Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Rachel Magario’s smile lights up the room as she tells her life story — a story that began in Santos, São Paulo, Brazil, and went from there to Chile, Peru, and finally, the United States. Although her life has taken her from one country to another, Magario has one constant in her life — her dog. Hamlet, an 11-year-old black lab, is Magario’s source of companionship, but more importantly, Hamlet is Magario’s seeing eye dog.
“Usually, dogs retire at age nine or 10,” Magario said. “But really, you retire a dog when he wants to retire, and he doesn’t want to.”
Magario has been blind since she was six years old. To some, her blindness may be a disability, but for her, it is simply a character builder.
“I don’t even like the word disabled,” she said. “I might be limited in some parts of my life, but I’m overly talented in others. Everyone is like that. I do feel that I can do anything that anyone else can, I just have to use different means.”
Magario said that it was sometimes difficult for her to get around a college campus the size of the University’s, but she doesn’t let that slow her down. Instead, she transforms problems into solutions.
nutgraf
She said she could see herself going to law school one day; in 10 years she hopes to be helping implement policy change to create better technology and accessibility for people with disabilities.
“I have a journal, and in it I write down what I see is wrong and possible alternatives for it,” she said.
Some of these alternatives include building a tactile map of campus, in which Braille and raised lines and symbols are used to show topographic features. Though she said it “took a couple of years to get the campus down,” she hoped it would take much less time for future students.
When Magario was applying to universities in the United States 10 years ago, the first university that accepted her was Kansas. She had wanted to attend either Harvard or New York University, but her parents urged her to come to the University because her dad, who had visited Kansas on business trips in the past, thought Lawrence would be a safer environment for her.
She arrived at the University in 1997, but in May 1998, she was hit by a car on campus. She suffered severe kidney damage as a result of the accident. Somehow, though, she remained positive about the tragedy.
“Yeah, it got in the way, but it didn’t stop me,” she said. “That’s something I’m proud of — I didn’t lose hope on life.”
In 2004, Magario graduated from the University with two undergraduate degrees in communication studies and geography. She is now in her second year of graduate school, pursuing a master’s degree in education.
She said she could see herself going to law school one day; in 10 years she hopes to be helping implement policy change to create better technology and accessibility for people with disabilities. But no matter what Magario is doing 10 years from now, she said she’d be doing it on her own terms.
“I know who I am,” she said. “I’m not trying to be somebody else. I’m comfortable with who I am, and I’m happy with who I am.”
— Edited by Ashley Thompson
Disability issues deserve awareness
Disability fair showcases resources available on campus
Students can visit fair for information from AbleHawks, Student Health Services and ...
AbleHawks fight for Senate seat
Disabled dog gives hope over Web
A three-legged dog still gets out and about with her owners. The ...
Buildings inaccessible
Able life: Carmen's life without arms
Carmen Thomas has bilateral amelia, and relies on Jaylift to get her ...
Ms. Wheelchair Kansas visits AbleHawks
Lorraine Cannistra, Miss Wheelchair Kansas 2007, visited AbleHawks members Tuesday night. She ...
Ours for now
Raising a puppy for service
Access for all: Becoming an inclusive campus
Students and administrators expand on accessibility issues at the University.
Able life: Shannon loses her way
Shannon Curry struggles to find her way around campus, seeing only light ...
Able life
The University is far from the ideal campus for students with mobility ...
Demonstration shows student life with disabilities
Accommodating People with Disabilities on Campus
Providing equal opportunity and equal access.
Comedian makes light of his disability
Josh Blue performed his live routine, which focuses on his Cerebral Palsy, ...
Loyd directs passions in packed schedule
Junior Katie Loyd's numerous activities — including serving as Kappa Kappa Gamma ...
Samba to support Brazilian children
University organization KU Two Brothers to hold a fundraiser Friday at Cielito ...
Students volunteer to help visually impaired
Students read and record news articles, stories and books for those who ...
Puckett remembered in department ceremony
Longtime accompanist died of a heart attack Nov. 3.
Life as she knows it
Speaker recommends people-first language
Salina senior Angela Lindsey-Nunn spoke about her experiences as a student with ...
Bisexuals face additional challenges
Students struggle for acceptance in LGBT communities.
Student will be remembered for her attitude
Rachel Leek’s friends said they appreciated her enthusiasm for the simple things ...
Alumna expresses life through music
Lisa Donnelly’s hit song “Laugh” makes it to the television in Brazil.
Athletes with children
These KU athletes must find time to excel in both sports and ...
Malicious Intimacy
Four students' experiences with domestic violence.
University offers separation program
The University will provide eligible faculty and staff a voluntary separation program.
Married? Yes. Graduated? No.
Some college students decide to add additional challenges of marriage to their ...
Motivated by a passion for results
Libby Johnson and Gabe Bliss are the KUnited candidates for Student Senate ...
Who's Who: Ellen Stolle
Ellen Stolle keeps plenty busy, whether it's in the classroom as a ...
Dirty little six-letter word
Campaign continues to end the use of the word "retard."
An athlete and a mother
Soccer or Futbol? Women’s soccer team travels ...
The Kansas women’s soccer team completed a nine-day tour of Brazil on ...
Disabilities should not divide student body
Disabled students at the University are discriminated against, partly because of misunderstandings ...
KU alumna working on third novel
Author Karen Stolz credits professor and guest speakers for inspiring her writing
Mixed market for engineering graduates
KU career fair is the only lead for some engineering majors without ...
Sophomore diver Meghan Proehl receives award for ...
She has made community service a focus outside the pool.
International students find their place at Kansas
Three students from other countries relate their experiences fitting in America.
Norwegian swimmer adapts to campus
Monica Johannessen looks to qualify for the NCAA championship in swimming.
Tae kwon do influences senior’s style of ...
Amanda Jobe currently holds the ranking of recommended black belt.
From foster child to college grad
Former foster children face a difficult road in college.
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID