[Nfb-editors] New Affiliate Newsletter! by Oklahoma

[Robert Leslie Newman]

National Federation of the Blind 

of Oklahoma

457 N. Blackwelder

Edmond, Ok 73034

www.NFBOK.org

 

Official Newsletter of the National Federation of the Blind of Oklahoma

Volume 2, Issue 1,

January-February 2012

 

Contents

1. Editor’s Note

2. A Message From the President

3. Callie Chappell goes to the Louisiana Center for the Blind (LCB)!  An
interview 

4. Make Your Voice Heard

5. Getting started with the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch

6. Chapter News

7. Calendar

 

*****

Editor’s note

Audrey T. Farnum

 <mailto:secretary at nfbok.org> secretary at nfbok.org

 

Greetings, I hope everyone had a great holiday and wish you well for the New
Year. We start the year off with information about the NFB training centers,
accessible voting and an introduction to using an iDevice with Voiceover. I
hope you find the information helpful. As usual, I am always open to article
ideas and submissions. Send articles, ideas or questions to
<mailto:secretary at nfbok.org> secretary at nfbok.org.

 

*****

A message from the President

Jeannie Massay

 

Much of my own research and that which interests me is primarily focused on
human perceptions.  While that topic might not interest you in particular,
it is not how we see, smell, touch, etc. that interests me but rather the
ways in which we think, feel and interact.  After having lost vision, I
certainly noticed that there was a huge disparity between how I thought
people, in general, reacted and interacted to and with me, before and after
vision loss.  Going to restaurants, and shops, I soon found, that wait staff
and sales people asked my friends or family what I wanted or what I needed.
Strangers would grab my hand, and tell me to not worry that they would help
me out.  For a while, I thought that this was what life would be like as a
blind person.  I had never met a blind person before.  I knew that a white
cane and Braille were involved but at that time, I did not know that there
were any other blind people around.  I finally met other blind people in
Oklahoma,  mostly good people with good intentions but somewhat misguided
perceptions and philosophy about blindness.  I felt alone and depressed
about what I thought the rest of my life would be like.

 

I went to get some blindness skills training.  That was the first thing that
gave me a clue as to the possibilities that existed for me. In retrospect, I
would have chosen a different program for training than I did at the time. I
went with the information that I had.  While my training offered excellent
orientation and mobility, an introduction to Braille and assistive
technology, along with basic homemaking skills, I was not exposed to a truly
alternative philosophy about blindness, not yet anyway. 

 

I did figure out that I would be able to return to school and pursue a
Master’s Degree. Something I had planned on doing for quite some time. 

 

Fast forward a few years. 

 

In graduate school, I began searching for grants and scholarships to
supplement my income while in school. I found that the national Federation
of the Blind had an awesome scholarship program.  I thought that, you know,
being such an excellent blind person, that I would get a scholarship.  I was
wrong.  

 

However, that year, I actually went to my first NFB of Oklahoma convention.
I was nominated to be on the affiliate board, yes, at my first function.
That ended up turning out pretty well. 

 

Long story, short, I attended my first National convention not long after
that.  My great epiphany came about while there in Dallas.  For the first
time, I understood that it was a combination of how others saw me but more
importantly, how I saw myself. There were blind persons from every state,
from literally, every occupation, from rich to poor and everywhere in
between, blind lawyers, blind teachers, blind merchants, blind computer
programmers, blind psychologists, blind moms and dads, grandparents and
kids.  Blindness does not define the blind; we are a cross-section of our
nation as a whole.  It was exhilarating and freeing to be in the presence of
so many other blind people who, clearly, believed what I had been suspecting
for some time then: blindness does not have to be a tragedy.  The real
problem of blindness is not blindness itself but the misperceptions and
beliefs that the public, and sometimes, the blind themselves, have about
blindness. So, what does this have to do with my interest in human
perception? 

 

Everything!

 

WE often, all of us regardless of circumstance, allow our perceptions of
ourselves to be based on the perceptions or misperceptions of others.  WE
allow others to do things for us because we do not want to hurt their
feelings, make them angry or upset.  We get the skills that we must have for
the present, not planning on what we will need in the future. We assume that
someone else will educate the server who because of a lack of education or
misperceptions on her part, ask your friend or family member questions that
you are perfectly capable of answering.  We hope that someone will talk to
the little girl who innocently asks what that stick is when you pass by her
at the grocery store. We talk about what the agency should do.  We talk
about being treated unfairly.  We talk about what the NFB should do. We do
not, however, do for ourselves and the other blind in Oklahoma and our
nation.  WE want for someone else to do it, we do not have time, we are
afraid to commit.  Surely, there are others who will do the work, make the
calls, send the e-mails, staff the committees, find other blind people
etc. 

 

My own education is a continual process.  I have learned that, for me, and
for many others in the National Federation of the Blind, that we choose to
be strong, independent people, in charge of the direction that our canes
point and lead us.  We have come to understand that it takes all of us ,
together, changing perceptions, changing the way that we perceive ourselves,
changing how we choose to let others perceive us , ultimately changing what
it means to be blind. 

 

What do you choose for yourself?  What do you choose to let others perceive
about you? What kind of blind person do you want to be?  The choice is
yours.  

Join us at the next meeting close to you.  We invite you to find out more
about what and who we are.  Do not let misperceptions and misunderstanding
keep you away from discovering the truth about the people and mission of the
National Federation of the Blind.  Find out for yourself. Contact me with
questions or REQUESTS FOR MORE INFORMATION. I am happy to speak to anyone
about what I have found and am happy to be a part of in the National
Federation of the Blind.  

I wish you and yours a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.  

 

Jeannie Massay, President 

National Federation of the Blind 

Of Oklahoma 

 <mailto:Jeannie.massay at nfbok.org> Jeannie.massay at nfbok.org

 

*****

Callie Chappell goes to the Louisiana Center for the Blind (LCB)!  An
interview 

By Jeannie Massay 

 

Callie Chappell, a member of the Central Oklahoma Chapter, will soon be
headed to Ruston, Louisiana for training at the Louisiana Center for the
Blind (LCB). Callie and her Mother, Sandy Chappell recently visited LCB to
tour the facility and learn more about the program. This interview is the
first in a series as we follow Callie through her experiences. We’ll check
back with Callie during her training and afterward to get her thoughts on
gaining her independence.

 

Q: How did you decide that you wanted to go to the Louisiana Center for the
Blind?

A:  I made the decision by first learning about LCB by word of mouth,
talking to my State President and Pam Allen.  I met Pam at the national
convention in Orlando in July of 2011.  

 

Q:  What was your visit like to LCB?

A:  We stayed in the dorms across the street from the apartments near the
center.  We got to hang out with Brooke Anderson from Tulsa and some of her
friends.  Brooke gave us a tour of the facility, which was awesome.  

 

Q:  What was your favorite part of the visit that you and your Mom took to
LCB?

A:  Getting to meet everyone and hanging out with them.  On Thursday night,
we went to a coffee shop and just hung out.  It was really cool.  

 

Q:  What are you going to learn while there? 

A:  A lot of things, mobility, for one; more Braille, reading faster than I
do; cooking and computer technology.  I guess I’ll have to do the wood shop
too.  

 

Q:  How long do you expect to be at LCB?

A:  About nine or ten months. 

 

Q:  Why do you feel it is important for you to gain and master the skills of
blindness? 

A:  To do stuff on my own and live my life independently.  

 

Q: What would you tell someone reading the newsletter about getting
blindness skills? 

A:  It’s scary at first but you’ll have support from everyone else.  Try to
not be discouraged and get the skills that you need to live your life.  

 

Q:  What would you tell someone about the national Federation of the Blind
who was not familiar with the organization and its people? 

A:  We are a group that meets to support and advocate for each other to seek
independence, have fun together, answer questions about blindness and living
as a blind person in today’s world.  

 

Q:  When do you leave? 

A:  I am scheduled to be at LCB on March 1.  If there are any cancellations
then I will be moved up to go earlier.  

 

As Callie has come to understand, we further assert that the importance of
seeking out blindness skills training is undeniable.  A blind person must be
able to navigate and function independently in order to live a full,
well-rounded and purposeful life. The National Federation of the Blind does
not follow the medical model of blindness; that is to say, that we believe
that blindness is not a condition or malady that requires “fixing” or
entitlement.  We believe that the current attitudes towards blindness are a
social construction comprised of misperceptions and a lack of understanding
about what blindness truly is. WE believe that blindness is a
characteristic, one of many, which is not a tragedy; unless we choose to
make it one.  With proper training and education, a blind person can achieve
what any other person chooses to achieve.  How can the blind person do this?
By learning and mastering the skills of blindness that are necessary to
live, work, and play independently among society.  These skills, which are
necessary for a blind person to succeed, are gained at centers where these
skills are taught.  

 

What defines an excellent Orientation Center? For more information regarding
the three NFB Training Centers, please read “Characteristics of an NFB
Orientation Center” located at:
<http://nfb.org/legacy/bm/bm05/bm0504/bm050403.htm>
http://nfb.org/legacy/bm/bm05/bm0504/bm050403.htm 

 

For further and specific information on each of the NFB Orientation Centers,
please visit their respective websites listed below: 

Louisiana Center for the Blind 

 <http://www.lcb-ruston.com/> http://www.lcb-ruston.com/ 

Colorado Center for the Blind 

 <http://www.cocenter.org/> http://www.cocenter.org/ 

B.L.I.N.D. Inc. (Blindness-Learning in New Dimensions)

 <http://www.blindinc.org/> http://www.blindinc.org/ 
 

Best of luck Callie!  Our well wishes and thoughts go with you as you begin
this new journey. 

 

It has recently been brought to my attention that another member, Koby Cox
from Tulsa will be leaving for the Colorado Center this week!  Good luck to
you as well Koby, our well wishes and thoughts go with you! 

*****

Make Your Voice Heard
By Dorothy Robinson

President, South Central Chapter

Are you a registered voter? If not, why not? Do you realize that if you fail
to exercise your right to vote is politically ineffective. The Help America
Vote Act makes it possible for Blind voters to vote privately and
independently. All voting precincts should provide at least one accessible
voting machine for the visually impaired voter. By exercising your right to
vote you have an active part in shaping not only your future but also the
future of the Blind youth of America.

The National Federation of The Blind is the leading organization fighting
for independence for Blind Americans. In February delegates from every state
in America will be going to Washington DC to make our voices heard about
issues that concern the blind. We need your help; if you are not a
registered voter, please contact your local Board of Elections. And register
now. By exercising your right to vote you will be helping to shape the
policies and legislation of our government. You will not be heard if you do
not vote.

*****

Getting started with the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch

By Audrey T. Farnum

 <mailto:Secretary at nfbok.org> Secretary at nfbok.org

 

Did you get a shiny new iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch for Christmas? Now, are
you wondering how to get started with VoiceOver? Well, we’re here to help.
If you’re new to VoiceOver, my best advice to you is to relax and give it
time. I was frustrated for the first week or so after receiving an iPod
Touch for Christmas a year ago. Now, I can’t make it through a day without
using my iPod several times a day. It is the most versatile and useful
device I have ever owned. In addition to the standard functions such as
listening to music, surfing the net and reading email, I use my iPod as a
money identifier, color identifier, light detector, book reader, note taker
and so much more. As I sit here writing this article, my mind is suddenly
boggling at how much this handy little gadget has changed my life. 

 

To get started with VoiceOver, it is best to do a little homework first in
order to gain a basic understanding of how everything works. You could just
turn on your device and start poking around, but you will save yourself a
lot of frustration by taking the time to read some instructions. Trust me. I
tried to just poke around and ended up wanting to throw my iPod into a busy
intersection. Instructions are your friend, so check out this VoiceOver user
guide from Apple to read a description of the basics of VoiceOver. 

 <http://help.apple.com/iphone/3/voiceover/en/iphddd0db38.html>
http://help.apple.com/iphone/3/voiceover/en/iphddd0db38.html

 

After reading through the user guide, try practicing the different VoiceOver
gestures on your device in VoiceOver practice mode. From your device, double
tap on “settings”, then “general” followed by “accessibility”, “VoiceOver”,
and “VoiceOver Practice”. Now you can simply do the gestures on the screen
without actually doing anything. VoiceOver will tell you the name of the
gesture you have done and what action it will perform. This area is
particularly helpful for mastering the Roter gesture which seems to be the
trickiest gesture for new users to master. To successfully perform the roter
gesture, place 2 fingers on the screen and rotate your wrist like you are
turning a knob. I found that it works best to leave some space between your
fingers. 

Now you’ve mastered the basics so let’s look at some resources for finding
cool apps. 

 

The following links are good places to learn about apps and how to use them:

 

AppleVis:  <http://www.applevis.com/> http://www.applevis.com

AppleVis is a site created by and for VoiceOver users. AppleVis has an ever
growing database of App reviews and recommendations. App reviews are
submitted by blind users and rated for their accessibility with VoiceOver.
You can browse by category or search the site. Because the app reviews are
user submitted, the app database is updated on a regular basis. This is a
great place to find new apps and learn whether or not an app is VoiceOver
friendly before making your purchase in the app store. While the primary
focus of the site is app reviews, you can also find some nice tutorials and
guides for setting up and using VoiceOver.

 

Apps for the Visually Impaired:
<http://appadvice.com/applists/show/apps-for-the-visually-impaired>
http://appadvice.com/applists/show/apps-for-the-visually-impaired

This informative and detailed article has an extensive list of useful apps
for blind and low vision users. It has been updated recently and gives a
great overview of some of the more popular apps that have been embraced by
VoiceOver users.

 

All with My iPhone:  <http://allwithmyiphone.com/>
http://allwithmyiphone.com/

Want to get a quick tutorial on that app you just downloaded or perhaps hear
how an app works before you decide to buy it? Check out the All with My
iPhone Podcast. Host Cory Ballard provides walk through audio demos of many
popular and useful apps. His descriptions are clear and concise and easy for
the average user to follow and understand. Additionally, you will learn a
lot about general VoiceOver use simply by listening to these demonstrations.


 

I hope you will find these resources useful as you discover all the cool
things that your new iDevice can do. I will share more tips and resources in
future issues of the newsletter. If you have a particular question or app
you would like to be covered, send an email to  <mailto:secretary at nfbok.org>
secretary at nfbok.org and I might answer your question in a future article.

 

*****

Chapter News

 

Who wants to win a cruise?  The Tulsa, OK Chapter is selling raffle tickets
for a 7 night cruise for 2 December 9th, 2012, on Carnival Glory RT. The
cruise leaves from Miami and includes stops in Cozumel, Mexico; Belize;
Mahogany Bay, Isla Roatan; & Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.  The package
includes cruise + taxes but   Does not include gratuities.  The winner will
be announced by July 31, 2012.  You do not need to be present to win.  The
tickets are $6 or 2 for $10.  If you would like to purchase raffle tickets,
please email Selena at
<https://mail.google.com/mail/h/1mpk2m73emk5z/?&v=b&cs=wh&to=Selena.j.sundli
ng at irs.gov> Selena.j.sundling at irs.gov

 

The Central Oklahoma Chapter will host the 2nd Annual Chili Supper to raise
funds for the chapter and for the Elmer J. Wright Memorial Scholarship Fund.
The scholarship and Chili Supper began in 2011 to honor Mr. Wright, who was
one of the Chapter’s founding members. Mr. Wright passed away in 2010 and a
scholarship fund was created in his memory. The Chili Supper will be held
Saturday, February 25, 2012 at the First Presbyterian Church of Edmond
located at1001 S. Rankin Street Edmond, OK 73034. Tickets are $10 or $5 for
children under 5. The ticket includes all you can eat chili, hot dogs,
desserts and beverages. There will also be a silent auction featuring a
variety of items. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. All sponsors
will have their logo on the chili supper placemats that will be distributed
to all supper attendees. For tickets or sponsorship info, please call
Jeannie at 405-600-0695 or Audrey at 405-590-6110. You can also send email
to  <mailto:info at nfbok.org> info at nfbok.org. 

 

Enjoy a great burger and help the Central Oklahoma Chapter! On Tuesday March
13, S&B’s Burger Joint, located at 5929 N. May Avenue, suite 106, will be
donating 10% of proceeds for the day to the Central Oklahoma Chapter of the
NFB as part of their “Pay it forward” program. S&B’s has a unique selection
of yummy burgers and sliders, fries, sweet potato fries, fried onion strips
and delicious desserts. You won’t be disappointed. Just stop by for lunch or
dinner on March 13 and Enjoy!

 

*****

Calendar

 

January 4 – Louis Braille’s Birthday

January 7 – South Central Chapter meeting, Ardmore Public Library, 320 E St
NW 

January 13 – Central Oklahoma Chapter meeting, 7PM 28 E. Main Street,
Edmond, OK

February 4 – South Central Chapter meeting, Ardmore Public Library, 320 E St
NW

February 10 – Central Oklahoma Chapter Meeting, 7 PM, 28 E. Main Street,
Edmond OK

February 10, Tulsa Chapter Meeting, Delta Café, e-mail
selena.j.sundling at irs.gov for more information.

February 25, 2nd Annual Chili Supper benefiting the Central Oklahoma Chapter
and the Elmer J. Wright Memorial Scholarship Fund. 5-7 PM, First
Presbyterian Church of Edmond, 1001 S. Rankin Street  Edmond, OK 73034.

March 13, Pay It Forward Day at S&B Burger Joint, 5929 N. May Avenue, Suite
106, Oklahoma City, OK 73112. 10% of all proceeds for the day will be
donated to the Central Oklahoma Chapter. 

 

*****

Email questions or comments to  <mailto:info at nfbok.org> info at nfbok.org. 

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 <http://www.nfbok.org/> http://www.nfbok.org 

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 <http://www.twitter.com/nfbok> http://www.twitter.com/nfbok

NFBOK on Facebook:

 <http://www.facebook.com/people/Nfb-Oklahoma/100000272888121>
http://www.facebook.com/people/Nfb-Oklahoma/100000272888121 - 

 

If you or a friend would like to remember the National Federation of the
Blind of Oklahoma 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 

Oklahoma, 457 N. Blackwelder, Edmond, Oklahoma, 73034, 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.”

 

To unsubscribe from this list, please reply to this email with the word
“unsubscribe” in the body of the email. Thank you.

 

 

 

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