<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font color="#000000" face="Calibri" size="5">What<span> </span>Being<span> </span>Blind<span>
</span>Means<span> </span>to<span> </span>me </font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font color="#000000" face="Calibri" size="5"> </font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font size="5"><font face="Calibri"><font color="#000000">Being blind has impacted my life in various ways.<span> </span>I cannot comprehend how my life would have
been different if I was not blind because I do not know anything else. <span> </span>I was born with cataracts and was totally
blind for the first two years of life.<span> </span>Doctors
performed surgery on me and gave me 20/200 vision.<span> </span>I have had the same vision ever since.<span> </span><span> </span>I am
largely happy with my life.<span> </span>I have
received a lot of support and encouragement from my friends, my family and the National
Federation of the Blind.<span> </span>I have learned from
the National Federation of the Blind that blind people can do anything that
they want except drive.<span> </span>At least for now.<span> </span>Blind people have the capability to do what
they want in life.<span> </span>Throughout my life
there were activities that I just could not do very well which caused me to
look for other things that I could do well.<span>
</span>The one piece of literature that I read from the NFB that changed the
way that I thought about the NFB was an article by Kenneth Jernigan called BLINDNESS-HANDICAP
OR CHARACTERISTIC. Blindness can be an annoyance<span> </span>sometimes<span>
</span>but as<span> </span>I<span> </span>have<span>
</span>found<span> </span>out<span> </span>these little annoyances<span> </span>can be<span>
</span>over come<span> </span>with love ,<span> </span>hope, Determination blind<span> </span>people<span>
</span>as<span> </span>well<span> </span>as<span>
</span>people<span> </span>with<span> </span>other<span>
</span>disabilities<span> </span>can do<span> </span>what<span>
</span>ever<span> </span>they<span> </span>want<span>
</span>to<span> </span>do<span> </span>in<span>
</span>life.<span> </span>That is the reason why I have
worked with people with disabilities in my professional career because I
believe in them and I believe in you the members of the National Federation of the
Blind.<span> </span></font></font></font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 8pt"><font size="5"><font face="Calibri"><font color="#000000"><span> </span><a href="https://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/fr/fr02/issue4/f020401.html">https://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/fr/fr02/issue4/f020401.html</a></font></font></font></p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">
</font><span><span><br></span></span></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div class="gmail_attr" dir="ltr">On Sun, Oct 18, 2020 at 1:45 PM torow via CT-NFB <<a href="mailto:ct-nfb@nfbnet.org">ct-nfb@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;padding-left:1ex;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204);border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid"><u>
<div>
i write an article in the senior newsletter to let everyone know what the white cane is all about. i am legally blind & use my white cane to let others know i am legally blind. i know i should use it more, especially when i am out walking.
<br>Eileen Torow
<br>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite">
On October 15, 2020 at 12:22 PM Brianna Rigsbee via CT-NFB <<a href="mailto:ct-nfb@nfbnet.org" target="_blank">ct-nfb@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:
<br>
<br>
<div>
Hello everyone!
</div>
<div>
Today is White Cane Safety Day (and Thursday), which means it’s time for a thought provoking question.
</div>
<div>
What does being blind mean to you? And if you are a cane user, what does your cane mean to you?
</div>
<div>
I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!
</div>
<div>
Best,
</div>
<div>
Bri
</div>
<br>
<div dir="ltr">
Brianna Rigsbee
<div>
Executive Editor | The Federationist in Connecticut
</div>
<div>
<a href="mailto:editor.fedct@gmail.com" target="_blank">editor.fedct@gmail.com</a>
</div>
<div>
First Vice President | Connecticut Association of Blind Students, A proud division of the National Federation of the Blind of Connecticut
</div>
<div>
<a style="font-size:13pt" href="http://www.nfbct.org/ct-chapters/connecticut-association-of-blind-students" target="_blank">http://www.nfbct.org/ct-chapters/connecticut-association-of-blind-students</a>
</div>
<div>
<a href="mailto:bri.rigsbee96@gmail.com" target="_blank">bri.rigsbee96@gmail.com</a>
</div>
<div>
(203) 751-0199
</div>
<div>
"You can't fly unless you let yourself fall."
</div>
<div>
"You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back."
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<br>
<blockquote type="cite">
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<br>
</blockquote>
<br>
</div>
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</u></blockquote></div>