[Brl-monitor] The Braille Monitor, April 2012
Brian Buhrow
buhrow at lothlorien.nfbcal.org
Sun Apr 1 22:30:29 PDT 2012
BRAILLE MONITOR
Vol. 55, No. 4 April 2012
Gary Wunder, Editor
Distributed by email, in inkprint, in Braille, and on USB flash drive
(see reverse side) by
THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
Marc Maurer, President
telephone: (410) 659-9314
email address: nfb at nfb.org
Website address: http://www.nfb.org
NFBnet.org: http://www.nfbnet.org
NFB-NEWSLINE® information: (866) 504-7300
Letters to the president, address changes,
subscription requests, and orders for NFB literature
should be sent to the national office.
Articles for the Monitor and letters to the editor may also
be sent to the national office or may be emailed to gwunder at nfb.org.
Monitor subscriptions cost the Federation about forty dollars per year.
Members are invited, and nonmembers are requested, to cover the
subscription cost. Donations should be made payable to National Federation
of the Blind and sent to:
National Federation of the Blind
200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
Baltimore, Maryland 21230-4998
THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND IS NOT AN ORGANIZATION
SPEAKING FOR THE BLIND--IT IS THE BLIND SPEAKING FOR THEMSELVES.
ISSN 0006-8829
© 2012 by the National Federation of the Blind
Each issue is recorded on a thumb drive (also called a memory stick
or USB flash drive). You can read this audio edition using a computer or a
National Library Service digital player. The NLS machine has two slots--the
familiar book-cartridge slot just above the retractable carrying handle and
a second slot located on the right side near the headphone jack. This
smaller slot is used to play thumb drives. Remove the protective rubber pad
covering this slot and insert the thumb drive. It will insert only in one
position. If you encounter resistance, flip the drive over and try again.
(Note: If the cartridge slot is not empty when you insert the thumb drive,
the digital player will ignore the thumb drive.) Once the thumb drive is
inserted, the player buttons will function as usual for reading digital
materials. If you remove the thumb drive to use the player for cartridges,
when you insert it again, reading should resume at the point you stopped.
You can transfer the recording of each issue from the thumb drive to
your computer or preserve it on the thumb drive. However, because thumb
drives can be used hundreds of times, we would appreciate their return in
order to stretch our funding. Please use the return label enclosed with the
drive when you return the device.
Dallas Site of 2012 NFB Convention
The 2012 convention of the National Federation of the Blind will take
place in Dallas, Texas, June 30-July 5, at the Hilton Anatole Hotel at 2201
Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, Texas 75207. Make your room reservation as soon
as possible with the Hilton Anatole staff only, not Hilton general
reservations. Call (214) 761-7500.
The 2012 room rates are singles, doubles, and twins $63 and triples
and quads $68 a night, plus a 15 percent sales tax. The hotel is accepting
reservations now. A $60-per-room deposit is required to make a reservation.
Fifty percent of the deposit will be refunded if notice is given to the
hotel of a reservation cancellation before June 1, 2012. The other 50
percent is not refundable.
Rooms will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Reservations may be made before June 1, 2012, assuming that rooms are still
available. After that time the hotel will not hold our block of rooms for
the convention. In other words, you should get your reservation in soon.
Guestroom amenities include cable television; coffeepot; iron and
ironing board; hairdryer; and, for a fee, high-speed Internet access. The
Hilton Anatole has several excellent restaurants, twenty-four-hour-a-day
room service, first-rate meeting space, and other top-notch facilities. It
is in downtown Dallas with shuttle service to both the Dallas/Ft. Worth
Airport and Love Field.
The schedule for the 2012 convention will follow our usual pattern:
Saturday, June 30 Seminar Day
Sunday, July 1 Registration Day
Monday, July 2 Board Meeting and Division Day
Tuesday, July 3 Opening Session
Wednesday, July 4 Business Session
Thursday, July 5 Banquet Day and Adjournment
Vol. 55, No. 4 April 2012
Contents
Illustration: Spectacular Art at the Hilton Anatole
Art at the Hilton Anatole
by Barbara Pierce
A Word from our Host Affiliate
by Kimberly Flores
Blind Woman Works Where Many Wouldn't Dare to Be Seen
by Mary Fernandez
Some Thoughts about Photographs
by Gary Wunder
When the Sleepshades Aren't On
by Jeff Altman
Advanced Technology for Producing Tactile Materials
by Robert Jaquiss
Just Their Dad
by Chris Kuell
The Gift of Giving
The Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest: A Parent's Perspective
by Marianne Dunn
The Gift of Giving
The Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest: The Student Perspective
by Elizabeth Kazmierski
Mobility on a College Campus
by Sherry Frank
Cheryl Echevarria Founder, Echevarria Travel-Advocate for the Blind
by Beverly Fortune
Life in the Mainstream
2012 National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC)
Conference for Families and Teachers
by Laura Bostick
NFB Camp Convention Adventures
by Carla McQuillan
Up the Down, and Down the Up
by Dave Hyde
Featured Book from the Jacobus tenBroek Library
Reviewed by Ed Morman
NFB Krafters Division
Satisfy Your Artistic Flair or Make Some Extra Money
by Ramona Walhof
Introducing the Commonwealth Braille and Talking Book Cooperative
by Greg Kearney
Hearing Enhancement and Spanish Translation
Available at National Convention
Spanish Translators Needed
by D. Curtis Willoughby
Dialysis in Dallas
by Mike Freeman
Recipes
Monitor Miniatures
Spectacular Art at the Hilton Anatole
When you step into Atrium II at the Hilton Anatole this summer,
pulsing overhead will be Nebula, the newest artwork in the hotel's
collection.
[PHOTO CAPTION: Nebula in Atrium II at night]
Art at the Hilton Anatole
by Barbara Pierce
For more than twenty years the Hilton Anatole has been home to over a
thousand rare and unusual treasures from the collections of Trammell and
Margaret Crow. One-of-a-kind works of art, many that once graced the royal
palaces of kings, emperors, and czars from Japan, China, India, and
Southeast Asia-dating back as far as the fifth century BCE-now adorn the
hotel's entryways and embellish its walls. Many of these works are
completely accessible to tactile examination. The convention in July will
be the third the Anatole has hosted for the NFB, yet many of us have been
almost completely oblivious to the art around us. With the help of
literature provided by the Hilton Anatole, we now invite you to learn a
little about several pieces in one of the largest and most beautiful
private art collections in America. On Saturday, June 30; Sunday, July 1;
and Monday, July 2, hotel staff members trained to give walking tours of
the collection will conduct several tours for interested convention
attendees. The convention agenda will provide complete information about
times and tour size limits.
Perhaps the newest addition to the collection is a sculpture that we
cannot touch, but it seems important for us to know of its existence. In
the fall of 2011 the Hilton Anatole's staff unveiled Nebula-a structure
made of ten miles of aircraft cable, 1,780 pulleys, and over 4,500 amber
crystals-floating above the redesigned Atrium II space in a wavelike dance.
Nebula is a dramatic, slowly moving kinetic structure, organized in a multi-
tiered, geometric pattern that fans out almost one hundred feet long and
fifty feet wide, according to the hotel's press release.
The sweeping design of Nebula, a cluster of stars, is the work of
world-renowned artist Reuben Margolin. Combining the logic of mathematics
with inspiration from wave patterns and the graceful motion of
caterpillars, the thirty-nine-year-old San Francisco Bay Area sculptor
creates large-scale kinetic sculptures using pulleys, motors, and a wide
variety of materials. In 2009, after submitting designs for a kinetic
structure competition led by Atrium II's interior designer, EDG Interior
Architecture + Design, Margolin was commissioned by Crow Holdings-owners
and operators of Hilton Anatole-to conceptualize and design a dramatic
centerpiece for Atrium II, a 31,000-square-foot common area in the hotel
lobby. The artwork took approximately seventeen days and a crew of five to
suspend it fifty feet above the Atrium II space. Nebula slowly rises and
falls in a complex choreography so that it appears to swim or breathe
gracefully. The movement is not digital in origin, but rather the result of
a mechanism using physics to create complex and fluid shapes.
[PHOTO CAPTION: The Gossips is a set of bronze figures outside the Gossip
Bar.]
During past conventions at the Hilton Anatole we have enjoyed fine
dining at the Nana Restaurant on the twenty-seventh floor. Unfortunately it
will be closed for renovation during our visit this year. It took its name
from the classic nude in oils by Marcel Suchorowsky displayed over the bar.
Nana was the main character in the 1880 novel of the same name by Emile
Zola. Unfortunately the artwork will no longer be on display when the
restaurant reopens in September. Another Anatole restaurant that takes its
name from a work of art is the Gossip Bar, where a sculpture of the same
name is on display. With flowing robes and exotic headdresses, this
whimsical life-size trio of figures seems caught up in the delight of
sharing a secret. The Gossips was created by contemporary Danish artist
Bjorn Wiinblad, known for his imaginative and colorful designs. The Hilton
Anatole contains a number of Wiinblad works, including tapestries, stained
glass, and lithographs. Wiinblad works in a variety of media and is perhaps
best known for his dazzling ceramic and porcelain designs for Rosenthal.
[PHOTO CAPTION: One of the wooden elephants in the Chantilly Foyer]
The two life-size elephants outside the Chantilly Ballroom were
carved in Thailand in 1983. They stand eight feet tall and weigh three tons
each. They were carved from single pieces of 12-foot-in-diameter monkey pod
trees by artisans in the Golden Triangle area of Thailand near the Laotian
border, famous for its outstanding art. These and four other elephants in
the hotel were purchased by the Crow Collection and placed there in honor
of the 1984 Republican National Convention, hosted by the Hilton Anatole.
For some years the hotel has displayed two sections of the Berlin
Wall, which it has just moved indoors. Built in 1961 at the height of the
Cold War, the Berlin Wall stood for nearly 30 years as a hated symbol of
repression and fear. Until 1990 the wall cut through 192 city streets,
blocking East Berlin and East Germany from the West. By 1991, after
reunification, the wall almost completely vanished. A few larger segments
were officially donated or sold. The two segments owned by the Crow
Collection, each twelve feet high and four feet wide, feature images and
text painted by German artist Jurgen Grope, known as "Indiano."
[PHOTO CAPTION: Eight life-size children cast in bronze play on the Hilton
Anatole lawn. Two of them are pictured here.]
A number of sculptures are installed on the grounds of the hotel.
Children at Play is a set of eight bronze figures charmingly sculpted by
David Cargill in 1983. They seem to invite passersby to take to the grass
and join their game. Cargill, a contemporary sculptor based in Beaumont,
Texas, is known for his elegant and understated treatment of religious and
secular themes.
[PHOTO CAPTION: Fishing captures the delight of a boy and his grandfather
spending time together.]
In Fishing a grandfather and his grandson share an afternoon
together, fishing the pond of the Anatole Park. J. Seward Johnson Jr., a
Johnson & Johnson heir, began focusing his attention on sculpture in 1968
after a successful career painting impressionistic landscapes. Since then
more than two hundred of Johnson's life-size cast bronze figures have been
featured in collections throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and
Asia.
More than forty pieces of Wedgwood porcelain enhance the foyer of the
Wedgwood Room. Josiah Wedgwood was an eighteenth-century English potter,
whose works are among the finest examples of ceramic art. During his long
career Wedgwood developed revolutionary ceramic materials, notably basalt
and Jasperware. The rarest piece in the collection is the 1885 covered vase
in blue and white Jasperware. Nearly five feet tall, this monumental object
is the largest recorded Wedgwood Jasperware vase in the world.
Unfortunately these pieces are displayed behind glass.
[PHOTO CAPTION: Chinese goddess riding on a lion]
A number of Asian works of art are scattered throughout the public
areas of the hotel. A spectacular plate in hand-painted gold and enamel on
a porcelain body is the work of artist Su Wen Sheng. It was created at the
Quanfu Ceramic Factory in China's Guangdong Province. This beautiful
monumental work-measuring more than seven feet in diameter and weighing 650
pounds-is one of the largest porcelain creations in the world. In a hallway
niche, an elegant female deity on a lion, also from China, is carved from
luminous white sandstone.
[PHOTO CAPTION: The Laughing Buddha]
The Hilton Anatole collection includes a number of Buddhas. One is a
six-foot statue depicting a Buddha sitting on the cosmic lotus, a symbol of
mercy and compassion. The Buddha's hands are held in dhyana mudra, the
meditation posture. The bronze Laughing Buddha known as PuTai, clutching
his prayer beads and a cloth bag of gold, embodies the ideals of happiness,
good luck, and plenitude, and dates from the seventeenth or eighteenth
century.
This brief survey of the art on display at the Hilton Anatole is
meant only to whet your curiosity to learn more about the collection and to
get your hands on as much of it as possible during convention.
----------
A Word from our Host Affiliate
by Kimberly Flores
Convention is just around the corner, and we in Texas want to make
sure you can get to the airport as quickly and as affordably as possible.
Then, if you choose to, we want to give you a wide array of choices to
explore your surroundings and take in some of the variety that makes Texas
unique. Please read on for airport shuttle discount information and a
handful of tempting tours. The last three tours listed are fundraisers for
the Travel and Tourism Division, so have a nice evening out and support a
worthwhile cause as well. Our convention rate is available through July 7,
but only a limited number of rooms are available, so, if you plan to stay a
few extra days and sample some Texas food and fun, make your reservations
quickly.
To reserve these great discounted airport transportation options and
rates from either DFW or Love Field, use the following unique link
designated for NFB reservations:
<http://yellowcheckershuttle.hudsonltd.net/res?USERIDENTRY=G119810&LOGON=GO>
.
DiscountGO Yellow Checker Shuttle is offering discount airport
transportation (from either DFW or Love Field) for attendance at the
National Federation of the Blind national convention. Several
transportation options are available, including airport shuttle ride share
web-tickets (Best Price Option No Fuel Surcharge Fee), $32 roundtrip online
or $16 one way online. This is a shared ride service, which means that the
driver has 25 minutes on airport property from the time the first passenger
is picked up. Other passengers going to various locations may be in the
van. Exclusive (private non-stop) van service for up to 10 passengers $85
each way. Save $35 one way or $70 roundtrip booked online. This shuttle
leaves as soon as you or your party boards. Airport Lincoln Town Car
Service web-tickets $75 each way. An online reservation qualifies you for
discounts from your city of origin through our partner company, Go Airport
Shuttle.com. Once the online reservation is made for your DFW
transportation, the system will automatically make these discounts, if
available.
Tour a Slice of Texas
Choose from one of the following three tours to have a uniquely Texas
experience.
Dallas Highlights Tour
Join your tour guide, board your motorcoach. Off to enjoy the top
sights and attractions of Dallas' Downtown, Uptown, and Highland Park on
this exciting city tour. Visit Dealey Plaza in the West End Historic
District, birthplace of Dallas and site of the tragic JFK assassination.
See the world famous Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza, which is dedicated
to the life, death, and legacy of President John F. Kennedy. Visit the
Grassy Knoll where bystanders heard gunshots, and learn little-known
details of that fateful day.
At the Old Red Courthouse hear about the colorful history of Dallas
from the 1800s to present. Stop by John Neely Bryan's cabin and the Kennedy
Memorial. Visit spectacular Pioneer Plaza, a downtown public park, which
commemorates a cattle drive of larger-than-life Texas longhorns and hear
stories about Texas cowboys and western cattle drives.
Next enjoy an introduction to the Dallas Arts District, a rare jewel
that is the centerpiece of our cultural life and home to some of the finest
architecture in the world. Learn about the acclaimed, globally significant
Nasher Sculpture Center and the serene beauty of the Crow Collection of
Asian Art. See the stunning, state-of-the-art Winspear Opera House and the
innovative design of the Wyly Theatre. Step inside the world-class Meyerson
Symphony Center, home of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, to learn about its
legendary sound and world renowned architect, I.M. Pei. Visit the historic
Victorian Gothic jewel, the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of the
Guadalupe, to see its exquisite European stained glass windows. Learn about
the Belo Mansion's ties to the infamous gangsters, Bonnie and Clyde.
Tour scenic Turtle Creek, learning about the Native Americans who
once called this area home, to the exclusive enclave of Highland Park,
passing by its beautiful mansions, parks, outdoor sculpture, and upscale
shopping and dining in Highland Park Village. Finish your tour in the
Victory Park neighborhood, home to Dallas' Mavs (NBA) and Dallas Stars
(NHL) and filled with options for sophisticated dining, entertainment, and
nightlife.
Scheduled Tour
Friday, July 6, 2012
9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
$45 per person
*Minimum 20 persons for tour to commence
----------
Fort Worth Highlights Tour
Where the West begins. Indians. Cattle. Railroads. Oil. The History
of Fort Worth reads like the history of the American West. Your tour guide
will introduce you to downtown's dazzling Sundance Square, a historically
rich area, full of attractions and a beautiful setting for dining, theater,
and exciting nightlife entertainment. Walk the Heritage Trail for
fascinating western history. Hear tall tales about the Chisholm Trail and
the famous outlaws, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. See the Fort Worth
Water Gardens and the Bass Performance Hall, one of the world's finest
concert and performance halls. Learn about Hell's Half Acre, where saloons,
gambling parlors, shooting halls, and dance halls once flourished, and hear
stories of the city's colorful past. Visit the superb Sid Richardson Museum
to enjoy western art by masters Russell and Remington. Stop by Hotel Texas,
where President Kennedy spent his last night.
Then off to explore the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic
District, where the Old West comes to life. Enjoy a guided walk of the
stockyards and learn about the historic attractions that speak to a bygone
era when the town was a stop for the legendary cattle drives on the
Chisholm Trail. Watch a team of cowhands drive a herd of Texas Longhorns
along Exchange Avenue. Every detail of this cattle drive, from the saddles
to the chaps, from the hats to the boots, is authentic.
Visit the Livestock Exchange, the Wall Street of the West. See
Cowtown Coliseum, site of the world's first indoor rodeo. Step inside the
White Elephant Saloon--the interior was used in the filming of Walker Texas
Ranger. Tour the historic Stockyards Hotel and experience an era when
cattle and cotton were common currency and outlaws were folk heroes. Drop
into Billy Bob's Texas, the world's largest honky tonk. Stop by the Bull
Ring Saloon, the birthplace of Texas Hold'em, and see its interesting
collection of Texas art. Try on cowboy boots at one of the many western
stores or pick up a memento or gift from Stockyards Station--formerly sheep
and hog barns, now home to many unique shops and restaurants.
Put on your cowboy boots and join us for a western-styled, thrilling
evening at the Fort Worth Stockyards Championship Rodeo. Relax and settle
into your seat in the historic Cowtown Coliseum, built in 1908 and the site
of the world's first indoor rodeo.
Scheduled Tour
Friday July 6, 2012
3:00-10:30 p.m.
$65 per person (includes entrance to the Stockyards Rodeo)
*Minimum 20 persons for tour to commence
*Dinner on your own in the Fort Worth Historic Stockyards
----------
Southfork Ranch Tour
The Legend Lives on
No visit to Dallas is complete without visiting the legendary
Southfork Ranch. Tour the famed Southfork Ranch and Ewing Mansion and
relive exciting moments from the series. Relax on a guided tram tour of the
ranch grounds from the visitors' center en route to the Ewing Mansion.
You'll hear a history of the ranch and see Texas longhorns and American
quarter horses. At the Ewing Mansion a tour guide will give a full guided
tour of the mansion, including interesting tidbits about the years of
filming and insight into the character of the Ewings. Learn about the
exciting new TV series--Dallas, the Next Generation.
As you depart the mansion, feel free to stroll through the ranch
grounds and stop and visit "Lincolns and Longhorns," displaying Jock
Ewing's original 1978 Lincoln Continental. Relive some of the memorable
moments from Dallas in the Dallas Legends exhibit. See the gun that shot
J.R., Lucy's wedding dress, video clips from the series, interviews with
the stars, and other memorabilia that will make you feel right at home with
the most infamous Texans of them all, the Ewings.
Scheduled Tour
Friday, July 6, 2012
9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
$50 per person (includes entrance to Southfork Ranch)
*Minimum 20 persons for tour to commence
----------
The following three tours are organized by the NFB Travel and Tourism
Division, and a portion of the cost of the tickets will benefit the
division.
Jersey Boys-Broadway Show at the
AT&T Performing Arts Center
Jersey Boys is the Tony, Grammy, and Olivier Award-winning best
musical about Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, the Four Seasons: Frankie
Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito, and Nick Massi. This is the story of how
four blue-collar kids became one of the greatest successes in pop music
history. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds, and sold
175 million records worldwide--all before they were thirty. Jersey Boys
features their hit songs "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Rag Doll," "Oh
What a Night," and "Can't Take My Eyes Off You." "It will run for
centuries!" proclaimed Time Magazine.
The Jersey Boys creative team comprises two-time Tony Award-winning
director Des McAnuff, book writers Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice,
composer Bob Gaudio, lyricist Bob Crewe, and choreographer Sergio Trujillo.
This is also a fundraiser for the Travel and Tourism Division of the NFB;
$5 of the total price is being donated to the division.
One reason this show is of particular interest to some Federationists
and as an extra treat is that the Frankie Valli role is being played by
Travel and Tourism Division President Cheryl Echevarria's cousin, Brad
Weinstock. Mr. Weinstock has agreed to arrange a quick meet-and-greet with
the cast of the show.
Scheduled Tour
Saturday, June 30, 2012
6:00-11:00 p.m.
$100 per person
*Minimum 20 persons for tour to commence
----------
Medieval Times Dinner Show
Surrender to an age of bravery and honor and witness epic battles of
steel and steed during our all-new show. From ringside seats discover a
feast of the eyes and appetite with more action, more fun, and more
excitement than ever before. As you thrill to a rousing live jousting
tournament, marvel at awe-inspiring horsemanship and falconry, Medieval
Times serves a four-course meal fit for royalty.
Convention attendees will also have an opportunity to meet with the
ensemble for photo ops, as well as the chance to pet the horses and touch
the armor.
A vegetarian meal is available upon request; let Cheryl know of your
preference when booking. The standard menu includes tomato bisque soup,
focaccia bread with olive oil and herbs, large BBQ spare ribs, oven-roasted
chicken, herb-basted potato split into two quarters, braided apple strudel,
and large beverage servings and coffee. Meals are eaten with bare hands
here; no need for silverware in this authentic Medieval experience.
Scheduled Tour
Friday, July 6, 2012
7:00-10:00 p.m. Dinner begins at 8:00 p.m.
$50 per person
$5 of the $50 will be donated to the Travel and Tourism Division
No bus will be needed; this event is 2 blocks away from the Hilton Anatole
We will meet in the lobby at 7:00 p.m.
*Minimum 20 persons for tour to commence
----------
Six Flags Over Texas
Six Flags Over Texas is more than a first-class family theme park.
It's the Thrill Capital of Texas. With over 100 rides and attractions, Six
Flags Over Texas is the place to be. With incredible rides like Titan and
Mr. Freeze, Superman and Batman: The Ride, you'll find more to scream about
than in any other park around. So if you're looking for pure thrills, go
big--go Six Flags!
Scheduled Tour
Friday, July 6, 2012
3:00-9:00 p.m.
$65 per person (includes entrance, bus, tickets to the park, food on your
own)
$5 per ticket will go to the Travel and Tourism Division
*Minimum 25 persons for tour to commence
----------
Tour Registration Form:
Name: _________________________________________________________
Address: _________________________________________________________
City, State, Zip: _________________________________________________________
Phone: (H)___________________ (Cell) ___________________ (Fax)
___________________
Tour 1. Dallas Highlights Tour July 6 $ 45 $__________
Tour 2. Fort Worth Highlights Tour July 6 $ 65 $__________
Tour 3. Southfork Ranch Tour July 6 $ 50 $__________
Tour 4. Jersey Boys June 30 $ 100 $__________
Tour 5. Medieval Times Dinner Show July 6 $ 50 $__________
Tour 6. Six Flags Over Texas July 6 $ 65 $__________
Prices include taxes and fees, bus service, and tips when food is included.
Total for Tours $__________
Payments, deposits, and headcounts must be submitted no later than May 15,
2012.
Final payments are due June 10, 2012.
Make checks payable and remit payment to:
Echevarria Travel
10 Aljan Drive
Brentwood, NY 11717
Attention: Cheryl Echevarria
Questions or to register by phone: (631) 456-5394 or (866) 580-5574
email: <reservations at echevarriatravel.com>
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Mary Fernandez]
Blind Woman Works Where Many Wouldn't Dare to Be Seen
by Mary Fernandez
From the Editor: Mary Fernandez is a 2010 NFB scholarship winner who
comes from New Jersey and attends Emory University, from which she will
graduate in May. This presentation was made at the winter meeting of the
National Association of Blind Students in Washington, D.C. I have observed
that meetings of students are not always quiet, but they are generally
respectful. When Mary made this presentation, however, you could hear a
stylus drop. Enjoy:
It was the middle of the afternoon in late May. Although the summer
had just started in Atlanta, I was still grateful for the little spot of
shade I was sitting in while I handed out my bags of goodies. Each bag had
a six pack of condoms, a rubber stopper, some gauze, some soap, and some
other supplies. The people I was handing them to were mostly homeless and
mostly drug addicts and lived in the poorest area of Atlanta. I smiled at
everyone, happy that I was being useful, but also extremely nervous because
it was my first day on the job.
Back at the beginning of the spring semester of my sophomore year, I
had wracked my brain about how I could earn some money during the summer.
After an extensive search, I received a message in my inbox that looked
truly promising. The Emory Center for Ethics would be sponsoring twenty-
seven students from Emory to work in different nonprofits throughout the
city. The Ethics and Servant-Leadership Program would include eight weeks
of work. In addition, each week we had to meet at the Ethics Center for
discussion on-surprise--ethics, and nonprofit management. The final
portfolio and other small requirements seemed worth the effort since I
would also get a $4,000 stipend. So I figured I'd apply.
The first step was choosing one or two organizations where I'd be
interested in working. The one that I kept coming back to was the Atlanta
Harm Reduction Center, a small nonprofit that served marginalized
communities in Atlanta. Unlike homeless shelters and rehab or crisis
centers, they had a different approach to dealing with drug use in society.
Instead of denying services to drug users, they had decided that they would
try to reduce the harm that drug use can have on a community--hence the bag
of goodies. The most controversial service AHRC offers is completely
illegal in the state of Georgia--needle exchange. Basically, clients bring
in their dirty needles, and we give them clean ones. When I worked for
AHRC, we received 10,000 needles in two months and gave out almost double
that number. We got away with it because of a little loophole in Georgia
law. Since drug users will use drugs no matter what, it's better that they
do not spread AIDS in the process.
I was one of three candidates being interviewed for the job. The day
of the interview was rather interesting. My interviewer was actually forty-
five minutes late. The forty-five minutes waiting out in the heat and
sweating under my suit jacket helped to calm my nerves and give me a bit of
my confidence back, although I kept worrying that I'd smell terrible by the
time he got there. Finally he came, and we talked for an hour.
Two weeks later I got an email saying that I had been chosen as their
intern, and I walked on air for days. I had a job and would be living in my
own apartment that I would have to find and would be going to work every
day. Oh joy! That first day was a Wednesday, and we did street outreach on
Wednesdays and Saturdays. So we hit the street corner, and, after chatting
with my coworkers and seeing how everything ran, I asked if I could help
with handing out the paper bags, since they had no idea of what I could and
couldn't do. All the clients were polite except that about halfway through
two gentlemen approached me. I did my usual, hi how are you spiel. One of
them whispered to the other in a rather carrying and dramatic whisper,
"Hey, Bro, do you know she's blind?"
The other man responded in a rather loud and indignant tone, "Yes, I
know she's blind, you rude, m***f***er. My mother was blind, but I bet you
she can hear your rude a** talking s**t." Extremely amused by this time, I
gave one of my characteristic cackles, as my new advocate apologized for
this "fool's BS," and said he was happy I'd be working there for the
summer.
As the weeks went by, I met more and more people and was given more
and more responsibility. Though at times my coworkers would ask if I felt
comfortable doing something, they couldn't afford not to give me work
because I was blind. AHRC was struggling, and they needed all the work they
could get from me. After I had spent three weeks on the job, our outreach
specialist Verna told me I'd be responsible for teaching the substance
abuse management class every week until the end of the summer and that I'd
be starting that day. I had to keep forty people, most of whom were rather
gregarious men, interested in a topic. Somehow, after a few false starts, I
managed to get them talking, and the time flew, full of great discussion
and a lot of laughter. I also helped with our other groups, including a
graphic form of sex education.
I didn't feel that I had truly been accepted until the day that I had
a client ask for me specifically and come to talk to me at my little cubby.
Later in the summer I found him on our porch steps because I was the first
to come in that day. He was battered and bruised and had slept outside the
night before because he had been beaten up and thrown out of the shelter he
and his partner had been staying in. They were gay and were not welcome at
that shelter anymore. That day Verna and I worked on finding him a place,
and we talked to him for a long time about being twenty-five, having AIDS,
and being a sex worker in downtown Atlanta. We pointed out that he was
spreading AIDS every time he hopped in with a business man on his way home
headed to his wife.
Working at AHRC taught me much about the struggles of those that we
shunt to the outskirts of society, those that we are ashamed of. Though I
had rough patches during my internship, my blindness seemed to be almost
natural to them. Many of our clients were often surprised when they asked
me about my blindness to realize that people treated me as incompetent.
They wondered how someone could think me dumb and as needing constant help,
when I managed to walk in and out of the hood of Atlanta every day, do what
all my other co-workers were doing, and just go on with life. Their
acceptance gave me confidence and a sense of accomplishment, which in some
ways made aspects of life a bit more frustrating when I got out into the
world. I remember having a meltdown on the bus back home while talking to
my friend on the phone about how frustrating it was that, as soon as I hit
the train station, I had people grabbing and pulling me just because I was
using a cane. She told me to calm down. She assured me that no, I didn't
look weird because I was tearing up in the bus. She had seen much worse on
MARTA. She told me that I needed to let my confidence in my abilities
shield me from the ignorance of people. She said I should not internalize
their low expectations because, even if we don't know it, it is easy to
start believing that we can't make it to the right platform if someone
isn't leading us.
I want you to take away from my ramblings that you can really do what
you think you can do. Often we talk about misconceptions about the blind in
society, but we don't talk about the effect that has on us, even if we are
fully confident in our abilities. We may know that we can take the bus, go
shoe shopping, and do everything else independently, but having constantly
to reassure others of that fact can be wearisome. But let's not dwell on
that; let's prove them wrong. Let's go out there this semester and look for
something awesome, adventurous, and a little scary to do this summer.
Whether it is a Google internship, study abroad in Japan, or interning with
EPA, you can do it. I know that because I know blind students who have done
it. So grab that cane, that résumé, and that great suit, and go. After all,
as T.S. Eliot said, "Only those who will risk going too far can possibly
find out how far one can go." So go too far; it's better than going
nowhere. And once you find that limit, push it and see how far you can
stretch it. You might actually surprise yourself.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Gary Wunder]
Some Thoughts About Photographs
by Gary Wunder
It seems as if we are always asking people to take time out of their
busy convention schedules to drop by the photographer and reminding them to
capture the special events that happen in their local areas, but no matter
how often we ask, we always seem to be desperately short of good
photographs to use in the Braille Monitor. Some argue that photographs are
of little value to us given that the majority of our circulation is in
Braille, audio, and Internet text and Word files, but to think this way
ignores the value of the print publication and what we can communicate to
sighted people or to those who have enough sight to make reading the print
enjoyable.
Digital photography is a godsend for us, but we often encounter
problems when people try to use their cellular phone cameras to send us
photographs. Unless the cell phone is a rather advanced model, its camera
is usually more for convenience than for taking quality photographs.
Picture quality is measured digitally in pixels or, in our case,
megapixels, and we find that pictures must be at least 5 megapixels or
better for us to use them. A more accurate way of measuring photograph
resolution is by dots per inch (DPI). For publication, photographs should
be at least 300 DPI. A related problem is that pictures taken with high-
resolution cameras are sometimes electronically reduced when sent through e-
mail or uploaded to the Internet. Usually you find an option that asks
whether you would like to make the transfer faster. Your answer should
always be no.
Not only do we lack quality photographs for many who are making
Federation news, but we need action shots which do more than show you
sitting in a delegation at convention. If your chapter or affiliate does a
challenge event such as rock-climbing or snow skiing, take along a digital
camera and take some photographs. If you are doing a demonstration of
Braille or a fundraiser at the local mall, again let us have a picture. If
you are going to meet with legislators in some kind of event, give us a
shot of a legislative hearing room packed with Federationists. When
dignitaries come to your chapter meetings or affiliate conventions, get a
shot with them at the podium and send it along. If your photographer pays
attention to the composition of the shot (lighting, background, avoiding
extraneous people and objects), we might not use what you send right away,
but the time will come when we will be grateful for your photographs and
will use them.
When your camera takes a picture, it often names it with a sequential
number (000375.jpg). This is fine for the camera, but it is not very
helpful to those of us who will handle the photo. It would be quite useful
if the name of the photo had something to do with the content. Good are
"Jim Barber and Brian Buhrow at the 2012 WashingtonSeminar.jpg" or "Mike
Freeman, Marc Maurer, and Jim Gashel with Congressman Fred Smith.jpg."
Since our practice in the Monitor is to name people from left to right,
your naming the photos in this way will also help us confirm who each
person is. It should also go without saying that leaving on the feature
that date-stamps photos across the face makes them unusable for
publication.
Some people tell me that they are not photogenic or the fact that
they are blind makes it difficult to get a good picture. I understand this
problem; it is one of the best reasons to take and send many photographs so
that we have a choice when trying to make you look your best. We are proud
of our organization, proud of the people who make her what she is, and we
want readers to hear and see you at your best. You can help us immensely.
In fact, without your help we will fail in our effort to create a
collection of good photos from which to draw.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Jeff Altman instructs a woman in how to use a long white
cane.]
When the Sleepshades Aren't On
by Jeff Altman
From the Editor: Jeff Altman is a blind mobility instructor who works
for Nebraska Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired (NSBVI). Here he
discusses the use of sleepshades and structured discovery and the fact that
both are sometimes seen as incompatible with the use of remaining vision--a
contention he flatly rejects. We reprint the article from the winter issue
of the Nebraska Center for the Blind Newsletter. Here is what he has to say
about learning new techniques, building a skill set that doesn't rely on
vision, and then using remaining vision effectively to lead a safer and
more satisfying life:
While there are many good reasons for using sleepshades during center
training, some situations can create confusion for students. It is not
unusual for people to wonder why sleepshades are used at all; in fact, many
people have strongly opposed their use, and for these reasons several
articles have already been written to address these concerns. The Nebraska
Center for the Blind is firmly committed to the use of sleepshades as a
teaching tool because years of experience have shown that this approach to
training leads to a higher level of independence and success. Therefore the
center requires students to wear the sleepshades eight hours a day, five
days a week.
Given this policy, why aren't students asked to wear sleepshades
throughout their waking hours? There are two related answers to this
question. First, it simply wouldn't be comfortable for students to wear
sleepshades for extended periods, and we recognize that many people have a
physical need for a break from the shades. Second, center students need to
have the opportunity to learn to incorporate the use of their developing
nonvisual skills with their usable vision. Each student needs to come to
understand those situations in which his or her vision works well and those
in which the better choice would be to use the new, nonvisual alternatives.
This understanding must occur in each student, and this integration is just
as important as developing a complete set of nonvisual techniques.
These two answers lead to a host of other questions that are
important for students to ask and have answered. Some frequently heard
include why are students with a high degree of usable vision required to
use their canes when they are not wearing the sleepshades? Why are students
with relatively high levels of vision discouraged from using their vision
to work with the computer at the apartments? Why should a student who does
not have enough vision to read print have to go to the trouble of arranging
for a sighted reader when other center students at the apartments with
enough vision to read and inclination to help are available? Why should a
student with some useful vision not use his or her vision to assist a
totally blind student or a staff person to find a dropped object, locate a
chair, announce when a traffic light has changed to green, or help set an
alarm clock? Does this mean that center staff believe that blind people
with some vision shouldn't use it at all?
As confusing as the center's policies may at first appear, we have
good reasons for each of them. While the overall goal of any rehabilitation
training program is to prepare students to obtain appropriate employment,
one of the most important purposes of center training is to assist agency
clients to become experts in their own blindness. This means being able to
make informed choices regarding techniques they will use in their everyday
lives as well as in the workplace. In some situations a visually based
alternative may be more efficient, while others may be better accomplished
using a nonvisual method. An individual cannot make an appropriate choice
of techniques unless that person becomes well practiced with the methods
that would otherwise be unfamiliar. Since the majority of people rely on
their vision for the tasks of everyday life and in the workplace, most
often the less familiar techniques tend to be nonvisual. Only after an
individual has truly mastered the less familiar nonvisual techniques can he
or she make a balanced comparison with the more familiar and socially
acceptable visual methods.
During center training students are expected to use their canes at
all times, except when they are in their own apartments. The reasons for
this policy are really very simple and important. First of all, students
with limited vision need to learn which method of gathering information is
most effective in their own situations: the cane and its related nonvisual
techniques or their limited eyesight. They must also learn to use both
sources of information in concert. This means learning through experience,
making mistakes, and experimenting to find the best combination of skills.
Cane travel requires practice, and center classes simply don't provide
enough time to develop proficiency. In addition, each person must come to
terms with the social issues that using a cane can create. The general
public often reacts to a person with a white cane in socially awkward ways
ranging from excessively helpful to outright strange. When it becomes
apparent that the blind person has some useful vision, the interaction can
be even more uncomfortable, causing the blind person to feel self-
conscious, even if most people do not react at all. Using the cane in
nearly all situations provides center students with the experience to make
good judgments about which skills best meet their needs, to learn to blend
visual and nonvisual skills effectively, to refine their cane techniques,
and to develop positive responses to even the most awkward social
situations related to blindness.
Student experiences in the apartments are as much a part of training
as are classes during the week. Developing new skills, such as operating a
computer using synthesized speech and keyboard commands, requires far more
practice than can be provided in daytime classes. For this reason a
computer is available for student use in the apartments, and often
instructors give homework assignments. Students who employ their vision to
work with the computer, even if they use a screen-enlargement program, are
not practicing nonvisual techniques; some will compare their well-
developed, visually based computer skills with their limited experience in
the use of keyboard commands and listening skills. It is all too easy for
them to become convinced that using a computer visually is a superior
method, even though in reality many nonvisual computer techniques are much
more efficient. It is also not uncommon for a student with some useful
vision to attempt to assist a student who is unable to read the computer
screen visually. The problem with this seemingly kind gesture is that
neither student learns the nonvisual techniques to accomplish the task.
Learning to obtain and work with a reader is one of the most
important skills that a blind person can develop. When other center
students jump in to help with reading, they are denying the student who
needs print-reading assistance the opportunity to learn many aspects of
this skill. Even more troubling is that this intended act of kindness can
reinforce in the minds of both students the notion that the more vision a
person has, the better off he or she is. This false notion can obscure the
fact that a well-educated, highly skilled, motivated blind person is much
more likely to be successful than a less motivated person with eyesight who
has not had the opportunity for education or to develop critically
important skills. Therefore, it is not vision that determines the outcome,
but the experience and characteristics that are a part of that person's
makeup.
Each of the skills taught in center training, including finding a
dropped object, locating a chair, knowing when a traffic signal has
changed, and correctly setting an alarm clock, is the kind of daily task
that underpins independence. Every center student needs to find the best
alternatives to accomplish these if he or she is going to live in the world
and be a contributing member of society. Nonetheless, something much deeper
is at work here--the need to believe in the ability of all blind people.
When an individual with vision performs a task for someone with less
vision, it takes away the sense that functioning as a blind person is not
only possible but of equal merit. When a student with some vision steps in
to assist a blind staff member, it takes away the opportunity for that
staff person to model the nonvisual techniques and attitudes necessary to
be successful as a blind person.
The emphasis on the development of nonvisual techniques can sometimes
cause some clients and others to misinterpret the purpose of the agency's
approach to training, leaving them with the impression that staff members
are opposed to the use of low-vision techniques and devices. The philosophy
of the Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired actually
promotes the use of low-vision techniques and devices when appropriate to
achieve maximum independence. In fact, the agency was for many years a
major sponsor of the low-vision clinic at the University of Nebraska
Medical Center in Omaha and continues to purchase low-vision devices when
appropriate for meeting the needs of clients. Also NSBVI field staff have
received training in appropriate low-vision assessment techniques and
services for working with agency clients, especially the senior blind.
Because vision is such a commonly used sense, has been such a part of
the student's life, and has such social acceptance, the decision about when
to introduce visual techniques to a student and still use structured
discovery is critical. Introduce low-vision techniques too early and,
because of social acceptance and personal familiarity, a student will focus
on the visual techniques to the exclusion of nonvisual ones. When this
happens, he or she will never really come to understand that it is possible
to function without vision while using remaining vision to supplement and
enhance alternative techniques. This focus on visually based techniques and
devices can obscure the discovery that many activities are not best
addressed using visual techniques, but that the majority of daily tasks are
completed more efficiently, effectively, and safely using nonvisual
alternatives.
Informed choice is a critical aspect of successful rehabilitation,
and only a consumer who is fully knowledgeable about the complete range of
possible nonvisual and low-vision alternative techniques can make a truly
informed choice about which technique will best meet his or her needs in a
given situation. The only way to be truly informed about nonvisual
techniques is by developing a true mastery of these skills so that a fair
comparison can be made with the more familiar visually based skills. The
development of the new nonvisual alternatives is unlikely if the student is
provided with appealing low-vision techniques before the nonvisual
techniques are fully developed, since the consumer is likely to assume
mistakenly that no further skill development is needed. For this reason the
Nebraska Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired emphasizes the
development of nonvisual skills before low-vision alternatives are
introduced. Throughout this process individual needs and abilities are
considered, and the approaches to training are adjusted through informed
choice so that these needs are most appropriately met.
Center training, for example, is a choice, which is intended to
assist consumers to develop the highest level of proficiency in the
complete complement of nonvisual skills, therefore low-vision training and
devices are simply not a part of this program. A student who makes the
choice to use low-vision-based alternatives has access, through the agency,
to a qualified low-vision specialist, home-based instruction, and other
training resources. Developing effective nonvisual techniques through
structured-discovery learning can actually enhance an individual's use of
low-vision because using nonvisual techniques like the long white cane to
avoid obstacles can free the person's vision to locate useful landmarks at
a distance or observe the movements of other pedestrians. Also the highly
developed problem-solving skills that result from structured-discovery
learning can directly improve an individual's ability to learn to use
available visual information more efficiently and effectively.
Being blind really means that a person does not have reliable
eyesight; therefore he or she needs to devise an effective and efficient
set of alternative techniques in order to perform daily tasks successfully.
People with some usable vision and a highly refined set of nonvisual skills
can seamlessly transition from visually based techniques to those that do
not require vision whenever conditions prevent use of their vision. Those
who rely primarily on low-vision techniques may not have the ability to
adapt effectively or safely to conditions that are poorly suited to the use
of their limited eyesight. Rehabilitation is successful when our students
leave training knowing both the alternative skills of blindness and the
best way to optimize their remaining vision and so are able to integrate
them into a skillset that makes dealing with blindness second nature,
leaving our graduates empowered and ready to take on whatever challenges
the world presents.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Robert Jaquiss examines an enlarged resin Braille coin
created with an Objet 3D printer.]
[PHOTO CAPTION: Robert Jaquiss holds gears made in a Stratasys 3D printer
and a wrench created by the same machine.]
Advanced Technology for Producing Tactile Materials
by Robert Jaquiss
From the Editor: Robert Jaquiss is an access technology specialist at
the International Braille and Technology Center for the Blind. He has a
strong interest in tactile graphics. The following article provides a great
starting point for those who need to know about this important subject.
This is what he says:
This article briefly discusses the need for and describes
technologies that can be used to produce tactile materials. Some pricing is
included for the equipment discussed, but it is subject to change.
Tactile materials have been used to educate the blind since the late
eighteenth century. Blind and visually disabled students are challenged
when studying science, technology, engineering, mathematics, social
sciences, and the arts. Sighted students have access to a wide variety of
images in books, videos, and the Internet, but blind students must rely on
text or verbal descriptions or the occasional tactile graphic. Adding to
the difficulty faced by these students is the fact that depictions of three-
dimensional objects in two dimensions can be difficult to understand.
Consider the structures of molecules in chemistry; anatomical
structures; the shapes of vehicles--aircraft, boats, ships or spacecraft;
simple and complex geometric forms; the shapes of dwellings used by
indigenous populations like tipis, hogans, yurts, etc.; and archeological,
anthropological, and other cultural artifacts. For some of these examples
it is possible to purchase commercially available models. Kits exist for
demonstrating the structures of molecules by assembling three-dimensional
shapes representing atoms and connecting them with rods. Model shops can
provide models of various vehicles, aircraft, etc. But, if a model cannot
be easily obtained, what alternatives do educators have?
Producing tactile materials has until recently been a labor-intensive
process. In the last few years, however, computerized techniques and
advances in technology have made it possible to produce tactile materials
with much greater speed. It is now easy to produce materials with complex
shapes and even moving parts.
Commonly Available Technologies
Tactile materials are currently produced in a variety of ways;
collage, thermoform, capsule paper, and embossers with graphic
capabilities. Capsule paper and embossers have made it possible to produce
line and shaded images rapidly. These techniques are useful and will
continue to be used. New technologies, however, offer the possibility of
producing materials unimaginable a few years ago.
New Technologies
The following new technologies, collectively known as Rapid
Prototyping (RP), fall into two basic categories: additive and subtractive.
Additive technologies, as the name implies, add material to a substrate.
Subtractive technologies remove material from a block or sheet of material.
Both are computer-based and require the use of graphical design software.
When creating an object, computer software converts a model into layers. In
turn each layer is processed to create an actual model. The capabilities of
RP equipment are measured in terms of build envelope and layer thickness.
Build envelope refers to how large a model the equipment can create. For
example, a machine with a build envelope of 10 by 8 by 6 inches could
create models ten inches long, eight inches wide, and six inches high.
Layer thickness is how thick each model's layer is. Thinner layers make it
possible to produce models with finer details and better surface finish.
Additive Technologies
All but one of the devices in this category produce three-dimensional
models. Some produce models intended to show concepts or to be used as
casting patterns. Others produce usable plastic parts. The devices
described below are priced beginning at $1,800. Some of the lower-cost
devices are already finding their way into schools and are used by students
studying Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CADCAM).
The more expensive devices are feasible only for businesses, large schools,
regional centers, or state agencies.
Roland LEC Printers
The Roland LEC family of printers produces tactile images including
Braille, large print, and colored images. These printers are intended for
use by signmakers, package designers, and anyone else needing to produce
large images. The LEC-330 can print images up to twenty-nine inches wide on
sheet-fed or roll-fed material. An included cutter and creaser allows for
the cutting of parts in various shapes. Package designers use this device
to print and cut out a piece of tagboard that can be folded into a box,
thus creating a 3D object.
The LEC printer deposits ultraviolet-cured ink which can be printed
in layers, and therefore the images can have a tactile feel. Braille
characters are available as a font, so Braille is easy to produce. The LEC
can handle applications needing different-sized dots or different spacing
of the Braille dots with no problem. For example, Micro Braille such as
that used in Japan is easily produced.
The LEC-330 can print one hundred square feet per hour, price:
$60,000.
The LEC-540 is, as its model number implies, a larger machine,
capable of producing images up to fifty-two inches wide, price: $70,000.
The LEF-12 is a small printer and can produce images twelve inches
square on sheets or objects up to four inches thick. The LEF-12 is targeted
at the awards industry, price: $30,000.
3D Systems
3D Systems produces a wide variety of RP devices. These range from
low-end equipment intended for schools to large, industrial-sized machines.
The best known of 3D Systems' technologies is stereolithography (STL). The
process starts with a vat of liquid photo-curing epoxy. A platform in the
vat is close to the surface of the epoxy. A computer-guided laser beam
exposes part of the epoxy at the surface, solidifying it. After the first
layer is created, the platform lowers slightly, flooding the area above the
solidified layer with fresh epoxy. The process continues until the model
has been created. The finished model is extracted from the vat, cleaned of
excess epoxy, and then cured in an oven. The parts produced have a smooth,
glossy finish.
Selective laser sintering (SLS) uses powdered material deposited in
layers. After a layer of powder is deposited, a computer-guided laser heats
selected areas to fuse the powder to form a solid layer. The process
continues until the part is formed. SLS parts have a slightly rough finish.
3D Systems recently acquired SolidScape, which makes machines
renowned for their fine detail. SolidScape machines use wax to create parts
that can be used in lost wax casting.
3D Systems also recently acquired ZCorp, whose machines are known for
their higher build speed. Zcorp models are created using layers of powder
fused with liquid from an inkjet printer head. ZCorp models are often
infiltrated with epoxy or other material to strengthen them.
The lower-cost 3D Systems products are suitable for schools and small
businesses. The larger, higher-priced equipment is suitable only for large
institutions or large businesses. Prices range from $5,000 for the Cube,
which can create small objects, to nearly half a million for large,
industrial-sized machines.
MakerBot Industries
MakerBot offers the Replicator machine that can create plastic parts.
The Replicator is targeted at the home hobbyist market. Its build envelope
is 8.9 by 5.7 by 5.9 inches. Layer thickness 0.2-0.3 millimeters. Price:
$1,749 and up, depending on options.
Mcor Technologies
The Mcor Technologies Matrix 300 printer uses laminated object
modeling (LOM) to create parts. A layer of paper is laid down and then
scored. Subsequent layers are bonded together and scored. The result is a
block. Excess paper can be removed, leaving the part. The parts have a
woodlike feel. The build envelope is 10 by 8 by 5 inches. A major advantage
of the Mcor system is the very low cost of consumables. The machine uses
new, nonrecycled twenty-pound copier paper. Models can be left as is or
dipped in a material similar to superglue to strengthen them.
The Matrix 300 printer is suitable for use in schools and small
businesses. Mcor Technologies has an unusual pricing scheme. The price
includes enough glue and cutter blades to run the unit for 365 days. Price
for one year: $18,500 plus $4,000 shipping and training.
Objet
Objet machines are known for producing models with fine details.
Objet printers use PolyJet technology. Liquid polymer is deposited and
immediately cured with UV light. A gel support material is also deposited,
making it possible to create complex geometries. The gel support material
is washed away after the part is completed. The Connex family of Objet
printers uses PolyJet Matrix technology and can deposit two different
materials simultaneously. For example, it is possible to create plastic
parts with rubber surfaces. The Objet 24 is suitable for larger schools or
small businesses. The Connex 500 is suitable only for larger organizations.
Objet 24, build envelope: 9.45 by 7.87 by 5.9 inches, layer thickness: 28
microns. Price: $30,000.
Eden 350V, build envelope: 13.7 by 13.7 by 7.8 inches, layer thickness: 16
microns. Price: $158,000.
Connex 500, build envelope: 19.7 by 15.7 by 7.9 inches, layer thickness: 16
microns. Price: $266,000.
Stratasys
Stratasys machines deposit two different materials: ABS plastic and a
support material, a soluble plastic. The materials are deposited as hot
droplets. Stratasys calls this technology fused deposition modeling (FDM).
When the soluble-supporting material is dissolved, the model is ready for
use, so it is easy to create models with moving parts. Using ABS plastic
allows creation of a fully functional model that can be used as actual
parts. Stratasys machines range from small machines for schools to large
industrial-sized machines capable of building models 24-by-36-by-24 inches.
The higher-end Stratasys machines can deposit other materials such as
polycarbonate.
Dimension BST 1200es: $24,900
Dimension SST 1200es: $32,900
Build envelope: 10 by 10 by 12 inches.
Layer thickness: 0.013 inches.
Subtractive Process
The subtractive process starts with a block of material from which
material is removed to create the finished object. The most common means
for doing this is to use a computer numerically controlled (CNC) milling
machine. Two examples are the 2BOT and the Roland family of milling
machines. These machines create debris that must be vacuumed from the
machine.
2BOT
The 2BOT accepts a block of material up to 12 by 12 by 2 inches and
can cut foam, balsawood, and machineable wax. The 2BOT is unique in that
the block of material is loaded into a frame that slides into the 2BOT like
a drawer. A cover encloses the work area, creating a safe machine. The 2BOT
has a high-speed cutter that closely resembles a drill bit. The cutter
removes unwanted material from the block. If the model is to be cut on both
sides, the frame is removed and flipped over so that the back side of the
model can be completed. The finished piece is still attached to the frame
by small tabs of material that can easily be removed. The 2BOT is fast and
can make models quickly. The downside to this speed is that the models lack
fine detail. The 2BOT is easy to use and is being marketed to schools and
to those who want concept models. The low cost of materials makes the 2BOT
very attractive to schools. Price: $11,000
Roland MDX40A
The Roland MDX40A accepts blocks of material 12 by 12 by 4 inches and
can cut foam, acrylic, wood, machineable wax, and soft metals such as brass
and aluminum. Because the Roland machines accept different size cutters, it
is possible to create models with very fine detail. The MDX40A is also
enclosed for safety. The workpiece is mounted on a table that moves back
and forth. The cutter moves from side to side. Dowel pins can be used to
align the workpiece if it is necessary to cut both sides of the model. The
MDX40A is much slower than the 2BOT. The benefit is that it produces
extremely well-finished parts. The MDX40A is more versatile in what it can
do. Roland has other milling machines such as the MDX20 for small parts and
the MDX540 for larger parts. The low cost of materials makes the MDX40A
very attractive to schools. Price: $9,000
Using RP Equipment
Designing a model from scratch requires the use of computer-aided
design (CAD) software. AutoCAD and ArtCAM are two well-known software
packages. Google's SketchUp is a much simpler software package.
It is also possible to find free files online or purchase files of
models. Common file formats include OBJ, STL and DXF. A short list of
libraries is:
1. 3D Science.com; this site, operated by Zygote Media Group, sells
science-related models, <http://www.3Dscience.com>.
2. Flat Pyramid; Flat Pyramid sells a wide variety of 3D models,
<http://www.flatpyramid.com/3D-models>.
3. Google Sketchup 3D Warehouse; this site has a wide variety of files
contributed by the general public,
<http://sketchup.google.com/3Dwarehouse>.
4. SolidWorks; this site has a wide variety of hardware and mechanical
parts, <http://www.3Dcontentcentral.com>.
5. Castle Island Co.; Castle Island Company has an extensive list of model
repositories, <http://www.additive3D.com/sw1_lks.htm>.
By its nature CAD software is graphical and is not very accessible
except to blind people who can use screen magnification. I am totally blind
and have used some of the software supplied by Roland for operating the
Roland MDX40A, milling machine. It is possible to open and send files to
the milling machine. It is also possible to set up the MDX40A without
sighted assistance. In addition, I have printed images, scanned them with a
scanner, and then created an engraved copy. I used this technique to create
large images of the 2009 Louis Braille coin.
There are devices for scanning 3D objects. Like document scanners, 3D
scanners create datafiles usable by various CAD applications. Some 3D
scanners resemble microwave ovens. The object is placed on a rotating table
and scanned as the table turns. Other scanners are like cameras and mount
on tripods. Given the appropriate technology, it is possible to scan
objects with details as fine as those on coins or as large as Mount
Rushmore.
Conclusion
This article describes a number of options for producing three-
dimensional models and is intended to provide a starting point for anyone
interested in this subject. Use of three-dimensional models will enhance
learning for both blind or visually disabled students and their sighted
peers.
A MakerBot Replicator has been ordered for the IBTC, and a Roland
MDX40A milling machine will follow in the future. What will we do with this
equipment? We will create some sample models to show to those visiting the
IBTC. We will make models to support the educational programs conducted by
the Jernigan Institute. And of course we will demonstrate this equipment to
our visitors. Inkprint printers and Braille embossers put our words on
paper. In the same way RP technology will make images real.
Company Contact Information
Listed below are the companies mentioned in this article and their contact
information:
2BOT physical Modeling Technologies
17455 NE 67th Court, Ste 110
Redmond, WA 98052
Phone: (425) 869-5035
Fax: (425) 484-6472
Email: info at 2bot.com
Website: <http://www.2bot.com>
3D Systems Corporation
333 Three D Systems Circle
Rock Hill, SC 29730
Phone: (803) 326-3900
Website: <http://www.3Dsystems.com>
MakerBot Industries LLC
87 3rd Ave.
Brooklyn, NY USA 11217
Website: <http://www.makerbot.com>
Mcor Technologies
Unit 1, IDA Business Park
Ardee Road, Dunleer,
Co. Louth, Ireland
+353 41 6862800
info at mcortechnologies.com
Website: <www.mcortechnologies.com>
Objet Inc.
5 Fortune Drive
Billerica, MA 01821
Phone: (877) 489-9449
Fax: (866) 676-1533
Website: <http://www.objet.com>
Roland DGA Corporation
15363 Barranca Parkway
Irvine, California 92618
Phone: (949) 727-2100
Toll free: (800) 542-2307
Website: <http://www.rolanddga.com>
Stratasys Inc.
7665 Commerce Way
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Phone: (800) 937-3010
(952) 937-3000
(888) 480-3548 (Information Line)
Fax: (952) 937-0070
Website: <http://www.stratasys.com>
Additional Useful Information
Tactile Pictures: Pictorial Representations for the Blind, 1784-1940
Author: Yvonne Eriksson
Publisher: ACTA Universitatis Gothoburgensis (January 1998)
ISBN-10: 9173463299
ISBN-13: 9789173463294
BST systems require users manually to remove plastic support material.
Models with moving parts cannot be created.
SST systems use a liquid bath to remove support material. Models with
moving parts can be created.
Autocad website: <http://usa.autodesk.com/autocad/>
ArtCam website: <http://www.artm.com>
Google SketchUp website: <http://sketchup.google.com>
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Chris Kuell]
Just Their Dad
by Chris Kuell
From the Editor: The following article appeared in the Winter 2012
Minnesota Bulletin, a publication of the NFB of Minnesota. It is what all
blind parents hope for as we seek to raise our blind children and influence
them and those around them about our capabilities. This article begins with
the editor's note from the Bulletin:
Editor's Note: This is the winner of the 2011 Metro Chapter essay
contest.
I received a great report from my daughter's kindergarten teacher
this morning. Not that it was a surprise, but good to hear nonetheless. The
teacher came over to me as Grace was busy putting away her coat and
backpack in her cubby. She said, "Grace is such a great kid. Her reading
skills have just skyrocketed in the last month. She is really getting it.
And all the kids love her. I'll be sad when she moves on to first grade."
Beaming with pride, I thanked her, made some small talk, and hugged
Grace before walking my son to his third-grade class. There was a rousing
"Hello Mr. Kuell!" as his teacher greeted me. "Did Nick tell you he was the
Multiplication King?" the teacher asked. I informed her that indeed he had,
and then I gave him a hug and was on my way.
Heading down the long hallway towards the door, I heard a small voice
to my side say "What's that?"
Hearing no other response, I assumed the kid was talking to me. "This
thing?" I responded. "This is my cane."
"What's it for?" asked the inquisitive voice.
Knowing I had only a minute before reaching the exit, I gave the
simple answer, "My eyes don't work. I use the cane to feel where I am
going."
"You can't see anything?" came the astonished youngster's response.
"Nope, nothing," I answered.
"Oh" said the child. A few steps later, the kid gave me a cheery
"Bye." I bid him good-bye, and then headed out of the school into the fresh
air.
When I lost my sight four years ago, I never could have envisioned
such a pleasant drop-off. Amid the anxiety of losing my sight, my job, and
my career, I felt helpless regarding raising the children. When my daughter
was born, I was blind in one eye but the other could see what a beauty she
was. By Christmas that same year everything was a blur for me; I couldn't
really make out what gifts were what. For the first time I couldn't see the
joy on my kids' faces as they opened their loot. My vision was really going
downhill. I needed surgery on my better eye a few months later, and, while
I was hopeful, there was still lingering doubt. On the day before the
operation, I tried to hold my daughter still, and I got about four inches
from her face to try to see her as best I could. Being a kid, she thought I
was playing, so she squirmed and rolled, and I never did get a good look at
her. My son had just turned five at the time, and he was a little more
cooperative. That was the last time I ever saw my children visually.
So how does one move from this heart-wrenching melodrama to the nice
morning I had today? How can a blind parent help to educate his or her
children and give a positive impression to others? It's not that hard. The
answer is through persistence, creativity, and a positive attitude.
You have to believe you can do it. This is fairly logical--thousands
of other people do it every day. You have to work at the essential blind
skills; they are necessary to do what you want to in life, plus mastering
them will build your confidence for tackling new stuff. And you have to be
creative. Unless you have a blind friend at your side 24/7, you are going
to have to figure stuff out on your own. Remember, necessity is the mother
of invention.
My wife and I both worked with our son to teach him the alphabet and
basic phonics, and at age four he was beginning to read simple things. Now
he excels at all his schoolwork, which we attribute to his early reading.
So, when Grace turned three, I tried to figure out a way that we could give
her the same head start. I took some old business cards and wrote a letter
in bold marker on the back of the card. I used my slate and stylus to make
the letter in Braille, so in effect I made blind-friendly flash cards. We
used to play games in which she would memorize the letters. After she got
the upper-case letters down, we did lower case and started working on
sounds. This took a while longer, but soon she caught on. A year or so ago
I started making word cards, emphasizing families of sounds. For example,
at, cat, bat, rat, and sat are the "at" family. We also worked on the
basic, much-encountered words like the, and, but, you, etc. In time she
developed a good sight vocabulary. My wife and son often read with her, and
together we listened to books on tape. As her teacher said, in the last
month everything has really started to click, and she is reading.
I taught both my son and daughter basic addition and subtraction at
the kitchen table and in the bathtub. I started by having them learn to
count-fingers and toes, crackers, whatever. Then in the kitchen I'd give
them a few grapes, have them count them, then give them some more and count
again. This quickly evolved into an addition game. After that came
subtraction. If I gave them twelve cheese doodles and they ate seven, how
many were left? This stuff was reinforced during bath time when I quizzed
them with problems and they tried to answer both correctly and quickly. My
son is very good at doing math in his head, while Grace is still relying on
her fingers a lot. But that is OK; she understands the concepts and can do
problems more and more without manipulatives. By a combination of a lot of
innate intelligence and bathtub grilling, Nicholas has memorized the
multiplication table and now reigns king of the third grade.
Finding games to play with kids takes a bit of imagination and a lot
of patience. Playing with cars and trucks, setting up blocks and bowling
them over with a tennis ball just came naturally for me. Doing arts and
crafts is a little trickier, but I have a sighted memory of most things, so
with a pad of colored construction paper, some scissors, and white glue we
can create just about anything. Both of my kids and I love playing cards,
which is possible using Braille playing cards. I don't know too many card
games, and I soon became weary of Go Fish. So at a very early age my kids
learned to play poker, which provided a natural opportunity to work once
again on their math skills.
The possibilities for learning and having fun with kids as a blind or
visually impaired adult are limited only by your desire and imagination. My
kids are well adjusted and smart and overall just great people. They bring
me a great deal of pride and help me in many ways to become a better
person. I honestly believe I would not have come as far as I have if not
for the challenge of being a good dad to Nick and Grace. To them I'm not a
blind guy or the man with the long white stick; I'm just their dad, and a
very lucky one at that.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Marianne Dunn]
The Gift of Giving
The Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest: A Parent's Perspective
by Marianne Dunn
From the Editor: Marianne Dunn is the parent of a blind child who
wrote to thank the National Federation of the Blind for the work we are
doing for her blind daughter and for all who are blind. Not only is her
article a wonderful testament to what we try to do, but it captures the
spirit of giving that is necessary for us to continue to grow, both
individually and organizationally. Here is what she says:
I am the parent of twin teenagers who are blind due to retinopathy of
prematurity. Elizabeth and Michael are now fifteen years old, and each has
had the opportunity to attend programs at the Jernigan Institute over the
past year. Most recently Elizabeth, who likes to be called Lizzie, has
participated in the Braille Readers Are Leaders Community Service Award
competition, which recognizes the use of Braille in community service.
Regardless of whether she receives this honor, she has been a winner many
times over in ways far more important than she or I could have imagined. As
a result Lizzie and I have both felt compelled to write about this
experience from our positions as parent and contestant. We've chosen the
title "The Gift of Giving," to convey our personal experience of what we
have come to learn is one of the key tenets of the NFB's mission in
advancing the capabilities of blind people and in correcting misconceptions
about blindness.
By way of background, we are relative newcomers to the NFB. I had
heard of the organization growing up because it was one that my parents
supported as veterans of WWII, aware of soldiers returning home with
blindness. It was also familiar because I grew up in a Baltimore suburb
before my family relocated to Michigan. Though it's fascinating to observe
the way life builds connections for us, I could never have predicted that
blindness or the NFB would come to factor so significantly in my life or
the lives of my children.
My awareness of the NFB remained fairly remote when my children were
young. In Michigan we are fortunate to have two groups that support parents
of blind children: POBC and MPVI or Michigan Parents of Children with
Visual Impairment. For a variety of reasons my primary affiliation as a
parent of blind children has been with MPVI though we have attended a few
NFB of Michigan state conventions over the years and have enjoyed many
friendships with adult Federationists.
Though membership in the NFB was years off, the Federation spirit was
beginning to be formed quite early for Lizzie and Michael. As preschoolers
they joined me, along with Michigan Federationists like Fred and Mary
Wurtzel, to protest at Michigan State University in an effort to reverse
the school's decision to close its premier training program for teachers of
the visually impaired. Michael and Lizzie, huddled together in their Burley
stroller, could be heard shouting, "We've got Braille; we need teachers!"
While I consider myself fortunate in the support I found through my
affiliation with MPVI, as my children have grown, the focus has shifted
appropriately from my needs as their parent to their own needs in becoming
stronger self-advocates and independent young adults. They now assume more
of the decisions for the paths their lives will take and for the identity
they wish to form as members of the community of blind adults.
Enter the NFB. Lizzie attended the LAW [Leadership and Advocacy in
Washington] Program last April, returning home more inspired than ever to
champion the cause of those facing unfair treatment or prejudice. She had
taken part in the Michigan Youth in Government program, but the opportunity
to advocate at the national level was a thrill for her. We are strong
social justice advocates, and her participation at LAW reinforced this.
Michael attended the Computer Science Academy last October and was struck
by the personal interest that both President Maurer and Mark Riccobono
conveyed to him and other attendees in ensuring that the goals of the
Federation apply in a direct way to them as blind youth. It is evident that
the Federation's goals of self-determination and advocacy are becoming more
fully integrated for them both.
Lizzie and Michael attend East Grand Rapids High School, which ranks
consistently among the top performing schools in the nation. This coming
fall every student will be using a digital device such as a laptop, iPad,
etc., in class to augment instruction. Both Lizzie and Michael had
questions for their principal regarding the accessibility of the
instructional sites that will be used in the classroom. They have decided
to draft a letter to each member of our school board and send it along with
a copy of the joint letter from the Departments of Justice and Education,
(DCL, 2010), requiring that technology be accessible in K-12 as well as
postsecondary education. It was through the NFB that we learned about this
communiqué, and we received a copy of it from Jernigan Institute Director
of Education Natalie Shaheen. Lizzie and Michael will follow up their
letter with a presentation to the school board to ensure that members are
apprised of existing law as it relates to technology and web-instruction at
East Grand Rapids. It is exciting for a parent to witness such self-
advocacy. However, I'm not certain that Michael and Lizzie would feel as
empowered as they do regarding their plan had they not attended programs at
the NFB and experienced first-hand the value the organization places on
them as young blind adults deserving of equality in all aspects of life,
but especially in their education.
When we learned of the Community Service portion of the BRAL [Braille
Readers Are Leaders] Contest last fall, Lizzie decided to enter and share
some of the ways she engages in service activities, given that service to
others through church and community affiliations has always been a priority
for our family. The idea of focusing on the use of Braille in these
activities was exciting to Lizzie. She and her twin brother are musicians
(Lizzie a pianist/composer and Michael a pianist/bagpiper), so they have
performed at countless fundraising events over the years, making in-kind
donations of their time and talent. The difference I have observed for
Lizzie as a result of the BRAL Contest is that she has acquired a new way
of looking at these and other acts of service in which she engages. She
felt empowered for example, by demonstrating her proficiency with the
Braille Music Code to stunned observers, who were clearly impressed by the
fact that the blind community has developed its own methods of recording
and performing music. As a lector in our church, both she and fellow
parishioners gained greater appreciation for the importance of Braille in
allowing her to participate more fully by reading scripture from the
display on her BrailleNote Apex. A subtle but profound shift in her
identity as a young blind woman has been taking place.
Lizzie also served as statistician for her high school girls field
hockey team last fall. She used Braille to record all manner of statistics,
relayed to her by team members from the bench. Compiling and organizing
these data, she then emailed to her coaches a more complete set of game
statistics than they ever expected to receive. Team spirit and unity were
strengthened as players relayed to Lizzie the action on the field, and a
new appreciation for the commonalities between them sprouted. As we all
know, one of the most powerful ways to break down barriers of
misunderstanding is to experience how similar we are to someone we
previously thought of as different.
All of these I consider to be gifts of giving. However, they pale in
comparison to the experience for Lizzie of receiving letters from the six
different adults who observed or recorded her acts of community service.
The Contest requires letters to be submitted by individuals familiar with
the community service activity of the contestant. One by one, as these
letters of recommendation were received and read, Lizzie felt proud of
course, but, more noteworthy, she learned of the significant impact her
efforts had had on others and the extent to which these were noted and
valued. The contributions she had made became much more tangible and real
because of the words of praise and appreciation those letters contained. I
observed a shift in the way she viewed herself and what she has to offer to
those around her. She has written of the experience and hopes to share with
others.
For my part, I am writing to convey the perspective of the parent of
blind children and the gratitude I feel for the ways that the NFB lives out
its commitment to our blind youth, making gifts to our children of their
own time, talent, and treasure, ensuring that a better world and better
life lie before them. Through this experience of the BRAL Community Service
Award competition, I have come to appreciate more fully how the act of
service and the giving of one's self is particularly empowering for the
individuals, such as blind people, who are often perceived by society as
requiring aid, assistance, even pity, instead of as the fully participating
and contributing community members they can be. I believe the act of
choosing to give of oneself is a profound statement of self-worth and
serves to equalize one's position with those around him or her, changing
attitudes and perceptions in the only way they can be changed, through
action, not just words.
As I consider it, I am struck by the observation that service to
others is one of the few areas in a blind person's life not restricted by
the barriers and misconceptions of society. There is no need for
legislation or regulation to ensure the right to engage in acts of kindness
and service to one's community. It is liberating to embrace such a notion,
and it is what I have discovered is alive and well in the NFB. I am humbled
by the commitment shown to my children and all blind youth and the sincere
intention, through action, of paving a better way for those coming after.
The investment in the future of a blind child is no small gift to a parent.
I find great comfort in knowing the Federation will be there, not only to
foster the goals of independence, but also to shepherd the philosophy of
service. Selfless giving is truly a measure of high character, and it comes
from a place of humility born of genuine self-worth and personal confidence-
-all part of the mission and intention embodied in the NFB as we have come
to experience it.
So, while Lizzie was doing the giving, it was she who garnered the
gift. Likewise, as her parent I have been given a far more substantial
appreciation of the commitment of the members of the NFB to my children and
all blind youth; of the many members who dutifully support the
organization, sometimes stretching their budgets, so that the blind youth
of tomorrow will be better prepared for a life of independence and self-
sufficiency, ready to give back to their communities through service
alongside their sighted neighbors and coworkers. It's not only a gift, it's
every parent's dream.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Lizzie Kazmierski]
The Gift of Giving
The Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest: The Student Perspective
by Elizabeth Kazmierski
>From the Editor: Now here is Lizzie's view of the story:
I have always had the opportunity to share good deeds with others in
many places and many ways. I hope that these everyday-life contributions
encourage feelings of giving. This year I participated in the Braille
Readers Are Leaders Contest, for the Community Service Award. I heard about
it from news we get because my twin brother and I are members of the NFB
and have been to Baltimore for programs for blind students. One of my first
full contributions to the NFB was performing an original composition for
piano entitled "Summit," written for Erik Weihenmayer, the blind mountain
climber. It was recorded on the first Sound in Sight compilation by the NFB
Performing Arts Division. I had the opportunity to play the piece for Erik
at a fundraiser in Detroit in 2006. As a composer, I write most of my
pieces for others who have touched my life, especially involving blindness.
In April of last year I participated in the LAW [Leadership and
Advocacy in Washington] Program at the Jernigan Institute, during which I
advocated for the Technology Bill of Rights for the Blind to congressional
staffers. My group members and I went from office to office discussing the
bill. A month ago I got to put the skills I learned at LAW into practice,
because of our governor's decision to abolish the Michigan Commission for
the Blind. We marched with members of the NFB of Michigan and the Michigan
Parents of the Visually Impaired outside the governor's office for a
protest, and then we visited senators and representatives to make the views
of the NFB known. I was even able to help some adults talk to legislators.
It was powerfully nice to use the skills I learned through the LAW Program
in a very important way.
Last fall I chose to participate in my high school girls' field hockey
team as a statistician. The other girls would give me details about plays,
penalties, and substitutions; then I would record these details on my
BrailleNote. Being part of the team, I was included in every activity, and
I helped out while the parents and coaches learned about Braille and how
blind people could take part in the team. As a teenager might say, "It was
awesome," when the team formed a huddle with their sticks up and I held up
my cane too, feeling part of the team. This experience was enjoyable for me
and everyone who saw me copying down every little detail in Braille.
During the spring of last year I helped to raise money for the
American Cancer Society by playing piano at a restaurant in our town and
also displaying Braille music to the public. All of the people who watched
thought of the alternative Braille code as impressive, and it was a lot of
fun showing them about reading Braille music.
Another activity I did as part of the Community Service Award contest
was reading Bible excerpts for the weekday service at our church. The
people in our congregation and the priest were delighted to see me reading
the lines of important text as it ran across the display of my BrailleNote
Apex and speaking out to spread the Word. In the priest's letter he wrote
for the contest, Father Jim talked about how touched he was to see me take
in simple words through my fingers, and then breathe out a scripture,
communicating the important message it had to say.
These were some of the activities I participated in for the Braille
Readers Are Leaders Community Service Award. I had to have letters of
recommendation from people who knew about the various service activities I
did. Each of these people emphasized the importance of my spirit in the
process of using Braille to help other people. It made me feel proud to
read the letters, and the words also encouraged me to think of other ways I
could help out in my community to eliminate barriers put up by people who
do not know blindness as I see it. I hope my service pays forward and
inspires other people, but it was neat to get paid back with letters in
which almost every word was a compliment. I'm glad the NFB has a contest
that promotes service and using Braille, especially because people can
learn more about what blind individuals are capable of and what they can
accomplish. When we give to other people, gifts get paid back to us in
return.
----------
Mobility on a College Campus
by Sherry Frank
From the Editor: Sherry Frank is a mobility instructor in
Pennsylvania. Like many other travel teachers she frequently works with
incoming college students to master their new campuses. The following
article describes a problem becoming more and more common. She does not
offer a solution, and indeed probably no one solution is possible.
Confidence and creativity, as always, lie at the heart of every mobility
solution. That said, it is useful to consider her point that accessible
spaces for people with orthopedic impairments are generally less accessible
for travelers using white canes and guide dogs. This is what she says:
Learning to travel independently around an unfamiliar college campus
is challenging, even for a skilled veteran cane traveler. Recently a
graduate student needed to be oriented to a new college campus, and, though
she was an expert independent traveler, this proved to be complicated and
extremely frustrating. The university in question is rated #5 on the list
of most handicapped-accessible universities in the U.S. However, as this
student observed, handicapped-accessible refers primarily to wheelchairs,
and, if an environment is wheelchair accessible, it tends to be visually
impaired inaccessible.
In order to make an area wheelchair accessible, architects create
lots of wide open spaces so that wheelchairs will not bump into obstacles.
On the streets they make wide curb cuts so that the chairs can cross the
street more easily and in more places. Sidewalks are often as wide as ten
feet or more, and tend to run seamlessly into the street. Landmarks are
frequently removed because they get in the way of wheelchairs. Blind
travelers use landmarks to maintain orientation as they travel. Examples
are trees, street signs, trash cans, sidewalks with grass shorelines, etc.
The college student with whom I was working needed to travel to a
building a long way down one street. She found that her only sensible
option was to follow the curb. She learned to count the curb cuts along the
way in order to find her destination. This was difficult, however, because
some of the curb cuts were twenty to thirty feet long. When she came close
to the building she was looking for, she could usually rely on traffic
sounds, the voices of students, and the sounds of doors opening and closing
to provide directional guidance to the building's entrance. However, these
cues were often absent between classes and in the evenings.
This student learned to find her way from her dormitory to the
student center, dining hall, classroom buildings, and bus stop. Negotiating
this college campus was challenging for her to learn and for me to teach.
Ironically, we both concluded that it would have been a great deal easier
for a visually impaired traveler to negotiate a campus that was not
handicapped accessible. The time has surely come for students, faculty, and
university administrators to work together with engineers and landscape
designers to devise ways to provide cues for blind travelers that do not
complicate the lives of wheelchair users as well as barrier-free pathways
that do not provide hazards to blind travelers.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Cheryl Echevarria]
Cheryl Echevarria Founder, Echevarria Travel-Advocate for the Blind
by Beverly Fortune
From the Editor: Cheryl Echevarria demonstrates every day that blind
people can and do live full and satisfying lives. On February 15, 2012, the
Long Island Press published a story about Cheryl and her life and business.
Here it is:
Cheryl Echevarria is blind and might not be able to sightsee like
everyone else, yet this intrepid Brentwood woman loves to travel. She
relies on her service dog Maxx; her heightened sense of smell, touch, and
sound; and the confidence that comes from traveling often.
Born with Type 1 diabetes, Cheryl was twenty-two years old when she
was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, a common diabetic eye disease that
is the leading cause of blindness in American adults. Her life changed
forever one night in 2001 when she was driving home from her job as an
administrative assistant and suddenly her vision became completely blurry.
"I had to pull over. I couldn't see."
Cheryl's doctor told her that, if her diabetes was affecting her
eyes, it would also affect other organs in her body. Subsequently her
kidneys began to fail as well. In 2002 she began kidney dialysis four hours
a day three times a week. Her treatments continued for three years until
she went through another life-altering experience when her friend Steve
Carroll donated a kidney to her.
Once Cheryl recuperated from the organ transplant, she was determined
to go back to work. During her dialysis treatments, she lost her sight
completely in one eye. She says her remaining sight is "like looking
through a telescope hole covered in thick plastic." She enrolled in a
training program provided by the New York State Commission for the Blind
and Visually Handicapped (CBVH), where she learned new job skills,
including how to use computer software for the blind. After completing the
program, she was ready for the next step in her recovery, which was to go
back to school. She began taking classes at Branford Hall Career Institute
in Bohemia and became the school's first blind student to graduate. She
found an administrative job in the healthcare field, where she worked for
two years.
Cheryl felt that she had lost ten years of her life being sick and
was ready to transition into a new career. She began scouring the Internet
for new connections. "I found the National Federation of the Blind online
and joined the Greater Long Island Chapter," she says. The NFB is the
largest nonprofit organization in the world for the blind that is operated
by the blind. Cheryl now serves as the treasurer of the chapter, adding
that all officers must be blind. "We are advocates for education,
employment, and accessibility," Cheryl says proudly. "We advocate for
ourselves; we don't hire anyone."
After searching through the Federation's resources, she decided that
becoming a travel agent would be a good career choice. She loved to travel,
and she could work from home. "I have a background in customer service and
sales, so this was a good fit," she says. After completing her job training
online, Cheryl started working through a host travel agency, confident that
becoming a travel agent was the right career move.
In 2009 Cheryl and her husband Nelson founded Echevarria Travel.
Cheryl says Nelson is an integral part of the agency and is the
photographer and videographer for the travel images used on its website.
"As far as I know, I'm the only blind travel agent in the tri-state area,"
she says. She was recently elected president of the NFB's Travel and
Tourism Division.
Cheryl's blindness has given her insight into the planning required
to ensure a pleasurable trip for her clients. Her agency offers services to
everyone, but her specialty is the traveler who is blind or on dialysis or
in a wheelchair or has had an organ transplant. As a survivor of all of
these illnesses, Cheryl is uniquely qualified to help them plan a trip. "I
know what disabled travelers need and the questions to ask them," she says.
"What's your degree of blindness? Do you use a cane?" If travel plans
include a cruise, she wants to know if the client can read Braille. "I ask
because not everyone does," she explains. "If they don't [read Braille], I
contact the cruise line and make sure they get a meet-and-greet and tour of
the ship so they can familiarize themselves with their surroundings," she
says. If they plan on traveling with a service animal, Cheryl explains that
they will need to go to their vet to get a health certificate and they need
to secure a permit to bring the animal into another country.
The cruise industry has taken notice of this newly mobile customer
base and is making vessels more accessible so sight-impaired travelers can
acclimate themselves quickly. Cheryl has been working closely with
Norwegian Cruise Lines and says she helped them introduce Braille menus on
their ships.
No two visually impaired people have the same level of functional
vision, so Cheryl helps her clients overcome some of the red tape they
might encounter to ensure that they have a good experience. All of this pre-
travel preparation includes additional paperwork that she helps her clients
complete as part of her services. Understanding the requirements and
information needed for traveling today is invaluable. As a travel advocate
and advisor for the blind, Cheryl has opened up a world of new experiences
for these sensory travelers that might have been out of reach before.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Laura Bostick]
Life in the Mainstream
2012 National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC)
Conference for Families and Teachers
by Laura Bostick
From the Editor: For many years now one of the most lively and
creative elements of our national conventions has been the group of
activities planned by the NOPBC for parents and teachers of blind children
and the youth activities that go with them. Here is NOPBC President Laura
Bostick's intriguing glimpse of the 2012 parent conference during our
national convention:
Every student can learn, just not on the same day or the same way.
George Evans
My daughter Lindsay began receiving early intervention services from
a teacher of blind students, an orientation and mobility specialist, an
occupational therapist, and an early childhood specialist when she was four
months old. When she turned three, she entered the public school system and
attended preschool programs for children with disabilities, where she
continued to receive services. By the time she entered kindergarten, she
was receiving an hour per day of Braille instruction. She's a bright,
curious child who loves to learn; she was in an excellent school district;
and she had caring teachers who truly wanted her to succeed. Things weren't
perfect, but I really wasn't too concerned. She was keeping up and making
good grades, and she seemed to be on track.
Imagine my surprise when she started falling behind. At the end of
second grade she was no longer reading on grade level. She lost confidence.
She didn't want to read aloud in class because her reading was so much
slower than that of the other kids. She began to say that she hated reading
and she hated school, and, when I asked her why, she told me that she
didn't think she was very smart. It broke my heart.
Lindsay's story is not unique. Many of our blind kids start out on
track and then fall behind. Countless others begin school with delays and
are told that being behind is normal for a visually impaired child. Why is
this slow progress accepted? If a child with normal eyesight began falling
behind, would a different set of questions be asked? Would a different set
of interventions be put in place?
At this year's conference, Life in the Mainstream, we'll examine the
strategies that are known to assist struggling sighted readers and explore
how these interventions can be applied to children with visual impairments.
For our younger children and those with multiple disabilities, we'll
examine movement and exploration, active learning, and items and ideas that
can facilitate learning at home and in school. We'll also take a look at
access to the newest technology, independent mobility, the skills of daily
life, tactile graphics, and other topics that can enable our children,
whatever their level, to be full participants in school and in the
community. In addition to activities for children and youth, we'll feature
our annual IEP workshops, recognition of our Braille Readers Are Leaders
Contest participants, and presentations by NASA, eminent leaders of the
National Federation of the Blind, and the winner of the Distinguished
Educator of Blind Children Award.
The 2012 NOPBC Conference, Life in the Mainstream, will take place at the
NFB national convention in Dallas, Texas, from June 30 to July 5. All
families and teachers of blind and visually impaired children are welcome,
and we have planned activities for everyone. Highlights for parents and
teachers include:
. Saturday, June 30: the full-day NOPBC Seminar with speakers,
workshops, activities for children and youth, and a family hospitality
meet-and-greet in the evening
. Sunday, July 1: Cane Walks and the Youth Fashion Show
. Monday, July 2: the NOPBC Annual Meeting, the Braille Book Fair, and
Dads' Night Out
. Tuesday, July 3: NOPBC IEP Workshops and other sessions in the evening
Hope to see you there!
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Preschoolers play with games on the floor in an NFB Camp
room.]
NFB Camp Convention Adventures
by Carla McQuillan
From the Editor: The childcare service at NFB conventions has for
many years now been known as NFB Camp. Here are a description of this
year's program, the schedule of camp hours, and various registration forms
and permission slips. If you are considering placing your youngsters in
childcare, please read the following information carefully and note that
the deadline for registration, assuming that capacity has not already been
reached, is June 15. Here is the information:
If you are between the ages of six weeks and twelve years, NFB Camp
is the place to be at national convention in Dallas. During meetings and
general convention sessions NFB Camp will be open for fun. Our camp rooms
are divided by age with toys and activities appropriate to the ages served
in each room. We have rooms for infants and toddlers, preschoolers, and
school-age children. The infants and toddlers spend much of their time in
the room with occasional walks around the hotel and stories read from
Braille books. The preschool group will enjoy Braille story time, a few
arts-and-craft projects, and small group play on the hotel lawns. The
school-age children will have special-guest presentations on writing
stories, science and technology, music and movement, and blind people
employed in various professions. In addition, we will have daily excursions
to the hotel lawns for outdoor games and water play.
Special Outdoor Activity
This year, on Tuesday, July 3, we will be bringing in a giant
inflatable obstacle course to explore and experience. The course will
include several obstacles to climb over, through, and around, ending in a
giant slide. This activity will be available for preschool and elementary-
aged children during the morning sessions.
Even non-campers are invited to join in.
Children who are not signed up for NFB Camp for the day may come
during the lunch break, 12:00-2:00, with the following conditions:
1) Children must be accompanied by an adult who stays the entire time
the child plays.
2) A waiver of responsibility must be signed by a parent or guardian
(available at NFB Camp and at the course site).
3) A fee of $1 per course run-through will be charged. Tickets may be
purchased at the NFB Camp desk before the event. Tickets can be purchased
on site, availability permitting.
4) Children must go through the course in stocking feet or barefoot.
5) NFB Camp reserves the right to deny participation to any individual
who poses a safety threat or concern.
Banquet Night
NFB Campers will enjoy their own banquet night activities beginning
with an evening meal. Afterwards the children will be dazzled by the exotic
animals of the Creature Teacher. Hairless guinea pigs, iguanas, and
hedgehogs are just a few of the animals in the Creature Teacher's hands in
this educational presentation. Immediately following the creature teacher's
lesson, the children will relax with a movie and popcorn.
NFB Workers
NFB Camp is under the supervision of Carla McQuillan, a longtime
member of the Federation. Carla is the executive director of Main Street
Montessori Association, operating three Montessori schools and a teacher
education program. She has directed NFB camp since 1996. Alison McQuillan
serves as the activities and staff coordinator for the camp. She monitors
the daily programs, drop-off and pick-up, staff-to-child ratios, and
ensures that only parents and authorized adults are allowed into camp
rooms.
Each of the three camp rooms has a supervisor who is responsible for
the activities of that age group. These leads are chosen because of their
experience and demonstrated capacity to handle groups of children and
workers. They are staff members of Carla's schools. Other workers and camp
volunteers are drawn from within the NFB. We usually have a mix of blind
and sighted teens and adults who trade off for the working shifts
throughout the week.
Blindness Professional on Staff
Michelle Chacon is a certified orientation and mobility instructor
and a teacher of blind children. She will be available throughout the week
to consult with parents and staff as well as to provide some individualized
instruction for our campers.
Babysitting List
NFB Camp maintains a list of people who are interested in providing
care outside of the scheduled hours for camp. The list is at the check-in
desk for NFB Camp. Parents are welcome to review names on the list if they
are in need of caregivers during off hours. NFB Camp and the National
Federation of the Blind are not responsible for the actions and behavior of
those on the babysitting list. We do not screen the people; we merely
maintain a central list for the convenience of convention attendees.
Preregistration
Because of the limited space we require that parents wishing to
enroll their children in NFB Camp complete and return the registration
forms to follow no later than June 15, 2012. You may also e-mail or call to
reserve your child(ren)'s space: <admin at mainstreetmontessori.org> or (541)
726-6924. Any questions can be directed to Carla McQuillan at the same
address, email, and phone.
NFB CAMP REGISTRATION FORM
Completed form and fees must be received on or before June 15, 2010.
Parent's Name________________________________________________
Address_____________________________________________________
City__________ State___________ Zip______ Phone _______________
Cell Phone _______________ Cell Phone _______________
Child(ren)'s Name(s)
___________________________ Age_____ Date of Birth___________
___________________________ Age_____ Date of Birth___________
___________________________ Age_____ Date of Birth___________
Include description of any disabilities or allergies we should know about:
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Who, other than parents, is allowed to pick up your child(ren)?__________
____________________________________________________________
Per Week: $100 first child, $75 per sibling; no. of children_____
$_________
(Does not include banquet)
Per Day: $25 per child per day
No. of Days_____ x $25 per child; no. of children _____ $_________
(Does not include banquet) S M T W TH (circle)
Banquet: $25 per child; no. of children _____ $_________
_____Turkey Sandwich _____Cheese Sandwich
We understand that NFB Camp is being provided as a service to make our
convention more enjoyable for both parents and children. We will pick up
children immediately following sessions. We understand that, if our
child(ren) does not follow the rules or if for any reason staff are unable
to care for our child(ren), further access to childcare will be denied.
Parent's Signature _____________________________________ Date
______________
Make checks payable to NFB Camp. Return form to NFB Camp, 5005 Main Street,
Springfield, OR 97478; (541) 726-6924; and <www.mainstreetmontessori.org>.
NFB Camp Schedule
NFB Camp will be open during general convention sessions, division and
committee meeting day, and the evening of the banquet. The hours for NFB
Camp are tentative. The actual hours will be based on the beginning and
ending of sessions so that parents can drop off their children thirty
minutes before the start of session and must pick up their children within
thirty minutes of the end of session. On occasion the actual end or
beginning of session may be earlier or later than the agenda indicates. We
charge a $10 per quarter-hour per child late pick-up fee. NFB Camp provides
morning and afternoon snacks. You must provide lunch for your children
every day.
Date NFB Camp Hours
Saturday, June 30th 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 1st Camp is closed.
Monday, July 2nd 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 3rd 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 4th 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 5th 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.
Thursday, Banquet 6:30 p.m.-30 minutes after adjournment.
Times are tentative and will be based on thirty minutes after sessions
adjourn. You are required to provide lunch for your child(ren) each day.
Giving a Dream
One of the great satisfactions in life is having the opportunity to
assist others. Consider making a gift to the National Federation of the
Blind to continue turning our dreams into reality. A gift to the NFB is not
merely a donation to an organization; it provides resources that will
directly ensure a brighter future for all blind people.
Seize the Future
The National Federation of the Blind has special giving opportunities
that will benefit the giver as well as the NFB. Of course the largest
benefit to the donor is the satisfaction of knowing that the gift is
leaving a legacy of opportunity. However, gifts may be structured to
provide more:
. Helping the NFB fulfill its mission
. Realizing income tax savings through a charitable deduction
. Making capital gain tax savings on contributions of appreciated assets
. Providing retained payments for the life of a donor or beneficiary
. Eliminating or lowering the federal estate tax in certain situations
. Reducing estate settlement costs
NFB programs are dynamic:
. Making the study of science and math a real possibility for blind
children
. Providing hope for seniors losing vision
. Promoting state and local programs to help blind people become first-
class citizens
. Educating the public about their true potential
. Advancing technology helpful to the blind
. Creating a state-of-the-art library on blindness
. Training and inspiring professionals working with the blind
. Providing critical information to parents of blind children
. Mentoring blind job seekers
Your gift makes you a partner in the NFB dream. For further
information or assistance, contact the NFB planned giving officer.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Dave Hyde]
Up the Down, and Down the Up
by Dave Hyde
From the Editor: Dave Hyde is the professional development
coordinator for the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
He has recently taken on part of the parent liaison responsibility for the
state. He is also president of the Rock County Chapter and a member of the
affiliate board of directors. As you will read, his Federation experience
stretches back over several decades. This gives him a useful perspective on
the education of blind children. This is what he says:
I recently spent a weekend with a little girl and her cane. That is a
normal thing in the National Federation of the Blind. Blind children, like
blind adults, use canes. The children learn that, if used properly, the
cane hits things before they do and locates obstacles, even when those
obstacles are human. For them the cane is a normal part of life, not
remarkable at all. How things have changed.
When I was about eight, I asked a teacher why only the big boys got
to use canes. They sounded neat as they tapped their way around campus. I
was told that I'd get one someday, but it was more important that I use
what vision I had; otherwise I would come to depend on the cane. I accepted
this because, after all, it was uttered by an adult who should know. I got
my cane at thirteen. I learned to use it in unfamiliar areas and to put it
in the closet when not taking orientation and mobility lessons. I rarely
used it on campus; after all, I knew the campus. But I liked that tapping
sound. It was a sign of being a teenager, so I used it whenever I could.
The cane went through a number of incarnations. It telescoped, it folded,
it broke, it got heavier and lighter. It got traded for a dog guide but
always lived in the house somewhere. It was, after all, a mark of being an
adult.
In 1983 I was in a meeting in Kansas City at one of our national
conventions. Someone had brought a two-year-old into the meeting, and, like
most children of that age, he had gotten bored with the interesting
discussion the adults were having. He got up and was walking around. As he
passed by me, he hit me with something. Reaching down, I discovered a very
short (about the right length for a two-year-old) cane, with a toy hooked
to the top. My exploration didn't slow him down; he went on to locate the
next obstacle, my neighbor to the left. Watching the kid, I was surprised
that someone would give a cane to a child that young.
The next year we were in Phoenix. The temperature was higher than the
national debt, and we were all glad to have meetings inside. Heading for
one of them on Saturday morning, I passed a family with their four- or five-
year-old daughter trying to negotiate the escalator. The little girl was
determined that she was not going to ride that thing, and Mom and Dad were
just as determined that she would. Her protests excited a lot of echoes in
the lobby of the hotel, and, no matter how they coaxed, she wasn't going on
that moving staircase. Eventually, dad picked her up and, over her loud,
shrill protests, carried her up to the second floor.
That week in Phoenix a few children were using canes. They were rare,
but they were there. Every once in a while in an elevator, in a hall, or in
the restaurant, I'd find a person under four feet tall using a cane. Some
used it as a horse, some as a device to make interesting noises on things,
and one budding percussionist tried to take mine away thinking that longer
might mean louder, and with enough length he could out-do Louis Prima.
On the Saturday after the convention, I again found myself in contact
with the little girl and her family. I was in fact stopped by her father,
who asked me to wait at the top of the escalator and catch his daughter. It
seems that she had discovered not only independence, but timing. If she got
on the up before her father got off the down, he could never catch her. I
did end her new game and reveled in the change that had taken place in that
week.
Most of us adults thought that the idea of getting canes that young
was one of those things that, although we saw as good, some professional
would find a way to squelch any move toward independence, and we'd go back
to getting a cane some time close to puberty. But programs like that in New
Mexico in the mid eighties, things like the children's programs at our
centers, and enlightened professionals in the field of orientation and
mobility have proved us wrong. Children with canes are no longer a rarity.
In fact, at national conventions they are common. For those who haven't
seen them, you should know that they frequently travel in packs and are
rarely silent. They like to play, they like to swim, and they like to
explore. It's just like any other group of children, and the adult who is
not alert is in peril of becoming an obstacle to travel. Those who got
their canes around the time of their first date can only marvel and regret.
It is now almost thirty years since that toddler in Kansas found me
with his cane. I now work with blind children and also with orientation and
mobility professionals. Recently a colleague came in after visiting a young
child and giving him his first cane. The boy was about two. She decided
that it would be a good thing for the whole family to use canes to show how
normal it was. She took pictures and proudly showed them to us over lunch.
I smiled and found it hard not to break into a wide grin. To her giving a
cane to a toddler is exactly what she should do. She makes books with
Braille and pictures talking about the cane and how much fun it is. I don't
know if she is as excited as I am to see how much of a regular part of life
she is making it, but I know that she is happy with what the children and
the parents are learning about blindness. Now the whole family is learning
that the cane and blindness are a normal part of life. If asked, she will
tell you that she owes a lot to Joe Cutter, who was a pioneer in the
orientation of young children and continues to contribute to the field.
So what can these children look forward to when they are starting
with a tool that many of us found only as teenagers? I really have no idea.
They will have different problems to solve than I did. I do know that, at
least for me, the joy with which I watch them run and play in the
unquestioning assurance that that cane will keep them safe is tinged with
just a bit of envy. They are learning at their tender age lessons with
which I struggled in high school and college. The best thing I can do is to
celebrate their freedom and know that they have it because people my age
did the things that were necessary to make it happen. So in every pod of
cane-wielding children that runs past me, augmenting the sound of their
canes with the delight of their voices, goes a part of you and a part of
me. Yet people still ask, "Why the National Federation of the Blind?"
----------
Featured Book from the Jacobus tenBroek Library
From the Editor: With some regularity we spotlight books in the
tenBroek Library. Here is Librarian Ed Morman's review of a book in our
collection:
Blind Justice, by Bruce Alexander, New York: Putnam, 1994
Reviewed by Ed Morman
In his 1973 banquet speech, "Blindness: Is History Against Us?,"
Kenneth Jernigan credited two books, both published in the nineteenth
century, for much of what he had discovered about blind people in history.
Those books-James Wilson's Biography of the Blind and William Artman's
Beauties and Achievements of the Blind-provide information on dozens of
important blind men and women. Jernigan had so many notables to choose from
(not to mention all of those who flourished after these two books were
published) that he can be forgiven for leaving some of them out. Later, as
editor of this magazine, he made up for omitting Sir John Fielding (1721 to
1780) by publishing a short article, "The Blind Beak of Bow Street," in the
June 1984 issue.
Those familiar with the article (which was reprinted in the Kernel
Book, Toothpaste and Railroad Tracks, and again in the June 1995 Monitor)
may remember that Fielding was blinded by an accident at age 19 while in
the Royal Navy. He later worked as an assistant to his half-brother, the
novelist Henry Fielding, before succeeding Henry as chief magistrate in
London.
The magistrates' responsibility was to investigate crime and
determine whether to hold suspects for trial, and the Fieldings are
credited with introducing innovative criminal detection methods to the work
of the magistrate's office. They established London's first quasi-
professionalized police force, the "Bow Street Runners" (so named because
they operated out of the Fielding house on Bow Street) more than fifty
years before the founding of Scotland Yard; they established a department
of criminal records; and, using those records, they published the
periodical, Police Gazette, which described habitual criminals and helped
identify suspects. Why they were called "beaks" is uncertain but may be
related to the odd headgear physicians used to wear during plague
outbreaks. In any case, in eighteenth-century London the slang term "beak"
was applied to judges, magistrates, and others in positions of authority.
The historical John Fielding seems to have taken little notice of his
blindness. Living decades before Louis Braille (and centuries before
trained dog guides or the long white cane), he was dependent on sighted
assistants for both mobility and reading-but he knew how to incorporate his
assistants' visual perceptions into his own understanding of crime scenes,
and he used a highly developed talent for voice recognition to great
advantage in his investigations. He was an astute questioner and was strict
but empathic in his dealings with those brought before him. He understood
that deprivation and lack of opportunity could lead the denizens of
London's slums to antisocial behavior, and he sought to ameliorate the bad
conditions and assist those who could be rehabilitated.
John Fielding, then, was very much a real person, a blind man of
talent and great accomplishment. In fact, so interesting was the historical
Sir John that fictional accounts of his adventures abound. A character
based on him appears in several TV shows, plays, and crime novels.
Here we take note of the first in a series of eleven fictional books
devoted to him: the Sir John Fielding Mystery novels written by the late
Bruce Alexander Cook (writing as Bruce Alexander). Blind Justice introduces
us to the blind beak through the eyes of the narrator, an orphaned
adolescent named Jeremy Proctor. Tricked by a confidence artist almost as
soon as he sets foot in London the day after his father's death, Jeremy is
brought before Sir John as an accused pickpocket. It does not take long for
Sir John to determine that the lad is innocent, and he soon recruits him to
assist in a murder case.
Cook paints a believable picture of eighteenth-century London,
including both the low-lifes brought before Sir John's bench and the idle
rich who are friends and family of the victim. There are prostitutes and
pimps, playboys and slave traders, and literary figures like Samuel Johnson
and James Boswell. Sir John is portrayed as a complete human being, not
merely a proto-detective who happens to be blind. In this book he mourns
the recent passing of his older brother, prepares himself for the death of
his sickly wife, and puts up with a love affair between his housekeeper and
one of his favorite constables. He encourages a young Irish Catholic
physician who faces religious discrimination, and as magistrate he
struggles with the contradictions between justice and mercy. In this
fictionalized account Sir John knows how to train his assistants and how to
make best use of their eyesight, but he also occasionally curses his own
inclination to ignore his blindness. In other words, at times he could have
used a long white cane; without one he sometimes trips, stumbles, or bumps
into things.
Blind Justice is not great literature, but it is an enjoyable book to
pick up for a quick read. Your librarian liked it enough to make sure we
have the whole series in our collection. All eleven Sir John Fielding
Mystery books are also currently available in accessible formats through
the National Library Service and its network libraries.
Both of the history books cited by Kenneth Jernigan are available in
accessible format through our library catalog, THE BLIND CAT
<www.nfb.org/theblindcat>, and a modern edition of Biography of the Blind
is available in Braille and Talking Book formats from the National Library
Service.
Three nonfiction books devoted to Sir John and Henry Fielding
appeared during the twentieth century, but none are yet in the tenBroek
Library. A sale copy of one (The Life and Work of Sir John Fielding by R.
Leslie-Melville) is proving hard to locate; the others (Hue and Cry: The
Story of Henry and John Fielding and Their Bow Street Runners and Henry and
Sir John Fielding--The Thief Catchers, both by Patrick Pringle) are
currently on order. Unfortunately, we have not been able to identify a
source of accessible copies of any of these.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Shown here is a large, free-form bowl with edges fluted
like an open flower. It is glazed with celadon and is transparent green and
Acapulco blue with a deeper blue wash over all. The bowl has a light, airy
appearance, but it is so large that it took three people to apply the glaze-
two to hold the bowl while potter Lynda Lambert applied the glaze.]
NFB Krafters Division
Satisfy Your Artistic Flair or Make Some Extra Money
by Ramona Walhof
>From the former Editor: I can't count the times that I have spoken with a
newly blind person who laments the loss of crafting as an inevitable
consequence of blindness. I know that this does not have to be true, but,
except for knitting, I am not an arts-and-crafts person, so I can give
little hands-on advice or help. Ramona Walhof is a longtime Federation
leader who has always enjoyed sewing, knitting, and other handcrafts. In
the following article she describes the work of one of the NFB divisions
with which she is active. Some readers will be interested in becoming
members, but all of us should know about the Krafters' work so that we can
pass along the information to those who need to know about their work and
learn how to keep active with the crafts they love. This is what Ramona
says:
Although only three years old, the Krafters Division of the NFB is
probably the most active of the thirty NFB divisions. Federationists may
wish to know more about its activities, and some may wish to join.
President Joyce Kane from Connecticut has done crafts all her life.
She knits, crochets, makes clothing and quilts with her sewing machine,
does safety pin beading, and is interested in all sorts of other arts and
crafts. Joyce lost her vision fourteen years ago and began looking for and
creating techniques to do the things she had always enjoyed in order to
continue doing them without vision. She joined the Federation and was soon
elected to office in her chapter and state affiliate. She was president of
her chapter in southern Connecticut for eight years. Joyce made contact
with other blind crafters and found that most had experience and ideas to
share. Several years ago she contacted President Maurer about forming an
NFB division. He recommended she hold an organizing meeting at the 2008
convention.
Before that meeting Joyce had recruited officers and board members
from all over the country. Dr. Maurer asked me to help the group write its
constitution along the lines customarily followed by NFB divisions. I
didn't think I had time for one more activity but was elected to the board
and now serve as secretary. This division is different from others in which
I have been active, and it is a lot of fun.
By the time of the organizing meeting in 2008, Cindy Sheets of
Kentucky had agreed to develop a website: <www.KraftersKorner.org>. Laurie
Porter of Wisconsin and some others had agreed to teach classes by
conference telephone. Diane Filipe of Colorado brought handmade ceramic
Braille pins to sell at the 2009 convention as the first division
fundraiser. Before organizing, the group had already begun holding Monday
night chats by conference phone calls each week, and in 2012 these chats
continue.
The listserv, nfb-krafters-korner was established before the division
was organized. Today approximately 150 people are subscribed to this list,
and it is one of the most active of all the nfbnet lists now in operation.
>From 15 to 40 messages may appear on this list most days. Topics cover
crafts from quilting to pottery, from crocheting to weaving, from making
Christmas decorations to using the sewing machine. Some of the topics
discussed during December of 2011 were candy wreaths, blocking knitted
items, crafts that can be done one-handed for someone about to have surgery
on her shoulder, crocheted cupcakes, snowmen made on the knifty knitter
loom, gumdrop trees, sewing rags for rugs, and on and on. To join this
list, go to <www.nfbnet.org> and select the link entitled Join or Drop
NFBnet Mailing Lists.
President Kane is always eager to recruit volunteers to teach
classes. Frequently three or four classes are taught by conference phone
call each week. Some classes are complete in one hour, while others stretch
over three or four lessons, each lasting from one to two hours. During 2011
twenty-nine classes were offered and completed. Anywhere from three to
fifteen students can be in a class.
As usual Joyce was recruiting teachers and students last fall. After
some thought I realized there might be some interest in machine sewing, but
we had to find out whether members had access to sewing machines. It turned
out that some people did. They had to learn how to thread their machines
before the class began. We couldn't teach that by phone to people using a
variety of machines. Each student in that class now has a new apron. Both
Joyce and I were very pleased that we could explain the techniques by
phone, and the students were also happy. As you might guess, Joyce is
encouraging me to teach another class, this time on making T-shirts as a
means of teaching techniques used to sew knitted or stretchy fabrics.
On the listserv, problems are posed and answered by other crafters.
Members have learned new crafts and new methods. Newly blind people have
gained confidence and ideas for pursuing the craft activities they wish to
master.
We have heard many stories of individuals who have conquered fears or
other problems. One member, Jewell Boll from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, sold her
sewing machine when she lost her sight and is now excited about taking up
sewing again. She wants to tell those who are newly blind not to become
angry and frustrated. She says that, if she had been in touch with more
blind people when she became blind, she would have done things differently.
She is looking for a machine to purchase and has sought opinions on the
listserv about various models.
Another member, Lynda Lambert from Pennsylvania, was a painter and
was depressed and angry when she became blind about four years ago, but she
is now enthusiastically producing large and beautiful pottery and beaded
items. She held an art show displaying her work last fall and received
compliments from those who visited. She also sold several pieces at
satisfactory prices. You may wish to check out her website,
<http://lyndalambert.com>. Lynda has a lot of ideas, and she entertains
other listers as she shares her experiences. She says an artist just can't
stop being an artist, even when she has to turn to a different art. Her
standards are high, and that will not change. Lynda also knits and does
other arts and crafts.
Another painter who lost her vision continued to knit dish cloths
while recovering from her surgery, but this was not enough of an outlet for
her love of art. After some training at BLIND, Incorporated, in Minnesota,
Jeanny Nylander returned home to Lacrosse to find that her husband had
bought her a potter's wheel. She had taken pottery in college and enjoyed
it. She contacted Joyce Kane and Lynda Lambert through the Krafters
Division, and pottery has become her new art. She is again making and
selling art. Both Lynda and Jeanny are extremely complimentary about the
opportunities they have discovered from each other and from the division.
The two led a discussion about pottery for other crafters and taught a
class in January of 2012 by conference call. They are planning to teach
other classes in coming months. Both say that artists have a need to share
ideas and techniques.
Another crafter, Jaselli Walter, uses clay that does not need to be
fired. She has led a Monday night chat about this, and members are eager to
learn more about what she does. Division members are encouraged to list
items they have made for sale on the first and the fifteenth of each month.
We have plans to make sales opportunities available on the website as soon
as possible. The group also makes items for charities.
Becky Frankeberger from Washington State taught a Tunisian crochet
class in January and February, using an email list. Becky is a machine
knitter and has gone into business selling items she has made. See her work
at <www.butterflyknitting.com>. A write-up on her and her work appears on
<www.KraftersKorner.org>.
Representatives from a group of blind quilters have joined the list,
and I am sure we will learn more from them.
Division dues are ten dollars per year and may be paid directly to
the treasurer, Diane Filipe, 1455 44th Avenue Place, Greeley, Colorado
80634, or pay using PayPal on the website, <www.KraftersKorner.org>.
Classes are free to members, and they are described ahead of time on the
website. Anyone who has questions or suggestions should contact President
Joyce Kane at (203) 378-8928 or email her at <blindhands at aol.com>. All
those interested in arts and crafts should come to the division meeting at
the convention in Dallas this summer. I believe we will also have a display
and sale of handmade items Saturday afternoon, the day before the exhibit
room opens. Please check your agenda for times and locations. Plans are
moving forward for a busy week. If anyone has requests, don't be shy. We
can't guarantee to do everything you can dream up, but anything could
happen.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Greg Kearney]
Introducing the Commonwealth Braille and Talking Book Cooperative
by Greg Kearney
From the Editor: Although getting accessible books today is easier
than ever before, the need to have many of them transcribed into Braille,
transcribed or reformatted for large print, or recorded by a person for
audio readers still exists. This costly undertaking is often repeated
because of the lack of sharing among the English-speaking countries of the
world. Some organizations are attempting to change this deplorable
situation, and Greg Kearney is actively involved in one of them. Here is
what he has to say:
"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this
right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek,
receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless
of frontiers." This language is taken from Article 19 of the UN Universal
Declaration of Human Rights.
The Commonwealth of Nations is an international organization of nation
states which have a connection to Great Britain. A number of
nongovernmental organizations exist within the Commonwealth, the
Commonwealth Braille and Talking Book Cooperative (CBTBC) being one. The
CBTBC is intended to promote the collaboration and sharing of resources
among the Braille and Talking Book libraries of the Commonwealth and other
interested institutions. Central to this collaboration is the sharing of
Braille and Talking Books between the institutions that benefit the blind,
vision impaired, and print disabled of the Commonwealth. This project is
not a replacement for the work on a wider Talking Book treaty or the work
of the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization), which we fully
support.
From time to time we are asked why this effort is focused on the
Commonwealth of Nations. The answer is that the nations of the Commonwealth
share common legal, cultural, historic, and linguistic traditions and ties
to one another. We hope that these ties will make the exchange of resources
more productive for all. Membership in the Cooperative is not limited to
organizations within the Commonwealth. A number of schools and
organizations in the United States are members because of the close
historic and cultural ties between the United States and the Commonwealth.
Ties to the Commonwealth give us a common structure under which to conduct
our efforts, most of which are centered on work in the English language,
but the Cooperative hopes to expand our membership regardless of
geographical considerations.
We seek to achieve two goals: greater cooperation between Talking Book
libraries in the Commonwealth and support for Talking Book libraries and
users in developing nations within the Commonwealth. One of the aims of the
Cooperative is to develop and put into place the methods by which
accessible materials can be exchanged by member agencies. This is the
practical side of the World Intellectual Property Organization and World
Blind Union efforts.
Membership in the Cooperative is open to any library, agency, school,
or other entity serving the blind, vision impaired, or print disabled, as
long as the organization operates in the Commonwealth or such organizations
reside in any British overseas territories, mandates, or former mandates,
and Crown Dependencies. Also eligible are organizations from nations or
states with an historic, cultural, or linguistic tie to the Commonwealth.
This would include locations such as the United States and its constituent
states, territories, or former territories--the Philippines being one
example. Membership is also open to nations such as Ireland, Israel,
Zimbabwe, and the Palestinian territories.
Membership is not limited to entities that have book collections but
is intended for any interested organization, whether local or national. The
degree of participation is determined by each member. Membership is at no
cost. The members of the Cooperative have differing goals and will derive
differing benefits. The library members will work to develop holdings and
to exchange books between themselves. Agencies with limited holdings may be
interested only in accessing the collection, while consumer agencies such
as the National Federation of the Blind might want to share its extensive
literature on blindness with a wider community while simultaneously
offering expanded library service to its members. Each member organization
sets its own policies and decides what its participation will be. The NFB
may wish to make its literature available but not offer its members other
services from the Commonwealth. Alternatively, since many materials can be
borrowed in a digital format, requiring that nothing be sent or returned,
it might wish to be a full participant.
One of the first tasks that the Cooperative has undertaken is the
development of a federated search of Braille and Talking Books held by our
members and other libraries. This, of course, is the first step in getting
a book--knowing it is available and from whom. The Commonwealth Braille and
Talking Book Cooperative federated search <www.cbtbc.org/yaz.php> provides
a method of searching several libraries at once when a title is desired.
The Commonwealth Braille and Talking Book Cooperative has also
developed a range of support programs and utilities for its members and the
public at large to assist in the production and distribution of materials.
These include listing services, catalogs, and production aids and
applications.
The work of the Commonwealth Braille and Talking Book Cooperative is
centered on the practical, day-to-day issues that both producers and
consumers of Braille and Talking Books face. In many cases the costly and
time-consuming process of book production has been needlessly duplicated
because there was no method for finding and sharing the works already
available. Many smaller and less developed nations have yet to develop an
infrastructure to deliver works in alternative formats. It is hoped that
the print disabled of the Commonwealth and those nations closely tied to it
will be able to see an expansion of the materials made worldwide through
this effort.
For more information about this project, write to Greg Kearney,
Manager of Accessible media, Association for the Blind of Western
Australia, PO Box 101, Victoria Park WA 6979, 61 Kitchener Ave., Victoria
Park WA 6100. Call him at (307) 224-4022, or email him by writing to
<greg.kearney at guidedogswa.com.au>.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Curtis Willoughby]
Hearing Enhancement and Spanish Translation
Available at National Convention
Spanish Translators Needed
by D. Curtis Willoughby
From the Editor: Curtis Willoughby is a member of the NFB's research
and development committee and president of our Amateur Radio Division. Here
is his annual announcement about FM receivers at convention:
Again this year at national convention we will offer special
arrangements for severely hearing-impaired people attending convention
sessions and the banquet. This will consist of transmission of the public
address system signal over a special short-range radio transmitter for the
severely hearing-impaired. Also Spanish-language translation of convention
proceedings in general sessions and the banquet will be provided using a
similar arrangement. The special receivers required for these services will
also be provided.
In cooperation with several state affiliates (notably Colorado, Utah,
and Virginia), the NFB will provide special receivers for these
transmissions to those needing them. The receiver-lending will be managed
by the Amateur Radio Division and will be operated from a table just
outside the meeting room. A deposit of $40, cash only, will be required of
anyone wishing to check out one of the Federation's receivers. The deposit
will be returned if the receiver is checked in at the checkout table in
good condition by the end of the banquet or within thirty minutes of
adjournment of the last convention session that the borrower plans to
attend. Batteries for the receiver will be provided. Anyone checking out a
Federation receiver will be given upon request a miniature earbud-type
earphone to use with the receiver.
Along with explaining what will be available, it is important that we
explain what will not be available. The miniature earbud loudspeaker-type
earphone will be the only kind of earphone offered. The receiver requires a
3.5 mm (formerly called 1/8-inch) earphone plug, in case you want to use
your own earphone(s), silhouette, neck loop, adapter cable, etc. You are
advised to arrange for such things well ahead of arriving at the
convention. Other than the earphone jack on the receiver, no means of
connection to a hearing aid will be available from the checkout table. The
receiver does not have a built-in loudspeaker. While earphones, and even
neck loops, are sometimes available in the exhibit hall, you cannot be
certain of getting one there.
Many severely hearing-impaired people already use radio systems that
employ FM radio signals to carry the voice from a transmitter held by the
person speaking to a receiver in the hearing aid. Some of these hearing aid
systems can be tuned to receive the Federation's special transmitters. In
this case the hearing-impaired person may simply tune his or her own
receiver to receive the Federation's transmitter and will not need to check
out a Federation receiver.
Some audiologists and rehabilitation agencies are now buying digital
and other FM hearing aids that cannot be tuned to the Federation's
frequency. If you have one of these or if you have any other type of
hearing aid, you should obtain from your audiologist an adapter cable to
connect from your hearing aid to a monaural 3.5 mm earphone jack. This will
allow you to plug the cable from your hearing aid directly into a receiver
you check out from our table. This will allow you to hear as well as anyone
else using one of our receivers.
The transmitter for the hearing impaired will be connected to the
public address system so that the signals from the head table and the aisle
microphones will be transmitted on channel thirty-six (74.775 MHz narrow
band FM). People must not operate their personal transmitters on channel
thirty-six or on channel thirty-eight, because that would interfere with
the reception by others. This means that folks wishing to use their own
receivers (rather than checking out one of the Federation's receivers) need
to have their personal receivers arranged so that they can switch between
their personal channels and channel thirty-six. Some people may need to
purchase replacement or additional receivers. Caution your audiologist that
there is more than one channel thirty-six, and he or she must also verify
that your frequency matches our frequency.
This announcement is published now to allow as much time as possible
for those interested to make the necessary arrangements before convention.
It contains this amount of detail so that any audiologist who works with
this type of equipment should be able to know by reading this article
exactly what capabilities a person's hearing system must have to work with
the Federation's system at convention.
Even if your hearing aid is not of the FM type, you may be able to
purchase a silhouette, a neck loop, or an adapter cable to couple the
signal from a Federation receiver directly to your hearing aid. Your
audiologist should also be able to help you with this.
The service for Spanish speakers will be similar, except that a live
Spanish translator will speak over a separate transmitter on channel thirty-
eight (75.275 MHz narrow band FM). We do not expect that people will bring
their own receivers for the Spanish-translation service, unless they are
also hearing impaired and use an FM hearing aid system. Spanish speakers
may, however, wish to bring their own earphones. See above for a
description of the type of plug needed.
Norm Gardner from Utah will be coordinating the Spanish language
interpreters, and he would appreciate hearing from anyone willing to
volunteer to interpret. Please call him before convention at (801) 224-
6969, or send him email at <ngardner at brlcenter.org>.
Finally, if other state affiliates or chapters are interested in
purchasing this type of equipment for use in state and local meetings, they
are encouraged to purchase equipment that is compatible with that which we
are using and to allow it to be used in the pool of equipment that the
Amateur Radio Division administers at national convention. I (D. Curtis
Willoughby) would like to help you choose equipment that is compatible with
that which the NFB is using. I may also be able to help you get the good
prices the NFB has been getting. You may contact me at (303) 424-7373 or at
<ka0vba at dimcom.net>. The Federation is pleased to offer these services to
our severely hearing-impaired and Spanish-speaking colleagues, and we hope
and believe that it will again significantly improve their convention
experience.
----------
Dialysis in Dallas
by Mike Freeman
From the Editor: Mike Freeman is president of the Diabetes Action
Network. In the following article he lists the facilities near our
convention hotel that can provide dialysis to those who need the service.
Arrangements should be made soon, so here is the information:
During this year's annual convention in Dallas, dialysis will be
available. People requiring dialysis must have their local servicing unit
set up the desired location well in advance. The convention will take place
at the Hilton Anatole Hotel, 2201 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, Texas 75207.
You can find dialysis units and directions for reaching them by calling the
DialysisFinder hotline at (866) 889-6019 or (610) 722-6019 if calling from
outside the United States or by looking at the website
<www.dialysisfinder.com>, which is quite accessible.
Here are a few dialysis units located near the Hilton Anatole Hotel:
FMC-Swiss Avenue: 2613 Swiss Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75204; Phone (214)
827-9854; 1.85 miles from the hotel
Children's Medical Center Dallas Dialysis Unit: 1935 Medical District
Drive, Dallas, Texas 75235; Phone (214) 456-2780; 1.87 miles from the hotel
FMC Dallas South: 1150 N. Bishop, Suite 200, Dallas, Texas 75208;
phone (214) 942-2900; 1.99 miles from the hotel.
This is not an exhaustive list. You can find many more dialysis
facilities by calling the DialysisFinder telephone number or by looking at
the DialysisFinder website. Planning your dialysis in advance will enable
you to enjoy the convention fully with a minimum of disruption.
----------
Recipes
This month's recipes are from members of the NFB of Georgia.
[PHOTO CAPTION: Garrick Scott]
Teacakes
by Garrick Scott
Garrick Scott is president of the NFB of Georgia. He works with blind
youth and teaches public speaking to blind students. He is a graduate of
the Colorado Center for the Blind. He reports that his grandmother taught
him to make these teacakes. She served them any time of day, not just for
tea. They are a cross between biscuits and cookies and are absolutely
delicious.
Ingredients:
1 cup margarine
1 1/3 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 cups self-rising flour
Method: In a large mixer bowl beat together margarine and sugar until
light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and vanilla extract, beating well
after each addition. Beat in flour, but do not over-beat. Preheat oven to
350. Using a quarter-cup measuring cup as a scoop, arrange dough on a
greased cookie sheet, leaving a couple of inches between teacakes. Bake for
ten to twelve minutes. Cakes are done when they are browned and feel set
all the way through (no sticky dough half way down the side). Remove to a
rack to cool or to a serving plate to enjoy warm.
----------
Tomato Pie
by Lena Bowen
Lena Bowen was introduced to the NFB eight years ago and is a member
of the Decatur Area Chapter. She is president of the Georgia affiliate's
Senior Division.
Ingredients:
2 14.5-ounce cans chopped tomatoes, drained
1 small bell pepper, seeded and chopped
1 small onion, chopped (or to taste)
1 tablespoon flour
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 stick butter or margarine, very soft
1 standard or deep-dish pie crust, unbaked
1/2 cup cheese, shredded
Method: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a sauté pan or skillet, sauté
the chopped bell pepper and onion in the half stick of butter. In a large
bowl combine drained chopped tomatoes, sautéed bell pepper and onion,
flour, and sugar to taste to take away the tartness of the tomatoes. Be
sure that the flour is well mixed in and does not form lumps. Mix well. You
may also add a pinch of salt. To make a pie, pour the tomato mixture into
an unbaked pie shell. To prepare as a soufflé, pour the tomato mixture into
a lightly greased Pyrex or other baking dish. Bake either version about
twenty to twenty-five minutes. A few minutes before set, sprinkle with
shredded cheese and continue baking until cheese is melted and filling is
no longer runny. This dish is great with garlic bread.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Jo Ann Collins]
Pistachio Delight Pie
by Jo Ann Collins
A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Jo Ann Collins moved to Atlanta and
joined the NFB Atlanta Metropolitan Chapter in 1999. She has just completed
four terms as chapter president. She has also held a number of other board
positions and presently serves as affiliate first vice president and youth
coordinator for Georgia. She is expecting her first grandchild.
Ingredients:
2 cups pecans, finely chopped
2/3 cup butter
3 tablespoons sugar
2 small boxes pistachio pudding mix
4 cups milk
Topping Ingredients:
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened, or a tub of cream cheese, already
soft
1 8-ounce package Cool Whip
Chocolate chips or additional chopped pecans for garnish
Method: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place butter in eight-inch
square glass baking dish and melt in heating oven or in microwave.
Meanwhile combine sugar and pecans and press into baking dish to form a
crust. Bake for five to seven minutes, then cool completely. Prepare
pudding according to package directions and pour into crust-lined dish.
Allow to set in refrigerator. Beat softened cream cheese and fold in the
Cool Whip. When pudding is set, carefully spread topping over pie and allow
it to chill. Garnish with chocolate chips or chopped pecans. Refrigerate
leftovers if there are any.
----------
Sugar Cookies
by Magnolia Lyons
Magnolia Lyons is a longtime member of the NFB of Georgia Atlanta
Metropolitan Chapter. While she was living in Alexandria, Virginia, the NFB
helped her win a lawsuit. She has adapted this recipe to please her sweet
tooth.
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1 stick margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
2 cups self-rising flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
Method: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine first four ingredients
and beat till light and fluffy. Beat in the flour and baking soda. If dough
is too dry, add a tablespoon of cold water; if it is too sticky,
refrigerate the dough for thirty minutes. With floured hands roll dough
into walnut-size balls and arrange an inch apart on a greased cookie sheet.
Bake for twelve to fifteen minutes. Allow to cool on sheet for five minutes
before moving to rack to cool completely. Makes about fifteen.
----------
Marinated Shrimp
by Norma Johnson
Norma Johnson relocated from Florida to Atlanta two years ago to be
near family when she lost her sight. She is an active member of the Atlanta
Metropolitan Chapter. She is now retired from the hospitality field, but
she still loves to prepare good food.
Ingredients:
6 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons salt
2 1/2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 large purple onion, thinly sliced
1 large lemon, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup hot sauce
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup white wine vinegar
1/4 cup capers, undrained
1/4 cup black olives, sliced and drained
Method: Bring salted water to a boil and cook shrimp for two minutes.
Drain and rinse in cold water. Arrange shrimp in a 13-by-9-inch pan. Place
onion, lemon, and garlic slices evenly over shrimp. In a bowl combine
sugar, hot sauce, olive oil, and vinegar and mix well. Pour mixture over
shrimp. Scatter capers and olive slices over all. Mix well and cover.
Refrigerate for four to eight hours, stirring several times. Serve alone or
with crisp French bread slices.
----------
Shrimp con Queso Dip
by Norma Johnson
Ingredients:
1 32-ounce package Velveeta Cheese
1/2 can Rotel tomatoes, drained
1 16-ounce jar salsa
2 pounds large shrimp, peeled, deveined, thawed, and drained
1 large bag tortilla chips
Method: Cube the cheese and combine it and remaining ingredients,
except for shrimp and chips, in a large slow cooker. Heat, stirring
frequently until all ingredients are melted and well combined. Add shrimp
and stir gently but well. Serve with corn or tortilla chips. Makes about
eleven cups.
----------
Monitor Miniatures
News from the Federation Family
Braille Book Fair 2012:
Calling all Braille readers! It's that time again: time to sort
through all those boxes of Braille books in your basement or spare room and
donate those gently used but no longer needed Braille books to the 2012
Braille Book Fair sponsored by the National Organization of Parents of
Blind Children and the National Association to Promote the Use of Braille.
Our primary goal is to get more Braille books into the hands of children,
youth, and beginning adult readers, so here's what we need most: books in
good condition, print-Braille picture storybooks, and leisure reading
(fiction or nonfiction) books. Cookbooks are always in demand, as are books
about sports. Children are so hungry for their very own books that every
year, despite generous donations, most of our books for young children are
gone in less than an hour. So begin your search through the boxes in your
basement and spare room and get those books shipped to Braille Book Fair,
Vanessa Pena, 10155 Monroe, Dallas, TX 75229.
This year's coordinator is Barbara Cheadle. If you have any questions,
you may contact her at (410) 747-3472 or email her at <bacheadle at msn.com>.
This year's event is slated to take place on Monday, July 2. Check your
agenda for the time and room.
Department of Affiliate Action Invites Chapter Leaders to the 2012 Back to
Basics Seminar:
Back to Basics is planned for Monday, July 2, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
This session will introduce fresh new ideas to make your chapter meetings
exciting, informative, and philosophically strong. The session will feature
presentations from some of our most inspiring Federation leaders, live
demonstrations, plenty of audience participation, and a special recognition
for chapter presidents. It is not too soon to place Back to Basics on your
2012 convention calendar.
Requests for Accommodations Based on Disability:
The convention of the National Federation of the Blind is intended to
be accessible, especially to blind people. Materials are offered in
accessible formats, and other nonvisual aids are provided. If you require
specific accommodations based on your disability other than the blindness-
related accommodations routinely provided by the Federation in order to
participate fully and equally in the convention, let us know as soon as
possible. Because of the size and complexity of this convention as well as
the need to plan for additional human and other resources, requests for
specific accommodations must be submitted no later than May 31, 2012. In
order to make a request, 1) preregister for the convention by visiting
<http://lx-web.nfb.org/convention/preregistration.php>; and 2) send your
request for specific accommodations in writing to the attention of Mark
Riccobono by email at <mriccobono at nfb.org>. Be sure to include your name,
the dates you plan to be at the convention, information on the best method
of following up with you, and your specific request.
[PHOTO CAPTION: JW Smith's cover photo]
New CD Available:
As many Federationists know, in addition to being the Ohio affiliate
president, JW Smith loves to sing and play music. Over the past several
years many of us have enjoyed his gospel CDs. Now he writes to tell us
about his latest project. This is what he says:
The CD is entitled 24 Hours with Dr. Feelgood, and it is my first
secular recording. It includes classic renditions of the Ray Charles
version of "America the Beautiful," James Brown's "I Feel Good," and the
song "It's so Hard to Say Goodbye," most recently popularized by the group
Boyz II Men. The other thirteen selections are all original compositions,
including my own instrumental composition, appropriately entitled "24
Hours"; a musical tribute to a friend who has cerebral palsy but continues
to run five miles a day, entitled "Running Man"; and a ballad entitled
"Make Me Smile." In short, there is something on this recording for
everyone, including a country music rendition entitled "Meet You on the
Moon."
I would like to let my Federation family know how you can get copies.
You can email me at <smithj at ohio.edu>, or call me at (740) 707-5114 and
make arrangements for me to mail you a copy or send you an MP3 file
electronically. You can go to iTunes or CDBaby.com and download it. You can
also visit the Ohio table at the national convention in Dallas or find me
in our delegation and purchase the CD. All proceeds from sales at the
convention will go to the Ohio affiliate. The cost of the CD is $10. I hope
you enjoy listening to this CD as much as I enjoyed making it. I believe
that it is my best work to date.
Showcasing Your Talent:
Do you like to do crafts? Are you an artist? Have you created some
type of art that you are proud of? Enter your creation in your local county
or state fair. I teach the alternative skills of blindness in home
management, and that includes teaching clients new crafts. Over the past
three years I have encouraged clients at the Nebraska Center for the Blind
to enter the crafts they have made in our local fairs. Whether they bring
home a ribbon or not, their confidence soars just because of completing a
project and learning a new craft.
If you would like to learn new crafts, join the National Federation of
the Blind Krafters Division. For more information call or e-mail Cindy
Zimmer at (402) 435-6628 or <Cindy.Zimmer at nebraska.gov> or Joyce Kane,
president of the Krafters Division, at (203) 378-8928,
<Blindhands at aol.com>.
Join the NFB of Arizona on a Cruise:
We are excited to announce that we are ready to take reservations for
our fundraiser cruise--traveling as a group, enjoying good company, and
savoring the food and much more while raising money for the organization we
all deeply care about! The Arizona affiliate will be selling tickets for a
prize of a cruise package for two, the drawing to take place at the NFB of
Arizona convention banquet in September. We will announce further details
of the drawing quite soon. Royal Caribbean International will contribute
$50 per cabin as the base fundraiser for this trip.
Please join us on a seven-night Western Caribbean cruise, departing
from New Orleans, Louisiana, January 5, 2013. We will visit the beautiful
ports of Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Falmouth, Jamaica.
Come with us to explore the destinations and have fun on the Navigator of
the Seas. Follow the link below to read information about the ship and
details of the itinerary.
<http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findacruise/cruiseDetails/itinerary.do?hasSen
ior=&hasMilitary=&hasFireandPolice=&cruiseType=CO&state=&packageCode=NV07W10
2&date=201300>
Our travel agent, Anahit LaBarre, is ready to assist you and to
answer any questions you have. Prices listed below are per person, based on
double occupancy, cruise only; include all taxes, fees, and gratuities; and
may vary a little depending on which deck the cabin is on. Optional shore
excursions and insurance are available. Royal Caribbean International
reserves the right to charge a fuel supplement if fuel prices go up
significantly.
Here are the cost details:
1. Inside cabins start at $769 per person;
2. Ocean View cabins start at $959 per person;
3. Balcony cabins start at $1,049 per person;
4. Junior suites are $1,399 per person.
Contact Anahit LaBarre for additional details. She can be reached at
<alabarre at labarretravel.com> or (720) 334-3652.
Take a moment to read the important information below:
A minimum deposit of $50 per person is due by May 20, 2012. Payment plans
can be arranged. A total deposit of $250 per person is due by August 10,
2012, and the final payment is due by October 20, 2012.
Suites are limited and are subject to availability. They require full
deposit at the time of booking. The same applies to accessible cabins and
those with third and fourth passengers. We strongly encourage everyone to
make reservations as soon as possible, since these types of cabins are
limited and cannot be held for the group without a full deposit.
Attention Current or Would-Be Office Professionals:
Lisa Hall, president of the National Association of Blind Office
Professionals (NABOP), announces the next division meeting, scheduled for
June 30, 2012, in Dallas, Texas, at the Hilton Anatole Hotel. Registration
begins at 6:30 p.m., and the meeting begins at 7:00 and ends around 10:00.
This meeting is for anyone working in an office as a medical transcriber,
Braille transcriber, Braille proofreader, telephone operator, receptionist,
clerk of any kind, hotel reservationist, or other such fields. This year
the group plans to have a Braille proofreader workshop, which will help
anyone learn by hands-on experience what it's like to work as a Braille
proofreader. Handouts will be primarily in print and Braille for the
benefit of Braille readers and sighted transcribers and anyone who
expresses interest in improving Braille skills. Mary Donahue and Lisa Hall
will lead the session and will provide information about what it takes to
become certified as a Braille proofreader or Braille transcriber. Other
agenda items are being worked on, but plans are not complete at this
writing. Come one and all for this great gathering and learn from others
how to solve problems in an office environment.
If you plan to attend this seminar, let us know by June 15, 2012, so
that enough copies of the handouts can be made. Send correspondence to Lisa
Hall, 7001 Hamilton Avenue, Unit 2, Cincinnati, OH 45231-5262; home phone
(513) 931-7070; cell phone (513) 550-5155; email <lhall007 at cinci.rr.com>.
You can also contact the vice president, Mary Donahue, at 8800 Starcrest
Drive, Apartment 226, San Antonio, Texas 78217; home phone (210) 826-9579;
cell phone (210) 445-6356; email <braille at satx.rr.com>. Membership dues are
$5 and can be paid in advance by sending to treasurer, Debbie Brown at
11923 Parklawn Drive, Apartment 104, Rockville, Maryland 20852; home phone
(301) 881-1892; email <dabro at loc.gov>.
[PHOTO CAPTION: Stacy Cervenka and Gregory DeWall with their wedding party]
Wedding Bells:
Stacy Cervenka and Gregory DeWall were married on Saturday, October
29, 2011, in Burr Ridge, Illinois. Stacy and Greg are both longtime members
of the Federation, and the wedding was attended by many NFB friends. Stacy
is currently earning her master's degree in rehabilitation counseling from
Texas Tech University, and Greg is a rehabilitation instructor in the
Senior Impact Project at the Sacramento Society for the Blind.
In Brief
Notices and information in this section may be of interest to Monitor
readers. We are not responsible for the accuracy of the information; we
have edited only for space and clarity.
Teachers Fly Experiments on NASA Reduced-Gravity Flights:
The OfficialWire PR News Bureau published the following story on
February 14, 2012, in Houston, Texas.
More than seventy teachers had an opportunity to experience what it
feels like to float in space as they participated in the Reduced-Gravity
Education Flight Program at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston last
week. The teachers flew aboard an aircraft that flies parabolic flight
paths, which create brief periods of weightlessness. It is a key component
of NASA's astronaut training protocol. The teachers were selected for the
flights through NASA's Teaching from Space and Explorer School Programs.
NASA Associate Administrator for Education and two-time space shuttle
astronaut Leland Melvin also participated in some of the flights and shared
first-hand with the participants his experiences in astronaut training.
"The enthusiasm among our teachers participating in the reduced-gravity
flights is contagious," Melvin said. "I know it will add a new dimension to
their teaching as they engage their students in science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics studies."
Also participating in the flights was Mark Riccobono, executive
director of the National Federation of the Blind's Jernigan Institute.
Riccobono is blind. NASA has worked with the National Federation of the
Blind in a variety of capacities during the past ten years to share the
excitement and inspiration of the agency's missions and programs with those
who are visually impaired. "NASA education is always looking for ways to
make our offerings available to the widest audience possible," Melvin said.
"Mark Riccobono's flight represents a new chapter in our commitment to
sharing the excitement of NASA's mission with the blind community."
The Teaching from Space Program offers educational opportunities that
use the unique assets of NASA's human spaceflight mission to engage the
education community and create space-related learning opportunities.
Teachers used the event to work with their students to propose, design, and
build the experiments they took on the flights. Fourteen teams comprising
forty teachers from NASA Explorer Schools also participated as part of the
2011 School Recognition Award for their contributions to science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM. They conducted
microgravity experiments provided by NASA.
The Reduced-Gravity Education Flight Program continues NASA's
investment in U.S. education by helping attract and retain students in STEM
disciplines critical to future space exploration. To learn more about
NASA's education activities, visit <http://www.nasa.gov/education>.
Help for the Blind of Rwanda:
My name is David Van Der Molen. I'm planning to go to Rwanda in early
2013 for a month to teach grade two Braille and to distribute Braille and
large print material along with low-tech equipment to the blind. I will
also set up a blind-friendly computer work station at a university. I'm
looking for donations of Braille and large-print books, Braille paper,
white canes, slates and styluses, abacuses for the blind, a Braille
display, a Perkins Brailler, and a Braille embosser. All items need to be
in good condition. I will be sending everything to Rwanda in advance of my
arrival. That is why I'm asking for these items now.
Please contact me if you are able to contribute any of the above, and
we'll work out the arrangements from there. I can be reached by phone
evenings and weekends at (519) 669-1456 or by email at <dvm975 at gmail.com>.
NIB Now Accepting Applications for Leadership Development Fellowship:
The Fellowship for Leadership Development, sponsored by National
Industries for the Blind (NIB), is a salaried program that combines
business-focused, on-the-job experience with professional development
activities. Legally blind people with undergraduate degrees, work
experience, and a passion for business are invited to apply.
Fellows are selected based on experience, academic achievement, and
personal interviews. Fellows who have already completed the program have
moved to management jobs, gained financial independence, and as business
leaders have added value at all levels of the workplace and society.
For additional information and an application, go to the NIB website
and visit the Business Leaders Program pages. For a direct link to the
Fellowship page, go to <http://www.nib.org/content/business-leaders-program-
fellowship>. Please carefully read the FAQs before applying. If you have
questions, contact Karen Pal, NIB Business Leaders Program, at
<fellowship at nib.org> or (703) 310-0515.
iPhone Discussions Available:
Every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Eastern and Saturday at 6:00 p.m. Eastern
there is an iPhone conference. If you are interested in purchasing a phone
or would like to talk with other iPhone users, come in and join us. The
number to call is (616) 883-2999 followed by the pound sign. The room
number is 2428.
Contest for Braille Readers:
The Onkyo Braille essay contest is administered by the National
Federation of the Blind for the North America/Caribbean Region of the World
Blind Union. Essays must be written in Braille and in English or their
author's native language and must be completely original. Entries should be
no fewer than eight hundred words and no more than one thousand words.
The contest is divided into two groups of competitors--one junior
group, aged twenty-five and under; and one senior group, aged twenty-six
and above. Prizes range from $500 to $2,000. All essays must be received by
April 30, 2012. Visit <http://www.nfb.org/onkyo-braille-essay-contest> for
more information and an application.
Monitor Mart
The notices in this section have been edited for clarity, but we can
pass along only the information we were given. We are not responsible for
the accuracy of the statements made or the quality of the products for
sale.
For Sale:
I have a knfbReader Mobile for sale. The software runs on a T-Mobile
83MP3 phone in perfect condition. I am asking $850. For more information
about the phone, software, or price, please contact me by phone at (443)
415-9828.
Help Wanted with Software for the Blind:
My name is Marcia Baran, and I use Dolphin Guide software for the
blind on my computer. I don't know a single person who uses Dolphin Guide.
I would like to correspond and speak with other users to discuss problems
and solutions in using the program. My email address is
<marciabaran at att.net,> and my cell phone number is (860) 997-2234.
----------
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.
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