[Nfb-greeley] blind colorado.
melissa
lissa1531 at gmail.com
Thu Aug 23 03:59:38 UTC 2012
In case you want to read this without opening the attachment.
Congratulations to marty Michelle and others for your work with the bell
program.
To learn more, Read below.
Newsletter of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado
Vol.2 No.3
Summer 2012
Scott C. LaBarre
NFB of Colorado President
2233 W. Shepperd Avenue
Littleton, CO 80120
Phone: (303) 778-1130
slabarre at nfbco.org
Kevan Worley
Editor
1837 S. Nevada Avenue
PMB 243
Colorado Springs, CO 80905
Phone: (1-866) 543-6808
kevanworley at blindmerchants.org
National Federation of the Blind of Colorado 2012 State Convention Returns
to Boulder
The NFB of Colorado 58th Annual State Convention
When: Thursday October 25th thru Sunday October 28th
Where: Millennium Harvest House, Boulder
1345 28th Street
Boulder, CO 80302
Room rates are $85 across the board for singles, doubles, triples and quads.
For Reservations: call 800-545-6285
To reserve your room online by September 25th, go to the following link:
http://www.millenniumhotels.com/boulder
Select Group Code, under the Corp/Promo Code and enter: 1210NATFED
It is important that all who plan to attend the convention pre-register. So,
make your room reservation and register for the most important gathering of
and for the blind in Colorado this year. Of course, you may register at the
convention. Conventions cost our organization, so registrations are
essential. Register online at www.nfbco.org, or call Lisa Bonderson at
303-504-5979. Preregistration begins on September 15th and closes on
October 15th.
Pre-registration prices:
$15 Registration
$15 Friday Luncheon
$15 Saturday Luncheon
$30 Saturday Banquet
$75 Total
At the door registration prices:
$20 Registration
$20 Friday Luncheon
$20 Saturday Luncheon
$40 Saturday Banquet
$100 Total (Save $25 and pre-register.)
The Millennium Harvest House is one the finest, most enjoyable convention
facilities we have ever had. They are great hosts. We are able to
accomplish much work and hospitality, and NFB spirit at the Harvest House.
We know that the Boulder chapter is busy making plans and looks forward to
welcoming all of us. See you in Boulder!
Table of Contents:
NFB of Colorado 2012 State Convention Returns to Boulder _______________
Page 2
A Letter From the Editor ___________________________________________
Page 4
>From the Desk of the President _____________________________________
Page 5
Ringing the BELL for Braille, the 2nd Summer __________________________
Page 8
Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards __________________________________________ Page
9
Jessica at Large: The Foundation ____________________________________
Page 11
National Convention, In the View of Our Scholars _______________________
Page 13
The United States Association of Blind Athletes ________________________
Page 17
What is Audio Information Network of Colorado? _______________________
Page 18
DVR Promotes Buzogany _________________________________________ Page 19
Dining in the Dark _______________________________________________ Page
20
Happenings at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind _______________
Page 21
In the Summer Time _____________________________________________ Page
21
Three "Visually Impaired" Mice: Political Correctness Gone Too Far? _______
Page 23
Going Back to Boulder ___________________________________________ Page
24
Catch the VIBE! ________________________________________________ Page
24
Envision America _______________________________________________ Page
25
"Blind Students Get Down to Business" (Excerpt from the Braille Monitor) ___
Page 26
"Blind CU-Boulder Student Inspires Lab Changes" (Excerpt from the Colorado
Daily) _____________________________________________________________
Page 27
McGeorge Mountain Apartments __________________________________
Page 30
Educate Blind Kids Now _________________________________________
Page 30
Very Special Arts, Dynamic Buna, and Award Winning Ann ______________
Page 32
"Whole Community Conversation" for Aging and Disabled Population ______
Page 33
Federation to Picket Goodwill Thrift Stores ___________________________
Page 34
Blind Buzz ____________________________________________________ Page
35
A Letter From the Editor
Dear Reader,
You will see that this issue has a youth and education focus. We write
about the BELL program, comments from our President, news from the Colorado
School for the Deaf and Blind, report from CCB Summer Youth Programs, and an
article about our Educate Blind Kids Now Committee. This is no accident.
Education is one of the top three NFBCO priorities for 2012. The convention
set this priority at our 2011 convention. Of course, we have always had a
focus on education. This year we have been even more targeted.
All of our programs and initiatives are important. We want better public
transportation. We need to lower the rate of unemployment. We want to
recruit more members, so that they gain from the NFB. We are proud of the
work we do at our Colorado Center. We must pass federal legislation to
bring about the end of unfair wages paid to people with disabilities. We
must advocate for and develop new access technology. We care about the
people of our movement. We will keep the faith, honor the philosophy, and
do the hard work necessary to advance each of these efforts and many others.
But in keeping with our top priority this issue, and in many issues to come,
you will learn more about our concerted and determined effort to reform
education for blind kids in partnership with parents and professionals.
There are other tidbits in this issue, so read on dear reader. One tidbit
is that we are looking for an associate editor. How would you like to help
write, gather articles, review and edit articles? Here is your big chance
to be a proud part of the Blind Coloradan team! Be in touch with me, Kevan
Worley.
At Your Service,
Kevan Worley
Aggregator & Contributor
>From the Desk of the President
Greetings,
As I write this piece, many concepts strike me as quite amazing. For one,
just about a month ago, I finished my 27th National Convention. Another
remarkable occurrence is that the Summer of 2012 is almost over and my kids
are getting ready to return to school. These two events are, more or less,
the subject of this President's message.
2012 NATIONAL CONVENTION
As we concluded the 72nd Annual National Convention of the National
Federation of the Blind held in Dallas from June 30 through July 5th, I
found myself reflecting on how far we have come as a movement and how much I
have grown as an individual. When I first started attending NFB conventions
in 1986, we would often struggle to reach 1500 attendees. Now we routinely
have 2500 in attendance, even in the off years and go well over 3000 in the
better years. Substantively, our ability to effect change and our
prominence as the leading organization dealing with the affairs of the blind
have grown immeasurably since 1986. Colorado has been and remains one of
the strongest affiliates in the Federation, helping our movement move closer
to our ultimate objective of first class citizenship for our community.
This year our strength was evidenced by the fact that we were the fourth
largest affiliate in attendance, with 132 registered, and by the key roles
played by many of our members in the Convention as demonstrated through our
presence on the national agenda several times and the multitude of
leadership positions held by members of the affiliate in the various
Federation groups, committees, and divisions.
Personally, I started my journey in the Federation as a seventeen year old,
scared, national scholarship winner. Just about everyone had told me how
terrible and unreasonable Federationists were. I never suspected that I
would find such a nurturing home in the Federation where I could grow to
explore and realize my full potential. There is no doubt that the NFB is
the source of the confidence and support that has allowed me to manage a
successful business, dynamic affiliate, and a beautiful family. As I reach
the end of every Convention, I find myself thankful for what I have received
and more determined to help our Federation grow, so that others can realize
the tremendous gifts that have been bestowed upon me. This year is no
different and I am excited to carry out our work in the coming year to make
sure that we are even more capable of realizing our dream of true freedom
and independence.
2012 NFBCO BELL PROGRAMS
As I mentioned above, the summer is just about over as demonstrated by the
fact that my two young children are about ready to resume school again
starting on August 20th. However, it is still summer time and summer time
in the NFBCO means BELL Program time. This year, we ran two very successful
BELL Camps, one in Colorado Springs and one up here in the metro area.
Diane McGeorge and Michelle Chacon coordinated our efforts this year, and
the success of the two programs is undeniable. I had the privilege of
spending several hours with both camps and I left each one more determined
than ever to carry out the work of the Federation. It was so exciting to
observe these children, ranging in age from four to thirteen talking about
the meaning of independence and freedom. Each child expressed how important
literacy is to achieving freedom and independence and without Braille, blind
children cannot acquire literacy. The distinguishing factor of our BELL
Program is that the children learn from positive blind role models. I know
our future is incredibly bright because we are reaching children at a much
younger age and the net effect of our BELL camps and the youth programs we
operate at the Colorado Center for the Blind is that the blind of tomorrow
will possess much greater opportunities than those of us participating in
the main stream of life today. If we do our work right, blindness will not
be the barrier that it currently is and I am confident that we will do so.
GOODWILL PROTESTS
It seems to me that summer is not only a good time to conduct our BELL camps
but it is also a great time for a good old fashioned NFB protest. As our
readers know, we are engaged in a battle to change an old and vastly
outdated law which allows certain employers to pay workers with disabilities
less than the minimum wage. At the outset, one would think that this reform
would be easy to accomplish now that we are in the 21st Century and the view
of individuals with disabilities is supposedly much more enlightened.
However, the employers who exploit workers with disabilities by paying them
pennies per hour while the executives enjoy large, six figure salaries have
been fighting vigorously to maintain the status quo. The largest of these
employers is the nationwide network of Goodwill Industries. We are planning
to conduct informational pickets all over the nation on August 25th from
11:00 am to 1:00 pm local time in front of Goodwill thrift stores and
donation centers. We will pick a few strategic locations in Colorado and
join our brothers and sisters across the nation on the picket line. Stay
tuned to our email lists and your local chapters for details on how we will
take our message to the streets.
2012 NFBCO ANNUAL CONVENTION
As discussed elsewhere in this issue, we will be holding our 2012 NFB of
Colorado Annual Convention from October 25th through October 28th at the
Millennium Harvest House in Boulder. We will kick off the convention on
Thursday with tours of various attractions in Boulder, a history session
about the NFB of Colorado, and some leadership events. Friday will feature
the opening of the exhibit hall and our first general session followed by
breakout sessions in the afternoon with other important meetings and social
events in the evening. Saturday will follow a similar pattern with a
general session in the morning and meeting of our various divisions in the
afternoon. Saturday night will be the highlight of the Convention with our
Annual Banquet. Anil Lewis has been assigned as our national representative
and will deliver the keynote address at our banquet. We will also present
our 2012 NFBCO scholarships and conduct our fundraising auction. Anahit
LaBarre and her committee are acquiring several wonderful packages that will
help us raise money for our BELL Camps and our Scholarship Program. Sunday
will feature other inspirational programming along with our annual business
session where we elect board positions and consider resolutions. Stay tuned
to our website and email lists for more convention details as they emerge.
2012 AMAZING VACATION RAFFLE
Even though we have some incredibly talented individuals involved in this
affiliate, we cannot put on the breadth and scope of programs that we do
without the ability to finance them. We have been blessed with several
bequests in recent times but we cannot rely on that money to keep us going.
That is why we are conducting an amazing vacation raffle. A local travel
agency, eTravel Unlimited, will provide us with a $3500.00 travel
certificate that the winner of our raffle can use for any travel product
sold by the agency, such as cruises, other vacation packages, air fares,
etc. The certificate does not have to be used all at once. Raffle tickets
are $10.00 each and $20.00 will get you three tickets. Many of our members
have these tickets in hand but you can also go to our website,
www.nfbco.org, and find the raffle link on our front page. You can purchase
raffle tickets online with a credit card and the tickets will be mailed to
you. You can also fill out a form, send in your check, and then the tickets
will be mailed. I need everyone to email all of their contacts, friends,
family, business associates, school chums, everyone, and direct them to our
website to participate in this raffle. Among our several hundred members, I
can only imagine that we have several thousand contacts. The potential for
this raffle is huge. Please help! Proceeds from the raffle will help fund
the BELL camps and Scholarship Program. The winner of the raffle need not
be present to win and the drawing will take place at our Annual Banquet on
October 27th in Boulder.
CONCLUSION
As I conclude this message, I must say what an honor and privilege it is to
serve as your President. We have accomplished so much together but we all
know that there is so much work left to do. Together, we will make this a
better world for all of us. I wish each and everyone one of you a happy
conclusion to the summer and I look forward to the wonderful fall ahead.
Yours in Federationism,
Scott C. LaBarre, Esq.
NFB of Colorado President
Ringing the BELL for Braille, The 2nd Summer
By Diane McGeorge
>From the Editor: Diane McGeorge took on the responsibility of coordinating
our BELL program again this summer. Here is what she says.
Another successful year completed for the NFB of Colorado BELL program.
Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning, BELL, broke new ground this
year by adding a second program in Colorado Springs. And what a success it
was! We had the opportunity to hire Marty Rahn, a very busy and competent
TVI teacher from the Greeley area. Marty has been an active member in NFBCO
for years now and stepped up to the plate for our Colorado Springs BELL
program. She is an experienced TVI serving a number of school districts in
her part of the state, and her creativity and great spirit enriched our
program. Michelle Chacon played a key role as she always does in any
program she takes on. She worked in the Colorado Springs program for the
first week, then came back to Denver to get the Metro area program going,
and continued to teach there for two more weeks. After having worked for
CCB in Confidence Camp for two weeks in June, her dedication to the blind
children in our state is beyond compare.
A huge thanks goes to CSDB for sharing their space with us to hold our two
week program. They generously gave us classroom space and places for Marty
and Michelle to stay while they were there.
If I start trying to thank volunteers individually, I will no doubt
embarrass myself, so please just let me say that we had wonderful volunteers
to help with the program. We couldn't have done it without them. Our
growing Colorado Springs Chapter really stepped up to the plate.
We served six children in the Springs, and nine children in the metro area.
We had a family that lives in Craig who arranged for their child, Brayden,
to attend the program. Isadora, Brayden's cousin, and Quinita, a student at
CSDB, were instrumental in making the program a huge success. Isadora wants
to be a teacher of blind children. She is starting out with all the right
attitudes. Quinita is terrific. Her role modeling for the kids couldn't
have been better. So hats off to those two very special young women.
The Metro area welcomed our program back to Westminister at the Rocky
Mountain MS Center. We had nine kids in that program, and what a time they
had! Both programs had some wonderful field trips to museums, Cici's pizza
(which was a real favorite), and with the heat, lots of swimming. If you
think all they did at Cici's pizza was eat, think again. They got to
investigate the kitchens, and make their own pizza. It was a big hit. The
tactile art museum in Colorado Springs and the Children's Museum in Denver
also ranked high on the favorites list.
Braille was a part of every activity. What did they do? Keep a journal
every day about their activities; write thank-you cards to the hosts of the
field trips; read Braille books; and learn how important Braille is in their
everyday lives. We were fortunate to have Eddie Culp and Amelia Dickerson
once again this year as part of our Westminister program. The kids
thoroughly enjoyed Ann Cunningham's art and drawing with her amazing
blackboard.
Each program ended with a program for parents and guests. Colorado Springs
had a song about BELL, and Denver had a Hokey Pokey Braille song and dance
"you put your dot one in . you put your dot two out . your put your dot
three in and ya shake 'em all about .. that's what it's all about it." Each
child received a certificate of accomplishment which they certainly
deserved.
We have lots of pictures of activities we will be sharing with you
throughout the year. All of our parents were terrific, helping with driving
and taking pictures. You can look forward to a PowerPoint in the Colorado
Parents of Blind Children state newsletter.
Braille Enrichment Learning and Literacy, that is the National Federation of
the Blind award winning BELL program. That's no hokey pokey. That's what
it's all about.
Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards
By James Gashel
>From the Editor: James Gashel serves as Secretary of the National Federation
of the Blind. He also chairs the Dr. Jacob Bolotin award committee. This
year National Federation of the Blind of Colorado was honored to be
presented with not one, but two Bolotin awards. Mr. Gashel presented these
awards on Thursday afternoon, July 5, 2012 from the platform in front of the
2400 delegates at our national convention in Dallas. The award is
prestigious. It brings with it a cash award to support the programs, or
individuals recognized. It is coveted. Here is what James Gashel said,
when recognizing our outstanding work in Colorado.
For our first recipient, representing organizations of excellence, we are
recognizing a particular program led by blind adults to provide
opportunities of special significance for blind youth. Although the program
being recognized has a single name and mission, ten recipients are sharing
this award. The program they represent is the Braille Enrichment for
Literacy and Learning (BELL) Program with a total award of thirty thousand
dollars. Each organization conducting the BELL program underway in ten
separate states in 2012 will receive three thousand dollars given in
recognition of outstanding leadership to make the program possible.
First launched in the summer of 2008 by the NFB of Maryland, the BELL
program has reached a milestone in 2012 with ten states participating and
serving students at fourteen different sites. The recipients we honor today
are state affiliates of the NFB in Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Nebraska, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. Because
of the initiative of these state affiliates, children with low vision will
learn that being blind and reading Braille is a respectable way to live.
Using mentorship as an NFB strength, the BELL program is based on
interaction between blind students and blind role models. Throughout the
day during the program students ring a bell to celebrate their
accomplishments. In the beginning the adults recognize the students'
accomplishments and remind them to ring the bell, but by the end of the
program students are excited to ring the bell on their own with each
success. Students ring the bell when they successfully identify Braille
letters for the first time, learn Braille contractions, use canes to travel
independently, and realize that, by using alternative techniques, blind
people can do the same things sighted people do.
Parent training is also emphasized in the curriculum. Parents are children's
first teachers. Ensuring that parents of blind children have a positive
understanding of blindness significantly increases the success of their
blind children.
When you think of reaching out to blind youth and helping them to achieve
excellence in their lives, and helping parents to have high expectations for
their children to achieve standards of excellence, think of the BELL
program. That is what James Gashel said about the unique and important work
of ten affiliates. As always Colorado is one of the affiliates leading the
way and ringing bells of freedom.
The final Bolotin award for 2012 was also in recognition of work done in
Colorado. Our very own, artist in residence and tactile teacher
extraordinaire was recognized for her outstanding service. Here is what he
said.
Now for our fifth and final recipient, representing sighted individuals with
visionary enlightenment and a genuine understanding of blindness, we
recognize Ann Cunningham with an award of five thousand dollars.
The view that blind people cannot enjoy or create visually appealing
artistic works is one of the last bastions of discrimination we face. In
fact, many well intentioned programs can be found which offer special
opportunities to the blind in art appreciation, but note the operative
word-special-when special is usually just another word for separate.
Specializing as a tactile artist, Ann Cunningham first started to teach art
classes at the Colorado Center for the Blind, beginning in 1997. Her
classes include stone carving, sculpting, tactile mapping, painting,
drawing, and more. Ann routinely travels with students to gardens, art
galleries, and museums, helping them learn that enjoyment and creation of
artistic works is a reasonable and realistic expectation for people who are
blind. More than anyone, Ann has become a mentor and teacher for blind
artists throughout the country, encouraging them to prove their skills,
often when others are discouraging them. Ann has even provided training for
sighted professional artists, sharing her nonvisual techniques for making
art fun, creative, and accessible to all blind students. Her recent
invention of the Sensational BlackBoard allows blind students to create and
understand maps, diagrams, and other graphics. This is a low-cost tool to
make such drawings fully accessible to blind people.
When you think of a can do spirit and creative problem solving, tearing down
barriers and surmounting obstacles, just saying "yes," when conventional
wisdom says "no," think of Ann Cunningham.
Jessica At Large: The Foundation
By Jessica Beecham
>From the Editor: In the last issue we introduced you to Jessica Beecham. We
are proud to have Jessica at work organizing chapters and promoting the work
of our affiliate. She is imaginative and energetic. We will be running a
regular column written by Jessica. I am currently calling this column
"Jessica At Large". She will be at large, roaming the state to help us
change what it means to be blind. Here is Jessica Beecham.
Boy, has it been a busy few months in Colorado At Large! From training in
Baltimore to building databases to designing programs and everything in
between, lots of time and energy has gone into building the NFB of Colorado
so that we reach our full potential!
After arriving in Colorado, one of the first tasks was to receive training
from the amazing affiliate action staff at the National Federation of the
Blind's National Center in Baltimore Maryland. Spending the week learning
from NFB luminaries was inspiring and insightful. Returning to Colorado
with a head full of knowledge, tons of lists for recruitment purposes, and
lots of material to use on the job, it was time to lay the foundation for
growth.
Locating potential new members as well as those organizations and
individuals who could serve as dear friends to the Federation is vital for
the growth and sustainability of our organization. Utilizing the lists from
NFB National Center including White Cane, Future Reflections, Braille
Monitor, Early Explorers, Youth Slam, and free books as well as our Colorado
state database, it was easy to build a comprehensive database that allows
easy access to potential members and friends. Another database was created
for the student division which includes contact information for each
University, including the disability service contact person whenever
possible. This will allow the students division to widely promote their
division, the NFB of Colorado scholarship program, and the student seminars
and meetings that they regularly conduct.
Since social media has become such a powerful tool in both one-to-one
communication as well as getting the word out about organizations,
activities, and ideas, it is an imperative tool for organizational growth.
The NFB of Colorado now has an active Facebook page so like us by searching
National Federation of the Blind of Colorado NFB CO. We also have a Twitter
account and you can follow us by using @nfbco. In addition to Facebook and
Twitter, NFBCO has started a blog which we update at least weekly. To find
out about the latest happenings in the NFB of Colorado, check out our blog
posts at http://nfbco.blogspot.com. If you have any comments or suggestions
regarding ways in which we could more efficiently and effectively utilize
our social media to generate interest and membership please contact Jessica
Beecham. So far we have been able to get the word out about our AMAZING
VACATION TRAVEL RAFFLE, the boycott of Goodwill Industries, our sincere
congratulations to Cody Bair for his National Federation of the Blind
national scholarship award, the At Large chapter, and happenings in our
Colorado NFB chapters.
In May, we conducted the first meeting of our At Large chapter which is a
chapter of the NFBCO which meets via conference call on the fourth Tuesday
of each month at 7:00PM. The At Large chapter is meant for individuals who
live too far away or have schedule conflicts that prevent them from
attending in person chapter meetings. To join the At Large chapter for our
next meeting call 619-326-2700 and enter access code 3566475#. To receive
the most up to date information about our At Large chapter meetings and
other information about NFBCO please visit our website at www.nfbco.org,
contact Jessica Beecham, sign up for Colorado Talk, or stay tuned to any of
our social media outlets. During the first At Large chapter meeting we
discussed the National Federation of the Blind and its impact on the lives
of America's blind. There were twelve participants but only 6 of whom were
not special guests on the call. During the second meeting we discussed the
state divisions and had 15 participants, only 4 of whom were special guests
on the call. This means that our participant count (those who are potential
members) almost doubled. Our goal is to see our At Large chapter thrive
until it is as large as the Denver Chapter and we are off to an excellent
start. We want to utilize the membership of the At Large Chapter to start
new in person chapters. We are already beginning to formulate plans for in
person chapters so stay tuned for more information on Federation growth in
Colorado.
Our Colorado chapters are doing some really awesome things across the state.
The Pueblo chapter is now contributing money to assist with Braille writer
repair for individuals in the community. The Colorado Springs chapter is
working diligently to communicate with their city council about proposed
cuts to public transportation and is participating in a number of community
outreach events. The Mile High chapter is having a professional
photographer at their next meeting so that they can contribute some great
shots to our website and other materials that NFBCO prints and is working on
planning a poker tournament in the fall. The Denver chapter had their
summer picnic in July and graciously opened their doors to the summer
students and staff from the Colorado Center for the Blind youth program.
The Boulder chapter is busily working to plan aspects of our state
convention. The Greeley chapter is hustling and bustling with yard sales
and summer picnics. As you can see each of our chapters is staying busy and
working hard to make a difference!
These are just a few of the summer happenings, and let me tell you, there
are BIG plans in the works. From the launch of a mentoring program for
high-school students, to community advertisement, the NFB of Colorado has a
lot more excitement in store. Keep reading the Blind Coloradan, join our
social media outlets, sign up for Colorado Talk, contact Jessica Beecham at
jbeecham at cocenter.org or 303-778-1130 extension 223 for in-depth details,
sign up for NewsLine and check out the Colorado Information Station, and
call the NFBCO number 303-778-1130 extension 302 to keep up with the latest
information about the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado!
National Convention, In the View of Our Scholars
By Scholarship Winners
>From the Editor: Each year our National Federation of the Blind of Colorado
scholarship winners are also given a trip to our National Convention. This
is in addition to the cash award they will receive at the State Convention
this October. For some of these scholars it is the first time they have
attended the National Convention. We asked them to provide their thoughts.
Here are some prospectives from five of our winning students. Our first
essay comes from our state's national scholarship recipient for 2012. He
was awarded a scholarship from our affiliate in 2011.
Cody Bair
2012 National Scholarship Winner and NFBCO Scholarship Finalist.
Recipient of 2011 NFBCO Scholarship.
Greeley, Colorado
Sophomore at the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado,
majoring in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting
My second national convention experience was extremely different from my
first. While at my first convention I was busy soaking up the NFB
philosophy and learning alternative methods for achieving success in
college. At this year's convention I had the opportunity to connect with,
and be mentored by, numerous Federation leaders. These leaders have
significantly impacted my opinion of what it means to be a leader in the
Federation. For example: I noticed that all of these leaders looked at the
Federation as a whole instead of separate affiliates, divisions, and/or
chapters. These mentors also presented me with numerous nonconventional
ideas for recruiting new members, which had been successful for them in the
past. In addition to being mentored by Federation leaders, I also had the
opportunity to participate in many of the National Association of Blind
Students(NABS) events, as well as, connect with the NABS leadership. As a
result of conversing with them, I was given many ideas for recruitment and
outreach projects for state student divisions, as well as, which projects
and methods have historically not worked well. I strongly believe that the
mentoring I have received at this year's convention will make me a more
valuable asset to the National Federation of the Blind.
Savanah Baker
2012 NFBCO Scholarship Finalist
Broomfield, Colorado
Freshman at Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska, majoring in English and
Spanish.
The National Federation of the Blind of Colorado recently gave me the
experience of a lifetime. After applying for the NFBCO state scholarship, I
waited eagerly to see if I would be one of the recipients. Once I got the
call and was told I was a finalist, I thought it couldn't get any better
than this. However, I was wrong. Along with the scholarship, I had a
chance to go to the NFB National Convention in Dallas, Texas.
The Convention was a six-day experience that I will never forget. I learned
so many useful new tips about being a self-advocate and asserting my
independence. Going blind has always frightened me, but after meeting
thousands of successful blind business men and women, I have come to realize
nothing can stop me from achieving my goals except myself. I feel more
confident as I head off to college and I couldn't have done it without the
NFB and all the wonderful mentors I had at the convention. I am so grateful
for the experience I had and for the scholarship that will allow me to have
many more equally amazing experiences.
Dora Lopez
2012 NFBCO Scholarship Finalist
Greeley, Colorado
Sophomore at Aims Community College, Greeley, Colorado, majoring in
Rehabilitation Counseling.
Two years ago, I attended my first NFB convention. Ever since, I have found
myself attending the annual conference each year. The experience this year
has been the best. I was fortunate to attend with the Colorado Center for
The Blind as a summer employee. Wonderful moments and people, who I have
grown to care for, made this experience an unforgettable one. From
dress-shopping to some last minute packing, somehow everything made perfect
sense. The annual convention is something that I have made a part of my
life. An event I look forward to as the summer approaches. The diverse
people who make the conventions interesting, the inspirational speakers
whose passion keeps the NFB spirit alive, and the feeling of belonging that
I find, are all emotions and experiences that without question keep me
coming back year after year. Perhaps it's the realization that in order to
make progress people have to work together and it is only until we learn to
get along and work as a team; only then will we see change. The NFB
philosophy enforces this truth. I have been granted many opportunities that
without a doubt have enriched my life. However, I have learned that not one
of my accomplishments would have been as meaningful, had I not taken a risk;
knowing that I could succeed and as easily fail. The opportunities are
everywhere, and thanks to the NFB they are at a closer reach. Finally,
having the honor of being a 2012 state scholarship finalist has been a great
honor.
Kylene Quigley Lima
2012 NFBCO Scholarship Finalist
Greeley, Colorado
Graduate Student at the Colorado School of Public Health, University of
Colorado in Denver, Colorado, working on her Master's Degree in Public
Health.
My first Convention, how exciting! Although I was less excited about
missing my daughter's ninth birthday and leaving my other, more handsome
half behind. However, as a Colorado scholarship recipient, I was honored to
attend. In preparation for the week ahead I focused on the amazing
opportunity I was facing in being surrounded by like-minded blind
individuals. Actually, in all honesty, I did not know much of anything about
what the Federation stood for. I knew I would be surrounded by a large
concentration of blind people. This meant that for one week I was not the
odd one out, the minority, or the "special" one. Let me go back a few years,
actually twenty-four years. To the surprise of my entire family my vision
deteriorated when I was six as a result of Stargardts. Regardless of my
destiny as a blind person growing up in a world prior to the ADA my family
instilled one simple, and yet empowering statement in me. My family would
tell me, "Kylene, you can do anything and don't let anyone tell you
differently." Since I was an impressionable six year old, I believed
everything I was told and this statement became what I lived by.
Now let's fast-forward to June 29th, 2012 to the Hilton Anatole lobby in
Dallas, Texas. The sound of the canes reverberated throughout the massive
hotel atrium emulating an off tempo tap dance. Lisa Bonderson- who had
escorted myself and another scholar from Denver, handed me my room key and
said that we will be in touch later on in the day. With bright eyes and a
huge smile I took my key not giving any indication of what was really going
on inside. I thought to myself, "Aren't you going to help me find my room.?"
As a wave of panic rushed over me I started to question what I got myself
into. Not only did I need to find my room, but I was also starving. It was
at this point in which I realized how independent I thought I was and how
comfortably dependent I had become. After frustratingly finding my room I
set out to find food. I wondered around the lobby of the hotel with no
success of food when I found myself tucked away in a hallway pretending to
observe the display of statues mounted behind glass as I wiped away the rush
of tears. I was brought up believing I can do anything. I truly did believe
that I could do anything. I even told all of the naysayers throughout my
life that I could do anything. Was I wrong? I am a strong, normally
confident, and successful person and yet, I felt scared and defeated.
Luckily, my wonderfully encouraging husband was there- all be it thousands
of miles away, to remind me that I can do it. He calmly told me to draw on
my training and that I was in the perfect place to be comfortable with my
blindness and who I am. I dusted off my bruised ego and found some much
needed food.
Over the following week I found my confidence soar. I stepped out
of my OCD way of habitual living and challenged myself to be uncomfortable.
There were lots of people around to offer help. That week I received a
reality check. I was humbled by the work of so many powerfully successful
blind individuals. I was honored to hear their experiences and efforts on
behalf of blind people everywhere. I felt true admiration for so many
within the Federation. I took this reality check and deposited it into my
life's savings, so that I can always draw upon it when I need. I know I have
lots more work to do for myself and for my fellow blind family. I will
always be thankful to the NFB of CO for providing me with the opportunity of
attending the Convention to learn invaluable life lessons as a blind
individual and, more importantly, intrapersonal lessons.
We also congratulate Jami Meyers. She was awarded a scholarship to attend
national convention.
Jami Meyers
2012 NFBCO and National Convention Scholarship Recipient
Colorado Springs, CO
Ashford University, working on her Master's Degree in Counseling.
My experience from the 2012 NFB National Convention was life changing. I am
so blessed and honored to have been granted this opportunity that I will
carry with me for a lifetime! Throughout the week in Dallas, I was inspired
in so many ways by hearing stories, being educated, and seeing such a strong
and determined group of people, who despite visual impairment have fulfilled
dreams as high as the sky can reach. I was lucky to meet some fantastic
people from all over the country! I had amazing mentors that were so helpful
in providing me with support, advice, and guidance. I was lucky enough to
have a wonderful roommate, who will now be a friend for life! I also enjoyed
bonding with others from the Colorado Springs and Denver chapters, getting
to know them better. I am so appreciative of the gift I was given in
attending the National Convention! I am also excited to be a proud member
of the Colorado Springs NFB chapter, and look forward to meeting more
inspiring people, hearing more motivating stories, and being up to date on
information and technology. Thank you all so much for this opportunity, and
I can't wait to attend my next NFB National Convention!
The United States Association of Blind Athletes
By Lacey Markle, Military Sport Program Assistant, USABA
>From the Editor: From time to time we carry updates from our friends at
USABA. Here is the latest.
The United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) recently hired a
Membership and Outreach Coordinator, Matt Simpson. The target goal for this
new position is to increase sports and physical activity opportunities to
students who are blind and visually impaired in Colorado by offering
goalball, swimming, tandem cycling, track & field, judo and rowing programs.
Nearly 70 percent of students who are blind and visually impaired do not
participate in even a limited physical education curriculum. The barriers
that blind and visually impaired youth face are numerous and primarily the
consequences of moving their education from residential schools, where
physical educators with blindness knowledge deliver specialized services in
relatively small classes, to public schools where educators may have less
knowledge, time and resources to apply to students who are visually
impaired. USABA wants to break down these barriers, our state has
approximately 850 blind and visually impaired students and USABA would like
to have an impact in each of their lives. Matt will reach out to orientation
and mobility instructors (O&M) and teachers of the blind and visually
impaired (TVIs) to reach this goal. USABA is working with the Colorado
Department of Education to identify these teachers and work with them in
getting community based programs started in their area. Currently, USABA is
starting the initiative by contacting all teachers in hopes of gaining an
interest for when programs around Colorado start. USABA's Executive
Director, Mark Lucas, said, " We want to reach out to all O&M and TVI's to
try and get a better understanding of their students interests and what
resources are available to them in order to create a program that will be
sustainable and successful," he continued to say, "Matt will be a great
asset to our organization. It is exciting to have an athlete working to
promote our mission and in alignment with our strategic plan, reach our
vision of becoming the nation's leading resource for providing sport and
physical activity across the United States."
Sports and physical fitness are extremely important for students who are
blind and visually impaired not only to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but to
promote independence, increase self-esteem, learn life skills and in some
cases bringing students who are blind and visually impaired together with
sighted students. Studies show that the benefits of sports and recreation
continue from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood. A recent
survey of USABA members revealed that not only do participants benefit
academically from their involvement in sports during elementary and high
school, but 57 percent of USABA members continued on to higher education to
pursue a college degree, which is more than double the national average of
23 percent for their visually impaired peers.
"I am excited to be here and promote sports for people who are blind and
visually impaired. It is great to be able to represent USABA athletes and
bring their perspective to this organization," said Simpson. This program is
expected to start in the fall by hosting various sports programs throughout
Colorado.
What is Audio Information Network of Colorado?
By Kim Ann Wardlow
>From the Editor: Most of our readers are very familiar with and regularly
use our NFB Newsline system. Many of our readers also benefit from the
Audio Information Network of Colorado. However, I am often asked about
these access systems. One of our active members, David Dawson, founded and
continues to serve as Executive Director of AINC. He has demonstrated this
robust service at many of our state conventions. However, in this issue we
thought we would give you another glimpse at the services you can access
through AINC. Here is what Kim Ann Wardlow, Director of Marketing for AINC,
has to say about their services.
AINC provides audio access throughout Colorado to newspapers (nearly 100
local papers), ad circulars, magazines, and other ink print materials
through three regional broadcasts
The Audio Information Network of Colorado (AINC) provides services that
blind, visually impaired, and print disabled individuals may use throughout
their lives. Children's programming is available in English and Spanish.
It includes magazines, books, and stories recorded by a professional story
teller. As children advance through school they may use the newspapers,
science, travel, and other programs for school assignments. Young adults
transitioning to post-secondary education or the work place may find
employment information, grocery ads, and discount store ads helpful. Older
adults often find that AINC services help them maintain independence and
stay connected to their community.
AINC is in its 22nd year of serving Colorado residents. The non-profit was
founded by David Dawson under its original name of Radio Reading Service of
the Rockies (RRSR). Its mission is to provide audio access to ink print
materials not otherwise available to Colorado's blind, visually impaired,
and print disabled residents.
Programming is broadcast 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Listeners have
independent access to nearly 100 Colorado newspapers; grocery/discount ads;
magazines; and other local publications. Three regional broadcasts are
produced to maximize the number of local publications that can be read. The
three regions are Denver Metro/Northeastern Colorado, Colorado
Springs/Pueblo/Southeastern Colorado, and Grand Junction/Western
Slope/Southwestern Colorado. In addition to the newspapers from the urban
areas of each region, AINC also includes suburban papers like the Highlands
Ranch Herald and Arvada Sentinel; rural papers like the Limon Leader,
Ranchland News, Burlington Record, and Cortez Journal; and others like High
Country News, La Voz, Indian County News, Intermountain Jewish News, and
Space Guardian. All publications are read and recorded by volunteers.
Rocky Mountain PBS transmits AINC's three regional broadcasts. AINC
provides pre-tuned receivers that pick up this signal. There are two
telephone options - calling the office number to connect to the broadcast or
for more flexibility using the Information-On-Demand System. To try a demo
of the IOD system dial 303-443-2005 or toll free 877-443-2005 then enter
7777 when asked for a subscriber number. This will give you five minutes to
try the system. AINC's website has sample programming, live streaming,
Podcasting, and online registration capabilities. Speakerphones and MP3
players are provided upon request. All services and equipment are provided
at no cost to listeners. For more information call 303-786-7777 /
877-443-2001 or go to www.aincolorado.org.
DVR Promotes Buzogany
>From the Editor: As readers of the Blind Coloradan may recall Susan
Schierkolk retired from her position as Colorado Division of Vocational
Rehabilitation, Programs and Program Development Manager last winter. This
statewide coordination and development position oversees a number of
programs important to the blind of Colorado. Mrs. Schierkolk was
imaginative, committed, professional, and steady.
In April Mr. Buzogany was promoted to fill this vacant position. Rob
Buzogany received his Master's degree in 1992, in the field of
Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education from the University of
Wisconsin - Madison, Wisconsin. Mr. Buzogany has worked for over 12 years as
a rehabilitation counselor for nonprofit, for profit and state government
agencies. For the past 6 years Mr. Buzogany has been a field supervisor for
the State of Colorado, Department of Human Services, Division of Vocational
Rehabilitation (DVR). In April of 2012, DVR promoted Rob to the Programs and
Program Development Manager. In this position Mr. Buzogany manages statewide
programs including the Independent Living Centers programs, the Benefit
Offset National Demonstration program, the Traumatic Brain Injury Program,
and the Business Enterprise Program. Mr. Buzogany has benefited from the
mentoring of Dr. Ken Schmidt and Susan Schierkolk in recent years. We are
confident that he will provide excellent management and leadership in the
position. The blind of Colorado expect much, and we will be watching.
Dining In the Dark
>From The Editor: In the Spring Issue of the Blind Coloradan we featured
perspectives on the Dining in the Dark phenomena. At the 2012 National
Convention there was a resolution about the matter presented by a number of
the members of our affiliate. This resolution is a bold policy statement.
It passed unanimously. Here it is.
Resolution 2012-04
Regarding Dining in the Dark
WHEREAS, the real problem of blindness is not the loss of
eyesight but the widespread public misconception that the blind are not
equal to the sighted in society; and
WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind categorically
rejects the myth that the blind are not equal to the sighted; and
WHEREAS, programs of the National Federation of the Blind
teach and promote a positive understanding of blindness, that the blind are
normal and equal members of society, and that blindness does not mean
inferiority; and
WHEREAS, an activity known as "dining in the dark" is being
promoted and used to raise funds by having sighted people experience
blindness by eating in the dark; and
WHEREAS, an article published in Time magazine entitled
"Dining in the Dark" assures would-be diners that the cook "works in a
well-lit kitchen"; and
WHEREAS, the Dining in the Dark
website--www.dininginthedark.org--states: "you will pick from a specially
prepared menu (designed by a sighted local 'star' chef)" and "In darkness
everyone becomes equal. Our opinions can't be molded by dress, mannerisms,
or makeup as none of it can be seen. You learn that without sight your
other senses become more acute"; and
WHEREAS, these statements lay bare the underlying philosophy
of dining in the dark, that sight means superior ability, and that, when
sight is removed in the dark, the blind and the sighted are equal: Now,
therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in
Convention assembled this fourth day of July, 2012, in the city of Dallas,
Texas, that this organization condemn and deplore the use of dining in the
dark in a manner that diminishes the innate normality and equal status of
the blind in society; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization pursue an
active policy of opposition to dining in the dark activities and events,
including use of media and public protests, whenever and wherever such
activities and events exploit blindness and blind people based on a
demeaning philosophy.
Happenings at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind
>From the Editor: We enjoy carrying news from the Colorado School for the
Deaf and Blind. As the kids return to school, here is what we have to
report.
Students have returned to the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind,
expectations are high! This year the school for the blind has a principal.
In June the school hired Jennifer Langley. Principal Langley's credentials
are impeccable. Jennifer Langley, the new principal in the Adams Building
at CSDB, comes to the school as a 21 year veteran teacher. Jennifer has
taught most recently at the Washington State School for the Blind and prior
to that at the Maryland School for the Blind. Her roles have been vast.
While predominantly a Music Teacher of the Visually Impaired, Jennifer has
been the Daily Living Skills Coordinator/Assessor, WSSB's registrar,
Outreach for Washington State in the area of Music Braille and instructor of
a program entitled GOALS (Going Out and Living Successfully), a program to
teach advanced job readiness, college readiness and personal finance.
Jennifer has a passion for braille and helping make all students as
independent as they can become. She has participated on state boards to
help them understand how to assess students and create viable curricula for
all, along with keeping high expectations for her students. Jennifer is
very excited to join CSDB. Her vision and direction align perfectly with
CSDB and she looks forward to building a long relationship within the
school. We look forward to meeting her at school activities and on the
pages of upcoming Blind Coloradan Newsletters.
Homecoming will be the weekend of September 8th. You may want to check the
school's website for all of the games, celebrations, and events.
http://www.csdb.org/Default.aspx?DN=80e48029-9ab5-4b48-8ae3-e439283cdf91
In the Summer Time
By Brent Batron
>From the Editor: As readers know the Colorado Center for the Blind is an
award winning program of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado.
>From its inception, it has worked to empower our blind youth. Brent Batron
is our Director of Youth Services. He and his staff have just concluded
what sounds like another highly successful summer program. Here is what he
says.
It is hard to believe that the Colorado Centers' summer programs have
already ended. The graduation dinner and talent show was held on August
1st. It was a very nice ceremony with the students and staff welcoming
families, summer employers and guests. The students had prepared a meal for
150 people. It is always a bitter-sweet evening. It is wonderful to see
the growth in all of the students but it is hard to say good-bye to them.
After spending 8 weeks and becoming so close to each of the students, it is
hard to believe that the group of 24 students and 9 staff members will never
be all together in the same room again. The students have come so far in
their skill level, their confidence, their independence and their belief in
themselves and that blindness has simply become a characteristic and not
what defines them.
We had students from 10 states including Arizona, Colorado, California,
Missouri, New Mexico, Florida, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Arkansas and
New Jersey We also were excited about working with our international
students. We had a 15 year old from Thailand and 3 of our 6 middle school
students came to us from Mexico. The families in Mexico are now planning to
form a parents group based on NFB philosophy with an emphasis on how the
Colorado Center has benefited not only their children but their families.
The students gained skills and confidence in the core classes of Braille,
cane travel, technology and home management but they also participated in
several challenge recreation activities. These included rock climbing,
hiking, canoeing, martial arts, goal-ball, a city wide scavenger hunt,
skating, bowling and even attending the theatre to see a play. The students
also attended the NFB's national convention in Dallas which afforded them
the opportunity to travel in 2 airports and a very large convention hotel,
the Hilton Anatole, and meet people from all different walks of life and
learn about lots of new technology. They also attended the NFB of Denver's
annual picnic and they participated in all of the games including acting
like big kids playing in the bouncy castle. Another fun and educational
activity that they participated in was the 1st annual Summer Science
Seminar. Students were able to conduct various scientific experiments,
utilize accessible materials for many different sciences and learn that
blindness is not a barrier to success in science classes. The presenters
included a chemistry student at Colorado University, professors at
Metropolitan State University in Denver and a world renowned tactile artist
and author Ann Cunningham who won a Dr. Jacob Bolotin award at this years'
national convention of the National Federation of the Blind.
The Earn & Learn high school students not only gained work experience this
summer but they learned skills of interviewing, networking and resume
writing. Our students worked in several different locations all over the
Denver metro area and Boulder in many different capacities. The jobs ranged
from receptionist at the Center and the South Metro Chamber of Commerce,
ushers at the Denver Center for Performing Arts for PHAMALY's production of
"Little Shop of Horror", food service at the Federal Center, technology
assistant at the Center, working with children at the Auraria Early Learning
Center and with young blind kids in the BELL program. Two of our students
worked at the Right Step which is a therapeutic riding program where they
groomed and fed horses and even got to ride on their last day. It was an
experience that they will never forget. Another student worked with a
reporter from the Littleton Independent not only attending various meetings
and court hearings but also getting to write articles.
If you would like to receive information about year round programs for youth
and their families please contact Brent Batron at the Center 303-778-1130 x
222 or by email bbatron at cocenter.org .
Three "Visually Impaired" Mice: Political Correctness Gone Too Far?
>From the Editor: The following article is from the August 2012 E-Connector.
E-Connector is the online newsletter of the Colorado Organization of Parents
of Blind Children. Julie Hunter is the editor. Read this article and you
will see why people enjoy the E-Connector.
Since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) passed in 1990, there
seemingly has been an increase in sensitivity to terminology relating to
people with disabilities, including the use of the word "blind". A recent
newspaper cartoon depicted a book store with a children's book in the
window. The title of the book was "Three Visually Impaired Mice". The
cartoon amusingly suggests that even the title of a cherished nursery rhyme
must now be changed in order to be politically correct. Labels such as
"Sight Impaired" and "Visually Challenged" are sometimes used in place of
the word "blind". Many people seem to feel that the word "blind" is a harsh
and shameful word which needs to be avoided. It's time for those of us who
love a blind person to use the term "blind" without flinching! There is
nothing embarrassing or disgraceful about it. Being blind, whatever the
degree of vision loss, is merely a characteristic. Just as we might describe
our child as short (vertically challenged?) and blonde (pigment impaired?),
so do we need to be comfortable using the word "blind." As long as we make
sure that our children are learning the alternative techniques of blindness
so that they can compete on an equal footing in the world, then there is no
shame in being blind.
Going Back to Boulder
By Arielle Silverman
>From the Editor: Arielle Silverman is one of our most committed leaders.
Here is an invitation from the Boulder Valley Chapter.
This year the Boulder Valley chapter will be hosting our CO State Convention
and we are once again planning some fun tour activities on Thursday
afternoon.
We would like your feedback on which tour ideas sound the most fun and
interesting. Please take a few moments to fill out our poll at
www.surveymonkey.com/s/nfbco and tell us which tours you like the best!
Please complete by August 24, 2012.
Best,
Arielle Silverman, Board Member, Boulder Valley Chapter, NFB
Catch the VIBE!
By Amy Gunning
>From the Editor: Since our spring newsletter listing all manner of Colorado
resources to empower and encourage blind people in the great outdoors. We
have received much material. Amy Gunning is the Co-President of the
Visually Impaired and Blind Skiers of the Colorado Springs Community. Here
is what Amy has to say about VIBeS.
VIBeS (Visually Impaired and Blind Skiers) of the Colorado Springs
Community--is a non-profit organization originally organized for individuals
with visual impairments to have an opportunity experience snow skiing. VIBeS
has evolved into an organization that provides opportunities for year-round
outdoor recreational activities. Hiking, camping, and tandem bicycling are
the most frequently occurring activities when it isn't snow ski season.
VIBeS Board of Directors meets on a periodic basis to discuss organization
business, plan trips, and pursue fund-raising opportunities. VIBeS explores
options for increasing membership, both of individuals with visual
impairments and volunteers (who are sighted).
With snow skiing, VIBes has a formal training program for people interested
in becoming volunteer ski guides. Skiers participate in training as well to
learn the same commands that guides will utilize to ensure the safety of
both snow skiers and guides. While there is formality with respect to guide
and VIP (Visually Impaired Person) training, ski trip planning, weekend
mountain hiking trips and BBQ gatherings, many other opportunities are ad
hoc. VIBeS ad hoc activities occur when members call and/or email each other
about getting together.
The VIBeS website is www.coloradovibes.org; we have our summer newsletter
and calendar of events posted in Word and PDF formats. We'd love to have you
join our fun so please feel free to visit our website or contact us for more
information.
Current contact information is:
Amy Gunning, Co-President
Cell phone: 719-337-0161
Email: amythegun at comcast.net
Envision America
By Anna McClure
>From the Editor: Here is the most recent release from our friends at
Envision America.
En-Vision America recently released the latest in audible identification and
information assistance technology with the new i.d. mate Quest. This new
device moves beyond just bar codes, with the addition of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth,
and camera capabilities. The new features allow the user to acquire
information and identify items in several ways including Skype video, Google
database, photo object identification, and currency identification. More
wireless applications are under development. Additional inventory functions
are also included, designed specifically for blind merchants and vendors.
NABM and En-Vision America are working together to develop a training
program for vendors so that they can make the most of these applications and
see valued benefits in their work environment. For more information and
details contact En-Vision America at 800-890-1180 or visit online at
www.envisionamerica.com.
En-Vision America has valued its relationship with the National Federation
of the Blind and the National Association of Blind Merchants for many years,
from supplying snack pack bags at national convention to exhibiting at
BLAST. It is because of the dialogue and cooperation between the two groups
that specific technological advancements have been made for the i.d. mate
talking bar code scanners. In continuing this partnership, En-Vision America
recently released Quest, the latest in their i.d. mate line. Several
additions and applications for Quest were designed especially for the blind
merchant/vendor.
With new Wi-Fi/bluetooth features and an attached camera, even more ways of
identifying items and gaining information are available. Skype video is one
example of this. With a quick connection, you can have a live video feed
going to a friend to help with reading an invoice, finding a lost item on
the floor, or anything you might need help with. Currency identification
and object recognition are also available with the Wi-Fi/camera elements.
New applications are being developed and suggestions are welcomed.
In addition to the on-board database of nearly 3 million items, the user now
has access to Google's online database, increasing the total to nearly 20
million items. Items not found in the database can be added by users to a
shared file, allowing individuals to share information and help each other
to build product information.
New functions have also been added to Inventory Mode. Time and date can be
placed into records, and all information is transportable to other data
management programs.
NABM and En-Vision America plan to develop an in-depth training workshop for
i.d. mate users, so that they can learn and apply the varied applications of
Quest to their work. Stay tuned for more information on this training. In
the meantime, to learn more about Quest or to purchase yours today, contact
En-Vision America at 800-890-1180.
"Blind Students Get Down to Business" (Excerpt from the Braille Monitor)
By Terry McElhaney
>From the Editor: The following story appeared in the April 13, 2012, edition
of the Littleton, Colorado, Villager. It demonstrates the benefits that
blind students receive from working relationships between NFB adult
rehabilitation centers and their local business communities. Here it is.
Networking is a basic skill that most business people have to deal with, if
not master, on their way to success in today's business world. Facing a room
of strangers with a pocket full of business cards and a handshake is always
a little daunting for people entering the job market. Now consider the
networking scenario without the ability to see who you are networking with.
That's the challenge presented to students at the Colorado Center for the
Blind during their annual networking event in partnership with the South
Metro Denver Chamber. Last week sixty-five chamber investors and guests
gathered at the CCB's campus near Historic Downtown Littleton to give
students a real-life situation in preparation for graduation and subsequent
job search. Prior to the event Executive Director Julie Deden and the
center's Vocational Specialist Brenda Mosby prepared the business guests
with an introduction to the school and its philosophies, strategies, and
processes. The group was enlightened as to the proper way to approach a
blind person, not to be afraid of the cane, and basically to treat a blind
person the same as any sighted person. The use of "dark shades"
[sleepshades] was also presented as a tool to help persons with some sight
to learn when closing your eyes and trusting your instincts is preferable to
trusting bad vision. The philosophy at CCB is that skills are not enough.
The center takes students through a rigorous nine-month program in
preparation for a life of independence and productivity. Daily classroom
discussion of myths and fears surrounding blindness, along with exploration
of real-life encounters, help students to see blindness as a mere nuisance
rather than a tragedy. There's an eclectic mix at the center, including
international students. The program provides training in orientation and
mobility, Braille, technology and software, and home management, which
includes cooking. Their final days include planning and executing a dinner
for 50 and a drop which takes students anywhere in the greater metro Denver
area and requires them to find their way back without assistance. The
students were also prepared for the event with information on many of the
business persons whom they would soon get the opportunity to meet. Thanks to
the chamber's use of the Meetup social media site, the center had an advance
list of who would be there and some biographical information regarding many
in the group. Students with specific career goals in mind knew whom they
wanted to meet in advance and were ready with questions. The center also had
business cards printed for sharing during the event. There was obvious
apprehension as the business leaders were led into the room with the waiting
students. This quickly passed, however, as Mosby took control and
introductions were given with the help of Chamber President and CEO John
Brackney. Nods of approval could be seen as the students introduced
themselves as well as their aspirations in turn. The business people also
introduced themselves and their companies. From there organized pandemonium
broke out as the groups merged and conversations struck up between them. The
students often took the lead and with a handshake at the ready used their
keen sense of hearing and their ever-present canes to approach people and
strike up a conversation. CCB student Shanaia [Bethea] was encouraged by the
encounters. I was very nervous going into the event, but once John
[Brackney] started asking me questions, I felt much more confident. And I
even talked to a couple of people who mentioned they knew someone in
journalism and were eager to put me in touch," Shanaia said. International
student Anna [Avramenko] from the Ukraine said, "It is such a small world. I
met a woman, Linda Scott, who invited me to a luncheon where she plans to
introduce me to two women business owners--one from Russia and one from the
Ukraine. Business leaders who attended the event were equally moved by the
experience. Tricia Englebert, owner of 5280 Drug Testing, said, "This was
one of those events that I was super proud to be a part of. What an
incredible group of individuals. These students are doing amazing things in
spite of their disability. A truly humbling and perspective-changing
experience.
"Blind CU-Boulder Student Inspires Lab Changes" (Excerpt from the Colorado
Daily)
By Whitney Bryan
University of Colorado student Amelia Dickerson is used to sitting next to
her lab partner and being told how the experiment is going.
Since a car accident in high school left Dickerson blind, there are certain
activities -- such as science experiments -- that she can't do in the same
way she did before, so she sat quietly and listened as her peers did the
work.
After years of being told by classmates what lab work looked like, Dickerson
decided she was tired of being left out of the experiments.
"I knew I could do these things; I just needed to do them in a different way
than other students," Dickerson said.
Before classes started in the fall, she approached her soon-to-be chemistry
instructor, Susan Hendrickson, and asked if she would be willing to put in a
little extra time to help her participate in the lab.
"Lab helps us understand what we're reading in a practical way, and I didn't
want to miss out on that anymore," Dickerson said. "I needed to know that
she was going to work with me and help me actually participate."
Dickerson's passion inspired the general chemistry faculty members to begin
making their labs more accessible. Over the past two semesters, with
Dickerson's help, the chemistry department began incorporating new equipment
to make experiments easier for students with disabilities.
Several of the experiments require students to pour liquids into beakers and
read measurements labeled by visual markers. Hendrickson cut notches in the
glass to allow Dickerson to feel the markers.
"That only costs 25 cents per test tube," Hendrickson said. "We also bought
a textured rug at Target for $9.99 that tells her where the sink is."
Other changes were more expensive. An electronic probe system cost the
department nearly $900, though Hendrickson said it was worth every penny.
"The system allows Amelia to collect data through interchangeable probes and
then it's transferred to her computer, which can then read her the
information out loud so she can hear the results," Hendrickson said. "And
the best thing about it is that we have it now so we'll be able to use it
anytime we have a student who needs it."
Dickerson said the system allows her to take temperatures and measure pH
levels, data that she's otherwise never been able to collect.
Hendrickson said the labs are required to have benches that make equipment
accessible to students in wheelchairs, but there are no requirements to
accommodate blind students. She said in her experience, many students who
face challenges in the classroom due to disabilities "just sit back quietly
because they're too shy to do anything about it."
But Dickerson wasn't an ordinary student.
"She was determined, and her motivation is what really pushed us to put in
the extra time and effort to help her," Hendrickson said. "She made it easy
for us to want to help her."
Dickerson was so touched by the efforts that she nominated the department
for the President's Diversity Award. Hendrickson said the department won a
commendation but not the award.
Hendrickson said she hopes other departments will begin better preparing for
disabled students.
"I'm really excited to talk to other departments who might be interested in
making similar changes," she said. "All it took for us was an eager student
who was passionate about making a change and some willing faculty to help
her get there."
For Dickerson, the department's efforts resulted in more than a lesson in
chemistry.
"I feel more included and more like there are options in the natural
sciences for people with all kinds of different disabilities or struggles
that they face," Dickerson said. "It has completely changed my attitude.
"Just because you haven't seen something done before doesn't mean you can't
do it," she said. "All you need to do it try."
Catherine Kilcommons, of CU's Disability Services, said about 1,200 students
registered with the office are studying in various departments across the
campus.
She said the biology department has also been working to improve
accessibility for students through encouraging its textbook publisher to
improve its online interface
Read more:
http://www.coloradodaily.com/ci_20569066/blind-cu-boulder-student-inspires-lab-changes#ixzz23jCCtdZj
McGeorge Mountain Apartments
By Julie Deden
>From the Editor: In our spring issue we spotlighted the purchase of a
multi-family housing unit to be the residence of Colorado Center for the
Blind students. In the May issue of the Colorado Center for the Blind
newsletter, Julie Deden wrote about the dedication of the apartment complex.
Julie is the Executive Director of the CCB, this is what she said.
On May 11, the board of directors, staff and students of the Colorado Center
for the Blind, community members and friends gathered together to dedicate
our new apartment complex. Littleton Mayor Debbie Brinkman, who is a great
supporter of the Center in all ways, was on hand to cut the ribbon. The
rain did not soak our spirits but rather increased our exhilaration on this
momentous occasion. Diane McGeorge, founder of the Center and current chair
of our board of directors, told us that there are no words to express her
love for all of us and the dedication that we all have in our work with
blind people. Julie Deden, executive director of the Center, thanked Diane
and her late husband Ray for their hard work, passion and love for the
Center for, without them, we would not have the Colorado Center for the
Blind.
Educate Blind Kids Now
By Kevan Worley
>From the Editor: It is difficult for your editor to know what to say about,
well, myself when writing articles for this publication. I'm not only the
current editor, but I am often one of those charged with doing some of the
important work we do. In this article I will tell you about our 2012
Educate Blind Kids Now Initiative.
To be sure, many blind children are being educated now. Some are even
getting a good education, but many are simply not receiving the high quality
education they deserve. There are a number of reasons for this lack. We
certainly do not have all of the answers, but we can think of no other
organization which is taking a global and, we hope, a uniting approach to
the challenges faced by children, parents, and teachers in the 21st Century.
At the 2011 State Convention, this affiliate made education a top priority.
President LaBarre appointed the Educate Blind Kids Now Committee. The
committee consists of co-chair Kevan Worley. Kevan is a parent of an adult
blind child. Co-chairman is Michelle Chacon. She is an award winning
teacher of visually impaired students and a board member of NFBCO. The
committee includes such luminary thinkers and problem-solvers as Trina Boyd.
Trina is a veteran TVI and member of the NFB with a track record of
unparalleled accomplishment with a heart of service. She received much of
her formative experience at the Colorado Center for the Blind. Maryann
Migliorelli is a nontraditional university student and a former
entrepreneur. Maryann is currently the Boulder Valley Chapter President.
Bertha Guerrero is a TVI at CSDB and she is a member of the Colorado Springs
NFB Chapter. Diane McGeorge is the founder and chairman of the board of our
Colorado Center for the Blind. There is no doubt that Diane's thoughtful
vision and spirit brought true reform to the rehabilitation of the blind.
Rounding out the committee is David Dawson. He is the Executive Director of
the Audio Information Network of Colorado. He is a member of the Colorado
School for the Deaf and Blind Board of Trustees. I observe that everyone on
this committee either uses or teaches Braille. I also observe that this
committee would benefit from and be open to the addition of parents of blind
children.
The committee has had substantive meetings with officials at the University
of Northern Colorado, administrators at the Colorado School for the Deaf and
Blind, Colorado Department of Education, Lieutenant Governor Joe Garcia, and
leading state legislators. We have engaged in conversation with the National
Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute. We particularly appreciate
Tanni Anthony at the Colorado Department of Education. Her professionalism,
heart, and expertise is of great value. She has met with this committee
three times. She has provided documents and meaningful guidance.
We are happy to have begun a more healthy and communicative relationship
with CSDB. It is undeniable that over the years the relationship between
the organized blind and the school has often been one of ups and downs. We
know that on occasion there have been staff at CSDB who have not been
welcoming to the philosophy and efforts of the Federation. There have also
been numerous teachers, administrators, and care givers who have recognized
the value of the Federation and the strategic importance of our support,
advice, and advocacy. We too must recognize how our efforts can benefit
from their professionalism and experience. We must continue to build
bridges of understanding and possibility with our state's residential school
for the blind. The school lives in a world replete with challenges. They
are often the same as all educational institutions in the 21st Century.
However, the residential school for the blind also has challenges unique to
the education of blind children with which they must deal.
The committee is tackling the tough problems: how to recruit young teachers
of the visually impaired; how to enforce standards and essential Braille
competencies in a rigorous manner while not losing qualified, nurturing,
dedicated professionals; how to educate and encourage parents and teachers,
so that all vision impaired kids have the opportunity to learn and use
Braille regularly; strategies to ensure that the Colorado Division of
Vocational Rehabilitation follows the law by opening VR cases for all blind
students who are 14 years of age and older; how to ensure that blind kids
are offered equal opportunity to have online assessments and testing. It is
hard to believe that with all of the laws and advocacy from parents,
teachers, and activists there are still blind students who cannot use many
of the online assessment tools and take standardized tests alongside their
sighted peers. It is appalling and unacceptable. You can be sure that our
Educate Blind Kids Now Committee, backed by all of you, will change what it
means to be blind by demanding that our kids get access to literacy, receive
equal treatment, are offered the tools they need, leading to equality and
opportunity. We will encourage parents. With your help, we will find young
teachers. Together we will work to inform policy makers. We will create a
climate in which teachers can be empowered and be appreciated. We will do
these things with an open mind and a heart of service. Progress will be
slow, but it will be sure.
We will have a full report on our 2012 Educate Blind Kids Now Initiative at
our state convention on Friday the 26th and Saturday the 27th of October.
Plan now to attend, engage, and learn. The agenda will be online in early
October. We invite parents, teachers, those who teach the teachers,
administrators, and students of all ages to participate in our fall
statewide convention. There will be panels, interactive experiences, and
presentations, as well as, excellent opportunities to network and share. If
you have never attended, you owe it to yourself to join the fun, take part,
get the facts, and help create the change.
It has been said many times, because it's true, "our children are the
future." It is a priority of the NFB of Colorado to make that future bright.
Very Special Arts, Dynamic Buna, and Award Winning Ann
>From the Editor: We recently received the following press release. We are
delighted to publish it here. Read on, and you will see why.
VSA Colorado/Access Gallery is excited to bring you.
Leadership Spirit Opening Show
Friday, August 17, 2012
6:00pm-9:00pm
At VSA Colorado Access Gallery
909 Santa Fe, Drive, Denver, CO 80204
The works of two artists in a collaborative project showcasing the
illustrations of Andrew Morris and Buna Dahal's recently released book,
Leadership Spirit.
Buna, poet, writer, and renowned motivational speaker sought after for her
leadership workshops and trainings all across the globe, will be at the
Access Gallery signing her new book Leadership Spirit. As a child born
blind in Nepal, Buna found herself up against many obstacles, especially the
limiting beliefs of others. Choosing not to buy into it, Buna moved to the
United States at a young age, worked as a successful job trainer and coach
for the Colorado Center for the Blind, before earning her Master's Degree
and starting her own business. Recently, Buna was asked to speak at the
United Nations Convention on the importance of spiritual leadership. To
learn more go to http://www.bunadahal.com/bio.html .
The illustrations for the book were created by VSA Colorado illustrator
Andrew Morris. Andrew is a graduate of Metro State College and has been
working with VSA Colorado for 3 months. In addition to the work for the
book, Andrew will also be exhibiting some of his other work.
Also on hand this evening will be art and accessibility innovator and artist
Ann Cunningham. Ann Cunningham has been involved in the art community for
more than 30 years and her accessible fairy tales, books, and art, have been
seen and purchased all around the world. She will be showcasing her newest
product the Sensational Black Board, which offers a fun, fast, easy, and
inexpensive way to get tactile access to images. You can draw your own
raised line pictures or you can have photocopy images of textbook or
research materials quickly. To learn more visit
http://sensationalbooks.com/
"Whole Community Conversation" for Aging and Disabled Population
>From the Editor: We have been asked by Gary Van Dorn, our Mile High Chapter
President, to carry the following announcement. Here it is.
The Denver's Office Emergency Management and Homeland Security invites you
to the "Whole Community Conversation" for Aging and Disabled Population
Whole Community Preparedness Program.
The Denver Office of Emergency Management will be hosting a series of
community conversations during August and September. These conversations are
intended to gather input from various populations in our community to find
out how we can better work together to build a resilient community. We will
be holding meetings with our faith based organizations, our aging and people
with disabilities and our long term health care facilities to identify what
we need from each other to create a better prepared community.
During these discussions, we want to find out what these different groups
need from our office to be better prepared for emergency situations. We are
also interested in finding out how these groups can help during an emergency
and what preparedness activities they are already doing.
We recognize your importance in helping during an emergency. Please consider
attending one of the two sessions that we are hosting for our aging and
disabled populations. We will be holding the same program twice, once in the
morning on August 21st and again in the afternoon on August 23rd.
Please register to attend at www.denvergov.org/oem .
Location: Denver Police District #3
1625 S. University Blvd
Denver, CO
Dates: August 21, 2012 - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
or
August 23, 2012 - 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Carolyn Bluhm at: 303-725-3084 or 720-865-7600
Carolyn.Bluhm at denvergov.org
Federation to Picket Goodwill Thrift Stores
By Scott LaBarre
>From the Editor: As we go to print we received the following from NFBCO
President Scott LaBarre. Read, join us, and change the world. Here is what
Scott says.
Greetings Fellow Federationists:
As you know, the NFB is engaged in a campaign to stop the practice of paying
workers with disabilities less than the federally mandated minimum wage. In
addition to our legislative efforts on this front, we have staged a
nationwide boycott against Goodwill Industries. This is so because Goodwill
is one of the largest, if not the largest, single entity which pays below
the minimum wage to workers with disabilities. To draw additional attention
to this matter, we are going to protest Goodwill locations across America on
August 25, 2012.
As one of the largest and proudest affiliates of the Federation, we will
join in these protests from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM on that Saturday. We have
not yet decided which locations we will target but will be announcing that
decision early the week of August 20th. It is likely that we will be
conducting informational picketing at a Colorado Springs Good will location,
and at one in Denver. Please join us at whichever location is best for you.
Come help us make a dramatic statement that we are entitled to the same
rights as anyone else. Please stay tuned to our website and email lists for
more information on the protests.
Blind Buzz
By: Buzz
>From the Editor: Blind Buzz is a column which will have announcements,
notes, vignettes, profiles, assertions, snap-shots, rumors, innuendo and
observations. Blind Buzz is solely responsible for the content. What's
happening? Blind Buzz wants to know.
Michael Massey says, "There will be a sit down dinner for Pueblo Chapter
members and their guests at the Wesleyan United Methodist Church. Chapter
President Massey says the church 85 Stanford Avenue. The dinner will take
place at 1 p.m. on Saturday October 20th. Tickets are $8. There will be a
program highlighting NFB Kernel Books. The church Men's Club will be
cooking. Please contact Michael Massey at 719-542-3419.
What is team NFB? We hear that the NFB of Colorado may be forming team NFB.
Members and friends may be running and walking in community race walk
events. This will be great for losing weight, getting fit, and raising
money. Win, win, win - Team NFB. Let us know when you get it to the
starting line. The Buzz needs to get off my, ahhhhh, couch.
PUSH water is a brand with growing popularity on the East Coast and Midwest.
The bottle will be carrying the following text: "Support Braille Literacy
for the Blind: Text "Braille" to 85944 to donate $5 to the National
Federation of the Blind. Learn more at www.nfb.org ." The money will help
fund NFB literacy programs. The product will be in the Colorado market
soon.
Power Couples:
Julie Deden, Vice President of the NFB Colorado is reportedly dating Dan
Burke. Dan is President of the NFB of Montana. Ooooh la la la.
James Gashel and Susan Kern are getting married in Denver on Sunday
September 2, 2012. Susan is a Colorado native. She has recently retired
from her position as Assistant Attorney General for the State of Hawaii.
During her tenure there she handled a number of cases important to blind
Hawaiians. In one landmark case, she represented blind vendors. She kept
the Navy from denying the Randolph-Sheppard priority for cafeteria services.
As Jim says, "Susan beat the Navy." Jim is Secretary of the National
Federation of the Blind. He is employed as Vice President of Marketing for
KNFB Reading Technologies. Jim recently attended his 45th Annual National
Convention. They both love skiing, skiing, and skiing. Along with tandem
biking, farmer's markets, and fighting the good fights. Congratulations!
Lisa Felix, an NFB-CS chapter member serving on the Board, as well as the
CO-POBC Secretary, just got married! Whom did she marry, you ask? Fellow
Federationist Everett Gavel is the lucky man. Lisa and Everett met on one of
the many list serves that the NFB offers-the Faith Talk list-nearly five
years ago. Everett has lived in Ohio, serving his local NFB chapter in that
state, for the last 14 years. He recently moved to Colorado, "To be with
Lisa, and be in the state I've long dreamed of living in," he said. Whether
he meant the state of Colorado, or the state of joy and contentment, we're
not quite sure). Lisa and Everett married on July 12, 2012, with two
long-time friends as witnesses, and their Pastor leading a ceremony held
among beautiful pine trees and a tree swing built for two. The next day,
this couple was off to a Low Vision Expo in Colorado Springs representing
the NFB-CS and CO-POBC.
Buzz has heard that Colorado State Government will be switching to Google
Apps this fall. What?! The Buzz asks, incredulously, what?! Say it ain't
so, Governor!!!! Google Apps is not accessible. How will blind employees
access information and transact business. Surely, Colorado state government
won't want to limit the ability of its blind employees by using Google Apps.
Google Apps has refused to make their product accessible. This would be a
violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the ADA. The Buzz
wonders if Colorado DVR, Colorado State Library, Colorado School for the
Deaf and Blind, and other state departments with blind employees, or
chartered to serve blind people will express concern to those in charge of
technology programs for state government. Either Google should do the right
thing, or Colorado must do the legal thing.
Congratulations to Nijat Worley! We understand that Nijat graduated from the
University of Colorado at Boulder this past May. He is now on the way to
Baltimore, where he has accepted a job at the National Center for the Blind.
He will be working in the Department of Strategic Initiatives helping to
market NFB Newsline.
How is it that you can be a blind vendor, and drive a car? And we're not
talking about some special car outfitted with special access technology.
The Buzz really wants to know. There are legally blind people in America,
and in Colorado who use special lenses, qualifying for driver's licenses,
but if you can be made to see well enough to drive a regular car, are you
really blind? I mean for all practical purposes, are you? Do you really
require any targeted programs for the rehabilitation, training, education,
and employment of the blind and vision impaired. The Buzz really wants to
know.
The Buzz has been informed by the Editor of this newsletter that he received
an email of thanks for printing the list of outdoor recreation organizations
for people with disabilities in Colorado. The email said that the list was
helpful for the athletically inclined as opposed to the athletically
reclined.
The Mile High Chapter of the NFB of Colorado has our monthly meeting on 15
August 2012. The meeting will feature a discussion of one of the NFB's
keystone banquet speeches on blindness. The 1963 banquet address
"Blindness: Handicapped or Characteristic". Please read or listen to the
speech, at http://www.nfb.org/Images/nfb/Publications/convent/blndnesh.htm
before the meeting so you are prepared to discuss the speech. You are most
welcome to attend even if you did not have an opportunity to review the
speech beforehand. Contact Gary Van Dorn, garyvdrn at msn.com with any
questions. Thank you.
The Mile High Chapter of the NFB of Colorado held their elections on 20 June
2012. The following individuals were elected:
President -- Gary Van Dorn
Vice-President -- James Gashel
Treasurer -- Karen Samuelson
Secretary -- Monique Melton
Board Member -- Wayne Marshal
Board Member -- Brenda Mosby
President Gary Van Dorn says, "I appreciate those who served last year. We
accomplished so much as a new chapter. There is more to accomplish!!!!
Thank you."
Joe Morgan is a blind entrepreneur living in Black Forest, Colorado. He has
sometimes been a member of the NFB. Joe will be traveling to the Democratic
National Convention as an elected delegate this fall.
We have the inside dope on the Colorado Springs Chapter Picnic. Forty-eight
members and friends attended. Much food was devoured. Anthony Melena and
Rebecca Felix won the three-legged race. Jessica Beecham and Nijat Worley
stumbled into second place. Almost everyone participating in the tug-of-war
won because there were several bouts, heats, ummmm, tugs. People kept
changing sides. Fortunately no children were crushed. No one went to the
hospital. Some adults did sustain bruised egos.
Buzz wonders, do you read Imagineering our Future? It's the newsletter from
the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, edited by the NFBJI
Executive Director, Marc Riccobono. It often has some very cool stuff.
Here is a neat item found in the July issue.
In May, the NFB Jernigan Institute, in partnership with the Smith-Kettlewell
Video Description Research and Development Center, hosted the first-ever
video description professional development workshop. Nine participants
received training in video description at this inaugural workshop. The
primary instructor was Rick Boggs, a blind professional currently working in
this field. Rick and his team spent five days instructing participants. The
history of audio description, the ten principles of description, and the
quality-control process were just a few of the topics covered. At the
conclusion of the seminar, participants received their certification as
Description Quality Specialists. In addition to the course content,
participants had the opportunity to take part in several confidence-building
activities such as grilling and running the chainsaw, which have become a
tradition for visitors to the Jernigan Institute.
Buzz takes note of the emphasis on youth in this newsletter, but what about
our seniors? I see by the Colorado Center for the Blind May/June Newsletter
that seniors are still in charge. Here is what I have stolen from that
newsletter.
On May 22nd five women and one man came together to attend our residential
Seniors in Charge program. They came from all over Colorado, Texas and Ohio.
The purpose of this program is to teach our seniors that being blind does
not need to stop them from handling all aspects of their lives. We also
want to show our students that they can continue to have very enjoyable and
exciting adventures. Our students ranged in age from 55 to 81. They lived
in our student apartments so that they would have the full experience of
cooking and cleaning but mostly the time to share stories with their peers.
Too often, seniors feel that others do not understand what they are dealing
with. This intensive program gives them the opportunity to talk about their
blindness openly and to know that others understand.
Zubie from Meeker, Colorado knows that she can again use her own power tools
in order to remodel her home. She worked in our shop and was ecstatic to
cut wood on the table saw and learned that she does not have to see in order
to do this. Geraldine told us that she learned how to swim at age 72 and
now at 77 she knows that she can learn how to be an active blind person.
Karen told us that she feels as if she finally fits somewhere. All students
traveled into the Center on the city bus, they prepared delicious meals,
learned how to grill, used speech on the computer and picked up some Braille
skills.
At the culmination of this program on Friday, May 25th, we came together
with their families to talk about being blind. One of the family members
expressed through many tears how thankful she is that her mother had this
opportunity. She realizes that being blind is not a tragedy now, and that
her mom will be fine. A few days with positive people have a tremendous
impact on each student. Every time we have this program we are all
enriched.
Senior groups are available weekly. For more information, please call
Duncan Larsen at 303-778-1130 extension 226.
Eyecycle is having their FIRST fundraiser August 24th at the Denver Athletic
Club from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. It is a casual wine tasting and culinary
delight along with a silent auction. The silent auction contains many fun
and useful items including VIP tickets to the USA Pro Cycling Challenge to
watch the exciting Time Trial in Denver from the best viewing spot, hot air
balloon rides or restaurant certificates plus many other great items. Some
of you may know the good things that Eyecycle is doing to give blind and
visually impaired persons the opportunity to ride on tandem bicycles with
sighted captains so they can enjoy the wonderful benefits of bicycling. You
can help Eyecycle continue to do this. Please come to this fun event. Tax
deductible tickets at $40.00 each can be purchased at
www.eyecyclecolorado.org . If you cannot come, you can also make a donation
at that site. Please spread the word!!!
That's the Buzz this month.
Special thanks to Lisa Bonderson, Julie Hunter, and Lorinda Riddle for
organization, support and proofreading. Errors, assumptions, or omissions
should be brought to the attention of the editor who will likely blame Blind
Buzz for any mistakes. Thanks for reading The Blind Coloradan, Summer 2012
issue.
Newsletter of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado
Vol.2 No.3
Summer 2012
Scott C. LaBarre
NFB of Colorado President
2233 W. Shepperd Avenue
Littleton, CO 80120
Phone: (303) 778-1130
slabarre at nfbco.org
Kevan Worley
Editor
1837 S. Nevada Avenue
PMB 243
Colorado Springs, CO 80905
Phone: (1-866) 543-6808
kevanworley at blindmerchants.org
National Federation of the Blind of Colorado 2012 State Convention Returns
to Boulder
The NFB of Colorado 58th Annual State Convention
When: Thursday October 25th thru Sunday October 28th
Where: Millennium Harvest House, Boulder
1345 28th Street
Boulder, CO 80302
Room rates are $85 across the board for singles, doubles, triples and quads.
For Reservations: call 800-545-6285
To reserve your room online by September 25th, go to the following link:
http://www.millenniumhotels.com/boulder
Select Group Code, under the Corp/Promo Code and enter: 1210NATFED
It is important that all who plan to attend the convention pre-register. So,
make your room reservation and register for the most important gathering of
and for the blind in Colorado this year. Of course, you may register at the
convention. Conventions cost our organization, so registrations are
essential. Register online at www.nfbco.org, or call Lisa Bonderson at
303-504-5979. Preregistration begins on September 15th and closes on
October 15th.
Pre-registration prices:
$15 Registration
$15 Friday Luncheon
$15 Saturday Luncheon
$30 Saturday Banquet
$75 Total
At the door registration prices:
$20 Registration
$20 Friday Luncheon
$20 Saturday Luncheon
$40 Saturday Banquet
$100 Total (Save $25 and pre-register.)
The Millennium Harvest House is one the finest, most enjoyable convention
facilities we have ever had. They are great hosts. We are able to
accomplish much work and hospitality, and NFB spirit at the Harvest House.
We know that the Boulder chapter is busy making plans and looks forward to
welcoming all of us. See you in Boulder!
Table of Contents:
NFB of Colorado 2012 State Convention Returns to Boulder _______________
Page 2
A Letter From the Editor ___________________________________________
Page 4
>From the Desk of the President _____________________________________
Page 5
Ringing the BELL for Braille, the 2nd Summer __________________________
Page 8
Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards __________________________________________ Page
9
Jessica at Large: The Foundation ____________________________________
Page 11
National Convention, In the View of Our Scholars _______________________
Page 13
The United States Association of Blind Athletes ________________________
Page 17
What is Audio Information Network of Colorado? _______________________
Page 18
DVR Promotes Buzogany _________________________________________ Page 19
Dining in the Dark _______________________________________________ Page
20
Happenings at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind _______________
Page 21
In the Summer Time _____________________________________________ Page
21
Three "Visually Impaired" Mice: Political Correctness Gone Too Far? _______
Page 23
Going Back to Boulder ___________________________________________ Page
24
Catch the VIBE! ________________________________________________ Page
24
Envision America _______________________________________________ Page
25
"Blind Students Get Down to Business" (Excerpt from the Braille Monitor) ___
Page 26
"Blind CU-Boulder Student Inspires Lab Changes" (Excerpt from the Colorado
Daily) _____________________________________________________________
Page 27
McGeorge Mountain Apartments __________________________________
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Educate Blind Kids Now _________________________________________
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Very Special Arts, Dynamic Buna, and Award Winning Ann ______________
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"Whole Community Conversation" for Aging and Disabled Population ______
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Federation to Picket Goodwill Thrift Stores ___________________________
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Blind Buzz ____________________________________________________ Page
35
A Letter From the Editor
Dear Reader,
You will see that this issue has a youth and education focus. We write
about the BELL program, comments from our President, news from the Colorado
School for the Deaf and Blind, report from CCB Summer Youth Programs, and an
article about our Educate Blind Kids Now Committee. This is no accident.
Education is one of the top three NFBCO priorities for 2012. The convention
set this priority at our 2011 convention. Of course, we have always had a
focus on education. This year we have been even more targeted.
All of our programs and initiatives are important. We want better public
transportation. We need to lower the rate of unemployment. We want to
recruit more members, so that they gain from the NFB. We are proud of the
work we do at our Colorado Center. We must pass federal legislation to
bring about the end of unfair wages paid to people with disabilities. We
must advocate for and develop new access technology. We care about the
people of our movement. We will keep the faith, honor the philosophy, and
do the hard work necessary to advance each of these efforts and many others.
But in keeping with our top priority this issue, and in many issues to come,
you will learn more about our concerted and determined effort to reform
education for blind kids in partnership with parents and professionals.
There are other tidbits in this issue, so read on dear reader. One tidbit
is that we are looking for an associate editor. How would you like to help
write, gather articles, review and edit articles? Here is your big chance
to be a proud part of the Blind Coloradan team! Be in touch with me, Kevan
Worley.
At Your Service,
Kevan Worley
Aggregator & Contributor
>From the Desk of the President
Greetings,
As I write this piece, many concepts strike me as quite amazing. For one,
just about a month ago, I finished my 27th National Convention. Another
remarkable occurrence is that the Summer of 2012 is almost over and my kids
are getting ready to return to school. These two events are, more or less,
the subject of this President's message.
2012 NATIONAL CONVENTION
As we concluded the 72nd Annual National Convention of the National
Federation of the Blind held in Dallas from June 30 through July 5th, I
found myself reflecting on how far we have come as a movement and how much I
have grown as an individual. When I first started attending NFB conventions
in 1986, we would often struggle to reach 1500 attendees. Now we routinely
have 2500 in attendance, even in the off years and go well over 3000 in the
better years. Substantively, our ability to effect change and our
prominence as the leading organization dealing with the affairs of the blind
have grown immeasurably since 1986. Colorado has been and remains one of
the strongest affiliates in the Federation, helping our movement move closer
to our ultimate objective of first class citizenship for our community.
This year our strength was evidenced by the fact that we were the fourth
largest affiliate in attendance, with 132 registered, and by the key roles
played by many of our members in the Convention as demonstrated through our
presence on the national agenda several times and the multitude of
leadership positions held by members of the affiliate in the various
Federation groups, committees, and divisions.
Personally, I started my journey in the Federation as a seventeen year old,
scared, national scholarship winner. Just about everyone had told me how
terrible and unreasonable Federationists were. I never suspected that I
would find such a nurturing home in the Federation where I could grow to
explore and realize my full potential. There is no doubt that the NFB is
the source of the confidence and support that has allowed me to manage a
successful business, dynamic affiliate, and a beautiful family. As I reach
the end of every Convention, I find myself thankful for what I have received
and more determined to help our Federation grow, so that others can realize
the tremendous gifts that have been bestowed upon me. This year is no
different and I am excited to carry out our work in the coming year to make
sure that we are even more capable of realizing our dream of true freedom
and independence.
2012 NFBCO BELL PROGRAMS
As I mentioned above, the summer is just about over as demonstrated by the
fact that my two young children are about ready to resume school again
starting on August 20th. However, it is still summer time and summer time
in the NFBCO means BELL Program time. This year, we ran two very successful
BELL Camps, one in Colorado Springs and one up here in the metro area.
Diane McGeorge and Michelle Chacon coordinated our efforts this year, and
the success of the two programs is undeniable. I had the privilege of
spending several hours with both camps and I left each one more determined
than ever to carry out the work of the Federation. It was so exciting to
observe these children, ranging in age from four to thirteen talking about
the meaning of independence and freedom. Each child expressed how important
literacy is to achieving freedom and independence and without Braille, blind
children cannot acquire literacy. The distinguishing factor of our BELL
Program is that the children learn from positive blind role models. I know
our future is incredibly bright because we are reaching children at a much
younger age and the net effect of our BELL camps and the youth programs we
operate at the Colorado Center for the Blind is that the blind of tomorrow
will possess much greater opportunities than those of us participating in
the main stream of life today. If we do our work right, blindness will not
be the barrier that it currently is and I am confident that we will do so.
GOODWILL PROTESTS
It seems to me that summer is not only a good time to conduct our BELL camps
but it is also a great time for a good old fashioned NFB protest. As our
readers know, we are engaged in a battle to change an old and vastly
outdated law which allows certain employers to pay workers with disabilities
less than the minimum wage. At the outset, one would think that this reform
would be easy to accomplish now that we are in the 21st Century and the view
of individuals with disabilities is supposedly much more enlightened.
However, the employers who exploit workers with disabilities by paying them
pennies per hour while the executives enjoy large, six figure salaries have
been fighting vigorously to maintain the status quo. The largest of these
employers is the nationwide network of Goodwill Industries. We are planning
to conduct informational pickets all over the nation on August 25th from
11:00 am to 1:00 pm local time in front of Goodwill thrift stores and
donation centers. We will pick a few strategic locations in Colorado and
join our brothers and sisters across the nation on the picket line. Stay
tuned to our email lists and your local chapters for details on how we will
take our message to the streets.
2012 NFBCO ANNUAL CONVENTION
As discussed elsewhere in this issue, we will be holding our 2012 NFB of
Colorado Annual Convention from October 25th through October 28th at the
Millennium Harvest House in Boulder. We will kick off the convention on
Thursday with tours of various attractions in Boulder, a history session
about the NFB of Colorado, and some leadership events. Friday will feature
the opening of the exhibit hall and our first general session followed by
breakout sessions in the afternoon with other important meetings and social
events in the evening. Saturday will follow a similar pattern with a
general session in the morning and meeting of our various divisions in the
afternoon. Saturday night will be the highlight of the Convention with our
Annual Banquet. Anil Lewis has been assigned as our national representative
and will deliver the keynote address at our banquet. We will also present
our 2012 NFBCO scholarships and conduct our fundraising auction. Anahit
LaBarre and her committee are acquiring several wonderful packages that will
help us raise money for our BELL Camps and our Scholarship Program. Sunday
will feature other inspirational programming along with our annual business
session where we elect board positions and consider resolutions. Stay tuned
to our website and email lists for more convention details as they emerge.
2012 AMAZING VACATION RAFFLE
Even though we have some incredibly talented individuals involved in this
affiliate, we cannot put on the breadth and scope of programs that we do
without the ability to finance them. We have been blessed with several
bequests in recent times but we cannot rely on that money to keep us going.
That is why we are conducting an amazing vacation raffle. A local travel
agency, eTravel Unlimited, will provide us with a $3500.00 travel
certificate that the winner of our raffle can use for any travel product
sold by the agency, such as cruises, other vacation packages, air fares,
etc. The certificate does not have to be used all at once. Raffle tickets
are $10.00 each and $20.00 will get you three tickets. Many of our members
have these tickets in hand but you can also go to our website,
www.nfbco.org, and find the raffle link on our front page. You can purchase
raffle tickets online with a credit card and the tickets will be mailed to
you. You can also fill out a form, send in your check, and then the tickets
will be mailed. I need everyone to email all of their contacts, friends,
family, business associates, school chums, everyone, and direct them to our
website to participate in this raffle. Among our several hundred members, I
can only imagine that we have several thousand contacts. The potential for
this raffle is huge. Please help! Proceeds from the raffle will help fund
the BELL camps and Scholarship Program. The winner of the raffle need not
be present to win and the drawing will take place at our Annual Banquet on
October 27th in Boulder.
CONCLUSION
As I conclude this message, I must say what an honor and privilege it is to
serve as your President. We have accomplished so much together but we all
know that there is so much work left to do. Together, we will make this a
better world for all of us. I wish each and everyone one of you a happy
conclusion to the summer and I look forward to the wonderful fall ahead.
Yours in Federationism,
Scott C. LaBarre, Esq.
NFB of Colorado President
Ringing the BELL for Braille, The 2nd Summer
By Diane McGeorge
>From the Editor: Diane McGeorge took on the responsibility of coordinating
our BELL program again this summer. Here is what she says.
Another successful year completed for the NFB of Colorado BELL program.
Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning, BELL, broke new ground this
year by adding a second program in Colorado Springs. And what a success it
was! We had the opportunity to hire Marty Rahn, a very busy and competent
TVI teacher from the Greeley area. Marty has been an active member in NFBCO
for years now and stepped up to the plate for our Colorado Springs BELL
program. She is an experienced TVI serving a number of school districts in
her part of the state, and her creativity and great spirit enriched our
program. Michelle Chacon played a key role as she always does in any
program she takes on. She worked in the Colorado Springs program for the
first week, then came back to Denver to get the Metro area program going,
and continued to teach there for two more weeks. After having worked for
CCB in Confidence Camp for two weeks in June, her dedication to the blind
children in our state is beyond compare.
A huge thanks goes to CSDB for sharing their space with us to hold our two
week program. They generously gave us classroom space and places for Marty
and Michelle to stay while they were there.
If I start trying to thank volunteers individually, I will no doubt
embarrass myself, so please just let me say that we had wonderful volunteers
to help with the program. We couldn't have done it without them. Our
growing Colorado Springs Chapter really stepped up to the plate.
We served six children in the Springs, and nine children in the metro area.
We had a family that lives in Craig who arranged for their child, Brayden,
to attend the program. Isadora, Brayden's cousin, and Quinita, a student at
CSDB, were instrumental in making the program a huge success. Isadora wants
to be a teacher of blind children. She is starting out with all the right
attitudes. Quinita is terrific. Her role modeling for the kids couldn't
have been better. So hats off to those two very special young women.
The Metro area welcomed our program back to Westminister at the Rocky
Mountain MS Center. We had nine kids in that program, and what a time they
had! Both programs had some wonderful field trips to museums, Cici's pizza
(which was a real favorite), and with the heat, lots of swimming. If you
think all they did at Cici's pizza was eat, think again. They got to
investigate the kitchens, and make their own pizza. It was a big hit. The
tactile art museum in Colorado Springs and the Children's Museum in Denver
also ranked high on the favorites list.
Braille was a part of every activity. What did they do? Keep a journal
every day about their activities; write thank-you cards to the hosts of the
field trips; read Braille books; and learn how important Braille is in their
everyday lives. We were fortunate to have Eddie Culp and Amelia Dickerson
once again this year as part of our Westminister program. The kids
thoroughly enjoyed Ann Cunningham's art and drawing with her amazing
blackboard.
Each program ended with a program for parents and guests. Colorado Springs
had a song about BELL, and Denver had a Hokey Pokey Braille song and dance
"you put your dot one in . you put your dot two out . your put your dot
three in and ya shake 'em all about .. that's what it's all about it." Each
child received a certificate of accomplishment which they certainly
deserved.
We have lots of pictures of activities we will be sharing with you
throughout the year. All of our parents were terrific, helping with driving
and taking pictures. You can look forward to a PowerPoint in the Colorado
Parents of Blind Children state newsletter.
Braille Enrichment Learning and Literacy, that is the National Federation of
the Blind award winning BELL program. That's no hokey pokey. That's what
it's all about.
Dr. Jacob Bolotin Awards
By James Gashel
>From the Editor: James Gashel serves as Secretary of the National Federation
of the Blind. He also chairs the Dr. Jacob Bolotin award committee. This
year National Federation of the Blind of Colorado was honored to be
presented with not one, but two Bolotin awards. Mr. Gashel presented these
awards on Thursday afternoon, July 5, 2012 from the platform in front of the
2400 delegates at our national convention in Dallas. The award is
prestigious. It brings with it a cash award to support the programs, or
individuals recognized. It is coveted. Here is what James Gashel said,
when recognizing our outstanding work in Colorado.
For our first recipient, representing organizations of excellence, we are
recognizing a particular program led by blind adults to provide
opportunities of special significance for blind youth. Although the program
being recognized has a single name and mission, ten recipients are sharing
this award. The program they represent is the Braille Enrichment for
Literacy and Learning (BELL) Program with a total award of thirty thousand
dollars. Each organization conducting the BELL program underway in ten
separate states in 2012 will receive three thousand dollars given in
recognition of outstanding leadership to make the program possible.
First launched in the summer of 2008 by the NFB of Maryland, the BELL
program has reached a milestone in 2012 with ten states participating and
serving students at fourteen different sites. The recipients we honor today
are state affiliates of the NFB in Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland,
Massachusetts, Nebraska, North Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. Because
of the initiative of these state affiliates, children with low vision will
learn that being blind and reading Braille is a respectable way to live.
Using mentorship as an NFB strength, the BELL program is based on
interaction between blind students and blind role models. Throughout the
day during the program students ring a bell to celebrate their
accomplishments. In the beginning the adults recognize the students'
accomplishments and remind them to ring the bell, but by the end of the
program students are excited to ring the bell on their own with each
success. Students ring the bell when they successfully identify Braille
letters for the first time, learn Braille contractions, use canes to travel
independently, and realize that, by using alternative techniques, blind
people can do the same things sighted people do.
Parent training is also emphasized in the curriculum. Parents are children's
first teachers. Ensuring that parents of blind children have a positive
understanding of blindness significantly increases the success of their
blind children.
When you think of reaching out to blind youth and helping them to achieve
excellence in their lives, and helping parents to have high expectations for
their children to achieve standards of excellence, think of the BELL
program. That is what James Gashel said about the unique and important work
of ten affiliates. As always Colorado is one of the affiliates leading the
way and ringing bells of freedom.
The final Bolotin award for 2012 was also in recognition of work done in
Colorado. Our very own, artist in residence and tactile teacher
extraordinaire was recognized for her outstanding service. Here is what he
said.
Now for our fifth and final recipient, representing sighted individuals with
visionary enlightenment and a genuine understanding of blindness, we
recognize Ann Cunningham with an award of five thousand dollars.
The view that blind people cannot enjoy or create visually appealing
artistic works is one of the last bastions of discrimination we face. In
fact, many well intentioned programs can be found which offer special
opportunities to the blind in art appreciation, but note the operative
word-special-when special is usually just another word for separate.
Specializing as a tactile artist, Ann Cunningham first started to teach art
classes at the Colorado Center for the Blind, beginning in 1997. Her
classes include stone carving, sculpting, tactile mapping, painting,
drawing, and more. Ann routinely travels with students to gardens, art
galleries, and museums, helping them learn that enjoyment and creation of
artistic works is a reasonable and realistic expectation for people who are
blind. More than anyone, Ann has become a mentor and teacher for blind
artists throughout the country, encouraging them to prove their skills,
often when others are discouraging them. Ann has even provided training for
sighted professional artists, sharing her nonvisual techniques for making
art fun, creative, and accessible to all blind students. Her recent
invention of the Sensational BlackBoard allows blind students to create and
understand maps, diagrams, and other graphics. This is a low-cost tool to
make such drawings fully accessible to blind people.
When you think of a can do spirit and creative problem solving, tearing down
barriers and surmounting obstacles, just saying "yes," when conventional
wisdom says "no," think of Ann Cunningham.
Jessica At Large: The Foundation
By Jessica Beecham
>From the Editor: In the last issue we introduced you to Jessica Beecham. We
are proud to have Jessica at work organizing chapters and promoting the work
of our affiliate. She is imaginative and energetic. We will be running a
regular column written by Jessica. I am currently calling this column
"Jessica At Large". She will be at large, roaming the state to help us
change what it means to be blind. Here is Jessica Beecham.
Boy, has it been a busy few months in Colorado At Large! From training in
Baltimore to building databases to designing programs and everything in
between, lots of time and energy has gone into building the NFB of Colorado
so that we reach our full potential!
After arriving in Colorado, one of the first tasks was to receive training
from the amazing affiliate action staff at the National Federation of the
Blind's National Center in Baltimore Maryland. Spending the week learning
from NFB luminaries was inspiring and insightful. Returning to Colorado
with a head full of knowledge, tons of lists for recruitment purposes, and
lots of material to use on the job, it was time to lay the foundation for
growth.
Locating potential new members as well as those organizations and
individuals who could serve as dear friends to the Federation is vital for
the growth and sustainability of our organization. Utilizing the lists from
NFB National Center including White Cane, Future Reflections, Braille
Monitor, Early Explorers, Youth Slam, and free books as well as our Colorado
state database, it was easy to build a comprehensive database that allows
easy access to potential members and friends. Another database was created
for the student division which includes contact information for each
University, including the disability service contact person whenever
possible. This will allow the students division to widely promote their
division, the NFB of Colorado scholarship program, and the student seminars
and meetings that they regularly conduct.
Since social media has become such a powerful tool in both one-to-one
communication as well as getting the word out about organizations,
activities, and ideas, it is an imperative tool for organizational growth.
The NFB of Colorado now has an active Facebook page so like us by searching
National Federation of the Blind of Colorado NFB CO. We also have a Twitter
account and you can follow us by using @nfbco. In addition to Facebook and
Twitter, NFBCO has started a blog which we update at least weekly. To find
out about the latest happenings in the NFB of Colorado, check out our blog
posts at http://nfbco.blogspot.com. If you have any comments or suggestions
regarding ways in which we could more efficiently and effectively utilize
our social media to generate interest and membership please contact Jessica
Beecham. So far we have been able to get the word out about our AMAZING
VACATION TRAVEL RAFFLE, the boycott of Goodwill Industries, our sincere
congratulations to Cody Bair for his National Federation of the Blind
national scholarship award, the At Large chapter, and happenings in our
Colorado NFB chapters.
In May, we conducted the first meeting of our At Large chapter which is a
chapter of the NFBCO which meets via conference call on the fourth Tuesday
of each month at 7:00PM. The At Large chapter is meant for individuals who
live too far away or have schedule conflicts that prevent them from
attending in person chapter meetings. To join the At Large chapter for our
next meeting call 619-326-2700 and enter access code 3566475#. To receive
the most up to date information about our At Large chapter meetings and
other information about NFBCO please visit our website at www.nfbco.org,
contact Jessica Beecham, sign up for Colorado Talk, or stay tuned to any of
our social media outlets. During the first At Large chapter meeting we
discussed the National Federation of the Blind and its impact on the lives
of America's blind. There were twelve participants but only 6 of whom were
not special guests on the call. During the second meeting we discussed the
state divisions and had 15 participants, only 4 of whom were special guests
on the call. This means that our participant count (those who are potential
members) almost doubled. Our goal is to see our At Large chapter thrive
until it is as large as the Denver Chapter and we are off to an excellent
start. We want to utilize the membership of the At Large Chapter to start
new in person chapters. We are already beginning to formulate plans for in
person chapters so stay tuned for more information on Federation growth in
Colorado.
Our Colorado chapters are doing some really awesome things across the state.
The Pueblo chapter is now contributing money to assist with Braille writer
repair for individuals in the community. The Colorado Springs chapter is
working diligently to communicate with their city council about proposed
cuts to public transportation and is participating in a number of community
outreach events. The Mile High chapter is having a professional
photographer at their next meeting so that they can contribute some great
shots to our website and other materials that NFBCO prints and is working on
planning a poker tournament in the fall. The Denver chapter had their
summer picnic in July and graciously opened their doors to the summer
students and staff from the Colorado Center for the Blind youth program.
The Boulder chapter is busily working to plan aspects of our state
convention. The Greeley chapter is hustling and bustling with yard sales
and summer picnics. As you can see each of our chapters is staying busy and
working hard to make a difference!
These are just a few of the summer happenings, and let me tell you, there
are BIG plans in the works. From the launch of a mentoring program for
high-school students, to community advertisement, the NFB of Colorado has a
lot more excitement in store. Keep reading the Blind Coloradan, join our
social media outlets, sign up for Colorado Talk, contact Jessica Beecham at
jbeecham at cocenter.org or 303-778-1130 extension 223 for in-depth details,
sign up for NewsLine and check out the Colorado Information Station, and
call the NFBCO number 303-778-1130 extension 302 to keep up with the latest
information about the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado!
National Convention, In the View of Our Scholars
By Scholarship Winners
>From the Editor: Each year our National Federation of the Blind of Colorado
scholarship winners are also given a trip to our National Convention. This
is in addition to the cash award they will receive at the State Convention
this October. For some of these scholars it is the first time they have
attended the National Convention. We asked them to provide their thoughts.
Here are some prospectives from five of our winning students. Our first
essay comes from our state's national scholarship recipient for 2012. He
was awarded a scholarship from our affiliate in 2011.
Cody Bair
2012 National Scholarship Winner and NFBCO Scholarship Finalist.
Recipient of 2011 NFBCO Scholarship.
Greeley, Colorado
Sophomore at the University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, Colorado,
majoring in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting
My second national convention experience was extremely different from my
first. While at my first convention I was busy soaking up the NFB
philosophy and learning alternative methods for achieving success in
college. At this year's convention I had the opportunity to connect with,
and be mentored by, numerous Federation leaders. These leaders have
significantly impacted my opinion of what it means to be a leader in the
Federation. For example: I noticed that all of these leaders looked at the
Federation as a whole instead of separate affiliates, divisions, and/or
chapters. These mentors also presented me with numerous nonconventional
ideas for recruiting new members, which had been successful for them in the
past. In addition to being mentored by Federation leaders, I also had the
opportunity to participate in many of the National Association of Blind
Students(NABS) events, as well as, connect with the NABS leadership. As a
result of conversing with them, I was given many ideas for recruitment and
outreach projects for state student divisions, as well as, which projects
and methods have historically not worked well. I strongly believe that the
mentoring I have received at this year's convention will make me a more
valuable asset to the National Federation of the Blind.
Savanah Baker
2012 NFBCO Scholarship Finalist
Broomfield, Colorado
Freshman at Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska, majoring in English and
Spanish.
The National Federation of the Blind of Colorado recently gave me the
experience of a lifetime. After applying for the NFBCO state scholarship, I
waited eagerly to see if I would be one of the recipients. Once I got the
call and was told I was a finalist, I thought it couldn't get any better
than this. However, I was wrong. Along with the scholarship, I had a
chance to go to the NFB National Convention in Dallas, Texas.
The Convention was a six-day experience that I will never forget. I learned
so many useful new tips about being a self-advocate and asserting my
independence. Going blind has always frightened me, but after meeting
thousands of successful blind business men and women, I have come to realize
nothing can stop me from achieving my goals except myself. I feel more
confident as I head off to college and I couldn't have done it without the
NFB and all the wonderful mentors I had at the convention. I am so grateful
for the experience I had and for the scholarship that will allow me to have
many more equally amazing experiences.
Dora Lopez
2012 NFBCO Scholarship Finalist
Greeley, Colorado
Sophomore at Aims Community College, Greeley, Colorado, majoring in
Rehabilitation Counseling.
Two years ago, I attended my first NFB convention. Ever since, I have found
myself attending the annual conference each year. The experience this year
has been the best. I was fortunate to attend with the Colorado Center for
The Blind as a summer employee. Wonderful moments and people, who I have
grown to care for, made this experience an unforgettable one. From
dress-shopping to some last minute packing, somehow everything made perfect
sense. The annual convention is something that I have made a part of my
life. An event I look forward to as the summer approaches. The diverse
people who make the conventions interesting, the inspirational speakers
whose passion keeps the NFB spirit alive, and the feeling of belonging that
I find, are all emotions and experiences that without question keep me
coming back year after year. Perhaps it's the realization that in order to
make progress people have to work together and it is only until we learn to
get along and work as a team; only then will we see change. The NFB
philosophy enforces this truth. I have been granted many opportunities that
without a doubt have enriched my life. However, I have learned that not one
of my accomplishments would have been as meaningful, had I not taken a risk;
knowing that I could succeed and as easily fail. The opportunities are
everywhere, and thanks to the NFB they are at a closer reach. Finally,
having the honor of being a 2012 state scholarship finalist has been a great
honor.
Kylene Quigley Lima
2012 NFBCO Scholarship Finalist
Greeley, Colorado
Graduate Student at the Colorado School of Public Health, University of
Colorado in Denver, Colorado, working on her Master's Degree in Public
Health.
My first Convention, how exciting! Although I was less excited about
missing my daughter's ninth birthday and leaving my other, more handsome
half behind. However, as a Colorado scholarship recipient, I was honored to
attend. In preparation for the week ahead I focused on the amazing
opportunity I was facing in being surrounded by like-minded blind
individuals. Actually, in all honesty, I did not know much of anything about
what the Federation stood for. I knew I would be surrounded by a large
concentration of blind people. This meant that for one week I was not the
odd one out, the minority, or the "special" one. Let me go back a few years,
actually twenty-four years. To the surprise of my entire family my vision
deteriorated when I was six as a result of Stargardts. Regardless of my
destiny as a blind person growing up in a world prior to the ADA my family
instilled one simple, and yet empowering statement in me. My family would
tell me, "Kylene, you can do anything and don't let anyone tell you
differently." Since I was an impressionable six year old, I believed
everything I was told and this statement became what I lived by.
Now let's fast-forward to June 29th, 2012 to the Hilton Anatole lobby in
Dallas, Texas. The sound of the canes reverberated throughout the massive
hotel atrium emulating an off tempo tap dance. Lisa Bonderson- who had
escorted myself and another scholar from Denver, handed me my room key and
said that we will be in touch later on in the day. With bright eyes and a
huge smile I took my key not giving any indication of what was really going
on inside. I thought to myself, "Aren't you going to help me find my room.?"
As a wave of panic rushed over me I started to question what I got myself
into. Not only did I need to find my room, but I was also starving. It was
at this point in which I realized how independent I thought I was and how
comfortably dependent I had become. After frustratingly finding my room I
set out to find food. I wondered around the lobby of the hotel with no
success of food when I found myself tucked away in a hallway pretending to
observe the display of statues mounted behind glass as I wiped away the rush
of tears. I was brought up believing I can do anything. I truly did believe
that I could do anything. I even told all of the naysayers throughout my
life that I could do anything. Was I wrong? I am a strong, normally
confident, and successful person and yet, I felt scared and defeated.
Luckily, my wonderfully encouraging husband was there- all be it thousands
of miles away, to remind me that I can do it. He calmly told me to draw on
my training and that I was in the perfect place to be comfortable with my
blindness and who I am. I dusted off my bruised ego and found some much
needed food.
Over the following week I found my confidence soar. I stepped out
of my OCD way of habitual living and challenged myself to be uncomfortable.
There were lots of people around to offer help. That week I received a
reality check. I was humbled by the work of so many powerfully successful
blind individuals. I was honored to hear their experiences and efforts on
behalf of blind people everywhere. I felt true admiration for so many
within the Federation. I took this reality check and deposited it into my
life's savings, so that I can always draw upon it when I need. I know I have
lots more work to do for myself and for my fellow blind family. I will
always be thankful to the NFB of CO for providing me with the opportunity of
attending the Convention to learn invaluable life lessons as a blind
individual and, more importantly, intrapersonal lessons.
We also congratulate Jami Meyers. She was awarded a scholarship to attend
national convention.
Jami Meyers
2012 NFBCO and National Convention Scholarship Recipient
Colorado Springs, CO
Ashford University, working on her Master's Degree in Counseling.
My experience from the 2012 NFB National Convention was life changing. I am
so blessed and honored to have been granted this opportunity that I will
carry with me for a lifetime! Throughout the week in Dallas, I was inspired
in so many ways by hearing stories, being educated, and seeing such a strong
and determined group of people, who despite visual impairment have fulfilled
dreams as high as the sky can reach. I was lucky to meet some fantastic
people from all over the country! I had amazing mentors that were so helpful
in providing me with support, advice, and guidance. I was lucky enough to
have a wonderful roommate, who will now be a friend for life! I also enjoyed
bonding with others from the Colorado Springs and Denver chapters, getting
to know them better. I am so appreciative of the gift I was given in
attending the National Convention! I am also excited to be a proud member
of the Colorado Springs NFB chapter, and look forward to meeting more
inspiring people, hearing more motivating stories, and being up to date on
information and technology. Thank you all so much for this opportunity, and
I can't wait to attend my next NFB National Convention!
The United States Association of Blind Athletes
By Lacey Markle, Military Sport Program Assistant, USABA
>From the Editor: From time to time we carry updates from our friends at
USABA. Here is the latest.
The United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) recently hired a
Membership and Outreach Coordinator, Matt Simpson. The target goal for this
new position is to increase sports and physical activity opportunities to
students who are blind and visually impaired in Colorado by offering
goalball, swimming, tandem cycling, track & field, judo and rowing programs.
Nearly 70 percent of students who are blind and visually impaired do not
participate in even a limited physical education curriculum. The barriers
that blind and visually impaired youth face are numerous and primarily the
consequences of moving their education from residential schools, where
physical educators with blindness knowledge deliver specialized services in
relatively small classes, to public schools where educators may have less
knowledge, time and resources to apply to students who are visually
impaired. USABA wants to break down these barriers, our state has
approximately 850 blind and visually impaired students and USABA would like
to have an impact in each of their lives. Matt will reach out to orientation
and mobility instructors (O&M) and teachers of the blind and visually
impaired (TVIs) to reach this goal. USABA is working with the Colorado
Department of Education to identify these teachers and work with them in
getting community based programs started in their area. Currently, USABA is
starting the initiative by contacting all teachers in hopes of gaining an
interest for when programs around Colorado start. USABA's Executive
Director, Mark Lucas, said, " We want to reach out to all O&M and TVI's to
try and get a better understanding of their students interests and what
resources are available to them in order to create a program that will be
sustainable and successful," he continued to say, "Matt will be a great
asset to our organization. It is exciting to have an athlete working to
promote our mission and in alignment with our strategic plan, reach our
vision of becoming the nation's leading resource for providing sport and
physical activity across the United States."
Sports and physical fitness are extremely important for students who are
blind and visually impaired not only to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but to
promote independence, increase self-esteem, learn life skills and in some
cases bringing students who are blind and visually impaired together with
sighted students. Studies show that the benefits of sports and recreation
continue from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood. A recent
survey of USABA members revealed that not only do participants benefit
academically from their involvement in sports during elementary and high
school, but 57 percent of USABA members continued on to higher education to
pursue a college degree, which is more than double the national average of
23 percent for their visually impaired peers.
"I am excited to be here and promote sports for people who are blind and
visually impaired. It is great to be able to represent USABA athletes and
bring their perspective to this organization," said Simpson. This program is
expected to start in the fall by hosting various sports programs throughout
Colorado.
What is Audio Information Network of Colorado?
By Kim Ann Wardlow
>From the Editor: Most of our readers are very familiar with and regularly
use our NFB Newsline system. Many of our readers also benefit from the
Audio Information Network of Colorado. However, I am often asked about
these access systems. One of our active members, David Dawson, founded and
continues to serve as Executive Director of AINC. He has demonstrated this
robust service at many of our state conventions. However, in this issue we
thought we would give you another glimpse at the services you can access
through AINC. Here is what Kim Ann Wardlow, Director of Marketing for AINC,
has to say about their services.
AINC provides audio access throughout Colorado to newspapers (nearly 100
local papers), ad circulars, magazines, and other ink print materials
through three regional broadcasts
The Audio Information Network of Colorado (AINC) provides services that
blind, visually impaired, and print disabled individuals may use throughout
their lives. Children's programming is available in English and Spanish.
It includes magazines, books, and stories recorded by a professional story
teller. As children advance through school they may use the newspapers,
science, travel, and other programs for school assignments. Young adults
transitioning to post-secondary education or the work place may find
employment information, grocery ads, and discount store ads helpful. Older
adults often find that AINC services help them maintain independence and
stay connected to their community.
AINC is in its 22nd year of serving Colorado residents. The non-profit was
founded by David Dawson under its original name of Radio Reading Service of
the Rockies (RRSR). Its mission is to provide audio access to ink print
materials not otherwise available to Colorado's blind, visually impaired,
and print disabled residents.
Programming is broadcast 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Listeners have
independent access to nearly 100 Colorado newspapers; grocery/discount ads;
magazines; and other local publications. Three regional broadcasts are
produced to maximize the number of local publications that can be read. The
three regions are Denver Metro/Northeastern Colorado, Colorado
Springs/Pueblo/Southeastern Colorado, and Grand Junction/Western
Slope/Southwestern Colorado. In addition to the newspapers from the urban
areas of each region, AINC also includes suburban papers like the Highlands
Ranch Herald and Arvada Sentinel; rural papers like the Limon Leader,
Ranchland News, Burlington Record, and Cortez Journal; and others like High
Country News, La Voz, Indian County News, Intermountain Jewish News, and
Space Guardian. All publications are read and recorded by volunteers.
Rocky Mountain PBS transmits AINC's three regional broadcasts. AINC
provides pre-tuned receivers that pick up this signal. There are two
telephone options - calling the office number to connect to the broadcast or
for more flexibility using the Information-On-Demand System. To try a demo
of the IOD system dial 303-443-2005 or toll free 877-443-2005 then enter
7777 when asked for a subscriber number. This will give you five minutes to
try the system. AINC's website has sample programming, live streaming,
Podcasting, and online registration capabilities. Speakerphones and MP3
players are provided upon request. All services and equipment are provided
at no cost to listeners. For more information call 303-786-7777 /
877-443-2001 or go to www.aincolorado.org.
DVR Promotes Buzogany
>From the Editor: As readers of the Blind Coloradan may recall Susan
Schierkolk retired from her position as Colorado Division of Vocational
Rehabilitation, Programs and Program Development Manager last winter. This
statewide coordination and development position oversees a number of
programs important to the blind of Colorado. Mrs. Schierkolk was
imaginative, committed, professional, and steady.
In April Mr. Buzogany was promoted to fill this vacant position. Rob
Buzogany received his Master's degree in 1992, in the field of
Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education from the University of
Wisconsin - Madison, Wisconsin. Mr. Buzogany has worked for over 12 years as
a rehabilitation counselor for nonprofit, for profit and state government
agencies. For the past 6 years Mr. Buzogany has been a field supervisor for
the State of Colorado, Department of Human Services, Division of Vocational
Rehabilitation (DVR). In April of 2012, DVR promoted Rob to the Programs and
Program Development Manager. In this position Mr. Buzogany manages statewide
programs including the Independent Living Centers programs, the Benefit
Offset National Demonstration program, the Traumatic Brain Injury Program,
and the Business Enterprise Program. Mr. Buzogany has benefited from the
mentoring of Dr. Ken Schmidt and Susan Schierkolk in recent years. We are
confident that he will provide excellent management and leadership in the
position. The blind of Colorado expect much, and we will be watching.
Dining In the Dark
>From The Editor: In the Spring Issue of the Blind Coloradan we featured
perspectives on the Dining in the Dark phenomena. At the 2012 National
Convention there was a resolution about the matter presented by a number of
the members of our affiliate. This resolution is a bold policy statement.
It passed unanimously. Here it is.
Resolution 2012-04
Regarding Dining in the Dark
WHEREAS, the real problem of blindness is not the loss of
eyesight but the widespread public misconception that the blind are not
equal to the sighted in society; and
WHEREAS, the National Federation of the Blind categorically
rejects the myth that the blind are not equal to the sighted; and
WHEREAS, programs of the National Federation of the Blind
teach and promote a positive understanding of blindness, that the blind are
normal and equal members of society, and that blindness does not mean
inferiority; and
WHEREAS, an activity known as "dining in the dark" is being
promoted and used to raise funds by having sighted people experience
blindness by eating in the dark; and
WHEREAS, an article published in Time magazine entitled
"Dining in the Dark" assures would-be diners that the cook "works in a
well-lit kitchen"; and
WHEREAS, the Dining in the Dark
website--www.dininginthedark.org--states: "you will pick from a specially
prepared menu (designed by a sighted local 'star' chef)" and "In darkness
everyone becomes equal. Our opinions can't be molded by dress, mannerisms,
or makeup as none of it can be seen. You learn that without sight your
other senses become more acute"; and
WHEREAS, these statements lay bare the underlying philosophy
of dining in the dark, that sight means superior ability, and that, when
sight is removed in the dark, the blind and the sighted are equal: Now,
therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in
Convention assembled this fourth day of July, 2012, in the city of Dallas,
Texas, that this organization condemn and deplore the use of dining in the
dark in a manner that diminishes the innate normality and equal status of
the blind in society; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization pursue an
active policy of opposition to dining in the dark activities and events,
including use of media and public protests, whenever and wherever such
activities and events exploit blindness and blind people based on a
demeaning philosophy.
Happenings at the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind
>From the Editor: We enjoy carrying news from the Colorado School for the
Deaf and Blind. As the kids return to school, here is what we have to
report.
Students have returned to the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind,
expectations are high! This year the school for the blind has a principal.
In June the school hired Jennifer Langley. Principal Langley's credentials
are impeccable. Jennifer Langley, the new principal in the Adams Building
at CSDB, comes to the school as a 21 year veteran teacher. Jennifer has
taught most recently at the Washington State School for the Blind and prior
to that at the Maryland School for the Blind. Her roles have been vast.
While predominantly a Music Teacher of the Visually Impaired, Jennifer has
been the Daily Living Skills Coordinator/Assessor, WSSB's registrar,
Outreach for Washington State in the area of Music Braille and instructor of
a program entitled GOALS (Going Out and Living Successfully), a program to
teach advanced job readiness, college readiness and personal finance.
Jennifer has a passion for braille and helping make all students as
independent as they can become. She has participated on state boards to
help them understand how to assess students and create viable curricula for
all, along with keeping high expectations for her students. Jennifer is
very excited to join CSDB. Her vision and direction align perfectly with
CSDB and she looks forward to building a long relationship within the
school. We look forward to meeting her at school activities and on the
pages of upcoming Blind Coloradan Newsletters.
Homecoming will be the weekend of September 8th. You may want to check the
school's website for all of the games, celebrations, and events.
http://www.csdb.org/Default.aspx?DN=80e48029-9ab5-4b48-8ae3-e439283cdf91
In the Summer Time
By Brent Batron
>From the Editor: As readers know the Colorado Center for the Blind is an
award winning program of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado.
>From its inception, it has worked to empower our blind youth. Brent Batron
is our Director of Youth Services. He and his staff have just concluded
what sounds like another highly successful summer program. Here is what he
says.
It is hard to believe that the Colorado Centers' summer programs have
already ended. The graduation dinner and talent show was held on August
1st. It was a very nice ceremony with the students and staff welcoming
families, summer employers and guests. The students had prepared a meal for
150 people. It is always a bitter-sweet evening. It is wonderful to see
the growth in all of the students but it is hard to say good-bye to them.
After spending 8 weeks and becoming so close to each of the students, it is
hard to believe that the group of 24 students and 9 staff members will never
be all together in the same room again. The students have come so far in
their skill level, their confidence, their independence and their belief in
themselves and that blindness has simply become a characteristic and not
what defines them.
We had students from 10 states including Arizona, Colorado, California,
Missouri, New Mexico, Florida, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Arkansas and
New Jersey We also were excited about working with our international
students. We had a 15 year old from Thailand and 3 of our 6 middle school
students came to us from Mexico. The families in Mexico are now planning to
form a parents group based on NFB philosophy with an emphasis on how the
Colorado Center has benefited not only their children but their families.
The students gained skills and confidence in the core classes of Braille,
cane travel, technology and home management but they also participated in
several challenge recreation activities. These included rock climbing,
hiking, canoeing, martial arts, goal-ball, a city wide scavenger hunt,
skating, bowling and even attending the theatre to see a play. The students
also attended the NFB's national convention in Dallas which afforded them
the opportunity to travel in 2 airports and a very large convention hotel,
the Hilton Anatole, and meet people from all different walks of life and
learn about lots of new technology. They also attended the NFB of Denver's
annual picnic and they participated in all of the games including acting
like big kids playing in the bouncy castle. Another fun and educational
activity that they participated in was the 1st annual Summer Science
Seminar. Students were able to conduct various scientific experiments,
utilize accessible materials for many different sciences and learn that
blindness is not a barrier to success in science classes. The presenters
included a chemistry student at Colorado University, professors at
Metropolitan State University in Denver and a world renowned tactile artist
and author Ann Cunningham who won a Dr. Jacob Bolotin award at this years'
national convention of the National Federation of the Blind.
The Earn & Learn high school students not only gained work experience this
summer but they learned skills of interviewing, networking and resume
writing. Our students worked in several different locations all over the
Denver metro area and Boulder in many different capacities. The jobs ranged
from receptionist at the Center and the South Metro Chamber of Commerce,
ushers at the Denver Center for Performing Arts for PHAMALY's production of
"Little Shop of Horror", food service at the Federal Center, technology
assistant at the Center, working with children at the Auraria Early Learning
Center and with young blind kids in the BELL program. Two of our students
worked at the Right Step which is a therapeutic riding program where they
groomed and fed horses and even got to ride on their last day. It was an
experience that they will never forget. Another student worked with a
reporter from the Littleton Independent not only attending various meetings
and court hearings but also getting to write articles.
If you would like to receive information about year round programs for youth
and their families please contact Brent Batron at the Center 303-778-1130 x
222 or by email bbatron at cocenter.org .
Three "Visually Impaired" Mice: Political Correctness Gone Too Far?
>From the Editor: The following article is from the August 2012 E-Connector.
E-Connector is the online newsletter of the Colorado Organization of Parents
of Blind Children. Julie Hunter is the editor. Read this article and you
will see why people enjoy the E-Connector.
Since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) passed in 1990, there
seemingly has been an increase in sensitivity to terminology relating to
people with disabilities, including the use of the word "blind". A recent
newspaper cartoon depicted a book store with a children's book in the
window. The title of the book was "Three Visually Impaired Mice". The
cartoon amusingly suggests that even the title of a cherished nursery rhyme
must now be changed in order to be politically correct. Labels such as
"Sight Impaired" and "Visually Challenged" are sometimes used in place of
the word "blind". Many people seem to feel that the word "blind" is a harsh
and shameful word which needs to be avoided. It's time for those of us who
love a blind person to use the term "blind" without flinching! There is
nothing embarrassing or disgraceful about it. Being blind, whatever the
degree of vision loss, is merely a characteristic. Just as we might describe
our child as short (vertically challenged?) and blonde (pigment impaired?),
so do we need to be comfortable using the word "blind." As long as we make
sure that our children are learning the alternative techniques of blindness
so that they can compete on an equal footing in the world, then there is no
shame in being blind.
Going Back to Boulder
By Arielle Silverman
>From the Editor: Arielle Silverman is one of our most committed leaders.
Here is an invitation from the Boulder Valley Chapter.
This year the Boulder Valley chapter will be hosting our CO State Convention
and we are once again planning some fun tour activities on Thursday
afternoon.
We would like your feedback on which tour ideas sound the most fun and
interesting. Please take a few moments to fill out our poll at
www.surveymonkey.com/s/nfbco and tell us which tours you like the best!
Please complete by August 24, 2012.
Best,
Arielle Silverman, Board Member, Boulder Valley Chapter, NFB
Catch the VIBE!
By Amy Gunning
>From the Editor: Since our spring newsletter listing all manner of Colorado
resources to empower and encourage blind people in the great outdoors. We
have received much material. Amy Gunning is the Co-President of the
Visually Impaired and Blind Skiers of the Colorado Springs Community. Here
is what Amy has to say about VIBeS.
VIBeS (Visually Impaired and Blind Skiers) of the Colorado Springs
Community--is a non-profit organization originally organized for individuals
with visual impairments to have an opportunity experience snow skiing. VIBeS
has evolved into an organization that provides opportunities for year-round
outdoor recreational activities. Hiking, camping, and tandem bicycling are
the most frequently occurring activities when it isn't snow ski season.
VIBeS Board of Directors meets on a periodic basis to discuss organization
business, plan trips, and pursue fund-raising opportunities. VIBeS explores
options for increasing membership, both of individuals with visual
impairments and volunteers (who are sighted).
With snow skiing, VIBes has a formal training program for people interested
in becoming volunteer ski guides. Skiers participate in training as well to
learn the same commands that guides will utilize to ensure the safety of
both snow skiers and guides. While there is formality with respect to guide
and VIP (Visually Impaired Person) training, ski trip planning, weekend
mountain hiking trips and BBQ gatherings, many other opportunities are ad
hoc. VIBeS ad hoc activities occur when members call and/or email each other
about getting together.
The VIBeS website is www.coloradovibes.org; we have our summer newsletter
and calendar of events posted in Word and PDF formats. We'd love to have you
join our fun so please feel free to visit our website or contact us for more
information.
Current contact information is:
Amy Gunning, Co-President
Cell phone: 719-337-0161
Email: amythegun at comcast.net
Envision America
By Anna McClure
>From the Editor: Here is the most recent release from our friends at
Envision America.
En-Vision America recently released the latest in audible identification and
information assistance technology with the new i.d. mate Quest. This new
device moves beyond just bar codes, with the addition of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth,
and camera capabilities. The new features allow the user to acquire
information and identify items in several ways including Skype video, Google
database, photo object identification, and currency identification. More
wireless applications are under development. Additional inventory functions
are also included, designed specifically for blind merchants and vendors.
NABM and En-Vision America are working together to develop a training
program for vendors so that they can make the most of these applications and
see valued benefits in their work environment. For more information and
details contact En-Vision America at 800-890-1180 or visit online at
www.envisionamerica.com.
En-Vision America has valued its relationship with the National Federation
of the Blind and the National Association of Blind Merchants for many years,
from supplying snack pack bags at national convention to exhibiting at
BLAST. It is because of the dialogue and cooperation between the two groups
that specific technological advancements have been made for the i.d. mate
talking bar code scanners. In continuing this partnership, En-Vision America
recently released Quest, the latest in their i.d. mate line. Several
additions and applications for Quest were designed especially for the blind
merchant/vendor.
With new Wi-Fi/bluetooth features and an attached camera, even more ways of
identifying items and gaining information are available. Skype video is one
example of this. With a quick connection, you can have a live video feed
going to a friend to help with reading an invoice, finding a lost item on
the floor, or anything you might need help with. Currency identification
and object recognition are also available with the Wi-Fi/camera elements.
New applications are being developed and suggestions are welcomed.
In addition to the on-board database of nearly 3 million items, the user now
has access to Google's online database, increasing the total to nearly 20
million items. Items not found in the database can be added by users to a
shared file, allowing individuals to share information and help each other
to build product information.
New functions have also been added to Inventory Mode. Time and date can be
placed into records, and all information is transportable to other data
management programs.
NABM and En-Vision America plan to develop an in-depth training workshop for
i.d. mate users, so that they can learn and apply the varied applications of
Quest to their work. Stay tuned for more information on this training. In
the meantime, to learn more about Quest or to purchase yours today, contact
En-Vision America at 800-890-1180.
"Blind Students Get Down to Business" (Excerpt from the Braille Monitor)
By Terry McElhaney
>From the Editor: The following story appeared in the April 13, 2012, edition
of the Littleton, Colorado, Villager. It demonstrates the benefits that
blind students receive from working relationships between NFB adult
rehabilitation centers and their local business communities. Here it is.
Networking is a basic skill that most business people have to deal with, if
not master, on their way to success in today's business world. Facing a room
of strangers with a pocket full of business cards and a handshake is always
a little daunting for people entering the job market. Now consider the
networking scenario without the ability to see who you are networking with.
That's the challenge presented to students at the Colorado Center for the
Blind during their annual networking event in partnership with the South
Metro Denver Chamber. Last week sixty-five chamber investors and guests
gathered at the CCB's campus near Historic Downtown Littleton to give
students a real-life situation in preparation for graduation and subsequent
job search. Prior to the event Executive Director Julie Deden and the
center's Vocational Specialist Brenda Mosby prepared the business guests
with an introduction to the school and its philosophies, strategies, and
processes. The group was enlightened as to the proper way to approach a
blind person, not to be afraid of the cane, and basically to treat a blind
person the same as any sighted person. The use of "dark shades"
[sleepshades] was also presented as a tool to help persons with some sight
to learn when closing your eyes and trusting your instincts is preferable to
trusting bad vision. The philosophy at CCB is that skills are not enough.
The center takes students through a rigorous nine-month program in
preparation for a life of independence and productivity. Daily classroom
discussion of myths and fears surrounding blindness, along with exploration
of real-life encounters, help students to see blindness as a mere nuisance
rather than a tragedy. There's an eclectic mix at the center, including
international students. The program provides training in orientation and
mobility, Braille, technology and software, and home management, which
includes cooking. Their final days include planning and executing a dinner
for 50 and a drop which takes students anywhere in the greater metro Denver
area and requires them to find their way back without assistance. The
students were also prepared for the event with information on many of the
business persons whom they would soon get the opportunity to meet. Thanks to
the chamber's use of the Meetup social media site, the center had an advance
list of who would be there and some biographical information regarding many
in the group. Students with specific career goals in mind knew whom they
wanted to meet in advance and were ready with questions. The center also had
business cards printed for sharing during the event. There was obvious
apprehension as the business leaders were led into the room with the waiting
students. This quickly passed, however, as Mosby took control and
introductions were given with the help of Chamber President and CEO John
Brackney. Nods of approval could be seen as the students introduced
themselves as well as their aspirations in turn. The business people also
introduced themselves and their companies. From there organized pandemonium
broke out as the groups merged and conversations struck up between them. The
students often took the lead and with a handshake at the ready used their
keen sense of hearing and their ever-present canes to approach people and
strike up a conversation. CCB student Shanaia [Bethea] was encouraged by the
encounters. I was very nervous going into the event, but once John
[Brackney] started asking me questions, I felt much more confident. And I
even talked to a couple of people who mentioned they knew someone in
journalism and were eager to put me in touch," Shanaia said. International
student Anna [Avramenko] from the Ukraine said, "It is such a small world. I
met a woman, Linda Scott, who invited me to a luncheon where she plans to
introduce me to two women business owners--one from Russia and one from the
Ukraine. Business leaders who attended the event were equally moved by the
experience. Tricia Englebert, owner of 5280 Drug Testing, said, "This was
one of those events that I was super proud to be a part of. What an
incredible group of individuals. These students are doing amazing things in
spite of their disability. A truly humbling and perspective-changing
experience.
"Blind CU-Boulder Student Inspires Lab Changes" (Excerpt from the Colorado
Daily)
By Whitney Bryan
University of Colorado student Amelia Dickerson is used to sitting next to
her lab partner and being told how the experiment is going.
Since a car accident in high school left Dickerson blind, there are certain
activities -- such as science experiments -- that she can't do in the same
way she did before, so she sat quietly and listened as her peers did the
work.
After years of being told by classmates what lab work looked like, Dickerson
decided she was tired of being left out of the experiments.
"I knew I could do these things; I just needed to do them in a different way
than other students," Dickerson said.
Before classes started in the fall, she approached her soon-to-be chemistry
instructor, Susan Hendrickson, and asked if she would be willing to put in a
little extra time to help her participate in the lab.
"Lab helps us understand what we're reading in a practical way, and I didn't
want to miss out on that anymore," Dickerson said. "I needed to know that
she was going to work with me and help me actually participate."
Dickerson's passion inspired the general chemistry faculty members to begin
making their labs more accessible. Over the past two semesters, with
Dickerson's help, the chemistry department began incorporating new equipment
to make experiments easier for students with disabilities.
Several of the experiments require students to pour liquids into beakers and
read measurements labeled by visual markers. Hendrickson cut notches in the
glass to allow Dickerson to feel the markers.
"That only costs 25 cents per test tube," Hendrickson said. "We also bought
a textured rug at Target for $9.99 that tells her where the sink is."
Other changes were more expensive. An electronic probe system cost the
department nearly $900, though Hendrickson said it was worth every penny.
"The system allows Amelia to collect data through interchangeable probes and
then it's transferred to her computer, which can then read her the
information out loud so she can hear the results," Hendrickson said. "And
the best thing about it is that we have it now so we'll be able to use it
anytime we have a student who needs it."
Dickerson said the system allows her to take temperatures and measure pH
levels, data that she's otherwise never been able to collect.
Hendrickson said the labs are required to have benches that make equipment
accessible to students in wheelchairs, but there are no requirements to
accommodate blind students. She said in her experience, many students who
face challenges in the classroom due to disabilities "just sit back quietly
because they're too shy to do anything about it."
But Dickerson wasn't an ordinary student.
"She was determined, and her motivation is what really pushed us to put in
the extra time and effort to help her," Hendrickson said. "She made it easy
for us to want to help her."
Dickerson was so touched by the efforts that she nominated the department
for the President's Diversity Award. Hendrickson said the department won a
commendation but not the award.
Hendrickson said she hopes other departments will begin better preparing for
disabled students.
"I'm really excited to talk to other departments who might be interested in
making similar changes," she said. "All it took for us was an eager student
who was passionate about making a change and some willing faculty to help
her get there."
For Dickerson, the department's efforts resulted in more than a lesson in
chemistry.
"I feel more included and more like there are options in the natural
sciences for people with all kinds of different disabilities or struggles
that they face," Dickerson said. "It has completely changed my attitude.
"Just because you haven't seen something done before doesn't mean you can't
do it," she said. "All you need to do it try."
Catherine Kilcommons, of CU's Disability Services, said about 1,200 students
registered with the office are studying in various departments across the
campus.
She said the biology department has also been working to improve
accessibility for students through encouraging its textbook publisher to
improve its online interface
Read more:
http://www.coloradodaily.com/ci_20569066/blind-cu-boulder-student-inspires-lab-changes#ixzz23jCCtdZj
McGeorge Mountain Apartments
By Julie Deden
>From the Editor: In our spring issue we spotlighted the purchase of a
multi-family housing unit to be the residence of Colorado Center for the
Blind students. In the May issue of the Colorado Center for the Blind
newsletter, Julie Deden wrote about the dedication of the apartment complex.
Julie is the Executive Director of the CCB, this is what she said.
On May 11, the board of directors, staff and students of the Colorado Center
for the Blind, community members and friends gathered together to dedicate
our new apartment complex. Littleton Mayor Debbie Brinkman, who is a great
supporter of the Center in all ways, was on hand to cut the ribbon. The
rain did not soak our spirits but rather increased our exhilaration on this
momentous occasion. Diane McGeorge, founder of the Center and current chair
of our board of directors, told us that there are no words to express her
love for all of us and the dedication that we all have in our work with
blind people. Julie Deden, executive director of the Center, thanked Diane
and her late husband Ray for their hard work, passion and love for the
Center for, without them, we would not have the Colorado Center for the
Blind.
Educate Blind Kids Now
By Kevan Worley
>From the Editor: It is difficult for your editor to know what to say about,
well, myself when writing articles for this publication. I'm not only the
current editor, but I am often one of those charged with doing some of the
important work we do. In this article I will tell you about our 2012
Educate Blind Kids Now Initiative.
To be sure, many blind children are being educated now. Some are even
getting a good education, but many are simply not receiving the high quality
education they deserve. There are a number of reasons for this lack. We
certainly do not have all of the answers, but we can think of no other
organization which is taking a global and, we hope, a uniting approach to
the challenges faced by children, parents, and teachers in the 21st Century.
At the 2011 State Convention, this affiliate made education a top priority.
President LaBarre appointed the Educate Blind Kids Now Committee. The
committee consists of co-chair Kevan Worley. Kevan is a parent of an adult
blind child. Co-chairman is Michelle Chacon. She is an award winning
teacher of visually impaired students and a board member of NFBCO. The
committee includes such luminary thinkers and problem-solvers as Trina Boyd.
Trina is a veteran TVI and member of the NFB with a track record of
unparalleled accomplishment with a heart of service. She received much of
her formative experience at the Colorado Center for the Blind. Maryann
Migliorelli is a nontraditional university student and a former
entrepreneur. Maryann is currently the Boulder Valley Chapter President.
Bertha Guerrero is a TVI at CSDB and she is a member of the Colorado Springs
NFB Chapter. Diane McGeorge is the founder and chairman of the board of our
Colorado Center for the Blind. There is no doubt that Diane's thoughtful
vision and spirit brought true reform to the rehabilitation of the blind.
Rounding out the committee is David Dawson. He is the Executive Director of
the Audio Information Network of Colorado. He is a member of the Colorado
School for the Deaf and Blind Board of Trustees. I observe that everyone on
this committee either uses or teaches Braille. I also observe that this
committee would benefit from and be open to the addition of parents of blind
children.
The committee has had substantive meetings with officials at the University
of Northern Colorado, administrators at the Colorado School for the Deaf and
Blind, Colorado Department of Education, Lieutenant Governor Joe Garcia, and
leading state legislators. We have engaged in conversation with the National
Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute. We particularly appreciate
Tanni Anthony at the Colorado Department of Education. Her professionalism,
heart, and expertise is of great value. She has met with this committee
three times. She has provided documents and meaningful guidance.
We are happy to have begun a more healthy and communicative relationship
with CSDB. It is undeniable that over the years the relationship between
the organized blind and the school has often been one of ups and downs. We
know that on occasion there have been staff at CSDB who have not been
welcoming to the philosophy and efforts of the Federation. There have also
been numerous teachers, administrators, and care givers who have recognized
the value of the Federation and the strategic importance of our support,
advice, and advocacy. We too must recognize how our efforts can benefit
from their professionalism and experience. We must continue to build
bridges of understanding and possibility with our state's residential school
for the blind. The school lives in a world replete with challenges. They
are often the same as all educational institutions in the 21st Century.
However, the residential school for the blind also has challenges unique to
the education of blind children with which they must deal.
The committee is tackling the tough problems: how to recruit young teachers
of the visually impaired; how to enforce standards and essential Braille
competencies in a rigorous manner while not losing qualified, nurturing,
dedicated professionals; how to educate and encourage parents and teachers,
so that all vision impaired kids have the opportunity to learn and use
Braille regularly; strategies to ensure that the Colorado Division of
Vocational Rehabilitation follows the law by opening VR cases for all blind
students who are 14 years of age and older; how to ensure that blind kids
are offered equal opportunity to have online assessments and testing. It is
hard to believe that with all of the laws and advocacy from parents,
teachers, and activists there are still blind students who cannot use many
of the online assessment tools and take standardized tests alongside their
sighted peers. It is appalling and unacceptable. You can be sure that our
Educate Blind Kids Now Committee, backed by all of you, will change what it
means to be blind by demanding that our kids get access to literacy, receive
equal treatment, are offered the tools they need, leading to equality and
opportunity. We will encourage parents. With your help, we will find young
teachers. Together we will work to inform policy makers. We will create a
climate in which teachers can be empowered and be appreciated. We will do
these things with an open mind and a heart of service. Progress will be
slow, but it will be sure.
We will have a full report on our 2012 Educate Blind Kids Now Initiative at
our state convention on Friday the 26th and Saturday the 27th of October.
Plan now to attend, engage, and learn. The agenda will be online in early
October. We invite parents, teachers, those who teach the teachers,
administrators, and students of all ages to participate in our fall
statewide convention. There will be panels, interactive experiences, and
presentations, as well as, excellent opportunities to network and share. If
you have never attended, you owe it to yourself to join the fun, take part,
get the facts, and help create the change.
It has been said many times, because it's true, "our children are the
future." It is a priority of the NFB of Colorado to make that future bright.
Very Special Arts, Dynamic Buna, and Award Winning Ann
>From the Editor: We recently received the following press release. We are
delighted to publish it here. Read on, and you will see why.
VSA Colorado/Access Gallery is excited to bring you.
Leadership Spirit Opening Show
Friday, August 17, 2012
6:00pm-9:00pm
At VSA Colorado Access Gallery
909 Santa Fe, Drive, Denver, CO 80204
The works of two artists in a collaborative project showcasing the
illustrations of Andrew Morris and Buna Dahal's recently released book,
Leadership Spirit.
Buna, poet, writer, and renowned motivational speaker sought after for her
leadership workshops and trainings all across the globe, will be at the
Access Gallery signing her new book Leadership Spirit. As a child born
blind in Nepal, Buna found herself up against many obstacles, especially the
limiting beliefs of others. Choosing not to buy into it, Buna moved to the
United States at a young age, worked as a successful job trainer and coach
for the Colorado Center for the Blind, before earning her Master's Degree
and starting her own business. Recently, Buna was asked to speak at the
United Nations Convention on the importance of spiritual leadership. To
learn more go to http://www.bunadahal.com/bio.html .
The illustrations for the book were created by VSA Colorado illustrator
Andrew Morris. Andrew is a graduate of Metro State College and has been
working with VSA Colorado for 3 months. In addition to the work for the
book, Andrew will also be exhibiting some of his other work.
Also on hand this evening will be art and accessibility innovator and artist
Ann Cunningham. Ann Cunningham has been involved in the art community for
more than 30 years and her accessible fairy tales, books, and art, have been
seen and purchased all around the world. She will be showcasing her newest
product the Sensational Black Board, which offers a fun, fast, easy, and
inexpensive way to get tactile access to images. You can draw your own
raised line pictures or you can have photocopy images of textbook or
research materials quickly. To learn more visit
http://sensationalbooks.com/
"Whole Community Conversation" for Aging and Disabled Population
>From the Editor: We have been asked by Gary Van Dorn, our Mile High Chapter
President, to carry the following announcement. Here it is.
The Denver's Office Emergency Management and Homeland Security invites you
to the "Whole Community Conversation" for Aging and Disabled Population
Whole Community Preparedness Program.
The Denver Office of Emergency Management will be hosting a series of
community conversations during August and September. These conversations are
intended to gather input from various populations in our community to find
out how we can better work together to build a resilient community. We will
be holding meetings with our faith based organizations, our aging and people
with disabilities and our long term health care facilities to identify what
we need from each other to create a better prepared community.
During these discussions, we want to find out what these different groups
need from our office to be better prepared for emergency situations. We are
also interested in finding out how these groups can help during an emergency
and what preparedness activities they are already doing.
We recognize your importance in helping during an emergency. Please consider
attending one of the two sessions that we are hosting for our aging and
disabled populations. We will be holding the same program twice, once in the
morning on August 21st and again in the afternoon on August 23rd.
Please register to attend at www.denvergov.org/oem .
Location: Denver Police District #3
1625 S. University Blvd
Denver, CO
Dates: August 21, 2012 - 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
or
August 23, 2012 - 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Carolyn Bluhm at: 303-725-3084 or 720-865-7600
Carolyn.Bluhm at denvergov.org
Federation to Picket Goodwill Thrift Stores
By Scott LaBarre
>From the Editor: As we go to print we received the following from NFBCO
President Scott LaBarre. Read, join us, and change the world. Here is what
Scott says.
Greetings Fellow Federationists:
As you know, the NFB is engaged in a campaign to stop the practice of paying
workers with disabilities less than the federally mandated minimum wage. In
addition to our legislative efforts on this front, we have staged a
nationwide boycott against Goodwill Industries. This is so because Goodwill
is one of the largest, if not the largest, single entity which pays below
the minimum wage to workers with disabilities. To draw additional attention
to this matter, we are going to protest Goodwill locations across America on
August 25, 2012.
As one of the largest and proudest affiliates of the Federation, we will
join in these protests from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM on that Saturday. We have
not yet decided which locations we will target but will be announcing that
decision early the week of August 20th. It is likely that we will be
conducting informational picketing at a Colorado Springs Good will location,
and at one in Denver. Please join us at whichever location is best for you.
Come help us make a dramatic statement that we are entitled to the same
rights as anyone else. Please stay tuned to our website and email lists for
more information on the protests.
Blind Buzz
By: Buzz
>From the Editor: Blind Buzz is a column which will have announcements,
notes, vignettes, profiles, assertions, snap-shots, rumors, innuendo and
observations. Blind Buzz is solely responsible for the content. What's
happening? Blind Buzz wants to know.
Michael Massey says, "There will be a sit down dinner for Pueblo Chapter
members and their guests at the Wesleyan United Methodist Church. Chapter
President Massey says the church 85 Stanford Avenue. The dinner will take
place at 1 p.m. on Saturday October 20th. Tickets are $8. There will be a
program highlighting NFB Kernel Books. The church Men's Club will be
cooking. Please contact Michael Massey at 719-542-3419.
What is team NFB? We hear that the NFB of Colorado may be forming team NFB.
Members and friends may be running and walking in community race walk
events. This will be great for losing weight, getting fit, and raising
money. Win, win, win - Team NFB. Let us know when you get it to the
starting line. The Buzz needs to get off my, ahhhhh, couch.
PUSH water is a brand with growing popularity on the East Coast and Midwest.
The bottle will be carrying the following text: "Support Braille Literacy
for the Blind: Text "Braille" to 85944 to donate $5 to the National
Federation of the Blind. Learn more at www.nfb.org ." The money will help
fund NFB literacy programs. The product will be in the Colorado market
soon.
Power Couples:
Julie Deden, Vice President of the NFB Colorado is reportedly dating Dan
Burke. Dan is President of the NFB of Montana. Ooooh la la la.
James Gashel and Susan Kern are getting married in Denver on Sunday
September 2, 2012. Susan is a Colorado native. She has recently retired
from her position as Assistant Attorney General for the State of Hawaii.
During her tenure there she handled a number of cases important to blind
Hawaiians. In one landmark case, she represented blind vendors. She kept
the Navy from denying the Randolph-Sheppard priority for cafeteria services.
As Jim says, "Susan beat the Navy." Jim is Secretary of the National
Federation of the Blind. He is employed as Vice President of Marketing for
KNFB Reading Technologies. Jim recently attended his 45th Annual National
Convention. They both love skiing, skiing, and skiing. Along with tandem
biking, farmer's markets, and fighting the good fights. Congratulations!
Lisa Felix, an NFB-CS chapter member serving on the Board, as well as the
CO-POBC Secretary, just got married! Whom did she marry, you ask? Fellow
Federationist Everett Gavel is the lucky man. Lisa and Everett met on one of
the many list serves that the NFB offers-the Faith Talk list-nearly five
years ago. Everett has lived in Ohio, serving his local NFB chapter in that
state, for the last 14 years. He recently moved to Colorado, "To be with
Lisa, and be in the state I've long dreamed of living in," he said. Whether
he meant the state of Colorado, or the state of joy and contentment, we're
not quite sure). Lisa and Everett married on July 12, 2012, with two
long-time friends as witnesses, and their Pastor leading a ceremony held
among beautiful pine trees and a tree swing built for two. The next day,
this couple was off to a Low Vision Expo in Colorado Springs representing
the NFB-CS and CO-POBC.
Buzz has heard that Colorado State Government will be switching to Google
Apps this fall. What?! The Buzz asks, incredulously, what?! Say it ain't
so, Governor!!!! Google Apps is not accessible. How will blind employees
access information and transact business. Surely, Colorado state government
won't want to limit the ability of its blind employees by using Google Apps.
Google Apps has refused to make their product accessible. This would be a
violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the ADA. The Buzz
wonders if Colorado DVR, Colorado State Library, Colorado School for the
Deaf and Blind, and other state departments with blind employees, or
chartered to serve blind people will express concern to those in charge of
technology programs for state government. Either Google should do the right
thing, or Colorado must do the legal thing.
Congratulations to Nijat Worley! We understand that Nijat graduated from the
University of Colorado at Boulder this past May. He is now on the way to
Baltimore, where he has accepted a job at the National Center for the Blind.
He will be working in the Department of Strategic Initiatives helping to
market NFB Newsline.
How is it that you can be a blind vendor, and drive a car? And we're not
talking about some special car outfitted with special access technology.
The Buzz really wants to know. There are legally blind people in America,
and in Colorado who use special lenses, qualifying for driver's licenses,
but if you can be made to see well enough to drive a regular car, are you
really blind? I mean for all practical purposes, are you? Do you really
require any targeted programs for the rehabilitation, training, education,
and employment of the blind and vision impaired. The Buzz really wants to
know.
The Buzz has been informed by the Editor of this newsletter that he received
an email of thanks for printing the list of outdoor recreation organizations
for people with disabilities in Colorado. The email said that the list was
helpful for the athletically inclined as opposed to the athletically
reclined.
The Mile High Chapter of the NFB of Colorado has our monthly meeting on 15
August 2012. The meeting will feature a discussion of one of the NFB's
keystone banquet speeches on blindness. The 1963 banquet address
"Blindness: Handicapped or Characteristic". Please read or listen to the
speech, at http://www.nfb.org/Images/nfb/Publications/convent/blndnesh.htm
before the meeting so you are prepared to discuss the speech. You are most
welcome to attend even if you did not have an opportunity to review the
speech beforehand. Contact Gary Van Dorn, garyvdrn at msn.com with any
questions. Thank you.
The Mile High Chapter of the NFB of Colorado held their elections on 20 June
2012. The following individuals were elected:
President -- Gary Van Dorn
Vice-President -- James Gashel
Treasurer -- Karen Samuelson
Secretary -- Monique Melton
Board Member -- Wayne Marshal
Board Member -- Brenda Mosby
President Gary Van Dorn says, "I appreciate those who served last year. We
accomplished so much as a new chapter. There is more to accomplish!!!!
Thank you."
Joe Morgan is a blind entrepreneur living in Black Forest, Colorado. He has
sometimes been a member of the NFB. Joe will be traveling to the Democratic
National Convention as an elected delegate this fall.
We have the inside dope on the Colorado Springs Chapter Picnic. Forty-eight
members and friends attended. Much food was devoured. Anthony Melena and
Rebecca Felix won the three-legged race. Jessica Beecham and Nijat Worley
stumbled into second place. Almost everyone participating in the tug-of-war
won because there were several bouts, heats, ummmm, tugs. People kept
changing sides. Fortunately no children were crushed. No one went to the
hospital. Some adults did sustain bruised egos.
Buzz wonders, do you read Imagineering our Future? It's the newsletter from
the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, edited by the NFBJI
Executive Director, Marc Riccobono. It often has some very cool stuff.
Here is a neat item found in the July issue.
In May, the NFB Jernigan Institute, in partnership with the Smith-Kettlewell
Video Description Research and Development Center, hosted the first-ever
video description professional development workshop. Nine participants
received training in video description at this inaugural workshop. The
primary instructor was Rick Boggs, a blind professional currently working in
this field. Rick and his team spent five days instructing participants. The
history of audio description, the ten principles of description, and the
quality-control process were just a few of the topics covered. At the
conclusion of the seminar, participants received their certification as
Description Quality Specialists. In addition to the course content,
participants had the opportunity to take part in several confidence-building
activities such as grilling and running the chainsaw, which have become a
tradition for visitors to the Jernigan Institute.
Buzz takes note of the emphasis on youth in this newsletter, but what about
our seniors? I see by the Colorado Center for the Blind May/June Newsletter
that seniors are still in charge. Here is what I have stolen from that
newsletter.
On May 22nd five women and one man came together to attend our residential
Seniors in Charge program. They came from all over Colorado, Texas and Ohio.
The purpose of this program is to teach our seniors that being blind does
not need to stop them from handling all aspects of their lives. We also
want to show our students that they can continue to have very enjoyable and
exciting adventures. Our students ranged in age from 55 to 81. They lived
in our student apartments so that they would have the full experience of
cooking and cleaning but mostly the time to share stories with their peers.
Too often, seniors feel that others do not understand what they are dealing
with. This intensive program gives them the opportunity to talk about their
blindness openly and to know that others understand.
Zubie from Meeker, Colorado knows that she can again use her own power tools
in order to remodel her home. She worked in our shop and was ecstatic to
cut wood on the table saw and learned that she does not have to see in order
to do this. Geraldine told us that she learned how to swim at age 72 and
now at 77 she knows that she can learn how to be an active blind person.
Karen told us that she feels as if she finally fits somewhere. All students
traveled into the Center on the city bus, they prepared delicious meals,
learned how to grill, used speech on the computer and picked up some Braille
skills.
At the culmination of this program on Friday, May 25th, we came together
with their families to talk about being blind. One of the family members
expressed through many tears how thankful she is that her mother had this
opportunity. She realizes that being blind is not a tragedy now, and that
her mom will be fine. A few days with positive people have a tremendous
impact on each student. Every time we have this program we are all
enriched.
Senior groups are available weekly. For more information, please call
Duncan Larsen at 303-778-1130 extension 226.
Eyecycle is having their FIRST fundraiser August 24th at the Denver Athletic
Club from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. It is a casual wine tasting and culinary
delight along with a silent auction. The silent auction contains many fun
and useful items including VIP tickets to the USA Pro Cycling Challenge to
watch the exciting Time Trial in Denver from the best viewing spot, hot air
balloon rides or restaurant certificates plus many other great items. Some
of you may know the good things that Eyecycle is doing to give blind and
visually impaired persons the opportunity to ride on tandem bicycles with
sighted captains so they can enjoy the wonderful benefits of bicycling. You
can help Eyecycle continue to do this. Please come to this fun event. Tax
deductible tickets at $40.00 each can be purchased at
www.eyecyclecolorado.org . If you cannot come, you can also make a donation
at that site. Please spread the word!!!
That's the Buzz this month.
Special thanks to Lisa Bonderson, Julie Hunter, and Lorinda Riddle for
organization, support and proofreading. Errors, assumptions, or omissions
should be brought to the attention of the editor who will likely blame Blind
Buzz for any mistakes. Thanks for reading The Blind Coloradan, Summer 2012
issue.
Many Blessings,
Warmly,
Melissa and Pj
Some people come into your life just to teach you how to let go.
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