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<header>The National Association of Blind Students
A proud division of the National Federation of the Blind.
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<ul>
<li><a href="#nationalUpdates">Updates from the national office</a></li>
<li><a href="#settlement">University settlement agreement</a></li>
<li><a href="#meetingMinutes">NABS Board Meeting Minutes</a></li>
<li><a href="#committeeUpdates">NABS Committee Updates</a></li>
<li><a href="#blogPost">This Months Blog Post</a></li>
<li><a href="#stateUpdates">Student division updates by state</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="nationalUpdates">From your national Office</h2>
<h3>Accessibility and Self-Advocacy in Higher Education</h3>
<p>Equal access on campus remains a priority area for the NFB. Too often, blind students are dissuaded from the classes and degrees of their choice because campuses do not have procedures in place to provide accessible textbooks, internships, learning management systems, and other electronic information technology. Self-advocacy is often a critical skill for success in higher education. Take time now to review the information below and forward the resources to other blind students and campus administrators.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://nfb.org/self-advocacy-higher-education">Self-Advocacy in Higher Education Toolkit Version 2.0</a></li>
<li><a href="https://nfb.org/high-stakes-testing-self-advocacy-toolkit">High-Stakes Testing Self-Advocacy Toolkit</a></li>
<li><a href="https://nfb.org/higher-education-accessibility-online-resource-center">Higher Education Accessibility Online Resource Center</a></li>
</ul>
Remember also to complete the NFB’s Digital Technology and Accessibility in Schools survey every semester—your feedback helps to inform and guide the NFB’s advocacy and legal agendas. You can locate the survey <a href="http://nfb.org/digital-tech-access">Here</a>
For more information, contact Valerie Yingling, paralegal, at 410-659-9314, extension 2440, or <a href="mailto:vyingling@nfb.org">vyingling@nfb.org</a>
</p>
<h3 id="settlement">National Federation of the Blind and Blind Student Reach Agreement with Wichita State University</h3>
<p>Wichita, Kansas (August 16, 2016): The National Federation of the Blind and Emily Schlenker, a blind student, have entered into an agreement with Wichita State University (WSU) to improve opportunities for blind students attending WSU.
</p>
<p>The agreement resolves concerns raised by Ms. Schlenker with faculty and staff at the university and with the National Federation of the Blind. Under the agreement, WSU will take steps voluntarily over the next several years to improve the educational experience of blind students, ensuring they receive the opportunities provided to all students. Some steps being taken by WSU, with the assistance of the National Federation of the Blind, include:
</p>
<ul>
<li>hiring or designating an accessibility coordinator</li>
<li>conducting a technology audit and, based on the audit results, developing a plan to make student-facing electronic and information technology used by WSU accessible to blind students</li>
<li>making WSU?s website and web interface to student and library information systems, as well as online forms, accessible to blind students</li>
<li>developing and implementing a plan to provide accessible instructional materials, including textbooks, course materials, and tactile graphics, to blind students at the same time that these materials are made available to other students</li>
<li>having WSU staff and faculty respond in a timely way to accommodation requests made by blind students</li>
<li>reviewing and revising, if needed, WSU?s policies and procedures for accommodating students with disabilities and for processing and resolving grievances brought by blind students</li>
<li>having training of all Instructors and appropriate administrators as determined by WSU on WSU?s policies for accommodating blind students, as well as training for such students on their rights and the procedures available to them to enforce those rights</li>
</ul>
<h4>Mark A. Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said:</h4>
<blockquote>"We commend Wichita State University for acting quickly to resolve the concerns that Ms. Schlenker and the National Federation of the Blind raised, and for WSU's willingness to adopt a comprehensive, systemic approach to ensuring that all of its students, including the blind, receive an equal education. The National Federation of the Blind looks forward to providing our experience and expertise to WSU as this institution's dedicated faculty and staff work toward a fully inclusive educational environment."</blockquote>
<h4>Tony Vizzini, Provost and Senior Vice President of WSU said:</h4>
<blockquote>"We want every student of ours to be successful and contribute to society. WSU appreciates Ms. Schlenker raising these concerns on behalf of herself and similarly situated students. We are excited to be working with the National Federation of the Blind to enhance the educational experiences of our blind and visually impaired students."</blockquote>
<p><strong>Direct all questions or comments to:</strong></p>
<p>Chris Danielsen</p>
<p>Director of Public Relations, National Federation of the Blind</p>
<p>(410) 659-9314, extension 2330</p>
<p>(410) 262-1281 (Cell)</p>
<p><a href="mailto:cdanielsen@nfb.org">cdanielsen@nfb.org</a></p>
<br><br>
<p>Tony Vizzini</p>
<p>Provost and Senior Vice President, Wichita State University</p>
<p>316-978-3010</p>
<p><a href="mailto:Tony.vizzini@wichita.edu">Tony.vizzini@wichita.edu</a></p>
<br><br>
<h2 id="meetingMinutes>NABS Board Meeting Minutes</h2>
<p>
State Presidents Call
Meeting Notes
Sunday, August 28, 2016
Introduction:
Kathryn Webster, President
Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions, concerns, brainstorming, etc.
Building relationships with our affiliate leaders, guest speaker Candice Chapman, past 1st VP of NABS
Respect is key
We have elected affiliate leaders for a reason and should work with them since we are a chapter of the affiliate. NABS is a resource, a support system, but ultimately we are working to strengthen the NFB and build leaders.
Mentorship: our organization is built off of mentoring, one leader mentors someone, who eventually becomes a leader/ mentor themselves. The organic and natural relationships that come with mentoring helps keep our people-based organization running the way it should be running.
Communication: invite affiliate presidents to conference calls. Keep affiliate leadership in the loop after important decisions are made. Reach out to them for advice or guidance on projects. Get approval for organizational changes, etc.
Cody suggests sharing student meeting minutes with affiliate president as a way to keep president in the loop
Feel free to contact Candice at Chapman.candicel@gmail.com
State Liaison Program
Each NABS Board member has six to seven states to support, mentor, guide, and work with. You should be receiving information from your liaison every month. If you are not, please reach out to them individually first, and then Kathryn if you have no luck. They are here to help you in whatever way you need.
NABS Rep Program
NABS will pay for airfare for a selected NABS Rep to travel to affiliate/student events. Requests are asked to be submitted 8 weeks prior to the scheduled event. We ask that affiliates pay for registration, banquet, and hotel costs for the NABS Rep. These representatives are here to plan before, during and after the events. Less focus on price efficiency, more on need and tailored skills.
Committees:
Fundraising: Luke Schwinck, Syed Rizvi, and Shannon Cantan
Legislative: Michael Ausbun and Vee Gaspa
Communication: Bryan Duarte and Tarik Williams
Membership: Bre Brown and Chris Nusbaum
Washington Seminar this year
We are hoping to sponsor students to attend Wash Sem this year. Please send recommendations of students who we should thoroughly consider to Kathryn.
50th anniversary committee
In late November, Kathryn and Syed will form a 50th anniversary committee since next year will be our big year! Please let Kathryn know if you, or anyone you know, would be interested in serving on this committee.
Recruiting students in a big state
Create membership directories. Make a list of all colleges and universities with contact info for DSS offices. Make brochures and fliers, promote scholarship app or big events, and send to all offices with your contact information. Have guest speakers, invite them to an intriguing call, and make people have an incentive to join!
</p>
<h2 id="committeeUpdates>NABS Committee Updates</h2>
<h3>Communications committee</h3>
<p> Bryan Duarte serves as the chair of the Communications committee and along with his co-chair Tarik Williams and the rest of the committee they are working hard to bring you interesting and useful information each month. This year it is the goal of the communications committee to support each of the NABS committees through social media exposure and calls to action. Every month we will be posting three awesome blog posts on the 1st, 15th, and 30th of the month. The 1st will be a spotlight on technology, the 15th will be a personal success story, testimony, or experience by an individual, and the 30th will be our important news letter, NABS Notes. Thanks to one of our committee members Shannon Cantan our facebook page has jumped from right around 400 followers, to over 900 followers in one week. Thank you Shannon for your consistent twitter and Facebook posts. If you have not done so yet please follow us on twitter and Facebook
</p>
<h3>Fundraising Committee</h3>
<p>
NABS Fundraising Committee Minutes
Aug 21, 2016
Attendance:
Luke Schwinck, Chair
Shannon Canton, Co-chair
Syed Rizvi, Co-chair
Kathryn Webster, NABS president
Erin Daring
Kristine Vu
Jason Polansky
Elizabeth Sheeler
Harry Staley
Bryan Duarte
Somiah
Meeting called to order at 9:06 PM
Luke announced that Bryan Duarte is now chair of communications committee and Tarik Williams has also been reassigned to communications
Shannon Canton is now co-chair of development
Kristine and Harry introduced themselves
Anna Givens is not present, but has started helping out with Greek Blitz
Development committee is headed by Shannon: Reaching out to Greek organization corporate, Lions Clubs, and other organizations, and filling out grants
Washington seminar committee is headed by Luke: Looking for auction items and planning Nabs Cafe
National convention committee is headed by Syed: Starting groundwork for large national convention fundraisers
Luke explained Greek Blitz fundraiser, hoping for each committee member to raise $200.
Restaurant fundraisers were explained: Forms are typically on line
We want to sponsor 30 students to attend Washington Seminar, approaching local businesses for donations
Goal of raising at least $4,000 for national convention
Luke has contacted Greek organizations at three universities, no responses
Syed has contacted many organizations, received no responses
Erin and I have had difficulty finding contact information for Greek organizations
Fraternities are more likely to donate if there is a fun event
Kathryn and Bryan suggested reaching out to affiliates to donate auction items and money for gift cards
Luke mentioned that meet the blind month is in October and suggested a white cane relay event in which students would wear sleep shades and learn to use a cane while walking along a course
He also suggested a dining in the dark event in which students would wear sleep shades and learn what it's like to eat under sleep shades
Harry suggested conducting fundraisers with affiliates in which half would go to Nabs and half would go to Bell Academy
Kathryn added that the Bell students would eventually be involved in Nabs and this would facilitate relationships with affiliates
All members agreed that partnering with affiliates to split profits is a good idea
Canes and sleep shades would be donated
We would reach out to campus involvement, $100 per team
GOALS TO BE COMPLETED BY NEXT MEETING
1. Each committee member will lock down a meet the blind month event location and begin gathering volunteers and needed supplies
2. Each committee member will host one restaurant fundraiser
3. Subcommittees will meet
4. Each member will finalize one donation from a greek organization
We would also like to get set up with Amazon Smile
We will also start a fantasy football league
Next meeting will be September 18, 2016 at 8pm central time
Meeting adjourned at 10:22 PM
</p>
<h3>Legislative Committee</h3>
<p>
1. Call to order: 9:05pm eastern
Attendance:
Michael Ausbun, Nevada Nevada;
Vee Gaspa, New Jersey Virginia;
Nathan Clark, Maryland Maryland;
Emma Mitchell, DC Pennsylvania;
Elizabeth Mohnke, Michigan Michigan;
Shannon Cantan, Hawaii Hawaii;
Harry Stayley, Texas Texas;
Shikha Desai, Georgia Georgia;
Kenia Flores, South Carolina North Carolina;
Katherine Bradford, California oregon;
LaKeria Taylor, Louisiana Louisiana;
Elif Emir Oksu, Ohio Ohio;
Jameyanne Fuller, Massachusetts New Hampshire;
Helga Schreiber, Florida Florida;
Kathryn Webster North Carolina Connecticut
2. Phone conference etiquette
If you are not seeking the floor or not talking, mute yourself at all times
If you want to seek the floor, please announce your first or last name and wait to be recognized by the committee chair/conference call host
3. Introductions
4. Goals and expectations
* Explanation of the committee roles
Working to create a student version of the national legislative director role. This means: You are the go-to person on legislative issues at the student level within particular states. Communication will be to all of you as national student leaders in terms of legislation.
* AIM-HEA
Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education Act: Rho of Tennessee is sponsoring AIM-HEA in the House
Accessibility guidelines for procurement of reasonable accommodations or equivalent course materials.
* Collection of letters of accessibility or inaccessibility.
All students in respective states to collect letters regarding inaccessibility in the classroom
Outlining instances in which they have beneficial experiences if a certain school is doing a good job
* Letters of university support
We are in need of letters of support of AIM-HEA, whether they support the voluntary guidelines or recognize that they need guidance in terms of accessibility because they recognize they could do better.
Goal: a letter from a university in each state.
* Rallies and press releases
Gather students to rally to demonstrate that we are together for a universal social issue because it is unjust and not fair to blind students across our nation.
More information to come regarding this new initiative.
* Video testimonials
Create a hashtag
Tape videos of individuals explaining accessibility or inaccessibility through social media.
* Committee membership totals
1 point person in every affiliate (minimum of 52 students on committee)
The more the merrier.
* Communication, communication, communication
Once we set up a mail group, constant communication must occur through this outlet so we are not covering ground twice or missing ground by miscommunication.
* Taking the initiative
Be creative,
Be a leader,
Generate ideas and act on them once you let Chairperson Ausbun know of these
Do not dive into a new initiative without talking to Chairperson or Co-Chairperson for approval.
5. Co-Chair’s prospective
Vee: wants to see a huge turnout at Washington Seminar with more students than we’ve ever had.
Dates: January 30-February 2, 2017
More goals:
1. Get resolutions passed within Student Government to get the greater population of students to act on the inequality of access to course materials.
2. Coordinate regional seminars to replicate the Connecticut Legislative Leadership Workshop last November.
6. Questions from the team
Q: how can we strategically get 15 letters from states with weaker student divisions or no division at all?
A: reach out beyond the division, find new students, and recruit new members while doing so. Use the disability services within universities to identify new folks. In cases of highschool students, interact with entrence applications; often, these applications are equally as inaccessible as the matirials found in educational settings.
Q: Where do we send letters once collected?
A: Send to Kathryn and Michael: <a href="mailto:nabs.president@gmail.com">nabs.president@gmail.com</a> <a href="mailto:maubsun@nevada.unr.edu">maubsun@nevada.unr.edu</a>
Q: Who should these letters be addressed to?
A: Dear State Delegation (i.e. Dear Massachusetts Congressional Delegation
Q: Can we have a letter template?
A: Chairperson Ausbun will distribute his letter to entire committee.
Q: What are the different letters?
A: Letters from individual students to their state delegation and then university support letters in favor of AIM-HEA
Q: Mock meeting with university presidents?
A: Ausbun and Webster can do a mock meeting. This meeting will be recorded and distributed to the committee and students.
Q: Is there any benefit of having support from other university positions?
A: Ultimately, we need the president to write a letter. By using support from others within the internals of the college as leverage, that may help a great deal.
7. Adjournment: 9:55pm eastern
</p>
<h3>Membership Committee</h3>
<p>
There are no current updates from the membership committee.
</p>
<h2 id="blogPost">August Blog Post</h2>
<p>
Alosha Moore is the Vice President of the Kansas Association of Blind Students. Moore was born in Russia, raised in Kansas, and now exploring the east coast. He currently attends law school at Washburn University. In his free time, Alosha spends time with family and enjoys horseback riding, but that’s not all. Join us in reading this month’s blog on training horses.
<a href="http://nabslink.org/content/anyone-can-handle-horses">Read more</a>
</p>
<h2 id="stateUpdates">Student division updates by state</h2>
<h3>Arizona></h3>
<p>
Greetings from the Arizona student division! We are ramping up for our state convention which will be taking place September 8 through the 11. AABS has planned an interactive and fun adgenda for the students meeting and looks forward to see our turn out. the current board consisting of Isaac (president), Bryan (Secretary), Jon Treasurer), Brittany (board 1), and McDaniel (board 2) will be holding elections for the upcoming year. We would like to thank Isaac for stepping up and taking the raigns of the student division when it was needed. Arizona was able to hold their first ever student division seminar which was focused on transition. The 2015 2016 board worked hard together to make the seminar a succes and to build relationships. We cannot wait to see what the next Arizona Association of Blind Students board has in store. Lets go build a federation!
</p>
<h3>California</h3>
<p>
California's student division is gearing up for convention. We are proud to announce our membership is growing and strengthening. We will be electing several new board members at our convention in October, while we are sad to see some wonderfully valuable and loyal board members move on to other great endeavors, we are excited to be welcoming new ones.
This year's California convention will be held October 21-23 at the Embassy Suites in El Segundo, CA. The CABS board meeting will be held on Friday and we are planning a pizza party social followed by our Annual Board Meeting. We will also be hosting two tables at convention's "round table discussion session" where students can gain valuable information through peer discussions facilitated by two of our amazing board members.
We are very excited to be welcoming our NABS rep Bryan Duarte this year at convention. We look forward to his insights, fabulous energy, and great contributions.
CABS will also soon be unveiling a new website at www.nfbcal.org/cabs. We also now have our own Facebook page along with our pre-existing Facebook groups.
It is a very exciting time for CABS and we hope to continue our energetic momentum into 2017 with even more growth and development.
From the California Student Division as a whole, we wish all our fellow students around the country a successful and wonderful new school term.
</p>
<h3>Colorado</h3>
<p>
As school is starting back up, we are planning to send out information to the schools in the area about a get together for lunch in September. Hopefully, we get to meet some new students, and get together with friends. We've started working on getting materials put together for Colorado high school students who are getting ready to transition to college. We are working on a high school database as well as general high school outreach efforts. We are starting to work with more teachers of blind students to help them better prepare their students for life beyond high school as well. We are still selling energy shots locally, and have started collecting money for our football pool which starts on September 7. We've been making an effort to try to attend various NFB chapters in Colorado, in order to be better connected with them, as well as reach out to local students at the same time. Among everything else, we are starting to plan for our convention at the end of October.
</p>
<h3>DC</h3>
<p>
NFB of DC State Convention and first ever Student Scholarship!
The NFB of DC state convention will be held October 12-15 in Washington DC.
At this convention we will be giving away our first ever student scholarship to any student living in DC, or attending school in the area. To fill out an application <a href="https://goo.gl/forms/2okuIHqJa4pxjA6h1">complete the form</a> If you have any questions contact our scholarship chair Conchita Hernandez <a href="mailto:hernandezlegorreta@gmail.com">hernandezlegorreta@gmail.com</a>
</p>
<h3>Delaware</h3>
Delaware has not had an active student division for seven or so years now. NABS board member, Vee Gaspa will be going to the Delaware state convention this October as the NABS rep, and is eager to start a future heavily active student division. More amazing things to come from Delaware in the coming months, stay tuned.
</p>
<h3>Massachusetts</h3>
<p>
The Massachusetts Association of blind students had a very successful month in July and end of the semester. Massachusetts had for national scholarship winners at national convention this year, as well as two Jernigan Fund Award recipients. Massachusetts have nine students attend the national convention in total. MASSABS is looking forward to the fall semester and toward more growth in our division this year. We are looking forward to our upcoming annual fall social this October, where we will be celebrating the beginning of the new school year as well as Meet The Blind Month.
Mass abs is also both sad and excited to announce that President Syed Rizvi will be stepping down and leaving us to attend the university of Austin Texas this fall. We are sad to see Syed leaving us, but we are excited and proud of his achievements in the past year, and look forward to working with him as our liaison for the National Association of Blind Students. Current first vice president Precious Perez will be stepping up to replace President Rizvi.
</p>
<h3>New Jersey</h3>
<p>
NJABS is working on a fundraiser/recruiting barbeque set to take place in mid-September. We are hoping to raise money, and pull in some new members before state convention. We have also had a slight change in leadership. Do to some personal reasons board member, Jeremy Capati has stepped down, and Anthony Lanzilotti has taken his place. With the new change with us we are ready to continue to build the Federation, and live the lives we want!
</p>
<h3>North Carolina</h3>
<p>
The North Carolina Association of Blind Students (NCABS) is welcoming many new members a month before our annual NFB of NC State Convention. This year, we are excited to welcome Scott LaBarre as our National Representative on September 16 in Charlotte, North Carolina. With our annual gathering taking place in the Queen’s City, we are ready to socialize, reenergize, and collaborate for what will be a successful State Convention. In addition to our annual business meeting and luncheon, we plan on having a creative fundraiser and social event. It is always our goal to congratulate our scholarship recipient by showing them what our Federation family stands for and works toward. Stay tuned for the welcoming of new leaders in next month’s update.
</p>
<h3>Virginia</h3>
<p>
Greetings from Virginia! In November we will be having our state convention 11 through the 13. We will also be selling cookies and shot glasses at our table in the exhibit hall. We look forward to seeing you there!
</p>
<h3>wisconsin</h3>
The wisconsin student division has a new board and is excited to get started in their movement. The current work is focused on fundraising and membership recruitment. As they work to develop their leadership board they will be meeting regularly to get wisconsin students off and running. Lets go build a federation!
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