Samara's Foundation

We would like you to meet Samara.

Samara was born August 12th, 1968 in Garden Grove, California. At 9 yrs. of age she was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. At 15 yrs. old she worked as a Candy Striper at the Anaheim Memorial Hospital. At 24 yrs. of age her eyesight began to fail. She moved to East Wenatchee to live with her parents. In March of 1994 Samara entered the “Orientation and Training Center” (OTC) in Seattle, where she would learn independent living skills for the blind and visually impaired. She graduated and returned home to E. Wenatchee in November of 1994. Samara wanted to become a Braille teacher. In December of 1994 she became very ill and was hospitalized with flu-like symptoms that developed into a kidney infection. Samara Kathleen Kennedy passed away on March 12, 1995.

The Courtesy Rules Of Blindness 2002-11-07 13:26:15

• 1.) I’m an ordinary person, just blind. You don’t need to raise your voice or address me as if I were a child. Don’t ask my spouse what I want– “Cream in the coffee?”–ask me.
  
• 2.) I may use a long white cane or a guide dog to walk independently; or I may ask to take your arm. Let me decide, and please don’t grab my arm; let me take yours. I’ll keep a half-step behind to anticipate curbs and steps.
  
• 3.) I want to know who’s in the room with me. Speak when you enter. Introduce me to the others including children, and tell me if there’s a cat or dog.
  
• 4.) The door to a room or cabinet or to a car that is left partially open is a hazard to me.
  
• 5.) At dinner I will not have trouble with ordinary table skills.
  
• 6.) Don’t avoid words like “see.” I use them too. I’m always glad to see you.
  
• 7.) I don’t want pity, but don’t talk about the “wonderful compensations” of blindness. My sense of smell, taste, touch or hearing did not improve when I became blind, I rely on them more and, therefore, may get more information through those senses than you do–that’s all.
  
• 8.) If I’m your houseguest, show me the bathroom, closet, dresser, window- -the light switch too. I like to know whether the lights are on or off.
  
• 9.) I’ll discuss blindness with you if you’re curious, but it’s an old story to me. I have as many other interests as you do.
  
• 10.) Don’t think of me as just a blind person. I’m just a person who happens to be blind.
  
• 11.) You don’t need to remember some “politically correct” term, “visually impaired”, “sight challenged” etc. Keep it simple and honest, just say blind.In all 50 states the law requires drivers to yield the right of way when they see a extended white cane. Only the blind may carry white canes. You see more blind persons today walking alone, not because there are more of us, but because we have learned to make our own way.This list is reprinted from A Blind Net, http://www.blind.net , and may be reprinted as long as the text is not altered in any way, there is no fee charged, and this notice, in full, is included.

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