Steve Kelley
In his recently published book, Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice, Judge David Tatel, recently retired from the U.S. Circuit Court, offers a perspective on vision and optimism that readers might not initially expect. Beyond his distinguished career as a lawyer and nearly three decades on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Tatel lost his vision in his early 30s due to Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), a progressive eye condition. While his memoir addresses his vision loss, it is primarily a reflection on his career in civil rights, his enduring love for his wife Edie, his thoughts on the state of our democracy, the role of the judiciary, and a chapter devoted to his latest companion, Vixen, a guide dog he acquired in recent years.
The phrase “Right place, right time” appears seven times throughout the book, first used to describe his opportunity to write a brief for the Chicago Urban League in a school desegregation case, which his firm ultimately won in 1968. “School desegregation was exactly the kind of issue I’d hoped to work on as a lawyer, and I couldn’t believe I was getting a chance to start so soon,” he writes. Such opportunities propelled Tatel’s career, including highlights like serving as Director of the Office of Civil Rights during the Carter administration and being appointed to the U.S. Circuit Court by President Clinton, succeeding Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg after her elevation to the Supreme Court—another instance of being in the right place at the right time.
Even vision loss and blindness are integrated into Tatel’s philosophy of optimism. “I was fortunate not to lose my sight until I was an adult with a solid professional track record. I’d already succeeded at two universities, a law firm, and the Lawyer’s Committee. I already had mentors and role models who cared about my success. It didn’t hurt that I’ve always liked gadgets and technology. And over and over, I’d been in the right place at the right time.”
Throughout the book, Tatel emphasizes the opportunities that arose both in his career and during his adjustment to vision loss, attributing his success to his family, employers, a reader who assisted him for years, and even random strangers. “I often benefited from the kindness of strangers who noticed my plight. To all those Good Samaritans who helped me get where I was going: Thank you.” He recounts one such incident with a teenage boy who, without mentioning Tatel’s vision, walked him to a taxi stand after he mistakenly tried to hail a garbage truck in a Brooklyn parking lot. For readers who, like Tatel, acquired vision loss later in life, these experiences will resonate. Tatel admits his reluctance to ask for help, acknowledge his blindness, and use a white cane—common struggles for those adjusting to vision loss.
Judge Tatel’s adjustment to vision loss involved years of what may be considered an unwillingness to fully acknowledge it. He describes years of traveling without a white cane, instead following a colleague closely, relying on the kindness of strangers, and doing whatever was necessary to avoid revealing his vision impairment. This mirrors the experience of many who are hesitant to disclose their vision loss in the workplace and seek accommodations, as doing so requires admitting a change in abilities.
Ironically, Tatel’s eventual acceptance of his vision loss and the pursuit of accommodations led to greater independence and efficiency. For instance, while learning braille didn’t make him a braille reader, it did lead to his long-term use of a Braille ‘n Speak notetaker. As a hunt-and-peck typist, he found he was much faster and more accurate using the Perkins-style braille keyboard on the device. After receiving Orientation and Mobility training, using a white cane enabled him to travel independently, reducing his reliance on his wife, Edie, and on random Good Samaritans. Embracing technology like the iPhone with VoiceOver and the Victor Reader Stream minimized his dependence on others for reading newspapers, periodicals, and the research required in his role as a Circuit Court Judge. Tatel’s reluctance to disclose his vision loss serves as a poignant reminder of how difficult this transition can be in the workplace, given the negative perceptions often associated with blindness and other disabilities.
While eyesight and the challenges of raising a family and maintaining a career with vision loss are certainly part of Tatel’s memoir, they are not the central focus. Instead, his memoir offers a broader vision of the role of judges in our democracy—as neutral examiners of facts and historical precedents—and the limitations of their appointed roles compared to the elected roles of Congress. Tatel’s concerns are particularly evident in his reflections on recent Supreme Court rulings and the impact of voting rights legislation on the future of democracy.
In the final chapter, “The Dog Who Changed My Life,” before the epilogue, Tatel shares how his guide dog, Vixen, from Fidelco, has significantly impacted his life and added a new dimension to his partnership with Edie, in ways he never imagined. It may not surprise readers that Tatel was a latecomer to guide dogs, getting one in his mid-70s, as he previously treated vision loss as more of an inconvenience. In this chapter, he details the process of applying for a guide dog, the training involved, and how he and Edie adjusted to the newfound independence Vixen brought to their lives. He writes of Vixen, “I love her like a best friend. I talk to her… She listens closely as I tell her about a legal question or ask her opinion about a case.” This bond is clearly transformative, and it seems fitting that this unexpected relationship came at a time when Tatel was nearing retirement. It is a poignant conclusion to a memoir filled with candid reflections on his career, the state of the judicial system amidst partisanship, and the challenges of navigating a progressive vision loss with family. Vixen, too, came into his life at just the right place and time.
Vision: A Memoir of Vision and Blindness by David S. Tatel is available on Audible, narrated by John Lescault, and can also be found through your favorite online retailer in ebook or physical format, as well as through NLS Talking Books, BARD, and Bookshare. For a candid interview with Judge Tatel, check out "Vision Loss and Justice" on Hadley Presents.
