Alice Raftary facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alice Raftary
Alice Raftary, from a 2014 newspaper.
Born	Alice Therese Geisler September 2, 1927 Detroit, Michigan
Died	March 30, 2014 Detroit, Michigan
Occupation	Educator

Alice Geisler Raftary (born September 2, 1927 – died March 30, 2014) was an amazing American teacher from Detroit. She helped adults who had recently lost their sight learn new skills and live full lives.

Alice Raftary's Early Life

Alice Therese Geisler was born in Detroit, Michigan. Her parents were Anthony Jerome Geisler and Florence M. Geisler. Her dad was a plumber and led a plumbing group in Michigan.

Alice went to Marygrove College and earned a degree in nutrition in 1949. She had problems with her eyesight from a young age. By 1960, she became legally blind due to a condition called macular degeneration.

Alice once said, "I knew that I would do something that would insure that none of my children would ever think that blindness must ruin their lives." She wanted to show that losing sight didn't mean losing your future.

Later, Alice returned to Marygrove College. She was married and had eight children by then! In 1967, she earned a master's degree in education. Her studies focused on helping people who were blind or had low vision.

Her Career Helping Others

In 1968, Alice Raftary started working at the Upshaw Institute. This institute was part of the Greater Detroit Society for the Blind. She began as a rehabilitation teacher, helping people learn how to live independently.

Alice was very good at her job. She was promoted to supervisor and then to coordinator. Eventually, she became the associate director of the institute. She traveled to conferences to share her knowledge. She also wrote materials to help teach and promote the Upshaw Institute's work.

One of her notable projects was an award-winning filmstrip called "Valentines for Grandpa Raub" (1980). Alice explained her passion by saying, "Helping people to progress from hopelessness to confidence and competence is a thrill and a joy."

Awards and Recognition

Alice Raftary received many awards for her important work.

• In 1982, she got an award from the American Association of Workers for the Blind.
• The Michigan chapter of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired honored her in 1991.
• She received the Charlyn Allen Award in 1992 from the Mid-America Conference of Rehabilitation Teachers (MACRT).
• In 2002, Alice was inducted into the American Printing House for the Blind's Hall of Fame. This is a very special honor for people who have made a big difference in the lives of blind people.
• Marygrove College also recognized her as a distinguished alumnus, meaning she was a very successful former student.

Alice Raftary's Family Life

Alice Geisler married Raymond H. Raftary in 1950. They had eight children together, making their family quite large!

Alice Raftary passed away in 2014 in Detroit. She was 86 years old and a widow at the time. To honor her amazing contributions, the Association of Vision Rehabilitation Therapists created an award in her name. This award celebrates new leaders in the field of helping people with vision loss.