by Beal Pickett
On a brisk sunny day in December 1967, I hopped out of bed with great exuberance and anticipation of the upcoming event of the day. I had looked forward to this for many years. You can share the excitement and butterflies that I had by thinking back to the day when you were to try for your first driving permit. For most of you this is a rather routine event, but to me, a man of 28 years, without a driver's license, riding a bicycle or walking because of my limited vision, this was a GREAT event. I have useful vision, but limited to the extent that Oklahoma State University turned me out of their Education Department with the excuse that a person with a visual impairment could not teach.
This is how it all began. I spent my first three years in public school in Helena, Arkansas. I had difficulty seeing the blackboard, so I was enrolled in 1948 at the Arkansas School for the Blind in Little Rock. I was 9 years old at the time. With the tremendous staff, super programs, and great school spirit, I got the background that gave me the desire to win. We had a great wrestling program and we competed with schools for the blind all over that region. I felt very lucky that I was a part of the teams that won championships. I graduated from the school in 1959. In the fall of that year I went to Arkansas State. The dean of students told my counselor I didn't have to take P.E. because of my vision. But I let him know very quickly, "Well, sir, that is my major." The next year I was able to get a wrestling scholarship at Oklahoma State University. I had the opportunity to wrestle with the best in the world. I was on the team that won the nations that year. Unfortunately, I was told I couldn't get a teaching degree in Oklahoma, so I returned to Arkansas State and got my degree in P.E. in 1964. My first teaching position was at the great Perkins School for the Blind. I taught P.E. and coached the wrestling team for two years. It was a wonderful experience and I met some great people.
The Lord opened up another door and I got a teaching position at the Oklahoma School for the Blind in 1966. In 1968 I met Dr. Lin Moore and he turned my life around.
A friend of mine told me there was an optometrist who could fit me with a binocular system consisting of contact lenses and glasses that could improve my vision. Two questions entered my mind immediately.
- I have seen a number of doctors and with the best corrections I have 20/100 vision, how could this doctor help me?
- Would this binocular system look like Coke bottles or what?
I am a man who is willing to try anything once, so with a skeptical but hopeful attitude, I entered the doctor's office. After talking with him and taking some brief tests I was convinced that after all these years of no results, I was finally going to be helped.
The optometrist explained that the system, as he called it, would consist of minus contact lenses and a pair of plus glasses. With recent improvements the glasses could be made of plastic that would make them lighter in weight. The Examination
I underwent an extensive examination that consisted of checking my eyes for correct contact lenses (many doctors had told me I could not wear them because of my nystagmus) and testing and retesting to get the right plus lenses. The reason for the extensive testing is to acquire the correct contacts to go with the plus glasses to achieve the maximum magnification.
I was fitted with the minus contacts and left alone for a while to let them settle. Seeing a lens lying on the table, I picked it up and held it to my eye. My heart thumped, my eyes filled up with tears of joy, and I almost leaped from the examining chair as the blurred letters on the chart turned sharp and clear. I could read way down the chart. I exclaimed, "It is not possible. My Lord, is it really true?" "Yes, yes," I shouted, "I can really see." The doctor came in and placed the lenses in a frame and after they were adjusted I read the 20/60 line on the chart. I then tried to walk with the glasses, and if you want to know how I felt, try walking with a pair of binoculars. I reached for the doorknob four times before my hand made contact. Once outside I observed many things I had never seen before. When I left the office that day I felt like a new life had opened for me. Adjustment to the glasses
Adjusting to the glasses was a real problem but, with my desire to see better and my determination to drive, I was willing to do anything.
I fell off a few curbs, missed a step or two, but at the same time this was happening, I could see the stop light four blocks away, I saw a friend walking across the street and I was able to read a church song book from waist level. I felt normal for the first time in my life!
I worked out my own therapy for adjusting to the system. Being a physical education instructor, I had a good concept of how to start the training and that was to begin with the basic fundamental movements to improve the eyes. I had to learn to see and judge distance all over again. The day I got my system I rode my bicycle. When the doctor learned of this I thought he would have a heart attack, but he did not discourage me. Here is the method of adjustment I used:
- Playing with balls: bounce a basketball; throw the basketball to develop depth perception, and catch the ball to develop coordination skills (distance should gradually be lengthened when this activity is mastered); catch and throw a ball; and bat a ball.
- Jogging, and later, running to improve the balance. This is to be undertaken only on a level surface that is free of obstacles.
- Riding a bicycle: move your head from side to side so that you are aware of any side traffic; realize your limitations and stay out of heavy traffic until confidence is high and depth perception is good.
- Read every sign that is possible.
- Play games that have moving objects such as pool, shuffleboard, shooting baskets with the basketball, ping-pong, croquet, miniature golf, and bowling.
- Practice walking stairs until the proper depth perception is achieved.
- Give religious devotion to the wearing of the glasses, doing everything possible with the system.
After frequent check-ups and adjustments being made on the contacts, this method of therapy had greatly increased my sight. Within a month or two I could read the 20/50 line on the eye chart. When November came around I had improved to 20/40, but not without great effort and endless patience on the part of the doctor and myself.
The day had finally come to try for my driving permit. On the way to take the test I remembered a prayer I had prayed at age 14. This prayer was that I might be able to see well enough to drive, some way or somehow by the time I was 21 years old. At 21, with the prayer not answered, I prayed that I might get my license to drive before my 29th birthday. I passed the vision test and got my driving permit that day, and incidentally, I was one month from being 29 years old.
I hired a professional driving instructor, and with his help and training I was able to obtain my license one month later with only glasses restrictions. The day that I retired my tandem bicycle that had served me so faithfully for many years will never be forgotten. Through my optometrist, God had answered my prayer.
This system can be used on countless other visually impaired people that have the faith, patience, desire, and determination to try it. I write this article to let people know that this worked for me when nothing else, including surgery, would help me.
In 1970, Mr. Carter, the superintendent, told me I had to get my master's degree in orientation and mobility. At that time there were three schools that gave that degree. Boston College and California State at Los Angeles turned me down because I didn't have 20/20 vision, and I couldn't be certified in orientation and mobility. Western Michigan told me if I had a driver's license I could be in their program. In 1971, I got my master's degree in orientation and mobility. Two years later I was on the national certification team that certified orientation and mobility specialists. Don't tell me it can't be done if you trust in the Lord and work hard.
I spent 30 years devoted to the Oklahoma School for the Blind. I am a lifetime member of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER). I have dedicated my life to improving the quality of life for the visually impaired. And I have been a member of ACB since 1960 because this organization shares my dedication. I would be glad to share my experiences and successes with others who want to improve their vision. Please write to 1107 Millis Rd., Muskogee, OK 74403 or e-mail me at [email protected].