Catherine Kudlick

Catherine Kudlick

Catherine Kudlick

From the Editor: Dr. Kudlick is a

professor of history at the University of California at Davis. She grew up struggling with

low vision but having none of the techniques and supports to assist her to live and work

efficiently. Even though she has now regained much of her vision, she recognizes in

retrospect how much she would have benefited from participation in the National Federation

of the Blind. The Kernel Books have played a significant role in her growing understanding

of herself and visual impairment. This excerpt from an e-mail message demonstrates the

impact Dr. Jernigan had on people he never met:

Dear Barbara,

I read Dr. Jernigan's obituary in yesterday's New

York Times and wanted to express my sorrow to you and the NFB. As you know, I'm very new

to lots of this, but in the past year a man I never had the good fortune to meet touched

me very deeply. It will always be one of my great regrets that I hadn't come to terms with

my vision stuff soon enough to have been able to talk to him about history and the rest,

but I guess he talked to me, and sometimes dialogues are serial; I feel that I will carry

much of what he said into my interactions with students, colleagues, friends, and others,

and we will do the talking instead. . . .

I know you are beyond busy, so don't feel you

have to write back anytime soon. It's just good to be able to write to you, and I was

thinking of you and all the sadness around the loss of Dr. Jernigan, so there. Best of

luck in the days and weeks ahead.

Catherine Kudlick