[Home-on-the-range] Hope for the Blind

[Sharon Luka]

Wow!  This is exciting!

If you like, please travel with me back through the posts we've just
received from Cindy, Dianne  and Susie.  The stories speak of true "Hope for
the Blind."  These posts of success in training and employment provide true
blessings.

Some of you will remember Jane Roth, a former Federationist who passed away
in the early 1980s.  Our friend Jane was a great inspiration for all of us.
What happens to one blind person affects us all.

In 1983 or so, I notified Jane that a Lawrence telemarketing company was
hiring.  Well, she got the job!  My father scolded me for sharing news of
the hiring.  He thought I would not have a chance at the same position with
the same company.  You guessed it; I also got the job! , the company was so
impressed with Jane's positive can-do outlook, they hired me a week later.
Jane and I worked for the same firm until her passing.

Aside from the employment blessing, Jane blessed me in another fruitful way.
Her adventurous spirit led her into the world of computers.  She was going
to train to work for Continental, I believe, as an airline reservationist.
However, illness took her before this dream was fully realized.

Prior to her passing, Jane sold her new Tandy computer to Cindy Ray and
Chuck Hallenbeck.  They in turn sold the unit to me, and served as my
computer coaches.  My life still benefits from this great computer training
as we speak.

I often ponder how Jane, Cindy and Chuck opened many doors for me, as
computer is major for us in our work and enjoyment.

Thank you, Federationists!  Let's spur each other on through positive paths
of life!


-----Original Message-----
From: Home-on-the-range [mailto:home-on-the-range-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Dianne Hemphill
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2012 7:18 AM
To: NFB of Kansas Internet Mailing List
Subject: [Home-on-the-range] Hope for the Blind

Hi everyone - I volunteered to help with facilitating  topics of interest on
our list serve. Did you know that there are state affiliates that haven't
made this wonderful communication tool available? With this in mind, I think
we need to remind ourselves that our affiliate leaders have ensured that we,
of Kansas, have this easy method to exchange info, promote learning and
share ideas. Thanks again to our forward thinking leaders for giving us this
communication tool. 

So what is "hope for the blind"? It  is an actual location where the blind
of Nigeria can obtain skills training. Several years ago I accompanied a
small group of humanitarians for a 3week medical mission in western Africa
in the northern, hot dusty, somewhat western Kansas like, part of Nigeria.
Our first week was spent at "Hope for theBlind" located in northern Nigeria.
This is the only adult training center for blind adults in Africa. It, like
so many realities, was begun by a visionary man, Beatrice Guano and his
sighted wife. Baiters went blind as a child from measles. One of his
siblings died from measles and the third survived without other health
ramifications. Baiters is a very strong Christian and daily prayed with his
family on how he might help others that are blind or going blind. He first
went to University to become a chiropractor in England, as I recall. He
joked and laughed about hauling his case of actual bones with him so that he
would ensure an actual "hands on" knowledge and application of his studies.
He was the first in Africa to become a chiropractor and, unlike many that go
way for education and training, returned to his home to work with his
"people" who needed so much help. He sacrificed making a lucrative living by
returning to his home where earning a dollar a day was typical. Many blind
in the surrounding communities heard about this man and came to his door
asking for help. They too dreamed of the day where they had "the right to
live in the world". With almost no personal money, Baiters felt that his
real calling was to provide a training center for the blind of Africa. And
with faith and hope he and his family began. His son Andrew, quit his job as
a financial manager in a bank to work for his father. Andrew is fully
sighted. His father made him go through all of the training that was
designed for those who came to "Hope for the Blind". This meant many days
and even weeks under sleep shades. At this same time, I had finally had
support from my boss to proceed with moving our training facility to a
"structured discovery" model. We laughed at the irony that "Hope for the
Blind", with its many limitations, still had the good sense to ensure its
staff was trained under sleep shades if they had sight. 

I bring you this snap shot in order to remind us that even one person can
"change what it means to be blind". Just think what the federation has
accomplished through the dedicated efforts by our many members over the
almost 75 years... that is why I found the interview of Newell Perry so
fascinating. He was what we might refer to as, visionary and compelling in
his positive attitude about  blindness. 

In order for us in Kansas to continue learning and being inspired to help
ourselves  and others, i would love for us all to join in with ideas,
stories, questions and ways that we might get the word out to those out
there dreaming of their own "hope for the blind".

If at all possibleI would appreciate our chapter leaders and affiliate board
members to do the following:
1. check with your members to see if they are on home on the range. If they
aren't would they like some help getting on line?
2. Encourage everyone to contribute. We can all learn from each other. Our
elected leaders can provide a lot of insights, for example. Those more new
to the NFB can help us with what they are concerned and struggling with.
3. Ideas of what is on your minds? 

I urge each of you to make this  an important part of your life. You never
know who you might impact and provide "hope for the blind". Dianne
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