[nagdu] To: Ron

[Marion & Martin]

Ron,
    Thanks for introducing yourself, finally! (smile) I have enjoyed reading 
your posts. I wanted to introduce you to an organization called VSA. Until 
they became aware of how condescending it was, they were called "Very 
Special Arts"! VSA is a project of the Kennedy Center for the Performing 
arts that helps disabled artists of any kind further their art and 
introduces both disabled and non-disabled children to the arts. As a 
performing artist, I participate with VSA of Florida and have performed a 
number of times for them, both pro bono and for hire. I'll look for more 
information about them when I have some time. you can also visit the Florida 
website at
http://www.vsaflorida.org
    I will also send you another message off-list to ask you a favor on 
behalf of NAGDU. look for it in a couple of day!

Fraternally,
Marion



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron Davidson" <fuzzy_1 at cox.net>
To: "NAGDU Mailing List, the National Association of Guide Dog Users" 
<nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 6:42 PM
Subject: [nagdu] Hello


> Well I never thought about it but I should introduce myself. I have been 
> on here a couple of weeks now blabbing like I know something so here goes. 
> My name is Ron Davidson. I live in Wichita,Ks and I was found to have an 
> eye disease called Uveitis and Irietis when I was 14 both these affect the 
> pupil and eventually the peripheral vision. When I was 19years old I was 
> involved in an industrial accident and lost my right eye completely and 70 
> percent of the vision in my left eye. I worked for 38 years as a furniture 
> and cabinet builder until I was unable to see nothing but a pinhole of 
> light. I can't make anything out of what light I do see as near as they 
> can tell my vision is 20/2500. In 01 when I quit doing my current job I 
> took up woodcarving and now am a professional carver. I even learned how 
> to do chainsaw carving this last year. In my spare time I do public 
> speaking to anyone that will listen. The person I work with speaks about 
> various eye diseases and then I speak about
> mobility and the history and the training of guide dogs. I have never seen 
> any of my carvings . I have a great friend in Wv that between the two of 
> us and the last three years we developed a way to put a pattern on a piece 
> of wood using a laser we burn away the surface and leave a raised line for 
> me to follow. If you have a friend that is sighted or depending on your 
> vision you can go to my website at www.westvirginiawoodarts.com and look 
> for hand carvings and then Rons carvings . There is also a short video 
> from reuters news. Glad to be part of this elite group and hope to be able 
> to contribute. I am also in the process of getting a site set up on The 
> Blind Artist Society  in the next few days I will let you know when it is 
> up.
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