[Home-on-the-range] "talking dogs", Pollyanna or living up to our potential?

[Dianne Hemphill]

 Hello again, a  must read in May's Monitor is an article focusing on why there are so few executives and managers who have disabilities. You may remember Dick Davis, a sighted advocate for the blind employment program at Blind Inc.,   who attended our state convention last  fall.
Following the "puzzle" presentation, at Envision yesterday,  a small group met and worked on art projects and engaged in open and spirited discussions. One sighted assistant remarked that I must be a "pollyanna" if I really believed that I have lived the life I have chosen and done the things I said I have done...I have always thought of a pollyanna as one who believes and acts as if impossible things are really true...and they're probably not even imaginable... So in Dick Davis's article, he notes that most people get teary eyed if a story goes out about a group of disabled individuals are working as janitor's in a gym...as this is something amazing and barely believable He's not saying there's anything wrong with janitorial work, he's making the  point that since this group of individual's have disabilities the expectation is so low that the general public thinks this as a exceptional outcome and must be being performed by exceptional and unusually gifted disabled people. Or as he says, bringing out the "talking dogs" to perform tricks and be applauded. 

So what's so different between this sighted gal and myself? I'm married with kids and grand kids; she was married but did not have children. I view this as personal choices that women have today.
We both have Master's Degrees in Education and did very well  academicly. 
She was a teacher for over 30 years.
I ran a business for 10 years and worked  in VR Services for the Blind for 20 years, the last 7 as the first and only blind  State Administrator for Blind Services of Kansas. 
So do I taunt her for not going past her level in employment  as a teacher? No, I think she loved her job and likely reached her potential. But because I also reached my potential, she blurted out before thinking about it that I must be a "pollyanna". I think she believes this because she does not believe in the capabilities  of the blind, especially those that have the preparation and opportunity to reach their potential. 

Now think about this. ..would she say the same thing about my sister who is not blind. I've mentioned her over the years as I am very proud of her. She is also married with a son, a Master's Degree and the CEO and President of Delta Dental of Kansas for about the same length of time I was heading the state agency. I have never heard anyone proclaim her of being a "pollyanna" because she, too reached her potential. In fact, most people proclaimed her as a strong, brillient woman breaking through the glass ceiling... 
I hope this won't be misunderstood as my taking the opportunity to brag ...that is not at all where I want to go with this... because I too at one time didn't believe much in my potential. I am not exaggerating when I say that the NFB changed my life and helped me realize and reach my potential...it has probably helped you as well or will. I know for sure it will help people, especially blind youth, reach their full potential as they learn from us  how to live the life they want. 

So as Dick Davis notes in his article employers would be wise to hire the blind (and I will add here, promote the blind)  as they are stronger than the sighted because  they must be creative, organized, persistent ,  wise and tougher mentally than the sighted.  Hope to hear from you on your thoughts about this article. Dianne