Article published March 18th, 2008 by the Daily News, Batavia, NY

For blind students, governor is inspiring

By Tom Rivers trivers@batavianews.com

Disability is no bar for David Paterson

BATAVIA — David Paterson is serving as a powerful role model for New York state, sending a clear message that has nothing to do with politics.

Paterson, who was sworn in as the state’s first legally-blind governor on Monday, is showing the state and the world that blindness is a disability that can be overcome.

That’s what the staff at the New York State School for the Blind preach to the 57 students at the school, who come from throughout upstate New York.

“In his life, he hasn’t let his disability hold him back,” school superintendent Jim Knowles said Monday. “That’s what we try to do here, to allow the children to be as independent as they can be.” The students are all legally blind and have at least one other disability. The school has been abuzz since learning last week that Paterson would become the state’s new governor.

“The kids make comments like ‘That’s cool,’” Knowles said. Paterson is blind in his left eye and has 20/400 vision in his right eye. He plays basketball and has run a marathon. He visited the Batavia school about 15 years ago when he was a state senator. The school has already invited him back in his new role.

Cody, 15, wants to see the new governor push for more technology to help blind people communicate and travel. Cody and his classmates use Braille and also a new software program, JAWS for Windows, that allows blind people to use the Internet. The program can read e-mails out loud and send them to a Braille printer.

Cody and his classmates discuss the possibilities of someday driving a car that is equipped with Global Positioning System technology. The computerized vehicle would be able to sense oncoming cars. Cody doesn’t think it’s too farfetched, especially if a political leader pushed the idea.

Knowles, the school superintendent the past three years, said students are learning academics and also daily living skills — how to cook, do laundry and care for themselves.

Paterson’s achievements will give the Batavia students and staff added motivation to keep working hard, Knowles said.

“You wouldn’t reach the position he’s in without being very talented and getting support along the way,” Knowles said. “It really goes to show in the state of New York people with disabilities do have the opportunity to reach their life goal.”

Paterson, 53, mentioned his blindness during his swearing-in speech, sometimes poking fun of himself. He memorized the half-hour talk. “I have confronted the prejudice of race and challenged the issues of my own disability,” Paterson said in the State Assembly chamber. “I have served in government for over two decades. I stand willing and able to lead this state to a brighter future and a better tomorrow.”

Steven Hagen, a teacher at the School for the Blind for 33 years, met Paterson when he spoke at the school about 15 years ago.
“I was impressed with his responses to questions,” Hagen said. “He had an innocence and clarity to him. He wasn’t doing things for show.”
Hagen expects the new governor to serve capably. But Hagen fears there will be added scrutiny of Paterson, with the public constantly questioning whether blindness is holding him back.

“I’m hoping that he brings out that a disability need not be a handicap,” Hagen said. “I just hope he doesn’t have to accomplish twice as much as a disabled person to be accepted.”