Talkin' Disability
WITH ROB AND ROY
By Rob Leeper and Roy Burnette

A project of Pathways for the Future Center for Independent Living with offices in Andrews, Sylva and Asheville.

Question: What are some causes for a person to loose their sight and what assistance is there for a person who has a visual disability?

Rob: Many things can cause a person to loose their sight, sometimes without a warning. There are genetic causes as well as strokes, accidents, head trauma and diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, diabetes, Mononucleosis, and measles.

Roy: I have a friend once who got hit in the eye with a tree sprout while walking in the forest. Another man I knew lost sight in one eye after grit flew off a saw blade and impacted into his eye. Thankfully a person loosing their sight today has a lot more options than those who became blind just a few years ago. Technology and medical science have made great advancements in this field.

Rob: I think some of the biggest advances have occurred in communications. One example is JAWS which is a computer program that turns the information on the computer screen into human voice. It reads the information on the screen to the user. It takes a little getting used to but it works.

Roy: Also lots of thanks to the National Federation of the Blind, the Lions Club and the mandates of the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Rob: Persons who have a visual disability are able to receive highly specialized training where they learn to navigate their way through town, receive job training, and independent living skills.

Roy: I heard a visually impaired celebrity tell a story about how much they wanted to experience the thrill of driving a car, so their friend took them out into a large field where the person could safely drive. It was a heart warming story.

Rob: The Americanís With Disabilities Act requires that construction using federal funds have the facilities labeled in Braille. The ADA also requires most materials including ballots for elections to be provided in a variety of formats to accommodate persons with a disability.

Send in your questions to Rob and Roy at 14038 Hwy 19 Box 8 in Andrews NC 28901 or call at 321- 2494 or email at rburnette@ pathwayscil.org