[Home-on-the-range] Fw: tap tracks for fall/winter 2011

[Floyd]

Tap Tracks Autumn / Winter 2011 is posted online at www.nkbks.org. Here is a copy for you enjoyment

  
         
National Federation of the Blind of Kansas Newsletter 
  
TAP TRACKS
Autumn / Winter 2011 
  
Editorial Staff:  
Susan Tabor, Editor-in-Chief  
Susie Stanzel and Tom Page, Associate Editors 
  
Materials for the next issue of TAP TRACKS which will be in spring of 2012 should be submitted by January 31, 2012. Send or email your contributions to: 
  
Susan Tabor 
1234 Tennessee Street 
Lawrence, Kansas 66044-3226 
  
Phone (home): 785-841-3875 
Cell: 785-865-9949 
E-mail: souljourner at sbcglobal.net 
Thank you!       
From
the Desk of the President 
By
Donna Wood, President,
National
Federation of the Blind of Kansas 
 
It is
now the second half of 2011 and the first half was very busy for us in the
National Federation of the Blind of Kansas.  Four of our members went to Daytona Florida at the end of January to be
present for our history-making Blind Driver Challenge.  At the Daytona Rolex 24 Mark Riccobono
demonstrated the car that can be driven by a blind person.  Several members attended the Washington
seminar in February, where they met with legislators and aides to discuss the
issues most impacting the blind.  
 
At the
end of March, the NFB of Kansas held a leadership development seminar in
Lawrence, Kansas.  Ron Gardner
facilitated this two day seminar.  In
July approximately 20 members of the NFB of Kansas attended the national
convention in Orlando, Florida.  A grand
time was had by all!
 
A
significant issue came to our attention at the convention that would impact
many blind Americans.  We were made aware
of section 511 in the workforce investment act that was to be voted on by the
Health, Environment, Labor and Pension (HELP) committee.  Section 511 stated that subminimum wages
could be paid to employees that were disabled.  As an organization we found this to be unacceptable and discriminatory
to the disabled.  At convention we called
the Senators on the HELP committee and passed around and signed a petition to
either take this section out or vote down the workforce investment act.  Through our efforts we were able to cause the
committee to put off the vote.
 
[For comments
from Dr. Frederic Schroeder check: http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/word/FKS_Subminimum_Wage_Speech.doc 
and
from former NY governor David Patterson check: http://www.nfb.org/NewsBot.asp?ID=828&MODE=VIEW
 Ed.]
 
After
the convention we came home and continued to work hard on this issue.  On Tuesday, July 26, 2011 almost 30 blind and
disabled individuals held an information rally in front of Senator Pat Roberts’
office in Wichita.  The rallies were held
nationwide in each state that had a senator on the HELP committee.  As a result of the petitions and rallies and
other advocacy, we were able again to put the vote off until September.  
 
[For
press on the rally check:
http://blogs.kansas.com/gov/2011/07/26/blind-workers-picket-for-equal-salary-rights-outside-wichita-senate-office/ 
Or for
a video check:
http://www.ksn.com/news/local/story/Blind-persons-protest-proposed-employment-bill/_FicKsgv4E6XlqfI0EGCUA.cspx 
Ed.]
 
It is
now coming up on the fall, and that brings us to our state convention. The
National Federation of the Blind of Kansas will be holding our state convention
in Wichita at the Airport Hilton, located at 2098 Airport Road Wichita, KS
67209.  For reservations call (316)
945-5272.  Deadline for room reservations
is October 7, 2011.  Room rates are $72
per night. 
 
Pre-registration
for the Convention is $5 and registration for the convention at the door is
$10.  Tickets for the luncheon on
Saturday are $10 each and banquet tickets for Saturday evening are $20 each.  This year’s National Representative is Pam
Allen (please see her bio later in this newsletter).
 
We will
also be presenting a seminar on Friday October 21 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00
p.m.  The workshop is entitled,
COLLABORATIVE STRATEGIES FOR EMPLOYMENT SUCCESS.  Buna Dahal, formerly on the staff at the
Colorado Center for the Blind and now a private consultant, will be presenting
this seminar (please see her bio in this newsletter). If you are a member of
the National Federation of the Blind of Kansas, you may attend Buna’s seminar
free of charge. For those who are not members of NFBKS and want to attend
Buna’s seminar, there will be a $75 fee charged.
 
On
Saturday October 22, general sessions will focus on the job search, employment,
technology and the skills you need to be a confident blind person.  We will be giving away Apple gift certificates
for accessible Apple products.  We will
also be giving away a HIMS Book Sense reader.  So come and join us and register to get your name in the drawing for one
of these great prizes!!!  
 
MEET PAM ALLEN
 
Pam Dubel was born in 1970 and grew up in
Lancaster, New York. She became blind when she was approximately two years old
as a result of retinal blastoma, a type of cancer. Although her parents were
shocked by her loss of sight, they fortunately realized that she was still the
same child except that she could no longer see. Through love and high
expectations, they instilled in Pam a sense of pride and confidence in her
ability to succeed. Growing up as the youngest of six children also helped her
learn to be independent. Since she was the youngest, nobody, especially the
brother a year older than she, let her get away with anything. Pam attended a
private Catholic school, where she was the only blind student. Her itinerant
teacher provided a sound foundation in Braille, which helped her excel in
academics. Her parents expected her to do her best and to engage in activities
that would make her a well-rounded person. She participated in horseback
riding, skiing, and cheerleading during elementary school. During high school
her interests shifted to performing in chorus, doing community service, and
having fun with her friends.
 
While growing up, Pam had limited contact
with other blind people her age. In general she had no desire to associate with
other blind people. She understood that every high school senior experiences
some trepidation about the transition to adulthood and independence. However,
as high school graduation approached, she began to grapple with questions that
her sighted peers couldn't answer. She planned to attend college, and she hoped
that she would eventually find a job, but she secretly wondered if she would
truly be able to obtain employment. After all, she had had difficulty finding
part-time work during high school. She had also never lived on her own, and she
wondered how successful she would be at that.
Although she entered college with some
apprehension, she was determined to achieve her best. Her small liberal arts
college provided an exciting environment in which to learn and grow. But those
unanswered questions continued to nag at her. If people were amazed that she
could accomplish the most insignificant tasks, would they ever treat her as an
equal? She realized that she had to meet other blind people with more
experience than she who could serve as role models.
 
Her search exposed her to a wide variety of
groups and organizations of and for the blind. However, not until she attended
a student seminar hosted by the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio did
she begin to find the answers for which she had been searching. Although she
didn't realize it at the time, the seminar marked the beginning of a new
chapter of her life. At the seminar she met Barbara Pierce, president of the
NFB of Ohio, who told Pam about the Louisiana Center for the Blind. More than
that, she spoke with Joanne Wilson, the director, and arranged for Pam to
complete an internship at the center the following May. As soon as that was
completed, Joanne invited her to work as a counselor in the children's summer
program that year. 
Pam was a 1991 National Federation of the
Blind scholarship winner when she was a senior at Denison University, where she
majored in psychology and minored in women's studies. She served as vice president
of the Ohio Association of Blind Students and a board member of the National
Association of Blind Students, and throughout college she worked summers for
Joanne Wilson at the Louisiana Center for the Blind with the Children's
Program. 
 
After graduation from college Pam decided to
become a student at the Louisiana Center for the Blind. She recognized that she
still needed to gain some confidence in her skills and in her ability to be a
successful blind person.
 
Today Pam Allen is the director of the Louisiana
Center for the Blind after having been the director of youth services there for
many years. In that position she worked with blind infants and toddlers and
their parents and also supervised the training of classroom aides to teach
Braille throughout Louisiana. She coordinated summer camps and developed
programs for blind children and teenagers.
People often ask her what makes the Louisiana
Center for the Blind such a special place. She responds, "What sets our
alumni apart from those of other kinds of rehabilitation facilities? The answer
is that, by attending our center and the other centers conducted by
Federationists, students are exposed to the National Federation of the Blind
and its philosophy. The NFB is more than an organization; it is a loving
family. Regardless of where you are, you can find members of the NFB who can
give you support and encouragement when you need it. The NFB also provides a
constant supply of role models who challenge you to set goals for
yourself."
 
Allen recalls that she used to believe that
she did not need other blind people. She thought that being independent meant
succeeding without the help of others. Her involvement with the National
Federation of the Blind has taught her that this is not true. She has learned
that she needs reinforcement from her blind colleagues and friends.
 
Pam lives in Ruston, Louisiana, with her
husband Roland Allen, an orientation and mobility instructor at Louisiana Tech
University, whom she met at the Louisiana Center for the Blind. She is currently
the president of the NFB of Louisiana and secretary of the National Association
of Blind Rehabilitation Professionals. In July of 2002 she was elected to the
National Federation of the Blind board of directors. Four years later, in 2006,
she was elected to serve as treasurer of the National Federation of the Blind.
Allen is also involved in a variety of community and professional
organizations. She says, "Being elected to the national board has allowed
me to give back and to spread the message of our movement."
 
[For
more info on the Louisiana Center for the Blind check: http://lcb-ruston.com Ed.]
MEET BUNA DAHAL!
 
“The
powerful personality generates positive energy and creativity.” -- Buna
Dahal  
 
A
dynamic Leadership Strategist, Buna Dahal is an expert in teaching people how
to think out of the box. She has demonstrated this ability by inspiring her
clients to discover new, innovative, creative and empowering experiences. 
 
Buna
is highly skilled in marketing persons with different abilities to the business
world. In a staffing market where over 70% of the working-age blind and
visually impaired remain unemployed, she has maintained an annual placement
rate of over 85%. Buna has consistently achieved 100% placement with her
work-experience and intern clients annually. While working as the Employment
Specialist for the Colorado Center for the Blind she cultivated an average of
48 employer relations per year since 2000. She has successfully planned,
organized and delivered a wide range of training sessions, workshops, seminars
and job fairs both locally and nationally. Throughout her years of creating
job-readiness curricula, networking events, and staff development programs,
Buna has always focused on developing long-term relationships with the hiring
authorities and prospective employers. She has well established relationships
with Workforce Investment One-Stop Centers. 
 
Born
and raised in Nepal, Buna has been blind since birth. At 18 she was awarded a
scholarship to study in the United States. 
 
At
an early age Buna realized that she had a dream… not just to survive but to
live. She had a desire to spread her wings because she knew there is much more
in life than just existing. Today she fully lives her life with confidence and
competence by inspiring others across the globe. 
 
The
national and international media has published numerous articles and interviews
touching upon her personal and professional success. In this respect her story
was recently featured in CBS-Channel 4 Colorado, Morning News. Buna was invited
to present an empowering speech at the United Nations in 2007. In 2006, when
Buna went home to visit her family for the first time in 16 years, Nepal
Television and Kantipoor Television interviewed her. For promoting literacy she
was recognized as a community leader by the City of Littleton, Colorado during
the 2004 National Library of the Month celebration. MSNBC hailed Buna Dahal as
a “Young Inspirational Leader” in a nationally broadcast interview in 2000.
  
Buna
believes, “Retaining the job requires more creativity than obtaining a
job.”  
 
[For
more check: http://www.dynamicbuna.com Ed.]
 
 
CALL
FOR RESOLUTIONS!
By
Susan Tabor, Editor
 
Each
year at our state convention, members bring resolutions concerning changes
they’d like to see in services for the blind, both public and private and for
changes they’d like to see from entities who are not complying with accessibility
laws.
 
This
year is no different! Dianne Hemphill is our resolutions committee chair this
year.  It would be best if she has your
resolutions that you are proposing prior to the convention.  You may email them to her at: diannehemphill at cox.net or you may snail-mail them to her at:
 
Dianne
Hemphill
600 N.
Bel Rue
Derby,
KS.  67037
 
If you
have questions, you may call Dianne at 316-201-1323.
The
resolutions committee will meet Friday evening; check your agenda when you get
to the convention for location information of the meeting, which will take
place at 8-00 p.m. Resolutions that pass during a vote of the entire membership
on Sunday morning will then be sent on to the appropriate entities.
 
 
BOARD
MEETING?
By
Susan Tabor
 
Sometimes
our NFB State Board has a full general board meeting at the Convention. This
year, there will be no board meeting during the Convention unless an emergency
meeting is called.  The board will meet shortly
after the convention.  
 
As
always check http://www.nfbks.org for ongoing updates.  Also to stay in
touch register for the home-on-the-range listserv by sending an email with the
word subscribe in the subject line to home-on-the-range-request at nfbnet.org 
 
Contact
us at:
National
Federation of the Blind of Kansas
President,
Donna J. Wood 
11405
W. Grant
Wichita
KS 67209
http://www.nfbks.org
Registration for the 
NFBKS State Convention 
October 21-23,, 2011 
 
Please send registration form and payment to Bob Fuller
at 1746 Mississippi St., Lawrence, KS 66044. Please make checks payable to the
National Federation of the Blind of Kansas. 
 
If you are registering multiple attendees, please include
all names of those you are registering. 
 
 
Name:  
 
Address:_____________________________________________________
 
____________________________________________________________
 
Telephone:
 
E-mail:
  
Pre-registration:  $5.00 
Registration at the door:  $10.00 
Luncheon: $10.00 
Banquet:  $20.00 
 
Do you plan to attend the seminar entitled STRATEGIES FOR
EMPLOYMENT SUCCESS to be held on Friday, October 21 from 1-00 to 5-00 p.m.?   If you
are a member of the National Federation of the Blind of Kansas, you may attend
the seminar free of charge.  Otherwise,
there will be a $75 fee for attending Friday’s seminar. 
 
The convention will be held at the Airport Hilton which
is located at 2098 Airport Road; Wichita, KS 67209. Call for room reservations
at 316-945-5272.    Room rates are $72
per night. The hotel is holding a block of rooms until October 7, after which
time any unreserved rooms will be released. Please come and join us in changing
what it means to be blind in Kansas! 

Thank You 
Floyd
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