Members of AADB

Here's Coco! It's a nick name for Christine Roschaert. I'm sure most of y'all remember me.

Anyway, I am a Canadian ally of the AADB and have membership to your organization. I am also a member of the Canadian National Society for the Deaf Blind and Canadian National Institute for the Blind. My life revolves around the Deaf Blind community, here, there and around the world.

I had the most wonderful opportunity to visit Louisiana recently all thanks to the Louisiana Acadiana Deaf Blind Citizens, Inc. group. They fundraised to invite me to give an kick-start inspirational speech at their annual Crawfish Picnic. I had the pleasure of staying with Mr. Dan Arabie, of Lafayette, LA. He was such a wonderful host to me and his gesture is forever appreciated. During my visit there, he expressed his deep desire to be part of the Board of Directors at AADB and that he had been officially nominated. I believed he would finally get a seat where he belonged, as a representative of Louisiana.

The state Dan and more than 1,000 Deaf Blind people call home is nothing more than a home filled with Cajun cooking, Southern hospitality and family values. But what goes beyond these homes just bothers me greatly. One day I will tell you that story.

Most of you know that Louisiana is a dire state with poor funding for the Deaf Blind taxpayers, a state struggling with tourism and emergency alerts. In the wake of Katrina, Deaf Blind people have suifered more than just loss of homes. They lost almost all their rights.

I am shocked and saddened to read that my dear friend, Dan Arabie, was not elected on the Board. Was it due to lack of membership discussions? Was it due to ignorance? Was it due to favoritism? I really do not understand why.

Louisiana, it seems from word of mouth, has gone without a seat or representation at AADB for nearly or over 20 years. If this is true, then I think it's time you all reconsidered how you vote and how you support other states.

Dan is now planning a rally on June 1st  in Louisiana. More information will be posted soon. Now, there is a true, passionate leader who believes he can make a difference. AADB truly needed him this time, and I hope that you consider Dan seriously for the next Board election.

You can make it one day, Dan, and succeed for many of us. We will follow and share your lead.

Best regards,
Christine "Coco" Roschaert
Ottawa, Canada