[NFBV-Announce] smile, smile, and zoom!

[jackibruce6 at gmail.com]

Hey NFB Family and Friends,

 

Smile! If you're feeling frustrated, stressed, or down in any way, SMILE!
Take at least four deep breaths and put a  smile on your face. Your mood
will improve and you will make a  difference for anyone who sees you.  I
mean, how can you be grumpy when you're facing someone who has a  big grin
on their face?!

 

Kudos Corner.

Stand up and raise your glasses to two intelligent, thoughtful women making
a  difference in our world.Annette Carr and Arielle Silverman!! Read on to
see what I  mean and give a  call, text, or email to Annette and Arielle
give them your love and congratulations!  Way to go ladies!

 

On October 12-14, 2021 the annual Federal InterAgency Accessibility Forum
(IAAF) took place.  Annette Carr, President of the Fairfax Chapter of the
NFB of Virginia and Disability Program Manager for the Transportation
Security Administration (TSA), was the lead on pulling together an all-star
panel of subject matter experts in the employment of people with
disabilities in the Federal government.  Carr was joined by the Section 508
Coordinators from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Internal Revenue
Service (IRS), and the National Disability Program Manager for the Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA) to discuss the importance of forming
partnerships across departments within and across Federal agencies, as well
as with community partners to achieve successful employment outcomes for
people with disabilities.  Panelist shared their successes and challenges,
and tips for networking to foster and maintain these partnerships.

 

Carr's brainstorm for this panel presentation was in response to Executive
Order 14035 Diversity-Equity-Inclusion-Accessibility in the Federal
Workplace signed by President Biden in June of this year.  This Executive
Order highlights the importance of integrating accessibility into all
aspects of the Federal government culture.  The timeliness of this
presentation was well received by IAAF organizers and attendees, and did not
go unnoticed by the news media including such sources as the Federal News
Network Morning Report for Thursday October 14.  A copy of the article where
Carr was quoted several times can be found at URL:

 

https://federalnewsnetwork.com/management/2021/10/for-federal-accessibility-
managers-addition-of-the-a-in-new-deia-initiative-is-a-welcome-change/

 

The Greater Alexandria Chapter is on the watch!  What are we watching for,
you ask?  

 

We are watching for the release of a new and very important book written by
our very own Arielle Silverman!  

This is even more exciting than watching for Santa's sleigh!!

 

This event is happening Monday, November 15, 2021 at 8:00 p.m on ZOOM!

 

ZOOM Link: 

https://zoom.us/j/6025022255 

 

Or dial by phone: 646-558-8656, 6025022255#

 

We really hope you will all join us on our watch!  We are so proud and
excited for our Arielle and we hope you will all be with us to cheer her on!

 

Remember...8 :00 p.m.!  See you there!

 

Renee F. Valdez, M.A.

Secretary/Treasurer, National Federation of the Blind, 

Greater Alexandria Chapter

Co-Chair, National Federation of the Bilind of Virginia, 

Fundraising Committee

Vice President, Northern VA Regional Local Human Rights Committee

 

Just Human: The Quest for Disability Wisdom, Respect, and Inclusion

About the book:

Born without sight, Dr. Arielle Silverman has never missed the visual. Being
blind never bothered her much but, as she grew, she discovered others saw
her blindness very differently. Many people saw her as either helpless or
inspirational, but rarely did they see her as just human, with the same
capacities and desires as her peers.

Arielle has spent a lifetime exploring ways to foster respect and inclusion,
not only for blind people like her, but for all of us whose bodies or minds
differ from the norm.

 

In Just Human, she reflects on her formative years and presents unique
anecdotes from her life that carry teachable moments for all of us. She
recalls the feel of her mother's embrace, the smell of her grandparents'
brisket, the inner sensations of a preteen crush, the music on her wedding
day, and scholarly lessons from her dissertation research. Her words paint
pictures from her mind's eye: a vision of a world where we can radically
accept ourselves and our fellow humans, while at the same time work to
change systems of inequality. As she writes of the past and the present,
Arielle looks toward the future, considering how we can build a more
inclusive world for those who come after us.

 

...........

 

"Just Human will inspire you... Not in the feel-good way some stories do,
staying at the surface level of the lives of people with disabilities.
Instead, Arielle's memoir immerses you into the real-life reflections of a
blind woman, from birth to adulthood. At times heartbreaking and at other
times light-hearted, her narrative cloth methodically weaves in threads of
disability history, theory, and wisdom. This vast compilation of experience,
research, and applicable strategies has the potential to heal age-old
misconceptions and stereotypes that perpetuate barriers to inclusion and
equality. Arielle has done much of the work for us. Now we must be willing
to dive below the surface to listen, human to human."

 

-Sarah Mason, mother of a blind daughter, and educator of blind children and
youth

Contact Arielle at Arielle at DisabilityWisdom.com
<mailto:Arielle at DisabilityWisdom.com>  for information on purchasing the
book. 

 

Spotlight On.

 

Please join the Greater Williamsburg Chapter as we welcome Sandy Halverson,
1st Vice President, to our meeting on November15th.  Sandy will be talking
about our newest program, Silver Bells.  We meet at the Center Street Grill
in Williamsburg, at 6  PM.  Looking forward to seeing you in person or on
our Affiliate Zoom.

 

Everyone Should Have a Braille Buddy

 

Pour your coffee

Pour your tea

Find some paper

Get ready to key

 

Where's my stylus?

Where's my slate?

I'll need them with me

For my Braille Buddy date

 

Come one, come all

Don't be shy

Braille is brilliant

Like stars in the sky

 

Come join us for some light hearted conversation every Tuesday Evening,
starting December 7th, 7  PM,  EST on our Affiliate Zoom (see below for
link). Bring your questions and join us to make new friends.  Any level of
experience with Braille is welcome.  Come have a few laughs and learn from
your friends.

 

 

Many of our Chapters are meeting in person, please check the Chapter
Meetings section to join in a   meeting.  All meetings are open to the
public.    Chapters and Divisions are using the Affiliate Zoom link, if a
meeting is using an alternate platform, the phone number or instructions to
join will follow the meeting name. 

 

 

Here's how to join:

Zoom Link
<https://zoom.us/j/8297256345?pwd=SFAyamlQNU44ZTJ6dUZNMTV4RmhCQT09>
https://zoom.us/j/8297256345?pwd=SFAyamlQNU44ZTJ6dUZNMTV4RmhCQT09




One tap mobile
 <tel:%20+13017158592,,8297256345> tel: +13017158592,,8297256345# 
Telephone Dial: 1 (301) 715-8592

Meeting ID: 829 725 6345# 

 

If needed the password is 20201940

 

Chapter and Division Meetings.

    

Greater Williamsburg, Monday, November 15, 6  pm. Center Street Grill, 5101
Center Street, Williamsburg,23188.

 

Fairfax,  Thursday, November 18th, 7  pm

 

Winchester, Saturday, November 20th, 10am.  Solenberger's True Value
Hardware, 832 Berryville Avenue, Winchester,  22601.  Call in number is
978-990-5395. The meeting id number is 1566808.

 

Peninsula, Saturday, November 20th 11:00 am.  Conference call number
605-475-4825  meeting id 549778

 

Prince William, Saturday, November 20th from 1 to 3pm at Bar Louie, address
15001 Potomac Town Place, Woodbridge, VA.  There is also a conference call
line to dial into: 605-313-5562, passcode 293383.

 

Tidewater, Saturday , November 20th, 2:00 PM (lunch at 1:00 PM ). Bangkok
Gardens, 417 West 21st Street, Norfolk 23517. :  Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3661685508?pwd=a2RwY0o5TWVIa2xBbDBPSEJzL0l2QT09.  

 

One touch mobile 

 +13017158592,,3661685508#,,,,*21211955#
<tel:+13017158592,,3661685508#,,,,*21211955> .  

Telephone Dial: 1 (301) 715-8592.

Meeting ID: 366 168 5508#

Passcode: 21211955.

 

Seniors Division, Wednesday, November  24th 7:00 pm.

 

Greater Alexandria, Thursday, November 25th 7:00 pm.  

 

Chesapeake Bay, Saturday, November  27rd 11 AM.  Gus and George's Spaghetti
and Steak House, 4312 Virginia Beach Blvd., Va. Beach, zip  23456. Conf.
call phone num. 605 468 8758  and the access code is 197498.

 

Richmond, Monday, November  29th 6:30 PM.

 

At Large, Tuesday, December 14th, 8  pm   we will be having our Holiday
Party Call! conference call number  877-394-5901, meeting i.d. 6149670

 

Smile and think about all of the things in your life that are blessings.
Family, the one you are born into and the ones you gather throughout your
life, baby giggles, the smell of fresh coffee or bread, sunshine on your
face, good friends, love, laughter, secrets and surprises, health, dark
chocolate and wine, the ocean, pets, a  fuzzy blanket, .I  could go on for
pages, so many, many things to be thankful for!  Thank you!


Peace,

Jacki Bruce

Corresponding Secretary, National Federation of the Blind of Virginia
 <mailto:jackibruce6 at gmail.com> mailto:jackibruce6 at gmail.com
 <tel:(757)291-1789> tel:(757)291-1789
 <http://www.nfb.org/> www.nfb.org
 <http://www.nfbv.org/> www.nfbv.org

Follow us on Twitter @NFBVirginia
Find us on Facebook @NationalFederationoftheBlindofVirginia

Live the life you want.

The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and friends
who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. Every day we work
together to help blind people live the lives they want

 

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