Authenticity Matters
By Sarah Patnaude
The sun was shining; the breeze was blowing. I could hear the crashing of waves in the distance. It was a normal week spent at my childhood vacation spot: Nags Head, North Carolina. Except it wasn’t. Unlike most thirteen year olds, I couldn’t be found bogey boarding or swimming. I wasn’t playing basketball or even relaxing inside. Instead, I made the porch my fortress for the week. You see, the back porch was my practice stage.
Facts about Blindness... According to Me
Editor's Note: The following first appeared on my personal blog at JoeOrozco.com, currently under reconstruction. Please get in touch with your own questions and answers, and who knows, maybe we could create some sort of resource playfully answering some of the more popular curiosities.
Hadley: The Hidden Gem for Blind Entrepreneurs
Reprinted from my personal blog.
After the economic bust in 2008 many people went into business for themselves, and while it is always a good idea to be educated on the nuances of planning and launching a new business, you don’t necessarily need a full college degree.
I am a Federationist
By Jessica Reed
Editor’s Note: Jessica Reed is a member of the Historic Fredericksburg Chapter. She is the coordinator for the Blind Parents Group in Virginia, and in this rare insight into her story, we learn a little bit about what makes her one of our most valuable members in the movement.
I Saw You Pour Your Water
By Lauren Merryfield
I recently moved to a retirement center where most of the residents are quite active.
One woman wanted to help me with every little thing, but, as she said, she was doing it because she didn't think a blind person could do this or that.
My Experience of Being a Member of the National Federation of the Blind
By Chris Walker
Editor’s Note: The following article by one of our own appeared in the April 2019 edition of the Braille Monitor. The text follows.
Protected Class? Not So Fast: The Exploitation of Workers with Disabilities
By Sarah Patnaude
Editor’s Note: Sarah Patnaude is our affiliate’s corresponding secretary. Among other tasks, Sarah oversees our social media channels, our website, newsletter production, and promotion campaigns surrounding events like the state convention. She is a member of the Potomac Chapter and represents the chapter in the Chapter Leadership Institute. In May 2019, Sarah graduated from George Mason with a Masters in Social Work, and before leaving the halls of Academia, she wrote an article for the university newspaper that appears below with permission.
Top Ten Benefits of Being a Blind Parent
By Jessica Reed
Editor's Note: Parenting is hard, no matter which way you look at it. In this follow-up piece, however, Jessica points out in no particular order a few items for which we might embrace some advantages as blind parents.
10. When changing a poopy diaper you don’t have to see it.
9. When littles are sleeping, you can still sneak into their bedroom to grab things without turning on a light and unleashing the monster of a woken child.
Would You Go to a Blind Doctor? How the Blind Respond
By John Bailey
“Would you go to a blind doctor?", was the first of many challenging questions asked by Trisha Kurkarni At the February leadership seminar cohosted by the National Association of Blind Students in Falls Church, Virginia.