When I began teaching Braille in the Orientation and Training Center,
in 1979, the blind organization in Washington State was affiliated
with the NFB. There was a very small ACB affiliate just beginning to
grow. So we patterned our training program after the one in Des
Moines, Iowa at the Iowa Commission for the Blind. We used sleep
shades in the belief that once a person's vision was at a point where
they could no longer function as a sighted person, then they needed to
learn to be in total reliance on their other senses. Once they had
achieved this goal, and proved to themselves that they could function
fully independent, we removed the sleep shades and spent some time in
using their remaining sight more effectively. This practice of the
sleep shades as a teaching tool met with strong resistance, but to
this day I still see it as critical in the rehabilitation process.
Many students told their families that we were "teaching us to be
blind". Actually, we were attempting to provide the training and the
tools students would need in order to function in a sighted world.
Nonetheless, the world is seen differently depending upon, among other
things, how much usable vision a person has. Pretending to be "Blind"
as in totally blind, was used as a status symbol. DSB director Ken
Hopkins and I had become good friends, and I marveled at how easily he
maneuvered through crowded rooms. I asked his wife Mary, "How much
can Ken see?" Mary quickly replied, "Ken's a blind guy". And to me
that meant that he was totally blind. Later Ken told me that in the
NFB Kenneth Jernigan insisted that we were all, "blind guys", men,
women, totals and partials alike.
I disagreed with him then, and I disagree still. Cathy and I spent
the past 25 years teaching folks to use whatever senses they had. We
taught methods of incorporating the remaining sight with the remaining
hearing, with the remaining senses of smell and touch. We worked on
methods of "remembering" where we put things, because folks memories
were showing wear and tear. And then we told them that if, or when
there were changes in their ability to do their own care,they should
call us and we'd make the needed changes.
This was a vast difference in teaching techniques we used for the older blind.
Carl Jarvis
On 8/27/20, Roger Loran Bailey <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
I went from fully sighted to where I am now, a little bit of vision but
not enough to be useful, and on the way I spent a little bit of time in
each level of legal blindness. If I had just had time to get used to
some of those levels I might have functioned a lot better in them, but
being just barely legally blind is still difficult to deal with. I
remember telling someone when my eyesight was declining that you do run
into walls. That was because I actually did run into a wall. After that
I learned to slow down a bit and pay better attention. So, does one have
the right to call oneself blind if one is just barely legally blind? If
not then there just about has to be some kind of acknowledgement of the
condition. At least one should call oneself visually impaired. And as I
was typing I remembered a certain incident from the time my eyesight was
declining. My eyesight worked better in some levels of light than in
others. Bright sunlight was a problem for me, but so was certain stages
of dusk. I was walking on the outskirts of a certain plaza just as
evening was coming on. I thought I could see where I was going perfectly
well. The plaza appeared to be empty. Suddenly I ran - splat - into a
lamppost. My arms flew out and I literally bounced off it. I was so
surprised that I just stood there a moment looking at the lamp post.
Then I realized that the plaza was not as empty as I thought. Across the
plaza I heard someone breaking up in laughter.
___
Carl Sagan
“Every aspect of Nature reveals a deep mystery and touches our sense of
wonder and awe. Those afraid of the universe as it really is, those who
pretend to nonexistent knowledge and envision a Cosmos centered on human
beings will prefer the fleeting comforts of superstition. They avoid rather
than confront the world. But those with the courage to explore the weave and
structure of the Cosmos, even where it differs profoundly from their wishes
and prejudices, will penetrate its deepest mysteries.”
― Carl Sagan, Cosmos
On 8/27/2020 1:34 PM, Miriam Vieni wrote:
I do remember NFB's insistence that one is blind, even if one is legally
blind but can see enough to move comfortably without a cane and can read
print with some magnification. Didn't people have to be blindfolded during
rehabilitation in NFB facilities? I had a friend who became totally
blind, but originally had partial vision. His parents were blind. I don't
think that he was a member of either NFB or ACB. He was a ham radio
operator with a talent for computers. He and his sighted friend, also a
ham radio operator, bought my first computer for me in 1993, a dos
computer, and his friend set it up and taught me how to use it. It had the
forerunner to Window Eyes, whatever that program for dos was called and
Zoomtext as the print enlargement program. Although I'd lost a lot of
vision by then, I could use Zoomtext at 16X. My blind friend wanted me not
to use it at all. He wanted me to depend solely on the screen reader
because, he was sure, I'd eventually lose my useable eyesight and I'd have
to relearn everything. To me, that was an insane position to take. I had
some eyesight and I wanted to use it while I had it. He was wrong. It
wasn't until 2018 or 2019 that I stopped using magnification as backup
help to Jaws on my computer. And using my sight didn't prevent me from
using the computer when my sight was no longer available.
But you were talking about people taking advantage of these inclusion
quotas. That's what Elizabeth Warren did, claiming her Indian heritage for
admittance to something or other. I can't remember what.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Thursday, August 27, 2020 11:42 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Jacob Blake's Father Says His Son Is
Paralyzed Below Waist After Being Shot From Behind by Kenosha Police
Miriam,
Seems like Black is the dominant color in the crayon box. I interviewed a
fellow many years ago, who told me he was considered to be Black. Turned
out he could justify about an eighth African American. I can trace about
the same percentage, only my minority is Native American Indian. That
doesn't count. Yet we both were brought up in the same culture, in the
same city and attended the same university.
My last Secretary(administrative assistant)was on the register as a
Hispanic. When Cathy met her, she was surprised to find herself looking
at a fair haired, light complexioned woman. She turned out to be a
terrific assistant, but she had no connection with the Spanish community,
other than that her grandmother was half Mexican.
Labels, labels, labels. Gotta have our quotas.
When I signed up for several mid management courses, I noticed that among
the forty or so participants, there were only two women in one group and
three in the second group. One Black man in one group and none in the
other. I was the only disabled person in both groups, although one
participant edged up to me and whispered, "I've got a hidden disability".
Turned out he had a fairly severe hearing loss.
The state was busy training up its future managers from a nearly all
white, all male collection. And back in the late 1980's no one raised so
much as an eyebrow.
Even among the blind in the NFB it was important to wear the proper label.
Since Jacobus tenBroek was totally blind, and so was Kenneth Jernigan,
even the high partials faked vision loss. We were all, "Blind Guys", men
and women, partials and totals alike.
Belonging seems to trump honesty...hmm...Trump trumps honesty, too.
But I've strayed, so I'll go have some more coffee.
Carl Jarvis
On 8/26/20, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Carl,
Maybe Jacobus tenBroek was black, sort of like Obama is, only less so.
Who was it who was the head of the NAACP who looked and sounded white?
I guess that new book called, Caste, is right. Being black is more a
question of caste than race. In this country, you can look and sound
white, and you're still black.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2020 8:15 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Jacob Blake's Father Says His Son Is
Paralyzed Below Waist After Being Shot From Behind by Kenosha Police
Miriam,
I never met Jacobus tenBroek, but it was his speeches in "The Man and
the Movement" that drew me into the NFB. Cathy tells me that in his
pictures he looks White, although many folks who are considered to be
Black look quite Caucasian. Still, listening to his speeches, I dream up
an image of FDR.
But speaking of Black Blind Leaders, back in the 70's John McCaw was
president of the Maryland NFB, and was on the NFB Board of Directors.
John had a voice that was not only loud but very deep. John was
working for the state of Maryland in a social service agency, in an
administrative position.
John was a very likable man, but his blind nephew was a stuck up, self
centered snob. I forget his name, but he married a friend of mine,
and moved to Washington State. Both he and his wife Jackie, had their
PhD's, but I don't think he ever did work. Jackie, also totally
blind, worked for the State Social and Health Services. Her family
disowned her for marrying a Black man. I lost track of him after
Jackie was killed by a hit and run driver. When John died, Kenneth
Jernigan wrote an eulogy which he read to the convention and published
it in the Braille Monitor. In it he attempted to show John's real
humble spirit by telling how John would take Jernigan's shoes out and
polish them. I'd need to find it in order to get the feel of it again,
but I remembered feeling insulted for John.
Carl Jarvis
On 8/26/20, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
That's tragic, especially because, neither are NFB or ACB interested
in this particular issue. Aside from Tenbrook, who started NFB, and I
never knew that he was black until I read it somewhere recently, I
don't think that there have been any black people in leadership
positions in the national organizations. I don't think there are any
African American people on the blindness email lists that I'm on.
Miriam .
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Wednesday, August 26, 2020 3:39 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Jacob Blake's Father Says His Son Is
Paralyzed Below Waist After Being Shot From Behind by Kenosha Police
Absolutely true. White, even as a blind man, has its privileges. A
number of Black people attended the Training Center over the years I
worked there.
Most of the ones who did go on to work, ended up at the Seattle Light
House for the Blind.
I can't think of a single Black client who came close to holding down
a job that paid as much as mine paid. One man ended up operating a
snack bar in the Public Assistance building. He had been a nurse
when he could see. His wife was director of the Head Start Program
in King County, but her connections didn't help her husband. A very
bright and talented fellow played the electric organ in a high end
bar in Seattle's Greenwood area. He did make a bit of a name for
himself, but not until he left the Northwest and settled in Los
Angeles.
Another young man ended up operating a machine at the Light House,
when he would probably have been self employed is a contractor if he
were White, or if he could see. One young woman was standing on the
street corner with a group of friends, when she was shot in the head
by a senseless drive by scumbag. She never worked again. We did a
great amount of training students in how to deal with the
disadvantages of applying for work while blind, but we were not
equipped to deal with the problems that arose for the students who
were both blind and Black.
Carl Jarvis
On 8/25/20, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Yes, and being a white protestant man allowed you to know people who
were in positions that allowed them to be of help.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Tuesday, August 25, 2020 8:23 PM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: Jacob Blake's Father Says His Son Is
Paralyzed Below Waist After Being Shot From Behind by Kenosha Police
Jacob Blake is the same age I was when I became totally blind. I
hope he has the same support network that enabled me to return to
college.
And I hope he has a network of friends in administrative positions
who can assist him in securing a decent living.
Having a friend who became director of our Services for the Blind
agency sure gave me a leg up. Oh yes, one other thing. The color
of my skin gave me a decided advantage. And even so, it took me 10
years before I was earning the same income as I'd earned when I was
sighted.
Carl Jarvis
On 8/25/20, Miriam Vieni <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Published on
Tuesday, August 25, 2020
byCommon Dreams
Jacob Blake's Father Says His Son Is Paralyzed Below Waist After
Being Shot From Behind by Kenosha Police Marches and demonstrations
have been held nationwide demanding justice for the 29-year-old
father of six, who is Black.
byJessica Corbett, staff writer
A boy sits on his father's shoulders while holding a sign on August
24,
2020
in Kenosha, Wisconsin. (Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images) A boy
sits on his father's shoulders while holding a sign on August 24,
2020
in Kenosha, Wisconsin. (Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Jacob Blake, a 29-year-old Black man whom police shot in the back
multiple times in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Sunday, is now paralyzed
from the waist down and doctors do not yet know if the injury is
permanent, his father told the Chicago Sun-Times on Tuesday.
"Those police officers that shot my son like a dog in the street
are responsible for everything that has happened in the city of
Kenosha."
-Jacob Blake's father
The younger Blake, a father of six, was reportedly trying to break
up a fight before officers followed him to his vehicle and fired
several shots at point-blank range as Blake opened the driver-side
door.
Blake's partner, Laquisha Booker, told a local television station
that the couple's three children were in the back seat "screaming"
when police shot him.
A video of the police shooting began circulating on social media
Sunday, sparking protests in the Wisconsin city and other
communities across the country. The incident came nearly three
months after footage of Minneapolis police killing George Floyd led
to nationwide demonstrations.
The Sun-Times reported that Blake's father is driving from
Charlotte, North Carolina to be with his hospitalized son, who now
has "eight holes" in his body. The 29-year-old grew up in
Winston-Salem, North Carolina before moving to Evanston, Illinois
during middle school. He has been living in Kenosha for about three
years.
"I want to put my hand on my son's cheek and kiss him on his
forehead, and then I'll be OK," said the elder Jacob Blake. "I'll
kiss him with my mask.
The first thing I want to do is touch my son."
Blake's father also addressed the protests and unrest in Kenosha,
where vehicles and dozens of buildings were set on fire overnight,
according to Newsweek.
"Those police officers that shot my son like a dog in the street
are responsible for everything that has happened in the city of
Kenosha,"
his father said. "My son is not responsible for it. My son didn't
have a weapon.
He didn't have a gun."
As ABC News reported:
The man who said he made the cellphone video, 22-year-old Raysean
White, said he saw Blake scuffling with three officers and heard
them yell, "Drop the knife! Drop the knife!" before the gunfire
erupted.
He said he didn't see a knife in Blake's hands.
The governor said he had seen no information to suggest Blake had a
knife or other weapon, but that the case is still being
investigated by the state Justice Department.
The officers were placed on administrative leave, which is standard
practice in a shooting by police. Authorities released no details
about the officers and did not immediately respond to requests for
their service records.
Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers activated 125 members of the
National Guard for the Monday night demonstrations in Kenosha,
where county officials imposed an 8:00 pm curfew.
Newsweek reported that "hundreds of people remained outside the
Kenosha County Courthouse in the city after the curfew took effect,
prompting police to fire the first of several rounds of tear gas at
around 8:30 pm in a bid to disperse them."
Evers also said after the shooting that although all the details
aren't yet known, "what we know for certain is that he is not the
first Black man or person to have been shot or injured or
mercilessly killed at the hands of individuals in law enforcement
in our state or our country."
Blake's family is being represented by civil rights and personal
injury attorney Ben Crump, the lawyer confirmed in a statement
Monday.
Crump is also representing the families of Floyd and Breonna
Taylor, who was killed by Louisville police in March.
"We all watched the horrific video of Jacob Blake being shot in the
back several times by Kenosha police. Even worse, his three sons
witnessed their father collapse after being riddled with bullets,"
Crump said. "Their irresponsible, reckless, and inhumane actions
nearly cost the life of a man who was simply trying to do the right
thing by intervening in a domestic incident. It's a miracle he's
still alive."
"We will seek justice for Jacob Blake and for his family as we
demand answers from the Kenosha Police Department," the attorney
vowed. "How many more of these tragic 'while Black' tragedies will
it take until the racial profiling and undervaluing of Black lives
by the police finally stops?"
Crump, co-counsels Patrick Salvi and B'Ivory LaMarr, and Blake's
family will hold a news conference Tuesday at 3:00 pm local time at
the Kenosha County Courthouse. According to the attorneys, "The
family will address Jacob's current condition and their plans
moving forward following the latest occurrence of excessive police
force against the young Black man."