legally blind – mamasmunchkin

Derek Hough Dances with Brilynn Rakes

April 10, 2013 by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

I was watching “Dancing with the Stars” last night and heard that the “AT&T Spotlight Performance” was going to feature Derek Hough and a legally blind dancer. If you follow my posts, I’ve talked a lot about different adaptive sports. Adaptive sports are a way for people who are disabled to go out and participate in different activities such as basketball, bowling and martial arts. I feel like it’s important to get out there and be as active as you can, no matter your limitations.

When, I saw Brilynn dance with Derek, it was amazing! Hearing her story about how she adjusted to learning dance, because she can’t see in mirrors at the studio was just great. She didn’t go to any adaptive dancing classes but, instead, made modifications to the way she learned to dance on her own. The way she’s found alternatives to accomplishing her goals just shows how we can all be inventive when we have something we want to achieve. She even has problems with her balance but, that didn’t stop her either.

No matter what obstacles she’s faced in life, she found a way to make her dream of becoming a dancer come true. We shouldn’t limit ourselves in what we want to do. There are always ways to reach our goals. Sometimes it just takes the encouragement of those who love us most and a belief in ourselves to make it happen.

To find out more information about Brilynn Rakes you can go to the link below:

http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/dancing-with-the-stars/spotlight-performances/s16-brilynn-rakes-bio

Thanks for reading..

Relationships and Disability

November 30, 2012 by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

I was watching “The Jeff Probst Show” this past Monday and he was talking to Deborah Ann Woll from the HBO series “True Blood”. Her boyfriend happens to be legally blind because of a rare condition called Choroideremia. What I happened to find most interesting about the interview was that they were talking about the modified dates they have been on because things like the sun are painful to her boyfriend’s eyes and can actually speed up his vision loss.

No matter what a person’s disability is, they have a right to have relationships with the opposite sex if they so choose. There might be some impact on the non-disabled person’s life but depending on the disability, this is not always the case. Also, if they love each other or really like each other it shouldn’t matter either way.

It was also interesting to me that during the interview, Deborah’s boyfriend (his name is E.J.) said that while he was trying to date people, some were bothered by his disability. Unfortunately, I know firsthand, from past experience, that some people can not handle dating someone who has a disability. In the long run, it is the person with out the disability who misses out, not the other way around.

As I was thinking about this, I can’t say that one gender is more likely to date a disabled person than the other. I just really think it depends on the person’s personality and their experiences that would make them more or less likely to be open to dating someone with a disability.

All in all, relationships can be complicated enough. People should not start out from the beginning with the attitude that things cannot work out with someone who is disabled, (or really vice versa for those who have a disability that are a little leery on dating someone who isn’t disabled.) just because they may have to do things a bit differently with that person. If they are interested in dating one another, they should just have an open mind about it and see how it works out.

Why is it that when you mention the words “dating” and “disability” in the same sentence, the topic seems so out of the ordinary to some people?

Thanks for reading..

What is your dream?

July 11, 2012 by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

What dream do you want to accomplish in life? Maybe there is more than one dream that you are working on making a reality. I have been very lucky that despite my obstacles, I have been able to make my dreams reality. A person, disabled or not, should never let the obstacles they face stand in the way of their dreams.

I was watching Good Morning America this morning and saw a great example of this come to fruition for someone. Connor Boss is legally blind and she is a Miss Florida contestant. How awesome is that! Despite her visual limitations, she has a great attitude about accomplishing her goals and seems to see the glass more “half full” than “half empty”. She is living her life to the fullest and is a great example of determination.

Disabilities don’t have to be the end of the world for people. I just see them as a way to become innovative in reaching your goals.

Here is the link to the story I referenced above:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/miss-florida-usa-contestant-legally-blind/story?id=16741255