Hello again;
I hope you have had a good weekend.
And for those caught up in the conflict in Ukraine, my prayers are with you.
Like I said at the beginning of this week of interviews, it's time like this when I feel the need to do even more to entertain, inspire, and uplift others.
My last conversation as part of the 2022 Mobility Matters Conference was with it's organizer Amy Parker.
We talked about the beginnings of Portland State's programs to train orientation & mobility teachers and their program to prepare teachers for the visually impaired.
We talked about the origins of the Mobility Matters conference and their experience converting it from in person to virtual.
We obviously talked about the conference, the speakers, the responses from attendees, and her future plans for the event.
We also talked about how approaching future construction from the point of inclusion and universal design makes things better for everyone.
I found out that me and Amy have something kind of in common. Except we experienced the relationship from opposite sides.
Her older sister has multiple disabilities including vision loss. And my younger brother Michael had to grow up with me.
It might be fun to hear some conversations between those who were the Youngers brothers or sisters of people with disabilities.
She explained about the extreme need for orientation and mobility instructors and about the wealth of funding that is available for people to attend their program.
And she touched on how they have modified the education schedule to work with people where they are. Which lead to their offering most of the classes online and in the evenings.
Including our friend Samantha Stephen who has been able to do her practical coursework at her home in San Diego due to the ever-widening partnerships built by their staff.
Finally, you should know that Amy turned the tables on me.
I've had people perform on the show before, but I had always asked them in advance or given them permission in advance.
When I gave Amy the chance to leave y'all with some parting thoughts, she told me how much she loved my singing and that music had always been part of her family.
And she broke into Bring it back home to me by Sam Cook.
She is really good, so please stay around until the end.
Now On To The Show
About Amy
Amy Parker is an associate professor at Portland State University and the coordinator of its department of special education.
She grew up with a father who was a minister and a mother who was sign language interpreter and teacher of the death.
As mentioned above her older sister has multiple disabilities that include vision loss and the need to use a wheelchair.
She graduated from Texas Tech University and found her way to Oregon as part of a national Taskforce on more effective means for teaching the ideaf blind.
While there, PSU invited her to become part of this new program to teach orientation and mobility instructors.
I want to thank everyone at PSU, Portland State University for the effort they put out to create this amazing event.
And for reaching out and inviting me to play my small part in this year's event.
I got to have some great conversations with people I see as friends.
I learned a lot about disability and inclusion and was forced to give some serious thought to many of the things I have thought or said about myself.
I hope these conversations have gotten you to thinking too.
If you have benefitted from them, then please share them with your friends or family.
Please leave a comment on this post or on the podcast platform where you listen to shows.
I also want to thank all of you for continuing to support me by listening.
I know you have a lot going on in your lives, and you have so many demands on your time.
And that just makes me appreciate you more for spending some of your time with me.