Nothing Is Impossible
by Jeri Maiaroto
You wouldn't have believed my surprise when friends asked me to write
this article! At first I said no, because writing was never my strong point.
But after thinking about it for a while, I decided that I have something to
say. So here is my story.
Short version, my eye condition is cone dystrophy, and the doctors are not sure at this point what has caused it. I have had night blindness since I was a child, and about 7 years ago I woke up in darkness. My left eye has very little light perception, nothing useable. In my right eye, my central vision is obscured, but I have some usable peripheral vision. I am also extremely sensitive to all kinds of light. So that is what I have to work with everyday. I don't always feel sorry for myself, because I do have some useable eye sight left, but like everyone else, I have times I when I can't stand the circumstances that I find myself in.
When I realized the highlight of my day was talking to my dog and waiting for my husband to come home from work, I decided I needed to GET A LIFE. After some help from the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired and a great mobility specialist, I can now navigate in the sighted world again. I am now going to college to be a Medical Transcriptionist.
To get to this point, I attended the Joseph Kohn Rehabilitation Center
for the Blind and Visually Impaired in 2003, where I received training in
computers and much more. When I graduated from JKRC in June of that year, I did
so with many new friends and the confidence to go out in the world and try to do
what I want. Even after the help of two of the most powerful mobility
specialists, I still have my problems traveling. Someone told me once that I
would rather cross a highway than go down steps. He was right! Just three months
after graduating JKRC, I fell down my steps and broke my ankle. So where was
the highway when I needed it? Two plates and 15 screws later, my ankle is back
together. I want to tell you, being blind and on crutches was one heck an
adventure! I did a lot of crawling around, wore a little hole in the ankle from
the cast, but I am happy to say I now have two feet under me and no loose
screws.
In January I decided to go to college; this was not an easy decision, but after I made it, I proceeded full steam ahead. I attend to Camden County College, and luckily I have a counselor who has been extremely helpful. I decided to try taking two classes the first semester to see how I would do in a regular classroom setting. Taking what I had learned at JKRC to the regular classroom was my challenge. After registering for the two classes that I decided on, I got the names of the books I would need for my classes and also discussed having note takers in both of the classes with my counselor. After getting the information on the books required in the two classes, I called the Library for the Blind to see if they had them on tape. They referred me to the Recordings for the Blind. They did have one of the books but not the other; there were actually four different books for Personal Computer Applications class. I called the publisher who put me in touch with the dealer who handles Camden County College. I did have to buy the books for the class and then have a reader read them on to tape. Then my counselor sent a letter to the publisher stating that I was a student there, after that I did receive them as a zipped e-mail file, but by then I was in the sixth week of the semester. The reader I had in one class became ill about a quarter away through, but I was very fortunate the professor helped me out a lot during class so I would not have to drop the class. My other reader in my computer class was an angel to work with. I can't say enough about how important the readers or note takers in class with you are. They make a big difference on how well you are going to get through working in a regular classroom setting. Believe me you are still the one who is doing the work and learning, but they are the eyes that we just don't have
Before I started my classes, my mobility specialist worked with me to learn how to get around to my classes and to get to the library. She also showed me where the NJ Transit bus dropped off and picked up. Thank goodness she did, because there were a few times that I had to take public transportation. I was lucky most of the time with Access Link but there were a few times I did have a problem. Everyday I that I had class I called and scheduled my pickup and drop off times for them two weeks prior. I guess I can't complain too much; about 80% of the time I had no problems, except for the time they left me off in the basement of a building and I had no idea where I was. That is another story for another time. I will say all my training with mobility paid off that day along with a phone call to a good friend!
In my Computer Applications class, it did take a few days to get Jaws installed on a computer for me, but the counselor I worked with was persistent. She also had Jaws installed in the computer lab of the library, which I did use just about every day. Even though I have Jaws on my computer at home, I did work on the computer in the library between classes, so that my reader could work with me.
Well classes are over, and I have a new understanding and respect for summer vacation. I have already signed up for the fall semester, and I am taking four classes. The counselor is working on getting the readers setup and in June I will find out what books are required. Once I find out the book information I will try to get them on tape or CD before I begin class. I have also called Access Link to be put on the list for standby pickup.
After finishing the spring semester I can say now it was a good experience for me. Every time something came up that shook my confidence I just kept saying to myself, “You can do this; you just have to do things in a different way.” I am very fortunate to have family and friends who supported me in this adventure. I won't say I am not nervous about going back in the fall, because I am. My husband once said to me if it does not work out no one comes to your door and says you are a bad person for not being able to do something. Inside me, I will know I have at least tried my best! By the way, if you are in the upper age of life and you think you can't follow that dream you always wanted to follow, I am 51 years old. It is never too late!
Jeri Maiaroto
Voorhees, NJ
Special Thanks to Eileen Hudak for editing!!!!
