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Deaf-blind Panel

Hello everyone.

 

I was invited to be on a panel on April 9th. This panel was called Deaf-blind employed.

 

I was nervous and just a little scared but that went away when I started speaking.

The morning started off as a normal day. I woke  up and read my daily devotion.

Got all ready for the panel. My day wouldn’t be normal if there wasn’t just a little chaos.

The chaos did not happen to me. It happened to a friend. He had woke up and   couldn’t find his cochlear  implant.

This was  just a small thing to some but not to him. My friend is deaf-blind just like I am.

The thing is his hearing loss is a lot more severe than my hearing loss. I wear hearing aids and adjust them through out the day.

So I went on to the room where I was going  to be on the panel.

I skippped breakfast because I would not have time and forgot I had a pack of pop tarts in my hotel room.

So the cochlear implant was found a few minutes before the panel was to start.

I had fun teasing my friend about the healthy breakfast I had  afterwards!  

Also my SSP had taken our things out to the car. We were checking out and leaving later so my pop tarts were in the car.

I had forgotten about them until I was unpacking after returning home. For  the people who don’t know what a SSP Is, that is someone who assists the deaf-blind in daily  tasks so they can live more independently and more  enjoyable.  

So my very very very healthy breakfast was Dove chocolate and a bottle of water.

My friend and I had a good laugh about this memory that was made.

 

I am going to share the questions and answers with you all. I hope you will get a better understanding of me and my journey as a deaf-blind person.

 

 

Where do you work?

I worked for a company named RCH cable. 

What is your job title?

I was a dispatcher/customer service.

How long have you worked there?

I worked there for a little over 2 years. Was let go when the company closed that office and sent the work to Florida.

In one or two sentences, describe your vision and hearing loss – when it began, tell us about your vision and hearing.

I lost my vision in 1986 do to Glaucoma.

My hearing was not so good as a kid. 

They focused more on the vision loss.

I finally felt like it was time to find out about my hearing about 10 years ago

I had taken my daughter to an appointment and she asked the nurse to check my hearing.

The nurse did a hearing test. I had a hard time hearing the beeps .

So I started my journey to the Center for hearing and speech. At that time my hearing was bad enough for hearing aids, but I could not afford them. For the simple fact Medicaid would notcover them because I did not meet their criteria to cover the cost.So I just did the best I could for the next 6 years until I could get the state to cover my hearing aids.

What type of training, experience, and/or education was needed to get/qualify for your job?

I had some computer training for several years. I had on the job training for 8 weeks. The lady who worked along side me  showed me a lot. She was also Deaf, but she could read lips and wore hearing aids as well.

Also an employee of the state worked with me as well. He helped with assistive technology to make the job doable.Howdid you find your job?  Did an agency and/or person help

I found my job by someone just putting my name out there and That person’s Name is Greg Mark. I’ve known him 26 years. He knew what I could do on a computer. So I would like to thank Greg for believing in me. 

What technology do you use at work, or for work?

I use A screen reader called  Jaws for my computer. I also use a braille display. Also have a devise called Orcam Reader for reading quick notes. 

 Did you get assistance funding the technology, and if so, where?

Rehab services for the Blind. Got me all the technology I needed  for work.

How do you communicate with coworkers?  And how do you communicate with customers or students, if applicable?

I communicated just fine with coworkers. The customers were on the phone. I just wore head phones over my hearing aids. I had to make adjustments through out the day. I  just made it work.

What advice would you give to someone seeking employment or to professionals who are working with people who are Deaf-blind to find a job?

My advice to someone who is seeking employment. Don’t give up and keep trying. What I mean please don’t listen when someone says, You can’t or you won’t be able to do this work. Listen to yourself. You know what you are capable of doing.  As a deaf-blind person I can not hear the words. You can’t and you won’t. I hear you can and you will.

To a professionals who are willing to hire us. Please give us  a chance  You never know it could be the best decision you could  have made.  If we fail and not able to do that job at least we can say you gave us a chance.

Merry Christmas

December 24 – Emmanuel (Seeds 4 The Soul)

The long-awaited pronouncement finally came. Messiah had come. The promised seed of woman, the incomparable Prince of Glory, the Savior of souls had arrived. Emmanuel, as Isaiah prophesied, was His name: God with us. The most unthinkable, unbelievable, yet undeniable event in history occurred at the birth of Christ: God became man.

This is not only a foundational doctrine of our faith; it is the one of the most comforting truths in history. God came to us. God became one of us. He placed Himself in the human experience. The Creator condescended to the elements of creation. He did this so that He could sympathize with our grief and sorrow. He knew what it was like to cry, to sweat, to grow weary, to become hungry, to laugh, to sing, to suffer. He experienced life “with” us.

Today, He is still with us. This is the reality of Christmas. He is with us in our pain. He is with us in victories. He is with us in our loneliness. He is with us at all times. Christmas not only reminds us that Christ came, but that Christ abides. No, Christmas is not a once-a-year holiday from work and school; it is an ever-present truth about the ever-presence of Christ. Because God is for us, He is in us, and forever with us! Emmanuel: a name like none other.

Embracing a Colorful World: My Journey of Losing Sight

 

Introduction:

Hello there! Welcome to my blog, where I’m excited to share my personal journey of losing my sight at the age of 13. My name is Erica Marie, and while my world may be different, it is still filled with vibrant colors that resonate deep within my heart. In this blog, I’ll take you through my experiences and memories, painting a vivid picture of how I perceive the world around me. As we embark on this colorful adventure, let’s borrow some lines from the beautiful song, “God’s Coloring Book,” to truly capture the essence of my journey.

 

Body:

 

1. Life Before Darkness: A Kaleidoscope of Colors

Before my world was enveloped in darkness, I was blessed with the ability to perceive colors in the most awe-inspiring ways. Every day felt like flipping through the pages of “God’s Coloring Book,” where hues danced and painted my world in vibrant shades. I remember the warmth of the sun, casting golden rays that painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, just like “God’s brushstrokes on the evening sky.”

 

2. Embracing the New Canvas of My Mind

Losing my sight was undoubtedly a life-altering event, but it didn’t diminish my ability to appreciate and envision colors. Rather, it transformed my perception into a beautiful canvas within my mind. I learned to visualize the world through the memories and descriptions I cherished, creating a unique tapestry of colors that only I could see. Just like the lyrics in the song, “God’s Coloring Book,” my mind became a sanctuary of “reds and yellows and blues” that brought endless joy and inspiration.

 

3. Unseen Colors and Unforgettable Memories

While I can no longer physically see the colors around me, the memories of vibrant moments are etched in my heart forever. I remember the softness of a velvety rose, the smell of fresh rain, and the taste of a juicy, perfectly ripe mango. These memories, like the words in “God’s Coloring Book,” serve as a constant reminder that colors are not just seen, but felt, tasted, and experienced in the depths of our souls.

 

4. Painting My World with Words

Instead of relying on physical sight, I’ve discovered the power of words to bring colors to life. Through descriptive language, I can share the vivid hues that once graced my world with others. I strive to use words that evoke the same emotions and sensations that colors do, just like the lyrics of “God’s Coloring Book” transport us to a world of imagination and beauty.

 

Conclusion:

As I wrap up this blog, I want to emphasize that losing my sight was not the end of my colorful journey, but rather the beginning of a new one. Through the canvas of my mind and the power of words, I continue to experience the world in all its technicolor glory. My hope is that by sharing my story and embracing the spirit of “God’s Coloring Book,” others may find inspiration to see beyond what their eyes perceive and discover the infinite beauty that lies within. Remember, life is a masterpiece waiting to be explored, one stroke of color at a time.

Living with vision and hearing loss!

I feel like it is easier to adapt a little better with hearing loss than it is with vision loss. I have lost more hearing  in the last seven years. So now I am an adult with hearing  loss. I was a teenager when I lost my vision. It took me a couple of years to really deal with the depression that comes with vision loss. I have adjusted quite well and it is all because of dealing with others who are deaf blind as well. Also trusting God through out all of it.

 

 

I’ve also have been put in touch with the Helen Keller National Center for the deaf blind. I never knew that there was so much support out there for the deaf blind.

 

I have met so many wonderful people who has helped and answered a lot of questions. I have had so many questions and they have been nothing but nice answering everything I have asked. I am so glad for all the support I have received.

 

Now wearing the hearing aids is a story in itself. The first thing is I have very small ears. So my hearing aids had to be made like a childs’ hearing aid. The part that goes down in the ear canal  kept coming out. So we decided to try a different ear mold and make it where didn’t go quite down in the ear canals but it fits like an  earbudd.

 Now these are working out really well. I have to adjust them but not as much as I did with the first  ear piece for the hearing aid. So now I am living life just a little bit easier.

 

The hearing aids are a big help to me because I do have a job and it requires me to use my hearing a lot.

 

I am also learning tactile sign language for the deaf blind.  As a teenager I learned the alphabette. So since I learned the alphabette I am well on my way to learning  tactile sign language.

 

 

I’m so excited to be able to communicate with other deaf blind people, who will become great friends. I really like networking and getting out there to make friends. It’s kind of hard at first but I make myself try hard and I forget about being shy.

 

I have to thank  God for some wonderful people in my life. Especially my friend  Lisa who taught me some sign language when I was a teenager.  Lisa and her husband have been working with the deaf and def blind for over 30 years now.  I am so glad we crossed paths many years ago.

 

God puts people in your life at the right  time.

 

Thank you for reading my  short blog. Until next time. KTF

 

Keep The Faith!

 

F forget!

A all!

I i’m!

T Trusting!

H Him!  

 

 

Mama Dottie

I wrote this six years ago and decided to clean it up and share.

This is something close and dear to my hart. I hope you can understand where I am coming from and how I am feeling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 For those of y’all who don’t know my adoptive mom passed away on Oct 7th 2015  

 

 

 On the wings of a dove;

 

 

 My heart aches today for someone who I called mom who was taken to heaven on this date six years ago.

 

  Dottie Fraker was a very special person to me and she helped me in so many ways. She use to  tell me I  didn’t give birth to you but we do have a mother/ daughter bond.

 

 

 I just can’t find the words

 to explain  how  I’m feeling.

 

 

 I just listened to her favorite song and the tears just won’t stop flowing.

 

 I know I will see her again. She touched so many people lives. While she was on this  earth. She is truly what you would call a proverbs 31 woman.

 

 Whenever you were at her house you always felt at home. I don’t think she ever met a stranger in her life. She left foot prints on peoples hearts  when she came into their lives.

 

 I miss you so much Mama Dottie. I love you and you will never be forgotten.

 

I still have to stop myself from calling your old number to just talk or ask for a recipe.

 

I know I will see you again someday. I will close my blind eyes on this side of heaven  and wake in heaven and the first face I will see is Jesus.

 

So we have to say good bye for just a little while but we will see each other again.

 

 

Her favorite song was called , On The Wings Of A Dove.

 

I have played this song quite a bit, but it helps me a lot.

 

 

 

 

 

 On the wings of a snow white dove  he sends his pure sweet love. A sign from above on the wings of a dove.

 

 

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I appreciate it more than you know.

 

 

 

 

Until next time KTF Keep The Faith

Remember as much as I love you, Jesus loves you even more!

Autumn

Well Autumn  is here again and do y’all  know what that  means. Apple picking,  hay rides and hot apple cider and hot chocolate and nice days and the cool nights. There is a lot more i could write about but i’d run out of room. Oh yes let’s not forget football.

Also thinking about Autumn that is a new season and new things come about in a new season.

 

Right now my life is so different than last year at this time. I think about what was going on in my life and I cannot help but give God the glory.

I know he favors me. I am his and he is mines.

I know I have been talked about and lied on but my God knows me and he favors me.

 

I listen to a song every morning and it reminds me that I am not walking this journey alone and even though I feel like it at times he carries me  through. The title of the song is God favored me, by  Hezekiah Walker. That song gets my day started.  

 

In spite of everything I am blessed and his grace is sufficient for me. Like the season is new the day is new and even though I mess up on a daily basis  my God has me in his arms.

 

I just started a new job and it is right now overwhelming but I can do all things through Christ that strengthen me.  

Yesterday was very hard on my brain and I know the only way I got through it all was Christ. I did my six classes in three hours. Usually people do them over a week, but with Gods’ help I finished.

Faith as small as a mustard seed will move a mountain. This is my walk from now on. I have been looking at the broad picture and I just have to look on the small things.

 

Starting with me believing that the Lord has me and he will never leave me,  like man will  down here on this earth. When God says forever he means forever.

 

Friends may come and go from your life God stays with you until the end.

 

Just a few thoughts that are going through my mind. So thank you for reading my blog.

Until next time, KTF Keep The Faith. Remember as much as I love you, Jesus loves you even more!

Mustard seed faith

Thank you Lord for  taking care of me.

 

This journey started back in 2011. I was working a job that I couldn’t advance on  at all. My supervisor at the time wasn’t a very pleasant person to work for.

 

I went to the conference room for my yearly evaluation to receive my yearly raise.

Needless to say that meeting didn’t go as I expected it to go.

I was told that my attitude was bad and I would never make it on another job. Also was not given my full raise. I was disappointed when I left the conference room.

I felt like I was just kicked in the stomach and almost cried.

I couldn’t talk to my husband at the time about what was going on.

So I lasted only two more years on that job.

Work was slow and they lost some contracts. So  I was laidoff along with 27 other people. I was told it was temporarily. I was called back a couple of months later and worked for just one week and was just let go again. I didn’t know what to think about what just happened.

I have tried and tried to get back to work.

Everytime this particular company needed some people to work I called the temp service that we were told to call and get set up with. When all is said and done I was told that you are on the do not call back list. I don’t understand why this happened. I always did what I was told.

I just wasn’t going to let the supervisor and HR people talk to me any kind of way.

I felt harassed on the job and I really couldn’t report it, because I felt like everyone was against me.

I do admitt that sometimes I let my mouth get the best of me. Well when you’re getting picked at on a daily basis and your support isn’t there  then you defend yourself.

I had people watching me all the time and there were some lies told on me. I was written up for some things I didn’t do. I did not sign the write-up. I wasn’t going to take the blame for something I didn’t do. I stood my ground and lost a job because of standing up for myself.

This blog isn’t a pitty party for myself. I’m informing everyone that the Lord had different plans for my life.

He didn’t want me stuck on a job that I wasn’t about to be able to advance at and people mistreat me.

I have been trying to get some employment for the last eight years. I have been to the point where I felt like I would never work again.

My old supervisor’s words rolling around in my head and making me feel very low.

 

My confidence is a lot better now. I have the best support ever. I have the Lord on my side. When the Lord is on your side, you are on the winning side.I know I can do all things through Christ.

 

 

Philippians 4-13 says,

 

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

 

I have some news. I went to an interview a few weeks ago and with the help of my Lord and some people speaking on my behalf I received a job. So to God be the glory.

 

Faith as small as a mustard seed can move a mountain. I trusted God and he took care of me.

 

Thank you for reading my blog. Until next timeKTF: Keep The Faith, as much as I love you, Jesus loves you even more.

Life and death all in one day. please pray for my family

Hello darkness my old enemy.  You thought you had my family once again. Jesus Christ has the light that shines within. Christ has us from the beginning until the end.

 

Isaiah 41-10

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

 

Deuteronomy 31-6

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

 

Although we have been visited by death our Lord will get us through this difficult time. We have each other and trust God he has  his loving arms around us.

 

This broke my heart to hear of my young cousins’ death.

During this time of mourning God has already showed grace.

My Aunt Edna and my cousin Monica has suffered a great loss. My aunt Edna has lost a grand son and gained a great grand daughter on one of the darkest days of her life.  

In spite of the storm we are going through right now there is a ray of sunshine.

 

I would like to take this time and let my family know I love y’all unconditionally. Also we need to stick together like gorilla glue.

Also a family that prays together, stays together.   

 

As much as I love you, Jesus loves you even more!

Christ is all you need 🙏🙏

Have you ever heard anyone say there is no God? I’ve heard that very thing quite a bit in my lifetime.   

 

I am here to tell you God exists. He is everywhere you look.

Wait a minute you are blind how can you look  around? Yes I have been asked those types of questions. I am physically blind but not spiritually blind.

I see God’s work everyday.

 The reason I say God exist is because everything I have asked for he has provided in some way, shape or form. I am going to my brother’s place for Independence Day and I am traveling on public transportation. I needed bus fare.  I was going to see if I could get  the correct fare at church.

I soon realized I had given my daughter the last 5 I had in my wallet. So no cash and that means no bus fare.

This is what I did. I just said, “God I need some bus fare please.” I gave it to God and went about my business.

 

I didn’t even think about it until I was on my way home from church tonight June 30.  

 

Brother Paul Pendl preached tonight because pastor is on vacation.  So brother Paul asked a question before starting his message tonight. He also had a liberty bell bank full of quarters. He was going to give it away to the first  person who answered his question correctly.

 

Yes, I am going to tell you the question.

 

Who is Hadassah?

I sat there for a bit to let the other people try to answer. No one knew who  Hadassah was in the bible. Hadassah was Esther.  

I finally answered the question and received the liberty bell bank.

 

So god provided again like he always does. I have been saying for the last few years that God’s timing is the best timing. He always comes right on time. I stepped out on faith and it paid off.

 

I have had to learn to just give it to God and not try to fix it myself.  

God used Paul Pendl to give me some   bus fare. So to God be the glory. Matthew 6-33  

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added  on to you. Matthew 7-7    

 

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

 

So what it all boils down to is this, trust God even in the hardest times and in the best times. This may seem like something small, but it is a blessing to me. God took care of my needs. So now I don’t have to figure out how am I going to get to the ATM and then get the correct fare for the bus. My God always takes very good care of me.   

 

Also if you don’t know  Christ, you can get to know him today. All you have to do is pray this prayer and believe in your heart, and then you can know Christ today.

 

 

 

Dear Jesus, I know I’m a sinner and would be lost in hell without You. Please forgive me for my sins and come into my life. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and that God, Your Father, raised You from the dead. Thank You, Jesus, for giving me Your free gift of eternal life. Amen.

 

 

If you prayed that prayer and meant it in your heart you are now a child of the king. You also can lean on him for everything.  

 

Thank you for reading my blog, until next time as much as I love you Jesus loves you even more!!!

KTF Keep The Faith ☺️

Think before you speak part 2 🤔

I thought long and hard before writing this post. This happened to me about 2 years  ago.

I will apologize before submitting this blog because I know people will read it and know about what I am talking about.

 

I had worked hard on making a couple of pumpkin pies. One for home and one for the Missions banquet. With the help of my daughter Jenn she helped me with the pie crust. No matter how hard I try I still have a hard time with getting the edges just right. So I always ask for assistance when baking  a pie.

 

So I felt very confident about my pie. So I took it to the Missions banquet.

I also was a little nervous about people eating my food. I really don’t want to bash sighted people, but some of them are very skittish about eating my food. So sometimes I just don’t make anything at all.  I have actually made things in the past and have brought the whole dish back home because people found out someone who is  blind made the food and no one ate.

So now you know why I pull back and just don’t do anything. All my hard work  to prove myself that I am a good cook went to waste.

 

Well this time my hard work paid off. I had been nervous that week and I asked the Lord for help. It may seem like a small task to you all but it was a big deal to me. I always ask the Lord for his help I am by myself a lot of the time.

 

 

 

So now back to my pie, I was just sitting and thinking out loud like I have a tendency to do at times. Not realizing that someone was listening to me. This is the hardest part of being blind you never know who is around you when you do things like think out loud.

 

I was amazed that my pie had only one piece left. The other individual person who had made a pecan pie had 3 pieces left.  I was just thinking wow I have one piece of pie and the other person has 3 pieces left. I was smiling and before I could say to God be the glory, someone said to me “Your not getting it we are going to see if so and so wants it.” I didn’t want pecan pie in the first place. I was taken a back by that person’s words.

I was very disappointed in that treatment. I also bit my tongue so hard that tears filled my eyes and had to make myself not cry.

proverbs 13-3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

 

 

 

I have been taught in my life you have to pick your  battles and that is exactly what I did that night. Even though it would have been so easy to lose my temper and starting a cursing and shouting match. I chose to be silent. Proverbs 15-1-2

 

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

 

Also I realized it wouldn’t have been right to do this at church. I still see the person every Sunday and I am cordial towards the particular person and I have to look at it in this way too. I’m old enough to be the parent and if they can disrespect me in that way then they will do it to others.

I’m not telling  you all to do what I did but if it happens to you please think before you speak.   I was always told if  you can’t  say anything nice then don’t say anything at all.

 

So what I did was just let it roll off my back. Hurtful words can sting no matter what age you are.

 

So my advice to you is to choose your words wisely and think before you speak.

 

You may never know what a person is going through. They could be smiling on the outside and broken on the inside and your actions could very well push them over the  edge.

 

Please take the time to get to know someone and just because they may have a handicap you may very well learn a lot from those individuals.

 

I may have been born with a handicap and may look different to others. In God’s eyes I am perfectly made. Simply because I am his and he is mine.  All the scars from the eye surgeries may be there but God doesn’t see it at all. He sees me and the way he made me.

 

If you want to know the Lord in this way all you need is to ask him into your heart.

 

 

       Dear Jesus, I know I’m a sinner and would be lost in hell without You. Please forgive me for my sins and come into my life. I believe that You died on the cross for my sins and that God, Your Father, raised You from the dead. Thank You, Jesus, for giving me Your free gift of eternal life. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, you now belong to Jesus and jesus belongs to you.

So to sum this blog up, think before you speak because words can hurt and once they are out you cannot take them back.

Thank you for reading my blog. 🙂

 

Remember as much as I love you Jesus loves you even more.

 

Until next time, KTF Keep The Faith!!!