[nfb-talk] Blind baseball player "hears" his dream come trueon local Little League team

[tribble]

I wasn't going to enter this thread but couldn't help mentioning one motto I 
used while working -- "I don't want to play mascot".
People are sometimes so anxious to grab a token minority person as a member 
of their group -- whether it's a sports team or a job or whatever, that they 
don't consider that that person may have talents and abilities to do more 
than just be a token.
The little boy was popular in this role because he had a positive attitude 
that was infectuous -- but what if he is able to do something that would 
compete with another sighted team member? How long is he going to be happy 
doing nothing but act positive?
When I was a software developer there were times when things went very 
smoothely and I fit in well, but other times when I got into conflicts of 
interest with other group members. In particular, I once was slated to 
address a large group of persons to introduce some project I was working on. 
The auditorium was not accessible but was the only space available right 
then. My boss turned and asked a fellow group member to carry my wheelchair 
down the stairs (with me in it) so I could give the talk. The employee 
objected and said that wasn't in his job description.  I also didn't want 
him to do it as it is rather terrifying to go down a flight of stairs in a 
wheelchair with only one person in control.  And I especially didn't want to 
impose on the other employee to do something he didn't want to do.  I gave 
my notes to someone else and they gave the talk. My boss was rather annoyed 
that I did this but I felt it was the right thing.
Anyway, that is a negative example, and there were also positive 
experiences, where people worked in harmony and complemented each others 
contributions.
Anyway, off soapbox for the time being.
One of these days I'd like a thread about working in a sighted 
environment -- and if some of you are also rollers (in wheelchairs), there's 
that issue too.  Also if anyone knows about any technical job openings that 
can be done from home, feel free to send it (private to me...*smile*...)
TIA and have a great week.
--le





----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Bullis" <mabullis at hotmail.com>
To: "'NFB Talk Mailing List'" <nfb-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, May 11, 2009 12:56 PM
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Blind baseball player "hears" his dream come trueon 
local Little League team


Well, I might agree with you if the kid were actually doing something.  But,
he's not.  He's not even taking care of the bats or balls, towels?  He can't
even throw the ball to the catcher but he's called a "team manager."
The disturbing thing about this to me is that he's being lied to as though
he were actually contributing something of value when he's not.

It seems to me that this is political correctness at it's worst.  The Little
League coach should have said yes when asked by the little boy for an
opportunity, but, they then should have figured out something for him to do
besides look cute.  To give him the title of "Manager" only compounds the
issue for me.
And, sadly for his mom, there is apparently little or nothing going on for
this kid so just sitting on the bench is the high point of his life.
Mike Bullis


-----Original Message-----
From: nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfb-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of d m gina
Sent: Monday, May 11, 2009 10:59 AM
To: nfb-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [nfb-talk] Blind baseball player "hears" his dream come true on
local Little League team

Even though the mom needs more help with what can happen for the blind, I
admire the team for taking this child on, and giving him a thrill of his
life.
Not to many coachs would do this.
That is a mild stone itself.
I hope as this child grows he can stay with the team and help others.

--
--Dar
every saint has a past
every sinner has a future

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