[NFBofAlaska] FW: [Brl-monitor] The Braille Monitor, July 2022

[Bryan Gearry]

Bonnie, would you please change my email address to 
bgearry at alaskafrontier.net     Thanks, Bryan

On 8/8/2022 8:58 PM, Bonnie Lucas via NFBofAlaska wrote:
> The Braille Monitor, July 2022 – The Braille Monitor, July 2022
>
> Hello to All,
>
> Here is the July Monitor for July. The total magazine is contained in 
> this email. You can also read it on the NFB’s website with links, just 
> as you would any magazine online. However, I hope that you find a half 
> hour or so to read much of this great magazine. There are several 
> super articles. Feel free to pass along to others.
>
> Bonnie
>
> *From:* brl-monitor-bounces at nfbcal.org 
> <brl-monitor-bounces at nfbcal.org> *On Behalf Of *Brian Buhrow
> *Sent:* Wednesday, June 29, 2022 12:47 PM
> *To:* brl-monitor at nfbcal.org
> *Subject:* [Brl-monitor] The Braille Monitor, July 2022
>
>
>   The Braille Monitor, July 2022
>
>
>   BRAILLE MONITOR
>
> Vol. 65, No. 7 July 2022
>
> /Gary Wunder, Editor/
>
> Distributed by email, in inkprint, in Braille, and on USB flash drive, 
> by the
>
> NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
>
> Mark Riccobono, President
>
> telephone: 410-659-9314
>
> email address: nfb at nfb.org
>
> website address: http://www.nfb.org
>
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>
> NFB-NEWSLINE® information: 866-504-7300
>
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> Letters to the President, address changes, subscription requests, and 
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> Articles for the /Monitor/ and letters to the editor may also be sent 
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>
> /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/
>
> © 2022 by the National Federation of the Blind
>
> Each issue is recorded on a thumb drive (also called a memory stick or 
> USB flash drive). You can read this audio edition using a computer or 
> a National Library Service digital player. The NLS machine has two 
> slots—the familiar book-cartridge slot just above the retractable 
> carrying handle and a second slot located on the right side near the 
> headphone jack. This smaller slot is used to play thumb drives. Remove 
> the protective rubber pad covering this slot and insert the thumb 
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> If you remove the thumb drive to use the player for cartridges, when 
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>
> 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.
>
> Vol. 65, No. 7 July 2022
>
>
>     Contents
>
> Corrections and Apologies
>
> by Chris Danielsen
>
> A Tribute that Can Only Begin to Capture My Friend, My Brother, and 
> the Most Important Member of My Federation Family
>
> by David De Notaris
>
> Music in the Service of Those Who Sorrow: The World Blind Union 
> Extends a Helping Hand to the Blind of Ukraine
>
> by Gary Wunder
>
> We’re With U: We Choose Not to Be Neutral
>
> by Martine Abel-Williamson
>
> We’re With U: The Blind Community at its Best
>
> by Jonathan Mosen
>
> Chapter Chatter Part 2: Intention, Prevention, and Intervention
>
> by Christine Faltz Grassman
>
> Lessons and Lifelines
> by Renée Valdez
>
> Coming to Our Senses
>
> Reviewed by Deborah Kent Stein
>
> An Explanation about the Need for and Beauty of our Code of Conduct
>
> by Ronza Othman
>
> When it is Okay to Say “Yes”
>
> by Nancy Burns
>
> How the Monitor is Built, Its Timelines, and Making it What You Want 
> it to Be
>
> by Gary Wunder
>
> She Had an Anteater
>
> by Peggy Chong
>
> Eye Talk
>
> by Annie Schlesinger
>
> [PHOTO CAPTION: Chris Danielsen]
>
>
>     Corrections and Apologies
>
> *by Chris Danielsen*
>
> I need to make a couple of clarifications and corrections to the 
> article “Shattering a Record and Shifting a Paradigm” that appeared in 
> the June 2022 Braille Monitor. I humbly ask the forgiveness of New 
> Mexico historians, space aficionados, Spaceport America officials, and 
> any other readers affected or confused by my reporting errors, which 
> are as follows:
>
> The Elephant Butte Dam, near Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, was 
> not constructed early in the Depression. Rather, although it was a 
> federal dam project like the Depression-era Hoover Dam, it was 
> completed well before then, in 1916.
>
> The suborbital space planes projected to be operated from Spaceport 
> America by Virgin Galactic are not named “Blue Origin.” That name 
> belongs to a separate commercial space company. The currently 
> operational Virgin Galactic plane is the company’s “SpaceShipTwo” 
> model and is named VSS /Unity/.
>
> ----------
>
> [PHOTO CAPTION: David De Notaris]
>
> [PHOTO CAPTION: Joe Ruffalo]
>
>
>     A Tribute that Can Only Begin to Capture My Friend, My Brother,
>     and the Most Important Member of My Federation Family
>
> *by David De Notaris*
>
> *From the Editor: David is well known for his work in state 
> government, having served in several leadership roles in New Jersey 
> and Pennsylvania including as director of Blindness and Visual 
> Services (BBVS) and eventually as executive director of the 
> Pennsylvania Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) in 
> Pennsylvania. After seventeen years, he decided it was time for him to 
> do what he had long wanted to do, that being to start a training 
> company. He and his wife Mariann are the founders/owners of Sky's the 
> Limit Communications LLC. In his work he deals with everything from 
> education at the school district level to employment, his work 
> includes companies such as Verizon, Comcast, Fidelity, NASA, United 
> States Army, and players in the healthcare industry, and even the 
> technical giant, Microsoft. His company concentrates on providing 
> instruction in advocacy, employability, resiliency training, iOS 
> productivity, and accessible financial literacy training for state 
> agencies nationally. For his business, his company does diversity, 
> leadership, and resiliency training, meaning he knows people from 
> human resources to top executives. In covering everything from 
> education to rehabilitation to employment, his company has the ability 
> to build relationships that get blind folks what they need.*
>
> *In addition to all of this, David is an active member of the National 
> Federation of the Blind, and it is in this capacity that he writes to 
> honor a cherished friend, brother, and treasured family member:*
>
> Seldom do I feel apprehensive, but trying to capture the life of Joe 
> Ruffalo is no small undertaking. I’ve known Joe for most of my life, 
> and he has not only been a larger-than-life character, but he has been 
> at the center of so many things I have wanted to do and have 
> eventually done.
>
> Not only do I want to tell Joe’s story as I have experienced it, but 
> I’ve tried to incorporate the experiences of so many he has touched. 
> Of course I am not so naive as to believe I can come close to 
> capturing all that he was and will continue to be for people, so let 
> us not think of this as the first or the last article about Joe. What 
> I do hope is that this one can demonstrate his generosity, humor, and 
> enthusiasm for many generations to come.
>
> I met Joe on a day I will forever remember; it was December 29, 1983, 
> and the location was the Essex Racket Club and Fitness Center in West 
> Orange, NJ. It was an event sponsored by the Association of Blind 
> Athletes of NJ (ABANJ). We were brought together by Rich Ruffalo, 
> Joe’s younger brother. Rich was my high school biology teacher and a 
> coach who talked me into going out for weight lifting. Like Joe and 
> me, Rich was in the process of going blind due to retinitis 
> pigmentosa, more normally abbreviated as “RP.” I was a young teen 
> trying to find a way to distinguish myself and find something that 
> would get me noticed for something positive and in which I could take 
> pride.
>
> I was encouraged by Joe to always set goals and work toward achieving 
> them. One of them had to do with weight lifting. He taught me through 
> demonstrating in his own life that the way to succeed in reaching a 
> goal was to write it down, go after it with lots of enthusiasm, track 
> my progress, and eventually achieve it. He said that one of the 
> advantages to writing down and tracking a goal came at the end. “Just 
> think how good you are going to feel when you write the words ‘Goal 
> Achieved’ on your list.”
>
> On that cold December day not only did I start learning about setting 
> goals but also about the value of making friends I could look up to 
> for guidance and as role models. Joe and Rich encouraged me to become 
> involved in the Association of Blind Athletes in New Jersey. Joe’s 
> heart came through to me when I realized that he celebrated my 
> milestones with every bit as much enthusiasm as he did his own. He 
> still holds a world record in the Paralympic weight lifting 
> competition, but it isn’t surprising that you heard that from someone 
> other than Joe. As he so often said, “It’s not about me, me, me. It’s 
> about we, we, we!”
>
> This fantastic man was more than a role model and a friend. Joe was 
> exactly the soldier you wanted by your side, and as Rick Fox remarked 
> at Joe’s memorial service, Joe was both a general and a lieutenant. As 
> a general, he could see the big picture, could think strategically, 
> and predict with remarkable success what was likely to happen in the 
> future as a result of actions taken today. As a lieutenant, he was 
> marching with his men and was in tune with the needs of each and every 
> one of them.
>
> Our friend came to the Federation in 1988. Joe’s Federation sister, 
> Jerilyn Higgins, has observed through much thought, study, and 
> experience that the best way to get someone to do something you want 
> them to do is to nag. It took her six months, but eventually she got 
> Joe to attend his first meeting. Joe’s wife Judy, knowing him better 
> than anyone, told him “I know you’re going to go off and join another 
> organization. Isn’t it enough that you are already a part of the Lions 
> Club, the Knights of Columbus, the Boy Scouts, and the special 
> education board? You are going to join; I know it.” This he vehemently 
> denied and made Judy a promise that if he joined, he would take her 
> out to dinner. When he got home, Judy took one look at him and said, 
> “I told you so. You joined, didn’t you?” Joe just smiled and asked 
> Judy where she wanted to go out for dinner.
>
> Joe has often told the story of his first meeting and what convinced 
> him to be a part of this organization he had previously thought to be 
> radical, militant, and unreasonable. He shared the story that when he 
> arrived at the meeting, Florence Bloom, then the president of the 
> National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey, asked if he would like 
> a cup of coffee. He replied in the affirmative, believing that in the 
> meeting of the blind, a coffee would be delivered. Florence informed 
> him that the coffee was at the back of the room and that the decaf was 
> on the left and the regular on the right. He found this both 
> interesting and motivating. He liked the idea of blind people doing 
> for themselves but was worried enough about his ability to carry that 
> he poured himself less than half a cup of coffee, reasoning he would 
> not spill any.
>
> As the meeting progressed, the discussion turned to fundraising, and 
> Joe observed that the Federation could easily make dollars instead of 
> pennies on each sale if only it upped its marketing game. Florence was 
> not defensive; it didn’t bother her that he was a new person on the 
> block proposing significant change. She said that she could see his 
> point and asked that he be in charge of the project. That quickly led 
> to his being in charge of all of the affiliate’s fundraising.
>
> This was the first of many projects to which Joe lent his name, his 
> talent, and his energy. Just how he would be called on to serve he 
> couldn’t know, but one morning he got a call, and on the other end of 
> the phone line was President Maurer. “Good morning, Mr. President,” 
> Dr. Maurer began.
>
> “I’m sorry sir, you’ve got the wrong number. This is Joe, and I’m the 
> vice president.”
>
> “No, I don’t have the wrong number. Congratulations, President 
> Ruffalo.” It seems that the previous president gave up her job, and 
> Joe’s assumption to the presidency was first communicated by a man he 
> was so honored to serve under for decades.
>
> So by 1993 Joe was the president of the National Federation of the 
> Blind of New Jersey, and he held that position until 2020. State 
> convention attendance was from fifteen to twenty when he joined, and 
> now convention planners routinely count on three hundred or more to 
> fill convention sessions. An affiliate that had two chapters when he 
> joined had seven chapters and seven special interest divisions when he 
> left the office some twenty-seven years later.
>
> I attended my first national convention in 1992, and if memory serves, 
> it was the first national convention for Joe as well. I remember 
> seeing him at the New Jersey affiliate table, and although I don't 
> remember what we were selling, I remember vividly how excited he was 
> about it: lots of folks take their turn selling, but Joe did not 
> regard it as a burdensome task. I will never forget observing him 
> standing there, rubbing his hands together, and shouting out with 
> enthusiasm that was infectious. As the crowd would come and make their 
> purchases, you could hear Joe saying “Isn't this great! Isn't this great!”
>
> One of the things I remember about Joe is that every time he 
> approached me with a request, the way he introduced it was to say 
> “Dave, I would like to ask you for a small favor.” A small favor 
> seemed so little, and with Joe it was never a big favor, not even when 
> he asked me to be the coordinator for the job opportunities for the 
> blind program. Just having gotten a job myself, I argued how very busy 
> I was. Joe was sympathetic. He said, “Well, how about this? Let’s say 
> you try it for a couple months, and if it doesn’t work out, get back 
> with me, and we’ll find someone else.” Well that two-month temporary 
> appointment turned into most of a decade of service, but I got as well 
> as I gave, learning from people like Lorraine Rovig and others how to 
> organize activities, advertise them, and generate excitement about 
> them. Here, too, Joe was a tremendous help, always reminding me that 
> the best way to get someone enthused was to capture in a lead phrase 
> or a sentence (a hook) exactly what you intended to do. He understood 
> the importance of establishing momentum from the beginning and then 
> maintaining it throughout the life of a project. His constant refrain 
> was, “nothing ever happens without enthusiasm,” so it is not 
> surprising that enthusiasm was something he brought in large measure 
> to everything he did.
>
> In talking with Carol Castellano, I learned that Joe was a master of 
> the small ask. “He would call me and always start out by saying, ‘Two 
> minutes, three minutes, that’s all I need.’ This might happen five or 
> six times a day, and almost always those two or three-minute 
> conversations went half an hour. I knew it would, but I loved being a 
> part of whatever Joe was a part of, and I knew I was honored to be on 
> such a team.”
>
> Of course, Joe was about much more than selling, competition, growing, 
> and achievement. He was about kindness, manners, being a gentleman, 
> and living the Golden Rule. He often observed that the important thing 
> was not the growth that took place in the affiliate but the difference 
> we were able to make in the lives of people who interned, then decided 
> to become a part of the organization. He deeply believed that if you 
> did what was right for people, organizational growth would take care 
> of itself. Joe would always say, “People don’t care how much you know 
> unless they know how much you care.”
>
> When Joe learned about somebody who was going blind, whether it was 
> talking to them in person or to one of their relatives, the time he 
> was willing to spend on the phone with them knew no bounds. He knew it 
> was all about forging relationships and through them giving the hope 
> that would determine whether blindness was a tragedy or simply a 
> nuisance and an inconvenience. It was not uncommon to find Joe on the 
> telephone late in the evening and sometimes during the very early 
> morning. This is what all of the organizational stuff was about. 
> Bringing hope, creating opportunity, and seeing change were all 
> results of Joe’s positive attitude and at the same time the very 
> reason for it.
>
> After college there were times when I wanted to participate in some 
> particular activity of the Federation and simply didn't have the 
> money. When Joe found out, he would pull me aside, slip me some money, 
> or let me know that this or that would be taken care of: “Your room is 
> covered.” “We have your registration and banquet already, so don’t 
> worry about them.” I listened closely during chapter and affiliate 
> treasurer reports, but never did I hear about a fund that made me a 
> grant. I asked Joe about this once, my theory being that perhaps the 
> costs were rolled into convention revenue or maybe there was a 
> scholarship covered by other attendees’ registration. His response: 
> "No, Dave, I just take care of it out of my pocket. You know, if 
> people don’t have it, they can't come, and letting them show up and 
> hearing something positive just may change their life, and that makes 
> all the difference."
>
> I used to tease him and wonder why he so frequently won in the 50-50 
> drawing. Of course, the greater number of tickets you have, the 
> greater chance you have of winning, but I think there was also 
> something else involved. Joe would tell me repeatedly, “Dave, don't 
> worry about being a go-getter; concern yourself with being a 
> go-giver." I think that kind of attitude was reflected back to him in 
> the form of what we called luck but may have been a bit of the Divine 
> intervening to see that Joe could continue his good work.
>
> The one thing I treasured most about Joe was his ability to laugh not 
> only at situations but also about himself. One story I love to share 
> is a bunch of us at a United States Association of Blind Athletes’ 
> event went out to dinner at a busy restaurant. They 
> directed/controlled its customer lines using poles connected together 
> by velvet ropes often found at banks/restaurants/registration areas. 
> We found ourselves in a long line, and Joe’s brother Rich decided to 
> play a prank. He did this by gently unfastening one of the long velvet 
> ropes and attaching it onto Joe’s backpack. Once Rich knew the rope 
> was secured, he yelled to Joe “Come on Joe, get moving, you’re holding 
> up the line.” Of course, Joe set off with real determination, and the 
> ropes and polls that made-up the crowd-control system of the 
> restaurant made a joyous crash, boom, bash noise as it collapsed. The 
> only noise louder than those clanking poles was the laughter of Joe 
> Ruffalo, the man who, no matter the circumstance, never got ruffled.
>
> Joe used to tell me "I don't have a college degree, but I will work 
> harder than anyone else." What a great lesson that was to me: a lesson 
> about taking what some would consider an adversity or a detriment and 
> turning it around to be a major source of motivation. But it was more 
> than work; it was about attitude. "It is not about me, me, me; no, it 
> is about we, we, we."
>
> Joe was hardworking, determined, and driven; when he got an idea he 
> would run with it! Some close friends would playfully call him “Joe 
> Rockhead” a reference to Fred Flintstone’s good friend from the Water 
> Buffalo lodge.
>
> Joe was not only a great soldier for the National Federation of the 
> Blind but also for the Knights of Columbus and the Lions Club, the 
> latter giving him the highest award they could offer. There was no 
> question that Joe was loyal through and through, the finest in what 
> you would want in a good soldier. If there were things that bothered 
> him or questions he couldn't answer, his standard refrain, in which he 
> believed totally was, "They are in a better position to know than I 
> am. I'm sure they know more than I do and have already considered this."
>
> One of the things that most endeared me to Joe was his concern about 
> me and about my family; his questions were not general but specific: 
> how is Marianne, young David, MaryKate, and Emily.
>
> I used to love it when Joe would show up at the NFBNJ Christmas Party 
> at the Gateway Hilton Hotel in Newark, and the kids would go crazy 
> because they observed that Santa Claus was carrying a white cane. A 
> blind man who was happy, a blind man who was a major part of a 
> celebration; a blind man who was always leading in holiday 
> festivities! What an example of a role model and what better way to 
> let young children know that blind people can be givers too.
>
> Joe was very involved with the programs of the New Jersey Commission 
> for the Blind. Much of his work was as a volunteer, but he did have at 
> least two paid positions with funds from the Commission. One of them 
> was working in the Leadership Education Advocacy and Determination 
> Program serving children from thirteen to twenty-one. I interviewed 
> one person who remembered one meeting that was held at Joe’s house, 
> and the activity was cooking. He helped a young man make a pie, and at 
> the end of the session the young man pleaded with Joe to adopt him.
>
> I played a small role in helping Joe gain a paid position working with 
> seniors. I was asked to review a proposal to fund a program through 
> the Commission. It was called the Senior Community Independent Living 
> Skills Program. As I read, I could see Joe written all over the 
> success this program could have, but, near the end of it, I came upon 
> a stumbling block. I noted with regret that the manager must have a 
> college degree. That was too limiting, so I inserted a part of a 
> sentence that said "or equivalent life experience." When I turned the 
> proposal back to the director and told him about my addition, he 
> agreed that it was something that should have been included in the 
> document from the beginning.
>
> As soon as I completed that call, I called Joe Ruffalo and suggested 
> he apply. At first he was skeptical, noting his lack of formal 
> qualifications. I told him about the substitution of life experience. 
> Then he was concerned because he had no resumé, but with a three-way 
> call between Joe, Carol Castellano, and myself, Joe was able to submit 
> an application the very next day, and he served for more than a decade 
> helping seniors. He loved the work, it showed, and just as he had with 
> his transition-aged students, he and others could see that his work 
> was making a positive difference in the lives of blind folks. What I 
> learned that day was that even the most positive among us occasionally 
> need encouraging. Joe had some doubts about Joe, but his friends did 
> not. One of his often quoted remarks came to serve Joe as well as the 
> many men and women he helped: "People need encouragement like flowers 
> need rain."
>
> Although this article is about Joe’s life, it would be incomplete if 
> we did not say that Joe is being buried at Arlington Cemetery, an 
> honor reserved for those with distinguished service. Among his medals 
> is a bronze star, representing heroic achievement, heroic service, 
> meritorious achievement, or meritorious service. His service came at a 
> cost, Joe returning with occasional eruption of PTSD. One day when he 
> threw himself and his sister Jane to the ground and she asked what he 
> was doing, is a subdued and apologetic voice he apologized: “I thought 
> I was saving us; for a moment we were both in Saigon.”
>
> As flattered as I am to try to chronicle the life of my friend, one of 
> the hard things about writing this is that I have known him the 
> majority of my life, and he is so much more than a friend: he was my 
> advisor, my older brother, and my mentor. Interestingly, he would at 
> times argue otherwise, many times identifying me as his mentor and 
> then quickly letting people know that one did not need to be more 
> advanced in age in order to mentor. One simply had to have experiences 
> from which another could benefit, and he credited me generously with 
> that, using as but one example the observation that I encouraged and 
> helped teach him to use the screen-reading program JAWS.
>
> The only reason I can write this is that I know that no single article 
> can capture the larger-than-life character that was Joe Ruffalo, and I 
> trust others will fill in the blanks and tell all of the other stories 
> that must be told. In writing remembrances, we sometimes ask ourselves 
> what we should leave out—those things less flattering, less admirable, 
> more revelatory of one’s darker side. This has not been my issue, for 
> there was little of this in Joe. My problem is simply that there isn’t 
> enough space in this article or creativity in me to say the kind of 
> thank you that Joe deserves. I trust that he knows the enormity of the 
> task we are all trying to undertake in honoring him, and he would 
> encourage us to be kind to ourselves, give one another the time and 
> love he can no longer give, and to understand that this really was 
> never about him but about us.
>
> One day I recall Joe calling me and sharing, “David, do you know what 
> NFB stands for?”
>
> “Yes Joe, of course, National Federation of the Blind.”
>
> “Yes, correct, but it also stands for Never Felt Better!” Joe was 
> blessed to find the NFB, and then he found himself.
>
> I end this with tears in my eyes, love and respect in my heart, and 
> gratitude in my soul for having the opportunity to know, learn from, 
> and, like so many, be encouraged by our good friend, brother, and 
> mentor, Joe Ruffalo! Joe would so often end what he wrote with: We 
> care, we share, we grow.” And yes, Joe, we promise to keep doing all 
> of this and more. Thank you Joe—you were and still are a difference maker!
>
> --------
>
> [PHOTO CAPTION: We're With U! concert logo. A concert to benefit the 
> blind of Ukraine.]
>
>
>     Music in the Service of Those Who Sorrow: The World Blind Union
>     Extends a Helping Hand to the Blind of Ukraine
>
> *by Gary Wunder*
>
> Far too often for my liking, I find myself swinging between extremes: 
> I must do something about the condition of the world; I can do nothing 
> about the condition of the world. I absolutely must help this person; 
> there is not a thing in the world that I can reasonably do to help 
> this person. You can imagine the relief that came over me and probably 
> many others when we realized that we did not have to stand idly by and 
> watch as the blind of Ukraine suffered under the aggression of a 
> Russian invasion. We could not be active combatants; we had no stage 
> to host our persuasive arguments for peace. But we weren’t prohibited 
> from taking action; in some measurable way, we could reach out to the 
> blind people of Ukraine—be they in country or refugees—and say that we 
> care enough to share; we live and therefore we give; we will trade 
> apathy, indifference, and impotent rage for a more positive journey. 
> We won’t stop our own fight simply because we can’t stop the world 
> from fighting, and we won’t let the fact that we can’t throw back all 
> the starfish in the sea prevent us from doing what we can.
>
> Two articles follow this brief introduction. One is from the president 
> of the World Blind Union, Martine Abel. She is in charge of the relief 
> effort. The second is from Jonathan Mosen, perhaps the best-known 
> voice of any blind person in the world. He brought the spirit, the 
> technical expertise, and the track record of success that made this 
> effort look doable, and doable it was. Of course, I am proud to be a 
> part of our nation's contribution to the effort, made possible in 
> large part by the active role played by our own National Federation of 
> the Blind. We promoted the event, helped connect people, and gave our 
> technical and financial expertise to collecting money both on the day 
> of the concert and in the days following. Our Performing Arts Division 
> helped by providing some of the musical talent that made the concert a 
> sheer delight to attend, and, with enough prompting, we got our 
> President to play his guitar and give us a song.
>
> In this concert we were not the leaders, not the experts, but the 
> facilitators. In that spirit, let me stop this introduction and let 
> the real experts speak for themselves. Thank you to all who 
> participated, not only for the people of Ukraine but for people like 
> me who need a way to show that we believe, we care, and we act.
>
> ----------
>
> [PHOTO CAPTION: Martine Abel-Williamson with her guide dog.]
>
>
>     We’re With U: We Choose Not to Be Neutral
>
> *by Martine Abel-Williamson*
>
> *From the Editor: The “We’re With U” concert is symbolic of so much 
> that we in the National Federation of the Blind and our colleagues in 
> the World Blind Union have come together to demonstrate. We, the too 
> often down and out, the too often underestimated, the too often 
> counted out when it comes to thoughts about meaningful 
> contributions—we long ago decided that this would not be our place in 
> the world. This was not a one-time decision; it only has meaning if 
> the commitment of love, energy, and resources is ongoing. Improving 
> the lives of the blind means choosing action over apathy, hope over 
> hopelessness, and never letting the realization that we cannot change 
> everything for the better in one day stand in the way of our doing 
> what we can when we can.*
>
> *Martine is the president of the World Blind Union and has long been 
> active in the affairs of the world. Here is what she has to say about 
> the “We’re With U” Concert:*
>
> It’s a great pleasure to meet you in my role as WBU president, 
> although the situation of me checking in with you at this time is 
> extraordinarily unfortunate. I met some of you when I attended your 
> 2019 Convention in Las Vegas, and I do hope I’ll enjoy the experience 
> again.
>
> I now live in New Zealand, but I was born in Namibia and spent most of 
> my childhood years in South Africa, and, it was a fellow South 
> African, Desmond Tutu, who said it simply, “If you are neutral in 
> situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”
>
> Yes, I was as equally shocked as many others when Russia invaded the 
> Ukraine. I couldn’t believe it—in today’s day and age!
>
> At the WBU level, we realized we needed to act swiftly in the most 
> appropriate way. We’re not a humanitarian or international aid 
> organization, but in these situations we need to do what we do best, 
> so we established the Ukrainian Unity Fund.
>
> Many blind people also told us they’d wish to contribute in a creative 
> and meaningful fashion, and that’s how the Ukraine Unity Fund met with 
> the “We’re with U” Ukraine benefit concert [hashtag #BlindWithU on 
> social media].
>
> So, based in New Zealand, at 6 a.m., Sunday, 17 April, I tuned into 
> the start of the We’re With U Ukraine benefit concert, and I remained 
> tuned in until around 7:15 p.m. that day. It was an honor to 
> experience the solidarity, the effort, the talent, and the witnessing 
> of financial contribution on that day, and which are still going as we 
> speak. When the World Blind Union (WBU) established the Ukrainian 
> Unity Fund, we didn’t realize just how people would rally and stand 
> together—not just to raise funds but to give of their time and unique 
> talent, in other words, to give of their soul!
>
> I want to use this opportunity to assure people that the WBU will act 
> in good faith and with due diligence when attributing the funds you’ve 
> so generously contributed. The following principles are meant to guide 
> decision-making concerning how funds from the Ukrainian Unity Fund are 
> disbursed.
>
>   * WBU will endeavor to partner with disability organizations and
>     mainstream relief organizations. Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs)
>     and other formal agreements will be developed as needed to govern
>     these partnerships.
>   * In addition to the principles below focused on humanitarian
>     relief, WBU will advocate for systemic change regarding a more
>     inclusive response to war and other disasters. The primary purpose
>     of the Ukrainian Unity Fund will be to assist blind and partially
>     sighted Ukrainians directly; however, some of the funds may be
>     directed toward advocacy initiatives to have a long-lasting impact.
>   * Due to legal constraints, WBU will not be able to provide
>     financial and/or other resources directly to individuals. However,
>     direct aid may be possible through established partnerships.
>   * WBU will focus support on those who are blind or partially
>     sighted; however, those assisting the blind/partially sighted
>     individual, such as family and friends, may also benefit from the
>     supports.
>   * WBU will try to focus support on needs related to blindness, such
>     as assistive technology, blindness skills training, and access to
>     apps like Aira, as opposed to core needs like shelter and food.
>     However, where core needs exist, if WBU is the only or the most
>     suitable organization able to assist, then WBU will assist with
>     core needs.
>   * WBU will assist both those still living in Ukraine and those who
>     have fled to other countries. Supports may relate to responding to
>     the emergency, such as support with evacuation, or may relate to
>     assisting those who are adjusting after being displaced, such as
>     replacing lost adaptive equipment.
>   * Funds may also be used to support rebuilding efforts once the war
>     is over. This could include replacing damaged adaptive equipment
>     or supplying Braille paper to a school for the blind.
>   * WBU will endeavor to disburse the funds in a timely manner while
>     doing so in a way that is responsible.
>
> I also wish to use this opportunity to thank the National Federation 
> of the Blind (NFB) and Jonathan Mosen and his crew at Mushroom FM for 
> your tremendous support in helping us to raise these funds and to 
> promote the amazing concert. So, let’s keep on demonstrating our 
> support to our fellow blind and vision-impaired Ukrainians, their 
> families, and the organizations and communities who are assisting 
> them, for, as someone once very aptly reminded us: “Freedom is not free.”
>
> ----------
>
> [PHOTO CAPTION: Jonathan Mosen]
>
>
>     We’re With U: The Blind Community at its Best
>
> *by Jonathan Mosen*
>
> *From the Editor: No voice is more internationally known among the 
> blind community than that of Jonathan Mosen. He is unquestionably a 
> Renaissance man, a person who has his hand in music, technology, 
> literature, and who clearly demonstrates a healthy concern for his 
> community. Jonathan’s production skills and his willingness to share 
> resources did much to make the concert a success, and it is with 
> pleasure that we print the article he has written for readers of the 
> */*Braille Monitor*/*:*
>
> The world can seem like a gloomy place at times. Momentous events 
> occur that concern us, but their magnitude overwhelms us. Yet, 
> sometimes, the spark of an idea occurs which catches fire, making us 
> realize we have more influence than we thought.
>
> There is no better example of this than the We’re With U concert for 
> Ukraine. It showed us that with an inspired idea, planning, and unity, 
> no problem is too big that we can’t make a difference.
>
> It all started with one blind man’s belief that we could assist the 
> people of Ukraine through music. Jaffar Sidek Ahmad, a musician from 
> Singapore, started a discussion on relevant email lists about blind 
> musicians holding a virtual concert to raise money for blind 
> Ukrainians, both those who remain in Ukraine whose lives have been 
> torn apart by war, and those who have had to flee. Jaffar’s original 
> idea was to run the concert as part of a fundraising initiative being 
> undertaken by his church.
>
> Having covered the invasion from a blindness perspective in my 
> podcast, I was outraged by what was happening and eager to find a way 
> to assist. So, I contacted Jaffar offering my assistance in any way 
> that might be useful to him. Ideas I ran by him included being the MC 
> for the event, donating Mushroom FM’s resources and infrastructure, 
> and seeking the support of others in the blind community. Jaffar was 
> happy to accept my offer of help. We immediately got to work. I 
> created a website, and Jaffar continued to encourage blind performing 
> artists to submit content.
>
> As part of my initial contacts with people in the blind community, I 
> reached out to Mike May, who became an unsung hero of this event. His 
> enthusiasm was infectious, and he single-handedly recruited several of 
> our corporate sponsors. Mike briefed President Riccobono, who was 
> quick to offer NFB’s full support. This support took many forms, 
> including infrastructural, fundraising, and messaging assistance.
>
> The event’s success depended on identifying a credible partner to 
> receive the funds. It had to be an organization the blind community 
> knew well and trusted, and it had to have the links to ensure that 
> funds raised were dispersed in the most impactful way. Through 
> President Riccobono, we were connected with Marc Workman, Executive 
> Director of the World Blind Union, which had just set up a Unity Fund 
> for Ukraine.
>
> Since its founding in 2010, Mushroom FM has hosted many successful 
> events making innovative use of social media. But one of the most 
> consequential decisions I made early on was to make the concert 
> available to any internet broadcaster who wanted to carry it. There 
> are a surprising number of internet radio stations run by the blind, 
> for the blind. Often, they compete for the same audience. On the day, 
> the event was carried by over twenty broadcasters in a resounding 
> display of unity for the blind of Ukraine.
>
> We are bombarded by so much information nowadays that it is easy to 
> become desensitized to the fact that war equates to millions of 
> personal tragedies. To make it clear why money was so badly needed, it 
> was important that we hear from blind people or those assisting blind 
> people, be they still in Ukraine or now refugees. So, the concert was 
> interspersed with first-hand accounts of the war.
>
> Many people made this event what it was, but the true stars of it are 
> undisputedly the performers, who so generously donated their talent 
> and kept so many people listening throughout the entire concert. Most 
> were blind, a few were not, but all performances were exceptional. We 
> heard many styles of music and even some poetry.
>
> We couldn’t all gather together in a stadium, but we were brought 
> together virtually via a Twitter hashtag, and I was able to 
> acknowledge many listeners on-air. Donations came pouring in via NFB’s 
> and WBU’s accessible online platforms.
>
> For the radio and audio geeks, and the blind community has a good 
> number of those, let me share a few behind the scenes details of an 
> event, which, despite its complexity, was technically flawless for its 
> 11.5 hours. We played 224 separate audio elements during the concert. 
> This included the music, anecdotes from Ukraine, sponsorship messages, 
> and calls to action. Every element was normalized to a common LUFS 
> value and had it crossfade point set manually.
>
> We streamed two versions of the concert concurrently. The version on 
> Mushroom FM included our usual audio processing, while a separate 
> stream offered an unprocessed version for Internet radio stations 
> wishing to retain their unique sound.
>
> The result of it all was that on the day, we raised over $80,000. When 
> other donations were processed because of the event, the amount raised 
> exceeded $100,000. While I have no doubt that it will be easy to find 
> worthy ways to allocate those funds and that more are needed, it is a 
> significant sum for a grassroots movement of concerned blind people to 
> have raised in a project that went from idea to global event in the 
> space of a month.
>
> Whether you donated your talent, your time, your money, or all of the 
> above, thank you so much. You can look back on the contribution you 
> made and feel proud of being a part of something very special. We made 
> a difference for the people of Ukraine. In the process, we also 
> provided a powerful, moving demonstration that, no problem, even a 
> war, is so big that we can’t make a difference. We are stronger 
> together. We are better when we focus on what unites us. We have more 
> power than many of us realize.
>
> The memory of the concert may be fading, but the conflict is ongoing. 
> Please continue to look for ways that you can show the people of 
> Ukraine, “We’re With U.”
>
> ----------
>
> [PHOTO CAPTION: Christine Faltz Grassman]
>
>
>     Chapter Chatter Part 2: Intention, Prevention, and Intervention
>
> *by Christine Faltz Grassman*
>
> *From the Editor: Christine is a chapter president, but she is so much 
> more. She is sensitive, perceptive, and especially tuned to be a 
> peacemaker without avoiding topics that should and in fact must be 
> discussed. Here are more thoughts she has to offer about fairly 
> handling difficult topics and those who bring them:*
>
> Ten percent of conflicts is due to difference in opinion and ninety 
> percent is due to wrong tone of voice.
> — Susan Wiertzema
>
> I think it is safe to say that when individuals or groups gather with 
> positive purpose and common interests, there is a collective intention 
> to collaborate and recognize the interdependence that is necessary for 
> efforts to bear fruit. As people who are blind, we have more than a 
> passing acquaintance with how even the best intentions can lead to 
> unhappy results.
>
> Previously, I discussed the importance and necessity of speaking up. 
> Now I want to address handling situations where speaking up in 
> particular ways and at particular times may not be ideal and provide 
> some respectful techniques for de-escalating what could become an 
> awkward and/or upsetting incident.
>
> Virtual and hybrid meetings have become the norm for many of us over 
> the past couple of years, and they offer undeniable advantages. Their 
> disadvantages, however, introduce a level of significant complexity 
> when it becomes necessary to tam down conflict.
>
> There is often good-natured joking about the power of the “Mute All” 
> and “Remove” options on conferencing platforms. All jesting aside, 
> however, we have likely all witnessed the benefit of these tools. 
> Genuinely destructive and hurtful attacks have occurred on meeting 
> platforms, and the “Mute” and “Remove” options act as virtual security 
> guards and bouncers. However, it is not the unsavory and unscrupulous 
> alone who can derail a discussion, demoralize a meeting, or start 
> something that could yield repercussions for weeks, months, or longer.
>
> We all have bad days and we all make mistakes. A sincere apology after 
> a significant outburst goes a long way toward righting an ill-timed 
> statement. Perhaps it might take some time to recognize that an 
> apology is needed until after some reflection or after someone has 
> diplomatically pointed out the issue, perceived or otherwise. Waiting 
> too long, however, or tossing out an apology simply because one is 
> hounded to do so will likely be considered insincere, and a delay 
> gives time for the incident to imbed itself into memories, the 
> grapevine, and potential exaggeration or attachment to other incidents 
> people are suddenly recalling, particularly by those who were most 
> hurt or offended.
>
> What should you do if a discussion at a meeting takes a turn that is 
> not conducive to a productive and welcoming environment? The 
> individual running the meeting can set guidelines and should follow 
> through with those guidelines. Do not show favoritism by allowing more 
> latitude to board members, the newbie, your best friend, your spouse, 
> or the most senior member. Everyone must behave respectfully, and 
> everyone should receive respect. This does not mean that the more 
> wordy among the crowd cannot be asked to move on, wait their turn, or 
> give someone else a chance to speak. Chapter meetings are not places 
> for monologues, and the person who is constantly dominating the 
> discussion, being contrary, or putting down someone may require a time 
> limit and perhaps a private discussion about etiquette in the meeting.
>
> Never return rudeness with rudeness or name-calling with name-calling. 
> If someone uses words like “ridiculous,” or “idiotic”, do not get 
> upset if those adjectives were used for a proposed idea or activity. 
> Sure, it could have been worded differently, but try to avoid feeling 
> and acting as if the adjectives were used to insult the person 
> proposing the item in question.
>
> There might come a time when things become heated between two or more 
> individuals. It might be helpful to designate someone to quietly go 
> over to (or if virtual, text or email), the individuals in question 
> while the meeting moves on. To the greatest extent possible, efforts 
> should focus on keeping the meeting on track with the least 
> disruption. Even if someone needs to step outside with a person or 
> two, the meeting should proceed, and anyone not directly involved 
> should act as if nothing of note is occurring.
>
> After such incidents, it is difficult for people to refrain from 
> passionate discussion, finger-pointing, or rehashing past incidents 
> involving the same person or persons. Please try to avoid doing this. 
> Unless there is a persistent pattern of disruption from a particular 
> individual or group, dwelling on something unpleasant gives it more 
> power and significance, and what should remain at the center are the 
> goals of the chapter as defined by its agenda and subsequent 
> decision-making.
>
> It might be necessary to talk with one or more people several times 
> between meetings if a personality conflict or repeated flouting of 
> meeting discussion guidelines occurs.
>
> What guidelines might be put into place? Generally, the standard fare 
> will do: no interrupting unless someone is dominating the conversation 
> and meeting time. (Perhaps there should be a set time limit if others 
> are continually unable to get a word in, and that time limit must 
> apply to everyone if a question is being asked or a comment is being 
> made. Obviously, speakers, activities, and necessary discussion of 
> chapter business would not have such limits applied.)
>
> Be especially cognizant of the fact that the leaders and most active 
> members set the tone. If harassment, belittling, or gossip is 
> tolerated (or worse, encouraged), de-escalation tactics will not be 
> effective. If all do not walk the walk, talking the talk will be 
> considered window dressing, lip service, and rank hypocrisy.
>
> It is absolutely fine to stop pejorative or derogatory statements or 
> disruptive behavior in its tracks without attempting to address it 
> quietly. All attendees should witness that bullying, ridiculing, or 
> other words or behavior that are meant to marginalize, put down, or 
> threaten are categorically forbidden. Chapter and division meetings, 
> activities, and events should be welcoming, comfortable environments 
> that all look forward to attending. At no time should anyone ever feel 
> it emotionally necessary to avoid one or ever leave one feeling badly, 
> unheard, or ignored.
>
> Leaders should be receptive to constructive criticism and consider 
> solutions to any friction. Work hard to be approachable by anyone who 
> attends meetings who might feel that the chapter or division is not as 
> warm and inviting as you might wish it to be or perceive it to be. We 
> can all improve, individually and as a group.
>
> In an upcoming article, I will discuss mediating conflict. If anyone 
> wants to provide an example of a local conflict (no names, please), 
> write to me at cfgrassman at icloud.com and I will use it as an example. 
> Obviously, all strategies and techniques must be tailored to your 
> group’s dynamics—whether you are dealing with an isolated incident or 
> a pattern—and other variables, but the guidelines provided should give 
> an effective foundation for conflict resolution.
>
> ----------
>
> [PHOTO CAPTION: Renée Valdez]
>
>
>     Lessons and Lifelines
>
> *by Renée Valdez*
>
> *From the Editor: Renée is a person who has tremendous value to the 
> National Federation of the Blind not only because of the energy she 
> brings to our cause but because her memory of going blind is fresh 
> enough that she can relate to people who think all doors have been 
> closed and are starved for what we have to offer. This is a 
> spectacular article, and if it is half as much fun to read as it has 
> been to edit, prepare to be thoroughly engrossed in this experience.*
>
> *In case you want to know what she does when not writing, Renée is the 
> chair of the NFB of Virginia Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee; 
> the co-chair of the NFB of Virginia Fundraising Committee; a mentor in 
> the NFB of Virginia Project RISE Program; and the vice president of 
> the Northern Virginia Regional Human Rights Committee. Here is her 
> most splendid article:*
>
> "Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood."
>
> — Helen Keller
>
> Ain't that the truth. It's like I woke up one day and found 
> myself—fifty-six years young, blind, and still learning. WOW! And let 
> me tell you, some of these lessons along the way have not been amusing!
>
> I believe that God, the Universe, and Mother Earth all have a very 
> warped sense of humor. I mean, C'MON, MAN! The last time I looked up, 
> not only did I have my eyesight, but I was forty-eight years old, 
> enjoying a rewarding and quite lucrative career, traveling around the 
> United States and Canada training the "untrainable"—TSA Supervisors 
> and Air Marshalls—and having a BLAST! And, I am happy to report that 
> by day two of a five—day intensive training, I had these tough guys 
> and gals eating out of my hand.
>
> It was Octoberish, 2013, when I began to notice a slight change in my 
> vision, especially at night. I suppose I should have considered it a 
> clue when I was driving into a 7-Eleven parking lot and hit the very 
> large garbage can at one corner of the lot head on! But no! I politely 
> backed up and tried my parking efforts once again, and I pretended 
> like that trash can thing never happened. I never mentioned it to my 
> Honey, Scott, or anyone, for that matter.
>
> Then, on a midnight run to Micky D's, I came to the four-way stop not 
> far from our home. As usual, I stopped. I looked to the right, then 
> the left, then the right again. Seeing nothing in the darkness, I 
> stepped on the gas to go through the intersection, and BLAM! Quite 
> suddenly, the airbag deployed in my face after the car came to a very 
> severe and arduous stop. I had broadsided a van, I found out later. 
> But at that moment, sitting with the airbag in my lap, I, once again, 
> looked to my right, where the thing I hit should have been, and I saw 
> nothing.
>
> I drove forward to the next block, where there was a street light. I 
> got out of the car, checked the damage, and delightedly saw that there 
> was none. So I got back in the car, decided that the other vehicle 
> left as well, and continued on my midnight mission to McDonald's. 
> Despite the fact that there happened to be a vehicle behind me who 
> witnessed the whole thing and called it in, I was fortunate not to get 
> charged with hit-and-run by the grace of God, the Universe and Mother 
> Earth! When I received the police report, I called the family I had 
> broadsided, apologized, and wished them well.
>
> You'd think that after that crazy incident I would consider my 
> eyesight—or the lack thereof. It wasn't until late December of 2013, 
> when my eyesight had declined to a dangerous level during the day, 
> that I mentioned it to my Honey and my best friend.
>
> Fast-forward now through doctors not knowing what was happening, and 
> finally being diagnosed by the NIH docs at the National Eye Institute 
> that I had VKH, a very rare autoimmune disease that affects Asians, 
> Hispanics, and Native Americans. This qualifies me twice; then came 
> the megadoses of wonderful and dangerous medications. My eyesight 
> fluctuated drastically up and down for the next five years, taking 
> with it my emotions. This made me an emotional and psychological 
> basket case!
>
> The next four years were busy for me, my days filled with remembering 
> to take my mega-meds, sitting on the couch with my fur baby, MJ, who 
> never left my side, and watching the television show Forensic 
> Files—somehow, I found that soothing as I licked my emotional wounds. 
> The intro music still has that effect on me. I was mourning, and I was 
> so deep in it.
>
> I mourned the life I knew and loved—my career, mostly. I loved what I 
> was doing. I loved meeting a group of people on the first day of a 
> training they didn't want to attend and breaking the ice. I loved the 
> experience of witnessing the hardest shells crack by day two when they 
> started sharing their stories. I cherished the moments on days three 
> through five when it was a safe enough environment to share a few 
> tears with those stories. And, when the training was over, I miss the 
> hugs and the "see you again sometime" wishes.
>
> All I could think, sitting there in the safety and seclusion of my 
> cocoon, was that I had to find a way to close that chapter of my life 
> forever, and the mere thought of it seemed to cut off the air to my 
> lungs, making it almost impossible to breathe.
>
> Early in my diagnosis, I stumbled on the Department for the Blind and 
> Visually Impaired (DBVI). They came in like a lifeline, providing me 
> with air. I met my new mobility instructor, Joanne Laurent, a 
> strong-willed little woman who, with her infectious laughter, kind 
> spirit, and constant affirmations (I called it nagging) forced me to 
> escape my cocoon for brief periods and taught me to use a white cane 
> and not get hit by a Mack truck. Another powerhouse, Alex Castillo, 
> came to my home and proved to me that I could cook and clean my 
> counters and wash clothes and, and, and...be independent.
>
> I think it was late 2017 when I stumbled once again. This time, it was 
> Brian Miller. I can't remember who gave me his email address, but one 
> day I mustered the courage and the will to email him. Much to my 
> surprise, he responded with an invitation to meet for coffee. YIKES! 
> It was time to put the lessons I had with Joanne to the test. I did.
>
> Meeting Brian was like falling backward onto a thick, fluffy, soft 
> comforter. He had a way about him that was calming, welcoming and 
> accepting and inspiring. I was bragging to him about my ability to 
> once again be able to make coffee, my drug of choice, using my French 
> press, even grinding my own beans! Well, he shared with me his mutual 
> love of coffee and how he purchased his RAW beans from Misha's Coffee 
> and roasted them in his home with his own roaster. WHAT! HOW? He 
> explained the cracking sound the beans made when they were close to 
> being done and the aroma that filled his home. OVERACHEIVER! When he 
> shared with me how he roasted his own beans or how he traveled to 
> exotic places around the world by himself, it was totally without 
> arrogance or pride; it was simply Brian sharing a glimpse of his heart 
> and spirit.
>
> In March of 2018, I received an email from Brian telling me I had to 
> go to this meeting. (I still have that email.) He said he was starting 
> a chapter for the National Federation of the Blind in our community. I 
> didn't want to go, but how could I say no to Brian? I attended that 
> first meeting, and it was God or the Universe or Mother Earth—or 
> Brian—who made sure I was elected to serve as a board member. What! 
> Another lifeline. I am forever grateful to my friend.
>
> The rest, as they say, is history. I was connected, and I became 
> hooked. I started to venture out of my self-made cocoon more and more 
> and began to feel a sense of purpose again. I attended bits and pieces 
> of my first NFB state convention and met a few people who became 
> lifelines—Evelyn Valdez, Sandy Halverson, Bonnie O'Day, Joe Orozco, 
> and so many more that would make this blog much longer than it already 
> is! And I shared a little time with Tracy Soforenko, the Virginia 
> state affiliate president, at a legislative visit on Capitol Hill. He 
> asked questions. I told him about my period of mourning, my hopeless 
> journey into blindness, my desire to be useful and fulfilled once 
> again. As I spoke, I really didn't see how that could happen in my 
> life. I was looking through the lenses of my past, and I could not 
> fathom how I could ever be like Evelyn or Tracy or any blind person 
> who laughed and smiled and lived their lives.
>
> Tracy listened to me. He continues to challenge me to spread my wings. 
> Today, as secretary/treasurer of the Greater Alexandria Chapter, a 
> position that I absolutely love; a student in the Chapter Leadership 
> Institute; mentor in Project RISE; coordinator of the 2021 Mini BELL 
> Program; co-chair of the NFBV Fundraising Committee; and member of the 
> NFBV Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, I am feeling 
> fulfilled, and I am happier than ever! I have a sense of true 
> belonging. I have a mission.
>
> I believe that God, the Universe, and Mother Earth, in their warped 
> kind of way, know what they are doing. And I believe that Helen Keller 
> was right. To be fully understood, life's lessons must be lived ... 
> and savored.
>
> Peace!
>
> ----------
>
>
>     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:*
>
>   * Give blind children the gift of literacy through Braille.
>   * Promote independent travel by providing free, long white canes to
>     blind people in need.
>   * Develop dynamic educational projects and programs to show blind
>     youth that science and math careers are within their reach.
>   * Deliver hundreds of accessible newspapers and magazines to provide
>     blind people the essential information necessary to be actively
>     involved in their communities.
>   * Offer aids and appliances that help seniors losing vision maintain
>     their independence.
>
> *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 
> (https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/ways-give/planned-giving) or call 
> 410-659-9314, extension 2422, for more information.
>
> Together with love, hope, determination, and your support, we will 
> continue to transform dreams into reality.
>
> *Ways to Contribute Now*
>
> Throughout 2021, the NFB:
>
>   * Sent nearly one thousand Braille Santa and Winter Celebration
>     letters to blind children, encouraging excitement for Braille
>     literacy.
>   * Distributed over five thousand canes to blind people across the
>     United States, empowering them to travel safely and independently
>     throughout their communities.
>   * Delivered audio newspaper and magazine services to 126,823
>     subscribers, providing free access to over five hundred local,
>     national, and international publications.
>   * Gave over six hundred Braille-writing slates and styluses free of
>     charge to blind users.
>   * Mentored 232 blind youth during our Braille Enrichment for
>     Literacy and Learning® Academy in-home editions.
>
> 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 (https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/ways-give) 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 
> (https://www.nfb.org/pac) online.
>
> If you have questions about giving, please send an email to 
> outreach at nfb.org or call 410-659-9314, extension 2422.
>
> [PHOTO CAPTION: Deborah Kent Stein]
>
>
>     /Coming to Our Senses/
>
> *by Susan R. Barry*
>
> *Reviewed by Deborah Kent Stein*
>
> *From the Editor: I am often asked if the */*Braille Monitor*/*would 
> like to review a book, and my answer is usually yes. My reservation is 
> whom I can ask to do it. Debbie Stein volunteered to review this one, 
> and I am very glad she did. Debbie’s history as a writer and a 
> Federationist is so well known that I will not repeat it here. The 
> wonderful review she provides follows:*
>
> /Coming to Our Senses: A Boy Who Learned to See, A Girl Who Learned to 
> Hear, and How We All Discover the World/
>
> by Susan R. Barry
>
> Basic Books, 2021
>
> ISBN: 9781541675155
>
> Available from Amazon, Kindle, audible.com, and bookshare.org
>
> In the 1954 film /The Magnificent Obsession,/ the beautiful female 
> lead (Jane Wyman) is blinded in an automobile accident. Years later, 
> the young doctor who loves her (Rock Hudson) performs a miraculous 
> operation that restores her vision. To the joy of her family and 
> friends, Helen can see again!
>
> Miracle cures like this appear so often in fiction and film that they 
> are woven into our cultural imagination. Yet the case histories of 
> blind people who gain vision through surgery tell a very different 
> story. One of the best-known cases in modern times is a man described 
> in an essay by Oliver Sacks, "To See or Not to See." Virgil, as Sacks 
> called him, lost his sight in infancy due to cataracts. When he was in 
> midlife the cataracts were surgically removed, and suddenly Virgil 
> could see. However, his sight proved of little benefit, as he could 
> not interpret what he saw. He grew depressed, unable to live as a 
> blind person yet incapable of using the sight he had gained.
>
> MRI studies in people who have been blind from birth or early 
> childhood indicate that the visual cortex is soon re-purposed to 
> handle a variety of other tasks. Today it is widely believed that 
> vision restoration in a person blind from birth or early childhood is 
> likely to be unsuccessful after the age of eight. Similar findings 
> raise questions about the effectiveness of cochlear implants for 
> people who are prelingually deaf. People who receive implants after 
> the first few years of life have trouble adjusting to their new hearing.
>
> In /Coming to Our Senses/ journalist Susan Barry recounts the history 
> of Liam, a young man with albinism whose vision was dramatically 
> improved with the implantation of a device called an intraocular lens 
> (IOL). She compares and contrasts Liam's story with the case of Zohra, 
> a woman deaf from birth who gained hearing when she received cochlear 
> implants. Both Liam and Zohra were in their teens when they had their 
> surgeries; they had passed the age when they might be expected to reap 
> serious benefits. Yet, through ongoing effort spread over many years, 
> they both taught themselves to make use of the sensory information 
> that was now at their disposal.
>
> Liam was never totally blind. As a small child he could make out 
> blurry images up to four feet away, though his acuity diminished, as 
> he got older. His mother insisted that he begin Braille and cane 
> travel instruction in kindergarten, and he also learned to read large 
> print. Liam learned to deal with his low vision from early childhood, 
> and he never regarded his blindness as a tragedy.
>
> In 2005, when he was fifteen, an ophthalmologist suggested that an IOL 
> might greatly improve Liam's vision. After careful thought, Liam and 
> his mother decided he should undergo the surgery. Liam's perception of 
> colors improved, as did his depth perception, and his lifelong 
> nystagmus disappeared.
>
> Nevertheless, Liam struggled to interpret what he saw. "He saw lines 
> where one object ended and another began, where an object in front 
> occluded an object behind, or where a shadow was cast on a surface," 
> Barry writes. "He saw a tangled, fragmented world." As Barry explains, 
> "understanding the lines and colors he saw required constant attention 
> and analysis." The effort was overwhelming and exhausting.
>
> Over time, Liam gained a greater understanding of the visual world, 
> and the effort grew less intense. Yet fifteen years after his surgery, 
> he continued to piece together whole images by studying their 
> components. Climbing stairs posed dramatic challenges. "All the while, 
> when I move, the stairs are skewing and changing," Liam wrote, "and if 
> you move around a staircase extremely, some weird stuff can happen." 
> In many instances, such as taking buses and light rail, Liam continued 
> to use his long white cane.
>
> Like Liam, Zohra had to adjust to the hearing she acquired. She 
> struggled to make sense of the sounds that flooded her life after she 
> received her cochlear implants. With the help of her family, 
> especially a devoted aunt, she worked every day to sort through the 
> cacophony and to master the enormous complexities of spoken language. 
> More than a decade later, she was still learning new sounds and 
> discovering new coping strategies.
>
> Unlike Sacks's Virgil, neither Liam nor Zohra regretted undergoing 
> their surgeries. Yet both of them acknowledged that adjustment to the 
> new sensory input required unending effort. They rose to the challenge 
> and approached their acquired senses with a sense of adventure.
>
> /Coming to Our Senses/thoroughly dispels the myth of the miracle cure. 
> Barry reveals the vast complexity of the mental processes most of us 
> take for granted as we move through our noisy, dazzling, mystifying world.
>
> ----------
>
> [PHOTO CAPTION: Ronza Othman]
>
>
>     An Explanation about the Need for and Beauty of our Code of Conduct
>
> *by Ronza Othman*
>
> *From the Editor: Ronza is well known to readers. She holds down a 
> fulltime job working as director of Equal Opportunity Compliance at 
> the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services. In addition, she is 
> our state president in Maryland, is active everywhere, and has given a 
> lot of her heart and mind to working as the Chairman of the Code of 
> Conduct Feedback Committee. Here is her request of us as we work to 
> make our Federation the kind of place where anyone would be glad to 
> visit and participate:*
>
> "Why do we even need a Code of Conduct?” Many of us have heard this 
> question or some iteration of it over the last six or so years as we 
> worked to conceptualize, then articulate, then socialize the NFB Code 
> of Conduct. As an organization we heard it again as we made updates 
> and process improvements. We heard sentiments like, "We shouldn’t need 
> a document to tell us how to get along with each other,” or “no 
> document is going to ever cover every potential situation,” or “I 
> don’t want to be treated like a child to be told what I can and can’t do.”
>
> But others shared, “I’m so glad there are some concrete policies that 
> everyone is expected to follow,” “The Code of Conduct just puts on 
> paper what we’ve always expected of our members and participants, and 
> it’s a good thing to all be on the same page,” and “I like that we are 
> in lockstep with society by incorporating principles and guidance on 
> these areas.” We also heard everything in between.
>
> It is our charge, as the NFB Code of Conduct Feedback Committee, to 
> engage with the membership about the Code of Conduct, how to improve 
> and enhance it, and how to make it accessible and available to all. 
> The Code sets out guidance for how members of the Federation should 
> comport ourselves. It establishes the minimum standard for how we 
> should interact to ensure the safety, full participation, and 
> inclusion of our members, participants, employees, guests, and 
> volunteers. As we evolve as a community, our Code evolves, and we are 
> doing our best to get it right. To get it right though, we need all of 
> you.
>
> In early 2018 the NFB adopted a Code of Conduct, which provided policy 
> guidance in a variety of areas, including anti-discrimination, 
> anti-harassment, prevention of and response to sexual and other 
> misconduct, conflict of interest, and other important categories. The 
> work to think through what the Code should include and how to 
> articulate its principles began several years before its 2018 
> adoption. Since 2018, the Code has been updated and enhanced several 
> times. Most recently, the NFB Board of Directors updated a revised 
> Code in December of 2021.
>
> As part of the most recent iteration of the NFB Code of Conduct, 
> Article XI included language that enhanced and more clearly spelled 
> out how the Code would be reviewed. “The President shall appoint a 
> Code of Conduct Committee that will review data and procedures 
> regarding reports filed under this Code. The Committee will monitor 
> actions under this Code, gather feedback from the Federation community 
> about the Code, assist in educating the community about the Code and 
> procedures, and make recommendations to the National Federation of the 
> Blind Board of Directors as needed.”
>
> In early 2022, President Riccobono appointed the Code of Conduct 
> Feedback Committee to undertake this work. This Committee is 
> representative of the membership in that it consists of leaders and 
> non-elected members from across the Federation. Some of the Committee 
> members are long-time Federationists, and others are fairly new. The 
> Committee includes mental health professionals, teachers, mediators, 
> parents of blind children, crisis support personnel, and a variety of 
> other professions. The members range from recent graduate to retiree. 
> The Committee is a cross section of the organization, but also each 
> member has a particular skillset or background that makes this work 
> particularly meaningful to them.
>
> As part of our charge, we are soliciting feedback and suggestions from 
> the Federation community about the Code of Conduct and its associated 
> processes. We recognize that some have participated in the Code of 
> Conduct, perhaps as a filer, complainant, respondent, witness, or a 
> responsible leader. We are very interested in feedback on the 
> participant experience, and we are committing to receiving that 
> feedback in a manner that is both trauma informed and protects 
> confidentiality. However, we will caution that the Code of Conduct 
> Feedback Committee is not able to assess outcomes of matters brought 
> under the Code.
>
> We also recognize that there are some who have not yet fully bought 
> into the Code. We are interested to hear from these individuals as to 
> their perspectives as well. We want to assess barriers to 
> participation in the Code process, including attitudinal barriers, 
> access barriers, and other barriers we have not yet contemplated.
>
> We want the Federation community to think about what, if any, aspects 
> of the Code the Board should enhance, augment, or change. We want 
> feedback on how the Code could be socialized more widely and how to 
> get buy-in from individuals who have not yet done so. We want to know 
> how to enhance the training mechanisms and resources that are 
> available. We want to know what has worked, what hasn’t, and what 
> ideas people have that could work in the future.
>
> To that end, we are inviting individuals to engage with us. Those 
> wishing to share feedback and suggestions are encouraged to email the 
> Code of Conduct Feedback Committee at Codefeedback at nfb.org or call us 
> at 410-659-9314, extension 2284. We plan to hold some office hours at 
> the 2022 NFB National Convention, where we will be on hand to speak 
> individually and in person with those who would like to engage with 
> us. We also plan to send out a survey this fall to the NFB community. 
> If people have additional suggestions about how we can engage with the 
> membership, please share those ideas with us at the email address or 
> phone number provided.
>
> We want to make sure the NFB Code of Conduct is effective, fair, and 
> easy to understand. We also want to ensure that people feel 
> comfortable and safe using it if they need to do so. We want it to be 
> accessible, meaningful, and usable. We want the participant experience 
> to be as easy as it can be. We want people to trust in the Code and 
> its processes. And we want it to be representative of what our 
> community wants and needs it to be. We are asking you to help us in 
> this effort.
>
> ----------
>
> [PHOTO CAPTION: Nancy Burns]
>
>
>     When it is Okay to Say “Yes”
>
> *by Nancy Burns*
>
> *From the Editor: Nancy is a longtime leader in the National 
> Federation of the Blind and often makes contributions to our magazine. 
> Here is another of her thoughtful offerings, this time speaking about 
> independence, when it must be asserted, when it may take second place 
> to meet the temporary needs of another, and the way in which it may 
> change over time. Enjoy:*
>
> Diversity in opinions and long-held philosophical beliefs could 
> possibly create a platform for open discussion on a variety of issues. 
> The following comments are based on my own personal experiences, 
> however, I believe that as a longtime Federationist, others will 
> relate to these words.
>
> Learning that in 1940 Dr. Jacobus tenBroek possessed enough faith in 
> blind individuals to create the cornerstone of the National Federation 
> of the Blind became the source of my own philosophy of life. 
> Fortunately, such Federationists as Dr. Isabelle Grant and Lawrence 
> (Muzzy) Marcelino were my personal mentors and contributed to my 
> growth as an independent blind woman. These names may not be familiar 
> to all, but they were most incredible and positive influences within 
> the state of California.
>
> It was with the encouragement of Dr. Grant that I joined the blind 
> student’s group. For the first time, I observed young, blind students 
> traveling independently all through the city of Los Angeles to attend 
> NFB and other meetings. They were even planning a trip to San 
> Francisco for a state convention. I swallowed my fear and traveled 
> with my new friends. By observing students buying tickets, boarding a 
> Greyhound bus, and checking into a hotel, I gained valuable lessons 
> not taught in any of my classes. I simply observed, learned, and 
> enjoyed this trip. It was a challenging and totally exciting 
> experience for me. I learned that I, too, could travel independently 
> with the use of my long white cane and my hearing. My self-confidence 
> took a huge boost during this trip.
>
> My good fortune continued as I met and worked with Dr. Kenneth 
> Jernigan. His seminars were brilliant and energizing. It was he who 
> not only confirmed my concept of independence but convinced me that 
> independence was and still is the right choice for me. A portion of 
> this philosophy was to adapt the belief that blindness should not be 
> used to take advantage of certain situations. There are negative 
> repercussions when blindness is used in this manner. I can still hear 
> him saying, “There is no free lunch”. Thus, my philosophy of life was 
> truly established.
>
> In addition to formulating my own independence, I developed the desire 
> to work with and advocate for other blind people. While bringing 
> together blind individuals, it became apparent that peer interaction 
> is invaluable. Working with people who are recently experiencing 
> vision loss is particularly rewarding. It has always been my desire to 
> share with others the message of independence that was so generously 
> shared with me.
>
> Though it was at first surprising to me, it was sometimes difficult to 
> make the right decision as I practiced my own independence. For 
> example, while standing in a long bank, store, or other such line, 
> there have been times when I was told I could move to the head of the 
> line. If I felt that this offer was based only on my blindness, I 
> politely thanked the person but refused the offer. It was my habit to 
> allow time for such situations. One such incident occurred as I was 
> standing in a long bank line during my lunch break. It was the manager 
> who offered me the opportunity to step ahead of others in the line. I 
> thanked him and said that most everyone else was more than likely on 
> their lunch break, and I chose not to step ahead. The lunch break was 
> important to all of us, so why should I be allowed to move ahead of 
> others simply because of my blindness? At the time, I was working in a 
> Federal building in Los Angeles and knew that the majority of the 
> people were waiting to cash checks since it was payday. I have often 
> pondered the basis of such actions. Was the manager motivated by pity? 
> Thinking of this always causes me to be uncomfortable and encourages 
> me to educate the public about blindness. I was learning that 
> microaggressions about blindness does exist and have attempted to deal 
> with it during my life experiences.
>
> Since I was working in Los Angeles, it was necessary to navigate busy 
> and congested sidewalks and to cross noisy intersections. While 
> waiting at one such intersection, all too often someone would grab my 
> arm and drag me across the street. This usually resulted in my 
> becoming rather disoriented when my long white cane missed my usual 
> landmarks. These incidents caused me to become resistant when such a 
> person felt obligated to guide me. However, if I stood at an 
> unfamiliar intersection, I was comfortable saying “yes” when asked if 
> I needed assistance. There are simply times when it becomes necessary 
> to say, “yes please,” rather than the usual “no thank you.” Safety is 
> always the issue in such circumstances. I suppose the obvious question 
> that arises is does saying “yes” really cause the loss of 
> independence? This question is, and likely will be debated forever. 
> The answer is not easy. If I don’t know the skill and am not 
> comfortable using it, taking the help reduces my independence or 
> lengthens the time it takes me to gain it. If I have crossed the 
> street so often that I could do it in my sleep, perhaps saying yes is 
> okay.
>
> Some years later I was working for the California Department of 
> Rehabilitation and had the opportunity to travel to London with a 
> friend. During this trip, a most favorite memory and experience took 
> place while walking independently down Bronson Road during lunch hour 
> for Londoners. I was able to step out of a department store and simply 
> walk along with other busy Londoners. As I stopped at a noisy 
> intersection to listen to traffic flow, a gentleman asked if he could 
> assist. I said yes, that would be helpful. I was quite competent in 
> listening to the traffic flow in Los Angeles, but in London, the 
> traffic was moving in the wrong direction, and I chose not to risk 
> becoming a hood ornament on a fast-moving vehicle. So, when a Londoner 
> stopped and asked if he could assist, I said I was looking for 
> Selfridges department store. He advised me that it was across the 
> street and that he, too, would be crossing. He simply walked beside 
> me, and when we reached the opposite side of the street, he told me 
> that he was going to the right and that the store was to my left. I 
> thanked him and continued down the sidewalk. All of this is to say 
> that my philosophy of independence has helped me to feel good about 
> myself. These events occurred during the 1970s and ’80s.
>
> Fast forward to the early 1990s. During a convention of the National 
> Federation of the Blind in Dallas, Texas, it was my pleasure to room 
> with a dear friend who held the same basic philosophy about 
> independence as I hold. It was during this conference when I met, and 
> soon afterwards married, Don Burns. It was the second marriage for 
> both of us, and he was recently experiencing vision loss. But had 
> quickly adapted a similar philosophy of independence. All of this is 
> simply to lay the background for the next several years of my life. As 
> a blind couple, we have traveled extensively, and our experiences are 
> phenomenal. We have learned to accept those sometimes demeaning and 
> often annoying comments while at the same time attempting to educate 
> the offender. The general public has little connection with the blind 
> population and is unaware of the vast interests and abilities of those 
> of us who happen to be blind. We are often called amazing or even 
> courageous. If time allows, we spout a quick response, always 
> indicating that we are just travelers who happen to be blind.
>
> As we age, and our bodies slow down, we learned that saying, “yes, 
> thanks” becomes easier. This is somewhat difficult because of my years 
> of independence and of politely refusing such assistance. Don and I 
> have learned that at times it becomes necessary to swallow our pride 
> and put safety first. During a recent trip abroad, we were in customs 
> and heading toward a down escalator. Both of us were loaded down with 
> luggage and backpacks. When a customs agent advised us of the location 
> of an elevator, we both readily accepted the suggestion. Based on the 
> years of declining such suggestions, this acceptance was tough. We 
> both realized that it was time to put safety first.
>
> All of this is to say that we do not lose our independence when 
> accepting assistance. Self-confidence or the lack thereof is the true 
> issue in such cases. The National Federation of the Blind, the largest 
> and most powerful organization of the blind, is the backbone of the 
> blind population in the United States. Throughout the decades, 
> hundreds if not thousands of blind people have become successful and 
> effective members of society.
>
> All of this is the result of a forward thinking, young, blind 
> professor. I doubt that Dr. Jacobus tenBroek had any realization about 
> the impact his philosophy would have on the lives of future blind 
> citizens. Thank goodness he did what he did, and thanks also that we 
> continue to do what we do.
>
> ----------
>
> [PHOTO CAPTION: Gary Wunder]
>
>
>     How the Monitor is Built, its Timelines, and Making it What You
>     Want it to Be
>
> *by Gary Wunder*
>
> It seems that the coronavirus has interfered in everything we have 
> come to expect, and the /Braille Monitor/ has not been 
> immune—particularly our hardcopy formats. When we produce hardcopy as 
> in the case of Braille, large print, and our audio thumb drives, we 
> necessarily extend the time for publication if needed. As helpful as 
> it is to put our magazine out through email, on the web, and on 
> NFB-NEWSLINE®, given the speed with which electronic documents can be 
> published, we believe there are a significant number of readers who 
> still want and need the publication in a form that is delivered 
> directly to their homes. What we always wrestle with is the desire to 
> publish late-breaking news and the need to get the publication out on 
> time.
>
> Here is a review of how the hardcopy timeline has been affected most 
> recently. Vendors have had difficulty because the virus has hit its 
> staff, and the virus is even interfered with necessary servicing of 
> their equipment. One issue had to be completely redone, so we offer 
> our most sincere apology to those who read the hard-copy edition in 
> Braille. There have been minor delays in the print issue as well. And 
> the National Federation of the Blind is investigating the unacceptable 
> delays in the Free Matter service from the U.S. Postal Service. The 
> most recent delay comes from me, having contracted the coronavirus yet 
> a second time and delaying our June 2022 publication by about a week. 
> Our goal has been for readers to have hardcopies at least by the end 
> of the same month, which has not been met.
>
> So that our readers understand the way the publication is built and 
> the deadlines we use, here is a brief outline. When we get an article 
> that we are privileged to run, it is first read and edited by me as 
> the editor. It then gets a format check by Elyse Bryan, and later she 
> takes all of the individual articles we have assembled and places them 
> into one document based on the order that I specify. Normally this 
> document is compiled as early as the tenth or as late as the fifteenth 
> of the month. The document, written in Microsoft Word, is then 
> submitted to our first proofreader, Lorraine Rovig, who examines it 
> for errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and overall clarity. Any 
> suggestions for changes get run by me, the word document is updated, 
> and it then gets sent to our art director, Suzanne Shaffer. She then 
> uses the Word document to create the multicolumn document we will use 
> for the print edition by importing it to Adobe InDesign. That layout 
> then goes to a second proofreader, who not only looks for the errors 
> listed above, but also looks for errors in layout and opportunities 
> presented by the print format to pull out certain notable quotations. 
> Again we do a review session, and the corrected document, this time an 
> electronic version of pages marked up by pencil and pen, goes back to 
> Suzanne who incorporates all of the changes into the Microsoft Word 
> document and the multi-column layout produced in Adobe InDesign. Once 
> this is done, we subject the final document to a light review and send 
> it off for embossing and printing.
>
> Shortly after the document is submitted for the hardcopies, then the 
> audio is recorded by Will Schwatka and also proofed, and the digital 
> formats are setup on our website under nfb.org/publications 
> <https://nfb.org/publications>. The digital format is typically 
> available on the first of each month. A few months ago, we made the 
> decision to delay a deadline date because we were waiting for an 
> important piece of information from the White House. With these 
> various changes on our timelines, we are seeking your feedback.
>
> Understanding your thoughts and expectations regarding the /Braille 
> Monitor/ would be helpful in determining where we may evolve the 
> timelines. Is it more important for the /Braille Monitor/ to be 
> predictably on time or would an occasional delay for late breaking 
> news be your preference? Are you accessing multiple formats as they 
> become available? Do you prefer to think of the /Monitor/ being Issue 
> One through Issue Eleven, or do you prefer that it continue to be 
> designated by month and be closely linked by date?
>
> The /Braille Monitor/ belongs to all of us in the Federation so that 
> we can remain informed and included. We have no higher obligation than 
> to meet the desire of our readers. Please share your comments with me 
> by writing to gwunder at nfb.org. Though we won’t be using a formal 
> survey, you will be heard, and what you say will be taken into 
> account. Any other input you care to share will also be welcome.
>
> ----------
>
> [PHOTO CAPTION: Peggy Chong]
>
>
>     She Had an Anteater
>
> *by Peggy Chong*
>
> *From the Editor: Peggy Chong is often featured in these pages because 
> of what she reveals about blind people who have played such a part in 
> building what we now enjoy but would otherwise get little credit were 
> it not for her efforts. For me what she writes is therapeutic. So many 
> times in my life, I have thought I was a pioneer, but the reality is 
> that I was traveling a road that some blind person had helped to 
> build. I sometimes have felt like I was carrying the weight of the 
> world on my shoulders, but the reality is that people who had far less 
> to work with carried the burden every bit as well as I have and in 
> many cases have done it far better. Here is a splendid example of a 
> woman who enjoyed her life, focusing not on her adversities but on how 
> she could live the life she wanted. Here is Peggy’s article:*
>
> Hello Blind History Lady Fans:
>
> One of my more interesting ancestors this past year is Emily 
> Raspberry. There was so little written about her and yet so much to 
> tell. Following is a glimpse into what I have learned of this 
> incredibly strong woman.
>
> Born December 12, 1915, in Alabama, Emily came down with the flu at 
> age four. When she recovered from the flu, she was totally blind. Her 
> little sister died from the flu on December 20, 1918.
>
> Emily's mother sent her to public school with her older brother. No 
> accommodations for a blind Black child were possible, so Emily 
> listened and participated in class orally, not learning to read or 
> write. Finally, Emily was enrolled at the Alabama School for the Negro 
> Deaf and Blind in the fall of 1926.
>
> Emily was homesick, but there was so much to learn. In only two weeks, 
> she mastered the Braille Code and read all 130 books the school owned. 
> A new world opened to her. She had a glimpse of the sighted world, and 
> she wanted to be a part of it. Her teachers were impressed with 
> Emily's quick acquisition of the Braille Code and placed her in the 
> upper class. She studied hard to cram in several years of learning 
> into her first year.
>
> Emily returned home for the first time on May 22, 1927, to find her 
> mother gravely ill. Emily was home only a few hours before her mother 
> died. Instead of returning home as she intended, immersed in the joy 
> of showing how well she was able to learn as a blind child, she was 
> faced with the shock that came from the death of her mother and the 
> heart-wrenching separation from her family that would follow.
>
> A funeral was planned in days. After the funeral, Emily was told she 
> would live with her half-sister in West Virginia. She was enrolled in 
> the West Virginia School for the Colored Blind almost immediately. She 
> found they had twice the Braille books in their library and magazines 
> in Braille. Emily threw herself into her studies. She found the 
> classes harder than in Alabama.
>
> Unlike other schools, West Virginia held unsegregated classes that 
> included both the deaf and the blind students. The boys had one dorm 
> and the girls the other. There were no separate dorms for the blind 
> and deaf students. Rooms were crowded; sometimes three or four boys 
> shared one that would have been considered small for two.
>
> There is no record of when Emily graduated, but it is believed to be 
> either 1932 or 1933. She enrolled at the West Virginia State College 
> for Negro's in Dunbar. At the end of her first year of college in 
> 1935, she knew she wanted to be a teacher in a school for the blind. 
> Her hope was to share her love of reading and literature to the blind 
> and colored students she taught, her hope being they would come to 
> experience many of the possibilities offered by the outside world.
>
> Emily graduated in 1938 and continued classes through the West 
> Virginia State College, enabling her to become a certified teacher of 
> the blind. She received her master's degree from Hampton University.
>
> Emily started as an academic teacher in the primary grades at the West 
> Virginia School for the Colored Blind in 1940 in Institute, West 
> Virginia, a town located near Charleston. She taught reading and 
> writing for the blind and deaf children in her classes.
>
> On her desk she had a toy anteater. Over the years, the anteater 
> showed its wear. Emily decided the toy needed to be disposed of. 
> Knowing her students loved the anteater, frequently saying hello or 
> goodbye to it, she set up a funeral for the anteater. The class went 
> out and dug a shallow grave for the toy, placed it in the grave, and 
> held a short service.
>
> When the school for the white in Romney and the school for the colored 
> combined in 1955, Emily was one of only three teachers from the 
> colored school that made the transfer. Not all the colored students 
> from the Institute transitioned to Romney.
>
> The staff at Romney were friendly, but Emily did not mix socially. For 
> at least the first year, she took a room in the student dorms, as did 
> the other single teachers. As a single woman, and the only Black 
> faculty in the blind department, she may have felt out of place.
>
> In reading classes when she recognized a spark, she assigned a poetry 
> lesson for spelling class to bring out the creativity of the students. 
> The children were encouraged to write a poem, including all of the 
> spelling words for the week. In her Braille classes, she taught the 
> students to work with a slate and stylus, while other teachers used 
> the Perkins Braillewriter.
>
> She incorporated listening to the radio into her classes to ensure her 
> student's interest. They were assigned lessons to write about what 
> they heard. The eighth-grade class in 1956 wrote a quiz show based on 
> the show, "The Big Surprise."
>
> Emily supervised school trips to watch plays or listen to concerts. 
> For years, she had season tickets to the Cumberland Classical Musical 
> Series. Each year Emily paid for four student season passes for those 
> with an interest in music. She took the students by riding the bus or 
> hiring a driver.
>
> When a movie of interest—mostly historical films such as /Man of All 
> Seasons/ came to town, she asked students to accompany her to the 
> movie theater in Romney. She paid for their tickets and treated them 
> to their own box of popcorn.
>
> A memorable year was 1967 when she was chosen to supervise a student 
> teacher. Emily was honored and proud as the student teacher was a 
> former blind student.
>
> In 1969, Emily taught health. This was most likely not her favorite 
> subject, but she entered the class with the same enthusiasm as her 
> English classes, even though textbooks were more than twenty years 
> old. One assignment was to make up word puzzles relating to their 
> health lessons. When the project was over, the best questions were put 
> into an article for the school newspaper, /The Tablet/, to show how 
> much her students learned that semester.
>
> Later she took an apartment above a restaurant. Rickety wooden stairs 
> led to her door. The apartment overlooked Main Street. The entire 
> space may have been no more than nine hundred square feet.
>
> Emily frequently took the Greyhound bus to Washington, DC. When a 
> student of hers also rode the bus, she talked to them about their 
> schoolwork or family. In class, Emily mentioned her travels to DC, 
> commenting on the friendliness of the staff to her and sadness that 
> maids in the hotels were paid so little.
>
> Other blind teachers from the school asked to have their meat cut or 
> their tea poured from the pot on the table, but not Emily. She 
> insisted she would cut her own meat, pour her own tea, and serve herself.
>
> Summer vacations were never wasted. She took classes at Harvard. In 
> 1961 she worked as a proofreader for Perkins Braille Press. Vacations 
> meant spending time in exhibits at the planetarium, museums, concerts, 
> exhibits on history and more. Usually these were attended in Boston. 
> There were also trips to attend conventions of the AAWB [American 
> Association of Workers for the Blind], of which she was a member.
>
> At one concert, she spoke briefly to Senator Edward Kennedy, also 
> attending. Their meeting was exciting for Emily, and she took the news 
> back to her students about this encounter with a man who would make 
> history.
>
> Emily retired at the end of the 1977 school term and moved to Boston. 
> She kept in touch with some of the Romney residents. They wrote to her 
> in print, and she answered them in print. She died September 12, 1988, 
> in Vermont.
>
> If you would like to schedule a presentation, contact Peggy Chong at 
> theblindhistorylady at gmail.com or call me at 303-745-0473, or cell 
> 515-707-5915, chongpegg10 at gmail.com. You can read more of my books at 
> https://www.smashwords.com/books/byseries/24325.
>
> ----------
>
> [PHOTO CAPTION: Annie Schlesinger]
>
>
>     Eye Talk
>
> *by Annie Schlesinger*
>
> *From the Editor: Annie has written before for our publication, and 
> she is an advocate for learning how to age and deal with the problems 
> that come with it and with blindness. In this article, she talks about 
> her problems with balance, offers some comments, and subtly asks for 
> ideas. Anyone having them can send them to her at anniembbs at gmail.com. 
> Here is what she has to say:*
>
> In May 2021 I was changing clothes; I bent over, fell on my arm, and 
> broke my wrist. I discovered Tucson orthopedic Institute has a weekday 
> evening walk-in clinic. Since that time, I have had trouble with my 
> balance as well as some pain and stiffness in that arm and hand.
>
> Preparing for blindness and aging has helped me during this time. I 
> have been to a neurologist; and ear, nose, and throat specialist; and 
> have also visited physical therapy. Fortunately, I didn’t have a 
> stroke, but if I had called 911, the tests and scans could’ve been 
> done in the ER instead of waiting months for appointments. I ended up 
> with a diagnosis of Central Vestibular Disorder, which seems to be a 
> catchall diagnosis for my problems. I have an imbalance problem and 
> often bad pain in my head along with nausea. I have another referral 
> to a neurologist.
>
> Sessions with a physical therapist have helped me with my balance and 
> feelings of dizziness, but some degree of dizziness is always present. 
> I continue to do home exercises for both balance and dizziness. I look 
> around my senior living community and have incorporated some new 
> behaviors. I don’t bend over, or if I do, I hang onto something and 
> keep my head up. I seem to fall forward, but I have a friend who says 
> she has to be careful about falling backwards. I set up a dressing 
> chair; it has arms and faces the bed. I have a shower chair, hand-held 
> shower hose, and grab bars; I need it all.
>
> For a number of months I have been pushing a personal shopping cart 
> for support and protection—not the best solution. I need to get back 
> to using the long white cane to travel safely. I don’t want to use a 
> walker, which requires two hands and a third hand for the long cane. 
> It’s possible, but it’s one step at a time. It seems my choice is a 
> support cane, a Hemi Walker, or to propel myself by my feet in a 
> wheelchair with the long white cane sweeping in front. I am trying a 
> lightweight shopping cart I pull behind with the long white cane in 
> front. I am looking for help on what best to do as a blind person who 
> has very poor balance.
>
> Vestibular.org <http://vestibular.org> has an incredible amount of 
> information about diseases and balance. The eyes affect balance; I do 
> gaze-stabilization exercises. I have joined two of their online 
> support groups as I try to learn about this impact on my life and 
> continue to maintain as much independence as I can. Thank you for any 
> suggestions.
>
> ----------
>
>
>     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.
>
>
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