[NFB-NM] Que Pasa, September 2017

[Tonia Trapp]

QUE PASA

September 2017

 

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

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

 

Adelmo Vigil, President

E-mail: Avigil74 at gmail.com

(575) 921-5422

 

James Babb, Editor

E-mail: jim.babb at mysero.net

(505) 291-3112

 

Tonia Trapp, Assistant Editor

E-mail: tltrapp.7.467 at gmail.com 

(505) 856-5346

 

ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS

 

To submit an article or recipe for possible inclusion in this newsletter,
please email it to jim.babb at mysero.net. By submitting your article or other
material, you are agreeing to the following:

 

*You assert that your article does not violate any confidentiality,
copyright, or other laws, and that it is not intended to slander, defame, or
mislead. 

 

*The NFB of New Mexico (NFBNM) has the discretion to publish and distribute
the article either in whole or in part.

 

*NFBNM is authorized to edit the article for formatting, length and content.


 

*NFBNM reserves the right to not publish submissions for any reason.

 

 

Table of Contents

PREAMBLE.. 3

EDITOR'S NOTE.. 3

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE.. 4

NON-24 AND SO MUCH MORE SEMINAR <> . 5

A NEW WAY TO ENJOY NATIONAL CONVENTION <> .. 6

I SERVE ON THE NATIONAL LIBRARY'S COLLECTIONS DEVELOPMENT  <> COMMITTEE.. 7

THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE TALKING BOOK, WRITTEN BY MATTHEW RUBERY <> . 8

A TEACHER RETIRES <> . 9

REPRESENTATIVE JIMMIE HALL <> . 10

THE NEED TO USE MORE THAN ONE WEB BROWSER IN WINDOWS <> . 12

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS, EVEN IF YOU CAN <> 'T REMEMBER WHICH BOX YOU
PACKED IT IN.. 14

CONTROL EQUALS CONFIDENCE: MEDICINE, MEDICATION AND THE BLIND <> .. 16

GOOD EATING.. 21

HOMEMADE NEW MEXICO SOPAPILLAS <> . 21

USEFUL WEBSITES, APPS, AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS. 22

MEETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS. 22

 

 

 


PREAMBLE


 

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

 

(Adapted from NFB of Ohio newsletter.) 

 

 


EDITOR'S NOTE


 

by Jim Babb, Editor

 

Hello fellow Federationists and friends,

Thanks to all of you who have submitted articles, announcements, and
recipes. Without these, we would have no newsletter. Thanks to Assistant
Editor Tonia Trapp, who assembles the articles, edits for grammar and
spelling, etc., and also reads Que Pasa onto New Mexico Newsline. We have
some great articles in this newsletter and great events happening soon, such
as the New Mexico State Fair Parade, White Cane Luncheon, and the Non-24 and
Much More seminar. Read on for further details.

 

 


PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE


 

by Adelmo Vigil, President, NFB of New Mexico

 

Greetings Federation family,

Once again, the National Convention in Orlando was a great success.
President Riccobono's presentations were awesome, and if you have not had
the opportunity to hear them, I suggest that you download them from our NFB
website. All the speakers contributed to the success of an awesome
convention. The agenda was again packed with great information and direction
for the future of our organization. Our thanks to Peggy Chong and everyone
who worked the table during exhibit hall hours. This year we had 39 New
Mexicans registered at our national convention.

 

We are planning for our annual leadership training on Friday and Saturday,
November 3 and 4, in Albuquerque, for all NFBNM board members and all
chapter and division presidents and board members. An NFBNM board of
directors meeting will be held on Friday, November 3, at 7:00 p.m. I will be
sending out hotel details later by email.

 

The National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico and the New Mexico
Commission for the Blind have joined in a partnership to provide training to
blind and visually impaired students and adults in different areas of New
Mexico. Our first seminar was held in Farmington, New Mexico on August 18
and 19, 2017, and it was a great success. Together with love, hope and
determination, we can transform dreams into reality. Blind students and
children can live the life they want, if they receive proper instruction in
the blindness skills necessary for them to read, write, and travel
independently.

 

It is not too early to begin planning for our state convention in 2018. The
convention will be held at the Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown Hotel on April 19
through April 21, 2018.

 

Meet the Blind Month is coming up in October, so I encourage chapters and
divisions to plan activities that will help get our message out to those
that do not know who we are. Again we will continue to call on members of
each local chapter and division to help move forward and grow as an
affiliate. We can change what it means to be blind for children, youth and
adults of all ages in New Mexico. Let us go build the Federation.

 

The National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico knows that blindness is
not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise
the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams. We can live the life we want; blindness
is not what holds us back.

 

 


NON-24 AND SO MUCH MORE SEMINAR


 

Greetings and salutations:

 

The Albuquerque Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of New
Mexico is pleased to invite you to an event which we are calling 

Non-24 And So Much More! There is no cost for you to attend.

 

When:              Saturday, October 14, 2017 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Where:             Albuquerque Main Public Library
Lower Level Auditorium
501 Copper Ave. NW,

Albuquerque, NM 87102

Phone: (505) 768-5170

 

Non-24 is not a sleep disorder. It is a serious, chronic circadian rhythm
disorder. Symptoms include:

 

.           trouble falling asleep or staying asleep

.           waking up groggy or not feeling as if you've gotten enough rest

.           an overwhelming urge to sleep during the day or falling asleep
unexpectedly

.           difficulties in managing school or work

.           problems with concentration

 

Come and learn about Non-24, which is a little-known condition which seems
to affect people who are blind to a greater extent than the rest of the
general population. If this doesn't interest you, there is so much more
information you can get by coming to this event. Hear about the strategies
and techniques that are used by people who are blind to carry out normal
daily living activities such as identifying medication without sight, or
moving to and becoming familiar with a new city. You might appreciate
knowing how the Veterans Administration serves veterans who are blind.

 

Please RSVP by October 9, 2017, by contacting Tara Chavez, President,
National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico, Albuquerque Chapter.

 

Address:           4000 Hendrix Rd. NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110
Phone: (505) 872-2044

Email:               nfb.abqchapter at gmail.com

 

We look forward to seeing you at our Non-24 And So Much More event.

 

Sincerely,

 

Tara Chavez, President

National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico

Albuquerque Chapter

 

 


A NEW WAY TO ENJOY NATIONAL CONVENTION


 

by Art Schreiber

 

As I approach my 90th birthday next month, I have spent time reflecting on
this year's National Convention at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort. I
maintain that it's time for me to learn to stream future conventions from
the comfort of my apartment at the old folks home where I live. There is too
much walking for these arthritic knees. And you are hearing this from one
who works out five days a week and competes in the Duke City 10K walk every
October. 

 

However, my biggest disappointment is my poor hearing. I have been attending
national conventions since 1984. I always looked forward to getting to the
convention hall very early. I enjoyed talking with friends, especially those
whom I hadn't talked with for a long time. I also loved the Ohio delegation
because members sold M&M's, which I love. Over the years I donated a lot of
dollars to the Ohio delegation! And, of course, I enjoyed hearing the
interesting speakers. 

 

This year, that all changed for me. I still got to the hall early. But now,
loud--and I mean loud--music filled the hall. It was very difficult for me
to talk to anyone, even the one sitting next to me. The music has replaced
members shouting out their wares. No M&M's, but it was probably my hearing.
Even at the banquet, I couldn't hear. I know the sound system wasn't the
best, and there were problems with it, but my loss of hearing, in spite of
very expensive hearing aids, didn't help. I really appreciated Marc Maurer
adding memorable stories of the NFB past, but I couldn't hear him. 

 

It's time I resigned from my First VP position in the Senior Division and
time to say to all of you young 'uns, Millennials, and newly-crowned seniors
... I'll see you on the Stream!

 

 


I SERVE ON THE NATIONAL LIBRARY'S COLLECTIONS DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE


 

by Peggy Chong

 

In May, I had the privilege of traveling to Washington, D. C. to represent
the Southwest part of our country as a member of the National Library
Service (NLS) Collections Development Advisory Group (CDAG) from May 23
through May 26, 2017. The CDAG is made up of twelve members: four reader
representatives, four librarians, one children's librarian, and three
representatives from national blind consumer groups. The NFB, the ACB and
the Blinded Veterans were all part of the committee. Some of the group
members had served previously, while others like myself were brand new.

 

Our mission was to gather data from others who use the NLS service in our
area, and to bring those comments, concerns and suggestions to the CDAG
meeting. Thanks to some of you, I had a raft of emails and letters to bring
in and share. Each member presented their comments, and then the work began.


 

During the three-day meeting, we compiled all of the comments and then
examined them to determine if the suggestions were both reasonable and
achievable. We accomplished this by analyzing information from the
presentations and asking questions of the NLS staff. We looked at what had
been done in the past two years, what was being done currently, and plans
for the future. Our suggestions were then placed into a document that we
used to frame our report to the NLS staff on the last day.

 

Some of you asked questions about the current practices of NLS this past
winter and spring, and I was not able to answer all of your questions. So
when I returned home, I responded to your emails to answer those questions
based on new information I obtained from the CDAG.

 

Some of you will be pleased to know that the BARD lists of new books, which
are posted on Fridays, will soon be getting shorter. NLS is almost through
digitizing the old books that are still in good condition in terms of the
quality of the recordings. Once this is completed, the Friday new-book list
should be a bit more manageable to get through. 

 

Our group will meet once a year, and I will serve for another three years.
We will have a meeting via phone next summer, so it will not be as extensive
as the one I just attended. We will meet again in-person in the spring of
2019. 

 

 


THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE TALKING BOOK, WRITTEN BY MATTHEW RUBERY


 

This fabulous book, published in 2016, tells the story of how audio books
began and developed over a long period of time into the kinds of audio books
that we read today. The concept of the audio book was kicked off by Thomas
Edison's invention of the phonograph in 1877. We think of the phonograph as
primarily for music, but the first sound out of Edison's invention was
spoken words: "Mary had a little lamb." The real talking books for the blind
got started in the mid 1930's with phonograph records, progressing to
cassettes in the 70's, CD's in the late 80's, and ultimately to the digital
format we have today. You can download this great book from BARD, or call
the NM Library for the Blind at 1-800-456-5515. 

 

 


A TEACHER RETIRES


 

by Nancy Burns

 

The weather was perfect for an outside luncheon on the afternoon of July 15,
2017. Over 30 friends, coworkers, and family members gathered to honor
retiring teacher Caroline Benavidez. Those present chatted amicably while
enjoying a delicious Southwest luncheon.

 

Caroline, who happens to be blind, began her 23-year-long teaching career in
Hesperia, California in a regular education classroom. She was asked to
create a V.I. program and taught blind students for four years. 

 

In 2004 Caroline moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico and worked at the New
Mexico Commission for the Blind. In 2006 she began teaching at Zia
Elementary School where she again taught blind students. After teaching in
the Albuquerque Public School system for eight years, she retired in 2017. 

 

As the luncheon concluded and dessert was being enjoyed, Caroline stood to
make some comments to the group. She credited two other blind teachers, Pat
Munson and Mary Willows, with her success. This kind of support is the
backbone of the National Federation of the Blind. In previous decades, the
road to a teaching career was strewn with obstacles such as vision
requirements and discrimination. Today blind teachers no longer need to
battle such hurtles because of the efforts of the National Federation of the
Blind.

 

When asked what she planned to do as a retiree, Caroline stated that she
wanted to continue utilizing her teaching skills. She also enjoys gardening,
crocheting, and reading. Caroline volunteers at her church and currently
serves as Second Vice President of the NFB of New Mexico.

 

 


REPRESENTATIVE JIMMIE HALL


 

by Peggy Chong

 

"I choose to have a full life," said Representative Jimmie Hall in a
conversation we had this summer. Jimmie is not legally blind, but Macular
Degeneration has made an impact on his life and caused him to change the way
he approaches a few things. Jimmie has not slowed down in the least or
stepped back from the things he enjoys doing.

 

In 2002, Jimmie learned that, just as his parents had learned from their eye
doctor about themselves approximately thirty years before, Jimmie had Dry
Macular Degeneration (MD), an eye condition that can take away the vision of
many older Americans. It was a diagnosis he was expecting. Almost all of his
close-up vision is gone. His distance vision is still OK, but decreasing
slowly over time.

 

While in their sixties, both his parents were diagnosed with MD, his father
with dry like himself and his mother, wet. Mom lost all of her sight, while
Dad lost almost all of his sight. His parents were role models for him in
how they handled their loss of vision, both emotionally and philosophically.
Today, his dad, at age 93, still cares for his livestock and does many
chores around the ranch that younger men with full vision have given up
doing.

 

Jimmie Charles Hall was born into a ranching family almost seventy years ago
in McCamey, Texas. He was a Second Lieutenant in the Army in the 1970's. He
earned his BS and MA degrees in Animal Science from West Texas State
University, now West Texas A and M. In 1977, he went into the banking
business at the Farm Credit Bank of Texas, excelling at all levels until he
took the position of President of the Production Credit Association of New
Mexico. He held that position from 1989-2001, and then he decided to get
into politics.

 

The diagnosis of MD was not a factor in his decision to leave the bank. The
bank was being merged, and it was just the right time for him to leave. He
decided to run for the District 28 House seat for the 2004 election year. In
making this decision, the only consideration that he gave his vision loss
was that he knew he would need to select the right tools for the job.

 

Jimmie does not advertise his vision loss, nor does he hide it. When he
needs to read something, he asks for the document to be sent to him via
email so he can use magnification to read it. He has been able to get almost
90% of the documents, reports, files and presentations on-line, making it
easy for him to carry out his duties as a State Representative. If someone
asks about his vision loss, he tells them, but that is not why he is up
there in Santa Fe.

 

When it comes to adaptive technologies, he has gone in search of tools that
work for him. The first place he looked for magnification was at Holman's, a
technology company in Albuquerque that specializes in surveying and mapping
services. There he purchased a $10 magnifier and a $40 magnifier that he
took home to use for reading print. He has researched and tried a few other
magnification devices since then. Some work, many just go back in their box
and in a drawer. When he finds something that is portable and small, he
stays with it, not looking to buy the newest model with bells and whistles
he does not need. The magnifiers come in handy when tying knots in the
fishing lines when he is out fishing with his granddaughters.

 

He uses magnification in his office at the Roundhouse, at home, and at work
here in Albuquerque to handle all of his reading. When wanting to know the
votes of his colleagues on the floor of the House, he pulls out his
binoculars to read the board. He has found that paying a lot of money for
some tool to address his vision loss is not necessary. What is important is
to look at everything with an open mind and ask questions: What does this
mainstream product do well, and what does it not do well? How can I adapt it
for my needs? A while back, he saw yellow tinted clip-on sunglasses in a
catalogue, and he got a pair. They cut the glare for him very well when
outside, so he ordered a dozen more.

 

Most legislators know that if an issue or legislation regarding the deaf or
blind arises, Jimmie already knows about it or is a part of it. One of his
particular interests is helping deaf children get a Cochlear Implant to be
able to hear. He also monitors similar technologies for the blind, but they
are not really here yet. Jimmie has championed legislation for the School
for the Blind in Alamogordo. 

 

He no longer drives at night at the suggestion of his doctor. When he is up
in Santa Fe, this is not a big deal, as he stays at the La Fonda Hotel and
walks the three blocks to the Roundhouse each day. If there is a night
function or one that will run late into the dark hours, no problem. Jimmie
calls Uber.

 

Jimmie may lose all of his sight, or he may not. If it happens, then it
happens. There will come a time when he will have to give up his restricted
driver's license, and that may be soon. He is hoping that by then, the
self-driving car will be on the market so he can buy one and get around the
city that way. His granddaughters are also motivation for him to keep
active. He wants to be a "participating grandparent" in their lives and
wants them to remember him that way, just as he himself is encouraged by his
highly-active father at 93. He wants to take them fishing with grandpa.
Jimmie still hunts, although he has gotten stronger scopes. He still swims,
rides ATV's, and much more.

 

So, if Jimmie Hall becomes legally blind, unless we remember to ask him, we
may never know. He will still be up there in Santa Fe, working on issues
such as education, Drought Relief, animal protection, cyber security, public
safety and more.

 

Oh, and in case you are left with the opinion that Jimmie is just a
legislator, think again. At almost 70, he is still working. Currently, he
serves as the Executive Director of the Youth Development Foundation for
4-H. Vision loss is a characteristic of Jimmie Hall, one he has embraced,
but it does not define him as a man or a legislator. Nor does his age, it
would seem.

 

 


THE NEED TO USE MORE THAN ONE WEB BROWSER IN WINDOWS




by Curtis Chong

 

Anyone who does anything with computers these days has at least heard about
the Worldwide Web. In fact, if we expect to conduct any online business
(Amazon online shopping being perhaps the most well-known example), we will
be using the Worldwide Web whether we know it or not. Any site whose address
starts with the ubiquitous three w's (www) essentially points to what we
call a website.

 

We generally can reach websites using a program called a web browser. When I
first started using Windows on a daily basis some twenty years ago, the only
truly usable Windows web browsing program for the blind was Microsoft's
Internet Explorer. All of our access to the web centered around the use of
this program. If we could use a website with Internet Explorer with our
screen reading software, we considered the site to be accessible. (There was
a program at that time called Netscape, but none of our screen reading
programs worked with it, so this program was essentially not one we needed
or wanted to use.)

 

Today, I find myself using two different web browsing programs on my work
and home computers: Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Internet Explorer. I have
found that these are the two best programs to use with screen reading
software. Yes, you may have heard about Google Chrome and/or Microsoft Edge
(Microsoft's web browser for Windows 10), but be forewarned that these two
programs are not as usable with screen reading software as Internet Explorer
and Firefox.

 

I suspect that if we conducted a poll of nonvisual computer users, most of
them would say that they use only one browser, and it would be Internet
Explorer. As I hope to demonstrate in this article, we would all be
well-advised to have at least two browsing programs at our disposal, and if
I were the one making the recommendation, I would recommend that as of right
now, the two browsing programs you should have are Microsoft Internet
Explorer and Mozilla Firefox. Each browser has its own set of pluses and
minuses.

 

On the plus side, Internet Explorer (the most current version is 11) has
what I call a status line which can be turned on to show you what is
happening when an unexpected delay occurs with the Internet. Since Internet
Explorer has been around for a very long time, more blind people are
familiar with and feel more comfortable using it.

 

On the minus side, Microsoft has clearly sent the message that Internet
Explorer will no longer be improved over time. The only updates to Internet
Explorer that Microsoft will distribute are those that are essential for
security. Microsoft has made the decision to roll out all of its browser
enhancements in its newer Edge product, which continues to be less than
fully functional for blind users but which is promised to work better with
screen reading technology before the end of the year.

 

Mozilla Firefox is a web browsing program that continues to be actively
supported and updated. It seems to have become the gold standard for testers
who want to ensure that their web applications meet accessibility
guidelines. It seems to work with our screen reading software as well as
Internet Explorer does. At this time, Firefox does not have a status line
that I can read should there be a delay on the Internet.

 

The informed and proactive blind user should, in my opinion, have both of
these browsing programs available to be used on a computer. Here are some
reasons why.

 

1.            For websites such as www.lyft.com or www.paypal.com, I have
found that information that you can read with Firefox is not detectable with
Internet Explorer. For example, on PayPal, I cannot see the Reports link
with Internet Explorer.

 

2.            The State of New Mexico will only accept job applications
through the Government Jobs website, www.governmentjobs.com. This site is
not as usable with Internet Explorer as it is with Firefox; so, if you are a
user of Internet Explorer, you would be well-advised to switch to Firefox if
you want to apply for a job with the State.

 

3.            On the other hand, if you like to be notified that something
is about to be downloaded on your computer when you click on a link, you may
prefer to use the Internet Explorer Notification Bar, which you can reach by
pressing the Alt key and the letter n. Firefox can be configured to provide
a similar notification, but this is not something that just happens
automatically.

 

4.            Internet Explorer makes it possible to save a web page (and
all of its associated files) into a single Web Archive file. Firefox doesn't
have this feature yet.

 

5.            Finally, if you have been using Internet Explorer for a long
time, you may not feel comfortable switching to Firefox and completely
abandoning Internet Explorer. The keyboard commands for Firefox are very
similar to the commands in Internet Explorer, but some of the differences
might prove intimidating for some people.

 

The bottom line here is this: If you have both Internet Explorer and Firefox
installed on your Windows computer, you, the user, can decide when to use
either program. In the end, isn't informed user choice what this is all
about?

 

 


HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS, EVEN IF YOU CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH BOX YOU PACKED
IT IN


 

by Mary Willows 

 

When you decide that you have reached the point in your life that it is time
to downsize and start a new chapter, that is the easy part. Things get
tricky and stressful when every room in your 1800-square-foot home is
stacked with boxes: little boxes, medium-size boxes, and very large wardrobe
boxes--most of which will not be moving with you. So how does a blind person
keep track of the boxes and their contents so that you can find your pajamas
and toothbrush when you reach your destination? This article is about my
attempt to turn chaos into organized chaos. 

 

The first thing to do is eliminate everything that you have not used in at
least one year. If your garage looks like mine did, you will find that the
secondhand donation stores can help immensely with this task. I cleared a
space in the middle of the garage so that when the donation truck arrived, I
could tell them that everything in the middle of the garage should be put on
the truck. Sometimes you have to put items out on the driveway or front
porch, which helps control which items are going. I put a colored sticky on
the items that were going, so that I could tell the pickup guys which items
to load on the truck. One load was blue, the next load was yellow, a third
load was green and a final load was white. I found some colored 3-by-5 index
cards in my desk that also needed to go, so I taped them to the boxes or
furniture scheduled for pickup.

 

Then you are left with the boxes that are still in the house and hold some
items of sentimental value. For a blind person, pictures are the hardest to
deal with. I had my sons sort through them and take the ones they wanted,
and I went to the Dollar Store to buy frames for the ones I wanted to keep.
The really important ones are in a small trunk I found at the consignment
store: these included my wedding pictures, baby pictures, graduations, and
kids' wedding pictures. All were carefully wrapped and placed in the trunk.
I wrote "important pictures" in print and Braille and tapped the card to the
trunk. Every box had a print/Braille label taped to it so that I knew what
was inside that box.

 

I sold or gave away almost all of my furniture. I decided that there was no
point in paying for the movers to bring big pieces of furniture, since I did
not know what would fit in my one-bedroom apartment. I kept a bed, a love
seat and armchair, a nightstand, a television, and a desk. That was it. 

 

I found a website for people who are moving that listed all of the items
that should be packed in a suitcase, things like a set of sheets, a pair of
pajamas, toothbrush and toothpaste, medicine, and a clean set of underwear.
If the movers got lost, I could at least take care of my immediate needs
wherever I ended up.

 

The final moving tip, which I insisted upon having in print and Braille, is
to put a number on each box. Then I created an inventory list in Braille so
that all I had to do at this end (meaning New Mexico) was to tell the movers
where to put the boxes in the new apartment. For example, boxes labeled K-1
through K-5 were to go in the kitchen, boxes labeled B-1 through B-7 were to
go in the bedroom, and so on. I couldn't believe how smoothly emptying the
moving truck went as a result. 

 

The last thing to do was to empty boxes and find a home for all my worldly
belongings. There are now companies which, for a price, will come in and
empty boxes for you after a move. It is not cheap, but it sure saves your
back muscles. However, you must be organized right from the start, or you
will spend a lot of time and money just trying to figure out what is in each
box and where you want it to go.

 

I hope these tips and ideas might save readers from some of the stress of
moving. I can't say that it was a breeze, but I can tell you that it was
survivable.

 

 


CONTROL EQUALS CONFIDENCE: MEDICINE, MEDICATION AND THE BLIND


 

by Peggy Chong

 

September 9-15, 2017 is Medication Safety Awareness Week. Many and varied
agencies, consumer groups, hospitals, pharmacies and medical manufacturers
are doing much to promote safety in the use of medications in our country.
The Blind History Lady weighs in on this important topic from a historical
perspective, looking at the attitudes of the sighted and blind from decades
past and how those attitudes impacted a blind person's ability to take
control of their own health with confidence. With companies such as
En-Vision America, the makers of ScripTalk, we are working to make
opportunities to lead a full life better for the blind. 

 

Through the decades and centuries, have we as blind people made more
medication errors than our sighted peers, or have we been better at taking
the correct medication because we are more careful? Did we mark our
medication bottles accurately and tactilely to ensure correct
identification? Has the increasing number of prescriptions written to all
Americans in this century made it harder for us as blind people to ensure
that we are taking the correct meds? To the best of my knowledge, no
statistics or reports regarding the blind and medication mix-ups have ever
been kept. Biennial reports from many schools for the blind to their state's
governor and state legislative body dating back over 150 years are a great
source of hidden blindness statistics for children and adults. These reports
rarely note the health of a blind student or "inmate" that was compromised
by the blind person themselves through incorrect medication. 

 

As The Blind History Lady, I have run across documentation and many old news
articles that tell of medication mishaps that have resulted in blindness to
young children who were then sent to the state school for the blind.
Traveling doctors gave medications to parents living in rural areas without
instructing them about how to use the medications or what doses to give.
This misinformation resulted in the loss of sight for their children. The
same was true with regard to eye injuries to the young and old alike:
medications were left with families and incorrect amounts were administered
to the newly-blinded individual, causing permanent damage to the eye.
Sighted doctors and nurses had unknowingly given medication to patients that
resulted in blindness even in a hospital setting.

 

Had ScripTalk been around for the sighted doctors, nurses and family members
to use back then, maybe a large percentage of blindness could have been
avoided. When beginning my research for this topic, I marveled at why this
product is not marketed and used by the sighted, not just the blind.
Remember the medication mix-up in the 1946 holiday film "It's a Wonderful
Life?"

 

Looking at history, I have realized that the most important value to those
of us who have a ScripTalk in our home is not the identification of the
medications themselves, but rather the control and confidence it gives
us--and more importantly, the confidence it gives our family and medical
teams--which allows us to have control over our medications, thus control of
our lives. Or as one ScripTalk user put it, to get the sighted off our
backs. 

 

Let's take a quick look back at the history of the blind in our country. For
the most part, blindness was considered a condition that must be cured. The
blind who were not able to have their sight restored were seen as broken and
needing to be put aside. Religion played a major part in how blindness was
looked at in the home and the community. How many of us have heard that "The
sins of the Father.?" Deuteronomy 5:9 says, "You shall not bow down to them
or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the
iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation
of those who hate me." This message was repeated in many Old Testament books
and preached from the pulpits, tree stumps and street corners for centuries.
It is no wonder that blinded family members were shut off in back rooms or
sent away. 

 

As time passed and New Testament readings brought the message of God's
forgiveness to the forefront of religions, the blanket of shame on an entire
family of the one who became or was born blind was lifted slowly, over the
decades. An example of one of these passages is 

John 9:1-3, which reads as follows:

 

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him,
"Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus
answered, "It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the
works of God might be displayed in him." 

 

Yet even today, I talk to parents who tell me that when finding out their
child is blind, their first thought is, "What did I do wrong?"

 

For centuries, blind individuals have been locked away in alms houses and
asylums, because it was thought to be best for the blind person. The
prevailing belief was that someone at an asylum could take care of the blind
family member much better than the family could at home. Yet many of those
who worked in the asylums had little experience and were just shy of
entering an alms house themselves. Inmates had no control over their lives
including the ability or freedom to leave. The story of the early years of
Anne Sullivan and her brother illustrate the horrors of the old asylums of
the past and how those institutions impacted blind people.

 

When schools for the blind first opened in our country, many families who
loved their little blind children very much refused to send them to a school
for the blind, no matter how well the new institution presented. These
families feared that if their young blind child was sent off to the asylum,
they would lose control and never see their child again, or at least, not as
a whole person. On the other hand, some families were eager to relinquish
custody of their child to the state where they could be better cared for and
understood, and in too many cases, out of sight and out of mind. It is
important to note that transportation back then, even just 50 miles, was a
day's trip or more. This meant that farmers could not afford to visit their
child at the institution, nor could they afford to have their blind child
brought home for a weekend. 

 

At many of the state-sponsored schools for the blind, medical eye care was
provided free of charge to the families. This was done for several reasons:
(1) the state was the guardian for these young people, and it would not be
fiscally or morally sound to ignore their health needs; (2) this was an
opportunity to "cure" the blind child so they would not be a burden on their
home community or the state's welfare funds later when they returned home;
and (3) it was also a great opportunity for the medical profession to
perform experimental procedures on or provide medication to a control group
of the blind, allowing them to produce results much faster and with a higher
rate of success and assuredness. 

 

For hundreds of students across America, this was certainly the case. The
school for the blind was typically in a larger community, and the state paid
for a doctor to look after the children. Some of these children became
guinea pigs for new experimental medical procedures to prevent blindness.
Not all procedures or surgeries were successful, though biennial reports do
tell of several of the blind children brought under the state's care who did
return to their home schools with their vision restored. But no matter the
results, families were grateful for the efforts made on behalf of their
blind, helpless children, because either medical treatment in their home
community did not exist, or the families just could not afford the doctor's
fees.

 

During the 19th and much of the 20th century, no one expected the blind
child or inmate to be responsible for their medication. No patient, sighted
or blind, child or adult, had control over their medication in a hospital or
medical setting. Far fewer people took medications back then, as they were
expensive and also not as easy to come by, unless one lived in a larger
community. For our blind ancestors who handled medications just as well or
poorly as the sighted, attributes such as smells, size, and texture of pills
or powders helped them identify the medication. They marked bottles in
Braille, and different sizes and shapes of bottles and packaging were
frequently used to keep medications separate. 

 

Blind doctors such as Jacob Bolotin or Robert H. Babcock (1851-1930), a
renowned blind heart specialist from Illinois, controlled their careers
through the confidence they had in themselves. During Babcock's career as a
physician from 1877 until the 1920's, he handled medications all the time.
He also drew with chalk or a crayon on the bodies of his patients to
illustrate to the sighted doctors where organs lay or where to make the
incisions before surgery. For more than 40 years, he actively practiced
medicine in the Chicago area and consulted across the country on cases
involving the heart and lungs. According to the Washington, D.C. Evening
Star of June 11, 1901, there were already eight or ten blind physicians with
active medical practices in the United States at that time. 

 

Blind pharmacists such as Sam Jones, a blind man of moderate travel skills,
had difficulty convincing the community that he was up to the task, and
after a few years, he sold his drugstore in Iowa. But in Wisconsin,
pharmacist and drug manufacturer Willard Tubbs (1869-1931), a poised blind
man with excellent travel skills, not only manufactured medications, but
also demonstrated his wares throughout the Midwest with confidence. In his
later years, he found it necessary to stay back in Wisconsin to manage his
large factory, write books and pamphlets, and travel more frequently to
conferences and conventions rather than hitting the road as a salesman. His
clients had confidence in him and shared their trust with others who asked
about the reputation of Mr. Tubbs. 

 

Blind people are a part of the general population with all of the same
fears, worries and confidences as the sighted. When we have confidence in
ourselves, identifying the content of a couple of medication bottles is no
big deal. Just ask Dr. Babcock or Mr. Tubbs. 

 

Today, a greater percentage of Americans are living longer and much more
independently than before. Senior living facilities are allowing more and
more older Americans to live on their own, and greater numbers of community
services allow more older Americans to remain in their own homes. However,
with these targeted housing initiatives and community-based senior services,
there can often be a formalization of old stereotypes as
supposedly-legitimate criteria that need to be addressed in their
guidelines, in case of a lawsuit. "For your safety" is a phrase that some of
the older blind individuals I have talked with say they hear far too often
from potential senior companion or service groups today. As a condition of
receiving some community services, the older blind person must declare that
they cannot do, or must give up doing, certain activities or services, which
are usually unrelated to the help they had requested. For instance, if the
competent blind person continues to cook their own meals or walk to the
nearby store for milk, other non-related services will be dropped. In one
case, if the blind senior wishes to take care of their own medications, then
they will not be able to have a senior companion rake their yard or drive
them to the pharmacy. 

 

Most would agree that on the whole, the level of confidence in the abilities
of blind people on the part of the medical profession, the general
population, and indeed the blind themselves, is not much better now than it
was in 1800. Many people still feel that control of medication is best left
in the hands of the sighted. Blind individuals pursuing a medical degree are
met with every roadblock possible. Rarely do we hear of a blind pharmacist
earning a living, either in a hospital or with one of the many large
drugstore chains who claim to be proactive in employing people with
disabilities. Yet, today we still hear about sighted people overdosing or
taking the wrong medications. The common theory is that if the sighted--who
can read the bottles--are still making mistakes with medications, then the
blind surely will also, and to a greater degree.

 

ScripTalk provides a product that promotes control, confidence, and greater
trust on the part of the sighted that the blind and low vision population
can handle medications with ease and accuracy. Those who are losing their
vision often have no confidence in their abilities. ScripTalk is available
to help restore their independence. With the confidence they gain from the
ability to take control of their medication, they can adjust to their new
circumstances and move ahead with their healthcare, at home, building on the
success that ScripTalk provided. 

 

Follow the Blind History Lady at www.theblindhistorylady.com. Read more from
the Blind History Lady at https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/622573. You
can also reach The Blind History Lady at peggychong at earthlink.net.

 

 


GOOD EATING


 


HOMEMADE NEW MEXICO SOPAPILLAS


 

by Ernest Esquibel

 

This is a New Mexico favorite. I've made them for my family, and they were a
big hit.

 

(Makes 12 sopapillas)

 

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

3 tbsp butter, melted

3/4 cup water

oil for frying

 

In a medium-sized bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add in melted
butter and water, and mix until dough is smooth.

 

If the dough is too dry, you can add a tablespoon of water at a time to
moisten it. If it gets too wet, you can sprinkle in a little flour to fix
it.

 

Cover bowl with a clean towel, and let sit for 20 minutes.

 

Heat oil in a deep-fryer or sturdy pot until it reaches 375 degrees. 

Roll dough out onto lightly-floured surface until 1/4-inch thick. Cut into
desired size (I recommend 3-inch squares, but you can get creative with your
shapes if you're feeling up to it). Fry sopapillas in oil until they puff up
and start to get lightly-brown, which is about 60 seconds. Remove and
transfer to a paper towel-lined bowl.

 

 


USEFUL WEBSITES, APPS, AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS


 

A few tips on what not to post on social media such as Facebook:

.        Your current location and the fact that you are away from home.
This could expose you to burglary of your apartment or home.

.        Your own or your family member's date of birth, social security
number, or mother's maiden name; this can help a criminal commit identity
theft. 

 

www.clarkdeals.com 

Great daily deals on a large variety of items, from technology to seasonal
items like lawn furniture. This site was developed by radio/television
personality Clark Howard, whose motto is "spend less, save more, and don't
get ripped off."

 

http://www.hiya.com

Download this app to your cell phone. It is free and stops those annoying
robo-calls; highly recommended by tech folks. 

 

 


MEETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS


 

Saturday, September 9: New Mexico State Fair Parade, Albuquerque 

 

Saturday, October 7: White Cane Banquet, to be held at El Patron Restaurant,
10551 Montgomery Blvd. NE, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 

 

Saturday, October 14, 1:00-4:00 p.m.: Non-24 and So Much More Seminar,
Albuquerque Public Library, lower level auditorium, 501 Copper Ave. NW;
Phone: 505-768-5170

 

 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfb-nm_nfbnet.org/attachments/20170903/268f825a/attachment.html>