During presentations she was giving to elementary school children about blindness, Juliet Cody was stunned to learn about their misperceptions surrounding blindness. She also found those misperceptions with the general public and became committed to teaching people about what it really meant to be without her vision. So, she started writing a series of books to educate readers about guide dogs, their handlers and the roles they play in each others lives.
The purpose is to spread the message that blindness is not a tragedy. Instead, it can be positive and life is what we make it, she says.
Cody, 50, lives in Escondido and is a motivational speaker and the author of the series Marvelous Adventures with Marly & Aerie. She says shes always had low vision, but became completely blind in 2000 as a result of retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disorder that causes damage to the cells of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye.
Cody still has perception of light but has otherwise lost her vision.
Over the years, shes served as a state board member for the National Federation of the Blind; the Disabilities Issues Advisory Committee of California State University, San Marcos; and is chapter president of the Surf Dogs chapter for the North County Guide Dogs for the Blind.
She took some time to talk about her book series, her advocacy work and her message to others about what she and others who are blind are capable of.
Q: Tell us about your book series, Marvelous Adventures with Marly & Aerie.
A: All of the books are narrated by the guide dogs, Marly and Aerie. Book one takes place on the beaches of San Diego. We demonstrate how blind people can have fun with their guide dogs by body surfing, finding the perfect stick in the surf, digging for clams, catching other peoples Frisbees, getting our dogs mixed up, and more. Throughout all of this, we are supposed to be exhibiting our well-behaved dogs.
The second book takes place in the Big Apple (New York City), where we are annoyed by a Chihuahua in the subway. We find ourselves leading a parade up Broadway, and wind up with balcony seats for a Broadway show. This, and more, as we are trying to demonstrate guide dog etiquette in the city.
In book three, we take our readers to Washington, D.C., and we visit the monuments, museums and the Tidal Basin. Plus, Marly gets lost in an elevator in the hotel and as her blind handler tries to find her, we run into the big, mean security guard. Smiling, but stressed, we are educating our capital and their members about how guide dogs provide independence to their handlers.
The books each contain a teaching manual pertaining to its stories. My books bring awareness to enlighten the general public. If I can bring education early into elementary schools, we can remove the many stumbling blocks and start learning about the capability of blind people and guide dogs.
Q: Where did the idea to write your series come from?
A: I went back to school and got a guide dog, Marly. Being blind at the university with Marly led me to experiences that were compelling and humorous, so I started writing about them for class assignments. My professors loved them and my classmates thought they were captivating. I used my stories for my creative writing thesis and my committee recommended that I publish.
Q: Why was this series one you felt compelled to write?
A: I felt compelled when I discovered the misperception the general public has about blindness. I became fully committed when I started doing presentations about blindness in elementary schools, and I was stunned by what the children thought, which was that blindness meant being incapable, scary and that the people were ugly.
In north Escondido, I love the smell of the orange blossoms, the sound of the mockingbirds in the morning, and horses trotting throughout the day. And the crickets saying good night to me at night.
Q: Marly was your dog?
A: Marly was born in 2001 and died in 2011. She was my first guide and she was half Golden Retriever and half yellow Labrador, and intelligent. She went through school with me, and accompanied me to accept 28 scholarships. She also traveled across the country with me to the White House to meet First Lady Laura Bush.
Marly remembered routes well and would take me around the university wherever I needed to go. I would give her a command, and she would take me there. She never missed stopping at a curve or walked me through puddles. She was so wonderful that when I wore my high heels, she was extra careful and would slow down. In the airports or malls, we would hop on escalators and many times I was wearing my back pack and pulling my suitcase.
Q: How would you describe guide dog culture?
A: The guide dog is always maintained desirable by grooming them every day, including their teeth and ears. Theres strict discipline, so misbehaviors such as barking, jumping on guests coming into the house or distractions where they lose focus is not allowed. Also, when out, guide dogs should not be petted by anyone. A good handler will keep these behaviors in check. It is important to respect the team relationship between the guide dog and handler. It is vital that the guide dog is not distracted by other human interactions because the result could be dangerous to the handler.
Q: What is the National Federation of the Blind?
A: The NFB is an organization that advocates for the rights of the blind at local, state and federal levels. They advocate for the blind to receive Braille literacy and access to digital technology through primary, secondary, and post-secondary school, which includes opening doors to employment. We advocate for security, opportunity and equality. I joined the NFB when I was almost blind, in 1994 and served on the state board for five years. I chaired state-wide fundraisers, coordinated Braille symposiums, held a seminar on blindness for senior citizens, started a Parents with Blind Children group, was a counselor for the Colorado Center for the Blind for blind adolescents, and Ive participated several times in the NFBs legislative agenda presentation to Congress where we discussed issues concerning the blind.
Q: What has the transition from having your vision to not having it, been like for you?
A: It has not been a tragedy. I just have to be organized and use alternative methods. I went to the San Diego Center for the Blind and learned living skills. I just pretend as if I have my eyes closed and do everything the same way in my mind. My imagery vision kicks in, and I can see again.
Q: When you have speaking engagements to bring awareness about the abilities of the blind, what do you say?
A: I express that being blind is not stumbling block. Instead, it is a caution sign that alerts your senses and mind to focus and reach for your goals. Its a positive opportunity to have faith and believe in yourself. Focus on challenges and make them a learning experience, and let the people who want to help you, help. I convey that the only way to fail is not to take the challenge that could turn into triumph. Giving up is failing.
Q: What is it about societys views of the blind that you want to change?
A: The view of the public that the blind are incapable of handling life independently.
Q: Whats been challenging about your work advocating for others who are also blind?
A: The hardest is working with a newly blind person who is afraid of the dark. Many are afraid to walk. They will shuffle their feet because they think if they lift their feet, theyll step in a hole or off a curb and fall. At times, when blindness is new, some people are afraid of pouring a glass of milk. It takes a lot of assurance and reinforcing from the men tour to get them to do it over and over.
Q: Whats been rewarding about it?
A: When the student walks to the bus stop alone for the first time. When a student pours the first glass of milk alone and he feels like he won a gold medal.
Q: What has it taught you about yourself?
A: That Im confident and comfortable with blindness. Ive revived hidden skills, such as professional and creative writing, public speaking, leadership skills, and mentoring and helping developing confidence and blindness skills in adolescents.
Q: What is the best advice youve ever received?
A: Always trust in God and everything will work out.
Q: What is one thing people would be surprised to find out about you?
A: That Im Latina, I sing, I surf, and my age.
Q: Describe your ideal San Diego weekend.
A: Staying at the Carlsbad Inn, sitting in chairs on the sand early on the beach and having coffee. Then, taking a long walk with our guide dogs to Oceanside Pier, having lunch at Rubys, then walking back and resting on the sand building sandcastles, digging holes and surfing with our dogs for the rest of the day.
Email: lisa.deaderick@sduniontribune.com
Twitter: @lisadeaderick
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Showing others that blindness is not a tragedy - The San Diego Union-Tribune