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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><h1 align=center style='margin-top:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal'><span style='font-size:36.0pt'>MARYLAND ORGANIZATION OF PARENTS OF BLIND CHILDREN<o:p></o:p></span></h1><h1 align=center style='margin-top:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>GET ON B.A.S.E. – September 18, 2021<o:p></o:p></span></h1><h1 align=center style='margin-top:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Workshop on Behavior, Ableism, Security, and Expectations<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2 align=center style='margin-top:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal;background:#E7E6E6'><span style='font-size:22.0pt;color:black'>WELCOME FROM MDOPBC AND MDABS</span><span style='font-size:22.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></h2><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Thank you for joining the Maryland Organization of Parents of Blind Children and the Maryland Association of Blind Students for our Get on B.A.S.E workshop. Participants will learn how to instill proper social cues, how to combat ableism, staying safe with technology, and the expectations revolving around consent. Parents and children will split off into two separate groups and attend sessions covering the same topics. Only students over the age of 14 are permitted to register and participate in the student activities. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><h3>Maryland Organization of Parents of Blind Children Board of Directors <o:p></o:p></h3><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>President, Garret Mooney<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>First-Vice President, Teresa Graham<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Second-Vice President, Christine Day<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Secretary, Melisa Sheeder <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Treasurer, Bill Jacobs<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Board Member, Stephanie Cascone<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Board Member, Monica Rao<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Board Member, Heather Guy<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Board Member, Melisa Riccobono <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 align=center style='margin-top:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal;background:#E7E6E6'><span style='font-size:22.0pt;color:black'>ACCESSING THE WORKSHOP</span><span style='font-size:22.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></h2><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN style='font-size:14.0pt'>We were hoping to have the workshop in person. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, it will be held via Zoom. Click on the imbedded links in the agenda to launch the Zoom desktop client or mobile application. Alternatively, dial 301-715-8592 and enter the ten- or eleven-digit Conference ID listed in the agenda followed by the pound key. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN><o:p> </o:p></span></p><h2 align=center style='margin-top:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal;background:#E7E6E6'><span style='font-size:22.0pt;color:black'>REGISTRATION AND MEMBERSHIP</span><span style='font-size:22.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></h2><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Please register for the workshop by visiting the link below:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc_TU93Yi8A2pcIN4vGqy4WdFaetATvFLTtWbe3NlHUknWYlg/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0"><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0070C0'>https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc_TU93Yi8A2pcIN4vGqy4WdFaetATvFLTtWbe3NlHUknWYlg/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0</span></a><u><span style='font-size:14.0pt;color:#0070C0'> <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Join or renew your membership! Dues cost $15 for the whole family. Note that membership dues for MDABS is a separate membership registration and we encourage all students to become members of our student division. You can pay your membership dues to either MDOPBC or MDABS by visiting the link below: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.nfbmd.org/join"><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>http://www.nfbmd.org/join</span></a><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p><h2 align=center style='margin-top:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal;background:#E7E6E6'><span style='font-size:22.0pt;color:black'>SCHEDULE FOR SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 18</span><span style='font-size:22.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></h2><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>WORKSHOP ON BEHAVIOR, ABLEISM, SECURITY, AND EXPECTATIONS<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><b><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>GET ON B.A.S.E. Workshop – 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM EST<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Meeting ID: </span><a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83795431438?pwd=eHFrM21TSEljYW9qa0hER1BQZ2ExQT09"><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>837 9543 1438</span></a><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h3 style='margin-top:0in;line-height:normal'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>10:15 AM—Pre-Registration <o:p></o:p></span></h3><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Parents can come to our Zoom workshop before it starts and register for our event. In addition, parents can meet other families. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><h3 style='margin-top:0in;line-height:normal'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>10:30 AM—Opening Remarks and Board Introductions <o:p></o:p></span></h3><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Garret Mooney, President Maryland Organization of Parents of Blind Children <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><h3 style='margin-top:0in;line-height:normal'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>10:40 AM—Session 1: Behavior<o:p></o:p></span></h3><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Many blind children do not know certain social cues due to the inability to see social interactions. During this session, parents will learn how to teach their child about facial expressions, body language, and understand personal space. Parents will also learn about blindisms, what are they, when are they acceptable to engage in, and how they can inhibit your child’s social life. Encouraging social skills—verbal and non-verbal communications—in our blind children is important, so they will be able to present themselves as confident blind adults.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Karen Anderson, Education Programs Coordinator, National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></p><h3 style='margin-top:0in;line-height:normal'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>11:40 AM—Session 2: Safety <o:p></o:p></span></h3><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>The internet and technology as a whole have created new opportunities for blind people. During this session, parents will learn the many ways blind children can connect with other blind children. At the same time, parents will also learn what steps they will need to take to ensure their children are being safe. For example, what information to share, protecting personal information from hackers, and staying safe on social media. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Danielle McCann, Social Media Coordinator, National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></p><h3 style='margin-top:0in;line-height:normal'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>12:40 PM—Session 3: Ableism <o:p></o:p></span></h3><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Ableism is the discrimination of and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that typical abilities are superior. At its heart, ableism is rooted in the assumption that disabled people require ‘fixing’ and defines people by their disability. During this session, parents will learn what ableism looks like such as framing blindness as a tragedy/inspiration or asking invasive questions about a person’s blindness. At the end of the meeting, parents will know how to recognize ableism and what actions they can take to educate family, friends, and the public.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Anil Lewis, Executive Director for Blindness Initiatives, National Federation of the Blind <o:p></o:p></span></p><h3 style='margin-top:0in;line-height:normal'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>1:40 PM—Session 4: Expectations <o:p></o:p></span></h3><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Consent is the notion that we should respect one another’s boundaries, in order to be safe, preserve dignity, and build healthy relationships. For our last session, parents will learn how they can teach their children about consent, what physical touch is acceptable, what to do if boundaries are violated, and how power over one’s body can empower a person. <o:p></o:p></span></p><h3 style='margin-top:0in;line-height:normal'><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>2:30 PM—End of Seminar <o:p></o:p></span></h3><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Thank you to our speakers and guests who participated in our workshop from around the state of Maryland and country. This seminar could not be a success without the volunteers who help run the seminar—thanks so much for your commitment. It is such a wonderful opportunity to meet new friends and catch up with old ones. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Board of Directors <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Maryland Organization of Parents of Blind Children <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=xmsonormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><h2 align=center style='margin-top:0in;text-align:center;line-height:normal;background:#E7E6E6'><span style='font-size:22.0pt;color:black'>BEYOND THE SEMINAR: CONNECT WITH US</span><span style='font-size:22.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></h2><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Stay connected. Below are some ways to continue the conversation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Find us on social media in our private Facebook group: </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/935679223195091"><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Maryland Parents of Blind Children</span></a><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Follow the</span> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MDABS.federation"><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Maryland Association of Blind Students - MDABS</span></a><span style='font-size:14.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Join the MDPOBC – Maryland Parents of Blind Children email list serv at </span><a href="https://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/mdpobc_nfbnet.org"><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>https://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/mdpobc_nfbnet.org</span></a><span style='font-size:14.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Plan to attend the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland State Convention. The state convention, which includes a parent seminar, will be at the Holiday Inn Baltimore Inner Harbor (formerly Crown Plaza) in Baltimore from November 12-14, 2021. Learn more at </span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Employee.JI-LAPTOP6/Downloads/nfbmd.org"><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>nfbmd.org</span></a><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:14.0pt'>Thank you for your participation! <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Garret <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>James G. Mooney<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>President, Maryland Organization of Parents of Blind Children <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>(480) 433-8003 <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>james.garret.mooney@gmail.com<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>