[Nfbf-l] NOPBC/FL Candidate

[Sherri]

It's great that you are interested in serving as NOPBC-FL president. There 
is a lot of talent in our parents' division and I think your ideas are very 
creative and would be helpful.
Sherri
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <theconelady at yahoo.com>
To: "NFB/List" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>; "NFB Parents" <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, May 11, 2009 10:42 AM
Subject: [Nfbf-l] NOPBC/FL Candidate


>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Hello to all ….
>
> I wanted to introduce myself as I am running for President of the Parents 
> Division in FL. I am anxiously looking forward to the state convention for 
> many reasons!
>
> First, let me say my name is Doreen Franklin. My husband of 23 yrs, David, 
> and I live in Port Saint Lucie. We have 2 adopted daughters, Bryanna, 13, 
> and Victorria (Torrie), 4-½. Torrie is visually impaired and we have been 
> fighting (unfortunately) for her rights for almost 2 years now.
>
> The convention will be our 2nd time to meet with other families of blind 
> and visually impaired kiddos. We were able to attend Camp Achievement in 
> 2007 (sponsored by Lions Club, DBS and FSU). The Camp opened up David’s 
> and my eyes to our need to be advocates for Torrie and her unique needs. I 
> am also looking forward to checking out the exhibit hall with the products 
> and resources available (I have been very “sheltered” in this area) as 
> well as to hearing the guest speakers (it looks like an awesome line-up!). 
> In another lifetime, I worked at the Lighthouse for the Blind in West Palm 
> Beach; that gave me the ability to see folks of all ages who were leading 
> independent lives, whether they were blind or had just lost their sight.
>
> I have to say it has been difficult to work thru some of the mazes of 
> Torrie’s visual disability. Just from our experiences, I have thought 
> about a few things that I would love to see come to fruition:
> --- a network of NOPBC parents who would work as “greeters” to new 
> families who join the group - much like the Walmart greeters. Our 
> situation was a bit different than most with our adoption - we knew Torrie 
> had congenital cataracts removed in Guatemala, intraocular lenses 
> implanted and a lazy left eye. But to hear what other eye conditions the 
> Bascom Palmer eye doc was telling us Torrie had - well, it was 
> overwhelming. I wish there had been a family there so that I could have 
> leaned on them for support and that they would have given me resources to 
> contact. It took us a while to find places to call for help; it took a 
> longer time to fine a few families to meet and talk to who we could call 
> on for information and to answer those “stupid questions” I was afraid to 
> ask.
> --- maintenance of a list of “resources” in each county distributed to 
> ophthalmologists and optometrists. This would help when a family learns 
> that they have a blind or visually impaired child. They don’t have to do 
> the searching, the resources are right in their hands to call. I continue 
> to scour sites and look thru the links. I’d love to have it down in 1 
> place to be able to pull out the agency, phone number and website to make 
> it easier for me (if you saw my desk, you would agree).
> --- an NOPBC/NFB member from your area to be in attendance at IEP meetings 
> if possible. I know we have had some awful IEP meetings, and many times, 
> just having another parent there who has “been there, done that” and be 
> able to support you would have been a huge help. I know this may be 
> far-reaching, but I wanted to get you thinking how much more confident you 
> would have felt if you had had another parent with you physically in the 
> room at your IEP meeting!
>
> Again, I want to say, I have not been to a convention so I may be a little 
> off-the-mark with these ideas. I would love to be able to talk with you so 
> please feel free to email me at theconelady at yahoo.com if you would like to 
> discuss any of the above ideas. I look forward to meeting all of you!
>
> Thank you …. Doreen
> Please support Braille literacy & programs for our youth by sponsoring 
> Torrie & I in
> the Motor City March for Independence!
> www.marchforindependence.org/goto/doreenf
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nfbf-l mailing list
> Nfbf-l at nfbnet.org
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Nfbf-l:
> http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbf-l_nfbnet.org/flmom2006%40gmail.com
>