Accessible Voting Technology....

Along with the right to vote we all should have accessiblity to vote. Jill Piner, a PhD student at Rice University in Houston,
TX is currently working on a project that involves understanding and promoting change in accessible voting technology, specifically for blind and visually impaired individuals. For this study she needs to recruit people that are 18 years of age or older and legally blind. The recruits need to take a survey about their previous voting experience and what changes they feel would be most beneficial. This type of research can help in the changes needed with making voting more accessible and allows our community voice to be heard. The link to the survey is at the end of this post and it should take no more than 15-20 minutes to complete. All information is kept strictly confidential and will only be used for academic purposes. No personally identifying information (like name, address, etc) will be collected. Remember "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." Helen Keller.

https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/405696/Voting

Happy Holidays Luv Bugs!
Stay Beautiful!

Beautifully Blind, Inc.

TRAVELING BY SOUND

On November 4, 2010, when I heard the words, “flight attendants prepare for takeoff”, they took on a whole different meaning for me compared to previous flights that I have traveled. I was not only taking off to a destination, but to another country unfamiliar to me. As I could feel the rush of excitement in my body, I kept thinking, Jamaica here I come! My journey was about to begin, and I was ready for what my new adventure would entail. I mentally visualized the beaches, coconut trees, mango trees, beautiful ocean water, and tasty fruit, which increased my level of enthusiasm. However, as Toni mentioned in her post, there was a potential threat of hurricane Tomas, to which I was not excited about at all.
When our plane landed in Jamaica, after walking outside to get into the cab, I could feel the warm humid air brush against me. As I got into the cab, I was thrown off because I completely forgot that Jamaica was a country where the driver is on the right side of the vehicle, rather than the left side as established in The United States. So, every time our driver talked to Toni, who was sitting in the front seat, I kept thinking that the driver is sitting on the wrong side of the car. LOL. When we arrived to the hotel, as everyone proceeded to get out of the car, Imani let out a big sigh, and excitedly said, “Wow, this place is beautiful!” By Imani’s reaction, I didn’t have to see to know that we were in an astounding place.
The next couple of days in Jamaica would be those of education, fun, and relaxation. While waiting for the hotel shuttle, a security guard approached my mom and me. The security guard conveyed that some people take things for granted, and treat others, such as disabled individuals, as though they are lesser of a human being. The security guard went on to commend my mom for being a great parent. After our conversation, it was time for us to go on our tour of Rose Hall; a former sugar plantation aka the home of the ghost Annie Palmer. If you’re not aware of the story, I recommend you research it. Very interesting, yet creepy! I was amazed by the tour guide’s descriptive abilities. Through her dialogue, I was able to mentally envision what the house and objects in the home looked like. Being blind, I didn’t feel left out of the tour, but instead I felt a part of the group.
The following day, I enjoyed myself sitting by the pool, listening to my iPod, and the beautiful sounds of nature. Our hotel was right on the beach, so I could hear the strong currents brush ashore, along with the sound of wind. I couldn’t help but feel a sense of calmness and contentment. However, as Toni mentioned in her post, her experience at the pool was quite different. LOL.
The rest of the trip was a blast, except for the incident I had with one hotel guest. In the gift shop, I politely asked a woman standing by me if I was in her way, and she sharply replied, “Yes, you are in my way.” It is incidents like this one that makes me wonder what people think my white cane is for. However, my mom told her that I was blind, and the woman seemed as though she didn’t care. The woman’s sister (who I will call Erica) overheard the conversation and rushed over to us displaying an overly nice disposition. I assume Erica felt bad because of the rude and insensitive behavior her sister demonstrated. Erica brought over a shirt she thought I might like and described the shirt in descriptive detail. As Erica was describing the shirt, she conveyed that their father was blind. Coincidently, not only was their father blind, but the two women had another sister named Robin. All I can say about this situation is, hmmm… As our trip came to a close, the driver who took us to the airport handed me my bag, and said “I love you.” It was a sincere statement that left me in shock, but validated how compassionate some people can be. Wow, what a way to end my trip!

Jamaica!....

Ok so where do I begin?! Our plane ride was great, we were bumped up to first class because the agent said my daughter reminded her of her daughter and she was just so cute...thank you Imani! Jamaica was beautiful! We arrived in Montego Bay Thursday and came back to Colorado Sunday...super short trip. Coming from dry Colorado the humidity felt great! We were a little worried because Tomas was in the works, but luckily it had down graded from a hurricane to a tropical storm and its path was away from Jamaica. We had a nice taxi driver named Baba, he asked a lot of questions about Robin, if she was blinded at birth or diabetes...I told him neither, that she was misdiagnosed...he was saddened. It was strange because one of the security guards came up to my mom and asked her what had happened to Robin and that he thought it was so nice that we bring her out to do things...ummmm what are we supposed to do???? Leave her in a room somewhere because she can't see???? WEIRD!!!! Anyway...the mornings were a little rainy with a light breeze but the sky cleared up by noon. The feeling was very relaxed and laid back, it felt good to not have to rush to do anything, be anywhere or to adhere to a schedule. While Robin enjoyed laying out in the sun listening to her ipod, I ran around the water park trying to keep up with my 8 yr old. Imani, my daughter had a blast going down the water slide...not so much fun for me; I had to carry her tube up a winding staircase and then run back down to the bottom to see her come down; she had me do this about 6 times..the joys of being a mommy lol! We went on a tour of the Great House of Rose Hall, Imani was quite intrigued with the history and bought a book, I was shocked that she still wanted the book and read it although it didn't have any pictures. Not only was she intrigued with the story of the house, she was also intrigued by the many stray cats around...thank goodness I keep hand sanitizer on me at all times! The resort had a lot of amenities for children; Robin and I had a difficult time getting Imani out of the kid zone...we were held captive by her for HOURS!!!! Robin is such an awesome aunt, she played Nintendo car racing games with Imani and spent a loooooooong time singing karaoke while I read a book.

On our way back to Colorado we went through Miami and spent the day on the beach. Because of the weather in Jamaica and the high waters we didn't go out on the beach, so it was nice to enjoy the beach in Miami. We all ended up wet from getting hit by a high wave while getting out feet wet...we had a blast! Imani didn't want to leave! We chilled out on the beach and had a nice lunch. Robin shocked me because she is not a drinker but she drank some of my raspberry lemonade which had vodka in it, she actually liked it! She may be moving away from her virgin strawberry daiquiri lol!

Although it was a short trip, we had a great time! The view was beautiful and the experience was great!

STEPPING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX...

“A sense of accomplishment and tranquility it offers me, but most importantly, it shows that with motivation, anything can be a possibility.” As learned, karate is the act of defending oneself without the use of weapons, but through sharp movements with the hands, arms, and legs. A while back, I wrote about having the desire to participate in karate, and now it’s been about seven months since I started taking lessons. To some people it is a shock to them that I am getting involved in such a vigorous activity, but to others, including my karate sensei or teacher, there is no surprise. Karate is not only a physical sport; it involves mental concentration to which sound can compensate for the lack of visual reference.
Since I have started karate at Colorado’s Budokan, my sensei has helped me with my balance, coordination, strength, orientation, and pace. In addition to my family and friends, I have seen immense improvements in these areas, which have given me more confidence in my physical abilities. In fact, I am strongly considering on participating in a karate competition that is going to be held early next year.
Honestly, being a true introvert though, I am a little nervous about competing in front of an audience. It is a fear that I must overcome. As my family, friends, and sensei put it, the competition will challenge me by enabling me to step outside of my comfort zone.
Although I am nervous, I had to stop and ask myself what I would be losing if I competed, and the answer is nothing. However, the same thing cannot be said if I chose not to participate in the competition. If I did not compete, I would be losing out on having the opportunity to not only compete with those who are sighted, but the pleasure of knowing that I pushed myself to a new level, strengthened my self-confidence, did not have to wonder about what it would be like to compete, and most importantly, knowing that I tried my best. So, I have a pledge to you. Since I am stepping outside of my comfort zone, I challenge you to find one way to step outside of your own. Ask yourself what you have to lose verses what you could gain in the process.

Listen-I Have Something to Say!

“Please listen to what I have to say, because a few minutes of your time, will make my whole day.” I think that a lot of people underestimate how much power one small action, such as listening, can have on a person. When I talk about listening, I mean truly giving the person your undivided attention and understanding the content behind the conversation. There is a difference between hearing and actually listening. Hearing is noticing the sounds around you, but not necessarily paying attention to the meaning behind them, as listening does.
One illustration of active listening that comes to mind, is around four years ago when I was attaining my undergraduate degree. I was engaged in this lecture about listening, which stuck with me. The professor was talking about the grief she felt after her son went missing during a hiking trip. Although, at complete ends of the spectrum, I feel that my professor and I could relate to each other because we both suffered some type of loss that completely changed our lives.
My professor had asked me in class if I knew what helped her to cope with the loss of her son, and I replied by saying, emotional support. My professor said it was having someone to listen to her pain, not the offering of advice, food, etc. At this time, it was four years since I had lost my eyesight, and after listening to what my professor had conveyed, I went home to reflect on my own experiences.
When I began to reflect upon the time that I was losing my vision, I had a great support system who took the time to listen to me by letting me express my feelings. Honestly, I can say the same thing today about my family and friends; they set aside some time to truly take note of what I am saying. As a result, this makes me feel like I always have a shoulder to lean on when I need to.
I consider myself lucky to have several people who listen to me, because not everyone has someone who will pay attention. This is why I make it a point to take the time to pay attention to the people around me, whether they are family, friends, or acquaintances; every person and moment is precious. I pledge each and every one of you to take the time to listen to what the people in your life are saying, because that small moment may make someone’s whole day. Beautifully Blind, Inc. wants to know how the power of listening has impacted your life. Comments are welcomed!

Who We Are...What We Do...

Well after 6 loooong months and tons of paper work Beautifully Blind Inc. has finally received its 501(c)3 designation! In this waiting period Beautifully Blind Inc. has been focused on letting the world know who we are as people, in this blog we will tell you who we are as a business.

Beautifully Blind Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides grants for assistive technology and optic atrophy research. Beautifully Blind Inc. also provides confidential emotional support to those who have lost or are losing their eyesight and their families.

Applications for assistive technology will need to be supported by an assistive technology assessment establishing the requested product meets the client needs. Applications must be accompanied with a recommendation letter from a third party such as a welfare worker, social worker, or a group that supports the blind or similar that can verify the need and financial status. Persons eligible to apply must have a family income less than $50,000.00 and cash assets less than $20,000.00. Previous grant recipients are not assured of future funding. To ensure the grant is used for the intended purpose, grants service will pay the product supplier directly and deliver the product to the recipient via in person at the Annual Gala or mail rather than providing cash grants. Grant applicants must be legally blind and a resident of the United States. The application will be available starting January 1 of every year that funding is available. The deadline to apply will be June 1 of every year that funding is available. Applications for 2011 will be available soon on the website www.beautifullyblind.org.

Optic atrophy or damage to the optic nerve is a widespread eye condition that affects many people across the world. According to the National Institutes of Health, optic atrophy is tissue death of the nerve; ultimately causing permanent blindness. There are many causes that can result in a person being inflicted with this life altering eye condition. Such causes can include but are not limited to poor blood flow, trauma, shock, glaucoma, brain disorders, and sometimes genetics (National Institutes of Health, 2010). If not controlled, optic atrophy can not only diminish a person’s vision, but also the ability to have light perception. There is no current treatment for optic atrophy due to its irreversible nature. Due to the lack of treatment options that are readily available to people with optic atrophy, research is crucial in order for sight to be restored. Currently, in the United States there are several researchers/scientists whose mission is to find methods to rejuvenate the optic nerve. Such research includes stem cells, gene therapy, and implants. The awarded grants from Beautifully Blind Inc. will allow the organization to assist in these research efforts through financial contributions. Beautifully Blind Inc. will award financial assistance to organizations that are making strides in trying to find treatment for optic atrophy. Research will create understanding, and understanding will hopefully one day lead to a cure. Organizations applying for a grant must qualify under section 501(c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code. The organization must have a proposed plan of action and there needs to be a level of collaboration/partnership with others for the benefit of advancing optic atrophy research.

When facing a big loss, such as one’s eyesight, there is a lot of adjustment that a person must make in their daily life. When going through this major adjustment, it can be beneficial to have a person to talk to about your feelings, thoughts, and experiences. Dear Robin is an option where visitors to the Beautifully Blind Inc.’s website have the opportunity to ask questions or make comments. Confidentiality is held to the highest for individuals who choose to write in to the Dear Robin section. Dear Robin serves as a tool to help blind/visually impaired individuals and/or their families cope with vision loss. Visitors have the option to write in through the website, therefore, their information is kept private.

Beautifully Blind Inc. is ready to take on blindness full speed ahead! We want to help in leveling the playing field in all aspects of life of those that are visually impaired. If there is assistive technology that can aid in an individuals life and will make a difference in them becoming self sufficient and independent we want to be able to provide it. Please help and support us by telling your friends, family and communities about us. We are on Facebook at www.facebook.com/beautifullyblind as well as on twitter @BlindBeautiful.

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." Helen Keller

Exploring the Bigger Picture

Walk beside me and you will see, that blindness may not be as scary as you thought it would be. In my life, being blind has created some challenges, but it has also given me a new perspective. Sure, when I first lost my eyesight, there were feelings of fear and sadness, but through time, those emotions turned into enlightenment. Awareness is the key to understanding yourself and others. I’ve had the opportunity to experience life as a sighted person, and now as a blind individual. Both experiences have helped shape me into the person I am today. There’s a greater purpose behind the loss of my sight, to which I believe it is for me to help others.
To those who may not know a lot about blindness, I want it to be known that I am a person who happens to be blind. Blindness does not define me, but instead is one part of my identity. When passing people on the street, my blindness may be all that they see, but to my loved ones and friends, I’m still Robin. I’ve often been told by friends, co-workers, peers, and professors that they forget I can’t see. I engage in a lot of the same activities that I did when I had sight, but with some modification.
On August 11, 2010, there was a release of an alarming study conducted by Surge Research Inc. The study found that most Americans are more afraid of becoming blind than being diagnosed with heart disease, which is the number one killer of people in the United States. It is hard to fathom how some people would rather succumb to a potential fatal disease than lose one of the five senses. Again, this is where awareness and education can make a huge difference. Blindness has not stopped me from living my life. I’ve graduated with a double major and a master’s degree. If you take anything away from this post, please remember that with or without a (dis)ability, all things are possible when you set your mind to it!