I was diagnosed with brett nyter pigmentosa when i was 15 years old
pigmentosa when i was 15 years old
pigmentosa when i was 15 years old RP as it’s known and I was really
RP as it’s known and I was really
RP as it’s known and I was really embarrassed about it
embarrassed about it
embarrassed about it and I went to school and I was worried
and I went to school and I was worried
and I went to school and I was worried about kids making fun of me I was
about kids making fun of me I was
about kids making fun of me I was worried about them not wanting to be my
worried about them not wanting to be my
worried about them not wanting to be my friends because I had such there was
friends because I had such there was
friends because I had such there was such a big difference in me and them and
such a big difference in me and them and
such a big difference in me and them and so I hid that so many things many other
so I hid that so many things many other
so I hid that so many things many other things happened but none of them would
things happened but none of them would
things happened but none of them would are as significant as what I would
are as significant as what I would
are as significant as what I would experience in my future and I was 20
experience in my future and I was 20
experience in my future and I was 20 years old right before I turned 21 I had
years old right before I turned 21 I had
years old right before I turned 21 I had a baby girl and she was delivered and
a baby girl and she was delivered and
a baby girl and she was delivered and the pressure and how scared I was that
the pressure and how scared I was that
the pressure and how scared I was that Julia was born to a very young mom
Julia was born to a very young mom
Julia was born to a very young mom terrified me so as I’m in the hospital
terrified me so as I’m in the hospital
terrified me so as I’m in the hospital two days after Julia was delivered a
two days after Julia was delivered a
two days after Julia was delivered a Child Protective Services social worker
Child Protective Services social worker
Child Protective Services social worker came to my room and she said to me I
came to my room and she said to me I
came to my room and she said to me I said avetis
said avetis
said avetis we’re gonna need for you to demonstrate
we’re gonna need for you to demonstrate
we’re gonna need for you to demonstrate some things because the hospital is very
some things because the hospital is very
some things because the hospital is very worried about you taking Julie home
worried about you taking Julie home
worried about you taking Julie home because you’re blind and I was really
because you’re blind and I was really
because you’re blind and I was really angry and I was really upset
angry and I was really upset
angry and I was really upset and it was pretty insulted and I didn’t
and it was pretty insulted and I didn’t
and it was pretty insulted and I didn’t know what to do so I had to pass these
know what to do so I had to pass these
know what to do so I had to pass these tests I had to hold Julia feed her I had
tests I had to hold Julia feed her I had
tests I had to hold Julia feed her I had to bathe her and I had to dress her
to bathe her and I had to dress her
to bathe her and I had to dress her appropriately in front of the social
appropriately in front of the social
appropriately in front of the social worker and I did those things
worker and I did those things
worker and I did those things it changed my life because after the
it changed my life because after the
it changed my life because after the anger I realized that I needed to move
anger I realized that I needed to move
anger I realized that I needed to move forward in my life and I needed to look
forward in my life and I needed to look
forward in my life and I needed to look normal
normal
normal I needed to present to society that I
I needed to present to society that I
I needed to present to society that I was a regular mom and then I’m
was a regular mom and then I’m
was a regular mom and then I’m confidence and that I could do those
confidence and that I could do those
confidence and that I could do those things because it was more important to
things because it was more important to
things because it was more important to take Julia home than to worry about how
take Julia home than to worry about how
take Julia home than to worry about how angry I was but just so you guys can
angry I was but just so you guys can
angry I was but just so you guys can sleep tonight I want you to know that
sleep tonight I want you to know that
sleep tonight I want you to know that Julia is 19 and my other children and
Julia is 19 and my other children and
Julia is 19 and my other children and they’re all watching and so you guys are
they’re all watching and so you guys are
they’re all watching and so you guys are okay she’s good to go
so just i speaking of being okay I want
so just i speaking of being okay I want you guys to know that I’m going to talk
you guys to know that I’m going to talk
you guys to know that I’m going to talk to people who can see and then I’m gonna
to people who can see and then I’m gonna
to people who can see and then I’m gonna talk to people who can’t see my people
talk to people who can’t see my people
talk to people who can’t see my people so first I want to start talking to all
so first I want to start talking to all
so first I want to start talking to all of you who can see and I want to explain
of you who can see and I want to explain
of you who can see and I want to explain to you it’s important that you know that
to you it’s important that you know that
to you it’s important that you know that people who are blind can do regular
people who are blind can do regular
people who are blind can do regular stuff like we can put our makeup on we
stuff like we can put our makeup on we
stuff like we can put our makeup on we can calm our hair we can pick out nice
can calm our hair we can pick out nice
can calm our hair we can pick out nice outfits we can tell you how to get from
outfits we can tell you how to get from
outfits we can tell you how to get from point A to point B I can tell you that
point A to point B I can tell you that
point A to point B I can tell you that you can back out of my driveway go left
you can back out of my driveway go left
you can back out of my driveway go left take a right on Grover first lice you
take a right on Grover first lice you
take a right on Grover first lice you come to take a left on caning next
come to take a left on caning next
come to take a left on caning next street light that you come to is gonna
street light that you come to is gonna
street light that you come to is gonna be Lamar go South Lamar right now I’m
be Lamar go South Lamar right now I’m
be Lamar go South Lamar right now I’m the sixth Street take a right with my
the sixth Street take a right with my
the sixth Street take a right with my favorite bar right there I can tell you
favorite bar right there I can tell you
favorite bar right there I can tell you all of those things can do all of those
all of those things can do all of those
all of those things can do all of those things and you’ve got to believe in that
things and you’ve got to believe in that
things and you’ve got to believe in that and it’s hard not to help help is how we
and it’s hard not to help help is how we
and it’s hard not to help help is how we feel good but sometimes help isn’t
feel good but sometimes help isn’t
feel good but sometimes help isn’t always welcome I’m standing at the
always welcome I’m standing at the
always welcome I’m standing at the corner of the light control of
corner of the light control of
corner of the light control of intersection
intersection
intersection and I’m listening because I want to know
and I’m listening because I want to know
and I’m listening because I want to know what this light cycle is doing where the
what this light cycle is doing where the
what this light cycle is doing where the traffic is coming from and I need some
traffic is coming from and I need some
traffic is coming from and I need some be sure that when I cross it’s safe and
be sure that when I cross it’s safe and
be sure that when I cross it’s safe and that it’s my turn to cross and never to
that it’s my turn to cross and never to
that it’s my turn to cross and never to believe somebody jumps out of his car
believe somebody jumps out of his car
believe somebody jumps out of his car grabs me by is grabbed me by the arm
grabs me by is grabbed me by the arm
grabs me by is grabbed me by the arm drives me across the street and I’m like
drives me across the street and I’m like
drives me across the street and I’m like huh
huh
huh I I’m supposed to say thank you so thank
I I’m supposed to say thank you so thank
I I’m supposed to say thank you so thank you but I’m now on the wrong side of the
you but I’m now on the wrong side of the
you but I’m now on the wrong side of the street that I didn’t want to be on and
street that I didn’t want to be on and
street that I didn’t want to be on and totally completely 100% disoriented and
totally completely 100% disoriented and
totally completely 100% disoriented and I got a scent right back in that corner
I got a scent right back in that corner
I got a scent right back in that corner and listen again so help yes all you
and listen again so help yes all you
and listen again so help yes all you have to do is ask do you need help and I
have to do is ask do you need help and I
have to do is ask do you need help and I may we may say no or we may say yes but
may we may say no or we may say yes but
may we may say no or we may say yes but it’s a choice also I just it occurs to
it’s a choice also I just it occurs to
it’s a choice also I just it occurs to me that people when they meet somebody
me that people when they meet somebody
me that people when they meet somebody who is blind it is very very difficult
who is blind it is very very difficult
who is blind it is very very difficult for you all to say this B word so we’re
for you all to say this B word so we’re
for you all to say this B word so we’re gonna practice think in your head
gonna practice think in your head
gonna practice think in your head Valerie is blind think in your head
Valerie is blind think in your head
Valerie is blind think in your head Valerie’s mine
now say valerie is blind perfect now my
now say valerie is blind perfect now my people were not visually challenged
people were not visually challenged
people were not visually challenged vigil a disabled were perfect and now
vigil a disabled were perfect and now
vigil a disabled were perfect and now you guys are comfortable with saying the
you guys are comfortable with saying the
you guys are comfortable with saying the word perfect so it is that simple it is
word perfect so it is that simple it is
word perfect so it is that simple it is just I know it’s not here but we just
just I know it’s not here but we just
just I know it’s not here but we just bridged a gap so thank you very much for
bridged a gap so thank you very much for
bridged a gap so thank you very much for doing that now I want to I want to talk
doing that now I want to I want to talk
doing that now I want to I want to talk to my people I mean all of you are my
to my people I mean all of you are my
to my people I mean all of you are my people in some way right my girlfriends
people in some way right my girlfriends
people in some way right my girlfriends my brown people you know my shorties you
my brown people you know my shorties you
my brown people you know my shorties you know we’re all people but right now I’m
know we’re all people but right now I’m
know we’re all people but right now I’m going to talk to my people my blind
going to talk to my people my blind
going to talk to my people my blind people because we also bear the burden
people because we also bear the burden
people because we also bear the burden of helping to bridge gaps to help bridge
of helping to bridge gaps to help bridge
of helping to bridge gaps to help bridge differences one thing is that sometimes
differences one thing is that sometimes
differences one thing is that sometimes it can be really difficult not to ask
it can be really difficult not to ask
it can be really difficult not to ask for help so when you ask for help and
for help so when you ask for help and
for help so when you ask for help and you are with your co-workers your family
you are with your co-workers your family
you are with your co-workers your family your friends or just average people it’s
your friends or just average people it’s
your friends or just average people it’s hard when you if you’re constantly
hard when you if you’re constantly
hard when you if you’re constantly asking for help for them not to really
asking for help for them not to really
asking for help for them not to really think of it as an annoyance and you’re
think of it as an annoyance and you’re
think of it as an annoyance and you’re kind of a pain and I want a sudden you
kind of a pain and I want a sudden you
kind of a pain and I want a sudden you walk into the room and they feel like oh
walk into the room and they feel like oh
walk into the room and they feel like oh and Lord to run away from the blind girl
and Lord to run away from the blind girl
and Lord to run away from the blind girl so I want you guys to know my people to
so I want you guys to know my people to
so I want you guys to know my people to know that what skills do we have to hold
know that what skills do we have to hold
know that what skills do we have to hold the help card listen I’m gonna be really
the help card listen I’m gonna be really
the help card listen I’m gonna be really honest if you say to me hey Valerie come
honest if you say to me hey Valerie come
honest if you say to me hey Valerie come with me to buffet I’m gonna go mmm not
with me to buffet I’m gonna go mmm not
with me to buffet I’m gonna go mmm not my most shiny moment buffets
my most shiny moment buffets
my most shiny moment buffets so what skill do I have in my repertoire
so what skill do I have in my repertoire
so what skill do I have in my repertoire that I look the most graceful that’s not
that I look the most graceful that’s not
that I look the most graceful that’s not one of them however however
one of them however however
one of them however however there are some graceful things that I
there are some graceful things that I
there are some graceful things that I have in my repertoire that I do want you
have in my repertoire that I do want you
have in my repertoire that I do want you to see in the moments that are important
to see in the moments that are important
to see in the moments that are important the moments that matter so I’m going to
the moments that matter so I’m going to
the moments that matter so I’m going to this buffet and I’m going to go to the
this buffet and I’m going to go to the
this buffet and I’m going to go to the buffet and I have my plate and there’s
buffet and I have my plate and there’s
buffet and I have my plate and there’s someone next to me and I lightly tap
someone next to me and I lightly tap
someone next to me and I lightly tap their foot with my cane and I say hi how
their foot with my cane and I say hi how
their foot with my cane and I say hi how are you and he might go I’m fine how are
are you and he might go I’m fine how are
are you and he might go I’m fine how are you and I say what looks good to you
you and I say what looks good to you
you and I say what looks good to you he might go vegetarian lasagna and I’m
he might go vegetarian lasagna and I’m
he might go vegetarian lasagna and I’m like me too great and then I might say
like me too great and then I might say
like me too great and then I might say get the lasagna and I might say do you
get the lasagna and I might say do you
get the lasagna and I might say do you think that you could carry this drink
think that you could carry this drink
think that you could carry this drink for me while I carry my plate and use my
for me while I carry my plate and use my
for me while I carry my plate and use my cane and I can live the most graceful
cane and I can live the most graceful
cane and I can live the most graceful and I can hold on to my help card and
and I can hold on to my help card and
and I can hold on to my help card and it’s those kind of techniques that we
it’s those kind of techniques that we
it’s those kind of techniques that we are hoping that together as blind people
are hoping that together as blind people
are hoping that together as blind people we can share with our young kids and
we can share with our young kids and
we can share with our young kids and lastly I want us to really know that
lastly I want us to really know that
lastly I want us to really know that what we look like to people who can see
what we look like to people who can see
what we look like to people who can see it matters we we wish that we lived in
it matters we we wish that we lived in
it matters we we wish that we lived in this society that that didn’t matter but
this society that that didn’t matter but
this society that that didn’t matter but it does people who can see rely and
it does people who can see rely and
it does people who can see rely and judge intentionally or not intentionally
judge intentionally or not intentionally
judge intentionally or not intentionally what people look like based on what
what people look like based on what
what people look like based on what they’re wearing so I get to Texas State
they’re wearing so I get to Texas State
they’re wearing so I get to Texas State this is true sorry get to Texas State
this is true sorry get to Texas State
this is true sorry get to Texas State yesterday and I’m going to coming to
yesterday and I’m going to coming to
yesterday and I’m going to coming to rehearsal I’m in Centennial Hall and
rehearsal I’m in Centennial Hall and
rehearsal I’m in Centennial Hall and there’s two brilliant professors doctor
there’s two brilliant professors doctor
there’s two brilliant professors doctor and doctor and we stand in from the
and doctor and we stand in from the
and doctor and we stand in from the light we’re in front of the elevator and
light we’re in front of the elevator and
light we’re in front of the elevator and when the doctor says what do you think
when the doctor says what do you think
when the doctor says what do you think about our new boss the other doc the
about our new boss the other doc the
about our new boss the other doc the other professor says well I think he’s
other professor says well I think he’s
other professor says well I think he’s really you know he’s really great and
really you know he’s really great and
really you know he’s really great and he’s like she’s like the older goes no
he’s like she’s like the older goes no
he’s like she’s like the older goes no no he’s awesome he wears jeans and then
no he’s awesome he wears jeans and then
no he’s awesome he wears jeans and then the other the other one goes no he
the other the other one goes no he
the other the other one goes no he doesn’t he wears khakis and then the
doesn’t he wears khakis and then the
doesn’t he wears khakis and then the no I’ve seen him wear jeans and he what
no I’ve seen him wear jeans and he what
no I’ve seen him wear jeans and he what it wasn’t even Friday and she goes oh
it wasn’t even Friday and she goes oh
it wasn’t even Friday and she goes oh great so I thought for this meeting I
great so I thought for this meeting I
great so I thought for this meeting I came in cash because he wears jeans
came in cash because he wears jeans
came in cash because he wears jeans there this man’s jeans khakis jeans
there this man’s jeans khakis jeans
there this man’s jeans khakis jeans khakis was discussed from the time we
khakis was discussed from the time we
khakis was discussed from the time we went first button to go up got a lot
went first button to go up got a lot
went first button to go up got a lot elevator get off Japan and I knew that
elevator get off Japan and I knew that
elevator get off Japan and I knew that this man wears jeans and so he must be
this man wears jeans and so he must be
this man wears jeans and so he must be cool friendly nice bus
cool friendly nice bus
cool friendly nice bus so that’s what people who can see that
so that’s what people who can see that
so that’s what people who can see that they look at those things and it is
they look at those things and it is
they look at those things and it is important and it is up to us because
important and it is up to us because
important and it is up to us because polka dots and stripes it’s not gonna do
polka dots and stripes it’s not gonna do
polka dots and stripes it’s not gonna do it I want you guys to know that we can
it I want you guys to know that we can
it I want you guys to know that we can all teach each other those things and
all teach each other those things and
all teach each other those things and that’s our burden to bear as people who
that’s our burden to bear as people who
that’s our burden to bear as people who are blind so I really am talking about
are blind so I really am talking about
are blind so I really am talking about two separate communities but in order
two separate communities but in order
two separate communities but in order for us to come together to for us to
for us to come together to for us to
for us to come together to for us to bridge gaps it’s important that we
bridge gaps it’s important that we
bridge gaps it’s important that we people who are blind that we gain the
people who are blind that we gain the
people who are blind that we gain the skills and we have grace and we are
skills and we have grace and we are
skills and we have grace and we are prepared to live in the world that we
prepared to live in the world that we
prepared to live in the world that we live in today as people who can see I
live in today as people who can see I
live in today as people who can see I want you to know that if you are a
want you to know that if you are a
want you to know that if you are a business owner if you are a human
business owner if you are a human
business owner if you are a human resource person if you have a nonprofit
resource person if you have a nonprofit
resource person if you have a nonprofit organization and you take volunteers or
organization and you take volunteers or
organization and you take volunteers or you simply have a book club I challenge
you simply have a book club I challenge
you simply have a book club I challenge you and dare you to think about having
you and dare you to think about having
you and dare you to think about having somebody involved who is a friend or a
somebody involved who is a friend or a
somebody involved who is a friend or a family member or the professional skill
family member or the professional skill
family member or the professional skill qualified applicant who happens to be
qualified applicant who happens to be
qualified applicant who happens to be blind a chance and you know my my
blind a chance and you know my my
blind a chance and you know my my favorite poet slash rapper Eminem
favorite poet slash rapper Eminem
favorite poet slash rapper Eminem he says you only get one shot do not
he says you only get one shot do not
he says you only get one shot do not miss this opportunity to blow this
miss this opportunity to blow this
miss this opportunity to blow this chance only comes once in a lifetime
chance only comes once in a lifetime
chance only comes once in a lifetime this is your chance don’t forget about
this is your chance don’t forget about
this is your chance don’t forget about this chance I was in a restaurant it
this chance I was in a restaurant it
this chance I was in a restaurant it might have been a group of bar grill but
might have been a group of bar grill but
might have been a group of bar grill but I was sitting there and I sat at the
I was sitting there and I sat at the
I was sitting there and I sat at the table and there was a table next to me
table and there was a table next to me
table and there was a table next to me and there was a guy there he was with
and there was a guy there he was with
and there was a guy there he was with his friends so there was four guys on
his friends so there was four guys on
his friends so there was four guys on one girl and he was saying I can’t
one girl and he was saying I can’t
one girl and he was saying I can’t believe this
believe this
believe this I just how can I not get a date I’m
I just how can I not get a date I’m
I just how can I not get a date I’m handsome I make a lot of money I have a
handsome I make a lot of money I have a
handsome I make a lot of money I have a wonderful car I own my own house what’s
wonderful car I own my own house what’s
wonderful car I own my own house what’s wrong with me and the girl goes well how
wrong with me and the girl goes well how
wrong with me and the girl goes well how your relationship and he gets no good
your relationship and he gets no good
your relationship and he gets no good and he says can you believe it
and he says can you believe it
and he says can you believe it what’s you know what’s going on with
what’s you know what’s going on with
what’s you know what’s going on with women these days so being that I can
women these days so being that I can
women these days so being that I can hear everything they’re saying I walk
hear everything they’re saying I walk
hear everything they’re saying I walk over there and I tell him tap him on his
over there and I tell him tap him on his
over there and I tell him tap him on his shoulder and I say excuse me sir seems
shoulder and I say excuse me sir seems
shoulder and I say excuse me sir seems like you get all the boxes checked but
like you get all the boxes checked but
like you get all the boxes checked but how are you judging people by their
how are you judging people by their
how are you judging people by their character how are you about giving
character how are you about giving
character how are you about giving someone like me an opportunity I mean I
someone like me an opportunity I mean I
someone like me an opportunity I mean I didn’t mean me but how are you about
didn’t mean me but how are you about
didn’t mean me but how are you about giving someone like me an opportunity
giving someone like me an opportunity
giving someone like me an opportunity because I don’t have a choice
because I don’t have a choice
because I don’t have a choice but to judge you by the content of your
but to judge you by the content of your
but to judge you by the content of your character are you doing the same thank
character are you doing the same thank
character are you doing the same thank you
you
you [Applause]
”
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