[nabs-l] [Nfbnet-members-list] Threw Our Eyes interview, Ride into History, Race for Independence, Wed. June 22, 8:00 pm EDT

[T. Joseph Carter]

Carly,

When going through school as an undergraduate, I stupidly believed 
that I could not work.  I continued to believe that my first year of 
graduate school.

In my second year, I could have worked if I were otherwise just a 
normal (blind) student in a normal graduate program.  The fact was 
that I was not.  In my second year of graduate school, from September 
through June, I was involved in a time-consuming and costly legal 
battle with the university.  I spent between 60 and 80 hours a week 
engaged in that battle, and I was a full-time student besides.  In 
fact, in the first quarter of the school year, I had student teaching 
during part of the day (after negotiating inter-city public transit 
of course), classes in the evening afterward, and I got to have my 
approximately 60 hour a week legal battle in my off-hours or in 
between.

Needless to say, I didn’t sleep as much that year as I was previously 
accustomed to doing.  Had it been the full 80 hours a week I put into 
the process during winter term during the fall term, I could not have 
kept up.  The university did not know how close I was to being unable 
to keep up with their crap—but I managed to hold them off of the 
really heavy stuff until January.  I exchanged more than 1,000 emails 
with university faculty between September and January 16th.  Another 
1,000 by August.

If I could do that, in a hostile environment, with professors 
actively looking to fail me on every single assignment or find some 
way to manufacture some trumped up disciplinary action or something, 
then I most certainly could have dropped chicken strips into a deep 
fryer for a living.  Indeed, the fact that I could make time for that 
legal battle when I had to is what caused me to realize that I could 
have made time for a job down at KFC or something.

If you don’t want to work, then don’t.  But the option exists, and 
lots of people manage somehow to make it work receiving nothing but 
federal student aid without a separate government check every month.

Joseph


On Mon, Jun 27, 2011 at 06:26:18PM -0700, Carly Mihalakis wrote:
>
>
>Hi, Kurt,
>
>'Thought I had missed where Joseph edified the list, as to which jobs 
>he himself has had, while going to school. At 03:04 PM 6/27/2011, 
>bookwormahb at earthlink.net wrote:
>>Joeseph, Ah, sighted people have so called handouts too like food 
>>stamps and if you are poor enough, Medicaid. This philosophy 
>>doesn't match reality. The reality is it takes longer to study 
>>college material, particularly visual subjects since we got to have 
>>descriptions or a reader make tactile diagrams. The reality is that 
>>many colleges such as the community college do not have updated 
>>screen reading software making it an unlevel playing field. The 
>>reality is that if you are not writing that short essay yourself, 
>>it takes longer, I mean longer, to dictate it to a scribe. Oh then 
>>that scribe has to read it back to you with punctuation to ensure 
>>you have it as you want it, where as a sighted person can read it 
>>silently. Maybe you took all your tests electronically, and used 
>>jaws fast, but not all of us have that resource. Bottom line it 
>>takes longer to study and as Kirt said working while in school is 
>>Not practical for many reasons. You never said what part time jobs 
>>we could do anyway. You yourself haven't had many interviews even 
>>with a college diploma. Remember most college students are servers 
>>or are selling something like tickets.  When I took interpersonal 
>>communication we did introductions and like a fourth of the class 
>>was waiting tables part time at restaurants; a few were pizza 
>>delivery drivers. Now a blind person can't perform the duties of 
>>those jobs.  I said before you can work part time if you find the 
>>right employer; you could work as a tutor, babysitter, dog walker, 
>>or maybe even as a receptionist.  But its hard to find an open 
>>minded employer without that college education and I contend that 
>>its harder to find little odd jobs to work through school. So seems 
>>to me you really are not practicing what your preaching. Show me 
>>some blind students who work part time and how they do it.  Come 
>>on, is an employer really going to say, buy jaws when the employee 
>>is only working 20 hours a week and won't be there for the long 
>>term?  Do you really think that employer will invest $1000 for that 
>>part time receptionist or customer service representative?  That 
>>money goes toward a screen reader. I do hope you find work soon 
>>though so you won't have to deal with the government. Ashley 
>>-----Original Message----- From: T. Joseph Carter Sent: Monday, 
>>June 27, 2011 4:26 AM To: National Association of Blind Students 
>>mailing list Subject: Re: [nabs-l] [Nfbnet-members-list] Threw Our 
>>Eyes interview, Ride into History, Race for Independence, Wed. June 
>>22, 8:00 pm EDT Actually, the system supposedly provides an income 
>>to people who are incapable of working.  That’s what permanently 
>>disabled means.  You get government money because you meet the 
>>definition of being unable to engage in substantially gainful 
>>activity (i.e., a job). The only way we achieve equality is when a 
>>person is not thought to be unemployable just because they are 
>>blind.  Now, I know how far we are from that day.  There are a good 
>>number of us who can’t seem to find employment largely because of 
>>that one simple fact. All I’m saying is that we shouldn’t 
>>delude ourselves and start thinking the system is anything other 
>>than what it is: A handout to the disabled, because in the eyes of 
>>the government we’re pitiful and helpless, unable to work for a 
>>living.  If stripping away the mask makes people angry, it SHOULD 
>>make them angry. The social security system to us represents the 
>>scraps we are given to placate us.  To keep us content that we 
>>still have a living, even though we do not have access to the 
>>skills and opportunities that would allow us to succeed, excel, and 
>>compete for the same goals that our non-disabled peers do. 
>>Absolutely we should use it when we can as a stepping stone to 
>>something greater, but so many of us fall into the trap of 
>>believing that it is what we deserve.  No, there’s no dignity in 
>>that kind of life, and if we deserve anything at all it is dignity.  
>>So therefore I conclude that we deserve far better.  And for myself 
>>at least, I intend to find better. Joseph On Sun, Jun 26, 2011 at 
>>07:22:22PM -0600, Kirt Manwaring wrote: >Joseph, >  I think you 
>>make very good points.  As I understand it, the system >is designed 
>>to give financial support to those who, because of >disability, 
>>have a difficult time working.  The only reason I'm on SSI >is 
>>because doing my school work, on average, takes a substantially 
>>>longer time than it would if I were sighted because the 
>>alternative >techniques I use often are slower than using sight.  
>>(readers, test >scribes, needing to feel all the details on braille 
>>graphs vs. being >able to look at it all at once and glance at what 
>>I need later, etc.) >School is preparing me to work a regular 
>>job-since my alternative >techniques require lots of time work 
>>isn't really practical for me >while I go through school.  I 
>>suspect that's why you applied for SSI >in the first place.  The 
>>system is not designed to take people who are >perfectly capable of 
>>working and make them in to couch potatoes-I >think that's an 
>>unfortunate side effect of the whole deal.  Rest >assured, once I 
>>get a full-time job, I'll cut the chord with SSI. >Permanently. >  
>>I can only speak for me, and how I see the system.  I don't think 
>>it >was ever intended to be a handout or something to keep able 
>>people >from working.  It's unfortunate many people abuse the 
>>system and, I'll >admit, it makes me angry!  But do you have a 
>>better idea to make sure >we're able to get the education we need 
>>to work?  And anyway (I'm not >talking about you, I don't know your 
>>situation), if someone's able to >work a full-time job, what 
>>business do they have getting SSI?  Best, >Kirt > >On 6/26/11, T. 
>>Joseph Carter <carter.tjoseph at gmail.com> wrote: >> Wait, are you 
>>saying the system is designed for us to sit on our >> collective 
>>duffs and mooch off of others while we piddle around and >> do 
>>nothing?  Does that seem like an appropriate system to you? >> >> 
>>You know how most people get through school?  They work.  Why 
>>should >> we be different?  Yes, I know we ARE, but why should we 
>>accept that? >> We cannot work through school because the very act 
>>of going through >> school takes us longer.  Why?  Because we 
>>haven’t got the skills to >> keep up.  Why?  Because the same 
>>system that is giving us our little >> handout (for which I’m 
>>told we should be grateful) has actively >> interfered in our 
>>efforts to be and do better than that. >> >> As for suing, how, 
>>whom, and why?  My benefits were never actually >> stopped, only 
>>threatened.  Just enough to keep me jumping for my >> government 
>>slavemasters.  I was entitled to, had, and won each of my >> 
>>appeals, so the system worked as designed. >> >> I’m just no 
>>longer willing to be a slave. >> >> Joseph >> >> >> On Sat, Jun 25, 
>>2011 at 01:18:23PM -0600, Kirt Manwaring wrote: >>>Joseph, >>>  You 
>>make great points, and I really do feel for you.  That's 
>>>>>aweful...like, maybe get a social security lawyer kind of 
>>aweful. >>>  All I'm saying is, the way the system is intended to 
>>work (and the >>>way it works for a lot of us), SSI is necessary 
>>income.  I'm using it >>>so I don't starve through school; the 
>>minute I get out and find a >>>full-time job, I'm saying goodbye to 
>>my SSI for good.  That's how it >>>should be-use it to get yourself 
>>able to work then cut the cord.  I >>>know lots of people abuse it, 
>>I know it's poorly managed, and I know >>>you're getting screwed by 
>>the system.  But the way I see it, it's >>>designed to be a boost 
>>up to equality, not a handout.  Of course, >>>everyone doesn't use 
>>it that way. >>>  In any case, best of luck.  I hope things work 
>>out for you.  For >>>what it's worth, I'm sorry you're going 
>>through all this crap. >>>  Best wishes, >>>Kirt >>> >>>On 6/25/11, 
>>T. Joseph Carter <carter.tjoseph at gmail.com> wrote: >>>> Kirt, >>>> 
>>>>>> Social Security and SSI are still a handout, and they come 
>>with >>>> strings attached that make getting off of them pretty 
>>difficult. >>>> Especially if you live in subsidized housing, 
>>collect food stamps, >>>> receive utility subsidies, etc.  If you 
>>do and you go and find >>>> yourself a job that doesn’t pay 
>>enough, you will have a sudden net >>>> reduction in your income 
>>that already doesn’t pay the bills. >>>> >>>> I’ve decided 
>>I’m getting off this roller coaster even if it makes me >>>> 
>>homeless in the process, because I’m sick and tired of living in 
>>fear >>>> that they might take away my benefits!  I’ve gotten 
>>three letters to >>>> that effect in the past two years, in the 
>>midst of cancer treatment >>>> for two of them, all with the 
>>customary 30 day appeal I’d better take >>>> advantage of if I 
>>want to be able to survive another month! >>>> >>>> I’m tired of 
>>getting paid to NOT work.  I’m tired of living in places >>>> 
>>where the government intrudes upon my home three times a year to 
>>make >>>> sure my landlord isn’t complete pond scum (but allowing 
>>them to be >>>> one level removed from pond scum!)  I’m tired of 
>>being told that if I >>>> start working, my rent will suddenly be 
>>120% of what anybody in their >>>> right might would ever pay for 
>>this dump.  And I’m tired of being >>>> told that they’re 
>>sorry, but I just don’t qualify for the work >>>> incentives, or 
>>the better medical coverage, or the exemptions that >>>> might 
>>possibly allow me to save a few hundred dollars with which to >>>> 
>>actually get out of here! >>>> >>>> Your not-a-handout Social 
>>Security and SSI have made slaves of far >>>> too many of us.  
>>Perfectly able to work, but afraid to try for fear >>>> that 
>>we’ll lose what little we’ve got.  We are trapped in a prison 
>>of >>>> learned helplessness, and the only way out is to see these 
>>things—all >>>> of them—for what theyhey are: Government handouts 
>>designed to keep us >>>> docile, afraid, and living in poverty. 
>>>>>> >>>> I’m done playing that game. >>>> >>>> Joseph >>>> >>>> 
>>>>>> On Sat, Jun 25, 2011 at 09:13:21AM -0600, Kirt Manwaring 
>>wrote: >>>>>Carley, >>>>>  First off, I've done a bit of really 
>>light research and I was way >>>>>liberal about what I thought the 
>>cost of this would be.  It's probably >>>>>going to be in the 
>>neighborhood of $100 million, so I was way off. >>>>>That'll teach 
>>me not to make outlandish statements with no proof. >>>>>  But 
>>still, the point I made in my last message stands.  Of course I 
>>>>>>>don't want the government to write out a check for all of us-I 
>>was >>>>>trying to point out that trying to make all the cash out 
>>there more >>>>>"blind-friendly" is not necessary.  Just like we 
>>don't need government >>>>>handouts (I'm not counting SSI as a 
>>government handout because that's >>>>>money lots of us genuinely 
>>need), we don't need the government >>>>>spending $100 million 
>>redesigning currency we can already use with >>>>>pretty much no 
>>problem.  Honestly, if you think you can't afford an >>>>>iBill, 
>>there's probably something you're buying with your $680 a month 
>>>>>>>that you really don't need. >>>>>  Just a thought, >>>>>Kirt 
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