RIP Kathy Brockman

When I learned of Kathy Brockman’s death on Sunday, July 26 I found myself reflecting on how, and how long, I knew her. For as long as I’ve been a member of Vision Forward Association, over 25 years, Kathy had been a fixture of the organization. Most recently, I worked with Kathy along with a team of VF members to update the organization’s governance structure.

In many ways, Kathy was a part of a time that has gone by and will never return. She was involved in a variety of groups and activities by and for blind persons. Many of these groups had their roots in a time when blindness was a way of life, rather than one of many possible characteristics that makes each of us unique. For some, these organizations have lost their attraction as the value of living, working, and socializing with other blind/visually impaired persons seems less useful than it once was.

Once, in casual conversation, Kathy, explained that she crossed the street on the right side whenever possible. This allowed her to get more information from the traffic than crossing on the other side of the street. I may have heard that from a mobility instructor at one time but had lost the information. I follow Kathy’s suggestion whenever I’m traveling in a busy area. Nuggets of wisdom like this are available from agencies, programs, and web pages but they don’t have the same impact as the sharing of experiences among people with common interests and common concerns.

I’ll remember Kathy Brockman as a fixture of Vision Forward Association. Those memories will naturally flow to meetings, by-laws, and agency stuff. The legacy of Kathy Brockman, and her peers, , is that of community. Places where wisdom is shared from mouth to ear, one nugget at a time. Focus on the traffic to the left and the community before us. That’s a recipe for safety and belonging.