The Blind Advantage: How Going Blind Made Me a Stronger Principal and How Including Children with Disabilities Made Our School Better for Everyone

by Bill Henderson

The Blind Advantage provides insight into the challenges, possibilities, and practicalities of including students with disabilities—and into the mind and heart of an inspired and determined leader.

“You should get out of education.”

That was the advice first-year teacher Bill Henderson received when he discovered he was gradually losing his vision. Instead, Henderson persevered and became principal of the Patrick O’Hearn Elementary School in Boston, an ethnically and economically diverse school where about a third of the students have mild, moderate, or significant disabilities.

In The Blind Advantage, Henderson describes how the journey into blindness helped him develop key qualities—determination, vision, sensitivity, organization, collaboration, and humor—that made him a more effective principal. At the same time, he shows how the inclusionary policies and practices at the O’Hearn School (now renamed the William W. Henderson Inclusion Elementary School) elicited and developed these qualities in others.

An audio version of this book is available for purchase. This audio version was created in collaboration with the Perkins Braille & Talking Book Library. 

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Teaching, Disability

200 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2011

Reviews

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic book, written by the principal of the elementary school my three kids attended (and my youngest still attends)

[Cathy Smyth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This should be recommended reading for future administrators as it touches on an important area of today’s education: including children with all levels of challenges in the public schools. As it is Shared with humor and reality, the book is easy to read.

[Andie Taraborelli · Rating 2 out of 5]

i had to read this for class. it was slightly interesting but mostly not

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the remarkable story of Bill Henderson. Mr.Henderson found out early in his teaching career that he had retinitis pigmentosa and that he would gradually go blind. He was advised to get out of education. Instead, he chose to continue teaching and became a principal. It is fascinating to read about the accommodations he made in his life and how those around him help him to do a remarkable job as a principal of an elementary school.
Mr. Henderson also became a champion of inclusion. He turned his school into an inclusive school.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this an awful lot. I know the author and I did not know much about his blindness. However, I knew he was a dedicated and thoughtful administrator who fully believed that the children in his school would rise to the occasion of full inclusion, and he trusted that the teachers would work together, work things out, and support the school and community.

Terrific and nice read.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always wanted more understanding of how Bill Henderson has accomplished so much. An amazing story with clear explanations of the practicalities of running an inclusion school.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting perspective on how working with both children and adults while losing his vision made the school a learning environment that blossomed for all.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much to learn from this school and leader! There are many paths to success!