LIVING WITH BLINDNESS

Biographical Information





Jim is originally from Davison, Michigan. Check out Family History.  He graduated with a
B.A. in Geography/Environmental Studies in 1979 from Western Michigan University.  Jim
returned to W.M.U. in 1984 to pursue an M.A. in Orientation and Mobility, through the
Department of Blind Rehabilitation.   He again returned to W.M.U. to receive a second M.A.
in Rehabilitation Teaching, through the Distance Education Program.
He lives with Sue, her guide dog Kismet, and Sirius Black--the big black dog, and now Lukas
the rescued German Shepherd puppy..  Iris passed away on 2/02. She was nearly 17 years
old. Iris died a peaceful death.  Quoddy, Sue's second guide dog died on 5/02.  Her ashes are
scattered in Frenchman's Bay, Maine.  Silver Girl, puppy of Onaway, the Alaskan Malamute
went to the next life on Wednesday, May 4, 2005.   Beverly died on
December 3rd, 2006 after a short illness.
Some of Jim's story is written in:
http://www.michiganlandtrust.org/compilation/Jimmartin.html
Iris
Quoddy
Silver Girl, and
Sirius
Speaking of dog guides, check out the Pine Tree Guide Dog Users home page!
Sue grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. She was graduated from The University of the South with a B.A. in English.
Sue's great diversions in her youth were horses and kayaks. When Sue lost her sight in 1982, she had to learn
new ways for doing almost every life activity. Some of her story is written in:
Revised: continually.
To contact Jim write to:
ramblin_jim@yahoo.com

If you have any questions regarding blindness, low vision or access
technology feel free to ask us.

Who are we?
Jim and Sue now live in a big white house in the central Alabama woods with their three dogs, one of whom is
Beverly--from The Seeing Eye.
Here's the beginning of a compilation of sites offering electronic texts. You'll find everything from Shakespeare, Melville, and
Whitman to periodicals and newspapers.
In 1984 Sue enrolled in the Blind Rehabilitation program at Western Michigan University. She met Jim there and upon
her graduation with an M.A. in Blind Rehabilitation started life with a new dog guide, husband, and job all in the space
of four days.(quick thinking Miss Sue!)
Work Information
Jim is a Low Vision Therapist with the V.A.'s Southeastern Blind Rehabilitation Center.  
Sue recently was promoted to the position of Management Analyst, Section 508 Compliance,
Office of Information, Veterans Health Administration  
Blinded Veterans Association
Key responsibilities
Jim provides training in low vision to visually impaired veterans at SBRC.  This includes comprehensive functional testing and training with
eccentric viewing and a variety of low vision aids.  
He is also a certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist as well as a Rehabilitation Teacher.
Orientation and Mobility is the art and science of teaching blind and visually impaired people various techniques
of orientation (knowing where you are, where you are going, and how you are going to get there), and mobility
(walking safely and independently, using long cane, sighted guide, guide dog, and/or electronic travel aids.)
Sue insures that information technology developed by the Veterans Health Administration is
accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.
Sue and Jim have set up a mail list  for people who are blind or visually impaired.  To subscribe to the list, send a message to
blindforum_maine-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Please don't include a signature file in this message, since it only confuses the listserv.
You will promptly receive an acknowledgment of your subscription in return email.
SUE AND BEVERLY AT BAXTER STATE PARK
HOUSE IN ALABAMA
Silver Girl in living room
Beaver in sun room
sunset in Michigan
Sue and Beverly in Alabama at Christmas
Sue at The Seeing Eye with Beverly
Lukas
Additional photos can be found at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/RamblinJim