Visionaries: Episode 1, Luis Mendez
Our Blogger, Susan Gray, sits down with Luis Mendez current Director of NFB Newsline, to ask him questions about his life as a blind man how how he was able to get to where he is today.
Q: How old were you when you started losing your sight?
A: I have been legally blind since birth. However, for most of my life I had pretty good partial vision. Recently that has changed.
Q: What happened to cause your vision loss?
A: I was born with Cataracts and later I developed glaucoma.
Q: How did you handle this loss initially, and what brought you to acceptance?
A: At some point in my childhood, I became aware that I was seen as different and less capable. For much of my early years I internalized that negative perception which caused me to struggle with self-esteem. However, as I met other blind people and got an opportunity to participate in sports and other activities, I began to focus more on what I could achieve. I also started school very late and was often absent until I started attending the New York Institute. Once I started to attend school regularly, I quickly caught up and then began to excel academically which helped to pave the way to a gradual realization that perhaps because of the need to overcome vision loss I had developed strong problem-solving skills. That gave me the confidence to pursue a law degree. As I began to succeed professionally my self-confidence grew and the negative self-perceptions began to recede. That is not to say that there isn’t an occasional bad day, especially when things are not going well, but overall, academic, and professional success, along with the support of family and friends have gone a long way to help me change my self-perception.
Q: What are the things you miss seeing/doing the most?
A: In my early twenties I became an avid amateur photographer. Although it took me a while to learn how to compose good pictures, practice and the emergence of high-quality digital cameras made it possible for me to take some good pictures, especially of landscapes. My recent vision loss has pretty much put an end to that. Even though my vision was far from perfect, I also enjoyed what I could see. I also used a monocular to spot birds at the feeders and distant things such as mountains.
Q: What is your favorite technology device?
A: Until recently I would have said digital cameras. However, I have always enjoyed working with computers. Mary Lou and I were introduced to computers and the potential for assistive technology by a blind friend in 1980. He worked for IBM and purchased an Apple II computer which he equipped with a primitive speech synthesizer. It took a while to interpret the speech. However, that exposure to access technology opened our eyes to what was possible. That experience led me to become an early adopter of assistive technology.
Q: Who do you admire the most famous and not?
A: My 8th grade teacher was a totally blind man who migrated to the United States from Spain at the close of the Spanish civil war. He lost his vision as the result of failed cataract surgeries. He was a tough task master, but also a true mentor. He stressed to me both the importance of hard work and the value of pride in my Hispanic heritage, language, and culture. Not a famous person, but perhaps the most impactful person in my life. As for a famous person, without a doubt it would have to be President Lincoln. Born into deep poverty and initially into a dysfunctional family, he nevertheless overcame his emotional scars to become the most gifted problem solver to have ever held the Presidency.
Q: Favorite book and or movie?
A: I have read so many great books that it is hard to pick a favorite. I keep coming back to “The Gold Finch”, because it is so beautifully written. A now old classic which I have read twice because of its haunting poetic pros is “Fahrenheit 451”. The “Poisonwood Bible” is another book which really resonated with me. As for favorite movies, “Little Bigman” is absolutely at the top.
Q: Favorite pastime?
A: Anything to do with theater, reading, movies, sports, especially football, live music and going out to dinner. I wrestled competitively in high school, although I wasn’t very good at it. I did it mostly to get into shape. I am also one of a relatively small number of blind people to have ever participated competitively in crew. I really enjoyed participating in sports, especially playing modified baseball and basketball. I also played lots of touch or flag football.
Q: One thing you want to do before you die.
A: My oldest daughter and I have often talked about how much fun it would be to go on a cruise to Antarctica. If I ever get a chance to go, I would do it.
Q: Favorite quote or inspirational saying?
A: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but rather, ask what you can do for your country.” Change country to others, and it becomes a good philosophy to live by.
Luis’ spin on it is — ”Ask not what you can do for yourself, but what you can do for others.”
Q: Best experience in your life so far?
A: Becoming a parent and then a grandparent.
Q: Worst experience in your life.
A: Losing so many of my friends and family at an early age.
Q: If you had twenty-four hours of perfect sight, what would you do?
A: Take pictures and, ankle permitting, play sports with my grandchildren.
Q: Favorite song or musician?
A: I really like “The Rebel Jesus” by Jackson Brown. My favorite musician is a Spanish singer named Luis Fonsi. I also enjoy another Spanish Artist named Carlos Vive.
Q: If you could re-live your life without your vision loss, would you, do it?
A: I don’t know. Given my early years, it is quite likely that had I been born with good vision, I might not have had as full a life as I have enjoyed.