[Blindtlk] Encouraging Medical Students To Be Retina Doctors

Tue Feb 21 07:11:15 UTC 2012

No, my blindness wouldn't be nearly as much of an obstacle if I lived
in a city. But I do know also that if things don't work out if I did
move into an apartment, I would have no one else to turn to. I would
end up out on the street if I couldn't pay rent. I know if I go
against their wishes I'll be disowned. Also going to college is
certainly not in my plans. While I'm not ruling it out altogether,
maybe 5 or 10 years down the road, I want to be in a better place
mentally than I am now. I know that if I do it now, all that will
happen is I'll burn out. I definitely do not want to live in a dorm. I
know all about hazing and all that crap. If I do go to college, I want
it to be at a community college. The problem is, if I do that, I want
to go somewhere where I know I won't run into any of the a-holes I
went to school with around here. I even have one in mind, but being a
blind person, moving into a new city, and trying to maintain a job so
I can survive and go to college is just way more stress than I need.

On 2/21/12, Johanna Baccan <24kjo at optonline.net> wrote:
> Dear Mike, and All,
> the talk is not for the purpose for getting students to go to Columbia They
> are already Medical students at Columbia deciding on what kind of Doctor
> they want to be.  This is not my intention to get across that blindness is
> not respectable or have the sighted realize what we cannot do.  I know that
> you do not know me but I am a good role model for someone who is living with
> Blindness.  When the students meet me they will know that a Blind person can
> just about do anything.  I am on a Web show on Thru our Eyes called Looking
> Good Without Looking.  I am the Co-host.  I am called the Make-up Diva.  I
> train women if they choose to put on make-up.  You do not have to see to
> wear make-up.  As a matter of fact I put it on better than a sighted person.
> Our next show is this Wednesday night and I will send the link to the list.
> Our show is for Men, Women , and Teens.  It is for full vision, low vision,
> or no vision.  I am proud of my Blindness and how I cope.  Yes,  I have all
> the frustrations and stress that go along with it also .  But I choose to
> keep going and learning to make my life and others around me better.    I
> just joined the NFB a year ago.  Yes I heard they were Radical.  But when I
> joined I found it to be not so.  Desiree forgive me if I spell your name
> wrong.  You see by being involve with the NFB we all want to help one
> another with problems that each other may have .  One or many of us have
> been through it and we can help one another. Please ask us questions so
> maybe we can help.  I used to drive 34 years ago and I still miss it
> terribly.  I too have to depend on friends, and family for rides.  You know
> that there is a talking cash register.  Get with a VR counselor and see what
> kind of jobs are around you.  By the way where do you Live?  They may be
> able to connect you with a job that uses a talking cash register.  There is
> a lot more technology out there now then there was for me 34 years ago.
> Keep fighting and do not give up.    If you have not already gotten your
> degree than do so.  Yes, there are many small minded  and mean people out
> there.    You have to rise above it.  I know it is not easy.  Getting back
> to my talk.  All over the country there are  places that are doing research
> .  These places  need Retina Doctors and Researchers to continue what has
> been started.  There is stem cell research, gene therapy research, retina
> cell transplantation research,  and retina doctors that are needed to
> continue this.  Don't worry Mike I will let them know also the techniques of
> blindness.  We all can do almost the same things that the sighted do.  But
> with technology we get the same result but the way we get it done is
> different.
> Sincerely,
> Johanna
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Mike Freeman
> Sent: Monday, February 20, 2012 10:19 PM
> To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Encouraging Medical Students To Be Retina Doctors
>
> If you were African-american (and I don't know whether you are or are not
> and it truly doesn't make a difference), would you consent to give a talk on
> what you're missing out on by not being Caucasian, especially since the
> purpose is obviously to get more specialists to go to a prestigious medical
> school?
>
> Were I you, I'd refuse because going through the "ain't it awful" routine,
> even if in a worthy cause, hurts the blind in that it concentrates upon what
> the sighted think we *can't* do rather than showing them that ultimately, it
> is respectable to be blind.
>
> Mike Freeman
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Johanna Baccan
> Sent: Monday, February 20, 2012 5:43 PM
> To: Blind Talk mailing List
> Subject: [Blindtlk] Encouraging Medical Students To Be Retina Doctors
>
> To All:
>
> I was asked by Dr. Steven  Sang one of the top Retina Doctors at Columbia
> Presbyterian  Hospital in New York City, new York  to speak to Columbia
> University Medical Students.  He wants me to encourage them to become Retina
> Doctors and Retina Researchers.     I am a 54 year old woman and have a
> unusual form of Stargardt's Disease and have been visually impaired for 34
> years.  I know that we all have mastered some if not all the Techniques of
> Blindness.  But my talk is going to be on what it would mean to regain my
> vision and what I have missed out on for 34 years.  I would like to hear
> from all of you to let me know what it would mean to you to have or regain
> your vision.  What struggles have you had.  There has been a declined in
> Medical Students to become Retina Doctors and Researchers in this country.
> As a whole the Blind Community seems to function in a way that people don't
> realize how difficult it really is.  So instead of talking how I mastered
> the Techniques of Blindness I have to talk about the reality of vision loss.
> These students are exposed to other patients with diseases that are much
> more visible and pronounced then our vision loss.  At times my particular
> eye disease has been called a Hidden handicap.  Because to look at me even
> though I use a cane I do not look visually impaired at all.  Any suggestions
> or comments would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Johanna Baccan
>
>
>
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