Newspaper Page Text
THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 2008
THE BANKS COUNTY NEWS
PAGE 5A
Social News
Blind student prepares for school months in advance
“Twenty-five going on 18“ is how
incoming Gainesville State College
(GSC) freshman Adonia Martinez,
Alto, describes herself.
Martinez is one of more than 8,000
students who will begin their fall
semester at GSC on Monday, Aug.
18. But, even before the semester
got underway, she has made her
presence known on the Gainesville
campus.
Throughout the months of July and
August, Martinez has been “study
ing” the campus so she will be able
to successfully maneuver to and
from classes as well as offices and
study locations.
With the assistance of her mobility
coach — Farrell Matthews, who is a
blind rehabilitation specialist — and
her seeing-eye-dog, Kay, Martinez
has spent hours and hours in the
heat-of-the-day walking the course
in order to become comfortable with
her surroundings.
Born partially blind, Martinez
became completely blind at the age
of seven, but she hasn't let this slow
her down.
She attended the Texas School for
the Blind from age seven to 14 and
then moved to Alto, where she com
pleted the last year of middle school
and all four years of high school at
Habersham Central, where she was
an honor graduate.
Martinez remembers, “After high
school I was ready to face the
world. The summer after I gradu
ated, I along with 17 other academic
achievement award winners from
across the state had the opportunity
to meet Cathy Cox. It was an excit
ing opportunity for me. “
Martinez currently volunteers sev
eral hours each week at a children's
shelter in Habersham County where
she, “reads to the children, helps
them with homework and art proj
ects, and spends time with them as
an adult who they can confide in
and trust.”
Of her time working at the shel
ter, Martinez says, “you observe so
much that touches your heart and
you want to help the children."
A trained massage therapist,
Martinez has decided that she wants
to complete her college education
and fulfill her dream of becoming an
“early childhood education teacher
and eventually working in vision
education and child psychology.”
“As I began researching colleges,”
says Martinez, “I would call schools
and see how they responded to me
as an individual who was visually
impaired and how they would help
me meet my needs. If they weren’t
helpful or encouraging, I would say
‘thank you' and hang up. I knew the
first time I talked to the members of
the GSC Disability Services staff,
that they would help me meet my
needs.”
“Thanks to the disability services
staff and my mobility coach, Mr.
Matthews, all of my needs are being
met as I prepare to start college,”
Martinez said. “Mr. Matthews works
with me as I learn my way around
campus and then I teach Kay what
I have learned by walking the paths,
observing the sounds and study
ing the tactile maps of the campus
and buildings he (Matthews) made
for me. Kay has been with me for
14 months and she has given me a
greater sense of independence.”
Kay is a specially trained black
labrador retriever and she is always
at Martinez's side.
“When you are blind,” Martinez
said, “you are a problem solver and
you have to figure out what to do
with yourself and you need back-
Adonia Martinez, Alto, is
shown with her guide dog,
Kay, at Gainesville State
College.
up plans. If one thing goes wrong,
you have to move to plan B.” The
GSC Office of Disability Services
has worked closely with Martinez
throughout the summer to layout the
plans that will help her be a success
ful student.
Things are not always serious
with Martinez. She laughs as she
explains, “I love to read! I some
times stay up all night if a book is
good. I read mysteries and romance
novels that I check out from the
Athens Special Needs Library either
on tape, CD or in Braille books. Oh,
and I love the beach where I can take
walks and listen to the sounds of the
ocean!”
Jackson EMC ranked highest in customer satisfaction
In a study just released by J.D.
Power and Associates, Jackson
Electric Membership Corporation
(EMC) ranked highest in customer
satisfaction among midsize utilities
in the South, as well as all utilities in
the nation. This marked the first year
that Jackson EMC had been included
in the study.
“We are deeply honored to receive
this recognition,” said Randall Pugh,
Jackson EMC president/ CEO.
“Jackson EMC's employees have a
long-standing dedication to provid
ing service that exceeds our mem
bers’ expectations, whether that means
quickly restoring power after a storm,
making sure bills are correct, prompt
ly handling members' requests, or
planning infrastructure additions to
ensure adequate power supplies. This
award is truly a reflection of not only
the effort they put into their jobs, but
also the spirit in which they carry out
those jobs day in and day out. I am
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ees who are as committed to customer
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ment, corporate citizenship, commu
nications and customer service.
“Jackson EMC’s focus has never
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viding our members with high quality
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Every decision we make is made with
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said Pugh, “and we truly appreciate
this response from our members.”
Headquartered in Wesdake Village,
Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a
global marketing information services
company operating in key business
sectors, including market research,
forecasting, performance improve
ment, training and customer satisfac
tion. The firm's quality and satis
faction measurements are based on
responses from millions of customers
annually. J.D. Power and Associates is
a business unit of The McGraw-Hill
Companies.
Jackson EMC, a cooperative owned
by the members it serves, provides
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ly 204,500 meters in 10 Northeast
Georgia counties, with offices in
Jefferson, Lawrenceville, Gainesville
and Neese. To learn more, visit www.
jacksonemc.com
Pack meeting set
Banks County cub scout pack 106
announces its annual back to the
pack meeting to be held at the Lake
Russell Recreation area in Mt. Airy,
Saturday Aug. 23, at 11 a.m.
There will be a $4 parking fee
per car.
For more information, call Jeff
Throneberry at 706-654-7296 or
Anita Bonds at 678-617-3841.
Volunteers needed
at Maysville library
The Maysville Public Library is
seeking volunteers to read to chil
dren ages five and under at the
library. Anyone interested is asked
to stop by the library or call Delana
at 706-652-2323.
Thinking about a
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www.knoblockandassoc.com
The Knoblock School is a Georgia Licensed Real Estate and Appraisal School
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