The Kentucky Cardinal
SUMMER 2013
A publication of the National
Federation of the Blind of Kentucky
Cathy Jackson, President
210
Cambridge Drive
Louisville, Kentucky 40214
Phone: (502)
366-2317
Edited by: Denise Franklin
3639 Hurstbourne Ridge
Boulevard
Louisville, Kentucky 40299
Phone: (502) 499-0759
E-mail: kyfranks@yahoo.com
Editorial
staff:
Lora Felty, e-mail: lorafelty@windstream.net
We
invite and encourage your participation in this newsletter. Articles may be
edited for length, and the editors reserve the right to judge suitability for
this publication. Material must take the form of an attachment to an e-mail and
may be submitted to any of the editors.
PRESIDENTIAL
REPORT
By Cathy Jackson
President, National Federation of the Blind
of Kentucky
Coming Soon!
The 2013 NFB of Kentucky
State
Convention
I hope you have circled the dates of October 4, 5 and 6 on
your calendar because this is the weekend we will call the 66th annual state
convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky to order.
Although the agenda has not been put to bed just yet, I can give you plenty of
preliminary information so that you can plan ahead.
Let the party begin!
Our NFB of Greater Louisville is hosting the 2013 NFBK convention. Melanie
Peskoe, President, is working with the NFBGL Board and the members to plan our
Friday evening social. It’s a great way to have fun with old friends and new
ones too.
You can begin making your room reservations at the Ramada
Inn, 9700 Bluegrass Parkway, Louisville, KY, by calling (502) 491-4830. Our
room rates are $89.95 per night, per room, plus tax. You are strongly
encouraged to make your reservations on or before September 13. As usual, the
hotel is under no obligation to hold our block of rooms after this cut-off
date. You are taking a gamble by waiting. I also want to remind you to let the
operator know you are with the NFBK so you are assured of receiving our hotel
rate.
Again this year we would like to offer first-timers the opportunity
to apply for a financial scholarship. George Stokes chairs this committee and
he can be contacted for an application and additional information. His email
address and phone number are: george4581@gmail.com, (502) 330-2344.
The deadline for assistance is September 15. The amount of assistance given
will be determined on an individual basis.
Any time we are working with a
hotel and using their catering services, meals tend to be a bit more expensive
than eating in a restaurant. We try to keep expenses at a minimum, but we can’t
afford to loose money either. We will charge a $10 registration fee. This
money helps defray convention expenses such as printing agendas, banquet tickets
for invited guests, rooms for scholarship finalists and our National
Representative. The silver lining is your registration fee makes you eligible
for door prizes. Our open board meeting and luncheon are once again on the
agenda. The cost per person is $20. Our traditional Saturday evening banquet
is $32. A pre-registration form is included in this issue of the Kentucky
Cardinal. Please complete the form and include your check or money order
payable to the NFB of Kentucky and mail it directly to Mike Freholm, 2012 Harris
Way, Russell, KY 41169. Mike needs to have your payment no later than
September
22nd. This gives us plenty of time to get accurate head counts
for the number of meals we need and to be able to work with the hotel on room
setup. Don’t forget to include the names of all persons for whom you are
registering and purchasing meal tickets.
Mike Freholm will man the
registration table in the lobby of the hotel from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM Friday
afternoon and again on Saturday morning from 8:00 AM until 8:45 AM. You should
stop by and pick up your badge and meal tickets during these times. Those who
have not pre-registered can register during the hours of operation. Make note:
for those who register at convention there will be an additional $5 added to the
cost of registration and to each meal ticket purchased.
Included on the
registration form is information you must complete if you plan to take advantage
of child-care. Every effort is made to insure that your children are well taken
care of, so we need plenty of time to prepare. We would like for parents to let
us know as soon as possible if we can expect your child(ren). Please get in
touch with Melanie Peskoe at (502) 380-3700. If we haven’t heard from you by
Friday, September 27 we will make provisions based on the number of children who
have confirmed. Child-care will be open all day Saturday, October 5 from 8:30
AM until after the banquet. Lunch and snacks will be provided.
Our
reverse raffle tickets are back by popular demand. Please, please help us sell
a record number of these tickets. One major expense each year is our college
scholarships. The proceeds from this fundraising event go a long way to help a
worthy student meet the financial burden of tuition, books and other expenses.
You can contact me personally to obtain tickets by calling, (502) 366-2317.
Pamela Glisson will chair our resolutions committee. If you have a
resolution to submit, or a proposal you should contact Pamela at, pam.glisson@insightbb.com, or by
phone at, (859) 335-9282.
Denise Franklin has been appointed to chair
the awards committee. Please give serious thought to those individuals you
believe deserve recognition. Individuals are eligible to receive the: Susan B.
Rarick, Harold L. Reagan, and T. V. Cranmer awards. Our chapters and divisions
doing outstanding work in the organization can be nominated for the Robert E.
Whitehead award. If you have any thoughts about awards please contact Denise
ASAP at kyfranks@yahoo.com, or by phone
at (502) 499-0759. She will appreciate your input.
Tressie Smith, a
member of the NFBGL board, is in charge of door prizes. You should contact
Tressie when you arrive at the hotel. She will be more than happy to relieve
you of your packages. New items for both men and women are requested, and some
of that green folding stuff too.
Our Technology Assistance Division
(TAD) is planning another technology seminar. Last year’s session went so well
that the division thought it would be a splendid idea to try again at the 2013
convention. Todd Stephens, President of the division, is working on a program
that will present information and hands-on-experience with the iPad. There is
also going to be an update on NFB NEWSLINE. Pamela and John Glisson will have a
wealth of information to share. A little bird told me there would be a couple
of surprise guests in the house. This session will begin at 3:00 PM Friday
afternoon.
Our Kentucky Association of Blind Students, (KABS) will
gather for their annual meeting and election of officers at 6:00 PM on Friday.
Katie Adkins, president, is working on the agenda. The focus will be on
transition from college to a career. Katie wants to invite all students, high
school and college to attend. There are issues unique to students, so don’t be
shy about opening up to your comrades. Networking is the name of the game.
The convention will be gaveled to order on Saturday morning promptly at
9:00 AM. We will have the affiliate report along with guest speakers during the
morning session. Then at noon we will have the open board meeting and
luncheon. I hope you will decide to dine with us. This is your chance to meet
the NFBK board and watch us in action. We will go back into general session at
2:00 PM. We start with the report from our National Office. Patti Chang, the
President of our Illinois Affiliate and Member of the National Board of
Directors is our representative. The afternoon is devoted primarily to
business, which includes: a legislative report, resolutions, funding the
movement, election of officers, and any other business that needs to be brought
before the assembly.
We wrap up our Saturday in a neat little package we
call the banquet. It’s time to let our hair down and bask in the glory, which
is the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky. We will enjoy a meal,
which symbolizes a family coming together. Patti Chang will deliver our banquet
address. Patti and I have gotten to be good friends over the years and I was
excited when Dr. Maurer assigned her to be our national representative.
It is only fitting to honor our scholarship winners at this most
auspicious occasion. We should be proud of them, for They deserve all of the
accolades and applause we can give them. I for one, am delighted that we are
able to continue with our scholarship program. Education is such a big part of
what we do to help blind students realize a better future.
We save the
presentation of awards until the banquet because those who are being honored
deserve to have the spotlight shining on them, even if it is just for a few
minutes. They are being recognized because of their commitment to our
cause.
We won’t adjourn the banquet until all of our drawings have taken
place. You can’t win if you don’t participate. Bring a few extra bucks and
support our affiliate, chapters, and divisions. Melanie Peskoe, will MC the
banquet. Melanie, are you up to the challenge? I think so.
The
National Association to Promote the use of Braille in Kentucky meets on Sunday
morning. Michael Freholm, President would like to get started at 9:00 AM. He
wants to encourage all of you to attend, even if you aren’t a Braille reader.
He says we need new and innovative ideas from every corner of the state and
everywhere in-between to keep this division alive.
I can always be
reached for questions and suggestions at cathyj1949@gmail.com or (502) 366-2317.
I hope to see your smiling face at convention. Remember, we wouldn’t be who we
are--the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky without you.
KENTUCKY NFB-NEWSLINE®
Building the Accessible Information
Future!
By Pamela Roark-Glisson
Current Event Assignment: 5 page essay
conveying your opinion of Edward Snowden – Patriot Hero or Traitor? (Use 3
newspaper sources)
Lexington Catholic Freshman Honors Student – Newspaper
Sources: Herald Leader, Chevy Chaser, Trader Joe’s
Munfordville Special
Education Freshman Student – Moscow Times, Washington Post, Boston
Globe
**Who do you think came out on TOP?
The KY Newsline is
continuing to make available to Kentuckians who are unable to use conventional
print a phenomenal array of information accessible by the touch-tone telephone,
Internet on-line, IOS Mobile App, portable audio and Braille devices and
e-mail!!!
Latest and greatest additions to the service in 2013 further
explosive content with advanced interactive features on the horizon! The KY Bar
Association has sought out the KY Newsline for the preferred median by which the
highly esteemed “Bench & Bar” membership publication will be audible to the
members who cannot use conventional print! Afterall, it is the law. The new
Weather Forecast and Information specific to the subscriber’s Zip Code is now
available under option #2 off the main menu, #1 off the submenu! Do you simply
need to remain indoors when the pollen and mold counts are high, but learn about
it too late--after you’ve become deathly ill? NO MORE!!! Discover these
indicators and more on the Weather Channel.
Is it a bit “SyFy” to begin
to expect to have the capability to change the personal account Zip Code so that
weather and related information can be explored before travel or to use Newsline
to explore the library for your favorite reading pleasure or informational
need? Stay tuned … If your imagination can go there, NFB-NEWSLINE® will
announce the information there!
Please share with us your informational
interests (newspapers, magazines, store ads, etc.) and innovative feature ideas
(Pound 9, My Newspaper, Global Search, etc.) Share your personal stories with
us (enhancing employment, education, family, etc.! Your story may be the ONE
that opens bank accounts to join in building the informational future by
creating employment around the Commonwealth for our children who are print
impaired to have meaningful careers or to convert the hopeless pessimist
believing that no amount of information can help!
Story: July 3, 2013
NFB Convention Newsline Exhibit Table
Mom approached the Newsline table
searching for alternative ways and methods for her 12-year-old daughter to use
print in the classroom. As I described all the massive amount of news media, TV
listing, job searching, personal interaction and other items typically of
interest, the 12-year- old girl who also happened to be visually impaired said,
“No, I don’t think so.” I thought a second and asked the young lady to humor me
just a moment so that I could share a personal story with her. “Ok,” she
said.
“I was listening to the evening world news one night when the
commentator mentioned a Giant Sequoia in the forests of Northern California
falling for no apparent reason, just simply uprooting and toppling over! I
could picture that enormous tree so extraordinarily huge reaching the length of
hundreds of feet even greater than the length of football fields … All sorts of
questions immediately jumped into my mind, and I listened more intently to the
television news for more detail, but the commentator said nothing more about the
Sequoia! Just that it had fallen and no one knew why.”
I was very
disappointed and wanted to know more, for I have all my life been absolutely
fascinated by those hugantic monstrous trees that cars and trucks can drive
through on major highways with the tops completely out of sight!!! I happened
to think about the KY Newsline Global Search feature, dialed up, keyed in
Sequoia and more than 27 newspaper articles pulled up immediately from local
California newspapers in cities all around Northern California where the Giant
Sequoia took its tumble! By reading the articles, I discovered all I ever
wanted to know about the Giant Sequoia that made the evening news.
The
12-year-old girl responded to this story with, “How do I register?”
Send
your comments and stories to Pamela Roark-Glisson at pglisson@independenceplaceky.org.
You may now register independently on-line at HTTP://www.independenceplaceky.org/Programs/
… or call (877) 266-2807 for more information.
KENTUCKY
ROUNDUP
A big hello from the Greater Louisville chapter of the National
Federation of the Blind of Kentucky! Before I write more about what our chapter
has been up to, I’d like to take a sentence or two to introduce myself. For
those who don’t know me, my name is Melanie Peskoe and I am the newly elected
chapter President. I recently graduated with a master’s degree in public
health, I am the owner of an Avon business, and I am currently working on a
project involving personal development consulting for blind women. My husband
is Mike and we have two visually impaired children, Peyton, our six year old
son, and Megan, our thirteen year old daughter.
Since the last issue of the
Cardinal was published, the Greater Louisville chapter of NFBK has been pretty
busy. In April we held our annual Spring Luncheon, which included a fantastic
barbeque lunch catered by Mark’s Feed Store. During the luncheon the 2013-2014
NFBGL Board of Directors was elected and they are as follows: Melanie Peskoe,
President; Katie Adkins, Vice President; Maria Jones, Treasurer; Cindy Smith,
Secretary; Tressie Smith, Director; and Leonard Stamper, Director. We didn’t
let much time pass before we got busy with the new annual meeting agenda!
In
May we held a business meeting during which Secretary’s and Treasurer’s reports
were given. We decided to go back to our roots at this meeting and played a
game of NFB trivia! Not only did we learn a lot, but we had a lot of fun in the
process! Also during May, two board members (Maria Jones and Tressie Smith)
attended a local disability awards function where they handed out NFB literature
and spoke with people about our organization. In June we took the opportunity
to meet at the Kentucky School for the Blind during the two weeks that the
Summer Enrichment Program was held. Chapter members socialized and shared ice
cream sundaes with the middle and high school students who were there. After
the ice cream many of us went outside and participated in a water balloon fight
(big thanks to Katie Adkins for filling over 300 water balloons!) For the month
of July we decided to take the show on the road and have some
bowling
fun. Members were encouraged to bring school supplies that were later donated
to a local charity. For each donation a chapter member received an extra entry
into a drawing for an all-expenses paid trip to the NFBK state convention! Now
that’s a good deal!
In early August the Greater Louisville chapter took a
group to the annual ADA rally in Frankfort and was motivated and inspired by
NFBK’s own Pamela Glisson who has a huge role in this event each year. Kudos,
Pamela, for a spectacular event! Also in August we had a pizza and bingo event,
but before the games began we discussed national, state, and local ways in which
we can all participate in funding our movement. We also encouraged members to
continue to donate school supplies for entry into the convention trip drawing,
which will be held on Thursday, September 19 during our next meeting.
Speaking of September, we plan to once again meet with high school students
who reside at KSB and give them more information about the NFB and our many
beneficial programs. October’s Meet the Blind Month is right around the corner
and the Greater Louisville chapter plans to keep itself busy with activities to
help promote the mission of the NFB. Also in October we plan to have our annual
Halloween party, which has grown over the past several years and is very well
attended! Lastly, just to pique your curiosity, in November we plan to host a
chili cook off and “how-to” event.
We look forward to seeing you all in
October here in Louisville at the NFBK state convention! Our chapter wants to
make your visit as pleasant as possible so please don’t hesitate to let us know
if we can be of any assistance as you plan your trip!
Here is a report
from Todd Stephens, President of the Technical Assistance Division.
I’ll
start by updating you on the Technical Assistance Division (TAD) membership. We
have grown to an astounding 31 members in 2013. I am ecstatic to have you all
involved in TAD and very much looking forward to further increasing our
membership in the months to come.
What have we been up to? Well, TAD has a
new website which can be found at http://www.nfbkentuckytad.org. TAD has
a new logo as well, which is none other than Whozit engaged in a session on the
laptop. Please do check us out! We have also ratified the TAD constitution.
The most notable change is the additional board seat which will take effect with
the 2013-14 board. You may find the amended TAD constitution at http://www.nfbkentuckytad.org/about.html.
I
have appointed John Glisson to serve as the nominating chair for TAD and have
appointed Scott Spaulding to serve as Technical Advisor. Both gentlemen bring a
lot of experience and knowledge to the TAD board and we are fortunate to have
them in the fold. I have recently asked Jennifer Hall to head up our
fundraising committee in addition to her position as secretary and she has
graciously accepted. Jennifer has quite a bit of fundraising experience with
her church and with the NFB. We are looking forward to the challenge of
generating funds with her at the helm.
Speaking of generating funds, the
Technical Assistance Division has a raffle under way. This year’s fundraiser is
a 32 GB iPad Mini valued at $429.00. It’s not the base model, either (color is
black). Raffle tickets are $5 per chance and can be purchased from any of the
TAD board members, as well as on-line at http://www.nfbkentuckytad.org/index.html.
Get your raffle tickets and, why not get them today?
Lastly, Sandra Williams,
Tonia Gatton and I are working collectively to bring you an interesting and
informative presentation at the NFBK State Convention this year. The TAD
presentation and board meeting will take place on Friday afternoon between 3 and
6 PM. Specific details are forthcoming. Thank you for your time and see you
all at convention.
Although the Ashland Chapter is our
newest NFBK chapter, we were excited to have more members of our group attend
national convention than any of the other state chapters. All but two of our
members attended, and two of our members, Angela Dehart and Danielle Burton,
received national scholarships. We were thrilled that Danielle’s mother,
grandmother and aunt joined us at the end of convention to celebrate with us at
the annual banquet. There were actually 10 of us on the flight home from
Orlando. Not too bad for a little chapter!
Fun in the Ashland Chapter
didn’t end after national convention. On Saturday, July 27, 2013 the Ashland
Chapter held its annual summer picnic at Armco Park. Nearly 20 individuals,
including chapter members, along with family and good friends gathered together
for fellowship and delicious food. It was a lovely evening to be at the park
and spend time with friends.
The annual meeting of the NFB of
Lexington was in April, 2013. Members and guests who were present, enjoyed
lunch, elected officers and focused on fund development for the chapter. The
Gala and Silent Auction which was May 31 at the Signature Club at Lansdown was
an exquisite event. The music by Tango Mango, the Barbecue Sundaes and auction
items surpassed expectation. The funfilled enthusiastic bidding, the hard work
of the members, friends and family and the donors together made the Gala a grand
success.
It was with sadness that we said goodbye to one of our members
who moved out of state this Summer. The 2013 NFB national convention was
outstanding and five of the chapter members were privileged to attend. Congrats
to Hamid who returned from Iran with a new bride!
NFB of Lexington in
conjunction with community partners is planning a White Cane Safety Day event in
an effort to raise awareness about people who are blind and using the long white
cane for independent mobility in the community.
For more information,
contact Pamela Roark-Glisson, President at (859) 948-3663 or check us out on
NFBLEX.org.
I’VE BEEN THINKING
By Cathy Jackson, President,
NFBK
This summer the American Printing House for the Blind sponsored a
film fest, which featured movies starring actors and actresses portraying blind
individuals. I attended the last of the three movies “A Patch of Blue.” This
film was released in 1965 at the height of the civil rights movement. Elizabeth
Hartman portrays Selina, an 18-year-old blind girl, who lives in a one-room
apartment with an abusive mother, Rose-Ann, and her grandfather, Old Paw. She
was blinded at the age of five by flying glass thrown during a drunken brawl
between her mother and grandfather. She had no formal education. As a matter
of fact, she didn’t even know what Braille was. Her world was confined, for the
most part, behind the four walls of the tiny apartment with only the radio to
keep her company. Her family was ashamed of her and the only purpose she served
in life, as far as they were concerned, was to clean, cook, and iron. She did
earn a pittance of an
income stringing beaded necklaces.
Selina’s
visits to the park are the only real enjoyment she has in life. And these
visits were rare and depended on the kindness of others to take her there and
bring her home. As her trips to the park become more frequent she befriends a
young gentleman, Gordon, played by Sidney Poitier. Gordon is a black man,
employed as an office worker. Selina is totally unaware that her friend is
black until her mother sees the two of them walking home. Rose-Ann becomes
outraged and confronts her daughter about this socially taboo relationship. She
tries to put a stop to Selina’s outings. Selina falls in love with Gordon, and
although the words are never spoken aloud, we sense that he loves her. Selina
and Gordon never become romantically involved. Gordon’s intelligence and good
judgment won’t allow the relationship to move beyond a true friendship. He
recognizes her potential and makes arrangements for her to attend a residential
school for the
blind. He also sees this as the one chance to rescue Selina
from her dismal, abusive life.
After the film ended there was a
question and answer session. We talked about the symbolism such as, even though
movies in 1965 were being filmed in color, the producers made the decision to
film “A Patch of Blue” in black and white. The name of the movie was chosen
because Selina remembers that the sky is blue. She was a slave to her family.
Even though she was a white woman she was treated with less dignity because she
was blind. It was easy to compare Selina’s life to that of the blacks during
this time of racial unrest.
In 1965 at the ripe old age of
sixteen, I was a junior at the Kentucky School for the Blind. The biggest
worries my friends and I had were whether or not we would have a date to the
school dance, or whether or no the cheerleaders would be invited to go along to
the next away wrestling meet. I lived in a pretty simple world, a world
protected by dreams of what my future would hold.
I’ve been thinking a
lot since watching this film for--goodness knows how many times. I never gave
it a second thought in 1965 that blind people were suffering at the hands of
discrimination. It never occurred to me that blind people were being treated
inhumanely and being forced to grovel for whatever means of existence they could
find. I admit I knew more about racial discrimination than I did about
discrimination against the blind. I could tell you about the race riots in
Selma, Alabama and the federally mandated desegregation of all white schools in
the South. I remember the open housing marches in cities across the nation
protesting the right of blacks to live wherever they chose. One such march took
place just a few blocks from where I grew up as a child. Sadly, I vividly
remember when public restrooms were segregated—one for blacks and one for
whites. But I couldn’t tell you about one blind child who wasn’t receiving an
equal
education. There were about 170 students enrolled in KSB, grades
kindergarten through twelve. So that’s bound to be all of us, right? I didn’t
know of any blind adults who didn’t have a job or place to live.
Was I
naïve? Absolutely! There was, however, a plausible explanation. I had good
blind role models. They worked every day, kept house and raised their children
like the sighted adults I knew. The vast majority had high school diplomas and
many of them had college degrees. Even the few who didn’t complete school had a
decent job. I never doubted for a second that my life would be any different.
I was already considering which college I wanted to attend and the career path I
might take. A house and family were a given.
It wasn’t until I became
an active member of the National Federation of the Blind, about ten years later,
that the plight of the blind came into full focus. How could I have possibly
overlooked all of this? Again, there were good reasons. For one, the issues
and struggles of the black race were in the headlines of every newspaper and the
lead story on every 6 O’clock news broadcast on TV. Blacks had been fighting
for their place in society for over a hundred years. The blind had only begun
to fight. Our effort to gain recognition was only about thirty-five to forty
years old, give or take a few years.
As I grow in the movement I can
look back and see significant changes. Even though I believed life to be almost
perfect in 1965, I now realize that I was looking at the world through my
cataract lenses that were slightly rose-colored. Those individuals, although
they had jobs, were perhaps not working in their dream job. They were teachers
at a school for the blind. Some were employed at the American Printing House
for the Blind. Others worked as receptionists at city hall. Still others were
vending stand operators. There were a few working in the state-run sheltered
workshop. I should add that the sheltered shop here in Kentucky did pay at
least minimum wage and treated the employees with considerable more respect than
in typical shops of this kind. All of these were the sorts of jobs blind people
could do, and were expected to do.
The jobs blind people are performing
in 2013 are significantly more varied than they were in 1965. We have blind
professors teaching in colleges, and blind teachers in our public schools. Our
blind merchants have expanded their snack bars once located in dark, dingy,
basements to full-service cafeterias. The secretary at APH is now the office
manager supervising the secretarial pool. Those working in state, federal and
local government positions have more responsibility and duties because of
accessible technology. The piano tuner is now owner of the company, not just
tuning pianos, but buying, selling, and refurbishing them. There are employment
opportunities these days that blind people only dreamed of fifty years ago. Who
would have thought there would be blind chemists? In 2012 a blind man, Parnell
Diggs, ran for congress. We see blind men and women every day with the know-how
to produce the hardware and software components for the accessible
equipment
we use. There are blind nurses working in our hospitals. And who in their
wildest imagination would have thought a blind person could drive a car. There
is a reason for all of this too; it’s the hard work and continued advocacy of
the National Federation of the Blind.
I want the blind children of
today to lead an uncomplicated life. I want them to enjoy the opportunities
given to them. There will be plenty of time to become an adult, and they will.
These are their “good old days.” They should be cherished and remembered
fondly. Then they will be called to action. It will be their turn to step up
and make the world a better place for the next generation.
I’VE BEEN
THINKING
By Cathy Jackson, President, NFBK
This summer the
American Printing House for the Blind sponsored a film fest, which featured
movies starring actors and actresses portraying blind individuals. I attended
the last of the three movies “A Patch of Blue.” This film was released in 1965
at the height of the civil rights movement. Elizabeth Hartman portrays Selina,
an 18-year-old blind girl, who lives in a one-room apartment with an abusive
mother, Rose-Ann, and her grandfather, Old Paw. She was blinded at the age of
five by flying glass thrown during a drunken brawl between her mother and
grandfather. She had no formal education. As a matter of fact, she didn’t even
know what Braille was. Her world was confined, for the most part, behind the
four walls of the tiny apartment with only the radio to keep her company. Her
family was ashamed of her and the only purpose she served in life, as far as
they were concerned, was to clean, cook, and iron. She did earn a pittance of
an
income stringing beaded necklaces.
Selina’s visits to the park
are the only real enjoyment she has in life. And these visits were rare and
depended on the kindness of others to take her there and bring her home. As her
trips to the park become more frequent she befriends a young gentleman, Gordon,
played by Sidney Poitier. Gordon is a black man, employed as an office worker.
Selina is totally unaware that her friend is black until her mother sees the two
of them walking home. Rose-Ann becomes outraged and confronts her daughter
about this socially taboo relationship. She tries to put a stop to Selina’s
outings. Selina falls in love with Gordon, and although the words are never
spoken aloud, we sense that he loves her. Selina and Gordon never become
romantically involved. Gordon’s intelligence and good judgment won’t allow the
relationship to move beyond a true friendship. He recognizes her potential and
makes arrangements for her to attend a residential school for the
blind. He
also sees this as the one chance to rescue Selina from her dismal, abusive
life.
After the film ended there was a question and answer
session. We talked about the symbolism such as, even though movies in 1965 were
being filmed in color, the producers made the decision to film “A Patch of Blue”
in black and white. The name of the movie was chosen because Selina remembers
that the sky is blue. She was a slave to her family. Even though she was a
white woman she was treated with less dignity because she was blind. It was
easy to compare Selina’s life to that of the blacks during this time of racial
unrest.
In 1965 at the ripe old age of sixteen, I was a junior at
the Kentucky School for the Blind. The biggest worries my friends and I had
were whether or not we would have a date to the school dance, or whether or no
the cheerleaders would be invited to go along to the next away wrestling meet.
I lived in a pretty simple world, a world protected by dreams of what my future
would hold.
I’ve been thinking a lot since watching this film
for--goodness knows how many times. I never gave it a second thought in 1965
that blind people were suffering at the hands of discrimination. It never
occurred to me that blind people were being treated inhumanely and being forced
to grovel for whatever means of existence they could find. I admit I knew more
about racial discrimination than I did about discrimination against the blind.
I could tell you about the race riots in Selma, Alabama and the federally
mandated desegregation of all white schools in the South. I remember the open
housing marches in cities across the nation protesting the right of blacks to
live wherever they chose. One such march took place just a few blocks from
where I grew up as a child. Sadly, I vividly remember when public restrooms
were segregated—one for blacks and one for whites. But I couldn’t tell you
about one blind child who wasn’t receiving an equal
education. There were
about 170 students enrolled in KSB, grades kindergarten through twelve. So
that’s bound to be all of us, right? I didn’t know of any blind adults who
didn’t have a job or place to live.
Was I naïve? Absolutely! There
was, however, a plausible explanation. I had good blind role models. They
worked every day, kept house and raised their children like the sighted adults I
knew. The vast majority had high school diplomas and many of them had college
degrees. Even the few who didn’t complete school had a decent job. I never
doubted for a second that my life would be any different. I was already
considering which college I wanted to attend and the career path I might take.
A house and family were a given.
It wasn’t until I became an active
member of the National Federation of the Blind, about ten years later, that the
plight of the blind came into full focus. How could I have possibly overlooked
all of this? Again, there were good reasons. For one, the issues and struggles
of the black race were in the headlines of every newspaper and the lead story on
every 6 O’clock news broadcast on TV. Blacks had been fighting for their place
in society for over a hundred years. The blind had only begun to fight. Our
effort to gain recognition was only about thirty-five to forty years old, give
or take a few years.
As I grow in the movement I can look back and
see significant changes. Even though I believed life to be almost perfect in
1965, I now realize that I was looking at the world through my cataract lenses
that were slightly rose-colored. Those individuals, although they had jobs,
were perhaps not working in their dream job. They were teachers at a school for
the blind. Some were employed at the American Printing House for the Blind.
Others worked as receptionists at city hall. Still others were vending stand
operators. There were a few working in the state-run sheltered workshop. I
should add that the sheltered shop here in Kentucky did pay at least minimum
wage and treated the employees with considerable more respect than in typical
shops of this kind. All of these were the sorts of jobs blind people could do,
and were expected to do.
The jobs blind people are performing in 2013
are significantly more varied than they were in 1965. We have blind professors
teaching in colleges, and blind teachers in our public schools. Our blind
merchants have expanded their snack bars once located in dark, dingy, basements
to full-service cafeterias. The secretary at APH is now the office manager
supervising the secretarial pool. Those working in state, federal and local
government positions have more responsibility and duties because of accessible
technology. The piano tuner is now owner of the company, not just tuning
pianos, but buying, selling, and refurbishing them. There are employment
opportunities these days that blind people only dreamed of fifty years ago. Who
would have thought there would be blind chemists? In 2012 a blind man, Parnell
Diggs, ran for congress. We see blind men and women every day with the know-how
to produce the hardware and software components for the accessible
equipment
we use. There are blind nurses working in our hospitals. And who in their
wildest imagination would have thought a blind person could drive a car. There
is a reason for all of this too; it’s the hard work and continued advocacy of
the National Federation of the Blind.
I want the blind children of
today to lead an uncomplicated life. I want them to enjoy the opportunities
given to them. There will be plenty of time to become an adult, and they will.
These are their “good old days.” They should be cherished and remembered
fondly. Then they will be called to action. It will be their turn to step up
and make the world a better place for the next generation.
KENTUCKY
Summer Legislative View
August 2013
By Pamela Roark-glisson
It
seems that the members of Congress who were elected to represent Kentuckians are
distracted, out of focus and out of touch with their constituents who are blind
or have other disabilities. The focus seems to be on their own agenda of
personal gain, rather than hearing and considering the voice of the people. How
are you going to recruit your U.S. Representatives to feel your need and vote
for the right reason?
We the People must remain vigilant and committed
to the issues of equality for Kentuckians with disabilities. We the People must
resonate our voices in conjunction with the voices of the National Federation of
the Blind leaders and countless disability rights advocates across these United
States.
Do you know where your U.S. Representatives stand?
During the NFB 2013 Washington Seminar, promises were made to the NFBK
delegation that some of the members would oppose the antiquated Legislation that
promotes exploitation, discrimination and deplorable practices of employers
against employees with disabilities. Some members did not keep their
appointments with the NFBK delegation and others have not kept their word.
District 1- Western KY; Congressman Ed Whitfield, District 2-Bardstown/Bowling
green, Congressman Bret Guthrie, District 3-Louisville; Congressman John
Yarmuth, District 4-Covington/Ashland; Congressman Thomas Massey, District
5-Southeast KY; Congressman Hal Rogers, District 6-Central KY; Congressman Andy
Barr. Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul have local offices around the
state for your convenience. Contact them!
Oppose subminimum
wages!
Support Space Available for disabled veterans!
Support access
technologies in higher education!
Urgent attention to oppose the Workforce
Investment Act Reauthorization items: 1. Section 511 (more subminimum wages), 2.
RSA relocation and 3. Mimimizing credentialing.
The NFBK President and
Board of Directors are committed to standing beside you in this effort to stop
the exploitive, immoral and descriminatory practices and protect the
opportunities and futures of Kentuckians with disabilities.
Reach out to
your U.S. Representatives to help these gentlemen to refocus, distinguish
between the voices of right and wrong to learn the facts from home constituents
and get back on track remembering why they are in Congress.
For more
information, please contact Pamela Roark-Glisson, NFBK Legislative
Liaison.
HAVE YOU HEARD?
Edited by Lora Felty
We
are proud to recognize and honor the educational accomplishments of our NFBK
members. Congratulations to Melanie Peskoe, president of the NFB of Greater
Louisville. Melanie completed her Master’s Degree in public health from the
University of Louisville this past May, where she graduated with honors.
Currently, Melanie is doing some free-lance work in her field. Best of luck as
you continue to pursue your career goals.
In recognizing other
educational accomplishments, the NFB of Kentucky is proud and honored to have
had two national scholarship winners at the 2013 national convention in Orlando,
FL this summer. Angela Dehart is the secretary of the Ashland Chapter. She is
beginning her senior year at Morehead State University where she is majoring in
elementary and special education. Angela will complete her student teaching
during the upcoming spring semester and will graduate next May. Angela received
the Melba T. Owens Scholarship in the amount of $3,000. Danielle Burton, member
of the Ashland Chapter, and 2013 graduate of Elliot County High School, began
her freshman year at Morehead State University. Danielle is also majoring in
elementary and special education. Danielle received a $3,000 NFB Scholarship.
Both young ladies also received an additional $1,000 from the Kurzweil
Foundation and $1,000 from Google. We are so proud of both of you and wish
you
all of the best as you continue your education and work toward your
career goals.
Maria Jones has a new job this year. She has been hired as
an elementary and math teacher at the Kentucky School for the Blind. So…Kenny
will have some company on his drive to work each day. Congratulations Maria.
Enjoy your new job and have an awesome school year!
Lora Felty, president
of the Ashland Chapter has been undergoing construction at her house this
summer. Due to damage that her back deck received during one of the summer
storms of 2012, she has had a new screened-in deck built. It is 12 by 24, and
has an Amish-made porch swing. Any and all of her NFB family is invited over to
sit on the swing and visit for a while. She might even give you a glass of iced
tea.
Avon Calling…
Melanie Peskoe Has started an entrepreneurial
journey as a small business owner. She has an Avon business and her focus is
serving blind women and men by providing personal consultation, free direct
shipping to your door and exceptional customer service. Her goal is to record
each current Avon catalog and offer this service as an ongoing audio podcast
every two weeks. Her website is www.beautywithmel.com. Check out her
web site. Melanie is more than happy to work with you on an individual basis to
provide your Avon shopping needs.
Scott Spaulding and Paul Shepardson,
both of the Greater Louisville chapter, can boast of new jobs. Scott has taken
a parttime position working as an evaluator in customer service for J.Lodge and
Paul is currently training in Chicago for a job with the Veteran’s
Administration. Congratulations to both gentlemen and best wishes for the
future.
Some of you may not remember Buffa Hanse, but those of us who do
remember her, can quickly recall the Federation spirit she exuded. Buffa Lived
in Louisville and was employed at the Office for the Blind for several years
until she relocated to Virginia and accepted a position in Richmond. We were
shocked and saddened to learn that on July 20, Buffa was struck by a truck while
crossing the street. She suffered multiple injuries including facial fractures,
broken ribs, fractured legs and a broken ankle. So much head trauma caused
bleeding on the brain. She has undergone several surgeries and much rehab is
ahead of her. Our thoughts and prayers are certainly with her and we hope that
our next issue of the Cardinal will include a brighter outlook for Buffa.
Good news on the employment front just keeps coming! Nickie Pearl of
Louisville has landed a job with Avon. She will be working from home as a
district assistant. She is excited to be bringing home a paycheck and keeping
an eye on home and family at the same time. You go, girl!
The NFB
Murray Chapter held its last meeting on June 22, 2013 with a fish fry and
trimmings. The Chapter was a part of the NFB for 18 years. The members of the
Murray Chapter would like to thank everyone for their support and fellowship
during our years of membership.
THE END
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