[Nfb-seniors] Great Call

[Judy Jones]

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


-----Original Message----- 
From: Jannis Butler via Nfb-seniors
Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2015 6:56 AM
To: Nfb-seniors at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Nfb-seniors] Great Call

>From the DC Senior Division, kudos to our President Ruth Sager and O and M 
master trainers Maurice and Jessie. Looking forward to the topic next month.
NFB of DC Senior Division, President


Jannis Butler
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