MAY 2014
How do you spell success? C-A-R-R-O-L-L!
Tim credits his success with a belief in hard
work, perseverance, and the training he
received at The Carroll Center.
Timothy Vernon doesn’t let
blindness interfere with success. He
should know; he’s one of the top
customer service representatives for
NSTAR Gas and Electric
Corporation. He credits that success
with a belief in hard work,
perseverance, and the training he
received from the Carroll Center.
“e Carroll Center
provided orientation and
mobility training for me that
was thorough and specific to
my needs. Beginning in high
school, Orientation &
Mobility Specialists Richard
Roper and Joseph Kolb
helped me develop
confidence in traveling
independently with a white
cane. When I went on to
college at Fitchburg State,
they gave me an orientation
to the campus that was
invaluable. ey stayed in
touch with me throughout
my college years. When
NSTAR hired me, Richard
gave me an orientation to
the route to get there, and
took me around both inside
and outside the commuter
rail station, which is a very
large station.
“It takes me an hour and 15-20
minutes each way, every day to
commute to my job. My colleagues
are amazed when I tell them the
amount of planning and coordination
that goes into my daily commute. I
take a van from my house to the
commuter train, and then from the
train, another van to my job. It’s a
three-pronged approach that requires
organization to get from point A to
point B.”
e Carroll Center is also where
he learned JAWS. “Job Access With
Speech” is a computer screen reader
program for Microso Windows that
allows blind and visually impaired
users to read the screen with a textto-speech output. “Technology has
made so many things accessible and
attainable for people who are blind.
When I was a young boy, e Carroll
Center sent George Erickson to my
home so that I could learn to use
JAWS. is training helped prepare
me for college.”
Technology has made so many things
accessible and attainable for people
who are blind.
An avid braille enthusiast, Tim
won the Braille Challenge twice at e
Carroll Center, and went on to
(continued on page 3)
770 Centre Street • Newton, MA 02458-2597 • 800-852-3131 or 617-969-6200 (P) • www.carroll.org
UPCOMING
EVENTS
New Carroll Store Hours
ese days, it is hard to imagine
what life would be like without
technology. e phones that we used
to dial are now “smart”; typewriters
have morphed into computer screens
with keyboards and programs that
help us compose letters, handle
finances and look at pictures. Many
of us take these changes for granted
and just adapt.
But for those who are blind or
visually impaired, learning how to
use the newest technology can make
the difference between being a
productive member of society,
pursuing educational goals, or
spending one’s time cut-off from
the world.
At e Carroll Center, we have
made it our priority to make
technology training an important
element of our programs. And for
those, like Tim, Meghan and Peggy,
whom you will read about in this
newsletter, staying on top of the latest
advances in technology has given
them the opportunity to be
independent.
None of these advances and
courses for the blind or visually
impaired would be possible without
the commitment of our many
donors. One such couple, Jack and
Joanne McCarthy, has made e
Carroll Center a primary recipient of
their good fortune. For more than 45
years, Jack and Joanne have
supported e Carroll Center by
participating in the many activities
and by being major donors. Jack has
also been generous to e Carroll
Center with his time, serving as a
board member and advisor, helping
us shape our programs. rough
their generosity, and the generosity of
others, we are able to provide cutting
edge technology training, on campus
and through distance learning.
When you make a gi to e
Carroll Center for the Blind you are
helping children, adults and seniors,
from 3 to 103, lead independent and
productive lives. Every day we meet
extraordinary people, whose lives
have been turned upside-down
because of vision loss. You can help
them regain their lives. We’re
counting on you.
Best regards,
Joseph F. Abely
President
Effective April 21, 2014, the Carroll
Store will be closed on Mondays, open
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and open
Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
In addition to our new weekday hours,
we will be open Saturday, April 26, 2014
from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Information Day
In order to provide answers to many of
the questions people frequently ask
about our programs and other visual
impairment services, we hold monthly
information days on the first
Wednesday (May 7, 2014) of every
month. To make a reservation, email
Maureen Foley or call (800) 852-3131,
x225 with the name of each guest
attending (family and friends are
welcome!). Directions to the Carroll
Center can be found on our website.
Apple Monday Workshop
In order to help those who have an
iPhone (4, 4s, & 5) or are considering
making a purchase, the Carroll Center
hosts monthly Apple Workshops
on the first Monday of the month
(May 5, 2014) from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00
p.m. for $20.00 per person. See our
site for details.
Save the Date—2014 Carroll
Society Awards
Please join us on Thursday,
June 5, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. for
the 2014 Carroll Awards ceremony
and reception. Honorees will be
announced soon!
Carroll Center Summer
Programs!
ank you for supporting the Carroll Center.
For more information about all our programs
for the visually impaired or to donate visit us
at www.carroll.org.
A publication of the
Carroll Center for the Blind
Each summer, the Carroll Center
provides educational and fun programs
for students ages 8 to 21 that empower
students to develop socially,
academically, and independently during
the summer months. Early inquiries and
applications are encouraged. Check out
our site for details!
770 Centre Street • Newton, MA 02458-2597 • 800-852-3131 or 617-969-6200 (P) • www.carroll.org
How do you spell success? C-A-R-R-O-L-L! (continued from page 1)
compete in two national challenges. “I
believe thoroughly in the importance
of knowing braille,” he said. “As a
matter of fact, I use braille daily in my
job. Sometimes we are required to use
specific scripts when responding to
customers’ concerns. I keep mine in
braille in a 3-ring-binder on my desk
along with notes from meetings. I
have a PAC Mate with a braille display
that I use to take notes in meetings. I
can refer back to my notes in braille.”
When NSTAR changed their
email platform to a new system, they
contracted with e Carroll Center to
provide Tim with training. “Heather
Campbell, e Carroll Center’s
technology instructor, made sure I
was on an equal playing field with my
colleagues and was able to utilize the
program efficiently,” he said.
Tim shares the stage with Dr. Karen
Ross at an event on The Carroll
Center campus.
Richard, Joseph, Heather,
George—they are just some of the
many competent, caring professionals
at e Carroll Center who are
dedicated to Tim’s success. Add to that
a supportive family and Tim’s own
“can do” attitude, and together they
make a winning team!
“My cane is not going to be a
symbol of who I am”
Meghan’s story is one of triumph
over tragedy. Attractive, so spoken,
thoughtful in expression and
demeanor, her exterior belies the
number of challenges and medical
misfortunes that she has experienced.
is is compounded by her husband’s
brain injury from an accident sustained
while responding to a fire call. He was
not wearing a seat belt.
Meghan’s eye problems are likely a
result of a rare kidney disease. Her
symptoms represent similarities to
macular degeneration. Over a decade,
protein deposits on her retinas have led
to scaring, which in turn, cause blind
spots within her field of vision. Her
long-term prognosis is unknown. So
while she has some limited functional
vision now, she is preparing herself to
live her life as an independent mother,
wife, and teacher who is also blind.
“e sooner I can work on my
non-visual skills, the better off I will be.
My biggest fear is not being able to
continue providing for my family. It's
easy to press on when you're a mom,
though; my son motivates me to do all
of the things I need to do—even if I do
them in new ways. I will never let my
little boy down.”
“I view my blindness as a blessing
and not a curse. roughout this
journey I am getting stronger and
more knowledgeable about my
disability. is training I am receiving
at the Carroll Center is the nicest gi I
could have received. I figured you can
resign or you can run forward! e
beauty of tragedy is that perspective
becomes your source of power.”
e residential experience is a key
component of Meghan’s rehabilitation.
“Staying with a group of people sharing
similar life challenges is invaluable. I
gained confidence. I am still so very
afraid of the cane. But that cane is not
going to be a symbol of who I am.” e
many tools I now work with will give
me the ability to continue to do the
things I've always done. I have been
given the opportunity to inspire others.
“Why me? is not something I ask
myself. I try to take everything and
turn it into a blessing. I have to.”
“I can do all those things I could do
before and even more!”
“I am a teacher. I love to teach! I
came here very excited to participate in
the technology training. I can perform
tasks I could do before—many of them
even faster than I used to! I like the
position I’m in.”
“I’ve learned how to listen more
carefully and even how to be more
selfish. I am getting a second chance.”
“If I am given a chance I would
come back and promote this place
anytime. e way I see it, even if you
stumble, you’re still going forward. I
know I am going to stumble, but I will
take what I have learned and continue
to move in the right direction!"
770 Centre Street • Newton, MA 02458-2597 • 800-852-3131 or 617-969-6200 (P) • www.carroll.org
Why I
GIVE
“
I have been connected to The
Carroll Center for more than 45
years and have been a donor for
almost that long. Why? Because I
am in awe of the clients who come
here and how fearless they are. I
cannot begin to imagine what it is
like to live life as a blind person so I
want to do whatever I can to
support them in their efforts to live
productive and independent lives.
My association started when I
met Father Carroll, the founder of
this Center. He was a formidable
man with specific ideas on how to
provide rehabilitation services to the
blind. In fact, it was Father Carroll
who asked me to help with The
Carroll Center’s first Capital
Campaign. I realized how lucky I
have been and I wanted to help
others; in fact, I felt it was my
obligation.
Imagine not being able to see
your children or know whether it is
day or night. The Carroll Center
makes it possible for clients to
achieve better mobility by training
in fencing; they have relearned
how to use the kitchen safely and
efficiently and cook again for their
families. Clients here knew how to
do these things before and now
they have to relearn how to do
everything all over again.
Put your hands over your eyes
and try to match up your socks.
When you have no sight, it is hard
to do.
When I visit the Carroll Center, I
see strong, independent people
Jack McCarthy, former Board
member and long-time contributor
and supporter of The Carroll Center.
who, just like you and me, want a
chance to hold a job, care for a
family and contribute to society. I
am happy to support their efforts.
And I hope you will too.
“When I leave I will be independent”
Peggy Green could be anyone’s
grandmother, aunt, or next door
neighbor. She has a shock of white
hair, and a smile on her face that belies
the fact that she has been legally blind
since 1996. Aer taking prednisone for
more than 18 years, all of a sudden,
her eyes felt like they had needles in
them – a result of scar tissue that
developed over the years.
Not wanting to be a burden on her
husband or twin sons, she is at e
Carroll Center for a two-week
Essential Skills course. Some of these
skills include correct use of the cane,
organizational skills in the home,
including making the kitchen more
user friendly and learning to make
better use of the closet for putting
outfits together. Most importantly,
Peggy is learning how to cook again as
a blind person, using the stove,
measuring, cutting, and the like.
“is is such a wonderful
experience. It opens up so many
things. My first day was
overwhelming, but every day got
better. I realized I needed help with
organization and learned some tricks
on how I might remember to put
everything back in the same place and
to remind my husband he had to do
the same!”
”
“I couldn’t believe that I had the
wrong sized cane when I came here in
the beginning. But now, with a cane
that’s just perfect for me, I can move all
over the place. Nothing stops me.”
“is whole experience is very
rewarding. e teachers have such
caring hearts. ey want you to do
things yourself, experience success and
failure. ey are there to help you and
to pick you up if you falter.”
“For me, it was so nice to meet
people I could relate to and talk to. So
many doors have opened for me and
I’ve learned so much. I am in awe.
How blessed we are to be able to
come here.”
Peggy (in the green) working on
her Essential Skills training in the
kitchen with Carroll instructor
Hannah Fairbairn.
“I love these people so. I really
hate to leave. But when I do, I know I
will be able to walk with my perfect
cane and be as independent as the
next person.”