblindthepreviousMayattheheadofherclass,was theyoungestchildofAliceandPhillipLucaswhooperatedadairyfarmincentralIllinois,andhadbeentotallyblindsincebirthfromretrolentalfibroplasia,athickening oftheretinacreatedbytheadministrationofexcessoxygentoprematureinfants.HerI.Q.was121,andherteachersreportedthatshetraveledaboutthecampus withoutdifficulty,demonstratedexcellentorientationwhenparticipatinginswimmingandothersports,andwaschosenforleadingrolesinschoolplays. WhenOscarencounteredNancyinthestudentloungeafterdinner,heknewwhyshewaschosenfordramaticleads.Withhersoftblondehair,angelicfacewithdeep blueeyes,perfectlyproportionedfigure,andavoicelikeMarilynMonroe's,itwouldhavetakenamiracleforthedramateachertofindacompetitorforNancy.Oscar watchedhermoveabouttheloungewithease,seemingtosensewhensheriskedbumpingintoanobjectorinvadinganotherperson'sbodyspace.Hewassure Nancy'sdramateacherhadworkedhardwithheronsuchelementsofstagepresenceasposture,howtomanageherhandssoshedidnotappeartobegropinginthe airlikesomeoftheotheryoungblindpeopleinthelounge,andprojectinganalert,selfassuredbodyimage.ItseemedtoOscarthatMissNancyLucaswouldbean idealmobilitystudent. Whenheapproachedherthenextmorningafterbreakfastandinformedherthathewouldbehermobilityinstructor,Nancywasenthusiasticaboutlearningherway aroundChicagobuthastenedtoexplainthatshehadreceivedverylittlecanetraininginthepast.Shehadsimplybegunlearningtogetaboutherimmediateresidence asasmallchildandkeptwideninghertravelareaasshegrewolder.Bythetimeshewenttotheschoolfortheblind,shehaddevelopedtraveltechniques,suchas walkinginastraightline,makingninetydegreeturnsandremem

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beringthemsoshecouldretraceherroute,andusingsounds,odors,andlandmarks,suchastheirongratinginthewalkattheturnintothedininghall,tonavigateher environment.However,sheexpressedsomedoubtastohercapacitytolearnhowtotravelindependentlyinalargecity,whichwouldnecessitateplanningand negotiatingcomplicatedroutesinunknownareas.Nancysaidthatshehadbeenaccustomedtoaddinganoccasionalroutetoathoroughlyfamiliarareasuchasher homeortheschool,butshewasnotsureshecouldmasteratotallynewenvironmentlikeChicago.Oscarassuredherthat,withmodernmobilitytechniques,she wouldbeabletoapplyherpresenttechniqueseffectivelytoanynewsituation. ''Thiscityisjustaclusterofsmalltownsmadeupofbasicgeometricshapessuchasrectanglesandtriangles,"Oscarexplained. "Geometrywasnevermybestsubject,"Nancysaidwithalaugh.Sheexplainedthatshecouldunderstandthevariouspatternswhentheywerepresentedinraised linesinherBrailletext,butshecouldneversucceedinexpandingtheseshapestolargeareasdiscussedbyherteachersandfamily,suchasacres,buildings,andsquare miles. OscarassuredNancythatshewouldhavenodifficultyinlearningtotravelinChicagoandscheduledalessonfor9:00thenextdaywhenshewouldbeginmastering theHoovercanemethod.Hethenconducteddiagnosticteachinginterviewswithhisfiveotherclientsandscheduledlessonsforeach.Thesepeople,twowomenand threemen,hadbecomeblindlaterinlife.Fourretainedsufficientsighttorecognizeobjects,andallcouldconstructavisualmapofatravelrouteconsistingofstreets, buildings,openareas,andotherenvironmentalfeaturesfrompreblindmemory.Nonehadeverusedawhitecanebefore,andallfiveexpressedafeelingof embarrassmentatthethoughtofusingoneinpublic,althoughnonesaidthisembarrassmentatappearingblindtootherswouldkeepthemfromusingthelongcaneat leastuntiltheywentbackhometotheirfriendsandfamilies.Oscarwasconfidentthathiscounselingandthesuccesseachwouldexperienceintravelingaroundthecity withthelongcanewoulddissipatethisembarrassment.

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AfterspendingacoupleofhoursexploringfoottravelroutesintheneighborhoodoftheIndustrialHomeinordertofamiliarizehimselfwiththesounds,odors,and othernonvisualclueshisstudentswouldbeusingtoguidethemselvesaroundthearea,Oscarturnedinearlyanddreamedofbeingtotallyblindwhilefeelinghisway throughadesolateareafilledwithlargeboulders,cliffs,quicksand,andotherdangerousobstacleswithonlythevoiceofNancyLucassomewhereaheadtoguidehim. Hewasrelievedtohearthewakeupchimesandconfirmthathewasnotblind.Hedressedquickly,breakfastedoncoffeeandcereal,andwaitedonthebenchnext totheMarshallBoulevardentranceforNancytoappearforherfirstmobilitylesson.Shewasdressedinanattractivepinkblouseandmatchingkneelengthskirt,with astrawhatperchedonherhairtoshadeherfacefromtheSeptembersun,whichstillhadenoughsummerheattoreddenfairskin. ''I'manxioustobeginlearningaboutthisman,Hoover,whohasamethodthatwillteachmetogetaroundChicago,"sheannounced."Bytheway,isherelatedto formerPresidentHoover?" OscarexplainedthatRichardHooverwasaneyedoctorwhohadbecomeinterestedinthemobilityproblemsofblindpeoplewhenheworkedattheMaryland SchoolfortheBlindwhileinmedicalschool.Oscarthenproceededtoguideherintheperformanceofthebasiclongcanetechnique,whichconsistedofgrippingthe shaftinthethumbandthreefingerswiththeindexfingerpointingdowntheshafttowardthewalk.Withawristmovement,thecaneistappedlightlynearthespot whereeachstepwillbringthetraveler'sfootinordertodetectobjects,steps,andthelikeonthewalkway.Everyfewsteps,thecanearccanbeextendedslightlyto therighttolocatetheedgeofthewalkway.Bycombiningthiscanetechniquewithherpreviouslyacquiredstrategiesforfollowingtravelroutes,Nancywasableto navigateherselfaroundtheentireblockonwhichtheIndustrialHomefortheBlindwaslocatedduringthisfirstonehourtravellesson. DuringthesucceedingweeksinSeptember,Nancyhadmo

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bilitylessonsMondaythroughFriday,consistentlyaugmentingherbasiccanetechniquewithstrategiesforascendinganddescendingsteps,crossingstreetsbylistening totheflowoftraffic,locatingandboardingbusesbylisteningforthesoundoftheautomaticdooropening,locatingbusinessestablishmentsbythesoundsandodors emanatingfromtheiropeneddoors,andmanyothersthatcouldmakeherindependenttravelaroundChicagoareality.BythebeginningofOctober,Oscarwas switchingtheemphasisofNancy'slessonstotheindependentplanningandtraversingofnewtravelroutesinvolvingwalkingwiththelongcaneandusingtheelevated train,bus,andstreetcarsystems.Shehadnodifficultymasteringtheuseofthesesystemsbutwasunabletoplanandexecutenewtravelroutestounknown destinationsinvolvingsuchconceptsastheemptyspacebetweenbuildingsandotherobjectsinhertravelenvironment,thespatialrelationshipbetweenherselfand otherpedestrianswalkingindifferentdirections,andhowstreetsandrailwaysdividedthecityintogeometricshapesthatwerepartsoflargergeometricpatterns,such asneighborhoodsandtheentirecityneithercouldshemaintainamentalmapofwhatwasacrossthestreetfromher.Oscartriedtoconveytheseconceptsby preparingraisedlinemapsforNancytostudyandfoundthatshecouldplotandtracearoutewithherfingersonaneleveninchsquareraisedlinemap,butshe seemedincapableofapplyingthisknowledgetotheactualmovementofherbodythroughthecitytoreachalocationtowhichshehadnotpreviouslytraveled. OnerainymorninginlateOctober,afterseveralunsuccessfulattemptstodescribetherelationshipofthevariousstreetssurroundedbytherectangleofelevated railwaytracksknownastheChicagoLoop,NancyventedherfrustrationbypoundinghersmallfistonOscar'sdeskandshouting,"ThatDr.Hoovermaybeawhiz bangatteachingblindsoldierstotaptheircanes,buthedoesn'tknowahootaboutteachingtheoneswhohavebeenblindalltheirlives,likeme!" Seeingthetearswellingupinhereyes,OscarleanedacrossthedesktoplaceatissueinNancy'shandandpathercomfort

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inglyonthearm."Listen,Nancy,you'reoneofthebestcanetravelersIknow.You'vehitalittleroughgoingatthisparticularstageofyourtraining,but,believeme, youwillbeplottingouttripsalloverthiscitybythetimeyou'rereadytoleavehereforsecretarialcollege."Oscarhopedhewasnotbeingtoooptimistic.Hecertainly wantedtobeencouragingtoNancy,butsomethingaboutherrealisticandhonestmannerofencounteringtheworldinformedhimthatshecouldloseconfidenceina teacherwhomisledherinordertospareherfeelings. Pattinghereyeswiththetissue,Nancyremarked,withatouchofangertingedwithanoteofaccusation,"Oscar,youwouldbeanattractivemanifyouhadn'tstarted imitatingMr.Fosterbysmokingthosesmellycigars." Insteadofassuringherthathewouldnotsmokeinherpresence,Oscarimmediatelydecidedtocontinuesmokingduringlessons,becausethismighttendtodampen anyromanticideasNancymightdevelopabouthim.Shewasanextremelycomelyyoungwoman,andthemoreprofessionaltheirrelationshipremained,theless chancetherewouldbeforrelationshipcomplications.HercommentthathecouldbeattractiveifhegaveupcigarscausedOscartowonderifapartofheranger couldbeasubconsciouscoverforaschoolgirlinfatuation.Hehadlearnedincounselingcoursesabouttheprocessoftransferenceinwhichwomenincrisisattribute characteristicsofhusbandsandotherlovedonestotheirdoctorsandteachers.Oscaralsoknewhimselfwellenoughtorealizethatthisprocesscouldgointheother direction,andthelastthingheneededwaswordofaromanticentanglementwithastudentbroughttoDanFoster,thatpillarofacademicpropriety. IntendingtobolsterNancy'sconfidenceinherpotentialforbecomingathoroughlyindependentcanetraveler,OscarshiftedtheconversationtoNancy'sforthcoming solotripfromtheChicagoLooptotheIndustrialHomefortheBlind.Heexplainedthatshewouldberequiredtolocatepublictransportationfromadropoffpoint somewhereintheLoopandreturntotheHomewithoutassistance.NancyadmittedreservationsregardingherreadinesstoplananewroutefromtheLoopbackto the

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rehabilitationcenter,althoughshewassureshecouldfindherwaybackifsheweretaughttherouteaheadoftime.Oscaragainexpressedconfidenceinherabilityto learnadvancedmobilityandsaidthathewoulddiscusshercasewithhissupervisor,whowouldbeabletosuggesttechniquesthatwouldenableNancytotravelin unknownareas. Withhisotherstudentsprogressingsatisfactorily,OscarcontinuedtopondertheparadoxpresentedbyNancyLucas.Ontheonehand,hersensoryalertness, compassdirectionsandbearings,techniquesforcrossingstreetsinheavytraffic,anduseofpublictransitweresuperiortoanyoftheothers,butshecouldmake effectiveuseoftheseskillsonlyafterbeingtaughtaparticularroute.Ontheotherhand,hisotherstudentshadlittleornodifficultyinapplyingnonvisualtravelmethods totheindependentexplorationofnewareasofthecity.JohnDenowskihadfoundhiswaytoaRussianOrthodoxChurch,MarieEvanshadfiguredouttherouteto visithersisterinOakPark,andTravisJameshadfoundanightclubinCicero.Inplanningandexecutingtripstonewplaces,theotherstudentswerefarmore advancedthanNancy.WhatfrustratedOscarwasthattheseotherstudentsweresteadilyimprovinginthoseareasinwhichNancyexcelledwhilesheseemedata standstillinlearningstrategiesfornewexploration. OntheFridayafterNancyhadangrilyhithisdesk,OscarrequestedthatheandDanFosterdevotetheirentireweeklysupervisoryconferencetothecaseofNancy Lucas.Beingafrugalmanintimeaswellasmoney,Danreadilyagreedtothisagenda,forhewasawarethatOscar'sotherstudentswereprogressingwellinallareas andrequiredonlyabriefreview.OscarhadbrieflymentionedNancy'sproblemwithconceptualizinglargegeographicalareasatpreviousconferences,andDanhad alsoheardsomestudentstalkingatdinneraboutanargumentbetweenNancyandOscarinOscar'sofficethedaybefore. OscarreviewedhisworkwithNancy,beginningwithhisoriginalassessmentandendingwiththelastlessonwhenshehadbecomeangrybecauseofherlackof progressinrouteplanning.DanbegantofocusonOscar'smethodforconveyinglargecon

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ceptstohisstudents.OscarhadusedthesamebasicapproachwithNancythathehadfoundsuccessfulwithhisotherstudents,allofwhomhadvisualmemory.Dan explainedthatwhenpeoplebecomeblindinadultlife,theyretainvisualmemoriesofstreets,blocks,railwaysystems,andmostothercomponentsthatmakeuptheir world.Peopleblindfrombirth,ontheotherhand,havenovisualmemoryandmustconceptualizespatialrelationshipsbasedonhearingandtouch."Whereasaseeing personcanencompassapanoramicviewofeverythingaroundherandretainthesestoredpicturestoconstructvisualmapsinrealtimeandspacewhenevershe receivesverbaldescriptionsorfeelsraisedmaps,Nancycanconceptualizeonlyasmuchasshecanfeelwithbothhands." Oscarthoughtforawhileandaskedhowcongenitallyblindpersonsdevelopunderstandingoflargeareas."Iamnotsurethatanysightedpersonreallyknows,"Dan admitted."Allwearecertainofisthatsomepeoplewhohaveneverhadsightdeveloptheabilitytotravelindependentlytoplacestheyhaveneverbeenbefore,while othersneverseemtoacquirethisskill." "AmIgoingtohavetotellNancythatshewillhavetodependonsomeonetoshowherthewayeverytimeshewantstogotoanewplace?"Oscaraskedwithanote ofpanic. "Notnecessarily,"Danreassuredhim."IfyouplaceheavyemphasisontransferringtactilemapsandverbalinformationintoNancy'sauditoryandtimememory,you maybeabletostartsomekindofmentalprocessthatshecanuseforaddingnewtravelroutestoherdatabase.Inotherwords,ifshecanlearntoanticipatehowlong shewillhavetorideorwalkbetweenpoints,theturnsshewillmake,andthesoundsandsmellsshewillencounteralongtheway,shemaybecomeanindependent traveler." Oscarthoughtforawhileandthenspeculated:"IfIunderstandwhatyouaresaying,itseemsthatNancy'sprimarythoughtstructuremustbebasedontouch sequencesinsteadoflargevisualpictures.Therefore,ifIcangethertomentallyprojectthesetouchsequencesintothefutureandthinkofthetimeitwould

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takehertotravelthisprojectedroute,shemightbeabletomoveaboutunfamiliarareaswithoutpriorinstruction." "Somethinglikethat,"Dansaidslowly,"butyou'rereallyinunchartedwaterswhentryingtoteachpeoplewhohaveneverseentoconceptualizesuchvisual phenomenaasdepth,contrast,movementthroughspace,andrelativesizeofdistantobjects." DanandOscarhadanalyzedNancy'slearningstyleaboutasthoroughlyastheirownvisiondominatedlearningmethodswouldpermit.AsOscarwasleaving,Dan placedarestraininghandlightlyonhisarm."Remember!Planandconductyourlessonsinsuchamannerthatthestudentdoesnotlosefaceifyoufindsheis absolutelyunabletomasterunknownareas." OscarrestructuredhisteachingstylewithNancy,emphasizingconnectionsbetweensoundsandherlocationanddistancefromobjectsmuchmorethanexplaininghow theworldlookstoseeingpeople.HetriedsuchtechniquesashavingNancylistentohervoiceechoingoffabuildingacrossaquietstreetasawayofreinforcingthe factthatthebuilding,whichshecouldnotsee,wasactuallythere.Nancyseemedtobegainingconfidencefromsuchunusuallearningexperiencesandeventooka shorttriptoabeautysalonlocatedinanunfamiliarneighborhood. OnemorninginearlyNovember,NancywaspracticingascendinganddescendingstairsintheelevatedtrainstationatCaliforniaandMarshalBoulevardwhenOscar announcedthathehadscheduledhersolotripfromtheLoopforthefollowingFridayafternoon."YouwouldhavetoschedulemeforFridaywhentheLoopis crawlingwithpeopleformetobumpintoandlosemydirection." "Comeon,Nancy,"Oscarchided,"younevergetlost.You'reoneofthemostcompetentcanetravelersIhaveeverknown.Sowhat'sbotheringyouabouttheLoop trip?" "Youguysthatcanseereallygetmygoatsometimes.YouexpectustotravelindowntownChicagowithoutanysightwhileyouarewatchingeverymovewemake withyoursight.Ifyouhadtofindyourwayaroundthisplacewithouteyesight,youwouldhaveabetterideaofourproblems."

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Oscarcontrolledhisangerandexplainedpatientlythathehadspentmanyhourspracticingcanetravelwhilewearingablindfold. "HowmanytimeshaveyoutraveledaroundtheLoopwearingone?"Nancytaunted.Oscarknewheshouldnotletasnipofagirlbaithimintodoingsomething stupidlikelettinghertravelbackfromtheLooptotallyunattended.Itwasagencypracticetoobservestudentsmakingtheirsolotripfromadistanceofaboutacity block.Danwouldcertainlynotapproveofsuchirresponsibility.Nevertheless,whenNancysaid,"Well,howmanytimes?,"Oscarwashooked. "Allright,younglady,wewillconductalittleexperiment.WhenIdropyouoffintheLoop,Iwilldonmyblindfold,andtheonewhoarrivesbackattheIndustrial Homefirstwillbuylunch." Nancyclappedherhandsandsaid,"You'reon,Mr.MobilityTeacher." Duringthenextweek,OscarallocatedatwohourperiodforaclosevisualanalysisoftheexactrouteheguessedNancywouldfollowfromherdropoffnearthe FannyMaecandystorebetweenClarkandLaSalleStreetsonthenorthsideofRandolph.HedecidedtowarnNancyaboutsomeoftheobstacles,suchasthe constructionexcavationneartheShermanHotel.Itwouldn'tdoforhertosustainevenaveryminorinjurywhilehewasfumblingaroundtheLoopwearingablindfold insteadofmonitoringherprogress.Danwouldskinhimalive. ThefollowingFridaydawnedclearwithacrispbreezeblowinginoffthelake.Oscarfeltconfidentandinvigoratedbythechillpunctuatedwiththewarmsunrays filteringbetweentheskyscrapersasheandNancywalkeddownRandolphStreettothefrontentranceoftheShermanHotel.Fromthere,shehadbeeninstructedto proceedtotheFannyMaecandystore,whereshewastopurchasehalfapoundoffudgeandfindherwaybacktotheIndustrialHome.Shewasawarethatshe wouldnothavevisualmonitoringandbackupfromOscar,sincehewouldalsobetravelingblind,butsheassuredhimthatshehadabsolutelynoconcernforher safety.

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OscarwatchedNancyenterthestore.Afterwaitinguntilnoonewaswatching,hepulledonhisblindfold,litoneofDan'scigars,andleanedagainstthewalltoenjoy thesununtilhecouldbecertainNancyhadleftthecandystoreandwastravelingtowardthesubway.Whenheheardherassureapedestrianthatsheknewhowto locatethesubway,Oscarquietlymovedoffaheadofher.Hetookacircuitousroutesoshewouldnotfollowthesoundofhiscane.HewalkedsouthonClarkto Washington,easttoDearborn,anddoubledbackahalfblocktostairsleadingdowntothesubway. Hehadtaughtseveralblindpeopletoboardtrainsandbusesbylisteningfortheopeningdoorsound,buthehadneverperformedthisactivitywithoutbeingableto seetheapproachingvehicle.TheallencompassingsoundoftheapproachingtrainandthesensationthatitwasrushingdirectlyathimalmostcausedOscartopanic andripoffhisblindfoldhegrabbedasupportcolumnjusttoreassurehimselfthathewasseveralfeetfromtheedgeoftheplatform.Hedecidedtobemore understandingofhisstudents'feelingsofpanicwhenstandingnearamovingtrain. Whenthenoiseofthetrainceasedandthesoundoftheautomaticdoorcamefromdirectlyinfrontofhim,Oscarsighedwithreliefandsteppedintothecar,first checkingwithhiscanetobesurehewasnotsteppingbetweenthecars.Luckily,thefirstseatwasempty,andOscarcollapsedintoit.Hetookalongpullonhiscigar andsettleddowntocountthestopsandcurvesinthetrackuntilhereachedtheCaliforniaStation.Hecouldnotalwaysunderstandthenamesofthestopscalledby theconductor,socountingthestopsgaveanextramarginofsecurity. OscarwasonhisfeetandreadytostepontotheplatformassoonasthetraincametoacompletestopattheCaliforniaStation.Exitingthetrain,hefoundthewalland movedalongituntilhelocatedthestairsleadingdowntothestreet,forthetrainhadexitedthesubwaytunnelaftergoingundertheChicagoRiverandwasthree storiesabovestreetlevelattheCaliforniaStation. Travelingwithmoreconfidenceintheareahehadexplored

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wearingablindfold,OscarenjoyedtheremainderofhiscigaruntilhereachedthebenchinfrontoftheIndustrialHome.Acanetouchedthebenchandsomeonesat downbesidehim.Oscar'sfirstthoughtwasthatDanhadcaughthimwanderingaroundwearingablindfoldwhilehistotallyblindstudentwassearchingherway throughthestreetsofChicago.Snatchingtheblindfoldfromhiseyes,OscarwasdumbfoundedtoseeNancyrelaxingonthebenchbesidehim. "Nancy,areyouallright?"healmostshouted."Didyourunintotrouble?Didthepolicedriveyouback?" "Oscar!Don'tyouknowthatweblindfolkscantravelfasterthanyousightedguyswearingblindfolds?"sheaskedwithalittlelaugh. "Youmeantosayyoucamebackonthetrain?HowonGod'sgreenearthdidyoufigureoutthetravelrouteandgetherebeforeIdid?" "Didn'thavetofigureitout,"Nancystated."Ionlyhadtofollowyou.Youthoughtyouwereprettycutegoingaroundthatblockonthewaytothetrainjusttotry confusingme,butIwasrightbehindyoualltheway:satacrossfromyouinthetrain,heardyouexcuseyourselfwhenyoubumpedintothatladywiththeshopping bag,andwouldhavebeenhereonthebenchwaitingforyouifmyslipperhadn'tcomeoffwhenitcaughtinagratingaswelefttheelstationatCalifornia,makingme missthetrafficlight." "Istilldon'tgetit,Nancy,"Oscarsaid,lightinganothercigar."Myhearingisnotassharpasyours,butnotevenyoucouldhavefollowedthesoundofmycaneinthat noisysubway." "Elementary,Watson,"shedeclaredinanexaggeratedEnglishaccent."Yousee,mydearfellow,Ihadonlytofollowtheodorofyourfoulsmellingcigar!"

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ABLINDNESSREHABILITATIONGLOSSARY
Thisglossaryisprovidedtofacilitatetheuseofthistextforgraduateworkinrehabilitationoftheblind.Inparticular,studentscanusetheglossarytoreadthestories withinaprofessionalframeworkbyapplyingtheterminologyandconceptsbelow.Itisalsoprovidedtogivethegeneralreaderamorespecificunderstandingofsome oftheissuesandactivitiescentraltorehabilitationoftheblind. A AdaptiveLabeling.Avarietyoftechniques(includingtactilemarking,Brailleandraisedlettering,replicasaffixedtocontainers,andlargeprint)thatenablepersons withvisualimpairmentstoidentifypersonalitems,products,tools,anddocumentsandtoreadgaugessuchasthermostatsandotherappliancepanels. AuditoryMonitoring.Theprocessofformingmentalconstructsoftheenvironmentbyinterpretingauditoryperceptions. B Bibliotherapy.Acounselingtechniqueforenablingpersonswhoarevisuallyimpairedtoadjusttotheirdisabilitybydiscussingbiographical,autobiographical,and fictionalaccountsofpersonswhohaveexperiencedthisdisability. BlindnessAdjustmentCounseling.Theapplicationoftherapeuticcounselingtechniquesforenablingpersonswhoareblindandtheirassociatestoacceptandutilize compensatoryskillsandequipmentforsuccessfulparticipationinpersonal,social,andeconomiclife. BlindnessSupportGroups.Smallgroupsofvisuallyimpairedper

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sons(usuallyfewerthantenformaximumeffectiveness)whomeetregularlytoshareexperienceandinformation,listentospeakersonvariousaspectsofvisual adjustmentandtreatment,andderiveemotionalsupportfromgroupinteractions. BodyProtectionMethod.Aclusteroftechniquesinvolvingtheuseofarms,hands,cane,andposturetoprotecttheheadandtrunkfrominjuriouscontactswith potentiallydangerousobjects,suchasopendoors,whenwalkinginhazardousareas. BrailleCell.ArectangularspacedividedintosixpartsforcontainingtwoverticalrowsofthreeBrailledotsthatcanbecoveredbytheballoftheindexfinger. BrailleDotNumbering.TheassignmentofnumbersonethroughsixtothespacesforembossingdotsintheBraillecellwhenreading,thedotsarenumberedfrom toptobottomwith1,2,and3ontheleftsideofthecelland4,5,and6ontheright. BraillePegboard.Arectangularblock,usuallymadeofwood,withoneormoresetsofsixholesinthepatternoftheBraillecellintowhichstudentscaninsertpegs toformBraillecharacters. C CellPrinting.AtechniqueforteachingtheformationofprintcharacterstoBraillereadersbyutilizingtheBrailledotnumbers(havingastudentdrawalinethrough dots1,2,3,and6toformtheletterL,forexample). CompensatorySkills.Skillsforperforminglifeactivitieswithoutvisionorwithverylimitedvision. CompensatorySkillTraining.Instructioninusingtheresidualsensesofhearing,touch,smell,andtastetocompensateforlimitedvisionintheperformanceoflife activities. ContractedBraille.AdvancedliteracyBraillethatemploysavarietyofcontractionsinordertoconservespaceandincreasereadingspeed. CorrugatedWritingBoard.Asheetofcardboardwithraisedlinescorrespondingtothelinesonruledstationerythatisplaced

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underneathasheetofwritingpapertoprovideablindpersonwithatactuallineguideforseparatingandproportioninghandwriting. CurrencyIdentification.Techniquesusedbypeoplewithvisualimpairmentsforidentifyingandmanagingbothpapercurrencyandcoins(includingdifferential folding,usingdividedwallets,placingbillsindenominationalsequence,andidentifyingcoinsbytheirtactualcharacteristics). D DotConversion.ThereversalofBrailledotnumberswhenembossingcharactersonaslateinwhichthedotsappearontheundersideoftheslatefacingawayfrom thewriterthus,dots1,2,and3areembossedontherightsideand4,5,and6ontheleftsideofthecell. F FacialVision.Theinterpretationofsoundandtemperaturewavesreflectedfromobjectstoinferthelocation,distance,size,andshapeoftheseobjects. FileDataReversal.TransposingthedatareadfromthetoplineofaprintfilecardtothebottomlineofaBraillecardandproceedingtoentertheremainingmaterial inthisreverseordersothat,whenthecardisfiledupsidedownandfacingawayfromthestudent,thereversedmaterialwillappearinproperorderandperspectiveto thestudent'sreadingfingers. G GaugeBlocks.Smallpiecesofwoodorothermaterialsprecuttoprescribeddimensionsusedformakingquick,repetitivemeasurements. H HandwritingGuide.Aframeortemplatethatisplacedoverwritingpapertoguideavisuallyimpairedpersoninwritingstraightlines,enteringinformationon preprintedforms(suchaschecks),orsigningdocuments(signatureguide). HapticSkillsInstruction.Instructionintheuseoftouchforexamining,identifying,monitoring,andmanipulating(oftenemployingcraftprojects,woodworking,or claymodelingasavehicleforimpartingthesehapticskills). HomeTeacheroftheBlind.Thefirstformalgroupofrehabilitationpractitionerswerethehometeachersdispatchedbythe

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LondonHomeTeachingSocietyin1855toteachembossedreadingsystemsandhomeindustryprocessestoadultblindpersons. HumanGuideMethod.Aclusterofcontacttechniquesthatenableasightedpersontowalkwithablindpersoninasafe,comfortable,inconspicuousmanner. L Landmark.Areferencepoint(suchasacomermailbox,streetcurb,incline,texturechange,doorway,orsomeotherenvironmentalfeature)thatavisuallyimpaired personcanidentifytoestablishprogresstowardanestablishedgoalordestination. LessonPlan.Alogicalplanforpresentingamethodorunitofinstructionthatiscongruentwiththeuniquelearningstyleofanindividualorgroupofindividuals. LowVisionTraining.Themethodologyforinstructingapersonwithlimitedvisioninusingthisresidualeyesight,usuallyinconsortwithotherresidualsenses,toguide theperformanceofpersonal,social,economic,andotherlifeactivities. M MultisensoryMonitoring.Theprocessofformingmentalconstructsandinferencesbysynthesizingperceptionsfromtwoormoresenses. N NailDrivingGauge.Asmallblock,usuallymadeofwood,withaVshapedcutthatisplacedwiththepointoftheVwhereanailistobedriventhisVcanguidea blindcarpenterinpositioninganddrivingthenailstraight. O OrientationandMobilityInstructor(Peripatologist).Ateachertrainedintheanatomicalsystemsinvolvedinwalkingandthecompensatoryskillsrequiredfor environmentalorientationwithoutadequatevisionwhoteachesvisuallyimpairedpersonstotravelindependentlyandsafely. R ReaderPacing.Atechniqueforincreasingreadingspeedinwhichteacherandstudentreadalternatewords,lines,orsentencesaloudwhilethesilentreaderconfirms thecorrectnessofthespokenwordstheteacherincreasesthereadingspeedbyverysmallincrementsduringthelessoninordertoincreasethestudent'sreadingpace imperceptibly.

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ReferencePoint.Anobject,sound,odor,orsomeotheridentifiablefeatureofavisuallyimpairedperson'senvironmentthatcanbeusedtoestablishone'spositionin relationtootherobjects,persons,orfeaturesoftheenvironment. S SawGuide.Ascribelineorastraightlineedgethatcanbeclampedtoaboardtoprovidetactualguidanceforsawing. SensoryAlertness.Thehabitofmentallyregisteringsensorystimuliandselectivelyinterpretingthosestimulithatarenecessaryfortheperformanceofdesired activitieswithoutsightorwithverylimitedvision. SequentialInstruction.Thepresentationofstepsinaprocess,procedure,ortaskinasequencebasedontheorderinwhichthesestepsareusuallyperformed. SoundLocalization.Theskillofidentifyingthelocationofsoundsinrelationtothelistener'sspatiallocationandbodyposition. T TactualMonitoring.Theprocessofformingmentalconstructsoftheenvironmentbyinterpretingtactileperceptions. TactualScanning.Examinationofaprescribedareathroughsenseoftouchlargeareasaredividedintosegmentssmallenoughtobethoroughlycoveredbythe handsorahandextendersuchasacane,ruler,orbrush. TeachingOutcome.Themeasurableperformanceresultsachievedbystudentswhohavelearnedatechnique,method,orprocess. TeachingVisualImaging.Instructingablindpersontoidentify,locate,anddrawotherinferencesaboutenvironmentalfeaturesbymentallyplacingthesefeaturesin accuratespatialperspectivewiththestudent'sbodypositionandlocation. TwoHandedBrailleReading.AmethodofreadingBrailleinwhichtheleftindexfingerreadsapproximatelyonethirdofeachlineandtherightindexfingerfinishes readingthelinewhilethelefthandretracesthecurrentlinesandlocatesthebeginningofthenextline. V VisualImagery.Thesubstitutionofstoredvisualimagesforpersons,objects,andotherenvironmentalfeaturesforthepurposeofmakinginferencesaboutone's currentsurroundings.

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VocationalRehabilitationCounseloroftheBlind.Apractitionertrainedinthetheoriesandmethodsofvocationalguidancewithspecialemphasisonthe applicationtotheworksiteofcompensatoryskills,adaptiveequipment,andpsychologicalstrategiesforfunctioningwithlittleornovision.

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AlvinRobertsisaregionaladministratorintheIllinoisDepartmentofHumanServices,BureauofBlindServices,wherehesupervisesrehabilitationteachers, counselors,andorientationandmobilityinstructorsinthethirtyfivesouthernIllinoiscounties.Hewasbornin1930inCarbondale,Illinois,wherehelaterattended SouthernIllinoisUniversityandreceivedhisbachelorandmasterofsciencedegreesineducation.Manyofhisarticlesonrehabilitationteachingtheoryandtechnique haveappearedinRehabilitationTeacher,Dialogue,theJournalofBlindnessandVisualImpairment,andReView.Hispreviousbooksincludearehabilitation textbook,PsychosocialRehabilitationoftheBlind,aswellasananthologyofsouthernIllinoisbasedshortstories,TavernTales.