By Anne Marie Johnson

Hi, my name is Annie. I would like to tell my story and offer hope and encouragement to blind people and others with disabilities.

You can live a normal life. I was born 3 months premature with hydrocephalus. Before my first birthday, the doctors performed 2 shunt operations to relieve the fluid that was causing pressure on my brain. I lost the sight in one of my eyes due to one of those operations.

Due to my upbringing and my parents' positive attitude, I have not been limited. There was no difference in the way my parents treated my two sisters and me. Now that I am older, I value the equality of the household I was raised in.

I do many things. I am interested in computers, needlepoint, reading, and play the guitar. When I was younger, I tutored a legally blind boy for 6 summers because I wanted to make a difference in someone's life.

My parents taught me to persevere. My father is an engineer and never gives up. I suppose some of my own determination stems from his influence in my life.

I have worked full-time as an assembler of solenoid valves for the last fourteen years. I am totally self-supporting and live in my own apartment. I hope this article will be encouraging to someone who struggles with adversity.

I recently attended my first NFB chapter meeting in Bristol, and would like very much to get involved with them. The organization shares my positive philosophy. I strongly encourage blind people to get involved in the National Federation of the Blind.

For more information, E-mail us at: info@nfbct.org