LEWISBURG — Frank G. Bowe was born March 29, 1947, in Danville. He lost his hearing at age 3. As a youngster, he struggled through school in Lewisburg, the only deaf child in his class. His mother, Catherine “Kitty” Bowe, often intervened on his behalf. His father, the late Frank Bowe, took over a Little League team so Frank could play softball. A consultation with a psychologist marked a turning point in young Frank’s life — Frank was told he had a high IQ and could do anything he wanted.
Bowe became an acclaimed disability rights activist, CEO, consultant, author, and esteemed teacher, having earned a BA from McDaniel College, MA from Gallaudet Graduate School and PhD from New York University.
Activism
Frank Bowe’s activism focused on changing people’s attitudes, bringing those with impairments into the general population so people would understand that physical disability, such as deafness, blindness or paralysis, does not imply mental disability or an inability to function fully in society.
In 1977, as the first executive director of the American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities, Bowe helped organize people with disabilities to occupy offices of the US Department of Health, Education and Welfare to focus attention on the rights of the disabled. This 10-city protest resulted in landmark regulations to enforce Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act — requiring that federally funded institutions provide access to the disabled. Many consider these events a precursor to the 1990 Americans With Disabilities Act.
Bowe was the first person with a disability to represent any nation in planning the UN International Year of Disabled Persons (1980). He chaired the US Congress Commission on Education of the Deaf (1984-86), testified frequently before the House and Senate, and was a regional commissioner of the U.S. Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration. Bowe was involved with legislation (1990), sponsored by Senator Harkin (D-Iowa) and Representative Markey (D-Massachusetts) that required TVs to receive and display closed captioning. The subsequent 1996 Telecommunications Act required broadcast and cable programs to be closed-captioned.
Honors
The honors bestowed on Frank Bowe, who died of cancer in 2007, are many: alumni awards from McDaniel, Gallaudet and NYU, listings in Who’s Who, Distinguished Service Award of the President of the US, the National Hall of Fame for People with Disabilities, and more.
Bowe joined Hofstra University in 1989, teaching research, counseling, special education and rehabilitation. He led a project to make the university’s information and instruction more accessible and usable for students, faculty and staff. A caring and inspiring teacher, he received the Distinguished Teaching Award in 1996.
Author
An avid reader, Bowe was also a prolific researcher and writer. Bowe contributed hundreds of articles to professional journals. His books include: “Handicapping America” — the first full-length text on social policy and disability, “Making Inclusion Work,” “Early Childhood Special Education,” and “Changing the Rules.”
Bowe’s “Universal Design in Education,” a handbook on meeting the diverse needs of all students, places the responsibility on schools to provide material and environments that are accessible and usable to all students, by offering options such as lessons in written and auditory forms, handouts on paper and CD, electronic and hard copy texts, distance learning and physically accessible classrooms.
Universal Design
In 2007 Donna Anderson of New Columbia attended a conference on Universal Design. To emphasize the concept, the instructor told the story of a young boy in a wheelchair who waiting outside his school building until the custodian could clear snow from the ramp. The boy asked how long it would be until he could go in. The custodian said, “Most of the children use the steps, I have to clear them first.” The boy replied, “If you shovel the ramp, EVERYBODY can go in together.”
“This had a tremendous impact on me,” Anderson said. “When I got home I did a search on ‘universal design’ as it would apply to my personal interest, ‘fairness in education.’ What did I see? I saw the name Frank Bowe! Could it be the Frank Bowe who sat beside me in high school? The Frank who had freckles, always smiled and was deaf?”
It was. The quiet schoolmate had, she said, grown up to be a true super hero.
-- Elaine Wintjen is on staff at the Union County Historical Society. The society office/library, in the county courthouse at 103 S. 2nd St., Lewisburg, is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1-4:30 p.m. For information on membership, events and reference material call 524-8666, E-mail hstoricl@ptd.net or visit www.unioncountyhistoricalsociety.org.
News
Related Photos
-
Photo provided
Discussion
Lewisburg deaf boy grew into an activist
- News
-
-
Lewisburg schools face cuts in personnel, programs
Superintendent Mark DiRocco told the Lewisburg school board Thursday night that a proposed block grant system of school budget funding will run the district short of cash that will have to be made up through personnel and program cuts.
-
Mom: Keller's response left her cold
Like many people, Elise Nicol is concerned about Marcellus Shale and the industry's effects on Pennsylvania's environment. The Lewisburg mother of two cares about it enough that she sent an email to state Rep. Fred Keller, R-85 of Kreamer, asking him to oppose House Bill 1950, which passed the General Assembly on Wednesday.
-
Point Township authority concerned by sewer plant violations
Point Township Sewer Authority members Thursday night expressed concerns about a Feb. 3 letter sent to the Northumberland Sewer Authority by the state's Department of Environmental Protection saying that the borough authority has violated the Clean Streams Act.
-
Persing truck fee idea stalls
While Pennsylvania has passed legislation allowing communities to collect impact fees in 35 counties, Northumberland County is not one of them, and business leaders and lawmakers do not think Sunbury Mayor David Persing's plan to try to do his own version of an impact fee will pass muster.
-
Barber draws a crowd
The talk can be spirited at times, ranging from hunting to sports to home repairs. "You hear all kinds of stories," Gene Koehler, of Riverside, said Thursday as he waited for a haircut at The Masters barbershop, 209 Mill St.
-
State board approves table games at Valley Forge casino
VALLEY FORGE — A casino resort scheduled to open this spring in the Philadelphia suburb of Valley Forge has been approved for table games.
-
Doctors telling more adults: Get out and exercise
ATLANTA — A new study shows more and more U.S. adults are being told by their doctor to get off their duffs and exercise. A government survey found nearly 33 percent of adults who saw a doctor in the previous year said they were told to exercise. That was up from about 23 percent in 2000.
-
Former Northumberland County judge and three others die in Florida crash
EVERGLADES CITY, Fla. -- A former Northumberland County judge was one of four people killed Wednesday afternoon when their car collided with a van at an intersection, according to the Naples News. The victims were identified as James J. Rosini, 66, William J. Rosini, 68, Patricia C. Rosini, 65, all of Coal Township, Pa., and Deborah A. Korbich, 59, of Elysburg, Pa.
-
Warden demotes four bosses
SUNBURY -- Northumberland County Prison Warden Roy Johnson was able to trim about $135,000 in expenses by demoting four supervisors. He said Wednesday that he found a way to cut costs without laying off any staff. "I cut out 120 hours of supervisors' pay each week, but I need to fill the correction officer positions," Johnson said.
-
DJ pumps up audience
Every Tuesday evening, Richard Grogg can be found spinning tunes at possibly the most well-attended dance in Snyder County. A resident at the Selinsgrove Center since 1988, the 57-year-old said the thing he likes most about selecting and playing music is "making people happy." "Some people come up and ask for requests," he said.
-
Agency closes adult center
PENNS CREEK -- Union and Snyder County caregivers have had to look farther and wider for another program that can offer respite because the Agency on Aging can no longer afford to provide the service. The adult daily living center at the Penns Creek Adult Resource Center was a helpful program each week to about eight adults from the area dealing with Alzheimer's and dementia. But it closed Dec. 30.
-
New Berlin pushes to acquire school
NEW BERLIN -- The Borough Council sold the property where the New Berlin Elementary School is to the precursor of the Mifflinburg Area School District for $1 back in 1950. It was deeded to the district for construction of a school.
- More News Headlines
-
Lewisburg schools face cuts in personnel, programs
