[Nfb-editors] June 2014 issue of Que Pasa

[Robert Leslie Newman via Nfb-editors]

The 

QUE PASA

June 2014

 

Quarterly newsletter of the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico

(Published in March, June, September, and December)

 

Adelmo Vigil, President

E-mail: Avigil74 at gmail.com

(575) 921-5422

 

James Babb, Editor

E-mail: jim.babb at samobile.net

(505) 291-3112

 

Tonia Trapp, Assistant Editor

E-mail: Tonialeigh513 at earthlink.net

(505) 856-5346

 

Table of Contents

PREAMBLE <> . 2

EDITOR <> ’S NOTE. 2

29TH CSUN CONFERENCE ON TECHNOLOGY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES <> . 3

AT THE DEPOT <> . 6

LETTER TO ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS REGARDING TECHNOLOGY TRAINING FOR BLIND
STUDENTS <>   7

NATIONAL REHABILITATION ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR <> . 12

THANK YOU NOTE <> . 15

WILLIAM EDWARD CRAMER <> . 15

RESOLUTION 2014-01 REGARDING PRINCIPLES THAT SHOULD GOVERN THE SELECTION OF
SCREEN ACCESS TECHNOLOGY FOR VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION CLIENTS <> . 20

RESOLUTION 2014-02 REGARDING CO-SPONSORING THE FAIR WAGES FOR WORKERS WITH
DISABILITIES ACT, H.R. 831 <>   22

RESOLUTION 2014-03 COMMENDING REPRESENTATIVE MICHELLE LUJÁN GRISHAM FOR
CO-SPONSORING H.R. 831, THE FAIR WAGES FOR WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES ACT <>
. 23

RESOLUTION 2014-04 REGARDING NEW VOTING MACHINES PURCHASED BY THE STATE OF
NEW MEXICO <> .. 24

GOOD EATING <> .. 26

SALTED ALMOND ICE CREAM <> ... 26

LOW-CARB RASPBERRY CHEESECAKE MOUSSE <> . 27

USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS AND WEBSITES <> . 28

MEETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS <> . 29

 

 

 


PREAMBLE


 

The National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico (NFBNM) is a 501 (c) 3
consumer organization comprised of blind and sighted people committed to
changing what it means to be blind. Though blindness is still all too often
a tragedy to those who face it, we know from our own personal experience
that with training and opportunity, it can be reduced to the level of a
physical nuisance. We work to see that blind people receive services and
training to which they are entitled and that parents of blind children
receive the advice and support they need to help their youngsters grow up to
be happy, productive adults. We believe that first-class citizenship means
that people have both rights and responsibilities, and we are determined to
see that blind people become first-class citizens of these United States,
enjoying their rights and fulfilling their responsibilities. The most
serious problems we face have less to do with our lack of vision than with
discrimination based on the public’s ignorance and misinformation about
blindness. Join us in educating New Mexicans about the abilities and
aspirations of New Mexico’s blind citizens.

(Adapted from NFB of Ohio newsletter.) 

 

 


EDITOR’S NOTE


 

By Jim Babb, Editor

 

Hello everyone, 

I hope this edition of Que Pasa finds you in good health and ready to enjoy
a great year in 2014. We already have had a great State convention and the
National Convention in Orlando is just around the corner. Many Chapters and
Divisions have fundraisers and social events in the upcoming months. The
annual State Fair Parade is in September, and many of us will proudly march
in it. White cane events are scheduled for October. October also starts the
75th year of our great organization, and many related events and activities
will happen; stay tuned so you can participate. Thanks to all of you who
sent articles, recipes, poems and more; that’s what keeps this newsletter
going. Thanks to Tonia Trapp as a partner in assembling and distributing
this newsletter and reading it onto State Newsline. 

 

29TH CSUN CONFERENCE
ON TECHNOLOGY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

By Curtis Chong

 

Since 1986, the Center on Disabilities at California State University at
Northridge has held an annual conference (affectionately referred to as the
CSUN conference) to showcase technologies that are of interest to people
with disabilities--including the blind. Over the years, the CSUN conference
has been hailed as the most important international conference to attend
each year in this field, and it has attracted worldwide attention.

 

Since 1993, I have had the opportunity to attend a number of CSUN
conferences, and I was privileged to be able to attend the 29th CSUN
conference, held this year in San Diego, California, from March 17-21.

 

I noticed this year that the conference seemed to have become somewhat
smaller than it was when I last attended it in 2011. In terms of new
technology for the blind, the only thing of interest that I saw was the
Blaze, announced by HIMS, which is a beefed up Book Sense with a camera and
OCR software built in. HIMS proposes to sell this for around $700, but the
product is only in a prototype form at this point in time. Many of us are
familiar with the KNFB Reader which, in total, cost around $1,600. It would
appear that HIMS will be selling a hand-held reading system for about half
the price. Whether it will have the same power and flexibility of the KNFB
Reader is, as yet, not something we can predict.

 

I attended a session discussing the accessibility of cloud-based
productivity suites (e.g., Google Docs, iCloud.com, Office Online, and
similar offerings). The bottom line is that none of the cloud productivity
suites will work with every screen access program/browser combination, which
is the "gold standard." There is a long way to go before we can judge
cloud-based programs (e.g. Word in the cloud, PowerPoint in the cloud, etc.)
to be as accessible to the blind as their counterparts on desktop/laptop
computers.

 

American Thermoform (ATC) is getting into the 3D graphics business. I saw
two devices at the ATC table that could be used to create a
three-dimensional object. One costs $2,200 and the other is more than
$7,000. These devices are terrific for producing three-dimensional models
that children (and others) can examine by touch. Now it is up to the
education system to take advantage of what is now available.

 

While at CSUN, I had an opportunity to examine a new Braille embosser,
called the Cosmo. The Cosmo is like a Perkins Brailler except that is
extremely quiet (and also a lot more costly). One can envision a blind
student using this in the classroom to write text. However, I was more than
a little concerned that the Cosmo does not have the same feel as a Perkins
and certainly does not lend itself to interactive Brailling--Brailling where
you can actually feel the dots you write as they are written and where you
can tell exactly where on the page the next letter will appear. The Cosmo
costs around $2,500. From where I sit, the one thing that gives it appeal is
its ability to facilitate the learning of Braille through a remote
connection. Dubbed BERT, this connection enables both the teacher and
student to communicate by voice and keyboard in real time during a remote
teaching session; any key depressed by the student on the BERT Braille
keyboard will be immediately recognized by the teacher either on his/her
refreshable Braille display or (for a sighted teacher) on his/her computer
screen.

 

At CSUN, I attended a session discussing efforts to make QuickBooks
accessible to the blind. QuickBooks is an accounting program which has
traditionally been very difficult (if not impossible) to use with nonvisual
screen access technology. Intuit (the company which manufactures the
QuickBooks software) and a company called My Blind Spot are partnering to do
this. It has taken Intuit's executive management a very long time to make a
commitment to this effort, but now that the commitment has been made, we can
see some marginal improvements with the release of QuickBooks 2015, R5.
However, the accessibility is not achievable without scripts for JAWS that
will be supplied (at no charge) by My Blind Spot. Also, it should be noted
that only critical QuickBooks functions are being worked on. Although I
cannot say that QuickBooks will be fully accessible to the blind any time
soon, I can say that the critical and most frequently-used functions of
QuickBooks will probably be accessible in a few weeks.

 

I attended a session conducted by Google discussing the accessibility of
Google Docs. Google Docs is an online system which is supposed to allow
several people to work together on a document which is stored in the cloud.
Google Docs is very difficult for a blind person to use with a program like
JAWS or Window-Eyes, and Google does not seem to be taking the most
effective action to address this issue. I was not pleased to observe that
the presenter was using a Google Cromevox computer to conduct the
demonstration and even more unhappy to hear that what was being shown would
not work if a blind person was using the JAWS for Windows screen access
program with the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser. Suffice it to say that
if you want to know how to work around some of the accessibility issues that
have been identified with Google systems, you should point your browser to
www.google.com/accessibility.

 

Mike May from the Sendero Group conducted a presentation discussing the
ecosystem for touch screen devices. This was focused on the iPhone.
Researchers have been gathering data about the efficiency of blind users
entering data using the iPhone's touch screen. Average rates of from 3 to 5
words per minute (using the native QWERTY touch screen keyboard on the
iPhone) are the norm. Users who enter information using apps such as Braille
Touch or MBraille can type about 23 words per minute on average. The bottom
line is that no good way has yet been found to maximize our speed of entry
with regard to a touch screen device. Moreover, the iPhone can in no way be
regarded as the ultimate information appliance for a blind person who wants
to be at all productive. However, as an iPhone user myself, I will admit
that the iPhone is just nice to have when I need it.

 

In the exhibit hall at the CSUN conference, I noticed quite a few companies
selling CCTV's and hand-held digital magnifiers. There is no one CCTV or
hand-held magnifier which can be said to be the best. A lot depends on the
visual problems being experienced by the end user. Some people with low
vision need larger text. Others need the ability to adjust contrast and/or
color. One company from Germany told me that they saw no sense in making
progressively larger screens for the low vision market. After all, I was
told, someone with his/her nose right up to the screen would have more
trouble panning across a larger screen than a smaller one.

 

The National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute conducted a
presentation discussing cell phones for seniors. Regrettably, the landscape
does not look favorable for this population. Everybody seems to want a smart
phone, but many seniors do not. They simply want a phone that enables them
to make and receive calls, manage contacts, and tell them who is calling
before they answer the phone. The Odin VI from Odin Mobile appears to be the
best offering, but there is also the Convoy 3 from Verizon, which is
somewhat less accessible than the Odin VI.

 

I met with a representative from Orbit Research, developers of the
accessible graphing calculator, now being sold by the American Printing
House for the Blind. The Printing House has experienced a backlog with
regard to this calculator, but I am told the backlog is expected to be gone
fairly soon. Also, Orbit Research is working with the U.S. Treasury
Department to distribute a currency identifier to the blind community. I
have no specific information about this effort other than that it is under
way. We should be hearing something by the summer.

 

I spent some time with Microsoft's Office team discussing the relative
strengths and weaknesses of Microsoft Office 2013. The team appeared to be
surprised by my assertion that none of the new features incorporated into
more recent versions of Microsoft Office had any appeal to nonvisual users.
In fact, what I said was that we had to work to disable some of the newer
features to make Office usable. I have supplied this team with some specific
examples. I also discussed declining keyboard productivity with each new
release of Office and was a little encouraged to learn that the Office team
is thinking about what to do to address this problem.

 

All in all, there were no startlingly new innovations revealed at CSUN, but
the conference was an excellent opportunity for me to keep pace with
developments in the nonvisual access and low vision fields.

 

 


AT THE DEPOT


 

By Art Tannenbaum

 

"Excuse me, sir

You really do well with”

Oh, no, not the white cane compliment thing again,

“your advocacy at City Council,” I smile;

 

He is a firefighter,

We discuss the politicization of public safety,

“I have great admiration and respect for public safety personnel,”

I stutter a bit – this man is big and burly;

 

He is Albuquerque Fire Dept.

and we are in Santa Fe

 

“Let me ask you your personal opinion,”

Go ahead, go ahead, he is eager to tell me

whatever I may want to know;

 

He used to be a Fire Marshal

until a few days after the new mayor had taken over,

He has put in his twenty years

And I feel I am more or less finished;

 

Afterward in chorus

I thank him for his public service

as he thanks me for the advocacy, again

with another handshake

 

Waiting for the southbound train.

 

 


LETTER TO ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS REGARDING TECHNOLOGY TRAINING FOR BLIND
STUDENTS


 

By Caroline Benavidez

 

April 8, 2014

 

To Whom It May Concern:

 

This weekend, I spent time with the National Federation of the Blind’s
Parents of Blind Children Division. Parents expressed their strong concerns
regarding the PARCC assessment in particular, and the lack of technology in
general, for their children. As I’ve reflected on their expressed passion, I
must join mine with theirs.

 

As a teacher of the blind and visually impaired in APS, I have had this same
growing concern but haven’t known where or how to share it in a way that
would bring about change. I have shared it with colleagues, and they have
wholeheartedly agreed but couldn’t offer any suggestions to bring about
change. And the need for change, now more than ever, is crucial.

 

In its position statement on technology and the Common Core, ISTE
(International Society for Technology in Education) states:

 

ISTE believes digital learning plays a central and substantive role in
ensuring all students graduate college and career ready. Technology, used
effectively, can help all        students meet and exceed the rigorous
learning goals embedded in the Common Core State Standards by providing
access to tools and resources that personalize instruction and creating
rich, engaging and relevant learning environments ...

 

With the advent of the 2014–2015 Common Core Online Assessments, it is
imperative that students’ learning takes place in a robust digital learning
environment in order for them to be successful on these new higher-order
thinking assessments.

 

As APS increasingly adopts online instruction from K-12, the VI students are
at an ever-growing disadvantage. Just about every literacy unit with Common
Core includes some use of technology. Students are expected to use computers
for research in science and social studies and to produce final
presentations using some form of technology. The Discovery Education website
is incorporated from the kindergarten level as standard practice. In the
coming school year, APS will be participating in the PARCC testing. However,
most of our VI students are unable to perform any of these tasks expected of
their peers on a daily basis. They are not included in the “all students”
being equipped to be college and career ready. 

 

For a VI student, affective technology requires explicit knowledge and
skills unique to this population. In college, students will be expected to
use screen readers and OCR software on PC computers to read emails, do
research, participate in classwork, interact with other students, and
produce written products that show their knowledge and receive a grade. At
the workplace, visually-impaired employees must read information, fill out
forms, access emails, do research, enter data, etc. Just like other students
leaving high school, VI students are assumed to have these skills. But, they
don’t. 

 

The current state of affairs in our district is drastically lacking in its
ability to ensure this “rich, engaging and relevant learning environment” is
available. On my site, elementary students are learning to keyboard and do
research on computers still running the XP platform. Therefore, they are not
internet accessible. Our middle and high-school students are not able to
learn to use those tools such as screen readers, scanners, and adapted
techniques for presentation because they do not have the equipment or
instruction by trained teachers. Assistive technology, according to the
National Agenda for the education of blind/visually impaired students, is
listed as one of the vital skills required for success. It is not optional.
It is just as crucial as orientation and mobility to a blind person’s
eventual independence and participation. 

 

How do we address this current crisis? There are three main areas needing
attention. First, qualified instruction and support for VI teachers must be
reinstated. At one time, we had a full-time assistive technology person for
the VI department. This person’s sole responsibility was to train teachers,
assess and train students, and advise the purchase of appropriate, affective
technology. At this current time, when technology is a part of the daily
curriculum, our students' needs must be met again by someone qualified,
informed, and dedicated to the purpose.

 

Next, the district needs to recognize that, as with other implicitly-learned
skills, our VI students don’t learn by watching. They require direct,
hands-on instruction and time set aside to gain skill and confidence. I
suggest that assistive technology instruction should be treated as an
ancillary service just as orientation and mobility is. Students need
individualized instruction by an educator qualified to give this
instruction, and time must be set aside to ensure ultimate success. In the
elementary grades, students must be taught to use proper keyboarding,
exposed to refreshable Braille, and instructed in the use of screen-reading
software. At the mid and high-school levels, these previous skills should be
mastered. The teacher of the visually impaired should receive support and
training to ensure students are being prepared for independent access.

 

Third, all the district programs need to be equipped with the most current
versions of access software and hardware that supports their maximum
usability. IPads, refreshable Braille devices, notetakers, screen reading
and OCR software, and laptops are among the necessary components to assure
our students will be able to equally participate with their peers and be
career/college ready. Those using enlarged print should be using digital
magnifiers instead of cumbersome, bulky large-print materials.

 

I know these proposals sound lofty and daunting. However, parents are asking
me, as an APS teacher of the visually impaired, what they need to do to
assure their children are receiving the appropriate technology. I am asking
the same question. How can I participate in bringing about the focused
attention and needed changes to assure our students are leaving APS ready
for college and careers. This writing is my first step. It is not meant to
be critical or accusing but informative and motivating. Please know that I
am willing to be involved in any way I can.

 

Sincerely,

 

Caroline Benavidez

Certified Teacher of the Visually Impaired

Zia Elementary School

 

 

_____________________________

 

From: Curtis Chong

Sent: Sunday, April 20, 2014 6:28 PM

To: Caroline Benavidez

Subject: Letter I wrote

 

Hello Caroline:

 

Your sentiments, as expressed in the attached document, are right on target.
I have very little to add other than less-lofty specifics. For example, it
has been my assertion for years that middle-school students who are blind or
visually impaired must be able to use a Windows computer and a Windows word
processor (e.g., Microsoft Word) to format and prepare their class papers.
Students who are blind or visually impaired must be able to use Windows
computers to browse the Web, conduct research, and correspond using email.
These skills are more necessary than ever--not only because colleges take
them for granted but because they are essential for survival in any
corporate environment where the blind or visually impaired student intends
to obtain employment. Say what you will about the built-in accessibility
which exists in Apple computers and tablets, but the reality is that
companies are still using the Microsoft suite today and will probably
continue using it for the next decade. Anyone who cannot competently use
Word, Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint is at a serious competitive
disadvantage.

 

In my experience, I have seen too many blind students who are extremely
proficient with their Braille note-taking technology but who cannot use a
Windows computer to perform basic tasks. This is extremely frustrating to
me.

 

Thank you for putting together this letter. If there is anything I can do to
help to circulate it, you have only to ask.

 

Cordially,

 

Curtis Chong

 

 


NATIONAL REHABILITATION ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR


 

To:        All Members of the National Rehabilitation Association 

 

From:    Patricia Leahy, Interim Executive Director

 

Re:        NRA Announces New Executive Director

 

Date:     Monday, April 14, 2014

 

It is with great pleasure and excitement that the National Rehabilitation
Association announces the selection of The Honorable Fredric K. Schroeder as
NRA's new Executive Director. 

 

Dr. Schroeder has accepted the National Rehabilitation Association's
invitation to join the staff as Executive Director beginning in May of 2014.


 

Dr. Schroeder earned a BA in Psychology in 1971 and a Master's degree in
Education in 1978 from San Francisco State University and completed
post-graduate work in Orientation and Mobility in 1980.  Dr. Schroeder is
also the first blind individual in the Nation to be admitted to a university
program in Orientation and Mobility. 

 

In 1980, Dr. Schroeder returned to New Mexico to work as a teacher of blind
children for the Albuquerque public schools. 

 

In 1994, Dr. Schroeder earned a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the
University of New Mexico. 

 

Dr. Schroeder began his career in his home State of New Mexico where in the
early 80s, Dr. Schroeder helped establish the New Mexico Commission for the
Blind.  Beginning in 1986, Dr. Schroeder worked for 7 years as the first
Executive Director of the newly-created Commission for the Blind. 

 

In 1994, President Clinton announced the appointment of Dr. Schroeder to be
the Ninth Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA)
in the U.S. Department of Education and in July of 1994 the full U.S. Senate
confirmed his appointment. 

 

In his capacity as Commissioner of RSA, Dr. Schroeder had responsibility for
administering a $2.5 billion program that annually provides individualized
services and supports by highly-skilled rehabilitation counselors to more
than 1 million eligible Americans with disabilities.   

 

Dr. Schroeder had a very active tenure in RSA and one of his many
accomplishments during that time was his founding and implementation of the
National Employment Conference which was directed by him and his staff and
included productive partnerships with businesses and employers throughout
the country. 

 

Through Dr. Schroeder's recognition early on of the importance of business
partnerships, the Employment Conference has endured and prospered to this
day as a conduit for business and employers to connect with properly-trained
Americans with disabilities who want careers and to live as independently as
possible.  

 

Dr. Schroeder serves as an adviser to the National Council of State
Administrators of the Blind (NCSAB) and is an active member of the National
Federation of the Blind (NFB). 

 

Dr. Schroeder is also a Research Professor with the Interwork Institute at
San Diego State University specializing in leadership and public policy. 

 

Dr. Schroeder is an accomplished scholar with over 50 published articles and
is a nationally and internationally-recognized lecturer on disability
policy. 

 

Dr. Schroeder and his wife Cathy Nusser Schroeder live just outside of
Washington, D.C. in Northern Virginia and have two grown children. 

 

On behalf of NRA's 2014 President, Ellen Sokolowski, the 2014 NRA Board of
Directors and all in the National Rehabilitation Association, it is a
pleasure and a privilege to welcome Dr. Schroeder as NRA's new Executive
Director. 

 

Thank you. 

 

 

Patricia Leahy 

Interim Executive Director

Director of Governmental Affairs and Public Policy 

National Rehabilitation Association 

www.nationalrehab.org  

 

 


THANK YOU NOTE


 

By Hermelinda Miller

 

I am grateful for the award plaque that I received at the NFB of NM State
Convention annual banquet. It is beautiful! Our goals require hard work from
all of us. 

 

Thank you everyone!

 

 


WILLIAM EDWARD CRAMER


 

by Peggy Chong

 

William Edward Cramer was born October 29, 1817 to John and Hannah (Close)
Cramer in Waterford, New York. William was the middle child of seven
siblings. His father John Cramer, a wealthy attorney, was active in his
community and politics. John Cramer was elected to the U.S. Congress from
1833-1837, after serving in the New York legislature. 

 

An accident as a young boy cost William his hearing. As a young man, he
became blind as a result of "excessive work, in and out of season." It was
noted that he read all the time to be sure that he did not miss any fact due
to his hearing loss. Today, his symptoms sound like Ushers Syndrome. 

 

William attended Union College in Schenectady, New York, graduating in 1838.
He then entered the practice of law and was admitted to the court of
Chancery. But law did not have the draw for him that he had anticipated. One
of his friends at the time were John Van Buren, son of President Martin Van
Buren, a founder of the democratic party who caught the interest of young
William. 

 

His brother Eliphalet, a banker, had moved to Milwaukee in 1837 and had
purchased land. In 1840, William came out to the new frontier town to visit
his brother. He liked what he saw of the small town and its people. He
forged many friendships with those active in the Democratic party. A goodly
number of his college friends had also moved out west to Milwaukee along
with others from the New England area, making it a "Yorker-Yankee" community
in the vernacular of the 1840's.

 

In 1843, Mr. Cramer became a contributing editor of the Albany Argus, a
Democratic newspaper in New York. 

 

In 1847, William was contacted by a fellow Democrat and friend, Joseph
Curtis from Albany, who had moved to Milwaukee and was now asking William to
come and help him take over a failing Democratic newspaper in the village.
The Advertiser was begun in 1836 and had been bought and sold many times
already, with many different styles of leadership. At the time that William
bought the paper, it was failing as a daily paper. He and other investors
purchased the Advertiser-Currier in the spring of 1847 for $2,000, which was
a lot for a paper with a subscription of 600 (especially when not all were
paying subscribers). For that price, they obtained the paper itself, three
sets of type, a hand press, three towels, and a bar of soap. 

 

William made several improvements and changed the name of the paper to the
"Wisconsin." He issued the first newspaper under this title on June 8, 1847.
When the year was out, the investors had realized a profit of $5,000,
showing how well William could manage the paper as well as analyze and
address the needs of his readers. It was at this time that his vision was
beginning to diminish to where he could no longer easily read the printed
word. 

 

His editorials in the Evening Wisconsin (EW), which were read across the
country, did much to promote the city of Milwaukee. Many of the editorials
promoted businesses and businessmen in Milwaukee with the hope of bringing
more people to the fast-growing community. 

 

Mr. Cramer was said to be an honest man with honest business practices. When
reporting the news, he wanted hard facts written in his paper, not just
theories. Cramer felt a newspaper that reported the truth would be far more
trusted and subscribed to by the citizens of Milwaukee and across the state.
He encouraged the same standards in the business practices of the city, and
through the editorials and the writings of the Evening Wisconsin, he helped
to hold the city accountable if good practices were not followed. Cramer
always paid his bills and ran his business very frugally. When his paper was
well-established and had an actual printing plant, to make the most of his
equipment and staff, he did printing for local businesses and for other much
smaller newspapers.

 

Although not considered to be a handsome man, he was said to be quite
presentable and a bit short. Mr. Cramer always dressed conservatively in
well-tailored clothes. He did not ever appear in public disheveled or
untidy. 

 

William had his staff, family and many individuals read to him daily from
many newspapers, journals and correspondence. To hear better, he often used
an ear trumpet. He had developed his memory well, and some said he was like
a walking encyclopedia. Each day, he would dictate to staff his articles and
editorials that ran in the paper. 

 

Getting around town was not a problem for him. Many times he hired a small
boy to walk with him, or he would walk with a staff person. But if he needed
to, William would set out on his own, slowly walking through the streets,
taking note of landmarks as he walked. Often, another pedestrian would
recognize "Uncle Willie" as he was affectionately known in Milwaukee, and
walk with him to his next appointment. He made a point of knowing the layout
of the town, businesses, landmarks and buildings. 

 

Today, some would say that his newspaper office was not an accessible
office; yet as a blind and deaf man, he would traverse the stairs every day,
sometimes several times a day. In the 1850's, the offices were located over
a bank on Michigan Street. A long, steep set of stairs led up to the
second-floor offices. The office was lit by candles on the desks of the
staff. 

 

However, when he did have a travel mishap, and partly because of the feud
between the competing editors of the town newspapers, his mishaps were
widely publicized and mocked in local papers. One cold winter night, William
fell into the Milwaukee River. He was rescued after almost an hour by three
townsmen, and he nearly froze. He was revived with a few shots of whiskey.
At the time, it was not the custom of papers to mention anyone's
infirmities, or anything else not related to the incident, that might
embarrass the subject of an article. A disability such as blindness was one
of those unmentionable topics. Consequently, his blindness was not mentioned
in reference to the fall.

 

As part of the EW, he would print and promote the writings of popular
authors. One such author that caught Williams attention was Herman Melville,
author of Moby Dick and The Confidence-Man. Not only did he publish some of
Melville's short stories and poetry in the EW, but he was also instrumental
in bringing Melville to Milwaukee to lecture in February of 1859. By now,
William had lost all but some light perception. 

 

In the mid 1850's William was part of a group of leading citizens who wished
to establish a university in Milwaukee. At that time, to attend a
university, their young citizens had to leave the state and head back east.
Wisconsin was fast expanding, and it was in the community's best interest to
educate their young people at home, while also attracting others to the area
for their college education. On July 31, 1855, Charles Wiley, D.D., the
Chancellor who had been hired to lead the University of Milwaukee, addressed
it's funders, assuring them that the new University would bring prosperity
to Milwaukee as well as to the funders. William, a significant financial
backer, also sat on the board. Unfortunately, the economic crisis of 1857
closed the University for good.

 

Mr. Cramer's support of post-secondary education did not stop there. He was
also on the board of trustees of the Milwaukee Female College for many
years. The Milwaukee Female College was founded by Mrs. W. L. Parsons, wife
of the pastor of the Free Congregational Church. It opened on September 14,
1848, in a house in downtown Milwaukee. The school focused on the four most
popular occupations for women at that time: nursing, child care, teaching,
and what was called "conservation of the domestic state" (that is, how to be
a good housewife). The school found a permanent home on Juneau Avenue and
Milwaukee Street in 1852. Cramer was on the board for almost a decade. As a
trustee, his duties included promoting the school, fundraising, and hearing
the examinations of graduating students along with other board members. When
a student took their final exam, it was done in front of the board.
Instructors and Trustees would ask questions, and the student would write
the answers on the blackboard or explain them to those gathered. 

 

William generously supported many charities as well as his church. Besides
the Universities, he contributed to such charities as the Protestant Orphans
Asylum. The town gave him the nickname of "Uncle Willie" denoting his
generosity as a favored uncle. 

 

His preferred living accommodations were hotels. Such hotels were the
permanent homes of some townspeople, just like a luxury apartment building
would be today. William was one of the first tenants of the Newhall House
hotel, built in 1857, the largest and most modern hotel in the west at that
time. He met many famous people who stayed at this hotel, people who added
to his wealth of information and contacts, which enhanced the success of his
newspaper. For a time, his nephew John stayed with William to assist the
Uncle at the newspaper. John joined the staff of the Evening Wisconsin,
later becoming one of the managing partners. 

 

On June 24, 1869, William married Harriet Laura Barker, the daughter of
Charles Barker. Harriet was almost 30 years younger than him. She acted as
his traveling companion, being his ears and eyes, when traveling across the
country and the world. 

 

In late 1869, the couple left for a two-year trip through Europe. They spent
time in Germany, the country where his grandfather Conrad Cramer was born.
Another noted trip was in February of 1874, when the couple met with
then-President Ulysses S. Grant. Cramer and Grant shared a common cause:
both were opposed to the "specie payment" and wanted to keep interest rates
low to fuel the expansion of the West. They did not want to tie the
greenbacks to the price of gold, as that would have caused inflation at that
time. Sometime in the mid 1850's, Cramer left the Democratic party that he
had grown up in and became active in the Republican party. Although Cramer
had not sought office or titles in the Republican party, he was a very
active supporter of Grant--so much so that Cramer was a presidential elector
at the second election of General Grant.

 

Within just over 5 years, Cramer lost three important members of his family.
His parents lived in New York, and in 1865, he lost his mother. Then in
1870, his father passed away at the age of 93. His brother Eliphalet had
become a successful banker, businessman and land holder in the Milwaukee
area. Eliphalet passed away in 1871, leaving a substantial estate for his
family. William was not a recipient of his brother's wealth, but did help to
further the education and employment for his brother's son, John. 

 

On January 10, 1882, William and Harriet were awakened at about 4:00 A.M. to
find that the Newhall House was on fire. They were among the fortunate who
survived, but barely. Both were burned very badly, and it was believed that
William would die. Nonetheless, he and his wife both recovered, and William
went on attending to his paper. But the couple had lost everything,
including all of the items they had collected when traveling through Germany
and Europe, plus all of their jewelry, books and personal papers. 

 

After they recovered from the fire, they spent a year traveling in Europe.
The couple then took up residence in the Plankinton House Hotel in
Milwaukee. 

 

Cramer was a member of the old Settler's Club in Milwaukee. In February of
1905, he was honored by that association. Because his health was frail, and
the banquet was in the late evening, he did not attend, but sent a letter of
appreciation that was read at the ceremony. 

 

William passed away on May 21, 1905. Up until the time of his death, he was
still a managing editor of the Evening Wisconsin, which made him the oldest
editor of a newspaper in the country. 

 

 


RESOLUTION 2014-01 REGARDING PRINCIPLES THAT SHOULD GOVERN THE SELECTION OF
SCREEN ACCESS TECHNOLOGY FOR VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION CLIENTS


 

WHEREAS, on January 14, 2014, GW Micro, the maker of the well-known
Window-Eyes screen access program, issued a press release announcing that GW
Micro and Microsoft had "partnered to make Window-Eyes available to users of
Microsoft Office at no cost"; and

 

WHEREAS, according to the press release, this "global initiative," available
in over 15 languages, will "enable anyone using Microsoft Office 2010 or
later to also use Window-Eyes for free"; and

 

WHEREAS, the sophisticated screen access technology used by the blind to
compete in school and at work has typically cost nearly a thousand dollars
per copy; and

 

WHEREAS, in New Mexico, this high cost has usually been covered for blind
vocational rehabilitation clients by the New Mexico Commission for the
Blind, and in other states, it has been covered by the state vocational
rehabilitation agency serving the blind; and

 

WHEREAS, although it is true that Window-Eyes is a powerful screen access
program that has enabled thousands of blind people to use Windows and
Windows programs independently, and although GW Micro is a well-established
company with a positive reputation in the blind community, it is equally
true that other screen access programs (among them JAWS for Windows, System
Access, and Guide), which are not provided for free today and which still
cost several hundred dollars, offer the best solution in specific cases and
for specific individuals; and

 

WHEREAS, for governmental organizations struggling to obtain adequate
funding, the ability to acquire Window-Eyes at no cost is a very powerful
incentive for them to compel individual clients to accept the free
Window-Eyes even though, in specific situations, a costlier screen access
program would be the better choice; and

 

WHEREAS, although the New Mexico Commission for the Blind has not engaged in
this reprehensible behavior, it is nevertheless important for us as
knowledgeable consumers to articulate the principles that we believe should
be used when screen access software purchasing decisions are made by
agencies for the blind; and

 

WHEREAS, users of the free version of Window-Eyes must pay for technical
support from GW Micro while users of more expensive screen access programs
(including users of the full-priced version of Window-Eyes) receive
technical support at no charge: Now, therefore,

 

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico in
convention assembled this 6th day of April, 2014, in the city of
Albuquerque, New Mexico, that this organization call upon the New Mexico
Commission for the Blind, the vocational rehabilitation agency serving the
blind in New Mexico, to adopt policies and procedures which incorporate the
following principles:

 

1.            Decisions as to which screen access program to purchase for a
specific student or client should not be based solely on cost;

 

2.            Purchasing decisions should have as a goal acquiring the
screen access program which most effectively meets the access requirements
of the student or client;

 

3.            Purchasing decisions should also consider the knowledge and
experience that are already possessed by the student or client; in other
words, all other things being equal, the student or client should not be
forced to learn a completely new screen access program simply because it
happens to be less expensive than a program that he or she already knows;
and

 

4.            Finally, any purchasing decision for screen access technology
should incorporate the principle of informed choice, a key principle in the
federal Rehabilitation Act.

 

Resolution unanimously adopted.

 

 


RESOLUTION 2014-02 REGARDING CO-SPONSORING THE FAIR WAGES FOR WORKERS WITH
DISABILITIES ACT, H.R. 831


 

WHEREAS, Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) discriminates
against people with disabilities (including the blind) by allowing the
Secretary of Labor to grant to employers Special Wage Certificates that
permit them to pay workers with disabilities wages that are less than the
federal minimum wage (subminimum wages) primarily in sheltered workshops
(segregated work environments); and

 

WHEREAS, Section 14(c) of the FLSA is based on the disproven assumption that
workers with disabilities are less productive than so-called able-bodied
workers; and 

 

WHEREAS, Section 14(c) of the FLSA sustains segregated subminimum-wage
workshops that exploit disabled workers, paying some only pennies per hour
for mundane, repetitive tasks; and

 

WHEREAS, the overwhelming majority of Goodwill Industries and National
Industries for the Blind affiliates operate successfully without paying
subminimum wages to their workers with disabilities; and countless entities
have successfully transitioned their subminimum-wage business models of low
expectations to innovative models of competitive, integrated training and
employment, meeting the growing needs of mainstream employers with the
proven talents of employees with disabilities; and

 

WHEREAS, the Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act of 2013 (H.R.
831), introduced by Congressman Gregg Harper of Mississippi, proposes to
responsibly phase out and eventually repeal Section 14(c) of the FLSA; and

 

WHEREAS, the successful employment models that have emerged in the last 75
years to assist people with significant disabilities to acquire the job
skills they need to perform competitive work have proven beyond doubt that
Section 14(c) of the FLSA is a law whose time has long since past; and

 

WHEREAS, Representative Michelle Luján Grisham is the only member of the New
Mexico congressional delegation who has shown the courage to co-sponsor H.R.
831: Now, therefore,

 

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico in
convention assembled this 6th day of April, 2014, in the city of
Albuquerque, New Mexico that this organization call upon Congressman Steve
Pearce and Congressman Ben Ray Luján to co-sponsor H.R. 831, the Fair Wages
for Workers with Disabilities Act, thereby demonstrating their support for
fair wages and competitive employment for disabled Americans.

 

Resolution unanimously adopted.

 

 


RESOLUTION 2014-03 COMMENDING REPRESENTATIVE MICHELLE LUJÁN GRISHAM FOR
CO-SPONSORING H.R. 831, THE FAIR WAGES FOR WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES ACT


 

WHEREAS, the Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act of 2013 (H.R.
831), introduced by Congressman Gregg Harper of Mississippi, proposes to
responsibly phase out and eventually repeal Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor
Standards Act (FLSA), a law which effectively discriminates against people
with disabilities by permitting them to be paid less than the federal
minimum wage; and

 

WHEREAS, H.R. 831 is opposed by repressive sheltered workshops and other
organizations which have profited from the exploitation of workers with
disabilities who are sometimes paid as little as pennies per hour; and

 

WHEREAS, these paternalistic organizations have tried to mislead members of
Congress by telling them that passing H.R. 831 would result in workers with
disabilities losing the jobs they have today; and

 

WHEREAS, on February 25, 2014, Representative Michelle Luján Grisham signed
on as a co-sponsor of H.R. 831, displaying a high level of courage: Now,
therefore,

 

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico in
convention assembled this 6th day of April, 2014, in the city of
Albuquerque, New Mexico that this organization commend Congresswoman
Michelle Luján Grisham for co-sponsoring H.R. 831, the Fair Wages for
Workers with Disabilities Act, and express its gratitude and appreciation
for her efforts in support of the blind of New Mexico.

 

Resolution unanimously adopted.

 

 


RESOLUTION 2014-04 REGARDING NEW VOTING MACHINES PURCHASED BY THE STATE OF
NEW MEXICO


 

WHEREAS, the state of New Mexico has spent $6 million to purchase Dominion
Image Capture Evolution (ICE) voting machines; and

 

WHEREAS, Dominion ICE voting machines are going to be used in the June 3,
2014 primary elections in Bernalillo, Sandoval, Valencia, San Juan, and Doña
Ana counties; and

 

WHEREAS, although the Dominion ICE voting machines provide voice guidance
for voters who happen to be blind, they are inferior to the AutoMARK voting
machines that have been used in New Mexico for past elections because:

 

1)            the synthetic speech used to pronounce candidates and contests
is muffled and thus would be difficult for individuals with hearing
impairments to understand;

 

2)            the initial volume of the Dominion ICE, once the audio
guidance has been activated, is extremely low, and the first-time user would
likely not know how to increase it; and

 

3)            because of this low initial volume, it is difficult for the
blind voter to learn how to blank the screen so that a truly secret ballot
can be cast; and

 

WHEREAS, the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (PL 107-252) requires that each
polling location have at least one voting system accessible to individuals
with disabilities, including nonvisual accessibility for the blind and
visually impaired, in a manner that provides the same opportunity for access
and participation (including privacy and independence) as for other voters;
and

 

WHEREAS, in New Mexico, the Secretary of State is responsible for overseeing
the entire election process in the state, including the evaluation and
certification of electronic voting systems; and

 

WHEREAS, at no time during the evaluation and certification of the Dominion
ICE voting machine did anyone from the Secretary of State's office solicit
comments from the blind community; and

 

WHEREAS, this cavalier treatment of the blind has resulted in the
certification of a voting system (the Dominion ICE) that is, at best, less
usable and less accessible than its predecessor, the AutoMARK: Now,
therefore,

 

BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in convention
assembled this 6th day of April, 2014 in the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico
that this organization express its extreme disappointment with Secretary of
State Dianna Duran for the failure of her office to involve and consult with
the blind community during the evaluation and certification of the Dominion
Image Capture Evolution (ICE) voting machine; and

 

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization communicate to Secretary of
State Dianna Duran, in clear and unequivocal language, that because of this
failure, blind voters in New Mexico who use the Dominion ICE voting machine
will have a less accessible voting experience, which could prohibit them
from voting independently, than they have had with its predecessor, the
AutoMARK.

 

Resolution unanimously adopted.

 

 


GOOD EATING


 


SALTED ALMOND ICE CREAM 


 

Submitted by Veronica Smith

 

I found the most delicious home-made ice cream recipe and just had to share
it with you! The best thing about it is that it is scrumptious and good for
you! Can't beat that!

One thing I really love about this ice cream is that it freezes well,
meaning you can easily freeze this and scoop it out again in a matter of
minutes. I kid you not, you cannot taste the banana base, it's just so
yummy! It’s so creamy and flavorful thanks to the almond butter and salt.
Feel free to use your favorite nut or seed butter, or peanut butter. Up to
you!

 

Part 1: The Ice Cream

 

Ingredients

 

2 large bananas, peeled, cut into chunks and frozen 

2 tablespoons unsalted creamy almond butter (or other nut or seed butter)

1/4 teaspoon salt

 

Method

 

1. Place the frozen bananas in a food processor or blender on low to medium
speed, and chop a bit.

2. At this point you can add either all or half of the almond butter along
with the salt. It's good to save half the almond butter to swirl into the
ice cream with a spatula at the end.

3. Finish processing the ice cream until creamy and smooth.

4. Scoop and enjoy!

5. Store sealed in the freezer for a few weeks.

 

Makes about 2 cups or 2 to 4 servings

 

Part 2: Almond Crunch Topping

 

1/2 cup (72 g) raw almonds

pinch or two of salt (up to 1/8 teaspoon)

1 teaspoon honey

 

Preheat your oven to 325°F (165°C or gas mark 3) and line a baking sheet
with parchment paper or non-stick baking mat. Blend all the ingredients
together and pour the almonds onto the baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes.

Cool and break into pieces to serve.

 


LOW-CARB RASPBERRY CHEESECAKE MOUSSE


 

Submitted by Veronica Smith

 

Though this is a wonderful dish for the upcoming summer months, with a
little variation in ingredients, this delicious dessert can be changed up
for fall by adding a cup of baked apples or peaches and cinnamon. Yummy! 

 

This recipe comes from Sugar-Free Mom.

 

No Bake Raspberry Cheesecake Mousse is made with only 5 ingredients, is low
carb and has no sugar added!

 

Ingredients:

8 ounces light cream cheese, softened

1 cup frozen, thawed and drained raspberries

1 cup heavy cream

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1 teaspoon Berry Sweet Drops™ (Stevia) 

 

Directions:

In a stand mixer, place the cream cheese and blend until smooth in texture.
Add the raspberries and blend until combined. Pour heavy cream into cream
cheese and raspberries and blend on high until it becomes whipped in
texture. Once whipped, add the vanilla extract and Stevia and blend again.

Makes 3 cups total. Serves 6 at ½ cup each.

 


USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS AND WEBSITES


 

www.nfb.org or call 410-659-9314 

Call or visit this website to get a free white cane and now also a free
slate and stylus.

 

505-468-1290 

Call the Bernalillo County Clerk to obtain an absentee ballot or to get
information about voting, including how to register, where to vote, and
early voting dates. If you live in another county, just call the specific
County directly. 

 

www.ebenefits.va.gov 

If you are handy with a computer, go here to find out more about Veterans
benefits. 

 

www.radiopower.com 

Go here to find and listen to over 600 Internet radio stations. 

 


MEETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS


 

July 1-6: National Federation of the Blind Convention, Rosen Center Hotel,
Orlando, Florida

 

September 13: New Mexico State Fair Parade 

 

October 4-12: World-Famous Albuquerque International Balloon festival 

 

October 15: National White Cane Day observed

 

November 15: Beginning of the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the
National Federation of the Blind 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Leslie Newman

Personal Website-

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

President, NFB Writers' Division

Division Website-

http://writers.nfb.org

Chair, NFB Communications Committee

Vice President, Nebraska Senior Division 

First Vice President, Omaha Chapter

Commissioner, Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired