{"id":9354,"date":"2026-01-31T10:44:57","date_gmt":"2026-01-31T16:44:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=9354"},"modified":"2026-03-09T10:03:40","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T15:03:40","slug":"blind-abilities-the-musical-om-and-the-scarlet-letter-b","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=9354","title":{"rendered":"Blind Abilities &#8211; The Musical: O&amp;M and the Scarlet letter B"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--powerpress_player--><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_5068\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-9354-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/BlindAbilitiesTheMusicalEP2.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/BlindAbilitiesTheMusicalEP2.mp3\">https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/BlindAbilitiesTheMusicalEP2.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div>\n<p>Blind Abilities \u2013 The Musical: O&amp;M and the Scarlet Letter B explores the deeply personal moment when a white cane shifts from symbol to tool, from stigma to freedom. Through music, storytelling, and candid conversation, the episode traces the emotional arc of orientation and mobility\u2014hesitation, acceptance, learning, and momentum. The songs frame lived experiences many blind and visually impaired people know well: the fear of being seen, the relief of being understood, and the confidence that comes from trusting your skills. \u201cThe cane chose me\u201d becomes more than a lyric\u2014it\u2019s a turning point where independence replaces resistance. The discussion that follows grounds the music in real-world experiences, from early reluctance and public missteps to training breakthroughs and hard-earned pride. Together, the musical and conversation celebrate movement, adaptability, and self-direction, reminding listeners that independence isn\u2019t about perfection\u2014it\u2019s about learning to read the world differently and continuing forward, one step at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?page_id=9351\">Full Transcript<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thanks for listening!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<!--powerpress_player--><div class=\"powerpress_player\" id=\"powerpress_player_5070\"><audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-9354-3\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/BlindAbilitiesTheMusicalEP2.mp3?_=3\" \/><a href=\"https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/BlindAbilitiesTheMusicalEP2.mp3\">https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/BlindAbilitiesTheMusicalEP2.mp3<\/a><\/audio><\/div><p>https:\/\/traffic.libsyn.com\/blindabilities\/BlindAbilitiesTheMusicalEP2.mp3 Blind Abilities \u2013 The Musical: O&amp;M and the Scarlet Letter B explores the deeply personal moment when a white cane shifts from symbol to tool, from stigma to freedom. Through music, storytelling, and candid conversation, the episode traces the emotional arc of orientation and mobility\u2014hesitation, acceptance, learning, and momentum. The songs frame lived experiences [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9322,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"audio","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[561,17,560],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9354","post","type-post","status-publish","format-audio","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ba-the-musical","category-bapresents","category-musical","post_format-post-format-audio"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Blind-Abilities-The-Musical-Image.png","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6rcRg-2qS","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5509,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=5509","url_meta":{"origin":9354,"position":0},"title":"Raise Your Cane! White Cane Safety Awareness Day at the Capital!","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"October 21, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Full Transcript Show Summary: The day was filled with excitement as people gathered in the Rotunda of the State Capital in Saint Paul, Minnesota. We heard speeches about the history of White Cane Safety Awareness Day. Individual experiences about the White Cane and voices from across the entire Blindness field\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;BlindAbilities Presents&quot;","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2699,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=2699","url_meta":{"origin":9354,"position":1},"title":"NFB17 Let The Convention Begin! Cane Traveling by Mark Erickson","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"July 9, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The Blind Abilities Coverage of the #NFB17 is sponsored by Aira. Jeff Thompson of the Blind Abilities Team arrived early and met up with Mark Erickson of Blind, Inc and talked about cane travel and the 32 students\/staff that made the journey down to Orlando, Florida. Join Jeff as he\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;BlindAbilities Presents&quot;","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6840,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=6840","url_meta":{"origin":9354,"position":2},"title":"The Best of Folk Through 88 Keys: Meet Marcus Roberts, the Jazz Master &#8211; Disciplines of Music in the Key of Life","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"July 30, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Full Transcription Show Summary: \u00a0Our guest today is Marthaniel Roberts, who goes by \u201cMarcus: Roberts. Marcus is a Jazz pianist, composer, band leader, and Professor of Jazz music at Florida State University (FSU).\u00a0 Marcus was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. Showing an early interest in, and a strong aptitude\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;BlindAbilities Presents&quot;","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9436,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=9436","url_meta":{"origin":9354,"position":3},"title":"Blind Abilities \u2013 The Musical: More Than One Way To Be Blind","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"March 1, 2026","format":"audio","excerpt":"Podcast Summary: In Episode 4 of Blind Abilities \u2013 The Musical, Lori, Christina, Pete, and Jeff explore the strength and diversity found within the blind and low vision community by highlighting two major national organizations serving people who are blind or visually impaired. Inspired by the spirit of Thomas Paine\u2019s\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;BA The Musical&quot;","block_context":{"text":"BA The Musical","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=561"},"img":{"alt_text":"Image of 5 fictional anchors on a musical stage theater.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Blind-Abilities-The-Musical-Image.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Blind-Abilities-The-Musical-Image.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Blind-Abilities-The-Musical-Image.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Blind-Abilities-The-Musical-Image.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Blind-Abilities-The-Musical-Image.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Blind-Abilities-The-Musical-Image.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6975,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=6975","url_meta":{"origin":9354,"position":4},"title":"Qudsiya Naqui \u2013 Lawyer, Advocate and Podcaster. A Conversation about Transitioning From Sighted to Blind and From College to the Workplace, Running, Biking and Getting Down to the Struts.","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"October 22, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Full Transcript Podcast Summary: Qudsiya Naqui has experienced losing sight, transitioning from reading to listening to audio, learning about the White Cane and advocating all along the way. Qudsiya is aa Lawyer and reflects back about her journey, her advocates, her way of choosing a college and how Tandem Biking\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;BlindAbilities Presents&quot;","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4309,"url":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?p=4309","url_meta":{"origin":9354,"position":5},"title":"Meet Mike Kelly: Persistent in His Drive to Fight Any and All Challenges, and Ultimately Persevere","author":"Blind Abilities Team","date":"January 2, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Full Transcript Show Summary: Blind Abilities presents this special chat with Mike Kelly. Mike is a consonant musician, having learned to play the bass at an early age, Join Pete Lane as he tracks Mike\u2019s musical evolution through the music industry from the 1970s, and into the present. Listen as\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;BlindAbilities Presents&quot;","block_context":{"text":"BlindAbilities Presents","link":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/?cat=17"},"img":{"alt_text":"BlindAbilities Logo A black square with white initials, B A.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blindabilities.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blind-Abilities-Logo.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9354","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9354"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9354\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9355,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9354\/revisions\/9355"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9322"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9354"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9354"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blindabilities.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9354"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}