[Nyabs] April 8th minutes for conference call

[Walei Sabry]

Hey guys,
Sorry it took me so long to post the minutes from our last conference
call. Spring break has a way of makeing me procrastinate more than
usual. Here goes.
Walei
Nyabs Minutes for April 8th:
Board Members: Kate, Walei, and Nihal
General members: Carla, and valeria

1.	March Minutes:
a.	Carla makes Motion to approve minutes for March
b.	Valeria Seconds
c.	All in favor: Motion passes
2.	Executive reports:
a.	President: Created dropbox folder for sharing documents. So far
there’s a folder for Student seminar related material and a NYABS
membership list. If you don’t have access to this folder, email Kate
at Kathryn.e at gmail.com
b.	Vice President: Nothing new.
c.	Treasurer; Has paypal account with our funds. We have around $141
in our account. Collecting dues for this year. Send to Walei at
paypal. Email is Walei.sabry at gmail.com
d.	Board members: Chancey now has access to the NYABS page on the new
york NFB website.
3.	Nihal’s presentation about Albany Seminar:
a.	Newsline: Nfb is advocating to extend funding for Newsline.
b.	Glucometer: Accessible glucose monitor for the blind. There are a
lot of blind people who are also diabetics. Trying to get Commision
and Medicaid to support it. It needs to be introduced to new york
assembly.
c.	Braille literacy: New york passed a law that all blind children
have to get Braille instruction in 2000. NFB wants to raise awareness
of this law so that all parents adcocate for their children to have
Braille instruction. 90% of employed people with visual impairments
are Braille literate.
d.	Patients bill of rights: NFB wants medical documents or forms that
need to be filled out when admitted into a hospital to be accessible.
Robobraille.org Is a website that converts inaccessible documents into
an accessible format and sends them by email. It’s important for
privacy and safety as well as for taking medications.
4.	Old business:
a.	Hunter Text books: Hunter is not properly providing accessible
texts books to blind students. Kate is drafting a letter to ask them
for their policies. Next step is to find out who to contact about
this. Nihal suggested that we bring up this issue to CCSD. Next
meeting is Friday the 20th. We can try to organize a group to go and
represent NFB.
i.	Contact at hunter: Sudi Shayesteh Director of Office of
Accessibility: Phone: 212-650-3581. Email:
sudi.shayesteh at hunter.cuny.edu
ii.	Eija Ayravainen Vice President of Student Affairs: Phone:
212-772-4878. Email: eija.ayravainen at hunter.cuny.edu
b.	Student Seminar in August: organizing a session for incoming
college students to prepare by learning about access technology
Bookshare etc. The New York NFB chapter is covering the costs. We are
trying to secure space at Visions Cellus manner. Chancey will take
care of presenting the tech stuff.
5.	New Business:
a.	Hear the Ball: An event organized by the Mayer’s office. May 19th a
beep ball event. There will be venders there. We are considering
getting a table for the student division.
b.	Raising money at National convention: Nihal suggests a raffle.
6.	Next conference call will be on May 13th at 6 PM.