[Nfb-seniors] Nfb-seniors Digest, Vol 68, Issue 7
Eric Welch
compelw at gmail.com
Wed Apr 1 11:18:39 UTC 2015
Karen And what city are you located In Michigan. I used to live there?
Eric L Welch
ID: 101373516
On Feb 27, 2015 7:53 AM, "Karen Eichhorn via Nfb-seniors" <
nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> Document this is my first time posting.forgive any errors I make.I am just
> learning to use an iPad and dictating this message.
>
> Judy Jones you can come to my house anytime. Only thing is I'm in
> Michigan.just talk to Tatian to figure double tap when finishi'm a blind
> Senior I have retinitis pigmentosa.not totally blind yet but working on
> it.I felt that this is a total do it yourself course I'm learning to be
> blind.when I turn 60 I joined a low vision support group at the local
> senior center.but like Judy said most people just wanted to talk about
> their vision loss but no instructions on how to cope with iabout 10 years
> ago when I contacted the commission for the blind they came out and gave me
> some magnifying glasses and some other visual tools walk me around the
> block with the cane
>
>
>
> Judy Jones I'd love one if you're cooking classes.
>
> If you ever get to Michigan look me up. Ha ha
> Karen in frigid Michigan.
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> > On Feb 27, 2015, at 7:00 AM, nfb-seniors-request at nfbnet.org wrote:
> >
> > Send Nfb-seniors mailing list submissions to
> > nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org
> >
> > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-seniors_nfbnet.org
> > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to
> > nfb-seniors-request at nfbnet.org
> >
> > You can reach the person managing the list at
> > nfb-seniors-owner at nfbnet.org
> >
> > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
> > than "Re: Contents of Nfb-seniors digest..."
> >
> >
> > Today's Topics:
> >
> > 1. Re: Great Call (Judy Mayo)
> > 2. Listening to the Recordings of Our Senior Division's Great
> > Telephone Conferences by Your Home Phone (Robert Newman)
> > 3. Re: Great Call (Mike Freeman)
> > 4. Re: Listening to the Recordings of Our Senior Division'sGreat
> > Telephone Conferences by Your Home Phone (Judy Jones)
> > 5. Re: Great Call (Judy Jones)
> > 6. Volunteers' stories. (Judy Jones)
> > 7. Re: Great Call (S L Johnson)
> > 8. Re: Great Call (Judy Jones)
> > 9. Re: Great Call (Lin H.)
> >
> >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 1
> > Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2015 14:05:28 -0500
> > From: Judy Mayo <jhunterm53 at gmail.com>
> > To: Judy Jones <jtj1 at cableone.net>, NFB Senior Division list
> > <nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org>
> > Subject: Re: [Nfb-seniors] Great Call
> > Message-ID:
> > <CADK+HPPrXFnVnzgG0dEwrFEt9j+Zaf36ZTjbU1-43Xrd5pbXHw at mail.gmail.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
> >
> > Hi Judy Jones,
> > My name is Judy also from Pennsylvania. I want to wish you good luck
> > on getting seniors to want to learn anything about being visually
> > impaired or blind or learning how to use things made for the vlind and
> > visually impaired. I used to go to the Center for Vision Loss in
> > Allentown, PA. I am a senior and for 2 years tried so hard to get
> > other seniors to want to learn about Braille, using the white cane,
> > using a computer and even how to use a can opener. I even told one
> > senior lady that I would get to her apartment to teach her how to use
> > a can opener. She does not talk to me anymore. Most of the seniors in
> > the group I was in want to do is complain about how they do not know
> > how to do something, but do not want to learn how to do it. MOst of
> > the middle age people who used to go stopped going because of the
> > complaining seniors. It is a shame. I stopped going also. Another
> > lady who is totally blind wants to learn how to cook and I offered to
> > go to her home to teach her basic things. Because the Center staff has
> > her convinced that because I am not qualified to teach her, she will
> > not call me to set up at time for me to go to her home. I tried so
> > hard to talk to the people at this center to get them to want to
> > learn, but kept getting the "rug pulled out from under me" so to
> > speak. I gave up. I haven't given up on myself though. I am 62 years
> > old and still learning.
> > I could go on and on, but there is no need to. Good luck goes to you
> though.
> > Judy H Mayo
> >
> >
> >> On 2/25/15, Judy Jones via Nfb-seniors <nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >> Hello again.
> >>
> >> My husband, Chris, is president of our local chapter, and I am
> secretary.,
> >> mainly made up of seniors. The gentleman that started the affiliate was
> >> president for a couple years before we joined, and ran it like a senior
> >> support group, with really no training of any kind in NFB philosophy or
> any
> >>
> >> attempt at educating in philosophy and encouragement of trying new
> things.
> >>
> >> The people who joined have been friends of his for a long time, are also
> >> losing their sight. All have macular degeneration.
> >>
> >> Once we joined we are attempting to gently introduce concepts, and are
> >> trying to help build a foundation. I believe this may take patient and
> >> consistent repetition.
> >>
> >> They do not relate to us, as both my husband and I have Retinopathy Of
> >> Prematurity. They believe we don't miss or can never understand what we
> >> have never had. Sight.
> >>
> >> We presented all the information on this month's call at our February 9
> >> meeting. Both my husband and I had occasion to check with various ones,
> >> reminding them of the call. No reaction. When I asked one lady's
> >> assistance about helping spread the word about the call, she couldn't
> >> understand why seniors would even be interested in anything like cane
> travel
> >>
> >> or braille. Why should seniors be on a call like this? I explained
> again
> >> that the call is sponsored by the national senior division, and that the
> >> calls are tailored for seniors and their needs. We will continue to
> give
> >> reminders of the upcoming calls.
> >>
> >> My big question is how to excite our seniors to join the call, and more
> than
> >>
> >> that, help them to realize there is learning and tools to be had. I
> have
> >> made sure they are all receiving the Braille Monitor in the format they
> >> requested. None are reading, nor is there any interest. Any audio
> they do
> >>
> >> not like as it is not visual, but anything visual we can try to bring in
> >> they do not like as they cannot see it.
> >>
> >> They really are a nice group of people, and will participate in our
> annual
> >> state Senior Division picnic. However, there is no interest in state or
> >> national convention, no interest in what is going on in the state or
> >> nationally
> >>
> >> There are many who are sure they can't learn anything else, some who are
> >> very nice about it but flat don't want to know anything else, although
> they
> >>
> >> are great people to relate to in other areas.. They are not excited
> about
> >> any possibilities available to them. They are interested in how much
> they
> >> can still see, the latest medical breakthrough or home remedy.
> >>
> >> We did have a great Christmas party everyone thoroughly enjoyed, but
> there
> >> is no interest in anything blindness-related or the the possibility of
> >> different thought processes.
> >>
> >> One idea Chris and I have had we want to implement is conducting phone
> >> interviews during the meeting of persons who have lost their sight
> later in
> >>
> >> life and overcome barriers to live an active life. We are looking for
> >> volunteers to do this, in hopes that someone's story will help someone
> in
> >> our group turn that mental corner from just coping, to embracing what is
> >> available for them.
> >>
> >> I apologize for rambling on and hope II have not come across as a
> whiner.
> >> (smiles), but joined this list for support, ideas, and in hopes of
> helping
> >> someone else. We truly do want to reach these precious people.
> >>
> >> BTW, my husband, Chris, also just joined the list, so you may also see
> his
> >> posts. Thanks in advance to all who will be reading this post.
> >>
> >> Judy
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 2
> > Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2015 15:52:07 -0600
> > From: "Robert Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net>
> > To: <christine at in-sightful.com>, "'NFB Senior Division list'"
> > <nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org>
> > Subject: [Nfb-seniors] Listening to the Recordings of Our Senior
> > Division's Great Telephone Conferences by Your Home Phone
> > Message-ID: <011301d0520e$77b7ac10$67270430$@cox.net>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> >
> > Hi you all
> >
> > It is possible to use your telephone to dial into where recorded copies
> of
> > our phone conferences are stored upon the Internet. Below, find a brief
> set
> > of instructions, followed by the information you need to listen to all
> our
> > conference recordings.
> >
> > Dial: (712) 432-1202. You will reach, "Free Conference Call Dot Com."
> At the
> > prompt, punch in the following access code- 7859633. You will next be
> asked
> > for the reference number for the recording you wish to listen to. Below
> are
> > the reference numbers for each of our recorded calls:
> >
> > .Cane Travel, February 24th 2015- Hosted by Jeff Altman, and Maurice
> Peret:
> > When asked for the reference code, press 7, followed by the Pound Key.
> >
> > .Cooking by Touch, June 4th 2014- Hosted by Jennifer. Wenzel: When asked
> for
> > the reference code, press 4, followed by the Pound Key.
> >
> > .Blindness, A Family Dynamic, May 8th 2014- Hosted by Fatos Floyd: When
> > asked for the reference code, press 3, followed by the Pound Key.
> >
> > .Financial Management After Blindness, May 1st 2014- Hosted by Bob Burns:
> > When asked for the reference code, press 2, followed by the Pound Key.
> >
> > Respectfully yours,
> > Robert Leslie Newman
> > President, NFB of Nebraska Senior Division
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 3
> > Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2015 14:52:59 -0800
> > From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
> > To: "'Judy Mayo'" <jhunterm53 at gmail.com>, "'NFB Senior Division
> list'"
> > <nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org>
> > Subject: Re: [Nfb-seniors] Great Call
> > Message-ID: <001c01d05216$f8536f00$e8fa4d00$@panix.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> >
> > Judy:
> >
> > I am a senior citizen (sixty-six years young) though seldom take any
> senior
> > discounts, believing that society has absolutely no reason to compensate
> me
> > for "moldering away" -- tongue in cheek, of course.
> >
> > But I concur (sadly) in your observations. I have had more than one
> senior
> > citizen tell me outright that they don't want to learn alternative
> > techniques or learn to use adaptive devices. All they want is the one
> thing
> > they can't have and that we cannot give them -- their sight back. This
> seems
> > to me extremely short-sighted (no pun intended). It shows how deeply
> > ingrained in all of us are societies negative and limiting attitudes
> about
> > blindness and, to some extent, how easy it is to have one's own pity
> party
> > rather than taking the bull by the horns and saying: OK; now what?
> >
> > I'm in the same boat as Judy Jones, having had little sight almost all my
> > sentient life. This discounts me I suppose in the eyes of most seniors.
> What
> > I don't get is how often this then is interpreted as being that I have
> > nothing to help them cope. One would think that we who have been blind a
> > long time would have *more* to teach, or, at any rate, quite a bit to
> teach.
> > But I suppose the main rub is that we are not taking part in the pity
> party.
> >
> > All we can do is keep at it, help those whom we can and find more seniors
> > who "get" it and who can confront the pity-partiers and say: NONSENSE!
> >
> > Mike Freeman
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Nfb-seniors [mailto:nfb-seniors-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> Judy
> > Mayo via Nfb-seniors
> > Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 11:05 AM
> > To: Judy Jones; NFB Senior Division list
> > Subject: Re: [Nfb-seniors] Great Call
> >
> > Hi Judy Jones,
> > My name is Judy also from Pennsylvania. I want to wish you good luck on
> > getting seniors to want to learn anything about being visually impaired
> or
> > blind or learning how to use things made for the vlind and visually
> > impaired. I used to go to the Center for Vision Loss in Allentown, PA. I
> am
> > a senior and for 2 years tried so hard to get other seniors to want to
> learn
> > about Braille, using the white cane, using a computer and even how to
> use a
> > can opener. I even told one senior lady that I would get to her
> apartment to
> > teach her how to use a can opener. She does not talk to me anymore. Most
> of
> > the seniors in the group I was in want to do is complain about how they
> do
> > not know how to do something, but do not want to learn how to do it.
> MOst of
> > the middle age people who used to go stopped going because of the
> > complaining seniors. It is a shame. I stopped going also. Another lady
> who
> > is totally blind wants to learn how to cook and I offered to go to her
> home
> > to teach her basic things. Because the Center staff has her convinced
> that
> > because I am not qualified to teach her, she will not call me to set up
> at
> > time for me to go to her home. I tried so hard to talk to the people at
> this
> > center to get them to want to learn, but kept getting the "rug pulled out
> > from under me" so to speak. I gave up. I haven't given up on myself
> though.
> > I am 62 years old and still learning.
> > I could go on and on, but there is no need to. Good luck goes to you
> though.
> > Judy H Mayo
> >
> >
> >> On 2/25/15, Judy Jones via Nfb-seniors <nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >> Hello again.
> >>
> >> My husband, Chris, is president of our local chapter, and I am
> >> secretary., mainly made up of seniors. The gentleman that started the
> >> affiliate was president for a couple years before we joined, and ran
> >> it like a senior support group, with really no training of any kind in
> >> NFB philosophy or any
> >>
> >> attempt at educating in philosophy and encouragement of trying new
> things.
> >>
> >> The people who joined have been friends of his for a long time, are
> >> also losing their sight. All have macular degeneration.
> >>
> >> Once we joined we are attempting to gently introduce concepts, and
> >> are trying to help build a foundation. I believe this may take
> >> patient and consistent repetition.
> >>
> >> They do not relate to us, as both my husband and I have Retinopathy Of
> >> Prematurity. They believe we don't miss or can never understand what
> >> we have never had. Sight.
> >>
> >> We presented all the information on this month's call at our February
> >> 9 meeting. Both my husband and I had occasion to check with various
> >> ones, reminding them of the call. No reaction. When I asked one
> >> lady's assistance about helping spread the word about the call, she
> >> couldn't understand why seniors would even be interested in anything
> >> like cane travel
> >>
> >> or braille. Why should seniors be on a call like this? I explained
> >> again that the call is sponsored by the national senior division, and
> >> that the calls are tailored for seniors and their needs. We will
> >> continue to give reminders of the upcoming calls.
> >>
> >> My big question is how to excite our seniors to join the call, and
> >> more than
> >>
> >> that, help them to realize there is learning and tools to be had. I
> >> have made sure they are all receiving the Braille Monitor in the
> >> format they requested. None are reading, nor is there any interest.
> >> Any audio they do
> >>
> >> not like as it is not visual, but anything visual we can try to bring
> >> in they do not like as they cannot see it.
> >>
> >> They really are a nice group of people, and will participate in our
> >> annual state Senior Division picnic. However, there is no interest in
> >> state or national convention, no interest in what is going on in the
> >> state or nationally
> >>
> >> There are many who are sure they can't learn anything else, some who
> >> are very nice about it but flat don't want to know anything else,
> >> although they
> >>
> >> are great people to relate to in other areas.. They are not excited
> >> about any possibilities available to them. They are interested in how
> >> much they can still see, the latest medical breakthrough or home remedy.
> >>
> >> We did have a great Christmas party everyone thoroughly enjoyed, but
> >> there is no interest in anything blindness-related or the the
> >> possibility of different thought processes.
> >>
> >> One idea Chris and I have had we want to implement is conducting phone
> >> interviews during the meeting of persons who have lost their sight
> >> later in
> >>
> >> life and overcome barriers to live an active life. We are looking for
> >> volunteers to do this, in hopes that someone's story will help someone
> >> in our group turn that mental corner from just coping, to embracing
> >> what is available for them.
> >>
> >> I apologize for rambling on and hope II have not come across as a
> whiner.
> >> (smiles), but joined this list for support, ideas, and in hopes of
> helping
> >> someone else. We truly do want to reach these precious people.
> >>
> >> BTW, my husband, Chris, also just joined the list, so you may also see
> >> his posts. Thanks in advance to all who will be reading this post.
> >>
> >> Judy
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Nfb-seniors mailing list
> > Nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-seniors_nfbnet.org
> > Division website: http://seniors.nfb.org To unsubscribe, change your
> list
> > options or get your account info for Nfb-seniors:
> >
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-seniors_nfbnet.org/k7uij%40panix.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 4
> > Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2015 17:17:02 -0700
> > From: "Judy Jones" <jtj1 at cableone.net>
> > To: "Robert Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net>, "NFB Senior Division list"
> > <nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org>
> > Subject: Re: [Nfb-seniors] Listening to the Recordings of Our Senior
> > Division'sGreat Telephone Conferences by Your Home Phone
> > Message-ID: <981291366C0A4FA49E677DA42FB569BF at Owner>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> > reply-type=original
> >
> > Thank you very much for this valuable information.
> >
> > Judy
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Robert Newman via Nfb-seniors
> > Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 2:52 PM
> > To: christine at in-sightful.com ; 'NFB Senior Division list'
> > Subject: [Nfb-seniors] Listening to the Recordings of Our Senior
> > Division'sGreat Telephone Conferences by Your Home Phone
> >
> > Hi you all
> >
> > It is possible to use your telephone to dial into where recorded copies
> of
> > our phone conferences are stored upon the Internet. Below, find a brief
> set
> > of instructions, followed by the information you need to listen to all
> our
> > conference recordings.
> >
> > Dial: (712) 432-1202. You will reach, "Free Conference Call Dot Com."
> At the
> > prompt, punch in the following access code- 7859633. You will next be
> asked
> > for the reference number for the recording you wish to listen to. Below
> are
> > the reference numbers for each of our recorded calls:
> >
> > .Cane Travel, February 24th 2015- Hosted by Jeff Altman, and Maurice
> Peret:
> > When asked for the reference code, press 7, followed by the Pound Key.
> >
> > .Cooking by Touch, June 4th 2014- Hosted by Jennifer. Wenzel: When asked
> for
> > the reference code, press 4, followed by the Pound Key.
> >
> > .Blindness, A Family Dynamic, May 8th 2014- Hosted by Fatos Floyd: When
> > asked for the reference code, press 3, followed by the Pound Key.
> >
> > .Financial Management After Blindness, May 1st 2014- Hosted by Bob Burns:
> > When asked for the reference code, press 2, followed by the Pound Key.
> >
> > Respectfully yours,
> > Robert Leslie Newman
> > President, NFB of Nebraska Senior Division
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Nfb-seniors mailing list
> > Nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-seniors_nfbnet.org
> > Division website: http://seniors.nfb.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> > Nfb-seniors:
> >
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-seniors_nfbnet.org/jtj1%40cableone.net
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 5
> > Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2015 17:21:40 -0700
> > From: "Judy Jones" <jtj1 at cableone.net>
> > To: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>, "NFB Senior Division list"
> > <nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org>
> > Subject: Re: [Nfb-seniors] Great Call
> > Message-ID: <99C5028B3C8144C598A238248193413C at Owner>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> > reply-type=original
> >
> > Yep, that's what Chris and I are coming away with, too.
> >
> > We have a great senior division in the state, which is a good thing, and
> > will continue to work with them.
> >
> > Judy
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Mike Freeman via Nfb-seniors
> > Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 3:52 PM
> > To: 'Judy Mayo' ; 'NFB Senior Division list'
> > Subject: Re: [Nfb-seniors] Great Call
> >
> > Judy:
> >
> > I am a senior citizen (sixty-six years young) though seldom take any
> senior
> > discounts, believing that society has absolutely no reason to compensate
> me
> > for "moldering away" -- tongue in cheek, of course.
> >
> > But I concur (sadly) in your observations. I have had more than one
> senior
> > citizen tell me outright that they don't want to learn alternative
> > techniques or learn to use adaptive devices. All they want is the one
> thing
> > they can't have and that we cannot give them -- their sight back. This
> seems
> > to me extremely short-sighted (no pun intended). It shows how deeply
> > ingrained in all of us are societies negative and limiting attitudes
> about
> > blindness and, to some extent, how easy it is to have one's own pity
> party
> > rather than taking the bull by the horns and saying: OK; now what?
> >
> > I'm in the same boat as Judy Jones, having had little sight almost all my
> > sentient life. This discounts me I suppose in the eyes of most seniors.
> What
> > I don't get is how often this then is interpreted as being that I have
> > nothing to help them cope. One would think that we who have been blind a
> > long time would have *more* to teach, or, at any rate, quite a bit to
> teach.
> > But I suppose the main rub is that we are not taking part in the pity
> party.
> >
> > All we can do is keep at it, help those whom we can and find more seniors
> > who "get" it and who can confront the pity-partiers and say: NONSENSE!
> >
> > Mike Freeman
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Nfb-seniors [mailto:nfb-seniors-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> Judy
> > Mayo via Nfb-seniors
> > Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 11:05 AM
> > To: Judy Jones; NFB Senior Division list
> > Subject: Re: [Nfb-seniors] Great Call
> >
> > Hi Judy Jones,
> > My name is Judy also from Pennsylvania. I want to wish you good luck on
> > getting seniors to want to learn anything about being visually impaired
> or
> > blind or learning how to use things made for the vlind and visually
> > impaired. I used to go to the Center for Vision Loss in Allentown, PA. I
> am
> > a senior and for 2 years tried so hard to get other seniors to want to
> learn
> > about Braille, using the white cane, using a computer and even how to
> use a
> > can opener. I even told one senior lady that I would get to her
> apartment to
> > teach her how to use a can opener. She does not talk to me anymore. Most
> of
> > the seniors in the group I was in want to do is complain about how they
> do
> > not know how to do something, but do not want to learn how to do it.
> MOst of
> > the middle age people who used to go stopped going because of the
> > complaining seniors. It is a shame. I stopped going also. Another lady
> who
> > is totally blind wants to learn how to cook and I offered to go to her
> home
> > to teach her basic things. Because the Center staff has her convinced
> that
> > because I am not qualified to teach her, she will not call me to set up
> at
> > time for me to go to her home. I tried so hard to talk to the people at
> this
> > center to get them to want to learn, but kept getting the "rug pulled out
> > from under me" so to speak. I gave up. I haven't given up on myself
> though.
> > I am 62 years old and still learning.
> > I could go on and on, but there is no need to. Good luck goes to you
> though.
> > Judy H Mayo
> >
> >
> >> On 2/25/15, Judy Jones via Nfb-seniors <nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >> Hello again.
> >>
> >> My husband, Chris, is president of our local chapter, and I am
> >> secretary., mainly made up of seniors. The gentleman that started the
> >> affiliate was president for a couple years before we joined, and ran
> >> it like a senior support group, with really no training of any kind in
> >> NFB philosophy or any
> >>
> >> attempt at educating in philosophy and encouragement of trying new
> things.
> >>
> >> The people who joined have been friends of his for a long time, are
> >> also losing their sight. All have macular degeneration.
> >>
> >> Once we joined we are attempting to gently introduce concepts, and
> >> are trying to help build a foundation. I believe this may take
> >> patient and consistent repetition.
> >>
> >> They do not relate to us, as both my husband and I have Retinopathy Of
> >> Prematurity. They believe we don't miss or can never understand what
> >> we have never had. Sight.
> >>
> >> We presented all the information on this month's call at our February
> >> 9 meeting. Both my husband and I had occasion to check with various
> >> ones, reminding them of the call. No reaction. When I asked one
> >> lady's assistance about helping spread the word about the call, she
> >> couldn't understand why seniors would even be interested in anything
> >> like cane travel
> >>
> >> or braille. Why should seniors be on a call like this? I explained
> >> again that the call is sponsored by the national senior division, and
> >> that the calls are tailored for seniors and their needs. We will
> >> continue to give reminders of the upcoming calls.
> >>
> >> My big question is how to excite our seniors to join the call, and
> >> more than
> >>
> >> that, help them to realize there is learning and tools to be had. I
> >> have made sure they are all receiving the Braille Monitor in the
> >> format they requested. None are reading, nor is there any interest.
> >> Any audio they do
> >>
> >> not like as it is not visual, but anything visual we can try to bring
> >> in they do not like as they cannot see it.
> >>
> >> They really are a nice group of people, and will participate in our
> >> annual state Senior Division picnic. However, there is no interest in
> >> state or national convention, no interest in what is going on in the
> >> state or nationally
> >>
> >> There are many who are sure they can't learn anything else, some who
> >> are very nice about it but flat don't want to know anything else,
> >> although they
> >>
> >> are great people to relate to in other areas.. They are not excited
> >> about any possibilities available to them. They are interested in how
> >> much they can still see, the latest medical breakthrough or home remedy.
> >>
> >> We did have a great Christmas party everyone thoroughly enjoyed, but
> >> there is no interest in anything blindness-related or the the
> >> possibility of different thought processes.
> >>
> >> One idea Chris and I have had we want to implement is conducting phone
> >> interviews during the meeting of persons who have lost their sight
> >> later in
> >>
> >> life and overcome barriers to live an active life. We are looking for
> >> volunteers to do this, in hopes that someone's story will help someone
> >> in our group turn that mental corner from just coping, to embracing
> >> what is available for them.
> >>
> >> I apologize for rambling on and hope II have not come across as a
> whiner.
> >> (smiles), but joined this list for support, ideas, and in hopes of
> helping
> >> someone else. We truly do want to reach these precious people.
> >>
> >> BTW, my husband, Chris, also just joined the list, so you may also see
> >> his posts. Thanks in advance to all who will be reading this post.
> >>
> >> Judy
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Nfb-seniors mailing list
> > Nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-seniors_nfbnet.org
> > Division website: http://seniors.nfb.org To unsubscribe, change your
> list
> > options or get your account info for Nfb-seniors:
> >
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-seniors_nfbnet.org/k7uij%40panix.com
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Nfb-seniors mailing list
> > Nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-seniors_nfbnet.org
> > Division website: http://seniors.nfb.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> > Nfb-seniors:
> >
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-seniors_nfbnet.org/jtj1%40cableone.net
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 6
> > Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2015 18:38:20 -0700
> > From: "Judy Jones" <jtj1 at cableone.net>
> > To: "NFB Senior Division list" <nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org>
> > Subject: [Nfb-seniors] Volunteers' stories.
> > Message-ID: <4BE374E3B4914280856FE2ADE89B6238 at Owner>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> >
> > Hello, Listers,
> >
> > As I mentioned before in my initial rambling post, one thing we are
> going to try is holding a speaker phone interview during one of our
> meetings with someone who has lost their sight later in life and overcome
> obstacles in getting back their life. we have availability to hook up to a
> Boze speaker, so the person on the other end of the line will be easily
> heard in the banquet room where our meetings are held..
> >
> > If anyone on this list has such a story, please write me off-list.
> >
> > Thank you.
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 7
> > Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2015 22:06:58 -0500
> > From: "S L Johnson" <sljohnson25 at comcast.net>
> > To: "'Mike Freeman'" <k7uij at panix.com>, "'NFB Senior Division list'"
> > <nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org>
> > Subject: Re: [Nfb-seniors] Great Call
> > Message-ID: <000a01d0523a$73b818d0$5b284a70$@comcast.net>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
> >
> > Hello:
> >
> > I am also a senior, soon to turn sixty in April. I've been totally blind
> > since 1972. I live in a senior housing development. When neighbors see
> me
> > out walking with my guide dog, they say they cannot understand how I can
> > live alone without somebody to take care of me. I've tried to offer my
> > assistance when I learned of seniors who have lost some vision. I feel I
> > could offer helpful suggestions and be a positive role model. However,
> they
> > never call me and I've heard that they think I could not possibly help
> them
> > because I don't have any sight at all. It just means, that our work to
> > educate about blindness is never done. We have to get people to
> understand
> > that a blind person can be an active and productive member of society.
> >
> > Sandra
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Nfb-seniors [mailto:nfb-seniors-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> Mike
> > Freeman via Nfb-seniors
> > Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 5:53 PM
> > To: 'Judy Mayo'; 'NFB Senior Division list'
> > Subject: Re: [Nfb-seniors] Great Call
> >
> > Judy:
> >
> > I am a senior citizen (sixty-six years young) though seldom take any
> senior
> > discounts, believing that society has absolutely no reason to compensate
> me
> > for "moldering away" -- tongue in cheek, of course.
> >
> > But I concur (sadly) in your observations. I have had more than one
> senior
> > citizen tell me outright that they don't want to learn alternative
> > techniques or learn to use adaptive devices. All they want is the one
> thing
> > they can't have and that we cannot give them -- their sight back. This
> seems
> > to me extremely short-sighted (no pun intended). It shows how deeply
> > ingrained in all of us are societies negative and limiting attitudes
> about
> > blindness and, to some extent, how easy it is to have one's own pity
> party
> > rather than taking the bull by the horns and saying: OK; now what?
> >
> > I'm in the same boat as Judy Jones, having had little sight almost all my
> > sentient life. This discounts me I suppose in the eyes of most seniors.
> What
> > I don't get is how often this then is interpreted as being that I have
> > nothing to help them cope. One would think that we who have been blind a
> > long time would have *more* to teach, or, at any rate, quite a bit to
> teach.
> > But I suppose the main rub is that we are not taking part in the pity
> party.
> >
> > All we can do is keep at it, help those whom we can and find more seniors
> > who "get" it and who can confront the pity-partiers and say: NONSENSE!
> >
> > Mike Freeman
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Nfb-seniors [mailto:nfb-seniors-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> Judy
> > Mayo via Nfb-seniors
> > Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 11:05 AM
> > To: Judy Jones; NFB Senior Division list
> > Subject: Re: [Nfb-seniors] Great Call
> >
> > Hi Judy Jones,
> > My name is Judy also from Pennsylvania. I want to wish you good luck on
> > getting seniors to want to learn anything about being visually impaired
> or
> > blind or learning how to use things made for the vlind and visually
> > impaired. I used to go to the Center for Vision Loss in Allentown, PA. I
> am
> > a senior and for 2 years tried so hard to get other seniors to want to
> learn
> > about Braille, using the white cane, using a computer and even how to
> use a
> > can opener. I even told one senior lady that I would get to her
> apartment to
> > teach her how to use a can opener. She does not talk to me anymore. Most
> of
> > the seniors in the group I was in want to do is complain about how they
> do
> > not know how to do something, but do not want to learn how to do it.
> MOst of
> > the middle age people who used to go stopped going because of the
> > complaining seniors. It is a shame. I stopped going also. Another lady
> who
> > is totally blind wants to learn how to cook and I offered to go to her
> home
> > to teach her basic things. Because the Center staff has her convinced
> that
> > because I am not qualified to teach her, she will not call me to set up
> at
> > time for me to go to her home. I tried so hard to talk to the people at
> this
> > center to get them to want to learn, but kept getting the "rug pulled out
> > from under me" so to speak. I gave up. I haven't given up on myself
> though.
> > I am 62 years old and still learning.
> > I could go on and on, but there is no need to. Good luck goes to you
> though.
> > Judy H Mayo
> >
> >
> >> On 2/25/15, Judy Jones via Nfb-seniors <nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >> Hello again.
> >>
> >> My husband, Chris, is president of our local chapter, and I am
> >> secretary., mainly made up of seniors. The gentleman that started the
> >> affiliate was president for a couple years before we joined, and ran
> >> it like a senior support group, with really no training of any kind in
> >> NFB philosophy or any
> >>
> >> attempt at educating in philosophy and encouragement of trying new
> things.
> >>
> >> The people who joined have been friends of his for a long time, are
> >> also losing their sight. All have macular degeneration.
> >>
> >> Once we joined we are attempting to gently introduce concepts, and
> >> are trying to help build a foundation. I believe this may take
> >> patient and consistent repetition.
> >>
> >> They do not relate to us, as both my husband and I have Retinopathy Of
> >> Prematurity. They believe we don't miss or can never understand what
> >> we have never had. Sight.
> >>
> >> We presented all the information on this month's call at our February
> >> 9 meeting. Both my husband and I had occasion to check with various
> >> ones, reminding them of the call. No reaction. When I asked one
> >> lady's assistance about helping spread the word about the call, she
> >> couldn't understand why seniors would even be interested in anything
> >> like cane travel
> >>
> >> or braille. Why should seniors be on a call like this? I explained
> >> again that the call is sponsored by the national senior division, and
> >> that the calls are tailored for seniors and their needs. We will
> >> continue to give reminders of the upcoming calls.
> >>
> >> My big question is how to excite our seniors to join the call, and
> >> more than
> >>
> >> that, help them to realize there is learning and tools to be had. I
> >> have made sure they are all receiving the Braille Monitor in the
> >> format they requested. None are reading, nor is there any interest.
> >> Any audio they do
> >>
> >> not like as it is not visual, but anything visual we can try to bring
> >> in they do not like as they cannot see it.
> >>
> >> They really are a nice group of people, and will participate in our
> >> annual state Senior Division picnic. However, there is no interest in
> >> state or national convention, no interest in what is going on in the
> >> state or nationally
> >>
> >> There are many who are sure they can't learn anything else, some who
> >> are very nice about it but flat don't want to know anything else,
> >> although they
> >>
> >> are great people to relate to in other areas.. They are not excited
> >> about any possibilities available to them. They are interested in how
> >> much they can still see, the latest medical breakthrough or home remedy.
> >>
> >> We did have a great Christmas party everyone thoroughly enjoyed, but
> >> there is no interest in anything blindness-related or the
> >> possibility of different thought processes.
> >>
> >> One idea Chris and I have had we want to implement is conducting phone
> >> interviews during the meeting of persons who have lost their sight
> >> later in
> >>
> >> life and overcome barriers to live an active life. We are looking for
> >> volunteers to do this, in hopes that someone's story will help someone
> >> in our group turn that mental corner from just coping, to embracing
> >> what is available for them.
> >>
> >> I apologize for rambling on and hope II have not come across as a
> whiner.
> >> (smiles), but joined this list for support, ideas, and in hopes of
> helping
> >> someone else. We truly do want to reach these precious people.
> >>
> >> BTW, my husband, Chris, also just joined the list, so you may also see
> >> his posts. Thanks in advance to all who will be reading this post.
> >>
> >> Judy
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Nfb-seniors mailing list
> > Nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-seniors_nfbnet.org
> > Division website: http://seniors.nfb.org To unsubscribe, change your
> list
> > options or get your account info for Nfb-seniors:
> >
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-seniors_nfbnet.org/k7uij%40panix.com
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Nfb-seniors mailing list
> > Nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-seniors_nfbnet.org
> > Division website: http://seniors.nfb.org To unsubscribe, change your
> list
> > options or get your account info for Nfb-seniors:
> >
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-seniors_nfbnet.org/sljohnson25%40comca
> > st.net
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 8
> > Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2015 20:40:22 -0700
> > From: "Judy Jones" <jtj1 at cableone.net>
> > To: "S L Johnson" <sljohnson25 at comcast.net>, "NFB Senior Division
> > list" <nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org>
> > Subject: Re: [Nfb-seniors] Great Call
> > Message-ID: <5BD61197661F406FB73FA7B27A56DEBC at Owner>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> > reply-type=original
> >
> > Hi, Sandra,
> >
> > It sounds like you could do so much for those around you. The hard
> truth is
> > that, unfortunately, there are those that just don't want to deal, feel
> that
> > they don't have to, and get that idea fed by their so-called support
> system.
> >
> > There are those rare individuals who will challenge their family members,
> > but I don't know that there are that many.
> > Judy
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: S L Johnson via Nfb-seniors
> > Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 8:06 PM
> > To: 'Mike Freeman' ; 'NFB Senior Division list'
> > Subject: Re: [Nfb-seniors] Great Call
> >
> > Hello:
> >
> > I am also a senior, soon to turn sixty in April. I've been totally blind
> > since 1972. I live in a senior housing development. When neighbors see
> me
> > out walking with my guide dog, they say they cannot understand how I can
> > live alone without somebody to take care of me. I've tried to offer my
> > assistance when I learned of seniors who have lost some vision. I feel I
> > could offer helpful suggestions and be a positive role model. However,
> they
> > never call me and I've heard that they think I could not possibly help
> them
> > because I don't have any sight at all. It just means, that our work to
> > educate about blindness is never done. We have to get people to
> understand
> > that a blind person can be an active and productive member of society.
> >
> > Sandra
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Nfb-seniors [mailto:nfb-seniors-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> Mike
> > Freeman via Nfb-seniors
> > Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 5:53 PM
> > To: 'Judy Mayo'; 'NFB Senior Division list'
> > Subject: Re: [Nfb-seniors] Great Call
> >
> > Judy:
> >
> > I am a senior citizen (sixty-six years young) though seldom take any
> senior
> > discounts, believing that society has absolutely no reason to compensate
> me
> > for "moldering away" -- tongue in cheek, of course.
> >
> > But I concur (sadly) in your observations. I have had more than one
> senior
> > citizen tell me outright that they don't want to learn alternative
> > techniques or learn to use adaptive devices. All they want is the one
> thing
> > they can't have and that we cannot give them -- their sight back. This
> seems
> > to me extremely short-sighted (no pun intended). It shows how deeply
> > ingrained in all of us are societies negative and limiting attitudes
> about
> > blindness and, to some extent, how easy it is to have one's own pity
> party
> > rather than taking the bull by the horns and saying: OK; now what?
> >
> > I'm in the same boat as Judy Jones, having had little sight almost all my
> > sentient life. This discounts me I suppose in the eyes of most seniors.
> What
> > I don't get is how often this then is interpreted as being that I have
> > nothing to help them cope. One would think that we who have been blind a
> > long time would have *more* to teach, or, at any rate, quite a bit to
> teach.
> > But I suppose the main rub is that we are not taking part in the pity
> party.
> >
> > All we can do is keep at it, help those whom we can and find more seniors
> > who "get" it and who can confront the pity-partiers and say: NONSENSE!
> >
> > Mike Freeman
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Nfb-seniors [mailto:nfb-seniors-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> Judy
> > Mayo via Nfb-seniors
> > Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 11:05 AM
> > To: Judy Jones; NFB Senior Division list
> > Subject: Re: [Nfb-seniors] Great Call
> >
> > Hi Judy Jones,
> > My name is Judy also from Pennsylvania. I want to wish you good luck on
> > getting seniors to want to learn anything about being visually impaired
> or
> > blind or learning how to use things made for the vlind and visually
> > impaired. I used to go to the Center for Vision Loss in Allentown, PA. I
> am
> > a senior and for 2 years tried so hard to get other seniors to want to
> learn
> > about Braille, using the white cane, using a computer and even how to
> use a
> > can opener. I even told one senior lady that I would get to her
> apartment to
> > teach her how to use a can opener. She does not talk to me anymore. Most
> of
> > the seniors in the group I was in want to do is complain about how they
> do
> > not know how to do something, but do not want to learn how to do it.
> MOst of
> > the middle age people who used to go stopped going because of the
> > complaining seniors. It is a shame. I stopped going also. Another lady
> who
> > is totally blind wants to learn how to cook and I offered to go to her
> home
> > to teach her basic things. Because the Center staff has her convinced
> that
> > because I am not qualified to teach her, she will not call me to set up
> at
> > time for me to go to her home. I tried so hard to talk to the people at
> this
> > center to get them to want to learn, but kept getting the "rug pulled out
> > from under me" so to speak. I gave up. I haven't given up on myself
> though.
> > I am 62 years old and still learning.
> > I could go on and on, but there is no need to. Good luck goes to you
> though.
> > Judy H Mayo
> >
> >
> >> On 2/25/15, Judy Jones via Nfb-seniors <nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >> Hello again.
> >>
> >> My husband, Chris, is president of our local chapter, and I am
> >> secretary., mainly made up of seniors. The gentleman that started the
> >> affiliate was president for a couple years before we joined, and ran
> >> it like a senior support group, with really no training of any kind in
> >> NFB philosophy or any
> >>
> >> attempt at educating in philosophy and encouragement of trying new
> things.
> >>
> >> The people who joined have been friends of his for a long time, are
> >> also losing their sight. All have macular degeneration.
> >>
> >> Once we joined we are attempting to gently introduce concepts, and
> >> are trying to help build a foundation. I believe this may take
> >> patient and consistent repetition.
> >>
> >> They do not relate to us, as both my husband and I have Retinopathy Of
> >> Prematurity. They believe we don't miss or can never understand what
> >> we have never had. Sight.
> >>
> >> We presented all the information on this month's call at our February
> >> 9 meeting. Both my husband and I had occasion to check with various
> >> ones, reminding them of the call. No reaction. When I asked one
> >> lady's assistance about helping spread the word about the call, she
> >> couldn't understand why seniors would even be interested in anything
> >> like cane travel
> >>
> >> or braille. Why should seniors be on a call like this? I explained
> >> again that the call is sponsored by the national senior division, and
> >> that the calls are tailored for seniors and their needs. We will
> >> continue to give reminders of the upcoming calls.
> >>
> >> My big question is how to excite our seniors to join the call, and
> >> more than
> >>
> >> that, help them to realize there is learning and tools to be had. I
> >> have made sure they are all receiving the Braille Monitor in the
> >> format they requested. None are reading, nor is there any interest.
> >> Any audio they do
> >>
> >> not like as it is not visual, but anything visual we can try to bring
> >> in they do not like as they cannot see it.
> >>
> >> They really are a nice group of people, and will participate in our
> >> annual state Senior Division picnic. However, there is no interest in
> >> state or national convention, no interest in what is going on in the
> >> state or nationally
> >>
> >> There are many who are sure they can't learn anything else, some who
> >> are very nice about it but flat don't want to know anything else,
> >> although they
> >>
> >> are great people to relate to in other areas.. They are not excited
> >> about any possibilities available to them. They are interested in how
> >> much they can still see, the latest medical breakthrough or home remedy.
> >>
> >> We did have a great Christmas party everyone thoroughly enjoyed, but
> >> there is no interest in anything blindness-related or the
> >> possibility of different thought processes.
> >>
> >> One idea Chris and I have had we want to implement is conducting phone
> >> interviews during the meeting of persons who have lost their sight
> >> later in
> >>
> >> life and overcome barriers to live an active life. We are looking for
> >> volunteers to do this, in hopes that someone's story will help someone
> >> in our group turn that mental corner from just coping, to embracing
> >> what is available for them.
> >>
> >> I apologize for rambling on and hope II have not come across as a
> whiner.
> >> (smiles), but joined this list for support, ideas, and in hopes of
> helping
> >> someone else. We truly do want to reach these precious people.
> >>
> >> BTW, my husband, Chris, also just joined the list, so you may also see
> >> his posts. Thanks in advance to all who will be reading this post.
> >>
> >> Judy
> >
> >
> > --
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Nfb-seniors mailing list
> > Nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-seniors_nfbnet.org
> > Division website: http://seniors.nfb.org To unsubscribe, change your
> list
> > options or get your account info for Nfb-seniors:
> >
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-seniors_nfbnet.org/k7uij%40panix.com
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Nfb-seniors mailing list
> > Nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-seniors_nfbnet.org
> > Division website: http://seniors.nfb.org To unsubscribe, change your
> list
> > options or get your account info for Nfb-seniors:
> >
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-seniors_nfbnet.org/sljohnson25%40comca
> > st.net
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Nfb-seniors mailing list
> > Nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org
> > http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-seniors_nfbnet.org
> > Division website: http://seniors.nfb.org
> > To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
> > Nfb-seniors:
> >
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-seniors_nfbnet.org/jtj1%40cableone.net
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 9
> > Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2015 22:30:35 -0600
> > From: "Lin H." <iwannacu2 at sbcglobal.net>
> > To: "S L Johnson" <sljohnson25 at comcast.net>, "NFB Senior Division
> > list" <nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org>
> > Subject: Re: [Nfb-seniors] Great Call
> > Message-ID: <D10896DAA26D4E7C94605C4E4672D3B1 at lineqPC>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
> > reply-type=original
> >
> > Hi Sandra! I'm not far from 60 myself, and I lost my sight 11 years ago!
> > I've learned Braille, got some mobility training, so I can walk around my
> > neighborhood and met many influencial inspirational people from the NFB
> in
> > Illinois! I have a friend that has been Blind all her life and can
> do
> > many things as a blind person! She even has a sighted son, and is doing
> a
> > great job with him! But, she even says many times that sighted people
> just
> > don't get it! They don't understand, like you said, that we, as blind
> > people can be productive and do things on our own! I hope others will
> give
> > you a chance to help them! Sincerely, Linda
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: S L Johnson via Nfb-seniors
> > Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 9:06 PM
> > To: 'Mike Freeman' ; 'NFB Senior Division list'
> > Subject: Re: [Nfb-seniors] Great Call
> >
> > Hello:
> >
> > I am also a senior, soon to turn sixty in April. I've been totally blind
> > since 1972. I live in a senior housing development. When neighbors see
> me
> > out walking with my guide dog, they say they cannot understand how I can
> > live alone without somebody to take care of me. I've tried to offer my
> > assistance when I learned of seniors who have lost some vision. I feel I
> > could offer helpful suggestions and be a positive role model. However,
> they
> > never call me and I've heard that they think I could not possibly help
> them
> > because I don't have any sight at all. It just means, that our work to
> > educate about blindness is never done. We have to get people to
> understand
> > that a blind person can be an active and productive member of society.
> >
> > Sandra
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Nfb-seniors [mailto:nfb-seniors-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> Mike
> > Freeman via Nfb-seniors
> > Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 5:53 PM
> > To: 'Judy Mayo'; 'NFB Senior Division list'
> > Subject: Re: [Nfb-seniors] Great Call
> >
> > Judy:
> >
> > I am a senior citizen (sixty-six years young) though seldom take any
> senior
> > discounts, believing that society has absolutely no reason to compensate
> me
> > for "moldering away" -- tongue in cheek, of course.
> >
> > But I concur (sadly) in your observations. I have had more than one
> senior
> > citizen tell me outright that they don't want to learn alternative
> > techniques or learn to use adaptive devices. All they want is the one
> thing
> > they can't have and that we cannot give them -- their sight back. This
> seems
> > to me extremely short-sighted (no pun intended). It shows how deeply
> > ingrained in all of us are societies negative and limiting attitudes
> about
> > blindness and, to some extent, how easy it is to have one's own pity
> party
> > rather than taking the bull by the horns and saying: OK; now what?
> >
> > I'm in the same boat as Judy Jones, having had little sight almost all my
> > sentient life. This discounts me I suppose in the eyes of most seniors.
> What
> > I don't get is how often this then is interpreted as being that I have
> > nothing to help them cope. One would think that we who have been blind a
> > long time would have *more* to teach, or, at any rate, quite a bit to
> teach.
> > But I suppose the main rub is that we are not taking part in the pity
> party.
> >
> > All we can do is keep at it, help those whom we can and find more seniors
> > who "get" it and who can confront the pity-partiers and say: NONSENSE!
> >
> > Mike Freeman
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Nfb-seniors [mailto:nfb-seniors-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> Judy
> > Mayo via Nfb-seniors
> > Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2015 11:05 AM
> > To: Judy Jones; NFB Senior Division list
> > Subject: Re: [Nfb-seniors] Great Call
> >
> > Hi Judy Jones,
> > My name is Judy also from Pennsylvania. I want to wish you good luck on
> > getting seniors to want to learn anything about being visually impaired
> or
> > blind or learning how to use things made for the vlind and visually
> > impaired. I used to go to the Center for Vision Loss in Allentown, PA. I
> am
> > a senior and for 2 years tried so hard to get other seniors to want to
> learn
> > about Braille, using the white cane, using a computer and even how to
> use a
> > can opener. I even told one senior lady that I would get to her
> apartment to
> > teach her how to use a can opener. She does not talk to me anymore. Most
> of
> > the seniors in the group I was in want to do is complain about how they
> do
> > not know how to do something, but do not want to learn how to do it.
> MOst of
> > the middle age people who used to go stopped going because of the
> > complaining seniors. It is a shame. I stopped going also. Another lady
> who
> > is totally blind wants to learn how to cook and I offered to go to her
> home
> > to teach her basic things. Because the Center staff has her convinced
> that
> > because I am not qualified to teach her, she will not call me to set up
> at
> > time for me to go to her home. I tried so hard to talk to the people at
> this
> > center to get them to want to learn, but kept getting the "rug pulled out
> > from under me" so to speak. I gave up. I haven't given up on myself
> though.
> > I am 62 years old and still learning.
> > I could go on and on, but there is no need to. Good luck goes to you
> though.
> > Judy H Mayo
> >
> >
> >> On 2/25/15, Judy Jones via Nfb-seniors <nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> >> Hello again.
> >>
> >> My husband, Chris, is president of our local chapter, and I am
> >> secretary., mainly made up of seniors. The gentleman that started the
> >> affiliate was president for a couple years before we joined, and ran
> >> it like a senior support group, with really no training of any kind in
> >> NFB philosophy or any
> >>
> >> attempt at educating in philosophy and encouragement of trying new
> things.
> >>
> >> The people who joined have been friends of his for a long time, are
> >> also losing their sight. All have macular degeneration.
> >>
> >> Once we joined we are attempting to gently introduce concepts, and
> >> are trying to help build a foundation. I believe this may take
> >> patient and consistent repetition.
> >>
> >> They do not relate to us, as both my husband and I have Retinopathy Of
> >> Prematurity. They believe we don't miss or can never understand what
> >> we have never had. Sight.
> >>
> >> We presented all the information on this month's call at our February
> >> 9 meeting. Both my husband and I had occasion to check with various
> >> ones, reminding them of the call. No reaction. When I asked one
> >> lady's assistance about helping spread the word about the call, she
> >> couldn't understand why seniors would even be interested in anything
> >> like cane travel
> >>
> >> or braille. Why should seniors be on a call like this? I explained
> >> again that the call is sponsored by the national senior division, and
> >> that the calls are tailored for seniors and their needs. We will
> >> continue to give reminders of the upcoming calls.
> >>
> >> My big question is how to excite our seniors to join the call, and
> >> more than
> >>
> >> that, help them to realize there is learning and tools to be had. I
> >> have made sure they are all receiving the Braille Monitor in the
> >> format they requested. None are reading, nor is there any interest.
> >> Any audio they do
> >>
> >> not like as it is not visual, but anything visual we can try to bring
> >> in they do not like as they cannot see it.
> >>
> >> They really are a nice group of people, and will participate in our
> >> annual state Senior Division picnic. However, there is no interest in
> >> state or national convention, no interest in what is going on in the
> >> state or nationally
> >>
> >> There are many who are sure they can't learn anything else, some who
> >> are very nice about it but flat don't want to know anything else,
> >> although they
> >>
> >> are great people to relate to in other areas.. They are not excited
> >> about any possibilities available to them. They are interested in how
> >> much they can still see, the latest medical breakthrough or home remedy.
> >>
> >> We did have a great Christmas party everyone thoroughly enjoyed, but
> >> there is no interest in anything blindness-related or the
> >> possibility of different thought processes.
> >>
> >> One idea Chris and I have had we want to implement is conducting phone
> >> interviews during the meeting of persons who have lost their sight
> >> later in
> >>
> >> life and overcome barriers to live an active life. We are looking for
> >> volunteers to do this, in hopes that someone's story will help someone
> >> in our group turn that mental corner from just coping, to embracing
> >> what is available for them.
> >>
> >> I apologize for rambling on and hope II have not come across as a
> whiner.
> >> (smiles), but joined this list for support, ideas, and in hopes of
> helping
> >> someone else. We truly do want to reach these precious people.
> >>
> >> BTW, my husband, Chris, also just joined the list, so you may also see
> >> his posts. Thanks in advance to all who will be reading this post.
> >>
> >> Judy
> >
> >
> > --
> >
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> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > Subject: Digest Footer
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
> >
> > ------------------------------
> >
> > End of Nfb-seniors Digest, Vol 68, Issue 7
> > ******************************************
>
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