Thursday, January 25, 2018

Interviews to Empower Presents, Conrad Bennett

Hello, and welcome to another edition of Interviews to Empower! Often, we look to those individuals whose names are well-known for inspiration. However, it is in the everyday living where miracles are born. This months interviewee is a regular guy doing normal things, and yet he is inspiring, because he does not let his disability stand in the way of being a regular, normal guy. Come with me and meet Conrad Bennett, a man who’s motto could be “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”.

Q: Tell us a little about yourself.
A: Well, I’m 32 years old, I love computers, and I love helping students. Actually, I love to help anybody. I consider myself to be religious, I’ve been married for 12 years, I have a son who is 12 and I am totally blind.

Q: What eye condition do you have, and how long have you had it?
A: I was born premature, and too much oxygen in the incubator caused my redness to not grow or attach. I’ve been blind ever since birth.

Q: What strategies, techniques and/or tools do you use to accommodate for your vision loss?
A: I use a computer with a screen reader, an iPhone with voiceover, my oven is labeled in braille, I use a guide dog and a cane, and I also have a touchscreen washing machine and dryer that is labeled in braille.

Q: Can you tell us about your post high school life, meaning about various jobs or other pursuits? Also, feel free to tell us about any non-work related activities—hobbies, etc.
A: After high school I worked at Blind Industries and Services of Maryland, BISM. Then, I worked from home doing data entry. After that, on the side I would help set up wireless networks for various people and businesses. Then, I began restoring and fixing computers. That is still a side hobby as well. Whenever I need to see the computer screen but can’t use a speech program, like with windows there are times when the speech can not work, I use my iPhone’s camera to read the screen. I really enjoy Apple products and love helping people learn how to use them, whether they are sided or blind. At present, I am a classroom aid at the WV School for the Blind.

Q: Are you affiliated with any organizations, such as Lions Club or a blindness-specific organization? Why or why not?
A: I am a member of the Lions Club. I joined this organization, because I like to see them out doing something to actually help people. They go out in their community and help folks obtain glasses, hearing aids and even help get glasses fixed. They are also active in supporting guide dog schools such as Leader Dogs in Rochester Hills, MI and Pilot Dogs in Columbus, OH, which is where I got my guide dog.
I am also a member of the American Council of the Blind, ACB. Actually, I am the current president of the Potomac Valley chapter of the Mountain State Council of the Blind.

Q: What keeps you going when life gets you down?
A: Well, when life gets too tough, I just remember to stop and say a prayer. That’s what gets me through.

Conrad, thank you for allowing us to interview you. It has been a pleasure.

And, thank you, dear readers for being with us today. Be sure and come back on the second Thursday in February, that is the 8th for more inspiration from your favorite writing team, Adkins and Wells. :) Until then, remember to say a prayer and keep on smiling.

For more information about the schools or organizations mentioned, below are links you can follow.

Blind Industries and Services of Maryland www.bism.org
West Virginia School for the Blind, www.wvsdb2.state.k12.wv.us
Lions Club, www.lionsclubs.org
Mountain State Council of the Blind, www.mscbwv.org
Leader Dogs, www.leaderdog.org
Pilot Dogs, www.pilotdogs.org


Blessings.

Thursday, January 11, 2018

New Beginnings

Hello and welcome. S.J. Wells here with you today, and I’m realizing that we’re already in a new year. Wow. :)

January. It’s the month of setting new goals, trying to do better than the last year, a month of new beginnings and cold weather for those of us living in the northern hemisphere. It’s also the month of Louis Braille’s birthday, the man credited with inventing the braille code that people who are blind use all over the world. And, it is also the month when our book, “Ducking into UEB” is finally published and on Amazon.

Born out of a desire for an engaging curriculum to teach unified English braille, “Ducking into UEB” was first Anita’s idea. When she asked me for fictional materials to add to the book, I gave them willingly and came on board with the project. Soon, as we edited together and discussed the lessons, I found myself growing excited about braille all over again. Then, one day she asked for help creating songs that would help the students with memorizing the different signs and short form words. As Christmas had just come and gone, I naturally had holiday songs on my mind. Thus, if you hear our braille songs today, you will no doubt recognize one of the tunes as “Winter Wonderland”.

We’ll be talking more about our book in upcoming posts, but here is the link to purchase it on Amazon, and remember, you get lots of free stuff, if you buy the book and email us the code in the back.


In one week, this blog will be one year old. I’m not certain what our thoughts were this time last year, but I don’t think we realized how much keeping this blog would help us to grow as riders, educators and friends. Hearing from those of you who have commented or got in touch has been a help. Interviewing inspiring individuals has encouraged us, as well. We hope we have been an encouragement to you, faithful readers. If you or someone you know has an encouraging story and would like to be interviewed or to just get in touch, send us an email at

Over the months, I’ve come across some quotes that inspire me to think. I wanted to share my favorite with you, but I don’t have just one favorite. So,, I’ll share a few of them and hope you are encouraged.

“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” Mark Twain
“You must do the things you think you cannot do.” Eleanor Roosevelt
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” Theodore Roosevelt
“The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible.” Arthur C. Clarke
And, finally,
“To thrive in life you need three bones. A wishbone. A backbone. And a funny bone.” Reba McEntire


Thank you for being with me today. We try to post on the second and fourth Thursdays of every month, so we hope you’ll come back, soon. Until then, keep on keeping on. :)