CLARION – Janice Beary of Clarion is known for her positive attitude when she goes about her custodial work in Clarion University’s Nair Hall. But, her life has been a series of survival tests.
She was told she would not survive an operation; once blind, but now visually impaired, she was told she would never see again; and she was told she would never have children.
In all these scenarios and many more, Beary, has proved everyone else to be wrong.
Earlier this month, the Pennsylvania Institute for Blind and Handicapped (PIBH) recognized Beary’s perseverance by presenting her with the 2010 Nettie Mann Achievement Award in recognition of her exception traits and personal endeavors which personify the concept of PIBH.
“I’ve never won an award before, I’ve never been number one for anything,” said Beary.
Nominated by her supervisor Melissa Lockwood of Goodwill Industries, who subcontract some custodial services with Clarion University, Beary beat out 21 additional nominees for the Mann Achievement Award. In addition to a plaque, she received $500.
“Janice has the best outlook on life of anyone,” evaluated Lockwood. “She brings a positive attitude to all of us.”
Beary’s problems started in 1987 at age 22, when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor affecting the pituitary gland and placing pressure on her optic nerve. Within three months, she was blind and underwent surgery to remove the lemon-sized tumor.
“All I could see was color and weird images,” she recalled. “I had to be trained to walk again and it felt like I was walking on the walls, not the floor.”
Gall bladder problems and a spinal fluid issue followed. Beary had to be operated on for both issues with a stint installed in her hip to control the spinal fluid issue.
“My sight came back little by little,” said Beary. “One night I saw Connie Chung on the television. Then it was like looking through plastic wrap. My father played a game with me, holding up objects for me to identify. Now I have tunnel vision, but I can see. The biggest thing I miss is driving a car.”
Four years after the diagnosis of the tumor, Beary married David Beary. “Somehow with my vision problem I made it down the aisle,” she noted. “But I was told I would never have children.”
Again, Beary proved them wrong. Their daughter, Hanna, now 13, was born in 1997.
“This whole plan is from God,” said Beary. “David is there to take care of me and Hanna arrived to help me.”
Three years ago, Beary attended a school for the blind and learned that she was able to do many things. Two years later, after 23 years of being unemployed, she was working through Goodwill Industries. Now she runs the vacuum on all seven floors of Nair Hall and helps out with other jobs as her vision allows.
While not a normal life, Beary fought a long battle to be back in a normal job. At the PIBH award ceremony in addition to her award she got to meet actor Lou Ferrigno, who has a hearing handicap. But the thing Beary will probably remember most is the tears of joy shed by her daughter, Hanna.
Beary is a daughter of Mike and Nancy Bauer of Clarion.
Established in 1976, the Nettie Mann Achievement Award seeks to recognize an individual from one of PIBH’s 75 affiliated work centers throughout the Commonwealth. Some of the better-known work centers are the Pennsylvania Association for the Blind, Goodwill Industries, The Easter Seal Society, United Cerebral Palsy of Pennsylvania, and the Association for Retarded Citizens. The award winner must be a person who exhibits outstanding achievement and exceptional character in living and coping with his or her disabilities, particularly in the work place. To be so recognized, out of the over 4,000 people employed in our family of work centers, is quite an honor.