The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, February 18, 1996              TAG: 9602160186
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS      PAGE: 03   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Close-Up 
SOURCE: Rebecca Myers 
                                             LENGTH: Medium:   89 lines

SUSAN WINDLEY: AT HOME WITH HELPING CHILDREN

Three college credits earned as a part-time employee initially lured Susan Windley to St. Mary's Infant Home last September.

But now with the semester behind her and the credits granted, why is Windley still working at the home for children with severe disabilities?

``I've never been happier anywhere,'' said Windley, a student at Tidewater Community College's Portsmouth Campus. ``I really, really love it.''

St. Mary's Infant Home, founded in the early 1940s as an orphanage, is a residential-care facility in Norfolk that provides 24-hour medical attention to children with the most severe of handicaps. It accommodates 88 children.

Windley, now a paid part-time employee, spends 27 hours a week at the home and volunteers an additional six hours every Friday.

``It's very rewarding,'' she said. ``I've fallen in in love with each and every kid.''

Windley's main job is to check and repair toys that are bolted to the children's wheelchair trays. Because abilities vary from child to child, Windley said that most of the toys are adapted to accommodate them.

For example, she explained, some toys are equipped with buttons that can be pressed to make music. And for those children who have limited mobility, a few toys are even sound- and light-activated.

Windley thinks her experience at St. Mary's will help her in her future career as an occupational therapist. After graduating in the spring with an associate's degree in science, Windley plans to attend Occupational Therapy School at the College of Health Sciences in Roanoke.

In the five months that she's worked at the home, Windley also has learned how to make and repair splints.

``It's just been really good for me because now I have a much broader idea about what I'm getting into,'' said Windley, a 1993 graduate of Churchland High School.

When she's not at St. Mary's or in class, Windley likes to spend time at home relaxing.

``I'm kind of an independent person,'' she said. ``I don't really go out very much.''

Recently, she took one of the children of St. Mary's to her home for an afternoon visit.

``The kids don't get a lot of chances to go out in the community,'' she said.

``As a matter of fact, I've asked permission to bring other children out, too, to the mall or to the zoo, to do something fun that they don't always get a chance to do. . . .

``Things that we take for granted.''

Name: Susan Lake Windley.

Hometown: Portsmouth.

Birthdate: 6/13/75.

School: Tidewater Community College, Portsmouth Campus.

Parents: Martha and M.C. Windley.

Brothers and sisters: Garry, 32, and Mike, 33.

Pets: ``Boots'' (dog) and ``Jesse'' (cat).

Favorite subject: Psychology.

Favorite food: Nachos.

Favorite restaurant: Ruby Tuesday's.

Hobbies: Horseback and bicycle riding.

Favorite movies: ``Children of a Lesser God.''

Favorite musical groups: Dave Matthews and Tori Amos.

Favorite sports: Soccer, hockey.

Favorite magazine: Elle.

Last book read for fun: ``The Client,'' by John Grisham.

Favorite TV shows: ``Friends,'' ``ER,'' ``America's Funniest Home Videos.''

Last smart thing you did: Volunteering at St. Mary's Infant Home.

Last dumb thing you did: Getting a speeding ticket.

Pet peeve: The phone ringing early in the morning, especially while I'm sleeping.

Who are your heroes: The children at St. Mary's Infant Home.

Your worst habit: Never picking up after myself.

Last vacation: I went to Savannah, Ga.

Favorite way to spend a day: In my PJs at home and with the kids at St. Mary's.

If you had 15 minutes on national television, what would you discuss? I would talk about the importance and need for education and therapies for physically challenged children.

When I get older, I want to be: An occupational therapist or a special education teacher. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL

by CNB