[Nfb-editors] New Jersey "the Sounding Board" fall 2011
Robert Leslie Newman
newmanrl at cox.net
Wed Dec 28 18:47:55 UTC 2011
THE SOUNDING BOARD
Fall 2011
Katherine Gabry, Editor
Jerilyn Higgins, Co-editor
Published in print, by e-mail, on the Web, through Newsline and AudioVision
by
The National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey
www.nfbnj.org
Joseph Ruffalo, President
State Affiliate Office
254 Spruce Street
Bloomfield, NJ 07003
e-mail: nfbnj at yahoo.com
Letters to the President, address changes, subscription requests,
letters to the Editor and articles for The Sounding Board should be sent to
the
State Affiliate Office or e-mailed to specialk38 at aol.com. The editorial
staff reserves the right to edit all articles for space and/or clarity
considerations.
Please Note: The deadline for the Spring issue is April 1, 2012.
Sounding Board subscriptions cost the Federation about six dollars per year.
Members are invited and non-members are requested to cover the subscription
cost. Donations should be made payable to the
National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey
and sent to the State Affiliate Office.
The Sounding Board has been printed by Budget Print of Bloomfield, NJ.
A grant from the Fund for New Jersey Blind assists in our production costs.
To subscribe via Newsline, please contact Maria Baratta, 800-792-8322, ext
803.
If you or a friend would like to remember the National Federation of the
Blind
of New Jersey in your will, you can do so by employing the following
language:
“I give, devise and bequeath unto the National Federation of the Blind of
New Jersey, 254 Spruce Street, Bloomfield, NJ 07003, a non-profit
corporation,
the sum of $__ (or “__ percent of my net estate” or “The following stocks
and bonds: __”) to be used for its worthy purposes on behalf of blind
persons.”
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Holiday Party Flyer 3
Presidential Message, by Joe Ruffalo 4
Legislative News, by Lynn Reynolds 7
Budget Update: Maybe Only Half Was Lost, by Carol Castellano 8
My First NFB National Convention, by Eileen Carr 10
Some Thoughts on Being a Federationist, by Marion Gwizdala 11
Learning to be a Leader from Leaders: by Brian Mackey 12
Possibilities, by Carol Castellano 14
Meet the NFBNJ 2011 Scholarship Recipients 15
Growing up on the Wild Side, by Sue Tillet 17
Join LEAD Today! 19
The LEAD Experience in Baltimore 19
Computers Available, by Joe Ruffalo 22
A Letter in Support of Learning Ally, by Priscilla Garces 23
Thomas Edison: Renowned Deaf Inventor & Creator of Sound, Technology, by
Michele Guttenberger 24
A Reflection on 9/11, by Rachel Degenshein Lapidis 25
Sign Up for the Braille Readers are Leaders Contest 26
Prescription-Reading Device Now Available to All Blind Americans 27
FYI 27
>From the Kitchen of Jerilyn Higgins 28
NFBNJ Chapter News 29
NFBNJ Programs, Associations & Divisions News 32
AccessTech Training Classes 34
NFBNJ Contact Info 35
You’re Invited to the NFBNJ’s
After the Holiday Party!
Saturday, January 7, 2012, 1 – 5 p.m.
Crowne Plaza Hotel ● 36 Valley Road • Clark, NJ (Access Link accessible)
$25 per adult and $10 for children under 12
Make your check payable to NFBNJ and please include each attendee’s name,
phone number and meal choice. Mail to:
Joe Ruffalo/National Federation of the Blind of NJ
254 Spruce Street
Bloomfield NJ 07003
All payments must be received by December 27, 2011.
For additional information, call Joe at 973-743-0075.
We will have door prizes, a silent auction, a sing-along and a special
appearance
from jolly old Santa! Special note: If you would like a gift from Santa,
please bring a wrapped gift labeled with the name of the recipient.
MISTLETOE MAGIC MENU
Chef’s Holiday Salad with Cranberry Vinaigrette
Entrée (choose one):
Stuffed Chicken with Spinach and Ricotta Cheese
Honey Glazed Salmon with Cilantro Olio
Jr. Rib Eye topped with Garlic and Crisp Onions
Vegetarian dinner is available upon request
Warm Rolls and Butter
Fresh Seasonal Vegetables
Baked Sweet Potato with Cinnamon Butter
Chef’s Tiered Holiday Desserts
Freshly Brewed Regular and Decaf Coffees, Herbal Teas and Assorted Soft
Drinks
Special children's menu: Chicken Fingers and Fries
Please join us in celebrating the holiday season!
Greetings Fellow Federationists!
Once again, the members of the largest organization of the blind in the
nation and in the state continue to change what it means to be blind. Since
the last publication of The Sounding Board, our members have been busy with
a variety of events and activities.
The budget cuts faced by the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and
Visually Impaired were cause for concern, especially because the cuts were
targeted towards children’s education, and in particular, the cutting of 20
10-month teachers. Carol Castellano’s article in this issue highlights how
our members mobilized, the process that took place and the results of our
efforts. As you will read, we were successful, however Governor Christie
vetoed the line item.
The Imagination Fund once again has provided our members with the
opportunity to spread the word of our independence. Monies were awarded to
the NFBNJ, and in particular, to Thru Our eyes, our internet video/audio
programs; the New Jersey Association of Blind Students, which held an
extremely successful seminar in May with 120 in attendance; and funding to
allow several members to attend the Leadership/Building Membership Seminar
weekend held in Baltimore in early September.
In all our chapters and divisions, our membership is growing. So many blind
and visually impaired New Jerseyans can identify with the philosophy of the
Federation. Listenership with Thru Our Eyes has increased as Lenny and his
crew have added more opportunities to watch and/or listen. Our Students
Division has grown with involvement from members both old and new, and the
Leadership/Building Membership Seminar has resulted in the establishment of
our newest division, the New Jersey Association of Senior Blind, a division
of the National Federation of the Blind. For more information on this newest
division, contact Jane Degenshein at 973-736-5785. We’re also proud to
announce the start-up of two new chapters. The Glasstown Chapter, which
includes Cumberland and Cape May counties, became official on December 3 in
Vineland, and is most capably led by Lydia Keller (856-858-3518). The
Greater Atlantic County Chapter will be established January 21 in Absecon,
and Kathy Rawa (609-216-8757) will be taking the lead on this new chapter.
In April, the Leadership, Education, Advocacy and Determination (LEAD)
program participants traveled to the National Center in Baltimore for a
weekend seminar. An article highlighting the partnership of the NJ CBVI and
HIP in administering the program is featured in this issue. Students from
the Northern Region also wrote to us with their reflections on the weekend
seminar, and these letters are included in this issue.
The 35th State Convention of the NFBNJ was held Friday, November 11 through
Sunday, November 13 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Clark. With over 300 in
attendance, the excitement filled the convention hall from the opening
moments to the closing gavel. If you weren’t able to join us, check out the
agenda on our website at nfbnj.org. We celebrated 35 years of the NFBNJ as
an affiliate of the NFB, 35 years of the Northern Chapter, 20 years of the
Garden State Chapter, and 20 years of Parents of Blind Children - NJ, a
division of the National Federation of the Blind. We honored Carol
Castellano and the families who have established this strong parents group
that continues to make a difference in changing what it means to raise a
blind child. We were also proud to announce this year’s NFBNJ state
scholarship winners: Shafeka Hashash and Mark Colasurdo. An article
highlighting both of these remarkable students is found in this issue.
An extreme pleasure for me was welcoming former New York Governor David
Paterson to our convention. Governor Paterson addressed the audience with
information pertaining to the importance of fighting for Fair Wages for
People with Disabilities, House of Representatives bill H.R. 3086. This bill
calls for the elimination of Section 14C of the Fair Labor Standards Act,
which allows sub-minimum wages to be paid to people with disabilities.
Please contact Lynn Reynolds at lhr1827 at optonline.net and provide her with
your e-mail address to keep abreast of this issue and all other legislative
concerns.
We presented and passed two Resolutions at the conference. The first
Resolution states our disappointment that the executive director of the NJ
CBVI, Vito DeSantis, declined our invitation to address the audience, which
meant that there was no one to present the programming, projects and
policies of our state agency to our membership. The second Resolution
discusses the importance of striking 14C of the Fair Labor Standards Act, as
discussed above and in Lynn Reynolds’s article in this issue. The full
Resolutions are posted on our state website at www.nfbnj.org.
As of this writing, the Saturday video and audio from the convention are
being prepared. You will be able to watch or listen at www.thruoureyes.org.
In addition, WCTC conducted a live radio show from the ballroom on Friday,
November 11. Burt Baron of WCTC radio interviewed leaders of the NFBNJ to
get their take on the significance of the convention and the importance of
getting involved. Burt and his wife attended our banquet and will partner
with us in future events.
Our National Convention was held in Orlando, Florida this past July. An
article highlighting the opportunity to “Ride Into History” appears in this
issue and was written by a new member of the Garden State Chapter.
Our 3rd Annual After the Holiday Party will be held Saturday, January 7,
2012 at the Crowne Plaza in Clark. A flyer appears in this issue. Please
consider joining us for an afternoon of fun. Members, friends and families
are welcome.
Upcoming Important Dates
• January 4: Louis Braille’s birthday and the ending of the Braille
Readers are Leaders Contest
• January 7: 3rd Annual After the Holiday Party, 1 – 5 p.m., Crowne Plaza
Hotel, Clark
• January 21: The organization and establishment of the Greater Atlantic
County Chapter in Absecon
• February 6 – February 9, 2012: Washington Seminar
• March 31: National Scholarship applications due
• April 1: Deadline for articles for the Spring/Summer edition of The
Sounding Board
• June 30 – July 5: NFB National Convention in Dallas
• November 9 – November 11: 36th Annual State Convention of the NFBNJ,
location to be announced
As you can see, our members are getting involved and making a difference. In
this publication alone, more than 35 people contributed ideas and/or
articles. Don’t wait for someone else to take the lead. Get involved. You
can make a difference in changing what it means to be blind.
Yours in Federationism,
Joseph Ruffalo, President
LEGISLATIVE NEWS
By Lynn Reynolds, Legislative Coordinator
One of the main issues of this year’s National Convention and the subject of
a Resolution passed at our State Convention was the sub-minimum wage for
sheltered workshops. During the National Convention, a petition was made
available for all attendees to sign. Below is an excerpt from an article
written by Mary Ellen Thompson which appeared in the NFB of Maryland’s
summer newsletter. This lays out the issue and some of the reasons for the
NFB’s position:
“Since 1938 the federal government has sanctioned the practice of paying
many workers with disabilities less than the minimum wage, which is
guaranteed to other Americans. This practice was codified as Section 14C of
the Fair Labor Standards Act. Sheltered workshops and other businesses must
apply to the U.S. Department of Labor for exemptions from paying the minimum
wage. The Department in turn is supposed to inspect these facilities to
determine whether payment of less than the minimum wage is warranted.
However, several years may elapse before federal inspectors review the
practices of any given facility.
“The NFB has worked for decades to eradicate this discriminatory treatment
of disabled workers, but 2011 brought new urgency to the fight. In June we
discovered that, as part of the process of renewing the Workforce Investment
Act, which includes vocational rehabilitation, a new section, 511, had been
added. It provided that placement of a rehabilitation client in sub-minimum
wage employment would be equivalent to a competitive employment outcome. As
of this writing, Section 511 is a part of the proposed Workforce Investment
Act legislation.”
The HELP Committee is planning to mark up this bill this fall. Be watching
for what happens to it, and, if you have the chance, educate your neighbors
and your members of Congress about this issue.
There are 67 facilities that possess a special “sub-minimum” wage
certificate in the State of New Jersey, which not only allows them to
exploit the labor of people with disabilities through the payment of wages
less than the federal minimum wage, but it also denies these same
individuals the opportunity to receive the training and support necessary to
become competitively employed. NFBNJ’s Resolution regarding this issue is
available in its entirety on our website at www.nfbnjorg.
I would like to thank all of those who make the calls and write letters and
e-mails as requested by the National Center and also regarding issues from
our state. If you are not on my Legislative Alert list, please e-mail me
with your e-mail address, and I will add you to the list.
BUDGET UPDATE: MAYBE ONLY HALF WAS LOST
Number of Teachers Goes from 61 to 52
By Carol Castellano, President, POBC-NJ
It was a long, hard budget season. In February we were informed that the
Commission for the Blind had to submit approximately $1.5 million worth of
proposed budget cuts to the governor. The one proposal accepted by the
governor’s office was to eliminate the position of “10-month instructor.”
This meant that 20 teachers—some of the most experienced and effective at
the Commission—would be let go. It also meant that every penny of the cut
would come from services to blind and visually impaired children. From the
information we had, we calculated that one-third of the Commission’s
teaching staff would be eliminated as a result of this cut. Parents of Blind
Children-NJ sprang into action to try to protect services to our children.
Parents and children spoke at every budget hearing. In fact, Budget
Committee members learned of the proposed cuts from us! In all, more than
20 parents and children testified, and countless more parents and blind
adults wrote letters, sent e-mails and called their representatives’
offices. Although the Commission characterized this cut as “an efficiency”
and claimed it would not have a negative impact on services, key legislators
of both parties were sympathetic to our cause and did not think the cut
should be made. When it came time to submit their budgets at the end of
June, both Democrats and Republicans restored the money to the budgets they
proposed for legislation. Unfortunately, the next day Governor Christie
vetoed that line. The teacher positions would be gone.
According to an August memo issued by Commission Executive Director Vito
DeSantis, the Commission offered existing vacant 12-month positions to the
targeted 10-month teachers in March. However, not all of these positions
were jobs teaching children. This meant that many of the teachers would be
able to remain employed at the Commission but not necessarily as teachers.
In the meantime, the Communication Workers of America, the union to which
Commission teachers belong, filed a court challenge stating that any layoff
of teachers should be done by seniority. According to Vito’s memo, the
court agreed, and the Commission offered a settlement to resolve the
matter, involving converting five existing vacant positions into teaching
positions.
What’s the bottom line? How many teachers did we lose in the end? It seems a
simple question, but it’s hard to get an exact answer. According to Amy
Ricciardi, Education Coordinator at the Commission, there were 61 teachers
at the beginning of February, but there were also several vacant teacher
positions. Now there are 52 teachers. In Vito’s memo, he says that all but
three of the 10-month teachers were placed into 12-month jobs at the
Commission, but he does not say how many of these jobs were in departments
other than education. Amy says it’s difficult to say exactly how many
teachers—or teaching positions—were lost. Some teachers retired, one took a
job in another state, and the exact count depends on whether you include
teaching positions that were vacant back in February.
We are left with many questions: How many teachers—or teaching
positions—were actually lost? How many positions were lost in education (as
opposed to other departments)? Are any teacher positions vacant? Have there
been cutbacks in service? And, perhaps most puzzling of all, if moving
10-month teachers into vacant 12-month teaching positions and converting
other positions into teaching positions to prevent layoffs was a good
solution, why wasn’t this the idea the Commission presented to the governor
initially?
I’m glad that after all our efforts, we did not lose the full 20 teachers.
However, we fear that services to children will still suffer. The Commission’s
Northern Office went from 21 teachers to 17; the Central Office from 23 to
21; and the Southern Office from 17 to 14, and, so, caseloads have gone up.
In the Northern Office, the average caseload went from 30 to 37 students. In
the Central Office, the average is now 40, and the Southern Office is 38.
National standards recommend no more than 12 students per teacher.
Way back in June, Vito said that the Commission was drawing up plans for new
year-round services and that “stakeholders” would be included in the
process. So far, this has not occurred. Lately it has become extremely
difficult to reach Vito. Phone calls are not returned and e-mails go
unanswered. Over the many years he has been Executive Director, Vito was
always responsive to consumer calls, so this is a new development (since
February). I hope that communication lines will be open again soon so that
parents can become informed regarding Commission plans, and provide what we
know would be valuable and necessary input to the process.
Thanks to all the POBC parents, kids and friends who wrote, called,
testified, drove all over the state and helped us get press for our cause:
Dana and Paul Altman, Wendy Amodeo, William Black, Eileen Brouwer and Kirk,
Carol Castellano and Serena Cucco, Anne Marie Cavallo and Stephen, Amy
Darlington, Anju Dharia and Krish, Trish Digan, Mita Doshi, Carla Evans, Tom
and Gail Ferry, Susan Flynn, Marsha Gephart, Kathy Gerena, Audrey Golden,
Marie Griffin and Liz Morgan, Linda Halm and Michael, Shafeka Hashash,
Purnima Hernandez, Jerilyn Higgins, Vera Hough, Sajid Ishaq, Michele
Kozlowski, Ken Lawrence, Holly Miller, Magaly Milton, Gerard and Pam
Peterson, Dr. Sal Pizzuro, Carol Reed and Melanie, Lynn Reynolds, Carla
Richardson and Kayla, Joe Ruffalo, Ellie Schwartz, Pam Smith, Alison
Stephens and Nate, Ryan Stevens, Linda Zani Thomas, Patty Tumminello and
Anthony, Liz Valois, Roni Vandermark, Tamara Villagran, Frank Virgilio,
Sarah Weinstein, Kristen Witucki and Tami Wolfelsperger.
MY FIRST NFB NATIONAL CONVENTION
By Eileen Carr
Editor’s Note: Eileen is an active member of the Garden State Chapter. Three
times a week she swims at the Y, and she’s also active in her church. She
recently purchased a PC and is patiently waiting to start a computer class
in January.
For five of my 84 years, I have been visually impaired as a result of
macular degeneration. In July 2011 I attended my first NFB National
Convention in Florida. It seemed exciting enough to fly to Orlando on my
own; however, the convention itself was incredible! There were 2,900 people
in attendance from every state and many countries as well. There were
hundreds of folks using guide dogs and even more hundreds using white canes.
One young woman was guided by a horse named Confetti, a beautiful white
animal covered with black spots and perfectly comfortable in the midst of
crowds of people.
That same week, I was a passenger in a car driven by a blind man. I was
invited to ride by Joseph Ruffalo, the NFBNJ Affiliate President. We were
joined by two boys, Hank Miller, age 10, and Brian Woolbert, age 12. Our
driver was Anil Lewis, former president of the Georgia affiliate and
currently the Director of Strategic Communications at the National Center.
This amazing ride was accomplished through the use of special gloves worn by
the driver, as well as the special seat he sat upon. These two items are
high tech equipment that deliver information to the driver. The driver had
to be specially trained. We rode on a test track specially set up with
obstacles. Whenever Joe and I met afterward during convention week, Joe
would say, “Eileen we made history!” and indeed we did.
Michael Hingson was an inspiring speaker who told the story about his rescue
from the 80th floor of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. His
Seeing Eye dog guided him and many other people down 80 flights of stairs to
safety. He has written about his experience in his book “Thunder Dog.”
I also attended sessions concerning computer technology and JAWS, and
Newsline, a method of reading the newspaper and magazines using the
telephone. Additional seminars were for seniors, lawyers, diabetics,
teachers, students, merchants, children, Braille, parents of blind children
and multitudes of others.
The speech that impressed me the most was given by Dr. Mark Maurer, NFB
president. He pointed out (very vigorously) that it is incumbent on blind
people to educate themselves by whatever means to join in the work force
competitively. I must admit that my previous thoughts about sheltered
workshops seem antiquated.
Now that I have returned home, I feel that I need to put into practice what
I have learned. It will require work, but I feel it will enable me to become
more independent and be able to correspond better with family and friends,
blind and sighted alike.
SOME THOUGHTS ON BEING A FEDERATIONIST
By Marion Gwizdala, President, National Association of Guide Dog Users
When I speak with many blind people who find out I am a leader in the
Federation, I often hear them say, “The NFB should ...” You can fill in the
blank with a myriad of suggestions of what needs to be done to improve the
lives of the blind. Generally, my response is, “Are you a member of the
NFB?” The most frequent answer is “No!” This opens the door for me to share
that the Federation is a membership organization – a grass roots movement in
which each member must be actively involved in order for us to improve our
lives. It is not Dr. Maurer; it is not the Board of Directors; it is not the
people who work at the National Center for the Blind; it is not our
divisions, our affiliates or our chapters! It is each and every member of
the movement! I then invite them to become a member of the NFB and hear the
same tired excuses of not being a joiner, not having enough time, not
wanting to choose sides, not agreeing with the philosophy, yada yada yada
yawn!
“In other words,” I say, “you want someone else to solve your problems for
you and are unwilling to help. Is that right?” Of course, they think I am a
rude, obnoxious, belligerent Federationist, what my wife and I would call
"C.B." - Confirmation Bias - the bias that “All Federationists are (fill in
the blank)” and this experience confirms this belief!
I praise those of you who have joined me in our effort to improve the lives
of the blind. You have not made it someone else's problem to solve; you have
made it yours. To paraphrase the words of Mahatma Gandhi: “You are the
change you want to see in the world.”
LEARNING TO BE A LEADER FROM LEADERS: NFB LEADERSHIP BUILDING SEMINAR
By Brian Mackey
Editor’s Note: Brian is a board member of the Garden State Chapter.
What makes a good leader? If you look around the NFB, it is fortunate to
embrace and employ the talents of many strong, passionate and dedicated
leaders from which members, like myself, can aspire. My leadership idols
include Dr. Maurer, Pam Allen, Ever Lee Hairston, Joe Ruffalo, Mark
Riccobono, Anil Lewis, Carol Castellano and Linda Deberardinis. While
attending the NFB National Convention in Orlando, Joe Ruffalo mentioned the
upcoming Leadership Building Seminar, which spiked my interest. This seminar
was for individuals interested in becoming Federation leaders who would
expand our local chapters, recruit new members and promote the Federation
philosophy. I reflected on my Federation membership, my beliefs about the
NFB, and what I wanted to give and get from the NFB, and then I didn’t
hesitate in contacting Joe to inquire about attending this seminar. The rest
is now history.
On Friday afternoon I boarded the stifling hot bus (with no air
conditioning) filled with other excited individuals on the way to Baltimore
and to self-improvement. Luckily the bus ceiling air vents kept us a little
cooler, but our excitement and anticipation brewed until we arrived at the
Jernigan Institute. Upon our arrival, Jason Ewell and Joanne Wilson warmly
welcomed us. Over dinner we refreshed our energy and had lively
conversations as to what we may learn on Saturday.
Dr. Maurer began the seminar Saturday morning affirming what it means to be
an NFB leader. Leadership requires oodles of imagination, heaps of goodwill
and bunches of hard work, along with an ample amount of good times while
successfully completing the job. Hint: If you don’t want to do the work –
and enjoy it – then don’t take the position! Dr. Maurer expressed that you
have to want the job and be willing to work hard in order to do a good job.
We learned that leadership is the capacity to imagine how things could be
better, to inspire others to join the team and together accomplish a task
that improves the life of others. To enhance the lives of others, we need to
cultivate new approaches, new ways of thinking and new ways of dealing with
old situations. To enrich our chapters and divisions we need to encourage
new members to join and to get involved in various committees, projects or
an office.
After Dr. Maurer’s powerful and motivational speech, we broke into groups
for an ice-breaker. Together we discovered why we each became a
Federationist, why we are members and why we want to be an NFB leader. I am
a Federationist because it encourages and nurtures me to be more
self-confident and independent as a blind individual. Within the NFB, I can
associate with other blind individuals, share together what we have learned
and promote blindness awareness. Our groups discussed where to locate other
blind people and how to bond with them. Other blind persons could be found
at eye doctor’s offices, college disability services offices, churches,
senior centers, transportation services (such as buses, trains, planes and
taxis), Facebook, Twitter and through friends’ referrals. How can we bond
with other blind individuals? We all can easily speak about our different
eye conditions. Then we discussed resources available through the NFB:
NEWSLINE, the Independence Market, International Braille and Technology
Center (IBTC), the free white cane program, mentoring programs, training
centers, listservs, Bookshare, Learning Ally, NLS BARD, the NFB website and
publications, word of mouth, Washington Seminar and many others. And that
was just the first part of our day!
We then toured the IBTC and the Independence Market. The IBTC fascinated me
with the hundreds of devices available to the blind that were made in the
U.S. I checked out Braille embossers, Apple products, the KNFB reader and
many more. Onward we went to the Independence Market that supplies a wide
variety of merchandise for the blind/visually impaired along with free
pamphlets about the NFB.
Our afternoon session instructed us on how to make phone calls to potential
NFB members and how to discuss the free white cane program, NEWSLINE, and
the digital talking book player. While on the phone with the new contact we
could ask, “Are there any services that the NFB might provide for you
today?” We also learned how to handle negative responses. Then back to our
groups!
Dinner was great, but the day was not yet over. Our blindness skills and
group camaraderie were tested in our participation in two of three
challenges: driving the Blind Driver Challenge interface simulator, using a
real chain saw to cut wood and testing our knowledge about NEWSLINE.
Together we cheered and encouraged our group members in the activities. I
especially enjoyed the driving skills test of the Blind Driver Challenge
interface simulator. What an awesome experience. Perhaps someday a blind
individual – maybe me – will drive! I look forward to witnessing future
improvements to the Blind Driver Challenge. And those chain saw users – yes,
they all survived. There were no lost fingers or toes, and they each brought
home a souvenir: their cut piece of wood! Then, off to bed for a
well-deserved night’s sleep.
On Sunday, we were presented with several “what-if” scenarios, which we
brainstormed, and then our seminar came to an end.
What a great experience! I learned that I have an inner strength and, with
NFB encouragement, I can promote my self-confidence and build my leadership
qualities. I learned that a leader is loving, enthusiastic, able,
determined, ethical and responsible. Together we learn, we support, we
encourage others, and we promote the fact that blind individuals are capable
of full participation in society. Thank you, Joe and the NFB for a great
learning experience.
POSSIBILITIES
By Carol Castellano
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Future Reflections,
the magazine of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children. As
POBC-NJ celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, we thought the message is
as clear today as it was 20 years ago. Today, Serena is a graduate student
at Rutgers University working on her master’s in social work, and John is a
communications analyst for Governor Lincoln Chafee in Rhode Island.
It took my daughter Serena a long time to decide just what she wanted to be
when she grew up. Whereas my son was only four when he decided that he would
be a dinosaur scientist, it wasn't until she was seven that Serena realized
that her destiny in life was to be a folksinger. Happily she played the
chords to her favorite song, “Michael Row the Boat Ashore,” on my guitar.
Then came the presidential campaign of 1992. Serena was eight. She sat rapt
before the television listening intently to the speeches of both parties.
After the summer's two national conventions, she realized that it wasn't a
folksinger that she wanted to be after all;—it was a folksinging senator. By
late fall, having heard all three presidential debates, Serena was going to
be president.
Her barrage of questions about how she could learn to be president and
conversations about what politicians do kept up for so long that my husband
and I were convinced she really might go into politics when she was older.
In the late spring of that year, Serena went out with her father to pick
early snow peas from the garden. Coming inside with her basket of peas, she
told me she was very interested in gardening. “That's wonderful,” I replied.
“You'll be a big help to Daddy.”
Overnight Serena's interest must really have taken root, because the next
day she asked me if I thought the gardens at the White House were too big
for the president to tend, since the president is such a busy person. “Yes,”
I replied. “I'm sure there's a staff of people who take care of the White
House gardens.” “Well then, I won't be a gardening president,” she told me.
“I'll just be a gardener.”
The desire to be a gardener was still but a tender shoot when Serena took a
piano lesson just a few weeks after picking those peas and realized it was a
pianist she wanted to be!
Serena is at such a wonderful stage of life! Interested in everything,
trying everything out, she sees the world as her plum, ripe for the picking.
She believes in herself, as we believe in her. And since what people believe
largely determines what they do, it is critically important for parents of
blind children (and other adults in the child's life) to have positive
beliefs about blindness and what blind people can do.
If we are told (in a journal article or by a teacher of the blind, say) that
blind children usually do not or cannot learn how to do a certain task, and
if we come to believe this, chances are we will not give our child the
experience or opportunity anyone would need in order to do this task. And
chances are the child won't learn to do it.
Imagine, though, if we and our blind children were never told that blind
people couldn't accomplish a certain thing. Imagine what the results might
be if everyone believed that blind people could do anything they wanted to!
Well, I believe this and attending NFB National Conventions has solidified
this belief for me. It is this belief which guides the way I bring up my
daughter.
My husband and I know personally or have heard speak a blind high school
teacher, college professor, mathematician, scientist, car body mechanic,
industrial arts teacher, Foreign Service officer, engineer, a
high-performance engine builder and a man who has sailed solo in races from
San Francisco to Hawaii. This makes it possible for us to glory in the
exhilarating feeling of watching a child look toward the future and see only
possibilities.
MEET THE NFBNJ 2011 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS:
SHAFEKA HASHASH AND MARK COLASURDO
Congratulations to Shafeka Hashash and Mark Colasurdo, well-deserving
recipients of this year’s NFBNJ scholarships. We’re also pleased to announce
that Shafeka was a NFB national scholarship winner. Both Shafeka and Mark
participated in the Opportunity Plus program sponsored by CBVI and
administered by Heightened Independence and Progress this past summer.
Shafeka worked for John DeWitt & Associates, and Mark worked in a
chiropractor’s office. Shafeka and Mark received the CBVI/TBBC Covering the
Bases Award for outstanding involvement in their community. We are confident
that both Shafeka and Mark will change what it means to be blind. A
biography of each student follows.
Shafeka Hashash and her family became involved in the NFBNJ’s Parents of
Blind Children when Shafeka was five years old. While her mom, Hannah,
serves on the board of POBC, Shafeka has emerged as a leader in her own
right. She has participated in the Washington Seminar and presented at
several State Conventions and POBC seminars. Shafeka is vice president of
the NFBNJ’s Students Division, and this past year, she submitted a
successful grant proposal to the Imagination Fund to conduct a seminar
planned by students, for students.
Shafeka graduated this past June from Bergen Academy for Business and
Finance, an extremely competitive high school. She demonstrated her
involvement and leadership qualities as the captain of the mock trial team,
chair of the Joint Crisis Committee and a member of the Junior Statesmen of
America. She was recently a guest speaker at CBVI’s teacher conference
Shafeka has received numerous honors and awards in international efforts in
the field of disability and advocacy sponsored by the Clinton Global
Initiative, and the following academic awards: Governor’s Award for
Outstanding Student, Senate Citation for Exceptional High School Students,
member of the National Honor Society, honor roll throughout high school,
member of the dean’s list for four years and finalist in the New Jersey
Scholar Program.
Shafeka has served as an intern with Congressman Steve Rothman since
September 2010. In addition, her work experience in a deli has provided the
opportunity to teach others that blindness is a different ability, not a
disability.
Shafeka is attending New York University and studying political science and
international relations with an emphasis on Middle Eastern studies. She
plans to continue her education by attending law school or graduate school
for international studies and aspires to be a foreign service worker in the
United Nations or a non-governmental organization. Her goal is to work in
the Middle East in international law with a focus on disability rights
awareness and advocacy.
Mark Colasurdo attended the Marine Academy of Technology and Environmental
Science, an advanced magnet high school that focuses on math, science and
technology. In the fall of his junior year, Mark enrolled in the NFB
Louisiana Center for the Blind. Mark knew no Braille when he arrived at the
Louisiana Center, but after four months there, he was reading Braille at 80
words a minute. His skill and confidence in Braille was further demonstrated
when he took his SAT exam using Braille and achieved a score of 2100. In
high school, Mark was a member of the National Honor Society and was active
in sports. He was a member of the cross country team and the indoor and
spring track teams, and Mark’s team members witnessed his determination to
achieve his educational, vocational and personal goals.
As a member of the NFB, Mark has raised funds for the Race for Independence
and attended Rolex 24 in Daytona this past winter. At this event, he, along
with hundreds of others, witnessed Mark Riccobono, a blind driver, making
history. Mark has attended several National and State Conventions, the
Washington Seminar, the College Leadership program and the 2011 Youth SLAM.
The SLAM program features science, technology, engineering and math for high
school students with vision loss, and all subjects are taught by blind
mentors. Mark was also an active member of New Jersey’s Leadership,
Education, Advocacy and Determination (LEAD) program.
In the summer of 2010 Mark was granted an internship at Children’s
Specialized Hospital where he worked with children who had disabilities or
were terminally ill. He has also worked as a waiter, bus boy and kitchen
worker.
At Lehigh University, Mark is enrolled in the Integrated Degree in
Engineering and Arts (IDEAS) honors program. He plans to study bio-medical
molecular biology and minor in computer science. Mark’s educational goal is
to attend medical school, and his vocational goal is to become a research
scientist or doctor. His main interest is in stem cell research pertaining
to blindness and tissue regeneration.
GROWING UP ON THE WILD SIDE
By Sue Tillett
Editor’s Note: Sue’s entertaining and informative essay on growing up in the
1960s was published in a recent edition of Future Reflections. Below you’ll
find the beginning of the essay; the website address for the essay in its
entirety is listed at the end of the article.
My parents knew nothing about how to raise a totally blind child.
Fortunately for me, they set the gold standard for not being overprotective
and for not letting me use my blindness as an excuse to get out of doing
things at home. (I used it to the hilt in school though, something I am not
proud of today.) My parents kept up a united front, so we kids couldn't play
one against the other. They gave us a lot of freedom if we didn't abuse it.
We could roam all over town, as long as we showed up at six o'clock for
dinner. That meant six o'clock – not one minute after six!
I was the middle child of three, with a brother nine months older and a
sister five years younger. My brother taught me to wrestle, climb trees and
join in neighborhood games. Since I wasn't taught to use a cane, he walked
me to and from school until I began walking with friends. My parents
constantly got calls from neighbors saying, “Your daughter is up in our
tree,” or “Sue is on our garage roof!” My parents calmly told them to go
back inside. “Don't look,” they'd advise. “She'll get down the same way she
got up there.”
Like most blind students in New Jersey at that time, I started out in my
neighborhood school. I disliked school from my first day. To me it was a
hardship that simply had to be endured. Kids teased me; I had some learning
difficulties; and teachers felt sorry for me and pushed me along, ignoring
the problems.
When we were six and seven, my brother Jeff and I were allowed to take the
train together from Princeton to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to visit our
grandparents. When I was seven I was allowed to take the trip alone. In
fifth grade, when my parents shipped me off to Perkins School for the Blind,
I traveled from New Jersey to Boston and back on my own. Without a cane, I
was completely at the mercy of conductors, bus drivers, flight attendants,
the Travelers' Aid Society and the kindness of strangers. At Perkins I was
always being punished for the terrible things I did – standing up on the
swings, sliding down the banisters and sneaking off to my room for a little
privacy.
In the fall of 1963 I left Perkins and returned home to attend high school.
I began my freshman year with trepidation. After four homesick, unhappy
years at Perkins, however, I was thrilled to be living at home again and
delighted to be back in public school. I worked hard and even made the honor
roll my first semester.
The Braille versions of my high school textbooks rarely arrived on time.
Eventually I hired a couple of classmates as readers. I used a slate and
stylus to take notes in class, and often asked classmates if I could share
their notes. When I took a test I would type my answers on a manual
typewriter, or I would have to stay after school and take the test orally
with the teacher. My father read to me faithfully every single day of our
life together. He gave me a wonderful appreciation for books, although I was
an adult before I enjoyed reading on my own for pleasure. I was, and still
am, a slow Braille reader, but I wouldn't trade Braille for anything. I
can't imagine how I would have gotten through school or held my various jobs
without it.
Outside of school I had an active social life. I joined a Mariner Scout
troop and made some good friends. We had wonderful troop leaders. They got
us involved in service projects, took us on camping and canoe trips, and
taught us to sail. Our troop owned two sailboats and two canoes, and we
spent many afternoons on a nearby lake. We all became good sailors. During
my senior year, 10 of us took a week-long cruise on a 59-foot schooner out
of Mystic, Connecticut.
With my friends I was fearless and outgoing, but I was a totally different
person in school. I never raised my hand if I didn't understand something
and only rarely if I did. Despite all my activities and adventures, I was
not completely comfortable in my skin as a blind person. I was ill at ease
with anyone I didn't know, and I just wanted to be invisible.
To read the rest of Sue’s compelling story, please go to
http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/Publications/fr/fr30/2/fr300205.htm.
JOIN LEAD TODAY!
LEAD – Leadership, Education, Advocacy and Determination – is a program for
high school students, grades 9 through 12, who are on grade level and
experiencing vision loss. The LEAD program was established in 1998, is
funded by the NJ CBVI and is administered by Heightened Independence and
Progress (hip). The program mentors are successful blind adults who teach,
enhance and demonstrate the skills and techniques of blindness. Past
activities have included: Activities of Daily Living, Financial Procedures,
Interviewing Skills, Resume Writing, Job Opportunities for the Blind, Audio
Described Plays and Movies, Mobility, Shopping Techniques, Assistive
Technology, Scholarship Opportunities and many more. To learn more about
LEAD, contact Maria Valentin (201-996-9100) or call your regional
coordinator today.
Northern Region: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Warren
Mentors: Joe Ruffalo, 973-743-0075, Jerilyn Higgins, 973-239-8874
Central Region: Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset,
Union
Mentors: Sherlock Washington, 732-208-5353, Ohmny Romero, 732-888- 2170
Southern Region: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland,
Gloucester, Salem
Mentors: Ryan Stevens, 856-858-3518, Holly Westerfeld, 609-296-6330
THE LEAD EXPERIENCE IN BALTIMORE
Editor’s Note: Below is a collection of thoughts from the Northern Region
LEAD students regarding the Baltimore LEAD weekend event. Each student
expressed thanks for attending the event, and told us which activities were
most meaningful.
Tanesha Caswell: The Baltimore experience had a great impact on me. I love
to see women and gentlemen taking their time to change what it means to be
blind. I enjoyed the seminars this year because they were all about what it
takes to be independent, especially in the work force. This is important for
me because I start college in the fall. I also learned how to properly act
at an interview. I made many memories and learned many lessons that will
remain with me for a lifetime.
Michael Clapcich: One of the things that I will remember is that it doesn't
matter whether you are a blind employee or a sighted employee, either way,
you need to have certain good qualities to be a strong employee. The
workshops were realistic; there were explanations, demonstrations and
hands-on opportunities for the proper ways of working as a car washer, a
cook in a fast food establishment, working in retail, etc. I also enjoyed
going to the Independence Market because I was able to purchase a talking
watch without the assistance of anyone. This experience gave me more
confidence in myself.
Hamlet Diaz: Before this trip, I had thought that it was only up to me to
determine whether I have potential or not, but the people with whom I
surround myself also determine my potential. It is my responsibility to
surround myself with people who are going to expect great things from me,
and this will force me to work harder to achieve my goals. Those people are
the ones who will help me to succeed in life.
Another thing that I learned from the trip is how to act on a job interview.
When blind people arrive at an interview, they should explain to the
interviewer right away their method of transportation and what they use to
take notes. The interviewer will use that information to determine whether
the employee will be reliable. A thank you letter should always be written
to the interviewer, too.
I know that all of those things that I learned will help me to succeed in
life. I hope that future LEAD students receive the opportunity to attend
this type of seminar.
Anthony Gilio: I recently joined the LEAD program and am so glad I did. This
was my first year attending the Baltimore event, and I learned a lot. The
activities were great. All of the blind and visually impaired people on the
panels speaking about their lives were inspiring. Before this trip I never
went shopping without help. At the Independence Market I had the experience
of shopping independently. I also loved the technology center. I could have
spent a week there. It was all awesome.
Alfonso Harrell: I learned that no matter what vision a person has, they can
reach their goals. I had a great time discovering ways of accomplishing
tasks we have in life. Finding role models who have done what I want to do
and being able to ask the questions that I needed answered will help me to
find the strength to achieve my goals. The obstacles and opportunities will
be determined with our hard work and desire to make a difference in all our
lives.
Shadiyya Harrell: This is my first year in LEAD and attending the Baltimore
trip. Learning skills and techniques is vital to improve your confidence.
Once your confidence has been lifted, it makes it somewhat easier to move
forward to accomplish your goals. This was evident throughout the weekend.
The agenda provided an overview of possibilities; with hard work and
motivation, I know that achieving my goals is possible.
Shafeka Hashash: My favorite parts of the Baltimore event were hearing the
stories of other blind persons and how they overcame hurdles. One story
that is very different from my own but that had a great impact on me was
from a BISM student who lost his vision immediately following a shooting.
His recovery process and his will, strength and ability to persevere were
incredible. His story and those of all the other mentors provide truth, some
comedy, and I know touched all of the students in their own way because each
of us has experienced situations similar to those of the speakers in
Baltimore.
I always enjoy visiting the International Braille and Technology Center, as
well as the NFB Independence Market. The staff at the IBTC provides a
nonbiased approach to technology, since all their equipment is purchased
rather than donated. Lastly, I enjoyed the job panel that included a blind
lawyer. I aspire to go to law school, so to hear another talk of his journey
and how his dreams became his reality just strengthened my dreams all the
more.
Carlos Danny Herrera: The weekend in Baltimore tremendously changed my
attitude regarding blindness. I learned the correct way of interviewing for
employment. Also, there is so much information to gain from touring the
building, visiting the technology center and viewing all the adaptive
equipment in the Independence Market. This is my third year attending the
Baltimore weekend and with each year I gain more knowledge and confidence to
deal with my vision loss. The opportunities and possibilities I know now
are endless.
Kyle Kreske: I learned a lot, and I met many competent blind and visually
impaired people. The entire agenda was meaningful. I learned a great deal
regarding adaptive equipment from the Braille and Technology Center, and
from the panels I learned how to conduct myself during an employment
interview. I feel this experience will better prepare me for my future.
Claress Knight: This is my first year in LEAD and the first time I have
attended the NFB Baltimore trip. I was amazed with all the interesting
things I saw, learned and participated in. I enjoyed the workshops dealing
with retail sales, car washing, cooking, etc. The blind/visually impaired
people on the panels were so inspiring and the tour of the technology center
and the Independence Market were amazing. I enjoyed the seminar on job
interviewing and learned the proper way to conduct myself in an interview,
both the pros and cons. The video shown regarding the blind driver challenge
was so encouraging, learning that one day blind people will be able to
drive.
Jade Ramos: This trip was really motivational for me. My favorite part was
when we did the mock interviews. I’ve wanted to get a job for a while and
the interviews helped me to see what is actually going to happen when I do
apply. Another thing I enjoyed was the games we played because I was able to
see different views on what blind/visually impaired people think they can
and cannot do. I also enjoyed the seminar and workshops. The video about
the blind driver challenge at the Daytona race track was amazing!
Daniel Romero: This was my last year at the Baltimore trip, and, once again,
I left with a huge amount of knowledge that I will use in the future. It was
really interesting to listen to people’s thoughts on subjects such as “Would
you let a blind person do the electric work in your house?” “Would you let a
blind person cut your hair?” “Would you date a blind person?” It was an
amazing experience to talk with Marc Riccabono, who drove the car made for
blind individuals. Best of all, it was on a personal level. I looked at new
note takers at the IBTC, and I might request one from CBVI for college. This
is coming from someone who is not a note taker fan. I’ve been using
computers since eighth grade, and I’m about to graduate high school.
It’s always a great pleasure to see the staff from BISM. When I talk to
them, it reminds me to really consider attending a training center. I will
be setting up a tour at the Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM)
training center.
I’m extremely appreciative of everything I’ve learned. Continue providing
this program for kids in the future. They need to become better people with
fun incorporated into it.
Allison van Etten: Thank you for the trip to Baltimore. I really enjoyed
being there. I enjoyed the presentations about the car that is being
developed for the blind to drive. It was very interesting, and I can't wait
to try it. I was able to learn new things at the workshop I attended
relating to cooking, and I also learned the proper strategies of job
interviewing. I like traveling to new places. It gives me a sense of
independence to do this without my family’s help. I feel this was a very
worthwhile experience.
COMPUTERS AVAILABLE
By Joe Ruffalo
The At-Large Chapter received a donation from one of its members who worked
for an insurance company that was upgrading its computers. John Vernaleken
discussed the need for the computers for our chapter, and a deal was made.
About 37 computers were delivered to Brian Keene’s home in Fair Lawn. During
the next several months, Brian reviewed each computer and got all of them
ready for distribution. At this writing, 28 computers have found homes, and
several computers are waiting to be adopted. If you’re interested in one of
these computers, please contact Brian at bkeene777 at gmail.com (in the Subject
line please write “Free Computer Program”) or 201-797-5628. Brian will
provide the specifications and answer all your questions. Thanks to John for
asking; thanks to Brian for receiving, working on and distributing the
equipment; and thanks to Brian's wife, Ilene, for agreeing to store the
equipment in the basement.
A LETTER IN SUPPORT OF LEARNING ALLY
By Priscilla Garces
Editor’s Note: Priscilla wrote this letter to U.S. Secretary of Education
Arne Duncan in support of the accessible educational materials project and
Learning Ally. Priscilla is a former LEAD student, a member of the College
Leadership Program 2009, a member of the Students Division and a recent
graduate of Seton Hall University.
Learning Ally has a long-established relationship with the Department of
Education and has had broad support in Congress, state departments of
education and 10,000 schools from coast to coast. I urge you to continue
that support by holding a competition for the development, production and
distribution of educational materials in accessible formats to students with
visual impairments and other print disabilities.
As a student with a visual impairment, it is vital that the funding
should be continued because of the fact that many of us have the right to
equal opportunity. Equal opportunity includes the accessibility of materials
in alternative formats as well as the right to equal education. Since 1997,
Learning Ally has helped me tremendously throughout my education due to the
timely manner in which books are accessed as well as the ease of learning
through listening. Not only did Learning Ally lighten the load of my heavy
backpack, but the books on tape made me understand the academic material
since I focus better when someone else reads the material to me rather than
reading the texts myself. Recorded books, along with my braille computer,
make studying more efficient since the recorded materials are crucial
supplements added to the use of braille for visually impaired people.
Learning Ally greatly benefits other people with print disabilities because
reading materials become easier through listening which motivates them to
excel academically and keep up with the rest of the students in the
classroom.
Thanks to Learning Ally, I have had the privilege of becoming part of the
National Academic Honor Society in high school. As a college student, I have
greatly benefited from this program being that I was able to participate
along with my sighted peers in terms of academic success. Every night I
would get out my portable Daisy player and read my textbooks anywhere on
campus in order to catch up with my assignments. Throughout college I
maintained a GPA of 3.00 because of their support and motivation in knowing
that anyone can accomplish great success through their hard work and effort
no matter their disability. Learning Ally's support will be uncertain if the
funds are discontinued. By the shifting of funds, many students will fall
further behind in their education due to lack of accessible materials. By
students falling behind in their schoolwork, their GPA and academic success
would be significantly impacted because of textbooks being produced in other
alternative formats in an untimely manner. The quality of Digital MP3 books
recorded by a computer-generated synthetic voice greatly affects the
students who have significant learning disabilities due to the lack of
understanding of the reading material.
Therefore, Learning Ally is a critical partner in the success of hundreds of
thousands of students, and federal support of their efforts, leveraged with
private philanthropy, has made much of their work possible. Continue USDE's
30-year commitment to students with disabilities and hold the competition.
THOMAS EDISON: RENOWNED DEAF INVENTOR & CREATOR OF SOUND TECHNOLOGY
by Michele Guttenberger
While developing his telephone transmitter in July of 1877, Thomas Edison
envisioned a machine that could record and play back telephone messages.
Edison laid out the designs for his idea and gave it to his machinist, John
Kruesi, to construct. A pivotal milestone in history was made the first
week of December 1877 when a sound generating machine called the phonograph
was invented. The phonograph was one of the most remarkable inventions of
its time. However, what is even more awesome is that it was invented by a
person who was completely deaf in his left ear and had 80 percent hearing
loss in his right ear. Without argument, one can say that the phonograph
was invented by a deaf inventor.
Edison’s hearing loss was a result of childhood scarlet fever. He sustained
further hearing loss at the age of 14 from a head trauma incident. Edison
spent his entire adult life with almost total hearing loss, yet he felt
inspired to make these sound machines that he physically could not fully
appreciate. We are reminded that physical challenges do not disable great
visionary minds. They instead trigger these great minds to journey beyond
their own physical boundaries to inspire invention of that which is closed
off to them in their everyday world.
This past August, the Thomas Alva Edison Museum started workshops on how to
make the museum more welcoming for visitors who are blind or visually
impaired. Joe Ruffalo, Carol Castellano and Christena Gunther (from Access
& Community Programs at The Metropolitan Museum of Art) offered their advice
and perspectives on the potential talents the blind have in presenting the
world from a different angle. This may be the start needed to lure
visionaries with physical sight limitations to invent visual wonders that
only they can revolutionize from a sightless perspective.
You can see the display of Edison’s phonograph inventions at the Thomas Alva
Edison Museum, 211 Main Street, West Orange. The museum is open Wednesday
through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the fee is $7. Visit our website for
more details: http://www.nps.gov/edis/index.htm.
A REFLECTION ON 9/11
By Rachael Degenshein Lapidis
Editor’s Note: Rachael is a former editor of The Sounding Board. She is the
daughter of Jane Degenshein and the niece of Joe Ruffalo.
Ten years ago today, the day before my 19th birthday and about a week before
my sophomore year of college was to begin, I was woken up around 9 a.m. by a
phone call from Justin Lipper. He told me to turn on the TV – a plane had
hit the World Trade Center. I was in my childhood home and still in the
stupor of sleep and shock as I walked dazedly through the house trying to
find my mother. She was in the basement on her exercise bike, watching the
coverage. It was before the second plane had struck, and we watched
together, her pedaling an outlet for the anxiety we were both feeling, while
I paced a diagonal on the carpet. We had no idea what was happening and
being just a few miles from New York City, panic was starting to rise in me.
We could see the skyline's rising smoke and ash from our windows. Should we
leave? Where could we go? Were we safe?
It was hard to comprehend how the world changed in that instant – seeing all
the people running from places they had considered safe; witnessing the
stalwart resolve of others and the selfless sacrifice for strangers and for
country.
We could not contemplate the world ever being the same again – ever feeling
at ease flying on a plane, ever looking at those around us without
suspicion, ever wondering what this all meant; how or whether we should try
to appease those who attempt to hurt us.
We got a call, I don't know whether it was that night or the next, from our
cousin Linda. She had purchased a block of tickets to see the unstoppable,
record-busting show The Producers on Broadway months before. Now some of
those who were supposed to go were too afraid to go into the city. Did we
want the tickets? I could understand their reluctance. Those were days
heavy with solemn anticipation. My mom and I decided to go. I think it was
the first night the theaters rose from black, but it might have been the
second. I remember how empty the streets were. I had never seen New York
without the bustle, and probably never will again. The city was in a
stupor; it had been knocked out of its natural state. Still, everyone we
encountered looked at us, and I mean really looked. There was a sense of
connection with the other people who walked out in the open that day, with
the servers at the restaurant, with the subway token takers. There was a
palpable, resonant frequency, thrumming like a low hum.
The show was a riotous release. The audience needed to laugh (that's what
audiences do) and the performers needed to perform (that's what they do) and
both played their roles a little more earnestly than normal … maybe.
Nathan Lane did not perform, but Brad Oscar and Matthew Broderick were as
good as we could imagine. We almost forgot our circumstances in those few
hours. We almost forgot that this theater was still situated in the place
and time that would forever be post-9/11 New York.
At the end of the show, after the curtain call, the cast assembled on stage
and lead the standing, appreciative audience in a round of God Bless
America. The tears rolled (and now, as I remember), but the sense of
connection with these strangers and with the country was one of the
strongest musical experiences of my life.
Ten years later, flying has become an entirely different enterprise, and a
number of our fears have allayed, or lie dormant, because no other attack
has been successfully completed. I cannot fathom the loss of those in the
towers that day, or of those who loved them. The personal experiences of
the rest of us seem colorless by comparison, but the full array paints the
picture of a nation changed.
The twin experiences of morning panic and evening resolve are fresh and
almost reassuring to me now. This is what it means to be human. This is
most connected I have felt to humanity and to my own humanity.
SIGN UP FOR THE BRAILLE READERS ARE LEADERS CONTEST!
Submitted by Mary Jo Partyka
At this year's NFBNJ State Convention, the Braille Division honored the
following people, mostly youth, who participated in the 2010-2011 Braille
Readers are Leaders contest sponsored by NFB National: Mehir Doshi, John
Dowling, Mikayla Gephart, Zyshon Goldsmith, Isabel Nutt, Ashlee Preston,
Omar Tzic and Brian Mackey. Because they took the time to read Braille and
to participate in a forum which appears to be undervalued today because of
technological inroads, we salute them.
The 2011-2012 National Braille Readers are Leaders contest began November 1
and will continue until Louis Braille's birthday on January 4, 2012.
Prospective participants can register at any time during the contest period.
All information concerning this contest can be found at www.nfb.org/bral. I
hope many of you will consider participating this year.
If you are interested in learning Braille, our Division sponsors a Braille
Mentoring Program where prospective Braille learners are paired with those
who are proficient in Braille. Please contact me for more information.
PRESCRIPTION-READING DEVICE NOW AVAILABLE TO ALL BLIND AMERICANS
>From the En-Vision Press Release
Editor’s Note: En-Vision America is trying to persuade major pharmacy chains
that this program is valuable to blind customers. The pharmacy chains
maintain that there isn't enough need for them to spend the money to
participate in the program. If you can benefit from this program, please
contact En-Vision America.
En-Vision America, Inc. has announced a program to aid the blind and
visually impaired in obtaining accessible prescriptions. Under its Pharmacy
Freedom Program, eligible individuals can get a free ScripTalk Station
reader that allows them to access their prescription label information.
Participating pharmacies attach a small RFID, or radio-frequency
identification, label to each prescription. The RFID label includes all the
printed information that’s available to a sighted person, including
warnings, dosage information, side effects, script number and doctor’s name.
The ScripTalk reader provides a safe, private, independent way for the blind
and visually impaired to manage their medications, and it helps pharmacies
comply with ADA regulations in serving their patients. In fact, it is the
only product on the market to provide full label information in a way that
meets ADA, FDCA and HIPAA regulations. To sign up for this free service,
contact Anna McClure at En-Vision America to provide your pharmacy details
and get your free reader: En-Vision America, 1845 Hovey Ave., Normal,
Illinois 61761; 800-890-1180, fax 309-452-3643; www.envisionamerica.com.
FYI …
• Just a reminder that NFB-NEWSLINE now offers subscribers the ability to
access job classifieds and apply for open positions. To access the job
listings, subscribers call in to Newsline (the listings are currently only
available via phone) and press 9 from the main menu. From there,
subscribers can set up their search profile by identifying the zip code from
which the job listings are culled, and create and save their search
preferences by category and keyword. The job listings are pulled fresh from
the classifieds provider on each call, so subscribers always get the most
up-to-the-minute search results.
• Ron Gardner, at the National Center, is compiling a list of veterans
who are blind. It doesn't matter if the vet was blinded in combat or has
since become visually impaired or blind. One of the goals of this project is
to build the NFB’s National Association of Blind Vets, which is under the
direction of Dwight Sayer. For more information and/or to get on the list,
contact Ron at rgardner at nfb.org.
FROM THE KITCHEN OF JERILYN HIGGINS
Editor’s Note: Jerilyn is an active member of the NFBNJ and serves as first
vice president, chapter president, scholarship chairperson and co-editor of
The Sounding Board. She is employed as an ADL instructor in the Essex SCILS
program and is a Northern Region mentor in the LEAD program. In her spare
time, Jerilyn can be found in the kitchen cooking.
Baked French Toast Casserole
I love this Paula Deen breakfast recipe! I make it when family comes to
visit.
Ingredients:
1 loaf French bread (13 – 16 ounces)
8 large eggs
2 cups half-and-half
1 cup milk
2 TBS granulated sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
Dash of salt
Praline Topping (recipe follows)
Directions:
1. Slice French bread into 20 slices, 1 inch each. (Use any extra bread
for garlic toast or bread crumbs.) Arrange slices in a generously buttered 9
x 13 flat baking dish, in two rows, overlapping the slices.
2. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar,
vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Beat with a rotary beater or whisk until
blended but not too bubbly.
3. Pour egg mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered
evenly with the milk-egg mixture. Spoon some of the egg mixture in between
the slices.
4. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.
5. The next day, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
6. Spread the Praline Topping evenly over the bread and bake for 45
minutes, until puffed and lightly golden.
7. Serve with maple syrup.
Praline Topping
2 sticks butter 2 TBS light corn syrup
1 cup packed light brown sugar ½ tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup chopped pecans ½ tsp ground nutmeg
Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and blend well. Makes enough for
Baked French Toast Casserole.
NFBNJ CHAPTER NEWS
Editor’s Note: You’ll find contact and meeting information for all our
Chapters, Programs, Associations and Divisions on pages 35-36 of this issue.
CAPITAL CHAPTER, by Mary Jo Partyka, President
Since the last issue of The Sounding Board, our members met with staff from
the Outspoken Library, which is in the building where we meet. The Outspoken
Libraries are located in most counties in New Jersey, and their purpose is
to make themselves available to blind patrons who are unable to download
books from the BARD site or who want more information about Newsline or
Audiovision. Our goal is to educate Outspoken Library staff concerning the
need for speech options so that blind people will be able to use this
equipment independently. During the summer, we enjoyed our annual picnic,
and in October, we had a booth at the Quakerbridge Mall, where we
distributed NFB literature for our Meet the Blind Month activity.
CENTRAL JERSEY CHAPTER, by Jerilyn Higgins, President
In September, we had a delicious lunch at Haley’s Harp and Pub in Metuchen.
Following the meeting, there was a demonstration on the iPhone and how to
download several apps, which are all accessible. For our Meet the Blind
Month activity, we had a table in the Menlo Park Mall and handed out NFB
literature and discussed blindness issues. In November, we met for an early
informal chapter meeting/breakfast in the hotel restaurant, before the
excitement of the State Convention began. December 9, 2011 was our holiday
party at Haley’s Harp and Pub. For those interested in brushing up on their
Braille, call Barbara Finan to schedule a time before or after the chapter
meetings: 732-738-1996. Each month our chapter members participate in the
Grace Lutheran Church food drive by bringing the food item of the month to
our meeting.
All those living in Middlesex County, interested in joining us and are
registered with Middlesex County Area Transit (MCAT), please call Kelly
Leary to reserve a ride to our meeting: 732-388-1322.
GARDEN STATE CHAPTER, by Ryan Stevens
This year commemorates our chapter’s 20th anniversary, and we’ve had some
momentous events, as well as members’ notable accomplishments, to celebrate.
First, in April, one of our members, Sandy Litzenger, gave a Blind Awareness
and Guide Dog presentation at Woodcrest Elementary School in Cherry Hill.
The children were very receptive to all the information Sandy had to offer
and were enamored by Kelsi, her guide dog. Sandy wanted to share blind
awareness, as well as the proper rules when you meet a guide dog. Next, we
had five members attend the National Convention in Orlando in July,
including first-timer Eileen Carr. While in Orlando, Eileen had the
opportunity to ride in the “blind car” that had been driven at the Daytona
Speedway back in January. She said that witnessing history firsthand was a
truly inspiring experience.
Over the summer, member and current LEAD student Elizabeth Morgan attended a
college preparatory course at the Joseph Kohn Rehabilitation Center in
cooperation with Raritan Valley Community College, where she earned college
credits while still in high school. She was one of only 11 students
throughout the state to attend. We are very proud of her.
We held our elections in August, and speaking of LEAD students, three
graduates from the Southern Region are now members of our board. Melissa
Hurff was elected to her first full term as secretary after doing a
fantastic job finishing out an unexpired term. Also, Charles “CJ” Hilliard
and Brian Mackey are now freshmen board members. It’s wonderful to see the
next generation taking leadership roles. President Ed Godfrey, Vice
President Ryan Stevens and Treasurer Linda DeBerardinis were also re-elected
to help our younger officers as they take on their new responsibilities.
We had planned our annual picnic, this one to celebrate our milestone
anniversary, on August 27 at Red Bank Battlefield Park. We even had
commemorative T-shirts made to mark the event. Sadly, Hurricane Irene
caused its cancellation. We did, however, wear the shirts at our September
17 meeting, take a group photo, and celebrate at the post-meeting lunch.
Four of our members, Marie Griffin, Melissa Hurff, Sandy Litzenger and Brian
Mackey, attended the Leadership Building Seminar at the National Center in
Baltimore over the weekend of September 9 - 11. This seminar focused
primarily on building membership at the chapter level. Melissa also
represented the Students Division.
For Meet the Blind Month, our chapter had a table at the Cherry Hill Charity
Yard Sale. Some of our members donated items to sell for fundraising, and,
of course, we handed out informational pamphlets and Kernel Books.
Several members attended the NFBNJ 35th Annual State Convention in Clark;
and, in a really nice twist of fate, the national representative was our
chapter’s founder, Ever Lee Hairston. What a great way to re-energize our
Federation spirit.
NORTHEAST CHAPTER, by Debbie Azzarone
Autumn greetings from the Northeast Chapter! Let's start off with happy
news. We had two graduates in our chapter this year: Jessica Scannell, who
graduated from college, and Shafeka Hashash, who graduated from high school
and has started her college adventure at NYU. We couldn't be prouder of them
both.
We had two social events this year: Our annual chapter anniversary party in
the spring and our annual barbecue this summer. We also continued with our
fund raisers at Shop Rite, where we were very successful. Our weekly web
radio show, Thru Our Eyes, is still going strong. Please tune in every
Wednesday night at 8 p.m. at www.thruoureyes.org for some entertaining and
informative shows. Lenny and Lori, who run the show, are crossing their
fingers that the Imagination Fund will come through again this year with a
grant to keep the station going. All of you: Please remember to contribute
and raise funds for the Imagination Fund; they are a big help to all of us
in every chapter.
I hate to end on a sad note, but this wasn't a good year for us in terms of
losing members. We lost our dear friend and longtime member Francine Plescia
earlier this year. She fought a long hard battle with cancer, but God took
her home and put an end to her suffering. We also said good-bye to Louise
Facchini, an original member as well, and our president's, Dan Facchini's,
mother. Before our membership grew too large to fit, Louise hosted our
meetings and our summer barbecues at her home. We all miss them both very
much.
NORTHERN CHAPTER, by Rebecca Irvin
The Northern Chapter is off to a great start for the fall! We’re adding new
ideas and new committees, such as Health and Fitness, along with our very
important established committees, like our Legislation Committee. Our goal
is to provide committee responsibilities to all who would like them. Please
come out and join us!
SALEM CHAPTER, by Anna Jordan, President
Greetings to all! Our location has recently changed, and we’re now meeting
at the Tri County Independent Living Center, 1501 Oakland Ave, Millville,
NJ. Four of our members attended the Leadership Building Seminar at the
Jernigan Institute in Baltimore. In other news, we had a fundraising
celebration at the Cumberland Mall where we also spread the word about
blindness to our community. Come and join us in securing equality and
opportunity for the blind.
NFBNJ PROGRAMS, ASSOCIATIONS & DIVISIONS NEWS
ADOPT ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT, by Lynn Reynolds
We were able to recently assist in filling a request for a CCTV, thanks to
Joe Ruffalo, and 28 computers were donated to our members. We also have a
request for another CCTV. If anyone has a donation they would like to make,
or if there are any requests, please contact Ed Godfrey or me to be added to
our list. Please remember that that some donations may require repairs and
that exchanging the equipment is done between the two parties.
ASSOCIATION OF GUIDE DOG USERS, by Vincent Chaney
As advocates of guide dog users, we in the NJAGDU Division work to inform
public places of the legal rights of those who use service dogs. We plan to
proactively advocate the two resolutions we submitted in 2009 and 2010. Our
proposals are to follow-up on Resolution 2010-01, altering the guide dog
laws from a civil offense to a criminal offense in New Jersey, and
Resolution 2009-03, Attack of a Guide Dog. Our members wrote letters to
their assembly and senate persons to support the respective bills regarding
the Attack of a Guide Dog bill this year. When our division is prepared, we
will look to our NFBNJ family and friends to contact their senators and
assembly persons in New Jersey to aid us in our cause. We are pleased to
report that Assemblyman Robert Schroeder (District 39) joined our monthly
conference call on October 17. We were inspired and appreciative of his
participation in our call and for his guidance in setting up an advocacy
plan.
Marion Gwizdala, President of the NFB NAGDU Division, joined us to share
information about the NAGDU Information & Advocacy Hotline The hotline is
available anytime by calling 888-NAGDU411 (888-624-3841), or help NAGDU save
toll charges by using the local number of 813-658-5749.
We have discussed information about the new federal guidelines for a service
animal that took effect on March 15, 2011: a service animal is “any dog that
is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an
individual with a disability.” We have also taken time during our meetings
to share experiences we have had with our guide dogs with the other members
on the teleconferences.
The NJAGDU includes members who have been working with their dogs less than
one year to those working for many, many more than that. If you are a guide
dog user in New Jersey, we invite you to join our division, to interact with
our members and support our causes.
DIABETES DIVISION, by Vincent Chaney
The Diabetes Division is proud to have celebrated our third anniversary as a
division at this year’s 35th State Convention. We’re also pleased to have
had our fourth workshop at the convention. We have had guest speakers join
us during our monthly dial-in meetings. The topics covered on our monthly
meetings include diet, accessible blood glucose meters, blood testing, oral
medications, insulin, insulin pens, insulin pumps, and any other diabetic
medicines or products that interest our members. We share information and
come together to support each other. Research has shown that to network with
others having similar conditions will add years to a person’s life. Please
join our NFBNJ Diabetes Division and not feel alone with diabetes and a
visual impairment.
DIVISION TO PROMOTE THE USE OF BRAILLE, by Mary Jo Partyka
The Braille Division participated in a fantastic event at the State
Convention! We partnered with Parents of Blind Children, and, as part of our
workshop, we honored the Braille readers who participated in the Braille
Readers are Leaders contest sponsored by NFB National Center.
The Braille Division sponsors a Braille Mentoring Program in which those who
are avid Braille readers can help someone who wants to learn the
fundamentals of Braille. Please contact me for more information.
MERCHANTS DIVISION, by Anna DeSantis
The National Association of Blind Merchants held its 11th Annual Business
Leadership & Superior Training (BLAST) Conference in Nashville September
20-24. This year's event was attended by approximately 600 people and was
an exceptional learning experience. The conference offered many interesting
speakers and breakout sessions devoted to a variety of business
opportunities, all of which increase our business knowledge and ventures.
The Randolph-Sheppard Act is the law under which blind merchants all over
the country are able to own and run their own businesses. The majority of
American blind people who are employed are employed under the
Randolph-Sheppard Act.
Nick Gacos, president of the National Association of Blind Merchants, did an
outstanding job in organizing and running this year's BLAST. Next fall’s
conference is being planned in Chicago. This is a worthwhile conference to
attend. The dates will be posted in the Spring edition of The Sounding
Board. Anyone interested in our program should contact me or Lynn Reynolds.
GET CONNECTED!
AccessTech
COMPUTER TRAINING CLASSES
AVAILABLE FOR BLIND AND LOW VISION NEW JERSEY RESIDENTS
Did you know that you can learn to use a computer even if you are blind or
visually impaired? AccessTech classes are fun and free-of-charge. Little or
no computer experience is needed!
LEARN:
• To send and receive e-mail
• To surf the Web
• Low cost alternatives to screen readers and magnifiers
LEARN TO USE:
• The latest assistive technology hardware and/or software
• Screen readers, such as JAWS For Windows
• Screen magnifiers, such as ZoomText
SPONSORED BY:
The New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired
LOCATIONS:
Statewide at public libraries and other community facilities; inquire for
current sites and counties served.
ENROLL: Contact 877-447-6500 Press Option #3, or info at 4dewitt.com
NFBNJ CONTACT INFORMATION
NFB National Center
President
Marc Maurer 410-659-9314
NFB State Affiliate
President
Joseph Ruffalo 973-743-0075
First Vice President
Jerilyn Higgins 973-239-8874
Second Vice President
Mary Jo Partyka 609-888-5459
Secretary
Beatrice Oliveti 201-430-9314
Treasurer
Tom Ferry 973-694-5922
Board Members
Evelyn Valdez 908-206-8701
Dan Facchini 201-906-8655
Lynn Reynolds 908-251-5510
Ryan Stevens 856-858-3518
Linda DeBerardinis 856-764-7014
Michele Chaney 732-251-8650
NFB of NJ Chapters, Meeting Info and President’s Contact Info
At-Large Chapter
Last Thursday, 8 p.m.
712-432-0180
and enter code 460994
Capital Chapter
Third Sat., Lawrence Library, 2751 Brunswick Pike, Lawrenceville,
10 a.m.
Mary Jo Partyka 609-888-5459
choirnfb at gmail.com
Central Jersey Chapter
Second Sat., Grace Lutheran Church, Perth Amboy, 9:30 a.m. - noon
Jerilyn Higgins 973-239-8874
jdhiggins3 at verizon.net
Glasstown Chapter
First Sat., YMCA, Vineland, 11 a.m.
Lydia Keller 856-696-3518
nfbnj at yahoo.com
Garden State Chapter
Third Sat., Kennedy Memorial Hospital
auditorium, Cherry Hill, 10 a.m.
Ed Godfrey 856-848-6372
egodfrey137 at comcast.net
Northeast Chapter
Third Sat., St. Mathew’s Church, Secaucus, 10 a.m. coffee, meeting at 11
a.m. www.ThruOurEyes.org
Dan Facchini 201-906-8655
danfb at verizon.net
Northern Chapter
Third Sat., Free Public Library, 3rd Floor, Newark, 10 a.m. - noon
Rebecca Irvin 973-723-6559
rirvin14 at optonline.net
Ocean Chapter
Second Sat., Ocean County Public Library, Toms River
Michael Halm 732-370-1797
Mbhrr15 at gmail.com
Salem Chapter
Third Mon., Tri-County Independent Living Center, Millville, 10:30 a.m.
Anna Jordan 856-696-3905
ajjordan29 at verizon.net
NFB of NJ Divisions
Association of Blind Merchants
Dan Facchini 201-906-8655
danfb at verizon.net
Association of Blind Students
Evelyn Valdez 908-206-8701
tweetybaby19 at comcast.net
Association of Guide Dog Users
Vincent Chaney 732-251-8650
vgc732 at optonline.net
Association of Senior Blind
Jane Degenshein 973-736-5785
Jdegen16 at comcast.net
Diabetes Division
Vincent Chaney 732-251-8650
vgc732 at optonline.net
Division to Promote the Use of Braille
Mary Jo Partyka 609-888-5459
choirnfb at gmail.com
Parents of Blind Children
Carol Castellano 973-377-0976
www.blindchildren.org
blindchildren at verizon.net
Technology Division
Michele Chaney 732-251-8650
msc732 at optonline.net
Programs and Projects
Adopt Adaptive Equipment
Lynn Reynolds 908-251-5510
lhr1827 at optonline.net
Ed Godfrey 856-848-6372
egodfrey137 at comcast.net
Blind Children’s Resource Center
Carol Castellano 973-377-0976
www.blindchildren.org
blindchildren at verizon.net
Braille Mentoring Program
Sue Tillett 609-924-7489
suetillett at verizon.net
Mary Jo Partyka 609-888-5459
choirnfb at gmail.com
Imagination Fund
Evelyn Valdez 908-206-8701
tweetybaby19 at comcast.net
Legislative Coordinator
Lynn Reynolds 908-251-5510
lhr1827 at optonline.net
Membership
Beatrice Oliveti 201-430-9314
beatrice.oliveti at gmail.com
Linda DeBerardinis 856-764-7014
ldeber at comcast.net
NFB Newsline
Bill Dougherty 732-283-1688
Bbd118 at comcast.net
http://www.nfb.org/newsline1.htm
Press Release Committee
Tara Carty 973-650-4438
sugarfreet at gmail.com
Scholarship
Jerilyn Higgins 973-239-8874
jdhiggins3 at verizon.net
Thru Our Eyes/Internet Radio
Lenny Azzarone 800-572-0181
www.ThruOurEyes.org
vdoman at optonline.net
Deadline for the Spring 2012 issue is April 1, 2012.
CHECK US OUT ON THE WEB AT
www.nfbnj.org www.blindchildren.org www.thruoureyes.org
To receive The Sounding Board and other information via e-mail,
please contact Beatrice Oliveti at beatrice.oliveti at gmail.com.
***
Robert Leslie Newman
President, Omaha Chapter NFB
President, NFB Writers' Division
Division Website
<http://www.nfb-writers-division.> http://www.nfb-writers-division.net
Chair, Newsletter Publication committee
Personal Website-
<http://www.thoughtprovoker.info/> http://www.thoughtprovoker.info
More information about the NFB-Editors
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