A screen reader called JAWS lets me use a computer to read and write, and when power user Sue Martin generously donated a series of her JAWS refresher classes to this year’s auction benefitting the Seeing Eye, , I bid on it – and won!
Sue lost her sight when she was 26, and she works for The United States Department of Veterans Affairs as a management analyst. She squeezes me into her busy life for an hour-long JAWS class every Friday over the phone, and in-between teaching me to use Notification Bars and navigation quick keys, she lets me in on her progress writing a memoir. Sue is a courageous woman, and that’s not just because she’s willing to try to teach a technology nincompoop like me to improve my computer skills. Her guest post explains her decision to share her life story.
Out of the whirlpool
by Sue Martin
Certified JAWS instructor Sue Martin and her Seeing Eye dog Kismet.
I’ve known that I would write my story for years, it was just a question of when. When I was twenty six I was deeply depressed. When I thought I was out of options I tried to kill myself with a gun. I didn’t manage to kill myself. Instead my suicide attempt resulted in my blindness. I was no less depressed but now I had blindness to deal with on top of the depression. Putting my life back together after that fateful act has been a long and sometimes difficult road, but today, I’m quite content.
I didn’t used to tell people that my blindness was the result of a suicide attempt, but every time I’d hear a story of someone committing suicide I knew the time for me to come out and tell my own story was drawing closer. When I heard that some people I knew had a friend take her own life in England last January, I knew the time had come.
I started a blog, and before I knew it the blog turned into a book. I’m close to finishing the writing, and an editor is helping me sort through plans to consider as I move to publication.
Why am I writing this book? I want to shine a light on suicidal depression. It can happen to anyone anywhere at any time. The key to overcoming depression is to recognize it, talk about it, and ask for help. As long as there is life there is hope, and my hope is that, by sharing my story, I can maybe, just maybe, save a life.
The working title of Sue’s story is “Out of the Whirlpool,” and you can hear her talk about her writing project (and enjoy her sweet Alabama drawl!) on an interview on Freedom Scientific’s July 2012 podcast.
Good for you Sue Martin. As you know, major depression can (and does) happen to people from all walks of life. I’m glad you survived and are brave enough to tell your story.
Thanks to Sue Martin for sharing her story. I look forward to reading it.
AS a Help Desk geek I have supported two colleagues who used JAWS. I was fascinated by the way it interfaced with the applications displayed on the screen.
It has become a very powerful tool for blind computer users…technology can be wonderful.
I would guess there aren’t a lot of people who survive a suicide attempt? Or perhaps those who do choose not to talk about it. You are right to say that Sue Martin is a courageous woman, and I feel the same way Kim, above, does. I am glad Sue Martin survived and is brave enough to tell her story.
Wow, thanks for those kind words Kim, Deborah, and Carl. Had I harbored any fears about going public your comments have certainly helped me put them to rest. Thank you.
Wow, what a powerful story! Thanks for sharing it. And good luck with the book.
Thanks so much Catherine. Simply doing the writing has brought so much to my life, and not just my life but our lives, my husband’s and mine. I’ve never had a child but it sure feels like I’m giving birth to one. Smile.
I am lucky to work at the VHA with Sue and have so enjoyed reading her story with her lowest lows and soaring triumphs. I can’t even express how happy and impressed I am that Sue is sharing her story, and with such style and humor!
Lara, I always know I can count on you for encouragement, a good laugh when I need it, and a bottomless adult beverage in the bar. 🙂 We really do have a great team and count ourselves lucky to have you on it. Now, tell your cats to stop telling my cat what kind of mischief he should try next!
Wow. Thanks so much for sharing your story, Sue. You will help so many others by doing so.
I hope so Becky. In the podcast that Beth mentions at the end of my post I tell about bringing others back from the edge of suicide. It’s an amazing and intense experience. If I can do that through my writing, well, that’s one of the reasons I’m writing.
Thanks for sharing. It will impact many lives.
Thanks for sharing your glory Sue. It has been a pleasure working with you the last few years, I have learned so much from you. Your story is very inspiring and encouraging to others.
[…] a guest post by Sue Martin was published here, another guest post she wrote was published on the blog of the Veterans Health Administration’s […]
[…] Today’s post is a guest blog post on Beth Finke’s Safe and Sound blog. Beth had the winning bid on a JAWS training package that I placed in The Seeing Eye fund raising auction earlier this year. It’s been wonderful working with Beth. I’ve really enjoyed our lessons together. Thanks, Beth, both for the opportunity to teach and write this guest blog post. […]
[…] Today’s post is a guest blog post on Beth Finke’s Safe and Sound blog. Beth had the winning bid on a JAWS training package that I placed in The Seeing Eye fund raising auction earlier this year. It’s been wonderful working with Beth. I’ve really enjoyed our lessons together. Thanks, Beth, both for the opportunity to teach and write this guest blog post. […]
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