Photo courtesy of Envision

This section highlights a local person of interest and admiration, a person whose achievements, manner, leadership, and/or character distinguish them.  If you know people we should include, please apprise us at editor@candor.news, and we will interview them for future issues of Candor. In your submission, include the person’s name, noteworthy traits and accomplishments, and their contact information.

In this issue, we are highlighting Teresa Houston

Some may argue that the past 19 months, since the pandemic reared its ugly head by closing down much of the world, is the most difficult time period of their lives. Not being able to gather in the workplace, socially, or even with extended family has unsettled us, made us feel that nothing is normal. For Teresa Houston, Director of the Envision Child Development Center, her journey through life begs the question: What does normal look like?

What are some stories from your childhood?

I’m a native Wichitan, very proud to be a Wichitan. I went to Buckner, Chisholm Trail, and then I was bused to McCormick Elementary my last year, a very good experience. I had the most wonderful teachers. I remember one of my teachers was Mrs. Paris, and her husband was a horticulturist at Wichita State. Back in the day, you could go to a teachers’ house, and I went to Mrs. Paris’ and her whole back yard was beautiful, so we got different experiences from different teachers.

One year when I attended Chisholm Trail, my mom cut my hair off, leaving it shorter than I liked. My teacher, Mrs. Reado, saw how upset my haircut made me.  She brought in two of the Wichita State Women’s basketball players who both had short afros, just like mine.  They made me feel pretty. That’s the kind of supportive experiences I want my students to have here (at Envision). 

When did you lose your vision?

When I was 15 I thought I had the flu, or pneumonia.  I lost all vision at that time. I went to the emergency room and they did a spinal tap. The next day, I could see, but I had lost all of my peripheral vision. At the time of my illness, my mother remarried and left me behind.  I felt like a “throwaway kid.”  Ron and Karen Holt took me in and gave me a home. They saw me through treatment of pseudo tumor cerebri and eventual surgery which placed a lumbar puncture shunt to consistently drain fluid from my brain. (This was the cause of my visual impairment.) During this time, I became a high school dropout. The shunt allowed me to feel a little bit of normalcy, but with the fluid on my brain I had horrible headaches. When I was 16 I moved into my own apartment and began attending Dunbar Adult Center (Wichita Vocational Technical School) program studying childcare occupations. I completed my education and earned a certificate.

Were you able to have a normal life as an adult?

I am a mother of twins and married a wonderful man by the name of Trevon Houston. Once I got married, we had a little more stability, and he encouraged me to continue with my education. After leaving Dunbar, I was sent to Envision where I met Frank Marlar who taught me how to use a computer. Each day I would cry, but he helped me to earn an “A” in my Microcomputer class at Cowley County Community College. I earned my Associates degree at Cowley County, and then studied counseling at Newman University where I specialized in Substance Abuse and Childhood Development. I have my Masters from Friends in Marriage and Family Therapy. My vision continued to decline and I resisted learning a use a cane. I wanted to look “normal.” It wasn’t until I was 40 that I began to use a cane consistently.  Now when my students tell me that they don’t want to use a cane, I encourage them to utilize the cane to gain empowerment and independence.  When I began working at Envision in 2010, I continued to lose more vision. I went to Dr. Dickerson at the Abay Neuroscience Center and he placed a VP shunt.  (The LP shunt had been removed 15 years prior). From that time to now, I have lost the rest of my vision. I think that gradual vision loss has spoiled me because I know what pink, blue, and purple look like. I know what pictures look like, and TV. What bothers me is that I don’t know what the current famous people look like. 

What is different in the workplace for visually impaired employees?

I use JAWS, which is an expensive screen reader. Most companies don’t see blind or visually impaired employees as an asset. They don’t realize what skills we possess and what we bring to the table. 

As a director, it is important to me to maintain a diverse environment for staff and students to see themselves represented. 

How is educating visually impaired students better today than when you were 15?

We want to teach young people to be empowered, independent and a strong self-advocate. We want our students to be confident in their abilities and strive towards greatness. Technology has allowed access for all students to enrich their performance in any area. 

What are the most satisfying parts of your job at Envision?

What I enjoy the most is watching the children throughout their journey here at ECDC. From the Nursery to graduating in Preschool, seeing the growth and accomplishment is what I love. I love the community we have created within our center. We have terrific relationships with our families and have cultivated an important support system. 

It is important to me that we be visible in the community. Many people do not know that we’re here for the blind and visually impaired child. Having community partnerships allows us the opportunity to reach more children in need. 

My goal is that no child enters kindergarten without an early education. I would like for people to know, and utilize, ECDC as a resource. 

I plan on being here a long time.