By Melissa Borgerding
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE
When Harriett Wolf was deciding which opportunities she wanted to be a part of at Sedgebrook, she saw a blank sheet of paper with the word “TV” at the top. “I thought, well, that sounds interesting, so I put my name down,” she says. Now, Harriett is head of Sedgebrook’s in-house TV station, Channel 6. Every day, she programs all of the community news and announcements. Yet, Harriett is the first to admit she knew nothing about TV before moving to Sedgebrook.
This story is typical of Harriett, who has never shied away from any opportunity to challenge herself or to learn a new skill. Since moving to Sedgebrook from Wheeling in August, she’s been able to devote more time to the causes that are important to her—not to mention discover the hidden talents she never realized she had.
Transcribing Textbooks to Braille
Perhaps the cause most important to Harriett is her work for the blind. About a year ago, she received her certification as a Braille transcriptionist, and devotes at least an hour of her time every day to transcribing educational textbooks into Braille using her home computer. Harriett’s work for the blind goes all the way back to 1958 when the school her children attended integrated blind students with the sighted children.
The problem, Harriett says, was that much of the school’s required reading material was not available in Braille. When the school asked for volunteers to learn Braille and transcribe text, Harriett was one of the first to sign up. She took classes at night and practiced during the day when her children were at school. Since then, Harriett says she’s done quite a few transcriptions. “They’re getting better too. I enjoy it. It’s like crossword puzzles or learning a new language, and people say if you keep challenging yourself, you’re more likely to stay sharp.”
Welcoming New Challenges