[Cinci-nfb] Fw: [Aira Explorer Community] Smart Regions Conference 2018 in Columbus, Ohio on October 25, 2018

[Lisa Hall]

Hi everyone,

I’m forwarding an email I sent out on late Wednesday night of October 
24, 2018 on a Conference I attended in Columbus, Ohio. This is their 
second Conference that was held in two years. City planners from all 
over the Midwest are learning from industry leaders on being Smart Cities.

Read the message below.

Sincerely,

Lisa Hall
Cincinnati, Ohio

 Forwarded message:

From: "Lisa Hall" <lhall007 at cinci.rr.com>
to: aira at groups.io
Subject: [Aira Explorer Community] Smart Regions Conference 2018 in Columbus,
 Ohio on October 25, 2018
Reply-To: main at aira.groups.io
Date: Thu, 25 Oct 2018 00:46:07 -0400

Hi everyone,

I am appologizing in advance for the long url that I have posted below
after the talking points of our speeches.

As I prepare for early tomorrow morning a couple of key people from
Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired will be joining
me heading to a Smart Regions Conference which is the Midwest regions
serving as far west as Chicago, Illinois and eastward. I am on a panel
that will last about 15 minutes starting around 9:00 A.M. Eastern Time.
I'm planning to do this presentation live through the Aira app that is
available for IOS devices. The panel presentation is entitled Bridging.
The Mobility Gap for Blind and Visually Impaired. The panel moderator
doing the introduction is Zack Huhn/Rhonda Binda who is introducing
President/CEO Chris Faust, Orientation and Mobility Specialist Marshá
Gerton, and Braille Proofreader Lisa Hall all from Clovernook Center
for the Blind and Visually Impaired. We are sharing our story on smart
transportation initiatives and how we are making things happen.

Below is a rough sketch of talking points that will be used in our
presentation.

First some statistics.

        People with vision loss experience a rate of unemployment that
far exceed that of the general population. The numbers are staggering.

        It’s estimated that 70-75% of the 4 million adults in the U.S.
who are blind or partially blind are not in the labor force.

        FOR CLOVERNOOK CENTER, THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE IS DAILY
TRANSPORTATION. It’s costly, inaccessible, unreliable, and inconvenient.

        Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired is
convinced that autonomous, self-driving transportation can remove
centuries-old barriers for people with vision loss to employment and
active participation in their communities. Smart transportation has the
potential to be the most sustainable way for the visually impaired to
easily get around – unlike ever before!

Chris Faust will give a 5 minute speech.

        BRIEF HISTORY: When Clovernook initially opened in 1903
committed to the belief that by giving employment and an opportunity of
earning their living to those who are blind and visually impaired, they
can live a full and happy life.
⦁       Within 10 years, Clovernook Center expanded with the purchase a
Heidelberg Press, opening the first Braille Printing House exclusively
operated by the blind.

        BRIEF OVERVIEW:
⦁       CLOVERNOOK CENTER’S BRAILLE PRINTING HOUSE HAS BEEN IN
CONTINUOUS OPERATION.

        NOW THE LARGEST VOLUME OF BRAILLE PRINT MATERIAL IN THE WORLD.

        CLOVERNOOK CENTER REMAINS THE ONLY BRAILLE-PRINTING HOUSE
NATIONALLY WITH A CORE WORKFORCE, WHICH INCLUDES THE BLIND OR VISUALLY
IMPAIRED. WE’RE EXTREMELY PROUD OF OUR INTEGRATED WORKFORCE AND THE
HIGHEST QUALITY BRAILLE TRASCRIPTION AVAILABLE.

        In addition to the Braille Printing House, Clovernook Center
offers a full is a range of programs and services. ONE OF THE MOST
NOTABLE IS OUR EMPLOYMENT SERVICES AND JOB COACHING PROGRAM FOR THOSE
WITH LOW VISION.
⦁       Our employment services team has an outstanding reputation as a
regional leader—known for having the best, individualized approach to
matching viable job opportunities for those who are blind or visually impaired.
⦁       Our team works with consumers and local businesses to find,
secure, and maintain employment for the blind and visually impaired.




        TRANSPORTATION OPPORTUNITY: Every Clovernook employee and
consumer find that TRANSPORTATION REMAINS THEIR BIGGEST OBSTACLE.

        WE HAVE A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE DUE TO OUR LOCATION: We are
located in North College Hill, a small, historic community north of Cincinnati.
⦁       Because of our longevity and the value priority we place on
people with vision loss, there is a high concentration of working age
adults 35-64 with visual impairments living in North College Hill (541
individuals altogether).

        That’s an estimated 3.5% of that age group (total population
15,641 age 35-64)—much higher than the national average percentage of 2.4%.

        And because over 70% are unemployed, that means there are
approximately of 379 residents in North College Hill alone who are
living with a visual disability and excluded from opportunities to find
employment.

        OUR STORY: Transportation is a constant, daily challenge for
people with vision loss. And even though there are hundreds of stories
that I could share with you regarding the problems of transportation
for the blind and visually impaired, I have one particular story I’d
like to share with you today.

It’s about one of our blind and highly skilled braille proofreaders in
Clovernook’s braille transcription department. I’d like to ask you to
imagine for a moment putting yourself in his shoes:
⦁       One day you are walking to work as usual using a white cane and
you’re using a lifetime of mobility, orientation and safety skills.
Then suddenly, out of nowhere, you’re struck by a car and thrown
face-down into a heavily traveled, four-lane street with rush-hour
traffic moving at speeds of upwards of 40-45 mph.

        Believe me, the sidewalks on this street are not ones that
anyone finds easy to navigate. I certainly don’t. It’s all due to the
speed and volume of traffic on this street.
⦁       Fortunately, one of his friends was nearby and ran to stop the
traffic from hitting him until emergency care arrived.
⦁       He sustained severe injuries and at the time, we feared that he
was not going to be able to return to work. But he was very fortunate.
⦁       It took him more than 6 months to recover enough to work again.
⦁       Even now, several years later, a blind colleague still uses the
buddy system with him to help on his daily walk to and from work.



 DETAIL BRIEFING:
⦁       Zack/Rhonda:  Marshá, we had the great pleasure of meeting you
at the Smart Cincy Conference earlier this year and were impressed by
the work you do as an Orientation and Mobility Specialist at Clovernook
Center. Tell us about your work there.

        Marshá: (4 minutes)
⦁       Orientation and Mobility defined and everyday example – Akeehla

⦁       One example of the challenges using Access:
⦁       Routes can be long as much as 2 or more hours
⦁       Not reliable

        One example of ways Clovernook Center is working to overcome
transportation challenges. Uber and Lyft training, or Go-Go Grandparents
⦁       Ann Braam and the challenges using voice over…

DETAIL BRIEFING: (cont.)
⦁       Marshá: We’re so excited to have Lisa Hall join us today. She
is one of our braille proofreaders in Clovernook’s Braille
Transcription Department. She embodies how the blind and visually
impaired are embracing technology and what a positive impact smart
technology is having on her life.

        Lisa:  (4 minutes)
        Portable refreshable braille display for access of information
in tactile form

        Emails
        Books
        Internet

        Early Explorer with Aira Smart Glasses Program for access of
information in the world around me

        Walking down the street
        Shopping for groceries or clothing
        Cooking
        Navigating any new surroundings/environments

        Brief explanation of Aira Smart Glasses
        History
        How it works and example of how you are using it during this
Fireside Chat (Point to a member of the audience with a distinctive feature.)
        AI FOR HER ENVIRONMENT WHEN WALKING, BUT TRANSPORTATION IS
STILL NEEDED. I travel frequently, NFB conferences and meetings,
advocacy work, etc., but it has taken a lot of experience and I still
find enormous challenges with transportation.
 CLOSING:
        ZACK/RHONDA: Chris, this is amazing! How do you see this
impacting the future of your organization?
        CHRIS: (2 minutes)
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH VISUAL IMPAIRMENT OR BLINDNESS IN THE
UNITED STATES IS EXPECTED TO DOUBLE TO MORE THAN 8 MILLION BY 2050,
ACCORDING TO PROJECTIONS BASED ON THE MOST RECENT CENSUS DATA AND FROM
STUDIES FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE, PART OF THE NATIONAL
INSTITUTES OF HEALTH.

        OUR GOAL IS TO BE THE LEADER IN EMPOWERING THOSE WITH VISION
LOSS AND OTHER DISABILITIES TO REACH THEIR HIGHEST LEVEL OF
PARTICIPATION IN OUR WORLD.

        WE HAVE A RARE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A HUGE IMPACT IN OUR
WORKFORCE—ALL BECAUSE WE ARE LIVING AT A TIME OF UNPRECEDENTED
EMPLOYMENT CHALLENGES:
⦁       RECORD LOW UNEMPLOYMENT—EMPLOYERS PRACTICALLY DOING ANYTHING
THEY CAN TO FIND GOOD TALENT.
⦁       ENORMOUS EDGE THAT AN INCLUSIVE WORKFORCE BRINGS TO ANY ORGANIZATION.

        AS THE REGIONAL LEADER EMPLOYING PEOPLE WITH VISION LOSS AS
WELL AS AN INDUSTRY LEADER PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT SERVICES FOR THOSE WITH
VISUAL DISABILITIES, WE SEE OURSELVES UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO BE THE
IDEAL PARTNER FOR A SELF-DRIVING, AUTONOMOUS TEST PILOT TRANSPORTATION
PROGRAM. WE’RE EAGER TO FIND A WAY TO MOVE THIS GOAL FORWARD FOR:
⦁       Our employees
⦁       The employees whom we integrate into the regional workforce
⦁       Our consumers today and in the future
⦁       And for all those who live with disabilities.

⦁       Thank You, Zack/Rhonda!
⦁       It has been a great pleasure to have this opportunity to chat
with you today!
⦁       And we look forward to the opportunity to connect with all of
you throughout the day!

        ZACK/RHONDA: Closing/Thank you!/Transition to next Speaker

The Conference Organizer web site is located at
http://smartregions.org/

avatar for Rhonda Binda
https://smartregionsconference2018.sched.com/speaker/rhonda.binda?iframe=yes&w=100%&sidebar=yes&bg=no
Rhonda Binda
Co-founder and VP Policy, Venture Smarter
Rhonda Binda  is VP Policy for Venture Smarter and Director of their
Smart Regions Initiative. She has a  distinguished history of public
service, as Deputy Director for the U.S. Department of State’s  Global
Intergovernmental Affairs Division, and in the West Wing of the White
House, under tw...  Read More →
https://smartregionsconference2018.sched.com/speaker/rhonda.binda?iframe=yes&w=100%&sidebar=yes&bg=no

administrations respectively. In between her government tours she
practiced technology law with  Alston & Bird.
Binda most recently returned to her hometown and served as the
Executive Director of the Jamaica  Business Improvement District. Under
her tenure, Governor Cuomo awarded Jamaica the #1 award  state-wide for
downtown revitalization, Jamaica was named #1 hottest neighborhood in
NYC by the  Wall Street Journal and won NYC’s SBS Neighborhood Challenge Grant.
In 2016, she was Queens Chamber of Commerce’s Business Leader of the
Year and named Community  Leader of the Year by QCYD. Binda attended
Duke and Oxford and received her JD from Georgetown.

avatar for Chris Faust
Chris Faust
President/CEO, Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Chris Faust is the President/CEO of Clovernook Center for the Blind and
Visually Impaired. He is  responsible for the administration and
strategic direction of Clovernook Center, which includes its  105-year
Braille Printing House, the largest volume producer of Braille in the world...
https://smartregionsconference2018.sched.com/speaker/cfaust3?iframe=yes&w=100%&sidebar=yes&bg=no

avatar for Chris Faust
Chris Faust
Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
President/CEO
https://clovernook.org
Chris Faust is the President/CEO of Clovernook Center for the Blind and
Visually Impaired. He is  responsible for the administration and
strategic direction of Clovernook Center, which includes its  105-year
Braille Printing House, the largest volume producer of Braille in the
world and the only  Braille Printing House whose core workforce is
comprised of the blind and visually impaired. Chris  brings over 30
years of leadership in business development and strategic marketing.
Prior to  joining Clovernook Center in 2010, he developed extensive
expertise in the print manufacturing  sector with a strong focus on
long-term process improvements and cost efficiencies. He holds a
degree in Business Economics from Miami University of Ohio.

avatar for Marshá Gerton
Marshá Gerton
Orientation and Mobility Specialist, Clovernook Center for the Blind
and Visually Impaired
Marshá has been Clovernook Center’s Orientation and Mobility Specialist
for nearly two years. With  more than six years of field experience,
she brings deep passion and commitment to helping those  who are blind
or visually impaired live successfully and independently. Her
personal...  Read More →
https://smartregionsconference2018.sched.com/speaker/mgerton?iframe=yes&w=100%&sidebar=yes&bg=no

avatar for Marshá Gerton
Marshá Gerton
Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
Orientation and Mobility Specialist
https://clovernook.org
Marshá has been Clovernook Center’s Orientation and Mobility Specialist
for nearly two years. With  more than six years of field experience,
she brings deep passion and commitment to helping those  who are blind
or visually impaired live successfully and independently. Her personal
vision is that  all people with visual impairments can gain
independence. According to Marshá, “The world is my  classroom and
there are no limits to what a person who is blind or visually impaired
can learn.”  She holds a Master of Arts in Orientation and Mobility
from Western Michigan University. She is  certified through the Academy
for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professional
(ACVREP) and a member of the Association Educational Rehabilitation (AER).

avatar for Lisa Hall
Lisa Hall
Braille Proofreader and 2018 Clovernook Employee of the Year,
Clovernook Center for the Blind &  Visually Impaired
Lisa Hall is 2018 Clovernook Employee of the Year and a highly skilled
Braille Proofreader for  Clovernook Center. She came to Clovernook
Center in 2006 with an exceptional resume working as a  call center
specialist in competitive, integrated employment. Lisa loves to be able
to travel...  Read More →
https://smartregionsconference2018.sched.com/speaker/rcurtis4?iframe=yes&w=100%&sidebar=yes&bg=no

avatar for Lisa Hall
Lisa Hall
Clovernook Center for the Blind & Visually Impaired
Braille Proofreader and 2018 Clovernook Employee of the Year
https://clovernook.org
Lisa Hall is 2018 Clovernook Employee of the Year and a highly skilled
Braille Proofreader for  Clovernook Center. She came to Clovernook
Center in 2006 with an exceptional resume working as a  call center
specialist in competitive, integrated employment. Lisa loves to be able
to travel and  her personal motto is: “Transportation accessibility
everywhere, including all rural areas,  allowing travel wherever and
whenever for the blind and visually impaired.” That’s why she eagerly
became an “Early Explorer” in 2017 for the Aira Smart Glasses Program,
a partnership with Google,  AT&T and Verizon. She has been an active
member of the National Federation for the Blind (NFB) for  over 30
years and is currently the President of the National Association of
Blind Office  Professionals, a division of NFB. She holds a specialized
degree in Textbook Transcription from of  Northwest Vista College, a
division of San Antonio Community College and she is a proud graduate
of  the Louisiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

And now you have the whole panel and their bios listed.

Sincerely,

Lisa Hall
Cincinnati, Ohio
Aira Explorer since August 8, 2017

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