Sally Rogow (May 9, 1930 – December 21, 2012) was an American educator who developed programs to assist other teachers in schooling the visually impaired. After completing her education with a bachelor's and two master's degrees in the United States, as well as a teaching stint at the Michigan School for the Blind, Rogow moved to Canada where she earned a doctorate in

special education Special education (also known as special-needs education, aided education, alternative provision, exceptional student education, special ed., SDC, and SPED) is the practice of educating students in a way that accommodates their individual di ...

. She was hired by the

University of British Columbia The University of British Columbia (UBC) is a Public university, public research university with campuses near University of British Columbia Vancouver, Vancouver and University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, in British Columbia, Canada ...

to develop a normal school program for educators of those with multiple handicaps or visual impairment. Launching the program in 1971, Rogow directed it until 1995, publishing numerous works on teaching people with disabilities.

Early life

Sally Muriel Levine was born on May 9, 1930, in

Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

, New York to May (née Weinberger) and Gustave M. Levine. Her father was an optometrist and she was raised with her younger brother Aaron, who would become a medical malpractice attorney. Levine attended

Brooklyn College Brooklyn College is a public university in Brooklyn in New York City, United States. It is part of the City University of New York system and enrolls nearly 14,000 students on a campus in the Midwood and Flatbush sections of Brooklyn as of fall ...

and went on to further her studies at the

University of Wisconsin A university () is an institution of tertiary education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. ''University'' is derived from the Latin phrase , which roughly means "community of teachers and scholars". Uni ...

, where she graduated in 1951. While in Wisconsin, she met Robert Rogow, whom she married in 1950 in Brooklyn and subsequently the couple had two daughters, Fern and Andrea. Rogow continued her education at

Columbia University Columbia University in the City of New York, commonly referred to as Columbia University, is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Churc ...

, earning a master's degree in

anthropology Anthropology is the scientific study of humanity, concerned with human behavior, human biology, cultures, society, societies, and linguistics, in both the present and past, including archaic humans. Social anthropology studies patterns of behav ...

in 1953. When her husband was offered a post at

Michigan State University Michigan State University (Michigan State or MSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan, United States. It was founded in 1855 as the Agricultural College of the State o ...

, the family relocated and she completed a second master's degree in education.

Career

Rogow taught at the Michigan School for the Blind in

Lansing Lansing () is the capital city of the U.S. state of Michigan. The most populous city in Ingham County, parts of the city extend into Eaton County and north into Clinton County. It is the sixth-most populous city in Michigan with a popul ...

between 1964 and 1966, before moving in the latter year to

Vancouver Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...

, British Columbia, Canada. She began teaching at the

Simon Fraser University Simon Fraser University (SFU) is a Public university, public research university in British Columbia, Canada. It maintains three campuses in Greater Vancouver, respectively located in Burnaby (main campus), Surrey, British Columbia, Surrey, and ...

in 1966. Simultaneously with her teaching, Rogow enrolled in doctoral studies in

Special Education Special education (also known as special-needs education, aided education, alternative provision, exceptional student education, special ed., SDC, and SPED) is the practice of educating students in a way that accommodates their individual di ...

at the

(UBC), completing her degree and her tenure at Simon Fraser in 1971. Upon completion of her PhD, she was hired by UBC in 1971 to establish and direct a program to train teachers to teach students who were multi-disabled or visually impaired. Initially the curricula offered teaching diplomas and later, was accredited as a master's degree program. She remained as director of this program until her 1995 retirement. Rogow published over forty studies in teaching children with disabilities and language development. Some of her publications include: "Public Education for Blind Children" (''Education Canada'', Summer 1975), "The Right to an Equal Education: Is It Happening for Blind Children in Canada?" (''Education Canada'', Fall 1976), ''Their Special Needs: an Action Guide to Working with Blind Residents of Mental Retardation Facilities'' (1977) "Mainstreaming: It Can Work for Blind Children" (''Education Canada'', Summer 1978), ''Helping the Visually Impaired Child with Developmental Problems'' (1988) and ''Language, Literacy and Children with Special Needs'' (1997). She also wrote several books directed at youth education regarding the

Holocaust The Holocaust (), known in Hebrew language, Hebrew as the (), was the genocide of History of the Jews in Europe, European Jews during World War II. From 1941 to 1945, Nazi Germany and Collaboration with Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy ...

. Upon her retirement from UBC, Rogow joined The Person Within, a project aimed at eliminating abuse and neglect of disabled people. In 2009, she received the Distinguished Service Award from the Canadian Vision Teachers Conference. In 2011, she was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field by the

American Printing House for the Blind The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) is an American non-for-profit corporation in Louisville, Kentucky, promoting independent living for people who are blind and visually impaired. For over 150 years APH has created unique products ...

and she was recognized for her charitable works by Jewish Women International. The last years of her life, she lived at the Weinberg Residence, a facility in Vancouver for Jewish senior citizens.

Death and legacy

Rogow died on December 21, 2012, and was buried in the Schara Tzedek Cemetery.

References

Citations

Bibliography

* * * * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Rogow, Sally 1930 births 2012 deaths Writers from Brooklyn American women academics 20th-century American women writers University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni Columbia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences alumni Michigan State University alumni University of British Columbia Faculty of Education alumni Academic staff of the University of British Columbia Educators of the blind American disability rights activists Brooklyn College alumni 21st-century American women