Disability Dialogue with Bill

Dining in the Dark: In the Dark

I recently attended an enjoyable and informational Dining in the Dark event hosted by the Foundation Fighting Blindness with my wife Kathy and colleagues.

We all had an enjoyable experience at this valuable event. In my opinion one of the highlights of the evening was listening to the many outstanding researchers, doctors and entrepreneurs talking about their fight to cure certain types of eye diseases and the tools they have developed in an effort to help fight blindness.

 

Another key highlight of the evening was to allow the attendees to experience what it would be like to be completely blind. To assist with creating the appropriate environment, when it was time to be served dinner, all the lights were turned off and all possible light sources were completely blacked-out to engulf the room in complete darkness. None of the attendees were allowed to leave their seats once the lights were turned out during dinner, to help prevent injuries of untrained attendees attempting to walk in complete darkness without the proper orientation and mobility training a person who is blind would receive. When the lights were out I was told it was so dark that you could not see your hand directly in front of your face. I am completely blind and this complete darkness is normal for me.

Waiters who were blind/ visually impaired served our meals in the complete darkness, and then the fun began. I listened to the exploratory and inquisitive voices of the others at our table attempting to determine what was on their plates, and what we were all eating. My technique is to feel the texture and shape of the food from the feedback in my fingers from the utensil touching the food. I can tell the shape of the food by the sensation, and the sound of the utensil touching the border of the food compared to the plate surrounding the food. From a combination of the smell, taste and texture I can mostly tell what I am eating. Comparing our non-visual clues with others at our table, we were able to determine what we were eating. I listened as I heard the others at my table working through their challenges of dining in the dark. Since I have been completely blind for a few years I had no trouble during the Dining in the Dark experience. Soon others at my table asked me my techniques to help them find the food on their plate in complete darkness, which I graciously provided some tips to assist. I believe this type of event is invaluable to allow all of us to get a very short glimpse of what it is like to be completely blind and increase blind / low vision awareness.

 

Has anyone attended a Dining in the Dark event and want to share your experience and describe what was most valuable to you? Even if you have not attended such an event from my description, what do you think you would learn from experiencing such an event? How would events like Dining in the Dark or any other disability awareness events increase your awareness of people with disabilities, enabling all to work more effectively to enhance relationships and productivity in our professional careers and personal lives?

I hope everyone can have the chance to experience a Dining in the Dark event.

We all look forward to hearing your comments and experiences.

 

Bill Tipton

 

Contributing Author,

Global Dialogue Center

http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/wdtipton

Facebook: http://profile.to/wdtipton

Twitter: http://twitter.com/wdtipton

Cherish Your Visions With Eyesight – They Could Be Your Last

To this day, I can still clearly recall four of my final visions and experiences when I had eyesight.

Grocery Shopping:

My final grocery shopping experience with eyesight was on Sunday, May 23rd, 1999. What I clearly remember is the sound of glass jars breaking, and the vision of spaghetti sauce splattering all over the store floor with the broken glass. I then looked towards my wife Kathy and with astonishment realized her white tennis shoes and socks were splattered with spaghetti sauce and she was surrounded by broken glass. After my initial surprise of the sounds and vision of the accident, I noticed my wife attempting to step around the broken glass, and through the spaghetti sauce that was surrounding her. I felt very nervous watching and sensing her uneasiness surrounded by these hazards. I feared that Kathy would slip and fall on the glass and injure herself. I attempted to remain as calm as possible as I assisted her to step through the dangerous obstacles. Once we were both clear of the hazards, we could not help laughing about the sight of the mess, including Kathy’s sauce splattered shoes and socks.

What I miss most is the freedom of going shopping and being able to see what is on the shelves or displays. I also miss the ability to watch out for obstacles and help others avoid them.

 

Driving:

My final driving experiences were uneventful for those who have the option and ability to drive a motor vehicle. However, since I cherished the independence and relaxation of driving near the ocean, in the hills, high mountains, deserts, forests, paved and dirt roads these beautiful scenic images and experiences are with me continually. Monday, May 24th was a typical day of driving to and from work like any other day. Tuesday, May 25th was uneventful as well, except for on my way home from work I was entertained by a family of ducks, including some small young ducklings following closely behind the parents crossing the highway. All four lanes of traffic stopped to let this family of ducks cross the street safely. As I sat in the traffic jam watching everyone around me, I felt very content and happy that everyone cared enough to let this family of ducks cross the highway safely.

What I miss most is the freedom and fulfillment I felt when I could drive. I also treasured the ability to drive and go anywhere anytime I want; instead of having the option of being able to plan a trip where there is an accessible transportation route, or the option to graciously accept rides from others.

 

Wedding Picture:

My final vision of my wife Kathy that is etched in my mind is from pictures in our wedding album. Every day I would look at these pictures of Kathy in her beautiful wedding gown and feel how lucky I am to have such a wonderful and caring wife, so much that her image is permanently etched in my mind. One fear I constantly have is that I might forget what the forever frozen - in - time and ageless, faces of my family and friends looked like. I fear these visions might fade with time, unless I consciously practice remembering how others I had once been able to see look like.

What I miss most, I will never again be able to look into my wife’s eyes and see her emotions or watch my wife age gracefully as we spend our wonderful and joyful years together.

 

Last Sight - Forever & Ever:

On Wednesday, May 26th, I heard doctors calling Kathy over to the hospital bed I was laying in. I do not remember how I got to the hospital bed, since I hardly remember Kathy driving me to the hospital that life changing night.  I just remember eventually agreeing to let Kathy drive me to the hospital as I crawled across the floor in agony because I could not tolerate the excruciating pain any longer. I must have eventually got up from the floor and walked to the car since Kathy could not carry me, although I do not remember this part of my trip. Lying on my back in the hospital bed in a daze, I remember looking up into bright lights that surrounded me, experiencing unusual pain throughout my body with a sense I was slipping away from this world. I could not recognize any of the faces behind the medical masks looking down at me from all around my bed. Soon I heard my wife Kathy’s voice mixed in with all the other commotion as she walked towards the bed.   From what seemed to come through the many doctors and nurses that surrounded me I felt Kathy’s compassionate hand gently touch me and provided some reassurance. I clearly remember looking in Kathy’s direction and telling her” I am sorry, I am dying”. Then my eyes watched the lights dimming around me as the light became narrower and narrower, as the light continually dimmed until the lights went out forever. I had slipped into a coma and was placed on life support.  When I woke up from my coma three months later I had found I had become completely blind due to the extremely critical medical condition which caused me to go into the hospital. I am very grateful and overjoyed I lived to write about this experience, share my experiences, can see my wife again in my mind’s eye, and have the option to experience life with family and friends.

What I wish is that I did not choose such dreadful words as my potential last words. I wished I had enough sense in my mind to say something to give hope to my wife, like “I love you; I will talk with you again as soon as I can.”

 

Has anyone else had last visions that meant something special to you? These visions do not have to be visions with eyesight. They can be visions in your minds-eye, your goals, plans or wishes. We all look forward to hearing your thoughts, comments and stories to help us give meaning to our visions, and appreciate them.

Please cherish your vision, if you do have eyesight. You never know if these visions could be your last.

 

Bill Tipton

Contributing Author,

Global Dialogue Center

http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/wdtipton

Facebook: http://profile.to/wdtipton

Twitter: http://twitter.com/wdtipton

That What You Manifest Is Before You

I recently listened to an audio version of the book The Art of Racing in the Rain. Although I am completely blind, I enjoy motorsports racing, as I describe in Day at the Races. I also benefit from the companionship of animals. The combination of these and other topics resonate with me in this book.

I can relate to Enzo's mantra: "That which you manifest is before you." As the author Garth Stein notes on The Art of Racing in the Rain FAQ, “I think it's very important to take charge of your life, not to feel like you're a victim of circumstance or fate, but that you are an active participant in your future.”

You can most likely think of examples of where taking charge of your own life helped you manifest your own destiny, instead of waiting on others to do so, and possibly resulting in an outcome that was not beneficial and did not produce the results you had wished for.

I believe one example where I took charge of my own life and manifested the outcome, was when I returned to employment after an extremely critical medical condition which almost took my life.

After a seven month hospital stay, without a doubt in my mind, I planned on returning to employment as soon as I could. I did not let the fact I could not walk without aids for a period of one year after leaving the hospital, lost all vision and was now completely blind, and had to learn many new skills deter me from succeeding in my dream. I did not let the victimized mind-set take complete control; although I had many challenges and obstacles to overcome. I focused my energy, learning many new skills and meeting many new people expanding my network, enabling me to expedite my education, leaving no time to dwell on my life’s changing events and feeling like I was a victim. When I talked with many new instructors and others, my words reflected my positive attitude about returning to meaningful employment as the new person I had become.

 

What will you manifest in your personal or professional life? How can we assist each other not to feel like we are a victim of circumstance or fate? We all look forward to hearing your suggestions, examples and comments.

 

Let’s all live our life with the attitude of Enzo's mantra to help manifest our dreams into reality.

 

Bill Tipton

Contributing Author,

Global Dialogue Center

http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/wdtipton

Facebook: http://profile.to/wdtipton

Twitter: http://twitter.com/wdtipton

Year End: Appreciation and Reflection

As the year transitions to dusk and a fresh New Year is about to rise like the glorious brilliant sun on a clear day, it is often easy to neglect the importance of appreciation and reflection due to our busy schedules. The holiday season provides an excellent opportunity to consider what we are truly thankful for and demonstrate gratitude and appreciation for individuals who assist with our successes and aid in our difficult times. Some holidays have a tradition of gift exchange, which I believe, is one opportunity to demonstrate our appreciation. I believe the simple traditions of unselfish friendship and providing assistance can be of greater value then any monetary gifts. I understand some of us are in need of the basic necessities, such as shelter, food, caregivers, medicine or medical assistance, and monetary gifts can truly be a valued necessity. Beyond life’s necessities, I believe the gift of life and friendship is an invaluable gift that should be cherished.  Although we may have had challenges and unforeseen difficulties in the past year, I hope we can find reasons to celebrate the joyful season and reflect on the passing year with gratitude.

I have many reasons to smile, rejoice, reflect and celebrate. All I need to do to reestablish a gratitude mind-set is to think about my first Christmas after losing my eyesight. Lying in a hospital bed for seven months listening to patients experiencing pain and other unpleasant medical treatments, reinforces how very grateful I was and still am to receive the gift of life and the ability to leave the hospital to pursue my dreams.

Special Thoughts during Holidays describes some details of my first blessed New Year as a blind person.

After reflecting on this year, I plan to increase my effectiveness at acting unselfishly and demonstrating gratitude towards friends, family, co-workers, neighbors and other individuals who truly make a difference in my personal and professional life. I also plan to appreciate the many new acquaintances I will be able to meet on my walks.

After reflecting on this year, what are you thankful for? What traits will you attempt to enhance to promote success and gratitude? Did others play an important role in your life? Do you have any stories to share with examples of how valuing friendship increased your success or happiness, or the individual you were assisting?  Any examples of priceless gifts? We all look forward to hearing from you.

As this year closes, I wish you the very best in the New Year.

Bill Tipton

Contributing Author,

Global Dialogue Center

http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/wdtipton

Facebook: http://profile.to/wdtipton

Twitter: http://twitter.com/wdtipton

Trust; Walking Without Eyesight

During a leisurely walk on a route I take frequently for exercise and relaxation, I contemplate the importance of trust. I believe the mind-set of trust can be in a person’s own ability, self-confidence, faith, or in others to do the “right thing”.

 

The thought of trust and the value of it occurs frequently when I pass certain locations on a local walking route.

 

I am completely blind and walk with a white support cane in my left hand and in my right hand I swing a long white cane.  I use my long cane to detect obstacles and receive feedback about the surface I am walking on from the cane tip as it touches the ground on every swing. I am constantly listening to the environmental sounds to help with orientation by remembering unique sound landmarks and utilizing auditory senses to detect obstacles by interpreting sound waves as they travel from their source and bounce off surfaces. Soon I hear the noise of motor vehicles passing in front of me getting closer and closer at a perpendicular angle. This is an indication that I am reaching a cross street. Feeling the light prick on my left hand from a sharp Yucca leaf that hangs over the sidewalk causes me to quickly feel my hand for possible injury (blood or deep scratches). I do not feel anything out of the ordinary, so I continue my leisurely walk with a chuckle and a smile.  Not far after passing the Yucca plant I slightly touch a fence to my left with my cane as the sidewalk slopes down and turns left onto another street and I reach a curb cut for a wheelchair access ramp.  I hear noticeably more motor vehicles passing me, going much faster than they were on the street I had just left. My senses and long cane tell me this part of the sidewalk is narrow because I cannot swing my cane to the left too far without hitting a fence, or feeling an abrupt drop off to my right with my cane tip.

 

When I explore this part of the route I discover the sidewalk is a considerable distance above the street which reinforces the need to pay attention so I do not accidently step off the curb. As I get closer to the next corner the motor vehicles are even closer, due to the fact they are coming from the west and turning to the south (cutting the corner). At this point the sidewalk slopes down for a curb cut for a ramp that gently turns to the left as the sidewalk abruptly ends. I carefully step off the curb paying attention to the direction I was walking to enable me to make an accurate direction adjustment, angling my walk to the left slightly enabling me to find a footpath rather than walking into the motor vehicles just in front of me.  Just after stepping off the sidewalk in search of the asphalt footpath, I cautiously walk through grass and dirt sensing hidden obstacles with my feet and canes. I soon feel my feet touch something solid as I then hear the tap of my cane against a hard surface alerting me I have reached the footpath. Feeling the border of the path with my feet I turn left and continue my leisurely and joyful walk.

 

Not long after I get my rhythm going, my cane hits something metallic sounding and very solid causing my body to slightly collide with the obstacle from my forward momentum. I explore the unknown object with my cane while attempting to figure out what could be blocking the footpath.  After some investigation I determine the obstacle is a vehicle parked across the footpath. As I maneuver around the vehicle towards the left, so I do not walk into motor vehicles passing on the street to my right, suddenly my cane hits another metallic obstacle. This obstacle does not sound or feel (with my cane) as solid as the vehicle, although this obstacle has blocked me from continuing down the path. I attempt to find a way around the two obstacles, when I hear a voice speak to me in a language I do not understand. I ask this person I do not know with self confidence and friendliness in my voice, if the path around to the left is clear.  This person answers me in their language which I do not understand. I then feel a trusting and caring hand touch my arm and gently guide me safely around the obstacles. At this point I remember, at times, a person would set up a stand to sell fruit at this corner, and the stand and their vehicle might be what the obstacles are. As I maneuver around the vehicle and other obstacle I ask the friendly person if they are selling strawberries.  This caring person understands the word strawberries and responds “yes”.

 

As I continue my peaceful and exhilarating walk I listen to the babbling creek to my right, and light breeze blowing through the leaves in the trees' canopies. I imagine in my mind’s eye what these images looked like when I had eyesight as I smile with remembrance of the beauty of nature. Suddenly I hear the sound of a bicycle coming up from behind me. Staying calm I demonstrate faith and trust that the rider would see me and my white canes. I slowly move to one side and stop to wait for the bicycle to safely pass. After I hear the bicycle pass very close, I say “hi” to the rider as I wave in their direction and continue my relaxing walk.  The silence of nature and solitude is interrupted by the sound of feet hitting the ground and quiet human breathing coming towards me, providing awareness a jogger is approaching. I continue to walk trusting the jogger will see me and not run into me, but move to one side of the path to allow the jogger room to run by as I say “hello”.

 

As I continue my relaxing walk, the path gently starts to slope down and gradually turns to the left, then to the right. This change of direction and slope is my landmark to start searching for the end of the paved path to enable me to find the sidewalk on the next street. Soon I do not feel anymore dirt border to the left of the path with my cane   alerting me I have passed the end of the path and have started to cross the street. At this point I quickly and abruptly turn to the left and walk back in the direction I had come from, at an angle that will enable my route to end up near the intersection of the street and the sidewalk. Suddenly I touch a dirt border with my feet and cane and follow the border until I feel a curb rise up with my cane tip or my foot (whatever hits it first). I carefully step up on the curb using my support cane to assist. I am now safely half way on my relaxing journey.

 

Continuing my joyful walk, I anticipate the possibility of running into obstacles to keep me alert, providing practice negotiating obstacles, improving my orientation and mobility and cherishing the gratitude of meeting friendly people.  Soon my walk is over leaving me with the desire to take another joyful lap around the block. Every time I go on a walk I am reminded how grateful I am to have the ability to walk.  This attitude comes from knowing what it feels like not being able to walk, get outside or move at all without great difficulty. This is because the same medical condition that took my eyesight away caused me to be unable to walk for one year while I regained my strength and learned how to walk again. I am also grateful I demonstrated faith and self-confidence when the medical specialists told me I would never walk again, and I decided to pursue my dreams of walking again.

 

Do you have examples of when you demonstrated trust? What did you learn from trusting your own ability, self-confidence, trusting others to do the “right thing” or believing in your faith? Do you have any tips to help us increase our trust?

 

Bill Tipton

Contributing Author,

Global Dialogue Center

http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/wdtipton

Facebook: http://profile.to/wdtipton

Twitter: http://twitter.com/wdtipton

Value of Prioritizing to Achieve Work Life Balance & Enhance Productivity in Your Career

We are fortunate that in most cases we have choices on how we can manage our time, priorities and ability to decide what tasks (opportunities) we will accomplish to meet our goals. Some tasks are pushed to the front of our priority list by necessity and criticality, and others are less time sensitive.

 

I have been fortunate to have had the ability to experience a wide range of opportunities to practice priority management as I continue to accept new opportunities to learn.

 

For me, completing projects or tasks provides a feeling of satisfaction and a sense of contributing. Completing tasks or projects as quickly as possible “just to get them completed” can lead a person to complete a greater amount of tasks, however, these tasks might not be the most critical ones for the greater benefit. If you stop to consider what is most valuable in the long run, you might consider focusing your efforts on completing a task that is more challenging and might require learning a new skill set or accepting a risk of failing before you begin the task.

 

We all have opportunities to make choices, such as choosing to spend quality time with our loved ones, visiting with friends or relatives instead of staying at home, utilizes priority management skills.

 

Managing priorities is even more critical in these times when we are asked / expected to complete more tasks in less time.  If you need to incorporate caring for the elderly, having a disability, the need for medical management or assisting others in need, in addition to your normal tasks, your obligations may seem overwhelming, which reinforces the importance of priority management.

 

EXAMPLES OF UNPLANNED PRIORITY ADJUSTMENTS:

Discovering I have no eyesight, unable to walk or speak, sit up in bed or feed myself after a critical medical condition.

 

ADJUSTMENTS TO ACHIEVE RESULTS:

Learned how to walk, talk and feed myself. Enrolled in and completed many blindness related skills to enable me to live and work as a completely blind person.

 

EXAMPLES OF PRIORITIES WHICH TAKE LONGER TO ACCOMPLISH, BUT MAY HAVE A BROADER REACH:

After learning how to use my assistive technology; I found the tools needed to perform my job had usability / accessibility barriers. Therefore, I realized I needed to reinvent myself to find a new career.

 

ADJUSTMENTS TO ACHIEVE RESULTS:

Took the initiative to complete courses in project management, Microsoft Office products in conjunction with screen reading software, locating and reading accessible books on a variety of computer topics and business and leadership skills to enable me to be proficient and productive in a new career

 

EXAMPLES OF CONSISTENT PRIORITIES:

Completing every day activities you are comfortable with for your job or personal life without the need to learn a new skill set.

 

ADJUSTMENTS TO ACHIEVE RESULTS:

Demonstrate discipline to put some of these “easier” tasks you know you can achieve with ease on hold, postponing a sense of accomplishment and complete some of the larger more complex goals.

I feel that time management is critical to work/ life balance, health, and well being, in addition to enhancing productivity and accuracy in your professional career.

I am grateful to accept help to continue to learn how to enhance time management.  I hope these comments provide ideas to help us all grow our skill set in this critical area.  

We look forward to hearing your valuable comments to help us manage our time and priorities.

Bill Tipton

Contributing Author,

Global Dialogue Center

http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/wdtipton

Facebook: http://profile.to/wdtipton

Twitter: http://twitter.com/wdtipton

Tranquility and Acceptance Through Alternate Senses

 Sitting in complete darkness, feeling the warm sunshine, breathing fresh clean air,  smelling the light scent of flowers, grasses, plants, trees, listening to geese honking, occasional eagles and hawks screeching and the gentle splashing of fish jumping and swimming, is very relaxing and rejuvenating (for me). As the sun sets and the vibrant bright day transitions to dusk, the air slowly cools and the sounds of geese give way to the deep croaking of bullfrogs and my contentment becomes complete. As day turns to night and the sky becomes inky black, except for the brilliant twinkling stars and bright moon; my physical vision is unchanged from when the sun shined brightly during the day.

 

Why isn’t there any light perception between day and night for me? Does this distinction really matter for contentment, tranquility and fulfillment?

 

About twelve years ago I became completely blind instantly, after a critical medical condition almost took my life. I have accepted the fact I will never again see the sights I described above with physical sight as I continue to enjoy the beauty and relaxation of the outdoors.

 

When I am out in the country, or any city, for that matter, I never allow my lack of physical vision to interfere with the joys and sensations I can experience when I utilize all my senses available to me, and do not focus on what I can’t experience. Most of the time I never even think about not having physical sight, because I am too busy actively experiencing the world all around me. On a recent trip to a lake, I was able to share life’s joys and blessings with others, in spite of the fact I am in complete darkness, like the inky black sky of the night I describe above, less the stars and moon light.

 

When I am invited and accept gracious invitations to locations I can’t get to easily without eyesight, or participate in events, where you might think eyesight is required; I do not hesitate, or even think about not being able to see or participate in any or all activities others might be experiencing.

 

Other people with disabilities or challenges, or even those without any disabilities or challenges might experience the same attitudes and beliefs when choosing and accepting to fully experience life.  

 

Do you have any experiences you want to share, with examples, where you expanded your alternate senses? Any tips to help us enjoy life, despite any challenges or obstacles.

 

We look forward to hearing your valuable comments.

 

Bill Tipton

Contributing Author,

Global Dialogue Center

http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/wdtipton

Facebook: http://profile.to/wdtipton

Twitter: http://twitter.com/wdtipton

Volunteering: Mutually Beneficial for All

Volunteering to assist people in need, not only provides a valuable resource for the person receiving the needed assistance, your outreach can also provide mutual benefits in ways you might never expect.

 

 There are many opportunities to become a volunteer. People being affected by natural disasters, victims of war, aging world population, people with disabilities and many others needing assistance are just a few examples.

 

Over the years I have been grateful to have had the ability to provide my time, caring and skills to help others in need.

After I lost all of my eyesight, I was very fortunate to have found unselfish caring volunteers to assist with tasks I can no longer accomplish on my own.

 

As you can imagine, having perfect eyesight one day and finding myself completely blind after awakening from a three month coma adds new challenges, obstacles, barriers and opportunities for me and my family.

 

SAMPLE - Tasks I can no longer accomplish or need assistance with (Volunteer Ideas):

• Read printed materials

 

• Fill out paper forms

 

• Ability to go anyplace any time without first planning, to insure there is an accessible route to my desired destination

 

• Drive a motor vehicle to travel when and where I want or need to go

 

• Complete all required maintenance around my place of residence

 

• Mechanically and electrically maintain our family vehicle

 

•Help my wife around our place of residence, like I used to be able to do

 

SAMPLE - Volunteer opportunities I have had and benefits:

 

• Mentor individuals with disabilities or other challenges to provide encouragement and sharing of life’s experiences to assist the individuals to not give up on their dreams and pursue ahead in life

BENEFITS: I have been able to feel the satisfaction of assisting individuals to maintain their current job or assist them in searching for a new career. I have also heard the joy and renewed confidence in the person’s voice after assisting them to better cope with the stress, anxiety and uncertainty of being affected by a new disability or other challenges.

 

• Accept the fact I can no longer do all I used to be able to do and allow volunteers to help me

BENEFITS: I have had the opportunity to meet caring and unselfish people, some have become lifelong friends. I was given the opportunity to learn from my volunteers’ unique experiences.  I was able to accomplish and experience many passions I had when I had eyesight and now with the assistance from volunteers I am able to continue some of my passions as a blind person.

 

• When possible contribute to local nonprofit organizations and all people they assist by contributing time as a volunteer, donate financially or, if asked, being on their Board of Directors

BENEFITS: Helping the community I live in and the people who require the organizations’ assistance. Learn valuable management and business skills to assist with my professional career.

 

I feel it is vitally important to assist others in need.

Just imagine if your assistance helped a person overcome an obstacle to propel them to accomplish work to help many others that could not have become a reality without your assistance.

 

Do you participate in volunteering? What benefits do you get from assisting individuals and non-profit Organizations? Do you have any tips or stories to help us be more effective volunteers?

 

Let’s help others in need by becoming a volunteer and by assisting non-profit organizations.

We look forward to hearing from you.

 

Bill Tipton

Contributing Author,

Global Dialogue Center

http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/wdtipton

Facebook: http://profile.to/wdtipton

Twitter: http://twitter.com/wdtipton

Courage: Enabler for People with Disabilities or Perceived Differences

Increasing your courage to take calculated risks can improve your general well-being and attitude in life. Learning to transform the negative reaction of fear of failure to a positive sensation of opportunity can enhance your chances for success. I believe people with disabilities, or perceived differences, get more opportunities to demonstrate and practice courageousness.

 As a person who went completely blind instantly, lost the ability to walk for one year and had the opportunity to overcome other obstacles has provided me many opportunities to practice courageousness. When it is essential to adapt to living life with a new disability, experiencing traumatic life changing events or being perceived to be different than others can aid in increasing the ability to demonstrate a courageous attitude. I believe this is true because you are somewhat forced to learn the skill of courageousness, instead of having the option to choose when you will take risks and practice courageous behavior.

I listened to an excellent dialogue called Courageous Leadership with Bill Treasurer online at the Global Dialogue Center. This reinforced the value of adding courage to our skill set to help propel us to our next level of success. 

Valuable Leadership Skills and Attitudes I Learned from Listening to Courageous Leadership:

• Increasing your courage requires taking calculated risks.

• Accept the fact that you will fail at times when you extend yourself out of your comfort zone to take on new opportunities. This is particularly true when you’ve not attempted a certain task, or you are not completely skilled “yet” in your next opportunity.

• Leverage past experiences to increase your skills in courageous and effective leadership. If you have a disability, or are perceived to be different or have experienced other challenges, you probably have plenty of past experiences where you have demonstrated courageousness you can recall to get strength and courage to handle your next risk with less apprehension.

• Have the courage to provide your own opinion regardless of how uncomfortable you might feel, even if you are the only person who verbally agrees with your opinion. Keep in mind if you have had unique life experiences, you will have certain skills nobody else has in the group, and therefore unique and valuable opinions.

• Work and live your life with confidence and courage to increase your performance. Working in fear, anxiety and intimidation leads to poor performance and distorts your judgment and can impact your health negatively.

Additional Resources to Inspire Courage: 

What did you learn from listening to Courageous Leadership? How will you demonstrate and practice courageousness in your personal and professional life?

We look forward to hearing from you as we take our calculated risks to grow our courageous skill set together.

Bill

Bill Tipton
Contributing Author,
Global Dialogue Center
http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/wdtipton
Facebook: http://profile.to/wdtipton
Twitter: http://twitter.com/wdtipton

Importance of Accessibility in Disaster Plans: Message from Japan's Tsunami

Disaster plans that include the disabled and the aging are critically important when we experience earthquakes, tsunamis and other tragic disasters like we had in Japan.

 

Postcard from Japan: Disability and Disaster - Beacon Broadside is an excellent description of the challenges and obstacles some people in wheel chairs faced during Japan’s devastating earthquake, and following tsunami. This story emphasizes the importance of accessibility as part of any disaster readiness and awareness plans to assist in the safe and efficient evacuation for people with disabilities, the elderly and others with temporary challenges. Along with wheel chair accessibility disaster preparedness plans need to include provisions for all disabilities, including the elderly. Such emergency preparedness plans will enhance the chances of surviving disasters. And, even though Japan, as well as other countries around the world have these emergency plans in place that they utilize when a disaster strikes, I understand that these plans cannot save everyone.   

  

•As I have been listening to the stories of extreme devastation in some areas of Japan, tragic loss of life and the courageous spirit of the people still experiencing challenges and enduring physical dangers, my heart and thoughts go out to everyone affected.

 

What did you learn from this story? Do you have any ideas to help the disabled, elderly and others with challenges in disasters?

 

We look forward to hearing your thoughts and comments.

 

Bill Tipton

Contributing Author,

Global Dialogue Center

http://www.globaldialoguecenter.com/

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