[Mdabs] Fwd: [nabs-l] The Student Slate, Winter 2013

[christopher nusbaum]

In case you haven't read it already, here is the latest issue of NABS's
quarterly newsletter, the Student Slate.

Chris Nusbaum

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

*From:* "National Association of Blind Students" <nabs at nabslink.org>
*Date:* January 29, 2013, 9:51:42 PM EST
*To:* NABS E-Mail discussion List <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>
*Subject:* *[nabs-l] The Student Slate, Winter 2013*
*Reply-To:* National Association of Blind Students <nabs at nabslink.org>,
National Association of Blind Students mailing list <nabs-l at nfbnet.org>

(Please visit
http://www.nabslink.org/drupal/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=16&qid=1706to
read this issue in your browser, or download a Microsoft Word copy)

THE STUDENT SLATE
Winter 2013

Edited by Karen Anderson, Cindy Bennett, Candice Chapman and Sean Whalen

Published by
The National Association of Blind Students
Sean Whalen, President

##Contents
* Editor's Introduction
* Experiencing Washington Seminar by Tony Olivero
* Washington Seminar 2013
* Running for Congress by Parnell diggs
* For the Blind, Kindle good for Nothing but Kindling by cindy Bennett and
Natalie Shaheen
* Mentoring Toward the Future: Spotlight on the Illinois Association of
Blind Students  by Rose Sloan
* Self-Advocacy in Spain: Curiosity, Confidence, and Commitment by Chelsey
Duranleau

EDITOR'S NOTE: The beginning of each article is indicated by two hash marks
followed by a space (## ). You can use this to search.

## Editor's Introduction

Now that we're crawling out of our candy comas, sadly reacquainting
ourselves with those loud boxes that rudely wake us up in the morning, and
remembering to date everything 2012, I mean, 2013, we bring you some much
needed warmth. So as you sit by the fake candles in your dorm room, be
filled with the smooth, meandering words of fellow blind students and NFB
members that are almost as sweet as hot coco...almost.

Before the flames engulf your attention, we have a few announcements for
you. As many of you know, the 2013 Washington Seminar is fast approaching.
It will be held at the Holiday Inn Capitol hotel in Washington D.C. Monday,
February 4 through Thursday, February 7. Reservations should have been made
through your state affiliate by now, and information about the seminar
itself and the issues that we are supporting can be found later in this
newsletter. But we want to highlight the NABS events. NABS will hold its
annual winter meeting Monday, February 4 from 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M. please
preregister online! It takes 30 seconds, and it will allow you more time to
decide between a venti caramel macchiato and a short chai with soy before
the
meeting. Visit <
http://www.nabslink.org/drupal/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=14&qid=1706>
to register. Registration the morning of the meeting will open at 8:00 A.M.
We will have tons of great speakers, breakout sessions, a chance for you to
meet with your regional rep and with students from your neck of the woods,
and everyone's favorite, door prizes! Don't worry, the Slate committee
won't be too offended if you put this down to register right now so you
won't forget.

After the meeting, run to Quiznos, but don't be too long, because from 2:30
until 4:00, you'll have the chance to meet with representatives from a
variety of student-related companies and training centers at our resource
fair.

The NABS events will culminate in our famous NABS Cafe Monday night from
8:00 until midnight. Buy your ticket ahead of time from a NABS board member
for $5 or, for all of the procrastinators, at the door for $7. You'll be
getting a great deal, because many of the NFB's finest musical entertainers
will perform live. Last year, our NABS president even graced us with his
sultry voice, and some rumors have circulated about him singing again this
year. At the door, you'll have the opportunity to vote for who you want to
see pied at the end of the night with your extra bills. It will be a hard
choice between NABS president Sean Whalen, Executive Director of The
Jernigan Institute Mark Riccobono, former president of the Georgia
affiliate of the
NFB Anil Lewis, and former Imagination Fund Chair, Executive Director of
the National Association of Blind Merchants and member of our Colorado
affiliate Kevan Worley. Vote for as many of them as often as you like!
There will be a cash bar for your convenience and an amazing auction. Bring
your credit cards, forget about your student loans and bid on great items
like cosmetics, chocolates, and wine to support the best division for blind
students in America! This event is not just for students, so make sure
everyone going to Washington Seminar from your affiliate knows!

Now, back to the proverbial fire that accompanies you while you read the
articles. Slate committee member Cindy Bennett and education expert Natalie
Shaheen will explain to you what the NFB thinks about the fact that you
can't read this newsletter on a Kindle. Not to worry though, Chelsey
Duranleau's inspiring piece about her study abroad experience will stir the
coals and send flames flying. Tony Olivero tells us why he keeps going to
Washington Seminar, and the Slate team makes sure you know what to talk
about during your short 15 minutes of fame with your congressmen next week.
If you can't make Washington Seminar, read on anyway so you can advocate on
the home front, which is just as important. But before your trek up the
Hill, learn a
thing or two from Parnell Diggs's congressional campaign highlights.
Finally, incorporate some new tips for your student division after reading
Rose Sloan's update on how Illinois keeps the motivational molecules moving
during the Midwest winter that we all shiver from just hearing stories
about.

And when you're done, if you haven't already, click that link and register
for our winter meeting!

## Experiencing Washington Seminar
*by Tony Olivero*

*From the Editor:* Tony Olivero has been a member of the NFB since 2001. He
has worn several hats during his time with the organization, including
Chapter president, affiliate board member, IBTC Technology Analyst, and
Legislative Coordinator for the Nebraska Affiliate. Here is Tony's
recollection of his first Washington Seminar experience and his thoughts on
why attending matters:

In February 2002, I was given the opportunity by two of my Federation
mentors, Larry and Kathy Sebrenek, to attend the Washington Seminar. Having
been a member of the Federation for slightly less than a year at that
point, I wasn't really sure what to expect. I had actually been to
Washington, D.C. as part of a civic educational program for high school
students the year before, and had the opportunity to meet with my
Congressman as part of that program. However, that experience was nothing
compared to the power that is our annual Washington Seminar.

As in Philadelphia the summer before, stepping into the hotel was almost an
overwhelming experience. For the second time, I was surrounded by other
people who shared two things in common with me: blindness, and the desire
to make a difference for others. The palpable energy in the Great Gathering
In as Dr. Maurer, and the NFB Governmental Affairs staff briefed us on that
year's Legislative Agenda for Blind Americans, launched us all into an
excited frenzy, eager and anxious to take Capitol Hill by storm over the
next two days. I think it hit me that night, as I read through the fact
sheets, the thought that approximately five hundred of my Federation family
were going to be talking to Senators and Congressmen, trying to educate
them on what
mattered to us, and hopefully getting them to sign on to our legislation.
It seemed an impossible task, and I wondered at least once why I (a college
freshman) was there. No one else (at least in the venerable, veteran
Wisconsin delegation I was with) seemed daunted in the least. I took
strength in that, and decided I'd eventually figure out what I was doing.

We had all of our meetings the following day. It was quite an experience to
sit in the offices of men and women who had the ability to change the
course of our country with their words and actions, especially when you're
told “Okay, it's your turn. You take the next issue.” Sometimes we met with
staffers; occasionally we met with the member of Congress themselves. In
all cases, they wanted to hear what we had to say. They might not always
have agreed, but just being there and having the opportunity to demonstrate
to them that blind people were engaged and had a desire to be civically
involved was a powerful feeling.

I still go to Washington Seminar every chance I get, and I still experience
the same enthusiasm for what we do. Our legislative agenda has changed over
the past 11 years: we have secured funding to help develop the first
portable reading machine for the blind, we have helped create the National
Instructional Materials Center providing textbooks to K-12 students, and we
have ensured that silent cars will soon pose no threat to blind
pedestrians. This year, we will ensure access to higher education materials
and systems, remove the unfair labor practices allowing blind workers to be
paid subminimum wages, and gain the right of disabled military veterans to
access services their nonmedically retired colleagues have access to. The
NFB
Washington Seminar is our chance to make a huge impact on issues affecting
the blind of America. Our National Convention is an inspiring and
spirit-building event, but Washington Seminar is where work gets done. If
you want to make a difference, if you want to change what it means to be
blind, if you want to make sure that we are treated equally and have access
to the same programs and systems as our sighted peers, Washington Seminar
is for you! Yes, there is the annual Winter Student meeting, and many other
social gathering opportunities, but nothing will give you a stronger sense
of accomplishment than hearing the words, “yes, I will cosponsor your bill”
after a meeting you just had with your legislator. I strongly encourage you
all
to find the opportunity to attend the Seminar. You won't regret it.


## Washington Seminar 2013

*From the Editor:* It is once again time for the National Federation of the
Blind to carry our message of equality and opportunity to Capitol Hill. Our
annual Washington Seminar is not only a great opportunity for blind
students to help to educate our legislators on issues of importance to the
blind, but also an excellent opportunity to learn about our government, se
how grass roots advocacy can influence public policy, and take in all that
Washington DC has to offer.

This year's festivities will kick off with the annual NABS winter meeting
on Monday February 4, 2013, and at 5:00pm, that evening the Great Gathering
In will launch the week's legislative efforts. The various state affiliates
of the NFB will be heading to the Hill to meet with Members of Congress and
their staffers on Tuesday through Thursday, February 5 to 7 to raise
awareness and call for legislative action on three issues. The following is
a brief summary of each issue about which we will be educating our
legislators:

###Increase Access to Education

The first issue on this year's agenda is one we students can play a pivotal
role in promoting. We are endeavoring to pass a bill called the Technology,
Education and Accessibility in College and Higher Education (TEACH) Act.
This bill would direct the Access Board, a small federal entity, to consult
steakholders and agree upon a set of access standards for electronic
textbooks, e-readers, course management software, and other technology used
in higher education. The digitization of education and content can be an
extremely positive development for blind students, but only of the makers
of technology build accessibility into their products. The ADA, as well as
section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, require schools to make education
accessible to all students, and this bill will allow the Department of
Justice to promulgate guidelines instructing educational institutions on
how to meet their legal obligations to procure technologies that are usable
by all of their students. As blind students, we all have stories of
inaccessible technologies acting as barriers to our education. It is vital
that we share our stories with Congress and educate them about the crucial
nature of equal access to education for all!

###Repeal the Fair Labor Standards Act

The second issue will be familiar to many of you; we pushed for the same
bill last year. We are attempting to introduce and pass a bill that would
make it illegal to pay subminimum wages to blind or otherwise disabled
employees. As the law stands, a decades-old provision 14(c) of the Fair
labor Standards Act, allows certain employers to obtain certifications to
pay people with disabilities at less than the federal minimum wage. It is
unfair and must be repealed. Our bill will discontinue the practice of
issuing special wage certificates immediately, and will phase out current
certificates over three years and protect blind Americans by making clear
that we deserve the federal minimum wage and equal protection under the law.

###Allow Disabled Veterans the Same Privileges as their Retired Peers

The final issue relates to the Space Available program, which allows active
and retired military to travel for free on military aircraft when there is
space available. Because of an inadvertent oversight, disabled veterans who
are discharged from service are not eligible for this program. H.R. 164
would expand the program to include veterans who are blinded or otherwise
disabled in the service of our country.

To learn more about all of the 2013 legislative initiatives, you can go to <
http://www.nabslink.org/drupal/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=10&qid=1706>
to check out the fact sheets prepared by the NFB governmental affairs team.
The issues will also be discussed in detail at the Great Gathering In
meeting, being held at 5:00 in the Columbia Room on Monday, February 4.

We look forward to seeing a strong contingent of students in Washington DC
to help change what it means to be blind in the United States. Together we
can educate Congress, influence public policy, and make meaningful changes
in the lives of blind individuals across the country!

## Running for Congress
*by Parnell Diggs*

*From the Editor:* Parnell Diggs is the president of the National
Federation of the Blind of South Carolina as well as a board member of the
National Federation of the Blind. Here's what he has to say about his
experience running for Congress.

Many people will tell you that filling out Census data is a big fat pain.
But every ten years, politicians look forward to scrutinizing Census data
to redraw district lines for the United States House of Representatives and
state legislatures across the nation. Once the Census is taken, each state
is allotted a number of US House seats. It is then up to the states to draw
their own federal and state districts.

Each political party wants to create districts favoring its own candidates.
The major parties can afford to hire experts, who can break down voter
characteristics such as age, ethnicity, and gender to make fairly reliable
predictions about how groups of individuals, i.e. those groups that make up
potential US House districts as well as state legislative districts, are
likely to vote.

Likewise, the same analysis can be performed by individual candidates
deciding whether to seek public office in a particular district. I used
this analysis before deciding to throw my hat into the ring in the race for
South Carolina's newly created Congressional District 7 seat.

After reviewing the demographics of the voters in District 7, and the
history of how the precincts in District 7 have voted in recent elections,
I concluded that a Democrat would receive at least forty percent of the
vote no matter who that candidate might be. If I could win among the
independents, or pull in a mere one fifth of the remaining voters, I would
have it in the bag.

Some of my friends asked me why I decided to run for Congress rather than
the State Legislature or County Council; however, in these smaller
districts, with fewer precincts and fewer voters, the analysis remained the
same but yielded less favorable results. Ultimately, would a Democrat have
a mathematical chance in one of the other races? I did not think so.

Thus, I decided to seek the Nomination to be the Democratic candidate for
Congress in the November General Election. Several other Democratic
candidates, to my chagrin, eventually crunched the numbers and got the same
idea. Nevertheless, after talking with Dr. Maurer, I became the first
Democrat to announce in late September, 2011, in front of Myrtle Beach City
Hall.

Within a week of announcing my candidacy, I was invited to a barbecue
hosted by a local Democratic club, and the campaign (which would ultimately
cover over ten thousand miles within the District) began. The several dozen
Democrats there on that first Saturday in October were pleased to have a
Democrat in the race but apprehensive about a blind candidate.

“Hello, Parnell Diggs: I'm running for Congress. Good to see you”, I said
to the folks at the registration table. That was easy. More difficult,
however, was figuring out how to work the room and greet everyone there.
Structured discovery? Maybe. But when sighted people see an unaccompanied
blind person; they don't want an introduction, they want to offer help.

Imagine this scene. “Where are you trying to go...?” “Parnell Diggs how are
you? I'm running for Congress.” “You're what?” In the words of Dr. Joanne
Wilson, “What a Meet the Blind Month activity”! I also noticed one other
thing. Those who were not offering help desperately wanted to get out of my
way. But the voters were not the only people who were apprehensive at first.

I found myself somewhat out of my comfort zone because, while talking about
blindness comes pretty easily to me, I was there to talk about building the
economy from the middle-class out, job creation, protecting Social
Security, solving the deficit, and tax rates for the very wealthy.

These subjects became quite comfortable as the campaign progressed; but in
October of 2011, I was still transitioning from nonpartisan advocate to
partisan candidate. While working the room at that first event, I came to a
table with some people eating at it. I put my hand on a gentleman's
shoulder, “Parnell Diggs: how are you”? ”I just met you in the food line,”
he said good naturedly.

The novelty of a blind person running for Congress drove public interest at
first, much like news stories with titles such as (and these examples are
totally made up) "Blind Student Goes to College", or “Blind Boy Scout
Inspiration to All." These types of stories about blind people can be
helpful, but they are mostly heartwarming, special interest stories about
people beating the odds.

As a blind person, I was offering to help the sighted improve their quality
of life. This was the new novelty in the campaign. By the time we got to
the Election, members of the media were not using words like brave and
inspiring, nor did the fact that I am blind seem newsworthy at all.

Instead, people were talking about my skills as a debater, my knowledge of
domestic and foreign policy, and whether my ideas about creating jobs and
preserving the Social Security system were realistic. Blindness had become
just a characteristic, nothing more and nothing less.

But let me conclude with one final campaign anecdote. About a week before
the Election, I participated in a televised debate featuring the four
candidates seeking the nomination. During the debate, I was asked a
question and participated in a dialogue that went something like this.

"Mr. Diggs, you have served for twelve years as President of the National
Federation of the Blind of South Carolina. (I pause here to point out that
this may have been the first time that the National Federation of the Blind
has ever been the subject of a question in a Congressional debate, but the
dialogue continued.) If you are elected to Congress, how much time would
you spend on blindness issues?" I was delighted to get the question.

My answer went something like this. "I'm proud of my service in the
National Federation of the Blind; however, as your Congressman, I will
concentrate not just on blindness issues, but on protecting the poor and
underprivileged, those who are underrepresented, seniors, the disabled, and
anyone else who comes through my door." We didn't win the Election, but we
sure made a difference.

Over the years, we have become quite effective at getting blind leaders
appointed to positions of authority within the disability field. This trend
must continue because we know more about blindness than anyone else, and we
need to be in positions where we can affect blindness and disability
policy. But we must not allow society to limit our influence. That is why
this campaign was so important.

In the National Federation of the Blind, we have an abundance of young
leaders who are capable of exceeding the limits of society's expectations.
Can a blind person be President of the United States? What about a member
of the Cabinet, Social Security Commissioner, or Director of the CIA? Let
us not be satisfied with the limitations which society places upon us, or
even with those goals that we believe are barely within the realm of
possibility. We are limited only by the boundaries of our imagination.


## For the Blind, Kindle good for Nothing but Kindling
*by Cindy Bennett and Natalie shaheen*

*From the Editor:* Cindy Bennett is the secretary of NABS and is a member
of the committee that publishes the Student Slate. Furthermore, she is a
new Seattleite and was delighted to join the Amazon protest. Here is her
summary of the day's events along with a passionate breakdown of the issue
by The Jernigan Institute's Natalie Shaheen

This was my first protest. I had no idea what to expect, but I knew that I
was excited about the cause. We marched to Amazon's headquarters, a hundred
of my federation family and I, in Seattle's Southlake Union neighborhood.
Of course it was raining, but that didn't dampen our spirits as a podium
was erected and we raised our signs. We circled chanting phrases like “All
I want for Christmas is a book to read!” and “same books, same time!” I met
people I had known for years and newcomers who were invited to take part. I
met some people who weren't even members of the NFB but who supported our
cause. I marched and conversed with longtime federation leaders and
students of all ages. We were convening in response to the inaccessibility
of Kindles and their promotion in K12 schools. Below is an excerpt from the
NFB's web page on the components of the issue.

"Amazon.com is undertaking a massive effort to deploy its Kindle e-readers
and Kindle e-books to K-12 schools across the United States. In some cases
Kindle devices have been donated directly to schools, including schools
that serve children who are blind or have other disabilities. More
important, and more disturbing, is the fact that Amazon has also built a
system called Whispercast that allows teachers and school administrators to
distribute Kindle content to devices other than Kindles. The problem with
all of these plans is that neither the Kindle devices nor the book files
used in conjunction with them are accessible to students who are blind or
who have other print disabilities. Since school districts have an
obligation under federal
law to purchase or deploy only accessible technology and content, Amazon
must either make Kindle e-books accessible or cease and desist from its
efforts to have them used in the classroom."

I marched because I was a privileged child who received braille instruction
that kept me above grade level during my K12 education. And because of that
I know that being literate is the cornerstone of future success. But I know
that many children do not receive their rightful instruction, and putting
Kindles and other inaccessible technologies in schools would set back
continuing efforts that the NFB makes to level the educational playing
field. I marched because even though I was lucky, I still encountered
teachers who maintained lower expectations of me despite my success in the
classroom. Inaccessible technology that does not promote braille use or
spelling grammar instruction will reaffirm lower expectations like too many
other things
in our society.

I received the honor of interviewing with three media sources, and I wove
this unfortunate reality into my conversations. As I educated, I was
invigorated. Passing cars honked their horns; passersby stopped to look and
even asked some questions; various leaders in the NFB and blindness-related
fields dawned the mic and transmitted their passionate speeches to the
surrounding blocks. My favorite of these came from Natalie Shaheen, the
Director of Education at The Jernigan Institute. Below is a text copy of
her speech.

"I am a teacher and I am frustrated with the way Amazon is deceiving my
colleagues regarding the effectiveness of Kindle content in the classroom.

"I have been a teacher for several years now. So, I am familiar with the
type of person who enters my profession. Educators are generally
good-natured people who love learning and want to share that love with all
of the children in their classes. I have not met a single teacher who would
knowingly exclude a student from a learning opportunity.

"Today, teachers are accustomed to adapting their instruction to meet the
needs of diverse student groups. General educators have come to realize
that the adaptations they make to accommodate students with disabilities,
actually improve instruction for all of their pupils. As a result, some
techniques which began as accommodations have become an integral part of
many teachers' instructional methods.

"In today's 21st century classrooms technology is central to instruction.
It isn't just being used in the classroom as the new paper and pencil or
slate and stylus. Technology is integral to the learning our children
engage in daily. The Common Core State Standards specifically reference
technology, demonstrating its significance to ensuring students are college
and career ready.

"With the increased use of technology in the classroom, accessibility is
paramount. Without the features and functionality that make a device
accessible, a student with a disability is left out. As is the case with
other accommodations made for students with disabilities, the inclusion of
accessibility benefits all users of a device. Recognizing the importance of
the accessibility of technology used in the classroom, the Department of
Education wrote a dear colleague letter and a frequently asked questions
document to educate schools on their legal responsibility to use accessible
technology in the classroom.

"Unfortunately, many educators, including administrators, remain unfamiliar
with the features that make a technology accessible to all students.
Manufacturers like Amazon are taking advantage of the ignorance of
educators with regards to accessibility and touting their Kindle products
as revolutionary tools that will enhance the learning of all students.

"Fellow educators, do not believe the lies Amazon is telling you. Instead,
listen to teachers and other professionals who are experts in
accessibility. As a teacher of the blind and a special educator, I know
accessibility when I see it, and trust me kindle isn't it! Blind students
cannot use kindles independently, access text with refreshable Braille,
look up words in the dictionary, or complete dozens of other tasks using
kindle content.

"Amazon, it's time for you to wise up. My colleagues and I who are
knowledgeable about accessibility will work tirelessly to ensure teachers
and school administrators in the US are aware of the lack of accessibility
in your products. Knowledgeable educators will not buy your products
because as I mentioned earlier, educators won't knowingly exclude a student
from a learning experience.

"If you want Kindle content in the schools, incorporate full accessibility
in all of your products. Then I will happily promote the use of your
technology alongside other accessible technologies in the classroom.

"I want my blind students to become successful blind adults, in order for
that to happen, they must be Braille literate and technology literate. They
cannot develop either type of literacy using your products.

"It's the 21st century Amazon, separate and unequal doesn't cut it!"

To sum up the profound impact the protest had on me personally, I will
summarize a quote from an Amazon employee conversing with one of my fellow
Seattle chapter members. “this is ridiculous. The newest Kindle was
released and we just haven't had time to make it accessible.” This means
that we need to keep fighting. There is no reason why accessibility should
be a delayed afterthought. And this poor business decision should most
certainly not be applied to technology that is meant to instruct students.

Access the NFB's page on Amazon's Kindle at <
http://www.nabslink.org/drupal/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=11&qid=1706>,
and access the quoted speech and other content on Natalie Shaheen's blog.
The URL for this blog post is <
http://www.nabslink.org/drupal/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=12&qid=1706
>.

## Mentoring Toward the Future:
Spotlight on the Illinois Association of Blind Students
*by Rose Sloan*

*From the Editor:* Rose Sloan is the newly elected president of the
Illinois Association of Blind Students. In this article she talks about her
hopes and dreams for the Illinois student division, as well as her plans
for making them a reality.

The Illinois Association of Blind Students (IABS) has been working hard.
The preparation started in July for the State Convention where all of our
organizing and planning was put into action. IABS plays a big role in the
Illinois affiliate, hosting a fundraising event, a breakfast, a lunch, and
a breakout session for teens. As has become tradition, the fundraising
event was IABS Idol, a karaoke night. This is, without a doubt, IABS's
biggest fundraiser of the year because there are no upfront costs, just
profit! Thankfully we have an amazing sound crew who is instrumental in
making this event possible. Another fundraiser IABS took on this year, and
one that is still going on, is a t-shirt sale. This is a joint fundraiser
with the affiliate.
Finally, we had a fifty-fifty raffle at the convention, which always brings
in over $100.

Other events at the convention included the Student Lunch and Student
Breakfast. During the lunch, Ms. Karen Anderson, who served as our NABS
rep, gave a wonderful keynote speech. Additionally, an IABS member shared
his internship experience, and the Illinois State Scholarship Class of 2012
introduced themselves. The main highlight of the student breakfast the next
morning was that the IABS board members for the 2012-13 term were elected.
As it turns out, those elected to office are an enthusiastic group.

IABS started our monthly conference calls just a week after the State
Convention. Immediately, the Mentoring Committee and the Membership and
Outreach Committee were formed. Since their formation, The Mentoring
Committee has started three programs: one in which the members of IABS are
going to be paired with mentors within NFBI, a second in which IABS members
are going to mentor younger students, a third in which a block of four
people will be formed consisting of an IABS member, an active NFB parent,
and a new parent/student pair. In order to get these programs going, each
IABS board member wrote a short paragraph about him/herself. These
paragraphs are very useful for matching IABS members with their NFBI
mentors. Additionally, these bios
are useful to future mentees so they can pick the IABS member who has
similar interests. So far, two high school students have been matched up
with IABS mentors. The NFBI/IABS mentoring program is being developed now,
and should be formally in place by March. One of the main goals of this
program is to bridge the gap between generations within the Illinois
affiliate. The more of a community the Illinois affiliate can be, the
stronger and more united we will be.

The Membership and Outreach Committee has also been busy. In December, IABS
went on a bowling outing. This was not only a fun event for current IABS
members, but we also had a new member attend. This was a great way to
introduce him to the NFB. This outing was very fun, and IABS will likely
plan another event to take place during spring break.

In the meantime, IABS is looking forward to sending two members to
Washington Seminar. We are also considering dedicating a conference call to
scholarships, in which many different organizations that award scholarships
to blind students can be represented. This way, potential applicants are
aware of all the different funds that they can apply for. Although the call
will focus on organizations based in Illinois, many of these scholarships
are open to applicants nationwide.

It looks as if IABS will be as active as ever in the year to come!

## Self-Advocacy in Spain:
Curiosity, Confidence, and Commitment
*by Chelsey Duranleau*

*From the Editor:* Chelsey Duranleau is a current student at BLIND, Inc.
Here is what she has to say about her experiences traveling abroad as well
as her advice for anyone who endeavors to do so.

On a cold snowy night in January of 2009, I fastened my seat belt as
instructed by the all too familiar fasten seat belt sign. The captain came
over the loud speaker announcing in a pleasant English accent that all
electronic devices needed to be powered down. After the last few cell
phones had chimed and last-minute seat belts had been clicked into place,
we slowly pulled back down the runway. "It's really happening,” I thought.
"I'm really going to a country that I have wanted to visit since I was in
the sixth grade." But it would be more than just a visit as a tourist - I
would be living there, living and breathing the Spanish culture and
lifestyle for almost four months. As the runway disappeared beneath us, my
mind became flooded
with questions: How will I access my textbooks? Will I be able to get
worksheets and assignments in the appropriate format? How will I learn to
navigate this strange city? What happens if I get lost?

Admittedly, the answers to the first 3 questions were still unclear.
However, thanks to a fellow Federationist at the national convention in
2008, I learned the answer to question 4. What if I get lost? He said:
“It's ok to get lost and you will get lost; it happens to everyone. The
trick is to take a step back, acknowledge that you are lost and that you
need help, and then ask for it.” "Of course!" I thought. It really is that
simple!" That is self-advocacy. As blind people, we want to be as
independent as possible. We want to have the power to make decisions about
our lives and about what is best for us. Part of this power is having the
confidence to ask for assistance if necessary and being committed to
following through in order to
get what we desire or to achieve a goal. Never had these concepts rang more
true for me than while studying abroad in Seville Spain. To sum it up in
one phrase: It is the perfect city to get literally lost in! Not to mention
to test your mobility skills in if you are a cane user. The streets are
narrow and seem to flow into one another and there are plenty of parked
cars, mopeds, and motorcycles aligning side streets and sometimes even
blocking the Spanish equivalent of a "sidewalk." My entire experience in
Spain was a test of my self-advocacy skills.

I informed all of my professors and faculty at my school that I would need
my textbooks and assignments in Microsoft Word so I could read them
independently using JAWS. Since it was a small school and I was the only
blind student, my professors and other faculty members were easily able to
scan materials into a computer and convert them to word so I could access
them. It is much easier for me to read Spanish in Braille so I contacted
ONCE, a national organization made up of blind and sighted volunteers to
obtain a Braille copy of a novel I needed to read for a Spanish literature
class. Before I arrived in Spain I contacted ONCE asking them if they would
assist me. After signing some forms and providing copies of my passport and
other
necessary documentation to the ONCE office I was shown landmarks that could
be used while navigating the central section of the city. If I wanted to go
somewhere new, I asked my host family for directions if it was within
walking distance and when I got lost I remembered the advice I had received
the previous summer. I stopped, calmed down, and asked someone for
directions. My curiosity seemed to have no bounds. Almost every time I
walked somewhere I would get lost, but that didn't stop me. I was
determined to go where I wanted to go and do what I needed and wanted to
do. When going into a store, I asked for assistance finding what I needed.
The more I spoke up, the more comfortable I became speaking and thinking in
Spanish. As my
confidence and commitment to advocating for myself grew, so did my
curiosity.

In April during a week off from school I decided to take a trip to Morocco
with Discover Sevilla, a local travel agency for tourists that organizes
group excursions. I was nervous because at the time I didn't know anyone
who was going, but I knew this would be the chance of a lifetime. For six
days, we drove across Morocco stopping in Rabat, Fez, and other cities to
explore and spend the day. The culmination of this trip was riding camels
through the Sahara and sleeping under the stars in an oasis. I was more
than a little excited, but one of our tour guides had some reservations
about my riding a camel because of my blindness. "Oh we'll just have you
ride in the car," he said. "I think that would be easier and safer for
you." I laughed to
myself and thought, "Have you ever met me? This girl doesn't limit herself
because of society's misconceptions or because another option might be
easier.” I insisted that I would be fine and that something could happen to
any other member of our group as well. Part of the reason I wanted to come
on this trip was to ride a camel through the desert and that was what I
planned on doing. Eventually, he gave in and I spent the next two hours
getting pelted by sand as our caravans made their way to where we would be
spending the night. After arriving at the oasis a bunch of us decided that
it would be fun to climb a giant sand dune and do some sand boarding. After
all, what else is there to do in the desert? It was a hard climb, but with a
little determination and encouragement from a new friend, eventually, I
made it to the top. It felt incredible. At that moment as I looked over the
edge, covered in sand and sweat, I realized just how far I had come since
leaving the US.

But this was far from the end of my journey abroad; during the 2011 – 2012
school year I returned to Spain to work as an assistant English teacher in
an elementary school in Palma de Mallorca. Although working with
fully-sighted children seemed to be challenging and frustrating at times,
it allowed me to exercise my creativity. I tried to complement and
reinforce what they were learning from their classroom teachers with fun
and engaging activities such as playing games or incorporating popular
songs into their lessons. Not only was I helping children to improve their
English, but I was also serving a very different and perhaps more
significant purpose: that of a role model and a representative of The
National Federation of the Blind, an
organization that has helped me overcome my own negative attitudes and
misconceptions surrounding blindness. I would not have had the courage to
study abroad or return to Spain two years later if it hadn't been for the
valuable encouragement and support I received from my NFB family. The most
important lesson I have learned from my involvement with the NFB has been
that my blindness is a small part of who I am, just like my eye or hair
color; it does not define me or limit my dreams of an independent, happy
and fulfilling life. As blind people, we must be our own advocates and work
together to break down negative attitudes and assumptions imposed on us by
the sighted society in which we live.

Remember, you are the best and most important advocate you have. You know
yourself better than anyone else. There will be obstacles as you walk
through the narrow streets of life, there will be giant sand dunes and you
may fall on your way up, but keep going, keep climbing and you will reach
the top.

This message was sent to you by National Association of Blind Students
c/o National Federation of the Blind
200 East Wells Street
at Jernigan Place
Baltimore, MD 21230
United States


If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, visit our unsubscribe
page at
http://www.nabslink.org/drupal/civicrm/mailing/unsubscribe?reset=1&jid=17&qid=1706&h=d61beecd58a458ec

To be removed from all National Association of Blind Students mailing
lists, visit our opt-out page at
http://www.nabslink.org/drupal/civicrm/mailing/optout?reset=1&jid=17&qid=1706&h=d61beecd58a458ec

Please do not reply to this message as this mailbox is not monitored. If
you have questions about NABS, please visit
http://www.nabslink.org/drupal/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=15&qid=1706

_______________________________________________
nabs-l mailing list
nabs-l at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nabs-l_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
nabs-l:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nabs-l_nfbnet.org/dotkid.nusbaum%40gmail.com
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/mdabs_nfbnet.org/attachments/20130130/f2e47216/attachment.html>