[Nfbf-l] NFB of Palm Beach February Newsletter

[Tekesha Saffold]

NFB OF PALM BEACH FEBUARY NEWSLETTER 

 

Let's recite the NFB Pledge:

 

I pledge to participate actively in the efforts of the National Federation
of the Blind to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for the blind;
to support the policies and programs of the Federation; and to abide by its
constitution.

 

Greetings Federation Family! The National Federation of the Blind Palm Beach
Chapter is honored to have you at our monthly meeting on Saturday February
10th at Duffy's 11935 Southern Blvd., Royal Palm Beach, FL from 11:00 AM to
1:00 PM. During this meeting, we will have a guest speaker from Care Plus to
share other healthcare benefits. If you are not a member, you can join today
with an annual membership for only $10. There are many benefits to joining
are wonderful chapter to be a part of the NFB family! With love, hope, and
determination, we will continue to build the federation! 

Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much!

Helen Keller

 

Happy Birthday or Happy Anniversary from the NFB Palm Beach Chapter if you
are celebrating any special occasions this month. Enjoy each moment like it
is your last and many blessings!

 

The Florida Rehabilitation Council for the Blind and The Division of Blind
Services announces the following Meeting and Public Forum:

Meeting Date: 

February 6, 2018                Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

February 7, 2018                Time: 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

 

Meeting Location: Embassy Suites, 1100 SE 17th Street, Fort Lauderdale,
Florida 33316

 

Public Forum Date:

February 6, 2018                Time: 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

 

Public Forum Location: Embassy Suites, 1100 SE 17th Street, Fort Lauderdale,
Florida 33316

 

Invited Speakers:

 

Local Division of Blind Services District Administrator Lighthouse of
Broward County, Inc. Representative Local Paratransit Representative Public
Comment will be heard immediately following the presentations.

 

A copy of the Agenda may be obtained by contacting Selena Sickler at The
Division of Blind Services, 325 West Gaines St., Room 1114, Turlington
Building, Tallahassee, FL  32399, (850) 245-0329, Email:
Selena.Sickler at dbs.fldoe.org or through the Florida Telephone Relay system
711.

 

Attend in Person

Sign in Cards will be Available outside the Entrance to the Meeting Room for
Anyone Wishing to Speak.

 

Or Participate by Telephone

Telephone     1(888) 670-3525

Passcode       1242528392#

 

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, persons needing a
special accommodation to participate in these meetings should contact the
local DBS office, (954) 746-1770 in Sunrise, Florida no later than Ten (10)
working days prior to the meeting.

 

The Florida Division of Blind Services helps individuals with visual
impairments to achieve employment and independence under Title I of the
Rehab Act.  The Public Forum is for consumer input on the effectiveness of
those services.

 

For more information, please contact Selena Sickler, (850) 245-0329 or
Email: Selena.Sickler at dbs.fldoe.org.

 

Announcing the Seventieth Annual Tallahassee trip for

Transportation Disadvantaged Legislative Awareness Day

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

 

Palm Beach County (through the office of Equal Opportunity and Palm Tran)
will sponsor the transportation and rooms to attend Transportation
Disadvantaged Legislative Awareness Day in Tallahassee on Wednesday,
February 14, 2018. This is a three day trip leaving Tuesday, February 13th
and returning Thursday, February 15th.

 

The purpose of the trip is to give Florida's Legislative Members a chance to
see and hear from the seniors, disabled, low income, and transportation
advocates that use public transportation. It is so important for legislators
to hear from the actual people this program helps!  Transportation
Disadvantaged Day activities at the capital include food and entertainment
for all attendees.     

 

If you wish to reserve a spot, do it as soon as possible.  The bus will
leave at 8:00 AM from the Palm Tran Connection Office, 50 South Military
Trail, in between Gun Club Road and Southern in WPB, on Tuesday, February
13, 2018 and return around 7:00 PM, Thursday, February 15, 2018.  

 

If you need assistance while on the trip, you either must take a Personal
Care Attendant with you or make arrangements for one in Tallahassee. Rooms
are on a shared room basis, so it would be better if you can arrange a
roommate before the trip. Attendees will be responsible for their own food
(accept for lunch on TD Day).  

 

This year each participant must contribute a $20 non-refundable deposit to
hold your spot on the trip. Make checks out to "FOCB" and note that it is
for the TD Day trip. The Bus and Hotel will be paid for, so $20 for an
advocacy trip to Tallahassee is quite a good deal.

 

State Convention Info:

 

The Tampa Chapter and Suncoast Chapter are working diligently in planning an
awesome state convention. The state affiliate welcomes all ideas for guest
speakers, workshops, and extra activities. 

The state convention will be held over Memorial Day Weekend, May 25-28, 2018
at Hilton Tampa Airport Westshore, 2225 North Lois Avenue, Tampa, FL 33607.
To make your room reservations, please call the Hilton Tampa Airport
Westshore at 813-877-6688. When calling, ask for the National Federation of
the Blind of Florida Convention room rate (code NFB) of $104.00 per night.
Rooms are reserved on a first-come first-served basis. Your room reservation
must be made by May 5, 2018 to guarantee our special hotel rate. Prior to
convention the registration fee is $20.00, and the banquet tickets are
$40.00 each. The registration and the banquet fee will each increase by
$5.00 on Monday, May 7, 2018. So, it is important that we receive your
payment by that date to qualify for the pre-registration and banquet package
discount. Don't wait, send your Convention Registration in today! If you
have questions, please feel free to contact NFBF Treasurer Gloria Mills
Hicks at: treasurer at nfbflorida.org or by calling 1-866-342-5080. Also, our
National Representative is confirmed, which below is a biography: 

 


Pam Allen, First Vice President and Board Chair


Nonprofit Agency Administrator, Advocate, Community Leader


Pam AllenPam Dubel was born in 1970 and grew up in Lancaster, New York. She
became blind when she was approximately two years old as a result of retinal
blastoma, a type of cancer. Although her parents were shocked by her loss of
sight, they fortunately realized that she was still the same child except
that she could no longer see. Through love and high expectations, they
instilled in Pam a sense of pride and confidence in her ability to succeed.
They constantly taught her that her blindness was not a limitation to
achieving her goals and dreams.  Growing up as the youngest of six children
also helped her learn to be independent. Since she was the youngest, nobody,
especially the brother a year older than she, let her get away with
anything. Pam attended a private Catholic school, where she was the only
blind student. Her itinerant teacher provided a sound foundation in Braille,
which helped her excel in academics. Her parents expected her to do her best
and to engage in activities that would make her a confident and well-rounded
person. She participated in horseback riding, skiing, and cheerleading
during elementary school. During high school her interests shifted to
performing in chorus, doing community service, and having fun with her
friends.

While growing up, Pam had limited contact with other blind people her age.
In general she had no desire to associate with other blind people. She
understood that every high school senior experiences some trepidation about
the transition to adulthood and independence. However, as high school
graduation approached, she began to grapple with questions that her sighted
peers couldn't answer. She planned to attend college, and she hoped that she
would eventually find a job, but she secretly wondered if she would truly be
able to obtain employment. After all, she had had difficulty finding
part-time work during high school. Her loving family and friends encouraged
her, but she had questions that went unanswered.  Although she entered
college with some apprehension, she was determined to achieve her best. Her
small liberal arts college provided an exciting environment in which to
learn and grow. But those unanswered questions continued to nag at her. If
people were amazed that she could accomplish the most insignificant tasks,
would they ever treat her as an equal? She realized that she had to meet
other blind people with more experience than she who could serve as role
models.

Her search exposed her to a wide variety of groups and organizations of and
for the blind. However, not until she attended a student seminar hosted by
the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio did she begin to find the
answers for which she had been searching. Although she didn't realize it at
the time, that seminar marked the beginning of a new chapter of her life.
She met Barbara Pierce, president of the NFB of Ohio, who told Pam about the
Louisiana Center for the Blind. More than that, she spoke with Joanne
Wilson, its director, who arranged for Pam to complete an internship at the
center the following May. As soon as that was completed, Joanne invited her
to work as a counselor in the children's summer program that year.

Pam was a 1991 National Federation of the Blind scholarship winner when she
was a senior at Denison University, where she majored in psychology and
minored in women's studies. She served as vice president of the Ohio
Association of Blind Students and as secretary of the National Association
of Blind Students, and throughout college she worked summers for Joanne
Wilson at the Louisiana Center for the Blind with the Children's Program.

After graduation from college Pam decided to become a student at the
Louisiana Center for the Blind. She recognized that she still needed to gain
some confidence in her skills and in her ability to be a successful blind
person.

Since 2001 Pam Allen has served as the director of the Louisiana Center for
the Blind, one of three NFB adult rehabilitation centers. Prior to becoming
the director, she served as the director of youth services, working with
blind infants and toddlers and their parents, supervising the training of
classroom aides to teach Braille throughout Louisiana, coordinating summer
camps, and developing innovative programs for blind children and teenagers.

People often ask her what makes the Louisiana Center for the Blind such a
special place. She responds, "What sets our alumni apart from those of other
kinds of rehabilitation facilities? The answer is that, by attending our
center and the other centers conducted by Federationists, students are
exposed to the National Federation of the Blind and its philosophy. The NFB
is more than an organization; it is a loving family. Regardless of where you
are, you can find members of the NFB who can give you support and
encouragement when you need it. The NFB also provides a constant supply of
mentors and role models who challenge you to set goals for yourself.  Lives
are positively changed every day at the Center because of the philosophy of
the NFB."

Allen recalls that she used to believe that she did not need other blind
people. She thought that being independent meant succeeding without the help
of others. Her involvement with the National Federation of the Blind has
taught her that this is not true. She has learned that she needs
reinforcement from her blind colleagues and friends.

Pam lives in Ruston, Louisiana, with her husband Roland Allen, a dedicated
Federation leader and a gifted orientation and mobility instructor at the
center. She is currently the president of the NFB of Louisiana and secretary
of the National Association of Blind Rehabilitation Professionals. In July
of 2002 she was elected to the National Federation of the Blind board of
directors. Four years later, in 2006, she was elected to serve as treasurer
of the National Federation of the Blind. In 2012, Pam and Roland received
the prestigious Jacobus tenBroek Award in recognition of their distinguished
service in the Federation. In 2015, Pam was elected as first vice president
of the National Federation of the Blind. Allen is also involved in a variety
of community and professional organizations, including the Chamber of
Commerce and as a gubernatorial appointee to the Louisiana Rehabilitation
Council.  She says, "Being elected to the national board has allowed me to
give back and to spread the message of our movement. It is an incredible
honor and privilege to serve!"


National Federation of the Blind Statement on Delta's New Service Animal
Policy


 
Baltimore, Maryland: (January 23, 2018): The National Federation of the
Blind stated the following with regard to the new service and support animal
policy announced by Delta Air Lines on January 19: 

We are deeply concerned that Delta Air Lines has taken this action without
consulting the National Federation of the Blind, our division the National
Association of Guide Dog Users, or any other democratically elected
representative of blind Americans. Blind people have safely and successfully
used guide dogs for decades, but this policy fails to make a clear or
practical distinction among guide dogs, other "service and support animals"
(as Delta puts it), and pets. Onerous restrictions on guide dog handlers do
not resolve anything and violate the principle of equal access for
passengers with disabilities. Furthermore, we believe that elements of
Delta's policy, as currently articulated, violate the Air Carrier Access
Act.

We are particularly troubled by the requirement that guide dog users submit
paperwork to Delta forty-eight hours before flying. Travelers without guide
dogs are not required to plan their travel forty-eight hours in advance.
Furthermore, guide dog users will no longer be able to fly Delta in family,
medical, or other emergencies. We believe that this forty-eight hour
requirement is both unnecessary and unlawful.

We are asking for an urgent meeting with Delta and stand ready to work with
it and other airlines to craft fair and reasonable policies to address the
concerns of air carriers, their personnel, and their passengers, without
imposing undue, unsupported, and unlawful hardships on guide dog users.

 
Technology: Tips & Tricks

Accessibility Phone Support from Microsoft and Apple

Microsoft has a Disability Answer Desk (DAD) featuring staff who specializes
in assisting customers with disability as well as proving support using
accessibility settings in Microsoft products.  Help is available for screen
magnifiers, speech recognition software, Microsoft-compatible devices and
accessibility features.  DAD, which can be contacted a 1-800-963-5900, is
available Monday - Friday from 6 am- 10 pm and weekends from 7 am - 6 pm.
For more information, including a 24/7 chat link, visit
Microsoft.com/enable.

Apple also offers a telephone support desk specifically for customer who has
visual, hearing, motor or learning impairments.  Apple accessibility support
is available 24/7 and can be reached at 877-204-3930.  For more information,
visit apple.com/support/accessibility.

 

KNFB Reader wants you to make the print yours and expand your horizons. KNFB
Reader is a mobile app that reads print aloud. To buy KNFB Reader visit
www.knfbreader.com or visit the App Store or the Google Play Store.  If you
would like a demonstration or instruction contact Jorge Hernandez at Phone:
305-877-2311 or Email:  <mailto:jeh1065 at comcast.net> jeh1065 at comcast.net.

 

The mission of the National Federation of the Blind is to achieve widespread
emotional acceptance and intellectual understanding that the real problem of
blindness is not the loss of eyesight but the misconceptions and lack of
information which exist. We do this by bringing blind people together to
share successes, to support each other in times of failure, and to create
imaginative solutions.

 

"To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart."
Eleanor Roosevelt

 

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