[nabs-l] Chris Nusbaum for NABS Board

[Chris Nusbaum]

Dear Fellow NABS Members:

In April of 2011 my life changed forever.  I was in seventh grade 
at the time and attending my first ever Jernigan Institute 
program: the 2011 Leadership and Advocacy in Washington (LAW) 
Program.  Before I had enrolled in this event, I had been a 
member of the National Federation of the Blind, but only on 
paper.  My memories of an earlier experience had prevented me 
from throwing myself into any Federation activity.  I had no 
interest in any of the youth programs or in attending a national 
convention.  Even when I joined my family in making the 
occasional day trip to our state convention, I showed no interest 
in attending the general sessions or even the student activities.  
Most of the time I would stay in the hotel room with my dad, who 
possessed a similar lack of interest in "all those meetings," 
while Mom went to those parent sessions she always wanted to go 
to.  Sometimes I would allow myself to be "dragged" to the 
parents' luncheon at which they seemed to inevitably ask me to 
speak almost every year.  However, I knew my life was lacking 
something.  Sure, I could accept my blindness for what it is.  
Sure, I had no sadness or sense of loss in the realization that I 
am blind.  However, I had no source of confidence or motivation 
to drive me on.  I had no community I could call my own; no 
mentors to ask those blindness questions which only found their 
place in the deep recesses of my mind; no peers to whom I could 
relate.  I was a blind person floating through life alone, with a 
lot of enthusiasm and no place to use it.  There was no place 
where I could truly say I belonged.

It was during those momentous four days in Baltimore that I met 
the National Federation of the Blind-not the Federation of my 
early childhood, which in my mind was mean and radical and 
close-minded, but the real Federation.  There I met adults and 
peers alike who told me I could live the life I want.  And they 
didn't just tell me that; they showed me by their example.  I saw 
the Federation's powerful advocacy in action, fighting for the 
rights of all blind people to live on equal terms with the 
sighted.  Most importantly for me, however, I met people who told 
me I didn't have to be an adult or a national leader or the 
"perfect blind person" to contribute to our movement.  Finally, I 
had found a place where I belong-a community and a cause I can 
call my own! I came home from that program a changed person.  
Almost immediately I immersed myself in learning about the 
history, philosophy and programs of the Federation.  In my 
eagerness to connect with the members of my newfound community, I 
subscribed to three NFB-Net listservs in one day and began 
voraciously reading the material posted on them.  Some of you may 
remember me from those days: a middle school student bursting at 
the seems with Federation enthusiasm and contributing to every 
thread I could.  Some of you may have wished then that I would 
just go away.  Unfortunately, or fortunately, I have not.

In the intervening three years I have begun to assimilate myself 
into active Federation membership and some leadership.  In 2012 I 
was elected to serve on the Board of the Maryland Association of 
Blind Students,  of which I am currently honored to serve as 
Secretary.  I have also been blessed with opportunities to give 
back to the movement which has given me so much on the state and 
even the national level.  Last year I was honored when our state 
President asked me to join our social media team and coordinate 
the live tweeting of our state convention.  Further still, I was 
deeply humbled when I received the call from Dr.  Maurer to serve 
on the newly-formed Committee on Social Media which develops and 
implements strategies for spreading the message of the Federation 
using the power of social media.  God and the Federation have 
also blessed me with numorous occasions to continue my growth, to 
be mentored and to mentor others, e.g.  as a teacher in our 
Baltimore BELL Program, as an informal teacher and role model to 
blind children and their families, and as a student in the 
Louisiana Center for the Blind's Buddy and STEP Programs.  I have 
taken much from this wonderful organization; now I am ready to 
give back.

After much contemplation, I have decided to run for the position 
of NABS Board Member at our upcoming national convention.  I 
believe my enthusiasm and prior experience will help NABS in 
continuing our vibrancy as a proud division of the NFB.  Though I 
am still in high school, I am passionate about reaching out to 
those younger students who, like me before I found the 
Federation, are currently floating through life on their own with 
no cause to call their own.  I believe my status as a member of 
the younger generation of students will serve as an asset to 
NABS.  Moreover, I do not intend to act unilaterally on anything.  
We are an organization which can only survive if all involved 
work together.  If elected, I plan to cooperate and actively 
communicate with both my fellow leaders and the wider membership 
in creating a better, stronger NABS.  I can truly say that the 
National Federation of the Blind has changed my life.  Now, it is 
time for me to give back that which has been so generously given 
me.  With your vote on July 2, as the motto of the Louisiana 
Center for the Blind so aptly states, "Together, we are changing 
what it means to be blind." I thank you for your support and 
would be honored to receive your vote.

Sincerely yours,

Chris Nusbaum, Secretary
Maryland Association of Blind Students
A Division of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland