by Hillary McFadden
From the Editor: This article describes far too many situations in which blind people are environmentally integrated but not educationally integrated. We live at home, a plus. We attend school with our siblings, a plus. But too often when it comes to friends, we are alone. Is it the constant accompaniment of a paraprofessional some parents are so proud of getting but who is always around and gets in the way of friendships? Is it behaviors we can have identified and then change so people want to be our friends? Can we, like our sighted colleagues, find an event that gives our school experience enjoyment?
Hillary lives in Pennsylvania and is an active part of our Capital Chapter. Like many, she has faced the consequences of low expectations and writes about times in her ongoing effort to exceed them. Here is her article:
I write as a person who is completely blind and also on the autistic spectrum. At seventeen, I took up speed skating, having first heard about tryouts over the school intercom when I was sixteen. I attended Halifax High School on Peter’s Mountain Road and commuted from Harrisburg throughout my high school years. I must admit that I didn't particularly enjoy my time there. It wasn’t a school for the blind; it was a public school. The only classes I truly appreciated were Spanish, French I, chorus, and English. Regrettably, I wasn't permitted to take art due to my disability. Frankly, I found high school challenging: I struggled with math, didn’t attend my prom, and often felt isolated.
However, a silver lining appeared in the summer of 2000 when I participated in the WINGS program (Winning Independence Now Guarantees Success). This five-week initiative, tailored for blind teenagers aged fifteen to twenty-one, instilled in us the skills to live independently. It transformed my life.
Speed skating played a pivotal role in my life and my self-concept. Though not affiliated with my school, some of my peers showed interest. Prior to skating, I wasn't particularly athletic. My commitment to the sport, however, has led to multiple accolades, including gold, silver, and bronze medals in state games since 2001. One of my achievements even earned a feature on local news, now competing for a national news award.
Currently, I'm with the Special Olympics team previously known as Area M—I believe it's now the Capital Area Chapter, but I prefer the original name.
Speed skating has been tremendous for me, and I hope all of you who read this can find an activity that makes you feel good about life and gives you a real challenge. Before WINGS and my involvement with the National Federation of the Blind, I harbored self-limiting beliefs. Today, thanks to the Federation, I've grown and achieved so much.