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Harriet Mullin will graduate from Creighton University in December with a degree in art history thanks in part to the efforts of the staff at the UNMC Weigel Williamson center for Visual Rehabilitation. (Andrew E. Nelson, UNMC public relations) |
A stroke in the optic nerve of her left eye left Mullin unable to see. Already struggling with the vision in her right eye, the result of a childhood injury, Mullin was devastated.
How would she finish the three-week summer art history class and graduate if she couldn’t read the material, write the term paper or watch the films?
Fortunately for Mullin the experts at the UNMC Weigel Williamson Center for Visual Rehabilitation had the answers.
“I was elated when my neuro-ophthalmologist told me about the Weigel Williamson Center and said they could help me learn coping strategies to handle my low vision problems,” she said.
Staff offered solutions
Mullin, who began pursuing her college degree after raising seven children, spent three months this summer working with Evy Katz, an occupational therapist at the center.
“When I first met Harriet, she was so devastated by her vision loss,” Katz said. “After our first session she was thrilled to learn how to read the newspaper using the powerful hand-held magnifier prescribed by (John Shepherd, M.D., director of the center).”
Katz helped Mullin to better use her remaining vision by teaching her eccentric viewing, which for Mullin is to look up and to the right of what she wants to see. Mullin also learned to use a CCTV, a machine that can magnify text, pictures and graphics up to 75 times.
Future graduate grateful for help
Using Katz’ tips and the CCTV, Mullin was able to write a six-page term paper for her class and take the final exam.
“The staff at the Weigel Williamson Center was instrumental in helping me continue my education,” said Mullin, who will graduate in December from Creighton University with a major in art history. “Getting those three credits was really important for me to be able to graduate.”