My wife is a behavioral specialist at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (TSBVI). Most blind kids in Texas are mainstreamed and kept in their own school districts. If they do come to the state school, they come to learn braille and how to use assistive devices (canes and such) and then go back to their regular schools.
So most of the kids who stay at the school are not merely blind, but also developmentally challenged. They may be MR, have cerebral palsy, brain damage from an accident or tumor, or some form of autism, to name but a few. Because of the foresight of LBJ, they can stay at the school through the age of 22, and are prepared to be as independent as they are capable of being before they graduate.
In fact, that was my wife's position there last year; preparing graduates for life after the school. Many of these kids will never be fully independent, but they are taught to be as responsible and independent as possible.
What this has to do with Obama, below the fold...
My wife and I've been excited about this race since the primaries. I am a precinct captain and she spent most of her summer vacation working down at the Travis Dem combined county headquarters.
Her new position down at the school took some getting used to and had many new challenges. But one upside was not being tied to one class, as she was as a teacher. As a behavioral specialist, she worked with many kids in many different classes from day to day. And since early voting started on the 20th, she noticed a trend. Most of the kids between 18 and 22 were registered. And at least one or two a day have come up to her and excitedly told her they voted.
Though she probably burned with curiosity, she didn't pry. While the school encourages the kids to exercise their franchise and facilitates it by taking them to the early voting sites when they ask to go, staff are instructed to stay strictly neutral. Plus, these kids come from all over the state, some parts of which are pretty red, if you didn't know. ;-)
Still kid after kid not only was excited to tell her that they voted, they virtually exploded in excitement as they told her who they voted for. "Obama!" they said. "I hope he gets it," one said with a joy and passion that impressed her enough to tell me about it.
A lot of these kids have lived very hard lives. I don't think it is coincidence that this man is reaching them and inspiring them in this way. This is special. Extraordinary. If you need it, let this inspired you to keep up the good fight until the clock runs out, leaving it all on the road, to mix Kos's metaphor with mine. We can't let this opportunity pass us by.
Go Wildcats!