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In November 2008, two new presidents
were elected. Everybody knows of Barack Obama's historic rise to the Presidency
of the United States, but not everyone knows the story behind Beth Rival,
the newly elected president of the National Federation of the Blind of
Connecticut. Beth and I chatted earlier this year about her life and where
she'd like to see the energy of the NFB of CT directed in the future.
Here's what she had to say.
Chris: For starters, where
do you live? Is it where you grew up?
Beth: I have lived in Kensington now for 25 years. Before that we lived
in our first home in Enfield, where I used to work in a laundromat. Charlie
and I married in 1973 and started in an attic apartment in New Britain.
It was over a garage, with no sink in the bathroom and no closets, but
very affordable at $50 per month!
I have 2 daughters. Mandy is 29 and lives in Pennsylvania with my two
granddaughters--Chase is twenty-two months old and Blake is six months
old. My other daughter, Kim, is 26, lives in Cromwell and works for Blue
Cross.
Chris: How did you lose your
sight? Was it slowly or all of a sudden?
Beth: I noticed something wrong with my sight at fourteen years old, but
it wasn't correctly diagnosed until I was sixteen. I drove for about a
year and a half. At 19 and 21 I had cataracts removed--one by laser and
one by scalpel. At that time they kept you in the hospital for a week.
Both surgeries had issues. Glaucoma and Uveitis followed, which is inflammation
of the eye caused by Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, which I've had since
I was two. It has left me temporarily crippled at different times, either
my knees or hand or foot. Thankfully, it only lasts for a month or so.
To date, I have had 37 fractures with advanced osteoporosis.
I was declared legally blind at eighteen, and had six other operations
at Massachusetts Eye And Ear Hospital in Boston. I had shots of cortisone
every week for a year, then used prednisone for many years to help maintain
some sight. I became totally blind in 1999.
Chris: In addition to being
a wife and mother, do you have other work experience?
Beth: When Charlie and I were first married, I worked at the Laundromat
in Enfield. After that I worked at the State Department of Labor for two
years. I next worked in the cafeteria at an elementary school in Berlin,
which was nice because I could be home for my kids and had summers and
holidays off. I also ran a small daycare out of my house for four years.
Chris: How did you first get
involved with the NFB?
Beth: Desperate to find another blind person, Charlie saw a convention
notice for NFB in Philadelphia in 2001, so we took the train to see what
all the fuss was. I met Joyce Kane in line to register and came back to
join the Milford chapter and learn from my new friends. Then I went for
better independence with my first dog guide at the Seeing Eye in New Jersey.
Now Sierra is retired at home with her party hat on, and Barkley is my
second working dog.
Chris: Are you a Braille reader?
How and when did you learn?
Beth: Charlie's job was going to move us to the nuclear power plant in
Seabrook, New Hampshire, so I had lots of down time at the hotel and in
the car. My rehab counselor had told me at the age of 47 that I was too
old to learn Braille, so I guess they did me a favor and gave me the incentive
to learn on my own. I talked to Mary Brunoli about it on the phone, but
her health was failing and we could never seem to get together. I bought
beginning books from the NFB national center in Maryland and learned contractions
afterwards. In the beginning I could not even stay on the correct line,
but now I read slowly and consistently to keep my skills up. I also like
to take notes with a slate and stylus so I can keep my writing up.
Chris: What is the most important
legislative issue facing blind people? What do you think the NFB of Connecticut
should be working on?
Beth: We need to travel and get around daily to bring awareness to the
sighted public that it's okay to be blind. That we can, in fact, tie our
own shoes. I would like to see all blind people who want work to have
a job. In the future, I think we need to make sure blind and visually
impaired students get proper help. The state needs to stop having the
kids use residual sight and teach them alternative skills. In Washington,
I would like to finally have the Social Security issue resolved. It is
only fair that we work as many hours as a senior citizen can--and still
receive our check. I think the NFB of Connecticut needs to zero in on
recruiting new, younger members. We could use their energy and skills.
Chris: What is something about
you that people don't know, but you think they should?
Beth: I have two brothers and a sister and grew up enjoying every summer
at a lake in Maine. I started waterskiing at the age of seven and have
always loved the freedom of it. In recent years I had to stop for risk
of bones breaking. I've always been independent and hate giving up things
I love such as driving. I love swimming in lakes, the ocean and the fresh
spring water ponds at the Cape. I love animals unconditionally and spoiling
my new grandchildren. I would also love to be 35 again, just to have my
body cooperate easier.
Chris: Final question-Red Sox
or Yankees?
Beth: What about the Mets? No, just kidding. I would much rather play
the sport than watch it, but if I have to choose then I choose the Yankees
out of respect for my Dad. He left us when I was twelve, but he also left
all the baseball cards without the gum. And of course out of respect for
my uncles and brother-in-law, who recently passed away, and would be shocked
if he knew I'd bought a Red Sox T-shirt for someone.
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