About Us: Shadows in the Dark - Braille Services & Gifts

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CATALOG

    OUR STORY:

1989 - 1992:  PHELAN, CA

    It was the start of the 89-90 school year in high school and, the beginning of a new friendship between Jeremy Hatheway (1972 - 1992) and Philip W. Myers (1973 - ).
    The two of us shared something in common. At the age of four, Jeremy was diagnosed with diabetes. Jeremy was also diagnosed with an eye disease called
    "Optic Nerve Atrophy" which had caused him to become completely blind. In 1973, shortly after being born, Philip was diagnosed with Congenital Toxoplasmosis.

    While together at school, we had talked about going into business one day that would provide a special service for those who are blind or visually impaired. We had
    decided that the business would consist of having Braille greeting cards, specialty gift items and sports trading cards all in one. While at school, Jeremy had started
    getting Philip familiarized with learning to read Braille.

    On January 3, 1992 a cold winter morning Philip had received a phone call from his parents about the passing of Jeremy. At the age of only 19, he passed away
    from his battle with diabetes. This was a little difficult on Philip because he was about to graduate later in the year from Serrano High school.


09/1992 - 04/1993:  ALBANY, CA

    From the months of September 1992 through April 1993, Philip attended a school for the blind in the San Francisco/Oakland area called
    "The Orientation Center for the Blind" located in the small town of Albany, California. At this school, Phil had learned how to read and write Braille, became comfortable
    with using a white cane, learned how to use the mass transit system, as well as other independent living skills.

    From the months of November 1992 through March 1993, Philip started having some complications with the Toxoplasmosis. During this time his doctors had run a series
    of tests that would result of a new diagnosis made at the end of March 1993. The confirmation was concluded by doing a spinal tap prcedure.

    At the age of 19, Philip was diagnosed with a second condition called Hydrocephalus (water on the brain). On April 1, 1993 and April 9, 1993, Philip had undergone
    two eye surgeries to relieve the pressure from his eyes caused by the Toxoplasmosis and Hydrocephalus. A procedure called Nerve Sheath Decompression. An
    incision on the optic nerves was the procedure completed.

    By the end of April of 1993, Philip had completed his training after only seven months of being at The Orientation Center for the Blind.


1993 - 1995:  PHELAN, CA

    A few months after returning to his home in Southern, California, Philip saw another specialist in San Diego, who did not like the diagnosis given from Oakland.
    This doctor had discussed with my parents about the placement of a VP Shunt to help drain the excess fluid build up on the brain. On August 24, 1993,
    the surgery was successful for the placement of the shunt.

    Before the surgery, Philip had wanted to start his College studies in Victorville, California. After two weeks into the Fall 1993 Semester, Philip had to drop
    all classes due to having the surgery. After recovering, he would resume his studies during the Spring and Summer 1994.


1995 - 2004:  SHREVEPORT, LA

    In 1995, Philip and his family moved to Northwest Louisiana. The move was due to his father's career with the Military. His father retired from the Air Force in 1992
    and was hired to work in the Civil Service so he could continue his history writing career for the Air Force.

    February 1995: Philip began working as a Volunteer with Family Services at Barksdale AFB, LA. In April 1995, Philip had a picture come to mind for his very first
    Braille card for Shadows in the Dark™: a Birthday Cake with Candles design in Braille. This was the beginning for creating Shadows in the Dark™. By November 1995,
    Philip had created six Braille cards with six Braille picture designs.

    January 1996: out of a one bedroom apartment in Bossier City, LA. Shadows in the Dark™ started selling the special line of Braille Pictured Greeting Cards after purchasing
    copyright protection for the cards.

    October 1997: Shadows in the Dark™ found a supplier that offered a large variety of specialty gift items at affordable prices for everyone.

    February 1999: Shadows in the Dark™ starts selling products and services online through their website. Offering a large selection of Braille Services and Specialty Gift items
    can be found on the website at great low prices everyday!

    June 2002: Shadows in the Dark™ started adding Foreign languages to the line Braille greeting cards available for the blind and visually impaired market.

    Starting in the Fall 1995 through the Fall of 2003, Philip would continue his college studies attending at Bossier Parish Community College in Bossier City, LA.
    At the end of the Fall 2003 semester, Philip was attempting to finish his studies. Still missing a few college hours to graduate with an Associates Degree in Psychology.

    December 2003: Philip was hospitalized due to a shunt malfunction. A tubing rupture was the cause and had to be replaced. He spent three days in the hospital and
    was released three days before Christmas.


2004 - 2005:  MARYLAND

    In 2004, Shadows in the Dark™ started selling Braille Playing cards for Poker to the assortment.

    In 2004, Shadows in the Dark™ expanded by adding Braille Business Card Services for the products and services available. Currently this service is completed by using
    a slate and stylus method.

    December 2005: Philip decided to relocate Shadows in the Dark™ back to Louisiana.


2006 - 2008:  SHREVEPORT, LA

    January 2006: Shadows in the Dark™ celebrated their 10th year anniversary in business. In an attempt to increase sales Shadows in the Dark™ offered a 10% discount
    for the entire year in order to increase sales for the business.

    January 2006: Shadows in the Dark™ adds Uno, Spades, Pinochle, Bridge to the assortment of card games available in Braille.


2008 - :  SAN ANTONIO, TX

    July 2008: Philip relocates Shadows in the Dark™ to the San Antonio, Texas area. This would prove to be a great move for the company in order to expand and
    to increase sales for Shadows in the Dark™.

    January 2009: Productivity increases for Braille Business Card Services when orders started to arrive for Yahoo.com. Most sales have now been generated in this area
    of services for Shadows in the Dark™.

    In 2009, Shadows in the Dark™ added, Mille Borne, Skip Bo, Rook, Scrabble Slam, to the assortment of Braille Playing cards.

    January 2011: Shadows in the Dark™ celebrated their 15th year anniversary in business. In an attempt to increase sales Shadows in the Dark™ offered a 15% discount
    for the entire year in order to increase sales for the business. Philip was diagnosed with having type 2 diabetes at age thirty seven.

    January 2020 - : Shadows in the Dark™ has increased Braille Manufacturing of Braille Playing Card games during the Covid-19. Many games provided to many locations
    to assist allowing those staying at home with loved ones who are blind or visually impaired. The games are still being Manufactured on a continuous status by helping provide
    services to other businesses requesting Braille Playing cards to sell.

    January 2021: Shadows in the Dark™ celebrated their 25th year anniversary in business. In an attempt to increase sales Shadows in the Dark™ offered a 25% discount
    for the entire year in order to increase sales for the business.

    As of today, Shadows in the Dark™ is one of the largest providers for Braille Greeting Cards. By currently offering twenty-nine card occasions available in eight languages:
    (English, French, Italian, Norwegian, German, Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese) with more than twenty Braille Picture designs for the cards.

    In Memory of: Jeremy Hatheway (1972 - 1992).

JEREMY HATHEWAY
DOB: July 27, 1972 - January 3, 1992

FAVORITE AUTHOR:
Edgar Allen Poe

HOBBIES:
American Indian art, History, Artifacts, Collecting rocks, Reading mysteries

PHILIP W. MYERS
DOB: August 8, 1973 -
Agana Heights, Guam
HOME: SAN ANTONIO, TX

EDUCATION:
1995 - 2003: Bossier Parish Community College
(3 Credit Hours to Graduation)
1988 - 1992: Serrano High School

FAVORITE AUTHOR:
William Shakespeare, Dan Brown

HOBBIES:
Sports Trading Cards, Reading mysteries, Watching movies, Bowling

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:
1996 - : Shadows in the Dark
2014 - : Vibrant Works (Formely: SA Lighthouse for the Blind)
2019 Employee of the Year
2019 NIB Employee of the Year

Press Release:

JBSA Article NIB Opportunity Magazine

2008 - 2013: AAFES, Lackland AFB, TX
2006 - 2008: AAFES, Barksdale AFB, LA
2004 - 2005: AAFES, Andrews AFB, MD
2002 - 2004: AAFES, Barksdale AFB, LA