[Nfbmt] Hope's story, a call for help...

Wed Dec 2 14:52:01 UTC 2015

I don't think there is an age limit.  By that I mean students can go, or
whomever an affiliate wants to finance or send.  It wouldn't be a place for
kiddos.  It will be interesting to see whether she can get time off from
school.  Usually an affiliate President or a legislative director from each
state would go.  Violet Sun Child and I are going this year from Montana.

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfbmt [mailto:nfbmt-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of d m gina via Nfbmt
Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2015 8:40 PM
To: nfbmt at nfbnet.org
Cc: d m gina
Subject: Re: [Nfbmt] Hope's story, a call for help...

Yes first I would like to know if there are other teens that go to this as
well?
If so I think it would be grate if she could go.
I didn't go to the link because our chapter doesn't meet this month, except
for the party.
We are looking for another meeting place.
The one we used said they don't want groups to meet there any more.
Hope this helps.

Original message:
> Hello, fellow Montana Federationists.

> Below you will find two messages from Rick Reed, the President of the
> NFB of Wyoming.  The first message is self explanatory; the second
> message concerns a fundraising campaign so that this young lady can
> attend the Washington Seminar from Wyoming.  The reason I am calling
> it to your attention is to ask whether we as individuals or as an
> affiliate want to contribute to this fund raiser.  Joy

> First Message
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rick Reed
> Sent: Wednesday, October 21, 2015 11:30 AM
> Subject: Hope's story, a call for help...

> Hello friends,

> I had the amazing opportunity yesterday to represent my affiliate and
> our national organization at the 2015 Wyoming Transitions Day. This
> event is primarily for high school students who are blind/VI or
> deaf/HoH and encourages them to pursue higher education with goals of
> finding a career that will let them live the lives they want. It is
> sponsored by Wyoming Independent Living, Vision Outreach Services and
> the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation.

> The NFB of Wyoming is an annual fixture at this event, where we
> provide information about our Federation and our programs. This year,
> I was asked to give a presentation on assistive technology where I
> introduced many students, parents and teachers to the KNFB Reader app
> for the first time. I also presented a session on self-advocacy.

> During these presentations I had the pleasure of meeting a high school
> junior named Hope.

> Hope is a blind student in Sheridan, Wyoming, a little town just south
> of the Montana border. She is an absolute gem of a person and just so
> eager to learn everything she can that it warms the heart.

> Hope's dream is to become a nurse. Until yesterday, the only person in
> her life that had any faith in her and in her ability to realize her
> dreams was her TVI. She has no support from her family. They tell her
> that there is really not much she can actually do as a blind person.
> When she shared her dream with her family she was told; "I would never
> let someone like you be my nurse".

> I was and still am enraged by this lack of familial support. I offered
> Hope my support in any way I could give it and promised to get her in
> touch with blind people that are working in similar fields that she
> can talk to. I am also encouraging her to keep getting good grades and
> to apply for our national scholarships next year when she is a senior.

> Before she left to head back to Sheridan from the event I gave her one
> of the
> 75 in 75 Braille wristbands that I carry in my bag. When she read it
> and felt the "Live The Life You Want" embossed in Braille on the
> little piece of rubbber she broke down in tears and I am not at all
> ashamed to say that I joined her. It was a very emotional moment all
around.

> With that story told, what I'm asking is this:

> I would like to get in touch with as many blind people as I can who
> are working in the healthcare field. This girl needs mentors and role
> models that can show her that she can make her dreams come true and
> that she can live the life she wants, not what someone else thinks she
should be limited to.

> Thank you for sticking with me through this tale and for whatever help
> and advice you can give me here. I want this young lady to succeed and
> I'd love to see her on stage in a couple years, receiving a
> scholarship at our national convention!

> Thank you again friends.
> Rick Reed

> Second Message
> Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2015 10:26 AM
> Subject: It's Giving Tuesday!
> Federationists and friends!

> As you may remember, I shared a story here a few months ago about a
> student here in Wyoming named Hope that I've become acquainted with.
> After discussing many aspects of being a Federationist with her
> recently, she has expressed interest in attending our Great Gathering
> In this year. I was so excited to see a young person interested in
> this kind of work that I could barely contain myself!

> We have started a Go Fund Me campaign to raise money to pay for the
> trip and I would like to ask you all to consider what you may be able
> to do to help get this motivated young woman to D.C. next month and
> also to please help spread the word about the campaign far and wide.
> You'll never catch enough fish if you are afraid to cast your nets!

> The link is https://www.gofundme.com/nfbwy-dc-2016.

> Thank you again for your help and for spreading the word!

> --
> Rick Reed
> WYOAssist Low-vision Specialist
> President, National Federation of the Blind of Wyoming Certified
> Assistive Technology Specialist Technological Accessibility Advocate

> Phone:
> (307)315-3648

> Twitter:
> @WYOAssist
> @NFBWY
> @BlindPCs
> @BlindSarcasm

> Web:
> http://www.wyoassist.com
> http://theblindgeek.net
> http://www.blindpcs.com
> http://www.nfbwyoming.org
> http://www.nfb.org
> http://theblindfoodie.com

> Skype:
> TheBlindGeek

> "Disability is NOT the final answer!"

> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
> characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
> expectations of blind people, because low expectations create
> obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life
> you want; blindness is not what holds you back.

> Joy Breslauer, President
> National Federation of the Blind of Montana
> Address: P.O. Box 1325, Great Falls, MT 59403
> Phone: (406) 454-3096
> Email: president at nfbofmt.org
> Web Site: www.nfbofmt.org

> Live the life you want

> The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
> characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
> expectations of blind people, because low expectations create
> obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life
> you want; blindness is not what holds you back.

> It's TIME to Eliminate Subminimum Wages for People with Disabilities
> http://www.nfb.org/TIME

> Donate to the National Federation of the Blind of Montana

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--
--Dar
skype: dmgina23
  FB: dmgina
www.twitter.com/dmgina
every saint has a past
every sinner has a future

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