The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Sept. 11 survivor speaks at library
Just under a week after the 16th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, survivor Michael Hingson came to the Newbury branch of the Geauga County Public Library Sept. 16 to share his story.
Hingson escaped down 78 floors of Tower 1 of the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001 with the help of his seeing-eye dog Roselle.
The story is chronicled in the book Hingson wrote released in 2011, “Thunder Dog.”
Hingson, who has been blind since birth, said he is often asked why he was at the World Trade Center.
“I was working, just like
everyone else,” he said.
Hingson said he is trying to break a “heavier-than-glass-ceiling.”
“The problem is people have lower expectations for blind people,” he said. He added that about 65 percent of employable blind people are unemployed.
“People have this horrible impression that blind people can’t do anything,” he said.
Hingson gives speeches around the country working to change that perception.
Bringing Hingson to speak at the Newbury Public Library was spearheaded by Geauga County Marketing Manager Lori Weber.
Weber said she reached out to Cleveland Sight Center, seeing if they wanted to split the cost of bringing Hingson to speak. As it turns out, the Cleveland Sight Center was having a gala the night before and was still looking for a speaker.
“It was a very inspirational speech,” Cleveland Sight Center Client Relations Specialist Desmond
Kennedy said of Hingson’s gala speech.
The Cleveland Sight Center offers developmental, rehabilitation and vocational service for Northeast Ohio residents who are blind or have low vision.
“We employ, empower and educate,” Kennedy said.
Before Hingson’s spoke in the Newbury Auditorium, attendees had the chance to see Geauga County’s service animals and first responders such as the Newbury Fire Department.
There were Guiding Eyes for the Blind dogs on site as were Summit Search and Rescue (SAR) dogs.
Summit SAR member Tudy Morris was at the event with her Australian Sheppard, Canyon. She started training the now 4-year-old dog when he was eight weeks old. It takes about one-and-a-half to two years to get SAR dogs “up and ready to go,” she said.
Canyon is a cadaver dog used in cases where a dead body is the likely outcome of the search.
Also at the event were Geauga County Sheriff Deputy Jim Fields with junior deputy (and miniature horse) Rick O’Shay.
“He’s a good ambassador to kids,” Fields said.