Unmarried blind teacher adopts 3-year-old blind girl

The Time Record

February 28, 1968

Pittburg (AP) - Norma Claypool, an unmarried teacher, has an adopted three-year-old daughter, Patti Elaine, a little laughing blonde. Both are blind.

A year ago, when the child came to live permanently with her new family, she had a vocabulary of three words. She crawled with hesitation at an age when other children walk.

But a year of love has wrought an amazing change. The youngster now runs like a tomboy and jabbers incessantly.

"She'll crawl into my lap and say 'Hug me tight, Mommie, Kiss me.' She's a very warm little girl. I can't imagine what it would be like not having her in the house.", says Miss Claypool.

She met Patti Elaine in her job as a teacher of handicapped children. After having the child  in her home for two brief vacations she decided she would try to adopt her.

Miss Claypool said the procedure went without undue trouble. "As far as I know", she added, "this is the first time a single woman has been permitted to adopt a child in Pennsylvania."