Fall 2009 Generations The Hadley School for the Blind – est. 1920 Through the generosity of others, building on the past, bringing life-changing services to future generations Photo: Ben Hayford reads to George Abbott, Hadley’s vice president of Development and Communications, in The Marylou Hayford Sensory Garden at The Hadley School for the Blind A letter from the President For every time there is a season. As we approach this season of giving, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the past year and the ongoing loyalty and support we’ve received from our donors. The Hadley Woman’s Board, Trustees, foundations, corporations and, most importantly, individuals like you have allowed us to continue our exemplary program of distance education, meeting the needs of more than 10,000 students around the world who are blind or visually impaired. You will meet some of those students in this issue of Generations—Hadley’s 2009 Graduates and our Braille Student of the Year, Jacqueline Anderson. Last spring, through the generosity of the Hayford family and many others, we dedicated The Marylou Hayford Sensory Garden, a space for beauty and solace and a new focal point welcoming visitors to our school. We subsequently dedicated the garden fountains in honor of the late Patti Willian, who founded the Friends of Hadley and was an active and longtime steward of our school. We also celebrated Louis Braille’s 200th birthday in a big way this summer. We hosted a Bastille Day garden party and celebration with the French Institute of the North Shore and a book signing and discussion with C. Michael Mellor, author of Louis Braille: A Touch of Genius with our neighbor, The Book Stall at Chestnut Court. We were also honored to host the Louis Braille Bicentennial Traveling Exhibit produced by National Braille Press. Through these activities we generated awareness for the wide variety of programs and services Hadley offers and invited the community to learn about our most unique organization. I hope you enjoy this issue of Generations. On behalf of our students, faculty and staff, thank you for your ongoing commitment to Hadley. From season to season, we do what we do because of you. Best regards, Charles E. Young President Donor Spotlight Charlotte Lindon: A Legacy of Giving Glenview resident and retired clinical psychologist Charlotte Lindon is continuing the legacy of giving begun by her Russian-born grandfather, Joseph Phillipson. Mrs. Lindon recalls the moment that inspired her philanthropy. She was attending a lecture by Holocaust survivor and author Elie Wiesel, who asked, “If you could bring one person back from heaven, who would it be?” “Instantly, it was my grandfather, whom I had never met,” she says. “What inspired me was that he came to this country without his family, education, money or a knowledge of English but, when he died at age 41, had the largest department store outside of the Chicago loop. It wasn’t the fact that he was so successful financially, but that when he died there were letters from all of the benevolent organizations that he helped found and support. This man was from such an impoverished background and could still give to charity—that was what really impressed me.” Mrs. Lindon’s interest in supporting Hadley stems from personal experiences. Her husband’s mother and grandfather were blind. In addition, she grew up with a brother who had a developmental disability. Her first grant to Hadley was directed to a course on macular degeneration because many of her friends have been afflicted with the condition. “My orientation is to make life a little better for people with disabilities,” she says. Mrs. Lindon’s association with Hadley also led to the discovery that her grandfather’s cousin was Dr. Jacob Bolotin, who was born blind and overcame tremendous obstacles to become a prominent doctor in Chicago in the 1920s. Dr. Bolotin’s brother, also blind, was a successful businessman. Through the Elick and Charlotte Lindon Foundation, Mrs. Lindon has made grants to Hadley to support the development of a variety of other courses such as “Glaucoma,” “Self- Esteem and Adjusting with Blindness,” courses for parents of children who are blind and literacy curriculum. “I think giving must have been in the back of my mind even when I was young. Today I enjoy it so much. Every time I make a contribution I feel really good.” Hadley’s High School Graduates Share Their Success Stories Graduation provides a wonderful opportunity for donors, faculty and staff to meet our students and their families and celebrate their achievements. We asked our graduates to write an essay about their challenges, interests and future plans. We’re pleased to introduce our 10 graduates from the Class of 2009. Anna Bolino, of California, was born visually impaired due to retinopathy of prematurity. At Hadley, she enjoyed being able to work at her own pace with supportive teachers. Her favorite courses were “General Science” and “Self-Esteem and Adjusting with Blindness,” which she says helped her to open up more and express her feelings. Anna attributes her success to the support and encouragement of her father. Her future plans include guide dog training and pursuing a bachelor’s degree online. Dixie Brown, of New York, was in third grade when her visual impairment was recognized by a teacher. By the time she was properly diagnosed with glaucoma, her condition was too advanced to treat with surgery. At 19, she was offered a recording contract to sing and go on tour, but her vision problems made her feel tentative about traveling. Fifty years later, Dixie is proud to have received her diploma from Hadley. The courses she enjoyed most were “The Human Eye,” “U.S. History” and “American Government.” She says she now feels more confident engaging in discussions about world events. Her future plans include cooking and catering. Louise Craft, of Pennsylvania, wanted to be the first in her family to graduate, but in tenth grade her stepfather took her out of school. Louise turned to prescription drugs and alcohol at an early age to dull the pain of a series of tragedies, including the loss of an eye. She tried to earn a GED but found it difficult to obtain while battling an addiction. Her wake-up call came in 1984 when she realized she had three children at home who needed her. With guidance from her AA sponsor, Louise turned to Hadley to earn her diploma. She says Hadley improved her self-esteem and quality of life and made her realize what she had missed. Russell Dyer, of Florida, was encouraged to enroll at Hadley by his mom, who discovered the school while researching educational options to help him earn a high school diploma. By 2002, Russell had lost most of his vision and was considered legally blind. Surgery has restored some vision, and he now relies on magnifiers to read large print. “In the past, I lacked motivation to earn my diploma,” Russell says. “After my vision loss, I realized I needed an education so that I wouldn’t have to rely on others for the rest of my life. This inspired me to persevere through Hadley’s courses.” Russell plans to continue his education at his local community college. Paige Hardin, of Georgia, was born blind as a result of an underdeveloped optic nerve. After much research, she and her parents decided Hadley was the best place for her to earn her high school diploma. “My parents and Hadley’s instructors were very supportive,” she says. “I liked the courses. Quitting was never an option.” Receiving her high school diploma has helped Paige improve the quality of her life by moving her closer to reaching her goals. “I’m a more educated, independent person, and I can go to college,” she says. Christopher Harper, of Indiana, was also born blind as a result of an underdeveloped optic nerve. He has some light perception and can see shadows. Christopher heard about Hadley from his communications teacher and enrolled in the High School Program in 2001. Chris’ favorite Hadley course was “Introduction to Personal Psychology.” He enjoyed learning about how the mind works and the impact of various disorders. Earning his diploma was a big goal for Chris. “Since I have earned it, I feel much better about myself,” he says. Jesse Mulock, of California, was born with cataracts. He had surgery on both eyes as an infant and now wears glasses to help him see better. Jesse enrolled with Hadley after his father heard about the school on the radio. He was very glad to be able to complete his coursework online. “Hadley was much easier because I got to choose the media I preferred,” he says. Earning a diploma is an important step for Jesse in pursuing a college degree and a career developing video games. Laura Parshley, of New York, had just turned 15 when she discovered she had a visual impairment. Her dreams of joining the air force or simply being able to drive a car dissolved, and she feared she would be unable to do many things on her own. At 16, Laura went to live with her father. For a few years she struggled with school and felt unsure about what to do with her life. She feels fortunate to have found Hadley and worked hard to earn her high school diploma. Laura is now living on her own, attending The Maui School of Therapeutic Massage and beginning a new, self-sufficient life. She says, “Life is good.” Jessica Pitzer, of North Carolina, was born blind due to congenital glaucoma, aniridia and bilateral Peters’ Anomaly. At 2, she began learning braille and started orientation and mobility training. At 8, she says she put her hands on a computer for the first time “and away I flew.” Jessica heard about Hadley from her guidance counselor at the Missouri School for the Blind. She had attended numerous high schools in different states but finished her coursework at Hadley because it was produced in an accessible format. Some courses were challenging, Jessica says, but she learned from all of them. Her typing, spelling and grammar also improved. Jessica’s future plans include traveling with her guide dog and learning computer programming. Before she began Hadley’s High School Program, Megan Tate, of Mississippi, says she had a dislike for school and learning. Hadley’s courses helped her fall in love with learning. That love and the constant encouragement of her grandparents served as her motivation. Megan’s visual impairment has had a positive impact on her life. People who hear her music say she is an inspiration and “an example of what God can do and how you can persevere in spite of what some view as a handicap.” Megan says Hadley taught her skills she uses daily. She appreciates the attentiveness and support of her instructors. She is studying theology at Liberty University in Virginia and pursuing a career as a fiction writer and southern Gospel singer. Meet Young Visionary Ginny Hiltz Virginia “Ginny” Hiltz is co-chair of the Young Visionaries, Hadley’s board of young professionals. She and co-chair Matt Barden have led the group since summer 2008 to successfully organize several friend- and fund-raising events. Hiltz was introduced to Hadley while teaching second grade at Greely Elementary School in Winnetka. Several parents encouraged her to learn about Hadley and educate her students about the school’s role in local history. In 2007, just as Hiltz was recruited to the Young Visionaries board, her grandmother was diagnosed with macular degeneration. “It became clear to me that there were a multitude of both personal and professional reasons to support Hadley’s efforts,” she says. Over the past two years, Hiltz has also served the school as a Bookshare volunteer and a participant in the annual Hounds for Hadley dog walk, which raises funds to support Hadley’s programs and services. Her enthusiasm for this year’s walk inspired the Young Visionaries to participate in the event as a presenting sponsor. “Serving as a member of the Young Visionaries gives me the opportunity to work with motivated young professionals, facilitate great fund-raising events and help educate my peers about Hadley’s mission,” Hiltz says. “It’s truly a pleasure to support such a great organization.” Hiltz is now the assistant director of academics at Galapagos Charter School in Chicago. Hadley Receives RSA Commissioner’s Award, Several New Grants Hadley has received the prestigious Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Commissioner’s Award for Excellence in Rehabilitation Education and Training. This award recognizes programs that support the state-federal vocational rehabilitation (VR) program, honoring excellence in effective partnering among state agency, educational and federal leaders. The award was given in recognition of the Hadley School’s ongoing commitment to braille instruction and its innovative braille teaching and training. “For nearly a century, Hadley has been teaching braille at no cost to people who are blind or visually impaired and their families around the globe,” said Hadley President Chuck Young. “By offering braille instruction at a distance with personalized attention from highly-qualified instructors, we are doing something unlike any other organization.” Hadley also received another $500,000 government grant ($100,000 per year for five years) to continue providing braille education to professionals in the field. Effective October 1, the grant helps address the current crisis in braille literacy. Hadley received a $100,000 grant from the Bernie Newcomb Foundation for a curriculum focused on Entrepreneurship. Newcomb, a successful entrepreneur and founder of e-Trade, is legally blind and an advocate for blind and visually impaired individuals. In addition, the American Express Foundation awarded Hadley a $20,000 grant to develop a new International Executive Leadership Institute that will feature practical advice and real-world examples from blind CEOs and other visually impaired leaders. The grant complements the substantial support given by Hadley Trustee Sandy Forsythe and her husband Rick to launch this initiative. Braille Student of the Year Discovers a Tactile World Jacqueline Anderson, Hadley’s 2009 Braille Student of the Year, is a Hadley success story. At 21 she was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic condition that gradually leads to night blindness and tunnel vision. Anderson’s condition did not immediately affect her life, other than restrict her from driving at night. She spent the next eight years working as a neonatal nurse before moving to the Chicago suburbs with her husband Bob to raise a family. But as her vision gradually worsened, she and her family had to make many difficult adjustments. Anderson lost her driver’s license and had to find a nursing job within walking distance of her home. She couldn’t drive her children to activities and events. Simple tasks, such as navigating the grocery store, became challenging. Eventually, no longer able to read print, she was forced to give up her nursing career. “When my vision loss affected my work five years ago it was downright depressing and overwhelming,” Anderson says. “I knew I needed to be more aggressive about dealing with it.” Anderson enrolled in her first Hadley course, “Birdsong Tutor,” in 2006. The course made her realize how much of the world she could experience tactilely. Since then, she has completed four of Hadley’s braille courses, as well as “The Human Eye,” “Internet Basics” and “Self-Esteem and Adjusting with Blindness.” “Hadley’s courses and my instructors have reinforced the concept that with perseverance, I can incorporate braille into my daily life,” Anderson says. Anderson’s new braille skills enable her to read stories to her grandchildren, Conner and Abby; she keeps a stack of children’s books on the table next to her couch. She has also begun to label personal items and household appliances, such as her microwave. She is currently enrolled in “Experience Braille Reading,” her fifth Hadley braille course. “Hadley has given me a lot,” Anderson says. “This award gives me the platform to tell the world how wonderful Hadley is. I want the school to be recognized so that others may benefit.” Hounds for Hadley Dog Walk a Howlin’ Success! On October 24, we held our 4th annual “Hounds for Hadley” dog walk. Presented by Harris Bank Winnetka and Hadley’s Young Visionaries, this fun-filled community event brought costumed dogs and their owners out on a fall morning for a pre-Halloween two-mile walk complete with trick or treating, raffle prizes, refreshments, vendor booths and more. This year’s walk attracted more than 20 sponsors, double that of previous years. The school offered fundraising incentives and encouraged participants to register and donate online. Thanks to all who made this year’s event a howlin’ good time! Visit www.hadley.edu/hounds for more information, to view photos or donate. Save the Date! December 3 & 4, 9:30 am – 5 pm The Woman’s Board of The Hadley School for the Blind Holiday Book Fair The Book Stall at Chestnut Court 811 Elm Street, Winnetka A portion of all sales are donated to the Hadley School. Saturday, April 24, 7:30 p.m. Spring From Darkness Into Light a concert to benefit The Hadley School for the Blind Nichols Concert Hall at The Music Institute of Chicago 1490 Chicago Avenue, Evanston $25 / $15 for persons 17 and under Visit www.hadley.edu/concert for details. Purchase tickets online or call 800-323-4238. The Hadley School for the Blind Woman’s Board 2009 Braille Holiday Card Sale Through December 17 In the Hadley tradition, the Holiday Card and Photo Card will carry the greeting “Wishing you peace, happiness and the spirit of the season” in both print and braille. The front sides of both cards are embossed. Order online at www.hadley.edu/holidaycard. Visit our lobby at 700 Elm St., Winnetka weekdays, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. or call 800-323-4238. Imprinting available at an additional cost. Proceeds benefit The Hadley School for the Blind. Our mission: To promote independent living through lifelong, distance education programs for people who are blind or visually impaired, their families and blindness service providers. The Hadley School for the Blind 700 Elm Street Winnetka, IL 60093-2554 USA Change Service Requested