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Conquering mountains is quite an accomplishment yet sometimes the mountain is not high in the sky and sometimes it lies very low and unnoticed. Bullying is a steep mountain to navigate when all you wanted was acceptance and inclusion. Katheryn Menne has transversed a journey of bullying, low expectations and low vision since her childhood. She has used the services of State Services for the Blind and has landed a job as a Certified Nursing Assistant.
Katheryn tells her story and she knows that the mountains ahead are coming with her changing vision, but she also knows that she can overcome any challenge she will face as the lessons from her pass has made her more confident than she had ever expected.
Join us as her story unfolds and her outlook grows. Full Transcript below.
And a big thank you goes out to CheeChau for his beautiful music, and that’s @LCheeChau on Twitter.
Thank You CheeChau.
Full Transcript Below
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State Services for the Blind of Minnesota
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Full Transcript Below
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Transcript
[Music]
Katheryn: Actually I got held back in first grade because I was only able to read one letter at a time with my vision.
But you’re not blind.
I’m like, well I’m visually impaired, you know this helps me at night when I’m walking and stuff, but they’re like, but you’re not blind, yes.
Jeff: Meet Certified Nurse Assistant Katheryn Menne.
Her mountain was not just one climb, it’s been a lifelong journey, from bullying, low vision, and low expectations.
Katheryn: I was bullied my whole school career, yeah I was called ugly, it was my thing, it’s not, you know you can’t notice that there’s something different on me, you do know.
Jeff: They see the blindness first.
Katheryn: Yeah before they really get to know you.
You know I’ve fully accepted it now, you know I’m actually very happy because it’s, it’s the one quality that I have that makes me extremely unique (inaudible) from all the rest of the people.
Jeff: For more podcasts with the blindness perspective, check us out on the web at www.blindabilities.com, on Twitter at Blind Abilites, and download the free Blind Abilities app from the app store, that is two words, Blind Abilities.
And if you, or someone you know, could benefit from your State Services, or your DVR, please contact them and see what they can do for you.
[Music]
Katheryn: Not let it define you.
I remember in elementary school I was always picked last in gym, at like McDonald’s or something and I’d always have to ask for help, you know so I’d always just end up ordering the same thing.
[Music]
Jeff: And now here’s Katheryn Menne.
“But you’re not blind” (with echo effect)
Jeff: Welcome to Blind Abilities, I’m Jeff Thompson and today we’re talking to Katheryn Menne, and she is a CNA and she’s used State Services for the Blind from high school to college, and the workplace, and glad she could make it into the blind ability studio and have a conversation, how are you doing Katheryn?
Katheryn: I’m doing great.
Jeff: great, so Katheryn can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Katheryn: well I’m currently years 20 old and I am working as a CNA in the medical field which I never thought I was able to do, so a Certified Nurse’s Assistant.
Jeff: Oh okay, where do you do that at?
Katheryn: I work at a place called Mountain Terrace Senior Living in Wausau, Wisconsin.
Jeff: Mmm, so you used State Services at some point?
Katheryn: I did it, was more or less to the end of my high school.
Jeff: Mm-hmm.
Katheryn: I should have gotten with State Services a lot sooner.
Jeff: How did you get introduced to them?
Katheryn: So I was a junior, like I had an IEP but it said other health disabilities and I was like, okay well why am I still not succeeding as best as I could.
I was like okay well it’s mostly my vision, so I talked to my case manager and I was like, well maybe I should get it changed to visually impaired, got qualified for vision services and then they brought me into State Services.
Jeff: And how did they help you?
Katheryn: State Services would always, making sure I was doing okay because I was also through my transition into working and going to college too.
Jeff: Uh-huh.
Katheryn: So they would always ask if there was anything that they could do, anything that they could provide to make the environment more easier.
Jeff: And what kind of technology did you use in your workplace or your school studies.
Katheryn: My computer, they kind of showed me a few things on the computer that were very helpful like increasing the cursor, changing the different colors on the screen, and then so, I just took that to my workplace as well.
Jeff: If I may, how long have you had a visual impairment?
Katheryn: I’ve had a visual impairment in my whole life actually.
I was born with it.
My vision is actually very unique we’re gonna say.
I was born with something called Ptosis, so that’s droopiness of the eyelid, so both of my eyelids droop down, and then my eyes don’t move.
They’re like in a fixed gaze kind of and then they also tilt down, downwards, so it’s a lot of neck usage,yeah.
Jeff: Yeah that is a rare one I believe, I haven’t heard that too much.
Katheryn: Yeah.
Jeff: So what was that like growing up in elementary school around, just growing up.
Katheryn: Well the thing is is, they never knew the extent of what it was until I became more independent, so I was you know like, a normal kid, I’ve been through eight or nine surgeries.
Eye surgeries so that was always fun.
Jeff: Yeah I bet.
Did you use any alternative techniques or devices for your work?
Katheryn: Well they use a laptop for passing medication and I am learning how to do that and I’m just like learning how to cope with it.
Jeff: Mm-hmm.
Katheryn: Meaning you know, enlarging the screen when I need to so I can read what the medication says or read the instructions or something so, my vision is not, it’s not a disadvantage because I can enlarge the screen which is nice.
Jeff: Is this something that’s gonna stay the same for you or does it progress, get worse?
Katheryn: Well right now my vision has gotten a little bit worse.
My last vision was 2200 and that’s, it’s never been that way.
Thankfully it has been corrected to the best of their ability, it can be corrected with glasses, yeah just time will tell.
Jeff: So when you were in high school and you got connected up with State Services, how did you find transitioning to college?
Katheryn: It was fairly easy, I mean I was also moving too, which was like really hard, I don’t recommend it.
[laughter]
Jeff: Tell everybody to stay put.
[Laughter]
Katheryn: Well I don’t recommend it because I was starting school like right away.
I feel like I should have really just settled into the new state and to new city and then like got a system down and then started school, so I wasn’t overwhelmed with getting settled, and then focusing on my classes.
Jeff: All at once.
Katheryn: Right yeah.
Jeff: So did you go to the Disability Services office, did you do any of that type of routine?
Katheryn: I actually didn’t and I regret it.
My school was very accommodating as, as is even without it, like it was mostly online, so I could you know, use my laptop.
Jeff: Mm-hmm.
Katheryn: You know when I needed to for the assignments and stuff.
Jeff: So do you read your books on tape or do you just enlarge the screen?
Katheryn: I just enlarge the screen, it’s usually a PDF file of the textbook and then I can enlarge that, and it’s in bold print which is extremely nice actually.
Jeff: Mm-hmm.
Katheryn: I didn’t think that it would be in bold print but low and behold.
Jeff: Now when you say you’re visually impaired, there’s something in the blindness community, some people say, oh you got sight, and they just like, oh I get it you got sight, and they just shrug you off, but myself knowing what it’s like to lose sight gradually, what’s it like for you on a daily basis around the people that you are around?
Katheryn: A lot of times people don’t get it.
I actually was working and I wasn’t even there for a week, so this particular Pizza Ranch, they noticed I had a vision issue and my particular job was to hand out their promotional card to people walking in because it was a grand opening.
Jeff: Mm-hmm.
Katheryn: On the third day of me working there, like after the grand opening, they pulled me into the office, the owner did, and she’s like, you know I don’t know whether you’re just not seeing the people or anything, but I don’t really have any any place for you considering you’re having trouble seeing the computers and stuff, would you mind just leaving.
Now the problem with that is, they never asked me if I had a vision issue.
I could see the computers just fine, so I don’t think they kind of really knew the extent of my vision you know, and then it was a totally different thing so they just all based it on my vision versus looking at the big picture.
Maybe the people didn’t want the cards when they first walked in.
Jeff: Right.
Katheryn: Or something so I think that was probably one of the most heartbreaking moments, there’s some of that, they didn’t realize, oh she has a vision problem, let’s not ask her about it and see where she’s most comfortable, let’s just assume something and not ask.
Jeff: And that’s when the trouble begins.
Katheryn: Right yes.
Jeff: Yeah that’s, that’s a hard feeling.
To give you an example, after I lost my vision, I start talking to this one gal who I thought understood what I was talking about about vision loss, and when I met her for the first time, she thought that I was just a teacher for the blind and it didn’t, it wasn’t me, and I never heard a word from her again.
Katheryn: Oh yeah.
Jeff: I had a cane you know, it was like hmm?
Katheryn: Yeah, I actually should be using my cane more often, but no, and that’s the thing though, and that’s actually a really good point that you brought up, a lot of people are scared to use their cane, or just anything because even though it’s such a handy tool to use, they don’t want to be outcasted from anybody.
You rarely see somebody using a cane, you know and then the people who have partial vision like I do, I can see people staring at me or being rude and just not getting out the way.
Jeff: Mm-hmm. When I first started using a cane, you know I was reluctant, if I could stow it away in my backpack I would, if I could keep it folded I would.
Katheryn: Right yeah.
Jeff: It came to a point where it gives the other people so much information right out of the get-go that it kind of covered for me, like when I asked the bus driver what bus number is this and he’d be telling me, (in a mock low voice) it’s on the front of the bus.
Well I’m visually impaired, he said, how would I know?
You know?
Katheryn: Right yes and I’ve, I’ve noticed that too and then I’ve also noticed, I think what needs to be widened more and brought to people’s attention is because, some people they don’t even know what a cane is.
Jeff: Mm-hmm.
Katheryn: They don’t recognize that it’s a tool to help us navigate through the world even though there’s white cane day and everything, it’s not really taught because I was walking in the mall of America with my cane.
I went to a smoothie place and I was like, do you have any strawberry flavors and stuff, and he was like, it’s on the menu, I was like, I can’t read the menu.
He was like, well I’m gonna go make these other smoothies and then I’ll come back and see what you want.
[Laughter]
Jeff: That helps, [laughter] because if you can’t see it, hey give it time, osmosis right?
Katheryn: Yeah and I had my cane with me, it was out, it was right next to me, and I don’t think he knew exactly what it was and that it was helping me navigate.
Jeff: I’ve had Home Depot want to charge me for the cane thinking it was a curtain rod or something.
Katheryn: That’s funny.
Do you use an enter NFB or an AFB?
Jeff: I use Ambutech, it’s a folding cane.
Katheryn: Yeah Ambutech.
Jeff: I know they have the program for the NFB and that’s a great program for people, you know when you’re talking about fixed incomes and everything, but they do offer a cane.
Some people swear by them, myself I found that my Ambutech might be 11 years old now and……
Katheryn: Yeah, i have an Ambutech too.
Jeff: It just worked, but there’s a lot of good canes out there, a lot of different type of tips, and a lot of different, and I haven’t found the reason why some people use some tips over another tip, but I do prefer the metal tip, the one I have right now has a nylon one like a pencil tip.
Katheryn: Okay.
Jeff: It works for me.
So what kind of hobbies do you do?
Katheryn: I love reading.
I’m trying to get more into reading when I have free time.
Jeff: When I first was visually impaired I magnified a lot of things and then slowly I started moving into audiobooks.
Katheryn: Yes.
Jeff: It was such a relief.
People said, oh you’ll get seasick going back and forth, I said no I won’t, well I tell you after a while and I had to magnify it larger and larger, it was much easier that I could do other tasks and listen to my books and you know, sighted people listen to books so.
Katheryn: Right, I enjoy listening to books, especially when you have a good reader, a good narrator, that shows enthusiasm when they’re reading and really brings the book to life I feel, if I read it, just, I’m just so hard concentrating on what am I reading, that I’m not really getting the full picture of the story.
Jeff: Yeah and it takes a little bit to adjust to listening, just to a book, you know if the concentration level, but after a while I liked it.
Katheryn: Yeah I, I enjoyed it, I just pop in my headphones and get lost in a book and what’s really hard for me and what really I didn’t like with my text books is that I have to turn my head, so I’m like constantly going back and forth reading every single word.
Actually I got held back in first grade because I was only able to read one letter at a time with my vision.
Jeff: You know some people say do not use your residual sight you know, that you should learn other techniques so you don’t have that problem, and yet it’s hard to shut it off if you have it.
Katheryn: Right, in high school it was like, I was trying to read, trying to, I was trying to read one of the banners in the lunchroom and this girl thought I was looking at her, and she’s like stop looking at me, and I’m like, I’m not looking at you, I’m trying to read the banner.
[Laughter]
When I’m trying to focus or something, I like going to this gaze, and I like squint it’s like weirdest thing.
Jeff: Yeah I’ve noticed on the bus, if I’m just staring right at somebody or anything, I don’t see it, so I could be staring very inappropriately at times and I wouldn’t know it.
I’ve seen before, I know what it’s like to have someone just staring at ya, it’s kind of awkward.
[Music]
Katheryn: Actually I got held back in first grade because I was only able to read one letter at a time with my vision.
But you’re not blind.
I’m like, well I’m visually impaired, you know this helps me at night when I’m walking and stuff, but they’re like, but you’re not blind, yes.
Jeff: Meet Certified Nurse Assistant Katheryn Menne.
Her mountain was not just one climb, it’s been a lifelong journey, from bullying, low vision, and low expectations.
Katheryn: I was bullied my whole school career, yeah I was called ugly, it was my thing, it’s not, you know you can’t notice that there’s something different on me, you do know.
Jeff: They see the blindness first.
Katheryn: Yeah before they really get to know you.
You know I’ve fully accepted it now, you know I’m actually very happy because it’s, it’s the one quality that I have that makes me extremely unique (inaudible) from all the rest of the people.
Jeff: For more podcasts with the blindness perspective, check us out on the web at www.blindabilities.com, on Twitter at Blind Abilites, and download the free Blind Abilities app from the app store, that is two words, Blind Abilities.
And if you, or someone you know, could benefit from your State Services, or your DVR, please contact them and see what they can do for you.
[Music]
Katheryn: Not let it define you.
I remember in elementary school I was always picked last in gym, at like McDonald’s or something and I’d always have to ask for help, you know so I’d always just end up ordering the same thing.
[Music]
Jeff: And now here’s Katheryn Menne.
“But you’re not blind” (with echo effect)
Jeff: Welcome to Blind Abilities, I’m Jeff Thompson and today we’re talking to Katheryn Menne, and she is a CNA and she’s used State Services for the Blind from high school to college, and the workplace, and glad she could make it into the blind ability studio and have a conversation, how are you doing Katheryn?
Katheryn: I’m doing great.
Jeff: great, so Katheryn can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Katheryn: well I’m currently years 20 old and I am working as a CNA in the medical field which I never thought I was able to do, so a Certified Nurse’s Assistant.
Jeff: Oh okay, where do you do that at?
Katheryn: I work at a place called Mountain Terrace Senior Living in Wausau, Wisconsin.
Jeff: Mmm, so you used State Services at some point?
Katheryn: I did it, was more or less to the end of my high school.
Jeff: Mm-hmm.
Katheryn: I should have gotten with State Services a lot sooner.
Jeff: How did you get introduced to them?
Katheryn: So I was a junior, like I had an IEP but it said other health disabilities and I was like, okay well why am I still not succeeding as best as I could.
I was like okay well it’s mostly my vision, so I talked to my case manager and I was like, well maybe I should get it changed to visually impaired, got qualified for vision services and then they brought me into State Services.
Jeff: And how did they help you?
Katheryn: State Services would always, making sure I was doing okay because I was also through my transition into working and going to college too.
Jeff: Uh-huh.
Katheryn: So they would always ask if there was anything that they could do, anything that they could provide to make the environment more easier.
Jeff: And what kind of technology did you use in your workplace or your school studies.
Katheryn: My computer, they kind of showed me a few things on the computer that were very helpful like increasing the cursor, changing the different colors on the screen, and then so, I just took that to my workplace as well.
Jeff: If I may, how long have you had a visual impairment?
Katheryn: I’ve had a visual impairment in my whole life actually.
I was born with it.
My vision is actually very unique we’re gonna say.
I was born with something called Ptosis, so that’s droopiness of the eyelid, so both of my eyelids droop down, and then my eyes don’t move.
They’re like in a fixed gaze kind of and then they also tilt down, downwards, so it’s a lot of neck usage,yeah.
Jeff: Yeah that is a rare one I believe, I haven’t heard that too much.
Katheryn: Yeah.
Jeff: So what was that like growing up in elementary school around, just growing up.
Katheryn: Well the thing is is, they never knew the extent of what it was until I became more independent, so I was you know like, a normal kid, I’ve been through eight or nine surgeries.
Eye surgeries so that was always fun.
Jeff: Yeah I bet.
Did you use any alternative techniques or devices for your work?
Katheryn: Well they use a laptop for passing medication and I am learning how to do that and I’m just like learning how to cope with it.
Jeff: Mm-hmm.
Katheryn: Meaning you know, enlarging the screen when I need to so I can read what the medication says or read the instructions or something so, my vision is not, it’s not a disadvantage because I can enlarge the screen which is nice.
Jeff: Is this something that’s gonna stay the same for you or does it progress, get worse?
Katheryn: Well right now my vision has gotten a little bit worse.
My last vision was 2200 and that’s, it’s never been that way.
Thankfully it has been corrected to the best of their ability, it can be corrected with glasses, yeah just time will tell.
Jeff: So when you were in high school and you got connected up with State Services, how did you find transitioning to college?
Katheryn: It was fairly easy, I mean I was also moving too, which was like really hard, I don’t recommend it.
[laughter]
Jeff: Tell everybody to stay put.
[Laughter]
Katheryn: Well I don’t recommend it because I was starting school like right away.
I feel like I should have really just settled into the new state and to new city and then like got a system down and then started school, so I wasn’t overwhelmed with getting settled, and then focusing on my classes.
Jeff: All at once.
Katheryn: Right yeah.
Jeff: So did you go to the Disability Services office, did you do any of that type of routine?
Katheryn: I actually didn’t and I regret it.
My school was very accommodating as, as is even without it, like it was mostly online, so I could you know, use my laptop.
Jeff: Mm-hmm.
Katheryn: You know when I needed to for the assignments and stuff.
Jeff: So do you read your books on tape or do you just enlarge the screen?
Katheryn: I just enlarge the screen, it’s usually a PDF file of the textbook and then I can enlarge that, and it’s in bold print which is extremely nice actually.
Jeff: Mm-hmm.
Katheryn: I didn’t think that it would be in bold print but low and behold.
Jeff: Now when you say you’re visually impaired, there’s something in the blindness community, some people say, oh you got sight, and they just like, oh I get it you got sight, and they just shrug you off, but myself knowing what it’s like to lose sight gradually, what’s it like for you on a daily basis around the people that you are around?
Katheryn: A lot of times people don’t get it.
I actually was working and I wasn’t even there for a week, so this particular Pizza Ranch, they noticed I had a vision issue and my particular job was to hand out their promotional card to people walking in because it was a grand opening.
Jeff: Mm-hmm.
Katheryn: On the third day of me working there, like after the grand opening, they pulled me into the office, the owner did, and she’s like, you know I don’t know whether you’re just not seeing the people or anything, but I don’t really have any any place for you considering you’re having trouble seeing the computers and stuff, would you mind just leaving.
Now the problem with that is, they never asked me if I had a vision issue.
I could see the computers just fine, so I don’t think they kind of really knew the extent of my vision you know, and then it was a totally different thing so they just all based it on my vision versus looking at the big picture.
Maybe the people didn’t want the cards when they first walked in.
Jeff: Right.
Katheryn: Or something so I think that was probably one of the most heartbreaking moments, there’s some of that, they didn’t realize, oh she has a vision problem, let’s not ask her about it and see where she’s most comfortable, let’s just assume something and not ask.
Jeff: And that’s when the trouble begins.
Katheryn: Right yes.
Jeff: Yeah that’s, that’s a hard feeling.
To give you an example, after I lost my vision, I start talking to this one gal who I thought understood what I was talking about about vision loss, and when I met her for the first time, she thought that I was just a teacher for the blind and it didn’t, it wasn’t me, and I never heard a word from her again.
Katheryn: Oh yeah.
Jeff: I had a cane you know, it was like hmm?
Katheryn: Yeah, I actually should be using my cane more often, but no, and that’s the thing though, and that’s actually a really good point that you brought up, a lot of people are scared to use their cane, or just anything because even though it’s such a handy tool to use, they don’t want to be outcasted from anybody.
You rarely see somebody using a cane, you know and then the people who have partial vision like I do, I can see people staring at me or being rude and just not getting out the way.
Jeff: Mm-hmm. When I first started using a cane, you know I was reluctant, if I could stow it away in my backpack I would, if I could keep it folded I would.
Katheryn: Right yeah.
Jeff: It came to a point where it gives the other people so much information right out of the get-go that it kind of covered for me, like when I asked the bus driver what bus number is this and he’d be telling me, (in a mock low voice) it’s on the front of the bus.
Well I’m visually impaired, he said, how would I know?
You know?
Katheryn: Right yes and I’ve, I’ve noticed that too and then I’ve also noticed, I think what needs to be widened more and brought to people’s attention is because, some people they don’t even know what a cane is.
Jeff: Mm-hmm.
Katheryn: They don’t recognize that it’s a tool to help us navigate through the world even though there’s white cane day and everything, it’s not really taught because I was walking in the mall of America with my cane.
I went to a smoothie place and I was like, do you have any strawberry flavors and stuff, and he was like, it’s on the menu, I was like, I can’t read the menu.
He was like, well I’m gonna go make these other smoothies and then I’ll come back and see what you want.
[Laughter]
Jeff: That helps, [laughter] because if you can’t see it, hey give it time, osmosis right?
Katheryn: Yeah and I had my cane with me, it was out, it was right next to me, and I don’t think he knew exactly what it was and that it was helping me navigate.
Jeff: I’ve had Home Depot want to charge me for the cane thinking it was a curtain rod or something.
Katheryn: That’s funny.
Do you use an enter NFB or an AFB?
Jeff: I use Ambutech, it’s a folding cane.
Katheryn: Yeah Ambutech.
Jeff: I know they have the program for the NFB and that’s a great program for people, you know when you’re talking about fixed incomes and everything, but they do offer a cane.
Some people swear by them, myself I found that my Ambutech might be 11 years old now and……
Katheryn: Yeah, i have an Ambutech too.
Jeff: It just worked, but there’s a lot of good canes out there, a lot of different type of tips, and a lot of different, and I haven’t found the reason why some people use some tips over another tip, but I do prefer the metal tip, the one I have right now has a nylon one like a pencil tip.
Katheryn: Okay.
Jeff: It works for me.
So what kind of hobbies do you do?
Katheryn: I love reading.
I’m trying to get more into reading when I have free time.
Jeff: When I first was visually impaired I magnified a lot of things and then slowly I started moving into audiobooks.
Katheryn: Yes.
Jeff: It was such a relief.
People said, oh you’ll get seasick going back and forth, I said no I won’t, well I tell you after a while and I had to magnify it larger and larger, it was much easier that I could do other tasks and listen to my books and you know, sighted people listen to books so.
Katheryn: Right, I enjoy listening to books, especially when you have a good reader, a good narrator, that shows enthusiasm when they’re reading and really brings the book to life I feel, if I read it, just, I’m just so hard concentrating on what am I reading, that I’m not really getting the full picture of the story.
Jeff: Yeah and it takes a little bit to adjust to listening, just to a book, you know if the concentration level, but after a while I liked it.
Katheryn: Yeah I, I enjoyed it, I just pop in my headphones and get lost in a book and what’s really hard for me and what really I didn’t like with my text books is that I have to turn my head, so I’m like constantly going back and forth reading every single word.
Actually I got held back in first grade because I was only able to read one letter at a time with my vision.
Jeff: You know some people say do not use your residual sight you know, that you should learn other techniques so you don’t have that problem, and yet it’s hard to shut it off if you have it.
Katheryn: Right, in high school it was like, I was trying to read, trying to, I was trying to read one of the banners in the lunchroom and this girl thought I was looking at her, and she’s like stop looking at me, and I’m like, I’m not looking at you, I’m trying to read the banner.
[Laughter]
When I’m trying to focus or something I like going to this gaze and I like squint it’s like weirdest thing yeah I’ve noticed on the bus if I’m just staring right at somebody or anything I don’t see it so I could be staring very inappropriately at times and I know it I’ve seen before I know what it’s like to have someone just staring at ya it’s kind of awkward.
[Music]
Katheryn: Actually I got held back in first grade because I was only able to read one letter at a time with my vision.
But you’re not blind.
I’m like, well I’m visually impaired, you know this helps me at night when I’m walking and stuff, but they’re like, but you’re not blind, yes.
Jeff: Meet Certified Nurse Assistant Katheryn Menne.
Her mountain was not just one climb, it’s been a lifelong journey, from bullying, low vision, and low expectations.
Katheryn: I was bullied my whole school career, yeah I was called ugly, it was my thing, it’s not, you know you can’t notice that there’s something different on me, you do know.
Jeff: They see the blindness first.
Katheryn: Yeah before they really get to know you.
You know I’ve fully accepted it now, you know I’m actually very happy because it’s, it’s the one quality that I have that makes me extremely unique (inaudible) from all the rest of the people.
Jeff: For more podcasts with the blindness perspective, check us out on the web at www.blindabilities.com, on Twitter at Blind Abilites, and download the free Blind Abilities app from the app store, that is two words, Blind Abilities.
And if you, or someone you know, could benefit from your State Services, or your DVR, please contact them and see what they can do for you.
[Music]
Katheryn: Not let it define you.
I remember in elementary school I was always picked last in gym, at like McDonald’s or something and I’d always have to ask for help, you know so I’d always just end up ordering the same thing.
[Music]
Jeff: And now here’s Katheryn Menne.
“But you’re not blind” (with echo effect)
Jeff: Welcome to Blind Abilities, I’m Jeff Thompson and today we’re talking to Katheryn Menne, and she is a CNA and she’s used State Services for the Blind from high school to college, and the workplace, and glad she could make it into the blind ability studio and have a conversation, how are you doing Katheryn?
Katheryn: I’m doing great.
Jeff: great, so Katheryn can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Katheryn: well I’m currently years 20 old and I am working as a CNA in the medical field which I never thought I was able to do, so a Certified Nurse’s Assistant.
Jeff: Oh okay, where do you do that at?
Katheryn: I work at a place called Mountain Terrace Senior Living in Wausau, Wisconsin.
Jeff: Mmm, so you used State Services at some point?
Katheryn: I did it, was more or less to the end of my high school.
Jeff: Mm-hmm.
Katheryn: I should have gotten with State Services a lot sooner.
Jeff: How did you get introduced to them?
Katheryn: So I was a junior, like I had an IEP but it said other health disabilities and I was like, okay well why am I still not succeeding as best as I could.
I was like okay well it’s mostly my vision, so I talked to my case manager and I was like, well maybe I should get it changed to visually impaired, got qualified for vision services and then they brought me into State Services.
Jeff: And how did they help you?
Katheryn: State Services would always, making sure I was doing okay because I was also through my transition into working and going to college too.
Jeff: Uh-huh.
Katheryn: So they would always ask if there was anything that they could do, anything that they could provide to make the environment more easier.
Jeff: And what kind of technology did you use in your workplace or your school studies.
Katheryn: My computer, they kind of showed me a few things on the computer that were very helpful like increasing the cursor, changing the different colors on the screen, and then so, I just took that to my workplace as well.
Jeff: If I may, how long have you had a visual impairment?
Katheryn: I’ve had a visual impairment in my whole life actually.
I was born with it.
My vision is actually very unique we’re gonna say.
I was born with something called Ptosis, so that’s droopiness of the eyelid, so both of my eyelids droop down, and then my eyes don’t move.
They’re like in a fixed gaze kind of and then they also tilt down, downwards, so it’s a lot of neck usage,yeah.
Jeff: Yeah that is a rare one I believe, I haven’t heard that too much.
Katheryn: Yeah.
Jeff: So what was that like growing up in elementary school around, just growing up.
Katheryn: Well the thing is is, they never knew the extent of what it was until I became more independent, so I was you know like, a normal kid, I’ve been through eight or nine surgeries.
Eye surgeries so that was always fun.
Jeff: Yeah I bet.
Did you use any alternative techniques or devices for your work?
Katheryn: Well they use a laptop for passing medication and I am learning how to do that and I’m just like learning how to cope with it.
Jeff: Mm-hmm.
Katheryn: Meaning you know, enlarging the screen when I need to so I can read what the medication says or read the instructions or something so, my vision is not, it’s not a disadvantage because I can enlarge the screen which is nice.
Jeff: Is this something that’s gonna stay the same for you or does it progress, get worse?
Katheryn: Well right now my vision has gotten a little bit worse.
My last vision was 2200 and that’s, it’s never been that way.
Thankfully it has been corrected to the best of their ability, it can be corrected with glasses, yeah just time will tell.
Jeff: So when you were in high school and you got connected up with State Services, how did you find transitioning to college?
Katheryn: It was fairly easy, I mean I was also moving too, which was like really hard, I don’t recommend it.
[laughter]
Jeff: Tell everybody to stay put.
[Laughter]
Katheryn: Well I don’t recommend it because I was starting school like right away.
I feel like I should have really just settled into the new state and to new city and then like got a system down and then started school, so I wasn’t overwhelmed with getting settled, and then focusing on my classes.
Jeff: All at once.
Katheryn: Right yeah.
Jeff: So did you go to the Disability Services office, did you do any of that type of routine?
Katheryn: I actually didn’t and I regret it.
My school was very accommodating as, as is even without it, like it was mostly online, so I could you know, use my laptop.
Jeff: Mm-hmm.
Katheryn: You know when I needed to for the assignments and stuff.
Jeff: So do you read your books on tape or do you just enlarge the screen?
Katheryn: I just enlarge the screen, it’s usually a PDF file of the textbook and then I can enlarge that, and it’s in bold print which is extremely nice actually.
Jeff: Mm-hmm.
Katheryn: I didn’t think that it would be in bold print but low and behold.
Jeff: Now when you say you’re visually impaired, there’s something in the blindness community, some people say, oh you got sight, and they just like, oh I get it you got sight, and they just shrug you off, but myself knowing what it’s like to lose sight gradually, what’s it like for you on a daily basis around the people that you are around?
Katheryn: A lot of times people don’t get it.
I actually was working and I wasn’t even there for a week, so this particular Pizza Ranch, they noticed I had a vision issue and my particular job was to hand out their promotional card to people walking in because it was a grand opening.
Jeff: Mm-hmm.
Katheryn: On the third day of me working there, like after the grand opening, they pulled me into the office, the owner did, and she’s like, you know I don’t know whether you’re just not seeing the people or anything, but I don’t really have any any place for you considering you’re having trouble seeing the computers and stuff, would you mind just leaving.
Now the problem with that is, they never asked me if I had a vision issue.
I could see the computers just fine, so I don’t think they kind of really knew the extent of my vision you know, and then it was a totally different thing so they just all based it on my vision versus looking at the big picture.
Maybe the people didn’t want the cards when they first walked in.
Jeff: Right.
Katheryn: Or something so I think that was probably one of the most heartbreaking moments, there’s some of that, they didn’t realize, oh she has a vision problem, let’s not ask her about it and see where she’s most comfortable, let’s just assume something and not ask.
Jeff: And that’s when the trouble begins.
Katheryn: Right yes.
Jeff: Yeah that’s, that’s a hard feeling.
To give you an example, after I lost my vision, I start talking to this one gal who I thought understood what I was talking about about vision loss, and when I met her for the first time, she thought that I was just a teacher for the blind and it didn’t, it wasn’t me, and I never heard a word from her again.
Katheryn: Oh yeah.
Jeff: I had a cane you know, it was like hmm?
Katheryn: Yeah, I actually should be using my cane more often, but no, and that’s the thing though, and that’s actually a really good point that you brought up, a lot of people are scared to use their cane, or just anything because even though it’s such a handy tool to use, they don’t want to be outcasted from anybody.
You rarely see somebody using a cane, you know and then the people who have partial vision like I do, I can see people staring at me or being rude and just not getting out the way.
Jeff: Mm-hmm. When I first started using a cane, you know I was reluctant, if I could stow it away in my backpack I would, if I could keep it folded I would.
Katheryn: Right yeah.
Jeff: It came to a point where it gives the other people so much information right out of the get-go that it kind of covered for me, like when I asked the bus driver what bus number is this and he’d be telling me, (in a mock low voice) it’s on the front of the bus.
Well I’m visually impaired, he said, how would I know?
You know?
Katheryn: Right yes and I’ve, I’ve noticed that too and then I’ve also noticed, I think what needs to be widened more and brought to people’s attention is because, some people they don’t even know what a cane is.
Jeff: Mm-hmm.
Katheryn: They don’t recognize that it’s a tool to help us navigate through the world even though there’s white cane day and everything, it’s not really taught because I was walking in the mall of America with my cane.
I went to a smoothie place and I was like, do you have any strawberry flavors and stuff, and he was like, it’s on the menu, I was like, I can’t read the menu.
He was like, well I’m gonna go make these other smoothies and then I’ll come back and see what you want.
[Laughter]
Jeff: That helps, [laughter] because if you can’t see it, hey give it time, osmosis right?
Katheryn: Yeah and I had my cane with me, it was out, it was right next to me, and I don’t think he knew exactly what it was and that it was helping me navigate.
Jeff: I’ve had Home Depot want to charge me for the cane thinking it was a curtain rod or something.
Katheryn: That’s funny.
Do you use an enter NFB or an AFB?
Jeff: I use Ambutech, it’s a folding cane.
Katheryn: Yeah Ambutech.
Jeff: I know they have the program for the NFB and that’s a great program for people, you know when you’re talking about fixed incomes and everything, but they do offer a cane.
Some people swear by them, myself I found that my Ambutech might be 11 years old now and……
Katheryn: Yeah, i have an Ambutech too.
Jeff: It just worked, but there’s a lot of good canes out there, a lot of different type of tips, and a lot of different, and I haven’t found the reason why some people use some tips over another tip, but I do prefer the metal tip, the one I have right now has a nylon one like a pencil tip.
Katheryn: Okay.
Jeff: It works for me.
So what kind of hobbies do you do?
Katheryn: I love reading.
I’m trying to get more into reading when I have free time.
Jeff: When I first was visually impaired I magnified a lot of things and then slowly I started moving into audiobooks.
Katheryn: Yes.
Jeff: It was such a relief.
People said, oh you’ll get seasick going back and forth, I said no I won’t, well I tell you after a while and I had to magnify it larger and larger, it was much easier that I could do other tasks and listen to my books and you know, sighted people listen to books so.
Katheryn: Right, I enjoy listening to books, especially when you have a good reader, a good narrator, that shows enthusiasm when they’re reading and really brings the book to life I feel, if I read it, just, I’m just so hard concentrating on what am I reading, that I’m not really getting the full picture of the story.
Jeff: Yeah and it takes a little bit to adjust to listening, just to a book, you know if the concentration level, but after a while I liked it.
Katheryn: Yeah I, I enjoyed it, I just pop in my headphones and get lost in a book and what’s really hard for me and what really I didn’t like with my text books is that I have to turn my head, so I’m like constantly going back and forth reading every single word.
Actually I got held back in first grade because I was only able to read one letter at a time with my vision.
Jeff: You know some people say do not use your residual sight you know, that you should learn other techniques so you don’t have that problem, and yet it’s hard to shut it off if you have it.
Katheryn: Right, in high school it was like, I was trying to read, trying to, I was trying to read one of the banners in the lunchroom and this girl thought I was looking at her, and she’s like stop looking at me, and I’m like, I’m not looking at you, I’m trying to read the banner.
[Laughter]
When I’m trying to focus or something I like going to this gaze and I like squint it’s like weirdest thing yeah I’ve noticed on the bus if I’m just staring right at somebody or anything I don’t see it so I could be staring very inappropriately at times and I know it I’ve seen before I know what it’s like to have someone just staring at ya it’s kind of awkward.
Katheryn: The thing is what I do and this is a really bad habit of mine, is I look down, I look down when I walk, I look down when I’m talking people, and it’s this habit that I’ve grown to like my whole life that I just keep doing it, and it’s because I’m extremely light-sensitive my, my pupils don’t dilate as fast and then I have one pupil that doesn’t dilate as much as it should, so I want pupil bigger than the other, I’ve just always looked down when I’m walking, when I’m talking to people, and it’s because of the light.
Jeff: Have you ever been bullied in like an elementary school or high school because of your being different?
Katheryn: Yes, yes I was bullied my whole school career.
Jeff: Oh wow.
Katheryn: Yeah I was called ugly because it’s, it, it’s with my thing, it’s not, it’s not like, you know you can’t notice that there’s something different on me, you know with the droopiness of the eyelid, you know you do know.
I was called ugly and I was called blind that I can’t see, I mean obviously I could see and it just stuck with me the whole time.
Jeff: You know it’s really something when you’re around sighted people, people who can see, you’re the blind person.
Katheryn: Right.
Jeff: And yet when you’re around the blindness community, you’re the sighted person.
Katheryn: Right, it’s actually very interesting, sometimes we walked over to the Perkins after our shift was done, but at night is when I have the most trouble seeing so I had my cane.
So someone pulled it out of my purse and it was like, but you’re not blind, I was like, well I’m visually impaired, you know this this helps me at night when I’m walking and stuff, but they’re like, but you’re not blind.
So there’s a representation where you know having a white cane automatically assumes that you know, you’re totally blind and that’s not the case at all.
Jeff: Just difficulty and seeing.
Katheryn: Right.
Jeff: Yeah it is a stigma, you wear the cane, it’s like wearing that Scarlet Letter “B” right on your chest you know, it’s like people, you’re identified, you’re put into a category, a group that a lot of people don’t even understand or know about and yet they just assume to what they’ve learned or maybe not even learned about, they just kind of assumed, oh they’re blind.
Katheryn: Right.
Jeff: They see the blindness first.
Katheryn: Yeah before they really get to know you or, or anything and it’s, you know I’ve fully accepted it now, you know I’m actually very happy because it’s the one quality that I have that makes me extremely unique, [inaudible] from all the rest of the people, but you know it’s hard to explain why I’m using this, this, and this, why I’m getting so close to this, or why I can’t read menus, that was like my biggest thing as a childhood is I could never read the menus at like McDonald’s or something and I’d always have to ask for help.
Jeff: Mmm-hmm.
Katheryn: You know so I’d always just end up ordering the same thing.
[Laughter]
Jeff: I know exactly what that like you’re at a table, there’s three other people, you just listen to what they’re ordering and your kind of like, yeah that sounds alright.
Katheryn: Well if the menu was in front of me I could you know get as close as I needed to with it but at McDonald’s and some, they have that on the big screen board.
Jeff: Mm-hmm.
Katheryn: I could never read that for the life of me or going in the drive-thru, I can never read that, so I’m just like eeeh, just give me this you know.
Jeff: Yeah, same ol, same ol.
Katheryn: Same ol thing yeah.
Jeff: And the, the thing is a lot of time, as a vision impaired person, you don’t even get the chance to explain to someone, they just assume and the moments over.
Katheryn: Right.
Jeff: I find that that’s majority at a time, it’s just a fleeting thing, they, oh they’re blind, and they move on and it it hurts, you know especially when I was first new to it, you said you accept it now and it’s a unique part of you, it doesn’t define you but it’s a unique part of you, and I agree with you totally on that.
Katheryn: Right it makes me who I am.
What people assume is some people they don’t even like talking, they don’t even like asking questions, they just assume something and then they go on their way.
Jeff: Mm-hmm.
Katheryn: I was walking in the mall, the mall is the best place to go to get questioned. [laughter] it is the best place to go.
A kid came up to me he’s like, what’s that for?
He pointed at the cane and was like, what’s that?
And I was like, it helps me see, and she’s like, ah you can’t see?
Jeff: Mm-hmm.
Katheryn: And she was like five or six so she didn’t really know any better but.
Jeff: It doesn’t really change sometimes, even adults they just don’t they just don’t bridge the idea that you’ve been dealing in this with this your whole life, that you’ve become accustomed to not using your eyes as much and using the cane, and do an alternative techniques and you get I mean, how did you make it to the mall in the first place, you know it’s like.
Katheryn: Right.
Jeff: Yeah, public has a interesting way, when you’re a little bit different, public has a unique way of letting you know it.
Katheryn: And sometimes you know, even like with vision, it’s like a hidden disability unless you make it known.
Because people who don’t have droopy eyelids and say they’re just, they just have a visual impairment, or you know something happened, or they have a prosthetic or something, you know they look totally normal on the outside but it’s like, oh you don’t look visually impaired, you know?
Jeff: Mm-hmm, yeah sometimes it’s nice that that is the way it is but other times it’s people love to find Waldo in those cartoon type things so every once while they see a white cane and it’s like, oh they define you, the blind person, boom!
Katheryn: Right.
Jeff: I think that’s one of the things that was the hardest thing for me to get over it was, okay I’m categorized as this you know, back in the day it was like, a single white male, illiterate, can’t drive, no license.
[Laughter]
Katheryn: Right.
Jeff: You know it really didn’t help the ego or anything like that, it was very defining to me at first, but after a while it’s like, you know what, it brings out that truth in other people, but like when you meet them, how they respond, how they talk about it, or if they do, you know it’s like there’s a lot of good people out there don’t get me wrong.
Katheryn: I think the best people are people who ask and actually really get to know you and not let it define you.
I mean I remember in elementary school I was always picked last in gym because I could never catch the ball or anything, because I had terrible depth perception so I could never catch or throw or anything, so people never wanted me to be on their team.
Jeff: Oh yeah.
Katheryn: Yeah and they’re, in some cases where they would try to pawn me off on to the other team, yeah so.
Jeff: And it’s tough because you go through life that way year after year after, you know it wasn’t just a day that it happened, it’s a consistent happening that you adapt to it like, hmm today I say, I put the blinders on, like on a horse, they put these little pads on the side of their eyes so they look forward all the time.
I don’t let the negativities and other people that really don’t have an impact on my life unless I allow them to drag me down, so I always jokingly say I put the blinders on and go forward.
Katheryn: Right, I think that’s an amazing quote.
I’m actually really impressed on how far I’ve achieved in my life so far, like I never thought I could work in the medical field.
Jeff: mm-hmm.
Katheryn: My visual impairment, but you know what I gave it a go in high school, and I was like, you know what, and I was able to do it and I actually got an award in my class because I showed like so much dedication in the class and I didn’t let my vision define me at all.
Jeff: Mm-hmm, so do you still keep in touch with State Services for the Blind?
Katheryn: No my case is actually closed right now.
I do plan on reevaluating my case if my vision does, does worsen, and possibly going into more technology training and more mobility training if I need it.
Jeff: It’s nice to know that they are there as a resource.
Katheryn: It is extremely nice to know with the resource and actually with my acuity they, they wouldn’t have accepted me, but it’s my peripheral vision that got me the services, because I have less than 10% peripheral.
Jeff: Oh wow.
Katheryn: You know I think it’s amazing on what they do.
I know there’s definitely a lot of technology out there.
I know some people who use different technologies to help them like a label reader so they can independently, they can see what color shirt they’re wearing, so it’s just amazing on what technology can do and the services that they can provide with mobility training, or life skills, or it’s definitely something that I would recommend to anybody.
Jeff: Great, well Katheryn I want to thank you for coming on the Blind Abilities.
Is there anything else that you would like to tell the listeners, any piece of advice or anything?
Katheryn: Don’t ever think that you can’t do anything because of your disability, because there are a wide range of options that you can do.
You don’t just have to be greeter at Walmart, or just have a minimum-wage job, there’s definitely a whole variety of things that you could do.
Jeff: Great.
Well Katheryn thank you for taking the time out of your day and coming onto Blind Abilities and sharing a little bit about yourself and your journey through blindness.
Katheryn: well thank you, it was an honor to talk with you and to share a little bit about myself and hopefully it helps somebody out there.
Jeff: I’m sure it will.
Katheryn: All right awesome, thank you!
[Music]
Jeff: It was a great pleasure talking to Katheryn and to learn from her that sometimes obstacles are larger than mountains, and there are some obstacles that we just need to overcome.
It may take time, but through perseverance Katheryn has made it, she’s working, she’s happy, and she’s sharing her story.
And a big thank you goes out to CheeChau for his beautiful music, and that’s @LCheeChau on Twitter.
Thank You CheeChau.
So once again, thanks for listening, hope you enjoyed, until next time, bye-bye.
[Music]
[Multiple voices]
When we share what we see through each other’s eyes, we can then begin to bridge the Gap between the limited expectations and the realities of Blind Abilities.
For more podcast with the blindness perspective, check us out on the web at www.blindabilities.com, on twitter at BlindAbilities, download our app from the app store, Blind Abilities, that’s two words, or send us an email at info@blindabilities.com, thanks for listening.