The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, September 08, 1982, Page 3, Image 3
Blind student le
By Tammy Baughman
Mark "sees" with his ears. He swims
because he is not able to jog. He uses a tape
recorder for studying. Mark is blind, but he
is otherwise a normal college student.
Mark Spires, a USC senior, has not been
blind all of his life. At six years old, he was
playing with a knife, sticking it in putty.
"The knife got stuck, and as I pulled it
away I jabbed myself in the eye," Spires
snid His rioht ove was iniureri rmisinff the
other eye to become infected.
"I BECAME blind gradually. It was a
good thing it happened when 1 was so young.
If it was to happen now it would be harder to
cope with, bec&use I would have had my
sight for so long.
"People ask me all the time if it was hard
not being able to see after seeing perfectly
for six years. It was pretty wild to gradually
see my sight diminishing. One day I could
see all my fingers, and then the next day I
could only see one," Spires said.
Spires, from North, a small town near
Orangeburg, came to USC because he did
not want to go to a small college. "I went to
a small high school and lived in a small
town; I wanted something different. Plus,
two of my blind friends that I met in a school
for the blind were coming to USC," he said.
Spires was offered scholarships to Fur
man University, Baptist College of
Charleston and Presbyterian College.
"I WAS pretty smart in high school. There
was no shadow of a doubt in my mind that I
wanted to go to college, and to a big one.
That's why I did not go to the colleges that
offered me scholarships," Mark said.
One thing USC had that the other colleges
did not was a media arts department. "I
want to go into some area of media arts,
probably broadcasting," Spires said. He is
working toward a degree in interdisciplinary
studies through the College
of Applied Professional Sciences.
Spires had to make a big adjustment after
moving to USC. He lived in Preston dorm his
first two years at USC. "I came to USC in
the summer of 1978.1 wanted to try summer
school first so I could learn the campus
before the fall rush."
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During his first semester of school, Spires ?
met a lot of people. "I did not think I would he
meet so many people at first, because I was in I
blind, but I was really wrong. People were is i
very nice and friendly," Spires said. kn
i
Sp
HE LEARNED his way around the dorm ?la
first and learned Russell House before to
tackling the classrooms. "It was hard
learning my way to classes, but I just had to
learn. I tried to schedule my classes in the
same building so it would be easier," Spires J
said. sul
on
Spires has accomplished learning the task ?n
of crossing streets. "I keep up with names of J*c
streets. Most sighted people don't even pay
attention to names of streets. A blind person w*
has to know them. I also try to remember
landmarks like trees and fire hydrants,"
Spires said. 1
When crossing streets, he listens for the sa
parallel traffic. When he hears the motor of
the parallel traffic move, he can,walk. "The
only problem is when a car is making a right ^
(turn) on red. Most cars stop, and p(
cnmafimoc T hoar tho cnroivhina cniinH nf ?
oviliwilliva A 1IVU* V*?V* wv* V/V/V.ii*?.e MWM..W >? |
brakes. That kind of makes you stop real aj
fast," Spires said. ~c
Familiar with campus, he also knows his ^
way around Five Points and the downtown j
area. "If I need help in getting somewhere I
just ask for help. Sometimes I take the city g
bus and other times friends give me rides," aJ
Spires said. bj
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sity life, strives
Som
found (
eople ask me all the time if if
; hard not being able to see they<*
Test
r seeing perfectly for six the pr
rs. It was pretty wild to
dually see my sight tests, i
inishing. One day I could see Sph
try fingers, and then the next
I could see only one/ "it i
allow
? Mark Spires remin
a sign
dogs i
ITP iMnirnC niTTI?\I nffor* him riHoc Kiif -
y ? vi ijuii utiv/i iiuu i iuv^o, uuv Ulcill 1
won't take them. "I would feel paranoid said,
taking a ride from a stranger. Being blind "Dg
a disadvantage. The person could pull a proba
ife or gun on you easily," he said. They
Vlthough he is blind, he still has to study, blind
ires uses a tape recorder to get notes in throui
iss. "It's a real drag listening to the tapes Dog
study. You can hear chairs moving, bulldc
ople sneezing and the professor getting off Sheph
j subject or cracking a bad joke," he said. "Th
you g
Student readers help Spires learn the trainf
bject better. "Using the readers depends dog 1
the individual. Some listen to the readers said.'
d others record the reader," Spires said. $150.
! said he prefers listening to the reader, Spii
L : j i_ : i i Uo ctr
i saiu ins imiiu suiucuiiiRi leuus tu ??v &v
inder. least
Student readers need to be experienced orrui
d dependable. They need to be fairly is go<
telligent and serious about college, Spires peopl
id.
SP
the 1
MOST OF the readers are available ever;
rough Handicapped Services, located on arefc
jndleton Street. Readers are paid by the pers<
C. Commission for the Blind and are Spin
lowed to work 40 hours a month. "I have to Hi:
it everything I need from the readers in 40 that
>urs. Some months I can and some months
:an't," Spires said. tryii
Readers help with research papers, too," maj<
)ires said. The reader goes to the library ^ry
id gathers material to be recorded for the dani
ind student.
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5
I The
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| wiii have its first rr
| Wednesday, Sept. J
| in Room 307 of the.
I Come joi
3 4 '
for the best
5 books required for class can be
>n tape through certain companies. "I
get the book on tape first. The tapes
e, and you return them at the end of
tr," Spires said.
ing procedures for the blind are up to
ofessor, but exams are always oral
e harder and more confusing than
i tests, especially oral multiple choice
>pires said.
IES USES a walking stick to help him
>und, but he wants to get a Seeing Eye
s against the law for someone not to
a guide dog inside a building. It
is me of a joke about a man who puts
on his window that says no Seeing Eye
illowed. It must either mean the blind
an nr thp rincf pan rftad " Snires
" " o ? ? ? S
gs can be a lot of trouble, but I will
t)ly get one when I get out of school,
are good companions," he said. A
person can get a Seeing Eye dog
{h schools that train them.
s most used are black Labradors,
gs, golden retrievers and German
erds, Spires said.
ere is a school in New Jersey where
o for three or four weeks and are
d with a dog. They want to give you a
hat matches your personality," he
rhe price for a Seeing Eye dog is about
es takes advantage of his leisure time,
es to the physical education center at
)nce a week to swim. "Since I can't jog
i, play tennis or racquetball, I swim. It
yd exercise and a good way to meet
e," Spires said.
[RES SAID he hopes to finish school in
text two years. "Jobs are hard for
rone but especially hard to find if you
lind. People will give a job to a sighted
in before giving it to a blind person,"
ssaid.
; goal is to find a job in broadcasting
vill pay enough on which to live.
ieing blind does not keep me from
ig new things. The fact that I can't see
es me want to try new things more. I'll
most anything, if it is not too
jci uiw, oj^iicd ddiu.
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