Sarah J. Blake
Do you need technical writing services; articles about accessible web design, health topics, family life, education; or inspirational stories? Sarah J. Blake can help. Her education, experience, and personal interests provide a unique combination of skill and perspective that allows her to communicate effectively about a variety of topics and tailor her communications to the needs of a variety of audiences.
Sarah's interest in writing was spawned during her adolescence. An avid reader, she exposed herself to a wide variety of authoring styles early, including the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, Anne Frank, Madeleine L'Engle, and Phyllis Whitney. She read a variety of magazines as well, including Guideposts and Reader's Digest. She honed her writing skills by devoting herself to her language and literature courses, participating in contests, writing for the high school newspaper, and keeping a personal journal.
In college, Sarah turned her interests to theology, psychology, education, and rehabilitation. While attending college, she worked part-time as a tutor and typist for students with disabilities. Sarah also served as editor of The Student Advocate, the quarterly publication of the National Alliance of Blind Students, an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind. While still in college, she built her first web site to provide information for people with disabilities and special health care needs. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and special education in 1999, she worked as a tutor and consultant to homeschooling families and as a freelance writer.
Many of Sarah's publications are available online and have been reprinted in print publications and on various web sites. Sarah has also provided technical writing services to Freedom Scientific, Inc., a manufacturer of hardware and software for people who are blind. Sarah was a contributing writer for "The HTML Challenge," a set of web pages designed to demonstrate the use of the JAWS screen reader with Internet Explorer 5 and 6.
The following articles have been reprinted on web sites or in journals.
The Blindness Epidemic
The condition which resulted in an "epidemic of blindness" during the 1940's and 1950's is still causing problems for baby boomers. Here are the reasons why. This article appeared on About.com's blindness and visual impairment site in November, 2000.
Perspectives On Vision Stimulation
This article appeared in Sarah's electronic resource book, Nothing But the Best: Resources for Homeschooling the Blind Child.
Working with Readers
In this article, Sarah helps college students to learn to hire readers and manage the work they perform. This article has been reprinted in several newsletters for students and teachers, including See/Hear, a quarterly newsletter published by the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Dori
This article was the first in a series appearing in The Braille Forum, the monthly publication of the American Council of the Blind, in which Sarah shared her experiences training with her second dog guide.
Stars
In this chapter, excerpted from Sarah's inspirational book, Past the Gray Curtain, Sarah describes her feelings upon seeing stars for the first time.
Overview of Technology for People with Visual Impairments
This article provides teachers, parents, and IT professionals with a glimpse of various devices that allow people with visual impairments to read and write independently.
27 Tips for Getting the Most Out of an Eye Exam
In this article, Sarah provides suggestions for planning for an eye exam, talking with the doctor, and getting more information after the exam.
Why Terri's Life Matters to Us All
In this editorial, Sarah discusses quality of life and reacts to Michael Schiavo's battle to end his wife's life.
For more information about how Sarah can help you, please email Sarah directly.
Visit Sarah's site: "Growing Strong" for more of her writings.