Metropolitan Washington Ear mourns the recent death of
Janet Morrison, our long-time friend who was a tireless advocate for people
challenged by low-vision or vision loss. We extend heartfelt condolences to
Janet’s husband and family. We celebrate Janet’s life that was dedicated to
educating, inspiring, and uplifting people who daily face the challenge of
vision loss. Her dedication and advocacy have touched countless people. We were
inspired by her many accomplishments as well as her energy, her quick wit, and
her candor. We are grateful for the work she did through the Prevention of
Blindness Society that kept her in touch with us and with those for whom we
provide services.
With gratitude for a Janet’s life so well lived in
service to others,
Neely Oplinger, Executive Director on behalf of the
MWE staff & Board of Directors
Please see the lovely tribute to Janet below from Jim Deremeik,
Johns Hopkins Education/Rehabilitation Program
Manager, Low Vision and Vision Rehabilitation Service
May 23, 2021
Dear Friends
and Colleagues,
RE: A
memorial to Janet Morrison
On March 22, 2021 the DC/Maryland
low vision community lost a devoted champion and advocate for the betterment of
the quality of life of all visually impaired individuals. Janet Morrison fought throughout her life to
bring awareness to the plight of the blind and visually impaired community and
the challenges they encounter on a daily basis. There is no doubt that her
contributions to the low vision community have had a major permanent positive
impact on all the low vision citizens in the Maryland, DC and northern Virginia
geographic area.
Being legally blind from
childhood herself, she recognized the lack of access to services and resources
for the low vision community, as well the emotional struggle visually impaired
individuals experience as they face the loss of independence. Almost every eye
care professional in the Metro DC area had either known or heard of Janet
because of her mission to teach them that there was always more that could be
offered to their patients beyond the medical interventions they provided. She
emphasized the value and merit of low vision rehabilitation and the need to
listen to the patients experiencing vision loss. Janet regularly engaged the ophthalmology
residents at the Washington Hospital Center in DC on how to address vision loss
with patients and refer them for vision rehabilitation. This was always a high
priority project for her and it brought her great satisfaction to see the young
residents participating in vision support groups.
Her work on behalf of the
Prevention of Blindness of Washington DC (POB) gained local and regional
attention. Her tenure at POB began under
the leadership of then executive director Arnie Simonse
and continued for over 25 years. During
her time there, Janet led numerous monthly support groups at Sibley Hospital, the
Village of Friendship Heights in Chevy Chase and at a number of retirement
communities such as Leisure World and Riderwood. The programs provided an
important venue for participant interaction and for gaining information from
the many eye care professionals that were invited to attend. Janet’s exuberant
personality, her commitment to advocacy and her willingness to share her
experiences related to her own vision loss were highlights of these meetings.
Janet served as editor of
POB’s monthly newsletter: "Your Eyes Today" and often contributed to
local newspapers such as the Senior Beacon.
She helped create the very first editions of resource booklets for
children and adults with low vision in the community, long before the internet
became the source of this information.
In honor of Janet’s many
accomplishments and in order to preserve her legacy, we are asking for your
support in placing a stone on the Wall of Tribute in the Hall of Fame for
Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field at the American Printing House for
the Blind, located in Louisville, Kentucky.
The goal of this effort is honor Janet with a $5,000 stone on the Wall
of Tribute. You can learn more about the
Wall of Tribute by going to:
https://sites.aph.org/hall/. Checks should be made payable to Hall of
Fame and forward by June 15 to:
Jim Deremeik
2015 Mill Dale Court
Fallston, Maryland 21047
Please do not hesitate to
contact me with any questions you may have.
Thanks in advance for your
help in recognizing the life-changing contributions of Janet Morrison on the
low vision communities of Maryland, DC and northern Virginia.
Jim Deremeik
jderemeik@jhmi.edu
410 502-6431
Please share this
information with individuals, organizations and agencies that Janet had an
impact upon. Thank you.