Home > Chronicle > April, 2026
The New Jersey Council of the Blind’s mission is to strive for the betterment of the blind and visually impaired community. The purpose of this publication is to provide a forum for the free exchange of ideas, opinions and information that concern blind and visually impaired people.
Reflection and Remembrance
Sometimes it feels like I have nothing to say when it comes time to write a President’s message. Other times, like this one, it feels like there are a million words that could be written. In many ways, that is a gift in itself. From loss, to growth, to advocacy and progress, this message holds many different moments and reflections. It is not something that can easily be drawn down into just a few sentences, but rather a collection of experiences and updates that reflect what our community has been going through and what we continue working toward together.
I want to acknowledge the passing of Mustafaa Shabazz. Rest in paradise to a great man who did a lot for the blind community, the broader disability community, and the blinded veterans community. I met Mustafaa about two or three years before I became involved with this organization. At the time he was working with my aunt, Dr. Jennifer Warren, on a Trenton Housing Authority task force focused on aging and disabled residents in Trenton public housing. The goal was to address accessibility issues, accommodations, and the challenges many residents were facing.
I first really got to know him through the renovation of the Trent Towers. It is a little ironic because now I find myself going through the renovation of my own building, the Rowan Towers, and I truly understand what those residents were feeling at that time. The uncertainty, the frustration, the constant notifications about water shutoffs or power interruptions, not knowing when you might be moved, wondering what will happen to your belongings or whether things will be damaged along the way. It can be a lot to deal with.
I often find myself wishing I could call Mustafaa and ask for his advice because he understood those situations deeply and cared about the people going through them. In the conversations and interactions that I had with him, brief as they may have been compared to others, I still feel that I learned important lessons that I have carried with me into my leadership with the New Jersey Council of the Blind. His dedication to advocacy and to people who needed a voice left an impression on me that I will not forget.
Moments like this also remind us not to take people for granted. We never truly know how long we will have with one another. Time moves quickly and that becomes clearer every year. It feels like this year just began and we are already entering the second quarter.
As we look ahead to our first in person meeting of the year, I want to say how much I truly appreciate the fellowship and camaraderie within this organization. I appreciate every single one of you. The energy you bring. The conversations we share. The ideas that come out of our discussions. The challenges we work through together. Even the jokes we tell along the way. All of that is part of what makes this community special.
I know Mustafaa is not the first member we have lost over the years, and I do not say any of this to place him above anyone else or to overlook others who came before him. This was simply someone I personally connected with, and I wanted to acknowledge that connection and the impact he had on me.
I also want to express appreciation to everyone who helps make this organization what it is. From the board members I work closely with, to the members who attend meetings and stay engaged, to the editor of this Chronicle who helps bring all of this information together for our community. I am not listing names because there are many and I would hate to miss someone, but please know that each of you plays a role in keeping the New Jersey Council of the Blind strong. Without you, this organization would not exist and I would not have had the opportunity to build the relationships that I have through this journey.
Rest in peace once again to Mustafaa Shabazz. Your impact will not be forgotten. Be great and be well.
Looking ahead, I am excited about our upcoming meeting. We will have a great speaker joining us, Krystle Allen, who will be sharing about some of the work and initiatives she is involved with. You will find her bio included in this edition of the Chronicle.
During our business portion of the meeting, we will also hear from Anthony Lazinati in his role as chair of our Outreach and Advocacy Committees. He will provide updates on our advocacy efforts and talk about leadership opportunities related to the leadership convention. Committee updates are always an important part of our meetings because they help keep everyone informed about the work that is happening behind the scenes.
I will also be sharing updates on our outreach efforts and, of course, our convention planning. As always, I encourage anyone who is interested to consider joining one of our committees. We are a volunteer driven organization and the membership truly is the fuel that keeps this vehicle moving forward.
Hopefully by the time this article is published and by the time we gather together in April, I will be able to give you a confirmed location for our upcoming convention. Finding the right space has definitely been an adventure, but the effort will be worth it. The goal is to bring our community together once again in the fall for a day of learning, connection, and shared resources with some outstanding speakers.
At the end of the day, that is what this organization is about. Advocacy. Community. Fellowship. And continuing to move forward together.
As always, be great and be well. Stay advocating. Thank you all.
Our April Quarterly meeting will take place on Saturday, April 25, 2026. We will meet in person at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 1985 Pennington Rd, Ewing NJ 08618, (Find directions at the end.) The meeting will begin promptly at 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm. A Pizza lunch will be from 12:00 pm until 1:00 pm. A cost of $7.00 per person is requested to cover the cost of the food and drinks. For those planning on attending in person and wanting to eat the pizza, please RSVP at 609-672-7059 no later than April 22nd. To attend virtually call 719-300-3278, no access code needed at 1:00 pm. We hope all of you will join us!
Our Guest Speaker
Krystle Allen is a Newark New Jersey native dedicated to empowering the blind and low vision community through advocacy leadership and service. She is the co-founder and president of Eyes Like Mine Inc a Newark based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides peer support community programming and outreach for people who are blind or visually impaired. During the pandemic she transitioned the organization’s services to virtual programming, delivered food packages to visually impaired residents and connected the community with more than 150 global speakers. Her advocacy also helped secure Newark’s official proclamation recognizing the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Krystle serves as a community outreach specialist with the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired and is pursuing a degree in social work with a minor in disability studies at Rutgers University Newark. She is also completing a practicum with the Eye2Eye peer support program through the Rutgers University Psychiatric Department providing peer support and facilitating groups for individuals experiencing vision loss.
She completed the American Foundation for the Blind Centennial Blind Leaders
Professional Development Program and contributed to the anthology The Write 2 Heal and the AFB documentary Possibilities about Helen Keller. A 2023 to 2024 Garden State Leaders Fellow and 2024 ASPECT Fellow with Prevent Blindness Krystle has received several honors including becoming the first legally blind titleholder of the Ms. Newark USA Pageant in 2023 receiving the Miss New Jersey East Coast USA Director’s Choice
Title in 2024 and being crowned Miss Classic Supreme in 2025 through Coast-to-Coast International Pageant Systems. She was also the first blind model featured in Newark’s Fashion Forward showcase during Newark Fashion Week.
We look forward to having her with us in person at our quarterly meeting and hearing more about her work advocacy and continued commitment to uplifting the blind and low vision community.
I want to take a moment to acknowledge a leadership change within our organization. Lisha Pottackal is resigning as First Vice President of the New Jersey Council of the Blind. I personally appreciate all that she has done during her tenure as First Vice President and all the work she contributed during my first term as well. She played a major role in helping facilitate and organize many of the operational parts of our convention, including helping gather speakers and making sure the media portion of the convention ran smoothly. She will definitely be missed as an executive officer on the board. I encourage members to reach out and send her your farewells and well-wishes as she moves on from this role.
As she steps away, we welcome Wanda Williford back as First Vice President.
We also welcome Anthony Lanzilotti as Interim Second Vice President. Anthony is currently the chair of our Outreach and Advocacy Committees and has been doing a wonderful job leading those efforts. I believe he will do great in this interim role.
With that being said, at any point a member may reach out to me or to Jim Dougherty, who serves as our Nominating Committee contact, to request a special election if they wish to run for the office of Second Vice President.
It is not too late to apply for the 2026 Scholarship program. To apply, eligible candidates must be legally blind, will be a full-time college student, undergraduate or graduate, or vocational school student in the 2026 – 2027 academic year and be a New Jersey resident. The deadline to apply is May 15th and the winner will be awarded at our July Quarterly meeting. Full details, application forms and how to apply can be found on our website at www.njcounciloftheblind.org. You may also email questions to scholarships@njcounciloftheblind.org.
Mercer County Happenings:
By President Wanda Williford
Spring is in the air!
This time of year, represents renewal, growth and optimism for the warm weather and fun times to come. The Mercer County Association of the blind is looking forward to a Spring Filled with activities that will bond us as a group and have us grow as individuals. We are committed to our mission of fostering Independence amongst the blind community, through education, engagement and shared experiences. After our winter of the never melting snow, we all deserve to get out and spread our toes in the warm grass and share a laugh or two.
Reflecting back on the coldest and snowiest winter we have experienced in many years; I am impressed by the determination of the MCAB membership. Our three winter meetings had no less than 35 members in attendance. They were as determined and tenacious as any mail carrier trudging through the ice and snow to come together for our various speakers and one another. In January, we discussed all things audio description, in addition to members sharing their favorite after school TV programs. There were a lot of cowboys and cartoons being watched by this group, while munching on PB&J, back in the day. We shared the ends and out of enabling audio description for broadcast television, streaming and movie theater going. In February, we were joined by wellness expert, Steven Guarino. He shared a plethora of information on staying safe inside and outside of the home, by avoiding falls. And, what to do if you experience an unavoidable accident in or out of your home. Additionally, we were graced with a performance by the group, timeless. These gentlemen came all the way from Philadelphia to sing in wonderful harmonies songs of the '60s and '70s. Their rendition of Smokey Robinson's, Ooh Baby Baby, was so good, our favorite couple, Pat and Mary, spontaneously took a spin around the dance floor. In March, we held our annual trivia night. Six teams battle to determine who will be crowned the trivia Titans and come Away with a Dunkin’ gift card for their efforts. Additionally, MCAB conducted a technology workshop in person on March 7th, we conducted our first in person technology workshop. Instructor, Mac Biggers, gave us an overview of the accessibility features of both the iPhone and Android platforms. We spent the afternoon learning, lunching and laughing.
Looking ahead, our spring activities will include a walk in the park and lessons from an orientation and mobility specialist. MCAB plans to take a trip to Mercer County Park and visit the Vietnam veteran’s memorial. Vietnam veteran and MCAB member, Paul Ressler, well guide the group through a tour of the memorial, which he helped to build, through fundraising efforts of over $250,000. Additionally, we will host the Mercer County transportation system, TRADE. Their representative will provide us with information regarding the service and how we can utilize it to navigate doctor's appointments, entertainment and shopping. Lastly, we will host an O&M specialist who will educate us on how to navigate the world with our white cane.
Sadly, we lost long time MCAB member and friend, Mustafaa Shabazz. He was a legacy member of our organization; we will miss his generosity of spirit and booming laugh. Mustafaa served in leadership for the Mercer County Association of the Blind as both president and vice president for several terms. We will forever be in deep appreciation for his service and advocacy on behalf of our members. The following words were taken from his funeral program and written by his children.
Mustafaa A. Shabazz beloved father, grandfather, veteran, and advocate, passed away peacefully on February 13, 2026, at the age of 73. Born on October 14, 1952, in Plainfield, New Jersey, to the late Leroy Ingram and Anna Vann, Mustafaa was raised in Roselle, NJ and went on to make Trenton, New Jersey, his lifelong home. A proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Mustafaa served honorably at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Following his service, he pursued higher education at Rutgers University–Camden, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree. His dedication to education and service shaped the values he instilled in those around him. Later in life, after losing his sight, Mustafaa transformed challenge into purpose. His resilience and steadfast commitment led him to become a leading member of both the Mercer County Association of the Blind and the New Jersey Association for the Blind. There, he became a voice for others and a symbol of strength and compassion in his community. Mustafaa’s warmth, humor, and unwavering advocacy touched the lives of many. To his family and friends, he will always be remembered for his big heart, sharp mind, and generous spirit. His presence brought light wherever he went. A proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Mustafaa is survived by his loving children, Jamaal Smith and Rasheedah Shabazz-Mana-Mana; and his cherished grandchildren—Raven Smith, Jamaal Smith Jr., Legacy Smith, Chandler Smith, Chase Smith, Lusiro Mana-Mana, and Langston Mana-Mana—who will forever carry his lessons and love forward. Having courageously battled kidney failure and bladder cancer in recent years, Mustafaa faced his illness with the same determination that defined his life. In both triumph and hardship, he never stopped fighting. Though his earthly body could no longer sustain him, his spirit remains unbroken. Dad, we will miss you deeply. Your legacy of love, strength, and perseverance will continue to guide us always.
May Allah grant you peace, mercy, and the highest place in Jannah.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un.
“Surely we belong to God, and to Him shall we return.”
Advocacy in Action – Let’s Keep Advocating
By Sabastian Warren
I want to take a moment to share a little bit about some advocacy work that has been happening behind the scenes. Transparency with our membership is important to me, and I think it is helpful for everyone to understand some of the efforts that take place outside of our regular meetings.
Recently, I have been involved in supporting a proposal related to expanding NaviLens technology in major New Jersey transit hubs. This effort has been a collaborative one that includes partners from the blind community, including members of the National Federation of the Blind, with the shared goal of making transportation a little more comfortable and accessible for our community.
I want to speak about this not only as president of the New Jersey Council of the Blind, but also as someone who lives this experience every day. Like many blind New Jersey residents, I regularly travel on the train and move through our transit stations. Navigating those environments can be extremely difficult. Information about platforms, entrances, ticket areas, and service changes is usually communicated visually. Many times we enter a station and have no real way of knowing exactly where we are within that environment without stopping to ask someone for help.
There have been many moments where I step into a station, pause, listen carefully, and try to figure out where the entrance is, where the platform might be, or how to reach the area I need. When I experience that frustration myself, I often think about our members across the state who are dealing with the exact same challenges every day. If it is difficult for me, I can only imagine what many others in our community experience when trying to navigate these large and often confusing transit hubs.
Technology like NaviLens has the potential to make a real difference. By placing high contrast markers throughout transit stations that can be detected by a smartphone camera, blind and low vision travelers can receive real time audio information about entrances, platforms, ticketing areas, and other key locations within the station. Instead of guessing or wandering through a space hoping to find someone to assist us, tools like this allow us to move through these environments with greater independence and confidence.
This effort is still in the proposal and advocacy stage, and there is no guarantee of approval, but I wanted the membership to know that work like this is happening and that our organization continues to support initiatives that move accessibility forward. If successful, improvements like this could make a meaningful difference for blind travelers throughout New Jersey.
There is another advocacy effort where our membership can help make a difference. The American Council of the Blind is currently encouraging affiliates and members to support the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act, also known as the CVTA. This legislation is intended to update federal accessibility law so that it better reflects how people access media today.
Many of us no longer rely primarily on traditional cable television. Instead, we watch content through streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, and others. For people who are blind or have low vision, access to audio description is essential in order to fully understand visual elements of a show or film. Audio description provides narration of important visual details such as scene changes, body language, and on screen actions that sighted viewers naturally receive.
Earlier legislation made important progress in expanding accessibility requirements for television and video programming, but the law has not fully kept pace with the way media is delivered today. The CVTA aims to ensure that accessibility, including audio description, continues to expand in the modern digital and streaming environment.
I encourage our members to consider reaching out to their elected officials to express support for this effort. If you live in the congressional district represented by Congressman Tom Kean Jr., we are specifically encouraging members to contact his office in support of sponsoring this legislation. However, even if you do not live in that district, you can still reach out to your own member of Congress to express support.
Advocacy does not always happen only in meeting rooms or committee calls. Sometimes it starts with a simple email or phone call from a constituent explaining why accessibility matters. Our voices as members of the blind community carry weight when we share our lived experiences.
Let’s keep advocating.
My name is Anthony Lanzilotti, and I am proud to be one of the newest members of the New Jersey Council of the Blind. As someone who was born totally blind, I understand firsthand the challenges that blind and visually impaired individuals face every single day. From navigating unfamiliar environments and relying on public transportation, to accessing technology, reading printed materials, and advocating for equal treatment in schools, workplaces, and healthcare settings—these are not occasional obstacles, but constant realities that shape how we move through the world.
Whether it is something as simple as identifying products in a store, completing forms that are not accessible, or ensuring that digital platforms work with screen readers, we often have to work twice as hard just to accomplish what others take for granted. These experiences have given me a deep appreciation for the importance of strong advocacy, community support, and meaningful representation.
It is for this reason that I am honored to serve as Chair of both the Outreach and Advocacy Committees. Before stepping into these roles, I spent considerable time reflecting on how we can strengthen our advocacy efforts and expand our outreach throughout New Jersey and beyond. I recognize that meaningful change does not happen by accident—it requires intention, collaboration, and a willingness to listen deeply to the needs of our community.
As Chair, my goal is to help build stronger connections with individuals who may feel unheard, to identify barriers that still stand in the way of full participation, and to ensure that our collective voice carries weight in every space where decisions affecting blind and visually impaired people are made. I look forward to working side by side with our members to advance these goals and to ensure that our community’s voice is heard, respected, and represented.
Some of our short‑term outreach and advocacy initiatives include partnering with institutions of higher learning across New Jersey and providing informational materials to their Disability Support Services offices. As many of us know, support for blind and visually impaired students often becomes limited—or disappears entirely—once they leave the K–12 system. Too many young adults enter college without the guidance, resources, or advocacy they need to succeed academically, socially, and professionally.
By strengthening our presence within colleges and universities, we can begin to close that gap. These partnerships allow us to introduce students to the Council early, ensure they know their rights, and connect them with a community that understands their experiences. It also gives us the opportunity to educate faculty and administrators about accessibility, promote best practices, and encourage institutions to adopt more inclusive policies.
This work is not just about distributing materials—it’s about building relationships, raising awareness, and making sure that blind and visually impaired students across New Jersey know they are not alone, and that they have a strong, supportive network standing behind them.
Another key avenue for expanding our advocacy efforts is building partnerships with school districts statewide. By engaging students, families, and educators earlier, we can help ensure that blind and visually impaired youth receive the resources, encouragement, and community connections they need to thrive. When we reach students at a younger age, we can help them build confidence, develop strong self‑advocacy skills, and understand the full range of opportunities available to them.
These partnerships also allow us to support families who may be navigating the world of blindness for the first time, offering guidance, reassurance, and a community that understands their journey. At the same time, working directly with teachers and administrators gives us the chance to promote accessible learning environments, encourage the use of inclusive technology, and help schools adopt practices that empower rather than limit students.
By strengthening our presence in K–12 education, we are not only supporting individual students—we are laying the foundation for long‑term success, independence, and equal opportunity for the next generation of blind and visually impaired leaders.
I believe these multipurpose efforts will help us grow our membership while increasing public awareness of the New Jersey Council of the Blind. By showing up in more spaces, building meaningful relationships, and offering support where it is most needed, we can introduce more people to the value of our work and the strength of our community. These are just a few of the many plans I have to elevate our visibility and expand our presence in communities throughout the state. As we continue to broaden our reach, we will create more opportunities for connection, advocacy, and empowerment for blind and visually impaired individuals across New Jersey.
I will conclude by thanking you for the opportunity to serve as Chair of the Outreach and Advocacy Committees. I want each of you to know that I am not just someone holding a title; I am one of you. Your experiences, ideas, and perspectives matter, and I welcome your feedback. I am open to all suggestions that help us grow stronger together.
My door is always open, and I am fully accessible. Please do not hesitate to reach out at any time. My name and contact information are as follows: Anthony Lanzilotti — C: 609‑361‑3038, E: tti777@gmail.com.
“Together, let us continue building a stronger, more connected New Jersey Council of the Blind.”
I’ve been thinking lately about the way our family and friends have had to adjust to our vision loss just as we did ourselves.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
That last point was vividly illustrated by the experience of a wonderful young singer named Precious Perez. She’s a working musician who's in the musical I’m developing, “Bring it Home,” that has a cast and crew populated with People With Disabilities.
Precious plays festivals with her band throughout the year, like this one at the Massachusetts Puerto Rican Day Festival:
Often, she’s assigned a human guide who just didn’t get the memo.
In the Spanish-language video I’ve included for those with usable vision, Precious stands, waiting for someone to walk her to the microphone.
On a nearly empty stage, her human guide manages to plow her into both random mike stands, as well as wires on the floor. I found myself yelling at the video (which, sadly, isn’t audio-described.) “Dude! You had one job! Don’t walk her into all the obstacles! Sheesh.”
Interestingly, the human guide’s incompetence is a form of communication.
He’s saying, “I guess I'll help, since you asked me, but I won’t take the time to ask what you need me to do.” So yeah. That kind of “help” isn’t helpful.
On a side note (hey! That’s a musical pun🎶) Precious recorded a song for my musical called "Make Our Way Home". I'll share it here in a link.
Precious has learned how to roll with the punches when a human guide does the opposite of his job. She even laughs about it!
That’s a skill we’ve all developed, although sometimes it’s hard to laugh when the ones we’re relying on don’t take care of us properly.
I’m fortunate, in that my grown son, Coleman, is living at home so he can help me when I need help. He knows not to step in if I seem to be struggling with something unless I ask him to. “I want to do as much as I can for myself in case you’re at work. I have to know how to do things independently,” I’ll tell him.
I’ve recently realized that, although I still have some vision, I’ve been using echolocation regularly. That is the practice of locating objects based on reflected sound, which is a method also used by bats and dolphins.
My right eye is blind, so if Coleman walks into the room on my right side it may startle me.
Over the years, we’ve developed a makeshift system of echolocation.
I’ve asked him to make a clicking sound as he walks down the hall so I know he’s about to enter a room.
It didn’t start out as a system of echolocation. When he was born, I started to wink and click at him, as a way to say, Hey kiddo! You’re the light of my life.
Over the years, it’s become a way for both of us to let the other know where we are in the house.
Coleman also knows where I am in the house in the morning from other types of clicks. The tap-tap-tap clicks of the stove as I turn the burner on to heat water in the kettle for my coffee. The clicks of my fingers typing away on the computer, as well as the click of the mouse. The click as I turn the dial on to start the clothes washer.
He can tell where the cat is, too, by his clicks: Squeaky’s toenails tapping as he walks on the wooden floor, the tap sound the water in his bowl makes as he laps it up.
Two clicks in our own secret language means I love you, or Thank you, or really just a general, I’ve got you. I suppose you might say it’s our version of Aloha!
So, in my house, you’ll know where I am from the clicks and tapping sounds. It’s a form of communication.
Now, onto a subject that is very important to communicate to others clearly: expectations.
These expectations may seem obvious, but with the elimination of many regulations that supported the community of People with Disabilities, I thought it important to reiterate them.
Truth be told, many organizations with the terms “Blind and Low Vision” right there in their name never fully met our needs anyway. We’d have to chase them to make an appointment or even get them on the phone. Resources were often theoretical at best.
So now that we know all the bureaucracies and governmental agencies are losing sight of our community, as it were, it’s a good time for some self-reflection.
I thought I’d put this into my article because it’s been on my mind for some time, but I wasn’t sure how to work it into a quarterly meeting. It’s an out-there idea, but heck! Our community has always been out-there. An outlier. Out of sight (!) and out of mind of the powers-that-be.
So what do you say we change the paradigm and start re-vamping the way we do things?
Here’s my audacious idea for your consideration: Let’s pay our officers, board members and heads of projects for the wonderful work they do for our community.
I know that we’ve historically been a volunteer organization, and that people are expected to do things out of the goodness of their hearts, but the time is right to do things differently.
If we pay our leaders who show up and get things done, we’re sending a message.
You might say, well, smarty pants, how do we pay them? We’re not exactly flush with cash!
I’ve got a feeling that people getting paid to volunteer will find a way to drum up more donations! Also, it’s just the right thing to do.
Getting paid to volunteer sounds like an oxymoron, but really, it’s part of a new paradigm.
It is an acknowledgment of the reality that most people who are blind or have low vision struggle to make ends meet.
It’s a way to show appreciation for all the efforts these kind souls have put into making our lives better.
It’s about challenging the status quo and acknowledging that the old paradigm never really did address our needs.
It’s time for a new paradigm.
I think that, in order to change the world, we need to start at home.
That’s why, in a similar vein, I’m determined to pay the cast and crew of my musical. For the past year, they've voluntarily helped me work on the story and songs, but I think they should be paid for the work they're doing.
The fundraising concept I’m using to do this is to post a song on Spotify that I’ve recorded called “Midnight Train to Jersey” — a parody of “Midnight Train to Georgia.” People can pay whatever amount they would like for the song to fund the musical.
Everyone in the project identifies as a Person With Disabilities. The play is about accepting yourself as you are, and the fact that you are whole and worthy. You may be missing sight or a limb, or a partner in life, but you are no less valid than anyone else.
I’ve tapped into the enormous talent pool of the community of People With Disabilities, which is a good segue into discussing a healing modality that I’ve used to release trauma from the past called Tapping.
In my musical, the main character will teach the audience how to Tap as she sings them a song.
For those who are interested in yoga and meditation, Tapping is like doing acupuncture with your fingers. As you tap on certain areas of your body called “meridians,” it is said that the energy or “chi” that no longer serves you is released.
I think it’s time for us as a community to release the old way of doing things and take a look at which customs and norms serve us well, and which should be discarded.
The thing that is already working about the Council as an organization is the sense of community and camaraderie. Of helping each other to locate resources and to encourage those going through hard times.
The thing we can take a stand on and set a new standard for is the fact that these committed officers, board members and project leaders are working long hours, sometimes under stress, and are not getting paid.
If we were working at a company, we would get a paycheck, vacation days, health benefits, and in some cases, paid mental health therapy.
In the volunteer world, no one gets paid, there are no company benefits, and the people who always give their time end up exhausted and overextended.
It happened to me a few years ago, and I finally stepped back and slowed down. God got my attention and put these words on my heart: “No named roles,” for all my volunteer projects. It meant, no more roles that were titled, such as president, board member, project lead. It meant that I needed to find balance and only offer to help when I had extra energy.
Disability pay equity has been on the radar of advocates for a long time.
The institutions we counted on and the agencies administering regulations that protected our interests have made it clear that we are not on their priority list.
Why not take a new approach and show up for ourselves and each other in a way that those entities don't?
We should pay our officers, board, and project leaders. It’s the right thing to do.
We’ve all been figuratively tapping along on the path with our canes (if we use them), or tapping our fingers waiting for AccessLink to pick us up, or feeling tapped out from all the obstacles we encounter just trying to get from Point A to Point B.
Why not tap into the deep well of goodwill within our own little village and help each other in a substantive way?
Even if this turns out, in the end, to be an impossible ask, I do hope it opens a conversation. If we have what we need in life, it will allow us to do good things for the community in a more relaxed state.
I believe this is the paradigm society will be shifting into soon and people of goodwill will again take the lead. Being appreciated and remunerated for your time and talents will allow you to breathe, be, and receive the blessings you so richly deserve. From that centered, peaceful place, you can give of yourself to others without depleting your own reserves.
Thank you for listening! If you are so inclined, please give these notions some consideration and share your thoughts. Peace & Blessings from Miss Ruth🌻
Take care,
Miss Ruth
Vision Loss Community Advocate
Miss Ruth Here!
No matter how you cook, It is important to eat healthy regardless of any medical condition! We have all heard of suggestions of what not to eat!
Cut out sugar, eat low carb, eat low fat, eat a mediterranean diet, no fry food, no alcohol; and, lastly, don’t drink instant coffee if you have macular degeneration!!
Trying to follow everything is difficult!
How about what is suggested to eat, fruits, vegetables, fish, chicken? We heard that a million times. What if you don’t like chicken or fish? You eat it and are never satisfied, so within the next hour you hit the bag of chips!
I personally cannot eat fruit, every time I try it I gain weight! Fresh fruit is healthy but it is also loaded with sugar so you have to eat the right kind, like berries! I happen to like berries so I'm lucky. Healthy and low calories!! A Winner!
Cut down on red meat, well; I happen to like my hamburger and love my chili. Chili has healthy beans! And my favorite is meatloaf! A roast beef sandwich with brown gravy, now I'm in my glory!
Of course, everything in moderation and I don’t eat these every day but twice or even three times a week makes me happy!
I use my crockpot to make a vegetable soup, stew, even chili (can be made with 3 types of beans and meatless). This can be made 3 times a week!
Now, why is it important to eat healthy regardless of what you like or how to cook it? A simple fact: remember, being blind and or low vision, the daily stress, frustration, and anxiety that we go through every day trying to just live our normal life takes us more energy than sighted people. Just dropping something on the floor and trying to find it takes energy!
Five ways to get that enormous amount of energy we need is 1. Rest 2. Water 3. Healthy food 4. Stay away from negativity 5. Join a support group.
What helps me eat healthy is: 1. Don’t buy junk food. 2. Don’t keep junk food in the house, 3. Eat what I like within the limits of my medical condition!
When it is in the house, I hear it calling me, Eat me! Eat me! And it keeps calling me until I finish it!! What is wrong with me! Truth, I’m normal!
So I try not to even buy or keep it in my house. Doesn’t mean I never eat it, but I try to limit it to a special occasion!
Diabetes, Cancer, Macular Degeneration are just a few conditions that require strict food limits! The list goes on and on!
I personally take my eating lessons from the animal kingdom. Strong muscle animals like lions and tigers are meat eaters. On the other hand, large heavy animals like elephants, and cows, eat grains!
Figure that out???
I’m personally not a fan of grass! Eat healthy for any medical conditions you may have; and, for energy you need for low vision, and blindness. At the same time don’t eat junk food, save those calories, of course watch your weight! If you need to lose weight just limit the amount you eat of your favorite food. You don’t have to stop eating it; you just need to limit the amount! It gets easier to do that when you cut out junk eating. After a few weeks of not eating junk, you get used to it and will stop craving it! Eating healthy food, you like satisfies your body and mind! Good luck, you have nothing to lose by trying it!..
Regards,
Patty
Author
Patricia Musico, Easy cooking, Easy clean up with Toaster Bags! Available on Amazon!
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Saturday July 11th Location TBD
Saturday September 26th Convention location TBD
Saturday October 24th location TBD
Saturday January 23rd Conference call
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The New Jersey Council of the Blind (NJCB) is a 501 (c) 3 corporation. Much appreciated tax-deductible donations may be sent to the Treasurer of NJCB.
The NJCB officers are.
President, Sabastian Warren (609) 672-7059
1st Vice President, Wanda Williford (609) 375-6682.
Interim 2nd Vice President, Anthony Lazinati (609) 361‑3038
Secretary, Dan Bausch
Treasurer, Steve Sowa (848) 999-2079 or by mail to PO Box 434, Woodbridge, NJ 07095
Directions
Get onto Route 95 heading south. (From Route 1 south, from Route 295 heading north or Route 195 heading west to Route 295 north)
Get off at Exit #4 making a left turn onto Pennington Road (Route 31 South toward Ewing)
Turn right at the 4th traffic light, Carlton Avenue. It is across the street from The College of New Jersey. Make the first left to enter the church parking lot. The meeting will be held in the lounge. And the entrance is to the left of the door we usually use and about halfway down the side.
NOTE: Disclaimer. The views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of the New Jersey Council of the Blind officers and/or members. The editor reserves the right to edit articles submitted for both space and content.
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