<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr"></div><div dir="ltr">Hi,</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">Amy Rowson here,</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">While I agree with the statements in this letter, I also would like to see added that HKNC is separated from the parent group HKS. Ultimately, it is the HKS board that makes the decisions for HKNC. So, even if we had a DeafBlind executive Director if the HKS board Does not agree with the way the executive Director wishes to run the program, it will not occur.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">There have been many HKNC staff both those who are DB and those who have vision/hearing that would like to see HKNC be it's own entity and not a division or under the parent HKS organization.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">While HKS is working on severing it's ties with HKNC, the HKS board needs to be comprised of a majority of DB board members. Currently, we only have one DB member and that is not enough representation.</div><div dir="ltr"><br></div><div dir="ltr">eom - end of message </div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Aug 15, 2024, at 2:29 PM, Maurice A. Mines via NFB-DB <nfb-db@nfbnet.org> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 13.8pt;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The National Federation of the Blind DeafBlind Division understands that the work that the Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) does is important for DeafBlind persons who are in need of adjustment training. We strongly urge this institution to implement the changes listed below.<o:p></o:p></span></p><ol start="1" type="1" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt -0.25in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 13.8pt;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The HKNC should actively engage in finding and employing more blind and/or DeafBlind staff members. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt -0.25in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 13.8pt;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The HKNC should strive to have a majority of its board of directors be DeafBlind people. <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt -0.25in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 13.8pt;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The HKNC should recruit and employ a DeafBlind director in order to instill community support among current students, consumer organizations, and the DeafBlind, ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt -0.25in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; line-height: 13.8pt;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">We believe that it is critical for students to seek competent role models in teaching positions. This shows students that after their training is completed, they too can live the lives they want.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ol><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in 0in 8pt; font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">We urge the Helen Keller National Center to work closely with the NFB DeafBlind Division and the National Federation of the Blind on these matters.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Aptos, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><font face="Aptos, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 14.666667px;">Copy division board, and interested persons.</span></font></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; line-height: 15.693334px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; line-height: 15.693334px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; line-height: 15.693334px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Maurice A. Mines, President <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; line-height: 15.693334px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">National Federation of the Blind Deaf-Blind Division <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; line-height: 15.693334px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Email: <a href="mailto:nfbdbpresident@mmines.org">nfbdbpresident@mmines.org</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; line-height: 15.693334px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Website: <a href="http://www.nfb.org/">www.nfb.org</a> <<a href="http://www.nfbdeaf-blind.org/">http://www.nfbdeaf-blind.org</a>> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; line-height: 15.693334px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Live the life you want. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; line-height: 15.693334px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">The National Federation of the Blind Deaf-Blind Division, a proud division <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; line-height: 15.693334px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">of the National Federation of the Blind, is a community of members and <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; line-height: 15.693334px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt; line-height: 15.693334px; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">we work together to help blind people live the lives they want. </p><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>NFB-DB mailing list</span><br><span>NFB-DB@nfbnet.org</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org</span><br><span>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFB-DB:</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-db_nfbnet.org/amyrowson%40att.net</span><br></div></blockquote></body></html>