From fnugg at online.no Fri Apr 3 09:46:41 2009 From: fnugg at online.no (fnugg at online.no) Date: Fri, 03 Apr 2009 11:46:41 +0200 Subject: [Art_beyond_sight_learning_tools] art, haptics, photography Message-ID: <49D5DB01.8000409@online.no> Hi, Links to articles about art, photography and haptic devices. Best regards, Lisa excerpt Touching art: Special Portsmouth exhibit designed for blind, low-vision people Thursday, April 2, 2009 Cunningham/Democrat photo Rick Burns of Berwick, Maine, is among the artists showing at a newly opened exhibition dedicated to helping the blind have access to art. His piece "Programmed" will be among those to be experienced through touch at New Hampshire Art Association's Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery on State Street in Portsmouth. PORTSMOUTH ? It's not often that you walk into a gallery and are actually encouraged to touch the art. On Wednesday the New Hampshire Art Association's Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery on State Street opened a new "Art Beyond Sight" exhibit that features all two- and three-dimensional artwork designed to be experienced by the blind and those with low vision. For the first time the art association collaborated with the New Hampshire Association for the Blind to present a show that is open to all, but intended to allow those without sight to experience art at its 136 State St. gallery. The show is the brainchild of exhibit co-chairs Judy Brenner and Valerie Sobel of the New Hampshire Art Association. It opened on Wednesday with all of the work being textured paintings, etchings and sculpture. The juried show features works from artists all over New England and may be experienced through touch and through identification cards written in braille on the gallery's walls. http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090402/GJCOMMUNITY_01/704029720/-1/FOSNEWS article ART BEYOND SIGHT held in conjunction with the N.H. Association for the Blind, juried exhibit that allows those who are blind, low vision and the public to use multi-sensory means to experience art, through April 30, reception April 3, 5-8 p.m. in conjunction with Art 'Round Town gallery walk, New Hampshire Art Association, Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery, 136 State St., Portsmouth. Gallery hours: Wed.-Sat.: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun.: noon- 5 p.m. 431-4230. http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20090402-ENTERTAIN-904020304 article New downtown gallery, boutique opening today Legally blind artist offering session to help others succeed PALLADIUM-ITEM A new gallery and boutique is opening on Richmond's Main Street today. The ribbon-cutting and grand opening for the Blind Ambition Gallery and Boutique will be at 1 p.m. today at 817 E. Main St. The gallery will offer support and opportunities for people with disabilities who create art. Richmond artist Joyce Acton is leading the gallery. Acton, who is legally blind, began painting in 2002 while attending a program for the adult blind in Jacksonville, Fla., where she won a scholarship. After moving to Richmond, she demonstrated her talent at the Independent Living Center as part of the organization's celebration of March as Disability Awareness Month. Since then, she has since participated in area art shows and helped other artisans who have disabilities. On April 9, the gallery will offer a workshop discussion targeting techniques to market artwork, types of adaptive equipment available and overcoming challenges in the creation of art by individuals with disabilities. The workshop will be 12:30-1:30 p.m. April 9 at the gallery, with sponsorship by VSAI Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Center for Artists with Disabilities-UCLA-Los Angeles. For more information about the gallery or the workshop, call (765) 939-6200. http://www.pal-item.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090402/NEWS01/904020320&template=printart excerpt Art is Blind UCD's New Avant-Garde Photographer Proves That You Don't Need Eyes to Really See By: Kindra Weisbrod Posted: 4/1/09 Once in awhile, genius strikes in the hallowed halls of CU-Denver. In the giant mass of potential lies the isolated motivation to strive through adversity and meet goals with earnest determination. Matthew Doyle is one of the few undergraduates who choose boozeless studying over wild parties; instead of going out and dancing with hot women, Doyle has been feverishly applying for scholarships and grants to aid in his project. Finally, after weeks of anticipation, the 19-year-old Visual Arts major got his wish; the Aspiring Photographer Association's envelope was in his hand-and with it the funds to reveal his talent to the world. For months, Doyle worked on something that could potentially change the face of photography everywhere. With the much-needed funds in his pocket, Doyle single-handedly took to the streets of downtown Denver, finding people and places that reflected his perception on his hometown's culture. As a result, his cutting-edge photography immediately gained momentum within the visual arts department. http://www.ucdadvocate.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticlePrinterFriendly&uStory_id=7a368cdd-783d-486b-b8e1-932573be4e0d exceprt The touch of technology Akihiro Sato?s ?morpheotron? might sound like it belongs in a video game or a manga published in his native Japan, but please get the image of 100 foot tall warrior robots out of your head. The sophisticated mechatronic device actually ?displays? shapes through the dual senses of touch and body position. ?You can program it to display any shape,? explained Sato, who just earned his Master?s degree in Engineering. ?In the morpheotron, your finger rests on an incline plate that rocks back and forth as the platform it?s on moves up and down. As your finger is pushed in these multiple planes, you feel the programmed shape.? http://reporter.mcgill.ca/2009/04/the-touch-of-technology/ excerpt Picking up a good vibration The project was inspired by Professor Charlotte Reed?s work on the Tadoma technique, which can improve communication for deaf-blind people. The method involves a practitioner holding their hands to someone?s face while they are talking, allowing them to feel the vibrations on their face and neck. Professor Reed said: ?We were inspired by seeing what deaf-blind people could accomplish just using the sense of touch alone.? In the future, the acoustic processing software may be developed for use in existing smart phones ensuring that the price of the technology remains low. ?Tactile devices can be several orders of magnitude cheaper than cochlear implants,? said Ted Moallem, a graduate student working on the project. http://www.labnews.co.uk/laboratory_article.php/4357/2/picking-up-a-good-vibration excerpt Vibrating Touchscreen Devices Could Get Braille Tweak for Blind Users We've written a lot about touchscreen [0] technology, both existing and near future, but there's an inescapable limitation if you're a user with impaired or zero vision: touchscreens accept your touch, but usually respond solely with visual information. Now Finnish scientists have devised a way to remedy that, and it's a darn clever re-interpretation of Braille. http://www.fastcompany.com/node/1252257/print From invite+pwdw-11i at facebookmail.com Tue Apr 7 04:02:04 2009 From: invite+pwdw-11i at facebookmail.com (Elisabeth Salzhauer Axel) Date: Mon, 6 Apr 2009 21:02:04 -0700 Subject: [Art_beyond_sight_learning_tools] Check out my photos on Facebook Message-ID: Hi Art_beyond_sight_learning_tools, I set up a Facebook profile where I can post my pictures, videos and events and I want to add you as a friend so you can see it. First, you need to join Facebook! Once you join, you can also create your own profile. Thanks, Elisabeth To sign up for Facebook, follow the link below: http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=778748345&k=4VAXZ5QZSX6M5AMDYAZTR4&r art_beyond_sight_learning_tools at nfbnet.org was invited to join Facebook by Elisabeth Salzhauer Axel. If you do not wish to receive this type of email from Facebook in the future, please click on the link below to unsubscribe. http://www.facebook.com/o.php?k=110917&u=1394835839&mid=44cd6aG5323817fG0G8 Facebook's offices are located at 156 University Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94301. From fnugg at online.no Wed Apr 8 09:15:00 2009 From: fnugg at online.no (fnugg at online.no) Date: Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:15:00 +0200 Subject: [Art_beyond_sight_learning_tools] photography in India, eye tracking, exhibit Message-ID: <49DC6B14.6000404@online.no> Hi, Articles, and links. An interesting article about eye tracking and the potential the results may have on design for websites and accessibility. Regards, Lisa Braille to touch http://www.gadgetrepublic.com/news/item/463/mobile/researchers-bring-braille-to-touch-screen-technology/ article FRIDAY - A touching display Art was never meant to be solely a visual medium, but to engage all the senses. See with more than just your eyes at ?Art Beyond Sight? at the Robert Lincoln Levy Gallery at 136 State St. in Portsmouth during the month of April. This exhibit allows people who are blind or have low vision (as well as those with 20/20 vision) to experience art on a multi-sensory level. All artwork will accessible in 3-D tactile or 2-D high contrast form with visual descriptions in Braille and large print. Simply put, this is one exhibit where you won?t get yelled at for touching the art. A public reception will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. The gallery is open Wednesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays, noon-4 p.m. Call 431-4230 or visit www.nhartassociation.org for details. http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090330/COLUMNISTS53/303309961/-1/columnists excerpt Research to determine whether art is in the eye of the beholder "This is exploratory work in which we are looking for patterns in the way people look at different visual elements," said Dr Jay. "We can't yet say if there's a definitive order that people look at things. But this may help us to understand how and why people focus on particular areas in sequence, what attracts them and what is the deciding factor for this sequencing. "It may be that with portraits people are drawn to the eyes, for example, but we don't know. And with abstracts we don't know whether there will be any similarity between the eye tracks at all. "The findings will help us decide the order in which we present things. If people do experience these in similar ways then there is a design message. This may inform the design of websites." Dr Harper and Dr Jay believe the findings of this ViSAS research (Visual Serialisation for Auditory Sequencing) could be of particular relevance to work on the 'translating' of web pages into an audio-described resource for blind users or for sites designed for mobile phone users. Dr Harper said: "Common sense suggests that sighted and blind users of the World Wide Web do not share similar user experiences. However we propose the opposite and suggest that the user experiences of these two groups are directly linked. "If sighted users focus of areas of a Web page in sequence, then understanding and predicting this sequence can allow a conversion from vision to audio via text-to-speech technology; and therefore create an equivalent experience between sighted and blind people." http://www.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/news/display/?id=4531 excerpt Blind Sight Why would a group of visually impaired people walk the streets of Mumbai trying to capture its famous landmarks? Why would they risk capturing images that they can never see? And why indeed, would they want to romance photography, an essentially visual medium? Maybe renowned Paris-based photographer, Evgen Bavcar, who is also visually impaired, has the most potent answer to tehse questions. Having taken a picture of a girl who he was in love with, he had famously stated that it was the pleasure of capturing something that did not belong to him, of possessing something that he could not see, that drove him to photography....Why would a group of visually impaired people walk the streets of Mumbai trying to capture its famous landmarks? Why would they risk capturing images that they can never see? And why indeed, would they want to romance photography, an essentially visual medium? Maybe renowned Paris-based photographer, Evgen Bavcar, who is also visually impaired, has the most potent answer to tehse questions. Having taken a picture of a girl who he was in love with, he had famously stated that it was the pleasure of capturing something that did not belong to him, of possessing something that he could not see, that drove him to photography. http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/blind-sight/440728/ excerpt Egg Artists? Show introduces ?a world? of art ?I?ve been an artist all my life, and I?m color blind,? he said. ?This show is a smaller show and we all feel like family. It?s a gratifying thing to be with your family and to come here and introduce people to the art. ... Once you start, you become addicted and I?ve been addicted to this since about three seconds after I started.? http://www.rrstar.com/multimedia/x549584209/Egg-Artists-Show-introduces-a-whole-new-world-of-art article If you think being blind means living in a world of darkness, then get ready to have that impression changed forever. The Minneapolis Phillips Eye Institute is now home to a rare collection of photographs and artwork creatred to demonstrate what different forms of blindness might look like to the sighted. The unique window is called Blind/Sight http://www.kare11.com/news/newsatfour/newsatfour_article.aspx?storyid=542661&catid=323 From fnugg at online.no Wed Apr 8 10:13:22 2009 From: fnugg at online.no (fnugg at online.no) Date: Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:13:22 +0200 Subject: [Art_beyond_sight_learning_tools] Greek Tactile Museum, Ricky Trione, Petros Roukoutakis, The Blind Artist's Society Message-ID: <49DC78C2.1050403@online.no> Hi, Links, and excerpts to websites. Regards, Lisa excerpt Margie Bohnstedt colored Easter eggs until she was 80 years old. ?[Coloring eggs] brings back lots of memories,? the 85-year-old said during an egg-decorating event at Shepherd of the Valley in Boardman on Tuesday. Although Bohnstedt is legally blind, she sat and listened to her friends share Easter stories while dipping and dying the hard-boiled eggs http://www.vindy.com/news/2009/apr/08/shell-game/ link http://www.rickytrioneart.com/ Meet Ricky Trione, an unbelievably talented painter who is blind http://irkedmagazine.com/4550/meet-ricky-trione-an-unbelievably-talented-painter-who-is-blind/#more-4550 Ricky Trione, back by popular demand! article with embedded videos from youtube http://irkedmagazine.com/4737/ricky-trione-back-by-popular-demand/#more-4737 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DblIPLUbsU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aQPWUTvDcM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsYFUlpVvtc excerpt from website Petros Roukoutakis Sculpter Petros Roukoutakis was born in 1953 in Chania of Crete (Greece). He studied painting at Doxiadis School of Athens. He continued studies in the Academy of Arts of Rome (1974-1977) having Franco Gentily as a teacher. At the age of twenty eight he became blind, ever since then he consecrates himself to the art of sculpture. Since 1982 he has been teaching the blind children at the KEAT school (public elementary school for blind children) in Kalithea, Athens. In 1991 he also established the sculpture workshop for the Greek Lighthouse for blind people. He has organized and participated in many personal and group exhibitions and for his sculpture and instructive work in Art and Culture he has been awarded by the Academy of Greece (1994). http://www.roukoutakispetros.gr/ The Blind Artist's Society The online Resource and Support Group for Artists with Visual Impairments on Youtube.com http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGiYvZbjJFo&feature=related http://www.blindartistssociety.com/ long list of artists at http://www.blindartistssociety.com/artists.html The Tactile Museum http://www.tactualmuseum.gr/html/muse.htm In 1983, the president of the Lighthouse for the Blind, Protopapadaki L. and the managing director Kefakis Manolis, were looking for a way that would give visually impaired people the opportunity to come in touch with ancient greek Culture. The first artefacts were bought by Lighthouse, followed by several donations by suppporting organizations and others. At the same time it was realized that the ability to touch and feel the exhibits was an excellent new way of approaching the ancient greek civilization not only for blind but for sighted people, too. has also descriptions of various art From dandrews at visi.com Thu Apr 9 03:44:18 2009 From: dandrews at visi.com (David Andrews) Date: Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:44:18 -0500 Subject: [Art_beyond_sight_learning_tools] Sign Reading Rights Coalition Petition! Message-ID: As you know, the National Federation of the Blind, NFB, is part of the Reading Rights Coalition, along with 29 (and growing) groups that support people with disabilities. The Reading Rights Coalition has been created to raise awareness about the Authors Guild and to support the 15 million print-disabled people in the US who are effected by their decision to turn off the text-to-speech function on the Kindle 2, stating that it violates copyright law. We are asking everyone to go to the petition Web site at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/We-Want-To-Read , sign the petition, and forward to all of your contacts. We are trying to get 10,000 signatures and are one third of the way there. Please help! David Andrews From dkent5817 at worldnet.att.net Wed Apr 29 18:43:40 2009 From: dkent5817 at worldnet.att.net (Deborah Kent Stein) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:43:40 -0500 Subject: [Art_beyond_sight_learning_tools] Fw: Looking for Stories about Inspiring Individuals Message-ID: Hi, Dave, Please post this to the NFB lists. It might be an opportunity for one or more Federationists to receive some well-deserved recognition and to spread the word about the abilities and achievements of blind people. Thanks! Debbie _______________ Looking for Stories about Inspiring Individuals Who do you know that deserves recognition for their efforts, sacrifices, and service to others? We are compiling stories in an upcoming book about individuals whose selfless devotion and accomplishments are inspiring, and whose enduring commitment is making this world a better place. Please tell us: ? What did this person accomplish or is currently doing that you feel has made a difference for the better? ? Was there a specific incident or turning point that compelled him or her to take action? ? Is there anything else that you can tell us that makes him/her exceptional or unique? YOUR INFORMATION: Name: Email address: Phone: YOUR NOMINEE?S INFORMATION: Name: Email address: Phone: Website: The deadline to send us information is June 1, 2009. We hope to hear from you soon. Sincerely, Katie Rountree russtree at aol.com and Jody Feagan jodyville at yahoo.com Jody Feagan Founder/Director San Miguel Writers' Conference & Workshops www.sanmiguelworkshops.com US Phone: 323/306/4068 Local # in San Miguel de Allende (Mexico): 152-0478 From braille at nbpcb.org Wed Apr 29 20:50:11 2009 From: braille at nbpcb.org (Braille Certification) Date: Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:50:11 -0500 Subject: [Art_beyond_sight_learning_tools] Braille Certification Announcement Message-ID: Hello Dave, The announcement which appears below and the attached document are to announce that testing for the National Certification in Literary Braille has been scheduled for Austin, Texas, Detroit, Michigan, Orangeburg, New York, and Albuquerque, New Mexico. National Blindness Professional Certification Board would like to announce that the NATIONAL CERTIFICATION IN LITERARY BRAILLE (NCLB) will be held on the following dates and locations: Austin, Texas Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center Friday, June 12, 2009 8:00am-5:00pm Detroit, Michigan Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center Saturday & Sunday, July 4-5, 2009 1:00pm-5:00pm Orangeburg, New York Dominican College Sunday, July 12, 2009 8:00am-5:00pm Albuquerque, New Mexico Albuquerque Grand Airport Hotel Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009 8:00am-5:00pm A combined application/testing fee of $250 applies. For updates, application deadlines, and to apply online go to: www.nbpcb.org/pages/announcements For additional information, please visit the NBPCB website at: www.nbpcb.org, or contact Louise Walch, NBPCB Coordinator, at (318) 257-4554 or braille at nbpcb.org. -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Announcement NCLB 04-27-09.doc Type: application/msword Size: 33280 bytes Desc: not available URL: From JWilson at nfb.org Tue May 5 21:08:57 2009 From: JWilson at nfb.org (Wilson, Joanne) Date: Tue, 05 May 2009 16:08:57 -0500 Subject: [Art_beyond_sight_learning_tools] Pre-registration for National Convention Message-ID: Attention Conventioneers: The early bird gets more than the worm when pre-registering for the national convention! Registering in advance will help you avoid never-ending lines, will give you more time to get involved in action-packed convention activities, and will save you some cash. Visit by May 31 to complete the easy registration process. Hope to see you in Detroit... but not in the registration lines! Joanne Wilson From fnugg at online.no Sun May 10 17:38:58 2009 From: fnugg at online.no (fnugg at online.no) Date: Sun, 10 May 2009 19:38:58 +0200 Subject: [Art_beyond_sight_learning_tools] photo,art, exhibition Message-ID: <4A071132.1090108@online.no> excerpt The Smithsonian Institution is committed to making the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival accessible and enjoyable for all visitors. The 2009 Festival features ?Giving Voice: The Power of Words in African American Culture,? ?Las Americas: Un mundo musical/The Americas: A Musical World? and ?Wales Smithsonian Cymru.? The 10-day Festival, held outdoors on the National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets, will be from Wednesday, June 24, through Sunday, June 28, and Wednesday, July 1, through Sunday, July 5. Admission is free. Festival hours are from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each day, with concerts, special events and dance parties extending into most evenings. Visitors with disabilities who need assistance are advised to report to the Information kiosks located at various points around the Festival site or to the Volunteer tent located in the Festival Services area near the Smithsonian Metrorail station?s Mall exit. A large-print version of the Festival?s daily schedule and food concession menus will be available. The Festival program book is available on CD and in other formats upon request. A limited number of wheelchairs will be available at the Volunteer tent for loan. http://7thspace.com/headlines/308818/smithsonian_is_committed_to_making_the_annual_folklife_festival_accessible_and_enjoyable_for_all_visitors.html excerpt Art From the Heart program gives Boulder seniors the chance to get creative In her classes, Andrews works with residents from ages 84 to 99. She has worked with seniors with multiple sclerosis, dementia and other disabilities, as well as a woman who is legally blind. "Even though I can't see very well, it's still fun for me," said participant Jennie Maio, 85, who has diabetes. "When I started to paint I was so happy. It makes me have my hour of fun. Even when I was sick I got out of bed just to paint." http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2009/may/08/art-from-the-heart-program-seniors/ excerpt The Art of Texas Exemplified in One Huge Painting Viewers will have the opportunity to paint on another smaller painting to get a feel for being part of the ?bigger picture?. The artists who participated in the original painted spoke of a multitude of good feelings that the project instilled from camaraderie and inspiration to importance and accomplishment. A San Antonio teacher gave extra credit to her students for participating. Three people were able to paint, even though they were blind. The artist responsible for coordinating this outstanding achievement will be on-hand to visit with viewers about the project. http://therecordlive.com/article/Beyond_the_County/Beyond_the_County/The_Art_of_Texas_Exemplified_in_One_Huge_Painting/53358 excerpt PHOTO: ISVI art opening Breanna Carpentier reads raised print Thursday on a piece on display at the annual art opening at the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired. The event is designed to replicate the experience of a gallery art opening, complete with refreshments. http://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/art-22405-opening-piece.html link to article Exploring Kentucky A?Touching Experience Unique museum provides visitors with a new sense of awareness http://www.kybiz.com/articles/article.cfm?id=917 excerpt Leslie Mayer Art Exhibit at Bob Kirby Branch A few years ago Leslie was diagnosed with Macular Degeneration which has seriously hampered her ability to paint the detailed watercolors and acrylics that she was noted for all of her life. Macular Degeneration is the most common cause of vision loss in individuals over the age of fifty-five. Blind in her left eye and partially in her right, and legally classified as ?blind?, she has learned to adapt. The loss of detailed sight has given her a new appreciation for color and shape, as evidenced in her beautiful "Other World" paintings. Leslie?s work will be on exhibit at the Bob Kirby Branch at 175 Iron Skillet Court. It opens May 4 and runs through May 29. For more information, visit www.warrenpl.org or call 782-0252. http://www.bgdailynews.com/articles/2009/05/06/the_amplifier/arts/doc49f1ee5bd83c1331571409.txt excerpt As photographer and curator, Douglas McCulloh keeps Inland images coming known nationwide and in Europe and Mexico City. McCulloh, 49, of Riverside, has had numerous exhibits in local venues. He is well-known beyond the confines of the Inland Empire, having mounted solo shows in museums across the country, in Europe and in Mexico City. In addition to "Dream Street," he is also the curator of a new exhibit at the California Museum of Photography, "Sight Unseen," which is the first museum exhibit of work by blind photographers. McCulloh says the Dream Street project came about largely by chance, which is the way he likes it. http://www.pe.com/thingstodo/other/stories/PE_News_Local_S_mcculloh06.395b9b5.html excerpt Art for visually impaired affects entire community [Comment Below ] By Katherine Liebers Doing something different is nothing new for art galleries. But last week, the university's Urban Arts Space embarked on a project that changes a long-forbidden practice. Now, patrons will be allowed to touch the art. (Or at least a representation of it.) The Urban Arts Space gallery, which is housed in the Lazarus building downtown, now features tactile tours specifically designed for the visually impaired. According to the gallery's accessibility coordinator Eva Ball, the tours are designed to objectively describe the visual components of a piece. "We just want to build the image in [the vistors'] minds so they can make their own impression of the art," Ball said. Additionally, participating artists provide touchable remnants, physical-likenesses of the actual displays, to allow patrons a tactual experience of the visual art. According to Ball, this "benefits all demographics" - sighted and non-sighted visitors alike. Renowned disability studies scholar, Georgina Kleege, agreed. During the Access Arts Community event last week, which celebrated the onset of the gallery's tactile tours, Kleege explained how accessibility efforts meant to benefit the disabled often improve the community at large. http://uweekly.com/newsmag/05-06-2009/11149 excerpt Emeritus medal well-timed recognition for Churcher Although King now employs assistants for heavier work, she still makes a point of working at her art every day. "Sometimes not as much. I do get tired. But once you start on something, you don't stop. Artists are very lucky people. They work until they drop. I still work as hard as ever." http://www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/arts/emeritus-medal-welltimed-recognition-for-churcher/2009/05/05/1241289165003.html link to sight Blind Eye Photography A page to share my photography As a visually impaired photographer it takes longer sometimes to get "that" shot, but it is my passion and when I do get it, sometimes I forget that I am legally blind. http://blind-eye-photog.blogspot.com/2009/05/i-refuse-to-lose.html excerpt Playing with Fashion: New 'Phenominoes' Pendants Feature Blind Artists' Phenomenal Artwork on Real Dominoes Unique fashion accessory adds a fun, playful pop of whimsy to any ensemble while serving the greater good; Stylish low-cost pendants support disabled artists seeking financial independence SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 5 /PRNewswire/ --- Ground-breaking Art of Possibility(R) Studios (www.AOPStudios.com), the only art brand exclusively representing physically disabled artists in a for-profit model, today announced it has finalized a licensing agreement with Phenominoes(R), the wildly popular line of pendants featuring extraordinary works of art on real dominoes. Under the deal, Phenominoes has licensed 27 Art of Possibility Studios images created by two inspirational and talented blind painters for reproduction onto the company's innovative domino pendants, each accompanied by color-coordinated ribbon necklace and a special clasp making the pendants interchangeable from one necklace to another. All available designs may be viewed online at http://www.aopstudios.com/store_necklaces.php. Phenominoes' new Art of Possibility Studios collection features artwork by two acclaimed blind painters: Art of Possibility Studios founder Ketra Oberlander, whose award-winning work has been featured on ABC-TV's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," and George Mendoza, who has been featured in the two PBS documentaries The George Mendoza Story (1989), narrated by Robert Duvall, and Vision of the Soul -- The George Mendoza Story (2006). "With these unique pendants, consumers can satisfy their desire for novel, fashion-forward accessories while simultaneously shopping their deeply held values of compassion and inclusion, in this case supporting the disabled artist community in their quest for financial self sufficiency," notes Oberlander. "For a very modest cost people can have wearable art that's pretty, fun and serves a greater good." http://sev.prnewswire.com/art/20090505/SF0926005052009-1.html From jsnyder at audiodescribe.com Fri May 22 18:52:08 2009 From: jsnyder at audiodescribe.com (Joel Snyder) Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 14:52:08 -0400 Subject: [Art_beyond_sight_learning_tools] American Council of the Blind (ACB) debuts on You Tube! In-Reply-To: <034501c9d61c$d47b0470$7d710d50$@com> References: <034501c9d61c$d47b0470$7d710d50$@com> Message-ID: <01e801c9db0e$d9ca51f0$8d5ef5d0$@com> Hey all! The American Council of the Blind and its Audio Description Project is officially part of the You Tube scene! An audio described excerpt from THE MIRACLE WORKER on DVD can now be enjoyed on You Tube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5enRm9a1Dk or just enter "audio described" in the search bar at You Tube and you'll find it. The audio description was produced by the American Council of the Blind's Audio Description Project for this 30th anniversary edition of the Emmy-award winning teleplay that featured Patty Duke as "Annie Sullivan" and Melissa Gilbert as "Helen Keller." ACB is proud to offer the described version of this production-its 1st time on DVD-in honor of Helen Keller's 129th birthday, June 27, 2009. But don't be content with just a few minutes of the production featured on You Tube-go to: www.adinternational.org and click on "The Miracle Worker" links to purchase your copy of the DVD today. A significant portion of each purchase made via the links at www.adinternational.org benefits the American Council of the Blind! Many thanks! Joel JOEL SNYDER Director, Audio Description Project American Council of the Blind 202 467-5083 -- jsnyder at acb.org www.adinternational.org President, Audio Description Associates, LLC "The Visual Made Verbal" tm 6502 Westmoreland Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912 jsnyder at audiodescribe.com -- 301 920-0218 Cell: 301 452-1898 -- Fax: 408 445-0079 For more information about audio description, please visit: www.audiodescribe.com From dandrews at visi.com Fri May 22 19:56:59 2009 From: dandrews at visi.com (David Andrews) Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 14:56:59 -0500 Subject: [Art_beyond_sight_learning_tools] 2009 NFB Convention Agenda Message-ID: The National Federation of the Blind Logo 2009 ANNUAL CONVENTION DETROIT, MICHIGAN JULY 3 to JULY 8 Text box Whozit THE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF MICHIGAN WELCOME YOU TO THE 69th ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND Marc Maurer, President National Federation of the Blind 1800 Johnson Street Baltimore, Maryland 21230 Mary Ellen Jernigan Executive Director for Operations and Chairwoman, Convention Organization and Activities Fred Wurtzel, President National Federation of the Blind of Michigan 1212 North Foster Avenue Lansing, Michigan 48912-3309 Detroit Marriott? at the Renaissance Center Renaissance Center (313) 568-8000 Courtyard by Marriott? 333 E. Jefferson Avenue (313) 222-7700 DETROIT MARRIOTT The 69th annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind is being held in Michigan at the Detroit Marriott? at the Renaissance Center. As usual, our hotel rates are very good: singles and doubles $62, triples $66, and quads $68. In addition to the room rates, there is a 15 percent sales tax. There is no charge for children under eighteen in the room with parents as long as no extra bed is required. Proof of convention registration is necessary, including the showing of an NFB registration badge if requested. Otherwise, regular hotel rates must be paid. The Detroit Marriott is a seventy-two story round hotel in the middle of a larger complex of buildings known as the Renaissance Center. The lowest level is the Motor Lobby where people arriving by taxis and automobiles enter the hotel. There are bellmen at this entrance and elevators going directly to the main lobby of the hotel, which is located on Level Three. All hotel meeting rooms, ballrooms, and the exhibit hall are on Levels Three, Four, and Five. A bank of twelve elevators is located in the center of the hotel in a corridor oriented along the east-west axis of the building. The first six elevators at the west end of the corridor (three on each side) serve floors three through forty. The next six elevators (three on each side) serve floors three, four, five, and forty through seventy. Just beyond each end of the elevator corridor a set of escalators serves Levels Three, Four, and Five. To reach the main hotel lobby you should leave the elevator corridor heading west. The hotel restaurant (Forty-two Degrees North) and Volt (a bar which also serves an extensive array of food) can be entered from the main lobby. Many other food outlets including a large food court are located on Levels A, One, and Two in the Renaissance Center complex. The easiest way to exit the hotel proper into other parts of the Renaissance Center Complex is to use an escalator located near the Coach Insignia Restaurant elevator at the south end of Level Three of the hotel. The Detroit Marriott has a smoke-free policy. COURTYARD MARRIOTT The Courtyard Marriott is connected to Level Two of the Renaissance Center Complex by an enclosed overhead walkway. It may also be reached by leaving the Renaissance Center at Level One through the Jefferson Lobby. We are using both sleeping rooms and meeting space in the Courtyard Marriott. A group of Whozits marching together. ?MOTOR CITY? MARCH FOR INDEPENDENCE: SUPPORTING OUR IMAGINATION FUND CAMPAIGN On Monday, July 6, we open the convention with our spectacular third March for Independence. Marching through downtown Detroit, we will celebrate our liberty among friends, family members, and supporters. Please gather for this fundraising and ?friend-raising? walk-a-thon and rally at 6:45 Monday morning in the Wintergarden on Level A of the Detroit Marriott. Most of the route is along the beautiful RiverWalk promenade and culminates with a rally in Rivard Plaza. Marcher drop-in briefing sessions are on Sunday, July 5, from 7:00 to 10:00 pm. Let?s walk together to make the Motor City March a truly magnificent event. NFB OF MICHIGAN HOSPITALITY DANCE! Our host affiliate invites you to celebrate with them by renewing old friendships and/or forming new ones on Monday, July 6, at 7:00 pm in the Ambassador Ballroom, Level 3. Entertainment by ?Nine,? a nine-piece band that will perform Motown, soul, classic rock, pop, and old standards?guaranteed to create an exciting atmosphere and stir pleasant memories. ROOKIE ROUNDUP Rookie Roundup Logo All first-time convention attendees are cordially invited to attend a reception from 8:00 to 10:00 pm on Friday, July 3, in the Ambassador Ballroom One, Level 3. President Maurer and other Federation leaders will be on hand to welcome you to the convention and preview the week?s activities. Veteran conventioneers should urge all first-timers to attend this special event. Also, first-time rookies are invited to join an informal, fun gathering on Sunday, July 5, from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm in the Affiliate Action Suite 6801. REGISTRATION & PREREGISTRATION Registration activities take place in the Renaissance Foyer, Level 4 beginning at 9:00 am on Saturday, July 4; at 8:30 am on Sunday, July 5; and at other times as listed throughout the week. The fee for registration at convention is $20 per person (if you preregistered before May 31, the fee was $15), and all those attending the convention (both local and out of town people) are asked to register. Convention registration is a requirement for door prize eligibility and a number of other convention activities. We condition rates for hotel rooms on proof of registration, including the showing of an NFB registration badge if requested. Therefore, please register as soon as possible after arrival. EXHIBITS AND NFB INDEPENDENCE MARKET Exhibits and the NFB Independence Market are located in the Ontario Exhibit Hall, Level 3. The exhibit hall hours are: Saturday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Sunday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday Noon to 1:45 pm; sponsors only from 7:00-10:00 pm Tuesday Noon to 1:45 pm?Note: This is the final time that Independence Market and Literature will be open. Tuesday 7:00 to 10:00 pm?Exhibit Hall only; Independence Market and Literature closed) There is a special event for sponsor-level exhibitors only on Monday, July 6, from 7:00 to 10:00 pm (see ?Special Attention? section and agenda listing for more information). Sign up for NFB-NEWSLINE? at the NEWSLINE table, check the agenda for times to visit Room 6401 to learn about it, or call local number (313) 483-1147 to use NEWSLINE at convention. Any alterations in the general session schedule which may occur during the convention will result in conforming shifts in the exhibit schedule and will be announced in the exhibit areas. A number of affiliated NFB divisions and committees have tables. Many new electronic devices are demonstrated, as well as a special exhibit of materials and resources for the deaf-blind. MEETINGS General sessions of the convention are being held in the Renaissance Ballroom, Level 4 on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The morning sessions convene at 9:30 am on Monday, and 9:00 am on Tuesday and Wednesday. The convention adjourns promptly at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, July 8. Please note that all requests for announcements by Dr. Maurer during general sessions must be submitted in Braille. BANQUET AND BANQUET TICKET EXCHANGE The banquet is being held in the Renaissance Ballroom, Level 4 at 7:00 pm, Wednesday, July 8. Banquet tickets purchased at convention are $40.00 (the cost was $35 if purchased before May 31) and are on sale during registration on Saturday and Sunday, and from noon to 12:30 and 1:30 to 2:00 pm on Monday. No banquet tickets will be available for purchase after Monday. It will be necessary to have your banquet ticket with you to attend the banquet; it will be collected at the banquet table. Arrangements should be made for reserved table assignments by taking the ticket(s) you purchase to the Banquet Exchange Table in the registration area, where you may exchange either an individual ticket or a group of tickets for reserved seating. Banquet tables seat ten people. RELIGIOUS SERVICES AND DEVOTIONS On Sunday, July 5, Fr. Gregory Paul, C.P., will celebrate a Roman Catholic Mass at 7:15 am in Ambassador Ballroom One, Level 3. Also on Sunday at 11:45 am services for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be held in Ambassador Ballroom One, Level 3. Devotional services will be held in Ambassador Ballroom One, Level 3, at 7:30 am on Tuesday, and 8:00 am on Wednesday. Please note there is no service on Monday morning. Services are nonsectarian and will end at least fifteen minutes prior to morning convention sessions. knfbReader MOBILE THE CELL PHONE THAT READS PRINT With the power of digital photography and unique cell phone software, reading print on the go wherever you are is now possible for blind people. Come and learn about this fabulous, life-changing technology in the exhibit hall and at demonstration and training sessions planned in the afternoon on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and in the evening on Tuesday. Go totally mobile and join the reading revolution today! SPECIAL ATTENTION IS CALLED TO THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ? A Federation Information Desk will be in the registration area from Saturday morning, July 4, through Wednesday, July 8, if you have questions or need assistance. The Michigan affiliate will also maintain a table near the hotel check in desk in the main lobby to provide assistance and hospitality during much of the convention. ? When you register, you will be given a badge. Please wear it at all times during the convention. ? The room number for the Presidential Suite is 7010. Someone will be on hand in the Presidential Suite throughout most of the convention to greet you and make appointments for you with the President or anyone else you wish to see. The Presidential Suite will not be open during the business sessions of the convention, the Sunday morning Board of Directors meeting, Monday morning (due to the Independence March), or the Wednesday evening banquet. Come to the Presidential Suite. You will be most welcome. ? The room number for Mary Ellen Jernigan, Chairwoman of Convention Organization and Activities, is 6910. Questions concerning hotel rooms, meeting rooms, banquet, scheduling, registration, and other matters dealing with convention arrangements should be referred to the Chairwoman of Convention Organization and Activities. ? Individuals needing to conduct business with the NFB Treasurer may do so by going to the DaVinci Room, Level 4 on Monday, July 6, between 5:30 and 7:30 pm, or on Tuesday, July 7, between 12:00 noon and 2:00 pm. ? The Michigan Suite (Fred Wurtzel, President) is 6805. ? The Affiliate Action and Rookie Activities Suite (Joanne Wilson and Pam Allen, Coordinators) is 6801. ? We are again offering NFB Camp (child-care services) for children six weeks through ten years of age in Marquette A and B Rooms, Level 5 during convention sessions, most meetings, and the banquet. Preregistration and payment by June 15 were required for NFB Camp. NFB Camp is organized and supervised by Carla McQuillan, the executive director of Main Street Montessori Association. Alison McQuillan, camp worker and teacher since 1998, is the activities director. Please note that NFB Camp provides morning and afternoon snacks, but parents are required to provide lunch for their child(ren) every day. Times listed are the opening and closing times for NFB Camp. A late fee of $10 will be assessed for all late pickups. NFB Camp hours: Friday, 7/3 8:30 am to 5:30 pm Saturday, 7/4 Closed Sunday, 7/5 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:00 to 5:30 pm Monday, 7/6 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 to 5:30 pm Tuesday, 7/7 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 to 5:30 pm Wednesday, 7/8 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 to 5:30 pm Banquet 7/8 6:30 pm to 30 minutes after closing ? A Special Evening For Sponsor-Level Exhibitors: Again this year, the exhibit hall will reopen from 7:00 to 10:00 pm on Monday, July 6, for a very special evening dedicated solely to Sponsor-Level Exhibitors listed here. Come and bring a guest to say ?thank you? to our sponsors and to enjoy their interesting offers and demonstrations. Our convention sponsors are?Platinum: HumanWare and UPS; Gold: Deque Systems, Inc., Freedom Scientific, and Oracle; Silver: En-Vision America, Intel?, and Wal-Mart; Bronze: Adobe, Council of U.S. Dog Guide Schools (CUSDGS), IBM, Independent Living Aids (ILA), and Microsoft; Exhibit Hall: GW Micro, J&B Medical Supply, National Industries for the Blind, ReadHowYouWant, and Roche Diagnostics. ? The ever-popular Showcase of Talent is back again at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, July 7, presented by the Performing Arts Division. Admission price is $5.00. If you would like to participate in the Showcase, make sure to sign up early by contacting Beth Allred at the convention. ? Raffle tickets will not be sold in the registration area, and no raffles or other such drawings will take place during convention sessions or at the banquet. The single exception to this rule will be that national divisions may (if they request it in advance) conduct such drawings during the convention or at the banquet. LaSalle A Room, Level 5 will be set aside at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, July 8, for all other drawings. Any group or affiliate wishing to conduct drawings at this time (or any person wishing to know the winners) may go at noon on Wednesday to the LaSalle A Room. AFFILIATED DIVISIONS, COMMITTEES, AND GROUPS The Federation carries on its business through divisions, committees, and groups. The meetings of some of these have been scheduled for particular times and are listed in the agenda. Others have not been formally scheduled but will meet at the call of their chairpersons or presidents. If you have matters that you would like to discuss with any of the following divisions, committees, or groups, you should contact: Divisions: ? Agriculture and Equestrian: Fred Chambers, President; ? Assistive Technology Trainers: Michael Barber, President; ? Classics, Antiques, and Rods or Special Interest Vehicles (CARS): Joseph B. Naulty, President; ? Deaf-Blind: Burnell Brown, President; ? Diabetes Action Network for the Blind: Michael Freeman, President; ? Human Services: Melissa Riccobono, President; ? National Association of the Blind in Communities of Faith: Tom Anderson, President; ? National Association of Blind Entrepreneurs: James R. Bonerbo, President; ? National Association of Blind Lawyers: Scott LaBarre, President; ? National Association of Blind Merchants: Kevan Worley, President; ? National Association of Blind Office Professionals: Lisa Hall, President; ? National Association of Blind Piano Technicians: Don Mitchell, President; ? National Association of Blind Rehabilitation Professionals: Melody Lindsey, President; ? National Association of Blind Students: Terri Rupp, President; ? National Association of Blind Veterans: Dwight Sayer, President; ? National Association of Guide Dog Users: Marion Gwizdala, President; ? National Association to Promote the Use of Braille (NAPUB): Nadine Jacobson, President; ? National Federation of the Blind in Computer Science: Curtis Chong, President; ? National Federation of the Blind Krafters: Joyce Kane, President; ? National Federation of the Blind Seniors: Judy Sanders, President; ? National Organization of Blind Educators: Sheila Koenig, President; ? National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC): Carol Castellano, President; ? Performing Arts: Dennis Holston, President; ? Public Employees: Ivan Weich, President; ? Science and Engineering: John Miller, President; ? Sports and Recreation: Lisamaria Martinez, President; ? Travel and Tourism: Don Gillmore, President; ? Writers: Robert Leslie Newman, President. Committees: ? Ambassadors: Angela Wolf, Chairperson; ? Blind Educator of the Year Award: David Ticchi, Chairperson; ? Committee on Assistive Technology (COAT): Curtis Chong, Chairperson; ? Committee on Automobile and Pedestrian Safety (CAPS): Deborah Kent Stein, Chairperson; ? Committee to Empower Underserved Populations (CEUP): Ron Brown, Chairperson; ? Cultural Exchange and International Program: Diane McGeorge, Chairperson; ? Distinguished Educator of Blind Children Award: Joyce Scanlan, Chairperson; ? Employment: Buna Dahal, Chairperson; ? Imagination Fund: Kevan Worley, Chairperson; ? Jacobus tenBroek Award: Ramona Walhof, Chairperson; ? Jacobus tenBroek Memorial Fund: Tami Jones, Chairperson; ? Kenneth Jernigan Fund: Allen Harris, Chairperson; ? Library Services: David Hyde, Chairperson; ? Loan Fund: Donald C. Capps, Chairperson; ? Membership: Ron Gardner, Chairperson; ? Newel Perry Award: Allen Harris, Chairperson; ? Newsletter Publications: Norma Crosby, Chairperson; ? NFB-NEWSLINE? Program Steering: David DeNotaris, Chairperson; ? PAC Plan: Scott LaBarre, Chairperson; ? Planned Giving: John Halverson, Chairperson; ? Promotion, Evaluation, and Advancement of Technology: Gary Wunder, Chairperson; ? Public Relations: Barbara Pierce, Chairperson; ? Research and Development: Curtis Chong, Chairperson; ? Resolutions: Sharon Maneki, Chairperson; ? Scholarship: Anil Lewis, Chairperson; ? Shares Unlimited in NFB (SUN): Sandy Halverson, Chairperson; ? Spanish Translation: Norman Gardner, Chairperson; ? White Cane and Affiliate Finance: Alpidio Rol?n, Chairperson. Groups: ? Blind Musicians: Linda Mentink, Chairperson; ? Blind Parents: Deborah Kent Stein, Chairperson; ? Blind Professional Journalists: Elizabeth Campbell and Bryan Bashin, Co-Chairpersons; ? Educators of Blind Children: Gail Wagner, Chairperson; ? Geordi's Engineers: Lorraine Rovig, Chairperson; ? Legislative Initiatives Discussion: Don Burns, Coordinator; ? Living History: Michael Freholm, Chairperson; ? NFB Ham Radio: D. Curtis Willoughby, Chairperson; ? NFB in Judaism: David Stayer, Chairperson; ? NFB Lions: Ramona Walhof and Milton Ota, Co-Chairpersons; ? Orientation and Mobility: Edward C. Bell, Chairperson; ? Professionals in Blindness Education: Heather Field, Chairperson; ? Webmasters: Gary Wunder, Chairperson. CONVENTION AGENDA Whozit FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2009 7:30 - 8:45 am?HAM RADIO GROUP EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Raphael Room, Level 4 Discuss hotel frequencies and architectural features and distributing special FM receivers for the hearing-impaired and Spanish-speaking attendees. D. Curtis Willoughby (KA0VBA), Chairperson 7:45 am - 6:30 pm?THE FUTURE IS OURS AND THEIRS Parent, Rehabilitation, and Orientation & Mobility Joint Conference for Families and Rehabilitation Professionals (7:45 - 8:45 am?Registration and coffee; 12:00 to 2:00 pm?NBPCB Awards Luncheon, Ambassador Three Ballroom) Ambassador One Ballroom, Level 3 NOPBC Fees: Adults $30; Youth (13-18) $20; Children (5-12) $10 NABRP Fees (includes lunch): Students $75; Professionals $100 Note: Conference admission included with either registration above. Sponsors: National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC); National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB); National Association of Blind Rehabilitation Professionals (NABRP); and the Professional Development & Research Institute on Blindness (PDRIB) at the Louisiana Tech University. Chairpersons: Carol Castellano and Edward Bell 8:00 am - 4:30 pm?PROFESSIONALS IN BLINDNESS EDUCATION Duluth B Room, Level 5 Heather Field, Chairperson 8:30 am?NFB CAMP: IT?S MORE THAN CHILD?S PLAY (CHILD CARE) Marquette A and B Rooms, Level 5 Please see ?Special Attention? section of agenda for further information. (Preregistration by June 15 was required.) 8:30 - 11:30 am?WHAT?S NEW IN JAWS 10 AND MAGic 11, AND A FIRST LOOK AT JAWS 11?FREEDOM SCIENTIFIC, INC. Mackinac East Ballroom, Level 5 Join Eric Damery, JAWS Product Manager, for an exciting and informative session covering all of the new details surrounding JAWS and MAGic development. This will also be the first look at JAWS 11 scheduled for public beta in August and includes a demo of Windows 7. Bring questions! Whozit FRIDAY, JULY 3, Continued 8:30 am - 5:00 pm?IBTC?S ACCESS TECHNOLOGY SEMINARS Mackinac West Ballroom, Level 5 8:30 - 10:00 am?Mobile productivity on cell phones. 10:30 am - noon?Create DAISY books from your desktop. 1:30 - 3:00 pm?Web 2.0 features with screen access software. 3:30 - 5:00 pm?Lesser-known names in screen access software. 9:00 am - 12:00 noon?GW MICRO: BRAILLE SENSE PLUS AND VOICE SENSE?Registration $10; Refreshments provided. Nicolet A Room, Level 5 The Braille Sense Plus is the lightest note taker with a 32-cell Braille display, and the Voice Sense is the smallest note taker. Learn about the features of GW note takers including the GW Sense Navigation GPS. Presenters: Raul Gallegos and Chris Park. To register, call (260) 489-3671. 9:00 am - 5:00 pm?NFB YOUTH TRACK SESSIONS (ages 14-18) Sponsored by NFB Jernigan Institute; Mary Jo Thorpe, Coordinator Ambassador One Ballroom, Level 3 9:00 - 10:15 am?PARENTS-REHAB SEMINAR Cascade B Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott 10:30 am - 12:00 noon?ALL ABOUT ME Help shape the future of youth outreach for the NFB. 2:00 - 3:00 pm?BACK & BICEPS, CHEST & TRICEPS Learn the ?ropes? about working out in a gym. 3:30 - 5:00 pm?ME AND YOUTUBE An interactive YouTube activity for teens. 9:00 am - 10:00 pm?NFB-NEWSLINE? PRESENTATIONS Room 6401, 60th floor 9:00-11:00 am, 2:00-6:00 pm, and 8:30-10:00 pm?Learn about NEWSLINE In Your Pocket, Web News on Demand, and other new features. 11:30 am -1:30 pm?Affiliate presidents? gathering. Learn about NFB- NEWSLINE Online and how to promote NEWSLINE. 6:30 - 8:00 pm?Exhibit for parents and their blind children (ages 10+). Whozit FRIDAY, JULY 3, Continued 10:00 am - 5:00 pm?EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE SEMINAR Richard B Room, Level 5 10:00 am?Registration; 10:30 am?Seminar begins Key strategies for job hunting: How? Where? What? Remember, innovation and authenticity produce abundant opportunities. Gain the secrets of obtaining and maintaining employment. Buna Dahal, Chairperson 10:15 am - 12:00 noon?NOPBC BRAILLE CARNIVAL (ages 5-13) Ambassador Two Ballroom, Level 3 1:00 - 3:00 pm?PAC MATE, BEYOND NOTE TAKING?FREEDOM SCIENTIFIC, INC. Mackinac East Ballroom, Level 5 Join Jonathan Mosen as we explore the power of PAC Mate Omni, from beaming your KNFB Reader Mobile documents to be read in Braille, to watching TV right from your PAC Mate Omni. See our new StreetTalk VIP GPS solution in action. 1:00 - 3:00 pm?WRITERS DIVISION WORKSHOP ($5.00 fee) Room 6405, 60th floor Visit with a published author. Robert Leslie Newman, President 1:00 - 4:00 pm?SWIM CLINIC; SPORTS & REC DIVISION Pool, Courtyard Marriott Annie Sawicki, part of the AdapTap team (that designed an award-winning device by blind swimmers), is conducting a swimming workshop. Take a break with a cool dip in the pool. Lisamaria Martinez, President 1:00 - 5:00 pm?HUMANWARE PRODUCT SHOWCASE AND USER GROUPS LaSalle A and B Rooms, Level 5 Sessions: 1:00 Breeze; 2:00 BrailleNote; 3:00 Stream; 4:00 Mobile Devices Join HumanWare and other users to learn about recent updates and share product tips. Ask questions and give us your suggestions for your favorite HumanWare product. Door Prizes for every session! 1:30 - 2:45 pm?knfbReader MOBILE DEMONSTRATION & TRAINING Greco Room, Level 4 Use your cell phone to read print?it?s really that simple! Come and learn how this fabulous, life-changing technology can work for you. Go totally mobile and join the reading revolution today! Whozit FRIDAY, JULY 3, Continued 2:00 - 3:30 pm?NOPBC CONCURRENT SESSIONS FOR PARENTS One-Two Buckle My Shoe, Three-Four Out the Door Cascade A Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Developmental timelines from preschool through elementary. Instructors: Debbi Head, Heather Field, Annee Hartzell Show Me the Technology: Middle School/High School Renoir Room, Level 4 What is needed, how to work with the school to get it, and what to do when all else fails. Instructors: Dr. Matt Maurer and Al Lovati Literacy for All Skyline B Room, Courtyard Marriott Large print? Braille? Both? How to tell what is best for your child. Great Expectations: Mobility Instruction and Blind Children with Additional Disabilities Skyline A Room, Courtyard Marriott High expectations, real life goals, and how to achieve them in the area of independent travel. Instructor: Denise Mackenstadt 2:00 - 5:00 pm?NOPBC TRIP TO PENRICKTON CENTER Meeting place to be announced Parents of children with significant multiple disabilities can visit this center which uses the Active Learning techniques of Lilli Nielsen. 2:00 - 5:00 pm?NOPBC SESSIONS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH (Note to parents: Volunteers will accompany the children from one workshop to the other.) Not-so-mad Scientists: Hands-on Chemistry Experiments: Cascade D Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Instructors: Dr. Andrew Greenberg, Cary Supalo, Marilyn Winograd, and Dr. Lillian Rankel 2:00 ? 3:30 pm?For Kindergarten through Grade 5 3:30 ? 5:00 pm?For Grades 6 through 12 Whozit FRIDAY, JULY 3, Continued NOPBC SESSIONS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH, Cont?d. Tactile Drawings and Representations: Cascade C Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Instructors: Ann Cunningham and Debbie Kent Stein 2:00 ? 3:30 pm?For Grades 6 through 12 3:30 ? 5:00 pm?For Kindergarten through Grade 5 2:00 - 5:00 pm?GW MICRO: WINDOW-EYES TRAINING (Registration $10; Refreshments provided) Nicolet A Room, Level 5 Explore the power of Window-Eyes with advanced scripting support, Office 2007, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. Come to see the best support for the Internet in a screen reader. Presenters: Raul Gallegos and Chris Park. To register, call (260) 489-3671. 2:00 - 7:00 pm?KRAFTERS KORNER Richard A Room, Level 5 Meet some talented Federation crafters and purchase their beautiful hand-made items for sale. Joyce Kane, Krafters Division President 3:00 - 4:30 pm?MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR JERNIGAN INSTITUTE (Workshop One; Workshop Two is on Saturday at 4:00 pm) Brul? A Room, Level 5 Attendees will learn the latest information about the Institute and about how they can utilize its programs to build the organization at the local level. We expect the discussion to spark new, imaginative ideas for future programs. Led by Mark Riccobono, Jernigan Institute Executive Director. 3:00 - 4:45 pm? knfbReader MOBILE DEMONSTRATION & TRAINING Greco Room, Level 4 Use your cell phone to read print?it?s really that simple! Come and learn how this fabulous, life-changing technology can work for you. Go totally mobile and join the reading revolution today! 3:00 - 5:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOC. OF BLIND ENTREPRENEURS Brul? B Room, Level 5 James R. Bonerbo, President Whozit FRIDAY, JULY 3, Continued 3:30 - 4:50 pm?NOPBC CONCURRENT SESSIONS FOR PARENTS Access for Everyone Skyline A Room, Courtyard Marriott Learn how blind and low-vision children of all abilities can access education and information in school and in the world. Instructor: Dr. Denise Robinson Braille Music for Dummies Skyline B Room, Courtyard Marriott Just enough to stay one step ahead of the kids. Instructors: Jennifer Dunnam and Kyle Conley Spaghetti, Meatballs, and Birthday Parties Cascade A Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Manners, cafeterias, games, playgrounds, and friends (Pre-K and Elementary) Instructors: Debbi Head and Emily Gibbs Bring Me to the Mall?Text Me Later Renoir Room, Level 4 Manners, food courts, and friends (middle and high school) Instructors: Eric Guillory and Deja Powell 5:00 - 6:30 pm?PARENTS AND REHABILITATION PROFESSIONALS JOINT CONFERENCE RECEPTION Ambassador Three Ballroom, Level 3 6:00 - 10:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GUIDE DOG USERS BUSINESS MEETING Mackinac West Ballroom, Level 5 6:00 pm?Registration; 7:00 pm?Meeting begins Topics: airline emergency procedures and evacuation; creating and growing state associations of guide dog users; and protecting the rights of guide dog users through advocacy and education. Marion Gwizdala, President Whozit FRIDAY, JULY 3, Continued 6:30 - 10:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND OFFICE PROFESSIONALS Renoir Room, Level 4 6:30 pm?Registration; 7:00 pm?Meeting begins Featuring a hands-on Braille proofreading workshop. Guest speaker is from Seedlings Braille Books for Children. Lisa Hall, President 7:30 - 10:00 pm?NOPBC FAMILY HOSPITALITY NIGHT Cascade D Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Drop in, relax, and chat in an informal atmosphere. 8:00 - 10:00 pm?NFB LIONS GROUP Room 6405, 60th floor NFB members who are also Lions are urged to meet to share ideas and experiences. Co-Chairpersons: Ramona Walhof and Milton Ota 8:00 - 10:00 pm?ROOKIE ROUNDUP RECEPTION?GAINING INSIGHT FOR FIRST-TIMERS Ambassador One Ballroom, Level 3 First-time conventioneers, don't miss this event! President Maurer and former rookies will be on hand to welcome you and answer questions. Coordinator: Pam Allen, Director of the Louisiana Center for the Blind and President of the NFB of Louisiana 8:00 pm - midnight?KARAOKE NIGHT Ambassador Two Ballroom, Level 3 Admission: $5.00. You'll have a great time. Braille song lists available. Hosted by BLIND, Incorporated 9:00 - 10:00 pm?NFB AMBASSADORS COMMITTEE MEETING Greco Room, Level 4 Angela Wolf, Chairperson Whozit SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009 9:00 am - 5:00 pm?REGISTRATION ($20); BANQUET TICKET SALES ($40); Renaissance Foyer, Level 4 9:00 am 5:00 pm?EXHIBITS AND NFB INDEPENDENCE MARKET AND LITERATURE?Ontario Exhibit Hall, Level 3 1:00 - 3:00 pm?WHAT?S NEW WITH NFB-NEWSLINE? Mackinac West Ballroom, Level 5 Presentational seminar about the world?s largest audible newspaper service for the blind and visually impaired. Topics cover newest online initiatives and improvements to the service. 1:00 - 5:00 pm?EXPLORING THE LATEST INNOVATIONS IN MOBILE REFRESHABLE BRAILLE AND TACTILE GRAPHICS TECHNOLOGIES Richard A Room, Level 5 1:00-2:00?ALVA Braille Controller: more than just a Braille display. 2:00-3:00?Talking Tactile Tablet: exploring tactile images, interactive games. 3:00-4:00?Reading On the Go!: read books, texts, etc. using a cell phone. 4:00-5:00?Mobile Geo: a new GPS solution for accessible cell phones. Larry Lewis, President, Flying Blind, Inc. 1:00 - 5:00 pm?NATIONAL CERTIFICATION IN LITERARY BRAILLE (NCLB) OFFICIAL EXAMINATION?SECTIONS ONE AND TWO Ambassador Three Ballroom, Level 3 Participants must have preregistered. Exam Sections Three and Four are on Sunday, July 5 (see agenda listing). Sponsored by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board 1:30 pm?RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE Renaissance Cartier Ballroom, Level 4 Sharon Maneki, Chairperson 1:30 - 2:45 pm? knfbReader MOBILE DEMONSTRATION & TRAINING Greco Room, Level 4 Use your cell phone to read print?it?s really that simple! Come and learn how this fabulous, life-changing technology can work for you. Go totally mobile and join the reading revolution today! Whozit SATURDAY, JULY 4, Continued 2:00 - 5:00 pm?NOPBC SESSIONS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH Braille Beats Cascade D Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Kids get into Braille music in a fun way. Instructor: Kyle Conely 2:00 ? 3:30 pm?For Kindergarten through Grade 5 3:30 ? 5:00 pm?For Grades 6 through 12 You Want to Move It, Move It Cascade A Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Judo expert Lisamaria Martinez and friends get you moving! 2:00 ? 3:30 pm?For Grades 6 through 12 3:30 ? 5:00 pm?For Kindergarten through Grade 5 2:30 - 4:30 pm?TRAVEL AND TOURISM DIVISION Raphael Room, Level 4 Don Gillmore, President 3:00 - 4:45 pm?knfbReader MOBILE DEMONSTRATION & TRAINING Greco Room, Level 4 Use your cell phone to read print?it?s really that simple! Come and learn how this fabulous, life-changing technology can work for you. Go totally mobile and join the reading revolution today! 3:30 - 10:00 pm?NFB-NEWSLINE? PRESENTATIONS Room 6401, 60th floor 3:30-6:00 pm and 8:30-10:00 pm?Learn about NEWSLINE In Your Pocket, Web News on Demand, and other new features. 6:30-8:00 pm?Gathering for professionals in the field of work with the blind for an evening of presentations and possibilities. 4:00 - 5:30 pm?MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR JERNIGAN INSTITUTE Duluth B Room, Level 5 Attendees will learn the latest information about the Institute and about how they can utilize its programs to build the organization at the local level. We expect the discussion to spark new, imaginative ideas for future programs. Led by Mark Riccobono, Jernigan Institute Executive Director. Whozit SATURDAY, JULY 4, Continued 4:00 - 6:00 pm?SPANISH SEMINAR Brul? B Room, Level 5 Conducted entirely in Spanish. Learn about the Federation, hear from some of our leaders, and network with other Hispanic members. Facilitators: Rosy Carranza and A.Z. Martinez 4:30 - 5:30 pm?WAL-MART AND NFB JERNIGAN INSTITUTE: FUTURE INNOVATIONS FORUM Brul? A Room, Level 5 Join a town hall meeting on Equal Access at the Pharmacy Counter. Discuss emerging issues, best practices, and preferences as a blind or low-vision consumer. Influence future work through the NFB Jernigan Institute to encourage innovative Pharmacy practices and take the opportunity for the world's largest retailer to hear your voice. 4:30 - 6:00 pm?TWELFTH ANNUAL MOCK TRIAL?National Association of Blind Lawyers; Scott LaBarre, President Ambassador One Ballroom, Level 3 Admission: $5.00. Federation lawyers are pitted against each other reenacting an old Federation case with the audience serving as the jury. 6:00 - 7:30 pm?NEWSLETTER PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE DaVinci Room, Level 4 Covering state newsletters, formatting a good publication, and publishing in accessible formats. Norma Crosby, Chairperson 6:00 - 10:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND STUDENTS Ambassador Two Ballroom, Level 3 6:00 pm?Registration ($5.00) & Meet-and-Greet; 7:00 pm?Meeting Happy 42nd birthday to NABS! Remember to bring your contact information on a Brailled index card for registration. Terri Rupp, President 6:45 - 7:45 pm?IMAGINATION FUND TRAINING MEETING Greco Room, Level 4 Kevan Worley, Facilitator Whozit SATURDAY, JULY 4, Continued 7:00 - 8:30 pm?NFB AFFILIATE PRESIDENTS AND TREASURERS SEMINAR Nicolet A Room, Level 5 Affiliate presidents and treasurers are asked to attend this seminar about state financial programs, financial data, and planning the end of 2009 and beginning of 2010. Topics include: 990s, state charitable registrations, end-of-year preparations, and other issues. Facilitators: Bridgid Burke and Charlie Brown 7:00 - 8:30 pm?PUBLIC EMPLOYEES DIVISION Richard A Room, Level 5 Ivan Weich, President 7:00 - 9:00 pm?CLASSICS, ANTIQUES, AND RODS (CARS) DIVISION Renoir Room, Level 4 Joseph B. Naulty, President 7:00 - 9:00 pm??KEYS TO INDEPENDENCE,? NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND PIANO TECHNICIANS SEMINAR Ambassador One Ballroom, Level 3 Learn how to have a career in piano tuning and repair; it can enhance your independence. Don Mitchell, President 7:30 - 9:30 pm?MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE Duluth B Room, Level 5 The more we educate, the more we grow. Ron Gardner, Chairperson 7:30 - 10:00 pm?BLIND PARENTS GROUP Brul? B Room, Level 5 Deborah Kent Stein, Chairperson 8:00 - 9:00 pm?WHITE CANE AND AFFILIATE FINANCE COMMITTEE Raphael Room, Level 4 Alpidio Rol?n, Chairperson 8:00 - 9:30 pm?WEBMASTERS WORKSHOP Greco Room, Level 4 A meeting for all NFB affiliate and division Webmasters. Gary Wunder, Chairperson, Webmasters Group Whozit SATURDAY, JULY 4, Continued 8:00 - 10:00 pm?COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY SERVICES Duluth A Room, Level 5 David Hyde, Chairperson 9:00 - 10:00 pm?SPANISH TRANSLATION COMMITTEE Raphael Room, Level 4 Norman Gardner, Chairperson Whozit SUNDAY, JULY 5, 2009 7:15 - 8:15 am?ROMAN CATHOLIC MASS Ambassador One Ballroom, Level 3 Fr. Gregory Paul, C.P., Celebrant 8:00 am - 10:00 pm?NFB-NEWSLINE? PRESENTATIONS Room 6401, 60th floor 8:00-11:00 am, 1:30-5:30 pm, and 8:30-10:00 pm?Learn about NEWSLINE In Your Pocket, Web News on Demand, and other new features. 6:00-7:00 pm?Promotion, Evaluation, and Advancement of Technology Committee gathering. Learn about NFB-NEWSLINE?s revolutionary new online initiatives. 8:30 am - 5:00 pm?REGISTRATION ($20); BANQUET TICKET SALES ($40); Renaissance Foyer, Level 4 8:30 am 5:00 pm? EXHIBITS AND NFB INDEPENDENCE MARKET AND LITERATURE?Ontario Exhibit Hall, Level 3 9:00 11:30 am?NFB BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING (Open to all) Renaissance Ballroom, Level 4 11:45 am - 12:45 pm?THE DIVISION FOR ME?NFB YOUTH TRACK Greco Room, Level 4 A meet-and-greet with NFB division representatives. Coordinator: Mary Jo Thorpe. Co-sponsored by NOPBC and NFB Jernigan Institute. 11:45 am - 1:15 pm?CHURCH SERVICES FOR THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Ambassador One Ballroom, Level 3 12:00 noon - 2:00 pm?ROOKIE ROUNDUP GATHERING Affiliate Action Suite 6801 Attention rookies! Participate in a gathering of fun for first-time conventioneers. This is a great opportunity to meet new people and have your convention questions answered by experienced Federationists. Whozit SUNDAY, JULY 5, Continued 12:30 - 4:00 pm?DIABETES ACTION NETWORK FOR THE BLIND Mackinac East Ballroom, Level 5 12:30 pm ? Registration; 1:00 pm ? Meeting begins Keynote speaker is Ann S. Williams, PhD, RN, CDE, a diabetes educator with much experience with diabetic issues. Mike Freeman, President 12:30 - 5:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND LAWYERS Richard A Room, Level 5 12:30 pm ? Registration; 1:00 pm ? Meeting begins Examine laws affecting blind people and others with disabilities; address ongoing struggles to gain equal access to Web sites, employment, legal texts and exams. Scott LaBarre, President 12:30 - 5:00 pm?NFB IN COMPUTER SCIENCE LaSalle B Room, Level 5 12:30 pm ? Registration; 1:00 pm ? Meeting begins Discuss recent releases, concerns of information technology professionals, and other topics. Curtis Chong, President 12:30 - 5:00 pm??OVERCOMING OBSTACLES THROUGH COURAGE AND DETERMINATION??National Association of the Blind in Communities of Faith Cadillac A Room, Level 5 12:30 pm ? Registration; 1:00 pm ? Meeting begins; Tom Anderson, President 12:30 5:00 pm?REVOLUTIONIZING RANDOLPH-SHEPPARD NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND MERCHANTS MEETING Ambassador Two Ballroom, Level 3 12:30 pm ? Registration; 1:30 pm ? Meeting begins Those involved in the Randolph-Sheppard program or who operate a similar business discuss protection of the priority and the creation of new business opportunities and outreach. Kevan Worley, President 12:30 - 5:00 pm?SPORTS AND RECREATION DIVISION Skyline A Room, Courtyard Marriott 12:30 pm ? Registration; 1:00 pm ? Meeting begins Wear your sweats and come ready for hands-on presentations in yoga and much more! Lisamaria Martinez, President Whozit SUNDAY, JULY 5, Continued 12:45 - 4:30 pm?MIDDLE SCHOOL BIG ADVENTURE! (Ages 9-14) Meet (and return) at back of Cascade A and B Ballrooms, Courtyard Marriott Hang out as a group and have fun exploring with blind mentors Michael Freholm and Garrick Scott. 1:00 - 3:00 pm?BLIND PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS GROUP Duluth A Room, Level 5 Elizabeth Campbell, Chairperson 1:00 3:00 pm?CULTURAL EXCHANGE AND INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM COMMITTEE Duluth B Room, Level 5 Diane McGeorge, Chairperson 1:00 3:00 pm??GRABBING HEADLINES FOR YOUR AFFILIATE? SEMINAR?PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE Nicolet B Room, Level 5 Topics: locating press contacts; drafting press releases; developing relationships with reporters and editors; working effectively with the media. Barbara Pierce, Chairperson; Seminar conducted by Chris Danielsen and Jessica Freeh, NFB Public Relations 1:00 - 3:00 pm?NOPBC DIVISION ANNUAL MEETING: MAKING THEIR FUTURE DREAMS COME TRUE Cascade A and B Ballrooms, Courtyard Marriott Carol Castellano, President 1:00 - 4:00 pm?PERFORMING ARTS DIVISION DaVinci Room, Level 4 Unveiling the ?Music of the Movement? album. Hear from an artist recruiter about a media company paving the way for blind audio professionals. Dennis Holston, President 1:00 - 4:00 pm?WRITERS DIVISION BUSINESS MEETING Renoir Room, Level 4 Robert Leslie Newman, President Whozit SUNDAY, JULY 5, Continued 1:00 - 4:30 pm?NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF BLIND EDUCATORS Brul? B Room, Level 5 1:00 pm ? Registration; 1:30 pm ? Meeting begins Blind teachers discuss techniques they use in their classrooms; meeting in groups specific to grade level and content areas of interest to create a network of mentors. Sheila Koenig, President 1:00 - 5:00 pm?AUTO SHOW (CLASSICS, ANTIQUES, AND SPECIAL INTEREST VEHICLES) Location to be announced. Joe Naulty, CARS Division President 1:00 - 5:00 pm?NATIONAL CERTIFICATION IN LITERARY BRAILLE (NCLB) OFFICIAL EXAMINATION?SECTIONS THREE AND FOUR Cascade C and D Ballrooms, Courtyard Marriott Participants must have preregistered. Sponsored by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board 1:00 - 5:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND REHABILITATION PROFESSIONALS Brul? A Room, Level 5 1:00 pm ? Registration; 2:00 pm ? Meeting begins Network, share mutual interests, find placement strategies, and examine and discuss concerns and current issues. Melody Lindsey, President 1:00 - 5:00 pm??SENIORS IN CHARGE? NFB SENIORS DIVISION MEETING & (SOMEWHAT) SILENT AUCTION Mackinac West Ballroom, Level 5 Find out ways to spread our message of hope to newly blind seniors. We?re also having our popular not-so-silent auction. Judy Sanders, President 1:00 - 6:00 pm?HUMAN SERVICES DIVISION SEMINAR AND BUSINESS MEETING Nicolet A Room, Level 5 1:00 pm ? Registration; 2:00 pm ? Meeting begins; 5:00 pm ? Networking Psychologists, social workers, counselors, and music or dance therapists meeting to network and ask questions. Melissa Riccobono, President Whozit SUNDAY, JULY 5, Continued 1:30 - 4:45 pm?knfbReader MOBILE DEMONSTRATION & TRAINING Greco Room, Level 4 Session One: 1:30 - 2:45 pm; Session Two: 3:00 - 4:45 pm Use your cell phone to read print?it?s really that simple! Come and learn how this fabulous, life-changing technology can work for you. Go totally mobile and join the reading revolution today! 3:00 - 4:30 pm?NOPBC PARENT POWER WORKSHOP Cascade A and B Ballrooms, Courtyard Marriott Parent leaders from around the country share their experiences. Moderator: Barbara Mathews 3:15 - 4:45 pm?MEET THE BLIND MONTH ACTIVITIES AND OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS SEMINAR: PLANS AND ACTION EQUAL SUCCESS Duluth B Room, Level 5 October is ?Meet the Blind Month.? Find out about events that are entertaining and fun and encouraging chapters to try new types of fundraising and meet-and-greet events. Jerry Lazarus, NFB Jernigan Institute 5:00 - 6:30 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND LAWYERS RECEPTION Richard B Room, Level 5 For NABL members and seminar participants to promote networking and fellowship within our membership. Hors d'oeuvres and cash bar available. Scott LaBarre, President 5:00 - 7:00 pm?BRAILLE BOOK FLEA MARKET Ambassador Three Ballroom, Level 3 Happy Birthday, Louis Braille! Browse tables of new and used Braille and print/Braille books. UPS volunteers will ship the books to your home free of charge. Donations requested to support the Braille Readers are Leaders program. Cake and snacks for browsers. Cosponsored by NOPBC and NAPUB. Coordinator: Peggy Chong 5:00 - 8:00 pm?JUDO WORKSHOP; SPORTS & REC DIVISION Skyline B Room, Courtyard Marriott Join USA Judo and paralympian bronze medal winner Greg DeWall to learn about judo from people involved in the sport. See you on the mat! Lisamaria Martinez, President Whozit SUNDAY, JULY 5, Continued 5:30 - 7:00 pm?KURZWEIL 1000 USERS? MEETING Richard A Room, Level 5 Join the Kurzweil 1000 Users? Contingent! Meet with Steve Baum, Vice President of Engineering, and share some Kurzweil 1000 experiences. Kurzweil 1000 is our state-of-the-art, text-to-speech and life navigation software for blind and visually impaired readers. 5:30 - 7:30 pm?AGRICULTURE AND EQUESTRIAN DIVISION Duluth A Room, Level 5 Fred Chambers, President 6:00 - 10:00 pm?BACK TO BASICS: FOUNDATIONS IN MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER DEVELOPMENT Ambassador Two Ballroom, Level 3 Topics: running a purposeful chapter meeting, community projects and chapter fundraising, and weaving Federation philosophy into local meetings. NFB Affiliate Action Team 6:00 - 10:00 pm?DEAF BLIND DIVISION Nicolet B Room, Level 5 6:00 pm ? Registration; 7:00 pm ? Meeting begins Burnell Brown, President 6:00 - 10:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GUIDE DOG USERS SEMINAR 6:00 pm ? Registration; 7:00 pm ? Meeting begins Brul? A Room, Level 5 Topics: Islam, the Koran, and guide dogs; Training Centers and Guide Dogs: a panel discussion; and massage for dogs. You can also ?test drive? a guide dog! Marion Gwizdala, President 6:30 - 9:00 pm?ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TRAINERS DIVISION Renoir Room, Level 4 6:30 pm ? Registration; 7:00 pm ? Meeting begins Note-taking devices to recommend to clients and what to do about students who are seemingly ?unteachable.? Michael Barber, President Whozit SUNDAY, JULY 5, Continued 6:30 - 9:30 pm?SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING DIVISION Cascade A and B Ballrooms, Courtyard Marriott 6:30 pm ? Registration; 7:00 pm ? Meeting begins John Miller, President 7:00 - 8:30 pm?LIVING HISTORY GROUP Nicolet A Room, Level 5 Dedicated to recording, preserving, and appreciating Federation history. Michael Freholm, Chairperson 7:00 - 8:30 pm??SOMETIMES TRUTH REPELS? a play by Jerry Whittle (Admission: $5.00; Second Performance is at 9:00 pm) Ambassador One Ballroom, Level 3 A play about the teaching career of Louis Braille performed by the Louisiana Center for the Blind Players. Proceeds go to the Louisiana Center for the Blind?s summer training program for blind children. 7:00 - 9:00 pm?COMMITTEE TO EMPOWER UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS LaSalle B Room, Level 5 Ron Brown, Chairperson 7:00 - 9:00 pm?FEDERATION RE-GENERATION Duluth B Room, Level 5 Do you need to rejuvenate and kick-start your affiliate with fresh ideas? Re-generate! Get a new generation involved. Join the NFB Jernigan Institute Education Team to learn more about program possibilities. 7:00 - 9:00 pm?NFB KRAFTERS DIVISION BUSINESS MEETING Cadillac A Room, Level 5 Unveiling new craft initiatives, including plans for a new Web site and information on our Monday night nationwide chats. Joyce Kane, President 7:00 - 9:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION TO PROMOTE THE USE OF BRAILLE (NAPUB) SEMINAR Mackinac West Ballroom, Level 5 Celebrating Louis Braille?s 200th birthday! Receive information about the commemorative Louis Braille silver dollar, the NFB Share Braille Web site project, and more. Nadine Jacobson, President Whozit SUNDAY, JULY 5, Continued 7:00 - 9:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND VETERANS LaSalle A Room, Level 5 Guest speakers; reviewing access technology; unveiling the 2009 NABV pin. Pay dues and receive an NABV-3 shirt. Dwight Sayer, President 7:00 - 10:00 pm?MARCH FOR INDEPENDENCE MARCHER DROP-IN BRIEFINGS (THREE SEPARATE SESSIONS) Brul? B Room, Level 5 Session One: 7:00-8:00 pm; Session Two 8:00-9:00 pm; Session Three 9:00-10:00 pm. Drop in anytime and help us lead the 2009 March for Independence. Facilitator: Kevan Worley 7:30 - 9:00 pm?DADS? NIGHT OUT Contact Brad Weatherd for location All dads, sighted and blind, are welcome. Sponsored by the NOPBC 7:30 - 9:00 pm?NFB IN JUDAISM MEETING Room 6405, 60th Floor David Stayer, Chairperson 7:30 - 10:00 pm?COMMITTEE FOR THE PROMOTION, EVALUATION, AND ADVANCEMENT OF TECHNOLOGY; Gary Wunder, Chairperson Greco Room, Level 4 8:00 - 9:30 pm?MAKING BRAILLE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN Ambassador Three Ballroom, Level 3 Make Braille books at home that will inspire your child to read and explore. Sponsored by NOPBC. Instructors: Carlton Walker and Krystal Guillory 9:00 - 10:30 pm??SOMETIMES TRUTH REPELS,? a play by Jerry Whittle (Second Performance) Admission: $5.00 Ambassador One Ballroom, Level 3 A play about the teaching career of Louis Braille performed by the Louisiana Center for the Blind Players. Proceeds go to the Louisiana Center for the Blind?s summer training program for blind children. 9:30 - 10:30 pm?FRIENDS OF RECOVERY MEETING Raphael Room, Level 4 Coordinator: Gary Ray A group of Whozits marching together. MONDAY, JULY 6, 2009 6:45 am?MOTOR CITY MARCH FOR INDEPENDENCE RALLY! Please gather in the Wintergarden on Level A of the Detroit Marriott for a 7:00 am start. NOTE: Because of the March for Independence, there are no registration, devotions, Independence Market and Literature, or Exhibit Hall activities on Monday morning. ************************************************** OPENING GENERAL SESSION 9:30 am INVOCATION 9:35 am WELCOMING CEREMONIES 9:55 am CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM: VETERANS RECOGNIZED Dwight Sayer, President, National Association of Blind Veterans, National Federation of the Blind; Winter Gardens, Florida 10:05 am ROLL CALL OF STATES AND APPOINTMENT OF NOMINATING COMMITTEE 11:45 am REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS 12:00 pm ADJOURN ************************************************** 12:00 noon 12:30 pm and 1:30 - 2:00 pm?REGISTRATION ($20); FINAL BANQUET TICKET SALES ($40)?Renaissance Foyer, Level 4 12:00 noon 1:45 pm?EXHIBITS AND NFB INDEPENDENCE MARKET AND LITERATURE?Ontario Exhibit Hall, Level 3 12:00 noon - 1:30 pm?NFB CHAPTER PRESIDENTS MEETING AFFILIATE ACTION SUITE 6801 Informal gathering for NFB chapter presidents only to discuss issues of interest to Federationists at the grassroots level. Chapter presidents attending this convention should not miss this important meeting. Whozit MONDAY, JULY 6, Continued 12:15 - 2:00 pm?LOUISIANA CENTER FOR THE BLIND ALUMNI LUNCHEON Ambassador Three Ballroom, Level 3 Contact: Pam Allen, Director, Louisiana Center for the Blind ************************************************** GENERAL SESSION 2:00 pm CALL TO ORDER 2:05 pm PRESIDENTIAL REPORT, Marc Maurer 3:00 pm POLICIES TO ENHANCE EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSION, SAFETY, AND PRODUCTIVITY The Honorable John D. Dingell, Member of Congress, 15th Congressional District; Michigan 3:20 pm PROMOTING PEDESTRIAN SAFETY: A PRIORITY FOR MANUFACTURERS The Honorable Dave McCurdy, President and CEO, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers; McLean, Virginia 3:40 pm THE JOURNEY OF BRAILLE: FROM THE HANDS OF THE CREATOR TO EARTH ORBIT 4:00 pm THE VALUE OF A COIN, OF A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, AND OF A CLASS OF HUMAN BEINGS Fredric K. Schroeder, Ph.D., Research Professor, San Diego State University; Vienna, Virginia 4:25 pm PROVIDING THE FUNDAMENTAL TOOLS: BRAILLE BOOKS Brian A. McDonald, President, National Braille Press; Boston, Massachusetts 4:40 pm REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS 5:00 pm ADJOURN Whozit MONDAY, JULY 6, Continued 5:30 - 6:30 pm?NOMINATING COMMITTEE; Sharon Maneki, Chairperson Cadillac A Room, Level 5 6:00 - 8:00 pm?AFB INTRODUCES ACCESSIBLE WALKING DIRECTIONS AND NEW CareerConnect FEATURES Mackinac East Ballroom, Level 5 The American Foundation for the Blind?s reception introduces Mapquest Accessible Walking Directions and new CareerConnect offerings. Be the first to try a free on-line directions service. Join up as a CareerConnect leader or mentor. We look forward to reconnecting with old friends. 6:00 - 9:00 pm?INDOOR ROWING; SPORTS & REC DIVISION Skyline A and B Rooms, Courtyard Marriott Row your way into fitness and maintain a healthy lifestyle using an accessible rowing machine. Prizes plus plenty of fun! Lisamaria Martinez, President 6:30 - 8:00 pm?GUITAR SEMINAR LaSalle B Room, Level 5 Learn about the guitar; get advice from a professional musician, Cameron Strife; $5 donation. Presented by the NFB Performing Arts Division 6:30 - 10:00 pm?NFB-NEWSLINE? PRESENTATION Room 6401, 60th floor Drop by and learn about NEWSLINE In Your Pocket, Web News on Demand, and other new features. 7:00 - 8:30 pm?NOPBC CONCURRENT SESSIONS FOR PARENTS, REHAB PROFESSIONALS, AND INTERESTED OTHERS: IEPs: Evals, Goals, Strategies, the Law Cascade A Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Instructor: Carlton Walker The Science of Getting in on Science Cascade B Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Instructors: Cary Supalo, Marilyn Winograd, Dr. Lillian Rankel Mental Mapping: Using Environmental Sounds and Clues Cascade C Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Instructor: Daniel Kish Whozit MONDAY, JULY 6, Continued 7:00 - 8:30 pm?BOOKSHARE AT NFB MEMBER PARTY LaSalle A Room, Level 5 Enjoy snacks and refreshments while meeting the Bookshare staff. This is your opportunity to talk with us and share your ideas; we?re here to listen. Plan to have fun with contests, drawings, and interacting with your fellow members. We look forward to seeing you. 7:00 - 9:00 pm?BRAILLE READERS ARE LEADERS: THE INITIATIVE FOR CHANGE Duluth B Room, Level 5 One representative from each affiliate should attend this session. Help to ensure Braille literacy for all by learning about the exciting developments and discuss strategies for promoting Louis Braille bicentennial coins. 7:00 - 9:00 pm?MOVING LEGISLATION ON THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL SEMINAR Cadillac B Room, Level 5 Each affiliate should send one representative. Learn the best methods of increasing support for our legislative priorities. Changing lives through laws is our business. Led by Jesse Hartle, NFB Strategic Initiatives Staff 7:00 - 10:00 pm?A SPECIAL EVENING FOR SPONSOR-LEVEL EXHIBITORS Ontario Exhibit Hall, Level 3 The exhibit hall reopens for an evening dedicated solely to sponsor-level exhibitors. Come and bring a guest to say ?thank you? to our sponsors and to enjoy their interesting offers and demonstrations. Our convention sponsors are?Platinum: HumanWare and UPS; Gold: Deque Systems, Inc., Freedom Scientific, and Oracle; Silver: En-Vision America, Intel?, and Wal-Mart; Bronze: Adobe, Council of U.S. Dog Guide Schools (CUSDGS), IBM, Independent Living Aids (ILA), and Microsoft; Exhibit Hall: GW Micro, J&B Medical Supply, National Industries for the Blind, ReadHowYouWant, and Roche Diagnostics. 7:00 - 10:00 pm?NOPBC CHILDREN?S ACTIVITY (ages 5-13) A UNIVERSALLY FUN TIME Cascade D Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Drop in and explore the universe with Noreen Grice; volunteers led by Michael Freholm Whozit MONDAY, JULY 6, Continued 7:00 - midnight?NFB OF MICHIGAN HOSPITALITY DANCE Ambassador Ballroom, Level 3 ?There may be trouble ahead but while there?s moonlight and music and love and romance let?s face the music and dance!? Join our host affiliate to enjoy dancing or simply listening to some really good music. Entertainment provided by ?Nine,? a nine-piece band performing Motown, soul, classic rock, pop, and old standards. 7:30 - 8:30 pm?NFB YOUTH TRACK MEETINGS ME AND THE GOSSIP GIRLS (ages 14-18) Greco Room, Level 4 Girls?bring your questions and thoughts about makeup, dating, or just how to get more involved in your school. ME AND THE GUYS (ages 14-18) Renoir Room, Level 4 Guys?talk about cars, dating, school, or how to nail that perfect job to make a little extra money. 8:00 - 10:00 pm?COMMITTEE ON AUTOMOBILE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY (CAPS); Deborah Kent Stein, Chairperson Nicolet A Room, Level 5 8:30 - 10:00 pm?NOPBC CONCURRENT SESSIONS FOR PARENTS, REHAB PROFESSIONALS, AND INTERESTED OTHERS Pro to Pro to Parent to Para?Learn How Your Child?s ?Team? Can Work Together Cascade A Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Instructors: Dr. Denise Robinson and Gail Wagner Taking the Headaches Out of Adapting in Math Cascade B Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Instructors: Eric and Krystal Guillory Summer Jobs, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Volunteering Cascade C Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Instructor: Jan Bailey Whozit TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2009 7:30 - 8:15 am?DEVOTIONS Ambassador One Ballroom, Level 3 8:00 8:30 am?REGISTRATION ($20) Renaissance Foyer, Level 4 ************************************************** GENERAL SESSION 9:00 am INVOCATION 9:05 am FINANCIAL REPORT 10:00 am ELECTIONS 10:30 am EXPANDING ACCESS TO DIGITAL INFORMATION FOR THE BLIND Gilles Pepin, Chief Executive Officer, HumanWare; Drummondville, Canada 10:50 am A BLIND ATHLETE IN THE PARALYMPICS Tyler Merren, 2008 U.S. Paralympic Team Member, Men?s Goalball; Kalamazoo, Michigan 11:05 am DEVELOPMENTS AT THE FIRST EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND IN THE UNITED STATES, PERKINS Steven M. Rothstein, President, Perkins School for the Blind; Watertown, Massachusetts 11:25 am THE FEDERATION IN THE WORLD FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE WORLD BLIND UNION Maryanne Diamond, President, World Blind Union; Melbourne, Australia 11:40 am REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS 12:00 pm ADJOURN Whozit TUESDAY, JULY 7, Continued 12:00 noon 12:30 pm and 1:30 - 2:00 pm?REGISTRATION ($20) Renaissance Foyer, Level 4 12:00 noon 1:45 pm?EXHIBITS AND NFB INDEPENDENCE MARKET AND LITERATURE?(Final Time Period for Independence Market and Literature) Ontario Exhibit Hall, Level 3 ************************************************** GENERAL SESSION 2:00 pm CALL TO ORDER 2:05 pm STRATEGIC INITIATIVES REPORT John Par?, Executive Director for Strategic Initiatives, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland 2:35 pm REPORTS, RESOLUTIONS, AND OTHER BUSINESS 5:00 pm ADJOURN ************************************************** 6:00 - 10:00 pm?IT WASN'T ME, A MURDER MYSTERY AT THE CLUB Mackinac East Ballroom, Level 5 Play along as guests at a dance club while private investigators try to solve a murder. Early arrivers are assigned a character role to play for the evening. Latecomers won't be able to play along but are welcome to watch the game and enjoy the experience. Presented by NFB Youth Track. 6:30 - 9:00 pm?COLORADO CENTER FOR THE BLIND OPEN HOUSE Brul? A and B Rooms, Level 5 Discover how good training can change your life. Julie Deden, Director 6:30 - 9:30 pm?NOPBC CHILDREN?S ACTIVITY (Ages 5-14) WE WILL NOT LET CONVENTION ACQUAINTANCES BE FORGOT Cascade C Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Led by Michael Freholm Whozit TUESDAY, JULY 7, Continued 6:30 - 10:00 pm?NFB-NEWSLINE? PRESENTATION Room 6401, 60th floor Stop by and learn about NEWSLINE In Your Pocket, Web News on Demand, and other new features. 7:00 - 8:15 pm?knfbReader MOBILE DEMONSTRATION & TRAINING Greco Room, Level 4 Use your cell phone to read print?it?s really that simple! Come and learn how this fabulous, life-changing technology can work for you. Go totally mobile and join the reading revolution today! 7:00 - 8:30 pm?BLIND MUSICIANS GROUP BUSINESS MEETING Duluth B Room, Level 5 Linda Mentink, Chairperson 7:00 - 8:30 pm?NINTH ANNUAL RANDOLPH-SHEPPARD RECEPTION HOSTED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND MERCHANTS Richard B Room, Level 5 Socialize, network, and learn more about Randolph-Sheppard and other business opportunities we can create through our work in the NFB. Kevan Worley, President 7:00 - 9:00 pm?COUNCIL OF U.S. DOG GUIDE SCHOOLS (CUSDGS) RECEPTION Ambassador Three Ballroom, Level 3 Learn how a dog guide can impact your life from featured speaker Michael Hingson, a World Trade Center survivor. Meet representatives from participating schools and learn about their programs. You can even schedule a ?Juno? walk for later in the week. 7:00 9:00 pm??SOCIAL SECURITY AND SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME: WHAT APPLICANTS, ADVOCATES, AND RECIPIENTS SHOULD KNOW? SEMINAR Cadillac B Room, Level 5 Information on Social Security and SSI benefits, including the income subsidy program for those receiving the Medicare prescription drug benefit. Presenter: Dan Frye, Attorney and Associate Editor of the Braille Monitor Whozit TUESDAY, JULY 7, Continued 7:00 10:00 pm?EXHIBITS ONLY (Independence Market and Literature Closed)?Ontario Exhibit Hall, Level 3 7:00 - 11:00 pm?ANNUAL SHOWCASE OF TALENT?Admission $5.00 Ambassador One Ballroom, Level 3 Register early by contacting Beth Allred at the convention. Proceeds benefit the scholarship program in memory of Mary Ann Parks. Sponsored by the Performing Arts Division; Dennis Holston, President 7:00 - 11:00 pm?HUMANWARE LOW VISION PRODUCTS SEMINAR Nicolet B Room, Level 5 Come and learn about HumanWare?s exciting low vision products in a hands-on, interactive seminar: myReader 2 video magnifier; SmartView desktop units; portable handheld devices; and a distance viewing system. Presenter: Ed Wikdall 8:00 - 10:00 pm?COMMITTEE ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LaSalle A Room, Level 5 If you have an interest in new technologies and believe that spectacular accomplishments are possible when blind people themselves are involved?then join our meeting. Curtis Chong, Chairperson 8:00 - 11:30 pm?MONTE CARLO NIGHT Mackinac West Ballroom, Level 5 Try your luck at any of the usual card games found on a casino floor. Prizes go to the top three winners holding the most chips at the end of the evening. Sponsored by the National Association of Blind Students 8:30 - 9:45 pm?knfbReader MOBILE DEMONSTRATION & TRAINING Greco Room, Level 4 Use your cell phone to read print?it?s really that simple! Come and learn how this fabulous, life-changing technology can work for you. Go totally mobile and join the reading revolution today! 9:30 - 10:30 pm?FRIENDS OF RECOVERY MEETING Raphael Room, Level 4 Coordinator: Gary Ray Whozit WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2009 8:00 - 8:45 am?DEVOTIONS Ambassador One Ballroom, Level 3 8:30 9:00 am?REGISTRATION ($20)?Final opportunity to register. Renaissance Foyer, Level 4 ************************************************** GENERAL SESSION 9:00 am INVOCATION 9:05 am THE NEAR-PERFECT AUDIO BOOK: HOW WE DO IT Frank Kurt Cylke, Director, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress; Washington, D.C. Mary Beth Wise, Quality Assurance Specialist, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress; Washington, D.C. 9:25 am QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION 9:30 am THE DEMAND, THE CRISIS, THE SOLUTION IN EDUCATION FOR THE BLIND Edward Bell, Ph.D., Director, Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness, Louisiana Tech University; Ruston, Louisiana 9:45 am THE THEORY AND THE PRACTICE: EDUCATION FOR THE BLIND IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL Denise M. Robinson, Ph.D., Teacher and Coordinator of Programming for Blind and Visually Impaired Students; Yakima, Washington 10:00 am WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE THAT CHILD BLIND? Carol Castellano, President, National Organization of Parents of Blind Children, National Federation of the Blind; Madison, New Jersey Whozit WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, Continued 10:20 am TEACHING AN ESSENTIAL SKILL: BRAILLE Jerry Whittle, Teacher-Counselor, Louisiana Center for the Blind; Ruston, Louisiana April Davis, Coordinator of Summer Programs for Blind Children, Louisiana Center for the Blind; Ruston, Louisiana James Mays, Industrial Arts Teacher, Louisiana Center for the Blind; Ruston, Louisiana Deja Powell, Cane Travel Instructor, Utah Division of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired; Salt Lake City, Utah Anil Lewis, President, National Federation of the Blind of Georgia; Atlanta, Georgia Terri Rupp, President, National Federation of the Blind of Nevada; Las Vegas, Nevada 10:50 am FROM THE CENTER OF HISTORY: FIVE YEARS INTO THE FUTURE OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND JERNIGAN INSTITUTE Mark Riccobono, Executive Director, National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute; Baltimore, Maryland 11:10 am FRONTIER CAREERS FOR THE BLIND INCLUDE ENGINEERING Leigh R. Abts, Ph.D., Research Associate Professor of Engineering and Education, University of Maryland; College Park, Maryland 11:25 am NFB NEWSLINE: FROM PHONE TO COMPUTER TO PODCAST TO POCKET Scott White, Director of Sponsored Technology, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland 11:40 am REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS 12:00 pm ADJOURN Whozit WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, Continued 12:00 noon - 1:45 pm?HAM RADIO GROUP BUSINESS MEETING Raphael Room, Level 4 We will consider the amendment of the division constitution that we adopted last year. D. Curtis Willoughby (KA0VBA), Chairperson 12:00 noon - 1:45 pm?NFB CAMP TOY SALE Marquette A Room, Level 5 Everything must go?30 to 70 percent off toys purchased for NFB Camp. 12:00 noon - 1:45 pm?RAFFLES AND DRAWINGS LaSalle A Room, Level 5 12:15 - 1:45 pm?EVERYTHING YOU'VE EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE NLS Nicolet B Room, Level 5 A question-and-answer session with Frank Kurt Cylke, Director, and staff of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress. ************************************************** GENERAL SESSION 2:00 pm CALL TO ORDER 2:05 pm SHAPING THE STANDARD FOR THE LEGAL COMMUNITY: THE NECESSITY FOR ACCESS TO INFORMATION FOR ALL Daniel Goldstein, Esq., Partner, Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP; Baltimore, Maryland 2:25 pm NEGOTIATING ACCESSIBLE ELECTRONIC BOOKS: A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING, A SMASHING SUCCESS Jack Bernard, Esq., Chair, Counsel for Disability Concerns, and Assistant General Counsel, University of Michigan; Ann Arbor, Michigan 2:45 pm THE COMMITMENT OF MICROSOFT TO ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGY Rob Sinclair, Director of Accessibility, Microsoft Corporation; Redmond, Washington Whozit WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, Continued 3:05 pm TRANSCENDING THE BARRIERS OF YESTERDAY, ANTICIPATING THE ROMANCE OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE WITH THE TECHNOLOGY OF TOMORROW Ray Kurzweil, President and Chief Executive Officer, KNFB-Reading Technology, Inc.; Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts 3:25 pm REPRESENTING THE CITY OF CHICAGO Patti Chang, Esq., Senior Corporation Counsel, City of Chicago; Chicago, Illinois 3:45 pm DR. JACOB BOLOTIN AWARD Gary Wunder, Chairperson, Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award Committee, and Secretary, National Federation of the Blind; Columbia, Missouri 4:15 pm THE RIGHT OF THE PEDESTRIAN TO BE SAFE IN THE WORLD Ronald Medford, Acting Deputy Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Washington, D.C. 4:30 pm REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS 5:00 pm ADJOURN ************************************************** 7:00 pm?BANQUET Renaissance Ballroom, Level 4 INVOCATION MASTER OF CEREMONIES: Fredric K. Schroeder INTRODUCTIONS AND PRESENTATIONS BANQUET ADDRESS: Marc Maurer SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS 10:00 pm - midnight?AFTER BANQUET PARTY Ambassador Three Ballroom, Level 3 10:00 pm?SCIENCE FICTION MEETING All persons interested in science fiction and fantasy are welcome to join in an open discussion. Please contact Ed Meskys for room location. Whozit Thank You... The National Federation of the Blind would like to give a special thank you to VBrick Systems for donating the technology and Internet services to allow full streaming of all general sessions of the convention, the meeting of the board of directors, and the annual banquet. Through this contribution, more individuals will learn about the outstanding work that comes out of the largest gathering of the blind in the world. The National Federation of the Blind acknowledges with gratitude our Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Exhibit Hall Convention Sponsors below. Their messages follow. Platinum Sponsors: HumanWare UPS Gold Sponsors: Deque Systems, Inc. Freedom Scientific Oracle Silver Sponsors: En-Vision America Intel? Wal-Mart Bronze Sponsors: Adobe Council of U.S. Dog Guide Schools (CUSDGS) IBM Independent Living Aids (ILA) Microsoft Exhibit Hall Sponsors: GW Micro J&B Medical Supply National Industries for the Blind ReadHowYouWant Roche Diagnostics David Andrews and white cane Harry. From dandrews at visi.com Sat May 30 16:09:11 2009 From: dandrews at visi.com (David Andrews) Date: Sat, 30 May 2009 11:09:11 -0500 Subject: [Art_beyond_sight_learning_tools] Updated NFB National Convention Agenda Message-ID: Minor updates have been made to the 2009 NFB convention agenda. Please see below. In addition it was converted to text before being pasted in this e-mail message, so those of you who had e-mail problems with it previously shouldn't have them this time. If you wish to download the full Microsoft Word document, go to the link below. http://www.nfb.org/nfb/National_Convention.asp 2009 ANNUAL CONVENTION DETROIT, MICHIGAN JULY 3 to JULY 8 THE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF MICHIGAN WELCOME YOU TO THE 69th ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND Marc Maurer, President National Federation of the Blind 1800 Johnson Street Baltimore, Maryland 21230 Mary Ellen Jernigan Executive Director for Operations and Chairwoman, Convention Organization and Activities Fred Wurtzel, President National Federation of the Blind of Michigan 1212 North Foster Avenue Lansing, Michigan 48912-3309 Detroit Marriott? at the Renaissance Center Renaissance Center (313) 568-8000 Courtyard by Marriott? 333 E. Jefferson Avenue (313) 222-7700 DETROIT MARRIOTT The 69th annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind is being held in Michigan at the Detroit Marriott? at the Renaissance Center. As usual, our hotel rates are very good: singles and doubles $62, triples $66, and quads $68. In addition to the room rates, there is a 15 percent sales tax. There is no charge for children under eighteen in the room with parents as long as no extra bed is required. Proof of convention registration is necessary, including the showing of an NFB registration badge if requested. Otherwise, regular hotel rates must be paid. The Detroit Marriott is a seventy-two story round hotel in the middle of a larger complex of buildings known as the Renaissance Center. The lowest level is the Motor Lobby where people arriving by taxis and automobiles enter the hotel. There are bellmen at this entrance and elevators going directly to the main lobby of the hotel, which is located on Level Three. All hotel meeting rooms, ballrooms, and the exhibit hall are on Levels Three, Four, and Five. A bank of twelve elevators is located in the center of the hotel in a corridor oriented along the east-west axis of the building. The first six elevators at the west end of the corridor (three on each side) serve floors one, three, four, five, and forty through seventy. The next six elevators (three on each side) serve floors one, three, four, five, and nine through forty. Just beyond each end of the elevator corridor a set of escalators serves Levels Three, Four, and Five. To reach the main hotel lobby you should leave the elevator corridor heading west. The hotel restaurant (Forty-two Degrees North) and Volt (a bar which also serves an extensive array of food) can be entered from the main lobby. Many other food outlets including a large food court are located on Levels A, One, and Two in the Renaissance Center complex. The easiest way to exit the hotel proper into other parts of the Renaissance Center Complex is to use an escalator located near the Coach Insignia Restaurant elevator at the south end of Level Three of the hotel. The Detroit Marriott has a smoke-free policy. COURTYARD MARRIOTT The Courtyard Marriott is connected to Level Two of the Renaissance Center Complex by an enclosed overhead walkway. It may also be reached by leaving the Renaissance Center at Level One through the Jefferson Lobby. We are using both sleeping rooms and meeting space in the Courtyard Marriott. ?MOTOR CITY? MARCH FOR INDEPENDENCE: SUPPORTING OUR IMAGINATION FUND CAMPAIGN On Monday, July 6, we open the convention with our spectacular third March for Independence. Marching through downtown Detroit, we will celebrate our liberty among friends, family members, and supporters. Please gather for this fundraising and ?friend-raising? walk-a-thon and rally at 6:45 Monday morning in the Wintergarden on Level A of the Detroit Marriott. Most of the route is along the beautiful RiverWalk promenade and culminates with a rally in Rivard Plaza. Marcher drop-in briefing sessions are on Sunday, July 5, from 7:00 to 10:00 pm. Let?s walk together to make the Motor City March a truly magnificent event. NFB OF MICHIGAN HOSPITALITY DANCE! Our host affiliate invites you to celebrate with them by renewing old friendships and/or forming new ones on Monday, July 6, at 7:00 pm in the Ambassador Ballroom, Level 3. Entertainment by ?Nine,? a nine-piece band that will perform Motown, soul, classic rock, pop, and old standards?guaranteed to create an exciting atmosphere and stir pleasant memories. ROOKIE ROUNDUP All first-time convention attendees are cordially invited to attend a reception from 8:00 to 10:00 pm on Friday, July 3, in the Ambassador Ballroom One, Level 3. President Maurer and other Federation leaders will be on hand to welcome you to the convention and preview the week?s activities. Veteran conventioneers should urge all first-timers to attend this special event. Also, first-time rookies are invited to join an informal, fun gathering on Sunday, July 5, from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm in the Affiliate Action Suite 6801. REGISTRATION & PREREGISTRATION Registration activities take place in the Renaissance Foyer, Level 4 beginning at 9:00 am on Saturday, July 4; at 8:30 am on Sunday, July 5; and at other times as listed throughout the week. The fee for registration at convention is $20 per person (if you preregistered before May 31, the fee was $15), and all those attending the convention (both local and out of town people) are asked to register. Convention registration is a requirement for door prize eligibility and a number of other convention activities. We condition rates for hotel rooms on proof of registration, including the showing of an NFB registration badge if requested. Therefore, please register as soon as possible after arrival. EXHIBITS AND NFB INDEPENDENCE MARKET Exhibits and the NFB Independence Market are located in the Ontario Exhibit Hall, Level 3. The exhibit hall hours are: Saturday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Sunday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday Noon to 1:45 pm; sponsors only from 7:00-10:00 pm Tuesday Noon to 1:45 pm?Note: This is the final time that Independence Market and Literature will be open. Tuesday 7:00 to 10:00 pm?Exhibit Hall only; Independence Market and Literature closed) There is a special event for sponsor-level exhibitors only on Monday, July 6, from 7:00 to 10:00 pm (see ?Special Attention? section and agenda listing for more information). Sign up for NFB-NEWSLINE? at the NEWSLINE table, check the agenda for times to visit Room 6401 to learn about it, or call local number (313) 483-1147 to use NEWSLINE at convention. Any alterations in the general session schedule which may occur during the convention will result in conforming shifts in the exhibit schedule and will be announced in the exhibit areas. A number of affiliated NFB divisions and committees have tables. Many new electronic devices are demonstrated, as well as a special exhibit of materials and resources for the deaf-blind. MEETINGS General sessions of the convention are being held in the Renaissance Ballroom, Level 4 on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. The morning sessions convene at 9:30 am on Monday, and 9:00 am on Tuesday and Wednesday. The convention adjourns promptly at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, July 8. Please note that all requests for announcements by Dr. Maurer during general sessions must be submitted in Braille. BANQUET AND BANQUET TICKET EXCHANGE The banquet is being held in the Renaissance Ballroom, Level 4 at 7:00 pm, Wednesday, July 8. Banquet tickets purchased at convention are $40.00 (the cost was $35 if purchased before May 31) and are on sale during registration on Saturday and Sunday, and from noon to 12:30 and 1:30 to 2:00 pm on Monday. No banquet tickets will be available for purchase after Monday. It will be necessary to have your banquet ticket with you to attend the banquet; it will be collected at the banquet table. Arrangements should be made for reserved table assignments by taking the ticket(s) you purchase to the Banquet Exchange Table in the registration area, where you may exchange either an individual ticket or a group of tickets for reserved seating. Banquet tables seat ten people. RELIGIOUS SERVICES AND DEVOTIONS On Sunday, July 5, Fr. Gregory Paul, C.P., will celebrate a Roman Catholic Mass at 7:15 am in Ambassador Ballroom One, Level 3. Also on Sunday at 11:45 am services for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be held in Ambassador Ballroom One, Level 3. Devotional services will be held in Ambassador Ballroom One, Level 3, at 7:30 am on Tuesday, and 8:00 am on Wednesday. Please note there is no service on Monday morning. Services are nonsectarian and will end at least fifteen minutes prior to morning convention sessions. knfbReader MOBILE THE CELL PHONE THAT READS PRINT With the power of digital photography and unique cell phone software, reading print on the go wherever you are is now possible for blind people. Come and learn about this fabulous, life-changing technology in the exhibit hall and at demonstration and training sessions planned in the afternoon on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and in the evening on Tuesday. Go totally mobile and join the reading revolution today! SPECIAL ATTENTION IS CALLED TO THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ? A Federation Information Desk will be in the registration area from Saturday morning, July 4, through Wednesday, July 8, if you have questions or need assistance. The Michigan affiliate will also maintain a table near the hotel check in desk in the main lobby to provide assistance and hospitality during much of the convention. ? When you register, you will be given a badge. Please wear it at all times during the convention. ? The room number for the Presidential Suite is 7010. Someone will be on hand in the Presidential Suite throughout most of the convention to greet you and make appointments for you with the President or anyone else you wish to see. The Presidential Suite will not be open during the business sessions of the convention, the Sunday morning Board of Directors meeting, Monday morning (due to the Independence March), or the Wednesday evening banquet. Come to the Presidential Suite. You will be most welcome. ? The room number for Mary Ellen Jernigan, Chairwoman of Convention Organization and Activities, is 6910. Questions concerning hotel rooms, meeting rooms, banquet, scheduling, registration, and other matters dealing with convention arrangements should be referred to the Chairwoman of Convention Organization and Activities. ? Individuals needing to conduct business with the NFB Treasurer may do so by going to the DaVinci Room, Level 4 on Monday, July 6, between 5:30 and 7:30 pm, or on Tuesday, July 7, between 12:00 noon and 2:00 pm. ? The Michigan Suite (Fred Wurtzel, President) is 6805. ? The Affiliate Action and Rookie Activities Suite (Joanne Wilson and Pam Allen, Coordinators) is 6801. ? We are again offering NFB Camp (child-care services) for children six weeks through ten years of age in Marquette A and B Rooms, Level 5 during convention sessions, most meetings, and the banquet. Preregistration and payment by June 15 were required for NFB Camp. NFB Camp is organized and supervised by Carla McQuillan, the executive director of Main Street Montessori Association. Alison McQuillan, camp worker and teacher since 1998, is the activities director. Please note that NFB Camp provides morning and afternoon snacks, but parents are required to provide lunch for their child(ren) every day. Times listed are the opening and closing times for NFB Camp. A late fee of $10 will be assessed for all late pickups. NFB Camp hours: Friday, 7/3 8:30 am to 5:30 pm Saturday, 7/4 Closed Sunday, 7/5 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:00 to 5:30 pm Monday, 7/6 9:00 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 to 5:30 pm Tuesday, 7/7 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 to 5:30 pm Wednesday, 7/8 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 1:30 to 5:30 pm Banquet 7/8 6:30 pm to 30 minutes after closing ? A Special Evening For Sponsor-Level Exhibitors: Again this year, the exhibit hall will reopen from 7:00 to 10:00 pm on Monday, July 6, for a very special evening dedicated solely to Sponsor-Level Exhibitors listed here. Come and bring a guest to say ?thank you? to our sponsors and to enjoy their interesting offers and demonstrations. Our convention sponsors are?Platinum: HumanWare and UPS; Gold: Deque Systems, Inc., Freedom Scientific, and Oracle; Silver: En-Vision America, Intel?, and Wal-Mart; Bronze: Adobe, Council of U.S. Dog Guide Schools (CUSDGS), IBM, Independent Living Aids (ILA), and Microsoft; Exhibit Hall: GW Micro, J&B Medical Supply, National Industries for the Blind, ReadHowYouWant, and Roche Diagnostics. ? The ever-popular Showcase of Talent is back again at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, July 7, presented by the Performing Arts Division. Admission price is $5.00. If you would like to participate in the Showcase, make sure to sign up early by contacting Beth Allred at the convention. ? Raffle tickets will not be sold in the registration area, and no raffles or other such drawings will take place during convention sessions or at the banquet. The single exception to this rule will be that national divisions may (if they request it in advance) conduct such drawings during the convention or at the banquet. LaSalle A Room, Level 5 will be set aside at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, July 8, for all other drawings. Any group or affiliate wishing to conduct drawings at this time (or any person wishing to know the winners) may go at noon on Wednesday to the LaSalle A Room. AFFILIATED DIVISIONS, COMMITTEES, AND GROUPS The Federation carries on its business through divisions, committees, and groups. The meetings of some of these have been scheduled for particular times and are listed in the agenda. Others have not been formally scheduled but will meet at the call of their chairpersons or presidents. If you have matters that you would like to discuss with any of the following divisions, committees, or groups, you should contact: Divisions: ? Agriculture and Equestrian: Fred Chambers, President; ? Assistive Technology Trainers: Michael Barber, President; ? Classics, Antiques, and Rods or Special Interest Vehicles (CARS): Joseph B. Naulty, President; ? Deaf-Blind: Burnell Brown, President; ? Diabetes Action Network for the Blind: Michael Freeman, President; ? Human Services: Melissa Riccobono, President; ? National Association of the Blind in Communities of Faith: Tom Anderson, President; ? National Association of Blind Entrepreneurs: James R. Bonerbo, President; ? National Association of Blind Lawyers: Scott LaBarre, President; ? National Association of Blind Merchants: Kevan Worley, President; ? National Association of Blind Office Professionals: Lisa Hall, President; ? National Association of Blind Piano Technicians: Don Mitchell, President; ? National Association of Blind Rehabilitation Professionals: Melody Lindsey, President; ? National Association of Blind Students: Terri Rupp, President; ? National Association of Blind Veterans: Dwight Sayer, President; ? National Association of Guide Dog Users: Marion Gwizdala, President; ? National Association to Promote the Use of Braille (NAPUB): Nadine Jacobson, President; ? National Federation of the Blind in Computer Science: Curtis Chong, President; ? National Federation of the Blind Krafters: Joyce Kane, President; ? National Federation of the Blind Seniors: Judy Sanders, President; ? National Organization of Blind Educators: Sheila Koenig, President; ? National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC): Carol Castellano, President; ? Performing Arts: Dennis Holston, President; ? Public Employees: Ivan Weich, President; ? Science and Engineering: John Miller, President; ? Sports and Recreation: Lisamaria Martinez, President; ? Travel and Tourism: Don Gillmore, President; ? Writers: Robert Leslie Newman, President. Committees: ? Ambassadors: Angela Wolf, Chairperson; ? Blind Educator of the Year Award: David Ticchi, Chairperson; ? Committee on Assistive Technology (COAT): Curtis Chong, Chairperson; ? Committee on Automobile and Pedestrian Safety (CAPS): Deborah Kent Stein, Chairperson; ? Committee to Empower Underserved Populations (CEUP): Ron Brown, Chairperson; ? Cultural Exchange and International Program: Diane McGeorge, Chairperson; ? Distinguished Educator of Blind Children Award: Joyce Scanlan, Chairperson; ? Employment: Buna Dahal, Chairperson; ? Imagination Fund: Kevan Worley, Chairperson; ? Jacobus tenBroek Award: Ramona Walhof, Chairperson; ? Jacobus tenBroek Memorial Fund: Tami Jones, Chairperson; ? Kenneth Jernigan Fund: Allen Harris, Chairperson; ? Library Services: David Hyde, Chairperson; ? Loan Fund: Donald C. Capps, Chairperson; ? Membership: Ron Gardner, Chairperson; ? Newel Perry Award: Allen Harris, Chairperson; ? Newsletter Publications: Norma Crosby, Chairperson; ? NFB-NEWSLINE? Program Steering: David DeNotaris, Chairperson; ? PAC Plan: Scott LaBarre, Chairperson; ? Planned Giving: John Halverson, Chairperson; ? Promotion, Evaluation, and Advancement of Technology: Gary Wunder, Chairperson; ? Public Relations: Barbara Pierce, Chairperson; ? Research and Development: Curtis Chong, Chairperson; ? Resolutions: Sharon Maneki, Chairperson; ? Scholarship: Anil Lewis, Chairperson; ? Shares Unlimited in NFB (SUN): Sandy Halverson, Chairperson; ? Spanish Translation: Norman Gardner, Chairperson; ? White Cane and Affiliate Finance: Alpidio Rol?n, Chairperson. Groups: ? Blind Musicians: Linda Mentink, Chairperson; ? Blind Parents: Deborah Kent Stein, Chairperson; ? Blind Professional Journalists: Elizabeth Campbell and Bryan Bashin, Co-Chairpersons; ? Educators of Blind Children: Gail Wagner, Chairperson; ? Geordi's Engineers: Lorraine Rovig, Chairperson; ? Legislative Initiatives Discussion: Don Burns, Coordinator; ? Living History: Michael Freholm, Chairperson; ? NFB Ham Radio: D. Curtis Willoughby, Chairperson; ? NFB in Judaism: David Stayer, Chairperson; ? NFB Lions: Ramona Walhof and Milton Ota, Co-Chairpersons; ? Orientation and Mobility: Edward C. Bell, Chairperson; ? Professionals in Blindness Education: Heather Field, Chairperson; ? Webmasters: Gary Wunder, Chairperson. CONVENTION AGENDA FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2009 7:30 - 8:45 am?HAM RADIO GROUP EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Raphael Room, Level 4 Discuss hotel frequencies and architectural features and distributing special FM receivers for the hearing-impaired and Spanish-speaking attendees. D. Curtis Willoughby (KA0VBA), Chairperson 7:45 am - 6:30 pm?THE FUTURE IS OURS AND THEIRS Parent, Rehabilitation, and Orientation & Mobility Joint Conference for Families and Rehabilitation Professionals (7:45 - 8:45 am?Registration and coffee; 12:00 to 2:00 pm?NBPCB Awards Luncheon, Ambassador Three Ballroom) Ambassador One Ballroom, Level 3 NOPBC Fees: Adults $30; Youth (13-18) $20; Children (5-12) $10 NABRP Fees (includes lunch): Students $75; Professionals $100 Note: Conference admission included with either registration above. Sponsors: National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC); National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB); National Association of Blind Rehabilitation Professionals (NABRP); and the Professional Development & Research Institute on Blindness (PDRIB) at the Louisiana Tech University. Chairpersons: Carol Castellano and Edward Bell 8:00 am - 4:30 pm?PROFESSIONALS IN BLINDNESS EDUCATION Duluth B Room, Level 5 Heather Field, Chairperson 8:30 am?NFB CAMP: IT?S MORE THAN CHILD?S PLAY (CHILD CARE) Marquette A and B Rooms, Level 5 Please see ?Special Attention? section of agenda for further information. (Preregistration by June 15 was required.) 8:30 - 11:30 am?WHAT?S NEW IN JAWS 10 AND MAGic 11, AND A FIRST LOOK AT JAWS 11?FREEDOM SCIENTIFIC, INC. Mackinac East Ballroom, Level 5 Join Eric Damery, JAWS Product Manager, for an exciting and informative session covering all of the new details surrounding JAWS and MAGic development. This will also be the first look at JAWS 11 scheduled for public beta in August and includes a demo of Windows 7. Bring questions! FRIDAY, JULY 3, Continued 8:30 am - 5:00 pm?IBTC?S ACCESS TECHNOLOGY SEMINARS Mackinac West Ballroom, Level 5 8:30 - 10:00 am?Mobile productivity on cell phones. 10:30 am - noon?Create DAISY books from your desktop. 1:30 - 3:00 pm?Web 2.0 features with screen access software. 3:30 - 5:00 pm?Lesser-known names in screen access software. 9:00 am - 12:00 noon?GW MICRO: BRAILLE SENSE PLUS AND VOICE SENSE?Registration $10; Refreshments provided. Nicolet A Room, Level 5 The Braille Sense Plus is the lightest note taker with a 32-cell Braille display, and the Voice Sense is the smallest note taker. Learn about the features of GW note takers including the GW Sense Navigation GPS. Presenters: Raul Gallegos and Chris Park. To register, call (260) 489-3671. 9:00 am - 5:00 pm?NFB YOUTH TRACK SESSIONS (ages 14-18) Sponsored by NFB Jernigan Institute; Mary Jo Thorpe, Coordinator Ambassador One Ballroom, Level 3 9:00 - 10:15 am?PARENTS-REHAB SEMINAR Cascade B Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott 10:30 am - 12:00 noon?ALL ABOUT ME Help shape the future of youth outreach for the NFB. 2:00 - 3:00 pm?BACK & BICEPS, CHEST & TRICEPS Learn the ?ropes? about working out in a gym. 3:30 - 5:00 pm?ME AND YOUTUBE An interactive YouTube activity for teens. 9:00 am - 10:00 pm?NFB-NEWSLINE? PRESENTATIONS Room 6401, 64th floor 9:00-11:00 am, 2:00-6:00 pm, and 8:30-10:00 pm?Learn about NEWSLINE In Your Pocket, Web News on Demand, and other new features. 11:30 am -1:30 pm?Affiliate presidents? gathering. Learn about NFB- NEWSLINE Online and how to promote NEWSLINE. 6:30 - 8:00 pm?Exhibit for parents and their blind children (ages 10+). FRIDAY, JULY 3, Continued 10:00 am - 5:00 pm?EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE SEMINAR Richard B Room, Level 5 10:00 am?Registration; 10:30 am?Seminar begins Key strategies for job hunting: How? Where? What? Remember, innovation and authenticity produce abundant opportunities. Gain the secrets of obtaining and maintaining employment. Buna Dahal, Chairperson 10:15 am - 12:00 noon?NOPBC BRAILLE CARNIVAL (ages 5-13) Ambassador Two Ballroom, Level 3 1:00 - 3:00 pm?PAC MATE, BEYOND NOTE TAKING?FREEDOM SCIENTIFIC, INC. Mackinac East Ballroom, Level 5 Join Jonathan Mosen as we explore the power of PAC Mate Omni, from beaming your KNFB Reader Mobile documents to be read in Braille, to watching TV right from your PAC Mate Omni. See our new StreetTalk VIP GPS solution in action. 1:00 - 3:00 pm?WRITERS DIVISION WORKSHOP ($5.00 fee) Room 6405, 64th floor Visit with a published author. Robert Leslie Newman, President 1:00 - 4:00 pm?SWIM CLINIC; SPORTS & REC DIVISION Pool, Courtyard Marriott Annie Sawicki, part of the AdapTap team (that designed an award-winning device by blind swimmers), is conducting a swimming workshop. Take a break with a cool dip in the pool. Lisamaria Martinez, President 1:00 - 5:00 pm?HUMANWARE PRODUCT SHOWCASE AND USER GROUPS LaSalle A and B Rooms, Level 5 Sessions: 1:00 Breeze; 2:00 BrailleNote; 3:00 Stream; 4:00 Mobile Devices Join HumanWare and other users to learn about recent updates and share product tips. Ask questions and give us your suggestions for your favorite HumanWare product. Door Prizes for every session! 1:30 - 2:45 pm?knfbReader MOBILE DEMONSTRATION & TRAINING Greco Room, Level 4 Use your cell phone to read print?it?s really that simple! Come and learn how this fabulous, life-changing technology can work for you. Go totally mobile and join the reading revolution today! FRIDAY, JULY 3, Continued 2:00 - 3:30 pm?NOPBC CONCURRENT SESSIONS FOR PARENTS One-Two Buckle My Shoe, Three-Four Out the Door Cascade A Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Developmental timelines from preschool through elementary. Instructors: Debbi Head, Heather Field, Annee Hartzell Show Me the Technology: Middle School/High School Renoir Room, Level 4 What is needed, how to work with the school to get it, and what to do when all else fails. Instructors: Dr. Matt Maurer and Al Lovati Literacy for All Skyline B Room, Courtyard Marriott Large print? Braille? Both? How to tell what is best for your child. Great Expectations: Mobility Instruction and Blind Children with Additional Disabilities Skyline A Room, Courtyard Marriott High expectations, real life goals, and how to achieve them in the area of independent travel. Instructor: Denise Mackenstadt 2:00 - 5:00 pm?NOPBC TRIP TO PENRICKTON CENTER Meeting place to be announced Parents of children with significant multiple disabilities can visit this center which uses the Active Learning techniques of Lilli Nielsen. 2:00 - 5:00 pm?NOPBC SESSIONS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH (Note to parents: Volunteers will accompany the children from one workshop to the other.) Not-so-mad Scientists: Hands-on Chemistry Experiments: Cascade D Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Instructors: Dr. Andrew Greenberg, Cary Supalo, Marilyn Winograd, and Dr. Lillian Rankel 2:00 ? 3:30 pm?For Kindergarten through Grade 5 3:30 ? 5:00 pm?For Grades 6 through 12 FRIDAY, JULY 3, Continued NOPBC SESSIONS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH, Cont?d. Tactile Drawings and Representations: Cascade C Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Instructors: Ann Cunningham and Debbie Kent Stein 2:00 ? 3:30 pm?For Grades 6 through 12 3:30 ? 5:00 pm?For Kindergarten through Grade 5 2:00 - 5:00 pm?GW MICRO: WINDOW-EYES TRAINING (Registration $10; Refreshments provided) Nicolet A Room, Level 5 Explore the power of Window-Eyes with advanced scripting support, Office 2007, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. Come to see the best support for the Internet in a screen reader. Presenters: Raul Gallegos and Chris Park. To register, call (260) 489-3671. 2:00 - 7:00 pm?KRAFTERS KORNER Richard A Room, Level 5 Meet some talented Federation crafters and purchase their beautiful hand-made items for sale. Joyce Kane, Krafters Division President 3:00 - 4:30 pm?MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR JERNIGAN INSTITUTE (Workshop One; Workshop Two is on Saturday at 4:00 pm) Brul? A Room, Level 5 Attendees will learn the latest information about the Institute and about how they can utilize its programs to build the organization at the local level. We expect the discussion to spark new, imaginative ideas for future programs. Led by Mark Riccobono, Jernigan Institute Executive Director. 3:00 - 4:45 pm? knfbReader MOBILE DEMONSTRATION & TRAINING Greco Room, Level 4 Use your cell phone to read print?it?s really that simple! Come and learn how this fabulous, life-changing technology can work for you. Go totally mobile and join the reading revolution today! 3:00 - 5:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOC. OF BLIND ENTREPRENEURS Brul? B Room, Level 5 James R. Bonerbo, President FRIDAY, JULY 3, Continued 3:30 - 4:50 pm?NOPBC CONCURRENT SESSIONS FOR PARENTS Access for Everyone Skyline A Room, Courtyard Marriott Learn how blind and low-vision children of all abilities can access education and information in school and in the world. Instructor: Dr. Denise Robinson Braille Music for Dummies Skyline B Room, Courtyard Marriott Just enough to stay one step ahead of the kids. Instructors: Jennifer Dunnam and Kyle Conley Spaghetti, Meatballs, and Birthday Parties Cascade A Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Manners, cafeterias, games, playgrounds, and friends (Pre-K and Elementary) Instructors: Debbi Head and Emily Gibbs Bring Me to the Mall?Text Me Later Renoir Room, Level 4 Manners, food courts, and friends (middle and high school) Instructors: Eric Guillory and Deja Powell 5:00 - 6:30 pm?PARENTS AND REHABILITATION PROFESSIONALS JOINT CONFERENCE RECEPTION Ambassador Three Ballroom, Level 3 6:00 - 10:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GUIDE DOG USERS BUSINESS MEETING Mackinac West Ballroom, Level 5 6:00 pm?Registration; 7:00 pm?Meeting begins Topics: airline emergency procedures and evacuation; creating and growing state associations of guide dog users; and protecting the rights of guide dog users through advocacy and education. Marion Gwizdala, President FRIDAY, JULY 3, Continued 6:30 - 10:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND OFFICE PROFESSIONALS Renoir Room, Level 4 6:30 pm?Registration; 7:00 pm?Meeting begins Featuring a hands-on Braille proofreading workshop. Guest speaker is from Seedlings Braille Books for Children. Lisa Hall, President 7:30 - 10:00 pm?NOPBC FAMILY HOSPITALITY NIGHT Cascade D Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Drop in, relax, and chat in an informal atmosphere. 8:00 - 10:00 pm?NFB LIONS GROUP Room 6405, 64th floor NFB members who are also Lions are urged to meet to share ideas and experiences. Co-Chairpersons: Ramona Walhof and Milton Ota 8:00 - 10:00 pm?ROOKIE ROUNDUP RECEPTION?GAINING INSIGHT FOR FIRST-TIMERS Ambassador One Ballroom, Level 3 First-time conventioneers, don't miss this event! President Maurer and former rookies will be on hand to welcome you and answer questions. Coordinator: Pam Allen, Director of the Louisiana Center for the Blind and President of the NFB of Louisiana 8:00 pm - midnight?KARAOKE NIGHT?? Ambassador Two Ballroom, Level 3 Admission: $5.00. You'll have a great time. Braille song lists available. Hosted by BLIND, Incorporated 9:00 - 10:00 pm?NFB AMBASSADORS COMMITTEE MEETING Greco Room, Level 4 Angela Wolf, Chairperson SATURDAY, JULY 4, 2009 9:00 am - 5:00 pm?REGISTRATION ($20); BANQUET TICKET SALES ($40); Renaissance Foyer, Level 4 9:00 am 5:00 pm?EXHIBITS AND NFB INDEPENDENCE MARKET AND LITERATURE?Ontario Exhibit Hall, Level 3 1:00 - 3:00 pm?WHAT?S NEW WITH NFB-NEWSLINE? Mackinac West Ballroom, Level 5 Presentational seminar about the world?s largest audible newspaper service for the blind and visually impaired. Topics cover newest online initiatives and improvements to the service. 1:00 - 5:00 pm?EXPLORING THE LATEST INNOVATIONS IN MOBILE REFRESHABLE BRAILLE AND TACTILE GRAPHICS TECHNOLOGIES Richard A Room, Level 5 1:00-2:00?ALVA Braille Controller: more than just a Braille display. 2:00-3:00?Talking Tactile Tablet: exploring tactile images, interactive games. 3:00-4:00?Reading On the Go!: read books, texts, etc. using a cell phone. 4:00-5:00?Mobile Geo: a new GPS solution for accessible cell phones. Larry Lewis, President, Flying Blind, Inc. 1:00 - 5:00 pm?NATIONAL CERTIFICATION IN LITERARY BRAILLE (NCLB) OFFICIAL EXAMINATION?SECTIONS ONE AND TWO Ambassador Three Ballroom, Level 3 Participants must have preregistered. Exam Sections Three and Four are on Sunday, July 5 (see agenda listing). Sponsored by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board 1:30 pm?RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE Renaissance Cartier Ballroom, Level 4 Sharon Maneki, Chairperson 1:30 - 2:45 pm? knfbReader MOBILE DEMONSTRATION & TRAINING Greco Room, Level 4 Use your cell phone to read print?it?s really that simple! Come and learn how this fabulous, life-changing technology can work for you. Go totally mobile and join the reading revolution today! SATURDAY, JULY 4, Continued 2:00 - 5:00 pm?NOPBC SESSIONS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH Braille Beats Cascade D Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Kids get into Braille music in a fun way. Instructor: Kyle Conley 2:00 ? 3:30 pm?For Kindergarten through Grade 5 3:30 ? 5:00 pm?For Grades 6 through 12 You Want to Move It, Move It Cascade A Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Judo expert Lisamaria Martinez and friends get you moving! 2:00 ? 3:30 pm?For Grades 6 through 12 3:30 ? 5:00 pm?For Kindergarten through Grade 5 2:30 - 4:30 pm?TRAVEL AND TOURISM DIVISION Raphael Room, Level 4 Don Gillmore, President 3:00 - 4:45 pm?knfbReader MOBILE DEMONSTRATION & TRAINING Greco Room, Level 4 Use your cell phone to read print?it?s really that simple! Come and learn how this fabulous, life-changing technology can work for you. Go totally mobile and join the reading revolution today! 3:30 - 10:00 pm?NFB-NEWSLINE? PRESENTATIONS Room 6401, 64th floor 3:30-6:00 pm and 8:30-10:00 pm?Learn about NEWSLINE In Your Pocket, Web News on Demand, and other new features. 6:30-8:00 pm?Gathering for professionals in the field of work with the blind for an evening of presentations and possibilities. 4:00 - 5:30 pm?MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR JERNIGAN INSTITUTE Duluth B Room, Level 5 Attendees will learn the latest information about the Institute and about how they can utilize its programs to build the organization at the local level. We expect the discussion to spark new, imaginative ideas for future programs. Led by Mark Riccobono, Jernigan Institute Executive Director. SATURDAY, JULY 4, Continued 4:00 - 6:00 pm?SPANISH SEMINAR Brul? B Room, Level 5 Conducted entirely in Spanish. Learn about the Federation, hear from some of our leaders, and network with other Hispanic members. Facilitators: Rosy Carranza and A.Z. Martinez 4:30 - 5:30 pm?WAL-MART AND NFB JERNIGAN INSTITUTE: FUTURE INNOVATIONS FORUM Brul? A Room, Level 5 Join a town hall meeting on Equal Access at the Pharmacy Counter. Discuss emerging issues, best practices, and preferences as a blind or low-vision consumer. Influence future work through the NFB Jernigan Institute to encourage innovative Pharmacy practices and take the opportunity for the world's largest retailer to hear your voice. 4:30 - 6:00 pm?TWELFTH ANNUAL MOCK TRIAL?National Association of Blind Lawyers; Scott LaBarre, President Ambassador One Ballroom, Level 3 Admission: $5.00. Federation lawyers are pitted against each other reenacting an old Federation case with the audience serving as the jury. 6:00 - 7:30 pm?NEWSLETTER PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE DaVinci Room, Level 4 Covering state newsletters, formatting a good publication, and publishing in accessible formats. Norma Crosby, Chairperson 6:00 - 10:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND STUDENTS Ambassador Two Ballroom, Level 3 6:00 pm?Registration ($5.00) & Meet-and-Greet; 7:00 pm?Meeting Happy 42nd birthday to NABS! Remember to bring your contact information on a Brailled index card for registration. Terri Rupp, President 6:45 - 7:45 pm?IMAGINATION FUND TRAINING MEETING Greco Room, Level 4 Kevan Worley, Facilitator SATURDAY, JULY 4, Continued 7:00 - 8:30 pm?NFB AFFILIATE PRESIDENTS AND TREASURERS SEMINAR Nicolet A Room, Level 5 Affiliate presidents and treasurers are asked to attend this seminar about state financial programs, financial data, and planning the end of 2009 and beginning of 2010. Topics include: 990s, state charitable registrations, end-of-year preparations, and other issues. Facilitators: Bridgid Burke and Charlie Brown 7:00 - 8:30 pm?PUBLIC EMPLOYEES DIVISION Richard A Room, Level 5 Ivan Weich, President 7:00 - 9:00 pm?CLASSICS, ANTIQUES, AND RODS (CARS) DIVISION Renoir Room, Level 4 Joseph B. Naulty, President 7:00 - 9:00 pm??KEYS TO INDEPENDENCE,? NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND PIANO TECHNICIANS SEMINAR Ambassador One Ballroom, Level 3 Learn how to have a career in piano tuning and repair; it can enhance your independence. Don Mitchell, President 7:30 - 9:30 pm?MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE Duluth B Room, Level 5 The more we educate, the more we grow. Ron Gardner, Chairperson 7:30 - 10:00 pm?BLIND PARENTS GROUP Brul? B Room, Level 5 Deborah Kent Stein, Chairperson 8:00 - 9:00 pm?WHITE CANE AND AFFILIATE FINANCE COMMITTEE Raphael Room, Level 4 Alpidio Rol?n, Chairperson 8:00 - 9:30 pm?WEBMASTERS WORKSHOP Greco Room, Level 4 A meeting for all NFB affiliate and division Webmasters. Gary Wunder, Chairperson, Webmasters Group SATURDAY, JULY 4, Continued 8:00 - 10:00 pm?COMMITTEE ON LIBRARY SERVICES Duluth A Room, Level 5 David Hyde, Chairperson 9:00 - 10:00 pm?SPANISH TRANSLATION COMMITTEE Raphael Room, Level 4 Norman Gardner, Chairperson SUNDAY, JULY 5, 2009 7:15 - 8:15 am?ROMAN CATHOLIC MASS Ambassador One Ballroom, Level 3 Fr. Gregory Paul, C.P., Celebrant 8:00 am - 10:00 pm?NFB-NEWSLINE? PRESENTATIONS Room 6401, 64th floor 8:00-11:00 am, 1:30-5:30 pm, and 8:30-10:00 pm?Learn about NEWSLINE In Your Pocket, Web News on Demand, and other new features. 6:00-7:00 pm?Promotion, Evaluation, and Advancement of Technology Committee gathering. Learn about NFB-NEWSLINE?s revolutionary new online initiatives. 8:30 am - 5:00 pm?REGISTRATION ($20); BANQUET TICKET SALES ($40); Renaissance Foyer, Level 4 8:30 am 5:00 pm? EXHIBITS AND NFB INDEPENDENCE MARKET AND LITERATURE?Ontario Exhibit Hall, Level 3 9:00 11:30 am?NFB BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING (Open to all) Renaissance Ballroom, Level 4 11:45 am - 12:45 pm?THE DIVISION FOR ME?NFB YOUTH TRACK Greco Room, Level 4 A meet-and-greet with NFB division representatives. Coordinator: Mary Jo Thorpe. Co-sponsored by NOPBC and NFB Jernigan Institute. 11:45 am - 1:15 pm?CHURCH SERVICES FOR THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Ambassador One Ballroom, Level 3 12:00 noon - 2:00 pm?ROOKIE ROUNDUP GATHERING Affiliate Action Suite 6801 Attention rookies! Participate in a gathering of fun for first-time conventioneers. This is a great opportunity to meet new people and have your convention questions answered by experienced Federationists. SUNDAY, JULY 5, Continued 12:30 - 4:00 pm?DIABETES ACTION NETWORK FOR THE BLIND Mackinac East Ballroom, Level 5 12:30 pm ? Registration; 1:00 pm ? Meeting begins Keynote speaker is Ann S. Williams, PhD, RN, CDE, a diabetes educator with much experience with diabetic issues. Mike Freeman, President 12:30 - 5:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND LAWYERS Richard A Room, Level 5 12:30 pm ? Registration; 1:00 pm ? Meeting begins Examine laws affecting blind people and others with disabilities; address ongoing struggles to gain equal access to Web sites, employment, legal texts and exams. Scott LaBarre, President 12:30 - 5:00 pm?NFB IN COMPUTER SCIENCE LaSalle B Room, Level 5 12:30 pm ? Registration; 1:00 pm ? Meeting begins Discuss recent releases, concerns of information technology professionals, and other topics. Curtis Chong, President 12:30 - 5:00 pm??OVERCOMING OBSTACLES THROUGH COURAGE AND DETERMINATION??National Association of the Blind in Communities of Faith Cadillac A Room, Level 5 12:30 pm ? Registration; 1:00 pm ? Meeting begins; Tom Anderson, President 12:30 5:00 pm?REVOLUTIONIZING RANDOLPH-SHEPPARD NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND MERCHANTS MEETING Ambassador Two Ballroom, Level 3 12:30 pm ? Registration; 1:30 pm ? Meeting begins Those involved in the Randolph-Sheppard program or who operate a similar business discuss protection of the priority and the creation of new business opportunities and outreach. Kevan Worley, President 12:30 - 5:00 pm?SPORTS AND RECREATION DIVISION Skyline A Room, Courtyard Marriott 12:30 pm ? Registration; 1:00 pm ? Meeting begins Wear your sweats and come ready for hands-on presentations in yoga and much more! Lisamaria Martinez, President SUNDAY, JULY 5, Continued 12:45 - 4:30 pm?MIDDLE SCHOOL BIG ADVENTURE! (Ages 9-14) Meet (and return) at back of Cascade A and B Ballrooms, Courtyard Marriott Hang out as a group and have fun exploring with blind mentors Michael Freholm and Garrick Scott. 1:00 - 3:00 pm?BLIND PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS GROUP Duluth A Room, Level 5 Elizabeth Campbell, Chairperson 1:00 3:00 pm?CULTURAL EXCHANGE AND INTERNATIONAL PROGRAM COMMITTEE Duluth B Room, Level 5 Diane McGeorge, Chairperson 1:00 3:00 pm??GRABBING HEADLINES FOR YOUR AFFILIATE? SEMINAR?PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE Nicolet B Room, Level 5 Topics: locating press contacts; drafting press releases; developing relationships with reporters and editors; working effectively with the media. Barbara Pierce, Chairperson; Seminar conducted by Chris Danielsen and Jessica Freeh, NFB Public Relations 1:00 - 3:00 pm?NOPBC DIVISION ANNUAL MEETING: MAKING THEIR FUTURE DREAMS COME TRUE Cascade A and B Ballrooms, Courtyard Marriott Carol Castellano, President 1:00 - 4:00 pm?PERFORMING ARTS DIVISION DaVinci Room, Level 4 Unveiling the ?Music of the Movement? album. Hear from an artist recruiter about a media company paving the way for blind audio professionals. Dennis Holston, President 1:00 - 4:00 pm?WRITERS DIVISION BUSINESS MEETING Renoir Room, Level 4 Robert Leslie Newman, President SUNDAY, JULY 5, Continued 1:00 - 4:30 pm?NATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF BLIND EDUCATORS Brul? B Room, Level 5 1:00 pm ? Registration; 1:30 pm ? Meeting begins Blind teachers discuss techniques they use in their classrooms; meeting in groups specific to grade level and content areas of interest to create a network of mentors. Sheila Koenig, President 1:00 - 5:00 pm?AUTO SHOW (CLASSICS, ANTIQUES, AND SPECIAL INTEREST VEHICLES) Location to be announced. Joe Naulty, CARS Division President 1:00 - 5:00 pm?NATIONAL CERTIFICATION IN LITERARY BRAILLE (NCLB) OFFICIAL EXAMINATION?SECTIONS THREE AND FOUR Cascade C and D Ballrooms, Courtyard Marriott Participants must have preregistered. Sponsored by the National Blindness Professional Certification Board 1:00 - 5:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND REHABILITATION PROFESSIONALS Brul? A Room, Level 5 1:00 pm ? Registration; 2:00 pm ? Meeting begins Network, share mutual interests, find placement strategies, and examine and discuss concerns and current issues. Melody Lindsey, President 1:00 - 5:00 pm??SENIORS IN CHARGE? NFB SENIORS DIVISION MEETING & (SOMEWHAT) SILENT AUCTION Mackinac West Ballroom, Level 5 Find out ways to spread our message of hope to newly blind seniors. We?re also having our popular not-so-silent auction. Judy Sanders, President 1:00 - 6:00 pm?HUMAN SERVICES DIVISION SEMINAR AND BUSINESS MEETING Nicolet A Room, Level 5 1:00 pm ? Registration; 2:00 pm ? Meeting begins; 5:00 pm ? Networking Psychologists, social workers, counselors, and music or dance therapists meeting to network and ask questions. Melissa Riccobono, President SUNDAY, JULY 5, Continued 1:30 - 4:45 pm?knfbReader MOBILE DEMONSTRATION & TRAINING Greco Room, Level 4 Session One: 1:30 - 2:45 pm; Session Two: 3:00 - 4:45 pm Use your cell phone to read print?it?s really that simple! Come and learn how this fabulous, life-changing technology can work for you. Go totally mobile and join the reading revolution today! 3:00 - 4:30 pm?NOPBC PARENT POWER WORKSHOP Cascade A and B Ballrooms, Courtyard Marriott Parent leaders from around the country share their experiences. Moderator: Barbara Mathews 3:15 - 4:45 pm?MEET THE BLIND MONTH ACTIVITIES AND OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS SEMINAR: PLANS AND ACTION EQUAL SUCCESS Duluth B Room, Level 5 October is ?Meet the Blind Month.? Find out about events that are entertaining and fun and encouraging chapters to try new types of fundraising and meet-and-greet events. Jerry Lazarus, NFB Jernigan Institute 5:00 - 6:30 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND LAWYERS RECEPTION Richard B Room, Level 5 For NABL members and seminar participants to promote networking and fellowship within our membership. Hors d'oeuvres and cash bar available. Scott LaBarre, President 5:00 - 7:00 pm?BRAILLE BOOK FLEA MARKET Ambassador Three Ballroom, Level 3 Happy Birthday, Louis Braille! Browse tables of new and used Braille and print/Braille books. UPS volunteers will ship the books to your home free of charge. Donations requested to support the Braille Readers are Leaders program. Cake and snacks for browsers. Cosponsored by NOPBC and NAPUB. Coordinator: Peggy Chong 5:00 - 8:00 pm?JUDO WORKSHOP; SPORTS & REC DIVISION Skyline B Room, Courtyard Marriott Join USA Judo and paralympian bronze medal winner Greg DeWall to learn about judo from people involved in the sport. See you on the mat! Lisamaria Martinez, President SUNDAY, JULY 5, Continued 5:30 - 7:00 pm?KURZWEIL 1000 USERS? MEETING Richard A Room, Level 5 Join the Kurzweil 1000 Users? Contingent! Meet with Steve Baum, Vice President of Engineering, and share some Kurzweil 1000 experiences. Kurzweil 1000 is our state-of-the-art, text-to-speech and life navigation software for blind and visually impaired readers. 5:30 - 7:30 pm?AGRICULTURE AND EQUESTRIAN DIVISION Duluth A Room, Level 5 Fred Chambers, President 6:00 - 10:00 pm?BACK TO BASICS: FOUNDATIONS IN MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER DEVELOPMENT Ambassador Two Ballroom, Level 3 Topics: running a purposeful chapter meeting, community projects and chapter fundraising, and weaving Federation philosophy into local meetings. NFB Affiliate Action Team 6:00 - 10:00 pm?DEAF BLIND DIVISION Nicolet B Room, Level 5 6:00 pm ? Registration; 7:00 pm ? Meeting begins Burnell Brown, President 6:00 - 10:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GUIDE DOG USERS SEMINAR 6:00 pm ? Registration; 7:00 pm ? Meeting begins Brul? A Room, Level 5 Topics: Islam, the Koran, and guide dogs; Training Centers and Guide Dogs: a panel discussion; and massage for dogs. You can also ?test drive? a guide dog! Marion Gwizdala, President 6:30 - 9:00 pm?ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY TRAINERS DIVISION Renoir Room, Level 4 6:30 pm ? Registration; 7:00 pm ? Meeting begins Note-taking devices to recommend to clients and what to do about students who are seemingly ?unteachable.? Michael Barber, President SUNDAY, JULY 5, Continued 6:30 - 9:30 pm?SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING DIVISION Cascade A and B Ballrooms, Courtyard Marriott 6:30 pm ? Registration; 7:00 pm ? Meeting begins John Miller, President 7:00 - 8:30 pm?LIVING HISTORY GROUP Nicolet A Room, Level 5 Dedicated to recording, preserving, and appreciating Federation history. Michael Freholm, Chairperson 7:00 - 8:30 pm??SOMETIMES TRUTH REPELS? a play by Jerry Whittle (Admission: $5.00; Second Performance is at 9:00 pm) Ambassador One Ballroom, Level 3 A play about the teaching career of Louis Braille performed by the Louisiana Center for the Blind Players. Proceeds go to the Louisiana Center for the Blind?s summer training program for blind children. 7:00 - 9:00 pm?COMMITTEE TO EMPOWER UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS LaSalle B Room, Level 5 Ron Brown, Chairperson 7:00 - 9:00 pm?FEDERATION RE-GENERATION Duluth B Room, Level 5 Do you need to rejuvenate and kick-start your affiliate with fresh ideas? Re-generate! Get a new generation involved. Join the NFB Jernigan Institute Education Team to learn more about program possibilities. 7:00 - 9:00 pm?NFB KRAFTERS DIVISION BUSINESS MEETING Cadillac A Room, Level 5 Unveiling new craft initiatives, including plans for a new Web site and information on our Monday night nationwide chats. Joyce Kane, President 7:00 - 9:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION TO PROMOTE THE USE OF BRAILLE (NAPUB) SEMINAR Mackinac West Ballroom, Level 5 Celebrating Louis Braille?s 200th birthday! Receive information about the commemorative Louis Braille silver dollar, the NFB Share Braille Web site project, and more. Nadine Jacobson, President SUNDAY, JULY 5, Continued 7:00 - 9:00 pm?NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND VETERANS LaSalle A Room, Level 5 Guest speakers; reviewing access technology; unveiling the 2009 NABV pin. Pay dues and receive an NABV-3 shirt. Dwight Sayer, President 7:00 - 10:00 pm?MARCH FOR INDEPENDENCE MARCHER DROP-IN BRIEFINGS (THREE SEPARATE SESSIONS) Brul? B Room, Level 5 Session One: 7:00-8:00 pm; Session Two 8:00-9:00 pm; Session Three 9:00-10:00 pm. Drop in anytime and help us lead the 2009 March for Independence. Facilitator: Kevan Worley 7:30 - 9:00 pm?DADS? NIGHT OUT Contact Brad Weatherd for location All dads, sighted and blind, are welcome. Sponsored by the NOPBC 7:30 - 9:00 pm?NFB IN JUDAISM MEETING Room 6405, 64th Floor David Stayer, Chairperson 7:30 - 10:00 pm?COMMITTEE FOR THE PROMOTION, EVALUATION, AND ADVANCEMENT OF TECHNOLOGY; Gary Wunder, Chairperson Greco Room, Level 4 8:00 - 9:30 pm?MAKING BRAILLE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN Ambassador Three Ballroom, Level 3 Make Braille books at home that will inspire your child to read and explore. Sponsored by NOPBC. Instructors: Carlton Walker and Krystal Guillory 9:00 - 10:30 pm??SOMETIMES TRUTH REPELS,? a play by Jerry Whittle (Second Performance) Admission: $5.00 Ambassador One Ballroom, Level 3 A play about the teaching career of Louis Braille performed by the Louisiana Center for the Blind Players. Proceeds go to the Louisiana Center for the Blind?s summer training program for blind children. 9:30 - 10:30 pm?FRIENDS OF RECOVERY MEETING Raphael Room, Level 4 Coordinator: Gary Ray MONDAY, JULY 6, 2009 6:45 am?MOTOR CITY MARCH FOR INDEPENDENCE RALLY! Please gather in the Wintergarden on Level A of the Detroit Marriott for a 7:00 am start. NOTE: Because of the March for Independence, there are no registration, devotions, Independence Market and Literature, or Exhibit Hall activities on Monday morning. OPENING GENERAL SESSION 9:30 am INVOCATION 9:35 am WELCOMING CEREMONIES 9:55 am CELEBRATION OF FREEDOM: VETERANS RECOGNIZED Dwight Sayer, President, National Association of Blind Veterans, National Federation of the Blind; Winter Gardens, Florida 10:05 am ROLL CALL OF STATES AND APPOINTMENT OF NOMINATING COMMITTEE 11:45 am REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS 12:00 pm ADJOURN 12:00 noon 12:30 pm and 1:30 - 2:00 pm?REGISTRATION ($20); FINAL BANQUET TICKET SALES ($40)?Renaissance Foyer, Level 4 12:00 noon 1:45 pm?EXHIBITS AND NFB INDEPENDENCE MARKET AND LITERATURE?Ontario Exhibit Hall, Level 3 MONDAY, JULY 6, Continued 12:15 - 2:00 pm?LOUISIANA CENTER FOR THE BLIND ALUMNI LUNCHEON Ambassador Three Ballroom, Level 3 Contact: Pam Allen, Director, Louisiana Center for the Blind GENERAL SESSION 2:00 pm CALL TO ORDER 2:05 pm PRESIDENTIAL REPORT, Marc Maurer 3:00 pm POLICIES TO ENHANCE EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSION, SAFETY, AND PRODUCTIVITY The Honorable John D. Dingell, Member of Congress, 15th Congressional District; Michigan 3:20 pm PROMOTING PEDESTRIAN SAFETY: A PRIORITY FOR MANUFACTURERS The Honorable Dave McCurdy, President and CEO, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers; McLean, Virginia 3:40 pm THE JOURNEY OF BRAILLE: FROM THE HANDS OF THE CREATOR TO EARTH ORBIT 4:00 pm THE VALUE OF A COIN, OF A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, AND OF A CLASS OF HUMAN BEINGS Fredric K. Schroeder, Ph.D., Research Professor, San Diego State University; Vienna, Virginia 4:25 pm PROVIDING THE FUNDAMENTAL TOOLS: BRAILLE BOOKS Brian A. McDonald, President, National Braille Press; Boston, Massachusetts 4:40 pm REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS 5:00 pm ADJOURN MONDAY, JULY 6, Continued 5:30 - 6:30 pm?NOMINATING COMMITTEE; Sharon Maneki, Chairperson Cadillac A Room, Level 5 6:00 - 8:00 pm?AFB INTRODUCES ACCESSIBLE WALKING DIRECTIONS AND NEW CareerConnect FEATURES Mackinac East Ballroom, Level 5 The American Foundation for the Blind?s reception introduces Mapquest Accessible Walking Directions and new CareerConnect offerings. Be the first to try a free online directions service. Join up as a CareerConnect leader or mentor. We look forward to reconnecting with old friends. 6:00 - 9:00 pm?INDOOR ROWING; SPORTS & REC DIVISION Skyline A and B Rooms, Courtyard Marriott Row your way into fitness and maintain a healthy lifestyle using an accessible rowing machine. Prizes plus plenty of fun! Lisamaria Martinez, President 6:30 - 8:00 pm?GUITAR SEMINAR LaSalle B Room, Level 5 Learn about the guitar; get advice from a professional musician, Cameron Strife; $5 donation. Presented by the NFB Performing Arts Division 6:30 - 10:00 pm?NFB-NEWSLINE? PRESENTATION Room 6401, 64th floor Drop by and learn about NEWSLINE In Your Pocket, Web News on Demand, and other new features. 7:00 - 8:30 pm?NOPBC CONCURRENT SESSIONS FOR PARENTS, REHAB PROFESSIONALS, AND INTERESTED OTHERS: IEPs: Evals, Goals, Strategies, the Law Cascade A Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Instructor: Carlton Walker The Science of Getting in on Science Cascade B Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Instructors: Cary Supalo, Marilyn Winograd, Dr. Lillian Rankel Mental Mapping: Using Environmental Sounds and Clues Cascade C Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Instructor: Daniel Kish MONDAY, JULY 6, Continued 7:00 - 8:30 pm?BOOKSHARE AT NFB MEMBER PARTY LaSalle A Room, Level 5 Enjoy snacks and refreshments while meeting the Bookshare staff. This is your opportunity to talk with us and share your ideas; we?re here to listen. Plan to have fun with contests, drawings, and interacting with your fellow members. We look forward to seeing you. 7:00 - 9:00 pm?BRAILLE READERS ARE LEADERS: THE INITIATIVE FOR CHANGE Duluth B Room, Level 5 One representative from each affiliate should attend this session. Help to ensure Braille literacy for all by learning about the exciting developments and discuss strategies for promoting Louis Braille bicentennial coins. 7:00 - 9:00 pm?MOVING LEGISLATION ON THE STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL SEMINAR Cadillac B Room, Level 5 Each affiliate should send one representative. Learn the best methods of increasing support for our legislative priorities. Changing lives through laws is our business. Led by Jesse Hartle, NFB Strategic Initiatives Staff 7:00 - 10:00 pm?A SPECIAL EVENING FOR SPONSOR-LEVEL EXHIBITORS Ontario Exhibit Hall, Level 3 The exhibit hall reopens for an evening dedicated solely to sponsor-level exhibitors. Come and bring a guest to say ?thank you? to our sponsors and to enjoy their interesting offers and demonstrations. Our convention sponsors are?Platinum: HumanWare and UPS; Gold: Deque Systems, Inc., Freedom Scientific, and Oracle; Silver: En-Vision America, Intel?, and Wal-Mart; Bronze: Adobe, Council of U.S. Dog Guide Schools (CUSDGS), IBM, Independent Living Aids (ILA), and Microsoft; Exhibit Hall: GW Micro, J&B Medical Supply, National Industries for the Blind, ReadHowYouWant, and Roche Diagnostics. 7:00 - 10:00 pm?NOPBC CHILDREN?S ACTIVITY (ages 5-13) A UNIVERSALLY FUN TIME Cascade D Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Drop in and explore the universe with Noreen Grice; volunteers led by Michael Freholm MONDAY, JULY 6, Continued 7:00 - midnight?NFB OF MICHIGAN HOSPITALITY DANCE Ambassador Ballroom, Level 3 ? ?There may be trouble ahead but while there?s moonlight and music and love and romance let?s face the music and dance!?? Join our host affiliate to enjoy dancing or simply listening to some really good music. Entertainment provided by ?Nine,? a nine-piece band performing Motown, soul, classic rock, pop, and old standards. 7:30 - 8:30 pm?NFB YOUTH TRACK MEETINGS ME AND THE GOSSIP GIRLS (ages 14-18) Greco Room, Level 4 Girls?bring your questions and thoughts about makeup, dating, or just how to get more involved in your school. ME AND THE GUYS (ages 14-18) Renoir Room, Level 4 Guys?talk about cars, dating, school, or how to nail that perfect job to make a little extra money. 8:00 - 10:00 pm?COMMITTEE ON AUTOMOBILE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY (CAPS); Deborah Kent Stein, Chairperson Nicolet A Room, Level 5 8:30 - 10:00 pm?NOPBC CONCURRENT SESSIONS FOR PARENTS, REHAB PROFESSIONALS, AND INTERESTED OTHERS Pro to Pro to Parent to Para?Learn How Your Child?s ?Team? Can Work Together Cascade A Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Instructors: Dr. Denise Robinson and Gail Wagner Taking the Headaches Out of Adapting in Math Cascade B Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Instructors: Eric and Krystal Guillory Summer Jobs, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Volunteering Cascade C Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Instructor: Jan Bailey TUESDAY, JULY 7, 2009 7:30 - 8:15 am?DEVOTIONS Ambassador One Ballroom, Level 3 8:00 8:30 am?REGISTRATION ($20) Renaissance Foyer, Level 4 GENERAL SESSION 9:00 am INVOCATION 9:05 am FINANCIAL REPORT 10:00 am ELECTIONS 10:30 am EXPANDING ACCESS TO DIGITAL INFORMATION FOR THE BLIND Gilles Pepin, Chief Executive Officer, HumanWare; Drummondville, Canada 10:50 am A BLIND ATHLETE IN THE PARALYMPICS Tyler Merren, 2008 U.S. Paralympic Team Member, Men?s Goalball; Kalamazoo, Michigan 11:05 am DEVELOPMENTS AT THE FIRST EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION FOR THE BLIND IN THE UNITED STATES, PERKINS Steven M. Rothstein, President, Perkins School for the Blind; Watertown, Massachusetts 11:25 am THE FEDERATION IN THE WORLD FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE WORLD BLIND UNION Maryanne Diamond, President, World Blind Union; Melbourne, Australia 11:40 am REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS 12:00 pm ADJOURN TUESDAY, JULY 7, Continued 12:00 noon 12:30 pm and 1:30 - 2:00 pm?REGISTRATION ($20) Renaissance Foyer, Level 4 12:00 noon 1:45 pm?EXHIBITS AND NFB INDEPENDENCE MARKET AND LITERATURE?(Final Time Period for Independence Market and Literature) Ontario Exhibit Hall, Level 3 GENERAL SESSION 2:00 pm CALL TO ORDER 2:05 pm STRATEGIC INITIATIVES REPORT John Par?, Executive Director for Strategic Initiatives, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland 2:35 pm REPORTS, RESOLUTIONS, AND OTHER BUSINESS 5:00 pm ADJOURN 6:00 - 10:00 pm?IT WASN'T ME, A MURDER MYSTERY AT THE CLUB Mackinac East Ballroom, Level 5 Play along as guests at a dance club while private investigators try to solve a murder. Early arrivers are assigned a character role to play for the evening. Latecomers won't be able to play along but are welcome to watch the game and enjoy the experience. Presented by NFB Youth Track. 6:30 - 9:00 pm?COLORADO CENTER FOR THE BLIND OPEN HOUSE Brul? A and B Rooms, Level 5 Discover how good training can change your life. Julie Deden, Director 6:30 - 9:30 pm?NOPBC CHILDREN?S ACTIVITY (Ages 5-14) WE WILL NOT LET CONVENTION ACQUAINTANCES BE FORGOT Cascade C Ballroom, Courtyard Marriott Led by Michael Freholm TUESDAY, JULY 7, Continued 6:30 - 10:00 pm?NFB-NEWSLINE? PRESENTATION Room 6401, 64th floor Stop by and learn about NEWSLINE In Your Pocket, Web News on Demand, and other new features. 7:00 - 8:15 pm?knfbReader MOBILE DEMONSTRATION & TRAINING Greco Room, Level 4 Use your cell phone to read print?it?s really that simple! Come and learn how this fabulous, life-changing technology can work for you. Go totally mobile and join the reading revolution today! 7:00 - 8:30 pm?BLIND MUSICIANS GROUP BUSINESS MEETING Duluth B Room, Level 5 Linda Mentink, Chairperson 7:00 - 8:30 pm?NINTH ANNUAL RANDOLPH-SHEPPARD RECEPTION HOSTED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND MERCHANTS Richard B Room, Level 5 Socialize, network, and learn more about Randolph-Sheppard and other business opportunities we can create through our work in the NFB. Kevan Worley, President 7:00 - 9:00 pm?COUNCIL OF U.S. DOG GUIDE SCHOOLS (CUSDGS) RECEPTION Ambassador Three Ballroom, Level 3 Learn how a dog guide can impact your life from featured speaker Michael Hingson, a World Trade Center survivor. Meet representatives from participating schools and learn about their programs. You can even schedule a ?Juno? walk for later in the week. 7:00 9:00 pm??SOCIAL SECURITY AND SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME: WHAT APPLICANTS, ADVOCATES, AND RECIPIENTS SHOULD KNOW? SEMINAR Cadillac B Room, Level 5 Information on Social Security and SSI benefits, including the income subsidy program for those receiving the Medicare prescription drug benefit. Presenter: Dan Frye, Attorney and Associate Editor of the Braille Monitor TUESDAY, JULY 7, Continued 7:00 10:00 pm?EXHIBITS ONLY (Independence Market and Literature Closed)?Ontario Exhibit Hall, Level 3 7:00 - 11:00 pm?ANNUAL SHOWCASE OF TALENT?Admission $5.00 Ambassador One Ballroom, Level 3 Register early by contacting Beth Allred at the convention. Proceeds benefit the scholarship program in memory of Mary Ann Parks. Sponsored by the Performing Arts Division; Dennis Holston, President 7:00 - 11:00 pm?HUMANWARE LOW VISION PRODUCTS SEMINAR Nicolet B Room, Level 5 Come and learn about HumanWare?s exciting low vision products in a hands-on, interactive seminar: myReader 2 video magnifier; SmartView desktop units; portable handheld devices; and a distance viewing system. Presenter: Ed Wikdall 8:00 - 10:00 pm?COMMITTEE ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT LaSalle A Room, Level 5 If you have an interest in new technologies and believe that spectacular accomplishments are possible when blind people themselves are involved?then join our meeting. Curtis Chong, Chairperson 8:00 - 11:30 pm?MONTE CARLO NIGHT Mackinac West Ballroom, Level 5 Try your luck at any of the usual card games found on a casino floor. Prizes go to the top three winners holding the most chips at the end of the evening. Sponsored by the National Association of Blind Students 8:30 - 9:45 pm?knfbReader MOBILE DEMONSTRATION & TRAINING Greco Room, Level 4 Use your cell phone to read print?it?s really that simple! Come and learn how this fabulous, life-changing technology can work for you. Go totally mobile and join the reading revolution today! 9:30 - 10:30 pm?FRIENDS OF RECOVERY MEETING Raphael Room, Level 4 Coordinator: Gary Ray WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, 2009 8:00 - 8:45 am?DEVOTIONS Ambassador One Ballroom, Level 3 8:30 9:00 am?REGISTRATION ($20)?Final opportunity to register. Renaissance Foyer, Level 4 GENERAL SESSION 9:00 am INVOCATION 9:05 am THE NEAR-PERFECT AUDIO BOOK: HOW WE DO IT Frank Kurt Cylke, Director, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress; Washington, D.C. Mary Beth Wise, Quality Assurance Specialist, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress; Washington, D.C. 9:25 am QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION 9:30 am THE DEMAND, THE CRISIS, THE SOLUTION IN EDUCATION FOR THE BLIND Edward Bell, Ph.D., Director, Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness, Louisiana Tech University; Ruston, Louisiana 9:45 am THE THEORY AND THE PRACTICE: EDUCATION FOR THE BLIND IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL Denise M. Robinson, Ph.D., Teacher and Coordinator of Programming for Blind and Visually Impaired Students; Yakima, Washington 10:00 am WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE THAT CHILD BLIND? Carol Castellano, President, National Organization of Parents of Blind Children, National Federation of the Blind; Madison, New Jersey WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, Continued 10:20 am TEACHING AN ESSENTIAL SKILL: BRAILLE Jerry Whittle, Teacher-Counselor, Louisiana Center for the Blind; Ruston, Louisiana April Davis, Coordinator of Summer Programs for Blind Children, Louisiana Center for the Blind; Ruston, Louisiana James Mays, Industrial Arts Teacher, Louisiana Center for the Blind; Ruston, Louisiana Deja Powell, Cane Travel Instructor, Utah Division of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired; Salt Lake City, Utah Anil Lewis, President, National Federation of the Blind of Georgia; Atlanta, Georgia Terri Rupp, President, National Federation of the Blind of Nevada; Las Vegas, Nevada 10:50 am FROM THE CENTER OF HISTORY: FIVE YEARS INTO THE FUTURE OF THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND JERNIGAN INSTITUTE Mark Riccobono, Executive Director, National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute; Baltimore, Maryland 11:10 am FRONTIER CAREERS FOR THE BLIND INCLUDE ENGINEERING Leigh R. Abts, Ph.D., Research Associate Professor of Engineering and Education, University of Maryland; College Park, Maryland 11:25 am NFB NEWSLINE: FROM PHONE TO COMPUTER TO PODCAST TO POCKET Scott White, Director of Sponsored Technology, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland 11:40 am REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS 12:00 pm ADJOURN WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, Continued 12:00 noon - 1:45 pm?HAM RADIO GROUP BUSINESS MEETING Raphael Room, Level 4 We will consider the amendment of the division constitution that we adopted last year. D. Curtis Willoughby (KA0VBA), Chairperson 12:00 noon - 1:45 pm?NFB CAMP TOY SALE Marquette A Room, Level 5 Everything must go?30 to 70 percent off toys purchased for NFB Camp. 12:00 noon - 1:45 pm?RAFFLES AND DRAWINGS LaSalle A Room, Level 5 12:15 - 1:45 pm?EVERYTHING YOU'VE EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE NLS Nicolet B Room, Level 5 A question-and-answer session with Frank Kurt Cylke, Director, and staff of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress. GENERAL SESSION 2:00 pm CALL TO ORDER 2:05 pm SHAPING THE STANDARD FOR THE LEGAL COMMUNITY: THE NECESSITY FOR ACCESS TO INFORMATION FOR ALL Daniel Goldstein, Esq., Partner, Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP; Baltimore, Maryland 2:25 pm NEGOTIATING ACCESSIBLE ELECTRONIC BOOKS: A MASSIVE UNDERTAKING, A SMASHING SUCCESS Jack Bernard, Esq., Chair, Counsel for Disability Concerns, and Assistant General Counsel, University of Michigan; Ann Arbor, Michigan 2:45 pm THE COMMITMENT OF MICROSOFT TO ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGY Rob Sinclair, Director of Accessibility, Microsoft Corporation; Redound, Washington WEDNESDAY, JULY 8, Continued 3:05 pm TRANSCENDING THE BARRIERS OF YESTERDAY, ANTICIPATING THE ROMANCE OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE WITH THE TECHNOLOGY OF TOMORROW Ray Kurzweil, President and Chief Executive Officer, KNFB-Reading Technology, Inc.; Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts 3:25 pm REPRESENTING THE CITY OF CHICAGO Patti Chang, Esq., Senior Corporation Counsel, City of Chicago; Chicago, Illinois 3:45 pm DR. JACOB BOLOTIN AWARD Gary Wunder, Chairperson, Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award Committee, and Secretary, National Federation of the Blind; Columbia, Missouri 4:15 pm THE RIGHT OF THE PEDESTRIAN TO BE SAFE IN THE WORLD Ronald Medford, Acting Deputy Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Washington, D.C. 4:30 pm REPORTS AND RESOLUTIONS 5:00 pm ADJOURN 7:00 pm?BANQUET Renaissance Ballroom, Level 4 INVOCATION MASTER OF CEREMONIES: Fredric K. Schroeder INTRODUCTIONS AND PRESENTATIONS BANQUET ADDRESS: Marc Maurer SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS 10:00 pm - midnight?AFTER BANQUET PARTY Ambassador Three Ballroom, Level 3 10:00 pm?SCIENCE FICTION MEETING All persons interested in science fiction and fantasy are welcome to join in an open discussion. Please contact Ed Meskys for room location. Thank You... The National Federation of the Blind would like to give a special thank you to VBrick Systems for donating the technology and Internet services to allow full streaming of all general sessions of the convention, the meeting of the board of directors, and the annual banquet. Through this contribution, more individuals will learn about the outstanding work that comes out of the largest gathering of the blind in the world. The National Federation of the Blind acknowledges with gratitude our Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Exhibit Hall Convention Sponsors below. Their messages follow. Platinum Sponsors: HumanWare UPS Gold Sponsors: Deque Systems, Inc. Freedom Scientific Oracle Silver Sponsors: En-Vision America Intel? Wal-Mart Bronze Sponsors: Adobe Council of U.S. Dog Guide Schools (CUSDGS) IBM Independent Living Aids (ILA) Microsoft Exhibit Hall Sponsors: GW Micro J&B Medical Supply National Industries for the Blind ReadHowYouWant Roche Diagnostics From fnugg at online.no Fri Jun 12 11:49:37 2009 From: fnugg at online.no (Lisa Yayla) Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 13:49:37 +0200 Subject: [Art_beyond_sight_learning_tools] sculpture, china, geography, stroke dialing and androids Message-ID: <4A3240D1.7000105@online.no> Hi, A mix of links to articles. One particularly interesting about stroke dialing on an screen leads to thoughts about possibilities of other types of impute to a screen - shapes etc - might be useful for vi. Regards, Lisa Metalwork sculpture leaps into life at RNC in Hereford A FUTURISTIC painting of a running man has made the leap from paper to reality. Herefordshire artist Walenty Pytel has overcome memory loss to produce Futuristic Runner. The piece was commissioned by the RNC (Royal National College for the Blind) and is based on a painting by former student Sarah Withers. http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/4433949.Metalwork_sculpture_leaps_into_life_at_RNC_in_Hereford/ article Armed with a camera, the blind capture their world It's an almost counterintuitive question: Can the physically disabled become artists? The answer depends, to a certain extent, on how one defines art. As the expression of one's personal interpretation of the world around him, art can be created by just about anyone. And, after all, if Beethoven could produce musical masterpieces without hearing them, surely the visually impaired staff of Beijing One Plus One Cultural Exchange Center can become photographers. And so they did. One Plus One, an organization run by people with disabilities that aims to provide media outlets and support for the disabled, teamed up in May with the international group PhotoVoice to train eight of its staff to use photography as a way to communicate their experiences of the world around them http://www.china.org.cn/culture/2009-06/11/content_17928906.htm article Braille Literacy: Insights from a Michigan Home School ...she received permission from Milton Bradley to adapt the Twister board, using fabrics which were the same color as the areas on the board but had rich texture like velvet, felt, thick corduroy and terrycloth. http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/105637 article Artist who lost her sight but not her vision lthough she always dabbled in drawing it remained a hobby, a creative outlet she simply enjoyed. Ironically, it was only after she began to lose her vision nine years ago that she recognized her penchant for drawing as a gift. ?When I realized that I would no longer be able to work at a desk job I found myself needing something to keep me going. A friend suggested that I take an art course just to keep my spirits up,? said Suzanne, now age 43. Suzanne, who has had juvenile diabetes since age seven, developed a complication of the disease called diabetic retinopathy and two years after her diagnosis, was declared legally blind. ?When I started to lose my vision I was a little scared about what I would do with my life but I also saw it as an opportunity to re-invent myself, to try something new,? she says. Initially, Suzanne began experimenting with classes in different art techniques, ranging from sculpture to painting, but it was acrylic painting that seemed to suit her developing style the most. http://www.cjnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17080&Itemid=86 artcle http://www.nature.com/naturejobs/2009/090611/full/nj7248-877a.html Blinded in 1984, geographer Reginald Golledge was this year named Faculty Research Lecturer by the University of California, Santa Barbara. Q&A How did you begin on your career path? In the 1960s, I discovered that a theoretical and quantitative revolution was transforming the previously descriptive field of geography, so I decided to research how people acquire spatial knowledge. How did sudden blindness affect your career? I was completely lost. I had no idea how I was going to teach without access to notes, prepared lectures or overheads. Figuring out how to continue my research was even more difficult. One day, two psychologists ? Jack Loomis and Roberta Klatzky, both then at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) ? asked if they could help. Roberta suggested I find ways to build on my previous mental-map research. They agreed to meet with me weekly and we began 25 years of intense collaboration, which took my research in a new direction towards dissecting spatial cognition. In the process, I became more competent and was able to continue my academic life while helping other blind people around the world. What is your greatest scientific achievement? I pioneered a behavioural approach to human geography to study how humans find their way in the world. More than anything else, I think I opened the field's eyes to the fact that the geography you carry in your mind, your mental map and the way you process spatial information, are just as important as recording the facts of human existence on the surface of Earth. In addition to an objective reality, there is also subjective reality ? what is stored in your mind's mental model of the world. What has given you the most career satisfaction? I've been developing a personal guidance system for blind travellers that allows them to be completely independent of guides or guide dogs. Our prototype got a great deal of recognition, and now companies in many countries are producing these guidance systems. They're similar to vehicle-guidance systems, which use GPS and spatial databases or electronic maps. Do you have any advice for disabled people who want to be scientists? Disabled people can make long-term career plans, but it takes a strong commitment to their work. ...... site Fair Use Lab Mark Willis Re-Imagines Accessibility Through Free Culture http://fairuselab.net/ article Android Might 'See' an Eyes-Free Interface Stroke dialing article and youtube video http://news.softpedia.com/news/Android-Might-039-See-039-an-Eyes-Free-Interface-113647.shtml From fnugg at online.no Fri Jun 12 14:55:18 2009 From: fnugg at online.no (Lisa Yayla) Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:55:18 +0200 Subject: [Art_beyond_sight_learning_tools] 1980 music video "Hello" from Loinel Richie Message-ID: <4A326C56.303@online.no> OK, for a bit of change .... 1980 music video "Hello" from Lionel Richie about an art student who is blind http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFfQYrNohw4 and perhaps a bit off subject, but a nice article Saying it with silence excerpt There was this very beautiful line that I read in Orhan Pamuk?s novel, ?My Name Is Red?. He wrote about a blind man watching the snowfall and smiling to himself. That line stayed with me for a long, long time. How could a blind man watch the snow? http://www.odemagazine.com/blogs/readers_blog/7789/saying_it_with_silence Art with heart http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1262878 article An inspiration for everyone to become pioneers The festival showcases the latest in technology, medical research and can-do spirit through symposiums such as ''Vision Substitution in the Blind by Means of Tactile Stimulation of the Tongue'' and clinics that teach swimming, kayaking, golf, handcycling and wheelchair fencing. http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/story/1085356.html article http://nowherelimited.com/mark_mothersbaugh/index.html Mark Mothersbaugh, well-known as a founding member of the innovative band DEVO, has been creating artwork in many forms for more than 3 decades. His love of visual art began in childhood, just after it was discovered that he was extremely nearsighted and legally blind. His first correctional glasses offered the young Mothersbaugh a new view of the world, fueling a lifelong infatuation with imagery and illustrations. Mark's recent visual artwork has been largely inspired by his 30-year habit of creating handmade postcards to send to friends from various stops on DEVO tours. This obsession has evolved into a visual diary that currently yields the artist 1-25 new images per day. These images have served as the basis for the artist's critically acclaimed solo shows of the 80s/90s as well as for his "gallery tours" which have been occurring at art venues throughout the globe since 2003. http://markmothersbaugh.com/ http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2009/may/29/rug-burn-devo-mark-mothersbaugh-nederland-art/ artilce Greenhouse project serves disabled Tucked into Golden Gate Park's nursery, Elva's Greenhouse was the scene recently of a lively party. The greenhouse is Ben Oude Kamphuis' latest addition to Project Insight, the city program he directs that connects disabled people and gardening. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/05/HOTR17QQ4H.DTL article Art works by students at the Our Center in Hastings, the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind and other area schools are on display now at the St. Johns Cultural Council?s Art Advocate gallery in St. Augustine. Many of the works came from programs that were funded, in part, by grants from the Cultural Council. The show opened May 30 during Uptown Saturday Night, St. Augustine?s monthly walking tour through the shops and galleries north of downtown. http://www.pontevedrarecorder.com/content/1047_1.php article Eric Church to headline Keller festival The week's concerts include performances from Shane Baker and gospel artist Todd Agnew beginning at 7:15 p.m. Thursday, June 25. McDonald will perform the next night at 8:30 p.m. On Saturday, June 27, performers include Eric Church, Jake Landers, John Paul White, the Kerry Gilbert Band and others. http://www.timesdaily.com/article/20090605/ARTICLES/906055028?Title=Eric-Church-to-headline-Keller-festival- helenkellerfestival.com From duhlman at msn.com Sat Jun 20 03:00:40 2009 From: duhlman at msn.com (DAVE UHLMAN) Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:00:40 -0400 Subject: [Art_beyond_sight_learning_tools] New Adventure Blog at Hear and There AudioMagazine In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: My name is Dave Uhlman. I am looking for the experiences of blind people and people with other disabilities. I am Visually Impaired. I have a website http://hearandthere.net/default.aspx ?Hear and There Audio Magazine? is about the positive things people are doing in their lives. I would like to listen to the experiences of the people in your group. I would like to interview them for my radio show on Radio Reading Services. Check out the new Adventure Blog at Hear and There AudioMagazine http://hearandthere.net/default.aspx. People will be talking about the show and talking about places they have been that were fun and accessibile. Then listen in on Tuesday for Hear and There. Check the schedule page to find the time in your area http://hearandthere.net/Schedule.aspx See Ya Somewhere! Hear and There Audio Magazine has 4 new episodes available for download. website http://hearandthere.net/default.aspx The program is hosted by Dave Uhlman, a visually impaired Accessibility Consultant, who gives his unique perspective on museums, nature walks, art shows or just about anyplace he can visit. Dave can put words to the visual so the listener can see and enjoy the experience. "Hear & There" is a program that promotes involvement in the community. We visit venues with accessible features, provide detailed descriptions, and encourage listeners to attend and participate in the events. This show is one of the few places were venues can publicize their accessibility features to the public. 4 new episodes on the downloads page http://hearandthere.net/default.aspx Pt 1 A Walk at Big Bone Lick I hike around the wheel chair accessible trail where you can see live American Bison and visit salt springs. They have a sand box where you can feel bone replicas on the animals that were found here during the Ice Age. Pt 2 Big Bone Lick w John Barker I interview John Barker about the history of Big Bone Lick. These springs were a deathtrap during the Ice Age 12,000 years ago. Bison, Mammoths, and Sloths were attracted to the springs for the salt and were trapped in the thick swampy mud. The huge bones remained and it became a haunted place for Indians as well as a tourist attraction for the pioneers. Horner Run Creek Hike My brother Tom and I hike along a stream in southern Ohio. During this walk we are attacked by Chickadees!!! Will we survive? Listen and find out. Hike on Kelly's Island Ohio Join me on a walk on an island in Lake Erie. It is located in northern Ohio on the border with Canada. It is the fourth largest of the five Great Lakes and the tenth largest globally. We will talk with Francis Minshall, a local resident, about the region?s history. ________________________ Dave ?hlman Accessibility Consultant 513-531-3283 duhlman at msn.com website http://hearandthere.net/default.aspx ________________________ DAVID = Device for the Acquisition and Visualization of Interesting Data ;) Express yourself with gadgets on Windows Live Spaces Try it! Let?s talk Baseball on ?H E A R and There Audio Magazine? http://hearandthere.net/Schedule.aspx On Tuesday H&T will visit the Cincinnati Reds Baseball Museum. We will describe the touchable exhibits and find out about the Reds history. The Reds were the first professional team in 1869 and their most famous member Pete Rose has the most, well, see this list. He is the all-time Major League leader in hits (4,256), games played (3,562), at bats (14,053)], and outs (10,328). The museum has a 2 story wall with 4,256 baseballs as a tribute to Pete. H&T can be heard all over the world on the below listed internet radio stations. Come to the website to get links and times in your area. The Global Voice http://hearandthere.net/Schedule.aspx Check the schedule on the homepage links for other time zones. Tuesday Eastern US 5:30 pm UTC 21:30 Tuesday Eastern US 10:00pm UTC 2:00 Wednesday Wednesday Eastern US 2:30 am UTC 6:30 Saturday Eastern US 8:00 am UTC 12:00 ACB Radio Mainstream http://hearandthere.net/Schedule.aspx Check the schedule on the ACB homepage for other time zones. Eastern US time. Monday 11:00 P.M Tuesday, 2:00 A.M Tuesday, 5:00 A.M Tuesday, 8:00 A.M Tuesday, 11:00 A.M Tuesday, 2:00 P.M Tuesday, 5:00 P.M Tuesday, 8:00 P.M Check out the other podcasts at the H&T website. http://hearandthere.net/Schedule.aspx See ya somewhere, Dave Uhlman ________________________ Dave ?hlman Accessibility Consultant duhlman at msn.com website http://hearandthere.net/default.aspx Hear and There is now carried on internet radio. Check the Broadcast Schedule at http://hearandthere.net/Schedule.aspx DAVID = Device for the Acquisition and Visualization of Interesting Data ;) From jsnyder at audiodescribe.com Thu Jun 25 03:11:38 2009 From: jsnyder at audiodescribe.com (Joel Snyder) Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:11:38 -0400 Subject: [Art_beyond_sight_learning_tools] ACB's Audio Description Project--Important Reminders! Message-ID: <002f01c9f542$a7c4f7c0$f74ee740$@com> Attention ACB members and all Audio Description Enthusiasts- Summer is officially here and Audio Description Project activity is heating up! Please take note of the following three important reminders: 1) AD Guidelines/Best Practices In pursuing one of its objectives, ACB's Audio Description Project has developed a set of guidelines for the production of audio description in its various formats. These standards, intended to a national guide for audio description producers, were culled from a variety of already existing excellent documents that address aspects of the process as it's practiced around the world. Not wishing to "reinvent the wheel", we culled from these documents-pulled together the "best of the best"-and now we want to have description users and providers provide comments on this unique compilation of material. We feel that this approach will best reflect a broad diversity of opinion, process, practice and involvement. Visit the Audio Description Guidelines Wiki at: http://wiki.description-standards.dreamhosters.com/wiki/Main_Page When you're there, you can review the current draft, other folks' edits and comments, and make any edits or changes that you feel are useful. We look forward to your input! A significant portion of the Audio Description Project Conference schedule has been reserved for a thorough review of the comments received. We invite you to join the Conference-simply register for the ADP Conference on the ACB Convention pre-registration material. 2) Our first annual Audio Description Project (ADP) Conference begins the week after next (July 6-8 in Orlando, FL) and we invite to join the folks who have already registered: - On-line registration is now available through the American Council of the Blind 2009 Convention registration website at: https://www.acb.org/convention/register2009-1.html A few pointers- a) Click "Continue to the next page" at the bottom of the screen; b) The next page is for selection of format of ACB Convention registration materials (ADP Conference materials will be available in large print or Braille); c) The next page is for selection of access services or meal choices for the ACB Convention , as desired; d) The next page is for selection of format for receipt of Braille Forum (the ACB magazine); e) Affiliate Registration Fees-this is the page for registration for the ADP Audio Description Project Conference (eighth item down) and/or the ADP Audio Description Project Training (ninth item down). For your information, an updated version of the agenda for the ADP Conference is appended at the bottom of this message, below the signature file. Join us! And for those who have an interest in developing skills as an audio describer, the ADP is interested in you-consider registering for the ADP Audio Description Project Training (Audio Description Institute) from July 9-11 for an intensive and thoroughly stimulating course of study and practicum. Go to www.adinternational.org for more information. 3) The Miracle Worker on DVD with description by the ADP Be sure to visit www.adinternational.org to order your copy from amazon.com or directly from SHOUT Factory, the DVD's distributor. Through a special arrangement, every copy sold benefits the ACB! But more significantly, if a critical mass of this DVD is distributed as a result of description being added to it, we will convince the distributor to add description to its ongoing DVD releases. Not only that-we will have hard data that we can use to convince other, much larger DVD distributors to begin adding description to their DVDs. This would be a huge change in the industry and tremendous advance for description. Thanks, all-see you in Orlando! Joel JOEL SNYDER Director, Audio Description Project American Council of the Blind 202 467-5083 -- jsnyder at acb.org www.adinternational.org AGENDA - as of June 23, 2009 (subject to change) 2009 Audio Description Project (ADP) Conference - July 6-7-8, 2009 - Orlando, FL An Initiative of the American Council of the Blind (ACB) Notes: -Mornings are kept open for attendance at ACB Convention plenary sessions; -The ADP luncheon is scheduled for Wednesday, May 8 and plenty of snacks and drinks will be available throughout the session each day; contact jsnyder at acb.org concerning any special dietary requirements. Day I - Monday, July 6, 2009 1:00 pm-1:30 pm Welcome/Introduction to the ADP - Mitch Pomerantz, President, American Council of the Blind Kim Charlson, 1st Vice President, American Council of the Blind; Chair, Audio Description Project Committee, ACB Joel Snyder, Director, ADP 1:30 pm-2:15 pm Listening Is Learning - a joint initiative of the Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) and the Audio Description Project - Bill Stark, Director, DCMP Thom Lohman, Communications Services Specialist, DCMP 2:15 pm-3:00 pm ADP-"AD International" Web Site: www.adinternational.org / ADP Affiliates Network - Fred Brack, ADP / ADI webmaster 3:00 pm-3:45 pm Special Guest via speaker phone - Kareem Dale, Special Advisor to the President for Disability Policy 3:45 pm-4:15 pm break 4:15 pm-5:15 pm AD Guidelines/Best Practices - Kim Charlson, Thom Lohman 5:15 pm-6:15 pm AD Certification - Kim Charlson, Bill Stark 6:15 pm-6:30 pm Wrap-up of Day One/Discussion of plans for Day Two Day II - Tuesday, July 7, 2009 1:00 pm-2:15 pm Working Groups - discussion of AD Guidelines/Best Practices including subsets in various genres: media, performing arts, visual art/exhibitions 2:15 pm-3:30 pm Regroup and Report to full assembly/discussion 3:30 pm-4:00 pm break 4:00 pm-4:45 pm Video greeting from Michael Copps, Acting Chairman, FCC Legislative Update - mandate for broadcast description; broadcast description In the digital era and the FCC; Department of Education funding - Eric Bridges, Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, ACB 4:45 pm-5:15 pm Special Video/Audio Presentation -- People with Disabilities in the Production of Description - Rick Boggs, President, Audio Eyes; Former Director of Described Media, VITAC 5:15 pm-6:00 pm AD Around The World - Joel Snyder and international guests Dinner on your own 8:00 pm Screening of Arts & Entertainment Network documentary Barack Obama, described by ACB's Audio Description Project Barack Obama tells the story of President Obama, from his childhood in Honolulu to the 2008 U.S. Presidential Election. It follows Obama through his teenage struggles for self-identity, his student days at Columbia University and Harvard Law School, and through his political career in Chicago, where he rose to fame through a focus on ethics and political reform. The video highlights Obama's Democratic primary campaign and his journey toward becoming the 44th President of the United States. Day III - Wednesday, July 8, 2009 12:30 pm-2:00 pm Luncheon with speaker - Barry Cronin, Ph.D., creator of the Descriptive Video Service, WGBH-TV, 1994; previous positions include Director of Instructional Television for the National Technical Institute for the Deaf; Director of East Coast Operations for the National Captioning Institute; Executive Producer, Family Education Network; recipient of an Emmy Award for the development of Descriptive Video Service, the Pioneer's Award from the Accessible Media Industry Coalition, Reynold's Society Achievement Award for development of closed captioning and audio description, and The Francis Joseph Campbell Citation from the American Library Association for service to the blind; currently serves as a consultant for Bridge Multimedia Corporation. 2:00 pm-3:00 pm ACB/ADP Awards - - Young Described Film Critic of the Year" Awards Presentations - Achievement in Audio Description - Media - Achievement in Audio Description - Performing Arts - Achievement in Audio Description - Museums - Achievement in Audio Description - Research - Barry Levine Memorial Award for Career Achievement in Audio Description 3:00 pm-3:30 pm break 3:30 pm-4:30 pm Open Sharing / Discussion 4:30 pm Adjourn