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JULY 1999:
Louis Braille Award Participants Named
The 1999 Louis Braille Awards Ceremony, to be held October 13 at the St. Regis
Hotel (formerly the Ritz Carlton), will have Dr. Charles T. Lee, Jr. as
Honorary Chairperson. Dr. Lee retired from his Internal Medicine and Diabetes
practice in Chestnut Hill in 1991, but has remained active in volunteer
and community organizations. Dr. Lee is President of both the College of
Physicians and the Aid Association of the Philadelphia County Medical Society
and is a Founding Member and also Board Secretary of the Wissahickon Hospice.
The
Individual Award will be presented to Dr. Francis A. Salerno, the first
blind internist to be certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
A Temple University School of Medicine graduate, Dr. Salerno has been Chief
of Geriatrics at Lehigh Valley Hospital since 1990. He has been named Clinician
of the Year by the American Geriatrics Society, Physician of the Year by
St. Joseph's University, and was recognized by the American Medical Association
and the Pennsylvania Senate.
Cindy
Fastman will receive the Special Recognition Award for her role as advocate,
fundraiser, volunteer and supporter of ASB for over 20 years. Mrs. Fastman
also brailles textbooks for ASB. She has been a member of ASB's Board of
Directors since 1982, is Chairperson of the Volunteer Committee and heads
the Volunteer Braille Group.
The
Corporate Award will be presented to AT&T for their policies aimed
at people with disabilities. AT&T has introduced numerous products
and programs to help people with blindness and other types of disabilities.
They also implemented a hiring and training program for blind and visually
impaired individuals.
Contact
ASB's Public Relations Department at (215) 627-0600 ext. 3239 for more
information.
Tragedy to triumph
After a
long day of work, Dwayne Adams liked to relax on the Akfront steps of his
home, enjoying the summer breeze and the company of his neighbors. That's
how the evening of July 19, 1998,
began. It ended with gunshots and a stray bullet that entered his left
eye and lodged below his right cheekbone. "I felt like I was hit with a
baseball bat," he said. "I crawled up the steps and banged on the door.
My mother dialed 911, and before long I was in the emergency room."
Dwayne
was an innocent victim of someone else's rage-it cost him his left eye and most
of the vision in his right. It got him down for a while, but it never beat
him. He's simply too strong, too positive, too determined. "I decided to
get my life together again," he said. "I started by doing chores around
the house, and then decided I needed to work again." That's when Dwayne
enrolled in ASB's Personal Adjustment to Blindness Training program. Before
long he was learning keyboard and calculator skills, reading braille, and
traveling on his own. As a "people person" with a strong background in
customer services, Dwayne was
now ready for his own contracting business.
One
success led to another, and today he's making plans to purchase a second
business. And vision loss won't get in
his way-he won't let it. "Disability is a label that means you can't do
something,"
Dwayne says. "But it doesn't fit, as long as you're still functioning,
still living, still finding a way to get the job done." When it was suggested
that his story is a triumph, he said with self-assurance, "It's not over
yet."
A salute
to our guide dogs -- April 29
CEO
Pat Johnson presents a gift bag to guide dog "Ilene" during Guide Dog Appreciation
Day, April 29
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Volunteer Luncheon features
Ben Franklin
The
Annual Volunteer Recognition Celebration luncheon was held April 22nd at
the Doubletree Hotel to honor and thank those who unselfishly dedicate
their time to helping ASB fulfill it's mission. "Benjamin Franklin," the
keynote speaker, shared his thoughts on the value of giving, working together
and helping others. His amusing, yet touching, presentation included remindersto the audience of his role in the invention of bifocal glasses and
the creation of the first public library. Martha Moser, a past ASB client
and current volunteer, shared her experiences with vision impairment and
the help she received from ASB. Barbara Watson, a volunteer braillist for
37 years, spoke about how she enjoys brailling. Honored for their dedicated
years of volunteer service were Matilda Finn, with 40 years of service,
and Selma Brown and Helen Jenkins, who each have 25 years. Volunteer Committee
Members Connie Moore and Bette Jane Kleinbard presented door prizes donated
by the Doubletree, Best Western and Penn's View Hotels; Holiday Inn; Embassy
Suites; Spirit of Philadelphia; Fork Restaurant; Robbins 8th & Walnut;
NJ State Aquarium; and Planet Hollywood Atlantic City.
ASB welcomes new board
member
The Board
of Directors of ASB voted to accept Rudolph Thompson as the newest addition
to their group. Mr. Thompson is a graduate of the Overbrook School for
the Blind and the Manna Bible Institute. He also attended the Temple School
of Business and Public Administration, and retired in 1990 after 23 years
in the Taxpayer Service Division of the Internal 1*8 Revenue Service. Mr.
Thompson stays active as Chairman of the Executive Board of the Little
David Baptist Church, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania
Council of the Blind and Delaware Valley Council of the Blind.
A perfect gift
What better
way to say thank you or send a personal note than with "Two Roses" note
cards from Associated Services for the Blind? The
original artwork for the notecards is by blind artist Carol B. Saylor.
Ms. Saylor's work is featured in various exhibits and has won many awards. The
cards are $5 per package of eight. Contact the Volunteer Coordinator at
(215) 627-0600 ext 3275 to purchase a package.
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