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Clarity for families navigating blindness

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Tag: Mark Riccobono

An Open Letter to the Members of the National Federation of the Blind

https://www.nfb.org/blog/open-letter-members-national-federation-blind

navigatingblindness Uncategorized Leave a comment June 1, 2020June 28, 2020 1 Minute

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Navigating Blindness on Instagram

This is a picture of Kai’s mini braille slate & stylus. He inserts an index card and uses the stylus to punch tactile braille dots from right to left (mirror image). When the card is pulled out and flipped over the dots can be read from left to right by hand. Hi, it’s Kai! While a lot of Braille is digital/refreshable these days, sometimes good ole paper is the best option. Here is a picture of my Braille set list taped to my bass drum at this  past show. When I’m presenting a concert, I like to have my own set list, so I have the info and can make calls to skip or change things as needed. I made this set list using a slate and stylus, which is a tough system for an infrequent user like myself, requiring each dot to be punched by hand, from the back of the sheet, thus writing in a mirror image.  There were certainly a few typos, but it got the job done without the hassle and risk of digital options on stage. I was honored to read an excerpt from my essay The Shape of Grief on the Coffee, Grief & Gratitude podcast hosted by author Anne Grudger and her daughter Maria. “Hey Meta!” It’s Kai. 👋 Hi, it’s Kai! When I was young, my mom had a lot of anxiety about me in the kitchen. Would I cut myself? Burn myself? My teacher of the visually impaired used to chase her out of the kitchen. Parents, We are excited to introduce you to a great resource for high school students: Perkins’ virtual Compass program! Anxiety set in as I flipped the calendar from February to March. On March 18, 2025 my divorce was finalized. Even though my ex and I are amicable the anniversary of that date carried 32 years of weight. Hi, it’s Kai. Great little hike today on a friends-trip. Anna Ruby Falls had a cool accessible path with Braille on all the placards. “I have reached a new level of acceptance and comfort with myself.” — Kai Owens, 23

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