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Hope and Inspiration
A Community of Friends: Mary Romo
Reliving the American Dream: Oscar Davila
For many decades, Braille Institute has been instrumental in assisting people with visual impairments to adapt to vision loss and lead rich, fulfilling lives. Many of our clients have stated that the Institute's free programs and services have literally changed their lives. Here is one person's story:
A Community of Friends: Mary Romo
When Mary Romo was in her 20s, just starting out as an elementary school speech and language therapy teacher, she learned she was suffering from early onset macular degeneration. The diagnosis would have devastated some, but an optimist by nature, Mary did her best to take the news in stride and find out as much as she could about the rare eye disease.
Her quest for answers led her to Braille Institute, where she found a wealth of information and what she describes as “a community of friends.” Thanks to joint funding from the state of California and the Institute, Mary also acquired her own CCTV. “It made a huge difference in my ability to keep up with my work,” she remembered. Mary also received computer training, enabling her to complete the diagnostic work-ups required in her field.
Yet through the years Braille Institute has given Mary more than technical know-how alone. “It’s funny, but all of my hobbies have come from Braille Institute,” Mary revealed with a smile. These hobbies include golf—which she in turn introduced to her husband—and, her favorite of all, ceramics.
“It’s given me a fantastic creative outlet,” Mary said. It also has provided a social network inside and outside of Braille Institute. Upon retirement, Mary and her husband spent several years living in New York, during which time many of her friendships came as a result of hours around the potting wheel. Recently, the Romos returned to California and Mary has returned to Braille Institute’s Santa Barbara Center. She is thrilled to be back. “I have my community of great friends at the center and we have a great time.” And her beautiful pottery speaks for itself.
Reliving the American Dream: Oscar Davila
Born in Mexico and raised in Texas, Oscar Davila made his way to California in 1940. Raised to believe in the American ethic that hard work pays off, Oscar toiled in the government surplus business. His hard work did indeed pay off, and soon Oscar had opened his open surplus store.
He soon expanded and became a manufacturer as well. His upbeat, charismatic personality served him well and by the 1970s, Oscar had amassed nearly a dozen surplus stores around San Diego, bringing his sons into the fold to help him run the business.
As Oscar neared retirement, it seemed everything was perfect… until he lost his vision to macular degeneration in 2003. “I lost my everyday routine, I lost a new car, and worst of all, I lost my freedom,” he remembered. For someone as active and fit as Oscar, it was a heavy blow.
But rather than quit, Oscar was determined to push forward. He began attending classes at Braille Institute’s San Diego Center—cooking, living with low vision, and art— and soon learned that he could live with sight loss. “I learned to accept it and to do things in a new way,” Oscar said. “The staff at Braille Institute was extremely helpful. They’re fine people and I’m proud to be associated with them.”
Oscar—who recently turned 90—was so moved by his experiences at the Center that he decided to give back as a volunteer instructor. He now teaches a weekly Spanish class, writing his lesson plans in large-print so his students can follow along. Through it all, Oscar has remained upbeat and asserts, “I wouldn’t change a thing.” From Mexico to Texas to Braille Institute San Diego, Oscar Davila is living the American Dream. Again.
