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April 16, 2003
Contact:
Tom Davis
Troy Office of University Relations
334/670-3196
tomdavis@troy.edu
Office of University Relations
253 Adams Administration
Troy, AL 36082
(334) 670-3196
(334) 670-3274 (fax)
| TROY
STATE UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF UNIVERSITY RELATIONS PRESS RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL 1-334-670-3196 |
| Dr.
Douglas V. Austin speaks at Helen Keller Lecture at TSU Dr. Douglas V. Austin, Chairman and CEO of Austin Financial Services, Inc., does not consider his blindness a handicap or disability. Dr. Austin shared his positive outlook on blindness with Troy State University students April 15 in Claudia Crosby Theater during the Helen Keller Lecture. The annual lecture is held to promote awareness of people who excel in their chosen fields despite physical limitations and is sponsored by TSU, the Helen Keller Eye Research Foundation, the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind and the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services. “Blindness is not necessarily a disability, handicap or an inconvenience. It’s what you make it that determines what it is,” said Dr. Austin. “I think of life as a football, not a basketball,” Dr. Austin said. “When you drop a basketball it bounces right back to you. When you drop a football it bounces sideways, forwards, backwards and sometimes right at you. Treating life like a football prepares you to be more flexible and more concerned about things around you.” “Being blind is a problem that is surmountable,” Dr. Austin said. Dr. Austin’s said his blindness does not keep him from succeeding in life. “Even though I start 100 miles behind everyone else, it only means I have to run harder and faster and eventually I’ll pass those others,” Dr. Austin said. “You succeed in the world because you know how,” said Dr. Austin. |