[Tn-talk] a post from a while ago

[Sheri Anderson]

Good evening Dewey,

Thank you for remembering. Thank you for following up. I am the individual who wrote in a few weeks ago about parents in Tennessee struggling to keep custody of their children when the parent is blind. Unfortunately, there has been no resolution yet. Now, not only have I been forced into family court, accused of all sorts of things including language that specifically identifies my blindness causing the inability to parent, but I am now forced into juvenile court. It has been alleged to juvenile court that I am neglecting my 16-year-old daughter. And it is in conjunction with and lists the other court case in family court as well. At this point, there has been no true organizational gathering focused on blind parents in Tennessee. I have been told by the NFB, that this is a minor issue. That this is not a big enough challenge to warrant others assistance. I have been called rude when attempting to elicit support, and I have continued to walk this journey alone. I do have firm and aggressive legal representation, thanks to individuals in this state who do feel blind parents are challenged in the court system. My family has been struggling with this for almost a year now, after battling  it several years ago. This issue is not just my family issue. It is an issue in  this state  and probably others. It will not go away just because people look away from it. thank you again for your post and your interest. Sincerely,Sheri blind parent in Tennessee Sent from my iPhone

> On Apr 27, 2016, at 7:05 PM, Dewey Bradley via Tn-talk <tn-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Someone on here posted a month or so ago that they were looking for other
> blind people to help with them trying to say that you couldn't take care of
> your child, I am curious how you are doing with that?
> 
> I'm the guy in Missouri, so I wasn't able to help, I hope it turned out all
> right for you!!
> 
> Also I want to ask you guys about the job market in Nashville for blind
> people, how is it?
> 
> I fly there every year for the Grand Ole Opry birthday, I like it out there,
> though I always stick to the tourist areas, but I keep up on the news there,
> I read the papers on newsline from Nashville and Knoxville, and Chattanooga,
> and I listen to 650 AM WSM all the time, so I know it is a high crime city,
> and very high cost of living, but I'm looking into if I want to move there
> or not, I'm weighing the pros and cons, so far I have more cons than pros.
> 
> I do know that the transportation is bad, I ride the MTA when I come in, and
> they are the worse transit service that I have seen so far, I took Access
> ride 1 time, I was supposed to go to the Opry house, and he dropped me off
> at the resort, he was asking me the address, but I couldn't understand his
> English, and they didn't show up for me that night, so I know this about the
> transit, that is a con.
> 
> And I'm trying to find out what kind of assistance the state has for us,
> here in Missouri, we have what is called blind pension, it is part of the
> property tax people pay, it is $718 we get on the 10th of the month, and
> that comes with the MO health net, the name Missouri has for medicate, they
> do allot for us here, so if I move out there, I would do so on a good chance
> that I could find a good paying job, or what is the point.
> 
> I know that companies are moving there, but out in the other towns, not many
> that I know of are moving inside Nashville for whatever reason, high rent or
> whatever, so that is a problem, and I don't know how employers are about
> hiring blind people, they are good about that in Denver, but not good in the
> town where I'm from.
> 
> People are really nice there, but the question would they hire a blind
> person.
> 
> So any info would help, the job market, and what services the state has for
> us until I find one, I did hear that the Ten care sucks.
> 
> Thanks for any info, and again, to the person with the struggle with the
> child, I do want to know about that!
> 
> I don't have any myself, so I'm not much help with it.
> 
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