Born with congenital cataracts, Mariann Neuberger lost most of her sight but never gave up on her vision of helping others. And for that, many of her peers are grateful.
In 1984 she helped form LIGHTS (Looking Into Giving Help to the Sightless), a support group for the visually impaired.
”People with visual impairments want and need to meet others like themselves,” Neuberger said. ”A self-help group is one place they can feel safe in gathering information, obtaining practical help and observing similarities and differences. The newly blinded come as well. They feel a certain comfort being able to talk to others who have lived with their experiences.”
For her commitment to LIGHTS, Rep. John Porter (R-Ill.) cited Neuberger in the Congressional Record in May. Porter heard about her through one of the group`s speakers, Highland Park ophthalmologist Randy Epstein.
”Mariann gave an introduction, then I talked and we had dinner, followed questions and answers,” Epstein said. ”The setting was very casual, but it is an extraordinary testimonial to volunteerism. It`s a group totally propelled by volunteer efforts. I was so impressed by what I saw, I contacted Congressman Porter`s office and sent a donation to the Deerfield Lions. Here you`ve got real volunteers. We should encourage them and help them. If people need this in Deerfield, they could use it elsewhere. This group is just very unique.”
LIGHTS began in 1984, when Neuberger and a friend, Ruth Witbrod of Arlington Heights, also visually impaired, got together and decided there was a need for a local support group for the sight impaired.
”We talked to the Chamber of Commerce, the Park District, the Lions and Village Hall (all in Deerfield), finding out how they could help us out,”
Witbrod said.
According to John Sciaretta Sr., owner of the Italian Kitchen restaurant in Deerfield and one of those who nurtured Neuberger`s idea, ”A couple of blind people started talking about it, then Jim Zaio got involved; it just started low key and got bigger and bigger and bigger.”
Zaio, who with Sciaretta is a member of the Deerfield Lions Club, explained: ”Mariann came to the Italian Kitchen, where I work part time. I was the blind and deaf chairman (though he is neither blind nor deaf) for the Lions at the time. We talked about how it would be nice to start meetings for the visually impaired.”
”I felt that Deerfield needed a place where people could come together once they had lost vision,” Neuberger said. ”We now have about 15 members.” Zaio spoke to Sciaretta about starting a club for these special-needs people. In turn, Sciaretta offered a private room in his own establishment for the group to meet on the third Monday of each month. The first meeting was held in November 1984. Neuberger arranged for speakers and people to transport members.
”Transportation is probably the most difficult obstacle for visually impaired people,” Witbrod said. ”If you have to depend on cabs, it costs a fortune. It`s hindering to feel a lack of independence. We want to do things other people can do. If you can`t get some place, it`s hard.”
To address this particular problem, the Lions and community members became a source of transportation.
”The Highland Park (Lions) club helps us out considerably,” Sciaretta said. ”They are very generous in helping us fund dinners and supply drivers. The drivers have to give up a whole evening, but they come back every time. They really enjoy it. It`s a good feeling, like you`re sharing and having fun.”
As a tribute to its success, ”We`ve had a couple get married who`ve met here,” Zaio said. ”And we have a couple engaged to be married.”
According to Sciaretta and Zaio, they have been trying to get other Lions Clubs involved in starting satellite groups or helping with this one. ”Our group is getting to where we could use other people,” Sciaretta said, ”but it`s difficult. We have 50 members in our club. In our district, they are learning about it. We hope others will support it or start their own.”
Through the efforts of Zaio and Ingleside resident Walter Blanck, the group made a videotape that it has shown to others to increase interest in LIGHTS. Involved in LIGHTS since 1989, Blanck also helps with funding and driving.
”It`s an all-out effort by everyone,” Zaio said.
Neuberger added, ”Deerfield is the only Lions Club in the nation that I am aware of which sponsors a vision support group.”
The people who attend range from their early 20s to 90. They all have had to cope with the loss of vision.
”One must believe in oneself,” Neuberger said. ”That philosophy is common to many members of the group. One couple are both visually impaired. Some had their own businesses and retired. Some have diabetes and are worried about health problems.
”The meetings last about two hours. There is usually a speaker and question-and-answer sessions follow. There have been speakers from CRIS Radio (a special station for the visually impaired), bankers, medical doctors, the phone company and others. We have group discussions on subjects like family and acceptance and the use of communications aids.”
And the members really enjoy the meetings. ”I have been a member for more than three years. The people there, the Lions Club members, are tops,”
said Wheeling resident Rose Lepinsky, 75. ”They come and get me and bring me home. They can`t do enough for you. I cannot say enough about the people there. I go to every meeting I can. I missed a meeting and kept getting phone calls (from members) to make sure I was all right. It`s like one big family when you go there. I call some of the Lions Club men my adopted sons. And Mariann does an awful lot for our group. She is a hard worker.”
Neuberger graduated from Senn High School in Rogers Park in 1964. After receiving a bachelor`s degree in elementary education from Roosevelt University of Chicago in 1970, she received a fellowship in special education from Michigan State University in East Lansing.
While working in a social service agency, Neuberger met Michael Littekin in 1977 and was married in 1978. She left that agency when she became pregnant. After the birth of her son and daughter, she returned to work but found transportation very difficult and costly. Though she has enough sight in her left eye to read and ride a bicycle, she is unable to drive a car. She took some graduate courses, but her personal life became more complicated by 1986. In 1989, she and her husband were divorced. Neuberger is now living on her own, working at a Highland Park grocery store and is available to help and encourage others by phone.
”Mariann is definitely the strong point of the group, holding it together,” said Nancy Zaio, Jim`s wife. ”She`s easy-going, has a great sense of humor, a real go-getter.”
One community driver and a friend of one of the members, Deerfield resident Jo Anne Marchi said, ”Mariann got ahold of the Telephone Pioneers of America (a volunteer group from Illinois Bell and AT&T), and they brought a treasure box of things for the blind. There are so many things out there that I never knew there were, like Braille playing cards, talking watches and Braille bingo cards, really something different. Thanks to the LIGHTS group I found a physician who was really fantastic for my mother.
”I drive (people to the meetings) because it`s my civic duty once a month. I got involved because my friend lost her sight five years ago. I knew about LIGHTS and wanted my friend to do that. I figured to help, I have to go along with her. I`ve been to all the meetings in the past five years.”
”It`s marvelous! It`s been a tremendous help to me,” said Marguerite Peterson of Deerfield. ”I had recently lost my sight, then my husband (died), and I was in a very depressed state of mind when I heard about them. I was searching desperately for something. I thought I`d never get out again once
(my husband) was gone. It`s been a great social as well as learning experience.”
”I`m not totally blind,” Peterson said, ”but LIGHTS is helpful because you don`t feel isolated. You realize there is help available. The Lions go out of their way for you.”
According to Allard Schweiger, a Lions member from Highland Park,
”Membership is not limited to Deerfield. The District 1-F Lions (whose local chapters are encouraged to participate) go from the (Wisconsin) state line to the north side of Cook County and west to the edge of the (Lake)
county. If they cannot drive, we try to pick them (members) up. Mariann coordinates it. We hope that more people make use of it (LIGHTS). We welcome all walks of life.”
One member, Ann Glickstein from Wheeling, turned 90 July 4. According to her daughter, Elaine Zisook, 65, ”She`s been going (to LIGHTS) for about a year and enjoys the lectures and the friendship. I think it`s wonderful that these people have this group to socialize with. They are lonely and tied down. This gives them a chance to get out and have a nice dinner and socialize. The Lions are doing a wonderful thing.”
”They treat us like kings and queens,” said Northbrook resident Marks Levins, 88. ”It`s a wonderful support group that makes living worthwhile.”
According to Highland Park member Sheila Weil, 26, blind from birth, ”I found out about it through Ruth Witbrod and joined when there weren`t that many people. They are really friendly, and if we need anything, we just call the Lions. I recommend others come and check it out and get their own opinion about it.”
Neuberger`s philosophy shines through: ”We are not primarily put on this earth to see through one another, but to see each other through.”
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For more information about LIGHTS call 708-948-7440.
