Visible Lives Oral History Experience: Playing the Hand She Was Dealt

This is a guest post by Joanne Dillon, interviewer for Visible Lives: Oral Histories of the Disability Experience at Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library. Joanne conducted her first interview for the project with storyteller Ann Chiapetta on Saturday, December 20. After you read her post, you can listen to Joanne's interview with Ann.

If there’s anyone who has lived by the motto, “play the hand that you’re dealt,” it’s Ann Chiappetta.

Ann was the first person I interviewed as a volunteer for the New York Public Library’s “Visible Lives: Oral Histories of the Disability Experience” project. Due to our distant locations—Westchester County and South Brooklyn—the conversation was scheduled to take place via phone. I was a bit nervous about the interview. Given my level of comfort with technology (or lack thereof), having to use a digital recorder for the first time and work through the phone lines contributed to my anxiety.

But from the moment I first reached out to Ann to schedule a time and go over administrative details, such as release forms and data sheets, I was eager to connect with her. The Data Sheet she completed before the interview gave me a brief glimpse of her interests, her professional life and her personal history; it showed me we shared many similar interests, including writing and a love of poetry and fiction.

The Data Sheet also proved to be a very useful tool. It not only piqued my interest about Ann, it helped me prepare for our phone call. I was able to use it to organize my thoughts, and I went to our phone session armed with a list of questions. My anxiety level decreased, and instead of a perfunctory, awkward conversation, Ann and I spent over an hour on the phone.

Throughout her life, Ann has learned to play each hand she’s been dealt. She faced each hurdle of her increasing blindness with a positive attitude, overcame each challenge, and has grown as a professional and an advocate for the blind and visually impaired. Her story is truly remarkable and inspirational. I encourage you to listen to it at oralhistory.nypl.org.

Looking back on the interview, there is one thing I regret: I wish Ann and I could have met in person.

About Visible Lives: Oral Histories of the Disability Experience

Please visit our project website to read more about The New York Public Library’s initiative to make public, document, and preserve personal stories of the disability experience.

If you’re interested in sharing your story for this project, you can find more information on the blog post.

And, if you’re interested in being an interviewer for this project, please contact AlexandraKelly@nypl.org or 212-621-0552.