[blindlaw] blindlaw Digest, Vol 46, Issue 14
kdb
kdbenterprises at yahoo.com
Thu Mar 13 16:02:03 CDT 2008
I rarely post and since this is rather lengthy, I wanted to state my appreciation for the opportunity to have it considered for posting.
I think it is important to share in light of the new Governor of NY..
So, here goes:
First Happy St Pat's, a bit early,
If true that Mr. Paterson, although he just happens to be a man who is considered legally blind, chooses as is his right, to not use a cane or other assistive devises, etc but rather expects to live his own life as he chooses, then he is to be applauded and celebrated.
I am the wife of another blind man who , like him, has made the same decisions.
Although it is a constant challenge each and every day, he finds or invents ways to navigate without using what he considers as " barriers to his freedom.' He rejects many of the "accommodations" for what those who select to remain unenlightened refer to as his " dis - ability".
In his eyes, although he is entitled to be labeled as "handicapped/ disabled", it is viewed by him, and a growing number of others, as an allowance in a world that requires and continues to encourage such terms as " dis - abled and handicapped", to be commonly used to describe conditions that have become eligible for funding and services. This is a highly insulting practice to many who although they may "fit" into these "categories, are not in agreement that they should continue to be used because of the often times negative effect they generate and the often resulting negative manner in which many are treated.
In reading about Mr. Paterson, I was struck with the hope that perhaps we may be finally coming to an enlightened period in time when we will remove connotations that reflect negatively upon people who are" different" from the "norm" in the population - at - large.
Many who fall into the CURRENT catagories of the disabled / handicapped labels have been for years, some say decades, expressing their dissatisfaction with the terms, yet they are allowed to remain.
I have heard some say they feel these terms attempt to sway sighted people to think of them {as well as in some cases, themselves}, in terms that imply they are "stricken" and therefore are now considered as "less than a normal person" .
The new governor of NY, as well as many, many other blind and low vision individuals over the years, has proven over and over again that this is a false belief.
Differences are evident yes, but must they be labeled in negative, discounting ways and terms that only perpetuate more discriminatory thoughts and behaviors on the part of some others, often some who hold great power in our lives?
Perhaps someday soon all people will be considered as having DIFFERENT "abilities" and can then be free of labels and assumptions based on what their bodies and minds can and cannot do. That may one day led to being treated as part of the "normal" population with provisions provided as needed and requested, designed to level the playing field of life.
Loss of sight is a factor that effects others sometimes much more than those who are limited or no vision. Yet many choose to not allow it affect themselves in negative ways.
Mr. Paterson seems a fine example of this.
Those who are affected by a" difference", no matter what that difference may consist of, can relate to this. Concentrating on our abilities, talents, and unique qualities encourages, not discourages people , as experience and common sense tell us.
Many who choose to live 'barrier free" as much as possible, often take on the "can do' attitude, and will find ways to use their abilities to adapt to the world we know and all live within. They also take on the brunt of cruel and harmful ridicule because of these choices that are thrown at them by fearful and ignorant people who often remain rooted in the past.
When any assistance is needed and requested and then chosen to be used by a person , life takes on "normalcy, like life for any individual, sighted or not.
It is up to the individual to choose and it is up to us to teach others to not criticize those choices that are made which are selected because the person knows what works best for him or herself.
These individual choices are often brave ones, even if in the eyes of others, it imposes more challenges to the sighted and more fully able - bodied, to move through the world, sharing it with those who are exerting their right to the same freedoms as all others.
Is this not what our human rights include?
The blind and low vision population, like no other I am aware of, seems to often settle for less.
Excuses to keep things as they are, to remain the same as we have in the past, are too often the norm.
We have so far to go and a paradigm shift in our thinking to make happen so our rights are made totally accessible and our freedom is realized to the fullest extent life allows us, is way overdue.
Yes, I too am legally blind, yet fortunate enough to still have limited sight by using what I choose to level my own playing field.
As the Boomers age, diabetes spreads to epidemic proportions and the rise in childhood and adult obesity often results in eye afflictions and blindness, we are experiencing a very scary and yet real dilemma we must face as a nation and world.
Can we afford to continue to allow old thinking block new thoughts and possible advancements?
' NO.
I too, struggle to access what I need and am frustrated on a daily basis by the negligence allowed to continue to exist, at all levels.
An example I can state is in situations where low vision/blind individuals look to purchase and use communication devises, so critical to our daily survival.
Yet, although the software exists that makes cellphones,MP3s, PGA.s, Magellan's and other map reading devises, PCs and macs, etc ... speakable and usable by enabling all verbal utilities for the blind, it is in its infancy in the USA when it comes to making these available to all, and those that are out for purchase, must be provided at an affordable price.
Let me lay this on the line. I do believe whatever is totally accessible on one platform or devise must be accessible on all. Here is a real challenge to our mighty lawyers. If anyone can make this happen , you can, And should. It is, as I se it , a true class action issue with the ADA needed to support it.
We must have devises enabled on all equipment made speakable, able to recognize voices and take voice commands, read websites, describe graphics on the internet by coding site content properly, and all the many other roadblocks we endure, lifted and eliminated.
Among the most degrading examples we, who are non or limited- sighted yet choose to walk freely among the population endure, is locating and using public restrooms that are lacking a hand rail leading or other touchable option like a thin strip of rough feeling plastic in a highly contrasting color to the walls, glued to the walls at mid level, to be used as a guide into and around and out of all restroom areas.
And things like these are easy fixes.
Yet, we ourselves often fight them with old time thinking and phrases that come so easily to many, such as well," use your cane", "get a guild dog" or" get an assistant to help you."
We should not have to. There are simple ways to modify much in our world so we can all "fit" into it on a much more equal basis.
Life can and must be made accessible to everyone.
It is our right. By committing to leveling life's playing fields in any way possible, we can help and one day exist as most others. Truth be spoken, we have a responsibility to help make it happen.
I think, if you want to help, must first create a picture of whatever you need changed in your mind's eye. THEN picture what it is that you believe we need created or need modified that will assist in making life level for us and then share the dream and work it.
Start simple with one idea.
Move on from there.
The trick is getting the word out and the project into the mainstream. Perhaps our noble lawyers can help us here?
What a movement that would be!
Dreams do come true and it can happen, if not for us, then for the children who may be like us, and will certainly follow.
Let the dreams continue. Let no one deter you.
Especially not those who choose to remain firmly set in their own concrete, stuck in dead thoughts that lead no one into a better future.
Move beyond them.
Times do change. We must change with them.
I will pray for this new Governor. I hope and do believe that he will be a pacesetter and strong advocate for all but especially for those who, like himself, are living proof that success is a state of mind followed by a plan of action, put in place and acted upon with committed passion, that helps creates it.
Sighted or not.
Governor Paterson uses his abilities to proceed. Certainly he is intelligent and also uses his contacts and resources.
He does not seem to concentrate on what others perceive as a disability.
I,for one, am looking forward to following his career and actions.
I predict great results.
Now, after all that, if our many fine lawyers many who happen to be of our wonderful blind population, band together to send him a welcoming message and congratulatory salute, please let Mr. Paterson know that although not all in our "category" are able to "see" him, as he is well aware, I predict many will be "watching" and waiting, hoping and hopeful that he can assist us make our dreams come true!
Thanks for listening. Sorry to be so long winded!
I have been told often that sometimes my optimism, enthusiasm and passion get away form me!
I will never apologize for that !
kdbenterprises
--- On Thu, 3/13/08, blindlaw-request at nfbnet.org <blindlaw-request at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> From: blindlaw-request at nfbnet.org <blindlaw-request at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: blindlaw Digest, Vol 46, Issue 14
> To: blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> Date: Thursday, March 13, 2008, 1:00 PM
> Send blindlaw mailing list submissions to
> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
>
> To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
> or, via email, send a message with subject or body
> 'help' to
> blindlaw-request at nfbnet.org
>
> You can reach the person managing the list at
> blindlaw-owner at nfbnet.org
>
> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more
> specific
> than "Re: Contents of blindlaw digest..."
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Re: New York's lieutenant governor, a blind
> lawyer,
> (Claire Spector)
> 2. Re: New York's lieutenant governor, a blind
> lawyer,
> (Scott C. LaBarre)
> 3. Re: New York's lieutenant governor, a blind
> lawyer,
> (Peter Donahue)
> 4. Re: New York's lieutenant governor, a blind
> lawyer,
> (Rod Alcidonis)
> 5. Re: New York's lieutenant governor, a blind
> lawyer,
> (Nightingale, Noel)
> 6. Re: New York's lieutenant governor, a blind
> lawyer, (Sarah Clark)
> 7. Re: New York's lieutenant governor, a blind
> lawyer,
> (albert griffith)
> 8. Re: New York's lieutenant governor, a blind
> lawyer,
> (albert griffith)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2008 10:22:52 -0700
> From: "Claire Spector"
> <c.spector at sbcglobal.net>
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor,
> a blind
> lawyer,
> To: "'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'"
> <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Message-ID:
> <000f01c88465$b4434550$64010a0a at ClaireSpector>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> Governor David Paterson will take office on Monday. He is
> a bridge builder
> and a very capable leader.
>
> Claire Spector, J.D.
> Collaborative Attorney and Mediator
> Co-Venture Support Services
> NY Atty. Reg.# 1883024
> 707.494.6503
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Michael O. Hanson
> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 9:31 AM
> To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor,
> a blind lawyer,
>
> I beliefve he resigned this morning.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Nightingale, Noel"
> <Noel.Nightingale at ed.gov>
> To: <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 10:24 AM
> Subject: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor, a
> blind lawyer,
>
>
> >
> >>From the Justice For All sidebar blurb:
> >
> > First Blind Governor of New York?
> >
> > In the wake of yesterday's breaking news of New
> York Governor Elliot
> > Spitzer's involvement in a prostitution ring, many
> top aides to Spitzer
> > expect his resignation.
> >
> > If Governor Spitzer does resign, Lt. Governor David A.
> Paterson, who is
> > legally blind, would become the state's first
> black, first blind
> > governor.
> >
> > A bit more about Mr. Paterson:
> >
> > Link to NY Times profile:
> >
> http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/p/david_a_pat
> > erson/index.html?inline=nyt-per
> >
> > Text:
> > David A. Paterson
> > Stewart Cairns for The New York Times
> >
> > David A. Paterson was elected lieutenant governor of
> New York in
> > November 2006 on the ticket led by Eliot Spitzer.
> Previously, Mr.
> > Paterson had served as the minority leader of the
> state Senate. The
> > scion of a prominent Harlem political family, Mr.
> Paterson was born
> > legally blind and worked as a prosecutor before
> entering politics.
> >
> > Mr. Paterson's decision to become Mr.
> Spitzer's running mate stunned
> > many in Albany. With the growing strength of Democrats
> in statewide
> > elections, it seemed only a matter of time before his
> party took over
> > the chamber, allowing him to join the ruling
> triumvirate in Albany and
> > take his seat with the governor and the Assembly
> speaker to decide
> > between them how New York State is governed. By
> contrast, the lieutenant
> > governor's post brings with it no power and little
> prestige.
> >
> > Mr. Paterson explained the decision in terms the few
> lieutenant
> > governors who had been given a real role, saying he
> wanted to be an
> > "extension'' of Mr. Spitzer. Others close
> to him spoke of the enviable
> > position he would be in if there was a chance to move
> up. If, for
> > instance, Hillary Clinton were to become president,
> Mr. Spitzer would
> > appoint a replacement to complete her term. Mr.
> Paterson has
> > demonstrated political skills and good timing in the
> past; he became the
> > minority leader in the Senate by pulling off a coup,
> which is a rare
> > feat in Albany.
> >
> > As the leader of the Democratic minority in the
> Senate, Mr. Paterson has
> > tried to make up for his lack of power with wit,
> flurries of reform
> > proposals and unusual bursts of candor, a combination
> that has made him
> > a quotable presence in a Capitol where such leaders
> are often ignored as
> > irrelevant. He worked on making inroads with national
> Democrats,
> > traveling to Washington to meet with Congressional
> leaders. And here,
> > where much of what passes for legislative humor is of
> the backslapping
> > variety, Mr. Paterson's stands out.
> >
> > Take his request at a recent news conference on
> government reform.
> > "Anyone else in this Capitol that's telling
> you about the reform that
> > they're doing, I want you to give me their names,
> we're going to bring
> > them to this conference room, and we're going to
> beat them up," he said,
> > with a straight face.
> >
> > Mr. Paterson was born to politics. His father, Basil,
> represented the
> > same Harlem district that his son later did, and ran
> unsuccessfully for
> > lieutenant governor in 1970. The younger Mr. Paterson
> was raised at the
> > knees of much of Harlem's old guard. He also grew
> up legally blind,
> > after an infection as an infant that left him totally
> without sight in
> > his left eye and with severely limited sight in his
> right. His family
> > moved to Long Island, where they found a school that
> agreed to educate
> > him in regular classrooms. He graduated from high
> school in three years,
> > went to college at Columbia and graduated from Hofstra
> Law School.
> >
> > When he was elected Senate minority leader, Mr.
> Paterson recalled the
> > discrimination he had suffered because he is disabled.
> "So I have had
> > this desire my whole life to prove people wrong, to
> show them I could do
> > things they didn't think I could do," he
> said. "This is just another."
> >
> > --March 10, 2008
> > _______________________________________________
> > blindlaw mailing list
> > blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindlaw mailing list
> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 2
> Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:40:53 -0600
> From: "Scott C. LaBarre"
> <slabarre at labarrelaw.com>
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor,
> a blind
> lawyer,
> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List"
> <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Message-ID: <039401c88468$39aa5ab0$0600000a at labarre>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed;
> charset="iso-8859-1";
> reply-type=original
>
> Spitzer did in fact resign this morning effective March
> 17th. That is when
> we will have the first blind governor in our nation's
> history. The
> wonderful thing to me is that although everyone points out
> he is blind, no
> one has accompanied that statement with wonderment about
> how he will do the
> job. We are slowly making progress in this world.
> Scott C. LaBarre, Esq.
>
> LaBarre Law Offices P.C.
> 1660 South Albion Street, Ste. 918
> Denver, Colorado 80222
> 303 504-5979 (voice)
> 303 757-3640 (fax)
> slabarre at labarrelaw.com (e-mail)
> www.labarrelaw.com (website)
>
> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This message may contain
> confidential and privileged
> information. If you are not the designated recipient, you
> may not read,
> copy, distribute or retain this message. If you received
> this message in
> error, please notify the sender at 303) 504-5979 or
> slabarre at labarrelaw.com,
> and destroy and delete it from your system. This message
> and any attachments
> are covered by the Electronic
> Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. ?? 2510-2521.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Nightingale, Noel"
> <Noel.Nightingale at ed.gov>
> To: <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 9:24 AM
> Subject: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor, a
> blind lawyer,
>
>
> >
> >>From the Justice For All sidebar blurb:
> >
> > First Blind Governor of New York?
> >
> > In the wake of yesterday's breaking news of New
> York Governor Elliot
> > Spitzer's involvement in a prostitution ring, many
> top aides to Spitzer
> > expect his resignation.
> >
> > If Governor Spitzer does resign, Lt. Governor David A.
> Paterson, who is
> > legally blind, would become the state's first
> black, first blind
> > governor.
> >
> > A bit more about Mr. Paterson:
> >
> > Link to NY Times profile:
> >
> http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/p/david_a_pat
> > erson/index.html?inline=nyt-per
> >
> > Text:
> > David A. Paterson
> > Stewart Cairns for The New York Times
> >
> > David A. Paterson was elected lieutenant governor of
> New York in
> > November 2006 on the ticket led by Eliot Spitzer.
> Previously, Mr.
> > Paterson had served as the minority leader of the
> state Senate. The
> > scion of a prominent Harlem political family, Mr.
> Paterson was born
> > legally blind and worked as a prosecutor before
> entering politics.
> >
> > Mr. Paterson's decision to become Mr.
> Spitzer's running mate stunned
> > many in Albany. With the growing strength of Democrats
> in statewide
> > elections, it seemed only a matter of time before his
> party took over
> > the chamber, allowing him to join the ruling
> triumvirate in Albany and
> > take his seat with the governor and the Assembly
> speaker to decide
> > between them how New York State is governed. By
> contrast, the lieutenant
> > governor's post brings with it no power and little
> prestige.
> >
> > Mr. Paterson explained the decision in terms the few
> lieutenant
> > governors who had been given a real role, saying he
> wanted to be an
> > "extension'' of Mr. Spitzer. Others close
> to him spoke of the enviable
> > position he would be in if there was a chance to move
> up. If, for
> > instance, Hillary Clinton were to become president,
> Mr. Spitzer would
> > appoint a replacement to complete her term. Mr.
> Paterson has
> > demonstrated political skills and good timing in the
> past; he became the
> > minority leader in the Senate by pulling off a coup,
> which is a rare
> > feat in Albany.
> >
> > As the leader of the Democratic minority in the
> Senate, Mr. Paterson has
> > tried to make up for his lack of power with wit,
> flurries of reform
> > proposals and unusual bursts of candor, a combination
> that has made him
> > a quotable presence in a Capitol where such leaders
> are often ignored as
> > irrelevant. He worked on making inroads with national
> Democrats,
> > traveling to Washington to meet with Congressional
> leaders. And here,
> > where much of what passes for legislative humor is of
> the backslapping
> > variety, Mr. Paterson's stands out.
> >
> > Take his request at a recent news conference on
> government reform.
> > "Anyone else in this Capitol that's telling
> you about the reform that
> > they're doing, I want you to give me their names,
> we're going to bring
> > them to this conference room, and we're going to
> beat them up," he said,
> > with a straight face.
> >
> > Mr. Paterson was born to politics. His father, Basil,
> represented the
> > same Harlem district that his son later did, and ran
> unsuccessfully for
> > lieutenant governor in 1970. The younger Mr. Paterson
> was raised at the
> > knees of much of Harlem's old guard. He also grew
> up legally blind,
> > after an infection as an infant that left him totally
> without sight in
> > his left eye and with severely limited sight in his
> right. His family
> > moved to Long Island, where they found a school that
> agreed to educate
> > him in regular classrooms. He graduated from high
> school in three years,
> > went to college at Columbia and graduated from Hofstra
> Law School.
> >
> > When he was elected Senate minority leader, Mr.
> Paterson recalled the
> > discrimination he had suffered because he is disabled.
> "So I have had
> > this desire my whole life to prove people wrong, to
> show them I could do
> > things they didn't think I could do," he
> said. "This is just another."
> >
> > --March 10, 2008
> > _______________________________________________
> > blindlaw mailing list
> > blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
> >
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 3
> Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:27:17 -0600
> From: "Peter Donahue"
> <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net>
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor,
> a blind
> lawyer,
> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List"
> <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Message-ID:
> <00df01c88477$15ce37b0$210110ac at yourfsyly0jtwn>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Hello Michael and listers,
>
> History could be made this fall when we elect a new
> President should a
> Democratic Candidate win the election. This nation could
> have its first
> African-American, or its first woman who is also the spouse
> of a former U.S.
> President serving in our nation's highest political
> office. Given that New
> York State now has a blind governor it's very
> conceivable that we could
> elect a blind U.S. president in the not so distant future.
>
> Peter Donahue
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Michael O. Hanson"
> <mhanson at winternet.com>
> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List"
> <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 10:31 AM
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor,
> a blind lawyer,
>
>
> I beliefve he resigned this morning.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Nightingale, Noel"
> <Noel.Nightingale at ed.gov>
> To: <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 10:24 AM
> Subject: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor, a
> blind lawyer,
>
>
> >
> >>From the Justice For All sidebar blurb:
> >
> > First Blind Governor of New York?
> >
> > In the wake of yesterday's breaking news of New
> York Governor Elliot
> > Spitzer's involvement in a prostitution ring, many
> top aides to Spitzer
> > expect his resignation.
> >
> > If Governor Spitzer does resign, Lt. Governor David A.
> Paterson, who is
> > legally blind, would become the state's first
> black, first blind
> > governor.
> >
> > A bit more about Mr. Paterson:
> >
> > Link to NY Times profile:
> >
> http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/p/david_a_pat
> > erson/index.html?inline=nyt-per
> >
> > Text:
> > David A. Paterson
> > Stewart Cairns for The New York Times
> >
> > David A. Paterson was elected lieutenant governor of
> New York in
> > November 2006 on the ticket led by Eliot Spitzer.
> Previously, Mr.
> > Paterson had served as the minority leader of the
> state Senate. The
> > scion of a prominent Harlem political family, Mr.
> Paterson was born
> > legally blind and worked as a prosecutor before
> entering politics.
> >
> > Mr. Paterson's decision to become Mr.
> Spitzer's running mate stunned
> > many in Albany. With the growing strength of Democrats
> in statewide
> > elections, it seemed only a matter of time before his
> party took over
> > the chamber, allowing him to join the ruling
> triumvirate in Albany and
> > take his seat with the governor and the Assembly
> speaker to decide
> > between them how New York State is governed. By
> contrast, the lieutenant
> > governor's post brings with it no power and little
> prestige.
> >
> > Mr. Paterson explained the decision in terms the few
> lieutenant
> > governors who had been given a real role, saying he
> wanted to be an
> > "extension'' of Mr. Spitzer. Others close
> to him spoke of the enviable
> > position he would be in if there was a chance to move
> up. If, for
> > instance, Hillary Clinton were to become president,
> Mr. Spitzer would
> > appoint a replacement to complete her term. Mr.
> Paterson has
> > demonstrated political skills and good timing in the
> past; he became the
> > minority leader in the Senate by pulling off a coup,
> which is a rare
> > feat in Albany.
> >
> > As the leader of the Democratic minority in the
> Senate, Mr. Paterson has
> > tried to make up for his lack of power with wit,
> flurries of reform
> > proposals and unusual bursts of candor, a combination
> that has made him
> > a quotable presence in a Capitol where such leaders
> are often ignored as
> > irrelevant. He worked on making inroads with national
> Democrats,
> > traveling to Washington to meet with Congressional
> leaders. And here,
> > where much of what passes for legislative humor is of
> the backslapping
> > variety, Mr. Paterson's stands out.
> >
> > Take his request at a recent news conference on
> government reform.
> > "Anyone else in this Capitol that's telling
> you about the reform that
> > they're doing, I want you to give me their names,
> we're going to bring
> > them to this conference room, and we're going to
> beat them up," he said,
> > with a straight face.
> >
> > Mr. Paterson was born to politics. His father, Basil,
> represented the
> > same Harlem district that his son later did, and ran
> unsuccessfully for
> > lieutenant governor in 1970. The younger Mr. Paterson
> was raised at the
> > knees of much of Harlem's old guard. He also grew
> up legally blind,
> > after an infection as an infant that left him totally
> without sight in
> > his left eye and with severely limited sight in his
> right. His family
> > moved to Long Island, where they found a school that
> agreed to educate
> > him in regular classrooms. He graduated from high
> school in three years,
> > went to college at Columbia and graduated from Hofstra
> Law School.
> >
> > When he was elected Senate minority leader, Mr.
> Paterson recalled the
> > discrimination he had suffered because he is disabled.
> "So I have had
> > this desire my whole life to prove people wrong, to
> show them I could do
> > things they didn't think I could do," he
> said. "This is just another."
> >
> > --March 10, 2008
> > _______________________________________________
> > blindlaw mailing list
> > blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindlaw mailing list
> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 4
> Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:52:16 -0400
> From: "Rod Alcidonis" <roddj12 at hotmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor,
> a blind
> lawyer,
> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List"
> <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Message-ID:
> <BAY125-DAV16E0C43FE0B4BAE9CFAB1DBB080 at phx.gbl>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed;
> charset="iso-8859-1";
> reply-type=original
>
> As far as my recollection serves me he is not a lawyer. He
> had only been to
> Law School.
>
> And, as a New Yorker and an African American who is blind,
> I am very happy
> for him. He has demonstrated so much and the Media can only
> mention that he
> is blind, not whether he can do the job. I briefly met him
> prior to starting
> Law School and he is a brilliant individual.
>
>
> Rod Alcidonis
> Juris Doctor Candidate, 2009.
> Roger Williams University School of Law
> 10 Metacom Ave., Box: 9003
> Bristol, RI 02809
> Cell: 718-704-4651
> Home: 401-824-8685
> Visit my Law School Blog at:
> http://blogs.rwu.edu/law/ralcidonis
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Peter Donahue"
> <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net>
> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List"
> <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 3:27 PM
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor,
> a blind lawyer,
>
>
> > Hello Michael and listers,
> >
> > History could be made this fall when we elect a new
> President should a
> > Democratic Candidate win the election. This nation
> could have its first
> > African-American, or its first woman who is also the
> spouse of a former
> > U.S.
> > President serving in our nation's highest
> political office. Given that New
> > York State now has a blind governor it's very
> conceivable that we could
> > elect a blind U.S. president in the not so distant
> future.
> >
> > Peter Donahue
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Michael O. Hanson"
> <mhanson at winternet.com>
> > To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List"
> <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 10:31 AM
> > Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant
> governor, a blind lawyer,
> >
> >
> > I beliefve he resigned this morning.
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Nightingale, Noel"
> <Noel.Nightingale at ed.gov>
> > To: <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 10:24 AM
> > Subject: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant
> governor, a blind lawyer,
> >
> >
> >>
> >>>From the Justice For All sidebar blurb:
> >>
> >> First Blind Governor of New York?
> >>
> >> In the wake of yesterday's breaking news of
> New York Governor Elliot
> >> Spitzer's involvement in a prostitution ring,
> many top aides to Spitzer
> >> expect his resignation.
> >>
> >> If Governor Spitzer does resign, Lt. Governor
> David A. Paterson, who is
> >> legally blind, would become the state's first
> black, first blind
> >> governor.
> >>
> >> A bit more about Mr. Paterson:
> >>
> >> Link to NY Times profile:
> >>
> http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/p/david_a_pat
> >> erson/index.html?inline=nyt-per
> >>
> >> Text:
> >> David A. Paterson
> >> Stewart Cairns for The New York Times
> >>
> >> David A. Paterson was elected lieutenant governor
> of New York in
> >> November 2006 on the ticket led by Eliot Spitzer.
> Previously, Mr.
> >> Paterson had served as the minority leader of the
> state Senate. The
> >> scion of a prominent Harlem political family, Mr.
> Paterson was born
> >> legally blind and worked as a prosecutor before
> entering politics.
> >>
> >> Mr. Paterson's decision to become Mr.
> Spitzer's running mate stunned
> >> many in Albany. With the growing strength of
> Democrats in statewide
> >> elections, it seemed only a matter of time before
> his party took over
> >> the chamber, allowing him to join the ruling
> triumvirate in Albany and
> >> take his seat with the governor and the Assembly
> speaker to decide
> >> between them how New York State is governed. By
> contrast, the lieutenant
> >> governor's post brings with it no power and
> little prestige.
> >>
> >> Mr. Paterson explained the decision in terms the
> few lieutenant
> >> governors who had been given a real role, saying
> he wanted to be an
> >> "extension'' of Mr. Spitzer. Others
> close to him spoke of the enviable
> >> position he would be in if there was a chance to
> move up. If, for
> >> instance, Hillary Clinton were to become
> president, Mr. Spitzer would
> >> appoint a replacement to complete her term. Mr.
> Paterson has
> >> demonstrated political skills and good timing in
> the past; he became the
> >> minority leader in the Senate by pulling off a
> coup, which is a rare
> >> feat in Albany.
> >>
> >> As the leader of the Democratic minority in the
> Senate, Mr. Paterson has
> >> tried to make up for his lack of power with wit,
> flurries of reform
> >> proposals and unusual bursts of candor, a
> combination that has made him
> >> a quotable presence in a Capitol where such
> leaders are often ignored as
> >> irrelevant. He worked on making inroads with
> national Democrats,
> >> traveling to Washington to meet with Congressional
> leaders. And here,
> >> where much of what passes for legislative humor is
> of the backslapping
> >> variety, Mr. Paterson's stands out.
> >>
> >> Take his request at a recent news conference on
> government reform.
> >> "Anyone else in this Capitol that's
> telling you about the reform that
> >> they're doing, I want you to give me their
> names, we're going to bring
> >> them to this conference room, and we're going
> to beat them up," he said,
> >> with a straight face.
> >>
> >> Mr. Paterson was born to politics. His father,
> Basil, represented the
> >> same Harlem district that his son later did, and
> ran unsuccessfully for
> >> lieutenant governor in 1970. The younger Mr.
> Paterson was raised at the
> >> knees of much of Harlem's old guard. He also
> grew up legally blind,
> >> after an infection as an infant that left him
> totally without sight in
> >> his left eye and with severely limited sight in
> his right. His family
> >> moved to Long Island, where they found a school
> that agreed to educate
> >> him in regular classrooms. He graduated from high
> school in three years,
> >> went to college at Columbia and graduated from
> Hofstra Law School.
> >>
> >> When he was elected Senate minority leader, Mr.
> Paterson recalled the
> >> discrimination he had suffered because he is
> disabled. "So I have had
> >> this desire my whole life to prove people wrong,
> to show them I could do
> >> things they didn't think I could do," he
> said. "This is just another."
> >>
> >> --March 10, 2008
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> blindlaw mailing list
> >> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> >> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
> >>
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > blindlaw mailing list
> > blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > blindlaw mailing list
> > blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
> >
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:31:56 -0400
> From: "Nightingale, Noel"
> <Noel.Nightingale at ed.gov>
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor,
> a blind
> lawyer,
> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List"
> <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Message-ID:
> <4313AD4429551F4595A8A414A660C75F12EFEC02 at wdcrobe2m05.ed.gov>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> The article does state that Mr. Paterson worked in the
> district
> attorney's office, which I assume but do not know was
> as a lawyer.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org]
> On Behalf Of Rod Alcidonis
> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 11:52 AM
> To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor,
> a blind lawyer,
>
> As far as my recollection serves me he is not a lawyer. He
> had only been
> to Law School.
>
> And, as a New Yorker and an African American who is blind,
> I am very
> happy for him. He has demonstrated so much and the Media
> can only
> mention that he is blind, not whether he can do the job. I
> briefly met
> him prior to starting Law School and he is a brilliant
> individual.
>
>
> Rod Alcidonis
> Juris Doctor Candidate, 2009.
> Roger Williams University School of Law
> 10 Metacom Ave., Box: 9003
> Bristol, RI 02809
> Cell: 718-704-4651
> Home: 401-824-8685
> Visit my Law School Blog at:
> http://blogs.rwu.edu/law/ralcidonis
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Peter Donahue"
> <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net>
> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List"
> <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 3:27 PM
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor,
> a blind lawyer,
>
>
> > Hello Michael and listers,
> >
> > History could be made this fall when we elect a new
> President
> should a
> > Democratic Candidate win the election. This nation
> could have its
> first
> > African-American, or its first woman who is also the
> spouse of a
> former
> > U.S.
> > President serving in our nation's highest
> political office. Given that
> New
> > York State now has a blind governor it's very
> conceivable that we
> could
> > elect a blind U.S. president in the not so distant
> future.
> >
> > Peter Donahue
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Michael O. Hanson"
> <mhanson at winternet.com>
> > To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List"
> <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 10:31 AM
> > Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant
> governor, a blind
> lawyer,
> >
> >
> > I beliefve he resigned this morning.
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Nightingale, Noel"
> <Noel.Nightingale at ed.gov>
> > To: <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 10:24 AM
> > Subject: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant
> governor, a blind lawyer,
> >
> >
> >>
> >>>From the Justice For All sidebar blurb:
> >>
> >> First Blind Governor of New York?
> >>
> >> In the wake of yesterday's breaking news of
> New York Governor Elliot
> >> Spitzer's involvement in a prostitution ring,
> many top aides to
> Spitzer
> >> expect his resignation.
> >>
> >> If Governor Spitzer does resign, Lt. Governor
> David A. Paterson, who
> is
> >> legally blind, would become the state's first
> black, first blind
> >> governor.
> >>
> >> A bit more about Mr. Paterson:
> >>
> >> Link to NY Times profile:
> >>
> http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/p/david_a_pat
> >> erson/index.html?inline=nyt-per
> >>
> >> Text:
> >> David A. Paterson
> >> Stewart Cairns for The New York Times
> >>
> >> David A. Paterson was elected lieutenant governor
> of New York in
> >> November 2006 on the ticket led by Eliot Spitzer.
> Previously, Mr.
> >> Paterson had served as the minority leader of the
> state Senate. The
> >> scion of a prominent Harlem political family, Mr.
> Paterson was born
> >> legally blind and worked as a prosecutor before
> entering politics.
> >>
> >> Mr. Paterson's decision to become Mr.
> Spitzer's running mate stunned
> >> many in Albany. With the growing strength of
> Democrats in statewide
> >> elections, it seemed only a matter of time before
> his party took over
> >> the chamber, allowing him to join the ruling
> triumvirate in Albany
> and
> >> take his seat with the governor and the Assembly
> speaker to decide
> >> between them how New York State is governed. By
> contrast, the
> lieutenant
> >> governor's post brings with it no power and
> little prestige.
> >>
> >> Mr. Paterson explained the decision in terms the
> few lieutenant
> >> governors who had been given a real role, saying
> he wanted to be an
> >> "extension'' of Mr. Spitzer. Others
> close to him spoke of the
> enviable
> >> position he would be in if there was a chance to
> move up. If, for
> >> instance, Hillary Clinton were to become
> president, Mr. Spitzer would
> >> appoint a replacement to complete her term. Mr.
> Paterson has
> >> demonstrated political skills and good timing in
> the past; he became
> the
> >> minority leader in the Senate by pulling off a
> coup, which is a rare
> >> feat in Albany.
> >>
> >> As the leader of the Democratic minority in the
> Senate, Mr. Paterson
> has
> >> tried to make up for his lack of power with wit,
> flurries of reform
> >> proposals and unusual bursts of candor, a
> combination that has made
> him
> >> a quotable presence in a Capitol where such
> leaders are often ignored
> as
> >> irrelevant. He worked on making inroads with
> national Democrats,
> >> traveling to Washington to meet with Congressional
> leaders. And here,
> >> where much of what passes for legislative humor is
> of the
> backslapping
> >> variety, Mr. Paterson's stands out.
> >>
> >> Take his request at a recent news conference on
> government reform.
> >> "Anyone else in this Capitol that's
> telling you about the reform that
> >> they're doing, I want you to give me their
> names, we're going to
> bring
> >> them to this conference room, and we're going
> to beat them up," he
> said,
> >> with a straight face.
> >>
> >> Mr. Paterson was born to politics. His father,
> Basil, represented the
> >> same Harlem district that his son later did, and
> ran unsuccessfully
> for
> >> lieutenant governor in 1970. The younger Mr.
> Paterson was raised at
> the
> >> knees of much of Harlem's old guard. He also
> grew up legally blind,
> >> after an infection as an infant that left him
> totally without sight
> in
> >> his left eye and with severely limited sight in
> his right. His family
> >> moved to Long Island, where they found a school
> that agreed to
> educate
> >> him in regular classrooms. He graduated from high
> school in three
> years,
> >> went to college at Columbia and graduated from
> Hofstra Law School.
> >>
> >> When he was elected Senate minority leader, Mr.
> Paterson recalled the
> >> discrimination he had suffered because he is
> disabled. "So I have had
> >> this desire my whole life to prove people wrong,
> to show them I could
> do
> >> things they didn't think I could do," he
> said. "This is just
> another."
> >>
> >> --March 10, 2008
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> blindlaw mailing list
> >> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> >> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
> >>
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > blindlaw mailing list
> > blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > blindlaw mailing list
> > blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
> >
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindlaw mailing list
> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 6
> Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2008 20:17:47 -0700
> From: "Sarah Clark"
> <goldflash9 at sbcglobal.net>
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor,
> a blind
> lawyer,
> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List"
> <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Message-ID:
> <015b01c884b8$d058d270$6801a8c0 at computer2>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed;
> charset="iso-8859-1";
> reply-type=original
>
> That's how I understand it as well. I read that he did
> not pass the New
> York bar exam so never became a practicing attorney, and
> because of that,
> he's apparently been a big advocate on the issues of
> special accommodations
> for bar exams.
>
> Sarah
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Rod Alcidonis" <roddj12 at hotmail.com>
> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List"
> <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 11:52 AM
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor,
> a blind lawyer,
>
>
> > As far as my recollection serves me he is not a
> lawyer. He had only been
> > to
> > Law School.
> >
> > And, as a New Yorker and an African American who is
> blind, I am very happy
> > for him. He has demonstrated so much and the Media can
> only mention that
> > he
> > is blind, not whether he can do the job. I briefly met
> him prior to
> > starting
> > Law School and he is a brilliant individual.
> >
> >
> > Rod Alcidonis
> > Juris Doctor Candidate, 2009.
> > Roger Williams University School of Law
> > 10 Metacom Ave., Box: 9003
> > Bristol, RI 02809
> > Cell: 718-704-4651
> > Home: 401-824-8685
> > Visit my Law School Blog at:
> > http://blogs.rwu.edu/law/ralcidonis
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Peter Donahue"
> <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net>
> > To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List"
> <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 3:27 PM
> > Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant
> governor, a blind lawyer,
> >
> >
> >> Hello Michael and listers,
> >>
> >> History could be made this fall when we elect a
> new President should a
> >> Democratic Candidate win the election. This nation
> could have its first
> >> African-American, or its first woman who is also
> the spouse of a former
> >> U.S.
> >> President serving in our nation's highest
> political office. Given that
> >> New
> >> York State now has a blind governor it's very
> conceivable that we could
> >> elect a blind U.S. president in the not so distant
> future.
> >>
> >> Peter Donahue
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "Michael O. Hanson"
> <mhanson at winternet.com>
> >> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List"
> <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> >> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 10:31 AM
> >> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant
> governor, a blind lawyer,
> >>
> >>
> >> I beliefve he resigned this morning.
> >>
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "Nightingale, Noel"
> <Noel.Nightingale at ed.gov>
> >> To: <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> >> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 10:24 AM
> >> Subject: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant
> governor, a blind lawyer,
> >>
> >>
> >>>
> >>>>From the Justice For All sidebar blurb:
> >>>
> >>> First Blind Governor of New York?
> >>>
> >>> In the wake of yesterday's breaking news
> of New York Governor Elliot
> >>> Spitzer's involvement in a prostitution
> ring, many top aides to Spitzer
> >>> expect his resignation.
> >>>
> >>> If Governor Spitzer does resign, Lt. Governor
> David A. Paterson, who is
> >>> legally blind, would become the state's
> first black, first blind
> >>> governor.
> >>>
> >>> A bit more about Mr. Paterson:
> >>>
> >>> Link to NY Times profile:
> >>>
> http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/p/david_a_pat
> >>> erson/index.html?inline=nyt-per
> >>>
> >>> Text:
> >>> David A. Paterson
> >>> Stewart Cairns for The New York Times
> >>>
> >>> David A. Paterson was elected lieutenant
> governor of New York in
> >>> November 2006 on the ticket led by Eliot
> Spitzer. Previously, Mr.
> >>> Paterson had served as the minority leader of
> the state Senate. The
> >>> scion of a prominent Harlem political family,
> Mr. Paterson was born
> >>> legally blind and worked as a prosecutor
> before entering politics.
> >>>
> >>> Mr. Paterson's decision to become Mr.
> Spitzer's running mate stunned
> >>> many in Albany. With the growing strength of
> Democrats in statewide
> >>> elections, it seemed only a matter of time
> before his party took over
> >>> the chamber, allowing him to join the ruling
> triumvirate in Albany and
> >>> take his seat with the governor and the
> Assembly speaker to decide
> >>> between them how New York State is governed.
> By contrast, the lieutenant
> >>> governor's post brings with it no power
> and little prestige.
> >>>
> >>> Mr. Paterson explained the decision in terms
> the few lieutenant
> >>> governors who had been given a real role,
> saying he wanted to be an
> >>> "extension'' of Mr. Spitzer.
> Others close to him spoke of the enviable
> >>> position he would be in if there was a chance
> to move up. If, for
> >>> instance, Hillary Clinton were to become
> president, Mr. Spitzer would
> >>> appoint a replacement to complete her term.
> Mr. Paterson has
> >>> demonstrated political skills and good timing
> in the past; he became the
> >>> minority leader in the Senate by pulling off a
> coup, which is a rare
> >>> feat in Albany.
> >>>
> >>> As the leader of the Democratic minority in
> the Senate, Mr. Paterson has
> >>> tried to make up for his lack of power with
> wit, flurries of reform
> >>> proposals and unusual bursts of candor, a
> combination that has made him
> >>> a quotable presence in a Capitol where such
> leaders are often ignored as
> >>> irrelevant. He worked on making inroads with
> national Democrats,
> >>> traveling to Washington to meet with
> Congressional leaders. And here,
> >>> where much of what passes for legislative
> humor is of the backslapping
> >>> variety, Mr. Paterson's stands out.
> >>>
> >>> Take his request at a recent news conference
> on government reform.
> >>> "Anyone else in this Capitol that's
> telling you about the reform that
> >>> they're doing, I want you to give me their
> names, we're going to bring
> >>> them to this conference room, and we're
> going to beat them up," he said,
> >>> with a straight face.
> >>>
> >>> Mr. Paterson was born to politics. His father,
> Basil, represented the
> >>> same Harlem district that his son later did,
> and ran unsuccessfully for
> >>> lieutenant governor in 1970. The younger Mr.
> Paterson was raised at the
> >>> knees of much of Harlem's old guard. He
> also grew up legally blind,
> >>> after an infection as an infant that left him
> totally without sight in
> >>> his left eye and with severely limited sight
> in his right. His family
> >>> moved to Long Island, where they found a
> school that agreed to educate
> >>> him in regular classrooms. He graduated from
> high school in three years,
> >>> went to college at Columbia and graduated from
> Hofstra Law School.
> >>>
> >>> When he was elected Senate minority leader,
> Mr. Paterson recalled the
> >>> discrimination he had suffered because he is
> disabled. "So I have had
> >>> this desire my whole life to prove people
> wrong, to show them I could do
> >>> things they didn't think I could do,"
> he said. "This is just another."
> >>>
> >>> --March 10, 2008
> >>>
> _______________________________________________
> >>> blindlaw mailing list
> >>> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> >>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
> >>>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> blindlaw mailing list
> >> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> >> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> blindlaw mailing list
> >> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> >> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
> >>
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > blindlaw mailing list
> > blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 7
> Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2008 05:42:39 -0400
> From: "albert griffith"
> <albertpgriffith at hotmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor,
> a blind
> lawyer,
> To: "'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'"
> <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Message-ID:
> <BLU118-DAV891D84D2F2C4C4759332BBA090 at phx.gbl>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
> While he sounds brilliant and I'm happy for him, it was
> reported that he
> refused to learn braille and uses no travel aid such as a
> white cane or
> guide dog. I'd be interested in hearing his side of
> the story.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Sarah Clark
> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 11:18 PM
> To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor,
> a blind lawyer,
>
> That's how I understand it as well. I read that he did
> not pass the New
> York bar exam so never became a practicing attorney, and
> because of that,
> he's apparently been a big advocate on the issues of
> special accommodations
> for bar exams.
>
> Sarah
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Rod Alcidonis" <roddj12 at hotmail.com>
> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List"
> <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 11:52 AM
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor,
> a blind lawyer,
>
>
> > As far as my recollection serves me he is not a
> lawyer. He had only been
> > to
> > Law School.
> >
> > And, as a New Yorker and an African American who is
> blind, I am very happy
> > for him. He has demonstrated so much and the Media can
> only mention that
> > he
> > is blind, not whether he can do the job. I briefly met
> him prior to
> > starting
> > Law School and he is a brilliant individual.
> >
> >
> > Rod Alcidonis
> > Juris Doctor Candidate, 2009.
> > Roger Williams University School of Law
> > 10 Metacom Ave., Box: 9003
> > Bristol, RI 02809
> > Cell: 718-704-4651
> > Home: 401-824-8685
> > Visit my Law School Blog at:
> > http://blogs.rwu.edu/law/ralcidonis
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Peter Donahue"
> <pdonahue1 at sbcglobal.net>
> > To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List"
> <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 3:27 PM
> > Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant
> governor, a blind lawyer,
> >
> >
> >> Hello Michael and listers,
> >>
> >> History could be made this fall when we elect a
> new President should a
> >> Democratic Candidate win the election. This nation
> could have its first
> >> African-American, or its first woman who is also
> the spouse of a former
> >> U.S.
> >> President serving in our nation's highest
> political office. Given that
> >> New
> >> York State now has a blind governor it's very
> conceivable that we could
> >> elect a blind U.S. president in the not so distant
> future.
> >>
> >> Peter Donahue
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "Michael O. Hanson"
> <mhanson at winternet.com>
> >> To: "NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List"
> <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> >> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 10:31 AM
> >> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant
> governor, a blind lawyer,
> >>
> >>
> >> I beliefve he resigned this morning.
> >>
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message -----
> >> From: "Nightingale, Noel"
> <Noel.Nightingale at ed.gov>
> >> To: <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> >> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 10:24 AM
> >> Subject: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant
> governor, a blind lawyer,
> >>
> >>
> >>>
> >>>>From the Justice For All sidebar blurb:
> >>>
> >>> First Blind Governor of New York?
> >>>
> >>> In the wake of yesterday's breaking news
> of New York Governor Elliot
> >>> Spitzer's involvement in a prostitution
> ring, many top aides to Spitzer
> >>> expect his resignation.
> >>>
> >>> If Governor Spitzer does resign, Lt. Governor
> David A. Paterson, who is
> >>> legally blind, would become the state's
> first black, first blind
> >>> governor.
> >>>
> >>> A bit more about Mr. Paterson:
> >>>
> >>> Link to NY Times profile:
> >>>
> http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/p/david_a_pat
> >>> erson/index.html?inline=nyt-per
> >>>
> >>> Text:
> >>> David A. Paterson
> >>> Stewart Cairns for The New York Times
> >>>
> >>> David A. Paterson was elected lieutenant
> governor of New York in
> >>> November 2006 on the ticket led by Eliot
> Spitzer. Previously, Mr.
> >>> Paterson had served as the minority leader of
> the state Senate. The
> >>> scion of a prominent Harlem political family,
> Mr. Paterson was born
> >>> legally blind and worked as a prosecutor
> before entering politics.
> >>>
> >>> Mr. Paterson's decision to become Mr.
> Spitzer's running mate stunned
> >>> many in Albany. With the growing strength of
> Democrats in statewide
> >>> elections, it seemed only a matter of time
> before his party took over
> >>> the chamber, allowing him to join the ruling
> triumvirate in Albany and
> >>> take his seat with the governor and the
> Assembly speaker to decide
> >>> between them how New York State is governed.
> By contrast, the lieutenant
> >>> governor's post brings with it no power
> and little prestige.
> >>>
> >>> Mr. Paterson explained the decision in terms
> the few lieutenant
> >>> governors who had been given a real role,
> saying he wanted to be an
> >>> "extension'' of Mr. Spitzer.
> Others close to him spoke of the enviable
> >>> position he would be in if there was a chance
> to move up. If, for
> >>> instance, Hillary Clinton were to become
> president, Mr. Spitzer would
> >>> appoint a replacement to complete her term.
> Mr. Paterson has
> >>> demonstrated political skills and good timing
> in the past; he became the
> >>> minority leader in the Senate by pulling off a
> coup, which is a rare
> >>> feat in Albany.
> >>>
> >>> As the leader of the Democratic minority in
> the Senate, Mr. Paterson has
> >>> tried to make up for his lack of power with
> wit, flurries of reform
> >>> proposals and unusual bursts of candor, a
> combination that has made him
> >>> a quotable presence in a Capitol where such
> leaders are often ignored as
> >>> irrelevant. He worked on making inroads with
> national Democrats,
> >>> traveling to Washington to meet with
> Congressional leaders. And here,
> >>> where much of what passes for legislative
> humor is of the backslapping
> >>> variety, Mr. Paterson's stands out.
> >>>
> >>> Take his request at a recent news conference
> on government reform.
> >>> "Anyone else in this Capitol that's
> telling you about the reform that
> >>> they're doing, I want you to give me their
> names, we're going to bring
> >>> them to this conference room, and we're
> going to beat them up," he said,
> >>> with a straight face.
> >>>
> >>> Mr. Paterson was born to politics. His father,
> Basil, represented the
> >>> same Harlem district that his son later did,
> and ran unsuccessfully for
> >>> lieutenant governor in 1970. The younger Mr.
> Paterson was raised at the
> >>> knees of much of Harlem's old guard. He
> also grew up legally blind,
> >>> after an infection as an infant that left him
> totally without sight in
> >>> his left eye and with severely limited sight
> in his right. His family
> >>> moved to Long Island, where they found a
> school that agreed to educate
> >>> him in regular classrooms. He graduated from
> high school in three years,
> >>> went to college at Columbia and graduated from
> Hofstra Law School.
> >>>
> >>> When he was elected Senate minority leader,
> Mr. Paterson recalled the
> >>> discrimination he had suffered because he is
> disabled. "So I have had
> >>> this desire my whole life to prove people
> wrong, to show them I could do
> >>> things they didn't think I could do,"
> he said. "This is just another."
> >>>
> >>> --March 10, 2008
> >>>
> _______________________________________________
> >>> blindlaw mailing list
> >>> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> >>>
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
> >>>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> blindlaw mailing list
> >> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> >> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
> >> blindlaw mailing list
> >> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> >> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
> >>
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > blindlaw mailing list
> > blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindlaw mailing list
> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Message: 8
> Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2008 05:46:15 -0400
> From: "albert griffith"
> <albertpgriffith at hotmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor,
> a blind
> lawyer,
> To: "'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'"
> <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Message-ID:
> <BLU118-DAV10875BF5B61817A05947D5BA090 at phx.gbl>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> NPR. did report on what some people who know him think of
> his ability to do
> the job with respect to his leadership style and I feel it
> was balanced.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Scott C. LaBarre
> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 1:41 PM
> To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor,
> a blind lawyer,
>
> Spitzer did in fact resign this morning effective March
> 17th. That is when
> we will have the first blind governor in our nation's
> history. The
> wonderful thing to me is that although everyone points out
> he is blind, no
> one has accompanied that statement with wonderment about
> how he will do the
> job. We are slowly making progress in this world.
> Scott C. LaBarre, Esq.
>
> LaBarre Law Offices P.C.
> 1660 South Albion Street, Ste. 918
> Denver, Colorado 80222
> 303 504-5979 (voice)
> 303 757-3640 (fax)
> slabarre at labarrelaw.com (e-mail)
> www.labarrelaw.com (website)
>
> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This message may contain
> confidential and privileged
> information. If you are not the designated recipient, you
> may not read,
> copy, distribute or retain this message. If you received
> this message in
> error, please notify the sender at 303) 504-5979 or
> slabarre at labarrelaw.com,
> and destroy and delete it from your system. This message
> and any attachments
> are covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act,
> 18 U.S.C. ??
> 2510-2521.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Nightingale, Noel"
> <Noel.Nightingale at ed.gov>
> To: <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 9:24 AM
> Subject: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor, a
> blind lawyer,
>
>
> >
> >>From the Justice For All sidebar blurb:
> >
> > First Blind Governor of New York?
> >
> > In the wake of yesterday's breaking news of New
> York Governor Elliot
> > Spitzer's involvement in a prostitution ring, many
> top aides to
> > Spitzer expect his resignation.
> >
> > If Governor Spitzer does resign, Lt. Governor David A.
> Paterson, who
> > is legally blind, would become the state's first
> black, first blind
> > governor.
> >
> > A bit more about Mr. Paterson:
> >
> > Link to NY Times profile:
> >
> http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/p/david_a_p
> > at
> > erson/index.html?inline=nyt-per
> >
> > Text:
> > David A. Paterson
> > Stewart Cairns for The New York Times
> >
> > David A. Paterson was elected lieutenant governor of
> New York in
> > November 2006 on the ticket led by Eliot Spitzer.
> Previously, Mr.
> > Paterson had served as the minority leader of the
> state Senate. The
> > scion of a prominent Harlem political family, Mr.
> Paterson was born
> > legally blind and worked as a prosecutor before
> entering politics.
> >
> > Mr. Paterson's decision to become Mr.
> Spitzer's running mate stunned
> > many in Albany. With the growing strength of Democrats
> in statewide
> > elections, it seemed only a matter of time before his
> party took over
> > the chamber, allowing him to join the ruling
> triumvirate in Albany and
> > take his seat with the governor and the Assembly
> speaker to decide
> > between them how New York State is governed. By
> contrast, the
> > lieutenant governor's post brings with it no power
> and little prestige.
> >
> > Mr. Paterson explained the decision in terms the few
> lieutenant
> > governors who had been given a real role, saying he
> wanted to be an
> > "extension'' of Mr. Spitzer. Others close
> to him spoke of the enviable
> > position he would be in if there was a chance to move
> up. If, for
> > instance, Hillary Clinton were to become president,
> Mr. Spitzer would
> > appoint a replacement to complete her term. Mr.
> Paterson has
> > demonstrated political skills and good timing in the
> past; he became
> > the minority leader in the Senate by pulling off a
> coup, which is a
> > rare feat in Albany.
> >
> > As the leader of the Democratic minority in the
> Senate, Mr. Paterson
> > has tried to make up for his lack of power with wit,
> flurries of
> > reform proposals and unusual bursts of candor, a
> combination that has
> > made him a quotable presence in a Capitol where such
> leaders are often
> > ignored as irrelevant. He worked on making inroads
> with national
> > Democrats, traveling to Washington to meet with
> Congressional leaders.
> > And here, where much of what passes for legislative
> humor is of the
> > backslapping variety, Mr. Paterson's stands out.
> >
> > Take his request at a recent news conference on
> government reform.
> > "Anyone else in this Capitol that's telling
> you about the reform that
> > they're doing, I want you to give me their names,
> we're going to bring
> > them to this conference room, and we're going to
> beat them up," he
> > said, with a straight face.
> >
> > Mr. Paterson was born to politics. His father, Basil,
> represented the
> > same Harlem district that his son later did, and ran
> unsuccessfully
> > for lieutenant governor in 1970. The younger Mr.
> Paterson was raised
> > at the knees of much of Harlem's old guard. He
> also grew up legally
> > blind, after an infection as an infant that left him
> totally without
> > sight in his left eye and with severely limited sight
> in his right.
> > His family moved to Long Island, where they found a
> school that agreed
> > to educate him in regular classrooms. He graduated
> from high school in
> > three years, went to college at Columbia and graduated
> from Hofstra Law
> School.
> >
> > When he was elected Senate minority leader, Mr.
> Paterson recalled the
> > discrimination he had suffered because he is disabled.
> "So I have had
> > this desire my whole life to prove people wrong, to
> show them I could
> > do things they didn't think I could do," he
> said. "This is just another."
> >
> > --March 10, 2008
> > _______________________________________________
> > blindlaw mailing list
> > blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> > http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
> >
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindlaw mailing list
> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
>
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> _______________________________________________
> blindlaw mailing list
> blindlaw at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blindlaw
>
>
> End of blindlaw Digest, Vol 46, Issue 14
> ****************************************
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