CCTV Rental Program:
Retired Professor Reunited With His Love of Reading

By, Hillary Rossi

WATF’s client Russell Frederic Bisnett always loved to read. He graduated from a college in Indiana with a degree in linguistics. He taught Russian, German, Spanish, and French at Pacific Lutheran University. He says he will read anything, and has a worn copy of the Holy Bible with him always.

However, since age fifteen Bisnett has had a condition affecting the corneas of his eyes called Keratoconus.

“My vision comes to a point,” he said, “like a carrot.”

At age 18 he obtained a cornea transplant to remove the deformity. Throughout the years he needed a few more transplant operations; the last one took place just four to five years ago.

“A good cornea transplant only lasts so long,” he said.

Over the years Bisnett accommodated his disability by reading large print books and taking notes by talking into a tape recorder. In the more recent past, his reading has slowed due to deterioration of his corneas. Retired, he lives in a senior citizen home in Federal Way and is on a fixed income.

The King County Library furnishes him with large print books and suggested that he try to obtain a CCTV through the Washington Assistive Technology Foundation. WATF rents them out monthly.

He had little money upon his first contact with WATF’s director, Frances Pennell. She decided to charge him a discounted fee to match up with his financial situation. Since he lost his right leg a few years ago and takes food intravenously, Francie herself drove the CCTV down to Federal Way and set it up for him.

Now he uses both the CCTV and a magnifying glass in order to read. He is also working on his autobiography, “The Saga of My Life: Releasing of My Faith.” He feels that people could benefit- and perhaps feel inspired- by his story.