[blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor, a blind lawyer,

albert griffith albertpgriffith at hotmail.com
Sat Mar 15 10:49:18 CDT 2008 

Angie, I agree with your assessment 100 percent.  If a sighted governor
didn't use common tools to make him or herself independent the media would
at least devote some space to a curiosity regarding the officials choices.
Let's say the politician wouldn't fly or use a telephone.  I'm glad to see
Patterson has done as well as he has but I'm curious as to why he doesn't
feel a white cane or braille wouldn't have made his success even easier.   

-----Original Message-----
From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Angie Matney
Sent: Friday, March 14, 2008 1:14 AM
To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor, a blind lawyer,

As far as I'm concerned, it doesn't matter to me what he does or doesn't
use. What baffles me, though, is the tone taken in many reports that he's
somehow *more* independent or remarkable or whatever for refusing to use
braille or a mobility aid. It reminds me of an article I read about a woman
who was losing her vision. She said her doctor wanted her to use a cane, but
she didn't because she wanted to remain independent as long as possible. Her
solution was to have coworkers yell out to her every time she approached the
stairs.

So, my question is, why does the media portray a decision not to use braille
or a cane or whatever as maintaining one's independence? The articles about
Paterson are just the latest in a trend.

Angie



On Thu, 13 Mar 2008 21:39:19 -0400, Craig Borne wrote:

>This is really an individual determination and decision, isn't it?  I 
>don't know what the man sees or does not see, and I am certainly not 
>versed enough in his vision or travel to come close to making that
determination for him.
>His so called lack of independence doesn't seem to have held him back, 
>has it?
>Craig

>Craig Borne
>Baltimore, Maryland
>cjborne at comcast.net

>-----Original Message-----
>From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
>On Behalf Of albert griffith
>Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 9:31 PM
>To: 'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'
>Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor, a blind lawyer,

>Whether the man uses braille or a cane isn't relevant to his 
>qualifications as a politician but it does cause me to wonder a little 
>about him personally.  Someone who can only see shapes and doesn't use a
white cane
>can't be fully independent.   

>-----Original Message-----
>From: blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindlaw-bounces at nfbnet.org] 
>On Behalf Of Rod Alcidonis
>Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 2:39 PM
>To: NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List
>Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor, a blind lawyer,

>As long as he had a way to cope not learning them is of no consequence. 
>The man is been in politics since 1986 and he has performed remarkably
since.
>Though important, Braille is not the savior of the world and the 
>ability to function efficiently. This point has been made here times and
again.

>I doubt he could be functioning without a cane if he were walking into 
>things everywhere in the legislature's building. A cane is only usable 
>when it's needed not just for the heck of using a cane. I use one 
>because I need to, and the governor does not use one because he found 
>that he does not need one. Obviously he has just proven his 
>effectiveness without them. Let's stop creating issues where none exist.

>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: "albert griffith" <albertpgriffith at hotmail.com>
>To: "'NFBnet Blind Law Mailing List'" <blindlaw at nfbnet.org>
>Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2008 5:42 AM
>Subject: Re: [blindlaw] New York's lieutenant governor, a blind lawyer,


>> 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_pa
>t
>>>>> 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
>>>>>
>>>>
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