Instructor balances work with fatherhood

By Jim La May, President/CEO

I want to thank all the parents at ACBVI.

Donor like you, our clients, and staff are doing so much to turn COVID-19 into something positive for our community. And parents like Fernando Tarazon are doing this work while taking care of their kids!

Fernando teaches basic living and job skills at ACBVI. For months, that’s meant assisting our clients via teleconference from his living room.

But that’s also where his 8-year-old son, PaulAntonio, practices piano. And where 5-year-old Jorge works on his ABCs. And of course, boys at these ages are always angels!

"Sometimes everything happens all at once. But you have to be patient with kids."

Fernando’s clients have gotten more insight into his home life lately – especially since his wife went back to work. But Fernando says he loves the chance to teach his clients while spending more time with his boys.

Family is so important to Fernando. You can hear it in the caring way he talks with his sons and in how he misses his extended family in Mexico.

COVID-19 has meant that he hasn’t been able to visit his larger family since February. They supported him when he began going blind at age 7 and in earning his degree in rehabilitation therapy at the University of Arizona.

He hopes they can see each other again ... very soon.

I’m grateful to have dedicated parents and instructors like Fernando on staff. And for special people, like you, who continue to support our life-saving work.

COVID-19 has pushed us to offer more programs online – creating opportunities to reach more Arizonans in rural areas. Will you please make a generous gift today to help more people with vision loss? Thank you!