Seniors Making a Difference

by Glenn Crosby

From the Editor: Glenn Crosby is now a senior, and he has earned it. If there has been a job to do, whether locally, statewide, or nationally, Glen has been the man. A longtime state president and board member, he has now been elected to focus on blind seniors while at the same time being the kind of support for Norma, his wife and affiliate president, as she has been for him. Here is his report about the latest life-changing activity of the Senior Division:

During the week of February 11-17, the National Federation of the Blind Seniors Division hosted its annual Senior Retreat. This year’s event was virtual, and we had presentations by Federation leaders nationwide. Topics included cooking, cane travel, home organization and repair, the importance of Braille, and more. Thirty-two blind seniors participated, and we already have reports that they are using what they learned to become more independent and to begin the process of reclaiming their ability to live the lives they want.

As just one example following the retreat, we got an email informing us that one of the retreat participants was starting to use what he had learned to get back into baking. Here is that email. The subject line was “Ricky Made Cookies!”

Today, he used Seeing AI to read the baking directions, FaceTime to call his oldest sister to help him set the oven temperature, and baked his wife a tray of chocolate chip cookies while she was away at work. He used some of the new skills he learned this week. Oven mitts are one of them! He said he had not baked anything in years!

His wife was stunned and impressed. She loved the cookies. He just used Sweet Martha’s frozen cookie dough balls. He is standing taller today! Thanks, NFB
—Linda

Since receiving this email, we have had additional correspondence with Linda. She tells us that Ricky is visiting his daughter and grandkids, and that he has taken a tactile tic-tac-toe game and some sleep shades so he can play with his grandchildren. He has also taken a muffin tin and tennis balls so he can work on beginning Braille.

The retreat only lasts for a week, but the work our division does during the retreat and throughout the year makes a profound difference in the lives of the seniors we serve. If you don’t believe it, just ask Ricky.