Speaking to the Heart

I am about to embrace one of the busiest speaking weeks I think I’ve ever had. First, my travels will take me to Northshore Middle School in Hartland where I will speak for four days to the Health classes of Mr. Dave Christman.

Friday, I will speak to an English class taught by Katie Botsford, who I once babysat
for, and who is now an English teacher at Waukesha North High School. Katie’s students will have just finished reading the Crucible, a play containing themes of acceptance.

I have a few different things I attempt to communicate to the students as I speak to them. I am blind.

I openly solicit questions that the students have for a person who is blind. Many of these students may not have met a person who is visually impaired before, and I don’t want the kids to be afraid to approach someone because of what they don’t know. I believe that we all have abilities and disabilities.

Some of our disabilities, such as blindness, are just more noticeable than others. This is one thing I learned through being involved in the Association for the Rights of Citizens with handicaps. I should also give credit to Jennifer Horth, executive director, and the training I received in the youth team which has helped me become a better public speaker.

Another theme is that of tolerance and acceptance. I was having a conversation with one of the student
leaders of diversity awareness on Carroll University’s campus who pointed out to me the difference between these two words. “I just don’t want people to tolerate me,” said this girl. “I want them to accept me.”

Three things I believe are that differences are good, stereotypes are bad and we need to do our part to eliminate the use of harmful labels. I was privileged to be a part of “End the R Word” day at Carroll University last week. The “R word” is retard. Several students and faculty signed a pledge to stop using this slang word as it is an insult to those who have cognitive disabilities, and also very hurtful
to them.

“End the R word” day at Carroll was organized by freshman student Andrea Cebulski and her sorority.

The third and last theme I touch on is self-esteem. I feel like kids take such a negative opinion of themselves. I always tell them that I could be a very bitter blind person but I choose not to be. I don’t let anything stop me from doing the things I want to do or that make me feel good.

Each student who hears my presentation leaves with their name in Braille typed on my Perkins Brailler.

I also hope they leave feeling more encouraged then they were when they came to class. I have spoken for to English classes at Waukesha North and West, for various Waukesha County church youth groups and at a few different elementary schools in Waukesha. I love it when people stay several minutes after class and have more questions for me. I am happy to answer them.

You would think I would be so tired at the end of this week that I would take a rest, but not this blind man, I will be participating in the empty bowls fundraiser in the Carroll University art studio on Saturday. Please come and join me! This will be the topic of my next column.