<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><title>The Braille Monitor, July 2022 – The Braille Monitor, July 2022</title><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:Wingdings;
panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Consolas;
panose-1:2 11 6 9 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Georgia;
panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 4 5 2 3 3;}
@font-face
{font-family:"Lucida Console";
panose-1:2 11 6 9 4 5 4 2 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;}
h1
{mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 1 Char";
margin-top:16.8pt;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:24.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
font-weight:bold;}
h2
{mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 2 Char";
margin-top:16.8pt;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:18.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
font-weight:bold;}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:#1A1A1A;
text-decoration:underline;}
span.Heading1Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 1 Char";
mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 1";
font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;
color:#2F5496;}
span.Heading2Char
{mso-style-name:"Heading 2 Char";
mso-style-priority:9;
mso-style-link:"Heading 2";
font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;
color:#2F5496;}
span.EmailStyle33
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
color:windowtext;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-size:10.0pt;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
/* List Definitions */
@list l0
{mso-list-id:285628745;
mso-list-template-ids:882147110;}
@list l0:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0B7;
mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l0:level2
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:1.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@list l0:level3
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:1.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level4
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:2.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level5
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:2.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level6
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:3.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level7
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:3.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level8
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:4.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l0:level9
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:4.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1
{mso-list-id:519666745;
mso-list-template-ids:-456098256;}
@list l1:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0B7;
mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l1:level2
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:1.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@list l1:level3
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:1.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1:level4
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:2.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1:level5
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:2.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1:level6
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:3.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1:level7
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:3.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1:level8
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:4.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l1:level9
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:4.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l2
{mso-list-id:1311014794;
mso-list-template-ids:1309056410;}
@list l2:level1
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0B7;
mso-level-tab-stop:.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Symbol;}
@list l2:level2
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:o;
mso-level-tab-stop:1.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New";
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";}
@list l2:level3
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:1.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l2:level4
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:2.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l2:level5
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:2.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l2:level6
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:3.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l2:level7
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:3.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l2:level8
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:4.0in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
@list l2:level9
{mso-level-number-format:bullet;
mso-level-text:\F0A7;
mso-level-tab-stop:4.5in;
mso-level-number-position:left;
text-indent:-.25in;
mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Wingdings;}
ol
{margin-bottom:0in;}
ul
{margin-bottom:0in;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body bgcolor="#FDFDFD" lang=EN-US link="#1A1A1A" vlink="#1A1A1A" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hello to All,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>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.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Bonnie<o:p></o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b>From:</b> brl-monitor-bounces@nfbcal.org <brl-monitor-bounces@nfbcal.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Brian Buhrow<br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, June 29, 2022 12:47 PM<br><b>To:</b> brl-monitor@nfbcal.org<br><b>Subject:</b> [Brl-monitor] The Braille Monitor, July 2022<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div id=header><h1><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>The Braille Monitor, July 2022<o:p></o:p></span></h1></div><h1 id=braille-monitor><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>BRAILLE MONITOR<o:p></o:p></span></h1><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Vol. 65, No. 7 July 2022<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><em><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Gary Wunder, Editor</span></em><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Distributed by email, in inkprint, in Braille, and on USB flash drive, by the<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Mark Riccobono, President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>telephone: 410-659-9314<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>email address: <a href="mailto:nfb@nfb.org">nfb@nfb.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>website address: <a href="http://www.nfb.org">http://www.nfb.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>NFBnet.org: <a href="http://www.nfbnet.org">http://www.nfbnet.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>NFB-NEWSLINE® information: 866-504-7300<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Follow us on Twitter: @NFB_Voice<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Watch and share our videos: YouTube.com/NationsBlind<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Letters to the President, address changes, subscription requests, and orders for NFB literature should be sent to the national office. Articles for the <em><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Monitor</span></em> and letters to the editor may also be sent to the national office or may be emailed to gwunder@nfb.org.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><em><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Monitor</span></em><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'> 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 <strong><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif'>National Federation of the Blind</span></strong> and sent to:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>200 East Wells Street <em><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif'>at Jernigan Place</span></em><br>Baltimore, Maryland 21230-4998<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><em><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>ISSN 0006-8829</span></em><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>© 2022 by the National Federation of the Blind<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Each issue is recorded on a thumb drive (also called a memory stick or USB flash drive). You can read this audio edition using a computer or a National Library Service digital player. The NLS machine has two slots—the familiar book-cartridge slot just above the retractable carrying handle and a second slot located on the right side near the headphone jack. This smaller slot is used to play thumb drives. Remove the protective rubber pad covering this slot and insert the thumb drive. It will insert only in one position. If you encounter resistance, flip the drive over and try again. (Note: If the cartridge slot is not empty when you insert the thumb drive, the digital player will ignore the thumb drive.) Once the thumb drive is inserted, the player buttons will function as usual for reading digital materials. If you remove the thumb drive to use the player for cartridges, when you insert it again, reading should resume at the point you stopped.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Vol. 65, No. 7 July 2022<o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 id=contents><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Contents<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Corrections and Apologies<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>by Chris Danielsen<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>A Tribute that Can Only Begin to Capture My Friend, My Brother, and the Most Important Member of My Federation Family<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>by David De Notaris<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Music in the Service of Those Who Sorrow: The World Blind Union Extends a Helping Hand to the Blind of Ukraine<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>by Gary Wunder<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>We’re With U: We Choose Not to Be Neutral<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>by Martine Abel-Williamson<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>We’re With U: The Blind Community at its Best<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>by Jonathan Mosen<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Chapter Chatter Part 2: Intention, Prevention, and Intervention<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>by Christine Faltz Grassman<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Lessons and Lifelines<br>by Renée Valdez<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Coming to Our Senses<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Reviewed by Deborah Kent Stein<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>An Explanation about the Need for and Beauty of our Code of Conduct<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>by Ronza Othman<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>When it is Okay to Say “Yes”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>by Nancy Burns<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>How the Monitor is Built, Its Timelines, and Making it What You Want it to Be<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>by Gary Wunder<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>She Had an Anteater<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>by Peggy Chong<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Eye Talk<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>by Annie Schlesinger<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>[PHOTO CAPTION: Chris Danielsen]<o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 id=corrections-and-apologies><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Corrections and Apologies<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>by Chris Danielsen</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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 <em><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Unity</span></em>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>----------<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>[PHOTO CAPTION: David De Notaris]<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>[PHOTO CAPTION: Joe Ruffalo]<o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 id="a-tribute-that-can-only-begin-to-capture-my-friend-my-brother-and-the-most-important-member-of-my-federation-family"><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>A Tribute that Can Only Begin to Capture My Friend, My Brother, and the Most Important Member of My Federation Family<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>by David De Notaris</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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:</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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!”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>“I’m sorry sir, you’ve got the wrong number. This is Joe, and I’m the vice president.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>“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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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!”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>One day I recall Joe calling me and sharing, “David, do you know what NFB stands for?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>“Yes Joe, of course, National Federation of the Blind.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>“Yes, correct, but it also stands for Never Felt Better!” Joe was blessed to find the NFB, and then he found himself.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>--------<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>[PHOTO CAPTION: We're With U! concert logo. A concert to benefit the blind of Ukraine.]<o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 id="music-in-the-service-of-those-who-sorrow-the-world-blind-union-extends-a-helping-hand-to-the-blind-of-ukraine"><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Music in the Service of Those Who Sorrow: The World Blind Union Extends a Helping Hand to the Blind of Ukraine<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>by Gary Wunder</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>----------<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>[PHOTO CAPTION: Martine Abel-Williamson with her guide dog.]<o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 id=were-with-u-we-choose-not-to-be-neutral><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>We’re With U: We Choose Not to Be Neutral<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>by Martine Abel-Williamson</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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:</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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].<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li style='color:#1A1A1A;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style='color:#1A1A1A;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style='color:#1A1A1A;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style='color:#1A1A1A;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style='color:#1A1A1A;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style='color:#1A1A1A;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style='color:#1A1A1A;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style='color:#1A1A1A;mso-list:l2 level1 lfo1'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>WBU will endeavor to disburse the funds in a timely manner while doing so in a way that is responsible.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>----------<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>[PHOTO CAPTION: Jonathan Mosen]<o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 id=were-with-u-the-blind-community-at-its-best><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>We’re With U: The Blind Community at its Best<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>by Jonathan Mosen</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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 </span></strong><em><b><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Braille Monitor</span></b></em><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>:</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>----------<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>[PHOTO CAPTION: Christine Faltz Grassman]<o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 id=chapter-chatter-part-2-intention-prevention-and-intervention><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Chapter Chatter Part 2: Intention, Prevention, and Intervention<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>by Christine Faltz Grassman</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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:</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Ten percent of conflicts is due to difference in opinion and ninety percent is due to wrong tone of voice.<br>— Susan Wiertzema<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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 <a href="mailto:cfgrassman@icloud.com">cfgrassman@icloud.com</a> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>----------<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>[PHOTO CAPTION: Renée Valdez]<o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 id=lessons-and-lifelines><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Lessons and Lifelines<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>by Renée Valdez</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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:</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>"Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>— Helen Keller<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Peace!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>----------<o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 id=you-can-make-a-difference><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>You Can Make a Difference <o:p></o:p></span></h2><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>With your help, the NFB will continue to:</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li style='color:#1A1A1A;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Give blind children the gift of literacy through Braille.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style='color:#1A1A1A;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Promote independent travel by providing free, long white canes to blind people in need.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style='color:#1A1A1A;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Develop dynamic educational projects and programs to show blind youth that science and math careers are within their reach.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style='color:#1A1A1A;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Deliver hundreds of accessible newspapers and magazines to provide blind people the essential information necessary to be actively involved in their communities.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style='color:#1A1A1A;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo2'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Offer aids and appliances that help seniors losing vision maintain their independence.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Plan to Leave a Legacy</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Fixed Sum of Assets</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Percentage of Assets</span></strong><b><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><br></span></b><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Payable on Death (POD) Account</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Will or Trust</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>If you do decide to create or revise your will, consider the National Federation of the Blind as a partial beneficiary.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Visit our Planned Giving webpage (<a href="https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/ways-give/planned-giving">https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/ways-give/planned-giving</a>) or call 410-659-9314, extension 2422, for more information.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Together with love, hope, determination, and your support, we will continue to transform dreams into reality.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Ways to Contribute Now</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Throughout 2021, the NFB:<o:p></o:p></span></p><ul style='margin-top:0in' type=disc><li style='color:#1A1A1A;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Sent nearly one thousand Braille Santa and Winter Celebration letters to blind children, encouraging excitement for Braille literacy.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style='color:#1A1A1A;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Distributed over five thousand canes to blind people across the United States, empowering them to travel safely and independently throughout their communities.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style='color:#1A1A1A;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Delivered audio newspaper and magazine services to 126,823 subscribers, providing free access to over five hundred local, national, and international publications.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style='color:#1A1A1A;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Gave over six hundred Braille-writing slates and styluses free of charge to blind users.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li style='color:#1A1A1A;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Mentored 232 blind youth during our Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning® Academy in-home editions.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Vehicle Donation Program</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>General Donation</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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 (<a href="https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/ways-give">https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/ways-give</a>) for more information. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Pre-Authorized Contribution</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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 (<a href="https://www.nfb.org/pac">https://www.nfb.org/pac</a>) online.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>If you have questions about giving, please send an email to <a href="mailto:outreach@nfb.org">outreach@nfb.org</a> or call 410-659-9314, extension 2422.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>[PHOTO CAPTION: Deborah Kent Stein]<o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 id=coming-to-our-senses><em><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Coming to Our Senses</span></em><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></h2><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>by Susan R. Barry</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Reviewed by Deborah Kent Stein</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>From the Editor: I am often asked if the </span></strong><em><b><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Braille Monitor</span></b></em><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'> 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:</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><em><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Coming to Our Senses: A Boy Who Learned to See, A Girl Who Learned to Hear, and How We All Discover the World</span></em><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>by Susan R. Barry<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Basic Books, 2021<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>ISBN: 9781541675155<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Available from Amazon, Kindle, audible.com, and bookshare.org<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>In the 1954 film <em><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif'>The Magnificent Obsession,</span></em> 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!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>In <em><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Coming to Our Senses</span></em> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><em><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Coming to Our Senses</span></em><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>----------<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>[PHOTO CAPTION: Ronza Othman]<o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 id=an-explanation-about-the-need-for-and-beauty-of-our-code-of-conduct><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>An Explanation about the Need for and Beauty of our Code of Conduct<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>by Ronza Othman</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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:</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>"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.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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 <a href="mailto:Codefeedback@nfb.org">Codefeedback@nfb.org</a> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>----------<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>[PHOTO CAPTION: Nancy Burns]<o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 id=when-it-is-okay-to-say-yes><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>When it is Okay to Say “Yes”<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>by Nancy Burns</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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:</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>----------<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>[PHOTO CAPTION: Gary Wunder]<o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 id=how-the-monitor-is-built-its-timelines-and-making-it-what-you-want-it-to-be><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>How the Monitor is Built, its Timelines, and Making it What You Want it to Be<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>by Gary Wunder</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>It seems that the coronavirus has interfered in everything we have come to expect, and the <em><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Braille Monitor</span></em> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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 <a href="https://nfb.org/publications">nfb.org/publications</a>. 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Understanding your thoughts and expectations regarding the <em><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Braille Monitor</span></em> would be helpful in determining where we may evolve the timelines. Is it more important for the <em><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Braille Monitor</span></em> 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 <em><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Monitor</span></em> being Issue One through Issue Eleven, or do you prefer that it continue to be designated by month and be closely linked by date?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>The <em><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Braille Monitor</span></em> 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 <a href="mailto:gwunder@nfb.org">gwunder@nfb.org</a>. 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>----------<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>[PHOTO CAPTION: Peggy Chong]<o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 id=she-had-an-anteater><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>She Had an Anteater<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>by Peggy Chong</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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:</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Hello Blind History Lady Fans:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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."<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>When a movie of interest—mostly historical films such as <em><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif'>Man of All Seasons</span></em> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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, <em><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif'>The Tablet</span></em>, to show how much her students learned that semester.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>If you would like to schedule a presentation, contact Peggy Chong at <a href="mailto:theblindhistorylady@gmail.com">theblindhistorylady@gmail.com</a> or call me at 303-745-0473, or cell 515-707-5915, <a href="mailto:chongpegg10@gmail.com">chongpegg10@gmail.com</a>. You can read more of my books at <a href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/byseries/24325">https://www.smashwords.com/books/byseries/24325</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>----------<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>[PHOTO CAPTION: Annie Schlesinger]<o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 id=eye-talk><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>Eye Talk<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>by Annie Schlesinger</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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 <a href="mailto:anniembbs@gmail.com">anniembbs@gmail.com</a>. Here is what she has to say:</span></strong><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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</span><span dir=RTL></span><span dir=RTL></span><span lang=AR-SA dir=RTL style='font-size:15.0pt;color:#1A1A1A'><span dir=RTL></span><span dir=RTL></span>’</span><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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</span><span dir=RTL></span><span dir=RTL></span><span lang=AR-SA dir=RTL style='font-size:15.0pt;color:#1A1A1A'><span dir=RTL></span><span dir=RTL></span>’</span><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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</span><span dir=RTL></span><span dir=RTL></span><span lang=AR-SA dir=RTL style='font-size:15.0pt;color:#1A1A1A'><span dir=RTL></span><span dir=RTL></span>’</span><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>s possible, but it</span><span dir=RTL></span><span dir=RTL></span><span lang=AR-SA dir=RTL style='font-size:15.0pt;color:#1A1A1A'><span dir=RTL></span><span dir=RTL></span>’</span><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'><a href="http://vestibular.org">Vestibular.org</a> 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.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>----------<o:p></o:p></span></p><h2 id=nfb-pledge><span style='font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>NFB Pledge<o:p></o:p></span></h2><p><span style='font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Georgia",serif;color:#1A1A1A'>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.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>