[nabs-l] How can NFB better include peoplewithmultipledisabilities mental illness
Carly Mihalakis
carlymih at comcast.net
Thu Apr 3 12:37:11 UTC 2014
Good morning, Sam, and everyone,
A must! Hot line workers must themselves have mentle illness!
for today, Car
At 02:24 PM 4/2/2014, Sam Nelson wrote:
>Hi Ariel,
> I agree. I love the hotline idea! It would be true peer support. Which is
>such a big thing in mental illness recovery these days.
> Sam
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Arielle
>Silverman
>Sent: Wednesday, April 02, 2014 4:07 PM
>To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>Subject: Re: [nabs-l] How can NFB better include
>peoplewithmultipledisabilities mental illness
>
>I think the hotline idea is a great one. The human services division could
>work on that, but it would be great to have a group or division that is led
>by blind people with mental illness.
>Arielle
>
>On 4/2/14, Sam Nelson <nelsonsam68 at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Hi everyone,
> > I'm not very much into the NFB in a lot of ways but one hundred
> > percent agree that there needs to be more connection between support/
> > services for the blind and for those that have other disabilities along
>with blindness.
> > Personally I've seen this disconnect with blindness and mental
> > illness. I agree with everything Desiree said about therapists and
> > them not understanding how blindness impacts mental illnessor how
> > mental illness might affect blindness. I've also seen a lot of
> > misunderstanding with blindness profesionals not understanding how
> > mental illness might interfere with living on one's own getting a
> > standard full time job ETC and so their scope of services don't allow
> > for anything outside what they perceive to be normal.
> > I do want to give a shout out that I run an e-mail list called
> > blind-mentalhealth on yahoo. I've been running it since May and it is
> > a very close knit community and we all support each other day to day
> > with these struggles, providing encouragement and resources if
> > possible and most of all just our friendship.
> > Lastly I've heard of a center in NY that has the only psychiatric
> > clinic and daytreatment program for the blind. Does anyone know
> > anthing about this program? I've tried looking online everywhere for a
> > contact person as I'd be very curious to know more about the program
> > and how they do things.
> >
> > Sam
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: nabs-l [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Beth
> > Taurasi
> > Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2014 11:22 PM
> > To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> > Subject: Re: [nabs-l] How can NFB better include
> > peoplewithmultipledisabilities?
> >
> > Good ranting, Kaiti. As someone who could fall under the thing
> > Desiree described, someone whose parents get guardianship because
> > they're sighted and "healthy", I had contemplated suicide because of that
>guardianship.
> > Because of that, my parents tried to take me off MySpace, but they
> > will not take me off Facebook. I am currently working to get a case
> > against them because the guardianship is way too broad, and it affects
> > lots of my man to woman relationships. Currently, my relationship
> > with my friend Blake, a guy from Arizona, is rocky, but yet deep down,
> > I wish I could swoop Blake up and take him back here to Denver. But
> > alas, the guardianship prevents us from marrying. To say that such
> > persons are "nonpersons" or in the case of Orwell's 1984 "unpersons"
> > is wrong. The way to say it in Newspeak would be complicated, and if
> > such a newspeak word was invented, it would sound harsh.
> > Beth
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Kaiti Shelton <crazy4clarinet104 at gmail.com
> > To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
> > <nabs-l at nfbnet.org Date sent: Tue, 1 Apr 2014 22:30:32 -0400
> > Subject: Re: [nabs-l] How can NFB better include
> > peoplewithmultipledisabilities?
> >
> > Hello all,
> >
> > In answer to Carly's question about connections between the blind, (we
> > may call them "just blind" for the purposes of this conversation), and
> > those with blindness and other disabilities, or other disabilities
> > without blindness, I think organizational relationships are the
> > starting point to working interpersonally. Much like the NFB is a
> > huge group of blind people, and is often used as a catalyst for
> > working interpersonally to accomplish tasks, other groups are the
> > same. If we want to work interpersonally with the deaf, persay, then
> > we need to go where the deaf are and start forming relationships with
> > that group. Once repore is established, people from the various
> > organizations can work interpersonally. Darian might have phrased it
> > better than I did, but it's the same sort of view.
> >
> > I was admittedly not around for that episode that Desiree described,
> > but I'm really sad to hear that it happened. Especially since, as
> > Arielle pointed out, there are some pretty out there groups like the
> > car one. I mean, it's okay for people to get together and discuss
> > cars that we can't even drive (yet at least), so their discussion is
> > purely based on mechanical and aesthetic knowledge of the cars rather
> > than a personal user experience, but a support group for blind people
> > who are seen as a minority for another reason is not okay? To me,
> > that just doesn't make sense.
> >
> > I'm not particularly religious, and probably would label myself as
> > unitarian even though I was raised catholic if I had to label myself
> > at all, so I realize my personal views on things of that nature are
> > more liberal than the views of others. However, conservatives aren't
> > always going to be happy, just as liberals aren't, and it is important
> > that we compromise. I was not under the impression that the NFB had
> > any religious affiliation, and even remember asking someone what
> > Invocation was, because I really didn't know the term. Even in this
> > light, why is Christianity made such a prevalent part of convention?
> > What about those who practice Islam, Judism, or anything else? I
> > would hate for a majority faction within the NFB to shun double
> > minority members, because after all, we're all minorities in the
> > greater world, so to pretend that those who are different from us are
> > less valuable or don't deserve the right to organize a group to suit
> > their unique set of needs or circumstances doesn't seem right.
> > Sorry for the rant.
> >
> > On 4/1/14, melissa R Green <lissa1531 at gmail.com> wrote:
> > Arielle once again. You are so right! I also hope that will never
> > happen again.
> > Another way to look at this is, many devisions get started and then
> > they just fall by the waist side. Noone will keep it going. IMO the
> > devisions are started by people that have to be in the spotlight and
> > be the darling of
> >
> > the Federation and the devision suffers. The same happens with
> > chapters and
> >
> > state devisions. Then everyone is shaking their head and wondering
> > what happened and why this person didn't work out. I could give
> > examples of backing the wrong person.
> > Finally, I always felt badly for those children who were born and
> > grew up in
> >
> > the federation. They have a lot of pressure on them to be the
> > darling of the federation. Have a blessed day.
> > Best Wishes
> > Melissa R. Green and Pj
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Arielle Silverman" <arielle71 at gmail.com
> > To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
> > <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> > Sent: Tuesday, April 01, 2014 5:37 PM
> > Subject: Re: [nabs-l] How can NFB better include people
> > withmultipledisabilities?
> >
> >
> > I too was at the NFB convention when the LGBT group wasn't able to
> > announce its meetings. I'm disappointed this happened, especially the
> > symbolic exclusion it represented, and hope never to see something
> > like that again as long as I am part of the Federation. I completely
> > understand the leadership's desire not to have a division for every
>special interest.
> > However, we need clearer and more evenhanded criteria about what
> > should constitute a division. It doesn't make sense to allow a
> > division for car enthusiasts with its own annual activities and then
> > not even allow an LGBT group to advertise informal meet-ups. We can't
> > try to say we don't want LGBT because it's too politically
> > controversial and then have religious invocations at all the general
> > sessions. Has the general membership ever even been polled about whether
>to keep having these religious invocations?
> > In other words, unless we want to be in an organization that reflects
> > the president's or the board's interests and political views alone, we
> > really need to have some transparency about how divisions are formed
> > and what kinds of characteristics are meaningful enough to justify
> > forming a division. Furthermore, as Darian pointed out, a well-run
> > group can probably be just as effective without a lot of the hassle
> > associated with keeping up a division. I know at least some of the
> > folks in the LGBT group would have been totally happy with just a
> > group, not a full division, but even that wasn't supported.
> >
> > Arielle
> >
> > On 4/1/14, melissa R Green <lissa1531 at gmail.com> wrote:
> > what a good topic. I know that there is a blind rollers list.
> > But the
> > devision never came into being. I think that the committee of the
> > under served is supposed to address these issues. However this is not
> > occurring.
> >
> > I agree that nfb has a primary focus of blindness. Yet, we are a
> > diverse population. So I believe that the nfb needs to become more
> > diverse. I also
> >
> > believe that the leadership are going by their assumptions that if
> > they have
> >
> > a devision dedicated to a certain grou that it will not do anything
> > to assist blind people. For example, years ago, a group came together
> > and wanted to form a devision for blind gay bisexual and transgendered
>people.
> > I was at the convention when doctor Maurer was reading the
> > announcement and
> >
> > then he ripped it up in the middle of reading it. Many people left
> > the federation because they felt that they were not wanted and that
> > the leadership assumed that it would be a devision strictly for social
> > purposes.
> >
> > Many people are hopeful that the new president will bring many more
> > changes
> >
> > and lots of diversity to the federation. I am going to wait and see
> > what happens.
> > Have a blessed day.
> > Best Wishes
> > Melissa R. Green and Pj
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Arielle Silverman" <arielle71 at gmail.com
> > To: "National Association of Blind Students mailing list"
> > <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> > Sent: Monday, March 31, 2014 3:53 PM
> > Subject: [nabs-l] How can NFB better include people with
> > multipledisabilities?
> >
> >
> > Hi all,
> >
> > I'd like to start a separate thread to address an important issue
> > that's come up recently. It's clear that more and more blind folks
> > today also have other disabilities. For several reasons, the number of
> > blind people with additional disabilities is likely to increase, and
> > more than that, the number of blind people with additional
> > disabilities who are getting educated and involved in advocacy is
> > likely to increase. I do think that, for the most part, the NFB
> > centers do a good job of tailoring training to the needs that people
> > with other disabilities may have, but I also think that we as an
> > organization have far to go in order to truly appreciate the
> > contributions of all blind people. I think it's particularly true when
> > we think about including people with intellectual disabilities and
> > mental illnesses. These kinds of conditions are stigmatized in
> > general, but especially since our leadership has tended to be highly
> > educated and to stress academic excellence and consistent effort from
> > the leadership, I can see how folks who have intellectual
> > disabilities, mental illnesses or chronic health conditions can feel
> > left out. I've known some blind folks who had trouble holding down
> > leadership positions in the NFB due to the ups and downs of mental
> > illnesses, for example, but who are still incredibly creative and
> > passionate people with a lot of good ideas that are getting lost.
> > Further, as several folks have pointed out, people with multiple
> > disabilities can experience difficulties related to getting
> > employment, education, etc. that the NFB hasn't really been able to help
>them with.
> > I agree that NFB can't be expert about all disabilities, just
> > blindness, but I think there is a definite place for more divisions
> > and groups within the NFB that focus on other conditions. There is a
> > deaf-blind division, but I have not heard many great things about its
> > effectiveness. I have heard about efforts to possibly start a
> > blind-rollers division, and it makes sense to me that blind wheelchair
> > users might have unique concerns they'd want to discuss with each
> > other. But to my knowledge such a division has not been formed.
> > I
> > would love to see a division for blind people with mental health
> > conditions. This is a huge segment of our population, and there are
> > probably unique concerns there. I am not sure if such divisions don't
> > exist because the national leadership opposes them or if there just
> > hasn't been enough interest or momentum to get them going. But I think
> > having such divisions could help folks who have additional
> > disabilities obtain leadership positions within the organization, and
> > also to provide a vehicle for collective action and education about
> > issues affecting these groups specifically, even if the NFB as a whole
> > should just focus on blindness. I hope that makes sense. I would be
> > interested in other suggestions from you about how members with
> > multiple disabilities can feel more valued. While there is something
> > to be said for going ahead and running for leadership positions in
> > order to change things, change also needs to come from the
> > organization as a whole if folks with multiple disabilities are going
> > to be elected and welcomed in these positions.
> >
> > Best,
> > Arielle
> >
> > On 3/31/14, Steve Jacobson <steve.jacobson at visi.com> wrote:
> > Joe and others,
> >
> > It is not my position that anything said about the NFB that is
> > negative is wrong. Organizations are made up of human beings and we
> > are not perfect so our creations are not likely going
> >
> > to
> > be perfect. Still, some of what one
> > person may seem as wrong isn't so much a matter of right or wrong as
> > perspective and opinion. We embarked a good while back now on an
> > expansion that has resulted in the need to raise more funds than we
> > used to have to raise. I do not think I am alone among NFB
> > supporters in recognizing that this is a risk. When you look at our
> > budget and that of the ACB and then compare legislative successes as
> > you did, Joe, it is certainly clear that legislative successes are
> > not proportional to one's budget. Whether I completely agree with
> > legislation ACB passes or not, I recognize that the ACB has made
> > contributions. However, I have felt for some time and I feel
> > particularly more so now that our problems can't be solved by
> > legislation alone. Let's take accessibility, for example. There is
> > a lot of emphasis on getting more legislation passed that will force
> > software to be accessible, for example. I happen to believe this is
> > necessary, but it isn't going to make everything better for us,
> > particularly on the job, all by itself.
> > If we are going to make any serious gains, we need to understand the
> > limits of current technology and explore ways of getting information
> > that is new. I am not one who got all excited about being able to
> > drive a car, although I certainly hope that blind people can do that
> > at some point.
> > However, I
> > got
> > very excited about the fact that as a result of looking at the
> > problem, we experimented with a number of ways of getting information
> > that had not been explored before. A significant portion of our
> > budget went into the KNFB reader. At the time, it was something
> > nobody was doing, and it was a moving experience when I held up a KNFB
> > reader to the lists of registered people at a national convention
> > that were just hanging from a crossbar and have it start to read the
> > content. There have probably been over a thousand kids who have
> > attended science camps of one kind or another through our efforts.
> > We have been able to sponsor other gatherings as well for blind
> > lawyers, teachers, and major players in the technology field. We
> > couldn't have done any of this in the 80's or 90's, and much of this
> > would not have been done even now if we hadn't tried it.
> >
> > So what's my point, I'm not saying anything new, you know all this.
> > My point is that a lot of this is about risks and perspectives. We
> > won't know for a long time if some of these efforts will make a
> > difference.
> > Frankly,
> > I am a believer that one learns almost as much from what doesn't work
> > as one learns from what does, because if you make a mistake you can
> > eliminate or refine that approach. Will some of those thousand kids
> > get into math or science because of what we did? Is the OCR in the
> > new HIMS product a little better because of what we did with the KNFB
>reader?
> > Will we see a really good reader on the iPhone? Might we ever see a
> > reader that could use artificial intelligence to interpret software
> > on a computer screen instead of having
> >
> > to
> > educate every person who writes
> > software? Will some of our efforts mean that there might be a way
> > for us
> >
> > to
> > control the Google self-driving cars
> > because of some of the work we did on our own car? I hope that at
> > least some of the answers are yes, but at this point I can't really
> > say. What I do know is that the smaller dynamic grass roots
> > organization that we were in the 80's couldn't have had any affect on
> > some of what I've listed above, nor was it the right time for that.
> > But it also means that we change.
> > Not only do we change, but we make mistakes as we adjust to change.
> > Joe, what you see as a downward spiral, I see as the challenges of
> > change. I'm not satisfied to say that it has to be that way,
> > though. We can and must learn how to do better, as individuals and as
> > an organization.
> >
> > Joe, I think you are right that getting training at one of our
> > centers won't miraculously make life better, and the marketing does
> > sometimes imply that. However, you are wrong to draw conclusions
> > about such training based upon the marketing. Discussing and
> > exploring the uncertainties and challenges of seeking employment as a
> > blind person is a big part of what is addressed at BLIND Incorporated
> > here in Minnesota and I assume by our other centers. Some of the
> > point of such training is to encourage the idea that you have to have
> > a set of tools to approach a given situation and not just one tool.
> > Still, we have to do more than run people through training.
> > This is true of any single aspectof our challenges, though.
> > Legislating
> > that software must be accessible and that one cannot discriminate
> > based upon a disability was and is still needed, but it won't matter
> > much if we don't have training. Legislation and even training won't
> > matter all that much if we don't get a good basic education.
> > Requiring that school districts teach braille won't fix that problem
> > if there are no braille instructors in a given area. You can't pick
> > any one thing out and say that it can lead to success by itself, and
> > you can't see any given issue as completely standing on its own.
> >
> > I feel that we are in a better position as an organization to impact
> > the complex challenges we face with a larger budget than we were.
> > However, it is more important than ever that we understand where we
> > are going and how our philosophy fits in. The question of what can
> > we change to address the challenges of the world and what do we need
> > the world to change is more important than ever, and I don't see
> > anyone asking questions like that outside of this organization.
> > With our strengths and our failings, I think our understanding of
> > asking for help and looking for our own solutions is what has set us
> > apart in my mind, and while it is risky, I think that branching out
> > is a risk worth taking to try to have a wider impact. We need the
> > help of all members, though, to handle change.
> >
> > Best regards,
> >
> > Steve Jacobson
> >
> >
> >
> > On Sun, 30 Mar 2014 12:57:22 -0600, Jamie Principato wrote:
> >
> > Arielle,
> > That was a very thoughtful and politically sensitive response.
> >
> > Joe,
> > I am pleased to see I am not alone in making these observations
> > furring my own relationship with the NFB. while I deeply respect the
> > organization's history and truly appreciate the raw potential the
> > organization has moving forward, the passion I joined with back in
> > high school has turned to cautious cynicism. I don't think this
> > perspective is bad, though. I think the NFB desperately needs members
> > who can see past the smoke and mirrors of PR, and who are willing to
> > discuss issues of blindness and politics in a no-nonsense way that
> > isn't always easy to hear. It is a shame though when those of us less
> > willing to toe the line and pander to those with political power
> > are treated with hostility by some at the national level, and more
> > still within our local chapters.
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
> >
> > On Mar 30, 2014, at 12:00 PM, Arielle Silverman <arielle71 at gmail.com
> > wrote:
> >
> > Hi Joe,
> >
> > Thanks for sharing your experiences. I have not been following the
> > Braille Monitor that closely but I can understand what you are saying
> > about the increased emphasis on fund-raising. I have also felt like
> > the national convention is turning into more of a carnival with all
> > the exhibitors and prizes being given away, and much of banquet that
> > used to focus on philosophy and NFB spirit is now taken up with prize
> > drawings and the like.
> > To be fair, NFB was stronger financially when we joined than it is
> > now, and I understand that some national programs have been cut due to
> > a decrease in revenue from what used to be steady reliable income
>sources.
> > So
> > NFB may be pushing fund-raising more, but the alternative could be a
> > loss of programs and resources.
> > I have not heard of anyone being blatantly turned away or refused
> > membership in an NFB chapter. If that ever happens it is truly
> > shameful. I do think that sometimes prospective members choose not to
> > join because they perceive hostility from the organization or judgment
> > of their lifestyle choices. I think part of that is perception only,
> > and part of it is reality. The NFB is stereotyped as a radical
> > one-size-fits-all organization, and new members expecting to find that
> > could be especially sensitive to cues of hostility. However, there
> > probably is some real lack of acceptance among certain segments of the
> > organization, which, again, is unfortunate. I will say that I am not
> > the most graceful blind person and was relatively unskilled when I
> > first joined, and I still felt completely accepted. But I know not all
> > of us are so lucky. I would encourage prospective members who have a
> > negative experience to try again in a different chapter or division
> > and perhaps they will find acceptance there.
> > But at the same time, this is something we need to be sensitive to in
> > the organization.
> >
> > Arielle
> >
> > On 3/30/14, Michael Capelle <michael.capelle at frontier.com>
> > wrote:
> > Hello all.
> > This is why I am not apart of any "blind movement." I live my own
> > life, live my own philosophy, ETC. I do not believe in a one size
> > fits all mentality, which is unfurtunately what the NFB does.
> > Thanks.
> > Mike
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: RJ Sandefur
> > Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2014 11:51 AM
> > To: jsoro620 at gmail.com ; National Association of Blind Students
> > mailing list
> > Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Success and Why I Left the NFB
> >
> > Joe, I agree with you. I had to attend both college, and Seminary
> > without the NFB's help, although it would have been nice to have a
>mentoor.
> > RJ
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Joe" <jsoro620 at gmail.com
> > To: "'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'"
> > <nabs-l at nfbnet.org
> > Sent: Sunday, March 30, 2014 12:25 PM
> > Subject: [nabs-l] Success and Why I Left the NFB
> >
> >
> > 2006 was the last year I attended a national convention. While there
> > I was caught up in the ra ra of the movement and felt glad to be in
> > the company
> >
> > of
> > so many people who could relate to the challenges that awaited me as
> > a recent college graduate. I left convention, finished up my summer as
> > a counselor in Iowa, and set off for DC to begin my business with the
> > real world. I would never take away someone's enthusiasm from
> > attending a national convention or Washington Seminar or one of the
> > weekend leadership seminars in Baltimore. They are very well-suited
> > to boost a person's spirit, but I believe too many people fall
> > through the cracks when faced with reality outside of those infrequent
>gatherings.
> >
> > To be fair, the organization is no different from any other
> > nonprofit business. It needs money to sustain itself, and in turn it
> > needs more members to help raise the money. Still, I found it rather
> > disappointing that so much of the board meeting I tuned into listen
> > to last summer was dominated by calls to raise money for this fund or that
>effort.
> > I
> > found
> > it
> > even sadder that a recent issue of the Braille Monitor, our monthly
> > dose of inspiration, featured several articles just to the focus of
> > generating more ways to drum up more financial support, but perhaps
> > the most frustrating byproduct of this new NFB are the e-mails from
> > so-called friends from whom
> >
> > I
> > have not heard in years but boldly ask me to contribute to their NFB
> > fundraising campaigns.
> >
> > In short, at some point the NFB embraced enterprise and forgot about
> > the movement. Between 2006 and 2012 I went on to help lead development
> > efforts for other nonprofits outside of the blindness field, also
> > national in scope.
> > They too made fundraising a priority, but it never felt like the
> > top, or the only, priority. It gets tiresome when we focus on
> > recruiting new blood and raising new money and forget about
> > strengthening the members and resources we've already had.
> >
> > Nowadays I have the privilege of knowing some excellent blind
> > professionals.
> > I think they would do well in the NFB. They are smarter than I ever
> > will be and have accomplished more than I may ever achieve, but they
> > shun the organization because they were turned away or because they
> > were never welcomed in the first place. It's something I should have
> > kept in mind when I had my brief taste of leadership in the
> > organization. I had too much of
> >
> > a
> > mouth on me to ever be anyone's golden child, but I was reliable
> > enough to get the job done. But, getting the job done should have
> > really meant attracting and pulling in these men and women who could
> > have made the NFB lots better, listening to new ideas, and most
> > important, remaining true to the cause and not some
> > multi-million-dollar institute we find ourselves incapable of
> > sustaining.
> >
> > So, what does any of this have to do with the original post? I don't
> > want
> >
> > it
> > to ever be said I was a hypocrite. The leadership may as well know
> > what I think of them, but more importantly, to the college kids on the
> > verge of spreading their own wings, I want you to know the NFB banner
> > will only guide your way so far. Take what's great about the
> > organization and leave the political drama and marketing ploys
> > behind. In the end it will be your own wits and talents that will
> > earn your pay check. The NFB will never give you anything new. The
> > philosophy merely helps you uncover what you always had
> >
> > to
> > be successful. Anything could happen with the new NFB president, and
> > I will be the first to retract my words if he is brave enough to
> > reverse this downward spiral. You see, we no longer live in a world
> > where the NFB is necessary for collective momentum. Technology has seen
>to that.
> > Whether
> > or
> > not the movement sticks around largely depends on how badly we want
> > it to exist.
> >
> > Is the ACB doing it any better? That's debatable, but you know what
> > I've found from the people I've met on that side of the house? They
> > seem happier, and that's something we can't seem to figure out in our
>camp.
> > The
> > few
> > victories they celebrate they do with even less money. Let that be a
> > lesson in financial management to you.
> >
> > I don't know what the hell I'm doing back here. I told myself I
> > would never become one of those bitter former NFB members. My only
> > goal was to provide different perspectives to the new generation of
> > leaders coming up through the ranks. After all, if you never taste
> > the real world, you have no business leading. That's like the teacher
> > who teaches because they couldn't cut it, and believe it or not, I
> > want to see more and more of you excel at whatever it is you want to
> > do. The more of you there are, the greater our strength.
> >
> > Moving forward I reckon I'll keep my opinions to myself here lest I
> > be the rotten apple that spoils the bunch, but in some lame attempt
> > to answer the original question, my answer would be this:
> >
> > The characteristics of a successful blind person are humility to
> > consume what they need to be successful, fortitude to turn away what
> > will not, and wisdom to recognize the difference.
> >
> > Joe
> >
> > --
> > Twitter: @ScribblingJoe
> >
> > Visit my blog:
> > http://joeorozco.com/blog
> >
> >
> >
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> >
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