Inspirations: Daniel Kish
Everything Blind - August 2009
"We have created this web site to provide a smooth highway ride straight to the information regarding your specific, individual needs. Perhaps this is just a bit of information about your eye problem, or a product related to vision, or anything else you can think of that relates to vision or vision loss."
"If you "Each month we will share with you stories, and information on the individuals that have set their sights on inspiring! the people just like us, who have lost their physical sight, but, not their vision. that keep us going and growing as not only blind and visually impaired individuals, but also as able and active individuals."
What It Means to Walk with a White Cane
Braille Monitor, National Federation of the Blind - February, 2007
by Chris Danielsen
This article is a poignant and well articulated personal expression of the utility and acceptability of the long white cane in facilitating a blind person's competence and freedom of movement.
The Exquisite Writings of Jacques Lusseyran
I am Daniel Kish, and I am including this entry personally to say that this is some of the most eloquently beautiful, insightful, soul-stirring contributions to literature that I have ever encountered. Parisian Jacques Lusseyran was just 15 when the Nazis conquered France. Within a year, though, he had formed an underground resistance group of 600 youths. To make his brave feat even more remarkable, it should be noted that since the age of 8, Lusseyran had been blind. This is some of the most beautiful, inspiring, and engaging articulation of what it was like for a young boy to go blind, and what it was like to adapt to blindness, especially at a time and in a culture which was even more restrictive. His writings are passionate, yet thoughtful, heart-rending yet up-lifting.
In the last sentence of his epilogue for "AND THERE WAS LIGHT" he writes about two truths that he has discovered:
"The first of these is that joy does not come from outside, for whatever happens to us is within. The second truth is that light does not come from without. Light is in us, even if we have no eyes."
I cannot recommend these sublime works enough.
Letter to Loved Ones
by ANNA SABA
This is a beautiful, touching, and very honest expression by an elderly lady about her "fascinating" adjustment to her impending blindness. It is balanced between the challenges and "blessing" of her new journey. It was forwarded to us by an instructor who attended one of our workshops.
"All I am learning is another way of seeing what I didn’t see before".
A Blind Man's Vision of Blindness
Daniel Kish - April, 2005
This is a draft of a letter that Daniel Kish prepared in response to the "Kindness Beats Blindness" project. This pointed but diplomatic proclamation about blindness places blindness in a whole new light. Includes responses to Daniel's letter, and ensuing, thought provoking discussion.
the Kernel Book Series
National Federation of the Blind
There are currently thirty Kernel Books which tell the stories of blind men and women. When the first editor, Dr. Kenneth Jernigan, was asked why he chose the name Kernel Book, he said: "... In the first place, I suppose it has to do with whim. I thought the title was catchy, so I used it. But there is something more. We wanted to go to the very heart of blindness, trying to show our readers what it's really like; and, for that matter, what it isn't like."
If you are blind, what do you think and how do you look at things--not how do you look at them physically, but your point of view and perspective? In short, how do blind people live and feel on a daily basis? What we are trying to do is to cut through the sentimentality and misconceptions to the very 'kernel' of the subject of blindness.
New York Times Disparages the Blind, and Responses
This includes a letter by Daniel Kish submitted in response to an article originally published in the New York Times that shamelessly aimed slanderous mis-conceptions at and about blind people. Daniel's response represents a stern and heart-felt plea to the editors of the New York Times and other publications to consider a more balanced perspective to this greivous and meanly written article. Also includes additional thoughtful, provocative, and soulful discussion.
Blindness: What I cannot do myself, time does
by Luj Sprohar
Ragged Edge Magazine - July/August, 2003
A very honest a evocative acount of how an older gentleman responds to the challenges of going blind.