Blind Girl Works In Telephone Exchange

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31871, 26 December 1968, Page 2

Blind Girl Works In Telephone Exchange

"The Press" Special Service WELLINGTON. Few people know that when they dial a certain busy Wellington organisation and a charming voice answers and efficiently switches them through, that the voice belongs to one of the few blind telephone operators in New Zealand.

She is Miss Carol Wilson, who is a P.A.B.X. attendant in the field section of the engineer-in-chief’s office, Post Office headquarters.

A small, attractive 18-year-old, who has been blind from childhood, Carol is the first totally-blind feminine switchboard operator in the Post Office. But only those who know would ever guess that Miss Wilson was blind. Her ability to operate a switchboard is comparable with the best She may have the disadvantage of blindness, but this is surpassed by the advantages of determination and a cheerful outlook. Educated by the Foundation for the Blind, Miss Wilson spent her last three years at Homai College. Foxton is her home town and she joined the Post Office in Wellington in October. Like any other young girl away from home she was concerned not only with doing the best in her job, but also with coping with life in Wellington. “Perhaps I was a little afraid at the prospect of coming to a city to work,” Miss Wilson said. “However, I have realised that it is really interesting and exciting even if a bit bewildering at first.” Carol was ' not employed just because she was blind. Her employment was due to her individual merit and competence.

“We have been very lucky getting Carol,” said the senior supervisor, field section, Mr J. B. Buchanan. “Apart from being an efficient P.A.B.X. operator, she is also a pleasant personality and a lovely girl to work with.” Handling calls presents no difficulty to Miss Wilson. She deals with them as quickly as a sighted person. In her case the switchboard differs somewhat from one that an ordinary operator uses. This includes certain mark-

ings and “tactiles,” which in no way interfere with a sighted operator’s markings. Miss Wilson also has a Braille typewriter and a Braille internal telephone directory. Ballroom Dancing Though she is blind Miss Wilson has not let life pass her by and is interested in many activities. One of her hobbies is ballroom dancing and she has her junior waltz certificate. She also enjoys country and western music and piano music.