When Penny Mishkin was eight years old, she became separated from her classmates returning from a field trip to Central Park. “Scared and alone, I searched for my group, but couldn’t see well enough to find them.” A kind stranger saw Penny crying and returned her to her classmates. Penny’s life improved dramatically when she was fitted for contact lenses. Her new 20/40 vision allowed her to see the blackboard and take part in gym class, although she was still functionally blind without correction.
The trauma and isolation of those early years remained with Penny. Having been taught asking for help was a weakness, Penny learned, personally and professionally, that it’s actually a strength. She became an occupational therapist, choosing to work with children whose disabilities were as invisible as hers, advocating daily for their rights. In her more than 40-year career, she has witnessed attitudes toward the disabled change and their quality of life improve as exemplified by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).