02/22/08: Blinded Dentist Transformed by Assistive Technology
Category: Testimonials
For over 30 years, I had been a busy Port of Spain dentist, leading a very active life. I considered myself a hardworking, productive, energetic individual, who was making a considerable contribution to Trinidad and Tobago, both professionally and socially.
Over the years, I had been actively involved in many organizations. Among the positions I held were vice president of the Dental Association of Trinidad and Tobago; Board member of St. Andrew’s School, the Kiwanis Club of Port of Spain and the Friends of the Museum; trustee of the John Hayes Memorial Kidney Foundation and founder and leader of the Blue Devils of St. Clair J’ouvert band, which raised thousands of dollars every carnival for children’s charities. I was always a keen gardener, and was president and trustee of the Horticultural Society of Trinidad And Tobago as well as founder and president of the Garden Club of Trinidad, and occasionally did some garden writing.
In 1998, the government of Trinidad and Tobago presented me with a national award, the Humming Bird Medal (Silver) for my contribution in the field of horticulture.
In 2002, my life changed abruptly when I fell from a height of ten feet, and received severe trauma to my head. This resulted in bilateral subdural hematomas and paralysis. After emergency surgery and months of physiotherapy, I recovered, but my vision was impaired. I thought my future was bleak, and resigned myself to a life of inactivity, darkness and boredom. I did not think I would ever be able to lead a productive life again. Little did I know that there were ways and means by which I could resume an active role in society and regain an interest in life.
In 2005, my wife saw a notice in the newspaper advertising a seminar organized by the Torres foundation for the Blind. We went to it, and I was ecstatic when I learned about the amazing assistive technology that was available for the visually impaired. I decided then and there that I would learn to use whatever technology would help me cope with my blindness.
I approached Ancil Torres, the founder and president of the foundation, who was very encouraging and helpful to me. He answered all my questions and arranged for me to learn how to use the technology. My teacher was Alicia Lalite, a brilliant young woman, blind since young, who is now a fulltime student working towards a Bachelor’s degree at Monroe College in New York. She has been an inspiration to me. She taught me how to use the JAWS and Open Book programmes, how to touch type and how to use the computer using keyboard commands.
And what’s my life like now? I am no longer a busy dentist, nor a bored, frustrated recluse. I am now a busy freelance garden writer, who visits gardens, interviews interesting persons, even going on photo shoots, and keeps busy researching and writing on the computer. Since 2006, I have been writing a biweekly column in the Trinidad Guardian, and this year, started doing feature stories for MACO magazine and other publications.
Because of assistive technology, I am once more able to read the newspapers, keep in touch with the world through the internet, communicate with my friends via e-mail, and very importantly do my writing.
I am very grateful to the Torres Foundation, my teacher Alicia Lalite, and to my friends and family, especially my loving wife Carole, without whose support and encouragement, I would not now be enjoying a productive, intellectually stimulating, meaningful life.
Dr. Johnny Lee, HBM
Port of Spain, Trinidad
November 12, 2007
Over the years, I had been actively involved in many organizations. Among the positions I held were vice president of the Dental Association of Trinidad and Tobago; Board member of St. Andrew’s School, the Kiwanis Club of Port of Spain and the Friends of the Museum; trustee of the John Hayes Memorial Kidney Foundation and founder and leader of the Blue Devils of St. Clair J’ouvert band, which raised thousands of dollars every carnival for children’s charities. I was always a keen gardener, and was president and trustee of the Horticultural Society of Trinidad And Tobago as well as founder and president of the Garden Club of Trinidad, and occasionally did some garden writing.
In 1998, the government of Trinidad and Tobago presented me with a national award, the Humming Bird Medal (Silver) for my contribution in the field of horticulture.
In 2002, my life changed abruptly when I fell from a height of ten feet, and received severe trauma to my head. This resulted in bilateral subdural hematomas and paralysis. After emergency surgery and months of physiotherapy, I recovered, but my vision was impaired. I thought my future was bleak, and resigned myself to a life of inactivity, darkness and boredom. I did not think I would ever be able to lead a productive life again. Little did I know that there were ways and means by which I could resume an active role in society and regain an interest in life.
In 2005, my wife saw a notice in the newspaper advertising a seminar organized by the Torres foundation for the Blind. We went to it, and I was ecstatic when I learned about the amazing assistive technology that was available for the visually impaired. I decided then and there that I would learn to use whatever technology would help me cope with my blindness.
I approached Ancil Torres, the founder and president of the foundation, who was very encouraging and helpful to me. He answered all my questions and arranged for me to learn how to use the technology. My teacher was Alicia Lalite, a brilliant young woman, blind since young, who is now a fulltime student working towards a Bachelor’s degree at Monroe College in New York. She has been an inspiration to me. She taught me how to use the JAWS and Open Book programmes, how to touch type and how to use the computer using keyboard commands.
And what’s my life like now? I am no longer a busy dentist, nor a bored, frustrated recluse. I am now a busy freelance garden writer, who visits gardens, interviews interesting persons, even going on photo shoots, and keeps busy researching and writing on the computer. Since 2006, I have been writing a biweekly column in the Trinidad Guardian, and this year, started doing feature stories for MACO magazine and other publications.
Because of assistive technology, I am once more able to read the newspapers, keep in touch with the world through the internet, communicate with my friends via e-mail, and very importantly do my writing.
I am very grateful to the Torres Foundation, my teacher Alicia Lalite, and to my friends and family, especially my loving wife Carole, without whose support and encouragement, I would not now be enjoying a productive, intellectually stimulating, meaningful life.
Dr. Johnny Lee, HBM
Port of Spain, Trinidad
November 12, 2007
