By Edwin Scherzer
Contributor
A half full glass, of course, is the optimist view of life. Half empty belongs to those who view things a little more critically.
When the glass breaks it means water, water, everywhere and everyone is going away thirsty.
Disability also means many things to many people. To Patricia Harkness, disability didn’t define her father Bob Sampson. Her dad evolved, even thrived in spite of his lifetime struggle with muscular dystrophy.
It is Sampson’s triumphs and achievements that are celebrated in Harkness’ new biography, “What if the Glass breaks? Life of a Disability Activist.” She co-authored the book with friend Richard Lombard.
Lombard taught at UW-Whitewater for 27 years and has authored several books on the topic of special education.
Harkness, who completed her transition specialist degree from UW-Whitewater, said the story will appeal to those even without a disability.
“It’s a very inspirational story, for anyone who has a disability or even for those who are training to be special education teachers,” Harkness said.
Sampson developed muscular dystrophy as a young child and was bound to a wheelchair by age 9. Fortunately for Sampson, he had a support system along a road filled with obstacles, which would have forced many to turn back.
One of his avid supporters was his grandmother Molly Kelly.
“She made him do what he could do,” Harkness explained.
His high school teacher, Mrs. McCaulley, also urged Sampson on.
If there was one group who could be counted on time after time, however; it was the men of Fire Station 102, whom Sampson credits most milestones many men take for granted.
“They gave him a job, made him a man, helped him get through college and found Sampson a wife” Harkness said.
There is so much to take in about Sampson’s story, readers may feel compelled to read the book twice, and then tell a friend.
The book goes into detail on some of Sampson’s epic achievements like getting into college after being denied a scholarship (the school though he would perish before graduation), working with Chicago’s political elite, securing the land for O’Hare International Airport, meeting six presidents, working with Jerry Lewis and MDA for 30 years, and having a United Airlines 747 jet named after him.
Almost all of these accomplishments were achieved before major disability legislation was enacted.
His daughter said Sampson felt it to be his duty to succeed despite all hardships.
“His mission was to leave the world a better place, in particular for people with disabilities,” she said.
Even the book itself presented the author with a life-changing event.
Harkness’ father did not want the book to be published before he died, and Harkness’ honored his request while persevering through her own struggles with loss.
Denny, her husband of 37 years ended his battle with cancer within a year of her dad’s passing.
“He said, ‘You got to finish this,’” Harkness recalled.
Most people would have stopped, thinking about the half empty glass, but not Harkness.
“It was a promise to both of them,” she explained.
Harkness has also played a part in making the world a little better, as she is a retired special education teacher of 30 years.
She says the book is a personal achievement as well as a tribute to her father and others who changed the world for the disabled.
“It’s a very inspirational story for anyone who has a disability, just as Dad was trying to overcome architectural and attitudinal disabilities,” Harkness said.
“What if the Glass breaks? Life of a Disability Activist” is available through Outskirts Press or Amazon in softcover and Kindle e-edition.
