[NFBNJ] Open Conference Call All welcome Meet National representative Carla McQuillan Monday October 15 at 8:00 PM

[joe ruffalo]

Greetings to all!
If you are attending the state convention in early November in Woodbridge, 
great!
If you are not attending the state convention held in Woodbridge, we are 
planning to stream part of the convention.
Details will be forthcoming.

With this said, to all receiving this email, please join us on a conference 
call on Monday, October 15 at 8:00 pm.
Note: please call in ten minutes prior to the scheduled call time as I am 
expecting a good number to attend to the call.

Call: 605 468 8005
Code: 460994
We will have the opportunity to meet our national representative, Carla 
McQuillan.
Her biography is below.

In addition, I will provide any updates pertaining to the state convention.

Looking forward to another educational, motivational and inspirational state 
convention, Live The Life You Want; Blind With Vision
Warmly,
Joe

We care. We share. We grow. We make a difference
Joe Ruffalo, President
National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey
973 743 0075
nfbnj1 at verizon.net
www.nfb.org
Raising Expectations To Live The Life You Want!
Your old car keys can be keys to literacy for the blind.
Donate your unwanted vehicle to us by clicking
www.carshelpingtheblind.org
or call 855 659 9314

***



Carla McQuillan





Executive Director of Main Street Montessori Association





Carla was born and raised in Southern California in the early 60's, the

youngest of 4 children. In the summer before fifth grade, Carla lost a great

deal of vision but did not notice it until she started school in the fall

and was unable to read the chalkboard from the front row. A few years

earlier, her older brother had been diagnosed with a rare genetic eye

condition called Stargardt's disease, which resulted in the loss of central

vision. It was soon confirmed that Carla had the same condition. She was

diagnosed legally blind in 1971.



Because of her remaining peripheral vision, Carla did not "look blind", so

she was not taught Braille or any other alternative techniques of blindness.

She had very little experience with blind people. The only blind person she

knew was her brother, and he was forever using his blindness as an excuse

for standing on the sidelines. Carla knew that this was not the life she

wanted and was determined to do everything in her power to convince the

world that she was not blind.



After high school Carla went to Humboldt State University in Northern

California. There she met her husband Lucas. They were married in the summer

of 1981 and moved to San Diego for Lucas's master's degree program. Though

Carla had not completed her bachelor's degree, she was more than happy to

put her college career on hold and work to support the couple. Her one year

of college had not been very successful. Without the ability to read Braille

and eyesight too poor to read print, Carla, who had been an A student in

high school, saw her grades drop.



She got a job as a Montessori Preschool teacher in San Diego while Lucas

completed his master's degree. Their daughter Alison was born in 1983. In

1985 the family moved to Illinois. Lucas enrolled in a doctoral program at

the University of Illinois, and Carla decided to complete her bachelor's

degree. With Lucas' encouragement, Carla asked for accessible textbooks and

decided to learn Braille. The staff at the university's disabled student's

services office told her how difficult Braille would be to learn and how

inefficient it would be. Discouraged and defeated, Carla wondered if there

was any hope for her future. Fortunately she learned of a scholarship

program through the National Federation of the Blind. She won a scholarship

from the organization's Illinois affiliate in 1988. The state convention

changed her life. Her negative attitudes about blindness and about her own

potential to be a successful professional were replaced by confidence and

self-assurance that remain a hallmark of her character today.



After both graduating with High Distinction from the University of Illinois

in 1988, the McQuillans completed their family with the birth of their son

Duncan. They moved to Oregon to be near Carla's family. Carla started her

own Montessori preschool, which later expanded to include 3 schools and a

Montessori Teacher Certification Program. Carla served as President of the

National Federation of the Blind of Oregon from 1992 until 2006, when her

business responsibilities became too demanding. She also served on the NFB's

national board of directors from 1998 until resigning from that position as

well in 2006. She was re-elected president of the Oregon affiliate in 2012

and still serves in that capacity. She is the director of NFB Camp, the

program that offers child care during the annual convention of the National

Federation of the Blind. Carla was again elected to the national board of

directors in 2016.



"I had such horrible misconceptions about blindness for most of my childhood

and early adult life," Carla says. "I thought I knew what blindness 
meant,and I didn't want any part of it. The National Federation of the Blind 
taught me that blindness was only as limiting as I allowed it to be. My 
friends and colleagues in the movement have been more than ideal role 
models; they have saved me from a life of regret and underachievement."


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