An interview with listener Arylene Clark-Wilson
Reading has always been a part of Arylene Clark-Wilson’s life, although the method by which she reads has changed throughout the years.
A native of Prairie Village, Kansas, Arylene was born prematurely, weighing two pounds. The oxygen administered in order to allow her to breathe caused permanent damage to her retinas—a condition known today as retinopathy of prematurity. She began her school years as a print reader, not losing all of her vision until her eldest daughter was three years of age. A graduate of Baker University, Arylene worked for the Minenger Foundation during the 1970’s and ‘80’s before retiring to raise her two children and take hours toward a doctorate.
Arylene says she doesn’t really remember how or when she found out about Audio-Reader. “I had one of the old Audio-Reader receivers in college, and it worked very well.” Nowadays, she listens either with Alexa or via the Sero app on her iPhone. “The voices sound so much clearer on my iPhone. The phone opened an entirely new world to me in terms of how and when I could listen to Audio-Reader.”
Arylene is the caregiver for her 94-year-old father, and lives with her twin sister, who works as a psychiatrist at the V.A. Her favorite hobby? READING, OF COURSE! “I enjoy the health program on Monday’s,” she says. “I also enjoy the local newspapers, adventure books, and the mystery hour. Music is also a favorite pastime; she enjoys folk music, and played the guitar for many years. Her favorite folk musicians are Peter, Paul, and Mary.
Arylene has a special message for AR’s volunteers. “I don’t have a favorite volunteer, because I love them all. They all do such a wonderful job. I especially appreciate the fact that they read material that is not available to us otherwise. Audio-Reader definitely changed my life. It opened my horizons, and it encouraged me to explore all of the different options for reading that are now available to those with print reading disabilities.”
