Disability Dialogue with Bill

David Roche- Church of 80% Sincerity

David Roche is a humorist and performer who has transformed his life experience of living with a facial disfigurement into a compelling message that delights audiences around the world.
His presentations are uniquely effective at communicating the social consequences of being perceived as “different” in our society. In early June, 2008, David performed one of his most popular performances “The Church of 80% Sincerity” for the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. Happily, that performance was captured on video at the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage archives.

I am very grateful to have met David in person and have listened to one of his talks live. I found David’s message very helpful and inspiring to myself. I hope you take the time to watch or listen to the video.

What thoughts came to your mind when listening to David Roche? After watching the video do you think you will act any differently in your personal or professional life? Do any of you have fears of being rejected and being un-loved like David talks about? We all would love to hear your thoughts, comments and suggestions.

Bill Tipton
Contributing Author
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

Celebrating Life

I personally believe we all should take time to celebrate our passions and joys in our life.

Time goes by very quickly. If we breeze through the actions of living life like a robot with no emotions, enthusiasm or interactions we would truly miss out on life’s pleasures. We need to take the time to celebrate the joys of living. Be aware of your surroundings, others feelings and share mutual passions. Embrace how different each of us are and enjoy the uniqueness in personalities, viewpoints, skills and perceived abilities.

If we do not take advantage of life’s experiences, whether negative or positive, we will truly miss out on the true meaning of why we are living on this earth.

This month has been very special for me for many reasons. I want to share three celebrations I had the opportunity to experience during a week of vacation from my valued employer. This will get us started thinking about what we all can celebrate in our lives, and how we can help others unselfishly.

To start off my week of gratitude and celebrations my first thought is that I am thankful that I have the ability to celebrate. This month is my wedding anniversary. You can read a post I wrote last year to celebrate this very special occasion with my loving and caring wife Kathy; I call Anniversaries - What They Mean to You.

I tragically missed my twelfth anniversary. Read the post to see why I missed this anniversary and why I do not want to miss any more opportunities to celebrate my anniversary and why I believe I am very lucky to have the ability to celebrate the joys in life.

I was honored and grateful to attend a book release reception with my wife Kathy for a very exciting and valuable book titled: Putting Our Differences to Work. The author of this innovative book is Debbe Kennedy, my friend, colleague, Founder, President and CEO Global Dialogue Center and Leadership Solutions Companies.

I met many positive leaders at the reception who are truly celebrating life to the fullest. They are incorporating all people in their positive and meaningful work; valuing the individual’s unique differences. I have had the privilege to have worked with some of these outstanding creative leaders in the past. Some I continue to do meaningful work with and others I just met at the reception and will work with in the future. This was a very remarkable event to celebrate life and be engaged with others who are making a positive difference in the world.
Read: Putting Our Differences to Work, to learn more about the leaders and how you can learn to be a better leader and make a difference in your organization, community and in your personal life.

To end my week my wife Kathy and I had a very nice dinner with a friend I had not seen in years. My friend and I used to go on tandem bike rides in the foothills near where I live. I started going on tandem bike rides just after I learned to walk again after a very critical medical condition which took away all of my eyesight and the ability to walk for 1 year. I now walk with two canes. I have one support cane and one long white cane.

When I would ride on the bike I would fold up my canes and attach them to my larger fanny pack so I could get to them quickly and easily if I needed to walk. I always wore a helmet on my rides. As we rode I could smell the fresh air and scents of trees and flowers. I could feel the breeze blowing around my face, arms and legs. Our rides were relaxing even when going uphill as we peddled the miles away. I would listen to the birds as we rode trying to figure out what type of bird was singing. We did a lot of talking as we rode. I think I must have talked off my riding partners ears; it seemed to me. I especially liked coming down this one steep hill where we would go very fast through some gentle curves that went from side to side. At times we would have to pass cars on the side of the road or as we made turns down side streets. I could hear when the cars were relatively close to me; but I was never a bit scared or worried. I had complete faith in my friend and riding partner. We always had a great time celebrating life on our rides.
Our night out to dinner and our talk afterwards went by so quickly. It was a very nice way to end a week full of exciting life experiences and celebrations!

If I wanted to I could have stayed at home and not been engaged with others during my week on vacation. If I did this; just think of what I would have missed if I did not choose to share myself with others and allow others to reciprocate. If I took the perceived easy way of life and rushed through this month like a robot I would have missed many opportunities to enjoy what life has to offer and the ability to meet many outstanding people.

I hope that you can live every day to the fullest and can enjoy the celebrations in your life. I hope you do not pass up any opportunities because you are too rushed by the actions of just living life. Instead try focusing on the engagements and opportunities that may come up. If you do rush through life, it is like me and my friend on the tandem bike racing down the hills. You are going too fast to see the opportunities to celebrate life, meet new people and enjoy all life has to offer.

Does anyone have any celebrations you want to share with us? Do you have any suggestions to help others get engaged to find celebrations of life? What makes you feel life is worth celebrating?

We all look forward to hearing your thoughts, comments and suggestions’ to help us celebrate life’s joys.

Bill Tipton
Contributing Author
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

A Voice of Disability from Africa - AAPD

How many of you truly understand how the disabled are treated around the world?

I think the story from Moses Gonsi will help you to understand and be inspired to reach your potential.

Jenifer Simpson, AAPD's Sr. Director, Telecommunications & Technology Policy, recently returned from a trip to Africa in conjunction with work she is doing with the United Nations on the technology accessibility provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Jenifer met many advocates from the African continent during her travels, and several intend to share their stories, in their own words on JFActivist.

Guest Column on JFActivist
By Moses Gonsi

I am Moses from Nigeria. Here is my disability story:

I am Moses Gonsi, born on the 3rd of April, 1973. I come from Lewe Town in Gokana, a local government area of Rivers state, Nigeria.

Born deformed, I was put in a basket and abandoned in a place called the Forbidden Forest in my village by my father, who was amongst the people that stood strong in ensuring that an age-long tradition of killing deformed and twin babies was respected...
Read more about Moses Gonsi at JFActivist.

What part of Moses Gonsi’s message did you enjoy?What piece disturbed you? Does Moses Gonsi inspire you to act in any way; if so how?

When doing your work to help yourself, or others do not forget the others around the world who also might benefit from your work.

I completely agree with Moses when Moses talks about believing there is potentials God has embedded in everyone, disabled or not. I hope you will find your potential to carry out your life’s dreams and aspirations.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Bill Tipton
Contributing Author
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

Keep Up Your Self Confidence

Hello everyone,

I personally think it is difficult to keep up your self confidence when others are telling you that you are not able to complete certain tasks in their opinion. When others make verbal remarks to you that hurt and sadden you could negatively impact your self confidence. If the comments are focused on your disability; these comments may even hurt worse since nobody in my opinion ever chooses to be disabled.

I believe we can expand on our discussion we started in my post, SELF-CONFIDENCE: How to Improve to help us further. I am sure others have additional examples of how your self confidence could be negatively impacted with examples of resolutions.

I would like to know how you keep negative comments or inaccurate assumptions from diminishing your self confidence. How do you keep the anger and frustrations you feel deep down inside from negatively impacting the people you care about in your personal or professional life? How do you proceed ahead and keep positively focused on what is important so these negative attitudes do not impact the great work you may be doing? Do you have any possible solutions to help minimize the destructive feelings you may feel when your self confidence is in jeopardy.

What I try to focus on when these destructive feelings come up for me are the following:

• Don't allow your first thoughts be negative. If they are; take a breath before you speak or act. Maybe the comments are constructive to enhance your skills or talents and just may sound negative in the way they were presented to you.

• Gauge how much time you spend defending yourself. Fighting the battles to prove you are correct might take too long and use up too much of your valuable energy and resources. You will have to gauge how much time you should spend defending yourself and how much of an impact losing the battle will truly have on your life. If you let these negative feelings fester inside you, this negativity will show through in the other work you are doing in your personal and professional life.

• Think of overcoming this negativity or misunderstanding; look for the learning in the experience. I think that most leaders have to learn to deal with negative comments and you should think of your circumstances as good practice, no matter how painful they are.

• The obstacles you are facing might be a clue that one door is closing and another one is about to open for you. If this is true this is the time that is most critical for you to not let negativity cloud your mind, actions and visions.

• Maybe the work you are doing is pioneering work and has never been accomplished and is very technical and organizationally challenging. In these situations you will run into obstacles and more critical and negative comments than you would if you worked on more standard work. I would think that most leaders doing pioneering work have these same challenges before they can succeed in their dreams and goals.

If negative attitudes or misunderstandings are in your life; I hope they will not impact your self confidence. We are all valuable people in our own unique and different way and we should minimize the impact others have on our self confidence. I know this is extremely hard to achieve for sure. In the midst of your hurt and anger it is not easy to keep focused and continue to think clearly and rationally! If you want to successfully proceed ahead on your important life’s path; you will need to walk alone at times and leave the negative words and thoughts behind you.

We all look forward to hearing your thoughts and suggestions on this very essential topic. We are all too valuable and life is too short to let others extinguish the fire within us before we have a chance to light the torch of our passions!

Bill Tipton
Contributing Author
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

Getting Lost is Not Always Bad

Have you ever been in complete pitch blackness where you could not even see your hand in front of your face and been completely lost? I have been in this situation. Read this true story below to learn more.

I was walking down the sidewalk in my neighborhood one day like I do for exercise and relaxation. Daydreams went through my mind as the suns relaxing rays warmed my body. The air smelled fresh as it blew all around me rustling the leaves in the nearby trees. I heard the occasional leaf rustle as it slid and tumbled by me. The delightful fragrances of the flowers and scented trees; like the Pines, Magnolias and Eucalyptus, lofted in the air.

Soon the sidewalk felt unfamiliar to the bottoms of my feet. I was stepping on unfamiliar cracks, gravel and dirt I was not used to be stepping on. As I walked further down the sidewalk, my arm brushed against bushes I was not familiar with. I reached out with my hands and explored the bushes with my finger tips and was correct. This unfamiliar bush did not grow this fast since the last time I had walked on this route; I thought to myself, as my uncertainty grew. I was crossing driveways with unfamiliar slopes and cracks and traveling unfamiliar distances to cross the driveways I would have passed normally on this route. The top of my head and forehead was brushing against low hanging branches and leaves from trees I never used to bump into at this point in time and distance on my route. Corners and intersections to the streets came up at unexpected times and locations.

Starting To Panic?

A small wave of panic ran throughout my mind and body. I thought to myself I must be lost! As this thought of being lost ran through my mind I tried to stay calm so I could concentrate, think clearly, get oriented and get back on course. I am diabetic and panicking would burn more blood sugars at a quicker rate, and I did not want to have a hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) attack while lost. I knew that having a hypoglycemic attack would cloud my mind and not allow me to reason and think clearly enough to get me out of my lost state. I did have my glucose pills in a plastic pill container in my pocket like I always do just in case of such an emergency.

You might think that being lost in your neighborhood is not such an obstacle to overcome.

Being lost in your neighborhood does create a special challenge for some when you have crossed a few streets in your route and you are completely blind and can not see a thing; only pitch blackness. The darkness I see is darker than if you put your cupped hands over your eye sockets attempting to block out all light. This is what I have seen since I lost all of my vision instantly one day after work in 1999 when I had a very critical unexpected medical condition.

Finding My Way Again

I continued to breathe at a steady pace so I would not get over excited. I walked for a while down the unfamiliar sidewalk listening for familiar sounds from wind chimes, fountains in yards , water running in nearby creeks and echoes and reverberations bouncing off of objects I would normally pass. I would feel for clues to where I might be with my feet and canes. I walked back and fourth and around a couple of corners to see if I could figure out where I was, based on external signals and sensations. I did not go too far in any one direction fearing I would walk further away from my destination. I tried to listen carefully to traffic on the nearby streets. I live in an undeveloped area and there is not much traffic for me to judge where I was by listening to traffic flows and patterns.
I stood in one position trying to determine where the sun was in the sky from where I felt the warmth of the sun rays hit against my body. By knowing the time of day from my brail watch and where I thought the sun was in the sky, I might have been able to tell if I was heading north, south, east or west. This method did not work well enough for me to get back on track.

Where Did I Get Lost?

I thought back along my route to see in my minds eye when and how I made a wrong turn and got off my attended route.

In my neighborhood we have rounded curbs that gently slope to the street on all sidewalks. On each corner there is a curb cut that cuts into the sidewalk from the street for wheel chair access. This curb cut gently slopes down and up on each side as you round the gradual curved corner on the sidewalk. A lot of the intersections do not meet up with each other in orderly four way intersections that are laid out in the typical plus sign configuration as two streets cross each other at even ninety degree angles. I think one possibility of what might have happened to cause me to get lost; as I walked on the sidewalk just before one of the corners where the street teed up against another street. The sidewalk became littered with small branches, dirt, leaves and small rocks. I veered towards the street to go around this minor obstacle. The sound and feedback sensations coming from the tip of my long white cane as I tapped it against the asphalt in the street felt and sounded similar to when I walked on the sidewalk with all the debris. When I veered back towards the sidewalk I still felt debris below my feet. I stayed towards the street to keep away from these obstacles and kept walking. Soon I felt a curb directly against the side of my foot. I stepped up onto the sidewalk which was clear of obstacles and debris. My only idea of how I got off track and got lost is that I must have crossed a street instead of rounding the corner as I had hoped to accomplish.

As I walked around some more attempting to get oriented I heard voices. I followed the voices until I was close enough to the person who was talking. I asked Where am I? When this question did not get a response I rephrased my question. To my astonishment this person did not know how to explain where they were. I thought to myself they might not have noticed I was carrying one long white orientation cane and one short white support cane with red tips on each and was blind. I walked some more and heard other voices in the distance. I followed these voices until I was close enough and asked again. “Where am I? What street am I on?”” I am blind and can’t see the street signs.” To my frustration and amazement this person did not know where they were either. I asked in a slightly different way what direction it was to a local street I knew I was relatively close to. They told me a direction to walk. I started walking and it did not feel or sound like it was the correct direction.

I heard another voice and once again I followed the voice to find the person who was talking. I asked the same type of questions I had asked the other two people. To my delight and excitement this person did know where they were. The last person told me the incorrect direction, and as I had thought I was walking in the opposite direction I needed to go to get back on course. These two nice and friendly people I met told me exactly where I was in relationship to where I wanted to go. They told me exactly how to get back on course. They were correct! I was back on course and back on my route once again. With great relief. I felt the sidewalk and other familiar landmarks once again that verified I was on the correct route and I was no longer lost.

I Found My Way and Made It Home

Soon I was home again. I took two hours on a walk that would have normally taken one hour. I sure had an adventure to tell my wife when I got back home after my walk.

This trip turned out to be a very good experience that provided great exercise and some good learning opportunities. Some of which I have listed below.

• Pay attention to surface changes in the routes you travel. These changes might be your only clue that you have gone off your desired route.

• Be prepared to stay out longer than you anticipate. Bring small items like I did with my glucose tablets just in case you do get lost on what you might think are short and uncomplicated walks.

• Know the surrounding streets in your route. Then if you get lost and meet up with others and they give you directions you will know how to get back on course based on their directions. Remember from my experience not all people you will meet will know where they are; or can give accurate directions. Be optimistically cautious.

• Even on short walks it is possible to get lost. I have a standard cell phone and a talking GPS system built for the blind and visually impaired which I left at home. I thought on such a short walk, which I have done dozens of times, nothing could go wrong.

• Stay calm and do not panic. This extra unintentional adventure into unknown areas should be just as enjoyable as your desired walk was meant to be. Keep smiling; it will keep you calm.

• You can think of this unintentional diversion of being lost and finding your way again as good practice. The more you get lost the better you will be at finding your way again in unfamiliar areas. Plus if I did not get lost I would have never had the opportunity to meet two very nice people.

Has anyone else been lost and been successful at finding your way again? Do you have any other tips or suggestions to help us have better orientation and navigational skills in our travels? We all look forward to your stories, comments, ideas and suggestions.

Bill Tipton
Contributing Author
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

She without arm, he without leg - Dancing Beyond Disability

Hello everyone,

Below is a video I believe you will enjoy and find inspiring.

Ma Li was a beautiful promising professional ballerina when she lost her right arm in a car accident in 1996. She was only 19. Five years later in 2001, she was invited to compete at the 5th national special performing art competition for handicaps and won the gold medal. That success gave her the hope to return to her beloved stage. In September 2005, she ran into a 21-year-old young man, Zhai Xiaowei. He had lost one leg in an accident when he was four. He was being trained to be a cyclist for the national special Olympics. He had never danced before, but she invited him to become her dance partner. The rest is history. Last April they won the Silver medal in China's national dance competition - second out of 7000 competitors. This video showcases their winning performance.

Watch or listen to this video:YouTube - She without arm, he without leg – ballet - Hand in Hand.

I hope you enjoyed watching the two inspiring and talented dancers. Do you have any thoughts after watching, or listening to the video? Being blind myself; I had my wife describe the dancers to me. My wife and I enjoyed the dancers, their talents and the ballet. We look forward to your thoughts.

Bill Tipton
Contributing Author
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

Design For Change - Sakena Yacoobi

Hello all,

This interview with Sakena Yacoobi fit perfectly into our theme we started with: Are Social and Ethical Problems Important to You.

Social Innovation Conversations - Design For Change
Sakena Yacoobi, Founder of the afghan institute of learning, creates hope for afghan women
While in power, the Taliban implemented the "strictest interpretation of Sharia law ever seen in the Muslim world," and became notorious internationally for their alleged treatment of women. Women were allowed neither to work nor to be educated after the age of 8, and until then were permitted only to study the Qur'an. Women seeking an education were forced to attend underground schools, where they and their teachers risked execution if caught.
Without equivocation, starting an enterprise to educate women during this time period would not seem like a likely scenario. However, sometimes out of the most extreme conditions courageous leaders respond with innovation. As Sakena Yacoobi explains in this interview with host Sheela Sethuraman, "When you see the need ... you just feel like you have to do something."
In this interview you'll hear Yacoobi describe how she founded the AIL, list key management strategies that lead to its success, and state her long-term vision for AIL and Afghanistan. Yacoobi provides proof of how working from the heart with clear objectives can be a powerful source for social change.

Listen to Social Innovation Conversations - Design For Change - Sakena Yacoobi by Center for Social Innovation at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

What did you think of Sakena Yacoobi’s interview? Did her work give you encouragement to pursue any goals you might have? Any new ideas generated from the work she does and her values? Do you have any new thoughts of the value of education? Did her program management philosophy and her management style help you? Did you learn anything from listening to her talk about her life and her work ethics? We all look forward to your thoughts.

Bill Tipton
Contributing Author
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

Are Social and Ethical Problems Important to You

Do you ever wonder if the current way some governmental institutions, political parties and corporations conduct themselves in society is socially responsible or as ethical as they could be? Maybe these governmental institutions, political parties and corporations are trying in some instances to be socially responsible, but need help leveraging their resources in a way to produce positive results?

Do all corporations develop technology that benefits humanity and allows everyone to participate fully and equally so they are able to contribute to help solve our world’s critical problems; like I describe in Collective Intelligence: Include The Disabled for Success?

Do governmental institutions, political parties, corporations, organizations and individuals collaborate together to effectively serve all the people, or just a targeted few?

I think some corporations, governments, and individuals do collaborate effectively together to benefit humanity when they make it a priority and put the appropriate amount of resources into their goals. Just one example is Habitat Jam; in which I had the privilege to talk virtually to many people from all over the world. I was able to help make a positive contribution in the lives I was grateful to touch. Along with the many others who participated we truly made a positive difference.

There are many groups of people and numerous opportunities to collaborate together to truly make a difference. Just a short list of examples are below.

List of 8 items
• Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
• Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases
• Reduce child mortality
• Ensure environmental sustainability
• Achieve universal primary education
•Promote usability and accessibility in technology design so everyone has access; including the disabled and elderly.
• Promote gender equality and empower women
• Develop a global partnership for development.

I hope that as our world’s population grows, becomes elderly, disabled, goes through turbulent times, endures natural and man made disasters and faces other complicated challenges and hardships we can leverage technological innovations and social responsibilities to help combat and defeat our most critical social and environmental issues we will face.

Just think if we funneled the many billions of US dollars, or equivalent we spend on wars and killing each other towards projects and programs focused on the critical social and environmental issues I listed above. What a world we could create together!

Some of this work will be truly hard and difficult. The work will require the world’s governmental institutions, political parties, corporations and organizations to allocate adequate funding and resources to make positive progress in these critical issues we all face. I relate the difficulties of some of our challenges to something like my experience below.

I almost died multiple times when I got critically sick instantly one day after work, coded multiple times, went into a coma for 3 months, stayed in hospital for 7 months, went completely blind and endured other very undesirable and uncomfortable circumstances. I lost the ability to walk for one year because of that medical emergency. I fell to the ground in pain many times as I tore my clothes and bloodied parts of my body while I learned to walk again with my full leg braces, walker, Canadian crutches and now with 2 white canes. After leaving the hospital I retrained myself very quickly on many new skills I needed to be a successful blind person; with help from many others. I was able to successfully retain a job because of my efforts and desires. I was driven to succeed and failure was not an option.

Some of our challenges that we face as a society are far less traumatic than I endured. Some will be even more difficult and challenging. All involved such as governmental institutions, political parties, corporations, organizations and individuals working together to solve our most complex and pressing social and environmental problems will require the passion and dedication I had during my recovery. It will require leaders who are willing and prepared to walk alone and take well thought out and calculated risks.

One small example of the complexities, barriers and obstacles we will need to fully understand and overcome in a much larger scale can be described below.

In some global corporations teams work globally together across many different business units, time zones, different cultures, working styles, contrasting and conflicting personalities, different rewards and recognition systems, and different policies and procedures. It is essential to overcome some of the same challenges this working group has in a much larger scale to successfully leverage the knowledge of the world’s population to solve our most critical and complex problems. We need to take the lessons learned from working in such a global team and the skills mastered and expand the knowledge and mannerisms of working together successfully in global teams across many governmental institutions, political parties and corporations.

Two local Universities where I leverage knowledge where you can learn more about social Innovation are Santa Clara University - Center for Science, Technology & Society and
Center for Social Innovation (CSI): Stanford University Graduate School of Business

Let’s all work together and start positive change where ever we can! You can start in your community, your work place, educational institute or any organization you may be affiliated with. Do not be afraid to take that first step and walk alone if you need to. When you succeed others will follow your leadership. Who will step up and be our next world leader to help us? Maybe it could be you?

Just remember when I took my first steps after I was able to get out of my wheel chair. I fell many times before I could stand and walk again in my darkness. I hope you are not afraid to stand and walk in darkness and possibly fail along the path to successfully help us find new technology and other social remedies to solve our most critical problems we are faced with today.

Do you have any reference materials that will help us accomplish our lofty goals of solving some of the problems I described above? Any ideas or suggestions to enable groups of people across many governmental institutions, political parties, corporations, organizations and individuals to work together effectively? Do you have ideas of how to create and to allocate the funding needed to accomplish such goals? Do you have any suggestions and solutions to allow everyone to contribute equally and not have external barriers put on them by inaccessible technology? Any success stories you want to share?

We all look forward to hearing from you to help make this world better for everyone!

Bill Tipton
Contributing Author
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

Look At My Ability- OBLN video

Hello everyone,

Below is a video I think you will enjoy.

The Oregon Business Leadership Network and the Oregon Business Plan are co-sponsors of Look At My Ability, a new 2 ½ minute video on the largely under-tapped skilled labor pool of Oregonians with disabilities. The video addresses the work ethic and skills represented by this labor pool.

Watch or listen to Look At My Ability.

Did you like the video? Do you have any thoughts you want to share with us after viewing; or listening? I am sure you found other beneficial information on the Oregon Business Leadership Network web page. They are a great group and I think they are doing excellent work.

Bill Tipton
Contributing Author
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

Education for Success

Have you ever walked through an unfamiliar building in complete darkness with no flashlight. Attended a class with complete strangers in complete darkness? Read on to learn more.

One goal I always have each year; like the ones I refer to in New Year – Plans and Reflections is to continue to learn, increase my awareness of issues that impact the worlds population and to try to make a positive difference in my workplace and the community.

I love knowledge and enjoy pursuing my education. This education can be for personal or professional benefit. The education I talk about can come from a standard formal classroom, on-line training, real life experiences or from a wide variety of excellent sources.

As some of you might know from reading the other messages at this blog; I am completely blind. If you do not know others who are blind or visually impaired you might wonder how a completely blind person can attend formal public courses. I am sure some of you know others who are blind or visually impaired and have attended public courses quite often and have an idea of how this can be accomplished. For those of you who do not know and wonder how a blind person can successfully attend a public course I want to explain one method. My experience and tips might help others with no external visible challenges.

Taking public courses in unfamiliar buildings with people I had never met is relatively new to me. I used to have perfect eyesight not too long ago. Now walking in darkness inside unfamiliar buildings can make me feel a bit uncomfortable.

Proper Planning is the Key to Success
I believe that proper planning is the key to success. I am a project manager at a large corporation. I wanted to increase my project management skills to improve my value to my employer, and to myself. To help me insure success in my learning experience I did some research and planning prior to attending the course.

Research Prior to Registration
I talked with the vendor who was putting on the courses I was interested in. I told them I was completely blind and talked about the assistive technology I would be using in the course. I talked about the materials and presentation styles that would be used for the courses I was interested in. I wanted to see if the tools used in the course would allow me to effectively learn the materials presented; or if any adjustments needed to be made. I educated the vendor on accessible materials; since in my experience accessibility is a new concept for most people who do not work with the disabled. Once I found a course I was interested in and all of my learning objectives could be accomplished ,I signed up for the course.

Preparing Instructor so We Could Both Succeed
I talked with the instructor of the course I would be taking prior to attending the course. I told him I was blind and would be using my assistive technology to participate in the course since I could not read the printed materials all the other students would be using. I told him I needed my course materials in a format that was compatible with my assistive device. I told him I needed the materials ahead of time to allow me time to convert the documents and transfer them to my Braille note taker.

I talked with the instructor about his teaching techniques so we could reduce any difficulties we might run into during the course. A lot of instructors may not have ever had the opportunity to teach a blind or visually impaired student before and I wanted to insure success for myself; as well as the instructor. As it turned out; my instructor had never had a blind person in any class he had taught and welcomed my ideas to help him help me.

Preparing for Course

I converted over 60 files that I was sent by postal mail on a CD. I sorted the files by file content, naming the files in such a way that all like content would have the same file prefix. I had files for reading materials, lessons, exercises, reviews and other materials for each chapter. I also had files for appendixes, bibliographies and additional reading. I did this file naming convention for all the files within each chapter and section. Then I placed each file into its unique folder. I did this so I could get to each lesson and backup materials quickly in the class like the other sighted students who had the materials in a printed binder with tabs that separated each section.

Pre Orientation

I called the facility where the course was to be held. I asked where the classroom was in relationship to the lobby and to the front desk. I asked what floor the classroom was on so I could prepare myself mentally and give myself more time the first day of class to find the room if I had to orientate myself to any elevators. Luckily my class was on the first floor, which would make finding the room a little easier. I asked if their building complex had a place to get breakfast, snacks or lunch. I am diabetic and need to be concerned about eating at regular intervals to keep a constant blood sugar level to allow me to think clearly and absorb the course materials to the best of my ability.

Time to Pack my Duffle Bag for My Learning Adventure

The course was three days long. I lived in the area where the course was to be held; so I took my local paratransit to and from the course each day. This meant waking up a lot earlier and getting home later each day; but I saved money by not having to stay at the hotel.

I loaded my duffle bag with 2 drinks in plastic bottles with screw on tops, my lunch, snacks, Braille note taker, voice recognition organizer, cell phone, business cards with Braille and glucose pills, just in case of a low blood sugar episode. I brought my lunch each day. This would allow me to work through lunch if I needed to. This removed any extra stress on me; wondering where I would eat each day.

Arrival and Getting Oriented

I arrived early at the hotel where the course was being held. I checked in at the lobby’s front desk and asked where the class was to be held. With a big smile, duffle bag over my shoulder, my long white cane in my right hand and my white support cane in my left hand I followed the person who guided me down a hallway to the classroom. I followed my guide by listening to their voice as we talked; or the sounds of their shoes tapping on the floor as they walked. Along the way to the hallway that lead to my classroom I noticed there was very few turns we had to maneuver through to get to the room that would be my classroom for the next three days. I also realized that the surface we walked on was smooth and hard with something that felt like either tile or another hard surface. If I got off track while walking through the lobby I stepped on a carpeted softer surface. Following a smooth surface outlined by carpeting made my navigation much easier. When I left the large open area of the lobby to walk down the hallway that lead to my classroom the acoustics were great. I could tell I was in the hallway because the echoes and the extra noise left the air. From that point I followed the right hand wall to the first door to my classroom. Since I had arrived early as planned, I asked where the restroom was. I practiced finding my way to and from the restroom from the classroom so I would have the route memorized. I took some extra time to orientate myself within the restroom to make sure I could find everything. During the brakes I did not want to delay the class by getting lost on the way to, or from the restroom.

Time for My Continued Learning Experience

When I walked into the classroom there was only one student and the instructor. I pleasantly introduced myself to the instructor and the other student with a friendly handshake. I sat at a table that had a clear path to the door. I then got my Braille note taker set up and organized my other items I had brought to help me throughout the day for quick and easy access. Soon the other students started arriving to the classroom. I could tell others were arriving by listening to the new voices that entered the room. As I sat there in my darkness I was wondering how I would tell the others students I was completely blind. The thought of telling them made me a bit nervous. Since I was sitting down I do not think the other students knew I could not see a thing. I wanted them all to know so I would not catch them off guard or make them feel uncomfortable when we started working together and they found out on their own.

I had my opportunity to let the others know I was blind during the introductions. They had never seen a Braille note taker and were interested in how it worked; so I told them a little about the device I would be using to participate in the course. Everyone was very inviting and friendly.

Success!

Soon the three days had gone by. I had successfully completed every individual lesson. I participated in the group lessons with the other sighted students. We sat around the table and held lively conversations while we worked on the lessons and solved the problems. I was able to keep up with the other students because of my file system I had created on my Braille note taker to find the reading materials, lessons and exercises the others were referring to in their printed binders quickly and easily. While the instructor showed Power Point slides on the overhead, I followed along on my Braille note taker with the files I had received ahead of time and took notes. After the course was completed I even passed my final exam!

A very short list of some sources to help you further your education, knowledge, discover meaning in your life and work follow.

• Attend formal training
• Reading, or listening to audio books
• Attend seminars or conferences
• Family and friends
• Co workers
• Professional or Personal Associations
• Volunteering
• From yourself by reflecting on your past experiences

I hope nothing stops you from continuing to learn. Not even complete blindness or other challenges. With proper planning, preparation and determination; anything is possible.

We would all like to hear others stories and experiences of your continued learning. Any other tips you have to share with us to help us be successful in our continued learning? I only talked about how a blind person might go about attending a public course. We would like to hear how others with other types of disabilities or challenges (permanent or temporary) prepare and attend courses. Even if you do not have any disability; we would love to hear your thoughts and experiences.

We all look forward to hearing from you.

Bill Tipton
Contributing Author
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

How One Super-Store is Saving the Disabled

Hello everyone,

I just listened to a video I think you will enjoy very much.

ABC News: How One Super-Store is Saving the Disabled
At first glance, the Walgreens distribution center in Anderson, S.C., seems ordinary enough. But upon closer inspection, it's anything but. More than 40 percent of the 700 workers here are disabled.

Walgreens employee Julia Turner has Down's Syndrome. Derrill Perry, who works right next to her, is mentally retarded. Garrick Tada has autism. Luann Bannister, one of their training supervisors, is in a wheelchair.

Learn more about how happy and valued Walgreens disabled employees are by watching the video and reading the rest of the story on ABC News.

What did you think of the story and video? Do you know of other companies that value their disabled employees like Walgreens does? Why are these employees so happy? Why do you think it is so hard for some companies to see the value and benefits of hiring the disabled? We all look forward to hearing your thoughts and ideas.

Bill Tipton
Contributing Author
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

Celebrating Charlotte & Others with Down's syndrome

Hello Angela and all,

Angela, thanks so very much for sharing your story with all of us. Charlotte sounds so beautiful and very well loved by everyone from your description in your story.

Your complete family sounds very caring and supportive from your descriptions. I felt like I was there with you and your family as you got married, got pregnant and then gave birth to your lovely daughter, Charlotte.

I was feeling your nervousness when you gave birth to Charlotte and you noticed she was blue. I was feeling anxious when you told your Mum that Charlotte had Down's syndrome. I remember how anxious I was and how I was at a loss for words when I had to tell my friends over the phone after my illness that I was now completely blind. These friends did not even know I was in hospital since it was not a planned event; so it was a big shock for them to say the least.

Your story did so much to help educate me on Down's syndrome. I ride with people with Down's syndrome often when I ride in our local Paratransit. I had no idea there was 3 types of Down's syndrome.

I hope you all read Angela and Charlotte’s story at Down's Syndrome is Not the End of the World. I am so very glad that Charlotte has such loving and caring parents as you and Chris.

Does Angela‘s story of Charlotte bring up any thoughts from other parents of children with Down's syndrome? What about any other parents with children with any other challenges?

This story sure enlightened me and I appreciate hearing about such a loving and caring family.

We all look forward to hearing from others.

Bill Tipton
Contributing Author
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

New Year – Plans and Reflections

Hello everyone,

I hope last year was all you wished for. I hope your year was filled with memorable experiences and positive feelings and actions.

Some of you may have made new years resolutions at the start of this year. Others may have been reflecting on prior personal or professional goals you had made last year. I hope you were able to accomplish all you planned for this last year.

Maybe you had some experiences occur that were completely unexpected and were better than you ever could have wished for. You may have had other events happen last year which caused considerable pain or discomfort. I know speaking for myself I had some extremely joyful experiences and others that were painful or unpleasant.

My Aunt Sharon and Uncle Joe died last year. I used to talk to my Aunt by email a lot and in person occasionally. She used to like to read my stories and messages I do at my blog. I was blessed to have her post comments to my blog so I can go back to read her words; imagine her voice talking to me and seeing her face in my minds eye; like the comment she left at the Day At The Races.

My Uncle Joe lived locally as well. I would visit him in person from time to time. I am very lucky to keep my Aunt Sharon’s and Uncle Joe’s caring and loving memories in my mind and in my heart.

I also had two other friends of my family die during this last year. They were very close and will be missed for sure.

My father-in-law had multiple open heart surgeries which spanned over a ten month period. We were in and out of the hospital many times; night and day during his multiple visits. His stays would be months at a time. Another uncle recently had a heart attack which required a multiple bypass. I have a friend who has brain cancer and had surgery to try to remove this cancer. They continue with multiple follow up treatments. I have had co-workers who have lost family members or have had surgeries for a variety of reasons.

I was diagnosed with Osteonecrosis. That means my upper thigh bones that connect my legs to my hips are dying from lack of blood flow. I will need both hips replaced when I cannot stand the pain anymore. The fear of learning to walk again sort of discourages me when I think about it. Just after going completely blind I had lost the ability to walk for one year. I can still remember vividly how much work it was to learn to walk again as I progressed from a wheel chair to leg braces with a walker; to Canadian Crutches to eventually two white canes. One long white cane for navigation and one white support cane for added stability to help with my neuropathy. Actually it was terribly hard just to sit up at first when I began the process to learn how to walk again. I am not looking forward going through learning to walk again for the third time in my life.

Even through these difficulties and challenges I experienced last year I had some very memorable experiences I will never forget and cherish forever.

I was given the honor of being awarded the Careers & the DisAbled Magazine's 2007 Employee of the Year award. I accepted the award at the 15th annual awards ceremony in Boston, Massachusetts. I received the award and recognition for my professional and advocacy efforts on behalf of people with disabilities in the workplace, community and the world.
I am very grateful to be able to help all the people this kind of an award represents.

Read Employee of the Year to learn more about this award and what it means to me.

I was very encouraged to learn about Collective Intelligence and find out the true values and benefits if all people could participate equally without external limitations, and how successful we could be.

Have you ever been in a meeting and hardly anyone talked? Maybe the few outgoing people were the only ones voicing their opinions. As you might be sitting back in the meeting and listening and thinking to yourself, my thought is not valuable because it is quite different than all the other ideas that are being brought up; so I do not speak up in fear of being different.

Be different and speak up and be heard this year! Read Collective Intelligence: Include The Disabled for Success to learn why your participation is so important for success.

I further learned more about the value of sharing time with others unselfishly. Read Share your Time - Pick Out a Pumpkin to learn why this is so important.

During the last holidays I further understood the true meaning of what I think is the best gift of all. This gift is priceless and cannot be purchased at any price. Like I mentioned earlier I lost a few family members and friends this year. You never know when you will not be able to be with the ones you care about ever again. Read Best Gift of All to learn more.

Did any of you have any memorable experiences last year you want to share with us? Do you have any goals or resolutions for this new year? Do you have any tips for us to succeed in our personal or professional life in this new year; even if obstacles or challenges come up unexpectedly?

WE all look forward to hearing from you.

I wish you the very best in this new year!! If we work together; we can succeed learning as a group rather than working as individuals. ( Read Collective Intelligence: Include The Disabled for Success above to learn why)

Bill Tipton

Contributing Author
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

Holiday Traditions

Hello All,

Do any of you have special traditions you like to participate in during the holidays? Some of you might have limited time, failing health, medical conditions or a disability which limits the way you participate in some of your favorite traditions. After I went completely blind instantly one day after work I was able to find new ways of continuing with some of my traditions I enjoyed so much throughout the years. Even if you can not participate in your favorite tradition the way you used to; I hope you can find a way to carry on with your traditions in some way. We do not want these cherished traditions to be lost forever like some have over the years if they are not passed down from generation to generation.

Some other traditions I had to give up completely because I could no longer participate safely without any eyesight. One example of a tradition I had to give up was picking out a fresh Christmas tree from our local mountains. I used to drive to our local mountain range in my four-wheel drive vehicle. My wife and I would drive down the steep rocky and bumpy dirt trails that twisted and turned through the trees at our favorite Christmas tree farm to find the perfect spot to cut down a wonderful fresh Christmas tree. These trees had that fresh pine smell I love so much. The needles were so bright green and soft to the touch as I inspected the tree for imperfections with my fingers. Besides the joy of cutting down the tree with my family; half the fun of this tradition was the complete outing. We would get to the tree farm early in the morning. The air was pleasantly fresh, clean and cold. Sometimes you could see the fog as it wisped through the trees as the wind blew the fog and clouds up from the coast. This mountain range where the tree farm is located is near the Pacific Ocean. You could look off to the distance for miles and miles over the tree and brush covered mountains and hills. It was a very beautiful sight to behold with all of the varieties of colors outstretching as far as you could see. Some times it would be raining on our outings. On rare occasions snow would be covering the ground and the trees. We would bring hot coffee or hot chocolate in thermoses to help keep us warm. We would bring snacks and doughnuts to keep us nourished. We would also bring pieces of tissue to mark the trees as we walked through the trees so we would not get lost as we wandered in search of our perfect tree laughing and talking as we trudged up and down the hillsides with great big smiles on our faces.

Since I lost all of my vision instantly one day after work in 1999 and my loving wife does not drive on such treacherous dirt trails we had to give up this cherished tradition of cutting down a fresh Christmas tree in the mountains. Even if you have challenges I hope you find ways to carry on the traditions that are true to your heart. As you will read in my story I call Decorating a Christmas tree with a Disability you can read how I carry on with one part of this treasured tradition. Below are just a few examples of traditions others celebrate around the world that might bring back memories.

Hogmanay
Maybe you participate in Hogmanay like they talk about on BBC - Food - News and events – Hogmanay.
Hogmanay was a time for friends and fun. Friends and neighbours would get together and have drinks and the obligatory shortbread (often eaten with cheese), sultana cake, black bun and such delights as ginger or blackcurrant cordial - as well as, of course, the obligatory drams of whisky.

St. Lucia Festival, Hanukkah, Jewish Festival of Lights
Maybe you participate in St. Lucia Festival, Jewish Festival of Lights, Hanukkah or other traditions like they talk about in the California Report: Audio Archive.
Kingsburg's St. Lucia Festival
Drive a stretch of Highway 99 near Fresno, and you'll see it: an enormous coffee pot rising above the vineyards and orchards. It's really a water tower in disguise. To the 12,000 townspeople of Kingsburg, it's a proud symbol of their hamlet's Swedish heritage. The folks there rave about their Swedish coffee.
We visited Kingsburg as it celebrates a festival from the old country.
Celebrate a festival of lights -- and stays warm in the kitchen to learn the family secrets to Poppy's potato latkes, just in time for Hanukkah.

Some Great Italian Traditions
Search for Authentic Ravioli Forges Family Bonds From NPR.
New Jersey food writer Laura Schenone spent five years finding and perfecting her great-grandmother's authentic ravioli recipe.
The New Jersey writer set off on a quest to find her great-grandmother's hand-rolled ravioli recipe. Along the way, she reunited with relatives and helped mend frayed relations with others around the dinner table.

My wife and her family are full blooded Italian; so I know what a great tradition food fits into our celebrations. We have a great time on every holiday with food being the central point around family conversation and companionship. My wife told me how her grandma and mom would completely cover her bed with freshly rolled out homemade ravioli’s so they could properly dry. In the other room the sauce would be simmering on the stove giving the complete house the mouth watering aroma of tomatoes, oregano, onions, basil, beef, garlic, sausage and other ingredients as the fresh pasta sauce flavors married together to perfection. Her family would spend hours making a variety of Italian holiday cookies for us all to enjoy. I love them all; but my favorite Italian cookie is a fig cookie called Cuchidahti. The center is filled with a soft fig mixture with a delicate covering of tasty slightly crunchy dough with a delicious glaze. I am part Swedish, Scottish and Cherokee - Native American Indian; so I fit right in to my extended Italian family and do not hesitate to participate in the family food traditions we share during the holidays.

Going completely blind does not stop Bill from continuing a family tradition
I personally still like to decorate my Christmas tree. I no longer drive in the mountains where I live to cut down my own tree since going completely blind. This does not stop me from carrying on with my tradition of decorating our Christmas tree. I now decorate an artificial tree I can put together myself. Actually my loving wife Kathy helps me and we put together tree as a team. All the lights are already strung on the branches which makes it a bit easier for us. Read my story I call; decorating a Christmas tree with a Disability to help you get into the spirit of the holidays and share with me one of my favorite holiday traditions.

Do any of you have special traditions you like to participate in during the holidays? Any traditions you like to participate in other times of the year? Any traditions you have had to modify or quit because you are not able to participate any more? We wood all like to hear your tips to help us continue our traditions; if you have figured out ways to overcome any challenges you might have to allow you to continue your tradition. Any special traditions you celebrate in other parts of the world you want to share with us?

I wish you the very best in following through with your traditions; if only in your heart.

Bill Tipton
Contributing Author
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

Best Gift of All

Hello everyone,

I have been thinking about what could possibly be the best gift of all in my opinion.

In some parts of the world a Christmas tradition is giving material gifts purchased from stores. At least this is the case where I live in the US
I participate in the tradition of purchasing gifts for family and friends for Christmas. I even participate in this tradition for other events that standard traditions require the purchasing of material gifts. I do not see anything wrong with this tradition if you can.

I want to point out what I think is the most cherished and valuable gift of all; in my opinion.

I think the gift of yourself is the best gift of all! The gift of your time, positive energy and human companionship is more valuable and appreciated than you ever might imagine.

Receiving a ride is a valued gift.

I am completely blind and as one might expect I do not drive motor vehicles; which is a good thing for the safety of all others on the road. One gift I always appreciate is a ride. I can get to some local places with a service I have called paratransit. This service can bring me to most locations in the county I live in. If the place I would like to go to is outside the county, or the busses or trains do not go to the location I wish to go to, I can’t get there then. This is why getting a ride to some locations is so valued by me.

The gift of being with family or friends.

Even better than receiving a ride to some location is the gift of being with family or friends. Some people do not have family or friends and might be lonely during the holidays. If you have family or friends take advantage of your opportunity to get connected and share yourself. Read how I was able to spend a joyful day with family and what it meant to me and what a great gift this was in a recent story I wrote: Share your Time - Pick Out a Pumpkin.

Even the simple things are very much appreciated.

When I go for walks in my neighborhood I am very happy when a person I pass on my walk takes the time to say “hello”. Sometimes they even take a few extra moments to introduce themselves. If you do not have any friends currently ,or are looking for new ones; you soon will find new friends if you have an open and friendly attitude of taking the time to talk to others and share your gift of yourself. Take it slower and enjoy the simple things in life. Cheer up someone by taking the time to say “hello” instead of just walking past in a hurry. This simple and very non-time consuming act is a great gift to the person you took the time to greet.

You literally may never have another chance to share yourself with others again.

I almost died when I was in a coma for 3 months, and in the hospital for 7 months .I lost all of my eyesight. Read a story about what it was like for me to spend some holidays in the hospital. As a result what the holidays truly mean to me, how the gift of positive energy helped me and what the value of the gift of life is: Special Thoughts during Holidays.

As we draw to an end of this current year take a moment to remember or think about what is the most important gift to you. What is a valued gift to others?

In other countries what holidays do you celebrate where you exchange store purchased material gifts? Do you have any examples of gifts that have meant a lot to you? Any non-store purchased material gift ideas you can share with us?

We all look forward to hearing from you. Best wishes and hope your holidays are filled with joy and good health.

Bill Tipton
Contributing Author,
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

Giving Thanks

Hello all,

Depending on where you are in the world you might be celebrating Thanksgiving this time of year.

Thanking God for a bountiful harvest is not unknown in other parts of the world. Apart from America, there are a number of religions and countries that celebrate Thanksgiving Day in their own various forms during the harvest season. The festivals are dedicated to thank the Lord for his blessings and the abundance and prosperity that he bestowed upon us are their underlying themes.

Read Thanksgiving Around The World to learn some about other countries celebrations.

I am wondering how you celebrate Thanksgiving where you are located. Do you celebrate something similar to Thanksgiving?

Most important, even if you do not celebrate Thanksgiving one other reason to celebrate is to be grateful for what you have.
We would like to hear what you are grateful for. Why are you grateful? If you are not grateful for anything at this time because things are not going so well; maybe we can help?

I’ll get us started in our conversation and sharing.

I am grateful for having a loving wife who stood by me while I spent 7 months in the hospital after I went completely blind instantly. 3 of those months she stayed by my side I was in a coma.

I am grateful I became completely blind in the age of technology that allows me to continue to work as a blind person and be as productive as I was when I had eyesight. Now I can provide for my family, help the customers I work with and helping others in my community and in the world.

I am very grateful to my family, friends and network of business relationships. These people supported me during hard times; believed in me and gave me the hope I needed to succeed.

I am very grateful to God to allow me to live so I can continue to pursue my dreams. I could have easily died while in my coma. I am very glad I did not.

We look forward to hearing what you are thankful for and why.

Bill Tipton
Contributing Author,
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

Share your Time - Pick Out a Pumpkin

Hi all,

Not sure how many of you enjoy Halloween or celebrate this holiday where you live. Maybe your religion does not believe in participating in holidays like Halloween. There are probably plenty of other reasons you do not partake in any of the activities that go with Halloween.

It might be easier to sit at home and do your normal day to day activities instead of going out and picking out a pumpkin. You might think to yourself, I am way too busy to go out and do something like pick out a pumpkin in a big farm with lots of people all around. Maybe others would just rather not be burdened by doing anything that takes extra coordination and effort than you normally would in your standard routines. I know some do not have choices and cannot do more than they are currently doing because of a variety of reasons.

I want to share with you another reason to participate in something like picking out a pumpkin for Halloween.

If you do not want to participate in activities with others; it could be viewed as being selfish. I say this because when you are apart of a family or have close friends you should not be selfish with your time if possible. I know we have to prioritize things and some things we cannot fit in. I just wanted to note we only have a few family members and close friends and our life's are only so long and pass by so quickly. Be with your family and close friends if you have any. Cherish the time you are together! You may never have another chance. I know for sure!

I almost died multiple times when I got critically sick, coded multiple times, went into a coma for 3 months, went completely blind and endured other very undesirable and uncomfortable circumstances. I was very close to not having the option to be with others and give my gift of my time.

It’s Pumpkin Picking Time  (Click on the pictures to enlarge)
I recently got to go pick out pumpkins with my wife Kathy and some family members on her side of the family at a farm in Morgan Hill, CA... We had my mother-in-law, father-in-law, two brothers-in-law, sister-in-law, niece, nephew, great niece and great nephew all ranging from ages 13 to 90. My father-in-law who is 90, recently had open heart surgery where they replaced one valve and did one bypass. My mother-in-law who is 88, is a little hearing impaired, and has macular degeneration and myself being completely blind and needing two canes to walk, gave us some challenges; but this was not going to stop us.

We all met at a house that was closer to the farm where we would go for the day to pick out our pumpkins. Soon we were caravanning to the farm in two vehicles. All of us were very excited. It was a very nice day outside. It was warm and slightly breezy. A perfect fall day in California.

When we got to the farm I heard many cars and people driving around. I could hear children laughing and giggling with joy. I could smell the food cooking. The breeze was warm and comforting as it blew against my face and through my hair.

When we left the parking lot we walked through rows and rows of tall corn stalks. I was told the stalks were green and had ears of corn on them. I felt like eating one raw; but I did not. The path we were walking on was covered with hay that felt a few inches thick , to my feet. This hay felt so soft and comfortable to walk on. Soon we were surrounded by pumpkins of all sizes as far as the eye could see, I was told. I gently put my cane on the side of one of the pumpkins as I searched the field for my pumpkin.
Once I had determined where the pumpkin was I gently put my cane on the top to feel the height. I tapped my cane gently so I would not dent or damage the pumpkins. If the pumpkin was the height I was looking for, I would then reach down and pick up the pumpkin feeling all sides with my opened hands to see the shape and to look for imperfections. I could then see if it was the shape I wanted. While holding the pumpkin, I would picture what would be the face side of the pumpkin where I would carve my Jack-O-Lantern.
I only found a couple of pumpkins this way. My wife and the others mostly helped me find the pumpkins in the large fields we were in. As we walked around pulling our wheelbarrow of pumpkins, we could hear a live band playing 50's music off in the distance. They were entertaining the people as they took breaks to listen to the music in the sun, drink soft drinks, and eat some barbeque or other food they were serving. They also had a train for the children to ride in. I could hear joy and happiness all around me. We all had a great time. I would not have missed being with everyone for anything. I am sure everyone in our group felt the same way.
I hope if you are able to participate in picking out a pumpkin with others, please don’t hesitate! I wish we all could cherish and value one of the greatest gifts we can give; a gift of our time and companionship. I also hope you have a great Halloween.

Does anyone have any thoughts or stories to share about Halloween? Any feelings about the value of giving a little bit of our time to make something more enjoyable by all?

Go out and help to make others dreams a reality by giving of yourself to others. You just might be the missing person in the equation.

We all look forward to hearing from you.

Bill Tipton

Contributing Author,
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

Disabled - Ideas for Retaining or Seeking a Job

Hello everyone,

Since National Disability Awareness Month and Disability Mentoring Day is this month, or coming soon for many countries, I thought we could talk about how the disabled can be successful at work. Can talk about finding meaningful work as well. We can share what has worked, and what has not. These ideas and resources we will share are not only for the disabled; all can use to be successful.

I have to admit others might have better ideas than I do and always welcome your thoughts. I went completely blind instantly in 1999, lost the ability to walk for one year, have diabetes in which I need to take insulin twice daily, neuropathy in both legs and other complications from the illness which took away my eyesight one day after work instantly, and forever.

I was working at the time of my illness. After leaving the hospital 7 months later, I was delayed because I was in a coma for 3 of those long months and had to have 4 surgeries , I immediately immersed myself in all of the blindness related training I could find to be a successful productive employee again. I started this process of reskilling myself while still in a wheel chair. I did not want to wait until I had many hours of physical rehabilitation and orientation and mobility training and was able to walk again.

I immediately began to build my network of people to help me make the connections needed to reskill myself as this new person without eyesight as quickly as possible. I found local organizations’ like the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Sensory Access Foundation and the Silicon Valley Council of the Blind to help with my blindness skills, assistive technology and interpersonal relationship and networking skills.

Because I desired to return to work as quickly as possible, I did not go away to a blind school where I could get around the clock training. Because of this I am not an expert in all blindness related skills.

Some things I did to help me return to work
You can use this same set of skills if you are trying to retain your job or find a new job like some of the students that will be participating at the many disability mentoring day events around the world.

1. Build and maintain a network of people who are knowledgeable in the areas you are interested in; or people you can learn from. Read Networking Forum: Tapping Your Network in Time of Need to get some ideas on how to build your network.

Once you have built this network you need to nourish this resource or it will go away. Maintaining a network is like growing a rose; if you do not provide water your rose will not be healthy and will eventually die. Read Best Ways to Reciprocate for Help to learn how to keep your network healthy

2. Make sure you have all the training and tools you will need to be productive and successful. Put in the time to learn your assistive technology thoroughly. Read Accommodations to learn more about what might make your working environment, just a bit easier.

3. Learn to adapt and figure out what works best for you. Nothing is easy. Sometimes you have to use your ingenuity to solve your own problems instead of waiting for help from others. You can get some ideas of some workarounds that have worked for me by reading Working Remotely- Challenges.

4. Have a good attitude. When solving your problems think in the bigger picture. If by solving your own problem; think how can you help others with your same resolution who might be in your same situation? Even though you might be having a really bad day because the tool you are supposed to use to do your job does not work with your assistive technology because that tool was not designed following accessibility guidelines like the ones at Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI). Do not get discouraged. You will have better days; usually very soon. Read Living Positively to get encouraged to have a better attitude

What has not worked for me
1. Do not try to force things to happen. At times if things are not going exactly the way you want; take a break; and come back later to take another look with a fresh mind. At times your ideas are not ready to be accepted by others; do not give up. Just look for the correct opportunity to present yourself.

2. You might have to alter your style of engagement to get the results you are looking for. Look at the personalities you are working with and make adjustments for best results.

3. Try not to make enemies along your paths to accomplish your goals. They might be your allies in future.

4. Put in the hard work and effort. Most things do not come easy. It takes a lot of hard work and time to succeed. You may need to get additional training to accomplish your goals. Get that training so you can be the best you can be.

5. Have faith in yourself. Never, ever give up! You can do it if you give yourself the chance!

Does anyone else have any helpful tips to help the students? Any tips that will help others looking for work or changing jobs? Any ideas to help retain your current job or get a promotion?

We all, very much, look forward to hearing from you.

Bill Tipton
Contributing Author,
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

Motorsports for All

Hello Patty,

Thanks for stopping by, reading and posting your comments.

I replied with the other messages and conversations at Day At The Races.

I thought the topic of motorsports is so exciting and interesting I thought I would create a new post for all to find and get in on the conversation easily.

I sure hope your back is getting better.
I know what you mean about the noise. I think that is one of the reasons I like racing; besides the speed and competitiveness of the cars, teams and drivers. I also enjoy the race atmosphere and the fans that attend the races all seem to enjoy life and know how to have fun.
When you mentioned the loud noises from the NASCAR I can remember the San Jose Grand Prix race I attended. They had historic NASCAR’s at event and it could be possible those cars were the loudest. They made a low pitch very loud noise which rattles you down deep inside. The CHAMP cars that were at event were very loud as well; but their pitch was a higher wind so it did not rumble you as much. It all was great!

Recently I have been following the Flying Lizard Racing Team.

About Flying Lizard Motorsports

Founded in 2003, the Sonoma, Calif-based team is competing in its fourth season of sports car racing with the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). The team fields
two Porsche 911 GT3 RSRs: the No. 44 and the No. 45. Seth Neiman, Lonnie Pechnik and Darren Law are sharing driving duties in the No. 44 Porsche for the
2007 season, and Johannes van Overbeek and Joerg Bergmeister are teaming in the No. 45 Porsche.
Listen to one of the Flying Lizard Motorsports Porshe 911 GT3 RSRs and see the view from the drivers seat (if you can see) as it races around a track.

I recently even ordered and received one of their Flying Lizard Motorsports racing shirts. I was told it looks very good – I am completely blind and cannot see a thing

If you have not read our prior conversations and information we have shared, visit Day At The Races.

Does anyone else have any racing stories to share? We would all love to hear and bring back memories of when we were at the tracks; or better yet; behind the wheel. Are you planning on attending a race soon? Any other tips to share to help us have the best possible racing experience?

Bill Tipton
Contributing Author,
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

Disability Mentoring Day

Hello everyone,

Are you a student with a disability preparing to go into the workforce? Do you have a relative or friend who has a disability; minor or major? Are you an employer looking to hire talented employees? Are you a disabled person who is successfully working? Are you interested in volunteering some of your time to make a Differnce in the life’s of others, helping your community or employers in your area?

If any of the above sound like something you are interested in; or fits your situation I think you will be interested to know in the United States Disability Mentoring Day is October 17, 2007.

What is Disability Mentoring Day(DMD) from DMD web page.
Job Shadowing and Hands-On Career Exploration

Empowering Students and Job Seekers

Promoting a Diverse Workplace

Recruiting New Talent

International Efforts
In addition to helping Disability Mentoring Day to take root in all 50 states and all US territories, AAPD is pleased to lead in international efforts to
help transplant DMD around the world.

DMD Participating Nations and DMD Coordinators
http://www.dmd-aapd.org/docs/international.php

Do any of you have any plans to attend any Disability Mentoring Day events? Is your company planning on holding events for this day? If you have attended such events in past how did you like it; what did it mean to you; how did it help you?

To learn more about Disability Mentoring Day and get access to many related resources look on below URL.
http://www.dmd-aapd.org/

We would all love to hear how you are connected with Disability Mentoring Day.

Bill Tipton
Contributing Author
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

Balancing Your Team for Innovation

Hello everyone,

I hope you have enjoyed and found useful the following two articles/ messages:
1. Collective Intelligence: Include The Disabled for Success

2. Meet the Professionals - Shawn Henry- Web accessibility

We have been talking about the importance to include everyone without external limitations for positive results. Talked about the value of collective intelligence and swarm behavior. I think the following article from eSight Careers Network
will add to our discussion of this very important topic.

Balancing Your Team for Innovation by Jim Hasse.

Just a few highlights from article
Technology has broken down the walls between jobs in companies and between businesses on a global scale. Survivors in today's competitive business climate have learned how to harness teamwork among people to produce products and services at a better, faster and cheaper clip than their competitors.
Fostering diversity and valuing differences have become so crucial to innovation, the engine of economic growth in the U.S. and many parts of the world.

What has changed is that teams and diversity on those teams have come into their own. Yet, diversity initiatives are still among the first "frills" to get cut as a variable cost in corporate budgets during economic downturns because they're considered not critical.

The C.A.R.E. Profile approach introduced me to the concept that successful team members do the right thing at the right time -- not the same thing at the same time. While team members work together toward a common goal, individuals still must play their individual parts in the process.

Fahden and Namakkal's instrument identifies an individual's most natural team role so he can work from his strengths. Here's how Innovate with C.A.R.E. Profile describes those strengths:

As an employer, recognizing the value of this "hand-off" process and the diversity it requires at the team level will help you avoid getting stuck with too many team members playing the same role at the same time. It means valuing differences -- instead of the sameness -- in people and how they help your team approach a problem and find a solution for it.

That means diversity in thought processes is a key to innovation. Since innovation is crucial to being competitive in today's marketplace, it makes ethnicity, gender, sexual preference -- and physical ability -- not relevant.

Read the complete article, Balancing Your Team for Innovation to learn more at below URL.
http://www.esight.org/view.cfm?x=472

Do you see any limitations which prevents diversity in thought processes? Has anyone seen any obstacles which prevents balancing your teams for innovation? Do you have any success stories you want to share about how you best harnessed teamwork by reducing external limitations, like inaccessible tools to help you produce products and services at a better, faster and cheaper clip than you’re competitors? How are you fostering diversity and valuing differences?

We look forward to hearing your thoughts and comments.

Bill Tipton
Contributing Author
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

Meet the Professionals - Shawn Henry- Web accessibility

Hello everyone,

I hope you had a chance to read Collective Intelligence: Include The Disabled for Success.

We talked about how collective intelligence can facilitate increased productivity if all can have equal access to the tools needed to do his or her job efficiently and effectively. We talked about why it is essential to develop, maintain and procure accessible and usable applications, including web pages with universal design following such standards like the ones that are available at the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

Maybe you are new to accessibility and usability and want to learn more about this topic. Perhaps you are looking to improve your knowledge in this aspect of technology. You want to fully embrace the benefits of Collective Intelligence so you can take full advantage of your skilled workforce to allow you to better compete in your local or global marketplace. I went completely blind one day after work in 1999 because of a critical illness that hit without warning. I have used computers with eyesight for many years as a application programmer, systems administrator and network engineer and now without eyesight as a project manager using screen readers and truly know the importance of usable and accessible tools. If any of that sounds like you; I think you will find the following video useful.

The Professionals" video series, Shawn Henry of the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) from World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) talked with Kazuhito Kidachi about:
• Shared responsibilities between web site developers, browsers, and assistive technologies.

• The importance of authoring tools supporting accessibility.

• Different types of authoring tools, including content management systems.

• How WCAG 2.0 and WAI-ARIA address the more difficult aspects of Web accessibility.

• WAI's outreach resources.

• What led Shawn to accessibility?

The video has English audio (after a short Japanese introduction) and Japanese subtitles. Text transcripts are available in Japanese and English. To watch video open URL below.
http://videocast.mitsue.co.jp/english/archives/2007/000056.html

Did you learn anything new from video? Do you feel you have more tools to aid in allowing all to participate so you can take full advantage of Collective Intelligence? Do you have any success stories you want to share about implementing usability and accessibility programs for your internal tools? Any other thoughts or comments. We all look forward to hearing from you.

Bill Tipton
Contributing Author,

Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

Collective Intelligence: Include The Disabled for Success

Hello everyone,

Want to be more productive at solving complex problems in groups? Work better in teams? Utilize all of your resources at their fullest potential, no matter how different some individuals might be perceived to be? Maybe you should study the way some ants bury their dead, ways fireflies in some parts of the world light up in synchronization, or the way field honey bees fly from flower to flower, collecting pollen and sweet juices, or nectar to produce honey. Read on; I am serious!

Have you ever been in a meeting and hardly anyone talked? Maybe the few outgoing people were the only ones voicing their opinions. As you might be sitting back in the m