LeeAnn Buckingham

LeeAnn Buckingham (52) of DeWitt (nominated by MCB Rehabilitation Counselor Nichole Wright) is the owner of Framer's Edge Custom Frame Shop and Gallery in Okemos.  She has put her energy, talent, and passion into her business and has always taken pride in its success.  When she suddenly lost her vision, she was unsure if she could stay in business.  Buckingham said, "It was important to me, the challenge of keeping my business going, to take care of the people who work for me because they take such good care of me, and because small businesses are so important to the community."  She began working with MCB in March 2008, receiving training in using a cane and public transportation to get around her home, workplace, and community on her own.  She also received talking computer software and training in how to use it, and because of this, now she can independently do payroll, schedule employees, order from suppliers, use email, and print letters and envelopes.  Buckingham said, "Just because you have a visual impairment doesn't mean you can't excel.  There are a lot of people out there who will help, and the Michigan Commission for the Blind is a great way to start."  On December 11, 2009, Buckingham received an MCB Honor Roll Award for her achievements.

James Chaney

James Chaney (42) of Detroit (nominated by MCB Rehabilitation Counselor Euan Singleton) received training in skills of blindness at the residential MCB Training Center in Kalamazoo.  He realized that education was the key to achieving his goals.  In addition, Chaney said, "I always wanted my kids to see me as an example of somebody who doesn't give up, in spite of obstacles."  After his initial skills training, he began the extensive food service training in the MCB Business Enterprise Program, with the goal of operating his own business.  Today, Chaney is the licensed operator and manager of Café DeVille, located in Cadillac Place in Detroit, specializing in fresh-brewed espresso coffee drinks, sandwiches, salads, and desserts.  During the summer of 2009, Chaney employed a blind high school student as part of an MCB summer work program.  At the end of the summer, the student said he'd like to operate a similar business of his own someday.  Chaney has achieved his own goal of becoming a successful entrepreneur and caterer-and he's also giving back to the community, mentoring the next generation.  On December 11, 2009, Chaney received an MCB Honor Roll Award for his achievements.

Tony Prohaska

Tony Prohaska (87) of Standish (nominated by MCB Rehabilitation Teacher Rosalind Byers-Lang) grew up in a family of 14, farming 300 acres and milking 20 cows every day.  When he began losing his vision, he became inactive for the first time in his life, and was frustrated about the things he couldn't do anymore.  In that situation, Prohaska said, "You just go nuts!"  His eye doctor referred him to the Michigan Commission for the Blind, and his family encouraged him to attend a week-long MCB Mini Adjustment Program.  During that week and in the months that followed, he learned how to get around independently using a white cane, how to identify his money by folding the bills according to denomination, how to use kitchen appliances with raised dot markings, and more.  After regaining his independence and self-confidence, he rediscovered an old hobby-latch-hooking rugs.  To date, he has designed and made more than 50 one-of-a-kind rugs.  Speaking about his MCB training, Prohaska said, "I would tell other people with vision loss, listen to them, and try the training, and you can learn some things that will be helpful."  On December 11, 2009, Prohaska received an MCB Honor Roll Award for his achievements.

Kristina Richard

Kristina Richard (37) of Gwinn (nominated by MCB Rehabilitation Counselor Christine Pada) attended the residential MCB Training Center, where she learned computer skills and life skills including how to do a budget and how to get audio books through the state's MCB Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.  In addition, she said, "Being around other blind people brought me to another level and got me out of denial.  I learned that it was okay to be visually impaired, and that I wasn't the only one."  MCB also assisted with college expenses, work experience opportunities, and-in collaboration with Goodwill Industries-job development services.  Now she's successfully employed as a day care aide.  She enjoys the work and especially the children, who shout "Tina, Tina, Tina!" when she walks in the door.  For others with visual impairment,  she said, "I would highly recommend they check out the Michigan Commission for the Blind and actually give it a chance.  At first, I kind of blew it off.  Then later I realized that, hey, this is an extremely useful resource!" On December 11, 2009, Kristina Richard received an MCB Honor Roll Award for her achievements.

Fedele Saverino

Fedele Saverino (94) of Grosse Pointe Woods (nominated by MCB Rehabilitation Teacher Taletha Crawley) is a veteran who says that now he lives a "nice, normal life" in spite of his vision loss.  At one time, his vision loss made it difficult for him to do the things he used to do.  Saverino said, "I was low down in the dumps."   As a part of MCB's Independent Living program for seniors, which helps people learn new skills to stay independent in their homes and communities, MCB staff helped him modify his home.  With adaptations like raised bumps on the microwave and a cutting board that's black on one side and white on the other side to contrast with any color food, he began cooking for his wife again.  He also received a magnifier to help him see his computer better, so he can make music CDs from his collection of vinyl records and cassette tapes.  Saverino said, "I'm just delighted.  Now I'm doing everything, and it's working out real good and I appreciate their help.  It opened up another world."  On December 11, 2009, Saverino received an MCB Honor Roll Award for his achievements.

Alberta Thompson

Alberta Thompson (86) of Jackson (nominated by MCB Rehabilitation Teacher Roberta McCall) said at first that she didn't know what else MCB could do that hadn't already been done.  Later, Thompson attended a week-long MCB Mini Adjustment program held in Detroit along with her daughter-in-law.  Then Thompson continued her learning at home as she applied her new skills.  She learned how to test her blood sugar by herself using a talking monitor, saving hundreds of dollars in assistance costs every year.  She learned new techniques for cooking and now uses a magnifier to read her cookbooks.  She began to teach a class in Scrabble for her friends, and it became so popular that they had to set up a waiting list.  Recently Thompson said, "My biggest heartache was that I couldn't help people the way I used to.  I didn't have anything to live for.  Now I do things I didn't think I ever could do.  There isn't a day goes by that I don't think about the help I got from the Michigan Commission for the Blind.  I can walk.  I can do for myself.  I'm actually pretty lucky."  On December 11, 2009, Thompson received an MCB Honor Roll Award for her achievements.

Lula Lane of Detroit described herself as "in a low" a few years ago when she became legally blind and was dealing with major health problems that led to a kidney transplant.  She was living with family members at the time, who were cooking for her and reading her mail to her.  A couple months after attending a week-long MCB Mini Adjustment Training Seminar to learn skills of blindness for daily living, she moved to her own apartment.  Now she does her own cooking and cleaning, and she reads her mail with a magnifying device provided by MCB.  Said Ms. Lane, "I'm doing good in my own place - I do everything for myself.  I'm just so uplifted."  On December 12, 2008, she received an MCB Honor Roll Award for her achievements.

Esther Polmanteer of Kalamazoo began experiencing vision loss a few years ago.  She gave away her computer, assuming she'd never be able to use it again.  When she started receiving training from MCB, she was happy to learn about computer software that reads text out loud.  She went to a week-long Mini Adjustment Seminar, where, in her words, MCB staff "gave me the information I needed so I could adjust."  Since then, she's purchased a new computer.  She describes the training she's received from MCB as learning "how to do things in a different way."  With her new skills, she goes shopping using public transportation, organizes recreational and entertainment activities for the residents of her building, and volunteers at a local preschool twice a month.  On December 12, 2008, she received an MCB Honor Roll Award for her achievements.

Dale Layer of St. Clair Shores is both deaf and blind, having experienced progressive hearing and vision loss.  Previously, he had worked as a truck driver for many years, but he needed a new career to support his family.  Over the course of his involvement with MCB, he received training in food service entrepreneurship through the Business Enterprise Program.  He currently operates a vending machine route in the central part of the state, and has provided job shadowing opportunities to newcomers in the program.  On December 12, 2008, he received an MCB Honor Roll Award for his achievements.

Kim Munro of Lansing began to receive services from MCB in 2004 when she was a high school student.  She attended the residential MCB Training Center in Kalamazoo, where she received training in skills of blindness and computers.  During her search for employment, she volunteered at the Capital Area Center for Independent Living and Peckham Vocational Industries.  She now works full-time at Peckham processing employee payroll and doing mailings.  Munro also faces challenges as a wheelchair user, and she has encountered many barriers to employment-but not enough to stop her from achieving her goals.  On December 12, 2008, she received an MCB Honor Roll Award for her achievements.

Gamaliel Soto of Holland contacted MCB for assistance in finding employment.  He went to the residential MCB Training Center in Kalamazoo to update his computer skills and skills of blindness.  He says, "The training center is a wonderful place where people can learn and be encouraged."  He now works for the local transportation system-scheduling rides for customers including those with disabilities-where his ability to speak both Spanish and English is a tremendous asset.  Soto says, "I appreciate the chance to show my abilities and skills."  On December 12, 2008, he received an MCB Honor Roll Award for his achievements.

Dr. Ruta Sharangpani of Plymouth became a client of MCB in the Vocational Rehabilitation Program when she was in high school. MCB provided training in skills of blindness and personal adjustment. She also attended the MCB College Prep Program at the MCB Training Center in Kalamazoo. After graduating from high school, she earned a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University in biology, graduating as one of the top students in her class. Her vocational goal was to be a physician. She went to medical school at Wayne State University, where she earned her MD degree with a specialty in internal medicine. She was employed at the Detroit Medical Center as an internist, and she is currently pursuing a master's degree in public health. Her goal is to work in the public health field.  She received a 2007 MCB Honor Roll Award for her achievements.

Diana Schmitthausler of Lansing was skeptical at first of how much she could accomplish as a person with impaired vision. When she first started with MCB's Independent Living Program, she worked with an MCB rehabilitation teacher in her home and became proficient at labeling clothing and food packages and cooking simple meals. Eventually she agreed to try the residential MCB Training Center "only for one week-no more!" She changed her mind and stayed from September to Christmas break. When she returned home, she was once again an active member of her community. She goes to the local gym, and she enjoys bowling. She gardens, paints ceramics, does macramé, and volunteers at the Michigan Rehabilitation Council. When asked what surprised her the most about the whole adjustment process to being blind, she responded by saying, "I never thought I'd get out like other people, have a good time, and go bowling again." She is considering using her craft talents to start a business selling her works through a microenterprise business. She received a 2007 MCB Honor Roll Award for her achievements.

Michael Reese of Canton is currently employed as an information technology specialist (computer programmer) for the Internal Revenue Service. He came to MCB for training in skills of deafblindness in order to continue his current employment. Throughout his training in the MCB Vocational Rehabilitation Program, he has maintained his determination, sense of humor, and positive attitude even as deteriorating vision and hearing threatened his livelihood. He attended the residential MCB Training Center in Kalamazoo for five weeks to improve his Braille literacy, orientation and mobility, and computer skills, and his rapid progress constantly challenged his instructors to keep providing more advanced material. He has continued with correspondence classes through the Hadley School for the Blind, including calculus "for fun," and in the future he would like to teach mathematics courses for Hadley in addition to his job with the IRS. He received a 2007 MCB Honor Roll Award for his achievements.

Patricia Wagner of Portage has achieved a high level of independence through her own hard work and help from the MCB Independent Living Program. She's learned to use Braille for reading and labeling, an electronic device that identifies canned goods by scanning the bar codes, an electronic talking color identifier for clothing and other items, a talking microwave oven, a digital voice recorder for appointments and notes, and a computer with JAWS talking screen-reader software to use e-mail and the Internet. She is currently attending the residential MCB Training Center to improve her orientation and mobility skills (including using a cane, finding her way indoors and outdoors, using public transportation, and related skills). She is an active member of the local visually impaired seniors' support group and a member of the board of directors of the Michigan Foundation for the Blind and Visually Impaired. She also participates in fundraising activities for the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony.  She received a 2007 MCB Honor Roll Award for her achievements.

Mercedes Bell of Republic  was discouraged when she first lost her vision, wondering how she could continue traveling, reading, cooking, and all her activities of daily life at home.  MCB helped her to adjust to her loss of vision at a week-long Mini Adjustment Seminar in Escanaba-one of several held each year at various locations around the state.  During the seminar and afterward, MCB staff helped her learn to use a cane and find her way on foot and with public transportation.   Through her own persistence, she's now a skilled traveler.  This past summer, Mrs. Bell traveled alone by bus from Republic to Clare and back to Republic.  She also enjoys cooking again, using new skills that she learned through the MCB Independent Living Program to work confidently and safely in her kitchen. She received a 2007 MCB Honor Roll Award for her achievements.

Lillian Knoll of Holland is known for her endless drive and determination to keep active and keep working.  Throughout her experience with vision loss, she has had to adjust to several different eye conditions that affected each eye differently.  When she first became involved with the MCB Vocational Rehabilitation Program, she learned skills of blindness, computer skills including e-mail, and how to use adaptive devices such as magnifiers, a large print calendar, and on-screen computer magnification software.  Then, based on her interest in selling jewelry and other items, she worked with an MCB instructor to learning how to purchase and sell items on eBay.  She believed she could start a business and, with a lot of hard work, she did.  At age 77, in addition to her home-based business, she is an active member of her condo complex.  She received a 2007 MCB Honor Roll Award for her achievements.

Nichole Nevorski  of Chesterfield Township is a senior at Central Michigan University majoring in chemistry.  The Michigan Commission for the Blind provided adaptive devices and training to help her complete her class assignments more efficiently and independently.  She has been selected by the American Chemical Society to receive its national Overcoming Challenges Award.

Jose Moreno  of Holland, who is deaf and blind, received training through the Michigan Commission for the Blind as a cabinetmaker, and he's currently employed at Great Lakes Woods in Holland.

Carolyn Houston  (Flint) received services from the Michigan Commission for the Blind including computer screen text enlargement software, glasses, and computer training, which all helped her to maintain her employment and transition into full-time work.  She is currently employed full-time at Sam's Club as a product demonstrator, and there have been days when she's sold more of her product than anyone at any other member store nationwide for that day.