[NFBMI-Talk] Save The Date: 2023 BEET Conference - Friday, May 19 From 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM Eastern Time

[Kane Brolin]

It’s back: the Blind in Education, Employment, and Technology. .

Brought To You By Goshen College And The National Federation of the
Blind, Michiana Chapter

The Koinonia Room
College Mennonite Church
1900 South Main Street
Goshen, Indiana 46526

A continental breakfast is provided free of charge, as well as a
delicious lunch at the dining hall for Goshen College, which is a
short walk away.

Admission is free.  Love offerings will be accepted at the door.

Because space is limited and food is being provided, I encourage you
to RSVP to Kane Brolin, President of the Michiana Chapter:
(574)386-8868 or kbrolin65 at gmail.com.

More and more, people who live with blindness, low vision, and other
disabilities are discovering that living the life you want doesn't
have to mean being trapped in a cocoon of isolation, poverty, and
boredom, reinforced by the kindly but low expectations of others.
There are many ways forward and upward.  Come and meet those who are
raising expectations every day.

After an enforced COVID layoff, the 2023 Comeback Edition of the BEET
Conference contains hard-to-find and up-to-date detail useful to those
who live with blindness or visual impairment and who are transitioning
to higher education or into a job.  We offer a platform for frank and
open discussion of any issues that have an impact on someone who lives
with blindness. What's more, we provide a non-judgmental place for
sharing experiences and ideas  that impact the sighted teachers,
counselors, employers, and loved ones who share life with that someone
who is blind.

As before, the morning session focuses on prepared remarks from
specific presenters:

•	Ms. Mary Bonds: a story of faith, redemption, and service to others.
Having overcome the challenges of blindness, diabetes, and even time
spent as a prison inmate, Mary has discovered that nothing will keep
her from serving others who come from hard places, nor from serving as
sole guardian to seven grandchildren .
•	Mr. Chris Milewski: the Blind in Professional Food Preparation.
Some might remember when Christine Hà, a blind woman, won Master Chef
with Gordon Ramsey in 2012.  But her story is less unique than most
would think.  NFB Michiana’s 1st Vice President Chris Milewski
demonstrates to us how he gets paid to work efficiently and safely to
prepare food for others as one who is legally blind. And he is open to
sharing with us tips and tricks on how he shops for food and cooks it
for his own nourishment at home.
•	Ms. Grace Mishler, MSW: the Blind Leading the Blind Toward Success
in Vietnam.  What are blind people doing to serve others and to raise
expectations  of the blind in Southeast Asia in the 21st century?
What can blind university students and social service providers here
in the USA learn from the experience of blind students and providers
based in Vietnam?  Come and find out.  For 19 years, this remarkable,
blind American initiated new projects at Ho Chi Minh City National
Vietnam University of social sciences and humanities.  Managing a
caseload of 13 students while living with retinitis pigmentosa
herself, Grace drew attention to white cane awareness in Vietnam and
developed programming by synchronizing the efforts of several
different organizations under the sponsorship of the Church of the
Brethren Global and Mission Service.
•	Medicaid eligibility must be proven all over again if you live in
Indiana.  If you are a subscriber to some form of either Indiana
Medicaid or the Healthy Indiana Plan, find out how to increase your
odds of staying eligible and avoiding an unexpected and unaffordable
removal from the program you have come to depend on.

The afternoon session will begin by featuring a progress report from
Jeanette Shown, who serves as both a long-time Federation member and
as associate professor of computing science at Goshen College.
Professor Shown is actively developing a repeatable and reliable
procedure that may be used to teach blind people of all backgrounds
how to write computer code.  Also baked into the afternoon session is
time for discussing all manner of transition issues that impact blind
people and the ones endeavoring to partner with them.  Points of
discussion may well include

•	Nonvisual access to online learning platforms at the secondary
and/or university level: How to make a truly integrated learning
environment for blind class participants on the Web?
•	Navigating the physical campus for a blind student.  Is it necessary
for us to show up to class in person in today’s hyperconnected world?
What techniques or tools work best for navigating indoor spaces and
the spread-out layout of a college campus?
•	Interacting Effectively with your college’s Office Of Disability
Services and with your VR counselor; and
•	How to convert experiences and knowledge from the high school or
college campus into competitively-paying jobs while cultivating both
blind and sighted allies along the way?

You don't have to be a member of the National Federation of the Blind
to take part.  You don't have to be a Goshen College student, faculty
member, or staff member to come.  It is a safe sharing and learning
environment; all good faith perspectives are welcome.

For answers to questions, or to RSVP, please contact me at the phone
number or e-mail address listed immediately below.

See you on Friday the 19th.

Cordially,

Kane Brolin
President, Michiana Chapter
National Federation of the Blind of Indiana
(574)386-8868 (mobile)