Deafblind Emporia Resident Honored With Award

Winnetka, IL? On October 12, 2006 The Hadley School for the Blind presented Lois Hodge, of 
Emporia, Kansas, with the Challenge of Living Award. Each year, Hadley instructors nominate 
students most deserving of this honor.

“Taking Hadley courses made me realize I’m going through the normal adjustments of being deaf 
and blind,” Lois said. “Hadley has helped me cope and not feel so isolated.” 

Born deaf, her parents didn’t discover she was deaf until she was four-years-old. A blood test in 
1995 revealed she has Usher Syndrome, an inherited disorder that includes hearing impairment 
and progressive vision loss. In 2000 she enrolled with Hadley and has since completed four 
courses on subjects like poetry, adjusting with blindness and braille reading. The Hadley School, 
founded in 1920, is the nation’s largest distance education school for people who are visually 
impaired.

Lois is an avid writer and has written several articles and a book, “Seasons of Change,” about a 
deaf 12-year-old child. She plans on taking more courses in the near future.

The Hadley Challenge of Living Award is presented annually to a deaf-blind person who has 
succeeded through education or has contributed much to the education and well-being of deaf-
blind persons.