[Nebraska-senior-blind] NFBN Senior Division - other affiliate divisions

[Fatos Floyd]

Robert, this is a wonderful idea. With all of these ideas collected, we will have a better workshop next year. Also, we will have more ideas for discussion topics. Thank you very much for your leadership.

Sent from my iPhone

> On Nov 23, 2013, at 9:29 AM, "Robert Leslie Newman" <newmanrl at cox.net> wrote:
> 
> Hi you all
>  
> Thought I would share with you a small project that I am doing to get a handle on who else within the NFB are moving on senior issues and what they are doing (so we do  not have to reinvent the wheel).
>  
> #1 As you know, I invited Ruth Sager to our December call. She will be one super good resource for learning of what is going on.
>  
> #2 I sent out a message to all affiliate presidents asking if their states had a Senior Division and who is the contact person. Thus far I know that these affiliates do: Louisiana, New Mexico, New Jersey. And these do not- Kentucky, Rhode Island. (I may also do a website search; usually the NFB affiliate that has one, will have a webpage for them.) I have created a spreadsheet with some of the info I am receiving. I also have a Word document of the responses. 
>  
> #3 Here is a short article from the New Mexico affiliate quarterly newsletter (which I also seek out these affiliate newsletters and place them on the editors listserv for other editors to read; part of what I do as the Chair of the NFB Communications Committee.)
>  
> NEW MEXICO SENIORS AT NFB CONVENTION
>  
> By Pat Munson
>  
> The NFB Seniors Division (NFBSD) hosted a special seminar this year at the NFB national convention, which was separate from the regular meeting. At the seminar, a number of us suggested how valuable the free conference phone line is: we can connect with NFB senior division members throughout the country. We had a sign-up list for those interested.
>  
> We were informed that New Jersey hosted a possibilities fair as part of their state convention. Ruth Segar, NFBSD President, was the keynote speaker. The fair ran about three hours in the morning of the first day of the convention. All agreed that having the fair in the morning is the best time. One of the topics at the fair was a discussion about not letting family and friends buy techie items for the blind senior. Usually, these items just sit in a drawer because the senior never learns how to use them.
>  
> We also heard from Hadley School for the Blind, which has many courses for at-home study for seniors. A senior can work at their own pace and can complete the lessons without assistance.
>  
> We learned that BISM in Baltimore has a couple of videos describing how seniors manage aspects of their blindness. There seem to be similar videos available from other states; these can be very helpful for the newly blind senior and their family, and the videos are available without charge.
>  
> It was suggested that blind seniors might want to take on a project for Meet the Blind Month. One idea involved taking NFB literature to eye doctors’ offices, to other doctors’ offices and hospitals so more folks learn where to turn when someone goes blind.
>  
> All agreed that the special seminar was very helpful, and we would like to have another seminar at next year’s NFB convention. The format was informal, so many of us had a chance for input.
>  
> Two days later, NFBSD had its usual meeting which commenced with our auction. This year we had everything from Art’s fantastic wines to handmade blankets, fudge and brownies. There were too many items to name, but we did raise a pile of money with this fundraiser.
>  
> We started the meeting with a discussion about self defense for seniors and not carrying stealable items such as purses.
>  
> All methods of reading medicine bottles were discussed. Script Talk seems very popular; there are pharmacies that will mail meds to blind persons, but for emergency meds this does not work. Items like the Pen Friend, a device with which one can record and then play back the data, is a suggested substitute.
>  
> Art Schreiber was a panel member discussing older persons and exercise. He said at 85 he did a half marathon, and he daily uses exercise equipment at a gym. Other panel members also enjoy going to public gyms; they exercise and have made many new friends and enjoy chatting with others.
>  
> As you can see, NFB seniors are on the move and are most definitely changing what it means to be blind. We do our best to meet and teach others losing vision later in life.  
>  
> Robert Leslie Newman
> Personal Website-
> Adjustment To Blindness And Visual impairment
> http//www.thoughtprovoker.info
> NFB Writers’ Division, president
> http://writers.nfb.org
> Chair of the NFB Communications Committee  
> Nebraska Senior Division, Vice President
>  
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