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<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Greetings to all!</DIV>
<DIV>Pasted and attached is the Commission Edition for March/April
2018.</DIV>
<DIV>Please read and share with others as the agency continues to raise
expectations of blind people because low expectations create obstacles
between
blind people and our dreams.</DIV>
<DIV>Working together to transform dreams into reality!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">We
care. We
share. We grow. We make a difference<BR>Joe Ruffalo, President <BR>National
Federation of the Blind of New Jersey <BR>973 743
0075<BR>nfbnj1@verizon.net<BR><A
href="http://www.nfbnj.org">www.nfbnj.org</A></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">Raising
Expectations To Live The Life You Want.</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Calibri'; COLOR: #000000">Your
old
car keys can be keys to literacy for the blind.<BR>Donate your unwanted
vehicle
to us by clicking <BR>www.carshelpingtheblind.org <BR>or call 855 659
9314<BR></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=3 face=Calibri>**** </FONT></DIV>
<DIV>THE COMMISSION EDITION </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Newsletter of the NJ Commission for the Blind and Visually
Impaired</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>March/April 2018, Vol. 6, No. 1</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Dr. Bernice M.
Davis
Pamela L. Gaston</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Acting Executive
Director
Editor</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>From the Director’s Desk </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Happy Spring Everyone!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>CBVI is excited to congratulate and welcome Carole Johnson as the new
Commissioner of the NJ Department of Human Services, and Elisa Neira as the
new
Deputy Commissioner! Both have a tremendous list of accomplishments
and
have been busy visiting various divisions, getting to know staff and meeting
with numerous community partners. In early 2018, CBVI had the pleasure
of
meeting and hosting a visit from Commissioner Johnson and her Chief of
Staff,
Andrea Katz. Soon after her appointment, Deputy Commissioner Neira
came to
meet and greet Newark staff and was quite impressed with CBVI's array of
services and its Regional Technology Assistance Center (RTAC). I am
confident that each of them will provide DHS and CBVI outstanding leadership
and
innovation. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>In March 2018, I was asked to serve as the Acting Executive Director of
CBVI while DHS conducts a search for a new Executive Director.
As I
have shared with many of you, I am absolutely thrilled to be leading such an
incredible organization. As I get to know new staff and reacquaint
myself
with seasoned staff across our statewide service centers, I continue to be
amazed at the level of dedication and passion exhibited by so many of
you.
My primary goal right now is to listen and learn from staff as well as our
many
stakeholders and partners. I do know that in CBVI’s 107-year history,
the
need has never been greater for the type of services and opportunities that
we
provide to consumers. As in the past, CBVI will continue to work
closely with our consumers, stakeholders and community partners to advance
its
mission of serving blind, deaf-blind and vison impaired individuals across
the
State of New Jersey.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>In closing, I would like to emphasize that CBVI is a truly remarkable
organization that has positively impacted the lives of tens of thousands of
vision impaired individuals and their families, as well as, recognize those
who
work tirelessly to advocate for independence and equal opportunities for
blind,
deaf-blind and vision-impaired individuals. Together, we will confront
the
challenges that lie ahead and convert them into opportunities to better
serve
our consumers and constituents. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Be well,</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Dr. Bernice M. Davis</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Acting Executive Director</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>(Image: Spring is here with butterflies and blossoms)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Vocational Rehabilitation and Transitional Services – Amanda Gerson,
Coordinator</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>On March 22, 2018, the United States Senate adopted a resolution
designating March 22, 2018 as National Rehabilitation Counselors’
Appreciation
Day, and commended rehabilitation counselors for their dedication and hard
work
in providing counseling to individuals with disabilities. The resolution
affirms
the value of professional rehabilitation counseling training and
acknowledges
the difference rehabilitation counselors have made and continue to make in
the
lives of people with disabilities. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>On behalf of CBVI, I want to recognize our amazing Vocational
Rehabilitation Counselors, who every day show dedication and passion to the
work
of helping blind, vision impaired, and deaf-blind residents of New Jersey
achieve success in independence, education, and employment. As the world of
Vocational Rehabilitation continues to evolve under the Workforce Innovation
and
Opportunity Act, and with positive growth and innovation in our program also
comes additional work, please know that you are valued and recognized for
the
impact you make on a daily basis.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Thank you for all that you do.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Educational Services – Eva Scott, Director of Blindness Education</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”
– Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Our teachers and their supervisors are hard at work making sure that
our
students are receiving the instruction in the skills they need to be
successful,
the tools that allow them to use their skills, and the emotional support
needed
to motivate them to achieve their highest potential. As always, we
maintain a sense of hope for all our students.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Welcome to Our New and Returning Teachers!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>In mid-January we were happy to welcome Ryan Vella as a teacher in the
Newark Service Center. Ryan comes to us with great enthusiasm and a
wealth
of classroom teaching experience. We are delighted to have Ryan
working
with us, and I know he will have a long and successful career as a Teacher
of
the Visually Impaired (TVI) at the Commission. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>In mid-March we happily welcomed Ragan Van Campen back to Blindness
Education in the Newark Service Center. For the last several years, Ragan
has
been teaching at the Joseph Kohn Training Center (JKTC), where I know she
will
be missed. Ragan is an experienced and skilled Braille teacher, and we
are
very fortunate to have her back.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Bidding a Fond Farewell to Two of Our Teachers</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>In February, two of our teachers in the Cherry Hill Service Center left
CBVI. Although we are sad to see them leave us, we wish them all the
best
life can offer.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Barbara Ridge has begun her well-deserved retirement after fourteen
years
at CBVI. We will miss her skill as a teacher, as well as her humor and
her
wisdom as a remarkable human being. We sincerely wish her much
happiness
and many stress-free years of retirement bliss as she embarks upon the next
journey of her life.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Kimberly Mastroianni has left CBVI to take a position with the
Washington
Township School District in Gloucester County. Kim is an itinerant
road
warrior, no more. Her new position will be based in the school
district. We will miss Kim’s warm and friendly manner, as well as her
creativity in planning Cherry Hill SHARP. We wish Kim much success and
happiness both professionally and personally. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Students Hands-On Alternative Reinforcement Program – SHARP 2018</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Planning for the fourth summer of SHARP is in full swing. Letters
and
applications went out in mid-January, and just as they did last year, the
responses have arrived early. The program is almost filled to
capacity. The dates for SHARP 2018 are as follows: Session One
(Grades 5 through 8) will occur from July 10 through July 26, 2018, and
Session
Two (Grades 1 through 4) will occur from July 31 through August 16,
2018.
This year, the planning teams in all three locations of SHARP (Newark,
Freehold,
and Cherry Hill) are striving to make the fourth year of the program the
best
ever. As always, literacy and skills of independence will be a major
focus. This year, we will also focus on community service with the
dual
goal of further developing and preparing the students for the future while
promoting the potential of CBVI consumers. It will be an exciting summer of
SHARP.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>EDGE Students as SHARP 2018 Helpers</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Last year, seven high school students from our EDGE (Employment,
Development, Guidance and Engagement) program worked in SHARP 2017 as high
school helpers and role models for our younger students. Their
participation in SHARP was a wonderful success that we plan to
continue.
In February and March, I visited the EDGE Program to interview EDGE students
interested in helping out in this year’s SHARP program. The purpose of
having these students in SHARP is to help with program activities, but more
importantly, their purpose is to demonstrate skills of independence and
provide
a positive role model for the younger students who attend SHARP.
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The 2018 Annual Teachers’ Symposium</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Our 2018 Annual Teachers’ Symposium will occur over three days in
October,
with a day for classroom teachers working with Braille readers, a day for
classroom teachers working with large print readers, and a day for classroom
teachers working with students who are vision impaired with an additional
disability. The exact dates of the symposium are October 23rd, October
25th, and October 26th. For the second year, this event will take
place at
the Department of Children and Families, Professional Center in New
Brunswick. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Time is Flying By</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>As I look at the calendar, the first quarter of 2018 is almost
over.
Time is indeed, flying by. Before we know it, this academic year will
be
history, and the summer will be upon us. That means, SHARP will begin
and
end more quickly than we would expect. Then, fall will arrive with the new
2018-2019 academic year. We are approaching the end of the first
twenty
years of the new millennium. With all the advancements in education,
technology and awareness of the potential of people with disabilities I am
filled with hope for the future of CBVI students.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Independent Living & Clinical Services – Elizabeth DeShields,
Coordinator</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Assistive Technology/Independent Living: Common Applications - by
Eddie Montanez</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>As the Assistive Technology Specialist for Independent Living (IL), I
work
closely with the Rehabilitation Teachers and other IL caseworkers. My duties
include conducting assessments, and instruction for our consumers on
assistive
technology and this also may include recommending the purchase of equipment.
I
also deliver assistive technology presentations for the groups in our
Assistive
Support Programs for Independence Renewal and Education (ASPIRE) network and
other groups that make requests to IL.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>When addressing groups, I am often asked about various applications for
IOS
systems (iPads and iPhones) and android systems (tablets and android based
phones). I discuss various applications and following here are some of the
applications that seem to be well received and user friendly. Many of these
apps
will be well known to you and others may not. This applications list
includes a
link for easy access. Please note that some of these apps can also be
found in the Android Play Store:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>BARD Mobile</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Description: FREE (can also be found in the android play store via
Google)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>A service of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped (NLS), Library of Congress. The BARD Mobile app provides access
to
braille and talking books directly from the NLS Braille and Audio Reading
Download (BARD). BARD contains nearly 50,000 books, magazines, and music
scores
in audio and braille formats. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><<A
href="https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/books/bard-mobile">https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/books/bard-mobile</A>>
<A
href="https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/books/bard-mobile">https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/books/bard-mobile</A>
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Dolphin EasyReader</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Description: FREE (can also be found in the android play store via
Google)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>EasyReader is an accessible reading app for readers with dyslexia, low
vision or blindness. Users can browse and download from the world’s largest
collection of talking book and newspaper libraries, or copy text from
anywhere
on your phone and hear EasyReader read it back to you. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><<A
href="https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/books/dolphin-easyreader">https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/books/dolphin-easyreader</A>>
<A
href="https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/books/dolphin-easyreader">https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/books/dolphin-easyreader</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>NFB-NEWSLINE</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Description: FREE</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>NEWSLINE is an information source designed to keep persons who are
unable
to read conventional newsprint informed about current events locally,
nationally, and around the world. NFB-NEWSLINE® Mobile features the text of
over
three hundred newspapers, forty magazines, plus many more
publications.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><<A
href="https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/news/nfb-newsline%C2%AE-mobile">https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/news/nfb-newsline%C2%AE-mobile</A>>
<A
href="https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/news/nfb-newsline%C2%AE-mobile">https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/news/nfb-newsline%C2%AE-mobile</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Be My Eyes </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Description: FREE (can also be found in the android play store via
Google)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Be My Eyes is a free app that connects blind and low vision people with
sighted volunteers and company representatives for visual assistance through
a
live video call.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><<A
href="https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/lifestyle/be-my-eyes-helping-blind-see">https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/lifestyle/be-my-eyes-helping-blind-see</A>>
<A
href="https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/lifestyle/be-my-eyes-helping-blind-see">https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/lifestyle/be-my-eyes-helping-blind-see</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Seeing AI</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Description: FREE</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Seeing AI is an app that narrates the world around you. Designed for
the
blind and low vision community, this ongoing research project harnesses the
power of AI to open up the visual world and describe nearby people, text and
objects. Optimized for use with VoiceOver, the app speaks text as soon as it
appears in front of the camera.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><<A
href="https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/utilities/seeing-ai">https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/utilities/seeing-ai</A>>
<A
href="https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/utilities/seeing-ai">https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios/utilities/seeing-ai</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Just Press Record</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Description: Cost $4.99</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>This app is not free but I find it very helpful. Just Press Record is a
simple, professional audio recorder that brings the ultimate convenience of
one-tap recording and instant syncing via iCloud to all your devices.
Perfect
for capturing ideas, thoughts and memos on the go. It provides speech to
text
transcription, high quality audio playback and effortless sharing via Notes,
Messages, Mail or any of your favorite apps that support audio or text.
Available for iOS 10, watchOS 3 and macOS.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><<A
href="https://www.applevis.com/apps/apple-watch/utilities/just-press-recordIn">https://www.applevis.com/apps/apple-watch/utilities/just-press-recordIn</A>>
<A
href="https://www.applevis.com/apps/apple-watch/utilities/just-press-recordIn">https://www.applevis.com/apps/apple-watch/utilities/just-press-recordIn</A>
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>To find more useful apps, you can view the entire list by going to:
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><<A
href="https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios-apps-for-blind-and-vision-impaired">https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios-apps-for-blind-and-vision-impaired</A>>
<A
href="https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios-apps-for-blind-and-vision-impaired">https://www.applevis.com/apps/ios-apps-for-blind-and-vision-impaired</A></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>If you are interested in more information about AT/IL services, contact
Eddie Montanez at <mailto:Edwin.montanez@dhs.state.nj.us>
Edwin.montanez@dhs.state.nj.us or Elizabeth DeShields at
<mailto:Elizabeth.deshields@dhs.state.nj.us>
Elizabeth.deshields@dhs.state.nj.us</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Joseph Kohn Training Center – Del Basha, Manager</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Hopefully the first quarter of the 2018 year has been progressing well
for
everyone. Thirty years earlier, back in 1988, the Joseph Kohn Training
Center
(JKTC) first opened its doors in the city of New Brunswick. Since then, the
center has been opening doors for individuals who are blind and vision
impaired
with the goal of enabling them to increase their independence and
self-sufficiency. Students enroll in the JKTC program to learn core skills
that
are emphasized in the various classes. One of these classes is the Careers
class, which is taught by Ed Kawalec, VRC under the supervision of Maria
Beras.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>JKTC Careers Class – by Ed Kawalec and Maria Beras</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>At the Joseph Kohn Training Center, “Vocational Readiness” is a concept
that is put into action throughout all the instructional classes,
socialization
opportunities, community engagements, work experiences, and speaker
presentations. Of course the class called “Careers” is no exception to this
vocational effort. In Careers, JKTC students focus on the steps they
will
take to obtain a job or to launch a career. Self-assessment, combined
with
occupational research, job seeking practice, resume development, networking
strategizing, and learning about relevant sources of help, both locally and
on-line, all are ingredients of the Careers class. Aligned with the
overall JKTC and CBVI philosophy, the Careers class emphasizes
self-empowerment
as the key to achieving independence and productivity.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>As of January 2018, the Careers class has been further enhanced by the
efforts of a Rutgers University graduate student intern, who is contributing
her
knowledge and talents to our JKTC students’ readiness for the world of work.
This continues a long tradition at JKTC of serving as a training site for
Rutgers graduate students in the Rehabilitation Counseling Master’s Degree
program. Previous interns have benefitted from their stimulating
learning
experience at the Center, and have subsequently continued their invaluable
contributions to CBVI by joining our organization as new VR staff
members.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>More recently, on March 13th, the JKTC was visited by 12 graduate
students
from the Rutgers University Master of Science, Rehabilitation Counseling
program, who wanted to gain information about the Joseph Kohn Training
Center.
They toured the facility, observed classes in action, and met with JKTC
students
and staff. This learning experience is intended to raise awareness,
within
this group of soon-to-be rehabilitation professionals, about the focus of
training, the variety of staff specialties, and the diversity of consumers,
that
all come together at the JKTC. As always, a highlight for the visitors
is
to hear directly from JKTC students about their skill development and their
satisfying interactions with their fellow JKTC learners. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>(Image: Flowers breaking through the snow)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Business Enterprises of New Jersey – Deacon Truesdale, Manager </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) was founded in
1936
and is the association representing the $25 billion United States
convenience
service industry. Many of the world’s most recognized brands are
members
of NAMA, which provides advocacy, education and research for its
members.
BENJ is currently a member of NAMA. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>This year NAMA held their annual show from March 20-23 at the Las Vegas
Convention Center. The National Association of Blind Merchants (NABM)
and
RSA Management Group held a Pre-NAMA training session on March
20th.
The training session included information on digital vending machine
advertising, a strategy for increasing revenue by using vending machine
locations for product marketing; security of cashless payments; utilizing
Management Suite a software package for creating reports that can be
downloaded
and customized; a discussion of the changing needs of customers including
the
increasing demand for healthy choices; equipment innovations; new business
opportunities for blind vendors with private companies; how vendors can
maximize
rebates from approved vendors, and finally, a presentation from Nick Gacos
who
is the Chair of the BENJ Committee of Business Enterprise Managers and
also the President of NABM.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Regional Service Center Updates </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Southern Region – Jack Thompson, Manager </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>New Support Group in Southern Region by Rachel Pichette</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>We know that vision loss can be very isolating and can have a
devastating
impact on the person experiencing it. I have seen this firsthand and wanted
to
share an experience I had with a consumer and how an O&M lesson soon
turned
into the founding of a new support group in Marlton, which is in Burlington
County.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Mr. N was seen for a first orientation and mobility lesson. He was new
to
his apartment and was fearful of walking outside of his door to enter the
hallway. This led to a great dependency on his family and Mr. N told me that
it
made him feel guilty because he knew they were very busy with their own
lives.
During O&M lessons he learned to use a long white cane and was oriented
to
his hallway. Each door had the name of the resident on it. I read each name
to
him as he felt the difference between the wall and the difference of sound
of
each door with his cane. He was very excited to learn that the people who
have
talked to him in the lobby and sent him a welcome gift when he moved in were
his
direct neighbors. We practiced the route to all the exits and even walked
outside on the garden path in front of the apartment building. This was a
feat
he doubted he could do, but he was very happy when he realized he was able
to
navigate using his long white cane.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Although, our goals were small and included locating the garbage room,
the
mailbox and finding the office and recreation room, this created a great
sense
of independence for Mr. N and he was noticeably excited and proud of these
accomplishments. I suggested Mr. N ride the community transportation offered
from his facility and thought that maybe he could attend a support group.
There
was a vision loss support group about ten minutes away from him but he was
not
ready to ride the bus independently. I spoke with his apartment management
about
this issue and she told me that there were four other residents with vision
impairments in the same building who receive or received CBVI services. She
also
provided me with a social worker’s name from the Jewish Federation of Cherry
Hill, who was willing to lead a vision loss support group. Although still in
progress, Susan Vanino and I are in the process of having the support group
open
to the public for others in the Marlton area. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Through support groups like this one, participants can share resources
and
information with each other, provide emotional support, establish
connections to
reduce isolation and participate in conversations they can all relate to on
the
things that they have in common. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>New or Noteworthy</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>New Jersey’s First Blind Public School Graduates</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Educators and parents of students who are vision impaired began
advocating
for advancements in educational opportunities and inclusive programs over
185
years ago. It is significant to note that the field of education of blind
students was the first to develop a range of educational options beginning
with
specialized schools in 1829 and extending to inclusive (including "full
inclusion") public school programs since 1900. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The Commission’s first Executive Director, Lydia Young Hayes and
teacher,
Janet Gilchrist Paterson, established the state's first integrated class for
blind and sighted students within the Newark school system in 1910.
These
classes were based on the belief that integrated classes provided blind
students
with the educational tools and exposure necessary for a smooth assimilation
into
society. There were ten students in that first class, including the
Commission’s
first students to graduate from public school, sisters Mary and Louise
Curcio.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Mary Josephine Curcio was born on July 10, 1901 to parents Eva Bender
and
Paul Curcio, in Newark. Blind from birth, she entered public school for the
first time at the age of nine when the first integrated class for blind and
sighted students was launched in Newark’s Washington Street School in 1910.
Before being integrated with sighted students Mary had to master reading,
writing braille and typing. She was a successful student who frequently made
the
honor roll. Mary graduated from grade school in 1917, becoming the first
blind
person to graduate from a public school in NJ. She attended South Side High
School (now Malcolm X. Shabazz High School) and graduated in 1921. She then
briefly attended Newark Junior College, and later graduated Douglass College
(Rutgers) in 1925, with honors. Mary was also the first blind person to
graduate
from an accredited college in New Jersey. She then became a Commission
employee
where she worked as an executive secretary until she retired.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Mary’s sister, Louise Curcio was born in 1904 and was, like her sister,
blind since birth. She also attended South Side High School and later
graduated
summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from Douglass
College in
1926. She became a noted piano teacher and eventually went on to head the
piano
department at the Newark Community School of the Arts for 30 years. Louise
was
also a published author who wrote more than 30 books on piano instruction.
She
was inducted into the Douglass Society (for distinguished alumnae) in 1974.
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Both Curcio sisters passed away in 1987.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>“40” – Submitted by Joseph Ianuzzelli, Sr. Office Appliance Operator,
Meyer
Center</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>My involvement with CBVI began back in 1978, when I became a student at
what was then called the “Rehab Center”, located on Broad Street here in
Newark.
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>After that, from 1980 to 1982 I was employed at the Commission’s
Contract
Workshop, which was also located in Newark on Frelinghuysen Avenue. When the
contract shop closed, I was offered the opportunity to work at the Meyer
Center
in the Large Print Department. I finally became a full-time, permanent state
employee in 1983.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>April 2nd marks my anniversary with CBVI. I’m glad to say I am still
here
at the Meyer Center, but I find it interesting and sort of remarkable that I
am
right here in a building across the street from where it all started 40
years
ago.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><<A
href="http://www.nj.com/monmouth/index.ssf/2016/06/nj_girl_to_compete_in_national_braille_competition.html#comments">http://www.nj.com/monmouth/index.ssf/2016/06/nj_girl_to_compete_in_national_braille_competition.html#comments</A>>
comments </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The Last Words</DIV>
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<DIV>“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done
without Hope and Confidence.” – Helen Keller</DIV>
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