Sight N' Vision From Vision Loss to Vision Forward: The I3S Story

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This is a Razor Edge Production, Site and Vision Disability and Senior Talk Radio Show, heard here on the Wash Ear Radio Hour.
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And here's our host, Reverend Radio Ray Razor.
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Greetings.
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Welcome to Site and Vision Disability and Senior Talk Radio Show, a show about disability rights, disability services, and your disability dollar.
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Your voice, an advocate, voice your concerns, voice your opinion, but please let your voice be heard.
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Our mission is to bring to you the people, the places, anything that can change your life for the better, which is inclusion into society, which is living more independently in your home and in your community.
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America, welcome to Psych and Vision Disability and Senior Talk Radio Show.
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I am your host, Reverend Radio Ray Razor, your friendly neighborhood networker.
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Our motto is increase your network and you'll increase your net worth.
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And behind microphone number two is our hostess with the Moses, Miss Renee.
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Again, our listening audience, I am your host, Reverend Radio Ray Razor.
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Even though I've been blind for more than 60 years, when I was a male lad at 13 in the DV, that's the district of Maryland and Virginia, I had a firecracker that exploded in my face, which we call a cherry bum, and blind to being both eyes.
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But in spite of that, every morning I rave, I rise, I feel blessed, highly favored, and I know God is good.
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Greetings, and how are you today, Miss Renee?
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Reverend Ray, I am great.
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I mean, the weather is flawless, the daffodils are out, the cherry blossoms are almost in full bloom.
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Uh uh March madness is starting.
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Pretty good, pretty good month, I'd say.
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Um, and I'm mad because we ain't got Joe, we don't have Georgetown in there, we ain't got America, we ain't got nobody inside.
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So I am mad.
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But anyway, that's a whole different uh, I think that's our therapy uh uh uh uh uh show.
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But we'll we'll that might be appropriate for today then.
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Okay, well we shall see.
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So, Mr.
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Day, what is our lineup for today?
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Well, I want to start with this setting boundaries, feel your feelings, mindfulness.
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These all have become buzzwords for people prioritizing self-care.
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Now, 10 years ago, to think like that was visionary.
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Joyce Brooks, one of the three co-founders of I3S, an online support group for blind and visually impaired persons, is our special guest today.
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Welcome.
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Welcome, welcome.
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Thank you.
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Thank you for inviting me, Ray Raisin.
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Well, the first the first time we treat you like a guest, so you know, Miss Renee, get you a glass of water if you want it, and uh, you know, we'll take your coat and hang it up, but after that, we treat you like family, and you know what that's like, okay?
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My family well.
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Well, yes, yes.
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Alrighty.
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Well, Joyce, what prompted the formation of the group?
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Renee, I think what happened was we have NFB, we have IB and on and on.
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At the end of the day, there was nothing for the psyche.
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Um, to be able to talk to people peer-to-peer that was going through the identical thing that we all are going through, and that's losing our vision.
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Okay.
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Now, I mentioned that you were one of three.
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Who are the other founding members?
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Uh, Lois Staves, Reginald Pratt, and myself, Joyce Brooks.
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Okay.
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So you you you started talking about why a support group for persons who are blind and low vision.
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Aren't there enough services already uh to meet that need?
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Again, there's nothing for the psychic.
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There's nothing for that person just going through losing their sight.
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They don't want to hear from somebody their sight.
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They want to talk to their peers.
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And so that's what made us get this group together.
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We came together and said, you know what?
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We need to talk to our people and relate.
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And it began from that.
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So, why a peer groups group?
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Um, why a peer-based group instead of having a professional come in and tell you how you should feel and what you should know.
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You just more or less answered your own question because I'm blind.
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I can relate.
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I went through the depression.
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I know what it is to say, why me?
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Why me, God?
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You know, why not me?
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So, with that being said, um, I I never knew what I was gonna do once I retired.
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And look at God.
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10 years.
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Now, you mentioned you have a visual impairment.
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Can you tell us a little bit about your vision loss journey?
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Mr.
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Nate, just let me jump in here right now because George mentioned 10 years ago.
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Uh, so I want to say that uh 10 years ago, uh, I started with WOL Radio Show, a program called which we're doing now is uh uh sighting disability and senior talk.
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So we were trying to launch different shows um that deal with blindness and disability.
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And one of the shows was George Brooks, um um uh uh uh yeah uh Laura Staves and Reggie Pratt.
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And at that time, they was uh what was it, Love, Faith, and Charity?
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Love, faith, charity and hope.
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And uh and so that was the show that came on and they did a segment, and from that they launched this, and now it's been 10 years.
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So you birth you helped birth that?
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Uh among other things, yes.
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Wow.
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Yes, well, you know, just and I'm glad that you gave us that clarifying information, Reverend Ray.
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Um, Joyce, you mentioned visual impairment and your journey.
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Can you share a little bit about what your vision loss journey was like?
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Well, it comes from being having diabetes.
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Um, when they tell you you're at the border, you don't want to cross the border, and that's what I did.
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Um I didn't adhere to what was going on with my health.
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So my retina detached.
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And I found that out at an event at the um uh Metal Health Fair, and I went there and to get my eyes examined, and it took them so long to come out.
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I'm like, what in the world is going on?
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Guy came out and said, You need to run to the retina specialist because your retina is about to detach.
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Mercy.
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Yes.
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So that was 13 procedures of hair.
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But I'm going in with what I have, no more.
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Okay, so based on going to a health fair, you know, sometimes we think of health fairs as just sort of being, yeah, we're gonna go to it, pick up a couple brochures and get out of there.
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But at that health fair, you learned that you were closer to losing your vision than you even recognized.
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Well, and I have a question.
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Did you go immediately to the doctor?
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Most certainly.
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Okay.
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Grant went to Richmond.
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I went out of here.
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Yes, yes, I did.
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I did.
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I was and what was the diagnosis when the doctor saw you?
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Well, he told me that I would have to have surgery.
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Um, I had to go to a retina specialist, and um, I did all this through Howard University Hospital.
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Yes.
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I mean, so so at that point, when you woke up that morning, probably had plans for the weekend, all this other stuff, your life's changed.
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God had another plan.
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I didn't adhere to my diabetes, and I can't blame that on no one.
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You know, and that's why I tell everybody take care of your health.
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Please do that.
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Yeah.
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You know, when older people used to say that, I didn't understand it.
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Now that I'm older people who understand it more so.
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And you know, all we can do is tell young people because they're going to do what they're going to do, but um, there's a lot of truth, a lot of truth in that.
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So, okay, Joyce, you're told at a health fair that your retina is about to um detach.
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You are told to go straight to the doctor.
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What did the doctor say and what went through your head as you heard the what the doctor had to say?
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I'm thinking, why was I so hard-headed?
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But see, I have to admit um being a diabetic, when you borderline, you better take it serious.
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You know, you can't say, oh, I got another year, I got another two years, I need two more cakes or whatever.
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No.
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No, you have to be proactive, get on a diet, and take care of your sugar.
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Right now, my A1C is six.
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Oh, that's good.
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Because I want to live.
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Is that good?
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So for those of us who aren't familiar, is AC.
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Anything under seven.
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Anything under seven is good.
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Um, I had it 5.6, and that means that determines what your sugar was for the past three months.
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Okay.
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Okay.
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One time it was 12.
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So.
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So now what what?
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Wait a minute.
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One time, whoa, one time it was what?
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My sugar was running 12 and 14.
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Whoa.
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Yes.
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So when you talk about changing your lifestyle, what did that mean exactly on a day-to-day basis?
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What did you take out of your diet?
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What did you put in your diet?
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Um, starches.
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Um, eating a baked potato is just like eating a cup of sugar.
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That's the way my doctor told me.
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One time I went to the doctor's office, I had a diet Pepsi.
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He he took the Pepsi from me and put two dollars in my hand.
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Right today you might have to give me eight.
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But um, I took it and I was very upset.
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It was upset because it was nice and cold, had a little sliver of ice.
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But he said, any soda is not good for you.
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And um, I'm trying to teach my grandchildren that.
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You know, you gotta take care of that tempo.
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Wow.
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And you said you didn't listen.
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What do you say that makes them listen or do they listen?
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They listen because they do not want any part of this blindness.
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They don't want no part of that.
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You know, um, right now I have a son at home that's diabetic, and he said he tells me all the time, I don't think I'm gonna eat that.
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I don't wanna be like you.
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You know, so that's Jonathan.
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Y'all know my Jonathan.
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Yes.
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He's artistic, but he got better senses than the rest of my grandchildren, okay?
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Yes.
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And I want to come back to that.
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So um, everyone's vision loss story is unique, but there are some recurring things.
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What did you do?
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You say you you you had 13 operations.
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Procedures.
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13 procedures.
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After the first procedure, did you get the outcome you were looking for?
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Of course not.
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They keep doing.
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I I went to Howard, I went to John Hopkins, and it's it's just a lot in that pill.
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It's experimental.
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You know, they just don't know.
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So I've had shots in my eyes, I've had laser, and you're talking about something that's painful.
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Um, the last, very last surgery I had, I can hear them hauling at me, breathe, Joyce, breathe.
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And I'm going, I'm not breathing.
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And so after that, I had a conversation with the man upstairs.
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No more.
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I have a tiny, tiny bit of sight, and I'm born in with that.
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You know, i3S is an emotional support group, and we want to come back to that theme.
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So we we we have your physical story, what was going on with you.
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What was going on, what was your emotional response?
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I thought I was Mr.
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Magoo.
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I don't know if you're familiar with it.
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Oh, yeah.
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I thought that I could get in my truck and try.
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And I have to tell this story.
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I had to go get a prescription at the Walmart.
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I couldn't find no one to get my prescription, so I put my son in the truck with me.
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I got I drove to Walmart, which is less than a mile and a half up the road.
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I went, I did fine.
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It was like three in the evening.
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Coming back, I'm stopping at the light.
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Who did I butt up against?
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The police.
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Okay.
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Wait, wait, you, you, you said butt up against him.
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You hit him?
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Yes.
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I tapped him, Renee.
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I tapped him.
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Okay.
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Um, because I couldn't see well, you know.
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So it's about five in the evening at that time.
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So I tapped him.
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This officer petreated, he he just fell out of the car.
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I got out the out of my truck and said, sir, you might as well get up.
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Because the only thing I can give you is my son.
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And I, you know, he got up, he kind of looked at me.
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I said, I'm gonna admit to you.
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I'm visually impaired.
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I told him the whole story.
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He got in his car and left.
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Wow.
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Wow.
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Wow.
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Yes.
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So you with that being said, um, you were the first person that ever told me black people could drive, and I didn't know what it meant.
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Thank you for telling me the story many years later.
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Now I know exactly, but most of us try not to hit the police officer because they just want to let you know.
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It had something like that had to happen to make me understand.
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Take that truck and park it.
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So I did that, and forever and ever I just would go out there, get in my truck, start it up, put a CD or some music in or a movie until I said one day, nothing's enough.
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It has to go.
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You know, reality set in, and um, I went through the depression.
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Yeah, I want to come back on the other side of the break to talk about that depression because I think that that's really important for our listeners to hear.
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Um, this is the Washington Year Radio Hour, the local voice of the blind, low vision, and print to say we are heard here every Thursday at 5 o'clock p.m.
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Eastern Daylight Time now.
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Um, this week's show is Setting Boundaries with Joyce Brooks, one of the co-founders of I3S, an online support group for blind and visually impaired persons.
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Um Joyce, you talk about depression.
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Describe depression for people who don't understand depression.
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Losing your independence and driving was my main um source of just, you know, getting out.
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My ultimate plan was to drive across country once I retired.
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So now my thought is I'll get somebody to take me, you know, and you couldn't couldn't tell me I couldn't do it myself.
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But um the the normal depression of asking why, and God told me why not me again, and um just not wanting to be out.
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Just I got it look like the sun would come up and the sun would come go down, and I'm in the same spot, not eating, just out of source.
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So that's more the reason why I can relate to anyone that's going through the depression stage.
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I don't have a degree in any of that.
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It's called self-experience.
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Uh this is what I've gone through, and I can relate to these folks.
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And I I have a little bit of sight, and I can't promise nobody what I'll go to when I lose it all.
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And you know, I just want to give some background.
00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:58.320
Uh, you had this great big truck because you had a big-time job at where?
00:16:59.039 --> 00:17:02.559
That's the Goddess Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, girl.
00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:03.759
Yes.
00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:12.240
Um, I used to drive past there as a younger child, and I told my dad, but it was leaving up piled up in the station wagon.
00:17:12.319 --> 00:17:14.559
I said, Daddy, I'm gonna work over there.
00:17:14.640 --> 00:17:16.079
He said, sure, you're right.
00:17:16.720 --> 00:17:16.880
Okay.
00:17:18.079 --> 00:17:20.640
And um, I stayed focused with that.
00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:24.079
I can remember putting in an application, you know me.
00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:26.880
I would call and say, uh, my name is Joyce Brooks.
00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:31.920
Um, I'm just checking to see by any chance did you stumble across my application?
00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:33.680
I did that about 20 times.
00:17:33.839 --> 00:17:42.400
So one day, a guy, uh, I never forget, I can't remember his name, and he worked in the EEO office, and he was military.
00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:45.680
And I said, sir, he said, wait a minute, hold up.
00:17:45.839 --> 00:17:47.039
What did you just say?
00:17:47.200 --> 00:17:48.079
I said, sir.
00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:50.000
He said, My children don't say sir.
00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:51.200
They call me by my name.
00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:55.599
They said, I will come and pick you up, and the rest is history.
00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:56.160
Wow.
00:17:56.400 --> 00:18:02.240
Now had your had your sight had your sight begun to deteriorate at that point, or you were still fully sighted.
00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:03.359
Fully sighted.
00:18:03.519 --> 00:18:07.599
I didn't start losing my sight until 2009-ish.
00:18:08.240 --> 00:18:09.039
2009.
00:18:09.440 --> 00:18:12.640
Okay, can I just ask you about how old you were at that time?
00:18:12.880 --> 00:18:14.640
I can't remember that, Renee.
00:18:15.279 --> 00:18:16.240
But but you start.
00:18:16.880 --> 00:18:36.720
But I but I but let me just I wanted to to know because you know, people lose your sight at different stages and ages, and I don't know, and and I want to talk to you uh uh about uh that uh after Reverend Ray asks his question about does it hit people at different ages differently?
00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:42.559
But Raven, Revan, go ahead and um Yeah, because you forgot to come to back to me after the break.
00:18:42.640 --> 00:18:43.519
We'll work on that.
00:18:43.680 --> 00:18:44.000
Oh, yes.
00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:44.960
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:45.839
Sorry, sorry.
00:18:46.079 --> 00:18:46.720
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:49.039
So anyway, yeah, I have to ask.
00:18:49.200 --> 00:18:49.519
Yes.
00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:54.240
Uh so George, uh, what year did you start working for NASA?
00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:58.240
1971?
00:18:58.640 --> 00:19:01.279
So I graduated in 1970.
00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:06.880
But my first job was at the Navy Department across from PG Plaza.
00:19:07.039 --> 00:19:07.359
Okay.
00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:14.480
I worked there uh as a summer student a couple of summers, and that added to my 42 years.
00:19:14.720 --> 00:19:19.200
So you uh also for 42 years you've had uh worked.
00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:20.160
Oh, okay.
00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:22.000
And how many years for NASA?
00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:32.079
Um probably they, you know, they calculated that summertime, so I'm gonna say about a year of summer job.
00:19:32.160 --> 00:19:32.319
Oh.
00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:35.440
And the rest of it was um working at NASA.
00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:36.319
And Ms.
00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:53.680
Renee, before you um, just before you get up to talking to Joyce about some more about her site, I want to say I um uh uh, you know, um Joyce, my connection with Joyce is that I uh went to a church called Word of God Community Church.
00:19:53.920 --> 00:20:03.039
And her brother Tim, uh, which is cited, he uh also attended the church and we started a men's gospel group called Men of Praise.
00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:09.359
So Tim would come over to me and say, uh, Reverend Ray, um, I have a sister that's losing her sight.
00:20:09.519 --> 00:20:15.920
And I I want you to talk to her, or how can I share with her that she needs to get some services?
00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:24.160
And it would, and when he would come talk to me, it made me think back about when I lost my sight and and what I had to go through.
00:20:24.319 --> 00:20:30.240
And I would tell him that, you know, everybody come to this differently when they come to it.
00:20:30.799 --> 00:20:47.759
Because for me, even though I lost my sight when I was 14 years old, I uh did not accept I was blind until many years later, till I was like 21, I accepted that I realized I was blind, like George said, and okay, this is the way it's gonna be.
00:20:47.920 --> 00:20:53.200
So I would tell him that uh, you know, that that all you can do is just talk to her.
00:20:53.279 --> 00:20:57.519
But she'll have to come to that uh when it's time for her to come to that.
00:20:57.680 --> 00:21:08.079
But when he would ask me about her, it would remind me of my journey and and uh and where you know where I was and where I'm going uh with that joint journey.
00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:22.640
So that that was my introduction to Joyce, and I don't know what all uh your brother Tim said to you, if that you know was a kernel uh made you start thinking, okay, well, oh it's oh I heard about this other blind person that could do something.
00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:29.759
So what was that reaction was like when your brother came to you about he knew a blind person?
00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:34.960
Well, um I I I knew about you, right?
00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:41.039
And um I've seen you in motion, I've seen how you carry yourself.
00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:45.680
So that gave me the mindset that there's life after blindness.
00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:48.480
You know, I just had to come to grips with it.
00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:50.480
And my brother was hardcore.
00:21:50.720 --> 00:21:56.960
You better get that cane and you being here, you better, you know, he pussed at me.
00:21:57.119 --> 00:21:59.680
I had bruises on my legs from falling up my.
00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:03.920
Stairs, you know, just trying to be Miss Cutie on duty.
00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:05.839
I don't, I'm not carrying that cane.
00:22:06.160 --> 00:22:07.519
That's not who I am.
00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:10.240
But that's my best friend that's right behind me.
00:22:12.400 --> 00:22:14.799
Now you have a son, you mentioned Jonathan.
00:22:14.880 --> 00:22:15.039
Yeah.
00:22:15.359 --> 00:22:20.960
How did those parental duties line up with the news of your vision loss?
00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:26.319
Well, prior to that, I had another son.
00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:28.160
His name was Edward.
00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:30.480
He died in 2007.
00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:33.599
And we were like two peas in a pot.
00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:36.720
He was my son, my best friend.
00:22:37.039 --> 00:22:41.920
And that took me back and losing my sight.
00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:47.759
To lose your firstborn, you know, I was totally devastated.
00:22:48.079 --> 00:22:55.519
And um, through all of that, um, I had to bury his father, I had to bury Jonathan's father.
00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:58.000
So through Christ, I can do it all.
00:22:58.160 --> 00:23:01.039
And getting back to Jonathan, huh?
00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:02.319
Oh my God.
00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:06.720
When they told me he would not walk or talk, I said the devil's a lie.
00:23:07.359 --> 00:23:13.359
And he's artistic, but anyone will tell you, Jonathan cooks like a chef.
00:23:14.160 --> 00:23:21.839
Um, he has taken classes through um uh uh one of the programs we had Reed Temple AME.
00:23:21.920 --> 00:23:24.480
That's a church I um I go.
00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:34.160
And um uh he's a brand been around the blind community, so he goes everywhere with me and they look for Johnson.
00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:38.079
So Johnson has started a snack bag business.
00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:45.119
So he's I got those snack bags, I got healthy ones, bad ones, and and that's how he makes his little money.
00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:48.559
Um he also cooks and makes casseroles.
00:23:48.880 --> 00:23:59.200
I'm telling you, I had to put my life on hold when I had Johnson because I tell all the young mothers, hey, they didn't ask to come here.
00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:12.480
And so to make um uh contact with him, I had to get on my knees and make eye contact because they'll, you know, most children or people that have autism, they will not look you in the eye.
00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:20.880
But my baby has so many talents because he loves unconditionally, he don't have that, you know.
00:24:20.960 --> 00:24:24.480
He he'll tell you, people that drink and smoke are bad people.
00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:25.519
I'm like, okay.
00:24:27.200 --> 00:24:31.279
You know, he has that insight for a good, genuine person.
00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:32.799
He said, you know what, mom?
00:24:33.119 --> 00:24:35.200
That so-and-so is not a good person.
00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:37.920
And nine times out of ten, he is so right.
00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:46.000
Now, had you started losing your sight when you had Jonathan, or had you already had Jonathan by that time and how old was he?
00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:49.680
I had Jonathan in 1991.
00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:52.079
Okay, and he's 33 years old.
00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:57.839
So he'd gone through the um cycle of with me losing his sight.
00:24:58.079 --> 00:24:58.400
Okay.
00:24:59.200 --> 00:25:03.759
And um, like I said, he was 13 when his dad died.
00:25:04.319 --> 00:25:11.119
Um his dad, his dad died two days later after my first son's father.
00:25:11.279 --> 00:25:11.680
Oh my.
00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:13.599
And I had to bury them both.
00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:14.240
Wow.
00:25:14.559 --> 00:25:14.960
Yeah.
00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:20.880
So you're going you you you have a child who've been diagnosed with autism, you've lost your sight.
00:25:21.440 --> 00:25:27.599
Where do you turn and do you tell anybody beside your brother Tim who was already who was already giving you the blues?
00:25:27.839 --> 00:25:32.640
I'm telling you, I turned to God, you know, um, in spite of it all.
00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:36.319
That's who has brought me through all of this.
00:25:36.640 --> 00:25:38.720
Not man, but God.
00:25:39.119 --> 00:25:44.880
And um, my relationship with God is it's up there, you know.
00:25:45.119 --> 00:25:49.920
Um, right now I'm a single parent and I ain't mad at nobody.
00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:52.160
Uh what's mine is mine.
00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:55.599
But at the end of the day, um, my son is my life.
00:25:55.759 --> 00:26:03.119
And my biggest thing, I want him to have independence as much as I can before I leave this earth.
00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:04.799
And that's what I think about.
00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:07.519
That's my biggest, biggest thought.
00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:12.240
In spite of me losing my sight, I think about my son.
00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:14.880
Okay.
00:26:15.200 --> 00:26:17.839
We understand we can understand that, believe me.
00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:25.359
Uh, and I can relate to that, George, because my mother, bless her heart, um, I'm the oldest of six kids.
00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:30.640
And so when I lost my sight in 64, it was just, you know, devastating for her.
00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:34.319
And just, and we was like friends like you and your first son, Edward.
00:26:34.640 --> 00:26:37.680
Uh, that uh I would go every place with her.
00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:40.079
She was just concerned about me.
00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:45.440
And uh, you know, and I mean and that was up until, you know, that was in 64.
00:26:45.599 --> 00:26:57.440
And she still felt that way up until 2000, up until 1997 when I married, I got married to uh Miss Renee.
00:26:57.599 --> 00:27:08.720
That's when she finally felt comfortable that I was going to, you know, I was independent, had a job and everything, but she still, and you'll feel the same way, I'm sure.
00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:20.799
She still felt protective, you know, of me and stuff until I met a woman that she felt that would feel the same way and care for me the way she did.
00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:26.640
And that's when she, you know, sort of cut at least one of the apron screens.
00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:30.480
I won't say all of them, but at least not both of them, but at least one of them.
00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:36.559
So believe me, I resonate with with your tears and and how you feel right now.
00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:37.039
Okay.
00:27:37.279 --> 00:27:38.799
So let's turn the laugh box on.
00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:39.119
Go ahead.
00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:39.839
Wait, wait, wait.
00:27:40.160 --> 00:27:41.680
No, I want to ask one final question.
00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:45.200
You were saying about being mad.
00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:46.960
Were you ever mad at God?
00:27:47.200 --> 00:27:47.839
Oh yes.
00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:48.640
Oh yes.
00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:49.759
And you know what?
00:27:50.000 --> 00:28:00.720
I went to church with my younger sister who is deceased now, and because she was a minister, and I'm sitting there, and uh the minister just stopped the whole sermon.
00:28:00.799 --> 00:28:01.759
He said, wait a minute.
00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:03.759
There's somebody in here mad with God.
00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:06.240
I'm looking, I'm gonna leave it off.
00:28:06.559 --> 00:28:06.880
Wow.
00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:15.279
He came over, extended his arm out to me, and I got up, and um, I was the center of the uh conversation.
00:28:15.440 --> 00:28:35.200
I don't even know if the minister got to do his sermon because I cried out, you know, I really did, and um, Lord have mercy, I'll never forget that day, but that's something that that really put the um uh uh put the icing on the cake to let me know that there is a God.
00:28:35.440 --> 00:28:35.680
Wow.
00:28:35.920 --> 00:28:38.880
And um he didn't bring me this far to leave me.
00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:40.240
Wow.
00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:42.240
Well, we're gonna get back to that.
00:28:42.319 --> 00:28:47.200
Uh we're real close to the to the to our break time, so we're gonna take it now.
00:28:47.359 --> 00:28:53.839
Um this is the wash ear radio hour, the local voice of the blind, low vision, and print disabled.
00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:57.359
We are heard here every Thursday at 5 o'clock p.m.
00:28:57.839 --> 00:29:00.079
Eastern Daylight Time.
00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:05.680
Are you looking for an active older adult group that care about all of the issues facing older adults?
00:29:06.079 --> 00:29:12.160
Check out AARP number 939 of Suitland, Maryland, the only chapter in Prince George's County.
00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:24.240
President Katherine Williamson invites you to join her every first Tuesday of the month at 12 o'clock noon at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 3611, Stewart Road, District Heights, Maryland.
00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:28.000
That's Knights of Columbus Hall, District Heights, Maryland.
00:29:28.160 --> 00:29:31.519
The next meeting is Tuesday, the 2nd of April.
00:29:31.759 --> 00:29:32.960
Need more info?
00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:36.480
Call them at AARP 939.
00:29:36.799 --> 00:29:42.400
I'm sorry, email them at AARP939 at yahoo.com.
00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:47.440
That's AARP 939 at yahoo.com.
00:29:47.759 --> 00:30:01.279
Back to our host, Reverend Radio Ray Razor, and our special guest, Joyce Brooks, who is one of the co-founders of I3S, a support group for blind and visually impaired persons.
00:30:01.599 --> 00:30:02.480
Reverend Ray.
00:30:02.880 --> 00:30:14.559
You know, um there's um saying a little mantra that's going around now in the disability community that says nothing about me without me.
00:30:14.960 --> 00:30:44.400
And now a person with disability is taking up that banner because for so many years, um, even though we had the 504 in the 70s and then the uh uh the signing of the American Disability Act in 1990, still um there was what we call typical able-bodied persons uh um that uh still was making decisions for persons with disability and persons that's blind.
00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:53.920
So uh and and so that's why uh a uh support group like uh I3 Inspirational Group has to come about.
00:30:54.240 --> 00:31:30.400
But also beyond that, still that we are struggling with um independence, with people giving us the quality, the job uh percentage of persons with disability in this country is still uh adults uh that can work uh uh between you know 80 to 90 percent uh do not have a job, and and 4% of that, um and in the percentage of that that do have a job, about four or five percent, they making uh just over a little bit over minimum wage.
00:31:30.559 --> 00:31:32.720
So we're still struggling with that.
00:31:32.880 --> 00:31:46.400
And and so in in saying that, Joyce, with your Tuesday night, and you can give the information how to call in uh to the group or the support group, and you don't have to say anything.
00:31:46.480 --> 00:31:47.680
I mean, you can just listen.
00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:53.839
A lot of people call in and just listen and you know, and to get to know what other people are dealing with.
00:31:53.920 --> 00:31:55.039
And you've been surprised.
00:31:55.200 --> 00:32:01.920
I mean, I have heard when they started this group and people have flowered uh within this group.
00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:08.640
I mean, with people, you know, now they have confidence, they talk to each other.
00:32:08.799 --> 00:32:16.000
Uh, even I3S have had events where they come out and go to the movies and go and different things and stuff.
00:32:16.160 --> 00:32:31.440
So, in saying all of that, Joyce, uh not just in employment, but in the social uh life in the community of the blind, how have you seen it grow as well as where it needs to go?
00:32:32.160 --> 00:32:37.440
Well, with our group, like you were saying, Ray, we take people to the movies.
00:32:37.599 --> 00:32:43.039
When we go to a movie theater, we have devices that give describe the movie.
00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:48.079
And it took a while because some of my people were saying, I don't go to no movies.
00:32:48.400 --> 00:32:50.559
You know, I can't see it.
00:32:50.720 --> 00:32:52.400
I see, you listen.
00:32:52.720 --> 00:32:58.559
So one time we went to the movies, I had 14 people that were blind, totally blind.
00:32:58.720 --> 00:33:00.000
They had a ball.
00:33:00.160 --> 00:33:04.400
Um, so I started going to the AMC in Greenbelt Plaza.
00:33:04.559 --> 00:33:06.559
So they give us our tickets for$6.
00:33:07.200 --> 00:33:09.680
We can get a popcorn and a drink for$5.
00:33:10.319 --> 00:33:14.000
And Miss Mother Joy's, I got the bag with all the snacks in it.
00:33:14.160 --> 00:33:18.640
But at the end of the day, um, it gets larger and we go there.
00:33:18.799 --> 00:33:21.839
We we we have people to take them shopping.
00:33:22.079 --> 00:33:32.559
Something that they don't get to do because nobody wants to take the time to read a tag or tell them where the cleanse rack is, because that's my baby.
00:33:32.799 --> 00:33:38.799
And so I'ma do that, and they come out with items that they shop for.
00:33:39.200 --> 00:33:45.599
You know, um, I have to admit, um, I never knew what I was gonna do when I retired.
00:33:45.759 --> 00:33:46.640
And look at God.
00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:48.079
Look at God.
00:33:48.319 --> 00:33:48.559
You know.
00:33:49.119 --> 00:33:51.519
It sounds like you're working harder and more than I am.
00:33:52.079 --> 00:33:52.799
Yes, I am.
00:33:53.039 --> 00:33:54.319
I have not retired.
00:33:54.400 --> 00:34:01.680
And you know, my mind, I get up at four o'clock in the morning, and most of the time I'm getting a one-a-card call, Miss Joyce.
00:34:01.839 --> 00:34:03.519
I just lost my sight.
00:34:03.920 --> 00:34:05.119
I can't do this.
00:34:05.279 --> 00:34:09.199
And it's hard for males, it's really hard for men.
00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:14.960
They are the breadrenners of their family, and they can't see to work.
00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:18.719
And um, so I say, wait a minute, I said on the side of my bed.
00:34:18.800 --> 00:34:21.360
Can I get your number and call you in the morning?
00:34:21.519 --> 00:34:21.840
You know?
00:34:22.159 --> 00:34:22.880
Doing business.
00:34:23.360 --> 00:34:23.599
Right.
00:34:23.840 --> 00:34:25.840
Yeah, but it doesn't happen that way.
00:34:26.079 --> 00:34:26.239
Right.
00:34:26.400 --> 00:34:34.320
I've had ladies screaming, hollering, and I tell you guys, I've lost some people along the way that just could not do it.
00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:36.239
That had strokes and heart attacks.
00:34:36.320 --> 00:34:37.519
And I'm saying, calm down.
00:34:37.599 --> 00:34:39.599
You're gonna have a heart attack, you're gonna have a stroke.
00:34:40.079 --> 00:34:41.280
It left us her.
00:34:41.840 --> 00:34:48.639
So that's why it's imperative that they have something like our three S.
00:34:49.199 --> 00:34:50.159
We need that.
00:34:50.320 --> 00:34:55.119
We want our independence and they want employment, just like Ray said.
00:34:55.280 --> 00:35:01.760
These people are talented, they just can't see, they just have to learn to do things differently.
00:35:01.920 --> 00:35:11.920
And with that being said, we need more opportunities and I'm calling you out, PG County.
00:35:12.239 --> 00:35:15.199
PG County, you got to come better.
00:35:16.960 --> 00:35:22.960
So you talk about people who are newly blind, people who have been blind for a while.
00:35:23.440 --> 00:35:26.159
The helpline is available for both.
00:35:26.239 --> 00:35:28.400
I mean, they can coexist on the same line.
00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:29.679
How does that work?
00:35:30.000 --> 00:35:33.039
Well, on Tuesdays, we have different topics.
00:35:33.280 --> 00:35:42.559
The first Tuesday of the month, we spotlight a person, whether they've been coming on the line or they're newly blind, and they want to share their stomach story.
00:35:42.719 --> 00:35:46.800
Sometimes we record it, but it gets so heavy and it gets so hot.
00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:50.400
We have to stop the recording because they get emotional.
00:35:50.639 --> 00:35:53.679
Um, and then we have friends and family.
00:35:53.840 --> 00:35:59.039
Um, we have Tech Tuesday, um, and then we have um Trivia.
00:35:59.199 --> 00:36:00.639
Oh we have game night.
00:36:00.800 --> 00:36:03.440
Oh my gosh, they have a ball with that.
00:36:03.599 --> 00:36:06.079
On Thursdays is health and wellness.
00:36:06.239 --> 00:36:07.840
We do chair exercise.
00:36:08.079 --> 00:36:12.159
So wait, there are two, two, two uh nights a week.
00:36:12.239 --> 00:36:16.159
Oh Tuesday and Thursdays from 7 to 8:30.
00:36:16.320 --> 00:36:17.360
That's what we say.
00:36:17.440 --> 00:36:21.599
Sometimes it goes over because they just want to talk.
00:36:21.760 --> 00:36:25.280
And sometimes we'll tell them, we'll shut the segment down.
00:36:25.360 --> 00:36:27.760
And if you want to talk, let's go at it.
00:36:27.920 --> 00:36:29.440
And I'm we stay there.
00:36:29.840 --> 00:36:32.880
We have not missed a Tuesday or Thursday.
00:36:33.039 --> 00:36:33.679
I don't care.
00:36:34.000 --> 00:36:35.440
A lot of people can't hang with us.
00:36:35.519 --> 00:36:37.599
They'll say, do you ever take a break?
00:36:37.760 --> 00:36:38.480
For what?
00:36:38.719 --> 00:36:40.400
This thing ain't about a break.
00:36:40.480 --> 00:36:42.159
You somebody gotta be there.
00:36:42.400 --> 00:36:54.639
And if we can get one person to uh adjust to blindness and be ready to take a class or whatever, let me tell you, we had the uh pre-conference call.
00:36:55.199 --> 00:36:58.639
And so we went from pre-conference call to Zoom.
00:36:58.880 --> 00:37:03.280
So, okay, most of my people are seniors, they're not tech savvy.
00:37:03.519 --> 00:37:10.639
We took them from the landline to get on Zoom, and we did not leave one person behind.
00:37:11.039 --> 00:37:13.519
And I applaud that to my team.
00:37:13.920 --> 00:37:15.679
I have a heck of a team.
00:37:15.840 --> 00:37:17.519
I have good board members.
00:37:17.920 --> 00:37:19.679
We have a seven board.
00:37:20.000 --> 00:37:25.679
And um, I went to Baltimore back in the beginning of uh 2014.
00:37:26.079 --> 00:37:31.519
Myself and Harriet Davis, we went to Maryland and got our 501c.
00:37:32.480 --> 00:37:32.800
Okay.
00:37:33.119 --> 00:37:33.280
Yes.
00:37:33.599 --> 00:37:36.239
Now, George, would you mind giving your number?
00:37:36.320 --> 00:37:42.880
Because if you try to give the um the three numbers to call in, that might be difficult for blind people out there.
00:37:43.039 --> 00:37:46.559
So would you give them your number that they can call and get the information?
00:37:46.800 --> 00:37:48.159
During business hours, please.
00:37:48.480 --> 00:37:49.360
But yeah, it's okay.
00:37:49.599 --> 00:37:50.639
No, I'm just kissing.
00:37:51.119 --> 00:37:57.199
When you go on our website, WWI3S Foundation, Inc., it's on our website.
00:37:57.280 --> 00:37:59.519
It's on my address and phone number.
00:37:59.760 --> 00:38:08.960
So um my phone number is area code 301-529-8218.
00:38:09.519 --> 00:38:09.760
Okay.
00:38:10.079 --> 00:38:12.400
And um yeah, we give that once again.
00:38:12.719 --> 00:38:17.920
301 529 8218.
00:38:18.480 --> 00:38:21.760
We'll give that again at the end of the uh at the end of the show.
00:38:22.000 --> 00:38:24.159
But you said I3S website.
00:38:24.639 --> 00:38:24.880
Yes.
00:38:25.280 --> 00:38:26.960
Give us that address too.
00:38:27.199 --> 00:38:31.199
Um www.i3s foundation.
00:38:31.599 --> 00:38:32.079
Yeah.
00:38:32.239 --> 00:38:34.159
Um, we have a website.
00:38:34.400 --> 00:38:36.079
Um, take a look at it.
00:38:36.320 --> 00:38:40.079
It's um um we of course we need to update it.
00:38:40.800 --> 00:38:43.039
We want to get some pictures on there as well.
00:38:43.280 --> 00:38:44.800
But God is good, God.
00:38:44.880 --> 00:38:46.960
We we don't we don't have money.
00:38:47.360 --> 00:38:58.480
All of us, you know, we've been doing this just from, and like I said, we had our first fundraiser, but through God, we've had donations, you know, of sorts.
00:38:58.719 --> 00:39:02.719
But um is there a donation button on that website?
00:39:02.960 --> 00:39:04.559
Um, call Joyce Brooks.
00:39:04.800 --> 00:39:04.960
Okay.
00:39:05.679 --> 00:39:06.639
That's the donation button.
00:39:07.039 --> 00:39:12.000
Yeah, because a lot of people don't do Catch App, sale, right, and PayPal and all of that.
00:39:12.159 --> 00:39:13.679
So I'll come to you.
00:39:14.079 --> 00:39:14.320
Okay.
00:39:15.119 --> 00:39:15.840
Now, you know what?
00:39:15.920 --> 00:39:21.679
You talk about, we talked a little bit about newly blind, we talked about people who've been blind for a while.
00:39:21.920 --> 00:39:36.079
Um, so is the i3S, and again, that's the inspirational three support line, is it a place where for people who have been blind for a while and as a resource for them, also for newly blind?
00:39:36.400 --> 00:39:56.559
Yes, as a matter of fact, we reach out to people, we got people coming on from Mississippi and Ohio, from several states, and um they can participate in our live uh uh uh things that we do, but they these people come on every Tuesday, every Thursday.
00:39:56.639 --> 00:40:08.639
Um, our biggest crowd is on Tuesday, but um I have to say it's so near and dear to me because to be able to help one person.
00:40:08.800 --> 00:40:14.320
So one of our resources is one right here at Washington Ear.
00:40:14.639 --> 00:40:18.480
Um, they gave us a resource that they give out free echoes.
00:40:18.639 --> 00:40:25.679
So if you call me and you live in the state of Maryland, you can receive a free echo.
00:40:25.840 --> 00:40:28.800
We don't ask for your blood type or any of that.
00:40:29.039 --> 00:40:33.760
Um and then there's another source through Merlin Relay.
00:40:34.239 --> 00:40:38.639
That if you qualify, you can get a brand new iPhone 15.
00:40:39.039 --> 00:40:46.159
With that being said, I work with the churches, Word of God, Retemple, we give out food.
00:40:46.480 --> 00:40:52.320
We've helped people with resources on housing, um, clothing.
00:40:52.719 --> 00:40:55.360
Oh my gosh, and the beat goes on.
00:40:55.599 --> 00:41:00.480
And um, one of the things that I want is a brick and mortar.
00:41:00.639 --> 00:41:13.920
I know that's kind of absolute, absolutely noun, but I want a one-time come in the door, get housing over here, get this kind of education, get you some clothes, yeah, get you some food.
00:41:14.079 --> 00:41:15.679
Yes, that's my dream.
00:41:16.000 --> 00:41:16.880
Alrighty.
00:41:18.320 --> 00:41:23.119
Any advice for persons who are not ready to share on the I3S line?
00:41:23.440 --> 00:41:26.000
Just listen, like you said before.
00:41:26.239 --> 00:41:34.079
Come on in line, and then after a couple times you hear somebody, uh, this so-and-so already knows the participants.
00:41:34.559 --> 00:41:40.400
I look at that participant list and I'm saying, hmm, that person has been coming on for a while, you know.
00:41:40.639 --> 00:41:48.320
Um we have an ongoing list of our uh folks with the emails, texts, or how a way they can get to us.
00:41:48.559 --> 00:41:50.960
And um, that's how we do it.
00:41:51.840 --> 00:41:55.039
Now, do you ever employ professionals to come on the line?
00:41:55.280 --> 00:41:56.000
Oh yes.
00:41:56.159 --> 00:41:56.800
Oh yes.
00:41:57.039 --> 00:41:59.760
Um, we do meditation.
00:41:59.920 --> 00:42:03.840
We have a lady that comes on with that, Miss Dana Parker.
00:42:04.159 --> 00:42:14.800
Um, we have people come on to talk about finances, the AVO program, um, insurance, help insurance.
00:42:14.960 --> 00:42:24.079
When you don't understand the breakdown with that book that they sent us, that you can put as a doorstop, like a yellow page book, and nobody can see that.
00:42:24.159 --> 00:42:26.719
But I have somebody come on to answer questions.
00:42:26.880 --> 00:42:28.239
I give a prime example.
00:42:28.400 --> 00:42:45.440
Yesterday we had Tech Tuesday, we had um uh uh Tawan Palmer come on and talk about soon using the chat because I was like, I didn't do this, you know, but he broke that thing down, use all whatever.
00:42:45.599 --> 00:42:47.199
He did it on the computer.
00:42:47.360 --> 00:42:53.280
We talked about doing it on your phone, and you know how hard it is for some of my seniors.
00:42:53.440 --> 00:42:55.519
They call the computer the devil.
00:42:58.639 --> 00:43:00.480
Okay, wow.
00:43:02.559 --> 00:43:02.719
Okay.
00:43:03.599 --> 00:43:07.119
I wanted I wanted I wanted to talk about something.
00:43:07.360 --> 00:43:14.000
i3S just celebrated their 10th anniversary in a very unique way.
00:43:14.320 --> 00:43:16.159
Now we're up against our break.
00:43:16.239 --> 00:43:24.079
So we're gonna take this break because I do not want to interrupt or miss anything about this celebration.
00:43:24.480 --> 00:43:31.840
So this is the Wash Ear Radio Hour, the local voice of the blind, low vision, and print disabled.
00:43:32.000 --> 00:43:37.199
We are heard here every Thursday at 5 o'clock PM Eastern Daylight Time.
00:43:37.360 --> 00:43:48.719
Our special guest is Joyce Brooks, one of the three co-founders of i3S, an online support group for blind and visually impaired persons.
00:43:49.039 --> 00:43:51.119
Uh back over to Reverend Ray.
00:43:51.760 --> 00:43:52.079
Okay.
00:43:52.719 --> 00:43:58.559
Um, yeah, and I and and uh asking about you celebrating your 10th anniversary.
00:43:58.719 --> 00:43:59.760
And when you all got started.
00:44:00.480 --> 00:44:02.639
And people should pay attention to this.
00:44:02.800 --> 00:44:09.119
You know, sometimes we analyze till we paralyze to put something together.
00:44:09.360 --> 00:44:16.079
And I know Reggie had this idea and he was just going through, well, well, we need to do this, we need to do that.
00:44:16.159 --> 00:44:20.320
I told Reggie, I said, Reggie, just get a phone line and start talking.
00:44:20.480 --> 00:44:26.880
Okay, because sometimes, you know, we try to do too much groundwork.
00:44:27.039 --> 00:44:31.599
Sometimes if you just got 40% of what you want to do, just start it.
00:44:31.679 --> 00:44:35.519
I mean, and George and Reggie and Lloyd started it.
00:44:35.679 --> 00:44:39.599
And then they filled in the rest of the uh the parts, you know.
00:44:39.679 --> 00:44:42.480
I mean, some people want to wait until they get aboard.
00:44:42.559 --> 00:44:48.320
These people, they want to wait until they get this, but sometimes you just have to go ahead and do it.
00:44:48.400 --> 00:44:53.360
And I congratulate George and them for celebrating their 10th anniversary.
00:44:53.440 --> 00:44:56.719
And she's gonna tell us about the sneakerball.
00:44:59.039 --> 00:45:00.400
Oh wow, oh well.
00:45:00.639 --> 00:45:08.719
I had gone to several sneaker balls, and the concept of a sneaker ball is you wear your sneakers.
00:45:08.960 --> 00:45:12.480
And the first time I went to one, I'm like, oh my gosh.
00:45:12.639 --> 00:45:17.119
I can see a little bit, so I can see all these blinged out sneakers people had on.
00:45:17.280 --> 00:45:22.239
And they had on African attire, gowns, suits, uh, you name it.
00:45:22.400 --> 00:45:23.760
Dress through the nine.
00:45:23.920 --> 00:45:26.639
Um, of course, the guys wore the nice hats.
00:45:26.800 --> 00:45:28.800
Um, so I said, you know what?
00:45:28.960 --> 00:45:31.920
That's what we can do for our anniversary.
00:45:32.239 --> 00:45:35.199
So people are like, I don't have bling bling.
00:45:35.519 --> 00:45:39.199
I said, look, come as you are as long as you don't wear your birthday suit.
00:45:41.119 --> 00:45:44.639
Um, I'm gonna tell you, um, I had picked a venue.
00:45:44.880 --> 00:45:57.119
I wasn't too cool about it because it was down in Clinton, and we have to be mindful of metro access because if you're not grandfathered in, you can't go certain places on Saturday.
00:45:57.280 --> 00:46:04.400
I wanted to have this event on a Saturday where people chill, got, you know, but I had to have it on a Friday.
00:46:04.639 --> 00:46:11.039
So I had it at the Knights of Columbus on Turi Hill Road.
00:46:11.280 --> 00:46:12.800
That worked out well.
00:46:13.039 --> 00:46:14.320
I had a band.
00:46:15.119 --> 00:46:18.880
And I'm gonna tell you a band live.
00:46:19.840 --> 00:46:20.159
Okay.
00:46:21.119 --> 00:46:26.559
The band had about eight or nine people, and it was ran by a woman.
00:46:26.800 --> 00:46:30.719
Um, she's a manager, and it's called All In.
00:46:31.360 --> 00:46:31.519
Oh.
00:46:31.920 --> 00:46:32.639
And you know what?
00:46:32.800 --> 00:46:33.920
When I talked to Mr.
00:46:34.079 --> 00:46:36.239
Patrick Clark, I said, Mr.
00:46:36.400 --> 00:46:42.559
Clark, I said, I'm gonna tell you right now, I need a DJ because I know we can't afford a band.
00:46:42.960 --> 00:46:45.920
He said, Miss Joyce, tell me about your group.
00:46:46.320 --> 00:46:51.360
So I told him all about the group, what we do, what we've been through.
00:46:51.519 --> 00:46:52.880
And so he called me.
00:46:53.119 --> 00:46:55.199
He said, we'll work something out.
00:46:55.440 --> 00:46:59.199
So I'm like, oh Lord, does he take independent card or what?
00:46:59.280 --> 00:47:00.239
Even though I have one.
00:47:00.320 --> 00:47:01.440
But I'm just saying.
00:47:01.679 --> 00:47:03.119
But it worked out.
00:47:03.360 --> 00:47:05.119
He did it for nothing.
00:47:05.360 --> 00:47:05.760
Wow.
00:47:06.000 --> 00:47:06.880
Nothing.
00:47:07.119 --> 00:47:09.679
We had a cater, Miss Anita Minor.
00:47:09.760 --> 00:47:10.400
She came.
00:47:10.559 --> 00:47:20.400
We had um, I have to say, we had fried chicken, barbecue chicken, real salmon, macaroni, cheese, um, sweet potatoes, uh uh, salad, roll.
00:47:20.800 --> 00:47:22.960
Um, it turned out nice.
00:47:23.119 --> 00:47:24.719
Um, I did an auction.
00:47:24.960 --> 00:47:27.840
I did auctioneering in my career at NASA.
00:47:28.000 --> 00:47:30.159
I sold government equipment.
00:47:30.320 --> 00:47:37.039
Um, I I um did that um the last 10 years of my time there.
00:47:37.519 --> 00:47:39.199
Um I did a lot at NASA.
00:47:39.360 --> 00:47:43.679
I had many, many hats because I came through the ranks of being a clerical.
00:47:43.920 --> 00:47:45.760
So back to the ball.
00:47:45.920 --> 00:47:47.599
Um I did the auction.
00:47:47.840 --> 00:47:51.920
We had a pie that I auctioned off for$100.
00:47:52.400 --> 00:47:52.719
Oh, yeah.
00:47:53.039 --> 00:47:54.079
What a pie was that?
00:47:54.320 --> 00:47:55.840
A sweet potato pie.
00:47:55.920 --> 00:47:56.159
Oh.
00:47:56.480 --> 00:47:58.559
A sweet potato pie.
00:47:58.960 --> 00:47:59.119
Oh.
00:47:59.519 --> 00:48:03.519
Yes, and you all know Sean Callaway, his mom made two pies.
00:48:03.599 --> 00:48:04.559
I asked for one.
00:48:04.800 --> 00:48:05.679
She made two.
00:48:05.840 --> 00:48:08.400
I had the privilege of tasting her pie.
00:48:08.480 --> 00:48:10.559
I said, mmm, this would be good.
00:48:10.800 --> 00:48:14.000
We had a homemade seven up cake.
00:48:14.320 --> 00:48:20.320
We had um banana pudding cookies that were, yeah, they went for$40.
00:48:20.800 --> 00:48:29.199
But I'm saying, the, you know, and just to hear the band, the people in the band say it, I've never been around blind people.
00:48:29.440 --> 00:48:32.320
I've never seen blind people in action.
00:48:32.400 --> 00:48:36.800
The guy said, I would not know these people are blind if they didn't have their stick.
00:48:36.880 --> 00:48:38.639
I say it's called a white cane.
00:48:39.519 --> 00:48:40.960
So we got him straight.
00:48:41.840 --> 00:48:47.679
He said, anytime, Miss Brooks, if you have anything, he said, you are phenomenal.
00:48:47.840 --> 00:48:50.000
I don't remember you sitting down to eat.
00:48:50.159 --> 00:48:50.960
I didn't eat.
00:48:51.119 --> 00:48:54.880
And I have that energy because my brothers are just like I am.
00:48:55.519 --> 00:48:57.199
But it went well.
00:48:57.440 --> 00:49:05.760
Um, I even I met some guys, I met a guy at IB, that's another blind group, and um, for the first time.
00:49:05.920 --> 00:49:10.480
And I was telling when we were having the event, he said, Well, all I got is five dollars.
00:49:10.639 --> 00:49:12.800
I said, So do you come on down.
00:49:13.440 --> 00:49:19.360
You know, I'm like, hey, we don't pay, we have enough money to pay the catering and pay the venue.
00:49:19.599 --> 00:49:20.400
Come on down.
00:49:20.880 --> 00:49:22.800
That man won't stop ringing my phone.
00:49:23.199 --> 00:49:24.480
She had a good time.
00:49:24.559 --> 00:49:27.360
He said, All I do is sit in the house and do nothing.
00:49:27.599 --> 00:49:28.480
I said, guess what?
00:49:28.559 --> 00:49:30.159
You got a newfound family.
00:49:30.320 --> 00:49:33.280
So put your skating, put your roller skates on.
00:49:33.599 --> 00:49:35.360
Because we don't keep still.
00:49:35.519 --> 00:49:36.400
That's for sure.
00:49:36.639 --> 00:49:42.079
All right, and that's what it sounds like that's more important is building the community.
00:49:42.239 --> 00:49:42.480
Yeah.
00:49:42.639 --> 00:49:46.639
And Joyce, you have the knack and the ability to do that.
00:49:46.800 --> 00:49:52.320
Not everyone does, but you certainly do have the ability.
00:49:53.039 --> 00:49:53.679
What?
00:49:56.000 --> 00:49:58.960
What what what are the next steps for I3S?
00:49:59.679 --> 00:50:08.320
Well, one of the things now that the COVID is somewhat in this ugly head, um, there's people still getting COVID.
00:50:08.480 --> 00:50:12.800
And that's why I have my mask on now and Richard Renee kind of pulled down.
00:50:13.039 --> 00:50:16.880
But um, I'm saying um we want to do more.
00:50:17.199 --> 00:50:22.239
We want to get out and show the community what we're all about.
00:50:22.400 --> 00:50:25.920
And like I said, like when we go to the movies, we're in the mall.
00:50:26.000 --> 00:50:29.039
And we can hear people say, because you know, we got the train going on.
00:50:29.199 --> 00:50:32.400
Everybody holding on each other's shoulder, and we're walking on down the mall.
00:50:32.559 --> 00:50:35.519
Oh my God, that's a bunch of blind people.
00:50:35.679 --> 00:50:39.519
And you got people following us, they're looking, you know.
00:50:39.840 --> 00:50:44.639
I have to admit, I knew nothing about blindness.
00:50:44.800 --> 00:50:48.559
I took care of a young lady when I was babysitting.
00:50:49.119 --> 00:50:50.639
Her grandmother was black.
00:50:50.800 --> 00:50:52.559
But they kept her in a room.
00:50:52.880 --> 00:50:55.440
They kept her in a locked room.
00:50:55.599 --> 00:50:57.440
One day they didn't lock that room.
00:50:57.679 --> 00:50:59.599
Joyce Brooks went in the broom.
00:50:59.760 --> 00:51:01.440
I'm saying, hey granny.
00:51:01.599 --> 00:51:03.519
She said, hi, sweetie.
00:51:03.679 --> 00:51:06.000
I said, Granny, you know how to make biscuits?
00:51:06.159 --> 00:51:07.199
She said, Yeah.
00:51:07.360 --> 00:51:11.440
I got granny out of that room, and granny came in the kitchen and made biscuits.
00:51:11.599 --> 00:51:17.679
I put her back in the room by the time the lady came back and she said, I smell biscuits.
00:51:17.840 --> 00:51:19.679
I said, Yeah, I do too.
00:51:20.320 --> 00:51:20.960
You know?
00:51:21.280 --> 00:51:28.800
But from now, I think that was my opening to know to watch that blind lady make those biscuits.
00:51:28.960 --> 00:51:30.960
She said, put everything in front of me.
00:51:31.119 --> 00:51:33.920
Every time I ask you for something, give it to me.
00:51:34.159 --> 00:51:36.480
No measuring spoons, no nothing.
00:51:36.639 --> 00:51:40.159
Those were the best biscuits I ever had in my life.
00:51:40.400 --> 00:51:48.159
And I was young, oh, had to be about 15, 16 years old, doing a little babysitting, because I babysat my life or what?
00:51:48.400 --> 00:51:52.079
Um, I had a military strict father that didn't play that.
00:51:52.320 --> 00:51:58.719
But um, but that being said, um I have to say, God is good.
00:51:59.440 --> 00:52:03.519
And I should be preparing you way back when you were 15 and you didn't even know it.
00:52:03.920 --> 00:52:07.679
Um, you talk about walking in the mall with other blind people.
00:52:08.079 --> 00:52:30.320
Is the point of I3S, Inspirational 3 Support Group online, it's for the blind community, but is the is the physical appearance at AMC and the uh shopping and all of that, is that to educate the general community also to what the capabilities are of blind and low vision persons?
00:52:30.639 --> 00:52:33.760
Yes, it is, and I'm glad you mentioned that, Renee.
00:52:34.159 --> 00:52:41.199
I had an instance where I had an event at NASA because I was president of Blacks and Government.
00:52:41.360 --> 00:52:44.800
So, you know, that's towards the end when I was losing my sight.
00:52:45.039 --> 00:52:47.039
And uh, we had an event there.
00:52:47.199 --> 00:52:52.320
They would allow me to have very various things there for my blind community.
00:52:52.480 --> 00:52:53.920
I can't remember what it was.
00:52:54.159 --> 00:52:58.239
I have had so many things, but it was for a resource day.
00:52:58.880 --> 00:53:03.440
So I asked the young lady, I said, can you take Miss So and so?
00:53:03.760 --> 00:53:07.519
Because you had to come to the front gate to get to building eight.
00:53:07.679 --> 00:53:11.599
So that meant you could walk it or get on a bus or whatever.
00:53:11.840 --> 00:53:13.760
This lady was a little elderly.
00:53:14.000 --> 00:53:16.000
So I said, can you take her?
00:53:16.239 --> 00:53:19.039
She said, it's put her in my car.
00:53:20.000 --> 00:53:21.760
I'm like, okay.
00:53:22.320 --> 00:53:25.280
I said, she's not gonna wet up your car or do whatever.
00:53:25.760 --> 00:53:26.880
So you're gonna catch blindness.
00:53:28.320 --> 00:53:30.400
I don't know if I can do that.
00:53:31.280 --> 00:53:33.199
I was like, shocked.
00:53:33.360 --> 00:53:40.719
I'm I I proceeded to go along with what I was doing, but that put another taste in my mouth.
00:53:41.039 --> 00:53:41.679
You know?
00:53:41.920 --> 00:53:44.400
I'm like, what is going on?
00:53:44.639 --> 00:53:50.000
You know, I almost felt like back in the day how white folks felt about black folks.
00:53:50.480 --> 00:53:52.239
You know, because I can remember that day.
00:53:52.320 --> 00:53:56.480
I can remember my mother knocking me over and say, don't drink out of that fountain.
00:53:56.880 --> 00:53:59.679
So, with that being said, I said, you know what?
00:53:59.840 --> 00:54:02.239
I really gotta get involved with this.
00:54:02.800 --> 00:54:05.760
Because this is a different kind of prejudice.
00:54:06.239 --> 00:54:07.039
Yes, it is.
00:54:07.679 --> 00:54:11.039
And and that's well said, it's a different kind of prejudice.
00:54:11.280 --> 00:54:16.239
Um can a person who I want to go back to something you said earlier.
00:54:16.320 --> 00:54:18.559
You talked about one of your days, family and friends.
00:54:18.639 --> 00:54:20.239
What is family and friends today?
00:54:20.639 --> 00:54:31.840
Family, family and prayer and friends was set up so uh at one point I can remember meeting Ray when he had uh place that time, right?
00:54:32.239 --> 00:54:37.599
We met and we would have our um, we would have people come in person.
00:54:37.760 --> 00:54:45.519
This is way before COVID, and um, we would come have a bite to eat, and um Ray was putting that on.
00:54:45.599 --> 00:54:48.079
I can't remember what the name of that was, right?
00:54:48.480 --> 00:54:49.039
We were doing.
00:54:49.760 --> 00:55:00.480
Yeah, we had that building, and yeah, so um we would come and uh Reggie Pratt, Laura Stays, myself, we would invite the family.
00:55:00.719 --> 00:55:01.760
Oh, yeah, we wouldn't remember that?
00:55:01.920 --> 00:55:03.119
Yeah, what it was, Renee.
00:55:03.280 --> 00:55:06.320
That's when we had, that's when we were involved with Syntech.
00:55:06.719 --> 00:55:10.800
And at that building, we would have uh we had them come in the evening.
00:55:10.880 --> 00:55:11.920
You might have forgot about that.
00:55:12.000 --> 00:55:21.760
And that's when uh Carl, what you call and her mother, Bernice, and and and all, and we would meet and have and and and talk about blindness and stuff.
00:55:21.840 --> 00:55:22.000
Yes.
00:55:22.239 --> 00:55:23.920
Yeah, and let me say this right.
00:55:24.400 --> 00:55:34.960
I can remember a mother and daughter, I'm not gonna call the name, came to the event and the daughter was feeling overwhelmed with the mom, you won't let me do this and that.
00:55:35.119 --> 00:55:39.280
They had their breakdown and they both hugged each other.
00:55:39.440 --> 00:55:44.000
Yeah, and and hey, she was like, I didn't hear mother say, I didn't know you felt that way.
00:55:44.159 --> 00:55:44.400
Yeah.
00:55:44.800 --> 00:55:45.440
You know what?
00:55:45.840 --> 00:55:47.440
I'm like, look at this.
00:55:47.599 --> 00:55:47.840
Yeah.
00:55:48.079 --> 00:55:52.400
And you tell me I couldn't do, I hope to live to do 10 more years.
00:55:52.559 --> 00:55:52.880
Okay.
00:55:53.119 --> 00:55:54.639
Well, I hope you do too.
00:55:54.800 --> 00:56:02.559
And unfortunately, time waits for no man, woman, and even Joyce Brooks, yes, who can do all things who strengthen her.
00:56:02.880 --> 00:56:08.079
So, can a person who wants more information or is just curious come on and learn more?
00:56:08.159 --> 00:56:09.760
And how can they do that?
00:56:10.159 --> 00:56:18.719
Yes, I invite anyone that, you know, coming through all of this, all of us are gonna suffer a disability of some sort.
00:56:19.119 --> 00:56:24.960
And if when it's your eyes or your deafness or your legs, you're gonna need everybody.
00:56:25.119 --> 00:56:36.880
So if you know of anybody losing their sight and they need help, need somebody to talk to, again, my name is Joyce Brooks, Inspirational Three Support Group.
00:56:37.039 --> 00:56:43.199
My number is 301-529-8218.
00:56:43.440 --> 00:56:45.039
And it's been a pleasure.
00:56:45.280 --> 00:56:48.880
I I I appreciate you having me come on.
00:56:49.679 --> 00:56:53.039
Well, we want to thank you for listening to the Metropolitan Washington Ear.
00:56:53.199 --> 00:56:54.800
Reverend Ray, any closing thoughts?
00:56:55.039 --> 00:57:08.000
My closing thought is that um at the age of 65, for every three persons turned to 65, one person out of that is gonna have a visual loss of some kind.
00:57:08.320 --> 00:57:17.280
And then especially with the baby boomers, uh, that was that crazy group that did anything they felt big and bad enough to do.
00:57:17.440 --> 00:57:24.320
Uh and um, and so therefore, uh, and about 72 to 78 baby boomers.
00:57:24.400 --> 00:57:27.440
So you all experiencing those visual problems.
00:57:27.519 --> 00:57:36.239
So please uh call George uh at 3015298218.
00:57:36.639 --> 00:57:44.000
And this is uh Sight and Vision Disability and Senior Talk Radio Show, and we thank Metropolitan Washington here.
00:57:44.400 --> 00:57:51.039
Uh, and you can call them also at 301-681-6631.
00:57:51.119 --> 00:57:55.679
That's 301-681-6631.
00:57:55.760 --> 00:57:58.159
They always looking for volunteers.
00:57:58.400 --> 00:58:04.719
Um, so please check them out on their website is washear.org and this Reverend Ray.
00:58:04.960 --> 00:58:11.519
And I like to say, I might not have sight, but I can have vision, vision, vision.
00:58:11.679 --> 00:58:14.159
God bless and be blessed.
00:58:14.639 --> 00:58:22.960
Thank you for listening to the Metropolitan Washington Ear, the Wash Ear Radio Hour, the local voice of the blind, low vision, and print disabled.
00:58:23.119 --> 00:58:25.920
Want to hear this show again or one of our past shows?
00:58:26.159 --> 00:58:29.360
Go to our website, washear.org.
00:58:29.519 --> 00:58:31.360
The Wash Ear Radio Hour.
00:58:31.679 --> 00:58:38.960
Episode number 11, show number seven, the Subject Inspirational Three Support Group, I3S.
00:58:39.280 --> 00:58:41.679
This has been a Razor Edge production.