1 What is the Missouri Council of the Blind, and what is its purpose?
It is a blind organization, and the purpose is to serve the blind and visually impaired and also lobby for legislative issues. For example, we worked on the 21st Century Communications Act in Washington to where when emergency messages come on the TV, they would also be spoken for the blind. We’re working toward building more affiliates in the Missouri legislative days.
2 About how many people will attend this weekend’s convention, and what kinds of activities will take place?
There’s 752 members of Missouri Council of the Blind with 19 affiliates. Ardis Bazyn with the American Council of the Blind will be speaking about how to build the number of members in your affiliates and organizations. They (council members) usually sit and talk about different services of the Missouri Council of the Blind. They’ll go over the budget, and on Sunday, they’ll vote for new officers. (You don’t have to be legally blind to be a member.) We have several sighted members who are usually married to someone who’s blind.
3 What is your favorite aspect about being president of the local Missouri Council of the Blind chapter?
I like to get people involved in the organization with legislative days. We help the blind and visually impaired as much as we can in the community, even if it’s something as simple as a talking watch or JAWS (Job Access With Speech), a system that goes in your computer and tells you what’s on there. In February, I take a few people and we go to Jefferson City for legislative days.
4 You went to Washington, D.C., earlier this year and lobbied on issues affecting the blind. How was that trip, and do you have similar plans for 2010?
That trip was really good. I felt that we were getting to some of the people as far as what the blind community needs, especially with public transportation needs. I just feel like they were very attentive in what we were talking about. As far as the economy the way it is, some of the things we’re talking about will be on the back burner because of the debate with health care, Medicare and Medicaid. Me and Brandi (Tom’s wife, who has 100 percent sight) would like to do another trip.
5 If you could let people know one thing about what it means to be legally blind, what would it be and why?
I would say it’s not the end of the world. You have benefits to being blind. As far as I’m concerned, that’s how you really get to know someone – you don’t judge a person. With the technology that’s out there today, it makes it a lot easier.
