[NFBNJ] July Braille Monitor Pasted
joe ruffalo
nfbnj1 at verizon.net
Tue Jun 29 20:33:40 UTC 2021
Greetings to all!
Pasted below is the July Braille Monitor.
Please read and share with family, friends, colleagues and others.
There are various methods to read the Braille Monitor and other publications
by visiting
www.nfb.org
Special Note: It’s not to late to register for the no cost national
convention, please visit the national website for procedures.
If you need assistance, please contact Linda Melendez, President, National
Federation of the Blind of New Jersey
phone: 732 421 7063
president at nfbnj.org
In addition, the first article in the Monitor Miniatures is a reflection
with my health issue.
Brian Mackey has provided information as he is selling a product.
Keep well,
Joe Ruffalo
_______________________________________________________________________________
Braille Monitor
Vol. 64, No. 7 July 2021
Gary Wunder, Editor
Distributed by email, in inkprint, in Braille, and on USB flash drive, by
the
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
NFBnet.org: http://www.nfbnet.org
NFB-NEWSLINE® information: 866-504-7300
Like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind
Follow us on Twitter: @NFB_Voice
Watch and share our videos: YouTube.com/NationsBlind
Letters to the President, address changes, subscription requests, and orders
for NFB literature should be sent to the national office. Articles 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
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contents
Vol. 64, No. 7 July 2021
Illustration: A Toy Story at Jernigan Institute
Top Legal Terms Our Readers Might Want to Know
by Valerie Yingling
Rise Up!
by Ronza Othman
The NFB Science and Engineering Division and the NFB National Association of
Blind Students Joint STEM Zoom Conference Meeting Report for February 28,
2021
by Neil Soiffer, Gene Kim, Newton Nguyen, and Louis Maher
Creating Access in the Arts and Beyond
by Precious Perez
When I Was Almost the Victim of My Implicit Bias
by Patti Chang
A Response from the League of Women Voters of Colorado
by Karen Sheek
Changing the World One Ballot at a Time
by Mark A. Riccobono
To Educate or Alienate
by Nancy Burns
Making it through Adversity
by Svetlana Ehlers
Discrimination Against the Blind Isn't Just a Sighted Thing
by Gary Wunder
I Wanted to Walk a Mile in Those Little High-Heeled Shoes
by Danielle McCann
My Jury Experience
by Dana Ard
You Can Make a Difference
Feeling Through
by Lisa Bryant
Why I am Proud to Be Blind
by Jonathan Mosen
Telling an Uncomfortable and Unconventional Story
by Gary Wunder
Bernie’s Story: It Takes a Village, Resourcefulness, and Cosmic Alignment
by Laura Deck
Independence Market Corner
by Terry Boone
Recipes
Monitor Miniatures
Copyright 2021 by the National Federation of the Blind
A Toy Story at Jernigan Institute
The Jernigan Institute is a place where many Federationists and friends come
and go throughout the year for programs, meetings, and more. During the
COVID-19 pandemic, the building has been closed to the public; but in May,
we opened the door to a couple of special friends, Dr. Fauci and Helen
Keller.
Dr. Anthony Fauci was one of the lead members of the White House Coronavirus
Task Force and has served as the director of the National Institute of
Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984. Today, a bobblehead version of
him with his arms crossed wearing a white doctor’s coat, a tie, a light blue
button-up shirt, dark suit pants, and brown shoes sits in the Office of the
President where he enjoys time away from the spotlight of the media. Local
members who came to the vaccine clinic in May had the chance to take a
selfie with Dr. Fauci by a podium and National Federation of the Blind
backdrop.
Additionally, Mattel introduced Helen Keller Barbie in May 2021 as part of
its inspiring Women Series. Keller was an educated deafblind advocate. The
Barbie wears a full-length striped skirt and a ruffled lacy blouse with a
high collar inspired by her time as a student in the early 1900s. Her black
hair is in a neat bun at the back of her neck. She is holding a book labeled
BRL, which means Braille. Helen Keller Barbie has traveled through the
floors of the Jernigan Institute and now resides on the second floor.
Top Legal Terms Our Readers Might Want to Know
by Valerie Yingling
>From the Editor: Valerie is in charge of coordinating our legal activity,
and in addition to being organized, she is articulate. She is also patient,
kind, and friendly, but all of this is already known to those of you who
have had the pleasure of interacting with her. Here is her latest effort to
better inform us as we read about the Federation’s progress in legal
matters:
The National Federation of the Blind has influenced our nation’s legal
landscape through high-impact disability rights litigation. NFB cases such
as National Federation of the Blind v. Target Corp., HM v. Oceanport Board
of Education, and Brown et al v. Maryland Department of Public Safety and
Correctional Services have driven disability rights case law forward for the
nation’s blind and set precedence for other disability rights groups.
We know that the NFB’s legal work is important, but do we always know what a
judge’s order or a consent decree mean in terms of success? Civil court
terminology can be confusing or counterintuitive. This list of top legal
terms is designed to help our members better understand our successes and
why NFB’s legal program is a central component in our work to remove
barriers between blind people and their dreams.
1.. Amicus curiae: Latin for “friend of the court;” plural is amici
curiae. Someone who is not party to a lawsuit may advise on the subject of
the lawsuit through the filing of written briefs; the court decides whether
to consider the information.
a.. Used in a sentence: In April 2021, the National Federation of the
Blind joined with other disability rights groups to file an amicus curiae
brief in the Winn-Dixie Stores v. Gil web accessibility case.
2.. Consent decree: A court-ordered resolution approved by all parties. In
comparison, a settlement agreement is not immediately court enforceable. To
enforce a settlement agreement, a party would have to file a breach of
contract action, which could be a lengthy and expensive process.
a.. Used in a sentence: The National Federation of the Blind and
Atlantic Cape Community College entered into a consent decree in 2015 to
resolve charges of discrimination by blind students and to establish new
accessibility policies and procedures for the school.
3.. Declaratory relief: A court ruling regarding someone’s rights.
a.. Used in a sentence: In our complaint against Walmart, the National
Federation of the Blind seeks declaratory relief regarding how Walmart’s use
of inaccessible self-checkout kiosks violates the Americans with
Disabilities Act.
4.. Dismissal with prejudice: A court order that prohibits an identical
lawsuit from being filed in the future. In contrast, dismissal without
prejudice would permit an identical lawsuit.
a.. Used in a sentence: The National Federation of the Blind’s May 2021
voting rights settlement with the state of Maine dismissed our charges with
prejudice.
5.. Injunction: A court order that restricts one or more parties from
taking a specific action.
a.. Used in a sentence: The National Federation of the Blind filed for a
preliminary and permanent injunction in our 2020 Pennsylvania voting rights
case, Drenth v. Boockvar.
6.. Jurisdiction: A court’s authority to issue a ruling on a case and
otherwise enforce the law.
a.. Used in a sentence: The United States District Court for the
District of Maryland has jurisdiction over claims raised on behalf of blind
prisoners in Brown v. Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional
Services et al.
7.. Moot: When a dispute does not exist because it has been resolved or
determined to have never existed.
a.. Used in a sentence: The National Federation of the Blind joined an
appellate court amicus brief for Segal v. Minneapolis Metro Transit after
the district court found no evidence of discrimination and ruled that the
plaintiff’s request for damages were moot.
8.. Petition for writ of certiorari: Asking a higher court, usually the
United States Supreme Court and state level supreme courts, to review a
lower court’s ruling. Petition for writ of certiorari is sometimes referred
to as “cert petition” or “cert.” When a court denies a petition for writ of
certiorari, it means the lower court’s ruling stands.
a.. Used in a sentence: In 2019 the US Supreme Court denied a petition
for writ of certiorari filed by Domino’s Pizza, thereby upholding the lower
court’s ruling that a blind man could file suit under the ADA because he
could not use Domino’s website to order a pizza.
9.. Remand: When a higher court sends a case back to a lower court,
usually because information or facts are disputed.
a.. Used in a sentence: The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals remanded
Reyazzudin v. Montgomery County, Maryland, in 2015 because facts remained in
dispute, including whether the County reasonably accommodated Ms. Reyazuddin
and other factors.
10.. Stay: To halt proceedings temporarily or permanently.
a.. Used in a sentence: The court stayed litigation in Irving v.
Berryhill, the National Federation of the Blind’s lawsuit against the Social
Security Administration, during the parties’ settlement discussions.
11.. Summary Judgment: When a court rules on a case without a trial or
further proceedings. In such cases, a court is saying that even if it
accepts all of a particular party’s alleged facts as true, the facts do not
actually violate the law.
a.. Used in a sentence: The National Federation of the Blind filed an
objection to New York State Board of Elections’ motion for summary judgment
in our 2016 lawsuit regarding the state’s inaccessible online voter
registration system.
12.. Vacate: To withdraw or invalidate.
a.. Used in a sentence: In our 2018 lawsuit against the US Department of
Education, the National Federation of the Blind, alongside the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Council of
Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA), sought a judge’s order to vacate §
108(t) of the 2018 OCR Manual and reinstate the manual’s appeals process.
For more information about the National Federation of the Blind’s legal
program, please visit https://nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program or
contact Valerie Yingling, legal program coordinator.
Rise Up!
by Ronza Othman
>From the Editor: Ronza is the president of our National Federation of the
Blind of Maryland, but this is not her life. She does what she can for the
rest of us, but she also makes sure to live a life that is integrated. Here
is a bit of what she said to our convention in Maryland:
Recently, I had the opportunity to tackle an item from my bucket list. I’ve
always wanted to go parasailing, but I could never quite do so. For those of
you who might be curious, parasailing involves being harnessed to a large
sail that resembles a parachute and being towed behind a fast-moving boat.
The speed of the boat creates an air current that pushes the parasailer up
several-hundred feet into the air.
I’ve experienced several obstacles to being able to parasail. Sometimes the
weather didn’t cooperate and the wind was too strong to safely go up.
Sometimes the water was too choppy or the current too strong to permit safe
parasailing. Sometimes my travelling companions decided they wanted to do
something else instead at the last minute. One time there was a traffic jam
and we missed our appointment. Another time the wife of the boat’s captain
went into labor.
Finally, a few weeks ago, the weather decided to cooperate; the current was
perfect; my fellow travelers agreed to the experience come hell or high
water; we stayed within walking distance from the marina where our boat
would set sail; and to my knowledge my captain’s wife was not in labor.
There was only one problem—I was recovering from the coronavirus and had
virtually no energy to sit upright, let alone walk to the marina, board the
boat, fasten myself into the harness, and swing myself back onto the deck of
the boat when the sail ended.
But I was committed! I was going to literally rise up regardless of what it
took. I dug deep and found the energy to walk to the marina; to board the
ship; to find my balance as I stood on deck; to fasten my harness and
emergency parachute; to step over rigging and lines, around the sail bar;
and sit down on the deck of the boat at the very edge. Then, I rose. And it
was incredible!
I spent about ten minutes atop the world. I felt the wind in my hair, the
sun on my face, and the energy and joy pumping through my blood. Then the
captain dipped me into the ocean, and I got seawater in my nose. But I rose
up again and swung myself onto the deck—and for those of you who have been
parasailing, I stuck the landing like an Olympic gymnast.
Why am I telling you all about parasailing? Because my experience is a great
metaphor for what we in the NFBMD experienced this past year. Despite
unprecedented challenges, we were determined to rise up, and we did! We don’t
know how to do anything different as Federationists after all.
Andra Day’s song “Rise Up” includes the following lines:
I’ll rise up
I’ll rise like the day
I’ll rise up
I’ll rise unafraid
I’ll rise up
And I’ll do it a thousand times again
And I’ll rise up
High like the waves
I’ll rise up
In spite of the ache
I’ll rise up
And do it a thousand times again.
We in the NFBMD rise up unafraid, in spite of the aches, and we’ll do it a
thousand times again.
The NFB Science and Engineering Division and the NFB National Association of
Blind Students Joint STEM Zoom Conference Meeting Report for February 28,
2021
by Neil Soiffer, Gene Kim, Newton Nguyen, and Louis Maher
>From the Editor: Most articles in the Braille Monitor can be read by anyone
regardless their education or background. But some articles are for a
specific audience, and this is one of them. If you are beyond learning or
using mathematic beyond the simple four functions, this article may not be
for you, but if you are a student who must take a course in Science,
Technology, Engineering or Mathematics and aren’t sure how to do it using
today’s assistive technology, this piece is right down your alley. If you
want to find a career path in STEM, you will get some real world examples of
what works, how well it works, and what accessibility issues we need to work
on before your grade or your profession depends upon it.
Thank you to Louis Maher for taking the time to write this up, and thank you
to the two Federation divisions that offered the seminar.
The National Federation of the Blind's Science and Engineering Division
(SED) and the National Federation of the Blind's National Association of
Blind Students (NABS) held a joint Zoom conference on Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Math (STEM) on Sunday, February 28, 2021. This is a summary
of the presentations given at this conference.
Unlike most Braille Monitor articles, this article will not explain
everything. Also, the article does not have references for all the devices
and programs discussed here. The purpose of this article is to summarize
many of the tools and techniques that allow the blind to be successful in
their STEM careers.
A recording of this meeting is available at:
https://tinyurl.com/NFB-SED-2021-NABS-STEM.
Trisha Kulkarni is the president of the National Association of Blind
Students (NABS), and she welcomed the audience to the annual NABS/SED joint
conference on how blind individuals are succeeding in Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. She introduced John Miller,
president of the Science and Engineering Division (SED), who was the
moderator for the evening.
President Miller thanked the speakers for presenting at this event. He said
that often a student may have only one science or math requirement to
fulfill for that student's degree and said that the SED members would be
glad to help students overcome their technical problems.
A summary of the presentations follows:
Title: “Methods for the Blind to Electronically Read and Write Mathematics
from Primary School through College”
Speaker: Neil Soiffer
Neil Soiffer was a principal architect of MathML, the standard for putting
math on the web. He was the main developer of MathPlayer, which is used with
NVDA to make math accessible in Web, Word, and PowerPoint documents. He has
published numerous papers on math accessibility and is a member of various
standards groups concerned with accessibility on the Web and elsewhere. He
currently chairs the MathML Refresh community group that is working on
greater browser support for MathML along with updating the MathML standard.
He received a BS in math from MIT and a PhD in computer science from UC
Berkeley. He has worked at Tektronix's Computer Research Lab, Wolfram
Research (Mathematica), Design Science (MathType, MathPlayer), and has now
formed his own accessibility company, Talking Cat Software.
Presentation:
Reading Math
Status
a.. There has been huge progress in the last several years.
b.. In the past, most websites used images for math.
c.. Now MathML is mostly used (often present for screen readers only).
Last year when I looked, maybe 80 percent of sites that had math were
accessible. Five years ago that number might have been 20 percent.
How it Works
a.. MathML is the standard for math on the Web. Part of HTML. Tags like
<mfrac>, <msqrt>, <msup> are used.
b.. Screen readers see those and convert them to speech and Braille
(Nemeth Code). E.g., <mfrac> indicates fractions, <msqrt> becomes “the
square root of," and <msup> indicates "super scripts."
a.. Special cases for natural speech like, msup with a “2” for the
exponent is pronounced "something squared.”
b.. The quality of the reading varies; more on that later.
Side note: If you do not know Nemeth Code, try to learn it! Every VI teacher
I know says the most successful students are the ones proficient in Nemeth
Code.
Where it Works
a.. Reading MathML works in JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and ORCA in webpages.
b.. JAWS and NVDA will also read math in Microsoft Word, and NVDA will
read it in PowerPoint.
a.. Caveat – must convert to MathType format first for NVDA.
b.. JAWS recently added support for the native math editor in Word.
c.. EPUB ebooks
You can read this format with JAWS/NVDA using the Thorium program. Two
sources for accessible books are RedShelf and VitalSource Bookshelf online.
a.. On the Mac: VitalSource Bookshelf both the App & Online version are
accessible.
b.. For Kindle books: JAWS and NVDA using the PC App are accessible. Note:
MathML is much less common in Kindle books.
Screen Reader Reading Differences
a.. For text there are a few differences such as how “Dr.” is handled:
(Dr. Smith lives on Smith Dr.).
b.. For math, there are lots of differences.
a.. Many special cases: mixed fraction -- “one and one half” versus
being read without the "and." The result sounds like “one half,” etc.
b.. Example that NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver do mostly right: NVDA says
"two and one third times nine and five eights is greater than twenty-two;"
JAWS says "two and one third dot operator nine and five eights greater
twenty-two." VoiceOver says "mix fraction two fraction start one over three
end of fraction dot operator nine fraction start five over eight end of
fraction greater than 22."
c.. Superscript: generally, you will hear “x superscript k end
superscript” or maybe “x raised to the kth power.” All will do simple
special cases like “x squared,” but only a few will say “inverse sine” for
"sine to the minus one (x)."
d.. NVDA says "the inverse sine of x," while JAWS says, "sine to the
power of minus one x."
e.. NVDA+MathPlayer is by far the best as it knows many more rules for
reading math the way it is read in a classroom. It offers several options in
terms of ways to read and speak. There is also a “Speech Rule Engine” which
is used with MathJax, but assistive technology does not use it.
f.. VoiceOver is probably the weakest in that it only knows a few things
like “squared” and “cubed.”
g.. The problem with the lower-case letter "a" – In math mode, NVDA says
"a + a squared + a cubed," while JAWS says "ua + ua squared + ua cubed."
NVDA uses the long 'a' sound while JAWS uses the short sound of the letter
"a."
c.. Navigation
a.. For a large equation, reading it all at once can be hard to
understand.
Example: NVDA (y-y1) equals ((y2-y1)/(x2-x1)) times (x-x1).
b.. NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver support navigating an expression; NVDA has
the most flexibility.
Writing Math
WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get)
a.. ChattyInfty – allows you to write text and math.
b.. So does Word + MathType (via TeX – more later)
c.. WIRIS/MathType for the Web – sort of accessible.
a.. You hear “blank” then the character as you move around.
b.. No way exists to have the expression read back to you other than
moving character-by-character.
d.. Pearson Accessible Equation Editor – supports both Nemeth input and
output. In Beta.
ASCIIMath
a.. Simple calculator like notation: ()s, /, ^, _, sqrt
b.. <=, alpha, or (infinity), sub(subset), …
TeX
a.. TeX is for writing documents but designed for math-oriented documents.
b.. LaTeX is an extension (a set of commands) of TeX.
c.. Basics of TeX Math
a.. Names: \alpha, \leq (less than or equal char), \int (integral char)
b.. Grouping: {}
c.. Notations: \frac, \sqrt, ^, _
d.. The only way to know if you got it right is to listen to it.
e.. If you use Word, get MathType (which is not accessible as a WYSIWYG
editor). You can type TeX, convert it to regular notation with alt+\, listen
to it, and convert it back to TeX with alt+\ to fix it if it is not right.
Markdown
a.. A simple markup language using plain text.
Typing # will generate heading 1, typing ## will generate heading 2, …
a.. * will generate a list
b.. Can do italics, bold, links, …
a.. Extensions for tables and math via ASCIIMath and TeX
Learning Math
Some sites that make use of MathML that are tutorials or explanations
a.. Wikipedia
b.. One Mathematical Cat
c.. Khan Academy (has a video focus, so less accessible)
Doing Math
a.. Desmos is accessible in JAWS/NVDA/Mac/iOS. It is a sophisticated
calculator for equations and graphing. Both Nemeth Code and UEB input and
output. Audio traces for graphs. Also supports generating embossed graphs.
b.. Mathshare – step by step derivations
c.. Statistics
d.. R (use RStudio Server – web-based version)
e.. SAS has done a lot of work on accessible charts and graphs
(JAWS/NVDA/MacOS).
f.. SPSS – JAWS/MacOS – graphics are not accessible.
Title - Where Humanities, Social Science, and Engineering Collide:
Perspectives on the Value of Interdisciplinary Study and Research
Speaker: Gene Kim
Gene Kim is a sophomore at Stanford University studying symbolic systems, a
program that explores the crossroads of computer science, psychology,
philosophy, and linguistics. He is an undergraduate researcher with Stanford
Shape Lab and has worked on projects in data visualization/sonification and
haptic/multi-modal accessibility devices. He lost most of his vision about
four years ago from progressive retinal detachment and while he started his
nonvisual STEM journey recently, he is excited to share his
experiences/techniques with everyone.
Presentation:
Combinatory Play:
“Combinatory Play” was coined by Einstein and is the process of making
connections from seemingly unrelated fields to come up with
innovative/creative ideas.
Examples of Combinatory Play include deep learning neural networks in
computer science (inspired from neuroscience/the anatomy of the brain),
The first ever printing press (Gutenberg printing press) that combined
aspects of coin presses and wine presses,
The Google search engine algorithm was inspired by system of
frequency/popularity of research citations in academia,
Nike’s high traction rubber shoe design was inspired by the shape of a
waffle maker, and Steve Jobs borrowed from calligraphy to design the
impactful Mac typefonts, etc.
Tools/Resources:
Resources and tools that helped Gene study STEM.
a.. Orion TI84+ talking and graphing calculator with sonification for
reading graphs
b.. Desmos accessible online calculator for equations and graphing with
sonification for reading graphs
c.. Talking LabQuest which allows the blind to perform laboratory
measurements
d.. Sensational blackboard/Draftsman which allows the blind to read and
produce sketches. It can be used to show tree structure of programs.
e.. Arduiono for prototyping electronic circuits and code
f.. Blind arduiono group: http://blarbl.blogspot.com/
The Blind Arduino Blog is a collection of news and information about blind
makers working with Arduino. It includes tutorials, advice, and
recommendations of particular interest to blind people working with
electronics and microprocessors.
g.. Freecodecamp: https://www.freecodecamp.org
Learn to code—for free.
Build projects.
Earn certifications.
h.. For web development: learn HTML to structure a website; JavaScript to
make a site interactive; and cascading style sheets (CSS) to learn how to
control the visual aspect of your site (color, fonts,…).
i.. NVDA web developer plug in:
https://github.com/ajborka/nvda_developer_toolkit NVDA addon which supports
blind and visually impaired developers with tools that help them better
understand visual layouts, independently create appealing user interfaces,
and comply with popular universal access guidelines such as the WCAG.
j.. Chrome web development tools.
k.. Program-L (worldwide blind programmer’s mailing list. Job postings,
questions, and more): https://www.freelists.org/list/program-l
l.. OpenSCAD (for 3D design): https://www.openscad.org/
m.. NY ITP:
https://wp.nyu.edu/ability/nonvisual-soldering-workshop-at-itp/
Nonvisual Soldering Workshop
n.. The Science and Engineering division's STEM Mentorship Program, which
is discussed in the next section.
Numpad shortcuts for writing math:
https://www.irongeek.com/alt-numpad-ascii-key-combos-and-chart.html
Title - Trial and Error: Toward Faster Methods of Learning STEM Skills as a
Blind Student
Speaker: Newton Nguyen
Newton Nguyen is a PhD Candidate at Caltech, where he is developing the next
generation's greenhouse gas observation network. He was previously employed
at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and was on the NASA science team
for the CLARREO climate satellite mission. He cofounded the Blind STEM
Mentorship Program, Caltech Disability Coalition, and serves on Caltech's
Graduate Admissions Committee. Newton holds a MS in environmental science
and engineering from Caltech and a BA in geophysics from Berkeley.
Presentation:
Newton is working on a PhD in environmental science and engineering. How was
it for him to work on these subjects?
In California, the university is responsible for accommodations inside the
classroom, and state agencies are responsible for accommodations outside the
classroom. Note that the student is responsible for coordinating these
efforts.
Newton did not know this in his first undergraduate semester. He dropped out
of his calculus class because he had no books. His first semester was a
crash course on how accessibility works.
Newton advises:
1. Work on your accommodations months ahead of time. It can be difficult to
get state support. It may take months to get books in accessible form.
2. Get a personal assistant who can serve as a scribe and reader for those
times when accessible educational material and equipment are not available.
Textbooks often do not come on time, and there are often inaccessible
classroom handouts and inaccessible laboratory equipment.
3. Get proper skills. Learn how to read and write mathematics. Use the tools
discussed in the talks presented above.
Lessons learned by Newton:
1. How to reach out for help: locate the individuals with the knowledge and
resources that you need.
2. You do not know what you do not know. You will need mentors.
3. You will have to know how to acquire technical skills on your own. It can
be difficult to find resources online to answer your specific questions.
4. Newton did not have a community to work with him. He was the only seismic
engineering student in his university system.
The Science and Engineering division's STEM Mentorship Program was developed
by Newton Nguyen, Gene Kim, and Kennedy Stomberg. The program seeks to pair
STEM students with mentors. One of the program's activities is to host a
monthly STEM seminar where students and mentors can discuss STEM techniques.
To join the program, and for questions about the program, write to
newton at caltech.edu.
Newton is working on a Wikipedia page to explain methods that will enable
the blind to perform STEM tasks. He wishes to develop a one-stop page for
blind STEM techniques.
Wrap up:
John Miller and Trisha Kulkarni thanked the individuals who produced the
STEM meeting including Ashley Neybert who handled the Zoom logistics.
If you wish to learn more about NABS, including how to become a member, go
to: https://www.nabslink.org/.
If you wish to join the SED, go to: http://www.nfb.org/divisiondues.
Dues for NABS and SED are $5 a year.
Individuals may join the NABS and SED email discussion groups at nfbnet.org.
Contacts:
If there are any questions about the National Association of Blind Students,
please contact Trisha Kulkarni (nabs.president at gmail.com).
If there are any questions about the Science and Engineering Division,
please contact John Miller (Phone: 858-774-9286, Johnmillerphd at hotmail.com).
If there are any questions about this report, please contact Louis Maher
(Phone: 713-444-7838, ljmaher03 at outlook.com).
Creating Access in the Arts and Beyond
by Precious Perez
>From the Editor: Precious is currently the president of the National
Federation of the Blind’s Massachusetts Student Division and a board member
of the National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division. She is
also a tenBroek Scholarship winner, meaning she has been acknowledged twice
by the NFB for her academic accomplishments, leadership, and willingness to
make a difference in the world. She will do her student teaching in the fall
and will graduate in December prepared to teach music and performance. Here
is what she says about taking the initiative to get an internship and making
it all it could be:
I first encountered Mark Degarmo Dance through the Berklee Career Manager in
the fall of 2020. At the time they had posted a full-time community
engagement internship position for school credit, and I thought it could be
a great experience. I applied then, but didn't have as much availability as
I knew they would have wanted. I saw the job posted again, this time listed
as a ten-hour position in December of last year. I knew an internship would
be really helpful with my credits, and I wanted to gain new experience in
the nonprofit sector within an arts discipline I was always interested
in—dance.
I got a part-time teaching job right after I was offered the internship for
the duration of the spring semester. When I wrote back to my now supervisor
Hannah DeGarmo about not being able to put in as much time as they deserved
and needed, her response was to offer me the opportunity to create and lead
independent projects around my interests, putting in as much time as I was
able. I'd never seen a company do anything like this, and it was so
refreshing. I knew right away that the company's intentions were genuine and
that I'd be happy to be a part of the team.
I began by writing a proposal for my independent projects. As a blind Latina
performer myself, I knew I had a unique perspective to offer.
Mark DeGarmo Dance (MDD) is a small nonprofit dance company based out of New
York City that provides dance education to underserved communities and also
puts on virtual performances. As a remote intern, I proposed building
connections between MDD and the NFB Performing Arts division, potentially
having the company advertised in our newsletter and via our listservs or a
membership call. I also proposed expanding MDD's outreach to
Spanish-speaking communities, as well as ensuring that their web presence
and virtual events were optimized for accessibility. My projects were
enthusiastically approved, so I set out with my overall goal being to
further the company's mission of accessibility and inclusion not just in
statement, but in practice.
My first task was creating a document to keep track of web accessibility. I
listed the elements to check for: labeled buttons and links, radio buttons,
check boxes, images with alt text, form fields, combo boxes, and headings. I
spent my five hours for a few weeks going through each page of the website
testing each of these elements with multiple screenreader and browser
combinations including NVDA with Firefox, NVDA with Chrome, Jaws with
Chrome, VoiceOver with Chrome, and Voiceover with Safari. I noted any images
that weren't identifiable and any aspects of the pages that worked or didn't
work with different combinations. Once completed, I checked MDD's social
media pages, noting the need for alt text on the majority of images and
posts made. I found that the website was fairly accessible overall, and
there were only a few things to fix. I connected with two fellow interns,
one who dealt with social media, and the other who dealt with the website to
discuss my findings and explain anything they needed to know about what alt
text is and what screen readers are and what they do.
My next task was something I wasn't expecting, but it was great experience
nonetheless. MDD had a virtual event coming up, so part of my job was to
find organizations that we could push the press release out to who would
also share it. I was able to find a fair amount of local organizations in
Massachusetts, as well as circulate the information through the NFB
performing arts networks.
My final project is one that also encompasses accessibility. I realized that
I couldn't market MDD's events to the blind community if they weren't fully
accessible. The first thing I did was look into captioning, and I found that
Zoom had recently integrated this, so MDD was able to go in and set this up.
The next thing I did was to research organizations and companies that
provided audio description services. I created a spreadsheet containing all
of the information requested by MDD regarding pricing and live versus
pre-recorded virtual events. I'll be following this up by reaching out to
the founder of the audio description project and the creator of the database
I found with a ton of contacts to inquire about volunteer audio description
options given that MDD is a small company with a budget.
My time with MDD is coming to a close, and I will soon be handing off all of
the information. I've passed this to a fellow intern who will continue where
I left off on the search for audio description to make MDD truly accessible.
I can honestly say that this company is committed to accessibility and
inclusion for all and has been completely receptive to my perspective, my
feedback, and my work. It is important for me to talk about my experience
because it relates to the arts, to dance, but most of all, to access needs.
This company has demonstrated what it really means to follow through with a
commitment to access and inclusion in truth. Creating accessible experiences
and opportunities begins with a seat at the table, and MDD pulled out a
chair for me and saw the significance in my expertise. These are the steps I
took to help create a more accessible and inclusive space within the
nonprofit sector and the arts. This is a conversation about advocacy, but it
is also a positive example. Any company looking to cement its mission within
these causes should look to Mark DeGarmo Dance for an example on where to
start. I am confident that even after my departure as an intern, they will
use this new information to continue evolving and moving forward to achieve
equal access and inclusion for all.
When I Was Almost the Victim of My Implicit Bias
by Patti Chang
>From the Editor: Patti is a tireless worker on behalf of the National
Federation of the Blind, but her life isn't captured in that one phrase. She
is a caring wife, mother, and a reflective thinker. We are all blessed by
her reflections, so enjoy one she has chosen to share:
When I was in school, the most productive way to get printed material into
my brain was by working with human readers. Sometimes I was fortunate enough
to have a book on tape, but generally what I wanted was not available, and
getting at it was not nearly as efficient as using a competent human being
who could turn directly to the page I wanted to read, skim by paragraph, and
help me review information I had underlined or highlighted. It gave me
experience in hiring, supervising, and occasionally firing people who simply
could not do the work I needed done.
Knowing that I utilized live reading services, one day I got a call from
Fred Sanders who directed the Michigan State University's disabled student
service office. His request was that I take on another reader. I was already
about three weeks into the term and had all the people I needed, so my
answer was an immediate no. His response was that he had a really nice
fellow who was in an honor society named Tower Guard, and the people in that
organization were required to give a certain number of hours as volunteers.
He explained that the young man he wished me to hire had tried making tapes,
but because of his accent, no one could understand him. My initial no was
reinforced with the thought that I have no reason to hire a reader no one
could understand, and I assumed I would be part of that group. I went on my
way, glad the decision was made and the conversation concluded.
It turns out that the director was nothing if not persistent. About a week
later, he gave me a call and proceeded to take another tack at advancing his
argument. He told me that I was taking Spanish, that this reader knew
Spanish fluently, that I could certainly use good help in that area, and the
director simply couldn't tell a man willing to donate service hours that he
had no takers. For reasons that I don't remember now, I said yes. Perhaps it
was his sheer tenacity, but I made it perfectly clear that the young man’s
job was provisional and that I was making no commitment it would work out. I
thought that at a very minimum I could work on my Spanish accent, which at
that time was atrocious. It still is for that matter.
So it was that this kind young gentleman named Francisco who was born in
Honduras of Chinese ancestry came to read for me. Interestingly I found no
difficulty in understanding his accent; if anything, I had a hard time
getting him to talk except when he was reading. He was one of the shyest
people I knew.
I found him intelligent and quite competent. The reading sessions were
pretty much what I expected, except that I noticed that he would stick
around for a time after we were done, and he would find convenient excuses
to drop by. This made almost no impression on me at the time, but my
roommate told me that it was obvious Francisco was interested in me. I
confidently replied no. I was certain that the only reason he was hanging
around was that he wanted to learn English and that I was doing him a favor
by patiently teaching him. I got a similar message from my then boyfriend
who said that Francisco was interested, and I gave his concern all the
consideration I thought it deserved, which was about zero. This was simply a
working relationship, and although I might like him, I would never consider
dating anyone who worked for me. It crossed lines that would make
supervision difficult, and besides, they were just seeing things that
weren't there.
It turns out that early on in our involvement Francisco told his brother
that he was interested in me, and he made a conscious decision to wait out
the then boyfriend who he was sure I would eventually break up with since he
was a “jerk.” About a year into what I thought was a good working
relationship after the boyfriend was history, Francisco announced that he
was quitting. I was amazed; at that point he was actually getting paid, his
volunteer work already having been completed. In confusion I asked him why
he didn't want to work anymore, and I assured him I thought that our working
relationship was going fine. His answer was clear and direct: "I am quitting
because you won't go out with me as long as I work for you." I was taken
aback but had to admit that what he said was true.
In looking back on that year, I realized that I was ignoring Francisco
despite signs from my roommate and former boyfriend because I never
envisioned myself marrying anyone other than a white man. The thought of
doing anything different was inconceivable to me. I was limiting my own
possibilities by the implicit biases I carried with me, ones that I simply
saw as truth, the way life worked, the way things were to be. I realized
that this particular bias was one that I had never thought through but had
simply considered so self-evident that it required no thought.
Once I recognized my bias and decided to move beyond it, it didn’t take more
than two or three dates for me to realize that I was taken with Francisco as
well. But isn’t it amazing that he had to do something as dramatic as
quitting his job for me to give him the slightest consideration as a
romantic partner? Now, after thirty-seven years of marriage, it is hard to
believe what I almost let slip away. What a cost both of us would've paid
for my bias, not to mention the wonderful human beings we brought into the
world, our daughter Julia and our son Johnathon.
I have taken the time to write this article because I think we often
approach the idea of eliminating bias as something we do for others. But as
my own case so clearly demonstrates, I am the person who benefited most from
the elimination of implicit bias, and it was well worth the thinking, the
soul-searching, and the challenging of what seemed unchallengeable. I now
enjoy something beyond any monetary value that could be assigned. We like
all couples have definitely had our ups and our downs; but our song, “Still
the One,” pretty much says it all. What would we be missing if I held onto
the conviction that my partner must be white?
A Response from the League of Women Voters of Colorado
by Karen Sheek
>From the Editor: In the May issue we ran an article by Curtis Chong about
the opposition of the League of Women Voters to legislation being considered
to make it easier for blind people to cast votes privately and
independently, including from their home. The League of Women Voters takes
issue with some of the characterizations of what was portrayed as its
position, and we gladly print them here. The League’s response is written by
its president, and we appreciate the dialogue. We will no doubt have more
conversation on this topic as our nation and its blind citizens negotiate
systems that are both accessible and secure:
In response to Curtis Chong’s opinion piece published in the May 2021
edition of the Braille Monitor:
With respect, Mr. Chong misstated or left out significant points regarding
the League of Women Voters’ stance on ballot security for those living with
disabilities, in particular around SB21-188. While we agree completely that
elections should be open so that every voter can vote privately,
independently, and in a manner that doesn’t require extraordinary effort and
negotiation, we also know that the threat of ballot tampering weakens
confidence in our democracy. Actual ballot tampering disenfranchises the
voices of voters who deserve to be heard and, unlike bank transactions, is
difficult to trace because we have an election system designed for secret
and anonymous ballots.
LWVCO never opposed SB21-188. We had an Amend position until the print
disability amendment passed; then we supported the bill. Curtis Chong worked
with LWVCO on April 4th to identify an appropriate print disability
amendment.
Update: As of May 20, 2021, SB21-188 with the print disability amendment is
awaiting the governor’s signature. The amended bill has LWVCO support.
LWV’s mission is “Empowering Voters. Defending Democracy.” LWV does not stay
clear of politics; we stay clear of partisan politics. We want to empower
voters who need electronic ballot return but simultaneously defend democracy
by not encouraging abuse of electronic ballot return—a process which is
vulnerable to hacking.
Mr. Chong stated that some SB21-188 testimony pointed to “security
loopholes—even that part of the system which today permits voters with
disabilities to receive and mark their ballots electronically.” LWVCO only
gave testimony that the electronic return of a ballot is a concern. The
current electronic ballot marking and returning a paper ballot is not a
concern.
We leave it to election integrity experts to dispute other points that Mr.
Chong made.
We also stated the LWVCO position in our op-ed:
https://www.coloradopolitics.com/opinion/colorado-must-limit-use-of-electronic-ballots/article_5764f466-9e76-11eb-b10a-bb6964cd9bda.html
Changing the World One Ballot at a Time
by Mark A. Riccobono
>From the Editor: This op-ed is reprinted with permission from The Hill,
April 16, 2021.
In his 1988 children’s novel “Matilda,” celebrated author Roald Dahl penned
the line “Somewhere inside all of us is the power to change the world.” When
applied to voting, this sentiment becomes doubly relevant. To have the power
to change the world, we must first have the power to make our voices heard
through a ballot. For many blind Americans, making our voice heard presents
its own set of unique challenges. The For the People Act (S. 1), currently
in the United States Senate, sets out to rectify some of these problems but
misses the mark in a few critical areas.
In 2002, the Help America Vote Act was signed into law, requiring every
polling location to have at least one accessible ballot-marking device. This
was a great leap forward in accessible voting because these machines allow
blind and print-disabled persons to complete their ballot privately and
independently. However, with the resurgence of hand-marked paper ballots in
recent years, a new problem has been created. Ballot-marking devices will
frequently print a paper ballot that differs in both size and style from
traditional hand-marked paper ballots used by the majority of voters.
Because so few non-disabled voters use the ballot-marking devices, the
distinguishable ballot produced by the machine prevents blind and other
disabled voters from having a secret ballot. If officials can determine
which bloc of voters a specific set of ballots came from, it becomes
possible to discriminate against those voters; and if a particular polling
location has only one or two disabled voters using the machine, those voters
might as well sign their ballot. To ensure that blind and print-disabled
voters can cast both a secret and independent ballot, it is essential that
S. 1 be amended so that at least two ballot-marking devices are required in
each polling place and that those ballot-marking devices are actively and
specifically offered to voters without disabilities.
Furthermore, more Americans than ever before are choosing to vote by mail;
therefore, it is essential that blind Americans not be excluded from this
opportunity. In that regard, S. 1 must be amended to ensure that the process
for requesting, completing, and submitting a vote-by-mail ballot is
nonvisually accessible. In this regard, nothing in the bill should limit or
alter a state’s obligations under Section 301(a)(3)(A) of the Help America
Vote Act of 2002 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act as
amended. This would ensure that Congress is preserving the accessibility
requirements of these two landmark laws.
Ensuring the accessibility of in-person and vote-by-mail balloting will
guarantee that blind Americans are able to exercise their right to vote in a
safe and secure manner without having to wait in long lines and crowded
areas for extended periods of time. It is essential to incorporate these two
edits into the bill to guarantee that blind Americans have the same
opportunity to vote privately, independently, and secretly that is provided
to voters without disabilities. Without these amendments to the bill,
Congress would be reversing decades of progress in voting rights for
Americans with disabilities.
The National Federation of the Blind has conducted numerous blind voter
surveys in order to establish a set of voting best practices. Additionally,
we have worked to develop numerous innovations in this field over the past
decades. We are fully prepared to help Congress in any way that we can in
order to guarantee that all Americans, especially blind Americans, can
confidently participate in our electoral democracy so that we too will be
able to exercise our power to change the world.
To Educate or Alienate
by Nancy Burns
>From the Editor: Nancy Burns is a loyal, longtime member who does her best
to deposit a nugget of real value to the Braille Monitor. What she has to
say is always thought provoking, and this offering is no different. What she
offers is her perspective on our obligation to educate the public and the
absolute necessity that we mingle if real integration is to occur. Here is
what she has to say:
As blind or visually impaired people, we are frequently confronted with
demeaning and sometimes insulting questions or comments from the general
public. The difficulty is how to respond to these situations without
alienating anyone. The sighted public generally has little if any connection
with someone who happens to be blind, and therefore long held false
assumptions seem to kick into place.
>From my years of dealing with such encounters, it has come to my attention
that the common belief is that it would be impossible for the sighted person
in question to perform typical daily tasks without vision. The truth of the
matter is that such opinions are accurate. As blind people we know that it
takes training and a positive attitude to become a confident and competent
individual. The National Federation of the Blind has for decades provided
support and training in these areas. The challenge then becomes how to
respond to such a person. These encounters occur all too quickly, and we
must think on our feet without hesitation. This is challenging and much
easier said than done.
A lively discussion centering around these issues took place during a recent
group meeting, and a number of desired responses to these comments were
shared. The range of responses went from the use of sarcasm to an attempt to
find humor in the situation. Several examples of rather thoughtless
questions were reported. Who picks out your clothes for you? Do you know
where you are going? Will your dog take you to the right location? May I
move your stick? These are just a few of the commonly asked questions. The
answers seem relatively simple to those of us who happen to be blind.
Occasionally there may even be a bright side to these encounters. Dialog
between blind people and the general public does not always occur, but
occasionally we are able to clarify a situation. The more we are out there
and seen walking independently, catching buses for work, being involved in
daily activities, or getting involved in civic organizations, the more we
are viewed as “normal.” Each of us is an ambassador of the truth and must
respond politely to those never-ending comments from uneducated or
unthinking people. It is the responsibility of each and every one of us to
wear a badge of independence and to share the responsibility of educating
and not alienating the sighted public.
The flip side of this is our responsibility to support and educate one
another. A proven fact is that we, as blind individuals, are the best
instructors for others who happen to be blind. A perfect example of this is
the fact that in the past only sighted people taught the use of the long
white cane. NFB training centers now exist in which capable blind people
administer and work in these programs. We also serve as peer counselors for
our blind sisters and brothers. There is no better source of learning than
from one another. Questions from how to take college exams to how I
coordinate clothes or prepare a meal for my family can be easily answered by
a blind friend.
The National Federation of the Blind, as a result of its very existence,
provides huge opportunities for training and confidence building. The
structure of this nationwide organization provides opportunities to learn
and to assume leadership roles. Self-confidence will be gained, and sharing
this experience with others who happen to be blind is the very backbone of
the National Federation of the Blind.
Making it through Adversity
by Svetlana Ehlers
>From the Editor: Svetlana is one of our younger members in the National
Federation of the Blind of Missouri, but you wouldn’t know it from the
presentation she made at the 2021 affiliate convention. It has appeared in
the Blind Missourian, the newsletter of the National Federation of the Blind
of Missouri. Here is what she said:
Have you ever lived on a farm? Living on a farm you can learn so much, like
watching a chick hatch. You watch the poor chick struggle and struggle and
struggle. Then you see a tiny crack in the shell, so you decide to pull the
shell apart because you feel sorry for the chick. Once you pull the shell
apart, the chick will eventually die because it must first build its
strength by pushing its wings against the shell. It needs that adversity to
survive. Adversity can be a blessing as it will grow your confidence,
determination, and faith in Jesus Christ.
I was born in Armenia; Armenia is located north of Iran and east of Turkey.
I was born at twenty-four weeks; I just didn’t want to waste any more time.
Just call me an over-achiever. Poor planning on my part: my eyes didn’t
develop right. So my parents could not care for me, and they put me in an
orphanage. Over the next nine-year-period, I moved from a hospital to two
different orphanages and a blind school. I don’t remember much about my
first orphanage, but I remember this one person named Guion who was abusive.
She would hit me if I talked or moved. Sometimes I felt she would just hit
me for no apparent reason. I also had a friend named Samvel. He was like a
brother to me. We were each other’s anchor. I don’t know how I would have
survived without him there. He went with me to my second orphanage and to
the blind school. I was hoping that when I moved the abuse would stop, and
it did for about a week.
After that week the abuse started again. But it was different in this new
orphanage. The orphanage staff let the other kids play, but Samvel and I had
to just sit and listen to them because we were both blind and couldn’t get
around on our own. If I got up from my chair, I would immediately be hit. I
think my blindness was considered a burden to the staff. When we went to
bed, we had to be asleep as soon as we put our heads on the pillow. Most of
the time that was very difficult because it was scary at night. So I just
pretended to be asleep and listened to the other kids being hurt by the
staff. I started thinking that this was normal, so I figured out ways that I
could avoid being abused.
One day a priest named Father Grigor and his wife Anahit came to visit the
kids with disabilities. They took Samvel and me and some of the other kids
to church every week. They even took us on vacation to a lake for a week.
This was the only place where I felt safe and the only time I ever felt
loved. This is where Father Grigor introduced me to God. I think this helped
me to see that there was something good in life. But then we had to go back
to the orphanage. This made me very upset because I had to go back to that
place.
That same year Samvel and I went to the blind school. The school was not
abusive, but I did not learn much. They brushed my hair and teeth, and they
even dressed us. I didn’t even learn how to lift a fork to my mouth. I just
put my mouth on the plate and pulled food in. My mom called it my puppy dog
eating. If I hadn’t gotten adopted, I would have been finished with school
by the age of fourteen. People in Armenia believe that children who are
blind don’t need to obtain an education above an eighth grade level.
Then one day the orphanage staff told me that the Americans were coming to
steal my organs. I’ve seen kids disappear before. So I was scared when my
new mom came and took me away. Once I was adopted, my life changed very
quickly. At first I was very immature. My mom said that because I couldn’t
touch anything all my life, I made up for lost time and touched everything.
Remember I see through my fingers. Imagine me going out to dinner with
family and friends. Everyone else looks around to see what each person
ordered, but for me, my hands immediately went into everybody’s plates.
My mom taught me how to read Braille, and then my whole world opened up.
Everything that I couldn’t see in the orphanage I could now see in books.
Since then, I’ve never stopped learning. My goal is to become a lawyer, and
I am going to do what it takes to achieve that goal.
Are you wondering what happened to Samvel? Well, he got adopted also.
Remember Father Grigor and Anahit, the people that took us to church? I
think once I was being adopted they realized they could lose us, so they
adopted Samvel. Most people in Armenia don’t care about kids with
disabilities, but these folks did. I commend them for going against their
culture, because not only did they adopt Samvel, but they also adopted
another child from that orphanage who had challenges. Today Samvel is a
beautiful opera singer doing concerts all across Eastern Europe. Samvel’s
life will be very different from mine. He finished school at the age of
fourteen. Because of this, he will not be able to support himself in
Armenia. The good thing is that he has a family who can support him. God has
a purpose for everything that he does. “For I know the plans I have for
you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans
to give you hope and a future.” Jerimiah 29:11.
I wouldn’t wish for anyone to go through what I had to go through in
Armenia. It was a horrible experience. No child should ever have to endure
that type of abuse. But everyone has adversity in their lives. Some
experience adversity more often and to a greater or lesser extent. What
matters is how you view your adversity. We can become a victim of our
adversity, or we can grow from the challenges that God gives us. I choose to
grow from my adversity, and I am going to encourage you to teach your
children to grow from theirs as well. Adversity can be a blessing because it
will grow your confidence, determination, and faith in Jesus Christ.
First, let’s talk about confidence. If I had not gone through the challenges
I did, I would not be the person that I am today. “You gain strength,
courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look
fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this
horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’” Eleanor Roosevelt.
When you let your kids experience adversity, they will be more self-reliant
as an adult. For example, if your child is having a problem with their
friend, let them talk to their friend so that they can resolve the issue.
Once you let them do that, they will build a sense of self-confidence that
will get stronger with time. Dr. Laura Markham says, “Manage your own
anxiety so you don't make a habit of rescuing your child. Instead, when she
gets into a jam, support her in brainstorming possible solutions. If you
lecture, teach, or solve the problem for her, you're teaching her that she
can't solve things herself.” (Markham) Also, God commands us to have
confidence. Joshua 1:9 states, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and
courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God
will be with you wherever you go.”
Adversity builds determination. This year I wanted to learn how to put wood
in our wood stove. I kept telling myself that I couldn’t do it. It was just
too hard, and I was afraid that I would touch the flames—ouch! Finally, I
decided to use the fireplace tongs to put the log in the fire. I figured out
that this wasn’t going to work, so then I tried to put the log in the fire
with my gloved hand, and it worked! I had to stop thinking about the
negative aspects about putting wood in the fire. You might think that is
easy, but again I am totally blind. If I were to touch the flames, that
would be very bad. I did melt my dad’s firefighter gloves. You see, they are
not designed to actually be in the flames.
He was very surprised, but I haven’t burned my hands. That is okay right! “I
really believe in the old expression that what doesn’t kill you makes you
stronger. It’s through adversity that you find the strength you never knew
you had.” Christie Brinkley.
Lastly, my faith in God has greatly increased. When I think back to the
past, I thank God for what he let me endure. If I did not go through
hardships, I would have not reached out to God. So, I encourage you to thank
God for your hardships. “… adversity is not the time to abandon the faith
that has brought us this far. Instead, we should ask the Lord to use the
adversity as a tool to strengthen our trust in Him. Let us pray that God
will give us courage, boldness, wisdom, and faith as a result of walking
through adversity.” Pastor David Delman (Delman) When you trust in the Lord,
he will help you through hard times. “I can do all things through Christ who
gives me strength” Philippians 4:13. God is not going to take that hardship
away, but he will help you through it.
After listening to this speech, what do you think about adversity? Should we
wait until the child is a grown adult to experience adversity, or should we
let them start experiencing little adversities now? I hope that you start
now because it will greatly increase their confidence, determination, and
faith in Jesus Christ. Remember to let your little chicks break out of their
shells on their own.
Discrimination Against the Blind Isn’t Just a Sighted Thing
by Gary Wunder
Reading Shawn Calloway’s story in the June issue of the Monitor got me
thinking about my first romantic relationship, and what a pleasant thought
and a life changer that was. I was raised during my teen years in a small
town with a sign saying population 216. Like every young man, I wanted to
date, but besides a date for the junior senior prom, mostly I struck out. In
my town and in those times, the boy drove the car that picked up the girl,
and without a car, there was nothing to do. Our town had a gas station and a
post office; neither helped with romance unless one was dating from afar.
My life changed when I came to the University of Missouri Columbia and found
that I could walk almost anywhere I wanted to go. The bank, the restaurant,
the movie theater, and a nice park were all within my ability to reach
without first having to arrange or beg for a ride. It didn’t take long after
coming to campus to realize that there was more to college than books. There
were girls, women, and one of them in particular liked me and I liked her. I
love the touch of the hand, the embrace so much different from hugging mom,
and the way it felt when she put her head on my shoulder. I felt more alive
than I had ever felt.
She was not at all concerned about the fact that I was blind, but, like the
fathers in Shawn’s experience, there was rough sailing ahead. In my story,
however, the father was blind, and he was quite sure that his daughter could
do quite a lot better than a relationship with a blind man. My girlfriend’s
father did not work outside the home. He had very little self-confidence,
and one of my girlfriend’s wishes was that she could get him in contact with
people who might help change his perception of what life might have to offer
if only he had a different view of himself.
After an eight-week summer program, I went off to get myself a guide dog.
Sam, my girlfriend, was still uppermost in my thoughts, so one of the first
people I called using the payphone at the school was her. When her father
realized to whom she was talking, I heard him say, “He’s not calling
collect, is he?” That might’ve been a reasonable question from any father,
no matter how well he could or could not see.
It is strange to think about what motivates us in the work we do because
sometimes those motivations seem contradictory. I was motivated by people
who did things I didn’t think blind people could do and therefore opened up
opportunities to me I didn’t think existed. I was motivated by blind people
who broke down barriers so that I could go to school, hire human beings to
read to me, receive special tape-recording equipment that would let me use
books on tape, and the programs gave me enough money to buy food and other
necessities. But I’m here to tell you that I was also motivated by that
father who thought his daughter deserved better than to date a blind man. I
might not be able to change his life, but what if I could change life for
people of my generation and those who would come after?
My girlfriend and I were both young; we drifted apart without a single bad
word or argument, and almost two decades later we started to write to one
another. She was never quite sure how much her father’s opposition played in
our drifting apart. The part of her who valued being rebellious thought that
it played no part at all, but the part who loved her father and wanted to be
the good daughter also knew that his opinion did matter.
There is no question that we want to change the opinion of the sighted
public about our worth as human beings and our ability to participate in
society, but it is equally true that we want to change the minds of other
blind people who cannot envision the opportunities open to them if only they
can believe in themselves and other blind people. When we pledge ourselves
to go build the Federation, it is not organizational momentum or
preservation of some legacy that we are talking about. It is talking about
having a mechanism to bring about effective change, a structure that lets
blind people talk among ourselves, venture to risk new ideas leading to
opportunities, and knowing that we have the support of one another as we
attempt the traditional or untraditional. If we are to have a hand in
building the world we will live in and in the world our children will
inherit, we need the right tools, and one of the most important is the
National Federation of the Blind.
I Wanted to Walk a Mile in Those Little High-Heeled Shoes
by Danielle McCann
>From the Editor: Danielle is our director of social media, and as excited
about that as I am, the thing that brings me real joy is that she is willing
to write more than 280 character Twitter posts and several paragraphs on
Facebook. She writes articles, and I think they are fantastic. Here is her
latest offering:
When I was little, I wanted nothing more than to be a Barbie. I was obsessed
with tearing open those hot pink cardboard boxes I saw in the store with
those beautiful girls smiling behind the clear plastic sleeves. Brush,
check; tiny plastic heels, check; incredibly gorgeous doll, check check
check. In my mind, the fact that she was white, blue-eyed, super thin, and
able-bodied were noted but not so much that I stopped dreaming of my own
life of pink luxury.
When the “ethnic” dolls came out, my parents started buying me the one named
Theresa. She had a darker skin tone, brown eyes, and brown hair. She still
had Barbie’s figure, and her eyes weren’t like mine, but she was a little
bit closer to looking like me; my dream was even closer at hand.
In May of this year, decades after I put my Barbie fantasies on the shelf,
Mattel released the Helen Keller Barbie, and I got a little bit choked up
when I heard. It took me a while to figure out why this doll was making me
feel emotional. I texted my brother about her immediately and rambled on to
my husband about my long-forgotten love for Barbie, all the while trying not
to cry.
I finally realized that what was making me feel this way was my
seven-year-old self, recognizing herself in the Helen doll. In recent years,
Mattel made a concerted effort to change the body shape of its flagship toy.
In addition to “Classic” Barbie, there are now dolls who are shorter,
taller, and curvier, like me. They have also made efforts to construct
facial features that represent different ethnicities more accurately.
Knowing that there is now a doll who is disabled just feels like we’re
getting somewhere, like maybe today’s generation of children who play with
Barbies will have the chance to see themselves and more easily imagine
themselves being able to achieve their dreams despite perceived limitations.
It is my hope that Mattel and other toy manufacturers continue to be
inclusive when they think of their next big idea.
As an adult, I am nostalgic for the days when all I had to worry about was
finding the perfect outfit for my doll or hiding the fact that I cut her
hair from my mom. Though I never got to walk a mile in Barbie’s little
plastic heels, I definitely have mostly pink footwear. I guess there are
some things we’re not meant to grow out of.
My Jury Experience
by Dana Ard
>From the Editor: Dana Ard is the president of the National Federation of the
Blind of Idaho, and in that role she displays so much of what it means to be
a loyal, hard-working Federationist. She takes her responsibilities as an
advocate seriously, and when we win a right, she doesn’t try shirking the
responsibility that goes along with it. We are blessed by her contributions
to the Monitor. Here is her latest offering:
I received my first-ever jury summons letter in mid-February. Since the
dates that I was to appear were during convention week, I requested a
postponement and was soon notified by mail that my dates of service would be
April 5 to 9. I was told that I would have to call in at the end of each
weekday to find out when I needed to appear at the Ada County courthouse. I
called in on the Saturday night before the Monday which began my time of
service. I learned that I would need to appear at the courthouse on April 5
at 12:30. When I arrived, I was checked in through security, and a marshal
escorted me to the fourth floor and into the large room where the
prospective jurors were to wait. There was an informational video played
describing jury service.
An hour after arrival, about thirty-five of the one hundred-plus prospective
jurors were given placards with a number on them. We were told to line up in
order and move to a room where we would be interviewed. My number was seven.
The judge, Michael Reardon, asked questions that focused on our critical
thinking and analytical skills as well as rooting out and learning about our
biases. Near the end of his questioning, he asked if there was anyone who
had never been summoned for jury duty. I raised my placard, because although
my husband was called at least five times, I had never been summoned for
jury duty. He then asked who was excited to serve on a jury. I raised my
placard, and I was invited to speak. I explained that I was honored to be
there even if I wasn’t selected. I stated that I wanted to fulfill my civic
duty and serve on a jury. After a short recess, we returned to our room for
a few more comments from the judge, and then the selection began. Numbers
were called: four, six, and then my magic number, seven. I was selected to
serve on the jury for the trial!
The defendant in the trial was accused of knowingly possessing, depositing,
and attempting to cash a stolen third-party check. I took Braille notes on
all of the witness testimony as well as the guidance from the judge on what
we had to consider when deciding this case of grand theft. When we began
deliberations, I thought the case was a slam-dunk. I believed that the
defendant was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt; but, surprisingly, not
everyone agreed with me initially. After approximately two hours, we reached
consensus that the defendant was indeed guilty as charged. Following our
rendering of the verdict in court, we learned that the defendant had two
prior charges similar to the one on which we had just convicted him.
I am proud to have been able to exercise my civic responsibility as a juror.
I am hopeful that my service will demonstrate to judges and attorneys that
blind people should not be disqualified from jury service based solely on
blindness.
You Can Make a Difference
Blind children, students, and adults are making powerful strides in
education and leadership every day across the United States. For more than
eighty years, the National Federation of the Blind has worked to transform
the dreams of hundreds of thousands of blind people into reality. With
support from individuals like you, we continue to provide powerful programs
and critical resources for decades to come. We sincerely hope you will plan
to be a part of our enduring movement by including the National Federation
of the Blind in your charitable giving and in your estate planning. It is
easier than you think.
With your help, the NFB will continue to:
a.. Give blind children the gift of literacy through Braille.
b.. Promote independent travel by providing free, long white canes to
blind people in need.
c.. Develop dynamic educational projects and programs to show blind youth
that science and math careers are within their reach.
d.. Deliver hundreds of accessible newspapers and magazines to provide
blind people the essential information necessary to be actively involved in
their communities.
e.. Offer aids and appliances that help seniors losing vision maintain
their independence.
Plan to Leave a Legacy
The National Federation of the Blind legacy society, our Dream Makers
Circle, honors and recognizes the generosity and vision of members and
special friends of the National Federation of the Blind who have chosen to
leave a legacy through a will or other planned giving option. You can join
the Dream Makers Circle in a myriad of ways.
Fixed Sum of Assets
You can specify that a fixed sum of your assets or property goes to the
National Federation of the Blind in your will, trust, pension, IRA, life
insurance policy, brokerage account, or other accounts.
Percentage of Assets
You can specify that a percentage of your assets or property goes to the
National Federation of the Blind in your will, trust, pension, IRA, life
insurance policy, brokerage account, or other accounts.
Payable on Death (POD) Account
You can name the National Federation of the Blind as the beneficiary on a
Payable on Death (POD) account through your bank. You can turn any checking
or savings account into a POD account. This is one of the simplest ways to
leave a legacy. The account is totally in your control during your lifetime
and you can change the beneficiary or percentage at any time with ease.
Will or Trust
If you do decide to create or revise your will, consider the National
Federation of the Blind as a partial beneficiary.
Visit our Planned Giving webpage 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.
Ways to Contribute Now
In 2020, the NFB:
a.. Distributed 5,278 canes to blind people across the United States,
empowering them to travel safely and independently throughout their
communities.
b.. Delivered audio newspaper and magazine services to 124,813
subscribers, providing free access to over five hundred local, national, and
international publications.
c.. Introduced 1,107 young blind children and their families to non-visual
learning through Braille Reading Pals and the Early Explorers program.
d.. Continued our Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning® Academies
as in-home editions offered to blind youth throughout the United States.
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 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. 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. You can call 410-659-9314 and
elect option 4 to donate by phone. Donate online with a credit card or
through the mail with check or money order. Visit our Ways to Give webpage
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, call 410-659-9314, extension 2213, or
fill out our PAC Donation Form online.
If you have questions about giving, please send an email to outreach at nfb.org
or call 410-659-9314, extension 2422.
Feeling Through
by Lisa Bryant
>From the Editor: For almost two years now, we have been involved in an
effort to “Let Us Play Us.” The idea is simple: when a blind person is
portrayed, whether on Broadway, on television, or on the big screen, we want
blind people considered for these roles. It is not surprising that people
with other disabilities want the same. Here is an interview conducted by our
own Lisa Bryant, a member of the Keystone chapter of the National Federation
of the Blind of Pennsylvania. Lisa is a freelance writer, and when she heard
about this movie, she decided to see if she could get an interview for the
Braille Monitor. She asked, they said yes, and here is our outstanding
article:
“I welcome the industry to invite more of us to the table. Let’s take this
and build upon it.”
—Robert Tarango, deafblind actor in Feeling Through
The Miracle Worker is undoubtedly the most famous movie featuring a
deafblind character. Based on the autobiography of Helen Keller, who was
deafblind, the film also tells the story of Anne Sullivan, Keller’s blind
teacher. In the film, Sullivan is the only person able to reach
Keller—transforming her from a wild, frustrated young girl, misunderstood,
and even feared by her own family, to a tender and in her way, communicative
Helen.
That was in 1962. The film received multiple Oscar nominations with its two
lead actresses winning for their roles. Patti Duke, a sighted and hearing
actress played Keller, while Anne Bancroft, also sighted, played the role of
Sullivan.
At this year’s Oscars, Feeling Through, a short film by Doug Roland was
nominated for its portrayal of a deafblind character. But, unlike more than
fifty years ago, Feeling Through casts Robert Tarango, who is deafblind in
real life as Artie, the deafblind character in the film.
Based on a true encounter Roland had one night in New York City, the
eighteen-minute short tells of a chance meeting between Tereek, (played by
Steven Prescod), a young man wondering where he will sleep that night, and
Artie who is making his way home from a date. To help Artie, Tereek learns
on the fly how to communicate with him; mainly using the print on palm
method.
“I knew I wanted to cast an actor who was deafblind,” said Roland who
contacted the Helen Keller National Center (HKNC) in the very beginning of
the project. He added that it was important that he make the film alongside
the community it portrayed.
Roland worked closely with Christopher Woodfill, associate director of HKNC,
who is also deafblind. According to Roland, Woodfill provided a host of
potential “Arties” from a nationwide pool of actors.
Yet, after several in-person and remote auditions, the role of Artie
remained open. That is until interpreter Erin Quinn suggested Tarango who
worked in the kitchen of the center. Although Tarango had no professional
acting experience, Roland said he knew almost instantly that they had found
their Artie.
For Tarango, it was a day he will never forget. “I was working in the
kitchen as an aide, just doing what I do every day,” said Tarango. That is
until his boss summoned him to a meeting in another building on the center’s
campus. “I thought I was in trouble,” said Tarango, never imagining he would
become the first deafblind actor cast in an Oscar-nominated film.
But when Roland first approached Sue Ruzenski, Ed.D. and CEO of Helen Keller
Services, the parent company of HKNC, she was initially cautious, wondering
if the team’s efforts were sincere and if they really did “get it.” “I first
thought here is a completely different field coming through. What are their
understandings, and will they be respectful?” said Ruzenski. “They could
have their own agenda, and it might not be aligned with our community,” she
added. It seemed like a risk.
However, once the two teams met, Ruzenski, who is also co-producer of the
film, was assured it was a risk worth taking. “Doug was a listener and a
learner from the start,” Ruzenski said; adding that Roland was intentional
in keeping her and HKNC included at every turn.
As co-producer, Ruzenski assisted with a variety of resources from
fundraising to accommodations such as both voicing and signing interpreters.
For Roland, providing these and other accommodations never felt burdensome
but instead gave even more value to making the film.
“It feels like the wrong approach to look at working with people with
disabilities as an extra cost or an extra challenge,” Roland said. Adding
that, “Anytime we work with people who are different from us, we learn more
about our world and ourselves.” He also said there was the ripple effect of
providing a transformative teaching moment for the film crew. Perhaps more
important than providing accommodations is a genuine and respectful
treatment or in this case portrayal of persons with disabilities.
In Feeling Through, Artie seems to quickly trust Tereek, in one scene
handing Tereek his wallet to pay for a juice. Perhaps not surprisingly,
Tereek helps himself to a ten-dollar tip (you will have to watch the short
for the conclusion to this scene).
During one watch party, viewers were mostly pleased with the film’s
treatment of a deafblind actor. But some questioned that scene as
unrealistic.
Marsha Drenth is a longtime Federationist and president of the Pennsylvania
Association of the Deafblind. She said it was great to have a film giving
attention to deafblindness and reaching Oscar-level recognition. “But I don’t
think any deafblind person would just hand over their wallet.”
In addressing the criticism, Roland notes that when there are too few
stories or examples of a certain group, the one more publicized story
becomes representative of an entire community—“which is what we shouldn’t
do,” he said. Roland also urges viewers to look at the full context of the
film rather than isolating the one scene.
As for future projects, Roland, Ruzenski, and the HKNC team are
collaborating on developing a curriculum for high school and college-aged
students. One goal of the curriculum is to break down fears and hesitancy in
communicating with a deafblind person. Ruzenski plans to involve deafblind
staff at HKNC in developing the program.
As for Tarango, who was born deaf, being in the film was fulfillment of an
acting career he thought was deferred when he later lost his vision as an
adult. He has not so subtly hinted at wanting to do a Feeling Through part
two, and he hopes to have been an inspiration to others in his community.
“Look at what I just did! You can do it too!” said Tarango.
To hear her full interview on Blind Abilities with both Robert Tarango and
Doug Roland go to:
https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/blindabilities/FeelingThrough.mp3, and to
watch Feeling Through with audio description go to: Feeling Through (with
audio description) - YouTube
Deafblind Awareness Week is June 27-July 3. For more information go to HKNC:
Deafblind Awareness Week 2021 (helenkeller.org)
Lisa Bryant is a freelance writer living in Philadelphia. She is an active
member of the Keystone Chapter.
Why I am Proud to Be Blind
by Jonathan Mosen
>From the Editor: Jonathan Mosen is a familiar name not only to Monitor
readers but to those who are familiar with podcasts and personalities who
have been prominent in blindness technology for the last couple of decades.
Here is something he posted on March 5, 2021, and it is with his permission
that we reproduce it here:
I often mention on my Mosen At Large podcast that I am proud to be blind.
Recently, I was challenged by a listener and asked how I can possibly be
proud of having a serious, debilitating condition.
I am glad to say that disability pride and blind pride as a subset of that
is on the rise. Yet it is an incomprehensible concept to some.
I keep a gratitude journal, where I write at least ten things every day for
which I am grateful. So it was easy for me to consult that journal, where I
have often written of things relating to blindness for which I am grateful
and write this piece on why I am proud to be blind. You can hear the audio
of this in Mosen At Large episode 119, and I have also uploaded the audio to
this page, but here is the text of what I said in case you prefer to read
it.
I am profoundly proud to be blind. I am proud of the fact that as a kid,
when my older siblings would have been found out for reading at night, I
read in the dark as much as I liked, a Braille book tucked under the covers
on winter nights.
I am proud to be blind, because it connects me with a proud history. I share
a characteristic with a man who gave us the priceless gift of functional,
efficient literacy. Louis Braille was an example of “nothing about us
without us” in the 19th century, long before we used that phrase. His genius
invention was derided by sighted people who were certain they knew what was
best for us. He was ridiculed. His code was driven underground, and his
books were burned. But he prevailed, because he was blind. He devised his
code for himself; he gave it, at considerable personal cost, to all of us.
I am proud to be blind because of all the other blind people who followed in
Louis Braille’s footsteps, blind people innovating and inventing for our
collective advancement, imagining a better future, and making it real.
Whether it be Larry Skutchan with his methodical mind and interminable
patience, or Ted Henter with his zeal and entrepreneurship, or David
Costution and Glen Gordon who believed that Windows could be truly useable
and then made it come true, or the blind people now working on the inside of
mainstream companies who are our champions; we dreamed it, we created it.
I am proud to be blind because blind people are the reason the thirty-three
RPM record was developed, initially so talking books could be distributed
more efficiently.
And speaking of talking books, I am proud to be blind because blind people
are the reason talking books exist. Now sighted people are using them too.
I am proud to be blind because the original reading machine was created for
us. We started the journey of digitizing printed text that resulted in the
scanners that are still commonplace in offices today.
I am proud to be blind because long before the term PDA was in the lexicon
of sighted people, we were taking notes, keeping track of appointments, and
reading books on devices like Keynotes and Braille ’n Speaks.
I am proud to be blind because we were one of the reasons computers started
to talk. Technology is better because of blind people. There are so many
examples of technology when we, proudly, have been the blind who led the
sighted.
I am proud to be blind because I am not influenced by someone’s physical
appearance, but instead gain information from the tone of a voice and the
words that are said.
I am proud to be blind because it has made me a more lateral thinker,
developing and refining alternative techniques to access a wide range of
information so I can thrive in a largely sight-dependent world.
I am proud to be blind because, even though my other senses aren’t sharper
than anyone else’s, in fact I have a dual sensory loss, like many blind
people, I use them well. It makes me smile when I can tell what type of
audio processor is being used on a radio station or when another blind
person can tell the kind of car that’s passing simply by the sound it’s
making, or when a blind person gives another blind person an instruction
like, “When your cane hits a pole on my street that emits a fifth octave
A-Flat, you’re outside my house.”
I am proud to be blind because of the legacy of great blind civil rights
leaders around the world. Often ostracized and branded radical
troublemakers, they confronted and are still confronting today the tyranny
of low expectations and the disabling decisions society has chosen to make.
They challenged the damaging, fundamentally flawed notion that we had
neither the ability nor the right to achieve self-determination, and that it
wasn’t necessary for society to be accessible or inclusive or accepting.
Their belief in a fairer tomorrow has unshackled us from institutions and
shattered disempowering paternalism. Their tenacity has seen the increasing
availability of better training, much of it driven by blind people
ourselves, and increased opportunity through civil rights legislation.
I am proud to be blind because, as a subset of the world’s largest minority
(disabled people), blind people led the way in the disability movement,
securing legislative victories long before they were common for much of the
rest of the sector. I am grateful every day of my life for those blind
people who took on those difficult causes, displayed tenacity, and stated
their cases again and again and again until progress was slowly but surely
made. I am proud of the personal responsibility I feel as a blind person to
always cherish and defend, never take for granted, and constantly build upon
the legacy of civil rights victories that I have inherited and benefited
from. I am mindful that they must not be squandered, and I am proud to stand
up, be counted, and do my moral duty to advance that legacy so that the next
generation has even more opportunity than I have had.
I am proud to be blind because it has shaped who I am, it is part of my
identity, and it has helped define me. I accept that. I embrace that.
I am proud to be blind because in being blind I contribute to the rich
tapestry and the diversity of humankind.
I am proud to be blind because, no matter how many negative signals are
sent, I know that being blind makes me no less a person of worth.
I am proud to be blind because the opposite of pride is shame, and my
blindness is nothing to be ashamed of.
I am proud to be blind and therefore share a characteristic with talented
people from all walks of life. Blind people are parents, devoted, loving
parents, some of whom have had their babies literally snatched from their
loving arms, an atrocity no capable and loving parent should endure, and all
for no other reason than people getting it horribly wrong about blindness. I
am proud that we as blind people show those parents love, solidarity, and a
steadfast determination to get those children back where they belong.
Blind people are in factories and farms, law practices and legislatures,
sandwich shops and start-ups. I am proud of the blind teachers, software
developers, businesspeople, mechanics, transcribers, musicians, and even
medical doctors. There is very little we can’t do, and there are few
professions where you can’t find a blind person, often to many people’s
surprise. The only trouble is, the world doesn’t necessarily know that. And
that’s the biggest reason I am proud to be blind. Because every day, just by
getting on with my life, I defy the odds in a disabling society; we defy
expectations where there is little disability confidence. When people tell
us we can’t, we show them that yes, we can. It can be exhausting sometimes.
We may get knocked down, and sometimes we may feel like we’re out for the
count. But eventually, most of us get up again. We apply for that one more
job. We work around that inaccessible website. We keep calm and carry on
when we’re treated like a helpless child in the street or when walking into
a store or when yet another rideshare driver declines to take our guide dog.
That takes guts; it takes tenacity. The odds are stacked against us, but we
march on, we make progress. Go us!
Yes, I am proud, proud, a thousand times proud to be blind.
Telling an Uncomfortable and Unconventional Story
by Gary Wunder
There are many themes readers of the Braille Monitor will find familiar that
raise our emotions and often our defenses. I’m going to tell you a story
about an airport adventure. What goes through your mind? Perhaps it is being
offered unwanted help. Perhaps it is being asked whether you are a frequent
flyer or whether you would like the flight attendant to review the safety
procedures for the 737 aircraft. Seldom does your answer matter: you are
going to hear that review.
But I warn you that this is a different story. It is not a typical Braille
Monitor airport story in which I am asked “Where are you trying to go,” or
told “Stand right there until I can get you some help.” Because it is none
of those things, I offer it with some reservation but with the feeling that
perhaps I have an obligation to say that sometimes the well-intentioned
efforts of sighted folks have turned out to work to my benefit.
One evening I land in St. Louis, an airport I’m pretty familiar with, and I
realize I don’t have much time until my connecting flight. I am offered
assistance, but just when that assistance will show up is a question mark. I
politely decline the assistance, throw on my backpack, grab up my laptop,
turn to the right, and off I go lickety-split to make my next flight.
I’m really feeling good about how fast I’m going, quite glad for my
mobility, and really excited about the fact that whether or not I make this
plane is under my control and not someone else’s. What a wonderful thing
independence is. How often have I depreciated the gift by taking it for
granted.
All of a sudden, two men ahead of me, one to my right and one to my left,
yell stop! As a child, I actually had classes in which I was conditioned to
stop on a dime when somebody yelled that word. So I did my best to stop,
thinking I would explain to them that their good intentions were
unnecessary, when I forcefully collided with the arms they had extended in
front of me. Indeed that brought me to the stop they had suggested and one I
would not have accomplished in time on my own. At the time of the forced
collision, my cane tip fell down the first of what was a long flight of
stairs. I had trotted off in the wrong direction, confusing the even and odd
number of the gates. At the speed I was moving, the cane would not have
given me sufficient time to stop. The stairs were steep, there were a lot of
them, and each year I hear about someone who dies by falling down a flight
of stairs.
I understand that responding to what the cane tells me should be second
nature, and most of the time it is. In this case, however, knowing that I
knew exactly where I was, where I needed to go, and how little time I had to
get there, I was traveling like a calorie-burning fiend. Their action,
unsolicited and at the time unwanted, may have saved me from broken bones,
saved me from some permanent disfigurement, or even saved me from death. I
was lucky. They did the right thing. They violated my boundaries, assumed
they knew something that I didn’t, and, without my permission, took matters
literally into their own hands. What to say but thank you.
This was certainly not Gary Wunder at his finest. It is not the story I
usually tell about the man who can go to any airport in any city, find any
hotel, eat in any restaurant, make his presentations, and go back home
safely. And yet, this is a true story, one that today finds me safe and
comfortable thanks to the willingness of people to get involved when I didn’t
know I needed them. It is hard to show gratitude while feeling stupid, but
it can be done, and the gratitude and the lessons that came from the
experience are ones from which I have learned. Let firetrucks travel like
firetrucks. Let me travel at a speed that makes sense, not just for my
safety but for the safety of those around me. I will not go at a snail’s
pace, in fear of what my next step might bring, but neither will I outwalk
the device that tells me whether or not the next step is a safe one.
I was the beneficiary of good, kind people. My trek that day represented
both independence and interdependence. In that story is a respecting of my
space (no one tried to stop me from going on my own), and it is also a clear
violation of my space, thanks be to God.
After several in-person national conventions, I have gotten articles that
express anger about how fast some people travel in the hotel when we are in
what might be characterized as rush-hour traffic. I have normally toned
those articles down to remove some of the bitterness and have often thought
about Dr. Jernigan’s notion that many blind people go through a stage of
rebellious independence. That may be a necessary part to rehabilitation, but
I had no such excuse, and I think the warning to 2022 convention travelers
on the run may serve some purpose. At some level we are talking about making
the convention a safe space, and I think this should be part of our
Federation evolution. We can and must take the time to be kind, and even
when there is no yellow light, we should always proceed with caution when
the health of others and ourselves is at risk.
Bernie’s Story: It Takes a Village, Resourcefulness, and Cosmic Alignment
by Laura Deck
>From the Editor: This is not a traditional Braille Monitor offering. Its
author is not a Federationist; its subject is not a Federationist though he
makes substantial yearly donations because he believes the Federation has
made significant contributions to his life. He believes NFB-NEWSLINE® has
been nothing less than a Godsend and wishes he had the benefits of it much
earlier in his life. “Many times I wanted to discuss current events with my
colleagues but could do so at only the most superficial level. I had the
news but not the depth. Now what I have is timely and in full, and I couldn’t
be more delighted. I love information, and NFB-NEWSLINE is a very big part
of that.
Laura Deck works for Bookshare, and it gets its fair share of credit here;
but since we support it, that’s fine with me. Enjoy this well-written
article about a real pioneer in breaking down barriers for blind people and
showing some very influential sighted folks that we can cut it on terms of
equality:
Despite losing his sight at age seven, Bernie Perella’s journey took him
from a small town in Pennsylvania to Villanova University, a career at the
National Security Agency, and a rewarding, active life without limits.
On the surface, Bernie Perella’s life is not that different from others who
came of age after WWII: son of Italian immigrants; idyllic, small-town
childhood; college graduate; professional career; and satisfying retirement.
But dig a little deeper and a fascinating story emerges. Bernie credits his
fortunate life to “the village” that nurtured him growing up, a heavy dose
of resourcefulness that helped him navigate daily life, and four momentous
occasions “when the stars aligned.” When I spoke to Bernie, he was sitting
by his pool in Cape Coral, Florida, waiting for his turn to get the COVID
vaccine.
It Takes a Village (or Borough)
Downingtown is a borough about thirty miles west of Philadelphia. Bernie
grew up there with his extended Italian family starting in the 1940s. As a
young boy, he had problems with his vision. Unfortunately, none of the
attempts to save it were successful, and he lost his sight at age seven.
Bernie’s parents were the first members of his village. Although they had
only minimal formal education, they found the strength and courage needed to
raise a blind child so he could have the best chance to succeed in the
sighted world. “My parents provided a wonderful blend of parenting. My
mother was protective, but not overly protective. My father encouraged me to
try things that I might not otherwise try to do,” says Bernie. “I think they
could be an inspiration to parents of other visually impaired children.”
The next member of the village was Bernie’s one-year-older brother, Frank.
During their childhood and teenage years, the two were virtually
inseparable. They could often be seen running through the open fields,
playing and fishing along the banks of Brandywine Creek, and in the evenings
playing games with other kids in the neighborhood. “Because of Frank and
through his eyes, I felt like any other kid in the neighborhood, and I
always felt that I was accepted by them,” says Bernie.
The village grew larger because of the extended family and the many
neighbors who lived close by. “Neighbors watched out for me. They would call
out in Italian to warn me when they saw me trying to cross the street,”
Bernie recalled. “Since there weren’t many cars in the neighborhood, I could
ride my bike without falling off or hitting anything. I had extremely good
hearing and relied on echolocation to navigate. Frank and I would run around
the track at the local high school, and I could guide myself by hearing
where the gravel track ended and the curb began.”
>From Overbrook School for the Blind to Catholic High School
When the time came for Bernie to begin school, his parents realized that the
only option was to send him to a residential school for the blind. He
enrolled at the Overbrook School for the Blind in Philadelphia, which was
thirty miles away. Bernie says, “It was difficult for my parents to leave
their son in the care of strangers, and it was frightening for me because my
parents were not there to provide comfort and reassurance.” As a result, the
staff and teachers at that school became members of the village. There he
learned Braille and life skills as well as traditional subjects. “When I got
to high school age, however, I was worried that the world I was about to
enter was not a blind world, so in 1956 I left the school,” he says.
At that time, mainstreaming did not exist. The only option was the Catholic
high school, and the priest said Bernie could enroll if he could do the same
work as everyone else. That September, he sat in class with all the other
students who could see and he couldn’t. “That was an interesting and
exciting time for me. The students thought I was a curiosity.” However, as
the year progressed, a few of the students offered to read materials for
Bernie, and he became lifelong friends with several of them.
Necessity is the Mother of Invention
Bernie had a few textbooks in Braille and relied on the Volunteer Services
for the Blind (VSB), a group in Philadelphia that transcribed books into
Braille or recorded them on tape. Bernie says, “Everyone at VSB, members of
my village, were willing to jump through any hoops in order to get the
materials I needed in Braille or on tape.” He continues, “My mother, who
never graduated from high school, would record my chemistry textbook while I
was at school, even though she didn’t understand a word.” He took notes in
class using a Braille slate. After three years, he graduated. It was a very
proud day for his parents when Bernie gave the valedictory speech.
Navigating the Campus and Classes at Villanova University
Bernie’s knack for inventiveness accelerated when he entered Villanova. At
that time there were no ADA requirements, and most if not all universities
had no programs in place to support students with disabilities. Villanova
was no exception, and the teachers had no clue how to deal with the four
blind students who enrolled that year.
Bernie was on his own in the classroom, but he received some much-needed
help from his brother and a few friends who were students at Villanova.
Bernie says, “Without their help, getting through the initial enrollment and
learning how to navigate the campus would have been much more difficult.”
Recording lectures was only partially useful when professors didn’t explain
what they were writing or pointing to on the chalkboard. As a math major,
equations were especially difficult since Nemeth Braille code for
mathematics and science wasn’t widely available.
With the help of a volunteer, Bernie invented his own math notation. His
academic accomplishments were impressive, but they didn’t negate the
frustrations of sitting alone at 2:30 a.m. trying to do homework without the
books. “I didn’t know what the future would hold. All I could do was keep
moving forward in spite of setbacks,” says Bernie. Before Bernie finished at
Villanova, his brother Frank went off to join the Air Force. Bernie says, “I
found it ironic that I was visually impaired, and my brother could fly jet
planes for the Air Force.”
Stars Aligned #1: NSA is Calling
After four years of trials and tribulations on campus, he started
interviewing with different companies. Interviews were often frustrating.
The interviewer would say, “I don’t know if this job will work out because I
don’t understand how you can even dial a telephone.” Bernie would respond,
“I can dial faster with my left hand than you can with your right.” Even
though he was right, it didn’t get him the job.
Bernie really wanted to interview with NASA, but the sign-up sheet was full,
so he put his name on another sheet. It turned out he was interviewing for
the National Security Agency (NSA). The discussion went very well. The
interviewer said, “If we proceed, you have to come to Washington, DC, for
further interviews.” “Name the time and place,” said Bernie.
The stars aligned and Bernie embarked on a rewarding career at the NSA as a
mathematician, programmer, and systems analyst. “It was a wonderful job, and
I learned a lot. I earned the respect of my colleagues, and they didn’t view
me as blind.”
Stars Aligned #2: The Optacon
“In the early days of my work, there was no easy way to read anything let
alone mathematical equations.” Much of the material was classified, so
Bernie couldn’t send it out to be recorded. A colleague recorded several
programming manuals for Bernie, and another NSA employee, a mechanical
engineer, designed and built a device that allowed Bernie to read computer
punch cards. Together with a blind friend at IBM, they figured out how to
adapt a computer printer to print Braille. “It was primitive, but better
than nothing,” recalls Bernie.
In 1972, Bernie learned about the Optacon, a handheld device with a camera
that translates print into a tactile facsimile of the letters. He secured
funding to research the device and attended training in Palo Alto,
California. “It was like learning to read all over again, but this time with
printed letters. Printed alphabet letters were not part of my mental
cognizance,” explains Bernie. The Optacon was the start of a new chapter in
Bernie’s saga. Finally, after much practice, he was able to read computer
manuals and many other printed documents.
Stars Aligned #3: Eyes for Life
The stars aligned once again when on a chilly fall day, Bernie and his
friends went to the horse races. One young woman in the group offered to
walk with him. “I didn’t know it then, but I was starting a walk for life.
Susanne became my wife and eyes. I thought I was getting a new set of eyes
with the Optacon, but I didn’t know that I was getting a new set of eyes for
real.” Susanne was a librarian and served as the head of the library at the
Federal Trade Commission and the US Treasury Department—a career woman as
Bernie describes her.
“Susanne introduced me to the great outdoors, and we embarked on a wonderful
journey filled with experiences of camping, hiking many trails in state and
national parks, and overseas travel,” Bernie recalls. They joined bird
watching groups, took birding courses, and found themselves racing across
fields in the dark of night, creeping through swamps on the eastern shore of
Maryland, and slogging through the jungles of Costa Rica, all in search of
interesting birds. “America the beautiful, purple mountains majesties,
spacious skies—many haven’t seen those things, but I have.”
Susanne was a good researcher and a great reader. She would often read
articles from the newspapers to Bernie. “She often lamented that she wished
I could somehow read the paper myself,” recalls Bernie. They undertook an
effort to discover their ancestral roots which involved many trips to the
National Archives and to different places in search of old records.
Bookshare Opens Door to a New World of Books
Unfortunately, Susanne later died from breast cancer, and Bernie grieved for
a time. Eventually, he met a woman who works with the autism community who
took him to the Closing the Gap conference. There he learned about
Bookshare, the world’s largest library of accessible ebooks for people with
reading barriers, and he signed up in 2008. Growing up, he was frustrated
that he couldn’t read the books and newspapers that everyone else was
reading. “With Bookshare, I have access to all the New York Times
bestsellers, other popular books, and even newspapers through the
NFB-NEWSLINE.” Bernie enjoys reading the New York Times and listening to
books using his Victor Reader Stream. “Susanne’s dream of me becoming an
independent reader is now a reality,” says Bernie.
Stars Aligned #4: Sara Joins the Village
Following retirement and the subsequent passing of his wife, Bernie’s
hoped-for life in the golden years was turned into chaos. “We had many plans
for doing things and going places,” says Bernie. “For several years I seemed
to be moving aimlessly through life hoping that some new opportunity would
present itself,” Bernie recalls. Then, in an unexpected surprise, the stars
aligned once again and Bernie met a new friend, Sara, on an internet-dating
site. Sara is a retired elementary school teacher who spent many years
helping students with learning disabilities learn to read. When the two met,
they connected almost immediately. Sara is now the latest member of Bernie’s
village, and life became fun again. After spending a couple of winters in
Puerto Rico, they decided to build a new home in Cape Coral, Florida, where
they now live. Bernie says, “We had lots of fun working on the new house
project; Sara picked out all the colors, and I enjoyed working with a
kitchen planner to design the kitchen I always wanted.”
Time to Pay It Forward
“A few years ago I was at a Villanova reunion, and my friends and I talked
about the importance of giving back,” says Bernie. “My life has been
blessed, so I decided to make donations to the NFB and to Bookshare. I
really value the NFB-NEWSLINE service provided by the NFB and the books and
software for social good mission that Benetech stands for and the
communities it serves. I hope that my contribution pays for Bookshare
memberships for adults who can’t pay, and the money will go wherever it’s
needed to advance the goals of Bookshare.”
As our conversation comes to a close, Bernie says, “I want neighbors to say,
‘That’s Bernie’s house over there;’ not, ‘a blind man lives in that house.’”
Given the fascinating chapters in his life’s saga, I guarantee the neighbors
say, “That’s Bernie’s house.”
Independence Market Corner
by Terry Boone
As a service to our members and the general public, the National Federation
of the Blind operates a blindness products store known as the Independence
Market, which sells mostly low-tech items, designed to enhance the everyday
independence of blind people. We will be highlighting a different product
every month and listing sale products from time to time.
Athletic Balls with Bells
These standard-sized, rubber balls have bells inside that jingle when the
ball is in motion.
1.. Basketball: orange AIG08B $15.00
2.. Football: brown AIG09B $15.00
Rattle Soccer Ball - AIG79B $23.00
Now it is easier than ever to play soccer with this rattle soccer ball. This
regulation size five ball features dozens of rattles carefully installed
between the layers of the ball near the outside. These many rattles make the
ball easy to hear when it is in play.
Beeping Frisbee - AIG46F $15.00
You can have hours of indoor and outdoor fun with this soft, beeping
Frisbee. This foam disk is covered in bright-orange nylon and contains a
continuously beeping locator, which can be switched on or off. The beeping
unit can be removed and used as a separate audible beacon. The Frisbee
measures 7-1/2 inches in diameter and is 1-1/2 inches thick.
The following items are closeout specials, and the prices have been reduced:
Item
Item # Sale Price
4X coil aspheric stand magnifier
AIL109M $5.00
Metal Braille Clothing Labels (Numbers 1-25)
AIG72B $7.00
Nine Men’s Morris (Strategy board game for
two players; includes print and Braille directions)
AIG74N $10.00
Stereo Earbuds with Volume Control
AIA47H $5.00
We still have the 2X Illuminated Magnifier with 6X Insert and Folding Handle
available for $5.00, and the Plastic Letter Writing Guides and the Plastic
Envelope Writing Guides are still on sale for $1.00.
For more information about the products available from the Independence
Market, contact us by email at independencemarket at nfb.org or by phone at
(410) 659-9314, extension 2216, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00
p.m. eastern time. Our staff will be happy to assist.
Recipes
Recipes this month were contributed by members of the National Federation of
the Blind of Maryland.
Eating Crab at the National Convention Banquet: Some Recipes from the Host
Affiliate
The Host Affiliate is encouraging every banquet attendee to eat something
crab. Here are some recipes in case you need some ideas. Some of these
recipes were taken from earlier editions of the Braille Monitor, reprinted
here for convenience. Some are brand new to Monitor readers. Enjoy!
Easy Crock-Pot® Cream of Crab Soup
by Will Schwatka, from the April 2013 Braille Monitor
Will Schwatka manages the recording studio at the Jernigan Institute and is
the voice of the Braille Monitor, Future Reflections, and other publications
produced by the NFB. He is a member of the Greater Baltimore Chapter.
Ingredients:
3 cans condensed cream of potato soup
2 cans condensed cream of celery soup
4 large cans evaporated milk
1 stick butter
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
8 ounces Velveeta cheese, cubed
1 pound crabmeat, shell bits removed
Old Bay seasoning to taste
Method: Combine all ingredients except Velveeta, crabmeat, and Old Bay and
heat on low in crockpot until hot, about an hour. Add cubed Velveeta,
crabmeat, and Old Bay to taste. Heat on low until Velveeta has melted, about
a half-hour. Serve.
Cracker Crab
by Marie Cobb
Marie Cobb is a long-time Federationist who is a member of the Greater
Baltimore Chapter. Her reputation as a gourmet cook is legendary.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon butter
1 medium onion, chopped fine
2 tablespoons green pepper, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped celery
Dash of salt and pepper
1 teaspoon mustard
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 pound crabmeat
¼ cup cracker crumbs
4 ounces cream
½ cup grated sharp cheese
Method: Place butter into frying pan and sauté onion, green pepper, and
celery. Add salt and pepper, mustard, lemon juice, crabmeat, and cracker
crumbs. Steam together for two to three minutes. Add cream and mix well.
Pour into a greased flat Pyrex baking dish. Bake about 45 minutes at 350
degrees. During the last several minutes of baking time, add the sharp
cheese and bake until melted and a little brown. Serves six.
South Mountain Mushroom Caps
by Marie Cobb
Ingredients:
1 large onion, chopped
2 pounds large mushrooms
1 teaspoon basil
1 tablespoon parsley
1 green pepper, chopped
1 teaspoon dry mustard
Breadcrumbs
½ pound Monterey Jack cheese
1 pound crabmeat
Butter
Method: Sauté mushroom stems in butter with basil, onion, parsley, pepper,
dry mustard, and bread crumbs. Cool. Add in crabmeat. Stuff mixture in
mushroom caps, top with grated cheese, and bake at 350 degrees for about
twenty minutes or until stuffing mixture is golden brown. Serves four to
six.
Choptank Crab Fritters
by Marie Cobb
Ingredients:
2 cups sliced bamboo shoots
1 cup chopped onion
4 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon ginger
8 eggs, lightly beaten
1 pound crabmeat
½ cup butter
Method: Combine all ingredients except butter, adding the crabmeat last. In
a frying pan, heat the ½ cup of butter. Drop the fritter mixture by large
spoonfuls into the hot butter. Fry to a golden brown, turning once. Makes
eight to twelve servings.
Crab Dip
by Katie Cameron
Katie Cameron is blind at heart and a good friend and member of the Greater
Baltimore Chapter.
Ingredients:
1 cup lump crabmeat (12 ounces)
4 bars cream cheese (8 ounces each)
1 pound, 8 ounces, shredded mix cheese or favorite cheese
1 cup apple juice
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup mustard
1 teaspoon garlic powder
3 tablespoons minced onions
3 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning, to taste
Method: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl, add ingredients
except four ounces of the shredded cheese, stirring well. Place in large
casserole dish and bake for forty minutes. When done, spread remaining
cheese on top. Serve hot or cold. Goes great on bread, crackers, and bagel
chips.
Crab Imperial
by the late Arthur Segal, from the February 1994 Braille Monitor
Arthur Segal had a long NFB career. He served both as president of the
Merchants Division and of the NFB of Pennsylvania for many years. When he
moved to Maryland in about 1982, he continued his activism both in the
Greater Baltimore Chapter and in the affiliate. For many years, he was Santa
Claus at the MDPOBC and Baltimore Chapter Christmas parties. He was also a
gourmet cook.
Ingredients:
1 pound blue crab backfin meat
1 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons ketchup
2 tablespoons prepared mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
2 tablespoons chopped dill
Generous grinding of fresh white pepper
8 to 10 drops hot sauce (approximately)
Method: In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Butter a 2-quart baking
dish and put mixture in it. Sprinkle with a small amount of breadcrumbs and
dot with butter; bake at 375 degrees for twenty minutes. You can also use
individual dishes and handle in the same manner. Crab Imperial also makes a
good stuffing. This recipe can be used to stuff eight Cornish hens, eight
squab, rockfish, or fish fillets.
Maryland Crab Cakes
by the late Arthur Segal, from the February 1994 Braille Monitor
Ingredients:
1 pound crabmeat
1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon baking powder
Generous grinding of fresh white pepper
1 teaspoon dried ground mustard
2 generous-size pieces of bread with crust removed, broken into small pieces
moistened with milk so that bread is moist but not sopping wet
Method: In a large bowl mix all ingredients thoroughly and form into eight
patties for sandwiches with a two-patty presentation (four large patties for
a dinner serving or thirty-two small balls for appetizers). Heat oil
(preferably peanut) in an iron skillet, frying cakes or balls on both sides
until golden or crisp to touch. Marylanders eat their crab cakes on crackers
or hamburger buns and with mustard or hot sauce.
Maryland Crab Cakes
by Darlene Barrett Price, from the October 2018 Braille Monitor
You can never have too many crab cake recipes! Darlene Barrett Price is a
long-time Federationist who has held many leadership positions over the
years. She is president emerita of the Central Maryland Chapter.
Ingredients:
1 pound backfin crabmeat or any lump crabmeat
8 saltine crackers
1 egg, beaten
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon mustard
1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning
Salt to taste
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Method: Place crabmeat in bowl and check for shells. In another bowl, finely
crush crackers and add remaining ingredients. Gently fold in crabmeat, just
enough to combine all ingredients. Shape into six crab cakes and refrigerate
for one hour. Heat two tablespoons of vegetable oil in nonstick frying pan.
Sauté crab cakes until golden brown.
Monitor Miniatures
News from the Federation Family
A Miracle in Our Midst:
As the editor of the Braille Monitor, I receive many pieces of good news in
my incoming mail. This one is particularly good. It is from Joe Ruffalo, and
he certainly has experienced his share of illness. Here is what he said in
response to an error he found in the Braille Monitor and my response:
Gary, thanks. Yes, feeling great. I still have several doctor appointments
over the next several weeks, but here is the beautiful news: After the
thirteen-hour surgery, all stage four and stage five cancer was removed.
When one of the doctors provided this news, in addition five additional
specialists all agreed that no cancer was remaining, and no chemo and
radiation would be needed, I was called the miracle man. I owe the miracle
to God and the many prayers I received from my Federation family throughout
the country. My son and sister received nearly four hundred emails providing
prayer and positive thoughts. Many provided personal stories when I met them
at chapter meetings, over the phone, and at state and national conventions.
After spending 141 days in several hospitals and rehab facilities, coming
home was like being reborn. Gary, I am blessed that God has given me an
additional opportunity to care, share, grow, and to make a difference to
raise expectations to live the life we want. I will forever be grateful to
Him and to all of my extended family.
Convention Concert:
The National Federation of the Blind and its Performing Arts Division
present: One Voice, a fundraising convention concert!
Join us Tuesday, July 6, at 8 p.m. eastern, anywhere and everywhere to watch
blind performers of all styles showcase their abilities on our virtual
stage. Enjoy a night of performance and support our work changing what it
means to be blind, one stage at a time. It'll be an event that you won't
want to miss, so gather the whole family.
To get tickets visit: www.nfb.org/concert. Tickets are $20 and can be
purchased online or by calling the Independence Market.
We share one voice. We are stronger together. We unite for #NFB21!
Elected:
The Tidewater chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Virginia
held elections on April 17, 2021, and the following officers were elected:
Stewart Prost, president; Jennifer Blinsmon, vice president; Deborah Prost,
secretary; Matt Albright, treasurer; and board members Renee Rogers and Earl
Chapman. Congratulations to the newly elected board members.
New Book Available:
Peggy Chong writes: It is finally here—what you have all been asking for: my
first book in print. Get your copy today! Read Don Mahoney, Television Star,
about a man who decided to keep his blindness a secret and did so for almost
ten years. Please get yours, and encourage others to purchase a copy today.
This book is a great story for school and public libraries to include in
their persons with disabilities collection. Here is the link to the print
copy: Don Mahoney: Television Star: Chong, Peggy: 9781098082956: Amazon.com:
Books
(https://www.amazon.com/Don-Mahoney-Television-Peggy-Chong/dp/1098082958/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Peggy+Chong&qid=1623116661&sr=8-1).
Here is my ebook series online: Smashwords – The Blind History Lady
Presents—a Series by Peggy Chong
(https://www.smashwords.com/books/byseries/24325).
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.
Victor Reader Stream for Sale:
I recently acquired a Victor Reader Trek and am enjoying it so far. With
that said, I am ready to part with my ever reliable, dependable Victor
Reader Stream 2nd generation, which has been serving me well for seven
years.
The Stream is in good working order with one minor glitch. (It is a senior
you know!) In order to hear the sound, you need to plug in either a pair of
headphones or an external speaker via the headphone jack located directly to
the right of the SD card slot. I am including with the Stream a 4 GB SD
card, but it can also take an SD card up to 32 GB. I am asking $100 for it
but open to negotiation. If you are interested, please contact Brian at
609-680-8488 or at bmackey88 at gmail.com. First come first served! Thank you.
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.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbnj_nfbnet.org/attachments/20210629/d4ad96a6/attachment-0001.html>
More information about the NFBNJ
mailing list