[ND-Talk] FW: Richard Early published in The Braille Monitor, december 2019
Sherry Shirek
sherrybeth7 at gmail.com
Sun Dec 1 17:58:45 UTC 2019
Seasons Greetings!
If you have not already read the December issue of the Braille Monitor, then
you have not read the published article "Always Early Find your People" by
our very own Richard Early!
Congratulations Richard and thank you for your inspiration and leadership!
Happy holidays to all of our friends and federation family!
With love, hope and determination! Sherry Shirek
Sherry E. Shirek, Secretary
National Federation of the Blind of North Dakota
Voice/text 701-781-3055
Email sherrybeth7 at gmail.com
www.nfbnd.org
With love, hope & determination, we change dreams into reality
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 live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back
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-----Original Message-----
From: brl-monitor-bounces at nfbcal.org <brl-monitor-bounces at nfbcal.org> On
Behalf Of Brian Buhrow
Sent: Wednesday, November 27, 2019 10:44 PM
To: brl-monitor at nfbcal.org
Subject: [Brl-monitor] The Braille Monitor, december 2019
BRAILLE MONITOR
Vol. 62, No. 11 December 2019
Gary Wunder, Editor
Distributed by email, in inkprint, in Braille, and on USB flash
drive, by the
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
Mark Riccobono, President
telephone: 410-659-9314
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National Federation of the Blind
200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place Baltimore, Maryland
21230-4998
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 LIVE THE LIFE YOU WANT;
BLINDNESS IS NOT WHAT HOLDS YOU BACK. THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
IS NOT AN ORGANIZATION SPEAKING FOR THE BLIND -- IT IS THE BLIND SPEAKING
FOR OURSELVES.
ISSN 0006-8829
(C) 2019 by the National Federation of the Blind
Each issue is recorded on a thumb drive (also called a memory stick
or USB flash drive). You can read this audio edition using a computer or a
National Library Service digital player. The NLS machine has two slots --
the familiar book-cartridge slot just above the retractable carrying handle
and a second slot located on the right side near the headphone jack. This
smaller slot is used to play thumb drives. Remove the protective rubber pad
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when you insert it again, reading should resume at the point you stopped.
You can transfer the recording of each issue from the thumb drive to
your computer or preserve it on the thumb drive. However, because thumb
drives can be used hundreds of times, we would appreciate their return in
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the drive when you return the device.
Vol. 62, No. 11
December 2019
Contents
Illustration: Making Our Presence Known during Meet the Blind Month
Convention Bulletin 2020
by John Berggren
A Giant in Federation History is Now at Rest
by Daniel Frye, Parnell Diggs, and Mark Riccobono
A Christmas Story for All Seasons
by Donald Capps
Celebrate the National Federation of the Blind
by Patty Chang
Cochlear Implant: A Brief Introduction and My Experience
by Chris Westbrook
Always Early: Find Your People
by Richard Early
Seeing that the Federal Communications Commission Ensures Accessible
Broadcasting for the Blind
by Everette Bacon
Dr. Jonathan Lazar Receives the Inaugural Rachel Olivero Accessibility
Innovation Award
by Hayleigh Moore
Social Security Facts for 2020
by Stephanie Flynt
The Journey
by Sean Malone
National Federation of the Blind 2020 Scholarship Program
The 2020 Blind Educator of the Year Award
by Robin House
The 2020 Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards
by James Gashel
Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship
by Tracy Soforenko
The 2020 Distinguished Educator of Blind Students
by Carla McQuillan
Reindeer Cheer
by Regina A. Root
Am I Really that Special?
by Cheryl Wade
Aurora Chapter Holds Successful Meet the Blind Luncheon
by Dale Holden and Curtis Chong
Message from Buna Dahal Regarding 2020 Washington Seminar Reservations
Division Elections and Convention Updates
Recipes
Monitor Miniatures
[PHOTO CAPTION: The official proclamation of White Cane Safety Day from the
Montgomery County Council]
[PHOTO CAPTION: Members of the Capital Chapter discuss the tools they use
for reading at the story time reading at Barnes and Noble.]
[PHOTO CAPTION: Carole reads a poem aloud during story time reading.]
[PHOTO CAPTION: Blindness information table at the Capital Chapter set up at
its Meet the Blind event at Barnes and Noble.]
Making our Presence Known during Meet the Blind Month
Every day we are ambassadors, taking a message of confidence and competence
to people who know little or nothing about being blind. But in October of
each year we make a special effort as we celebrate Meet the Blind Month. In
this issue we highlight two chapters that took the time to send us
photographs. Thank you to the Sligo Creek Chapter, which meets in Montgomery
and Prince George Counties in Maryland, and the Capital Chapter, which meets
in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
The Sligo Creek Chapter obtained a White Cane Safety Day proclamation from
the Montgomery County Council. In the Capital Chapter we see a Meet the
Blind Month Event held at Barnes and Noble, where the chapter did a story
time reading for young children. Both of these events demonstrate the value
of reaching out to tell our neighbors, one on one, that we are blind, but we
are just like you.
[PHOTO CAPTION: Hilton Americas-Houston Convention Center Hotel]
Convention Bulletin 2020
by John Berggren
From the Editor: John Berggren serves in many capacities for the
National Federation of the Blind, and what a wonderful mix of gentleness,
competence, patience, and decisiveness. In this article he writes in his
capacity as the chairman of convention organization and activities. Here is
his exciting news:
As hard as it may be to believe, in just a few short weeks the world
will celebrate the arrival of a new year. Many will gather to enjoy
fireworks, raise a toast to family and friends, and realize that they have
still not learned all the words to "Auld Lang Syne." Some of us will turn
our attention to the task of setting New Year's resolutions. Whether you
plan to eat more green vegetables or to visit the gym beyond the month of
January, there is one goal that must be on your list. Resolve to be in
Houston this July for the National Federation of the Blind's 2020 National
Convention.
It has been nearly fifty years since the largest gathering of the
organized blind has convened in Houston, Texas, and our return in 2020 will
be an event not to be missed. The Hilton Americas-Houston hotel (1600 Lamar
Street, Houston, TX 77010) will serve as our convention headquarters hotel.
Situated in the heart of downtown Houston across the street from the
beautiful twelve-acre Discovery Green park, the Hilton Americas is an ideal
location for our annual event. Ballrooms, breakout space, and sleeping rooms
are all stacked in the same tower housed on a single city block, simplifying
navigation and minimizing travel distances. In-room internet is
complimentary to all attendees as is access to the health club and swimming
pool on the 23[rd] floor. There is an array of dining options on the hotel's
lobby level (including a Starbucks for those of you requiring a caffeine
fix) and many more choices within easy walking distance from the Hilton's
front door.
The nightly rate at the Hilton Americas-Houston is $105 for singles,
doubles, triples, and quads. In addition, the sales tax rate is 8.25
percent, and the hotel occupancy tax rate is 17 percent. To book your room
for the 2020 convention, call 1-800-236-2905 after January 1. For each room,
the hotel will take a deposit of the first night's room rate and taxes and
will require a credit card or a personal check. If you use a credit card,
the deposit will be charged against your card immediately. If a reservation
is cancelled before Monday, June 1, 2020, half of the deposit will be
returned. Otherwise refunds will not be made.
We have also secured overflow space at the wonderful Marriott
Marquis Houston. The Marriott is only a three-block walk directly across
Discovery Green, or attendees can walk entirely indoors through the George
R. Brown convention center, connecting both hotels on the second level. You
will find many of the same amenities at the Marriott as well as a
Texas-shaped lazy river pool. The room rate at the Marriott Marquis is a
slightly higher $119 per night for singles, doubles, triples, and quads. To
book a room, call 1-877-688-4323 after January 1. The same deposit and
cancellation policies apply.
The 2020 convention of the National Federation of the Blind will be
a truly exciting and memorable event, with an unparalleled program and
rededication to the goals and work of our movement. Please note that the
convention dates, July 14 through July 19, are later than those originally
announced this past summer in Las Vegas. Preconvention seminars for parents
of blind children and other groups and set-up of the exhibit hall will take
place on Tuesday, July 14, and adjournment will be Sunday, July 19,
following the banquet. Convention registration and registration packet
pick-up will begin on Wednesday, July 15, and both Wednesday and Thursday
will be filled with meetings of divisions and committees, including Thursday
morning's annual meeting, open to all, of the Board of Directors of the
National Federation of the Blind. General convention sessions will begin on
Friday, July 17, and continue through the banquet on Sunday, July 19.
Remember that as usual we need door prizes from state affiliates,
local chapters, and individuals. Once again prizes should be small in size
but large in value. Cash, of course, is always appropriate and welcome. As a
rule, we ask that prizes of all kinds have a value of at least $25 and not
include alcohol. Drawings will occur steadily throughout the convention
sessions, and you can anticipate a grand prize of truly impressive
proportions to be drawn at the banquet. You may bring door prizes with you
to convention or send them in advance to the National Federation of the
Blind of Texas at 1600 E Highway 6, Suite 215, Alvin, TX 77511.
The best collection of exhibits featuring new technology; meetings
of our special interest groups, committees, and divisions; the most
stimulating and provocative program items of any meeting of the blind in the
world; the chance to renew friendships in our Federation family; and the
unparalleled opportunity to be where the real action is and where decisions
are being made -- all of these mean you will not want to miss being a part
of the 2020 National Convention. To assure yourself a room in the
headquarters hotel at convention rates, make your reservations early. We
plan to see you in Houston in July.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Donald Capps, August 30, 1928 - November 6, 2019]
A Giant in Federation History is Now at Rest
by Daniel Frye, Parnell Diggs, and Mark Riccobono
From the Editor: I suspect one would have to be fairly new to the
Federation if he or she didn't know the name Donald Capps or that Southern
gentleman's voice. Until I saw his name in the pages of the Braille Monitor
in the early 1970s, I had no idea that a blind person could be a vice
president at a major insurance company. Dr. Capps was living a life I
dreamed of living, not so much insurance, but excelling at something. I
hadn't yet committed myself to going beyond the dream, really embracing it
as a possibility, and staking my honor on the fact that it would happen. His
success made it clear to me that blind people could do something outside the
blindness field, rising to significant leadership and responsibility. I
might not have his talent, but it was clear to me that I had some of my own,
and his example suggested to me that there might be a career out there for
me if I would only believe and try.
One of the things I most admired about our longtime national first
vice president and president of the South Carolina affiliate was that he
didn't decide he was too busy to help his blind brothers and sisters. He
assumed leadership, but he took much more than a ceremonial title. He took
responsibility for growing his affiliate so that it now stands as one of the
largest in the country and has more chapters than any other state in the
nation. He did not say, "South Carolina is my kingdom. Let the national body
do the best it can for itself." He realized that the Federation must be
strong at the chapter and affiliate levels, and he knew that to exert
nationwide influence, we must be strong nationally as well. For this reason
he headed our national membership committee and traveled extensively
throughout the country to build the Federation.
Dan Frye hails from South Carolina, and like so many others from the
state, he gives tremendous credit to Dr. Capps for shaping his character and
helping when he was most in need. Dan attended the funeral for Dr. Capps at
the request of President Riccobono. Parnell Diggs wrote remarks for an issue
of Positive Note 1736, a weekly memo generated by the president of the
National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina. President Riccobono, of
course, wrote his own moving tribute. All three are printed here together in
loving memory of this most extraordinary man:
Dan Frye's Remarks
Donald Capps cared. He cared for me. He cared for the blindness
community: from the members of his local chapter, to the development of a
framework of services and opportunities for the blind of South Carolina, for
the championship of civil rights for the blind of America and for the
concerns of the blind across the world. He cared and served with an
old-world dignity that reflected a love and loyalty for the South, which was
his home. Donald Capps was powerful, pioneering, and progressive when called
to public service, but soft-spoken and charming when engaging with
individuals. Donald Capps lived through dramatically changing times, and he
demonstrated an extraordinary ability to evolve, remain current, and be
effective.
I want today, however, to publicly acknowledge and show gratitude to
Donald Capps, the man and leader, who took a personal interest in me -- an
interest, I think, which demonstrates the best of humanity. I came to South
Carolina upon the death of my parents and lived with my paternal
grandparents on a small tobacco farm in Horry County. My grandparents loved
me but had no real sense of what I could become as a blind person. Somehow,
Donald Capps found me, introduced me to the National Federation of the
Blind, and helped extricate me from an environment that would have limited
my opportunities. Dr. Capps knew that I came from the poorest of roots; he
saw that I never had to experience the disadvantages of poverty while
attending school as a student at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and
Blind. He quietly kept tabs on my academic progress, my social development,
and my ambition. When the time was right, he reached out to me, inviting me
to assume a young leadership rol!
e in the Federation. And by granting me that opportunity he taught me
humility, how to see things in shades of gray instead of in the black and
white of youthful exuberance, to understand the value of public service, to
undertake commitment through the lens of compassion and principle, and to
aspire to make a difference.
I was, on occasion, a tremendous disappointment to Dr. Capps, but he
was patient and unrelenting in his effort to guide me. He coached, cajoled,
mentored, and molded me. He helped me to become a well-rounded, fairly
polished, self-confident human being. Dr. Capps and his wife Betty regularly
had me to their home to teach me the skills of growing up to be a decent
person. You wouldn't necessarily think that our mutual membership in the
Federation would have imposed such an obligation on him, but it is often
said that we in the NFB are a family, and Dr. Capps exhibited this truth for
me in ways that will forever influence who I am, what I'll do, and who I may
become.
In the absence of a family able to help me flourish, this
influential man -- both gently and roughly -- stepped in and played a vital
role in my maturation. If he did this for me, I suspect that he did it for
thousands. To Dr. Capps's son and extended family, on behalf of the
blindness community and the members of the National Federation of the Blind,
thank you for sharing Dr. Capps with us.
Parnell Diggs' Remarks from Positive Note 1736
This week's spotlight falls on perhaps the most distinguished
Federation leader South Carolina has ever produced, Dr. Donald C. Capps. But
this is not to tell the story of his long life of ninety-one years in
sequence of events from start to finish. Instead, I will use this
opportunity to convey a few thoughts about Dr. Capps, the man in retrospect
in 2019.
Our dear friend absolutely, dearly loved the National Federation of
the Blind. It was so connected with his life that it could not be separated
from his being. He first came to the Federation in the mid-1950s when he was
in his twenties. He attended his first chapter meeting at about the age of
twenty-five and his first national convention at the age of twenty-seven.
He attended his last meeting in October of 2019. In recent years it
had been increasingly difficult for Dr. Capps to attend Federation meetings
due to a number of health issues. For him to get out of the house and get to
the Federation Center required tremendous exertion and effort on his part.
We now know that the October meeting was to be his last, as he passed away
some twenty-seven days later.
It was not always physically difficult for Dr. Capps to attend
meetings. At the age of twenty-seven, he and Mrs. Capps traveled
cross-country by car to attend the San Francisco convention in 1956. There
he met Dr. tenBroek (then president and founder of the NFB) and Kenneth
Jernigan, who would become one of Dr. Capps' best friends until Dr.
Jernigan's death in 1998. Within ten years of attending his first national
convention, Dr. Capps had begun working on initiatives that many of us now
take for granted. For example, the Federation Center was dedicated in 1961,
when Dr. Capps was thirty-three years old. He saw the need to improve
programs for the blind in South Carolina. The person who was running the
Division for the Blind, which was in the South Carolina Department of Public
Welfare, said "That young Don Capps had better watch his step." But our most
treasured advocate was not to be deterred. Along with his brother-in-law
Gene Rogers, Dr. Capps wrote the legislation crea!
ting the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, which was established in
May of 1966. At that time our leader was thirty-seven years old. Over the
next five decades he continued to work tirelessly on initiatives that would
improve the quality of life for blind people across the nation and around
the world. You do not have to be a longtime member of the Federation to know
of the dozens of bills enacted in South Carolina in which he played an
essential part.
Dr. Capps was about fifty years of age when we established what was
then Rocky Bottom Camp of the Blind (later Rocky Bottom Retreat and
Conference Center of the Blind). He was about fifty-five when, in his
wisdom, he was responsible for hiring a young aspiring professional, David
Houck, and these two gentlemen worked closely together for the next
thirty-six years.
I could easily work this into a book, but there will be other
opportunities to talk about the life of this most special of men, so I will
end my remarks by telling you one more thing that you should know about him.
He believed in young people and the importance of bringing youth into the
Federation. At the funeral, Dan Frye articulately shared memories of his own
childhood, having met Dr. Capps when Dan was about thirteen. While attending
a Columbia Chapter membership banquet in April of 1989, Dr. Capps was the
first person to approach me, shake my hand, and welcome me to the Federation
Center on that fateful evening. I was a twenty-year-old student at the
University of South Carolina, and this man (at the age of sixty) had already
enjoyed a successful career of nearly four decades at Colonial Life and
Accident Insurance Company. He had retired from Colonial Life just a few
years before. He was involved in the work of the Federation on a full-time
basis, spending many hours!
each day working to improve the quality of life of his blind brothers and
sisters. He never missed an opportunity to lead a blind person to the
Federation, but this was especially true when it came to young blind people.
There are Federation leaders in South Carolina and across the nation who
came to be part of the Federation after being recruited by Dr. Capps. He
will be remembered as one of the greatest chapter organizers and membership
recruiters that the Federation has ever known.
From the age of twenty-five to the age of ninety-one, Dr. Capps gave
every ounce of energy he could muster to the work of the National Federation
of the Blind. I hope that others will follow the example set by Donald Capps
on giving of our time, energy, and talent to this big program of work with
the blind. But the bar set by Dr. Capps is very high, since sixty-six years
of dedicated service is a long time to spend in the furtherance of any
cause. But from what I have learned from this beloved Federationist in my
thirty years of working with him, I think it would be safe to make the
following estimation. Dr. Capps would be pleased with those who commit to
work with the National Federation of the Blind if they would simply do their
fair share and then some.
Remarks from President Mark Riccobono
The National Federation of the Blind would like to express its
deepest appreciation and warmest sympathies to the friends and family of Dr.
Donald Capps. Dr. Capps touched the lives of so many, and his lifelong
contribution can never be adequately recounted for the blindness civil
rights movement of the United States. Dr. Capps provided stability,
foundational principles, and continuity for the rest of the world. He
generously shared his understanding and experience in order to spark the
development of movements organized by the blind in other nations. He served
with honor and distinction in so many ways, but he always did so with a
sense of purpose and humility. He is the only individual that served and
supported the first seven presidents of the National Federation of the
Blind.
I, as our eighth and current president, was mentored by Dr. Capps at
a critical time in my leadership development. This likely means that almost
all of the first hundred years of the National Federation of the Blind will
have been influenced directly by the Capps personality and spirit. With
certainty, his indirect influence will echo into the next century of the
organized blind movement. That demonstrates the power of life and
commitment, the same qualities he shared with his wife and family, setting
an example that service and family go together.
Dr. Capps always made sure that he had a watch that was in good
working order. I had the opportunity to help get him one when he needed it.
Upon reflection, it is clear why it was so important to him. He knew that
every minute counted, and he did more with his time than probably anyone
else I have ever known. As we go forward with the memories of both Don and
Betty in our hearts, I urge us to value and use those minutes as effectively
as they did to share life around the world. If we do that even half as well
as they did, our time will have been well spent. The blind of America and
the world salute this great man, who gave his time and his heart to raising
expectations for the blind. Our future achievements will be built upon the
strength, value, and spirit that he gave in service to us.
Be well, my friend. And thank you.
----------
A Christmas Story for All Seasons
by Donald Capps
From the Editor: As a further tribute to Dr. Capps and in keeping
with the spirit of the holidays, we thought it a good idea to run an article
written by him. It was first published in December of 1992, and here is the
way it was introduced to Monitor readers:
From the Associate Editor: The following article appeared in the
November 1991 issue of the Palmetto Blind, the publication of the National
Federation of the Blind of South Carolina. It is a wonderful illustration of
the deep and selfless brotherly love that we think of at this season. When
the world seems filled to the breaking point with suffering and tragedy, it
is well to remember that people like John Fling are living and serving in
our midst.
As Monitor readers know, Don Capps is the senior member of the Board
of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind. He and his wife Betty
now fully dedicate their time to doing good in the world, chiefly by working
tirelessly to strengthen the NFB in South Carolina and around the country.
Here is what Don has to say:
It was Thursday morning when a phone call came which brought me
overwhelming joy and gratitude. It was my longtime friend, John Fling, who
until recent years was very much involved in helping the Columbia Chapter of
the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina. In more recent times
John has broadened his unselfish service to include many other groups and
individuals, and therefore I had not heard from him in some time. However, I
had been able to keep up with the charitable activities of this very special
person since he is frequently featured in the news media. I also knew that
John Fling had become a national and international celebrity, having
received many high honors -- including one bestowed upon him at the White
House by the President of the United States. Knowing that he had once worked
almost exclusively for the blind through the Federation, I was especially
proud of John Fling, recognizing that he truly puts service above self.
But getting back to that Thursday morning call on January 16, I
heard a familiar voice: "Don, this is John Fling, and I happen to have some
funds left over from Christmas and was wondering if you would accept a
little contribution to the Federation?" In a split second I assured my
longtime friend that the Federation would be most grateful for any
contribution, especially at this time. He said that he would stop by my
house that afternoon, and true to his word he drove into our driveway at
about 3 o'clock. After a most enjoyable visit during which we brought each
other up-to-date on our activities, John handed me a check with instructions
to use it any way I wanted to, just so that the Federation would be helped.
He then departed without fanfare; got into his truck, clearly marked "John
Fling Ministries"; and continued on his way to assist someone else. After
John's departure, Betty looked at the check and said, "Don, this check is in
the amount of $10,000." Both of us were !
absolutely overwhelmed. Never had I received a Federation contribution for
such a substantial sum without having solicited it. As a matter of fact, I
was so overwhelmed that I needed time to think about the real significance
of what this wonderful man had just done and how this substantial gift to
the Columbia Chapter of the NFB of South Carolina could best be used to
assist blind people. I wanted to share the good news with fellow
Federationists but felt that I needed time to think and ponder about what we
might do to justify this generous gift and how it should be used to meet a
special need. It was the next day before I shared the wonderful news with
the chapter president, Mike Sutton, and the Federation Center's chairman,
Frank Coppel, because I felt as if I should sleep on this matter before
making any recommendations. Mike and Frank were just as excited and
overwhelmed as I was.
Something led me to call John Fling that evening. I clearly
remembered his stating that I was to use the money to do the greatest good
for the largest number of blind people. I knew that the Columbia Chapter
desperately needed a new van since its ten-year-old vehicle had served the
chapter well but was probably no longer road-worthy without considerable
repairs. Additionally, I knew that President Sutton had appointed a search
committee to acquire another van. During my telephone conversation with John
on Friday evening, I discussed our need for a new van, and he readily
volunteered to donate an additional five thousand dollars in order to
purchase one. John said that he was well connected with the Addy Dodge
dealership in Lexington, and would I meet him there the following morning at
11:00 a.m. In the twinkling of an eye I answered in the affirmative. At two
minutes before eleven o'clock Saturday, Betty and I arrived at Addy Dodge,
and John rushed out to greet us. So did T!
im and John Addy, owners of the dealership. As it happened, we parked next
to a beautiful, brand new 1992 fifteen-passenger white Dodge van with maroon
interior, and John asked me to check the van over. He said that this was the
van that he had picked out because he understood from our Friday-evening
conversation that we wanted a white one. After talking with John, I had
called President Mike Sutton that same evening to inquire whether he would
trust me with the details of purchasing a van. Mike replied that of course
he would.
The sticker price on this beautiful van was in excess of $22,000,
and I immediately wondered how we would swing it, but John had already
worked it out. We were ushered into the office, where all the paperwork had
already been done. Because of their respect for John Fling and a desire to
help the Federation, the Addy brothers had reduced the price of the van by
nearly $5,000. However, I knew that the initial gift of $10,000 plus the
promise of an additional $5,000 would not cover even the reduced price for
the van. But before I had time to become concerned, John pulled out a pen
and began writing a check for the remaining cost, about $8,500. Thus, in the
end John Fling Ministries gave a total of about $18,500 to the Federation to
cover the total cost of this beautiful new van.
But this is not the end of the story. Mr. Addy checked the Blue Book
and advised us that we could sell our old van for about $3,500, which could
be used for insurance or other expenses. Mr. Addy said that there is a great
need among churches and day-care centers for previously owned vans.
As I said earlier, John Fling has been honored at the highest levels
for his benevolence and good deeds. On September 30, 1991, at the John F.
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Concert Hall in Washington, D.C.,
John Fling participated in America's awards honoring unsung heroes who
personify the American character and spirit. In a special publication
entitled "America's Awards," a program of the Positive Thinking Foundation,
the following article is dedicated to John Fling:
You're Never Too Old to Do Good
At age seventy, John Fling does every day what he has done every day
for forty-five years -- spends most of his waking hours helping those in
need.
One of nineteen children, John Fling grew up in Gabbetville,
Georgia, (population forty-six). His parents were so poor they weren't even
sharecroppers; they were sharecroppers' helpers. What family members ate,
they had to catch out of the water, dig out of the ground, or shake out of a
tree. At age twelve, John quit school to work in the cotton fields, where he
labored for six more years.
At age twenty-five, after a six-year stint in the US Army, John
settled with his wife in Columbia, South Carolina, landing a job as
supervisor to one hundred boys who delivered newspapers. He began providing
them and their families with food, clothing, and school supplies. Helping
others became his personal mission.
One night in 1951, John accompanied the police to settle a domestic
dispute. The couple had a small baby, but apparently the boy wasn't fathered
by the woman's husband. John asked if it would solve the problem if he took
the baby. The couple readily agreed, signing a scrap of paper that gave John
all rights to the baby. John and his wife Jane raised the child along with
their natural son.
John and his wife have never owned a home. They live on Social
Security, in a rent-free cottage behind his mother-in-law's house. Though he
has worked all his life -- sometimes several jobs at once -- John is almost
without material possessions. Before he retired as a parts delivery man,
John's employer, Love Chevrolet, gave him clothes to wear and a truck to
drive -- and lots of time to serve.
The clothing John gives away is often better than what he wears. He
hasn't bought clothes, except underwear, for twenty years. He doesn't have a
television or the time to look at one. Only recently did John get a
telephone -- to better serve those who depend on him. He has never owned a
car, but he has bought cars for five others.
For forty-five years John Fling has spent most of his waking hours
driving the streets of Columbia, looking for someone he can help. There has
not been a single day that he hasn't done something to help the poor. He
delivers food, medicine, and laundry; helps with bills; repairs screen
doors; mows lawns; unstops sinks; and transports the needy to appointments
-- for an extended family that includes forty blind people, two hundred
seniors, and four hundred children.
Having lost sight in one eye in a boyhood hunting accident, John
shows a special interest in the blind. He gives them rides and takes them to
the beach or fishing. He drives his more adventurous blind friends out to a
cow pasture, settles them into a go-cart, places earphones on their heads,
sits on his truck, and -- using a two-way radio -- tells them to go left or
right. Some of them are hot rods.
John is caring, selfless, and limitless in energy. He is
unincorporated and refuses to become a nonprofit organization. There are no
boards to direct him and no committees to support his activities. Most of
the money he hands out is donated by local businessmen and by friends around
the country. He often takes the last dime out of his pocket to help someone.
Once, while visiting a nursing home with two deacons from his
church, John met an elderly woman who said she didn't know what time to take
her medicine because she didn't have a watch. John pulled the watch from his
own wrist, handed it to the woman, and walked on.
As the three men left the nursing home, John met a one-legged man on
the street who said he needed a raincoat. John took off his own coat and
gave it to the man. One of the deacons said to John, "Let's get back in the
truck before you give away your pants."
John's first love is still the children. As he drives through
Columbia's back alleys, kids emerge from the shadows and rush the truck.
Embracing as many as he can, John asks them how they are, and what they need
and gives them what he can. As he leaves, John comments to a visitor, "Even
more than money, what they need is love."
And John gives them lots of love.
At 5:30 a.m. every Sunday, John starts driving a donated van for
three hours to go to the Baptist Church next door, collecting as many as
seventy-nine children as he travels a fifty-five-mile circuit. On the way
home he stops at a restaurant and treats each of the children to a meal.
Every Christmas John provides the kids he cares for with a shopping
spree at one of the local department stores. Last year he took 1,216 to
K-Mart, providing them each with a $50 gift certificate. To encourage kids
to take their education seriously, he offers $20 to students making B's and
higher on their report cards. Grades have soared.
Over the years, John's generosity has become known throughout the
world. When a man in India writes to a man he knows only as "John Fling,
USA," to request help in obtaining a prosthesis, and the letter somehow
arrives, John's response is equally characteristic. Somehow he finds the
money to buy and send the needed prosthesis.
Now seventy years old, John continues to have a tremendous impact in
his role as a one-man social-service agency. Few people in South Carolina
are as well known, and few people in the world are as well loved. When you
ask about John Fling, the first thing people say, more often than not, is,
"That man is a living saint."
----------
Celebrate the National Federation of the Blind
by Patty Chang
The holiday season is coming upon us. It is a time to celebrate, and
we ought to reflect on how the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) has
affected blind people's lives. In thinking about the gifts the NFB gives,
these stories tell it well:
Attending the NFB Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning
Academy (BELL Academy), my son learned the complete Braille alphabet in a
mere two weeks, something that eluded us for nine years. What stuck out for
us was how simple it was to start Braille and the shame is it that the world
resists. As parents who have found the NFB, we are relieved to know that we
are not alone and are fully supported.
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I cannot say enough about how amazing the NFB BELL Academy was for
my son. He continues to practice Braille and cane use. Most importantly, he
formed great bonds from the academy -- not only with his peers, but with his
instructors as well. I truly believe BELL instilled the confidence he
needed.
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I love the National Federation of the Blind because it is not only
an advocacy organization but is a support network for blind people. If I
have any questions about being a blind parent, I have access to several
blind parents who can give me guidance and provide answers to my questions.
I thank the NFB for instilling in me the confidence to be a blind parent.
Those testimonials and many more show why and how the National
Federation of the Blind helps blind people live the lives we want. However,
we need your contribution to continue making a difference and changing
lives.
With a $50 donation, the National Federation of the Blind can send a
long white cane -- free of charge -- to a blind recipient and give back
mobility. With the same amount, the Federation can provide early literacy
materials to families including a book with both Braille and print, which
empower parents to help their blind child get an early start to Braille
literacy. With a larger donation, we can train our Braille Enrichment for
Literacy and Learning Academy teachers, show blind youngsters that they can
do science too, and so much more. Be a part of these gifts and everything
the Federation does with love, hope, and determination.
We can't change lives without you. Please help by making an
end-of-year gift -- and it's easy to do. You can mail a donation or give
online.
To mail your donation, simply make out your check to the National
Federation of the Blind and send it to:
National Federation of the Blind
Attention: Outreach
200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
Baltimore, MD 21230
To give online visit our web page, https://nfb.org/donate.
We all know that the Federation affects blind people's lives every
day. You or someone you know aspires to greater things because of our
philosophy. It is time to give back. Please be a part of our movement with
an end-of-year donation. We can't build the Federation without financial
resources. Every gift helps.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Chris Westbrook]
Cochlear Implant: A Brief Introduction and My Experience
by Chris Westbrook
From the Editor: Chris Westbrook is a member who lives in
Pennsylvania and serves as the vice president of the Jigsaw Chapter, the
at-large chapter in Pennsylvania. He works as a computer programmer, and I
find him to be a most delightful person. Many of us who are blind rely
heavily on our hearing, and in this article Chris talks about the struggle
in deciding whether to get a cochlear implant and the results he has had
with it. Here is what he says:
Before I share my cochlear implant journey, I'd like to say a few
things. First, your experiences may vary. I am by no means holding myself up
as the only or even most typical experience regarding cochlear implant
surgery. Everyone's experience is different and should be respected. Second,
the journey is not over yet. I have been "activated" (meaning I have worn
the cochlear implant) for almost three months. I expect things to keep
getting better over time, so my story is far from over. Having said this, I
think it is complete enough that I can provide some perspective on the
surgery with some degree of clarity. Third, you may be wondering why I am
sharing this in a blindness publication. You may think that this better
belongs in a hearing impairment journal of some kind. My answer to this
point is that the senses of blindness and hearing are not separable, but one
sense feeds off the other. I believe there are experiences that I have as a
blind person using a cochlear impl!
ant that a sighted person would not. I think it is good for all our members
to be educated on how cochlear implantation works. You never know when you
or a chapter member may need one. With that out of the way, let me start
from the beginning.
I would like to first briefly describe what a cochlear implant is so
that we are all on the same page. A cochlear implant assists someone with
severe hearing loss in improving his/her hearing. In most cases, when a
cochlear implant is placed, all natural hearing on the affected side is
erased. It consists of two parts: an internal part that is placed during
surgery, and an external part that you wear which connects to the internal
part by a magnet under the skin and transmits the sound to the implant. I
realize this may sound painful and uncomfortable; I can assure you it is
neither.
While cochlear implant surgery is relatively minor outpatient
surgery, it is still surgery. Because of this, and because of the drastic
affect it will have on peoples' hearing, there is a qualification process.
Not everyone will qualify for a cochlear implant. Hearing tests are done,
and your scores are calculated and discussed. Never get a cochlear implant
just because a doctor or family member says you should. It is a big decision
which should not be taken lightly. Once you get a cochlear implant, there is
no going back so to speak. This is what kept me from getting a cochlear
implant for a long time. I knew I didn't have much hearing to lose, but I
was not psychologically ready to part with what little natural hearing I had
in that ear, even if it meant potentially better hearing down the road. Talk
with your doctor. Talk with others who have gone through the process, blind
or sighted. Also try to find those with similar hearing histories to yours
if possible but know th!
at everyone's experiences may vary. I would say that overall, most people
who are willing to put in the necessary work have had a positive outcome. If
your hearing qualifies you for a cochlear implant and you would like to move
forward, you will most likely have a CT scan to ensure that your anatomy
will tolerate the surgery and implant. You will also have to choose a brand
of implant. I won't say much about that here, as all major brands are good.
Which one you choose will depend on your lifestyle and which brands your
surgeon/cochlear implant center is experienced with.
If all tests come back normal and you still wish to continue, you
will be scheduled for surgery. This will be outpatient surgery, and you will
most likely be home the same day unless there are complications. Some have
reported dizziness and/or a loss of taste, but I didn't experience either of
these symptoms. The pain was very mild; I was prescribed opioids but took
very little of them. I was back to work in a few days, once the bandages
were removed. I was fortunate to have someone stay with me for a while. If
you live alone, it might not be a bad idea to have someone stay with you for
a week or so just to make sure everything is going well. After that, it is
time for the incision to heal as you patiently await activation day.
Usually about a month after surgery, you will go back to your
implant center to receive your external processor and have it turned on for
the first time. This is usually called activation or activation day. While
this day can be full of anticipation and excitement, it is best to not
expect much the first day. Everyone's experiences vary, but I was not able
to understand speech at all for the first few days. Remember your brain is
having to relearn how to hear. It is not like simply adding another hearing
aid to the mix. It is a totally different way of hearing. This is where
blindness can compound things and make things particularly challenging. We
do not have the benefit of lip reading, for example. You will need to be
patient with yourself, and others will need to be patient with you. You will
be going through a process that is starting now and will last for some time.
Now is not the time to plan that solo cross-country trip you've been
dreaming of. Seriously, you may nee!
d more help than you would at other times, and that is OK. Be kind to
yourself and give your brain time to adjust.
Plan to go back to your audiologist often, weekly at first, then
gradually becoming less and less frequent. They will test you and adjust
your implant as necessary. You will be told to listen to as much as possible
with only the implant. This is hard at first, but it gets easier over time
as your comprehension improves. Again, this is a journey. You will most
likely see huge gains at first, and while these gains taper off over time,
improvements are still made long after initial activation as I can
personally attest. I just went to my first NFB state convention post-implant
and, while I didn't do everything I wanted to do and things were a bit
overwhelming at times, I still managed. It is both challenging and thrilling
to learn to hear in an entirely new way.
I hope this article has been helpful. If you or someone in your
affiliate is going through a cochlear implant, know that it is a process. Be
patient and help them when necessary. If you are the implant recipient,
don't be afraid to ask for help when necessary. If you work hard and are
patient, you will be rewarded with better, richer hearing.
----------
Always Early: Find Your People
by Richard Early
From the Editor: Richard Early is relatively new to the Federation,
but enthusiastic. He is nearly fifty years old, has owned a comic book store
in Fargo, North Dakota, for twenty-six years, and is enjoying the
transformation that finding self-acceptance and a supporting community can
be. Here's what Richard had to say in his blog, originally posted at
https://alwaysearly360949548.wordpress.com/2019/11/05/always-early-find-your
-people/. The article was entitled "They are out there but they aren't
sending a search committee looking for you..."
I was about forty-four years old when I went kicking and screaming
to my first blind support meeting. It took a panic attack and three years of
therapy and a lifetime of denial, but it finally happened. My therapist kept
saying gently that I should do this. She gave me contact info, meeting times
-- the whole works. I wasn't having any of it.
I was with that therapist for about three years before she finally
convinced me to try. She brought it up gently early on and kept coming back
to it from time to time. She did great. I was seeing her in the aftermath of
a panic attack that led to an anxiety diagnosis and medication along with
those visits to her office. I've learned we pretty much all deal with some
kind of emotional or psychological issues, and they are unique to who we are
and our history. Mine were, in no particular order: self-loathing, shame,
anxiety, and depression. If that's how you feel about yourself, if you are
ashamed of who you are deep down to the core, why in the hell would you want
to be around other people like you? In my case, that meant blind people. The
stem of my shame and self-loathing was that very deep belief that I was
worthless because I was blind. I used to deny this, I used to try to ignore
my blindness, I tried to pretend it was not a problem and do whatever I
could to get by in !
the sighted world.
My memories of dealing with other blind people were not good and of
course clearly colored by my own self-loathing. I'll get to that later, but
put yourselves in the shoes of a young person in denial of who they are and
trying to hide who they are from everyone. I was also trapped between two
worlds, not really understanding either one in my early teenage years to
early twenties. Everyone around me was operating in a sighted world, and I
could mostly do that, so I just covered up when I couldn't and suffered
quietly. I didn't want to be part of the blind world because of my shame,
and in many ways that world wasn't right for me either since I didn't need
Braille or a cane yet.
The first thing I think about when I look back is how I was handled
in the school system. I had to leave regular classes and go to a resource
teacher. I had to ride the short bus. These were huge stigmas. You knew
there was something wrong with you and the others who had to do these
things, and you didn't want to be there. That's what society told you. Being
partly sighted and pretty independent, it was easy to recognize those with a
lot more need and to either associate yourself with them or not want to be
around them. God bless them all, and I hope you understand what I'm writing
here and that you don't think less of me.
I wanted to be with friends and family. I wanted to play video games
and read comic books and watch tv. My family would get approached by a group
trying to get me to go to blind camp or the school for the blind or blind
bowling or blind skiing. We did go to blind bowling a few times, but mostly
I just remember recoiling at all those kindhearted offers.
I had one friend who was blind. He was a few years older than me,
and he was a huge Muppets fan. I am sure someone was trying to get us to be
friends or to get him to mentor me. I liked him, but I didn't like his
blindness. I can remember thinking that I wasn't like him so clearly.
I remember getting out of high school and going to vocational
rehabilitation. I was not ready for college; I was not ready to take care of
myself on my own; and now here was the weird place that normal people did
not have to go, and it pushed all those self-loathing buttons. Good things
came from there as I got a year of college paid by the state of North
Dakota, but I strongly remember feeling hopeless there. The jobs that were
suggested were sweeping and cleaning and other menial tasks. There was talk
of the school for the blind training as well, but mostly there were really
low expectations from the voc rehab people and from myself.
Those were all the outside factors. The strongest memories are of my
family. Let me just say something to be clear: everyone in my family loved
me. Everyone wanted only the best for me, and the things I write here are
not criticisms. They acted from total love and a desire to protect me and
help me have the best life I could have. Sleepless nights, endless trips to
doctors, terror over the next surgery, and so, so much more made life a
seemingly endless trauma. What I am writing next shows that even with love,
the mind can take away such dark stories. My grandparents, especially my
grandmother on my dad's side, gave me an overwhelming sense that appearance
was critical. It wasn't just that I wanted to be sighted, it was that they
wanted me to pass as sighted to meet societal expectations. Another example
is that I would occasionally knock over milk glasses or other things, and I
would be told often in joking ways that I was stupid for doing it. I
developed an underlying bel!
ief that eyesight was tied to intelligence, so I knew on some level I could
not be smart or expect to be. We eventually went to a practitioner who
fitted prosthetic eye coverings over dead eyes. My left eye is my blind eye,
but it has never been removed, so the goal was to create a second eye that
looked like my right eye to help pass as sighted. This one is very delicate
because on many levels this is actually a very kind idea, but at the end of
the day it's just another way of saying that I shouldn't let people see who
I really am, which only further feeds self-shame. I can't imagine the burden
of a blind child on my parents and family. I got incredible love and care,
but this feeling of denying who I am came from being shown that people would
think badly of me, so it was wrong to be who I was. It's very complex and
confusing and not something a young kid, let alone young parents, is going
to figure out.
With all that shaping who I was, why would I want to go to a support
group with other blind people? I believed blindness was shameful and needed
to be hidden and that anyone who was blind was not someone you wanted to be
around. I didn't want to be around myself when it came to blindness. This
feeling was so strong that it even led to avoiding taking care of myself by
not following through on doctor's appointments once I was an adult and
responsible to do that myself. There was a long period when my sight was
pretty good from my early twenties into my thirties. I stopped going to
check-ups and lost my regular doctors; when things started to go downhill, I
found myself deep in a hole, not knowing who to turn to.
I finally decided to check out a local support group. I couldn't
tell you what tipped me to do it, but it happened. The meetings were held at
a nursing/retirement home, and at first glance they were mostly what I
expected. The group seemed to have eight or ten regular attendees who were
mostly older than I was. Several of them seemed at least as unhappy to be
there as I was or maybe just unhappy with life in general. The group was
welcoming and offered information and had speakers. I went to several of
these, but I felt very out of place and was not finding what I was looking
for.
What was I looking for? Now that's a real good question that I had no answer
to. I suppose common experience, sharing difficulties, advice; I'm not sure
entirely -- but I knew I wasn't finding it. Part of it may have been that I
was much younger than most attendees. I want to make it clear that everyone
there was very kind to me, and there were a lot of good people. If they read
this, I hope I can make that point very, very clear. A lot of those early
days were all about my own resistance and not about them at all.
I began to realize that I was out of my element due to a lot of
factors. Life experience with blindness and how others had handled it was a
big one. There were a lot of folks with lifelong skills and training I did
not have, and I believed I did not need. There were a lot of folks with a
lot less income than I had at the time, which is absolutely fine, except
that it made it hard to relate over things like new cell phones or other
technology. Those were big factors, but not the bottom line.
The truth is that all of it, from the beginning, was colored by my
own mistaken beliefs. I hated myself for being blind, thought it was a
terrible thing, and had set extremely low expectations for myself and my
life. Everything I encountered was colored by this simple fact. I could have
made the most of those bus rides and probably helped those around me do the
same. I could have brought self-confidence to voc rehab and seen it as a
pathway to better things. I could have gone looking for my people decades
before I did. My beliefs were shaped by all kinds of experiences, almost all
of which were unintentional consequences of people who were trying to help
me and those tendrils of darkness we call depression.
I started finding my people just five years ago after forty-four
years of denial. In that time, I have gone from being terrified to even set
foot at a group meeting, to all kinds of accomplishments. I am a board
member of the National Federation of the Blind of North Dakota. I've been
asked to come speak at the NFB state convention in New Mexico. I'm writing a
blog about my experiences. As a board member I've taken on roles as a
communication coordinator and a fundraiser. That's after only five years. I
don't regret a single moment of time up until that day I walked in. That
part of my life is my story and I own it, and better yet I get to share it.
It only matters now as a set of lessons about how to get to live the life
you want. Finding my people gave me a whole new perspective shaped from
common experience; it changed my perspective on what had come before, and it
gave me a belief in myself that I had lacked.
I've got lots of other people as well. I've got a beautiful wife, a
brilliant stepdaughter, and hilarious dogs. I've got fellow comic fans,
fantasy football players, board gamers, business partners, retailers, and so
much more. Some of them were easy to find, and some were not. I got married
at forty-nine years old, and I wonder if that would ever have happened
without the self-recognition that has come with finding my people.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Everette Bacon]
Seeing that the Federal Communications Commission Ensures Accessible
Broadcasting for the Blind
by Everette Bacon
From the Editor: Everette Bacon is a member of the board of
directors of the National Federation of the Blind and the president of the
National Federation of the Blind of Utah. He serves as our representative
before the Federal Communications Commission, and here is a report he offers
to Monitor readers about his work for descriptive audio services:
Audio Description (AD) has been a passion of mine for many years. My
first exposure to AD came in 1997 when I was running my first Blockbuster
Video store in Irving, Texas. VHS tapes were still very popular, and
Blockbuster Video thought it would be a novel idea to increase its public
awareness regarding accessibility, resulting in an audio description
category for select stores. When I heard about this opportunity, I
petitioned to have my store be one of the chosen locations to offer AD
videos. I still have some of the VHS tapes with AD in my movie collection.
Upon moving to Salt Lake City, I became involved in the Salt Lake City
Chapter of the NFB of Utah. AD was not offered anywhere in Utah, and so
myself, David Sarle, and Nick Schmittroth met with the leadership of the
largest movie theater chain in Utah, Megaplex Theaters. Megaplex is a local
Utah company owned by the Larry H. Miller Group that also own the Utah Jazz.
In spring 2006, Megaplex Theaters held a viewing of its first movie with AD,
and over fifty members of the NFB of Utah attended.
In 2015 President Riccobono recommended me to represent the NFB on
the newly formed Disability Advisory Committee for the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC oversees all audio description
regulations for all television and movie theaters. Other areas the FCC
oversees include accessible set-top boxes, the I Can Connect Program, and
everything related to the Twenty-First Century Communications Act passed in
2011. The committee has over thirty members representing industry and
consumers. Some industry representation includes Apple, Verizon Wireless,
AT&T, Comcast, and many more. On the consumer side, besides NFB, the
American Council of the Blind and many more advocates are represented.
Serving on this committee, I have the opportunity to work on many
challenging policy items. One I am very proud of is a negotiation with the
USA Network on how AD is being offered and monitored on its network. USA is
a subsidiary of NBC Universal, and the network is among the top five in
viewership according to the FCC. Because of this, it is required to meet
standards concerning how much AD is broadcast on its network. USA has
original programming such as Suits, where all episodes are described, and it
offers numerous syndicated programs such as Law & Order, which are also
offered with AD. Due to the numerous hours of syndicated programming
available on USA, it is difficult for it to meet the strict FCC guidelines
for being a top five network. The NFB and USA Network were able to come up
with a suitable alternative that the FCC allowed. USA would guarantee, at a
minimum, one-thousand hours of audio-described television between the
primetime hours of six p.m. and midnight ea!
ch quarter and that 75 percent of all new programs would require AD. To
have a network television agree to make AD a priority for its blind viewers
is a testament to how much value it places on blind viewership.
It is an absolute honor to serve and represent the NFB on this
important committee. I appreciate the trust President Riccobono has in me,
and I update him regularly. I am also grateful to John ParC) and Kyle Walls
from the Government Affairs team for their assistance with policy review.
Below, I am adding some additional links if you should want to review some
of the rulings regarding AD from the FCC. Please feel free to reach out to
me with any comments or questions.
Ruling regarding the USA Network:
https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-19-1019A1.docx.
Ruling regarding a waiver granted to Google Fiber. The NFB provided public
comment on this waiver:
https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-19-916A1.docx
2019 FCC report to Congress regarding video description:
https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-19-1023A1.docx
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Dr. Lazar accepts the Rachel Olivero Accessibility
Innovation Award.]
Dr. Jonathan Lazar Receives the Inaugural Rachel Olivero Accessibility
Innovation Award
by Hayleigh Moore
b
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