This is a guest post by Joanne Dillon, interviewer for Visible Lives: Oral Histories of the Disability Experience at Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library. Joanne describes her experience attending the first monthly Community Meeting for the oral history project. If you're interested in seeing firsthand what Joanne describes in her blog post, please visit us at our next Community Meeting at Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library on Saturday, February 28 at 3 pm!

I’m always impressed by the determination New Yorkers show as they face many challenging circumstances. But sometimes, I have momentary lapses, and my faith in the city’s residents wavers.  I recently fell victim to this temporary failure of judgment as I headed to a meeting of participants in the “Visible Lives: Oral Histories of the Disability Experience” project.

When I left my apartment very early on Saturday, January 31, to attend the meeting, the temperature was hovering in the mid-teens, with the wind chill in the single digits. I was the only person walking through my Brooklyn neighborhood to the R train that morning.

I arrived in Manhattan over an hour later to find the normally bustling streets almost completely empty. Imagine New York’s historic Flatiron District with only a few hardy souls scurrying about, heads bent against the wind and the cold. As I approached the Andrew Heiskell Library on West 20^th Street, site of the meeting, I wondered if—no, I doubted—anyone else would show up.

Oh me of little faith!

When I entered the auditorium, more than 20 people were already there. Volunteers, library employees and interviewees were actively engaged in discussions of topics ranging from the reasons for their involvement with the “Visible Lives” project to successful interview techniques.  

I found a seat and immediately became engrossed in the discussions. As people introduced themselves, I was struck by the variety of experiences they related. One woman, a political refugee from Afghanistan, recounted the horror of losing her eyesight after being attacked and beaten by a drug-crazed woman on a subway platform. Another told how, for many years, she had resisted using a cane as she did not want her friends to know her vision was deteriorating. A third talked about the role the Andrew Heiskell branch library played in helping her come to terms with her sudden loss of vision; an avid reader, she learned to use the many special services the branch offers. There were a diversity of disability experiences beyond visual impairment and blindness in the circle as well. We heard from a young man with brain trauma who is part of a meditation group and a City College student with Aspberger's syndrome who is an active member of the on-campus Accessibility Center.

Volunteers shared interview techniques they found successful. Asking open ended questions, allowing for silences and pauses and using individual data sheets to formulate questions were some of the tips shared. Several people discussed how their use of language was evolving, becoming more sensitive with each interview they conducted.

Everyone demonstrated excitement about the project and a commitment to its success. Applause erupted when Alex Kelly, the project leader, reported that 50 interviews had been completed since the project’s launch two months earlier. "These stories are beyond the scope of history that you'd find in an oral history textbook," Ms. Kelly mentioned.

Why had I doubted, even for a moment, the commitment of my fellow volunteers? I should have known better. Given the life circumstances attendees described, it would take much more than cold weather to deter these dedicated individuals. My doubts were quashed. And my faith in my fellow New Yorkers restored once more!

About Visible Lives: Oral Histories of the Disability Experience

Please visit our project website to read more about The New York Public Library’s initiative to make public, document, and preserve personal stories of the disability experience.

If you’re interested in sharing your story for this project, you can find more information on the blog post.

And, if you’re interested in being an interviewer for this project, please contact AlexandraKelly@nypl.org or 212-621-0552.

Finally, if you're curious about what Joanne describes in her blog post, please visit us at our next Community Meeting at Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library on Saturday, February 28 at 3 pm!