Some people simply don't let the world get them down. These are the type of people that fight for themselves and those around them. These are the type of people that you always want on your side. The type of people that carried laptops to class in 1986 and used a self-built talking computer in 1985, not just because they could, but because they needed to and they were willing to do what it takes. Mike Hudson, director of the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities, is one of those people.
"I'm generally pretty positive and optimistic," Hudson said. "I know that everyone can do everything, we just need to be creative enough to get it done."
Hudson was appointed to the position of director on June 1. Prior to that, he was the interim director for one year.
"I love this director job, but I also loved my job as a disability specialist," Hudson said. "I was prepared either way for the results of my interview for this position. It was a win-win situation."
In addition to the many duties that Hudson performs within his department, he is also a dedicated family man and enjoys spending time with his wife Karla.
"We take a mile and a half walk each night after work, weather permitting. We just bought a tandem bike and we are both excited about getting back into that. We both had a good amount of usable vision when we were kids," Hudson said. Both Hudson and his wife Karla are blind, but being the troopers that they are, they never let it slow them down.
After graduating from high school, Hudson traveled to Lake Superior State University. After receiving his undergraduate degree in psychology, he transferred to Western Michigan University to study for his masters in college and university administration.
"The title is really about a mile long," Hudson said with a laugh. "While I was at Western, I worked at Kalamazoo College, half time as a residence hall director and half the time as the student activities coordinator. It was a lot of fun; I put myself through grad school that way."
But Hudson knew that he was not destined to work at Kalamazoo College as a career.
"In short, I was finishing my degree and I had to decided whether I would sign on for another year with Kalamazoo College or if I would move on," Hudson said with a sigh of remembrance. " I decided to move on."
After deciding to leave Kalamazoo, Hudson placed a call to Judy Gentile, the first director of what is now the RCPD.
"I talked with her and told her that I was a person with a disability that valued education and personal and experiential growth," Hudson said. "She had a position available and I sent a resume and got an interview and then got the job."
Hudson began working in the department as the visual characteristic specialist, a title that has since been changed.
"We didn't talk about what people couldn't do, we talked about characteristics," Hudson said. "In a few years I was working with students with chronic health and mobility characteristics."
Hudson said that it is important to him that he get to know people.
"Don't think of me as some unreachable administrator. I am busy, but I always have time for people and I am always available at lunch," Hudson said. As a routine, Hudson leaves the office each day for lunch, either walking to Grand River or the International Center.
"A good time to get me is at lunch. We can have lunch together and really get a chance to talk. Another place that people can run into me is in the IM East weight room, I go there to work out."
While Hudson enjoys his job and other activities, his favorite hobby is computers.
"I really enjoy computers. I got into that hobby because I was interested in how it worked. As my vision was going, I was able to take a voice synthesizer and some software and make my first talking computer. In 1986 I sold my desktop and modified my new laptop, then I was taking a talking notebook to class," Hudson said with a laugh. "It was strange then. Instead of the class waiting for me to take notes and me having to deal with eyestrain and headaches, I was able to take notes faster then my sighted peers and they were the ones rushing to keep up.
"One of my goals for the department is to increase the use of technology and I think we are getting started on that by everyone having computers after fall 2001," Hudson said.
When Hudson took the position as director, he did so with his I.D.E.A.L.S. (Integrating technology, Developing study abroad opportunities, Evaluate and synchronize service delivery models, Activating constituent involvement, Leading with outreach and networking and Streamlining programmatic documentation). While these I.D.E.A.L.S. were part of a three to seven year program, many have already begun and many are on the way.