ABOUT LENNY
Success Without Vision
- This is my story of a successful life while dealing with blindness.
My Stories
Be Careful What You Wish
- A most inspiring and motivating story about complications from surgery that left me paralyzed and how I recovered.
Hard To Believe
- Hard to believe, falling down the basement steps was one of the best things that ever happened to me.
Adversity: by Maureen Barnard
- This is an extremely inspiring letter about Perseverance that all should read. Maureen wrote it after reading my be careful for what you wish story.
Joining the Zipper Club
- I joined the zipper club in 2004, this story should convince everyone not to dismiss a potential medical problem.
Our Trip To Australia.
- Purchasing a bottle of Jacob's Creek Wine, Australia’s Top Drop, we won a trip to visit the winery and made some very special friends.
My minds eye memories of pottsville
- Something to be said for losing one's sight.
A Story About Trinity
- The kids of Trinity Lutheran Church sponsored a Freedom Guide Dog; this is a positive story about our youth.
Amateur Radio Stories
- Several short stories about amateur radio.
Would You Like Some Cheese?
- A very humorous situation that took place in an Italian restaurant.
Genuflecting-My introduction!
- A funny story about accompanying a friend to his church.
I was almost in the movies!
- A humorous event that happened to me during the filming of the movie The Distinguished Gentleman Starring: Eddie Murphy.
Indy's Letter To The Editor
- This is the first letter to the editor that I wrote with the hope of educating the public about guide dogs.
Big responsibilities face new
guide dog 04/11/2007
- This is a letter to the editor written in the third person about Micah, my second Freedom Guide Dog, accepting employment in Pottsville. It has a touch of humor with a very serious message.
Micah's first public service
06/19/2007
- As a result of the letter to the editor about Micah accepting
employment in Pottsville, we were invited to be the keynote speaker for a Good Will Industry award breakfast. I think I was also upstaged by a dog.
Freedom Guide Dog visits school
- This is a thank you letter that I sent to the editor of our local newspaper. I spoke to my grandson’s 4th grade class about my Freedom Guide Dog. It may be used as a sample for anyone doing speaking engagements.
Bond spurs gift Published 07/26/2007
- This is a news story that appeared in the Pottsville Republican & Evening Herald.
I lost my independence, Published: Monday, April 6, 2009
- This is a news story about Toga, my new Freedom Guide Dog that appeared in the Pottsville Republican & Evening Herald. In the article there is no mention of Toga's name, Until we bonded I did not want anyone else to know and say her name. .
Walk A Mile In Her Shoes, 2012
- This is an interesting story why I wore ladies high heels one day. The story is very serious but written with a touch of humor. The program is a fund raiser for the Sexual Assault Resource and Counseling Center.
Guide Dog Discrimination Education
The New Jersey State Attorney issued a press release educating
business owners,
hopefully preventing future guide dog discrimination
cases.
New Jersey Attorney General
Press Release
If you have any questions about service animals in places
of business in the United States,
click
here .
for information directly from the U.S. Department of Justice,
Civil Rights Division,
Disability Rights Section. The information will be
displayed in a new
window.
Other Guest Stories
Really Flying Blind!
-This is a very interesting and entertaining story about Alan Paganelli learning to fly. Alan was totally blind when taking pilot instructions. I also think that a lot of credit must be given to John Dunn for thinking out of the box. He used teaching a blind individual as a way to improve his teaching and piloting skills.
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Blind Beatitudes
BLESSED ARE THEY that refrain from shouting
when they speak to me.
BLESSED ARE THEY that talk directly to me and not to
some one else.
BLESSED ARE THEY that say who they are when entering a room
and say hello to me.
BLESSED ARE THEY that say goodbye to me when they leave so I am not left
speaking to the air.
BLESSED ARE THEY that do not hesitate to say "SEE"
when talking to me.
BLESSED ARE THEY who tap my shoulder gently when they
approach from behind or from the side when speaking to me.
BLESSED ARE THEY who wait for me to extend my hand before
shaking it.
BLESSED ARE THEY who place my hand on a object such as
the back of a chair when telling me where it is, so I can
seat myself.
BLESSED ARE THEY who do not leave me in a strange
environment without orienting me to it.
BLESSED ARE THEY who offer me their arm so they can serve
as my guide, instead of grabbing, pulling or shoving me.
BLESSED ARE THEY who come up to me in a large crowd and
offer to help me when I appear disoriented.
BLESSED ARE THEY who do not embarrass me in a group of
people by openly referring to my blindness in word or action.
BLESSED ARE THEY who laugh with me when I tell a joke
related to blindness.
BLESSED ARE THEY who read me the menu and its prices and
allow me to order my own meal.
BLESSED ARE THEY who take me to the cashier so I may pay
for my own meal.
BLESSED ARE THEY who do not distract my guide dog from
being my active eyes.
BLESSED ARE THEY who treat me like a human being, for like
it or not I
AM a human being.
- Author unknown
WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU MEET
A SIGHTED PERSON? - A great sensitivity training tool!
Tips for a sighted guide
Here are some tips for anyone who might have the opportunity to become a sighted guide.
My Family
Tribute To My Dad
Friends
Special Thanks
LINKS
a very comprehensive list of links to products, services, games, support and other educational. In the other educational section you can locate information about guide horses.
CONTACT LENNY
E-mail Lenny
NOTICE!
PLEASE SIGN MY GUESTBOOK!
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PHOTOGRAPHS
Tribute to Fred and Micah
Probably the hardest day of my life was February 10, 2009
when I lost my Freedom Guide Dog Micah. At a very early age not
quite four years old. Micah developed a large mass in his bladder that
could not be cured. This wonderful warm and full of life dog devoted
himself to keeping me safe. Only as the illness increase he began to
lose focus on his work but never lost his wonderful puppy playfulness. I am so very glad that
Micah spent the last year
and ten months of his life with me.
Micah, I LOVE you and you shall
always live in my heart.
To Fred: I,like every guide dog user, I am forever
grateful to your kindness and unselfishness to take and raise these
puppies only to have to return them. They are then trained to help
blind individuals.
At age 88, Fred was Micah’s puppy raiser. At age 90,
shortly after Micah and I became a team, Fred was a victim of cancer.
The last command that I gave to Micah was "Micah, go find Fred".
Photograph of Fred holding MIcah when Micah was seven
weeks old.
Reprinted with kind permission of
Freedom Guide Dogs.
Lenny and Micah
( Click image below
to get a larger picture. )
Lenny and
Indy
My Mind's Eye
- The girls that graduated with me still look 18 years old.
I had to include this photograph. I have changed so
much
since high school that some classmates did not recognize me at my
35th
reunion. When they went home and looked in their yearbooks, then
they
remembered me.
High School Graduation, June 1965
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