Or not…

At least that’s what the fuss is about now. As if there is not enough floating around already. Incase you have been living under a rock, you probably already know that on September 8th, President Obama is to address the nations school children…

The White House has provided schools with information and a “lesson plan” of sorts to guide them and the nations children during and after the speech. Suggested causes of action after the speech are essays and questions like “How can you help the president…” You can read the suggestions here…

My understanding of the speech is that of a pep talk of sorts. About education and to get children excited to learn, and take pride in their education. – But since it is The President some brainless adults seem to think there is some sort of “political brainwashing” going on here. That this speech will be used to push an agenda. – Did I miss something, isn’t he already in office? That kind of means we are stuck with him for the next 3.5 years at least. And unless I was seeing things on election day, he won, by a frik’n landslide.

So what’s the problem? Many presidents have given speeches to the nations school in the past including President Ronald Reagan and others. Most schools to my knowledge also televised the inauguration; and as an example our own Pottstown School District HOSTED former president Bill Clinton when he was – formally campaigning for his wife! – DURING SCHOOL HOURS! – Allowing high school and middle school students to attend! – So what makes this speech so different? Maybe it was the money the district received from Clinton for the use of the gym…!

I for one don’t see a problem in this. The simple solution is… if you don’t like it, and you don’t want your child to listen to it… don’t send them to school that day… it’s a very simple concept. Many parents do not permit their children to take part in the mandatory Sex Education talk provided in most 5th grades; they can voluntarily opt-out. I see no one complaining.

Many schools no longer say the Pledge of Allegiance, or allow students that choose to remain seated… Come on people, we have better and bigger things to worry about here then the presidents speech – to encourage their education, so they are not part of the “dumbest” education system on the global scale – you should be HAPPY the president is taking an interest in today’s young people. After all, THEY are the future leaders of the world.

And by the way… if you didn’t vote… SHUT THE FUCK UP! … and if you voted for ‘the other guy‘ and lost… quit being a sore looser…

Isn’t free speech grand? People DIED for this right you know. Or perhaps you didn’t learn that in history class, because your too busy discussing Sex Education for 3rd graders like California.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Between Life and the Keyboard
• Orientation and Mobility: SEPTA Regional Rail – Part 2
• Ladies and gentleman I give you the presidents speech…
• Your disabled, you understand…
• He’s baaaaack!

Wow, sorry… I know it has been some time since I updated my blog about my Orientation and Mobility training. Maybe some of you thought I quit or, perhaps got run over by the bus, no I’m still here. In fact I’ve been very busy with O&M over the past few weeks.

I’ve successfully used our local SEPTA to travel with Elaine and just recently by my self (to meet Elaine) to the Norristown Transportation Center (NTC), the main hub for SEPTA and other connecting buses and trains in our area.

I’ve also rode SEPTA more recently to visit one of my favorite places the Apple Store at King of Prussia Mall. This trip involves one transfer, and takes about one hour and twenty minutes by bus. Let this be said bus travel is not fast. To drive to King of Prussia Mall from my house would take a normal person about 45-minutes.

Reading and understanding bus schedules has been a bit of a challenge for me, not for the fact I don’t know how… but simply because I am a literal person. Bus routes don’t provide intermediate times only times for main stops. Since I am in-between, I find waiting nerve-wracking. If I know something is to be here at X time, it had better be here! – I hate that! 9:30 means 9:30, not 9:45…

Most people wonder how a blind person rides a bus, or knows what bus they are getting on. The simple answer is, we ask. Since I can’t always read the bus sign we always ask the driver “are you going to…” it’s always important to ask where your going, because though a bus may be heading the same direction, it may not be the bus you want.

SEPTA also provides a visually impaired riders kit, or “flag” as some would call it. It’s a little set of cards, and a holder with numbers and letters (large) and also marked in braille. You insert the cards into the holder to indicate your desired bus or train. You hold this at the bus stop to “flag” the driver, they are trained to look for this, and assist you.

Most newer city buses and trains also automatically announce the bus number and destination the bus or train is going to as you get on. “Welcome to SEPTA Route 93, service to Norristown”. – kind of cool eh?

In all my experience in riding local SEPTA has not been a bad one. The drivers seem nice, but are not overly friendly… just the ‘it’s a job’… kind of deal. But they take your questions well and make sure you get a seat. As a disabled person, I always get the seat right behind the driver or across from them.

The characters you meet on the bus are a whole different story. Any thing from your local businessman to your local bum, grandma and grandpa, to mom and dad, and let us not forget the ladies of ill-repute… we got’em all… But I’ll save that for another story.

Did I mention R93 is the bus that passes threw Norristown State Corrections? Do I have your attention?

Needless to say I’m still uncomfortable riding, and transferring. Norristown Transportation Center is big, and it would be easy to get on the wrong bus. But thankfully I can read the bus-stall signs when I’m right on top of them.

Not a comfortable traveler yet… but moving along well…

Possibly Related Posts:

• Between Life and the Keyboard
• Orientation and Mobility: SEPTA Regional Rail – Part 1
• Orientation and Mobility: Anatomy of a Stoplight
• Orientation and Mobility: Stop, Listen, Look
• Orientation and Mobility: Escalators & Elevators (Mall Navigation)

This is a thought that popped into my head lately. And it comes from a friend sent some time ago when we where discussing their disability.

“But your disabled, you know what it’s like, you understand…”

Yes, this is true, I am disabled. The fact is I am visually disabled… I am sorry if even I a self-proclaimed advocate for disabled children do not understand what it is like.

I do not understand what it is like not to be able to hear, I do not understand what it is like not being able to see, being totally blind (remember I can see fairly well as legally blind people go).

I understand what it is like to not be able to see across the street, but not what it must be like to sit in a wheelchair and worry about steps and ramps. I don’t know what it’s like not to be able to hold a pencil to write my name, or be the child that understands every thing that is going on around them, but not be able to speak. I don’t know what it is like to need some one to help me get dressed or use the bathroom.

However there are things I do know. I DO know what it’s like to be stared at, even if I can’t see who is doing the staring, trust me, I can feel you. I DO know what it’s like to be laughed at or pointed at… asked questions, how, when, why… can it be fixed… I DO know what it’s like in school, to be left out or left behind and the last one picked… and needing some one else to take you where you need to go.

I don’t know what it’s like to have a child or be the child that has already spent half their life in a hospital, or making countless trips to therapy sessions… or be the child that has their life scheduled around therapy rather then a Little League game.

So, please… forgive me if I am the one doing the staring or asking the questions… I’m only human… You probably have some questions of your own for me, so be polite, ask… we’ll talk … and then get on being friends.

How is therapy going?
Can I have a ride in your wheelchair?
Yes, you can check out my white cane, just don’t use it like a sword!

I understand what it’s like to be disabled like me… not what it’s like to be disabled like you…

Possibly Related Posts:

• Between Life and the Keyboard
• Orientation and Mobility: SEPTA Regional Rail – Part 2
• Ladies and gentleman I give you the presidents speech…
• Ladies and gentleman I give you the president…
• He’s baaaaack!