Nettie Mann Award

Janice Beary was born in the Boro of Brookville right outside of Clarion, Pennsylvania on January 25, 1965 to Michael and Nancy Bauer. She grew up with two older siblings, her brother Pete and sister Terri. As a child Janice loved being around people and entertaining them with her antics. She would pretend to be a hair stylist curling the hair of both men and women friends of the family who came to visit. Janice attended Clarion Area Elementary School and graduated in 1983 from Clarion Area High School. In 1983-84 Janice worked as a cashier and bagger for a local grocery store.

 

At age 22 and with ambitions to attend cosmetology school, Janice didn't know that life had other plans in store for her. After doctoring for severe headaches and "blackouts" with her local eye doctor, it was discovered that she had a tumor. Janice was referred immediately to a neurologist who described the tumor as being the size of the tip of a finger and surgery a necessity. By the time surgery was performed the tumor had increased to the size of a lemon.

 

The operation to remove the tumor from her pituitary gland at the base of her brain left Janice without any sight for 3 to 4 months. Janice remembers lying in bed listening to Connie Chung on the 11:00 news when she started to get some light perception and a little vision. Her vision returned to some degree of which we refer to as "tunnel vision" within a year. Along with being legally blind Janice had the difficult task of learning to walk again. Refusing to give up, Janice began with small walks around her kitchen table and then adjusted to a little bit larger space within her home. Unfortunately, a setback was not far behind. Janice became very ill and was thought to have yellow fever but instead was diagnosed with gall bladder disease that had progressed to gangrene. Janice mended from her surgery and without hesitation resumed the process of learning to walk again.

 

Following radiation, it was discovered that Janice was leaking spinal fluid from her nose as a result of a weakened bone behind her nose. The grueling surgery required Janice to be cut from ear to ear and her face pulled down to correct the problem. Once again, Janice was on the mend and determined to move forward. With the love and support of her high school sweetheart Dave, whom she married in 1991, Janice continued to improve. One of Janice's dreams was to have children, but she was told she would never be able to have kids…but once again for Janice there was a different plan and another miracle happened in 1997 when Janice gave birth to her daughter Hannah.

 

Raising Hannah, who is now 13, and being a wife was amazing. Her dream felt complete for a little while, but as a determined young woman her decision to attend Pittsburgh's School for the Blind completely changed Janice's point of view. Janice decided that she was not content sitting at home and wanted to work. In 2009, Janice began working with Goodwill Industries' job coaching program and obtained a job at a janitorial site with Goodwill at Clarion University. Since beginning employment, Janice has been a model employee who provides both inspiration and motivation to those around her. In November of 2009, Janice was awarded Goodwill Industries' Graduate of the Year Award for her outstanding ability to overcome her disabilities and work independently. While many would have given up, Janice's fight and courage has provided Goodwill with one of their star employees and PIBH with the Nettie Mann Achievement Award Winner.