[Nfb-editors] [NFB-editors] Ohio, "Buckeye Bulletin Spring 2014"
Wunder, Gary via Nfb-editors
nfb-editors at nfbnet.org
Fri May 16 14:40:37 UTC 2014
Robert, where did you get the source for this--the Word document?
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From: Nfb-editors [mailto:nfb-editors-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Robert Leslie Newman
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Subject: [Nfb-editors] Ohio, "Buckeye Bulletin Spring 2014"
Spring 2014
Buckeye Bulletin
A publication of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
Barbara Pierce, Editor
237 Oak Street
Oberlin, OH 44074
bpierce at oberlin.net
http://www.nfbohio.org
(440) 774-8077
Eric Duffy, President
(614) 935-6965 (NFB-O Office)
Peduffy63 at gmail.com
P.O. Box 82055, Columbus, OH 43202
Voice of the Nation's Blind
The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio 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 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 the 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 Ohioans about the abilities and aspirations
of Ohio's blind citizens. We are changing what it means to be blind.
The NFB of Ohio has ten local chapters, one for at-large
members, and special divisions for diabetics, merchants, students, seniors,
parents of blind children, guide dog users, and those interested in Braille.
This newsletter appears three times a year and is circulated by email,
posted on NFB-NEWSLINE®, our digitized newspaper-reading service by phone,
and can be read or downloaded from our website, www.nfbohio.org. For
information about the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio or to make
address changes or be added to the mailing list, call (440) 774-8077 or
email bpierce at oberlin.net. For information about NFB-NEWSLINE, our free
digitized newspaper-reading service, call (866) 504-7300. Local NEWSLINE
numbers are: 330-247-1241 (Akron), 330-409-1900 (Canton), 513-297-1521
(Cincinnati), 216-453-2090 (Cleveland), and 614-448-1673 (Columbus).
The NFB now has a vehicle donation program. For complete information go to
<www.nfb.org/vehicledonations> or call our toll-free vehicle donation number
(855) 659-9314.
Table of Contents
>From the President's Desk
by Eric Duffy
Editor's Musings
by Barbara Pierce
The Second BELL Will Soon Ring
by Debbie Baker and Mary Anne Denning
Toledo Blade Soon to Be Unavailable on NFB-NEWSLINE
by Eric Duffy
Committee Appointments 2014
Advances in Technology Can Leave Some Behind
by Kerstin Sjoberg-Witt and Michael L. Stack II
Pride: A First-Timer's View of the Washington Seminar
by Arlie A. Ray Jr.
Odin Mobile: A Wireless Provider for People Who Are Blind
by Robert Felker
Every Dot Could Count
My Experience Teaching a Little Bit of Braille
by Deborah Kendrick
Need a Lyft? How about an Uber
by Eric Duffy
Recipes
Did You Know?
by Charlene Bolden and Rosa Jones
Buckeye Briefs
Activities Calendar
>From the President's Desk
by Eric Duffy
We in the National Federation of the Blind talk a lot about our
philosophy of blindness. One definition of philosophy is a belief or system
of beliefs accepted as authoritative by a particular group. On a personal
level people also have a philosophy about how to live. This can include a
philosophy about how to live as a blind person. Just because one says he or
she believes in the philosophy of the National Federation of the Blind, the
NFB philosophy does not necessarily govern all aspects of his or her life.
There many reasons for this.
One is that we are all a product of the society in which we
live. Sometimes no matter how long we have been active in the Federation, we
find ourselves falling victim to one stereotype or another about blindness.
It is also possible to apply our understanding of the philosophy to a given
situation in such a way that we are contradicting that actual philosophy.
For many years I have struggled with a serious sleep disorder.
When I was in college, a psychology professor told me that research
indicated that many people who had little or no light perception had sleep
problems. Although I heard no more about this research, I continued to
battle erratic sleep cycles. I went to a sleep medicine clinic and tried
various drugs. None of them worked, and some of them had negative side
effects.
Much later in life my family doctor told me that my body was
most likely not producing enough melatonin, and therefore my body clock was
out of rhythm. For some time I experimented with taking melatonin but
achieved no satisfactory results. I was delighted when about four years ago
I learned that Vanda Pharmaceuticals was researching this problem in hopes
of developing a drug to treat it. The problem is known as non-24-hour
sleep-wake disorder (non-24). Those who have the non-24 sleep wake cycle
often find it difficult to get to sleep at night. Our sleep is often
interrupted by long periods of wakefulness. As a result we often find
ourselves falling asleep or very tired during the day.
I know this problem has affected my life in negative ways. On
the other hand it does not affect many people with no light perception. The
drug, Hetlioz, was approved by the FDA earlier this year, and it will be
available some time this spring. I have long said that I will absolutely be
one of the first people in the country to get it when it comes to market. My
doctor says he will prescribe it as soon as we know it is available.
What I have found surprising is the unwillingness on the part of
several very bright blind people to acknowledge that non-24 even exists.
These same people become upset when it is linked to blindness. I know that
all too often doctors and other professionals want to attribute every
problem in life to blindness. We certainly must do all that we can to resist
this temptation on the part of society. But we must also be careful to
acknowledge things that can be fairly and accurately attributed to
blindness.
If the ability to see light triggers the production of melatonin
and if the production of melatonin helps to control our circadian rhythm, it
stands to reason that for those of us who have non-24, a drug that helps us
produce melatonin might be beneficial. My blindness is the only reason I do
not see light. I don't want to have non-24, but neither do I want to be
blind.
No, don't think I am depressed, or that I hate my life as a
blind person. That is far from the truth. I have learned how to live a
productive and full life as a blind person. I could have chosen to feel
sorry for myself and live a life of doom and gloom. Had I done so, most of
society would have been none the wiser, for that is what much of the world
still expects of us today. But the National Federation of the Blind gave me
a different prescription, and I was eager to have it. It is our positive
philosophy of blindness and a group of supportive like-minded Federationists
that have changed how I deal with blindness. I have heard blind people say
they don't want to have to take a drug to deal with non-24. I wonder how
that differs from those who say, "I don't want to have to use Braille, a
cane, a dog or a magnifier"?
I don't write this to promote Hetlioz. I do not benefit from the
sale of the drug in any way. I am simply saying that it is okay to be blind
and that, if non-24 is a part of blindness for some of us, that is okay as
well.
Some people have been upset because they believe that the radio
commercials sponsored by Vanda portray blindness in a negative light. I
disagree. The commercials present a problem that is connected to blindness
and tell those who are interested how to get more information. Non-24 is not
a condition that we should hide from; it is one for which we should
acknowledge and embrace a possible treatment.
----------
Editor's Musings
by Barbara Pierce
People have been asking me to describe our trip to Malaysia
in March, so I have decided to use this space to do so even though nothing
noteworthy concerning blindness occurred. At the close of a winter like this
past one, it sounds wonderful to contemplate spending two weeks close to the
equator. The first problem arises when you are faced with deciding what to
wear for the flight. Leaving home, the temperature was in the thirties with
snow on the ground. We would emerge from the airport in Taipei to spend the
night, where the temperature was sixty with drizzle. The next morning we
flew to Kuala Lumpur, where the temperature and the humidity were both in
the nineties. I decided to wear a T-shirt and a light sweater and run really
fast into the Cleveland airport. That proved to be a good decision. San
Francisco was probably about the temperature of Taipei, but we never set
foot outside during our lay-over, so I was comfortable.
Let me tell you it is a long way from California to Taipei.
We kept chasing the sun out across the Pacific Ocean and finally caught up
with the sunset late Wednesday evening, March 5. Then we flew and flew and
flew, fourteen hours in all, crossing the International Date Line. We had
breakfast in the dark, and finally landed in Taipei, Taiwan at about 10:00
p.m. In effect we saw no daylight on Thursday. With the help of melatonin we
actually slept that night in a hotel in Taipei and were back at the airport
for a flight to Kuala Lumpur at about ten in the morning. That was a
five-hour flight, but with no time change. We had already moved our watches
ahead thirteen hours.
Our son Steven was waiting for us at the airport, bless him,
because we of course had no ringits-the currency of Malaysia. We drove over
modern highways to the city, and all the way there the road was lined with
construction sites. Kuala Lumpur is a booming city filled with modern malls
lined with western stores: Starbucks, Gucci, Hushpuppies, Toys-R-Us,
McDonald's, Pizza Hut-you name it. We checked in to a modern hotel for the
first four days to catch up from the jet lag. KL has a modern light rail
system that seemed pretty easy to use. We did not try the buses, but taxis
are inexpensive and ubiquitous.
Malaysia is a cosmopolitan country. The Malays speak Malay
and are for the most part Muslim. This means that five times a day the
faithful are called to prayer by the amplified voice of the muezzin. The
various mosques are not synchronized, so the calls linger in the air in what
I found to be a very romantic and mysterious way. There is a large Indian
population, Tamil in origin, and they speak Tamil. This means that there are
Indian temples around. And because Malaya was a British colony, English is
almost the lingua franca, and there are lots of Anglican churches. I
understand that the Pentecostals are pretty well dug in as well, though we
saw no sign of that influence. Finally there is a significant Chinese
population, so Chinese is frequently heard on the streets and seen on signs.
The result of all these cultural influences is that the food
is spectacular: Chinese, Indian, Thai, European, Malaysian and combinations
of all the above. We had to be careful because much of it was spicy, but we
never had a disappointing meal.
How, you may wonder, did people deal with blindness?
Amazingly well. I was grabbed a few times when I was stepping up or down
curbs on the street, but mostly folks left me alone. We went to a orangutan
preserve during a visit to the city of Kuching on the island of Borneo-two
Malaysian states are in East Borneo though the rest of the island is
Indonesian. We had a hike up and then back down to reach the feeding
station, where we could stand near a table spread with fruit for the
animals. A staff member called them in, and they came swinging through the
trees and lowered themselves on ropes that allowed them to land on the table
and grab melons and bananas and carry them back up into the trees. Several
mothers with babies and a juvenile helped themselves to lunch while we were
there. The footing was quite uneven in the rain forest, but no one
questioned my ability to get where I was going. It was a very
live-and-let-live attitude.
I cannot end this travel log without mentioning the reason
for our visit. Our son and his partner are adopting a darling little boy,
who is four years old. His name is Elango. He is Tamil by birth, and a year
ago he had never spoken anything but Tamil. He now speaks unaccented
English, Malay, and a bit of Chinese because his daycare center is run by
Chinese people.
Suffice it to say that we fell in love with him and are trying to persuade
him that he should come to visit us and discover the joys of playing in the
snow. Since he begins asking for his coat when the temperature falls to
eighty-eight, we are finding the going slow, but we are hopeful that they
will come for Christmas next year or the year after.
Elango loves all forms of transportation-the flight to Kuching was his first
experience of flying, so the airplane trip to Grammy and Granddaddy's house
is the most attractive part of the proposed visit. My private opinion is
that that long trip will probably cure him of his love affair with planes.
In some ways the flight home was even more tiring: five hours to Taipei, a
layover of four hours, then eleven hours to Los Angeles, and five more hours
home. That long leg was shorter because of tail winds, but we discovered the
hard way how much help the night's rest had been after fourteen hours in the
air going east. Traveling the other way, we found that March 19 went on for
twelve hours longer than it did for you. Jumping across the International
Date Line does peculiar things to one's sense of reality.
I admit that having a two-week break from the ice and snow was wonderful. KL
had been without rain for several weeks, and water rationing was going on
while we were living in Steven's apartment, though the reserve tanks of
water in the complex were large enough that we were not inconvenienced by
it. They have a lovely two-bedroom apartment with a balcony suitable for
drying clothes. There was no hot water in the kitchen or the sink in the
bathrooms. To get a hot shower, you flipped a switch outside the bathroom
door which turned on a heater for the shower. They have a washing machine,
but no dryer. In the complex of five apartment blocks straggling up a very
steep hill there are a play area, a swimming pool, the nursery school, and a
little Thai restaurant. But, unless you snag a taxi on the way back from the
grocery store, you get to carry what you have bought up an amazing number of
irregular, outdoor staircases.
I hope you can tell that we had a wonderful time. It is always stimulating
to rub shoulders with other cultures. We love our grandson, and it was
wonderful to spend time with Steven and his partner, but we were glad to get
home to hot water, a full-size car, and our lovely home.
----------
The Second BELL Will Soon Ring
by Debbie Baker and Mary Anne Denning
The NFB of Ohio held its first BELL (Braille Enrichment for Literacy and
Learning) Program in July of 2013. All who volunteered and attended thought
it was a terrific experience. Most are returning again for the second BELL.
This year's program promises to be even better.
The Ohio State School for the Blind (OSSB) in Columbus will be our
headquarters for this year's program from July 21 through August 2. We
extend our deepest gratitude to school superintendent Cynthia Johnson, her
administration, and staff for allowing us to stay on campus and to use the
wonderful facility.
In addition to old favorites from last year's curriculum-baking cake in a
cup, Braille Beach Ball, and Braille Twister, to name just a few-we will be
swimming in the OSSB pool. We will attend COSI (Center of Science and
Industry) museum for one entire day. Students will prepare their own lunches
twice during the camp and will join volunteer staff in a walking trip or bus
ride to a near-by fast food restaurant to buy their lunches.
Saturday, August 2, will be the last full day of BELL for 2014. That day is
designated as a learning seminar for students' parents as well as for
parents of prospective students for future BELL programs in Ohio. In
addition, volunteers and the students themselves will attend that day and be
engaged in separate BELL activities.
Both the National Federation of the Blind and the NFB of Ohio recognize the
vital importance of Braille literacy for those who are totally blind and
those who have low vision. We know that the BELL Program will be both
educational and a lot of fun for our students and volunteers. After all,
most volunteers and four former students will be returning for the second
year. Our excitement is building until we hear those first bells ring again
at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, July 21. Be ready. You won't want to arrive after
the tardy bell!
We need financial contributions to make this program possible. If you are
interested in helping to defray the cost of BELL this summer, send your
check, made payable to the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, to
NFB-O Treasurer Sherry Ruth, 6922 Murray Ridge Road, Elyria, OH 44035. Write
BELL in the memo line. Nothing you could do would help blind children more.
----------
Toledo Blade Soon to Be Unavailable on NFB-NEWSLINE
by Eric Duffy
For many years blind people interested in reading the Toledo
Blade have been able to do so through NFB-NEWSLINE®. NEWSLINE of course is
the digital newspaper and magazine reading service that enables blind people
to read newspapers by phone and literally to carry them around in their
pockets. I have daily access to hundreds of newspapers and magazines each
day through the use of my iPhone. I use the NFB-NEWSLINE Mobile app and
choose the paper or magazine I want to read, including the Blade.
The Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities agency (OOD) has
sponsored NFB-NEWSLINE in Ohio for close to four years now. Director Kevin
Miller saw the value of NEWSLINE early on in his tenure and has sponsored it
ever since. As with all government agencies, funding is limited. When the
agency looked at the structure of the NFB-NEWSLINE service with an eye
toward saving money, discontinuing the Toledo Blade was an obvious way to
save money.
OOD points out that they are in no way singling out the Blade.
They say that they had to find a way to cut cost in order to continue
funding NFB-NEWSLINE and that, given the structure of the Ohio contract,
they chose not to pay the $5,000 per year required to have the Blade on the
service.
The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio was able to pay for
the Blade to be included on the service during the current fiscal year. We
do not have the money to do it again in the upcoming fiscal year. This means
that after June 30, 2014, the Toledo Blade will no longer be available to
the blind of the state through NFB-NEWSLINE. Individuals, organizations,
and foundations can help. Should the management of the Blade wish to help,
we would appreciate the assistance.
We would be pleased to speak to any group or organization
concerning NFB-NEWSLINE. All donations are welcome. Checks should be made
out to the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio with NEWSLINE in the
memo portion of the check. All contributions should be sent to the National
Federation of the Blind of Ohio, P.O. Box 82055, Columbus, Ohio 43202.
----------
Committee Appointments 2014
Editor's note: We should have published this list in the
previous newsletter. So here it is: better late than never. Please note that
the first name listed for each committee is that of the person who has been
appointed to chair that committee.
Deaf-Blind Coordinators-Lisa Hall and Delcenia Brown (co chairs)
Awards Committee-JW Smith, Paul Dressell, Cheryl Fields, Shelbi Hindel,
Barbara Pierce, Kathy Withman, and Emily Pennington
Constitution Committee-Shelbi Hindel, Annette Anderson, and Colleen Roth
Convention Arrangements-Karen Warner
Education Committee-Debbie Baker, Mary Anne Denning, Kaiti Shelton, and
Suzanne Turner
Financing the Movement Committee-Sherry Ruth (treasurer), Annette Anderson
(SUN), Barb Fohl (PAC), and Barbara Pierce (Jernigan Fund)
Fundraising Committee-Eric Duffy, Richard Payne, Barb Fohl, Shelbi Hindel,
Sherry Ruth, Milena Zavoli, Aleeha Dudley, Susan Day, Emily Pennington,
Deanna Lewis, Bruce Peters, Annette Lutz, and Colleen Roth
Legislative Committee-Barbara Pierce, Debbie Baker, Susan Day, Sheri Albers,
Suzanne Turner, and Brian White
Membership Committee-William H. Turner, Stephanie Claytor, Chennelle
Hancock, Richard Payne, Colleen Roth, and Beth Debus
Promotion and Publicity Committee-Deborah Kendrick, Susan Day, Wilbert
Turner, and Barbara Pierce
Resolutions Committee-Deborah Kendrick, Paul Dressell, Bruce Peters, and
Colleen Roth
Scholarship Committee-Deborah Kendrick, Suzanne Turner, Barbara Pierce, Bob
Pierce, and Kyle Conley
Vehicle Donation Committee-Richard Payne, Tim Janning, and Wilbert Turner
----------
Advances in Technology Can Leave Some Behind
by Kerstin Sjoberg-Witt and Michael L. Stack II
Editor's Note: Kerstin Sjoberg-Witt, the director of advocacy and assistant
executive director at Disability Rights Ohio, is an Ohio attorney with over
ten years of experience advocating for the civil rights of all individuals.
Michael Stack, a graduate law clerk at Disability Rights Ohio, is a recently
minted Florida attorney currently pursuing his Ohio license while
participating in a fellowship program created by his law school.
Imagine you're sitting down for the first time in a pre-calculus or calculus
class. Imagine the fear you feel as you read concept material that is
supposed to be written in English but appears to be ancient Greek combined
with Egyptian hieroglyphics. As you tell yourself that advanced mathematics
is an academic field fraught with mental hurdles and the bane of most high
school and college students, you start to feel a little better. Now imagine
that in addition to the difficulty of the subject matter itself, there is
another hurdle your sighted peers do not experience: you are blind and need
to have math problems read to you by screen-reader software. But instead of
reading the problems to you in a coherent manner, parts of the equations are
read out of order or with unfamiliar code for math symbols or are simply
missing information altogether-making it impossible for you even to figure
out what problem to solve, let alone learn the material.
This is the kind of obstacle that Aleeha Dudley, a 20-year-old junior at
Miami University, faces every day as she vigorously pursues an undergraduate
degree in zoology. Dudley, current vice president of the National Federation
of the Blind of Ohio's student division, has hopes of becoming one of the
nation's few blind veterinarians. Because Miami has failed to make necessary
modifications to its course materials that would allow equal access to the
electronic and tactile materials used in and out of the classroom, Dudley
has not had the same opportunity as her sighted peers to learn, and her
grades do not reflect her actual capabilities. As her grades continue to
suffer because of inaccessible course materials, her dream of being accepted
into veterinary school and practicing equine medicine suffers along with
them. Dudley's struggle is only part of a problem that is persistent
throughout Ohio and the rest of the country: equal access to technology in
the digital age.
For years organizations like the National Federation of the Blind and
Disability Rights Ohio have been fighting to promote equal access for all
blind people. In the past most barriers that resulted in the denial of equal
opportunity in education, employment, community life, transportation, and
recreation were barriers of a physical nature. For instance, there has been
an incredible amount of litigation over the last few decades related to
physical access to buildings, such as construction of sidewalk cutaways and
access ramps. Given the rapid advance of technology used in everyday life,
inaccessible digital content is a relatively new barrier to equality for
blind people. Just as missing signs, unnecessary steps, and false walls
would make it difficult to navigate a building, accessibility problems with
technology make navigating, searching, and reading even the most basic
digital content extremely difficult and in some cases impossible.
For Dudley, who filed a lawsuit against Miami University in January for
discrimination based on her disability, the lack of accessible course
materials and educational technology has denied her an equal opportunity to
learn in an effective and integrated manner alongside her sighted peers,
which is required by both the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Not only does Dudley have issues
accessing Miami's educational material (for example, her online homework),
but simple daily activities such as doing laundry and ordering food at the
cafeteria are also being hindered by Miami's use of touchscreen devices that
are inaccessible to blind students. While lack of access to technology is a
problem afflicting students from schools around the country, several
universities are making huge strides to provide equal access through
comprehensive plans and initiatives, such as Oregon State University,
Florida State University, and the University of Montana. In March, for
example, the University of Montana and the United States Department of
Education's Office for Civil Rights reached a collaborative agreement
highlighting the need for policies and procedures to ensure that all
students, faculty, and staff, including those with disabilities, can
independently use electronic and information technologies.
Not only do inaccessible technology and communication affect the education
system, but they also create frustrating and unnecessary barriers to the
provision of basic necessities like housing. Renee Jordan, a resident of
Dayton, Ohio, has recently filed a lawsuit against Greater Dayton Premier
Management and its predecessor, Dayton Metropolitan Housing Authority,
alleging violations of the Fair Housing Amendments Act, Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities
Act. Jordan, who is blind, cannot read written correspondence related to her
participation in the Housing Choice Voucher Program, which is administered
by the local housing authority and funded by the United States Department of
Housing and Urban Development. Because a participant who fails to keep
appointments or complete necessary paperwork on time may be terminated from
the Voucher Program, Jordan requested that all correspondence be sent on
microcassette tape so she could independently access the correspondence and
respond appropriately. The housing authority refused, claiming the request
was unreasonable and an undue financial and administrative burden. On March
28, 2014, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
granted Jordan's motion for preliminary injunction and ordered the housing
authority to provide her all correspondence on microcassette tapes while
litigation proceedings were ongoing. The court recognized that federal law
"guarantees not only equal access to information about a program, but equal
access to the program itself," and the only way a blind person has an equal
opportunity to participate in and enjoy the benefits of a federal program is
when "all communication affecting continued participation in the program is
provided in an accessible format."
Many universities, housing authorities, and other public and private
entities argue that limited resources prevent the provision of accessible
technology. While limited resources can be a concern, especially given the
ongoing budget cuts facing many public and private entities, a shortage of
resources is not sufficient justification for a blanket denial of equal
access for people with disabilities. In Jordan's case, the court recognized
that the cost of providing reasonable accommodations under the Americans
with Disabilities Act is a concern that all federally funded and public
programs face. The court held, however, that "[a]ccommodating the needs of
individuals with disabilities in order to provide them with equal access . .
. is a cost that must be borne" unless it creates an undue burden that
severely harms the program.
In an age where cell phones talk to you, cars drive themselves, and
thermostats are practically self-aware, technology should benefit the blind,
not create new barriers. While advances in technology have the power to make
adapting to visual impairment immensely better, certain technology actually
creates greater inequality when that technology is inaccessible to people
with disabilities. As technology becomes more and more integrated into our
society-relied upon in the everyday world for even the most rudimentary
tasks-we must fight even harder to provide equal access to people with
disabilities. Individuals who are blind or visually impaired have the same
right as a sighted person to full access to technology, and we should not
ignore the effect the digital world has on how we access information today.
----------
Pride: A First-Timer's View of the Washington Seminar
by Arlie A. Ray Jr.
Editor's note: Arlie Ray is vice president of the
Springfield chapter of the NFB of Ohio. He joined five other Federationists
from Ohio and nearly five hundred from across the country at this year's
Washington Seminar, January 27 to 30. We divide into teams to meet with the
entire Ohio Congressional delegation at prescheduled appointments. We have
an agenda of legislative issues to cover in each office. We are looking for
cosponsors of bills. But more generally we hope to establish ourselves as
recognizable representatives of blind Ohioans. Each year we try to take at
least one newcomer, and this year it was Arlie. Here is what he said about
his experience in Washington:
My experience as a first-timer at the Washington Seminar was awesome. I had
never been to Washington DC before; therefore immediately this was a treat,
and I thought I would be running around all week taking pictures of statues,
buildings, and monuments--boy oh boy, was I wrong about that! I checked into
the hotel, went up to the room, and was informed of the sleeping
arrangements, which were four men to a room and two men to a bed. We had a
meeting with Barbara Pierce and Deborah Kendrick that very evening and
reviewed our meetings with members of Congress for the next day's
appointments. Then we ate pizza, everyone went to our rooms, and we four
guys went to bed. I think there might have been some new-guy hazing as well.
For example, the guys were nice enough to let me sleep right next to the
hotel room heater so that all that wonderful heat would blow right on my
head all night. Thanks, guys.
We woke up the next morning, showered, and had breakfast. The six of us were
divided into three teams of two people since we had to meet with sixteen
members of the House of Representatives and two Senators. Deborah Kendrick
and I met in the hotel lobby to discuss strategy, and we were approached by
someone from a drug company shooting a commercial for a pill to help
non-24-hour sleep disorder. She asked if we would be willing to do a tryout
for the commercial. We both agreed, but to my knowledge neither of us got
the part. I guess they just don't recognize talent when they see it.
We grabbed a cab and headed over to meet with our Congressmen. We got to the
Rayburn House Office Building, and we agreed that, since I had some sight, I
would navigate. Needless to say, we got lost on more than one occasion. We
got lost in the Longworth Building as well. However, we did manage to find
our way to the offices of both Brad Wenstrup and Steve Chabot. Not only did
we get to meet with the Congressmen, but we got to meet with legislative
assistance as well.
After an entire day of meeting with Congressmen, I realized how hard these
people actually work. I hear people all the time calling them lazy and
saying that they don't do anything. This, however, is not the case. I have a
newfound respect and admiration for these people, and I wish them well.
After we were finished meeting with Congressmen, we went back to the hotel,
made plans to meet for dinner, and then went our separate ways.
I stood in the hallway for a moment and decided to call my mother. When she
answered, she asked me how I was doing. I told her I was in Washington DC.
She let out a shriek of surprise. She asked what I was doing in Washington,
and I began to tell her all about how I had met with Congressmen and
educated them on behalf of the NFB and every other disabled American. We
talked for a few minutes, and she told me that she was proud of me. I told
her how good I felt helping people with disabilities, and we hung up. That's
when the significance of what I was actually doing in Washington DC hit me.
I stood in the hallway of the Holiday Inn Capital for a good ten minutes
thinking about what I had done that day, imagining what it would be like if
blind students had accessible books, if disabled air travelers could get
through airports and enjoy all of the amenities afforded everyone else, and
most of all what it would be like if people with disabilities were paid at
least the minimum wage and treated as fairly as so-called normal people. I
began to realize that, if this change actually happened, I would have been a
part of that. I also realized that, no matter what the outcome was, I had
had a voice in making real change happen that would affect the lives of
millions and change the course of the entire country forever--not some rich
and powerful corporation or some well-paid lobbyist, but little old me
adding my particular note to the voice of what has to me become the greatest
organization in the world, the National Federation of the Blind. Standing
there in that hallway, for the first time in my life I was both proud and
glad that I was a blind person, and I hope to go back next year. Thank you,
NFB, for allowing me to be a part of something this big.
----------
Odin Mobile: A Wireless Provider for People Who Are Blind
by Robert Felker
Editor's note: Colleen Roth wrote an article about a new
cell phone about which she is quite excited. I don't usually reprint
articles from the Braille Monitor in this newsletter, figuring that everyone
has already read the material in the Monitor. But, when I read this article
in the May 2014 Monitor, it seemed more complete and clear than Colleen's
first-person endorsement of this product, so here is the article:
Odin Mobile has broken new ground: it is the first wireless provider in the
world whose primary mission is to provide cell phone service to individuals
who are blind or visually impaired. Not surprisingly, Odin Mobile made it a
priority to form a partnership with the NFB, which is exciting on a number
of levels, not the least of which is that NFB members receive a five percent
discount on Odin Mobile plans, and a percentage of the revenue goes back to
the NFB.
Odin Mobile's first priority is accessible phones. The company offers some
unique basic cell phones, as well as smart phones. Its primary basic mobile
phone is the ODIN VI. This basic mobile phone has become very popular with
the blind community in Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom, where it
is sold by the Royal National Institute of Blind People.
The ODIN VI is designed for people who want a phone with large buttons, who
place a priority on ease of use, and who want to perform basic functions,
such as making a call, entering and accessing contacts, sending and
receiving text messages, having access to the call log, and being able to
set and enable and set alarms. The phone allows the blind user to perform
every function that a sighted user can perform. For those of you who feel
that a smart phone is more than you need or is too expensive, this phone is
designed for you.
The phone speaks everything that is on the screen, speaks the keys that you
press, and even prompts you to perform certain functions. You can choose
between several voices, which are clear and whose volume can be adjusted.
The phone is a "slider," which means that you slide open the top portion of
the phone in order to reveal the keypad. Whenever you slide open the phone,
it automatically speaks the time. The phone speaks English, Spanish, and
several European languages. The ODIN VI also has speaking caller ID and
speaks the battery level and signal strength at the press of a button.
The user guide for the ODIN VI is descriptive and
accessible. It does not rely on images, as so many user guides do. It is
made available on Odin Mobile's website and is provided through email to
customers who purchase the phone. The ODIN VI costs $150 and must be used
with Odin Mobile service, which operates on T-Mobile's network. The ODIN VI
can be purchased directly from Odin Mobile, as well as from Perkins
Products.
Odin Mobile's primary smart phone is the Nexus 5 from
Google, one of the best Android phones on the market. As we all know, the
large majority of blind people currently use the iPhone. Odin Mobile,
however, is focusing on Android because it believes that, as Android
accessibility continues to improve, more and more people who are blind will
start using Android devices. Odin Mobile intends to bring the best in
Android to the blind community.
The advantage of a Nexus over a Samsung or other Android
smart phone is that, as Google's smart phone, it is typically the first
device to receive Google's updates to the Android operating system. In
addition, it has the latest in Android accessibility.
Customers who purchase a Nexus 5 from Odin Mobile will be entitled to a
unique instructional package. The package will include two one-on-one
over-the-phone tutorials on how to use the accessibility features of an
Android device, and customers will be able to call our experts to seek help
and ask questions about Android accessibility for a period of one month
after they purchase their phone. The tutorials and support are provided by
an expert in Android accessibility who is also blind.
Individuals may purchase additional months of this special support for $9.95
per month. This additional support can be purchased by Odin Mobile
customers, as well as non-customers. Thus blind people who receive service
from other wireless providers, such as AT&T or Verizon, can sign up for this
support service as well.
Going forward, Odin Mobile intends to make its website,
<www.odinmobile.com>, a resource for blind users of Android. It will include
a number of tools, such as podcasts, that will help its customers get the
most out of their Android devices. These resources will be available to Odin
Mobile customers only.
To further its objective of bringing the best in mobile
communications to blind or visually impaired people, Odin Mobile is involved
in a few advocacy projects--perhaps the most important of which is obtaining
approval from the Federal Communications Commission to participate in the
Lifeline program. Through this program consumers who have lower incomes can
obtain subsidized cell phone service. Many wireless providers that
participate in this program offer a free basic phone and 250 minutes per
month. The phones, however, are not accessible! As a result, blind or
visually impaired people cannot take full advantage of the program. In fact,
in a survey performed by Odin Mobile, with the assistance of members of the
Blinded Veterans Association, only one out of nineteen people who identified
themselves as eligible actually participated in Lifeline. Odin Mobile is
determined to provide the blind community the opportunity to benefit fully
from this federal program.
Odin Mobile's service is prepaid so that users are not locked into two-year
contracts. The company has unlimited plans, as well as plans as low as $10
per month for those who make only occasional calls. And remember that NFB
members receive a 5 percent discount. Also Odin Mobile has a refer-a-friend
program in which customers receive a free month for each person they refer
to Odin Mobile, and the person they refer will receive a $10 discount on
their phone. This is a nice opportunity for NFB members who may know other
members who would benefit from this service.
You can learn more about Odin Mobile at < <http://www.odinmobile.com/>
www.odinmobile.com>, by calling (855) 217-9459, or by checking us out on
Facebook at < <http://www.facebook.com/odinmobilephones>
www.facebook.com/odinmobilephones>.
----------
If you or a friend would like to remember the National Federation of the
Blind of Ohio in your will, you can do so by employing the following
language:
"I give, devise, and bequeath unto the Ohio Council of the Blind dba
National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, P.O. Box 82055, Columbus, Ohio
43202, an Ohio nonprofit corporation, the sum of $
(or " percent of my net estate" or "The following stocks
and bonds: ) to be used for its
worthy purposes on behalf of blind persons."
----------
Every Dot Could Count
My Experience Teaching a Little Bit of Braille
by Deborah Kendrick
Editor's note: Deborah Kendrick is a member of the NFB of
Ohio board of directors and president of the Cincinnati chapter. She has
taught Braille and computer skills for years. This is what she says:
When I saw an announcement that the Marjorie Book Continuing Education
effort was seeking proposals for short-term classes to teach new topics to
people "with and without disabilities," I immediately thought of teaching
Braille. The program has a twenty-year history of organizing inclusive
activities for people of all abilities. First called the Renegade Garage
Players, the nonprofit organization's signature activity is to present
theater productions, usually classics like A Midsummer Night's Dream, Our
Town, or The Importance of Being Earnest, performed in venues ranging from
churches and schools to the Cincinnati Museum Center.
Actors typically include people with a wide range of disabilities and many
without any discernible disabilities as well. Actors who use Braille scripts
to read, wheelchairs to move about, or who just plain need a little help
remembering what to say and where to say it are completely included in a
performance that might just as well also have cast members who are skilled
laborers, young professionals, or honor students.
The continuing education facet is similar. Courses have included yoga,
dancing, photography, and foreign languages. Many people who attend have
maybe never been in formal educational settings before, while others are
fulltime students or those who have long since earned advanced degrees.
To me basic Braille was an obvious perfect fit. I wrote a proposal
immediately and sent it to director Joseph Link. The proposal stated that I
would teach basic Grade One Braille: the Braille cell, the formation of the
first twenty-six letters, a few punctuation marks, and numbers. The course
would include sight recognition and introduce the use of the Braille slate
and stylus. While students would certainly not leave the class ready to read
a Braille novel or magazine, they would know enough to interpret those dots
on a bathroom door or elevator panel to unenlightened associates and even
write a note or birthday card in Braille to a blind friend.
I wrote that proposal in October 2012. Time went by, and I heard nothing.
Finally Joe Link called me. He thanked me for my proposal but expressed
doubt that anyone would be interested. Wasn't Braille rather obsolete
anyway?
I assured him that it was far from obsolete and that there is something of
an image crisis for Braille literacy in this country. Children who grow up
without learning it are functionally illiterate, and a more positive public
image could boost the use of Braille in the same way that public awareness
has made American Sign Language trendy and ubiquitous. An educator himself,
Joe Link agreed that it warranted consideration for the next year. Sure
enough, he contacted me in fall 2013 to begin planning a class for Spring
2014. Thus we were on our way.
Joe told me before our first class that attendance would
probably vary widely, and so it has. Our regulars have included a few people
who clearly have some sort of developmental disabilities - one proud of a
ten-year record working in trash collection for a restaurant, another who
works as a child care aide, another who maybe doesn't have paid employment
and who makes rather random comments from time to time. Joe Link, who is an
adjunct professor and disability consultant by day, and his wife, Maria
Link, who is principal of a small school for kids with behavioral
disabilities, are always in attendance. As director and assistant director
of Marjorie Book Continuing Education, they try to attend most of the
classes themselves. We have also had a mix of typical college students in
attendance who come out of curiosity or to earn community service hours by
helping their fellow classmates.
The first night I talked a bit about the life of Louis Braille, the
invention of Braille, my own life, and what Braille means to me and millions
around the world. I read from a Braille magazine and a Braille children's
book and passed them around. I distributed Braille alphabet cards, explained
the cell, and had people take turns identifying which dots comprise specific
letters and then had them create that letter on various gadgets designed for
teaching Braille. Each class was slightly different from the one before
it-both in who was attending and in who could and could not remember what we
had covered previously. By the third class I realized that maybe we weren't
going to master the Braille alphabet per se, but we were going to understand
something about Braille and blind people when class was over. I didn't lower
my expectations. Instead I think I broadened them. I covered some of the
same ground each time - the story of Louis Braille, the invention of this
wonderful system of reading, the history of me, and the powerful difference
Braille makes in the life of every person who depends upon it for literacy.
I devised various ways for everyone to be engaged in the reading recognition
and writing processes-so that some students were writing me whole messages
while others were proudly producing a solid line of the letter x or g.
With each class everyone learned something. Most of them will now be able to
unravel the mystery of dots on an elevator panel or ATM machine for
interested bystanders and, I think, will feel more comfortable the next time
they encounter a blind person. As for me I was reminded how beautiful it can
be when a group of people suspend those things which render them different
from one another in a unified effort to gain new understanding. No one in my
class left with a full understanding of Braille, but every dot made a
difference.
----------
Need a Lyft? How about an Uber
by Eric Duffy
Technology is changing the world. The change I want to talk
about now is in public transportation. Ride-sharing services such as Lyft
and Uber are changing the way many of us travel in Columbus and in other
major cities around the country.
In October Uber came to Columbus. For several months Uber offered only a
Black Car Service This meant that one could call for a Black Car, which is a
luxury vehicle with a driver who is formally dressed. Such a ride would be
less expensive than renting a limousine for an hour but still not within my
budget.
In March of this year Uber began offering UberX rides. These are
rides that can be in a car or van. UberX is far less expensive than the
Black Car Service. These cars will take no more than four passengers, and
the minimum fare is $4. As a way of introducing the UberX service, the
company gave new customers five free rides with a maximum fare of $25. I
took my free rides, and I can honestly say I very much enjoyed them.
Not long after taking my Uber rides, I discovered Lyft. Lyft
offered fifty free rides in fourteen days. When I heard this, I wondered if
it was possible to take fifty rides in fourteen days. I came close. I took
forty-seven.
"So what's the big deal?" one might be tempted to ask at this
point. I got some free rides. So what! Well here goes. We don't actually
place a call for any of these rides. We order them through our smart phones.
For example, I open the Lyft or Uber app on my iPhone. Using the
location-tracking feature, the app determines my current location. It is
usually very accurate. If it doesn't zero in on your precise location, you
can put in the address yourself. Both apps will tell you how close the
nearest driver is. There are times when no drivers are available, and both
apps will let you know that as well.
If you request a ride, you will be given the name of your driver
and the type of vehicle that he or she is driving. Lyft gives you the option
to call your driver. Uber will allow you to call or text your driver. You do
not need to do either one of these things should you not wish to do so. You
will get a text or push notification (depending on your settings) when your
driver arrives.
Neither service conducts cash transactions. You must have a
debit or credit card on file. Your card will be charged at the conclusion of
your ride. You will receive a receipt by email. Thus there is no need to
keep track of a paper receipt. Both Lyft and Uber are considerably cheaper
than standard taxi services. Uber's charge includes a tip for the driver.
Lyft gives you a suggested donation amount. This amount does not include a
tip. You may increase or decrease this amount.
It is 2:49 a.m. on Monday, April 7, and the nearest Lyft driver
is seven minutes away from my house. There are no UberX drivers available.
This could change at any time, however. Ride-sharing services such as Lyft
and Uber are receiving resistance in Columbus and other cities around the
country, but I believe they are here to stay. They are new to Columbus and
have just come to Cincinnati and Cleveland. They have been in other cities
such as San Francisco and Washington D.C. for several years.
I urge you to try one or both of these services as soon as you
can. I am going to try to arrange some free rides for our upcoming
convention in Columbus this fall. Before taking your first ride, enter my
code for each service and you will get a credit added to your account. My
Lyft code must be added through an invitation to the service that I will
gladly send to you if you let me know you would like it. Only Facebook
account holders can sign up with Lyft. That allows the company to verify
that you are real through your presence online.My Uber code is "mrtjr". Take
a Lyft or Uber soon and be a part of revolutionary change as it is
happening.
----------
Recipes
The Ohio affiliate was asked to supply recipes for the May
issue of the Braille Monitor. The response was overwhelming. In my thankyou
to the listserv for the outpouring of recipes, I mentioned that they were
all good ones. I was asked to print here the ones that I had regretfully to
omit from the Monitor column. Here they are:
Poke Cake
by Carol Akers
Carol Akers is co-president of the Ohio Parents Division and
a member of the Capital Chapter. She volunteered in last summer's BELL
Program. She has atended national conventions and Washington Seminars. In
short, she is a longtime Federation leader.
Ingredients:
1 box white cake mix
1 small box Jell-o (red is great, even use sugar-free)
1 small container Cool Whip topping (can use fat-free)
Method: Make cake as directed on box and in a 9-by-13-inch
pan. Cool the cake. Use a fork to poke holes into the cake at about ½ inch
intervals, all over the cake. The more, the better. Mix Jell-o with 1 cup
of boiling water and then add 1 cup cold water. Mix well. Pour Jell-o
evenly over cake; don't worry, it will soak in. Place in fridge or freezer
to set. Frost with Cool Whip and chill. If you like, garnish with sliced
strawberries, kiwi, or blueberries. Makes a light, tasty dessert. Easy and
great on short notice for company.
----------
Crockpot Chicken
by Carol Akers
Ingredients:
6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
6 long slices Swiss cheese
1 10-ounce can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 cup milk
1 stick margarine or butter
2 cups dry seasoned stuffing mix
Method: Spray inside of Crockpot with cooking spray. Place chicken breasts
on bottom (can be frozen). Place cheese slices overlapping on chicken. Mix
milk and soup together and pour over cheese. Cut stick of butter into
several pieces and add to pot. Place dry stuffing on top of ingredients.
Cook on low for six to eight hours. Great when served with mashed potatoes.
Chicken falls apart and the sauce adds a nice flavor.
----------
Crumb Topped Cherry Pie
by Shelbi Hindel
Shelbi Hindel is president of the Capital Chapter and
secretary of the NFB of Ohio. She supervised meal preparation at last
summer's BELL Program.
Ingredients for Crust:
1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup canola oil
2 tablespoons milk
Filling Ingredients:
1 1-3 cup sugar
1/3 cup flour
3 14.5-ounce cans tart pitted cherries, drained
1 teaspoon almond extract
Topping Ingredients:
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup cold butter, diced
1/2 cup chopped nuts, optional
Method: Place dry crust ingredients in a small mixing bowl. Add milk and
oil. Blend with a fork just until blended. Pat into the bottom and up the
sides of a nine-inch pie plate. In a large mixing bowl combine the filling
ingredients. Pour cherry mixture into the crust. To make topping, combine
flour, sugar, and nuts, if desired, in a small mixing bowl. Cut in butter
until crumbly. Sprinkle over the filling.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Bake pie for thirty-five to forty-five minutes
or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is bubbly. Cool on a wire
rack. This is good served as is or with either whipped topping or ice cream
----------
Chili Dog Pie
by Shelbi Hindel
Ingredients:
2 1/2 cups Bisquick
3 tablespoons prepared mustard
6 tablespoons cold water
1 pound package hotdogs, sliced
4 cups chili, homemade or canned
8 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
Method: Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Generously grease a 9-by-13-inch baking
pan. Combine Bisquick, mustard, and water. Dust fingers with extra Bisquick.
Press dough on bottom and up sides of the prepared pan. Arrange sliced
hotdogs in bottom of crust. Cover with chili and then cheese. Bake uncovered
for twenty minutes in the preheated oven, until crust is done and filling is
bubbly.
----------
Lime Shrimp and Rice
by Kaiti Shelton
Kaiti Shelton is president of the affiliate's student
division and a music therapy major at the University of Dayton. She says
that this is a quick and nutritious meal fat the end of a long day.
Ingredients:
Minute Rice, a quarter cup per person is what I use, but you can also do
this with pasta if you wish.
1 bag of jumbo shrimp, shelled and deveined (or devein them yourself) Use
four to six shrimp per person.
Lime juice to taste
Canola oil
Method: Cook rice or pasta in a pot according to package directions. If
using Minute Rice, you can also use the microwave. Thaw the shrimp; then
place in skillet with enough canola oil to cook them quickly. Cook on
medium until shrimp are slightly browned to give them a cooked flavor. After
shrimp cool, add them to the rice or pasta. You can also add sliced red and
orange peppers or diced chicken or other meat if you wish. Squirt some lime
juice over the dish for a tropical flair. Serve with a salad or side of
vegetables for an easy-to-make and delicious dinner.
----------
Death by Chocolate Pie
by Colleen Roth
Colleen Roth is president of the At-Large Chapter and a
longtime Federationists.
Ingredients:
4 squares unsweetened chocolate, melted ( I prefer the double-boiler method
rather than using the microwave, but it's up to you.)
3/4 cup butter, softened (Do not use margarine instead, and unsalted butter
is better than regular, but not critical.)
1 cup granulated sugar
4 eggs, beaten
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 chocolate crumb pie crust or graham cracker crust if you prefer
1/2 teaspoon coffee crystals, optional
Method: The person who gave me this recipe simply threw everything into the
mixing bowl together, whipped it until it was fluffy enough to make her
happy, put it in the crust, froze it long enough to be firm, then dug in. I
personally prefer some of the more traditional steps--creaming the butter
with the sugar to let the sugar dissolve a bit, beating the eggs before
adding, and melting the chocolate evenly because I think these steps lead to
a slightly better pie. But this pie is just so good that nobody really cares
if those steps are followed exactly. It's up to you how you make it. You
pretty much can't fail, but here is the way I do it with estimated mixing
times for a hand mixer:
With electric mixer beat the butter for 1 to 2 minutes, long enough to make
sure it's soft enough to blend well. Add the sugar, and beat until the sugar
has dissolved a bit, about three minutes. Add the beaten eggs, vanilla,
chocolate, and coffee crystals if desired, and whip all together for about
another three minutes. Longer beating is okay and will make the filling a
bit fluffier, but only to a point. Pour the mixture into the pie shell and
chill or freeze for at least three to four hours before serving. Serve small
slices because this pie is rich. If you freeze the pie, you can more easily
slice it, make the slices thinner, and therefore make it stretch further.
You can dress this pie up with whipped cream, drizzle melted chocolate on
top, add chopped nuts, add peanut butter to the batter, or layer it on the
crust before pouring in the filling, etc. I would think any of your
favorite ingredients would only make it better, so add away.
----------
Did You Know?
by Charlene Bolden and Rosa Jones
Editor's note: Charlene Bolden is a prospective member of
the NFB of Cleveland. She was diagnosed with CBS fifteen years ago. Rosa
Jones is the Cleveland chapter diabetic representative and a certified
recovery coach. She was diagnosed with CBS three years ago. They are eager
to convey information about Charles Bonnet syndrome to everyone. This is
what they say:
It is hard to have lost or be in the process of losing vision. Charles
Bonnet syndrome (CBS) can make you feel quite different about things. If
you have suffered the loss of a great deal of vision due to eye diseases
such as glaucoma, retinitis pigmentosa, or age-related macular degeneration,
you may well be experiencing Charles Bonnet syndrome as well.
Charles Bonnet was a Swiss naturalist who discovered that
his blind grandfather complained of seeing things that could not have been
there. Through research he found that his grandfather spoke of seeing
colors, scenery, and people, quite like cartoon forms. The syndrome occurs
when the brain takes over for the optic nerve and seeks to entertain. These
visual disturbances or hallucinations are generally the result of stored
memory replacing what you cannot see.
Disturbances occur in kaleidoscopic patterns of colors,
scenery, or cartoon characters from one inch to eight feet tall. It is
believed that occurrences can last as long as eighteen months, or longer.
There is no known cure for this syndrome.
Discovered in 1762 by Bonnet, this disorder has been widely
studied in the United Kingdom and Europe. By the early 1980s doctors in the
United States were beginning to learn about it. Can you imagine the number
of people affected by Charles Bonnet syndrome who were treated as mental
cases and those who are frightened by what they know nothing about?
CBS can only be seen, not smelled, touched, or heard. If
you believe that you have these symptoms, please seek the help of an
ophthalmologist. Perhaps in subsequent articles we can share our personal
experiences.
----------
Buckeye Briefs
In Memoriam:
On Christmas day of 2013 the Ohio affiliate sustained a
painful blow. Our friend and brother Bruce Peters died after a slow and
difficult illness. Bruce was a diabetic, and gradually that disease sapped
his strength and health until he quietly slipped away that day.
Bruce was one of those people who learned the Federation
philosophy and immediately adopted it as their own. He moved rapidly into
leadership on the state board of directors. He provided the principal energy
and leadership for the NFB of Greater Summit County and served as its
president for several years.
Bruce was deeply kind and gentle. He had the capacity to
step back and view an issue from a broader perspective, which made him a
valuable leader. He was a deeply committed member of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints, and he always witnessed to his faith. Bruce and
his wife Anne were deeply involved with raising their blind grandson, Robby.
Bruce knew what Robby needed, and he moved heaven and earth to see that he
got it.
JW Smith shared the following memories of Bruce: I first met Bruce at the
organizing meeting of the Greater Summit County chapter in 1996. I arrived a
little late, and, as we walked in, I can still hear Bruce saying, "Okay, I'm
finished now, and the cavalry has just arrived." At that time I served as
chair of the Membership Committee, and this was one of several chapters that
we were organizing in a two-year period. From that day my memories of Bruce
are of a kind and gentle soul who loved his Federation family. We really
became a family for him, and it didn't take long to recognize his leadership
by electing him to the board of directors.
In many ways Bruce and I were kindred spirits in our votes
and positions on issues, but I always knew that Bruce would not hesitate to
vote his conscience, even if he was the only one holding his position on an
issue. I enjoyed watching him get involved at national conventions,
especially as one of the marshals. He was always ready to help wherever he
was needed. I think Bruce was able to attend one Washington Seminar, and I
can still remember him sleeping on the floor with his special mask because
of his sleep apnea. I always wanted Bruce to get even more involved at the
national level, and I believe that his physical and emotional well-being
kept him from being even more active and involved.
When I became president in 2008, one of my first tasks was
to ask Bruce to chair the banquet, and he did so wonderfully for two years.
His disarming sense of humor was evident as he chaired those banquets
despite his failing physical health. One memory I shall always cherish was
him whispering in my ear at the 2009 convention in Detroit,
"Congratulations, Mr. President, it looks like Ohio will finish fourth or
fifth in attendance this year."
I was glad to be able to spend some time with Bruce at his
last state convention in 2013, and I remember his asking me to work with him
on getting corporate funding for our affiliate. President Duffy had
contacted him and requested he assume this responsibility, and he was about
the business of putting together a team that could help him get this goal
accomplished. I cannot close these thoughts without one final but
significant memory of Bruce. In 2012, when I had decided not to run for
reelection, I needed someone to chair the Nominating Committee who would be
mature, fair, and firm, and to this day I am glad that Bruce chaired that
committee in his usual confident and competent manner. He will be missed by
his Federation family, and I will miss our deep, heartfelt phone and
convention conversations terribly. We've lost a good man, but I am sure
somewhere he is still involved in making preparations to make the journey of
his Federation family a little smoother and a little easier. Rest in peace,
my brother.
Correction:
In the "Honor Roll Call of Chapters and Divisions" in the last newsletter,
we accidentally left out the NFB of Springfield, which gave $100 and has
always been generous with the affiliate. We deeply regret the error.
Debbie Baker reports Springfield chapter upcoming events include a chapter
panel discussion on domestic violence and how it affects blind people. It
will take place at Hillman Manor at the Springfield Masonic Community,
Saturday, June 14. The annual picnic will be July 12 at Shelter House in the
Springfield Masonic Community. An informational meeting and member
recruitment is planned for Saturday, September 13, in the Gayer Room of
Springfield Warder Library.
Sherry Ruth reports that the Lorain County chapter had a
table at an area vision fair on April 25. They handed out Kernel Books and
information about blindness and the NFB. The chapter also voted to
contribute $200 to this year's BELL Program this summer. At chapter
elections in January the following officers were elected: president, Sherry
Ruth; vice president, Phil Copeland; secretary, Barbara Pierce; and
treasurer, Pat Standen.
We received the following recollection of Bob Crawford from Paul Dressell of
Cincinnati: My last contact with Bob Crawford was when he called on February
28, 2014, to say that he was in the Louis Stokes Hospital for Blinded
Veterans. He was not ill but was learning computer skills as well as
Braille. This would not have raised many eyebrows except that he was
approaching his 96th birthday. On April 24 I called to check on him but
received only a rapid busy signal; I then called Mallard Cove Nursing Home,
where he resided, and was told that Bob had died suddenly on April 15.
Bob was a member of the prestigious Tuskegee Airmen; he
wasn't a pilot but served as a mechanic who maintained the airplanes so that
others could fly them. He also was an artist and sold many of his paintings.
Bob attended our last chapter picnic, hosted by Deborah Kendrick. He was
unable to attend many of our chapter meetings because paratransit wasn't
able to get him home in a timely manner. Bob was warm and friendly, and he
will be deeply missed.
Another Death in the Family:
Colleen Roth reports that Eric Burghardt, age thirty-seven,
of Bowling Green, Ohio, died February 19, 2014, at Toledo Hospital. He
served as president of the NFB of Greater Toledo from April 18, 2009, until
the chapter dissolved in early 2011. Eric lost his vision from treatments he
received for leukemia. He also suffered many other complications from the
treatments he received. Eric was young and energetic. He will be a great
loss to his family and the community.
Kathy Withman reports the following activities in the Miami Valley chapter:
A countywide effort is being made to inform newly blinded persons of
resources available for blind people. Folders with ten resource lists plus
ten NFB pamphlets, and ten NFB-NEWSLINE® pamphlets are being brought by
members to their eye doctors, social workers, therapists, etc., to
distribute this information. Individual envelopes with the same information
are also being distributed by members to individuals in need of this
information.
A meeting /carry-in will be held at the home of a member with a blind baby
in April. Our annual Italian Dinner fundraiser will be held at Christ
Episcopal Church at 20 West First Street in Dayton from 11 a. m. until 3:00
p.m. on May 10. The chapter annual tandem bike event will be held at
Schullgate Park in Huber Heights August 9 from 12 noon to 5:00 p.m.
The NFB of Cleveland is pleased to report that William Turner, president of
the Cleveland chapter, is walking with the aid of a walker. He is getting
stronger each day and is anxious to get busy again with the NFB. William
thanks every one for your many prayers, cards, calls, and visits
We are proud to announce that member Owen Mcafferty is displaying his art
work in various locations in the Cleveland area, entering art contests, and
donating some pieces to other organizations. Look for updates on Ohio-Talk.
We started April off with a volunteer evening with the Greater Cleveland
Food Bank repackaging nonperishable items for distribution in the community
at soup kitchens, food pantries, schools, and other much-needed food
distribution centers throughout Cuyahoga County. This is our community
outreach focus for the year; we will continue volunteering every other
month. Another evening is scheduled for June. This is very rewarding and
loads of fun.
The Cuyahoga and Cleveland chapters will share a resource table at the city
of Cleveland senior day celebration, May 14, at the Cleveland Convention
Center. This day is filled with activities, drawings, speakers, and
performers. A box lunch is included, all at no cost. We will offer valuable
NFB materials pertinent to the needs of seniors, and lots and lots of candy.
In June we will share another resource table with other chapters in
northeast Ohio at the annual Cleveland Sight Center White Cane Walk, June 21
at Legacy Village. NFB literature will be available for the hundreds of
people who attend this event. We will demonstrate how to write your name in
Braille and will provide messages written in Braille for visitors to read to
us. Offering many activities, this event showcases services and other
organizations that support the blind.
If you are interested in researching what resources are available for blind
women in your area, contact Cheryl Fields at
<mailto:cherylelaine1957 at gmail.com> cherylelaine1957 at gmail.com.
Do not take your vacation without a luggage tag. We have luggage tags
available for sale at $ 3 each, available in red or blue with the NFB logo.
Contact Nettie McDermott right away at <mailto:cantseecutie at att.net>
cantseecutie at att.net.
The Cleveland chapter is happy to announce that Effie Scott is recovering
from the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning. If you do not have a
battery-operated carbon monoxide detector, it is a very small investment
that can save your life. For more information go to <http://www.cdc.gov/co>
www.cdc.gov/co.
The Cincinnati chapter recently concluded that time and membership numbers
support returning to the board structure our constitution dictates. For the
first time in several years we now have a board consisting of four officers
and three directors. Officers elected last November are president, Deborah
Kendrick; vice president, Marianne Denning; treasurer, Emily Pennington; and
secretary, Deanna Lewis. At our March meeting we elected three directors to
fill remaining board seats. Congratulations go to Lisa Hall, Lillie
Pennington, and Kim McEachern. Let the work begin!
----------
Activities Calendar
May 15, Deadline Ohio scholarship applications
May 15-22, White Cane Recognition Week
May 31, Close of convention preregistration online
July 1-6, National convention, Orlando, Florida
September 20, Deadline for Gavel Award reports and other award nominations
September 20, Fall board meeting, Columbus
October 31-November 2, Convention of the NFB of Ohio, Worthington
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
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