Ann.Parsons@f204.n260.z1.fidonet.org (Ann Parsons) (05/31/90)
Index Number: 8541
Hi Paula,
Paula, don't let anyone anywhere disparage your husband for what he does!!!!
Tell him that he is a member of a fraternity that stretches all the way back
to Homer, the blind poet and bard of Athena, eirca 1,000 B.C. That's a long
time. Do you know that blind bards were valued by the Irish, went to special
schools to learn folk lore. Do you know that blind musicians were sought by
the pursian kings because it was thought that they played better than others
did. Now that's a myth, but..... Do you know that in the tenth century A.D. a
blind prince in Japan set asside two professions for the blind, music and
massage, (physical, not ego), <grin>. So don't let anyone tell you you should
be on welfare. Tell 'em to go and procreate with themselves.
Being a mendicant is one thing, but being a musician, blind or otherwise is a
far different thing!!!!
Take care. See you on-line. Appologies for the strong language.
Ann P.
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!260!204!Ann.Parsons
Internet: Ann.Parsons@f204.n260.z1.fidonet.orgJulius@f223.n163.z1.fidonet.org (Julius) (06/01/90)
Index Number: 8568
Thanks for the encouragement. It is really nice to hear these
words from somebody who has been through it all.I promise to hang
in there, especially since as you pointed out that's the only way
to get things accomplished. It is a long, very slow and sometimes
very frustrating process. Now after all these complaints I must
tell you about something really neat that happend the other week.
Rob wanted to play soccer, and I thought, "Oh, great, here we have
another fight on our hand to get him in a soccer team with normal
kids, since there aren't any teams for disabled kids." So I called
the coach, and described Robbie's handicap. He said "No problem,
Rob will fit in very nicely in the team." I almost fell over from
surprise.
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!163!223!Julius
Internet: Julius@f223.n163.z1.fidonet.orgFloria.Antin@f304.n109.z1.fidonet.org (Floria Antin) (06/02/90)
Index Number: 8576 > to come across it when I was volunteering my time. I always thought > (ignorant that I was before I had a disabled child and starting to > join all these committees to get things done) anyway as I was saying, > I always thought that volunteers would get things done faster, because > people appreciate them, since they donate their time. I mean in your Hang in there the process may be slow but it pays off in the long run. If parents and others had not hung in there in earlier times the services available today would be much less. I athe parent of an adult with mental retardation. I recall a time when an educstion was *not a right* when many were excluided from public schools, and you had to find a program for your child (and sat home fesrful of aphone call telling you they could no longer accomodate your child). Very often you also had to pay for the program. it was a long frustrating struggle but we hung in and today at least all hildren are entitled to schooling at government expense. Now we have our sights set on services for those who need it after they are 21 (somewhat older in some states) we have been battling waiting lists for adults for servic. We have seen some small progress. More of the adults with mental retardation are living in the community, rather than being warehoused in institutions. Unfortunatley we can not rest on our laurels but must continue to fight and hope and pray that you younger parents will keep up the fight, for both your kids and ours. So hang in there, with all the frustration and slowness progress does come about and our kids benefit. -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!109!304!Floria.Antin Internet: Floria.Antin@f304.n109.z1.fidonet.org