[Home-on-the-range] An article from www.kansas.com

Thu Aug 11 14:42:02 UTC 2011

Good morning all - I've been thinking about Maryse suggestion about showcasing NFB facility grads at the upcoming state convention ...this would be, of course wonderful. Because it is somewhat  rare for someone to have had this opportunity, I've been thinking of sharing how the NFB has impacted my life, not having the opportunity to go through one of these life changing programs...on the other hand, I've had life changing redirection, due to my contact with this organization and its members. Though I grew up with major vision loss, I never went to specialized schools or training, other than my one summer at the Kansas Rehab Center in Topeka,  the summer following high school graduation and entering college- that summer resulted in gaining absolutely no skills used by successful blind people. I didn't want to go through mobility training, so I talked them out of it - actually cried like a big baby and they didn't want to deal with me...I knew I would benefit from learning to type, but since everyone else knew how to type, the staff wouldn't provide this training...and on and on. Susie Stanza was also in attendance that same summer, and we frequently laugh at the curriculum which consisted of studying Psalms 23 and making a bacon splatter screen and welcome mat in shop class. What a waste but we both knew the game and that was to simply endure the 10 weeks so we could receive financial assistance for  our college programs. We both did so and got through college in the 4 year time frame not often accomplished these days, for some reason. Susie got involved with the NFB before I did and called me about this incredible organization that she thought I should get to know...I was reluctant because I had never been involved in any group comprised with a bunch of blind guys and I was really, really busy with 3 little girls.  Anyway,  I can only say that was the life changing experience that I didn't know I needed. I believe just being around and interacting with these self-confident, well spoken and political and community involved federationists spurred me on to my own careers and even more powerful, attitudes about blindness that had never occurred to me before. I was shy (hard to believe, huh!) and fearful of speaking in public. I had no real dreams of a fulfilling future outside of my family which I did and  do love dearly - yet yearned for more. It is not just a saying that the most important thing about being blind is one's attitude, it is the truth. Until we are comfortable in our own skin, others won't believe that we can do much more  to contribute to the community and business...Donna, Susie, Tom, I and others have been able to maximize our careers and build fulfilling, involved lives by knowing that the blind  have a lot to offer- and I believe we learned it by going to local NFB meetings, state and national conventions, reading the Braille Monitor and talking to other federationists about how they got to where they are today. Having the opportunity to go to  a NFB training Center would be the best option, but our roads to success were forever changed and positively positively impacted through our involvement with NFB. Some of you might not know that Donna worked for State of Kansas as both a Rehab Teacher f/t Blind and as a Special Investigator with the Human Rights Commission - probably the first blind the state has ever hired for this position: Susie has now worked for the Federal government with the Department of Agriculture as a computer programmer - and this was long before speech programs were  available - you'll want to hear how she creatively used an elastic band and pins to produce braille from her computer to allow her to work: Tom runs his own music business both producing his and others work and working as a professional musician: I had a small studio for 10 years, teaching children ballet, tap and floor gymnastics, changing career to become a VR  Counselor for 10 years and then in Administration until retirement. I, for one, think each of us four were able to carve our our own  professional careers because we learned from   our federationists leaders and brothers and sister how to go about it and be successful. Anyway, I hope we can find those that have had the special opportunity of receiving training from a NFB Center but wanted to remind us all that being around others with the positive, can do attitude that exudes from our organizations members can also make all the difference in the world...Dianne
On Aug 8, 2011, at 9:50 AM, maryse figueroa wrote:

> Good morning everyone,
>  
>      This article also appeared in Sunday's edition of the Wichita Eagle.
>       Based on m understanding of this article on Jean, it is a very subtle way for Envision, as her parents took her to that facility, at a very tender age.  There is no mention of the NFB, in the Wichita Eagle article.
>  
>      we must remember hat there are no definitive rehab services for the blind in Kansas, and that envision is vying for that contract.  I hear a lot of grumbling about Envision, be it their employment, retail store or rehab services.  So, what, each and everyone of us are doing to change this climate?  Why don't we showcase those individuals who went to NFB rehab centers either in Colorado or Louisiana?
>  
> Thank you
> Maryse Home-On-The-Range monitor
> 
> On Mon, Aug 8, 2011 at 6:31 AM, Stanzel, Susan - Kansas City, MO <susan.stanzel at kcc.usda.gov> wrote:
> Hi Everyone,
> 
>  
> 
> I read the entire article and it was wonderful.
> 
>  
> 
> Susie
> 
>  
> 
> From: home-on-the-range-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:home-on-the-range-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Susan Tabor
> Sent: Sunday, August 07, 2011 11:42 PM
> To: 'NFB of Kansas Internet Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [Home-on-the-range] An article from www.kansas.com
> 
>  
> 
> My mom called me from Wichita about this story today. Has NFB had some contact with her? Just curious; I hope Virginia gets ahold of her.
> 
> Susan
> 
>  
> 
> From: home-on-the-range-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:home-on-the-range-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Floyd
> Sent: Sunday, August 07, 2011 11:25 PM
> To: home-on-the-range at nfbnet.org; eejomes4 at wichita.edu
> Subject: [Home-on-the-range] An article from www.kansas.com
> 
>  
> 
> Floyd has sent you the following story:
> 
> Another sicess story from the NFB of Ks.
> 
>  
> 
> <~WRD038.jpg>
> 
> Posted on Sunday, Aug. 07, 2011
> 
>  
> 
> Blind West High grad speaks at White House
> 
> By ANNIE CALOVICH
> 
>  
> 
> Sighted people may not think they understand Alysha Jeans, blind from birth, but she seems to understand them all right. Jeans, a 2006 West High School graduate, got to speak at the White House last month at a celebration marking the 21st anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act. She followed Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Tina Tchen, chief of staff for the first lady. And she told the audience of government officials and interns that there is a tremendous depth to people that doesn't always meet the eye.
> 
> "I'm totally blind. I was born blind. And I said that I think a lot of people have never even met a person with a disability or interacted with them, so they don't understand the capabilities," Jeans said in a phone call from her home in Vienna, Va., recalling her speech.
> 
> She is 23 years old and one year into a job with the FBI in Quantico, Va., working in forensic audio analysis.
> 
>  
> 
> Read More...
> 
>  
> 
> 
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