[Nfb-editors] Arizona's "News and Views" October 2014
Robert Leslie Newman
newmanrl at cox.net
Fri Nov 7 03:12:20 UTC 2014
Bob Kresmer, president NFBA
Toll free (888) 899-6322
Vehicle Donations Take the Blind Further, and may qualify you for a tax
deduction. Donate your unwanted car to the National Federation of the Blind
today!
For more information, please visit:
www.carshelpingtheblind.org<http://www.carshelpingtheblind.org> or call
1-855-659-9314
_____
From: Nfbaz-news [mailto:nfbaz-news-bounces at az.nfb.org] On Behalf Of Debi
Black via Nfbaz-news
Sent: Friday, October 31, 2014 7:58 PM
To: nfbaz-news at az.nfb.org <mailto:nfbaz-news at az.nfb.org>
Subject: [Nfbaz-news] November News and Views Inside!
National Federation of the Blind of Arizona
News and Views
Issue #9
November 1, 2014
In This Issue
Greetings from Our President
Word on the Street
Guess Who Just Took Another Trip Around the Sun
New UEB McDuffy Braille Reader
Litigation Resolved
Important Info for Blind Veterans
Save the Date for V RATE
Transportation to V RATE
A Successful White Cane Safety Day
My First Impressions of the KNFB Reader App
The Bookshelf, 2 Selections
NFB Support Group for Blind Cancer Survivors
Healthy Choice, Healthy Living, Quest for the Cure
Flick, Swipe, and Tap, Accessibility Fixes and Improvements in iOS 8.1
East Valley Energy
Did You Know?
The Recipe Box, Southwestern Cornmeal Muffins
Think Tank
A Round of Applause
Debbies List
Stay Connected
Grins and Groans, the Usual Endings
Navigation
To navigate quickly to the different articles in this newsletter using JAWS,
System Access, NVDA, or Window Eyes, press the letter H to move through the
headings. For MAC users, press Control Option Command plus the letter H.
Greetings from Our President
Hello, fellow Federationists,
On October 15, White Cane Safety Day, we came together with blindness
organizations to hold a rally at the state capitol. We had a great turnout
with more than a hundred participants, the majority of whom were SAAVI staff
and students who were transported from Tucson and Phoenix in order to
participate and distribute NFB literature. . In this message, you will
find the proclamation written by NFBA first vice president Donald
Porterfield, signed by the governor, and read on the floor of the Arizona
House of Representatives.
We will be holding our NFBA Affiliate quarterly board meeting by telephone
on Saturday, November 8. Our members are always welcome to attend these
meetings in which we report activities and plan our efforts. We meet from
9:30 a.m. to noon. If you wish to participate, call our conference line at,
605 475 6777,
And press Pin number 6322 #
This month you can read about the following:
VRate November 7.
BANA Offers New Publication. The UEB Reader.
Louisiana Tech University offers incentive for graduate degrees for
blindness professionals.
Fred Schroeder speech, An end to legal discrimination.
Chapter Christmas party in December.
* From NFBA first vice president and legislative director:
WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, the white cane, which all blind citizens of the state of Arizona
have the right to carry, demonstrates and symbolizes their ability to
achieve a full and independent life and their capacity to work productively
in competitive employment; and
WHEREAS, by allowing all blind people to move freely and safely from place
to place, the white cane makes it possible for them to participate fully in
and contribute to our society; and
WHEREAS, Arizona law calls upon employers, both public and private, to be
aware of and use the employment skills of blind citizens by recognizing
their worth as individuals and their productive capacities as employees; and
WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind has declared October as Meet
the Blind Month and takes this opportunity each year to educate the public
about the abilities of blind citizens; and
WHEREAS, through the public education and outreach efforts of the National
Federation of the Blind of Arizona, citizens of this state can look forward
to a continued expansion of employment opportunities for and greater
acceptance of blind people in the competitive labor market:
WHEREAS, On October 6, 1964, a joint resolution of the Congress was signed
into law proclaiming October 15 of each year as White Cane Safety Day to
recognize the contributions of Americans who are blind or low vision; and
WHEREAS, the white cane is one of a wide variety of tools that sustain
independence, productivity and mobility for individuals who are blind or
have low vision and in recent years, refreshable Braille displays and speech
synthesis devices have given these individuals access to the Internet,
unlocking a new frontier of unlimited possibilities in education and
employment; and
WHEREAS, individuals who are visually impaired are less constrained and
better integrated in our state than ever before, but much work remains to
ensure they have the opportunity to reach their full potential to secure
equal access to education and employment for blind Arizonans and all those
with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, since White Cane Safety Day was first proclaimed, individuals who
are blind or have low vision have achieved substantial progress. As leaders
in government, business, academics, arts and the community, these
individuals have made and continue to make remarkable contributions to
Arizona and its communities.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Janice K. Brewer, Governor of the State of Arizona, do
hereby proclaim October 2014 as
* Blindness Awareness Month *
and October 15, 2014 as
* White Cane Safety Day *
* Please mark your calendar for November 7, 2014, for the Vision
Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Expo (V RATE). (See the article
later in this issue. NFBA again has a table this year for this free event.
If you are able to volunteer two hours in the morning or afternoon, please
let me know by phone or email.
* The Braille Authority of North America (BANA) is pleased to make available
The UEB Reader, a resource designed to introduce braille readers to Unified
English Braille (UEB). This introductory hardcopy braille booklet
incorporates into one document several key resources found on the BANA
website. The UEB Reader is available free of charge upon request.
The UEB Reader includes content from BANA publication, Overview of Changes
from Current Literary Braille to UEB, plus several example documents
transcribed in UEB for readers to use as practice. This resource was
compiled to help current braille readers become more familiar with UEB and
to assist braille readers, transcribers, teachers, and families as they make
the transition to UEB.
To receive a free braille copy of The UEB Reader, contact Kim Charlson at,
<mailto:kim.charlson at perkins.org>kim.charlson at perkins.org
<mailto:kim.charlson at perkins.org>
with your name and address for mailing purposes.
Requests for the UEB Reader including your name, address, and phone number
can also be left on the UEB Information Line at, 617 972 7248.
For additional resource information, visit, <http://www.brailleauthority.org
<http://www.brailleauthority.org/> >www.brailleauthority.org
<http://www.brailleauthority.org>
The mission of the Braille Authority of North America is to assure literacy
for tactile readers through the standardization of braille and/or tactile
graphics.
* New Opportunities for Careers in Rehabilitation of the Blind.
Scholarships are now available!
Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness,
Louisiana Tech University
Structured Discovery Cane Travel (SDCT) and Structured Discovery
Rehabilitation have been demonstrated to be among the most innovative and
effective forms of rehabilitation training for individuals who are blind or
visually impaired. Louisiana Tech University has operated its Orientation
and Mobility program on this model successfully for 18 years, with upwards
of 90% successful employment and employer satisfaction rates.
Louisiana Tech is excited to announce that along with its O&M program, it
has expanded its training and is launching a brand new concentration in
Rehabilitation Teaching for the Blind.
Scholarships are now available for qualified individuals seeking one of the
following degree paths:
Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology with Concentration
in Orientation and Mobility.
Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance with Concentration in
Rehabilitation Teaching for the Blind
Or,
Orientation and Mobility Graduate Certification
Why me?
? The field of educating and rehabilitating children and adults who
are blind is deeply rewarding and life changing.
? The job market is wide open; currently, we receive four times the
number of employer requests than we have graduates to provide.
? Training occurs on campus in Ruston, Louisiana, and can be
completed in as little as one year.
No prior background or experience in blindness is necessary. We
will teach you everything you need to know.
? Scholarships are provided on a competitive basis to qualified
persons and can cover costs for attending the university.
? Scholarship also support travel to conferences, trainings, and
field based experiences at Structured Discovery training programs.
Who can Apply?
Individuals must already possess a Bachelor (B.A.) degree from an accredited
university, have a grade point average of 2.5 and obtain a minimum of 287
(Verbal and Quantitative) on the Graduate Records Examination (GRE).
Individuals must also be willing to attend courses on campus in Ruston,
Louisiana on a full time basis.
What is the Catch?
? Payback through service is required. Agreement to receive
scholarship funding requires commitment for you to work in the field of
rehabilitation for two years for each year of scholarship support you
obtain.
? Scholarships cover at least tuition and fees but may cover living
and travel costs as well.
? You have to move to Ruston, work hard, study harder, and have the
heart to be an O&M or Rehabilitation Teacher of blind persons.
Where do I get started?
o For program details, visit: www.pdrib.com
o Send an email for more information to: dreed at latech.edu
<mailto:dreed at latech.edu>
Or call Edward Bell to discuss your application: 318 257 4554
Edward C. Bell, Ph.D., CRC, NOMC
Director, Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness
Louisiana Tech University 210 Woodard Hall PO Box 3158 Ruston LA 71272
Office: 318 257 4554
Fax: 318 257 2259
Skype: edwardbell2010
ebell at latech.edu <mailto:ebell at latech.edu>
www.latech.edu/instituteonblindness
>From Fred Schroeder, NFB First Vice President (taken from the NFB library
card):
An End to Legalized Discrimination: A Demand for Justice and A Call for
Action
by Fredric K. Schroeder
Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act allows employers to pay blind
workers and others with disabilities less than the federal minimum wage
based on their productivity. Productivity is determined by comparing the
performance of people with disabilities to that of people who do not have
disabilities. For example, if people who do not have disabilities can fold a
hundred packing boxes an hour and the individual with a disability can fold
only fifty, then he or she is paid half of the customary hourly wage for
that job.
We are asked to believe that Section 14(c) helps people with the most
significant disabilities by giving them some access to work (people assumed
incapable of working in the competitive labor force) even if it is at a
subminimum wage. Of course we know that there are people with very
significant disabilities, but we also know that the impact of a disability
cannot be objectively measured. The impact of a disability falls along a
continuum from least significant to most significant, but where is the line
dividing those individuals who are able to engage in competitive work from
those who are not?
A friend of mine and a good Federationist, Christopher Fountain, passed away
last summer. Ten years earlier Christopher contracted meningitis. As a
result he became blind, lost most of his hearing, lost the use of his legs,
and was left with only limited use of his hands. Given his multiple
disabilities and associated health problems, he was advised to go to work
folding pizza boxes, even though he was in college at the time he contracted
meningitis. Think about that. What sense does that make?
The meningitis made it hard for Christopher to use his hands. No matter how
hard he worked, no matter how determined he may have been, if Christopher
had gone to work folding pizza boxes, his poor hand dexterity would have
limited his productivity. How much? No one knows, but it is almost a
certainty that Christopher would have been paid something less than the
minimum wage.
But Christopher did not want to fold pizza boxes. He wanted to be a licensed
counselor. He went back to school and completed his associats degree with a
3.6 grade point average. He then transferred to Old Dominion University to
work toward a bachelor degree. At Old Dominion he earned straight A average
in all of his major subject area courses and maintained an overall 3.65
grade point average.
Today most blind people earn at least the minimum wage, but make no mistake
about it, under federal law no blind person or any person with a disability
is guaranteed the minimum wage. On October 4, 2011, at the request of the
National Federation of the Blind, Congressmen Cliff Stearns (R:FL) and Tim
Bishop (D:NY) introduced H.R. 3086, the Fair Wages for Workers with
Disabilities Act, which would phase out Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor
Standards Act, thereby ending the shameful practice of paying workers with
disabilities below the federal minimum wage. But not everyone supports
eliminating subminimum wages.
In its November 2011 newsletter the Missouri Association for Persons with
Intellectual Disabilities posed the question: Where will Sammy, Patti, and
Becky go when you eliminate their jobs? The question itself presumes that,
if required to pay the minimum wage, sheltered workshops and other employers
would have no option but to lay off Sammy, Patti, and Becky and other
workers with significant disabilities. I do not know Sammy, Patti, or Becky.
It is possible that they have such significant disabilities that they simply
cannot work at a competitive level at any job, but I doubt it. I doubt it
because I knew Christopher and many others like him who had no business
working at a subminimum wage.
Of course it is not just the Missouri Association for Persons with
Intellectual Disabilities that defends paying people with disabilities below
the minimum wage. Just last month, in June 2012, Goodwill issued a statement
saying: quote Across the U.S., 79 percent of people with disabilities are
not working today. The Special Minimum Wage Certificate [I feel compelled to
interject here. What a euphemism! The special minimum wage certificate? It
is a certificate that allows you to pay a subminimum wage, but I suppose it
sounds better the way they say it. Let me get back to the text.] The Special
Minimum Wage Certificate is an important resource to employ individuals with
significant disabilities. The Certificate enables Goodwill and thousands of
other employers to provide opportunities for people with severe disabilities
who otherwise might not be part of the workforce. unquote But is that really
true? Assuming that people with disabilities are inherently less productive
(an assumption I reject), does that mean that the cost of low productivity
must be borne by the individual, or are there subsidies to offset the cost?
Of course a private employer must make a profit, or there is no reason to
stay in business, but that is not the case for a nonprofit agency. Let us
assume that a private company has a $1 million janitorial contract. The
company prices the contract with the intention of making a profit. Let us
assume that the profit margin is modest—say 10 percent or $100,000. Now let
us assume that that same contract is taken over by a sheltered workshop. The
sheltered workshop is a nonprofit agency; but that does not mean that the
sheltered workshop drops the $100,000 profit from the price of the contract.
It still charges the $1 million, not $900,000. That means that a $100,000
subsidy to the sheltered workshop automatically helps to offset any
additional costs associated with a less productive workforce. But there is
more. The private company must pay taxes while the sheltered workshop is tax
exempt. But wait, there is still more. The sheltered workshop also receives
charitable contributions from the public to subsidize the cost of hiring a
presumably less productive workforce of people with disabilities. And there
is still more. The sheltered workshop receives money from a variety of
government agencies to provide training and day:activity and other services;
and, if all of that were not enough, bear in mind that sheltered workshops
regularly receive municipal, state, and federal contracts on a
noncompetitive basis, often at a price higher than the price charged by the
private sector. But with all of these subsidies, subsidies rooted in the
belief that people with disabilities are less productive and require greater
care and supervision, the sheltered workshops say they cannot find the money
to pay the minimum wage, much less a decent wage. Set aside for a moment the
seemingly endless parade of sheltered workshops that have been found paying
their executives excessive salaries, how much money do workers with
disabilities in sheltered workshops actually earn?
In the nineteen eighties, sheltered workshop employees earned an average of
$1.17 per hour (Lam, 1986). Today, they average $1.36 an hour (NASDDS &
HSRI, 2009), an increase of 19 cents an hour over three decades. With an
average hourly wage of $1.36, how much money do sheltered workshop workers
actually take home? Assuming a forty hour work week, $1.36 an hour comes to
$54.40 a week. But sheltered workshop workers do not work forty hours a
week. A recent annual report from the National Core Indicators (NCI)
Program, a joint venture between the National Association of State Directors
of Developmental Disabilities Services and the Human Services Research
Institute (2007:2008), found that people in sheltered workshops worked an
average of 18.5 hours per week. At $1.36 an hour, that equals just $25.16 a
week, hardly a princely sum, certainly not enough to live on let alone being
enough to support a family, and hard to swallow when there are sheltered
workshop executives making hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
Defenders of maintaining special wage certificates argue that it is only
those individuals with the most significant disabilities who are paid a
subminimum wage and only after a fair and objective evaluation of their
productivity. They argue that for those individuals, people like Sammy,
Patti, and Becky, the subminimum wage system gives them the opportunity to
earn a little money, not much but a little. But why must Sammy, Patti, and
Becky prove their worth while others are guaranteed the minimum wage? [I am
tempted to interject, my good friend Allen Harris would say: without putting
too fine a point on it,] if we were to pay members of Congress based on
their recent productivity, I suspect that a number, perhaps a large number,
might find their paychecks startlingly small.
We are still left with a serious and difficult question. We do not want to
take away from anyone the opportunity to work, especially that of people who
have the most complex disabilities. But we are asked to take on faith that
the sheltered workshops are somehow able to know which individuals are able
to work competitively and which are not. We are asked to take on faith that
the productivity of people with disabilities has been fairly measured. And
we are asked to take on faith that the sheltered workshops would go out of
business if they had to pay their workers the minimum wage. But how do we
know that the people working in sheltered workshops have such limited
ability that they could not work anywhere else? How do we know that their
productivity has been fairly measured? And how do we know that the sheltered
workshops would go out of business if they had to pay their workers the
minimum wage? The answer is that we do not. We are asked to take it on
faith. We must end the practice of paying blind people and others with
disabilities below the minimum wage. It is nothing less than legalized
discrimination.
Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act is rooted in the presumption
that blind people and others with disabilities must prove their worth while
others are assured the minimum wage. That is discrimination. It is based on
the unquestioned assumption that blind people and others with disabilities
are automatically, inevitably less productive. That is discrimination. It is
rooted in the assumption that blind people and others with disabilities
require the care and protection of a facility. That is discrimination. It is
based on the assumption that blind people and others with disabilities can
perform only low skilled, low wage work. That is discrimination. It assumes
that blind people and others with disabilities have no hope of lifting
themselves out of poverty and earning a decent wage. That is discrimination.
And it assumes that the sheltered workshops would never take unfair
advantage of their workers, and that is naïve, and it too is discrimination.
I ran a sheltered workshop in the mid nineteen eighties. The day I became
director, we eliminated the practice of paying subminimum wages. No one was
laid off, no one was forced out, and the workshop did not go broke. It is
time to stop pretending that sheltered workshops are benevolent charities
that would pay the minimum wage if only they could. If they cannot pay the
minimum wage given the numerous subsidies they receive but can find money to
compensate senior executives with exorbitant salaries, in some cases paying
their chief executives in excess of half a million dollars a year, that is
abuse; it is abuse of the law, abuse of workers with disabilities, and abuse
of the trust and generosity of the community.
There is no question that Christopher had serious multiple disabilities. If
he had gone to work folding pizza boxes, even if he had managed to work at a
competitive rate, at best he would have earned the minimum wage. You can
call it ignorance. You can call it low expectations. You can call it
paternalism. But it is legalized discrimination, and it must end. We must
pass the Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act, and we must pass it
now, and we will pass it because we are the National Federation of the
Blind.
* Tucson chapter Christmas Party Saturday, December 6.
Our Party and luncheon will take place between noon and 3:30 p.m. at the
community room at SAAVI, 3767 East Grant.
The delicious food will be catered by Tony's Deli on 22st and Wilmot. The
menu is turkey or ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, green beans, tossed
salad, and rolls. The chapter will provide soda and chocolate and vanilla
cupcakes. This outstanding lunch will cost $9.00. We have to put out money
ahead of time so please bring your money to the November 1 chapter meeting.
Reservations are necessary so we know how much food to order. If unable to
make the November 1 meeting but want to attend the holiday party on
Saturday, December 6 please contact Larry Martin at, 520 747 0937 to make a
reservation. We will have a Christmas exchange, so you will need to
purchase a $10.00 limit gift to participate. We had a blast last year, so
we are hoping all NFB members can attend. See you at the November 1
meeting, Barb Macpherson.
*From Sharonda Greenlaw, Phoenix chapter president :
Come one, come all! Let us celebrate!! We will be having our annual
Christmas celebration this year on December 13, and it is at the Golden
Corral from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. The location is at, 7609 West Thomas Road.,
Phoenix, AZ 85033.
The buffet price, which includes your beverage, is $15.00. Please bring
cash; no checks or credit cards, please.
We will be hosting a gift exchange during the Christmas party. Anyone
wishing to participate should bring a gift with a $10 value and have it
marked with an M for male, or F for female. If it is unmarked, we will
assume it can go to either gender.
In addition, we will be raffling off our awesome Christmas basket!
There will be singing, eating, fellowshipping and celebrating!!
If you plan on coming, please let 2nd Vice President Carrie Taylor know.
Call her at, 602 264 7538. We hope to see you there!!!!
Come and be a part of it!
All are welcome!
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. You can have the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.
Thanks,
Bob Kresmer
888 899 6322
Word on the Street
With heavy heart, we are sad to tell you that Norma Robertson Wagner passed
away in October.
Norma had been in poor health for quite some time, but was still able to
participate in the October Phoenix chapter meeting and the fellowship meal
afterward. She was in very good spirits before succumbing to a setback
which placed her in hospice care.
Condolences may be sent to Paul Wagner,
602 334 1234 or email at
<mailto:franklinwagner at cox.net> franklinwagner at cox.net
Norma was a long - time and valued member of our affiliate and the Phoenix
chapter. She will be sorely missed.
Got any news to share with us? Send it in to:
news at az.nfb.org <mailto:news at az.nfb.org>
We look forward to sharing your news with our extended family here within
the NFB of Arizona.
Guess Who Just Took another Trip around the Sun?
Happy birthday to our NFBA friends!
November 10, Kristy Shields from Scottsdale.
November 20, Ben Bloomgren from Mesa.
November 21, Connie Ryan from Mesa.
November 26, Barbara MacPherson from Tucson.
Please help us build our birthday list, by sending your first and last name,
date of birth, (year optional), and the city you live in to:
news at az.nfb.org <mailto:news at az.nfb.org>
New UEB McDuffy Braille Reader
By Chris Danielsen
The National Federation of the Blind announced the release of a new version
of The McDuffy Reader: A Braille Primer for Adults, by Sharon L. Monthei,
which is designed to guide students through the Unified English Braille
(UEB) code. The primer, first published by the National Federation of the
Blind in 1989, has been used as an effective Braille teaching tool in many
rehabilitation settings around the country. Ms. Monthei has revised this
popular Braille instructional manual in light of the coming changes to the
Braille code. By January 2016, Unified English Braille will be the official
Braille code used in the United States.
Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said:
quote, The National Federation of the Blind is proud to make this new
instructional tool available to adult Braille students. With the rollout of
Unified English Braille only a little more than a year away, we believe that
programs that teach Braille to blind adults will find this new version of
our classic Braille instructional manual to be an invaluable aid for their
students. End quote.
Jennifer Dunnam, Manager of Braille Programs for the National Federation of
the Blind, said: quote, The McDuffy Reader has been a widely utilized and
acclaimed guide for adults learning Braille for twenty five years and
counting. This update ensures that this excellent primer will continue to be
a helpful resource for Braille students across the nation. End quote.
The Unified English Braille Edition of The McDuffy Reader: A Braille Primer
for Adults is the first UEB instructional guide for beginning adult Braille
readers to be published in the United States. The book presents first
uncontracted Braille, then the Braille contractions in logical groups. The
author has crafted the text in the contracted section of the manual so that
words are used only when students have learned all of the contractions that
apply to them. The book contains eighty nine Braille pages in one volume,
which is comb bound with plastic covers.
The UEB edition of the McDuffy Reader is available from the National
Federation of the Blind Independence Market for $20.00 plus shipping and
handling. You may contact the NFB Independence Market via email at,
<mailto:independencemarket at nfb.org> independencemarket at nfb.org and via phone
at, 410 659 9314, extension 2216.
Litigation Resolved
By Chris Danielsen
The National Federation of the Blind today announced an agreement with the
Maricopa Community College District (MCCD) and Mesa Community College
resolving litigation brought by the Federation in 2012. Under the agreement,
MCCD will take a series of steps that will result in the procurement and
deployment of electronic and information technology that is accessible to
all students, including those who are blind. The technologies covered by the
agreement include the college’s public website, library website, learning
management system, personal response systems (or clickers) used in the
classroom, campus ATM’s, and more. The blind use computers, smartphones, and
tablets equipped with special software that allows the contents of websites,
applications, and documents to be read aloud or displayed in Braille on a
connected Braille device. When websites or documents are not properly coded,
however, they cannot be accessed with the technology used by the blind.
ATM’s can also be equipped with headphone jacks and text to speech software
that guides blind users through transactions via audio prompts.
Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said:
quote, The technology procured and deployed by America’s institutions of
higher education must be accessible if blind students are to acquire the
full benefit of their education and participate fully in campus life. We are
pleased that the Maricopa Community College District and Mesa Community
College are committed to equal access for all students, including the blind.
End quote.
The plaintiffs were represented in this matter by Joseph B. Espo of the
Baltimore firm Brown, Goldstein, & Levy, LLP.
Important Info for Blind Veterans
By Bob Kresmer and Debi Chatfield
If you are a blind veteran, a veteran who is losing vision, or close to
a veteran who is losing her or his vision, you need to know that there are
services, programs, and resources just for you!
The National Library service has talking books specifically for you, for
example the book Learning to Cope with Sight Loss: Six Weeks at a Blind
Rehabilitation Center, Journey to excellence: Development of the Military
and V.A. Blind Rehabilitation Programs and Hope Unseen: The Story of the
U.S. Army First Blind Active Duty Officer, as well as other talking books
aimed specifically to inform you.
Many blinded veterans wish to remain in the workforce, and this is entirely
possible with rehabilitation training, proficiency in blindness skills, and
a positive outlook in dealing with vision loss. Whether you are newly blind
or have been struggling with vision loss for a while, residential
rehabilitation programs provide the opportunity to gain confidence and a
belief in yourself to know, not just intellectually, but in your heart of
hearts, that you can be a full participant in contemporary society. Three
such
training programs offering specialized training now available as choices to
blind veterans are open to you. The Veterans Administration Southwestern
Blind
Rehabilitation Center, (SWBRC) is located in Tucson, Arizona. Two other
choices now available to veterans are the Colorado Center for the Blind,
located in Littleton, Colorado, and the Southern Arizona Association for the
Visually Impaired, located in Tucson and Phoenix. Both of these programs
stress an emphasis in preparing blind persons to return to work. Students
receive extensive training in the skills that
enable a person with vision loss to remain independent through the
Independence Training Program for Adults. Veterans will gain confidence and
skills in aspects of daily living, adaptive computers, Braille, orientation
and mobility, vocational development, and much more. An integral part of the
programs are to dispel the myths and misconceptions about blindness.
Overcoming these often negative notions and learning the real truth about
blindness is the cornerstone of these programs. In addition, participants
encounter problem solving situations and discover alternative techniques to
complete tasks. This training takes place in both the real world and in the
classroom preparing you to return to work or to be able to participate in
everyday activities.
The V.A. Southwestern Blind Rehabilitation Center also provides similar
residential training for veterans in the areas of Daily Living, Orientation
and Mobility, Low Vision, Computer Access and Manual Skills.
These programs provide an atmosphere for veterans to gain the confidence and
skills needed to remain independent throughout their lives.
Debi Chatfield, a blind veteran, is one of many Arizonans who has benefitted
from the resources and programs offered here in the State of Arizona. She
is a board member of the National Association of Blind Veterans, (NABV), and
has participated in extensive training in how to become a confident and
competent blind veteran. She is active in community activities, an advocate
for the rights and responsibilities of blind and low vision Arizonans, and
engages in physical outdoor recreation.
As a member of the National Association of Blind Veterans, Debi is one of
many, who assist in creating opportunities for service members to either
return to work or remain active by volunteering, going back to school, or
engaging in enjoyable activities. You may wish to learn more about the
National Association of Blind Veterans, by visiting their website at:
<http://www.nabv.org/> www.nabv.org . Another national organization
carrying out programs and
providing resources for Blind Veterans, is the Blinded Veterans Association,
(BVA). The BVA also works diligently to advocate for the rights of the
veterans they serve. You may want to check out the Blinded Veterans
Association at: <http://www.bva.org/> www.bva.org.
Both the NABV and the BVA ensure that whether a veteran is service connected
or nonservice connected, he or she maintain the highest quality of life
possible. Each organization helps the veteran overcome the challenges of
blindness and promotes the equal integration of the individual into society.
Whether you are of working age and wish to return to work, or are retired
and wish to spend your free time volunteering or engaging in recreational
activities, there are many opportunities available to you. The resources and
programs mentioned in this article are just a few of those available.
To learn more about the V.A. Southwestern Blind Rehabilitation Training
Center, call Ellen Lee at 520.792.1450
To learn more about the veterans program at the Colorado Center for the
Blind, call Julie Deden at 800.401.4632
To learn more about training and programs at SAAVI, contact Amy Murillo at
520.795.1331.
Save the Date for V RATE
By Barbara McDonald
V RATE will be held on November 7, 2014 at the Phoenix Convention Center
South Complex, 33 South Third Street, in Phoenix. The doors open at 9:00
a.m. and exhibitors and presentations will continue until 4:00 p.m.
Admission is free.
VRATE is the premiere expo in the southwest that focuses on the specific
needs of people who are blind, visually impaired or who have combined vision
and hearing loss. This is your opportunity to connect with the specialized
services, assistive devices and adaptive technology that will make a
positive difference in your life. Technology venders, service providers,
consumer organizations and advisory groups will be there for you.
There will be concurrent presentations throughout the day on a wide array of
subjects. There will be sessions presented by eye doctors on eye care and
eye research. Technology experts and knowledgeable end users will
demonstrate what and how on the latest assistive devices like smart phones,
tablets and readers. Whether you are looking for employment related
resources, tools and techniques for living more independently, recreational
activities or networking opportunities, you will find what you need at V
RATE.
While admission is FREE, you will preregister at,
www.eventbright.com <http://www.eventbright.com/>
This will provide you event access and when you attend you will be entered
in a $100 prize drawing. For up to date information, go to,
www.vrate.org <http://www.vrate.org/> .
Transportation to V RATE
WHERE: Phoenix Convention Center, 33 South 3rd Street (South Building)
Phoenix, AZ
COST: Admission is Free!
Preregistration is at <http://www.eventbrite.com/> www.eventbrite.com or
<http://www.vrate.org/> www.vrate.org
If you register and attend, you will be eligible for a $100.00 prize.
For information about exhibitors and speakers, go to
<http://www.vrate.org/> www.vrate.org.
Transportation: For East Valley Dial a Ride, Northwest Dial a Ride, and
Glendale, Peoria Dial a Ride, you must reserve your ride by November 5, 2014
to get the rides described below.
Our conference organizers, in cooperation with the Valley’s transit and
paratransit providers throughout the Valley have teamed up to make
transportation to and from V RATE as easy and accessible as possible.
Using Light Rail?
The Phoenix Convention Center is located just steps from Metro Light Rail.
If you are traveling westbound from Mesa, Tempe or the east side of Phoenix,
exit at the Washington Street and Third Street Station. V RATE Conference
Ambassadors will be available to assist you between the station and the
Convention Center. If you are traveling eastbound, exit Metro Light Rail at
the Third Street and Jefferson Street Station. Again, V RATE Conference
Ambassadors will be on hand to assist you in navigating between the Metro
Light Rail station and the Convention Center.
You can obtain trip planning assistance by visiting Valley Metros website at
<http://www.valleymetro.org/> http://www.valleymetro.org or by calling
Valley Metro at 602 253 5000.
Using Dial a Ride?
This year, conference organizers have teamed up with local Dial a Ride
providers to make it easy for you to get to and from V RATE. Please follow
the instructions shown for your local Dial a Ride provider.
Phoenix: If you are a Phoenix Dial a Ride customer, you may book your travel
as usual by dialing, 602 253 4000.
East Valley Dial a Ride: You may contact EVDAR at: 480 633 0101, to reserve
your ride to and from V RATE. If you are able to arrive at the V RATE
conference by 9:00 AM and depart at 3:00 PM, EVDAR will arrange your ride as
a direct ride with no transfers. If you need to travel to V RATE on a
different schedule, you will be subject to normal Dial a Ride transfer
procedures. Remember that EVDAR is a shared ride service, and you may be
required to share your trip with other riders traveling in the same general
direction as you are traveling. All normal EVDAR policies, procedures and
applicable fare rules apply.
Northwest Valley Dial a Ride: You may contact Northwest Valley Dial a Ride
at, 602 266 8723, to reserve your ride to and from V RATE. If you are able
to arrive at the V RATE conference by 9:00 AM and depart at 3:00 PM,
Northwest Valley Dial a Ride will arrange your ride as a direct ride with no
transfers. If you need to travel to V RATE on a different schedule, you will
be subject to normal Dial a Ride transfer procedures. Remember that
Northwest Valley Dia –a Ride is a shared ride service, and you may be
required to share your trip with other riders traveling in the same general
direction as you are traveling. All normal Northwest Valley Dial a Ride
policies, procedures and applicable fare rules apply.
Glendale or Peoria: Thanks to the generosity of Total Transit, Glendale and
Peoria Dial a Ride users can travel to and from V RATE as follows. If you
are able to arrive at the V RATE conference by 9:00 AM and depart at 3:00
PM, you can contact Total Transit at, 602 266 8723, and Total Transit will
arrange your ride as a direct ride with no transfers. If you need to travel
to V RATE on a different schedule, you should contact your local Dial a Ride
provider who will arrange your trip, subject to normal Dial a Ride transfer
procedures. If you choose to use Total Transits V RATE shuttle, keep in mind
that service is provided on a shared ride basis, and there is a fare of $4,
for each trip.
A Successful White Cane Safety Day
By Donald Porterfield
Dear Federation Family,
Thank you to all of you who participated in our annual White Cane Safety Day
Celebration in Phoenix. At this years celebration, we had approximately 100
participants. There were participants from Tucson, Yuma and the Phoenix
area. In addition to our own members, we also had participation from the
Southern Arizona Association for the Visually Impaired, the Governors
Council on Blindness and Visual Impairment, the Arizona Council for the
Blind and the Rehabilitation Services Administration.
We started at the Department of Economic Security administrative offices and
the Rehabilitation Services Administration offices where we distributed
literature about the history of the white cane. From there, we walked to
the Department of Revenue building, where we were served lunch. Lunch was
provided by Frank Veloz, a Business Enterprise Program operator, who
operates the cafeteria in the Department of Revenue.
After lunch, the group walked to the state capitol where we were hosted by
Representative Heather Carter in the House Chamber Gallery. Prior to the
reading of the governors proclamation, the national anthem was performed by
Aubrea Dean. The program also included brief speeches:
Amy Murillo (NFBA Board Member and Associate Director at SAAVI) spoke about
the symbol of the white cane, and how it is a source of pride. She talked
about how advocacy works to help us achieve our independence.
Mike Gordon (Executive Director at SAAVI) spoke about how the blind
community works to make sure services are available, how the blind community
takes care of ourselves, how we pay our own way and how we take care of each
other.
Bob Kresmer (NFBA President) Spoke about the excitement of these events and
how you can experience this excitement with the NFB
Donald Porterfield (NFBA First Vice President) Spoke about the NFB being a
grassroots civil rights organization and the history of the white cane
proclamation and how it coincides with the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He
stated that as a civil rights group we have to take a stand for what is
right: do not remain neutral in matters that affect you.
The highlight of the afternoon was our guest speakers. Representative David
Livingston was a surprise guest speaker. In introducing himself to the
group, he told us that he saw this large crowd of blind people heading into
the House Gallery and wanted to be a part of whatever was going on. He
spoke about the importance of getting involved in the political process and
voting, no matter what your political affiliation is.
Senator Carlyle Begay spoke to the group about high expectations. Senator
Begay has a sister and brother in law, who are both blind. He grew up
witnessing what blind people can do with the proper training and tools and
believes in the high expectations of Arizonas blind residents.
Our final Speaker was Representative Heather Carter. In addition to reading
the proclamation, Representative Carter spoke about the importance of our
advocacy and how she would like to work with us on issues in the future. As
many of you probably remember, Representative Carter participated in the
panel discussion during the legislative seminar at the state convention and
has proven to be eager to participate in our events.
This years event was a success due to many people and organizations, so lets
go build a federation.
My First Impressions of the KNFB Reader App
By Harrison Tu
As we all know, the KNFB reader app was just released to the public in
September 2014. As I was (and still am at the time of this writing) in
Taiwan at the moment, I really was not sure if I would buy it. The price
was
set at an unbelievably high US$99, but for me it looked like NT3000,
because of the exchange rate. Eventually I ended up buying it, and do not
regret it for a second.
The KNFB reader app is an app that reads printed material to blind and
visually impaired iPhone users. It does this with optical character
recognition (OCR) technology, which converts the images of letters on the
page into text. We have seen many apps: prismo, text detective, saytext:
that have tried to do this for years. But the KNFB reader was the first
to actually have success.
When I first opened the app and launched it's quote, field of view report,
end quote,
feature, it began telling me about the orientation of my paper relative
to the camera. This was a big plus, because no other OCR app in history
had ever had that sort of precision. When I finally lined up correctly
and took the picture, I was able to read an envelope and a piece of
ordinary paper with 100% accuracy. I found that it was easier to line up
the phone wile on the paper, then lift up to camera height to achieve the
best accuracy.
In conclusion, I am very happy about the possibilities of the KNFB reader
app. It is a wonderful step towards independence for some, a necessary
aid for others, (like me), and for some a symbol that blind people can
overcome challenges set in our paths.
The Bookshelf, 2 Selections
Do you love to curl up with a good book? Been meaning to read that best
seller? Here are two book selections that you may wish to read! If you
have a book that you absolutely loved and want to share your thoughts about
it with us, please send in your write up to:
news at az.nfb.org <mailto:news at az.nfb.org>
Happy reading!
Book #1, Personal
DB 79349
Written by Lee LeChild
Read by Dick Hill
Reading time 12 hours, 57 minutes
Genre: Suspense Fiction.
Retired military cop, Jack Reacher, is pulled back into service, this time
for the State Department and the CIA, and teamed with rookie analyst Casey
Nice. Someone took a shot at the President of France in the city of Light,
and the bullet was American.
Book #2, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
Written by Washington Irving
In the secluded Dutch territory of Sleepy Hollow, Nebbish schoolmaster,
Ichabod Crane competes with the town hero for the hand of Katrina Van
Tassel, the 18 year old daughter and soul child of a wealthy farmer. As
Crane leaves a party at the Van Tassels farm, one autumn evening, he is
pursued by the headless horseman, an apparition said to be the ghost of a
Hessian trooper snuffed out by a stray cannonball during the Revolutionary
War.
NFB Support Group for Blind Cancer Survivors
Please join the National Federation of the Blind support group for BLIND
CANCER SURVIVORS for a Conference Call Networking Event, Tuesday, November
4, at 7:00 PM eastern. RSVP If you plan to attend.
To access the conference call dial:
862 902 0241.
Then, enter the access code, 3344, and then the pound (#) sign.
you will be prompted to say your name, then press pound again. You will be
connected to the call. If you have any problems, call:
803 735 0821.
Agenda:
1. Outreach
2. National Convention activities
3. Register for free cancer survirors birthday card.
4. Open discussion
Healthy Choice, Healthy Living, Quest for the Cure
By Lawrence MacLellan
Hello everyone, this month I would like to share a link for a program that
is full of information on how to stay healthy.
It is about how to keep your immune system strong, how to prevent cancer and
lots of great info about health.
Several months ago I posted the first series in this program .
The program is called quote, Quest For the Cure, end quote by Ty Bollinger.
This part 2, has about 12 hours of info. There is a lot of repeat info
from the first series and so if you missed the first series then this series
will cover all that was in that first program.
If you are interested in learning how to stay healthy, or know someone that
could really use this information , then I would recommend that you download
this program.
Hope this series will be a help to someone, and remember, one healthy choice
at a time!
<https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/4m7svb>
https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/4m7svb
Flick, Swipe, and Tap, Accessibility Fixes and Improvements in iOS 8.1
By www.AppleVIS.com <http://www.applevis.com/>
Following a short beta testing period, Apple released iOS 8.1 to the public
- the first major update to iOS 8 since its release last month. Along with
the introduction of
<http://9to5mac.com/2014/10/16/ios-8-1-will-include-apple-pay-icloud-photo-l
ibrary-in-public-beta-more-improvements/> a number of new features, iOS 8.1
appears to include a number of accessibility specific fixes and
improvements.
Based upon what we have typically come to expect from a full point release
of iOS, it is likely that some will be disappointed to see that this update
does not include more fixes for
<http://www.applevis.com/blog/advocacy-apple-braille-ios-news/accessibility-
bugs-ios-8-serious-minor> the accessibility-related bugs that were
introduced in iOS 8.0. However, it is worth noting that iOS 8.1 comes just a
month after iOS 8.0, and that Apple appears to be working on a very
different version schedule to what we have typically seen in the past. To
illustrate, iOS 5.1 was released nearly five months after iOS 5.0; iOS 6.1
was released a little over four months after iOS 6.0; and iOS 7.1 was
released nearly six months after iOS 7.0.
So, all that to say this: its important to keep in mind that we are only a
month into iOS 8, and isolating and fixing bugs takes time.
With Apple still needing to fit integration with the forthcoming Apple Watch
into the life cycle of iOS 8, it is likely that we will see an iOS 8.2 (and
possibly even an 8.3) release in the coming months. We can only hope that
these - or any interim updates - will fix the outstanding bugs which are
still affecting blind and low vision users.
Here are the fixes and improvements that we have found in our initial
testing of iOS 8.1. Please do let us know any other changes that you find.
Accessibility-Related Fixes and Improvements in iOS 8.1
1. Toggling the Braille Status Cell setting should no longer disable
VoiceOver.
2. Using the Handwriting Mode should no longer cause VoiceOver to
crash.
3. Typing Feedback now correctly reflects your setting (in earlier
releases of iOS 8, there would be echo feedback, regardless of whether you
had this enabled).
4. A number of problems appear to have been resolved when using a
bluetooth keyboard, for example, apps and VoiceOver should no longer crash,
and VoiceOver key commands should work as expected.
5. The Send button should now work when using the Share option to
send a message from outside of the stock Messages app.
6. The dial pad no longer appears to occasionally quote, stick, end
quote after entering a number.
7. The bug which caused direct touch typing mode to prevent some
third party keyboards from working properly appears to be resolved. (Most
notably, this bug prevented Fleksy from working, although there are still
issues with this app. For now, we do not know if this is due to other
VoiceOver issues or bugs in Fleksy itself.).
8. The Purchase buttons in the iTunes Store, App Store and iBooks
Store now appear to behave more reliably.
9. When VoiceOver automatically switches languages, it should now
use the Enhanced Quality voice if it is installed.
10. Web form labels should now read correctly.
11. There appear to be improvements which make it less likely that your
device will auto-lock whilst VoiceOver is speaking.
12. When using the Zoomed Display mode on an iPhone 6 or 6 Plus, the
touch and visual location of elements should now match.
East Valley Energy
By Allison Hilliker
I have a great deal of good news to share about the NFB of Arizonas East
Valley chapter. As I write this, our members are getting ready for our
chapters garage sale fund raiser. It will be held on Saturday, November 1,
at Megan Homrighausens house in Mesa. Thank you to all who donated items for
us to sell and to folks who helped with brailling item prices. And of
course, thank you to Megan and her family for hosting us. We are looking
forward to a successful sale today!
October has been a really productive month for our chapter. At our latest
meeting, we welcomed Mellowdee Brooks from the Arizona Technology Access
Program. She talked to us about her organization and the technology services
it offers to people with disabilities across the state. She brought several
assistive items to the meeting that she demonstrated and we passed them
around so that everyone knew what was available. Also in October, we had a
fun chapter social at Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa where a dozen chapter members
and friends enjoyed good food, conversation, and live music. We also held
our second car wash fundraiser of the year at a 7 11 in Mesa. Several
chapter members gathered in the early hours of the morning to suds up some
cars for cash. We also handed out Braille alphabet cards, chapter
informational fliers, and answered questions about blindness from people who
came to get their cars washed. We raised around $200 and I want to offer a
big thank you to everyone who volunteered that day.
This will be my last time writing East Valley Energy for this newsletter.
After much careful thought and consideration, I have decided not to run for
another term as East Valley chapter president. I have enjoyed the experience
I have had as president, and have learned a great deal over the past year.
Even so, I feel ready to pass the torch onto another leader and see what new
adventures life has in store for me. Our chapter has a great deal of
terrific members and I am confident that we will elect a vibrant and
talented board to lead us into 2015.
We will be holding elections at our next chapter meeting on Saturday,
November 15. Our meetings start at 1:00pm and run until approximately
3:30pm. We meet at Fiesta Mall, 1445 West Southern Avenue in Mesa, in office
space near Best Buy. Everyone is welcome to attend our meetings, and you are
also invited to join us for dinner afterwards at the Old Chicago restaurant
near the mall. We hope to see you soon!
If you would like to learn more about the East Valley chapter, you may call
623 221 1026, or email <mailto:eastvalley at az.nfb.org>
eastvalley at az.nfb.org.
Thank you again to all the East Valley members for making this past year so
successful. I appreciate each of you. Together, we truly can achieve our
goals and spread the message that blind people can live the life we want!
Did You Know?
Submitted by Debi Chatfield
More than 50% of the people in the world have not made, or received a
telephone call.
Rats and horses cannot vomit.
Wearing headphones for just an hour will increase the bacteria in your ear
by seven times.
The cigarette lighter was invented before the match.
23 percent of all photocopier faults worldwide are caused by people sitting
on them and photocopying their butts.
The Recipe Box, Southwestern Cornmeal Muffins
By Suzy Barnes
The original recipe is first, followed by my version, which turned out very
Yummy.
Ingredients:
1 cup, all purpose flour
1/2 cup, sugar
2 teaspoons, baking soda
1 cup, fat free milk
4 tablespoons, melted margarine
1/2 cup, egg substitute
1 1/4 cup, stone ground cornmeal
1 cup, fresh or cream-style corn
1/2 cup, chopped green pepper
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Use muffin tins with cupcake liners.
In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar and baking powder, stir to blend
evenly.
In another bowl, combine remaining ingredients, then mix all together, just
until moist but still a bit lumpy.
Fill each muffin tin 2/3 full.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown.
Let cool in pan for 5 minutes before transferring to wire rack for cooling.
These freeze well, just wrap in paper towel and microwave 10 to 15 seconds,
the smell will tell you.
Suzys Version:
Ingredients:
1/4 cup, self rising flour
1 cup, fat free milk
4 teaspoons, melted margarine
1 large egg
2 cups, self rising cornmeal
1 cup, cream style corn
1/2 cup, chopped green bell pepper.
pinch of red pepper flakes
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Use muffin tins with cupcake liners.
In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, mixing just until moist but still
a bit lumpy.
Fill each muffin tin 2/3 full.
Bake 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes
before transferring to wire rack for cooling.
These freeze well, just wrap one in paper towel and microwave 10 to 15
seconds, the smell will tell you.
Note:
Southern cornbread is not sweet, and I am not fond of coarse cornmeal
Think Tank
By Debi Chatfield
Thank you to everyone who submitted answers to Octobers brain teasers. Many
of you were very close, but close only counts in horseshoes!
Congratulations to Donald Porterfield, Eve Sanchez, and River Forest for
ansering both brainteasers absolutely right!
A job also well done to Janna Peyton for ansering one brainteaser correctly!
In case you missed them, here are the October brain teasers and their
answers:
1. I have a foot on either side of me and one in the middle. What am I?
Answer: A yardstick.
2. 2. Brothers and sisters I have none. But this mans father is my
fathers son. Who is the man?
Answer: The son.
Now, here are the super duper brain teasers for November.
1. A man has hundreds of bodies buried on his land, many of which are cops
and criminals. Many people find out what he has been doing, but none go to
the police. Why not?
2. An empty bus pulls up to a stop and 10 people get on. At the next stop
5 people get off, and twice as many get on as the first stop. At the third
stop 25 get off. How many people are on the bus at this point?
Please submit the answers to these brain teasers to:
<mailto:news at az.nfb.org> news at az.nfb.org
We will let you know if you are correct, and if so, we will publish your
name in the December newsletter. Have fun trying to solve these puzzles!
A Round of Applause
Thanks go out to you, our extended family here in the National Federation of
the Blind! You participate and spend time attending monthly meetings, raise
necessary funds to support our valuable programs, reach out to others
needing the information and resources we offer, and get to know and give
support to one another, so that we may continue to learn and grow. Our goal
is to be independent, productive members of society, and through your
efforts and working together, we are truly changing what it means to be
blind! So, a big thank you to you all, and keep up the good work!
Debbies List
No, this is not Craig’s List, but it is the next best thing! If you have
something to sell, or announce, send us your ad, and we will post it, as
long as there is space available in the newsletter. Send your ads to:
news at az.nfb.org <mailto:news at az.nfb.org>
1. Are you having trouble with your computer? Did you just purchase that
must
have app, but have a question? Perhaps, you have some tips to share? If
so, please join the BlindTech e-mail list.
To join, send a message with subscribe in the subject line to:
blindtech-request at freelists.org <mailto:blindtech-request at freelists.org>
alternatively, you may visit:
http://www.freelists.org/list/blindtech
2. Join a Free Voice Chat Site Community on the Web!
Would you like to meet other blind or visually impaired individuals from
across the country and around the world? Do you like challenging interactive
games, old time radio, learning about adapted cooking techniques, a monthly
book club, product presentations, chess instruction, computer tech help, a
blindness support group, a weekly talent show, iPhone discussions, and much
more? Join our free chat community at:
www.Out-Of-Sight.net <http://www.out-of-sight.net/> .
Stay Connected
Sending this newsletter to friends? Tell them they can receive this monthly
newsletter by subscribing to:
Nfbaz-news-subscribe at az.nfb.org <mailto:Nfbaz-news-subscribe at az.nfb.org>
If you have any changes in your contact info for the state roster, chapters,
or divisions, please write to:
news at az.nfb.org <mailto:news at az.nfb.org>
and we will send your info to the appropriate people and make the necessary
corrections.
Contact our President, Bob Kresmer at:
888 899 6322, or write to:
<mailto:krezguy at cox.net> krezguy at cox.net
If you would like to submit an announcement or article for publication in
this monthly newsletter, please send your submission to:
<mailto:news at az.nfb.org> news at az.nfb.org
Grins and Groans - The Usual Endings
Submitted by Bob Kresmer
Why cant a bicycle stand on its own?
It is two tired.
How many tickles does it take to make an octopus laugh?
Tentacles.
364.25 days of drinking low calorie beer equals one light year.
Debi Chatfield
Editor
More information about the NFB-Editors
mailing list