[nfbmi-talk] agenda convention

Tue Nov 3 03:54:30 UTC 2015

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
OF MICHIGAN
ANNUAL CONVENTION
November 6-8, 2015
Causeway Bay Hotel
Lansing, Michigan
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the 
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the 
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles 
between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; 
blindness is not what holds you back.
Welcome to the 46th annual convention of the National Federation of the 
Blind of Michigan.  In many ways, 2015 is, historically, the best year 
to be alive as a blind person.  Technology such as the KNFB Reader 
along with smart phone ubiquity have made access to information, 
navigating the environment and keeping in touch with the world amazing. 
With the tap on the screen of an Apple or Android phone a blind person 
can read a restaurant menu, a meeting agenda and incoming mail.  By 
simply saying “hey Siri, get directions to the Causeway Bay Hotel,” 
your smart phone will almost instantly provide turn-by turn instructions.
It is still true that 70% of blind persons are unemployed.  Though we 
can get turn-by-turn directions, finding good reliable transportation 
is a big challenge.  Without a job, buying and paying for the latest 
and greatest smart phone is out of reach for many blind persons.  
Without quality training and rehabilitation services, using 
state-of-the-art technology remains difficult at best for many blind persons.
The National Federation of the Blind is here to serve as a catalyst to 
bridge these gaps.  First through personal empowerment and a positive 
attitude about blindness we unapologetically proclaim that “You can 
live the life you want” and “Blindness is not what holds you back.”  We 
identify and surmount the barriers to success and work relentlessly to 
change what it means to be blind.  We invite you to join with us to 
create the future of your choice.
This year’s convention brings people and ideas for making advancements 
in health, print access, STEM education for blind youth and a lot more. 
Listen closely, join in, learn and then take the energy and knowledge 
home to make the upcoming year another year of progress for blind 
people in your community and in our state.

The KNFB Reader
Now you can have the convenience of an OCR scanner in the palm of your 
hand. The KNFB Reader app is a revolutionary tool that you can use, 
with the touch of a single button, to read virtually any type of 
printed text, including mail, receipts, class handouts, memos, and many 
other documents. Accuracy is facilitated by a field-of-view report, 
automatic page detection, and tilt control.
Proprietary document analysis technology determines the words and reads 
them aloud to the user with high quality text-to-speech. Read the words 
you want to read; live the life you want.
Visit the Apple App Store or the Android Play Store to purchase the 
KNFB Reader app and start enjoying it today!
For the latest news and information about the KNFB Reader, follow us on 
Twitter @KNFBReader or like us on Facebook.
For a personal demonstration, see Fred Wurtzel.

***

“Vanda Pharmaceuticals is committed to partnering with organizations 
that seek to help blind and low-vision persons develop skills and 
provide resources that promote independent living.  Vanda has a program 
where people can attend a live event to learn about Non-24-Hour 
Sleep-Wake Disorder and have questions answered by a medical expert.  
The presentation aims to educate everyone present about Non-24, its 
symptoms, impact and high prevalence in the blindness community.  
Following the event, there is an opportunity to sign up to receive 
additional information, support and treatment options from Vanda 
regarding Non-24.”
For more information contact:
Mike Maynard
Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Mike.Maynard at vandapharma.com

Friday

Childcare: University 3

As always, you can find a wide variety of NFB Literature on tables 
across the hall from the imperial room.  Big thanks to Kimberly Mohnke 
and her crew for organizing this information.  See Kimberly if you have 
questions about NFB literature.

1:30 - 3:00 An Introduction to the iPhone - University 1 Jordyn Castor

3:00 -- Registration: outside Imperial Room

3:30 Resolutions - University 2 - Dave Robinson, Chair

6:00 Students’ dinner out. Meet in the lobby. We will leave promptly at 
6 PM.  Jordyn Castor, MABS President

7:00 Human Services Division - University 2, Mary Ann Robinson

8:00 Members at Large - University 2, Hannah Furney

8:00 Student ice breakers and activities - University 1, Jordyn Castor

9 to 11 Hospitality sponsored by A T Guys. Cash bar available.

Saturday
General Session – Imperial Room

8:45 – National Anthem, Announcements, Welcome
9:00 – National Report - Kevan Worley
9:50 – Michigan Bureau of Services for Blind persons (BSBP) TBA
10:20 – TAPPY Menu - John Petrous
10:35 – Michigan Flyer Update - Ody Norkin
11:05 – Hearing Loss as a Blind Person - Mike Ellis and Marcus Simmons
12 Noon Lunch
12:15 - 1:45 – Guide Dog Division - Hummingbirds Restaurant, Larry 
Keeler, Chairman

12:15 - 1:45 – Michigan Association of Blind Students Seminar and Board 
Meeting, Imperial Room - Jordyn Castor, President

1:45 – Door Prizes and Announcements
2:00 – Sensational Adventures in Summer Science (SASS) - Donna Posont, 
Lydia Schuck, Fred Wurtzel and Scientists
3:00 – California Dreamin’ - Jordyn Castor
3:30 – Wiifit Wellness - Kevan Worley
4:00 – Building an Integrated Transportation System in Michigan - Jim Casha
 4:30 - KNFB Reader
4:45 – Non-24 Disorder - Mike Maynard, Vanda Labs
5:00 Adjourn
Saturday Evening
6:00 – Social Hour with Cash Bar Outside Imperial Room
7:00 – Banquet Imperial Room.  You must have your Banquet Ticket
Master of Ceremony – Mike Powell
Banquet Address – Kevan Worley
Annual Auction immediately following Banquet Adjournment – Bring lots of money!
TAPPY MENU John Petrous
Petrous Media Inc
248-716-0030
Tappy Menu iPhone Demonstration:
https://youtu.be/nP8aiweFSgs
Download Tappy Menu today!
www.petrousmedia.com
Petrous Media is devoted to integrate and develop solutions to improve 
the restaurant experience for people who are blind or visually 
impaired. Whether you experience mild vision-loss or complete blindness 
it may limit your ability to read restaurant menus. Thanks to 
technological advancements such as Apple’s iOS Accessibility feature 
(https://www.apple.com/accessibility/ios/) and Google TalkBack 
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.marvin.talkback), 
people who experience vision-loss could benefit from smartphones for 
many basic life applications.
Many visually impaired people rely on braille menus to gain the full 
restaurant experience. Unfortunately, not all restaurants offer braille 
menus. Most often, visually impaired people rely on the wait-staff to 
read the menus to them.  TAPPY MENU is a smart phone app to enable 
anyone to access restaurant menus.  Check it out.
Sunday
8:30 – Devotions
9:00 Call to order Introductions
Secretary’s Report
Treasurer’s Report
Elections
President‘s Report
Updates from Kevan
Committee Reports
Chapter Reports
Old Business
New Business
Adjourn