A Teacher With Visual Impairment Overcomes Challenges
In 2009, while in college at Delta State University, three days before her 20th birthday, Micah Morgan looked at her test and couldn’t read it. The teacher wouldn’t allow her to leave the classroom so she had to finish the test not being able to see it. One year later, Micah was legally blind.
Her brother, who has the same impairment, was a big support. He had received VRB services as well so Micah was familiar with the program and with counselor, Kathy Bowman. “Kathy was so responsive to my needs, it made it easy for me to reach my goal of becoming a teacher,” Micah states.
During college, as soon as she got her schedule, she would go to meet her professors and explain her disability. She found them to be more than helpful and accommodating to her needs. The hardest part of adjustment during college was taking all of her necessary equipment to the various schools and classrooms while she was completing the observation work requirement for her degree. She had to carry a CCTV to all of her classes and people looked at her differently. “I had to learn to look past it. For every person who made you feel uncomfortable, there are twenty who are understanding and are there to help.”
When she began her job hunt, she stressed over whether to self- identify to her potential employers. She went on several interviews and chose not to disclose her disability, however, she did tell her boss when offered the job at Sudduth. “I just wanted to prove to everyone that I could do it.” The teaching staff at her school offer a tremendous amount of support as well, especially during staff meetings.
Micah’s disability is one reason she decided to become a teacher, and she states there are many students who have impairments that need extra help and who better to understand than someone who has experienced it first-hand, “I’m not disabled, I’m just differently abled.”
On her experience with MDRS and VRB services, Micah states, “They are just one call away. They will help see you through. Adjusting to vision loss is not an easy walk, but people will accept you and there are people who can help.” Micah’s message to employers, “Have faith in me, I can do it. Sometimes having a disability gives you an inside perspective that is beneficial to doing your job successfully.”