By Winifred Downing
"Paws for the Cause!": That's the title of the fund-raiser sponsored by the Northwest Chapter of the Arkansas Council of the Blind. It features people who collect pledges to walk with their dogs, borrowed dogs, or even as companions with dog-walkers, all in an effort to forward the fine work of the chapter.
Susie Weatherford, one of the sighted volunteers, got the idea for the walk urged on by the group's desire to endow a scholarship in the name of Roger Eagle, a blind man who had received an Arkansas State scholarship, successfully completed his education, gone on to work for many years for IBM, and encouraged blind people throughout the area by his accomplishments. In October 2000, the effort raised $4,200, 51 percent of which went toward the scholarship endowment and the rest for operating the chapter. Following that initial experience, the chapter raised its scholarship commitment to 75 percent of any money collected.
Expenses were few with hot dogs and bottled water donated, sponsorship by several corporations, and the eager work of chapter members like Joyce Wilmer who tramped the neighborhood with her guide dog to collect pledges and then participate in the dog-a-thon with the 35 other walkers. With the money they raise, chapter members fund their monthly meetings sometimes with a guest speaker and sometimes a social event like a dinner cruise on a nearby river. They contribute to a children's home that offers day care to youngsters from troubled homes, some of whom lacked even the clothes for their first day in school. Members have participated, too, in the work of the March of Dimes and a health fair, demonstrating their commitment to their community.
From the increased visibility of blind people, other remarkable developments have occurred. When Susie Weatherford's son lost his sight eight years ago, the family had no idea where to turn or what to do. They didn't know even where to get a cane or who could show their son how to use it. The Division of Services for the Blind (DVS) gave scant information but did refer them to Lions World where Jay received basic training and met people from the American Council of the Blind.
Realizing that the DVS had few workers to serve the increasing number of clients and no one to do outreach to the families and individuals in the community who were having their first experience with vision loss, Susie, and her friends Carol Donohoo and Rachel Ames conducted their first informational seminar for the community in November 2000. From DVS they borrowed simulator glasses which family members could use to experience just what it was like to have macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, and other common eye diseases. A video tape featured humorous incidents to demonstrate the right and wrong way of helping a blind person do ordinary things like cross a street, find a chair, and so on. Rachel Ames, who had fought valiantly but unsuccessfully to retain the subregional library for the blind in Fayetteville, brought out and distributed some of the brochures she had accumulated concerning blindness-related issues and opportunities.
Though fewer than ten people attended that first seminar, Susie said the effort was worth the work, for one man, who had met an ACB chapter member just the week before, brought his wife to the meeting where both were exposed to their first experience with other people facing vision loss.
The seminar drew such wide acclaim that 45 people attended the next one scheduled only two months later. Nine other seminars have been planned for 2002, and Rachel and Susie have several times gone to some of the large retirement communities in the area to bring information to the people who need it most.
Seminars are presented free of charge with the Northwest Chapter furnishing refreshments. Having no public transportation of any kind, chapter members are limited in the personal involvement they can offer, but their interest, enthusiasm, and personal experience push the sighted volunteers forward.
Supporting the work financially and psychologically, Paws for the Cause is conducted each year. The 2001 effort suffered from the problems all charities faced after September 11, but the same number of people continued to be interested, even though corporate donations were down. Rachel and Susie, who volunteered endless hours at the ACB convention in 2001, already have their room reservations for Houston in 2002. We congratulate them and the Northwest Chapter of the Arkansas Council of the Blind for their pioneering work in increasing knowledge of blindness and improving attitudes toward it.