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Meet George Kamara. The following video features an individual seated in an office conference room speaking to the camera about his experiences with the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind or MCB, and their Vocational Rehabilitation or VR services. Periodically throughout the video, there are cutaways to short silent video montages of the speaker walking, smiling, talking, navigating outdoors and in his workplace at the National Braille Press, or NBP. The speaker is George Kamara, MCB client.
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George Kamara: I was born and raised in Liberia. And I really left Liberia as a result of a civil war that started in 1989. There I was made blind. I was not born blind, but I was made blind. And I came back to Liberia, fought my way to Guinea as a refugee, and I was able to open a school for blind students in the refugee camp. And so when we formed a system for persons with disabilities, we were recognized as a grassroot organization. There was a resettlement program to come to America. When you first come to the United States, you have to go through your medical routines, and say, “Well, George, we are sorry to tell you that you will not be able to see for the rest of your life.” Telling me that I won't be able to see anymore for the rest of my life give me a great relief. If you have not accepted that you have a disability, you will never overcome that. When someone is diagnosed with blindness, they refer them to Mass Commission for the Blind. They recommended me to the Carroll Center for the Blind, where I did a couple of trainings to help myself, grooming, cooking, basic things. In order to be able to go to school, I needed to do my GED. My counselor by then and I went through the process. After graduation I moved on to UMass Boston, where I did Sociology and African Studies. When I decided to go further, I said, “Well, I think I will become a vocational rehab counselor, because I will be able to touch other people with disabilities, help to encourage them to go back to work.” From my internships, I also was able to connect with other Africans. You see people from all walks of life working with MCB, so they are able to get in touch with everybody. We’ve created a group called African support group. And now I'm working with the National Braille Press, where I also did an internship there and now I work here in the production department. Everything that I need from MCB to enrich myself career wise, academically, I'm getting that support. They are able to give you the tools, they are able to give you the support, they will give you the counselor to work with you. And once you have a focus and a goal, you will go through, because they are always ready. Always ready to provide those resources. Once you have the determination and the support, you can do anything. And never give up on life. Never. No one can encourage you; it is how you encourage yourself. If you're waiting for people to encourage you, you will never get it. Encourage yourself then people will see your motivation and give you more, and you will move forward.
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To learn more about and contact the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, find them online at mass.gov. Or call 800-392-6450.