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<DIV>Hi Cathy, I must tell you that you gave an outstanding introduction to
Anjie about yourself and the NFB-DB. Thank you for sharing your experience with
the Anjie and the list members. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>We do have to structure our selves around situations that serve us
better. Also improvements in both technology and our ability to access it
is improving. At our workshops and seminars for those who cannot benefit
from a pa system we have purchased the fm systems and loops to help some
individuals. For others who have applied at the time of registration there
will be interpreters. If we work together on our goals we can accomplish a
lot more than if we work alone. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Thank you Cathy for all that you have done for the db national
division. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Have a terrific Tuesday to all. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Cheri Fields</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV>In a message dated 4/21/2015 11:04:11 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
nfb-db@nfbnet.org writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: blue 2px solid"><FONT
style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" color=#000000 size=2
face=Arial>Angelina: Welcome! I am very glad to have you here
among us. I am Cathy Miller, from Louisiana. Coping with hearing
loss has been a traumatic experience for me, but more than that, it is a
journey. Congratulations on the courage to reach out to others like
yourself. I'm so glad you found us!<BR><BR>I was diagnosed with
Retinitis Pigmentosa at age 18. I got my first pair of hearing aids in
my mid-20s, but all they did was make the muffled speech louder, so they were
not the answer for me. Several years later I received a pair of digital
hearing aids which helped a lot more, except when there was background
noise. It was a few years later that I walked in front of a car while
crossing the street. I was not hit, but the driver was extremely angry
with me and yelled and called me some horrible names. I knew it was time
to do something different and stopped crossing the street alone. This
story has a happy ending, as I received cochlear implants, which make life
bearable and often wonderful. Although I still cannot understand speech
in noisy environments, I design my lifestyle so that hearing in a noisy
environment is no longer a necessity. It was difficult to realize that I
needed accommodations, and that no one was going to give them to me. I
had to learn what I n<BR>eeded and demand to have them. If someone has
something to tell me, they do it under circumstances that are
accommodating. After all, I drilled two holes in my head in order to
hear you; the least you can do is speak up.<BR><BR>So, back to crossing the
street. One of the things that folks in the deaf-blind division of the
NFB are promoting is the use of Support Service Providers (SSPs).
These are persons trained to help us to perform our daily routines without
putting ourselves in harm's way. With training from O&M specialists
such as those found at NFB training centers, many deaf-blind folks still cross
the street independently; but if that is not what you believe is right for
you, then you may have an alternative. orientation and Mobility
specialists are great, and they push us beyond our comfort zones, helping us
to retain our hard won independence. But ultimately the decision is
yours, and although I encourage you to learn to cross the street if you feeel
safe, if it's not for you, you are the only one who can say no. Just
know that we deserve alternatives. Go to the Helen Keller National
Center (HKNC) website and find the regional representative who serves your
state. Talk with that pe<BR>rson about whether the training offered at
HKNC is right for you. Scott Davert is one of the national
representatives, and we are extremely fortunate to have him among us.
Remember that the NFB deaf-blind division exists for folks like you who want
to share their experiences and develop best practices among peers who live in
the trenches. As you walk this journey, please consider sharing your
successes and your challenges with us. I hope that others will return
the favor. You will find lifetime friends among us. We will meet
in orlando in July and hope that you can join us there. Please tell us
more about yourself. <BR><BR>Cathy Miller<BR><BR>Sent from my
iPad<BR><BR>> On Apr 18, 2015, at 7:00 AM, nfb-db-request@nfbnet.org
wrote:<BR>> <BR>> Send nfb-db mailing list submissions to<BR>>
nfb-db@nfbnet.org<BR>> <BR>> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the
World Wide Web, visit<BR>>
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org<BR>> or, via email,
send a message with subject or body 'help' to<BR>>
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replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific<BR>> than
"Re: Contents of nfb-db digest..."<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> Today's
Topics:<BR>> <BR>> 1. Newby to the list (Anjelina)<BR>>
<BR>> <BR>>
----------------------------------------------------------------------<BR>>
<BR>> Message: 1<BR>> Date: Fri, 17 Apr 2015 17:58:52 -0400<BR>>
From: Anjelina <anjelinac@att.net><BR>> To: "nfb-db@nfbnet.org"
<nfb-db@nfbnet.org><BR>> Subject: [nfb-db] Newby to the list<BR>>
Message-ID: <D251A95F-67E1-4416-8F4D-32655EA8E2E0@att.net><BR>>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii<BR>> <BR>> Good
day list,<BR>> My name is Anjelina and I am new to the list. I am
interested in learning more about deaf-blindness. Over the years I have
noticed some hearing loss in my right ear which I have been able to compensate
for. A few weeks ago I had a near run-in with a car while crossing a busy
street which really startled me since I didn't hear the car. If you all don't
mind, can you tell me a bit about your hearing loss and how you have coped
with it?<BR>> Thanks<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> -Anjelina<BR>> Sent from
my iPad<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> ------------------------------<BR>>
<BR>> Subject: Digest Footer<BR>> <BR>>
_______________________________________________<BR>> nfb-db mailing
list<BR>> nfb-db@nfbnet.org<BR>>
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org<BR>> <BR>> <BR>>
------------------------------<BR>> <BR>> End of nfb-db Digest, Vol 75,
Issue 2<BR>>
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