Anna’s Story

Today Anna is a master’s degree student at a state university.  She was born prematurely in 1978 in a rural town where there were no services for children with visual impairments.

From the beginning, her parents were determined  that their daughter not be treated any differently than her brother.  They encouraged her independence and literacy development.

They contacted the state’s school for blind children and requested a teacher to come to their community to work with Anna.  The teacher introduced Anna and her family to braille.

Anna’s teacher of visually impaired children added braille to the learning materials she was using with her regular kindergarten class.

Anna learned how to use a cane for travel.  Her parents taught her about things in her home and community and encouraged her exploration.

After attending public school through grade 8 in her local district, Anna transferred to the state school for deaf and blind children 100 miles from home.  She attended high school classes both at the school and in a nearby public high school.  She graduated and enrolled in the local university where she is now working on a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling.

In her college classes Anna uses a variety of technology including the Pac Mate for taking notes.  

Anna travels independently with her dog guide Jandy.  Anna lives in her own apartment and does all the things like other graduate students do.

Read an update on where Anna is today.

Read Haylee’s Story.