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Meet Your Neighbor: Joe Tasby
By Callie Thomas
Starting over is never easy, but that’s exactly what 89117 resident Joe Tasby has done several times. Not that he’s complaining. Instead, Joe has embraced new opportunities to thrive and make a difference each and every day. After retiring from the military, he moved into another career working for the post office, but soon shifted to a career as a graphic designer and provided his artistic skills to clients for 20 years… until another change took place. Joe began to lose his eyesight. He decided to get involved with community service work in his hometown of San Francisco, but yet another lifestyle change would bring him to Las Vegas, not only to help his children start a new life but to continue assisting people throughout the community. For the past 12 years, that’s exactly what Joe has done, helping veterans and others who are vision impaired through the American Legion, Blind Veterans Association and Center for the Blind. But when his own sight deteriorated to the point he was pronounced legally blind, Tasby turned to another source of inspiration and assistance—Easter Seals Nevada.
Since 1950, Easter Seals Nevada has been advocating for and working with infants, children, youth and adults who have disabilities and face other challenges. It is one of Nevada’s largest community disability agencies, serving nearly 6,000 people and their families each year. An associated resource of the Veterans Association, the organization provides technology assistance by teaching computer skills such as how to correspond with family as well as important life skills such as paying bills and researching information. With his sight failing, Joe found the assistance he needed to utilize the computer so he could continue to help others with disabilities.
Would you say that Easter Seals has given you another opportunity to start over?
“Easter Seals has been invaluable to me. When my ability to do graphic design ended, I felt like, wow, it’s over. There’s nothing else I can do. LaaRee Drawantz and Paul Rice from the Veterans Administration showed me that I could do it and I’ve learned that I can through computer programs like Magic.”
Learning new computer skills was like Magic?
“Yes, actually, it is a program that helps to magnify verbiage as well as read verbiage to you. I was once again able to input information and assist charitable organizations including Easter Seals in ways that I never thought I could. I am able to assist with newsletters, bulletins and fliers to the groups.”
You’re assisting Easter Seals Nevada with their biggest fundraiser, Walk with Me.
“This is the first year I will be participating in the event and will be an Honorary Ambassador and paired up with another participant. It’s a two mile walk on April 7th at W. Wayne Bunker Family Park (visit www.walkwithme.org/lasvegas for info). Proceeds from the event benefit Easter Seals Nevada and will help them continue to provide services to Nevadans with disabilities. If I can show encouragement to others that are blind by walking, I will. It’s the first year for me but definitely not my last! I hope to do much more in the future!”
As a retired military man, you have also reached out to other vets in the area.
“I chose to work with Veterans American Legion because it is about veterans helping veterans. There are so many vets that are homeless and needing help. Working with the Blind Veterans Association has been invigorating and encouraging to me. If they can do it, I can do it!”
Your children and grandchildren must be proud of your efforts.
“They mean the world to me, my son and daughter, and I have three grandchildren.”
It is easy to see that giving back is very important to you.
“So many people are out there that need help and don’t know where to get it. They feel isolated and deserted. If I can give them even a little encouragement, I do!”
