[Akron-Talk] Fwd: [Ohio-Talk] Spring newsletter
Dave Bertsch
dwbertsch at gmail.com
Tue May 18 20:37:44 UTC 2021
Spring 2021 Buckeye Bulletin
A publication of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
Barbara Pierce, Editor
198 Kendal Drive
Oberlin, OH 44074
barbara.pierce9366 at gmail.com
(440) 774-8077
http://www.nfbohio.org
Richard Payne, President
1019 Wilmington Ave., Apt. 43
Kettering, OH 45420
rchpay7 at gmail.com
(937) 829-3368
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise
expectations, because low expectations create obstacles between blind
people and our dreams. You can live the live you want; Blindness is not
what holds you back.
The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio is a 501(c)3 consumer
organization comprised of blind and sighted people committed to changing
what it means to be blind. Though blindness is still all too often a
tragedy to those who face it, we know from our personal experience that
with training and opportunity it can be reduced to the level of a physical
nuisance. We work to see that blind people receive the services and
training to which they are entitled and that parents of blind children
receive the advice and support they need to help their youngsters grow up
to be happy, productive adults. We believe that first-class citizenship
means that people have both rights and responsibilities, and we are
determined to see that blind people become first-class citizens of these
United States, enjoying their rights and fulfilling their responsibilities.
The most serious problems we face have less to do with our lack of vision
than with discrimination based on the public’s ignorance and misinformation
about blindness. Join us in educating Ohioans about the abilities and
aspirations of Ohio’s blind citizens. We are changing what it means to be
blind.
The NFB of Ohio has eight local chapters, one for at-large members, and
special divisions for diabetics, merchants, students, seniors, guide dog
users, and members of communities of faith. This newsletter appears three
times a year and is circulated by email, posted on NFB-NEWSLINE®, our
digitized newspaper-reading service by phone, and can be read or downloaded
from our website, www.nfbohio.org. For information about the National
Federation of the Blind of Ohio or to make address changes or be added to
the mailing list, call (440) 774-8077 or email barbara.pierce9366 at gmail.com.
For information about NFB-NEWSLINE, our free digitized newspaper-reading
service, call (866) 504-7300. Local NEWSLINE numbers are: 330-247-1241
(Akron), 330-409-1900 (Canton), 513-297-1521 (Cincinnati), 216-453-2090
(Cleveland), 614-448-1673 (Columbus), 937-963-1000 (Dayton), 567-242-5112
(Lima), 567-333-9990 (Mansfield), 740-370-6828 (Portsmouth), 937-717-3900
(Springfield), 419-806-1100 (Toledo), and 330-259-9570 (Youngstown).
Dream Makers Circle
You can help build a future of opportunity for the blind by becoming a
member of our Dream Makers Circle. Your legacy gift to the National
Federation of the Blind or the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio can
be made in the form of a will or living trust or an income-generating gift
or by naming us as the beneficiary of a retirement plan, IRA, pension, or a
life insurance policy. You can designate a specific amount, a percentage,
or list NFB as one of several beneficiaries. For additional information
contact Patti Chang at (410) 659-9314, extension 2422 or at pchang at nfb.org.
The National Federation of the Blind uses car donations to improve the
education of blind children, distribute free white canes, help veterans,
and much more. We have partnered with Vehicles for Charity to process
donated vehicles. Please call toll-free (855) 659-9314, and a
representative can make arrangements, or you can donate online by visiting
www.nfb.org/vehicledonations <http://www.nfb.org/vehicledonations>.
Contents
Dear Ohio Political Leaders and Voters by Eric Duffy
<applewebdata://AF171D73-7405-4C8F-8E5B-39BD5D0CC6C0#_Toc72246592>
>From the President’s Desk by Richard Payne
<applewebdata://AF171D73-7405-4C8F-8E5B-39BD5D0CC6C0#_Toc72246593>
Editor’s Musings by Barbara Pierce
<applewebdata://AF171D73-7405-4C8F-8E5B-39BD5D0CC6C0#_Toc72246594>
The 2021 NFB of Ohio Scholarship Program by Jordy Stringer
<applewebdata://AF171D73-7405-4C8F-8E5B-39BD5D0CC6C0#_Toc72246595>
Legal Responsibilities of Non-Profit Board Members by Todd Elzey
<applewebdata://AF171D73-7405-4C8F-8E5B-39BD5D0CC6C0#_Toc72246596>
Getting Our Hands on Museum Exhibits by Marianne Denning
<applewebdata://AF171D73-7405-4C8F-8E5B-39BD5D0CC6C0#_Toc72246597>
The Parents That Didn’t Have to Be by Todd Elzey
<applewebdata://AF171D73-7405-4C8F-8E5B-39BD5D0CC6C0#_Toc72246598>
Discovering eSight by Todd Elzey
<applewebdata://AF171D73-7405-4C8F-8E5B-39BD5D0CC6C0#_Toc72246599>
I’m Smokin’ It, Baby by Eric Duffy
<applewebdata://AF171D73-7405-4C8F-8E5B-39BD5D0CC6C0#_Toc72246600>
Buckeye Briefs
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Activities Calendar
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*****
Dear Ohio Political Leaders and Voters
by Eric Duffy <>
Editor’s note: Eric Duffy chairs the NFB-O Legislative Committee. Here are
some of his thoughts on legislative issues directed to Ohio’s political
leaders and the general public:
Dear Ohio Political Leaders and Voters:
The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio has an important message for
all political leaders and in fact for all of the people of Ohio. Our
message is simple, but, if we all took it to heart, it would be life
changing, not only for the blind, but for all of the people of the state.
Blind people live in your community, maybe even in your neighborhood. We
attend your places of worship and your schools, shop in your businesses,
and serve in your communities. But all too many of us are still denied
opportunities to participate equally in life. These are opportunities that
most sighted people take for granted. In fact, they are basic rights, and
you can help us to work to be treated as first-class citizens.
Governor DeWine, one of your first acts as Governor was to sign an
executive order Establishing Ohio as a Disability-Inclusion State and Model
Employer of Individuals with Disabilities. The National Federation of the
Blind of Ohio commended you with the following resolution:
Resolution 2019-01
Commending the DeWine Administration:
WHEREAS, the blind of Ohio have suffered from chronic unemployment or
under-employment for decades; and
WHEREAS, state officials have given mere lip service to the idea that state
government should be a leading employer of the blind and others with
disabilities; and
WHEREAS, Governor Mike DeWine had the conviction and courage to issue
Executive Order 2019-03D, Establishing Ohio as a Disability-Inclusion State
and Model Employer of Individuals with Disabilities: Now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio in
Convention assembled this third day of November, 2019, in the City of
Columbus, Ohio, that this organization commend Governor DeWine for issuing
this executive order; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization offer itself to Governor
DeWine as a nationally recognized expert in the employment needs of the
blind and that we urge his office and all other state Officials to consult
with the organized blind as the state moves forward with the implementation
of this executive order; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this consultation occur annually at a minimum.
As Ohio rises up from the economic ashes created by the pandemic, we urge
you to work with us and others with disabilities to see that Ohio does
indeed truly become a Disability-Inclusion State and Model Employer of
Individuals with Disabilities. We need entry-level positions, but we also
need middle- and upper-management positions. We ask you to spend a little
political capital to support the legislative initiatives that I will
discuss later in this column. We urge you to require all state agencies to
make their websites fully accessible and user friendly.
Attorney General Yost, please work with us to take action against those who
deny the blind and others with disabilities accommodations under the
various laws that are meant to provide us with protections. Understand that
we do not always desire to engage in litigation, but that, when possible,
we prefer to provide public education. When possible we will work with you
to educate, but, when necessary, we ask you to work with us to litigate and
protect fully the rights of blind individuals.
Secretary of State LaRose, the blind of the state want full and equal
access to the ballot in every election. This means that we want to cast a
secret ballot independently, which is a fundamental right of our democracy
that most Americans, including those living in Ohio, take for granted. We
should not be denied this right, whether we are voting in person or by
mail. Please work with us to make this dream a reality.
All members of the Ohio General Assembly, we call on you to pass
legislation to provide us with protections that most Ohioans now take for
granted. In the two most recent General Assemblies, legislation passed the
House to protect the rights of blind parents or those wishing to become
parents. A new-born child should not be taken into custody by Children’s
Services simply because one or both parents are blind or have a disability.
Parents should not be denied the right to adopt solely because of a
disability. Finally, disability should not be a factor in determining
custody or visitation rights. These are the issues addressed in HB188 in
the 133rd General Assembly. This legislation has faced no opposition in the
House. We beg members of both chambers to help us by providing these basic
protections to disabled parents. Please do it now. This is not a partisan
issue; it is a family issue and a basic civil rights issue.
HB214 in the 133rd General Assembly required pharmacies to provide an
accessible prescription label upon request. Most blind and deafblind
individuals do not have easy access to the information on their medication
bottles. This includes the name of the medication, the dosage instructions,
and other essential information that is often life saving. Once again
access to this information is something most people take for granted. We
will soon be testifying before the relevant committees in both chambers
about these issues. We will be calling and emailing you to ask for your
vote. Please give us your support.
Finally, to the members of the general public, it is your support we need
most of all. Remember that we are just like you. We laugh, cry, and feel
things the same way you do. We need your understanding and not your pity.
Please make your websites accessible. Give us the opportunity to work in
your places of business. Invite us out for a drink or to the next cookout
or party. Don’t be afraid to accept our invitations when we invite you to
the same. We are normal people who happen to be blind. We are not broken
sighted people who need to be fixed or compensated for the tragedies of our
lives.
*****
>From the President’s Desk
by Richard Payne <>
As the President of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, I often
find myself reflecting on the progress we have made over the years, while
at the same time thinking about how much things still need to change before
the blind can take their rightful place in society. In this column I want
to examine from real-world experience how the blind and the sighted often
interact with each other. The best way to do that is by examining some of
my personal experiences over many years now.
While a student at the Arkansas School for the Blind, I soon learned that
people with disabilities (including the blind) are often not seen as
individuals but rather lumped into one big group. We were discouraged from
going to places that were not considered blind friendly. I wasn’t sure what
that meant all those years ago, and I still don’t know today, so I will
leave that to your imagination. The staff also believed that there were
only certain jobs that blind people could do as well as only certain places
we should go. Of course those beliefs were based on low expectations for
the blind.
The truth is that many of us have challenged those low expectations and
broken down barriers to employment. I was the first blind person that my
current employer hired. They have hired many more since then. I simply
refused to allow myself to be trapped in a corner and never get out to
interact with the world. I do what I can to make the small changes that I
can as an individual and the larger changes I can be a part of through my
work with the National Federation of the Blind. We have said it many times
in the National Federation of the Blind, and we will continue to do so. The
blind are simply a cross section of society. Our skills, abilities,
talents, temperament, and our hopes, dreams, and desires are the same as
those of our sighted friends and neighbors who are similarly situated.
Therefore we cannot allow society to cram us in the same box as all others
with a disability.
One size does not fit all, even among the blind. We are all products of our
culture, and our families play a major role in shaping us. This is true for
the sighted as well. The blind who are sheltered by their families, the
school system, or both frequently fail to reach their true potential.
Diminished expectations can also create barriers for those working their
way through the vocational rehabilitation system. In my opinion the best
way a blind person can reach his or her full potential is through active
participation in the National Federation of the Blind.
It is up to us individually and as an organization to continue to change
public attitudes about blindness. I can think of no better way to do this
than to talk directly to the children of today. After all, they are the
leaders of tomorrow. How many times have you been going about life, just
doing what you do, when you hear a child ask, “How come he has that stick?”
If you’re a dog user, how many times have you heard the question, “Why does
she have that doggy in here?” The reaction of the child’s care taker is
predictable. Right? “Shshsh. It’s not nice to ask questions.” Well, I
encourage children and adults to ask questions. I don’t want anyone to be
afraid to ask me questions or to engage in a conversation just because I am
blind. I welcome the opportunity to educate the public about blindness, and
you should as well.
As for the blind ourselves, we should not wait for others to ask questions
before engaging with the public. We must move beyond our comfort zone. For
those of you who say, “But I am truly comfortable only around other blind
people,” I say, “Get over it. I love and cherish my blind friends, but, to
be honest, if I had only blind friends, I would not feel balanced. I think
I would always see myself as being stigmatized. I don’t date people because
of their vision or lack thereof. I would not marry someone because she is
blind, but I would not refuse to marry her because she’s blind either. We
all have our personal preferences when it comes to characteristics that we
look for in significant others. Some guys like blondes; others prefer
brunettes. There have been times in my life when I have thought a blind
person would understand a particular set of circumstances better than a
sighted person just because of lived experience. No matter your preferences
in dating and marriage, what we cannot do is isolate ourselves in the blind
community and then expect others to treat us as equals.
>From an early age my family instilled in me the importance of dressing
nicely. I believe that first impressions are very important. Therefore I
keep myself clean, well groomed, and nicely dressed when I leave my house.
In fact to this day, Crystal McClain and Eric Duffy still tell me that I
don’t know how to dress for camping. But I often receive compliments about
how well dressed I am. I appreciate the compliments, but I don’t appreciate
the sting when the complimenter then asks, “Who picks out your clothes?”
Anyone who doesn’t believe I pick out my own clothes should talk to the
tailor at the store where I shop most. Ask him how many times I have
rejected the clothing that he has recommended. I like to touch the clothes
I am considering. I want a good description of them. I consider many things
when buying clothes. I have my own techniques for keeping them clean and
matching them. This is a long way of saying that I pick out my own clothes.
But, if the sighted public does not believe that we can do something as
simple as manage our own clothing, how will they ever come to see us as
equals? Why would they ever give us a job?
I often prefer to wear shades. To me this is a matter of fashion and has
nothing to do with blindness. People often try to figure out how much I can
really see. They do not seem to understand when I tell them that I can’t
see anything. They often say, “Oh, then it’s always black to you. “No, it’s
not! It’s neither light nor dark, black or white. I simply don’t see
anything.” Of course we know that blind people have varying degrees of
vision. Some see very well in a restricted field (having close to normal
vision) while others see nothing at all.
I do my best to be aware of my surroundings. People are often surprised
when they stop by my apartment and discover that the lights are on even
when I am there alone. To those who can see them, lights usually indicate
that someone is home. I feel more comfortable walking during the day or in
a well-lit area at night. I would say this is the same for most people, and
it is no different for me.
Most people ask questions about blindness because they genuinely want to
learn. I do my best to answer their questions with patience and to provide
them with the best information I can. This is the only way we are going to
get sighted people to understand that we are normal people who just happen
to be blind. One last thing. I always try to tell people about the National
Federation of the Blind, and I think you should do the same.
*****
Editor’s Musings
by Barbara Pierce <>
At the last Lorain County chapter meeting we got to talking about the old
days when we could visit classrooms to talk with students about blindness
and what it was like to be a blind person. We decided that surely by next
fall we should be able to visit classrooms again, and we promised ourselves
that we would certainly make a point of doing so. I suspect that NFB
members in other chapters will begin doing such educational visits as well.
So I thought that I would dedicate this column to reviewing some of the
things that we should remember to include when addressing students.
I have heard people describe such talks as easy and obvious because we are
all experts on the subject. It is important to remember that, if an NFB
member makes an appointment to talk with a class, he or she goes as a
Federation representative. It would be a missed opportunity for one of us
to talk as just a blind person and to chatter with no planned content for
the talk. So the first rule is to consider the age of the children and to
have an outline in mind of what you want to cover. As a good Federationist
you should aim to minimize the impression that students naturally have that
blindness is a catastrophe that leaves the blind person more or less
helpless. The first time I went to an elementary school, I was motivated to
do something because my son came home angry and upset that children on the
playground were taunting him because his mom couldn’t cook dinner or do the
other things that moms usually do. The teacher was happy to have me come to
talk about the facts about blindness. It helped my argument that I brought
brownies with me. Here is what I do. I start by saying that reading print
and driving a car are pretty much the two things that present obstacles to
blind people and that even they are giving way to technological solutions.
I then illustrate the over-lapping sensory information that blind people
depend on to function efficiently. I try to match the following exercises
to the age of the class. First I have them sit quietly with their eyes
closed and just listen to what they can hear. If the classroom door is
open, they may hear other teachers talking or people walking down the hall.
If windows are open, they may hear traffic noise or kids on the playground.
If things are very quiet, I walk around the room and close the door or move
a chair or drop a coin on the teacher’s desk. When students cough or sneeze
or move around so that their clothing rustles, I call attention to those
noises.
I come to the class with a bag full of familiar objects: a comb, a
toothbrush, an egg beater, a pencil or pen. The older the class, the more
tricky you can be with your objects. Then I call on volunteers one at a
time. I turn the child around with his or her back to the class. Then I
hand an object for identification to the child with hands behind the back.
I urge exploration of the object. The class can see what it is and will be
sure that the child does not cheat by looking. Children are pretty
successful at identifying objects, and you can build on their success by
assuring them that in their everyday life they can use their hands and ears
to identify things without looking.
Depending on how much time you have, you can teach them how to use a white
cane, how to serve as a human guide, how guide dogs do their jobs, and the
courtesy rules of interacting with guide-dog and white-cane users. I often
describe how to tell when traffic lights turn. You can explain how Braille
works and send a slate and stylus around the room after passing out Braille
alphabet cards. You can teach them how to say their names when they wish to
be called upon to ask a question.
For all these topics I try to mention the National Federation of the Blind.
With older classes you can talk about some of the efforts we are making to
pass laws to give blind people a fair chance at minimum wages or equal
access to websites or independent voting. I suggest that you try to
postpone questions to the end of your time. The kids will ask questions to
fill up any amount of available time. You want to leave them with the
notion that blindness is not a tragedy and that it is all right to ask
questions of a blind person. It is likely that teachers are going to have a
hard time this fall helping their students catch up in their academic work,
so it may take some months for them to decide that they have time to invite
you in to discuss blindness. Eventually they will be ready to have us come
to the classroom, so get ready and have some fun.
Revised Committees for 2021
Awards Committee
Charge: To oversee the awards process, to provide information and feedback
when necessary, and to make reasonable decisions about NFBO awards.
Annette Lutz, Chair; Jerry Purcell; Ali Benmerzouga; and Emily Kiehl
Bell Coordinator
Charge: To communicate and help with planning the inhouse BELL Program and
to organize the BELL Academy and plan efficient ways to promote and execute
this important program.
Eric Duffy, Coordinator
Community Service Committee
Charge: To educate the Ohio affiliate about the professional and personal
benefits of community service; to encourage chapters, divisions, and
individuals to participate in projects in their communities; to encourage
members to identify or develop and implement their own service projects;
and to educate the public about NFB philosophy and the skills and abilities
blind people bring to community service.
Cheryl Fields, Chair; Pat McPherson; Maggie Stringer; Candice Armstrong;
Shelley Duffy; Gary Williams; Gloria Robinson; and Joann Williams
Constitution and Resolutions Committee
Charge: To make sure that all NFBO constitutions follow the state and
national constitutions, both philosophically and rhetorically, and to
oversee the submission process and to write and distribute clearly
articulated and philosophically sound resolutions.
Barbara Pierce, Chair; Eric Duffy; Debbie Baker; Todd Elzey; Jessica
Stover; and Andra Stover
Deaf-Blind Coordinators
Charge: To aid and provide information to those who are in this community
and to serve as a vehicle to foster a positive relationship between the
deaf-blind community and other members of the NFB.
William Turner and Suzanne Turner, Co-chairs
Education Committee
Charge: To advise the president about policies, legislation, strategies,
and initiatives in which NFBO should be engaged to improve educational
opportunities for blind youth throughout the state.
Suzanne Turner, Chair; Ali Benmerzouga; Chris Sabine; Debbi Baker; Kinshuk
Tella; Wilbert Turner; Caroline Karbowski; Marianne Denning; Anne Casey;
and Sadie McFarland
Financing the Movement Committee including SUN coordinator, Jernigan Fund
coordinator, and PAC coordinator
Charge: To make members aware of these specific organizational fundraising
opportunities and to implement strategies to increase participation.
Sherry Ruth and Colleen Roth, Co-chairs
Fundraising Committee
Charge: To investigate additional opportunities to increase NFB-O resources
and to implement effective fundraising strategies and programming.
Candice Armstrong. Chair; Maggie Stringer; Todd Elzey; Colleen Miller; and
Marion Parker
Legislative Committee
Charge: To increase the organization's visibility and effectiveness in the
state legislature and to continue to support our efforts in Washington
throughout the year.
Eric Duffy, Chair; Todd Elzey; Chris Sabine; Jordy Stringer; Andra Stover;
and William Turner
Membership Committee
Charge: To implement effective strategies to recruit and retain members and
to reinvigorate the chapters and divisions of NFB-O.
Carolyn Peters, Chair; Sheila Hardy-Wilson; Maggie Stringer; Pat McPherson;
William Turner; Haley Thurston; Asia Quinones-Evans; Susan Day; and Gloria
Robinson
Promotion and Publicity, Website, and Newsline Committee
Charge: To assist with updating the webpage content and the NEWSLINE
service, as well as promoting and advertising NEWSLINE. Members on this
committee should be proficient computer users. To develop content and
suggest creative ways to promote NFBO branding. Responsibilities include
researching audience preferences and discovering current trends, creating
engaging text, image, and video content, designing posts to sustain
readers' curiosity and creating buzz around new issues, staying up to date
with changes in all social platforms, ensuring maximum effectiveness,
training leaders how to use social media in a cohesive and beneficial way,
developing an optimal posting schedule considering web traffic and
engagement, and overseeing social media accounts.
Todd Elzey, Chair; Cheryl Fisher; Chris Sabine; Maggie Stringer; and
Candice Armstrong
Scholarship Committee
Charge: To conduct the affiliate scholarship program and to develop and
implement effective strategies to increase the visibility of the program
and increase participation in both the Ohio and national programs.
Jordy Stringer, Chair; Cassandra Jones; and Suzanne Turner
*****
The 2021 NFB of Ohio Scholarship Program
by Jordy Stringer <>
Editor’s note: Jordy Stringer chairs the NFB-O Scholarship Committee. Here
is his announcement of this year’s scholarship program:
The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio announces its 2021 scholarship
program intended to benefit blind college students beginning March 2021. In
the fall of 2021 NFB-O will offer three scholarships to outstanding blind
students who currently live in or are attending college in the state of
Ohio during the 2021-2022 academic school year.
Scholarship winners must attend the entire National Federation of the Blind
of Ohio state convention, November 5-7, and participate in all convention
activities sponsored by the Ohio Association of Blind Students (OABS). In
addition scholarship winners will be required to meet with the Scholarship
Committee during the state convention. The 2021 state convention will be
held at the DoubleTree Columbus – Worthington. Scholarship winners will be
notified no later than August 15, 2021. All convention expenses will be
provided for each scholarship winner, including transportation, hotel
accommodations, registration, and banquet. For more information on the
NFB-O state convention, please visit http://www.nfbohio.org.
Applicants need not be members of the NFB-O to win these scholarships. To
be eligible for these scholarships, all applicants shall:
· Be certified as legally blind.
· Be residents of the state of Ohio or be full-time students at an
Ohio college or university during the 2021-2022 academic year.
· Be pursuing full-time postsecondary courses of study during the
2021-2022 academic school year.
· Participate in the entire NFB-O 2021 state convention and all
scheduled OABS activities.
· Complete all application requirements by Sunday, June 20, 2021, no
later than 11:59 p.m.
Application materials can be submitted electronically to Jordy D. Stringer
jssocil at gmail.com, or they can complete an electronic version by visiting
nfbohio.org. Or they can go to https://forms.gle/3auGhhckd5fQbx2m8 to
download a Google form.
Please make sure all applications are complete. The National Federation of
the Blind of Ohio's scholarship committee does not accept responsibility
for incomplete applications. Each application will be reviewed by the
committee, and candidates will be notified of their awards by email. All
decisions made by the scholarship committee are final. Questions can be
directed to Jordy D. Stringer, Chairman, Scholarship Committee, National
Federation of the Blind of Ohio jssocil at gmail.com, (614) 531-3945; or
Richard Payne, President, National Federation of the Blind of Ohio,
Rchpay7 at gmail.com.
*****
Legal Responsibilities of Non-Profit Board Members
by Todd Elzey <>
Editor’s note: Todd Elzey is the treasurer of the NFB of Ohio. During our
recent leadership seminar he reviewed the legal duties of board membership.
We thought that this was important enough information that we asked him to
put it in writing for everyone to read and think about. He is speaking
about affiliate board membership, but these principles hold true for
chapter and division board membership. This is what he says:
It is an honor to be elected to an NFB board position. NFB board membership
says that the members believe that your leadership can contribute to the
success of the NFB. But board membership is more than just an honor. It is
also a lot of work.
Newly elected board members often do not understand all of their duties.
NFB board members have the same duties as members of any large non-profit
organization board. They even have many of the same duties as members of a
major corporate board. Some duties of non-profit board members are required
by State and Federal law. This article will outline some of the legal
duties of NFB board members.
A Fiduciary Duty:
Non-profit board members have a fiduciary duty to the organizations they
serve, which means that board members are legally obligated to act in the
organization’s best interest. This means that the NFB’s best interests come
first. Board members must put the NFB’s interests even ahead of their own
personal interests. This obligation includes all actions the board is
involved in, including financial matters.
There are four fiduciary duties in Ohio that NFB board members must comply
with. These are the duty of care, the duty of loyalty, the duty of
compliance, and the duty to maintain accounts.
Duty of Care:
The duty of care requires board members to participate actively in the
NFB’s activities. Board members must also use skill and care in making
decisions. The law says that board members must use the same skill and care
that is used by a prudent person conducting their own business. So what
does this mean? NFB board members must attend and participate in NFB
meetings and also prepare for meetings in advance.
The duty of care also requires board members to know about what is going on
in the organization. Board members cannot make well-informed decisions
without knowing what is happening in the NFB.
NFB board members must also participate in NFB activities outside of board
meetings. So they should be participating in fundraising, helping with
educational activities, helping promote the organization, and generally
contributing to the organization’s success. They should participate in
training opportunities. Training develops the knowledge and skills a board
member needs to make well-informed decisions for the organization.
Duty of Loyalty:
The duty of loyalty requires board members to put the NFB’s interests
first. They cannot take any action that conflicts with the interests of the
NFB. They must put the NFB’s interests even before their own personal
interests. This can be a tough rule. Board members must put the NFB’s
interests even ahead of their own financial interests. For example, they
cannot vote for something that would hurt the NFB, even if that means they
will lose money.
Board members must also disclose any conflicts of interest. For example, if
the board is considering a contract with an entity that a board member
works for, the board member must disclose that relationship. This rule may
even require that they not participate in any decisions in which they have
a conflict of interest.
The duty of loyalty also means that NFB board members cannot be members of
competing groups. This rule can apply to many organizations. But the most
common situation involves the ACB. NFB board members cannot be members of
the ACB.
An NFB board member would violate the duty of loyalty by being a member of
the ACB because the NFB and ACB often take different positions on issues,
compete for the same membership, and compete for many of the same funding
sources. Board members have access to confidential information. Even
accidental disclosure of confidential information to a competing entity
could hurt the NFB. The duty of loyalty is one of the most important of the
Fiduciary duties. Violating it can do serious harm to the organization and
its reputation.
Duty of Compliance:
The duty of compliance requires board members to be faithful to the NFB’s
purpose and mission. They must also comply with the NFB’s governing
documents, such as the constitution and the code of conduct. They must also
comply with all laws and regulations that govern the NFB’s operations.
In particular, NFB board members must comply with state and federal annual
financial filing rules and fundraising rules. Failing to operate legally
could cause the NFB-O to lose its non-profit status.
Duty to Manage Accounts:
The duty to manage accounts means that board members must ensure the NFB’s
fiscal stability and accountability. They must make fiscally sound
decisions. NFB boards must establish policies to account properly for how
the organization spends money. For example, NFB treasurers are required to
produce written reports that are saved. This rule also requires secretaries
to document organization decisions with written minutes of meetings.
Violating the duty to maintain accounts could cause the NFB-O to lose its
non-profit status. Violating this rule could also erode the trust of donors.
Consequences of Violating a Fiduciary Duty:
Board members who violate a fiduciary duty likely will no longer be trusted
by membership to serve on an NFB board. Board members who violate fiduciary
duties can also be held civilly financially liable for their breaches. In
extreme cases of willful or intentional violations, they could even be
criminally prosecuted.
NFB board membership is certainly an honor. But being elected also brings
with it a host of legal obligations that board members must be prepared to
comply with. Not complying with these duties can have serious consequences
for both board members and the organization.
*****
Getting Our Hands on Museum Exhibits
by Marianne Denning <>
Editor’s note: Marianne Denning is a teacher of blind students who lives in
Cincinnati. She is a member of the state Board of Directors. In the
following article she discusses the need for accessible museum exhibits and
like displays. We hope that this discussion my inspire some chapters to
contact museums in their areas to see if they would be interested in having
us help them make their exhibits more accessible to blind visitors.
I have been blind since birth. I am writing this article to discuss the
need for increased accessibility for blind visitors to museums and similar
organizations. My first experience was visiting the home of the first woman
elected mayor in the United States. I loved the information I received as
part of the visit, but I could not touch anything to gain a better
understanding of the late nineteenth century. I was frustrated. No one was
willing to stand beside me and describe what my classmates were observing,
and we had limited time. Now fast-forward many years, and very little has
changed.
I love to visit museums related to music, history, the future, and much
more. I also visit presidential libraries and their homes. I also visit
homes of other famous Americans or buildings that show a style of
architecture. In almost every situation I find the same lack of access.
When I visit a museum, I ask if they have material in Braille. I am often
handed a very short document or map of the layout of the facility. While
this can be very helpful for orientation, it does not provide much
information about the collection.
Many museums have a video or short movie at the beginning to give useful
information to help museum visitors, but there is no specifically
descriptive audio, so I listen to the information, but I would like the
information provided by the pictures. My husband is great at describing
this information, but I sometimes visit museums with other people who do
not share his skill.
Some museums provide devices to all visitors so they can use numeric
keypads to control access and listen to recorded information. This is very
helpful, but it requires a sighted person to tell me the numbers to access
each block of information. There are plaques near most exhibits that
provide additional information, but these are not accessible unless you can
read the print. If someone reads all of this information to me, it can be
very time consuming and decreases my independent enjoyment of the exhibit.
Many items are behind glass, so there is no way to touch them. I understand
that handling these items can be damaging, and I don’t want to hurt
anything.
The experience of navigating a museum is daunting because each one is laid
out differently, and the traffic is usually moving in different directions.
I have never tried to go to a museum without sighted assistance. They also
operate on a very limited budget, so providing a personal guide may not be
possible.
I have laid out many of the challenges I have faced, and now I want to
share some better experiences. I hope this will get other NFB members
thinking about possible solutions to the challenges I have described.
An exhibit of Shaker furniture came to a museum near me, and I contacted
the museum to see if I could touch the various pieces. The owner of the
exhibit gave permission for me to use white gloves and touch all of the
furniture except two pieces. It was a great experience. I could feel how
the furniture was constructed and how it had aged over the years. I have
asked several other museums about using white gloves to touch different
items, and this permission has been given in several instances. But I have
also been turned down. I have touched the crack in the Liberty Bell and
touched all of the visible parts of the replica of the Wright brothers’
airplane. I always have a chill when this happens.
We recently went to Nashville and toured Studio B (the studio where Elvis
Presley and many others recorded music from 1957 to 1971). There were
several instruments in the studio, and I used the white gloves I brought to
touch these. Due to COVID 19 restrictions we were the only people on the
tour, so this made it easier.
One of the best accessible tours I have taken was the World Trade Center.
It was designed to be interactive for everyone, and I definitely took
advantage of the technology. I began by taking a public tour on which an
interpreter took us through the museum and talked about the day of the
tragedy, the clean-up of the aftermath, and the continuing health problems
of many of the survivors. It brought home the horror of the day and the
years that have passed.
The NFB can and should be involved in making museums and similar facilities
accessible for the blind. Maybe grants could help make this possible. I
would like independent access to the information on the plaques, a way of
independently traveling through the exhibits, and accessible video
description of movies. I believe most of this could be accomplished using a
smart device. That would also make it possible for information to change as
exhibits change and the museum exhibits are rearranged.
I hope many other blind people love museums as I do, and I hope they are
thinking about accessibility. I would love to hear from you. My email
address is marianne at denningweb.com.
*****
The Parents That Didn’t Have to Be
by Todd Elzey <>
Editor’s note: We are now in the season of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
The following article is a tribute that NFB-O treasurer Todd Elzey pays to
his grandparents who raised him. They certainly did a find job, and we are
lucky to benefit from their success. Here is Todd’s story:
Country music singer Brad Paisley had a hit song entitled “He Didn’t Have
to Be.” The song tells the story of a boy who does not have a father until
a stepfather comes into the picture. The point of the song is that the
stepfather becomes a fantastic father even though he took on the son of
another man. In other words, he becomes a great father even though he never
had to be the boy’s father at all.
Although from a slightly different perspective, I can identify with the
sentiment of the song. I was born in 1965 at the tail end of a rubella
outbreak in the United States. This outbreak caused a lot of children born
from 1963 to 1965 to be born with congenital rubella syndrome. I was one of
those kids.
I was born with congenital rubella syndrome because my mother was exposed
to German measles in her first trimester of pregnancy. Back in 1965 they
didn’t yet know all aspects of this birth defect. In fact, they hadn’t even
put a name to the syndrome. So it was not until years later that my vision
loss and hearing impairment were attributed to the rubella outbreak.
What my family knew was that I was born with significant vision loss. I was
totally blind in my right eye, and I had residual vision in my left eye. In
first grade my hearing loss was discovered. Hearing tests found that I have
no hearing in my left ear and without a hearing aid only about 50% of
normal hearing in my right ear. So how does this all relate to having
parents who didn’t have to be, you might ask.
Well, when I was born, my mother was only sixteen years old and my father
only nineteen. They got married and had my brother Troy three years later.
But they were simply too young for the marriage to last. Just before I
turned five years old, they got divorced. At the time neither of them were
able to take care of either me or my brother.
So what to do – two children, one with two disabilities? One of those
disabilities wasn’t diagnosed yet, but it undoubtedly made it difficult for
a young mother to raise the child because she often felt as if the child
didn’t listen to her.
Many kids in a similar situation end up in the foster care system. I have
often wondered if that could have happened to me. But, fortunately for me,
my paternal grandparents Evelyn and Harry Elzey stepped in. They certainly
did not have to. In fact, their daughter, my Aunt Donna, had not been out
of the house that long. So Ev and Harry H. (as I had always known them)
were at that point in life where they could start living life for the first
time without having to worry about raising kids.
But instead of planning all those vacations they could have taken, they
said, “Yes, we will raise our Grandson Todd.” Why, except for the fact that
they were fantastic people; they were willing to put their lives on hold
for me. I will probably never truly know. But they did, and I will forever
be grateful.
It really hit me how much Ev and Harry H. meant to my life when I tried to
speak at Ev’s funeral. I had a lengthy presentation planned out about all
the things she did with family and how fantastic she was with her
grandkids. But I never got beyond talking about how she and Harry H. raised
me even though they didn’t have to because I got too choked up to go
further.
But how does this relate to blindness, you may wonder – this is a
publication of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio after all.
Well, as far as I know, my grandparents never had any experience with
blindness or any other disabilities before I was born. In fact, I think
that they probably did not understand the full capabilities of blind
people. But, although I am sure that they were often scared to do so, they
always let me try anything I wanted to do.
As blind people we often hear from society and even friends and family that
we can’t do something we want to try, whether it is getting that college
degree, starting a business, or taking a vacation independently. In extreme
cases we even hear that we can’t live on our own, can’t cook for ourselves,
or can’t raise children.
I suspect my grandparents often had their doubts about what I could do
given my blindness and hearing loss. They certainly never encouraged me to
do labor tasks like mow the grass or other activities involving mechanical
skills or equipment. But to their credit, when I expressed an interest in
trying something like these activities, they also never stopped me and
never openly expressed any reservations. Instead, they let me figure out
for myself what I could and couldn’t do. They also let me find out what I
was or was not interested in doing. In fact, I never remember Ev or Harry
H. saying, “No, you can’t do that because of your vision or hearing.”
As I neared graduation from high school, they also fully supported my
decision to attend college. And, when that initial decision didn’t quite
work out the way I expected, they also supported my decision to move 3,000
miles away to California. But I know that they probably worried about what
would happen with that and many other decisions I made.
I write all of this for two reasons. First, I want to honor my grandparents
for being the parents they didn’t have to be. They put their lives on hold
and raised me when my parents couldn’t. Second, I also think it is
important for parents of blind children to see how others put aside their
fears or misconceptions about blindness and other disabilities to let
children find their own way. While it is certainly difficult as a parent,
one of the greatest gifts you can give your child is not to limit their
activities or goals because of blindness. Rather step back and let them try
things. Allow them to succeed in what they succeed at. And, more important,
let them fail at what they fail at. Failing is particularly valuable
because we often learn more from our failures than we do from our
successes. Allowing blind children to find their own way will allow them to
live the lives they want to live as adults.
*****
Discovering eSight
by Todd Elzey <>
Editor’s note: Here is an interesting product review of a relatively new
device to assist those with residual vision. Todd Elzey assures me that it
is not glasses even though it is worn on the face. This means that a
legally blind person is still legally blind even using this device that
increases vision to far above the legally blind definition of twenty over
two hundred in the better eye with correction. Here is Todd Elzey’s review
of eSight:
Blind people use access technology in many facets of their lives. They
usually pick the technology they want to use based on the task they are
performing. If there are multiple styles of equipment available for the
same task, a blind person can choose to read hard-copy braille, read with a
refreshable braille display, or read with audio output.
What many people often don’t know or do forget is that the National
Federation of the Blind believes that you are blind even if you have
residual vision. So a blind person may select access technology based on
how much residual vision he or she has. I do not read Braille because I was
never taught it in school on the assumption that with my residual vision I
did not need it. So I use large print, magnifiers, and Zoomtext screen
magnification to read. Others might use a CCTV or some other alternative
technique.
Wearable devices are one of the newest approaches in access technology.
Wearable technology is simply devices you can wear like a pair of glasses
to enable you to perform various visual tasks. Some devices have optical
character recognition (OCR) features that will read printed material. Other
devices have cameras embedded and connected t either to a live agent or an
artificial intelligence software (AI) program to describe surroundings.
And some of the newest devices have cameras with displays in the headsets.
The camera is used to transmit video of the surrounding area to the
displays. Blind people with residual vision can wear these devices to view
the surrounding area. The big advantage of these devices is that they allow
the user to magnify their surroundings. The wearer can also adjust visual
elements such as contrast. In some cases wearers can even access different
functions to change settings for daytime, nighttime, indoor, or outdoor
surroundings. These functions can significantly improve what a person sees.
I have tested three different brands of wearable devices designed for
people with residual vision. I first tested the Iris Vision and the Patriot
ViewPoint, both virtual reality headsets. They are equipped with a Samsung
Galaxy cell phone that serves as the camera. These devices work and can
magnify up to around 22X. But both devices have virtual reality headsets
that are completely enclosed. They are almost airtight, and so the cell
phone battery can get hot. All of this makes the devices extremely hot to
wear. I couldn’t wear either without my glasses fogging up.
Both the Iris Vision and Patriot ViewPoint can be uncomfortable to wear for
long periods of time because of their weight. Finally, both operate using
the cell phone’s internal battery. When the battery runs out, it has to be
recharged. This can limit how long you can use the devices without being
near a power source. After trying the Patriot ViewPoint and Iris vision, I
decided not to go with either because of these problems.
I recently had an opportunity to try a third device called eSight. eSight
completely changed my perspective on wearable devices. It is completely
different from the Iris Vision and Patriot ViewPoint. Instead of an
enclosed virtual reality headset, the eSight uses an adjustable open
headset. The headset can be moved away from or close to the eyes and never
completely encloses the user’s face. This has several advantages. First the
wearer always has use of peripheral vision. This allows the wearer to be
mobile while using eSight. Second, eSight is much cooler to wear than the
virtual reality headset. Third, users can easily raise the screen portion
of the headset without taking the whole device off, to view their
surroundings with their own residual vision.
The eSight is worn with a halo style band rather than straps. The halo band
evenly distributes the weight of the device. It is much more comfortable to
wear. I was recently able to wear the device comfortably during a
three-hour baseball game.
But for me one of the biggest advantages of the eSight is the changeable
batteries. The eSight comes with two batteries that last around 2 ½ to 3
hours. The eSight gives you a warning when the battery is near dead. It has
a short-term internal power source. This allows the wearer to take out one
battery and insert a new one without turning the eSight off. The user can
easily change the battery without taking the eSight off. You can also
purchase additional extra batteries. With this battery set-up, wearers can
use the eSight for long periods without ever having to be near a power
source to charge a battery.
How can the eSight be used? Well, as a freelance journalist I have often
wanted to be able to cover live events that require me to be some distance
away from the action, as with sporting and theater or concert events. I do
not see well enough to use my residual vision to cover these events. I
could find an alternative technique, but I discovered that eSight enhances
my residual vision enough to allow me to do so more quickly and
independently.
eSight allows users to zoom in as far as 24x. The eSight improves my vision
to just about 20/20 (although in a severely restricted field) in the one
eye I see out of. This allows me to see enough detail to be able to cover
live events independently. I was recently able to view a track meet in
which I was able to follow runners all the way around the track. Even from
this distance of 50+ yards I was able to tell independently who was in what
place. Despite being over 50 yards away, I was also able to follow a pole
vault event during the meet. This is something I would never have been able
to do without the eSight.
I can also use the eSight to do close, detailed tasks that I could not have
done before. I was recently asked to read a QR code for someone. The code
was on the inside of a smart light. The person could not get his cell phone
camera to read the code. An Aira agent was also unable to read the code.
But, when I put on the eSight, I was able to zoom in close enough to read
the code easily. The eSight’s reading feature is so good that it will also
allow me to do detail work such as cutting along dotted lines. Again, could
I find different alternative techniques to achieve the same results? Yes,
but the eSight makes it extremely easy for me to do quickly.
eSight also has some interesting high-tech functions. The eSight can be
connected to a computer or other video source by an HDMI cable. This allows
users to view a computer screen or video feed directly on the eSight’s
screen. Users can also zoom in on the feed to see specific details. Once
you have zoomed in to where you can see the screen the way you want, you
can move your head side to side or up and down to view different portions
of the screen. eSight also has functions to take pictures, to shoot videos,
and to share your video feed with others so that they can see what you are
seeing.
As good as eSight is, it’s not perfect. I tried using eSight at a golf
course to follow the flight of a golf ball. The ball was simply too small
and too fast to follow. I understand from eSight that almost no one has had
complete success with this particular use.
I have also found that positioning is extremely important. At a recent
Cincinnati Reds baseball game, I had difficulty following the baseball off
the bat. Following the ball was hard because I was on the third baseline,
so, when the ball was hit, I had to move my head quickly from right to left
to follow it. The ball came off the bat so quickly that it made my head
snap. This made it very difficult to follow the ball. However, I was able
to see the ball being pitched and even in flight off the bat when I
accidentally found it. In the future I should be able to follow the ball
off the bat by sitting behind home plate. This will keep the action in
front of me and avoid the need for sharp head snaps.
eSight also has two fairly small screens. This means that it has a limited
field of vision when zoomed all the way in. So the farther you are away
from the action, the more of the overall picture you will be able to see.
Unfortunately, eSight does not work for everyone. It can work for people
with residual vision as low as 20/800, or even 20/1400 in some cases. But
eSight does not work well for people without central vision.
Despite these limitations, I believe eSight is the best wearable device on
the market for blind people with residual vision. I found it so useful in
both my work and life that Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities
(OOD) assisted me in purchasing it. If you would like to learn more about
eSight, you can visit www.esighteyewear.com. I would also be happy to
answer questions. You can reach me at toddelzey at gmail.com
*****
I’m Smokin’ It, Baby
by Eric Duffy <>
Editor’s note: Eric Duffy is currently the secretary of the NFB of Ohio. He
is a familiar voice in these pages. Here is a summertime article about
living the life he wants:
Wait! Stop! I am not talking about what you think I am after you read the
title of this article. I’m talking about smoking meat and smoking life.
Several years back I wrote an article about my experience with grilling for
this newsletter, so I will just briefly summarize it here before proceeding
with the rest of the story.
As is the case for many blind children, especially those of my generation,
my parents did not want me anywhere near a barbecue grill. They said, “Of
course you can’t light the grill. Just wait, we’ll bring you your food.”
Therefore I didn’t learn to light and cook on a grill until I was in
college and got tired of finding ways to arrange for others to do it for
me. My first experience was with a charcoal grill because it was the only
grill I had at the time and because I thought it would be the most
challenging to learn to use.
I then bought a small gas grill, and since that time I have had three other
gas grills. I have grilled a lot of good meat over the years, but I hadn’t
really believed I could do it until I heard that other blind people were
already grilling. I first heard about Dr. Jernigan’s technique for grilling
steaks. I then got to experience Dr. Maurer’s grilling. I must say I was
very impressed. I then had all of the proof I needed that blind people
could grill safely and well. About the time I began to think that I had
mastered the grill, I began to hear about meat smokers. This time I didn’t
wonder if a blind person could smoke meat; I just thought about how I might
do it.
A few years ago I started hearing NFB of Ohio President Richard Payne
talking about using his electric smoker. He smoked ribs, chicken, and who
knows what else. He has never invited me over to try his smoked fare, but,
knowing Richard as I do, I’m sure it is quite good. Debbie Baker has also
put her hand to the art of smoking, and of course Dr. Maurer and President
Riccobono have as well. So I finally ordered a smoker from Amazon, I got it
assembled, and, as of this writing, I have smoked five chicken breasts. I
still need to refine and improve my technique, but the chicken was very
good.
I have invited Bob and Barbara Pierce to travel to Dayton to have smoked
lamb this summer. I have eaten many delicious meals in their home, and now
I will get to return the favor. Many years ago Barbara said she would fix
lamb for me, but the timing just hasn’t been right. I have tried lamb since
then, and I definitely like it. I have found a recipe similar to the one I
think I remember her telling me she was going to use. I will practice using
the smoker more and smoke lamb at least once before the Pierces arrive. I
promised Barbara that I will not experiment on them.
I am no longer waiting for others to light the grill or fire up the smoker
and bring things to me. I am smoking meat and smoking life. When I was in
my mid-fifties I began working toward my MBA. Last July I graduated from
Southern New Hampshire University. I was hired as a contract negotiator by
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. I have completed all of the required
training for my Level 1 contracting certification. This will take me from a
GS9 to a GS11 and give me a nice pay increase. I wanted a job outside of
the disability field to prove to myself that I could be successful in
another kind of job. I have done that, and I will continue to do it for a
while. But those who know me know that my heart is in work with the blind.
I get the greatest satisfaction out of helping blind people reach their
goals and broaden their understanding of blindness.
I live in a ranch-style house, with a patio that has room for a big gas
grill, a smoker, and a table and chairs. I have a big back yard that holds
a brand new fire pit and live in a quiet neighborhood with one of my best
friends since early elementary school. I still have a lot of smoking of
meat and smoking of life to do.
Without a doubt, I have accomplished most of the things I’ve done in my
life due largely to the support I have received from the National
Federation of the Blind. You can smoke meat if you want to, and you can
smoke life if you choose to. Blindness is not what holds you back. The next
time you have doubts about whether or not you can accomplish something as a
blind person, reach out to your local chapter of the Federation or to a
friend in the organization.
*****
Buckeye Briefs <>
Just a few days left to register for the national convention. Registration
is free for this virtual convention, and there are no banquet tickets to
buy, so the price is right. You must be prepared to check a box attesting
to your having read the code of conduct. You can find it on the NFB website
or on NEWSLINE. You can register by using the following link:
https://nfb.org/civicrm/event/register?id=432&q=civicrm%2Fevent%2Fregister&reset=1#main-content
<
https://nfb.org/civicrm/event/register?id=432&q=civicrm%2Fevent%2Fregister&reset=1#main-content>.
If you need help registering, call Macy McClain at (937) 935-2610. But the
deadline for registering is May 31 at midnight.
Double your donation and help the Ohio State School for the Blind. Students
who attended the Ohio State School for the Blind from the 1940’s to the
present are undoubtedly familiar with the models created by the Works
Projects Administration. Consider this excerpt from a book entitled Models
for the Blind:
December 2, 1940
Permit me to say that the educational models used as teaching devices for
the sightless have made this school outstanding in the field of tactual
learning. This method and this distinction could not have been possible
without the splendid services of the Work Projects Administration.
Educational models have opened up wider fields of learning for our pupils
and have brought into their horizons of conception many objects that before
had only vague and fantastic meanings. Consider for a moment how futile it
would be to attempt to give a blind child an accurate conception of the
United States Capitol, of Lincoln's birthplace, or of a skyscraper unless
it were presented in the form of a model.
All of the models made and used at the Ohio State School for the Blind are
accurately scaled and complete in every detail; thus the teacher has no
misgivings when she says, "Boys and girls, this is the way a Dutch windmill
looks." She knows it is a true replica.
Much credit for the many fine models that we now have should go to O. J.
Hill, Supervisor of Elementary Instruction, who has been and is the
coordinator of the project that constructed them--in this capacity securing
information from teachers and pupils as to what models are most desirable,
and working with the local supervisor in order to have the ideas of the
various staff members and pupils crystallized into tangible form. The
entire staff of the school, the model-building project, and the Ohio
Writers' Project are all to be congratulated for this very splendid
contribution to the cause of the education of the sightless.
Very truly,
W.G. Scarberry
W. G. Scarberry was the superintendent of the school at the time the book
was published. Despite the archaic language of the day, the models he spoke
of are no less valuable to the blind of today. However, over the years many
of the models have fallen into a state of disrepair. For several years now
the school has been working to restore them to their original condition.
The estimated cost of restoring each model is $500.
The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio believes this is an important
project and wants to assist the school. Therefore, the organization will
match all donations made to support this project by July First. For a
contribution of $500 you can place the name of a friend or loved-one on a
plaque accompanying one of the models. The Board of Directors determined
that, if enough money is raised, plaques will be dedicated in the names of
Paul Dressell and Paul Jordan.
Please send all donations to NFB-Ohio, Todd Elzey, Treasurer, 3779
Waterbury Dr., Kettering Ohio 45439 Donations may also be made by PayPal or
Zelle. No matter how you decide to donate, please be sure to make it known
that your donation is for the models restoration project.
Congratulations to Brooke Dowdy and David Gray on the birth of their
daughter. Emma Sophia Gray was born on January 13, 2021. She weighed in at
five pounds and fifteen ounces and was eighteen inches long. She is the
Cleveland chapter’s youngest member, and we are all proud.
Congratulations to Natassha Ricks of Cleveland. Her son Nigel Ricks
graduated from Bowling Green University with a bachelor’s in fine arts in
digital media with a concentration in 3-D animation. He already has three
projects under his belt.
Congratulations to Regina Mason on her new job at Walmart Industry.
Congratulations to Cheryl Fields for her first blog. Cheryl is on the
Survivor Task Force and is making a difference and changing attitudes on
sexual abuse and misconduct in the NFB. She was appointed by our national
President, Mark Riccobono, as one of the six members of the Survivor Task
Force. Read her blog online at WWW.NFB.ORG/Survivors.
Welcome home Joann Williams, Frankie Jones, Annie Dixon, and Carolyn Ann
Arrington. All were hospitalized with the virus and have recovered. They
are ready to return to work advocating for equal rights for the blind in
Cleveland.
Condolences to Regina Mason on the death of her beloved brother Andre
Mason. Regina and Andre were very close. Please keep Regina and her family
in prayer.
*****
Activities Calendar <>
Every Thursday at 7, Community Service happy hour, Ohio Zoom room
June 1, Presidential Release live
June 20, Deadline NFB-O scholarship applications
June 29, Rookie Roundup on Zoom
July 6-10, NFB virtual national convention, anywhere and everywhere
August 15, Notification NFB-O scholarship winners
September 18, Meeting of the NFB-O Board of Directors
October, Meet the Blind Month
October 15, White Cane Awareness Day
November 5-7, NFB-O annual convention, DoubleTree Hotel, Worthington
December 1, Deadline for expressing interest in the Washington Seminar
Barbara Pierce, President Emerita
National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
Barbara.pierce9366 at gmail.com
440-774-8077
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise
expectations for blind people because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and their dreams. You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.
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--
Dave Bertsch
330-472-4084
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