[Njabs-talk] Minutes for NJABS Conference Call for Sunday, March 13, 2011

[Benjamin Vercellone]

I'm sorry for being so late with these minutes, but here they are.
Ben

Minutes for NJABS Conference Call for Sunday, March 13, 2011

8:04 PM: Evelyn began. Turned it over to Melissa Hurff.

8:05 PM: There are Different perspectives on centers for the blind. She 
said the NFB pledge.

8:06 PM: Evelyn spoke about Rebecca Urvan, President of the Northern NJ 
chapter since November. Talked about the Women on the move event. March 
is the International Women's Month. She said March 8 is International 
Women's Day. The NFB Women on the Move event will be on Saturday March 
26 from 3 to 6 PM. NJABS is invited. It will be in Bloomfield NJ. 
Rebecca wants students to be present. Email or call Rebecca. Her number 
is on the flyer. Evelyn urged all board members to be present. She said 
Shafeka may call in late, and has been very busy lately. Shafeka's 
school granted us permission to hold Student Seminar there. It will take 
place on Saturday May 21, 2011 at Bergen Academy. We have access to all 
classrooms and the small cafeteria. We are really excited. Still waiting 
for emails from students if you have ideas for student seminar. The 
email addresses of Shafeka and Evelyn are:

shafekah at gmail.com<mailto:shafekah at gmail.com>.

evelyn at njabs.org<mailto:evelyn at njabs.org>.

8:09 PM: Evelyn turned it over to Melissa Hurff, board member for this 
event. Brent Batron will speak first. Amy Phelps was supposed to speak 
first, but was not on the call. Brent is the director of the Youth 
Summer Program at the Colorado Center for the Blind.

8:10 PM: Brent began. He talked about different programs. The Middle 
school program includes students age 12 to 14. There is a high school 
program. There is a college prep program -- ages 18-21. There are many 
activities. There is the Bell program this year, and people may be able 
to work there. He mentioned something with radio. Students can learn how 
radio reading services work. There is a paid internship. It is 20-24 
hours a week. At the CO Center, people learn how to get to different 
places. Before leaving for convention, students can go to jobs 
independently. In the college prep program, students learn things like 
taking notes and utilizing the Disabled student office. They will Tour 3 
campuses in the Denver Metro area. They learn how college campuses 
differ. They talk about equal rights. Talk about accommodations. How to 
get textbooks on time. The Center teaches a program about communicating 
with professors in math and science programs. They also try to have 
seniors and juniors in college come in and talk about college. The 
Colorado Center is doing that this year. Brent said that's it in a nutshell.

There were a couple questions which he answered. There are 2 bedroom 2 
bathroom apartments. Some programs are located there. Students take the 
bus and the light rail to and from the center. Students increase in 
their travel skills immediately.

8:16 PM: Evelyn thanked Brent. More questions. There are Typically 2 or 
3 students in an apartment. Typically 3. Typically 3 students and one 
staff. When Brent organizes the living arrangements, He tries to keep 
age in mind. College and high school programs are mixed. Said once there 
was a 16 year old living in an apartment with 2 18-19 year olds. He also 
looks at different interests. Even though there may be an age difference 
in an apartment, the students' interests may be similar. Said he Hasn't 
perfected the formula, and tries to keep flexibility. Doesn't try to put 
best friends from NJ together for example. He tries to separate them so 
they will not start a click and so the third person will not be let down 
or picked on. It is difficult to separate everybody this way. There have 
been 8 or 10 Arizona students attending the program lately. He can't 
separate everybody. If anyone is looking for summer employment, he'd 
love to talk to us about it. Solid role models are needed. There are a 
lot of female applicants at this point. If you're a guy, and interested 
in working in a summer program, you may be interested.

Brent's email address is:

bbatron at cocenter.org<mailto:bbatron at cocenter.org>.

TO reach him by phone:

303-778-1130 ex. 322.

8:20 PM: Melissa asks, if someone goes to the high school program, are 
they eligible to go as an adult?

Brent said it has to do with your rehab program. In this situation, 
usually a councilor will maybe allow for 6 months rather than 9. A 
student may start in summer program and stay for adult program. There 
are lots of options. He talked about the Transition Pilot Program in 
Arizona. Students start transition at 14. They want students to have 3 
independence program experiences before graduation. Each councilor is 
different.

Evelyn said people don't hear about good programs. States like Arizona 
are good models for independence.

Brent said there are currently 3 NJ students in CO center. He 
recommended we talk to them and see what it's like, and get their true 
experiences. 2 students went with Brent last weekend and talked about 
their experience. Brent says we have good students here in New Jersey. 
Any questions, feel free to call or email him. His info again:

bbatron at cocenter.org<mailto:bbatron at cocenter.org>.

303-778-1130 ex. 322.

8:25 PM: brent left. Melissa says we now move to BISM. BISM stands for 
Blind Industries and Services of Maryland. Although Amy Phelps was not 
here, Melissa would ask Liz about her experience with BISM. Liz is a 
Graduate of BISM 2010. Melissa asked her to tell what she did there and 
what she gained from it.

8:26 PM: Liz said the Commission did not fund the program for her. They 
said BISM was not educational related. Her mom helped a lot and 
advocated for her. A lot of people helped including from a blind club 
and the local chapter. Family and friends helped. She said she could not 
do it on her own. She had to raise $4000. She succeeded.

Evelyn said If a student wants to go to Youth Slam, he or she must raise 
$250. A couple students applied for youth slam. Asked what if I can't 
get money? It is not impossible. Liz was able to successfully raise 
$4000, which is a lot more than $250.

Liz said the program was 6 weeks long. She lived in a dorm at the 
University of Maryland. She had 2 roommates I think. And 2 counselors. 
There were a couple girls in the other room. There were 5 Boy students. 
She spoke about her classes: Computer skills, Braille, Orientation and 
Mobility, and Daily living skills. Out of all classes, her favorite was 
daily living skills. It made her so much more independent. She learned 
to cook, clean, do laundry, everything. They went grocery shopping once 
a week. Students got to go to the NFB national convention in Dallas and 
also to the Jernigan Institute. The cooking, daily living, and computer 
classes took place in the dorms. Mobility was outside the dorms.

Melissa asked if Liz noticed a difference between BISM and the Colorado 
Center after hearing Brent speak.

Liz said she thought the CO Center program is more educational. BISM is 
more about blind skills. There are a lot of trips with BISM. They went 
roller skating. They went to the Jernigan institute, the Kenneth 
Jernigan museum, the Independence market, and the BISM headquarters. Her 
favorite trip was going to New York City. They went shopping. Students 
went all the way to NYC and came all the way back to Baltimore. They 
Took the train from DC. They even went to Ground Zero. It was so 
touching. There was a sign with a button, and when you press it, it 
talks. This was a once in a lifetime experience. They Went to the 
capital building, and had a tour lead by 2 blind tour guides who were 
college interns. Liz most recommends going to DC. A lot of places are 
accessible to the blind, including a huge tactile map of DC. Evelyn and 
Melissa saw the map and said it was awesome.

Evelyn asked for any other events or experiences?

Students had to wake up early. 6 or 7 every morning. Had to get up and 
make breakfast and be ready by 8 for classes. Anyone could make what 
they want. When late, they would just have serial. They ate Toast or 
pancakes a lot, which she and her roommates made on their own. The 
councilors left it all up to them.

Melissa asked what she uses every day in her daily life from BISM.

Liz said Cooking, cleaning, and laundry skills. She Took everything home 
with her.

Melissa asked if school is easier now and if she is faster.

Liz said Yes. Sometimes at home, Braille is quicker.

Danny asked if class ended at 4 pm.

Liz said yes. Then they would go home. There were different activities. 
Sometimes they had a family game night. For shopping, one boy or girl 
would have to make the list in Braille using the slate and stylus and do 
the shopping. BISM is for students in the summer after their 9^th , 10th 
and 11^th grade years.

Danny said he will probably do a program at BISM on 14th and 15th of 
April. It is a 2 day program for perspective students. They get the feel 
of the program. They get to join classes and stay at the apartment for 
the night. He is going for the 2 days prior to the Baltimore trip, and 
will meet up with the people on that trip. You can Choose whatever 2 days.

Evelyn said there are many options for many people.

Melissa asked if there were any questions for Liz.

No.

Evelyn talked about raising $4000 for something you want to attend. 
Rehab may complain about there being no educational component. Said to 
not let them deter you. Liz and mom did what they needed to do to help 
her get there. Commended her for it. You need to do whatever it takes.

Liz thanked Evelyn.

Evelyn asked if Dallas was her first convention and asked how it was.

It was not her first, and it was so much fun. She learned so much from 
it. There were a lot of seminars. She met lots of people.

Evelyn said anyone interested in BISM this summer can contact Amy 
Phelps. The program starts on the 24th of June. After NJ kids get out of 
school. If you are selected to go to BISM, you not only attend 
convention in Orlando from July 3 to 8, but you also attend Youth Slam. 
You get to do all the cool activities Liz mentioned. Considering all of 
this, Evelyn thinks $4000 is a giveaway. Convention and Youth Slam and 
transportation are really a lot more. Spread the word about the BISM 
program. Amy Phelps is the youth director for the BISM program.

Also, the deadline for the Youth Slam application was last Friday. 11 
students applied from NJ already. Only 8 NJ students applied 2 years 
ago. Now we got into 2 digits. Did not beat Georgia, who had 16 
individuals. We got competitive and did better than last time. Evelyn is 
interviewing a lot of applicants. The NFB is only taking 150 students 
this year. 180 applied. Hopefully all NJ applicants will be accepted. 
The NFB Used to take 250 students.

Melissa gave the contact info for Amy Phelps.

Phone: 410-737-2642

Email: aphelps at bism.org<mailto:aphelps at bism.org>

8:49 PM: took attendance. Members present:

Evelyn Valdez - President.

Benjamin Vercellone - Secretary/treasurer.

Melissa Hurff - Board member.

Greg Rivera - Board member.

Liz Morgan.

Danny Romero.

Sharon Cortezano.

Randy Clark.

Brent Batron -- guest speaker.

Evelyn: Thank you.

Greg went to Metropolitan program yesterday. It is a Program for blind 
and visually impaired people. Greg is thinking we could ask the woman in 
charge of this to do something in art for the Student Seminar in May. 
April 16 is the next event like the one Greg attended. She Does a pretty 
good job. Unfortunately, April 16 is the same day as the Baltimore trip. 
Evelyn says we'll talk. Greg will post stuff on the list.

Danny says he will post all audio up from the radio. He has been on the 
radio. His birthday is tomorrow, meaning March 14. He said he would be 
on the radio then. On z100 in NY. 102 in Philly.

8:53 PM: Evelyn asked for people to let her know if we have ideas for 
the event at Bergen academy.

8:54 PM: Call ended.

Respectfully submitted,

Benjamin Vercellone

NJABS, Secretary/treasurer.