[humanser] volunteers

Sat Jan 25 20:43:41 UTC 2014

Jan,

Well, I am almost 63 and Gram died like in the 1970's.  She was always upset 
if her children had imperfections, so went years not letting her daughter 
have glasses.  The school would tell her marion couldn't see the board, and 
my grandma just considered that her child was near sighted was something 
with which she could not cope with well.  I think it was when she couldn't 
see to drive a car that Marion got glasses, or that incident happened with 
my dad who also needed them.  My dad was born with one arm partly paralyzed, 
which must have really freaked grandma out!  My cousin, the firstborn 
grandchild, gave birth in the 60's to a child with a heart defect, and deaf 
blind.  The child was allowed to visit, and not me.  I was the youngest 
grand kid.

  Currently the cousin whose daughter is deaf blind does not want me with 
family for Christmas and Easter, which are the days family is at her home. 
Supposedly, as my aunt told me, my cousin said her brother's grandchildren 
were brats, and what would happen if they bothered my guide dog.  Anyway, 
the first year without my folks, no sibs, my aunt called to say why I would 
never have Christmas or Easter with them.  Now, this past Christmas, it 
seems my other cousin spoke to my aunt, and my aunt invited me for 
Christmas.  When she called, she kept saying she had to hurry because her 
daughter would soon be home.  Guess they just told Carol I was coming.  My 
aunt is 97, pretty sharp, learned Braille and used to do stories, greeting 
cards, etc. with a slate and stylus.  She also did much raising of her grand 
child who is deaf blind, learning ASL.  At a gathering, my cousin said, "You 
can ask me about David and Karen, but, if you want to know about my 
daughter, Ellen, ask my mother."  Just some family drama for you all.

Sandy
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Jan Bailey" <jlb021951 at gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2014 7:56 AM
To: "Human Services Mailing List" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
Subject: Re: [humanser] volunteers

> Wow! I work with seniors all the time, and never had any that had your 
> Grandma's attitude. How sad she didn't want you to visit.
> Jan
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Sandy" <sandraburgess at msn.com>
> To: "Human Services Mailing List" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, January 24, 2014 7:03 PM
> Subject: Re: [humanser] volunteers
>
>
>> Ericka,
>>
>> You may help with the  phone discussions.  Yes, older folks are really 
>> frightened and come from a generation where the thoughts about disability 
>> were not as they are today.  My mom, born 1918, said people were some 
>> times hidden away.  My grandma, who died years back, felt uncomfortable 
>> in her nursing home because people would see me visiting and ask if she 
>> was related to me.  My aunt phoned my mom, explained this, and said I 
>> could not go to see her at the facility.  Sadly, when near death, I was 
>> not permitted to be there.
>>
>> For many years I went to a support group here that is called Vision and 
>> headed by Mass. Association for the Blind.  I was not new to blindness, 
>> but found a place to share ideas and also maybe to learn.  We met, and 
>> group still meets, once a month for discussions and some speakers; it is 
>> not social.  Currently the woman running the group also runs another 
>> group that is oriented toward putting together food baskets, making 
>> blankets, etc.  Her idea is to do service, and the group is for blind 
>> adults.  This woman became blind from diabetes as an adult.  Anyway, 
>> probably MAB is a good resource as they used to have resource lists of 
>> publications and such of interest to group leaders and members.
>>
>>
>> Best,
>>
>>
>> Sandy
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------
>> From: "Ericka Short" <ericka.short at wi.rr.com>
>> Sent: Friday, January 24, 2014 12:57 PM
>> To: "Human Services Mailing List" <humanser at nfbnet.org>
>> Subject: Re: [humanser] volunteers
>>
>>> Why  are people focusing  mostly on kids?  I know their lives are before 
>>> them and I'm not saying they aren't important.  It just seems like  the 
>>> NFB has felt they won't be interested or are to set intheir ways/beliefs 
>>> to be worth it.  That's hooey.  I'm glad you want to focus on them too. 
>>> They are more scared than  the younger generations to go blind.  People 
>>> in their 40's and younger are more used to seeing us as people because 
>>> of all the work the NFB has done.  The older ones don't have that image 
>>> and we need to help them too.
>>>
>>> If I lived closer to you I'd help out!  Seniors and newly blind are my 
>>> passion.  When I get some other things figured out here I'm going to 
>>> start a support group for those newly blind and their families.  There's 
>>> nothing for us here.  One small group of multiply disabled gather for 
>>> social time but not a real support group.  People haven't feel welcome 
>>> and it doesn't meet their needs.  My group would have speakers and not 
>>> just social activities like bingo.
>>>
>>> Ericka J. Short
>>> 262-697-0510
>>>
>>> "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". Philippians 
>>> 4:13
>>>
>>> "No hand is too small or too big to do good in this world." EJ. Short
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>
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>
>
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