Breaking the Blind Barrier

Brand new New York governor David Paterson made quite an impression at his swearing-in yesterday in Albany. Sudden heir to the disgraced Eliot Spitzer. Only the third black governor to take office in the country since Reconstruction.

And, of equal or greater interest to some Americans, that rarest of political leaders: a chief executive who is legally blind. Using all his senses to lead a big, rambunctious state. Other blind leaders have called him an inspiration.

This hour, On Point: we talk with a roundtable of blind Americans about living and working and leading blind.Guests:

Karen Dewitt, capitol bureau chief for New York State Public Radio.

Jim Gibbons, president of National Industries for the Blind.

Stephen Kuusisto, a writer and teacher at The University of Iowa.

Paul Parravano, co-director of the Office of Government and Community Relations at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.