[MD-AtLarge] Braille Spectator- Fall / Winter 2024
Maryland President
president at nfbmd.org
Sun Nov 23 02:26:54 UTC 2025
Braille Spectator, Fall/Winter 2024
THE BRAILLE SPECTATOR, Fall/Winter 2024
A semi-annual publication of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
Ronza Othman and Sharon Maneki, co-editors
Published on <http://www.nfbmd.org/> www.nfbmd.org and on NFB Newsline by The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
Ronza Othman, President
Comments and questions should be sent to <mailto:President at nfbmd.org> President at nfbmd.org.
In this issue:
* Explaining the Publication Delay: Remembering Leslie Hughan
* National Federation of the Blind of Maryland 2025 Annual Convention: Lead, Love, Live!
* The BELLs Ring in Maryland
* Perspectives on Attending an NFB National Convention
* Coffee with an NFB Staff Member: Jesse Shirek
* Narrowing the Gap Graduation
* NFBMD: Watchdog for the Blind in Annapolis
* Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: Leaders in Maryland
* Chapter Spotlight: NFBMD Parents of Blind Children Division – Part 2
* Blind Industries and Services of Maryland Employees Recognized
* Spectator Specs
Explaining the Publication Delay: Remembering Leslie Hughan
By Ronza Othman
Typically, the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland publishes this magazine, the Braille Spectator, twice a year. In 2024, though we prepared two editions for publication, we were unable to publish the second edition of the year due to the passing of our proofreader and copy editor, Leslie Hughan. Leslie passed away very unexpectedly on December 1, 2024 at the age of 41 due to an aneurism. Leslie leaves behind her husband and four children, ages 15, 13, and 8-year-old twins with significant disabilities; they were both born very premature.
Leslie served as the NFB of Maryland’s proofreader and copy editor since 2019. Though most members never met her, she touched nearly all of our programs, from our legislative fact sheets to our fundraising campaign materials to our state convention agenda, and of course, our semi-annual magazine. Leslie was thorough, insightful, and a perfectionist. But she was a delight to work with, and her sense of humor was quirky and exactly what you’d expect from a word nerd, but better. She loved the Oxford comma and believed, rightly, that using only one space after a period was a hanging offense. She and I were always in sync when it came to style and formatting, except that she constantly tried to convince me that I needed to change how I write dates in prose. Leslie liked abbreviating month names, and I find that to be like nails on a chalkboard. I think she enjoyed pushing my buttons about that issue because it was so easy.
Leslie was able to make words behave better than anyone else. She also had a gift for finding a single word to replace the ten words I’d used to try to get my idea across. She learned how to make documents accessible specifically for this role, and then she went on to teach others in her non-NFB life about the importance of making documents and information accessible.
Leslie was a fierce advocate for special education. She managed her twins’ IEP processes like a ninja – she’d quietly participate in the meetings, and then she’d bust out her knowledge of laws, data she collected herself, and best practices she’d researched, and by the end of the meeting, her kids got what they needed and the IEP team hadn’t known what hit them.
On numerous occasions, I would share that I was trying to help a family of a blind child with an IEP and describe the particular challenge. Leslie provided creative and very effective ideas on resolving those challenges even though she was fairly new to the blindness space. She became the “go-to” person in her school system for IEP advocacy advice.
This edition of the Braille Spectator was with Leslie for final proofing and formatting when she passed away. We were stunned and devastated by her passing, and it felt wrong to try to move forward with this edition so soon after her passing. She had intended to send me her edited version within a few days of her passing. It also took us quite a bit of time to find someone to step into this role, which resulted in the delay of our 2025 Spring edition being published.
To honor Leslie, we’re moving forward with publication of this edition now. Though it has nearly been a year since her passing, her work deserves to be shared. The articles in this edition have not been altered, so some information may feel a little out of date; this is with the exception of this introductory explanation and dedication, and our changing the 2025 convention preview article to a review article.
We dedicate this edition of the Braille Spectator to our friend and colleague, Leslie Hughan. Rest in Power. Your legacy lives on in this and all the other amazing contributions you made to this world.
The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland 2025 Annual Convention: Lead, Love, Live!
By Ronza Othman
The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland (NFBMD) held our 59th annual Convention from February 13-16, 2025 in Ocean City at the Ashore Resort and Beach Club. Our theme was “Lead, Love, Live!” This is because, embedded in our work as a movement, both in our external engagement with our partners and those who provide services to Maryland’s blind and low vision population, and internally as we relate to and engage with one another, are the fundamental tenets of leadership and love, which contribute to our ability to live the lives we want. This convention theme celebrated our resilience, creativity, and unrelenting commitment to equal access to information, education, jobs, civil rights, and all the aspects of life in which we participate and envision a future where we navigate the world free from discrimination. Furthermore, this theme highlighted and celebrated the way NFBMB is the preeminent leader in this work. At the 2025 convention, we highlighted our efforts, celebrated our successes, and mapped our way forward.
Our national representative was Norma Crosby. Norma serves as Treasurer of the National Federation of the Blind as well as President of the National Federation of the Blind of Texas. Norma and her husband Glenn, a national leader in his own right, have been business owners and Randolph Shepperd vendors for many years. Norma brings an attitude of calmness, grace, and thoughtfulness to everything she does, and the Maryland affiliate is thrilled she was our 2025 national representative.
We kicked off our convention in person with activities beginning on the evening of Thursday, February 13, and adjourned at approximately 1PM on Sunday, February 16. We began Thursday evening with a philosophy seminar and workshops run by President Mark Riccobono and National Representative Norma Crosby. We also held several group meetings. Those interested in deaf-blind issues and those interested in guide dogs also met Thursday.
We continued with programming early on Friday, February 14 with the Board Meeting and Resolutions Committee. The Eastern Shore chapter, our host, provided fun and exciting activities, including Friday night hospitality in the form of Crab Idol, our talent competition, along with our parents’ and students’ divisions. We hosted a spooky storytelling activity over the weekend as well.
The Employment Committee hosted an employment seminar focused on resume writing, review and critiquing, and mock interviews on Friday afternoon. We, once again, held an exhibit hall, where over 30 organizations demonstrated services and goods specifically for the blind. We also held several workshops, including a housing seminar hosted by the NFBMD Advocacy Committee and Senior Issues Division.
The Parents’ Division hosted a seminar on Friday for parents and teachers. Students also held a seminar on Friday, which focused on self-advocacy, reasonable accommodations, and job readiness. The Merchants’ Division hosted a dinner Friday evening for those in the Randolph Sheppard program, other small business owners, and those in commerce, business, and trade-related jobs.
The Blind Parents’ Committee meeting, along with other workshops related to membership, legislation, and other topics, took place on Saturday. Our NFB BELL Academy participants met for a reunion as well. This is just a taste of what occurred.
We experienced many dynamic and interesting presentations during General Session. As usual, we highlighted our work with our partners to ensure high quality services for the blind. We also heard from government officials with whom we’ve worked to help us live the lives we want. We heard from Federationists with interesting careers and hobbies, as well as those with tips and tricks on adjusting to blindness.
The banquet on Saturday evening was as exciting as ever. We heard from our national representative with an inspiring keynote address, celebrated our NFBMD scholarship recipients, and gave some additional awards and recognition.
The convention was a time to have fun and grow, a time to meet new friends and renew old friendships, and a time of inspiration and enthusiasm. Visit our website for highlights from the 2025 NFBMD Convention at <https://nfbmd.org> https://nfbmd.org.
Join us for the 2026 NFBMD Convention to experience the love, hope, and determination we need to make our dreams a reality. Come experience how, when we lead through love, we can live the lives we want!
The BELLs Ring in Maryland
By Ronza Othman
[Editor’s Note: Our NFB Braille Enrichment in Literacy and Learning (BELL) Academy programs are arguably the most important initiatives we offer. In 2024, we once again held NFB BELL Academies in Baltimore, Salisbury, and Southern Maryland. Below is our 2024 NFB BELL Academy roundup.]
In 2024, our students in Maryland were able to choose from attending one of our three NFB BELL Academies in person in Baltimore, Salisbury, or Southern Maryland. We had 28 students combined attend our programs. Approximately half of them were first-time attendees, and the kids’ ages ranged from 4 to 13. The overall theme of the NFB BELL Academy in 2024 was “I Can Lead!” Our participants received plenty of exposure to leadership, in addition to Braille instruction; cane travel and orientation and mobility instruction; independent living skills; and positive philosophy from blind role models.
Our NFB BELL Academy in-person program participants who attended the Baltimore-based BELL Academy participated in a two-week day program. Our national NFB headquarters provided space, meals, and significant support. We were delighted that our NFBMD lead teacher Sadiqa Al-Salam, a graduate of our NFB Narrowing the Gap Program, was able to serve as our lead teacher. Additionally, Melissa Riccobono reprised her role as NFB of Maryland NFB BELL Coordinator. We had 14 students attend this session, and several of them joined us from other states.
Our Southern Maryland NFB BELL Academy coordinator and lead teacher was Erin Zobell, also a graduate of the NFB Narrowing the Gap Program. NFB BELL Southern Maryland hosted six children for the week-long academy.
Our NFB BELL Academy in Salisbury was conducted in partnership with Blind Industries and Services of Maryland. Our Salisbury BELL Academy coordinator was Amy Crouse, with significant support from Heather Guy, Danielle Earl, and Matt Yannuzzi. Our Teacher of Blind Students was once again Mindy Damaris. NFB BELL Salisbury hosted eight children for the week-long academy. All of them were first-timers, and most of them were very young.
The Maryland iterations of the NFB BELL Academy would not have been possible without the incredible efforts of Melissa Riccobono, Sadiqa Al-Salam, Melissa Sheeder, Amy Crouse, Heather Guy, Danielle Earl, Matt Yannuzzi, Michael Gosse, Andy McIver, Mindy Dumaris, Carley Mullin, and Erin Zobell. Our incredible volunteers handle the thousands of tasks needed to keep the program running. We would not have been able to operate this program without volunteers like Oriana Riccobono, Sumaya Breianis, Mujahid Breianis, Sarah McCubbin-Jones, and so many others. We are also grateful to Tammi Helm and the NFB Logistics staff for the delicious lunches and on-site support. The Independence Market staff kept us in supplies and canes for all of our programs. Karen Anderson, Jen White, and the education team ensured we had an outstanding curriculum and provided whatever other support we needed.
The Board of Directors of the NFB of Maryland has determined the BELLs will toll in Maryland in 2025. We are working to prepare for in-person sessions in Baltimore, Salisbury, and Southern Maryland. We hope to expand our offerings to other places throughout the state and are eager to speak with those families interested in attending, as well as those individuals who are interested in volunteering.
Perspectives on Attending an NFB National Convention
By Judy Rasmussen
[Editor’s Note: Judy Rasmussen, secretary of the NFBMD, also serves as the co-chair of the NFBMD Ambassadors Committee. This committee is charged with providing first-time convention attendees with orientation to the numerous convention activities and mentorship.]
Every year, hundreds of people attend the national convention for the first time. Many have been members for a long time, while others are brand new to the organization. The anticipation of what to expect, what they will learn, and whether they will have an enjoyable time are uppermost in people’s minds as they prepare for the convention. Through Maryland’s ongoing mentor program, the affiliate works hard to ensure that first timers have someone they can call and spend time with during the convention. As you will see from the experiences of the three convention attendees featured in this article, mentors played a key role in determining these attendees’ overall convention experience.
Jacqueline King
Jackie is very new to the Federation. She began noticing floaters and flashers in her eyes in approximately 2008. She ran a commercial sign shop, so color and design were a very important part of her life. Jackie began to notice that colors weren’t as vibrant, but she was still able to drive. Shortly thereafter, she realized that she could no longer see enough to drive safely. Giving up her license was very difficult. Eventually, Jackie began to realize that she was not recognizing people’s faces or reading her computer screen easily. She saw doctors at Wilmer Eye Institute, who diagnosed her with retinitis pigmentosa.
Despite gradually losing her vision, Jackie still went back to school and obtained both her master’s and PhD degrees. She is grateful that while adjusting to vision loss, she remained employed as an advisor at the University of Maryland Baltimore County campus. She calls herself “the den mom.” Her job is to coach students interested in obtaining their graduate degrees. She has coached over 200 students, who are now working in many different parts of the country.
Jackie finally realized she was going to need help with assistive technology in her job. She said that even though she felt she was adjusting to her vision loss and functioning in her daily life, she wanted more. She “wanted community.”
Jackie learned about the Federation while attending a support group at Wilmer Eye Institute. While attending a Baltimore County Chapter meeting, she met a woman, Donna Scott, who advised her to get a cane. She did not think she was quite ready for that because she felt there was “shame” involved in carrying a cane.
After deciding to attend the convention, Jackie carefully planned which group meetings she wanted to attend. Her goal was to meet educators, writers, and people who participated in sports activities. The first night she arrived, she thought, “These are my people.” She met her mentors, Jesse and Sherry Shirek, who helped her a great deal. Soon after arriving, Jackie went and bought a cane and has not regretted it. She said that now she goes out with her friends in the evening and feels confident in traveling independently because of the cane. Conventions do change people’s lives!
David Luckett
David is a bright young man who enjoyed his work as a manager for a credit union. He trained staff, approved loans, and worked on commercial accounts. He was highly respected by his colleagues.
In 2022, David began to notice that he could not see the computer screen and was having difficulty completing his work. He went to several doctors and was diagnosed with optic neuritis. He was hoping he would be able to maintain his employment. He felt he could continue his job if he learned some techniques for navigating the screen and accessing documents with little vision. David asked for accommodations at work, but his employer felt the technology requested was too expensive and said they would not be able to accommodate him. Going on disability was not something David had anticipated. What to do next?
David began searching for legal counsel. He found the National Federation of the Blind and started learning about his rights. Meeting other blind people who were still employed was one of his first goals.
David began talking with Sharon Maneki, who is always compassionate and helpful. She encouraged him to attend the national convention so he could explore his career options and meet other independent blind people. After talking with Sharon, David began to have hope that he would find employment but realized that he needed to learn some blindness skills so he could approach a prospective employer with confidence. Helping individuals struggling with vision loss and teaching them to navigate a bureaucratic government system to receive services while continuing to believe in their abilities are only a few of the reasons why the National Federation of the Blind is such a necessary organization.
Some of David’s goals in going to the convention were to attend the career fair and to meet staff who run NFB training centers. He wanted to learn everything he could to prepare him for either returning to school to obtain a master’s degree in auditing or find employment. At the convention, David met NFB training center staff and spoke with many prospective employers at the career fair.
David said he also learned a great deal about social security and the benefits he may be entitled to receive. He was happy to learn that blind people are very sociable and accepted him into their circle. Living in a rural area and not being able to drive due to his vision loss had limited his social activities.
David has joined the chapter at-large and has met some new friends. He does not know exactly what his future holds, but he is determined to receive the training he needs and return to the workforce. Attending the convention is just the first step in growing, believing in, and achieving independence. We know that as a Federation family, it is everyone’s job to help people of all ages and with varying degrees of vision loss to “live the lives they want.”
Kelemua Ayele
Kelemua is a smart, resourceful, and determined individual. Losing her vision at an early age, she attended a school for the blind in Ethiopia. She has lived and worked in several countries.
Kelemua moved to Maryland from Ethiopia in October 2023. Learning a new culture, enrolling her children in school, and navigating everything with little assistive technology to help her was a daunting task. While looking for blindness resources, she located the National Federation of the Blind on her very first evening in Maryland. Kelemua signed up for the free white cane program and received a cane shortly thereafter.
On her second day in Maryland, Kelemua contacted the International Rescue Committee (IRC), an agency responsible for helping newly arrived immigrants with financial and other support. There she met Metmku Yohannes, an employee at the IRC and a member of the Sligo Creek Chapter of NFBMD. Metmku put Kelemua in touch with other blind people and resources.
Imagine navigating an unfamiliar neighborhood, shopping, and completing all the forms necessary to get registered for services for yourself and your family. Kelemua, in her quiet but determined way, was persistent and it paid off.
With two master’s degrees and extensive experience in research, gender studies, grant writing, and teaching, Kelemua was hopeful that she could find employment quickly to help support her family. This proved to be more difficult than Kelemua anticipated due to her lack of work experience in the United States.
When Kelemua heard about the NFB convention, she realized it would be a great opportunity to meet other blind people, attend the career fair, and become part of a new family. Kelemua didn’t know exactly what to expect when she attended her first convention. Yasmin Reyazuddin, another member of the Sligo Creek Chapter, was her roommate and mentor for the week. Kelemua stated, “Yasmin is my hero.” It certainly helps to have someone to tell you what to expect and provide guidance on how things work.
Kelemua really enjoyed attending meetings discussing diversity, equity and inclusion and other minority issues. Working at the Independence Market and meeting blind people from other states who were also from Ethiopia were highlights of her convention experience.
The first thing Kelemua noticed at the convention was that people didn’t just grab her arm and take her somewhere. Getting lost in that big hotel was definitely a new experience for her!
NFBMD welcomes new members like Jackie, David, and Kelemua and will continue to provide support. We will celebrate with them in each new step they take. Let’s go build the National Federation of the Blind!
Coffee with an NFB Staff Member: Jesse Shirek
[Editor’s Note: NFBMD is a proud state affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind. In Maryland, we’re particularly fortunate to be the home affiliate of our national organization’s headquarters as well as the affiliate where many members of staff at our headquarters hold membership. Our national staff work hard to offer national programming and implement operations for the NFB, and like all our sister affiliates, we benefit from that work. But in Maryland, we share a unique relationship with the NFB national center due to our proximity and because the staff of the NFB are often among the affiliate’s volunteers. We will spotlight a different member of the staff in each edition of this magazine, and so we bring you: Coffee with Jesse Shirek, Government Affairs Specialist.]
Q: What is your role on the NFB staff?
A: I am a Government Affairs Specialist at NFB, which means I do federal advocacy work to help get our NFB priorities passed in the halls of Congress.
Q: How long have you worked for NFB?
A: Since November 2021 – I was hired to work on NFB Newsline programs because I’d done work previously with Scott White when I was the North Dakota affiliate president, and it seemed like a neat role. I was working in New Mexico for the New Mexico Commission for the Blind but did not enjoy state government. I was excited to be hired by NFB, and it is one of the best things that has happened to me.
Q: Tell us about your educational and/or work background.
A: When I first graduated from high school, I earned an associate’s degree in computer information systems and moved to Minneapolis, where I could not find work. After about a year and a half of not finding work in the IT industry, I applied to every pizza place in a five-mile radius – about 70 stores – and ended up working at Domino’s Pizza at the University of Minnesota. I started in customer service and was promoted to management. I enjoyed the customer service aspect but not the routine. Then I went to the University of Minnesota and studied art and psychology. Afterwards, I went 17 months without finding a job before I finally moved back to North Dakota, where I had connections with the North Dakota School for the Blind. I was hired to be a vision rehabilitation specialist – a blind skills instructor.
Then I got a master’s certificate in vision rehabilitation from Mississippi State University; then I worked at the North Dakota School for the Blind for six years. Following that, I started contract work for the state of North Dakota in assistive technology. That’s when I got involved with NFB of North Dakota. Through NFB leadership and networking, I made friends in New Mexico and found out they had openings in assistive technology. My wife, Sherry, and I sold our house in Fargo and moved to New Mexico in 2020 in the middle of the pandemic. I worked there for a year before being disillusioned in state government and saw the Newsline opening.
Q: Tell us about your family to the extent you are comfortable sharing.
A: I met my wife when we were at a ski trip in the Black Hills of South Dakota. She was living in Pleasantville, New York, and I was in North Dakota. One of my tasks was to organize a bus trip for skiing in South Dakota. Her friend encouraged her to go. When we first met, we enjoyed each other’s company but lived too far apart to pursue anything. Years later, I was sitting outside the tent on a hay bale, and I heard a voice saying, “Hey Jesse, is that you?” My heart skipped a beat, and we have been together since. She went back to New York, and I went back to Grand Fork, North Dakota, but we talked for five or six hours every night. She ultimately moved to North Dakota, and we got married three years later outside in six-degree weather in front of a bonfire. We’ve been happily married for eleven years.
We now live in Baltimore and have two cats, Chloe and Sweetie. We adopted Chloe about a year ago from a shelter. She had a broken pelvis and had a pan stuck on her head. Sweetie is Mary Ellen Thompson’s cat – when she went into assistive living, we adopted her.
Q: What is your favorite beverage?
A: Coffee – Guatemalan or Costa Rican black coffee.
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Pizza. I could eat pizza five days a week.
Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?
A: I really enjoy Colorado – Boulder area – going to see family – or anywhere the convention is.
Q: What is your favorite quote?
A:
“Your beliefs become your thoughts,
Your thoughts become your words,
Your words become your actions,
Your actions become your habits,
Your habits become your values,
Your values become your destiny.”
- Gandhi
Q: What is your favorite way to spend free time?
A: I like to play my guitar – plug in a pair of headphones into my amp and can play for hours. It helps me to unwind and relax.
Q: What motivates you?
A: I like to explore new things. I like to improve at a task. For example, I was terrible at public speaking when I was younger. I remember having to give a speech about Bob Dylan, which is a subject I knew a lot about, and I remember in the middle just freezing for maybe a minute. But in my work, I’ve had to give more public speeches, and I’ve gotten better at it. My speeches in front of Convention, for example, have been well received, and that was empowering. I’m trying to find areas where I need to improve and then turn it into a strength by working at it. I find characteristics from highly effective people and emulate those and grow in those areas.
Q: If you could pick which actor played you in the movie about your life, who would it be?
A: Matt Damon
Q: What is your favorite part about your job?
A: That’s hard to say because I love a lot of different aspects of my job. But the most energizing portion of my job is when I’m able to help our members. I get calls about Social Security disability at work, and when I can see a member’s problem solved, that gives me joy.
Q: What is your least favorite part about your job?
A: Writing reports. It’s important because that’s how we convey information, but I don’t love it.
Q: What is one really memorable experience you’ve had during your time with NFB?
A: I was able to attend the 89th celebration of the signing of the Social Security Act, and it was held at the Eisenhower Building of the White House. I was walking with coworkers. We stopped to speak with someone, and it was Martin O’Malley, the then Social Security Commissioner. I was able to talk to him about our priorities of the NFB right before this big meeting.
Q: If you could give the membership one piece of advice, what would it be?
A: Get to know the most successful blind people you can – whether Ronza Othman or the national representative or people on national staff – and learn as much as you can from them. That’s how you can become successful as a blind person – by finding successful role models and mentors.
Narrowing the Gap Graduation
By Mark Riccobono, Karen Anderson, Sadiqa Al-Salam, and Lori Rossio
[Editor’s Note: The National Federation of the Blind, the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, Louisiana Tech University, and the Maryland State Department of Education established a partnership in 2022 to ensure that teachers of blind students are appropriately trained and certified. The goal of this program was to “narrow the gap” between the supply of and demand for qualified, competent teachers of blind students with strong nonvisual teaching skills and a positive attitude on blindness. The first offering of this program concluded in the summer of 2023, and we held a graduation ceremony for these teachers as part of the 2024 NFBMD State Convention banquet. Below is a transcript of that graduation ceremony.]
Mark Riccobono:
The next presentation is one that we have not had at this banquet before, but it represents an important moment in the work that we do.
I first came to Maryland 20 years ago and started working on education programs, and at the time, our president, Sharon Maneki, was very active in making sure that this affiliate was a leader in the education of blind children.
We have made a significant difference in the education of blind children, but there is much more work to be done. We coined a phrase because of the work in Maryland here to establish the BELL Academy, which has now become a nationwide effort. We coined the phrase, “if they will not teach them, we will teach them ourselves.”
But we need more teachers. There has been a shortage in the education of blind children, well, for as long as I've been working in the field. We were at a meeting with a number of folks in the education space here in Maryland shortly before the pandemic and they were telling us all about these horrible statistics and how there was a great teacher shortage in the area of teachers of the blind. Not a new idea. It's been that way for two, three, four decades maybe. So, I stood up and said, “You know, let's stop talking about the statistics. Let's do something.” We agreed that if the state would support it, we would find the money to support the development of teachers of blind students here in Maryland along with our partner program at Louisiana Tech University. And as a result of that, and to the credit of our distinguished educators who pushed the state of Maryland to say, “Well, the NFB shouldn't have to come up with all the money; can't we put some skin in the game?” So, we formed this partnership. And we called it “Narrowing the Gap.”
Now, for us, it's not just about training teachers. It's about building individuals to become part of the organized blind movement. Because we know that teaching is not enough.
You've heard it already in many presentations tonight. We know that teachers face hard circumstances and they need a Sharon Maneki to come in and pound on the table because Sharon can push the administrators around in a way that the folks that are getting paid by the administrators just can't do. And we need teachers to whisper in our ear about where the problems are, and we've never heard it from them.
But we need teachers that are going to do that. We need teachers that are going to know that they have an organization that has their back. And so, the Narrowing the Gap program is much more than certifying teachers of blind students. It's about building a movement of education in the state of Maryland.
And so tonight, we're going to acknowledge the fact that we have teachers who have completed the rigorous coursework, the strongest coursework in the country, to train teachers of blind students, especially in the area of Braille literacy. We know each of these individuals are competent to teach Braille. You can give a round of applause for that.
I wish that was not such a rare commodity, but there are teachers coming out of programs across the country and all you need to ask them is .5R and see what they say. You can trip them up. These folks are the best of the best and we're looking forward to working with them. I'm now going to invite our Coordinator of Education Programs at the National Federation of the Blind up for the rest of the presentation. Here's Karen Anderson.
Karen Anderson:
Thank you so much, President Riccobono. It's been an honor, a privilege, and a joy to work with these teachers. I got to spend some time with them last summer getting lost in the Jernigan Institute while they were learning to travel under learning shades. I think a couple of them could still find our loading dock with shades on, I suspect. And at least one or two of them know exactly where the fourth-floor conference room is, not because they can see the signs, but because they know they can find that conference room by the smell of the books. Their love of Braille runs deep.
The Narrowing the Gap teachers have already made a huge impact on our education system, and we're thrilled to have many of them here this evening. We have some quotes describing the impact that they have had on our education system. There we go. Diane Colburn, who is the Outreach Director at the Maryland School for the Blind, says: “The Narrowing the Gap cohort has substantially reduced the number of contracts we had to provide statewide. This is the first year in recent memory where MSB could fulfill 100% of the state contracting needs due to this great cohort. It has changed the landscape of education for students who are blind in Maryland.”
What a joy to be a part of that. And what a joy to have some of them here this evening to celebrate with us. Unfortunately, not all of them could be here, and I do want to mention them because they are teaching in Maryland. Debbie Harris, Abby Heard, Brittany Nuse, Kate Paler, and Dawn Vausberg were not able to be here, but the rest of you hopefully are on the stage, and we are going to read out their names. Feel free to cheer for them. And we have a comment about each of them, as well as a couple of gifts to them from us as a Federation family.
I want to emphasize as we're getting ready to hand those out: you are graduating from Louisiana Tech. You are not graduating from the Federation. We love you. We want you here. You are a part of our family. We hope that you will continue to be involved with us, and I plan to reach out to you to make sure that you stay involved.
So, for your graduation this evening, for their graduation this evening, we have for them a stole that President Othman and President Riccobono will be giving them. We also have graduation caps for them because we should celebrate their graduation.
Alright, without any further ado, our first teacher is Sadiqa Al-Salaam. Sadiqa teaches in Prince George's County. Sadiqa is known for her passion and care. She has been an incredible asset to her team with her expertise and knowledge. We are lucky to have her teaching our students in Maryland. Sadiqa is also going to be the lead teacher for one of our 2024 NFB BELL Academies. Congratulations, Sadiqa.
Our next teacher this evening is Sharon Boger. Sharon teaches in Montgomery County. Sharon is an excellent teacher who brings with her a strong background in special education. She has become a master teacher in Braille instruction, and when supporting and teaching all of our students who have additional needs. Sharon is a valuable member of many schools throughout the county, consistently providing services to meet the unique needs of our blind students and what supports are needed for their success, as well as using her background in special education to support her fellow cohort members. Congratulations, Sharon.
Our next teacher is Jeannie Ellis, teaching in Calvert County. Jeannie always shows up with a smile on her face and an eagerness to bring the best to her students. Jeannie joined the cohort a little bit late, but she has fully embraced the challenge and has shown her commitment to blind students. Jeannie supported one of our NFB BELL Academies in 2023 and is planning to lead a Bell Academy again this summer in 2024. Congratulations, Jeannie.
Our next teacher is Will Klotz from PG County. Will is outgoing and eager to work with his students and collaborate with his colleagues. He has great ideas and strategies to help his students grow. He is also a great team player. Will has worked with our NFB BELL Academies for several years in the past, and we look forward to him working with BELL Academies in the future. Congratulations, Will.
Our next teacher, Andrew Lovett, teaches in Baltimore County. Andrew enthusiastically embraced working with a Braille-reading student this year. He is very invested in what is best for his students, not what is easy, and he works to empower students on their journey toward independence. Congratulations, Andrew.
Our next teacher, Rachel Otremba, is working at the Maryland School for the Blind Early Learning Program. Rachel can always be counted on to support families at events, even without knowing the staff or students at the workshop. Rachel readily involves herself in student activities and is an excellent instructor and supporter. Congratulations, Rachel.
Lori Rossio teaches in Montgomery County. Lori has demonstrated mastery in the art of teaching Braille in one short year and is fiercely dedicated to making sure her students are getting all the accommodations and services they need. I think this part is particularly cool. Lori has also assisted in professional development for art teachers because Lori was an art teacher before she became a teacher of blind students. So, she's assisted in professional development for art teachers in her county to help them understand how blind students can fully participate in the art curriculum. Congratulations, Lori.
Our next teacher is Corey Yost, teaching in Carroll County. Corey's dedication to students is palpable. She works hard to connect with her students and their families. Corey also came into the cohort just a little bit late, but she absolutely hit the ground running and is an asset to our blind students here in Maryland. Congratulations, Corey.
Our final teacher, last but not least. With the Z in her name, as is alphabetized, is Erin Zobell in St. Mary's County. Erin is incredibly dedicated to working with blind students and helping them be independent. She also believes fiercely in the importance of the lived experiences of blind people, as you can tell because you've seen her all over convention. Erin supported one of our NFB BELL Academies in 2023, and one family has this to say about her: “We are forever grateful for her expertise and passion that have helped our child achieve more than we imagined.” Erin will once again be leading one of our BELL Academies in 2024. Congratulations, Erin.
I want to give another huge congratulations to all of our teachers. We hope you enjoy the gifts, but most importantly, we hope that you continue to expect much, give much, and get much. Congratulations to our Narrowing the Gap teachers.
I'm told that one of them would like to make a presentation on behalf of the group. Is that right? On behalf of the entire group are Sadiqa and Lori.
Sadiqa Al-Salam:
Thanks to the National Federation of the Blind, an opportunity was presented to teachers throughout the state of Maryland. We would like to thank all of you for supporting us and believing we were the right candidates for the very important job of advocating for and educating students with blindness throughout the state of Maryland.
We thank President Mark Riccobono for leading an organization that empowers the members to develop a solution to a problem rather than wait on others to solve it. He has always been available to us.
We would like to thank Karen Anderson, Dr. Conchita Hernandez, Ronza Othman, and Casey Robertson with a small token of our gratitude for all of their work, patience, and being our on-call support system.
Lori Rossio:
We have one more group to thank: our families at home. Thank you for picking up the slack when we felt overwhelmed. And to everyone here, as we navigate our new career paths, please know that you are not off the hook yet. As Karen said earlier today, we aren't finished. We look forward to our continued partnership with all of you advocating for and educating students and navigating the obstacles that impede their success.
Lastly, our hearts are with Casey Robertson this evening. We hope she knows that our thoughts are with her and her entire family because Casey is truly an amazing person, not just an amazing teacher, and we thank her for instilling in all of us a love for all things Braille.
NFBMD: Watchdog for the Blind in Annapolis
By Sharon Maneki
[Editor’s Note: In the Summer 2024 edition of this newsletter, we provided a round-up of the 2024 Maryland legislative session and the status of the bills for which NFB of Maryland advocated. Below, Sharon Maneki, our Director of Legislation and Advocacy, provides additional information about our legislative efforts in 2024.]
The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland has two jobs with regard to Annapolis. The first is to get our priorities passed, which we talked about in the last issue. The second job is to be a watchdog on bills that will help and bills that will hurt blind and disabled citizens. Approximately 3,500 bills were introduced in both the House and Senate, so the watchdog part of the job was very busy.
The most significant bill that we opposed was HB1447: Autonomous Vehicles – Standards, Requirements, and Prohibited Acts. This bill would limit the development of accessible technology for autonomous vehicles and prohibit the use of these vehicles on highways. This would make it impossible for the blind to operate these vehicles. The bill was an attempt by the Teamsters Union to save the jobs of truck drivers. I am sure we will see more about this issue in future years. Here are some bills that we supported that will become law in Maryland:
Improvements in Education for Persons with Disabilities
Blind students in Maryland will benefit from three new laws. The first law is SB797/HB903, which went into effect July 1, 2024. This law provides access to attorneys, advocates, and consultants for students with disabilities in all stages of the process, from the beginning to possible mediation to hearings. It will provide valuable information to parents and will protect the civil rights of blind students to acquire free and appropriate education. The law also created a fund to pay for these services, and it will be administered by the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service. This will be a very significant tool for parents on a limited income.
The second law, HB336/SB592, requires that local school systems provide information to parents about the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program so that they may take advantage of it. Parents of students with disabilities, whether they are receiving services through an individualized family support program, 504 plan, or individualized education program, must receive information about ABLE at the appropriate meetings. HB336/SB592 went into effect on July 1, 2024.
SB581/HB643 will make it easier for the Maryland School for the Blind to get construction funds because the state will assume all costs. This law created a new formula that eliminated cost share from local school systems, which means the Maryland School for the Blind will no longer have to get approval from local school districts. This law went into effect on July 1, 2024.
Improvements in Employment
Two new laws that will improve the employment picture for blind people are SB859/HB1163 and SB790/HB822. The Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) is a program that helps people with disabilities go to work or to return to work. SB859/HB1163 will improve the funding of DORS because it allows the Governor to increase state funding to obtain matching federal funds. Federal matches come at different times during the year. This law will also make it possible for Maryland DORS to obtain leftover federal money that may become available, which will help people get equipment and training for employment. The law went into effect on July 1, 2024.
Employed Individuals with Disabilities (EID) is a unique program in Maryland that allows individuals who return to work to keep their benefits. SB790/HB822, which went into effect on October 1, 2024, will modify penalties that existed in the program. Here is the written testimony that we provided to support the expansion of this program:
The members of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland urge the members of the Finance Committee to support SB790 and HB822. The Employed Individuals with Disabilities (EID) program is one of the most important programs that Maryland has to support people who are on Medicaid. It encourages persons with disabilities to go to work by not penalizing them. They may keep their Medicaid benefits while working. Fear of losing benefits is the biggest reason why some persons with disabilities do not work.
SB790/HB822 are good bills because they will reduce red tape and will permit greater use of the EID program. Students who are 16 years of age or older may work and use EID to do so. It will eliminate the gap between a student’s participation in a transition program and getting a job. This bill will also eliminate the penalty of a spouse having income. Senior citizens with disabilities may continue to work and receive their benefits without regard to their age. Currently, EID stops at age 64. Social Security has a sliding scale for people to retire based on age, which currently is at 67 but will increase with time. In short, this bill contains provisions that will help every segment of the disabled population.
This bill will allow more people with disabilities to participate in the EID program and become taxpayers. It will allow disabled individuals to pay taxes for a longer period of time. Please vote in favor of SB790/HB822.
Improvements in Transportation
Problems with transportation for people with disabilities are well known. SB891/HB1199, MobilityLink Paratransit Service Improvements, is a law that requires an independent study of MobilityLink by the Maryland Transportation Institute at the University of Maryland. It went into effect on July 1, 2024. Here is part of the testimony that we offered to the Senate Finance Committee:
This study will be very thorough, looking at everything from services to the customers, to workforce morale and working conditions. Costs cannot be the only thing considered: MobilityLink must provide quality services. It is time for the Governor and the General Assembly to commit to the recommendations that will come from this report.
The key word is independent. Many studies do not require sufficient research of other successful systems and fail to get the desired results of reform. By seeking the input of users, this study will avoid bias and will lead to a better system that will make the promise of the Americans with Disabilities Act a reality. The current system holds users in bondage, leading to missed medical appointments and care, demotions or even loss of employment, the opportunity for an education, and to participate in community activities. Freedom of movement is as important to persons with disabilities as it is to the rest of society.
Many elderly people are also persons with disabilities. Too often they are subject to lives of isolation and loneliness. A vote for SB891/HB1199 can bring the elderly and persons with disabilities a chance to live the life we want. Please vote in favor of SB891/HB1199.
Improvements in Antidiscrimination Enforcement
One of the duties of the Maryland Civil Rights Commission is to enforce antidiscrimination laws concerning disability. One of the areas of discrimination against people with disabilities is by places of public accommodation. The power of the Maryland Civil Rights Commission to award monetary relief for complainants who have been discriminated against by a place of public accommodation was expanded by SB666. Under the new legislation, complainants may receive damages if the Commission agrees with them that there was discrimination. If a company or agency has discriminated against someone on the basis of disability, among other categories, the complainant, not the state, can receive up to $25,000 maximum. This bill was modeled after federal law.
Improvements in Access to Parks
On May 9, 2024, Governor Moore approved HB420, which was sponsored by Delegate Mary Lehman. It went into effect on July 1, 2024. This bill created a pilot program within the Department of Natural Resources to establish accessible communication boards in newly constructed parks. The Department may give a local jurisdiction up to $3,000 to help install these boards. We are looking forward to seeing Braille or raised print on these boards so that all children may be able to play together.
Many thanks to Governor Moore and the General Assembly for passing these laws, which will strengthen the civil rights of people with disabilities. We look forward to the coming years of progress.
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: Leaders in Maryland
By Ronza Othman, Mark Riccobono, Marc Maurer, Michael Gosse, Melissa Riccobono, and Sharon Maneki
[Editor’s Note: The 2024 NFB of Maryland State Convention took place over President’s Day weekend. Part of the convention general session included a panel of national and affiliate past and current presidents; this was both to honor our leaders and to share parts of their stories with the members. Below is a transcript of that panel.]
Ronza Othman:
We have so many amazing national and state leaders here in Maryland, and I want you to get to know them better. In honor of President's Day weekend, this next panel brings those amazing minds and spirits together for reflections.
President Mark Riccobono has served as the president of the organized blind movement in his role as the NFB national president since 2014. He previously served as the president of the Wisconsin affiliate, so he also has affiliate presidency history.
President Marc Maurer is our longest serving national president from 1986 to 2014. He also served as the Maryland affiliate president from 1984 to 1986.
Dr. Michael Gosse served as a Maryland affiliate president from 2006 to 2008, and he was the president when I moved here, so he welcomed me into the Maryland affiliate.
Melissa Riccobono succeeded Mike and became the president of the Maryland affiliate from 2008 to 2014.
Sharon Maneki served as affiliate president twice because she didn't get it enough the first time from 1986 to 2006 and then came back for more from 2014 to 2018.
Please join me in welcoming our current and former affiliate/national presidents.
Marc Maurer:
So, I get the first shot at this and I appreciate the introduction. My name is Marc Maurer, and I also served – as long as we're talking about presidencies, Madam President – I served as president of the Indiana affiliate from 1973 to 1977, and I have served from 1971 until 1977 as president of the student division, the National Association of Blind Students. From 1977 until sometime that does not now come to mind as president of the National Association of Blind Lawyers. I've been in the presidencies in a number of places in the National Federation of the Blind.
Sometimes, simple changes make profound differences. This thought came to mind recently when I was asked to make a presentation about the National Federation of the Blind to this convention. I wondered what I could say that had not already been covered multiple times by dozens of others.
It occurred to me that the National Federation of the Blind teaches and creates opportunity for blind people, at least in part by teaching courtesy. The way I look at it, courtesy consists of giving to somebody else something that you would like to have yourself and then feeling good about it. Often, the thing you give is your time. Sometimes it is a product. But often, it is your skill or your concern.
Now, just everybody would recognize that if there are two cookies and three people, it is courteous to let others have them. However, courtesy also occurs when there is time to do only one thing and the person offering courtesy agrees to let it be what somebody else wants to do.
Courtesy is at least as much a habit of mind as it is a skill. One of the ways that we create advantages for our members is by teaching this habit of mind.
Our society sometimes believes that blind people have nothing to give. It is not that blind people are a novelty. Our lives demand that we have interactions with others. However, the position that we occupy is frequently thought to be that of taking what other people have to give. We are the objects of charity. Our neediness can be supplied from other sources if the people we meet feel inclined to grant us the products, services, or time that we might need. However, this is not an interaction that ordinarily creates friendship; having relationships that develop friendship and beyond require that those who are in them recognize and cherish the value that the other partner in the relationship has. Those who possess the opinion that blind people have nothing to give do not often recognize the value that is present in the lives of blind people.
However, when we practice courtesy, we give something to somebody else. This courtesy demands that those who get it must confront the reality of value in the lives of those who give of the types of commentary that exists with respect to the blind.
It seems to me that two of them have major effects upon the notion that blind people are courteous. First, if blind people have nothing to give, how can they be courteous? They have nothing to be courteous with. In fact, why think about it at all? People who can't be courteous can be written off. Then, in certain segments of social life, blind people are told repeatedly that they are entitled. What is it that they are entitled to get? The list can be extensive. My own presentations have often contained detailed descriptions of what I believe blind people are entitled to get. However, being entitled occurs only in a certain context. Those who want to receive must be willing to give.
To become aware of a proper understanding of the position of blind people in our culture, it is necessary for blind people to know how to give something to others. Sometimes, those receiving courtesy from blind people are unaware that they would like to have it.
Have you held a door open for sighted people when you were entering a building? Has it been difficult to have your courtesy accepted? If blind people calmly acquiesce in the thought that they may receive courtesy but not give it, this entrenches in cultural practice the inferiority of the blind and prevents equality and independence.
To change this, we must offer courtesy. The habit of many blind people to accept from others what they are willing to give without thinking about the requirement that courtesy be returned creates a barrier to the kind of independence that can only be created by mutual understanding.
When considering what people receive from the services they provide, it is evident that they get paid most of the time for what they give to somebody else. Actors provide entertainment. Football players do the same by smashing into each other with incredible force. The CEOs of major corporations produce products that people want and create wealth for the investors.
If blind people are going to get paid, they must provide something that others want. Courtesy is the beginning of this process, and the habit of courtesy creates the kind of independence that we can use to make our future bright with promise.
Sharon Maneki:
Good morning, fellow Federationists. Thank you. Now, you know, it occurred to me that I'm the oldest person on this stage and I thought to myself, “What am I doing here?” And I decided that maybe I didn't want to do it. And then I decided, I do want to do it. Because I still have a little something to say. So now, you know, seniors, you should be loud and be proud. Let's hear it. Yay! Now, students, you already are loud and proud, so let's hear it. Let's hear it. And the rest of you who are making money or wish you were, let's hear it.
Okay, okay, good, good. Now, you know, when you're the state president, you're like the meat in the sandwich. You're the person in the middle. You have the national presidents and you have the chapter presidents on the other end. So, what do you do? “Pray,” somebody said. That's good. That's good.
Okay, so, I think that I want to say thank you to the two national presidents because no matter what you do as the state president, they always have your back and that's important, and that's helpful. So, thank you very much, Dr. Maurer and President Riccobono.
Now, as far as the chapter presidents, as far as all of you, when I was president, I wanted to know everybody. Now, you can't do that. But you can try. And, you know, President Teddy Roosevelt said, “Better to have tried and failed then never try at all.”
So anyway, there are a lot of things that you can do by getting to know people. You can figure out what they're good at and then tell them to do it. So, for example, Dr. Maurer over there can give a wonderful speech about anything. So, I used to make up a title in the agenda and I'd say, “Well, how about talking about this?” And then he'd get up there and he'd talk about, maybe he'd talk about a little of what I said in the title, but he'd talk about whatever he wanted, but it would be good. It would be good.
Now, President Riccobono over there – when I met President Riccobono was when he came to the National Center as the Director of Education. So, the first thing he said to me was, “I was a state president and I know how to do some things and I want to do them.” And I said, “Great.” So, he went on to do them. One of the things that he did was the PAC chairman and I forget some of the other things that he did, but he is a man of talent. Now, he learned how to play the guitar. He taught himself. So, some of the talents that people have are about different things.
Now, Melissa over there, when she was president, she added something to state reports. What did she add? Music, singing. What'd you sing, Melissa, the first time? I can't remember. “Rabbit and the Turtle.” I forgot all about that. That's right. “Rabbit and the Turtle.”
And Mike Gosse over there, he was the savior. There was an edict from Ma Bell that you had to put the area code in front of all the numbers. And, you know, we had our database. We did all this stuff, but I'm not going to sit there and put 410 in front of all the 410s and 301 and 443 and 240 and, man! And so, he said, “I’ll write a program for you.” And there it was. All the numbers got in there by themselves. Wonderful, wonderful. And then there was another time when the national office, the governmental affairs area, wanted us to write letters for something in the national convention. So, Michael said, “I'll write a program and all the programs. And then we'll get everybody's name, and we already have their address, so we'll get it done.” And we did. And we won the contest every time. Then they stopped having it.
And, you know, it's not just the presidents. Latonya Phipps over there? Latonya said to me, “I want to do some fundraising.” So, I said, “I think we should have a gospel concert.” And Latonya got it together and got people to help her. And we had that concert for three, four years. That was a wonderful thing. So, if you know somebody, you can find out what they're good at and let them do it.
Now, I want to talk about one other thing. Michelle Norris is a columnist. She used to be on NPR, but then she had to leave because her husband worked for the Obama campaign. But that didn't stop her. She kept going. So, she has this project currently, and I think she made a book or two. And that is – people had to tell her what they think about race. But they could only use six words. Now, our president over there, she talked about six words yesterday. And by the way, our president has many talents. She loves to argue. She loves to debate, and she loves to win. So, this six-word thing, the one that I remember that Michelle Norris quoted that somebody sent in, was: “Underneath, we all taste like chicken.” And I was thinking about it, and it's very true. And it's very true of us as blind people.
Now, many of you did not know Dr. Jernigan, but he could make a speech and get the idea across, very eloquently. So, you know, “Underneath, we all taste like chicken.” That's a good phrase. But when he talked about blindness, he said it more eloquently. He said, “We have come a long way together in this movement. Some of us are veterans, going back to the 40s.” Maybe not going back to the 40s now, but we're veterans. “Others are new recruits. Fresh to the ranks. There are young. Some are old. Some are educated. Others not. It makes no difference. In everything that matters, we are one. We are the movement. We are the blind.” Thank you.
Michael Gosse:
This past summer, BISM had the STAR program, and when I first met the STAR students, they had a process of introducing where you had to tell something about yourself that nobody else knew. And I told them, “I never wanted to be president of anything.” As Sharon so aptly pointed out, I would just as soon write a program, and I forgot about all those programs that I wrote because they were just so natural for me. So how do you end up being president when you never wanted to be president of anything?
By the way, I was also president of the NFB of Connecticut while I was going to school in Pennsylvania. And that happened because Jacqueline Billy assigned me to be chairman of the nominating committee, and as you go through the process, and you look at the available candidates and somebody says, “Mike, you're the best person for the job.” And you realize that being courteous at that point is to say, “I'll do the job.” And you step up, and you do the job.
Now, you have to get a little leery when the leaders of the organization invite you out to dinner because that usually means they've got a role in mind for you. I had a number of dinners with Sharon and Al Maneki, sometimes to join the board, sometimes to write a program, and sometimes to, you know, “I've been president for 20 years, and you should be the next president.”
Now, having been the president for four years in Connecticut while I lived in Pennsylvania, and having been on the board here, I believed I understood the organization. I said, “Isn't there anybody else?” But, again, because it's the right thing to do, when you're the right person at the right time, I said yes.
The organization in Connecticut was very different from the organization in Maryland. What they wanted to do was have somebody run their business that generated revenue for the organization so that everybody could get a free ride to convention, to the Washington seminar. And they participated. They participated in all these things. They were one of the first states to have Newsline. They passed the Braille bill very quickly. They were on the top 10 in all the fundraising events.
That's different from what we do here in Maryland, right? We initiate programs in Maryland. Let's think about the BELL program. When did the BELL program start? It started in Maryland, while I was affiliate president. Sharon Maneki and Barbara Cheadle, they didn't take me out to dinner, but they said, “Mike, let's have a meeting.”
So, the affiliate in Connecticut ran a certain way. It was very comfortable for me as the guy who would write a program in the back room or get on the phone two or three times a day from Pennsylvania and talk to a whole office of support. In Connecticut, a secretary, even, compared to the pressures that we have here in Maryland. And it was an uncomfortable suit for me. But I think I did a worthwhile job for the two years, and I was only going to speak for two minutes because I'd only been president for two years. And then I realized, Marc Maurer was only president for two years, and the great things that he's done.
So, the other thing you can do is you can say, “there's a Melissa Riccobono ready to step up, and you can be a transitional person.” Now – same thing did happen to me with BISM, by the way, get taken out to dinner – “Michael, I think you make a good new president.” “Fred, I don't want the job.” But this is a job that fits me a little bit better. I get to play with numbers.
I still am comfortable most in my office. But I've grown as an individual because of the National Federation of the Blind, because we create leadership here. We give people the tools, the exposure, and the time to learn and the time to grow. And I think that's important for each and every one of you to understand, that you have a role here.
And as Dr. Maurer said, you can be courteous, but you also take responsibilities. And you have to step up when it's your chance. So, when Ronza calls you and asks you out to dinner, okay? You know what you got to do. You say, “I'd love to go out to dinner with you, Ronza.” I'd really love to go out to dinner with you, by the way, Ronza. We'll talk.
And understand that this movement is made of people who make a difference at every level, and you have to find the level at which you can be the most effective. But always understand that people will be looking for more from you when you can give it. I hope that every one of you takes the opportunity to participate in this movement at your best possible level, and I will continue to do my effort as well.
Melissa Riccobono:
Wow, Dr. Gosse, I did not know we had such similar stories, because quite honestly, I never thought of myself as a president either. I was raised by a mom who is just the consummate giver. You walk into our house and blind, sighted, old, young, whatever it is, she will serve you. She'll ask you what you want to eat. She'll get it for you. She is just all about giving. And so that was one of my big role models growing up: giving. And yet, she's not always the head of the this or that. I mean, she's had some leadership roles in her life, but she is much more comfortable giving and doing those things in the background that she sees needs to be done and just doing them without fanfare. She's often the woman in the room who sees that there's a mom struggling with a really fussy baby and just goes and says, “I know this sounds strange, but would it be okay if I held your baby for five minutes so you can do X, Y, Z?”
And that's just what I grew up with. That's what I saw. And luckily, my mom allowed me to do things like that with her and always talked to me about how I could give back.
I got some mixed messages growing up, just like Kevin did, but that message was always pretty clear: that you can give back. You can be valuable. But society doesn't always see it that way, do they? Society wants to just set you aside and, “Oh, you wait here, you poor dear. We'll do this for you.” Or, “You know, we'd love to have you here at our church so we can fawn over you and feel good about us, not so that you can give back, but so that you can be an example by just your mere presence that we can do something to help you, oh, less fortunate one.”
But in the National Federation of the Blind, that's not how it goes. We create this space with one another where blindness is the norm. Blindness is accepted, and eventually when I figured out that that was what the National Federation of the Blind was about, I was all in because I was finally in a place where I truly felt I would be able to give. And one of the first things I did to give was I helped at Washington Seminar taking names and addresses and phone numbers and email addresses for people that were registering, and I Brailled them with my slate and stylus. And that was a job that needed to be done.
People are going to be really surprised. I'm actually fairly shy and introverted, really. I know I don't come across that way. But I knew that if I had that chance to actually have a job to do, it would be comfortable for me to greet people and to do it and that I would enjoy it. I don't love just finding people in a room and trying to make small talk and network, but if I have an actual job to do, I love helping people feel welcome. And I had a skill, and that skill was Braille and the student president at the time had a need, and I asked if I could help fill the need, and she said yes. And that was great. That was a super comfortable place for me.
And then we came to our state convention in Wisconsin. President Riccobono was stepping down because he was going to be president of the student division. He was running to be president of the state of Wisconsin. He didn't know if he was going to be elected or not, of course, but he was running, so he knew he wouldn't want to lead the student division. He wanted to put it in good hands. And he had somebody all picked out. At the very last minute, actually at the luncheon itself when someone nominated her, she stood up and said, “You know what? No, I don't. No, I can't. No.”
Now, let me tell you, that's not the most courteous thing that you can do. It's cool if you don't want to run, but maybe give somebody just a little bit more warning, maybe? That would be nice. And so there I kind of was on the hot seat, and sort of like Dr. Gosse. Even though my heart was pounding and I was like, “No, no, no, no, no. I'm supposed to be, like, in the background. I'm supposed to be, like, the secretary that takes the minutes. I'm supposed to be the, you know, whatever. I'm not the, no, I'm not the president. Okay, now I'm the president.”
Now I'm the president. And that has kind of happened to me many times. I became a chapter president because the chapter president moved away and asked me to be the chapter president. I became the chapter president here because the chapter president moved away and asked me to be president.
Now, as far as becoming state president, Mike talked about going out to dinner with people. Mine was getting a call either from Sharon Maneki or Dr. Maurer. You know, Sharon calls you and Sharon will say, “Now, Melissa.” And then you know, okay, I'm going to be asked to do something, and most likely I'm going to say yes, because you don't usually say no to Sharon Maneki.
But Dr. Maurer called me, and actually, Dr. Maurer had President Riccobono in his office, and he said to him, “I'm thinking of asking Melissa to see if she would be interested in running for the presidency of the NFB of Maryland. What do you think?” Mark said, “Well, I think it'd be fine. I don't think she's going to do it, but I think it'd be nice of you to ask.” So, I get a call one morning: “Hello, Melissa. This is Mark Maurer.” “Hi, Dr. Maurer, how are you?” And he said, “You know, we're in a transition period in Maryland and we're wondering if you would be willing to serve as president.” And I paused. And I thought about a few things. First, I thought, “Oh my gosh. I don't want to be the president.” But it was more my fear talking than anything else. I never saw myself as an affiliate president. And then I thought, I'm in a very unique position. I have this young child. I'm lucky enough to be home with this young child. I have time during the day when others don't. I mean, I'm doing things. It's not like I'm just sitting around eating bonbons, but I am home during the day and can make phone calls and things when other people are at work, so I'm in a unique position to do this. And oh my gosh, people have confidence in me. People think I can do this. And I don't have to do this the way everybody else has done it. I can do things in my own way and I'm going to have a team to help me.
And so, I took a deep breath and I said, “I'm very honored.” And Dr. Maher said, “That's a good start.” And I said, “Yes, I will run for election.” And that was the courteous thing, as Dr. Gosse said to do. And I think that's just very special. That's very special what we have here.
Expect much, give much, get much. That is a perfect theme for my time as president and my time as a leader in this affiliate and in the National Federation of the Blind. We truly believe that all of our members here have something important to give. Everybody has something important to give. We give it and we appreciate it. We appreciate each other. We appreciate each other giving and helping and sharing their talents. And we all get, and then just want to give more and more and more back.
And that's why it works. And it works because, again, blindness is normal and we just expect that everybody here is going to provide that courtesy to give what they can and also to receive, but to give and receive in mostly equal measure. And so, I'm just happy to have been a state president and very happy to still be a very active member of this affiliate.
Mark Riccobono:
The advantage of all of us having been in charge of agendas is to recognize that our time is up, but we're going to take the rest of our time anyway. In fairness, we started a little late, so we're just going to use our time.
So, there is a lot we could continue to say – we were going to do something a little more informal after we all spoke – but I think we're going to be out of time for that. So, that would be kind of a cool round table to do at some point. But I would like to close, I think, with making a couple of points to emphasize what has already been said. First of all, I didn't really think of it, but we have three presidents here who have served as presidents in different places. So, I think that's really powerful.
We recently committed to establishing the Museum of the Blind People's Movement, and sometimes people say to me, “We've got to come up with a better name. Why don't we call it the Sharon Maneki Civil Rights Museum or something?” But if you think about it, although there are very powerful stories, “people's movement” is what's most important. And it starts with those personal connections that we make.
For some of us, we came to the Federation because we connected with somebody. But I think for all of us, we stayed because we connected with somebody. And we celebrate our leaders, and that is true. But what we don't talk about as much is that there are people that don't succeed in leadership. And the reason they don't succeed is because their own position becomes more important than the people. We could cite examples, but we don't want to end this convention on that kind of note. But the truth is, if you really examine the presidents, the leaders that get celebrated, they’re not always presidents.
If you look at individuals who have received Our Jacobus tenBroek Award, they're oftentimes people that their service was long before they became president of something and long after they became president of it. And the idea that you have to want to be president has been expressed in what everybody has said this morning, but in a way that I think a lot of people don't think about it.
Maybe one of you out there is thinking, “Man, I want to be president. I want to take that job.” But what you've heard this morning is that the people who have accepted the responsibility of leadership accepted it because they wanted to fill a need that they found in the organization. And I'm sure that for all of us, maybe not fully expressed here is that we didn't necessarily think we knew how to fulfill that need, but we had a willingness to fulfill the need.
The reason that we continue to celebrate presidents is because the presidents who are successful at any layer of the sandwich are successful because their actions, their courtesies, the things that they talk about and do, are a reflection of the people's movement.
And if we're lucky, the presidents we have shape us, but if we're successful, the presidents we have are shaped by us. And so, in everything we do, we have a responsibility to push our leadership. You have a responsibility to tell the leadership what's wrong and how to fix it, and then to say, “I'll go fix it. I'll write a program. I'll create a concert. I'll put a new fundraising effort together. I'll build a new program.”
Because the truth of the matter is, there's generally only one president, and there's many other hands out there. You have many stories of the president simply enabling a job.
Sharon says that I offered to help. Maybe I did. I don't remember it that way. I had served as affiliate president for five years when I came to Maryland, and because of the work situation I had been in trying to make a difference at a fairly entrenched agency for the blind, I was kind of burned out when I moved to Maryland.
But Sharon gave me a job, and that was really key in helping me realize that Maryland was home, right? Because when you come from another place, you're like, “Oh, home's back there and now I'm over here.” But Sharon gave me the courtesy of giving me a place, the PAC table, still open. But how cool was that? Because as Melissa said, I got to very quickly know the people in Maryland. I also felt the sense of responsibility. Some might say, “Oh, PAC in Maryland, that's easier. Number one, what do you got to do?” Well, the way you stay number one is you've got to keep working at it, right? So, you've got to keep talking to people. And so, recognizing talent but also recognizing that we all have different needs. I don't know if she really knew the need that I had, but she obviously recognized I could benefit and grow from being given a job.
So, our presidents reflect us, and we have the responsibility to shape them. I remember when I really learned this lesson was with the blind driver challenge. Marc Maurer was the only one who believed that it might be possible for blind people to drive. At least, he was the only person talking about it. I thought it was a great gimmick, and so when I was asked if I wanted to learn about driving and be part of the project, I said, “Yes!” Maybe it was the courteous thing to say, but I also wanted to see what I could learn. But we had committed to doing a public demonstration at Daytona and what we said was that the best driver would represent the Federation, and Kevin was part of that class, also John Pare.
And after a while, I thought, “This is kind of stupid.” Marc Maurer is the only one that believed in this idea. He's our president. He's the person we should be putting forward. Why are we going through this show? Kind of like the crab race. Congratulations to Christmas Crab, by the way. We all played along, but just to let you know, I had money on Christmas Crab, so I'm okay. But what I figured out was it wasn't the technology that was important. It was what blind people were going to do with it. So, if I sat off to the side and didn't push on it, then Marc Maurer might only kind of be okay with it. But if I pushed on it and got it to do something, then he would go, “Ooh, I gotta try to do that.” Right? The expectations get raised when we as members push for them to be raised.
So, when you think about the presidency and you say, “Oh man, it's a very demanding job,” it is because we demand it to be. We demand it to be that way.
On the other hand, I'm going to loop this back to what Dr. Maurer started with, when you recognize that two-way value and you recognize that the team is truly what's important. The community that we have, the people's movement.
Anybody in this room has the potential to be a leader in this movement, to serve as a president, to manage something. And as Sharon and others have expressed, you don't have to do it like Marc Maurer or Sharon Maneki or Michael Gosse or Melissa Riccobono or Mark Riccobono or Ronza Othman. But if you do it in a way that's authentic to you, and it's true to our movement, we'll expect much. You'll give much. And we all will get much.
That's the nature of leadership in this organization. I wish we could get it to exist many other places in the country. But know that if you're sitting out there, you have the potential. We believe that you have the potential to be a leader in this organization, and I think all of these presidents were made by the organization. And I think all the people we're celebrating today have helped shape the people in this room.
I do want to make one other comment, which I don't want to go away without recognizing. It was commented that Sharon Maneki hadn't had enough, so she came back, but now that we're ten years past 2014, we can talk about the fact that Sharon Maneki stepped back into the affiliate presidency because it was needed for the national movement.
Dr. Maurer knew what the demands would be of the office of the president, and he knew how complicated that would be if we had a household with a national president and the affiliate president in the same state, both demands personally, politically, maybe other aspects. So, I don't want to leave without saying that's a great example. I don't think Sharon particularly wanted to step back in. She had successfully transitioned, but she stepped up because the need was there, and the organization wanted it, and she had the talent to give. So, thank you to all of our presidents and thank you to all of you who have shaped us.
Chapter Spotlight: NFBMD Parents of Blind Children Division – Part 2
By Barbara Cheadle and Sharon Maneki
[Editor’s Note: The Maryland affiliate has a rich and varied history that is not widely known. As we move forward with our membership initiative, we will continue highlighting a particular chapter or division in each edition of this publication. After all, members are the lifeblood of our organization, and chapters and divisions help build the foundation for membership. Since the Spring 2019 issue, we have been spotlighting a Maryland chapter or division in each issue to share how that chapter or division originated, what makes it unique, and other interesting information about it. We introduced the Maryland Parents of Blind Children (MDPOBC) Division in the Summer 2024 edition. We are continuing to share the rich history and important work of MDPOBC in Part 2 below.]
In the previous issue of the Braille Spectator, we examined the Maryland Parents of Blind Children (MDPOBC) Division. We looked at the philosophy of the NFB as it relates to parents of blind children, activities that MDPOBC established, and the role of the MDPOBC in relation to the state affiliate. In this part, we will look at the history of the MDPOBC in advocacy.
Making the Systems Better
The National Federation of the Blind tries to improve many of the systemic problems in the state and the nation. One way to improve the system is through legislation. In the National Federation of the Blind, everyone should be an advocate. This includes blind children and their parents. We have been very successful in getting the Maryland General Assembly and the governors to enact education laws, in part because of the testimonies of blind children. Over the years, some of the blind students that have testified were Brandon Pickrel, Jason Polansky, and Oriana Riccobono.
Because of the efforts of the National Federation of the Blind, 34 states enacted Braille bills between 1988 and 2005. Many of the ideas in the state laws eventually became part of national laws. An example is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 2004. These laws improved the system of Braille literacy by giving parents an important tool in their quest to obtain Braille for their children.
With our help, the Maryland General Assembly and Governor Schaefer enacted the Maryland Literacy Rights and Education Act, which became law in 1992. In 2010, as a further enhancement, we encouraged Maryland to enact legislation to require the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) to create standards for instruction in Braille reading, writing, and math. We were able to get this legislation enacted because Maryland had standards for print reading; therefore, there should have been standards for Braille. Denzel Ferges gave invaluable testimony about the inadequacies of his education, since he graduated high school in 2009 without being able to read print or Braille. A taskforce was created to write the standards; parents Melissa Riccobono and Jill Richman represented the NFBMD on this taskforce. The Braille standards for grades pre-k through 12th were created by September 1, 2012. This was an important law because standards would not exist if we talked to MSDE ourselves. Instead, the power of the Maryland General Assembly and Governor O’Malley was more effective.
The issue of obtaining textbooks on time was another important law in our quest to acquire a quality education for blind students. Leslie Garrison, the parent of a blind child, described the problems that her daughter had in obtaining large print textbooks in 2006. The resulting law, HB710/SB392, said, in part: "Beginning on July 1, 2007, the Maryland Instructional Resources Center shall make reasonable efforts to provide the instructional materials in specialized formats to students who are blind or visually impaired for use on the first day of classes each year."
MSDE claims to offer an equitable education to all students. Blind students were left behind because there were still issues with accessing textbooks. In 2024, Naudia Graham, a high school senior at Centennial High in Columbia, and Riley Sanders, a sixth-grade student at Cockeysville Middle School in Baltimore County, described how they were still waiting for textbooks three-quarters of the way through the school year. One of the improvements made by the passage of HB1076/SB1091, the Textbook Equity Act, in 2024 was that local school systems must make their decisions about the textbooks they will use for all students by March 15th of the previous school year. This will give the Maryland Instructional Resource Center time to locate and purchase the book or have it produced in specialized formats.
The law affirms that MSDE “shall provide support to the Instructional Resources Center to ensure that textbooks and supplemental instructional materials in a specialized format are available to blind and visually impaired students statewide.” The law also states that:
On or before October 1, 2026, and each October 1 thereafter, the Instructional Resources Center shall submit to the department a report on the accessibility and delivery of textbooks and supplemental instructional materials during the previous school year, including: (i) the number of electronic files publishers provided to NIMAS; and (ii) the number of students requesting instructional materials; (iii) the grade level of students requesting instructional materials; (iv) the number of requests for instructional materials in a specialized format that could be fulfilled; and (v) the number of requests for instructional materials in a specialized format that could not be fulfilled and an explanation regarding why the request could not be fulfilled. (2) The department shall post on its website the information received from the Instructional Resources Center in accordance with this subsection.
Since the law went into effect July 1, 2024, we will be monitoring whether the problem of getting textbooks on time is resolved.
Orientation and mobility are another important service that blind students need. Here is one story that a blind student told to the House Ways and Means Committee illustrating this point:
My name is Fatoumata Boiro. I came to the United States from Guinea in 2006. I came to tell you my story so that you will understand why HB535 is an important bill.
I have had trouble seeing throughout my entire life. At the end of the ninth grade, I went to Johns Hopkins, and the doctors told me I had retinitis pigmentosa. My family and I didn’t know that we could get help from the Prince George’s County School System. I attended Duvall High School in Lanham, Maryland and graduated in June of 2014. When I was in high school, I stopped going out at night because I couldn’t see. I tried to do my schoolwork the best that I could, but I was always in pain. My parents were afraid to let me go on some of the school field trips because I wouldn’t get the help I needed. I was on the track and field team, but I could only participate in the summer. I couldn’t participate in the fall or winter because it got dark too quickly, and I would have no way to get home. Finally, at the end of my junior year, the school nurse told me to talk to my guidance counselor about my vision problems. I got a little bit of service to help me with my academic subjects in my senior year, but no one told me I could get orientation and mobility instruction. No one gave me a cane or suggested how I could avoid tripping or falling.
I had a part-time job to help my family. I couldn’t make much money because I had to limit my hours since I couldn’t get home in the dark. I knew I had to find a better way because my vision was getting worse.
I am currently attending the rehabilitation program at Blind Industries and Services of Maryland. I should be in college or working but I can’t because I didn’t get the skills that I needed in school. Today, I am learning how to travel by myself by using my white cane. It is hard for me to learn, but I am determined to be successful.
Please vote in favor of HB535 to help blind children learn orientation and mobility when they need it. I want other children to have the opportunities that I missed. Thank you.
In 2015, HB535 was enacted into law. This legislation instructs local school systems to regularly notify parents of blind and low vision students with written and oral notice of the availability of these services. The law also sets the expectation that all blind and low vision students should receive these services unless the IEP team determines that they are inappropriate for the child. Students cannot be denied orientation and mobility services just because they have some vision. The law also describes the type of input and information that should be included in an orientation and mobility assessment.
Maryland has several laws requiring nonvisual access to online learning and nonvisual access to technology tools used in the classroom. We adopted a strategy of having any bill that discussed online learning amended to include nonvisual access. The first bill became law in 2002. It was introduced by Senator Joan Carter Conway. Senator Conway was a champion for the blind in education. She sponsored many of our bills until she left office in 2019.
Everyone is for accessibility, but the greatest problem is getting accessibility enforced. In 2013 the Maryland General Assembly and Governor O’Malley approved SB 461, the first accessibility enforcement bill. This law established a mechanism to pay for an accessibility review of courses before approval by the MSDE. The vendor of the online course would pay for the accessibility review, then the use of the course would have to be approved by the MSDE. This bill worked because there was a funding mechanism and a specific section of MSDE was charged with reviewing the accessibility.
Enforcement of accessibility was further strengthened by SB617, Maryland Equivalent Access to Digital Tools, which was enacted into law in 2022. This legislation requires local school systems, the MSDE, and individual vendors to do various things to ensure that online and other software tools used in the classroom are accessible to students with disabilities. Although the law went into effect in 2022, there are later deadlines within it for certain requirements, such as instructing vendors to include an indemnification clause in contract proposals for digital tools. This legislation would not have been possible without the production of a short video showing what happens when software is inaccessible, as well as when software is accessible. The stars of the video were Howard County students Naudia Graham, Isaiah Rao, Jonah Rao, and their mother, Monica Rao. As you can see, making systemic changes is difficult but can be accomplished with persistence.
Protecting Parents’ and Students’ Rights in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) Process
Parental rights in the IEP process are very strong in Maryland because we have joined with the Education Advocacy Coalition for people with disabilities to support the enactment of these laws. Parents have the right to review assessments, reports, and other educational documents five business days before an IEP meeting is convened. Parents also have the right to receive a copy of the completed IEP five business days after the meeting. All documents must be provided in an accessible format. These rights are outlined in HB 269 and SB 540, which were enacted into law in 2010. In addition, parents have the right to request a copy of their child’s completed IEP or completed Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) in their native language. The school district must provide the parents with the translated document within 30 days of the request. The school system is required to provide the translated documents to the parents if their native language is spoken by more than one percent of the student population in the school system. These rights are outlined in HB 86, which was enacted into law in 2016.
According to HB 611, parents have the right to request an independent evaluation at public expense. The law stipulates the timeline and steps that the local school system must take when the parent makes such a request. This provision was enacted into law in 2018.
In 2024, HB903/SB797 became law; this law grants parents with limited income the right to receive the services of advocates and attorneys to help with the IEP. The parents may also receive help with mediation and other due process hearings. In addition, this law established a fund to provide these services; the fund is administered by the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service.
Over the years, the Parents’ Division, along with the state affiliate, have advocated for thousands of blind students through making the IEP a better program. We have argued for incorporating Braille, mobility, keyboarding, emailing, and many other skills. Advocates struggled with how many hours of service the blind student should receive and whether the service should be in or out of the general education classroom. The IEPs are better because advocates were present, even if we did not get everything we wanted.
Sometimes, it is necessary to go beyond the local school system and have a hearing to settle the dispute. Two of the strongest advocates in Maryland were Barbara Cheadle and Loretta White. Here are their stories.
The struggle to obtain instruction in Braille reading and writing has been a long and arduous task. One of the earliest cases was the Charles Cheadle case. We are very fortunate that Barbara and John Cheadle decided to move to Maryland. Here is a summary of the case as reported in the Braille Monitor, June 1989 Edition. The article, by Barbara Pierce, was entitled “Maryland Rules in Favor of Braille: Victory in the Charles Cheadle Case.”
When Charles was in school in Baltimore City, he received instruction in Braille. When the family moved to Baltimore County in 1988, the county had other ideas. According to the county experts, “Charles should be encouraged to use his vision even though he could do so only for short periods, and that he should not have more Braille instruction until he could no longer use print at all.” The Cheadles fought for the inclusion of Braille in the IEP with the local school system, with the county, and beginning in August 1988, with the State Board of Education. Each side argued their case. Ronald Caplan, the lead attorney for the school system, told the panel, “If it were left to Charles' parents, they would put him in ‘blinders’” – presumably, he meant sleep shades. If Caplan was suggesting that the Cheadles intended to cover Charles’ eyes constantly, he had willfully misunderstood them. If he was jeering at their eagerness to have Braille instruction carried out under sleep shades (the only effective way of teaching Braille tactilely to a low-vision student), he was articulating the school’s persistent ignorance. In his final words to the panel, Caplan “implored the hearing panel to help protect Charles from his parents.”
The panel of experts took nearly a month to prepare their summary and to recommend an IEP for Charles. When they issued their report, it was clear that the Cheadles had won hands down. The first item on the IEP was Braille instruction three times a week during school hours. They also mandated that he be given a battery-operated typewriter to use in class and instruction and the use of a computer with speech output. Their cause will assist other parents fighting the same battle.
Loretta White, president of the Maryland Parents’ Division, advocated for her daughter, Nicole, for many years and on many subjects. Here is one of the interesting advocacy fights that Loretta took on, which has ramifications not only for Maryland, but also for the rest of the country. Loretta’s speech at the 1996 Maryland convention describes the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program (MSPAP) struggle. The speech has been reprinted from the Winter 1996-97 issue of the Braille Spectator, along with the editor’s note.
>From the [newsletter] Editor: Loretta White is the President of the NFB of Maryland's Parents Division. Despite her busy schedule, she has been an active member of the affiliate and has been responsible for initiating a number of innovative programs to help blind youngsters and teenagers. Loretta delivered the following remarks during the Saturday morning session of our convention. The agenda was deliberately arranged so that her address was given upon Superintendent Grasmick's arrival at the convention [Nancy Grasmick was the Superintendent of Education of Maryland]. All of us who heard Loretta's remarks, the Superintendent included, were deeply moved by Loretta's keen and sensitive observations. This is what she said:
Before I begin my talk today, I'd like to share with you a little about myself. I have been a member of the National Federation of the Blind for over nine years now, and I've been an officer or board member in the Parents’ Division for about seven of those years. I'm a special educator, and I'm working toward becoming a teacher of the visually impaired. I'm very happily married, but the bottom line of what brings me here today, and what I think qualifies me to speak to you is that I am also a mom. Particularly, I am the mother of a blind child. My daughter, Nicole, is almost ten years old.
I'm sure all of us have heard of MSPAP (Maryland School Performance Assessment Program), but what does it mean, and how does it affect our blind children who use Braille? Well, to find out, I went to the Internet. I searched the acronym "MSPAP" only, and I was stunned at what I found. There are ninety-six websites on the Internet related to MSPAP. As I sifted through, I found a lot of good information from the state and several counties. I'll summarize Calvert County's definition from its MSPAP Handbook.
MSPAP stands for the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program. It is a statewide testing program to evaluate how schools are doing. Results are used to make improvements in instruction. MSPAP tells schools whether or not their students are meeting state standards for educational achievement. It is different from other tests in that it is not multiple choice or short answer. MSPAP is more a test of skills rather than knowledge. It tests students' abilities to apply what they have learned to real-life problems. It includes reading, language usage, writing, math, social studies, and science. Schools are scored in each subject. All students in the third, fifth, and eighth grade who are working toward a high school diploma are tested. MSPAP is important to all students every year because it requires good thinking skills, which have to be taught and developed over a period of time. The test is given during the first two full weeks in May with each grade testing for ninety minutes a day for one week.
So, what about students with disabilities and MSPAP?
Well, the State Department of Education has a fifty-one-page document called "The Requirements and Guidelines for Exemptions, Excuses, and Accommodations for Maryland Statewide Assessment Programs," dated October 10, 1995. The general principles are basically that all students are to be included to the fullest extent possible, and accommodations are to be made to ensure valid assessment of a student's real achievement and are designed to assist a student to move from dependence toward independence.
Both as a parent of children with and without special needs and as a special educator, I think this is a good document, because basically, it requires the inclusion of all students who are pursuing a high school diploma. And since MSPAP is about accountability for the education of our students, it is right that we be accountable for the education of each and every student.
So blind students take the MSPAP right alongside their sighted peers, and we all live happily ever after. Well, not quite. Let me go back again to the Requirements Document. Special accommodations listed include scheduling, setting, equipment, presentation, response, and level of participation. So, it would seem that the state is making a real effort to include all kinds of disabilities in the MSPAP, with the exception of one group: blind students.
Let's look at the equipment again. The test provides sign language interpreters; large print; calculators; electronic devices, including mechanical spellers, word processors, computers, augmented communication devices, CCTV amplification; audiotaped materials; visual displays; written copies; and other. But no Braille. I personally do not know of a single disability that is not accommodated other than blindness. Excluding Braille users from the MSPAP reinforces existing problems on multiple levels. It reinforces a philosophical problem, it reinforces an educational problem, and it reinforces a personal problem.
The federal government is committed to the provision of equal education for persons with disabilities, including equality of opportunity to participate at all levels of education. This is evident in legislation such as IDEA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Check out the policy statements from OSERS over the last five or so years.
MSPAP tries to emulate the real world. I'm sure you've all heard of the story of the engineer who could give you the square root of a doorknob but couldn't turn it. Well, the purpose of MSPAP is to see if the students can turn the doorknob, so to speak. And this is a good thing. Further, MSPAP checks to see if the students can do this individually, in pairs, in groups, with others they are used to working with, and with those they are not. Again, this is a good thing because this is how the real world works. And isn't that the bottom line, to educate people who can function successfully in the real world?
In a very negative sense, excluding Braille users from MSPAP does imitate the real world. It mirrors the 70% unemployment rate of blind people in this country. And it goes beyond that. Excluding our children from MSPAP raises the question of whether or not we are truly committed to finding a place for blind people in our society. It suggests that it is acceptable to exclude blind children.
The exclusion of blind students from MSPAP also creates an educational problem. Again, the purpose of MSPAP is to raise the level of performance and to create accountability by the schools for the education of our children. It is clearly an attempt to reform and revamp instruction. It is a clear statement that we need to improve the education of our children. This is not anything you don't already know. It is regularly in the news.
Excluding our Braille users from MSPAP also means excluding our Braille teachers from the continuing education they need to keep up with improvements in education and instructional practices. At a recent state-level meeting about Brailling the MSPAP test, which included representatives from across the state, a teacher of the visually impaired raised the issue that they were not included in any MSPAP in-service or training activities and that they did not have access to the materials. This meeting included teachers of the visually impaired and administrators from across the state, and while there were nods of agreement, not one person said his or her county included teachers of the visually impaired. And I don't think I need to belabor the fact that, when our students are placed in local schools, the teacher of the visually impaired basically shoulders the responsibility for the student's education.
So why not just get around the Braille issue by using readers? Because it will not work. First of all, how many third or fifth graders have been taught the skills needed to use a reader to get an assignment done? But far beyond that, the key to MSPAP is literacy. Can the student read? And I don't mean just decode words on a page. Can the student understand and use what he reads? Can she locate information to answer a question, pick out major points, identify relevant details, follow directions? It is not reasonable to do this with a reader. For example, if a reader skims for major points, whose skills are you testing, the Braille user's or the reader's? And since MSPAP is inextricably linked to the real world, I wonder how many of you have a reader available and ready to go each time you need something read.
The last quibble I have with the exclusion of Braille users from MSPAP is what it does to the student. Unless you have a child who is in school or you yourself are in a school, you may not realize the changes MSPAP has brought. It is truly creating fundamental changes in the way we teach our children and what they are exposed to on a daily basis. Preparation for MSPAP begins on that first day of the school year and escalates all the way to the first two weeks in May, when it is administered. It creates an underlying feeling of excitement and importance. Many schools dedicate a certain time each week when all students are to be engaged in MSPAP activities. I saw a sign at the door of a first-grade class that read "MSPAP is Life" in big letters, and underneath, it said "Thursday is MSPAP morning." I have seen the MSPAP icons and words on bulletin boards and hanging in the halls of elementary and middle schools alike. Many schools have a MSPAP word of the day, which they discuss and define on morning announcements.
Last year, I taught in a Baltimore City school, had one child in a Baltimore City school, and had two more children in a school in Anne Arundel County. Starting in about January of last year, we shared over dinner what our MSPAP word was for the week. Almost every newsletter for each of their schools addresses MSPAP, and we even received forms from the school offering parent training on how to prepare for MSPAP and home activities to do with our children. Even though I filled out every one and returned it to school, I never received a single one. When I asked the principal about it, I was told "Oh, your child won't take the MSPAP, so she doesn't need it." Wait a minute. The purpose of MSPAP is to improve the education of our children. "What do you mean my child doesn't need it?"
Meanwhile, back on the ranch, our children are experiencing all this in the announcements, in homeroom activities, etc. Even when the involvement is indirect, they get excited. And this is intentional. We want our students pumped up and confident and ready to take the tests. But then when the test comes, our blind students are left out for a whole week. And I'm here to tell you, these kids are not stupid. They do feel left out. They do feel different. They do feel inadequate. My daughter was a third grader last year. She was crushed when she was not allowed to take MSPAP. Even though we had told her it was not Brailled, her answer was, "But Mom, Mrs. Kearney said it was for all third graders, and I'm a third grader, too." I had no answer.
In conclusion, I would like us to consider what might happen if our Braille users were included in MSPAP. First, our teachers of the visually impaired would have to receive the same training as other teachers so they would be able to deliver instruction that would prepare the students to participate. Second, MSPAP requires that students have "prior knowledge," so teachers of content areas such as science and social studies and other instructional staff would be put on notice that these students are expected to learn the same information as their print-using peers.
Third, our Braille students would learn how to participate in cooperative learning in pairs and group activities, because that is how many of the MSPAP activities are administered. Fourth, principals and schools in general would pay more attention to how and how much our Braille students are learning because now these students would count on the school's performance report card from the state. It would create accountability for the education of our blind children, and overall, this would result in full participation across the curriculum and across all activities to the greatest extent possible. Isn't that what we wanted in the first place?
We started working on this problem in 1995 and passed a resolution at our state convention. Nothing at all seemed to happen to resolve the problem until Loretta White filed a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Education on June 6, 1996. On April 30, 1997, OCR wrote a letter to Loretta White. MSDE had submitted a list of assurances to settle the complaint, which was printed in the July 1997 edition of the Braille Monitor. The article was entitled “Victory for Blind Students in Maryland.” Here is the list of assurances and the reporting requirements:
1. For the Spring 1997 administration of the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program (MSPAP) for fifth graders, the MSDE will develop and administer a Brailled version of the test as a pilot effort and will ensure that the test is administered to blind fifth graders whose educational program includes receiving printed material through a system of Braille. By April 30, 1997, the MSDE will provide written notice to all school districts in Maryland of their obligation to provide the Brailled test to all qualified blind students in the fifth grade and advising of the need to provide written justification if it is determined that any individual blind student should be exempted from the test. Also, at the same time, the MSDE will notify the districts of their obligation to provide practice sessions to those students who will be participating in the test. The MSDE will review the administration of the test and analyze the results of the pilot MSPAP administration by October 1, 1997.
2. The MSDE will notify all Maryland school districts that, starting with the Spring 1997 administration of the test and every year thereafter, all qualified blind students who attend schools in its jurisdiction must be provided the necessary accommodations to enable them to participate in the MSPAP testing program, practice sessions, and home study as effectively as students without visual impairments can participate. The accommodations may include the use of Braille readers and scribes, special equipment, special instructions to teachers who are preparing the students for the test, extra time, or any other modifications to its testing program as will enable each otherwise-qualified blind student to participate in the MSPAP testing program as effectively as can students without visual impairments.
3. For purposes of these assurances, districts will not be required to provide the MSPAP to an individual blind student if an appropriate district Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) committee provides written justification of its determination that the student should be exempted from the test for a reason(s) other than the student's visual impairment alone.
4. The MSDE will permit a qualified blind student to be exempted from all or part of the MSPAP test only if the appropriate ARD committee of the local school district can demonstrate that the accommodations necessary to enable such student to participate in the testing program, would fundamentally alter the testing program. The MSDE will provide to OCR by December 31, 1997, a written report listing all blind students exempted from the 1997-98 test, the accommodation needed for the student, and the basis of its belief that the accommodation would fundamentally alter the testing program.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS:
The MSDE agrees to report to OCR the following information regarding the 1997 MSPAP:
1. By June 30, 1997, the number of blind students, by district, school, and grade, as of January 2, 1997;
2. By April 30, 1997, a description of the steps that will be taken to accommodate blind students in preparing for and in taking the test;
3. By June 30, 1997, by name or unique identifier, each blind student in the third, fifth, or eighth grade who took the MSPAP test and a description of the accommodations that were provided to make the student's participation possible.
4. By June 30, 1997, by name or unique identifier, each blind student who is in the third, fifth, or eighth grade and who did not take the test for reasons related solely to his or her blindness. For each such student, identify the school, grade, extent of disabilities, and reason(s) for not taking the test, and the identification of the persons making the decision to exclude the student from the test; and
5. By June 30, 1997, a copy of the notice sent to all the school districts outlining their obligations to provide the Braille test and other accommodations. By December 31, 1997, the name or unique identifier of each blind student expected to be exempted from the Spring 1998 test, the accommodation that would be needed, and the basis for the belief that the accommodation would fundamentally alter the testing program.
Signed by Nancy S. Grasmick, State Superintendent, dated April 29, 1997.
This Monitor article further stated: “Something truly significant has been accomplished in the fight to establish the equality of blind students in Maryland. Moreover, the precedent will be important in other states and situations when so-called educators try to argue that blind students should not be expected to compete with their sighted peers.” We must remain vigilant because students and parents continue to have issues with various types of high stakes testing.
We offer thanks and appreciation to the past, present, and future members of the MDPOBC for their leadership and advocacy. Through persistence, we will achieve our goal of equity in education for blind students.
Blind Industries and Services of Maryland Employees Recognized
By Sharon Maneki
[Editor’s Note: One of NFBMD’s most important partners is Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM). BISM is the largest employer of blind people in the state. It also operates adjustment to blindness training programs for young people, seniors, and those in all stages of life through its youth, SALE, and CORE programs. Many of the staff and students at BISM are NFB members, and most of the training center staff and BISM leaders are graduates of NFB training centers. Three BISM employees were recently honored as described below.]
Three employees of Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM), who are also members of NFBMD, received awards for their valuable work. They are not only leaders in employment but are also role models for blind people because they demonstrate what blind people can do when given the opportunity. The BISM employees who were recognized are Tom Owens, Heather Guy, and Linwood Boyd.
Tom Owens received Employee of the Year for 2024 from Maryland Works on September 28, 2024. Maryland Works is a statewide membership association that expands employment and business ownership opportunities for people with disabilities. Their members include nonprofit community service organizations and individual workforce development professionals who specialize in creating workforce and economic opportunities for thousands of motivated and qualified Marylanders with disabilities. Tom has worked at BISM for 28 years and is the sales manager for Maryland state government. He worked in the rehabilitation department and in the sales department, working his way up to sales manager. He is responsible for selling all of BISM’s items, including janitorial equipment and office products, to various entities of Maryland government.
Heather Guy, who is the president of NFBMD’s Eastern Shore chapter, received recognition from National Industries for the Blind (NIB). She was nominated for the Milton J. Samuelson Career Achievement Award. Heather is a rehabilitation specialist in Salisbury. In addition to training seniors, Heather also trains employees who work in production on blindness skills. Recently, she took on the additional task of training people in the sewing departments in Baltimore; Salisbury, Maryland; and Raleigh, North Carolina. Heather recognizes the advantages of blind employees learning how to sew from another blind person. She certainly is growing in her career.
Linwood Boyd has been an active member of the Greater Baltimore chapter for many years. He was nominated for the Peter J. Salmon Award. Linwood worked at BISM for 18 years. He held multiple positions in the paper department and currently works with chemicals.
NIB’s mission is to enhance the opportunities for economic and personal independence of people who are blind, primarily through creating, sustaining, and improving employment. Both Heather and Linwood attended the national week-long NIB conference in Arlington, Virginia and were recognized for their work at BISM at the banquet on October 17th. Dr. Michael Gosse, president of BISM, said, “We are very proud of these three employees. They demonstrate what can be done when blind people are given opportunity. Heather and Linwood received honorable mention in their categories, but all three are BISM’s employees of the year.”
Congratulations to Tom, Heather, and Linwood! They are living the lives they want and changing what it means to be blind.
Spectator Specs
Deaths:
We are sorry to share the passing of the following individuals:
Clara Leatherbury passed away on September 28, 2024, after a long illness. Clara was a champion of the Maryland Business Enterprise Program, helping many blind people who wanted to be entrepreneurs join this program. She mentored many vendors throughout her 40-year tenure. Clara was also a member of the Greater Baltimore chapter until her health deteriorated. In addition, she was a member of the Maryland Association of Blind Merchants.
Liam Lindsay passed away unexpectedly on October 9, 2024. Liam had been a member of our NFB of Maryland Greater Baltimore Chapter. Liam recently joined the staff of the National Federation of the Blind, working in the NFB Independence Market. Prior to that, Liam worked as a consultant, providing training on adjustment to blindness to various companies and governmental entities. Liam also worked for many years in the Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM) CORE Program, including serving as an instructor in several areas, and most recently, as the Apartment Manager. Many of us remember Liam’s beautiful singing voice from various Federation events.
Annette Gordon passed away on October 17, 2024 after a long illness. Annette was a long-time member of our Baltimore County Chapter. She worked at BISM for many years up until her passing in the SAIL program. She was for some time a spokesperson for the NFB Diabetes Action Network, and much of her advocacy in this area is available if you Google her.
John Cheadle passed away on October 25, 2024 after an illness. John was a founding and lifetime member of the TLC Chapter, as well as a lifetime member of the Greater Baltimore Chapter, along with his wife, Barbara. John worked for many years at the National Federation of the Blind, where he served as Executive Director of Buildings and Facilities for 18 years. He also served as an active volunteer with the Maryland affiliate in many roles, including serving as a driver, a member of the financial audit team, a reader, a builder (he literally built things for us for conventions and meetings), and an auctioneer. John continued to support the Federation as a volunteer for the NFB of Maryland up until his passing.
Clara, Liam, Annette, and John will be deeply missed. Please keep them and all who love them in your thoughts and prayers.
Community Activists:
Marguerite Woods, president of the At-Large chapter and the Senior Issues Division, works tirelessly to promote the inclusion of blind and low vision people in various community programs for Baltimore City. She is part of a team working to make Baltimore a city that provides accessible art for people with disabilities. She recently reported that the group received grants from the ARC of Maryland and the Lois and Irving Blum Foundation. Six museum partners subsequently expressed interest in continuing to collaborate, learn and develop accessible practices: the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Walters Art Museum, the James E. Lewis Museum of Art, the Peale Museum, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum, and the Maryland Center for History and Culture. We look forward to future access to many of the museums in Baltimore and we know that Marguerite will foster inclusion for the blind.
Of course, President Ronza Othman is a community activist. She recently appeared on the Inclusivity Included podcast promoting accessibility and the benefits of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act. She was invited to participate in this podcast by a prestigious law firm, Reed Smith. She emphasized the can-do philosophy of the National Federation of the Blind, as well as the benefits of access to mentors and a community of people with disabilities.
Thank you to President Othman and to Marguerite Woods for their activism!
DIY Labels Now Available for GE Appliances:
Terry Powers, an active member of the Sligo Creek chapter, who also serves on its board, offers the following information, taken from Ophthalmic Edge:
GE Appliances is offering a DIY (do-it-yourself) kit as a workaround. The Access Kit was created in partnership with the American Printing House for the Blind (APH). In a press release, dated February 27, 2024, the appliance maker described the kit as the “most comprehensive set of tactile stickers for appliances.” With over 400 stickers, representing the 80 most commonly used settings, the kit is designed to “make thousands of GE Appliances more accessible for everyone,” and it can be used on non-GE appliances, as well. The clear adhesive stickers are placed over the appliance label, allowing the label to show through. They include both tactile symbols and Braille.
The GE Access Kit can be purchased for $19.99 at <https://www.geapplianceparts.com/store/parts/spec/WX01X48726> https://www.geapplianceparts.com/store/parts/spec/WX01X48726.
Ronza Othman, President
National Federation of the Blind of Maryland
443-426-4110
Pronouns: she, her, hers
The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back
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