Armed with a laptop and a healthy mixture of excitement and apprehension, 25-year-old Jason Shepard started classes at Edmonds Community College this winter. He is sure to stand out in the crowd, and not just because he is engaging and extremely bright. He’s also nearly blind, something that his contemporaries will find has developed an extraordinary focus.
"It's simple," Jason explained. "I know I have limits—everyone does—but I get to attend college, and not everyone gets to do that. I know the benefits of seeing things from different perspectives. I've seen what can happen when you put knowledge in place. I am determined to succeed, which for me means living as independently as possible."
Outside his parents, Shepard credits the disAbility Resource Connection (DRC), a United Way-funded agency, as one of the greatest influences on his life.
"It was a joy to meet someone with such determination," said Ann Morgan, a coordinator at the multi-faceted independent living center for those with disabilities. "Through our Adapted Technology Dynamics program, and later a men's support group, I encouraged Jason to embrace and explore experiences in the larger world and his purpose within it."
According to Morgan, the Bridges program uses its United Way funding for independent living assessments to help individuals with disabilities plan for vocational success and enriched lives. In Shepard’s case, this included the purchase of adaptive technology, including a laptop modified with Braille overlays and specialized software, an overhead projector that magnifies the written word and a copy machine.
"With his disability, Jason was slipping between the cracks after high school," said Shepard's parents, Steven and LaVeta Lebar. "He was getting discouraged, but then we were referred to DRC. They saw his potential and acted on it. The results have really taken him places."
Jason's Story