Bill Thomasson is The Man

River Forest-Leaves, a member of the Sun-Times News Group, profiles the irrepressible Bill Thomasson.

Oak Park resident Bill Thomasson may be legally blind, but he doesn't feel all that disabled.

Macular degeneration hasn't prevented the freelance medical writer and political activist from serving on the organizing committee for the 11 a.m. Saturday, July 26, Disability Pride Parade though the Chicago Loop.

"It's an inconvenience, but not such a huge deal as you might think," Thomasson said of his fading vision. ***

Purpose of the Disability Pride Parade is to change how people - including many disabled - think about disability, said Thomasson, adding that many people are technically disabled though they don't consider themselves disabled.

"They somehow never got society's message, and hopefully they never will," he said.

Be sure to read the full article.

As someone who has had the privilege of occasionally crossing paths with Mr. Thomasson -- through PSB and his mission-work with DuPage progressives -- I can only aspire to someday be as abled as Bill is.