From manahiljafri at gmail.com Sat Feb 1 13:11:05 2025 From: manahiljafri at gmail.com (Manahil Jafri) Date: Sat, 1 Feb 2025 08:11:05 -0500 Subject: [NABS-L] NAVS Winter Seminar Pre-Registration Form Message-ID: Dear NABS Family, I hope you’re all amped for this year’s Washington Seminar —I know I am! And you know what the best part is? The National Association of Blind Students Winter Seminar! That’s right! I’m beyond excited to see all of you there as we come together for a powerful morning focused on this year’s theme: Resources. We’ll be diving into the tools, connections, and strategies to help blind students thrive. To ensure a quick and seamless check-in process , please fill out the pre-registration form linked below. This will help you skip the long registration line and get straight into the room. Doors open at 9:00 AM, and programing starts sharply at 10 AM. We can’t wait to welcome you all—whether in person or virtually! Find the registration and zoom link below, and I can’t wait to see you all there! P.S.: you don’t want to miss out on our exciting annual auction happening at 8:30-10:30 PM at the congressional ballroom and the same zoom link. Be there or be square! P.P.S: you also don’t want to miss out on a chance to snag a 50/50 raffle ticket! Have a chance to win big with grabbing 1 for $3 or 3 for $5, find any NABS leader and they’ll be sure to hook you up! May the odds ever be in your favor ;) Registration form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeX9gYeD27XUKX9uAvOJZYM0MVoryA4LJtT-pIkRHsX69BKug/viewform?usp=header Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/4678833687 Warmly, Manahil - Manahil Jafri She/hers/her 1st Vice President | National Association of Blind Students From yassirbohorquez at gmail.com Sat Feb 1 14:03:58 2025 From: yassirbohorquez at gmail.com (Yassir Bohorquez) Date: Sat, 1 Feb 2025 09:03:58 -0500 Subject: [NABS-L] NAVS Winter Seminar Pre-Registration Form In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <83A2C219-962C-49DF-8B81-22B434A52BC3@gmail.com> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From manahiljafri at gmail.com Sat Feb 1 15:04:04 2025 From: manahiljafri at gmail.com (Manahil Jafri) Date: Sat, 1 Feb 2025 10:04:04 -0500 Subject: [NABS-L] NAVS Winter Seminar Pre-Registration Form In-Reply-To: <83A2C219-962C-49DF-8B81-22B434A52BC3@gmail.com> References: <83A2C219-962C-49DF-8B81-22B434A52BC3@gmail.com> Message-ID: <451353E4-D5D3-4E4E-BE5E-22519CA01E42@gmail.com> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From oriolefan38 at gmail.com Sat Feb 1 16:00:00 2025 From: oriolefan38 at gmail.com (Zachary Ledford) Date: Sat, 1 Feb 2025 09:00:00 -0700 Subject: [NABS-L] NABS 2025 Annual Auction is Just Around the Corner!! Message-ID: NABS! The 2025 NABS Annual Auction at Washington Seminar is coming up fast and you don't want to miss it! The auction will take place February 3rd at 8:30PM EST. Please use the zoom link below for those who cannot attend in person but would still like to participate. Zoom: https://zoom.us/my/blindstudents NABS auctions are known for the creative baskets with tons of enticing items. Here's a sneak peak of one of the baskets. We will have a Cozy Night In basket with an UberEats gift card, fuzzy blanket, an Echo speaker and a bunch of fun snacks for your night on the couch! Please direct any questions you may have to Zachary Ledford by email at ledford.zachary38 at gmail.com Best wishes, Zachary Ledford B.S. Candidate, Health and Kinesiology | University of Utah President, Utah Association of Blind Students | National Federation of the Blind of Utah Board Member, National Association of Blind Students | National Federation of the Blind ledford.zachary38 at gmail.com From ammar.tarin at gmail.com Sat Feb 1 23:38:06 2025 From: ammar.tarin at gmail.com (Ammar Tarin) Date: Sat, 1 Feb 2025 16:38:06 -0700 Subject: [NABS-L] 2 weeks left! Don't forget to register for the 2025 Midwest Student Seminar Message-ID: Hey Students! I hope everyone is doing well, and excited for the upcoming Washington Seminar! This is just a reminder that registration for the 2025 National Federation of the Blind Midwest Student Seminar, hosted by the National Association of Blind Students closes in about 2 weeks on February 14! Join us in the beautiful windy city of Chicago Illinois from March 7 – March 9! As blind students, we are encountering unique daily realities that often remain unrecognized or misunderstood by the people around us. The National Association of Blind Students is thrilled to invite you to Beyond the Handshake: Networking in the Windy City, where we will explore these shared experiences with students from across the region. It will be an engaging weekend packed with opportunities to challenge your perceptions and network with blind peers and mentors alike. Have you ever wondered how to navigate non-traditional career paths or build a professional network that truly understands your journey? This year’s theme focuses on career exploration and planning, offering practical insights and strategies to help you thrive. Together, we’ll dive into how to forge meaningful connections, open new doors, and envision possibilities beyond the expected. You can expect a mix of interactive activities, thought-provoking conversations, and riveting presentations—with topics covering everything from securing accommodations to finding identity as a blind person. This journey promises to empower you to identify new ways of living the life you want. Regardless of where you are in your education, we hope you will join us for a weekend of growth and fun from March 7 – March 9, 2025, at the Holiday Inn Chicago O’Hare Area: Holiday Inn Chicago O’Hare Area 5615 N. Cumberland Ave. Chicago, IL 60631 You can register at this link . Registration closes on February 14, 2025, so don’t delay! Rooms can be booked at this website using the code “NFB”: Alternatively, you can call (800-465-4329) or (773-693-5800) to reserve a room by phone using the group name “National Federation of the Blind Student”. Room rates for a room with two queen beds are $119.00 per night, and rooms must be booked by February 8, 2025. The National Association of Blind Students prioritizes its members' health and safety in all its events. For the safety of all participants, we ask that if you are feeling ill, please remain home. These policies are consistent with the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois’s policies on in-person gatherings. We are also committed to keeping all members safe. As such, we follow the Code of Conduct and the Youth Program Participant Protection Policy upheld by the National Federation of the Blind. Alternative Payment Options: We in no way want the $100 registration fee to prevent any student from attending. If the fee poses a challenge, please contact Joshua Olukanni at 678-313-1543 or joshuaolukanni2002 at gmail.com. Please note that both the $100 registration fee and a completed registration form must be submitted by February 14, 2025, to secure your spot for this transformative weekend. If you have any questions regarding hotel logistics, registration, or anything else about the Midwest Seminar, feel free to reach out to Joshua Olukanni at 678-313-1543 or joshuaolukanni2002 at gmail.com. We look forward to seeing all of you in Chicago! -- Respectfully, Ammar Ahmed Tarin Board Member, National Association of Blind Students Board Member, National Federation of the Blind of Arizona President, Arizona Association of Blind Students Ammar.tarin at gmail.com 480-580-7874 Live the life you want. From sidneyh05 at gmail.com Sun Feb 2 00:46:32 2025 From: sidneyh05 at gmail.com (Sidney Horn) Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2025 00:46:32 +0000 Subject: [NABS-L] Question about zoom Message-ID: Hey everyone, I know everyone on here, or at least everyone, typically uses zoom as it has been a really popular thing to use ever since covid really. I've got a question though. When people send their zoom links out or what not, is there a way to save the link in zoom, and then have zoom notify you at the time of the meeting? So like say there's a Nabs meeting tomorrow night, for example, is there a way to take the link, save it to zoom, and have it saved in there so when it is time, Zoom will notify you and you can just join from there? I've never done it like that and things are changing all the time so I wasn't sure if that was even possible. :-) Thanks so much! Sidney Get Outlook for iOS From tyler at tysdomain.com Sun Feb 2 01:38:41 2025 From: tyler at tysdomain.com (Ty Littlefield) Date: Sat, 1 Feb 2025 18:38:41 -0700 Subject: [NABS-L] Question about zoom In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hi, You should be able to add it to your calendar. If you were added to the zoom invitation it will also let you know, but typically I just put it in my calendar. HTH, On 2/1/2025 5:46 PM, Sidney Horn via NABS-L wrote: > Hey everyone, > I know everyone on here, or at least everyone, typically uses zoom as it has been a really popular thing to use ever since covid really. I've got a question though. > When people send their zoom links out or what not, is there a way to save the link in zoom, and then have zoom notify you at the time of the meeting? So like say there's a Nabs meeting tomorrow night, for example, is there a way to take the link, save it to zoom, and have it saved in there so when it is time, Zoom will notify you and you can just join from there? I've never done it like that and things are changing all the time so I wasn't sure if that was even possible. :-) > Thanks so much! > Sidney > > > Get Outlook for iOS > _______________________________________________ > 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/tyler%40tysdomain.com From suplice.c at northeastern.edu Sun Feb 2 12:55:40 2025 From: suplice.c at northeastern.edu (Christopher Suplice) Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2025 12:55:40 +0000 Subject: [NABS-L] dot form 2025 Message-ID: This is the DOT Form for 2025. Christopher Suplice President of the Massachusetts Association of Blind Students Candidate for a Bachelor in Entrepreneurship Resident Assistant Northeastern University Email: suplice.c at northeastern.edu "I am blind, but I have a great vision." -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Suplice, Christopher - Gremlin DOT Form 2025.pdf Type: application/pdf Size: 204165 bytes Desc: Suplice, Christopher - Gremlin DOT Form 2025.pdf URL: From suplice.c at northeastern.edu Sun Feb 2 12:57:13 2025 From: suplice.c at northeastern.edu (Christopher Suplice) Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2025 12:57:13 +0000 Subject: [NABS-L] dot form 2025 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Sorry! This was meant to be sent to myself. Christopher Suplice President of the Massachusetts Association of Blind Students Candidate for a Bachelor in Entrepreneurship Resident Assistant Northeastern University Email: suplice.c at northeastern.edu "I am blind, but I have a great vision." ________________________________ From: Christopher Suplice Sent: Sunday, February 2, 2025 7:55 AM To: Christopher Suplice via NABS-L Subject: dot form 2025 This is the DOT Form for 2025. Christopher Suplice President of the Massachusetts Association of Blind Students Candidate for a Bachelor in Entrepreneurship Resident Assistant Northeastern University Email: suplice.c at northeastern.edu "I am blind, but I have a great vision." From manahiljafri at gmail.com Mon Feb 3 15:17:51 2025 From: manahiljafri at gmail.com (Manahil Jafri) Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2025 10:17:51 -0500 Subject: [NABS-L] Winter seminar streaming now W Message-ID: <5C895C2A-BB17-4BC3-88E3-41731DF73DDF@gmail.com> Hi all, Tune into our winter seminar streaming now til 12 EST! Location: https://zoom.us/j/4678833687 Best Manahil From caseyry3s at gmail.com Tue Feb 4 00:30:00 2025 From: caseyry3s at gmail.com (Casey Reyes) Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2025 19:30:00 -0500 Subject: [NABS-L] NABS Auction in 1 hour Message-ID: NABS! Today is the day!! The 2025 NABS Annual Auction at Washington Seminar begins in one hour and you don’t want to miss it! The auction will take place February 3rd at 8:30PM EST. Please use the zoom link below for those who cannot attend in person but would still like to participate. Zoom: https://zoom.us/my/blindstudents NABS auctions are known for the creative baskets with tons of enticing items. Here's a sneak peak of one of the baskets. (Cozy Night In basket with an UberEats gift card, fuzzy blanket and a bunch of fun snacks) Please direct any questions you may have to Zachary Ledford by email at Ledford.zachary38 at gmail.com B.S. Candidate, Communications | *University of Utah* Vice President, *Utah Association of Blind Students* | *National Federation of the Blind of Utah* From abey.finklea at gmail.com Tue Feb 4 16:34:40 2025 From: abey.finklea at gmail.com (Abey Finklea) Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2025 10:34:40 -0600 Subject: [NABS-L] Blind Cricket Tryouts and Training for the National Men's and Women's Teams Message-ID: Hello NABS Family! Are you ready to embrace a new sport and represent the United States on the global stage? Welcome to blind cricket—a unique version of cricket crafted especially for visually impaired athletes. Originating over 100 years ago, blind cricket began when two blind factory workers in Melbourne transformed a tin can filled with rocks into a game, creating a pathway for visually impaired players to engage in competitive sports. Today, this incredible legacy continues under the World Blind Cricket Council, and you have the chance to become part of it! Blind cricket is now expanding across the United States, and we’re calling on passionate, adventurous individuals to join the national team. With no state teams to navigate, you’ll step directly into representing America on an international level! Training camps will be held in the late spring and summer of 2025 to teach the basics of blind cricket to interested individuals. Following the training camps, participants will compete in a selection trial to determine who will make it onto the national men’s and women’s blind cricket teams. Those selected for the national teams will continue their training throughout the coming year in preparation for international matches with the blind cricket teams of other countries, including India, Australia, Nepal, England, and many more. In the fall of 2025, the women’s national team will travel to India to compete in the world’s first Women’s Blind Cricket World Cup tournament. Meanwhile, the men will compete in bilateral and trilateral matches with other countries in preparation for the 2027 Men’s Blind Cricket World Cup. If you want to learn more about this opportunity, please get in touch with any of the individuals listed below. *Contact Information* Abey Finklea Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled USA (608) 404-0420 abey at samarthanamusa.org Drew Finklea Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled USA (608) 408-8938 drew at samarthanamusa.org Shruti Shree Tyagi Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled +91 (989) 924-7108 (WhatsApp only) shrutishree at samarthanam.org From lhnews at lighthouse-sf.org Tue Feb 4 21:18:39 2025 From: lhnews at lighthouse-sf.org (LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired) Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2025 21:18:39 +0000 Subject: [NABS-L] Enchanted Hills Camp Registration is Now Open! Message-ID: We are thrilled to announce that Enchanted Hills Camp will officially open for registration in early February! Whether you’re a nature lover, adventure seeker, or someone looking to make lifelong memories, our camp has something special for everyone. All our camp sessions are open to campers who are blind, low vision and Deafblind. Registration and Details To register online, please click on the link underneath the camp session you wish to attend. Once you have submitted the application, a member of the EHC Team will review, and reach out to confirm participation. If you have any questions about our application process, encounter any accessibility issues, or would like to partake in one of our application office hours, please contact our camp team at 415-694-7372 or via ehc at lighthouse-sf.org. Important Information for Our Campers At EHC, we are dedicated to ensuring every camper has a safe and enjoyable experience. While our staff is committed to providing support, it’s important that campers should be capable of independently managing daily tasks such as grooming, toileting, dressing, feeding, morning and nighttime routines (e.g., brushing teeth), and basic navigation. Our summer staff will offer assistance as needed. Please understand that we are unable to consistently offer one-on-one assistance to campers. Therefore, all campers must be able to manage their daily living needs with minimal aid. If additional support is necessary, campers are required to bring a personal aide. There is no charge for an aide to attend camp, but they must pass our background screening protocols. Summer 2025 Sessions and Date Little Learners Family Camp Session Friday, June 20 – Sunday, June 22 Our Little Learners Family Camp session at Enchanted Hills Camp provides a welcoming and inclusive family retreat for families of LightHouse Little Learners that are between the age s of 2 and 6. This session offers a unique opportunity to connect with others who share similar experiences while exploring the great outdoors, engaging in sensory fun, and participating in whole-family activities designed for all abilities. Enjoy swimming in the pool or lake, texture-based nature crafts, sensory focused cooking classes, and even horseback riding, all set against the camp’s beautiful natural backdrop. With both structured and unstructured opportunities for play, connection, and relaxation, families can bond, build community, and create lasting memories in an environment where they are celebrated and supported. EHC Little Learners Family Camp Session Application Adults with Developmental Disabilities Monday, June 23 – Friday, June 27 This session offers adult campers with developmental disabilities the opportunity to explore the outdoors, try new activities, and build skills and confidence while forming lasting friendships in an environment where they are celebrated and supported. Activities include swimming in the pool, boating on our lake, archery, goalball, bowling, yoga, and enrichment programs like music workshops, all set against the camp’s beautiful natural backdrop. With a 2:1 camper-to-counselor ratio, campers receive individualized attention and support to meet their access needs. EHC Adults with Developmental Disabilities Camp Session Adult Camp Session Sunday, June 29 – Thursday, July 3 Designed for active adults 21 years and older who are blind or visually impaired, this session offers a unique opportunity to connect with others who share similar experiences and expand your support network of blind and low vision peers. Campers will enjoy quintessential camp activities such as swimming in the pool or lake, archery, goalball, bowling, yoga, and other enrichment activities, all set against the camp’s beautiful natural backdrop. In addition to daytime activities, enjoy exciting nighttime programs such as dancing to live music, casino night, and a talent show. This is an opportunity to create lasting friendships. EHC Adult Camp Session Application Family Camp Saturday, July 5 – Tuesday, July 8 Our family camps sessions at Enchanted Hills Camp offers families with visually impaired children (ages 17 and under) or visually impaired parents/guardians a chance to connect, explore, and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment. Enjoy swimming in the pool or lake, archery, goalball, bowling, horseback riding, and enrichment programs like music workshops, all set against the camp’s stunning natural backdrop. With structured and unstructured opportunities to bond with others facing similar challenges—or just to have fun—this session is a perfect place for families to relax, build community, and create lasting memories together. EHC Family Camp Session Youth Session Monday July 14 – Saturday July 19 Campers that are in 1st – 8th grade will participate in a variety activities, including campfires, swimming, horseback riding, drama, arts and crafts, and adaptive sports. These activities are designed to foster independence as campers explore new challenges alongside their peers and build lasting friendships. A key aspect of the Youth Session experience is the support campers receive from both their peers and mentors who are blind or have low vision. These experienced counselors provide guidance and serve as role models, helping campers navigate challenges, develop self-advocacy skills, and build a sense of community. Youth Session will be run simultaneously with Teen Session but will follow a unique daily schedule, allowing more dedicated time for youth campers to connect with peers of their own age. Campers will be grouped by age and assigned to cabins located in a separate area of camp from the Teen campers, providing a supportive and age-appropriate environment. Youth and Teen campers will only interact during shared meals and select evening activities. The combination of peer connection, mentorship, and tailored programming creates a dynamic and enriching experience that helps youth campers build confidence, foster independence, and develop skills that will serve them well beyond their time at camp. EHC Youth Session Application Teen Session Monday, July 14 – Saturday, July 26 Teen Session (9th-12th grade) offers a dynamic, two-week experience filled with a wide range of engaging programs, including campfires, swimming, drama, arts and crafts, and adaptive sports. Campers will be encouraged to step outside their comfort zones, face new challenges, and build independence alongside new friends in a supportive environment. A key focus of this session is fostering personal growth and leadership development. Campers will deepen their understanding and acceptance of their vision loss, enhancing their self-confidence and sense of empowerment. Opportunities for leadership roles abound, allowing participants to practice valuable skills such as public speaking, organization, activity planning, and facilitating group discussions. By assisting peers and staff, campers will cultivate teamwork and mentorship abilities that contribute to success in education, careers, and life. This summer, alongside the cherished camp traditions that keep teens coming back, we’re excited to introduce a new woodworking session during the second week of the teen session. Led by craftsman and blind woodworking instructor George Wurtzel, this immersive experience is designed to teach blind and low vision teens basic woodworking skills, allowing them to create something meaningful to take home. Teens can sign up for one or both sessions (please complete both registrations if you wish to attend both). However, space in the woodworking program is limited, so we encourage early registration to secure your spot. EHC Teen Camp Application & EHC Teen Woodworking Session Application Alumni Staff Family Camp Thursday, July 31 – Sunday, August 3 Enchanted Hills Camp (EHC) is thrilled to introduce Alumni Family Camp, a new session led by beloved former Camp Director Tony Fletcher and designed for past EHC staff and their immediate families. This special retreat offers the perfect opportunity to reconnect with friends, relive cherished traditions, and enjoy quintessential camp activities in the beautiful surroundings of EHC. Under Tony’s guidance, participants will share meals, relax, and create new memories while strengthening their bond with the camp community that means so much to all of us. Join us for a weekend of celebration, connection, and fun at this inaugural alumni-focused event! Family Camp III (Alumni Staff Family Camp) Application Music Camp for Adults Monday, August 4 – Sunday, August 10 The Music session is for campers ages 14 and older that are musicians who are blind or have low vision. Participants should already know how to play or sing and have, at minimum, intermediate musical skills (basic chords, scales, tuning, basic instrument maintenance and general musical knowledge) in their instrument(s). Instruments can include, but are not limited to guitar, ukulele, percussion, voice, and other acoustic instruments. This session will be headed by Enchanted Hills Camp Enrichment Area Leader Masceo Williams. Space is limited and a letter of recommendation or phone interview will be required for admission. EHC Adult Music Session Application Woodworking Session for Adults Monday, August 4 – Sunday, August 10 Join master craftsman George Wurtzel for an immersive woodworking retreat at Enchanted Hills Camp (EHC), designed for blind and low vision adults with basic woodworking experience eager to deepen their skills. Set in the newly revitalized woodshop, this week-long session offers hands-on instruction, discussions, and technique-sharing to help participants refine their craft and gain confidence under expert guidance. Beyond the shop, enjoy shared meals, refreshments, and classic camp activities, building connections with fellow carpenters in a supportive community. The retreat culminates in a special celebration of EHC’s 75th anniversary with a camp-wide birthday party and concert. Discover creativity, craftsmanship, and camaraderie in this transformative week at EHC. EHC Adult Woodworking Session Application Please visit our website to get to know us better! LightHouse-SF.org From dandrews920 at comcast.net Thu Feb 6 05:26:07 2025 From: dandrews920 at comcast.net (dandrews920 at comcast.net) Date: Wed, 5 Feb 2025 23:26:07 -0600 Subject: [NABS-L] NFB of Maryland State Convention Message-ID: <07d301db7857$a0828dc0$e187a940$@comcast.net> Please find the NFB of Maryland 2025 Convention Agenda. The convention will take place on February 13 – 16, 2025 in Ocean City, Maryland. All are welcome, and registration remains open through convention. Information is available at: https://nfbmd.org/convention National Federation of the Blind of Maryland 2025 Convention AGENDA Lead, Love, Live! Thursday, February 13 to Sunday, February 16 Image description: Twenty photos from state convention are laid out in various sizes to form a heart — various NFBMD members and leaders smile and laugh together, present at podium, receive awards, manage door prize table, and participate in cane walk. The Members of the Board of Directors and the Host Chapter welcome you to the 59th Annual Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland Ronza Othman, President National Federation of the Blind of Maryland Justin Young, Chairperson Convention Logistics Committee Heather Guy, President Eastern Shore Chapter Welcome Welcome to the 59th annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland! This year’s convention will be held in Ocean City at the Ashore Resort and Beach Club. Ashore Resort and Beach Club 10100 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD 21842 410-524-3535 A detailed description of the layout of the hotel can be found later in this agenda. When you check into the hotel, you will be asked to confirm your departure date. If you decide to leave earlier than the departure date you confirm when you check in, there may be an additional fee. Special Information for First-Time Attendees All first-time convention attendees are cordially invited to attend a First-Timers Orientation from 8 to 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 11. The Ambassadors Committee will walk you through the events that will take place throughout the weekend, explain processes such as door prizes and voting, as well as make sure every first-time convention attendee is matched with a mentor. This orientation will be held virtually, the codes to join via web conference or via conference call are below. Zoom Meeting ID: 624 813 8327 One-Number Conference Call: 339-209-4083 Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Conduct We are committed to providing a safe and harassment-free environment for everyone. Thank you for cultivating an atmosphere in which participants from diverse backgrounds can learn, network, and share with each other in an environment of mutual respect. We are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and the free expression of ideas. These principles have been outlined in our code of conduct, which can be found at NFB.org/About-Us/History-and-Governance/Code-Conduct. We recognize a shared responsibility to create and uphold an atmosphere that benefits everyone. Prohibited behaviors include harassment, unwelcome sexual attention, and inappropriate use of the NFBMD convention space and platforms. Prohibited behavior or misuse of our space and platforms will not be tolerated and may result in removal from the convention and/or other consequences. For assistance, or to report an incident at the convention, please call 585-770-4073 or email convention at nfbmd.org for immediate attention. Formal reports can be submitted to the NFB national office at: NFB.org/About-Us/History-and-Governance/Code-Conduct/ Report-Form All formal reports will be thoroughly investigated according to the code of conduct. We thank you for contributing to the integrity of our community and the high expectations we strive to maintain. Pre-Registration and Onsite Registration Registration activities take place in the Grand Foyer, which is outside of the Grand Ballroom (also called Tideline A and Tideline B), located on the Main Level (first floor) of the Conference Center, Friday between 1 and 6 p.m.; Saturday between 7:45 and 8:25 a.m., and 11:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.; and Sunday between 8:30 and 8:45 a.m. All convention attendees — both local and from out of town — are asked to register. * Those who pre-registered for the convention may pick up their registration packets in the area designated pre-registration. * Those who did not pre-register may go to the area designated registration. Please have your check, credit card, Zelle, or cash ready to pay the onsite registration fee of $35 per person. Convention registration is a requirement for voting, door prize eligibility, and other convention activities. All registrants will receive wrist bands, which will indicate voting eligibility. Additionally, discounted rates for hotel rooms are contingent on proof of registration. Fun with Friends: Convention Childcare Activities All childcare (for children ages 6 weeks to 9 years) will take place in Seaside 6 on the Terrace Level (second floor). Hours are: Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.; and Saturday 8:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., and 6:45 to 10:15 p.m., or at conclusion of the banquet, whichever is earlier (lunch and dinner will be provided). Contact Garret Mooney at james.garret.mooney at gmail.com for details. Exhibit Hall The exhibit hall is located in Atlantic 1 on the Terrace Level. The exhibit hall will operate on Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Special Attention Items * Banquet tickets may be purchased for $70 at the onsite registration area. We will accept cash, credit cards, Zelle, and checks. No tickets will be available after 12:15 p.m. on Saturday. At the banquet ticket exchange table, you may make arrangements to reserve a specific seat for yourself or for a group of up to 10 people. On the evening of the banquet, tickets will be required to enter the ballroom and will be collected at the tables. Anyone who pre-registered but who has not picked up their banquet tickets by 12:15 p.m. on Saturday will forfeit them and will not receive a refund. * Tickets may be exchanged for vegetarian or meat meals at the banquet ticket exchange table prior to 2 p.m. on Saturday. * Individuals with dietary restrictions must submit those requests in advance, as such meals must often be ordered and/or prepared off-site. Requests related to dietary restrictions should be sent to President at nfbmd.org by February 1, 2025. * Requests for reasonable accommodations — other than Braille and large print agendas, which will be available for all — must be submitted in advance, as such accommodations often require advanced arrangements. Requests for accommodations should be sent to President at nfbmd.org by February 1, 2025. * All business will be suspended during the Presidential Report. * Teens and tweens will have programming throughout the convention. Some of this programming will take place in Cabana rooms off the Dune Deck. For more information and specific schedules, contact Garret Mooney at James.Garret.Mooney at gmail.com. * Banquet ticket exchange will be located in the Grand Foyer, on the Main Level, outside Tideline A and Tideline B on Saturday between 1:20 and 2 p.m. * General sessions will be in Tideline A on the Main Level. * The banquet will be in Atlantic Ballroom 1 and 2 on the Terrace Level. * Boxed lunches will be resold if not picked up by 12:30 p.m. on Friday. Those interested in boxed lunches on Friday should visit the Grand Foyer. Those who fail to pick up their boxed lunches by 12:30 p.m. on Friday will forfeit them and will not receive a refund. * Tickets for other meals may be purchased on a first-come, first-serve basis from the registration table. The costs are: * Dinner and a Play: $35 * Senior Issues Luncheon: $40 * Parents Luncheon: $40 * Students Luncheon: $40 * Banquet: $70 * All purchases are final and no refunds are available. * Juhi Narula and Carley Mullin are the co-chairs of the Door Prize Committee. Please turn in your door prizes to Carley and/or Juhi as soon as possible. You must be registered for the convention and be present when your name is called in order to win a door prize. Door prizes will be awarded during the general sessions on Saturday and Sunday and during the convention banquet. * Joel Zimba and Erin Zobell are the co-chairs of the National Funding Support Committee, which manages our Bake and Experience Auction. Please consider bringing baked goods and donating experiences such as dinners, cooking lessons, etc., for this auction. * All tabs related to the Bake and Experience Auction must be cashed out prior to adjournment on Sunday. We accept cash, credit cards, checks, and Zelle. All purchases are final. Anyone who bids on and wins an auction item and fails to pay for their item prior to adjournment will be banned from bidding in the auction in the future. * The Student Division will host a fire sale for individually wrapped baked items, e.g., single cupcakes, brownies, and cookies. * We will have a cane walk with individualized cane travel instruction by an NOMC by appointment only. To reserve a slot for your child or for yourself, please contact Garret Mooney at james.garret.mooney at gmail.com. * On Sunday, you must check out of your room before 11 a.m. Please note that the convention is not scheduled to adjourn until 1 p.m. After check-out, you may store your luggage by dropping it off at Seaside 4 on the Terrace Level between 7:30 and 9 a.m., Sunday. Please be sure your luggage is clearly labeled with your name, address, and telephone number. All luggage must be picked up by 1:30 p.m. or 15 minutes after adjournment, whichever is earlier. * If you are leaving the hotel on an NFB of Maryland bus, please bring your luggage to Seaside 4 on the Terrace Level between 7:30 and 9 a.m. on Sunday. Your luggage will be tagged and held, and then loaded onto the buses at 1 p.m. Please be sure your luggage is clearly labeled with your name, address, and telephone number. Please identify when checking in your luggage if you are assigned to the New Carrollton Bus, Baltimore Bus 1, or Baltimore Bus 2. * There are two guide dog relief areas. The first is located just outside Tideline A and Tideline B on the Main Level (outside of General Session). The second is located outside the Dune Deck near the Cabana sleeping room area on the Terrace Level just beyond the Tap Room; this guide dog relief area is down some steps on the beach side of the hotel, so those needing an accessible guide dog relief area will want to use the one adjacent to Tideline A and B. Organization Information National Federation of the Blind of Maryland 1800 Johnson Street, Suite N1, Baltimore, MD 21230 443-426-4110; President at nfbmd.org Image: Mark Riccobono President National Federation of the Blind Image: Ronza Othman President National Federation of the Blind of Maryland Image: Norma Crosby National Representative Treasurer, National Federation of the Blind; President, National Federation of the Blind of Texas Officers: Ronza Othman, President, Baltimore Deborah Brown, First Vice President, Rockville Christopher Danielsen, Second Vice President, Baltimore Judy Rasmussen, Secretary, Kensington Jenivieve White, Treasurer, Owings Mills Board of Directors: Qualik Ford, Baltimore Sharon Maneki, Columbia Garret Mooney, Baltimore Mildred Rivera, Lutherville Melissa Riccobono, Baltimore Marguerite Woods, Baltimore Our Belief Message The National Federation of the Blind advances the lives of its members and all blind people in the United States. We know 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. Our collective power, determination, and diversity achieve the aspirations of all blind people. The National Federation of the Blind Pledge I pledge to participate actively in the efforts of the National Federation of the Blind to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for the blind; to support the policies and programs of the federation; and to abide by its constitution. About the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland (NFBMD), an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), is an organization of blind people and their family and friends. We believe in the full capacity of blind people; we have the power, influence, diversity, and determination to help transform our dreams into reality. Our members work together for a brighter tomorrow by raising the expectations for blind people everywhere so that blind persons can live the lives they want. Who We Are The National Federation of the Blind of Maryland is a 501c(3) nonprofit comprised of blind people of all ages, their families and friends. Our strong local chapters and divisions, and well-trained leaders help newly blind people adjust to vision loss and promote the full participation and integration of blind people in our communities. We bring our collective experiences together to effect change at the state and national level. What We Do * Assist blind and low-vision persons to acquire the skills of independence * Help blind and low-vision persons to develop confidence in themselves through our many service activities * Teach blind and low-vision persons the skills of leadership through active participation in conventions, chapter meetings, and civic activities * Encourage blind and low-vision seniors to continue their active and meaningful lifestyles * Prepare blind and low-vision students for productive tax-paying careers through academic and training scholarships * Inform people with diabetes about options for coping with vision loss * Support parents and friends of blind and low-vision children with information about the capabilities of the blind * Protect and promote the civil rights of blind and low-vision persons through public education and legislative action * Advocate for policies that eliminate discrimination and guarantee equal access to educational programs and high-quality rehabilitation * Educate the public through seminars, community activities and our publications Thank You, Convention Sponsors We extend profuse thanks to the following convention sponsors. Blind Industries and Services of Maryland, Title Level Sponsor Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Equality Level Sponsor Aira Tech Corporation, Equality Level Sponsor Brown, Goldstein and Levy LLP, Opportunity Level Sponsor Election Systems and Software, Opportunity Level Sponsor Friends of the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled, Opportunity Level Sponsor Democracy Live, Freedom Level Sponsor Sipbound Corporation, Freedom Level Sponsor Full page BISM ad description. Heading: “Creating an environment with no limits for people who are blind,” followed by the BISM logo, which contains the text “BISM Empowering the Blind Community.” Images: On the left side of the ad, there are three pictures, including a blind person with a guide dog (top), a blind person using a Braille writer (middle), and two blind people walking on a street using long white canes (bottom. There is also a QR code (bottom left). Text: Following the BISM logo is the text, “Employing. Educating. Training. We are a proud sponsor of the 2025 NFB of Maryland State Convention [NFB logo]. Looking for career opportunities and/or training... We are the spot. Will you join us? www.BISM.org Navigating the Ashore Resort and Beach Club This location is an Aira Access Site, meaning you can use the Aira Explorers mobile application free of charge during the convention weekend. The Ashore Resort and Beach Club is located at 10100 Coastal Highway. This hotel has two buildings that are connected through a hallway on the second floor. Most sleeping rooms and common spaces such as restaurants are in the Tower Building, while meeting rooms and Cabana sleeping rooms are in the Conference Center. The first floor of both buildings is called the “Main Level,” while the second floor is called the “Terrace Level.” As you arrive at the hotel and face it, the Conference Center will be on your left and the Tower Building will be on your right. The Conference Center and Tower Building are separated by a covered driveway on the Main Level. Individuals can cross between the two buildings at this level, but they will be outside for approximately 50 feet. Beware of traffic, as this driveway is used both as a loading and unloading zone and also for through traffic for the hotel parking lots. The two buildings are connected on the second or Terrace Level by an internal hallway. Tower Building There is one entrance to the Tower Building, which is not facing Coastal Highway but rather on the side of the hotel with the covered driveway entrance. As you come into the tiled lobby of the hotel Tower Building through the entrance from the covered driveway, you will be on the Main Level. Directly to your left along the wall are the hotel check-in desks. With your back to the covered driveway doors, to your left past the check-in desks, you will find a set of three elevators to take you to the Terrace Level and to all other floors of the Tower Building. Again, standing with your back to the doors leading to the covered driveway, straight ahead and to the right, you will find the Grand Staircase that will take you to the Terrace Level. In the middle of the Main Level lobby are several conversation areas with different types of chairs and couches. Past the elevator you can find a small business center. The ATM is at the check-in desk. If you turn and face the doors to the covered driveway, you can use these doors to get to the Conference Center by walking straight ahead about 50 feet. On the Terrace Level of the Tower Building, you will find a hallway that connects common spaces and amenities. The furthest amenity to the Conference Center is Ashore Things, which sells coffee, snacks, quick bites, sundries, and tourist merchandise. Past Ashore Things is the Tide Room, which is the hotel restaurant. Connected to the Tide Room and further down the hall towards the Conference Center is the TAP Room, which is the hotel’s bar. The Tap Room has a limited food menu. The hallway outside the Tap Room leads from the Tower Building to the Conference Center. At the end of this hallway, you will be on the Dune Deck, which will be described later. The third through sixteenth floors of the Tower Building are sleeping rooms. Those looking for a guide dog relief area from the Tower Building should use the entrance leading to the covered driveway and walk left towards Coastal Highway. At the end of the covered driveway, turn right, and you’ll be outside the Conference Center, where there is a guide dog relief area described in more detail later. Conference Center The Conference Center has two floors – the Main Level and the Terrace Level. The Conference Center Main Level has two sets of doors – one is the large set of main doors that face Coastal Highway, and the second faces the covered driveway. If you enter the main doors, you will find yourself in the Grand Foyer. Registration, packet pick-up, boxed lunch distribution, and banquet ticket exchange will all be in the Grand Foyer. If you put your back to the Coastal Highway set of doors, you will face Tideline A and Tideline B, which together, make the Grand Ballroom. Tideline A is on the left, and Tideline B is on the right closer to the entrance to the covered driveway. Our general sessions will be held on Saturday and Sunday in Tideline A. Tideline A will also house the board meeting, resolutions, and several seminars. Tideline B will host Pizza and a Play and Crab Idol, but there may be times when, as space is needed, we open up the rooms to make one large room which is the Grand Ballroom. If you face the Grand Ballroom, you will find a set of stairs to the Terrace Level on your far left and an elevator on your far right on the wall where the Coastal Highway doors are located. An accessible guide dog relief area is available just outside the Conference Center entrance on the Coastal Highway side of the Main Level. There, you will find some sandy areas and trash cans. Please don’t forget to bring your own baggies and dispose of them in the trash cans. Many of our seminars and workshops, childcare, the exhibit hall, and the banquet will be on the Terrace Level of the Conference Center. You can get to this level either through the elevator and staircase in the Conference Center, or through the hallway from the Tower Building. Resuming our walk from the Tower Building, the hallway that passes the Tap Room opens up into a large tiled seating area called the Dune Deck. This is an inside beach-style seating area, which once housed an indoor pool that has now been filled in. With your back to the hallway you came down, to your far left is a set of doors that lead you to an outside deck. This deck has outdoor seating and a staircase down to the beach. A guide dog relief area is available just at the bottom of these outside stairs on the beach. There, you will find trash cans. Please don’t forget to bring your own baggies and dispose of them in the trash cans. Those needing an accessible relief area should choose the other guide dog relief area. Standing on the Dune Deck, directly in front of you, are a set of Cabana sleeping rooms. Some of these rooms will also be used for teen and tween activities. To the far right of the Cabana rooms is a hallway that takes you to the meeting room hallways. It is noteworthy that the Tap Room has a second entrance directly from the Dune Deck, and individuals can purchase food and beverages from the bar and enjoy them on the Dune Deck while enjoying sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean in the comfort of an inside venue. If you move across the Dune Deck to the hallway that leads to the conference rooms, you will find yourself on a carpeted area that is a space that can be broken into four parts. If you stand at the apex of these four sections, the top left section contains the Atlantic Ballrooms. The top right section contains Seaside Conference Rooms 1 through 3. The bottom left section contains the Terrace Lobby, stairs, and elevators. The bottom right section contains Seaside Conference Rooms 4 through 6. Starting at the bottom left section, you will find yourself in a large open area called the Terrace Lobby. The Terrace Lobby is where we will hold our pre-banquet reception. The staircase is on the far left, and the elevator is on the right. The top left section of the Terrace Level consists of three conference rooms that, together, make up the Atlantic Ballroom. We will hold our banquet in the Atlantic Ballroom. The three conference rooms that comprise the Atlantic Ballroom include Atlantic 1, which is on the far left and has windows; Atlantic 2B, which is to the right of Atlantic 1 and closer to the Terrace Lobby than Atlantic 2A; and Atlantic 2A, which is behind Atlantic 2B. Atlantic 2A and 2B share a hallway with Seaside 1 through 3. Atlantic 2B has two entrances – one on the same hallway as Seaside 1 through 3 and the other on the same side as Atlantic 1. We will use Atlantic 1, 2A, and 2B for various seminars and some of our Saturday luncheons. Atlantic 1 is also the home of the exhibit hall. Returning to the apex of the Conference Center on the Terrace Level, the top right section consists of Seaside Conference Rooms 1, 2, and 3. Seaside 3 is closest to the apex and directly across from one of the entrances to Atlantic 2B. Seaside 2 is just past Seaside 3, and Seaside 1 is the furthest from the apex. Seaside 1 and 2 are directly across the hallway from Atlantic 2A. Directly next to Seaside 3 but before the apex, you will find a cloak room and then restrooms. On the bottom right section of the apex, you will find Seaside 4, which will be used for luggage storage on Sunday, next is Seaside 5, and at the end of the hallway furthest from the apex, Seaside 6, which is where childcare will be held. LIVE THE LIFE YOU WANT Lyrics copied from October 2015 Presidential Release Chorus: Live the life you want. Nobody can stop you. Shoot for the sun and break on through. So you're blind. You'll be fine. We've got good news! You can live the life you want. Yes, we know the truth. Grab a cane, get trained, gotta get movin’. Make a change in the wage, that's what we're doin’. Come with me, yeah. Chorus You and me, NFB, let’s dream together. NFB, you and me, lives on forever. You will see, yeah. Chorus You can live the life you want. You’ll know the truth. Chapters and Divisions of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland At-Large Chapter Marguerite Woods, President, 443-271-1668, mwoods719 at gmail.com Monthly meetings: third Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., via phone: 339-209-4083 Baltimore County Chapter Latonya Phipps, President, 443-465-8761, Phippslatonya at gmail.com Monthly meetings: second Wednesday at BISM Central Maryland Chapter Matt Yannuzzi, President, 443-851-1944, Matthew.Yannuzzi at gmail.com Monthly meetings: first Tuesday in Columbia Eastern Shore Chapter Heather Guy, President, 410-430-8954, hguy403 at comcast.net Monthly meetings: second Saturday in Salisbury Greater Baltimore Chapter Chris Danielsen, President, 410-262-1281, Cdanielsen at nfb.org Monthly meetings: third Saturday in Baltimore Greater Carroll County Chapter Brian Keseling, President, 410-855-5605, bkmaverick at gmail.com Monthly meetings: second Saturday in Westminster Maryland Association of Blind Merchants Melba Taylor, President, 240-381-1637, m.taylor at encoreassoc.com Periodic meetings throughout the year Maryland Association of Blind Students Qualik Ford, President, 301-312-9813, qsford at outlook.com Periodic meetings throughout the year Maryland Parents of Blind Children Garret Mooney, President, 480-433-8003, james.garret.mooney at gmail.com Periodic meetings throughout the year National Harbor Chapter Amber Woods, President, 301-978-6686, woodsamber83 at gmail.com Monthly meetings: fourth Saturday in Suitland Senior Issues Division Marguerite Woods, President, 443-271-1668, mwoods719 at gmail.com Periodic meetings throughout the year Sligo Creek Chapter Debbie Brown, President, 301-881-1892, Deborahb14 at verizon.net Monthly meetings: second Saturday primarily in Silver Spring TLC Chapter Millie Rivera, President, 202-494-5687, Millie.Rivera0027 at gmail.com Monthly meetings: second Tuesday in Towson Western Maryland Chapter Wendy Ruth, President, 301-991-8312, Wendyruth966 at gmail.com Monthly meetings: first Saturday in Cumberland Quarter Page Vanda Pharmaceuticals ad description. Heading: The Vanda Pharmaceuticals logo. Images: On the left side, a man wearing dark glasses walking with a guide dog. Text: “Vanda Pharmaceuticals is dedicated to raising awareness of Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder (Non-24) and supporting the blindness community. Non-24 is a rare circadian rhythm disorder affecting up to 70% of people who are totally blind. People living with Non-24 experience excessive daytime sleepiness and nighttime sleeplessness, which leads to impaired social and occupational functioning. This is due to the misalignment between the internal master body clock and the 24-hour day. Come visit us at our booth to learn about non-24. Stay Connected and Informed: Follow and like the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland on Facebook: facebook.com/NationalFederationOfTheBlindOfMaryland Stay connected with your fellow Maryland Federationists by joining our state email listserv. You’ll receive affiliate and national announcements, plus you can start and participate in discussions regarding blindness and blindness issues. Sign up at NFBnet.org, select “join or drop NFB mailing lists,” and activate “NFBMD” link, and follow the instructions. Many of our local chapters now also have a listserv. Talk to your chapter President to learn how to sign up so you don’t miss important news and events. Visit our website at NFBMD.org. Check out our blog for the President’s Messages. Be sure to check out the Blindness Resources link, and the Know Your Rights link to keep up to date on important information. Be sure to download and print “About NFBMD,” in the “About Us” tab on NFBMD.org, to use as handouts at chapter outreach events. Braille Spectator The Braille Spectator is published for members of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland and others who share an interest in the work of this organization. The Braille Spectator can be read on the web at NFBMD.org/Newsletter or can be listened to on the local channel of NFB-Newsline. GLORY FEDERATION Blind eyes have seen the vision of the Federation way; New white cane legislation brings the dawn of a new day; The right of the blind to organize is truly here to stay; Our cause goes marching on. Chorus Glory, glory Federation; Glory, glory Federation; Glory, glory Federation; Our cause goes marching on. To aid the blind's long struggle we have formed the NFB To free them from their bondage of workshop and agency, To give a hand to all the blind wherever they may be; Our cause goes marching on. Chorus Memorable Moments: Snapshots in Maryland Eastern Shore Images: NFB BELL students smile with 3D model barns behind them (left). Student with two adults at petting zoo (right). Baltimore Images: Two teachers teach NFB BELL students chess on Monarch (left). At BELL beach, blind student sits on beach chair in front of beach backdrop surrounded by beach ball and surf board (center). Kids and staff wearing learning shades do a cane workout while seated on chairs (right). Southern Maryland Images: NFB BELL Academy students explore an outdoor trail (left). Students create a sand display on a table (right). Image: Governor’s bill signing in May 2024 for HB1076/SB1091 the Textbook Equity Act for Blind Students with Governor Moore, President Ferguson, Speaker Jones, Delegate Roberts, and NFBMD members Images: NFBMD members stand with sponsor Senator Benjamin Brooks (left) and Delegate Jessica Feldmark (right) at the hearings for the Accessible Electronic Ballot Return Voting bill Image: NFBMD members stand with Senator Anthony Muse who receives the 2024 Legislative Service Award for his advocacy. Images: NFBMD members meet with five different congressional representatives at the 2024 NFB Washington Seminar. Image: NFBMD members host Wizarding Weekend on Magical Main in Old Ellicott City to commemorate Blind Equality Achievement Month and White Cane Awareness Day. Images: NFBMD members exhibit activities during Wizarding Weekend: Brailling names, showing tactile books, decorating wands, and Brailling more names. Image: Ronza Othman smiles as she talks with Delegate Denise Roberts who was the sponsor in the House for our textbook equity bill (HB1076). Image: NFBMD members smiling with different MD House of Delegates and Staff at Day in Annapolis Committees of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland If you’re interested in being appointed to a particular committee, notify the NFBMD President at President at nfbmd.org or 443-426-4110. Advocacy Committee Sharon Maneki and Melissa Riccobono, Co-chairpersons Ambassadors Committee Judy Rasmussen and Debbie Brown, Co-chairpersons Audit Committee Barry Hond and Justin Young, Co-chairpersons NFB BELL Committee Brittany Bomboy, Amy Crouse, Judy Rasmussen, and Erin Zobell, Co-chairpersons Braille Spectator Committee Ronza Othman and Sharon Maneki, editors Deaf-Blind and Hearing Loss Issues Committee Janice Toothman and Heather Guy, Co-chairpersons Development and Fundraising Committee Jenivieve White and Justin Young, Co-chairpersons Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Juhi Narula and Qualik Ford, Co-chairpersons Employment Committee Pam Goodman and Judy Rasmussen, Co-chairpersons Guide Dog Issues Committee Sherry Shirek, chairperson Legislation (Federal) Committee Sharon Maneki and Joel Zimba, Co-chairpersons Legislation (State) Committee Ronza Othman and Sharon Maneki, Co-chairpersons Membership Committee Dezman Jackson and Ellen Ringlein, Co-chairpersons Nominating Committee Debbie Brown, Chairperson PAC Plan Committee John Paré and Ann-Marie Laney, Co-chairpersons Public Relations Committee Chris Danielsen, Chairperson Resolutions Committee Chris Danielsen, Chairperson Scholarship Committee Juhi Narula, Chairperson Sharon Maneki Youth Empowerment Grant Committee Sharon Maneki, Chairperson Social Media Committee Karen Anderson and Stephanie Cascone, Co-chairpersons Spanish Services Committee Teresa Graham, Chairperson Sports and Recreation Committee Qualik Ford and Derique Simon, Co-chairpersons Transportation Committee Aloma Bouma and Sheryl Fogle-Hatch, Co-chairpersons Website and Technology Committee John Berggren, Chairperson Youth Activity Committee Erin Zobell, Chairperson Convention-Related Committees Anna Freysz Cable Award Committee Debbie Brown, Chairperson Convention Childcare Committee Brittany Bomboy, Chairperson Convention Logistics Committee Justin Young, Chairperson Convention Registration Committee Marie Marucci, Chairperson Distinguished Educator of Blind Children Award Committee Teresa Graham, Chairperson Door Prize Committee Juhi Narula and Carley Mullin, Co-chairpersons Gold Cup Crab Race Committee Juhi Narula and Jenivieve White, Co-chairpersons Jennifer Baker Award Committee Melissa Riccobono, Chairperson Kenneth Jernigan Award Committee Sharon Maneki, Chairperson National Funding Support Auction Committee Joel Zimba and Erin Zobell, Co-chairpersons Groups of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland If you’re interested in joining a particular group, contact that group’s chairperson. Blind Crafters Group Danielle McCann and Karen Anderson, Co-chairpersons Blind Parents Group Denna Lambert and Melissa Riccobono, Co-chairpersons Blind Young Persons Group Jeff Baer and Juhi Narula, Co-chairpersons Diabetes Action Network Eileen Ley, Chairperson Performing Arts Group Chris Danielsen, Chairperson Significant Others and Loved Ones Group Jenivieve White and David Waybright, Co-chairpersons Veterans Group Ed Jackson, Chairperson Leaving A Legacy: Dream Makers Circle You can help build a future of opportunity for the blind by becoming a member of our Dream Makers Circle. It is easier than you think. Just visit your bank and convert an account to a P.O.D. (payable on death) bank account which is payable after your passing to the National Federation of the Blind or the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland. Your legacy gift to the National Federation of the Blind or the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland can be made in the form of a will or living trust, an income generating gift, or by naming us as the beneficiary of a retirement plan, IRA, pension, or a life insurance policy. You can designate a specific amount, a percentage, or list NFB as one of several beneficiaries. For additional information, please contact Patti Chang at 410-659-9314, ext. 2422 or at pchang at nfb.org. Quarter page Aira ad description. Heading: Aira logo (top left) followed by “Access to information is a human right.” Images: Two images on right: hands holding a cell phone (top), a woman holding a cell phone upright in one hand and a cane in the other (bottom). Text: “Aira breaks down accessibility barriers with on-demand, remote visual interpreting for the blind and low-vision community. Anytime, anywhere, #OnYourTerms. Download Now [QR code] www.aira.io” STRIVE Lyrics by Barbara Elliott Sometimes people tell me blind people should be quiet and sit down But I say "No!" I say "No!" I say "No." They contend that I should be content to let others lead me around, But I say "No!" I say "No!" I say "No." Everybody needs somebody to help sometimes, but I'm in charge of me. Chorus: I've gotta strive, strive, strive a little farther, Reach, reach, reach a little longer, Work, work, work a little harder, Hope, hope, hope a little stronger. Watch me, watch me, watch me. Nothin's gonna stop me, stop me, stop me. I'm spreading my wings, soaring on a dream, I can do anything! I gotta be brave even when I'm afraid to do hard things. I'll tell myself "Go!" I'll just go, I will go. I'm not a fool; I need training and tools to live out my dreams. So I'll say "Go!" I'll just go, I will go. I'm not a passenger in my life. I'm gonna take control and drive. Chorus Convention Agenda Thursday, February 13 6 to 7:45 p.m. — Scholarship Dinner (Invitation Only) Millie Rivera, Chairperson, 2024-2025 Scholarship Committee; Lutherville, Maryland 6 to 7 p.m. — NFBMD Deaf-Blind and Hearing Loss Issues Committee Meeting Seaside 4 Heather Guy, Co-chairperson; Salisbury, Maryland Janice Toothman, Co-chairperson; Bowie, Maryland 7 to 8 p.m. — NFBMD Guide Dog Issues Committee Meeting Seaside 4 Sherry Shirek, chairperson; Baltimore, Maryland 8 to 9:30 p.m. — Seminar: Living Our NFB Philosophy Atlantic 2A Everyone is encouraged to attend! Mark Riccobono, President, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland Norma Crosby, Treasurer, National Federation of the Blind and President, National Federation of the Blind of Texas; Alvin, Texas Friday, February 14 8:30 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. — Fun with Friends: Childcare Seaside 6 Brittany Bomboy, Convention Childcare Coordinator; Baltimore, Maryland 9 to 10:55 a.m. — NFBMD Board of Directors Meeting (Open to All) Tideline A 11 to 11:55 a.m. — NFBMD Resolutions Committee Meeting Tideline A Everyone is encouraged to attend! Chris Danielsen, Chairperson; Baltimore, Maryland 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Exhibit Hall Atlantic 1 Check out the latest offerings from a variety of companies and organizations that provide technology and services for the blind. Meet our sponsors. Jenivieve White, sponsorship and exhibits coordinator and NFBMD Treasurer; Owings Mills, Maryland 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Annual Conference for Parents and Teachers of Blind Children: Maryland Parents of Blind Children Seaside 1 and 2 What are the skills and tools blind students need in school and to live the lives they want? What are the rights of blind and low-vision students, and what are the legal obligations of the school system? How do we best prepare transition-age students for life beyond school? How do you make sure school and rehabilitation services are appropriately addressing their needs? What can you do to support them at home and in school? Learn about resources, opportunities, blindness skills, and how to have and model a positive attitude on blindness. These are only some of the topics to be discussed at this seminar. Garret Mooney, President; Baltimore, Maryland 11:30 a.m. — Boxed Lunch Distribution Grand Foyer Note: You paid for a boxed lunch at pre-registration. Lunches must be picked up by 12:30 p.m., or they will be resold with no refunds. Noon to 12:55 p.m. — Sports and Recreation Committee Town Hall Seaside 5 Come to share insight into what you want our Sports and Rec Committee to do. There will be pop-up exercises at this seminar. Derique Simon, Co-chairperson; Baltimore, Maryland Noon to 12:55 p.m. — NFBMD Blind Young Persons Group Tideline A Those who no longer identify as students can come to meet one another and to help us get ready for our special entertainment session. Bring along your boxed lunch. Hosted by the NFBMD Blind Young Persons Group Jeff Baer, Co-chairperson; Potomac, Maryland Juhi Narula, Co-chairperson; Baltimore, Maryland Noon to 1:55 p.m. — Home is Where the Heart Is: Tips on Finding Housing and How to Make It Yours Once You Move In Seminar Atlantic 2A Come join us at a housing seminar. The seminar will include your rights as a blind home buyer, resources and opportunities for housing assistance and support, and much more. Hosted by the NFBMD Advocacy Committee and the NFBMD Senior Issues Division. Sharon Maneki, Co-chairperson, NFBMD Advocacy Committee; Columbia, Maryland Marguerite Woods, President, NFBMD Senior Issues Division; Baltimore, Maryland 1 to 1:55 p.m. — Live! Storytelling: Ghosts, Spirits, and Spooky Things Seminar Tideline A Storytelling is at the heart of Maryland culture, and we have some of the best ghost and spooky legends in the world. Mindie Burgoyne, author of “Haunted Eastern Shore: Ghostly Tales from East of the Chesapeake” will describe some of the captivating stories that have interested visitors and locals alike. Students and those who identify as young adults are free, and though all are welcome, the NFBMD Blind Young Persons Group encourages a donation of $5 per person for nonstudents and those who either have or are supposed to have mastered adulting. Proceeds will go to future NFBMD Blind Young Persons Group activities. Hosted by the NFBMD Blind Young Persons Group Jeff Baer, Co-chairperson; Potomac, Maryland Juhi Narula, Co-chairperson; Baltimore, Maryland 1 to 4 p.m. — NFB of Maryland Employment Seminar Atlantic 2B Join the NFBMD Employment Committee to observe role-playing interviews in industries like non-profit, rehabilitation, and customer service. You will learn interview techniques, what a behavioral interview question is, how to ask or answer questions related to disability, and interact with the role players. Pam Goodman, Co-chairperson; Linthicum, Maryland Judy Rasmussen, Co-chairperson; Kensington, Maryland 1 to 6 p.m. — Convention Registration and Packet Pickup Grand foyer 2 to 3:55 p.m. — Lead! NFB of Maryland Technology Seminar Tideline A Come learn about new and emerging technology, how to get your hands on it, and what it can do to help you with work, play, life, and leadership. Joel Zimba, Vice President, NFBMD TLC Chapter; Baltimore, Maryland 2 to 3:55 p.m. — Live! Maryland ABLE Seminar Atlantic 2A Come celebrate the seven year anniversary of the ABLE Program. Learn about how this program can help you save for your future while protecting your social security benefits. Hear about changes to the age eligibility rules so that thousands more are now eligible to enroll. Kelly Nelson, Outreach and Communications Manager, Maryland ABLE; Baltimore, Maryland 2 to 3:55 p.m. — Teens and Tweens: Storytelling - Ghosts, Spirits, and Spooky Things Seminar Seaside 3 Storytelling is at the heart of Maryland culture, and we have some of the best ghost and spooky legends in the world. Come listen to some local legends and fascinating stories. For teens and tweens only. Hosted by the NFBMD Blind Young Persons Group Jeff Baer, Co-chairperson; Potomac, Maryland Juhi Narula, Co-chairperson; Baltimore, Maryland 2 to 4:55 p.m. — Legislative Advocacy: Letter Writing Workshop Seaside 5 Come write letters to the Maryland General Assembly about issues of importance to the blind. Assistance is available for those who want it. Sharon Maneki, Co-chairperson, NFBMD Legislation (State) Committee; Columbia, Maryland Melissa Riccobono, Board Member, National Federation of the Blind of Maryland; Baltimore, Maryland 4 to 5:55 p.m. — Maryland Association of Blind Students Seminar Seaside 3 Registration from 3:45 to 4 p.m. Come learn about matters of interest to students including how to self-advocate in school, with potential employers, and in the world. Learn what resources are available for students. Qualik Ford, President, Maryland Association of Blind Students; Baltimore, Maryland Naudia Graham, Vice President, Maryland Association of Blind Students; Ellicott City, Maryland 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. — BISM Bingo Atlantic 2A Come play everyone’s favorite game — Bingo — and win prizes. Sponsored by Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (Title Sponsor). 5 to 5:55 p.m. — NFBMD BELL ACADEMY REUNION Seaside 4 Reunite with the NFB BELL Academy students from the 2024 session and prepare for the general session NFB BELL presentation. Kids are asked to attend, and their families are welcome too. Melissa Riccobono, 2024 NFBMD BELL Coordinator; Baltimore, Maryland 6:30 p.m. —NFBMD Association of Blind Merchants Networking Dinner Tide Room Restaurant Join blind merchants and those in the Business Enterprise Program for a networking dinner. Individuals will pay for their own meals. Melba Taylor, President, NFBMD Association of Blind Merchants; Bowie, Maryland 6:30 to 7:55 p.m. — Pizza and a Play Tideline B The Braille is Beautiful Players will entertain and delight. Debbie Brown, play director; First Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Maryland; Rockville, Maryland 7 to 8:30 p.m. — Annual Networking Social for Families of Blind Children Seaside 1 and 2 Participants of the Parents and Educators Seminar are invited to come meet and network. Garret Mooney, President, Maryland Parents of Blind Children Division; Baltimore, Maryland 8:30 to 11 p.m. — Crab Idol Tideline B This American Idol-style evening promises to be fun for all ages. Those wishing to perform songs can do so for $5 per person per performance. Chapters and Divisions will battle it out to determine which has the most talent. Enjoy snacks and fellowship thanks to the Maryland Association of Blind Students, Maryland Parents of Blind Children, and NFBMD Eastern Shore Chapter. Proceeds support NFBMD, MDABS, and MDPBC. To sign up to perform, contact Heather Guy, Naudia Graham, or Garret Mooney. Saturday, February 15 7 to 8:15 a.m. — At-Large Chapter Meeting Seaside 3 The At-Large Chapter will meet face-to-face. Continental breakfast will be available. Marguerite Woods, President; Baltimore, Maryland 7:45 to 8:25 a.m. — Convention Registration and Packet Pickup Grand foyer 8:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. — Fun with Friends: Childcare Seaside 6 Brittany Bomboy, coordinator; Baltimore, Maryland 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. — Saturday Morning General Session Tideline A 8:30 a.m. — Call to Order and Opening Ceremonies 8:45 a.m. — Living Large: Our Internal Programs Get on the Pac Plan John Pare, Maryland PAC Plan Co-chairperson; Baltimore, Maryland Ann-Marie Laney, Maryland PAC Plan Co-chairperson; Randallstown, Maryland Gold Cup Crab Race Juhi Narula, ticket agent; Baltimore, Maryland 9 a.m. — Leading from the Heart of the Federation: Welcoming Remarks Mark Riccobono, President, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland 9:10 a.m. — Leading Our Own Employment Journeys, Loving the Process, and Living the Lives We Want Panel Moderator: Pam Goodman, Co-chairperson, NFBMD Employment Committee; Linthicum, Maryland Judy Nelson, Triage Nurse, Annapolis Pediatrics; Bowie, Maryland Joel Zimba, Product Specialist, Humanware; Baltimore, Maryland Lina Howard, Accessible Technology Instructor, BISM; Baltimore, Maryland 9:40 a.m. — Leading the Way: A Report from Our National Organization Norma Crosby, Treasurer, National Federation of the Blind; President, National Federation of the Blind of Texas; Alvin, Texas 10:20 a.m. — Living Your Best Life: Maryland ABLE Celebrates Seven Years Kelly Nelson, Outreach and Communications Manager, Maryland ABLE; Baltimore, Maryland 10:30 a.m. — Employment for the Win: We’re Loving It Toni March, Director, Office of Blindness and Vision Services, Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS); Baltimore, Maryland Erikk Bonner, Assistant State Superintendent, Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services, Maryland State Department of Education; Baltimore, Maryland 10:50 a.m. — Reports and Resolutions 11 a.m. — Adjourn 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. — Breakout: Legislative Advocacy Seaside 5 Interested in learning about legislative advocacy on the state and federal level? Learn what goes into getting bills introduced, how we educate our elected officials on issues of importance to the blind, and what strategies besides legislation help us advance the rights of the blind. Sharon Maneki, Co-chairperson, NFBMD Federal and State Legislation Committees; Columbia, Maryland John Pare, Executive Director for Advocacy and Policy, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. — Breakout: Membership — Making Chapter Meetings More Engaging Seaside 4 Those interested in exploring strategies for making chapter meetings more engaging are encouraged to attend this workshop. Each chapter should designate at least one representative. Dezman Jackson, Co-chairperson, NFBMD Membership Committee; Baltimore, Maryland 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. — Breakout: Blind Parents Group Meeting Seaside 2 Share tips and tricks on how to parent using non-visual techniques. Network with other blind parents and caregivers. Melissa Riccobono, Co-chairperson; Baltimore, Maryland 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. — Breakout: Blind Young Persons Group Workshop Seaside 1 Come learn about and contribute to our ideas for the next year. Hear about the plan for the new young adult book club, hear how other young adults are taking leadership roles in their local chapters, and tell us your proposal for the next year of young adult activities in NFBMD. Jeff Baer, Co-chairperson; Potomac, Maryland; Juhi Narula, Co-chairperson; Baltimore, Maryland 11:45 to 12:15 p.m. — Convention Registration and Packet Pick-Up Grand Foyer 12:15 to 1:45 p.m. — Luncheon: The Education of Blind and Low-Vision Students – NFBMD Parents of Blind Children Annual Meeting Atlantic 2A For parents, teachers of the blind, and those interested in matters concerning blind children. Garret Mooney, President; Baltimore, Maryland 12:15 to 1:45 p.m. — Luncheon: Reclaiming Independence After Vision Loss – NFBMD Senior Issues Division Annual Meeting Atlantic 2B For seniors and others facing vision loss. Marguerite Woods, President; Baltimore, Maryland 12:15 to 1:45 p.m. — Luncheon: Maryland Association of Blind Students Annual Meeting Seaside 3 The Maryland Association of Blind Students will hold its annual business meeting, including planning future workshops and events and holding elections. Qualik Ford, President; Baltimore, Maryland Naudia Graham, Vice President; Ellicott City, Maryland 1:20 to 1:50 p.m. — Banquet Ticket Exchange Grand Foyer 2 to 5 p.m. — Saturday Afternoon General Session Tideline A 2 p.m. — Call to Order 2:05 p.m. — Lead, Love, Live: A Report from the President Ronza Othman, President, National Federation of the Blind of Maryland; Baltimore, Maryland 3 p.m. — Leading Through Literacy, Loving Our Library Morgan Miller, Director and State Librarian, Maryland State Library Agency; Baltimore, Maryland John Owen, Director, Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled; Baltimore, Maryland 3:20 p.m. — Living the Dream: The Maryland AG’s Here to Protect Our Rights Julianne Cozetto, Assistant Attorney General, Maryland Office of the Attorney General; Baltimore, Maryland 3:30 p.m. — Living Our Best Lives: We Play with Sound Melissa Riccobono, Board Member, National Federation of the Blind of Maryland; Baltimore, Maryland Chris Danielsen, Second Vice President, National Federation of the Blind of Maryland; Baltimore, Maryland 4 p.m. — Byte-sized Learning: Revolutionizing Education with Technology W. Robert Hair, Superintendent, Maryland School for the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland Conchita Hernandez, Educational Consultant, Maryland School for the Blind; Washington, DC 4:20 p.m. — Leading the Nation: Maryland Department of Disabilities Anne Blackfield, Deputy Secretary, Maryland Department of Disability; Baltimore, Maryland 4:35 p.m. — Living Our Best Life: Seniority Has Its Privileges Glen Crosby, President, NFB Seniors Division; Alvin, Texas 4:45 p.m. — Reports and Resolutions 5 p.m. — Adjourn 6 p.m. — Reception and Cash Bar Atlantic Foyer 6:45 to 10:15 p.m. — Fun with Friends: Childcare Seaside 6 Brittany Bomboy, Coordinator Childcare ends at 10:15 p.m., or 15 minutes after the banquet ends, whichever is earlier. 7 p.m. — 59th Annual Convention Banquet Atlantic Ballroom 1 and 2 Master of Ceremonies: Mark Riccobono, President, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland Keynote Banquet Address: Norma Crosby, Treasurer, National Federation of the Blind; President, National Federation of the Blind of Texas; Alvin, Texas Scholarships and Awards Immediately after the Banquet — Maryland Gold Cup Crab Race Race Callers: Ronza Othman and Juhi Narula Sunday, February 16 7:00 to 8:30 a.m. — Breakfast: Training Center Information and Alumni Networking Seaside 1 and 2 Those interested in learning about adjustment to blindness training can talk with training center ambassadors and graduates. Alumni from the Louisiana Center for the Blind (LCB), Colorado Center for the Blind (CCB), BLIND, Inc., and Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM) can reconnect. Coordinators: Chris Danielsen (LCB), President, NFBMD Greater Baltimore Chapter; Baltimore, Maryland Garret Mooney (CCB), President, NFBMD Parents of Blind Children Division; Baltimore, Maryland Matthew Yannuzzi (BISM), President, NFBMD Central Maryland Chapter; Ellicott City, Maryland 7:30 to 9 a.m. — Luggage Collection Seaside 4 For anyone needing to store luggage due to 11 a.m. hotel check-out time, including bus passengers. 7:30 to 8:45 a.m. — Christian Nonsectarian Devotions Tideline A Judy Rasmussen, Secretary, National Federation of the Blind of Maryland; Kensington, Maryland 8:30 to 8:45 a.m. — Convention Registration and Packet Pick-Up Grand Foyer 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Sunday Morning Session Tideline A 9 a.m. — Call to Order 9:05 a.m. — Leading the Charge: Chapter Presidents Moderator: Mark Riccobono, President, National Federation of the Blind; Baltimore, Maryland Deborah Brown, President, NFBMD Sligo Creek Chapter; Rockville, Maryland Latonya Phipps, President, NFBMD Baltimore County Chapter; Gwynn Oak, Maryland Heather Guy, President, NFBMD Eastern Shore Chapter; Salisbury, Maryland 9:45 a.m. — Live, Learn, and Prosper: A Report from Blind Industries and Services of Maryland Michael Gosse, President, Blind Industries and Services of Maryland; Baltimore, Maryland 10 a.m. — Live Loud, Love Proud, Lead the Crowd: BISM Programs for Transition-Aged Students Juhi Narula, Director of Youth Programs, Blind Industries and Services of Maryland; Baltimore, Maryland 10:10 a.m. — Live Without Limits: NFB BELL Academy and STEM2U Programs Erin Zobell, 2024 – 2025 Maryland STEM2U Coordinator and NFB BELL Academy Southern Maryland Coordinator and Lead Teacher; California, Maryland Sadiqa Al-Salam, 2024 NFB BELL Academy Baltimore Lead Teacher; Upper Marlboro, Maryland Amy Crouse, 2024 – 2025 NFB BELL Academy Eastern Shore Coordinator; Salisbury, Maryland Maryland NFB BELL Academy Students Maryland NFB STEM2U Students 10:50 a.m. — Audit Committee Report Barry Hond, Audit Committee Co-chairperson; Baltimore, Maryland 11 a.m. — Financial Report Jenivieve White, Treasurer, National Federation of the Blind of Maryland; Owings Mills, Maryland 11:20 a.m. — 2024 Business Meeting Minutes Judy Rasmussen, Secretary, National Federation of the Blind of Maryland; Kensington, Maryland 11:40 a.m. — Resolutions Committee Report Chris Danielsen, Chairperson, NFBMD Resolutions Committee; Baltimore, Maryland 12:10 p.m. — Affiliate Elections 12:30 p.m. — Other Business 12:45 p.m. — Reports and Resolutions 1 p.m. — Adjourn A Closing Message On behalf of the Officers and Board of Directors, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all federationists and friends for your generous monetary donations and gifts of goods and services. We had a very successful year and an outstanding convention because of your help! Ronza Othman, President BRAILLE IS BEAUTIFUL Na na na-na na na, na na na-na nah. Na na na na nah, na na na-na nah. Chorus: Go on and live your life, Don't need a bit of sight. In the end you'll find Braille is beautiful. Put your fingers on the page. Tell your friends it's all the rage. It's all gonna be OK, yeah Braille is beautiful! Na na na na na na, Na na na-na nah Braille is beautiful! Na na na-na nah, Na na na-na nah. Verse Louis Braille was his name. Slate 'n' stylus was his game. They tried to stop him, but we adopted the code that paved the way. Chorus Na na na na na na, Na na na-na nah Braille is beautiful! Na na na-na nah, Na na na-na nah. Na na na-na nah, Na na na-na nah. BRAILLE IS BEAUTIFUL! ODE TO THE CODE Sligo Creek, Digital Communications Consortium Going to the school to write an IEP, The teacher says use print, because your child can see. The equipment is too big, and large print is too rare, And fifteen words a minute will not get you anywhere! Chorus: Braille is here, Braille is here, Braile is here to stay! We will keep on using it, we don't care what you say! Braille is here, Braille is here, we will sing its praise. It's the system for the blind to get a job that pays. They say that Braille's too tough to teach the newly blind. Its codes and its contractions discombobulate the mind. Contractions we've learned all, and codes we've mastered, too, For blindness has no negative effect on our IQ! Chorus They say that Braille’s complex. They say that it’s too slow. They say that new technology’s the only way to go. But we’ll keep using Braille, because it is the key To making sure that blind folks will be literate and free. Chorus 2025 NFBMD Exhibitors The following is a list of organizations that are participating in the 2025 NFBMD Exhibit Hall. Check NFBMD.org for updates and additions to this list. * National Federation of the Blind of Maryland * Blind Industries and Services of Maryland * Aira * Vanda Pharmaceuticals * Maryland Technology Assistance Program * Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled * Democracy Live * Crafted Items by Terry Powers and Yasmin Reyazuddin * Election Systems and Software * God Ain’t Done with Me Yet: Uniquely Blessed * Integration Technologies Group * Johns Hopkins University Neuroplasticity and Development Lab * JW.org * Maryland ABLE * Maryland Department of Disabilities * Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) * Maryland Office of the Attorney General * National Blindness Professional Certification Board * NFB Newsline * NFBMD National Harbor Chapter * Pioneer Concepts * PS You Are Fabulous * Selvas BLV * Soundpro * Tangible Service Research, LLC * The Seeing Eye * University of Maryland TRACE RERC * Vispero 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. 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Name: image045.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 24827 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image046.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 1104 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image047.png Type: image/png Size: 406 bytes Desc: not available URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: image048.png Type: image/png Size: 398 bytes Desc: not available URL: From students at nfbflorida.org Thu Feb 6 18:37:09 2025 From: students at nfbflorida.org (FABS Secretary) Date: Thu, 6 Feb 2025 13:37:09 -0500 Subject: [NABS-L] No weekend plans? Join us for another FABS Social on February 8th! Message-ID: Greetings everyone! I hope that you all are doing well. It’s time for another FABS monthly social, this time with QC Games. I totally had a blast with RS Games last month, even though I may have lost a few of the games. Anyway, we hope that you can join us on Saturday February 8th at 8pm Eastern using the Zoom link below. I hope that we can see you all at the social. Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/my/josebohorquezuf Game on! Elijah Grant Secretary - Florida Association of Blind Students Treasurer - Greater Broward Chapter, National Federation of the Blind of Florida Associate of Arts in Information Technology Candidate - Broward College Click here to email the Florida Association of Blind Students. Social Media Links Check us out on Facebook Follow us on TikTok Follow us on Instagram "The National Federation of the Blind 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 have the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back." -National Federation of the Blind One-Minute Message From nabs.president at gmail.com Fri Feb 7 19:50:13 2025 From: nabs.president at gmail.com (Lauren Chaya Altman, President of the National Association of Blind Students) Date: Fri, 7 Feb 2025 14:50:13 -0500 Subject: [NABS-L] Fwd: Applications for Monarch RISE are now open References: Message-ID: <1B207BBC-ADC3-424C-A974-92FC33D98C5D@gmail.com> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Outlook-APH_.png Type: image/png Size: 3762 bytes Desc: not available URL: From students at nfbflorida.org Sat Feb 8 23:17:25 2025 From: students at nfbflorida.org (FABS Secretary) Date: Sat, 8 Feb 2025 18:17:25 -0500 Subject: [NABS-L] No weekend plans? Join us for another FABS Social on February 8th! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Good evening everyone! Unfortunately, we have to postpone tonight's social. For anyone that went to Washington Seminar had a great time and got home safely. Have a great evening! Elijah Grant Secretary - Florida Association of Blind Students Treasurer - Greater Broward Chapter, National Federation of the Blind of Florida Associate of Arts in Information Technology Candidate - Broward College Click here to email the Florida Association of Blind Students. Social Media Links Check us out on Facebook Follow us on TikTok Follow us on Instagram "The National Federation of the Blind 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 have the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back." -National Federation of the Blind One-Minute Message On Thu, Feb 6, 2025 at 1:37 PM FABS Secretary wrote: > Greetings everyone! > > I hope that you all are doing well. It’s time for another FABS > monthly social, this time with QC Games. I totally had a blast with RS > Games last month, even though I may have lost a few of the games. Anyway, > we hope that you can join us on Saturday February 8th at 8pm Eastern > using the Zoom link below. I hope that we can see you all at the social. > > Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/my/josebohorquezuf > > > > Game on! > > Elijah Grant > Secretary - Florida Association of Blind Students > Treasurer - Greater Broward Chapter, National Federation of the Blind of > Florida > Associate of Arts in Information Technology Candidate - Broward College > Click here to email the Florida Association of Blind Students. > > Social Media Links > Check us out on Facebook > > Follow us on TikTok > Follow us on Instagram > "The National Federation of the Blind 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 have the life you want; blindness is not > what holds > you back." > -National Federation of the Blind One-Minute Message > > From ammar.tarin at gmail.com Sun Feb 9 03:39:52 2025 From: ammar.tarin at gmail.com (Ammar Tarin) Date: Sat, 8 Feb 2025 20:39:52 -0700 Subject: [NABS-L] Register for the Midwest Student Seminar by February 28! Message-ID: Hey Students! I hope everyone is doing well, and well rested after a productive and exciting Washington Seminar! This is just a reminder to register for the 2025 National Federation of the Blind Midwest Student Seminar, hosted by the National Association of Blind Students. The registration deadline has been extended, and registration now closes in just a few weeks on February 28! Join us in the beautiful windy city of Chicago Illinois from March 7 – March 9! As blind students, we are encountering unique daily realities that often remain unrecognized or misunderstood by the people around us. The National Association of Blind Students is thrilled to invite you to Beyond the Handshake: Networking in the Windy City, where we will explore these shared experiences with students from across the region. It will be an engaging weekend packed with opportunities to challenge your perceptions and network with blind peers and mentors alike. Have you ever wondered how to navigate non-traditional career paths or build a professional network that truly understands your journey? This year’s theme focuses on career exploration and planning, offering practical insights and strategies to help you thrive. Together, we’ll dive into how to forge meaningful connections, open new doors, and envision possibilities beyond the expected. You can expect a mix of interactive activities, thought-provoking conversations, and riveting presentations—with topics covering everything from securing accommodations to finding identity as a blind person. This journey promises to empower you to identify new ways of living the life you want. Regardless of where you are in your education, we hope you will join us for a weekend of growth and fun from March 7 – March 9, 2025, at the Holiday Inn Chicago O’Hare Area: Holiday Inn Chicago O’Hare Area 5615 N. Cumberland Ave. Chicago, IL 60631 You can register at the following link: https://nabslink.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=5. Registration closes on February 28, 2025, so don’t delay! Rooms can be booked at the following website using the code “NFB”. www.hiohare.com. Alternatively, you can call (800-465-4329) or (773-693-5800) to reserve a room by phone using the group name “National Federation of the Blind Student”. Room rates for a room with two queen beds are $119.00 per night, and rooms must be booked by February 28, 2025. The National Association of Blind Students prioritizes its members' health and safety in all its events. For the safety of all participants, we ask that if you are feeling ill, please remain home. These policies are consistent with the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois’s policies on in-person gatherings. We are also committed to keeping all members safe. As such, we follow The Code of Conduct, which you can find here: https://nfb.org/about-us/history-and-governance/code-conduct, as well as the Youth Program protection Policy, which can be found here: https://nfb.org/about-us/history-and-governance/code-conduct/youth-program-participant-protection-policy, which is upheld by the National Federation of the Blind. Alternative Payment Options: We in no way want the $100 registration fee to prevent any student from attending. If the fee poses a challenge, please contact Joshua Olukanni at 678-313-1543 or joshuaolukanni2002 at gmail.com. Please note that both the $100 registration fee and a completed registration form must be submitted by February 28, 2025, to secure your spot for this transformative weekend. If you have any questions regarding hotel logistics, registration, or anything else about the Midwest Seminar, feel free to reach out to Joshua Olukanni at 678-313-1543 or joshuaolukanni2002 at gmail.com. We look forward to seeing all of you in Chicago! -- Respectfully, Ammar Ahmed Tarin Board Member, National Association of Blind Students Board Member, National Federation of the Blind of Arizona President, Arizona Association of Blind Students Ammar.tarin at gmail.com 480-580-7874 Live the life you want. From pgradioman at hotmail.com Sun Feb 9 16:48:19 2025 From: pgradioman at hotmail.com (Preston Gaylor) Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2025 16:48:19 +0000 Subject: [NABS-L] No weekend plans? Join us for another FABS Social on February 8th! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I for sure understand. I was gonna go to the auction last week at the seminar, but I was out at who is in Oz with my state affiliate a little too longer than expected. But even though I’m not a student, you are doing good work so that’s why I’ve stayed on this list! Wishing all the best as always moving forward. Sincerely, yours, Preston Gaylor. Get Outlook for iOS ________________________________ From: NABS-L on behalf of FABS Secretary via NABS-L Sent: Saturday, February 8, 2025 6:17:25 PM To: nfbf-l at nfbnet.org ; Florida Association of Blind Students ; National Association of Blind Students mailing list Cc: FABS Secretary Subject: Re: [NABS-L] No weekend plans? Join us for another FABS Social on February 8th! Good evening everyone! Unfortunately, we have to postpone tonight's social. For anyone that went to Washington Seminar had a great time and got home safely. Have a great evening! Elijah Grant Secretary - Florida Association of Blind Students Treasurer - Greater Broward Chapter, National Federation of the Blind of Florida Associate of Arts in Information Technology Candidate - Broward College Click here to email the Florida Association of Blind Students. Social Media Links Check us out on Facebook > Follow us on TikTok > Follow us on Instagram > "The National Federation of the Blind 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 have the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back." -National Federation of the Blind One-Minute Message On Thu, Feb 6, 2025 at 1:37 PM FABS Secretary wrote: > Greetings everyone! > > I hope that you all are doing well. It’s time for another FABS > monthly social, this time with QC Games. I totally had a blast with RS > Games last month, even though I may have lost a few of the games. Anyway, > we hope that you can join us on Saturday February 8th at 8pm Eastern > using the Zoom link below. I hope that we can see you all at the social. > > Zoom Link: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fzoom.us%2Fmy%2Fjosebohorquezuf&data=05%7C02%7C%7Ca1f729f3c69d4d41795e08dd4896faff%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638746535470296288%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=TfwRACb60qakei6D5SvCXyUs2I9PClgO6tigKerO1J0%3D&reserved=0 > > > > Game on! > > Elijah Grant > Secretary - Florida Association of Blind Students > Treasurer - Greater Broward Chapter, National Federation of the Blind of > Florida > Associate of Arts in Information Technology Candidate - Broward College > Click here to email the Florida Association of Blind Students. > > Social Media Links > Check us out on Facebook > > > Follow us on TikTok > > Follow us on Instagram > > "The National Federation of the Blind 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 have the life you want; blindness is not > what holds > you back." > -National Federation of the Blind One-Minute Message > > _______________________________________________ NABS-L mailing list NABS-L at nfbnet.org https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnfbnet.org%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Fnabs-l_nfbnet.org&data=05%7C02%7C%7Ca1f729f3c69d4d41795e08dd4896faff%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638746535470340361%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=lTNBEqS8l%2BfPBoYAIZ4CJ3H%2F%2BpbzVYu8QBoHC1JmZw8%3D&reserved=0 To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NABS-L: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnfbnet.org%2Fmailman%2Foptions%2Fnabs-l_nfbnet.org%2Fpgradioman%2540hotmail.com&data=05%7C02%7C%7Ca1f729f3c69d4d41795e08dd4896faff%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638746535470351453%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=GT7pa6NML09RUIiBwjI5YL3l17SHY7eEZLxRp37X154%3D&reserved=0 From students at nfbflorida.org Sun Feb 9 18:00:00 2025 From: students at nfbflorida.org (FABS Secretary) Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2025 13:00:00 -0500 Subject: [NABS-L] No weekend plans? Join us for another FABS Social on February 8th! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: We will be having our next social next Saturday, February 15th, at 8pm Elijah Grant Secretary - Florida Association of Blind Students Treasurer - Greater Broward Chapter, National Federation of the Blind of Florida Associate of Arts in Information Technology Candidate - Broward College Click here to email the Florida Association of Blind Students. Social Media Links Check us out on Facebook Follow us on TikTok Follow us on Instagram "The National Federation of the Blind 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 have the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back." -National Federation of the Blind One-Minute Message On Sat, Feb 8, 2025 at 6:17 PM FABS Secretary wrote: > Good evening everyone! > Unfortunately, we have to postpone tonight's social. For anyone that went > to Washington Seminar had a great time and got home safely. Have a great > evening! > > Elijah Grant > Secretary - Florida Association of Blind Students > Treasurer - Greater Broward Chapter, National Federation of the Blind of > Florida > Associate of Arts in Information Technology Candidate - Broward College > Click here to email the Florida Association of Blind Students. > > Social Media Links > Check us out on Facebook > > Follow us on TikTok > Follow us on Instagram > "The National Federation of the Blind 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 have the life you want; blindness is not > what holds > you back." > -National Federation of the Blind One-Minute Message > > > > On Thu, Feb 6, 2025 at 1:37 PM FABS Secretary > wrote: > >> Greetings everyone! >> >> I hope that you all are doing well. It’s time for another FABS >> monthly social, this time with QC Games. I totally had a blast with RS >> Games last month, even though I may have lost a few of the games. Anyway, >> we hope that you can join us on Saturday February 8th at 8pm Eastern >> using the Zoom link below. I hope that we can see you all at the social. >> >> Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/my/josebohorquezuf >> >> >> >> Game on! >> >> Elijah Grant >> Secretary - Florida Association of Blind Students >> Treasurer - Greater Broward Chapter, National Federation of the Blind of >> Florida >> Associate of Arts in Information Technology Candidate - Broward College >> Click here to email the Florida Association of Blind Students. >> >> Social Media Links >> Check us out on Facebook >> >> Follow us on TikTok >> Follow us on Instagram >> "The National Federation of the Blind 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 have the life you want; blindness is not >> what holds >> you back." >> -National Federation of the Blind One-Minute Message >> >> From sidneyh05 at gmail.com Sun Feb 9 18:07:57 2025 From: sidneyh05 at gmail.com (Sidney Horn) Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2025 12:07:57 -0600 Subject: [NABS-L] No weekend plans? Join us for another FABS Social on February 8th! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Sounds great! I will try to be there. Hopefully nothing comes up but I would love to come to a social. Sidney On Sun, Feb 9, 2025 at 12:02 PM FABS Secretary via NABS-L wrote: > We will be having our next social next Saturday, February 15th, at 8pm > > Elijah Grant > Secretary - Florida Association of Blind Students > Treasurer - Greater Broward Chapter, National Federation of the Blind of > Florida > Associate of Arts in Information Technology Candidate - Broward College > Click here to email the Florida Association of Blind Students. > > Social Media Links > Check us out on Facebook > < > https://www.facebook.com/people/Florida-Association-of-Blind-Students-FABS/100079313452079/ > > > Follow us on TikTok > Follow us on Instagram > "The National Federation of the Blind 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 have the life you want; blindness is not > what holds > you back." > -National Federation of the Blind One-Minute Message > > > > On Sat, Feb 8, 2025 at 6:17 PM FABS Secretary > wrote: > > > Good evening everyone! > > Unfortunately, we have to postpone tonight's social. For anyone that went > > to Washington Seminar had a great time and got home safely. Have a great > > evening! > > > > Elijah Grant > > Secretary - Florida Association of Blind Students > > Treasurer - Greater Broward Chapter, National Federation of the Blind of > > Florida > > Associate of Arts in Information Technology Candidate - Broward College > > Click here to email the Florida Association of Blind Students. > > > > Social Media Links > > Check us out on Facebook > > < > https://www.facebook.com/people/Florida-Association-of-Blind-Students-FABS/100079313452079/ > > > > Follow us on TikTok > > Follow us on Instagram > > "The National Federation of the Blind 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 have the life you want; blindness is not > > what holds > > you back." > > -National Federation of the Blind One-Minute Message > > > > > > > > On Thu, Feb 6, 2025 at 1:37 PM FABS Secretary > > wrote: > > > >> Greetings everyone! > >> > >> I hope that you all are doing well. It’s time for another FABS > >> monthly social, this time with QC Games. I totally had a blast with RS > >> Games last month, even though I may have lost a few of the games. > Anyway, > >> we hope that you can join us on Saturday February 8th at 8pm Eastern > >> using the Zoom link below. I hope that we can see you all at the social. > >> > >> Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/my/josebohorquezuf > >> > >> > >> > >> Game on! > >> > >> Elijah Grant > >> Secretary - Florida Association of Blind Students > >> Treasurer - Greater Broward Chapter, National Federation of the Blind of > >> Florida > >> Associate of Arts in Information Technology Candidate - Broward College > >> Click here to email the Florida Association of Blind Students. > >> > >> Social Media Links > >> Check us out on Facebook > >> < > https://www.facebook.com/people/Florida-Association-of-Blind-Students-FABS/100079313452079/ > > > >> Follow us on TikTok > >> Follow us on Instagram > >> "The National Federation of the Blind 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 have the life you want; blindness is not > >> what holds > >> you back." > >> -National Federation of the Blind One-Minute Message > >> > >> > _______________________________________________ > 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/sidneyh05%40gmail.com > From r.erikmitchell at yahoo.com Sun Feb 9 22:19:35 2025 From: r.erikmitchell at yahoo.com (R. Erik Mitchell) Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2025 14:19:35 -0800 Subject: [NABS-L] Accessible laboratory equipment References: Message-ID: Happy Super Bowl Sunday! In the fall semester, I have to take a biological anthropology lab in order to fulfill my science requirements for transfer. I am reaching out to the broader STEM/blind student community for ideas of what accessible laboratory equipment is available to me. I live in California, so the state of California Department of rehab as well as the college I go to are willing to get me the equipment I need, but I have no idea where to tell them to get the equipment. From my discussions and research I’m assuming I will need an accessible microscope at the very least, but have no clue beyond that what might be available. Any responses or suggestions would be extremely valuable! Thank you! From sami.j.osborne97 at gmail.com Sun Feb 9 23:19:27 2025 From: sami.j.osborne97 at gmail.com (Sami Osborne) Date: Sun, 09 Feb 2025 18:19:27 -0500 Subject: [NABS-L] Accessible laboratory equipment Message-ID: <67a937fd.0c0a0220.1a31ba.90da@mx.google.com> Hi Erik, I know this is not exactly answering your specific question, but have you considered reaching out to your school's Disability Support Services Department to see if they can assist you? I'm not studying science, but from my experience with both undergrad and graduate school, I've found that reaching out to your school's Disability Services office is almost always (if not always) at least one step in the right direction in terms of getting everything you need for school. Also, this department is obligated by both the ADA and the IDEA to provide you (or any student with a disability) with reasonable accommodations, and I've also found that many people in this department are simply very kind, compassionate individuals who go out of their way to ensuring each student is successful in the classroom. Again, I know this isn't really related to exactly what you're looking for in terms of the California Department of Rehab, but I do hope you've found this information helpful. Best of luck with your science course next semester! All the best, Sami On Feb 9, 2025 5:19 PM, "R. Erik Mitchell via NABS-L" wrote: > > Happy Super Bowl Sunday! In the fall semester, I have to take a biological anthropology lab in order to fulfill my science requirements for transfer. I am reaching out to the broader STEM/blind student community for ideas of what accessible laboratory equipment is available to me. I live in California, so the state of California Department of rehab as well as the college I go to are willing to get me the equipment I need, but I have no idea where to tell them to get the equipment. From my discussions and research I’m assuming I will need an accessible microscope at the very least, but have no clue beyond that what might be available. Any responses or suggestions would be extremely valuable! Thank you! > > _______________________________________________ > 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/sami.j.osborne97%40gmail.com From r.erikmitchell at yahoo.com Sun Feb 9 23:53:25 2025 From: r.erikmitchell at yahoo.com (R. Erik Mitchell) Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2025 15:53:25 -0800 Subject: [NABS-L] Accessible laboratory equipment In-Reply-To: <67a937fd.0c0a0220.1a31ba.90da@mx.google.com> References: <67a937fd.0c0a0220.1a31ba.90da@mx.google.com> Message-ID: <1E932A0D-4A11-4838-870F-4E0C10098FAE@yahoo.com> Thank you for the kind suggestion! You are correct about the DSPS department at the college. However, they are not specifically knowledgeable necessarily, so I have found it helpful to do some of the legwork and point them in the right direction rather than have them do the research And possibly not come up with the right solutions. It works a bit better if I do the research and I tell them more or less what I need then they can confirm with the professor and we can move from that point otherwise there’s a big learning curve sometimes.t Sent from my iPhone > On Feb 9, 2025, at 3:19 PM, Sami Osborne wrote: > > Hi Erik, > > I know this is not exactly answering your specific question, but have you considered reaching out to your school's Disability Support Services Department to see if they can assist you? I'm not studying science, but from my experience with both undergrad and graduate school, I've found that reaching out to your school's Disability Services office is almost always (if not always) at least one step in the right direction in terms of getting everything you need for school. Also, this department is obligated by both the ADA and the IDEA to provide you (or any student with a disability) with reasonable accommodations, and I've also found that many people in this department are simply very kind, compassionate individuals who go out of their way to ensuring each student is successful in the classroom. > > Again, I know this isn't really related to exactly what you're looking for in terms of the California Department of Rehab, but I do hope you've found this information helpful. > > Best of luck with your science course next semester! > > All the best, > > Sami On Feb 9, 2025 5:19 PM, "R. Erik Mitchell via NABS-L" wrote: >> >> Happy Super Bowl Sunday! In the fall semester, I have to take a biological anthropology lab in order to fulfill my science requirements for transfer. I am reaching out to the broader STEM/blind student community for ideas of what accessible laboratory equipment is available to me. I live in California, so the state of California Department of rehab as well as the college I go to are willing to get me the equipment I need, but I have no idea where to tell them to get the equipment. From my discussions and research I’m assuming I will need an accessible microscope at the very least, but have no clue beyond that what might be available. Any responses or suggestions would be extremely valuable! Thank you! >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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/sami.j.osborne97%40gmail.com From gene.sh.kim at gmail.com Mon Feb 10 03:52:36 2025 From: gene.sh.kim at gmail.com (Gene Kim) Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2025 19:52:36 -0800 Subject: [NABS-L] Accessible laboratory equipment Message-ID: <145F27CA-6B7C-4395-A206-8DBFC5090738@gmail.com> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: crop-0-0-1059-794-0-aneybertgraphiti2.jpg Type: image/png Size: 233840 bytes Desc: not available URL: From jenniferhan17 at gmail.com Mon Feb 10 04:10:32 2025 From: jenniferhan17 at gmail.com (Jenn Han) Date: Sun, 9 Feb 2025 20:10:32 -0800 Subject: [NABS-L] Accessible laboratory equipment In-Reply-To: <1E932A0D-4A11-4838-870F-4E0C10098FAE@yahoo.com> References: <67a937fd.0c0a0220.1a31ba.90da@mx.google.com> <1E932A0D-4A11-4838-870F-4E0C10098FAE@yahoo.com> Message-ID: Hi Erik, Here are a couple of ideas for biological lab accommodations in general. 1. Visual assistant: this can be a peer who has taken the course before, or someone knowledgeable about the various lab activities to be conducted. This person is not there to do the work for you; they are there to describe visual aspects of each experiment, help with tasks requiring sight, all for you to gather this information and draw your own conclusions. It is worth discussing with your professors if they are able to reach out to students on your behalf, since they usually have listservs of students who have completed their courses. 2. Request extended time, or outside lab time if this isn’t offered already. This might seem like a fairly obvious one, but being able to meet with the lab instructor prior to the lab day helps a lot, so they can walk you through what to expect, or for you to perform the experiment with any added time you may need after the lab session if time permits. 3. If you own a computer, utilize your camera to zoom in, take photos, etc. If the lab requires any sort of dissecting, consult about potentially using a virtual software to perform the lab — it varies by school and program. In addition, consider asking for an assistive technology assessment through your vocational rehabilitation counselor, where specialists are able to introduce you to current devices and tools you may use. Don’t skimp out on the power of magnifiers! Electronic or otherwise. There are some software / technological advancements that are compatible with Windows tablets, such as the MagniLink TAB or RevoDuo 13. Portable CCTVs may be useful. There are others, but you’d have to look into what’s best for your current needs. I’m not sure how many more biological labs you’ll take for your degree, so most of these are quick solutions. If you’d like more long term, let me know, but just know those will take more time and investment to acquire on your end. I hope this is helpful. Best of luck on your future endeavors. Regards, Jenn Han, BSN, RN She/her/hers California State University Northridge | Class of 2024 | Bachelors of Science in Nursing University of California, Los Angeles | Class of 2021 | B.S. Molecular, Cell, Developmental Biology On Sun, Feb 9, 2025 at 3:55 PM R. Erik Mitchell via NABS-L < nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote: > Thank you for the kind suggestion! You are correct about the DSPS > department at the college. However, they are not specifically knowledgeable > necessarily, so I have found it helpful to do some of the legwork and point > them in the right direction rather than have them do the research And > possibly not come up with the right solutions. It works a bit better if I > do the research and I tell them more or less what I need then they can > confirm with the professor and we can move from that point otherwise > there’s a big learning curve sometimes.t > Sent from my iPhone > > > On Feb 9, 2025, at 3:19 PM, Sami Osborne > wrote: > > > > Hi Erik, > > > > I know this is not exactly answering your specific question, but have > you considered reaching out to your school's Disability Support Services > Department to see if they can assist you? I'm not studying science, but > from my experience with both undergrad and graduate school, I've found that > reaching out to your school's Disability Services office is almost always > (if not always) at least one step in the right direction in terms of > getting everything you need for school. Also, this department is obligated > by both the ADA and the IDEA to provide you (or any student with a > disability) with reasonable accommodations, and I've also found that many > people in this department are simply very kind, compassionate individuals > who go out of their way to ensuring each student is successful in the > classroom. > > > > Again, I know this isn't really related to exactly what you're looking > for in terms of the California Department of Rehab, but I do hope you've > found this information helpful. > > > > Best of luck with your science course next semester! > > > > All the best, > > > > Sami On Feb 9, 2025 5:19 PM, "R. Erik Mitchell via NABS-L" < > nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote: > >> > >> Happy Super Bowl Sunday! In the fall semester, I have to take a > biological anthropology lab in order to fulfill my science requirements for > transfer. I am reaching out to the broader STEM/blind student community for > ideas of what accessible laboratory equipment is available to me. I live in > California, so the state of California Department of rehab as well as the > college I go to are willing to get me the equipment I need, but I have no > idea where to tell them to get the equipment. From my discussions and > research I’m assuming I will need an accessible microscope at the very > least, but have no clue beyond that what might be available. Any responses > or suggestions would be extremely valuable! Thank you! > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> 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/sami.j.osborne97%40gmail.com > > > _______________________________________________ > 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/jenniferhan17%40gmail.com > From ljmaher03 at outlook.com Mon Feb 10 10:26:05 2025 From: ljmaher03 at outlook.com (Louis Maher) Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2025 10:26:05 +0000 Subject: [NABS-L] SED / NABS STEM Zoom Conference Minutes for January 26, 2025 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hello, Here are the minutes for the Science and Engineering and National Association of Blind Students STEM conference of January 26, 2025. The minutes contain links to recordings of the meeting. Please let me know if you have questions. Regards Louis Maher Phone: 713-444-7838 Email: ljmaher03 at outlook.com From manahiljafri at gmail.com Mon Feb 10 16:42:48 2025 From: manahiljafri at gmail.com (Manahil Jafri) Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2025 11:42:48 -0500 Subject: [NABS-L] Fwd: BISM Youth Summer Programs References: Message-ID: An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ljmaher03 at outlook.com Mon Feb 10 17:00:35 2025 From: ljmaher03 at outlook.com (Louis Maher) Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2025 17:00:35 +0000 Subject: [NABS-L] SED / NABS STEM Zoom Conference Minutes for January 26, 2025 With The Attachment In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Hello, Here are the minutes for the Science and Engineering and National Association of Blind Students STEM conference of January 26, 2025. The minutes contain links to recordings of the meeting. Please let me know if you have questions. Regards Louis Maher Phone: 713-444-7838 Email: ljmaher03 at outlook.com -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: 2025-01-26 Science Division and NABS Conference Minutes (1).docx Type: application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document Size: 42157 bytes Desc: 2025-01-26 Science Division and NABS Conference Minutes (1).docx URL: From oriolefan38 at gmail.com Tue Feb 11 02:50:42 2025 From: oriolefan38 at gmail.com (Zachary Ledford) Date: Mon, 10 Feb 2025 19:50:42 -0700 Subject: [NABS-L] Join the Weber/Davis Chapter for a Fun Meta Meeting! Message-ID: NABS Friends and Family! Please see the information below for an invite from the Weber/Davis Chapter in the NFB of Utah Affiliate! Saturday February 15, 2025 at 11 AM Mountain Time the Northernmost chapter of Utah will be holding a zoom meeting, the topic for this month is Meta. We will have an executive from Meta to talk about the Meta glasses as well as a student and a professional who uses them in their day-to-day lives. We will talk about the upcoming state convention, National convention and the most recent completion of the Washington Seminar. We will talk about the upcoming elections in march. There may be a few surprises too so come and join with us on Zoom. Join the zoom meeting https://zoom.us/j/8061136194 If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to Willie Black, chapter president at weberdavisnfb at gmail.com. Best wishes, Zachary Ledford B.S. Candidate, Health and Kinesiology | University of Utah President, Utah Association of Blind Students | National Federation of the Blind of Utah Board Member, National Association of Blind Students | National Federation of the Blind ledford.zachary38 at gmail.com From osoluozo at udel.edu Tue Feb 11 22:49:44 2025 From: osoluozo at udel.edu (Osoluchukwu Ozo-Onyali) Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2025 17:49:44 -0500 Subject: [NABS-L] Join Us for Our February DARE Call: Empowering Guide Dog Advocacy! Message-ID: *Greetings All!* We are excited to invite you to our upcoming February DARE Call, hosted by the Advocacy committee! This month, we are focusing on: Guide Dog Advocacy and Your Legal Rights. Join us for an enlightening discussion where we will explore crucial topics such as: *- Understanding Your Legal Rights:* Learn about the rights you possess as a guide dog handler, and how to effectively advocate for yourself and your mobility aid. *- Navigating Rideshare Apps: * What should you do if you encounter challenges when using rideshare services? We’ll provide practical steps to ensure you know your rights and how to assert them. *- Access to Public Spaces: * Discover the laws that protect your right to access public spaces with your guide dog, and how to address any obstacles you may face We’re thrilled to have a special guest speaker from Guiding Eyes, who will share valuable insights and strategies for advocating for your rights in everyday situations. Additionally, gain a unique perspective from a current Uber driver who will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the rideshare experience and how we can work together to foster understanding and inclusivity. *Event Details*: 📅 Date: February 23rd 🕒 Time: 8:00 pm EST 📍 Location: https://zoom.us/my/blindstudents This call is not just about information; it’s about empowerment. Together, we can create a community that stands strong in advocacy, ensuring that every individual and their guide dog can navigate the world with confidence and dignity. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to gain knowledge, ask questions, and connect with others. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Osolu Ozo-Onyali. Her email is osoluozo at udel.edu. Hope to see you there! Warmly, Your Advocacy Committee From sidneyh05 at gmail.com Wed Feb 12 02:52:47 2025 From: sidneyh05 at gmail.com (Sidney Horn) Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2025 20:52:47 -0600 Subject: [NABS-L] Join Us for Our February DARE Call: Empowering Guide Dog Advocacy! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: I'm looking forward to this. Definitely thinking I will learn a lot especially because I am going to The Seeing Eye this summer to get my first seeing eye dog. I'll be going off to college at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the fall. I'll be using Rideshare like Uber a lot. Tomorrow I am going to have my first O&M lesson with Uber; hoping that it works because my school for the blind that I am at is in a relatively smaller town. This is my last year of being at the school for the blind; I've been here for 4 years. I came as a 16-year-old. Sidney On Tue, Feb 11, 2025 at 4:51 PM Osoluchukwu Ozo-Onyali via NABS-L < nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote: > *Greetings All!* > > We are excited to invite you to our upcoming February DARE Call, hosted by > the Advocacy committee! This month, we are focusing on: Guide Dog Advocacy > and Your Legal Rights. > > Join us for an enlightening discussion where we will explore crucial topics > such as: > > *- Understanding Your Legal Rights:* > Learn about the rights you possess as a guide dog handler, and how to > effectively advocate for yourself and your mobility aid. > > > *- Navigating Rideshare Apps: * > What should you do if you encounter challenges when using rideshare > services? We’ll provide practical steps to ensure you know your rights and > how to assert them. > > *- Access to Public Spaces: * > Discover the laws that protect your right to access public spaces with your > guide dog, and how to address any obstacles you may face > > We’re thrilled to have a special guest speaker from Guiding Eyes, who will > share valuable insights and strategies for advocating for your rights in > everyday situations. Additionally, gain a unique perspective from a current > Uber driver who will offer a behind-the-scenes look at the rideshare > experience and how we can work together to foster understanding and > inclusivity. > > *Event Details*: > 📅 Date: February 23rd > 🕒 Time: 8:00 pm EST > 📍 Location: https://zoom.us/my/blindstudents > > > This call is not just about information; it’s about empowerment. Together, > we can create a community that stands strong in advocacy, ensuring that > every individual and their guide dog can navigate the world with confidence > and dignity. > > Don’t miss out on this opportunity to gain knowledge, ask questions, and > connect with others. > > If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Osolu > Ozo-Onyali. Her email is osoluozo at udel.edu. > > Hope to see you there! > > Warmly, > Your Advocacy Committee > _______________________________________________ > 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/sidneyh05%40gmail.com > From gene.sh.kim at gmail.com Wed Feb 12 04:33:38 2025 From: gene.sh.kim at gmail.com (Gene Kim) Date: Tue, 11 Feb 2025 20:33:38 -0800 Subject: [NABS-L] Just 1, 646 minutes left - finish your application to the National Federation of the Blind of California State Scholarship by Wednesday, February 12 Message-ID: Calling all California university/graduate students, The National Federation of the Blind of California is pleased to announce our 2025 State Scholarship program. Anyone who will be a full time undergraduate or graduate student in California for the 2025 - 2026 academic year is eligible to apply. In addition to the financial support, finalists will attend the National Federation of the Blind of California State Convention from March 14 - 16 in Anaheim. This is a fantastic opportunity to network with blind Californians from many different career paths. The application materials include personal essays, a letter of recommendation, proof of legal blindness, and proof of enrollment. All materials are due by Wednesday, February 12, at 11:59 PM PT. Learn more and apply using the link below, and reach out to scholarship committee chair Gene Kim at gene.sh.kim at gmail.com with any questions. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeo_F7eum1-LG90qyma6RqoRFG7udtFzZi4gbMSDW839vTIyg/viewform Cheers, Gene From ammar.tarin at gmail.com Wed Feb 12 23:42:17 2025 From: ammar.tarin at gmail.com (Ammar Tarin) Date: Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:42:17 -0700 Subject: [NABS-L] Don't forget to register for the Midwest Student Seminar by February 28! Message-ID: Hey Students! I hope everyone is doing well, and preparing those awesome Valentine's Day treats! This is just a reminder to register for the 2025 National Federation of the Blind Midwest Student Seminar, hosted by the National Association of Blind Students. The registration deadline has been extended, and registration now closes in just a few weeks on February 28! Join us in the beautiful windy city of Chicago Illinois from March 7 – March 9! Here is some exciting information about one of our volunteer professionals Noah Brockett, who will be joining us in Chicago! Noah Brockett's favorite song is *Mirror of Souls* by the power metal band Theocracy. The song, which is 22 minutes long, appears at the end of the album of the same name. A fun fact about Noah is that he can solve a Rubik's cube in under 30 seconds. His journey to becoming a full-time comedian began toward the end of his training at LCB. The day after preparing a meal for 40 people, he performed stand-up for the first time as a host for a rock ‘n’ roll show at the Sundown Tavern in Ruston, Louisiana. He later moved to Tokyo, where he performed at the Tokyo Comedy Bar nearly every night. This consistent stage time helped him build momentum, and upon returning to the United States, he moved to Charleston, South Carolina, to pursue comedy full-time. Since then, Noah has performed alongside a diverse range of comedians, traveled to multiple states, and even returned to Tokyo for a month of paid shows. If you want to learn more about Noah, or any of our other professionals, join us in Chicago for the National Federation of the Blind Midwest Student Seminar, hosted by the National Association of Blind Students. You can find all the registration info below! As blind students, we are encountering unique daily realities that often remain unrecognized or misunderstood by the people around us. The National Association of Blind Students is thrilled to invite you to Beyond the Handshake: Networking in the Windy City, where we will explore these shared experiences with students from across the region. It will be an engaging weekend packed with opportunities to challenge your perceptions and network with blind peers and mentors alike. Have you ever wondered how to navigate non-traditional career paths or build a professional network that truly understands your journey? This year’s theme focuses on career exploration and planning, offering practical insights and strategies to help you thrive. Together, we’ll dive into how to forge meaningful connections, open new doors, and envision possibilities beyond the expected. You can expect a mix of interactive activities, thought-provoking conversations, and riveting presentations—with topics covering everything from securing accommodations to finding identity as a blind person. This journey promises to empower you to identify new ways of living the life you want. Regardless of where you are in your education, we hope you will join us for a weekend of growth and fun from March 7 – March 9, 2025, at the Holiday Inn Chicago O’Hare Area: Holiday Inn Chicago O’Hare Area 5615 N. Cumberland Ave. Chicago, IL 60631 You can register at the following link: https://nabslink.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=5. Registration closes on February 28, 2025, so don’t delay! Rooms can be booked at the following website using the code “NFB”. www.hiohare.com. Alternatively, you can call (800-465-4329) or (773-693-5800) to reserve a room by phone using the group name “National Federation of the Blind Student”. Room rates for a room with two queen beds are $119.00 per night, and rooms must be booked by February 28, 2025. The National Association of Blind Students prioritizes its members' health and safety in all its events. For the safety of all participants, we ask that if you are feeling ill, please remain home. These policies are consistent with the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois’s policies on in-person gatherings. We are also committed to keeping all members safe. As such, we follow The Code of Conduct, which you can find here: https://nfb.org/about-us/history-and-governance/code-conduct, as well as the Youth Program protection Policy, which can be found here: https://nfb.org/about-us/history-and-governance/code-conduct/youth-program-participant-protection-policy, which is upheld by the National Federation of the Blind. Alternative Payment Options: We in no way want the $100 registration fee to prevent any student from attending. If the fee poses a challenge, please contact Joshua Olukanni at 678-313-1543 or joshuaolukanni2002 at gmail.com. Please note that both the $100 registration fee and a completed registration form must be submitted by February 28, 2025, to secure your spot for this transformative weekend. If you have any questions regarding hotel logistics, registration, or anything else about the Midwest Seminar, feel free to reach out to Joshua Olukanni at 678-313-1543 or joshuaolukanni2002 at gmail.com. We look forward to seeing all of you in Chicago! -- Respectfully, Ammar Ahmed Tarin Board Member, National Association of Blind Students Board Member, National Federation of the Blind of Arizona President, Arizona Association of Blind Students Ammar.tarin at gmail.com 480-580-7874 Live the life you want. From sidneyh05 at gmail.com Thu Feb 13 06:26:11 2025 From: sidneyh05 at gmail.com (Sidney Horn) Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2025 00:26:11 -0600 Subject: [NABS-L] Question about Uber for the people who use Uber Message-ID: Hey all, I have a question because I know most, if not all of you in here use Uber or have used it. I'm just getting started with it. I actually had an O&M lesson yesterday on it. However, when using it, I used it in a relatively small town. When going to order the Uber, it said that the driver was 15 minutes away. Okay... So that's no problem. So when waiting for the driver details, you know how it shows the percentage for the driver details page as it's loading? Well, it kept loading and loading, and I sat at 94% for several minutes. Has this happened to anyone? If you're in a smaller town, and the app says that there's a driver about 15 minutes ahead, is it better to either schedule the Uber ahead of time? Or click on the "Where to" button on the home page of the Uber app, which would then schedule a ride right then and there? What's better for a smaller town instead of like a big big city? Just curious! Also, has anyone ever used Uber to go like out of town somewhere? Like somewhere 20 minutes away? I know the further you go, or the longer you travel with them, the pricier it gets. But I'm still curious. Thanks so much!! Sidney From buhrow at nfbcal.org Thu Feb 13 15:11:20 2025 From: buhrow at nfbcal.org (Brian Buhrow) Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2025 07:11:20 -0800 Subject: [NABS-L] Question about Uber for the people who use Uber In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <202502131511.51DFBKFj009436@nfbcal.org> Hello Sidney. When you're looking at the Uber app, but before you've begun telling it you want to order a ride, either on demand ir scheduling in advance, it gives you an estimate of the distance between you and the nearest registered Uber driver. That doesn't mean the driver it's using as a reference will be the one yu get when you order a ride, it's just an estimate of about how long it could take a car to reach you, not an actual time of when a car will reach you after yu place yur order. In general, the only real useful ting to take from that information is that Uber services your town and nothing else. For example, if you open the Uber app and it says no service, or that a driver is an hour away, it's a good bet Uber won't be available for you that day. As to your question about whether to order a ride or schedule in advance, the answer is it depends. I live in a fairly small university town. If it's a week day in the middle of the day during the summer or the school term, I'll order a ride on demand. Chances are good I'll get a car within 5-15 minutes, sometimes less. If I need a ride early in the morning or late at night, I'll schedule in advance because it's a pretty good bet I won't be able to get a car on demand. Keep in mind that prices are higher for rides scheduled in advance, so I'll prefer on-demand rides if I think I can get one in a timely manner. On the other hand, in general, the more experienced drivers like scheduled rides, so you'll usually get better drivers when you schedule in advance. Hope that helps. -Brian From pgradioman at hotmail.com Thu Feb 13 17:07:55 2025 From: pgradioman at hotmail.com (Preston Gaylor) Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2025 17:07:55 +0000 Subject: [NABS-L] Question about Uber for the people who use Uber In-Reply-To: <202502131511.51DFBKFj009436@nfbcal.org> References: <202502131511.51DFBKFj009436@nfbcal.org> Message-ID: Hello Sydney: It depends on if you want to schedule a ride on demand or events if there any drivers available. I schedule my Uber and lift trips in advance. If I know I wanna go somewhere and if I know I need to be someplace at a certain time. Then I can definitely pay the increase fee if I need to schedule a ride in advance it obviously depends on time of day and where you're going, I have not taken any trips far out I should stay longer trips farther out because normally I travel within the local area. Thank goodness for lots of Uber and lift gift cards that I get every burp in Christmas! Hopefully this helps, and I'm sure more people will give you insight. Thank you, Preston Sorry, I meant to say I get a lot of Uber and Lyft gift cards for my birthday or Christmas Get Outlook for iOS ________________________________ From: NABS-L on behalf of Brian Buhrow via NABS-L Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2025 10:11:20 AM To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list Cc: Brian Buhrow ; Sidney Horn Subject: Re: [NABS-L] Question about Uber for the people who use Uber Hello Sidney. When you're looking at the Uber app, but before you've begun telling it you want to order a ride, either on demand ir scheduling in advance, it gives you an estimate of the distance between you and the nearest registered Uber driver. That doesn't mean the driver it's using as a reference will be the one yu get when you order a ride, it's just an estimate of about how long it could take a car to reach you, not an actual time of when a car will reach you after yu place yur order. In general, the only real useful ting to take from that information is that Uber services your town and nothing else. For example, if you open the Uber app and it says no service, or that a driver is an hour away, it's a good bet Uber won't be available for you that day. As to your question about whether to order a ride or schedule in advance, the answer is it depends. I live in a fairly small university town. If it's a week day in the middle of the day during the summer or the school term, I'll order a ride on demand. Chances are good I'll get a car within 5-15 minutes, sometimes less. If I need a ride early in the morning or late at night, I'll schedule in advance because it's a pretty good bet I won't be able to get a car on demand. Keep in mind that prices are higher for rides scheduled in advance, so I'll prefer on-demand rides if I think I can get one in a timely manner. On the other hand, in general, the more experienced drivers like scheduled rides, so you'll usually get better drivers when you schedule in advance. Hope that helps. -Brian _______________________________________________ NABS-L mailing list NABS-L at nfbnet.org https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnfbnet.org%2Fmailman%2Flistinfo%2Fnabs-l_nfbnet.org&data=05%7C02%7C%7C24f23f107e4940f37bc208dd4c40d772%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638750563670800537%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=F34po8h1qyny58req4DjilkKtzDVxOx1ny2p%2B%2FCdbLU%3D&reserved=0 To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NABS-L: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnfbnet.org%2Fmailman%2Foptions%2Fnabs-l_nfbnet.org%2Fpgradioman%2540hotmail.com&data=05%7C02%7C%7C24f23f107e4940f37bc208dd4c40d772%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638750563670843605%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Cac0zlk3EtYiCBJMYnGjMNU3s7xQ%2FjjNevwbizVUOQQ%3D&reserved=0 From yassirbohorquez at gmail.com Thu Feb 13 19:35:19 2025 From: yassirbohorquez at gmail.com (Yassir Bohorquez) Date: Thu, 13 Feb 2025 14:35:19 -0500 Subject: [NABS-L] Join FABS for our Next Social this Saturday Message-ID: Hello students and supporters, Have no plans this Saturday at 8:00 PM? Then join us for our next social, featuring the popular accessible gaming client QC games. This accessible gaming client features many games including Ninety-nine, Poker, Uno, 1000 Miles, Scoba, and much more. An account is required to play the games, and creating one is free. This client is accessible via the browser. If this sounds interesting to you, then come and join the fun. We will begin playing at 8:00 PM, this Saturday, on zoom. The zoom info will be below my signature. I will also include the link for QC games. If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask by replying or by emailing me directly. I can't wait to have fun with all of you. Until then, have a great rest of your week. Best, Jose, Vice President Florida Association of Blind Students - National Federation of the Blind of Florida yassirbohorquez at gmail.com Zoom Link for Social: https://ufl.zoom.us/my/josebohorquezuf Link to QC Games: https://qcsalon.net/ If this is your first time playing QC games, when you click on the QC link, you will be asked to sign in or create an account. Once you have signed in, click on the first menu, and then click play. To find the first menu, if using a screen reader, use the up and down arrow keys till you hear "Link Has Popup menu Menu." After you have created an account and signed in, you won't have to log in every time after that. From kaleighjb17 at gmail.com Fri Feb 14 15:20:57 2025 From: kaleighjb17 at gmail.com (Kaleigh Brendle) Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2025 10:20:57 -0500 Subject: [NABS-L] Fw: Legislative Alert: Immediate Action Required In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: *From:* National Federation of the Blind *Sent:* Thursday, February 13, 2025 6:00:22 PM *To:* Kaleigh Brendle *Subject:* [EXTERNAL] Legislative Alert: Action Required [image: National Federation of the Blind logo and tagline live the life you want] Immediate Action Required Regarding Section 504 Dear Federation Members, A number of you have asked about the below matter. The National Federation of the Blind is deeply concerned about the Texas v. Becerra case that has been brought by seventeen states’ attorney generals. These seventeen states (Alaska, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia) have sued the federal government regarding updated rules which add “gender dysphoria” to the federal definition of “disability” under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. As a result, these states have charged that this addition to the regulations renders Section 504 unconstitutional. As a reminder, Section 504 requires that entities which receive federal funding, like schools and hospitals, cannot discriminate on the basis of disability. Fortunately, we are not alone in our concerns. Other organizations, such as the National Disability Rights Network, the National Council on Independent Living, the American Association of People with Disabilities, the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, and many, many more have also voiced their displeasure with this lawsuit. You can help in this cause! If you live in one of the states listed above, you can contact your state’s attorney general and/or the Governor and ask that the state drop the lawsuit. Be sure to tell them who you are and why Section 504 is important to you so they can fully understand the gravity of the situation. Remind them that Section 504 protects blind and other disabled people from discrimination by entities that receive federal funds. We are carefully monitoring this situation and will keep everyone advised of any new developments. Sincerely, Mark A. Riccobono, President [image: Facebook Logo] [image: Twitter Logo] [image: Instagram Logo] [image: YouTube Logo] [image: Email Icon Image] [image: Donate to the NFB Icon.] National Federation of the Blind | 200 E Wells Street | Baltimore, MD 21230 | 410-659-9314 Unsubscribe from this mailing list | Opt out of all mailing lists | Sign up for our newsletter 200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place Baltimore, MD 21230 United States .. From yassirbohorquez at gmail.com Fri Feb 14 23:26:16 2025 From: yassirbohorquez at gmail.com (Yassir Bohorquez) Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2025 18:26:16 -0500 Subject: [NABS-L] Reminder: Join FABS for our Next Social Tomorrow References: Message-ID: <3484477A-59A5-46BD-8A45-05BB7513D452@gmail.com> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From sidneyh05 at gmail.com Sat Feb 15 19:23:54 2025 From: sidneyh05 at gmail.com (Sidney Horn) Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2025 13:23:54 -0600 Subject: [NABS-L] If anyone wants to reach out, feel free Message-ID: Hi everyone! I know I really haven't said it much on here, but if anyone wants to reach out to just make connections with me and become friends, I'm down. I've been trying to build and make connections with others in this wonderful community and I enjoy talking to people. I think Nabs is a great community to build, grow and connect with each other and share experiences. It's cool to see, as students, what paths we all choose to go down and hear each others stories. I've been reaching out to some people just at random, that are on this list. :-) I'm looking forward to attending the first Nabs seminar that I've ever attended, which will be the Midwest Seminar. Have a great Saturday! :-) Sidney From ammar.tarin at gmail.com Sat Feb 15 22:47:51 2025 From: ammar.tarin at gmail.com (Ammar Tarin) Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2025 15:47:51 -0700 Subject: [NABS-L] Don't forget to register! Midwest Student Seminar is fast approaching! Message-ID: Hey Students! I hope everyone’s 3 day weekend is off to an amazing start! This is just a reminder to register for the 2025 National Federation of the Blind Midwest Student Seminar, hosted by the National Association of Blind Students. Here is some information about two of our awesome Professional Volunteers that will be joining us at the seminar! Emeline Lakrout: Emeline’s favorite song is More by Usher. One fun fact about her is she read 100 books in 2023! After earning her bachelor's degree in marketing at the University of Texas at Austin in 2020, Emeline began her career as an Associate Brand Manager at Unilever in New York City. She spent nearly five years working on influencer campaigns, business analyses, and product innovations on several brands including Simple Skincare, Hellman's, and Dove. In tandem with her marketing work, she's been a prolific disability rights activist, pursuing legislative advocacy, litigation, and awareness campaigns to fight for disability justice globally. Her work has led her to speak at institutions like the European Investment Bank, the UK's National Health Service, and One Young World, and she's worked on projects like Degree's Trainers for Hire, teaching over a billion people worldwide about adaptive fitness. Emeline is also an elite athlete, being the reigning national rock climbing champion for her category and silver medalist internationally, and races triathlons and marathons recreationally. Emeline now spends her time focused on her life's mission to fight for the joy, rights, and dignity of every single disabled person. *Elizabeth Sheeler* Elizabeth’s favorite song is You Say by Lauren Daigle. A fun fact about her is that she has two hermit crabs named Petunia and Herman! And one more is she completed a bike ride across the whole state of Wisconsin in 2 days 225 miles. Starting in La Crosse and ending in Milwaukee. Elizabeth Sheeler is an artist, educator, and researcher whose work spans multiple disciplines, including performance, installation, sound-based media, and social practice. She holds an MFA from The University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she cultivated her passion for immersive storytelling, blindness culture, and the intersection of art and accessibility. Currently, she serves as a lecturer at the University of Wisconsin–Madison while also teaching middle school art at O’Keeffe Middle School. In addition, she teaches community art classes through Madison School & Community Recreation and runs an after-school art program at LaFollette High School. Her diverse teaching roles allow her to engage with students of all ages, fostering creativity and exploration in a variety of learning environments. Deeply committed to inclusive and transformative education, Elizabeth finds immense joy in each of her teaching experiences, as they offer unique opportunities to inspire, connect, and cultivate artistic expression. If you want to learn more about Emeline, Elizabeth, or any of our other professionals, join us in Chicago for the National Federation of the Blind Midwest Student Seminar, hosted by the National Association of Blind Students. The registration deadline has been extended, and registration now closes in just a few weeks on February 28! You can find all the registration info below! As blind students, we are encountering unique daily realities that often remain unrecognized or misunderstood by the people around us. The National Association of Blind Students is thrilled to invite you to Beyond the Handshake: Networking in the Windy City, where we will explore these shared experiences with students from across the region. It will be an engaging weekend packed with opportunities to challenge your perceptions and network with blind peers and mentors alike. Have you ever wondered how to navigate non-traditional career paths or build a professional network that truly understands your journey? This year’s theme focuses on career exploration and planning, offering practical insights and strategies to help you thrive. Together, we’ll dive into how to forge meaningful connections, open new doors, and envision possibilities beyond the expected. You can expect a mix of interactive activities, thought-provoking conversations, and riveting presentations—with topics covering everything from securing accommodations to finding identity as a blind person. This journey promises to empower you to identify new ways of living the life you want. Regardless of where you are in your education, we hope you will join us for a weekend of growth and fun from March 7 – March 9, 2025, at the Holiday Inn Chicago O’Hare Area: Holiday Inn Chicago O’Hare Area 5615 N. Cumberland Ave. Chicago, IL 60631 You can register at the following link: https://nabslink.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=5. Registration closes on February 28, 2025, so don’t delay! Rooms can be booked at the following website using the code “NFB”. www.hiohare.com. Alternatively, you can call (800-465-4329) or (773-693-5800) to reserve a room by phone using the group name “National Federation of the Blind Student”. Room rates for a room with two queen beds are $119.00 per night, and rooms must be booked by February 28, 2025. The National Association of Blind Students prioritizes its members' health and safety in all its events. For the safety of all participants, we ask that if you are feeling ill, please remain home. These policies are consistent with the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois’s policies on in-person gatherings. We are also committed to keeping all members safe. As such, we follow The Code of Conduct, which you can find here: https://nfb.org/about-us/history-and-governance/code-conduct, as well as the Youth Program protection Policy, which can be found here: https://nfb.org/about-us/history-and-governance/code-conduct/youth-program-participant-protection-policy, which is upheld by the National Federation of the Blind. Alternative Payment Options: We in no way want the $100 registration fee to prevent any student from attending. If the fee poses a challenge, please contact Joshua Olukanni at 678-313-1543 or joshuaolukanni2002 at gmail.com. Please note that both the $100 registration fee and a completed registration form must be submitted by February 28, 2025, to secure your spot for this transformative weekend. If you have any questions regarding hotel logistics, registration, or anything else about the Midwest Seminar, feel free to reach out to Joshua Olukanni at 678-313-1543 or joshuaolukanni2002 at gmail.com. We look forward to seeing all of you in Chicago! -- Respectfully, Ammar Ahmed Tarin Board Member, National Association of Blind Students Board Member, National Federation of the Blind of Arizona President, Arizona Association of Blind Students Ammar.tarin at gmail.com 480-580-7874 Live the life you want. From yassirbohorquez at gmail.com Sun Feb 16 00:18:51 2025 From: yassirbohorquez at gmail.com (Yassir Bohorquez) Date: Sat, 15 Feb 2025 19:18:51 -0500 Subject: [NABS-L] Just one hour till the FABS Social References: Message-ID: <5A461F54-7A9B-4DF1-B038-57E69DA85ADB@gmail.com> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From students at nfbflorida.org Mon Feb 17 13:00:00 2025 From: students at nfbflorida.org (FABS Secretary) Date: Mon, 17 Feb 2025 08:00:00 -0500 Subject: [NABS-L] Join us on Thursday, February 20 at 7pm for a very important meeting!!! Message-ID: Good day everyone I would like to remind you all to join us this Thursday for a very informative meeting with the Florida Association of Blind Students. Here, we will recap what happened while at Washington Seminar, discuss a few important Legislative Alerts, and information about the Kenneth Jerningian Scholarship, among other various topics. We hope to see you all on Thursday! Link: https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/96868427038?pwd=uGjKVEVLDm0bKblkcYTpmqXw1bXSZX.1 Have a great start to your week! Elijah Grant Secretary - Florida Association of Blind Students Treasurer - Greater Broward Chapter, National Federation of the Blind of Florida Associate of Arts in Information Technology Candidate - Broward College Click here to email the Florida Association of Blind Students. Social Media Links Check us out on Facebook Follow us on TikTok Follow us on Instagram "The National Federation of the Blind 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 have the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back." -National Federation of the Blind One-Minute Message From osoluozo at udel.edu Mon Feb 17 22:25:58 2025 From: osoluozo at udel.edu (Osoluchukwu Ozo-Onyali) Date: Mon, 17 Feb 2025 17:25:58 -0500 Subject: [NABS-L] REMINDER-Join Us for Our February DARE Call: Empowering Guide Dog Advocacy! Message-ID: *Hi All,* This is just a reminder for the upcoming February DARE Call, hosted by the Advocacy Committee! The call will focus on Guide Dog Advocacy and Your Legal Rights. *Key topics:* • Understanding your legal rights as a guide dog handler •Navigating rideshare apps and public spaces • Advocacy strategies for everyday situations We’re excited to hear from a guest speaker from Guiding Eyes and a rideshare driver who will share insights on fostering inclusivity. *Event Details:* 📅 Date: Sunday, February 23rd 🕒 Time: 8:00 PM EST 📍 https://zoom.us/my/blindstudents If you have any questions feel free to reach out to Osolu Ozo-Onyali at osoluozo at udel.edu. Don’t forget to mark your calendar and join us for an empowering discussion! Best, Your Advocacy committee From ammar.tarin at gmail.com Wed Feb 19 23:41:12 2025 From: ammar.tarin at gmail.com (Ammar Tarin) Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2025 16:41:12 -0700 Subject: [NABS-L] Don't delay! Registration for the 2025 Midwest Student Seminar closes in just about 1 week on February 28! Message-ID: Hey Students! We hope everyone is doing well! This is your friendly reminder that if you haven’t already, to register for the 2025 National Federation of the Blind Midwest Student Seminar, hosted by the National Association of Blind Students! Here is some information about Marilyn Green and Robert Parsons, two of our awesome Professional Volunteers that will be joining us at the seminar! Marilyn Green: Marilyn’s favorite song is Work That by Mary J. Blige. One fun fact about her is she has seen the musical Hamilton three times and knows almost all the words to the musical score. Marilyn Green owes her professional career to a strong work ethic and higher education. She earned her B.A. from DePaul University, majoring in English literature an women’s studies. Her career began in publishing but challenges related to her vision led her to the Chicago Public Library, where she empowered her library patrons through literacy programs, technology trainings, and community education. After 20 years working in neighborhood libraries, Marilyn transitioned to an executive role at a blindness agency where her experience in community education and the knowledge that she gained through the National Federation of the Blind now allow her to empower blind people with resources. *Robert Parsons:* *Roberts favorite song is Say yes to Heaven- Lana Del Rey. One fun fact about Robert is English is his second language, with French being his first and native tongue.* *Robert Parsons is a certified rehabilitation counselor, certified vision rehabilitation therapist, licensed professional counselor and doctoral candidate of counselor education and supervision at Western Michigan University. Restarting his academic journey in 2015 after blindness, his decision was motivated from a plethora of factors, including various models of blind leadership, an absence of effective services for blind students and the potential for change to be made. Originally interested in pursuing studies in the realm of law, Robert’s trajectory changed into the field of counseling and mental health through persistent advocacy and a connection to rehabilitation for the blind. Serving as a past president of the Virginia and Michigan Associations of Blind Students, as well as a board member of the National Association of Blind Students; the transferrable leadership skills developed and enhanced in these experiences imbued Robert with the philosophical foundation to pursue his academic and professional aspirations. Robert is the owner of Rehabilitation WAY, LLC, a private Rehabilitation Practice, providing access technology instruction, affective counseling, and career counseling services for clients, while finalizing his dissertation proposal for submission this year.* If you want to learn more about Marilyn, Robert, or any of our other professionals, join us in Chicago for the National Federation of the Blind Midwest Student Seminar, hosted by the National Association of Blind Students. The registration deadline has been extended, and registration now closes in about 1 week on February 28! You can find all the registration info below! As blind students, we are encountering unique daily realities that often remain unrecognized or misunderstood by the people around us. The National Association of Blind Students is thrilled to invite you to Beyond the Handshake: Networking in the Windy City, where we will explore these shared experiences with students from across the region. It will be an engaging weekend packed with opportunities to challenge your perceptions and network with blind peers and mentors alike. Have you ever wondered how to navigate non-traditional career paths or build a professional network that truly understands your journey? This year’s theme focuses on career exploration and planning, offering practical insights and strategies to help you thrive. Together, we’ll dive into how to forge meaningful connections, open new doors, and envision possibilities beyond the expected. You can expect a mix of interactive activities, thought-provoking conversations, and riveting presentations—with topics covering everything from securing accommodations to finding identity as a blind person. This journey promises to empower you to identify new ways of living the life you want. Regardless of where you are in your education, we hope you will join us for a weekend of growth and fun from March 7 – March 9, 2025, at the Holiday Inn Chicago O’Hare Area: Holiday Inn Chicago O’Hare Area 5615 N. Cumberland Ave. Chicago, IL 60631 You can register at the following link: https://nabslink.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=5. Registration closes on February 28, 2025, so don’t delay! Rooms can be booked at the following website using the code “NFB”. www.hiohare.com. Alternatively, you can call (800-465-4329) or (773-693-5800) to reserve a room by phone using the group name “National Federation of the Blind Student”. Room rates for a room with two queen beds are $119.00 per night, and rooms must be booked by February 28, 2025. The National Association of Blind Students prioritizes its members' health and safety in all its events. For the safety of all participants, we ask that if you are feeling ill, please remain home. These policies are consistent with the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois’s policies on in-person gatherings. We are also committed to keeping all members safe. As such, we follow The Code of Conduct, which you can find here: https://nfb.org/about-us/history-and-governance/code-conduct, as well as the Youth Program protection Policy, which can be found here: https://nfb.org/about-us/history-and-governance/code-conduct/youth-program-participant-protection-policy, which is upheld by the National Federation of the Blind. Alternative Payment Options: We in no way want the $100 registration fee to prevent any student from attending. If the fee poses a challenge, please contact Joshua Olukanni at 678-313-1543 or joshuaolukanni2002 at gmail.com. Please note that both the $100 registration fee and a completed registration form must be submitted by February 28, 2025, to secure your spot for this transformative weekend. If you have any questions regarding hotel logistics, registration, or anything else about the Midwest Seminar, feel free to reach out to Joshua Olukanni at 678-313-1543 or joshuaolukanni2002 at gmail.com. We look forward to seeing all of you in Chicago! -- Respectfully, Ammar Ahmed Tarin Board Member, National Association of Blind Students Board Member, National Federation of the Blind of Arizona President, Arizona Association of Blind Students Ammar.tarin at gmail.com 480-580-7874 Live the life you want. From students at nfbflorida.org Thu Feb 20 02:15:00 2025 From: students at nfbflorida.org (FABS Secretary) Date: Wed, 19 Feb 2025 21:15:00 -0500 Subject: [NABS-L] Join us on Thursday, February 20 at 7pm for a very important meeting!!! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Good evening everyone! Here is your friendly reminder about our meeting tomorrow night at 7pm! Elijah Grant Secretary - Florida Association of Blind Students Treasurer - Greater Broward Chapter, National Federation of the Blind of Florida Associate of Arts in Information Technology Candidate - Broward College Click here to email the Florida Association of Blind Students. Social Media Links Check us out on Facebook Follow us on TikTok Follow us on Instagram "The National Federation of the Blind 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 have the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back." -National Federation of the Blind One-Minute Message On Mon, Feb 17, 2025 at 8:00 AM FABS Secretary wrote: > Good day everyone > I would like to remind you all to join us this Thursday for a very > informative meeting with the Florida Association of Blind Students. Here, > we will recap what happened while at Washington Seminar, discuss a few > important Legislative Alerts, and information about the Kenneth Jerningian > Scholarship, among other various topics. We hope to see you all on Thursday! > Link: > https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/96868427038?pwd=uGjKVEVLDm0bKblkcYTpmqXw1bXSZX.1 > > Have a great start to your week! > Elijah Grant > Secretary - Florida Association of Blind Students > Treasurer - Greater Broward Chapter, National Federation of the Blind of > Florida > Associate of Arts in Information Technology Candidate - Broward College > Click here to email the Florida Association of Blind Students. > > Social Media Links > Check us out on Facebook > > Follow us on TikTok > Follow us on Instagram > "The National Federation of the Blind 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 have the life you want; blindness is not > what holds > you back." > -National Federation of the Blind One-Minute Message > > From clearinghouse at miusa.org Thu Feb 20 18:01:00 2025 From: clearinghouse at miusa.org (MIUSA Clearinghouse) Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2025 10:01:00 -0800 Subject: [NABS-L] NCDE Access to Exchange Externship 2025 Message-ID: Dear students I hope this message finds you all doing well. I wanted to let you all know that the National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE) has opened up the call for applicants to the 2025 Access to Exchange Externship, a remote internship in which alumni and current participants of international exchange programs conduct their very own outreach projects to people with disabilities to educate them on how to study or volunteer abroad. Applicants with and without disabilities are welcome to apply by March 3. You can access a link to the application here, and here is a link to the main webpage where you can learn more about the Externship. Questions may be sent to NCDE program specialist Justin Harford jharford at miusa.org. I hope that you will share these links far and wide with your networks. Sincerely Justin Harford Program Specialist jharford at miusa.org MIUSA From students at nfbflorida.org Thu Feb 20 23:33:00 2025 From: students at nfbflorida.org (FABS Secretary) Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2025 18:33:00 -0500 Subject: [NABS-L] Join us on Thursday, February 20 at 7pm for a very important meeting!!! In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Friendly reminder that our meeting is TONIGHT! Here's the link: https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/96868427038?pwd=uGjKVEVLDm0bKblkcYTpmqXw1bXSZX.1 On Wed, Feb 19, 2025, 9:15 PM FABS Secretary wrote: > Good evening everyone! > Here is your friendly reminder about our meeting tomorrow night at 7pm! > > Elijah Grant > Secretary - Florida Association of Blind Students > Treasurer - Greater Broward Chapter, National Federation of the Blind of > Florida > Associate of Arts in Information Technology Candidate - Broward College > Click here to email the Florida Association of Blind Students. > > Social Media Links > Check us out on Facebook > > Follow us on TikTok > Follow us on Instagram > "The National Federation of the Blind 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 have the life you want; blindness is not > what holds > you back." > -National Federation of the Blind One-Minute Message > > > > On Mon, Feb 17, 2025 at 8:00 AM FABS Secretary > wrote: > >> Good day everyone >> I would like to remind you all to join us this Thursday for a very >> informative meeting with the Florida Association of Blind Students. Here, >> we will recap what happened while at Washington Seminar, discuss a few >> important Legislative Alerts, and information about the Kenneth Jerningian >> Scholarship, among other various topics. We hope to see you all on Thursday! >> Link: >> https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/96868427038?pwd=uGjKVEVLDm0bKblkcYTpmqXw1bXSZX.1 >> >> Have a great start to your week! >> Elijah Grant >> Secretary - Florida Association of Blind Students >> Treasurer - Greater Broward Chapter, National Federation of the Blind of >> Florida >> Associate of Arts in Information Technology Candidate - Broward College >> Click here to email the Florida Association of Blind Students. >> >> Social Media Links >> Check us out on Facebook >> >> Follow us on TikTok >> Follow us on Instagram >> "The National Federation of the Blind 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 have the life you want; blindness is not >> what holds >> you back." >> -National Federation of the Blind One-Minute Message >> >> From r.erikmitchell at yahoo.com Fri Feb 21 14:22:53 2025 From: r.erikmitchell at yahoo.com (R. Erik Mitchell) Date: Fri, 21 Feb 2025 06:22:53 -0800 Subject: [NABS-L] Remote classroom accommodations References: Message-ID: Good morning fellow travelers! It appears that I have had an obstacle on my college journey. Yesterday we were advised that due to students using artificial intelligence to cheat the online/remote class offerings going forward will be limited. I have a three part question for the national community: first Are there any accommodation recommendations that I need to request as a blind student in order to access the classroom remotely in the event that a class is not offered online? Next, what is the legal standard of accessibility, particularly in California, that educational institutions must meet with regard to classroom availability? Last, we were advised that instructors may be going back to Scantron and composition books in which case what accessibility accommodation request do I need to get in place with my Student Services counselor? Obviously I’m not going to be handwriting my essay assignments or filling in Scantron bubbles. From ammar.tarin at gmail.com Sun Feb 23 01:15:12 2025 From: ammar.tarin at gmail.com (Ammar Tarin) Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2025 18:15:12 -0700 Subject: [NABS-L] Less than 1 week left! Register for the Midwest Student Seminar by this Friday, February 28! Message-ID: Hey Students! We hope all of you are having a great start to your weekends! This is just a reminder that registration for the 2025 National Federation of the Blind Midwest Student Seminar, hosted by the National Association of Blind Students closes in less than 1 week on Friday, February 28! If you haven’t registered, what are you waiting for? Join us in the beautiful city of Chicago from March 7 – March 9! You can find all the registration info below! As blind students, we are encountering unique daily realities that often remain unrecognized or misunderstood by the people around us. The National Association of Blind Students is thrilled to invite you to Beyond the Handshake: Networking in the Windy City, where we will explore these shared experiences with students from across the region. It will be an engaging weekend packed with opportunities to challenge your perceptions and network with blind peers and mentors alike. Have you ever wondered how to navigate non-traditional career paths or build a professional network that truly understands your journey? This year’s theme focuses on career exploration and planning, offering practical insights and strategies to help you thrive. Together, we’ll dive into how to forge meaningful connections, open new doors, and envision possibilities beyond the expected. You can expect a mix of interactive activities, thought-provoking conversations, and riveting presentations—with topics covering everything from securing accommodations to finding identity as a blind person. This journey promises to empower you to identify new ways of living the life you want. Regardless of where you are in your education, we hope you will join us for a weekend of growth and fun from March 7 – March 9, 2025, at the Holiday Inn Chicago O’Hare Area: Holiday Inn Chicago O’Hare Area 5615 N. Cumberland Ave. Chicago, IL 60631 You can register at the following link: https://nabslink.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=5. Registration closes on February 28, 2025, so don’t delay! Rooms can be booked at the following website using the code “NFB”. www.hiohare.com. Alternatively, you can call (800-465-4329) or (773-693-5800) to reserve a room by phone using the group name “National Federation of the Blind Student”. Room rates for a room with two queen beds are $119.00 per night, and rooms must be booked by February 28, 2025. The National Association of Blind Students prioritizes its members' health and safety in all its events. For the safety of all participants, we ask that if you are feeling ill, please remain home. These policies are consistent with the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois’s policies on in-person gatherings. We are also committed to keeping all members safe. As such, we follow The Code of Conduct, which you can find here: https://nfb.org/about-us/history-and-governance/code-conduct, as well as the Youth Program protection Policy, which can be found here: https://nfb.org/about-us/history-and-governance/code-conduct/youth-program-participant-protection-policy, which is upheld by the National Federation of the Blind. Alternative Payment Options: We in no way want the $100 registration fee to prevent any student from attending. If the fee poses a challenge, please contact Joshua Olukanni at 678-313-1543 or joshuaolukanni2002 at gmail.com. Please note that both the $100 registration fee and a completed registration form must be submitted by February 28, 2025, to secure your spot for this transformative weekend. If you have any questions regarding hotel logistics, registration, or anything else about the Midwest Seminar, feel free to reach out to Joshua Olukanni at 678-313-1543 or joshuaolukanni2002 at gmail.com. We look forward to seeing all of you in Chicago! -- Respectfully, Ammar Ahmed Tarin Board Member, National Association of Blind Students Board Member, National Federation of the Blind of Arizona President, Arizona Association of Blind Students Ammar.tarin at gmail.com 480-580-7874 Live the life you want. From osoluozo at udel.edu Sun Feb 23 01:44:07 2025 From: osoluozo at udel.edu (Osoluchukwu Ozo-Onyali) Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2025 20:44:07 -0500 Subject: [NABS-L] REMINDER-Join Us for Our February DARE Call: Empowering Guide Dog Advocacy! Message-ID: *Hi Everyone*, We wanted to remind you about our upcoming February DARE Call hosted by the Advocacy Committee! The focus of this call will be Guide Dog Advocacy and Your Legal Rights. *Key discussion points will include:* - Knowing your legal rights as a guide dog handler - Navigating rideshare apps and public spaces - Everyday advocacy strategies We’re excited to welcome a guest speaker from Guiding Eyes, along with a rideshare driver who will share their experiences on promoting inclusivity. *Event Details:* - *Date*: Sunday, February 23rd - *Time*: 8:00 PM EST - *Zoom Link*: https://zoom.us/my/blindstudents Should you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Osolu Ozo-Onyali at osoluozo at udel.edu. Don't forget to add this event to your calendar. We look forward to an empowering discussion! Best regards, Your Advocacy Committee From nabs.president at gmail.com Sun Feb 23 22:26:42 2025 From: nabs.president at gmail.com (Lauren Altman National Student President) Date: Sun, 23 Feb 2025 17:26:42 -0500 Subject: [NABS-L] NABS March Town hall Next Sunday at 9:00 PM EST Message-ID: Need a break from the studying? Looking for something to light up your weekend? Come join us next Sunday, March 2nd, in our usual zoom room to learn about what we have been up to, what calls you can expect in the coming weeks, and how to get involved! Join us at 9:00 PM EST to hear about our committee updates as you pack your bags for Midwest Seminar! Here is a link to a google form where you can submit any questions you may have; they can be about NABS itself or anything blind student related. The form is anonymous with the option of including your name and contact information. This can be a great way to get multiple perspectives on a problem or help brainstorm ideas for self-advocacy. Feel free to submit as many questions as you would like! Form: https://forms.gle/67pAvT1cqTrBm95s8 NABS Zoom room Hope to see you all there! Lauren Chaya Altman President National Association of Blind Students Pronouns: she/her Email: nabs.president at gmail.com Phone: (973) 930-7473 From b.teta2005 at gmail.com Tue Feb 25 02:38:27 2025 From: b.teta2005 at gmail.com (Bella Teta) Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2025 21:38:27 -0500 Subject: [NABS-L] Research participants needed for non-verbal cue study Message-ID: See research opportunity below. Thank you. Sincerely, Bella Teta Title: Seeking Participants for Research Survey on Blind-Sighted Communication! We are a team of researchers from the University of Maryland exploring how non-verbal cues impact communication between blind and sighted individuals—both remotely and in person. Non-verbal cues, such as nodding heads or waving hands, are naturally involved in people’s interactions. However, the way these non-verbal cues are understood can vary widely, with blind and sighted individuals may interpret the same hand gesture in different ways. This difference motivates our research, which aims to explore how communication between blind and sighted individuals may be influenced by nonverbal cues. If you meet the qualifications below, we’d love your insights! Who Can Participate? Blind individuals who have worked with sighted colleagues in the past three years or sighted individuals who have worked with blind colleagues in the past three years. All participants must be at least 18 years old. What’s Involved? A 25-minute online survey (50 multiple-choice questions, 10 open questions) A $10 USD e-gift card as a thank-you for your time Ready to Share Your Experience? Blind participants: Please click here ( https://umdsurvey.umd.edu/jfe/form/SV_bHGJpk4R9I5ZtKC) to begin. Sighted participants: Please click here ( https://umdsurvey.umd.edu/jfe/form/SV_0pj7v5hUMJwnD0O) for the sighted version of the survey. Your insights will help us develop better tools and strategies to support inclusive and effective communication between blind and sighted individuals. Please feel free to email Jiasheng at jsli [at] umd [dot] edu if you have any questions or concerns. Thank you for considering our study! Best regards Jiasheng Li Ph.D. Student Computer Science Department University of Maryland, College Park From tyler at tysdomain.com Wed Feb 26 03:44:31 2025 From: tyler at tysdomain.com (Ty Littlefield) Date: Tue, 25 Feb 2025 20:44:31 -0700 Subject: [NABS-L] Usability Analyst job posting: Looking for a strong NVDA user Message-ID: Hi all, I hope your week is off to a great start! I lead a team of screen reader users who test and track issues with AccessiBe products, and we're hiring for an experienced NVDA user to provide feedback. I've included an excerpt of the job description below. Usability Analysts test AccessiBe products to locate issues and make suggestions for improvement. Our team approaches accessibility testing from a variety of angles, including direct A to B testing of web pages running accessWidget, participation in user experience research, and consulting with internal and external stakeholders. You will work primarily with the directors of Usability Analysis, but will collaborate cross-functionally to support a variety of teams including Quality Assurance, Product Marketing, Design, and Service. This role is designed to enhance the experience of screen reader users and people with disabilities while using AccessiBe products by bringing lived experience and technical expertise to areas across the organization. To provide some context, we are not AccessiBe employees. Our team is a group of like-minded, professional screen reader users who seek to make the web more inclusive for everyone. The accessWidget, and other AccessiBe products are here to stay, and our approach is to deliver thoughtful, informed, and candid feedback to improve the experiences of screen reader users on websites that run AccessiBe products. To that end, we are contracted with AccessiBe to provide consulting services. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to Shane Lowe and I, the Directors of this team by emailing us directly at TestersUS at AccessiBe.com. Please access the full job description and application at the following link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdQWg54Taf4jXVCagKeGa9eR0LJfHnzn28BRCV0fUMAL4Z7mA/viewform?usp=sharing We look forward to hearing from you! My best, -- *Ty Littlefield (he/him/his)* * From Bytes to Bites | * Linkedin | * Github From ammar.tarin at gmail.com Wed Feb 26 23:23:30 2025 From: ammar.tarin at gmail.com (Ammar Tarin) Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2025 16:23:30 -0700 Subject: [NABS-L] Only 2 days left to register for the Midwest Student Seminar! Message-ID: Hey Students! There are only 2 days left to register for the 2025 National Federation of the Blind Midwest Student Seminar, hosted by the National Association of Blind Students! Here is some information about one of our professional Volunteers Logan Stenzel! Logan's favorite song is "Minnesota" by Lil Yachty. A fun fact about Logan is he has a college degree with a double major, but no high school diploma! Logan graduated from the University of Minnesota in three and a half years with a double major in Finance and Computer Science. During his college years, Logan actively participated in the Minnesota Association of Blind Students (MNABS) and the National Association of Blind Students (NABS), where he held various leadership positions that honed his leadership and professional development skills. Since high school, Logan has been fascinated by the intersection of Finance and Computer Science and has developed several automated trading strategies. During his sophomore year, through a combination of his academic achievements, personal programming projects, experiences in NABS, and networking abilities, Logan secured an internship at Apple as an Accessibility Quality Assurance Automation Engineer. The following summer, he transitioned to an Accessibility Software Engineer role at Apple. Upon graduating in January 2024, Logan rejoined Apple and has since been a UI Frameworks Engineer, working on the Apple Vision Pro for the past year. Throughout his tenure at Apple, Logan has maintained his interest in finance and continues to refine his trading strategies to accelerate his path towards financial independence. If you want to hear more from Logan, or any of our other amazing professional volunteers, don’t delay, and register for the Midwest Student Seminar before this Friday, February 28! You can find all the registration info below! As blind students, we are encountering unique daily realities that often remain unrecognized or misunderstood by the people around us. The National Association of Blind Students is thrilled to invite you to Beyond the Handshake: Networking in the Windy City, where we will explore these shared experiences with students from across the region. It will be an engaging weekend packed with opportunities to challenge your perceptions and network with blind peers and mentors alike. Have you ever wondered how to navigate non-traditional career paths or build a professional network that truly understands your journey? This year’s theme focuses on career exploration and planning, offering practical insights and strategies to help you thrive. Together, we’ll dive into how to forge meaningful connections, open new doors, and envision possibilities beyond the expected. You can expect a mix of interactive activities, thought-provoking conversations, and riveting presentations—with topics covering everything from securing accommodations to finding identity as a blind person. This journey promises to empower you to identify new ways of living the life you want. Regardless of where you are in your education, we hope you will join us for a weekend of growth and fun from March 7 – March 9, 2025, at the Holiday Inn Chicago O’Hare Area: Holiday Inn Chicago O’Hare Area 5615 N. Cumberland Ave. Chicago, IL 60631 You can register at the following link: https://nabslink.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=5. Registration closes on February 28, 2025, so don’t delay! Rooms can be booked at the following website using the code “NFB”. www.hiohare.com. Alternatively, you can call (800-465-4329) or (773-693-5800) to reserve a room by phone using the group name “National Federation of the Blind Student”. Room rates for a room with two queen beds are $119.00 per night, and rooms must be booked by February 28, 2025. The National Association of Blind Students prioritizes its members' health and safety in all its events. For the safety of all participants, we ask that if you are feeling ill, please remain home. These policies are consistent with the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois’s policies on in-person gatherings. We are also committed to keeping all members safe. As such, we follow The Code of Conduct, which you can find here: https://nfb.org/about-us/history-and-governance/code-conduct, as well as the Youth Program protection Policy, which can be found here: https://nfb.org/about-us/history-and-governance/code-conduct/youth-program-participant-protection-policy, which is upheld by the National Federation of the Blind. Alternative Payment Options: We in no way want the $100 registration fee to prevent any student from attending. If the fee poses a challenge, please contact Joshua Olukanni at 678-313-1543 or joshuaolukanni2002 at gmail.com. Please note that both the $100 registration fee and a completed registration form must be submitted by February 28, 2025, to secure your spot for this transformative weekend. If you have any questions regarding hotel logistics, registration, or anything else about the Midwest Seminar, feel free to reach out to Joshua Olukanni at 678-313-1543 or joshuaolukanni2002 at gmail.com. We look forward to seeing all of you in Chicago! -- Respectfully, Ammar Ahmed Tarin Board Member, National Association of Blind Students Board Member, National Federation of the Blind of Arizona President, Arizona Association of Blind Students Ammar.tarin at gmail.com 480-580-7874 Live the life you want. From ammar.tarin at gmail.com Fri Feb 28 19:09:09 2025 From: ammar.tarin at gmail.com (Ammar Tarin) Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2025 12:09:09 -0700 Subject: [NABS-L] Don't delay! Last day to register for the Midwest Student Seminar is today! Message-ID: Hey Students! It is officially the last day to register for the 2025 National Federation of the Blind Midwest Student Seminar, hosted by the National Association of Blind Students! Here is some information about 2 of our professional Volunteers Jessica Beecham and QuestionATL! Jessica’s favorite song is I’m a Problem by Gramatic and Red Man! Jessica Beecham is a blind entrepreneur in the beautiful Mile High city of Denver, Colorado. Originally from Tennessee, she developed her entrepreneurial skills as a teenager because it was difficult to find a traditional job that was willing to make accommodations for a blind person seeking part time employment. She made her spending money listing and selling items on EBay for commission, babysitting, and doing other odd jobs. Jessica received her B.S, in therapeutic recreation and her M.S. in exercise Science from Middle Tn State University. She has worked as a recreational therapist, a community organizer, director of a health and wellness company, and she now operates a cafeteria, coffee shop, and high volume vending through the Business Enterprise Program on Buckley Space Force Base. She also provides Pre Employment Transition Services and marketing and fundraising services as a contractor. In her free time she enjoys the beautiful Colorado outdoors, yoga, running, reading, and making memories with friends and family. Jessica is passionate about giving back to the blind community and serves as president of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado and as a member of the board of directors of the National Federation of the Blind. QuestionATL is a blind Rap Artist & Producer. He is self-taught on several instruments, began freestyling at 5 and making beats at 11. He has won over 20 beat battles and produced for several artists. QuestionATL released his debut project, The Dream, on all streaming platforms as well as collab projects with other Artists & Producers. He is a member of the Recording Academy Atlanta Chapter and was featured in an article by the Recording Academy on Grammy.com. QuestionATL is a founding member of the musical professionals coalition RAMP’D, Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities and is a member of the non-profit Soulfood Cypher that teaches youth communication through the art of freestyle rap. He leads a collective of other blind Artists & Producers from the US, Canada & UK named Blind and Famous who collaborate often and have released several projects together. If you want to hear more from Jessica, QuestionATL, or any of our other amazing professional volunteers, don’t delay, and register for the Midwest Student Seminar today by 11:59 PM! Here is the Registration link: https://nabslink.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=5. You can find more info about the seminar below! As blind students, we are encountering unique daily realities that often remain unrecognized or misunderstood by the people around us. The National Association of Blind Students is thrilled to invite you to Beyond the Handshake: Networking in the Windy City, where we will explore these shared experiences with students from across the region. It will be an engaging weekend packed with opportunities to challenge your perceptions and network with blind peers and mentors alike. Have you ever wondered how to navigate non-traditional career paths or build a professional network that truly understands your journey? This year’s theme focuses on career exploration and planning, offering practical insights and strategies to help you thrive. Together, we’ll dive into how to forge meaningful connections, open new doors, and envision possibilities beyond the expected. You can expect a mix of interactive activities, thought-provoking conversations, and riveting presentations—with topics covering everything from securing accommodations to finding identity as a blind person. This journey promises to empower you to identify new ways of living the life you want. Regardless of where you are in your education, we hope you will join us for a weekend of growth and fun from March 7 – March 9, 2025, at the Holiday Inn Chicago O’Hare Area: Holiday Inn Chicago O’Hare Area 5615 N. Cumberland Ave. Chicago, IL 60631 You can register at the following link: https://nabslink.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=5. Registration closes on February 28, 2025, so don’t delay! Rooms can be booked at the following website using the code “NFB”. www.hiohare.com. Alternatively, you can call (800-465-4329) or (773-693-5800) to reserve a room by phone using the group name “National Federation of the Blind Student”. Room rates for a room with two queen beds are $119.00 per night, and rooms must be booked by February 28, 2025. The National Association of Blind Students prioritizes its members' health and safety in all its events. For the safety of all participants, we ask that if you are feeling ill, please remain home. These policies are consistent with the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois’s policies on in-person gatherings. We are also committed to keeping all members safe. As such, we follow The Code of Conduct, which you can find here: https://nfb.org/about-us/history-and-governance/code-conduct, as well as the Youth Program protection Policy, which can be found here: https://nfb.org/about-us/history-and-governance/code-conduct/youth-program-participant-protection-policy, which is upheld by the National Federation of the Blind. Alternative Payment Options: We in no way want the $100 registration fee to prevent any student from attending. If the fee poses a challenge, please contact Joshua Olukanni at 678-313-1543 or joshuaolukanni2002 at gmail.com. Please note that both the $100 registration fee and a completed registration form must be submitted by February 28, 2025, to secure your spot for this transformative weekend. If you have any questions regarding hotel logistics, registration, or anything else about the Midwest Seminar, feel free to reach out to Joshua Olukanni at 678-313-1543 or joshuaolukanni2002 at gmail.com. We look forward to seeing all of you in Chicago! -- Respectfully, Ammar Ahmed Tarin Board Member, National Association of Blind Students Board Member, National Federation of the Blind of Arizona President, Arizona Association of Blind Students Ammar.tarin at gmail.com 480-580-7874 Live the life you want.