FORMER PRISON CAPTAIN LOSES HIS SIGHT BUT GAINS NEW VISION ON HELPING DISABLED
After being blinded in an auto accident, a Texas prison captain changes his career to help the disabled.
[USPRwire, Wed Jan 17 2007] In 1993, Ron Graham was a 31-year-old captain in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, supervising 120 prison guards and advancing toward his goal of becoming a warden. But an automobile accident on a dark night in West Texas left him blind, ending his prison career and causing him to completely reassess his future.
Today, Graham is a computer whiz who produces a blog called Access Ability. The blog, which is targeted to college professionals in the disability support service field, is located at www.accessability.blogspot.com.
After undergoing rehabilitation and training about how to deal with his blindness, Graham focused on a new goal of becoming a counselor for people with disabilities. He entered college and earned an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice, a Bachelors Degree in Behavioral Science, and a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology.
While attending graduate school at the University of Houston, Clear Lake, Graham worked part time as a graduate assistant in the Student Disability Services office. He later served as Coordinator of Disability Support Services at Central Texas College in Killeen. After leaving that position to return to Houston, Graham saw a need which he felt could be filled by a blog.
His Access Ability blog was started six months ago. Graham writes the blog with the help of software called JAWS that reads information on the screen and drop-down menus. He enters commands with keystrokes and does not use a monitor or mouse. Graham is the sole editor of the blog, providing information, news, and resources to professionals who counsel people with disabilities.
Access Ability is a combination of two characteristics Graham feels are important for people with disabilities. “Give us access and we’ll provide the ability,” he said, “With those two things, people with disabilities can do most anything.”
Graham’s blog provides a public forum where professionals in the disability services field can find resources and news as well as air concerns, brainstorm solutions, and find like-minded individuals to share thoughts. Students with disabilities, as well as their family members, can also share in the discussions.
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Contact:
Henry Beathard Public Relations
281-360-3495
hwbeathard@cebridge.com
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