[Ohio-talk] {Spam?} {Disarmed} Fwd: Winter 2017 Buckeye Bulletin

[barbara.pierce9366 at gmail.com]

Here is the Buckeye Bulletin. 
> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> 
> View this email in your browser <http://us12.campaign-archive1.com/?u=20afbf9079ebdc3ced81b27b7&id=bad8f53183&e=ba338c7696>
> 
> Winter 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 <mailto:barbara.pierce9366 at gmail.com>
> (440) 774-8077
> http://www.nfbohio.org <http://www.nfbohio.org/>
> Richard Payne, President
> 1019 Wilmington Ave., APT. 43
> Kettering, OH 45420
> rchpay7 at gmail.com <mailto:rchpay7 at gmail.com>
> (937) 829-3368
> 
> 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 live 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, 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 <http://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), and 614-448-1673 (Columbus).
>  
> The NFB now has a vehicle donation program. For complete information go to <www.nfb.org/vehicledonations <http://nfbohio.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=20afbf9079ebdc3ced81b27b7&id=98f74266e9&e=ba338c7696>> or call our toll-free vehicle donation number (855) 659-9314.
> 
> Table of Contents
>  
> From the President’s Desk  by Richard Payne. 2 <x-msg://57/#_Toc476808252>
> 2016 Convention Wrap-Up  by Shelbi Hindel 4 <x-msg://57/#_Toc476808253>
> A New Federationist Reacts to the Convention  by Jim Weiss. 8 <x-msg://57/#_Toc476808254>
> 2017 Awards Committee Report  by Shelbi Hindel 9 <x-msg://57/#_Toc476808255>
> 2016 NFB Ohio Scholarship Winners  by Deborah Kendrick. 10 <x-msg://57/#_Toc476808256>
> 2016 Resolutions of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio. 11 <x-msg://57/#_Toc476808257>
> Why I Am a Federationist  by Emily Pennington. 12 <x-msg://57/#_Toc476808258>
> 2017 NFB of Ohio Committee Appointments. 15 <x-msg://57/#_Toc476808259>
> The 2017 Washington Seminar Is History  Now the Work Begins  by Barbara Pierce. 16 <x-msg://57/#_Toc476808260>
> The Art of Law  by Michael Leiterman. 24 <x-msg://57/#_Toc476808261>
> Editor’s Musings  by Barbara Pierce. 25 <x-msg://57/#_Toc476808262>
> Recipes. 27 <x-msg://57/#_Toc476808263>
> Skyline Chili 27 <x-msg://57/#_Toc476808264>
> Diane McGeorge’s Fudge. 28 <x-msg://57/#_Toc476808265>
> Chocolate Truffles. 28 <x-msg://57/#_Toc476808266>
> Buckeye Briefs. 29 <x-msg://57/#_Toc476808267>
> Activities Calendar 33 <x-msg://57/#_Toc476808268>
>  
> ****
> From the President’s Desk
> by Richard Payne <>            As I sit down at my computer to write this column, it seems only proper to thank all of the members of the NFB-O for your trust. I know that you are counting on me, and I am also depending on you to help. When the elections were over last year, I began to think about the priorities that we would have to set very soon.
>             Even though several changes appear to be going on in the rehabilitation program in Ohio, much more must happen before the organized blind movement can agree that the blind in Ohio are receiving the type and quality of services that the spirit of the law should call for. Some good people work for the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired (BSVI), and attempts are being made to deliver good service, but that is not enough. We deserve effective services and counselors who understand blindness and the capacities of blind people and who will be accountable for delivering services second to none. I have always advocated that consumers have the right to a choice in the services they receive and where they go to receive them. We will continue to insist on changes to the services and do whatever it takes to get first-class services.
>             In thinking about this commitment, I went back to read Kenneth Jernigan’s speech, "The Day After Civil Rights." In that speech he said this, and it mirrors what we face today in services for the blind and other challenges that we face as blind people in Ohio. Here is part of that speech:
>  
>             As to our history, the history of the organized blind movement, I classify or divide it into four stages. Of course, I could add a fifth—the centuries and eons before our founding in 1940. But I prefer to think of that time as the dark ages, the pre-history before hope and enlightenment.
>             When the National Federation of the Blind came into being almost six decades ago, our problem was simple. It was to find enough food to keep body and soul together—not for all of us, of course, but for many. If you are hungry, it is hard to think about anything else. And the blind were hungry.
>             And then we moved to a second stage, the attempt to find jobs. Call it rehabilitation. It wasn't that poverty had been eliminated, but it had been so reduced that we could now begin to think about something else, about jobs, about how to earn and not just be given. Naturally the desire for jobs was there from the beginning, but it now moved to the center of the stage. This was in the late '50's, the '60's, and the '70's. We wanted jobs—and we found them. Not always according to our capacity and not always with equal pay—but jobs.
>             And then we moved to a third stage. Call it civil rights. After a person has satisfied hunger and found a job, there is still something else—the search for self-esteem and equal treatment—the yearning to belong and participate—to be part of the family and the broader community. And for us, as for other minorities, there was only one way to get there—confrontation. The status quo always fights change.
>             Many people think that civil rights and integration are the same thing. They aren't. The concept of civil rights precedes integration and is a necessary precursor to it. As used in the late twentieth century, the term 'civil rights' (although some will deny it) always means force—an in-your-face attitude by the minority, laws that make somebody do this or that, picketing, marches in the street, court cases, and much else. And we have done those things, all of them. We had to.
>             But there comes a day after civil rights. There must. Otherwise, the first three stages (satisfying hunger, finding jobs, and getting civil rights) have been in vain. The laws, the court cases, the confrontations, the jobs, and even the satisfying of hunger can never be our prime focus. They are preliminary. It is not that they disappear. Rather it is that they become a foundation on which to build.
>             Legislation cannot create understanding. Confrontation cannot create good will, mutual acceptance, and respect. For that matter, legislation and confrontation cannot create self-esteem. The search for self-esteem begins in the period of civil rights, but the realization of self-esteem must wait for the day after civil rights.
>             It will be easy for me to be misunderstood, so I want to make something very clear. We have not forgotten how to fight, and we will do it when we have to. We must not become slack or cease to be vigilant, and we won't. But we have now made enough progress to move to the next stage on the road to freedom. I call it the day after civil rights.
>  
>             I think no one else could have provided us with such insight about why we still have several reasons that this generation should keep concentrating on these new struggles. We have to fight for the rights of all blind people and educate the public and even ourselves. When access to adequate transportation and accessibility issues in our schools continue to be major struggles for us, we are confirmed in our conviction that building the Federation has never been more important. We must require transportation providers to keep bus routes in places that allow us to enjoy the benefits of the city and to be able to get to our jobs easily. We know just how hard the struggle has been to get this far, and we cannot allow good intentions to fool us. We do not have to leave this state to find examples of services that are not accessible, so never forget that the fight is local. Our kids need Braille and the best chance they can get to succeed. The NFB-O has to continue to find ways to promote Braille and for the kids to succeed. Dr. King demonstrated that a movement must move, and the NFB is a movement. We should use our talents to make the Ohio affiliate better. We have all made the pledge and should commit to the message and mission of the NFB-O.
>  
> ****
> 2016 Convention Wrap-Up
> by Shelbi Hindel <> 
> Editor’s note: Shelbi Hindel is the secretary of the NFB of Ohio. Here is her report of the 2016 convention:
>  
> The 2016 convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio was held at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Independence, Ohio, the weekend of November 11, 12, and 13, 2016. Many of us arrived at the hotel on Thursday evening, November 10, for some social time in preparation for the start of activities on Friday morning.
> Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. things got under way with registration and an opportunity to participate in a structured discovery walk led by Shelbi Hindel. In 2015 Pam Allen was the national representative to our convention, and her husband Roland came with her. Roland is a travel teacher at the Louisiana Center for the Blind and is experienced at leading exploratory tours of unfamiliar buildings. The Allens hosted a hotel tour. Shelbi enjoyed it tremendously and wanted to share the information she gained from the Allens. A small group of people turned out for the tour led by Shelbi this year, but they had a good time. We hope more people will join the walk at future conventions.
> The official opening of the convention was the Board of Directors meeting at 11:00 a.m. This was a short meeting attended by a significant number of convention attendees. The board is always pleased to have a good audience turn out when Federation business is conducted. This is the Ohio affiliate, not the affiliate of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors acts as the representatives of all members.
>             The opening session of the seventieth annual convention was called to order at 2:00 p.m. by President Richard Payne. We were welcomed by the mayor of Cleveland, the Hon. Frank G. Jackson, and the presidents of the host chapters, the NFB of Cleveland, William H. Turner, and the NFB of Cuyahoga County, Shawn Martin.
> The first presenter on the agenda was Jerrod Witt, the CEO and founder of AudiblEye, LLC. The title of his presentation was “Traveling with Another Tool in the Toolbox.” It is an app for the iPhone that reads room names as the user gets close. Jerrod explained how this tool works, answered questions, and informed us that he did have the technology installed at the hotel for use over the weekend.
> Throughout the afternoon we heard from three of our Ohio affiliate members. Dr. Caroline Peters, theologian, spiritual counselor, board member of Disability Rights Ohio, and a member of the Miami Valley Chapter of the NFB-OH, made a presentation on the Three Benefits of Friendship. She encouraged us to build a solid network of people that we can count on. Deanna Lewis, president of the Ohio guide dog division and a member of the Cincinnati chapter and the state Board of Directors, spoke about her experiences as a licensed blind massage therapist. The third affiliate presenter, Annette Lutz, told about her involvement with the Emerging Leaders Program of the NFB as well as working as a blind vendor in Ohio. Annette is the president of the Ohio Association of Blind Merchants and the secretary of the Capital Chapter.
>  “The Characteristics of an NFB Training Center” was presented by Dick Davis. He is the retiring associate director of BLIND, Inc., one of the NFB’s three adult training facilities. Dick works for the training center located in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
> Solid NFB philosophy is very important. Bryan Duarte, QwikEyes CEO, National Association of Blind Students board member, and Arizona State University Computer Science PhD. candidate, spoke to us about building student leaders with sound NFB philosophy. Bryan wants to assist Ohio in reestablishing a solid working student division.
> Throughout the afternoon session Suzanne Turner gave out door prizes. Everyone was hoping to win a door prize, and a few lucky people actually did win. As always you had to be present to be a winner.
> Committee and division meetings were held Friday evening. The evening ended with the Ohio Association to Promote the Use of Braille play, “Irma Wants Money for Christmas.” The performers in this play read their parts using Braille scripts. Bob Pierce directs the Not the Royal Shakespeare Company, and the members of OAPUB look forward to entertaining conventioneers each year.
> Saturday morning started bright and early with the traditional division breakfast meetings for the Diabetes Action Network and the Ohio Association to Promote the Use of Braille. These are working meetings although we do enjoy sharing a meal together.
> The general session started at 9:00 a.m. The annual report from the Talking Book library was first on the morning agenda. We had a new presenter this year, Kenneth Redd. He is the library assistant for outreach for the Ohio Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled at the Cleveland Public Library.
> Gayle Horton from Ohio Disability Rights Law and Policy Center Incorporated gave us information on advocating for our rights. This presentation highlighted legal protections against employment discriminations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); how and when to request reasonable accommodations; and how and when to file a complaint with EEOC and or OCRC. Ms. Horton also spoke about the different resources for transportation that are available throughout the state of Ohio.
> Each year we have a report from the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired in Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD). Our presenter this year was new to us, Robert Nicholson. He is the assistant deputy director of BSVI and statewide business engagement. He was joined by Elizabeth L. Sammons, program administrator at OOD. There was a brief question and answer time with Robert and Elizabeth.
> The national report was given by our national representative, Anil Lewis. Mr. Lewis is the executive director of the Jernigan Institute of the National Federation of the Blind in Baltimore, Maryland. It is always good to learn what is happening within our Federation family across the country. Throughout the convention Anil brought humor and passion to all of his presentations and interactions with conventioneers.
> The Saturday general session concluded with the 2016 BELL report. This was given by Sheri Albers, vice president of the NFB of Ohio and this year’s director of the BELL Program. She was joined by several of the families who participated in the program. We were able to hear views from both parents and children.
> During the lunch break several working meetings took place. These were the Ohio Association of Guide Dog Users, Deanna Lewis president; and the Ohio Organization of the Senior Blind, Barbara Pierce president. There was a luncheon for students, led by Bryan Duarte. We want to have a solid, effective, working student division in Ohio. Bryan was at our convention to facilitate this endeavor, and he was successful. His willingness to serve in this way is much appreciated.
> During the afternoon Cheryl Fields conducted a workshop on repairing financial abuse and recovering from its effects. The purpose of this workshop was to raise awareness of the real and dangerous impact that financial abuse can have on the lives of its victims. She wants people who have been victims to realize that they do not need to remain victims. Cheryl discussed ways that they can recover from this type of abuse. She is passionate about the subject of abuse and is always available to those in need. Consider her a valuable resource if a need should arise.
> Technology is always a topic of interest to many Federationists. Again this year our affiliate held a workshop on the subject. Several people worked together to present a wide range of topics. These were Robert Spangler, Jordy Stringer, and Christopher Sabine. Information was presented, demonstrations made, and discussions held. Some of the topics covered were Windows 10 operating system, Google apps, Apple products, popular apps for the iPhone, and of course the KNFB reader.
> Barbara Pierce and Richard Payne conducted a workshop on assuming leadership in the NFB. This is an ongoing need within the affiliate. We need to encourage, teach, and support people so that they are prepared to step up into roles of leadership when the time comes for them to do so. We do not want the organization at any level to flounder.
> During the afternoon there was a symposium on career building. Suzanne Turner and Dick Davis were the facilitators of this symposium. The goal was to emphasize, highlight, and spark dialogue about the steps that are needed for blind people to become successful at interviewing, job seeking, taking assessments, and building a strong network. These are aspects of job seeking that can be scary, depressing, and humiliating if you are not properly prepared for the process. After participating in the interactive symposium, Federationists felt better prepared to function competitively in the job market.
> The final workshop of the afternoon was on the topic of building membership. This was presented by Rachel Kuntz and Anil Lewis. Without members coming in, we will not continue to have an effective, working, productive organization that is able to reach our goals.
> During the afternoon, while all these workshops and lunch meetings were taking place, we also had an impressive exhibit hall for people to visit. You were able to work your way through the exhibits at your own pace. There were many items to look at and purchase. The exhibit hall was a busy place.
> Saturday evening the annual banquet was held. It started with a social hour and a cash bar. Dr. J. W. Smith was the master of ceremonies this year. He read to us from a book of blunders that students had written. These students were not Dr. Smith’s at Ohio University, where he is a professor of communications. I am glad he does a better job of professing than these writings displayed. A good many of the readings had the audience laughing. The keynote speaker for the banquet was our national representative, Anil Lewis. Shelbi Hindel and Deborah Kendrick made presentations of awards and scholarships. See their articles for detailed information in this newsletter.
> The banquet concluded with two fundraising activities. There were Money for the Movement and the Not so Silent Auction. The auction was fun for many. Chapters, divisions, and individuals donated a variety of items to be auctioned off. People bid competitively on these. The most exciting item, in my personal opinion, was the Braille writer, which was donated by the Springfield chapter. Robert Spangler was the winner of the Brailler.
> Saturday evening came to a close with a dance. A live band played for the dance.
> Sunday morning did not get underway quite as early as Saturday morning did, but there were people up and at Federation activities prior to the start of general session. Dr. Carolyn Peters was one of these people. She facilitated a musical showcase memorializing NFB-O members who had died in the past year.
> General session was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by President Richard Payne. The first order of business was presented by guest Lee Martin. Lee is the chief executive officer and host of an internet radio show, “See What I’m Sayin’.” He spoke to us about the importance of NEWSLINE® to the blind. Mr. Martin is the NEWSLINE coordinator for the state of Indiana, where he also serves the NFB in several different capacities at a variety of levels. Florence Meyers-McSwine, Lee’s cohost on the radio show, joined him for this presentation. Like Lee, Florence serves the NFB of Indiana in a variety of ways.
> A Sunday morning tradition in our Ohio affiliate is to have someone tell us why they are a Federationist. This year we heard from Emily Pennington. She is a member of our Cincinnati chapter, where she serves as treasurer. Emily is currently a law student at the University of Cincinnati and a former NFB-OH scholarship winner.
> There were several other presentations during the Sunday morning session. Michael Leiterman, an attorney, spoke on the art of law. Sherry Ruth gave the financial report for the 2015 year. Debbie Baker presented two resolutions that the committee prepared. Both of these were adopted by the convention. Alex Crawford, Heather Leiterman, and Paul Jordan reported on their experiences at national convention as first-time attendees.
> Each year, on Sunday morning, we hold elections. This year it was to elect officers and one board member. Dr. Carolyn Peters chaired the nominating committee. The results of the election are president, Richard Payne; vice-president, Sheri Albers; secretary, Shelbi Hindel; treasurer, Sherry Ruth; and board member, Macy McClain. Dr. Peters was elected to fill the one-year term that was vacated by Sheri Albers being elected vice president.
> So ended the seventieth annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio. Go forth to do the work of the organization at all levels possible, supporting its philosophy and policies. We have accomplished a great deal in our first seventy years, but we have much still to accomplish.
>  
> ****
> 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 82055, Columbus, Ohio 43202, 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.
> ****
> A New Federationist Reacts to the Convention
> by Jim Weiss <> 
> Editor’s note: This year forty-two new people attended the convention. I cannot remember another convention with so many new faces. Shortly after we returned home, Jim Weiss, who by that time had joined the NFB of Cuyahoga County, wrote an email thanking the affiliate for his experience. This is what he said:
>  
> Wow, wow, and wow! are the first three words that I can use to describe this year’s convention. As a first-time convention attendee I will admit that I had a low expectation, but soon after I arrived, I found that you had raised my expectations. This was truly a well-orchestrated series of events assembled by well-organized individuals who happen to share the common denominator of visual impairment.
> Once the President’s gavel fell and the convention was underway, I learned that there were more than forty other people who might also be experiencing first-time convention jitters. I did not fully comprehend that I was in a room full of blind people; I wasn’t the odd man out. During the first general session Dr. Peters’s words truly had a positive effect on me and opened my mind much wider and helped me to absorb everything that I was going to experience over the weekend. By noon on Friday I had met no fewer than ten new people and had made plans to go to dinner with fellow Federationists.
> On Saturday I made my way to the Exhibition Hall after General Session and was a bit overwhelmed upon first entry. I almost turned around and retreated but quickly reminded myself why I was in attendance. I reminded myself of the words that Jordy Stringer had just led us in saying: “Blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create barriers between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.” If I don’t believe these words, I just need to go home.
> The Exhibit Hall was bustling with people, but I made my way to the tables that I wanted to visit and was successful in obtaining the information that I desired. My only regret is that I did not attend the banquet on Saturday evening, but I will not make that same mistake again, I promise.
> I want to thank my Federation family for welcoming me with open arms, and I am already looking forward to seeing everyone next year in Columbus. I walked away from this convention with a renewed sense of ability and being, “I CAN live the life I want!” I made a commitment to myself that I will be fluent in Braille by next year’s convention. I may not be the fastest, but I will be fluent. To steal some of Dr. Peters’s words, I will use my time and God-given talent to expand my treasure and refuse to be Braille-illiterate any longer. I personally want to say thank you to everyone who contributed to making this such a wonderful convention, and I want you to know that you had a positive impact on my life. I woke up this morning with a purpose, a real sense of being, and a direction in my life. And next year I hope that I have to request vacation time from my employer in order to attend the seventy-first NFB State of Ohio affiliate convention in Columbus. God has provided me the time and talent to develop my treasure to be the best Federationist I can be, and I desire to go out and build the Federation!
> Sincerely,
> Jim Weiss, Cuyahoga County Chapter
> jimweiss72 at icloud.com <mailto:jimweiss72 at icloud.com>
> 216-854-9748
>  
> ****
> 2017 Awards Committee Report
> by Shelbi Hindel <> 
>             Editor’s note: Shelbi Hindel chaired the Awards Committee in 2016. Under her leadership the awards process was revised and improved. Here is her report of the committee’s decisions.
>  
> It was my pleasure and enjoyment to serve as the chair of the Awards Committee under the presidency of Eric Duffy and to be mentored in this position by past president and chair of the committee J. W. Smith. I believe as a committee we fulfilled our charge this year. Here are the results for 2016. These three awards were presented at the banquet of the seventieth state of Ohio convention of the National Federation of the Blind.
> I am proud to say that the Chapter Gavel Award was presented to the Capital Chapter. This chapter experienced a lot of growth despite a bit of pain in losing a long-time active member, Eric Duffy. The Capital Chapter is committed to continuing to grow and do the work of the NFB at all levels.
> For the third year in a row the division Gavel Award went to the Ohio Association of Dog Guide Users. Because of the third award in a row, this division was presented with a walnut gavel. It had a brass tag listing the name of the division, the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, and the years that the gavel was earned. Congratulations are extended to this division with the hope that other divisions in Ohio will step up and give them some strong competition in future years.
> For several years the Awards Committee have been hoping that long-time members of our affiliate family Tom and Louise Anderson would be able to join us for a state convention because we wanted to present Tom with the Knall Garwood Award in person for his many years of faithful service to the affiliate. This was not possible, so we decided to move ahead with the award presentation this year. I apologize for not being prompt in mailing the certificate to Tom, but he now has it along with our hearty congratulations.
> This year we did not present awards in several categories. I challenge all chapters and divisions to do the 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.  
>  
> ****
> 2016 NFB Ohio Scholarship Winners
> by Deborah Kendrick <> 
> We were proud to be able to award three scholarships at the NFB of Ohio convention in Independence, Ohio, this past November, and what a sparkling group of students and Federationists they happen to be. Their backgrounds, ages, fields of interest, and visual acuity are as unique as they are themselves, and we look forward to seeing more of their achievements as they complete their degrees and move forward.
> The youngest of the class of 2016 is William Yznaga, a first-year student at Cleveland State University, who was awarded the Jennica Ferguson Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $1,500. William hit the ground running at his first convention and came away as treasurer of the newly revived Ohio Association of Blind Students.
> William is a gifted computer programmer who aspires to use his degree to work with technology in a way that will do good and effect positive change in the world. He has recently joined the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, a group which appealed to him, he says, for its notable blend of social with philanthropic pursuits. William speaks highly of the disability services on his campus and also speaks candidly about his own learning process with regard to blindness. After struggling recently with a statistics exam that involved a fair amount of visual graphing, William says he knows now to seek accommodations when appropriate–and to accept that every once in a while a B grade is OK.
> Our Robert M. Eschbach Memorial Scholarship winner this year is Joseph Chadbourne, a senior tax accounting major who will graduate in May. He has a reasonable amount of senioritis these days, he says with a smile, trying to blend a fairly small course load with job interviews, swimming, reading, and following his favorite sports. Joe, too, has become actively involved in the Ohio Association of Bind Students and says he especially enjoys coming to know and working with other blind students. Joe is a board member of the Akron Blind Center, where he has taught others to read Braille and helped plan a successful white cane walk last October.
> Sheri Albers earned a degree in finance thirty years ago and has returned to school for a new degree and a new career. Sheri was awarded the Barbara E. Fohl Memorial Scholarship, which marks her second scholarship award from NFB of Ohio. Sheri plans to graduate in April with a bachelor’s degree in substance abuse counseling. She is pursuing a job and has applied for a Chemical Dependency Counseling Assistant II license from the state of Ohio, which will allow her to work in her chosen field. Since April 2016 Sheri has served as vice president of the NFB of Ohio and was the 2016 BELL coordinator. She has also served as our state convention coordinator for the past two years and made many other notable contributions. She has raised two daughters, who are also currently in college.
> It has been a privilege for me to serve as our 2016 Scholarship Committee chair and to observe the talents exhibited by these three deserving individuals. We can look forward to learning more about them as they begin careers and/or continue their college journey.
>  
> ****
> 2016 Resolutions of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio <> 
>             The following two resolutions were passed by the Convention on Sunday morning, November 13.
>  
> Resolution 2016-01
> Establishing Public Transportation as a Basic Civil Right for Every Ohioan
>  
>             WHEREAS, all citizens of this country are guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution and subsequent statutes various civil rights, including equal access to opportunities that promote our individual welfare and enable our pursuit of happiness, regardless of race, age, religion, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, or physical or financial ability; and
>             WHEREAS, the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ensures all people access to public venues, but transportation is often not in place for blind people or those who have other disabilities to reach all locations; and
>             WHEREAS, public and private resources continue to be used to subsidize more and wider roads, free parking, and the relocation of jobs and services farther away from existing, underfunded transit services and communities; and
>             WHEREAS, countless qualified blind job seekers and people with other disabilities are not able to drive personal cars; Therefore,
>             BE IT RESOLVED, that the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, in Convention assembled this thirteenth day of November, 2016, in the City of Independence, Ohio, urge the passage of legislation in Ohio to declare public transportation to be a basic civil right that should be accessible to everyone, regardless of address, race, age, religion, nationality, gender, income, sexual orientation, or sensory or physical disability.
>  
> Resolution 2016-02
> Enforcing Accessibility to the Cincinnati Bell Connector
>  
>             WHEREAS, the Cincinnati Bell Connector, the new streetcar system which officially opened in downtown Cincinnati September 9, 2016, has been under construction since 2005; and
>             WHEREAS, all public transportation systems are required by the Americans with Disabilities Act and other laws to make their programs and services accessible to all people; and
>             WHEREAS, the advisory committee in Cincinnati charged with ensuring accessibility did put forth several recommendations regarding fair and equal access to the streetcar system for blind or visually impaired people; and
>             WHEREAS, the Bell Connector is now running its full-service, 3.6-mile loop, seven days a week; and
>             WHEREAS, there is no accessible list identifying the eighteen platform locations, and
>             WHEREAS, although there is a kiosk for purchasing tickets at every platform, the systems include no Braille, text-to-speech, or screen magnification; and
>             WHEREAS, the iPhone app for purchasing tickets is not accessible to VoiceOver users; Therefore,
>             BE IT RESOLVED, that the NFB of Ohio, assembled in this Convention on this thirteenth day of November, 2016, in the City of Independence, Ohio, that the leadership of the National Federation of the Blind of Cincinnati and the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio insist upon a meeting with CEO and General Manager of SORTA Dwight Ferrel, along with any other appropriate SORTA staff, before the end of calendar year 2016 to make plans for developing and distributing an accessible list of closely associated addresses for identifying the locations of the eighteen platforms; and a plan for accessibility of ticket kiosks and/or the smart phone app; and
>             BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that, if an effort to remedy the situation is not received favorably by SORTA, the leadership of the NFB of Cincinnati and the NFB of Ohio make a concerted effort to stimulate media attention to the discriminatory and exclusionary practices exhibited in the operation of the Cincinnati Bell Connector.
>  
> ****
> Why I Am a Federationist
> by Emily Pennington <> 
>             Editor’s note: Emily Pennington is one of our younger members in the Ohio Federation family. President Payne had the great idea of asking her to deliver this year’s “Why I Am a Federationist” speech. This is what she said:
> I have wanted to do this speech for a long time, and I'm so grateful Richard asked me to do it today. I'd like to begin by taking you back in time. The year was 2012, and the national convention was in Dallas. I was a national scholarship winner, and I was attending the convention—my first one—by myself. I had traveled alone to some extent when I was in high school, but there had always been somebody to meet me at the airport. This time it was up to me to take the Super Shuttle to the hotel, get checked in, and touch base with the scholarship committee chair, the illustrious Patti Chang.
> My parents were a little nervous, and admittedly so was I. We all knew I could do it, but this was largely uncharted territory for us. Before I left, my mother said, "Call us when you get there. If there's a problem, call us after it's solved." Wise advice I've continued to use over the years.
> The shuttle ride went smoothly, and the check-in desk was easy enough to find. I got my first taste of convention crowd mania as I navigated my way across the lobby, balancing pulling my suitcase and looking for the elusive elevator with using my cane. I made it to the room, called my parents to let them know I was alive and well, and took a minute to regroup. The travel, the crowds, and the new experiences had been a little overwhelming, but in an exhilarating kind of way. Still riding the high of success, I decided to brave the crowd again and find the restaurant. After all it is well known in the Federation that the average scholarship winner has time for only two full meals during the entire convention. Ordinarily, I would have hesitated to try to find a place I'd never been to before. Doing so usually made me nervous, and my desire for adventure warred with my perfectionist's drive not to mess up and not to risk looking bad. Not that day, though. With only my cane and the written description of the hotel layout, I headed downstairs and, with a few small bumps along the way, found my way to the restaurant and a delicious piece of halibut.
> It was a great start to an excellent convention. Of course, I felt cool because I was without my parents for a week; what eighteen-year-old wouldn't be ecstatic? Besides that, though, I felt that this convention and this organization would help me grow and step outside my comfort zone — an ideal thing since I was starting college in less than two months. I was definitely overwhelmed, but I was ready to dive into the convention.
> I'll admit, when Richard asked me to do this speech and I initially pondered why, exactly, I am a Federationist, it was hard to pinpoint a good answer. Over the years I'd heard a few great speeches that addressed the same question, and upon initial review I felt that my answer didn't fit very well with theirs. I have a wonderfully supportive family who taught me the importance of independence and self-advocacy, among other things. Heck, my parents could write a book on how to construct and adhere to a rock-solid IEP. Initially I also felt different because I had never experienced any major catastrophes of accessibility or discrimination. Oh sure, my family and I had some battles with our school district in the beginning, and there were the usual difficulties of unresponsive, uncomprehending faculty and administration, but in hindsight and compared to the horror stories I've heard from other blind people, I had it pretty easy.
> After some contemplation, however, I realized that I am not all that different from my fellow Federationists. We share similar successes, milestones, trials, and tribulations. We all aspire to live productive, happy lives. It's not about a profile and a past that fits the cookie-cutter mold in order to qualify as a Federationist. No, I'm a Federationist because of what the organization brings to my present and my future.
> I am a Federationist because the NFB has strengthened me as an individual. My time in the NFB has helped me grow in areas other than blindness skills. I have become more assertive and less fearful of stepping on other people's toes when I advocate for myself. I have always been more timid and inclined to follow a comfortable routine. Since I joined the NFB, though, I have found fulfillment in stepping out of my comfort zone just for the fun of it, even if it's something as simple as going to a meeting or event I normally wouldn't attend.
> Most significantly, the National Federation of the Blind has helped me grow as a leader. Three years ago I got a call from Deborah Kendrick, asking if I would be interested in running for treasurer of the Cincinnati chapter. At the time I had only been to a few meetings, and while I was adept with numbers and fundraising, my treasury experience was limited to a term in student council when I was in the fourth grade. I had little experience, and I was very young compared to everybody else in the chapter; I hadn't even graduated from college yet. However, Deborah and the other chapter members who elected me didn't see my youth, my lack of experience, or my blindness as obstacles to getting the job done. They saw my potential as a leader and the experience I could gain in a position that was close to my skill set. Serving in that position and in several others throughout the last few years has given me invaluable experience and shown me that I am capable of more leadership than I originally thought.
> I am a Federationist because of the family aspect. Cliché though it may sound, the phrase Federation Family really does ring true, and in more ways than one. In the literal sense, my biological family has been drawn into the NFB fold. Since my sister Lillie and I are both blind, convention is a big event in our household. Our parents decided to tag along to see what it was all about, perhaps in part out of nervousness for letting two young girls loose, but in large part because they wanted to see what convention and the organization were all about. My parents wound up having a great time. They found plenty of things to do outside the hotel, but my dad can often be found chatting up technology vendors in the exhibit hall out of genuine curiosity, and my mother is known for sitting by the pool for hours, people-watching. She says she loves seeing little kids run by with their tiny canes. All of us have a great time at convention, and yet we barely see each other the entire week.
> Beyond that, I feel a strong sense of kinship with other Federationists. I love identifying our similarities and learning about what distinguishes us from one another. One of the things I love most about the NFB is the way we help each other.
> Lately I've experienced this phenomenon firsthand. Some of you may know that I am working towards my CPA certification. The test consists of four different sections, usually taken over a period of several months. When I requested accommodations for the CPA exam, I expected it to be a smooth process, like my wonderful experiences with the GMAT and the LSAT. Boy, was I wrong! While I won't go into much detail now for the sake of time, I have been struggling to get the accommodations I need in order to take this test successfully. Even after I took the first section of the exam, the group in charge of accommodations is back-pedaling in what they say they will give me. This, on top of studying for the exam itself and staying on top of my work in law school, is making for a very stressful time.
> However, I have not been alone in fighting this battle. Back when I first received notice of my less-than-ideal accommodations in the summer, I approached members of the National Association of Blind Lawyers for advice. Since then I have been working with Valerie Yingling and Dr. Maurer as developments continue to unfold in this saga. Let me tell you, answering the phone to Dr. Maurer for the first time and hearing him ask for a briefing on the situation was both exhilarating and intimidating. I am so grateful for their help. I know they do it because they want me to succeed and get the accommodations to which I am entitled. More than that, however, their help signifies a step in the right direction for blind people who want to pursue careers in accounting. That's how it works in the National Federation of the Blind; helping one person helps the entire organization, indeed the entire blind community, come closer to living the lives we want. I hope I can report back to you at next year's convention and say that I received the proper accommodations and am CPA-certified, thanks to the help of the National Federation of the Blind.
> My love for the NFB is deep, rich, and multifaceted. I found the Federation when I started college, and it has since been there for me through the biggest period of growth and change I've experienced to date. I can't believe it's been only four years, and I cannot wait to see what the next forty, fifty, sixty, seventy years hold. I want to grow as a person, a leader, a helper. There will be more bumps, bruises, and chaotic adventures in airports and crowded hotels. I welcome it all, though, because I know I will have my friends, family, fellow Federationists, and of course, a victory meal in the end. That is why I am a Federationist.
>  
> ****
> 2017 NFB of Ohio Committee Appointments <> 
>             Editor’s note: Here are the committee assignments for 2017. The committee charge is followed by the names of the committee members. The first person named is the committee chair. We urge you to keep this list for future reference.
>  
> DEAF-BLIND COORDINATORS, charge: to provide aid and information to those who are in this unique community and to serve as a vehicle to foster a positive relationship for the deaf-blind community. In 2017 coordinators will assist the affiliate in forming a deaf-blind division. Delcenia Brown, Lisa Hall, Susan Day
> AWARDS COMMITTEE, charge: to oversee the awards process, to provide information and feedback when necessary, and to make reasonable judgments about NFB-O awards. Cheryl Fields, Annette Lutz, Shelbi Hindel, Emily Pennington, Jerry Purcell, Robby Spangler, and Barbara Pierce
> CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE, charge: to make sure that all NFBO constitutions follow the state and national constitutions, both philosophically and rhetorically. Shelbi Hendil, Colleen Roth, Cheryl Fields, Joe Mager
> CONVENTION COORDINATOR, charge: to assist and advise the president in the planning of the state convention and to provide additional assistance in planning and executing affiliate activities at national conventions. co-chairs, Sherri Albers and Rachel Kuntz
> EDUCATION COMMITTEE, charge: to advise the president about policies, legislation, strategies, and initiatives in which the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio should be engaged to improve educational opportunities for blind youth throughout the state. Debbie Baker, Elif Emir Öksüz, Joe Mager, Marianne Denning, Christopher Sabine, and Heather Leiterman
> FINANCING THE MOVEMENT COMMITTEE (SUN coordinator, Jernigan Fund coordinator, PAC coordinator), charge: to make members aware of these specific organizational fundraising opportunities and to implement strategies to increase participation. Sherry Ruth, Gloria Robinson, Susan Ott, Susan Day
> FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE, charge: to investigate additional opportunities to increase NFB-O resources and to implement effective fundraising strategies and programming. Annette Lutz, Walter Mitchell, Shelbi Hindel, Geza Vamos, Deanna Lewis, Stephanie Claytor, Wanda Sloan, Milena Zavoli
> LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, charge: to increase the organization’s visibility and effectiveness in the state legislature and to continue to support our efforts in Washington throughout the year. Sherri Albers, Annette Lutz, Jordy Stringer, Joe Mager, Geza Vamos, Michael Leiterman, and Barbara Pierce
> MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE, charge: to implement effective strategies to recruit and retain members and to reinvigorate the chapters and divisions of the NFB of Ohio. Carolyn Peters, Chenelle Hancock, Suzanne Turner, Walter Mitchell, Susan Ott, William Turner, Macy McClain, Heather Leiterman, and Michael Leiterman
> PROMOTION AND PUBLICITY COMMITTEE, charge: to promote and publicize the programs and events of the NFB of Ohio and to acquire as much positive publicity as possible for such activities. Rachel Kuntz, Cheryl Fisher, Walter Mitchel, Jordy Stringer, Annie McEachirn, Suzanne Turner, Susan Ott, and Heather Leiterman
> RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE, charge: to oversee the submission process and to write and distribute clearly articulated and philosophically sound resolutions. Michael Leiterman, Debbie Baker, Cheryl Fields, Marianne Denning, and Colleen Roth
> SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE, charge: to conduct the affiliate scholarship program and to develop and implement effective strategies to increase the visibility of the program and increase participation. Jordy Stringer, Cheryl Fields, Elif Emir Öksüz, Natassha Ricks, and Heather Leiterman
>  
> ****
> The 2017 Washington Seminar Is History
> Now the Work Begins
> by Barbara Pierce <> 
>             Late January and early February mean one thing in the National Federation of the Blind. Blind people begin congregating in Baltimore and Washington for the chief event of the NFB winter social season, the Washington Seminar. This year affiliate presidents met in Baltimore for an intensive seminar over the weekend of January 28 and 29. Parents of blind children had a seminar in Washington on Sunday and Monday as did the student division. Eleven Ohioans joined the crowd that converged on Washington thanking heaven that we did not have a repeat of the blizzard that complicated last year’s seminar.
>             Richard Payne attended the presidents’ seminar, and Heather Leiterman met with the parents. The rest of us gathered, mostly in time for the legislative seminar Monday afternoon, January 30, where the governmental relations team reviewed the issues we would be addressing on Capitol Hill that week. Sheri Albers organized the seminar group from Ohio, and she did an excellent job, even conducting a phone meeting the week before to go over logistics and discuss the issues we would be discussing on the Hill. In attendance from Ohio in addition to these three were Greater Butler County chapter President Rachel Kuntz; Cleveland chapter members Suzanne Turner, Natassha Ricks, and Alexis Tyson; and Capital Chapter members Jordy Stringer, Michael Leiterman, and his and Heather’s son, Alex Crawford. I also attended representing the Lorain County chapter. We were divided into four groups to visit members of the House of Representatives, and we all went to the Senate side to visit Senators Brown and Portman.
>             In addition to appointments with House members on Tuesday, we attended a rally in support of blind students who talked about the problems they have these days getting access to eBooks, websites, and programs used by their universities. Some of us also went to a reception in the Dirksen Building late Tuesday afternoon, where several members of Congress addressed the crowd of blind people.
>             We were armed with fact sheets on four issues this year. These are not the only legislative concerns the NFB has, but they were the ones we were discussing during the seminar. Even if you think you are familiar with these issues, I urge you to read and study each of these fact sheets. We need everyone to be familiar with these issues. We will be urging you to make calls to your member of Congress and to go to town meetings to raise questions about their willingness to support our issues. To do this effectively, you must understand the issues. Here are the fact sheets for 2017 in a form that screen-access programs can read. This means that the end notes have been removed. Above each fact sheet is a link that you can use to get to the full text of the fact sheet on the NFB website. This is the link you should share with staffers who want to read the fact sheet. Here they are:
>  
> https://nfb.org/aimheafactsheet <http://nfbohio.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=20afbf9079ebdc3ced81b27b7&id=2254617dcf&e=ba338c7696>
> Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education Act
>  
> Until a market-driven solution for accessible instructional materials is achieved, blind college students will be denied access to critical course content.
> Technology has fundamentally changed the education system. The scope of instructional materials used at institutions of higher education has expanded. Curricular content comes in digital books, PDFs, webpages, etc.; and most of this content is delivered through digital databases, learning management systems, and applications. The print world is inherently inaccessible to students with disabilities, but technology offers the opportunity to expand the circle of participation. Studies have found that, of the 6.5 million students with disabilities in grades K-12, the number who go on to pursue postsecondary education is growing.
> Blind students are facing insurmountable barriers to education. Instead of fulfilling the promise of equal access, technology has created more problems than the print world ever did. Data show that students with disabilities face a variety of challenges, including matriculation and college completion failure, solely because, in the absence of clear accessibility guidelines, colleges and universities are sticking with the ad-hoc accommodations model. Currently schools deploy inaccessible technology and then modify another version for blind students, usually weeks or even months into class, creating a separate-but-equal landscape with nearly impenetrable barriers. With only an 18 percent employment rate, compared to 65 percent among people without disabilities, students with disabilities should not be denied access by the innovations that could have ensured full participation.
> Institutions of higher education need help to identify accessible material and comply with nondiscrimination laws. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act require schools to provide equal access, and in 2010 the US Departments of Justice and Education clarified that the use of inaccessible technology is prohibited under these laws. In the six years since, over a dozen institutions have faced legal action for using inaccessible technology, and complaints are on the rise. Most litigation ends with a commitment from the school to embrace accessibility, but that commitment does little in a vast, uncoordinated higher-education market.
> Accessibility solutions are available, but guidelines are sorely needed to stimulate the market. The Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education Act will bring together people with disabilities and the higher education, publishing, and tech-developing and manufacturing communities to develop a stakeholder-driven solution to the issue of inaccessible instructional materials. With input from all relevant stakeholder communities, mainstream accessible instructional materials can be achieved, benefitting both institutions of higher education and the students with disabilities they aim to serve.
>  
> Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education Act:
>  
> Develops accessibility guidelines for instructional materials used in postsecondary education. A purpose-based commission is tasked with developing accessibility criteria for instructional materials and the delivery systems/technologies used to access those materials. Additionally, the commission is tasked with developing an annotated list of existing national and international standards so that schools and developers can identify what makes a product usable by the blind.
> Provides incentive for institutions of higher education to follow the guidelines. Institutions of higher education that use only technology that conforms with the guidelines will be deemed in compliance with the provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act that pertain to schools’ use of technology. For those instances in which accessible technology is simply not yet available, instances that will continue to diminish in frequency as accessible instructional materials become more mainstream, there is a limited safe harbor protection for institutions that otherwise adhere to existing disability law as well as some additional requirements as described in the AIM HE Act.
> Offers flexibility for schools while reiterating that pre-existing obligations still apply. Colleges and universities are permitted to use material that does not conform to the guidelines as long as equal access laws are still honored. Conformity with the AIM HE guidelines is only one path to compliance; schools can pursue a different path but will forfeit the safe harbor legal protection.
>  
> REMOVE BARRIERS TO EQUALITY IN THE CLASSROOM
>  
> Cosponsor Accessible Instructional Materials in Higher Education Act.
>  
> To cosponsor in the House of Representatives, contact:
> Otto Katt, Legislative Fellow, Congressman Phil Roe (R-TN)
> Phone: (202) 225-6356, Email: otto.katt at mail.house.gov <mailto:otto.katt at mail.house.gov>
>  
> For more information contact:
> Gabe Cazares, Government Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind
> Phone: (410) 659-9314, extension 2206, Email: gcazares at nfb.org <mailto:gcazares at nfb.org>
>  
> For more information visit: www.nfb.org/aim_he <http://nfbohio.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=20afbf9079ebdc3ced81b27b7&id=daf82a4a18&e=ba338c7696>
>  
> https://nfb.org/access-technology-affordability-act <http://nfbohio.us12.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=20afbf9079ebdc3ced81b27b7&id=a31c113091&e=ba338c7696>
> Access Technology Affordability Act
> Increase the availability of access technology and promote affordability of that technology for blind Americans
>  
> Access technology enables blind Americans to participate in today’s connected world. These tools enable blind Americans to perform tasks that they were once unable to accomplish themselves due to their disability. Braille note takers are frequently used in schools, screen-reading software allows workers to check their email at home, and screen magnification software can help seniors losing vision learn about community activities. Despite the need for access technology, public and private entities struggle to meet the demands and provide adequate access technology to their clients, including blind Americans. This leads to untimely delays in the delivery of necessary technology and ultimately harms the blind consumer.
> Paying for access technology out-of-pocket creates a difficult economic reality. Nearly 60 percent of blind Americans are unemployed compared to under 5 percent for the general population. Most access technology can range in cost from around $1,000 to $6,000. For example, a leading screen reader is $900, a popular Braille note taker is $5,495, one model of a refreshable Braille display is $2,795, and a moderately priced Braille embosser is $3,695. Consequently, most blind Americans do not have sufficient financial resources needed to purchase these items. These financial barriers can ultimately lead to a loss of employment, insufficient education, or even isolation from community activities.
> Medical insurance will not cover the cost of access technology. Current definitions of "medical care," "medical necessity," and "durable medical equipment" within common insurance policies do not and should not include access technology. These definitions were adopted in the 1960s when medical care was viewed primarily as curative and palliative, with little or no consideration given to increasing an individual's functional status. However, Congress recognized that blindness, unlike other disabilities, could be measured easily. Many states’ Medicaid programs and individual health insurance plans have adopted similar definitions and will not cover access technology.
>  
> Access Technology Affordability Act:
>  
> The Access Technology Affordability Act provides a simple solution that will increase the availability of access technology so that blind Americans can procure these items for themselves. It establishes a per-person individual refundable tax credit of up to $2,000 over a three-year period to be used to offset the cost of access technology for blind people.
> Historically, Congress has created similar tax incentives (e.g., Disabled Access Credit) for business owners required to make accommodations--including access technology--for employees and patrons with disabilities. Congress removed financial barriers so that businesses did not view the needs of people with disabilities as a burden. These opportunities are currently available only to business owners while blind Americans, for the most part, must depend on others to procure access technology for them.
> There is no one-size-fits-all solution to meet the access technology needs of all blind Americans. Accessibility requires an individualized assessment of one’s own skills and preference. Therefore, blind Americans should be given the opportunity to procure access technology on their own to ensure that they are receiving the tools that are most useful for them.
>  
> REMOVE FINANCIAL BARRIERS AND INCREASE THE AVAILABILITY OF ACCESS TECHNOLOGY
>  
> Sponsor the Access Technology Affordability Act.
>  
> For more information, contact:
> Kimie Beverly, Government Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind
> Phone: (410) 659-9314, extension 2441, Email: kbeverly at nfb.org <mailto:kbeverly at nfb.org>
> For more information visit www.nfb.org <http://www.nfb.org/>
>  
> https://nfb.org/appropriation-national-library-service-blind-and-physically-handicapped-nls-purchase-refreshable <http://nfbohio.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=20afbf9079ebdc3ced81b27b7&id=9312efd262&e=ba338c7696>
> Appropriation to the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) for the Purchase of Refreshable Braille Devices
>  
> An appropriation to the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped will save money and lead to the proliferation of critically needed Braille material for blind Americans.
> There are 119,487 libraries of all types operating in the United States today; however, blind Americans rely on NLS to distribute Braille books across the nation. Currently these are hardcopy offerings, but new, low-cost displays (known as refreshable Braille displays) can produce electronic Braille, saving money, saving paper, and providing a small device where formerly multiple and large volumes were required for just one book. Until all blind Americans have access to high-quality, reliable, refreshable Braille, blind people will continue to encounter artificial barriers in literacy, education, and employment.
> Innovative advances in refreshable Braille technology could save NLS $10 million per year. A recent GAO report indicated that the distribution of refreshable Braille devices will result in an annual cost savings of $10 million. Since 1931 hardcopy Braille has been embossed and distributed to patrons through a network of regional and subregional libraries. It is impossible to predict the titles that would be requested at any particular regional library. As a result there could be five copies of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (thirteen volumes of Braille) in Boise, Idaho, and none in Richmond, Virginia, where several patrons are currently waiting. Moreover, in 2015 the cost of embossing, housing, and shipping hardcopy Braille volumes was $17 million per year.
> Technological innovations now make it possible for Braille to be produced in electronic files. These can be accessed on refreshable Braille displays and distributed electronically at a cost of $7 million. Like other types of electronic files (such as printed materials in .docx format), the same Braille book can be read by potentially thousands of patrons at the same time with refreshable Braille devices. Today the mass production and distribution of Braille content is not only technologically possible, but cost effective, and vast quantities of Braille material can now be stored, transported, and instantly accessed on refreshable Braille displays.
> Braille literacy is essential to employment for the blind. Among blind people who are employed, 85 percent are Braille readers. In 1931 the Pratt-Smoot Act centralized the collection and housing of the very small number of individually produced Braille books then existing in the United States. But even though library services have been made available to blind people on a national scale, the broad distribution of hard-copy Braille books is not feasible. Eighty-six years later, the unemployment rate among the blind in 2014 continued to hover around 60 percent. Recognizing this fact, in acknowledgement of the importance of Braille literacy, the 114th Congress amended the Pratt-Smoot Act to authorize NLS to provide its patrons with refreshable Braille displays.
> A one-time appropriation of five million dollars to the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped would:
> Enable NLS to purchase, through the bidding process, ten thousand refreshable Braille displays to be loaned to NLS patrons
> Make Braille materials more widely available to blind Americans than ever before, thereby improving Braille literacy among blind Americans and leading to increased employability
>  
> SUPPORT BRAILLE LITERACY
>  
> Cosponsor the NLS Appropriation for Refreshable Braille Displays.
>  
> For more information, contact:
> Parnell Diggs, Director of Government Affairs, National Federation of the Blind
> Phone: (410) 659-9314, extension 2222, Email: pdiggs at nfb.org <mailto:pdiggs at nfb.org>
>  
> For more information visit www.nfb.org <http://www.nfb.org/>
>  
> https://nfb.org/marrakeshfactsheet <http://nfbohio.us12.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=20afbf9079ebdc3ced81b27b7&id=f56b85d152&e=ba338c7696>
> The Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled (Marrakesh Treaty) 
>  
> An international copyright treaty will give blind Americans access to millions of published works and improve the distribution of books around the globe.
> Millions of Americans are being denied access to published works. Despite the ability to convert print books into accessible formats like Braille, audio, and digital copies, over 95 percent of published works are unavailable to people with print disabilities. Literacy and equal participation in society are critical elements of a fulfilling and independent life, but until uniformity is built into the international copyright system, blind Americans will be excluded from accessing works. A blind student seeking to learn Spanish will likely struggle to find an accessible format; a work printed in English may have already been converted into an accessible format overseas, but because copies are not exchanged across borders, domestic entities might need to make a duplicate copy or just might deny access altogether by failing to reproduce the work.
> An uncoordinated legal approach prevents the cross-border exchange of accessible books. Unlike the United States, where copyright law includes the Chafee Amendment and other exceptions, two-thirds of the world’s nations do not have domestic copyright laws that permit making copies for the blind, limiting the number of works available in an accessible format. Moreover, many countries consider distribution of accessible copies an infringement as well, and even amongst nations that permit distribution, limitations vary. Instead of exchanging books across borders, countries needlessly duplicate works, and circulation is significantly limited.
> The Marrakesh Treaty was adopted to achieve this goal. On June 27, 2013, a diplomatic conference convened by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Morocco adopted the Marrakesh Treaty with enthusiastic support from the US delegation. The treaty, signed by the US on October 2, 2013, currently has eighty-eight signatories, has been ratified by twenty-five countries, and has entered into force as of September 30, 2016.
> The Marrakesh Treaty has broad stakeholder support. Blind people should have full and equal access to all works that enrich lives, further education, and share critical information; the treaty balances this priority with the interests of rights holders. WIPO’s adoption of the Marrakesh Treaty was supported by American-based companies, the international publishing community, legal experts, and blindness advocates. The treaty will have tangible benefits for all involved. This is why Congress must act swiftly to ratify the Marrakesh Treaty and pass its associated implementing legislation.
> The Marrakesh Treaty calls for contracting parties to provide in their national copyright laws for a limitation or exception that allows for:
> Reproduction of works by an authorized entity for the purposes of converting them into accessible format copies exclusively for beneficiary persons.
> Distribution of accessible format copies exclusively to beneficiary persons.
> Import of accessible format copies for the purposes of making them available domestically
> Export of accessible format copies for the purposes of making them available to a beneficiary person in another country.
> Remove barriers to access of published works
> Support ratification of the Marrakesh Treaty.
> For more information, contact:
> Gabe Cazares, Government Affairs Specialist, National Federation of the Blind
> Phone: (410) 659-9314, extension 2206, Email: gcazares at nfb.org <mailto:gcazares at nfb.org>
>  
>             There you have the 2017 fact sheets. Call your member of Congress today and urge him or her to support these issues. If you don’t know who your member is, call the reference librarian at your nearest public library. These people get asked this question all the time, and they will know who your member is and maybe even know the Washington phone number for the office. Or you can call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. The operator can connect you to the office. When you reach the office receptionist, ask for the education aide to discuss the AIM HE Act, the taxation aide for the Access Technology Affordability Act, or the executive appropriations aide for the NLS appropriation issue. You can help. Call today.
>  
> ****
> The Art of Law
> by Michael Leiterman <> 
>             Editor’s note: In the last newsletter we published a profile of Mike Leiterman. Mike was invited to speak at the November convention on Sunday morning when we were running out of time. He had good advice for those struggling to get effective rehabilitation services from the Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired. We asked Michael to allow us to publish his entire speech as an article since it might well be of value to our readers in the future. Here it is:
>  
>             Perhaps the most difficult and important skills for blind people needing rehabilitation to master is persuading the blindness agency to provide the services needed and specified by federal law. It certainly helps in this effort to be or to know a lawyer.
> One skill that the National Federation of the Blind has fostered within me is the ability to be an advocate. This role can take many forms, from being a part of a group effort conveying a message to being an advocate for oneself in any situation. Being a self-advocate can be one of the most powerful skills that one can have. Unfortunately, this skill is not one that one is born with, but a skill that is constantly growing and changing. There is not one perfect method of being an advocate; however, there are things that one can do to be more effective as an advocate. I have found the following illustration to be crucial in all aspects of advocacy.
>             The first and one of the most difficult components of advocacy is making your position or message clear. If the issue or message you are attempting to convey is not clear, that will make your advocacy job that much harder. Think about this in the following way. If you have ever been a client of BSVI, you may have been asked to participate in developing an individualized plan for employment (IPE). In this hypothetical situation we will assume that your counselor is both receptive and supportive of your occupational goal. You wish to become a lawyer, and through your research you have learned that to achieve your goal you will need to complete at least a bachelor’s degree and law school and pass the bar exam. During a face-to-face meeting you convey this information to your counselor, and after this exchange your counselor begins to draft your IPE. However, much to your chagrin, when you receive your plan for employment, you discover that instead of lawyer your counselor lists as your occupational goal legal professional. You explain to your counselor that your goal is to be a lawyer and not just a legal professional. Your counselor assures you that legal professional will cover your goal of being a lawyer and encourages you to sign the plan as drafted. He further explains that your plan can always be amended if needed in the future.
>             Unfortunately, the above hypothetical is not too far off the mark as possible. The questions now to be considered are what should you do, what could you have done to avoid this situation, and what can you do to stop the situation from getting worse?
>             The first thing you should do is to limit the potential problem, which means that you should not take any action that could make your position worse. In this instance do not accept the counselor’s change of language in your stated employment goal from lawyer to legal professional by signing the plan. By doing so, you have now accepted “legal professional” as your employment goal, which is a much more loosely defined term than your original goal of lawyer and will only serve to make your position weaker when working towards your original stated goal. In this case remember: keep your message clear, and stick with what you have defined as the goal.
>             Often it is not what you are saying that distorts the message or position; it is the person hearing the message who gets it wrong. In the above example the counselor listened to the message but came away with the wrong understanding. Often you may be clear as day as to the message you are delivering; however, for whatever reason something else is heard. To avoid this type of problem, it is a good idea to reiterate your message through an email. This will serve to achieve two distinct purposes. First, the email will help to keep your message clear and limit any wrong interpretation of your message by the listener. Second, this will also create a written record of your stated message, which will last longer than either your or your counselor’s memory. Should you decide to reiterate your message through an email, it is a good idea to do so soon after the conversation takes place rather than trying to reconstruct the dialog. Another benefit of restating your message through an email soon after the discussion takes place is that you will often be the first to send an email, allowing you to further strengthen your message before it is diluted or changed by someone who did not clearly understand it.
> If you are not able to send an email out before you receive your plan for employment, or before you receive an email from your counselor that incorrectly states your goal, you should immediately act to correct the mistake as soon as you become aware of the error. Acting as soon as you learn about the incorrect interpretation of your stated message will help to limit the further distortion of your original message and will allow you to attempt to correct your counselor’s mistake before the misinterpretation causes additional problems for you in achieving your stated goal.
> I mentioned earlier that sending an email would serve to memorialize your dialog with your counselor and create a written record. The importance of this is that, should this error persist and develop into a full-blown argument between you and your counselor, you will have your emails as evidence of what your original intention or goal was.
> I have found that it is beneficial to form the habit of preserving all email communications by saving and organizing them in a specific folder for possible future use in resolving factual disputes between parties. This can be hard for some people in deciding what emails would be relevant or important for future use; however, the alternative is not having the emails and needing to rely on your counselor’s possible mistake, or on memory alone to recall and prove what your message was. In the end it will be up to you to decide what works best for you and when this practice should be used.
> Perhaps some people would not refer to this kind of thinking and acting as “the art of law,” but it does seem like an art to me, and it is certainly beneficial when the chips are down.
>  
> ****
> Editor’s Musings
> by Barbara Pierce <> 
> It seems hard to believe, but there are people so new to the Federation that they do not know about the Kernel Books even though all thirty of them are available for download from the NFB website and many of them have been recorded by the National Library Service and are available by request from the Cleveland Public Library. The Kernel Books were small, large-print collections of short essays written by blind people about the experience of living with blindness. The books were the brain child of Kenneth Jernigan, who was looking for something that would be easy to mail as part of our mail fundraising campaign and would be interesting to sighted people but would not make them feel sorry for us. He was responding to the usual fundraising methods resorted to by most blindness organizations that tried to make people contribute because they pitied blind people or feared blindness enough to make them loosen their hold on their wallets.
> The Kernel Books turned out to be wildly successful for their original purpose but even more successful as an educational tool for inspiring blind people. If you have not read the Kernel Books, I urge you to do so. They are well worth the effort.
> We finally stopped producing the books because—well we stopped writing the stories to put into them. I used to dread getting a phone call from Dr. Jernigan saying, “Well, Barbara, it’s time for you to write another Kernel Book story.” Sometimes there was a theme, and sometimes I was left to cudgel my brain for a set of little stories that I could string together to make a story. I was personally sorry to see the end of the Kernel Books but relieved that I would not face the challenge of thinking up another piece for the next book.
> As some of you may have observed, Patti Chang has now joined the national staff. She is still living in Chicago, but she is in charge of fundraising. She has invented a new writing challenge for us. She calls it Story Bank. She wants to collect very brief anecdotes about blindness. They can be aha moments when the writer discovered the importance of the NFB in his or her life. It can be a moment when the writer discovered in a new way the pain or challenge or excitement of blindness. Patti plans to use these stories in many ways. I don’t think that even she yet knows all the ways she is going to use them. But she wants us to write the anecdotes. She will polish them up or shape them for the use she has in mind.
> The great thing is that they are short. Everyone has some story that can be written down for Patti to use. At the national board meeting in December, Mrs. Jernigan challenged all of us in the room to write at least one story during the following week. I wrote four--they are easy to think up and write down. Here is an example of one that I wrote:
> I was pregnant with our first child. I had never had much to do with babies, and the fact was that as a blind young woman I was nervous about how I would keep a baby safe and thriving. One morning to my surprise the wife of one of my husband’s colleagues in the English department dropped in to visit me. We were not friends. She was a rather rigid German woman who was formidably assertive and self-confident. After I had invited her in and given her coffee, we settled down to chat. I was still puzzled about why she was in my living room, but my perplexity did not last long. Suddenly she asked me out of the blue, “So, Barbara, how do you expect to take care of this baby?”
> I was shattered and humiliated. Dimly I knew that she was out of order in asking such a personal and intrusive question, but I did not know how to address her reservations about my competence.
> I paused for a moment to collect my thoughts. Then I said as quietly and calmly as I could, “I can’t tell you exactly how I am going to manage, but I doubt that most first-time mothers know how they will cope. I do know this. I did not know how I would manage college, but I graduated magna cum laude. I did not know how I would work out the details of being a faculty wife, but I am keeping house, preparing meals, and entertaining my husband’s students while holding down a job. Every time I have come face to face with a challenge, I have found my way through the problems that were in front of me. I can only trust that motherhood will be resolved in the same way.”
> I don’t know if it was my words or my calmness, but I seemed to satisfy her misgivings. Even better, I found that my confidence in my capacity to cope with the challenges of motherhood was well-founded. We went on to have three children in all, and I found that blindness did not keep me from being a good mother to them all.
> You can see how easy it is to write a Story Bank contribution. I urge everyone who reads this column to try your hand at writing at least one piece. You can send it directly to Patti Chang at communicationsteam at nfb.org <mailto:communicationsteam at nfb.org>, or you can send it to me to clean up for you if you like or make suggestions to you about it. It doesn’t even have to be your story. Here is another example illustrating this point:
> I received a call one day when I was president of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio. It was from an 83-year-old man with macular degeneration. He had come across a brochure about the Ohio affiliate. That is how he got my phone number. He explained that he was losing his sight, and he wanted to learn Braille. He wanted to know how to begin studying it. He commented that he spent lots of time in doctors’ offices, so he figured that he had lots of opportunity to work on Braille. “I don’t know if I will live long enough to learn Braille or even to need it, but I figure that I might as well get ready just in case.”
> I sent him an alphabet card and explained to him the organizing principle for learning the 26 letters. I told him to give me a call when he was ready to learn more. I never heard from him again, but I have always remembered his attitude about blindness. He was ready to tackle what came next, and he wanted to be prepared. He didn’t have time to feel sorry for himself, and he knew where to turn to get the help he needed.
> So use your imagination and help us with this project. You never know where you will find your work and your story popping up.
>  
> ****
> Recipes <> 
> Skyline Chili <>by Sheri Albers
> Sheri Albers is vice president of the NFB of Ohio. While we were in Washington for the Washington Seminar, I casually asked my roommates if either of them had a drop-dead appetizer that I could use at a Super Bowl party to which I was invited the next Sunday. Sheri immediately gave me this one, and she was right about how good it is. I will warn readers in the northern part of the state that it may be difficult to find frozen Skyline Chili because it is a Cincinnati specialty. But it is carried, and it is important to hunt till you find it.
> Ingredients:
> 1 8-ounce package cream cheese
> 1 1-serving package Skyline frozen Chili
> 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
> Taco or other chips for dipping
>  
>             Spread softened cream cheese across bottom of a greased 8-by-8-inch pan. Spread cheese with thawed chili. Top with shredded cheddar cheese. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for about twenty minutes, till dip is hot and bubbly. Serve with chips.
>  
> Diane McGeorge’s Fudge <>by Barbara Pierce
>             Once I found this recipe, I have never made any other kind of fudge. I suppose that, if you put your mind to it, you could make it fail, but mostly it is failsafe. This is the fudge that I bring as door prizes at convention.
> Ingredients:
> 4 1/2 cups sugar
> 1 stick butter or margarine
> 1 large can (about 13 ounces) evaporated milk
> 12 ounces chocolate chips
> 1 8-ounce Hershey bar without almonds
> 1 7-ounce jar marshmallow cream or same amount miniature marshmallows
> 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
> Chopped nuts, optional
>  
>             In large, heavy pan combine evaporated milk, margarine, and sugar. Bring to a boil, stirring pretty steadily. Reduce heat so that mixture very gently boils and stir frequently, cooking for 4 1/2 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Add chocolate chips, marshmallow cream, Hershey bar broken into pieces, nuts, and vanilla. Stir with wooden spoon until chocolate is completely melted and everything is well combined. Pour fudge into generously buttered 13-by-9-inch pan. Cool to room temperature. Cut in pieces before chilling. Remove from pan and store tightly covered in refrigerator. Makes five pounds
>  
> Chocolate Truffles <>by Barbara Pierce
>             When I take this recipe to the National Center, I quadruple it, but this is the original.
> Ingredients:
> ¼ cup heavy cream
> 2 tablespoons Chambord or Grand Marnier
> 6 ounces German’s chocolate--use the real thing
> 1/2 stick unsalted butter
>  
>             Method: Reduce cream to 2 tablespoons over low heat. Stir in the liqueur. Break chocolate into pieces and stir in and beat smooth. Then stir in the butter till smooth. Pour chocolate into thin layer in a pan. When it sets, roll truffle mixture into small balls. Then roll them in cocoa if you like. Store in tightly covered container and chill.
>  
> ****
> Buckeye Briefs <> 
>             Many Federationists have gotten to know MaKenzie Love from her presentations at conventions talking about the Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning (BELL) Program. MaKenzie has studied piano and voice. But recently she has also been taking private acting lessons. This winter she tried out for a part in a production of Charlotte’s Web at the Children’s Theater in Columbus. She got the role of the sheep in a production that opened February 2. We are pleased to report that she was given the entire 150-page script in Braille, exactly what the sighted actors were given in print. Congratulations to MaKenzie.
>  
>             In December the NFB of the Miami Valley elected the following people as officers: president, Caroline Peters; vice president, Jannene Pickins; secretary, Robbie Spangler; treasurer, Tim Jennings; and board member, Karen Warner.
>  
>             Suzanne Turner reported that longtime Cleveland chapter member Sally Jones-Burton died in late September. She will be missed.
>  
> Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) has launched a new job portal called OODworks.com <http://oodworks.com/>. This website allows applicants to learn more about what vocational rehabilitation is, take a self-assessment, and apply for services. Anyone interested in vocational rehabilitation resources may visit www.OODWorks.com <http://www.oodworks.com/> .
>  
> Applications are now open for OOD’s Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) held in Columbus from July 30 to August 3. Ohio YLF is a five-day leadership training program for eleventh- and twelfth-grade students with disabilities who are interested in developing their leadership abilities. Delegates from all over the state learn about choosing a career, the history of disability as a culture, available technology and resources, and self and systems advocacy. Students get to meet professionals with disabilities and have an opportunity to develop their own Personal Leadership Plan to reach goals in their education, employment, and community development. Students not already working with OOD need to apply for VR services by March 31. To complete the YLF application and for additional information, visit http://www.ood.ohio.gov/Programs/Youth-Leadership-Forum <http://www.ood.ohio.gov/Programs/Youth-Leadership-Forum>.
>  
> The Veterans Administration offers an easy referral form if you know of a blind or visually impaired veteran (not necessarily service related) in need of assistance. Just email for a field service officer to contact. mailto:bva at bva.org?subject=Blind%20Veteran%20in%20Need%20of%20Help <mailto:bva at bva.org?subject=Blind%20Veteran%20in%20Need%20of%20Help>
>  
> In December Social Security launched a new service for My Social Security Account holders. Now the public can check on the status of an application for benefits or an appeal filed with us. The service will provide detailed information about retirement, disability, survivors, Medicare, and Supplemental Security Income claims and appeals, whether these are filed online at socialsecurity.gov <http://socialsecurity.gov/><https://www.ssa.gov/ <https://www.ssa.gov/>> or in any field office in person. Details here: http://blog.socialsecurity.gov/coming-soon-improved-check-your-application-or-appeal-status-service/ <http://blog.socialsecurity.gov/coming-soon-improved-check-your-application-or-appeal-status-service/>
>  
>             The American Foundation for the Blind recently launched Learn Tech, an access initiative that features free online tutorials to help people who are blind or visually impaired improve computer and technology skills. The newest examples: tutorials on Google Docs and Google Drive. www.afb.org/learntech <http://www.afb.org/learntech>.
>  
> American Printing House for the Blind produced this Braille history timeline, starting with finger reading from the 1786 production of raised-letter books, ending with the 2017 release of the Orbit Reader, a low-cost alternative to traditional Braille displays. http://www.aph.org/news/ <http://www.aph.org/news/>
>  
> If you enjoy gardening or if you have a farm, this impressive array of fact sheets from AbrAbility will provide you with lots of safety and best practice tips. http://agrability.osu.edu/resources/factsheets#main-content <http://nfbohio.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=20afbf9079ebdc3ced81b27b7&id=310daffe7e&e=ba338c7696>
>  
> The National Federation of the Blind announces the 2017 NFB Youth Slam, a weeklong learning opportunity for students grades 9 through 12 in a wide-variety of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines. One hundred blind and low-vision students from across the country will be selected to attend this weeklong adventure at Towson University (Maryland) next July 23 to 29. Applications due May 7. For more information and to learn about volunteer opportunities, see: http://blindscience.org/nfb-youth-slam <http://nfbohio.us12.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=20afbf9079ebdc3ced81b27b7&id=f3c8938cb3&e=ba338c7696>. For additional questions, call (410) 659-9314, extension 2418, or email STEM at nfb.org <mailto:STEM at nfb.org>
>  
> The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio is pleased to announce its 2017 scholarship program benefitting blind college students. This year we will offer three scholarships to outstanding blind students who currently live in or are attending college in the state of Ohio during the 2017-2018 academic school year. Scholarship winners will be required to attend the entire state convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio and participate in all activities sponsored by the Ohio Association of Blind Students. In addition scholarship winners will be required to meet with the Scholarship Committee during the state convention. The 2017 convention will take place October 27-29 in Columbus, Ohio. Scholarship winners will be notified no later than September 1, 2017. All convention expenses will be provided for each scholarship winner, including transportation, hotel accommodations, and registration and banquet fees. For more information on the NFBO state convention, or to apply online, visit http://www.nfbohio.org <http://nfbohio.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=20afbf9079ebdc3ced81b27b7&id=a6dbab9035&e=ba338c7696>. Applicants do not need to be members of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio to apply for these scholarships. To be eligible for these scholarships, all applicants must:
> Be certified as legally blind.
> Be a resident of the state of Ohio or be a full-time or part-time student at an Ohio college or university.
> Be pursuing a full-time or part-time postsecondary course of study during the 2017-2018 academic school year. Part-time is defined as having no fewer than eight scheduled class hours.
> Participate in the entire NFB of Ohio 2017 state convention and all scheduled scholarship activities.
> Submit all required application materials by July 1, 2017, no later than 11:59 EST.
> Application materials can be submitted electronically to: jordystringer83 at gmail.com <mailto:jordystringer83 at gmail.com>
> Please make sure all applications are complete. The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio's Scholarship Committee does not accept responsibility for incomplete applications. Each application will be reviewed by the committee, and candidates will be notified no later than September 1, 2017. All decisions made by the Scholarship Committee are final.
>  
> The Capital Chapter held elections at its November 2016 meeting. Elected were the following: president, Shelbi Hindel; vice president, Heather Leiterman; secretary, Annette Lutz; treasurer, Laura Kolb; and board member, Alex Crawford. Those elected assumed their duties at the start of 2017 for the calendar year.
>  
>             Wanda Sloan has been appointed to the City of Dayton Human Relations Council. She is also a member of Dayton’s Access Center for Independent Living (ACIL).
>  
>             The Cleveland chapter reports the following:
>             Rosa Jones and Theresa McKinney will retain their chapter board seats for another two years. Congratulations.
> Kudos to Natassha Ricks and Alexis Tyson, first-timers to Washington Seminar. They traveled with seasoned seminar attendees Suzanne Turner, Barbara Pierce, and President Richard Payne.
> Cheryl Fields would like to thank everyone who attended Real Talk-Financial Abuse break-out session at convention. Look forward to follow-up information in future newsletters. By the way, the Cleveland chapter is planning a bus trip soon and will send date as soon as we have it.
>  
> The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio is one chapter larger and ten members stronger as of the January 23 state board meeting. The newly formed chapter, NFB of Greater Butler County, is off to a great start. Its leadership includes President Rachel Kuntz, Vice President Rick Groover, Secretary Anita Fithen, Treasurer Brent Thane, and Tony Fithen serving as an At-Large Board Member.
> We are thankful for the support of our state president, Richard Payne, and the entire board for their work in assisting us with the process of getting this chapter up and running. 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. Although all are welcome, our chapter’s geographic reach will focus on blind people and their friends who live in or around Butler and Warren Counties in southwest Ohio.
> In February we were pleased to have Marianne Denning as a guest presenter, who spoke about the proper training and use of guide dogs. Afterwards she gave us a firsthand view of the AIRA product. Members were very excited to learn about both topics, and the feedback from attendees was incredibly positive. The power behind the NFB is in its people, and Marianne is one of the sharpest tools in our Ohio toolbox. We sincerely appreciate Marianne’s willingness to lend her time and talent to enlighten us.
> On Saturday, March 25, from 10 am to 2 pm we will be hosting “Envision Fair” at Chesterwood Village in West Chester. The event is designed to instill a positive message about blindness” that blindness need not hold them back from living the life they want. We plan to have many of our Federation family there to demonstrate products and provide information about services in our community that will help attendees envision a full and productive life. Contact Rachel Kuntz at (937) 245-0547 or rachelrkuntz at gmail.com <mailto:rachelrkuntz at gmail.com> with questions about this event or to learn more about the National Federation of the Blind of Greater Butler County.
>  
> The editor asked Deborah Kendrick to write a brief report on the physical troubles she has had this winter. She was hesitant to do so, but I believed that people would want to know what the accurate situation is with one of our most active Federationists. This is what she wrote:
> Standing in my bathroom the morning of December 1, I suddenly felt an excruciating pain in my left thigh. Instantly I was on my back on the tile. Later I would learn that my femur, the long bone in the thigh and largest bone in the body, had snapped directly below my prosthetic hip, installed just nine months earlier. The femur had been weakened a decade earlier by cancer, but the hip surgeon believed it strong enough to withstand the insertion of the stem of a prosthetic hip. That same surgeon saw me in the emergency room and explained that he would be doing surgery to repair the break. A metal plate was inserted alongside the bone and multiple screws and wires employed to hold it in place. I was told to put absolutely no weight on it for at least eight weeks and began my lessons in a wheelchair. Eighteen days later I was released and flew to Florida. When the eight-week milestone arrived, an x-ray revealed the sad truth that the bone had broken again, The metal plate was at a dangerous angle, and all wires had broken free. The surgery had been a failure, and more surgery was required.
> On February 7 that new and more complicated surgery was done at Tampa General by a man whose specialty is complex leg and hip reconstructions. He removed my nine-month-old hip replacement and put in a new one with a double-long stem. He cleared all the metal from my femur and added a cadaver bone to cover the twice-fractured leaky area and then wrapped the bone in heavy wire.
> I have been in a skilled nursing facility for physical therapy since February 12 and will be released March 8. I will be using a combination of walker and wheelchair until at least mid-May. At present I can put twenty pounds of my weight on the affected leg and am not allowed to bend over. I am stronger every day and profoundly grateful that the only disability I have in ordinary times is blindness.
> The Ohio Association of Blind Students (OABS) is back again to support blind and visually impaired students in Ohio in education, technology, advocacy, college life, independent living, internships, scholarship opportunities, and any other student-related matters. We reorganized the student division in November 2016 at the NFB of Ohio convention. Elected were president, Elif Emir-Oksuz, a doctoral student at the University of Cincinnati; vice president, Alex Crawford, a high school student; treasurer, William Yznaga; secretary, Macy McClain; and board member, Emily Pennington. We are a diverse group of students working toward changing what it means to be blind. Our members work tirelessly to break down the legal, social, and personal barriers to receiving the education we deserve and living the lives we want. We are proud to be a part of the oldest and largest blindness organization in the United States. We believe that we will be even stronger with your help. Please join us, and stay connected. We meet by phone the third Monday of the month at 8:00 pm. Call (641) 715-0701, access code 358081.
>  
> ****
> Activities Calendar <>March 31, Deadline for NFB scholarship applications
> April 15, Deadline for Jernigan Fund Convention Scholarship applications
> April 22, In-person meeting, NFB-O Board of Directors, Columbus
> May 4, Deadline for buying pigs online in the Piggest Raffle Ever, www.pigestraffle.com <http://www.pigestraffle.com/>
> May 7, Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati
> July 1, Deadline for NFB of Ohio Scholarship applications
> July 10-15, NFB Convention, Orlando, Florida
> October 27-29, NFB of Ohio convention, DoubleTree Hotel, Worthington
>  <http://nfbohio.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=20afbf9079ebdc3ced81b27b7&id=65fb549e23&e=ba338c7696>
>  <http://nfbohio.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=20afbf9079ebdc3ced81b27b7&id=f129adcfac&e=ba338c7696>
>  <http://nfbohio.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=20afbf9079ebdc3ced81b27b7&id=cbb0b74fa5&e=ba338c7696>
> Copyright © 2017 National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, All rights reserved.
> National Federation of the Blind of Ohio Buckeye Bulletin contains important information about our organization.
> 
> Our mailing address is:
> National Federation of the Blind of Ohio
> 198 Kendal Drive
> Oberlin, OH  44074
> 
> Add us to your address book <http://nfbohio.us12.list-manage.com/vcard?u=20afbf9079ebdc3ced81b27b7&id=202989bece>
> 
> Want to change how you receive these emails?
> You can update your preferences <http://nfbohio.us12.list-manage.com/profile?u=20afbf9079ebdc3ced81b27b7&id=202989bece&e=ba338c7696> or unsubscribe from this list <http://nfbohio.us12.list-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=20afbf9079ebdc3ced81b27b7&id=202989bece&e=ba338c7696&c=bad8f53183>
> 
>  <http://www.mailchimp.com/monkey-rewards/?utm_source=freemium_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=monkey_rewards&aid=20afbf9079ebdc3ced81b27b7&afl=1>