By Patrick A. Barrett

(Editor’s Note: Pat Barrett is first vice-president of our Metro Chapter and a member of the NFB of Minnesota Board of Directors.)

I have been a member of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) for 24 years.  Becoming a husband, father, valued co-worker, and church volunteer are some of the dreams I have made come true during that time.  I know that our NFB philosophy that blind persons can be successful given proper training, great role models, and belief in oneself has been mortar for building those realities.

Inspired by our mentor, Dr. Kenneth Jernigan, I understand that blindness should be a characteristic and not a handicap.  Two other human characteristics nurtured by quality blindness-skills training and mentor motivation are risk and reason.

Public attitudes about the blind, past and present, discourage blind persons from taking risks.  Society desires to protect the blind from further harm above being blind.  In most cases, blindness cannot be undone.  Yet to live is to risk.  To participate rather than sit on the bench, to go and do, is a risky, rough, and rewarding business. 

My capacity to risk, tempered with reason, grew during my training at Blindness: Learning in New Dimensions (BLIND), Inc.  The philosophy of the Federation is the bedrock of BLIND, Inc.  I moved more out of the self-doubt zone and reached for opportunities that would boost my self-confidence. 

Growing up, I enjoyed watching my dad and his teacher friends barbecue or cook over a campfire.  I had always wanted to do it.  Roasting marshmallows was as far as I got.  Bo-o-o-oring!  My family and their friends did not know about the NFB.  At BLIND, I learned how to barbecue safely and how to check food for doneness.  A few years ago, my wife and daughter got me a Weber grill for Father’s Day.  I enjoy grilling burgers, brats, and steaks for family and friends.

Rock climbing was another risk I took at BLIND.  With the confidence I had learned prior to the rock climbs, and the supervision of skilled rock-climbing instructors, I reached the top of a sixty-foot rock face at Taylor’s Falls.  It was a rush!  I felt like Spider-Man!

Now, if someone asked me to go skydiving with him or her, my reason would definitely overrule my ability to take risk.  Bungee-jumping?  Thumbs down on that, too!  However, I have always wanted to try parasailing.

My employer, Express Scripts, Inc., (ESI) recently put on its annual Employee Appreciation Day event.  I had heard about it, but did not know what day of the week it was going to be.  The morning of the event, flyers were passed out, titled “ESI’s Got Talent”.  There was going to be an Open House in the cafeteria from 1:00 to 3:00.  Skits and musical numbers had been prepared, and folks could sign up for karaoke. 

I had not planned anything, but I am a ham when it comes to karaoke.  Besides, I had done a couple of public performances with some church friends of mine in a part-time band.  I rescheduled a couple of meetings I had that afternoon, and made sure I was there as they were still setting up.  I asked one of the Human Resources associates I knew where I could sign up.  She said she would let someone know to check with me.

The person she had in mind must have got busy with something else, and I thought I would miss my chance.  I asked another person, and he directed me to Brian.  Brian said there was still space.  I suggested a couple of songs I knew, but they were not in the book.  I asked him if he could help me find something else, as I could not read the book.  He said he would, and I suggested a couple more groups.  He had “Proud Mary” by Creedence Clearwater Revival (I knew all the words to that one so I would not need to strain my eyes to try to see the karaoke screen).  He said he would let me know when it was my turn to perform.

I found an empty seat in the front row so I would be ready.  The first act was a really funny comedienne.  Then it was my turn.  Brian handed me a cordless mike, and asked me if I wanted to be in front of the stage or on it.  I said on it, and took my white cane and went up the couple of steps to the stage.  I had taken the time beforehand to check for cords and the layout of the stage.

And there I was.  Despite previous performances and experience in Toastmasters, I was still nervous.  It was a crowd of about 400; some friends, some strangers.  The music cued up, and I did “Proud Mary” proud!  

In the middle of the song, there is a musical guitar break.  I decided impulsively to grab my cane from behind me, walk down off the stage, in front of it to the crowd, and back up again.  It was risky.  If I tripped, the crowd would have remembered that more.  If I succeeded, they would see a competent cane user.  I said to myself, “Cane skills don’t fail me now.”

No problems.  When I reached the stage again, I put my cane behind me, and picked up the chorus and the rest of the number.  Applause.  I bowed, descended the stage, and handed the mike back to Brian.  My friend Ron later told me that the extra steps I executed in the middle were reminiscent of the Tina Turner strut for her version of “Proud Mary”.

Dr. Jernigan also taught me reason.  In both his wise articles “Don’t Throw the Nickel” and “The Nature of Independence”, he said we need to know when to accept help or politely decline it.  In the first article, an elderly woman insisted on giving him a nickel for the bus.  He refused politely at first, equally insisted that he did not need the nickel, and finally threw it down the street.  It left both him and the woman feeling ambivalent toward one another, and nothing was gained.  For this situation, it would have been reasonable after the second decline of charity to accept it.

He wrote “The Nature of Independence” in response to thoughtful questions from students from the Louisiana Center for The Blind.  This adjustment to blindness training center was also built on the foundation of Federation philosophy.  Students had asked Dr. Jernigan why he did not independently travel all the time during conventions, and why he sometimes relied on a sighted guide. 

Dr. Jernigan said that they were valid questions.  However, independence should mean knowing when and how to apply reason to different situations.  Dr. Jernigan said that he did travel independently for tasks that were not so dependent on time or many others relying on him.  However, traversing a crowded convention floor with a sighted guide to avoid pockets of people and equipment to get to the podium quickly was reasonable, too.

At the end of that same week I did the karaoke performance, I went to get my hair cut.  It was time to shear off a good deal of my long, naturally curly gray hair.  I got my usual Number Three buzz all around, thanked the stylist, and went up to the counter to pay.

She said, “That’ll be $12.”

I had my haircut there many times before, and I remember it being more.  I thought to myself, “Oh, brother, she is trying to give me a discount rate due to my blindness.”

I said, “I thought it was $13.95.  Is there some special discount today?”

She hesitated for just a second, and then said, “Well, $12 is for the senior discount.”

I reasoned aloud with a chuckle, “Oh, yeah, I did get my AARP application earlier this year. “

I handed her the $12 and a $2 tip as well because she afforded me the senior discount.

Well-rounded senses of risk and reason have made me a happier individual.  I still have more growing to do in other characteristic areas, though.  The NFB will continue to be key to my life.  I desire to help new members, and those not knowing about the Federation, to reach their dreams!