Blind Author ‘Breaks Barriers’ in Life and Work
Ask any author in the process of writing a book, and they will surely tell you it is no easy feat. Years and years of drafts, rewrites, and revisions often go in to penning one singular book. Surely it is not with struggle. But that arduous process combined with the inability to see? Many may say it’s impossible, but for those determined enough to prove them wrong, it is possible.
Peter Altschul has been blind since birth, but that has not kept him from publishing his first book earlier this year. “Breaking Barriers: Working and Loving While Blind”, chronicles Altschul’s experiences as a blind man in the workforce and as a husband and stepfather to three.
Last Wednesday Altschul held a book signing at the Village Bookstore in Pleasantville as a fundraiser to benefit Guiding Eyes for the Blind in honor of International Assistance Dog Week.
The idea to write the memoir came from Altschul’s then-fiancée Lisa, who, after reading the journal entries he had been writing in 2005, urged Peter to take a writing course to hone his skills.
”Friends were always saying, ‘This is great, you should write a book!’, but Lisa really encouraged me to pursue it,” Altschul’s said. Though he was at first hesitant to delve into the Ph.D. level course, Altschul soon formed a kinship with his professor who was committed to seeing him thrive.
“I said, ‘Hi, would you consider helping me with this process?’ And sure enough, she agreed”, Altschul recalled.
Breaking Barriers details Altschul’s journey through life and explores his life as a young man working in a government agency, one he describes as ‘ineffective’ and in need of improvement. With a Masters in social work/psychology, Altschul was in tune with what he believed needed to be done in order for the aforementioned agency to improve.
The memoir also recounts the transition Altschul made when he married Lisa and became the stepfather to three children, Anna, Joseph, and Louis.
The book also allows readers to further understand the invaluable relationship between Altschul and his guide dog, Jules. Since then, Altschul has now been paired with a new guide dog named Heath.
Altschul, who also has experience working with organizational work development, now helps organizations discover all they can learn from Guiding Eyes for the Blind and how the guide dogs can so truly enhance the quality of life for all who are lucky enough to see their wonderful talents.
Altschul explains that so much of the book stems from his experiences in both the workplace and in his personal life and how he has overcome difficult situations.
“The first two parts of the book spring from the journal that I kept, and then I go into a little more about Guiding Eyes [located in Yorktown] and how the training process works”, Altschul noted, touching briefly on the theme of his memoir.
Altschul counts his social work training as a great advantage in the writing process, one which was not always smooth. “Honestly, I didn’t ever think I would finish the book,” said Altschul. “When I first told my mom and my sister, Jenny, they laughed. They were not unsupportive, but just as surprised at the prospect as I was. I had no idea what I wanted to write about. But I had a great professor who helped me to write with feeling and not just facts. I had to take that step from professional writing to personal writing. I was writing in English, but not psychologically”, Altschul emphasizes.
He credits a dedicated editor for seeing him through the process, noting that the162 suggestions he received did indeed make the book better and more concise. Most of all, Altschul attributes much of his drive to complete the book to Lisa, who he says was a “remarkable hand holder, and sort of critic.”
The book has yielded a wonderful response since its March release, and though Altschul remains unsure as to whether or not he will write again in the future, he does have plans for the future.
“What I would like to get involved with is more public speaking and consulting.” Altschul said. “I also hope to get back into the workforce as an employee. I’m also just hoping to be the best stepdad to Lisa’s kids as I can.”
By Aileen Collins
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.
