[PHOTO/CAPTION: Megan O'Rourke]

[PHOTO/CAPTION: Megan O'Rourke]

The Braille Monitor

May, 2002

(back)

(next) (contents)

Why

Did They Let Her Do It?

by Peggy Elliott and Megan O'Rourke

From

the Editor: Peggy Elliott is Second Vice President of the National Federation

of the Blind and President of the NFB of Iowa. She persuaded Megan O'Rourke

to tell this anecdote, and she wrote an introduction. Here both are:

When she wrote this little story,

Megan O'Rourke was a blind high school senior in New Florence, Missouri, about

to graduate with her high school Class of 2001. It tells volumes about her determination.

Megan lost her sight as a teen-ager and had to decide whether she would face

this change in her life with resignation or fire. Megan obviously chose fire

and lit the first flame under herself. Other blind people easily recognize the

link between learning to read and demanding more of oneself in other areas.

When a blind person cannot do tasks for herself like jotting down notes, larger

life challenges can appear to be insurmountable. Megan met the challenge of

reading and then a bigger, more difficult one. Blind people are sometimes affected

by what President Bush calls the "soft bigotry of lowered expectations,"

and as a result we sometimes demand less of ourselves than we should. Megan

has learned the lesson young and well that she should expect of herself the

highest and best she can imagine. Her few words paint a picture not only of

determination but, unforgettably, of a blind person fully and freely participating

in the life around her. Here is her small, yet very big story:

When I started middle school, my eyesight

began to worsen. I began getting my books on tape and took on the challenge

of learning Braille. It felt as if I were back in kindergarten, learning to

read all over again. But I was determined not to give up on myself. I kept working

hard, and I finally succeeded in learning to read again.

Around this time I also took on another

challenge. I decided to try cheerleading. Many people thought this would be

too much for me to handle, but I was determined to prove them wrong. With a

lot of hard work and patience from the other girls on the squad, I learned everything

I needed to know. I continued cheering into high school and eventually became

captain of the varsity squad my junior and senior years.

To

this day I still smile when my coach describes the reaction of the crowd from

other schools. They are always surprised when I pull out my cane and walk off

the field after cheering at the game.

(back)

(next) (contents)