[NFBNJ] NFB: [Brl-monitor] The Braille Monitor, March 2019
Brian Mackey
bmackey88 at gmail.com
Thu Mar 28 17:22:51 UTC 2019
>From the desk of NFBNJ President Joe Ruffalo.
Received from Brian Burrow, NFB of California.
Please take special notice to the article from Ken Lawrence in the Monitor
miniatures section.
Enjoy reading and sharing the Braille monitor with others.
BRAILLE MONITOR
Vol. 62, No. 3 March 2019
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
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.
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
) 2019 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.
PHOTO/CAPTION: Mandalay Bay Resort
Las Vegas Site of 2019 NFB Convention
The 2019 convention of the National Federation of the Blind will take
place in Orlando, Florida, July 7 to July 12, at the Mandalay Bay Resort
and Casino, 3950 South Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119. Make your
room reservation as soon as possible with the Mandalay Bay Resort staff
only. Call 877-632-9001.
The 2019 room rate of $99 per night applies to singles and doubles as
well as triples and quads. Hotel and sales taxes are 13.38 percent and 8.25
percent, respectively. The resort fee (normally $37 a night) will be waived
for NFB convention attendees. However, fees for internet access, local and
toll-free calls, and fitness center access may apply. The hotel will take a
deposit of the first night's room rate for each room and will require a
credit card or a personal check. If you use a credit card, the deposit will
be charged against your card immediately. If a reservation is cancelled
before Friday, June 1, 2019, half of the deposit will be returned.
Otherwise refunds will not be made.
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.
Among its features is an aquatic playground called Mandalay Bay Beach
which has real sand, a wave pool, and a lazy river. The hotel is also home
to an aquarium with more than 2,000 animals including sharks, green sea
turtles, and a Komodo dragon. Plus, it offers top-notch entertainment
including Michael Jackson ONE by Cirque du Soleil.
The schedule for the 2019 convention is:
Sunday, July 7 Seminar Day
Monday, July 8 Registration and Resolutions Day
Tuesday, July 9 Board Meeting and Division Day
Wednesday, July 10 Opening Session
Thursday, July 11 Business Session
Friday, July 12 Banquet Day and Adjournment
Vol. 62, No. 3 March
2019
Contents
Illustration: World Braille Day: The World Acknowledges the Value of
Literacy for the Blind
The 2019 Washington Seminar
by Gary Wunder
Legislative Agenda of Blind Americans: Priorities for the 116th Congress,
First Session
Access Technology Affordability Act
Greater Accessibility and Independence through Nonvisual Access Technology
Disability Employment Act
We Will Not be Shut Down
by Mark Riccobono
How the Marrakesh Treaty Came to be Policy: The Perspective from a Longtime
Legislator
by Senator Charles Grassley
National Federation of the Blind Celebrates Ratification of the Marrakesh
Treaty
by Chris Danielsen
Growing Comfortable with the Uncomfortable
by Trisha Kulkarni
Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest Results
by Deborah Kent Stein
Summer Youth Programs
A Network of Support
by Mary Lou Grunwald
Tactile Graphics in Education and Careers
by Stacie Dubnow
The Fifty-Year Perspective: An Interview with Ramona Walhof
TO-ed at the OT
by Lauren Merryfield
The Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund
by Allen Harris
Recipes
Monitor Miniatures
[PHOTO CAPTION: The Jernigan Institute staff pose with the cake for World
Braille Day.]
[PHOTO CAPTION: The sheet cake not only has the words "Happy World Braille
Day" written in cursive in icing, but small candies spell out the same
words in Braille.]
World Braille Day: The World Acknowledges the Value of Literacy for the
Blind
Many desires unite the blind of the world: having a place to live,
being able to enjoy that place as a palace and not a prison, getting an
education and eventually some kind of job so that one's efforts are
appreciated by getting something of worth for them. Not only are we united
in our aspirations, but sometimes we also share a common belief in a
technique. Braille is the most obvious example, and so it is that the World
Blind Union worked to get the United Nations to designate the birthday of
Louis Braille as World Braille Day. What an acknowledgement by a world body
that Braille is the key to literacy and that literacy is the key to a
better life for all who are fortunate enough to possess it.
As shown in the photos accompanying this text, we did some
celebration of World Braille Day at our NFB Jernigan Institute. The cake in
the photo nurtured the body, but what it symbolizes nourishes the heart and
soul. Thank you Louie Braille, and thank you to all who continue to work to
convince the world that the beauty of literacy should be shared by the
blind.
The 2019 Washington Seminar
by Gary Wunder
Second only to the excitement of the National Federation of the Blind
national convention is what some people call our mid-winter meeting or the
Washington Seminar. It is a time for learning a lot about laws affecting
blind people and even more about what we need to do to see that those laws
lead to real equality of opportunity. We are the faces behind the
legislative proposals Congress will consider, and it is our lives that will
be made better or worse by its action or inaction.
But before we brief one another and prepare to go to the Hill, we
build our organization through other meetings. The first of these was the
Parent Leadership Program whose gathering took place at the NFB Jernigan
Institute on January 27 and 28. Parents learned about the laws affecting
their children's education, got first-hand instruction in being advocates,
and learned that the Federation goes far beyond individualized education
plans and individual plans for employment. Working with the organization to
change the environment for these young people will determine whether they
have technology they can afford, appliances they can use, and remunerative
employment. The message we try so hard to send is this: today your child is
five years old, but you need to know more than what to do until she is
twenty-one. You need to be a part of molding the world she will inherit,
and we, as a part of your family, are here to help.
The noisiest and most enthusiastic meeting certainly comes from our
students and their division, the National Association of Blind Students.
These young people, who are often known for late nights and late starts in
the morning, surprised everyone when they were anxiously waiting at 8:30
a.m. for the 9:15 registration and a 10:00 a.m. start of the meeting. The
hubbub was wonderful, but what started as controlled chaos turned into a
well-oiled registration system and a meeting that started within seven
minutes of when the agenda said it would.
[PHOTO CAPTION: Kathryn Webster]
President Kathryn Webster gaveled the Learning Through Living 2019
Student Seminar to order, welcomed the students, and asked our social media
coordinator Karen Anderson to talk with the group about social media and
our Twitter hashtag #NFBINDC.
President Mark Riccobono was introduced, and he talked about unity in
the National Federation of the Blind. We get things done because we are
united, but we can only be united if everyone knows his or her voice
matters. United doesn't mean the old guys and gals run everything; united
means all of us decide the course we will take, and all of us make what we
decide become the reality that we and other blind people come to
experience.
Gabe Cazares, our manager of government affairs, was introduced. When
he says "Howdy," you know that information is soon to come, and it is
delivered with the poise, enthusiasm, and clarity that makes it stick. He
briefly outlined each proposal, took questions, and left more detailed
discussions for later in the seminar.
Everette Bacon came to encourage students to apply for scholarships,
and the fruits of the program were made perfectly clear by Trisha Kulkarni,
a 2018 winner, who delivered a presentation that appears elsewhere in this
issue.
In the afternoon many of us came to hear about the issues we would
take to Congress. Having the fact sheets in hand well before the seminar
was helpful, but there is nothing like being able to ask questions of
people who know our proposals inside and out and who exude the enthusiasm
for what we are doing in coming to Congress.
When 5 p.m. arrived, the Capitol Ballroom was filled to overflowing,
and the overflow Congressional Room had few unoccupied chairs. Together we
had two rooms full of people ready to take the Hill. President Riccobono
began by welcoming those in attendance and then delivered moving remarks
which appear elsewhere in this issue.
[PHOTO CAPTION: Diane McGeorge, Mark Riccobono, and Buna Dahal smile
together.]
As the next order of business, he observed that the Federation has
been coming to DC longer than any member of Congress, and in the thirty-
seven years we have been using this hotel, Diane McGeorge has been our
Washington Seminar coordinator. On this evening she announced her decision
to retire and introduced Buna Dahal as her successor. Buna is a fine member
who lives in Washington state, but still identifies herself as a Coloradan.
Buna said she would do the best she could to fill the big shoes Diane has
given her but that we should remember that her real shoe size is a 2.5. The
standing joke between Diane and Buna was that Diane wants someone to take
her place who is shorter than she, so this posed a tall challenge. Through
its applause the Great Gathering-In crowd thanked Diane and welcomed Buna
to her new job. Before yielding the floor, Diane announced that once again
she was able to get the hotel to make available the peanut butter pie which
has been a tradition.
The President mentioned our newly remodeled website, NFB.org. The
team working on the new site has dedicated the last year to making the
beauty people see on the web as elegant as what they see when they visit
the NFB Jernigan Institute in person. As with any new site, we will find
bugs and missing content, but your observations are wanted and should be
sent to web at nfb.org.
[PHOTO CAPTION: Anil Lewis]
Anil Lewis next stepped to the microphone to speak in his capacity as
head of blindness initiatives for the Jernigan Institute. Here are some of
the points he made: first we dream, then we create programs, then we show
people about the possibilities that await them. When we cried out for
training in science, technology, engineering, and math, we were the first.
Now others have taken up the chant, creating programs of their own. Whereas
their idea of teaching the blind chemistry involves putting powder and
water into a glass, mixing it, and calling it Kool-Aid, we teach children
how to dissect sharks, launch rockets, and build things. And we do more
than teach: we teach others how to teach through paid internships at our
three training centers. From our Braille Enrichment for Literacy and
Learning Academy to our seminars on tactile graphics, we are not only
raising the expectations of blind students but providing them a path to
walk in getting to places we know they can go.
President Riccobono reminded us that it is important to recognize
innovation, and one of the ways we do this is through the Dr. Jacob Bolotin
Award. Any individual or organization demonstrating innovation and hard
work on behalf of the blind can be nominated, and those wishing to make
nominations should do so before the deadline of April 15.
Monitoring the results of negotiation and litigation is a part of
what we do, and the President thanked those who have participated in the
Greyhound testing and have filed reports for our Uber and Lyft rideshare
monitoring. Remember that with Uber and Lyft, we are interested both in
good and bad experiences. It is also helpful if we report our challenges
and successes in using websites for job seeking. Please report these to
Valerie Yingling at vyingling at nfb.org or by calling 410-659-9314, extension
2440.
The crowd was excited when President Riccobono talked about the
national convention, which will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 7 to
July 12, 2019. Rooms are going fast, so those who wish to attend and have
not yet made reservations should refer to the convention information
earlier in this issue. Registration for the convention will be open March
1, and every person who pre-registers will save money on both registration
and the banquet.
Last year many of those attending the Washington Seminar went to the
Newseum to celebrate the arrival of the tactile talking exhibit
commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Hu? during the Tet
Offensive. This exhibit was developed by John Olson of 3DPhotoWorks. This
exhibit has been so popular that its time at the Newseum has been extended
twice. Officials at the Newseum say that this exhibit has more dwell time
(the amount of time that people spend looking at it) than any other object
at the facility. The exhibit will remain at the Newseum until at least
March 17, 2019.
The membership of the National Federation of the Blind is our most
valuable asset, and the recruitment and retention of new members is
essential to ensure that we continue to be the true representatives of
blind people. Jeannie Massay is the chairman of our Membership Committee,
and she briefly addressed the group about initiatives to strengthen our
efforts in recruitment and retention. She said that each member of the
National Federation of the Blind will get a membership coin to signify that
they are a member and to provide something we can display with pride to
show that we are a part of a unified group invested in improving the lives
of the blind. A fuller discussion of our membership activities will be
found in the April issue, the majority of which will be devoted to this
most vital Federation activity.
Immediate Past President Maurer was introduced for the purpose of
welcoming to the Great Gathering-In the distinguished senator from the
state of Iowa, Charles Grassley. Senator Grassley has been involved in the
legislative process as an elected official since the late 1950s. He served
in the Iowa legislature and supported the programs of the Iowa Commission
for the Blind. He then moved to the United States House of Representatives
and later was elected to the United States Senate, where he has served for
thirty-eight years. Senator Grassley was the chairman of the judiciary
committee when the Marrakesh Treaty was considered and passed. He supported
it and put forth tremendous effort to see that it was adopted. For his work
in increasing the number of accessible publications this will make
available both to the blind of the United States and the blind of the
world, he was invited to deliver a keynote presentation to our gathering.
What he said will appear elsewhere in this issue.
[PHOTO CAPTION: Senator Grassley poses with Dr. Marc Maurer while holding
the Distinguished Legislator Award]
But before he spoke, Dr. Maurer presented Senator Grassley with the
Distinguished Legislator Award from the National Federation of the Blind.
The award read as follows:
National Federation
of the Blind
Distinguished Legislator
Award
Presented to
Senator
Charles E. "Chuck" Grassley
For championing the Marrakesh Treaty
to Facilitate Access to Published Works
for Persons who are Blind, Visually Impaired,
or Otherwise Print Disabled, and its
implementing legislation.
Your leadership, hard work, and dedication have
unlocked the door to expanded literacy
and access to the world's knowledge.
Together with love, hope, and determination,
we transform dreams into reality.
January 28, 2019
Patti Chang was given the difficult task of following Senator
Grassley to the microphone. Her request was that we look beyond the needs
of today and think about how we will help the National Federation of the
Blind for the generations who will come after us. The primary way we can do
this is by joining the Dream Maker's Circle, a program that lets us commit
on our deaths some amount of money or percentage of our estate that we wish
to give to the organization. Making certain that this happens can be as
simple as creating a "payable on death" or POD account which instructs the
bank to pay an amount that you specify to the Federation on your death.
Patti is available to help in this or in more complicated arrangements
involving wills, trusts, and other means through which one can make a gift
to the Federation.
John Pari was invited to the podium to introduce the government
affairs team and the issues we would take to Capitol Hill. He reminded us
that last year witnessed the passage of the Space Available Act and the
passage by the House and the Senate of the Marrakesh Treaty.
After John's presentation, President Riccobono interrupted to say
that Scott LaBarre was on the phone with an important message. His message
was that President Trump had, on this very day, January 28, 2019, signed
ratification documents that would henceforth be sent to the State
Department and officially transferred to Geneva, Switzerland. We understand
that those documents have been deposited in Geneva, and after ninety days
the United States will be a full participant in the Marrakesh Treaty.
Kimie Eacobacci was introduced to talk about the Accessible
Technology Affordability Act, legislation that would provide a refundable
tax credit when we who are blind wish to purchase the specialized
technology that helps to make us even more competitive. She was followed to
the podium by the newest member of the government affairs team, Stephanie
Flynt. She briefly explained the Greater Accessibility and Independence
through Nonvisual Access Technology or the GAIN Act. In this act we are
looking for equal access in using medical devices, exercise equipment, and
home appliances.
The last presenter to discuss our issues was the manager of
government affairs, Gabe Cazares. He briefly explained the Disability
Employment Act and its potential to revolutionize employment opportunities
for the blind by reforming the ways in which government contracts for
sheltered workshops are awarded, inviting the private sector to participate
in creating job opportunities for the blind, and by ensuring that all
people with disabilities will be paid at least the minimum wage. More about
these issues can be found in the fact sheets which appear immediately after
this article.
The last person to come to the podium was our longtime friend in the
National Federation of the Blind and now an employee of Aira, Daniel Frye.
He talked about two plans available only to members of the National
Federation of the Blind: an introductory plan offering thirty minutes a
month for twenty dollars, and a ninety-nine-dollars-a-month plan providing
140 minutes of Aira service. Dan stressed that Aira is not meant to replace
the blindness skills we worked so hard to teach and evolve, but its job is
to help with those aspects of our lives that require or are made
significantly easier with the assistance of vision, be it human vision or
artificial intelligence. He concluded by saying that anyone who wanted to
try Aira for one week could sign up for service without charge.
President Riccobono closed the meeting with two short items. Traffic
to the new NFB website was so heavy after his announcement earlier in the
evening that the site crashed, but this kind of heavy testing is exactly
what we need to provide a world-class example of what a website should look
like and the way it should function with assistive technology. He went on
to say that by long-standing tradition the District of Columbia affiliate
would provide doughnuts in the early morning to those venturing off to
Capitol Hill.
[PHOTO CAPTION: Senator Chris Van Hollen]
On Tuesday we began our visits with individual members of Congress
and their staff. On Tuesday evening we hosted a congressional reception,
and several members were invited to speak. The first presenter at the
reception was Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. He said that he was not
surprised that when the blind decided to storm Capitol Hill, we quite
literally brought with us an actual snowstorm. He said that he is proud
that our national headquarters is based in Baltimore, that we have created
the momentum to expand educational services and to make healthcare more
inclusive, and that he looks forward to working with us, standing shoulder
to shoulder, as we take the next steps in making competitive employment a
reality for people who are blind. He is proud to be one of those who signed
on to the Transformation to Competitive Employment Act which will phase out
section 14 (c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act within six years. His goal
is to round up one hundred cosponsors for this legislation in order to
provide the help and resources needed to level the playing field so that
blind people will transition into competitive, integrated employment. He
concluded by expressing his continuing support for the Assistive Technology
Affordability Act, and he believes that a refundable tax credit is an
excellent way to put technology in the hands of those who need it.
[PHOTO CAPTION: Congressman John Sarbanes]
Congressman John Sarbanes was enthusiastically welcomed to the
podium, and he too expressed his pride in the fact that the headquarters of
our Federation is located in the third District which he represents. He
appreciates not only the work we do on behalf of blind people but the way
in which we have worked to become integrated into the community and to be a
real resource for it. For him this shows that we are not only interested in
issues affecting the blind but have an interest in any work that makes
better this country in which we live.
[PHOTO CAPTION: Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee]
The last presenter of the evening came from District 18 representing
the great state of Texas. We welcomed to the podium Congresswoman Sheila
Jackson Lee. She was quick to acknowledge that thirty-six members of the
National Federation of the Blind were present from her state, and her most
immediate concern was whether she could get all of them into her office on
the following day. Congresswoman Lee admires the Federation's dedication in
pressing for the equality of all people, and she believes that our presence
and participation in this constitutional form of government is a gigantic
statement that we are here, we are equal, and we deserve the fullest of
civil rights. She said that she was proud of George H. W. Bush for
supporting the Americans With Disabilities Act, and now, as a member of the
House Judiciary Committee, it is her responsibility to exercise oversight
of the Department of Justice and to see to the vibrancy, the strength, and
the power of this act. She concluded by saying that the reason that she
came to our reception was to commemorate our stand against intolerance: to
support our determination to change the minds of those who say we can't; to
proclaim that those who say the task is too hard for us are wrong; to
refute the belief of those who say a blind person can't do this job; to
answer those who say that we who are blind cannot teach by showing them
that we can and do; to challenge those who express doubts that we can
become research scientists; to confront those who believe we cannot parent,
adopt, or become foster parents; and for all of the other reasons we have
formed to act in concert as the National Federation of the Blind.
After all of these stirring remarks, the congressional reception was
adjourned, and those of us who witnessed its enthusiasm prepared for
another two days on Capitol Hill.
At last it was Thursday, January 31, and the blind had come and made
our case to the lawmakers of our land. When it came time for canes on the
ground to give way to wheels up as we headed home, all of us knew that we
had taken a substantial step in addressing the needs of blind people. Our
task is now well defined: to convert intention into action, action into
policy, and policy into opportunity. This we will most certainly do, for as
President Riccobono reminds us, "We are the National Federation of the
Blind, and we cannot be shut down."
----------
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA OF BLIND AMERICANS:
PRIORITIES FOR THE 116TH CONGRESS, FIRST 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 Access Technology Affordability Act (ATAA)
The cost of critically needed access technology is out of reach
for most blind Americans. By providing a refundable tax credit
for qualifying purchases, Congress will stimulate individual
procurement of this technology and promote affordability of
these tools.
. The Greater Accessibility and Independence through Nonvisual
Access Technology (GAIN) Act
Advanced digital interfaces create barriers that prevent blind
individuals from independently operating essential devices that
enhance quality of life. Congress must end the digital divide
that threatens the independence of blind Americans by developing
minimum accessibility requirements for such devices.
. The Disability Employment Act (DEA)
An outdated approach to employment fails to adequately equip
workers with disabilities for the challenges of the twenty-first
century. The Disability Employment Act will spur innovation that
will increase and enhance modern employment opportunities for
people with disabilities.
These priorities will remove obstacles to education, employment, and
independent living. We urge Congress to support our legislative
initiatives.
Find us on social media:
National Federation of the Blind | @NFB_Voice | @nfb_voice
----------
Access Technology Affordability Act (ATAA)
The cost of critically needed access technology is out of reach
for most blind Americans
The high cost of access technology creates a difficult economic reality.
Most access technology ranges 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. According to the United States Census Bureau 71 percent
of blind Americans are either unemployed or underemployed. 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 enables blind Americans to participate in today's
workforce. Blindness is well-defined and measurable, but affects each
person differently and at different ages. Since individual needs differ,
manufacturers have designed various tools that enable each blind American
to perform tasks that they were once unable to accomplish themselves due to
their blindness. 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 71 percent of blind Americans who are either
unemployed or underemployed, it is a vehicle that facilitates the job-
seeking process. Despite this critical need, however, public and private
entities struggle to meet consumer demand. This leads to untimely delays in
the delivery of necessary technology and ultimately harms the blind
consumer.
Access Technology Affordability Act:
Makes access technology more affordable so that blind Americans can procure
these items for themselves. It establishes a refundable tax credit for
blind Americans in the amount of $2,000 to be used over a three-year period
to offset the cost of access technology. The credit created by ATAA will
sunset after five years, and will be indexed for inflation.
Provides flexibility for individuals to obtain access technology based upon
their specific needs. 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.
Historically, Congress has implemented 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 primarily depend on public and private entities to procure access
technology for them.
Improve affordability of critically needed access technology necessary for
employment and independent living.
For more information, contact:
Kimie Eacobacci, Government Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the
Blind
Phone: 410-659-9314, extension 2441
Email: keacobacci at nfb.org
For more information visit www.nfb.org
----------
Greater Accessibility and Independence through Nonvisual Access Technology
(GAIN) Act
Advanced digital interfaces create barriers that prevent blind individuals
from independently operating essential devices that enhance quality of
life.
Home use medical devices, home appliances, and fitness equipment are
becoming less and less accessible for blind Americans. The rapid
proliferation of advanced technology is undeniable. Most new stoves,
glucose monitors, and treadmills now require that consumers interact with a
digital display, flat panels, and other user interfaces. This new
technology is inaccessible to blind individuals and creates a modern-day
barrier. Inaccessibility is not a mere inconvenience; it can threaten the
safety, health, and independence of blind Americans. Advancements in
technology have the potential to transform how people live in a society but
are designed for those with no functional limitations. This flaw in product
design limits options for blind Americans who need nonvisual access to
important devices that are available to people without disabilities.
Nonvisual access is achievable, as demonstrated by a number of mainstream
products. Apple has incorporated VoiceOver (a text-to-speech function) into
its touch-screen products, making the iPhone, iPod, and iPad fully
accessible to blind people right out of the box. Virtually all ATMs
manufactured in the United States are accessible, and every polling place
provides a nonvisually accessible voting machine. Frequently, a simple
audio output or vibrotactile feature can make a product fully accessible at
minimal cost.
Current disability laws are not able to keep up with advancements in
technology. Although the Americans with Disabilities Act and other laws
require physical accessibility for people with disabilities (e.g.,
wheelchair ramps, Braille in public buildings), no laws protect blind
consumers' right to access technology such as home use medical devices,
home appliances, or fitness equipment. The National Council on Disability
concluded that accessibility standards lag behind the rapid pace of
technology, which can interfere with technology access. This trend of
inaccessibility will continue if accessibility solutions are ignored. Only
a fraction of manufacturers have incorporated nonvisual access standards
into their product design while others continue to resist these solutions.
Greater Accessibility and Independence through Nonvisual Access Technology
Act:
Calls on the Access Board to conduct a nonvisual access standard review.
The Access Board (an independent federal agency and leading source of
information on accessible design) will review the current marketplace,
consult with stakeholders and manufacturers, and will issue a report with
findings and recommendations for a minimum nonvisual access standard for
home use medical devices, home appliances, and fitness equipment.
Establishes a minimum nonvisual access standard for home use medical
devices, home appliances, and fitness equipment. Six months after the
Access Board publishes the above-mentioned report, the Board will begin a
rulemaking period, not to exceed 36 months, to establish a minimum
nonvisual access standard for home use medical devices, home appliances,
and fitness equipment. The final standard will go into effect three years
after the final rule.
Authorizes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to enforce the nonvisual
access standards for home use medical devices. Under its authority to
ensure the safety, efficacy, and security of medical devices, the FDA will
investigate and prosecute violations of manufacturers who fail to comply
with the standard.
Authorizes the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce the nonvisual
accessibility standards for home appliances and fitness equipment. Under
its authority to investigate and enforce consumer protection matters, the
FTC will investigate and prosecute violations of manufacturers who fail to
comply with the standard.
END THE DIGITAL DIVIDE FOR BLIND AMERICANS.
Sponsor the Greater Accessibility and Independence
through Nonvisual Access Technology Act.
For more information, contact:
Stephanie Flynt, Government Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the
Blind
Phone: 410-659-9314, extension 2210
Email: sflynt at nfb.org
For more information visit www.nfb.org
----------
Disability Employment Act
An outdated approach to employment fails to adequately equip workers with
disabilities for the challenges of the twenty-first century.
The Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act (JWOD) is a well-intentioned but obsolete law
intended to provide employment for people with disabilities through
specialized government contracts. Enacted in 1938, the Wagner-O'Day Act
required that government agencies prioritize the procurement of products
produced by blind people. In 1971 the program was expanded to become the
Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act, and to include nonprofit agencies employing
persons who are blind or have other severe disabilities. While the
originally intended goals of the program are noble, the current structure
administered under the AbilityOne Program falls short of those ideals by
failing to equip workers with the necessary skillsets to compete in the
twenty-first century workforce.
The work experience provided by the AbilityOne Program does not utilize or
teach the skills required for today's fast-paced digital work environment.
Many workers with disabilities employed under the AbilityOne Program are
assigned menial, repetitive tasks, which do nothing to equip them with the
skills needed to succeed and advance in a modern workplace. As a result,
many of these individuals find themselves trapped in these jobs for years,
if not decades, with no real hope to advance or find new employment
opportunities elsewhere.
The AbilityOne Program thrives on specialized contracts while at the same
time paying employees with disabilities subminimum wages. Section 14(c) of
the Fair Labor Standards Act, passed in 1938, authorizes the Secretary of
Labor to issue Special Wage Certificates to certain entities, permitting
them to pay workers with disabilities subminimum wages. The vast majority
of 14(c)-certificate-holding entities are nonprofit "sheltered workshops"
(segregated work environments) that pay over 300,000 workers with
disabilities, some as little as pennies per hour. Additionally, the failure
of the AbilityOne Commission to adequately manage its own financial
resources and display an appropriate level of transparency has eroded
public confidence in the program.
AbilityOne sheltered workshops create a segregated work environment that is
antithetical to competitive integrated employment. The current structure
requires that the majority of the work performed on AbilityOne contracts is
carried out by employees with disabilities at specialized nonprofits. These
specialized nonprofits create an artificially inclusive work environment.
Additionally, the current structure incentivizes excluding workers with
disabilities from advancement to administrative, managerial, or supervisory
positions. This results in people with disabilities stagnating in the same
job for years or decades without creating opportunities for advancement to
employers outside the program. This model also fails by not sharing best
practices to employers outside the program in order to broaden its impact.
Disability Employment Act:
Will expand bidding opportunities within the program. The Disability
Employment Act will allow for-profit as well as nonprofit entities to bid
on contracts through a newly created commission.
Will ensure that workers earn at least the prevailing wage. The bill will
prohibit the use of 14(c) certificates and will require employers to pay
workers with disabilities at least the minimum wage, or if greater, the
prevailing wage.
Will equip employers with the necessary tools and supports to integrate
workers with disabilities. The bill establishes an Employment Integration
Trust Fund to assist employers to meet reasonable accommodation
requirements under Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Employers will have access to financial assistance to ensure that the
technology they use is accessible; to train design, development, and
manufacturing teams on best practices; and to provide the necessary
supports required by individuals with other severe disabilities. This will
improve disability employment practices across all sectors of employment.
Will better integrate with the Randolph-Sheppard Program. The bill will
honor the Randolph-Sheppard Priority for all military dining contracts,
including cafeterias.
Will eliminate the conflicts of interest and lack of accountability in the
current program. The bill will change the composition of the commission,
restructure the way the contracts are awarded, and create a trust fund to
support the organic integration of workers with disabilities into the
mainstream workforce.
Increase and enhance employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Sponsor the Disability Employment Act.
For more information, contact:
Gabe Cazares, Manager of Government Affairs, National Federation of the
Blind
Phone: 410-659-9314, extension 2206
Email: gcazares at nfb.org
For more information visit www.nfb.org
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Mark Riccobono addressing the Great Gathering-In]
We Will Not be Shut Down
by Mark Riccobono
From the Editor: President Riccobono opened the Great Gathering-In
meeting with these remarks, setting the tone for our annual visit to our
nation's capital and emphasizing that who we are as a Federation is found
not in one meeting, one program, or one division. We tackle all things
blindness, and we do this with unity, optimism, and love. Here is what he
said on the evening of January 27, 2019:
Martin Luther King Jr. said that progress is neither automatic nor
inevitable. Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice,
suffering, and struggle-the tireless exertions and passionate concerns of
dedicated individuals. Once again dedicated blind advocates have come to
Washington DC to make progress and to secure for themselves equality.
We are not highly paid lobbyists carrying out an assignment from our
clients. We are not an organized crew of partisan enthusiasts sent to
support an entrenched political message. We are a diverse organization of
everyday Americans with different backgrounds, perspectives, economic
positions, political points of view, and characteristics that give us
advantages and disadvantages. Most importantly, we are brought together by
the characteristic of blindness and unified in our common bond as we march
together to secure equality and opportunity. We are the blind, and we have
come-not because someone has paid us to do so but rather because of our
desire to be the masters of our own future.
We seek to live the lives we want and to enjoy full participation in
this great nation. We come together to transform dreams into reality. We
are the National Federation of the Blind, and we cannot be shut down.
[applause]
We recognize that our progress is not inevitable. That is why we have
made progress and enjoyed success for the last seventy-eight years. There
is no injustice too large that we cannot move it; there is no freedom so
insignificant that we are willing to ignore it. We say that we seek to live
the lives we want. It is not a hopeful aspiration; it is a determined
declaration of our intention for the future. We are the National Federation
of the Blind, and you can't shut us down.
Ten years ago we began seeking a worldwide treaty to secure access to
all accessible books around the globe. As blind people we are only granted
equal access to a small fraction of the world's knowledge, and artificial
barriers prevent sharing accessible works across borders. When we began,
the government officials told us that the process of creating an
international treaty, securing enough countries for it to be in effect, and
then getting the United States of America to ratify and be a party to the
treaty would take at least twenty years. They did not know the spirit and
dedication of the members of the National Federation of the Blind.
[applause]
In 2018 one of the only matters that both branches of Congress
unanimously agreed to support was the Marrakesh Implementation Act. We are
now just months away from the United States being a full party to the
Marrakesh Treaty, and in half the time we were told it was possible. When
it comes to living the lives we want, we come to get it done! We are the
National Federation of the Blind, and we cannot be shut down.
Service in the United States military is one of the most significant
commitments an American can make to his or her country. Yet, veterans with
disabilities are denied equal access to privileges extended to non-disabled
veterans such as access to the government's Space Available Program. Again,
we first came ten years ago seeking to fix a loophole in the law that
prevented blind veterans from equal access to the Space Available program.
Year after year Congress made excuses as to why this relatively minor
change in the law could not be made. Maybe they thought we did not mean it.
Maybe they thought we would get tired and go away. Maybe they thought we
did not have enough votes to throw them out of office. Whatever the reason
for their lack of action, we kept coming every January and to their local
districts in the months in between. In August of last year our space
available provision became law and granted equal access to blinded
veterans. [applause]
So let's just take a moment to salute our veterans, who also cannot
be shut down. [applause and chants of USA, USA, USA.]
It is important that we show up not just in Washington DC. We are
prepared to be in all of the places where equal participation of the blind
is in danger. Some believe that the World Wide Web is not a place where the
blind have a right to equal access as we do in businesses with physical
locations. In California a case was brought on behalf of a blind person
seeking access to the website and mobile app for Domino's Pizza. The court
ruled that Domino's could not be required to make their digital domains
accessible to the blind. While the case was not brought by the National
Federation of the Blind, we were not willing to sit on our hands while our
rights were taken away. We provided support in the appeal of the court's
misguided decision, and earlier this month the appellate court agreed that
equality means nonvisual access to the website, to the mobile app, and that
providing a telephone number is not providing the same benefits as the
company and its technology does for the sighted. [applause]
Whether paying our bills, accessing our online bank accounts, or
ordering a pizza with the toppings we want, we will continue to show up and
to protect our rights to live the lives we want because we are the National
Federation of the Blind, and we cannot be shut down.
Employers have exploited the sweat equity of workers with
disabilities since 1938 when the Fair Labor Standards Act established a
legal system for excluding these workers from the wage protections everyone
else in America enjoys. We want to work, and we are not willing to accept
the low expectations that drive a profitable industry that is based on the
principle that our work is worth only a fraction of the minimum guaranteed
to all others as a right of citizenship. Even if many of us have broken out
of the slavery of the sheltered workshops, we have not forgotten our blind
sisters and brothers. [applause] This is why we continue to fight the
exploitation used against workers with disabilities in places like the
workshops in Ohio, where we are using the courts to expose the systems that
have held us back for decades. This is why we will show up year after year
and decade after decade until the United States Congress gets the courage
to support blind workers and eliminate section 14 (c) of the Fair Labor
Standards Act. [applause]
Tonight we declare 2019 as the year of permanent phasing out of 14
(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act. [applause] And just in case there is
any doubt, we are the National Federation of the Blind, and you can't shut
us down.
Let us not be misunderstood. Our desire to work the jobs we want is
not limited to gaining equality in our pay. We also seek to drive progress
in the type and quantity of jobs available to the blind in the future. One
of the largest employment programs for people with disabilities is the
federal procurement contract program that operates under the name of
AbilityOne. In July of last year the AbilityOne program, without any input
from blind workers, without any opportunity for the blind to share their
hopes and dreams for the future, without any public disclosure of any type
impacting our future-it announced that the new caretakers for the blind of
the twenty-first century providing great promise and hope for our jobs
would not be the blind but would be the American Foundation for the Blind.
On behalf of the blind people currently employed under this program and to
protect the jobs of the future as defined by blind people, we filed suit
against the AbilityOne program to block this illegal action. [applause] We
want to work the jobs that we have in mind, and we are the National
Federation of the Blind, and you can't shut us down!
Whether it is educating the universities that equal access is our
right not their burden, giving the American Chemical Society the formula to
end their discriminatory practices toward test-takers, eliminating the
virus that has spread in many healthcare facilities which apparently
renders them unable to provide Braille materials or electronic healthcare
records that are accessible, or working collaboratively with major
companies like Kellogg and Procter & Gamble to innovate accessible
packaging, joining together with the largest school district in the nation
to make its website a model of accessibility, or demonstrating our full
participation in society by having professional sports teams wear jerseys
with Braille uniforms, a couple of things are clear: the policymakers have
two choices. They can either take advantage of our understanding,
perspective, and expertise, or they can ignore us and meet our ballots at
the polls where we protect a secret, independent ballot for blind people.
Progress is not automatic, but our persistence in the halls of power is
inevitable. We are the National Federation of the Blind, and you can't stop
us. We recognize that Washington DC has enough problems. That is why we
have come with solutions and a readiness to work with the leaders of our
nation to be part of implementing the solutions of the future. We bring the
diversity and power of a movement that is unparalleled anywhere else in the
world, so if there is any doubt about our intentions, we are the National
Federation of the Blind, and you can't shut us down. That is the
significance of our Washington Seminar, and that is the heartbeat of the
National Federation of the Blind.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Senator Charles Grassley]
How the Marrakesh Treaty Came to Be Policy: The Perspective from a Longtime
Legislator
by Senator Charles Grassley
From the Editor: In a preceding article we noted that Senator Charles
Grassley was given the Distinguished Legislator Award by the National
Federation of the Blind. After that presentation, he was given the
microphone and asked to speak on the topic of how the Marrakesh Treaty
became the law of the land from the perspective of one of the senators who
made it happen. With some modest editing, here are the remarks he made:
Thank you so much for this award and as for those kind remarks, I
could've listened to those for a long, long time. [applause]
I really appreciate the opportunity to meet with you, and it means a
lot to me that you folks have honored me with what you have said is a
keynote speech to the Great Gathering-In meeting. I guess it is a great
gathering by the large number of people who are here, and I especially want
to say hi to the folks who came here from Iowa. A lot of you in this room
know about the work of Ken Jernigan, and some of you knew him. It was
exactly sixty years ago this month, my first month in the Iowa legislature,
that I met Ken Jernigan. [applause] He was very well respected by
legislators of both parties, and I don't know how many times I went through
his woodshop, where he was training people to run a circular saw with
blinders on. My first thought was, "Ye gods, all I'm going to see here is
blood." But you know, in all of the years being in the legislature and
touring there, I was blessed by seeing people who were so proud to be a
part of that program and more importantly to be independent. This is what I
learned year after year after year in serving my constituents.
So thank you very much for this award, and thank you also for all of
the activities we have been involved in all these years. I've been asked to
speak to you about something you probably know everything about, so what
you will be hearing tonight is how it looked from my point of view. I will
be talking with you about the Marrakesh Treaty and the implementing
legislation.
In the last Congress, when I was the chairman of the Senate Judiciary
committee, I worked on this issue. This legislation is something I felt
strongly about. We were able to reach an agreement after several years of
hard work. The treaty was finally ratified by the Senate, and the
implementation legislation passed last year.
As many of you know, the treaty was negotiated and concluded under
the auspices of the World Intellectual Property Organization. The treaty
was concluded in the place where it gets its name, Marrakesh, Morocco, on
June 28 of 2013. It was signed by the United States on October 2, 2013. The
intent behind the treaty is to facilitate access to printed works for
people with print disabilities. There is a global shortage of print
material in accessible formats such as Braille, digital Braille, large
print, specialized audio files, and other alternative formats. The treaty
helps address this book famine, a problem for blind and visually impaired
individuals all over the world.
As you know, the United States enjoys a significant production of
accessible format copies for America's blind people. However, the ability
to share such copies across borders expands opportunities for blind people
in America and all around the world. This is particularly valuable for
blind and visually impaired Americans who read and learn in languages other
than English, as well as those who need specialized works such as scholarly
texts for graduate work at universities.
The treaty addresses this problem by making clear that copyright
protections shouldn't impede the creation and distribution of such
accessible format copies. It does this while including safeguards that
protect the rights of material creators and distributors, because we want
to encourage innovation and, equally important, the treaty fosters the
international exchange of accessible copies of printed materials.
According to the treaty, every country is required to provide an
exception or limitation in their national copyright laws for the creation
and distribution of accessible format copies for the exclusive use of blind
and other print-disabled persons-subject, of course, to international
obligations. The treaty also requires countries to permit the exchange
across borders of accessible format copies made under such national law
exceptions for the use of the blind in other countries that are parties to
the treaty. At the same time the treaty provides assurances to authors and
publishers that the system won't expose their published works to misuse or
distribution to anyone other than the intended beneficiaries. It's also
very much reiterating the requirements that the cross-border sharing of
accessible format copies of works will be limited to certain special cases
which don't conflict with the normal use of the work and also don't
unrealistically prejudice the legitimate interests of the rights holders.
Everyone would agree with the Marrakesh Treaty's worthy goals.
Consequently, the treaty and its implementation would have a glide path to
getting things done quickly. Right? Well, unfortunately not.
There was much discussion among the stakeholders, but agreement
couldn't be reached on how to implement the treaty. Finally, in February
2016, the previous administration submitted the treaty and its
implementation to the United States Senate. But there were still obstacles
and no consensus on the legislative package to implement the United States'
obligation under the treaty. Concerns were expressed by stakeholders with
the approach taken by the previous administration. There were concerns that
there wasn't enough accountability and that the rules would be gamed. There
were concerns that the rules would change and libraries would be burdened
with additional regulatory requirements. There were concerns that the
interests of rights holders were not adequately protected. Others saw an
opportunity to bring issues beyond what the treaty was trying to
accomplish. So the bottom line was that with these concerns, the two sides
simply couldn't agree. Senators were concerned with moving the treaty
before an agreement had been reached on implementing legislation. You need
to have a pretty widespread consensus in order to move a bill in the United
States Senate, and I'm sure the last thirty-five days have convinced you of
that. [A thirty-five-day government shutdown had been concluded just days
before this presentation was given.]
It is sometimes hard to get things done, and of course I was
concerned. But this is such a worthy endeavor that the Senate Judiciary
Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, encouraged by your
organization, the National Federation of the Blind, along with the Library
Copyright Alliance and the Association of American publishers continued to
negotiate and propose language that could be supported by all interested
stakeholders, including the copyright community, public interest groups,
the United States Patent and Trade Office, and the United States Copyright
Office. It may sound like your concerns weren't being taken into
consideration, but let me tell you the National Federation of the Blind
made sure your concerns were addressed. [applause]
So the National Federation then sprang into action at the federal
level and also at the state level. To credit a number of individuals: John
Pari, Scott LaBarre, Gabe Cazares, as well as a professor at the Loyola Law
school, Prof. Justin Hughes. The National Federation of the Blind was
instrumental in bringing all this together. Your engagement helped to
creatively reach a consensus not just with respect to the legislative text
that implements the treaty but also the important legislative history that
goes along with the bill's committee report so the courts know exactly what
we are trying to accomplish. This effort was supported and ultimately
succeeded because of the close relationship between the chairman and
ranking members of both committees of jurisdiction in the Senate: foreign
relations, with jurisdiction over treaties, and judiciary with jurisdiction
over copyright law. We worked hand-in-hand on a bipartisan basis (I know
you don't believe that) to move this bill. The staff worked with the House
to ensure that there weren't any problems. The State Department, the US
Patent and Trade Office, and the US Copyright Office were informed and were
available for consultation to avoid any last-minute hiccups.
So, on March 15, 2018, we introduced Senate Bill 2559, the Marrakesh
Treaty Implementation Act, which was the consensus product of these
negotiations and the vetting with stakeholders who were the publishers, the
libraries, and the print-disabled community who is best represented by the
National Federation of the Blind. The bill made modest adjustments to the
United States copyright law. The treaty is based on current US copyright
law that provides an exception or limitation for the creation and
distribution of accessible format copies for the exclusive use of the blind
or other print-disabled people. The implementing legislation broadens the
scope of accessible works to include previously published music and musical
works. It also refines the definition of eligible person and creates a new
section in the copyright act to deal with the export and import of
accessible format copies. Both the Foreign Relations and Judiciary
Committees then moved swiftly and in tandem on the treaty from Foreign
Relations and the implementing legislation from the committee on Judiciary.
In May of last year, the Judiciary Committee reported the bill out by
a vote that I know you won't believe. It was twenty to zero. [applause] The
Foreign Relations Committee marked up the treaty shortly thereafter.
You know, I can't help but think of something that I tell my town
meetings. When I say that you can't believe it was a twenty-to-zero vote,
this is because everybody thinks that nobody in Washington gets along ever.
The people who get along you never read about in the paper [laughter], but
every time there's a disagreement, it is what you read about. If I can brag
for a minute, sixty-one bills came out of my committee. Every one of them
were bipartisan bills, and thirty-four of them were signed by either a
Republican or Democratic president. [applause] Of course, this was one of
them, but all you ever heard about that the committee did in the last two
or three years was fight about judges.
On January 28, 2018, the treaty and the bill passed the Senate, and
on September 25, the House of Representatives passed the bill and the
president signed it on October 9, 2018. [applause]
Now if you hadn't labeled my speech a keynote address, it wouldn't
have to be so long. So I have just a few more words to say. We are waiting
for some last steps; the treaty still needs to be deposited in Geneva, and
I am hopeful this will happen soon. I cannot stress enough that this treaty
and this bill wouldn't have become law but for the incredible efforts on
the part of all of you of the National Federation of the Blind at both the
national and state levels. You worked tirelessly to bring together the
Association of American Publishers and the Library Copyright Alliance. Your
work raised the profile of this issue and gained the attention of your
representatives here in the House and the Senate, and we would not be here
today without your efforts. I think that this treaty and this bill are a
model of how we can accomplish great things [applause] and get legislation
done at a time when partisan logjams have taken over a large part of our
government.
In conclusion, let me just thank a lot of people. I'm not very good
at pronouncing their names, but I assume that they will understand that I
was talking about them and that I in no way intended to overlook anyone who
participated in this process. Listen now: I get an award, and it's got all
this nice stuff on it that I just love to read, but I hope I say this every
time I get an award: we get an award for stuff you folks at the grassroots
level work so hard to do, so I think you ought to applaud yourselves for
what you did to get this bill passed. [applause] Again, I say thank you.
----------
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Chris Danielsen]
National Federation of the Blind Celebrates Ratification of Marrakesh
Treaty
by Chris Danielsen
From the Editor: Chris Danielson is the energetic and creative
director of public relations for the National Federation of the Blind. He
has the unenviable task of chronicling all of the important things that we
do in press releases that must be interesting enough to be published and
simple enough to be understood by the lay reader. Here is another example
of his fine work:
Geneva, Switzerland (February 8, 2019): Today, the United States
government formalized its ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty by
depositing the US instrument of ratification with the World Intellectual
Property Organization (WIPO). This action begins a ninety-day waiting
period, after which the treaty will officially be in force as US policy,
throwing open the doors to expanded literacy for the blind of America and
the world.
"The National Federation of the Blind seeks the removal of all
artificial or unnecessary barriers to access to knowledge by the blind,"
said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind.
"That is why we championed the Marrakesh Treaty and fought for its signing
and ratification by the United States. Today's deposit of the US
ratification instrument represents the culmination of that effort, but even
more importantly, it represents greater access to the world's literature
and knowledge for blind people in America and across the world. We are
therefore pleased to celebrate this historic moment with our blind brothers
and sisters everywhere."
Read more regarding the Marrakesh Treaty in the following articles:
Marrakesh Express Rolling Home
US House of Representatives Passes Marrakesh Treaty Implementation Act
United States Senate Greenlights Marrakesh Treaty and Implementing
Legislation
Senate Committee Votes to Advance Marrakesh Treaty
The National Federation of the Blind Applauds the Introduction of
Legislation Implementing the Marrakesh Treaty
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Trisha Kulkarni]
Growing Comfortable with the Uncomfortable: An address delivered at the
meeting of the
National Association of Blind Students
by Trisha Kulkarni
From the Editor: On January 28, 2018, I sat through one of the finest
presentations I've ever heard. It was not from an elder in the movement,
though we have many who do credit to writing and delivering good speeches.
This presentation was made by a student, a 2018 national scholarship
winner, and in her remarks we find so many of the reasons why we have a
National Federation of the Blind, the fears that can put an end to our
dreams, and what happens when we dare to embrace the uncomfortable. Here is
what she says:
Hi, everyone. [crowd yells "hi" back] I am so excited to have the
opportunity to speak to you today and to share some of my story. For those
of you who don't know me, my name is Trisha Kulkarni, and although I've
been a longtime contributor and leader in my community, I'm a new member of
the National Federation of the Blind.
As Kathryn mentioned, I had the privilege of being part of the 2018
national scholarship class. It was through my trip to Orlando that I gained
exposure to the incredible efforts of this organization. I encourage all of
you to apply because that experience really did change my life.
To be perfectly honest, it is quite a humbling experience to be
standing in front of you today, not only because of the long journey that
has brought me to this moment, but because of the novelty of my work with
the NFB. Seven years ago I did not know a single blind person, and I was
convinced that Braille was simply decorative artwork on signage. Now I've
moved across the country with my guide dog Liberty to seize life's
opportunities in a new and exciting place independently.
Of course I have fallen both literally and figuratively in the
pursuit of my dreams, but I have realized that pushing past the boundaries
of what is comfortable is the only way to see how far your capabilities
stretch. Today I want to share with you a series of experiences that have
defined my character and purpose within and beyond the NFB. But more
importantly, I want to challenge each of you to embrace the power you have
to create meaning in all aspects of your life. In order to fuel the NFB
forward into a new generation of leaders and advocates, we need to continue
growing as individuals. Only then will we best be able to break down the
barriers of expectations that stand between us and our dreams.
My first story begins at a time in life that most people like to
forget: middle school. [chorus of groans and laughter from audience] At the
start of seventh grade, I not only had to deal with pimples and the start
of puberty, but I also had to face a new challenge. A few months prior I
had faced a retinal detachment that left me completely blind and face-down
in bed for months to recover from surgery. When it was finally time to
return to school, I had no orientation and mobility training, no knowledge
of Braille, and no access to assistive technology. I was still trying to
learn how to get around my house, and it seemed impossible that I would
ever learn how to match my clothes again. However, I did have my academic
ambitions. I worked hard still to reach my goals in the classroom, and with
lots of support I finished middle school with good grades and a
determination to continue finding success.
When I got to high school, however, it was harder to ignore the
barriers that stood between me and my sighted peers. People began hinting
that continuing on the advanced track in school created too much work for
my teachers and loved ones. When I sat in meetings fighting for my right to
take honors coursework, I was told that the reason my Braille materials
were coming in months late was that I was an anomaly for wanting to pursue
a rigorous course of study. What was being suggested was that perhaps there
was an easier way to graduation?
But I refused to lower my standards. I started taking honors classes
and sought involvement in extracurricular activities. Despite the
resistance I faced, I sought not only to find success in these endeavors
but also my independence. What I came to realize is that there are a lot of
preconceived notions about students with disabilities. The expectation is
to bring these students up to average, but to excel seems unnecessary. I
was often called an overachiever, as if I was striving to accomplish more
than I should be.
If you have a goal, do not let other people's skepticism deter you
from reaching it. Stay grounded in the values and missions that are
important to you, and do not limit your scope. Sometimes you will find that
your actions change minds better than words.
Of course changing expectations came with many hard nights. But in
the end the sleepless nights and sacrificed lunch periods were for a
greater goal than just getting my high school diploma.
The idea of college started entering conversations in tenth grade,
and coming from a competitive high school, it didn't ever seem to leave. My
sighted peers and I all worried about what university would best fit our
personalities and our academic interests. But I also had to think about my
blindness. It wasn't going to deter me from reaching my dream schools, but
I did devote many hours to orientation and mobility training, and I
received my guide dog before my senior year of high school.
There was just one problem: I didn't know where I wanted to go to
school. On a vacation to the west coast, I finally found Stanford. I fell
in love with the people and the talent that occupied every aspect of the
campus. But as I walked the paved sidewalks listening to the tour guide
describe the beautiful scenery and rich history, I couldn't help the doubt
that crept into my mind. It was thousands of miles away from home; eighty-
eight hundred acres, and had the lowest admission rate in the country-it
felt crazy. I remember going home that night, after my parents fell asleep,
and I stayed up for hours. It was easily the hardest night of my life. It
was the first time that I felt like my blindness would deter me from
reaching what I wanted most.
However, after listening to my motivation mix on Spotify and talking
to my family, I began to fill out the application anyway. Suddenly all the
steps that I had taken forward to reach that moment didn't seem like enough
progress. I worried how I'd measure up. But December 8 came sooner than
anyone could have expected, and as I sat in my living room with my family,
with my finger hovering over the "view status" button, my heart began to
pound. I read the word "congratulations" and began to scream. [cheers,
applause]
That night meant so much more than just getting into college for me.
It was the first time I'd realized how much there is to lose by not going
after what you want. I was so close to not applying because of my fear that
I was not good enough. Do not let your fear of failure be bigger than your
dreams. Only you have the power to determine your self-worth.
Today I am in my second quarter at Stanford University. Of course my
transition to college has not all been comfortable, as a broken tooth, many
countless nights of no sleep, and many lost days on that 8800-acre campus
can speak for. But I have learned so much about myself and my aspirations
since moving to California last September. Being away for school has shown
me that I can venture out and find my own way. I discovered a new outlet
for my voice by writing for The Stanford Daily and have taken on leadership
positions in my dorm government. I survived my first computer science class
and have applied to get some of my research published. I have explored the
social scene of college life and have spent many late nights talking with
my friends and eating way too much junk food.
College has shown me that every day is an adventure, and with every
step that you take outside of your comfort zone you learn more about
yourself and what is important to you.
I am a Federationist, but I am also a sister, a daughter, a friend, a
writer, a black belt in Taekwondo, a chocolate lover, a Harry Potter
enthusiast, a social advocate, and a terrible dancer. [laughter] My purpose
in the NFB is not defined by my blindness, but by all the other
intersections that I bring to the table.
As I leave you today, I want to encourage you to grow comfortable
with the idea of the uncomfortable. Life will throw many adversities and
opportunities at you that you will not be able to control, but they will
define your character and purpose more than you realize. If you do not let
your fear of failure stand in the way of what you want and do not limit
your potential, the world will be a better place with your contributions.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak to you today, and go make
your dreams a reality. [cheers, applause]
----------
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 2018 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-eight NFB BELL Academy programs, which served more than
three hundred and fifty 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 118,900
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 withdrawal 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.
-----------
Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest Results
by Deborah Kent Stein
From the Editor: Deborah Kent Stein is a writer of such renown that
she hardly needs introduction here. She is the author of many children's
books, and she edits Future Reflections, a publication aimed at parents who
want to get the most for their blind children so they will become adults
living the lives they want.
In addition to her work nationally, Debbie Stein is active in her
chapter and affiliate. In this article she writes as the coordinator of the
Braille Readers Are Leaders Program. Here is what she says:
From December 1 until January 19, K-12 students across the country
were busy reading and counting up their pages for the Nationwide Braille
Readers Are Leaders contest (Nationwide BRAL), sponsored by the American
Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults and the NFB Jernigan Institute in
partnership with the NFB of Illinois. Twenty-six states signed up to
participate in this year's competition, and seventy-four students from
seventeen states submitted reading logs. Students are awarded prizes based
on the number of Braille pages they read during the reading period,
certified by a parent/guardian or teacher.
This year Virginia led in participation, with twenty-six students
taking part. The Virginia School for the Blind (VSB) took an active role in
encouraging students to get involved.
The top reader in this year's competition is Holly Connor, an eighth
grader from Clayton, Missouri. Holly read a whopping 4,001 Braille pages!
The first-place winners in each grade category will receive a check
for $25. Second-place winners receive $15, and third-place winners and
honorable mentions receive $10. Each participating student will receive a
packet of Braille-related gifts.
Below is a list of the 2018-2019 nationwide BRAL winners:
Grades K-1
First Place: Victor Turner, Romeoville, IL, 419 pages
Second place: Cole Fish, Vancouver, WA, 132 pages
Third Place: Rebecca Butler, Boaz, AL, 118 pages
Honorable Mention: Christian Lopez, Mesa, AZ, 114 pages
Grades 2-3
First Place: Aisha Safi, Chevy Chase, MD, 1,995 pages
Second Place: Preston Rose, Eagan, MN, 1,479 pages
Third Place: Zanyiah Bell, Bowie, MD, 1,099 pages
Honorable Mention: Clara Scelsi, Pell City, AL, 1,020 pages
Grades 4-5
First Place: Noa Hottin, Alexandria, VA, 2,503 pages
Second Place: Milo Sherman, Brooklyn, NY, 734 pages
Third Place: Jonah Rao, Columbia, MD, 721 pages
Honorable Mention: Isaiah Rao, Columbia, MD, 690 pages
Grades 6-8
First Place: Holly Connor, Clayton, MO, 4,001 pages
Second Place: Nicholas Tarver, Many, LA, 1,780 pages
Third place: Mercy Rao, Columbia, MD, 850 pages
Honorable Mention: Noah Kano, Pingree Grove, IL, 827 pages
Grades 9-12
First Place: Samuel Thurston, Chesapeake, VA, 1,657 pages
Second Place: Josh Greer, Medical Lake, WA, 949 pages
Third Place: Aaliyah McKethan, Galloway, NJ, 757 pages
MOST IMPROVED READER
This award is given to a student who has shown exceptional
improvement in reading since the previous contest. This year's most
improved reader is Mercy Rao, grade 6, Columbia, MD.
KELLY DOTY AWARDS
Kelly Doty Awards are presented in memory of Kelly Doty, a longtime
member of the NFB of Illinois who was a dedicated promoter of Braille
literacy. These awards are given to students who have coped with extra
challenges in order to become proficient Braille readers. Such challenges
include, but are not limited to, having disabilities in addition to
blindness or being an English language learner. Here is the list of the
students who received this year's Kelly Doty Awards:
Katra Abdi, grade 3, St. Cloud, MN
Sadie Ainsworth, grade 3, Parker, CO
Noa Hottin, grade 4, Alexandria, VA
Benjamin Shambarger, grade 9, Lisbon Falls, ME
Samuel Thurston, grade 9, Chesapeake, VA
Victor Turner, grade 1, Romeoville, IL
Kollin Uttech, grade 12, Watertown, WI
Congratulations to all of these winners, and to the families and
teachers who encourage and support them in their reading. Braille readers
are leaders!
----------
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Students at last year's NFB EQ program smile as they work
together on a project.]
Apply for a Summer Program Today!
The National Federation of the Blind, together with the country's premier
training centers for the blind, offer a variety of summer programs for
blind and low-vision children and young adults that build blindness skills
and encourage independence.
National Programs
NFB BELL Academy-NFB BELL Academy is a two-week-long summer program that
prepares blind and low-vision children to be confident and independent
adults. They learn Braille and nonvisual skills through fun, hands-on
activities in a daytime or residential setting.
Ages: 4 to 12
Dates: Varies
Location: Nationwide
More Info: https://nfb.org/bell-academy
NFB EQ-NFB EQ is a week-long summer engineering program for blind and low-
vision teens. Participants forge new friendships while increasing their
engineering knowledge, problem-solving abilities, self-confidence, and
independence.
Grades: 9 to 12
Dates: June 16 to 22, 2019
Location: Baltimore, MD
More Info: https://blindscience.org/nfbeq
NFB National Convention Youth Track-The NFB National Convention is the
largest gathering of blind people in the world. Every year, blind youth can
participate in a variety of seminars and social activities designed to
provide a meaningful convention experience, foster independence, and
promote positive attitudes about blindness.
Ages: Varies
Dates: July 7 to 12, 2019
Location: Las Vegas, NV
More Info: https://nfb.org/convention
Louisiana Center for the Blind
Location: Ruston, LA
Buddy Program-The Buddy Program is an innovative three-week-long program
that pairs blind children with positive blind role models, teaches them
alternative techniques, and includes fun activities such as swimming,
tandem biking, and horseback riding.
Grades: 4 to 8
Dates: July 21 to August 10, 2019
More Info: https://www.louisianacenter.org/buddyprogram
STEP Program-The eight-week-long Summer Transition and Empowerment Program
(STEP) introduces blind teens to the alternative techniques of blindness
and workplace readiness skills through a paid internship. By interacting
with mentors and peers (including during the NFB National Convention),
students acquire the skills and attitudes necessary for living
independently and productively.
Grades: 9 to 12
Dates: June 16 to August 10, 2019
More Info: https://www.louisianacenter.org/step-program/
BLIND, Inc.
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Buddy Program-In the Buddy Program blind children learn important skills,
embrace the empowering attitudes and philosophy of the National Federation
of the Blind, and explore the wonderful and fun Twin Cities.
Ages: 9 to 13
Dates: June 9 to 29, 2019
More Info: https://www.blindinc.org/programs/youth-programs/buddy-program/
PREP-The Post-Secondary Readiness and Empowerment Program (PREP) is an
eight-week-long summer program for blind teens where they learn new skills
and become better prepared to attend college and transition into the
workforce.
Grades: 9 to 12
Dates: June 8 to August 3, 2019
More Info: https://www.blindinc.org/programs/youth-programs/prep-program/
STYLE-The Summer Transition Youth Learning Experience (STYLE) program
offers three separate five-day-long sessions for high school students where
they learn new skills, gain confidence, and have fun throughout the summer.
Attend one, two, or all three sessions.
Ages: 14 to 21 - Session 1: July 15 to 19, 2019; Session 2: July 22 to 26,
2019; Session 3: July 29 to August 2, 2019.
More Info: https://www.blindinc.org/programs/youth-programs/style/
Summer College Comprehensive Program-This program is designed with the busy
college student in mind. Participants enhance their blindness skills and
increase their confidence during one or more summer programs at BLIND, Inc.
Ages: High school graduates (18 years and older)
Dates: June 1 to August 10, 2019
More Info: https://www.blindinc.org/programs/college-programs/
Colorado Center for the Blind
Location: Littleton, CO
Challenge and Adventure-In this program, students can run in a 5K race,
play goalball and hockey, learn self-defense, and go canoeing. They can
also try yoga, gymnastics, and develop an exercise routine. They learn how
to prepare delicious foods and how to maintain a nutritious diet.
Ages: 11 to 21
Dates: June 21 to 30, 2019
More Info: https://cocenter.org/our-programs/summer-youth/
Confidence Camp-This two-week-long day program is filled with learning,
challenges, and fun. Children meet blind role models and focus on cooking,
cleaning, Braille, independent travel, and technology. They also have fun
swimming, rock climbing, making a tactile art piece, and going on exciting
field trips.
Ages: 5 to 10
Dates: June 10 to 21, 2019
More Info: https://cocenter.org/our-programs/summer-youth/
Cracking the College Code-In this program, blind students develop the
skills they need to be successful in college. They learn about accessible
tools and strategies for chemistry, biology, statistics, robotics, and
more. In addition, they learn how to practice self-advocacy and learn how
to navigate the landscape of higher education.
Ages: 16 to 21
Dates: July 18 to August 2, 2019
More Info: https://cocenter.org/our-programs/summer-youth/
Module Madness-For those interested in a shorter program, the Colorado
Center offers three different modules throughout the summer. In all three
modules, students live in an apartment with other students and a counselor,
and build core skills in Braille, technology, home management, and cane
travel.
Ages: Varies
Dates: Varies
More Info: https://cocenter.org/our-programs/summer-youth/
No Limits to Learning-In this eight-week-long residential program, students
live in an apartment and meet blind people who work in all kinds of jobs.
They participate in rock climbing, goalball, whitewater rafting, and more.
They build core skills in Braille, technology, home management, and cane
travel. They also attend the NFB National Convention.
Ages: 14 to 21
Dates: June 7 to August 2, 2019
More Info: https://cocenter.org/our-programs/summer-youth/
World of Work-In the World of Work program, students travel to the Denver
metro area via bus and light rail to meet with blind people who work in a
variety of professions. They develop confidence, practice their
interviewing skills, and put together a risumi.
Ages: 11 to 21
Dates: June 7 to 21, 2019
More Info: https://cocenter.org/our-programs/summer-youth/
----------
A Network of Support
by Mary Lou Grunwald
From the Editor: Longtime NFB of Illinois member Mary Lou Grunwald
delivered the following presentation at the joint luncheon for vendors and
students on October 27, 2018.
I'm so excited to be at an event like this. It's kind of a dream come
true for me. I'm up here because I was asked to speak about one very
specific reason why I'm in the NFB. There are many reasons why I'm
involved, but this is a story many of you may not know.
For a little background, one of the early successes of the NFBI was
that we, along with our national office, advocated with the National Labor
Relations Board (NLRB) to reclassify sheltered workshops as factories and
not as rehabilitation institutions. As a result, the NLRB took jurisdiction
over union organizing efforts at the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind.
In 1976 I was in my early twenties. I wasn't able to go to college,
so my first stop in my career journey was the Chicago Lighthouse for the
Blind. At that time it was not the place that it is today. They paid
subminimum wages, and they had substandard working conditions. I worked in
the factory making big ones out of little ones, a shorthand for assembling
chemistry sets and switchboard plugs. It was tough work for very little
money, but my mom and I needed that money desperately.
I had recently gotten to know the NFB and had become involved with
the Chicago chapter. Through our involvement with the NFB some of us at the
Lighthouse started trying to form a union there. We worked very hard on it
with the support and the guidance of the chapter and of the state and
national NFB, and also the help of the Teamsters Union. Unfortunately we
lost by only a couple of votes because of some ugly scare tactics that were
going on.
I'm not at all sorry I did it. It was wonderful experience that
prepared me for things I did later on. But when I got home, the reality set
in. I had done something that I thought was very important, but now I had
no job, and Mom and I had very little money. My mother was very upset with
me because I had done all of this advocacy. I started trying to figure out
my next career move. And while I was working on that, something started
happening. I started getting envelopes in the mail. These envelopes had
people's names on them, people I didn't recognize. When I opened them I
found checks, checks from people, and I didn't know who the heck they were.
I thought, who could this be? What is this? Then I recognized a couple of
the names, and I realized that these checks came from Federationists all
over the country who were supporting me! People I had never met in my life
were sending me money to help support me!
That experience solidified my desire to be helpful in this
organization at whatever level my talents would allow. That's one of the
reasons I'm in the NFB. Thank you!
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Stacie Dubnow]
Tactile Graphics in Education and Careers
by Stacie Dubnow
From the Editor: Stacie joined the staff of the National Federation
of the Blind two years ago after working as a trial attorney in private
practice with her father for thirty years. In her previous work she
represented plaintiffs in complex business litigations ranging from
securities fraud to illegal malpractice. She was also active in filing and
pursuing consumer protection class actions.
As readers will observe, Stacie not only possesses a fine legal mind,
but her energy and intellect take her into new fields where she learns
quickly and is able to share that information in a way all of us can
understand. Here is what she says:
On October 11 through 12, 2018, the National Federation of the Blind
hosted a symposium on the use of tactile graphics by blind and low-vision
individuals in education and careers. Experts from across the United
States, the Netherlands, Canada, and Italy gathered in Baltimore at the
Jernigan Institute to share their knowledge, innovative products and
technology, and ideas for future development on the tactile graphics
frontier. The educators, scientists, museum professionals, artists, and
others who presented and facilitated workshops during the symposium
demonstrated creativity and exciting innovation in the field of tactile
graphics. This article discusses five cutting-edge products either in
existence or development that have the potential to significantly improve
the everyday lives of blind and low vision people in travel, education,
careers, and their enjoyment of the arts.
Sighted people typically do not recognize the importance of tactile
graphics because vision is their primary means for consuming information.
The sighted are able to access most information through their eyes-
paintings and sculptures in a museum, the pages of a book on a Kindle
device, graphs and diagrams on a computer or page of a textbook, or a map
on their phones. However, when tactile art or graphics are added to the
visual representations, the multimodal experience enhances their ability to
interpret the information. For the blind and low vision, tactile graphics
are the primary means for consuming information. Tactile graphics allow the
blind to access the same information as the sighted, experience arts and
culture, travel independently, learn independently in school, and otherwise
live their lives fully.
Brian MacDonald, president of the National Braille Press (NBP), aptly
explains:
In the digital world that we are living in today, there is still
a significant gap to solving accessible needs for digital Braille and
digital, refreshable tactile graphics.
Having a high quality, low-cost, full-page Braille and tactile
graphic display would revolutionize the world by providing blind and
low-vision people instant access to digital tactile content at an
affordable price. This would be extremely helpful for adults in the
workplace and for students needing accessible STEM (Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Math) materials that often need multiple
lines of Braille to more effectively read complex equations or
problems and tactile graphics to supplement the information.
During the 2018 Tactile Graphics in Education and Careers Symposium,
Mr. MacDonald previewed exciting research in which he is engaged with the
National Braille Press to develop a full-page Braille/tactile graphic
tablet-a Kindle-like device with a tactile surface that can be read by a
blind person using Braille. NewHaptics-a company with connections to the
University of Michigan, reports it is working toward the first truly
affordable technology that can display multiple lines of Braille and/or
high-quality tactile graphics in a single format. Current refreshable
Braille displays limit access only to a single line of Braille, making it
impossible to use these devices to show relationships such as columns and
indentation, which is particularly important in mathematics. Think about
adding two four-digit numbers if you couldn't have read it a column at a
time.
However, the new display in development will be a full-page tablet
that allows for tactile graphs, diagrams, spreadsheets, and other spatially
displayed information. Unlike the traditional refreshable Braille displays
now on the market-which rely on piezoelectrics to raise Braille pins-this
new Braille tablet is driven by microfluidics, which uses fluid-air or
liquid-to inflate small bubbles that in turn push tactile pins up and down.
This approach leverages unique manufacturing techniques that will be
considerably more affordable than existing technologies and, once
available, useful in school and the workplace.[1]
The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) and Orbit Research
have collaborated to develop an additional groundbreaking technology. The
Graphiti is a dynamic tactile display that consists of an array of moving
pins of varying heights that can be touched with the user's fingers to
access graphics such as diagrams, bar charts, floor-plans, and
topographical maps. Dr. Gina Spagnoli, the founder of Orbit Research,
explains: "The variable-height capability [of] our Tactuator technology
will allow blind users to experience and interact with graphics like never
before-live and in three dimensions. For the first time, a blind user will
be able to create graphics in digital form, enter them into a computing
device, review and edit them, and exchange such graphics with others."[2]
During the National Federation of the Blind's 2018 symposium, Ken
Perry, a software engineer with APH, and Venkatesh Chari, president and CTO
of Orbit Research, demonstrated the Graphiti software and hardware features
that enable users to view and edit graphics by touch, scroll and zoom
images, and use the touch interface to draw and erase graphics. By
connecting the Graphiti to a laptop, they showed how it was possible to
create 3D objects using the laptop's software. Not only can the Graphiti be
connected to computers, tablets, smart phones, and the Orion TI-84 Plus
Talking Graphing Calculator, but an HDMI port lets the user connect the
Graphiti to any device that has a video display output, which then
identifies the Graphiti as a display monitor.
What this means is that a blind student can connect a tactile monitor-
the Graphiti-into instruments like telescopes, microscopes, computers, or
talking calculators and see in real time whatever is at the other end of
that device, whether it is a planet in an astronomy class, a specimen in a
biology class, or a graph in a math class. The product provides blind and
low-vision individuals with access to the same information in real time as
their sighted peers. Offering "real time depiction of dynamic content ...
students will be able to immediately see the graph on the tactile screen.
Textbooks in math and science contain thousands of graphics. Graphiti
provides a path toward delivering textbooks with graphics,
electronically."[3] Other valuable features include a haptic, or vibrating,
feedback interface, an SD-card slot, and the ability by the user to "draw"
on the display of pins using fingertips, which raise the pins along the
path traced, as well as push an object created by raised pins on the
display to physically move it.
Additionally, Dr. Luca Brayda, a researcher at the Robotics, Brain
and Cognitive Sciences Department of the Italian Institute of Technology,
is also investigating the use of tactile feedback using an array of movable
pins to display spatial information to blind and low-vision individuals.
Dr. Brayda presented research at the 2018 symposium on a product in
development called a BlindPad, a portable tablet that translates visual
information into tactile representations using a grid of magnetically
controlled bumps that lock in an up or down position and can vibrate or
animate. The tactile display becomes a bas relief that can be understood
using the hands and allows for both static and moving patterns. Not only
can it display spatial information such as the layout of a room,
neighborhood, or intersection, but it also makes accessible through touch
information such as in-class diagrams, graphs, or geometry problems for
students.
During the symposium, Dr. Brayda described recent research
investigating the effectiveness of the BlindPad for blind and low-vision
participants for orientation and mobility tasks. Study participants
haptically explored a pin-array map of a room that marked a target
destination. A control group and experimental group then entered the room
on three consecutive occasions and attempted to reach the target
destination. The control group used a static map (the original tactile
map), and the experimental group used a changing tactile map that not only
showed the original map and target destination, but also the position the
participant reached each prior occasion. The group using the animated map
significantly out-performed the group using a static map, demonstrating
"that learning spatial layouts through updated tactile feedback on
programmable displays outperforms conventional procedures on static tactile
maps. This could represent a powerful tool for navigation, both in
rehabilitation and everyday life contexts, improving spatial abilities and
promoting independent living for VI people."[4] Although the BlindPad is
still in development, it represents an exciting breakthrough in the
creation of an affordable, portable tactile tablet for the blind.
Ultraviolet (or UV) printing is another technological innovation that
rapidly is improving the accessibility of spatial information to blind and
low-vision individuals. The raised nature of UV print is making possible
low-cost museum and gallery signage, descriptive labels, and illustrations
in Braille books. During the NFB Tactile Graphics in Education and Careers
symposium, Steve Landau, president and founder of Touch Graphics Inc., a
company that produces tactile graphics and touchable 3D models, explained
how large format flatbed UV printers are replacing vacuum thermoforming as
the most efficient way to produce high quality tactile graphics like raised
line and textured maps and diagrams to explain spatial concepts to blind
and low-vision students. UV printers create tactile signage, Braille, and
other raised or textured images by dispensing ink that cures immediately
when exposed to bright ultraviolet light, producing precise three-
dimensional effects.
Steve Landau expounds:
These printers can produce precise, consistent, and durable
raised lines, textures, and Braille directly on paper or plastic
substrates, rigid boards, and flexible sheets. Most importantly, these
printers make it possible to print over the tactile image with high
resolution visuals that are perfectly aligned and registered with the
raised lines, textures, and Braille. Since the new generation of UV
printers can produce both tactile and visual images on the same
machine, the difficult problem of lining up vacuum formed and in-print
images is now solved.
As a result of the newest UV printers, Mr. Landau reports that
universally accessible floor plans, signs, and tactile interpretations of
visual art are being produced that can be used by everyone. By way of
example, using UV technology, Touch Graphics has produced two new tactile
map units installed at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, a ledger-sized
foldable tactile map for the opening of the new Smithsonian National Museum
of African American History and Culture, and a tactile museum guide for the
recently opened New York Transit Museum. Some of these tactile maps, as
well as various museum exhibits, also include audio in tactile-bas relief,
speaking when touched. A tactile replica of a painting at the San Diego
Museum of Art, interpreted by Touch Graphics with the assistance of tactile
artist Ann Cunningham, describes the still life Quince, Cabbage, Melon, and
Cucumber by artist Sanchez Cotan; the audio captures in words what is
visually depicted in vivid detail as the visitor's hands move across the
raised and textured surfaces. As a result of innovations like these, blind
and low-vision individuals not only are able to orient themselves and
travel independently through museums and other venues, but also they can
experience art and culture on an equal basis with all other visitors.
Similar to the paintings and sculptures that are becoming more
accessible to blind and low-vision visitors at museums, techniques are
being developed to increase access to archaeological artifacts in museums.
Advances in 3D printing (additive manufacturing technology)[5] are making
it easier to produce replicas of artifacts that can be experienced through
touch as well as vision.
New digital technologies are profoundly changing the way people
interact with ancient treasures. ... 3D scanning, printing, and carving
technology has made it possible to recreate objects and architecture with a
high degree of precision, but in a form that allows visitors to have a
tactile experience with these materials. While useful and interesting to
everyone, these technologies are especially significant for sight-impaired
visitors. For the first time, artifacts from archaeological sites, large
and small, can be encountered directly through the sense of touch.[6]
During the 2018 symposium, archaeologist and independent museum
professional Dr. Cheryl Fogle-Hatch described a recent case study involving
the creation of high-quality 3D printed replicas of stone spear tips that
are part of the collections of the Maryland Archaeological and Conservation
Laboratory. Among other topics, she discussed design considerations
relating to scanning original artifacts to obtain accurate information
about them to produce high-quality replicas, as well as the importance of
attaching a QR (quick response) code to replicas, which allows visitors to
scan the code on their smartphones to obtain electronic Braille, audio, and
text descriptions about the original artifacts. This case study provides
promise for future applications of 3D scanning and printing, which already
is successfully being used to create human tissue and organs in design and
manufacturing, and-as discussed here-in the arts. The application of 3D
printing in the field of education is particularly exciting since both
sighted and blind children now should be able to learn subjects such as
chemistry and biology through the use of tactile representations (printed
molecule models and organs such as the human heart).
The field of tactile graphics is rapidly evolving in an effort to
keep pace with emerging technology and society's increased dependence on
that technology in virtually every facet of our lives. Although
technological advances sometimes create accessibility barriers for blind
and low-vision people, such advances also sometimes hold the solutions for
breaking down accessibility barriers. As the overview of the above-
described products demonstrates, innovations in software and hardware,
digitization, pneumatics, UV printing, and 3D printing are enabling blind
and low-vision people to meaningfully experience art and culture in
museums, travel more independently, and access the same learning as sighted
children in school. Although significant progress has been made on the
tactile graphics front, we must continue to work together to promote not
only the further development of tactile graphics materials and production
methods, but tactile fluency by our young blind and low-vision children so
that they learn at an early age how to effectively interpret and use
tactile graphics both in the classroom and the world at large.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Ramona Walhof]
The Fifty-Year Perspective: An Interview with Ramona Walhof
From the Editor: Some anniversaries are special. Fifty is one of
these, and it is a real pleasure when one of our affiliates can celebrate
half a century of progress and even more rare when we can have people who
were at the original founding to relate what was done and what it was like
to be a part of it. This article is taken from the Illinois Independent,
the newsletter of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois. Here is
the article:
On the morning of Friday, October 26, 2018, NFB of Illinois board
member Cathy Randall interviewed Ramona Walhof, one of our special guests
at this year's convention, the fiftieth held by the NFB of Illinois.
Cathy Randall: I'm talking to Ramona Walhof about the beginning of
the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois fifty years ago.
Ramona Walhof: The National Federation of the Blind organized a
student division in 1967 in Los Angeles. Jim Gashel was the president, and
I was the secretary. My future husband was second vice president. After the
convention we were invited to go to Montreal and organize students in
Canada. Jim Gashel and I did that, and we succeeded in organizing a group
up there. There was a lady named Lucy Sienkowicz who wanted it to happen.
If you come across Paul Gabias, he will tell you he was at that meeting.
He's active in the Canadian Federation of the Blind, and so is his wife,
Mary Ellen.
Somewhere during the winter between the 1967 and the 1968 national
convention, I met Rami Rabby in Des Moines. Dr. Jernigan invited him to
come to Des Moines to visit. I was working there for awhile, so I met Rami.
We didn't talk about Illinois when I met him, but he was interested in the
student division. He was working on a graduate degree at that time. After
the 1968 convention, which was held in Des Moines, Dr. Jernigan planned
that we would go to Illinois and organize an affiliate. We students had no
clue how to do that, but he got six of us together, and he said, "I want
you to go to Illinois." He said we would go one Saturday and organize an
affiliate the next Saturday. We said, "How will we do that?" He said,
"We've got a list of people." I don't know where that list came from, but
they did indeed have a list of people, and Dr. Jernigan gave the names to
us. Rami knew a few people also. By that time he'd been in Illinois for a
few months.
So we drove into Chicago and met with Rami and Mrs. Hastalis, Steve's
mother. We might have met Steve that first day, but we didn't see much of
him until the next week.
Cathy Randall: So you spent the week calling people?
Ramona Walhof: First we would call, and we would ask people if we
could go and visit them. We spent a lot of money on cabs. We took cabs all
over Chicago! I took a train down to Galesburg, Illinois, and met with a
woman who had adopted three children. She was blind, and it was rare in
1968 for a blind person to be an adoptive parent.
Gwendolyn Williams, who was a very dedicated volunteer, drove us some
places, but of course she couldn't drive us to all of the places we needed
to go. We went two by two into people's homes. We would talk about why we
had joined the Federation and what we thought the Federation could do for
them personally. We'd talk a little bit about legislation and making better
vending programs and better rehab.
At that time the programs in Iowa were unique in the country. We
learned to travel independently. We were not afraid to travel in Chicago by
ourselves. We had enough training that we knew how to do that, and we felt
comfortable. We would talk about how we got that training and how we wanted
other people to get it too. We would talk about what we did in college and
what our majors were. We'd talk about the people we met at convention.
I met a man named Gaspardus Belhuysen from Wisconsin. I met him at
the Washington, DC, convention in 1965. He said, "Ken Jernigan always wants
me to go down to Des Moines and get some training, and I'd love to do it,
but I can afford to get what I need." I thought that was the craziest thing
I'd ever heard! I asked one of the people I knew in the Federation what he
knew about Belhuysen, and he said, "Oh yeah! He's a millionaire!" He was
not in the vending program, but on his own he had gone out and found places
where he could put machines, and he hired a full-time driver to help him. I
had never met a blind millionaire before, and I was impressed. That's one
of the reasons I joined the Federation-because I heard about what Belhuysen
and other blind people were doing.
We told people about Belhuysen and other people we had met. Dr.
tenBroek was a lawyer, and there were a whole bunch of blind lawyers in
California. There were a whole bunch of blind chiropractors in Iowa.
We talked about our experiences, but we also listened to what the
blind people wanted. We would say to them, "If you had your choice about
what kind of service you could have, what would it be?" Then we'd try to
help them figure out how an organization of blind people, locally and
statewide, could address something like that. We'd stay for about an hour
talking.
We spent about five days, maybe six, and we talked to a lot of
people. A lot of them said, "I just can't do anything, and you can't do it
for me. I don't want to help." But we found some who were responsive. Jim
Gashel went into Steve Benson's home and met him. I think Steve went to the
organizing meeting.
On Friday evening Dr. Jernigan came, and we met all together. All six
of us who had been pounding the pavements met with Dr. Jernigan. He said,
"Who have you met who has leadership capacity?" There was no trouble with
the presidency; we thought Rami Rabby should be president, and he was
willing. (Dr. Jernigan probably would have twisted his arm if he wasn't!) I
don't remember who the other board members were. We may have elected Steve
Benson to an office.
Steve Hastalis still had a year of high school to finish. He was very
young. His mother was the spokesperson at the time. Steve was kind of
quiet, but he was there. Anyway, that Friday night we planned what we were
going to do about leadership. The next day Dr. Jernigan introduced himself.
He explained what the Federation is. There were a few hostile people in the
audience, and he said, "If you pay your dues, you can vote. If you don't
want the Federation, you should leave the room." A couple of people did.
Dr. Jernigan presided at the meeting. After he answered questions he
said, "We need to adopt a constitution before we elect officers." He had a
model constitution, and he read it article by article. A few changes were
made. I believe that at first the affiliate was called the Illinois
Congress of the Blind. Rami was very interested in politics, and since this
was America, he thought we should have the Illinois Congress of the Blind,
so we did.
After that meeting everyone dispersed, and it was up to Rami to keep
it going. I'm sure he was in telephone contact with Dr. Jernigan every day.
I went off to Idaho because I was engaged to a man from there. I actually
delayed my move from Des Moines to Boise to come to Illinois and organize.
When I came to Illinois, we still had fewer than forty affiliates.
When Dr. Jernigan was elected president in 1968, he set the goal that we
would have affiliates in all fifty states. By about 1974 we did. We
organized very vigorously. I went ahead and organized in Kansas, Oregon,
Washington, Tennessee, and Michigan, and a little bit in North Carolina.
Other people did other states. We organized Nebraska and several of the
southern states and the smaller states. We still have to reorganize from
time to time, but we've had affiliates in all of the states for about forty
years now.
I remember one person who said, "I'm in college, and I'm working for
the summer. I can't afford to take a week off work to go organize." Dr.
Jernigan said, "We'll take care of that. We need you, so we'll take care of
your salary for the week." We didn't have very many people available, and
Dr. Jernigan knew that if we sold the Federation for a week to as many
people as we could, we would become stronger Federationists ourselves. He
was absolutely right!
----------
TO-ed at the OT [Ticked off at the Occupational Therapist]
by Lauren Merryfield
From the Editor: Many of us have stories about dealing with healthcare
professionals and social workers that rankle us. As we get older and often
see more of these folks, the occasional inconvenient comment and the
possible threat represented by it grow frequent and even more threatening.
This is not a comfortable topic, but it is one well presented by Lauren.
Here is what she says:
I remember as a young Federationist how we would laugh so hard we
couldn't stop during our banquet speeches. The one giving the address would
bring up totally ridiculous things about blindness that someone wrote in to
the National Center or mentioned to someone over the phone. What they said
was so absurd it was humorous because all of us blind people were gathered
in one room where we supported each other-so we could laugh. It happens
every year. I know, because even when I am unable to attend our national
conventions, I listen to the banquet speeches after they've been delivered.
But when you are living through one of these anecdotes on your own,
it can be totally frustrating and even maddening. The usually patient
person I am can, after so much low expectation talk, want to throw in the
towel. So far, I've always hung in there when I am well enough to do it.
Now that I am an older blind person with medical issues, over and
over again I am reminded that healthcare professionals just are not being
trained in how to work with blind people. What's more, the problem is
pervasive. I've had similar experiences in several different states where
I've lived. Though I sometimes feel frustrated by some of the repeated
experiences, at least I hope I am helping to educate one person at a time.
Sometimes they just don't get it, but now and then they do.
The other day there were four healthcare professionals in my
apartment with me. I was outnumbered in a major way. Three of them were
pounding me with expressions such as: "Lauren, you have to be able to see
to cook the right food." "You have to see to manage your medications." "You
have to see to safely move from one room to the other in your apartment.
There are fall risk situations in here, and you need someone with you who
can see ..."
One of them even asked, "Are you the only adult in this home?" to
which I answered "No, there is me, and there are two adult cats."
I'm not kidding about the things they pummeled me with that day. How
one has the audacity to tell me what I need vision to do is beyond me. It
smacks of disrespect toward me. It is negativity brought into my happy home
with just me and the cats.
I finally felt quite ticked off about the things the OT (occupational
therapist) was saying. So I said, "Well now wait a minute," and I asked
Vicki where she got all of that information about blind people, and was it
really fair for her to come into my home and dump all of that on me? At
least she shut up for a few minutes.
I wonder again what closet they think I've been in all these years. I
also wonder why more of them can't be humble enough to admit that they have
no idea how I manage, and simply respond by saying "Please tell me. I'll
listen and learn from you." I haven't heard that one yet. They all assume
the worst for me.
During this onslaught of healthcare professionals, I was also
informed that I needed someone to coordinate my clothing and help me get
dressed. I couldn't see which clothes were clean and which were dirty.
What?
I was told that it was a fall risk for me to hurry to the bathroom
and that I needed someone to take me there because it would be faster and
less of a safety risk. I'm not kidding!
I was told that I couldn't do my own showers because I wouldn't know
where my shampoo, soap, etc. were, and I'd have trouble locating the hand-
held shower head. At one point the OT said I'd have trouble locating the
handheld shower head when I had it in my hands. I would have trouble
figuring out what it was because you had to see to do that. She further
said I wouldn't know when I was clean because you have to see to know that.
Again, I am not kidding.
Finally, I stood up (which is very painful now), and I said it was
time for show and tell.
I showed them that I could walk around by myself in my apartment with my
cane or a walker. I showed them my talking items. I typed a note on my
computer which they couldn't understand, but at least they saw me doing it.
I showed them how I cook, clean my dishes and sink, and so on. I didn't
mind explaining to them or showing them. On some occasions I do not have
the luxury of being able to show healthcare professionals how I function,
especially when I am in the hospital. But in my own home! They were going
to hear from me whether they liked it or not!
What I had trouble with were two things-1) that they were so very
uneducated about how blind people function and 2) how the OT Vicki was not
convinced. Neither was Judy, the nurse.
Lisa, the caregiver, did speak up on my behalf. She said, "I had no
idea what to expect the first day I started working with Lauren, but she
does a lot of things by herself, and she does them well. I could have
walked in here deciding she couldn't do anything, but I didn't do that. I
decided to wait and see what she needed me to do and what she didn't."
The social worker, Carol, sat typing away on her computer. I was
concerned about what she was typing, but I did not ask. She hadn't said
anything quite so ridiculous as the others yet.
While I was up demonstrating blindness skills, I did remark that it
seemed odd and out of place for all of them-the OT, the nurse, the
caregiver, and the social worker-to be there in my home all at the same
time; I doubted that this would be happening if I could see.
Now I just have to say this: my cats never come up with all of this
negativity. They know I can't see, and they just work around it, like the
caregiver I currently have. I appreciate their having the confidence in me
to realize that if I can't do something one way, I'll do it another, but
I'll still do it.
It has occurred to me that "live the life you want" isn't exactly
what is happening in my life; however, I am going to do it to the best of
my ability when and while I can. I realize I'm slowly winding down toward
the end of my time here (aren't we all?) However, I'm not going to let
these people cut into my living the life I want in my own home! Even in the
hospital, I'm going to say something as long as I can. When my time is up,
if one person gets it, that will be good.
I am writing this so that when or if similar things are said to you,
you can gain the confidence to speak up when you can. Remember that you
have people-other blind people and some sighted people-who do get it, and
this is something for which we can be very grateful. As we support each
other, it is much more likely that we will "live the life we want."
I was quite ticked off at the occupational therapist when she was
here, but after they all left, I thought I was going to cry. Instead, I
laughed. I thought about those banquet speeches, and how we're all in this
together, and I laughed!
-----------
[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 2019 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 Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las
Vegas, Nevada, 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, the specific amount you are requesting, 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, 2019.
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
numbers;
. Your specific request, and 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 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 Las Vegas.
----------
Recipes
Recipes this month have been provided by the National Federation of
the Blind of Missouri.
[PHOTO CAPTION: Robin House]
Easy Chicken Chili
by Robin House
Robin is currently the chairperson for the National Federation of the
Blind of Missouri Sports and Recreation Division and is coordinating the
2018-2019 Anthem/USABA National Fitness Challenge in Missouri. Robin is
currently working as a school counselor at Stix ECC in the Saint Louis
Public Schools.
Ingredients:
1 pound ground chicken
1 white onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can tomato sauce
1 can red kidney beans for chili
1 can black beans
1 package frozen corn
2 tablespoons brown sugar
Chili powder, cumin, and sriracha to taste
Method: In one tablespoon of olive oil, cook chicken, onions, green
pepper, and garlic until chicken is cooked thoroughly and vegetables are
soft. Use Dutch oven and any excess liquid. Add canned tomatoes, tomato
sauce, kidney beans, black beans, and frozen corn. Add one can of water.
Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, add brown sugar and chili seasonings, cover,
and simmer for thirty minutes, stirring occasionally.
Top with cheddar cheese, sour cream, corn chips, or crackers to your
taste. You can also serve over rice or noodles to make a chili mac. Recipe
can be doubled. Substitutions can be made for chicken and types of beans.
This recipe serves four to six, but leftovers freeze well.
----------
Zucchini and Tomato Bake
by Pam Nestlehoff
Pam Nestlehoff is a longtime member of the Jefferson City Chapter.
Ingredients:
1 onion, chopped
1/4 cup of butter
4 unpeeled zucchini, finely sliced
salt and pepper
celery salt, or use celery-1 to 2 cups, chopped
three large tomatoes, or use 1 can diced tomatoes
Parmesan cheese
Method: Brown onion in butter, add zucchini, and cook until soft.
Season with salt, pepper, and celery salt to taste. Add tomatoes and bring
to a boil. Place in one-quart casserole dish. Sprinkle generously with
parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour.
Note: I added browned hamburger to ours. We really enjoy it. There is
so much you can do with this.
----------
Sesame Pork Ribs in the Crockpot (AKA Chinese Ribs)
by Cari Ford
Cari Ford is a Missourian who came to us from Wisconsin. She did so
in the name of love, and this is why she prepares this recipe.
Ingredients:
1 slab boneless country-style pork ribs
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons honey
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 of a small onion, diced
Method: Trim the fat from the meat and break up the slab of ribs. I
usually break them so each rib has one bone to make for easier handling.
Mix the rest of the ingredients in the crockpot, then mix in the ribs. Cook
on low for five to six hours. Remove heat and serve over rice. Top with
toasted sesame seeds and green onions if desired.
Makes four smaller servings or two larger servings as is. This recipe
is flexible, and it doubles nicely. Use a 3.5 qt. or larger crockpot. Beef
ribs can probably be substituted, though I have not tried it that way.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Melissa Kane]
Whole-Grain Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
by Melissa Kane
Melissa is president of our Jefferson City Chapter and serves on the
NFB of Missouri State Board. She really enjoys baking. Melissa is involved
in most activities and projects of the NFB of Missouri which has her
balancing healthy baking with her participation in the 2018-2019 Anthem
Blue Cross/Blue Shield United States Association of Blind Athletes National
Fitness Challenge. She adapted this recipe to incorporate more whole
grains.
Ingredients:
1 cup raisins
1 cup water
3/4 cup butter
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white whole wheat flour
1/2 cup flax seed
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
2 cups old-fashioned oats
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Method: Pour water over raisins in a saucepan and simmer over medium
heat until raisins are plump, this takes about ten minutes. Drain raisins,
reserving the liquid. Add enough water to raisin water to equal 1/2 cup;
usually, I don't have to add any additional water. Beat together butter and
sugar. Add eggs, vanilla, and raisin water and beat until smooth. Next,
stir in all ingredients from above list starting with the two types of
flour through the ground cloves. Then stir in raisins, oats, and nuts. Drop
by the spoonful onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 325 for ten to twelve
minutes.
----------
Shianne's Fruit Salad
by Shianne Ramsey
Ingredients:
1 apple, cored and chopped
1 orange or 2 Cuties. (clementines), peeled and sectioned
juice from 1 orange
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup coconut
Method: Chop apple finely with food chopper or knife. Peel and
section orange and chop. Add juice from one orange, sugar, and coconut. Mix
and serve.
You can add other fruit you like such as blueberries and sliced
banana. Delicious for any meal or healthy snack!
----------
Shianne's Peanut Butter Balls
by Shianne Ramsey
Ingredients:
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup instant powdered milk (more or less)
Method: Mix well until smooth and make into small balls. You can roll
each ball in coconut or not as you prefer. Great snack full of protein, and
one of my childhood favorites!
----------
Monitor Miniatures
News from the Federation Family
Washington State At-Large Chapter Elections:
The Washington State chapter-at-large held its elections January 10,
and officers are as follows: president, Kris Colcock; vice president,
Jenelle Landgraf; secretary, Judy Jones; treasurer, Niki Palmer; board
member, Chris Jones.
The chapter is growing, and we have also had out-of-state attendance.
We were successful in our fundraiser, held at our state convention in
October, and Kris and Jenelle did much to make that happen. Our state
president, Marci Carpenter, continues to be wonderful support and help to
the chapter and each of us as individuals. We all have been working
together to help this chapter succeed and are looking forward to a great
2019.
Thanks for Here's Hank:
Matthew Jepsen wrote to tell us: "Just thought you would like to know
that my 10-year-old daughter Elizabeth (an avid Braille reader) has been
loving the new Here's Hank books she's been getting in the mail from the
American Action Fund these past few weeks. She reads them everywhere,
including our local coffee shop."
Great Radio by Blind People:
Hello friends. I am Ken Lawrence from the New Jersey affiliate. Would
you like to listen to some great radio made by blind people with all
musical tastes in mind? Well, why not try Out of Sight Radio. This is a
radio station linked to the out-of-sight.net voicechat site where some of
the members are hosts of radio shows. We have among others two great oldies
shows, plus specific shows for the 60s, 70s, and 80s. We have country and
jazz standards and much, much more-including my regular show the Rock and
Soul Review. And when there's no live show, there's great music in the
automated stream. To listen to our station just visit www.out-of-
sight.net/radio, and click the high quality stream if you are on a
computer, or if you are away from Wi-Fi the lower bit rate mobile stream.
We are also on TuneIn radio so you can listen on the Amazon Echo or a
Google Home speaker. Just ask Alexa or your Google Home to play Out of
Sight net radio. Since we are also on the ooTunes database, you can even
hear Out of Sight Radio on a Victor Reader Stream. So come in and tune in
anytime for the best mix of music anywhere whether on terrestrial radio or
internet. It's like I say on my show, Out of Sight Radio, your blind spot
on the internet is your hot spot on the internet.
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.
New Year, New Titles in UEB from Seedlings!
Seedlings Braille Books for Children just added seven more books to
its Unified English Braille collection for independent readers, bringing
the total to 155! One is a new title, Magic Tree House #34: Season of the
Sandstorms.
The other six are books converted from the old Braille code: Ramona
and her Father, Ramona Forever, Charlie & the Great Glass Elevator, Star
Wars: The Phantom Menace, Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom, and Walking
the Road to Freedom: A Story about Sojourner Truth.
To see all 155 of Seedlings' books in contracted UEB for older
children, go to goo.gl/oHp4X9. Check back often as we are regularly adding
additional titles to our UEB collection for independent readers.
All of Seedlings' 310 print-and-braille books for younger readers are
already in UEB. See our online catalog at
http://www.seedlings.org/order.php
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.
For Sale:
Two Freedom Scientific Braille Blazers for sale. They have the
following features: serial or parallel connections to a PC (A USB-to-Serial
cable may be used with these embossers on machines which don't have serial
or parallel ports); carrying case (built-in); standard computer power cord;
embosses on 8.5-by-11-inch fanfold tractor-feed paper; embosses standard
Braille in portrait or landscape mode; embosses graphics; is supported by
most Braille translation software, including Duxbury Systems; configuration
is accomplished through voice-guided instructions; may be used as a speech
synthesizer as well as a Braille embosser. The user manual is available at:
https://www.edvisionservices.org/Manuals/BrailleBlazerUserManual.pdf. We
are asking $400 each. Contact Sheryl Pickering at 830-743-7655.
----------
NFB Pledge
I pledge to participate actively in the efforts of the National
Federation of the Blind to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for
the blind; to support the policies and programs of the Federation; and to
abide by its constitution.
-----------------------
[1] During the symposium, Michael Kolitsky of nextgenEmedia LLC described
yet another innovative technology to enhance learning opportunities for
blind and low-vision students-talking tactile templates. Audio-enriched
products can be created by combining 3D printed, 3D laser-cut, and raised-
line graphics templates with paint.
[2] American Printing House for the Blind, 2016, American Printing House
for the Blind and Orbit Research Announce the World's First Affordable
Refreshable Tactile Graphics Display [Press Release],
https://www.aph.org/pr/aph-and-orbit-research-announce-the-worlds-first-
affordable-refreshable-tactile-graphics-display/.
[3] American Printing House for the Blind, 2016, American Printing House
for the Blind and Orbit Research Announce the World's First Affordable
Refreshable Tactile Graphics Display [Press Release],
https://www.aph.org/pr/aph-and-orbit-research-announce-the-worlds-first-
affordable-refreshable-tactile-graphics-display/.
[4] Brayda, L., Leo, F., Baccelliere, C., Ferrari, E., & Vigini, C. (2018).
Updated Tactile Feedback with a Pin Array Matrix Helps Blind People to
Reduce Self-Location Errors. Micromachines, 9(351), p. 1.
[5] "3D printers print objects from a digital template to a physical 3-
dimensional physical object. The printing is done layer by layer (A
!'(*/345IK?"?hiu v .5
s`R`sE;E.E.E!s"s+y+slsls\sNjh |U[pic]mHnHu[pic]-
h':WhB6?OJQJ]?^Jh':WhQ&OJQJ^Jh':WhkbXOJQJ^Jh':Wh
[OJQJ^Jh':WhB6?OJQJ^Jh':Wht-
fOJQJ^Jh':Wh"KtOJQJ^Jh*#(OJQJ^Jh':Wh[pic]IAOJQJ^J[6]?h':WhBOJQJ^J$[7]?jh':d
ditive manufacturing) using plastic, metal, nylon, and over a hundred other
materials." Mpofu, T., Mawere, C., & Mukosera, M. (2014). The Impact and
Application of 3D Printing Technology. International Journal of Science and
Research 3(6).
[8] Accessible Archaeology for the Blind and Partially Sighted. (n.d.).
Retrieved January 3, 2019, from http://digitalarchaeology.org.uk/accessible-
archaeology.
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