Peter's Word Processing Story.

Wednesday, January 5, 2000.

I live in Newcastle, Australia.

Vicki, Julia and Brett and Lorraine. Peter chair here

In July 1997, I heard about a new class at WEA in Newcastle for deaf people. A literacy course. Vicki Coughlin the Literacy Coordinator, encouraged me to attend as I am Deaf and visually impaired. My teacher is Kathryn Lorrraine a Deaf support teacher named Pamela Wells.

I have been using an Atari computer from 1984. At WEA in Newcastle I was able to use an PC Computer which was provided for me. [ I.B.M. ] As I have an PC computer at home my educators thought using a PC computer would be less stressful for me.

In 1998. I was one of ten students who received an award from W.E.A. Hunter in Newcastle, This award encouraged me to try harder. I did not want to disappoint my teachers who had shown faith in me.

December 1999, was a special time for me. Me, Peter Risby. Year-End. GRADUATION TIME. Did I pass my three subjects, Literacy Comprehension, Auslan, Advanced-Word Processing Using MS Word. The time is now at last I would know if I achieved my goals, I was very nervous, my hands were clammy. Kathryn Lorraine [literacy] and Lorraine D'arcy [Auslan] and Julia Lasota [Word Processing]. Great news yes I passed all three. Julia told everyone about being told; You will have a deaf-vision impaird student in your class next term. Is this alright? He will have an interpreter. But she is deaf also. Anne Sheppard is a very capable lip reader. Julia had Anne's help for two out of the three hour tutorial. Julia told allof the assembled how she was so impressed with my efforts the class was shown my papers after each lesson and going on to say she would like to teach more students who were like me. My Father and Mother were very proud of me. A special thank to Lee Porter who was my unpaid interpreter at my Auslan class with teacher Lorraine Darcy.

Thanks be to God.

This is not the end of my story, just the end at this segment.

Peter Risby.