Speech on disability inspires PUC students
By: Andrea Drac
Issue date: 3/30/09 Section: News
As a part of Disabilities Awareness Month in March, Bill Irwin, the only blind hiker to complete the entire 2,168 mile Appalachian Trail, shared his story on campus.
With his seeing-eyed dog Koby at his side, he opened the speech by talking of his education, finishing second in his high school class and later majoring in chemistry in college.
Irwin's first issue with his eyes occurred in 1968.
"I taught chemistry to private school students," Irwin said. "I was writing a formula on the board and turned back to the students, then back to the board and found out that I'd gone totally blind in my left eye."
Irwin went to his ophthalmologist, who told him at first he had malignant melanoma in his left eye, but it later turned out to be a mistake. Doctors told him he had a 50 percent chance of going blind in his other eye.
Irwin went through many obstacles and challenges, such as weight gain and alcoholism, but when he overcame those things, he and his former seeing-eye dog Orient, began to hike the Appalachian Trail.
"The hike took me eight-and-a-half months," Irwin said. "Orient and I began hiking March 8, 1990 in Georgia and ended on Nov. 21, 1990 in Maine."
Irwin and Orient encountered many things on their hike through the trail, such as bears, two hurricanes and an extreme drought. They also had to go into nearby towns every five days to restock their food and water.
Irwin learned many things while hiking the trail, which are discussed in further detail in his book, "Blind Courage."
"We need to take the word 'quit' out of our mental vocabulary," Irwin said.
Before the speech ended, Irwin had a piece of advice for everyone.
"Enjoy your days as a student," he said. "Take the time to have fun; it's just as important as needing food, water and shelter."
Irwin opened up the floor for questions at the end of the speech, but as it turned out, there were more comments than questions from people in the audience about how inspiring his words were to them.
Disabilities Awareness Month is sponsored by the Multicultural Campus Council, as well as the office of Student Affairs and the Assistant Vice-Chancellor for Educational Opportunity Programs.
With his seeing-eyed dog Koby at his side, he opened the speech by talking of his education, finishing second in his high school class and later majoring in chemistry in college.
Irwin's first issue with his eyes occurred in 1968.
"I taught chemistry to private school students," Irwin said. "I was writing a formula on the board and turned back to the students, then back to the board and found out that I'd gone totally blind in my left eye."
Irwin went to his ophthalmologist, who told him at first he had malignant melanoma in his left eye, but it later turned out to be a mistake. Doctors told him he had a 50 percent chance of going blind in his other eye.
Irwin went through many obstacles and challenges, such as weight gain and alcoholism, but when he overcame those things, he and his former seeing-eye dog Orient, began to hike the Appalachian Trail.
"The hike took me eight-and-a-half months," Irwin said. "Orient and I began hiking March 8, 1990 in Georgia and ended on Nov. 21, 1990 in Maine."
Irwin and Orient encountered many things on their hike through the trail, such as bears, two hurricanes and an extreme drought. They also had to go into nearby towns every five days to restock their food and water.
Irwin learned many things while hiking the trail, which are discussed in further detail in his book, "Blind Courage."
"We need to take the word 'quit' out of our mental vocabulary," Irwin said.
Before the speech ended, Irwin had a piece of advice for everyone.
"Enjoy your days as a student," he said. "Take the time to have fun; it's just as important as needing food, water and shelter."
Irwin opened up the floor for questions at the end of the speech, but as it turned out, there were more comments than questions from people in the audience about how inspiring his words were to them.
Disabilities Awareness Month is sponsored by the Multicultural Campus Council, as well as the office of Student Affairs and the Assistant Vice-Chancellor for Educational Opportunity Programs.
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