Interviews to Empower Presents Jonathan Milam

S. J. Wells here, welcoming you to another edition of Interviews to Empower. Today, we are talking to a longtime friend of mine who has never learned the phrase, “I can’t.” Allow me the privilege of introducing Jonathan Milam.

Q: Are you totally blind? If so, when did your parents learn you have an eye condition?A: I am completely blind, and have been since birth.  Shortly after I was born,

I was diagnosed with Aniridia, which is a medical condition that prevents the iris of the eye from developing.

Q: Are you the only one who is blind in your family?

A: Yes.  We have never been able to locate anyone else in our family history who may have also been completely or partially blind.

Q: Did your family make exceptions for you because of your blindness?

A: Fortunately, I was treated no differently than my older brother.  In fact, I really never "thought" of myself as blind as a child.  I was certainly aware of it, but it never prevented me from doing anything that any typical sighted child would do.  My parents  are definitely the foundation of my independence, which is something for which I will be eternally grateful.

Q: Did you go to a residential school or public school?

A: I attended public school, but did take some independent classes later in life.

Q: When did you learn braille?

A: I learned Braille at a Head Start center when I was 3.  It is still such a valuable part of my everyday life. I have unending respect for those who teach it, and I think it is something that all blind people should learn. Synthesized speech is great, and I use it all the time, but it should never take the place of Braille.

Q: When did you receive Orientation and Mobility training?

A: I began my O&M training in the fifth grade.  I had such an opposition to the

cane when I was younger, and it is something that I deeply regret to this day. I appreciated it a little more in High School, but still wasn’t comfortable using it.  I felt that it drew attention to me and clearly pointed out that I was "blind".  I took some independent living classes at the state Center for the Blind when I was 19, which created a turning point in my life.  I realized that if I wanted to learn the campus and navigate independently, I needed the cane to make that happen.  This realization,

while amazingly profound, was very clearly confirmed in an actual mobility training lesson.  While learning to use the local public transit system, I was to meet my instructor at an apartment complex along the bus rout.  When I got off the bus and stepped up onto the curb, she wasn't there.  I was completely alone at an apartment complex I knew nothing about, with only my cane for company.  This was before cell phones were popular, so I had no cell phone either.  Traffic had delayed my instructor’s arrival at the complex, and she arrived shortly afterwards.  However, I knew that as long as I had my cane, along with my extensive mobility training, I could find help if it became

necessary. That was an experience I will never forget, as it showed me just how critical O&M training really is.

Q: What was school like? How did your teachers and you communicate, and what assistive devices did you use in school? Which ones do you use today?

A: School overall was a great experience.  I learned to write my name in print, and I know most of the print alphabet by feel, but I was never really able to learn it well enough to be fluent.  I couldn't get a grasp on the spacing that was required for the letters for whatever reason.  High School was somewhat more difficult from a socialization standpoint, because being blind somewhat isolates you from the general population.  However, I did have a

few good friends I hung out with, and also my weekend job at a local radio station kept my schedule pretty well filled.  As far as assistive technology, I primarily used a conventional Brailler throughout elementary school.  In Middle School, I briefly used a "Braille N Print System", which physically connects to the bottom of a Brailler and uses rods to interpret its keystrokes.  This device connected to an actual printer which prevented the need for a human transcriber.  However, it didn't always work, and it

was eventually replaced by a Braille N Speak.  I used it through the ninth grade when I was provided with a Braille Lite.  Since I had to know the time to the second with my job, the Braille Lite became an absolute necessity.  I did have an Itinerant teacher while in school who orally read written tests for me, or transcribed my written Braille into print when needed.  Today, I have both a Humanware Brailliant 40, and a Focus Blue 80 that I use in my current job.  I use the Focus while at my desk and the Brailliant connected

via Bluetooth to an iPad for meetings.  I primarily used Window-Eyes for

many years, but it is not the screen reader it used to be.  As a result, I switched to JAWS a few years ago, but have also recently started using NVDA,

which is a superb screen reader.  I also have a Mac and use Voiceover as well.

Q: Were you involved in extra curricular activities? If so, can you explain?

A: I really didn't participate in many after school activities.  While I did well in school, I really didn't like it, and so I would rather be at home riding my bike, playing outside, or creating recorded radio shows in my bedroom.

Q: Do you have any hobbies?

A: I love listening to audio books and watching crime shows on TV.  I've always been fascinated by police work, and if I could see, I think I would be a state trooper.  When I was a kid, the father of one of my brother's friends was a local cop, and I've been hooked ever since.  I also love swimming and bike riding.

Q: Did you go to college? If so where? If not, what did you do after graduating high school?

A: After graduating High School, I worked part-time at Wake Forest University’s public radio station WFDD.  In August of 2000, I began also working part-time at their IT Help Desk as well.

Q: What types of jobs have you had in the past, and where do you work now?

A: In High School, I worked at a small AM NewsTalk radio station on weekends, which ended with the job at WFDD.  I was offered a full-time position at the Help Desk at WFU in 2003, which turned out to be a very rewarding career.  I discovered an interest in computers and internet technology that I really never knew I had.  I am still employed within the Information Systems department at Wake Forest University, but my role now primarily focuses on evaluating both University software and web applications to determine the current level of accessibility.  I then provide suggestions and guidance on

the appropriate methods that should be used to resolve the inaccessible aspects of each application.  It's truly an awesome place to work and I honestly don't think I could be treated any better by an employer.

Q: Tell us about your love for radio.

A: As early as I can remember, I've just somehow had this endless fascination with radio and knew that it was the career that I wanted to pursue.  I believe my fascination with it developed due to the fact that audio was my major source of enjoyment as a child.  Since 2000, I have been heavily involved with the local radio reading service for the blind here in Winston-Salem.  I started out by being its volunteer coordinator, but now

manage its technical operations.  In 2013, I also became a remote software engineer for the Mountain Area Radio Reading Service in Asheville, NC.

Q: So, you’re a husband and dad. Can you tell us more about what that is like? What challenges have there been in your role as a family man?

A: Being a husband and dad are absolutely the two loves of my life. I married Ashley, the woman of my dreams in 2013, and our daughter Hannah was born in March of 2016.  They are truly my world.  Before Hannah was born, I had considered taking a course on blind parenting, but just somehow never got around to it.  Looking back, I'm glad I didn't, because learning how to do things your own way is quite often the most practical and beneficial.  Being a parent is a life changing experience, and it is unbelievable how much you learn in a very short period of time.  Like everything I do, I jumped into it with both feet and embraced it.  I wanted to be able to do everything a

sighted parent could do, as I don't want Hannah to see me as less of a dad just because I am blind.  That hasn't come without challenges, however.  I don't get the convenience of seeing to change a dirty diaper, which can be an adventure in itself.  Hannah usually makes sure I  have at least one to change if Mommy isn't home.  Now that she is crawling and beginning to walk, I may not always know where she is at any given time, especially if she is sitting quietly, so listening is key to figuring that out along with most

everything else.  Even when a little wiggle room would be nice, Hannah makes sure that I don't get any special treatment! :)  She is definitely our miracle!

Q: If you were to give any advice to someone facing loss of sight, what would it be? What advice would you give to a high school student who is blind and hoping to have a job and family someday?

A: Never give up on your goals and lifelong dreams.  We as blind people are just as capable as the sighted.  We work in NASA, we are doctors, and some of us have even driven race cars.  I am constantly amazed by the professions many choose, but I am never doubtful of the success.  “Can't" never could do anything, and blind people should never let anyone or anything stand in the way of living the life he or she chooses to live.

Q: One Final question. Is there a favorite quote or Bible verse that has helped you cope that you would like to share? A favorite motto for life?

A: Luke 1:37 - “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” Even though I have taken the initiative to live as independently as possible, it all came from God.  He has blessed me in so many different ways, and continues to do so. I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for Him!!

Jonathan, thank you so much for allowing me to interview you. My favorite quote of yours is “Can't never could do anything”, and you have always expressed this conviction, even when we were children riding the bus to school together. :)

Thanks, dear readers for being with us today. We hope you’ll drop us a comment below. Be blessed and have a fantabulous weekend.