In honor of the fiftieth anniversary of our Volunteer Program, MAB commissioned the original play Beyond Blindness, based on the real life stories of five of the people we serve with testimonies from their volunteers. Notable actors Brooke Adams, Lynne Adams, Ann Carpenter, Jeremy Geidt, and Lloyd Sheldon Johnson performed the leading roles of the play April 1, 2009.

Beyond Blindness illuminates the personal experiences of these blind individuals, helping us to see past their blindness and understand who they really are. The chorus of volunteers in the play expresses the powerful connection between consumers and their volunteers and the important role that volunteers hold.

The acclaimed cast helped to bring these personal stories to life. Brooke Adams has most recently been in television programs Monk and Law & Order SVU, and is known for her films such as Days of Heaven with Richard Gere. Jeremy Geidt is a renowned actor with the American Repertory Theatre, and Lynne Adams acted on the popular drama Guiding Light.

The words of the volunteers were read by Jim Ansart, Renee Miller, Lisa Karen Driscoll, Robert Murphy, and three theater students from the Boston Arts Academy, Nelson Martinez, Benito Henry, and Kervin Germain.

“The hundreds of people we serve talk about how empowering it is to have this help from their volunteers,” MAB CEO Barbara Salisbury said. “Help that gives them control over their lives, and gives them dignity and independence. Help that allows them to pursue whichever path they choose in life.”

“It is our hope that hearing these stories will allow you to see beyond their blindness, and to see them as remarkable individuals who can thrive with our help.”