John's Story
Help for a Grandpa who rescued his two grandsons ... MORE
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A Man of Action
In the first grade at a school in Alabama, Wilbert Turner could read only if the letters were printed
two inches high. Because of the deterioration of his optic nerves, Wilbert's sight was gradually lost
by the age of 12. But despite the disability, he graduated from high school, and at 18, attended a
computer school in Pittsburgh. Wilbert was then offered a job at the Internal Revenue Service in
Cleveland and came here in 1975.
Thirty-one years, a wife, two children and a world record later, Wilbert looks back through the years
and recalls arriving in Cleveland. "When I first came here, I didn't know anyone, so I joined what
was, at that time, the Young Adults Social Club at the Cleveland Sight Center. At a Sunday dance, I
met the woman who was to become my wife -- Thelia." Wilbert and Thelia now have two grown daughters.
The Sporting Life
Over the years, Wilbert has used services available at Cleveland Sight Center, such as the EYE-dea
Shop, where he's purchased vision aids such as Braille wristwatches, talking clocks and new canes to
make his life easier. Caseworkers at the agency verified his vision status so that he could qualify
for public transit passes. But he's had a particular fondness for the recreational opportunities
available there, joining the Cleveland Scrappers Beep Ball team and playing the sport for more than
20 years. The team was founded by players of the original Telephone Pioneers Beep Ball Program and
continues to be supported by the Cleveland Sight Center.
Beep Ball is a form of baseball played by people who are blind or visually impaired. The ball actually
beeps, as do the bases. In 2006, the Scrappers and the Cleveland Sight Center hosted the Beep Ball
World Series in Strongsville, Ohio, where 15 teams and more than 300 players from the U.S. and Taiwan
competed. The Scrappers finished fourth overall in the series.
Wilbert has been bowling even longer. A bowling team member for 30 years and current president of the
Greater Cleveland Blind Bowling League, he won four gold, one silver and two bronze medals at the 1st
International Blind Bowlers Tournament in 2002, where he bowled a high game of 207 -- the current
world record for totally blind bowlers.
Giving Back
The medals haven't gone to his head -- Wilbert feels that a much bigger accomplishment is what he's
been able to do for others. He serves as a mentor, teacher and advocate, giving back to the community
as a volunteer.
In addition to all of his sports team activities, Wilbert has taught visually impaired children how to
bowl, instructed Cleveland Sight Center food service program students about employment taxes and
serves as the Local Accessibilities Coordinator at the IRS, where he makes sure that all disabled
employees have proper accommodations to do their jobs. At the IRS, Wilbert also interviews prospective
job candidates who are sight-impaired. And somehow he finds the time to sing in his church's choir too.
"Wilbert Turner is an example of the thousands of people assisted by Cleveland Sight Center who are
independent, have jobs and raise families. He serves as a role model to others and demonstrates to
the community what a person who is blind or visually impaired is capable of doing," says Michael E.
Grady, President and Executive Director of the Cleveland Sight Center.
Wilbert's wife Thelia has been active in service to the sight-impaired as well. She founded a group
called the Visually Impaired Expressing Women's Issues Necessary for Growth, and served on the
Governor's Council for Disabled Persons in Ohio.
Maybe Wilbert and his wife see something that we all should -- not to sit on the sidelines in life
when there's so much to win.
Cleveland Sight Center provides vision rehabilitation services for children, teenagers, working-age
adults and seniors who are blind or visually impaired. Founded by volunteers in 1906, the Sight Center
is celebrating over 100 years of service in Northeast Ohio. For more information about volunteering
or any of the services of the Cleveland Sight Center, call 216-791-8118 or visit
www.clevelandsightcenter.org.
United Way of Greater Cleveland helps fund the case management program at Cleveland Sight Center --
just one of nearly 180 health and human service programs to help more than 400,000 people in our
community each year see a brighter future. For more information about United Way of Greater Cleveland
or the 2007-08 United Way Campaign, call 216-436-2100 or visit
www.uws.org.
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