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2-- PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, March 20, 1984 4 ot 3 fy 3 * ! % ~ § 4 3 i ii H ' é g 3 HE py os ; " . to ry . £2 a4 . ' - - i 8 : l it J & { y f > oF ¥ { David Swiderski has been blind since he was a toddler, but his handicap rarely gets him down, thanks to the many interests he pur- sues. Weaving, electronics and woodworking to just name a few hob- bles, keep David from thinking about his blindness. Besides, he says, "he's used fo it. See story for details. CLIP THESE COUPONS & SAVE BIG ... NOW! Discover the great taste of Dixie Lee, the perfect way to feed your family a delicious, nutritious meal at economical family prices. Choose from Tender Fried Chicken, Tasty English Style Fish, Homemade Style Salads and other treats, all prepared right in the store. While our service is always fast and friendly, now is the perfect time to taste the quality of Dixie Lee. Take advantage of these money- saving coupons today!! 2pc. CHICKEN SNACK Each snack contains 2 pcs. of tender Dixie Lee fried chicken and golden french fries. BUY ONE %& GET ONE FREE COUPON VALID ONLY WHERE ISSUED COUPON EXPIRES: APRIL 11, 1984 Divielee h 2pc. FISH SNACK Each snack contains 2 pcs. of tasty English Style fish and golden french fries. : BUY ONE "a GET ONE FREE COUPON VALID ONLY WHERE ISSUED COUPON EXPIRES: APRIL 11, 1984 N\ Dixielee SAVE $2.00 OFF THE REGULAR PRICE ECONO BOX, BUCKET or BARREL 9 PIECES 18 MECES 20 PIECES COUPON VALID ONLY WHERE ISSUED COUPON EXPIRES: APRIL 11, 1984 --------L 136 WATER ST. PORT PERRY CHICKEN & SEAFOOD 985-9009 Phone ahead for SUPER FAST TAKE OUT SERVICE Electronic world eases blindness Life's okay in the dark A century or so ago, David Swiderski might have had a rougher time coping with his handi- cap, but due to modern electronic technology, he m even thinks about jt. ~~ . David is 26, a tall husky lad who has been blind for the past 23 years. His doctors say he suffers from a com- bination of cataracts and retina pigmentosis, but the bottom line is he can see about two per cent --- he can detect the difference between light and darkness and that's about it. "I've had operations but they haven't help- ed," he says, unmis- takable shyness in his voice. A former Pickering resident, David has lived with his family on a farm south of Man- chester for the past five years. In the barn are the angora goats his parents raise, a few chickens and some boarded horses. He helps his father with the chores when he's need- ed, but David prefers to be in the house, where the world is at his fingertips. Perhaps it was his electronics training at the Brantford School for the Blind or later at the CNIB in Toronto, but whatever sparked his interest in electronics paved the way to David's present life- style. He is virtually surrounded with tech- nology. Talking alarm . clocks wake him up in the morning and tell him the time all day long. Talking calcula- tors help him figure sums and he soon hopes to purchase a voice modulator for his Commodore 64 com- puter. A Braille slate helps him write index cards for his most treas- ured possession, the Ham radio. He obtained his license in 1978 after writing an electronic theory test, demonstrat- ing his ability in Morse code and showing his understanding of circuit diagrams and general electronic theory. Since then he has talked to people around the world with 100 watts of power, including Germany, Japan, Romania, Belgium, and S : "You just start turn- ing . your dial," he explains. "Sometimes. you'll hear someone giv- ing out the call signal so you talk to them, about anything. Weather, hobbies, some even play chess on the radio." He spends about a half hour in the morning and an hour or more on the radio at night. When he talks to someone new, he asks them to send their "card" and when he receives it, it's filed away for future reference. He's made more friends over the air- waves than he has in person, however. Because he relies on rides from his family, socializing is difficult. He does get out to Ham radio meetings in Oshawa, and he just recently returned from an ice fishing excursion on Lake Scugog. "Mom takes me around, shopping or wherever I have to go," he says. "I usually do everything on my own once I'm there." Transportation has been a major difficulty in his life. On more than one occasion it has pre- vented him from doing what he wants, like tak- ing guitar lessons (he plays a few chords already) or getting a job. He hasn't worked since he moved to Scugog but he says he'd like to. "I always thought about being an ambulance assistant or something like that,'"' he says, admitting a dream. "I always thought about taking first aid but then again, I'd have to find someone to offer transportation to take me to the classes." But in the meantime, he's not sitting idly around the house. His . interests include wood- working, electronics, Come dine with us at ... EMIEL'S PLACE RESTAURANT & DINING LOUNGE 151 Queen St. - Port Perry You'll enjoy our delicious cuisine plus the delightful sounds of Piano Music by "ROB VAN MIL" small engine and motor mechanics, cooking and weaving. He is working on a giant loom borrow- ed from a neighbour at the moment but he has done cane weaving for his parents' dining room chairs and will do it for anyone else who needs it. His work is intricate, neat and immaculate. Looking at the finished product, it is hard to believe the creator is blind. But he says it's not difficult. ""'When something doesn't cooperate, that's the hardest thing," he grins. "There's nothing really hard about it. It just takes time. And patience. You have to practise and practise and practise." Someday he says he'd like to move out on his own, with marriage and children a possibility he wouldn't mind explor- ing. About his blindness, well, sometimes he thinks about it and sometimes he doesn't. After 23 years of living in a world of darkness, it really doesn't faze him. "I don't really think about it. It doesn't cross my mind too often," he says quietly. "Some- times I wish I could jump in the car and go somewhere by myself, though. "Being blind for so long, I'm just used to it." Chesterfield Suites Love Seats Sectionals & Mattresses - A Large Selection - wae McKEEN FURNITURE 524 Simcoe SU. S., Oshawa 725-5181