[Oagdu] FW: [Ohio-talk] Fall 2017 newsletter
Deanna Lewis
DLewis at clovernook.org
Thu Sep 21 16:37:38 UTC 2017
Hi all,
Just wanted to send the most recent Buckeye Bulletin to you all in case you did not receive it!
Deanna
-----Original Message-----
From: Ohio-Talk [mailto:ohio-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of barbara.pierce9366--- via Ohio-Talk
Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2017 1:49 PM
To: NFB of Ohio Announcement and Discussion List
Cc: barbara.pierce9366 at gmail.com
Subject: [Ohio-talk] Fall 2017 newsletter
If we have your email address from the lists turned in last fall, you should have received the following newsletter in your personal email account. But some people may have joined this list recently or become members of the Ohio affiliate since last fall. So here is the text of the newsletter. Please note that the final page is a registration form that you can use to register for the state convention by mail rather than online. You can also read the newsletter on NEWSLINe or on the Ohio website, where you will find the online registration form.
Fall 2017
Buckeye Bulletin
A publication of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
Barbara Pierce, Editor
198 Kendal Drive
Oberlin, OH 44074
barbara.pierce9366 at gmail.com
(440) 774-8077
Richard Payne, President
1019 Wilmington Ave., APT. 43
Kettering, OH 45420
rchpay7 at gmail.com
(937) 829-3368
http://www.nfbohio.org
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise expectations, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. Live the life you want. Blindness is not what holds you back.
The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio is a 501 (c) 3 consumer organization comprised of blind and sighted people committed to changing what it means to be blind. Though blindness is still all too often a tragedy to those who face it, we know from our personal experience that with training and opportunity it can be reduced to the level of a physical nuisance. We work to see that blind people receive the services and training to which they are entitled and that parents of blind children receive the advice and support they need to help their youngsters grow up to be happy, productive adults. We believe that first-class citizenship means that people have both rights and responsibilities, and we are determined to see that blind people become first-class citizens of these United States, enjoying their rights and fulfilling their responsibilities. The most serious problems we face have less to do with our lack of vision than with discrimination based on the public’s ignorance and misinformation about blindness. Join us in educating Ohioans about the abilities and aspirations of Ohio’s blind citizens. We are changing what it means to be blind.
The NFB of Ohio has nine local chapters, one for at-large members, and special divisions for diabetics, merchants, students, seniors, parents of blind children, guide dog users, and those interested in Braille. This newsletter appears three times a year and is circulated by email, posted on NFB-NEWSLINE®, our digitized newspaper-reading service by phone, and can be read or downloaded from our website, www.nfbohio.org. For information about the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio or to make address changes or be added to the mailing list, call (440) 774-8077 or email barbara.pierce9366 at gmail.com <mailto:barbara.pierce9366 at gmail.com>. For information about NFB-NEWSLINE, our free digitized newspaper-reading service, call (866) 504-7300. Local NEWSLINE numbers are: (330) 247-1241 (Akron), (330) 409-1900 (Canton), (513) 297-1521 (Cincinnati), (216) 453-2090 (Cleveland), (614) 448-1673 (Columbus), (937) 963-1000 (Dayton), (567) 242-5112 (Lima), (567) 333-9990 (Mansfield), (740) 370-6828 (Portsmouth), (937) 717-3900 (Springfield), (567) 806-1100 (Toledo), and (330) 259-9570 (Youngstown).
The NFB now has a vehicle donation program. For complete information go to www.nfb.org/vehicledonations <applewebdata://98E19E29-335F-4F4D-AF4D-E744AB9CCEEB/www.nfb.org/vehicledonations> or call our toll-free vehicle donation number (855) 659-9314.
Table of Contents
Editor’s Musings by Barbara Pierce <applewebdata://98E19E29-335F-4F4D-AF4D-E744AB9CCEEB#_Toc492733842>
From the President’s Desk by Richard Payne <applewebdata://98E19E29-335F-4F4D-AF4D-E744AB9CCEEB#_Toc492733843>
71st Annual Convention of the NFB of Ohio by Sheri Albers <applewebdata://98E19E29-335F-4F4D-AF4D-E744AB9CCEEB#_Toc492733844>
Mastering the DoubleTree by Barbara Pierce <applewebdata://98E19E29-335F-4F4D-AF4D-E744AB9CCEEB#_Toc492733845>
Success in the Making: The 2017 Scholarship Program by Jordy D. Stringer <applewebdata://98E19E29-335F-4F4D-AF4D-E744AB9CCEEB#_Toc492733846>
Report on the 2017 BELL Academy. by Heather Leiterman, Maryanne Denning, and Debbie Baker <applewebdata://98E19E29-335F-4F4D-AF4D-E744AB9CCEEB#_Toc492733847>
Legislative Report of the 2017 NFB-O Columbus Seminar by Sheri Albers <applewebdata://98E19E29-335F-4F4D-AF4D-E744AB9CCEEB#_Toc492733848>
Politics in the Real World by Cheryl Fields <applewebdata://98E19E29-335F-4F4D-AF4D-E744AB9CCEEB#_Toc492733849>
Passing the ADA Education and Reform Act Would Be a Step Backwards for Equality and Justice by Mark Riccobono <applewebdata://98E19E29-335F-4F4D-AF4D-E744AB9CCEEB#_Toc492733850>
Meet One of Our National Scholarship Winners by Andrew Sydlik <applewebdata://98E19E29-335F-4F4D-AF4D-E744AB9CCEEB#_Toc492733851>
A Story of Struggle and Insight Gained: Our Tour of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center by Christopher Sabine <applewebdata://98E19E29-335F-4F4D-AF4D-E744AB9CCEEB#_Toc492733852>
News from NFB-NEWSLINE <applewebdata://98E19E29-335F-4F4D-AF4D-E744AB9CCEEB#_Toc492733853>
Recipes <applewebdata://98E19E29-335F-4F4D-AF4D-E744AB9CCEEB#_Toc492733854>
Buckeye Briefs <applewebdata://98E19E29-335F-4F4D-AF4D-E744AB9CCEEB#_Toc492733855>
Activities Calendar <applewebdata://98E19E29-335F-4F4D-AF4D-E744AB9CCEEB#_Toc492733856>
Registration Form 71st Annual Convention <applewebdata://98E19E29-335F-4F4D-AF4D-E744AB9CCEEB#_Toc492733857>
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Editor’s Musings
by Barbara Pierce <>
As I sit down to write this column, the NFB of Ohio has just completed perhaps the busiest and most productive three months in memory. It began with our May 9 march on Columbus in which five groups of Federationists spent the day talking with members of the Ohio Legislature and their staffs about three issues of importance to us. You will read a full report of this effort later in this issue. Kudos go to Sheri Albers and the Legislative Committee, who prepared the fact sheets we used and discussed the issues with the NFB members who came to Columbus to work. As you can judge for yourself, we had good success in this effort. We were limited in how many offices we could visit by the number of people in our group. I hope that in subsequent years we will have more participants in this effort.
Then came June and our week-long Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning (BELL) Academy from June 25 to June 30. This program takes an amazing amount of effort. We had nine kids this year and sixteen adult volunteers. We also had one and a half kids who helped. This is an incredibly valuable program that the kids really seem to enjoy. Read all about it in the article elsewhere in this issue.
We had no sooner returned home and caught up on our sleep and laundry when it was time to begin packing for the national convention. Thirty-six of us traveled to Orlando for the week-long endurance contest. We were lucky enough to have two scholarship winners with us and several first-timers. We were also lucky enough to have Ohioans on temporary loan to other affiliates, Rachel Kuntz and Eric Duffy, hang out with us for most of the week. It was great to see old friends again and to learn about what they are doing. Deborah Kendrick also dropped in from her Florida home for a day and a half. She is gradually mending, but she was still using a wheelchair to travel.
The convention was busy as usual. We sold M&M’s again of course, and there were lots of meetings of interest. A full report of convention activities will appear in the August/September issue of the Braille Monitor.
Full credit goes to President Richard Payne and his leadership of the affiliate. He has encouraged members to work hard and pull together throughout this busy spring and summer. This is the spirit we need going into the fall and preparation for the state convention October 27 through 29. Read further in this newsletter for the details and the registration form to be used for insuring your place at our 71st convention. You don’t want to miss it.
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From the President’s Desk
by Richard Payne <>
This year’s state convention theme is The Dream Convention: Transforming Dreams into Reality. I am proud to be a member of the NFB. As our one-minute message says: “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.”
We understand the power of a dream. When I reflect on this message, it reminds me of all those who paved the way for us. The next generation of Federation members will deal with challenges that we could not even imagine, but they also will have new legal, technological, and social tools to fight with because the NFB has worked and dreamed and prepared them to dream. If you were to research how many things people have discovered or invented after a dream, the number would overwhelm you. The same thing applies to blind people and our dreams. Never mind all the questions we are asked about whether or not we see in our dreams--the National Federation of the Blind is all about our dreams.
Blind people have been challenged since the beginning of time, and we have always beaten the odds. We must empower each other because encouraging others is one of the most important acts of kindness we can do for our fellow man. Empowering others means that we should not criticize them. Blind people have different talents to offer in our struggle for equality. We should not judge one another but lift each other up. We must connect to the best elements that lie within others in the NFB. The NFB is contagious, and we must spread the love.
Before Eric Duffy left Ohio, the Board of Directors of the NFB-O decided to build a single-focus coalition, whose purpose was to bring about the creation of a State Rehabilitation Council. We believe that an SRC will give people with disabilities a broader representation in conducting the rehab agency’s business and a stronger voice than does the current Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities Commission. Not only have the efforts of the NFB-O taken shape, but we are currently working together with several other stakeholders to review proposed laws and current drafts to assure that the rights and responsibilities of the blind of Ohio are protected.
This year we organized the first Columbus Seminar in several years, and a number of you attended. That seminar demonstrates how we change dreams into reality for blind people. While the legal process is long, it will be rewarding. I know that the NFB-O will have victory in establishing laws and assure you that you will be a strong part of it. We have much to do, and all of our members should work hard to demonstrate how teamwork operates.
In closing this column, I want to leave you with two questions: Will you be at this year’s state convention, and what are you prepared to do to change someone else’s life?
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71st Annual Convention of the NFB of Ohio
by Sheri Albers <>
Editor’s note: Sheri Albers is vice president of the NFB of Ohio. She also chairs convention arrangements. Here is her article about our up-coming convention:
On behalf of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, you are cordially invited to attend our 71st annual state convention in Columbus, Ohio. This event will take place Friday, October 27, through Sunday, October 29, 2017. Our home for the weekend will be the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Columbus-Worthington, 175 Hutchinson Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43235, phone: (614) 885-3334. Room rates are $89 per night plus tax. Our block of rooms will be released on October 6, 2017, so make your reservations now. Be sure to let the hotel know if you need a wheelchair-accessible room or have any additional requirements related to your reservation.
The theme for this year’s convention is “The Dream Convention: Transforming Dreams into Reality,” which is a cornerstone message of the National Federation of the Blind. Our one-minute message states that 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 continuation of this message is that Together with love, hope, and determination, we transform dreams into reality. This is what you will find at our convention: the love in fellowship with Federation friends, the hope for a future full of endless possibilities, and the determination to accomplish your dreams to live the life you want.
We are excited to have the inspiration of Shawn Callaway as our national representative. Shawn became a member of the Federation in 2009 and has been the president of the Washington, D. C. Affiliate since 2011. He now sits on the NFB Board of Directors. Shawn works as a program specialist for the United States Department of Health and Human Services, specifically in programs of the Administration on Community Living and the Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Shawn has held various key advocacy board positions and is currently the co-host of a radio show titled “Open Our Eyes” which focuses on the inclusion of people with disabilities within our society.
Our agenda begins with the Board of Directors meeting on Friday morning at 11:00 AM. This is an open meeting for all members of the Federation and their guests to attend. You will have the opportunity to see and hear from your elected board, discussing pertinent matters that directly affect all of us as an affiliate, as well as learning what is happening in our chapters and divisions throughout the state. We strongly recommend that at least one representative from each chapter be present at this meeting to bring a report home to share with those who were not able to attend.
The gavel will fall on opening ceremonies and general session promptly at 2:00 PM. We will have a series of speakers covering a wide range of topics, including a report from our president, our national representative, Ohio rehabilitation services, library services, legislation, and health and wellness. Of course we will also have as many door prizes as chapters and members bring us.
Friday evening will see a flurry of activity. First and foremost, our Hospitality Suite will open its doors at 5:30 PM. Your host will be the Capital Chapter, and they will do all they can to make you feel welcome. They are also planning some enjoyable activities for your visit. Snacks and beverages will be available for your comfort. The At-Large Chapter and the Ohio Association of Blind Merchants Division will hold their annual business meetings that evening. The Nominations and Resolutions Committee meetings will also take place. Of course the Ohio Association to Promote the Use of Braille (OAPUB) Division will not disappoint and will again entertain us later that evening with one of their wonderful radio play readings. Admission will be $5 at the door. This is an event you will surely not want to miss as you show your support for Braille.
Saturday morning will begin with a breakfast meeting of the Ohio Association to Promote the Use of Braille (OAPUB) at 7:00 AM. If Braille is important to you, be sure to sign up for the OAPUB breakfast meeting when you register. The Diabetes Action Network (DAN) will also hold its breakfast meeting at 7:00 AM, in the hotel restaurant. If you are interested in becoming a member of this division, you are welcome to attend.
The gavel falls again promptly at 9:00AM to continue general session. We will break at 12 noon for lunch. The Ohio Association of Guide Dog Users (OAGDU), the Ohio Association of Blind Seniors, and the Ohio Association of Blind Students (OABS) will conduct their annual business meetings. Boxed lunches will be available for purchase for meeting attendees or those who just want to get a lunch on the go. Be sure to order your boxed lunch when you register for the convention.
The afternoon promises provocative workshops on promoting leadership, membership building, and successful employment strategies. We are also bringing back our Exhibit Hall. Vendors will be available to us from 12:00 noon to 5:00 PM demonstrating their high-tech and low-tech products for blind and visually impaired users. Chapters and divisions will also have the opportunity to hold fundraisers in this exhibit area.
Saturday night’s banquet will surely be the highlight of the convention. This will be an opportunity for fellowship and for all of us to share a meal together. Our keynote speaker for the evening will be our national representative, Shawn Callaway. We will have our Gavel Awards ceremony to celebrate chapter and division accomplishments from the past year. The finale of the banquet will be the announcement of the 2017 scholarship winners and the annual auction. This is an event you will not want to miss. Be sure to order your banquet meal when you register for the convention. Don’t worry, the night is not over – plans are in the works for an exciting after-banquet activity.
Sunday is the day we relax a little, reflect on the past few days, and think about where we are headed in the future. Elections will be held for at-large members of the Board of Directors.
Our Convention Planning Committee, chaired by our president, Richard Payne, promises to make each year’s convention better than the last. The goal is to bring you the most up-to-date information on the most important matters facing blind people in the state of Ohio. The Capital Chapter will be ready to greet you bright and early at 9:00 AM on Friday morning with your registration packets and agendas. Rachel Kuntz and I, Sheri Albers, are in charge of convention arrangements, and we will make sure that the hotel facility--which includes staff, accommodations, guide dog relief areas, meeting rooms, dining areas, and common areas--is as blind-friendly as possible. We look forward to seeing you at this year’s Dream Convention, and we believe that together we can transform each other’s dreams into reality.
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Mastering the DoubleTree
by Barbara Pierce <>
By this point in your reading of the newsletter you know that we will be at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Worthington for our convention. We have not been to this facility before, so here is your word map of the ground floor. To check in, you will enter from the north side of the building. There are two entrances about thirty feet apart. The check-in desk is about fifteen feet to the south of these doors. As you step into the hotel, angle toward the other door as you walk forward to the desk, and mind the three pillars that run from east to west half way across the space between the doors and the desk.
After you finish checking in, you probably want to find your room and drop your suitcase. Turn left (east) at the desk and start along a hall that leads to the sleeping rooms. Just after the check-in desk is a right turn to the hall that leads to our meeting rooms, but ignore this for the moment. Keep traveling east past the work-out room and the pool on your right. You will then pass the outdoor courtyard on your right. There are large windows, so, if it is sunny, you may feel a rise in the temperature. After the courtyard are the elevators, two on the right (south) side of the hall and one on the left (north). If you hit carpet, you have gone about thirty feet too far. There are six floors of sleeping rooms, including the ground floor. The rooms all have Braille and raised print signs.
Returning to the front door and facing south, you can turn to the right (west) almost immediately. Walk west until you deadend into a wall. This hall leads you to the restrooms as well as the Franklin and Fairfield Rooms, which is where hospitality will be held. Once you hit carpet, turn right (north); the restrooms are to your left (west). To get to the hospitality rooms, turn left (south) and begin looking for an opening on the right into an east/west hall. The entrance to the Franklin Room is just across a hall coming into this hall from the right (north). The entrance to the Fairfield Room is at the north end of this hallway.
Returning to the front door and facing south, if you continue traveling south past the west end of the check-in desk, you will find the Crosswood Bar and Grill on your right. This is the restaurant. It is on the west side of this hallway. The Upper Terrace is on the left (east) side of the hall and up four steps. This is a large seating area that is often used for casual seating or meals, but we will not be using the space. So it is safe to say that you can ignore any short flights of steps that you discover in the lobby area. Past the Upper Terrace you can make a left turn (east) and travel past the two large ballrooms on the south (right) side of the hall. The Alder Room is our general session meeting room. It is the eastern-most of these two rooms. One you have reached carpet, that is where registration will be set up.
You can reach the Alder Room another way. Returning to the front door and facing south, if you continue traveling south past the east end of the check-in desk, you will find a set of restrooms on your left (east) side of the hall. To your right is the Upper Terrace, which was mentioned earlier. Continue walking south along the Upper Terrace, and you will walk directly into the Alder Room. If you turn left (east) just before the Alder Room, you will find the Polaris 1 and 2 Rooms on your left. When you reach the carpet, you have found the registration area. At the east end of this hall on the left is a door out to the courtyard. The break-out rooms that we will be using are all in this area. You can turn right (south) in this carpeted area. You will be walking south toward the end of the hall. On your left in this hall are the German Village, the Arena District, and the Short North Rooms. On the right are the Oak 1, 2, and 3 Rooms. At the south end of this hall is the exit leading to the dog relief area. A trash receptacle will be located outside this door. Exit the building into a parking lot with parking along the building. Cross the driveway and another line of parking places to get to a grassy island suitable for the dogs. Please use this area and clean up after your dog.
There you have it. The usual advice applies to reading this article. Do not expect to grasp the layout of the hotel after one reading. Study the article several times, pausing after each sentence to be sure that you have the instructions in mind. See you at the DoubleTree.
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Success in the Making:
The 2017 Scholarship Program
by Jordy D. Stringer <>
Editor’s note: Jordy Stringer chairs the Scholarship Committee. This year we had more applicants for our scholarships than ever before. I suspect that this is directly attributable to Jordy’s hard work in advertising the program. In the following article he introduces this year’s three finalists. This is what he says:
“The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work.” – Mark Twain
It was my great honor to serve as chair of the 2017 National Federation of the Blind of Ohio Scholarship Committee. The Scholarship Committee extends our sincere appreciation to all of the students who applied to this year's program and encourage those who were not selected to apply again next year.
The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio is a membership organization changing what it means to be blind. We are committed to promoting equality, opportunity, independence, and dignity for all blind Ohioans, and we are committed to doing what we can to secure career equality and equal access to education for all blind students. To that end at this year's state convention we will award scholarships to three outstanding blind students who are planning to pursue their postsecondary education in the coming school year.
What is success? While some people think that riches and fame are the measure of success, in the National Federation of the Blind we believe it takes a great deal more than that. True success is about more than just things and status. In the Federation we know that it's about the type of person you are and the impact you have on the people around you. Here are three students who demonstrate success, both current and in the making.
First is Robert Sabwami from Dayton, who will be attending Wright State University this coming fall. Robert has consistently appeared on the dean's list at Wright State since 2014. He Is an ambassador for the College of Human Services and a member on the Dean of Student’s Advisory Council. Robert intends to pursue a career in clinical rehabilitation counseling and is expected to graduate in the spring of 2019. He is very excited about becoming involved with his local chapter.
Next is Jonathan Thomas (JT) from Fairfield, Ohio. He will be a student at Wright State in the fall and will be pursuing a degree in English education. JT has been voted a Quest for Excellence Award winner five consecutive times and has appeared on the dean's list twice. He volunteered at this year's BELL Program.
Finally Michael Mulchin from Marysville, Ohio, will be attending Miami University in Oxford as a freshman. He will be pursuing a degree in finance and is considering a career as an attorney. He was his high school’s valedictorian and was named Outstanding Attorney at his school's mock trial. Michael is also a member of the National Honor Society and a black belt in karate. He is a member of the Marysville Leadership Academy.
These are three students who are truly living the lives that they want and not allowing anything, especially their blindness, to hold them back. We invite all of you to get to know them at the upcoming state convention.
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Report on the 2017 BELL Academy.
by Heather Leiterman, Maryanne Denning, and Debbie Baker <>
Editor’s note: Heather Leiterman took on the formidable job of coordinating this year’s Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning (BELL) Academy with help, moral support, and advice from Sheri Albers. Our teachers were again Marianne Denning and Debbie Baker. These three women dedicated hours to preparing for and conducting the week-long residential program on the Ohio State School for the Blind campus from June 25 through June 30. Anyone who thinks that such a program is a stroll in the park has no experience working with blind children and has not leafed through the eleven Braille volumes of the BELL curriculum. As a five-year volunteer in our BELL program, I know how hard the assistants work. I also know that the coordinator and the teachers work even harder. Here is their report on this year’s Ohio BELL Academy:
We want to thank all of our volunteers who gave of their time and talents to make this year’s BELL Academy a success for everyone. We had about twenty volunteers who spent at least twelve hours a day making the program fun for our students.
The 2017 BELL Academy began Sunday, June 25, at the Ohio State School for the Blind in Columbus, Ohio. We kicked off our BELL week with a pizza party made possible by the Love family. This year we had nine students, seven returning students and two new ones. One of our new students came to us all the way from the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Each morning we began the day with Bell Ringers and singing and dancing to “The Braille Rap Song.” Bell Ringers is the time for the students to talk about new blindness skills they have tried during BELL Academy. This can be a very exciting time for them.
Our dedicated teachers of the visually impaired, Debbie Baker and Maryann Denning, kept our students busy with the help of our many excellent volunteers during the day working on Braille literacy, technology, blindness skills, and other nonvisual skills. Some of the activities included rules and symbols of UEB, math on the abacus, using a hand mixer and a stand mixer, and keyboarding lessons incorporating the program Typability for JAWS.
Mealtime at BELL is always highly anticipated by the students. This year was no exception. We offer profound thanks to our head cook, Leo Pfaltzgraff, for taking time from his vending locations in northern Virginia to spend the week with us and make our tummies very happy. Leo is a former member of the Ohio affiliate. Mike Leiterman, Lori Fernandez, and Joy Thomas pitched in to help in the kitchen. The students and volunteers all agreed that Mr. Leo's cooking was excellent.
After a hard day in the classroom with Miss Debbie and miss Maryann, our students had fun in the evenings participating in activities such as a visit from the Columbus Fire Department Engine House 24, a field trip to the Ohio History Connection, and a goal ball demonstration and game by Alex Crawford and Michael Leiterman. The highlight of our evening activities for both the students and volunteers was a visit from Mr. Ray and his ice cream truck. For some students and volunteers this was their first opportunity to buy ice cream from a truck.
Friday afternoon our students had a Louis Braille birthday party. They baked chocolate pound cakes, broke open a piñata, and participated in a music program led by Paula Jordan, who is a music therapist. The students had the opportunity to play the ukulele.
Working the Bell Academy is intense and exhausting. Anyone who has volunteered in the past knows you are on call 24/7. This is a lot to ask from our volunteers, but they met the challenge with great aplomb.
At the beginning of the week some of our students were less than enthused about doing Braille. By the end of the week the same students that didn't want to do it in the beginning were the first ones to their Braillewriters in the morning. In summary, it was an energetic and exhausting week for all, but we sent the kids home a little more independent and a little more able to keep track of their own belongings, and that was a major accomplishment.
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If you or a friend would like to remember the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio in your will, you can do so by employing the following language:
“I give, devise, and bequeath unto the Ohio Council of the Blind dba National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, P.O. Box 20544, Kettering, Ohio 45420, an Ohio nonprofit corporation, the sum of $ (or “ percent of my net estate” or “The following stocks and bonds”) to be used for its worthy purposes on behalf of blind persons.”
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Legislative Report of the 2017 NFB-O Columbus Seminar
by Sheri Albers <>
Editor’s note: Sheri Albers wears many hats. Among these is chair of the Legislative Committee. NFB-O President Richard Payne has been determined that we would make our presence known in Columbus this year, and he gave Sheri the assignment of making it happen. And somehow she did. Here is her report of that event:
On Tuesday, May 9, 2017, a significant event took place in the halls of the Riffe Center and Columbus State House. There was fortitude from the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio Delegation that spread powerful advocacy and raised awareness for the rights of blind Ohioans and people with disabilities. Our delegation consisted of five teams, led by members of the Legislative Committee: Sheri Albers, Richard Payne, Barbara Pierce, Mike Leiterman, and Jordy Stringer. We were joined by the following members of our affiliate: Debbie Baker, Alex Crawford, Marianne Denning, Lisa Hall, Rosa Jones, Heather Leiterman, Deanna Lewis, Shawn Martin, Teresa McKinney, Walter Mitchell, Susan Ott, Bob Pierce, and Dr. JW Smith.
This event was the culmination of many hours of hard work and months of weekly conference calls by the NFB-O Legislative Committee. The first thing that needed to be done was to determine which issues were to be presented as bills to the legislature. This process included looking at past NFB-O resolutions, model bills from our national office, and current events in the state of Ohio. Next the fact sheets needed to be prepared. For those of you who have been to Washington Seminar, please do not ever take those fact sheets for granted; a lot of work is involved in writing them. The committee made sure that our fact sheets were as clear and concise as we could make them. The date was then chosen, the appointments were made, and the beginning of a new annual tradition had begun.
The following is a brief description of each bill and its status as of the summer break: The Bill for People with Disabilities and their Service Animals. The purpose of this bill is to bring the language of the Ohio Code into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The bill clearly defines a person with a disability and, more important, defines what constitutes a service animal. The bill describes the rights and responsibilities of the service animal owner and/or trainer as well as the public accommodation. The bill also raises the punishment for all individuals who are found guilty of misrepresenting themselves as qualifying to use or train a service animal. We are pleased to announce that HB303 has been drafted and sponsored by Representative Scott Lipps (R 62nd District) and co-sponsored by Representative Brigid Kelly (D 31st District).
The Bill Protecting Parental Rights for the Blind was based on a bill passed in Maryland. It declares that a parent’s or prospective parent’s blindness shall not serve as a basis for denial of rights in the following circumstances: a) restriction of visitation or custody in family or dependency law cases, b) participation in public or private adoption or c) appointment to foster care or guardianship. The bill also protects blind parents in the event that any allegations are raised that their blindness is having a detrimental impact on a child. This bill was sent for drafting by Representative Anthony DeVitis (R 36th District) and has been circulated for sponsorship, with very promising results.
The Bill to Form a State Rehabilitation Council has quite a complicated history. Ohio has been the last state to have an independent commission, which was grandfathered in after State Rehabilitation Councils (SRCs) were first established by law in the 1992 amendments to the U.S. Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio passed a resolution at its 2015 state convention calling for the Ohio legislature to look into the operations of Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD). During 2016 plans for an Ohio SRC were being discussed, so appointments for members of the independent commission were not made. By the close of that year only two of the seven members of the commission were still in place, and the need for the SRC was obvious. This bill defines the functions of the SRC to include reviewing, analyzing, and advising OOD in its performance and effectiveness in the delivery of services; evaluating the effect on consumers of OOD policies and procedures, including eligibility and order of selection; and providing input on OOD’s Annual Report and the State Plan submitted to the federal government each year. The bill also provides clear guidelines for the membership of the council to be comprised of at least fifteen representatives from a variety of stakeholders in the disability community. At first glance one would think that this bill is a slam dunk, but in fact it has been the most labor intensive and will probably be the last of the three to pass. Contributing to the delay in the progress of this bill is the lack of communication among stakeholders. SB 144, a version presented by OOD, was the first to be drafted and sponsored by Senator Dave Burke (R, 26th District). Our committee met with a coalition of stakeholders to discuss our concerns with this bill, and a second draft has been released. We will now work with this draft until it satisfies both the federal guidelines and us.
Prior to our Columbus Seminar, the Legislative Committee also addressed the transportation budget. Due to the loss of funding for regional transportation services related to the cuts in Medicaid MCO sales tax, the disabilities community could face serious consequences. Beginning in 2019, there could be cuts in transit routes, translating into cuts in paratransit service and possible fare hikes. Our committee testified before the Ohio Finance Committee for a more permanent solution than the governor was proposing in the budget.
The year 2017 has been an active legislative year so far for the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio. As the Legislative Director I would like to take this opportunity to thank the members of the Legislative Committee for their dedication and hard work toward achieving the goals that we set forth. These members are Joe Majors, Mike Leiterman, Annette Lutz, Richard Payne, Barbara Pierce, Jordy Stringer, and Geza Vamos. I also want to thank OAGDU for its assistance with HB 303. We are not done yet. In fact this was just the beginning of our work in Columbus. When the legislature is back in full session, we will be there to finish what we started, which is to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for blind Ohioans.
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Politics in the Real World
by Cheryl Fields <>
Editor’s note: Stretching back to when Louis Stokes represented the 11th District of Ohio in Congress and through all the years that Stephanie Tubbs Jones filled that position, the blind have always been able to count on the member of Congress representing Cleveland to stand with the NFB by sponsoring our legislative agenda. When Marsha Fudge was elected to fill this seat after Ms. Jones’s sudden death, we had every reason to expect that she would continue this proud history of intelligent support for justice for the blind. I saw the staff in Washington in February each year and seemed to get support, though I noticed that Ms. Fudge was gradually slower to cosponsor our bills. Then the support cut back to a dribble.
Then I started paying attention to what the members of the Cleveland chapter were saying about their interactions with the Fudge staff. I realized that Marsha Fudge was no longer a friend that the National Federation of the Blind could count on. Now we have to figure out what to do to rebuild the relationship we have with an important member of Congress. The first step has to be to establish a relationship with her staff again. Here is Cheryl Field’s description of how the chapter has started that process. Cheryl is vice president of the chapter and a member of the NFB-O Board of Directors. This is what she says:
After years of contacting Congresswoman Marcia Fudge’s office requesting meetings, being ignored, and tolerating her Washington staffer texting on his cell phone during our 2017 Washington Seminar appointment, the straw that broke the camel’s back was a phone call placed by Cleveland member Wilbert Turner. Wilbert called the congresswoman’s office this spring to ask her to cosponsor the NFB national legislative agenda and to urge her to oppose H.R. 620, the ADA Education and Reform Act, which would make it more difficult and take longer to force business owners to make their places of business accessible. However, once he identified himself as an NFB member and before he could ask anything, he was rudely and promptly hung up on.
That was enough to mobilize us. Suzanne Turner, chair of the chapter’s Legislative Committee, put out the call for us to surprise Congresswoman Fudge and her staff on the morning of Friday, July 7. We scheduled paratransit rides, armed ourselves with the proper information, and made plans to Facebook live the visit, so off we went. When members arrived, we found a very chilly reception. More members arrived, and the reception became quite frigid. Once Suzanne, her daughter Danielle, and granddaughter Lauren arrived, Danielle began the Facebook live stream. They were asked to come to the back of the office while other members remained in the waiting area. Suzanne met briefly with the office manager, explaining why we had come on such short notice and requesting an impromptu meeting between Congresswoman Fudge and representatives of the NFB-C. She was informed that the congresswoman was still in Washington, DC working hard for her constituents and would not be able to meet with us. As luck would have it, her Washington chief of staff, Veleter Mazyck, was in town. She and Jasmine Rowan, district director, agreed to meet with us. These ladies assured us that the communications person would contact Suzanne immediately.
Ms. Mazyck was very attentive and professional. She promised to investigate the incident during our appointment at the Washington Seminar. She added that, if this really happened, she apologized on behalf of the staff and the Congresswoman. She also assured us that she would find out who the staffer was who was texting during our meeting and have a word with him. Crowded into the front lobby of the office, ten of us and one guide dog introduced ourselves. We were afforded the opportunity to request cosponsorship on NFB legislation. We strongly urged that Ms. Fudge oppose H.R. 620. Members Ronnie Leeth and Ivory Pittilo provided testimonials about how H.R. 620 would make life a nightmare for us and other disabled people. This was followed by a general question period. Bringing this meeting to an end, Suzanne and Cheryl provided contact information to Ms. Mazyck and Ms. Rowan. These ladies handed out their business cards to each of us and assured the group that we could count on them to be there for us in the future.
Naturally Congresswoman for the 11th District, Marcia Fudge, has not yet cosponsored a single piece of NFB legislation this year. Nor has she or a staff member contacted us about the promised meeting. Perhaps she has forgotten that we are registered voters and an election is coming soon.
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Passing the ADA Education and Reform Act Would Be a Step Backwards for Equality and Justice
by Mark Riccobono <>
Editor’s note: On July 26, the anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act, NFB President Mark Riccobono published a letter in The Hill, a newspaper that appears on Capitol Hill. Since it clearly makes the NFB’s argument for opposing H.R. 620 that the Cleveland chapter wanted to discuss with Marsha Fudge’s staff, we are reprinting it. Here it is:
Exactly twenty-seven years ago, the United States took another in a long series of steps toward actualizing our founding principles of equality and justice for all. On July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became the law of the land. With its signing by President George H.W. Bush came true progress in the fight for equality and opportunity for the nation’s blind.
The National Federation of the Blind, the country’s oldest and largest nationwide organization of blind people, has always been determined in our efforts to break down barriers that hinder us from transforming our dreams into reality and living the lives we want. The ADA, while not the only means through which we achieve these goals, has been and continues to be indispensable. Specifically, Title III of the ADA provides legal remedies for the blind when we encounter accessibility barriers as we work, study, shop, travel, and generally avail ourselves of the things that society has to offer. Such barriers are daily occurrences in our lives and, in the worst cases, threaten our employment, education, and ability to function in our communities.
It is therefore incumbent upon us to defend against the many assaults upon the ADA. Using a tactic deployed by critics of the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, opponents of the ADA falsely accuse us of wanting special privileges or treatment. But we demand only equal treatment and opportunity--no more, no less. The latest misguided attempt to undermine civil rights and equality for the blind and other Americans with disabilities is the ADA Education and Reform Act, a House bill that would purportedly mitigate the scourge of frivolous lawsuits brought by shady lawyers and serial plaintiffs.
The crux of the argument in favor of this bill is that people with disabilities, such as the fifty thousand members of the National Federation of the Blind, are abusing the ADA in order to make a quick buck by unfairly targeting small businesses. There are several things wrong with this thesis. First, there is no systematic evidence that large numbers of illegitimate complaints are being filed. Proponents of this legislation, which would insert 180 days of unnecessary lag time between when a violation is encountered and when redress can be expected, can only point to anecdotal and extreme cases. For example, a report that analyzed all Title III lawsuits filed in 2016 found just twelve serial plaintiffs. Given that 6,600 suits were filed in total, claims of abuse are exaggerated.
Second, this bill cannot and does not make any distinction between meritorious and frivolous complaints. Therefore, legitimate complaints would be discouraged because of a tiny number of bad actors. The blind are disgusted by any abuse of the ADA for personal enrichment, but we do not believe that the problem is pervasive enough to weaken the most critical tool that we have to protect our rights.
Third, the number of violations that we encounter daily dwarfs the number of lawsuits. Lawsuits are expensive and time consuming, and we do not pursue them lightly. In most cases we find acceptable work-arounds and move on.
In short, this bill is a solution in search of a problem. While it is true that Title III complaints have risen substantially in recent years, it is also true that awareness of our rights as blind people and the mechanisms of redress available to us have risen in equal measure. New opportunities driven by technology bring with them new accessibility challenges. Whether we are attempting to engage in ecommerce, book travel arrangements using digital platforms, or conduct banking activities using mobile applications, we are consistently met with roadblocks that clearly violate the ADA.
The National Federation of the Blind strongly opposes this bill. On this day we commemorate a milestone in our nation's history. We acknowledge that passage of the ADA was another move toward a more perfect union. To support a bill that would undermine the ability of the blind and others with disabilities to ensure equal access and opportunity would be to repudiate that project and dishonor our shared legacy. As we use this anniversary to reflect on what the ADA means, we will also take concerted action to buttress it against those forces that would undermine it. The National Federation of the Blind calls on those who have already signed on as co-sponsors of this bill to withdraw their support and, for those who may be asked to support it in the future, to refuse. To do otherwise is to scale back hard-won gains and hinder our progress toward true equality.
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Meet One of Our National Scholarship Winners
by Andrew Sydlik <>
Editor’s note: Ohio was lucky enough to have two national scholarship winners at the 2017 national convention. The name of one is Andrew Sydlik, and he is a new member of the Capital Chapter. He was asked to write something for the NABS blog. This is what he said:
I was overwhelmed and transformed by my first NFB convention. As a PhD student at the Ohio State University, I have been studying American literature from a disability studies perspective. Disability studies reflects the NFB's philosophy that the obstacle to success is not one's disability, but society's prejudices and barriers. I came back to school after ten years working in the nonprofit sector because I still had not come to terms with my blindness, and I wanted to learn about those who had come to think more critically about society's attitudes towards blindness and other disabilities. I discovered the wonderful world of disability studies and disability rights, in which the NFB has played a huge role. I also felt that the administrative work I was doing, while valuable, was not quite as intellectually or politically challenging and satisfying as the kind of work I wanted to do.
Although I have come a long way in the last five years, from feeling ashamed by my white cane to feeling empowered by it, I have been forced at the NFB convention to confront all the internalized stigma and doubt I still had about blindness. I've always thought of myself in terms of limitation rather than possibility, and, having met all the amazing and accomplished people at the convention, I realize even more fully that this does not need to be so. And, hearing collectively the diverse and impressive range of work that the NFB does, I know the opportunities available are virtually boundless. I plan to continue my involvement with the NFB, at the local, state, and national levels, as much as possible.
After earning my doctorate, facilitated generously by the support of the NFB and its donors, I see two career paths, either of which will involve my desire to spread the message of disability awareness, acceptance, and rights. I will either continue in academia as a professor, informing students about the misconceptions and prejudices towards blindness and other disabilities, or enter the disability nonprofit sector, bringing my disability awareness and writing skills to disability services or advocacy work. Whatever I do, I will work hard to make other blind and disabled people know that they can live the lives they want.
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A Story of Struggle and Insight Gained:
Our Tour of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
by Christopher Sabine <>
Editor’s note: Chris Sabine is secretary of the Cincinnati chapter. The group makes a point of periodically touring sites of interest in the Cincinnati area. Here is Chris’s report of the chapter’s most recent tour:
On May 6, 2017, eight members of the National Federation of the blind of Cincinnati and their guests had the opportunity to take a personalized guided tour of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. According to its website the mission of the center is to “reveal stories of freedom’s heroes, from the era of the Underground Railroad to modern times, challenging and inspiring us to take courageous steps of freedom today.” Established in 2004 and located on the banks of the Ohio River, the center receives approximately 100,000 visitors annually and serves to promote dialog on abolitionist causes to this day. As I will discuss later, the center’s location is highly significant in the history of the Underground Railroad and the ultimate abolition of slavery in the United States.
We would like to give sincere thanks to Annie McEachirn Carson, chair of our Recreation Committee, for organizing this event on behalf of the National Federation of the Blind of Cincinnati. Special thanks also go out to Kelsey Fay from the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, who facilitated the event, as well as our tour guides, Pat and John. The tour guides gave us the opportunity to touch and explore a few of the exhibits and helped us take pictures for our Facebook Page. This event would not have been possible without them.
We began our tour by examining a bronze statue of Harriet Tubman, who is credited with founding the Underground Railroad and is now its most famous conductor. The statue depicts a life-sized figure of Harriet Tubman holding a small boy. Our tour guide Pat also told us that Harriet had a condition that significantly affected her speech; she would now be considered a person with disabilities. We later had the chance to visit a slave pen that was structured as a log cabin and explore its walls and other features. Originally brought to the center from Mason County, Kentucky, and built in 1805, the cabin, as our guide explained, is one of the oldest structures of its type in the country still standing.
After exploring the statue, we walked out onto the docks, where slaves from Kentucky and points south along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers were used to unload cargo from the thousands of barges carrying cargo along the river. Cincinnati was a primary point of entry for a wide variety of goods traveling by water. Since the Ohio River itself is part of Kentucky, slaves could be used to unload cargo. These slaves, many of whom came from Kentucky and points south along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, were worked day and night and often beaten for working too fast or too slow.
At the very location where these docks stand today, members of the Underground Railroad would visit slaves working on the barges and help them escape to freedom in Cincinnati. The neighborhood around the banks of the Ohio became known as “Little Africa” for the population of slaves, poor Black freedmen, and Irish living there. It struck me as ironic that the area we now know as the Banks is an up and coming commercial and residential area with entertainment venues, a restaurant, and a global operations center for a Fortune 500 company.
We visited a narrative quilt made by Aminah Robinson, a prominent Columbus-based artist, who made her life’s work documenting the lives of her ancestors and those of other minority groups through a variety of mixed media. Our tour guide explained that this quilt was stitched together over thirty-five years. It depicts various aspects of Robinson’s life and that of her slave ancestors, including scenes from Poindexter Village in Columbus, one of the first federally funded housing projects in the United States. She also depicts images from her visit to Africa, where she met with members of the tribe from which she was descended and adopted the name “Aminah,” and she depicts two visits to Sapello Island, Georgia, home of a community of slave descendants.
We learned that slavery in the American Colonies became a commercial venture at the settlement of Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619, though slaves had been used in the New World since 1496. The United States had approximately three million slaves; one third of all slaves worked in tobacco-growing states. Slave labor enabled Virginia to become the most powerful and politically connected of the original thirteen colonies; most of the Founding Fathers of the United States were slaveholders—including Benjamin Franklin. The slave economy persisted until emancipation at the end of the Civil War because slaveholders had every economic incentive to maintain it.
The slave economy also enabled the cotton trade to thrive in the years following the Revolutionary War, and slaves produced 75 percent of the world’s cotton supply during the antebellum period. Slaves were sent to work the cotton fields in Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and other states. Planting and harvesting cotton was backbreaking work, and slaves were the world’s experts at cotton production.
Since a row of cotton at the time of the slave trade was only two feet tall, slaves would typically spend twelve to fourteen-hour days bent over--planting, hoeing, and picking row after row of cotton in the sun and extreme heat. This is why masters often threatened slaves with being sold down the river to work in the cotton fields.
The ideal slave was a fourteen-year-old boy or a twelve-year-old girl. Adolescents were prized because they had most of their adult height and weight, but masters could easily tell them what to do. Masters worked to destroy the identities of their slaves, who were not allowed to be called by their names, practice their religion, or have family ties. Babies were typically buried or thrown off slave ships, because they were considered unsellable. Firms who operated slave ships generally did not advertise since potential buyers could smell the stench of bodies on board from three to five miles away. Most slaves entered at the Port of Charleston. On Sullivan’s Island, just off the coast of Charleston, is a site where the bodies of babies deemed unsellable as slaves can still be found to this day.
Our guide described a mural by August Biard, an artist who lived much of his life in Brazil, showing a man with garb representing a tribe from Nigeria. Behind him is a White man, and behind the White man are men with guns from a different tribe. Our guide explained that African tribes were encouraged to make war with each other so that captives could be sold to Europeans as slaves. Another mural depicts Africans being marched to a waiting slave ship to be sold in the United States. This same mural also depicts slaves being sold from tobacco farms to cotton plantations and the kinds of labor slaves were forced to do. This included clearing virgin forest and planting and picking cotton. The mural includes a jail in a city, where slaves were sold, and a modern jail on top to symbolize the numbers of African Americans in prisons and jails to this day. I found the aspect of this mural relating the slave trade to the lives of African Americans today and the rate of incarceration among African American males especially poignant.
We found two experiences from the end of our tour most striking and powerful. First we had the opportunity to visit a slave pen owned and operated by the Anderson Family in Mason County, Kentucky. We held the actual chains the family used to handcuff and shackle their slaves. These chains, manufactured in 1833, were used to keep servants in a standing position twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The pen held sixty servants and had the family’s brand on the wall. For me, feeling the sheer physical weight of the chains on my hands was deeply shocking. I couldn’t imagine being shackled by these chains to many other people twenty-four hours a day in a cramped and oppressive slave pen. The slight unevenness of the ground added to the experience of being in an outdoor segregated environment with no hope of escape.
The second was when our guide showed us the Freedom Center’s memorial to the slaves who did not survive the journey to the new world, either because they died in transit or were deemed unsellable and killed. A recording of “Amazing Grace” plays at the memorial. “Amazing Grace” was written by John Newton, a former slave captain. The melody is the lamentation of the slaves who were thrown off the ships and are now at the bottom of the ocean.
We all found our tour a moving and aw-inspiring experience. As people with disabilities we should not forget that oppression of African Americans and other minorities continues to this day, as the work of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center demonstrates.
As blind people we must also reflect on our own experiences of discrimination and oppression. Placing blind workers in sub-minimum-wage jobs at so-called sheltered workshops, questioning the abilities of blind parents to raise their children, and failing to provide Braille instruction and written materials in accessible format are their own forms of slavery. We all found our tour of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center a powerful experience and hope to visit again in the future.
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News from NFB-NEWSLINE <>
NFB-NEWSLINE is currently sponsored by Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD). You may know OOD better through contact with BSVI (Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired). OOD is proud to sponsor NFB-NEWSLINE in Ohio and offer twenty-two Ohio newspapers around the state, in addition to national newspapers, international newspapers, breaking news, emergency weather alerts and forecasts, job listings, and retail ads. We are happy to share good news for newspaper readers in Ohio. NFB-NEWSLINE Ohio has offered only five local dial-in numbers around the state. We have now added an additional seven local numbers for listeners in Dayton, Lima, Mansfield, Portsmouth, Springfield, Toledo, and Youngstown. The original five local dial-in numbers in Akron, Canton, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus remain unchanged.
It is important for NFB-NEWSLINE subscribers to use local numbers whenever possible and to share these new local dial-in opportunities with both old and new NFB-NEWSLINE subscribers. While users who do not have local numbers are always entitled to make use of the toll-free number, we can substantially reduce NEWSLINE costs by using these local numbers.
As you doubtless know, there is absolutely no difference in service or access to news, weather, job listings, TV-guides and other resources from NFB-NEWSLINE, regardless of the dial-in number you use. Likewise, if subscribers call from a cell phone that incurs per-minute charges, there is usually no additional charge using a local number rather than the toll-free number. For your convenience and further sharing, you'll find all the local numbers at the beginning of this newsletter. Thank you in advance for generously using and sharing this information. We hope you continue to enjoy the vast array of news and information available on NFB-NEWSLINE.
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Recipes <>
One thing that BELL participants have always enjoyed was the quality of the food. Shelbi Hindel provided tasty meals the first four years, and this year Leo Pfaltzgraff carried on with imaginative and delicious offerings. Here are some recipes that BELL participants enjoyed this year.
Sloppy Joe
Ingredients:
3 pounds ground beef
1 large green pepper, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
¾ cup ketchup
Scant ¼ cup sugar
¼ cup white vinegar
1 tablespoon chili powder
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
Method: In large pan sauté vegetables and brown the meat until no longer pink. Drain fat from meat. To do this without losing the vegetable liquid, you may want to use two pans and then combine the vegetables with the meat. Add remaining ingredients. Stir to combine. Reduce heat to low and cover the pan. Cook till mixture is right consistency for sloppy joes, probably an hour. This freezes well. Heat through to serve on buns.
Molasses Cookies
This recipe is easy to quadruple. Make out the cookie balls and freeze on a cookie sheet. You can then pull out the number of cookies you want and roll them in sugar and bake. Barbara brought the frozen cookie balls to BELL, and the kids rolled them in sugar and baked them.
Ingredients:
3/4 cup shortening, melted and cooled
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups flour
Method: beat sugar and cooled shortening in an electric mixer. Add molasses and egg. Then add soda, spices, and salt. Finally beat in the flour. The dough will be stiff but sticky. Chill at least a half hour before rolling into balls. Roll in sugar and bake on ungreased sheets at 350 until cookies just begin to crack on top, about twelve minutes. Transfer to rack to cool completely.
Chocolate Pound Cake
What would BELL Academy be without a birthday party for Louis Braille? Naturally we needed a birthday cake. We didn’t want to use a cake mix because they often contain peanut products even when peanuts are not listed in the ingredients. Marianne Denning sent out an inquiry for easy chocolate cake recipes, and this is the one she settled on.
Ingredients:
3 cups sugar
1/3 cup pure cocoa, must be the real stuff
3 sticks butter or margarine, softened
5 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3 cups flour
1 cup milk
Place sugar and cocoa in a large bowl and mix well. Add margarine and cream with electric mixer until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla, salt, and baking powder. Alternately add flour and milk until all are beaten in. Pour batter into a bundt pan, which has been generously greased and dusted with cocoa. Bake in a preheated 325-degree oven for 90 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Move cake to a rack to cool slightly before removing from pan. Then cool completely. Make a glaze by melting 4 ounces of German’s sweet chocolate and 1 tablespoon margarine. Stir in 1/4 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and 1 cup confectionery sugar. An alternate glaze is 1 cup chocolate chips melted with a tablespoon of butter and thinned with a bit of vanilla and some milk. Pour glaze over cake.
Peach Cobbler
This is not Leo’s recipe, but it is very similar.
Ingredients:
2 cups peeled, sliced peaches
1 cup and 2 tablespoons sugar, divided
1 stick butter, softened
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch salt
Pinch nutmeg, optional
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Spread peaches in single layer in bottom of a 2-quart baking dish sprayed with cooking spray. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar. Beat remaining sugar and butter till mixed. Add flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg and beat just till mixed. Add egg and vanilla and beat briefly. Dough will be consistency of cookie dough. Carefully spread as evenly as possible over peaches. Bake at 350 for 35 to 40 minutes, or until top is browned. Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes and serve with ice cream or whipped cream.
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Buckeye Briefs <>
Rideshare Testing: The NFB’s rideshare testing program will continue for at least two and a half more years. Please continue to promote the testing among chapter members who use service animals and travel using Lyft or Uber. As you travel with your service animal with Lyft or Uber, please make sure to record your experience in the NFB’s rideshare testing online questionnaire <https://nfb.org/rideshare-test>. As a part of the NFB’s settlement agreements with Uber and Lyft, the NFB is conducting testing <https://nfb.org/rideshare> to assess how successfully both companies are implementing new policies and procedures regarding drivers’ obligations to transport riders with service animals. We are seeking feedback regarding both positive and negative rideshare experiences; please take time to report your experience <https://nfb.org/rideshare-test>.
Here is a notice about opportunities to fundraise and give through Thrivent:
Are you a member of Thrivent Financial <https://www.thrivent.com/>? There are multiple ways for members to give back to the National Federation of the Blind.
Thrivent’s Choice Dollars donations can help NFB. Are you a member of Thrivent Financial and eligible to direct Choice Dollars with Thrivent Choice? You can recommend where some of Thrivent Financial's charitable outreach funds go. Choice Dollars funds can make a world of difference to the NFB. Directing Choice Dollars is easy. Simply go to Thrivent Choice <https://www.thrivent.com/making-a-difference/living-generously/thrivent-choice/> to learn more and find program terms and conditions, or contact Nathan Beattie, Financial Associate, at 515-276-1527, extension 228, or nathan.beattie at thrivent.com.
In addition Thrivent’s Action Team program is a volunteer program for Thrivent members to lead a one-time fundraiser, service activity, or educational event with the help of their family and friends. Thrivent will provide resources to help promote the event, promotional items (including Thrivent t-shirts) and a Community Impact Card with $250 of seed money. To learn more and apply, visit Thrivent Action Team <https://www.thrivent.com/making-a-difference/living-generously/thrivent-action-teams/>, or contact Nathan Beattie, Financial Associate, at the number and email above.
The NFB of Greater Butler County, the newest chapter of the NFB of Ohio, has had a productive year. Our members are engaging in life-changing activities and working collectively to improve the lives of blind people in our community.
Chapter President Rachel Kuntz has been engaging in intensive orientation to blindness training at Blind, Inc., an NFB training center in Minneapolis, since April. She spends each week day wearing a blindfold while learning to travel with a white cane, read and write Braille, prepare meals, navigate the computer, and use power tools. Rachel’s training is challenging, but it is going well, and she will have lots to share with the affiliate at our state convention. Her training will conclude in November. This training opportunity would not be possible without the loving sacrifices made by her husband and family, the support of her friends in the NFB, and the hard work of the staff at Blind, Inc.
Our Vice President, Rick Groover, who has been gallantly manning the store in Rachel’s absence, is moving to Alabama. He and his wife Tracy will be returning to their hometown. Rick will serve as the minister of a local church which he helped to form many years ago. We will miss him and his wife. They have been instrumental in getting our chapter off the ground and for holding us together. We know Rick will continue to be a member of the NFB and will do all he can to improve the lives of blind people.
We are enthusiastic to announce that our Treasurer Brent Thane will be traveling to Guide Dogs for the Blind in Oregon to be paired with his first guide dog. This journey has been a year in the making for Brent. We wish him well and look forward to meeting his four-legged friend when the two of them return home.
Tony Fithen has graciously accepted the appointment of Vice President. We know he will do great work in his new role and appreciate his willingness to step outside his comfort zone.
On Saturday, March 25, we held our first annual Envision Fair at Chesterwood Village in West Chester. Every member of our chapter worked together to make all those in attendance feel welcomed and enlightened about positive attitudes towards blindness. Nearly forty people visited our fair, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. In fact, we have two new members as a result of the event, Jim Shirk and Kathy Braswell. Special thanks to our friends in the affiliate including President Richard Payne, Vice President Sheri Albers, Marianne Denning, Deanna Lewis, and Walter Mitchell for their assistance throughout the event. Our chapter meets the second Tuesday of each month at 9:30 AM for social time and 10 AM for our business meeting at Coffee Beans & Brew in Liberty Township. We look forward to visiting with you.
The NFB of Lorain County held its first vision fair on May 13 in Elyria, Ohio. Tim Mehok demonstrated several useful pieces of technology. Universal Low Vision Aids brought lots of items for people to inspect, and BSVI was present to answer questions. We look forward to conducting this event again in coming years.
Cheryl Fields, chair of the Awards Committee, sends this reminder:
The NFB-O 2016 banquet awards presentation by committee chair Shelbi Hindel ended with these words, “I challenge all chapters and divisions to do the awards work of the National Federation of the Blind with the hope that we will have more competition for the awards as well as more awards presented. Our work is important to the blind today and in the future.” Well, the 2017 Awards Committee of the NFB-O no longer wants you only to dream about receiving an award at the convention banquet. We are expecting every division and chapter to accept the challenge and lots of individuals to nominate people for the special awards! To be considered for an award, your Gavel Award applications and letters of nomination must be received on or before midnight Sunday, October 1, 2017. The members of the Awards Committee are available to advise you. Let's transform our dreams into reality.
The NFB of Ohio 2017 Awards Committee:
Paul Dressell pmdbmd at fuse.net <mailto:pmdbmd at fuse.net>
Shelbi Hindel shelbiah1 at gmail.com <mailto:shelbiah1 at gmail.com>
Annette Lutz annettelutz at att.net <mailto:annettelutz at att.net>
Cheryl Fields cherylelaine1957 at gmail.com <mailto:cherylelaine1957 at gmail.com>
Emily Pennington emilypennington at fuse.net <mailto:emilypennington at fuse.net>
Barbara Pierce barbara.pierce9366 at gmail.com <mailto:barbara.pierce9366 at gmail.com>
Jerry Purcell jerry-purcell at sbcglobal.net <mailto:jerry-purcell at sbcglobal.net>
Robert Spangler spangler.robert at gmail.com <mailto:spangler.robert at gmail.com>
Shelbi Hindel, president of the Capital Chapter, writes as follows:
Any chapter, division, or individual willing to make a contribution toward hospitality at this year’s state convention should contact Shelbi Hindel by email at shelbiah1 at gmail.com <mailto:shelbiah1 at gmail.com>. Please include all pertinent information about the food contribution. Any and all assistance will be greatly appreciated.
Lou Mazzoli Dies:
Eric Duffy sent this tribute to Lou Mazzoli:
Former Ohio state School for the Blind Superintendent Louis (Lou) Mazzoli died after a long history of heart problems. It was ultimately a heart condition which forced Mazzoli into retirement from the superintendency of the Ohio State School for the Blind. Before coming to the school for the blind, Mazzoli was better known for his work in the developmental disabilities field than in his work with the blind. However, it didn't take him long to become a strong advocate for the blind students and for OSSB.
He was a staunch advocate for strong education programs for the blind, and he worked to see that the campuses and programs of the Ohio State School for the Blind and the Ohio School for the Deaf were not combined. He often made contacts in the Ohio General Assembly fighting to get more money for the school. If he thought there was more that the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio could be doing to help, he did not hesitate to contact me.
Long after his retirement I saw him at the school for a variety of events. I once saw him repairing a door, and I asked him if he had come back to work on the maintenance staff.
Lou was committed to seeing that the Ohio State School for the Blind had a qualified superintendent of its own, someone experienced in the education of the Blind. I hope that the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio will champion this cause. Blind students of today and generations to come are counting on us.
Dr. Lou, thank you for your leadership. Rest in peace.
Patti Chang sent the following notice:
As most of you know, the NFB has a storybank. This bank collects material that can be used in newsletters, videos, articles, and podcasts and inserted in letters and the like. We need additional material. It need not be polished. You can send material to me, pchang at nfb.org <mailto:pchang at nfb.org>. Here are some topics that we use regularly:
· Success stories–in NFB programs or general success stories
· Thank-you notes from beneficiaries of our programs, academies, and the like
· Stories about how blindness (especially negative societal attitudes) can hurt
· Stories about Braille, guide dogs, and/or white canes
· How the NFB helps me live the life I want
We especially need stories right now about how the NFB helps me live the life I want. When you send a story, please also include name, email, and phone number of the person the story is about and the date the story took place if applicable. Thanks very much for your contributions to this project. They will help us build the Federation.
From Lisa Hall come the names of the BELL students who won in the regional competition for the Braille Challenge, held for the first time in Ohio:
First place, Freshman division, Philip Sotak
Second place, Freshman division, MaKenzie Love
Third place, Freshman Division, Andrew Gillespie
Second place, Junior Varsity division, Caiden Hooks
Congratulations to all of these students; they were all BELL participants.
Announcements and Resources: for those desiring keyboard shortcuts for Windows, stop by Sharon's Shortcuts. Based in Ireland, Sharon has collected an impressive repository of keyboard shortcuts <http://sharons-shortcuts.ie/> or "IT Training without the Mouse," as she describes it. This is a noncommercial site free of sales pitch.
Audio Description has arrived on Amazon Video. The feature is available on Fire TV, Fire Tablets, iOS devices, and Android devices. View titles with audio descriptions here <http://www.amazon.com/video/audiodescription>. The selection of titles will be updated continuously as we expand. To play a title with audio descriptions, customers can select the "English- audio description" audio option from the "Subtitles and Audio" menu during playback. Additional details here <http://www.adasoutheast.org/news/articles.php?id=8490>.
Many people have questions about keeping their Medicaid coverage when returning to work, so Social Security is sharing how Section 1619(b) of the Social Security Act could help you keep your healthcare coverage as you transition to the workplace. The blog post <https://www.choosework.net/blog/2017-06-28-wiw-medicaid-while-working> specifically discusses the following: * what is Medicaid while working; * Threshold amounts; * Ways to keep Medicaid coverage; and * 1619(b) and other Work Incentives.
Let's talk about the Student Earned Income Exclusion (SEIE). This Work Incentive is for students through age twenty-one who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and want to earn money while in classes or job training. This blog <https://www.choosework.net/blog/2017-05-24-wiw-making-the-grade-at-school-and-work> explains how it works and how much you can earn. This blog <https://www.choosework.net/blog/2017-07-13-making-interviews-accessible-for-you> offers some practical advice, reasoning and resources on requesting reasonable accommodations during the job interview process.
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) has released an improved version of its Benefits Check-Up tool to help older adults and caregivers screen over 2,000 private and public benefit programs. The questionnaire directs visitors to local and national benefit and assistance programs, and visitors can search for specific types of benefits such as employment, housing, transportation, healthcare, and food assistance. Check it out here <https://www.benefitscheckup.org/#/>.
A recent PBS “News Hour” segment explored the issue of disability employment, taking a deep look at why the employment rate of Americans with disabilities continues to lag behind that of those without disabilities. The feature explored not only the various reasons for the inequity, but also how many smart employers are discovering that tapping into this talent pool offers their business a competitive edge. Among those interviewed for the segment were representatives from companies such as EY, which has in recent years been recognized for its commitment to and success in recruiting, hiring, advancing and retaining employees with disabilities. Watch the segment or read the transcript here <https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fr20.rs6.net%2Ftn.jsp%3Ff%3D0018EfrSxXfvLnDu-HyCHNY_guda_h0ese7q1dr5TaGQj9HT_AMN8-hWEZkiVz-JEJTdCkv6RJLxE7NWRqFcDcXQTMoPsSJ26X9uOxjA2HUfnot-JjqWjBHdFcAJN_iA2vzzB0JqFT49t3Nk0MpUKNVwNUY5czwLVNXy0XUpUV_uAJTYa6zoUU_VYKkokjAi4t0Vt9czX3M-mx5po1oezT5zn5NEckuch8PZGYJ58hYS8KUtu5QKItHCfjkh6G6iU-E%26c%3D9Jde7e8gw4p8u3JSej0gdrqWzMc4EwJS5jyG8bJ9croG8NuLOUbFSQ%3D%3D%26ch%3DW50W9BUolvM6Q5R0FEPJhvPHiDM-WK68i8MHIEUBE-d0zRzIL2g2WA%3D%3D&data=01%7C01%7Celizabeth.sammons%40ood.ohio.gov%7Cb59037fa095947f9aedf08d48813bb9f%7C50f8fcc494d84f0784eb36ed57c7c8a2%7C0&sdata=VEAw15TFMXMDEMZ50SFyRb9O4sUKYLL969YRzecd5%2BI%3D&reserved=0>.
November 15-17, join 1,600+ participants from across the U.S. at OCALICON 2017 in downtown Columbus. You'll find professionals and parents from across professions and industries to share and learn new ideas, practices, and strategies for supporting and improving the lives of people with autism, sensory disabilities, and low-incidence disabilities. Register here. <http://conference.ocali.org/registration>.
The phone number (408) 752-8052 allows free and immediate access to options including business searches, driving directions step by step, movies, sports, top news, and much more. The menu is completely audio driven and requires no pushing of buttons once the number is programmed or dialed.
Here <http://www.visionaware.org/info/everyday-living/helpful-products/using-a-computer/low-cost-computing/1245>’s the best article in a blue moon addressing low-Cost Computing for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired from AFB’s Vision Aware.
National Library Services has renovated its website as a gateway to the network of services for people who are blind, have low vision, or have physical disabilities. The new website has been includes tools to adjust the layout for a range of visual needs. In a recent blog post, NLS Director Karen Keninger also detailed four new programs currently being piloted at NLS network libraries: duplication on demand, wireless download, synthetic speech, and Braille e-readers. Find details here <https://blogs.loc.gov/loc/2017/07/a-new-website-and-more-expanding-our-services-for-the-blind-and-physically-handicapped/>.
A new project called Spotlight Gateway <http://www.lighthouseguild.org/spotlightgateway> is designed to put an iPad into the hands of any student with a qualifying vision impairment at no cost. The student can sign up free of charge with Bookshare <http://www.afb.org/directory/profile/bookshare/12>. To download books and receive an iPad with the Spotlight Gateway app installed. An ophthalmologist must sign off on the proof of vision impairment and then can register the student on the Spotlight Gateway website
This thought-provoking article <http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/patients-poised-to-record-doctor-s-67415/?utm_source=JD-Supra-eMail-Digests> discusses pros, cons, and legal implications of those patients wishing to record a visit with their doctors and technology to assist.
See dozens of free, video-on-demand children’s television programs for students who are blind, visually impaired, and deaf or hard of hearing. These feature closed captioning and descriptions through the Education Department’s Accessible Television Portal project <http://www.dcmp.org/accessible-television>. Among the shows: “Ocean Mysteries,” “Magic School Bus,” “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” “Expedition Wild,” and “Peg + Cat.“ Many programs are also in Spanish.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offers emergency and disability resources. These include We Prepare Every Day videos featuring people with disabilities preparing themselves and their families for emergencies, articles on preparedness geared toward different audiences, and guides and training for providers on inclusive shelter and support services. See also a web-based, interactive course <https://www.fema.gov/disability> on integrating people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs in disaster operations.
This blog <https://choosework.ssa.gov/blog/2017-08-28-making-the-most-of-a-virtual-career-fair> from the Social Security Administration, “Making the Most of a Virtual Career Fair” offers advice useful in almost any job search. Remember that SSA frequently lists upcoming job fairs on blogs, so keep tuned.
Facebook offers several ways to get in touch with the Accessibility Team. Users can like the Facebook Access for People with Disabilities <https://www.facebook.com/accessibility> page
The Facebook Accessibility Help Center also offers an accessibility bug report contact form to report accessibility issues. To stay up to date on accessibility work and improvements, visit the Accessibility Help Center <https://www.facebook.com/help/contact/169372943117927> and follow the Facebook Accessibility Team (@fbaccess) on Twitter. To “Follow the Facebook page for future updates,” see https://www.facebook.com/accessibility <https://www.facebook.com/accessibility>.
In June the Cleveland chapter spent time with Ron Mavec of Mayor Frank Jackson's office, exploring Public Square, offering suggestions to make this area safe for the blind and other pedestrians to enjoy.
Ronnie Leeth secured an internship with the McGregor House. He will graduate in January from the University of Akron.
Joanne Williams and her sister Frankie Jones proudly represented Cleveland at the 2017 NFB-O BELL Academy.
Natassha Ricks successfully completed the Cleveland Sight Center beginners Braille program. She is looking forward to the challenge of moving forward with UEB.
In August the chapter hosted a Hot Fun in the Summertime event: great food and good time playing NFB Family Feud. We gained four new members. The executive committee worked hard to make this event possible.
Suzanne Turner successfully facilitated the ADA celebration for the chapter, where Nick Turner, representing ninth Congressional District Congresswoman Marcie Kaptur, joined us. The main topic of discussion was a request for her rejection of H.R. 620, the ADA Education and Reform Act.
With much sadness we offer NFB-C condolences to the family and friends of lifetime member Effie Smith Scott. Ms. Effie, as she was affectionately known to all, died on Wednesday, July 12, 2017. She is greatly missed.
The September ride on the Cuyahoga Valley Rail Road had an overwhelming response and was an awesome experience. Hats off to Natassha Ricks, Teresa McKenny, and Rosa Jones.
Cleveland will hold chapter elections on October 20. Rosa Jones is chairing the Nominating Committee.
Travel with the Cleveland chapter to convention. We are filling the bus for convention. Secure your seat! For the low cost of $35 per person round trip, you will enjoy a short ride from Cleveland to Worthington, Ohio. Stretch out in a comfortable seat on Lakefront Lines and feel refreshed upon your arrival at the DoubleTree. For additional information contact Cheryl Fields, 216-566-4317,cherylelaine1957 at gmail.com <mailto:cherylelaine1957 at gmail.com>; Or Natassha Ricks, 216-376-9863, nricks123 at me.com <mailto:nricks123 at me.com>.
Love Birds Raffle--$10 Tickets offers you a chance to win a one-night stay on Friday, February 16, 2018, at the Downtown Cleveland DoubleTree Hotel. Proceeds will benefit chapter assistance to the 2018 National Convention. For details contact Suzanne Turner, email smturner.234 at gmail.com <mailto:smturner.234 at gmail.com>.
Special Note: October is National Domestic Violence Month. Call for HELP--1-800-799-SAFE (7233), or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY). Advocates who are deaf are available Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (PST) by videophone (855-812-1001), instant messenger (DeafHotline) or email (deafhelp at thehotline.org <mailto:deafhelp at thehotline.org>).
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Activities Calendar <>
September 18, NFB-O Board of Directors meeting
October, Meet the Blind Month
October 1, Gavel Award report and awards nominations deadline
October 6, Convention preregistration deadline and room block release
October 13, Resolutions submission deadline to Mike Leiterman
October 15, White Cane Safety Day
October 27-29, NFB of Ohio convention, DoubleTree Hotel, Worthington
November 1, NFB scholarship application opening date
January 4-11, Braille Literacy Week
January 29, Great gathering-in meeting, Washington Seminar
January 30-31, Washington Seminar
<>Registration Form
71st Annual Convention <>
The Dream Convention – Transforming Dreams into Reality
October 27 – October 29, 2017
DoubleTree by Hilton Columbus/Worthington
175 Hutchinson Ave., Columbus, OH 43235
Please complete the form below for each attendee then email it to rchpay7 at gmail.com <mailto:rchpay7 at gmail.com>. Payment must be paid in full to be considered complete. Mail a check made payable to NFB of Ohio, to 6922 Murray Ridge Rd, Elyria, OH 44035. Be sure to place “Convention Registration” on the memo line. To register online and pay by credit card visit http://nfbohio.org/new/registration <http://nfbohio.org/new/registration>. Pre-registration rates are valid until Oct. 6th. Boxed Lunch and Ohio Association to Promote the Use of Braille Breakfast tickets will not be sold at convention.
Attendee Information
Full Name
Address
City, State Zip
Home Phone
Cell Phone
Email
Is this your first NFB Ohio convention? (Yes or No) <>
Would you prefer a Braille agenda? (Yes or No)
Event Tickets <>
2017 Convention Registration: $15 <>($20 after Oct. 6)
$
2017 Banquet – Oct. 28: $40 ($45 after Oct. 6)
$
Please select your Banquet meal preference:
Vegetarian
Meat
Ohio Association to Promote the Use of Braille Breakfast – Oct. 28: $18
(Not sold after Oct 6)
$
Boxed Lunch – Oct. 28: $18 (Not sold after Oct. 6)
$
I wish to make an additional contribution. (Donations are greatly appreciated.) <>
$
Total
$
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