New Year wishes

I'm waiting for the water to boil for the macaroni so I thought I'd jot down a few things for the New Year. First, I hope I can keep up with the legal matters regarding my State exam. It's taking a toll on me already but the thought of dropping it pisses me off so much that I have to see it through. Not just for me, but also for the other qualified, talented folks who got themselves through a master's program with a print disability. It's not just about me anymore. It's about ethical, fair, treatment, hard to find in this day and age of Obama.

I'm not kicking our Prez, just wondering when (like all our other presidents since the creation of the ADA) he's going to stand behind his proclomation for making the ADA laws actually help us.

Okay, onto the next part: taking the last plunge into blindness. Yes, it's been happening for months now, the fog is rolling in, obscuring light and outlines, and it's downright scary. I'm so glad I have Verona, good cane skills, and resolve, the latter most times. Sometimes, though, I just want to hide and stay in my safety zone and not have to struggle so much.

Next, I'm really doing well at work and I finally feel like I'm doing what I'm supposed to do. I finally "fit in"; most of my life I never really did fit in anywhere socially or professionally so it feels so good to be respected, accepted, valued and paid well for it. The last part, of course, is the license but the VA is trying to do right by me and other blind folks and my office mates are wonderful, caring people.
I'm lucky and count my blessings each and every day.

Jerry is doing well at work, the kids are mostly fine, nothing earth-shattering. April has friends now, most whom I like, lol. Ant is slowly spreading his wings, and, is a very good writer. I'm so proud, it will come in handy for sure. Not everyone can write and do it well and on the fly.

Going to see mom in March, she's going to be 80 next year.

Still volunteering for GDUI and Guiding Eyes, which is not at all like work, I enjoy it. Still writing for the Ziegler online e-zine and wish I could do fmore feature articles for more of them.
Dogs and critters are good and I look forward to moving along with happiness, health and success in the coming year.

New Year Wishes

blind beattutes

blind
BLESSED ARE THEY that refrain from shouting when they speak to me.



BLESSED ARE THEY that talk directly to me and not to some one
else.



BLESSED ARE THEY that say who they are when entering a room and
say hello to me.



BLESSED ARE THEY that say goodbye to me when they leave so I am
not left speaking to the air.



BLESSED ARE THEY that do not hesitate to say "SEE" when talking
to me.



BLESSED ARE THEY who tap my shoulder gently when they approach
from behind or from the side when speaking to me.



BLESSED ARE THEY who wait for me to extend my hand before shaking
it.



BLESSED ARE THEY who place my hand on an object such as the back
of a chair when telling me where it is, so I can seat myself.



BLESSED ARE THEY who do not leave me in a strange environment
without orienting me to it.



BLESSED ARE THEY who offer me their arm so they can serve as my
guide, instead of grabbing, pulling or shoving me.



BLESSED ARE THEY who come up to me in a large crowd and offer to
help me when I appear disoriented.



BLESSED ARE THEY who do not embarrass me in a group of people by
openly referring to my blindness in word or action.



BLESSED ARE THEY who laugh with me when I tell a joke related to
blindness.



BLESSED ARE THEY who read me the menu and its prices and allow me
to order my own meal.



BLESSED ARE THEY who take me to the cashier so I may pay for my
own meal.



BLESSED ARE THEY who do not distract my guide dog from being my
active eyes.



BLESSED ARE THEY who treat me like a human being, for like it or
not I AM a human being.

another poem

Appearances
By Ann Chiappetta

Once, not long ago
the details of life consumed me
Images of wild flowers, riotous colors in a
blanket of green
were picked, not left untouched.

Dependence on Televised greek tragedies
Indelible Portraits, live feeds and last breaths
Possessed me.

Now a sound or smell overrides the lost optical cues
Memories ribbon the air with Familiar scents
Warm, pungent earth after it rains
Reminders of ripening tomatoes
The brace and sting of crisp winter wind
Recollections of hikes in the snow tipped pines

The soft, clear tinkle of ice on a windowpane
And My husband’s breathing deep in the night
Comforts the troubles
Lulls me back to sleep

New Poem

The last Degree
By Ann Chiappetta

When I had 20 degrees I could see
Colors and contrast, walk
Relaxed and not rely on a cane for mobility.

Then it became 10 degrees
Gone was the confidence of more periphery
The macular cloud rolled in, obscuring everything

Colors eroded into shades of grey
I relied on a dog because I needed more
Than a cane could give me.

Then one day I began bumping into walls
Misplacing items in front of me

I said goodbye to magnification and high contrast

The accuracy of degrees left me
Once again I was forced
To cope with a lost legacy, a memory
Of what I had only months before.

So here I am, floundering, fearful
The final five degrees
The countdown begins
I don’t know what to expect

The Numbers represent a plunge
Into something familiar
Something different
Something that leeches courage and resolve
Something I am not prepared to face
Something I live with every day
And something I know nothing about.

updates with legal mattersWell. I am being proactive and called Disability Rights Advocates to inquire as to if they will take on my case with being denied reasonable accommodations with the NY State Family therapy lisencing exam. I'll know sometime next week if they will take on my case.

The V.A. has made great strides in accommodating me with the primary database I need to record and view my case notes. I'm able to do at least 50% of my job with the changes but it's still a work in progress.

The exam process, however, has morphed into an ugly snake with a wicked bite. Not only has the State of NY denied me, the cop out is "we just don't know when the changes will take place,". Wow, since I found out the testing contractor, PES has made it an option for test takers to use screen magnification, why can't they also offer screen reading software? I never got a straight answer and I don't plan to let them slide on this. I'll post as soon as I know if DRA will take me on.

surprise

I just recently surpassed my first year anniversary being employed full time for the Office of Veterans Affairs. The year went by quickly but was also difficult for me due to being blind. Some of it was on my end and some of it was on the V.A. end and most of it was all due to the fact that the V.A. technology was far from being current. I'm glad to say, though, that we've gotten over the first hump. This is a wonderful surprise because Central Office actually listned to my requests even if it took a whole year and a formal complaint to get there.

Another surprise was the knowledge that I am purportedly the only blind counselor among thousands who had the gumption to complian while also being employed as a counselor. So, folks, this means I'm an enigma, and exception. A front runner for the blind and visually impaired counselors employed by the VA Vet Centers Nationwide.

I find this hard to believe, but so far no one else has identified themselves since I came on board.
Sure, there have been, and still are, blind psychologists and rehab counselors. But I'm the first family therapist.

It's really quite weird and I don't want the label. I just want to do my job and at the end of the day, take pride in knowing I did good.