Claudia Muttart Hammonds

Dreaming in Color: a Story of One Girl's Triumph over Blindness Claudia Muttart Hammonds

Students of all Schools For The Blind can find themselves between the covers of Dreaming In Color. Special needs students in the public schools across the nation can relate to the story of Mary Beard and her struggles with an alternative education. Meanwhile, mainstream students more than ever find themselves as friends and classmates of the visually impaired, especially in today's classrooms where assimilation is encouraged and often times required. Many students now understand that a day in the life of a blind student is quite similar to their own daily routines. Aspiring college students hoping to become teachers could be inspired to focus on a career in special education. Any young adult who has searched for an absent parent, fell in love, or fought off a bully can relate to the themes of the author's novel. Knowing that the story is inspired by true circumstances only enhances its ability to appeal to an expanded audience. Although the author's primary theme is Mary Beard's triumph over blindness, she also included elements centering on family secrets, mystery and friendship.