My Pleasure Mahendra! Regards, Shraddha.
On 3/13/16, Mahendra Galani <gal...@chello.at> wrote: > thanks for posting Sharadha. > At 11:58 AM 3/13/2016 +0530, you wrote: >>Absolutely Great Gread! Here it goes: Justice >>Richard Bernstein - “Law is a Great >>Equalizer†By Pramila Komanduri Fri, >>03/11/2016 - 10:48 -- sharo...@eyeway.org >>Justice Richard Bernstein is the first blind >>Justice who has been elected by the people of >>the state of Michigan to serve on the Michigan >>Supreme Court since January, 2015. Born blind >>with a condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa he >>attended public schools in Michigan with special >>education programs and services. He graduated >>Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Michigan >>and completed his law degree at Northwestern >>University’s School of Law in Chicago. Justice >>Bernstein built his legal career in Michigan as >>an attorney and a diligent advocate for the >>rights of people with and without disabilities. >>Some of the cases which he undertook led to >>landmark legal decisions which determine the >>guidelines for safe accessibility for people >>with disabilities in commercial facilities, >>airlines and airports across the US. Inerview: >>Question: What kind of support system did you >>have at home with your family? Answer: Justice >>Bernstein: I had an incredibly supportive family >>and that was a blessing: my parents, my brother >>and my sister were all just amazing. I was >>raised with the idea that there were no limits >>and no obstacles and that life would be >>challenging, difficult, and hard but that there >>would be nothing that would be impossible and >>nothing that I couldn’t hope for, envision, or >>dream that could ultimately happen. I was taught >>Braille at a very early age which I haven’t >>used in well over 25 years as technology has >>provided a greater level of opportunity to >>people like myself than we could have ever >>imagined or even thought was possible. >>..Question: What issues did you have while >>growing up in getting involved in sports or >>other activities? Answer: Justice Bernstein: It >>was a very difficult time in school because they >>didn’t really know how to accommodate somebody >>like myself with a disability such as blindness. >>When I was going to the gym class for the >>physical fitness I was pretty much on the >>side-lines while everybody else got a chance to >>be a part of it. As I got older things got a lot >>better as I was presented with opportunities in >>which I had chances to experience things that I >>never even knew existed and have adventures. I >>became part of a program called Achilles which >>believes that anybody who wants to run should >>have a chance to do so. It works with severely >>disabled people like myself and gives us an >>absolutely incredible opportunity. Thanks to >>Achilles I run with guides who give me >>directional cues as I participate in a marathon: >>hard right, soft right, hard left, soft left. I >>have been a pretty intense athlete for about >>eight or nine years. I have had the incredible >>opportunity to complete 18 city marathons and a >>full Ironman competition. ..Question: Do you >>train with a guide for swimming, a lead rider on >>the tandem bike and a guide for the marathon in >>the Ironman competition? Answer: Justice >>Bernstein: That’s correct. It’s the same >>person for the whole event. It was a lot of >>training, discipline and work. It took about 2 >>years of training to do an Ironman. For those >>people who aren’t familiar with an Ironman, it >>is a 2.4 miles swim, followed by a 112 miles >>bike ride, which is followed by a 26.2 miles >>run. If you stop or rest or take a break while >>you are doing this competition you run the risk >>of missing a cut-off and being immediately >>disqualified from it. So you have to start off >>early in the morning. From start to finish it >>took 14 hours and 36 minutes of non-stop motion, >>with no break. I want you to imagine how it >>would feel if you dive into a frigid body of >>water. The temperature of Lake Coeur d’Alene >>in Idaho where I swam was 55° F (about 13° C). >>Imagine getting kicked in the face by all the >>other swimmers and trying to surface but you >>can’t. Imagine having other swimmers get >>entangled in the rope that connects you to your >>guide. When you get entangled you start to drown >>and you panic and try to get oxygen while the >>waves come rushing up on you. You come to >>realize through these kinds of competitions that >>you are always going to have what you need when >>you need it. I think the essence of it is that >>while the body might be mortal the spirit is all >>powerful. When people with disabilities are >>given the opportunity and the chance they can do >>anything and everything that you could ever hope >>to imagine. Disabled people know what we can do. >>We simply need able-bodied people to give us a >>chance and give us an opportunity to do it. >>..Question: Did you find out about Achilles >>yourself or did somebody tell you about it? >>Answer: Justice Bernstein: They recruited me. I >>got a call from Dick Traum who is the founder of >>Achilles International and he told me that he >>thought that this would be a program in which I >>would be interested. A lot of times you just >>have to reach out to people with disabilities >>and let them know that you are there and let >>them know of the opportunities that exist in >>which they can participate. ..Question: Apart >>from your family who else motivated you? Answer: >>Justice Bernstein: I think that the most >>critical time in a blind person’s life is at >>the educational or schooling level. The distance >>that you go in life is going to be dictated by >>your teachers who mould you and have the >>greatest level of impact and effect on the kind >>of person you are going to be. For me it was my >>high school guidance counsellor, Mr. Lou >>Ruggirello, who believed that I should have the >>chance to go to college and become an attorney >>and have the chance to do anything that I felt >>possible. The impact of Mr. Ruggirello on my >>life is what changed everything: why I became a >>University of Michigan graduate and an attorney >>and am now serving as a Supreme Court Justice in >>the state of Michigan. ..Question: How did you >>get interested in the legal profession? Answer: >>Justice Bernstein: I knew it was difficult and >>challenging but the reason that I got interested >>in the law was basically because my whole family >>are attorneys, including my brother and my >>sister. What always impassioned me about the law >>was that it can give you the opportunity to >>really have an impact on the lives of people. I >>always believed that Law is a great equalizer >>and it can allow for really tremendous change to >>happen if it is used in an appropriate way. It >>is the one profession with a strong belief >>system of doing what is right and standing up >>for what is right. ..Question: What was it that >>brought to your focus that there was a need for >>justice? Answer: Justice Bernstein: I think it >>was the idea of understanding what if I had been >>different, what if I had not been blind and what >>it’s like to have those certain obstacles put >>in front of you. I’m so blessed with the life >>that I’ve had because I come from a background >>where I know certain challenges and >>difficulties. I am also blessed with financial >>resources through my family to be able to do >>things about injustice if I saw something was >>wrong or I didn’t agree with or which was >>inappropriate. If you count your disability you >>are not going to have an easy life but you will >>have one which is incredibly fulfilling if you >>are able to live with a sense of mission, focus >>and a long-term determination which gives you >>the energy and spirit to go out each and every >>day and do something meaningful and worthwhile >>with it. ..Question: While preparing for the law >>did you have any accessibility issues in terms >>of textbooks, etc.? Answer: Justice Bernstein: >>Oh, yes. In the US the biggest challenge is that >>you have to take a standardized test, called the >>LSAT (Law School Admission Test) which measures >>your IQ and not your ability and has a >>tremendously devastating impact on people with >>disabilities. The LSAT requires you to draw >>pictures and diagrams based on statistics data >>given in the test. You have an exam which is >>designed for people who have vision in order to >>complete it and you make someone who is blind go >>through it. I think it is wrong and I think it >>is unequal opportunity, especially since it >>doesn’t have any bearing or impact on your >>ability to go through Law school or your ability >>to become an attorney. Ultimately what’s >>beautiful about it is that the practice of Law >>is actually designed for someone who has a >>visual impairment. The ability to mentalize, >>internalize, and not see what people look like: >>these are all great benefits to being an >>attorney or ultimately being a judge. As a blind >>Justice I am able to do my job better because >>I’m unable to see people and so I don’t have >>preconceived notions or ideas or prejudices. >>Sometimes you have to appreciate the disability >>that someone has to realize how in certain >>professions it ultimately allows them to do >>their job even better. ..Question: What are the >>personal qualities which you have which >>contributed to your success? Answer: Justice >>Bernstein: I think it’s just a sense of >>passion and mission and belief that we’re here >>for a purpose that is bigger and greater than >>ourselves and that we’re part of a plan that >>we might not know or appreciate or even begin to >>comprehend. If you’re able to live your life >>with an incredible sense of meaning and purpose >>it gives you a tremendous sense of joy which can >>be incredibly exhilarating and exciting and >>fuels your energy, your spirit and your >>vitality. ..Question: Do you use any physical or >>technological aids in your legal profession to >>make your work more accessible? Answer: Justice >>Bernstein: I usually rely on people and I >>memorize and internalize everything. Braille is >>not going to work because the cases are so >>voluminous. Adaptive technology isn’t going to >>work because you can’t be trying to figure out >>what case they are on when the other judges are >>already involved in the conversation. I will >>hear as the Commissioner will read the >>procedural history of each case which serves as >>my mental trigger and I am able to recall >>everything in it and converse with the attorneys >>when they are presenting their arguments. We >>Justices have a conference on a weekly basis, >>each having about 26 cases. I memorize and >>internalize all the conference items and each >>case and I am able to have a conversation on >>equal footing with the other six Justices. >>..Question: Did you have to campaign for your >>position on the bench of the Michigan Supreme >>Court? Answer: Justice Bernstein: In Michigan a >>Supreme Court Justice has to be elected by the >>people of the state. This is a position that you >>run for. Ultimately this was one of the best >>experiences of my entire life. It was absolutely >>incredible because we would travel the entire >>state of Michigan from the largest city to the >>smallest town, from the Lower Peninsula to the >>Upper Peninsula. We campaigned for 12 to 15 >>hours a day and would talk to anybody who was >>going to talk to us. I think what being elected >>to the highest court in the state of Michigan as >>a severely disabled person shows is that people >>will give you a chance and an opportunity. It >>says that the future is really looking up, that >>people are truly good, and that anything and >>everything is possible for everyone. I think >>that is a wonderful blessing which should allow >>all to be excited and optimistic because the >>world is only getting better and you can feel >>that change is coming. ... Kindest Regards, >>Shraddha. On 3/13/16, Mahendra Galani >><gal...@chello.at> wrote: > page not found. > At >>09:48 AM 3/13/2016 +0530, you wrote: >>Good >>Morning! >> >> >> >>Happy to share the latest >>interview fromEyeway. Meet a judge who >>happens >> to >>be blind from birth who was >>recently elected onto the Supreme Court >>in >>Michigan, >>USA. >> >> >> >>http://eyeway.org/?q=justice-rich >>ard-bernstein-%E2%80%9Claw-great-equalizer >>%E2% >>80%9D-pramila-komanduri >> >> >> >>He feels that >>judiciary is great profession for visually >>impaired persons >>though the qualifying test is >>totally inaccessible. >> >> >> >>Read and >>enjoy! >> >> >> >>George >> >>George >>Abraham >> >>CEO >> >>Score >>Foundation >> >>17/107, LGF, >> >>Vikramvihar, >>Lajpatnagar 4, >> >>New Delhi 110024 >> >>Ph: 91 >>11 26472581,91 11 46070396 >> >>Mob: 91 >>9810934040 >> >>Email: >>geo...@eyeway.org >> >>Website: >>www.scorefoundation.org.in/www.eyeway.org >> >>Sk >>ype: >>georgeabraham13 >> >> >> >> >> >> >>Register at >>the dedicated AccessIndia list for >>discussing >>accessibility of mobile phones / >>Tabs >>on: >>http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/list >>info/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >> >>Search for old postings >>at: >>http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@acc >>essindia.org.in/ >> >>To unsubscribe send a >>message >>to >>accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in >>wit >>h the subject unsubscribe. >> >>To change your >>subscription to digest mode or make any >>other >>changes, please visit the list home page >>at >>http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/a >>ccessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >>Disclaimer: >> >>1. Contents of the mails, factual, or >>otherwise, reflect the >>thinking of the person >>sending the mail and AI in no way >>relates >>itself to its veracity; >> >>2. AI >>cannot be held liable for any >>commission/omission based on the >>mails sent >>through this mailing list.. > > > > with warm >>regards > Mahendra Galani > >>Whatsapp/Viber/Skype/Fasetime +43 699 174 555 >>95 > Addresse, Herbststrasse 101/16/1 > 1160 >>Vienna, Austria, Europe > > > > > > Register at >>the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing >>accessibility of > mobile phones / Tabs on: > >>http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> > > > Search for old postings at: > >>http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ >> > > To unsubscribe send a message to > >>accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in > with >>the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your >>subscription to digest mode or make any other >>changes, please > visit the list home page at > >>http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> > > > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, >>factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of >>the > person sending the mail and AI in no way >>relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot >>be held liable for any commission/omission based >>on the mails > sent through this mailing >>list.. > -- Thanks and regards Shraddha Register >>at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing >>accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: >>http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >>Search for old postings at: >>http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ >>To unsubscribe send a message to >>accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the >>subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription >>to digest mode or make any other changes, please >>visit the list home page at >>http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >>Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, >>or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person >>sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself >>to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for >>any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing >> list.. > > > > with warm regards > Mahendra Galani > Whatsapp/Viber/Skype/Fasetime +43 699 174 555 95 > Addresse, Herbststrasse 101/16/1 > 1160 Vienna, Austria, Europe > > > > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of > mobile phones / Tabs on: > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please > visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the > person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > -- Thanks and regards Shraddha Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
