Middlebury Resident Gives Back to Hadley School

Winnetka, IL? Herb Culver, who is visually impaired, will tell you his life is much easier now. 
“When you don’t see, you do everything with your brain,” he said. “People say to me sometimes 
‘Aren’t you depressed?’ and I say ‘No, I’m a lucky person.’”

About five years ago Culver, who is president of Culver Duck Farms in Middlebury, Ind., enrolled 
with The Hadley School for the Blind, a distance education school for people who are blind or 
visually impaired. At that time keeping records for his business took a lot of time and transferring 
the raw data into proper form was very tedious.

“It is so important for me to improve the efficiency of Culver’s Duck Farm and that’s what 
Hadley’s ‘Access Technology: Beginnings’ did for me,” Culver said.

Now Culver understands computer jargon, can keep track of the feed for the ducks and locate any 
necessary data on his business. “The course made it easier for me to analyze data; it made it 
possible ? let’s put it that way,” he said.
Recently, his way of saying ‘thanks’ to Hadley was to make one of the largest donations ever 
given by a Hadley student, a donation he knows will help future people like him. 

“Hadley encouraged me to be successful and the instructors were an inspiration to me,” Culver 
said. “I think Hadley is very worthy of a donation ? helping people who are blind or visually 
impaired is a wonderful thing to do.” 

At age 60 Culver began gradually losing his vision as a result of glaucoma and an eye injury. The 
course taught him how to use a computer and special software which vocalizes what is seen on the 
monitor to run his business.

“Herb truly exemplifies our motto of independent living with his ongoing determination, 
enthusiasm and skill,” said Linn Sorge, Culver’s Hadley instructor.

“We take a lot of pride in our students’ achievements in their personal and professional lives. 
When a student like Herb shows his appreciation by making a donation to the school, we know we 
are making a significant difference in the life of someone who is visually impaired,” said Tom 
Tobin, Hadley’s Vice President of Development/Communications.