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

[Cheryl Fields]

To Barbara and all contributors, Thanks for another great issue!


On 3/10/17, barbara.pierce9366--- via Ohio-Talk <ohio-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 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
>>
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>>
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>> 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
>>
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-- 
Wishing You All the Best,

Cheryl E. Fields


A man has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of human
life when he plants shade trees under which he knows full well he will
never sit.
--D. Elton Trueblood