[NFBofSC] FW: [Brl-monitor] The Braille Monitor, March 2024
floza58 at bellsouth.net
floza58 at bellsouth.net
Sun Mar 3 02:09:37 UTC 2024
From: brl-monitor-bounces at nfbcal.org <brl-monitor-bounces at nfbcal.org> On Behalf Of Brian Buhrow
Sent: Saturday, March 2, 2024 8:34 PM
To: brl-monitor at nfbcal.org
Subject: [Brl-monitor] The Braille Monitor, March 2024
The Braille Monitor, March 2024
BRAILLE MONITOR
Vol. 67, No. 3 March 2024
Gary Wunder, Editor
Distributed by email, in inkprint, in Braille, and on USB flash drive, by the
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
Mark Riccobono, President
telephone: 410-659-9314
email address: nfb at nfb.org <mailto:nfb at nfb.org>
website address: http://www.nfb.org
NFBnet.org: http://www.nfbnet.org
NFB-NEWSLINE® information: 866-504-7300
Like us on Facebook: Facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind
Follow us on Twitter: @NFB_Voice
Watch and share our videos: YouTube.com/NationsBlind
Letters to the President, address changes, subscription requests, and orders for NFB literature should be sent to the national office. Articles for the Monitor and letters to the editor may also be sent to the national office or may be emailed to gwunder at nfb.org <mailto:gwunder at nfb.org> .
Monitor subscriptions cost the Federation about forty dollars per year. Members are invited, and nonmembers are requested, to cover the subscription cost. Donations should be made payable to National Federation of the Blind and sent to:
National Federation of the Blind
200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
Baltimore, Maryland 21230-4998
THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND KNOWS THAT BLINDNESS IS NOT THE CHARACTERISTIC THAT DEFINES YOU OR YOUR FUTURE. EVERY DAY WE RAISE THE EXPECTATIONS OF BLIND PEOPLE, BECAUSE LOW EXPECTATIONS CREATE OBSTACLES BETWEEN BLIND PEOPLE AND OUR DREAMS. YOU CAN LIVE THE LIFE YOU WANT; BLINDNESS IS NOT WHAT HOLDS YOU BACK. THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND IS NOT AN ORGANIZATION SPEAKING FOR THE BLIND—IT IS THE BLIND SPEAKING FOR OURSELVES.
ISSN 0006-8829
© 2024 by the National Federation of the Blind
Each issue is recorded on a thumb drive (also called a memory stick or USB flash drive). You can read this audio edition using a computer or a National Library Service digital player. The NLS machine has two slots—the familiar book-cartridge slot just above the retractable carrying handle and a second slot located on the right side near the headphone jack. This smaller slot is used to play thumb drives. Remove the protective rubber pad covering this slot and insert the thumb drive. It will insert only in one position. If you encounter resistance, flip the drive over and try again. (Note: If the cartridge slot is not empty when you insert the thumb drive, the digital player will ignore the thumb drive.) Once the thumb drive is inserted, the player buttons will function as usual for reading digital materials. If you remove the thumb drive to use the player for cartridges, when you insert it again, reading should resume at the point you stopped.
You can transfer the recording of each issue from the thumb drive to your computer or preserve it on the thumb drive. However, because thumb drives can be used hundreds of times, we would appreciate their return in order to stretch our funding. Please use the return envelope enclosed with the drive when you return the device.
Vol. 67, No. 3 March 2024
Contents
Convention Bulletin 2024
The 2024 Washington Seminar: Back in the Groove Again
by Gary Wunder
The Significance of Washington Seminar 2024
by Mark Riccobono
Washington Seminar Agenda
Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act (H.R. 5813/S. 2984)
Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act (H.R. 1328/S. 3621)
Blind Americans Return to Work Act
Additional Legislative Concerns of Blind Americans for the 118th Congress
How My Life Experience Led Me to Become a School Social Worker
by Jhaliyah Anderson
Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight
by Andrew Leland
Reviewed by Deborah Kendrick
Attend the 2024 NFB National Convention If You Dare
by Karl Smith
Rethinking Our Approach: A Call for Solidarity in the Ride-Share Industry
by Maurice Peret
Coffee with an NFB Staff Member: Beth Braun
My First NFB Convention: Definitely Memorable but Partially for the Wrong Reason
by Leah Campbell
Helping Out: How Chores at Home May Pave the Way to Future Employment for Blind Youth
by Julie Deden
Knowledge is Sweet: A Seminar presented the Diabetes Action Network
by Debbie Wunder
Cindy Scott-Huisman, Owner of Cantrell Gallery and Custom Framing in Little Rock, Learned to adapt to Her Vision Loss
by Sean Clancy
[PHOTO CAPTION: Rosen Centre Hotel at night.]
Convention Bulletin 2024
Believe, Dream, Include, Lead, Champion. Join us for the biggest event of the year, 2024 National Convention of the National Federation of the Blind. Find important details in this bulletin.
Wednesday, July 3 through Monday, July 8, 2024
Orlando, Florida at the Rosen Centre
Start planning your trip now. If this will be your first convention or if you need a refresh, access our First Timer’s Guide (https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/first-timers-guide).
Book Your Hotel
For 2024 convention room reservations, please call the hotel at (800) 204-7234. Ask for the “NFB Convention” block. Here are important things to know about the rates and booking the room:
Rates
Our 2024 convention room rate for singles and doubles is $129. Room rate for triples and quads is $139.
Taxes and Deposit
* Occupancy taxes and surcharges are an additional 13.5 percent.
* There is no charge for children under eighteen if no extra bed is requested.
* At the time you make a reservation, a $146 deposit is required for each room reserved. If you use a credit card, the deposit will be charged against your card immediately, just as would be the case with a $146 check.
Cancellations
If a reservation is cancelled before Saturday, June 1, 2024, half of the deposit will be returned. Otherwise, refunds will not be made.
Registration
Registration for convention opens in March. Registration will be $25 per person plus $75 per banquet ticket. Register early because prices go up if you register onsite in Orlando. Registration includes the biggest event of the year, access to the event app, and communications on the latest news and events.
Convention Season Schedule
The following are important dates to know as you prepare to attend convention.
* January 1: Hotel open for reservations
* March 1: Convention registration opens
* March 31: Scholarship application closes
* April 15: Bolotin Award application closes
* May 1: Blind Educator of the Year Award and Distinguished Educator of Blind Students Award nominations close
* May 31: Online Registration ($25) closes until convention. Onsite registration ($30) will be available. Plan to register early to avoid the increased registration fees.
* July 3: Convention Begins!
Convention Week Schedule
* Wednesday, July 3: Seminars, Breakout Sessions, Registration Opens
* Thursday, July 4: Exhibit Hall Opens, More Breakouts, Resolutions Committee
* Friday, July 5: National Board and National Division Meetings
* Saturday, July 6: General Sessions with Opening Ceremonies and Presidential Report
* Sunday, July 7: General Sessions with Presentations, Business, and Financial Report
* Monday, July 8: General Sessions with More Presentations, Banquet, and Adjournment
The full agenda will be available in June.
Request for Door Prizes
Door prizes are submitted from state affiliates, local chapters, and individuals. Prizes should be small in size but large in value, at least $25. Cash is always appropriate and welcome. Please do not include alcohol. Drawings will occur throughout the convention sessions with a grand prize of truly impressive proportions drawn at the banquet. If you have a prize that must be shipped in advance of the convention, please email affiliate president Paul Martinez at president at nfbflorida.org <mailto:president at nfbflorida.org> to make arrangements.
Division, Committee, Group Meetings
Over 200 sessions and meetings happen during convention. If you are a leader in a division, committee, or group who will meet at convention, please don’t wait to organize. Start planning your agenda, goals, and connections now. Stay tuned for details from the Convention Chair, John Berggren.
Volunteer
Thank you to the hundreds of volunteers who help make national convention a big success. If you are interested in learning more about how to get involved, please connect with your state affiliate president. Additionally, register early to get access to all volunteer opportunities.
Countdown to Orlando
The best collection of exhibits featuring new technology; meetings of our special interest groups, committees, and divisions; the most stimulating and provocative program items of any meeting of the blind in the world; the chance to renew friendships in our Federation family; and the unparalleled opportunity to be where the real action is and where decisions are being made—all of these mean you will not want to miss being a part of the 2024 National Convention. We can’t wait to be with you in Orlando in July. Visit nfb.org/convention <https://nfb.org/convention> for more convention details.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Gary Wunder]
[PHOTO CAPTION: Congressman Pete Aguilar addresses the crowd at the Great Gathering In.
[PHOTO CAPTION: Representative Greg Stanton (D-AZ) poses for a photo with Amy Porterfield, Arizona affiliate board member.
[PHOTO CAPTION: Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL) with Denise Valkema (front) and two other NFB members from Florida.
[PHOTO CAPTION: John Paré and Mark Riccobono with Waymo head of global public policy, Michelle Peacock and Stefania Yanachkov, Senior Manager of the Federal Policy and Government Affairs team at Waymo.
[PHOTO CAPTION: Representative Pete Sessions (R-TX) poses for a photo with Glenn and Norma Crosby.
[PHOTO CAPTION: Anil Lewis, Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA), Dorothy Griffin, and Michael Armstrong pose for a photo.
[PHOTO CAPTION: John Paré, Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD), and Ronza Othman pose for a photograph.
[PHOTO CAPTION: Representative Rick Larsen (D-WA) with NFB board member Marci Carpenter.
The 2024 Washington Seminar: Back in the Groove Again
by Gary Wunder
After holding our Washington Seminar virtually for two years and returning in person for 2023, our 2024 seminar affirms once again how good it is to walk the halls of Congress, revisit the Holiday Inn Capitol, and meet all of our colleagues and friends for another year of progress. Although we normally fit in one hotel, we underestimated the crowd who would attend and had to use two auxiliary hotels. This was a good problem to have.
The seminar began on January 29, 2024, with a productive student seminar and an active and upbeat job fair. We hope that articles about these events will be forthcoming, for each of these events deserves the space, exposure, and celebration of Braille Monitor readers.
The Great Gathering-In
President Riccobono opened the Great Gathering-In with the keynote speech “The Significance of Washington Seminar 2024.” Its message focused on and clarified why we come, what we intend to do, and the future that will come from our work. His remarks immediately follow this article.
He next acknowledged the officers and the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind, and their names evoked a hearty cheer for the work they do on behalf of all of us. The President also recognized Sachin Pavithran, the executive director of the United States Access Board, a former scholarship winner and a man who has done so much to advance the work we do.
Stephanie Cascone is the director of communications and marketing, and President Riccobono noted that she's become a key leader on our staff who contributes so much to what we do. She began by highlighting the work we are continuing to do on President Riccobono’s Artificial Intelligence presence, and our progress was highlighted by a short conversation. She asked the AI model of our President about the most significant experience he had in Washington, DC. “The most interesting experience I had in Washington, DC, was during the NFB Youth Slam in 2009. I had the opportunity to be part of a rally of blind students at the Lincoln Memorial and a march to the Capitol Visitor Center. Additionally, thanks to the Federation, Melissa and I had the unique opportunity to take our children to the White House for the Easter Egg Roll. It was not only a fun time but a special way to represent blind Americans.” This sentiment was expressed in his voice, and, given all of the memories we have not yet inserted into the model, we don’t know whether this was really his favorite memory of being in DC. The purpose of the AI model, of course, is not to discourage people from talking to the real Mark Riccobono, but if we can come up with realistic answers to the most commonly asked questions, this will be yet another way for us to do outreach and let people interact more with our President. Stephanie reminded us that our hashtag for the week would be #nfbindc, and anyone can use this tag to see the conversations that were held on the various social platforms on which we are active. Whether you are active on social media or not, we are always looking for your stories, so feel free to send them to us at story at nfb.org <mailto:story at nfb.org> or call us and leave a message at 410-659-9314, extension 2444.
Stephanie concluded her presentation by asking that we all take part in a video. The line we had to speak was simple, and the real art was in the passion we brought to it. On the count of three we all said “Thank you,” and unlike many of the videos she does, she thought we were fine on the first take.
Nothing as complicated as the Washington Seminar happens without a lot of logistical work, and the part of it that involves getting people into rooms, doing the recordkeeping for congressional responses, and making sure everything runs smoothly falls to the crew who heads up room 275. To speak on their behalf, President Riccobono introduced Lisa Bonderson. She began by acknowledging the staff of room 275: Buna Dahl, Sandy Halverson, Kris Colcock, Brook Sexton, and Judy Sanders. Since our seminar runs on both enthusiasm and food, Lisa outlined the dining options in the hotel and when they would be available. She made it clear that whether you need packets, canes, cane tips, or technical help in working out appointments, room 275 is always the place to go.
Our District of Columbia affiliate and its president, Shawn Callaway, were recognized for upholding the tradition that finds doughnuts in the lobby on Tuesday morning. Some claim to run on coffee, but when nothing less than a solid, sugary substance will do, we can always count on our District of Columbia affiliate to give us the energy for a day on the Hill.
President Riccobono briefly touched on the Museum of the Blind People’s Movement and noted that 100 percent of our Board of Directors are active contributors. We are still in the beginning stages of fundraising, and while the museum is deserving of contributions from each of us, of equal or greater importance is putting our minds to who we know and working on making the ask for the project. All of us have friends and relatives, and many of us have some contact with corporations. Remember that they can’t say yes unless we ask, and the accomplishments of the Blind People’s Movement is definitely worthy of significant support both to honor those who have come before, help those of us who are living in the present, and set the direction that will influence the opportunities for blind people in the future. Please send your prospects to Rachel Held who can be reached at rheld at nfb.org <mailto:rheld at nfb.org> or at 410-659-9314, extension 2423.
Anil Lewis, the director of blindness initiatives at our Jernigan Institute, was called to the podium on the day before the twentieth anniversary of the Institute’s opening. In his presentation he mentioned a number of programs carried on through blindness initiatives, and there will soon be a full-length article in celebration of the twentieth anniversary published in this magazine. The theme of his presentation and one that I am sure will be present in his article is, “We strive to learn, and we yearn to teach.”
The President took the time to acknowledge Lou Ann Blake, the person who has coordinated our Jacobus tenBroek Law Symposium since its beginning. After eighteen years of service on the staff, Lou Ann is retiring to Hawaii with her husband Maurice Peret. We thank both of them for their service and wish them well in the land of paradise to which they are moving.
Everette Bacon is the chairman of the Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award. He came to remind people that we are always looking for individuals and organizations who are worthy of recognition by the National Federation of the Blind for carrying on the work of the blind doctor, Jacob Bolotin. Nominations may be submitted at nfb.org/Bolotin <https://nfb.org/Bolotin> and will be accepted until April 15. One letter of recommendation is required, and if the person or organization you nominate wins, it will be a special day for you when the chairman takes the stage at the national convention to recognize our winners.
Eve Hill is now our General Counsel, and President Riccobono said there are many battles we are fighting, and he hopes to be able to report on some of them soon. We did have a major victory recently in our attempt to fight Section 14(C), and former President Maurer was acknowledged for the years of work he has put into this particular case in Ohio. Because of the special laws that apply to blind people in the administration of the Social Security system, we get a number of requests in dealing with Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance. Jesse Shirek is our main point person on the staff, and we have added some extra support for those matters which get particularly complicated or drawn out. A person who has long been a cornerstone of our Social Security work was acknowledged when President Riccobono recognized James Gashel for more than fifty years of service to the organization. In addition to the work that Jim does as a person now retired, we have enlisted the services of Andrew Sindler, a very competent lawyer who is quite familiar with the ins and outs of the law as it related to the blind and the regulations pertaining to us.
For several years now we have been fighting regulations that make it more difficult for blind people with guide dogs to fly using commercial air service. On the very day of this meeting, we filed a petition with the Department of Transportation asking that it recognize the unique position of guide dogs in the history and law of this country and exempt guide dog users from the paperwork required of others using service animals. We are just shy of a century since guide dogs were introduced in this country, and the idea that it would be more difficult now to engage in normal social activities with our dogs is repugnant. If we cannot find relief through the Department of Transportation, this may well find its way onto the agenda of primary issues we bring to Capitol Hill.
Attending his twentieth consecutive Washington Seminar, John Paré was present to do what he does best: making sure that the Federation and the power of people in our stories are recognized in every corner of Congress and the federal government where it needs to be. John gave a spirited presentation that found all of us in good voice as we responded to his questions. He was reciting some of the history he played a part in over the past twenty years, and the enthusiasm in the room as we talked about everything from pedestrian travel to the availability of books was tremendous for those of us who played a part as members of the National Federation of the Blind.
John’s spirited oration was interrupted by President Riccobono with the news that representative Pete Aguilar, the vice chairman of the Democratic Caucus representing the Thirty-First District from California, was present. He has been a true friend since his election in 2015 and was present at our first congressional reception. Representative Aguilar cares a lot about issues involving blind people, and one reason may be that his grandfather was a blind vendor and, at the age of twelve, Pete worked in his grandfather’s vending facility. In the audience was Max Duarte, a retired vendor, who worked at the same facility. The congressman assured Max that, if he found the conditions in the facility he inherited anything less than pristine, the congressman is certain that his grandfather would say it was Pete’s fault. Because of his background, the congressman is a true believer in the Randolph-Sheppard program and in the belief of blind people to become entrepreneurs. He continues to push all of the federal departments he can to expand job opportunities, because he knows that the productivity of blind people is good for us and good for the American economy.
When John Paré again took the mike, he called on Jeff Kaloc to talk about H.R. 5813 and S. 2984, the Website and Software Application Accessibility Act. Jeff reminded us that the Congress gets seen by many groups every day, and all of them believe that their bills are important. We have to show how critical it is that we be able to have independent access to our medical records, financial statements, credit card information, Social Security numbers, and be able to book transportation or navigate a website portal to find housing. Tony Coelho, the father of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Newt Gingrich, Speaker of the House from 1995 to 1999, published an article on the Website and Software Application Accessibility Act. They said, and I quote, "It's about time that business embraced digital accessibility as a key brand imperative and took ownership of the role that web and software design play in employee and customer experience. People with disabilities should be able to universally access technology even as new innovations occur."
Dr. Justin Young came to the microphone to address the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act. We are delighted that this bill has been introduced in the House and the Senate, the bill numbers being H.R. 1328 and S. 3621. As you will see in the fact sheet, this bill covers Class II and Class III medical devices, and in those rare cases in which making a device accessible would represent a fundamental change to what it does or how it is used, there are provisions to apply to the Food and Drug Administration for an exemption. Few things are more important than being able to use the tools required to keep us well, and Justin encouraged our strong support for this legislation.
Jesse Shirek was next introduced to talk about the Blind Americans Return to Work Act. He began by asking the crowd how many had at some point been the recipient of Social Security Disability Insurance, and most of the people in the room replied affirmatively. Jesse detailed the risks in seeking employment and the dangers in the earnings cliff which keep many people from working up to their potential. The fact sheet that appears later has some astonishing percentages about people who do not seek work and the number of working blind people who turn down promotions and raises. “While we simultaneously strain our muscles to cling to the edge of the earnings cliff, we hold back from living our dreams.”
Kyle Walls handles the logistics for the legislative part of the seminar, and he was invited for a few remarks. Here is some of what he said:
“For those of you who were in the Affiliate Presidents and Legislative Directors meeting this morning, you heard John tell you about his four P’s for a perfect meeting: be polite, be professional, be persuasive, and be persistent. Well, after working with the man for eight years, the idea of having a mnemonic that’s easy to remember has rubbed off on me. Except, I have five P’s, because that’s what I can count on one hand.
My P’s are proper planning prevents poor performance, and as you’ve probably presumed, it takes a prodigious amount of planning and preparation in order to perform at the premier level that people have come to expect from a program produced by a party as prestigious and profoundly life-altering as the predominant transformative membership and advocacy organization of blind Americans, the National Federation of the Blind. And while our production may not be perfect, considering some of the problems and pitfalls that we have encountered along this path, I propose that we have put together a particularly pleasant presentation for our proud participants this evening. But, please pardon my persistent prattling and let us proceed with our previously proclaimed topic: Logistics.” Kyle is quite a good writer, and after this fantastic introduction, he made remarks that were helpful to those who would be visiting the Capitol on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Denise Avant gave us an update on the efforts of the Membership Committee which she chairs along with Tarik Williams. She talked briefly about the onboarding process for new members, the ability for each of us to update our own profile, and the ability of chapters and affiliates to determine those who are members of their chapter. Anyone needing more information should contact Danielle McCann by writing to dmccann at nfb.org <mailto:dmccann at nfb.org> or by calling her at 410-659-9314, extension 2421.
Because of the workload of Ryan Strunk, the President has appointed Marilyn Green to act as our co-chair of the Preauthorized Contribution Program. Marilyn acknowledged both Scott LaBarre and Ryan Strunk, and she is flattered to take on the work they pursued in helping this program to fund our movement. She highlighted a number of programs that are made possible through the PAC Plan and encouraged everyone who can to join either by calling 877-632-2772 or by going to nfb.org/pac <https://nfb.org/pac> . We stand ready to answer any questions you have and appreciate the commitment your participation in the program demonstrates.
The Performing Arts Division made an announcement directed at those interested in songwriting. “Do you want to contribute to new music for the National Federation of the Blind? Then please consider entering the 2024 Federation Song Contest. Submit your material by March 15th, 2024. Both music and lyrics are welcome. Top contestants will be invited to a songwriting retreat in Baltimore this summer. All information can be found on our website, NFBPAD.org.”
Patti Chang spoke briefly about the Dream Makers Circle and the ways that members and those who are friends of members can make donations to the Federation when they pass. To learn about all of the options, contact Patty at 410-659-9314, extension 2422, or write to her at pchang at nfb.org <mailto:pchang at nfb.org> .
After several announcements about activities later in the evening, President Riccobono adjourned the Great Gathering-In and the rooms emptied as people went to find dinner and plan their next three days on the Hill.
The Congressional Reception
Since 2015, every in-person Washington Seminar has featured a Congressional reception. This one occurred in the Cannon Caucus Room located in the Cannon House Office Building. The event was sponsored by Waymo, a company actively working on the development of an autonomous vehicle that riders, including blind people, will be able to direct. The spread they provided was fantastic for those wanting food and a bit of drink.
This year we were greeted by fourteen members of Congress who came to make short presentations and to encourage us to bring the message of the dreams, desires, and needs of the blind to Congress. They believe that there is no progress without “showing up,” and they know this is the one thing that the National Federation of the Blind does without question. The first presenter was Senator Roger Wilson of Kansas. Not only is he impressed with the work we do as an organization, but he is also very proud of the Kansas School for the Blind for all of the work they do in educating preschool children, those in grades K-12, and the focus on transition that is becoming ever more important in their programming. He is also proud of Envision, a place of industrial employment for people who are blind that is located in Wichita, Kansas. Senator Wilson understands the need for ensuring that blind people have access to digital equipment because it is now the foundation of so much of what we do in the workaday world in which we live. The senator was also a cosponsor of the Able Age Adjustment Act that expands the number of people who can participate in the establishment of savings accounts without terminating their ability to receive Supplemental Security Income. The senator left us with this message: “If you can just leave with those members of Congress one message, let it be that we don't want our disability to define who we are, and Congress can help make a difference.”
The next member of Congress to address us happens to be a cosponsor of the Medical Device Non-Visual Accessibility Act and a cosponsor of the Access Technology Affordability Act. Representative John Rutherford of Florida always appreciates meeting with us because he has a special interest in blind people as a result of having a blind roommate in college. “I happen to live in the district for the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind … I've met with many of them [administrators] over the years, and by focusing on improvements to accessible education and equipping our workforce for blind and low vision professionals, we can tap into a reservoir of workforce-ready talent who is already out there and ready to go. In fact, I've been working hard to make the United States Congress a competitive environment for blind and visually impaired individuals to work and expand their skills. I worked with Gallaudet University to host a deaf and blind student in my office, a fellow named James, who came in, worked as a congressional intern, and I can tell you we had some amazing times together with James. So, one of the things that I learned was that the Congressional Administrative Office had absolutely nothing to assist James in doing his job in my office. So we've since worked on that, and there's now some equipment that is available for those who may want to have internships within a congressional office. … Thank you for all that you do in the Federation to empower blind individuals through your programs, your services, your resources, and by building a community that creates a true future filled with opportunities. I'm so proud to partner with you. Thank you and God bless.”
Representative Jim Clyburn of South Carolina was next to address the assembly. He prides himself on staying in touch with the National Federation of the Blind and other entities that operate in South Carolina. He believes that his work prior to coming to Congress has had a great deal to do with shaping his opinions about what accessibility should be, and these experiences motivate him to make America, “which is already the greatest nation in the world,” the best that it can be. … “I'll close with telling you that I call my memoirs published back in 2012 Blessed Experiences, and I say in the introduction to that book that all of my experiences have not been pleasant, but I've considered all of them to be blessings. And among those blessed experiences have been working with people like you—people with certain experiences that I have not had, and using the experiences that I have had to bring our backgrounds—our day-to-day lives together—to make for a better existence for all of us.”
Representative Greg Stanton of Arizona was the next to take the microphone and started by saying:
Thank you so much. Thank you. Good evening, everyone. The Federation has taken over Capitol Hill with five-hundred great advocates. I saw you everywhere today, up and down the Capitol. … I serve on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. … Your advocacy matters because just today, in partnership with this Federation, in partnership with my Republican colleague, Representative Brian Mast, I was proud to introduce the Autonomous Vehicle Accessibility Act. My home state of Arizona is a pioneer in AV technology, with more than a dozen companies there testing driverless vehicles on our streets, but we have to be more innovative. We have to be more mindful and be more inclusive. We need to make sure everyone feels empowered and safe to ride in AVs. Our bill ensures that America's people with disabilities have access to AVs—ride-hail vehicles specifically get rid of any discrimination against passengers that may not have a driver's license if an AV is pulled over. If an AV is pulled over or happens to have an issue with the car, the passenger would not face liability simply because they do not possess a driver's license. The bill also requires the Secretary of Transportation to study infrastructure where there may be barriers to people with disabilities using AV vehicles. We want to make sure that these AVs are accessible to everyone, whenever and wherever you, the community, want to go. Making our transportation network more accessible is a top priority of mine.
Representative Nathaniel Moran from Northeast Texas was the next congressman to bring us remarks. He said, “I want to tell you thank you for your advocacy. Since 1940, the National Federation of the Blind, as you know, has been the advocacy group for those that are blind. Over 50,000 members—you make a difference, and if you didn't know it, I want to tell you. You make a difference when we see you in the halls, when we hear you in our offices, when we talk to you and engage with you. … The advocacy work that you do here matters. It changes our positions, it keeps us educated, and it keeps us in touch with what's important to you. I know that your mission statement is that we are changing what it means to be blind. Well, I can tell you, I'm trying to change what it means to be a member of Congress. (laughter) And I am thankful that I can stand side-by-side with each one of you. I want to say thank you, especially also to folks like Norma Crosby, the president of the Texas Board of Directors, and Raul Gallegos and Dr. Kimberly Aguilar and Luis Amar and Lara Sowell. Thank you all for the work that you're doing in my home state of Texas because you are making a difference there. So keep it up, be encouraged, because your work matters, your work influences what we think and what we do here in Washington, DC, and I wish you Godspeed in your journey ahead.”
President Riccobono said,
Representative John Sarbanes from Maryland was planning to be here. He sends his regrets that he cannot. He has been a great friend of the National Federation of the Blind. His district used to cover our national office, but now doesn't. But he's been a tremendous advocate. He's, of course, a sponsor of the Website and Software Applications Accessibility Act. He is a cosponsor on our Medical Devices Act. He's cosponsor on access technology. He's cosponsor on the Transformation To Competitive Employment Act. So, if you happen to come across Congressman Sarbanes on the Hill later this week, please thank him for his support of the National Federation of the Blind.
Representative Alma Adams from North Carolina came to greet the National Federation of the Blind. “I am Congresswoman Alma Adams, and I represent the Twelfth Congressional District, which covers Mecklenburg County and Cabarrus in North Carolina. I bring you greetings today from 700,000 citizens I have the privilege of representing, and some of them are probably in here tonight. I'm also honored to join you for the National Federation of the Blind's Congressional Reception. Thank you for coming to your US Capitol, and thank you so much to the NFB for inviting me to speak today and for the excellent reception.
“I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn more about your federal policy initiatives, the work that you're doing in the community, and how we in Congress can support that work. As a member of the Education and Workforce Committee and ranking member of Workforce Protection Subcommittee, much of my work intersects with your legislative priorities. There are so many ways that we need to work together: to improve accessibility in the workforce, in educational institutions, and in our healthcare systems. So, thank you to the advocates and for all of you and for your tireless work to increase accessibility and to combat the daily discrimination that many Americans face because of their disabilities. Let us continue to work hard because the community can only grow great when old men and old women plant trees under which we know we'll never sit. I'm going to continue to plant those seeds and hope that we'll have an opportunity to continue to watch them grow. Thank you so much. God bless.”
Representative Tim Burchett of Tennessee was next to bring remarks. He believes in our issues because his career found him saving vending facility operations in Tennessee and brought him face-to-face with one of his first battles in the legislature. He believes that we all have a right to work and the dignity it provides, and he pledges to be on our side as we work to become productive citizens of this country. “Washington will do the right thing if you make us, so why don’t y’all make us? Thank you and go get’em, brother!”
Representative Gregory Murphy of North Carolina was the next to address us. This gentleman and the one previous spoke with southern accents, each making fun of others whom we might find hard to understand and offering to translate. The Congressman has been a practicing physician for thirty-five years and sees one of his roles in Congress being to act as a doctor and highlight his expertise when medical issues are being discussed. He has great hopes for the technology that may emerge from artificial intelligence and has great admiration for our ability to both deal with circumstances as we find them and plan for the future we want. He says he draws great energy from our advocacy and looks forward to our continued work together.
Representative Kat Cammack of Florida was the next congresswoman to the microphone. “I just wanted to stop by and say thank you. The work that you do is more meaningful than you can imagine. No one, but no one works harder than your Federation, and your stories are inspiring. You're inspiring teams, you're inspiring members of Congress, you are inspiring a movement to tackle new technologies to make this country and our systems more accessible. We are very much dedicated to this work because of you, because of your stories and your advocacy. So I just want to say how grateful I am to be here and really thank you for the work that you're doing to ensure that opportunities are available for all. I'm excited for your time here on Capitol Hill. It is more than just a day. It is more than just a week. Your presence will be felt for many, many days, weeks, and years to come.”
President Riccobono temporarily interrupted the presentations by members of Congress to talk a bit about the twenty years of the Jernigan Institute and, in particular, the work we have done to bring closer the day when blind people can independently operate vehicles on our own. Michelle Peacock, who previously addressed our national convention, came to the podium to make some remarks on behalf of our reception sponsor. She said that Waymo is making great progress in putting vehicles on the road in various cities around the country. A cornerstone of their development philosophy is accessibility to all, and the National Federation of the Blind has been the premier organization in their work. Obviously, we need a way to tell the car where we want to go, but there are many other steps involved. What techniques can we use in finding the car? What cues should the car give us as it traverses the route we have told it to travel? Above and beyond all of the technical issues, we have to deal with getting laws and regulations that support these vehicles being driven by people who do not have a driver’s license. The introduction of the bill noted earlier, H.R. 7126, is a tremendous start on this process. When Miss Peacock ended her presentation, President Riccobono noted that we could certainly use a couple of her cars during convention in Orlando.
Returning to members of Congress, President Riccobono introduced a man who is responsible for cosponsoring the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act and the Access Technology Affordability Act. With these words and a warm welcome, Representative Rick Larsen of Washington was introduced. He is very proud of his service on the House Transportation Committee and believes that recent legislation has done a great deal to improve the transportation infrastructure in our country. Airports are being upgraded to incorporate wayfinding technology, and more emphasis is being placed on the treatment of specialized devices used for people with mobility disabilities. The Congressman is well aware of our difficulty in dealing with the Department of Transportation as we travel with our guide dogs, and he vows that this is an issue that will continue to get congressional scrutiny. He also understands how critical it is to have kiosks we can use in public places, as well as websites and applications that will allow us to take advantage of all the options sighted people have when traveling. The Congressman says that the House has passed a reauthorization for the Department of Transportation that includes very strong provisions for people with disabilities, and his hope is that we will press the Senate to see that similarly strong provisions come out of that body.
Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan is a cosponsor of our Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act, and she was the next congressperson to address the crowd. Congresswoman Tlaib says that we were one of the first organizations to visit her when she was elected and have been one of the most consistent advocates in communicating our needs. She understands the disparity we face in being unemployed and underemployed. She understands the role that harsh rules implementing Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance play in keeping us out of the workforce, and she knows the problems that are caused by the economic disparity between those who are employed, underemployed, and unemployed. She also understands that many of us are employed and underpaid because the minimum wage does not apply to all of us who are blind. She believes strongly in better enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act, in the work we are doing to change the public perception of those who do the hiring, and the role of the federal government in providing assistance as we do this work. She believes we need more and safer transportation, and she observes that if the federal government can find money for unending wars, certainly there must be money to help our blind citizens.
President Riccobono began the introduction of our next honored guest in this way: “This next gentleman is also from Texas, and though I didn’t do an official count, I believe it would be easier to count the bills he’s not a part of than those on which he has joined us. I think he's a cosponsor on all of our bills in the National Federation of the Blind, although there is one, which is the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act, where he's the lead sponsor. We've had a longstanding relationship with him over the years. We really appreciate his leadership and how he listens to the priorities of the organized blind movement. Please welcome a very longtime friend of mine and a friend of the National Federation of the Blind from the Seventeenth District of Texas. Here's Representative Pete Sessions.”
Representative Sessions has a son with retinal problems but who has nevertheless dealt with this issue. After parking his truck twelve years ago and going to college, he has now become a medical doctor who is married with one brand-new baby daughter. In addition to all of the work that Representative Sessions does for us, he is highly involved in retina research as one can easily understand this passion. He says, “So please know this, that there are people who place great value not only on you, not only on your story, not only on every one of you in the group, but on the valuable asset and resource that you are for our country. You are people who overcome challenges, who live with them every day. You don't sit around and gripe or moan or feel sorry for yourself. You're well-adjusted people who care deeply about each other, and it is an amazing thing to watch each of you individually and collectively. … We are proud of you, that you have taken time to come and meet your member of Congress. It's my real belief that your member of Congress heard you, and we're going to follow up, and we're going to make progress. And I'm very proud of you and I'm going to tell you I love you. So for those of you who will leave here and go back home, I would like for you to say that you went to Washington and that people did listen, people do care, and know that we will make the progress. May God be with you.”
Representative Hank Johnson representing the state of Georgia began by recognizing two people in the audience. One was Michael Armstrong, the first black chairman of the blind vendors in Georgia and a man the Congressman credits with helping to get him elected in 2006. The other was the president of our Georgia affiliate, Dorothy Griffin. “I'm happy to cosponsor the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act of 2023, a long overdue measure that would establish clear and enforceable accessibility standards, because without the proper action and protections that guarantee rights to all blind people, the principles of our nation are nothing more than meaningless words.” The Congressman said that our advocacy was key in the functioning of our government, and he pledges to continue to be a strong ally who respects those elected by the blind to speak for the blind.
Our last presenter of the night was greeted with tremendous admiration and respect for all that he has done to help the National Federation of the Blind. Representative Steny Hoyer of Maryland was introduced by President Riccobono as a man with whom we have had a relationship for more than forty years. He is a man who has always shown up, and he says this is because we have always shown up. In his spirited conversation, here are some of the things the Congressman said: “Democracy works better when people who have experiences that are impacted by legislation talk to members of Congress. … One person can make a difference as how a member votes if a member believes that what has been said to them by that individual is accurate and is in need of being addressed. … I said all of you have abilities. If you're shut out, America loses. You may lose, but America loses if we do not have full inclusion of everybody using their skills, their brains, their enterprise in making us a better country. John Kennedy gave an inaugural speech and in it he said, ‘The energy, the faith we bring to this endeavor, will light our country and all who serve it, and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.’ The energy and faith and devotion you brought to Congress this day and that you bring every day will light our country and make it better and more inclusive. God bless you.”
With a few concluding remarks by President Riccobono thanking us for our time and urging greater success on the Hill in the days to come, the meeting was adjourned.
In the last formal meeting of the Washington Seminar, many of us met once again at the Holiday Inn Capitol for a wrap-up. Reports of progress were given from many states, and a number of us who were on Capitol Hill shared strategies for moving our senators and representatives to a place of understanding they had not been before. The fact that we make a difference when we travel to DC is made clear in the numbers that result. On the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act, we came with three sponsors and left with twenty-three. The Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act had fifty-three cosponsors when we came and increased by nineteen, to put the count at seventy-two. For several years one of our priorities has been the Accessible Technology Affordability Act. Though it was not one of the highlighted issues this year, we mentioned it whenever time allowed, and again the numbers are impressive. The bill had seventy-four sponsors in the House, and at the time of this writing it now has eighty-one. Support in the Senate also increased by one, so we now have eighteen senators on board. Also mentioned but not figuring prominently in our presentations was the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act. Its support in the House also increased by one and now stands at twenty-eight.
Although we are nearing the end of this article, our work on all of this legislation is not even close to being complete. The secret in the sauce is that much of our success is found in what we do once we come back home. We must continue to emphasize that John Paré and his crew are our representatives in DC, and we must funnel to them or answer ourselves the questions we got while on Capitol Hill. Our presence is impressive, but our follow-up is even more so. We are in this for the long haul, and we expect our congressmen and women to be the same. While everyone involved is inspired, the Congress because we came, and our members encouraged by getting to deal with people who exercise the levers of power, the real objective is to make the changes in laws, regulations, and attitudes that will bring us ever closer to living the integrated lives we want. Getting the ball in the red zone is not enough: we will settle for nothing less than a touchdown that leads us to victory.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Mark Riccobono]
The Significance of Washington Seminar 2024
by Mark Riccobono
>From the Editor: This address was delivered on January 28, 2024, at the Great Gathering-In meeting of the Washington Seminar. As some folks from the South are known to say, this was a real barnburner!
The Constitution of the United States of America established a federal democratic republic. This is the foundation of our federal government. It is democratic because the people govern themselves—it is a republic because the government’s power is derived from its people. As our nation developed and strengthened its values under this Constitution, a deeply rooted bias came to drive policy and practice in our nation. This was not born from our nation but rather inherited through centuries of low expectations. This bias is rooted in the idea that the inability to see with your eyes means, without question, the inability to compete on terms of equality and contribute value to society. For the blind, “by the people” meant being done for the people until we organized and unified our voice in 1940 and declared we were taking back our right to equality, opportunity, security, and full participation in our society.
To quote Dr. Jacobus tenBroek, the brilliant scholar of the United States Constitution and founding President of our movement:
…we claim as our birthright, as our Constitutional guarantee and as an indivestible aspect of our nature, the fundamental human right of self-expression, the right to speak for ourselves individually and collectively. Inseparably connected with this right is the right of common association. The principle of self-organization means self-guidance and self-control. To say that the blind can, should, and do lead the blind is only to say that they are their own counselors, that they stand on their own feet. In the control of their own lives, in the responsibility for their own programs, in the organized and consistent pursuit of objectives of their own choosing—in these alone lies the hope of the blind for economic independence, social integration, and emotional security.
As we begin the eighty-fourth year of our movement, we gather together to demonstrate that right of common association, that right to speak for ourselves individually and collectively. We aim not to merely emphasize the problems but to elevate the solutions. We come not to listen to the naysayers but to celebrate those enlightened allies on the Hill who welcome our authentic wisdom and who invite our contributions. We seek to discover more of these enlightened allies this week.
To those we meet who tell us our time has not yet come and our contributions must be delayed, we say that we are “the people,” this nation is ours as well, and we will no longer have our equality denied.
Our record of contributions and meaningful solutions as the organized blind movement can no longer be ignored. In fact, we believe it should be elevated and celebrated in a cultural institution that uses our stories to mobilize future generations to continue our advancement as blind people—that is the future Museum of the Blind People’s Movement.
Today we come to Washington, DC, on the eve of an important milestone. Tomorrow we will mark the twentieth anniversary of our opening the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute. In that moment twenty years ago, we committed in a bold way not simply to share the ideas but to turn them into reality. We imagined the role the blind could play in society, we built it for ourselves, and, in the process, we tested how far we might go. If you want to talk about hope for our nation, consider that after twenty years we have not yet found the limits for blind people.
Imagine how different the world would be had we not taken those bold steps twenty years ago—or for that matter in any of the twenty-year periods going back to our founding in 1940. Without collective action by the blind, here are just a sampling of the things we would not have today:
* Dynamic tools for capturing, converting, and relaying printed words and visual images into accessible nonvisual forms
* A generation of programs, tools, and resources for raising expectations for the blind in science, technology, engineering, and math
* Fully accessible systems that provide equality in casting private ballots independently in elections
* Accelerated exploration of built-in accessibility systems from smartphones to self-driving vehicles
* A worldwide treaty, led by the blind themselves, that drastically expands the availability of accessible materials
* University training, professional development, and peer-reviewed research led by the blind themselves and centering on the real problems of blindness
* And most importantly, the now deeply rooted expectation that we know who we are and we will never go back
We only pause for a brief moment to celebrate our success because we recognize our progress is not yet finished—we believe our nation must do even better. We have come to do our part by sharing our authentic wisdom with the elected representatives of the people.
Whether it is in equal access to the digital society, independent management of our own healthcare, or elimination of the financial disincentives that impede our economic advancement, the blind have come with solutions. While these are not the only solutions we offer, they are our most pressing concerns this week. We invite every elected representative in this nation to recognize the wisdom found in our blind community and to take that power as inspiration to build and strengthen the American society.
The National Federation of the Blind advances the lives of its members and all blind people in the United States. We know 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. Our collective power, determination, and diversity advance the aspirations of all blind people.
Our movement also provides hope that our nation can continue to improve on the aspirations codified in the United States Constitution.
This is why we have come from every corner of the country.
This is why we accept our responsibilities as equal citizens in our nation.
This is why we have and will continue to invest so much to demonstrate what is possible.
This is the significance of the 2024 Washington Seminar of the National Federation of the Blind.
----------
Washington Seminar 2024 Agenda
January 29 – February 1, 2024
MONDAY, JANUARY 29
7:30 AM – 1:00 PM National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute
Tours
Lobby
The bus will arrive at 7:30 AM and will depart at 7:45 AM sharp.
Tours of the Jernigan Institute will begin upon arrival and the bus will leave to return to the Holiday Inn Washington-Capitol at 12:00 PM.
There will be one bus and seating will be on a first come, first served basis.
8:00 AM – 4:00 PM Congressional Building Models Exhibit
The Congressional building models will be available at a table in the Congressional Ballroom Foyer/pre-function area.
9:00 – 11:00 AM State Presidents and Legislative Directors Briefing
Capitol II Ballroom
All state presidents and legislative directors attending the 2024 National Federation of the Blind Washington Seminar are asked to attend this legislative briefing. The briefing will cover our 2024 legislative priorities, include tips for effective Hill meetings and follow up strategies, and discuss Washington Seminar logistics that affiliate leaders should be aware of for the week.
9:30 – 10:00 AM Registration: National Association of Blind Students
Winter Student Seminar
Capitol I Ballroom Foyer
No registration fee, optional $5 membership dues
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM National Association of Blind Students
Winter Seminar
Capitol I Ballroom
Students, educators, young professionals, and curious minds: kick off this year’s Washington Seminar by joining the National Association of Blind Students (NABS) for our annual winter seminar! Whether you are participating in-person or tuning in on our Facebook livestream, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to connect with blind students from across the country, learn from successful blind professionals, hear about scholarships and internships, and prepare for your upcoming Congressional meetings. If attending in-person, also be sure to register for a chance to win a door prize!
Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/4678833687
Direct questions to Lauren Altman, President, at nabs.president at gmail.com <mailto:nabs.president at gmail.com> or 973-930-7473.
(Room #275 is open 12:00 – 4:30 PM.)
12:00 – 2:00 PM The National Federation of the Blind Employment Committee Eighth Annual Career Fair at Washington Seminar
Congressional II Ballroom
Join us for the chance to meet employers, including federal agencies, who will be here to speak with you about job opportunities.
This fair is coordinated with the support of the National Federation of the Blind of the District of Columbia and the National Federation of the Blind Employment Committee. For more information, please contact Shawn Callaway at callaway.shawn at gmail.com <mailto:callaway.shawn at gmail.com> .
2:00 – 4:00 PM Legislative Seminar
Capitol Ballroom
Whether you are a Washington Seminar veteran or an enthusiastic rookie, we urge you to attend this interactive seminar. The government affairs group will provide essential information about our legislative priorities for 2024, and you will have an opportunity to ask questions and put your knowledge into practice.
The fact sheets can be found at nfb.org/Washington-seminar. We encourage you to review these documents thoroughly beforehand and come prepared with insightful questions so that we are all well-equipped with the information we need to make sure members of Congress and their staff understand our priorities.
5:00 – 7:00 PM Great Gathering-In
Capitol Ballroom
Please join us for the official kickoff meeting of the Washington Seminar, hosted by the President of the National Federation of the Blind, Mark Riccobono. All are welcome.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://nfb-org.zoom.us/j/98156556455
Or One tap mobile :
+13017158592,,98156556455# US (Washington DC)
+13052241968,,98156556455# US
8:30 – 10:30 PM Support the Students: Annual NABS Auction
Congressional Ballroom
The NABS auction is raising the stakes! Embrace your competitive side and help decide which beloved Federationist is the best auctioneer. Come bid on a variety of wonderful baskets and support the efforts of the National Association of Blind Students as we put some leaders to the test. We will have appetizers, a cash bar, and lots of laughter. We will also be conducting our 50/50 raffle drawing, so don’t miss it! This year’s auction will be hybrid, so even if you aren’t physically with us, we invite you to join us via our Zoom link and be a part of the action!
Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/4678833687
Direct questions to Lauren Altman, President, at nabs.president at gmail.com <mailto:nabs.president at gmail.com> or 973-930-7473
TUESDAY, JANUARY 30
(Room #275 is open 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM)
5:30 – 7:00 PM National Federation of the Blind Congressional Reception
Cannon Caucus Room (Room 390) of the Cannon House Office Building
The members of the National Federation of the Blind invite members of Congress and congressional staff to come learn more about our organization. Legislators can interact with Federationists while enjoying light refreshments and discussing our 2024 legislative priorities for the Second Session of the 118th Congress.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31
(Room #275 is open 8:00 AM – 5:45 PM)
6:00 – 7:00 PM Reviewing our Day on the Hill
Capitol Ballroom I
A meeting with John Paré, Jeff Kaloc, Justin Young, and Jesse Shirek to go over feedback and questions you may be getting from members of Congress or their staff.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1
(Room #275 is open 8:00 – 11:00 AM)
----------
Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act (H.R. 5813/S. 2984)
Issue—Websites are essential for everyday living, but most people with disabilities experience unnecessary accessibility barriers.
Websites and mobile applications are an essential part of modern living. More than 311 million Americans use the internet,1 and 85 percent of Americans say that they access the internet at least once each day.2 That means that nearly the entire country is accessing websites and mobile applications every day. The need to access websites and mobile applications doesn’t stop when it reaches Americans with disabilities. According to the American Community Survey, conducted by the United States Census Bureau, there are approximately forty-two million Americans who currently have a disability.3 This means that millions of disabled Americans are using websites and mobile applications.
Uncertainty about how to accomplish website accessibility is plaguing many small businesses. Many businesses are required by law to make their websites accessible but claim to have no clear-cut definition of what “accessible” actually means. Meanwhile, people with disabilities must cope with inaccessible websites. Businesses yearn for a clear definition of website accessibility to protect themselves from legal action taken by blind and disabled consumers unable to access their websites.
Current law leaves small businesses responsible for inaccessible websites designed by third-party developers. There is no protection in the law for a small business that paid a third-party developer to design and build its website. This leaves small businesses open to litigation that could hinder economic growth and have a chilling effect on others who may want to start their own small business.
Accessibility is achievable, and the United States is failing to keep up with international accessibility standards. Canada and the European Union have statutes defining accessibility. The United States has historically been a world leader on disability issues and technological innovation. Being a leader in website accessibility is no different, as the success of tomorrow’s economy will be based on inclusivity in competitive markets. The United States is losing out on economic gains as other nations take advantage of this opportunity.
Solution—Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act will:
Safeguard small businesses and establish a comprehensive statutory definition for “accessibility.” Protects small businesses by holding third-party website developers accountable and by maintaining the current defenses of undue burden and fundamental alteration. A comprehensive and clear-cut definition of “accessibility” will end any confusion regarding the requirements that covered entities and commercial providers need to meet.
Establish a technical assistance center to provide technical assistance to covered entities, commercial providers, and individuals with disabilities. The technical assistance centers will aid in the construction, development, design, alteration, and modification of websites in accordance with the rules. The Attorney General, the Commission, and the Secretary of Education will award a grant program to a qualified technical assistance provider to support the development, establishment, and procurement of accessible websites and applications.
Direct the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to promulgate accessibility regulations. The DOJ and EEOC will have twelve months following the enactment of the legislation to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking regarding website and mobile application accessibility, then an additional twelve months to issue the final rule.
GOAL—END WEBSITE AND SOFTWARE APPLICATION INACCESSIBILITY FOR AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES.
Cosponsor the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act (H.R. 5813/S. 2984).
To cosponsor the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act in the Senate, contact:
Stephanie DeLuca, Legislative Assistant for Senator Duckworth (D-IL)
Phone: 202-224-2854 / Email: stephanie_deluca at duckworth.senate.gov <mailto:stephanie_deluca at duckworth.senate.gov>
To cosponsor the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act in the House, contact:
Katie Teleky, Legislative Director for Representative Sarbanes (D-MD)
Phone: 202-225-4016 / Email: kathleen.teleky at mail.house.gov <mailto:kathleen.teleky at mail.house.gov>
For more information, contact:
Jeff Kaloc, Government Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind
Phone: 410-659-9314, extension 2206 / Email: jkaloc at nfb.org <mailto:jkaloc at nfb.org>
1. Statista. “Countries with the highest number of internet users as of January 2023.” August 2023. https://www.statista.com/statistics/262966/number-of-internet-users-in-selected-countries/#:~:text=Countries%20with%20the%20highest%20number%20of%20internet%20users%202023 <https://www.statista.com/statistics/262966/number-of-internet-users-in-selected-countries/#:~:text=Countries%20with%20the%20highest%20number%20of%20internet%20users%202023&text=As%20of%20January%202023%2C%20China,around%20311%20million%20internet%20users> &text=As%20of%20January%202023%2C%20China,around%20311%20million%20internet%20users
2. Andrew Perrin & Madhu Kumar. “About three-in-ten U.S. adults say they are ‘almost constantly’ online.” March 26, 2021. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2021/03/26/about-three-in-ten-u-s-adults-say-they-are-almost-constantly-online/
3. United States Census Bureau. “Anniversary of Americans with Disabilities Act: July 26, 2023.” https://www.census.gov/newsroom/facts-for-features/2023/disabilities-act.html
---------
Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act
(H.R. 1328/S. 3621)
Issue—Inaccessible digital interfaces prevent blind individuals from independently and safely operating medical devices that are essential to blind people’s daily healthcare needs.
Medical devices with a digital interface are becoming more prevalent and less accessible for blind Americans.
The rapid proliferation of advanced technology is undeniable. Most new models of medical devices, such as glucose, oxygen, and blood pressure monitors, along with the emergence of in-home devices that offer medical care options, such as chemotherapy treatments and dialysis, require consumers to interact with digital displays or other interfaces. This new technology is constantly being developed and deployed without nonvisual accessibility as an integral part of the design phase, which creates an accessibility barrier. The inaccessibility of these medical devices is not a mere inconvenience; when accessibility for blind consumers is omitted from the medical technology landscape, the health, safety, and independence of blind Americans are in imminent danger.
According to the Center for Connected Medicine, telehealth currently makes up 20 percent of all medical visits, and more healthcare providers are looking to expand telemedicine services.1 According to the Pew Research Center, Rural Americans live an average of 10.5 miles from the nearest hospital.2 According to the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, across the United States, 8.3 percent of counties had at least 50 percent of residents with a distance greater than ten miles from the closest pharmacy,3 requiring many Americans to rely on telehealth services. Unfortunately, these visits assume that a person has easy access to accessible medical devices to take their own vital signs. As a result of inaccessibility, blind and low-vision Americans are at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to receiving the same virtual healthcare as our sighted counterparts.
Nonvisual access is achievable, as demonstrated by several mainstream products. Apple has incorporated VoiceOver (a screen reading function) into all of its products, making iPhones, Macbooks and Mac desktops, and iPads fully accessible to blind people right out of the box. Virtually all ATMs manufactured in the United States are accessible, and every polling place is required to have a nonvisually accessible voting machine. Frequently, a simple audio output or tactile feature can make a product accessible at little to no additional cost for manufacturers.
Current disability laws have not been able to keep up with advancements due to the rapid evolution of medical technology and its incorporation into medical devices. Although the Americans with Disabilities Act and other laws require physical accessibility for people with disabilities (e.g. wheelchair ramps, Braille in public buildings), no laws protect a blind consumer’s right to access medical devices. The National Council on Disability concluded that accessibility standards lag behind the rapid pace of technology, which can interfere with technology access.4 This trend of inaccessibility will continue if accessibility solutions are ignored. Only a fraction of medical device manufacturers have incorporated nonvisual access standards into their product design, while others continue to resist these solutions.
Solution—Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act:
Calls on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to promulgate nonvisual accessibility regulations for Class II and Class III medical devices with digital interfaces.
The FDA will consult with stakeholders with disabilities and manufacturers and issue a notice of proposed rulemaking no later than twelve months after the date of enactment of the act. No later than twenty-four months after the date of enactment of the act, the FDA will publish the final rule including the nonvisual accessibility requirements.
Requires manufacturers of Class II and Class III medical devices with digital interfaces to make their products nonvisually accessible.
Manufacturers will have twelve months following the publication of the final rule to ensure that all the Class II and Class III medical devices they produce with digital interfaces are nonvisually accessible.
Authorizes the FDA to enforce the nonvisual access requirements for Class II and Class III medical devices with digital interfaces.
Any manufactured device found to be out of compliance, as a result of a public complaint to the FDA or by an independent FDA investigation, will be considered an adulterated product under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Manufacturers may file for an exemption for one of two reasons: clear and convincing evidence that making the medical device nonvisually accessible would fundamentally alter the product; or evidence that modifying the medical device would create an undue hardship for the company.
GOAL—END UNEQUAL ACCESS TO MEDICAL DEVICES FOR BLIND AMERICANS.
Cosponsor the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act (H.R. 1328/S. 3621).
To cosponsor H.R. 1328 contact:
Michelle Paucar, Health Policy Counsel, Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL-09),
Phone: 202-225-2111, Email: Michelle.Paucar at mail.house.gov <mailto:%20Michelle.Paucar at mail.house.gov>
To cosponsor S. 3621 contact:
Jasmine Masand, Senior Health Policy Advisor, Senator Maggie Hassan (D-NH)
Phone: 202-224-3324 Email: jasmine_masand at hassan.senate.gov <mailto:jasmine_masand at hassan.senate.gov>
For more information, contact:
Justin Young, Government Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind
Phone: 410-659-9314, extension 2210, Email: jyoung at nfb.org <mailto:jyoung at nfb.org> or visit www.nfb.org <http://www.nfb.org>
1. See Center for Connected Medicine, Telehealth utilization settles in at 20% or less of medical appointments, available at https://connectedmed.com/resources/post-pandemic-telehealth-utilization-settles-in-at-20-or-less-of-medical-appointments/
2. See Pew Research Center, How far Americans live from the closest hospital differs by community type, available at https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2018/12/12/how-far-americans-live-from-the-closest-hospital-differs-by-community-type/
3. See Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, Access to community pharmacies: A nationwide geographic information systems cross-sectional analysis available at https://www.japha.org/article/S1544-3191(22)00233-3/fulltext
4. See NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DISABILITIES, National Disability Policy Progress Report: Technology that enables access to the full opportunities of citizenship under the Constitution is a right at 19 (October 7, 2016), available at https://ncd.gov/progressreport/2016/progress-report-october-2016
--------
Blind Americans Return to Work Act
Issue—Current Social Security law has the unintended consequence of holding back blind Americans from achieving their full earnings potential.
The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program has a built in “earnings cliff.” Title II of the Social Security Act provides that disability benefits paid to blind beneficiaries are eliminated if the beneficiary exceeds a monthly earnings limit.1 This earnings limit, often called the “earnings cliff,” is in effect a penalty imposed on blind Americans when they work. For example, the earnings limit in 2024 for a blind person is $2,590 per month. If a blind individual earns more than that threshold, even by just one dollar, they are engaged in substantial gainful activity (SGA). Under the current law, any individual engaged in SGA is not entitled to any SSDI benefits. This means that if a blind person earns just one dollar over the earnings limit, all benefits are lost.
The earnings cliff incentivizes blind people to choose to remain unemployed or underemployed, despite their desire to work. In a 2018 survey, National Industries for the Blind (NIB) found that 21 percent of respondents from thirty-four of their non-profit associations had turned down a raise or promotion to retain their SSDI benefits.2 The survey also found that 37 percent of respondents had turned down additional hours or even asked to reduce their hours in order to retain their SSDI benefits.3 Blind Americans who are willing and able to work are intentionally limiting themselves in order to keep from suddenly losing all of their SSDI benefits.
The current work incentive in the form of the trial work period is needlessly complicated and counterintuitive.
Under the current SSDI program, if a blind worker wants to try and earn more money, they will likely trigger a nine-month trial work period. These nine months do not have to be consecutive, but instead are any nine months during a rolling sixty-month period in which the worker earned more than a certain amount (for 2024 this amount is $1,110 per month). When all of those nine months are exhausted, the worker is once again subject to the earnings cliff if they cross the SGA threshold. This is supposed to act as an incentive for blind recipients to determine if they are ready to work, but the complexity of the rules and the difference between the trial work period amount and the SGA threshold results in many blind Americans ignoring the process altogether.
Solution—Blind Americans Return to Work Act will:
Eliminate the earnings cliff by instituting a ten-year pilot program establishing a gradual two-for-one phase-out of SSDI benefits with earnings over the SGA limit.
For every two dollars a blind worker earns above the SGA threshold, their benefits amount will be reduced by one dollar. This ten-year pilot program will start in 2025 and conclude in 2034 demonstrating that blind Americans can and will achieve their highest earning potential.
Create a genuine work incentive for SSDI recipients.
With a phase-out model, blind workers will always be better off striving to earn as much as possible, which will facilitate the transition of those workers out of the SSDI system as benefits are gradually reduced. With this model, blind Americans will never lose by working. As an added benefit, fewer workers will be earning SSDI benefits and instead be paying into the Social Security Trust Fund, which means a more balanced Trust Fund in time.
Simplify the SSDI system by eliminating the trial work period and grace period, making the rules more compatible with the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program.
Under the proposed system, the SSDI program will become less complicated. With both programs using similar rules, there will be less confusion, and the incentive for blind people to return to work will be consistent and clear.
GOAL—ELIMINATE THE SSDI EARNINGS CLIFF AND CREATE A TRUE WORK INCENTIVE FOR BLIND AMERICANS.
Sponsor the Blind Americans Return to Work Act.
For more information, contact:
Jesse Shirek, Government Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind
Phone: 410-659-9314, extension 2348, Email: jshirek at nfb.org <mailto:jshirek at nfb.org> or visit www.nfb.org <http://www.nfb.org>
1. 42 U.S.C. Sec. 423.
2. Commitment to Serve, A presentation given at the 2018 NIB/NAEPB Training Conference and Expo.
3. Ibid.
----------
Additional Legislative Concerns of Blind Americans for the 118th Congress
Access Technology Affordability Act (H.R. 3702/S. 1467)
The cost of critically needed access technology is out of reach for most blind Americans. The Access Technology Affordability Act will improve affordability of this technology by creating a $2,000 refundable tax credit for use over a three-year period for the purchase of qualified access technology. This bill would remove a significant barrier to employment and independent living for blind Americans.
Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (H.R. 1263/S. 533)
Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 permits employers to pay people with disabilities at a rate less than the federal minimum wage and, in many cases, allows them to be separated from their coworkers without disabilities. The Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act will end this antiquated and discriminatory practice for all Americans with disabilities by transitioning away from the subminimum wage model and eventually sunsetting Section 14(c).
Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act (H.R. 4858/S. 2494)
The Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act ensures individuals with disabilities have equal access to mainstream communication platforms and the technology services needed to participate in professional, educational, recreational, and civic spaces. The bill will improve and expand closed captioning and audio description standards for television programming and online streaming platforms, update requirements to ensure viewers can easily select and activate preferred settings for closed captioning and audio description, improve access to video conferencing platforms for people with disabilities, and ensure people with disabilities have equal access to 9-1-1 services.
Fully Autonomous Vehicles Legislation
We support fully autonomous vehicles legislation that will prioritize nonvisual accessibility for blind Americans, who are in a position to benefit most from this revolutionary technology. Autonomous vehicles have the potential to dramatically improve transportation options for the blind, but only if we are able to access them. This legislation would also include a provision of nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in licensing for fully autonomous vehicles (SAE Level 4 and 5).
We Can’t Wait Act (S. 3400)
Each year nearly two million people apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, many of whom will never work again. However, the current SSDI system has a five-month waiting period following the onset of the disability. Many Americans, hardworking taxpayers who have earned these benefits, have died while waiting for this disability insurance. Others have watched as the credit score they have worked so hard to maintain is significantly reduced. The We Can’t Wait Act will provide an option to receive these benefits immediately at a reduced rate.
For more information on the Access Technology Affordability Act (H.R. 3702/S. 1467) or the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act (H.R. 4858/S. 2494), contact Jeff Kaloc at 410-659-9314, extension 2206, or by email at jkaloc at nfb.org <mailto:jkaloc at nfb.org> .
For more information on the Transformation to Competitive Integrated Employment Act (H.R. 1263/S. 533), contact Justin Young at 410-659-9314, extension 2210, or by email at jyoung at nfb.org <mailto:jyoung at nfb.org> .
For more information about Autonomous Vehicles Legislation or the We Can’t Wait Act (S. 3400), contact Jesse Shirek at 410-659-9314, extension 2348, or by email at jshirek at nfb.org <mailto:jshirek at nfb.org> .
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Jhaliyah Anderson]
How My Life Experience Led Me to Become a School Social Worker
by Jhaliyah Anderson
>From the Editor: This article is taken with gratitude from the Winter Edition of Future Reflections edited by Deborah Kent Stein. It is a wonderful example of going beyond one’s comfort zone to achieve a goal and the way to be assertive while not being aggressive. It also demonstrates that seldom is being passive the right answer. Here is what Debbie said in introducing the article:
I met Jhaliyah Anderson in 2015 when, as an entering college freshman, she won an NFB of Illinois Scholarship. At a point in life when many students feel uncertain about their future plans, Jhaliyah knew exactly what she wanted to do. She wanted to become a school social worker. She wanted to help students who felt like outsiders, who struggled to fit into the school environment as she had struggled herself. Jhaliyah never wavered in her determination, and this year she started a job as a social worker in the Chicago Public Schools system. Here is her story.
I lost my vision at the age of three. Many of the people around me thought my blindness would define my life, but I never believed it would stop me from doing anything I wanted to do. I guess I was a stubborn kid right from the beginning!
Through fourth grade I attended a resource room for blind students in a public school near my home. I became a fluent Braille reader and learned to use a long white cane. For part of the day I went to classes with the sighted students in my school. Since I was only mainstreamed for a few classes each day, I felt like an outsider. To make matters worse, often I didn't get my class materials in an accessible format, so it was hard for me to participate fully.
In fifth grade I transferred to the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired (ISVI), a residential school nearly four hours from my home. Suddenly I found myself in an environment that was completely tailored to my needs as a blind student. Everything on campus was accessible! For the first time in my life I had all the Braille books I needed for my classes!
During my years at ISVI I took part in a variety of extracurricular activities. I was on the debate team, I played goalball, I was a cheerleader, and I went out for track and field. We were never coddled. We were expected to take on challenges, and I thrived in that atmosphere.
As time went on, though, I realized that ISVI had its downsides. Academically I was one of the strongest students on campus. Instead of challenging me, the teachers left me to work on my own while they focused on my classmates who were struggling. Often they asked me to help the other students, and I did a lot of peer support. I wanted to advance academically, and I realized that my opportunities at ISVI were seriously limited. I asked to take some of my classes at the local public school, but the administration at ISVI said no.
Meanwhile, I heard from my friends back home about all the things they were learning and doing at school. I felt I was living in a protective bubble. I was isolated from the world where the vast majority of people lived, worked, and played.
When I was in eighth grade, I told my family that I wanted to leave ISVI and return to public school back home. As I look back on it, I realize it was a bold decision. Without the support that was available to me at ISVI, I struggled to fit in.
Making a transition is hard work! I had spent my middle school years among blind peers, in an environment where no one doubted my capacity. Now, back in public high school, I was an outsider. Every day I had to prove myself to my teachers and classmates. I constantly felt scrutinized and judged, and I grew anxious and depressed. I missed a lot of school due to the stress.
Hard though it was, I wanted to stay the active, involved person I was back at ISVI. I pushed myself to talk to my classmates, working at making friends. I went out for track, cheering, and speech. The track coach was amazing! I was included in everything. But on the cheerleading squad I was not allowed to train for competitions. I did all the cheering maneuvers at our games and never messed up, but that made no difference. Nothing I said, nothing I did in my performance could change the coach's mind, and I felt isolated and discouraged.
My classes were a struggle too, because I didn't always get the books and other materials I needed in accessible formats. One teacher wouldn't even give me tests with the rest of the class. She actually told me to put my name on a classmate's paper! When I told my mother what had happened, she went into action. A huge meeting was called, and even the superintendent got involved. After that, the teacher shaped up, and I was tested along with everyone else.
In chemistry class, I was assigned a classroom aide to help me in the lab. The chemistry teacher would stop by and talk to the aide about my work, never speaking to me directly. It was more than annoying! One day I said, "I can talk to you about my assignments. Please talk to me, not to my aide!"
Later, when I was meeting with my TVI (teacher of the visually impaired), the chemistry teacher burst into the room. "You were disrespectful to me!" she screamed. "In front of the whole class! I won't have you speak to me that way!" She was really out of control. That was another time my mom had to get involved. There was another big meeting, and after that the chemistry teacher spoke to me directly instead of talking to my aide.
My experiences in high school led directly to my career choice. I made up my mind that I wanted to become a school social worker. I wanted to help students who were struggling academically and/or socially, students whose needs weren't being met by the system that was in place.
After I graduated from high school, I majored in social work at the University of Illinois, Springfield. I graduated in 2019 and took a job as a counselor in a program called Super Seven. It involved recreation and counseling with Black and brown girls in inner-city neighborhoods. Later, early in 2020, I was hired as a teacher's aide—but the COVID-19 pandemic ended that job before it began.
For a while, I worked in sales from home. That job confirmed what I knew already—selling products was not my thing! Finally, I completed the lengthy process of being approved to work for the Illinois Department of Human Services. Mostly I interviewed people to determine their eligibility for Medicaid, SNAP, and other assistance programs. It was a lot better than sales, but I still wanted to become a social worker and work in a school setting.
After I had been with the state for a year, I finally was able to enroll in the Master's in Social Work (MSW) program at the University of Illinois, Chicago. Not too surprisingly, some of my instructors assumed that I wanted to work in an agency that serves blind people. I had to point out more than once that blindness is just one piece of who I am. I have lots of skills and interests, and I can serve the community in many ways.
When I interviewed for a job with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), I was apprehensive about the roadblocks I might encounter. Maybe the manager would say it would be too dangerous for me to work in the schools. Maybe I'd be told to apply for a job at the Chicago Lighthouse.
But to my delight the hiring manager really saw me for who I am. We talked about my commitment to work with students who are struggling in the school environment. I think the manager really understood that this was my passion. I was hired on the spot!
When I started my job, a few of my coworkers were pretty skeptical. They tried to steer me away from some of the students, kids they thought I wouldn't be able to handle. I tried to have open communication with them and to answer all of their questions. When they observed how I interacted with the students, they calmed down, and now I feel they're fully on board.
Right now I'm more than halfway into my first year on the job, and I'm very excited to be here. I'm really happy with what I'm doing; I feel it's my life's purpose. I realize I've gained a lot from my life experience, and it helps me connect with kids who are struggling. Whatever issues they face, I try to help them find ways to cope and get through the day.
I haven't worked with any blind students, but I've met some kids with learning disabilities who are struggling to fit in socially. When they talk about feeling isolated and excluded, I think I know just what they mean. I'm their advocate. We work together to map out strategies so they can handle some of the tough situations they face.
I'd like to stay in school social work for at least ten years. Eventually I want to work in underserved neighborhoods, maybe helping to start a community center. There's also a great need for people to work in juvenile justice, and I might decide to go in that direction. The longer I work in the field, the more I'll learn. The more I learn, the more I'll be able to contribute through the years.
----------
We Need Your Help
Very soon after I went blind, I went to my first convention of the National Federation of the Blind. Though as a six-year-old I was not scared about my future as a blind person, learning about the NFB and going to conventions showed me tons of independent blind people who I could look up to. Real life superheroes that I could aspire to be like. - Abigail
Blind children, students, and adults are making powerful strides in education and leadership every day across the United States, but we need to continue helping kids like Abigail. 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 can continue to provide powerful programs and critical resources now and for decades to come. We hope you will plan to be a part of our enduring movement by including the National Federation of the Blind in your charitable giving and in your estate planning. It is easier than you think.
With your help, the NFB will continue to:
* Give blind children the gift of literacy through Braille.
* Mentor young people like Abigail.
* Promote independent travel by providing free, long white canes to blind people in need.
* Develop dynamic educational projects and programs to show blind youth that science and math careers are within their reach.
* Deliver hundreds of accessible newspapers and magazines to provide blind people the essential information necessary to be actively involved in their communities.
* Offer aids and appliances that help seniors losing vision maintain their independence.
Below are just a few of the many tax-deductible ways you can show your support of the National Federation of the Blind.
LYFT Round Up
By visiting the menu, choosing donate, and selecting the National Federation of the Blind, you commit to giving to the National Federation of the Blind with each ride.
Vehicle Donation Program
We accept donated vehicles, including cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, or recreational vehicles. Just call 855-659-9314 toll-free, and a representative can make arrangements to pick up your donation. We can also answer any questions you have.
General Donation
General donations help support the ongoing programs of the NFB and the work to help blind people live the lives they want. You can call 410-659-9314, extension 2430, to give by phone. Give online with a credit card or through the mail with check or money order. Visit our Ways to Give Page at: https://nfb.org/give.
Pre-Authorized Contributions
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 877-NFB-2PAC, or fill out our PAC Donation Form https://www.nfb.org/pac.
Plan to Leave a Legacy
The National Federation of the Blind legacy society, our Dream Makers Circle, honors and recognizes the generosity and imagination of members and special friends 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.
Percentage or Fixed Sum of Assets
You can specify that a percentage or 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.
Payable on Death (POD) Account
You can name the National Federation of the Blind as the beneficiary on a Payable on Death (POD) account through your bank. You can turn any checking or savings account into a POD account. This is one of the simplest ways to leave a legacy. The account is totally in your control during your lifetime, and you can change the beneficiary or percentage at any time with ease.
Will or Trust
If you do decide to create or revise your will, consider the National Federation of the Blind as a partial beneficiary.
Visit our Planned Giving webpage (https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/ways-give/planned-giving) or call 410-659-9314, extension 2422, for more information.
In 2022 our supporters helped the NFB:
* Send 371 Braille Santa and Winter Celebration letters to blind children, encouraging excitement for Braille literacy.
* Distribute over three thousand canes to blind people across the United States, empowering them to travel safely and independently throughout their communities.
* Deliver more than five hundred newspapers and magazines to more than 100,000 subscribers with print disabilities free of charge
* Give over seven hundred Braille-writing slates and styluses free of charge to blind users.
* Mentor 207 blind youth during our Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning® Academy.
* Award thirty scholarships each in the amount of $8,000 to blind students.
Just imagine what we will do in 2024, and, with your help, what can be accomplished for years to come. Together with love, hope, determination, and your support, we will continue to transform dreams into reality.
---------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Deborah Kendrick]
Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight
by Andrew Leland
Reviewed by Deborah Kendrick
>From the Editor: Few people I know write better than Deborah Kendrick, and with this review she retains the high place she holds in my rating of authors. Like Deborah, I too have read Andrew’s book, and the Columbia Chapter to which I belong was the one he visited without introducing himself, deciding that this was not where he wanted to be at this time in his blindness. Many of us in the chapter remember the picnic he describes and our discussion of the best way to advertise our trivia night. He speculates as to whether we knew he was there, and by the time we did, he and his bride were gone.
My thanks to Debbie Stein for getting this review and for sharing it with the Braille Monitor:
News of Andrew Leland’s book was flooding my inbox for weeks before its actual release. A journalist and podcaster with a reputable track record, and let’s not forget that he “just happens” to be Neil Simon’s grandson, was publishing a memoir with a title borrowed from a 1904 short story by H. G. Wells: The Country of the Blind. I couldn’t wait to read it. And I vowed not to read it. Those conflicting emotions prevailed after my first read of the book, and this review is my attempt, for me and you, to understand the ambivalence.
Andrew Leland is a fine writer. His prose is snappy, smart, and occasionally borderline brilliant. A few lines reverberate again and again, haunting, hovering, raw and real.
But something is off-key here and I keep scrabbling among my responses to sort out where or why the tone rings less true.
Let’s start with the title. It’s sort of like three titles. The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight.
First, there’s The Country of the Blind, his remake of the 1904 science fiction story. Then there’s the memoir (the best part of the book, for my taste, in which we meet some major characters in his life story), and finally, the chronicling of the end of sight.
In the H. G. Wells story, Nunez is a sighted traveler who tumbles down a mountain into a valley populated entirely by people without sight, tries to join the tribe, and has a narrow escape. (Sorry for the spoiler; I recommend that you read the story for yourself.) Like Nunez, Leland is a visitor to the country of the blind, sometimes claiming his citizenship as one heading toward blindness, but acknowledging that he may never get there. As our tour guide, he chronicles the history of blindness and disability rights. All of the right components are there—the stigma, status as beggar, Louis Braille and the emergence of education followed by literacy. He includes the news that it was disabled people who were the first to be murdered in the holocaust, reports on some of the inventions enjoyed throughout the world that were initially designed for or by blind people. He covers the disability rights milestones of the last century—including the formation of the NFB, the ACB, the ground-breaking work of the Rolling Quads in Berkeley, and the 1977 takeover by disability rights activists that led to the signing of the 504 Regulations to the Rehabilitation Act. He introduces many of the primary individual contributors to civil rights and culture enjoyed by 21st century blind people.
If you aren’t familiar with these stories, this book is a great place to learn. He hits the high points, tells the tales admirably well. I knew all the players, had written about all of the events and discoveries myself, and was more than pleased to read his accurate and intelligent recounting. For some, these passages might be tedious. For me, they were a welcome familiar song, one with which I was happy to sing along.
He also does an admirable job of summarizing the key blind players in literature (Oedipus, King Lear, Tiresias) and writers from Homer to John Hull.
As he explores the world and culture of blindness, he attends an NFB chapter meeting, but hovers outside the circle, observing and admittedly uncomfortable. Later, though, he engages in conversation with blind people, clearly considers them peers, and presents them with warmth, respect and admiration.
The best parts of the book are the memoir elements–where we meet his wife Lily and his little boy Oscar and fall in love with both of them right along with Andrew. While the true memoir elements are the best of the narrative, the most skippable segments are the science lessons on eyesight, eye diseases, and Leland’s end of sight that is not ending.
How could a guy “going blind” tell people what it was like to BE blind? And how much traction would we gain as blind people, always considered one-down on the social hierarchy, when our story was told by this guy who could see facial expressions as he walked down the street with his white cane.
As a reader who mastered this blindness stuff in childhood, I found myself screeching at the author with parental impatience. When his knife on the cutting board disappears leaving only the radish behind, his palpable panic strikes me as ridiculous. “Just put your hand on the damn board,” I want to tell him. Oddly, he never mentions getting around to that epiphany on his own.
He refers to the slowed pace of blindness as though it is a given that all blind people will walk more slowly than their sighted counterparts, a definitely wrong-headed assumption, and refers to his stumbling over the collection of products Lily leaves on the bathtub as though this would be recognized by all blind people as universal affront.
His descriptions, on the other hand, of some one-down moments universal to the experience of blind people, are stunningly on-point. Standing in a Starbucks line with his white cane in hand, he describes the sudden sensation of hands on his shoulders, moving him out of another’s path. “Strangers, I’m learning, frequently touch and guide blind people like this in public, without warning or consent, feeling the need to manage us like furniture…”
This passage represents one of the moments when he gets the notes right, is on key, sings like one of us.
The author spends three days at a national NFB convention and two weeks at the Colorado Center for the Blind. He attends as a journalist, but as a journalist trying on the experience of blindness to see how it fits.
The most memorable passage in the book for me, possibly because I recognized my own stance in his description, and have never heard it referenced at all, was his description of the pose taken by blind travelers which he dubs “Addressing the Void.” In the vast general session convention hall, he observes people working out their locations like this:
The expression on the face of a blind gazer paused in the world takes on an inwardly whirring, computational, deep-listening aspect. After a few moments posed in frozen, careful attention, this person would announce, firmly and loudly (to whisper was futile; whoever responded would need to both hear them and realize they were being spoken to), “IS THIS NORTH DAKOTA?” Because the hall was so dense with people, this approach usually worked. “Nebraska!” someone cheerfully replied, her own gaze aimed past the questioner. “Keep going!”
While this is spot-on accurate reporting and fascinating in its own way, it also felt a bit disturbing. He is reporting, after all, but it feels somehow voyeuristic and violating. Of course, all of us, whether we see with our eyes or not, run the risk of being scrutinized by others every day, but there is a twinge of discomfort in reading how this maybe-blind-one-day observer evaluated this alternative technique.
To balance that discomfort, however, is the relief I feel at reading his take on the dressed-up banquet crowd. He sits in the lobby, watching convention attendees streaming toward the banquet hall, again observing as journalist until he finally takes a seat himself at one of the tables. He pokes fun at himself for asking the question why do blind people need to look nice if they can’t see? But then, with the sound of the other shoe dropping, concedes that “people did look fantastic coming out of the elevators.”
Happily, unlike Nunez, Andrew Leland does not leave the country of the blind as an escapee or believe that he is a better human than its inhabitants. With each chapter and each tiny diminishment of his vision, we feel him becoming increasingly aware that things might be OK in this other country, even if he is not eager to go there. While he can write that blindness is not about pity and charity, he does seem to feel sorry for himself at times. But then, why should we expect that all of us will respond to blindness in the same way? When he sees his diagnosis as tragic, is that coming from the retinitis pigmentosa, the Jewishness, the inherited tendency toward hypochondria that he acknowledges having received from his famous playwright grandfather, or something else entirely?
Some of us know intuitively how to play any melody we hear on the piano, while others can play only by studying the written musical score. Like music, some of us arguably take to the alternative techniques of blindness more comfortably than others, enjoying a more natural inclination to use work-around techniques. And why shouldn’t it be exactly that way? We all know by now that some humans learn visually, others aurally, and still others with a lovely potpourri of sensory approaches. When describing firsthand experiences, Andrew Leland comes only intellectually, not intuitively, to the alternate techniques of blindness, but in his pursuit to explore those alternatives, he has developed a quality guidebook of sorts for others interested or obliged to become travelers.
By book’s end, he does indeed seem to recognize viscerally that there is gain and beauty to be found in both the worlds of blindness and sightedness (or blindlessness). He appreciates and revels in the gift of sight, and I hope he gets to enjoy it for many decades to come. If he writes another book, a true memoir, he could begin it exactly where this one stops: with the realization that love, the love of a spouse, a child, or life itself, feels the same with or without sight.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Karl Smith]
Attend the 2024 NFB National Convention If You Dare
by Karl Smith
This summer I’ll attend my 47th consecutive NFB national convention. How did this happen? I surely didn’t intend for it to when I attended my first convention in Baltimore in 1978. I attended that convention for two reasons, the $14 per night hotel rooms and Baltimore’s close proximity to Washington DC, a place I had wanted to visit since I was a child. I figured I would check into the cheap hotel room and spend the week visiting the nation’s capital. I was, after all, a young, smart blind guy with little in common with these people who seemed to need to hang around together and talk about their blindness. Oh how young and naïve I was, having no idea what I was getting into and what the long-term effect would be on the rest of my life.
>From the moment I entered the Lord Baltimore Hotel, the spirit of the Federation was strong as I encountered throngs of blind people going about the business of checking in, catching up with old friends, and finding their way independently using their canes or dogs around the venue. It was then it began to dawn on me that I might have underestimated the power of thousands of blind people working together.
Over the next two days, I spent hours in the exhibit hall, seeing for the first time technology I had only heard about, attending committee and division meetings, meeting blind people from all over the country who were going to college, working, raising families and all the other things normal people do. I don’t remember hearing anyone whining about their blindness. They considered it an inconvenience which could be overcome with proper training and resources. People I just met shared their hopes and plans for the future and encouraged me to expand my own horizon. I was surprised to realize I had been drifting with little or no idea of what my own future might hold.
With all that, I still wasn’t prepared for the opening general session on Tuesday morning. Entering the arena, I was astonished by the electricity in the air generated by thousands of blind people gathered together working to help each other build productive lives. I have never felt anything else like that first exposure to the power of the NFB. The rest of the week was a bit of a blur, with general sessions, other committee and division meetings, and meeting Dr. Jernigan and all the other leaders. I left that convention with a completely new attitude about my blindness. Oh, and about touring Washington DC: I did get there on Wednesday afternoon. With hundreds of other blind people, I carried a sign protesting the airlines’ practice of taking blind people’s canes. And, at that point, I didn’t even carry a cane myself.
If I wrote everything that came out of attending that first convention, this article would be far too long. Instead, I’ll give just a few examples. Shortly after returning from the convention, I participated in organizing a new NFB chapter in my area and was elected its first president. I also decided to go back to college and pursue a career in computers, something I was always interested in but due to some accessibility issues in high school I did not think was possible.
In 1979 my wife and I attended a leadership seminar, The Fifty Gallon Seminar, with Dr. Jernigan. It was the first seminar held in our newly purchased national center in Baltimore. Shortly after the seminar, we attended the national convention in Miami Beach.
In 1980 I attended my first Washington Seminar where I met with congressmen and senators and learned they were actually approachable and, because the NFB had been coming regularly for several years by that time, they expected us and were mostly happy to see and hear from us. Since then I have attended approximately thirty Washington Seminars. Oh yes, I then attended the 1980 convention in Minneapolis.
In 1981 I was elected president of the Utah state affiliate, an office I held for fifteen years. Oh yes, that summer my wife and I and my three-month-old son attended the national convention in Baltimore where, along with hundreds of other blind people, we stood in the blistering heat on the west steps of the nation’s capital and heard from members of congress and Vice President George Bush.
In June of 1982 I graduated with a BS in information science and went immediately to work with Sperry Univac (now Unisys) as a systems network programmer. With no accrued vacation time, I attended the convention in Minneapolis in July without pay.
In 1983 I wrote testimony concerning our opposition to subminimum wages paid at sheltered workshops to be presented by Congressman Dan Marriott of Utah before a committee chaired by Congressman Barney Frank. Late the first afternoon of the hearing, I received a call from then Director of Governmental Affairs Jim Gashel telling me that the congressman hadn’t appeared. I immediately reserved a seat on a red-eye flight to DC, and at 8:30 the next morning, I walked into Congressman Marriott’s office asking his surprised staff why he hadn’t appeared as promised before Barney Frank’s committee. Within a half an hour they located Congressman Marriott, and he and I walked together to the Capitol where he presented the testimony. Until Congressman Marriott left Congress to run for governor of Utah, his office became the NFB of Utah’s base on Capitol Hill during subsequent Washington Seminars.
In 1985 the NFB of Utah established a service providing free Braille translation of materials not available in Braille such as instruction manuals, menus, newsletters, and even the Utah bar exam. I supervised and wrote grants to fund this program for the next ten years.
During the 1980s and ‘90s I served on the National Scholarship Committee, was a member of the Library Services Committee, the Research and Development Committee, the Computer Science Division, and many other committees and groups.
Over several months beginning in 1988 I became totally blind resulting from a detached retina. Lying in the hospital, I knew I needed good blindness training. It was then that all my years as an active member of the Federation, knowing and working with so many competent blind people, became personal. I immediately contacted my friend Joanne Fernandes who was then the director of the Louisiana Center for the Blind to ask how I could get training at her center. Once out of the hospital, I arranged for my family and me to visit the Center to see if it would make a good fit for me. I knew immediately I needed to become a student and get the kind of training unavailable in Utah.
I left Unisys on medical disability and my family in Utah after becoming a student at LCB in late January of 1989. Graduating in October, I returned home not only with improved Braille, cane travel, and other daily skills of blindness, but with the philosophy, spirit, and positive attitude of blindness taught in the NFB instilled in me more than ever before.
In the summer of 1990, I assisted in the establishment of the LCB STEP (Summer Training and Employment Project), designed to provide blind teenagers employment and training in the basic skills of blindness. I directed the program each summer through 1992.
At the end of 1992, Deane Blazie, inventor of the Braille ‘n Speak, said he was in need of trainers to provide in-person training for teachers and others on his product. I mentioned I was free at the moment and would love the opportunity to help. He first asked if I could travel alone to the various training sites. Then, after a short pause, he said, “Oh that’s right, you’re a Federationist.” I began working for him in early 1993. Over the next few years, I traveled widely around the country, providing training, attending conferences, handing out catalogs, and anything else he needed.
Interacting with the leaders in the assistive technology world, I realized there was an opportunity for me to start my own business, offering products, training, and assessment services to individuals, agencies, schools, etc. This was the beginning of the most rewarding and profitable work I have ever done and it continues to this day.
The following years were busy and active ones. In 1994, I assisted in writing and passing a Braille bill in Utah requiring that Braille be the presumed method for reading and writing for blind and low vision students. In 1995 I became a member of the board of directors of the Louisiana Center for the Blind, first serving as secretary and, more recently, as its president. Working closely first with Joanne Wilson and then Pam Allen, I continue to assist my fellow board members to guide the Center as its programs expand and mature.
Although we always home-educated our children, the flexibility afforded me with the success of my business allowed my wife and me new opportunities to provide experiences not possible while maintaining a forty-hour-per-week job. In 1999, we adopted two girls from Vietnam and in 2005 another girl from Guatemala. As a family, we have been able to travel widely, including to Alaska, Europe, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Israel and more. During this time, I also continued attending national conventions as well as other state conventions.
In 2005, along with members of the NFB of Utah and Erik Weihenmayer, I participated in the reality show Three Wishes starring Amy Grant. Each week three contestants were granted a wish. A newly blind woman, Nicole, was given the opportunity to rock climb with Erik, given travel and living skills training, and provided with the latest assistive technology.
In 2010 Utah established a BELL® Academy. From its inception, I have been responsible for writing grants and providing other assistance to BELL workers. 2024 will mark the fourteenth year of the program.
In 2021 I was honored to be asked by President Riccobono to be his representative at the NFB of Kansas state convention. In 2022 I once again represented him at the NFB of Pennsylvania convention. In April of this year, I’ll attend the NFB of South Dakota on his behalf.
Attending my first convention in Baltimore for all the wrong reasons resulted in fundamentally changing the direction of my life. I know I’m not the only one who has experienced this. So, now that you have been let in on the secret, let me encourage you to attend the 2024 National Convention, if you dare.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Maurice Peret]
Rethinking Our Approach: A Call for Solidarity in the Ride-Share Industry
by Maurice Peret
>From the Editor: In his 1976 banquet speech, Of Visions and Vultures, Dr. Jernigan begins with a parable about a king and his three sons out hunting. They stop at a tree, and he asks them what they see. The first two give examples that certainly involve what is around them, but the third son is focused on the hunt: “I see where the wings meet the body.” In our dealings with Uber and Lyft, we see where the wings meet the body when we are denied rides because of our guide dogs or on occasion when we are passed by because they see we have a cane and are uncomfortable with blindness. In this article Maurice asks us to look beyond where the wings meet the body and consider whether, as a civil rights organization, our focus should be broader. As with much of what Maurice writes, this piece does not represent current Federation policy and he does not pretend that it does. Instead he believes that it should provoke thought that may broaden the way we look at the issue of rideshare service and maybe the whole issue of the gig economy. It will be up to us to decide whether the changes we need can be met only through significant systemic change or whether we are better served to focus only on those that clearly involve blindness. Here is what he says:
During the 2022 NFB Annual Convention in New Orleans, Resolutions 2022-13 and 2022-14 addressed the ongoing challenges faced by service dog handlers when using Lyft and Uber platforms. These resolutions aimed to combat discriminatory practices against passengers who are blind or have low vision. I attentively listened to Liza Winship, representing Uber, as she read from a prepared script during the 2023 NFB Annual Convention in Houston, discussing her company's efforts to address these issues. However, my sense of worker solidarity made me uneasy when applause followed mentions of driver discipline. To my disappointment, after President Mark Riccobono announced that Winship might be available for individual discussions, she promptly exited through a side door. It became clear that neither she nor the company truly cared about the rights of blind citizens or the welfare of Uber drivers. Federation leaders have engaged in negotiations with Lyft and Uber for years, yet progress appears minimal.
Rideshare drivers are commonly categorized as contractors, devoid of employee benefits like sick leave, paid vacation, health insurance, and other worker protections. Often labeled as gig workers, many of them are immigrants, and they find themselves at the mercy of fluctuating earnings. See https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-07-21/uber-and-lyft-rideshare-drivers-strike-rally-for-pro-act-union
The proliferation of rideshare platforms has transformed the way non-drivers, especially those in urban or suburban areas, access transportation. Waiting for a taxi for fifteen to thirty minutes, once considered normal, now prompts frustration if my app indicates a six- or nine-minute wait. Personally, I've had overwhelmingly positive experiences, recognizing that these services extend beyond mere transportation, functioning as social platforms. I've engaged with people from diverse backgrounds worldwide, making it a habit to learn to say "thank you" in various languages. Drivers appreciate the interest in their personal, professional, and cultural experiences. I acknowledge that my experiences differ from those who use service animals, though I did so in the past.
Our approach as a civil rights organization may be misdirected. Instead of focusing solely on the ride-sharing companies, we should consider forging alliances with Lyft and Uber drivers who provide invaluable services. Discrimination against legally protected classes, such as the blind or those with low vision, is unequivocally wrong. We must also remember other protected classes, including individuals with allergies, health conditions, and religious convictions related to animals. Many Federation local chapters and affiliates have rightly adopted “fragrance” policies as inclusive and courtesy measures to minimize discomfort by those particularly sensitive.
In the close confines of a private vehicle, similar courtesy should be extended to drivers transporting service animals. Lyft and Uber should inform drivers in advance about potential passengers with service animals to prevent ride cancellations, which cause delays and inconvenience. Additionally, passengers could benefit from more information beyond driver names, vehicle descriptions, and license numbers.
While launching a public relations campaign aimed at rideshare service providers presents challenges, it is essential for our blind community to stand in solidarity with the individuals we interact with daily, rather than distant corporate administrators. See https://www.govtech.com/transportation/labor-ruling-offers-unionization-path-to-uber-lyft-drivers
Resolution 2022-13: Regarding the Continued Denials Experienced by Service Dog Handlers When Using the Lyft Platform
WHEREAS Lyft is a rideshare company which offers automobile transportation services; and
WHEREAS, according to its own terms of service, Lyft riders cannot be discriminated against based on race, religion, or disability; and
WHEREAS, despite attempted educational efforts, service dog handlers everywhere continue to experience ongoing and flagrant discrimination by Lyft drivers when traveling with their service dogs; and
WHEREAS, these denials often result in the service dog handler being stranded in unfamiliar areas, thus compromising their safety; and
WHEREAS, these denials also result in service dog handlers being late to important medical appointments, work, or picking up their children from daycare, often leading to added monetary cost and undue stress and frustration; and
WHEREAS, the process to report a Lyft denial has become increasingly complicated due to the trip disappearing from the user’s ride history; and
WHEREAS, when service dog handlers attempt to report their denial using the Lyft platform, they are unable to provide pertinent information that will help to identify the driver accurately; and
WHEREAS, many drivers claim that allergies, religious beliefs, or their fear of dogs prevent them from transporting service dog handlers and their dogs, despite agreeing to Lyft’s driver terms of service: Now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention assembled this ninth day of July, 2022, in the City of New Orleans, Louisiana, that this organization condemn and deplore Lyft’s continued discriminatory practices against service dog handlers; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization demand that Lyft not remove any denied or refused trips from the rider history, and contact any person who submits a denial-of-service complaint within twenty-four hours and provide the person with confirmation that the report was received and will be addressed with due diligence; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization demand that Lyft require prospective drivers to participate in mandatory service dog awareness training before being activated on its platform and that drivers be properly educated about the Americans with Disabilities Act, with an emphasis on the two questions that drivers can legally ask service dog handlers about their dogs; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization demand that Lyft forbid their drivers from using allergies, religious beliefs, and fear of dogs as excuses not to transport service dog handlers and their dogs in their vehicles; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization demand that Lyft permanently remove any driver from the platform who discriminates by denying service to a service dog handler.
Resolution 2022-14: Regarding the Continued Denials Experienced by Service Dog Handlers When Using the Uber Platform
WHEREAS, Uber is a rideshare company which offers automobile transportation services; and
WHEREAS, according to its own terms of service, Uber cannot discriminate against riders on the basis of race, religion, or disability; and
WHEREAS, despite past litigation and a settlement agreement with the National Federation of the Blind, signed by Uber in April 2016, service dog handlers everywhere continue to experience ongoing and flagrant discrimination by Uber drivers when traveling with their service dogs; and
WHEREAS, these denials of service often result in service dog handlers being stranded in unfamiliar areas, thus compromising their safety; and
WHEREAS, service dog handlers are often late to important medical appointments, work, or picking up their children from daycare, which leads to added monetary cost and undue stress and frustration when Uber drivers refuse to transport them; and
WHEREAS, the process to report an Uber denial has become increasingly complicated due to the trip disappearing from the user’s ride history; and
WHEREAS, when service dog handlers attempt to report their denial using the Uber platform, they are unable to provide pertinent information that will help to identify the driver accurately; and
WHEREAS, because Uber now offers a pet-friendly ride choice, many drivers insist that service dog handlers use this feature of Uber, which is discriminatory because service dogs are not pets and because it results in service dog handlers having to pay more for rides; and
WHEREAS, many drivers claim that allergies, religious beliefs, or their fear of dogs prevent them from transporting service dog handlers and their dogs, despite agreeing to the terms of service of Uber: Now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention assembled this ninth day of July, 2022, in the City of New Orleans, Louisiana, that this organization condemn and deplore Uber’s continued discriminatory practices against service dog handlers; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization demand that Uber not remove any denied or refused trips from the rider history, and contact any person who submits a denial-of-service complaint within twenty-four hours and provide the person with confirmation that the report was received and will be addressed with due diligence; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization demand that Uber require prospective drivers to participate in mandatory service dog awareness training before being activated on its platform and that drivers be properly educated about the Americans with Disabilities Act, with an emphasis on the two questions they can legally ask service dog handlers about their dogs; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization demand that Uber forbid their drivers from using allergies, religious beliefs, and fear of dogs as excuses not to transport service dog handlers and their dogs in their vehicles; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization demand that Uber permanently remove any driver from the platform who discriminates by denying service to a service dog handler.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Beth Braun]
Coffee with an NFB Staff Member: Beth Braun
>From the Editor: This article is gratefully taken from the Fall edition of the Maryland Spectator, the newsletter of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland. Here is the way it was introduced:
[Editor’s Note: NFBMD is a proud state affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind. In Maryland, we’re particularly fortunate to be the home affiliate of our national organization’s headquarters as well as the affiliate where many members of the staff of our headquarters hold membership. Our national staff work hard to offer national programming and implement operations for the NFB, and like all our sister affiliates, we benefit from that work. But in Maryland, we share a unique relationship with the NFB national center due to our proximity and also because the staff of the NFB are often among the affiliate’s volunteers. We will spotlight a different member of the staff in each edition of this magazine, and so we bring you: Coffee with Beth Braun, NFB Chief of Staff.]
Q: What is your role on the NFB staff?
A: I work in the Office of the President, supporting President Riccobono. My relatively new title is Chief of Staff.
Q: How long have you worked for NFB?
A: Eleven years.
Q: Tell us about your educational and/or work background.
A: I have a bachelor’s in forestry and master’s in hospitality management. I worked in hospitality for a long time, segueing into technology through point-of-sale work.
Q: Tell us about your family to the extent you are comfortable sharing.
A: I have a husband, Tom, and four cats.
Q: What is your favorite beverage?
A: Coffee before five, and after five it’s a tie between Dark Waves mead and Harborworks Cyser (from Charm City Meadworks).
Q: What is your favorite food?
A: Anything that doesn’t have raisins in it. Seriously, I could never pick one favorite food.
Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?
A: I spend a lot of my vacation time visiting family in Houston. Other than that, any place quiet, in the trees, by some water, with a stack of books.
Q: What is your favorite quote?
A: “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Q: What is your favorite way to spend free time?
A: Sitting on my stoop with time-of-day appropriate beverage doing the NYT crossword puzzle (and Wordle), reading, weaving, and spending time in Patterson Park.
Q: What motivates you?
A: The hope that I am making a positive difference in someone’s day.
Q: If you could pick which actor played you in the movie about your life, who would it be?
A: Janeane Garofalo
Q: What is your favorite part about your job?
A: I love answering people’s questions—and being able to share what knowledge I have. The more shallow side of me would say that I love my office. I have more than a dozen plants and lots of little things that make it a happy place for me to be.
Q: What is your least favorite part about your job?
A: Talking to angry people on the phone who don’t understand or believe in the National Federation of the Blind. Luckily, that doesn’t happen very often.
Q: What is one really memorable experience you’ve had during your time with NFB?
A: I have been extraordinarily fortunate to travel to some very interesting places with President Riccobono. But the two memories that I will cherish forever were both at the White House at ADA events. First, I got to shake President Barack Obama’s hand and then years later, at an event in the Rose Garden, sit inches away from the Bidens.
Q: If you could give the membership one piece of advice, what would it be?
A: If you have a problem or a question, try to figure out the solution on your own. Use the resources and tools available to you; that’s how we all learn and grow. And when you have exhausted all of the options at hand, ask for help.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Leah Campbell]
My First NFB Convention: Definitely Memorable but Partially for the Wrong Reason
by Leah Campbell
>From the Editor: We have been trying to run convention experience articles in most of our issues, but this one was delayed longer than it should’ve been due to some disorganization on my part. The information it contains will be very helpful for people who have accessibility needs, and I understand that we have now incorporated this language into our contracts for future conventions. Thank you, Leah, for bringing this to our attention.
I found the NFB and became a member during the pandemic, so I had only attended national conventions virtually. I was excited when the 2023 NFB National Convention was announced to be held in Houston, Texas. I thought I might be able to attend in person, since it was closer to me in Oklahoma. It was only a little over a seven-hour car ride or approximately a 1.5 hours flight and there was a direct one.
Traveling for me now is a bit more complicated since becoming paralyzed in 2001 from chemotherapy for a disease that I had been misdiagnosed with eight years earlier. I now always try to fly on a direct, non-stop flight. I now must worry about arranging for lift assistance since I am unable to transfer, the airline possibly damaging my wheelchair during stowage. I then must arrange for wheelchair accessible transportation to and from the airport since my wheelchair does not fold. Then there are the hotel reservations. I need a mobility accessible room, but there is no guarantee that the beds are going to be any lower. What you get for an accessible shower can be wide-ranging and anywhere between a roll-in shower to a tub with a shower bench. Then, how would I even get a shower wheelchair to my destination?
I applied for the Kenneth Jernigan Scholarship, and on May 10, 2023, I was notified that I had received one. I then set out to make the necessary reservations. I made reservations for a non-stop flight from OKC Will Rogers International Airport to Houston Hobby Airport. I called the NFB of Texas to inquire about wheelchair-accessible transportation to and from Houston Hobby Airport. I called the toll-free Hilton reservation line and was told that they could not make reservations for the block of rooms for the NFB convention and was told to call in-house reservations at the hotel. I called the hotel the next day and made reservations with in-house reservations for a mobility accessible room with two beds In the NFB block for July 1-7, 2023. Everything was reserved, scheduled, and secured with a credit card.
On July 1, our trip started with getting through TSA pre-check, lift assistance, and the flight successfully. The first problem started as we were getting our luggage at Houston Hobby Airport. I received a call from the driver of the wheelchair-accessible transportation that I had booked in advance telling me that he was not able to pick us up from the airport because we did not have a corporate account. I needed to speak with the person at the cab stand, and they would call for wheelchair-accessible transportation that was waiting in the nearby parking lot. The female at the stand called, but said that there was no wheelchair-accessible transportation available. So, she called the wheelchair-accessible transportation company. I then received a phone call from the same driver that had just told me that he could not pick us up and that he was ten minutes away. We were finally on our way to the hotel.
When I arrived at the hotel, the female desk clerk told me that there were no more accessible rooms available with two beds. They were "first come, first serve" and they had already given out all the accessible rooms with two beds and only had an accessible room with a king-size bed left. A king-size bed was not going to work for three adults. I tried telling the clerk that I had made reservations two months before, but she only got her manager, who just repeated everything she had said. I asked what a reservation was good for but got no response. He only offered me an accessible room with the king-size bed or a non-accessible room with two beds. I asked about putting a cot in the king-size accessible room, which he so graciously did at no charge. I had to choose to sleep on the cot to get the mobility accessibility that I needed.
I thought all of this sounded wrong but had nothing to back it up, until I read an article in New Mobility magazine that had come out on August 1 but had been buried in my inbox until October 18, 2023. In it, the author of the article, a wheelchair user himself, discussed his struggles with making a reservation, upon arrival discovering his room had been given away, and as a result his conversation with Assistant US Attorney Lauren DeBruicker. New Mobility has profiled DeBruicker before, and according to them, “She is one of a handful of wheelchair users kicking ass and taking names in the Department of Justice.”1 (“Bully Pulpit,” June 1, 2023) According to the DOJ’s revised ADA regulations around accessible lodging, when a reservation is made for an accessible guest room, the specific accessible guest room reserved must be held for the reserving customer, and the room must be removed from the reservation system.
According to the article in New Mobility magazine, “As simple as that seems, Hilton properties have a history of struggling to comply. In 2010, in response to a DOJ complaint that around nine hundred of their properties had failed to meet ADA standards, Hilton agreed to physically bring these properties up to ADA standards and fix their reservation system so disabled guests could actually get the rooms they reserved.”
I have now filed my own complaint with the DOJ regarding what happened at the Hilton Americas Houston. We will see what comes of that. Going forward, I hope the NFB is aware of the additional struggles that some of its members with additional disabilities face with traveling, and I also hope that it will take steps to make sure that this does not happen again at future conventions or Washington Seminars. I hope the NFB will work with hotels to ensure that they are aware of the needs of their guests with additional disabilities, the regulations relating to reservations regarding accessible rooms, and that they have policies in place to protect the rights of those guests. I am looking forward to attending my first in-person Washington Seminar in January, the convention in Orlando in 2024, and a better hotel experience.
References
1. “Bully Pulpit,” (June 1, 2023). When an Accessible Hotel ‘Reservation’ Doesn’t Guarantee Anything. https://newmobility.com/when-an-accessible-hotel-reservation-doesnt-guarantee-anything/?mc_cid=46f4c949b7
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Julie Deden]
Helping Out: How Chores at Home May Pave the Way to Future Employment for Blind Youth
by Julie Deden
>From the Editor: This article is gratefully taken from the Winter Edition of Future Reflections, a publication of the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults. So much of this resonates with me that I read it twice and can’t wait for you to see it. This gives us valuable advice when parents come to us asking for guidance. Here is the way Debbie Stein introduces it:
Most parents assume that their children will take on responsibilities around the house as they grow older. Preschoolers are taught to pick up their toys, school-age kids set the table or take out the garbage, and teens mow the lawn, run errands, and help care for younger siblings. When a child is blind, however, this natural progression often gets derailed. For an assortment of reasons, blind children are seldom expected to do household chores. Julie Deden, Director of the Colorado Center for the Blind, surveyed a group of blind teens in one of her programs, asking them about their experiences helping out at home. In this article, she writes about the results and their implications.
I grew up as a blind child, and today I work as the director of the Colorado Center for the Blind (CCB). At the CCB we teach blind young people and adults skills such as home management and independent travel, and we attempt to prepare them to become gainfully employed. Our students who have been blind from an early age often come to us with woefully limited experience with cooking, cleaning, and yard work. I have come to believe that there is a strong correlation between doing chores as a child and the expectation of holding a job as an adult.
Most children are natural imitators. When they see their parents sweeping the floor or raking leaves, they eagerly try to do the same thing. Blind kids know that their parents prepare meals, vacuum the carpet, and take care of the yard, but they can't observe visually how these tasks are managed. Parents and caregivers need to find nonvisual ways to teach blind children how to perform the ordinary tasks of everyday life. They may let the child tactually explore household items such as mops and pails or pots and pans. Using the hand-over-hand technique, they can show the child how tasks are done.
Parents need to keep in mind that once is not enough. Sighted children observe adults' activities again and again. Blind children, too, need repetition as they observe and explore, using hearing and touch. Parents are extremely busy people, and in the short term, all of this teaching may seem to be burdensome extra work. In the long term, though, the results will prove well worth the effort.
I remember talking with my mother about how she taught me to tie my shoes. Teaching me the complicated steps of tying a knot and a bow took time and patience. My mother went over the steps with me again and again until I had it all down. Sometimes the lessons were frustrating for us both, but when I finally mastered the process of tying shoelaces it was mine for life.
Fortunately, I was taught to do a variety of chores around the house. I learned to clean the bathroom, wipe the kitchen counters, and run the vacuum cleaner. I started babysitting when I was sixteen, and I worked at a Lions camp for two summers while I was in high school. I benefited tremendously from these experiences. Many blind teens are not so fortunate.
Here at the CCB we find that many blind people had few, if any, opportunities to do chores at home when they were children. Furthermore, few of the blind teens who come to our programs have had the opportunity to babysit or hold after-school or summer jobs. Concerned about these observations, I decided to interview ten of our students who are under the age of twenty-five in order to gather more information.
When they entered the program at the CCB, seven of the ten students I interviewed were strong Braille readers, and six of the ten had good technology skills. All of the students in the group received monthly SSI payments. All of the students in the group indicated that at least one of their parents worked outside the home.
Although most of these students had skills when it came to Braille and technology, their experience with household chores was minimal. One student explained that he did chores as a young child, but he was not expected to help out later on, as his vision declined. Another student said she helped care for her younger siblings, but she did not have any household chores. Four of the ten students said they felt they could not measure up to their sighted siblings and peers when it came to making themselves useful. They said that no expectations were placed upon them, and they felt ashamed for not doing more to be helpful at home. They admitted that they did not know what to do or where to begin.
A notable exception in this group was a student who lost his vision at age seventeen. Before he became blind he was always expected to do chores at home. In addition, he held several jobs during high school, and he even ran a lawn-care business. Of the ten students I interviewed, he was the only one who had ever worked competitively—and he held his jobs while he still had sight.
The good news is that training in blindness skills seems to make a significant difference in the way young people see themselves and their futures. Five of the students I interviewed are currently in college, and three are actively looking for employment.
Few of our students want to move back home with their families after they complete their training in blindness skills. They love the independence they have gained, and they are eager to step out on their own. As they master the skills of preparing meals and cleaning floors, they are learning far more. No longer are they the passive recipients of help. They begin to see themselves as people who can be proactive, who can make meaningful contributions as they move through their lives.
At first my mother didn't know how to teach me to tie my shoes. Yet she understood that I needed to keep up with my sighted peers in mastering the tasks of daily living. Step by step, hit or miss, she found ways to teach me. In the blind community we need to help parents find ways to teach age-appropriate skills to their blind children. We need to help them raise their expectations and bring up their children to become active, contributing members of society.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Debbie Wunder]
Knowledge is Sweet: A Seminar Presented by the Diabetes Action Network
by Debbie Wunder
>From the Editor: Debbie is the president of the Diabetes Action Network, a longtime member from Missouri, and my wife. Together we serve on the Division’s board of directors, and I get the opportunity to work behind the scenes so that she can deservedly get center stage. Here is what she has to say about our upcoming seminar in April:
We know that diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in the United States, and we know that without the proper intervention, many people will see this as something they cannot manage on their own. Although there are real problems with the medical technology that is not accessible to us, blind diabetics can and do live independently, and communicating this message and the work that remains to be done is the reason we are holding the Knowledge is Sweet Seminar.
Our seminar, sponsored by our Diabetes Action Network, will be held on Friday, April 26, and Saturday, April 27, 2024. We'll be meeting at the Hilton St. Louis Airport located at 10330 Natural Bridge Rd, St. Louis, MO 63134. The cost of a room is $111 a night, and when you book, the room block is under the name National Federation of the Blind. To reach the hotel call 314-426-5500. We tried it, it works, and registering only begins the fun.
The board is working on the agenda, and we are trying to get doctors, dietitians, drug manufacturers, and the people who make devices we use in administering those drugs and in checking our blood sugar. We already have one of our keynote speakers, Gary Taubes. For those of you who may not know him, he is a journalist who looked into the science of obesity and the diseases it makes us susceptible to getting. Conclusions he draws from often overlooked scientists are:
* Obesity is not an issue of those who have willpower and those who don't
* The assertion that weight maintenance, weight loss, and weight gain is not nearly as simple as calories in vs calories out
* The idea that eating fat will make you fat seems to have a ring of truth about it, but the supposition is not supported by studies and the way we digest and use food for energy
* A calorie is a calorie is much too simplistic when it comes to food
* The prescription to eat low-fat high-carbohydrate foods provably does not work for most people
* We eat much too much sugar, and this excess is responsible for many of the problems we have—problems which were once called the King's Disease because only people of wealth could afford sugar in significant amounts
* Science tries to be driven by facts, but even it falls prey to inertia. Popular opinions get published; unpopular ones must look to places other than scientific journals for real airing and discussion
The purpose of our seminar is to promote thought and discussion; it is not to endorse or debunk any point of view, because we do not consider ourselves experts on nutrition, exercise, or even diabetes. Our goal is to share, to learn, and to give people tools that they are free to use or not. Our mission is to send one message clearly and concisely: In your blindness and diabetes, you are not alone. We will share our stories with the hope that they will add to the independence and freedom all of us want.
Please register with the hotel as soon as you can. For a copy of the Knowledge is Sweet Registration form, write to Debbie Wunder, debbiewunder at charter.net <mailto:debbiewunder at charter.net> . Alternatively, text or call me at 573-268-6989. The cost will be $99, and this fee will entitle you to four plated meals and all presentations.
I am excited, and I hope you are as well. I don't enjoy the disease we share, but I love the work we can do to help blind people learn to live and thrive with it.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Cindy Scott-Huisman]
Cindy Scott-Huisman, owner of Cantrell Gallery and Custom Framing in Little Rock, learned to adapt to her vision loss
Scott-Huisman, who has a hereditary form of blindness, is making the best of her situation
by Sean Clancy
August 6, 2023: Reprinted from Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
What happens when the owner of a successful art gallery, someone who has built a career trusting her vision while scrutinizing potential artworks for her business, goes blind?
Let's find out.
In 2017 Cindy Scott-Huisman of Cantrell Gallery and Custom Framing in Little Rock was diagnosed with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy plus, a rare, inherited form of vision loss that worsens over time. The "plus" in her diagnosis, however, gives her the distinction of being in an even more unique subset of the condition that can include movement disorders and tremors and problems with the electrical signals that control heartbeat.
Not that any of this has slowed her down. In many ways the effervescent, 56-year-old Scott-Huisman has charged right ahead with her life and career, adapting on the fly and becoming president of the Arkansas Chapter of the National Federation of the Blind.
On a sunny morning in late June, Scott-Huisman sits with her back to the large storefront windows at Cantrell Gallery. Her walking cane is propped next to her as classic rock plays softly in the background. She's wearing a linen outfit made by her friend Mark Hughes of Regalia Handmade Clothing Studio in Eureka Springs and her earrings say "Buy art." Frame samples cover one wall of the gallery and paintings are displayed in sections devoted to various local artists, many of whom, like Kae Barron, have been with the gallery for years.
The business was founded on July 1, 1970, by Scott-Huisman's parents, Norman and Helen Scott. Back then it was called Art Fair and located in a small duplex at 722 Seventh St. They later moved to a spot on Chester Street, and in 1976 secured the Cantrell Road location in the new Cantrell Heights Shopping Center.
Barron's father, the artist Warren Criswell, had his first solo exhibit at the gallery in 1981.
"Over the years Helen and Norman were more to my family than just my dad's agent," Barron writes in an email. "They were great for his art career, but they also actually cared about him and his family. When our family home was destroyed in 1982, they came out and helped us get a hotel room. They were a big help in such a traumatic time. In other words, they have always been helpful, compassionate people. And Cindy has inherited those qualities."
Scott-Huisman and her sister, Angela, grew up helping their parents in the gallery. She attended Little Rock Central High School and earned a music scholarship to Hendrix College, where she majored in humanities with an emphasis on theater. After graduation she went to work at the Arkansas Repertory Theatre and it was there that she met her future husband, Clarke.
The first time they went out together was to dinner on New Year's Eve, 1988, with her parents and Arkansas Travelers' general manager Bill Valentine and his wife, Ellouise, longtime family friends.
"That sounds like such a funny first date," she says with a laugh, "but they were, like, professional eater-outers and we said yeah, we'll tag along because we have no money."
She and Clarke married on Sept. 1, 1990, and she wore a dress designed by Hughes, who worked with them at The Rep.
"We did our wedding like a theatrical production," she says. "We did show tunes, and family members and friends sang before the wedding started."
After about a year at The Rep, Scott-Huisman went to work full time at the gallery.
"I was having second thoughts about the lifestyle of working in professional theater and thought that I'd just come back to work for my parents," she says. "I never looked back because it was so exciting. There was something new and different every day."
In 2009 she bought the business from her parents (Norman passed away a year later. The gallery is currently hosting "Rock City Shenanigans," an exhibit of his paintings that will be up through Sept. 9). It is still very much a family-run outfit, with Helen working at the gallery and Clarke maintaining the custom frame-making side of the business.
"Clarke is my right hand and Mom is my left hand," she says.
Scott-Huisman handles the marketing and, even with her vision challenges, continues to hang most of the art.
"Thankfully I still have a very good sense of space and how to organize various pieces of art together so they work well as a display."
Their son Christian, 31, is the floor manager at BCW, a new restaurant on Main Street. The family will be expanding soon as Christian is engaged to Ashley Nipp.
"She is very much a part of our family, and we completely adore her," Scott-Huisman says.
Seeing Things
When Christian was 7, Scott-Huisman noticed that something was going on with his eyesight. His teacher took note as well. After several months of incorrect diagnoses, the family finally learned that he had Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy, which is inherited from the mother's side of the family.
Christian graduated in 2010 from both Little Rock Central High School and the Arkansas School for the Blind.
"Christian is this amazing person," Scott-Huisman says. "We are so proud of him.... I knew it was difficult for him in a lot of situations growing up and not wanting to be different from his peers."
Before her diagnosis, Scott-Huisman was seeing gray spots.
"And then they just all started connecting together until there's just a whole big area that's missing."
When describing her vision she holds up her hands in a circle about the size of a plate in front of her face. "It's like a little area about this big in my central eyesight. When I say there's nothing there people think it's a black spot, but it's totally pixelated. It's like your brain is picking up whatever is in that area and filling it in with all these speckles."
While there is a spectrum of blindness, Scott-Huisman identifies as blind.
"Some people aren't willing to admit they're blind," she says. "They want to say 'I'm low-vision.' I can technically say I'm either one, but I just go with blind."
After her diagnosis she was optimistic, but then began to come to grips with the challenges.
"I was like, I've got this, no problem. I understand it, and I'm OK with it. But I can't lie to you. It's been very difficult."
Spinning Out
It's appallingly easy for those with sight to take for granted everything that comes with that sense—driving, using a phone, reading a book, grocery shopping, watching a sunset, running an art gallery and frame shop.
"You put everything in a compartment," Scott-Huisman says on adapting to blindness. "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. You just figure it out."
"It's amazing to me how much Cindy has come into her own, or blossomed even, since her diagnosis," Barron says. "To say that she has made the best of her situation is really a vast understatement. She has a very positive mindset and seems to view her sight-loss as a challenge."
She has organized a Facebook group to help her with rides around town, and another group in which she and friends discuss the latest books they're reading. She uses headphones on her work computer to hear audio of text on her screen, and smartphones have lots of accessibility features for blind users, she says.
"I'm learning QuickBooks currently," she says. "There's just always some new thing to figure out and a new place to go with it."
On one occasion, as she was "spinning out" while trying to figure out how to do a task, she remembers Christian saying: "'Don't let this take your joy from you, Mom,' And I was like, that's perfect."
It's a mantra that she's latched onto.
"I can get so frustrated with trying to learn how to do something and I don't know how to do it. It is taking your joy, but you step back and come at it from another angle. That's what inspires me about the National Federation of the Blind and seeing all these people figuring it out, getting it done, being professionals, and being amazing. It has given me so many opportunities."
The Federation was founded in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., in 1940 to "promote the economic and social welfare of the blind" and influence Congress on policies for the blind. The group has more than 50,000 members in chapters in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
Kyle Kiper of Little Rock is the secretary for the Federation's Arkansas Chapter and is also the national group's secretary. He first met Scott-Huisman as she was coming to grips with her vision loss.
"She's very intelligent and she's got a lot of talent," Kiper says. "She's advancing herself among the blindness movement by being this independent gallerist. This is a hard process to go through, but she's making it ... we've had conversations where she has cried, we've had conversations where she was thrilled with herself and we've had conversations where she was worried about how she can move forward."
Going It Alone
Last month, Scott-Huisman attended the Federation's national convention in Houston with 3,000 other blind people. She and Clarke are avid travelers, but this was the first time she'd made a solo trip since losing her sight.
"She was nervous about the trip," Kiper says. "It's intimidating, but she knew she could handle this and I knew, within a couple of days, that she's got this. She was running around the hotel, meeting people, chatting with kids and letting them know she was going through the same thing they were going through. I was like, that's a natural leader right there."
Scott-Huisman says the trip was "confidence building. It went perfectly smooth. Actually seeing how helpful people were along the way made it really nice, and the convention was so packed with invaluable information. It was so moving to get to be there."
In late July she was notified that she was among 50 people chosen to attend the Federation's Presidential Leadership Seminar for up-and-coming leaders at its headquarters in Baltimore.
"I'm just so honored," she says. "I'm kind of floating along on Cloud Nine right now."
Spencer Jansen, deputy director of the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, has been friends with Scott-Huisman for years.
"She doesn't do anything half-heartedly," he says. "You can go one of two ways. You can go the easy route or the more thorough route, and I know she's always going to go the more thorough route. She's also one of the most inviting, welcoming people I know. She doesn't know a stranger. There are a surprisingly large amount of people I've spoken to where we can make that [six degrees of] Kevin Bacon connection with Cindy. She knows everybody."
When the museum was closed for renovations, Jansen's friendship with her helped him work to address accessibility concerns for new visitors.
"Talking with her and getting to know how vision loss has affected her life has made me aware of things we need to address, like when we send out an email to make sure there is a description on the image so an e-reader can describe the image. These are things I'd never thought of."
The museum also offers special glasses to help people who are color-blind view artworks.
"That was something Cindy really inspired us to do," Jansen says.
Dynamic Duo
While Scott-Huisman has spent the past six years adapting to a life without sight, Clarke has been right by her side.
"It's not easy," she says. "I mean, he'd been through this as a parent and now it's his spouse? C'mon! But I have to say that the sight loss has enriched our relationship in ways in which we never would have foreseen. We rely on each other in such a different and unique way now."
Clarke even gave an address at a convention for those with Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy.
"There was not a dry eye in the room," she says.
There are a lot of misconceptions about blind people, Scott-Huisman says.
"There's this knee-jerk kind of negative reaction that people have of 'Oh, my gosh! How would I do anything if I couldn't see?'"
Maybe it seems insurmountable, but one just keeps pressing forward and learns along the way.
"I think I was blessed with a lot of determination and confidence and grit before this happened," she says. "That makes it easier, but losing your eyesight does ruffle your feathers. You question yourself. What am I doing here, how do I do anything, what's my worth and on and on.
"But you just start layering up the skills, and with support you keep making steps in the right direction and everything you figure out to do builds on the next thing and your confidence returns."
----------
NFB Pledge
I pledge to participate actively in the efforts of the National Federation of the Blind to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for the blind; to support the policies and programs of the Federation; and to abide by its constitution.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://nfbnet.org/pipermail/nfbofsc_nfbnet.org/attachments/20240302/b5134e8e/attachment-0001.html>
-------------- next part --------------
_______________________________________________
Brl-monitor mailing list
Brl-monitor at nfbcal.org
https://nfbcal.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/brl-monitor
More information about the NFBofSC
mailing list