Blind Spring Valley resident teaches, helps others to persevere

"Every day I meet somebody who is worse off than me," said Spring Valley resident Kate Osti, who lost her sight to retinoblastoma, a rare eye cancer, nine years ago.

Osti is a licensed social worker and rights advocate for the Nevada Disability Advocacy and Law Center, (NDALC), 6039 Eldora Ave., Suite C, a private, nonprofit organization that was designated in 1995 as Nevada's federally mandated statewide protection and advocacy system for individuals with disabilities.

With offices in Reno, Elko and Las Vegas, services are offered at no cost to eligible individuals.

NDALC services include information, referral, education, training, negotiation, mediation, investigation of reported or suspected abuse or neglect, legal counsel, technical assistance and public policy work, according to the organization's website.

"Kate's background and personal experience with a disability gives her unique insight and understanding of the needs of our clients," said Jack Mayes, executive director of NDALC.

NDALC programs include protection and advocacy for individuals with mental illness, developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, HIV and AIDS. The organization's lawyers and advocates help disabled people obtain Social Security disability benefits, assistance technology and housing.

A 2010 U.S. Census Bureau community survey found that 283,182 disabled individuals make up 10.6 percent of Nevada's civilian population. In 2011, the Las Vegas office of the NDALC responded to more than 1,300 service requests from 1,150 disabled clients.

At the recent 2012 NDALC Advocacy Awards dinner "to honor those who have made extraordinary efforts to protect the rights of Nevadans with disabilities," Osti's name was mentioned repeatedly by the honorees.

Family Advocate award recipient Myrtis Haythorne told the story of her 45-year-old son Kevin, who suffered a stroke that left him a quadriplegic. "When he saw Kate walk in with her white cane -- it was her disability that gave him courage," she said.

One common misconception Osti has encountered is that she is not capable because of her disability. She laughed when she remembered the stranger who told her, "You look really nice for a blind person."

"Things like that are amusing." said Osti. "I'll admit it bothered me when I first started having vision problems, but now I try to use it as a learning experience for other individuals. I don't mind questions, even from people that I don't know. I would rather somebody ask that question than be scared to come up and talk to me."

Everyone needs help at some point in their lives, Osti said.

"The day my husband took away my car keys, I was not a pleasant person," she said. Her "unsung heroes," children Megan, 28, and Grant, 26, both students at the College of Southern Nevada, arrange their schedules to drive her to appointments and meetings.

Jim Osti, her husband of nine years, makes sure that she "gets out and does things," such as a recent hot air balloon adventure. "We are talking about going river rafting, but I didn't really like the water when I could see, so I'm not really eager about that one," Osti said.

Osti would like prospective employers to know they needn't fear hiring disabled people.

"People with disabilities can do some amazing things," Osti said.

Local psychiatrist Dr. Marian Orr agrees and thinks Osti is living proof of that assertion.

"She is just Kate - you forget that she is blind. Kate makes being blind look easy," Orr said.

For more information, visit www.ndalc.org, call 702-257-8150 or write to Nevada Disability Advocacy & Law Center, 6039 Eldora Ave., Suite C, Box 3, Las Vegas, NV 89146.