Full Transcript
Jeff Thompson:
Welcome to Blind Abilities. I’m Jeff Thompson.
Bobby Binns:
Okay, so, state services actually played a huge part in everything that I’m doing.
Speaker 3:
Don’t be afraid. Get out there and meet people. Be friendly. Nobody is judging you.
Speaker 4:
Think big. Look at; what do you love to do? What do you enjoy doing? And then, how can you turn it into getting paid?
Speaker 3:
I use my Braille this way. I use Jaws.
Bobby Binns:
Put on your cape, grab your gladiator shield, and go get them tiger!
Speaker 3:
Don’t limit yourself.
Jeff Thompson:
Career Expo 2019, such great opportunity for transition-age students to meet up with professionals from a wide variety of professions. It’s an opportunity for students transitioning from high school, to college, to the workplace, to ask questions from nearly 25 professionals. What is their job like? What tools they use? And, to receive encouragement about the possibilities that they too can achieve their dreams and get the career that they want.
Jeff Thompson:
Welcome to Blind Abilities. I’m Jeff Thompson. I’m at the Career Expo in Roseville, Minnesota, put on by State Services For the Blind. I ran into a friend here name Bobby Binns. How you doing?
Bobby Binns:
Bobby Binns on the check-in, not for the 1st time or 2nd. We ain’t even counting no more.
Jeff Thompson:
There we go.
Bobby Binns:
What’s up Jeff? How you doing?
Jeff Thompson:
Good, good. Nice to see you here.
Bobby Binns:
Yes sir, yes sir.
Jeff Thompson:
Now, I remember last time, you had just landed a job at FedEx. How’s that going?
Bobby Binns:
Aw man. Last time we spoke, I had just landed a job at FedEx. Well, fast forward a little bit to the future. We what? I had to been at least three-and-a-half years ago, because, coming this November will make four years since I been at FedEx. Four amazing years. I mean, I wouldn’t give those years back for nothing.
Jeff Thompson:
That’s really impressive. And, you’re still there, but, you’re also doing something for your education.
Bobby Binns:
Oh, yes. Let’s talk about that. I’m currently a student at Minneapolis Technical Community College, MCTC. It’s located downtown in the heart of Minneapolis. Everything goes well, which I’m anticipating that it does, I should be finished with my two-year degree, my Associates degree in Human Services, at the end of this year in December.
Jeff Thompson:
Well, congratulations. Some people think, you get a job, you’re done. But, no, not Bobby Binns.
Bobby Binns:
No, you don’t stick a fork in me that soon! No sir! Tough meat over here! I’m rare!
Jeff Thompson:
So, what was your journey like to get to the point where you’re confident enough to go to FedEx and say; Hey, I can do this?
Bobby Binns:
All right, well, that’s a long story. But, to condense it, I was basically homeless, running the streets of Massachusetts. Not willingly, of course, I became homeless after going blind. And you know, life started to fall apart at that point. I was able to find out about an adjustment to blindness program out in Minnesota by the name of Blind Incorporated. I did Blind Incorporated for nine months.
Bobby Binns:
And, about halfway through the duration of my program, I found out about a job at FedEx, located in Maple Grove. It’s a little ways out from the city, two hours bus commute to be exact. But, I was able to showcase my independence and my abilities on the tour that the people over at FedEx gave me. There was three blind people that took the tour of the plant. Two blind people interviewed, me being one of them.
Bobby Binns:
And, I was the only one to get hired. I was hired as a package handler. And since then, not only was I the first blind person to be hired by FedEx, but, since then, I have been able to open the doors for other blind individuals. And now, it’s like, they’re always coming up to me asking me; Hey Bobby, do you have any blind people you want to refer to us? We could really use some help.
Jeff Thompson:
The ambassador.
Bobby Binns:
Yeah. Those different things are basically what led up to me being here now. I always wanted to go back to school. I went blind in school the first time around, a couple years ago. So, that was always a thing of mine, that I always wanted to go back and complete. So, that’s where me going back to school comes into place now. And, right now, you got in front of you Bobby Binns, a package handler at FedEx for four years, and still going.
Bobby Binns:
At the end of this year, I’ll be Bobby Binns, the person you know with an Associate’s degree in the Human Service field. And, hopefully, some time in the future, I can be, you know, everybody’s favorite social worker. You know, Mr. Resourceful himself! You know.
Jeff Thompson:
There you go. You know, it’s pretty impressive that you landed the job. I remember last time we talked, you actually said; Let me try it. And, you actually went about it and did it in front of everybody.
Bobby Binns:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Jeff Thompson:
I mean, that’s some drive, confidence.
Bobby Binns:
Yeah. So, what happened with that, if I could just explain that part a little bit. It’s a little funny, because like, there’s different stations in the warehouse that the packages go through. So, we’re visiting the different stations. And, the person that was giving us the tour was actually the hub manager, so basically, the big rig of the building. And, you know, she was just showing us the different things.
Bobby Binns:
And in my head, at the time, I’m like; Oh my God, like, this lady has three blind mice in front of her. And like, all she can do is say; Oh, this is that, and that is this. And, over here and over there. Like, just basically just giving a bunch of visual descriptions and stuff like that. So, by the time we got to a certain station, which was the loading dock, she kept using these visual descriptions. And, I was frustrated, but, I didn’t really show my frustration, and I kind of was smart about it.
Bobby Binns:
So, I kind of stepped out. And, I asked her in a very polite and nice way. I said; Excuse me dear, but, you know, I hear you moving buttons. And, I hear machines going on, and you know, you keep saying this, and that. But, I’m not able to see a thing, you know. I would like to kind of interact with these machines and see if it’s something that I’d be able to do, even though I don’t have any vision.
Bobby Binns:
And, I think, that’s when it actually hit her that, what she was doing, and like, the way she was describing things were very irrelevant for a blind person, and it wasn’t conducive to like, you know, how I see things as a blind person. So, she then helped me in the truck. And, she then, you know, started to put my hands on all the buttons that she was talking about. Then, was able to explain to me the exact functions of the buttons.
Bobby Binns:
And, that’s how I was able to interact with the different machines, and then really showcase that I’m able to do the job, which is nothing simple, nothing hard, nothing rocket-science related. And, it’s just simply unloading trucks, taking packages off of a stack wall, and putting them on a conveyor belt.
Jeff Thompson:
But, that’s hard to sell to someone that doesn’t get it.
Bobby Binns:
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Jeff Thompson:
You’ve been doing a good job at that, obviously, and now, your school. How did State Services play a part in any of this?
Bobby Binns:
Okay, so, State Services actually played a huge part in everything that I’m doing, because not only does State Services For the Blind, they paid for my training at Blinding, but, they also support me with all of my working ventures. They’ve also let me know that they can provide me resources to different career opportunities if I ever, you know, if I ever come to the point where I’m ready to move on from FedEx and look for something else.
Bobby Binns:
Even with school, they were a big financial support to my schooling. They helped me pay for school. They provided me with a number of technologies that are very helpful. And, I wouldn’t be at the successful position I am in school right now without those adaptive technology devices. The support that SSB has provided, you know, it’s not just in one sense, in one field. It’s kind of like in, they really supported me in like, multiple different things that I’m doing in my life now. And, these things are definitely going to help my future. They definitely help shape my future, so, you know. Go SSB. Shout out to SSB. John Hamilton. Yeah! He’s a good guy.
Jeff Thompson:
So Bobby, coming from where you were, homeless, blind…
Bobby Binns:
Yeah.
Jeff Thompson:
… and, you’re sitting here today [crosstalk] mentoring students, giving advice, and even on the podcast talking about your successes. Did you imagine that would be happening from your homeless point-of-view?
Bobby Binns:
You know what? I didn’t. Just try to humble myself and just think productive while I was in the shelter. So, I was always thinking of a plan. It’s kind of funny because, just recently, I told somebody, at the end of this year, with me completing my Associate’s degree in Human Services, I would have successfully completed my first five-year plan that I actually put together when I was homeless. So, my five-year plan was to get out the shelter. Gain enough independent skills that I’m able to go out, get a job. Once I get a job, get my own apartment. And, take myself back to school, and get a degree.
Jeff Thompson:
And, it’s all falling into place.
Bobby Binns:
All falling into place.
Jeff Thompson:
What advice would you give to a transition student that is wondering about their future?
Bobby Binns:
Never give up. Always push forward. And, please, I really encourage individuals, don’t let your current situation, like, stop you or get you down, or prevent you from moving forward. And, this goes out to individuals across the world. No matter, like, what class you find yourself in, whether it’s a person of a disability or a person of a certain race who faces races. Or, you know, just different kind of curve balls that life will throw at you.
Bobby Binns:
You know, just don’t let your current situation let you down or prevent you from moving forward. You know, there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. And, you know, we kind of go through, you know, these hardships in life to kind of prepare us for our future. It’s just like, what we will have to go through in the future. Because, like, we all know, life isn’t easy, and nothing falls into your lap. So, you know, just put on your cape, grab your little gladiator shield, and go get them tiger!
Jeff Thompson:
Well play. Well play. So, while you’re in school, what are your tools for success? What would you advise someone? What tools do you use in school to help you succeed?
Bobby Binns:
As far as mental, physical, technological?
Jeff Thompson:
Bobby, this is a one hour podcast! I’m kidding!
Bobby Binns:
Oh! I use Windows. I use Jaws. I’m a Jaws user. My iPhone, I have my books. So, what I do is, I have my books on my iPhone, on a reader. And, like, I… between a combination of my iPhone that my books are on, my laptop that I use to type of things and research things if needed. And, I have this pretty old device. I call it, old. I don’t have no problem saying since I’m an older person myself. It’s a Victor Stream. I know, some people might hear that and be like; Oh my God, that thing is so old! I remember when I had…
Jeff Thompson:
It’s a great device.
Bobby Binns:
… But, it, oh my God! You can say two times! It’s a great device.
Jeff Thompson:
It’s a work horse.
Bobby Binns:
Oh my gosh! And, those three technologies that I use, my computer, my phone, and my Victor Stream, I call that my trinity. And, my little trinity is what… that’s really is what’s been helping me get through. And then, of course, you know, I always have to tilt my hat at the different services that are available on campus, the accessibility resource center, as well as the tutoring, the tutoring center. And, yeah, just the library resources and things like that, that I have access to. So, you know, just a combination of those things. That’s what really, like, plays a part in my success.
Jeff Thompson:
My Alma Mater, MCTC.
Bobby Binns:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Jeff Thompson:
I was there. And, what’s really unique about it is, it’s all connected together. I mean, here in Minnesota, we appreciate a skyway.
Bobby Binns:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Jeff Thompson:
And, everything’s there. They got a great learning center up there. They got a great disability services. You can use them, but you got to wean yourself off of them, because you can’t take them with you!
Bobby Binns:
Yeah. Right, right, right. That’s true!
Jeff Thompson:
And, it’s generally located right in bus services. So, it’s accessible.
Bobby Binns:
Yes. Highly accessible. Bro, it’s so easy for me. I mean, I literally come out my house, cross the street, get on the bus, and do the same process when I get off the bus to go to campus. I get off the bus, cross the street, bada-boom, bada-bing! MCTC, here I am, ready to learn. What’s good with it?
Jeff Thompson:
And, what I meant by the connectivity is, you have like three or four buildings. And, you can get… you don’t have to go outside even in the cold winter. Our winters are, what, 40 degrees Fahrenheit?
Bobby Binns:
Ah, yeah. Negative 30 below on a nice day!
Jeff Thompson:
But, it’s negotiable, navigatible.
Bobby Binns:
Mm-hmm (affirmative).
Jeff Thompson:
It’s accessible. That’s great.
Bobby Binns:
Yep.
Jeff Thompson:
Well Bobby Binns, thank you so much for coming and sharing your knowledge, your advice, your wisdom, your wit with everyone here. And, they’re all going to benefit when they meet Bobby Binns.
Bobby Binns:
For sure. Go Blind Abilities! Aye!
[Music] [Transition noise] -When we share
-What we see
-Through each other’s eyes…
[Multiple voices overlapping, in unison, to form a single sentence]
…We can then begin to bridge the gap between the limited expectations, and the realities of Blind Abilities.
Jeff Thompson:
For more podcasts with the blindness perspective:
Check us out on the web at www.BlindAbilities.com On Twitter @BlindAbilitie
Download our app from the App store:
‘Blind Abilities’; that’s two words.
Or send us an e-mail at:
info@blindabilities.com
Thanks for listening.
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