[Ohio-talk] Buckeye Update

[Eric Duffy]

National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
Buckeye Update, December 21, 2012


	Please keep Barbara Pierce and her family in your thoughts and
prayers. For some time now her mother has been in poor health. Family
members have been by her side for the past few weeks, and when I last spoke
with Barbara she was writing her mother's memorial knowing that the end of
her life was very near. 
	Last Friday Shelbi and I went to a meeting of the Ohio Vendors
Representative Committee. We had the opportunity to meet Matt Mumma, BSVI
Director and Mindy Duncan, BEP Director. All indications are that the Bureau
and the BE program are in good hands. Both Matt and Mindy seem sincere when
they say they want to work with operators to develop the best program in the
nation for blind vendors and blind entrepreneurs. To that end the Committee
voted to partner with the Bureau, the NFB of Ohio, and the National
Association of Blind Merchants to develop a high quality training
opportunity for blind operators and agency staff to take place in early
2013.
	This is the first week since the convention that I have not written
a single voucher. This means that Sherry has not written a check for the
organization this week, because she does not write checks without written
instruction from the president. Although it is important to cut back on
spending, it is even more critical that we find ways to raise money for the
affiliate in 2013. 
	Our next Scrip order will be released on Thursday January 3 at 7:00
PM. Kim Ruffin is a new member of the Parents Division, and she has now
signed up for Scrip and Presto Pay. Barbara's daughter Anne is also now
signed up for Presto Pay. Kim and Anne have ordered gift cards through Scrip
in the past, but now they have made paying for their orders easier for
themselves and the organization by signing up for Presto Pay. I believe
Sherry Ruth will be the next one to do this. Sherry has been a faithful
Scrip user since the beginning, but she is only now signing up for Presto
Pay.
	Deborah Kendrick has drafted an excellent letter for us to use when
seeking funds for the BELL Program. I am attaching it and including it in
the body of this message. Thank you Deborah. Now let's make her work pay off
and raise enough money to bring the BELL Program to Ohio
	This is the last time I will write until after the beginning of the
new year. I wish each of year a blessed and joyous Holiday season. I feel
blessed to be a part of the Federation family and look forward to continuing
to change what it means to be blind in 2013. The National Federation of the
Blind is the strongest force in the affairs of the blind, and I know that in
the year ahead, we can make the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio a
stronger part of our national organization.


Dear --

Our children are our future, and the National Federation of the Blind of
Ohio cares passionately about blind children in particular. Literacy is the
foundation of education, yet, despite an increased availability of books and
learning materials for all American children, genuine literacy for many
blind children in Ohio and throughout the United States has taken a backseat
in school. For a totally blind child or one with limited enough vision to
make reading print a slow or painful process, Braille is the only real road
to learning-and many blind children are not receiving adequate (or any)
Braille instruction. 

.	 In 1960 50 percent of all blind or low-vision children in America
were taught to read and write Braille. Today that rate is an appalling 7
percent. 
.	 We know that only a third of blind working-age Americans have jobs,
but, among that working population, 85 percent are Braille users. 

To help bridge the gap for children, the National Federation of the Blind's
Jernigan Institute has developed a two-week summer immersion program for
blind children ages 4-12 called Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning
(BELL.) For two weeks children who are not receiving enough Braille
instruction during the school year enjoy two weeks of hands-on learning,
interesting activities, field trips, and daily living skill-building to
enhance their understanding of and fluency in Braille. Children learn, eat,
and play together and have the additional benefit of working and playing
with blind Braille-using teachers and role models.  

Eleven states -Maryland, Georgia, Utah, Virginia, Texas, North Carolina,
Colorado, Idaho, Nebraska, Massachusetts, and Louisiana--conducted BELL
programs in the summer of 2012, and the results have been life-changing for
the participants, according to their parents. The NFB of Ohio will be
conducting the first Ohio BELL program in Columbus, July 15-26, 2013. Plans
are well underway, but full funding remains the missing piece of the puzzle.


Estimated cost of a BELL program is $6,000. If you could contribute any part
of this amount, you would help to increase literacy and enhance the future
for Ohio's blind children. 

Thank you in advance for any assistance you can offer. 

Sincerely,


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