[il-talk] Braille Examiner, Fall 2013

[Deborah Kent Stein]

THE BRAILLE EXAMINER

Fall 2013



Editor: Deborah Kent Stein

President: Patti Gregory-Chang

Proofreaders: Meg Dowell and Glenn Moore

Newsline: David Meyer



Contact Information



NFBI President: Patti Gregory-Chang, 773-307-6440, pattichang at att.net

Editor: Deborah Kent Stein, 773-203-1394, dkent5817 at att.net

Newsline Edition: David Meyer, datemeyer at sbcglobal.net

Print Edition: Bill and Roberta Reif, billreif at ameritech.net

Braille Edition: Leslie Hamric, lhamric930 at comcast.net

Website: www.nfbofillinois.org



* * * * * * *



PUTTING BLINDNESS IN ITS PROPER PLACE

By Leslie Hamric



Last year, I sat in General Session at the NFB of Illinois state convention, 
thinking about a particular blindness issue. I was asking myself what is an 
appropriate reaction when someone says the all-too-familiar words, "You're 
amazing!" or "You have a lot of courage!" How can one react to these 
statements without sounding rude or condescending?



I waited eagerly to hear what the last speech of the day would be. All I 
knew was that Shawn Mayo, the director of BLIND, Inc. (Blindness Learning in 
New Dimensions), was going to say a few words about the NFB training 
programs. I figured she would state why we all should go to BLIND, Inc., for 
training, and that would be that. Little did I know that her speech would 
ultimately change how I react to the word courage.



As I listened intently, Shawn told the story of how someone reacted to her 
blindness as she was getting food at the airport one day. She was simply 
standing in line, minding her own business. As she moved through the line, 
someone approached her and stated, "Miss, you sure have a lot of courage." I 
figured Shawn would say that what she was doing did not take courage, and 
that she was just living her life. Instead, she said something very 
different. After a few moments of hesitation, she answered, "It doesn't take 
courage to stand here in line and get my food. What does take courage is 
putting blindness in its proper place."



I sat there, stunned. What did Shawn just say? She said that it takes 
courage to put blindness in its proper place. Why?  What did she mean by 
this statement?



She went on to say that in order to put blindness in its proper place, one 
needs training in alternative techniques. The training helps one feel 
worthwhile. It helps one realize that blindness is not a tragedy. Finally, 
the training helps one rediscover one's identity. Instead of viewing 
blindness as a detriment, it now can be viewed as an asset. One can now say 
that it is respectable to be blind. Blindness does not make one totally 
helpless or totally superhuman. Rather, blindness is just an alternative way 
of living. The person is now someone with the same talents and abilities who 
just happens to be blind. As they say, the show must go on.



As General Session came to a close, relief swept over me as never before. I 
felt like a butterfly set free at last. For once, when someone said I was 
amazing or that I have a lot of courage, I knew what to say. I had a 
response that would work every time.



So now, when someone approaches me and says how amazing I am, I think of 
Shawn Mayo's story about getting food at the airport. I think of how she 
responded to the well-intentioned person who said she had a lot of courage. 
Instead of getting annoyed, I simply say something like, "You know, going to 
the store itself is not what takes courage. What does take courage is going 
through training and putting blindness in its proper place." This way, folks 
know that courage does have a place in the adjustment process, but it's a 
very different place from what they may have imagined.



* * * * * * *



PERSEVERANCE AND ADJUSTMENT THROUGH TOUGH TIMES

by Linda Hendle



When I was eleven years old, I lost the sight of my right eye due to a 
surgery that failed. Nine years ago last Easter, I lost my remaining 
eyesight to glaucoma. I had been dealing with glaucoma for about thirty-five 
years, using drops and pills to keep the pressure down. For a long time my 
pressure stayed low enough that I didn't have to worry. But in 2003 it 
spiked into the 30s, and it never went down again.



On Good Friday of 2004, I had surgery to put a valve in my left eye. The 
surgery went well. But the next night, as I was recovering back home, I felt 
a sudden, stabbing pain in my eye. When the pain subsided, it was as though 
a shade was drawn sideways. I was totally blind.



At first the surgeon assured me that the problem would clear up and that I 
would see again. But in June I was told that my retina had detached. There 
was nothing more the doctors could do.



Five months later, I had another blow. My husband, who already had multiple 
sclerosis and Crohn's disease, was diagnosed with lung cancer. Newly blind 
and not knowing how long he would be in the hospital, I moved in with my 
parents. My husband ended up having a lung removed and then, three weeks 
later, undergoing an emergency colostomy. After four weeks of physical 
therapy, he finally came home. He had been in the hospital for seven weeks.



So, there we were-a newly blind wife and a husband who now used a 
wheelchair. How did we manage? We helped each other. He was my eyes and I 
was his legs and hands. We were able to do most things together, and we got 
some help from family members, too.



After a few years, my husband's condition grew worse. We got a part-time 
caregiver to help me feed, bathe, and dress him. Frustrated and growing 
depressed, my husband began to receive Homebound Ministry every Sunday from 
our church.



One Sunday the minister told me that there was a young blind woman in the 
church choir! I said, "Please try to get her phone number for me." The 
following Sunday, she gave me Leslie Hamric's number.



In the years after I became blind, I never got much travel training. I never 
went anywhere by myself. After I met Leslie, she and I took some walks 
together. She gave me pointers about how to cross the street in a straight 
line. "Fast," she said. Sometimes it works for me, and sometimes it doesn't.



I live on a corner, and when you cross my street, there's a long sidewalk 
that goes down about a block. My first walk alone was down that sidewalk. I 
was very nervous, but I did it, and I felt very good afterward. Now I take 
walks around my neighborhood, and I take the neighborhood bus. Most 
recently, I've taken the Paratransit bus. First I took it to a friend's 
house, and then to Second Sense in Chicago to learn more blindness skills 
and get some JAWS training.



I took my first bus ride alone to a place called Friendship Village. The 
Lighthouse for the Blind was exhibiting things they have, such as talking 
appliances and raised dots for marking stoves. Leslie told me that when you 
go inside a building alone, just listen for voices and walk toward them. 
Then you can ask directions to the room you're looking for. I was nervous, 
but it turned out fine.



In the last few years I have learned Braille. I love to read! Even though I 
lost my sight after the age of forty-five, I found out it's never too late 
to learn something new. I've read a few books already. You have to stick 
with it, and that's what I did.



Leslie also told me about the NFB. I joined! Last October I went to my first 
NFB of Illinois convention. I gained a lot of confidence by going to it. I 
met a lot of wonderful people and felt very free and independent. Everyone 
was so nice and encouraging there-I hope to go again in the future!



It's a very good feeling to know you can do things as a blind person. You 
just have to try; it helps to be a part of the NFB!



If it hadn't been for meeting Leslie and the NFB, I would not be trying to 
live independently today. Long Live the NFB!



* * * * * * *



COLLEGE BOUND

by Meg Dowell



At eighteen, I did not want to go to college.



I wanted the education, the friends, the life experience-but I didn't feel 
ready to leave home. Not even a semester at a community college seemed 
enough to prepare me for moving away to start my education at a four-year 
university. I had been accepted at my dream college, and I would have the 
chance to pursue the major I'd picked out in high school. I should have been 
ecstatic.



Accommodations weren't the problem. I knew how to advocate for myself. In 
fact, some college professors are more willing than high school teachers to 
accommodate a student with a visual impairment. I wasn't worried about 
making friends, either. From the first day I could tell my roommate and I 
were going to hit it off. So really, everything should have been fine.



I was enrolled at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois. The 
campus isn't far from my home, and I had been there many times as I was 
growing up. I was an Olivetian, born and raised. Surely I could figure out 
college life.



"Mom!" I pressed the phone to my ear and looked around. "I think I'm lost."



Well, maybe not.



Mom verbally guided me back to my dorm (and no tears were shed during that 
particular incident, thank you very much). It didn't take long for me to 
figure out the relatively simple layout of my campus. Once I found where all 
my classes were located, I stopped feeling like such a lost sheep.



The campus wasn't the source of my problems. What took me a long time was 
coming to terms with my blindness.



I've been legally blind since birth, and I'd long ago made peace with my 
blindness in a physical sense. But I still had some distance to go toward a 
deeper acceptance. College is the place where you're supposed to "find 
yourself," and by the time I approached my freshman year, I was growing 
tired of letting my disability define me. Even though I insisted on calling 
it my "visual dilemma," it had a major say in how I lived my life-and I 
wasn't okay with that.



Until I attended my first NFBI convention, I'd only met one other visually 
impaired person in my life. I didn't know what I was stumbling into that 
first convention weekend, but once I made it through, I knew I would never 
be the same. Everyone I met taught me to embrace my physical challenge and 
turn it into a massive strength. Though I'd never made my blindness a 
weakness, I still let it speak for me-and that's not what being blind is all 
about. It's about accepting every part of yourself, even the parts that 
don't work the way they're supposed to.



For the longest time I had shied away from the thing I wanted the most-to 
study dietetics. I kept my longing a secret; I thought no one would support 
me if I decided to pursue a major so "unsuitable" for a blind girl. Worse 
still, I'd somehow talked myself into believing I couldn't do it even if I 
tried.



But that same stubborn determination that convinced me to give college a try 
finally won out. I was done letting my self-doubt run the show. I took a 
chance, ignited a dream, and I haven't looked back since.



As I remember my first week living on my own, I realize I have nearly an 
unlimited number of people to thank. They taught me that it's not about 
being brave, but about having faith. Just because you can't see well doesn't 
mean you have to wander around aimlessly or call Mom for help (even though 
she's always there, just in case).



Being a college student with a disability has taught me never to let my 
limitations stand in my way. People may not always understand our needs, but 
that doesn't mean they're not willing to help. People may not always accept 
us, but that doesn't mean they'll disrespect us. And if they do, well, 
that's their loss.



If you ever do get lost and aren't sure where to go next, the NFBI has your 
back (and a handy set of directions, too). If you're about to go off to 
college for the first time, don't ever forget what you're leaving behind-a 
past that will, eventually, shape your future. If you let that past become 
an obstacle, there won't be a future. Face your fears. Discover who you are 
and love every piece of who you will become.



* * * * * * *



BRAILLE ENRICHMENT FOR LITERACY AND LEARNING

The 2013 Illinois BELL Program

by Amy Lund





















The National Federation of the Blind has developed an amazing curriculum 
that enhances Braille literacy. It is a core belief that literacy means 
reading, not listening, and Braille allows for this interaction with text.



On July 29, 2013, seven children from the Chicago area, ages four to 
thirteen, started a Braille adventure. Participation in the NFB BELL Program 
meant that the children were given instruction and enrichment opportunities 
to improve their Braille reading and writing skills. Safe travel skills and 
excursions were also included in our two-week adventure.



In our first week, the children were assessed by Gloria Moyer and Amy Lund, 
the program's co-teachers. Knowing where the participants were starting with 
their Braille skills was essential to plan the rest of their program. 
Braille lessons were specifically chosen for the children to improve their 
tracking, discrimination, letter identification, and reading rates. We also 
explored some physical activities such as goalball. The children were able 
to learn some of the basic rules and techniques of the sport. Everyone had a 
great time listening for the bell in the ball and seeing if they could 
locate the ball using their auditory skills.



We also traveled to the 12th Street Beach near Museum Campus, and we enjoyed 
the lack of sun so no one got sunburned. Traveling on the bus was new for 
some, but all listened well, and we arrived safely. We also traveled to the 
Brookfield Zoo, where Charles and Nicolette allowed us to pet different 
animals. The children and amazing blind mentors had a good time exploring 
the textures of the animals and enjoying a beautiful day at the zoo with new 
friends.



The second week of the BELL Program kicked off with lots of excitement for 
the week. The children were all giddy for the excursions that were planned, 
but first they had to do some Braille work! When Tuesday finally arrived, 
the kids were excited to go rock climbing at the Chicago Athletic Club in 
Lakeview. Keith and Rachel were fantastic at giving directions and keeping 
everyone safe, and all the children had a great time. On the bus rides home, 
some of the kids even started recognizing street names as the bus announced 
them.






















On our last trip of the program, the children and volunteers navigated to 
Navy Pier to enjoy the food court and the Children's Museum. Each child 
stayed within their budget amount for lunch and successfully navigated the 
busy food court. We also had an opportunity to see the Chicago Lighthouse 
for the Blind Store. Once paired with an adult mentor, the children were 
able to explore the Children's Museum and have a blast! I heard mentors even 
ask if they could jump into the activities because they looked like so much 
fun. We knew it was a sign of a great trip when we had to wake children up 
to transfer buses!



We were SO lucky to have incredible volunteers and blind mentors. I would 
like to thank Bill, Samantha, Chaquita, Adnana, Casandra, Steve, Jemal, 
Nadia, Brianna, Debi, Glenn, Marco, Mary, Hilda, Debbie S., Debbie P., 
Janna, Bruce, Alexa, Chris, Ashley, and Dave for their contributions to the 
program.



At the close of each day we celebrated our achievements and shared our 
excitement by ringing bells. The children celebrated their new literacy 
successes and the accomplishments of their peers, and shared their 
excitement about favorite activities. With each bell ringing, the volunteers 
were excited to see the growth of the children, in just a single day.



* * * * * * *



DARE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

The 2013 NFBI Teacher/Parent Seminar

by Deborah Kent Stein



On May 10 and 11, 2013, the NFB of Illinois held a two-day seminar for 
teachers and parents of blind and visually impaired children, "Dare to Make 
a Difference." It was the fifth annual seminar that the NFBI has hosted for 
parents and the second for teachers. The seminar took place at the Holiday 
Inn Express Hotel and Suites in Chicago. The program on May 10 was geared 
toward teachers, and the program on May 11 was directed primarily toward 
parents. Teachers and parents were welcome to attend on both days.



Planning for the seminar began months in advance. It involved a seemingly 
endless series of teleconference calls and email exchanges, beginning in 
December of 2012. The fact that we have held successful conferences in the 
past was a tremendous help. By now committee members have a clear idea what 
needs to be done. Everyone rides out the inevitable glitches 
philosophically, knowing that in the end things will turn out all right.



Our greatest challenge proved to be the conference date. Initially we hoped 
that the seminar would take place in April, as it has in previous years. Due 
to an assortment of scheduling conflicts, however, no April weekends were 
available this year, and we decided to hold the conference in May. We soon 
discovered that we were in direct competition with a host of proms, 
weddings, graduations, church programs, and family outings. This was a 
lesson learned! We will try to avoid hosting a May event in future years. On 
the plus side, though, we're happy to know that our blind children and their 
families lead such busy, active lives.



As always, spreading the word about the seminar to teachers and parents was 
a labor-intensive undertaking. The first wave of flyers and registration 
forms went out by email in January. Thirteen people made follow-up calls to 
parents, letting them know about the seminar and encouraging them to attend. 
The Seminar Committee worked closely with the Public Relations Committee to 
reach schools, agencies, and individual teachers of the visually impaired.



As much as possible, we gathered ideas for program topics from parents and 
teachers. Several teachers asked for an agenda item about helping blind 
children become more independent at home and at school. This topic was 
addressed on May 10th by a panel consisting of two teachers of the visually 
impaired and the father of a blind daughter who was about to set off for 
college.



Outside speakers gave presentations on both days of the seminar, and several 
of the presentations were enlivened with hands-on activities. Carlton Anne 
Walker, president of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children 
(NOPBC), gave the keynote speech to the parents. On each day of the seminar 
she gave hands-on demonstrations of how to teach blind children to make 
sandwiches and prepare hot chocolate. Each day of the program included the 
chance for the participants to experience an accessible sports activity 
firsthand-goalball for the teachers and judo for the parents. The children 
in Kids Camp and the teens in the Teen Scene also took part in the judo 
demonstration. As technology is always a topic of high interest, both days 
of the seminar included a presentation on accessible features of the Apple 
products by Helen Stevens, a technology instructor at BLIND, Inc. in 
Minneapolis.



On Saturday, May 11, in conjunction with the Parents' Seminar, the NFBI 
hosted all-day programs for children and teens. Kids Camp was open to 
children between the ages of three and eleven. Youth age twelve to eighteen 
attended the Teen Scene. The programs were open to blind children/teens and 
their sighted siblings. Blind adults contributed to both programs as 
volunteers. Activities at Kids Camp included story time, arts and crafts, 
music, and a movie with audio description. Among the activities at Teen 
Scene was a demonstration for the girls on how to apply makeup. The game of 
zip and hit (stringball) was planned, but it did not take place for lack of 
a Wiffle  ball bat-a serious oversight! The mentors quickly filled in with 
an impromptu project of making Mother's Day cards.



Many highlights stand out as we look back over this year's seminar. One 
couple said they were learning a lot and promised to bring their son, now 
two, to Kids' Camp next year. One little girl told her mother, "Guess what! 
We're coming back in six months!" referring to state convention. All of the 
participants asked questions and shared their experiences. That's what we 
hope for every year-lots of sharing and learning!



* * * * * * *



ACCESSING NFB NEWSLINE

WITH YOUR DIGITAL TALKING BOOK PLAYER

By David Meyer



During the past several years, the National Federation of the Blind has made 
a concerted attempt to create new methods for users to access NFB NewsLine. 
As a result, we now have several ways to access this service. You may access 
NewsLine through a computer application called Webnews on Demand. Another 
option is NewsLine in Your Pocket, an application that runs on several book 
readers created for blind users. Podable News enables users to customize 
their own newspaper reading. The Digital Talking Book Downloader enables the 
user to copy NewsLine content onto a cartridge or flash drive and play it on 
the NLS Digital Talking Book Machine.



The NLS Digital Downloader



Anyone who has the Digital Talking Book Player provided by the National 
Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) and a 
computer can use the Digital Talking Book Downloader. Any newspaper or 
magazine now available on Nfb-NewsLine may be downloaded to a cartridge or 
flash drive and played on the Digital Talking Book Player. As with any other 
application of NewsLine, the user may download content and listen anywhere, 
at any time, day or night.



With so many access methods available, what are the advantages of using the 
Digital Talking Book Player to listen to NewsLine? First of all, you do not 
need to buy an additional handheld reading device such as a Victor Stream, 
Braille Plus, or Book Sense. Second, you can enjoy the excellent sound 
quality offered by the Digital Talking Book Player. I find the sound to be 
quite balanced when the machine is set to its default settings, but users 
can experiment to find the setting they prefer.



Using the NLS Digital Downloader



In order to access NewsLine with the NLS Digital Downloader, you will need a 
computer, a cartridge or flash drive, and a Digital Talking Book Player. 
Also, you must install the Digital Talking Book Downloader to your computer. 
You can find this software at www.nfbnewslineonline.org.



Two versions of the software are available. One includes Java software, and 
the other is the DTB downloader minus the Java software. Unless you have 
up-to-date Java software installed already, it is best to install the 
version that includes Java.



Once you have installed the software, you can access it from your desktop by 
hitting the letter n until you hear "NLS Digital Talking Book Downloader." 
At this point you should have your flash drive or DTB cartridge connected to 
your computer. Press 'Enter'You will be welcomed to the NLS Digital Talking 
Book Downloader. The first time you have your drive connected, you will be 
prompted for your six-digit NFB-NewsLine ID number and security code. Type 
them in as prompted and press 'Enter' again. You will then be asked if you 
wish to have your device identified as your NLS DTB device, with your name 
being offered at the beginning of the prompt. Press 'y' for yes. Then press 
'Enter' a third time to establish your connection.



In order to use the NLS Digital Downloader, you will need to have a 
Favorites list established. You may use the Favorites list you have created 
for your phone, or you may create a new Favorites list by going to the link 
"Manage My DTB Favorites," which can be found under the link "Manage My 
Favorites." Once you have established a Favorites list, the program will ask 
you if you wish to download each item in your list. Type 'y' for yes or 'n' 
for no and press 'Enter'. Continue this process until you have marked each 
item in your Favorites list. Each individual newspaper or magazine will then 
be downloaded to your cartridge or flash drive. You can monitor the download 
by listening for the program to announce each individual megabyte that is 
downloaded. The files are in MP3 format, so it could take quite some time to 
download your selections.



Once the download is complete, press 'Control' plus 'c' to terminate the 
program. You may then listen to NFB-Newsline on your Digital Talking Book 
Player to your heart's content.



* * * * * * *



THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BLIND STUDENTS (NABS)

A Report from National Convention

by Jimmy Dickman and Ashley Griggs



Many topics were covered at the NABS meeting at the NFB national convention. 
Here is a short summary of the meeting.



There was a detailed discussion of the NFB scholarship program, with 
information about the application process. The 2013 scholarship recipients 
spoke about their majors, their plans for the future, and what the NFB means 
to them. They were all very articulate.



Student president Sean Whalen gave a speech filled with quotes taken from 
articles in the NABS publication, The Student Slate. All of them had to do 
with being part of the NFB and not just focusing on NABS or on our own state 
affiliates. Whalen ended his speech by saying, "What we do on the national 
level is important, but don't let it stop here." He urged us to be involved 
with our state affiliates, too. He told a story about a time when the Texas 
student chapter forgot to inform the state affiliate of a seminar they 
planned to hold. He said he was still recovering from the scolding!



Mary Fernandez gave a very funny and engaging talk about her life story. At 
one point she told her grade school teachers that she did not want an aide 
in class with her anymore. "From the shocked reaction I got, it was as if I 
asked to bring my pet duck to school every day!" she said. Her English 
teacher told her aide that she had to be in class with Mary; "What if she 
falls out of her chair?" Mary said that as a child she resisted reading 
Braille or using a cane. She explained that going to a training center gave 
her confidence.



Cody Bair also gave a speech that stressed the importance of independence 
and what going to a training center did for him. Being one with the 
Federation and not just keeping to our state affiliates seemed to be a 
recurring theme of the night, as Cody spoke about that as well.



Another topic was accessible textbooks. We heard from representatives from 
Desire to Learn and Bookshare. On the topic of technology, Bruce Gardner 
described how he uses the Victor Reader Stream as a teleprompter when he 
gives speeches.



We also heard about two projects in which the NFB is involved. The first one 
involves taking surveys to help determine the accessibility of certain 
products. The other is about pairing blind students with mentors who can 
help them find jobs.



In the NABS elections, two new board members were elected. They are Cody 
Bair and Tony Olivero.



During her presentation, the representative from Bookshare mentioned that 
the NABS meeting is one of the highlights of convention for her. People were 
very enthusiastic throughout the night, so it seems her statement was true 
for everyone.



* * * * * * *



TIPS AND TRICKS

Keeping Track of Socks

by Gina Falvo



This idea came from a discussion during a Membership Renewal Committee 
conference call. We thought it would be a good idea for people to submit 
blindness tips and tricks to the newsletter. Here is my laundry tip.



I use sock sorters to keep my pairs of socks together. Sock sorters are 
little plastic rings. You push the paired socks through the ring, and they 
stay together in the wash.



However, somehow I've lost a lot of paired socks between the basket and the 
washer. Now when I empty my clothes hamper, I put my pairs of socks into a 
small waste can until I wash them. It keeps them from wandering off. Small 
waste cans also come in handy to help knitters keep the balls of yarn from 
rolling away.



* * * * * * *



I AM FROM .

A Poem by Rupa Sprecher

(Winner of the 2013 NFB Youth Writing Contest)



Editor's Note: Rupa Sprecher is a seventh grader at James Farnsworth 
Elementary School in Chicago.



I am from the stereo in my living room

from lacy dresses and a bed

I am from the big brick Cape Cod house

music being played in my bedroom

I am from the lilac bush

whose long-gone limbs I remember

as if they were my own.



I'm from black hair and eating dinner together

from mom, dad, and little sister

I'm from sleeping late and not wanting to wake up.



I'm from "Do your homework" and "Be responsible"

and You Belong with Me.

I'm from India and America

curry and hamburgers

from meeting my new sister

a picture of me in my dress with the cape on the back

that is in the living room by the window.



* * * * * *



IN MEMORIAM: CONNIE DAVIS

by Deborah Kent Stein



On January 3, 2013, the Braille Examiner lost its able editor-in-chief, 
Connie Davis. She had battled ovarian cancer for seven months.



Connie Davis became editor of the Braille Examiner in 2003, and she 
alternated in the positions of editor-in-chief and coeditor until her 
passing. In November 2012, only a few weeks before her death, she produced 
her last issue.



Born with albinism, Connie grew up in Mattoon, a small town in central 
Illinois. Although few services were available for children with low vision, 
she attended her neighborhood school. After completing high school, she 
attended Illinois State and Eastern Illinois Universities, earning a 
teaching degree.



Connie was never able to drive--a serious limitation in a town such as 
Mattoon, which had no public transportation. After graduating from college 
she lived with her family and worked in a nearby day-care center. However, 
she was eager to move out on her own. After a year she obtained a teaching 
position in an elementary school in Nashville, Indiana. Like Mattoon, 
Nashville was a small town. Because the school was within walking distance 
of her apartment, travel to and from work was not a problem. Later Connie 
moved back to Illinois and taught in the town of Galva.



Through Bryan Johnson, a Federationist from Mattoon, Connie became 
acquainted with the National Federation of the Blind. Federationists 
encouraged her to look for a job in Chicago, where she would have the 
freedom to travel wherever she pleased on the buses and subways.



In 1982 Connie was hired to teach Spanish and French at a small Catholic 
high school, St. Gregory's Academy, on Chicago's North Side. She loved her 
work, and she was thrilled by her new life in the big city. She often 
referred to her "lifelong love affair with Chicago."



As soon as she got settled in Chicago, Connie became active in the Chicago 
Chapter of the NFB of Illinois. She chaired the Membership Committee in the 
mid 1980s, and later she chaired the Program Committee. She also served as 
Chicago Chapter secretary and as second vice president. On the national 
scene, Connie founded a listserv for people with albinism.



Like many people with partial vision, Connie resisted using a long white 
cane for years. However, after injuries from a series of falls, she began to 
use a cane in December of 2010. She described her decision in an article in 
the Braille Examiner, "A Dose of Humility and Reality" (Preconvention Issue 
2011). She hoped that her experience would encourage other people with low 
vision to accept the benefits that a cane could offer them.



Although she functioned visually in many ways, Connie regarded herself as "a 
blind person with some sight." She understood and respected blindness 
techniques, and she knew that Federationists would gladly teach her to use 
them any time she needed to learn.



With Connie's passing, the Braille Examiner lost a dedicated editor, and the 
NFB of Illinois lost a deeply committed long-time member. We miss you, 
Connie! Rest in peace!



* * * * * * *



REMEMBERING CONNIE

by Meg Dowell



I always used to think it would be cliché to look back on someone's illness 
and marvel about how they never complained. That was before I learned of 
Connie Davis's condition, before I learned of her decline-and then, over 
Facebook, learned of her passing. Now as I look back on those months, I find 
that her optimism through the ordeal still amazes me.



I stumbled upon the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois as a 
freshman in college, and as a sophomore I found myself diving headfirst into 
all it had to offer me. Before the weekend of my first convention had ended, 
I had earned myself a scholarship, a seat on the IABS board, and a plethora 
of new friends. Not too long after that, I found out about the Braille 
Examiner. I knew, as an aspiring writer, that I had at least to call into 
the next meeting.



After introducing herself to me that night-"Hi Meg, I'm so sorry I could not 
be at convention this year to have met you in person!"-Connie put me right 
to work as a proofreader. Then she started sending me articles, asking if I 
would be willing to look them over before she put them into the draft for 
the rest of the proofreaders to comb through. We emailed back and forth on a 
regular basis, talking about writing, editing, and the next issue of the 
Examiner. In retrospect I consider her one of my mentors as I wrestled with 
my decision to continue the pursuit of an English major while scrambling to 
catch up on another major as well. With each assignment she handed over to 
me, Connie reignited my passion for writing and editing-without even 
realizing she was doing it.



I first heard about Connie's illness on an Examiner call, planning out our 
next issue with the rest of the committee. She almost waved it off as no big 
deal, mentioning her treatments and what she wanted the timing of our work 
to be like, depending on how she might feel a few months from then. "I'll 
get through it," I remember her saying at one point. Then we moved on to 
discuss who would proofread the articles coming in, and that was that.



At our annual convention in October 2012, I met Connie in person for what 
proved to be the first and only time in my life. "It's so great to finally 
meet you!" she said with a smile. But we were in a crowded hallway, and 
there wasn't much time to chat. "We'll catch up later," she said, and we all 
filed into the room for our next session. I listened to her speak on the 
cancer panel that day, encouraged by her words even though I hadn't watched 
many people in my life suffer such an illness before.



We didn't end up getting together to "catch up" that weekend. It was okay, 
though; I knew there would be another time. I thought there would be another 
time.



Every time I talked to Connie, I was inspired. Her attitude toward the whole 
thing, even though we really didn't talk much about it specifically, made me 
believe I could fight any battle I ever walk into through the stages of my 
life. She was so optimistic that when we lost touch over that last month, I 
figured it was just because she was busy-busy living her life, getting 
through the treatments, working toward feeling better.



Then, the Friday before I returned to school for the spring semester, I 
learned that Connie had fought all she could-and lost.



It bothered me that I hadn't gotten to know her better, that I hadn't made 
time at convention to sit down to eat with her at least once, or to say 
goodbye to her before leaving the hotel at the end of the weekend. It took a 
long time for me to accept that I had known her better than I ever could 
have if I hadn't called into that first Examiner phone conference. The thing 
about life is, people walk into it-with a cane or without, seeing you 
physically or seeing what's beneath the surface-and they change you, usually 
without meaning to. And then, eventually, they walk away. Part of 
growing-growing up, growing old, growing wise-is knowing that's the way it 
goes; that's the way it will always go.



Connie is missed-she will always be missed. It's been long enough since her 
passing now that I can look back on the months I knew her and smile, 
remembering all the advice she ever gave me and hoping she smiles, too, as 
she watches my dreams come true.



* * * * * * *



CALENDAR



October 12, 2013

11 AM: Four Rivers Chapter Meeting

1 PM: Chicago Chapter Read-a-Thon, Exchequer Pub and Restaurant, 226 S. 
Wabash, Chicago



October 14

8 PM: Illinois Association of Blind Students Meeting, 805-360-1000 (pass 
code 4227)



October 25-27

NFB of Illinois Convention, Park Hotel, Bloomington, Illinois



November 3

7 PM: At Large Chapter Meeting, 805-360-1000 (pass code 6324)



November 9

11 AM: Four Rivers Chapter Meeting

1 PM: Chicago Chapter Meeting, Exchequer Pub and Restaurant, 226 S. Wabash, 
Chicago










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