No matter what a nonprofit’s mission may be, there’s always far more happening behind the curtain than most people ever see. And while having the right staff in place is essential, the men and women who freely give their time and energy – volunteers – are truly indispensable. They take on roles and responsibilities that…
“If you want any kind of independence, you must be motivated.” Sara Fitzwater The ice cream that Sara Fitzwater wasn’t altogether sure she wanted was beginning to melt. It wasn’t that Sara didn’t like ice cream, or that she didn’t appreciate the kind gesture that Alphapointe’s Career Placement Specialist, Martin Callen, had provided; rather, she…
I have been blind for 37 years … since birth as it happens. In that time, like so many others, I have learned a variety of different skills and techniques for living as a fully functioning and highly independent adult. I have a full-time job, I cook, clean, take care of my two small kids,…
This edition of “Through Our Eyes” is dedicated to my older sister, Dr. Alexis Black, who taught me that I would be able to see if I just opened a book. “I cannot live without books.” Thomas Jefferson. The room was dimly lit, all lamps and light fixtures having been extinguished hours before, with the…
Have you ever wanted to ask someone who is blind about their experiences, but weren’t sure how? In this edition of Through Our Eyes, I sit down with Tracie Thompson, one of Alphapointe’s newest clients, to talk about her journey with vision loss and how she has learned to adapt. Q: How long have you…
“Just because you lose your sight, doesn’t mean you have to lose hope.” – Kevin Eschbaugh. In the small town of Wilson, Kansas – a place that is, geographically speaking, next to nothing – Kevin, then 16, stood looking at his first car with an odd mixture of disdain and reverence. The car was the…
There are some who hold the belief that a blind person has no interest in sports, that we might just be unimpressed when, say, Patrick Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback, throws a perfect dime to a receiver as he is sprinting into the end zone with seconds on the clock. Or that we’d be…
As a blind man who lives alone, one of the most common questions I receive is, “How do you cook?” It is a common misconception that people with vision loss are saved from starvation by inventions such as frozen foods, TV dinners, and Door Dash. I will not make the claim that I don’t sometimes…
I sat on my couch, head in my hands, with a future filled with uncertainty. I had just received the most spectacular news of my life … I was going to be a father; on the heels of that news – that elation – came a dread that settled in my stomach. Even before receiving…
Oftentimes, the Alphapointe spotlight shines on a particular employee from one of our various departments in our New York Headquarters. Other times, it appears on one of the many individuals who receive services through our NYHQ Rehabilitation Department, including along their path to community-based employment. However, there are occasions where the spotlight must be spontaneous…