From Chris Kuell, Danbury, CT:
In the May Readers Forum, Clayton Jacobs wrote about the difficulties he found in getting a job and becoming a missionary.
I agree that the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and the American Council of the Blind (ACB) spend far too much time on their differences and too little on their common causes, but the greatest strength of both organizations is a positive philosophy regarding the abilities of blind people. These organizations believe that, with good training and a positive attitude, anything is possible. Rather than look to these organizations to help enforce the Americans with Disabilities Act, we should use them as role models to become capable, competent, independent blind people.
It is a fallacy that nobody will hire blind people in Phoenix, AZ. There are hundreds of blind people working there today. I'll be the first to admit that it is difficult for a blind person to obtain employment, especially if you are waiting for a state agency to find it for you. Rather than looking for a group to help him, Mr. Jacobs needs to master the skills of braille, independent travel and computers, then help himself. It is not society's duty to help us. We have to take charge and help ourselves. If Mr. Jacobs already has these skills, could he improve them?
As for discrimination by his church, perhaps he requires too much assistance to make mission service practical. The key phrase in the ADA is "reasonable accommodations." If that is not the case, then maybe he needs to find another church. After all, the Mormons only began accepting African Americans in 1978, so it might be a while before they fully accept individuals with disabilities into their ranks.
Finally, I recommend Mr. Jacobs to network with successful blind people in his area. An NFB or ACB chapter meeting is a great place to start. Only through example can we change the misconceptions held by the public, and by ourselves. From Wayne Hinckley, Woods Cross, UT: I congratulate Clayton Jacobs on taking the steps to become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and am sorry he feels disappointed about not being allowed to go on a full-time mission.
I served a two-year mission, starting at age 19, with the early symptoms of retinitis pigmentosa. Because of night blindness, I experienced a few accidents resulting in minor bruises. Now, more than 30 years later and totally blind, I would hesitate to enter into such rigorous activity as full-time missionary work. Among other things, I would feel guilty for slowing down each of the companions I would have. Many missionaries are expected to ride bicycles, and most are moved to new locations every few months and have to get acquainted with each new area. It is challenging work with high expectations.
As an alternative, the Church is always looking for people to fill service missions near their homes. A service mission is a part- time commitment where an individual can still pursue employment or schooling, or simply enjoy retirement, while rendering needed service to the Church.
In the greater Phoenix area is the Mesa Temple and Visitors Center, where qualified members can volunteer some of their time. They may even have a few paid positions there, such as in the cafeteria. Since Deseret Industries was mentioned, there is likely a Church employment center there, ready to help people of any faith find jobs. From Tim Hendel, Huntsville, AL: In May's issue, John Dragona objects to the term "the blind" or any other expression that puts the word blind first. He asks us to use the term "people who are blind." I have the opposite opinion. I am not at all surprised that Mr. Dragona acquired a preference for the "people who..." terminology while studying for a degree in rehab counseling.
During my almost 20 years of rehab teaching in Miami, I discovered that many sighted people who call themselves rehab professionals seem to be quite uncomfortable with the whole notion of blindness. Since they cannot very well bury the notion, they attempt to bury the word blind by hiding it in some supposedly politically correct circumlocution, or avoiding it altogether.
I very much feel myself to be a member of the blind community, and can't think of a better term to describe this group of people. I have no objection if someone, in attempting to identify me, says, "Tim is the blind man who lives upstairs," and I will usually say, "This is a special tape player for blind people." I have always known that I am a person, and don't need a special phrase to remind me. Mr. Dragona wrote that, if I call myself a "person who is blind," rather than a "blind person," people will better evaluate my abilities and not see me as quite so helpless. But I think this idea is undocumented and very unlikely.
In the same issue, Fred Gissoni talks of his experience with Moon Type. I, too, once decided to learn Moon. The Royal National Institute for the Blind in London has, or used to have, a pamphlet in braille that would teach a braille reader how to read Moon. I learned the system, and read through a couple of magazines they sent me. At that point, I gave it up, since becoming a fast Moon reader did not interest me; I only wanted to see what the system was like.
The most unusual thing about Moon, and the hardest thing to adapt to for me, a braille reader, was that the lines are read in opposite directions. The first line of a page is read left to right, like braille. The next line is read right to left, and so on down the page. There is a little arc at the end of each line to guide your finger down and around to the following line. I found reading from right to left very hard to get used to.
I, too, used to get the Ziegler when it was printed at the braille plant in Monsey, NY. We always got the Ziegler at the school for the blind in Batavia, and I remember being so thrilled when I found out that I could have my own subscription.
As has been mentioned, the magazines came rolled up. I used to put mine between my mattress and boxspring for a couple of days to flatten it. Can the editor tell us when the Monsey plant opened? I think it closed in the 1960's, and then the Ziegler was printed at Clovernook.
[Editor's Note: The magazine moved from New York City to Monsey in 1927. We ceased embossing operations in 1965, and two years later re-established our office in New York City.]
I agree that the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and the American Council of the Blind (ACB) spend far too much time on their differences and too little on their common causes, but the greatest strength of both organizations is a positive philosophy regarding the abilities of blind people. These organizations believe that, with good training and a positive attitude, anything is possible. Rather than look to these organizations to help enforce the Americans with Disabilities Act, we should use them as role models to become capable, competent, independent blind people.
It is a fallacy that nobody will hire blind people in Phoenix, AZ. There are hundreds of blind people working there today. I'll be the first to admit that it is difficult for a blind person to obtain employment, especially if you are waiting for a state agency to find it for you. Rather than looking for a group to help him, Mr. Jacobs needs to master the skills of braille, independent travel and computers, then help himself. It is not society's duty to help us. We have to take charge and help ourselves. If Mr. Jacobs already has these skills, could he improve them?
As for discrimination by his church, perhaps he requires too much assistance to make mission service practical. The key phrase in the ADA is "reasonable accommodations." If that is not the case, then maybe he needs to find another church. After all, the Mormons only began accepting African Americans in 1978, so it might be a while before they fully accept individuals with disabilities into their ranks.
Finally, I recommend Mr. Jacobs to network with successful blind people in his area. An NFB or ACB chapter meeting is a great place to start. Only through example can we change the misconceptions held by the public, and by ourselves. From Wayne Hinckley, Woods Cross, UT: I congratulate Clayton Jacobs on taking the steps to become a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and am sorry he feels disappointed about not being allowed to go on a full-time mission.
I served a two-year mission, starting at age 19, with the early symptoms of retinitis pigmentosa. Because of night blindness, I experienced a few accidents resulting in minor bruises. Now, more than 30 years later and totally blind, I would hesitate to enter into such rigorous activity as full-time missionary work. Among other things, I would feel guilty for slowing down each of the companions I would have. Many missionaries are expected to ride bicycles, and most are moved to new locations every few months and have to get acquainted with each new area. It is challenging work with high expectations.
As an alternative, the Church is always looking for people to fill service missions near their homes. A service mission is a part- time commitment where an individual can still pursue employment or schooling, or simply enjoy retirement, while rendering needed service to the Church.
In the greater Phoenix area is the Mesa Temple and Visitors Center, where qualified members can volunteer some of their time. They may even have a few paid positions there, such as in the cafeteria. Since Deseret Industries was mentioned, there is likely a Church employment center there, ready to help people of any faith find jobs. From Tim Hendel, Huntsville, AL: In May's issue, John Dragona objects to the term "the blind" or any other expression that puts the word blind first. He asks us to use the term "people who are blind." I have the opposite opinion. I am not at all surprised that Mr. Dragona acquired a preference for the "people who..." terminology while studying for a degree in rehab counseling.
During my almost 20 years of rehab teaching in Miami, I discovered that many sighted people who call themselves rehab professionals seem to be quite uncomfortable with the whole notion of blindness. Since they cannot very well bury the notion, they attempt to bury the word blind by hiding it in some supposedly politically correct circumlocution, or avoiding it altogether.
I very much feel myself to be a member of the blind community, and can't think of a better term to describe this group of people. I have no objection if someone, in attempting to identify me, says, "Tim is the blind man who lives upstairs," and I will usually say, "This is a special tape player for blind people." I have always known that I am a person, and don't need a special phrase to remind me. Mr. Dragona wrote that, if I call myself a "person who is blind," rather than a "blind person," people will better evaluate my abilities and not see me as quite so helpless. But I think this idea is undocumented and very unlikely.
In the same issue, Fred Gissoni talks of his experience with Moon Type. I, too, once decided to learn Moon. The Royal National Institute for the Blind in London has, or used to have, a pamphlet in braille that would teach a braille reader how to read Moon. I learned the system, and read through a couple of magazines they sent me. At that point, I gave it up, since becoming a fast Moon reader did not interest me; I only wanted to see what the system was like.
The most unusual thing about Moon, and the hardest thing to adapt to for me, a braille reader, was that the lines are read in opposite directions. The first line of a page is read left to right, like braille. The next line is read right to left, and so on down the page. There is a little arc at the end of each line to guide your finger down and around to the following line. I found reading from right to left very hard to get used to.
I, too, used to get the Ziegler when it was printed at the braille plant in Monsey, NY. We always got the Ziegler at the school for the blind in Batavia, and I remember being so thrilled when I found out that I could have my own subscription.
As has been mentioned, the magazines came rolled up. I used to put mine between my mattress and boxspring for a couple of days to flatten it. Can the editor tell us when the Monsey plant opened? I think it closed in the 1960's, and then the Ziegler was printed at Clovernook.
[Editor's Note: The magazine moved from New York City to Monsey in 1927. We ceased embossing operations in 1965, and two years later re-established our office in New York City.]
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