High School Teacher Overcomes The Negative

Tamara Douglass says she has "always loved helping other people." Maybe that's why she's so good at what she does.

Mrs. Douglass works at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School with Special Education classes. She didn't always intend on being a teacher, but after starting a career with her Business Administration major from the University of Maine-Orono, she realized she enjoyed teaching and began volunteering in classrooms when her children entered school. Soon after she earned her teaching certificate and began substituting.

Growing up in the same small town as Mrs. Douglass, I have had the pleasure of getting to know what a friendly and helpful woman she truly is. She is never found without a smile on her face and never passes by without a "hello".

What makes Mrs. Douglass different than every other friendly woman is she doesn't let her disease, Alopecia Areata, affect her attitude. Alopcecia Areata is an auto-immune disease which makes the body rejects hair follicles. This means Douglass has no hair.

There are three types of Alopecia: Alopecia Areata, Alopecia Areata Totails and Alopecia Areata Universalis. This disease affects 4.7 million people in the United States alone.
Mrs. Douglass was diagnosed at a young age. The disease has come and go as she has aged. Although a cure for Alopecia is yet to be found, Douglass maintains her upbeat outlook and tries not to let it get in the way of her day.

Having struggled with Alopecia for so long, Mrs. Douglass has learned a lot. The most important thing, she says, is "be accepting of other people and they will be accepting of you."

For more information about Alopecia Areata you can contact the National Alopecia Areata Foundation or visit www.naaf.org.