When Blindness Makes You Visible

Second Post of the Day

My friend Kathy is back in the news again. She asked me not to share until it was announced publicly, but the announcement has been made and I can now unseal my lips.

She has won another award.

Kathy does not look for awards; they find her. And this one is huge. Former winners include Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles.

Yeah. Really. 

When she shared the news with me, we were sitting in my car waiting for the nail salon to open so we could get pedicures. (Pedicures are our monthly girls outing/catch up time.) Kathy had just been notified about the award and was so scrambled, she did not know what to say or do.  Her voice shook and I think her hands were shaking, too.

"I just have to tell someone, but please don't share this. Lynn, I never applied for this; I have no idea how they knew about me or why they felt I was a candidate."

And then she shared that she had just been informed that she was to receive the 2026 Helen Keller Achievement Award from The American Federation for the Blind in New York City this coming April.

I know why she was on their radar. It's a no brainer. Indiana Teacher of the Year, 2015. National Teacher of the Year Top Four, 2015 with a White House meeting with President Obama. 

Winner of Dolly Parton's Chasing Rainbows Award. Olympic torch bearer. National Federation for the Blind Teacher of the Year. Sagamore of the Wabash (the highest civilian honor in Indiana), Purdue University Distinguished Alumni Award, and so on.

Helen Keller, one of Kathy's heroes, was a member of The American Federation of the Blind and the award that Kathy has won is named in Helen Keller's honor.

Here is a link to the press release.

https://afb.org/news-publications/press-room/press-release-archive/press-release-2025/2026-helen-keller-achievement

One of the things I like best about Kathy is her humility and, dare I say it, her innocence. And I mean that as a compliment. Her goal is never about herself, the limelight, or the awards, but to help others achieve their best. To serve. To make a difference in our world. And she does it all as a blind woman. 

In a huge twist of irony, I think her blindness makes her visible and opens doors, for her and for others. She is not what most people expect when they learn that someone is blind. As a result, Kathy has broken so many barriers to blindness in so many arenas that sighted people like you and me have to adjust our own personal definitions of what blindness is and what a blind person can accomplish.

And in doing so, she has led the way for other vision impaired people to follow. 

Kathy, you make a difference and you are very deserving of this award. I am happy for you and I am so, so proud of you.

Well done, dear friend. 

Lisa & Purdue's Golden Hammer Educator Event

Second Post of the Day

Saturday was an exciting day for Lisa - she was selected and recognized as one of Purdue University's Golden Hammer Educators!

Needless to say, it was a very big honor! There was a brunch held with Purdue's First Lady, Dr. Kei Hui, and several Deans where the honorees were recognized, given tickets for the football game (and their guests, too), and an appearance on the Jumbotron during the game where the sold out stadium of 61,000 applauded her and the other recipients. 

A goodie bag full of lots of Purdue swag was given out during the brunch.

My degrees may be from Big Ten rival Illinois, but I'll wear a Purdue tee when they honor my daughter!

And I'll make sure everyone knows who I am related to!

Craig's degrees are from Purdue so his wardrobe is full of Purdue shirts.

He, too, made sure everyone knew who he was with!

This young girl attends the school where Lisa teaches. She was not one of Lisa's students, but she was so excited to see Lisa and kept coming over to talk to her. 

Dr. Kei Hui, First Lady of Purdue and an advocate of Education, spent the day with us. She was laughing here because of the sign behind her. 

She jokingly invited two of the Golden Hammer's sponsoring Deans to come up and cover it up so it "doesn't spoil everyone's photo opportunities."

Brunch over, the honorees went with the Deans and Dr. Kei to film their Jumbotron appearances to be played later during the game.

Craig and I had some time to wait, and as we walked around through the crowds, the Purdue Band came marching through and into the stadium. I happened to be seated in my walker right where they were marching and had a great view of the band.

If you watch to the end (it's 2:00 long) you will see this come through!

The World's Largest Drum! Not gonna lie - it's on my bucket list to drum it some day! I was SO close to it this afternoon!! 

So was Lisa! She was on the field with the drum - lucky girl!

Dr. Kei Hiu stayed with the honorees and was happy to take selfies with them. Here they are pre-game while filming their Jumbotron appearances.

And here it is! (1:10)

I did not stay for the game for a couple of reasons as my back was hurting (we'd taken two cars thinking that that might happen.) But the game was televised so I was able to watch from home.

A shot of the sold out stadium of 61,000 people with the Jumbotron in the end zone. (The domed building to the left is Mackey Arena, Purdue's basketball arena.)

Purdue won the game 0-28 which was icing on the cake of a wonderful day. (Can you see the drum down there?)

Congratulations, Lisa! You are an outstanding teacher and you have taught me new teaching skills when watching you. This honor was very well deserved and as Dr. Kei said in her remarks,

"Teaching is the one profession that creates all other professions."

Amen to that!

 

And one last video from the band coming through. (1:10)

The twirlers, cheerleaders, flag carriers, and more. (0:25)

The News is Getting Out

The press release has gone out, so I can speak more freely about the award I won. It's the YWCA Salute to Women, an award for community service. My school corporation's newsletter just sent a notice. Here's a cut and paste:

February 3, 2017 Newsletter for employees of the Tippecanoe School Corporation YWCA salutes two TSC educators YWCA Greater Lafayette will present a Salute to Women award to several individuals who have made a significant, positive impact in our community. They include TSC Instructional Coach Sarah Powley and Hershey Elementary School teacher Lynn Isenbarger. Sarah and Lynn will receive a "Woman of Distinction" award during a celebration March 1.  Pictured left: Sarah Powley with some McCutcheon graduates. Pictured right: Lynn Isenbarger with her 4/5 high ability students.