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<DIV><SPAN class=623324502-21032011>Attached to this e-mail and included in the
body is the Blind Missourian edited by Carol Coulter.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=623324502-21032011></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=623324502-21032011>Enjoy.</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=623324502-21032011></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=623324502-21032011>Gary</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=623324502-21032011></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=623324502-21032011>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">THE BLIND
MISSOURIAN<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">February,
2011<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">National Federation of
the Blind of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Gary L. Wunder,
President<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">3910 Tropical
Lane</SPAN></B></st1:address></st1:Street><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Columbia</SPAN></B></st1:City><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">, <st1:State
w:st="on">MO</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode
w:st="on">65202</st1:PostalCode></SPAN></B></st1:place><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Phone:
573-874-1774<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 2in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Table of
Contents<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Legislative Fact
Sheet<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 9">
</SPAN>1<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Members Testify Before
the Legislature<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 6">
</SPAN>4<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The Fight for Braille:
When Will it Ever End: by Gary Wunder<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>10<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Regional
Braille Challenge:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>by Aundrayah
Shermer</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 4">
</SPAN>14<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoTitle align=left><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal">With Fixed Feelings:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>by Tom Stevens<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 6">
</SPAN>15<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoTitle align=left><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">My
Reflections on Jana:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>by Carol
Coulter<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 6">
</SPAN>17<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Eulogy for Jana Moynihan
January 22, 2011: <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>by Gary
Wunder<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 3">
</SPAN>18<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Why: by Eugene
Coulter<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 9">
</SPAN>21<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">A Wonderful Woman and
True Scholar:<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>by Carol Coulter<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 3">
</SPAN>23<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Change Doesn’t<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Always Come Without Sacrifice<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>by Carol Coulter<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2">
</SPAN>23 <SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoTitle align=left><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-WEIGHT: normal">NFB Facebook:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>by <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Dacia</st1:place></st1:State> Luck<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 7">
</SPAN>24<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">LEGISLATIVE
MEMORANDUM<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">PRESENTED
TO<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">THE FIRST SESSION of the
NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">From: The National
Federation of the Blind of Missouri<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Date: February,
2011<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">We are pleased to have
the opportunity to visit our elected officials in the Missouri State Capitol. We
bring to you our concerns, based on the first-hand experiences of blind
Missourians. We advocate for civil rights and equal educational opportunities
that promote self determination and full participation as contributing members
of society.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">As a member of the
Missouri General Assembly, you can help our fellow blind to become capable,
productive adults whose skills, attitudes and achievements relegate their
blindness to the status of an inconvenience - instead of the tragedy it too
often has been when the blind are deprived of accessible educational resources
and civil rights.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">PARENTAL RIGHTS OF
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">In May of last year,
2010, we witnessed the taking of a child from its parents because those parents
were blind. This is true despite the passage of the state’s Model White Cane law
in 1978, passage of the Americans with disabilities act in 1990, and the active
prohibition against discrimination against the blind which is enforced by
Missouri's Civil Rights Commission and two federal agencies housed in the
Departments’ of Education and Health and Human Services. How did this happen? It
happened when a first-time mother had trouble nursing her newborn, was shown by
hospital personnel how it was correctly done, was hotlined to the Children’s
Services Division, and had the bad luck to draw a social worker who clearly said
she could not, in good conscience, let an infant go home with two blind parents
unless she could be assured there would be sighted supervision of the child
around the clock.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">After ten-thousand
dollars in legal fees and the passage of 57 days, little Mikaela Sinnett was
brought to her home without apology. The closest thing to an explanation
received by her parents was that it was thought that the Division would no
longer pursue the case. Put differently, two young people were presumed to be
incapable of properly raising their beautiful baby daughter because someone in
authority did not pay attention to the answers they gave when she asked them
how, as blind people; they would tackle tasks for which she would use vision.
The offense was not that the Children’s Division followed-up on a report or that
they sent a social worker or that she asked questions, the answers to which she
might not know. The problem is that the only answer that made any difference was
to the question “Will you have someone with sight 24/7 to supervise this child,”
and the conclusion that the answer “no,” resulted in placement of the infant in
foster care. The Division did not consult with blind people but waited until the
day this issue was to go in front of a judge before delivering Mikaela Sinnett
to the home she should have been in for more than fifty
days.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Senate Bill 134,
introduced by Senator Rupp, attempts to clarify that the presence of a
disability shall not be presumed good reason to remove a child from its home and
recognizes the role of technology and good training in helping blind and
otherwise disabled people do things which are too often wrongly assumed to
require vision. We urge you to pass SB 134 to help assure that disabled people
will not be deprived of their parental rights.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">BLIND STUDENT
LITERACY<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Within the Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education Appropriations Bill (HB 2) you will find a
request for Blind Student Literacy in the amount of $236,506.00. Though this
budget item is a very small part of HB 2, it has had a strong impact on the
education of blind students in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State> even though it is underfunded. Below
is background information related to this budget item that is important for you
to know.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The Blindness Skills
Specialist Program was designed and established in Missouri State Statute in
1999 to provide expertise to school districts and classroom teachers when they
face the challenge of meeting a blind child's educational needs. This program
provides a statewide resource to local districts, meaning that respect for local
control of education is maintained, while admitting there are resources which
each local district cannot independently provide.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The needs of a blind
student are uniquely different from those of other students.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>To be successful they need Braille
skills, alternative techniques to participate in science and math labs, adaptive
technology and training in how to use it, and a can-do attitude. They need
teachers who have high expectations and who do not excuse them from completing
assignments or participating in activities just because the students are blind.
A Blindness Skills Specialist (BSS) can provide just this kind of expertise to
the school district and the teachers who have blind
students.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The statute creating the
Blindness Skills Specialists calls for nine specialist positions. After twelve
years of work, we have funding for only 3 of the nine positions outlined in the
statutes. Although the ongoing budget crisis calls into question the likelihood
of expanding the program, we must maintain the services we have in the regions
currently covered and strive in better economic times to reach all blind
students in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">ACCESSIBLE INSTRUCTIONAL
MATERIALS<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">To assist blind students
and others who need texts in a format other than print, federal law has been
changed to create the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard or
NIMAS. Material in this format can easily be converted into Braille, large
print, or into spoken audio. Currently <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State> state law (RSMo. 170.132) requires
schools to preferentially procure instructional materials from vendors who will
provide accessible formats, but it does not refer specifically to this newer
federal standard.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">A bill was introduced
during the last three sessions but has received opposition from publishers
despite the stronger federal law. Although this bill has not been reintroduced
this session, language to mirror the federal guidelines should be resolved in
<st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State>
statutes. It also should support elementary, secondary, and post-secondary
schools to produce materials in alternative formats for their students who fall
under IDEA or Section 504.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">ACCESSIBILITY OF ONLINE
TESTING SITES<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Many school districts in
<st1:State w:st="on">Missouri</st1:State> are now using online test preparation
sites, such as <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Study</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Island</st1:PlaceType> by CTB/McGraw-Hill, to aid their students in
readying themselves for the assessments <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State> uses to determine progress in meeting
the goals of the No Child Left Behind Act and other end-of-course requirements.
However, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Study</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Island</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> and other
preparation and testing sites have failed to incorporate adequate accessibility
features to allow blind or visually impaired students to access all of the
needed information to prepare for and take pretests. As they stand, these sites
use designs that convey essential information to the student by using color,
strike-throughs, unlabeled graphics, and split frames, all of which create
barriers for the blind student. The result: Blind test takers’ are being
evaluated more on the accessibility of the computer programs used to administer
the pretests than on the content the test is intended to measure.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Organizations of and for
the blind offer extensive experienced to help developers to follow established
standards of accessibility. Cooperation with these organizations can result in
software solutions that ensure equality of opportunity to blind students
preparing for these all-important tests. Therefore, <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State> accessibility
standards outlined in state statutes should be addressed by companies
contracting with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as they
move toward online statewide tests. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">However, until such time
as electronically administered tests and study materials are as usable by the
blind as they are by the sighted, Missouri law should require all test materials
be made available in hard-copy Braille, large print, screen-readable electronic
text, and such other alternative formats as may be necessary to ensure that
preparation for and administration of tests are equally accessible to blind
people.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Members Testify Before
the Legislature<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Editor’s note:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>"Below is testimony presented
by</SPAN><FONT face=Calibri> </FONT><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">correspondence and
before the legislature on March 2, 2011in support of the Parental Rights of
Persons with Disabilities Act<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Hello Mr. Chairman and
members of the committee.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In May of
last year the unthinkable happened.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>A blind couple went to the hospital, witnessed the birth of their infant
daughter, and then learned that, because they are blind, they would not be able
to take their Baby Mikaela home.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">I
suspect you already have some knowledge of the history involved here.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Erika Johnson was given her infant to
nurse.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mikaela was her first
child.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When she summoned the nurse
and said that something didn't feel right, the nurse noted that Mikaela was
beginning to turn blue, repositioned her on Erika's breast, showed Erika how to
insert her fingers between her own skin and Mikaela's nose, and reported to
Erika that all was well and little Mikaela was taking nourishment.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A call was made from the hospital to the
Children's Services Division and a worker was sent to investigate the case of
the blind couple and their new daughter.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Blake and Erika were asked how much vision they had; how, with their
limited vision, they could tell where their baby was at all times; how they
would know when she was hungry; how they would take her to the doctor; and, how,
as strange as it may sound, they would know when she was wet or dirty.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>With the exception of the last question,
whose answer seems as clear as the nose on your face, I think all of the issues
they were asked to address were reasonable.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If you do something with sight and I
tell you I can do it without vision, it is reasonable that you would wonder
how.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The unreasonable part came
when Blake and Erika were told that the social worker could not, in good faith,
allow their child to go home with them unless she could be assured that someone
with sight would be with them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There is no shame in ignorance.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There is no shame in trying to
learn.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The shame comes when the
answers to questions one asks are less important than the questions themselves
and are therefore ignored.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">In
the national Federation of the Blind we have thousands of blind parents who are
raising children and thousands more who, like me, have mostly already raised our
children and are now watching as they make their way in the world.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Missouri Children's Services
Division knows about the National Federation of the Blind, and they know about
their sister agency in state government, Rehabilitation Services for the
Blind.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Both organizations had the
expertise to prevent this from happening, but information and examples of
successful families carried less weight than the presumption that blindness
equals incompetence equals danger to a beautiful little
girl.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The national Federation
of the blind of <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State> spent over $10,000 to get Baby
Mikaela returned to her home and her parents.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This was not state or federal money
appropriated from the taxpayers of our country.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It was raised by blind people selling
candy, tote bags, and other odds and ends that are used in charitable
solicitations.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In the 57 days it
took to have Baby Mikaela returned to her parents, Erika lost the milk she
intended to provide for Mikaela, and beyond the nourishment, she and Mikaela
lost the wonderful bonding experience shared by a mother and her infant.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Our $10,000 couldn't buy that for
them.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The legislation proposed
won't either, but it may result in better education for hospital and social
services personnel when they are next confronted with a blind couple who are
witnessing the miraculous birth of their child.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Gary Wunder,
President<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">National Federation of
the Blind of <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">3910 Tropical
Lane</SPAN></st1:address></st1:Street><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Columbia</SPAN></st1:City><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">, <st1:State
w:st="on">MO</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode
w:st="on">65202</st1:PostalCode></SPAN></st1:place><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">(573)
874-1774<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Debbie
Wunder, <st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on">3910 Tropical
Lane</st1:Street>, <st1:City w:st="on">Columbia</st1:City>, <st1:State
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode
w:st="on">65202</st1:PostalCode></st1:address><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">03/02/2011<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Hello, my
name is Debbie Wunder; I come before you today to talk about the most important
thing in life to me, family and children. I will share with you just a little of
who I am. I am the daughter of Joe and Shirley Sutton, a sister, friend, wife,
mom to four and grandma to one. I share these things with you because they are
part of what makes me be the person that I am. I also happen to be<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>blind but I consider blindness to
only be a physical characteristic of me, such as being tall or short, brown or
blue eyed. Blindness does not define who I am or what my abilities are.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">In life I
have been blessed with four wonderful children and am helping to raise one
grandson. I have learned methods of doing things without vision. I have learned
to use special tools and devices in a different way to manage life. I use
Braille to label items in my kitchen, a scanner to read printed material from my
children’s school, and a portable reading device that uses a cellular phone to
convert a picture of a printed page I want to read into speech. I use Braille on
medicine bottles that tell me whose medicine it is, and how to give the proper
amount. I know that you do not know or understand how you could do the things
that I do if you didn’t have sight, but if you were blind, then you would learn
how to live life just like everyone else does. I had dreams to become a wife and
a mother, and in order to be able to accomplish those dreams, I took the time to
learn how to do the same things that you do with vision, but in a different way.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Last May a
little girl in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Independence</st1:City>
<st1:State w:st="on">Missouri</st1:State></st1:place> was born to blind parents.
The first time the young mother went to nurse her baby, she had some difficulty
in knowing the proper positioning, so she asked a nurse for help. The nurse told
this young mother that this was a common problem and for her not to worry. Soon
protective child services came to the hospital and questioned the parents about
how they would care for their baby. The parents answered all their questions
with patience, but when it was time to leave the hospital, they were told they
could not leave with their infant unless they had a sighted person who would
live in the home, who had vision, and who could take care of the baby.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">It took 57
days before their daughter was returned. They missed the bonding time, her first
time to roll over, and all the things that you were allowed to experience with
your children, just because they were blind. On the day they were to go to court
for a hearing, Baby Mikaela was returned to her parents’ home. There was no
apology, no reason given, and of course know way to get back the precious time
they lost with their baby.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">I come
today to ask of you that you help make a law that will never allow this to
happen to another family again. I ask that a child not be removed from their
parents on the basis of blindness. Blindness alone does not mean that a person
cannot successfully parent. Together with my husband who is also blind, we have
raised three successful adult children, and are still raising a 16 year old
daughter and helping with one grandson.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Please do not allow the lack of education and understanding of how a
person with a disability can raise their children to play such a devastating
role in the lives of blind people and our children. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Thank you for allowing me to speak with you today, and please pass HB
555. Please do this for Mikaela, and all the children to
come.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Hello my name is Dacia Luck and I would like to thank you for taking the
time to listen to my testimony regarding this bill.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At some point in everyone’s life they
want to get married and have children.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Blind people have this same desire.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>I am a blind person and it is my hope to get married and have a family of
my own one day. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>However, I should
be able to have a child without the fear of having them taken away due to my
blindness.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I know a number of blind
people, some of whom you will hear from today who have successfully raised and
are currently raising children.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As
blind people we implement alternative techniques and use adaptive technology to
complete tasks that sighted people would use vision for.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Baby Mikaela was taken from her parents
solely based on the fact that they were blind and a social worker and hospital
staff ignorantly believed that they couldn’t care for their infant
daughter.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mikaela was returned to
her parents 57 days after her birth.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Critical bonding time between Mikaela, Blake and Erica was lost.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>That time can never be gotten back.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Erica is unable to nurse Mikaela which
is one of the biggest ways a child bonds with their
mother.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>In closing, I urge you to please support this bill.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I am a blind person who hopes to have
children some day and I want to be able to do so without fear of them being
taken away due to my blindness.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Let
me leave you with one last thought.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Think of your children, think of the day they were born.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>One of the happiest days of your life,
I’m sure.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Now think about only a
short few hours after your child is born having a social worker come in and tell
you that you can’t take your newborn home unless you have sighted supervision
24/7.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>How would that make you
feel?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Angry, discriminated against,
and most of all deeply saddened.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>That’s how Erica and Blake felt when they were told they couldn’t leave
the hospital with Mikaela.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Please
vote yes on HB 604 and ensure that this doesn’t happen to another blind
person.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Once again I’d like to
thank you for taking the time to hear my testimony.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoPlainText><st1:State w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Dacia</SPAN></st1:State><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"> Luck, <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Columbia</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Dear
Representative Grisimore,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">I am
writing in regards to HB 555, clarifying that parental rights cannot be removed
based solely on a parent’s disability.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">My
husband and I live in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Kansas
City</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">Missouri</st1:State></st1:place>. We are a
young couple, married for just a year as of this weekend. We have wanted nothing
more than to start a family, raise children and pass along the morals, life
lessons and values we were brought up with ourselves. We tried for several years
to conceive a child, even before we were married, and were finally successful
late last year. I am now 20 weeks pregnant with our first child, a daughter to
be named Haylie Elizabeth Scott. We are beyond thrilled at the news that our
long awaited miracle baby is finally on the way, and I love to feel her moving
and dancing in my belly. My husband and I are also totally blind. Due to this,
and many other completely separate issues, we have chosen to deliver our
daughter in a freestanding, midwife run birthing center instead of a hospital.
Why? Well, the reasons pertaining to this bill are thus. First, and foremost, we
are blind, not incapable of caring for a child. We have no desire to be
bombarded with a social worker mere hours after our daughter is born, when we’re
both exhausted and want nothing more than to bond with our new baby. We do not
wish to risk losing parental rights of our child based solely on the fact that
her father and I cannot see. We have many alternative methods of caring for a
child that sighted people may not think of. Why should they? They don’t have to
implement them. But they don’t take into consideration that just because it’s
different, it does not, by any means, mean that it is ineffectual. Disabilities,
blindness in particular, scare the general public. Many people would rather have
heart disease than an eye condition that would render them blind. Imagine that,
would you rather have a condition that could potentially take your life than go
through life not being able to see? I digress, this is not about your desire.
This is about the law, and the unfair and inaccurate assumption that parents
with disabilities cannot care for their children. My husband and I have many
adaptive technologies scattered throughout our home. For instance, we have a
talking bar code scanner. This device allows us to identify food items, such as
baby food jars, or formula, etc. We have a talking thermometer, so we may take
the temperature of our child without relying on someone else to tell us if she
has a fever. And, aside from this technology that you may never have heard of in
your life, let’s talk about things less sophisticated, shall we? How do you know
if a child has a dirty diaper? Your first clue is the smell, right? Of course it
is. You don’t need to see to know that a baby has messed their diaper. Perhaps
that same child has a diaper rash. The affected area will be warmer to the touch
than the unaffected skin, so again, sight is not necessary. Extra precautions
may need to be taken once a child is mobile, and does not yet know that crawling
to the top of the stairs is not a good idea. A simple thing such as a baby gate
can prevent an unnecessary accident. Additionally, attaching bells to a child’s
shoes can help keep track of the child’s whereabouts. This is a tool implemented
by my parents, who are also both totally blind. So you see, there are many ways
that a blind parent might care for their child. There is no reason to take a
newborn from her mother and father, simply because they cannot see her. Save
your energy for the drug addicts who snort in front of their children, or the
ones who hit a child simply because he cries and interrupts Mom’s Facebook game.
Disability alone is not a basis for removing a child from his or her
parents.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">I
implore you to take this testimony into consideration when voting on this bill
today. I thank you, my husband thanks you, and our unborn little miracle thanks
you.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Jennifer
Scott, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Kansas
City</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">The Fight for Braille:
When Will it Ever End<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">by Gary
Wunder<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">I
think it was back in 1990 when the National Federation of the Blind went before
the Missouri General assembly to urge that instruction and the reading and
writing of Braille be given real priority in the lives of blind people. We got
that legislation passed and felt very good about it, but over the years we have
wondered just how effective it really is. There have been similar legislative
victories on the federal level that mandate Braille as the default for blind
students, and though they have given us reason to believe that we are slowly
changing the public's mind about the absolute imperative for Braille if one is
blind, reactions of school districts around the country tell us that we have a
long, long way to go.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Perhaps two or three
years ago my brother Mark, who lives in the small town of <st1:City
w:st="on">Freeman</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State>, told me that he had a neighbor with
a blind child. I sent him a copy of the <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Blind Missourian</I> and <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Braille Monitor</I> to share with them, but
I did not do the kind of follow-up I should have done. Debbie came home from a
Children's Vision Summit and told me she had met the mother of a little girl
named Kendra. She mentioned that Kendra's mother knew my brother Mark and that
not only were they neighbors, but their land touched his. I told Debbie that I
had heard about this family from my brother, but I didn't do anything with the
information. I didn't take the opportunity to write them a personal letter or
call them on the phone, nor did I make much inquiry of my brother to learn more
about them and how their blind daughter was getting along. Sometimes it is
difficult to admit how stupid we are.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Several weeks ago I
received a call from Rhonda Damron. She is Kendra's mother. She and Kendra's
father, Rusty, were calling to see if we might be of some help to them because
the school was calling together the IEP team to consider making changes to
Kendra's educational plan. I said we would be delighted to help, and along with
the Missouri Protection and Advocacy Service and <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State>'s Rehabilitation Services for the
Blind, we held a conference call to discuss strategy. My job was to provide
supporting material to affirm for the parents that they weren't alone and that
what they wanted for their child was truly beneficial in the long run. I gave
the family the 100 letters which the National Federation of the Blind generated
for president Obama. I looked back through issues of the <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Braille Monitor</I> and <I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Future Reflections</I> for the best of the
best Braille articles I could find. As you know, both publications have a number
of fine testimonials and studies demonstrating the absolute necessity of Braille
for blind people, so, making the selection was difficult.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">On
February 22, I attended a meeting at my old high school and participated in the
IEP meeting for Kendra. I want to share with you a brief summary of that meeting
and then wrap this up with some concluding thoughts.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">February 22,
2011<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Today I attended an IEP
meeting for Kendra Damron at the request of her parents, Rusty and Rhonda
Damron.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The meeting was held at
<st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Cass</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Midway</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">School</st1:PlaceType>
in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Cleveland</st1:City>, <st1:State
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:State></st1:place>, the high school from which I
graduated in 1973.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The meeting was chaired
by the school's director of special education.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Also present at the meeting were
Kendra's parents, the school's principal, Kendra's second grade teacher,
Kendra’s case manager, the itinerant teacher who provides Braille instruction to
Kendra, the itinerant teacher's supervisor, a representative from the Missouri
Protection and Advocacy service, and me.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The meeting began with a
statement by the director explaining that this was the third attempt to gather
Kendra's IEP team, the other two attempts being thwarted by inclement
weather.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The reason for the meeting
was to consider an evaluation done at the request of the itinerant teacher, who
felt that Kendra's progress in Braille was so poor that she wanted to reevaluate
the role of Braille in Kendra's education.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Kendra is now in her second year of Braille instruction, though this is a
point of contention for the school’s director of special education, who asserted
during the meeting that this was Kendra's fourth year of school provided Braille
instruction.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The itinerant teacher,
when asked, did clarify that Braille had started in the first grade and that
work prior to that time was in the area of tactile recognition.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>One other point of contention was the
statement in the IEP that Kendra would be given 120 minutes of Braille each
week, though the parents brought evidence, and the itinerant agreed, that some
of this time has been used in evaluating other technologies and that not all of
it went into Braille instruction.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The evaluation that was
just completed indicates that Kendra can read print at about 78 words per minute
and anywhere from 10 to 21 words a minute in Braille, depending on the
material.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The director said that
after much consideration, it was the view of the team that instruction in
Braille should be discontinued because it was getting in the way of teaching
Kendra the curriculum.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She asserted
that Braille instruction was causing Kendra to miss science and social studies
and that it was obvious from the evaluation that Kendra could function well
enough with print to keep up with her peers.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She said that the focus of the school
would be on teaching Kendra to better use her vision with adaptive aids and said
there were a thousand of them out there that might help her.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She said that nothing written in the IEP
was carved in stone and that a different decision regarding Braille could be
made at any time if the attempt to utilize other visual techniques proved
inadequate.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">I
was surprised to learn that Kendra’s learning of Braille has not been integrated
with any of her other school work, but her instruction has consisted of Braille
as a stand-alone skill in much the same way I took high school Spanish.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She does not use Braille to read
assignments in language arts, spelling, or history.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The payoff of reading to gain
information is absent.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The benefit
of being able to express oneself only happens for Kendra in print because none
of her assignments are completed in Braille and transcribed into print by the
paraprofessional.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There is no link
between the flash cards with Braille (letters, words and contractions) and the
real world of school. Braille has been divorced from the benefits associated
with reading, and I am not surprised that, until the last month or so, Kendra
has been resistant to it. The itinerant did report that Kendra’s attitude toward
Braille was much improved in the last month or so and that she was no longer
resisting its teaching. Every sentence the Braille teacher used was in the past
tense, suggesting that the results of the evaluation would have been different
if it were done today.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Other points arguing for
continuing Braille were made by Kendra's parents, the representative from the
Protection and Advocacy service, and me.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>The argument that Braille can be reintroduced should alternatives for
increasing print speed fail is flawed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>The pressure to teach to the curriculum, used as the argument for
removing Braille, will only intensify as Kendra gets older, and stopping and
starting Braille sends a signal to Kendra that it is optional and not nearly as
important as print.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>There is a
window of opportunity for teaching students to read efficiently.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Braille can be taught at any age, but
speed comes only for those taught and reinforced at a young
age.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">It
is obvious to me that for many people in the room, Braille is foreign.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Measuring progress based on the number
of contractions one knows is equivalent to measuring the success of a print
reader by how many of the 480,000 words in the English language he knows.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Contractions are not separate and apart
from reading and writing.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They
should be encountered and reinforced in story, poetry, and one’s own writing in
the same way other words are learned and become second-nature to recognize and
write.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">This decision is not in
Kendra’s best interest.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It
encapsulates all of the negative stereotypes about Braille, ignoring Kendra’s
future and assuming that the only goal of the school is to deal with the here
and now.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The decision must be
reversed.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 3pt dotted; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 1pt; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-element: para-border-div">
<P
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; PADDING-TOP: 0in; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: dotted windowtext 3.0pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P></DIV>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-hyphenate: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="Z-INDEX: -2; POSITION: absolute; MARGIN: 0px auto auto 2px; WIDTH: 312px; HEIGHT: 72px; mso-ignore: vglayout">
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0"
height=72 width=312><SPAN
style="Z-INDEX: -2; POSITION: absolute; mso-ignore: vglayout">
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0">
<DIV
style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 0pt; PADDING-LEFT: 0pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 0pt; PADDING-TOP: 0pt"
class=shape v:shape="Rectangle_x0020_2">
<P
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; tab-stops: -.5in; mso-hyphenate: none"
class=MsoNormal><A name=_GoBack></A><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes"><IMG
src="cid:623324502@21032011-2FA6" width=300 height=62
v:shapes="Picture_x0020_1"></SPAN><SPAN
style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-SIZE: 1pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></SPAN><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-hyphenate: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">There you have the
summary of our meeting, or at least the summary from my point of view. Currently
the Missouri Protection and Advocacy Service is deciding whether it can help the
family go through due process. If that happens, it will provide the attorney’s
and other staff necessary to pursue the appeal. It will also file a Stay Put
order, meaning that until such time as a new IEP is written and agreed to, the
old one will remain in place.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-hyphenate: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The question I offer to
you is what we should do if the Protection and Advocacy Service elects not to
take the case? Should we let it stand? Should we assist Kendra in getting
Braille some other way? Should we say “Well this is really sad for Kendra, but
we’ve done all we can?” Alternatively, should we take on the case and try to
raise the estimated $25,000 it will cost to see it through? There are other,
cheaper things we can do, and these don’t require a decision of the Convention
or the Board, but let us think about just how important Braille is and how
important one bright little girl is in the work of the National Federation of
the Blind of Missouri. Perhaps, if the stogy old president can be moved from his
rigid convention agenda, we might think about this under new business. See all
of you in <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">St.
Joseph</st1:place></st1:City>.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-hyphenate: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Regional
Braille Challenge<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">By
Aundrayah Shermer<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Editors
Note: The National Federation of the Blind congratulates the students who
participated in the Southwest Missouri Regional Braille Challenge. We know that
Braille is a vital skill for blind and visually impaired students. We also
commend the educators who planned and carried out this Braille Literacy Project.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">On
Saturday February 12, 2011, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> hosted the 3rd Annual Regional
Braille Challenge. Students from Southwest Missouri and as far north
as the <st1:City w:st="on">Kansas City</st1:City> area competed in this
Braille literacy event for prizes and a chance to go to <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Los Angeles</st1:place></st1:City> for the
National Competition. The contestants were Students who are blind and visually
impaired and ranged from 1st - 12th grade. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The
following school districts had students participate: <st1:City
w:st="on">Springfield</st1:City>, <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Webb</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">City</st1:PlaceType>, <st1:City
w:st="on">Carthage</st1:City>, <st1:City w:st="on">Blue Springs</st1:City>,
Hardin, Nixa, <st1:City w:st="on">Spokane</st1:City>, <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">Mt.</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">View</st1:PlaceName>/
Birch Tree, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Lebanon</st1:place></st1:country-region> and Willard.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Developed
and organized by the Braille Institute in <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:State>, The Braille Challenge® is an
academic competition unlike any other. This two-stage contest is designed to
motivate blind students to emphasize their study of Braille, while rewarding
their success with a fun-filled, but challenging, weekend of events. The
Braille Institute works with agencies and individual teachers from across
the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region> and
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region> to encourage their students to
participate in the preliminary round. Students gain the fullest
experience by attending one of the many Braille Challenge regional events in
their own state or region. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The
Regional Braille Challenge at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> was sponsored by Seedlings
Braille Books for Children, Human ware, and the National Braille Press and a
huge thank you to them for the wonderful prizes they each donated to the
event. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">In
addition, the Southwest Missouri Vision Professionals group was an
important part of the success of the day. Area vision
teachers, O&M specialists, and paraprofessionals all donated
additional prizes and volunteered their time to help proctor exams, escort
students between testing sessions, scoring and data
entry. Graduate students from the Missouri State University
Vision Certification program enrolled in the Braille II
course provided parents with a workshop related to Braille
literacy. The Council for Exceptional student group from <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Missouri</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> also volunteered time to the
Regional Braille Challenge event. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Dr. Chris
Craig and his band entertained families and students at our closing ceremonies,
and everyone had a great time. The Braille Challenge was a huge
success at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> this
year. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Regional
Coordinators for this event are: <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Patty
Guzman, Certified Vision Teacher, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Marshfield</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">School
District</st1:PlaceType></st1:place><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Julie Ituarte,
Faculty-Programs in Vision, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Aundrayah Shermer,
Blindness Skills Specialist, Southwest Region<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">For more
information on The Regional Braille Challenge at <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Missouri</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">State</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>,
Contact Aundrayah Shermer at: </SPAN><A
title=blocked::mailto:ashermer@missouristate.edu
href="mailto:ashermer@missouristate.edu"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">ashermer@missouristate.edu</SPAN></A><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoTitle><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><STRONG>WITH MIXED
FEELINGS<o:p></o:p></STRONG></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><STRONG>By Tom
Stevens<o:p></o:p></STRONG></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoBodyText><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">At the State Board Meeting on 5 February 2011, I
announced that I would not be a candidate for office in the Affiliate at the
upcoming State Convention in March. This will end a 36-year string of formal
responsibilities at state and national level. For those who may not be aware, I
had also spent 26 years as a member of the Writers’ Division of the NFB, 18 of
those as president. I also chaired the national Committee on Associates for a
like period of time. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt" class=MsoBodyText><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">This does not mean that
I will cease to be a member of the NFB, since I noted that I would be available
for special projects. It is NOT a resignation from my appointment as a National
Representative.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Why? In the past few
years I have noticed a decline in my energy level to the point that I am not as
active in NFB activities as I would like and the same is true around home. In
addition, one of my major responsibilities is to be alert to succession in
leadership. That was a problem during my presidency of the Writers’ Division.
However, Robert Lesley Newman has come upon the scene with energy, enthusiasm
and innovation, assuming the mantle of presidency very well. Since the Committee
on Associates was abolished, no problem existed there.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">But within the Missouri
Affiliate an “heir apparent” is readily available and highly capable. It is time
for me to get out of the way. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">One of the areas of need
for us is that of membership building. Considerable work has been done and will
undoubtedly continue on this goal. A second need is that of public relations.
The National Federation of the Blind has a superlative group of brochures
available and members can be alert to placing them in locations where they can
be picked up by an interested public. As a unique example, Helen has a niece who
teaches special education in a school near <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City
w:st="on">Pasadena</st1:City>, <st1:State
w:st="on">California</st1:State></st1:place>. We recently mailed to her
approximately 75 2011 Braille Calendars, 75 Braille Alphabet Cards and 75 Kernel
Books. How she uses them, I could only speculate. But they are in hands which
can put them to good use. We do need to send brochures to all of the public
libraries in <st1:City w:st="on">St. Louis</st1:City> and surrounding, <st1:City
w:st="on">Kansas City</st1:City> and surrounding, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Springfield</st1:place></st1:City> and surrounding, etc. We cannot be
assured of the results, but we can be assured of one thing: where there is no
brochure, there is no opportunity for increased knowledge.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Not only do people in
elected positions have responsibilities, but those who have not sought an
elected position can and do work most effectively. To those people I say THANK
YOU VERY, VERY MUCH (including my wife Helen).<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The myths of old do
continue. I hope to be able to help squelch them. People want to know, for
example, how I can cross the street – since I don’t have eyes. People are also
astonished when they hear the cities to which I have traveled.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">One college textbook
even featured a small insert which stated that blind people should not use a
fork to eat spaghetti because they might stick themselves on the nose.
Fortunately, this was a book which was revised every two years. I wasted no time
in getting a protesting letter in the mail to the author. Succeeding revisions
do not discuss how dangerous it is to eat spaghetti with a fork.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">I am appreciative of
your support. It has been my privilege to serve our Affiliate and State and
Organization. The battery for my horn has not run down. Keep in mind that the
best way not to make progress is to do nothing. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">My Reflections on
Jana<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">By Carol Coulter
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">When I joined the NFB in
1979, Jana Moynihan had long been a recognized member of the NFB in <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State> and
nationally.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She was a much-needed
bridge between people of my generation and the folks we respected but thought of
as the older people.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She had J. C
and we had Larry, and soon this was a shared link between Jim, Jana and the
Coulter family.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">When we heard Jana had
cancer, the news was devastating.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>She was too young.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Her
family was too young.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Through the
years, as we watched her continue to live and thrive and raise her children to
be adults, we were saddened by her disease but thankful that at least she had
years rather than months and that her struggle, while difficult, did not
immobilize her or break her spirit.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">As
we live our lives handling the day to day challenges, Jana is an inspiration to
us because this is what she did.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>She did not stop trying.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She
did not become self-centered, let her illness stop her, or demand that it be at
the center of our relationship with her.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Here is the eulogy given
by Gary Wunder to help all of us say good-bye to a valued colleague, dear
friend, and a wonderful soul.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Eulogy for Jana
Moynihan<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">January 22,
2011<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">I
come here today because Jim and his wonderful family asked me, and because my
love and respect for Jana means I couldn't be any other place.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The weather is cold and bitter, but the
love for this woman brings people from all over to celebrate her life and to say
thank you for the woman she was and the legacy she leaves.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">When I first met Jana,
she was 26, and I was 16.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At first
she treated me as a young woman treats a dumb kid who is full of himself, she
ignored me.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When she decided there
might be some intelligence behind my adolescent foolishness, we talked, and she
tried educating me.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I absorbed
enough of that education that I went from the obnoxious, self absorbed kid to a
young fellow she might, in her words, have snatched if only I had been ten years
older or she ten years younger.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>That sounds flattering now, but, when I was 16, the idea that I wasn't
old enough sounded like the ultimate insult.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I was always a little uncomfortable with
the idea of being snatched, as though she would be the only one to decide if
there would be something between us.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">What I felt for Jana
wasn't romantic, but I was awed and spellbound nonetheless.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>You see, Jana was leading the life I
wanted to lead, with all of its successes and difficulties.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She proved to me and anybody else who
was watching that, with motivation and some brains, a person could go through
the education system, get help from rehab, and actually get a job.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I didn't know many blind people, who
worked outside the sheltered workshop, but Jana had a college degree and a
responsible position as a teacher, and if Jana could do it, there was a chance I
could too.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">When I left <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Kansas City</st1:place></st1:City> and started
college, I hadn't decided on a major.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>One of the professions I considered was social work, and Jana invited me
to join her at work for a day so I could decide whether this field might be for
me.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I remember being impressed by
two things in my visit.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>One was
that she was treated with respect by everyone from the dormitory aide to the
administrator of her center.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I
hadn't seen many blind people who commanded respect, but, if it was possible for
Jana to be universally admired and respected, perhaps it was possible that I too
could earn and command the respect of coworkers.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The second thing I saw
was that Jana's work fell far short of what she thought it would be when she was
studying the rise and fall of governments and political leaders and writing
about them in her master's thesis.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Here was a highly intelligent woman who should have been teaching college
courses, working instead in a facility which cared for teenagers who functioned
like infants in adult bodies.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>For
all of her ability, Jana wasn't teaching the great battles of history; her
battle was to teach these children basic life skills that every normal
three-year-old has long-sense mastered.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>This told me another thing about Jana.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I learned why she was a member of our
Federation and why she insisted we all needed to work together to improve the
opportunities for blind people.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Jana was counting on the Federation to help her change how people felt
about the ability of blind people to hold positions of responsibility
commensurate with their educations.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>She wanted better for herself, and, though I came along ten years too
late, she wanted better for me.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Jana and her parents
were crusaders for civil rights.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Her most meaningful contribution to furthering the civil rights of blind
people was made one evening when we were pressing for the passage of the model
white cane law, a civil rights act for the blind.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The senators indulged us while we talked
our talk about how blind people could do the average job in the average place of
business, but they weren't buying it.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Our time was bought with the compassion they felt for us.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We were not their equals; we were the
poor, needy blind they wanted to help.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>When Jana stood before the senators and delivered her speech about
discrimination and our God-given capabilities, one of the senators interrupted
her in a patronizing way and asked her what she wanted to be when she grew
up.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He was Santa and she the little
girl, but she was having none of this lap sitting for old Santa.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She responded that she was already quite
grown up and had herself a job and community responsibilities, and she told the
senator about her education, including mastery of a foreign language.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He demanded to know which one and she
said French.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He asked her a
question in that language, she responded, and for about 30 seconds they carried
on in a tone we could understand but a language we could not.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>By the end of their private
conversation, it was clear that Jana had been tested and found worthy.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Her senator foe turned friend opined
that it was a shame so few Americans knew another language, said that Jana most
certainly did know French as she had testified, and suggested to his colleagues
that these fine people had brought a message the general assembly would be well
advised to consider.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They did, and
we won a major battle for blind people everywhere.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">I
think that, if Jana had gotten to write this, she wouldn't have spent much time
on her professional accomplishments or even her work in the Federation.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She would dwell on what became most
important to her: starting and nurturing her family.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Some of us who knew Jana thought her
life's calling would be teaching and researching the history of the civil war,
and we were pretty skeptical when we learned she was to be married, and to a
fellow from New York, no less.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Who
in heaven's name was this guy who could come and change a life whose mission was
so clear? Despite our skepticism, we soon realized Jana had known what she was
doing, and we too came to fall in love with Jim.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Jana picked well, and she's brought
someone into our lives we will never forget.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If Jim were a politician and I his
secret service agent, I'd feel honored to take a bullet for him because I know
that if the situation were reversed, he would do the same for me.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Jana and I used to gang up on Jim: two
liberals who routinely tried to take this conservative republican to the
woodshed.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>When we said something we
were sure would win the day, Jim would simply refuse delivery and tell us that
all of our words didn't change for a moment the fact that what was right was
right, that what was wrong was wrong, and that we were making things overly
complicated.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He said that in our
arguments we were too nuanced, a nice way for a true republican to say we were
full of it, all caught up in words and too far from
reality.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Jim and Jana have
created and nurtured two human beings who are everything you could want in your
children.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They are gracious and
kind and loving, and I feel honored to know them and to occupy even a small
place in their lives.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Jana had her
priorities straight.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She let Jim do
barbershop and NFB while she stayed home and shaped the lives of two of the most
important people in <I>her</I> life.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">When Jim told me he and
Jana were consulting with a palliative care doctor, I called Jana.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>We talked about her sadness at not being
here longer to see her children enjoy their marriages and perhaps to bring her
grandchildren.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She said that, in
moving to be near her children, she had hoped her time left would be measured in
years rather than months or weeks, but that she was grateful to have been able
to attend their weddings and was convinced they had made wonderful choices in
life partners.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She said she
believed in an after-life and was convinced she would soon see her parents and
Federation members we had both known and loved.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She said she believed that all of us
here would be reunited, and I told her I too hoped and believed that one day we
would all be together again.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I
believe Jana lives and that one day, when I'm snatched up, she'll be there still
claiming that "if only you had arrived ten years earlier." We love you, Jana,
we'll miss your smile, and we know how blessed we have been to call you mother,
wife, friend, and fellow Federationists.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">Why?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">By Eugene
Coulter<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Recently my reader asked
about my involvement in the National Federation of the Blind and why the
organization is so important to me. I suppose it is the age old question that
all Federationists must answer of why the National Federation of the
Blind?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">I think many of us get
caught up in going to meetings, social activities, and doing the other day to
day stuff that we may fail to realize all the great things that have happened
and are currently happening in the NFB. I believe I could name over 100 reasons
why I have been a Federationist for 35 years. Do not fear I won’t list them all
here but rather let me share a sampling of some big and small victories just in
my life.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">My first experience with
the power of the NFB was in 1976 when as a freshman at the <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:PlaceName> in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">College</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Education</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>, I discovered a provision in the
regulations of the school that said handicapped persons would not be granted a
diploma that would allow them to teach. Our chapter president Tom Stevens
arranged a meeting with the college dean and the offending provision
disappeared.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">It was a couple of years
later while I was serving as Governmental Affairs chair that we rallied to pass
two pieces of legislation. The first one was our ID bill to allow persons under
age 21 to get a state ID card; a law that we have had to amend twice since then.
The second was a result of a young lady pretending to be blind so she could get
her pet dog into a college dormitory. The result is that it is now a crime in
<st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State> to
feign blindness.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">In 1982 Carol was
pregnant with our first child when I was fired from the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> based solely on my blindness.
With the help of the federation I was allowed to stay on while they figured out
what should be done. For six months my job consisted of staring at a wall but I
wouldn’t give in. The week after my son was born the University agreed to give
me back a regular assignment. My one mistake was that I resigned because I was
afraid of being in a fish bowl and that they would find another reason to let me
go. Today I would have stayed and fought the good fight.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Perhaps the biggest
battle that my family was engaged in came in 1986 when my wife, Carol, was
licensed as a daycare provider but only if a sighted assistant was present at
all times. This was a heart wrenching case and took about six months to resolve
but with the support of our Federation family on November 19, 1986 Carol was
awarded her unrestricted license. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Then in 2000 our
affiliate had to get a law passed to permit a 15 year old child to practice
driving with someone other than his parents if both parents are physically
unable to do so. The law allows the parents to designate two people to ride with
their child. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">In the last 15 years we
have helped at least 30 different people with Blind Pension problems and
probably 20 people with Social Security problems; some multiple times. On two
occasions the Social Security problem involved my wife and myself. Of course,
the biggest Social Security case is the gentleman who was accused of being over
paid $132,000.00 and we were able to win a complete victory for
him.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The items cited above are only a few of
the things that I have been personally involved in one way or another; there are
many more. Of course, there are scads of more battles which don’t touch my front
door but are just as important to me and why I am still involved. The Blind
Driver Challenge leaps to mind to make technology more user friendly and who
knows before my life is over I may actually get to drive. Baby Mikaela, Larry
Murphy, Grace Haner and dozens of other people we have helped over the years
make every hour and every dollar spent worth it to me. I hear someone out there
saying but what has the federation done for me?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The philosophical answer is of course
that which we do for one blind person helps all blind persons. But the practical
answer is you never know when you might need to lean on your friends in the
organization for help. I certainly did not plan on unjustly being fired from my
job and Carol certainly didn’t deserve to be discriminated against when she
applied for her daycare license. The bottom line is that for all of the reasons
cited above I keep plugging away, but even more important to me is that we are a
family who cares about our blind brothers and sisters and making life better for
one another and generations to come. George and Gwen Rittgers, John and Rhoda
Dower, Tom and Helen Stevens just to name a few, have set a high mark of
achievement for us to follow. I am honored to follow their lead and am proud to
be a member of the Federation and certainly know now more than ever why I am a
Federationist.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">A Wonderful Woman and
True Scholar<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">By Carol
Coulter<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">I had the wonderful
pleasure of talking with Patricia Morrow the other night and learned some very
interesting things about this very intelligent and humble woman.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Patricia was the oldest of four
children, two sisters and one brother.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Patricia was born at home in Garfield County Colorado. Both of her
parents were high school dropouts which was common for poor families of that
time.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They were poor and uneducated
but they cared for their children very much. Patricia told me how, when she was
just an infant, her parents walked 200 miles to seek the medical help she
needed. They believe that Patricia was born with cataracts as a result of her
mother being exposed to chickenpox while pregnant.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Her mother was a stay at home mom until
Patricia went off to college. She went to school to become a hair stylist and
even opened her own business.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Patricia’s father had various jobs but spent most of his time in the
insurance business.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Patricia graduated high
school in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Grand Junction</st1:City>,
<st1:State w:st="on">Colorado</st1:State></st1:place>. She then went to
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Denver</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> where she
received her undergraduate degree in Humanities.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Patricia then said that she went where
ever the scholarships took her because she had no money. The next stop in her
educational journey was at the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Colorado</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> where Patricia earned her Masters
in English. While there, Patricia was a house advisor at a sorority which
provided her a place to live and a paycheck.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She made her way to the <st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:PlaceName>, <st1:City w:st="on">Columbia</st1:City>
where she taught classes while working on her PhD. Patricia met a student from
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Belgium</st1:place></st1:country-region> who encouraged her to apply
for a Full bright Scholarship so she did and received it.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">In 1964 to 1965 Patricia
spent a year in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Belgium</st1:country-region> where
she continued working on her dissertation for her PhD. Patricia told me about
the time the German Full Bright students invited the <st1:country-region
w:st="on">Belgium</st1:country-region> students to <st1:State
w:st="on">Berlin</st1:State> and the train ride through <st1:country-region
w:st="on">East Germany</st1:country-region> to get to and from <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Berlin</st1:place></st1:State>.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">After a few other stops,
Patricia got a job in 1969 working for the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType
w:st="on">University</st1:PlaceType> of <st1:PlaceName
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:PlaceName></st1:place>, Rolla.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She worked there until she retired in
1984 due to illness.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>While in
Rolla, Patricia earned the title of Dr. Morrow when she received her PhD in
1972. She also met Ed Vaughn and Bob Habbenstein while serving on an
enter-campus committee. After retiring she returned to <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Columbia</st1:place></st1:City> where she
received a certificate in Adult Education. She did editing of books and students
papers. She surprised us all when she quietly married Bob in 2003.
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">I could go on and on but
this issue must get to the printers and this editor is still trying to fill Dr
Morrow’s shoes which after talking with her have grown in size. Patricia I love
and respect you and welcome any criticism you have to offer. I am proud to call
you my friend.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Change Doesn’t Always
Come without Sacrifice<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">By Carol
Coulter<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">I have been in the
National Federation of the Blind since 1979 and have either seen or heard of
many changes that the blind have experienced. I would like to thank all of those
individuals who stood up for what they knew was right even if it meant putting
their jobs in jeopardy and in some instances their lives. Larry Murphy and Gene
Coulter both were turned down for promotions to be a supervisor because of
blindness even though they both had been on their respective jobs longer than
the majority of their coworkers. I had to fight the agency my husband was
working for to get my unrestricted Day Care license. Jim Moynihan<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="COLOR: blue; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">believed he was due a
promotion<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>and lost it due to unfair
testing procedures. Gene Coulter was unfairly treated as a hospital unit clerk
and put his and Gary Wunder’s jobs at risk because they worked at the same
hospital. A real sacrifice came when Bob Petersens and George Rittgers fought
for the right to have vending facilities in the U.S. Post Office in downtown
<st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Kansas City</st1:place></st1:City>. It
seems the Postal Workers Union opposed this idea so much that they literally ran
down one of them with a mail truck. These two brave men did not give in and won
the right to keep their facilities thus opening opportunities for other blind
venders.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">I know that not too many
of us would have been able to do what these two men did, but this type of
retaliation is extremely rare. There are many ways in which individuals have
sacrificed for the betterment of the blind. Family members give up time with
their loved ones so they can fight for the rights of blind people. Some people,
like our President Gary Wunder, use up vacation time to do the work of the NFB,
and still others are willing to help financially no matter how meager their
income.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">We call ourselves a
federation family and to me that means we take care of one another. When someone
is in trouble families gather to help in any way they can. They stand beside you
through good times and bad.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>If you
are a true believer in the power of this incredible family then you should not
feel alone when you are being treated in an unfair manner. Let the family help
you through the difficult time.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The reason I write this
article is because too many times I have heard individuals talk of injustices
but are not willing to come forward or let us use their story to change what is
going on. We do not expect the lawyers that we hire to go win a case for us
without concrete evidence. In the same way, we cannot go to employers,
legislators, state agencies or whoever else without concrete evidence. We need
people to help us help them by stepping up to the plate. If you are willing to
be the leader I am sure others will follow. Or as Harry Truman might have said
“put up or shut up”.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Remember the
saying God helps those who help themselves, and don’t forget we, the NFB, are
here for you.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 2.5in" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">NFB
facebook<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">by
<st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Dacia</st1:place></st1:State>
Luck<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Please join the NFB of
Missouri facebook page.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Join this
page and add any information including photos, videos, and links.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Here’s the link.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/NFB-of-Missouri/189920374360763<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">If you
have any questions contact Dacia Luck at </SPAN><A
href="mailto:daisydacia@centurytel.net"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><FONT
color=#0000ff>daisydacia@centurytel.net</FONT></SPAN></A><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">PLEDGE
OF THE<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-pagination: none; mso-layout-grid-align: none"
class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">NATIONAL
FEDERATION OF THE BLIND<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">I
pledge to participate actively in the effort of the National Federation of the
Blind to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for the blind: to support
the policies and programs of the Federation and to abide by its
Constitution<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Board of Directors</SPAN></B><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P
style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: center 5.25in 406.0pt"
class=Zaddresstab align=center><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt">National Federation of
the Blind of <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: -1.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1.5in"
class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 16pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: -1.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1.5in"
class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Officers:<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: -1.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1.5in"
class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: -1.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1.5in"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Gary Wunder,
President<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 2">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: -1.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1.5in"
class=MsoNormal><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Shelia
Wright</SPAN></st1:PersonName><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">, First Vice
President<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: -1.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1.5in"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Tom Stevens, Second Vice
President<SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: -1.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1.5in"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Debbie Wunder, Recording
Secretary<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: -1.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1.5in"
class=MsoNormal><st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Dacia</SPAN></st1:place></st1:State><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"> Luck, Corresponding
Secretary<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; TEXT-INDENT: -1.5in; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt 1.5in"
class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Carol Coulter,
Treasurer<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Board Members:
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Susan Ford, <SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 4">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Lois
Ulmer, <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Jim Moynihan, <SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 4">
</SPAN>Jeremiah Wells, <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Bill Neal, <SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 5">
</SPAN>Bob Williams, <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Gene
Fleeman<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Chapter
Presidents<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Gene Coulter, <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Columbia</st1:place></st1:City><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Helen Parker, South
Central<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Rita Lynch, <st1:City
w:st="on">Jefferson City</st1:City><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Gary Horchem, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Springfield</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Shelia
Wright</SPAN></st1:PersonName><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">, <st1:City
w:st="on">Kansas City</st1:City><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Dennis
Grabill, <st1:place w:st="on">St.</st1:place> Joseph
(contact)<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt"
class=MsoNormal><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Chris
Tisdal</SPAN></st1:PersonName><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">, Lewis and Clark<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Bryan Schulz, <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">St.
Louis</st1:place></st1:City><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
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style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
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style="mso-ignore: vglayout">
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=left>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0"
height=15 width=407></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD
style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #f0f0f0; BORDER-LEFT: #f0f0f0; BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; BORDER-TOP: #f0f0f0; BORDER-RIGHT: #f0f0f0"></TD>
<TD
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bgColor=white height=150 width=270><SPAN
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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%">
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD
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<DIV
style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 4.35pt; PADDING-LEFT: 7.95pt; PADDING-RIGHT: 7.95pt; PADDING-TOP: 4.35pt"
class=shape v:shape="Text_x0020_Box_x0020_4">
<H3 style="MARGIN: 12pt 0in 3pt"><FONT face=Arial>FREE MATTER FOR
THE</FONT></H3>
<H3 style="MARGIN: 12pt 0in 3pt"><FONT face=Arial>BLIND AND
PHYSICALLY</FONT></H3>
<H3 style="MARGIN: 12pt 0in 3pt"><FONT
face=Arial>HANDICAPPED</FONT></H3></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></SPAN><FONT
face=Calibri> </FONT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></SPAN><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P><BR
style="mso-ignore: vglayout" clear=all>
<H3 style="MARGIN: 12pt 0in 3pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">NFB of <st1:State
w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Missouri</st1:place></st1:State><o:p></o:p></SPAN></H3>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><st1:Street
w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">1613 Blue Ridge
Rd.</SPAN></B></st1:address></st1:Street><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Columbia</SPAN></B></st1:City><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt">, <st1:State
w:st="on">MO</st1:State><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><st1:PostalCode w:st="on">65202</st1:PostalCode></SPAN></B></st1:place><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
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style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal; MARGIN: 0in 0in 10pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
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