Jennifer and Jeff Bazer

Everyone should hope to see things as clearly as newlyweds Jennifer and Jeff Bazer of West Columbia. They know what they want, they are willing to work to get it, and they appreciate every day of their life together. Being deprived of eyesight does not get in the way of their finding love for each other and a dedication to service for others.

This cheerful and outgoing couple is celebrating a three- month anniversary this Valentine's time. "We do just about everything other people do," says the bride Jennifer. "Both of us have been blind since birth, so we don't know any other way to live our lives. We ride bikes, dance, hike, shop, cook, and entertain. We love our jobs, and our new house."

Jennifer Bazer is an employment consultant for the South Carolina Commission for the Blind. She helps locate jobs for the visually- impaired, and it doesn't stop there. "I want them to have functional transportation and a good place to live," she says. "If they don't have that they're not going to be able to do the job I have found for them."

How does she find these jobs? "I knock on doors," is one response. Other sources: some employers contact the Commission knowing that employees with vision impairment are motivated to be reliable and do a good job.

Jennifer "networks," keeping her ears open wherever she is in a group of people, to locate places where her clients can serve.

Jeff, the bridegroom, has a different kind of job. He is sales manager over six states for Freedom Scientific, a firm which develops and markets technology to assist the blind. He travels by planes, trains, buses, taxis, limos, and makes presentations as well as training sales representatives for their products. His company's clients include schools, libraries, and state government agencies. The products may include video and Braille.

"Technology has opened up new worlds for people with vision difficulties," he says. "For instance, adding speech software to the computer means anyone can hear the reading matter such as newspapers or other documents. We will read our story in The Columbia Star with our speech aid on the computer."

The Bazers enjoy the companionship and services of two guide dogs, obtained from the Seeing Eye company in Morristown N.J. Their dogs are important members of their family. Each owner spends several weeks at the company headquarters bonding with the dog of choice, learning how to treat and to command the animal for best rapport.

While a high school student, Jennifer was chosen for an exchange program which gave her a year in Cali, Colombia, South America, where she polished her Spanish and learned about a world overseas. She earned her degree in psychology at Winthrop and a master's in social work at the University of South Carolina.

Jeff Bazer grew up in South Dakota, and has lived in Florida. His family is not nearby. Both Bazers have the services of drivers to get them to their local appointments. Jennifer grew up in West Columbia, and her family is still here, but this independent couple wants to do as close to everything as possible for themselves.