Announcer:
Welcome to the Nation's Blind Podcast presented by the National Federation of the Blind. The transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans. Live the life you want.
President Riccobono:
(President Riccobono singing) Live the life you want. Nobody can stop you. Shoot for the sun and break on through, so you're blind, you'll be fine we've got good news. You can live the life you want. Yes, we know the truth.
(President Riccoboni now speaking) Do you know our truth? How did you learn it? Have you recently examined, tested and rediscovered our truth, or have you taken it for granted? Settled for the convenient truth of the moment, or internalized what others have convinced you is the truth.
Melissa Riccobono:
Hello everyone and welcome to the Nation's Blind Podcast. I am Melissa Riccobono, and once again, I am here with the one, the only...
Anil Lewis:
Often imitated, never duplicated, Anil Lewis, how are you doing, Melissa?
Melissa Riccobono:
I am doing great. We had a little break for the summer. How did the summer treat you?
Anil Lewis:
You had a break (laughs)?
Melissa Riccobono:
Well, I mean, we had a break from the Nation's Blind. I didn't really have a break either, but anyway, how was your summer?
Anil Lewis:
Yes (laughs).
Melissa Riccobono:
Yes (laughs)?
Anil Lewis:
It was great. I had a national convention, that was a big highlight of my summer. But yeah, I have to admit, I had a really good summer. No complaints. Matter of fact, it was a thrilling summer. How about that?
Melissa Riccobono:
A thrilling, wow, thrilling. That's fantastic.
Anil Lewis:
And you?
Melissa Riccobono:
I can't say mine was thrilling. It was, umm, hmmm.
Anil Lewis:
Contemplative (laughs)?
Melissa Riccobono:
It was definitely contemplative. It was kind of full of changes.
Anil Lewis:
Yeah.
Melissa Riccobono:
It was full of new learning for I think kind of all of us. New experiences.
Anil Lewis:
Yeah, that sounds thrilling.
Melissa Riccobono:
I mean it...
Anil Lewis:
All that sounds thrilling.
Melissa Riccobono:
It was, but it was a little tiring (Anil laughs). It wasn't really a relaxing summer, although I did not coordinate the BELL Academy, which I love the National Federation of the Blind Bell Academy with all my heart and soul. I was actually quite happy, however, not to be the coordinator for the NFB of Maryland this year to let somebody else do it, to pass the torch, to see it being done and being done well, and to go and volunteer for a few days. And if there was a problem, just to know that's not my problem. I don't have to worry about that (laughs). So that part was great (laughs).
Anil Lewis:
That's the part when you evolve there, it does make your life that much easier to deal with. That's true.
Melissa Riccobono:
That is true. So I hope all of you out there had wonderful, wonderful, thrilling, relaxing, contemplative, whatever the adjective could be, summer. And we are here to talk about the National Convention. I see what you did there. The convention, by the way, was a highlight of my summer also. It is every summer.
Anil Lewis:
And hopefully many of our listeners had the opportunity to take advantage of that thrilling opportunity.
Melissa Riccobono:
I really hope so and we just heard the beginning of President Riccobono's banquet speech, him singing, "Live the Life You Want." And that's what we're going to talk about today. We're going to talk about the banquet speech, and it's the highlight of our convention, but it's the highlight because it really helps us think and discover new ways of thinking about different things. So I'm excited, but I'm more excited that it's not just Anil and me that get to talk about this with you. So Anil, would you like to introduce one of these great people?
Anil Lewis:
I think the person I'd like to introduce probably feels that there may have been something else at convention that may have been a little more thrilling than the banquet speech itself.
Melissa Riccobono:
Oh my gosh, yes!
Anil Lewis:
We have our Dr. Jacobus tenBroek Award winner joining us today. A good friend of both of ours for many, many years, the director of the Colorado Center for the Blind, Ms. Julie Deden. How are you doing, Julie?
Julie Deden:
I'm doing really well, and thank you so much for having me. It's an honor to get to be here today, and it was the biggest thrill of my life to realize that I was going to be the recipient of the Jacobus tenBroek Award. I always listened very carefully each year as awards are being presented, and I always try to guess who's going to be receiving this award this year.
And I am again, so honored to be placed in the pool of all of the remarkable people that have received the Jacobus tenBroek Award in the past. And so once I knew that it was me, I thought, "Oh, I better run up to the stage and I better get up there" (Anil laughs). And what an honor, and I just really appreciate everyone in the NFB and our NFB family.
Anil Lewis:
Very well deserved. And I just feel thrilled that I have such a celebrity that we have such a celebrity (Julie laughs) here on our show.
Melissa Riccobono:
That's right. And for those that don't know, the tenBroek award is the highest honor that we bestow on our own members, people that have worked to change what it means to be blind every day, and who really embody our philosophy in just the way that they live their everyday life. And again, very well deserved. And Julie, I do the very same thing. I always try to guess (laughs).
Julie Deden:
It's always fun to think about that.
Melissa Riccobono:
It is, yeah.
Julie Deden:
I'm sitting in my office right now at the center and I have the beautiful award on my wall.
Anil Lewis:
Nice.
Julie Deden:
And I have had all our students and staff get to come and look at it also. So it means just so much to me.
Anil Lewis:
Very nice. So Melissa, would you like to introduce our other guest?
Melissa Riccobono:
Sure. Well, we have a Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship winner. This scholarship provides funding to support NFB members who want to attend a national convention for the first time. And so I'm going to let this person introduce himself aside from, I will say his first name is Wesley, but I want to make sure that I get his last name correct. So Wesley, go ahead. Introduce yourself to everybody please.
Wesley Hillman:
Thank you, Mrs. Riccobono. My name is Wesley Hillman. I am the president of the Central Arkansas Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind, and I was blessed with receiving a Kenneth Jernigan scholarship this year to attend the National Convention in New Orleans. And it was a wonderful experience and an honor to be able to receive one of those scholarships.
Melissa Riccobono:
Wow.
Anil Lewis:
Very nice. I'm just so happy that we're able to offer that to people who've never been to a convention before. Because I think that once they get to attend their first convention, then they'll be committed to making sure they get to attend subsequent ones. So I think that the Kenneth Jernigan first time convention scholarship is a program that really helps build the National Federation of the Blind. So Wesley, pleasure to have you here. And it was nice to get to meet you, even though it was very briefly in New Orleans.
Wesley Hillman:
Yes, sir. That's correct. And I was very honored to meet Mrs. Riccobono's husband, President Riccobono as well.
Anil Lewis:
Very nice.
Melissa Riccobono:
We all went to convention. And why don't we start the podcast by just talking in general about what our favorite part of this year's convention was. Julie, maybe you've already said it. I don't know. Maybe winning the tenBroek award was your favorite part. I wouldn't be surprised if that was the case. But Wesley, let's start with you. Did you have a favorite part of this year's convention, something that sticks out to you as a first time convention goer?
Wesley Hillman:
There are so many wonderful things that I can talk about about attending my first NFB convention. I even gave a speech to my Toastmasters group about it.
Anil Lewis:
Nice.
Wesley Hillman:
However, there are some highlights that stand out to me. First of all, being able to visit New Orleans for the first time, especially getting to visit one of the greatest museums that I've ever attended, especially with today's date being September 2nd, marking the end of World War II. Visiting the World War II Museum in New Orleans was a major highlight of my trip to convention. And I'm very thankful that the Louisiana affiliate worked with them to get tour guides and accommodations set up for any of us who wanted to visit the museum while in New Orleans.
And another highlight to me was meeting so many people from all the other affiliates, some who I have met online, also getting to meet people who, some my friends know. For example, my friend Brittany up in the Northern New Jersey chapter, the NFB, I met her chapter president, Rick Fox and his wife. And that was a real honor. And meeting the Michigan affiliate president Robert Parsons was amazing as well. I could go on and on (Anil laughs) talking about all the different people I've met at convention.
Anil Lewis:
I love that you pointed out the things that you did because many people call it our family reunion. So our nationwide family comes together and enjoys each other's company. I love the way that you already described that it's more than just the convention itself. We try to make sure, because many people, they save up and this is really their vacation in addition to doing the work of the federation. So it's nice that you point out that it is a well-rounded experience that has something for everyone. Very pleased that you were there.
Wesley Hillman:
Absolutely.
Melissa Riccobono:
Definitely. Julie, how about you?
Julie Deden:
Alright!
Melissa Riccobono:
What was your favorite part (laughs)?
Julie Deden:
There's always so much. I love the intro to this podcast today, hearing President Riccobono sing "Live the Life You Want" and just the energy that falls through the convention from the minute you walk in those doors to the hotel to leaving at the end of it all. But one of my most favorite parts of every convention that I've attended is our presidential report, because that is the power of the National Federation of the Blind and the life.
That's what we do. And I so get so much energy hearing President Riccobono talk about all the things that we've done in the past year and what it means to all of us. And this year especially Mary Witmeyer was highlighted, and Mary Witmeyer was a student here at the Colorado Center for the Blind. And I was part of working with Mary to get the conservatorship lifted away from her and spoke with her mother several times and really saw this transformation that Mary has made. And that is because of us, because of the National Federation of the Blind. And so that was my favorite part, was our presidential report. And as we all know, there's so many other pieces that we all just love.
Anil Lewis:
It's nice that you capitalize that too because as you're talking, I'm saying yeah. Nodding my head, yeah, I agree absolutely.
Melissa Riccobono:
(Laughs) me too (Julie laughs).
Anil Lewis:
I love all of that. The thing that I really love this year, I know it's kind of weird. Two things, if I may. One, and I thought we had done this on the podcast before, but this was during the virtual convention that Melissa and I shared. I really was pleased with the financial report. I know that sounds (chuckles) very different, right? Because very few people actually enjoy the financial report. But I think this year, president Riccobono did it in such a way, and it wasn't just me, I heard other people say it too for the first time that it really resonated with our members in a way they really understood our fiscal standing.
So that was very helpful. And then the other thing that I thought was so heartwarming to me was we had a fire alarm at convention. Luckily there was no fire, but we didn't know that until maybe five, ten minutes into the alarm. But we saw Federationists step up and put together the marshaling that would get people moving on out of the building. Many people were waiting for the hotel to make the announcement, which I understand that. But it was nice to see everybody step up and really execute without any real prep or planning assistance to help everybody who was wanting to get out of the building, evacuate the building.
Julie Deden:
I have to say Anil, I so agree with you about the alarm because I was so impressed with how smoothly so many people left and how everything came together. And I was thinking that also, I don't ever remember having an alarm during general session before. And that's another testament to how well we just handle things.
Anil Lewis:
And we're not going to take it for granted. I'm sure we're not sure we're going to, I am sure we're going to put together more dedicated. Well, we're going to put more attention to having a dedicated emergency response plan, but it's nice to know that people are really there stepping up. So I'll tell you what, why don't we take a pause for message and then we'll come back. And Julie, we want to hear more about you. We kind of skated over the fact that you got the award, but we want people to understand who you are and why you were so deserving of that award. So let's just take a break for a quick message.
Message:
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Melissa Riccobono:
Well, welcome back from that great message. Anil went to the message so quickly, which was wonderful, but I didn't get a chance to talk about my favorite part of convention. So let me just briefly say that I loved first of all how vulnerable President Riccobono was during this convention. He's really, I believe, grown into himself as a leader. I think he has his own style, not that he hasn't before, but he really took some chances, showed a lot of emotion, and also took some chances with doing the financial report in a different way than it's been done before. And just lots of successes with that.
I also really love watching our daughters, Elizabeth and Oriana make the NFB their own. So Elizabeth is really very excited to make popcorn in the presidential suite and help out in the presidential suite. She's often very shy, so it's really nice that she feels like this is a really good spot for her. And Oriana spoke at the Blind Parent Group meeting and I wasn't able to attend, but I heard many, many times how much parents enjoyed hearing from her, how honest she was...
Anil Lewis:
I'm sure.
Melissa Riccobono:
How much she just really was very free about giving her thoughts about what it's like having blind parents, what it's like being a blind kid, but more what it's like being a daughter of blind parents. And so that was just really cool. And she also worked at NFB Camp again.
Anil Lewis:
And she has such personality too.
Melissa Riccobono:
Yeah (laughs).
Anil Lewis:
I could see her. Yeah.
Melissa Riccobono:
(Laughs) yes she does. She also worked at NFB Camp and that's really her. I don't know, that's just where she belongs. So that part has been really fun.
Anil Lewis:
I love the way that she helps officiate the white elephant that we do around Christmas time. She's very dynamic.
Melissa Riccobono:
(Laughs) yes, yes, yes, she is. Yeah, she's great. So anyway, that was my favorite part. But let's go on because this podcast is not about me, it's about our participants. So Julie, you won this great tenBroek Award and we talked about that it's award that's given to people who have been involved in the NFB for a while and who have really helped us work on ways that we can all live the lives we want. I want to talk a little bit about your history with the NFB, when you got involved and how long you've been involved and the things that you've done over your years of involvement.
Julie Deden:
I would love to do that. So I began my journey in the NFB in actually 1978. I was eighteen years old and I was in college at the time, and I had always been blind but really hid my blindness. I did not want anyone to know I was blind. I had just a little, little bit of vision. I didn't use a cane. I was a Braille reader, but I didn't use a cane. And I attempted to get by by memorizing the whole campus at CU Boulder.
And obviously I didn't memorize it and I had to drop a couple classes because it was late at night, couldn't see anything. And I really struggled. I really struggled with my own blindness and with my identity then because as we all know as blind people, being blind is a part of who we are and it's part of our identity.
But I didn't feel comfortable in any way as a blind person. And so I got connected to the National Federation of the Blind in Colorado, and I jumped in to everything almost immediately. I just love the people to start with people's kindness, people's hearts, people's openness and wanting to take me in and them teaching me that it is respectable to be blind and that I could be proud to be a blind person.
And so I joined the NFB at the most fun time you could ever imagine. So I had the opportunity to demonstrate against the National Accreditation Council, which is an organization that accredited agencies in schools that were the most despicable agencies in the country and sheltered workshops. And so every year we would go and demonstrate against NAC and I...
Anil Lewis:
NAC tracking, we call it NAC tracking.
Julie Deden:
NAC tracking. I loved it so much. And my first year at convention, I had an opportunity to demonstrate against the FAA in Baltimore and because we were getting our canes taken away from us on planes. And so you can imagine how much I just enjoyed all of the activism and knowing that collectively we were changing the world. We were in the middle of it all. And so that's how I got involved. And my first convention was in Baltimore in 1978.
And I have never ever missed one convention because the second I got involved, I just wanted to continue on. And thanks to all of the people in the NFB that brought me along and I took some bringing along. I didn't use a cane for a while (Anil laughs) or anything like that. I wasn't that easy. I was still kind of fighting with myself on my identity (laughs).
Anil Lewis:
It is important for us all to remember that we came from that space so that we can meet other people where they are recognizing that we've been there before. So how did you evolve to becoming the director of the Colorado Center?
Julie Deden:
So I worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor for many years, and I...
Anil Lewis:
I didn't know that. I didn't know you were a VR counselor.
Julie Deden:
I did. I really enjoyed it too, because it was really an opportunity to get people involved in programs and really provide just a lot of counseling to them and everything as people were moving forward in their lives. And then what happened is Diane was thinking about stepping down as director and I had an opportunity to travel to Poland with LCB and CCB staff members prior to me actually working at the Colorado Center for the Blind. So I went with everyone there.
Anil Lewis:
Hold that thought. Right just one quick minute though. I just want to let people know that Diane you're talking about is Diane McGeorge.
Julie Deden:
Thank you, Anil.
Anil Lewis:
She founded the Colorado Center for the Blind. Such a wonderful woman. I love Diane. She was formerly our big door prize. Diane gave all the door prizes, but she's the one that founded the Colorado Center for the Blind. And she did a great job in mentoring you, and I'm sure she's extremely pleased with what you've done as her successor in that role.
Julie Deden:
Well, thank you. Thanks Anil for telling everyone who Diane McGeorge is. I feel like I'm talking extra fast today. So also I wanted to mention Diane was actually here today for our senior group.
Anil Lewis:
Oh, nice.
Julie Deden:
So I got to see her today. And so I, as a vocational rehab counselor, I actually sent students to the Colorado Center. And then I had an opportunity, I was the president of the National Federation of the Blind of Denver, and I was very much involved in the NFB since from the very beginning. And then when Diane McGeorge decided to step down, I began working here at the center. And I started working in 1997 actually. And then I became the director in March of 1999.
Anil Lewis:
Nice.
Melissa Riccobono:
Wow!
Anil Lewis:
And you've been doing a tremendous job.
Melissa Riccobono:
Yes, absolutely. You were my boss. Well...
Julie Deden:
Yes!
Melissa Riccobono:
My boss's boss. I guess I had a couple different (Anil laughs) bosses.
Julie Deden:
But we were so lucky, Melissa, to have you assist us.
Melissa Riccobono:
I loved it. It was great.
Julie Deden:
Two of our summer programs, it was so much, so much fun.
Melissa Riccobono:
I learned more of those summers I think, than almost anywhere else (laughs). It's trial by fire, but it's a good thing (laughs).
Julie Deden:
That's right (laughs).
Anil Lewis:
That sounds like that could be a podcast in itself. We have to...
Melissa Riccobono:
Oh my gosh (Anil laughs).
Julie Deden:
It could be.
Melissa Riccobono:
Yes, it could (laughs). Is there a milestone at the center, Julie, that you're particularly proud of or that you're looking forward to? Is there something you're going forward to try to do?
Julie Deden:
So we have so many milestones for the time that I've been here, but I was thinking about what maybe one milestone is. And we had, several years ago, the National Council of State Agencies serving the Blind had their meeting here, their conference here, and they wanted to come to tour the Colorado Center for the Blind.
And I was thinking about that because we know that when we started our centers, it was so difficult and no one ever thought that blind people really that we could be in charge of ourselves and that we could run our own programs. But when the conference was here, everybody that attended the conference wanted to come to tour our center.
So we arranged transportation for everyone, we gave everybody tours and just so that our listeners know, the participants in the National Council of State agencies serving the Blind, they are directors of agencies for the blind for vocational rehabilitation agencies around the country. And so I just felt very validated that they wanted to learn about the way in which we provide training and what we do here, especially remembering from where we came to where we are now. And so that is one milestone. And again, there's just so many, but that's something that really has struck me.
Anil Lewis:
Nice. Let's turn our attention to Wesley (laughs). This is one of those things where you say uh oh, tough act to follow, but I love the fact that we're setting high expectations and I'm loving that we're catching Wesley at the beginning of his evolution within the Federation. So Wesley, can you tell our listeners a little bit about when you joined and why you joined?
Wesley Hillman:
Yes sir. I would be honored to Anil. My adventure so far with the NFB has definitely been very different than Julie's. And I do want to say thank you to all of those who have paved the way for myself and the younger generation of individuals getting involved in the Federation. But my time, I always grew up hearing about the NFB and the Federation and all. However, I really did not consider really getting involved in the NFB until just a few years ago.
It was right after I finished my term serving on the board for the Alumni Association for the Arkansas School for the Blind. And I was trying to figure out something else to get involved in, and I kept seeing all these posts from friends of mine about the NFB. And so I reached out to some of them such as Kyle and Cindy Kiper, and they helped me out with getting involved in the Central Arkansas chapter.
And I joined up with the NFB at the end of 2022. And I have attended the 2023 all the way through this year's state conventions here in Arkansas. And like I told the group, whenever I gave my state of the chapter address this past state convention that we had in Bentonville, Arkansas back in the spring, if you would've told me I would be the chapter of the central Arkansas chapter even just a year ago, I would've thought, "Whoa, couldn't really see that happening."
However, that's just what the Lord has me, God has in place me in being responsible for. And I'm very thankful to be in that position. And I'm very thankful for the team that I have to work with in my chapter with individuals like Cindy Scott-Huisman and others.
Anil Lewis:
Nice, nice. You mentioned Kyle. I think Kyle and Cindy moved to Texas. He's the chapter president in Texas now.
Wesley Hillman:
Yes!
Anil Lewis:
So he's planting seeds and continuing to go around the country, so that's good.
Wesley Hillman:
Absolutely. The heart of Texas chapter, they just started.
Anil Lewis:
Yeah. Did the NFB change your perspective around blindness or once you found us as a family, did your perspective around blindness change?
Wesley Hillman:
Well, the thing is, Anil, is that I was very fortunate to grow up in a family with other blind individuals. And I was encouraged throughout my life, even before getting involved in the Federation to not let blindness stop me from living the life that I wanted. And so whenever I joined up with the Federation, just since I've been a part of it, it has really sharpened my motivation to get out here and to live the life that I want to live.
And I've done so much since being involved in the federation. I've been traveling, I've gone to DC a couple of times. I have gone repelling (laughs), and it has been really neat to be able to do advocacy work. I have met with some of the representatives from Congress on blindness issues and visited the White House.
Anil Lewis:
You're all in.
Wesley Hillman:
My first Comic Con.
Anil Lewis:
Oh wow. Very nice. Yeah. I find that there's two ways. One, people who find the Federation and realize, "Wow, life is completely different than what society had made me believe. My future is so much brighter." And then there are others, "Where has this organization been?" This is exactly how I felt, and I thought I was the only one that felt this way (chuckles). So it seems like you were more of the latter, but so glad that you're dedicating your time and energy to continue to build the Federation so we can create more opportunities for blind people to have the similar experience that you've had.
Wesley Hillman:
It's been a great confidence booster and I'm very thankful to have people surrounding me who encourage me and who are positive influences on my life.
Anil Lewis:
Nice. You talked a little bit on the beginning, in the beginning about your first time convention experience. Anything you want to add to that before we move on?
Wesley Hillman:
Well, all the great food I had in New Orleans was wonderful (Anil and Wesley laugh), and the independence market and exhibit hall was really neat too. I was very impressed with all the vendors that we had and being able to help out in the independence market. That was really neat.
Anil Lewis:
And we were maxed out. There were many other exhibitors and vendors that wanted to be there, but we just didn't have enough space. It was amazing.
Wesley Hillman:
Wow, that's awesome.
Anil Lewis:
Yeah. So knowing our truth as blind people was the theme, especially around President Riccobono's banquet speech. So Julie, you were talking earlier about your role in the Colorado Center for the Blind, directing those programs and services there. How do you instill the values of knowing our truth to your students?
Julie Deden:
I think that it's definitely a process that I see for our students and for all of us in so many ways when we're dealing with being blind, being a blind person. And the things that we see happen each day, if you get grabbed on the street or something like that because somebody thinks they know where we want to go when we are the ones that know exactly where we're going. So with our students, it is so much fun working with each student and teaching them about the fact that they can feel comfortable and proud to be a blind person.
It is often bringing people along. We have so many students that come to us and maybe they've never even used a cane before, and they've really haven't even thought through how they feel about themselves as a blind person. They've hidden their blindness. And so even having our students, every single student using a cane all day, every day, and gaining that comfortability, but also that belief in themselves, our cane really symbolizes that for all of us, I feel.
Talking with our students, getting them involved with things, pushing them along, thinking that sending somebody out on an independent route. And I've had people come into my office and they're crying and they say, "I don't think I can do this (Anil laughs). I know I'm ready for this." And their travel instructor has already told them they're going, but they stopped by my office (Anil laughs) hoping that may be I'll say, "Oh, you don't have to go. It's okay (Anil laughs)."
And then they say, "No, no, you can do this, you can do this." And they come back and they are so happy. And that sense of accomplishment and sometimes in my mind, the little things that our students do and that we all do actually are the big things and begin to build that foundation of belief. And we are so fortunate we get to see it every single day.
Anil Lewis:
And I agree, the normalization when I was a center student, the thing that helped me is being around other individuals...
Julie Deden:
Yes!
Anil Lewis:
Who were going through that same similar experience didn't make me feel like I was standing out because I used my cane or was doing something different than everyone else. And it allowed me to focus on the training and learning what I needed to learn.
Julie Deden:
I think it's so helpful. It makes all the difference in the world.
Anil Lewis:
And that speaks to on the fundamental level, President Riccobono talked about it in the banquet speech. He talks about it in all of our banquet speeches because it's the power of our organization coming together, the collective action that we exert. Do you find that being one of the other kind of learnings that many of the students experiences?
Julie Deden:
So I love the speech that President Riccobono gave, and I love the parable of the elephant and how disconnected everybody was and really how it made blind people look like we're incapable of figuring anything out and handling anything. And then the second parable, the rewritten parable (Anil chuckles) was so much fun. I love that, that they're all working together and they're all looking at a piece of the elephant and then they're coming together and they're drawing a map. It just came together so nicely in that collective action.
And so I was thinking about that because at the end of our summer program this year, our students, our teenagers always have, they do a skit. And so this year our teenagers, their skit was about how their canes disappeared (Anil laughs) and they're all together on the stage and they're panicked. "My cane is gone, my cane is gone, my cane is gone (Anil laughs). What are we going to do?" And it made me so happy because first of all, these teenagers, it seemed like they really loved having their canes.
But then the fact that they did this skit on this, "My cane is gone, my cane is gone," and then they all got together and said, "We have to find our canes. We will go together to look for them (Anil laughs)." And it was just, they were talking about cardinal directions. "Do we go north? Do we go east?" And it was just such a really similar to the speech of President Riccobono, but how the power everyone working together is so much fun.
Anil Lewis:
Sounds very validating as well. So you mentioned the parable. Let's dissect that a little bit. Let's listen to a little clip from the original parable and then we'll come back and talk about it.
President Riccobono:
We will consider what to do with the parable of the blind men and the elephant as a means of rallying the collective action that is called for in this moment in our history. If you are not familiar with the parable, let me offer you a very short overview. A group of blind men heard that a strange animal known as the elephant had recently been brought to their town.
None of the men were aware of the animal or what it was like. Their curiosity, excited, they ventured together to examine the elephant by touch. The first person whose hand landed on the trunk said, "It is much like a thick snake." The next man who happened to touch the elephant's ear shared that he believed it to be much like a type of fan. Another whose hand first found the elephant's leg said, "The elephant is a pillar like a tree trunk."
The man who found the elephant's side exclaimed that it was like a wall. Meanwhile, another man found its tail and thought of it like a rope. The final man felt its tusk and described it as being firm, smooth and like a spear. There are those who will claim that it is the ultimate message of the parable that matters. But think for a moment about what that requires. To achieve this enlightenment, you must first accept, internalize, and know to be true that blind people are by their nature and circumstance foolish.
The very basis of the parable requires it. Is it not ironic that a story meant to convey the perils of narrow understandings, misconceptions and stubborn adherence to one's own limited experience would so thoroughly underestimate the true capacity of blind people? The ending of the parable and its intended meanings have a number of variations.
Nearly every version plays on the misconception that blind people are inherently limited in their understanding of the world. In one stark example, one of the blind men describes the elephant as soft and squishy when he encounters not the elephant itself, but what it left behind (audience groans). In fairness, there are variations of the story in which the blind men start listening to each other and cooperating to understand the entirety of the elephant.
However, the popular narrative ends with a non blind hero entering the scene and describing the entirety of the elephant. The conclusion being that all of the blind men are wrong. Sight is right. After all, historically this parable has been shared through the words and understandings of non blind people, not the blind themselves, but we know a different truth.
Anil Lewis:
That could have been stopped at any given moment to highlight some of the problems. I do like the fact that he pointed out the irony that this parable is supposed to be able to speak to something, actually does a disservice to blind people. And then the attempt at humor around "This is squishy." Yeah, I think in this instance it's one of those, well, you know what? I'm sorry. I got carried away. I got caught in the moment. It's not about what I think (Melissa laughs). We'd like to know what you guys think (Melissa and Anil laugh). So Wesley, why don't you start? What do you think about this parable?
Wesley Hillman:
I thought it was a very good parable. I thought it was really a great way, just the whole speech in general and playing off of the elephant idea, I thought it was really neat, especially when you consider how with different people, when you go and look at an elephant and all of course you're going to feel different parts of it and how large a animal the elephant is, and especially if the people are not working together. I mean, that can really give everybody a different perspective.
Anil Lewis:
I think starting with this original parable and flipping to the rewritten parable, which we'll also share, did exactly make that point. And I think that it's important for us to challenge those things that society seems to be mainstays in a way that shows them how harmful the language that they're using and the examples that they're using can be for blind people. How about you, Julie?
Julie Deden:
I think that this parable and so many other things that have been written and the way in which society can treat blind people and low expectations, that it's really easy for us as blind people to fall into that trap of not having high expectations and not knowing that we can figure things out and that we can take charge.
I like the beginning because it's like they were so curious, they wanted to see what this was, and then at the end it's just all fizzles fizzles down to, well, they never figured it out and they didn't really see the elephant. And that's what we want to dispel with everyone that we work with. With that, it's not that way, but there's so many things out in our world that make people feel that they can't handle things or they can't compete or they can't live full lives.
Anil Lewis:
And that's why I thought it was masterful to use...
Julie Deden:
Yes!
Anil Lewis:
this in the way that he did. So let's take a listen to the rewritten parable.
President Riccobono:
While some may say that we should reject the parable based on its known misrepresentations of the truth, I say we should reclaim it and use it as a tool reflecting our truth. Here then is my attempt at rewriting the parable based on the experience of the National Federation of the Blind.
Narrator: Melissa Riccobono:
Title: "The Blind Explorers and the Elephant." A group of blind travelers of all ages and genders arrived in a village where the people spoke in awe of a strange and magnificent creature, an elephant. Rather than speculate, the group decided to investigate for themselves. While some of the blind people were nervous, they trusted the more experienced travelers.
Amina: Voiced by Pam Allen:
Let's not just touch it randomly.
Narrator: Melissa Riccobono:
Said, Amina, a thoughtful woman with a knack for orientation.
Amina: Voiced by Pam Allen:
Let's ask good questions, make observations and compare notes.
Narrator: Melissa Riccobono:
They agreed on a plan. Using the structured discovery method, each person explored the elephant systematically. They moved with intention, asked questions and examined multiple parts: trunk, tusks, ears, legs, tail, belly and back. Carlos, feeling the long flexible trunk remarked,
Carlos: Voiced by Gary Wunder:
It moves like a strong hose, but it's warm and its skin is textured.
Narrator: Melissa Riccobono:
Maya, crouched near a massive foot, noted,
Maya: Voiced by Barbara Manuel:
This leg feels like a pillar, but it ends in a padded round base.
Narrator: Melissa Riccobono:
David climbed carefully with help and said,
David:
up here it's wide and flat. I think I'm on the back.
Narrator: Melissa Riccobono:
Lynn, exploring an ear said,
Lynn: Voiced by Norma Crosby:
it's huge and thin. It fans out like a blanket waving in the breeze.
Narrator: Melissa Riccobono:
Jabari, examining the tusks added,
Jabari: Voiced by Anil Lewis:
These are smooth and curved like polished horns.
Melissa Riccobono:
Afterward, they sat together in the shade.
Carlos: Voiced by Gary Wunder:
I think I understand only part of it,
Melissa Riccobono:
said Carlos.
Carlos: Voiced by Gary Wunder:
But hearing what you all have experienced will help me build a better picture.
Maya: Voiced by Barbara Manuel:
Yes,
Melissa Riccobono:
said Maya.
Maya: Voiced by Barbara Manuel:
It's not a snake or a wall or a fan, it is an elephant, and it is all those parts and more.
Narrator: Melissa Riccobono:
Together they built a shared understanding that none could have formed alone. They drew a detailed map, created a tactile model, and even taught others in the village what they had learned. The villagers amazed asked, "How did you figure it out?"
Amina: Voiced by Pam Allen:
We explored,
Narrator: Melissa Riccobono:
said Amina.
Amina: Voiced by Pam Allen:
We asked questions, shared what we learned, and listened to each other. We cannot wait for opportunities to come to us. We must seize the moment even when it is uncertain. That's how discovery works.
Sound Effects:
(A trumpet sound of an elephant through its trunk.)
Melissa Riccobono:
Can I just say that the elephant sound is still my favorite part of that, along with Jabari's performance. That was Oscar.
Anil Lewis:
That voice acting from Jabari, that was over the top. I mean, yeah, outstanding. Now the voice narration though, that was really stellar (Melissa laughs).
Melissa Riccobono:
Well, thank you. It was really fun to put together. I felt really honored that I had a little, people always think, "Oh, you're married to the president, you must know." No, no, I don't usually know (Anil chuckles). And so it was really cool to have a little bit of a little glimpse into what part of the banquet speech was going to be about.
Anil Lewis:
Yeah, and you kept it a secret. Good for you.
Melissa Riccobono:
I did. I did. I did.
Anil Lewis:
Again, I do love the masterful way that President Riccobono flipped that old narrative into what he called reclaiming our narrative.
Melissa Riccobono:
Yes, reclaiming our truth. And why do we think this is important? I mean, I have some thoughts, but again, why Wesley and Julie, do you think it's important for us to kind of promote this truth to society instead of the other truth?
Julie Deden:
Well, this truth is the truth (Julie and Melissa laugh). It's rewriting that narrative and educating everybody around us about our capabilities and teaching them. Every day we're out there teaching people about who we are as blind people, and it's just so critical. And we talk a lot about that with our actions. It's all about our actions too and teaching others.
But it also, in rewriting the narrative, it's instilling the belief that we have it for blind people and that we want others to gain. That belief in themselves is just so necessary. And so we've got to be rewriting all these narratives. And I have to say, I did love everybody, all of you that were in that.
Anil Lewis:
And Jabari was your favorite though, right?
Julie Deden:
It was so fun to have you guys as part of the speech (Melissa laughs). Jabari, you did great (Anil laughs). And of course the voice narrative (Julie and Melissa laugh).
Wesley Hillman:
I would have to piggyback off of what Julie said. I mean everything just, it really shows, and especially being a volunteer at the Clinton Presidential Center and following, just listening to some of President Clinton's speeches, President Riccobono's speech reminded me of some of those. And just with the elephants and all, with everybody coming together, we really accomplish more when we all come together.
Whatever differences we have, no matter what our gender is, no matter what our political affiliations are, sexual orientation, religious views, whatever it is, we can all accomplish so much if we just come together and we work together, we can come up with some great solutions to solve many problems that we face as blind people. And it really shows what the legislation we're trying to get through congress.
Melissa Riccobono:
Definitely.
Anil Lewis:
It was powerful that President Riccobono says, we can't reject the narrative that we have to rewrite the narrative because there are blind people that are still there. If we just reject them out of hand, then we can't bring them along. And I love the title of the parable in the second. It's explorers.
Julie Deden:
I love that.
Anil Lewis:
You have to get people to be more explorers than being subservient and sedentary. Get 'em out there and really exploring and claiming their lives. Then the last piece, I love this. So in the first parable is all men. No one complained about women weren't represented in the first narrative, but in the explorer version, not only was it men and women, it was diversity. Just like Wesley was saying, it shows that it took a diverse group of individuals willing to explore it and work together to make the difference. And I think that in itself is the essence of the Federation.
Melissa Riccobono:
And I love the part, I love when Carlos says, "I think I understand only part of it, but now listening to all of you, I have a better understanding." And I don't know that hit me stronger today than any other. I mean, I've listened to this many, many, many, many times (Anil and Melissa laugh) to get it edited just right.
Anil Lewis:
I'm sure.
Melissa Riccobono:
But that really hit me today that we are all there on our various journeys. Only understand small parts of things sometimes, but it's really when we go into our communities and really dig deeper and ask questions and hear and really listen to what other people have to say, what their experiences have been, that's really when we understand more. And Wesley, just so beautifully, you talked about teamwork and how you as the chapter president have such a great team behind you. To me, that's what it all just comes together beautifully, just perfectly.
Wesley Hillman:
I tell my group all the time, I could not do what I do without all of your help. None of us can do what we do without each other's help. It takes a village.
Melissa Riccobono:
It definitely does. We asked our followers on social media what their thoughts were on the revised parable, and I got to share this one. Cindy from Arkansas said she loved getting to hear this again because it was actually posted on Facebook so the people could listen to it again. "This theme shows how teamwork and cooperation work better than complete independence. I appreciate this mode." And amen to that.
Anil Lewis:
Yeah, I encourage or we encourage all of our listeners to take the time to go back and listen to the banquet speech. There's much more to be received from it than what we've discussed here on the podcast.
Melissa Riccobono:
Definitely you can get that. There'll be a link to it in our show notes, but there's also going to be, the banquet speech will be in the Braille Monitor. And so make sure you read the Braille Monitor. The presidential report will be there too. All the other convention highlights. And then definitely if you don't know much about the Colorado Center for the Blind, the link for their website is in our show notes as well. Please check out the Colorado Center for the Blind. It is a wonderful training center, which works every day to truly, truly change the lives of blind students that come to the center and blind youth all the way up through blind seniors.
Anil Lewis:
Yes. As a proud Louisiana Center graduate, lovely.
Wesley Hillman:
I have never had the honor of visiting Colorado, but I look forward to visiting one day and tour the center. I have turned to Louisiana Center years ago, but I'd love to go back and see the place. We actually have one of our people from here in Arkansas attending. So you very happy about that.
Julie Deden:
You're always welcome. Everyone's always welcome to come visit. We'd love to have you.
Anil Lewis:
If you do take the time to listen to the banquet speech, we'd love to hear your thoughts. Please feel free to share them with us at the Nation's Blind Podcast. So with this, we're encouraging everyone to rewrite the narrative, and until next time, just remember, you can live the life you want.
Melissa Riccobono:
Blindness is not what holds you back.
Announcer:
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