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   Patricia Wagner of Portage (Kalamazoo County), age 74, has achieved a high level of independence through her own hard work and help from the MCB Independent Living Program. She's learned to use Braille for reading and labeling, an electronic device that identifies canned goods by scanning the bar codes, an electronic talking color identifier for clothing and other items, a talking microwave oven, a digital voice recorder for appointments and notes, and a computer with JAWS talking screen-reader software to use e-mail and the Internet. She is currently attending the residential MCB Training Center to improve her orientation and mobility skills (including using a cane, finding her way indoors and outdoors, using public transportation, and related skills). She is an active member of the local visually impaired seniors' support group and a member of the board of directors of the Michigan Foundation for the Blind and Visually Impaired. She also participates in fundraising activities for the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony.

   Dr. Ruta Sharangpani of Plymouth (Wayne County) became a client of MCB in the Vocational Rehabilitation Program when she was in high school. MCB provided training in skills of blindness and personal adjustment. She also attended the MCB College Prep Program at the MCB Training Center in Kalamazoo. After graduating from high school, she earned a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University in biology, graduating as one of the top students in her class. Her vocational goal was to be a physician. She went to medical school at Wayne State University, where she earned her MD degree with a specialty in internal medicine. She was employed at the Detroit Medical Center as an internist, and she is currently pursuing a master's degree in public health. Her goal is to work in the public health field.

   Diana Schmitthausler of Lansing (Ingham County) was skeptical at first of how much she could accomplish as a person with impaired vision. When she first started with MCB's Independent Living Program, she worked with an MCB rehabilitation teacher in her home and became proficient at labeling clothing and food packages and cooking simple meals. Eventually she agreed to try the residential MCB Training Center "only for one week-no more!" She changed her mind and stayed from September to Christmas break. When she returned home, she was once again an active member of her community. She goes to the local gym, and she enjoys bowling. She gardens, paints ceramics, does macramé, and volunteers at the Michigan Rehabilitation Council. When asked what surprised her the most about the whole adjustment process to being blind, she responded by saying, "I never thought I'd get out like other people, have a good time, and go bowling again." She is considering using her craft talents to start a business selling her works through a microenterprise business.

   Michael Reese of Canton (Wayne County) is currently employed as an information technology specialist (computer programmer) for the Internal Revenue Service. He came to MCB for training in skills of deafblindness in order to continue his current employment. Throughout his training in the MCB Vocational Rehabilitation Program, he has maintained his determination, sense of humor, and positive attitude even as deteriorating vision and hearing threatened his livelihood. He attended the residential MCB Training Center in Kalamazoo for five weeks to improve his Braille literacy, orientation and mobility, and computer skills, and his rapid progress constantly challenged his instructors to keep providing more advanced material. He has continued with correspondence classes through the Hadley School for the Blind, including calculus "for fun," and in the future he would like to teach mathematics courses for Hadley in addition to his job with the IRS. 

Mercedes Bell (no photo available) of   Republic (Marquette County) was discouraged when she first lost her vision, wondering how she could continue traveling, reading, cooking, and all her activities of daily life at home.  MCB helped her to adjust to her loss of vision at a week-long Mini Adjustment Seminar in Escanaba-one of several held each year at various locations around the state.  During the seminar and afterward, MCB staff helped her learn to use a cane and find her way on foot and with public transportation.   Through her own persistence, she's now a skilled traveler.  This past summer, Mrs. Bell traveled alone by bus from Republic to Clare and back to Republic.  She also enjoys cooking again, using new skills that she learned through the MCB Independent Living Program to work confidently and safely in her kitchen.

Lillian Knoll (no photo available) of Holland (Allegan County) is known for her endless drive and determination to keep active and keep working.  Throughout her experience with vision loss, she has had to adjust to several different eye conditions that affected each eye differently.  When she first became involved with the MCB Vocational Rehabilitation Program, she learned skills of blindness, computer skills including e-mail, and how to use adaptive devices such as magnifiers, a large print calendar, and on-screen computer magnification software.  Then, based on her interest in selling jewelry and other items, she worked with an MCB instructor to learning how to purchase and sell items on eBay.  She believed she could start a business and, with a lot of hard work, she did.  At age 77, in addition to her home-based business, she is an active member of her condo complex. 

   Nichole Nevorski  (Chesterfield Township), is a senior at Central Michigan University majoring in chemistry.  The Michigan Commission for the Blind provided adaptive devices and training to help her complete her class assignments more efficiently and independently.  She has been selected by the American Chemical Society to receive its national Overcoming Challenges Award.

   Jose Moreno  (Holland), who is deaf and blind, received training through the Michigan Commission for the Blind as a cabinetmaker, and he's currently employed at Great Lakes Woods in Holland.

  Carolyn Houston  (Flint) received services from the Michigan Commission for the Blind including computer screen text enlargement software, glasses, and computer training, which all helped her to maintain her employment and transition into full-time work.  She is currently employed full-time at Sam's Club as a product demonstrator, and there have been days when she's sold more of her product than anyone at any other member store nationwide for that day.

  Mamie Louisa Moore  (Detroit) is a professional seamstress who lost her vision due to glaucoma.  She received training from the Michgian Commission for the Blind and developed new skills that have allowed her to live independently in her home and community--and return to sewing.