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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><h1><a name=Start></a>NEWSWIRE<o:p></o:p></h1><h1>National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></h1><h1>of North Dakota<o:p></o:p></h1><h1>Volume 1 No. 7<o:p></o:p></h1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>Next Meeting<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>This is a reminder that our July meeting of the National Federation of the Blind will be held via teleconference and not an in-person meeting at some location in Fargo. The teleconference will be on Monday, July 17, beginning at 6:30 PM. I will be giving you some of the highlights of the 2017 National convention while it is fresh in my mind. The call in number is (712) 832-8300 and the access code to the room is 9381122#<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Hope you will all be able to make this meeting!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>NEW TEXT-TO-GIVE CAMPAIGN<span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></h2><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Our Imagination Fund Committee is pleased to announce a text-to-give campaign. Text-to-give allows anyone to make a $25 donation to the National Federation of the Blind with a simple text message from his or her mobile phone. Thanks to AT&T covering the costs for a limited time, the National Federation of the Blind will receive 100 percent of each contribution. We need your help identifying individuals in your extended network of family, friends, colleagues, and service providers. Please take the time to share the names and email addresses of potential supporters by visiting </span><a href="https://nfb.org/text2017"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>https://nfb.org/text2017</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>. We will send an email inviting all of these individuals to share in the great things we do every day to help blind people live the lives they want. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>Convention Stream<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>You can find a link to the Convention Stream Schedule on the homepage of the National Federation of the Blind of North Dakota at </span><a href="http://nfbnd.org/"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>http://nfbnd.org/</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>There are links to the various media players that the stream is available through. This is just a way to be there if you are not able to attend the convention but I can assure you it is not like being there. Catch the excitement and you’ll want to be there next year!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>KNFB Reader® Sale<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>On July 10, the KNFB Reader for Windows 10 will be on sale from the Microsoft Store for 80% off the regular price of $99.99. You must have Windows 10 running on your computer. Log-in or set up your account on the Microsoft Store to purchase and download the program. Should you have questions you can visit the website of KNFB Reader® at </span><a href="http://knfbreader.com/"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>http://knfbreader.com/</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> or call Milton Ota Liaison representative for the National Federation of the Blind of North Dakota and KNFB Reader® after July 16 at (701) 731-0511 or e-mail him at </span><a href="mailto:mota1252@gmail.com"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>mota1252@gmail.com</span></a><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>Orbit Reader 20 Update<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>We wanted to provide you with an update on the Orbit Reader. Our rigorous quality control efforts continue. In order to provide you with the best quality device, we have been working closely with the manufacturer to make sure the Orbit Reader is reliable and sturdy. The technology used to activate the pins that make up the Braille cells is new, and in a small percentage of the devices, there have been some issues with them caused by minute variations in the plastic parts that make up the Braille cells. This has meant that manufacturing has been slowed in order to perform some additional quality control checks to eliminate these issues.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><h2>My Deaf/Blind Journey<o:p></o:p></h2><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'>By Shirley Ann Robideau<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>In the early 1980’s, I was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa. I had never heard of the term and was terrified when the doctor said, “You are going to go blind.” I tried to find out as much as I could about RP but there was not enough information about it at the time. My vision deteriorated very slowly at first, almost to the point that I convinced myself that it was not true. However, by 2011, I was faced with the reality that I indeed was going blind. Vision would drop more rapidly and by 2014 (approximately) enough of my vision was gone that my very low hearing was giving me extreme problems because I could no longer see people’s faces to be able to lipread.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>I had multiple problems popping up that I had never anticipated. I had Polio when I was one and a half years of age. This resulted in using braces and crutches most of my life. Then in 1984 I went into a wheelchair permanently. I was able to handle any situation that would come up but this new physical challenge was almost more then I could bare. I went to several organizations seeking help to learn how to continue my independence, but no one knew how to give me any real direction; the services in ND were so limited. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>So here I was about 67 years old and not ready to give up but I was not sure which way to turn. I didn’t even know anyone that was deaf blind to help me learn. I met Trish at IPat (Now called ND Assistive) a few years ago when I lived at New Horizon’s Manor in Fargo, ND. I had applied to get a grant to purchase a IPad. I was able to use this to continue reading the Scriptures, song book, and other books I was interested in at that time but I didn’t really know how to use it to its full capacity. There was no program or individual that could teach me how to use it. I began to become depressed with what was happening to me. I couldn’t hear on my phone, I couldn’t see people’s faces to know who was talking to me without asking who they were. I was beginning to be afraid to leave my apartment by myself and so on. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>I am a very active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and would go to Church on Sundays and not be able to hear enough to make out what the talks were about. People walked up to me and would greet me, I didn’t know who they were, I couldn’t see the little children and that was so hard on me. Then came the day I could not even read my extra-large print of the hymn book. I totally lost it. I came home each Sunday and would cry. My world was getting smaller and smaller. I began to stay home from many activities and would hesitate to go to doctors or other appointments because of lack of understanding what was being said to me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>I received my first ComPilot, I believe in 2013 and began working again with Trish from ND Assistive. I had thought that ND Assistive was a place just for renting out equipment but, Trish began helping me to get several different types of adaptive technology to help me in my home. I received an alarm that vibrates on my bed to wake me up in case the fire alarm went off, my phone would ring, or my alarm clock went off. I was so grateful for this organization for helping me. They also helped me to get transfer poles for by my bed and toilet for easier, safer transfers.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>ND Assistive helped me to get a ComPilot so I could hear and understand what was being said to me on the phone. I had a flip phone at this time and it was giving me a lot of trouble. I talked with Trish and she made contact with President Milton Ota of the National Federation of the Blind. President Ota is the President of the North Dakota Group of the Federation. Trish asked him who she could talk to about training me to use an IPhone. In the meantime, since I didn’t know she was looking for someone to train me, I went and charged an IPhone on my Phone Bill. I tried to figure out how to use it and gave up, returning the phone. Another part of my independence was being taken away from me. I was no longer able to set up appointments, answer calls, etc. Now I not only couldn’t hear and communicate with my friends at Church but now I couldn’t communicate by phone either. I felt like piece by piece my life was being taken away from me. Then Trish called to ask if I would like training with an iPhone. I excitedly accepted and Jesse Shirek an assistive Technology Instructor began training me how to use an iPhone. Later he taught me how to use jaws which s a program that reads the computer aloud for me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>In the meantime, just prior to meeting Jesse, I had gone to a support group for the Deaf and learned about the Cochlear Implant. My Audiologist strongly suggested that I talk to Dr. Miller about whether or not I would be a candidate for an implant because I was losing my vision and needed some other help to communicate. I had the surgery June 22, 2015. The results of the implant totally blew my mind. I had used hearing aids all my life but this can’t compare to that. It took well over six months for me to be able to understand what I was hearing. As I continued to progress, however, to be able to hear sounds I have never heard in my life began to give me a glimmer of hope. I was beginning to want to climb out of this tiny world I had been boxed into for the last few years and come alive.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>The lessons with the IPhone and JAWS has opened up a whole new world in my life that I didn’t know was possible. I wasn’t able to keep track of my appointments because I couldn’t see to write things down. Now with the IPhone I can email, send text messages, listen to my favorite radio station, Mormon Channel and hear it though my ComPilot, hearing aid and Cochlear Implant. How awesome is that? It doesn’t stop there, I also joined the National Federation of the Blind, going out to events again, going to seminars or other events to learn more, who knows, I might go back to school! On top of all of these blessings, I am meeting new people and they are giving me more confidence in myself and my abilities. The national Federation for the Blind members are great support for me. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>There are many more opportunities available to me now then I had ever known before and I am so grateful to ND Assistive and the National Federation for the Blind for the doors they are opening up for me. The National Federation for the Blind is not just for the blind but for everyone who has an interest in learning more that is available to the blind. Whether you are blind, have a visual limitation or know someone that is visually limited you can join the Federation by contacting President Milton Ota at 701-731-0511. For information about technology instruction contact Jesse Shirek at 701-781-2526. <br>For more information on North Dakota Assistive, please contact 701-365-4728. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>THANK YOU to Shirley </span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Robideau</span><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'> for sharing her story as she lives the life she wants and Why She Is A Federationist.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>This newsletter was produced and edited by Milton Ota, President of the National Federation of the Blind of North Dakota.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Please feel free to distribute this newsletter your friends and family so that we can share the work of the National Federation of the Blind of North Dakota.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>If you would like to submit an article for the Newswire, please contact Milton Ota at (701) 731-0511 or by e-mail at <a href="mailto:mota1252@gmail.com">mota1252@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;line-height:106%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>