From NShaheen at nfb.org Tue Nov 3 03:09:42 2009 From: NShaheen at nfb.org (Shaheen, Natalie) Date: Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:09:42 -0600 Subject: [Sd-talk] Braille Readers Are Leaders, it's not too late Message-ID: Dear Federationists: Are you still interested in the Braille Readers Are Leaders contest? It’s not too late; registration is still open! Sign up today and start reading! Important Dates: · Reading Period: November 1, 2009-January 4, 2010 · All contest entries must be submitted before January 22, 2010 If you have any questions please feel free to contact me (410-659-9314, extension 2293, or at Nshaheen at nfb.org) Warmest Regards, Natalie Shaheen Natalie L. Shaheen, MEd Education Program Specialist Jernigan Institute NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND 200 E. Wells Street at Jernigan Place. Baltimore, MD 21230 Phone: (410) 659-9314 x2293 Email: nshaheen at nfb.org Fax: (410) 659-5129 Visit: www.nfb.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From JFreeh at nfb.org Wed Nov 4 02:34:07 2009 From: JFreeh at nfb.org (Freeh, Jessica) Date: Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:34:07 -0600 Subject: [Sd-talk] NFB President Marc Maurer to Receive Award from University of Notre Dame Message-ID: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Chris Danielsen Director of Public Relations National Federation of the Blind (410) 659-9314, extension 2330 (410) 262-1281 (Cell) cdanielsen at nfb.org NFB President Marc Maurer to Receive Award from University of Notre Dame Award Honors Maurer's Outstanding Contributions in Public Service Notre Dame, Indiana (November 2, 2009): The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the largest organization of blind people in the United States, today announced that its president, Dr. Marc Maurer, will be presented the Rev. John J. Cavanaugh, C.S.C., Award from the University of Notre Dame Alumni Association in a ceremony on November 5. Maurer, a 1974 graduate from the University of Notre Dame, will be honored for outstanding contributions in the field of public service. Maurer earned his law degree from Indiana University in 1977 and began focusing on representing blind individuals in the courts. A member of the Bar in Indiana, Ohio, Iowa, Maryland, and the Bar of the Supreme Court, Maurer is one of the most experienced lawyers in the field of civil rights and discrimination against the blind. Maurer has been president of the National Federation of the Blind since 1986. In that capacity, he has joined President George W. Bush in the Oval Office in 2001 to celebrate the organization's Everest Expedition, and was present for Bush's signing into law the Help America Vote Act of 2002. He has promoted new technology for the blind, including the knfbReader Mobile, a revolutionary cell phone application that scans and reads aloud most printed material, and the prototype vehicle for the Blind Driver Challenge. He has overseen the visionary expansion of the NFB Jernigan Institute, the first training and research institute for the blind, led by the blind. He has also previously served as president of the North America/Caribbean Region of the World Blind Union. Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: "I am honored to receive this award from my alma mater. As president of the largest organization of blind people in the United States, I have been fortunate to play a role in many exciting and life-changing developments for blind people in America. While we have made much progress, there is still more to be done. Only 10 percent of blind children are learning Braille in this country, and this directly contributes to a 70 percent unemployment rate among blind people in the United States. I humbly accept this award on behalf of blind Americans and pledge to work harder than ever to ensure that the blind are not left behind in today's society." "In his role as president of the National Federation of the Blind, Marc Maurer continually demonstrates unwavering determination in his effort to better the lives of the world's blind through innovative technologies and services that support their independence," said Charles F. Lennon Jr., executive director of the Notre Dame Alumni Association and associate vice president for University Relations. "The Notre Dame Alumni Association is pleased to honor Marc for his personal character and outstanding contributions in public service. He is a living example of the integrity and generosity of spirit that Notre Dame instills in its graduates. His leadership of the NFB has made the University proud." For more information about the National Federation of the Blind, please visit www.nfb.org. ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From JFreeh at nfb.org Wed Nov 4 02:49:52 2009 From: JFreeh at nfb.org (Freeh, Jessica) Date: Tue, 03 Nov 2009 20:49:52 -0600 Subject: [Sd-talk] NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF BAR EXAMINERS (NCBE) DISCRIMINATES AGAINST BLIND AND LOW VISION LAW SCHOOL GRADUATES Message-ID: NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 3, 2009 CONTACTS: Chris Danielsen, Director of Public Relations, NFB, (410) 659-9314, ext. 2330 Scott Labarre, Labarre Law Offices, P.C., (303) 504-5979 Daniel Goldstein, Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP, (410) 962-1030 Larry Paradis, Disability Rights Advocates, (510) 665-8644 NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF BAR EXAMINERS (NCBE) DISCRIMINATES AGAINST BLIND AND LOW VISION LAW SCHOOL GRADUATES OAKLAND, Calif. - A suit filed today in Federal court alleges that The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) discriminates against blind and low vision law school graduates. The suit charges that the NCBE is violating Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and California's civil rights law by denying accommodations on the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) and the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) to a law school graduate who is blind. The Plaintiff is represented with the support of the National Federation of the Blind ("NFB") by Labarre Law Offices, P.C., in Denver, CO, and by Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP, in Baltimore, MD. The Plaintiff is further represented by Disability Rights Advocates (DRA), a non-profit law center that specializes in civil rights cases on behalf of persons with disabilities, based in Berkeley, CA. The NCBE provides standardized examinations for the testing of applicants for admission to the practice of law. Two of the tests it controls, the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) and the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination (MPRE) are required for admission to the bar by most states. The California Bar examination has two sections; a California section and the MBE. Although both parts of the exam are administered by the California State Bar, the NCBE controls the type of accommodations each state can offer test takers with disabilities for the MBE portion of the bar exam. Even though the California State Bar is a named Defendant in the suit, they have offered to provide the Plaintiff with all the accommodations she requested for the California section of the bar examination. However, the NCBE refuses to allow the California Bar Examiners to give the Plaintiff certain of the accommodations that she needs on the MBE portion of the bar exam. The California State Bar is fulfilling its legal obligation and is only named in the complaint as an indispensable party. Plaintiff hopes that the lawsuit will convince the NCBE to follow the California State Bar's example and provide the requested accommodations on the MBE portion of the bar exam. The NCBE has also denied Plaintiff the accommodations at issue on the MPRE exam. This is a separate exam that bar applicants need to pass to be admitted to practice. The ACT is also named in the complaint since it administers the MPRE examination for NCBE and is thus also an indispensable party. The Plaintiff Stephanie Enyart is a law school graduate who is legally blind and requires accommodations to take the MBE and MPRE. She has requested to take the exams on a laptop computer equipped with screen reading (JAWS) and screen magnification (ZoomText) software. Ms. Enyart has relied on this combination of assistive technology as an accommodation on her exams throughout law school and in her current legal work. The NCBE has refused to allow Ms. Enyart these reasonable accommodations for the MBE and MPRE on several occasions during the past years. In recent discussions with Plaintiff's counsel, the NCBE has indicated that it will continue to deny Ms. Enyart her requested accommodations. Instead, the NCBE has offered alternative accommodations that are not suited to Ms. Enyart's disability and are not effective. The NCBE's denials of accommodations are preventing Ms. Enyart from obtaining admission to the bar, impeding her career. Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), supporting the lawsuit, said "Too often law students who are blind or have low vision have to prolong their prospects for licensing while they fight to get the same accommodations they've had throughout their educational history. Those that opt to settle for inadequate accommodations usually struggle to pass or sometimes do not pass at all. Those who control admission to the practice of law must obey the law." Janice Ta, President of the National Association of Law Students with Disabilities (NALSWD), which expressed support for the lawsuit, said "The legal profession must recognize and be prepared for the spectrum of conditions and disabilities that law students have. Testing entities need to be open to a wide range of accommodations. But we find that time and again they don't seem to understand their obligation for providing individualized accommodations and adaptive technologies that reflect the way real law students with disabilities get tested, study, and make their way around the world." ### -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From JFreeh at nfb.org Wed Nov 4 03:09:20 2009 From: JFreeh at nfb.org (Freeh, Jessica) Date: Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:09:20 -0600 Subject: [Sd-talk] National Federation of the Blind Announces 2010 Scholarship Program Message-ID: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Chris Danielsen Director of Public Relations National Federation of the Blind (410) 659-9314, extension 2330 (410) 262-1281 (Cell) cdanielsen at nfb.org National Federation of the Blind Announces 2010 Scholarship Program Thirty Scholarships Available to College and Postgraduate Students Baltimore, Maryland (November 3, 2009): The National Federation of the Blind, the oldest and largest organization of blind people in the United States, announced today that applications are now being accepted for the 2010 National Federation of the Blind Scholarship Program. Thirty scholarships totaling $100,000 will be awarded to blind students from the United States and Puerto Rico. The scholarships are available to blind students who will be enrolled in college or a graduate program beginning in the fall of 2010, including incoming freshmen. Scholarships range in value from $3,000 to $12,000. Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: "The National Federation of the Blind Scholarship Program is the Federation's way of recognizing outstanding academic achievement by blind students and spreading our positive philosophy of blindness to these students and to the general public. Because of the collective efforts of blind Americans, blind people today are achieving greater academic success and entering fields of study once thought closed to the blind, and celebrating their achievements is always a highlight of our national convention. I join the Scholarship Committee in inviting every eligible blind student to submit an application, and I look forward to meeting the dynamic individuals that will make up the 2010 National Federation of the Blind scholarship class." Information on the NFB scholarship program is posted online at www.nfb.org/scholarships. The deadline for applications is March 31, 2010. Questions may be directed to the NFB Scholarship Committee Chairman, Mr. Anil Lewis, by e-mail at Scholarships at nfb.org, or by phone at (410) 659 -9314, extension 2415. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From blind411 at verizon.net Wed Nov 4 03:22:35 2009 From: blind411 at verizon.net (Marion Gwizdala) Date: Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:22:35 -0600 Subject: [Sd-talk] Guide Dogs in Hospitals & Other Health Care Facilities Message-ID: National Association of Guide Dog Users National Federation of the Blind October 27, 2009 Guide Dogs in Hospitals & Other Health Care Facilities What are your rights as a guide dog user when visiting family or friends in the hospital? As a patient, do you have the right to have your dog in the room with you? Are there places or conditions in which you can be restricted from being accompanied by your guide dog? Can your doctor deny you the right to have your guide dog with you in an examination room? Can an ambulance refuse to transport your guide dog with you? These questions and many more will be answered in an upcoming special teleseminar. The National Association of Guide Dog Users (NAGDU), a strong and proud division of the National Federation of the Blind, will host "Guide Dogs in Hospitals & Other Health Care Facilities" on Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. eastern standard Time (7:00 pm Central; 6:00 pm Mountain; and 5:00 pm Pacific). This teleseminar is absolutely free; however reservations are required. Participation is limited and is on a first come first served basis. In order to reserve your space in this teleseminar, please send your name, city & state, and your email address by Friday, November 20, 2009 to President at NFB-NAGDU.ORG An email confirmation with the call-in number and access codes will be sent to you. Those without email access or who would like more information may call 813-626-2789. The information provided during this teleseminar is intended as informal guidance only and should not be construed as legal advice. The National Association of Guide Dog Users, the National Federation of the Blind, or any of its affiliates, divisions, or chapters will not be responsible for any telephone charges or fees that may be incurred as the result of participation in this seminar. For more information about the National Association of Guide Dog Users, the National Federation of the Blind, or to locate a Chapter in your area, you may visit the following websites: National Association of Guide Dog Users HTTP://NFB-NAGDU.ORG National Federation of the Blind HTTP://NFB.ORG The National Federation of the Blind is changing what it means to be blind! -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: Guide Dogs in Hospitals & Other Health Care Facilities.doc Type: application/msword Size: 26112 bytes Desc: not available URL: From dandrews at visi.com Thu Nov 5 10:26:23 2009 From: dandrews at visi.com (David Andrews) Date: Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:26:23 -0600 Subject: [Sd-talk] Kansas NFB Convention to be Streamed Live Message-ID: 2009 National Federation of the Blind of Kansas State Convention Broadcast This first-ever broadcast of our annual State Convention is dedicated to the memory of Dean Stanzel a long-time member of the NFB of Kansas and the husband of Susie Stanzel. Dean was a dedicated Federationist who believed that, whenever possible, blind people should take charge of whatever needed to be done. Many of you will remember him from the registration line at our annual convention. Dean would great you by saying, "I am Dean Stanzel. How may I help you?" Then he would take your money, give you your banquet ticket and pass your information down to Susie to be placed in your badge jacket. This was the Stanzel's convention tradition for about 25 years. He envisioned a means by which to take the federation's message of hope to blind individuals, their families and blindness professionals in Kansas and beyond. In 2002 construction of the National Federation of the Blind of Kansas Web Site began. "With assistance from Michael Hanson of Nebraska The two designed and constructed the National Federation of the Blind of Kansas Web Site. Dean assumed full responsibility for its upkeep after initial construction was finished in 2005. At about this same time several State NFB Affiliates began broadcasting their annual state conventions. Dean's next dream was to take the proceedings of the NFB of Kansas State Convention to the World via the Internet. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2006. As his health gradually failed he was unable to keep up the affiliate's Web site. Dean passed away on June 21st 2007 his dream of broadcasting the affiliate's annual state convention unrealized. However, this flame would not be quenched with his passing. History is full of examples of individuals who when faced with adversity and the possibility of never realizing their dreams in their life time called on relatives, friends, and others to carry on the work they began to see it to completion. Dean's wife Susie, along with members of our Kansas Affiliate sought someone that would rise to the occasion to make Dean's dream a reality. Peter Donahue of Texas answered the call and rose to the occasion. He is well-known for creating dynamic NFB Affiliate Web Sites and other information resources on the Internet. Thanks to his dedication to the movement and belief in the ability to reach large audiences via the Internet the National Federation of the Blind of Kansas is pleased to announce its first-ever broadcast of its annual state convention. The following convention sessions will be broadcast on November 7, and8, and 2009 from Salina Kansas: Saturday November 7: 9:00-12:00 a.m. Saturday Morning Session; 1:00-5:00 p.m. Saturday Afternoon Session; 7:00-9:00 p.m. Annual Banquet. 9:00-11:00 p.m. Talent Show; Sunday November 8: 7:00-8:45 a.m. Open worship Service 9:00-12:00 p.m. Sunday Morning Business session. The broadcast will also feature special presentations describing the work of the NFB and how it is changing what it means to be blind when the convention is not in session. To hear the broadcast go to: http://www.nfbks.org and select the "Listen" link on the home page. If due to technical issues beyond our control or if you are unable to listen to the live broadcast archives will be posted shortly after the convention. Visit our home page for information concerning their availability and broadcast status.

. Feel free to send us your questions for convention presenters. We will take questions and phone calls time permitting. Send all questions and comments to: convention2009 at nfbks.org To reach us by phone call: (210) 445-6378. Do not call the hotel should you experience technical issues with the broadcast. The above phone number is a direct line to individuals who will address these concerns. This broadcast is made possible by Station Playlist of Tauranga New Zealand. StationPlaylist Creator + Studio integrate to provide a very affordable and powerful radio broadcasting software solution for terrestrial radio and internet streaming / webcasting. Also suitable for party DJ's and in-store music automation. These applications are very accessible with screen reading systems and are used by many blind individuals World-wide. For further information visit: http://www.stationplaylist.com -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From ds94124 at aol.com Thu Nov 5 11:05:52 2009 From: ds94124 at aol.com (Darian Smith) Date: Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:05:52 -0600 Subject: [Sd-talk] National Community Service List??? Message-ID: Hello all, A quick bit about myself; my name is Darian Smith, I am a recent AmeriCorps Graduate via the National Civilian community corps. I attended national convention in Detroit this year where I spoke about my experiences as a blind person in the program. Why I’m writing: Upon speaking to some individuals who shared my passion about community service, I discovered some interest in a list-serve that would allow for other Federationists to share their passion for community service and ideas for strengthening their divisions and chapters. If there is enough interest, maybe a formation of a national community service group that would evolve into a national community service division could eventually take place. If anybody is interested in the list-serve, please contact me off-list at dsmithnfb at gmail.com. Please note that the more interest in this list serve, the more likely this list serve will be created. I look forward to hearing from all of you and eventually hearing lots of great discussion and wonderful ideas should this all leave the ground. Thank you, Darian Smith National Federation of the Blind, California –San Francisco Chapter member -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: nfb community service listserve blurb.doc Type: application/msword Size: 25088 bytes Desc: not available URL: From JChwalow at nfb.org Thu Nov 5 18:31:29 2009 From: JChwalow at nfb.org (Chwalow, Judith) Date: Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:31:29 -0600 Subject: [Sd-talk] Research in the Rockies: Research Summit on Braille Reading and Writing Message-ID: The National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, with the National Center for Severe and Sensory Disabilities and the Bresnahan-Halstead Center on Disabilities, is cosponsoring the Research in the Rockies: Research Summit on Braille Reading and Writing. We hope to advance the state of research in the area of Braille in the USA. We encourage you to submit an abstract to this conference and request that you diffuse it to all colleagues who might have an interest in this field. Research-related abstracts will be accepted from all members of the Braille community and will be reviewed by a multidisciplinary panel including academics, practitioners, and parents. For more information, please visit the NFB Web site or call Dr. Judith Chwalow, Director of Research, at the Jernigan Institute at (410) 659-9314, extension 2404. Research in the Rockies: Research Summit on Braille Reading and Writing June 10-12, 2010, Denver, Colorado at the Denver Marriott City Center Call for Papers Sponsored by National Center for Severe and Sensory Disabilities (NCSSD) Bresnahan-Halstead Center on Disabilities The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Jernigan Institute Purpose: The purpose of this conference is to explore current and emerging research from a wide range of disciplines that pertains to Braille reading and writing. Call-for-Papers Submission Guidelines: § Submit 250-word abstract online at: www.unco.edu/ncssd § Submission deadline is January 4, 2010 (Louis Braille’s 201st birthday!) § ***Anything submitted after midnight on January 4, 2010 will not be accepted*** § Presentation formats: a. Research paper presentation (20 minutes) b. Panel (minimum 60 minutes) c. Poster (posters will be presented in roundtable sessions) § If you have problems with the online submission form, please contact: ncssd at unco.edu § Please note that any handout material must be made available in Braille, large print, and electronic formats. Provide explanations for all PowerPoint presentations. Proposals Invited from: Cognitive scientists, linguists, educators, rehabilitation specialists, neurologists, sociologists and experimental psychologists, researchers in haptic and tactile perception, demographers, occupational therapists, and others A. Judith Chwalow, DrPH Director of Research, Jernigan Institute National Federation of the Blind 200 East Wells Street Jernigan Place Baltimore, MD 21230 410 659 9314 x 2404 FAX: 410 659 5129 jchwalow at NFB.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From jfayre at gmail.com Fri Nov 6 10:54:34 2009 From: jfayre at gmail.com (Jason Fayre) Date: Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:54:34 -0600 Subject: [Sd-talk] streaming for NFB of Colorado convention Message-ID: The NFB of Colorado is once again streaming our 2009 state convention. Convention starts on Friday, November 6 at 10AM mountain time. We will adjourn at 12PM on Sunday. The stream will be broadcasting all the general sessions, plus the banquet. We will also be broadcasting the technology seminar and the employment seminar on Friday afternoon. Links to the streams can be found at the NFB of Colorado website: http://www.nfbco.org We will not be using Skype this year. However, you can interact with us on twitter by following nfbco. You can also send e-mail to nfbco09 at cocenter.org. From mhartle at nfb.org Fri Nov 6 11:01:26 2009 From: mhartle at nfb.org (Hartle, Mary Jo) Date: Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:01:26 -0600 Subject: [Sd-talk] [State_youth_coordinators] FW: 2010 NFB Junior Science Academy Message-ID: Gear Up for Greatness! National Federation of the Blind 2010 Junior Science Academy Baltimore, Maryland, at the NFB Jernigan Institute A STEM Program for Blind Children Ages 8-12 In 2008, the National Center for Blind Youth in Science (NCBYS), a program of the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, offered its first Science Academy program for elementary students. Once again, we are making this program possible for children in grades three through six. The NCBYS developed its Junior Science Academy (JSA) in 2004 in order to spark and enhance blind students' interest in scientific study, an academic area that many falsely believe is too difficult for the blind. This year, with hands-on experiences, tactile materials, and innovative nonvisual teaching methods, the JSA will open its doors again to young explorers with two sessions of the program. Applicants can apply for one of the following dates: Session 1: July 28-August 1, 2010 Session 2: August 4-August 8, 2010 The Junior Science Academy is a four-day session that will expose blind children to the excitement of science in real-life applications. The students will learn about how much fun science can be through hands-on instruction, field trips, and interactive activities. Attending parents will participate in a corresponding seminar with workshops designed to focus on meeting the needs of their blind children. Program Costs There is a $150.00 registration fee for accepted pairs of students and parents/chaperones. All other expenses, including travel, room, board, and program materials will be covered by the NFB Jernigan Institute for all participants, including accepted mentors. . Mentors Needed We are also looking for mentors to work in one or both sessions of the program. mentors help facilitate student activities while parents are engaged in parent programming. Mentors can apply online at the site below. Please visit this page to learn more about this opportunity and to apply to be a mentor this summer. How to Apply Whether you are an interested family, or someone who is interested in serving as a mentor, please visit www.blindscience.org to learn more about this exciting event, or to apply. You may also contact the NFB Jernigan Institute at (410) 659-9314, ext. 2407. Come join us! Sincerely, Mary Jo T. Hartle Mary Jo Thorpe-Hartle, MEd, NOMC Director of Education Jernigan Institute NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND 200 East Wells St. Baltimore, MD 21230 Phone: (410)659-9314 ext. 2407 Email: MHARTLE at nfb.org Fax: (410) 659-5129 Visit www.nfb.org or www.blindscience.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From KKuhnke at nfb.org Tue Nov 10 02:12:28 2009 From: KKuhnke at nfb.org (Kuhnke, Kristian) Date: Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:12:28 -0600 Subject: [Sd-talk] FW: The Perfect Holiday Gift Message-ID: ---------- From: Dr. Fred Schroeder [mailto:outreach at nfb.org] Sent: Monday, November 09, 2009 5:14 PM Subject: The Perfect Holiday Gift Autumn Stationery Header It’s that time again­the holidays are quickly approaching! This year, give the gift that will keep on giving for years to come. Time is running out to purchase the beautiful 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar, the first U.S. coin to feature readable, tactile Braille. This unique commemorative coin symbolizes independence, opportunity, and the potential of blind individuals to make significant contributions to society when they are taught to read and write using Braille­but it is only available for purchase until December 11, 2009. We know that Braille is vital to all blind individuals, yet today in America only 10 percent of blind children are learning to read Braille in school. This continues despite the fact that studies have shown that 85 percent of all employed blind people read Braille. A portion of the proceeds from sales of the coin will be used to support the National Federation of the Blind’s “Braille Readers are Leaders” campaign, a national initiative created to double the number of blind children learning Braille by 2015, improve certification standards for teachers of Braille, and conduct innovative programs to support Braille literacy. Go to www.braille.org or www.usmint.gov or call 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468) to give the gift of literacy today! Small Black & White Braille Coin To learn more about the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar, the Braille literacy crisis, and the Braille Readers are Leaders campaign, visit www.braille.org. National Federation of the Blind 200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place Baltimore, Maryland 21230 410-659-9314 * Fax 410-659-5129 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From newmanrl at cox.net Thu Nov 12 04:30:31 2009 From: newmanrl at cox.net (Robert Newman) Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:30:31 -0600 Subject: [Sd-talk] Keynote Speech by Louis Braille Message-ID: Louis Braille is the keynote speaker at the 22nd annual White Cane Banquet, hosted by the Omaha Chapter NFB. Join us, if you are in the area, Saturday, November 14th, 5:30 PM at the Omaha Marriott, 10220 Regency Circle. 2009 has seen many great "Louis Braille" events and this keynote speech will surely be rated tops. The Omaha Chapter has hired Louis Braille to take a look at Braille Literacy here in the USA. On the night of the banquet, Braille will present his findings, give his recommendations and make a pledge. Louis Braille is acted by David Decant and the script was written by Robert Leslie Newman. If you miss the actual event, an MP3 file of the audio and a DVD digitized film type file will be available on the NFB Writers' Division web site http://nfb-writers-division.nfb.org and Utubes. (elsewhere too). Robert Leslie Newman Email- newmanrl at cox.net THOUGHT PROVOKER Website- Http://www.thoughtprovoker.info -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From Keith.Bundy at DSU.EDU Fri Nov 13 16:29:00 2009 From: Keith.Bundy at DSU.EDU (Bundy, Keith) Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:29:00 -0600 Subject: [Sd-talk] Job Opening in South Dakota employment specialist Message-ID: Following is the announcement for the vacant employment specialist position at the SD Rehabilitation Center for the Blind. The announcement may also be found on line at http://www.state.sd.us/applications/pr47jobs/JobDescription.asp?ReqNum=9 0692. Feel free to share this announcement with those who may be interested in applying. Those interested in applying will need to go through the State Bureau of Personnel. Information on how to apply may be found at: http://bop.sd.gov/workforus/howtoapply/ EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST (REHABILITATION EMPLOYMENT SPECIALIST) Sioux Falls, SD Requisition #: 90692 Agency: Department of Human Services, Service to the Blind and Visually Impaired; Rehabilitation Center for the Blind Salary: $13.91 per hour N14 Closing Date: 11/27/2009 Position Purpose: This position conducts assessments and evaluates skills of consumers with mental, physical, or sensory disabilities to evaluate work skills, work habits, and social skills and to determine vocational options; provides job development and placement services to individuals with disabilities; and provides direction, support services, job coaching, and counseling for individuals seeking employment. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge of: job development and placement principles and techniques; interviewing techniques, resume preparation, and other job seeking skills; Sioux Falls business community and employment opportunities; techniques to address limitations caused by physical, mental, or sensory disabilities; medical, psychiatric, and psychological terminology; adaptive skills necessary to compensate for the loss of physical, mental, or sensory functioning; Americans with Disabilities Act, tax credits, and hiring incentives; reasonable accommodations and adjustments required to make a work site accessible. Ability to: establish and maintain effective working relationships with consumers, counselors, and the business community; identify, develop, and utilize community resources available to individuals with disabilities and their families; work a variable schedule as needed to provide job coaching and arrange for natural supports; evaluate and document progress utilizing a computerized data system; organize time and resources to achieve goals; communicate effectively verbally and in writing; understand, interpret, and follow instructions, policies, and regulations; work with clients from culturally diverse backgrounds. Comments: Bachelor's degree in vocational rehabilitation, social work, psychology, or a related field is desirable. Must be able to work with a wide range of individuals with diverse employment interests and abilities. Must be able to work in a variety of environments to provide training to consumers. Some travel required. May require variable work hours based on individual consumer needs. Keith Bundy Assistant Dean for Student Development ADA Academic Coordinator Dakota State University 820 N. Washington Avenue Madison, SD 57042 Phone: 605-256-5121 Fax: 605-256-5854 Email: keith.bundy at dsu.edu From JFreeh at nfb.org Mon Nov 16 22:36:34 2009 From: JFreeh at nfb.org (Freeh, Jessica) Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:36:34 -0600 Subject: [Sd-talk] National Federation of the Blind Partners with Santa to Promote Braille Literacy Message-ID: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Chris Danielsen Director of Public Relations National Federation of the Blind (410) 659-9314, extension 2330 (410) 262-1281 (Cell) cdanielsen at nfb.org National Federation of the Blind Partners with Santa to Promote Braille Literacy Baltimore, Maryland (November 16, 2009): Once again, Santa has enlisted the help of the elves at the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Jernigan Institute to get Braille letters out to hundreds of blind boys and girls this Christmas season. Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: “Santa approached the National Federation of the Blind a couple of years ago and asked us to be his helpers. I’m quite fond of the fellow and was delighted that we could assist him in his work. Braille literacy is the key to success and opportunity for the blind, but unfortunately too few blind children are learning it today. This program will not only be jolly good fun but will also serve an important educational purpose, as blind children will be able to practice reading Braille as they enjoy their letter from Saint Nicholas.” Between November 16 and December 20, parents can go online at www.nfb.org and fill out a Santa Braille Letter request form. The form can also be printed and faxed to (410) 659-6893. Beginning December 1, the Braille letters from Santa will start going out to boys and girls around the country. The Braille letter will also be accompanied by a print copy (for mom and dad to read), and parents can choose the contracted or uncontracted form of Braille for the letter. Requests for letters must include the writer’s name, the child’s name, birthday, gender, mailing address, and a telephone number or e-mail address in case Santa’s helpers at the National Federation of the Blind have questions. The Braille letters from Santa program is part of the National Federation of the Blind’s national Braille literacy campaign, the largest ever undertaken in United States history. Congress authorized the minting in 2009 of 400,000 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollars to mark the two-hundredth anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille (1809–1852) and to support the efforts of the National Federation of the Blind to promote literacy among blind Americans. This unique and beautiful commemorative coin is the first U.S. currency to feature tactile, readable Braille. A portion of the proceeds from sales of the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar will be used to support the NFB’s “Braille Readers are Leaders” campaign, a national initiative created to double the number of blind children learning Braille by 2015, improve certification standards for teachers of Braille, and conduct innovative programs to support Braille literacy. The deadline for letter requests is December 20, to ensure that a return letter in Braille is received before Christmas. For more information about this and other programs of the National Federation of the Blind, please visit our Web site at www.nfb.org. Those interested in ordering a 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar or the new Braille Education Set, which features the coin in a collectible folder designed to highlight the life and legacy of Louis Braille, should visit www.braille.org or www.usmint.gov or call 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468). The Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar and the Braille Education Set will only be available until December 11, 2009. ### About the National Federation of the Blind With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people’s lives through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind. Please visit our Web site: www.nfb.org. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dandrews at visi.com Mon Nov 16 23:07:06 2009 From: dandrews at visi.com (David Andrews) Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:07:06 -0600 Subject: [Sd-talk] Special Christmas Offers from GW Micro Can Get you A Louis Braille Commemorative Coin Message-ID: Special Christmas Offers from GW Micro From: jeremy at gwmicro.com To: gw-info at gwmicro.com Get free Visa gift cards and/or a Louis Braille Commemorative Coin with the purchase of select GW Micro products View Christmas in a New Light with GW Micro Specials Brighten your life this Christmas with the latest technology from GW Micro. If you or a loved one has difficulty seeing, it may be time for a SenseView portable CCTV. Are you no longer able to read the labels on your gifts? It_s no longer a problem with the SenseView, SenseView Duo, or SenseView Light. When you purchase any of these items, receive a free $75 Visa gift card! - SenseView _ Small, light, provides the highest magnification in its class. - SenseView Duo _ The first portable CCTV to provide both close-up and distance viewing! - SenseView Light _ The only portable CCTV to use OLED technology for the brightest, clearest, sharpest image available. Can you no longer see the computer screen? Receive the gift of vision this year by getting Window-Eyes, the most stable screen reader on the market. Purchase a new copy of Window-Eyes, and receive a $75 gift card plus get the very special Louis Braille Commemorative Coin. These rare coins are only being minted this year in recognition of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille. There are only a limited number of these coins being produced. This is a rare opportunity to own one of these special coins. Have you run out of upgrades on your software maintenance agreement (SMA)? Purchase an SMA today for yourself or as a gift, and receive the Louis Braille Commemorative Coin. The coin was designed to be representative of the life and legacy of Louis Braille, and promotes Braille literacy. The obverse of the coin bears his portrait and the inscriptions _Louis Braille_, _Liberty_, _In God We Trust_, the dual date _1809″ and _2009″ and mint mark _P_ to represent mintage at the Philadelphia Mint. Become a part of history by getting this coin free by purchasing a Window-Eyes SMA. Get your hands on the best-in-class Braille notetakers from GW Micro this holiday season! Purchase a Braille Sense Plus or Braille Sense Plus QWERTY, and receive a $100 Visa gift card as well as the Louis Braille Commemorative Coin. Enjoy browsing the Internet wirelessly with built-in Wi-Fi when sitting around the Christmas tree this December. Use your Braille Sense Plus as a wireless Braille display via the built-in Bluetooth when using Window-Eyes. Enjoy the season by showing your sighted family how the LCD display can display the text that is on your Braille display when you purchase the Braille keyboard version. Or, use your Braille Sense Plus QWERTY with Bluetooth headphones and listen to your favorite holiday tunes without dealing with messy wires. If you want to receive a product with a free Braille Commemorative Coin, you must act fast! These quantities are limited, and the coins will no longer be produced after December 11, 2009. We will continue to provide the gift cards up until the last day, but once the coins are gone, they are gone for good. Coins will be sent out on a first-come, first-served basis. So, act now, and place your order today by calling GW Micro at (260) 489-3671. This offer is good in the U.S. only, and starts Monday, November 16 and expires on January 29, 2010. To receive your free Visa gift card and/or Louis Braille Commemorative coin, you must register your product with GW Micro, and provide proof of purchase. Visa gift cards and Braille Commemorative coins may take several weeks for delivery. For questions or more information, please contact GW Micro at sales at gwmicro.com. From nabs.president at gmail.com Thu Nov 19 02:24:27 2009 From: nabs.president at gmail.com (Arielle Silverman) Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:24:27 -0600 Subject: [Sd-talk] Pennies for Pages Message-ID: Greetings to all members and friends of NABS, I am writing to announce and solicit assistance for an exciting new fundraising effort we are currently undertaking. The fundraiser is Pennies for Pages, and is being run in conjunction with the NFB's Braille Readers are Leaders program. We believe that this fundraiser has a lot of potential. However, in order to realize this potential, we need help from all of you! The idea is this. Students, or anybody else who is interested in helping to raise money for Braille literacy and our national student division, can sign up to participate in the Braille Readers are Leaders program and then solicit donations from friends, family, or anybody really, for Braille pages read throughout the duration of the contest. Of course, donations of fixed sums are also gratefully accepted. If you are already participating in the Braille Readers are Leaders contest, you can simply find people to sponsor you for each page you read. If you are not yet signed up for the contest, no worries! The reading contest runs through January 4th, and registration can be submitted up until that point. It is by no means too late to get started! As an added incentive, NABS will be offering a $50 Amazon.com gift card to the participant who raises the most money. Donated funds can be accepted in cash or as checks made out to the National Association of Blind Students and can be given to our Treasurer, Nijat Worley, either in person at Washington Seminar or sent via postal mail. If you wish to participate or have any questions at all about the plan, please contact me (Sean Whalen) at either 608-332-4147 or smwhalenpsp at gmail.com. I will be compiling the list of participants and would be happy to answer any questions which anybody might have. Half of any money we raise through this effort will go to the NFB to support Braille literacy programs and the other half will go to NABS. We all look forward to working together to raise money for and promote Braille literacy! Sincerely, Sean Whalen -- Arielle Silverman President, National Association of Blind Students Phone: 602-502-2255 Email: nabs.president at gmail.com Website: www.nabslink.org From BCordell at nfb.org Thu Nov 19 22:55:08 2009 From: BCordell at nfb.org (Cordell, Becca) Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:55:08 -0600 Subject: [Sd-talk] Research in the Rockies: Research Summit on Braille Reading and Writing Message-ID: Research in the Rockies: Research Summit on Braille Reading and Writing June 10-12, 2010 Denver, Colorado at the Denver Marriott City Center The National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute is cosponsoring, with the National Center for Severe and Sensory Disabilities and the Bresnahan-Halstead Center on Disabilities, a conference on Research in Braille. We hope to advance the state of research in the area of Braille in the USA. We encourage you to submit an abstract to this conference and request that you diffuse it to all colleagues who might have an interest in this field. Research related abstracts will be accepted from all members of the Braille community and will be reviewed by a multidisciplinary panel including academics, practitioners, and parents. Call for Papers Sponsored by National Center for Severe and Sensory Disabilities (NCSSD) Bresnahan-Halstead Center on Disabilities The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Jernigan Institute Purpose: The purpose of this conference is to explore current and emerging research from a wide range of disciplines that pertains to Braille reading and writing. Call for Papers Submission Guidelines: * Submit 250-word abstract online at: www.unco.edu/ncssd * Submission deadline is January 4, 2010 (Louis Braille's 201st birthday!) * Anything submitted after midnight on January 4, 2010 will not be accepted * Presentation formats: a. Research paper presentation (20 minutes) b. Panel (minimum 60 minutes) c. Poster (posters will be presented in roundtable sessions) * If you have problems with the online submission form, please contact: ncssd at unco.edu Please note that any handout material must be made available in Braille, large print, and electronic formats. Provide explanations for all Power Point presentations. Proposals invited from: Cognitive scientists, linguists, educators, rehabilitation specialists, neurologists, sociologists and experimental psychologists, researchers in haptic and tactile perception, demographers, occupational therapists, and others From RCarranza at nfb.org Thu Nov 19 22:55:22 2009 From: RCarranza at nfb.org (Carranza, Rosy) Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:55:22 -0600 Subject: [Sd-talk] Announcing www.TeachBlindStudents.org! Message-ID: The National Federation of the Blind has launched a nationwide teacher recruitment campaign to help attract energetic and passionate individuals into the field of blindness education, and we need your help! As a part of this effort, we developed www.TeachBlindStudents.org, a new online resource to help promote the rewarding career of teaching blind students. The site features a wealth of information for perspective teachers, a program for current blindness education professionals, and an opportunity to join our teacher recruitment efforts! Currently, we are looking for individuals to make presentations to high school and college students in their local communities. This teacher recruitment project is great for current students, parents of blind children, local chapters, state affiliates, and for others interested in the education of blind students. To learn more about the Teacher Recruitment Network, or to get involved, visit www.TeachBlindStudents.org. There is a link from our home page that will take you to an area where you can sign up to help. If you have any questions about this program, contact Rosy Carranza at (410) 659-9314, ext. 2283, or email her at rcarranza at nfb.org. Together, we really can make a difference in the education of blind students! From mhartle at nfb.org Sun Nov 22 00:53:17 2009 From: mhartle at nfb.org (Hartle, Mary Jo) Date: Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:53:17 -0600 Subject: [Sd-talk] 2010 NFB Leadership and Advocacy in Washington Program for Students Message-ID: The National Federation of the Blind Announces The 2010 NFB Leadership and Advocacy in Washington, D.C., (LAW) Program Engaging the Voice of America's Blind Youth For Youth Grades 6-9 or Ages 12-16 April 16-20, 2010 Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, MD This four-day experience will provide blind and low vision students with a unique opportunity to explore the inner workings of our country's government, its history, and its culture while staying at the national headquarters for the National Federation of the Blind in Baltimore, MD. In addition to learning about grassroots legislation efforts, how resolutions are passed, and how various blindness legislation is brought about, participants will learn more about advocacy work for blind individuals and available resources for blind students and adults. Highlights of the Program include: * Visits to historical sites in Washington, D.C. * Meetings with, and presentations from, influential government leaders * Presentations by influential leaders from the largest blindness advocacy group in the country * Tours of the National Federation of the Blind national headquarters * A visit to the International Braille and Technology Center, the largest lab of accessible technology for the blind Program Details: * Cost: There will be a $250 fee for accepted students. All other expenses including transportation, room, and board will be provided * All accepted students must be accompanied by a parent/guardian, teacher, or blind/low vision mentor from their home state * No more than twenty-five participants from across the country will be accepted * Applications are due by February 1, 2010, to be considered To learn more about this exciting new program, or to apply online, please visit www.nfb.org/LAWProgram or contact Mary Jo T. Hartle, director of education at (410) 659-9314, ext. 2407, or by e-mail at mhartle at nfb.org. Mary Jo T. Hartle Mary Jo Thorpe-Hartle, MEd, NOMC Director of Education Jernigan Institute NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND 200 East Wells Street Baltimore, MD 21230 Phone: (410)659-9314 ext. 2407 Email: mhartle at nfb.org Fax: (410) 659-5129 Visit www.nfb.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From dandrews at visi.com Mon Nov 23 03:47:28 2009 From: dandrews at visi.com (David Andrews) Date: Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:47:28 -0600 Subject: [Sd-talk] New Lists on NFBNet.org Message-ID: I am pleased to announce several new lists here on the nfbnet.org server. They include: albinism-talk at nfbnet.org, blind-international-students at nfbnet.org, CapChapOhio at nfbnet.org, flagdu at nfbnet.org, idparents at nfbnet.org, nmabs at nfbnet.org, nfbk at nfbnet.org, nfbk-lexington at nfbnet.org, Please read on to find out more about each new list, as well as how to subscribe to each of them. David Andrews, List Owner albinism talk Albinism-talk is the listserv of the National Federation of the Blind relating to albinism. The purpose of this list is to present and discuss issues concerning albinism. This list is designed to promote discussion among albinos about problems and issues that we face. It will also share information with people who have an interest in the topic of albinism. There will also be occasional posts concerning issues of major importance to the blind as well as announcements concerning activities of the National Federation of the Blind. To subscribe either go to: http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/albinism-talk_nfbnet.org or send e-mail to albinism-talk-request at nfbnet.org and put the word subscribe in the subject line of the message. blind-international-students The purpose of the Blind International Students mailing list is to unite international students and provide them with a common platform through NFB to voice their opinions, to share their knowledge and information with one another, meet new people and make friends. To subscribe to the list either go to: http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/blind-international-students_nfbnet.org or send e-mail to blind-international-students-request at nfbnet.org and put the word subscribe in the subject line. Capital Chapter Ohio The purpose of this list is to discuss issues of interest to the blind of the Columbus Ohio area. This includes the promotion and growth of the chapter. To subscribe to the list either go to: http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/capchapohio_nfbnet.org or send e-mail to capchapohio-request at nfbnet.org and put the word subscribe in the subject line of the message. Florida Association of Guide Dog Users The purpose of the Florida Association of Guide Dog Users-FLAGDU list, is to provide a forum for discussion and information to guide dog users and other interested persons. This list will feature announcements and activities of the Florida Association of Guide Dog Users. Topics related specifically to this division will include business, fundraising projects, advocacy issues, and planning for our annual meeting which takes place during the Florida affiliate’s State convention. General topics will include information for those interested in learning about obtaining and working with a guide dog, guide dog schools, training, care and retirement of a dog, and access and legislative issues pertaining to guide dog use. We welcome questions and lively discussion, but showing respect for each member on the list is imperative. Keep messages on topic, and make sure that they are intended for the benefit of everyone. There will occasionally be posts concerning issues of major importance to blind people, as well as announcements concerning activities of the National Association of Guide Dog Users, and the National Federation of the Blind. To subscribe to the list either go to: http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/flagdu_nfbnet.org or send e-mail to flagdu-request at nfbnet.org and put the word subscribe, by itself, in the subject line of a message. Idaho Parents of Blind Children This is a place where parents of blind and visually impaired children and youth in Idaho can share experiences. Events may be announced; advice can be sought; accomplishments should be shared! As there are developments in the education of blind children, we will try to pass them along. To subscribe to the list you can either go to: http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/idparents_nfbnet.org or send e-mail to idparents-request at nfbnet.org and put the word subscribe in the subject line of a message. New Mexico Association of Blind Students This list is for the discussion of anything student-related in New Mexico. Announcements related to NMABS will also be posted here. To subscribe to the list either go to: http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nmabs_nfbnet.org or send e-mail to nmabs-request at nfbnet.org and put the word subscribe in the subject line of a message by itself. nfb of Kentucky The purpose of the list is to provide a resource for sharing information relating to the NFB, NFBK and NFBK chapters and divisions. To subscribe to the list either go to: http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbk_nfbnet.org or send e-mail to nfbk-request at nfbnet.org and put the word subscribe in the subject line of a message. nfbk of lexington The purpose of the nfbk-lexington list is for members of the Lexington chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky to communicate about chapter business and other important issues. Anyone, who is blind, knows someone who is blind, or loosing site, in other words, everyone is welcome to join and take part. To subscribe to the list either go to: http://www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbk-lexington_nfbnet.org or send e-mail to nfbk-lexington-request at nfbnet.org and put the word subscribe in the subject line of a message by itself. Dave From qmsingleton at comcast.net Sun Nov 29 18:46:20 2009 From: qmsingleton at comcast.net (Quintina M. Singleton) Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:46:20 -0600 Subject: [Sd-talk] Dr. Maurer on Thruoureyes Message-ID: Please tune into a very special addition of the Thruoureyes with Joe Ruffalo internet radio program scheduled for Wednesday December 2 at 8:00 PM EST. The evening's guest will be National Federation of the Blind's president, Dr. Marc Maurer. To listen to the program via telephone, please call 1-605-475-6333, access code: 833520. To access the show online visit www.thruoureyes.org/jaws.html The call in number for anyone interested in asking a question is 1-888-572-0141. The theme for this program is Ask the President. We encourage as many listeners to call in to Ask Dr. Maurer whatever question he or she finds to be of importance.