mike. wow a guy after my own heart lol
we're both alike in our level of independance. I was born visually
impaired and had to undergo many operations at a young age. at the age
of 15 I became totally blind after a savage attack by a gang of thugs
at school. was blind the next morning in hospital but to be honest I
knew I was going to lose sight some time. within this time from that
day to now I have acomplished things which sighted people do not
believe. after having lost sight I took up metal work and engineering
as a hobby. after a strong addiction to fixing old engines. so trained
up to do welding work with arc, mig and oxy acetylene welders.
designing tools and other things also became a thing. I restored an
old ride on mower which I took for a spin and was completely fearless.
later on after that due to my family being in the woodworking game so
to speak I found myself becoming closer and closer to wood. so was
taught carpentry etc. after taking up some lessons at the same time as
taking my graduate in professional classical music I just had this bug
for wood. took up chainsaw operation training and carving as a hobby
as well and fell in love with chainsaws. sadly just recently I sold my
two master saws. both were my little girls. all to raise essential
funds for equipment. now I have to find some cash for logic studio 8.
lol isnt it always the case that certain things have to happen for
other things to unfold.
well enough of me lol. even though 23 I've got some background also in
computer design, software development and a background in
accessibility with PC's and macs. Now working as a professional
musician and composer and still trying to build the last of the studio
its a challenge but maybe one day I'll get there somehow.
lew
On 16 Mar 2008, at 11:40, vashaun jones wrote:
Mike, you're doing a great job! I have driven once before too and my
mother said a handicap is only in the mind. This was said after she
took her car keys back after a 1 hour drive.
On Mar 16, 2008, at 3:00 AM, Michael Babcock wrote:
for the lists that this does not belong on, sorry, but i figured
some of you might want to read this. to keep comments off list,
feel free to go to the url:
http://gwfans.net/?p=106
and comment.
thanks
i'm currently feelling: amused
i'm currently listenning to: something on tv
this article was written about me a few months back. I want to
thank aeon for getting the article, george for bringing it to me,
and sabrina for typing it. thanks all…
BLIND STUDENT ACCEPTS ART CHALLENGE
Communication and adjustments are vital, he says
BY GEOFF PARKS
Special to the statesman Journal
Mike Babcock is blind, but he also is the independent sort,
preferring to try to live his life as if he had no disability at all.
That self-reliant attitude was on display recently when the 18 year-
old freshman computer science major at Western Oregon decided last
term that his choice for a required humanities elective would be
Art: 2-D Design.
Not being able to “see” drawings in two dimensions was one problem,
but differing shades of light and dark would elude him as well, so
he fell back on his strong suit: communication.
He determined early on that in order to be as successful in life as
his peers he would have to try to push aside his disability as much
as possible.
To do that he and others would have to communicate and adjust.
“I’ve always known that it means to have accommodations made for
me,” Babcock said. “But I’ve also tried to be as active as my peers
my whole life, from riding bicycles, hunting — I’ve even driven a
car. I live in the regular dorms here (at WOU) and get back and
forth around the valley by the bus.”
He said he always learns a lot from challenges such as the 2-D
Design class turned out to be. But Rebecca Chance, his instructor
in the course, said she and his classmates learned as much from him
as he did from them.
“When he first expressed an interest in thee class, I thought there
would be a lot of modifications I would have to make, but that
turned was the key.
Because of Babcock’s presence, an assignment to draw and work with
the variations of light and dark became “an assignment that had
more to do with the density of textures,” she said.
Babcock cut out paper and created three-dimensional versions of two-
dimensional renditions, or what Chance called a “tactile version”
of the concept.
“He made it not so much a study of light and dark but matters of
degree,” she said.
A wicked sense of humor — represented by a T-shirt he refusal to be
offended by the slights of the sighted world are a hallmark of
Babcock’s personality.
“A lot of blind people don’t like to work with their professors
about their disabilities and disabilities,” Babcock said. “ I
prefer it because I know my abilities and disabilities better than
anyone else. The art class worked out well for me.”
“ It was a rich experience for all of us to have mike in that
class,” Chance said. “It made us all think in different ways.”
MICHAEL ALEX BABCOCK, BRINA'S BOYFRIEND!
"THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE UNSEEN, THAT'S WHY WE CLOSE OUR EYES
WHEN WE KISS, CRY, AND DREAM"
myspace: WWW.myspace.com/CREEPYBLINDY
MY YEARBOOK: WWW.MYYEARBOOK.COM/CREEPYBLINDY
msn: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
aim: ginnyslove2007
personal blog: www.gwfans.net
THANKS A LOT.
Lewis Brock
Totally Blind musician and composer of 21st century music
PHONE: +44 07857 352828
E-MAIL: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
MSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
SKYPE: lewisjbrock
