Legally Blind College
Student
Honored in Washington DC
Brooklyn,
NY resident Helaine Blumenthal was welcomed into the offices
of two of Washington's most powerful and influential policy
makers recently as part of the celebration of her National
Achievement Award (NAA) from the national nonprofit Recording
for the Blind & Dyslexic. The award is given annually to
four college seniors with visual impairments who have demonstrated
exceptional scholarship, leadership, enterprise and service
to others. “It is a privilege to meet young people of
such accomplishment and character,” said Secretary Paige.
In eighth grade, Helaine's eyesight began to seriously decline.
She soon realized that “joining RFB&D was a matter
of academic survival.” With RFB&D's help, Helaine
graduated from Edward R. Murrow High School in Brooklyn in
the top one percent of her class and was an Intel Science Talent
Search semifinalist. Legally blind, she continued her education
at Swarthmore College, graduating with a 3.64 GPA. Via the
Upward Bound Program, she also tutored high school students
from underprivileged backgrounds. In the fall of 2001, she
studied in Prague, Czech Republic. While there, she engaged
in cross-cultural dialogue regarding the treatment of people
with visual impairments. Helaine hopes to attend graduate school
and earn a PhD, something she says she “could not even
think of doing without the knowledge and confidence that RFB&D
will be there.”#
For
information about RFB&D membership, volunteer or support
opportunities, call the New York Unit at 212-557-5720 or
visit www.rfbd.org.