A Vision for Independence
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By the age of 16, Morris Frank lost his vision in both eyes in two separate accidents. A self-reliant and rebellious man by nature, who cherished his independence above all, became the first blind man in the south to attend Vanderbilt University, paying from wages earned as a piano tutor. However, he was not allowed to graduate due to his blindness.
During Morris Frank's time, the blind people were considered helpless, ignored, and were treated very poorly indeed. The blind people themselves had very low self-esteem and accepted low standards of living. Morris Frank, like every other blind man, too had many insulting experiences.
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"By a series of coincidences - so rare that I wonder whether it ever happened to another family - my mother and I were both blinded accidentally at times years apart, and each of us lost one eye at a time."
-Morris Frank "Three and a half years ago, at the age of sixteen, I was deprived of my sight and know from practical experience what rehabilitation means and what it means to be dependent upon a paid helper who are unsympathetic and not interested in their work and do not appreciate kindness as shown to them and as well you know that there are many throughout the land who not even have paid attendants."
-Morris Frank "To get back my independence, I'd go to hell!" -Morris Frank
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