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| LIVING WITH BLINDNESS |
Jim and Sue Wiygul Martin Sue Has Written a Book about her Life Now living in Springville, Alabama St. Clair County 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 Blindness and Low Vision Studies He again returned to W.M.U. to receive a second M.A. in Rehabilitation Teaching, through the Distance Education Program. Jim lives with Sue, her guide dog Kismet, and Sirius Black--the big black dog, and now Lukas the rescued Malamute/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 land of the dead on Wednesday, May 4, 2005. Beverly passed away on December 3rd, 2006 after a short illness. Sue and Jim's recent trip to Isle Royale National Park, Michigan We have new member of the family named Cheeto |
| 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: Out of the Whirlpool |
| Revised: continually. If you have any questions regarding blindness, low vision or access technology feel free to ask us. Who are we? My Space |
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| Jim and Sue now live in a big white house on thirteen acres in the woods of Springville, Alabama with their three dogs, one of whom is Kismet--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. |
| 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 Section 508 Amendment to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 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. In addition to being certified in low vision and orientation and mobility, Jim is also a Vision Rehabilitation Therapist. |
| 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. Blind Forum Maine |
| Jim enjoys hiking, organic gardening, dogs, cutting firewood, movies, and a good shot of bourbon. Some of his favorite links are: http://www.alternet.org www.truemajority.com Guide Dog Users,Inc. http://www.michiganlandtrust.org/ Jon Towne's web page Natural History http://www.michaelmoore.com/ Neil Young Veterans for Peace Scholars for 911 Truth Sue's interests include literature, music, plants, and hiking. |
| Recommended Internet sites for electronic texts The Gutenberg Project Bibliomania Home Bartleby Library, Great Books on Line Savetz's Unofficial Internet Public Domain Index Folklore, Myth, and Legend |
| Lukas |
![[Blind & VI Web Ring]](http://www.viguide.com/images/bvi1.gif)
