[nfbwatlk] Not Sure What I Think of This

[Kevin LaRose]

First of all, I think it's great that someone who is blind is working as a
cashier at Starbucks. If it wasn't for the pay cut I'd have to take, that
would be one of my dream jobs, since I'm pretty sure employees get a break
on the product. <G> Having said that, I do have a bit of a problem with the
way she presents herself. I mean, dark glasses and a pin announcing visual
impairment? Is that really necessary? I know it's her choice, but I wouldn't
choose to do that. Anyway, here's the article about this person.

The Arizona Republic, AZ, USA
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Blind worker shows the way
By John Faherty
Five mornings a week, Cindy Rogers shows up at 4 at a Starbucks in Mesa so
you can
have your half-caf banana caramel frappuccino.
Feel free to thank her for that.
Rogers works the register at the busy store, is quick with a hello and moves
people
through the line briskly, like the veteran she is.
If you did not know she couldn't see, you probably wouldn't notice.
But you do notice because Rogers wears large black sunglasses and a big
button on
her chest stating simply: "I am visually impaired."
She does this because although her job is coffee, her passion is making sure
people
understand that being blind does not mean you don't matter. It certainly
doesn't
mean you can no longer contribute to society.
So every morning, by simply doing her job well, she lets people know they
may want
to reconsider how they think about the blind.
Rogers has worked at Starbucks for eight years, in part because the company
has always
given her a chance. It always makes sure to accommodate her as a visually
impaired
worker.
The company also shares her goal to improve literacy. Rogers just happens to
advocate
for Braille literacy.
Rogers, 51, was born with retinopathy of prematurity, which has grown worse
over
the years. She gets around with the help of her dog, Cosma, because in her
own words,
"I don't see a whole lot."
Question: Let's start with the most obvious question: why do you work this
early
shift?
Answer: I'm a morning person. I've always been a morning person. Plus, when
I get
off work, other people are just having their first coffee break.
Q:Why did you choose such a public job as a way to make a living?
A: It's so important to know that blind people, or anybody with a
disability, can
do whatever they want to do. Maybe (customers) just see me for a couple of
moments
in the morning, but it might stay with them. Blind people can do nearly
everything.
We just sometimes have to do it a little differently.
Q:Do you think it's making a difference?
A: It's hard to tell. I think so. But I've also had people come up to me and
hold
may hand and say "Oh, it's so nice they let people like you work here."
Q:How do you respond to that?
A: I say, "What? People with gray hair?"
Q:You work the register now, but did you ever make the drinks?
A: I did. I don't anymore because I can't see well enough. It's just too
hard. I
could still do it, but maybe not as fast as I needed to. So I started on the
register
and I love it. I do regular coffee, and pastries and the money.
Q:You speak to schools and talk to students. Why?
A: It's particularly important for young people to know you can do whatever
you want
in life. And when I go to classrooms now, because of mainstreaming, there
are all
kinds of kids with disabilities. I know I am not supposed to say disabled
but I do.
Q:What do you tell those kids?
A: I tell them I do the same things everybody else does every day, I just do
them
a little bit differently.
Q:Do you get some crazy questions?
A: The kindergartners and the first-graders ask me how I drive. The older
kids ask
me how I count money.
Q:All right, now that it's out there, how do you do the money?
A: In my own wallet, I have a way of keeping the money that tells me what
the bills
are. Here, I hold it right up to my eye and can usually make it out. If I
can't,
I ask the customer.
Q:What is your favorite drink here?
A: White mocha. That's my weekend drink. My daily drink is coffee with soy
milk.
Well-read
Cindy Rogers believes everybody, blind or not, should be able to read. As a
child,
she read books in large print.
At age 46, she learned Braille.
"My vision was getting worse. I could listen to books on tape like everybody
else,
but I really missed the experience of reading."
To help encourage literacy, Rogers worked with Starbucks to create a
children's story
hour on the last Saturday of every month.
The readings are 2-3 p.m. at the Starbucks at 1653 S. Dobson Road in Mesa.
Books are available in Braille and large print.
This month there is an additional reading of The Night Before Christmas at 7
p.m.
Dec. 16. Children and parents are encouraged to wear their pajamas and bring
a pillow.
For more information, call (602) 481-3305.
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/1205b2blindbarrista1205.html
--

Kevin LaRose
<kevin at kevinlarose.net>
Sliding down the razor blade of life since 1964


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