Overbrook School for the Blind
Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient
Ann B. Porter
June 2001
Ann graduated in 1945. After graduation she attended Ursinus
College, where she studied liberal arts. She was a member of the
Honor society and graduated in 1949.
She returned to Overbrook and enrolled in the home teaching
program, to obtain her certificate in rehabilitation teaching.
In July of 1950 she went to “Seeing Eye” to receive training with her
first dog. In that same year, she accepted a position as rehabilitation
teacher for the State Council of the Blind, which is now the
Pennsylvania Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services. After working
in Harrisburg, for just a few months, she transfered to the Western
Pennsylvania area, and began her work in the Pittsburgh district
office. She settled in Washington Pa, a town not too far from
downtown Pittsburgh. In1952, she married Henry Porter, a business
agent for the local Teamsters Union. They settled in Washington,
where they would live throughout ann’s entire working career.
Her teaching territory covered five counties. Ann traveled almost 100
miles a day, teaching newly blinded clients, self -management skills.
She traveled to her appointments in her own car, paying her drivers.
She preferred it that way, so she would have control of her
transportation needs.
Later in her career she was offered the position of casework
supervisor in the Pittsburgh office, but she decided not to accept it,
because She found it more rewarding to work directly with her
visually impaired clients.
During their years in Washington, Ann andHenry, who was also blind,
built two houses, which were built to their specifications. They built a
swimming pool at their second house where they would often
entertain friends and neighbors in their back yard at poolside. They
were active in the local Lutheran church, leading the youth group for
a few years.
Ann and Henry were both ham operators and through this hobby
made many friends. They were also active as volunteers at the local
Washington-Greene association for the blind.
Ann retired in 1979. She may have been retired from her work at BVS,
but she remained active in the blindness community. She participated
in a few tape correspondence clubs. For several years she wrote the
handy craft column in “Our Special” a Braille magazine for blind
women published by the National Braille Press. She received
correspondence from that column which she regularly answered. She
served as editor of “The Rotunda”, the publication of the Alumni
Association of Overbrook.
After Henry’s death in 1988, and the death of her mother in 1989, she
moved back home to Lancaster county to care for her dad. After a
long illness, her father passed away in 1994. She moved into a
condominium in Lancaster, and quickly became a part of the
community. She began volunteering at the Susquehanna Association for the blind, as a
rehabilitation teacher and a member of its advisory board.
She has recently taken on a new project. She has begun publishing
her own newsletter, which she plans to share, free of charge, with her
friends who also like to knit. The content includes, recipes, knitting
patterns, household hints and more. She has chosen the name
“Triple Play” because she will feature three knitting patterns, three
poems,etc. She will send out her first mailing soon.
Ann has friends all around the world. Her contributions to
organizations of the blind, and her support for many blind individuals,
is truly outstanding.
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