[Ohio-talk] FW: RSC Weekly Focus: 7.11.11

Mon Jul 11 19:26:09 UTC 2011

Fyi

sJw

Dr. J. Webster Smith

President, National Federation of the Blind of Ohio

PO Box 458 Athens, OH 45701

740-592-6326

"Changing what it means to be blind"

For more information go to nfbohio.org

From: Shirley Marchi [mailto:eileen at rsc-ohio.ccsend.com] On Behalf Of
Shirley Marchi
Sent: Monday, July 11, 2011 11:52 AM
To: jwsmithnfb at frontier.com
Subject: RSC Weekly Focus: 7.11.11

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here
<http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=sodtqjcab&v=0010iyGwPSeY
AHWBuW98S05gtUDGfD-W9egxzCfwLRfoYw0GNw3yMrVKWQ_opuecAJylS3J64o9pfP_4uBrzAk8L
0kHfTLJiZbQBTcKrvEahjv7Ir2fBiUiMA%3D%3D> 

Description: Image removed by sender. Ohio Rehabilitation Services
Commission

In Remembrance of Commission Chairman David T. Williams

Description: Image removed by sender. Commiss Williams
I feel it is appropriate to use this edition of the Weekly Focus to honor
and remember the life and service of Commission Chairman David T. Williams.
In case you haven't heard, Williams passed away Wednesday surrounded by
friends and family. Read Chairman William's biography: 
http://www.rsc.ohio.gov/pressroom/PressRoomDocuments/David%20Williams.pdf
<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?llr=sodtqjcab&et=1106515996544&s=7826&e=001cUYyWY
grsQZYjlGbRT53gOWtHYKr-SydXi3OqssIFWTkrJbeu_f7HEKVATt9t8EZdZjbq6I3wb2ds2tQbJ
UUBV4_yr4Dky_s-B4SZ3IeiyWfKu5ww4rD5LjQ1aamWW8AiLoPvEuNVZOiP9QhxEnILGT0c1t5Pi
IIxtGNZTuSILDYs6abwYB07Y8e3-Rq-dIZ> 

Chairman Williams was fortunate to have a wonderfully supportive family. His
wife Fran and his two sons, Eric and Nathan were there to ensure his life's
peaks were as high as possible and his life's valleys were as shallow as
possible.

Description: Image removed by sender. Beast
He wrote a memoir that offers great insight into the man he was. Entitled
Battling the Beast, Chairman Williams discussed his fight with MS and his
effort to turn his disability into a positive force for good. We will use
his writing to help remember and honor him. 

"I won't pretend to be glad I have MS or that I would not change things if I
could. But in accepting my disease I have been able to open my mind to new
ideas and opportunities that have changed me for the better. One of the
struggles that has continued throughout my battle with the Beast has been
the fight to remain centered and to remain true to the things that are
important to me. I know lots of people with disabilities who are defined by
that one aspect of their life. They have surrendered their whole identity to
symptoms and limitations imposed by accident or illness.  In so doing, they
have also surrendered their personality, character, and abilities and have
become prisoners within their own bodies, held captive by their diagnostic
labels.  More significantly, they have turned their backs on many
opportunities to learn-to become better people.  I will never give in to
this."
 < /p> 

-Commissioner David T. Williams, Battling the Beast, 2004 

A Historic Advocate 

During the 30 years Chairman Williams battled the "Beast," he refused to
surrender the essential qualities that made him who he was, and perhaps more
significantly to all of us, Chairman Williams never turned his back on
others with disabilities.  Instead, he found a voice inside himself that
would power him into becoming one of Ohio's leading advocates for people
with disabilities-leading the fight for better access and inclusion.

RSC Commissioners Remember Chairman Williams

"He was a true champion for people with disabilities   People with
disabilities in Ohio have lost an advocate who's dream was simply for all
people to live and work to their fullest potential, regardless of
limitations."
-Commissioner William Bauer

"Commissioner Williams was an inspirational person. His disability motivated
him to be a tireless leader on issues related to all persons regardless of
their disabilities. He was courageous in espousing his opinions and in
following through with whatever task or mission he embraced. David's death
leaves a huge void for all who care about and work on behalf of persons with
disabilities."
-Commissioner David Daugherty

"In the 20+ years I knew David, I was continually amazed by his enthusiastic
advocacy for not only people with disabilities but as well as all people who
could benefit from government investment in basic biomedical research and
the development of new medical devices and therapies.  He was tireless. If
advocacy needed him to make a call or send a letter from his hospital bed,
he would do it. If advocacy required a trip to the halls of Congress, he
would do it. If advocacy required a personal visit to a lawmaker, he would
do it.  David was never overwhelmed by the complexity of governmental or
private sector processes for getting the right things done, David was never
a cynic about the promises made but not kept, David never took his eye off
the ultimate goal of doing the best he could for his fellow citizens.   

Ohio has lost a true champion of making government and corporate interests
work for all its citizens.  We will miss David.  Let us dedicate ourselves
to perpetuating his legacy of commitment to our clients and those who  are
in need."   
-Commissioner Jack Licate 

"In so many ways, David was a true pioneer for people with disabilities.  As
most people know, David worked for Governor Celeste and I worked for
Governor Voinovich. We loved to swap stories about those times and the
opportunities we had to make a difference while working in the Governor's
Office.  David used his knowledge, connections and energy to improve how
government worked for people with disabilities.  This is a legacy that
continues to this day.

On a personal level, I am thankful for David's candid conversations with me
about what it was like to struggle with MS.  He gave me a copy of his book
to help me understand his perspectives and struggles.  

Today I am struck by a quote from Max Cleland that David references in his
book.  "It isn't a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a
calamity not to dream."  David dreamed big and, because of his dreams, many
good things came to be in this world.  We should honor his memory by
continuing to dream."
-Commissioner Jacqueline Romer-Sensky 

Chairman Williams Reflects on His Life 

Chairman Williams searched long and hard for an appropriate way to end his
memoir. Ultimately, he turned to his good friend U.S. Senator Max Cleland
who led him to the last words of a Confederate soldier who wrote them as he
lay dying in a Union field hospital.  Commissioner Williams felt the
following words summed up his life best:

I asked God for strength that I might achieve, I was made weak, that I might
learn humbly to obey.

I asked for health, that I might do greater things, I was given infirmity
that I might do better things. 

I asked for riches that might be happy, I was given poverty that I might be
wise.

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men, I was given weakness
that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life, I was given life that I
might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I had hoped for.

Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

Description: Image removed by sender. Williams

Director Kevin L. Miller

Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission
614-438-1470

Forward email
<http://ui.constantcontact.com/sa/fwtf.jsp?llr=sodtqjcab&m=1101978504658&ea=
jwsmithnfb%40frontier.com&a=1106515996544> 

<http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=un&mse=001gefDXOImcDszZ7aRRzjAgNwbl
4nDJrfU&t=001GApGnJn0y-E4RSokEp62eg%3D%3D&llr=sodtqjcab> Description: Image
removed by sender.

 <http://www.constantcontact.com/index.jsp?cc=TEM_News_112> Description:
Image removed by sender.

This email was sent to jwsmithnfb at frontier.com by
shirley.marchi at rsc.ohio.gov |   

Update Profile/Email Address
<http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=oo&mse=001gefDXOImcDszZ7aRRzjAgNwbl
4nDJrfU&t=001GApGnJn0y-E4RSokEp62eg%3D%3D&llr=sodtqjcab>  | Instant removal
with SafeUnsubscribe
<http://visitor.constantcontact.com/do?p=un&mse=001gefDXOImcDszZ7aRRzjAgNwbl
4nDJrfU&t=001GApGnJn0y-E4RSokEp62eg%3D%3D&llr=sodtqjcab> T | Privacy Policy
<http://ui.constantcontact.com/roving/CCPrivacyPolicy.jsp> .

Ohio Rehabilitation Services Commission | 400 E. Campus View Blvd. |
Columbus | OH | 43235-4604

Description: Image removed by sender.

-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: ~WRD000.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 823 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/attachments/20110711/5e1fd802/attachment.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 1691 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/attachments/20110711/5e1fd802/attachment-0001.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 1372 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/attachments/20110711/5e1fd802/attachment-0002.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image003.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 1691 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/attachments/20110711/5e1fd802/attachment-0003.jpg>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image004.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 332 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/ohio-talk_nfbnet.org/attachments/20110711/5e1fd802/attachment-0004.jpg>