[Nfb-editors] Nebraska Center for the Blind -Expressions in Independence Newsletter WINTER 2013

[Robert Leslie Newman]

                       Expressions in Independence Newsletter
WINTER 2013

  _____  

New Beginnings

 

Edited by: Alex Castillo

 

The winter season brings us snow, cold weather, hot chocolate and, for many
people, an opportunity to share good times with friends and family through
holiday celebrations. For others, the holidays are a time of stress and
doubt, where these celebrations are reminders of negative experiences and
feelings of inadequacy. 

 

This is why, at the Nebraska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, we
don't only focus on what can be considered the "hard" skills of blindness
training, such as cane travel, home management, communications, Braille, and
wood shop.  We also focus on what can be called the "soft" skills of
blindness training for a learning experience that can serve in all aspects
of life, once the client leaves the Center.   

 

This is why you will sometimes see pictures of both clients and staff flying
kites on our FB page, carving pumpkins, and making holiday decorations.
Sometimes after losing your vision, it's just as meaningful to know how to
carve a pumpkin with your grandchild as it is to cross busy intersections.  

 

The theme of our newsletter this winter season is "New Beginnings." Just as
the New Year has marked the end of a year gone by, our last four graduates
of 2012 are moving forward with new skills, new life lessons, and newly
formed lifelong friends.  They are leaving behind those feelings of
inadequacy, stress and doubt. 

 

You will also find articles by our Center staff which will assist in
painting a more vivid picture of life at the Center.  And as a winter treat,
an article on Santa Claus and how he has dealt with his vision loss.

 

We hope you enjoy this installment of our newsletter, and, like our Center
graduates, may you also find your new beginning during this winter season. 

 

Director's Corner

By: Fatos Floyd 

 

Winter makes the mind drift to thoughts of ice and snow, especially here in
Nebraska.  Building snowmen  and snowball fights, along with skating and
sledding, are typical activities we think about.

 

As we look ahead to training in the new year, the image of the snowball
rolling down the hill may be very fitting.  We all know the story of how the
snowball gets larger and larger as it rolls, gaining size and momentum as it
goes, becoming unstoppable and leaving a clear track of its progress.

 

Center training may be seen in much the same way.

 

As fresh new skills are shaped and practiced, progress initially may seem
small and slow.  With commitment and determination, abilities and competence
gain speed and strength.  In the end, with sustained effort, an unstoppable
avalanche happens.

 

Once progress has reached this point, the changes made are very obvious and
can never be undone.

 

May the year ahead be one big avalanche for you!

 

 

What Do You Mean, "Blind"?

By Jeff Altman

 

Jeff Altman has been a travel instructor with the Nebraska Center for the
Blind and Visually Impaired for more than 15 years.  Travel class, for many,
is one of the more psychologically demanding classes to participate in while
training at the Center. The nature of his work requires taking clients into
areas and situations which often pins his students against preconceived
misconceptions of blindness believed by society.  And often, instructor and
student alike are faced with the same questions. 

 

In our first article, he asks us to consider how we feel about the use of
the word "blind" and its repercussions , not only by sighted people, but by
people who are blind themselves. 

 

There are words in our language which have the power to make people
uncomfortable, that cause a wide variety of strong emotions, and inspire
people to try to avoid their usage. Such a word is "blind" and in recent
years this word, along with many others that describe an individual's
physical characteristics, has come to be viewed as improper and even
demeaning. Of course, it is not the words themselves which are the problem.
Rather, it is  the beliefs held by our society regarding the conditions they
represent that create this sense of discomfort.

 

Certainly, blindness is not a desirable outcome for anyone, and it is fair
to assume that most people would initially find this experience to be
frightening and frustrating. Any physical loss creates emotional trauma, and
this emotional response can only be made worse when the majority of the
information available regarding this condition is simply false and
misleading. There are so many myths and misconceptions regarding blindness
that the truth is often difficult to recognize, and it is sometimes
overlooked entirely.

 

Many dictionaries define blindness as "the inability to see."  The fact is
that  the majority of blind persons have some degree of vision. A more
correct definition of blindness would be, "a level of visual function which
is limited to the degree that the individual is reliant upon other forms of
sensory information in most situations and has developed and utilizes
alternative non-visual techniques to carry out the majority of ordinary
daily activities."

 

Many of these alternative techniques are well known by the general public,
such as the long white cane, guide dogs, and Braille. Unfortunately, they
are not truly understood by most people. The sources of information most
people have at their disposal tend to reinforce the belief that the blind
are persons of limited awareness living lives of quiet desperation, forced
to resort to methods which are woefully inadequate for meeting the demands
of even the most basic of daily tasks, leaving us hopelessly dependent upon
the assistance of others and incapable of caring for ourselves, let alone
functioning as contributing members of society. It is interesting to note
that another popular myth about blindness shifts us to the opposite end of
the functional spectrum, endowing us with superior hearing, senses of touch
and smell, and even a mystical sixth sense. For those of us that are blind,
we find it truly amazing that these beliefs persist in our society when so
many of us live ordinary lives; such perceptions could not possibly be any
further from the truth.

 

At first, it may seem incredible that such clearly different points of view
could be accepted as equally true within one society; however, there is a
logical explanation for their co-existence. Should one accept the notion
that the loss of vision renders a person hopeless, helpless, and oblivious
to the world around him or her, then what possible explanation can there be
when you are confronted by a blind individual who is functioning at a level
well above your expectations, other than to come to the conclusion that such
people must possess non-visual sensory powers well beyond those of ordinary
persons. Of course, it is unthinkable to consider that the beliefs about
blindness passed down to us by our parents, teachers, and popular culture
are false; therefore, any blind person that does not fit into our notion of
what a blind person should look or behave like must be an exception to the
rule. Since blindness is a relatively rare occurrence, it is unlikely that
the average person will have the chance to have experiences which discredit
our society's prevailing beliefs.

 

Unfortunately, the fact that the majority of blind persons have some degree
of functional vision tends to further compound the confusion regarding the
true levels of awareness and abilities of blind people. It is commonly
believed that the more vision you have, the greater your awareness of the
environment and ability to perform ordinary activities will be. Therefore,
very often the success a blind individual experiences is credited to his or
her ability to see, rather than his or her skill and competence as a person.
Many blind persons, unaware of the truth of blindness, have come to accept
these myths as reality, and they find it easy to assume that all blind
persons must share their own negative experiences with blindness. They have
been led to believe that the successes they have achieved either result from
their reliance upon remaining vision or are based upon their own unique
talents and abilities. Many somehow perceive their success in performing the
ordinary activities of daily life as a great accomplishment, worthy of
praise and social recognition.

 

Given these culturally held beliefs about blindness, is it any wonder that
so many persons, both sighted and blind, seek to avoid the use of this word?
For many blind individuals, there is the hope that by peeling off this
label, they can emphasize the physical abilities made possible by utilizing
their remaining vision, and somehow slip the bonds of the social barriers
blindness creates. These individuals may even aspire to escape from the
self-defeating dreadful notions of the effects of vision loss they have
internalized, and if at all possible, separate themselves from any
association with blindness.  For the sighted individual, there is comfort in
knowing that one's choice of words has allowed you to describe the person's
physical characteristics without the risk of offending or having to
undertake the effort required actually to change your beliefs or attitudes
about blindness. 

 

Among the guardians of political correctness, there is a certain sense of
pride and gladness in knowing that our society has become more accepting and
inclusive by simply changing the words we use to describe those we consider
less fortunate.  They are prepared to defend their position by harshly
chastising anyone that might challenge their notions. They have defined what
is appropriate language and attitudes regarding the characteristics of
others, and they seem unwilling to consider any other opinions on the
subject, including the opinions of the very people who are living with these
characteristics. It is interesting to consider that in spite of the proud
accomplishments touted by the guardians of political correctness, blind and
disabled persons are still rarely welcomed as equals in either social or
employment situations.

Our popular culture has generated a whole series of socially acceptable,
supposedly non-offensive, euphemisms to replace the words we find
uncomfortable, and with regular usage and more than a little social
pressure, they have become commonplace in our language. Words such as blind,
crippled, or handicapped are now looked upon as improper or even cruel.
Terms such as "visually impaired" and "physically challenged" have gained
favor as the appropriate terminology, and labels such as "non-sighted" are
not unusual in this awkward age of the guilty social conscience.

 

For the sake of argument, let us consider how well such euphemisms would be
accepted should they be applied to characteristics other than blindness by a
power-holding majority group. For example, would it be appropriate to regard
a person of Asian descent as being "racially impaired" in the United States,
or a person living in Eastern Europe as "culturally challenged" by Western
Europeans, or for that matter a person having a darker skin tone as
"non-white"? Clearly, such references would be viewed as offensive and
demeaning, and the reason is easily recognizable. Each of these terms
compares the individual's characteristics to a perceived higher standard,
and therefore infers that the individual is somehow inferior. Can this be
any less true for persons who are blind or have other characteristics which
are considered to be disabilities?

 

Certainly, we are obligated to respect the wishes of others when making
reference to their individual characteristics, and therefore, should a blind
individual feel more comfortable with the term "visually impaired", it is
only proper that we accept his or her personal preference. However, I firmly
believe that we should not feel the need to avoid the use of the word blind
since it properly describes a physical characteristic without making any
comparisons. If a blind individual is offended by our use of the word blind,
it is not because we have done something wrong; rather, it is a matter of
that individual's personal opinion. While it is appropriate to let these
persons know that we understand their feelings and respect their choice of
terminology, we should not feel obligated to apologize for using a perfectly
appropriate word. On the other hand, should the word blind be used in
conjunction with a statement which is intended to justify an action which
denies opportunity based upon a belief system that holds that blindness
renders an individual less aware or less capable than others, then there are
many good reasons to apologize.

 

 

New Beginnings: Commencement Articles from our Graduates

 

Laurie, Danna, Victor and Marty are our last four graduates of 2012. They
began training at the Center at around the same time, and have become good
mentors to each other, and a very tight-knit group. At the Center, they were
a fun-loving bunch, and always made sure to keep things light, even during
those very challenging lessons. And yet, they never forgot that their
reasons for attending Center training were very serious, and for them,
marked the start of new outlooks and opportunities in life.

 

The following are heartfelt articles which were written by our graduates to
be shared during their graduation from the Center. 

 

 

Commencement Letter

By: Laurie J. 

 

It took Connie about five years of asking me to come to the Center. So when
all of the stars in the universe were in the right alignment, I was ready to
come. I wish to thank Connie for her perseverance and wisdom to know that I
could benefit from this program.

 

I have had many blessings in my life, and with this experience, I can add
another one to the list.  I want to use the word CENTER as the acronym for
all that I learned during this past year. 

 

"C" is for the Commitment that we must have to complete this program. Thank
you to the staff for their compassion, and for their commitment to teaching
us. It also stands for the Camaraderie that I have shared with the other
clients who have become my friends. Most of all, it has given me the
Confidence to be successful in whatever I pursue.

 

"E" is for Education. This Education has been an edifying experience. At
times it was entertaining for the other clients, when I would get lost in
the hall or in Cindy's storage closet. Despite the stumbling blocks, it has
been an enjoyable experience.  

 

"N" is for Never giving up. One year ago, I did not believe that I could
learn Braille.   I also never thought I could cross O Street under sleep
shades. Never take a peek from under your sleep shades, because Cindy will
catch you. Some days I might not have felt normal, but Normal was the bus
that brought us to school every day.

 

"T" stands for the Teachers that I want to thank for all the skills they
taught me. From Cindy, I learned not to over-bake my cookies, and how to
know when meat is done cooking without having to see it. Sahar taught me to
trust what my fingers are feeling when I come across a word such as F J O R
D. I have learned that Fatos is Fabulous, and Nancy is naughty, but I do not
understand why those Feds gave Germs to that House in Iowa. Mike taught me
never to hitchhike, so I have him to thank for keeping all of my fingers.
Jeff gave me the tools to walk faster than a 95-year-old. Mitzy taught me
not to be afraid of my computer. She gave me the skills to compose this
letter, and that spell check is one of the greatest key strokes ever
invented.  Last but not least, "T" is for the tears that were shed. But I am
glad to admit the tears of laughter and joy far outweighed the tears of
frustration. 

 

"E" is for Exit. I recently heard that for every door you exit, you are also
entering into a new beginning.

 

"R" is for the Recognition that needs to be given to the entire staff at the
Commission for their dedication to teaching us, now members of the blind
community, the skills that will enrich our lives. I will take with me the
knowledge that I am not defined by my blindness.

 

 

 

 

Commencement Article 

By: Danna Y. 

 

I am dedicating this article to my mother.  Because she raised me no
differently than my siblings, she gave me the ability to live my life
independently and to the fullest.  I also thank God for the gift of being
able to tell her how I felt before she passed.

 

My decision to go to the Center was not an easy one, but once I made the
commitment, I hoped to get some instruction in cane travel and some computer
skills.  I had no idea how much I would gain from this experience.  

 

I was diagnosed with juvenile degeneration of the retina as a small child.
Over the years, I adapted, and did not let my blindness hold me back.  Now
that I am older (60, to be exact), I wanted to take the responsibility for
my mobility; I wanted to keep my independence.  The Center gave me this
opportunity.  It provided me with the best of the best.  

 

My travel instructor worked with me on travel skills, as well as the social
and emotional aspects of using a cane.  Now, rather than feeling
uncomfortable about using a cane, I look at it as a tool, like a pair of
glasses.  This class has given me a foundation that I can continue to build
on.

 

Although home management was nothing new to me (I am a wife of forty years,
a mother and grandmother), I still learned new and different nonvisual
alternatives.  For me, this class was fun and confidence-building.

 

For the first time in my adult life, the communications class has made it
possible for me to do my own correspondence.  I know that I will continue to
learn and improve my computer skills.

 

Shop class is so much more than learning to use tools and completing a
project.  It is about knowing that you can do things that you may never have
done before.  The students that have previously relied on their vision will
have the confidence to continue without it after learning nonvisual
alternatives.

 

At first, I thought that I could use Braille for some simple organizational
purposes.  Little did I know that Braille would open up a new world for me.
For the first time in my life, I am able to read without a struggle.  This
is my wish for every child.

 

I want to thank all of the agency staff, the front desk staff, the field and
Center staff from the bottom of my heart.

 

 

Back to Life

By: Victor I. 

 

A little more than a year ago, I lost my job due to my deteriorating
eyesight.  I was no longer able to meet performance standards.  I didn't
know what I was going to do.  I couldn't even fill out an application.
Shortly after I lost my job, my father came from Indiana to help me get my
affairs in order.  The first appointment we had was with Connie Daly at the
Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired.  That meeting
turned into the best thing that could have happened to me.

 

Not long after, I was getting some in-house training from Connie and Larry
Roos.  It very quickly became apparent that I should start training at the
Center.  I then went through a three-day stay and started at the Center
full-time on January 30, 2012.

 

There is no question that this, in the beginning, was extremely taxing, both
mentally and physically.  After about three weeks, I started to get used to
it, and sort of got into the routine.  It never gets easy, but it certainly
gets better. 

 

For some, eight hours a day under sleep shades can be stressful and
downright overwhelming.  I actually never felt that way.  I think this is
because I knew that the Center is where I needed to be at this time in my
life.  I went from being lost to having hope. 

 

Over the last nine months, I have learned more than I can mention in this
letter.  There is one thing that I feel is the most important to me.  I have
regained much of the confidence I had when I had more sight.

 

The training wasn't all hard work; I had a lot of fun, too.  I also met
friends that I hope I will have forever.  Thanks to all of the staff and
clients for making the last nine months invaluable, and an experience that I
will never forget.

 

 

Shooting from the Heart

By: Marty B. 

 

I'm going to talk to you about my Center experience, and I'm going to shoot
from the heart.  When I first came to the Center, I wondered if I had made
the right decision.  As time went by, I knew that I made the right choice by
coming here.  I'm going to tell you about some of the good and bad times I
have experienced at the Center. 

 

One of the most memorable times at the Center for me was when Danna and I
were dropped off at A Street Market.  Before the drop, we were kidding Cindy
that we were going to get some drinks on the drop.  When we were dropped, we
bounced around for a little while, but finally found the store.  We left the
A Street Market and waited at the bus stop for a few minutes.  It was a very
hot day, and I had forgotten my drink in Cindy's car.  We decided to go back
and get something non-alcoholic to drink from the A Street Market.  We
started to go into a building when Cindy stopped us and said that she
thought we were kidding about getting that drink.  Danna and I realized then
that we were going into the liquor store instead of the market.  

 

When we found our bearings, we went into the grocery store.  We asked the
clerk if she knew what time the next bus would be coming.  She told us that
the bus was going by right then.  We called the bus station and asked when
the next bus would be arriving.  They said that it would be another hour
before we could catch it.  Danna asked me if I wanted to wait at the bus
stop, or if I wanted to walk back to the Center.  I decided to walk.  

 

On the way back to the Center, it started to rain.  We were soaked to the
bone, but we laughed.  After all, we're not made of sugar; we weren't going
to melt.  When we got back, Cindy congratulated us for our accomplishment.  

 

In home management class, I learned many alternative ways to cook.  The
first day I made mac and cheese, I did everything perfectly, until I thought
that my dish needed "a little kick."  I decided to add some Cajun pepper to
the mac and cheese, so I took the lid off and sprinkled a little spice into
my dish--or so I thought.  Instead, I poured the whole bottle into the mac
and cheese.  Needless to say, it had a bit more kick than I wanted.  As time
went on, I realized that I liked cooking more than I thought I did.  I
gained about 20 pounds to prove that. 

 

In shop, I learned about the click ruler and how it worked.  I used power
tools with no vision, and I built a nice-looking fishing pole holder.  Thank
you, Mike, for your help.

 

As for Braille, I tried very hard to read it, but my fingers wouldn't let me
feel it.  However, I can write it.  Thank you, Sahar, for being patient with
me. 

 

In communications, the first thing I learned was typing, since I did not
know how to type.  I also learned how to surf the web and how to get my
email.  Thank you, Mitzy, for everything.

 

Finally, in travel, in the beginning, I was hugging the walls, both because
of my balance problems, and because I was not confident.  I remember the
first time I went to Ideal on 27th Street.  I hated the traffic, and went up
a driveway to get away from the noise.  As time went on, I realized that
traffic was my friend.  One day, it just clicked, and travel has been much
easier for me since.

 

Thank you for the wonderful times I have had at the Center, and for the
opportunity you have given me to better my life.  I made friends whom I will
cherish for the rest of my days.  

 

 

On The Back Burner

By Cindy Zimmer

 

Cindy has been with our Center for 20 years, and there is no recipe, craft,
or special project which she has not come across and learned to do without
use of her eyesight. As always, she lets us know all about the projects and
activities which the Center has taken part in throughout the last few
months. 

 

August-December, 2012

 

Wow, where do I start?  We were definitely busy during these past 4 months.


Five commencement meals were hosted, along with one mini meal.  Chicken
parmesan, chicken-fried steak, chicken pesto, chicken cordon bleu and
meatloaf.  Yes, all chicken dishes and one great-tasting meatloaf.  In case
you were counting, a couple of clients made chicken parmesan.   Marty sure
has the homemade frosting perfected for his brownies!

 

Some of you know that I love to fish, and if there is ever an opportunity to
go fishing, I am in.  The Center clients and staff practiced our casting and
headed off to the local lake.  We had some old pros who were trying to catch
the big ones, but the newbies sure had fun reeling in the smaller fish.  We
were at a "catch and release" lake, so no fish fry this time.  Can you guess
who holds the worms in their mouth so they are close at hand when needed?

 

This was an election year, and even though some clients were not able to
vote, they did go along and learn about the voting machine and the voting
practices in the United States.  We also had at least two people voting for
the first time!  What a sense of accomplishment and independence.

 

On October 23rd, Victor and Danna hosted our first Appetizer Day.  All staff
and clients made an appetizer to share with each other.  Victor and Danna
each had to make two so we had plenty of great food to eat.  Have you ever
tried bacon-wrapped water chestnuts or bacon-wrapped asparagus?  YUM!

 

It's Halloween time.  We carved our pumpkins and had some very creative
designs.   Clients continue to like the alternative of placing a hole in the
center of a paper dessert plate and placing it over the stem to use as a
template for cutting off the top.  Did you know that if you use a cookie
cutter you can scrape off the outside layer of the pumpkin, leaving the
design (cookie cutter shape) behind?  When a candle is placed inside the
pumpkin, the design illuminates.  

 

The pumpkins were judged, and prizes were awarded during our Halloween Soup
Luncheon. This year, clients made chili, seafood chowder and vegetable-beef
soup.  Fatos brought in some lentil soup for everyone to try, and Mitzy
shared some broccoli-cheese soup.  Several clients and staff dressed up for
the costume contest.  Laurie's witch costume was very scary, and the
hand-painted eyes on her sleep shades were unbelievable.  

 

It's generally known that if I overhear a client saying they are scared to
do a certain task due to their blindness, you can bet I will arrange things
to help them reach that goal.  Even if they are positive it is not their
goal.  This year, two clients carved the turkeys for our Thanksgiving lunch.
It is such a joy to hear a client say thanks for pushing them into doing
something they had given up or never tried.  I was even told they had fun.
We served over 45 people this year, and if I listed all the food that the
Center clients cooked, I would have to add another page to this newsletter.
Let me just say it was all very tasty!

 

We finished out our year putting up the Christmas tree and decorating the
Center for the holidays.  Several clients helped make reindeer with candy
cane antlers for the doors.  A former client, Stephanie, came and taught us
all how to make cornhusk dolls.  Thanks, Steph!  There was a lot of
laughing, and we had some very unique dolls.  

 

Our holiday baking made us all look a little more like Santa Claus.  Marty
and Victor brought in some deer and beef jerky, and even those on diets sure
enjoyed the great food.  New recipes that Center clients tried this year
were peppermint patties, Butterfinger candy bars, and sugar-free lemon
popcorn.

 

Giving back is something we encourage, and this year, the Center did an
activity at the mall where we did some of our Christmas shopping, but also
rang bells for the Salvation Army's Red Kettle Campaign.  

 

The end of the year always brings graduation, and this year was no
different.  The last three members of the "Fab Five" (Laurie, Danna, Victor,
Marty, and Dave) graduated just before our holiday break.  We will miss all
five of them and want to wish them all the best of luck in their next
ventures.

 

And of course, we would all like to extend big congratulations to Tammy and
Dave, who met at the Center this past year, and got married in December!

 

 

     My Experiences at Hy-Vee

By: Laurel F. 

 

Quite often, our graduates call and send us letters which describe the
positive changes in their lives that have occurred after Center training.
Laurel is one of our graduates, and she tells us how much she has enjoyed
working and having those necessary skills to feel confident and competent at
her job.

 

I know that many of you are probably wondering what I have been up to since
I have moved back to Omaha. Well, now I am successfully employed at Hy-Vee,
a grocery store part of a national chain,  here in Omaha.  I love my job,
and I would not give it up for anything.  

 

Some rather interesting things have happened.  One of them was when Dave
Webber from Channel 6 came up to me and asked me whether I was the smile in
every aisle.  I said of course, and not only just in every aisle, but in the
entry way as well.  

 

Another funny thing happened last night.  As I was giving a customer the ad,
he asked me,  "Are you Mrs. Hy or Mrs. Vee?" Of course, I got a big laugh
out of that one.

 

Also I've enjoyed seeing friends from years past, and teachers from
elementary school years, and from Grace University.  I have enjoyed every
minute of interacting with them.  When I saw my special ed teacher from
elementary school, it was a pleasant surprise. It has been a long time since
I have seen her.  As for instructors from Grace that come in and shop, it is
always a blessing to see them, knowing that they are always praying for me
as I go through this journey of independence.  Working has been such a great
stress reducer, and I have been happier, and have not had nearly  the
anxiety issues that I have been having.  I have found out that being around
people has been a good thing for me, and it keeps me happy, and keeps me
from going into depression. It also keeps me busy, and makes the days go by
so much faster. 

 

Also the experience that I have had navigating my way around the store has
been very interesting.  The staff there is completely in awe of how I get
around, and I don't take any of the credit for my ability to navigate so
well.  The credit goes to Jeff Altman, who taught me how to use my cane
properly, and it has stuck with me.  They all say that I get around like I
am not blind, but how little do they know. Thank you to the staff at the
Center for teaching me so well. I really appreciate it.  It is why I can now
say that I am Hy-Vee, and that I am a helpful smile in every aisle. I am
taking part in making the lives of the customers easier, healthier and
happier. And that is my goal--to make everyone's lives' easier, healthier
and happier.  So come on in to my Hy-Vee and you will be greeted by the
helpful smile in the entry way!

 

 

A Cane for Santa

By Alex Castillo 

 

Alex Castillo is the Apartment Resource Counselor for the Nebraska Center
for the Blind. He makes sure that clients are well oriented in independent
apartment living, and that clients are getting out and about in the city of
Lincoln. About a year ago, he visited Louisiana, where he received blindness
training in a center much like our own.  It was there that he heard the
following story. 

 

Most people know about Santa Claus. He's the jolly old fellow who, along
with a team of flying reindeer and tireless elves, work year-round so that
on one night out of every year, they can bring presents to children and
adults all over the world. What many people are not aware of is that one
year, Santa began noticing that his vision was not what it used to be. Of
course, he did not want to admit it to himself, but driving that sleigh at
night, and being up there in the sky with all of those airplanes zooming by,
made him feel quite unsafe.  

 

It was no surprise when the gossip started in the North Pole that Santa had
gone blind, and that he was quitting the holidays. He became depressed, and
without his work, he lost his sense of purpose in life. The man was a real
sad mess.

 

On one of those special holiday nights, everything started going downhill,
and just got worse and worse as the night progressed. The naughty and nice
lists were becoming a blur, and he handed out the wrong toys to more than 1
billion people.

 

I know what you might be thinking at this moment.  If Santa had gone blind,
you would have surely heard about it. I'm not saying this is all true, but
was there one year in which you received absolutely the most unlikely gift
ever? Well, if the answer is yes, then this story might make a little sense.


 

After getting home that night, Santa could do little more than lock himself
up in his office at the toy factory, and no matter how hard anyone tried to
cheer him up, he could do absolutely nothing for a very long time.

 

This is the story I heard last year when I was visiting friends in Ruston,
Louisiana. They say that one year after he had lost his vision, Santa came
down there to receive training at their blindness center. "He could barely
even see Rudolph's nose," they said.  "He had lost about 75 pounds when he
first arrived, and wouldn't even touch a cookie."  They would whisper, "He'd
get real close to ya when he was talking.  Couldn't tell north from south
even if he was holding a compass, bless his heart."  

 

And apparently the entire town knew about this phenomenon. So well-known was
the story down there that a writer by the name of Jerry Whittle wrote a play
about the whole ordeal, and everyone in town came to see the production. 

 

When I asked how come Santa didn't choose Nebraska to come and train (after
all, we have an awesome Center right here, and it would seem the obvious
choice, with all the snow, howling winds, and freezing weather we get), the
answer I received was: "Well, Nebraska? With all that snow up there?  He'd
be recognized in a heartbeat if he stepped outside dressed in all red in his
Husker gear."  They said: "Down here, he's just another blind guy with a
beard." 

 

The more I thought about the story, about this blind and depressed Santa
Claus, the more sense it made. Often when people start to lose their
eyesight, they feel ashamed, and even worthless. People find themselves
transforming from a productive and contributing member of their family or
community to just sitting passively, watching life and everyone else pass
them by. We often confuse the inability to do with the inability to see. And
all it would take for us to get back into our routine, or even find a more
exciting and challenging new one, is to understand that with some blindness
training, many doors can open with the promise of opportunity. 

 

Training centers do not create Santa Clauses. But they can help Santa figure
out how he can do his job non-visually, as a respectable blind person.

 

As I recall, the play ended with Santa making the decision to keep the toy
factories open and to stay in the job as Santa Claus.  He arrived at the
North Pole to continue his yearly duties, with some new blindness skills and
alternatives.  It was a truly happy ending.  

 

But the people in Ruston tell a different story. They say that he didn't go
back to the North Pole right away. "Oh, he had some trouble with the
training," they said. "At first, he was always lifting those sleep shades."
They said he would use the excuse of being overheated to lift them and peek
during every class. 

 

He didn't like travel very much, they said.  Oh, Santa--Santa, you would see
him just hiding when it was time for travel class.  

 

But what surprised me the most was when they told me: "The first time Santa
stepped into the wood shop and heard those live blades running, he almost
fainted." One would think that someone who has been working with factory
machinery their whole lives would be able to handle a radial arm saw.

 

As time went by, he settled into the center and became an excellent student.


 

But after training, he didn't go back to the North Pole right away. He
wanted to try out a new career. He went to work at this Cajun restaurant as
a cook in the next town. During training, Santa had discovered that he had
let Mrs. Claus do all the cooking during their entire marriage, but he
actually enjoyed working in the kitchen. "Could ya'all imagine that?" they
said.  "Santa as a cook in a Cajun restaurant?" 

 

I suppose he just felt like he wanted some independence. Like many people
after they finish blindness training, he must have felt a bit rebellious and
must have wanted to prove to anyone that he could go far beyond the common
expectations for a blind person. It wasn't until the Mrs. threatened to come
and get him that he decided to go back up north.

 

Sometimes the path to independence isn't obvious. Sometimes, like Santa, we
need to figure ourselves out for a little while.  Sometimes, blindness gives
us an opportunity to learn and make decisions which vary greatly from those
in our past, and that we would never have thought possible if we had not
lost our eyesight.  And sometimes, we just get a stronger sense of who we
are. 

 

The first step toward independence, and starting your life (or getting it
back) is recognizing when it's time to receive training, and then going
through that training in a program that will allow you to fully realize
yourself as a respectable blind person. 

 

After all, this is our life, and we live through our choices. 

 

As for the story about Santa, you can believe it or not, but the children
and grownups are still receiving presents on time and without any strange
mix-ups.  Polls show that he's been doing a better job year after year.
And just the other day, I read a review about some new restaurant opening up
on the North Pole which specializes in Cajun cuisine. 

 

Note: This story was adapted from the play written by Jerry Whittle. 

 

 

We hope you've enjoyed reading this issue of our newsletter, and may you
have a wonderful year ahead of you.

 

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We also have a monthly blog which can be found at:

http://nebraskacenterfortheblind.blogspot.com/

 

Sincerely,

The Center Team  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Leslie Newman

Personal Website-

Adjustment To Blindness And Visual impairment

http//www.thoughtprovoker.info

NFB Writers' Division, president

http://www.nfb-writers-division.net 

Chair of the NFB Communications Committee