An Ohio University professor was named the Blind Educator of the Year by the world's largest organization of the blind.
J.W. Smith, an associate professor in communication studies, received the award earlier this summer from the National Federation of the Blind.
Smith, a member of the federation since 1990 and first vice president of the Ohio chapter, said recognition from his peers in the organization meant the world to (him).
I've had other awards
but this one meant the most to me because the older I get the more my blindness becomes more central I think
to who I am
he said.
Barbara Pierce, president of the Ohio chapter of the National Federation of the Blind, wrote one of Smith's recommendations for the award. She said Smith's honor means more coming from fellow blind people who will not cut him slack because of his condition.
People are prepared to think that just because we function adequately
we are to be commended
Pierce said. That's not the case.
She said Smith's service to the National Federation of the Blind has been as impressive as his teaching. Among his accomplishments is starting the Southeast Ohio chapter of the organization when he moved to Athens and joined OU faculty in 1993.
Smith said with his resources and experience he can make more lasting contributions to the blind than to any other group of people. He cited serving on scholarship committees and comforting distressed parents of blind children as some ways he could help directly. But educating others about blindness is just as useful, he said.
My mission now as an educator
more than ever
is to help ... people who aren't blind understand that blindness need not be the end of the world
said Smith, who has been blind since birth. It can be tragic
and it is quite an adjustment if it happens
