[Nfb-editors] Divisions have Newsletters! NABS's most recent

[Robert Leslie Newman]

Here is the latest newsletter from the National Association of Blind
Students- "The Students Slate"  16 pages at 7408 words:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE STUDENT SLATE

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winter 2010/2011

 

 

 

 

Edited by Karen Anderson, Domonique Lawless and Sean Whalen

 

 

 

 

Published by

 

 

The National Association of Blind Students

 

Arielle Silverman, President

 




Table of Contents

 

Editor <> 's Introduction

 

Washington Seminar 2011: Legislative Priorities in the 112th Congress <> 

by Lauren McLarney

 

My Washington Seminar Experience <> 

by Nikki Jackson

 

The Secret to Winning a National Federation of the Blind Scholarship <> 

by Patti S. Gregory-Chang

 

Trust but Verify: Spotlight on the Virginia Association of Blind Students <>


by Corbbmacc O'Connor

 

74 Days <> 

by Mika Baugh

 

Teachers have Class <> 

by Eric Guillory

 

I See London, I See France, Yes, I <> 'm Blind, but Give me a Chance

by Rylie Robinson




Editor's Introduction

 

The semester has finally come to a close. The papers are all edited and
turned in, there's no more need to worry about finals, and there is finally
time to catch up on the sleep that we've been missing out on for the last
month. What a perfect time to sit back and enjoy the latest issue of the
Student Slate.

 

In this issue Eric Guillory talks about his experiences student teaching.
Mika Baugh writes about 74 days that changed her life. Rylie Robinson
describes how she overcame discrimination and went on a trip to London and
Paris. And Corbbmacc O'Connor explains the relevance of the phrase "trust
but verify," to running a successful student division.

 

The application for the 2011 NFB scholarships has been posted. Each year
several hundred students apply, hoping to be chosen as one of the top 30. In
this issue of the Student Slate Patty Chang gives us the inside scoop, and
tells us how we can put our best foot forward in the application.

 

As many of you are aware, the NFB is preparing for our annual Washington
Seminar. Each year members of our affiliates travel to our nation's capitol
to meet with members of Congress and discuss issues that are important to us
as blind individuals. In this issue of the Slate Nikki Jackson describes her
experience last year, and Lauren McLarney tells us about the issues we will
be fighting for in 2011. In addition to the meetings with Congress, NABS
will be holding its annual Winter seminar on Monday, January 31. The meeting
will begin at 9:00 AM and conclude at 3:30 PM, and will include a luncheon
for presidents of state student divisions. We are working on building the
agenda as we speak, so if you have suggestions please feel free to contact
us.

 

As always, we would like to thank those who took the time to write articles
for this issue, and we welcome your suggestions for articles for future
issues. You can reach us at slate at nabslink.org.

 

We hope you enjoy this issue, and we will see you in DC at the end of
January!

 

Washington Seminar 2011:

Legislative Priorities in the 112th Congress

 

by Lauren McLarney

 

>From the Editor: Lauren McLarney has been working in Baltimore at the NFB's
National headquarters for just over a year now, and she spends her days
fighting for legislative change to improve the lives of all blind Americans.
In this article, she provides a overview of the issues we will be advocating
for in January:

 

Monday, January 31st, the National Federation of the Blind will be meeting
in the Columbia Ballroom of the Holiday Inn Capitol Hill for the Great
Gathering In, the kick off ceremony to the 2011 Washington Seminar.   For
those unfamiliar, Washington Seminar is a four day long event where hundreds
of Federationists come to DC to meet with lawmakers and educate them on
issues related to blindness.  Every year, members are briefed on three major
pieces of legislation that the Federation considers a priority, and then
spend Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday on Capitol Hill meeting with their
Members of Congress to urge them to support our legislation.  

 

This year, our first priority will be the Technology Bill of Rights, which
establishes standards for nonvisual access to consumer electronics, home
appliances, kiosks, office equipment and office technology.  As touch
screens and digital displays replace traditional tactile methods of use, we
must ensure that blind people's civil right of access to these fundamental
products is protected by law.  Secondly, we will be advocating for an
initiative to improve the education of blind students.  Attorney's are in
the process of drafting model legislation, and we will share that
information with members before Washington Seminar as soon as it's
finalized.  Our third priority will be a bill to create opportunities for
blind entrepreneurs.  Specifically, the bill will have incentives for
purchasing products or services from a company owned by a person with
disabilities, as well as provide outlets for disabled people to create new
businesses.  Of the three priorities, only the Technology Bill of Rights was
on the 2010 legislative agenda. Thanks to the hard work of thousands of
Federationists, last year's number one priority, the Pedestrian Safety
Enhancement Act, has passed in both the House and the Senate and is headed
for Obama's desk!  

 

Because of the current political climate, most Americans seem to feel
disconnected from the political process.  People have the misconception that
they can't influence the law unless they are a high-powered lobbyist or
Washington insider.  This could not be further from the truth.  The bottom
line is that your Members of Congress work for you.  They are obligated to
listen because it is their job to serve your interests and needs and because
it is your votes that keep them in office.  Never underestimate the power of
grassroots advocacy and collective action.  

 

Of all the work we do as a Federation, few things have a greater impact on
the lives of blind people than the advocacy we do at Washington Seminar.
Last year, members of the Texas affiliate met with Sheila Jackson Lee
(D-TX). Within 24 hours, she was a cosponsor of all three bills.  After
several emails and meetings with a staffer in Chris Van Hollen's (D-MD)
office, he had yet to cosponsor our social security reform legislation.  A
few months later, a member of our Maryland affiliate approached Van Hollen
himself at an event and told him about the bill.  A few days later, he
became a cosponsor.  The passage of the Pedestrian Safety and Enhancement
Act can be directly attributed to the powerful grassroots lobbying of the
NFB, specifically at last year's Washington Seminar.  We talk about being
the voice of the nation's blind, so let's make sure those in power are
listening.  

 

Most organizations, special interest groups, and social movements have lobby
days.  The National Federation of the Blind has a lobby week.  Grassroots
advocacy is a vital part of the legislative process, and our members have
mastered lobbying their lawmakers.  Those who come to the event leave with
an appreciation for the political process, and the rewarding feeling that
they have just directly influenced public policy. Talk to your affiliate
President about how to schedule or attend meetings, or call the National
Center at 410.659.9314 and ask for Jesse Hartle or Lauren McLarney.  Help us
pass some bills - we will see you at Washington Seminar!

 

My Washington Seminar Experience

 

by Nikki Jackson

 

>From the Editor: Nikki Jackson is a recent graduate of the Louisiana Center
for the Blind, and a board member of the Georgia Association of Blind
Students. Last February she attended her first Washington Seminar. Here are
her thoughts on the experience:

 

The world of politics and legislation was never too appealing to me. It was
either too complicated to understand completely or it simply bored me to
death. However, after attending the 2010 Washington Seminar, I gained a new
respect for this world, the people, and hard-work that goes into it.

 

Prior to attending Washington Seminar, many people had shared their
experiences and opinions with me so I thought I had a pretty good idea of
what to expect. Little did I know the impact it would have on me.

 

Once I arrived, I really got to see the NFB at its finest and as the week
progressed, things just got better and better. I had the opportunity to see
how passionate the people of the Federation were about the rights of the
Blind community. It was quite inspiring. Being able to go to Capitol Hill
and discuss topics ranging from Silent Cars to Social Security really made
me feel like I was helping to make a difference not only for myself, but
others as well. I also had the opportunity to network with other
Federationists from around the country, which is equally important.

 

Since this was my first time visiting Washington D.C., I also wanted to do
some sight-seeing. I was able to go to a place called The International Spy
Museum where I had to act as a spy while following clues using a GPS device
to guide me through the city. Although, it wasn't exactly "blind friendly,"
it was a great way to visit different monuments and it was a lot of fun. 

 

Overall, my experience was one I will never forget. It rejuvenated me in a
way that made me want to really get involved with the NFB of my respected
state. I strongly recommend to anyone who is contemplating the idea of going
to do so. It's one of those things that many can only dream of doing and
it's a chance to help improve and work for the betterment of the Blind
Community.

 

The Secret to Winning 

a National Federation of the Blind Scholarship

 

by Patti S. Gregory-Chang

 

Reprinted from the Braille Monitor, October 2010

 

>From the Editor: Patti Chang is a past NFB scholarship winner, president of
the NFB of Illinois and a member of the NFB board of directors. Beginning
this year, she also chairs the National Federation of the Blind scholarship
committee. Since the application will be on our Website (www.nfb.org)
November 1, it's time for the annual article about the process, so this is
what Patti says:

 

Each July at our national convention the National Federation of the Blind
gives a broad array of scholarships to recognize achievement by blind
scholars. We offer thirty scholarships ranging in value from $3,000 to our
$12,000 Kenneth Jernigan Scholarship. The NFB Scholarship Program is our
investment in the future of blind people who demonstrate scholastic
aptitude, leadership, and service. 

 

I encourage every blind college student to apply. I am sometimes asked what
the secret is to winning an NFB scholarship. I am going to tell you the
secret.

 

First of all, applicants must meet the eligibility requirements to receive a
scholarship. All applicants for these scholarships must be legally blind;
must reside in one of our fifty states, the District of Columbia, or Puerto
Rico; must be pursuing or planning to pursue a full-time postsecondary
course of study in a degree program at an accredited United States
institution in the fall of the 2011-2012 academic year, except that one
scholarship may be given to a person employed full-time while attending
school part-time; and, if chosen, must participate in the entire NFB
national convention and in all scheduled scholarship activities. 

 

Many think the key to becoming a winner is a high grade-point average.
Others believe it is based on participation in extracurricular activities.
Still others think it is one's level of commitment to the NFB. While
grade-point average is important because it demonstrates the ability to
learn and be successful academically, it is not the only attribute that
influences the scholarship committee. Participation in extracurricular
activities is important in portraying oneself as a well-rounded person; it
is not sufficient in itself to justify a scholarship award. Committed
members of the organization recognize the attributes that are important to
committee members when determining who wins a scholarship.

 

The scholarship program is a tremendous tool for us to develop future
leaders of the National Federation of the Blind, but scholarship awards are
not restricted to members of the organization. The National Federation of
the Blind is an organization dedicated to creating opportunity for all blind
people. To that end recipients of NFB scholarships need not be members of
the National Federation of the Blind. Many of our past winners were not even
aware of the NFB before they applied for our scholarships. When you check
the records for past winners, you will see that students of all ages and in
widely differing fields have won over the years. The class of 2010 included
students entering their freshman year on up to older students who were
nearly ready to write their PhD dissertations. The winners of 2010 are
currently working toward credentials for employment as diverse as
veterinarian and teacher.

 

There is truly only one way to win an NFB scholarship, and that is to apply.
Each November the new, updated scholarship application forms are posted on
the Web at <www.nfb.org/scholarships> along with important information about
the contest, links to information on past winners, and a page of frequently
asked questions. The online application form for 2011 will be available from
November 1 to the contest deadline on March 31, 2011. The process can be
initiated with an online application, which we prefer, or students can
download a print application from the site. Any students who do not have
access to the Website may contact the scholarship office to request a print
copy of the form and other necessary materials. 

 

A complete application consists of the official application form and a
student essay, plus these support documents: student transcripts, two
letters of recommendation, and proof of legal blindness. The student must
also complete an interview with the president of the applicant's state of
residence or the state where he or she will be attending school. High school
seniors must also include a copy of the results of their ACT, SAT, or other
college entrance exams. Unfortunately, many applications are incomplete, so
the committee is unable to consider them fairly.

 

Applicants should be sure to provide all the requested information along
with support documentation. They should carefully consider who can do the
best job of writing their letters of reference. Letters should support the
application by being full of facts and observations that will help the
members of the committee see the applicant as a smart, active student and
citizen. 

 

Students can write their essays using word-processing software. They should
remember to use the spell checker (or a human proofreader) before printing
or copying and pasting it into the online application form. In an effective
essay the applicant will talk about his or her life in a way that gives the
committee insight into him or her. The essay should cover the ways in which
one lives successfully as a blind person and describe one's personal goals
for the future. 

 

Committee members give the essay a great deal of attention. The NFB
scholarship committee is comprised of dedicated, successful blind college
graduates, who will review all applications and select the top thirty
applicants as the scholarship class of 2011. 

                Note that students submit just one application to the
program; the scholarship committee will choose the thirty winners from all
applications received. These thirty scholarship winners will be notified of
their selection by telephone no later than June 1. Finally, during the
annual convention the scholarship committee will decide which award will be
presented to each winner. 

 

Attending the entire NFB national convention is one of the requirements to
become an NFB scholarship winner. Of course attending the convention is also
a significant part of the prize. This is the largest gathering of blind
people to occur anywhere in the nation each year, with 2,500 or more people
registered. Those chosen as scholarship recipients will have the opportunity
to network with other blind students, to exchange information and ideas, and
to meet and talk with hundreds of blind people who are successfully
functioning in many, many occupations and professions. Our past winners
often comment that the money was quickly spent, but the contacts they made
and the information they gathered at convention have continued to make their
lives richer than they ever imagined. 

 

Often students apply more than once before winning a scholarship, so
applicants are encouraged to reapply. The NFB may award three or even more
scholarships to men and women who have already received one Federation
scholarship in the past if enough strong and worthy candidates apply.
Individuals receiving a second NFB national scholarship are recognized as
tenBroek Fellows. The secret, if there is one, to winning an NFB scholarship
is to read carefully the application on our Website and then provide all of
the required information and supporting documentation before the deadline of
March 31, 2011. However, I actually maintain that there is no secret. The
only way to win an NFB scholarship is to apply.

 

Trust but Verify: 

Spotlight on the Virginia Association of Blind Students

 

by Corbbmacc O'Connor

 

>From the Editor: Corbbmacc O'Connor is a recent graduate of the George
Washington University in Washington DC, and, until last month, he served as
the president of the Virginia Association of Blind Students. Over three
years in his role as President, he gained many insights on effective
leadership through his experiences and from mentors in Virginia. In the
following article, he shares some of those insights:

 

The United States and Russia have long pursued a policy of "trust but
verify" on nuclear weapons. In a nutshell, they trust each other to reduce
their stockpiles of weapons but also check on each other's progress. The
best leaders in the National Federation of the Blind do the same.
Coordinators of the most successful events, chapters, divisions, and
affiliates trust that big events will succeed not flop, they trust that
money will be invested and not wasted,  and-most powerful of all-they trust
that volunteers will exceed expectations not disappear without warning.
Throughout the planning stages, however, these leaders aren't blindly
trusting; they're verifying, too. They're always thinking about what they
haven't yet anticipated, they're always keeping an eye on budgets, and
they're checking in with their volunteers to ensure everyone is on the same
page.

 

As I reflect on my last three years as the President of the NFB of Virginia
Student division, everything I have learned boils down to what Ronald Reagan
said many times: trust but verify. In Virginia, my mentors (our state
President, youth coordinators, and chapter presidents) trusted me to get
things done, but they checked in with me along the way. Over time, they
checked in with me less.mostly because I checked in and verified with them.

 

A few weeks ago, the state of Virginia held our 52nd annual convention in
Falls Church, 12 miles outside Washington, DC. As a member of the host
chapter, we knew that the convention would be a large undertaking, but we
also knew that it would be an even larger opportunity to try new things,
reach new people, and put new faces to work. As the President of our Student
division, I knew this would be a great time for what we called a "student
track"-a set of activities just for students that paralleled the general
session. (As a point of full disclosure, I give most of the credit to the
overall idea to my mentor, Tracy Soforenko, who planned a similar event two
years ago at our state's convention in Fredericksburg.)

 

So where does trust but verify come in? I trusted that if I gave people a
task, that they would do it. I trusted that we would have at least 15
students attend. And I trusted that when problems arose during the
activities, our team of mentors would be able to adjust. But at the same
time, I verified with each member of my team throughout the process. 

 

Here's an example of something you might be able to emulate with your next
event. I paired a more seasoned Federationist with two students and asked
that their team come up with three icebreaker activities for Friday night.
But, I told the more seasoned Federationist that while I valued her input
and direction, I wanted her to coach her team through the process. And I
checked in with this team three times before our convention.

 

This may at first seem like too small of a task for three people, but it was
just one of many opportunities that students had to learn to lead during the
weekend. We had students teaching orientation and mobility to first-time
cane users around the hotel and aboard the Washington Metrobus and Metrorail
system. We had students teaching other students how assistive technology can
be used in the classroom. And most fun of all to watch, we had students
mentoring other students throughout the weekend on topics like socializing,
walking through a cafeteria line, and overcoming the negativity about
blindness that students see every day. Every one of these activities, while
it may not have looked that way to the new students, was planned through
teams of people, whom I always trusted and frequently verified with.

 

I have heard a lot of negativity from state student divisions about how the
work that we as divisions do isn't possible everywhere. "Our state is too
rural," some say. "We don't have the money," argue others. One person even
said to me, "We don't have good mentors in our state." Those were similar to
the thoughts that I had when I took the reins of our student division three
years ago. Heck, three years ago, there wasn't even really a student
division in Virginia. We had a mailing list and a yearly meeting at
convention. My first year, I struggled to connect with my fellow elected
officers in the division to even brainstorm ideas.

 

Why did we turn out such a great group of students who proved the power of
positive thinking this past November? Because my mentors, my team, and I
trusted but verified every step of the way, from dreaming to brainstorming
to planning to executing.

 

If you assign teams to small tasks for each event, ask yourself two
questions. First, what's the best thing that could happen from this team's
work? And second, what's the worst thing that could happen? For me, what
would have happened if the team I mentioned before hadn't planned some
icebreakers? I had a few ideas that we could have arranged at the last
minute. That's not the end of the world. Instead, though, this team proved
that they could take charge, think creatively, and work together. If you
think positively and collaborate with your team on a mission statement for
the event, I bet you'll be positively surprised at the outcome.

 

Remember, though, to trust but verify.

 

74 Days

 

by Mika Baugh

 

>From the Editor: Mika is a college student in Indiana majoring in Psychology
and Gender Studies, and minoring in Spanish and Human Sexuality. She also
serves as the president of the Indiana Association of Blind Students. This
summer she had the opportunity to live in a completely new city while
interning for the Affiliate Action Department of the National Federation of
the Blind. Here is what she has to say about her experiences. 

 

I spent this past summer working as an intern at the National Federation of
the Blind Jernigan Institute. It was a privilege to work under the direction
of Dr. Joanne Wilson and the Affiliate Action team. The days were long and
the dress code was strict, but this was easily the most exhilarating summer
ever! 

 

When I arrived in Baltimore the weekend before I started the internship, I
was surprised to find that the usually active building was almost totally
deserted. It was Memorial Day weekend, so this made sense, but it was a
little startling nonetheless. Luckily, Dan Frye was available to let me into
the building and show me to my room as well as provide me with keys. I
mention this because Dan would save the day at least two more times when I
locked myself out of the building. Irresponsible, I know.

 

As I began working it became clear that a majority of my duties would
involve working on a joint project between the Affiliate Action and
Education team; a new website dedicated to teaching blind students. I was
excited as I am passionate about this topic, but I'll be honest, computers
and I don't see eye to eye too often. There was even a running joke between
the technology guy and I that he wouldn't have to worry about the economy
while I was there because my computer issues alone were enough to maintain
his job security. After a few rounds of battle with the design platform, I
managed to create, edit, and place over 50 lesson plans on the site in the
form of a wiki. Although this project was definitely not what I pictured
myself doing this summer, I am glad that this was my assignment. Working on
a real problem that affects real blind students while learning and
perfecting new skills makes me realize that there was nothing else I would
have wanted to be doing this summer. 

 

Among my other duties were helping to implement the Teacher of Tomorrow and
Teacher Recruitment programs. I was charged with making many phone calls to
NFB members around the country. It was awesome to be able to hear the
opinions of our members and get ideas about how to improve our programs;
their passion and excitement was palpable even over the phone. I'll admit
that I did have a few interesting talks while making phone contacts. It's
amazing the things some people will say or how quickly someone will share
their life story with you even though you have never met. But hey, we're a
family and every family has a least one or two crazy cousins! Our annual
family reunion just wouldn't be the same without them!

 

This year, our reunion took place in Dallas, Texas over the July 4th
weekend. As always, the convention was a spectacular display of independence
and enthusiasm for our movement. It was, of course, the busiest week of the
year. This was my 7th convention and I have been honored to attend as a
scholarship winner, a presenter, and simply as a conventioneer in the past.
But, let me tell you, this was by far the most action packed convention I
have ever experienced. Even though I was only an intern, my schedule was
packed. I really don't know how the National Center staff does it every
year! You don't realize how much thought, planning, and love go into a
convention until you see it from behind the scenes. So, next year when
you're exploring the hotel and you happen to run into a staff member or
volunteer, make sure you thank them because they're not just working;
they're helping to give you the gift of the National Federation of the
Blind.

 

Although I definitely stayed busy at work, I found some time to explore
Baltimore as well. One of my favorite weekend activities was to hop on the
bus and just go explore downtown, the Inner Harbor, or even visit some of
the suburbs. The best part of these bus rides was definitely the people! I'm
sure you've had a fair share of comical bus experiences so you know what I'm
talking about. My personal favorite was when a random guy on the bus decided
that I must have been "assisting the blind lady" next to me. A friend, who
uses a cane, and I, who had my dog, were riding the bus to the gym one day
when we overheard the man discussing our situation with his friend. "Oh,
that lady must be blind, and the other one is assisting her," he decided. I
don't know where he got the idea, but apparently my friend needed a cane, a
dog guide, and a sighted person to help her ride the bus! 

 

I walked sometimes too, but let's be real here; it was usually around 100
degrees outside and I don't like to sweat if I'm not doing a workout so I
usually took the bus, a cab, or the subway. Speaking of workouts. I thought
it would be a good idea to get to know some people outside of work, so I
joined a local rowing club for the summer. As much as I love rowing, I don't
love waking up before 5 a.m. to make it to practice on time. But, I did it
(on most days) and it definitely paid off. I met some great people,
demonstrated that blind individuals can be a valuable part of a sports team,
and prepared myself to try out for the National Adaptive Rowing team. I
didn't make the team, but the trip to Virginia for the selections was
another great experience to add to the list. 

 

Over the summer I also participated as a mentor in the 2010 Junior Science
Academy.  There were two sessions, each with 15 students in grades 3-6 from
around the country. I worked with three boys during the first session. I'm a
pretty active person, but those guys had so much energy that even I was worn
out! They learned about the 6 simple machines, played beep baseball, and
even took a field trip to a local fun park. Their parents participated in
concurrent sessions about blindness, and handed their children over to blind
mentors for the first time. Needless to say, I think we wore the parents out
too! 

 

I could tell you that this summer was an amazing experience. I could tell
you that I was honored to have the opportunity to work with some of the most
competent blind people in the world. I could tell you that I am much more
confident and prepared to contribute to our movement. The problem is,
though, that I would be selling you short if I told you those things.
They're true, but they're not the whole truth. The whole truth is simple;
this was the most phenomenal 74 days of my life!

 

Teachers Have Class

 

by Eric Guillory

 

>From the Editor: Eric Guillory is currently the director of Youth Services
for the Louisiana Center for the Blind. Before he held this job, however, he
spent several years as a classroom teacher. Here is what he has to say about
his experiences with student teaching:

 

Though the following events transpired thirteen years ago, they remain as
poignant in my memory as though they occurred only a few weeks
back-testament to the importance they played in strengthening my overall
resolve and in redefining the attitudes of one gentleman whose iron will was
often unshakable.

 

I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in secondary Social Studies Education
from the University of Southwestern Louisiana in December, 1997. It will not
surprise you to learn that in the pursuit of that degree, one must complete
a semester of student teaching. After completing the requisite paperwork,
attending a host of meetings, and several weeks of apprehensive waiting, I
received my assignment. As it happened, I was to student teach in a social
studies classroom at the high school from which I had graduated three years
previously-but with a gentleman I knew only in name.

 

I was to begin my duties in August, and, like each of my fellows, I
telephoned my mentor in May, before he began his summer break, to set up an
introductory meeting and to tackle any assignments he saw fit to give me at
that time. Remember that I said I was to student teach at my old high
school. The importance of this will be evident very shortly.

 

When I telephoned, I detected a considerable amount of reticence in his
manner. However, in speaking with friends who knew him, I learned that he
was generally a man who went his own way- always polite, but definitely a
person of independent thought and considerable intellect. Therefore,
initially, I attributed his brusque tone to the fact that he was wrapping up
the school year, finals were in full swing, etc. But, that all changed when
he said, "I'm not sure we even need to meet. I heard that you are . um .
sight impaired, and I'm just not sure this is going to work out. You might
want to try to get another assignment."

 

As you might imagine, my mind began racing, and the bluntness with which he
delivered what was essentially a groundless rejection left me feeling as
though I had been slapped in the face. I was truly sent reeling, and I
honestly do not remember what exactly I said next. After a minute or so of
quiet yet clearly tense dialog, he agreed to meet with me the following
Tuesday. That notwithstanding, he made it perfectly clear to me yet again
before our conversation ended that he did not have any confidence whatsoever
that our meeting would be a happy one.

 

Over the next couple of days, my shock and incredulity began to fade, and an
undeniable, slowly-intensifying anger began to take their place. I had
graduated from that high school, not only with honors, but in the gifted
program-in fact the recipient of several scholarships. I had also
participated in extracurricular activities requiring significant out-of-town
travel. And, while all of this certainly doesn't make me any better than
anyone else, it does demonstrate a high degree of academic and participatory
proficiency. Which of this gentleman's colleagues had discussed me with him?
Who had told him of my blindness and had perhaps have planted the seeds of
doubt in his mind? The more I considered it, the angrier I became. Yet I
knew that I had to remain professional when at last the day of our meeting
finally arrived.

 

My mentor and I met for approximately an hour or so, and he asked me a
series of questions, not only about my blindness and what kinds of classroom
management strategies I might employ to establish and maintain order,
deliver content, administer and grade tests, etc., but also about my
knowledge of the required subject material. He outlined his overall approach
and expectations, and I spoke to how I could easily operate within these
parameters. At the conclusion of our conference, he said "You know, when you
came through the door, I thought, 'I'm going to have to tell this guy he'll
need to try his luck elsewhere.' But, after speaking with you, I think that
it is definitely worth giving this a shot."

 

Imagine my overwhelming sense of relief. Still, I knew this would not be an
easy road. I happily completed the assignments he asked of me over the
summer in preparation for the fall semester, and these helped me immensely
in being well versed for each lesson I was to deliver. But, like anyone
else, I was understandably nervous-perhaps doubly so given my mentor's
misgivings.

 

In short, my student teaching experience was fantastic. My mentor and I
seemed to complement one another quite well, and, as the semester
progressed, he felt increasingly comfortable with delegating greater amounts
of responsibility. Was each and every day completely smooth and
problem-free? Of course not. No one is foolhardy enough to believe that
would be the case. However, I am happy to report that, by the end of my
experience, I was responsible for each of his five classes-covering three
distinct subject areas.

 

In one of our final meetings, he informed me why he had been so abrupt with
me during our first phone call. He said "I casually mentioned that this guy
named Eric Guillory was coming to student teach with me, and one of the
other teachers said 'Oh, but he's blind; how's he going to do that?' I in
turn replied 'What do you mean he's blind?' I guess I was just overwhelmed
and could not imagine a blind person performing all of the necessary tasks."
I in turn said that I came into the semester with two main objectives. The
first was to do as thorough a job of reaching his students and providing
them the information they deserved. The second, I said after a pause, was to
prove him wrong about my abilities. He smiled and admitted that I had done
both. And, this still humbles me, he continued, "I have had 14 student
teachers over the years, and I would put you in the top 3."

 

I hope that my story of triumph over doubt and disbelief will encourage and
strengthen others. But, it is worth noting that it could easily have gone
the other way-and regrettably has for so many in similar circumstances. My
experience, and those, both positive and negative, of others underscore the
importance of the National Federation of the Blind. Through the Federation,
we can celebrate our accomplishments, as well as advocate to change
adversities and potential defeats into glorious and life-altering victories.

 

I See London, I See France, 

Yes, I'm Blind, but Give Me a Chance

 

by Rylie Robinson

 

>From the Editor: Rylie is a recent high school graduate who is now attending
the Louisiana Center for the Blind. In this article, she recounts her
struggle to be treated equally and allowed to go on a class trip to Europe,
as well as her coming to the realization that such struggles are often worth
it:

 

>From the moment of my birth, blindness, to my family, and to even my future
friends, was not a new concept at all. My brother, who is three years older
than I am, is also totally blind, and when I grew old enough to start
attending school, I immediately began attending the Indiana School for the
Blind and Visually Impaired. My parents, who had already dealt with my
brother for a couple of years before I was born, had already completely come
to terms with the thought of total blindness. So, when I came in to the
world, I was immediately treated like everyone else, and I had most of the
same opportunities they all had, or at least I didn't know any differently.
The school for the blind was also a safe haven, and a place of complete
acceptance of blindness. To put it bluntly, I was sheltered from the reality
of a blind person living in a sighted world. I grew up blind, had a blind
brother, and lived with blind people at school five days a week. So when the
first case of discrimination actually happened to me, it was a complete
shock, and something that I wasn't really prepared for at all.

 

During the summer before my junior year, I received a letter from the People
to People ambassador program, inviting me to take a trip with them to London
and Paris. They said it would be an extremely educational and innovative
experience where I would learn about the culture and history of these
majestic, European cities. My dream for years had been to go to London at
some point, so right away, I knew I'd do all I could to be able to
participate in this experience. I immediately began to plan, and go over how
I would put together such a trip. There were many factors that I had to
think about before embarking on this journey: the money, missing school, and
the fact that I'd be traveling as the only blind person with all sighted
companions. The first two factors, especially the first one, overshadowed
this last one by a long shot, so I barely put any thought in to it. I simply
figured that this factor would smooth itself out once I met everyone, and I
was able to show them that I was an independent blind individual.

 

A few months later, my mother, not even myself, received a call from the
main office of the People to People agency. By this point, I had already
applied for the trip, talked to the group leaders, and I had most of my
plans in motion. It was already a definite that I was going. But, apparently
it wasn't at all. The agency stated that it would be a huge liability to
take a blind person along, and that I had to have a sighted person go along
with me to assist me as needed. What more, it was already expensive enough
for me to go, but they weren't even going to pay for this assistant at all.
They expected me to pay double what everyone else paid due to my blindness.
I had no idea what to do at this point. I knew I was being treated extremely
unfairly, but I didn't know how to proceed; I had never been in a situation
like that before. They simply didn't think I could take care of myself at
all, and they thought I'd need an assistant for everything. They even asked
my mother if I could dress myself without assistance. She said, "I didn't
even give them the courtesy of answering the question." We tried reasoning
with them, and eventually, we reduced the price of what we'd have to pay for
an assistant in half. They said this would be as far as they would go with
the negotiations.

 

It seemed we were stuck with no way to go forward. They said we could take
the terms, or I could cancel my application. This was when we asked the NFB
for advocacy assistance. I was put in touch with a lawyer who knew one of
the administrators at the school for the blind. This lawyer called the
agency, and another lawyer was called to represent the agency as well. What
was discussed most during these conversations was my independence. After the
two lawyers had their preliminary conversations, my lawyer called me and
asked me questions dealing with my own abilities. He asked such questions
as, "If you got lost, how would you react, and could you get out of the
situation in a calm manner?" and, "If all of the sighted people in your
group decided they didn't want to help you at all, would you be able to do
everything by yourself?" These were questions I had to think over carefully;
I had never really traveled independently before, and I had always been
around accepting sighted people and other blind people. But, I realized that
if it came down to it, I would do whatever it took for me to be able to go
to London and Paris, even if I had to show independence along the way. I
answered the questions that he asked me with an honest "yes," and he relayed
all of this back to the agency lawyer.

 

In the end, I was able to take my trip to the city I'd been dreaming about
going to, and I did have a wonderful time. I never got lost, and though I
did do a lot of things independently, I was able to get helped if asked.
Though the discrimination in itself was unnecessary, and something due to
sighted ignorance, it was definitely a learning experience for me. I was
able to really think about myself and evaluate myself as an independent,
blind person, and I had to ask myself whether I really was confident enough
and skilled enough to take on such an adventure, by myself if absolutely
necessary. I came to the realization that, even though I asked for help in
most situations before, I could do what I needed to do independently if it
came down to it. This self-evaluation really boosted my own confidence, and
it showed me just how determined I could be when it came to doing what was
necessary in a situation. It was a rather difficult and arduous journey to
take, but, in the end, I came out the victor, both in my case, and within
myself. Even within blatant discrimination, I was able to pull out the
positives, and I proved to myself, and to everyone else, that I could do
everything I said I could. At one point, I was so close to canceling the
whole thing; I didn't really think it was worth all that was being put in to
it. But, I realized that it was an even bigger picture than just going to
London. I was proving to myself and to other blind people that confidence
and determination really is the key. This is what will help us change what
it means to be blind.

 

 

Robert Leslie Newman

President, Omaha Chapter NFB

President, NFB Writers' Division

Division Website

 <http://www.nfb-writers-division.org/> http://www.nfb-writers-division.org

Chair, Newsletter Publication committee

Personal Website-

 <http://www.thoughtprovoker.info/> http://www.thoughtprovoker.info