[nfbwatlk] Fw: further update about Ron

[Mike Freeman]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Carl Jarvis
To: wcb
Sent: Sunday, October 08, 2006 7:26 PM
Subject: [Wcb-l] further update about Ron


Dear Sharon,
Thank you for caring so much about Ron and about WCB to keep us posted.
There is no easy way to watch our friends die, so do not apologize for 
sharing your feelings.
As I told you earlier, I've known Ron since 1969 when he was president of 
the King County White Cane Association, in Seattle.
Later, Ron and I went through the Business Enterprise training together when 
the training cafeteria was located in the DSB building at 3411 South Alaska 
Street.
My most favorite Ron Fredrickson story is the one about how he earned his 
GED.  Ron had attended the school for the blind at Vancouver.  Ron had 
believed that he had received a graduation diploma, but the school had 
actually given him some sort of good attendance certificate.
Ten years later, DSB staff were developing a GED program for blind people. 
In going over old records they found Ron's name, and decided that he would 
be the perfect subject for testing the effectiveness of the program.
After explaining all of this to Ron, they sat him down to run through the 
test so they could determine what areas he would need to study in order to 
complete his GED.  Without studying, and after being out of school for ten 
years, Ron took the test and passed, thereby receiving his GED.
This is not a reflection on the current administration at the School for the 
Blind, but back in those "good old days" Ron was not the first, nor the last 
student to be poorly treated by the very people who were entrusted with his 
education.

Sometimes our sighted associates say, "You people are so amazing doing the 
things that you do."
But do you know what I find amazing?  I find it amazing that Ron Fredrickson 
survived a horribly abusive childhood and somehow managed to grow up to be 
the gentle, kind, committed man we all care so much about.   That's what I 
find amazing.
Ron, I hope you feel all of our love and tears tonight.

Carl Jarvis



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-------------- next part --------------
----- Original Message -----
From:
mailto:carjar at olypen.com Carl Jarvis
To:
mailto:wcb-l at wcbinfo.org wcb
Sent:
Sunday, October 08, 2006 7:26 PM
Subject:
[Wcb-l] further update about Ron
Dear Sharon,
Thank you for caring so much about Ron and about WCB to keep us posted. 
There is no easy way to watch our friends die, so do not apologize for sharing your feelings. 
As I told you earlier, I've known Ron since 1969 when he was president of the King County White Cane Association, in Seattle. 
Later, Ron and I went through the Business Enterprise training together when the training cafeteria was located in the DSB building at 3411 South Alaska Street. 
My most favorite Ron Fredrickson story is the one about how he earned his GED.  Ron had attended the school for the blind at Vancouver.  Ron had believed that he had received a graduation diploma, but the school had actually given him some sort of good attendance certificate. 
Ten years later, DSB staff were developing a GED program for blind people.  In going over old records they found Ron's name, and decided that he would be the perfect subject for testing the effectiveness of the program. 
After explaining all of this to Ron, they sat him down to run through the test so they could determine what areas he would need to study in order to complete his GED.  Without studying, and after being out of school for ten years, Ron took the test and passed, thereby receiving his GED. 
This is not a reflection on the current administration at the School for the Blind, but back in those "good old days" Ron was not the first, nor the last student to be poorly treated by the very people who were entrusted with his education. 
 
Sometimes our sighted associates say, "You people are so amazing doing the things that you do." 
But do you know what I find amazing?  I find it amazing that Ron Fredrickson survived a horribly abusive childhood and somehow managed to grow up to be the gentle, kind, committed man we all care so much about.   That's what I find amazing. 
Ron, I hope you feel all of our love and tears tonight. 
 
Carl Jarvis
 
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Wcb-l mailing list
Wcb-l at wcbinfo.org
http://wcbinfo.org/mailman/listinfo/wcb-l_wcbinfo.org