[NFBNJ] NFB: [Brl-monitor] The Braille Monitor, March 2018
Brian Mackey
bmackey88 at gmail.com
Fri Mar 2 02:34:10 UTC 2018
>From the desk of NFBNJ President Joe Ruffalo.
Received from Brian Burrow, NFB of California.
BRAILLE MONITOR
Vol. 61, No. 3 March 2018
Gary Wunder, Editor
Distributed by email, in inkprint, in Braille, and on USB flash
drive, by the
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
Mark Riccobono, President
telephone: (410) 659-9314
email address: nfb at nfb.org <mailto:nfb at nfb.org>
website address: http://www.nfb.org
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for the Monitor and letters to the editor may also be sent to the national
office or may be emailed to gwunder at nfb.org <mailto:gwunder at nfb.org> .
Monitor subscriptions cost the Federation about forty dollars per year.
Members are invited, and nonmembers are requested, to cover the
subscription cost. Donations should be made payable to National Federation
of the Blind and sent to:
National Federation of the Blind
200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
Baltimore, Maryland 21230-4998
THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND KNOWS THAT BLINDNESS IS NOT THE
CHARACTERISTIC THAT DEFINES YOU OR YOUR FUTURE. EVERY DAY WE RAISE THE
EXPECTATIONS OF BLIND PEOPLE, BECAUSE LOW EXPECTATIONS CREATE OBSTACLES
BETWEEN BLIND PEOPLE AND OUR DREAMS. YOU CAN LIVE THE LIFE YOU WANT;
BLINDNESS IS NOT WHAT HOLDS YOU BACK. THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
IS NOT AN ORGANIZATION SPEAKING FOR THE BLIND-IT IS THE BLIND SPEAKING FOR
OURSELVES.
ISSN 0006-8829
) 2018 by the National Federation of the Blind
Each issue is recorded on a thumb drive (also called a memory stick
or USB flash drive). You can read this audio edition using a computer or a
National Library Service digital player. The NLS machine has two slots-the
familiar book-cartridge slot just above the retractable carrying handle and
a second slot located on the right side near the headphone jack. This
smaller slot is used to play thumb drives. Remove the protective rubber pad
covering this slot and insert the thumb drive. It will insert only in one
position. If you encounter resistance, flip the drive over and try again.
(Note: If the cartridge slot is not empty when you insert the thumb drive,
the digital player will ignore the thumb drive.) Once the thumb drive is
inserted, the player buttons will function as usual for reading digital
materials. If you remove the thumb drive to use the player for cartridges,
when you insert it again, reading should resume at the point you stopped.
You can transfer the recording of each issue from the thumb drive to
your computer or preserve it on the thumb drive. However, because thumb
drives can be used hundreds of times, we would appreciate their return in
order to stretch our funding. Please use the return envelope enclosed with
the drive when you return the device.
Orlando Site of 2018 NFB Convention
The 2018 convention of the National Federation of the Blind will take
place in Orlando, Florida, July 3 to July 8, at the Rosen Shingle Creek
Resort, 9939 Universal Boulevard, Orlando, Florida 32819-9357. Make your
room reservation as soon as possible with the Shingle Creek staff only.
Call (866) 996-6338.
The 2018 room rates are singles and doubles, $88; and for triples and
quads $93. In addition to the room rates there will be a tax, which at
present is 12.5 percent. No charge will be made for children under
seventeen in the room with parents as long as no extra bed is requested.
The hotel is accepting reservations now. A $100-per-room deposit is
required to make a reservation. Fifty percent of the deposit will be
refunded if notice is given to the hotel of a reservation cancellation
before June 1, 2018. The other 50 percent is not refundable.
Rooms will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Reservations may be made before June 1, 2018, assuming that rooms are still
available. After that time the hotel will not hold our room block for the
convention. In other words, you should get your reservation in soon.
All Rosen Shingle Creek guestrooms feature amenities that include
plush Creek Sleeper beds, 40" flat screen TVs, complimentary high-speed
internet service, in-room safes, coffee makers, mini-fridges, and hair
dryers. Guests can also enjoy a swimming pool, fitness center, and on-site
spa. The Rosen Shingle Creek Resort has a number of dining options,
including two award-winning restaurants, and twenty-four-hour-a-day room
service.
The schedule for the 2018 convention is:
Tuesday, July 3 Seminar Day
Wednesday, July 4 Registration and Resolutions Day
Thursday, July 5 Board Meeting and Division Day
Friday, July 6 Opening Session
Saturday, July 7 Business Session
Sunday, July 8 Banquet Day and Adjournment
Vol. 61, No. 3 March
2018
Contents
Illustration: Taking on the Big Challenges of Blindness is What We are All
About
The Washington Seminar in Review
by Gary Wunder
Legislative Agenda of Blind Americans: Priorities for the 115th Congress,
Second Session
Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education Act (S. 2138/H.R.
1772)
Access Technology Affordability Act (S. 732/H.R. 1734)
Oppose the ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017 (H.R. 620)
The Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons
Who are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print-Disabled (Marrakesh
Treaty)
A Report from the Blind Merchants Division
by Terry Smith
A Report from the National Association of Blind Students
by Kathryn Webster
Building the Federation Brand Part 2: The Brand Personality
by Chris Danielsen
The Dentist and the Eye Doctor
by Jim Marks
Well Digger's Wisdom
by Ryan Strunk
The 2017 National Convention from Afar
by Adrijana Prokopenko
A Twisted Tail Dog
by Toni and Ed Eames
The Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund
by Allen Harris
Definitely the Cat's Meow
Lauren
Merryfield..................................................................
.............................
Eligible Sprint Customers Can Get a KNFB Reader Enterprise License Free
Recipes.....................................................................
.....................................
Monitor
Miniatures..................................................................
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[PHOTO CAPTION: Mark Riccobono poses with the award.
[PHOTO CAPTION: Alex Roy, editor-at-large, The Drive (the emcee of the
banquet); Mark Riccobono; Bryan Reimer, research scientist at MIT's AgeLab
and associate director of the New England University Transportation Center;
Huei Peng, director of the Mobility Transportation Center (MTC) of the
University of Michigan; Dan Galves, senior vice president and chief
communications officer, Mobileye, an Intel Company
[PHOTO CAPTION: Alex Roy, editor-at-large for The Drive, poses with Mark
Riccobono.
Taking on the Big Challenges of Blindness is What We are all About
In a land where the automobile is the most prevalent way to get
around, the inability to drive poses one of the biggest problems to blind
people. Naturally the nation's most active organization engaged in problem-
solving is addressing the issue. As we come ever closer to putting cars
that drive themselves on the road, the challenge for blind people is to
ensure we can operate them and that the law of the land permits us to do
so.
Recognizing our work, the Auto Alliance and the Alliance for
Transportation Innovation presented President Riccobono with an award on
January 24, 2018. Others recognized included members of Congress, a
governor, and a state senator. Also noted for their work were individuals
from a safety research consortium, a startup tech firm, a proving grounds
pioneer, and a major automotive supplier. "It is important to spotlight the
innovators and pioneers who are making future advancements a reality today.
Their efforts and technologies have the potential to bring tremendous
societal benefits-first and foremost greater motor vehicle safety, as well
as greater mobility and reduced emissions," said Mitch Bainwol, president
and CEO, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.
In additional remarks, the organizations went on to say, "Mark A.
Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind, has served as
a strong advocate for autonomous vehicles for the disability community. In
October 2017, the National Federation of the Blind hosted a first-of-its-
kind gathering of consumers with disabilities, auto representatives, ride-
sharing providers, and policymakers to lay the groundwork for including
accessibility in the development of promising new vehicle technologies in
the early stages. The conference launched an ongoing conversation about how
autonomous vehicles can be developed and deployed safely, while considering
the needs of those 57 million Americans with disabilities."
The Washington Seminar in Review
by Gary Wunder
Focus is defined as the state or quality of having or producing clear
visual definition, e.g., his face is out of focus; the point at which an
object must be situated with respect to a lens in order for an image of it
to be well defined; a device on a lens that can be adjusted to produce a
clear image; to focus a telescope; a person or their eyes; adapt to the
prevailing level of light and become able to see clearly. But for all the
references on focus that relate to vision, focus was the heart and soul of
the 2018 Washington Seminar, and it had nothing to do with sight or cameras
or telescopes. It had everything to do with a laser-like focus or
concentration on improving the lives of blind people. It had everything to
do with not being distracted by the divisive issues that seem to divide the
country and everything to do with finding common ground, being bipartisan,
and dealing head-on with the issues that affect all of us regardless of our
political ideologies and the labels that might be attached to us. The most
important label we displayed with pride-the one that identified us as
members of the National Federation of the Blind.
The National Organization of Parents of Blind Children started early
by hosting its own two-day seminar, and as a parent I met at the elevator
said, "This seminar was wonderful for us. It came at just the right time,
gave us lots of information, and has convinced us that there are
opportunities for our child we didn't dare to dream possible. We are so
grateful." What more could an organization ask of a division responsible
for creating a magazine called Future Reflections which is dedicated to
bringing such hope and comfort to parents of blind children and such
opportunity to blind people themselves.
But we had more than parents who wanted to meet to discuss issues in-
depth. One was the National Federation of the Blind Merchants Division, and
there was much for them to discuss. What once was a program that offered a
small corner in a federal or state building was transformed in 1974, and
blind merchants today have business locations that private vendors would
love to occupy. When big corporations come to Washington to tell Congress
that these facilities should be assigned to them rather than the blind, the
blind have something to say about that. We demand our right to be a part of
the free enterprise system, not just as women and men employed by someone
else but as managers who oversee lucrative businesses who are the job
creators of our nation and who provide a quality service that is as fine as
any big business can supply. A more detailed report of the division's
meeting can be found later in this issue.
Our meeting in Washington has for a long time been the midwinter
meeting of our National Association of Blind Students, and the room for
that meeting was jam-packed. A report of this meeting is found elsewhere in
this issue.
[PHOTO CAPTION: The crowd at the Great Gathering-In stands and claps.
On Monday afternoon many who planned to go to Capitol Hill met with
members of our legislative team to become familiar with the intricacies of
the legislation we would discuss with those on Capitol Hill and to hear
some dos and don'ts when dealing with the United States House of
Representatives and the United States Senate. The issues we were briefed on
are covered in the fact sheets that appear elsewhere in this issue, but
what is so special about the early afternoon meeting is the tips we are
given: Start by defining the problem. If this is an issue we have covered
several times and the member or his staff already know about it, go lighter
on the problem, stress the need for its resolution, and reserve more time
for new issues. Don't forget to say thank you for past support. At the end
of the presentation, don't forget to make the ultimate ask-will you
cosponsor this legislation? If the answer is clearly no, move on. If the
answer is clearly yes, move on. If more information is likely to determine
the outcome, make sure you understand what is needed, find the answers, and
do the follow-up to ensure that this information gets back to the
Congressman's office.
When the gavel fell at 5 PM to signal the beginning of the Great
Gathering-In Meeting, President Riccobono inspired the group with these
remarks which set not only the tone of the evening but the tone of the four-
day event: "Some have been wondering what that sound is in Washington, DC.
No, it's not the sound of the government gearing back up after a shutdown.
No, it's not the sound of social media being blown up with fake news. And
it is certainly not the sound of uncertainty, confusion, doubt, or despair.
Those who are in the know recognize that what they hear in Washington is
the heartbeat of the blind of the nation. We have come with hope and
confidence to speak for ourselves, to lead the way with authenticity, to
call upon our elected leaders in Congress and urge them to join us in
achieving security, equality, and opportunity and to answer the question,
who are we?" The crowd responds with "NFB." "But really, who are we? We are
the National Federation of the Blind." The crowd now responds with
"National Federation of the Blind, National Federation of the Blind,
National Federation of the Blind," and it does so each time the President
and later presenters pause and prepare to say the name of our organization.
President Riccobono continues:
We are the only organization that believes in the full capacity
of blind people. We are the National Federation of the Blind. We have
the power, influence, diversity, and determination. We are the
National Federation of the Blind. We value collective action,
democracy, respectful participation, courage, and love. We are the
National Federation of the Blind. We are filled with hope, energy, and
love by participating in our movement because our expectations are
raised, and our contributions make a difference to us and to others.
We are the members of the National Federation of the Blind.
It is up to us to make sure that the government does not create
artificial barriers between blind people and our dreams. The Social
Security Administration provides benefits to blind people that are a
critical safety net while receiving rehabilitation training and while
seeking and securing employment. We are invited to come to local SSA
offices to meet with personnel of the agency about our benefits, but
we are required to check in using touchscreen kiosks. We value full
participation, but the Social Security Administration has implemented
inaccessible visitor intake processing using touchscreen kiosks that
require blind people to provide private information, including their
Social Security number, to the sighted person who just happens to be
nearby. We are not willing to be second-class citizens. We have asked
the government for equal access, and they have dragged their feet. We
have dragged them into court because we are the National Federation of
the Blind.
We seek to enjoy opportunities like all other Americans. In
addition to work and school, we like to grab a meal out and maybe a
movie now and then. Apparently it is not just the government that is
fascinated with the use of kiosks. They also appear on our restaurant
tables and in our grocery stores. Late last year we settled with E la
Carte and Applebee's to incorporate text-to-speech capabilities into
all current and future PrestoPrime touch tablets across the nation.
In November we resolved a class-action suit with Redbox which
will result in Redbox outfitting its kiosks with tactile keyboards,
headphone jacks, and text-to-speech capabilities. When Redbox is done,
blind people who live in areas that are served by Redbox should never
be more than a five-minute-drive from an accessible Redbox kiosk where
you can pick up the latest movies offered by the company. We will
monitor Redbox to make sure they get it right because we are the
National Federation of the Blind.
We want to work, but we are often denied equal access to
information about available jobs. Working with us, Monster has renewed
its commitment to accessibility and has agreed to make all of its
employment job ads available through monster.com and monster-branded
applications fully and equally accessible by next December. Monster
will also collaborate with us on ways that it can educate employers
and promote the benefits of employees who are blind in real jobs. We
want to work in integrated, competitive employment. We are the
National Federation of the Blind.
We want our blind children to get the best education they can.
Some school districts hold our blind students down. In Iowa a local
school district had failed to educate a blind student to such a degree
that he was poised to transition out of high school without the
ability to read Braille or use screen-access software. We will not
allow educators to fail another generation of blind students. If they
will not teach them, we will advocate for them and teach them
ourselves. That is what we did in this case, and today this high
school student is receiving training to make up for the years of
insufficient services he received in Iowa. The training is being
conducted by BLIND, Inc in Minnesota. BLIND, Inc is a training center
operated under the philosophy of the National Federation of the Blind.
We come to Washington, DC, to let our elected officials know
that we intend to give them advice and vote to determine whether they
will return next year. Some states believe that we need not enjoy the
full range of voting opportunities afforded to sighted Americans. We
know what equality means, and we have the power and determination to
get it when it is not granted. Earlier this month the office of Ohio's
Secretary of State changed its mind about access to voting for the
blind. All Ohio counties were ordered to implement an accessible
absentee ballot-marking tool in time for the November 2018 election.
We helped them change their mind, and we are the National Federation
of the Blind.
If you have not yet met us, you can be certain you will. Whether
you are a museum creating a significant historical exhibit of our
time, a manufacturer of vehicles that require no driver, an airline
that insists on burdensome notifications before we can board, or an
antiquated professional organization trying to ride a dead horse to
accreditation, you will soon know that we are the National Federation
of the Blind-we are the National Federation of the Blind-we are the
National Federation of the Blind.
We come with our dreams and our legislative proposals. We have
not asked that the proposals be written for us. We have crafted the
solutions and have come to get them enacted. We speak with a unified
voice built on the authentic individual experience of thousands. We
have gathered together to transform our dreams into reality. We have
come to live the lives we want.
[PHOTO CAPTION: Diane McGeorge
Diane McGeorge was introduced and said that this was her thirty-
fourth year as the coordinator of logistics for our Washington Seminar. She
gave the logistical information we have been accustomed to getting, and the
applause that she received reflected the tremendous admiration we have for
her and all that she continues to do.
This year's Great Gathering-In Meeting was broadcast on Facebook
live, and both President Riccobono and Kirsten Mau, director of marketing
and communications, welcomed our remote visitors. Although there is nothing
quite like being in the Capitol Ballroom where people are packed from wall
to wall or in the overflow room which is also well-populated, it is
wonderful that we can extend the spirit of the Great Gathering-In to
Federationists throughout the country and around the world. Kirsten urged
everyone who has a smartphone to download our NFB Connect app that provides
access in one place to the Braille Monitor, the Voice of the Nation's Blind
blog, current announcements, our Twitter feed, the location and meeting
time of the chapter nearest you, and so much more.
Immediate Past President Maurer has recently focused a lot of
attention on different ways that blind people can learn, and one of those
ways involves pictures. This way of displaying information has long been
considered off-limits to blind people, and although the pictures are still
somewhat costly to produce and difficult for those of us not acquainted
with them to understand, the potential they offer to enrich the learning of
blind people is enormous. The American Action Fund for Blind Children and
Adults has developed the drawing kit and is selectively distributing it to
people interested in increasing the ways in which blind people learn and in
expanding the possibilities that come through an understanding of pictures,
drawings, graphs, and other material. People interested in helping with
this project should contact Patricia Maurer at the Jernigan Institute by
writing to her at pmaurer at nfb.org <mailto:pmaurer at nfb.org> .
[PHOTO CAPTION: Congressman Gus M. Bilirakis, representative of the Twelfth
District of Florida, speaks to the crowd.
[PHOTO CAPTION: Congressman Gus M. Bilirakis and Mark Riccobono
The Great Gathering-In was next addressed by the congressman
representing the Twelfth District of Florida, the Honorable Gus Bilirakis.
He is the vice chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, and he
is a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. He has sponsored
H.R. 936, the Space Available Act; is a cosponsor of H.R. 1734, the Access
Technology Affordability Act; and he is an early supporter of H.R. 3388,
the SELF DRIVE Act which foreshadows the appearance on our nation's streets
and highways of self-driving vehicles. The congressman wrote an amendment
to this bill establishing a committee to ensure that these vehicles will be
ones that senior citizens and blind people can operate. The congressman has
a dog in the fight since he has significant vision loss as well as a loss
of hearing. He reviewed all of the other bills which he is involved with as
a result of the Federation, wished us luck as we went to The Hill, and
encouraged us to keep on bringing our message year after year to the
Congress of the United States.
When our blind brothers and sisters are in need, we are there. This
was never more evident than when hurricane Harvey visited Texas and
Louisiana and when blind people found themselves confronting devastating
destruction in Puerto Rico. In Texas more than seventy inches of rain fell
over one week. More than 105,000 people had their homes destroyed. The
National Federation of the Blind set up a fund which was administered by
state president and national board member Norma Crosby. She addressed the
Great Gathering-In, talked briefly about the assistance we provided, said
that we have now met all the requests received from Texas, and that since
we promised that all money sent for hurricane relief would be spent on
hurricane relief, the balance in the fund would go to Puerto Rico. The
audience greeted Norma's presentation with enthusiastic response,
representing our pride in being able to help, our pride in having leaders
such as President Riccobono and President Crosby, and our determination to
see that those in Puerto Rico receive all the help we are capable of
giving.
[PHOTO CAPTION: Anil Lewis
Anil Lewis is the executive director of the Jernigan Institute, and
he began his presentation by saying that one of his first national events
was participating in NAC Tracking, the name we used to symbolize the
protests against a bogus accreditation body that cared little about what
the blind said or thought. Anil related that it was a rainy day, that
Immediate Past President Maurer had put him in charge of the poncho crew,
and he hadn't a clue how we would actually organize a protest. When Diane
McGeorge saw his hesitation, she grabbed up a picket sign, moved to a
corner, raised the sign, and began shouting, "Come to my voice and turn
left." It was then that Anil knew that blind people were quite capable of
organizing and participating in protests, and he has been sounding his
voice on behalf of blind people ever since.
So we protest when we must, but our preference is to build
relationships and programs. One of the finest we have built is the Braille
Enrichment for Literacy and Learning Academy, and it is now taking
applications to serve young people ages four to twelve. Parents who have
children who can benefit from our program should go to https://nfb.org/bell-
academy. As wonderful as our program is, it is exceedingly frustrating to
deal with a school system that fails to recognize the role of Braille and
the importance of dual-media learning for our blind children. We have
created instructional materials. We have created the National Reading Media
Assessment, we certify Braille transcribers, and, as a last resort, we take
on school districts that refuse to live up to their responsibility to the
students they are charged with serving.
Science, technology, engineering, and math provide one of the most
exciting industries for lucrative employment, but blind people are
underrepresented in these fields because instead of being trained using the
alternative techniques of blindness, we are educated in schools which see
us as broken sighted people, and our students are encouraged to do things
the way sighted people do them. But we are not broken sighted people who
are forever put at a disadvantage. We are blind people with educational
tools and techniques that will let us be as productive as our sighted
neighbors. As noted elsewhere in the program, access technology gives us
education; access technology gives us jobs; access technology gives us
independence.
As a follow-up to our first grant from the National Science
Foundation, we have been given a second. It is a five-year grant to conduct
a program called Spatial Ability Blindness Engineering Research. Spatial
ability is linked to performance in STEM, and the ability of blind people
to do mental mapping actually means that we have the potential to be great
engineers. This means that we will continue to build on the research that
illustrates that our natural abilities to live in this world promote
opportunities for us to engage in STEM areas. For more information, go to
blindscience.org.
Lastly, Anil reminded us that very soon we will be launching a
national mentoring program. We are built on mentoring, survive on
mentoring, and are best known for our each-one-teach-five philosophy. All
of us have something to offer to young blind students, so everyone should
go to www.nfb.org/mentorapplication <http://www.nfb.org/mentorapplication>
and become a mentor. Anil said, "Won't
it be fantastic when someday soon we call on our self-driving car to go
pick up our mentee for a visit and a meal out?"
Following upon Anil's desire for us to form new relationships,
President Riccobono noted that Kirk Adams, the president of the American
Foundation for the Blind, was in the audience, and when he was asked about
NAC, he said that there was no way that the foundation would be supporting
it. So, if we are called upon to take up our picket signs, it may be that
we form some new relationships on the picket line as we work to see that
blind people chart our own destiny, demand quality service, and are the
customers who will determine whether an agency is providing quality service
or not.
None of the initiatives we undertake is more important to the
maintenance of our families than ensuring that we have the right to be
blind parents. Melissa Riccobono is heading up our blind parents
initiative, and we all know that she can't mentor all of the blind parents
who need mentoring by herself. If you know something about being a blind
parent and wish to help others, please go to blindparents.org and fill out
the form to become a mentor.
President Riccobono reminded the assembled that we are looking for
innovative agencies and individuals to recognize them with our Dr. Jacob
Bolotin awards. Jim Gashel chairs this effort, and more information about
the program and the process for making nominations is found at
www.nfb.org/bolotin/ <http://www.nfb.org/bolotin/> . The President also
encouraged us to remember that we
are actively engaged with Uber and Lyft to monitor their compliance with
agreements to transport people using guide dogs. Please log every ride you
take with your guide dog by going to www.nfb.org/rideshare
<http://www.nfb.org/rideshare> .
This year the national convention will be sponsored by our affiliates
in Iowa, Florida, and Virginia. The convention will be from July 3 through
July 8 and will be held at the Rosen Shingle Creek. More detailed
information can be found at the front of this issue.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I am the biggest proponent of our
Preauthorized Contribution Program (PAC). I am because, like so many of
you, it has helped me transform my dreams into reality and to live the life
I want. But it's even more basic than that. It has allowed me to know that
I have the right to have dreams. It is this Federation who in 1986 took a
scared high school graduate and helped turn him into a confident young man
largely thanks to the introduction I got to the Federation through our
scholarship program. Guess what funds the scholarship program? The PAC
Plan. It was during my first Washington Seminar in 1987 that I realized I
might want to go to law school because I wanted to make a difference
through the law. ... This is our single most successful internal
fundraising program, and everyone who can should be a part of it." So said
our intrepid PAC Chairman, Scott LaBarre. Contact your chapter or affiliate
president for more information or go to
https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/pac-form-fillout-accessible.pdf to
sign up or to increase your contribution.
President Riccobono announced that on the following evening the
National Federation of the Blind would be sponsoring the first fully
tactile art exhibit in the United States at the Newseum on Pennsylvania
Street in Washington, DC. The Newseum was opened for the exclusive use of
Federationists and our guests between 6 and 8:30 PM, and we will cover this
first-of-its-kind exhibit in the April issue of the Braille Monitor.
[PHOTO CAPTION: John Pari
The executive director for strategic initiatives of the National
Federation of the Blind, John Pari, took the stage to introduce the
legislative team who would join the rest of us on Capitol Hill throughout
the week. In addition to the four issues which appear on our fact sheets
and follow this article, John reminded us that we are also supporting other
pieces of legislation including the TIME Act, the Space Available Act, and
the SELF DRIVE Act. We are also working hard to see that blind vendors
retain privileges to work the roadside rest areas that are now run by blind
merchants by opposing H.R. 1990. We are working on language to reform the
AbilityOne Act, and the accessibility of medical devices is also a high
priority with us, especially those devices used by blind diabetics. We
will, of course, see that blind people continue to have the right to be
accompanied by their guide dogs when flying, and we totally reject the idea
that anyone must give forty-eight-hours' notice before bringing their guide
dog onboard. Whether we support or oppose a piece of legislation,
regulation, or a comment made by a public official, we always stand out in
the way that we conduct ourselves because we are polite, professional,
persistent, and persuasive.
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Patti Chang
After a brief review of each issue we would address on Capitol Hill,
Patti Chang was introduced to talk about the Dream Maker's Circle, a
program that will help continue to fund the National Federation of the
Blind when those of us who now do it are no longer alive. Kevan Worley
mentioned a program negotiated by President Riccobono and the Aira
Corporation to provide special discounts for members of the National
Federation of the Blind. The specific offer made to Federationists can be
found at http://go.aira.io/nfb. In addition to special discounts for
members, all state affiliate conventions and the national convention will
be Aira sites, and subscribers will not use minutes when taking advantage
of Aira services.
When the meeting concluded, many of us went off to find some food and
then a quiet place where we could do the role-playing that would get us
ready for the next three days on Capitol Hill. Nothing builds confidence in
quite the same way as fielding questions, giving answers, and getting
gentle direction and constructive criticism from those who've done it
before. The thing that really cements confidence in one's ability comes
when a legislative aide or a congressman says that they get it, that they
appreciate our communication, and that they are proud to join us in
supporting or opposing a bill.
People who attend the Washington Seminar annually love the experience
and regard it as a significant part of their year. But to gauge the impact
of the seminar, it is important to talk with those who are attending for
the first time.: "The Washington Seminar was more exciting than I ever
dreamed it could be. I met a lot of people I've read about, and when I
would tell them I had read their articles in the Braille Monitor it was
wonderful when they would say, 'Yes, I wrote that article.' And then say
that it was a pleasure for them to meet me as well." Another first-timer
said: "I come away feeling inspired. It is amazing to think that I really
have a say in the important policies of our nation. It makes me proud to be
a part of an organization that is so empowering."
Indications are that this year will garner us a number of new
cosponsors for the legislation we support and will do much to eliminate the
possibility that a law to dismantle the ADA will not pass the House of
Representatives or be seriously considered in the Senate. These are
victories by any standard, and they are made possible because, through the
National Federation of the Blind, we turn intentions into action and action
into positive results.
----------
Legislative Agenda of Blind Americans
Priorities for the 115th Congress, Second Session
The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day we
work together to help blind people live the lives we want.
. The Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education (Aim
High) Act
Electronic instructional materials have replaced traditional
methods of learning in postsecondary education, but the overwhelming
majority of ebooks, courseware, web content, and other technologies
are inaccessible to students with print disabilities. The law requires
equal access in the classroom but fails to provide direction to
schools for the way it applies to technology. The Aim High Act creates
voluntary accessibility guidelines for educational technology to
stimulate the market, improve blind students' access to course
materials, and reduce litigation for schools.
. The Access Technology Affordability Act (ATAA)
Currently, blind Americans rely on scarce sources of funding to
acquire access technology. By providing a refundable tax credit for
qualifying access technology purchases, Congress will stimulate
individual procurement of access technology and promote affordability
of these tools for blind Americans.
. Opposition to the "ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017" (H.R. 620)
The ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017 would undermine the ADA
by significantly eroding equal access protections and progress made
over nearly three decades.
. The Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for
Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print
Disabled
Despite the ability to convert print books into accessible
formats like Braille, large print, audio, and digital copies, millions
of blind and otherwise print-disabled Americans are excluded from
accessing 95 percent of published works. The Marrakesh Treaty will
enable the cross-border exchange of accessible format copies, thereby
vastly expanding the availability of accessible foreign language
literature to blind and otherwise print-disabled Americans.
These priorities will remove obstacles to education, employment, and access
to published works. We urge Congress to support our legislative
initiatives.
Find us on social media:
National Federation of the Blind | @NFB_Voice | @nfb_voice
----------
Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education Act (S. 2138/H.R.
1772)
Until a market-driven solution for accessible instructional materials is
achieved, blind college students will be denied access to critical course
content.
Technology has fundamentally changed the education system. The scope
of instructional materials used at institutions of higher education has
expanded. Curricular content comes in digital books, PDFs, webpages, etc.,
and most of this content is delivered through digital databases, learning
management systems, and applications. The print world is inherently
inaccessible to students with disabilities, but technology offers the
opportunity to expand the circle of participation. Studies have found that,
of the 6.6 million students with disabilities in grades K-12, the number
who go on to pursue postsecondary education is growing.
Blind students are facing insurmountable barriers to education.
Instead of fulfilling the promise of equal access, technology has created
more problems than the print world ever did. Data show that students with
disabilities face a variety of challenges, including matriculation and
college completion failure, solely because, in the absence of clear
accessibility guidelines, colleges and universities are sticking with the
ad-hoc accommodations model. Currently, schools deploy inaccessible
technology and then modify another version for blind students, usually
weeks or even months into class, creating a "separate-but-equal" landscape
with nearly impenetrable barriers. With only a 17.9 percent employment
rate, compared to 65.3 percent among people without disabilities, students
with disabilities should not be denied access by the innovations that can
ensure full participation.
Institutions of higher education need help to identify accessible
material and comply with nondiscrimination laws. Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act and Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities
Act require schools to provide equal access, and in 2010, the US
Departments of Justice and Education clarified that the use of inaccessible
technology is prohibited under these laws. The 2011 AIM Commission
recommended to Congress that accessibility guidelines be developed for
postsecondary instructional materials. In the seven years since, over a
dozen institutions have faced legal action for using inaccessible
technology, and complaints are on the rise. Most litigation ends with a
commitment from the school to embrace accessibility, but that commitment
does little in a vast, uncoordinated higher education market.
Accessibility solutions are available, but guidelines are sorely
needed to stimulate the market. The Accessible Instructional Materials in
Higher Education Act will bring together people with disabilities and the
higher education, publishing, tech developing, and manufacturing
communities to develop a stakeholder-driven solution to the issue of
inaccessible instructional materials. With input from all relevant
stakeholder communities, mainstream accessible instructional materials can
be achieved, benefiting both institutions of higher education and the
students with disabilities they aim to serve.
Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education Act:
Develops accessibility guidelines for instructional materials used in
postsecondary education. A purpose-based commission is tasked with
developing accessibility criteria for instructional materials and the
delivery systems/technologies used to access those materials. Additionally,
the commission is tasked with developing an annotated list of existing
national and international standards so that schools and developers can
identify what makes a product usable by the blind.
Provides a digital accessibility roadmap for institutions of higher
education. The guidelines developed by the commission will contain specific
technical and functional criteria that will clearly illustrate how to make
educational technologies usable by the blind and other students with print
disabilities. Such criteria will prove to be beneficial to procurement
officers, informational technology staff, chief technology officers, and
other key personnel at institutions of higher education.
Offers flexibility for schools while reiterating that pre-existing
obligations still apply. Colleges and universities are permitted to use
material that does not conform to the guidelines as long as equal access
laws are still honored. Conformity with the Aim High guidelines is only one
path to compliance; schools can pursue a different path but in doing so
will forfeit the combined expertise of the relevant stakeholder communities
involved in the development of the Aim High guidelines.
REMOVE BARRIERS TO EQUALITY IN THE CLASSROOM.
Cosponsor Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education Act.
To cosponsor S. 2138, contact:
Samuel Weinstock, legislative correspondent, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-
MA)
Phone: (202) 224-4543, Email: samuel_weinstock at warren.senate.gov
<mailto:samuel_weinstock at warren.senate.gov>
To cosponsor H.R. 1772, contact:
Jennifer Wise, legislative fellow, Congressman Phil Roe (R-TN)
Phone: (202) 225-6356, Email: jennifer.wise at mail.house.gov
<mailto:jennifer.wise at mail.house.gov>
For more information, contact:
Gabe Cazares, government affairs specialist, National Federation of the
Blind
Phone: (410) 659-9314, extension 2206, Email: gcazares at nfb.org
<mailto:gcazares at nfb.org>
For more information visit: www.nfb.org/aim_high
<http://www.nfb.org/aim_high>
----------
Access Technology Affordability Act (S. 732/H.R. 1734)
Increase the availability of access technology and promote affordability of
that technology for blind Americans
Access technology enables blind Americans to participate in today's
connected world. Although blindness is easily measurable, it affects each
person differently and at different ages. Despite these differences,
manufacturers have designed various tools that enable each blind American
to perform tasks that they were once unable to accomplish themselves due to
their disability. Braille notetakers are frequently used in schools, screen-
reading software allows workers to check their email at home, and screen
magnification software can help seniors losing vision learn about community
activities. Access technology equips blind Americans to seek employment and
stay employed. For the 58 percent of blind Americans who are not in the
labor market, it is a vehicle that makes possible and increases the chances
of engaging in and securing employment. However, despite this critical
need, public and private entities struggle to meet consumer demand. This
leads to untimely delays in the delivery of crucial technology and
ultimately harms the blind consumer.
The high cost of access technology creates a difficult economic
reality. According to the United States Census Bureau, 72 percent of blind
Americans are either unemployed or underemployed, yet most access
technology continues to range from $1,000 to $6,000. For example, a leading
screen reader is $900, a popular Braille notetaker is $5,495, one model of
a refreshable Braille display is $2,795, and a moderately priced Braille
embosser is $3,695. Consequently, most blind Americans do not have
sufficient financial resources needed to purchase these items. These
financial barriers can ultimately lead to a loss of employment,
insufficient education, or even isolation from community activities.
Medical insurance will not cover the cost of access technology.
Current definitions of "medical care," "medical necessity," and "durable
medical equipment" within common insurance policies do not include access
technology. These definitions were adopted in the 1960s when medical care
was viewed primarily as curative and palliative, with little or no
consideration given to increasing an individual's functional status. Many
states' Medicaid programs and individual health insurance plans have
adopted similar definitions and likewise will not cover the cost of access
technology.
Access Technology Affordability Act:
The Access Technology Affordability Act provides a simple solution that
will increase the availability of access technology so that blind Americans
can procure these items for themselves. It establishes a refundable tax
credit for blind Americans in the amount of $2,500 to be used over a three-
year period to offset the cost of access technology.
Historically, Congress has created similar tax incentives (e.g.,
Disabled Access Credit) for business owners required to make
accommodations, including access technology, for employees and patrons with
disabilities. Even though Congress created these tax incentives to increase
accessibility in the community, these incentives are underutilized.
Meanwhile, blind Americans, for the most part, must depend on others to
procure access technology for them.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to meet the access technology
needs of all blind Americans. Accessibility requires an individualized
assessment of one's own skills and needs. Therefore, blind Americans should
be given the opportunity to procure access technology on their own to
ensure that they are receiving the tools that are most useful for them.
REMOVE FINANCIAL BARRIERS AND INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF ACCESS
TECHNOLOGY.
To cosponsor S. 732 in the Senate, contact:
Ryan Losak, legislative correspondent, Office of Senator John Boozman (R-
AR)
Phone: (202) 224-4843, Email: ryan_losak at boozman.senate.gov
<mailto:ryan_losak at boozman.senate.gov>
To cosponsor H.R. 1734 in the House of Representatives, contact:
Jacob Olson, legislative director, Office of Congressman David Young (R-IA)
Phone: (202) 225-5476, Email: jacob.olson at mail.house.gov
<mailto:jacob.olson at mail.house.gov>
For more information, contact:
Kimie Beverly, government affairs specialist, National Federation of the
Blind
Phone: (410) 659-9314, extension 2441, Email: kbeverly at nfb.org
<mailto:kbeverly at nfb.org>
For more information visit www.nfb.org <http://www.nfb.org>
----------
Oppose the ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017 (H.R. 620)
The ADA Education and Reform Act of 2017 would undermine the ADA by
significantly eroding equal access protections and progress made over
nearly three decades.
In 1990 the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed
with broad bipartisan support. After years of advocacy by people with
disabilities and extensive negotiations with the business community, a
compromise was reached which balanced the cost to businesses of
accommodating people with disabilities with the desperate need to eliminate
the physical and systemic barriers that were isolating them from the rest
of society and denying them educational, economic, and employment
opportunities. Over twenty-seven years later, while much still needs to be
done, the ADA has tremendously benefited the blind and others, with and
without disabilities. The blind have more access and more ability to
participate in economic and community life than we have ever had, while
businesses have an expanded customer base, and many accommodations that
benefit people with disabilities also benefit others. Now, H.R. 620 (and
other proposed ADA "notification" or "reform" bills) threaten to bankrupt
the promise of the ADA.
H.R. 620 would eliminate the right to equal access that is guaranteed
by the ADA. Instead, the bill would require only that a public
accommodation show "substantial progress" toward fixing an access barrier,
a standard which has no clear legal definition. The introduction of this
vague standard disregards the right of people with disabilities to demand
an immediate remedy to an access barrier. Given that this standard is not
clearly defined, a business may be able to create a quick partial remedy to
an access barrier, not a real solution. For the blind, this could mean
continued inaccessibility in online shopping or digital banking platforms,
as well as the inability to maintain the privacy of medical information
that other people have during visits to the doctor's office, or to
independently peruse the menu choices at a restaurant.
H.R. 620 would undermine the ADA by eroding the threat of litigation,
and thereby eliminate a major incentive for compliance. Under the bill, a
covered business need not comply with its existing obligations under the
ADA at all until receiving a detailed letter from a person with a
disability who experienced an access barrier. The business will then be
required only to achieve "substantial progress" in remedying the barrier to
avoid a lawsuit. The result will be that many businesses will never need to
fully comply with the ADA, despite being notified of access barriers that
have been experienced by their potential patrons.
This bill is founded on inaccuracies and misunderstandings.
Proponents of H.R. 620 argue that the bill is necessary because of the
existence of "drive-by lawsuits" designed to exploit Title III of the ADA.
This argument has no researched data behind it and rests entirely on
anecdotes and sensationalized media stories. There is also confusion as to
whether the ADA permits litigants to seek monetary damages under Title III
lawsuits, which it does not.
The Americans with Disabilities Act:
The ADA is already a compromise that is designed to acknowledge the
concerns of the business community. It explicitly states that any remedy
must be "readily achievable" if the access barrier exists in an
establishment that predates passage of the bill (1990). The "readily
achievable" standard considers the difficulty of the remedy as well as the
expense and relationship to the structure of the establishment in question.
In addition to this standard, there are provisions within Title III that
require certain factors to be considered when determining obligations to
undertake Title III remedies, such as the size of the business and the
financial resources available to the business.
The federal government already provides extensive educational and technical
assistance resources to aid businesses with their ADA compliance
obligations. The following resources make Section 2 of H.R. 620 redundant:
. ten regional ADA centers, funded by a grant from the Department of
Health and Human Services, that provide technical assistance,
trainings, and other resources for businesses;
. an ADA hotline for businesses to call, operated by the Department
of Justice; and
. an ADA website, containing numerous resources, tools, and
information for businesses.
The Department of Justice already facilitates mediation and
alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. When the ADA was enacted nearly
thirty years ago, Congress encouraged the use of mediation as a way to
resolve disputes. To that end, the Department of Justice refers ADA
disputes to professional mediators specifically trained in the requirements
of the ADA. This mediation is provided at no charge, making Section 5 of
H.R. 620 unnecessary.
CONTINUE SUPPORTING EQUAL ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY FOR BLIND AMERICANS WHILE
ALSO AVOIDING WASTEFUL AND DUPLICATIVE PROGRAMS AT TAXPAYER EXPENSE.
Oppose H.R. 620.
For more information, contact:
Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette, government affairs specialist, National Federation
of the Blind
Phone: (410) 659-9314, extension 2210, Email: dhedtler-gaudette at nfb.org
----------
The Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons
Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled (Marrakesh
Treaty)1
An international copyright treaty will give blind Americans access to
millions of
published works and improve the distribution of books around the globe.
Millions of Americans are being denied access to published works.2
Despite the ability to convert print books into accessible formats like
Braille, audio, and digital copies, over 95 percent of published works are
unavailable to people with print disabilities.3 Literacy and equal
participation in society are critical elements of a fulfilling and
independent life, but until uniformity is built into the international
copyright system, blind Americans will be excluded from accessing published
works on terms of equality. A blind student seeking to learn Spanish will
likely struggle to find an accessible format in that language;4 a work
printed in English may have already been converted into an accessible
format overseas, but because copies are not exchanged across borders,
domestic entities might need to make a duplicate copy or just might deny
access altogether by failing to reproduce the work.
An uncoordinated legal approach prevents the cross-border exchange of
accessible books. Unlike the United States, where copyright law includes
the Chafee Amendment and other exceptions,5 roughly two-thirds of the
world's nations do not have domestic copyright laws that permit making
copies for the blind, limiting the number of works available in an
accessible format. Moreover, many countries consider distribution of
accessible copies an infringement as well, and even amongst nations that
permit distribution, limitations vary. Instead of exchanging books across
borders, works are needlessly duplicated, and circulation is significantly
limited.
The Marrakesh Treaty was adopted to achieve this goal. On June 27,
2013, a diplomatic conference convened by the World Intellectual Property
Organization, (WIPO) in Morocco adopted the Marrakesh Treaty with
enthusiastic support from the US delegation. The treaty, signed by the
United States on October 2, 2013, currently has eighty-eight signatories,
has been ratified by thirty-three countries,6 and has entered into force as
of September 30, 2016.7
The Marrakesh Treaty has broad stakeholder support. Blind people
should have full and equal access to all works that enrich lives, further
education, and share critical information; the treaty balances this
priority with the interests of rights holders. WIPO's adoption of the
Marrakesh Treaty was supported by American-based companies,8 the
international publishing community,9 legal experts,10 and blindness
advocates.11 The treaty will have tangible benefits for all involved. This
is why the Senate must act swiftly to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty and why
Congress must pass its associated implementing legislation immediately.
The Marrakesh Treaty calls for contracting parties to provide in their
national copyright laws for a limitation or exception that allows for the:
Reproduction of works by an authorized entity for the purposes of
converting them into accessible format copies exclusively for beneficiary
persons
Distribution of accessible format copies exclusively to beneficiary
persons
Import of accessible format copies for the purposes of making them
available domestically
Export of accessible format copies for the purposes of making them
available to a beneficiary person in another country
REMOVE BARRIERS TO ACCESS OF PUBLISHED WORKS.
Support ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty.
For more information, contact:
Gabe Cazares, government affairs specialist, National Federation of the
Blind
Phone: (410) 659-9314, extension 2206, Email: gcazares at nfb.org
Footnotes:
1. Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are
Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled, June 28, 2013
http://www.wipo.int/edocs/mdocs/diplconf/en/vip_dc/vip_dc_8_rev.pdf.
2. World Health Organization, Fact Sheet, Visual impairment and
blindness, http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs282/en/ last
modified October 2017.
3. World Blind Union, FAQ Sheets on UN and Human Rights Instruments,
Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons
who are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled,
http://www.worldblindunion.org/English/resources/Pages/Global-
Blindness-Facts.aspx last modified August 2017.
4. LaBarre, Scott. "Literacy Without Borders: The Road to Marrakesh,"
Braille Monitor, August/September 2013. "Originally I had planned on a
double major in government and Spanish. Ultimately I dropped that
Spanish major precisely because I could not get access to Spanish
novels and other materials."
https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm13/bm1308/bm130811.htm.
5. 17 U.S.C. ' 121.
6. World Intellectual Property Organization, WIPO-Administered Treaties
webpage http://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/ShowResults.jsp?treaty_id=843,
Last reviewed January 2, 2018.
7. World Intellectual Property Organization, Marrakesh Notification No.
21 Entry into Force
http://www.wipo.int/treaties/en/notifications/marrakesh/treaty_marrakes
h_21.html, Last modified on June 30, 2016.
8. Association of American Publishers, Statement on Completion of WIPO
Treaty, Press Release, June 27, 2013.
http://publishers.org/press/112/.
9. International Publishers Association, Closing Statement by the
International Publishers Association, 27 June 2013.
https://www.internationalpublishers.org/component/content/article?id=16
6:publishers-welcome-wipo-marrakesh-treaty.
10. American Bar Association, Resolution 100, August 11, 2014.
http://www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/mental_physic
al_disability/2014_hod_annual_100%20Marrakesh.authcheckdam.pdf
11. National Federation of the Blind, National Federation of the Blind
Joins Stevie Wonder and World Blind Union Calling Upon International
Negotiators to Conclude Successful Treaty for the Blind and Print
Disabled, Press Release, June 24, 2014. https://nfb.org/national-
federation-blind-joins-stevie-wonder-and-world-blind-union-calling-
upon-international.
----------
A Report from the Blind Merchants Division
by Terry Smith
From the Editor: One of the most successful employment programs ever
constructed for blind people was begun in 1934, has been expanded several
times, and is now known as the Randolph-Sheppard Program. It provides
facilities for blind people to manage, but with the increased success of
the program we have seen a number of challenges from those who would like
to have the opportunities blind people enjoy. One of our more active
divisions is the National Association of Blind Merchants, and here is a
report of its meeting at the Washington Seminar:
The National Association of Blind Merchants is one of the largest
divisions of the National Federation of the Blind and was high profile at
this year's Washington Seminar. NABM President Nicky Gacos has taken the
opportunity to turn the gathering into a training opportunity for blind
entrepreneurs. He brought in several experts to speak to the group.
One of the most interesting presentations was by representatives from
7-Eleven, which is one of the largest convenience store chains in America.
7-Eleven is interested in exploring ways that its national brand can be
used to enhance blind entrepreneurs' operations in government buildings.
Two concepts are being explored: One is what is called a micromarket or
small store. These are self-service operations where customers make their
selections from shelves and displays in the store and pay at a self-pay
kiosk. These are becoming increasingly popular in today's retail
marketplace. The second option is an operation that is manned by the blind
entrepreneur and/or his employees. The branded concept has the potential to
greatly increase profits for blind entrepreneurs and President Gacos is
committed to developing a partnership that works for both parties.
David Fialkov, who is with the National Association of Truck Stop
Operators (NATSO), attended and talked about efforts to commercialize the
interstate rest areas. Such legislation would adversely impact blind
entrepreneurs who operate vending at the interstate rest areas. President
Trump supports rest area commercialization, and it is expected to be part
of his much-anticipated infrastructure plan. NATSO and NABM are part of a
coalition working against the initiative. Jason Eberstein with the National
Automated Merchandising Association (NAMA) spoke about issues blind
entrepreneurs have in common with the vending industry at large. NAMA is
also a member of the coalition opposing rest area commercialization. In
keeping with the DC advocacy theme, John Pari and Gabe Cazares with the NFB
Office of Advocacy and Policy stopped by to talk about joint advocacy
efforts underway with the Merchants Division.
Jesse Hartle, Randolph-Sheppard specialist with the Rehabilitation
Services Administration, gave some statistics from the 2016 annual reports
filed by the state agencies. Hartle reported that the number of blind
vendors nationwide was down by sixteen to only 1,981, with one-third of
those being on federal property. Average income rose to an all-time high of
$63,505. The most interesting stat was that more than 50 percent of all
money spent by the states on Randolph-Sheppard was for management services,
most of which went toward paying agency staff.
Other speakers included Andy Freeman of Brown, Goldstein & Levy who
spoke on a number of recent cases in which blind vendors were awarded
damages by arbitration panels and federal courts. This is a significant
development and offers hope for blind vendors who have their rights
trampled on by state agencies. Catriona Macdonald with the National Council
of State Agencies for the Blind spoke about a recent policy interpretation
by the Rehabilitation Services Administration that now requires state
agencies to get prior approval from RSA for any purchase that exceeds
$5,000. This has the potential of adversely impacting blind entrepreneurs
who have to operate without needed equipment while the purchase goes
through the lengthy approval process. Terry Smith, who heads up the
National Federation of the Blind's Entrepreneurs Initiative, spoke about
NABM's planned DC Fly-In May 22 and the Emerging Leaders Training that will
take place May 21-23. NABM is committed to a strong advocacy effort in DC.
President Gacos is also committed to developing tomorrow's leaders;
thus, the third Emerging Leaders class. Jim Chico with USI, a vending
machine manufacturer, talked about new and improved vending equipment
hitting the market and opportunities for blind entrepreneurs. John Murn
with the RSA Management Group also spoke. His buying group gave out almost
$2 million in rebates to blind entrepreneurs over the last twelve months.
It was a jam-packed agenda and represented another example of how the
blind merchants are bringing quality training to blind entrepreneurs.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Kathryn Webster]
A Report from the National Association of Blind Students
by Kathryn Webster
From the Editor: Kathryn Webster is the president of the National
Association of Blind Students and you will easily observe that some of the
outstanding characteristics that got her elected are her ability to
inspire, organize, and articulate the hopes and dreams of blind students.
Here is what she says:
The National Association of Blind Students (NABS) commenced the 2018
Washington Seminar with vibrancy, energy, and passion. Though many students
are left with no other choice but to attend academic classes, thus unable
to partake in the advocacy done in-person during Washington Seminar, we had
groundbreaking attendance this year! With over ninety-five students at our
annual Winter Seminar, NABS was full of excitement as we kicked off another
year of hard work, engagement, and most significantly, building the
National Federation of the Blind. Perhaps this year was exceedingly special
as we fought for equal access to education in the classroom through our
efforts with AIM HIGH (H.R. 1772), something our sighted peers may take for
granted, but our fellow blind students recognize as a sought-after right in
higher education institutions. Still, we are fighting and we are pushing
forward as we break down the misconceptions of society and bridge the gap
between potential and success.
Our 2018 Winter Seminar was transformative, yet interactive,
something NABS is now incorporating into our national events. Our
membership spoke, and our leaders listened. No more are we tied solely to
lecture-style presentations. Instead, we incorporated a legislative seminar
coordinated by our NABS Legislative Advocacy Committee into our
festivities. This got students out of their seats, engaging in groups, and
fine-tuning their public speaking abilities. Students are the voice of our
future, and there's no better place to refine one's leadership skills than
alongside one of the proudest and most active divisions in the NFB. In
addition to students practicing professionalism and self-advocacy through
mock meetings, our leaders incorporated a friendly competition component,
awarding the most polished mock meeting participants with prizes.
Beyond the legislative seminar during the winter NABS meeting, we
heard from the executive directors from our NFB training centers, advice
from a member of the national Scholarship Committee, a pep talk from our
national government affairs team, and more. The highlight of our Winter
Seminar was hearing from our national president, Mr. Riccobono, as he
kicked off the week with encouraging and enlightening words. President
Riccobono shared that students have the strongest voices in regards to AIM
HIGH, so it's up to us to get this bill passed! It cannot go without
mentioning how grateful the National Association of Blind Students is for
the generous support provided by President Riccobono and our national
treasury, as we financially assisted over thirty-five students in
attendance. Washington Seminar was the ideal spark to ignite what will be
an incredible year for our national student division.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Chris Danielsen]
Building the National Federation of the Blind Brand Part 2: The Brand
Personality
by Chris Danielsen
From the Editor: One of the people who has been very involved in
helping us to evolve our brand and to make it better known is our own Chris
Danielsen, a talented and energetic Federationist who works as our director
of public relations at the Jernigan Institute. Here is what Chris says:
In the January issue of the Braille Monitor, my colleague Kirsten Mau
talked about what it means for the National Federation of the Blind to have
a brand and for all of us to live that brand in the work we do for the
organization. She closed her article by talking about the elements that
help us define the brand. These elements, taken together, are known as the
brand architecture. We can think of them as the pillars that support the
house that is our brand. As Kirsten said, the brand architecture is "the
internal framework that explains the components of our brand: our values,
our personality, our positioning, our value proposition, and our brand
promise. It is important that each of us understands and embraces these
components so that those outside the organization will know who we are,
what we value, why we exist, and what we intend to achieve."
Wait a second. Personality? Yes, you read that right.
On the face of it, the idea of a brand having a personality seems
unusual. We often think of personalities as being associated with people.
After all, the word "personality" contains the word "person." But we all
know from our own experience that personality isn't limited to people. Any
pet owner will tell you that her dog, cat, or parakeet has its own
personality; those with multiple pets can tell them apart by their
behavior.
Brands have personalities too. If you think about it, most of the
brands we're familiar with expend a great deal of effort to convince us
that we should like them, not just because of what they make or sell, but
because of what it supposedly represents. Insurance companies want to
convince us that they are on our side and that they will help us out when
we need them. State Farm had an ad campaign in which individuals singing
the "like a good neighbor, State Farm is there" jingle magically summoned a
knowledgeable, helpful representative. Of course, this doesn't really
happen; the filing of insurance claims takes phone calls and paperwork, no
matter who you're dealing with. But State Farm was sending the message that
it would solve its customers' problems as soon as it was called upon.
Speaking of insurance companies, we don't normally think of dealing with
them as being fun. Yet GEICO, with its cute spokes-gecko and humorous ads,
wants to project a whimsical, fun image.
The fact that the National Federation of the Blind has a personality
makes even more sense; we are, after all, a membership organization. By
definition, we are the sum of the people who are part of our movement and
who work together to accomplish our goals. The way that we interact with
each other, with potential members, and with the public puts the "person"
in our personality. With that in mind, let's examine the personality traits
that make us who we are.
Innovative
The National Federation of the Blind isn't a bunch of blind people
complaining about our problems; we're an organization of problem solvers.
We created NFB-NEWSLINE. so that blind people can read the daily newspaper.
We developed KNFB Reader so that the blind can have instant access to
printed documents. We developed our BELL Academies so that blind children
who are not receiving enough Braille instruction in school can get the
extra Braille and nonvisual skill training they need. We created STEM
programs to pioneer ways that blind students can fully and accessibly
experience science, technology, engineering, and math courses. We designed
our own white canes and pioneered the Structured Discovery Method of
teaching cane travel and other blindness skills. When there are changes
that need to be made to laws or policies, we draft proposed legislation and
work with our elected representatives to get it passed into law. In these
and many other ways, we innovate to make the lives of blind people better.
There's more to innovation than our national programs, of course. In
my local chapter, our president asks a chapter member to share a tip for
accomplishing some task as a blind person at each of our meetings. We talk
about things like cooking techniques, how to organize and/or label our
clothes, and how to get around safely when there's a lot of snow on the
ground. From these discussions, I know that we as blind people are
innovating in small ways every day.
Inspirational
One of our missions as an organization is to raise expectations for
blind people; in other words, to inspire. Of course, the speeches we hear
from our leaders are inspiring, but there's more. Our positive philosophy,
and the examples our members set for each other, make blind people and the
public aware that more is possible for the blind than is generally
believed. In 2001, the National Federation of the Blind sponsored an
expedition in which a blind man, Erik Weihenmayer, climbed to the summit of
Mount Everest. Mr. Weihenmayer, an experienced climber, had set himself
this challenge. The point of our sponsoring his expedition wasn't that
every blind person could or should climb Mount Everest, but that blind
people can achieve whatever dream or goal is personally important to us.
While projects like the Everest expedition are important, there are
thousands of examples of blind people inspiring each other taking place
throughout our organization every day. We inspire each other to pursue new
careers, to try new hobbies, to start a fitness regimen, or just to go to a
new restaurant in an unfamiliar part of town. This is how we lift each
other individually and blind people as a group.
Inviting
So many stories of how and why people became Federationists start
with an invitation. In fact, my own story starts that way. I had never
thought about joining an organization of blind people, but while I was
participating in a summer program at the South Carolina Commission for the
Blind, one of my friends convinced me to stay in town one weekend and
attend the state NFB convention. This was nearly thirty years ago, and
while I don't remember all of the speeches that were made or the issues
that were discussed in great detail, I remember how people at the
convention made me feel. They were welcoming. They were eager to tell their
stories and to hear mine. We listened in the convention sessions and talked
about what we learned. We also caroused and "carried on" late into the
night. By the end of that weekend, I had learned a great deal, but I'd also
made some new friends and had a good time. The same thing happened, on a
larger scale, when I attended my first national convention two years later.
I hear similar stories from other Federationists all the time, and
I'll bet you do too. For some, the first invitation was to a chapter
meeting, or to a social event, or just to visit another blind person who
happened to be a member. People have joined our organization because of a
dinner, or a drink, or a holiday party, or a conversation on a train or
airplane. They join because someone invited them to do so, or at least
invited them to learn more about us.
Powerful
The last of our personality traits is unique in a couple of ways:
it's the only one that doesn't begin with the letter I, and it flows from
the others. If you forget it, though, you might think about another I-word:
influential.
The National Federation of the Blind is powerful in a lot of ways,
but for this article I'll just point out that a lot of our power comes from
our other personality traits. Because we are innovators in the blindness
field, we are increasingly respected and listened to. Because we invite
people into our movement, our movement continues to grow. Because we are an
innovative, inspired movement of tens of thousands of blind people, we have
the power to make things happen.
So, there you have it: our brand personality. Each of us amplifies
this personality by exercising its traits in our own lives and actions: by
inviting friends and potential supporters to learn more about us; by
innovating in our own small ways to lessen the inconvenience of blindness;
and by inspiring our blind brothers and sisters to believe in themselves
and to achieve more than they thought possible. Keeping these traits in
mind, and displaying them for others, is one of the many ways in which we
can "live" our brand.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Jim Marks]
The Dentist and the Eye Doctor
by Jim Marks
From the Editor: Jim Marks is known to many Federationists for his
work in the Montana affiliate, having served for several terms on its board
of directors and as the affiliate's vice president. For a number of years
he was a wise voice on the National Federation of the Blind Scholarship
Committee. For his paid work, Jim served as the director of disability
services for students at the University of Montana flagship campus in
Missoula and has long been an advocate for helping young people become
independent. He has been the treasurer of the Association on Higher
Education and Disability (AHEAD) and has been the chairman of the
organization's special interest group on blindness and visual impairments.
In this article Jim discusses two trips: one to his eye doctor and
the other to his dentist. It turns out that his blood pressure was higher
when visiting the former than the latter, and many who have gone blind
under the care of a doctor will have a clue as to why. Few blind people
harbor long-term anger at their doctor because the medical community could
not preserve their sight, but many are angry because that community had
nothing to offer but the door when blindness was assured. Here is what Jim
has to say:
They say the blood pressure cuff reveals a lot more than the numbers.
Sure proved true for me. In the last few weeks, I've visited both the eye
doctor and a dentist. Both took my blood pressure. At the eye doctor's, my
numbers were very high. At the dentist's, my numbers were very good. You
wouldn't expect this because there is little to fear at the eye doc's,
while the dentist often includes some uncomfortable procedures.
So, here's the deal. The last time I visited the eye doctor was in
1985. I am blind, and the eye doctor could provide no treatment that would
improve my vision. My experiences with vision treatment were pretty good
except that the medical world knows nothing about how to function with
blindness and does nothing to educate itself or its patients. Sometimes,
eye doctors provide low vision aids, but these still focus on vision, not
blindness. When the treatments to preserve or improve vision fall short,
the eye doc has no rabbits to pull from the medical hat. When I first
became aware I was losing my vision due to an eye disease, I remember
placing a huge amount of faith in the abilities of the medical world to
keep me from going blind. At the time I internalized all the negative
prejudices and stereotypes about blindness. For me it was all about the
cure... at least hope for the cure. When my eye doc booted me to the curb,
that quest for the cure evaporated.
I turned to the alternative techniques of the blind and positive
attitudes about blindness in order to live the life I want. That approach
was cemented deeply in my being, and the medical world insofar as vision
goes faded into my past. That is, it did until I recently needed to verify
my blindness as part of my application for Social Security Disability
Insurance. My blindness documentation dated back to 1982 when my eye doc
declared me legally blind and referred me to blindness vocational
rehabilitation services. My blood pressure numbers at the eye doc's
revealed that I harbor a great deal of emotion about the puny overlap
between medical vision treatments and blindness.
For example, a technician at the eye doc's administered a field test.
I cannot see any of the flashing lights, so I sat through two cycles of the
test just waiting for the conclusion. Frankly, it pissed me off. My anger
came from those long dormant emotions and was not directed at the staff.
All were very kind and professional. But I am blind, and the way I define
my life really has very little to do with the medical world. So, my blood
pressure told the story, and I am still marveling at just how difficult a
simple visit to the eye doc was for me. I was my usual cheerful self on the
outside, but I was boiling on the inside.
Now that the moment is behind me, I can reflect on it and understand
better who I am and where I am going. I won't be going back to the eye doc
anytime soon. Some blind people must do this to prevent abnormal eye
pressures and other health issues. I have cataracts on top of the retinitis
pigmentosa that causes my blindness, but I will not get them removed unless
a health issue crops up. Right now, I have light perception, but I am so
good at being blind that I own it, control it, and direct it. Being able to
see has very little to do with most of life's important endeavors. I choose
to be so positive that I forget I am blind. Anyhow, thanks for reading
through this wandering reflection.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Ryan Strunk]
Well Digger's Wisdom
by Ryan Strunk
From the Editor: Ryan Strunk is the newly-elected president of the
National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota. He is bright, energetic, and
insightful. He is also painfully honest, especially when it comes to self-
reflection. What follows is a speech he gave to the National Federation of
the Blind of Minnesota before he was elected:
I attended my first NFB convention in 1990, my second in 1991. And I
was really proud of this fact. Never mind that my third was in 2001. It was
a real badge of honor for me.
So in 2002, when I was introducing myself at the secret scholarship
meeting, I took that badge and pinned it right up on my chest to score
points with the committee. "I've been a member of the Federation for a long
time," I told that committee-and just as important-my fellow scholarship
winners. "I drank Federation juice and ate Federation crunch for
breakfast." I look back on that now, and I hate how arrogant and hollow
and, well, silly that sounded.
Because first, let's be real. It's not a good joke. And Federation
Crunch would not be a good cereal. I mean, I could handle the white cane
marshmallows, and I could even eat Whozit, but I draw the line at biting
into a guide dog corn puff.
Second, though, and way more important, who did I think I was? I was
born in 1983. Do the math. In 1990, while Dr. Jernigan was delivering "The
Federation at Fifty," I was in child care. In 1991, while Dr. Maurer was
"Reflecting the Flame," I was eating crab corn chowder at the chocoholic
bar at the top of the Hyatt Regency.
I was listening to an interview with Cory Booker recently. You might
have heard of him. He's a senator from New Jersey. And in it he talked
about how he grew up a solidly middle-class black kid in the 1960s. He said
he had all these privileges that others at the time didn't, and it kind of
went to his head. So he's walking around one day all puffed up, and his dad
said something to him that struck a chord with me-this Chinese proverb
that's been rattling around in my head ever since I heard it. He said to
Cory, "Son, never forget. You are drinking from a well your ancestors dug."
My parents figured out I was blind when I was six months old, and
since they didn't really have any idea of what to do, they threw themselves
on the mercy of Kim Bosshart, this pretty new teacher of blind students
with some pretty revolutionary ideas about how to teach blind kids: things
like put a cane in their hand when they're old enough to walk, teach them
slate and stylus before the Braille writer, teach them Braille even if they
have some residual vision.
Incidentally, at the same time, the eye doctor I had as a kid was
telling my parents I could read two-inch tall print ... with a magnifying
glass. Kim, thankfully, knew better.
She had me baking cookies at six years old, walking around the block
under sleepshades at seven, finding random addresses by knocking on
complete strangers' doors and asking for directions at eight. By junior
high I was ordering my own books and introducing myself to my teachers as
"blind." By the way, it was Kim who made me say "blind," even though I
wanted to use "visually impaired."
We gave Kim Bosshart, now Kim Adams, the Distinguished Educator of
Blind Children Award in 1989, and for good reason. She was, and still is,
an amazing person.
And I never really got that back then. I took for granted how hard
she worked, how all those evenings and weekends that I complained about
having to give up were evenings and weekends she voluntarily gave up. I
figured that my success was because of my hard work and my amazing brain.
But they wouldn't have meant a thing without someone to push me to work and
to fill up that brain with radical new ideas.
You are drinking from a well your ancestors dug.
Summers, when Kim wasn't around, I went to lots of summer camps.
There was SKIP, the Summer Kids Independence Program; there was PI, Project
Independence; and when I got older, there was Winner Fest, which was a
perfect time to hang out with girlfriends-I mean do awesome seminars on
blindness. All these programs were put on by the Nebraska Commission for
the Blind, but a whole bunch of the staff there were NFB members, blind
role models who reinforced all those same ideas I was learning from Kim.
When we took a walk down the gravel lane at 5:00 in the morning to
experience the sunrise in the middle of the forest, it was blind people who
led the way. When we made foil pack dinners around the campfire, blind
people built and tended that campfire. When I got caught sneaking out to
spend time with my girlfriend, it was-no that didn't happen. No really. It
didn't.
Anyway.
I imagine Amy Buresh can tell you some stories. But that's the point.
Right? She was there, along with so many others, sharing her time and her
experience with me to shape me into a more confident, independent blind
person. Thanks, Amy, and please give my love to Shane, too.
You are drinking from a well your ancestors dug.
Mom. Of course mom did her part too. She was an active member of the
Nebraska Parents of Blind Children and the Lioness Club. She helped put on
golf tournaments and craft shows to raise money so that Nebraska blind kids
could have scholarships and get good technology. She drove me to those
summer camps, to the white cane banquets, and she held me accountable to
those same high standards that Kim and my blind role models had for me.
And in 2002, when I won that scholarship, she called me in my room at
the Galt House Hotel in Louisville to tell me that she was downstairs in
the lobby, that she had come all the way to Kentucky because she was proud
of me and she wanted to support me.
You are drinking from a well your ancestors dug.
There comes a point, and it's one of my favorite things about our
organization, that someone comes up to you and hands you a shovel, and they
suggest that maybe you'd like to dig for a little while. For me, that first
opportunity came from Carlos Servan, he was the Nebraska affiliate
president at the time, and he suggested that I should run for president of
the Nebraska Association of Blind Students, even though I had no leadership
experience.
And then it was Jason Ewell, calling me in 2002 to invite me to take
part in NFB Corps, where they dropped me in the middle of Seattle and
Knoxville and Burlington and Pensacola to build new chapters of the NFB. It
was Angela Wolf, inviting me in 2003 to serve as treasurer of the National
Association of Blind Students, and then calling me again in 2005 to tell me
I should run for president. It was Fred Schroeder in 2006, suggesting that
he could get me a sweet gig teaching Braille. All I had to do was pick up
everything I owned and move to Hawaii. No big deal, right? And all that
time I was learning and growing, starting to find my feet, those leaders
were right there. Encouraging me and offering me their wisdom.
You are drinking from a well your ancestors dug.
I learned something, in NFB Corps, in NABS, in Hawaii and Texas and
Minnesota. I learned just how incredibly lucky I had been. Because I met
people who didn't have the same opportunities I had.
There was the forty-three-year-old woman in Hawaii who still lived at
home with her parents because they didn't believe she could ever live on
her own. She worked hard and she learned Braille, and after she graduated,
she worked in a sheltered shop.
There was the senior support group in Florida, some twenty-odd people
who sat in a conference room every month and listened to magazine articles
on tape telling them that a cure was just around the corner. When Rachel
Olivero and I went to one of their meetings, we had the privilege of
hearing their president dole out this sage advice: "Men, let me tell you.
When you go over to somebody else's house, and you have to pee, sit down!"
And being green and wet behind the ears and drunk on independence, I
actually argued with the guy.
There was the dad who lost his sight a year ago and wondered if he
could ever provide for his family again. There was the guy who went blind
when he was hit by a drunk driver who just wanted a job, the kid who
graduated valedictorian and never learned to tie his shoes or sign his
name, the college student full of promise who was too afraid to walk to
class-you know these stories! Maybe you even are one. And if you are, God
am I glad you're here.
Stephen Jay Gould once wrote, "I am, somehow, less interested in the
weight and convolutions of Einstein's brain than in the near certainty that
people of equal talent have lived and died in cotton fields and
sweatshops."
I don't want to lose any more Einsteins. I don't want to lose any
more tenBroeks or Jernigans or Maurers or Riccobonos or Scanlans or Dunnams
or Jacobsens or Sanders or Baileys or Wenzels or Aunes or Heberts or anyone
else in this room because we weren't there.
So here I am, and here is my promise to you. When you need my time or
my energy, you will have it. When you need my nights and my weekends, I
will give them and gladly, and if we ever have to fight because someone
wants to hold us back, bring it on.
I have drunk from the well my ancestors dug, and I will never forget
that. I stand here with you now, shoulder to shoulder, digging the well
that blind children and blind seniors and all those who come after us will
drink from. My brothers, my sisters, let's work together to create a better
tomorrow. Let's go build the National Federation of the Blind.
----------
Leave a Legacy
For more than seventy-five years the National Federation of the Blind
has worked to transform the dreams of hundreds of thousands of blind people
into reality, and with your support we will continue to do so for decades
to come. We sincerely hope you will plan to be a part of our enduring
movement by adding the National Federation of the Blind as a partial
beneficiary in your will. A gift to the National Federation of the Blind in
your will is more than just a charitable, tax-deductible donation. It is a
way to join in the work to help blind people live the lives they want that
leaves a lasting imprint on the lives of thousands of blind children and
adults.
With your help, the NFB will continue to:
. Give blind children the gift of literacy through Braille;
. Promote the independent travel of the blind by providing free, long
white canes to blind people in need;
. Develop dynamic educational projects and programs that show blind
youth that science and math are within their reach;
. Deliver hundreds of accessible newspapers and magazines to provide
blind people the essential information necessary to be actively
involved in their communities;
. Offer aids and appliances that help seniors losing vision maintain
their independence; and
. Fund scholarship programs so that blind people can achieve their
dreams.
Plan to Leave a Legacy
Creating a will gives you the final say in what happens to your
possessions and is the only way to be sure that your remaining assets are
distributed according to your passions and beliefs. Many people fear
creating a will or believe it's not necessary until they are much older.
Others think that it's expensive and confusing. However, it is one of the
most important things you will do, and with new online legal programs it is
easier and cheaper than ever before. If you do decide to create or revise
your will, consider the National Federation of the Blind as a partial
beneficiary. Visit www.nfb.org/planned-giving or call (410) 659-9314,
extension 2422, for more information. Together with love, hope,
determination, and your support, we will continue to transform dreams into
reality.
Invest in Opportunity
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. You can live the life you
want; blindness is not what holds you back. A donation to the National
Federation of the Blind allows you to invest in a movement that removes the
fear from blindness. Your investment is your vote of confidence in the
value and capacity of blind people and reflects the high expectations we
have for all blind Americans, combating the low expectations that create
obstacles between blind people and our dreams.
In 2016 the NFB:
. Distributed over seven thousand canes to blind people across the
United States, empowering them to travel safely and independently
throughout their communities.
. Hosted forty-five NFB BELL Academy programs, which served more than
three hundred and twenty-five blind students throughout the United
States.
. Provided over one hundred thousand dollars in scholarships to blind
students, making a post-secondary education affordable and attainable.
. Delivered audio newspaper and magazine services to 115,491
subscribers, providing free access to over four hundred local,
national, and international publications.
. In the third year of the program, over three hundred fifty Braille-
writing slates and styluses were given free of charge to blind users.
Just imagine what we'll do next year, and, with your help, what can
be accomplished for years to come. Below are just a few of the many
diverse, tax-deductible ways you can lend your support to the National
Federation of the Blind.
Vehicle Donation Program
The NFB now accepts donated vehicles, including cars, trucks, boats,
motorcycles, or recreational vehicles. Just call (855) 659-9314 toll-free,
and a representative can make arrangements to pick up your donation-it
doesn't have to be working. We can also answer any questions you have.
General Donation
General donations help support the ongoing programs of the NFB and
the work to help blind people live the lives they want. Donate online with
a credit card or through the mail with check or money order. Visit
www.nfb.org/make-gift for more information.
Bequests
Even if you can't afford a gift right now, including the National
Federation of the Blind in your will enables you to contribute by
expressing your commitment to the organization and promises support for
future generations of blind people across the country. Visit
www.nfb.org/planned-giving or call (410) 659-9314, extension 2422, for more
information.
Pre-Authorized Contribution
Through the Pre-Authorized Contribution (PAC) program, supporters
sustain the efforts of the National Federation of the Blind by making
recurring monthly donations by direct withdraw of funds from a checking
account or a charge to a credit card. To enroll, visit www.nfb.org/make-
gift, and complete the Pre-Authorized Contribution form, and return it to
the address listed on the form.
----------
The 2017 National Convention from Afar
by Adrijana Prokopenko
From the Editor: The National Convention of the Federation is the
largest annual gathering of blind people in the world, and participating in
it is a major highlight for Federationists and others as we come together
to discuss issues and shape the policy for the organization. Fortunately we
broadcast much of our convention, and people from around the world join us
in spirit. Adrijana Prokopenko is a teacher in Macedonia. English is not
her native language, but she does a wonderful job of communicating her
excitement and her suggestions for how she thinks things should be. Like
her Federation brothers and sisters in the United States, she clearly has
her own opinions and is anxious to express them. Here, with slight editing,
are parts of the diary she kept describing her participation in our 2017
National Convention:
NFB Diary
July 10
Excitement is in the air for many people going to convention and lots
more that can't go including me. Looking forward to finding out what is in
store. Making a list to make sure I have everything at hand while
convention is streaming so that I don't have to go out of the room looking
for things: water, ice coffee, snacks, mouthwash, cups, spoon, tissues and
wet wipes on the shelf, Brailler and Braille paper for taking notes next to
me, the phone near the computer on silent mode, doors closed to prevent
outside noise, Skype and Facebook opened for immediate communication with
members who are there on the spot.
July 11
Some great presentations regarding technology equipment like OrCam
and Braille devices that have been improved over the years. The thought of
being able to access information as do the sighted with not much hassle is
great enough; just hope the price is right for everyone; otherwise, some
people may miss out on it again.
July 12
Job fair seems to have brought some cool things, as someone
recommended my Facebook group to people from employment divisions, like
Lighthouse and different companies. I was even chatting live to someone
like that getting contact info of one of them to be able to email her with
more!
July 13
Also lots of work today; trying to hunt down exactly the names of
companies that are out there so people can meet them live and get their job
ads and include them into my job group. Also following the progress of
convention from the stream and members who are already there posting on the
groups and to me privately. Lesson number one: Learning starts way back
from the past in the NFB history, and going deeper into this allows me to
understand the organization's philosophy and ideas better. Then there is
lesson number two: Real communication and connections with people can
always help, no matter if the information comes from an email list, a
magazine, or a conversation with an actual person. This would make the
learning complete!
Everyone seems to be enjoying convention, including Ciera, the fearful
high school girl who thought that the NFB wasn't for her. NFB-related
messages spread on the groups big time! It is great they are opening the
stream thirty minutes early so we can feel the atmosphere and hear some
informal chat there! As Oriana enjoys exploring her dad's watch and feeling
overjoyed that she will have to announce the National Federation of the
Blind name to mark the start of the meeting, I could see how kids could
grow into the Federation and have fond memories of it. Practice from the
performing arts division in front of the veterans and more recognition for
their work from others and probably way more that happened during other
events that aren't streamed. And me being the student that I am, I keep
learning the NFB lessons as before, so lesson number three goes: stick to
being a Federationist in the true sense of the word, no matter how close or
far you live. And lesson number four goes: the NFB site always has
surprises, so keep checking and scrolling to find them.
Even though advertisements about the Nation's Blind podcast didn't
appear anywhere before, I could find it from the audio link and start
listening to it to keep up with what is going on! Dick Davis had an
interview on 1520wbzw, so I had to spread the info far and wide beforehand
so people could listen in. Seems like the KNFB Reader is also expanding its
features to become even more accurate, and the brother of Victor Stream was
just born to help those who want to get it with mobility at the same time.
Feels very rewarding to be able to do all this work even from afar!
July 14
Already getting replies from companies that they are joining my group
and supporting the idea, praying this would bring some cool things for
many. Lots of money talk at convention today, which made me feel inadequate
for not being able to provide any, but promising I will fix this next year.
If nothing else, I can send a door prize and surprise someone! As board
members got reelected and kept sharing their enthusiasm, others shared
experiences of growing up with blindness and lack of opportunities and how
they became the way they are to help others, which shows that if you really
want to do something, you can probably find a way to do it! Hopefully all
of this talk about discrimination will lead to less of it as we fight to
show we will stand up for ourselves and people come to understand that we
can do the things they do-especially being parents, students, and workers.
So many wrong email addresses people gave at convention: glad I wrote
to them first to test before I spread the info out about the NFB-NEWSLINE
Echo testing, radio station interview, and job-related email address
information. So lesson number five may be: When people get excited, some
addresses can go wrong! Smile. Also glad that I subscribed to the press
release email list and presidential reports link; wish someone had told me
about these things way back when I became a member! Don't think any of this
was mentioned in the new member packet, and I think it would be useful for
any new member and anyone else who is truly interested in helping the NFB.
July 15
An exciting day today-don't want to miss the banquet or anything else
by falling asleep, so dividing my sleep hours so I can stay up and listen.
What a great thing to hear that companies and organizations can work
together to achieve things, even if change is slower than we want and
things take time. Was impressed: no one said no at convention so far to the
president's words, which made me gain whole new respect for conventions
like this one because of this. If it was a roundtable in Macedonia, the
discussions would have probably gone nowhere, and everyone would have
blamed the other for all our problems.
Prizes and awards going to deserving professionals once more, which
will probably bring many great things for them and the rest they are
connected to, to keep achieving greater things together and stay together
in the fight! What can be better than that?
As the banquet gets going and prizes get drawn, finding out who gets
recognized for drawing in the largest number of people and raising the most
money, people cheering for certain individuals in their own state, loud
enough to hear even with the sound trouble! As Dr. Maurer gives little NFB
facts and stories from the past and lets people get ready for the main
thing, excitement builds about what is to follow. As singers start
introducing each other and invite everyone to join in, I can't help but
sing with them and pull the headset out of the computer for the whole house
to hear, not minding that it is 1 AM where I am! As songs go in a faster
mood, people get to clap and dance around in their limited space in the
crowd. As the video for the students' scholarship and sponsors starts, we
have a chance to learn more about everyone who is involved in the deal,
hoping that they will continue to support the organization as greatly in
the future. As students recite their little songs especially created for
the occasion and prizes get drawn, I can't help but suggest that it may
serve a great purpose if some of the money prizes are given in products and
not money, because this would benefit both the organization selling them
and the people who receive and need the products.
With the banquet address starting and the room getting quieter, the
serious business starts that will hopefully give us the great address for a
greater tomorrow. As science and technology advance and take a great part
in blind peoples' lives if they are able to afford it, our power to change
things for a better tomorrow for us and our children is even greater than
ever if we possess all the skills and knowledge to be able to do this
nonvisually. As we stick together and share what we have and can do, it is
the only way that will bring us and many others forward.
As this year's scholarship students come to shake hands with the
former and current president and the owner of Kurzweil and are further
greeted by all, let's hope that they will be the ones who will be the great
movers and shakers of the organization in the future.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Ed and Toni Eames]
A Twisted Tail Dog
by Toni and Ed Eames
From the Editor: Toni and Ed are well-known to members of the
National Federation of the Blind for their significant activism on behalf
of the rights of guide dog users. Ed died in 2009, and Toni continues her
strong activism on behalf of guide dog users everywhere. Recently she sent
us a note about the proper term for referring to the wonderful dogs that
help us move freely in the world. As a former guide dog user myself, I have
generously contributed to the problem that Toni addresses, but from now on
I will be on the straight and narrow. Here is the article she sends from
her and Ed:
When The Seeing Eye was founded in 1929, trained dogs partnered with
blind people were referred to as guide dogs. Ten years later, when Leader
Dogs for the Blind was founded, guide dog was still used as the generic
term. When in 1942 Guide Dogs for the Blind was established, Leader and
Seeing Eye were concerned the generic term guide dog would be mistakenly
associated with this California-based school. Thus, the birth of the use of
the twisted term dog guide. In the intervening years, eleven more training
programs have been established, with six using the term guide dog in their
registered titles. Both major consumer groups, Guide Dog Users Incorporated
and the National Association of Guide Dog Users, have opted for the use of
guide dog. Even so, the term dog guide persists in some segments of the
industry.
In interacting with other disabled people, it stands out like a sore
thumb to hear about hearing dogs, service dogs, and then dog guides. If we
don't put checks on this archaic usage, we could end up with the following:
Once upon a time, a small dog lap came to live with the family Brown.
The Browns could not decide if he should be a dog house or a dog yard.
While mom and dad went to their office law and sister and brother were at
care child, the puppy entertained himself by chewing on the leg chair and
shoes leather. An even greater violation of etiquette dog was his chasing
the cat Siamese and getting into the litter kitty.
After many transgressions canine, mom and dad came home one day and
threatened to convert their mischievous dog lap from a dog house to a dog
yard unless he mended his ways.
One day a neighbor visited the Browns with her Retriever Labrador dog
guide. This coach canine became the puppy's mentor. Following the advice of
this mannered-well dog guide, the small dog lap lived happily after ever as
a dog house.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Allen Harris]
The Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund
by Allen Harris
From the Editor: Allen Harris is the chairman of the Kenneth Jernigan
Fund Committee and was one of the people who came up with the idea of
honoring our former President and longtime leader by establishing a program
to promote attendance at the national convention, where so much inspiration
and learning occur. Here is Allen's announcement about the 2018 Kenneth
Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund Program:
Have you always wanted to attend an NFB annual convention but have
not done so because of the lack of funds? The Kenneth Jernigan Convention
Scholarship Fund invites you to make an application for a scholarship
grant. Perhaps this July you too can be in the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in
Orlando, Florida, enjoying the many pleasures and learning opportunities at
the largest and most important yearly convention of blind people in the
world.
The three biggest ticket items you need to cover when attending an
NFB national convention are the roundtrip transportation, the hotel room
for a week, and the food (which tends to be higher priced than at home). We
attempt to award additional funds to families, but, whether a family or an
individual is granted a scholarship, this fund can only help; it won't pay
all the costs. Last year most of the sixty grants were in the range of $400
to $500 per individual.
We recommend that you find an NFB member as your personal convention
mentor, someone who has been to many national conventions and is able to
share money-saving tips with you and tips on navigating the extensive
agenda in the big hotel. Your mentor will help you get the most out of the
amazing experience that is convention week.
Who is eligible?
Active NFB members, blind or sighted, who have not yet attended an
NFB national convention because of lack of funding are eligible to apply.
How do I apply for funding assistance?
1. You write a letter giving your contact information, and your local NFB
information, your specific amount requested, and then explain why this
is a good investment for the NFB. The points to cover are listed
below.
2. You contact your state president in person or by phone to request his
or her help in obtaining funding. Be sure to tell the president when
to expect your request letter by email, and mention the deadline.
3. You (or a friend) send your letter by email to your state president.
He or she must add a president's recommendation and then email both
letters directly to the Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund
Committee. Your president must forward the two letters no later than
April 15, 2018.
Your letter to Chairperson Allen Harris must cover these points:
. Your full name and all your telephone numbers--label them-cell phone,
home, office, other person (if any).
. Your mailing address and, if you have one, your email address.
. Your state affiliate and state president; your chapter and chapter
president, if you attend a chapter.
. Your personal convention mentor, and provide that person's phone
number.
. Your specific request:
. Explain how much money you need from this fund to make this trip
possible for you. We suggest you consult with other members to make a
rough budget for yourself.
The body of your letter should answer these questions:
How do you currently participate in the Federation? Why do you want
to attend a national convention? What would you receive; what can you share
or give? You can include in your letter to the committee any special
circumstances you hope they will take into consideration.
When will I be notified that I am a winner?
If you are chosen to receive this scholarship, you will receive a
letter with convention details that should answer most of your questions.
The committee makes every effort to notify scholarship winners by May 15,
but you must do several things before that to be prepared to attend if you
are chosen:
1. Make your own hotel reservation. If something prevents you from
attending, you can cancel the reservation. (Yes, you may arrange for
roommates of your own to reduce the cost.)
2. Register online for the entire convention, including the banquet, by
May 31.
3. Find someone in your chapter or affiliate who has been to many
conventions and can answer your questions as a friend and advisor.
4. If you do not hear from the committee by May 15, then you did not win
a grant this year.
How will I receive my convention scholarship?
At convention you will be given a debit card or credit card loaded
with the amount of your award. The times and locations to pick up your card
will be listed in the letter we send you. The committee is not able to
provide funds before the convention, so work with your chapter and state
affiliate to assist you by obtaining an agreement to advance funds if you
win a scholarship and to pay your treasury back after you receive your
debit or credit card.
What if I have more questions? For additional information email the
chairman, Allen Harris, at kjscholarships at nfb.org or call his Baltimore,
Maryland, office at (410) 659-9314, extension 2415.
Above all, please use this opportunity to attend your first
convention on the national level and join several thousand active
Federationists in the most important meeting of the blind in the world. We
hope to see you in Orlando.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Lauren Merryfield]
Definitely the Cat's Meow
by Lauren Merryfield
From the Editor: It is frustrating to realize that the sighted public
has real reservations about the ability of blind people to parent, but it
is also interesting to see that they have questions about how we take care
of our pets. Lauren Merryfield has no reservations about getting down and
dirty when it comes to talking about the care of her pets. It is obvious
that she is a cat lover, and it is also obvious that there is truth in the
saying that "Dogs treat you like royalty; cats treat you like staff."
Here's what Lauren has to say:
I received my first kitten, a yellow-and-white kitty I named Fuzzy,
when I was around seven years of age. Back then, our cats were mostly
outdoor, so they came and went through the years, some of them not lasting
all that long. Eventually, a select few would find their way into our home
and be allowed there.
After my first husband and I moved to our home, we received a kitty
as a housewarming gift. We had her for fourteen years. She eventually went
blind and needed insulin due to diabetes. No one commented all that much
back then about how I managed with cats, because there was almost always
someone around. But now that I am widowed and living alone, the questions
come:
"How do you know where your cats are?" Most of the time, if they're
quiet and/or sleeping, I might not know where they are, but this does not
bother me. Cats do not always want their humans to know where they are.
When they want attention or food, they'll show up.
"How do you get them in their carriers when you take them to the
vet?" I know my cats so I can often guess where they are. I pick them up,
and as they squiggle, I put them into the carrier. No, you do not have to
see to get your cat into its carrier. They may protest, but how does a
sighted person put their cat into the carrier when it is protesting?
"How do you know when your cat is sick?" If the urine has a pungent
odor, I know one has a urinary tract infection. If they leave evidence of
an upset tummy, I know. If they are too warm, I know. When my Maryah was
panting due to difficulty breathing with fluid in her lungs, I knew. If
Toby isn't pestering me and is not sleeping, but hiding, then I know. Cats
hide when they are ill so that is the number one means I have of knowing
when they are ill and need help.
I discover when they do not need help also. When I took Laynie in to
be spayed, resulting in an overnight stay, I put a soft kitty bed on the
floor where she could get to it easily. I even put a few treats there so
she could find them easily. After showing obvious happiness in being back
home after her overnight stay, I suddenly observed her climbing the patio
screen. As she was hanging there playfully, I realized that she would be
dictating how much pampering she would or would not receive from me.
"What do you do if your cat has a fur ball?" Almost always, my cats
through the years have made it a practice to let their fur balls fly in my
pathway so that I will find them. I just clean them up. I usually go
barefoot at home so that I have a better chance of finding something on the
floor that needs attention.
"How do you keep from tripping and falling on your cats' toys?" I
walk gingerly. I probably shuffle some of the time. Going barefoot once
again comes to my benefit in locating cat toys on the floor. When they are
playing with them, I can hear where the cat and the toy are.
"What if another cat comes in from the outside?" Yes, that has
happened. One day my kitty at the time started growling and hissing. I
couldn't figure out what was going on at first until I heard similar sounds
coming from under the dining room table. A neighbor's cat had climbed up to
our balcony and when I opened the door, he/she sneaked in. Sneaking did not
last long.
"How do you clean the cat box?" This may seem gross, but not only do
I use a pooper scooper, but also, I often use my hands covered with a glove
or a sandwich-sized bag to make sure the cat box is clean. This is not any
worse than changing a baby's diaper.
The question I am asked most often is: "How can you tell your cats
apart?" This is an easy one for me. I am sometimes surprised that someone
would even ask. I know them by their tails, by their body shape, by their
meows, by the bell on their collar if they are wearing one, which toy(s)
they are playing with, because they have favorites, and by what they are
doing. If I hear one slamming the kitchen cupboard doors under the sink, I
know it's Toby. When something was knocked down, it was Maryah. When a cat
sneaked out and was gone for two or three days, it was Maryah.
I remember the times when I would leave a Braille note on the table
and later find it on the floor, with "kitty Braille" added to it, and I
knew it was Kitten Kabootle, our Himalayan.
When one meowed in such a way that it went up at the end like a
question, I knew it was Laynie. When I could hear a cat meowing frantically
from the window when I'd come home, I knew it was Jaspur. I similarly knew
it was him when he got out one Halloween night and he was a totally black
cat-not a good combination, Halloween and black cats. One meowing in a high-
pitched tone, getting louder if I do not respond immediately is Toby. He is
so gifted with his meows that I sometimes find myself responding to
scolding or whining. He is the only cat I've ever had who does this. If I
hear unwanted chewing, it is Toby. If I hear excessive scratching in the
wrong place, it is Laynie. One who often spoke in two meows, "meow meow,"
was Melissa. When I hear a crash from the trash can being tipped over it is
Toby.
Some people, including some blind people, would say that a blind
person cannot be owned by a cat, however, I totally disagree. Cats always
figure out that I cannot see, however, they do not go into fear-mongering
as some humans do; they just work around it. Two of my cats would stand
with a small object I dropped, holding it between their front paws until I
located the cat, and then the item. They know that I touch the seat of my
chair before I sit down to prevent having a flat cat. They trust me to take
care of them, and how much I can or cannot see is not part of the equation.
They show the same unconditional love toward me whether I can see or not.
At times, when I am asked questions that are born of doubt, I feel
like it is definitely not the cat's meow. However I also realize that these
are opportunities to stop and educate someone. For them to go uneducated
about what a blind person can do would definitely not be the cat's meow.
But when they discover how I live the life I want with my cats, then it is-
yes-the cat's meow!
----------
Eligible Sprint Customers Can Get a KNFB Reader Enterprise License Free!
Sprint customers who purchase a new line of service or eligible
upgrade through Sprint Accessibility will receive a free license to
download KNFB reader Enterprise on up to two mobile devices.
If you are a new or upgrading Sprint customer, you may be able to get
the power to convert printed documents into speech or Braille instantly and
accurately at no extra cost! All you need to do is:
1. Visit sprint.com/vision or a Sprint store to purchase a new line of
service or eligible upgrade.
2. Call (855) 885-7568 and ask a Sprint representative for KNFB Reader
Enterprise.
3. Sprint will provide you with the information you need to create a
username and password that will activate your new KNFB Reader
Enterprise license.
4. Download the KNFB Reader Enterprise app from the Apple App Store,
Google Play Store, or Windows 10 Store.
5. When you launch the app, enter the username and password from step
3 above, and you're all set!
Please be sure to download the KNFB Reader Enterprise app, not KNFB
Reader for $99.99. The KNFB Reader Enterprise app is listed free in the app
stores and can be activated with your free KNFB Reader Enterprise License
from Sprint. KNFB Reader Enterprise allows users to enjoy the power of KNFB
Reader on multiple devices. Make sure that KNFB Reader Enterprise is the
app that you download onto your devices to take advantage of this offer.
KNFB Reader Enterprise works on Apple, Android, Windows 10 devices, and
Windows 10 laptops and PCs.
You'll be able to use KNFB Reader on up to two devices with the KNFB
Reader Enterprise license that Sprint provides. Just download KNFB Reader
Enterprise on both devices and use the same username and password. For
example, you can download KNFB Reader Enterprise onto your Sprint phone,
and also to your Windows 10 laptop. Or onto both your Android phone and
Android tablet.
To learn more about what KNFB Reader Enterprise can do, visit
www.knfbreader.com.
Happy reading from the National Federation of the Blind and Sprint!
----------
Recipes
The At-Large Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa
is celebrating its fifth birthday this year. One of the things we've done
to raise money for our chapter is compile a cookbook of some of our
favorite recipes. Here is a sampling of recipes from Food at Your
Fingertips. If these recipes whet your appetite, we still have a few
Braille cookbooks available for ten dollars per copy. For more info,
contact April Enderton, alenderton at gmail.com.
Blueberry Coffee Cake
by Nancy Finnestad
Nancy lives in northwest Iowa. She works as a web accessibility
auditor. She likes to read and hike with her husband and little dog.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature
1-1/4 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup milk
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
Topping:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup flour
3 tablespoons butter
Method: Cream butter, cream cheese, and sugar. Add eggs, vanilla,
milk, flour, baking powder, soda, salt, and berries. Mix and spread in a
nine-by-thirteen-inch pan. Mix topping and sprinkle on coffee cake. Bake at
350 degrees for thirty to thirty-five minutes. Serves eighteen.
----------
Hot Fudge Pie
by Loren Wakefield
Loren has been active in the Federation for over twenty-five years.
He serves on our chapter board. Loren and his wife Teresa are homeschooling
their grandchildren. Here is what Loren says about this recipe, "If you
love chocolate, this is for you. It is so gooey and delicious."
Ingredients:
1 stick butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Method: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar until
fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Add cocoa powder, salt, and flour.
Stir until well combined. Grease eight-inch pie pan with butter or cooking
spray. Pour mixture into pie pan. Bake thirty to thirty-five minutes or
until center is set.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: April Lynn Enderton]
Pin Wheels
by April Lynn Enderton
April is the president of the At-Large Chapter. She owns and operates
Beulah Reimer Legacy, (BRL) and works at United Way. She enjoys reading,
writing, camping, playing Scrabble, and listening to music.
Ingredients:
1 package large flour tortilla shells
2 8-ounce packages cream cheese
1 can green chilies, drained
4 slices ham or turkey lunch meat
Method: Soften cream cheese in microwave. Dice lunch meat. Pour green
chilies and diced meat into cream cheese. Mix and spread thin layer over
tortilla shells. Roll and place in fridge until firm. Slice into one-inch
pieces.
Variation: Mix one envelope ranch dressing mix into cream cheese. You
can use black olives or thinly-chopped green onions instead of chilies.
----------
Salmon Loaf
by April Lynn Enderton
Ingredients:
1 16-ounce can salmon
1/2 cup milk
3 cups soft bread crumbs (I use 1 sleeve Club crackers)
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
3 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons finely chopped green pepper
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Method: Drain salmon, saving the liquid, flake the fish. Heat milk.
Add bread crumbs (crackers) and butter, let stand five minutes. Add salmon
liquid; beat until smooth. Add eggs, green pepper, onion, pepper, and
salmon; mix well. Pour into well-greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for
forty to fifty minutes, until firm in center. Remove from oven, let stand
five minutes. Loosen from sides of pan with spatula, invert onto serving
platter. Makes six servings.
----------
Scotcheroos
by Scott Van Gorp
Scott is the secretary-treasurer of the At-Large Chapter, the
secretary of the state affiliate, vice president of the Des Moines Chapter,
and treasurer of the Amateur Radio Division of the National Federation of
the Blind. He enjoys reading, amateur radio, music, technology, and
spending time with friends and family. "The scotcheroos have been a
favorite in my family for as long as I can remember," Scott says. "I got
the recipe from my mother, and it quickly became one of the special things
my late wife, Heidi, and I enjoyed making together. It's been a great joy
to share these with people over the years, and now I'm proud to share this
recipe with my Federation family."
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1 cup white syrup
1 cup peanut butter
6 cups rice krispies cereal
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup butterscotch chips
Method: Spray a nine-by-thirteen-inch pan with Pam. Place sugar,
white syrup, and peanut butter in a glass bowl. Microwave 3-1/2 minutes,
stirring after each minute. Add rice krispies. Spread in bottom of pan. Put
chocolate and butterscotch chips in a bowl. Microwave 1-1/2 to 2 minutes.
Stir after a minute. Spread over top of rice krispies. Let set until firm.
----------
Taco Pie
by Pam Quinn
Pam enjoys reading, traveling, and anything technology-related.
Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef
1 16-ounce can refried beans
1 16-ounce jar salsa
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 bag corn chips
Method: Preheat oven to 250 degrees. In skillet, brown beef; drain.
Add beans and salsa; mix well. Spoon half of mixture into baking dish.
Place thin layer of corn chips over mixture. Sprinkle with 1 cup cheese.
Repeat layers. Bake fifteen to twenty minutes.
----------
Turkey Rice Casserole
by Tom Davis
Tom serves on our chapter board. He enjoys reading, playing on his
computer, listening to his Victor Reader Stream, hunting, and grilling.
Ingredients:
2 cups instant rice
Any amount of leftover turkey you wish
1 onion, chopped
Whatever cheese you'd like to use and any amount you'd like
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can green beans, not drained
Salt and pepper to taste
Method: Mix well until rice is no longer dry. Bake at 350 degrees for
an hour and fifteen minutes.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Dolores Reisinger]
Zucchini Snack
by Dolores Reisinger
For many years Dolores taught blind clients as a rehabilitation
teacher for the Iowa Commission for the Blind during the years Dr. Kenneth
Jernigan was its director. She lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where she is
active in her church and organizes lots of Meet the Blind events in her
community.
Ingredients:
4 eggs, well beaten
1 cup Bisquick
2-1/3 cups parmesan cheese
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 stick margarine, melted
3 cups thinly sliced zucchini
Method: Mix all ingredients together and pour in a well-greased nine-
by-thirteen-inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for thirty minutes. Let cool and
cut into squares.
-----------
Monitor Miniatures
News from the Federation Family
Anil Lewis Recognized:
I am truly humbled and honored that the Baltimore Teachers Union,
Civil, Human, and Women's Rights Committee has chosen me to be the
recipient of the Barbara Van Blake Civil and Human Rights Award. My work
with the National Federation of the Blind has afforded me the opportunity
to actively engage in the educational, civic, social, and human rights
arenas, working to create opportunities for blind people to live, work, and
play as fully participating members of our communities.
The Baltimore Teachers Union, Civil, Human, and Women's Rights
Committee will pay tribute to the legacy of Dr. King at its fourteenth
Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast. The breakfast will be held
Saturday, February 3, 2018, at the Forum Caterers, 4210 Primrose Avenue at
8:30 AM. The theme for this year's breakfast is "The Dream is Still
Possible."
I share this recognition with the 50,000 members of the National
Federation of the Blind.
Gain work experience, challenge yourself, and build relationships that will
last a lifetime:
The Colorado Center for the Blind is now accepting applications from
positive blind role models to be residential counselors and classroom
instructors in our 2018 summer programs. We offer three programs for
students: Summer for Success College Prep Program, Earn and Learn High
School Program, and the Initiation to Independence Middle School Program.
Staff must be available May 29 through August 10, 2018. Applicants
must be good role models, competent in the skills of blindness, well-
rounded, flexible, must possess excellent communication skills, and be
willing to lead by example. Must be excited to work with blind students
ages eleven through twenty.
Challenge recreation is an exciting component of the job. Staff will
go rock climbing, hiking, canoeing, whitewater rafting, attend martial arts
classes, and much more. All staff and students will attend the week-long
national convention of the National Federation of the Blind in Orlando,
Florida.
To learn more about our summer programs, please click the following
link https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-cl=84503534&v=6yBomtj12KU&x-yt-
ts=1421914688&feature=player_embedded#t=0
If interested, please contact Martin Becerra-Miranda at (303) 778-
1130 extension 223 or via email at mbecerra at cocenter.org
David Andrews Receives Minnesota's 2018 MLK Commitment to Service Award:
David Andrews, chief technology officer at State Services for the
Blind, is a recipient of Minnesota's 2018 MLK Commitment to Service award.
Andrews was recognized for his contribution to diversity and inclusion
through his advocacy for assistive technology, accessible web design, and
access to information.
Among his many other accomplishments, Andrews was a part of a working
group whose efforts contributed to the adoption of accessibility standards
as passed by the Minnesota legislature in 2009. Dave has been on staff at
SSB for twenty-three years, and has worked in the field of accessibility
for nearly four decades.
"This award not only honors Dave's dedication and tireless advocacy,"
said SSB Director, Carol Pankow, "but it also reflects the importance of
accessibility and access to information in building a strong and diverse
Minnesota. Along with the rest of the staff here at SSB, I congratulate
Dave on this important award." James Burroughs, chief inclusion officer for
the Governor's Office, presented Andrews with the award at the Ordway
Center in St. Paul at the Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration on Monday,
January 15, 2018.
NFB BELL Academy Adds New Skills to Curriculum:
The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Braille Enrichment for
Literacy and Learning (BELL) Academy helps blind and low-vision children
ages four through twelve develop the literacy skills that will empower them
to be successful in their academic and life goals. This year, with the
assistance of our Wells Fargo partners, we will be focusing on the
development of financial literacy skills as well. In addition to Braille
instruction, the program provides instruction in other nonvisual blindness
skills through fun, hands-on learning in a day program or residential
setting. In addition to Braille crafts, games, and other engaging projects,
children learn vital independent living skills, interact with blind adults
who serve as mentors, and enjoy field trips to sites related to the NFB
BELL Academy curriculum. Through these activities and interactions, the
children learn that by "Banking on Blindness Skills," they can live the
lives they want. To learn more about NFB BELL Academy and to apply please
visit https://nfb.org/bell-academy.
National Association of Blind Merchants Day on The Hill:
The National Association of Blind Merchants (NABM) and the National
Federation of the Blind Entrepreneurs Initiative (NFBEI) will be holding a
Day on The Hill on May 20-21, 2018. Please make arrangements to join us in
Washington, DC, so we can let our voices be heard and collectively protect
the priority.
A bill has been introduced that will allow commercialization of
interstate rest areas and the President is promoting an infrastructure plan
that has been leaked, and we know for certain it includes the option for
states to commercialize their rest areas through public-private
partnerships. If this becomes the law of the land, almost 400 blind
entrepreneurs who operate vending at these rest areas could be displaced
almost instantly. Add to that the fact that several programs that rely on
funding from third party vendors would face financial ruin. We have to
continue our fight to prevent DOD from promulgating the proposed troop
dining rules and educate the Armed Services Committee in an effort to
thwart any attempt by AbilityOne to get language added to the National
Defense Authorization Act this year that would further weaken our priority
for troop dining. We must continue to put political pressure on the VA to
comply with the law. Now, burdensome OMB regulations are being imposed on
states that require federal approval of all purchases of over $5,000. This
will slow down purchasing to a crawl and dramatically impact vendors'
ability to make a living. We continue to get threats from the American
Heart Association that wants to mandate only healthier options to be sold
in our vending machines.
This year, we will kick things off with some extensive training on
Monday afternoon, May 20th. John Pari and Gabe Cazares from the National
Federation of the Blind's Baltimore office will lead the training, and it
will focus on how to be an effective advocate on The Hill and in your
everyday lives. That training will begin at 3:00 and conclude by 6:00.
To register to attend the Fly-In, go to www.blindmerchants.org.
Complete the registration form and submit. We will make appointments for
you with your members of Congress on Tuesday, May 21st.
The host hotel will be the Marriott Key Bridge Hotel, 1401 Lee
Highway, Arlington, Virginia, 22209. You can see the agenda and book your
room at https://blindmerchants.org/day-hill-may-21-22-2018/. You may also
call 703-524-6400 and ask for the NABM Fly-In rate which is $199.00. We
have a block of rooms for the nights of May 19, 20, and 21.
The Randolph-Sheppard Program is under attack. Help us defend it.
Register now!
2018 Summer Training and Employment Project (STEP) Program Striving for
Success:
Since 1985 the Louisiana Center for the Blind has been changing what
it means to be blind for adults from across America. In 1990, a program was
created to address the needs of blind high school students. The Summer
Training and Employment Project (STEP) Program is designed to introduce
blind teenagers to positive blind role models and to provide participants
with summer work experience.
The eight-week summer program will consist of two components. During
the first part of the program, competent blind counselors will instruct the
students in the alternative techniques of blindness. Classes in Braille,
cane travel, computer literacy, and daily living skills will be taught by
qualified blind instructors. In addition, seminars will be conducted in the
areas of job readiness, job interviewing skills, resumi writing, and job
responsibilities. The second part of the program will continue all aspects
of training and expand to include an employment dimension. Students will
have the opportunity to participate in 40 hours of internship experience-
for which they will receive the Federal minimum wage. Students will be
introduced to a broad spectrum of career possibilities as they explore
postsecondary options.
The combination of work experience and blindness-related skills-along
with fun-filled activities such as cookouts, swimming, mall excursions, and
various other outings-will foster self-confidence and independence in blind
teens. From July 3 through 8, students will attend the National Convention
of the National Federation of the Blind in Orlando, Florida. This exciting
conference will allow them to meet thousands of competent blind people from
across the country. The students will also have the chance to participate
in a wide variety of informative seminars and youth-oriented social and
other activities. At the close of the program, parents will be required to
attend a Parents' Weekend which will enable them to discover how much their
children have learned throughout the summer. The STEP program is designed
to provide invaluable work experience, friendships, opportunities for
personal growth, and cherished memories.
Training will begin June 10 and conclude August 4. We recognize that
there may be some overlap between the start and/or conclusion of our
program and school district dates. If accepted, we are happy to coordinate
with a student's school district in this regard. Please visit
www.louisianacenter.org to learn about more program specifics and to
complete an application.
Due to limited space, we cannot guarantee that every applicant will
be granted enrollment, and applicants must have an open case with their
state's vocational rehabilitation agency or other funding entity to cover
program costs.
Questions? Please call our director of youth services, Eric Guillory
at (800) 234-4166 or email him at eguillory at louisianacenter.org. "Together,
we are changing what it means to be blind." Check out STEP and find out
how.
BUDDY PROGRAM 2018: Putting the Pieces Together
Come and join us for a summer of fun and learning! Since 1989, the
Louisiana Center for the Blind has offered an innovative summer program for
blind children in grades four through eight. This summer, the Buddy Program
promises to be full of learning opportunities, new friendships, and fun-
filled activities.
Many blind children have misconceptions about their blindness due to
the lack of positive role models and to the negative stereotypes about
blindness in society. Unlike other summer programs for blind children, the
Buddy Program is directed and staffed by competent blind adults. Classes in
cane travel are taught to instill independence and self-confidence. The
knowledge of Braille enables the blind child to compete on terms of
equality with sighted peers in the classroom and provides a solid
background in spelling and other grammatical skills. Classes in access
technology expose students to available mainstream and adaptive solutions.
Daily living skills instruction promotes equal participation in household
duties such as cooking, shopping, and cleaning. In addition to learning
valuable alternative techniques of blindness, children will enjoy
participating in a wide variety of exciting activities such as swimming,
camping, bowling, rollerskating, and field trips.
The combination of hard work and fun activities will provide a
rewarding experience that children will cherish. Involvement in the Buddy
Program helps them realize that it is not blindness that holds them back.
Rather, it is the negative attitudes and misconceptions about blindness
that may prevent them from reaching their potential. At the close of the
program, parents are REQUIRED to attend a Parents' Weekend. This weekend
will allow them to interact with other parents of blind children and to
learn what their children have discovered about their blindness and
themselves. Friendship, training, fun, growth, and interaction between
blind children and positive blind role models is how the Louisiana Center
for the Blind is "changing what it means to be blind."
The Louisiana Center for the Blind will sponsor one session of the
Buddy Program in 2018. Program dates are July 15 through August 4. We
recognize that there may be some overlap between the conclusion of our
program and school district dates. If accepted, we are happy to coordinate
with a student's school district in this regard.
Perhaps we will have the opportunity to work with your child this
summer. We know it will be a memorable experience for both you and them.
All interested families should visit www.louisianacenter.org for more
details and to apply. Please also feel free to contact our director of
youth services, Eric Guillory before April 20. Please email Eric at
eguillory at louisianacenter.org or call (800) 234-4166.
Due to limited space, we cannot guarantee that every applicant will
be granted enrollment. Please note that the fee for students not from
Louisiana is $1,000-which is all-inclusive save for transportation to and
from the program. The fee for Louisiana students is $500.
NFB EQ:
The National Federation of the Blind Engineering Quotient (EQ)
program is a weeklong summer engineering program for blind and low-vision
teens from around the country that will run July 29 through August 4.
Throughout the week participants will forge new friendships while
increasing their engineering knowledge, problem-solving abilities, self-
confidence, and independence. Blind and low-vision teens who are ready to
learn new things, meet new people, and have an adventure this summer are
encouraged to apply to attend the NFB EQ program. To learn more visit:
http://www.blindscience.org/nfbeq.
Session Dates for 2018 Summer Programs at BLIND, Inc:
Dates for summer programs at BLIND, Inc are as follows:
. Post-secondary Readiness Empowerment Program (PREP) June 16 through
August 11
. Buddy Program July 22 through August 11
. Summer Transition Youth Learning Experience (STYLE)-Students can
choose to participate in one, two, or all three of these sessions!
o Week 1: July 23 through 27
o Week 2: July 23 through August 3
o Week 3: July 6 through August 10
Please contact Michell Gip, youth services coordinator at (612) 872-
0100 ext. 231 or mgip at blindinc.org if you have any questions or would like
an application.
Summer Programs at the Colorado Center for the Blind:
CCB offers three summer residential programs for students in middle
school, high school, and college prep. The students live with counselors in
two-bedroom, 1= bath apartments located near the Center and will work on
all aspects of managing an apartment. Students will also use public
transportation to travel to and from the Center each day.
We place a big emphasis on challenge recreation activities such as
whitewater rafting, rock climbing, canoeing, martial arts, science, and a
variety of other events. All programs share the core classes of Braille,
cane travel, daily living skills, technology, and philosophy of blindness.
Summer for Success College Prep Program
The College Prep class seeks to instill a sense in each student that
they can and should take charge of their education in college and beyond.
The program introduces students to the student-initiated world of the
college Disability Services office and "reasonable accommodations," as well
as the increasingly digital learning environment. We impart concepts and
develop skills to assist the student in finding success in their studies.
They will learn about their civil rights in college, as well as multi-tool
strategies for obtaining their own accessible formats of textbooks and
other instructional materials. Here, the emphasis will be on assistive
technologies and textbook resources. We'll also cover access to science and
math, research databases, and use travel skills to visit several campuses
in the Denver Metro area.
Earn and Learn High School Program
This eight-week residential program serves students age fourteen and
older. Not only do these students take the core classes, but they have the
opportunity to participate in exciting, paid work experiences. We work to
match students with jobs they find both interesting and challenging, and
they travel to and from their jobs with an assigned summer counselor. It is
exhilarating for the students to get their first paycheck.
Initiation to Independence Middle School Program
This is a three-week residential program for students age eleven to
fourteen. In addition to participating in the core curriculum, students
will meet successful working adults in order to learn about various
professions. These students are excited to have so many new experiences in
just three short weeks!
For more information and applications please contact Brent Batron,
director of youth programs at bbatron at cocenter.org.
Post-secondary Readiness Empowerment Program (PREP) 2018 applications are
due:
Apply today to PREP 2018, a summer program for all blind/low vision
high school students! This program is designed to prepare students to reach
their personal, academic, and professional goals as they transition to
adulthood. The PREP curriculum empowers blind youth as they learn the
alternative techniques of blindness and develop the self-confidence needed
to become successful adults!
The core classes include Braille reading and writing, independent
cane travel, adaptive technology, career exploration, and home management.
This program includes a three-week paid internship experience. Students
will utilize the skills they have developed while earning minimum wage,
working approximately twenty hours per week in local businesses and
agencies.
The program will run June 16 through August 11. Contact Michell Gip,
youth services coordinator, at (612) 872-0100, ext. 231, or
mgip at blindinc.org for more information or an application.
Krafters Division Craft Extravaganza:
The Krafters Division is sponsoring a Craft Extravaganza on Sunday,
March 18, 2018, between 2 and 5 PM central time. We will host a variety of
crafts. Each class will last no more than forty-five minutes. Classes
offered are: origami box, dipped cherries, duct tape project, bath bombs,
and flowers. Come and join us! Log on to www.kraftersKorner.org for more
information.
In Brief
Notices and information in this section may be of interest to Monitor
readers. We are not responsible for the accuracy of the information; we
have edited only for space and clarity.
Summer Employment at BISM:
Have you thought about how you will spend your summer? Are you
looking for a fulfilling job working with students to improve their skills
and confidence? If so, Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM)
wants to hear from you! BISM is currently looking for independent,
confident role models ready to teach and mentor high school and middle
school students from across the nation.
When:
Staff training: Thursday, June 7 to Friday, June 15, 2018
Work to Independence Program: Saturday, June 16 to Saturday, August 4
Independence 101 Program: Friday, July 20 to Saturday, August 4
Staff Departure Date: Sunday, August 5
Where:
Apartments on a college campus in Baltimore County, and classrooms at
the Blind Industries and Services of Maryland Baltimore headquarters
Who should apply?
Anyone with:
. Knowledge of the alternative techniques of blindness (Braille,
assistive technology, cane travel, and independent living)
. Basic knowledge of structured discovery teaching methods
. Effective verbal and written communication skills
. High school diploma or equivalent
. A positive attitude about blindness and a desire to mentor and
motivate youth
. Energy and enthusiasm
What will you get for your work?
. The opportunity to make a difference in the lives of youth nationwide
. A summer jam-packed with fun activities and new experiences
. CPR and First Aid certification
. Compensation in the amount of $4,000.00
All the information you need can be found on our website:
www.bism.org/youth.
Please read through our 2018 Youth Services brochure and download a
staff application. Application submissions must also include a current
resumi.
For questions, or to apply, please contact Melissa Lomax at
MLomax at bism.org, or (410) 737-2642.
The DAISY Consortium Continues to Innovate for the Blind:
The DAISY Consortium is delighted to announce the launch of Ace by
DAISY, the groundbreaking free and open source accessibility checking tool
for ebooks created in the widely adopted EPUB format. Ace by DAISY equips
the publishing industry with a tool which can test their ebooks against
internationally recognized standards for accessibility. Designed to assist
content providers at any stage in their workflow, Ace by DAISY will make it
easier to produce higher quality, more accessible EPUB content files.
The full press release can be accessed at
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2018/01/prweb15141305.htm. For further
information on Ace and how to get started, see
https://inclusivepublishing.org/toolbox/accessibility-checker/.
Please help us to promote this major step forward in accessible
publishing!
Leader Dog's Summer Experience Camp-Making Teens Unstoppable!
Summer Experience Camp is a week of outdoor fun, friendship, and
skill building. The program combines activities like rock wall climbing and
tandem biking with leadership building exercises and things exclusively
Leader Dog-GPS training and spending time with Leader Dogs in training. The
combination helps increase independent travel skills, interpersonal skills,
and leadership skills. The free program is for boys and girls ages sixteen
and seventeen who are legally blind. Leader Dog covers all costs including
airfare to Michigan-and everyone receives a free HumanWare Trekker Breeze+
GPS device. The 2018 camp dates are June 23 through June 30. Applications
are due by March 31, 2018.
For more information and to download an application, go to
www.leaderdog.org/clients/programs/summer-experience-camp or call the
Leader Dogs for the Blind client services department at (888) 777-5332.
----------
Monitor Mart
The notices in this section have been edited for clarity, but we can
pass along only the information we were given. We are not responsible for
the accuracy of the statements made or the quality of the products for
sale.
Wanted:
I am interested in purchasing a Voice Mate. Call Ray at (863) 993-
2997. I will pay a good price.
----------
NFB Pledge
I pledge to participate actively in the efforts 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.
Forwarded by:
Brian A. Mackey
Brian A. Mackey
Owner, Mackey Enterprises, LLC
Treasurer & Webmaster, National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey
Webmaster, National Federation of the Blind of Delaware, Pennsylvania,
Nevada, & Illinois
Member, National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Blind Users Innovating &
Leading Design (BUILD) Team
609-680-8488
<mailto:Bmackey88 at gmail.com> Bmackey88 at gmail.com
<http://www.mackeyenterprisesllc.com/> www.mackeyenterprisesllc.com
"Happy are those who dream dreams and are willing to pay the price to make
those dreams come true"
-Vince Papale
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