Lula Lane of Detroit described herself as "in a low" a few years ago when she became legally blind and was dealing with major health problems that led to a kidney transplant.  She was living with family members at the time, who were cooking for her and reading her mail to her.  A couple months after attending a week-long MCB Mini Adjustment Training Seminar to learn skills of blindness for daily living, she moved to her own apartment.  Now she does her own cooking and cleaning, and she reads her mail with a magnifying device provided by MCB.  Said Ms. Lane, "I'm doing good in my own place - I do everything for myself.  I'm just so uplifted."  On December 12, 2008, she received an MCB Honor Roll Award for her achievements.

Esther Polmanteer of Kalamazoo began experiencing vision loss a few years ago.  She gave away her computer, assuming she'd never be able to use it again.  When she started receiving training from MCB, she was happy to learn about computer software that reads text out loud.  She went to a week-long Mini Adjustment Seminar, where, in her words, MCB staff "gave me the information I needed so I could adjust."  Since then, she's purchased a new computer.  She describes the training she's received from MCB as learning "how to do things in a different way."  With her new skills, she goes shopping using public transportation, organizes recreational and entertainment activities for the residents of her building, and volunteers at a local preschool twice a month.  On December 12, 2008, she received an MCB Honor Roll Award for her achievements.

Dale Layer of St. Clair Shores is both deaf and blind, having experienced progressive hearing and vision loss.  Previously, he had worked as a truck driver for many years, but he needed a new career to support his family.  Over the course of his involvement with MCB, he received training in food service entrepreneurship through the Business Enterprise Program.  He currently operates a vending machine route in the central part of the state, and has provided job shadowing opportunities to newcomers in the program.  On December 12, 2008, he received an MCB Honor Roll Award for his achievements.

Kim Munro of Lansing began to receive services from MCB in 2004 when she was a high school student.  She attended the residential MCB Training Center in Kalamazoo, where she received training in skills of blindness and computers.  During her search for employment, she volunteered at the Capital Area Center for Independent Living and Peckham Vocational Industries.  She now works full-time at Peckham processing employee payroll and doing mailings.  Munro also faces challenges as a wheelchair user, and she has encountered many barriers to employment-but not enough to stop her from achieving her goals.  On December 12, 2008, she received an MCB Honor Roll Award for her achievements.

Gamaliel Soto of Holland contacted MCB for assistance in finding employment.  He went to the residential MCB Training Center in Kalamazoo to update his computer skills and skills of blindness.  He says, "The training center is a wonderful place where people can learn and be encouraged."  He now works for the local transportation system-scheduling rides for customers including those with disabilities-where his ability to speak both Spanish and English is a tremendous asset.  Soto says, "I appreciate the chance to show my abilities and skills."  On December 12, 2008, he received an MCB Honor Roll Award for his achievements.

Dr. Ruta Sharangpani of Plymouth became a client of MCB in the Vocational Rehabilitation Program when she was in high school. MCB provided training in skills of blindness and personal adjustment. She also attended the MCB College Prep Program at the MCB Training Center in Kalamazoo. After graduating from high school, she earned a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University in biology, graduating as one of the top students in her class. Her vocational goal was to be a physician. She went to medical school at Wayne State University, where she earned her MD degree with a specialty in internal medicine. She was employed at the Detroit Medical Center as an internist, and she is currently pursuing a master's degree in public health. Her goal is to work in the public health field.  She received a 2007 MCB Honor Roll Award for her achievements.

Diana Schmitthausler of Lansing was skeptical at first of how much she could accomplish as a person with impaired vision. When she first started with MCB's Independent Living Program, she worked with an MCB rehabilitation teacher in her home and became proficient at labeling clothing and food packages and cooking simple meals. Eventually she agreed to try the residential MCB Training Center "only for one week-no more!" She changed her mind and stayed from September to Christmas break. When she returned home, she was once again an active member of her community. She goes to the local gym, and she enjoys bowling. She gardens, paints ceramics, does macramé, and volunteers at the Michigan Rehabilitation Council. When asked what surprised her the most about the whole adjustment process to being blind, she responded by saying, "I never thought I'd get out like other people, have a good time, and go bowling again." She is considering using her craft talents to start a business selling her works through a microenterprise business. She received a 2007 MCB Honor Roll Award for her achievements.

Michael Reese of Canton is currently employed as an information technology specialist (computer programmer) for the Internal Revenue Service. He came to MCB for training in skills of deafblindness in order to continue his current employment. Throughout his training in the MCB Vocational Rehabilitation Program, he has maintained his determination, sense of humor, and positive attitude even as deteriorating vision and hearing threatened his livelihood. He attended the residential MCB Training Center in Kalamazoo for five weeks to improve his Braille literacy, orientation and mobility, and computer skills, and his rapid progress constantly challenged his instructors to keep providing more advanced material. He has continued with correspondence classes through the Hadley School for the Blind, including calculus "for fun," and in the future he would like to teach mathematics courses for Hadley in addition to his job with the IRS. He received a 2007 MCB Honor Roll Award for his achievements.

Patricia Wagner of Portage has achieved a high level of independence through her own hard work and help from the MCB Independent Living Program. She's learned to use Braille for reading and labeling, an electronic device that identifies canned goods by scanning the bar codes, an electronic talking color identifier for clothing and other items, a talking microwave oven, a digital voice recorder for appointments and notes, and a computer with JAWS talking screen-reader software to use e-mail and the Internet. She is currently attending the residential MCB Training Center to improve her orientation and mobility skills (including using a cane, finding her way indoors and outdoors, using public transportation, and related skills). She is an active member of the local visually impaired seniors' support group and a member of the board of directors of the Michigan Foundation for the Blind and Visually Impaired. She also participates in fundraising activities for the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony.  She received a 2007 MCB Honor Roll Award for her achievements.

Mercedes Bell of Republic  was discouraged when she first lost her vision, wondering how she could continue traveling, reading, cooking, and all her activities of daily life at home.  MCB helped her to adjust to her loss of vision at a week-long Mini Adjustment Seminar in Escanaba-one of several held each year at various locations around the state.  During the seminar and afterward, MCB staff helped her learn to use a cane and find her way on foot and with public transportation.   Through her own persistence, she's now a skilled traveler.  This past summer, Mrs. Bell traveled alone by bus from Republic to Clare and back to Republic.  She also enjoys cooking again, using new skills that she learned through the MCB Independent Living Program to work confidently and safely in her kitchen. She received a 2007 MCB Honor Roll Award for her achievements.

Lillian Knoll of Holland is known for her endless drive and determination to keep active and keep working.  Throughout her experience with vision loss, she has had to adjust to several different eye conditions that affected each eye differently.  When she first became involved with the MCB Vocational Rehabilitation Program, she learned skills of blindness, computer skills including e-mail, and how to use adaptive devices such as magnifiers, a large print calendar, and on-screen computer magnification software.  Then, based on her interest in selling jewelry and other items, she worked with an MCB instructor to learning how to purchase and sell items on eBay.  She believed she could start a business and, with a lot of hard work, she did.  At age 77, in addition to her home-based business, she is an active member of her condo complex.  She received a 2007 MCB Honor Roll Award for her achievements.

Nichole Nevorski  of Chesterfield Township is a senior at Central Michigan University majoring in chemistry.  The Michigan Commission for the Blind provided adaptive devices and training to help her complete her class assignments more efficiently and independently.  She has been selected by the American Chemical Society to receive its national Overcoming Challenges Award.

Jose Moreno  of Holland, who is deaf and blind, received training through the Michigan Commission for the Blind as a cabinetmaker, and he's currently employed at Great Lakes Woods in Holland.

Carolyn Houston  (Flint) received services from the Michigan Commission for the Blind including computer screen text enlargement software, glasses, and computer training, which all helped her to maintain her employment and transition into full-time work.  She is currently employed full-time at Sam's Club as a product demonstrator, and there have been days when she's sold more of her product than anyone at any other member store nationwide for that day.