Library Collections: Document: Full Text


Their Name Is Legion

Creator: n/a
Date: 1962
Publication: Toomey J Gazette
Source: Gazette International Networking Institute


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A career as a Russian translator is next for Richard Amaducci. He has been hospitalized since he was paralyzed in a diving accident 14 years ago. Using the telephone system, he received his B.A. degree from Boston University last year. Since he was able to move his head only, he had the "talk-bar" adapted to mouthstick control.

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Alan I. Arnold received an LL.B. from Western Reserve University in Cleveland in 1961. He ranked fifth in his class in the School of Law. He has been paralyzed since birth because of a congenital muscular atrophy. His mother drove him back and forth to school, other students carried his wheelchair up and down stairs. He is now employed by a leading law firm.

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Janet Berry of Appleton, Wisconsin, has a skin and muscle disease known as dermato-myositis. After 10 years, she is now able to sit up an hour each day. All her joints are contracted and she has motion in her left hand only. She uses the telephone hookup and is in her third year at Lawrence College. In high school, she graduated first in a class of 400. Janet feels that the opportunity to continue her education is close to a miracle. Her future plans are to finish college, though it may take 7 or 8 years, and then tutor in Spanish and Russian. .

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Winifred Booth of Cambridge, Mass, is full of exciting plans for the future. "I was going to Bradford Junior College at the onset of polio and while I was in the lung I was sent tapes and continued studies in that manner. Later I attended the University of Michigan for four years. I learned how to write by taking notes and exams. Often, if I was either sick or exhausted by some virus, I depended on understanding colleagues for the lecture notes. At Radcliffe Graduate School people are just as nice and when I cannot make it to class, someone will lend their notes and share their insights." "Winkie" has her own apartment and a full time attendant. She attends Radcliffe in a wheelchair and uses a chestpiece at night and occasional positive pressure during the day. She has been offered several interesting jobs in the fine arts field.

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Mary Bramer, a polio of Elgin, Illinois, "attended" junior college in her home town by the Executone method. The University of Illinois then arranged for her to finish by correspondence courses, with the stipulation that she fulfill the residence requirements for two semesters. This Mary did, accompanied by her mother to care for her. After 6 years, she received her B.S. in education, and is now teaching the 8th grade in the Elgin public school system. Mary uses an electric wheelchair to get around at work and a hand splint to write with. She says that her dream has come true.

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Ann Burnes, 23 year old polio from Wood-Ridge, N.J., was tutored through high school. She attended college in a wheelchair. Her tuition was paid by State Rehab. She graduated with a B.A. in Psychology, and is now working on her Master's at Fairleigh-Dickinson University. She plans to open an office for vocational, aptitude and intelligence testing.

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A victim of muscular dystrophy, Jo Chapman did not attend school in person until she started college at UCLA. She was tutored through grade school and completed high school in 3 1/2 years via telephone. "UCLA is an exciting and enjoyable experience. I highly recommend it."

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Carrie Esther Hammil of Tucson, Arizona, received her M.A. in Education in '61 from the University of Arizona after 15 years of Herculean struggles with shattering physical setbacks. Esther, who has multiple sclerosis, graduated with almost an "A" average. She is a successful and prolific writer. She is teaching this year and working towards an M.A. in Psychology in '62 and then a Ph.D in Clinical Psychology.

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Donald L. Hewitt is a quad due to a cord injury in 1953. Under the Boston University Home and Tutorial Program he received his A.A. degree in June 1962 with a major in Psychology. Mass. Rehab pays his tuition and the Red Cross and other volunteers transport him to school.

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A law degree and a Phi Beta Kappa key were earned by one of the first education by telephone students, Frank E. Huettner Jr. of Cadott, Wisconsin. Frank is a quadriplegic as a result of an auto accident when he was 14. By telephone, he graduated from Wisconsin University Law School and now practices law in his home town.

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Lee Lewis was one of the pioneers in telephone studies at Boston U. She graduated in '56, magna cum laude, with a B.S. in Public Relations. She is now doing market research interviewing for various companies.

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Polio and a stroke have slowed Dorothy Pallas of Wood-Ridge, N.J. down, but her literary and scholastic achievements continue. Dorothy was tutored at home from the third grade until her graduation from Fairleigh-Dickinson University. A correspondence course from Louisiana State College in ornithology probably inspired several of her children's nature books and many of her poems. Dorothy is co-author of five published children's books.

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Donald Rossi had polio at 16 and uses a chestpiece at night. After two semesters of trying to study by correspondence, he decided to attend Del Mar Jr. College in Texas. Now he feels strongly that, for the handicapped, attending school is preferable to correspondence study. "Besides being easier, it is cheaper. Texas Rehab pays my tuition and my own biggest expense is the $15 a week I pay a fellow student to transport me. I enjoy attending college. It is in my home town and the climate is mild. My major is math and at present I tutor math to high school and college students. I plan to go to the University of Texas and try for my M.A. in math."

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