eSight Community News

That's one of the comments George Ashiotis makes
during an interview with eSight Careers Network
about how his career path has
given him the opportunity to help carry out the unique
mission of New York City's Theater By The Blind as
co-artistic director and a member of the cast.

"I don't know what you do," Ashiotis continues. "It
depends on the day, I guess. You have to learn to take
everything in stride and move on! There are times when
I feel so deeply discouraged and want nothing more
than to hide myself away, but then I wake up the next
day, and somehow I'm ready to try again."

See "Theater By The Blind: Changing Misconceptions
About Blindness," eSight's interview with Ashiotis, at
http://www.esight.org/view.cfm?x=1741

"I believe Theater By The Blind has developed a very
interesting (and effective) strategic and tactical
approach to fight the stereotypes and misconceptions
associated with blindness in the U.S. culture," writes
Jim Hasse, eSight's senior content developer, in this
week's issue of eSight's NetWork News.

Theater By The Blind is a critically acclaimed company
in New York City made up of both visually impaired and
sighted theater professionals.

Founded in 1979, the company's mission is to change
the image of the blind from one of dependence to
independence, to fight the stereotypes and
misperceptions associated with blindness, and to show
how vibrant, fluid and exuberant people with visual
impairments can be.

Ashiotis notes that Theater by The Blind's New York
City premiere of "The Rules of Charity" by John
Belluso will run May 26 through June 24 at The Lion,
Theater Row, 410 W. 42nd St. See
http://www.tbtb.org/abouttheshow.htm

Telephone 212-279-4200 for tickets.

"The Rules of Charity," he says, is about a man with
cerebral palsy, Monty, who uses a wheelchair and must
rely upon his daughter, Loretta, to care for him. When
a young man sparks the idea of romance in Loretta's
life, she wants to move out of Monty's home and
conflicts escalate.

This strong, dark, funny play looks at how disabled
people have been treated through the ages. "The Rules
of Charity" suggests that the power love holds over us
is contrary and contradictory -- a combination of love
and hate, cruelty and goodness.

Theater By The Blind is the only theater in the United
States doing quality professional work to fight the
stereotypes and misperceptions associated with
blindness.

Under the artistic direction of founder Ike Schambelan
and Ashiotis, the company has developed several
principal programs to achieve its mission.

It has developed visually impaired talent for theater,
movies and TV; written original material revealing the
world of the blind; conducted tours to bring this
material to as many people as possible; performed
traditional material in a style to make it fully
accessible for people with visual impairments;
developed blind audiences; and brought both blind and
sighted people into a shared aesthetic experience that
bridges the gap between them.

The company performs for every kind of audience member
imaginable -- from general New York theatergoers to
seniors, students and other underserved populations.
About 10 percent of Theater By The Blind's audience is
visually Impaired. About .2 percent of the U.S. is
visually impaired. One of the company's goals is to
further increase its visually impaired audience beyond
that 10 percent level.

eSight's Ashiotis interview prompted The Associated
Blind, Inc., parent organization of eSight, to
initiate an online discussion in the eSight Networking
Forum about this question:

How far do you think we are from the tipping point
where big changes in public perceptions about
disability result in significant increases in
employment levels among people with disabilities?

Anyone can join the eSight Networking Forum discussion
at http://www.esight.org/link.cfm?n=1120

The Associated Blind, Inc., a 69-year-old non-profit
organization, has been providing members of eSight
Careers Network opportunities to collaborate on
disability employment issues through accessible online
discussions and resource building since October 2000.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Source: The Associated Blind, Inc. Contact: Nancy
O'Connell, Executive Director Tel: (212) 683-4950
E-mail: MemberServices@eSightCareers.net

Online community: http://www.eSight.org