generationsT H E H A D L E Y S C H O O L F O R T H E B L I N D — E S T. 1 9 2 0

SPRING 2015

Back Cover: New

Low Vision Focus Audio Recordings

Coming Soon

Unified EnglishBraille

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Through the generosity of others, building on the past, bringing life-changing services to future generations

When The Hadley School for the Blind was founded in 1920, there were a number of residential schools for young children in this

country but few organizations serving adults who were blind or visually impaired. William Hadley’s goal to teach “braille by mail” to adults via correspondence was truly visionary. Nearly a century later, Hadley is proud to be a leader in teaching blind or visually impaired adults through accessible distance education, but we are most certainly a different organization than we were 95 years ago.

Today, we not only teach people who are blind or visually impaired, but also their sighted family members and professionals in the field. Technology has vastly changed how we deliver curriculum, and we are constantly adapting to meet the needs of our students and those who have yet to discover all that Hadley has to offer. With the new Low Vision Focus @ Hadley, we are expanding our services to reach the burgeoning older adult population experiencing age-related vision loss.

In light of these changes and our recently adopted strategic plan, we are undertaking a branding exploration with the potential for a name change, new tagline and logo.

Last summer, we convened a taskforce representing the administration, trustees, faculty and others to discuss the issues associated with a potential name change. One of the most important recommendations that the taskforce made

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

was to keep Hadley in the name, recognizing that “Hadley” has strong brand recognition in itself, especially within the blindness field. The second recommendation was to enlist the help of an outside branding agency to assist with research and recommendations. Hadley was able to secure pro bono consulting services from Leo Burnett Worldwide, an international advertising agency headquartered in Chicago. We began working with Leo Burnett in January to determine whether a name change is warranted and, if so, what the branding will like look moving forward. We also conducted our own research regarding messaging and positioning with faculty members, staff, funders and colleagues in the blindness and low vision community.

We recognize that our stakeholders are many, with varied perspectives about who we are and who we want to be as an organization in the future. Our goal is to engage our key stakeholders and be as transparent as possible, so we wanted to be sure that you, our donors, were made aware of this important initiative as it gets underway this year. Please know that no decision has been made concerning a name change. We will keep you apprised as the process unfolds.

In this issue of Generations, we share our plans for teaching Unified English Braille (UEB), an update to the braille code that was recently adopted by braille readers in the United States. Hadley has always been a leader in braille education, and we are proud to be taking the lead in teaching UEB to both tactile and sighted students. You will read about our 2014 Student Award Winners who joined us at our Annual Meeting in October and meet our two newest trustees. In addition, we are pleased to announce the first two recipients of our Entrepreneur of Excellence Certificate, developed in partnership with the National Association of Blind Merchants.

Your continued generosity enables Hadley to move forward with exciting new projects and initiatives that provide lifelong learning opportunities to thousands of people with vision loss around the world, as well as their support networks. Thank you for your commitment to Hadley and for your ongoing investment that makes our work possible.

Best regards,

Charles E. Young, President

CONNECT WITH HADLEY ON SOCIAL MEDIA!

Are you on Facebook or Twitter? Check out Hadley on social media and get the latest news from the school and the blindness community. Keep up-to-date on our latest courses, seminars, events and more!

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ thehadleyschoolfortheblindTwitter: www.twitter.com/thehadleyschool

Hadley has its own YouTube Channel! For a wealth of instructional videos which highlight accessibilty features of iOS, visit www.youtube.com/hadleyschool—your iPad or iPhone can do some cool things! The channel also features inspiring stories from our students.

2 | GENERATIONS — SPRING 2015 | THE HADLEY SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND

cards and magnifiers. Her father began reading to his wife and found it increasingly frustrating to realize this strong, competent woman could no longer take care of things. Julie said, “People just didn’t understand what was happening to my mother and became impatient.” Even her old friends didn’t follow up and withdrew,

leaving her lonely. Eventually, Julie’s parents moved to the Milwaukee Catholic Home where she could receive assistance. Julie commented that a support group would have been helpful and believes it’s easier to find one today with the help of the Internet.

Julie became a benefactor to Hadley following her mother’s passing in 2006. She says, “I feel

better doing something in my mother’s memory. Hadley is my main thing now. I like the fact that I am able to be more involved.” In 2014, the Wearys were co-hosts for a reception featuring Steve Beres, a blinded Iraq/

Afghanistan veteran who shared that Hadley gave him the confidence to go on after his vision loss. In February, Julie and Robie hosted a reception in Vero Beach in her mother’s honor to introduce the Low Vision Focus @ Hadley to area friends. Julie is impressed by all of Hadley’s programs that serve students throughout the country— “all from that little building.” She added, “Hadley is a wonderful resource that needs our support. Low vision is something that can happen to any of us as we age.” l

To learn how you can invest in Hadley’s educational programs or sponsor a course, contact Shari Burton at 847.784.2765 or shari@hadley.edu.

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

Hadley has long been part of Julie and Robie Weary’s family. The Wearys raised two sons in Northfield, Illinois and Julie’s earliest memory of Hadley was

buying holiday cards at the school. She began her writing career during this time after a simple comment from a teacher—“You should be a writer.” Julie said, “A little encouragement can go a long way.” Today she is a published author with a book and magazine articles to her credit.

Robie grew up in Hubbard Woods (Winnetka, Illinois), attending North Shore Country Day School just as his mother had. After college he enjoyed a sales and marketing career, eventually becoming a designer of trade show exhibits. Robie also served as police commissioner in Northfield for 13 years. One of his fondest memories was listening to Dr. Richard Kinney (Hadley’s deaf-blind president) speak at school assemblies. Robie’s mother, Joan, who passed in 2003, was very involved with Hadley’s Woman’s Board, serving as president from 1966-67; his father, Rollin, remains a loyal supporter today.

Julie grew up in Wisconsin where her family owned the Bidinger Music Store in Kenosha. As Julie’s mother, Virginia L. Bidinger, aged, she began to lose her vision due to high blood pressure which caused bleeding in the retina. As her condition grew steadily worse, the family didn’t know what to do. Julie came to Hadley one day and inquired about devices she could purchase. She learned Hadley does not sell equipment, but Rose, Hadley’s receptionist, passed on catalogs and other information that Julie said “was more helpful than she’ll ever know.” They purchased tape recorders with big buttons, large bridge

Julie & Robie WearyIn Her Mother’s Memory

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COVER STORY: UNIFIED ENGLISH BRAILLE

The Braille Authority of North America (BANA) recently adopted the Unified English Braille Code (known as UEB) and targeted January 2016 as the

date of the transition. Taking a leadership role, Hadley is developing courses that teach the recent changes to the braille code to both visual and tactile braille users.

So, what is different about UEB? Braille letters and numbers stay the same in the current literary code. UEB makes changes to punctuation, but most of the rules remain the same. The major change occurs in the use of contractions (as in contracted braille). UEB eliminates nine contractions, and others are used more often.

Hadley has created a team of experts to develop new braille courses and revise existing ones. Led by braille instructor Judy Matsuoka and senior curriculum designer and BANA representative Ruth Rozen, Hadley activated a new course in January called “Transitioning to Unified English Braille.” The course provides a structured approach to learning the difference between EBAE (English Braille American Edition) and UEB. Examples and exercises help students progress easily and transition to the new code.

Hadley Takes the Lead in Teaching UEBThe transition course is currently available in

braille and large print to students in Hadley’s Adult Continuing Education/High School Program and Family Education Program, free of charge, on an ongoing basis. Thanks to a generous gift from the American Printing House for the Blind, the course is also free of charge to professionals through the end of 2015. While an online version is in development, the course already has proven to be popular—more than 500 pre-enrollments were taken prior to activation in January.

“Hadley is proud to be at the forefront of providing training on UEB,” says Hadley President Chuck Young. “To this day, braille represents our most popular courses. Instruction in UEB is central to our mission and meets a critical need for both sighted and tactile learners.”

Hadley is currently updating two existing courses, “Braille Literacy 3” (for tactile users) and “Introduction to Braille” (for sighted users). In time for BANA’s implementation of UEB in 2016, Hadley will update “Braille Literacy 4” (for tactile users) and “Contracted Braille” (for sighted users). l

The Hadley School for the Blind is pleased to announce the addition of two new members to its Board of Trustees. Jeffrey Willian was nominated and approved at the Annual Meeting in October and Dr. Michael Stosich was nominated and approved at the board meeting in December.

Mr. Willian is a senior partner with the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis in Chicago and has been with the firm for approximately 27 years, serving as a trial lawyer in its litigation area. A Winnetka native who now lives in Glencoe, Illinois, he received his B.S. in finance from Miami University and J.D. from American University. His

wife, Marchell, is also a lawyer and Hadley trustee, as is his father Clyde. His mother, Patti, was a past trustee, a member of Hadley’s Woman’s Board and founder of the Friends of Hadley. Mr. Willian has three children and a number of interests, including golf, fishing, running, reading and hiking.

Michael Stosich, DMD, is an orthodontist in private practice in Grayslake and Kenilworth, Illinois, as well as a craniofacial orthodontist with The University of Chicago Hospital and Comer Children’s Hospital, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. He is also a faculty member with The University

of Chicago. Dr. Stosich received his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Illinois; M.S. from Columbia University; Doctor of Dental Medicine, M.S. in Oral Biology and Orthodontics Speciality Certificate from Temple University School of Dentistry and University of Pennsylvania. He is a member of a dozen professional organizations, has received numerous awards and is a sought-after presenter in his field. Dr. Stosich actively supports the Smiles Change Lives Foundation, Smiles for Service and Fresh Start Caring for Kids Foundation. He lives in Wilmette, Illinois with his wife, Gerel, who is a dentist, and their new baby boy.

HADLEY WELCOMES NEW TRUSTEES

4 | GENERATIONS — SPRING 2015 | THE HADLEY SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND

FORSYTHE CENTER FOR EMPLOYMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP

In February 2014, the Forsythe Center for Employment and Entrepreneurship (FCE) announced

a partnership with the National Association of Blind Merchants (NABM), an advocacy association of blind people who are self-employed as Randolph-Sheppard vendors. The Randolph-Sheppard Act is a federal law which mandates a priority to blind persons to operate vending facilities on federal property. There are about 2,100 Randolph-Sheppard vendors in the United States who manage vending facilities, gift shops and cafeterias in government buildings, military bases and interstate rest stops.

The NABM issues certificates designating a Randolph-Sheppard vendor as an Entrepreneur of Excellence, upon completion of online Hadley courses. Randolph-Sheppard vendors use this certification as proof of continuing education, which may aid in obtaining better work sites.

The first two students to complete the program were recognized at NABM’s Business Leadership and Superior Training (BLAST) Conference in November 2014.

Heather Schey was born with retinitis pigmentosa, an inherited, degenerative eye disease that leads to blindness. She has completed her

Entrepreneurs of Excellence entrepreneurship training and is ready to open her business—a vending facility offering coffee, sandwiches and salads.

“My business has given me a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Although I had a background in customer service, the courses provided me with in-depth knowledge,” says Heather.

Gary Nelson’s family has been involved in the Randolph-Sheppard Vendor Program since 1958. Over his 27-year career, Gary has run varied businesses, from small snack bars to large-scale cafeterias. Since 1992, his business, Liberty Enterprises, has had 12-14 locations with a total of 80 employees.

Together with Kevan Worley, the executive director of NABM, Gary serves as the co-chair of the committee of operators working with Colorado’s Business Enterprise Program (BEP).

As a leader in the industry, Gary enrolled in the FCE to earn his Entrepreneur of Excellence certificate, to serve as an ambassador for the program and share firsthand his knowledge with other vendors. Gary sees the Randolph-Sheppard Program

FCE DONORS

Sandy and Rick Forsythe Bernard A. Newcomb Foundation Fred J. Brunner Foundation Martin and Mary L. Boyer Foundation Alliant Credit Union Foundation Siragusa Foundation GCM Grosvenor VisionCorps Foundation Martin and Susan Kozak Fund Mr. Omer G. Voss, Jr. Mr. M. Gray Stevens Mr. & Mrs. Scott B. Dickes Mr. & Mrs. Garrick M. Rice

as one of the best career opportunities for visually impaired individuals. “If you have an entrepreneurial spirit and put effort into it, you can be very successful with the vending program. Hadley provides you with the tools you need to achieve that success.”

Hadley and NABM have now launched national Business Enterprise Program Licensee Training (BEPLT). The BEPLT consists of a series of 11 Hadley online business modules that cover the classroom portion of BEP training. Topics range from vending management to customer service. l

Heather Schey and Gary Nelson, the FCE’s first recipients of the Entrepreneurship of Excellence Certificate

A gift to Hadley doesn’t have to be a one-way proposition. With a Charitable Gift Annuity, you can help support Hadley’s mission and have an income stream for life with valuable income-tax benefits. A gift annuity is simply a contract between you and Hadley, whereby you give the school a specified amount of money (minimum of $10,000 cash or appreciated stock). You receive a charitable tax deduction, and Hadley makes annual payments to one or more beneficiaries (annuitants). For more information or to receive a personalized Summary of Benefits, please contact Shari Burton, 847.784.2765 or shari@hadley.edu.

GIVE A GIFT AND RECEIVE AN INCOME

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Bonnie Hibel began losing her sight in 1999 from ischemic optic neuropathy, a loss of the structure and function of the optic nerve, due to obstruction

of blood flow to the nerve. It is sometimes referred to as “stroke of the optic nerve” and results in loss of visual acuity and field of vision.

Bonnie was 58 when her sight loss began and was not ready to give up working. Her career in the computer industry ranged from programming to training. After completing basic orientation and mobility training, she learned adaptive techniques and how to use accessible software like ZoomText, a magnification and screen reading program. She then worked with the National Telecommuting Institute until retiring at age 72.

Bonnie now lives at Sun City, an active lifestyle residential community for adults age 55 and over in Huntley, Illinois. There she runs a low vision support group called M’Eye that has about 20 members. They meet regularly to discuss coping strategies and topics important to those living with low vision.

As someone who has been living with sight loss for 15 years, Bonnie is eager to help others realize that low

Support Group Leader Empowers Membersvision doesn’t have to stop them from doing the things they love.

Bonnie was looking for a resource for her next M’Eye meeting and discovered the Low Vision Focus @ Hadley (LVF).

“I love the LVF audio lessons because they focus on simple, everyday tasks that one can easily relearn when they lose their

sight—cooking, laundry or labeling medications. When they realize they can still do these things, it gives them the confidence and self-esteem needed to move on and remain independent,” she explains.

Bonnie says she never stops learning, making a point each year to take on a new challenge—even something simple. This year, she created her own adaptive techniques that have allowed her to paint her nails.

Bonnie says the resources offered by the LVF give common sense solutions to alleviate the fear that can come from losing one’s sight.

“Instead of saying, ‘I can’t see, I can’t cook anymore,’ you learn that you can, and that’s what the LVF offers—ways to learn that you can,” says Bonnie. l

See a complete listing of the free Low Vision Focus Audio Recordings available on the back cover of this issue.

You have to choose to move forward and

learn new waysof doing things

LOW VISION FOCUS UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP

Doug Anzlovar, Dean of Educational Programs and Instruction at Hadley, has assumed, on an interim basis, the additional responsibility of the management and leadership of Low Vision Focus @ Hadley, following the departure of Tom McCarville. A Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist (CVRT), Doug joined Hadley as a faculty member in 2008 and was promoted in 2011. He will be responsible for overseeing the rollout of the Low Vision Focus @ Hadley, including the development and distribution of new resources to support older adults with age-related vision loss, including audio recordings focused on adaptive living skills, new videos and webinars. He will also help develop partnerships with other agencies to reach consumers, caregivers and professionals in the field.

LOW VISION FOCUS @ HADLEY

6 | GENERATIONS — SPRING 2015 | THE HADLEY SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND

Hadley Recognizes Student Achievements

For more than 50 years, Hadley has presented student awards at its Annual Meeting. Winners are chosen for outstanding achievement. In 2014, Hadley’s

seven award winners included a small business owner; a veteran; a braille reader with macular degeneration; a teacher of the visually impaired; a farmer working toward a high school degree; a grandmother supporting her blind grandson; and a special education teacher from India who is the mother of a blind daughter.

Student of the Year AwardJeanette McAllister, VAJeanette McAllister lost her sight suddenly in 2010. She heard about Hadley and decided to enroll to learn braille to retain her literacy. Jeanette is the founder and president of A Heart Staffing, a professional job placement firm. She now uses braille every day in her work. “Hadley has furthered my career in more ways than I could have ever imagined,” says Jeanette.

Donald Wing Hathaway Lifelong Learning Award Sammie Clay, DCPrior to losing her sight due to glaucoma, Sammie Clay was in the United States Air Force for 20 years. She learned about Hadley through the VA in West Haven, Connecticut. Sammie has taken 19 Hadley courses since 2004. “Hadley and my BrailleNote make it possible for me to live and work in the 21st century,” says Sammie.

Dean W. Tuttle Professional Education AwardKathy Blake, NHKathy Blake first enrolled at Hadley to learn braille, which led to her decision to pursue a graduate degree in Vision Studies. She now works as a teacher of the visually impaired (TVI). “I love seeing collaboration between a student who reads braille music and their sighted peers. The cohesion and integration because of access is critical in the lives of all students,” says Kathy.

Richard Kinney Challenge of Living AwardGary Griffin, INGary Griffin began losing his vision at age eight due to a hereditary condition. He dropped out of school at age 16 and worked on a farm for many years until his vision loss prevented him from performing his job safely. He decided to enroll at Hadley to earn his high school diploma. “I realized that whether I liked it or not, the world was going into the future, with or without me.”

International Student of the Year AwardAnnapurna Maruvada, IndiaWhen Annapurna learned that her daughter, Rashimi, would be blind, she had many questions and doubts, until she learned about Hadley. “When I got my first course materials, I couldn’t believe it. Suddenly, there was all the information I’d been looking for.” Annapurna was inspired to become a special educator and now works for the Society for the Visually Handicapped in India.

Braille Student of the Year AwardPatricia Kingwell, FLPatricia developed macular degeneration four years ago and panicked at the thought of being unable to read. “I’ve always loved to read. People said that I didn’t have to learn braille because I could get books on tape, but that wasn’t the answer for me.” At age 70, she started taking piano lessons and plans to take Hadley’s braille music course.

Robert J. Winn Family Education AwardKimberly Common, FLKimberly Common’s six-year-old grandson, Jerry, has been blind since birth. Kimberly wanted to take an active a role in her grandson’s development, so she enrolled at Hadley to learn braille and other skills to support him. “The Hadley School for the Blind has been the biggest contributor of my focus on Jerry’s vision impairment journey,” says Kimberly. l

Read more about Hadley’s Student Award Winners and watch our student story videos at hadley.edu/students.

Front Row: Sammie Clay, Patricia Kingwell; Back Row: Kathy Blake, Kimberly Common, Jeanette McAllister, Annapurna Maruvada

STUDENT AWARD WINNERS

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The Hadley School for the Blind700 Elm StreetWinnetka, IL 60093-2554 USA

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LIFE

LONG LEARNIN

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SINCE 1920

The Hadley School for the Blind

Making the Kitchen User FriendlyMaking the kitchen safe and functional; clearing clutter

Low Vision CookingSafety techniques to make cooking enjoyable

Doing Simple Kitchen TasksMake daily kitchen and household tasks easier

Basic Tactile MarkingUsing various materials to create tactile markers— marking different household items to distinguish them

Simple Home ModificationsStrategies to make your household low vision-friendly

Getting Around the HouseTechniques to increase indoor mobility at home

Looking Your BestPersonal care tips for yourself and in your home

Keeping Prescriptions in OrderGetting and managing your prescription routines

Going Out for a MealTips and tricks to go out and enjoy a meal in public

Going Out with a FriendNavigate places and situations outside of your home

low vision focus@ H A D L E Y

NEW AUDIO RECORDINGS

Hadley recently updated a series of 10 audio recordings about adaptive living skills as part of its new Low Vision Focus. The recordings are free and soon will be available on CD:

Find out more at LowVisionFocus.org or call 855-830-5355.

Audio Recordings will be available April 15th