B is for Blindness

Today's photo takes us to the Industries of the Blind (IOB), Inc. on West Lee Street. This building houses a stalwart group of people committed to being self sufficient and having a good quality of life even with being visually impaired. In our recent post, we mentioned that IOB has been doing great work in Greensboro for over seven decades. The above photo, taken with the bright, end-of-day sun behind us, contrasts greatly with our previous glaring, night shot. Above, a woman is turning because something caught her eye. We could tell by the pace at which she was walking and her quick, furtive look that she could see.

If you are reading this post without an adaptive device, count your blessings. If you are reading this with an adaptive device, count your blessings! According to the National Federation of the Blind, 1.3 million Americans are blind, 93,600 of whom are school-aged children. Over 20 million Americans have cataracts; 9 million have age-related macular degeneration; and over two million have glaucoma (reference). For Round 10 of ABC Wednesday, GDP us featuring A-Z causes; this week is B for blindness. In the previous post on the topic, Janis (of Southern California) typed a testimonial for the important work of IOB. CA Janis says........

"For each of the people IOB employs, a bucket full of self esteem is brought home. A productive job means the world to their well being. I know this for a fact because my Dad was almost totally blind. Since this was the result of a baseball injury at age 17 he knew what it was to work, to drive,to go to the movies on a Saturday night. First he groomed race horses and took them for their cool down walks at Santa Anita, later he was a Taxi cab dispatcher which was really perfect work for him since he knew the town well and everybody who lived here, after that he worked at a mobile home factory and the local school district.

His blindness was a gift to me. I learned to read aloud before I ever entered Kindergarten by reading him the sports pages and local news. He would tell me what to look for and sound out words with me. I learned geography and to love travel even though we rarely left California because he would pull out the big Map Book from Rand McNally and we would take armchair trips all over the world, gauging mileage, times, what to see, where to dine-- every little detail was planned. I was probably the only second grader who could navigate the way to Ames, Iowa but could not find the restrooms for the upper playground at lunch."

Comments

[Jane Mitchell]

I had forgotten that you had posted on IOB before. I just re-read your previous commentary and think it adds to this one. Hope your followers will all link back to the earlier one for greater edification.

[Kim,USA]

Very interesting photo and post. Thanks for sharing a great information. ^_^

Letter B

[Carver]

Great post. I feel very blessed to have my sight and am amazed at how people can not only adapt but thrive in spite of being blind. I had a second cousin who lost her sight in an accident when she was around five and went on to be a very independent successful adult.

Carver, ABC Wednesday Team

[Roger Green]

Definitely an important service.
ROG, ABC Wednesday team

[Oakland Daily Photo]

I was touched and inspired by your reader's comment about her dad.

[Janis Of So Cal]

Aawww,thanks for reprinting my comment. I am going off to work the biggest carshow of the year with great memories of my Dad now. The building really does have a new view in a different light in this photo!

[zongrik]

"her blindness was a gift to me" wows, what a great statemetn

Corel ware