[Iabs-talk] article

[pattisgregory@comcast.net Patti S. Gregory-Chang]

I want to share with you all the press coverage we got with regard to our state convention.   Thanks to Syed especially for cultivating this contact.

 the article which was published in the Indian newspaper.
The blind urged to live in the world of possibilities

By Ashok Easwaran

About 120 visually impaired men and women gathered at a hotel in Chicago to 
participate in a convention organized by the National Federation of the 
Blind, an organization which has 55,000 members in the United States.

The occasion turned out to be an evening of fun, laughter and an exploration 
of the opportunities available to the blind, rather than a collective lament 
of a debilitating handicap. Speakers at the convention spoke about their 
success stories recounting anecdotes laced with self-depreciating humor. At 
the informal get together later, there was a lot of backslapping and 
good-natured teasing.

The invocation for the banquet was given by Indian American Syed 
Yousufuddin, who has overcome the loss of sight in both eyes to pursue a 
career in marketing.

“It is respectable to be blind,” said Kevan Worley, a federation official 
from Colorado, who was the keynote speaker. “Thanks to today’s technology, 
you can compete on equal terms with (sighted) people.”

The blind, Worley said, should change their attitude to one of achievement. 
Worley is an embodiment of his message, having overcome his disability to 
successfully run four military canteens.

The federation, Worley said, has played a key role in helping the blind 
regain their independence. “This is particularly true for immigrants and 
minorities,” he said, “thanks to the work done by the federation, people are 
changing their attitude to the blind. That is quite an achievement.”

Nevertheless, despite the strides in ensuring  more opportunities for the 
blind, unemployment among then remains high, Worley said. “The blind have a 
75 percent jobless rate in the US,” he said.

The federation’s approach echoes the words of Emily Dickinson, Worley said, 
“to dwell in possibilities.” Worley said that his life had changed after he 
heard a talk by Kenneth Jernigan, then president of the federation.

“I dwelled in denial and delinquency until that time,” he said,”I avoided 
blind people and I did not like to admit to my fears.”

After he heard Jernigan, Worley said, “For the first time, I felt the 
freedom to confront my inadequacies and insecurities. I felt free to meet 
other blind people and learn from them.”

Since he imbued the message of freedom, Worley said, he has led “a full life 
of living, giving, loving and giving back.”

Worley said that many of the visually handicapped, were like him, in an 
initial state of denial. “There will inevitably be sorrow. There will be 
denial, confusion and anger,” he said. None of which will prevent the loss 
of sight.

“It is tough for many to believe that despite the loss of sight, you can 
live a full life,” Worley said.

Visually impaired children, Worley said, were especially vulnerable because 
of the ‘mixed messages’ given by parents and teachers. “We reward them for 
simple accomplishments while at the same time not entrusting them with 
routine tasks,” he said.

“The truth about blindness,”Worley said “is that it can be-depending on your 
attitude-a manageable characteristic or a daunting disability.”





--
Patti S. Gregory-Chang 
President, National Federation of the Blind of Illinois 
pattisgregory at comcast.net
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I want to share with you all the press coverage we got with regard to our state convention.   Thanks to Syed especially for cultivating this contact.
 
 the article which was published in the Indian newspaper.
The blind urged to live in the world of possibilities
By Ashok Easwaran
About 120 visually impaired men and women gathered at a hotel in Chicago to
participate in a convention organized by the National Federation of the
Blind, an organization which has 55,000 members in the United States.
The occasion turned out to be an evening of fun, laughter and an exploration
of the opportunities available to the blind, rather than a collective lament
of a debilitating handicap. Speakers at the convention spoke about their
success stories recounting anecdotes laced with self-depreciating humor. At
the informal get together later, there was a lot of backslapping and
good-natured teasing.
The invocation for the banquet was given by Indian American Syed
Yousufuddin, who has overcome the loss of sight in both eyes to pursue a
career in marketing.
“It is re spectable to be blind,” said Kevan Worley, a federation official
from Colorado, who was the keynote speaker. “Thanks to today’s technology,
you can compete on equal terms with (sighted) people.”
The blind, Worley said, should change their attitude to one of achievement.
Worley is an embodiment of his message, having overcome his disability to
successfully run four military canteens.
The federation, Worley said, has played a key role in helping the blind
regain their independence. “This is particularly true for immigrants and
minorities,” he said, “thanks to the work done by the federation, people are
changing their attitude to the blind. That is quite an achievement.”
Nevertheless, despite the strides in ensuring  more opportunities for the
blind, unemployment among then remains high, Worley said. “The blind have a
75 percent jobless rate in the US,” he said.
The federation’s approach echoes the words of Emily Dickinson, Worley said,
“to dwell in possibilities.” Worley said that his life had changed after he
heard a talk by Kenneth Jernigan, then president of the federation.
“I dwelled in denial and delinquency until that time,” he said,”I avoided
blind people and I did not like to admit to my fears.”
After he heard Jernigan, Worley said, “For the first time, I felt the
freedom to confront my inadequacies and insecurities. I felt free to meet
other blind people and learn from them.”
Since he imbued the message of freedom, Worley said, he has led “a full life
of living, giving, loving and giving back.”
Worley said that many of the visually handicapped, were like him, in an
initial state of denial. “There will inevitably be sorrow. There will be
denial, confusion and anger,” he said. None of which will prevent the loss
of sight.
“It is tough for many to believe that despite t he loss of sight, you can
live a full life,” Worley said.
Visually impaired children, Worley said, were especially vulnerable because
of the ‘mixed messages’ given by parents and teachers. “We reward them for
simple accomplishments while at the same time not entrusting them with
routine tasks,” he said.
“The truth about blindness,”Worley said “is that it can be-depending on your
attitude-a manageable characteristic or a daunting disability.”
 
 
 
--
Patti S. Gregory-Chang
President, National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
pattisgregory at comcast.net