[Ohio-talk] Fw: article about Toledo chapter

[Dr. Smith]

This is not a bad article so read on.

JW

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Barbara Pierce" <bbpierce at pobox.com>
To: "'Dr. Smith'" <jwsmithnfb at verizon.net>
Sent: Friday, March 13, 2009 8:09 AM
Subject: FW: article about Toledo chapter


>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Pare, John [mailto:JPare at nfb.org]
> Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2009 9:18 AM
> To: Pierce, Barbara
> Subject: FW: article about Toledo chapter
>
> FYI
>
> ________________________________
>
> From: Freeh, Jessica
> Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2009 9:11 AM
> To: Pare, John; Danielsen, Chris
> Subject: article about Toledo chapter
>
>
> The Blade <http://us.cisionpoint.com/OutletDetail.aspx?id=10331706>  (Ohio
> daily newspaper)
> Effort is under way to restart local unit
> Byline: Julie M. McKinnon
> Publication Date :3/11/2009 12:00:00 AM
> Mar. 11--Social workers can teach blind children and adults how to do 
> tasks
> such as cooking -- but only other blind people can be role models, provide
> peer support, and be first-hand advocates.
>
> That is why Colleen Roth and other blind Toledo area residents are working
> to reorganize a local chapter of the National Federation of the Blind.
>
> "We want to give people a positive attitude," said Ms. Roth of Northwood.
> "When you talk to a blind person, it takes on a whole different thing."
>
> Residents of Lucas, Ottawa, and Wood counties are being sought to organize 
> a
> local chapter. The Toledo area had a federation chapter from the late 
> 1940s
> to 2007, when it disbanded because many members had died or moved from the
> area, said Ms. Roth, a member since 1972 who now belongs to an at-large
> state chapter.
>
> The federation has about a dozen chapters in Ohio with 300 members to 400
> members, said JW Smith, president of the National Federation of the Blind 
> of
> Ohio.
>
> There a number of blind students at Bowling Green State University and the
> University of Toledo who, along with local residents, would benefit from
> having a local chapter, Mr. Smith said. The organization keeps up to date
> with technology, is involved with legislation, and addresses other areas
> concerning blind people, he said.
>
> "Exposure to that can only be helpful," Mr. Smith said.
>
> An organizing meeting for the Toledo area chapter will be held from 1 p.m.
> to 3 p.m. March 21 at the Ability Center of Greater Toledo, 5605 Monroe 
> St.
> Registration is required by calling Ms. Roth at 419-661-9171 or e-mailing
> her at n8tnv at att.net.
>
> Federation members go to schools to talk with children, have informational
> booths at health fairs, and do other activities to help educate people 
> about
> being blind, Ms. Roth said. Helping families of blind people, including
> children, is another focus of the federation, she said.
>
> "There is a lot of need," Ms. Roth said. "You have a lot of people who 
> lose
> their eyesight and don't know what to do."
>
> She added: "It's OK to be blind. It's not a shame, and it's not a 
> tragedy."
>
> Contact Julie M. McKinnon at:
>
> jmckinnon at theblade.com
>
> or 419-724-6087.
>
> Copyright C 2009 The Blade, Toledo, Ohio
>
> Publicity Value $697.44 USD
> Jessica A. Freeh
> Public Relations Specialist
> NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
> 1800 Johnson Street
> Baltimore, Maryland  21230
> Telephone:  (410) 659-9314, ext. 2348
> E-mail:  jfreeh at nfb.org <mailto:jfreeh at nfb.org>
>
>
>
>
>