American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
Future Reflections Convention 2024 NOPBC CONFERENCE AND BOARD MEETING
What the Federation Means to Me
by Silas O’Connor and Briley O’Connor
Introduction by Cassie McKinney: It’s always nice to hear from some of the children who have benefited from this organization. This afternoon Silas O’Connor is going to talk about what the Federation means to him, and maybe some of the cool things he does with Mom and Dad.
Briley O’Connor: Silas and I decided we should do this in an interview style. He can answer some questions about himself. Silas, how old are you?
Silas: Nine.
Briley: What grade are you going into?
Silas: Fourth.
Briley: What are some of your favorite things to do?
Silas: Podcasts, cars, mostly TV.
Briley: What do you spend time in your room building?
Silas: Legos. My mom plays with me, and Daddy sometimes.
Briley: You had a judo tournament a couple of weeks ago. Your first one. What happened there?
Silas: I met a blind kid that was there. One of the kids got a bloody nose so he had to stop, and I got to keep playing, so I won that one and then I got gold.
Briley: What is one of your favorite things about the NFB convention?
Silas: Probably NFB Camp. And also you can win all the tactile stuff. Also I can take pictures with my watch. I can take a picture with my mom’s phone and send it to my watch, and now it’s my background.
Briley: What is neat about the tactile art room? We went there yesterday. What’s some stuff we did there?
Silas: Soon they’re going to make it where everyone can just order it.
Briley: Oh, you mean the 3D photos we saw. If you haven’t been to that exhibit, there was a gentleman there with photographs of different parts of the country—the Golden Gate Bridge and a big spruce tree. They had the photograph, and then it was 3D printed.
Silas: And it changed per—per—however you say it when the picture went into the distance.
Briley: What’s something else we did in there together?
Silas: We had a lot of colorful clay. My mom made a pig’s head, and I made a giant apartment. But mine fell apart because it got stuck to the table.
Briley: You have done the BELL Academy how many times now?
Silas: I started when I was four. I think it’s my fifth one.
Briley: What is one of your favorite memories from BELL Academy?
Silas: I don’t feel weird because there’s a bunch of blind people, so it’s not like I’m the only kid with a so-called stick.
Briley: You’re not the only kid with a cane, that’s true.
Silas: The kid with a stick.
Briley: You are learning Braille right now, aren’t you?
Silas: Five days every week, because I have free time on Saturday and church on Sunday.
Briley: Why is learning Braille important for you? What do Mom and Dad tell you all the time?
Silas: Because I might get more blind when I get older.
Briley: How do you feel about being a blind person?
Silas: I like it.
Briley: Yeah? Why?
Silas: Writing Braille is cool. I have a friend, Jack, at my school, and he’s like, “Ooh! I want to learn Braille!” So then I can actually be a teacher.
Briley: You get to show Braille to one of your best friends.
Silas: And in exchange he teaches me about knights. Then I can find a cool knight costume for Halloween. I’m always waiting for Halloween with my costume.
Briley: I grew up in the NFB. My mom started the parents’ division in Virginia a long, long time ago. One of the things that’s been wonderful for me and that’s been great for Silas is the community and the high age-appropriate expectations. Silas, what kind of chores do you do around the house?
Silas: At my dad’s house I have to mop and vacuum the kitchen. For my mom I sweep the stairs and clean the kitchen and dining room. She does the carpet, though.
Briley: What else is your job? On Tuesdays.
Silas: I take out the trash. The most exciting job!
Briley: You even pull the big cans out to the curb, right?
Silas: Yeah. I like pretending they’re race cars. Otherwise it’s boring.
Briley: What is one thing that Mom always says to you?
Silas: Do this, do that.
Briley: Okay. Last question. What is one thing, if you could tell parents of blind kids, give them one piece of advice, what would you say?
Silas: I honestly have no idea.
Briley: Wouldn’t you tell them to treat their kid like every other kid?
Silas: Yes, but why wouldn’t they?
Briley: And now, for our customary ending, I give you Silas O’Connor with his joke.
Silas: This is a joke my dad found on his phone. He used it at the Rookie Roundup, but everyone booed. Why did Eeyore not like elevators?
Briley: I don’t know. Why?
Silas: Because they always brought him down.
[Laughter and applause]