[NFBMI-Talk] Access Celebration: Western Michigan University Steps Forward

Thu Sep 28 16:57:20 UTC 2023

Congratulations to everyone and huge kudo's to the Kalamazoo chapter. Not
only did you rebuild that chapter after about 80% of its members moved out
of state, but now you have  Broadened opportunity for blind students
attending Western Michigan University by causing WMU to become an AIRA
Partner through your tireless advocacy. Students will ow be able to access
the educational materials which have been available to their sighted fellows
for many years. What an outstanding effort and a wonderfully positive
outcome.  
I am so proud to be an alumnae of the National Federation of the Blind of
Michigan Kalamazoo Chapter!  

With warmest regards,

Christine Boone, J.D., 1st Vice-president 
National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska
Phone: 269-329-8500 
Email: christineboone2 at gmail.com

> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBMI-Talk <nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Love, Pat
> (MDE-Contractor) via NFBMI-Talk
> Sent: Thursday, September 28, 2023 11:37 AM
> To: NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Love, Pat (MDE-Contractor) <lovep at michigan.gov>
> Subject: Re: [NFBMI-Talk] Access Celebration: Western Michigan University
Steps
> Forward
> 
> That's awesome! Great work!
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: NFBMI-Talk <nfbmi-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Robert
> Parsons via NFBMI-Talk
> Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2023 7:29 PM
> To: 'NFB of Michigan Internet Mailing List' <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: rob.parso3389 at gmail.com
> Subject: [NFBMI-Talk] Access Celebration: Western Michigan University
Steps
> Forward
> 
> CAUTION: This is an External email. Please send suspicious emails to
> abuse at michigan.gov
> 
> 
> 
> Good Evening Federation Family!
> 
> 
> 
> I write this email with excitement and a sense of pride. Many of our
members can
> recall the dedicated efforts of the Michigan Association of Blind
Students, a proud
> division of the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan, and the
Kalamazoo
> chapter during the pandemic to bring about increased accessibility to
facets of
> Western Michigan University that students were not able to fully
participate in.
> Some of this included:
> 
> *       Online Learning Platforms
> *       Library Databases
> *       Virtual Texts and Journal Articles
> *       Virtual Statistical Platforms
> 
> The advocacy that the Kalamazoo chapter members and student division
> demonstrated at the time and throughout the pandemic was not in vain.
Their
> efforts; including writing letters to the university provost and DEI
office,
> increasing awareness to faculty and staff, and working with our affiliate
to
> produce an official resolution informing the university of its
shortcomings in
> meeting minimum expectations of access; had lasting effects that ushered
in
> change for current and former students of Western Michigan University.
> 
> Beginning Monday, September 26, 2023, Western Michigan University has
> officially become an Aira Access Partner. As an access partner, the campus
and all
> properties of WMU has been officially geofenced, providing blind students,
> visitors and community members access to the service. This service covers
all
> WMU campus facilities on the main, east and downtown Grand Rapids campus;
> as well as:
> 
> *       WMU Football Stadium
> *       WMU Ice Plex
> *       WMU New Student Center
> *       WMU Downtown Kalamazoo Surplus Store
> 
> Western Michigan University is the first and currently the only college or
> university in the state that is an Aira Access Partner. Current blind
students at
> Western Michigan University are also eligible to receive an Aira Explorer
Account
> as a reasonable accommodation. This accommodation is intended for students
> that are not on campus and are registered for courses online using
eLearning and
> other virtual platforms. Blind students enrolled at WMU can reach out to
the
> Disability Student Services (DSS) office to inquire about receiving an
Explorer
> account.
> 
> This change would not be done without acknowledging the efforts of the
> members of our affiliate, both present and former, that put so much work
into the
> previously mentioned advocacy actions. Members of our affiliate that have
> graduated from WMU, like Rachel Pavone, Taylor Arndt, Monae Payne, Osman
> Koroma and Lisa Irving are wonderful examples of how our movement lays the
> groundwork for the next generation of blind students and blind people to
thrive.
> Finally, we must thank Victor Marques, the At Large chapter Secretary, for
his
> continued advocacy in Kalamazoo, even after graduation.
> His work with blind students in preparing them for college through
training means
> so much more knowing that it is accompanied with the ability to advocate
for
> access. Your efforts are all appreciated and congratulations to everyone
involved
> in the movement to raise expectations of blind people as we turn dreams
into
> reality.
> 
> 
> 
> With Love, Hope and Determination,
> 
> 
> 
> Robert Parsons, Jr., M. A., CRC, CVRT, LLPC
> 
> President, National Federation of the Blind of Michigan
> 
> (269)216-8640
> 
> http://www.nfbmi.org/
> 
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