Ruth Vallis once gave a presentation to a master’s degree class studying to be teachers of the blind at Western University: “if you are teaching your blind children to read and produce Braille, I congratulate you! However, if you are not, then you are a failure as a teacher!”

And some male in the audience shouted back: “Controversial, which is why we now mark Braille Literacy Month every January.

This week, we speak with Ruth E. Vallis about her new book Love Is Blind. Ruth was born with a connective tissue disorder, including a type of juvenile arthritis and blindness. From an early age she dreamed of working in healthcare, in a hospital setting, and she went out and made it happen.

Vallis grew up on the hectic streets of Toronto and went off on her own when she was accepted into a program, at a physiotherapy school in England producing blind and visually impaired physios.

We talk the essential need for braille literacy, on her talent as an athlete (skating/tandem cycling/competitive golf), and her experiences in both the working and the guide dog worlds.

An episode about a physiotherapist named Ruth and a woman (a mother) named Peach who taught her daughter how to be strong like her.

Check out Ruth’s website for more info and to purchase the book:

https://www.ruthvallis.com