MEDFOHD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE ELEVZ1Y
County Blind Persons Aided Through State Program
Sunday. April 13, 1951
Training, Advice
Provided Through
Oregon Commission
Experienced Worker
Helped by Volunteers
For the blind to live normal
and useful lives in their com
munities is not always easy.
To alleviate the panic, the
trials an dpainful mistakes
which often occur as the blind
work to make adjustments, the
Oregon State Commission for
the Blind has three state home
teachers for the adult blind
working in the field through
out the state. Mrs. Vera Thomp
son, one of these teachers, makes
trips to this area about every
two months, instructing in
classes and giving individual
aid wherever she knows of a
blind person in need of help.
Mrs. Thompson herself is only
able to distinguish light from
dark.
All But Read Mail
"When adjusted to the loss of
light, the blind can do normally
nearly everything they did be
fore, except read their mail,"
she pointed out last week.
In support of her statement
that blind persons are able to
care for themselves, Mrs. Thomp
lon travels from town to town,
anywhere, unaided.
"It is no disgrace to be blind.
In fact, those who adjust them
selves to normal living are to
be admired," the teacher said.
Her local classes, conducted
in Medford, Ashland and Rogue
River, are small, leading the
Instructor to believe there are
many unaided Jackson county
blind adults who should have
the help. Perhaps, she said, they
fear to come forward. That is
why she points out It is no dis
grace to be blind.
Or perhaps, she believes, too
few blind persons know of the
opportunities open to them in
the state training program for
the adult blind.
Wide Background
Mrs. Thompson has been in
this work for about 16 years.
She is a graduate of the Mon
mouth Oregon State Teachers'
college, earlier attneding South
ern Oregon college at Ashland,
and took special courses at the
Universities of Washington and
Oregon for work in social ad-
READING BRAILLE Mrs. Raymond Gascon, 1140 West
10th street, is shown here "reading" Braille. She is one of Jackson
- county's visually handicapped persons receiving aid through the
Oregon Commission for the Blind's instruction program. Mrs.
Gascon, mother of a 27-month-old son, Steven Russell, also does
her own housework and cooking for her husband and son. She is a
high school graduate and has worked in fruit and mushroom canner
ies and is a regular Jackson county Red Cross blood donor. Her i
husband recently was' discharged from the armed services. He
served in World War II and was recalled to duty.
(Brainerd photo)
Easter Greetings . . .
THRIFTY LUNCH
13 North Fir
OPEN
Mon. Thru Fri. - 6 A.M. to 10 P.M.
Saturday - - 6 A.M. to 12 P.M.
Sunday - 10 A.M. to 8 P.M.
LLOYD and JEAN CALKINS
& Jt viPf v I r r-It .Av
INSTRUCTS IN USE OF THE WHITE CANE
Mrs. Vera Thompson, above, (third from left)
herself only able to perceive light from dark,
is shown instructing Mrs. Raymond Gascon
(second from left) also visually handicapped
in the art of walking with a white cane. Mrs.
Thompson is one of three state home teachers
for the adult blind under the Oregon Commis
sion for the Blind. She is here about every two
justment and training of the
visually handicapped.
She lost her sight over a peri
od of 20 years, and knows the
various phases and stages of im
pairment and adjustment.
Those knowing of visually
handicapped persons, whether
they are totally blind or only
partially so, may have them get
in touch with Mrs. Charles Zink,
19 South Louis avenue, or tele
phone her at 2-8034. Mrs. Zink
is a volunteer adviser who can
make arrangements for the aid
which is free.
Though the program of train
ing is financed and administered
by the state, volunteer work and
money here play a large part in
months to conduct classes and give Individual
aid to Jackson county blind. With the two are
Mrs. S. M. Tuttle, (extreme left), and (right)
Mrs. Max Peirce, Red Cross volunteer commu
nity service workers who assist in the instruc
tion program and aid the blind in this county.
The group is shown in the y.rd of the home of
Miss Sadie Pence, 20 West Jackson street, where
a recent series of homemaking classes for tht
blind was held. (Brainerd photo).
its success.
Aid Many Ways
Jackson county Red Cross
community service volunteers
transport the handicapped per
sons to their classes here and in
Ashland, and assist them in nu
merous other ways by calling?
taking them shopping or deliv
ering and remailing "talking
books" which are furnished by
the Library of Congress free and
without postal charge.
The Red Cross community
service, which was originated in
Medford, was selected by the
Medford Duplicate Bridge club
to administer its Braille fund,
raised by the club through bene
fit card parties at Medford and
Camp White. This fund is used
both for pre-school and adult
blind.
Through this local Braille
fund supplies for making rugs
and mats, lamp shades, creative
playthings, script guides (for use
of the blind in guiding their
handwriting) and Braille bridge,
canasta and pinochle playing
cards with Braille rules, are
purchased. These are only a few
of the items available for use
of the Jackson county visually
handicapped.
In Three Areas
The series of homemaking
classes just completed by Mrs.
Thompson were conducted in
the home of Miss Sadie Pence,
20 West Jackson street. In Ash
land they were held at the home
of Mrs. Edith Good. At Rogue
River individual aid was given.
Here the women not only keep
up a lively chatter, they learn
to weave and do other handi
work and to cook. They also
study beginning and advanced
Braille. Like other women, they
are anxious to try out and dis
cuss new recipes, and when they
find a worthwhile one, they bus
ily punch it out in Braille and
file it away in their own filing
envelopes, which they alfb have
indexed in Braille. For those
they think particularly good,
they make extra Braille copies
to exchange with their blind
friends.
Compile Cookbook
Incidentally, the Jackson
The Yes Man Will
Pay Your Bills!
Tell Him How Much You Need
Here's a sensible plan used by hundreds of Oregon Fi
nance customers to clean up bills, etc
Add obligations and pay them with an Oregon
Finance loan.
2 Then make just one reasonable payment each
month.
Don't borrow unnecessarily, but If a lon solves a prob
lemphone or come In tomorrow,
Oregon Finance Co.
Craterian Bldg. 45 S. Central Phone 2-4433
Lie. S-211 M-217
county blind women have be
come so enthusiastic about their
recipes and cookery they are
now compiling a Braille cook
book. This will be published and
made available through the
Braille and Talking Book divi
sion of the Portland City library-
In executing their handiwork
the Medford women are using
frames bought from the bridge
club funds. Their present yarn
supply was supplied by the pub
lic, the result of a recent re
quest published in The Medford
Mail Tribune.
In the kitchen, which hums
like any other with the egg
beater and rattle of pots and
pans, there are special "gadgets"
they have purchased from the
American Foundation for the
Blind In New York City.
Many Gadgets
These Include tags for Braille
writing to label canned goods,
condiments and other supplies
and a Braille cookbook. Also
available from the foundation
are special measuring cups, pan
cake turners which automatical
ly flip the pancakes, bacon fry
ers, pressure cookers which can
be used safely by the blind, and
many other aids which help
a blind woman do all her own
housework with little or no dif
ficulty. The "talking books" are ob
tainable to the Oregon blind
through the Oregon commission
in Portland, at 645 Southeast
Ankeny street there. Detailed
information will be provided on
request.
They are made up of boxes of
records, the side of each record
playing for about 15 minutes.
There are about 1,100 titles
from which to choose, and in-
YOU'LL SEE
MORE OF HER
ff you start taking her to DAIRY
QUEEN for her favorite sundae. Stop
In at 450 South Central Ave. Choose
from a flock of flavors chocolate,
strawberry, hot fudge, cherry, butter
scotch and many more! Adv.
iH
1
STAN STARK
V.l Msii .
1
M ; k i;vw Vfx Oy: i
V , V C- ; i m . Uw I
RECEIVE HOMEMAKING INSTRUCTION
Three of Jackson county's visually handi
capped are pictured here receiving instruc
tion In homemaking arts from Mrs. Vera Thomp
son, Portland. Seated (left to right) are Miss
Sadie Pence, 20 West Jackson street, in whose
home the recent classes were conducted; Mrs.
W. H. Hill, 215 West Jackson street, who has
gradually lost her sight over a period of years;
and Mrs. Raymond Gascon, 1140 West 10th
street. Assisting the women, (standing, left to
eluded are books on nearly any
subject and the current issues
of Reader's Digest. Titles on
the records are Braille on one
side and printed on the other.
Braille Watches
One of the most Important in
ventions to help the visually
handicapped are Braille watches
made with a crystal that pops
open so the blind can "feel"
the time to the minute.
The typewriter is a "natural"
advantage to the blind, because
the seeing, like the blind, oper
ate the machine by feel. So those
fortunate enough to own a type
writer can write their own let
ters to their seeing friends, even
if they cannot read their own
mall.
Machines which type Braille
are another boon to the blind.
The machines are constructed
with six keys and a space bar.
It is 'possible, Mrs. Thompson
said, for a blind person to type
on a Braille machine at almost
the same speed as on a regular
typewriter.
Beginning and advanced typ
ing on both the regular and
Braille typewriters - are taught
here by Mrs. Thompson, as well
as the beginning and advanced
reading classes in Braille. When
a Braille typewriter is not avail
able, the blind use the slate and
stylus method to write or punch
out their Braille.
White Canes Help
One of the greatest hazards
for blind persons is moving
about in public streets and
stores. To this end, the Oregon
Commission for the Blind has
recommended the use of a white
cane to safeguard the blind
abroad. A state law makes it
WHY WAIT?
WHEN YOU CAN BUILD A HOME
LIKE THIS
WITH a FLOOR
iy-4' ,
LIVING ROOM
I?IO".I9'0"
v-40
1 GARAGE, rl
izio".2tfir LjJ
I
NvB
I -J
PORCH
For Only $10,400
COMPLETE EASY TERMS
right), are Mrs. S. M. Tuttle, Red Cross volun
teer community service worker; Mrs. Thomp
son; and Mrs. Max Peirce, of the volunteer
community service. Miss Pence is shown here
punching out Braille by use of the stylus and
slate method. Mrs. Hill is learning how to
weave a table mat, and Mrs. Gascon Is knitting.
Mrs. Tuttle is inspecting a leather bill fold
made by Miss Pence while Mrs. Peirce is un
tangling a skein of wool for Mrs. Gascon.
(Brainerd photo).
mandatory for motorists to give
the right-of-way to the white
cane. However, as Mrs. Thomp
son pointed out, the blind do ap
preciate a helping hand as they
make their way through traffic
and in and out of stores, and for
the other courtesies which the
seeing can do.
Another recommendation
made by the instructor is for
sighted persons to continue
friendships with those who had
the misfortune of losing their
sight. Treat them the same and
help them when you can, she
suggested.
Since 1947
She has been assisting the
blind In this county since 1947
when the Pythian Sisters were
her first hosts here and helped
in the project. Mrs. Edna Bry
ant was one of the Pythian Sis
ters who was especially helpful.
Mrs. Zlr.k also spent much of
her time canvassing blind per
sons and assisting the workers
for the commission with trans
portation. Since then many Jackson
county blind have been aided
through the state's program.
But it's still not enough, Mrs.
Thompsno bellevse.
CALIFORNIA WEATHER
North California Coastal fog
and Increasing cloudiness
IhrouEh Saturday night; rain
north of Ukiah, spreading to
Monterey and Stockton Sunday
and Santa Maria and Fresno by
Sunday evening; slightly warmer
over interior, but cooler north
portions Sunday; northwest
winds 10-20 off coast becoming
southerly 12-25 north of Point
Reyes.
PLAN LIKE THIS
4p'-Q!
BED ROOM
I5'4icf2""
i
RATIO
- 1
J S1K. " ISV.lft?"
u,u HALL ayfavlcw js
oihino fT T "
New 'Rogue Room'
Opened by Hotel
In Renewal Project
Asa I. Arnsberg, owner of the
Medford hotel, Saturday an
nounced the opening of the
Rogue Room, most recently,
completed portion of the exten
sive program of remodelling and
redecorating now under way at
tne hotel.
The room, formerly the fire'
place room across from the lobby
desk, can accomodate gatherings
of up to 50 persons, according to
Hotel Manager Harry Watson,
and is also adaptable for the use
of individual parties and smaller
groups. The room Is decorated In
a modern style with western out
door themes.
Five Rooms Available
Watson reported that the hotel
now has five rooms available for
banquets and meetings.
Other phases of the remodel
ling program which will be com
pleted soon include a new en
trance, marquee and marble
front; a new cocktail lounge
which will serve food until 2
a.m., a newly redecorated lobby
and new rest rooms, a modern
new lobby desk and interior fix
tures, and 20 additional showers
and baths for guests.
Architect's plans and drawings
of the complete program, which
began last year, are on display
in the lobby.
r ,
Let Us Help You Plan and
Build!
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. , . friendly , . . moderate In cot. We
can atiiit you in chooiing exactly the
plant you want for YOUR new home
... we can tupply DEPENDABLE
QUALITY materiali . . tecure for you
contractors and workmen who will
handle your building quickly, efficient
ly, within your building budget.
BIG PINES
LUMBER CO.
Sixth and Fir Sine 1908 Phone 2-6251
PLENTY OP EASY
OUR
Portone Man Named
Air Division Leader
Tokyo (U.R) The Far East
Air Fores announced Saturday
that Brig. Gen. Chester E. Mc
Carty, Portland, Ore., has been,
named commander of the 315th
air division, combat cargo.
Gen. McCarthy left Portland
with the 403rd Bir wing recently
for overseas duty.
SUNDAY
HEALTH
CHATS
By Dr. Frank J, Hnii
Before I proceed any further
with these weekly health talks.
l believe it would be well to
explain just what Chiropractic
is and what conditions we are
qualified to treat:
Chiropractic is that system
of healing that treats disease by
returning to normal the im
paired nerve supply to the dis
eased part. We do this by cor
recting any abnormal position
ing of the vertebrae In the spi
nal column. Why should the
vertebrae move out of position
and how could that cause dis
ease? Well, basically, the spinal
column was deisgned as a very
sturdy beam, but when we as
sume the upright position it be
comes a rather weak column and
the vertebrae may become fixed
in their range of motion. Now,
because the nerves brandling
from the spinal cord and passing
between these vertebrae are de
pendent on the size of the open
ing between the vertebrae to
transmit normal nervous im
pulses, it can be seen that if
the size of the opening is de
creased the nerve supply to a
part will be disturbed. It has
been shown that when normal
tissue is deprived of its nerve
supply the tissue function will
be greatly decreased. This can
easily be Illustrated by the wast
ing of poliomyelitis. In a true
case of polio the nerve supply
to a part, such as the leg, ii
either partially or wholly de
stroyed and without this nerv
ous energy the leg will be
come withered and functionless.
A Chiropractor it licensed,
by Stale Law, to treat acute and
chronic diseases (bronchitis,
measles, gastric ulcers, etc.), to
do minor surgery, to deliver ba
bies and to sign birth and death
certificates. We were not li
censed to do these things by mere
chance. The laws were passed
only after we had shown that
our education qualified us to
diagnose and treat sick people.
Within the past few years)
the Chiropractic profession has
become the second largest heal
ing profession in the United
States. We could not have
reached this position if our
method of treatment had not
proved itself to be beneficial In
the prevention and treatment ot
disease.
Dr. Frank J. Hanses.
Chiropractic Physician, '
138 Oak Street,
Central Point, Ore. Adv.
PARKING RIGHT INSIDE
BUILDING