by Judy Rasmussen
From the Editor: This article is reprinted from the Braille Spectator, a publication of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland. Here is the way the article was introduced:
[Editor's Note: Judy Rasmussen, secretary of the NFB of Maryland, also serves as the co-chair of the NFBMD Ambassadors Committee. This committee is charged with providing first-time convention attendees with orientation to the numerous convention activities and mentorship.]
After two years of attending virtual national conventions, most of us were ready to meet again in person. However, we had questions. Would this convention be as inspiring and energetic as previous ones? Would we contract COVID? If we did, would we get really sick?
Despite these uncertainties, more than two hundred Marylanders attended our national convention in New Orleans from July 4 to 11. There were more than forty first-timers, which is really pretty amazing and exciting.
All first-timers have worthwhile stories to tell. This article features three first-timers who come from varied and diverse backgrounds. Each had different expectations and reasons for attending the convention. All came away with the realization that they are not alone, whether they are pursuing career options or living in a new place independently, they realize they are all capable of helping others experiencing vision loss.
Christina Campbell has been legally blind all her life. She attended the Maryland School for the Blind, but because she had some vision, she didn't think she needed to learn to read and write Braille. In 2020 she lost a significant amount of vision and regretted not taking advantage of learning some more intensive blindness skills while attending school.
Christina has always enjoyed sports and recreation—especially martial arts and self-defense. After graduating from school, she took courses and became a certified martial arts instructor. She founded her own school and ran a successful business for several years. She is now embarking on marketing herself as a self-defense instructor and is willing to travel to different parts of the country to teach this essential skill, especially to people who have visual impairments.
Christina heard about the NFB in school but didn't make any effort to join the organization. She joined a Facebook group called Clubhouse, where she helps plan events focusing on sports. She met some people in this group who were Federation members, and they convinced her it was a good idea to join. She joined the Greater Baltimore Chapter recently and is looking forward to getting to know more people.
One of her first Federation activities was talking to some parent groups regarding the importance of encouraging their blind children to participate in sports activities.
What did Christina learn from the convention? She learned that passing resolutions gives us power and influence on many issues that affect how we work, play, and go to school. She learned blind people can work in a huge exhibit hall and help sell items like talking clocks, Braille card games, etc. She learned the importance of having a mentor, as well as serving as one. She appreciated Ellen Ringlein's help in getting her acclimated to what was happening and introducing her to people from many states. She especially enjoyed the opening ceremonies because the energy was so high, and she heard delegates from each state give brief highlights of what had happened in their affiliates during the past year. She is looking forward to staying involved in Federation activities and assuming some leadership roles.
Pat Peters recently moved to Maryland from Chicago to be near her children and grandchildren. It was a big adjustment. She had been gradually losing her vision due to retinitis pigmentosa, a progressive eye disease. She was apprehensive about the move because she knew where things were in her neighborhood, she had friends, and she felt comfortable. She was no stranger to experiencing new things. Throughout her career she had helped people who had been sexually abused, ran a construction company, and opened a coffee shop. When the opportunity came to get an apartment near her family, she packed up and moved, not quite knowing what she would find or if she would like it here.
Pat heard about the Federation and the national convention from one of our newer members, Judy Nelson. When Pat heard about all the events that happened at convention, she decided to go, figuring she would meet new people and learn more about adjustment to vision loss.
The Ambassadors Committee is an important part of the work we do, especially at national and state conventions. When Pat learned that a blind person would be her mentor, she was amazed and a little apprehensive. "How could a blind person help me when she wouldn't know where to go herself?" After losing her mentor in the airport, (they found each other) she decided this was going to be a real adventure.
When she got to the hotel and heard hundreds of canes tapping, she felt excited and nervous. Pat's first day was exhausting. After standing in line for two hours to show her COVID test, picking up her registration packet, and trying to figure out what to do next, she told her mentor she was ready to go to her room to make some coffee. Making coffee is no big deal, right? Well, after she got everything ready, she pushed the only button she could find on the pot, and nothing happened. Not to be deterred, her mentor called Be My Eyes to see if they could figure out why the pot was not running. After more exploration and much laughter, they discovered that the pot was not plugged in. Hearing that coffee gurgle in the pot made Pat realize that blind people could solve problems and that she had a group of friends in the NFB who would stand beside her as she adjusted to life here in Maryland. Maybe she could leave her room by herself and go to meetings like everyone else was.
On the second day, Pat was leaving her room on her own, attending seminars, finding food, and doing what she wanted to do. She realized people were helping each other find their way, and she continued to gain confidence in her new-found freedom as the week wore on. She met Federationists who lived near her in Prince George's County, and since the convention she has participated in many activities with them. Pat has already registered for the state convention.
What would Pat's advice be to newly blind people and to those considering attending a convention for the first time? "There are no limits."
Guy Kelly, a veteran, federal contractor for the government, hardware designer, and an entrepreneur has led a full life. In 2018 he was hit in the eye with a basketball. His vision was affected somewhat, but he continued to function normally.
In 2020 he lost a significant amount of vision, which was very devastating. He retired from Verizon after thirty years of installing cable networks for telephone systems. He is currently still working on some contracts designing telephone system hardware. His future goal is to be approved as a minority business owner and be awarded contracts from the government to continue installation and other types of work.
Guy did not want the fact that he was nearly blind to run his life. He began doing some research and decided he needed some independent living skills training. He is currently enrolled in the core program at Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM).
Guy heard about the convention from BISM and decided to go. He had joined the Central Maryland Chapter and already knew a few people.
One of the first things that amazed him was that, while waiting to check into the hotel, he saw a blind person on a hover board. He said he was privileged to have Sharon Maneki as his mentor and couldn't believe how many people she introduced him to on his first day.
Guy said he enjoyed learning about all the civil rights issues in which the Federation is involved. This was very personal to him since the Federation had just gone to court with him to help secure visitation rights to see his six-year-old daughter. He had been denied visitation rights on the basis of his blindness. He is happy he now has visitation rights and he credits the Federation totally for making that happen.
Guy relayed that the highlight of the convention for him was the opening day ceremonies. Thirty years ago, while in the army, he carried the Missouri state flag at the Super Bowl in New Orleans. At the 2022 convention, he was able to be part of the color guard and carry the Federation flag. He is proud to have served his country and proud to be a Federationist.