The Braille Examiner March-April 2009 Editor: Connie J. Davis Co Editor: Deborah Kent Stein President: Patti Gregory-Chang CONTACT INFORMATION President: Patti Gregory-Chang, (773) 307-6640, pattichang@att.net Editor: Connie Davis, (773) 338-6922, condav8950@att.net Co-Editor: Deborah Kent Stein, (773) 631-1093, dkent5817@worldnet.att.net. Braille Duplication & Distribution: Carmen Dennis, , (773) 583-0899, carmen88@comcast.net Newsline(r): David Meyer, (708) 209-1767, datemeyer@sbcglobal.net Proofreaders: Francisco Chang & Carmen Dennis Website: www.nfbofillinois.org; Webmaster, Ruth Anne Wheeler Newsletter Committee Members: Araceli Avina, Nicole Gleason, Patrick Olson, Ronza Othman & Debbie Pittman ANNOUNCEMENTS Summer Opportunities for Youth Life 101 Summer Program at Blind Incorporated. (Excerpts taken from brochure) "The Life 101 Program is two programs in one; one for transition ages 14 - 17, and the other for those that are in, or about to attend college." "The dates for this group this summer is: July 14 through August 8, 2009." "Classes are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM." "The deadline for applying for the Life 101 Program is April 15." "To have an application for the Life 101 Program mailed or e-mailed to you, contact Al Spooner 612-872-0100 Ext. 226 Or Toll Free: 800-597-9558 E-mail: aspooner@blindinc.org You may also complete the Life 101 application on our web site at: http://www.blindinc.org/lifeapp.htm Return the completed application by mail or fax to: Life 101 Program BLIND, Incorporated 100 East 22nd Street Minneapolis, MN 55408 Fax: 612-872-9358 BLIND, Incorporated" The Buddy Program (Excerpts taken from brochure) This is "A summer adventure for children ages 9-13". The dates are "Friday, July 17 through Saturday, August 8, 2009". This is sponsored by Learning in New Dimensions, a division of Blind Incorporated in Minneapolis, Minnesota. "For an application, or for more information, please contact: Al Spooner aspooner@blindinc.org or call: 800-597-9558 ext. 226". Colorado Center for the Blind (Excerpts taken from brochure) * Initiation to Independence Middle School Program: Monday, July 20th - Saturday, August 8th * Earn and Learn High School Program: Saturday, June 13th - Saturday, August 8th * Summer for Success College Program: Saturday, June 13th - Saturday, August 8th Applications should be submitted as soon as possible due to limited space. Contact: Julie Deden, Executive Director, 303-778-1130 ext. 210 or 1-800-401-4632 or email at jdeden@cocenter.org Louisiana Center for the Blind "Striving for Success" is a part of "Summer Training and Employment Program" (STEP) and is eight weeks "in duration at the Louisiana Center for the Blind". Training will begin June 7, 2009 and conclude August 8, 2009. A break is scheduled for July 9-17th. If you are interested, please complete, detach and return the application by April 10 or call Eric Guillory at 800-234-4166." "Putting the Pieces Together" is a part of the "Buddy Program 2009". It is for children in grades four through eight. "This summer, the Louisiana Center for the Blind will sponsor one session of the "Buddy" Program from July 19-August 8." "If you are interested, please complete and return the attached information sheet by April 10th or call Eric Guillory at 800-234-4166." A link for application forms and brochures can be found on our website http://www.nfbofillinois.org or can be mailed by contacting Patti Gregory-Chang our state president by calling (773) 307-6440 or by e-mailing pattichang@att.net. Scholarships and Internships Every year, NFBI offers scholarships to blind college students. These scholarships assist full-time students who are attending two or four year colleges or universities. Only three scholarships are offered. We also offer internship opportunities to blind college students. These internships help blind students to get work experience. Only two students are selected of the applicants and must have a good academic average. If you are interested you must submit your application by March 31st. For more information about the scholarships and the internships, please visit our website www.nfbofillinois.org. You may also call or e-mail Debbie Stein at (773) 631-1093, (773) 203-1394 or dkent5817@worldnet.att.net. National Scholarships Our national organization, NFB, offers scholarships, as well. There are thirty scholarships awarded annually. If you wish to apply for one of these thirty scholarships, please visit our national website at www.nfb.org. You will find more information and an application form there. The deadline is March 31, 2009 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. If you have questions, please contact our state president, Patti Gregory-Chang at (773) 307-6440 or pattichang@att.net. Financial Assistance for National Convention James Chappell Award The award is intended to assist persons interested in NFBI to attend conventions, seminars, and the like. Recipients of the Chappell Award must demonstrate genuine interest in, and commitment to the blind of Illinois or the potential to develop such interest and commitment. Recipients are expected to attend all sessions relative to the event for which they receive assistance. The deadline for this application is May 1. The application form is available online at our website: www.nobofillinois.org. Or you can obtain one by calling Patti Gregory-Chang, our state president at (773) 307-6440 or by e-mailing pattichang@att.net. Jernigan Fund The Jernigan Fund is also a fund to help people attend conventions. However, this financial assistance comes from our national office. The deadline for this is also May 1. You can obtain information about this from Patti Gregory-Chang, (773) 307-6440 or pattichang@att.net. *Note: First-time attendees, you must apply for both awards in order to receive one of them. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LOUIS! By Debbie Kent Stein On January 4, 2009, Federationists across the country honored the two hundredth birthday of Louis Braille, the genius inventor who created the reading and writing system named in his honor. A group of Chicago Chapter members gathered at the Barnes and Noble bookstore in the DePaul Center downtown as part of the nationwide celebration. Debbie Stein, Mary Lou Grunwald, Kelly Doty, Byron Lee, and Araceli Avina greeted shoppers and answer questions about blindness, Braille, and the NFB. They handed out alphabet cards and wrote people's names in Braille, along with short messages for them to decode. Barnes and Noble's Deborah Liebow made sure to place the NFB table in the most traveled spot in the store, between the register and the cafe. She also made hourly announcements over the public address system encouraging patrons to stop by and learn about the work of the Federation. The store was fairly quiet, since it was the first Sunday after Christmas, but the people who stopped by seemed sincerely interested. They were excited to discover how quickly they could decipher their first Braille words. The event helped to demystify Braille and show the public that it is a practical reading method for blind people. The Louis Braille birthday celebration kicks off a yearlong program to educate the public about Braille and to promote Braille literacy. A landmark event will be the release of the Louis Braille commemorative coin by the U.S. Mint, scheduled for March 26. Proceeds from the sale of this coin will help support the Federation's Braille literacy initiative. Stay tuned for news of more Braille activities throughout the yearlong Louis Braille Bicentennial! WHAT HAS NFB-NEWSLINE DONE FOR YOU By David Meyer In several issues of our state newsletter, I have written about what NFB-NEWSLINE(r) has to offer, how one might use various features, and how to use the system economically. I hope some of you have found my pointers helpful. Turning things around a bit, I find myself asking for help from all of you who presently use NFB-NEWSLINE(r). There are probably as many uses for NFB-NEWSLINE(r) as there are people using it. For example, I have heard our current state president say that she probably learns as much about her place of employment through NFB-NEWSLINE(r) as she does through any other source, including her employer. I have heard others say that they use NEWSLINE(r) for pleasure. I have heard others say that they have used it to find a job opportunity. One person used NEWSLINE(r) as part of a summer program for blind high school students. The students were told to write research papers, using NFB-NEWSLINE(r) to gather information. By now, I hope you are beginning to ask yourself what I might be looking for from you. I am looking for stories on how NFB-NEWSLINE(r) has helped you. Has it helped you in a financial matter? Has it helped you to develop a friendship or break the ice with a coworker? Has it helped you become a more informed voter? In short, what has NFB-NEWSLINE(r) done to enhance your life? Now that I have asked all of these questions, it would only be fair for me to attempt to answer these questions myself. Two experiences come to mind. In the first one NEWSLINE(r) gave a bit of financial assistance to my wife and me. When I read the Chicago Tribune on Sunday, I make a habit of checking out the section on transportation. It was in one of these columns that I learned that the "permanent" coolant in our 2001 Buick Century was not permanent after all. I learned that though this coolant represented a marked improvement over traditional antifreeze, it should be changed every four years or so. And so it was that one lovely day my wife Teresa was taking our car in for an oil change. As the car was nearing four years old, I told her she should have the coolant checked. I assured her that there would be no big deal; the worst that could happen was that the coolant would need to be changed. How wrong I was! To the surprise of all of us, including the technician, the container in which the coolant was located was only half full. It turned out that we had blown a head gasket. Had we not had the coolant checked, we would likely have lost the engine some time that winter. Teresa called me and stated in as calm a manner as she was able that we had a $1,100 repair to worry about. Fortunately we had purchased an extended warranty for the car, so our visit only cost the price of new coolant and a rental car, which Teresa drove for a couple of days. Had we lost the engine, the repair would have cost around $3,000. Beyond that, in all likelihood it would not have been covered, because we would have been considered negligent. Several years ago, I used to listen to NFB-NEWSLINE(r) during my lunch hour. One day, I read a story about a choir director who had brought fame to his parish. He was a master at fund raising, and successfully raised enough money through his own efforts to enable his parish to purchase a new pipe organ. Because he was gay the parish pastor demanded that he terminate his relationship with a partner in order to keep his job. When he refused, he was fired. I turned to a coworker whom I did not relate to very well and made a comment about this priest's attitude. My comment piqued his interest, and he asked me what I was listening to. I explained what NFB-NEWSLINE(r) is and how I was able to access papers with it. As my phone had a speaker feature we listened to the article together. It turned out that he had sung in a choir directed by this same individual. This led to an interesting discussion during that lunch hour, and eventually to a more relaxed relationship between us. Now that I have told my stories, I hope some of you might share how you use NFB-NEWSLINE(r), or how you have been helped through your use of this service. Please send your stories to David Meyer at datemeyer@sbcglobal.net. Or, you may call me at 708-209-1767. THE ILLINOIS NINE IN 2009 NFBI Members Participate in Washington Seminar By Annette Grove For the past 37 years, Federationists from throughout the country have gathered in Washington DC during the early days of Congress to advocate for issues that reflect the philosophy and strategic positions of the National Federation of the Blind. The Illinois affiliate continued its tradition of supporting this event by sending nine of its members to participate. The Illinois delegation joined with more than 400 others from 48 states and Puerto Rico to speak to the decision-makers in the 111th Congress on behalf of the blind of our nation. The visits to the 21 Illinois Congressional offices that are currently occupied were concentrated into two days of careful planning. Teams of two and three Federationists took to the halls of Congress, traversing elevators, basements, sub-basements, busy corridors, sidewalks, escalators, crowded freshman offices and prestigious spaces occupied by senior Congressmen. After all was said and done; eighteen feet begged for massages, but only one cane tip needed replacement and another cane experienced an early demise. During each visit, teams spent fifteen to twenty minutes discussing the three critical issues and seeking support. Readers of this article are also urged to contact their own representatives and Illinois senators to listen to our concerns and to seek co-sponsorship of bills that have been introduced which support these initiatives: 1. To urge Congress to ensure the safety of blind and other pedestrians by passing the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2009. HR 734 (Townes/Stearns) would require the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to: * Begin a study within ninety days of its enactment to determine the most practical means of assuring that blind and other pedestrians receive essentially similar information to what they now receive from sound emitted by internal combustion engines; * Determine the minimum amount of sound necessary to offer sufficient information for blind pedestrians to make safe travel judgments based on appropriate scientific research and consultation with blind Americans and other affected groups; * Within two years of beginning the study, promulgate a motor vehicle safety standard to address the needs of blind and other pedestrians by requiring either a minimum level of sound or an equally effective means of providing the same information as is available from hearing internal combustion engines; and * Apply the standard to all motor vehicles manufactured or sold in the United States beginning no later than two years after the date it is promulgated. 2. To urge Congress to work with blind Americans to create a Technology Bill of Rights for the Blind that mandates consumer electronics, home appliances, and office equipment to provide user interfaces that are accessible through non-visual means. This legislation should: * Mandate that all consumer electronics, home appliances, and office equipment be designed so that blind people can access the same functions as sighted people through non-visual means and with substantially equivalent ease of use; * Create a commission comprised of essential stakeholders to establish standards for non-visual accessibility of electronic devices intended for use in the home or office; * Endow the commission with enforcement powers or locate it within a government agency having such powers; and * Authorize it to reexamine and rewrite standards to keep pace with the evolution of consumer electronic technology. 3. To urge Congress to promote and facilitate the transition by blind Americans from recipients of Social Security Disability Insurance benefits to income-earning, taxpaying, productive members of the American workforce. HR 886 (Lewis) provides for the following changes: * Replace the monthly earnings penalty with a graduated 3-for-1 phase-out (i.e., a $1 reduction in benefits for each $3 earned above the limit); * Replace the monthly earnings test with an annualized earnings test with an amount equal to twelve times the Substantial Gainful Activity amount; and * Establish an impairment-related work expense deduction for blind Social Security Disability Insurance beneficiaries equal to the amount applicable for this deduction when determining an appropriate income subsidy under Medicare Part D or 16.3 percent of earnings, whichever is greater. Each morning, the Illinois delegation met in the lobby of the Holiday Inn Capitol to begin the brisk twenty-minute walk down Independence Avenue and up Capitol Hill to the Rayburn Building. Arriving early in the day enabled the group to "stake out a claim" in the cafeteria as a point of reference, debriefing and fellowship. It was encouraging to enter the cafeteria on Monday morning to receive a hearty and friendly greeting from a familiar voice. Karl Britton, twenty-four year veteran scheduler for Congressman Jerry Costello was picking up his morning coffee and bagel as we maneuvered the food court to get our own "fuel" for the day. It was rewarding to know that we are indeed noticed and appreciated as constituents with a voice to be heard! Kelly Doty, one of our first-time Washington Seminar attendees, noted that she "was happy that the groups I was in did not encounter the patronizing attitude that some attendees to Washington Seminar have complained about in the past". Our actions do seem to be changing attitudes in a very positive way. As you might expect, the Rayburn Cafeteria is so much more than a place to meet and eat. As Dave Meyer, another first-timer mused: "When we walked into the Rayburn Cafeteria for the first time, I began to speculate, just how many decisions might have been influenced in that room that have changed the course of U.S. or even world history." As we discussed our own issues, we could overhear a myriad of other advocates discussing issues related to public lands, support for technical colleges, health care priorities, farm subsidies, etc. We certainly enjoyed that equal status in the belly of the boiler room of our democracy. Participating in Washington Seminar is not your mother's vacation to the Capitol City. It entails long hours and hard work that begins at least a month before the event itself. With the support of our affiliate organizers, Syed Yousufuddin and Annette Grove, participants received logistical information and documents to prepare for a productive experience. Additionally, the national organizers prepared extremely useful role-play experiences and training regarding the issues to be discussed and the protocols to be followed. Arriving in DC on Saturday, participating in training all day on Sunday, working the Congress on Monday and Tuesday and connecting with friends following debriefings each evening, didn't leave much time for sleep. All participants continued to be impressed with the importance of preparation and training. Denise Avant, another first-time attendee, commented that: "the training at the national and state levels provided me with valuable information, and gave me the confidence that I could effectively communicate the NFB's position on the key issues in a clear and concise manner." And, lest you think that a full day and some of training and twenty-one visits weren't enough to keep nine people busy, the "Illinois Nine in 2009" did include four "overachievers." Lois Montgomery played the role of Senator Montgomery during the role-play experience in Sunday's training; Kelly Doty and Lois found time to attend a two-hour planning and training session for the Louis Braille Commemorative Coin Campaign; Dave Meyer and Lois volunteered to Braille the results of Congressional visits from all states in the Mercury Room, nerve central for the event; and Beth Sturman arrived a day early to participate in the activities of the Parents' Seminar and worked hard to assist national in establishing relationships with education officials in the new administration. Beth summed it up simply for all of us: "It was an awesome experience!" First-timer and parent of a blind son, Beth Sturman was "extremely impressed how well our team worked together and shared the responsibilities of each role. The communications of the expectations were clearly defined and well presented to our team." So, maybe it wasn't "your mother's vacation to Washington", but we did manage to celebrate the success of our teamwork. Our last evening together featured dinner at Old Ebbitt Grill, the oldest oyster bar and saloon in Washington DC with continuous history that dates from its founding in 1856. Located just a couple of blocks from the White House, it is still the place to go to see and to be seen. After a wonderful dinner, we walked a short block to Pennsylvania Avenue, crossed the street to the U.S. Treasury and continued the leisurely stroll to the East Gate of the White House. The Illinois Nine are pictured here with the White House beautifully illuminated in the background. While we are still "outside the fence", our work at this year's Washington Seminar is just one more step towards moving inside. We invite all of you who share that hope for our future to be a part of Washington Seminar 2009 by visiting your representatives in Congress in their district offices in your local communities and by considering applying to be part of the 2010 Washington Seminar Illinois contingent. L to R: Kelly Doty, Anthony Thomas, Lois Montgomery, Annette Grove, Denise Avant, Jemal Powell, Beth Sturman, Syed Yousufuddin and Dave Meyer To volunteer to follow up with personal visits to your Congressional district offices, to receive additional information on the issues or to hear about those things we just couldn't publish, please contact Annette Grove at annette.grove@goodwill.org or 618-235-3330 or Syed Yousufuddin at syedy2003@hotmail.com or 773-814-8556 This article is courtesy of the Belleville News Democrat ADAPTING TO CAMPUS LIFE Published: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 Section: Local/National Page: 1A Caption: By Rickeena J. Richards News-Democrat LEBANON --- Imagine life at college: the dorms, the clubs, the parties, the campus life. Now imagine not being able to see any of it. Meet John Kimbrough and Stephen Kissel, two McKendree University students whose college experiences lack one thing --- eyesight. October is Meet the Blind Month, the National Federation of the Blind's nationwide campaign to encourage Americans to meet blind people and learn about their experiences. Kimbrough and Kissel said that with a few minor adjustments, their experiences on campus are similar to those of other students. "The only thing blind people cannot do is drive," said Kimbrough, of Swansea. "We can pretty much figure out anything else. We just have a different method of accomplishing things." Both Kimbrough and Kissel use laptoplike devices with a Braille keyboard to take notes in class. They also have access to resources in the university's Academic Support Center, such as staff who read their tests and assignments to them and computer software that reads back what they type. Students with disabilities also visit the center to work out any accommodations they may need for class. "Whatever they need outside of the classroom, I'm their support," said director Clarissa Melvin, who said she also serves as a liaison between students and their instructors to communicate students' various academic needs. Kimbrough, said although he uses the center for tests and homework assignments, school itself is not a challenge because he is blind. "School is not difficult for me because I love learning," said the psychology major, who hopes to one day counsel abuse victims. "That's the only reason I freaked out when I first lost my sight, because I thought I couldn't get an education." Kimbrough lost his eyesight at age 8 due to problems with the retina in his right eye and an optic nerve in his left eye. He is also deaf in his left ear and has partial hearing loss in his right. He said his only real challenge living on campus is navigating it. "There are so many sidewalks that if you don't pay attention you'll choose the wrong sidewalk and get turned around," he said. Kissel, who had been visually impaired since birth and was blind by his senior year in high school, said, "I encounter a lot of the same obstacles any other college student encounters." The Collinsville native is a a senior at McKendree majoring in history with the goal of someday teaching it. He said being blind forces him to focus on how he approaches his daily tasks. "I just kind of turned the blindness around and used it as motivation to say, `How can I succeed? How can I get through this despite this condition?'" Kissel said. He admitted those aren't always easy questions to answer. Kissel is a member of the McKendree Community Action Team, a community service group, the Newman Catholic Campus Ministries, the McKendree History Society and the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society --- all while maintaining a grade point average of about 3.8. He said getting involved in campus groups and activities is important because it is a good way to find the people who will help you when you need it. "That's where you're going to make your connections and your friends," he said. Kimbrough also strong-ly urged students to get involved in college. He maintains a 3.2 grade point average as a member of the debate team, the psychology club, Campus Ministries and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Both Kimbrough and Kissel described their fellow McKendree students as supportive and --- when they lack understanding --- inquisitive. They said one thing people often don't understand about blind people is when and how to help them. "Some people may have different opinions about "How much help do I offer this person and how do I go about offering it?'" Kissel said. "I'd rather people just ask me." Kimbrough said people shouldn't be afraid of helping, but should do so only if their assistance is wanted. He said those who are losing or have lost eyesight have the right to be upset but they should realize the loss does not make them "disabled." "Yes, I'm blind," he said. "But that's not going to stop me from doing what I want to do." Contact reporter Rickeena J. Richards at rrichards@bnd.com or 239-2562. NFBI STATE CONVENTION, ROOM RESERVATIONS By Bob Gardner, Special Events Committee It's not too early to make room reservations for our upcoming state convention this fall. The convention will start at noon on Friday, October 9, and continue until noon on Sunday, October 11. The location will be the Holiday Inn O'Hare in Chicago. We have had several conventions at this location, most recently in 2006. The hotel has had previous incarnations as a Ramada Inn and Clarion-Barcelo. With new owners and management, the Holiday Inn O'Hare has been refurbished, and now has microwaves, refrigerators, and free Internet in all rooms. Location and contact info: Holiday Inn O'Hare 5615 N. Cumberland Avenue Chicago, Illinois 60631 Phone: (773) 693-5800 When making room reservations, be sure to tell them you are with the NFBI to get our special room rate of $73. DAILY LIVING TIPS AND TRICKS By Mingkhwan Zehner and Edwin Zehner Mingkhwan Zehner is currently a student at Rock Valley College in Rockford. This article is based on a piece about alternative techniques of blindness that she wrote for the newsletter of the Illinois School for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ISVI). Here are Mingkhwan's answers to a series of questions her father posed about her non-visual methods for handling everyday activities. Q. How do you maintain records for your checking and savings accounts at the bank, and how do you deal with the tellers when you go there? A. I usually do the banking by phone and that is how I keep track of the money. When I go to the bank, I have the tellers help me make my deposits. They are very helpful there, and I figure it's their job to help people with banking. I have a Braille register that I write in. I organize it into columns like other registers. When I have to write checks, I have someone help me. I also use a credit card to make transactions. I keep track of how much I charge on my credit card because it is important to make your payments on time and in full every month so that the interest does not pile up. To make payments using the machine is very easy. I just slide in the credit card or debit card through the machine. I know which way to put in the card. I can feel the engravings on the card, and I've learned which way it goes in. Yes, I've made mistakes inserting the card when I was not paying attention, but if you make a mistake it will not go through anyway. When I am dialing the digits for my pin, there are usually buttons that I can feel, like a telephone pad. But since technology is getting to the point when all things are touch screens, I usually have someone help me with this process. Q. When you cook eggs, how do you know they are done? How do you know if you are adding the right amount of salt? How do you make macaroni and cheese (most sighted people would think it is hard to measure the right amount of milk?)? What are your favorite dishes to prepare? What are some of the other tricks you use around the kitchen? A. Well, let's start with the easy question: "How do I know that the eggs are done when I am cooking them?" All foods have a certain smell to them when they are done. I don't bother flipping the eggs, because, hey, that is me. I do things the easy way. I just stir them up in the pan, but carefully so that they don't go over the edge. As for macaroni and cheese, it is easy for me. If you want to make it from a box, all you have to do is cut the butter stick in half. When it comes to the milk, the number 1 thing is, don't measure over the pan!!!! I did that one time and I had macaroni and cheese soup! Luckily, I wasn't making it for anyone but myself, but it was still gross. I learn what the different size measuring cups mean and then go from there. I measure the milk over a bowl. Then I just carry it to the stove. I do the same with the salt. I can tell by feel if the noodles are done. If I'm not sure, I dip a spoon in there and take a taste. If I want to try it again, I get another spoon. For my favorite dish, I love to cook spring rolls. I boil the noodles and stick different seasonings in there and then use a rice wrap to wrap the noodles in. First the rice wrap has to have time to soak in the water to make it soft and flexible. Q. I know a lot of people are told that when you serve food to a blind person you should tell them what is on the plate and where it is. "Potatoes are at 3 o'clock, beans at 10 o'clock, roast beef at 6 o'clock", and so forth. Do you feel that is helpful or necessary? A. At home we almost never do that. If you give me a plate of something, I take a bite here and there to see if I like it. Doesn't everyone do that? If I am ordering from a menu, then I know what to expect will be on my plate. There are no surprises. When things are passed to me in a family style, people usually say, "Hey, this is mashed potatoes", or whatever. I just serve myself like the others who are sitting at the table. Q. When you were younger, I remember that for a long time it was a challenge for you to work with a fork and knife to cut up large pieces of food neatly. Now you seldom ask for help cutting your food. What is your secret? A. When I have a plate in front of me, I feel around with the fork. I can feel what is big and smooth vs. what is small and bite-size. If I find something big and smooth like a steak on my plate, I feel around with the fork to see where the edge is. Then I start to slice. You do have to be careful! If you slice too hard and too overly gestured, then the food will end up on the table and either you lose your meal or you have to eat off the table! Q. When you first started doing laundry, it was a challenge for you to measure the soap. And for an even longer time you used to ask people to help you sort light clothes from dark clothes. But now neither one of these seems to be an issue, and you do them both independently. What is your secret for that? A. I get laundry soap that has a cup or a scoop in the box or on the bottle and I measure it carefully. It doesn't matter what kind of soap it is (powder or liquid). For the darks and whites, I mark the dark clothes with a thread and leave the whites alone. This requires a sighted person's help to tell me which is dark and whites the first time around, but from then on I can do it myself. This brings me to another topic - sewing. For sewing I use a simple gadget called a needle threader. It has a wire loop at one end. I push the end of the thread through the loop and then squeeze the threaded loop through the eye of the needle. That pulls the thread through the needle's eye, and I have a needle threaded and ready to go. To mark clothes I weave the thread into the darks, back and forth in the same place. Then when I am done I loop it back into the thread so that it can hold. When I am doing the laundry, the knotted thread will not fall off in the washer. Q. How do you assemble your outfits so that your clothes are coordinated? How much help do you need from others in shopping and organizing your clothes? A. I wear blue jeans a lot. That is very easy because jeans always look good these days, and blue is my color to wear when I am relaxed. Any color seems to go good with blue for some reason. When I go shopping for clothes, I ask for input. If I go with my mom I trust her because, you know, mothers, they have the eye. They know the daughter better than the daughter knows herself! Q. What is your system for handling paper money? A. I used to fold my bills in different ways, but sometimes they would come unfolded when I put other bills into my wallet. For me, an easier way is to have a few cards in my wallet. There is a card for $1, $5, $10, etc., and I put Braille labels on them. I put my bills behind each card with the labeled bill indicator. The $1 bills go behind the card labeled $1, And so forth. They are laid out straight and there is no way to get them mixed up. When I pay for something and get change from a cashier I ask, "What bill is this?" It all comes down to trust. Most of my daily living tasks are common sense tasks. But if a person is not familiar with a blind individual, they are more likely to ask questions. I am taking the time to write and explain how I do things so that I may educate others about the blind community. We are just normal people. If we learn how to deal with blindness by talking to other blind people that have high confidence levels, it helps more than you might think possible. I remember when I went to the NFB convention when I was maybe nine or ten years old. I didn't have much confidence in myself yet, but when I heard the others using their canes and attended meetings for other young people I gained more confidence in myself. I was able to cope with my blindness better than what I had in the past. I was unstoppable! I would travel without help at the convention and was out until late at night sometimes (not too late, for I was a little girl then). When I was sixteen I attended another convention, and since I was older, I wouldn't come back to my room in the convention hotel until midnight or sometimes one-thirty. I was really enjoying myself. I think that if I had tagged along with my dad all the time I would have been very bored. People have their own likes and dislikes, and that is why I went off by myself. SELF-EXPRESSION By Debbie Kent Stein In the National Federation of the Blind we believe that blindness need not be a tragedy, and that with the proper attitude and training it can be reduced to an inconvenience. We work hard to promote our positive philosophy and to teach through the example of our own lives. Yet as blind people we have all sometimes known the pain of being dismissed and discounted by others. In this issue we include poems by two Illinois Federationists who write honestly about these painful interactions. By recognizing that such moments occur we can find the strength and courage to move beyond them, and to believe in ourselves even when others fail to see us for who we truly are. Through the Eyes of a Small World By Gina Falvo It's always been the same. I walk into a room, people stare. If I voice an opinion, people object. If I ask a question, people let me know if it's not a good question. If I answer a question, people will let me know if it's the wrong answer. If I seek advice, people will let me know it is lost. This is through the eyes of a small world. I Am By Connie J. Davis I am a daughter. I am a sister. I am a niece. I am a cousin. I am a friend. I am worthy of love and respect. Just because I am blind does not make me less. If you treat me as less, it makes you less. NFBI CALENDAR OF EVENTS Courtesy of Ruth Anne Wheeler, NFBI Yahoo calendar, www.nfbofillinois.org & IL-talk By Connie J. Davis March 2009 March 7 Chicago Lighthouse Braille Challenge-12:00-4:00 p.m. (two Chicago Chapter participants attending) **Chicago Chapter Board Meeting-11:30 a.m. Chicago Chapter Meeting-1:00-4:00 p.m., Exchequer Pub, 226 S. Wabash, Chicago, IL Ferris Wheel Chapter Meeting-9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Jacksonville Public Library, 201 W. College, Jacksonville, IL Heartland Kankakee Chapter Meeting-10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Bourbonnais, Public Library, 750 W. John Casey Rd., Bourbonnais, IL March 8 IABS Board Meeting-via conference call, 8:00-11:00 p.m., phone number: (712) 580-7700 code 4227 March 9 Public Relations Committee Meeting-via conference call 8:00 p.m., phone number (712) 580-7000 code 6324 March 12 Legislative Breakfast-7:30 a.m, Hall of Flags, Howlett Building, Springfield, IL March 14 Four Rivers Chapter-10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Belleville Public Library, 121 E. Washington, Belleville, IL Blackhawk Chapter-1:30-4:30 p.m., South Moline Township Center, 637 17th Ave., East Moline, IL March 22 NFBI State Board Meeting-via conference call, 6:00 p.m., phone number (712) 580-7700 code 6324 March 26 Release of Louis Braille Commemorative Coin March 31 Deadline for State and National Scholarship applications and for Internship applications. April 2009 April 4 NFBI Parent Seminar-8 a.m.-4:00 p.m., Holiday Inn O'Hare, Chicago, IL Ferris Wheel Chapter Meeting-9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Jacksonville Public Library, 201 W. College, Jacksonville, IL Heartland Chapter Meeting-10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m., Bourbonnais Public Library, 750 W. John Casey Rd, Bourbonnais, IL April 5 IABS Board Meeting-via conference call, 8:00-11:00 p.m., phone number (712) 580-7700 code 4227 April 10 Deadline for submission of application for Striving for Success and Putting the Pieces Together Summer Programs at Louisiana Center for the Blind (Please see Announcements Article) April 11 Four Rivers Chapter Meeting-10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Belleville Public Library, 121 E. Washington, downtown Belleville, Belleville, IL Chicago Chapter Meeting-1:00-4:00 p.m., Exchequer Pub, 226 S. Wabash, Chicago, IL Blackhawk Chapter Meeting-1:30-4:30 p.m., South Moline Township Center, 637 17th Ave., East Moline, IL April 15 Application deadline for applying for the Life 10 Summer Program at Blind Inc. (See Announcements Article) May 1 Application deadline for the Chappell Award and Jernigan Fund Assistance for National Convention **This is a different date from when we usually meet. It is the first Saturday of the month rather than the second Saturday.