[Pibe-division] A good story to end the day

[Carrie Gilmer]

Greetings All,
In trying to find some answers for Marie and her son Jack on early Braille
reading and writing with hand and finger limitations a teacher friend and
colleague(Sheila Amato) suggested I ask Stuart Wittenstein, the
Superintendent of the Calif. School for the Blind about a student he had
there once. (Stuart by the way is a phenomenal educator/administrator and a
real believer in blind people as normal people) As usual, Sheila's
suggestions turned out very well. I asked Stuart and he said he was glad if
I shared it and named him and the school. Talk about no ceilings on a house
first, having a will to make a way, and a positive attitude, this is why we
all do what we do and I hope you also gain inspiration and hope from it as I
did today. 

Carrie

-----Original Message-----
From: Stuart Wittenstein  
Sent: Monday, March 09, 2009 5:56 PM
To: Carrie Gilmer 


Hi Carrie,

Actually our young man had no fingers at all due to a birth incident --
his hands and face had been stuck to the inside of the womb and he
literally was yanked from there leaving some parts behind and causing
his blindness as well.  His toes had been grafted in place of his
fingers.  AT CSB he learned to read braille with his thumbs (and play
the banjo!).  He was quite good although a little slower reader than
most.  He used the Mountbatten exclusively for writing because he could
use less pressure on the keys and it worked very well for him -- as it
also works well for young students with less strength.

I think a lot of his success came because of motivation and attitude
with this young man.  When we had our job shadowing day ("If I ran the
school day"), he asked to shadow me.  When I asked him why he chose me,
he responded that he intended to have my job one day; first he'd be a
teacher, then  a principal, and then superintendent.  He expected to be
ready at about the time I'd be ready to retire.  I told him I thought it
was unusual for a 14 year old to have thought this all through and he
replied, "I figured with my disabilities it might take me longer to
reach my goals, so I better have a plan."  A remarkable youngster.

So advice -- the Mountbatten could conceivably make writing possible for
this youngster, and a positive attitude can overcome many obstacles.

Stuart

Stuart Wittenstein, Ed.D.
Superintendent
California School for the Blind
500 Walnut Avenue
Fremont, CA 94536
510-794-3800, X201
 
"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."
Jackie Robinson