[Nfb-editors] New Jersey - The Sounding Board, Spring 2014
Robert Leslie Newman
newmanrl at cox.net
Thu May 8 02:23:01 UTC 2014
SPRING 2014
The Sounding Board
The Publication of the National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey
IN THIS ISSUE
MARY JO PARTYKA & YVONNE LOPEZ
discuss New Jersey’s first BELL program
VINCENT CHANEY
announces the legislation of Dusty’s Law and describes the next steps to be
taken
JESSICA SCANNELL
describes her life-changing experiences at the Louisiana National Center
AMY ALBIN
shares a speech she wrote concerning the need to advocate for Braille
literacy
DAN FRYE
describes his vision for CBVI
¬¬
THE SOUNDING BOARD
Spring 2014
Katherine Gabry, Editor
Jerilyn Higgins & MaryJo Partyka, Co-editors
Published by e-mail and on the Web through Newsline and AudioVision by
The National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey
www.nfbnj.org
Joseph Ruffalo, President
State Affiliate Office 254 Spruce Street Bloomfield, NJ 07003
e-mail: nfbnj1 at verizon.net
Letters to the President, address changes, subscription requests,
letters to the Editor and articles for The Sounding Board should be sent to
the
State Affiliate Office or e-mailed to choirnfb at gmail.com. The editorial
staff reserves the right to edit all articles for space and/or clarity
considerations.
Please Note: The deadline for the Fall issue is October 1, 2014.
Donations should be made payable to the
National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey
and sent to the State Affiliate Office.
To subscribe via Newsline, contact Maria Baratta, 800-792-8322.
JACOBUS TENBROEK LEGACY SOCIETY
Help build a future full of opportunity for the blind by becoming a member
of the Jacobus tenBroek Legacy Society. Your legacy gift to the National
Federation of the Blind can be made in the form of a will or a living trust,
an income-generating gift, or by naming the NFB as a beneficiary of a
retirement plan or life insurance policy. You can also become a member of
the Jacobus tenBroek Legacy Society by making a legacy gift to your state
affiliate. By committing to support an NFB affiliate, your gift will benefit
both local and national programs, since all bequests made to affiliates are
split evenly with the NFB national treasury. In addition to having the
satisfaction of contributing to the future success of the NFB's mission,
tenBroek Legacy Society members also receive a specially designed thank you
gift and other benefits. For additional information, please contact Lou Ann
Blake at the NFB Jernigan Institute by e-mail at lblake at nfb.org, or by
telephone at 410-659-9314, extension 2221.
Mission Statement
The National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey, Inc. is an
organization of blind and interested sighted people who plan and carry out
programs; work to improve the quality of life of the blind; provide a means
of collective action for parents of blind children; promote the vocational,
cultural and social advancement of the blind; achieve the integration of the
blind into society on a basis of equality with the sighted; and take action
that will improve the overall condition and standard of living of the blind.
The National Federation of the Blind Pledge
I pledge to participate actively in the efforts of the National
Federation of the Blind to achieve equality, opportunity and security for
the blind; to support the programs and policies of the Federation; and to
abide by its constitution.
The Sounding Board
The Sounding Board is the magazine of the National Federation of the
Blind of New Jersey. We publish The Sounding Board twice a year. Our hope is
that through The Sounding Board, our members can keep current with local,
state and national news and issues of concern. We also aspire to provide a
source of hope, inspiration, pride and camaraderie through the personal
stories in our publication.
About 300 readers receive our publication via e-mail, and we also encourage
registration with Newsline Online, which sends publications, sections of
publications or articles you select to your e-mail address for downloading.
We’re pleased that the New Jersey Talking Book and Braille Center airs
excerpts from The Sounding Board on Audiovision. The Sounding Board is also
available for download in its entirety from our website at www.nfbnj.org and
is broadcast on our radio station, ThruOurEyes.org. We encourage our readers
to share The Sounding Board with family members, teachers, professionals,
neighbors and any other interested parties. We estimate our circulation to
be in the thousands, as readers from across the country regularly report
that The Sounding Board influences their lives. We hope you enjoy this
issue.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Swing into Spring, POBC-NJ fundraiser flyer next page
Presidential Message, by Joe Ruffalo 1
A CBVI Update, by Dan Frye 3
Legislative Report, by Lynn Reynolds 5
NFB Responds to President Obama’s Fair Wages for Workers, by Marc Maurer
7
Dusty’s Law Announcement, by Vincent Chaney 8
Atlantic Cape Community College Discriminates Against Blind Student, Bans
Him From Freely Accessing Campus, by Chris Danielsen 9
The PAC Plan – The Latest and Greatest, by Ryan Stevens 10
Why use the word “Blind”? by James H. Omvig 11
One Dream, One Chance, An Opportunity to Succeed, by Jessica Scannell 12
It’s Time for Change! Braille Literacy Education Revisited, by Amy Albin
14
BELL Program: Braille Enrichment Through Literacy & Learning, by Mary Jo
Partyka 16
PRAHD Proud to Host BELL Program, by Yvonne Lopez 17
NFB Free Slate & Stylus Program 17
Calling All Braille Readers, Teachers & Parents: It’s Time for the Braille
Book Fair! 18
GreenDrop Program 18
National Hearing Test Offered Free in May 19
iCanConnect Provides Communications Technology for Those with Combined
Vision and Hearing Loss, by Kathy Gabry 19
Techie Tips 20
Did You Know
21
NFBNJ Member Recognition 23
Letter to the Editor 23
>From the Kitchen of the Capital Chapter 24
NFBNJ Contact Info 25
SWING INTO SPRING
Featuring
REEDS, RHYTHM, & ALL THAT BRASS
18-piece Big Band Concert and Dance
to Benefit the Programs of the
BLIND CHILDREN’S RESOURCE CENTER
of PARENTS OF BLIND CHILDREN-NJ
Saturday, May 31, 2014
6:30 - 11 pm
St. Vincent's School Auditorium
26 Green Village Road, Madison, NJ
Donation: $30
POBC & NFB Members: $20
Children: $10
Free dance lesson at 6:30 pm
with Jim Reitter, Swing Dance Plus
Dessert and Coffee
For TICKETS & INFORMATION contact CAROL CASTELLANO
973-377-0976 or blindchildren at verizon.net
Make your check payable to POBC-NJ
23 Alexander Ave., Madison NJ 07940
PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE
Greetings Fellow Federationists!
Spring is here at last! This is the time of year for bringing forth new
ideas and new opportunities. It’s a time to renew our support to each other
as we all work together to make a positive difference and change what it
means to be blind.
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. We all know that low
expectations create obstacles between blind people and their dreams. Every
day we in the NFB raise the expectations of blind people. You can have the
life you want; blindness is not what holds you back. Together, with love,
hope and determination, we turn dreams into reality. Our local, state and
national programs work with you and for you creating and changing laws,
providing skills training, teaching Braille, exploring technology and
raising expectations. A fine example of our efforts is the recent enactment
of Dusty’s Law. The New Jersey Association of Guide Dog Users, under the
leadership of Vincent Chaney, worked with The Seeing Eye staff, trainers,
and past and current students, as well as several communities, to ensure
this law’s unanimous (134 – 0) passage. An article highlighting the
introduction of this law is in this issue.
In January, the NFBNJ hosted its annual After the Holiday Party at the
Belleville Knights of Columbus. That day, NFBNJ and the Knights of Columbus
also conducted a GreenDrop drive. Members of both organizations, along with
residents of Belleville and members from two local churches collected
household goods. GreenDrop collects donations of clothing and household
items and then sells the goods to thrift stores on behalf of the NFB. The
proceeds support the NFB’s programs. In May, a Morris County Cub Scout troop
will assist the NFBNJ in another GreenDrop drive. You, too, can conduct a
similar drive with your school, church or civic organization. You can find
out more about GreenDrop in this issue.
In January, Mary Jo Partyka, president of the NJ Association to Promote the
Use of Braille, Holly Miller, president of Parents of Blind Children – NJ,
and I attended a 3-day workshop on the Braille Enrichment for Literacy and
Learning, or BELL, program at the National Center. We’re proud to announce
that the first BELL program for New Jersey will be conducted July 21 -
August 1, 2014. We’re confident the program will be a huge success thanks
to Mary Jo and Holly, as well as Barbara Shalit, instructor, and Jerilyn
Higgins, activities of daily living teacher, and all our volunteers. Find
out more about the BELL program in this issue, and join us on the road to
literacy!
Also in this edition of The Sounding Board, you’ll find information on the
issues presented at the Washington Seminar. All of these issues inspire us
TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE and to contact our legislators when the call to all is
provided.
The New Jersey Commission for the Blind has established a Strategic Design
Planning Team to provide a plan for the agency for the next three to five
years. The team consists of CBVI administrators, managers, staff and leaders
in the consumer groups. Please read the article by Dan Frye in this issue.
Tara Carty has been appointed chair of the NFBNJ’s new Press Core Committee,
which informs the public of our programs and projects, as well as the
successes of our members. Each chapter and division has been asked to assign
a member to this committee.
The National Convention will be held July 1 – July 6 in Orlando. Be on the
lookout for the agenda so that you can scope out the many activities and
plan your three hours of sleep every other day. For those not attending
this year, I hope that you’ll read the agenda and consider making plans to
attend next year.
The NFBNJ will conduct its 38th annual State Convention at the Holiday Inn
in Manahawkin, November 7 – 9, 2014. As information is finalized, we will
forward.
Members of the NFB and the New Jersey affiliate staged a protest at the Mays
Landing Campus of Atlantic Cape Community College on April 17 to combat
discrimination by ACCC against Anthony Lanzilotti, a blind student studying
criminal justice and cyber security. An article appears in this issue, and
you can see a video online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJSZNsM0n9g.
Finally, I want to thank Kathy Rawa for her time and dedication as president
of the South Jersey Shore Chapter.
In summary, thanks to our dedicated, hardworking and committed members who
are making a difference!
Upcoming Important Dates
• May 16: GreenDrop Program/Cub Scout collection, Kinnelon
• May 31: Parents of Blind Children’s Swing into Spring Dance, Madison
• June 21: Wedding Bells for Ivis Alvarez and Alberto Trejo
• July 1 – 6: National Convention, Orlando
• July 21 – August 1: BELL program, Perth Amboy
• October 1: Deadline for articles for the Fall issue of The Sounding
Board
• October 1 - 31: Meet the Blind Month
• October 25: Wedding Bells for Kevin Sisco and Christine Crotty
• November 7 to 9: State Convention, Holiday inn, Manahawkin
Sincerely,
Joseph Ruffalo, President
A CBVI UPDATE
By Daniel B. Frye
Editor’s Note: Dan Frye is the executive director of the New Jersey
Commission for the Blind & Visually Impaired.
As I near the 6-month mark of my tenure as the new executive director of the
New Jersey Commission for the Blind & Visually Impaired (CBVI), I am proud
of where this agency is and where it is headed. Much of my initial work has
involved getting to know the broader blind and vision-impaired constituency
in this state and developing a solid rapport with the senior management team
and front-line staff of this organization. Toward this end, I devoted much
of the first several months of my responsibilities to traveling throughout
New Jersey to meet consumer groups and other allied service providers.
Similarly, I visited each of CBVI’s regional offices to introduce myself and
my ideas to the CBVI family.
In addition to participating in this natural orientation exercise, managing
the day-to-day administrative obligations and policy questions of this
state-wide agency, responding to consumer concerns and compliments, and
introducing some fresh, internal communications and cultural initiatives to
our staff, my most important work for CBVI thus far has included being
thoroughly engaged in working with our staff and external partners to
develop a new, long-term strategic plan for the Commission. Specifically,
our process has been strengthened through the participation of several
leaders from among the affiliate of the NFBNJ, including President Joe
Ruffalo and POBC-NJ representative Carol Castellano. This effort will, when
fully realized, help to lay the foundation for what basic values CBVI will
stand for and what primary services we will be able to provide.
Instead of chronicling further what I’ve tried to accomplish during the
short time that I have had the privilege of serving the blind and
vision-impaired community of New Jersey, since six months is no time at all
in the institutional history of an organization with over 100 years of
heritage and heart, I’d like to leave you with my current version of my
broad vision for CBVI. This set of principles will inform much of what the
Commission will strive to achieve through the creation of a practical and
useful strategic plan. These points also represent the fundamental building
blocks of what I hope to achieve as the new CBVI executive director. To be
sure, my vision will evolve and become better defined as I continue the
prerequisite learning associated with leading a dynamic organization and
interacting with consumers who will share with me their perspectives, but I
feel confident in outlining this blueprint for you as a respectable starting
ambition. Here, in part, are some of my immediate priorities for the forward
momentum of CBVI. CBVI should be an agency that:
1. Promotes an increased sense of self-confidence and high expectations
of and for our consumers, emphasizing that nothing inherent in blindness
need limit personal or professional achievement. Realizing this objective
will involve adoption of innovative and unconventional efforts to effect
systemic cultural and social change in the general public’s thinking about
the capacity of blind and vision-impaired people to participate in the world
as contributing, self-sufficient, fully integrated people, who are valued
and accepted as equals.
2. Leverages the diverse services currently offered through CBVI
(education, VR, IL and eye-health) to create programs and solutions for
consumers, thereby maximizing our organizational advantage of offering a
life-long array of services and promoting improved interdisciplinary
cooperation, which promises to make our offerings increasingly unique and
rich.
3. Offers a “Cadillac Service Model” of supports to promote the
education, training, career-readiness and solid employment outcomes of our
consumers so that they may achieve social, political and economic
self-sufficiency. Such a model relies on the principle of quality over
quantity in service delivery.
4. Engages, in particular, the business community about the capabilities
of blind and vision-impaired consumers so that these cultivated allies
affirmatively want to work with CBVI to employ qualified blind and
vision-impaired candidates. CBVI must target business as a secondary
customer of our agency, promoting blindness education and blindness-specific
consulting as attractive deliverables to offer this community.
5. Becomes an agency that values transparency with its internal and
external stakeholders through:
A. Valuing the contributions of all staff and creating a work environment
that relies on open communications, encourages critical thinking and
constructive feedback, cultivates staff professional development, and
instills within all CBVI staff a true sense of organizational mission;
B. Acknowledging that consumers and other interested CBVI stakeholders
should be instrumental in influencing the shape of the services and programs
that we offer; and
C. Acquiring and earning recognition as an authority on blindness, low
vision, vision loss and eye health, such that local, state and federal
entities within New Jersey look to CBVI as an expert of first resort in our
field.
As I grow into this position, I look forward to developing a fruitful and
robust relationship with the members of the NFBNJ. Please be in touch with
me to offer your ideas and suggestions about measures that CBVI should
potentially take to serve the blind and vision-impaired community well.
Together, we’ll create new opportunities in the areas of training and
employment — opportunities that just may transform dreams into exciting
realities for our blind and vision-impaired consumers.
SPRING 2014 LEGISLATIVE REPORT
By Lynn Reynolds
On January 28, 2014, 11 members of the NFBNJ affiliate met with our senators
and representatives to discuss issues designated this year by the NFB that
impact the blind community. Below are updates of the issues that were
presented.
Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act: Section 14(c) of the Fair
Labor Standards Act allows employers to pay workers with disabilities less
because of the false assumption that they are less productive than
non-disabled workers. As a result, workers with disabilities have been
unfairly excluded from the federal minimum wage for nearly 75 years, and
today some 400,000 disabled workers are working for subminimum wages, some
for only pennies per hour. This old-fashioned provision breeds low
expectations and discourages Americans with disabilities from reaching their
full potential. H.R. 831 phases out the use of the 14(c) Special Wage
Certificates over a 3-year period, thereby ending the era of segregated,
sub-minimum wage work and guaranteeing workforce protection of a federal
minimum wage to workers with disabilities. The bill currently has 70
co-sponsors. A letter written by NFB President Marc Maurer to President
Obama in support of this legislation appears after this article.
We are also fighting to remove Section 511 of Title V of the Rehabilitation
Act included in the Workforce Investment Act reauthorization bill. Section
511 would authorize vocational rehabilitation agencies to use the
antiquated, discriminatory subminimum-wage provision of Section 14(c) of the
Fair Labor Standards Act to provide training and employment that costs more,
produces poorer outcomes, and actually teaches skills that need to be
unlearned in order for an individual with a disability to obtain competitive
integrated employment. We have sent a template of a letter for all members
of our affiliate to use when writing letters to urge Senator Cory Booker to
support removal of Section 511.
The Technology, Education and Accessibility in College and Higher Education
(TEACH) Act: Electronic instructional materials have replaced traditional
methods of learning in post-secondary education, but the overwhelming
majority of e-books, courseware, web content and other technology are
inaccessible to students with print disabilities. The law mandates equal
access in the classroom, but fails to provide a prescription to schools for
how that applies to technology. The TEACH Act creates accessibility
guidelines for electronic instructional materials that will guide the
market, give clarity to schools and protect blind students’ rights to
critical course material. The TEACH Act has been endorsed by 10 disability
groups and the Association of American Publishers, the lead trade
association for the U.S. Publishing industry. Senators Elizabeth Warren
(D-MA) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) introduced the Technology, Education and
Accessibility in College and Higher Education (TEACH) Act (S. 2060) on
February 27, 2014.
Equal Access to Air Travel for Service-Disabled Veterans (H.R. 164 and S.
346): The Space Available Program allows active-duty military, Red Cross
employees and retired members of the armed services to travel on military
aircraft if there is space available. These bills reverse the exclusion of
100 percent service-disabled veterans who were discharged before retirement
and entitle them to the program’s privileges. As of February 21, 2014, we
now have 210 co-sponsors on H.R. 164, and 18 co-sponsors on S. 346. We must
continue to build co-sponsor support for both the House and Senate versions
of the Space Available Bill to ensure that our language is included in this
year’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act.
The Air Carrier Technology Accessibility Act Amendments: Legislation is
needed to address the barriers to equal access created by inaccessible
technologies being deployed by air carriers, specifically in the areas of
mobile apps and inflight services. Just before the Washington Seminar, we
learned that Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa has introduced the Air Carrier
Accessibility Amendments Act, which calls on air carriers to ensure that the
mechanisms used to select inflight services are accessible to the blind, and
that audio description is included in in-flight entertainment. We believe
that this legislation should also include requirements to make mobile apps
accessible as well. We are working to get legislation introduced in the
House to accomplish this goal and with Senator Harkin's office to see if an
amendment related to app accessibility can be added to S. 556 at a later
time. We believe that Representative Takano of California will take the lead
on the House bill, and we are working with his office to find a Republican
member to join with his office in introducing the House companion bill.
Update on Dusty’s Law: Dusty’s Law was unanimously passed by the New Jersey
State Legislature on January 6, 2014 and signed into law by Governor Chris
Christie on January 21, 2014. An article written by New Jersey Association
of Guide Dog Users President Vincent Chaney also appears in this edition of
The Sounding Board.
I would like to thank all of you who have been making contacts when we need
action to be taken. If you would like to be added to my e-mail list for
legislative updates, please send me your e-mail information. I can be
reached by telephone at 908-251-5510 or by e-mail at lhr1827 at optonline.net.
NFB RESPONDS TO PRESIDENT OBAMA’S FAIR WAGES FOR WORKERS
By Marc Maurer, President, National Federation of the Blind
Editor’s Note: Marc Maurer sent the following letter to President Obama
2/3/2014:
In your January 28th State of the Union Address and via a conference call
with Vice President Biden and Secretary of Labor Perez on January 29, it was
announced that all contractors would be required by executive order to pay
their federally funded workers at least $10.10 an hour under any new
contracts. The NFB, the oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind
Americans, urges you to include workers with disabilities in this executive
order, affirmatively and explicitly. We further urge you to announce that
you will sign the Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act (H.R. 831) if
and when that legislation reaches your desk. With a Republican sponsor and
substantial Democratic co-sponsorship, this nonpartisan piece of legislation
will responsibly phase out the discriminatory practice of paying workers
with disabilities less than the minimum wage.
Our respect and prayers go out to Americans like Sergeant First Class Cory
Remsburg, who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom and
equality we seek to enjoy as American citizens. We are thankful that
Sergeant Remsburg is recovering from the wounds he suffered in service to
this great nation. But we must point out that his value to our society is
not a function of the restoration of his eyesight and ability to walk, but
of the simple fact that he is a human being with determination, belief in
himself, love for the United States and aspirations for his future. There
are millions of others who actively seek to serve this nation we love with
our unique talents and strengths, whether or not we can benefit from
technology or medical intervention that will mitigate or eliminate our
disabilities. Some of us may be blind in both eyes; others may not be able
to hear; some may be unable to walk; some may have developmental
disabilities that require innovative interventions; and still others may
have other disabilities that require them to perform everyday tasks a little
differently. We seek to have our different characteristics embraced as
respected contributions to our nation’s diversity, not as badges of
inferiority that condemn us to a life of low wages and low expectations. We
are no less valuable, we are no less capable, and we are no less American
than any other citizen.
We wholeheartedly agree with you when you say, “The America we want for our
kids – a rising America where honest work is plentiful and communities are
strong; where prosperity is widely shared and opportunity for all lets us go
as far as our dreams and toil will take us – none of it is easy. But if we
work together; if we summon what is best in us, the way Cory summoned what
is best in him, with our feet planted firmly in today but our eyes cast
towards tomorrow – I know it’s within our reach.” We believe that this
America includes people with disabilities, and we ask you to demonstrate
that you believe it as well.
DUSTY’S LAW ANNOUNCEMENT
By Vincent Chaney, President, New Jersey Association of Guide Dog Users
The New Jersey Association of Guide Dog Users, NJAGDU, the largest organized
group of guide dog users in New Jersey and a proud division of the National
Federation of the Blind of New Jersey, is honored to announce that Dusty’s
Law 2C:29-3.2 was signed by Governor Chris Christie on January 21, 2014.
The bill was passed unanimously by the Law and Public Safety Committees of
the NJ State Senate (5-0) and Assembly (11-0), and by both full houses of
the State Legislature: Senate (38-0) and Assembly (79-0).
The NJAGDU wishes to thank everyone who supported Dusty’s Law through this
advocacy movement. The positive reinforcement gained by asking family,
friends and contacts to get involved generated phone calls, e-mails and
letters to the NJ State Legislature that eventually resulted in the passage
of Dusty’s Law. Participating in this unified effort along with the NJAGDU
and the NFBNJ were Roger Woodhour (who was also attacked, along with Dusty),
the Seeing Eye, 4H, many guide dog users and a number of NJ communities.
While the legislation has been passed, our work on Dusty’s Law continues, as
our network of individuals now needs to publicize the law within their local
communities. Local police and animal control officers need to know about the
law in the areas where we live, work or frequently visit. An attack or
interference of a service animal or guide dog is now a criminal offense and
not just a matter for an animal control officer. We urge everyone to
communicate with others the dangers to the guide dog team when there is an
attack or interference. An altercation could affect both of the guide dog
team members and expose them to traffic or dangerous conditions which would
have been avoided if the guide dog team was not distracted or disoriented.
The NJAGDU, NFBNJ, Seeing Eye and advocates of this law are planning to
promote the new law through letters, pamphlets and visits to their local
media, newspapers, libraries, veterinarians, pet stores, animal shelters,
groomers, businesses, restaurants and stores which they patronize. We hope
all will continue to share the impact of Dusty’s Law with family, friends,
neighbors and co-workers.
Dusty’s Law (New Jersey state law 2C:29-3.2) may be viewed in its entirety
at:
lhttp://lis.njleg.state.nj.us/cgibin/om_isapi.dll?clientID=638865&Depth=2&de
pth=2&expandheadings=on&headingswithhits=on&hitsperheading=on&infobase=statu
tes.nfo&record={1903}&softpage=Doc_Frame_PG42
ATLANTIC CAPE COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISCRIMINATES AGAINST BLIND STUDENT,
BANS HIM FROM FREELY ACCESSING CAMPUS
Federation Members to Protest College’s Actions
By Chris Danielsen, NFB Director of Public Relations
Members of the National Federation of the Blind, the nation’s oldest and
largest organization of blind people, and its New Jersey affiliate held a
protest at the Mays Landing campus of Atlantic Cape Community College (ACCC)
on Thursday, April 17. Blind people from New Jersey and surrounding areas
gathered to protest discrimination by Atlantic Cape Community College
against Anthony Lanzilotti, a blind student studying criminal justice and
cyber security there. Mr. Lanzilotti has been denied even the most basic
accommodations and at times has not been allowed on campus or to use campus
facilities unless he is accompanied by a sighted person. He has also been
prohibited from using campus laboratories because ACCC claims that this
violates the fire code. ACCC has also refused to procure or create
accessible copies of Mr. Lanzilotti’s textbooks and course materials, a
service routinely provided to blind students by other colleges and
universities. If he wants his print textbooks to be scanned and converted to
electronic files that can be read aloud by text-to-speech software or on a
Braille display, he must do the scanning himself, and he cannot use campus
facilities to do so unless he meets the requirement of having a sighted
person with him. Mr. Lanzilotti is planning to file suit against the
college.
Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said:
“Blind students sometimes face challenges in the college setting, including
lack of access to textbooks and course materials, but the vast majority of
institutions of higher education make at least some effort to accommodate
these students. Atlantic Cape Community College has not only refused to make
the minimum effort to accommodate Mr. Lanzilotti, but has added insult to
injury by segregating him from his fellow students and restricting his
access to the campus and its facilities. Mr. Lanzilotti is not a child and
does not need a chaperone. The National Federation of the Blind intends to
make ACCC’s outrageous discrimination against Mr. Lanzilotti known to the
public and to do everything else in our power to assist him in fighting this
discrimination. The laws of the United States and the State of New Jersey
are firmly on Mr. Lanzilotti’s side, and we will see that they are
followed.”
THE PAC PLAN – THE LATEST AND GREATEST
By Ryan Stevens
Greetings once again to my fellow Federationists throughout the New Jersey
Affiliate! This is your friendly neighborhood PAC Plan chairman, and this is
my latest update on how we’re doing with our contributions to this very
important program.
As most of you know, PAC stands for Pre-Authorized Contribution, and the
plan is an easy way for NFB members to make regular donations to our
organization. It’s easy because it’s a one-time process to sign up, and
it’s
easy on the wallet because you can contribute as little as $5 a month. It’s
important because it helps fund the programs and activities that are so
vital to the success of blind people, such as scholarships that help blind
college students obtain the knowledge and skills they need to become
employed, taxpaying members of their communities. PAC also helps fund our
work to eliminate the barriers faced by blind people which prevent them from
keeping pace with their sighted peers, in their everyday lives from school
to work to shopping.
In terms of our ranking among the states, since November, we’ve gone from
30th to 26th. We now give $393.50 per month from 27 contributors. I wish
to thank the members and chapters who have helped us get to this level;
however, we can definitely do more. It would be fantastic if NFBNJ was
putting $500 every month into PAC, and it’s not as difficult as it seems.
If we got 23 new contributors at the minimum $5 level, we’d be over the top,
and we’d nearly double the number of donors. With eight chapters and eight
divisions, we need only one or two people from each to get there. I’m
asking the chapter and division presidents to make PAC a regular topic at
your meetings, and I’m encouraging individual members to invite their
friends and family members to sign up.
Here’s how easy that process is: If you have a checking account, you can
sign up with PAC. Signing up involves nothing more than filling out a short
form with the following information: Your name and address, your bank’s
name, the routing and account numbers of your checking account, how much you
wish to contribute each month, and which day of the month you want the money
withdrawn. If you have paper checks, the routing and account numbers appear
on them at the bottom. You can also get your account number from your
monthly statement and the routing number by calling your bank. If you would
like a PAC Plan form, simply request one from your chapter or division
president, or you can e-mail me at rysteve at comcast.net. After NFB processes
the form, your contribution will be automatically taken from your account
each month, and you don’t need to do anything else.
Making these regular tax-deductible contributions would show how important
the National Federation of the Blind is to you, and would demonstrate how
proud an affiliate New Jersey is, so as the song says, please
get on the
PAC Plan. Sign up today!
WHY USE THE WORD “BLIND”?
By James H. Omvig
Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in the January 2008 newsletter of
the NFB of California. We’re printing a condensed version. Jim worked first
as a lawyer and later with Dr. Kenneth Jernigan at the Iowa Commission for
the Blind. He also headed the blindness rehabilitation program in Alaska and
published several books. Read the entire article at
https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm09/bm0901/bm090107.htm
People who cannot see are blind, and the word “blind” is perfectly
acceptable – in fact, it’s absolutely essential – when one is referring to
the lack of eyesight. Here is the short answer for why Dr. Jernigan taught
us to do what we do.
Federationists have long recognized that to understand blindness correctly
and to know how to properly educate or rehabilitate blind people, one must
be aware of the fact that blind people as a class are a minority in every
negative sense of that term. It is the erroneous and negative public
attitude about blindness that is the real problem with which we must deal.
>From infancy, we have been taught that to be blind is to be helpless,
incompetent and inferior. Members of the general public have believed it,
and most of us have come to believe it, too. In time, blindness
professionals also bought into the erroneous stereotyping and the low
expectations that accompany feelings of inferiority.
We must change those erroneous public attitudes – the myths, misconceptions
and superstitions – first, of course, in ourselves and then in the broader
society.
We also understand fully that these very negative and mistaken attitudes
have found their way into the educational and vocational rehabilitation
systems. These very mistaken beliefs about blindness drive the
professionals' efforts to get their customers to deny their blindness at any
price. These mistaken beliefs must be eliminated as a key component of any
high-quality education or rehabilitation program for the blind.
Finally, Federationists have come to know the fundamental truth that blind
people are nothing more than normal people who cannot see, and that if we
receive effective training, we can participate fully in society and compete
on terms of absolute equality with our sighted colleagues. We have also
learned that for any blind person truly to become empowered and free, a
process of what is commonly called “adjustment to blindness” is essential.
Learning to use the word “blind” with ease and comfort and accepting
blindness as a normal fact of life is a significant ingredient in the
process, as it is commonly understood that you cannot change what you are
not willing to acknowledge.
This brings us back to the ultimate truth. If you are blind, you are blind.
Accept it. Admit it. The very first step in this process is to learn to be
able to say, with neither shame nor embarrassment, “I am blind.” Like other
minorities, we have a job to do: We must learn to accept our blindness and
then work with concerted action to make it respectable to be blind.
ONE DREAM, ONE CHANCE, AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED
By Jessica Scannell
Editor’s Note: Jessica, a former LEAD student, graduated from Montclair
State University with a degree in family and child studies, and a K-5
teaching certificate, and a 3.631 GPA. She was on the Dean’s List every
semester. After nine months at the Louisiana Center for the Blind, Jessica
is back in New Jersey. She currently serves as secretary of the NFBNJ’s
Northeast Chapter.
In every person's life, opportunity comes knocking. It’s up to you whether
or not you choose to reach out and see what this opportunity will offer you,
or just let it slip away. I was blessed by the wonderful fortune of being
able to be a student at the Louisiana Center for the Blind from March to
December, 2013. It took me a long time to fulfill my dream. However, with
hard work, networking and determination, I decided I was going to do
whatever I could to make my dream possible. Once I was accepted and arrived
at this wonderful place, I knew I would do everything in my power to make my
dream of total independence a reality. I’m grateful for the support of my
friends at the New Jersey CBVI, the NFBNJ and the NFB in making this
adventure a reality.
When I was exploring my options, I realized LCB was the right choice from
the moment my family and I walked into the Center. My parents were
comfortable knowing I would be receiving the best training there, and I was
happy knowing I would never really be leaving home. I knew from that moment
on, LCB would be my new home and family for the next year of my life.
While I was a student at LCB, there were many skills I learned both inside
and outside of the classroom. I became much more confident using my long
white cane to get around the town of Ruston. A great time for me to apply my
mobility skills occurred when I walked the one mile there and one mile back
to my apartment each day. I also had the opportunity to hone my skills when
my friends and I took cabs to go shopping or when we walked to a new
restaurant or our favorite bakery. I became adept at budgeting my money as
time passed, and learned how to use it wisely so I could go shopping for
the things I needed and still have money left over to use with my friends
when we wanted to go out and have some fun on the weekends. I learned how
to use Microsoft Word and became very efficient at finishing my assignments
and getting them in on time. In the past, I hesitated to ask questions of
my professors, but as time went on, I started asking questions which
unlocked another key to success in my current projects and brought me
another step closer to attaining complete independence.
Woodshop was one of the first classes where I truly learned the meaning of
the word confidence. Each day I was presented with a task, and I learned how
to become more comfortable using tools and how to break things down step by
step, thereby making the tasks easier. I quickly learned it was not about
how fast I completed a project; it was more about the time I put into it and
the pride I felt having completed it.
LCB didn’t allow me to shy away from things that frightened me because I was
blind. Instead, the staff took me and my classmates on fun trips that not
only allowed me to face my fears, but also gave me the opportunity to
conquer them head on. Because of this new independence, I forgot about being
scared and focused all my attention on having a good time with my friends.
As I participated in each new activity – horseback riding, rock climbing,
white water rafting, zip lining – I began to realize I could accomplish
things that I never thought I could do, and I loved every minute of it.
I had the pleasure of living with two roommates with whom I am still friends
today, and I lived by myself for a while as well. I realized I like my
space, but having a friend to talk to, go shopping with, and clean my room
with is a nice bonus.
Before I graduated, I had to complete several projects including preparing
meals for the staff and students, doing a PowerPoint presentation and doing
my “out of town” route. Once all my projects were completed, I began to look
forward to graduation day. It was nostalgic for me to realize I would be
leaving a place and many people who had come to mean so much to me in the
past nine months. On my graduation day, I received my Freedom Bell on which
is pictured an eagle on the middle of a bell. The wings of the eagle signify
independence and a new chapter in every graduate's life. On the bottom of
the bell, the inscription reads, “Together we are changing what it means to
be blind.” I was sad to leave all my friends behind, but I realized we would
never be parted. I felt so much joy and pride that day because by receiving
that bell, I knew I had the keys to achieve success in any career I chose,
and would be living a wonderful and fulfilling life in any place fate
decided to take me.
While attending LCB I had the greatest role models in Pam and Rowland Allen.
Pam is the executive director of the Center, and her husband Rowland was my
mobility instructor. They were my second parents while I was there, and not
a day goes by that I don’t thank them for all the wonderful values and
skills they instilled in me. I am also grateful to them for allowing me to
share their world with them. I am so happy that I decided to attend the
Louisiana Center for the Blind. It is one of the best decisions I’ve ever
made in my life.
IT’S TIME FOR CHANGE!
BRAILLE LITERACY EDUCATION REVISITED
By Amy Albin
Editor’s Note: Amy Albin, Morris Plains, is a freshman at Morristown High
School. She attended the BISM Independence 101 program in Baltimore in 2013.
While attending BISM, she became aware of the lack of Braille literacy in
this country. In this article, she shares the speech that she wrote for a
school assignment and recited at two school tournaments concerning the need
to advocate for Braille literacy.
According to a report called The Braille Literacy Crisis in America,
published by the National Federation of the Blind in 2009, only 10 percent
of blind children in the U.S. are taught to read and write Braille. In an
article entitled Making Change with a Dollar, Dan Frye, former editor of the
Braille Monitor and currently executive director of the New Jersey
Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, states that “by comparison,
at the height of its use in the 1950s, more than half of the nation’s
children were learning Braille.” Many students and parents find themselves
battling with school districts to obtain the Braille instruction to which
they are entitled. The reduction in the number of children learning Braille
is due to a number of factors that include a shortage of teachers, an
emphasis on vision and technology, and a myriad of misconceptions
surrounding Braille.
Statistics from the report say that "in 2003 there were approximately 6,700
full-time teachers of blind students serving about 93,600 students,” or one
teacher for every 14 students. Since the most effective way to teach
Braille to a blind student is on a 1:1 basis several times per week, the
1:14 ratio of teachers to students is not acceptable. In addition, many
teachers of the blind are not comfortable with the code themselves.
Another problem is the emphasis on technology. Although technology provides
children with new ways of communicating, it does not enable them to learn
the basic, fundamental elements of spelling and grammar because they are not
actually writing and reading each word. However, if these children learn
Braille, they can use computers with Braille displays which, along with
speech, will enhance their learning. In a telephone conversation with Joseph
Ruffalo, president of the NFB of New Jersey, I learned about a blind man who
has a doctorate degree. He is clearly very intelligent, however, since this
man has never learned Braille and has never read or written anything, he
could not pass a fourth grade spelling test! Technology is an extraordinary
tool that enhances communication, but it cannot replace true literacy.
Instead of using screen readers, blind people can use computers with
displays that produce Braille so that they can read and write independently.
Finally, there are many misconceptions about Braille. People say it isolates
children from their peers, it's too difficult to learn, and it's always
slower than print. The first point is utterly ridiculous and unfounded.
Blind people who can read and write are on equal terms with their peers
because they are literate and independent. Second, Braille is rather
challenging to learn, but, like print, it is completely doable if you begin
at an early age. I began learning when I was four, and I've now been reading
fluently for many years. Besides, print is also challenging for young
sighted children to learn, which is why they need to be continually drilled
with the alphabet. Third, while Braille is somewhat slower than print in
some cases, people can teach themselves to read very quickly. One Braille
reader actually took a class in speed reading, and it was not a class
specifically for blind people.
There is no valid reason to deprive the blind of the right to literacy.
Blind people who can read and write Braille put themselves on equal terms
with their peers because they are literate and independent. Statistics
indicate that 85 percent of blind people who become gainfully employed know
how to read Braille.
Since literacy is key to a proper education, concerted action must be taken
to assure that every blind person who needs Braille instruction receives the
amount that he or she requires. According to the Braille Literacy Crisis
report, the NFB strives to have a law passed by 2015 requiring all teachers
of the visually impaired throughout the nation to pass a national
certification test, which confirms that they are proficient with the
literary Braille code. Literacy advocates like myself hope that this law and
other incentives will ensure that Braille teachers have the knowledge and
skill to give their students proper Braille instruction. The NFB proposed a
Braille literacy bill, which serves to make sure that each blind child will
have appropriate Braille instruction and will be able to utilize it
according to his or her needs. Thirty-three states have formally adopted
such bills. There are a number of ways you, too, can help end the Braille
literacy crisis. If you are interested in working with children, learn
Braille and become a mentor to them. Spread the word and make your opinions
known to local government officials. Tell them that you heard a speech from
a blind person who was fortunate enough to be among the 10 percent of all
blind children in the U.S. who was lucky enough to learn to read. I
shouldn't have to be lucky. Every capable human being is entitled to
literacy. Do we really need a report to tell us that such a low literacy
rate is unacceptable? If we want a nation and a world where everyone,
including the blind, has the opportunity to be literate and to live up to
his or her full potential, we must act now.
It's time for change!
BELL PROGRAM: BRAILLE ENRICHMENT THROUGH LITERACY & LEARNING
Program to Start Summer 2014 at PRAHD in Perth Amboy
By Mary Jo Partyka
Editor’s Note: Several articles in this issue point to the need and
importance for children to learn Braille. This year, our state affiliate is
taking a leap by initiating its first BELL program. The coordinators of this
program are Holly Miller, president of Parents of Blind Children-NJ, and
Mary Jo Partyka, president of the NJ Association to Promote the Use of
Braille. Barbara Shalit, who has worked with the NJ Commission for the Blind
for many years, will plan the curriculum and serve as head teacher. Jerilyn
Higgins, a certified rehabilitation teacher, will teach daily living skills.
“This place is terrific! The kids are going to love it,” enthused Holly
Miller, as we finished our tour of the Puerto Rican Association for Human
Development (PRAHD), the site for New Jersey’s first BELL – Braille
Enrichment through Literacy and Learning – program. The program is designed
to provide intensive Braille instruction to blind/low vision children during
the summer. The first BELL programs took place in Maryland and Georgia in
2009. By 2013, 19 states sponsored BELL programs.
According to the 2014 BELL curriculum, the goal of the program is to
“provide children ages 4-13 with two weeks of concentrated instruction in
Braille and nonvisual learning through hands-on activities.” In addition to
Braille, children will also learn daily living skills, which will help them
learn ways to do things that sighted people take for granted, such as
distinguishing among different types of currency, pouring liquids, telling
time and preparing snacks. In addition to these activities, the children
will be taken on local field trips where they can “let their hair down” and
have fun. Inherent in the lessons is the NFB philosophy which professes
that blind children can do anything sighted children can through the use of
alternative techniques. The majority of BELL staff and volunteers are blind
and will serve as role models for the students.
The program will be held at the PRAHD located at 100 First Street in Perth
Amboy, July 21 - August 1, 2014. There is no cost to attend the program but
parents will be required to transport their children to and from the
facility. The program will provide the children with snacks and lunch on
Fridays. Children will be expected to bring their lunches Monday through
Thursday.
For more information or to sign up for New Jersey’s BELL program, please
visit
https://nfb.org/bell-program. To donate to BELL, please send your
tax-deductible contribution payable to NFBNJ (please write BELL program in
the memo), 254 Spruce Street, Bloomfield, NJ 07003.
PRAHD PROUD TO HOST BELL PROGRAM
By Yvonne Lopez
On Behalf of the Puerto Rican Association for Human Development, Inc., I
would like to express my excitement in working with the BELL program this
summer. PRAHD will serve as the host-site location for the BELL students,
and the agency as a whole is looking forward to working with such a
worthwhile program and cause. As part of this new partnership, I would like
to provide a brief overview of PRAHD and its programs.
PRAHD was founded in 1974 by a group of community activists and leaders
seeking to create a non-profit organization that would support individuals
in need. Over the past 40 years, PRAHD has evolved and grown into a premiere
provider of comprehensive human services throughout Middlesex County and the
State of New Jersey. Currently the agency operates in Middlesex, Union,
Ocean, Hudson and Bergen counties and serves approximately 17,000 clients
annually. PRAHD boasts a wide array of programming that targets education,
youth development, preventative health services, respite care, affordable
housing, benefits access, senior services and disaster relief.
PRAHD is dedicated to “developing human potential and promoting
self-sufficiency through programs designed to improve the social, economic,
health and education status of the community in a culturally sensitive
environment.” Agency programming addresses the full spectrum of unmet human
services needs with the principle goal of developing individual
sustainability and self-sufficiency. Clients of the agency’s programs are
predominantly represented by the minority population and low- to
moderate-income community. Due to the agency’s excellence in operations and
programming, PRAHD has developed a stellar reputation throughout the
community and has earned the support of corporations, private foundations
and government bodies on all levels. PRAHD’s agency vision is to “empower
the individual to reach their highest potential and participate meaningfully
in their community.”
NFB FREE SLATE & STYLUS PROGRAM
Do you need a new slate and stylus? Are you learning Braille and need to
practice writing? Are your old labels looking a little shabby? We have the
answer!
The NFB has started a new program whereby you can receive a free 4-line,
28-cell, Whozit metal slate and a round plastic stylus. The slate and
stylus is the only device you can fit into your pocket/purse to take down
notes, phone numbers, and the names of people you meet as readily as a
person using a pen and paper. We believe Braille is vital to all blind
individuals and should be available in every facet of a blind person’s life.
If you have questions, please e-mail us at nfb at nfb.org. You can order your
free slate by visiting https://nfb.org/free-slate-program.
CALLING ALL BRAILLE READERS, TEACHERS & PARENTS:
IT’S TIME FOR THE BRAILLE BOOK FAIR 2014!
It’s that time again to sort through your Braille books and donate those
gently used volumes to the 2014 Braille Book Fair sponsored by the National
Organization of Parents of Blind Children. This year's coordinator is
Krystal Guillory. This event will take place on Thursday, July 1, from 5-7
p.m. Our primary goal is to get more Braille books into the hands of
children, youth and beginning adult readers. The top picks are
print-Braille picture storybooks, cookbooks and poetry books. Every year,
despite generous donations, most of our books for young children are gone in
less than 20 minutes. So, please search through the boxes in your basement
and spare room and send your books via UPS to: Elainna Moore - Area HR
Manager, c/o 2014 NFB Convention Braille Book Fair, 8901 Atlantic Ave,
Orlando, FL 32824. For more info, please contact Krystal Guillory at
1-318-245-8955 or kguillory at lcb-ruston.com.
GREENDROP PROGRAM
After this long winter, spring is finally here – a time to clean up and do
new things! If you have some gently used household items for which you’d
like to find a new home, you may be interested in donating them to the
GreenDrop Program. NFB has partnered with GreenDrop in Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, Maryland, New York, Virginia, Delaware and the District of Columbia
to collect clothing and household donations. The items will be sold to
thrift shops, with profits going towards programs at NFB.
In New Jersey, GreenDrop is available in the following counties: Bergen,
Burlington, Essex, Gloucester, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Sussex and
Union. GreenDrop will be making phone calls, sending e-mails and sending
mailings requesting donations to homes in the areas they serve. GreenDrop
personnel are also working hard to expand both the locations for future
sites and the areas where GreenDrop trucks will do pickups at homes.
The following items will be accepted as donations: clothing and shoes,
household items, children’s games and toys, small appliances, electronics,
sporting goods, small furniture, and books, CDs and videos. To review the
entire list of products that can be donated, please visit our state website
at www.nfbnj.org. All proceeds from the donation of these products will
assist the National Center for the Blind in its projects and programs which
will benefit the entire blind population of the United States.
The number to call for information or GreenDrop pickups is 888-610-4632.
NATIONAL HEARING TEST OFFERED FREE IN MAY
May is Better Hearing and Speech Month, and this May, a free hearing
screening is being offered by telephone. This screening will help you to
determine if you need to go for a complete hearing evaluation. The screening
is made possible by a grant from NIH/NIDCD.
This convenient, private and clinically valid screening test can be taken in
the comfort of your home simply by calling 1-866-223-7575 and following the
instructions. Left and right ears are tested and the results are given at
the end of the call (for example, “within normal range” or “slightly below
the normal range”). PLEASE pass this information on as widely as possible
and take the test. Information about the test is available at the National
Hearing Test website: https://nationalhearingtest.org/
ICANCONNECT PROVIDES COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
FOR THOSE WITH COMBINED VISION AND HEARING LOSS
By Kathy Gabry
Communication is essential for staying healthy, holding a job, managing a
household and participating in the community. Modern technology allows most
people to communicate through phones and computers, but for people who have
a combined vision and hearing loss, special equipment may be necessary to
make a phone call, send an e-mail, text or access the Internet. The
iCanConnect/NJ program ensures that individuals who have a combined hearing
and vision loss and who meet income criteria can access telephone, advanced
communications and information services.
A wide range of communications technology—hardware, software,
applications—is available to suit the varying needs of those who have a
combined hearing and vision loss. Some products are available to the general
public, such as telephones or computers, while others include specialized
equipment, such as screen enlargement software, screen readers or braille
displays. A program specialist can help you identify equipment that will
meet your needs, and training is available once your new equipment arrives.
The iCanConnect program is sponsored by the Federal Communications
Commission and is available in all 50 states, the District of Columbia,
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In New Jersey, the program is
provided through a partnership between the New Jersey Commission for the
Blind & Visually Impaired and the Center for Sensory & Complex Disabilities
at The College of New Jersey. To learn more about eligibility requirements
for iCanConnect and download an application, go to
http://www.icanconnect.org/new-jersey or call 609-771-2711.
TECHIE TIPS
• NEED YOUR BRAILLEWRITER REPAIRED? For more information, call Mr.
Robert Simon at 915-307-7733.
• WINDOW-EYES is now free to people who have Office 2010 or higher
installed on their PC. Window-Eyes is a screen-reading software similar to
JAWS, and it functions fully in all PC environments including the desktop,
on the web and in all the MS Office products. The retail version of
Window-Eyes and other GWMicro products are still available, as there are
some differences between the level of tech support and training materials
that come with the free version, but it is the same screen reader. You can
read more at:www.gwmicro.com or download the program at
www.windowEyesForOffice.com Submitted by Omar Atin.
• THREE EXCELLENT RESOURCES FOR i DEVICES – First is
http://www.applevis.com. There you will find podcasts concerning apps,
lists of apps in different areas of interest and information for other
i-device users than those with the iPhone. Another resource which is
especially good for those just starting to use their i-device is the book
Getting Started with the iPhone by Anna Dresner, available from the National
Braille Press in Boston. The book is available in several different formats
for everything from your iPhone to your computer to that daisy player you
have. It’s also available in Braille. Finally, I found this link
enlightening: How blind people use an iPhone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIQWyp13beE&feature=youtu.be Submitted by
Jane Degenshein
• SIRI LINKS - Here is a link to a list of questions you can ask Siri.
Although this appears to be a full list, the number of things you can ask
Siri is only limited by your imagination or need:
http://techblog.tv/full-list-of-siri-commands-how-to-use-siri/
• SIRI LAUGHS - For those of you who like to laugh, here are 95 Funny
Siri Commands: http://osxdaily.com/2013/12/29/funny-siri-commands/
• IPHONE VOICE OVER GUIDE IN HTML FORMAT – Here is the voiceover guide
for the iPhone in handy HTML format:
http://help.apple.com/iphone/5/voiceover/en/iph3e2e4218.html
DID YOU KNOW
Blind Veterans – NFB is reaching out to blind veterans across the country.
If you know any blind veterans who could benefit from our programs, please
contact Joanne Wilson at jwilson at nfb.org or 410-659-9314, extension 2335.
Changes in Social Security Procedures – Beginning in August 2014, Social
Security Number Printouts will no longer be issued through the Social
Security field offices. If you lose your card, you’ll need to apply for a
replacement. In addition, beginning October 2014, Social Security field
offices will stop providing benefit verification letters, except in
emergency situations. Benefit verifications are available online at
www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount, or by calling 1-800-772-1213.
Finding Accessible Transportation - Easter Seals Project ACTION offers
resources to assist travelers with disabilities in finding accessible
transportation services within the U.S. and abroad. Visit the website at
http://www.projectaction.org/Resources
Publications/FindingAccessibleTransportation.aspx Submitted by Trisha Ebel
The Federal Department of Transportation’s Rules for Passengers with
Disabilities can be found at http://www.dot.gov/airconsumer/disability. This
site has various DOT rules in different formats that you can download or
call DOT at 202-366-2220 to request a copy. Submitted by Alice Eaddy
Complaints & Grievances for People with Low Vision – For those who have low
vision and are looking for a place for resources and a place to comment
about technology, check out the following website:
http://lowvisionrants.com/
The Middle Atlantic Blind Golf Association (MABGA) is a non-profit
organization that has been providing blind and visually impaired individuals
the opportunity to enjoy the game of golf since 1948. MABGA currently has
over 120 totally blind/visually impaired golfers and coaches, with another
85 junior blind golfers. A blind golfer is paired with a sighted golfer
known as a coach. MABGA members participate in approximately 40 golf outings
each year. In August, MABGA holds its annual Pro Am Tournament where blind
golfers are partnered with local PGA professionals. In September, MABGA
holds its Annual Fund Raising Charity Tournament. To learn more, visit
www.mabga.org or contact Mario Tobia at mariotobia at comcast.net or
856-866-2911. Submitted by Brian Mackey.
How to File ADA Complaints – Employment complaints should be filed with the
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission: 1-800-669-4000 Voice or
1-800-669-6820 TTY. Complaints against a state or local government or public
accommodation or commercial facility (such as a restaurant, doctor’s office,
hotel) should be filed with the Department of Justice/Civil Rights Division,
950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Disability Rights Section – NYAV, Washington, DC
20530, or ADA.complaint at usdoj.gov or by fax at 202-307-1197
Mackey Enterprises LLC is a data entry and basic bookkeeping company. If you
have data entry projects involving Microsoft Word or Excel, or any basic
bookkeeping projects using Microsoft Excel or QuickBooks that you want
someone else to do, turn to Mackey Enterprises LLC. Our typical hourly rate
is $20/hour, but this can be negotiable. To learn more, contact Brian Mackey
at 609-953-6988 or bmackey88 at gmail.com.
Donate Your Vehicle – The NFB gets an average of $350 for each donated
vehicle, and the proceeds support the National Center in carrying out
programs and projects to benefit the blind. Your donation may be eligible
for a tax deduction. For more information, visit www.carshelpingtheblind.org
or call 855-659-9314. If you’d like to help advertise the program by placing
stickers in prominent places, please contact Anthony Lanzilotti at
267-414-4010 or tti777 at gmail.com.
The Senior Community Independent Living Services program supports seniors
(age 55 and up) with vision impairment in achieving independence and
participation in social, educational, recreational and employment
activities. Companion services are available up to four hours per week.
Companions provide transportation, assist with grocery shopping, perform
light housekeeping, read mail and transport to recreational opportunities
such as the beauty salon or a senior center. Participants are responsible
for finding their own companions. For more information, contact the NJ
Division of Disability Services at 888-285-3036, prompt #6.
Prescription Information: CVS Pharmacy now provides ScripTalk talking
prescription labels for prescriptions ordered for home delivery through its
online pharmacy, CVS.com. ScripTalk labels are free to CVS.com pharmacy
customers who are blind or have low vision. To request that the labels be
attached to your prescriptions ordered through CVS.com, call 888-227-3403.
To obtain your free ScripTalk reader, call Envision America at 800-890-1180.
It is recommended that you call CVS.com first.
Facebook Group for Blind Students - Pathway to Our Dream is a Facebook
resource page for high school and college students who are blind. The
administrators answer questions, help students research testing
requirements, offer advice on how to secure accommodations from their
schools, refer students to other resources including the NFB and its student
divisions, and help with resume editing. The link for the mobile version
(optimal for screen readers) is
https://m.facebook.com/groups/639707646049109?refid=18 Submitted by Katie
Shelton
NFB’s Senior Division Conference Calls spotlight topics of interest to those
losing vision later in life. The conference call number is 712-432-1500, the
access number is 759-633, and then press the pound key. Upcoming calls are
set for Wednesdays, May 8 and June 4, at 3 p.m. The May topic is Blindness:
A Family Dynamic, hosted by Fatos Floyd, and the June topic is Cooking by
Touch, facilitated by Jennifer Wenzel.
NFBNJ MEMBER RECOGNITION
Editor’s Note: Please share your story – or your friend’s story – of
success! When one person achieves, others are inspired to succeed.
Congratulations to Kevin Sisco, who writes: Some time ago I designed an
encryption algorithm. Simply put, this is technology for securing anything
electronic, including the internet. It was published! The National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published this technology, and
it is in use. Shortly after, I was able to get a second one published. I
felt so inspired that I created a third, and that one, too, was published!
Now, the first of the three I am not quite clear on how it is being
utilized. However, I know that the second one is being used to secure
connectivity to the web. The third, which I am most proud of, is being used
as a layer of security for the power grid! I write all of this, not to
brag, but to demonstrate that blindness does not have to be a major
obstacle.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Editor’s Note: The following letter was received from Joe and Arlene Naulty,
the NFB of Florida:
Wow! We’re so impressed and blown away by this professional and beautifully
prepared publication of the NFBNJ! Your activities, your staff, the support
from members across the state and the general positive tone of the
publication are amazing.
Joe Ruffalo, when we met you 30 years ago, we were very impressed with your
personal presentation and the interest you showed in Joe Naulty who was very
new to the life of increased vision loss. Then we moved to Florida in 1985.
It took some time, but Joe did get involved with the NFB in Florida.
Your appointment of Alice Eaddy to the DeafBlind Committee was a gift of the
highest value. She is a leader and a strong supporter of the DeafBlind, and
we look forward to her increased involvement in the DeafBlind Division.
Alice knows that information is power; when we share information, we all get
stronger.
Thank you for your support of the DeafBlind Division and thank you for your
leadership. It is indeed an honor to have known you all these years. Be
well. May God bless you with good health and the strength to carry on your
mission with the National Federation of the Blind.
FROM THE KITCHEN OF THE CAPITAL CHAPTER
The recipes for this issue were submitted by members of the Capital Chapter.
Tangy Chicken
This recipe was submitted by Susan Constantini, a board member of the
Capital Chapter member. Susan is an expert at using the iPhone and enjoys
shopping and buying nice things.
Ingredients:
1 pound thin chicken breasts
1 can whole cranberry sauce
An envelope of onion soup mix
A bottle of Russian salad dressing
Directions:
1. Mix together: cranberry sauce, Russian dressing and the envelope of
onion soup mix. Pour over chicken.
2. Cook chicken mixture at 350 degrees for approximately 20 minutes and
serve.
Crème Brulee
This recipe was submitted by Ben Constantini, vice president of the Capital
Chapter and webmaster of our Facebook page. Ben enjoys cooking and this
recipe is delicious.
Ingredients:
2 cups heavy cream
5 egg yolks
½ cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
½ cup light brown sugar
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
2. Whisk the cream, egg yolks, sugar and vanilla extract together in a
bowl. Mix it all up until it gets nice and creamy. Pour this mixture into
four 7-ounce ramekins. Place ramekins in a large baking pan. Fill the
baking pan with hot water, about halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
3. Bake for 45 minutes to an hour. After 45 minutes, check every 10
minutes: Stick knife in the ramekins, and if it comes out clean, the
dessert is done.
4. Remove ramekins from the baking pan, set on the counter and let cool
for 15 minutes. Refrigerate and chill overnight.
5. Sprinkle a thin layer of the light brown sugar on top of each ramekin.
Completely cover the custard. Put the ramekins under the broiler on the top
shelf for 1 to 2 minutes to melt the sugar. Serve and enjoy!
NFBNJ CONTACT INFORMATION
NFB National Center
President
Marc Maurer 410-659-9314
NFB State Affiliate
President
Joseph Ruffalo 973-743-0075
First Vice President
Jerilyn Higgins 973-239-8874
Second Vice President
Mary Jo Partyka 609-888-5459
Secretary
Brian Mackey 609-953-6988
Treasurer
Tom Ferry 973-694-5922
Board Members
Linda DeBerardinis 856-764-7014
Alice Eaddy 856-765-0601
Dan Facchini 201-906-8655
Rebecca Irvin-Bryant 973-732-6559
Anthony Lanzilotti 267-414-4010
Lynn Reynolds 908-251-5510
NFBNJ Chapters
At-Large Chapter
Conference call the last Thurs. of
each month, 8 p.m., except in July
712-432-0180, enter code 460994
Joe Ruffalo 973-743-0075
Capital Chapter
Third Sat., Hamilton Twp Public Library, 10 a.m. - noon
Mary Jo Partyka 609-888-5459
choirnfb at gmail.com
Central Jersey Chapter
Second Sat., Grace Lutheran Church, Perth Amboy, 9:30 a.m. - noon
Jerilyn Higgins 973-239-8874
jdhiggins3 at verizon.net
Garden State Chapter
Third Sat., Kennedy Memorial Hospital
auditorium, Cherry Hill, 10 a.m.
Ed Godfrey 856-848-6372
egodfrey137 at comcast.net
Glasstown Chapter
First Sat., Trinity Episcopal Church, 800 E. Wood St., Vineland 11 a.m.
Lydia Keller 856-696-3518
lydiakeller at comcast.net
Northeast Chapter
Third Sat., St. Mathew’s Church, Secaucus, 10 a.m. coffee, meeting at 11
a.m. www.ThruOurEyes.org
Dan Facchini 201-906-8655
danfb at verizon.net
Northern Chapter
Third Sat., Free Public Library, 3rd Floor, Newark, 10 a.m. - noon
Rebecca Bryant 973-723-6559
rirvin14 at optonline.net
South Jersey Shore Chapter
Third Sat., Ocean City Free Public Library, Ocean City, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Anthony Lanzilotti 267-414-4010
Tti777 at gmail.com
NFB of NJ Divisions
Association of Blind Merchants
Dan Facchini 201-906-8655
danfb at verizon.net
Association of Blind Students
Shafeka Hashash 551-697-1568
shafekah at gmail.com
Association of Guide Dog Users
Vincent Chaney 732-251-8650
vgc732 at optonline.net
Association of Senior Blind
Jane Degenshein 973-736-5785
Jdegen16 at outlook.com
Braille Division
Mary Jo Partyka 609-888-5459
choirnfb at gmail.com
Diabetes Division
Vincent Chaney 732-251-8650
vgc732 at optonline.net
Parents of Blind Children
Holly Miller 732-542-3633
pobcnj at gmail.com
Technology Division
Jane Degenshein 973-736-5785
Jdegen16 at outlook.com
Programs, Projects & Committees
Adopt Adaptive Equipment
Lynn Reynolds 908-251-5510
lhr1827 at optonline.net
Ed Godfrey 856-848-6372
egodfrey137 at comcast.net
BELL Program
Mary Jo Partyka 609-888-5459
choirnfb at gmail.com
Holly Miller 732-610-5478
pobcnj at gmail.com
Blind Children’s Resource Center
Carol Castellano 973-377-0976
www.blindchildren.org
blindchildren at verizon.net
Braille Mentoring Program
Sue Tillett 609-924-7489
suetillett at verizon.net
Mary Jo Partyka 609-888-5459
choirnfb at gmail.com
Building Chapters & Membership
Rick Fox 973-743-6107
richardfox1 at comcast.net
DeafBlind Committee
Alice Eaddy 856-765-0601
aseanj at netzero.net
Legislative Coordinator
Lynn Reynolds 908-251-5510
lhr1827 at optonline.net
NFB Newsline
Jerilyn Higgins 973-239-8874
jdhiggins3 at verizon.net
Press Core Committee
Tara Carty 973-650-4438
sugarfreet at gmail.com
Scholarship
Jerilyn Higgins 973-239-8874
jdhiggins3 at verizon.net
Thru Our Eyes/Internet Radio
Lenny Azzarone 888-572-0141
www.ThruOurEyes.org
lenny at digitalvdo.emmcloud.com
Vehicle Donation Program
Anthony Lanzilotti 267-414-4010
tti777 at gmail.com
CHAPTER AND DIVISION UPDATES CAN BE FOUND ON THE NFBNJ WEBSITE
Deadline for the Fall 2014 issue is October 1, 2014.
CHECK US OUT ON THE WEB AT
www.nfbnj.org www.blindchildren.org www.thruoureyes.org
To receive The Sounding Board and other information via e-mail,
please contact Brian Mackey at bmackey88 at gmail.com
We care. We share.
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
More information about the NFB-Editors
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