[Brl-monitor] The Braille Monitor, April 2018
Brian Buhrow
buhrow at lothlorien.nfbcal.org
Tue Apr 3 11:17:41 PDT 2018
BRAILLE MONITOR
Vol. 61, No. 4 April 2018
Gary Wunder, Editor
Distributed by email, in inkprint, in Braille, and on USB flash
drive, by the
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
Mark Riccobono, President
telephone: (410) 659-9314
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National Federation of the Blind
200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
Baltimore, Maryland 21230-4998
THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND KNOWS THAT BLINDNESS IS NOT THE
CHARACTERISTIC THAT DEFINES YOU OR YOUR FUTURE. EVERY DAY WE RAISE THE
EXPECTATIONS OF BLIND PEOPLE, BECAUSE LOW EXPECTATIONS CREATE OBSTACLES
BETWEEN BLIND PEOPLE AND OUR DREAMS. YOU CAN LIVE THE LIFE YOU WANT;
BLINDNESS IS NOT WHAT HOLDS YOU BACK. THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
IS NOT AN ORGANIZATION SPEAKING FOR THE BLIND-IT IS THE BLIND SPEAKING FOR
OURSELVES.
ISSN 0006-8829
© 2018 by the National Federation of the Blind
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[PHOTO/CAPTION: The Rosen Shingle Creek Resort]
Orlando Site of 2018 NFB Convention
The 2018 convention of the National Federation of the Blind will take
place in Orlando, Florida, July 3 to July 8, at the Rosen Shingle Creek
Resort, 9939 Universal Boulevard, Orlando, Florida 32819-9357. Make your
room reservation as soon as possible with the Shingle Creek staff only.
Call (866) 996-6338.
The 2018 room rates are singles and doubles, $88; and for triples and
quads $93. In addition to the room rates there will be a tax, which at
present is 12.5 percent. No charge will be made for children under
seventeen in the room with parents as long as no extra bed is requested.
The hotel is accepting reservations now. A $100-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, 2018. 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, 2018, assuming that rooms are still
available. After that time the hotel will not hold our room block for the
convention. In other words, you should get your reservation in soon.
All Rosen Shingle Creek guestrooms feature amenities that include
plush Creek Sleeper beds, 40" flat screen TVs, complimentary high-speed
internet service, in-room safes, coffee makers, mini-fridges, and hair
dryers. Guests can also enjoy a swimming pool, fitness center, and on-site
spa. The Rosen Shingle Creek Resort has a number of dining options,
including two award-winning restaurants, and twenty-four-hour-a-day room
service.
The schedule for the 2018 convention is:
Tuesday, July 3 Seminar Day
Wednesday, July 4 Registration and Resolutions Day
Thursday, July 5 Board Meeting and Division Day
Friday, July 6 Opening Session
Saturday, July 7 Business Session
Sunday, July 8 Banquet Day and Adjournment
Vol. 61, No. 4 April
2018
Contents
Illustration: So Much Can Happen in a Day
A Giant Step on the Road to Accessible Art
by Gary Wunder
A Night at the Newseum
by Mark Riccobono, Glen Walters, and John Olson
NFB Philosophy: What It Is and What It Is Not
by Gary Wunder, Mark Riccobono, and Marc Maurer
Fearless: Remembering a Teacher Who Made the Difference
by Melody Lindsey Roane
National Science Foundation Awards New Grant to National Federation of the
Blind
by Seth Lamkin
The Power of Twitter
by Karen Anderson
A Professional in the Field Responds to AER
by Dick Davis
Others Share Their Response to AER and NAC
An Open Letter to Federation Chapters Regarding the Presidential Release
by Mark Riccobono
NOPBC 2018 Conference-President's Welcome
by Kim Cunningham
Minimum Wage Exemption for Persons with Disabilities Eliminated
Our Public Commitment to One Another as Represented in our Official Code of
Conduct Statement
by Mark Riccobono
Changing Attitudes Regarding Education, Employment, and Rehabilitation
through the National Federation of the Blind CAREER Mentoring Program
by Maurice Peret
The Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund
by Allen Harris
Driving Blind on the Information Superhighway-Screen Readers: The Interface
between Us and the Road
by Amy Mason
Recipes
Monitor Miniatures
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Carla McQuillan plays her guitar and sings into the
microphone in front of a group of people who sit listening.
[PHOTO/CAPTION: Melissa Riccobono stands and sings into a microphone. Mark
Riccobono sits behind her playing the guitar. Melissa's guide dog sniffs at
Mark's guitar.
So Much Can Happen in a Day
On March 17 the Jernigan Institute conducted simultaneous meetings of BELL
Academy coordinators and the Research and Development Committee. Though we
met in separate rooms and on separate floors, we were all going about the
business of creating greater opportunities for blind people.
But when the evening came around, it was time to acknowledge what was going
on in the wider world, and that was the celebration of St. Patrick's Day.
Our dinner offerings were Irish stew or corn beef and cabbage, a healthy
serving of potatoes, a healthy salad, three varieties of cheese, and a wide
selection of fruit. I don't know that I can put the word healthy before the
brownies, so how about yummy as a substitute for that oh so necessary
adjective.
But the meal was just the beginning of the evening. Carla McQuillan loves
to sing Irish ballads, and all of us had song sheets either in Braille or
print so we could join her in singing and clapping during the bridge. Like
every great performer, Carla took an intermission, and in her absence from
the stage we were entertained by Melissa Riccobono and her accompanist on
the guitar, Mark. Melissa has started a project to bring the community
together through music and to help raise money for deserving charities. She
and Mark gave us a sneak preview of what will be in her first show, and
clearly it is going to be a good one. I don't think there could have been a
better way to end a weekend of work then through this celebration. We enjoy
working hard, but we also enjoy letting our hair down and playing together.
Thanks to the great musicianship on the stage and the audience who made up
the chorus, we made a joyful noise that must have made happy the
leprechauns that were certainly among us.
A Giant Step on the Road to Accessible Art
by Gary Wunder
One day my mother and I were discussing sight and what I would look
at first if I got it back for a limited time. My answer was quick and firm.
I'd look at the moon, the stars, at famous paintings, at pictures in
magazines and books I always heard so much about. My mom started to cry.
The answer was supposed to be that I would look at her, at my father, at my
brothers and sisters, at all the people I loved and whose faces I couldn't
see.
I was truly sorry I had hurt her, and at the same time I was
perplexed. I knew what my mother and father and brothers and sister looked
like. I knew how tall they were, how big or small, the feel of their skin,
and the length and texture of their hair, what they sounded like, what they
enjoyed for breakfast, and their favorite hobbies and pastimes. Why wasn't
it obvious that I would want to learn about things I had almost no
knowledge about and to engage in an experience that eluded me?
Pictures have always seemed magical. How could someone with paint and
a brush capture a smile that has captivated the world? How can people
looking at a statue see the weight of the world on President Lincoln's
shoulders? What did the astronauts see from space that made them realize
how fragile is the planet on which we live? How can light on paper preserve
my grandfather's strong and sturdy body when he was thirty when the man I
knew was stooped and found it hard to walk?
[PHOTO CAPTION: Gen. Glenn Walters and John Paré examine the 3D rendition
of "The Tank."]
A picture may be worth a thousand words, but that doesn't mean a
thousand words can fully capture a picture. My guess is that words can no
more describe a picture than they can describe the sound of an orchestra or
the beauty of a human voice singing on-key and with emotion that can almost
break a heart.
So when pioneers say they want to join with the blind in putting
pictures in our hands, we are excited, anxious to join with them, and
committed to expanding our experiences into all of the areas that
understanding pictures might open: easier ways to comprehend science, to
observe technology, to participate more fully in the appreciation of art
that has been closed to the blind.
John Olson is a photographer who became known as a result of his work
taking photographs during the Vietnam War working first for Stars and
Stripes and later for LIFE magazine. His pictures transformed an abstract
battle in what too many of us thought of as a battle way over there in Asia
into a life-and-death conflict between human beings who were as close as
our kitchen table. John's success in pictures made him wonder how the blind
experienced life and whether it could be enhanced by having access to
something that had meant so much to him. So it was that in 2008 he created
3DPhotoWorks, a company with the mission of converting pictures into
tactile representations blind people could feel and enjoy.
[PHOTO CAPTION: NFB of Minnesota affiliate member examines "We're Marines,
Let's Go!"]
On January 30, 2018, a first-of-its-kind exhibit was held at the
Newseum in Washington, DC. Pictures that started Mr. Olson's career by
capturing dramatic scenes at the Battle of Hu? City during the Tet
Offensive in 1968 were shown to the blind using tactile representations and
audio descriptions. These exhibits showed a Marine in battle fatigues with
a belt of ammunition for an automatic rifle slung across his chest, a body
covered in blankets on a stretcher, a Marine in dress uniform-different
facets of the military life and experience that Mr. Olson shared as a war
photographer. When touching a part of a picture, what is being touched is
described, and several pictures and audio descriptions make up each
display. On the night of the Newseum exhibit held exclusively for the NFB,
lots of excited people were touching and listening. Multiple people
examining one exhibit was a problem since touching a different picture
immediately halts the description of the previous picture and begins
narration of the one just pressed.
Dr. Maurer went back to see the exhibit for a more personalized tour.
His request was that he be allowed to examine a series of pictures without
the audio to see what he could determine for himself. He was able to detect
a man who appeared to be wearing a belt. The man was a Marine in dress
uniform with a saber in his hand, ribbons on his chest, and decorations on
his collar. In another case he examined a picture of a tank. He could tell
it was a tank and could find the tread on which it rolled, but because the
door of the tank was on the same plane, he could not identify it.
Clearly what we are seeing in these works is experimental and raises
some good questions. What can we do to make drawings that convey more
through the sense of touch? What can we learn to detect through touch that
we have not stimulated because trying to interpret pictures is not a normal
part of our experience? Since understanding photographs seems intuitive for
people who can see, is this something learned through repeated exposure, or
is it something reserved primarily to those with vision? Perhaps the most
important question is this: if blind people are exposed to tactile art
repeatedly at an early age, is it something they can appreciate as much as
people who can see?
We are forging something wonderful as we explore the new frontiers of
experience, learning, and making museums acknowledge our interest in things
that are too often behind glass, too often elevated above where we can
reach, and too often separated by a rope or other barrier, the message
being "do not touch." We are working to learn the boundaries of touch,
expand our knowledge about how to construct tactile art to make the most of
touch, and convince museums and other places that display interesting and
historic information that the blind want and can benefit from it. Through
our partnership with John Olson and 3DPhotoWorks, we will make substantial
progress in enriching the lives of blind people who want to know more than
what is delivered through the spoken word. Together with the work we are
doing with science, technology, engineering, and math, we will increase the
ease with which blind students learn, increase the ability of blind workers
to use drawings like their sighted colleagues, and open up fields of study
which for too long have been thought off-limits to the blind. In this
investment of our time and treasure, the Federation will most certainly win
because anything we do will bring more information into the hungry and
curious minds of blind people.
---------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Mark Riccobono]
A Night at the Newseum
by Mark Riccobono, Glenn Walters, and John Olson
From the Editor: A number of moving remarks were made on the evening
of January 30, 2018, as the Newseum opened its doors to members of the
National Federation of the Blind. Our purpose was to celebrate the first of
its kind exhibit featuring a tactile and audio exhibit commemorating the
Battle of Hu?. The evening's festivities began with a presentation by
President Riccobono. Here are his remarks, followed by those of Glenn
Walters and John Olson:
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. [applause] Welcome to the 2018
Congressional reception of the National Federation of the Blind and welcome
to the Newseum. [applause] Most importantly, thank you for being here for
this historic event, a time when the blind of the nation join with a camera
company and an innovative photographer to change access to information and
celebrate the Marines who made it possible for us to live the lives we
want. [applause]
In January 1968 the members of the National Federation of the Blind
were not in the war. Blindness was thought to be a barrier to providing
service for the nation, although the war was at the front of our minds. In
the February 1968 issue of the Braille Monitor, our flagship publication,
the very first sentence of the report regarding our legislative priorities
read as follows: Although the Vietnam War, fiscal and big city problems,
and civil rights are expected to dominate the attention of the members of
the Second Session of the 90th Congress, efforts will be made legislatively
to resolve longstanding difficulties confronting physically disabled men
and women and other socially and economically disadvantaged people." Those
words were published at the same time that the men honored in the exhibit
we celebrate tonight were courageously battling in Hu? City. When those
veterans returned from battle in 1968, they did not always receive a
welcome consistent with their service to our country. In that same
timeframe we, the blind, were not viewed as first-class citizens who had
the ability to participate fully in society. Today, those veterans are
rightfully celebrated for their service in defense of the values of our
great nation. Similarly, the blind are increasingly recognized as
contributors and innovators in our communities. One indicator of our
progress as a nation is that we the blind are here tonight to help bring an
exhibit to the sighted, an exhibit that is long overdue. [applause] Never
before has an exhibit of this depth, power, and honor been presented to
remember the Marines who fought in the Battle of Hu? in February 1968, and
never before in history has an extensive exhibit of photographs been
brought to life with tactile and auditory complements in a major museum in
the United States, enhancing its access and meaning to all who come to
experience it, blind or sighted. [applause]
It is my true honor to be here this evening to offer the opening of
this exhibit and this program on behalf of the National Federation of the
Blind. As a son of a Vietnam Navy veteran, this evening is special to me,
particularly because of its celebration of our military personnel who have
given so much for our freedom. We would like to begin this evening by first
inviting our Vietnam veterans who are here this evening to stand and say
hello so we know who you are. Thank you for your service. [prolonged
applause]
And now we would like to invite all active military personnel and
veterans to stand and say hello so we know where you are. Thank you for
your service.
In 1968 the National Federation of the Blind lost a general in the
civil rights movement for the blind. Dr. Jacobus tenBroek died in the
spring of that year. He served as founder and first President of the
National Federation of the Blind. A few years before his death he described
the common bond that brings us together in our organization, and although
it is sometimes harder to find in America today, I would argue that it is
the same bond we strive to protect in our great nation. He said that we
have a faith in each other that can move mountains and mount movements.
Today, we add strength and speed to that movement.
There are many who helped us get here this evening. Our reception
this evening is made possible through the generous support of our friends
at the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers. I think some of them are here
this evening [applause], the Lockheed Martin Corporation, FedEx, and we
also should acknowledge the leadership of the Newseum for hosting this
event, and, of course, the great folks at 3DPhotoWorks who did the heavy
lifting and put this together.
We have a number of special dignitaries who are here this evening,
along with the members of the National Federation of the Blind, and
friends, and donors to our organization. We'd like to acknowledge the Board
of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind. We also have with us
Dr. Marc Maurer, executive director of the American Action Fund for Blind
Children and Adults and his wife, Mrs. Maurer. We have Dr. Fred Schroeder,
president of the World Blind Union. [applause] We're really honored to have
with us this evening Lieutenant General Ron Christmas, and also joining him
is his wife, Mrs. Christmas. General Christmas was a veteran of Vietnam and
fought in the Battle of Hu?. Thank you. [applause] I know we have many
other distinguished guests here, and I thank you for being with the blind
of America this evening.
I am proud to introduce our first speaker this evening. He was
commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 12 May 1979 after graduating from
The Citadel with a degree in electrical engineering. He has served in a
variety of positions during the past forty years, building extensive
experience in the military. It is my honor to present to you the Assistant
Commandant of the United States Marines, General Glenn Walters. [applause]
[PHOTO CAPTION: General Glenn Walters]
General Walters: Oorah! Thank you so much. It is Gail and my distinct
honor and pleasure to be with you here tonight. The Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs General Dunford also wanted to be here tonight. As it turns out
there's another event just up the street [laughter]; The State of the Union
requires his presence. So General Dunford asked if I could attend in his
place and represent all of us who are in uniform today to acknowledge and
honor all of those who served in Vietnam. [applause] And as my staff, some
of whom are here tonight, will tell you, I rarely stick to script, and I'd
rather be here than there this evening. [applause].
I would like to offer my thanks to Mark and the staff and members of
the National Federation of the Blind. Without your support and efforts,
this evening would not be possible. Most importantly, without your
dedication this great exhibit that I had a chance to view today would not
be on display.
Fifty years ago tonight, the North Vietnamese began an audacious
offensive. Their attacks occurred during what was supposed to be a
ceasefire. General Christmas, I'm sorry; you've probably heard all of this
before. That ceasefire was in honor of the Tet holiday. Instead the
communist forces used this perceived temporary peace as an opportunity to
strike and catch our forces and those of our allies off-guard. The North
Vietnamese struck more than one hundred villages and cities across South
Vietnam in places like Khe Sahn and the US Embassy compound in Saigon. Hu?
City was another target. It was the intellectual and cultural heart of
Vietnam; it was almost neutral, with very little US or North Vietnamese
conventional forces present. However, in the days and the weeks and the
months leading up to that offensive, the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong
quietly infiltrated Hu? City, awaiting to attack. Soldiers and Marines
responded to that attack across South Vietnam. The character of many of our
heroes we know today was shown on those days and weeks in 1968. Brave
Americans like John Canley, then a Gunnery Sergeant in Alpha Company, First
Battalion, First Marine Regiment. When his company commander fell,
seriously wounded, Gunny Canley assumed command of Alpha Company and on
numerous occasions exposed himself to intense enemy fire to rescue fellow
Marines wounded by the enemy. Although wounded himself Gunny Canley
reorganized and scattered his Marines and inspired them to drive the enemy
from its fortified positions. For his actions in that first week of
fighting in Hu?, Gunnery Sergeant Canley earned the Navy Cross. [applause]
That's our nation's second-highest award, and he would continue to serve
until he retired as a Sergeant Major Marines. This is another ad-lib point
for me as I share with you that we have gotten word that Gunnery Sergeant,
now Sergeant Major, Canley's award has been upgraded to the Medal of Honor.
[applause] I think that this is the first public announcement of that
event, and I'm proud to share it with you.
Another of the many heroes that emerged from that intense urban
combat in the Battle of Hu? was a young Marine Captain by the name of Ron
Christmas. He commanded Hotel Company, Second Battalion, Fifth Marine
Regiment. Multiple times Captain Christmas moved across exposed areas under
intense enemy fire, both to assess the situation and lead his Marines in
the assault on the enemy's positions. He ignored his own safety to direct
accurate fire from atop a tank that in my notes said he requested, but I
believe was probably more like requisitioned. [laughter] He personally led
his men in house-to-house fighting until the enemy building complex was
secured. For his actions in Hu? in 1968, Ron Christmas would also receive
the Navy Cross. [applause]
And to complete the story, we are honored to have Lieutenant General
Ron Christmas and his wife Sherry with us here this evening. [applause] He
remains a servant to all Marines today and a staunch advocate for our
Marine Corps heritage and our history. Thank you, sir, for being here
tonight, and thank you for your decades of service. [applause]
There is one more individual hero I would like to recognize tonight,
John Olson. He told me this evening he was a soldier, but I'm not going to
alter my remarks. In Hu?, John stood side to side with our Marines, and he
captured with his camera their story. His brave work allowed our citizens
then and now to understand the story of the brave servicemembers who served
in Vietnam. [applause] This courage will preserve their story for
generations to come. Now, through the efforts of John, this great
organization, the National Federation of the Blind, and this spectacular
venue and exhibit, more of our great people can more richly understand and
appreciate the service and sacrifice of our brave men and women. [applause]
Access to our nation's story is essential and should be realized by
all of us. Many great people in this room have made that more possible.
Thank you, and I commend you. [applause] You have improved access to a
courageous group of American heroes-fellow Americans who remain undeterred
by blindness. Accomplishments realized despite challenges inspire us all;
perseverance in the face of adversity is a core component of the American
spirit. You encourage us when you break through barriers and overcome
obstacles. These traits define our character and thank you for inspiring
all of us. [applause]
It is a true pleasure for Gail and I to be a small part of this
evening's event. We are honored to be here to celebrate the determination
and esteemed contributions of those who persevere through blindness to
participate in honoring in the service of our men and women who wore the
cloth of our nation in Vietnam. For all of this, thank you for including
us, God bless you all, and semper fidelis.
Mark Riccobono: Thank you General. It was a pleasure to have you and
your wife here, and God bless you as well.
In 1968, Robert Kennedy was traveling the nation campaigning for
president and attempting to bring people together during a time of great
unrest. He said, "Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve
greatly." Although he was not speaking of our next presenter, this quote
could be appropriately placed as a caption to the creator of tonight's
exhibit or his photos that appear in it. John Olson received his first
camera at age twelve. Early on he knew he wanted to be a war photographer.
As fate would have it, in 1966 he was drafted and sent to Vietnam at the
age of nineteen. There Olson was assigned to the daily military newspaper
Stars and Stripes; if you're not familiar with it, you can read it on the
NFB-NEWSLINE service. Amongst his many activities he spent five days
photographing the Battle of Hu? City in February 1968, where he captured
the images that helped unlock the truth about what was happening in the war
for the American public. His photos were published in LIFE magazine, and
shortly thereafter at age twenty-one, John became the youngest staff
photographer ever hired by LIFE magazine. After spending forty years in
photography, including starting his own business and using his business
talents to advance technologies and digital photography, he dared to do
something few would have even believed was possible: make photographs in a
form that blind people could have the freedom to explore on their own
terms. [applause]
Fate put John and I together at a convention of the National
Federation of the Blind in New York, and John began to tap into the
authentic experience of blind people, and together we are now making
history. [applause] There are many things I could tell you about John and
my experience with him. The most important thing for you to know is that he
is a man with a big heart, a broad imagination, and a faith that can move
mountains and mount movements. He is a visionary photographer who is blind
at heart. [applause] I present to you the principal owner of 3DPhotoWorks,
a celebrated war photographer, the passion behind the exhibit that we
celebrate tonight, and a partner with the National Federation of the Blind:
here is John Olson.
[PHOTO/CAPTION: John Olson]
John Olson: You know Federation members, I know many of you. I don't
know all of you, but for a few moments here I wondered if in fact they'd
switched out some extras because the Federation members I know-when they
get a group-aren't just kind of laid back and quiet as this group is, you
know. So is this the Federation or not? [loud cheering] That's the people I
recognize. Thank you for passing the security test.
You know, today is a historic date, and today is a historic day. It's
a historic day as General Walters has explained to us, because fifty years
ago the Battle of Hu? and the Tet Offensive occurred. I was a twenty-year-
old, highly motivated US Army draftee. I was highly motivated to pursue my
profession: it was to be a world-class photojournalist and a world-class
war photographer. And I had an incredible job in the army. I was the only
combat photographer assigned to Stars and Stripes newspaper in Vietnam. Now
Stars and Stripes is one of our partners in this project, and they've been
an incredible partner, just like the Newseum. Now I want to hear just one
more time to prove to the Newseum that this is the Federation. Now what do
you think of that? [very loud cheering]
You know, it turns out that if you're a combat photographer, you
can't fake it. You've got to be out in the middle of things; the more
dangerous the better. And one way to guarantee you're going to be in the
middle of things-you go where the Marines are. [applause]
So shortly after Tet broke out I heard that fighting in Hu? was
vicious. It was house-to-house, something that I'd never seen, and if I'm
correct, many of the Marines had never seen. So I went to Hu?. I was met by
a number of eighteen-, nineteen-, and twenty-year-old Marines. They were
dirty, unshaven, hungry, and angry. And if you're a combat photographer who
probably doesn't carry a weapon, there's nothing better than that
combination to keep you safe. And they kept me alive for my time in Hu?,
and they allowed me the opportunity to make a series of photographs that
ran in Stars and Stripes and LIFE magazine. And that launched my career,
and it gave me access to people and places for decades that I never would
have had had I not made that series of photographs.
At a point in my career, I began to realize how critical access to
images had been to my life. Now I never met a blind person, but I began to
wonder what it was like for people of the blind community who don't have
access to visual information. Now I have no engineering experience, no
neuroscience experience, but that day nearly ten years ago I set out to
develop a means by which the blind community could share in art, in
photographs, and to acquire visual information for learning and enjoying
life. [applause]
Now I was very fortunate. I hired some really talented people who
were able to devise a means by which we could convert two-dimensional
images to three-dimensional data, we could sculpt them to be tactile, and
then we could print the image and data on top of the relief. In an early
meeting with my partners from the National Federation of the Blind [cheers]
it was explained to me by director of assistive technology Anne Taylor- and
for those of you who know Anne, you know there's no middle ground with
Anne; she tells it the way it is. She explained to me the need to convey as
much information as possible to the blind community. On the way out the
door she stopped us and said, "And this will be our gift to the sighted."
[applause]
So tonight, as you experience the ten tactile images there, keep in
mind that this is a gift that we're learning is as compelling to the
sighted community as it is to the Federation members and the blind
community.
Now I did not develop this on my own. I developed it in partnership
with Federation members and the leadership of the Federation. Had it not
been for you and your leadership, we wouldn't have a product today. Early
on, in one of our first meetings with a large number of Federation members,
we invited in ten of you and asked for your input, and it went from there.
When we proposed this exhibition to the Newseum and they understood the
historic nature of the exhibit and the opportunity to be the first major
museum in the United States to serve the blind community, they seized the
opportunity. [applause] Our goal at 3DPhotoWorks is to create a worldwide
network of museums, now that the technology exists, that's willing to serve
the blind community. Prior to this evening, the Federation invited leaders
from the museum community from different parts of the country. When, as
Federation members, you experience this exhibit tonight and you have the
opportunity to convey to one of those industry leaders the importance of
visual information, make sure you tell them how you feel and tell them from
your heart. Because I've learned that the number one thing about Federation
members is that you tell it like it is, and this is your opportunity to
convey the importance of what we've achieved. Thank you very much.
[applause]
Mark Riccobono: Thank you John. Nancy's here, right-part of the
dynamic duo. Thank you both for being here.
Tonight we celebrate our veterans and the progress we have made as a
country and as a blindness civil rights movement. Tonight we help to give
back to our veterans, and we set a new standard for photographic
experiences in cultural institutions across this great nation. Let tonight
be the spark that ignites passion for new dimensions in photography where
the visual and the nonvisual combine to create an experience that is beyond
our current understanding of presentation and perception. Let this moment
strengthen our faith and encourage us to welcome others into our movement
so that we can revolutionize how history is displayed and commemorated in
our nation. Maybe we'll even change the participation of blind people in
military service. [applause]
In 1968, Robert Kennedy said these words that speak to our purpose
here tonight and our mission in the National Federation of the Blind: "Few
will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to
change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will
be written the history of this generation." [applause] Or, as we say in the
National Federation of the Blind [crowd chanting the name of the
organization along with him], "together with love, hope, and determination,
we transform dreams into reality." That's what we've done here today, and
that's what we will do in the future. Congratulations to us, and thank you
for being here. [applause]
----------
NFB Philosophy: What It Is and What It Is Not
by Gary Wunder, Mark Riccobono, and Marc Maurer
From the Editor: In response to the article "Tax Deductions for the
Blind: Are They Something We Deserve, and Should We Fight for Them?"
published in the January 2018 issue, I received a most interesting
question. Boiled down it is what is NFB Philosophy and are there things one
must and must not do to follow it. What prompted the question was the
letter that talked about a tax deduction for being blind and whether asking
for this wasn't as contradictory as asking to preboard an airplane. The
writer who inquired wanted to know if it is an article of faith in the NFB
philosophy that we will not preboard and wonders exactly what the NFB
philosophy is.
My initial email to her said that I consider the NFB philosophy less a
set of commandments and more like the application of the Golden Rule. My
understanding of what we believe is that there is no list of thou shall and
thou shalt not's but instead a mindset that asks, "Is this something I need
based on blindness? If it is, I will take it and advocate for it. If it is
not, I will not borrow against the goodwill and public support that people
feel about blind people. Instead, I will try to educate and will hope that
I can bank some of those good intentions for things I really need."
Not content with my own understanding and thinking that the thoughts
of others might make an article worth publishing here, I wrote to four
people asking if they wished to try defining the NFB philosophy. Two of
them responded. It is no surprise that one of them was President Riccobono.
As one might expect, the other was Immediate Past President Maurer. Here is
what they said in response to my letter asking if they had thoughts to
share. Neither believes that he has written the definitive word on our
philosophy, and the door remains open for other thought-provoking articles
on the subject:
>From President Riccobono:
Dear Gary,
As you know from our telephone conversation, I wrote an extensive
reply to you which I lost to a Microsoft gremlin. I have been eager to get
back to this, so I took a few minutes at the question yesterday. There is
definitely more that can be said on this topic, and I think there is at
least one idea that did not come to mind in my rewrite today.
Exploring the question of what is the NFB philosophy and what
elements of it are articles of faith is a good idea. I know that my friend
Marc Maurer, who has taught me the nature and art of philosophy over the
years, will have ideas about this topic. Let me give you the thinking of
where my mind went since it strikes me that philosophy is the art of
thinking about thinking.
The word philosophy comes from Latin and from the Greek word
philosophia "love of wisdom." Today it is often defined as "the study of
the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially
when considered as an academic discipline." Philosophy is about creating
understanding (wisdom) and then turning that understanding over to
determine if it holds together. Sometimes it does not hold together because
it is inconsistent (logic), and sometimes it does not hold together when
tested in the real world. This summer I described philosophy as a "pattern
of thought," as that is how I have come to think about it, especially in
the art of attempting to contribute to it in the form of banquet speeches.
In contrast, an article of faith is a "firmly held belief." One can
take something as an article of faith without having any philosophy of any
type. In fact, I am certain we all know people who have firmly held beliefs
based on some experience and not truly because they have reasoned through
it systematically. I think I take certain things as articles of faith
because of my experience with NFB philosophy. One is the idea that we, as
blind people, are best suited to determine what is best for the blind. This
comes from NFB philosophy, but I think I consider it an article of faith
because I have observed it tested out in the world, and I know how it works
better than the alternatives-both in my own life and for us as a movement.
I think Dr. tenBroek held this belief, and he did so before we had a shared
philosophy. Maybe he held this belief because he thought critically about
blindness-which we now think of as NFB philosophy-or maybe he did because
Dr. Perry instilled it in him.
This leads me to wonder where the individual comes into NFB
philosophy. The Federation provides a pattern of thought, but it is up to
us to think about it and apply it. I know that we have an extensive body of
literature about blindness. On our website we define some of it as
"philosophy." That page can be found at https://nfb.org/literature-
philosophy. This section incorporates by reference all of the banquet
speeches. Does that body of literature constitute NFB philosophy? Most
certainly there are pieces that are not mentioned. My friend Bill Meeker
wrote an article that appeared in the Braille Monitor in December 1994
entitled "The Blind Table." This article makes certain observations about
where the blind get seated in restaurants. I consider it part of
understanding our NFB philosophy in as much as it is an expression of how
our pattern of thought teaches us to evaluate the world around us. I doubt
many people remember or even notice the ideas Bill shares in that article,
but I think it could be considered part of our pattern of thought. This
raises the idea for me that our NFB philosophy gains strength as more
people are learning about it and testing it.
Many times people simplify the critical thinking that the NFB
philosophy challenges us to do by boiling it down into bite-sized rules.
"Federationists never take preferential treatment because it is against our
philosophy," is one example. Another is "Real Federationists use rigid
canes because they are proud to be blind." The rules always cause trouble
because they demonstrate more black and white than the NFB philosophy
offers. When I was a student at the Colorado Center for the Blind, I found
use of the rigid cane helped me focus on the skills I needed to learn,
while enforcing the pattern of thought that I could direct my own movements
and manage my own affairs. When I choose to use a telescoping cane today-I
have both types in the corner of my office-I know it comes with the
disadvantage that it might collapse. If I am running out of the office to
meet a business associate who is picking me up to go to lunch, I will
likely grab my telescoping cane as I am not sure what type of car they
might have or what the arrangements will be at the restaurant. I have no
trouble dealing with a straight cane, but I can make a choice. NFB
philosophy tells me I should make the choice that makes sense for my
independence and blending in. Other Federation members might make a
different choice for a different reason, and it will be completely
consistent with our philosophy. In other words, I think the pattern of
thought often gets confused with the actions we take. In any philosophy,
humans always struggle with the gaps between the idea and the action we
take. Our philosophy urges us to continue examining ourselves just as many
religious philosophies invite people to regularly ground themselves in
being God-like-an extremely high standard by any measure.
Your email asks whether avoiding preboarding is an article of faith
in the NFB philosophy. This is an interesting question. For me, NFB
philosophy guides me to consider whether there are any artificial barriers
in the boarding process that require me to be treated differently-I say no.
NFB philosophy asks me to consider whether it is necessary for me to stand
out as needing special treatment by preboarding-I again find myself saying
no. NFB philosophy does not tell me what to do but leads me to a place that
informs my decision. Recently I had the A1 boarding position on a Southwest
flight. The only people that got on the plane before me were preboarders.
Since I was at the front of the A line and very visible to the boarding
attendant, he wanted me to preboard. Functionally there should have been no
difference to him whether I preboarded or not as I was effectively boarding
ahead of everyone else. He insisted that I preboard even after I told him
"no thank you." I wondered if having the back and forth with him was
helpful. Once I successfully convinced him to drop it, a nearby passenger
remarked to me that the gentlemen really did not trust that I knew my own
capacity. I choose to board with the rest of the group because NFB
philosophy generally leads my mind to a place where I think it is the best
for me and for other blind people. It was not until I had the experience of
being the first regular boarder on the plane that I truly realized how
powerful that perception line is to others. If the idea of boarding with
everyone else was not a firmly held belief before, it is now. Having said
that, I think the NFB philosophy challenges me to consider preboarding and
if there truly is a reason that I need it. I sometimes take this option
when I have to walk out onto a noisy tarmac. The only times I do not are
when I am with someone or when I have gotten to know someone in the
boarding area that I feel comfortable asking to walk near me. I find it
more consistent with NFB philosophy to ask to preboard or walk with someone
than to boldly walk out into the noise and hope that someone grabs me and
steers me in the right direction or yells loudly enough that I can hear
them. I do not ask the person next to me unless we have already been
engaged in conversation, because I think it might reinforce whatever
misconceptions they already carry. That level of complexity in thinking has
come with years of living the NFB philosophy every day. When I was a
college student on my way to my first national convention, I would not have
had that level of sophistication in my thinking. On my way back from my
first national convention, I probably knew that many Federation members did
not choose to preboard, but I did not understand why. When the airline put
me in a room with twelve-year-old children, I began to understand it
better. The pattern of thought is important, but the actual practice of it
helps to make it real. The two build on each other. This developmental
process is much of what Dr. Jernigan discusses in "The Nature of
Independence." This is also why our training centers are powerful and
effective. They do not simply teach the skills, but they reinforce the
pattern of thought, and they teach blind people how to evaluate the thought
process.
The NFB philosophy also gets a bad reputation when individuals
project it onto others. I think the NFB philosophy encourages me to share
it with others, and I very badly want other blind people to know the
freedom I know I get from this pattern of thought. Leaders of the
Federation-this is definitely reflected in "The Nature of Independence"-
challenge us to raise our expectations but also to be careful about how we
challenge others to raise theirs. We all know of blind people who have
pushed potential members of the Federation away because we presented NFB
philosophy as a "thou shalt or you are not fit" sort of environment. I do
not think that is inherent in NFB philosophy, but rather a problem with
humans making a pattern of thought actionable. I think this is also the
conflict that comes up related to our philosophy and use of a guide dog. We
all know people who talk about the dog as the thinking entity. Yet our
philosophy tells us that no matter the tool, the blind person should
maintain the locus of control. Thus, the best handlers of guide dogs, in my
opinion, are those who understand that the dog follows the person's
directions even if the dog is doing the physical leading. We know that this
becomes controversial since some blind people understand this to be that
NFB philosophy devalues dogs. In my mind, the NFB philosophy establishes a
pattern of thought that gives you guidance on how to use the tools
effectively.
The NFB philosophy is a pattern of thought that encourages us to
explore the boundaries of what is possible. The NFB philosophy is the
belief that we are the ones best suited to decide what works for us. The
NFB philosophy is a living way of thinking and acting upon the world as
blind people, and it evolves as more of us come to practice the patterns.
If there are any articles of faith, they probably consist of blind people
know what is best for blind people, blindness is not the characteristic
that exclusively defines us, and we should strive every day to raise
expectations for ourselves. Then again, we once took it as somewhat an
article of faith that blind people could do anything except for drive and
fly an airplane. Then we shattered the idea that driving was on the list.
This might suggest that the only article of faith is the faith that we have
in one another to continue testing the limits of our own future.
I am eager to hear what others have to share on this topic.
There you have President Riccobono's thoughts on the subject. Here is
what Dr. Maurer said in response to a similar request of him and the
suggestion by President Riccobono that he might want to chime in:
Dear Gary:
Thanks for your email asking, "What is NFB philosophy?" I gather that
this is the important piece of what you have written. I know that you are
capable of answering the question, "Does NFB philosophy prohibit
preboarding an airline?" The answer is that of course it does not. I have
preboarded them myself, and I have boarded with everybody else. The
important part of NFB philosophy is that I should decide when to do which.
Some of my friends have attempted to synthesize NFB philosophy in a
list of principles. I remember reading one of these once and being asked by
its author if any items had been omitted. I was busy at the time.
Consequently, I only thought about the question very briefly. However, one
item which had been omitted was that blind people working together can and
should run an organization that synthesizes thought about blindness and
assists in creating the kind of culture that welcomes blind people. I added
this thought to the list, but I felt unsatisfied.
The philosophy of the NFB says that blind people have value and that
we should act in such a way that we enhance that value and bring sighted
people to recognize it. It also says that blind people can lead
independent, joyous lives. It recommends that we behave in such a way that
we increase the possibility that this is the experience of the blind. NFB
philosophy says that in every meaningful way blind people are equal to
sighted people. The implications of these statements suggest that blind
people should be trained to pursue their own lives in ways that they find
beneficial. It also urges that blind people take advantage of the training.
It does not require blind people to take any certain training as an article
of faith.
Hazel tenBroek was the wife of our founding President, Dr. Jacobus
tenBroek. She told me one time that the method for blind people to follow
in ordering a steak in a restaurant in the 1940s and the 1950s was that
those ordering the meat would routinely request that it be cut into bite-
sized pieces in the kitchen before being served. At one point in my
Federation experience I encountered a heated debate among Federation
members about whether it was proper to have somebody else cut your meat for
you. My own opinion is that if a blind person wants it done and can get it
accomplished with a minimum of inconvenience, it is quite proper.
I was recently on a dinner cruise boat. Part of the festivity
involved being served a lobster. I asked the waiter to manage getting the
flesh from the claws and the tail for me. I was not alone. My sighted
buddies were doing exactly the same thing. Neither they nor I felt
diminished by the request. It was also evident that the waiter was quite
familiar with the process. He must have done it hundreds if not thousands
of times for diners on the boat.
How I live my life is my business. I reject being ordered to perform
certain actions or be certain places because of my blindness. I also reject
such orders for other nonimportant reasons. This is part of my NFB
philosophy. If I am told to keep my hands out of a place because the
electricity in it could shock or kill me, this seems sensible. If I am told
to keep my hands out of a place because it is not suitable for blind
people, this seems idiotic to me. How these principles are applied in life
is a matter of judgment. I insist on my right to use my own judgment. This
also is part of my NFB philosophy.
When I suggest that blind people learn Braille, I do so because I
think it's beneficial. When I suggest that blind people use long white
canes, I do so because it's beneficial. I have tried using a dog, but I've
never given it enough time to evaluate it properly. I don't have a strong
opinion about the benefits of using dogs. However, I have a very strong
opinion about the right of those who want to use them to be protected in
this choice. Many of my colleagues have told me that using a dog is
liberating for them. I want them to have the liberation, and I trust their
judgment. Trusting the judgment and experience of other blind people who
know enough to give me effective information is also a part of my NFB
philosophy.
On the subject of the exemption in the tax code for the blind, it can
be argued either way. As the world is built for the sighted (at least a lot
of it), there are costs involved in managing as a blind person. It is
possible that the tax code should recognize these and compensate. However,
it is also possible to argue that although there are some costs for the
blind that the sighted do not have to meet, the difference is not so great
that it should be printed in every tax form in the land. I do not remember
this argument being pursued on the convention floor. It has been discussed
extensively off the convention floor from time to time, and the arguments
are fierce. If the debate comes to the convention, I shall be interested in
how it develops.
The NFB philosophy is quite clearly not a fixed set of principles
that can never be modified. In one sense the National Federation of the
Blind is the same today as it was in 1940 when it came into being. The idea
at the time was that programs and policies about blindness must incorporate
the view of blind people and that the Federation was the appropriate
organization to represent the blind. Such remains as valid now as it was
then. However, how we interpret and carry into effect the philosophy that
is ours has changed.
There was a time in the Federation during which a fierce argument
occurred about whether modifications to programs, buildings, and activities
of living should not be made on behalf of the blind. This principle remains
largely one in which we believe. However, with the digitization of
virtually all methods of communication, access to information for the blind
becomes as practical as it is for the sighted. We now believe that it is
our right to have access to all information put into digital form. Although
this is not a change in our fundamental beliefs, it does represent a change
in emphasis.
At one time we thought and we said that print was not inherently
available to us. The way to get at it was recorded matter, Braille, or a
reader. Today we believe that we should have methods of getting such
information that are not separate and distinct from the way sighted people
get it. We have spent the last twenty years working to incorporate this
thought into the minds of the developers of technology. We have not yet
been universally successful, but our equality of access to information is
greater today than it once was.
Undoubtedly there will be other changes in the emphasis that we give
to the implementation of NFB philosophy. The fundamental element of our
philosophy that will not change is that we in convention assembled will
decide what we want our policies to be.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Arlene Hill, March 25, 1943 - November 13, 2017]
Fearless: Remembering a Teacher Who Made the Difference
by Melody Lindsey Roane
From the Editor: Melody Lindsey Roane is the director of the Virginia
Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired in Richmond,
Virginia. During the past twenty-three years she has directed training
programs for the blind in Virginia, Michigan, and Alaska and worked as a
vocational rehabilitation counselor in New Mexico. Melody learned about the
NFB through the national scholarship program when she was a senior in high
school in Florida. Over the ensuing years, she served as a board member in
the Florida and Michigan affiliates and as the affiliate president in
Alaska. She currently serves as the president of the National Association
of Blind Rehabilitation Professionals, and she and her husband, Mark,
participate actively in the NFB's Virginia affiliate.
I first met Melody when she was a bubbly young student, and she took the
time to compliment me on a speech I had given at a state convention she
attended. That gave me good reason to remember her name, but her energy and
enthusiasm have come to cement her in my mind more than any kind words
about a speech that even I don't remember now.
Melody has been a leader in every place she has lived, always letting
her Federationism shine for those who know her to see. This tribute is her
way of saying thank you to one of the people who figured prominently in
allowing that light to shine through her, and what a wonderful tribute it
is. Here is what Melody says about her friend and mentor, Arlene.
The following post about Arlene Hill written by Louana Abney Sterling
appeared on the Louisiana Center for the Blind's Facebook page: "I thank
you for all you taught me about facing fears. When I first came to the
Center, I was a very fearful person. I did not want to go out on my own,
but you showed me it was nothing to be afraid of. If it were not for you,
the last few years of my life would have been terrible. My husband has been
in and out of the hospital, and because of you and your love, I was able to
be there and do what I needed for him without fear."
How do you honor a woman who taught her students so enthusiastically,
believed so strongly in their potential, and gave so freely so that others
may catch the spark that would fuel a dream and inspire a life? This is the
question I ponder as I write this article about Arlene Hill, a gifted,
talented and well-loved teacher at the Louisiana Center for the Blind who
passed away on Monday, November 13, 2017. How do you do justice to someone
who lived the lessons she taught?
It was December 1990 when I entered the Louisiana Center for the
Blind as a twenty-one-year-old college graduate who struggled with a lot of
insecurities, trying to find my place in this world. Arlene was my cane
travel instructor, and soon I discovered that she had a great sense of
adventure and fun which matched my own. I was going to learn so much, and I
couldn't wait to get started. Every lesson became a great adventure, adding
new addresses to her repertoire and helping me develop problem-solving
skills and endurance. Insecurities quickly disappeared, replaced by a sense
of freedom and confidence.
As I gained a firm belief in my cane travel abilities, Arlene threw
challenges at me during each lesson, which I embraced eagerly. They weren't
always easy, and sometimes they were downright bizarre. One day I went into
Arlene's office, and she told me that today's lesson was to locate Sarah's
Kitchen, a wonderful restaurant in Ruston back in the old days that was
operated out of Sarah's house. The directions went something like this:
After you pass the cemetery, take the first right, go down to the third
street and turn left; when you hear the second dog bark, turn right. You
cross over the second hill, then take the gravel driveway to the right, and
you SHOULD be there." It was always an awesome feeling when you actually
arrived there without too many complications like one of the dogs not
barking. I loved it! Ruston has grown a great deal since I was a student.
Because of my training and role models like Arlene who shared the NFB
philosophy with me, I am convinced that blind people can learn excellent
travel skills and apply them in towns, cities, the heartland of the USA,
and in other countries. Over the years, I have lived in Alaska, New Mexico,
Michigan, and now Virginia, and no matter where I was living, the problem-
solving and analytical skills I learned from Arlene prepared me to travel
successfully and confidently in all environments.
Arlene demonstrated the unique ability to serve as a mentor and
teacher to her students, as well as a colleague and friend, and there was
no conflict. This characteristic is best illustrated by the following
reflections from Pam Allen, executive director of the Louisiana Center for
the Blind: "Arlene was my instructor, then my coworker, and then my
employee, and in those roles we were always friends. There was never any
awkwardness in the transitions. I am forever grateful. She taught me so
much." She lived what she taught, and when people ask me about the
differences in training center philosophies, this ability to put into
practice what you teach is one of them. Arlene also contributed to the
writing of the book, Techniques Used by Blind Cane Travel Instructors: A
practical approach: Learning, Teaching, Believing which demystifies the
strategies blind cane travel instructors use to teach travel skills to
blind students.
When the Center closed for short holidays, Arlene invited me to stay
with her family which I appreciated greatly since my home was in Florida.
Rather than spending my time as a passive guest, Arlene invited me to help
out with various jobs in the kitchen. I felt like I was a part of the
family. She shared her tips and strategies for cooking and baking which I
still use today. In her unassuming way, she taught me that respect and
belief don't have to be demonstrated just in the classroom. She was a great
role model and was always willing to give more so that others could find
their dreams. It was not just an eight-to-five job for her; it was a
lifestyle. It is rare to find that personal quality.
This is not just my story. There are countless stories of successful
blind women and men who say they learned from Arlene. My husband, Mark,
told me the story about when he was a student at the Louisiana Center for
the Blind, and Arlene allowed him and another student to build a deck on
the back of her house and teach her daughter, Valerie, and Valerie's
husband, Sam, how to build a deck. "There aren't too many people who would
have that much belief in you to invest that much money in the project so
that we could know that blindness had not diminished our skills; it just
challenges us to develop alternative techniques to do the same things we
would do if we were still sighted." Arlene lived her belief in the
abilities of blind people, and because of it, countless blind people are
living the lives they want. The heartbeat of her life was the Federation
philosophy, which gave hope and confidence to her students.
Another former student, Karl Smith, shared the following thoughts
about Arlene which have been echoed by many others who had the privilege of
learning from and working with her:
Although I was familiar with Arlene from meeting her in various
capacities at national conventions, I really got to know her when I
became a student at the Louisiana Center for the Blind in 1989. She
was an enthusiastic and capable teacher, giving me my first experience
with a totally blind travel instructor. She was fearless and very
creative when necessary. She taught me that it was OK in an emergency
to flag down a car and ask where I was. She taught me to stop, listen,
and think to work my way out of difficult travel situations.
In cooking class Arlene taught me how to make a delicious
strawberry pie from a recipe she got from a favorite bakery from her
days in Baltimore. She once spent an afternoon with me trying to
rescue a large batch of fudge I was making in which I accidently put
far too much salt. We tried many remedies including boiling a potato
in it to take the salt taste away, but none worked.
Arlene was a very good singer, and we found time to sing
together with some of the students on weekends at the apartments with
me and others accompanying on guitars. She also found time to sing in
her church choir on Sundays.
One of my favorite memories of Arlene involved my final student
project for home management. After completing all the cooking
assignments, I decided that rather than just sew on a button which I
already knew how to do, I wanted to make my wife a jumper as a
surprise on returning home after my training. Arlene spent many hours
after classes working with me to finish this project. For her efforts
I taught her how to use the computer. I finished the jumper just
before leaving Ruston, and my wife actually wore it a few times.
When visiting LCB over the years I always found time to visit
with Arlene. Another favorite memory was watching Arlene's over the
top excitement when the New Orleans Saints won the final playoff game
opening the way for their Super Bowl win.
Arlene's great legacy will continue through all of us fortunate
enough to have been taught and lifted by her.
And I would be remiss if I did not mention Arlene's three children,
Andrea, Eric, and Valerie, whom she loved dearly and was committed to
completely. She was a single mom who faced that daunting task without fear
and with love, hope, and determination. Joanne Wilson, the founder of the
Louisiana Center for the Blind, remembers, "Her kids were in sports, and
Eric played baseball. You could always count on Arlene being at his games
and cheering him on no matter what happened. She was a great mother, and my
son Joel said that she was like another mother to him growing up with her
kids." Arlene was also very proud of the activities and accomplishments of
her nine grandchildren who brought so much joy to her life.
In 1991 the Louisiana Center for the Blind presented the first of
Jerry Whittle's plays to raise money for the summer youth programs. The
title of the play was "Passing the Torch," and Arlene played the role of
the Center director, Mrs. Page. In the play, Mrs. Page challenged blind
students who were coming to the end of their training to take the torch of
freedom that they have been given by the National Federation of the Blind
and pass it on to those who come behind them. And I am struck with the
realization that, as we stand at this point in our lives, having benefited
from Arlene's life and her teaching, we hold that torch of freedom that she
has passed to us. I am reminded of the responsibility that we have to pass
that torch to blind people who come behind us. When a young blind mother of
three children calls me, desperate to get her children out of an abusive
situation, and others tell her that no judge would give her custody of her
kids because she is blind, we must show her that it is possible for her to
take care of her children. Hmm, I know that very well because of Arlene who
provided a safe home for her three children and because of countless other
blind parents we know through the National Federation of the Blind who are
successfully caring for their children every day.
So, how do you honor a woman who taught her students so
enthusiastically, believed so strongly in their potential, and gave so
freely so that others may catch the spark that would fuel a dream and
inspire a life? This is the question I ponder as I write this article about
Arlene Hill, a gifted, talented and well-loved teacher at the Louisiana
Center for the Blind. How do you do justice to someone who lived the
lessons she taught?
We can honor Arlene by going to chapter meetings at the end of a long
day and encouraging a chapter member to locate her chair independently and
participate in the meeting actively when we would rather be at home curled
up on the couch reading a good book. We can honor her by doing what may be
inconvenient for us at the time but what may have the potential of making a
huge difference in someone else's life. We can honor her by changing our
plans so that we can be there to provide hope and encouragement to someone
we may have just met who is frustrated, scared, and uncertain about the
future. We can honor her by recognizing when someone needs our strength to
get them through the rough times of life. Arlene practiced excellence in
everything she did, and we can honor her by adopting the exhortation of
this quote from Ronnie Oldham: "Excellence is the result of caring more
than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming
more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think
is possible."
Arlene's passing and the passing of others is not the end of an era.
It is an opportunity for those of us who remain to pass on their spirit of
love, hope, and determination. We can continue the difference Arlene made
in our lives by making a difference in the lives of the blind people God
places in our paths. And, when we come to the end of our lives, may others
say of us what we say today about Arlene, which is stated so beautifully in
this Scripture: "A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be
esteemed is better than silver or gold." Proverbs 22-1 New International
Version.
Thank you, Arlene, for teaching me and countless others to live
fearlessly.
----------
[PHOTO/CAPTION: A drawing of a cube bisected at a forty-five-degree angle
by a flat plane.]
National Science Foundation Awards New Grant to National Federation of the
Blind
by Seth Lamkin
From the Editor: Seth is the grant program officer for the National
Federation of the Blind. This means that he helps brainstorm about
projects, finds organizations that might look favorably on them, writes the
grant proposals, and has the thankless job of putting together all of the
material required to show that we are spending the money given from the
grants in the ways the grantor intends. Seth is also one of our best
proofreaders and has made important amendments-okay, corrections-to my work
from time to time. Here is what he has to say about a recent grant we have
received:
In 2013 the National Federation of the Blind was the recipient of a
three-year grant award from the National Science Foundation to expand
informal science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) opportunities
for blind youth, a project that saw the NFB partner with six science
centers across the country as well as with other educators and STEM
professionals. As part of that work, we introduced our student participants
to tactile technical drawing (or drafting) as a component of an engineering
design project. Together with our partners we noticed a trend among our
students and realized there was an opportunity for an exciting new project
focused on a set of skills commonly referred to as spatial abilities. Fast
forward to 2017, and we were fortunate that the National Science Foundation
recognized the merits of this idea and awarded the National Federation of
the Blind a new five-year grant focused on spatial ability and engineering
education for blind high school students.
Think of spatial ability as the way in which you imagine an object,
its various characteristics, and then mentally manipulate that object to
consider how it might change under certain conditions or as the result of
certain actions. An example of this is if you consider a cube, and then you
think of how its two halves would appear if it were cut in half at a forty-
five-degree angle, and how those halves would appear based on the angle of
perspective. You can imagine how valuable this ability is within
engineering specifically, but also its broad application in a variety of
fields and in daily life. Consider how helpful it can be to picture how
your various belongings-with their varying shapes and sizes-will fit in
your luggage before you pack, unpack, and inevitably repack just about
everything you own.
Another application of spatial ability is an individual's concept of
place within his or her environment. Again, this is an important skill for
anyone, regardless of vision or occupation, but even more so when you
consider the importance of mental mapping in orientation and mobility
training for blind children and adults. For anyone, blind or sighted, who
has become turned around in a busy mall or convention center, recalling the
layout in your mind is a useful and comforting ability.
The impetus for our project is our understanding, based on some
existing literature but also informed by the collective experience of the
National Federation of the Blind, that blind youth are denied many of the
opportunities to develop spatial abilities to the same degree and at the
same time as their sighted peers. Active play, independent travel, and
other age-appropriate milestones can influence the development of spatial
abilities. We are all too familiar with the obstacles blind youth face due
to low expectations. Our work will include research, led by our partners at
Utah State University, to determine how spatial skills can be measured and
improved for blind people.
The programs themselves may sound familiar to you. We will be holding
multiple iterations of NFB Engineering Quotient (EQ), a week-long program
for blind high school students to experience hands-on engineering
activities alongside blind adult mentors. Our colleagues at Utah State
University are experts in engineering education and have worked with us in
the past to develop programming for blind youth. Similarly we will once
again be working with our friends at the Science Museum of Minnesota who
will lend their expertise in informal programming. Ann Cunningham will be
leading lessons on tactile drawing. In collaboration with our other
partners, she will showcase how integral this skill is for engineering
specifically and how useful it can be in any class or profession.
All of this will of course take place within the context of the
National Federation of the Blind and its fundamental knowledge that you can
live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back. With this
basic principle the organization has affected thousands of lives, primarily
through a system of mentorship that has become second nature to us. In
academia there's a name for what we've been doing, and it has been shown to
be effective in trials and investigations with a variety of populations.
Known as "communities of practice," a lot has been written about them, but
the basic idea is that a group of people who share a concern or passion
come together to address their common issues collectively-as a community.
The expertise of this group comes from practice, from the lived experiences
of the members of the community. Sound familiar? As new members enter the
community, they are mentored by those more experienced members who came
before them, in time becoming those who will mentor the members to come.
Our partners at Lifelong Learning Group, evaluators on our previous
grant from the National Science Foundation, have joined us once again and
will be producing research on the impact of the National Federation of the
Blind as a community of practice on the blind youth participating in the
coming years of programming. It is an exciting opportunity to document the
mechanisms and processes by which the National Federation of the Blind
truly changes what it means to be blind and does so in a way that speaks
the language of academia-an important audience if we are to reach those who
so intimately influence educators before they come into the classroom.
We are excited to announce this new exploration into a STEM field and
into what makes the National Federation of the Blind so effective. You will
hear much more about our work over the coming years in this publication and
in others, as well as at upcoming conventions (both our own and in the
wider world). For now, if you'd like to learn more about the program, be
sure to visit www.blindscience.org. Over the years more information will be
added, and we will provide links to other resources including publications
resulting from our research.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Karen Anderson]
The Power of Twitter
by Karen Anderson
From the Editor: Karen Anderson, formerly of Nebraska, now lives in
Maryland and is working for a time as our interim head of social media. She
enjoys writing, and what a treat it is to have something from her for the
Braille Monitor. Karen's story of migrating a relationship from exchanged
tweets between strangers to in-person friendship and membership in the NFB
is a reminder of the new landscapes of modern social interaction and
mentorship. And sometimes, when all you have to start with is a user name
and the typed words on the screen, you have no way of knowing exactly who
you are speaking with. The reasons to use gender-neutral pronouns when
talking about a friend you have made on a message board or Twitter can be
as simple as that there has been nothing that explicitly states their
gender to as complex as the exact nature of that new friend's actual gender
identity and preferred pronouns. Here is what she has to say:
As members of the National Federation of the Blind, we know how
powerful mentoring can be. Connecting with someone else, particularly
another blind person, has the potential to change someone's life. There are
many tools we can use in combination to help these relationships grow, even
if the person you want to communicate with doesn't happen to live in the
same city. Often connections are made at events, and people keep in touch
via phone, email, or good old-fashioned snail mail letters. A couple of
years ago I realized that there is a new implement we can add to our
toolbox.
In May of 2013, the National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska
Omaha Chapter decided to participate in Omaha Gives, the city's local
giving day. A giving day is a chance for everyone in a community to focus
on donating to local nonprofits. The organization sponsoring the giving day
frequently allocates funds to be given out to each of the participating
organizations based on the percentage of funds they raise, which means a
donor's money goes even farther. The Lincoln Chapter had participated in a
giving day the year before, during which we raised more than $2,000 by
reaching out to donors on Twitter and Facebook. Consequently, I knew that
social media could be an incredibly powerful way of reaching out to
potential donors, and when the chapter president asked me if I would be
willing to help boost the organization's profile on and leading up to the
day, I enthusiastically agreed.
Early on the morning of the event I saw a donation come in from
someone named Jess, a donor whose name I didn't recognize, followed by a
tweet mentioning us and the importance of Braille literacy for blind
children. Thrilled with our increased visibility, I messaged them on
Twitter asking who they were and how they found out about us. To my
delight, they had found us by following the hashtag for the giving day, and
our mission spoke to them because they were losing their vision. I wrote
back, thanking them for their donation, telling them a little about myself
and the National Federation of the Blind, and asking about them as a
person. As I would have in a traditional face-to-face conversation, I
didn't only ask about their blindness, in fact at first I rarely mentioned
blindness. Instead, I asked about their hobbies, their likes and dislikes,
and other typical getting-to-know-you questions. I replied to tweets they
posted about the books they were reading or the vacation they were
planning.
Over the next year Jess and I continued to correspond via Twitter,
and Jess began to talk about their feelings about blindness. I came to
realize that they were more comfortable talking about their struggle
online. I was safe because I was anonymous and didn't judge them or their
feelings. I discovered that my new friend was something of a weather
enthusiast and connected them with my blind partner who participated in
storm-spotting events using ham radio. I listened as they lamented the loss
of their vision and the perceived loss of so many hobbies that they cared
about. Sometimes I offered an alternative technique that would allow them
to continue participating in a hobby, like art. Sometimes we talked about
hobbies we had in common; it turned out we both enjoy knitting. Sometimes I
simply provided a listening ear, someone on the other side of the keyboard
who understood blindness and who was still living the life I wanted.
During this time, Jess connected with the Nebraska Commission for the
Blind and Visually Impaired and began taking travel classes. I cheered them
on, continuing to use Twitter to celebrate as they began realizing that
blindness didn't have to be the end of their independence, commiserating on
the days when they weren't sure they could accomplish the tasks they had
been set, and celebrating when, ultimately, they mastered the skill and
continued to build their self-confidence.
About a year and a half after we started talking, my partner and I
were headed to Omaha for a family event. Realizing we had some extra time
to kill, I reached out to Jess and asked if they were interested in getting
together for coffee or a bite to eat. As someone who isn't always the most
socially confident, this was something that made me incredibly nervous, but
I was at least ready to have a conversation in person. We agreed to meet at
a local pizza shop we both liked. Though we were both nervous, we spent an
enjoyable hour and a half eating and talking. After that our conversations
on Twitter became deeper and more frequent.
Later that fall the Omaha chapter decided to host a chapter building
event in conjunction with the state convention. I knew Jess was nervous in
groups of people, but I decided it was worth inviting them again. I thought
that since we had already met in person, the fact that I would be attending
the event might make it easier. Though they were hesitant, they agreed to
go, and we set a time and place to meet up beforehand. We also exchanged
phone numbers for the first time.
The night of the event, I introduced Jess and their partner to as
many members of the National Federation of the Blind of Nebraska as I
could. I was thrilled to see them connecting with other blind people who
shared a positive philosophy about blindness. I watched as they talked to
blind parents, blind students, and blind professionals. They ended up
staying at the event longer than I anticipated and kept talking with others
long after I was called away.
Over the next few months my Federation family also began to reach out
to Jess. Eventually they attended their first chapter meeting and took on
leadership responsibilities, including being a chapter board member. The
following year Jess was the one planning the social media strategy for the
giving day, the event that had gotten them involved in the first place.
Twitter is not the only reason Jess got involved in the National
Federation of the Blind. However, in this case, it was the right tool to
use to reach out to them and connect with them where they were at the time.
Jess is someone who generally talks more freely online than in person, and
the anonymity allowed them to feel comfortable talking about something they
hadn't yet come to terms with. It also allowed me, someone they may never
have met in person, to show them that blindness did not have to hold them
back.
Getting started with Twitter does not have to be overwhelming. All
you need to begin is a user name, a password, and a couple of people to
follow. My username is kea_anderson. You can also connect with President
Riccobono, @riccobono, and the National Federation of the Blind,
@NFB_voice.
In today's digital age, our social interactions seem to happen more
and more online. This is either a blessing or a curse, depending on who you
talk to. Social media does have the potential to be a powerful recruiting
tool for us as Federationists, provided we use it as one of many
instruments in our toolbox.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Dick Davis]
A Professional in the Field Responds to AER
by Dick Davis
From the Editor: In the January 2018 issue President Riccobono called
on all of us to express our feelings about the Association for the
Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired's (AER)
decision to join forces with the National Accreditation Council for Blind
and Low Vision Services (NAC). A number of us have written using email,
Twitter, and Facebook. One of those is himself a member of AER, and makes
clear his irritation at the direction the organization has taken and its
association with a body which he believes harmful to the blind and harmful
to AER. Here is what Dick Davis, a person who has made his forty-seven-year
career in working with the blind of America, has to say to his colleagues
in AER:
Dear Members of the AER:
I was disappointed to hear that the AER has chosen to breathe life
back into NAC. My history with that organization began in 1971 after Dr.
Kenneth Jernigan resigned from its board and decided to take our issues to
the government, press, and general public. I have picketed NAC through the
years, the last time being in 2002. I was an NFB official observer in that
meeting, along with Dr. Harold Snider, a blind person. As a sighted person,
I was introduced by the NAC president as "Dr. Snider's attendant." Not
"assistant" or "co-observer," but "attendant." And all because I was
sighted and he was blind. After thirty years of being picketed, they still
hadn't learned anything.
Carl Augusto, head of the American Foundation for the Blind, attended
the 2002 NAC meeting as an invited guest. For a number of years, Carl was
associate director of NAC. By 2002, he knew it and its history better than
anyone. Our members were picketing the NAC meeting at the time. When the
members asked Carl what the organization could do to bring the NFB around,
Carl said something like this: "They don't want to work with you. They want
you to go out of business. That's what they have been telling you for
years."
The NAC members, of course, ignored Carl. They went on to elect as
NAC president the superintendent of a school for the blind that had come
under investigation for student deaths on campus. That is the way NAC does
business. Its reputation has been destroyed, mostly by its own craven lack
of ethics. You should know better than to resurrect it. The NFB has, for
many years, worked cooperatively with the AER and other organizations and
agencies serving the blind. But it doesn't have to. You are heading down
the wrong road and might want to reconsider tying yourselves to NAC.
If not, I guess we will have to introduce the new generation to
picketing.
Sincerely,
Richard C. (Dick) Davis
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Anti-NAC Protesters in 2002 in Tampa, Florida]
Others Share Their Response to AER and NAC
From the Editor: Other Federationists have not remained silent on
their opinion about the AER bringing NAC into its fold. Here are just a
couple of representative samples we have received:
To: nac at aerbvi.org
Subject: moving backward
To whom it may concern:
I am deeply disappointed to hear that AERBVI is attempting to revive
NAC, a name synonymous with the most regressive tendencies in work with the
blind.
There is little point in detailing why I find this decision so
repugnant. If you have not read the history, please do so.
The field of work with the blind seems to have moved toward a
respectful incorporation of customer-centered thinking in policy and
program development over the past few decades. Revival of NAC is the
clearest way imaginable to reject blind customers, both individually and
collectively.
If you believe a blindness-specific accreditation process has merit,
I recommend that you begin at the beginning and work with the National
Federation of the Blind to create a mutually respectful dialogue on best
practices. I would rather not stand in the sun and the rain demonstrating
against NAC-accredited agencies, but I will not allow a desire for the
appearance of peace and harmony to permit the clock to be turned back. Our
signs in the last round said, "No Accreditation without Representation."
This time they may read "Nothing About Us Without Us." It's the same
message. How unfortunate that AERBVI never read the memo.
Sincerely,
Mary Ellen Gabias
Then the editor had to get in his two cents:
1/25/2018
Sent using email to nac at aerbvi.org
Dear Sir or Madam:
Some organizations are associated with honor, credibility, and trust.
Others are not. Sometimes an organization's reputation is so tarnished that
it is better to let it pass into history and start afresh. Does the need
still exist or is it being filled by other organizations?
When I think of NAC, I think of a history that will be difficult or
impossible to live down. But with NAC it is more than just a failed
organization that played fast and loose with the concept of accreditation.
It is an orientation, a view of the place blind people occupy in society,
and in particular our place in work with the blind. NAC was a part of the
professional establishment that told us that being blind had little or
nothing to do with understanding the services blind people needed or how
they should be delivered. Rather than seeing us as the most reliable
barometer of an agency's services, its integrity, its willingness to
innovate, and its dedication to work with the blind, NAC has too often
turned a blind eye to abuse in schools it has accredited. Likewise NAC has
turned a deaf ear to meaningful input from blind people who have a
significant interest in schools and agencies where we get service.
AER has had its own conflicts with blind people, but bettering the
relationship between it and the organized blind of America has been decades
in the making. AER's association with NAC is a step in the wrong direction,
harkening back to the days when blind people were to be seen but not heard,
placed on lists as clients but excluded from critical influence. I would
rather talk than walk, but when talk is not enough and protest is my only
choice, there are things I believe worthy of my public demonstration
alongside my friends and colleagues in the National Federation of the
Blind.
Of course we have an alternative. Identify what needs standards that
should be addressed by accreditation, use the systems already doing
accreditation, and if there is still a need, build a system from the ground
up that includes blind people. Let a core value of that system be that
there will be nothing about us without us, and do all of this in a way that
is so fair and transparent that no reasonable person will question what is
being built. Let there be no tokenism when it comes to representation, no
votes in which a decision is decided twenty-seven to one, and the one
dissenting vote came from a representative of the largest organization of
the blind in the world.
It is often observed that we should not reinvent the wheel. The clear
meaning is that we should keep the good and go forward. The corollary is
that we quit using those things which do not work. Einstein is sometimes
quoted as saying that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again
and hoping for different results. Whether the quotation comes from
Einstein, Twain, or some other author, it doesn't take the brains of
Einstein to know that the blind deserve better. Those committed to working
with the blind deserve better. Those who are paid through charitable or
governmental funds to work with the blind deserve better. Let NAC go its
way, and if there is a demonstrated need for accreditation that is not
already met, build it with the blind. Let us build for the future and not
try to escape from or explain away the past. Real lives demand real
solutions, and NAC is not a part of any solution.
Gary Wunder
----------
An Open Letter to Federation Chapters Regarding the Presidential Release
by Mark Riccobono
Dear Federationists:
In my role as President of the National Federation of the Blind, I
love attending local chapter meetings since that is the place where the
heartbeat of the organization begins. The chapter meeting is my monthly
grounding in what is central to our organization-connecting with our
Federation family, hearing about the ups and downs members experience,
sharing my own ups and downs, explaining what we are doing as a movement,
and engaging in conversations about where we have been and where we wish to
go together at all levels of our organization. Unfortunately, I cannot
physically be at every local chapter meeting across the country. Yet some
of the engagement and dialogue that I would have in person is facilitated
through the Presidential Release.
Playing the Presidential Release at your local monthly chapter
meeting fuels progress toward our organizational objectives by allowing me
to:
. Speak directly to our membership in an environment where questions can
be raised, issues can be discussed, and we can spark meaningful
conversation
. Share what we are doing at a national level and strengthen the common
bond we hold in our movement
. Cultivate the understanding and feeling that we are an authentic
national network and that our local work has value that stretches
beyond our community
. Inspire people to act to advance our collective interests
. Share happenings in the Federation family to connect our members with
Federationists they may have met outside the local community
. Build a direct connection between the leadership and the membership
These are all important to our movement, and I hope this letter helps
you to have a deeper understanding of why they should be important to your
chapter. Careful attention goes into the Presidential Release to ensure
that it contains important information, builds relationships, and includes
some humor-known as "customary endings." Good chapter meetings are busy and
packed with program-which should include the Presidential Release. If your
chapter is not consistently playing the Presidential Release every month,
this letter is to ask you to work closely with your chapter president to
make sure it is part of the monthly program.
The very first Presidential Release was made on November 12, 1973, and
I first heard a Presidential Release in the fall of 1996 after I became
president of the student division for the Wisconsin affiliate. The question
of why chapters of the National Federation of the Blind should offer the
Presidential Release at the monthly chapter meeting has been around as long
as I have been in the organization, and I suspect it came up before that
time. As we come to the forty-fifth anniversary of this organizational
asset, it seemed appropriate that the question get attention directly from
the horse's mouth-or maybe it is the horse's hooves since this is being
composed on a computer.
What is the Presidential Release?
The Presidential Release is a monthly communication that is planned
and presented by the President of the National Federation of the Blind. It
is a direct message from the President of the national organization to the
members at the local level, and it is intended to be shared within a local
chapter meeting. The Presidential Release was originally distributed on
cassette tape to chapter presidents and other Federation leaders. In 2012
it began being distributed on a flash drive which dramatically cut the time
for duplicating and distributing the release. Not too long after that we
began posting the audio file to nfb.org, and starting with the August 2015
release, #441, we added an RSS feed allowing it to be podcast. Shortly
after that we added a new version of the Presidential Release which is
intended to reach out to members who primarily speak Spanish-the first
Spanish release was November 2015, #444. In the same timeframe that we
moved away from cassette tape distribution, we established a telephone
number that could be called to listen to the release, and that capability
was later moved to NFB-NEWSLINE where you can now find the release on the
National Federation of the Blind channel. In January of 2018 we began
posting the English and Spanish transcripts of the Presidential Release at
nfb.org to provide access to members who are deafblind. To make sure our
list is comprehensive, I should mention that the Presidential Release can
also be accessed on devices like the Amazon Echo or by pulling up the NFB
Connect mobile application on iOS or Android. To get the release with
Amazon Alexa say, "Play the Presidential Release podcast." In general the
Presidential Release is made eleven times a year, and it is available prior
to the first Saturday of the month on the website and via the podcast feed.
We generally have the Presidential Release posted within twenty-four hours
of recording it, and the Spanish and text versions follow later in the
month. I am not aware of any Federation chapters that meet earlier than the
first Saturday. Therefore every chapter should plan to have the
Presidential Release at their chapter meeting as long as a new one has been
produced for that month
What is the purpose of the release?
The Presidential Release is intended to be a common bond shared among
all of the chapters of the Federation. Our organization is strong because
it is a wide, diverse network of chapters working on common issues. The
release is also an opportunity to make the President of the Federation more
personally known by the members. Obviously I cannot be at every chapter
meeting, but the release allows me to share some personal reflections,
information about what is happening, and some personal notes that might not
otherwise be widely distributed. The release is also a reminder for members
of the Federation that they can reach out directly to me to share ideas,
information, and feedback. I am always surprised when a member asks if they
can have my email address since it is on the Presidential Release every
month.
The release is also a tool that chapters can use to spark discussion
about the topics that are raised. For example, discussion of organizational
priorities, the national convention, pressing legislative concerns, or new
Federation projects are an opportunity for chapters to discuss how those
national themes fit into the priorities of the chapter and how the chapter
can contribute. The goal is to have a united organization where we
coordinate work at all levels-local, state, and national-and we find ways
to maximize opportunities for blind people.
When should the Presidential Release be played at chapter meetings?
The most important thing to know is that presenting the audio version
of the Presidential Release should be a regular part of every chapter
meeting agenda. At what point in the meeting it should be played and how it
should be discussed is up to the chapter president as the individual
running the meeting. Some chapters use it as the first major item of
content at the meeting. Others work it in immediately before a report from
the affiliate president. Still others take it in chunks so that discussion
can happen after a particularly important item has been raised on the
release. I caution against the release being the final item on the agenda
if it has the effect of encouraging some members to beat the crowd and
leave before the meeting is over. I also urge that it not be used as
background noise for a break in the meeting. Both of those approaches
diminish the intent and importance of the release to the Federation.
The Presidential Release should be introduced with some context for
new members. chapter presidents have an opportunity to remind existing
members and educate new members before every release is played about its
value in bringing the chapter together with every other chapter in the
nation. The preamble to the release need not be long, but it is important
to remind each other why we do what we do.
Although many members think I do not know, I am well aware that the
release is sometimes played at a faster speed at some chapter meetings. I
do not strongly object to this practice, but I do urge that chapter
presidents be sure that the faster speed works for everyone in the room.
Some people have hearing difficulties, and many newly-blind people may not
be comfortable with listening to things at a higher rate of speed. Thus, my
preference is that the Presidential Release be presented at the speed it
was intended to make sure that it is as accessible to as many people in the
room as possible. The playing of the release should be thoughtfully placed
in the meeting, offered in its entirety, and its presentation should be
managed by the chapter president.
How does the Presidential Release fit into today's fast-paced communication
culture?
In 1973 when the first release was made by Dr. Jernigan, or even in
July 1986 when Dr. Maurer recorded his first Presidential Release (#117),
we did not have the diverse and speedy communication tools we have today.
It can be argued that email, Twitter, Facebook, podcasting, and other
methods of sharing information mean that the information on the release is
outdated as soon as it arrives. I believe this is not the case. In fact, if
you go back and listen to the release over the years you can hear some of
the commonality and some of the evolution. The release is presented in my
voice, and much of our other organizational communication is heard through
other voices. We provide less detail about specifics of Federation
activities than we once did because we can now refer people to the website.
Thus, rather than giving all of the details about the program for the law
symposium or our next youth STEAM [Science, Technology, Engineering, Art,
and Math] program, I can discuss the overall program and refer people to
other sources for the details. Additionally, the release shares information
that we do not share through other organizational channels such as
celebrations of new Federationists (babies and grandbabies) and new
Federation marriages as well as local Federationists who have passed away.
This section of the release, which I refer to as the Federation Family
notes, reminds us that we are a diverse, grassroots organization where most
of our contributors are not high-profile names known to all across the
nation. However, many of the names are widely known because of meetings at
national conventions, service on a Federation committee, or information
sharing through the Federation network. More than any other tool of
communication we have, the release brings the personal element of shared
understanding between our leaders and our members.
When I first heard the Presidential Release in 1996, I came to know
that our President was a blind man who faced the same barriers and
misconceptions that I did as a struggling student at the University of
Wisconsin. The national President was better at dealing with the barriers
than I was, and the release helped contribute to my development of methods
and skills to cope with obstacles I encountered. When I finally met Marc
Maurer in person, I felt like I already knew him from the release, and it
eased my nervousness about approaching the President. Similarly, it is my
hope that the Presidential Release brings members of the Federation to a
place where they know me and can work with me. I could write something to
the members every week or send out a Tweet of the day, but it will not be
as personal or as comprehensive as the Presidential Release is today. I
also believe that the release is an important part of cataloguing our
progress as a movement. It gives us a running understanding of the
Federation's concerns and priorities over time, and it allows us to
understand those concerns through the perspective of the principal leader
of the movement. The release itself has given us a mechanism for continuing
to evaluate what we do and how we might do it better-hence the evolution of
the ways of distributing the release and the change from a communication
that went primarily to leaders to one that is easily accessed by anybody
(member or not). I hasten to add that I've seen this availability to
everyone used as a reason not to take chapter time for the release, but, as
I've already made clear, the release is meant to stimulate discussion in
the meeting and not just as another source of information.
It is also worth noting that research demonstrates that people have
to be exposed to things multiple times-seven is the number used in
marketing circles-before it sticks with them. Even if the Presidential
Release emphasizes content that is promoted in other places, the fact that
it is on the release is helping it gain importance and building
understanding within the membership. A good example is that someone once
said to me that they were not invited to visit the Presidential Suite at
the national convention. Besides the fact that it is in the convention
agenda every year and we mention it throughout the convention, I have
specifically invited people to come to the suite and thanked them for
coming on Presidential Releases. Why did this individual think they were
not invited? I suspect because the Presidential Release may not have been
played at their chapter meeting.
How can you contribute to the release?
I have tried to make the Presidential Release authentic to my style
as a leader of the Federation. I have also tried to encourage people to
share ideas, topics, and customary endings that might help shape the
content of the release in ways that are helpful to the Federation. While I
wish to have feedback and ideas, you should know that I have avoided
certain things. I frequently get requests to announce a chapter fundraiser
on the release, and I have consciously decided not to open up those
floodgates. I may share interesting fundraising ideas that chapters are
implementing, but I do not think the Presidential Release is the correct
forum for pitching candy bars and umbrellas. I invite customary endings,
and I have tried to encourage people to send audio clips of young
Federationists sharing those treasures. Sometimes I receive jokes which are
not appropriate for the family atmosphere we want at our chapter meetings.
Other times I receive cute recordings, but they are hard enough to
understand that I decide not to include them. In other words, just because
you send a contribution does not mean it will be included for a variety of
reasons. On the whole, I never get enough feedback on things you would like
to hear discussed on the release.
And now for the real customary endings:
This was the only ending on the very first Presidential Release offered by
Kenneth Jernigan:
What do you call a sleeping bull? A bulldozer.
On Marc Maurer's first release in July 1986 he offered a number of one
liners but this one seems most appropriate for a customary ending:
What goes ha, ha, ha bam? A man laughing his head off.
My favorite ending from the first forty Presidential Releases I have
recorded appears at the very end of #458 (February 3, 2017). This ending is
delivered by me to Oriana Riccobono. I think the ending is a good one, but
Oriana's reaction is the real Presidential Release gem-you will have to
pull up the episode online to hear what happens. Here is my ending:
What did the coffee say to the cream? I do not always know how to espresso
my feelings, but I love-a you a latte!
As we come to the close of this Presidential Release letter, I wish
to offer a few items that might be of interest. Dr. Jernigan wrote an
article upon the occasion of the 100th release in 1984. That article notes
that he tried to keep the release to about twenty minutes. I had not known
that fact until putting this letter together. I also try to keep it to
about twenty minutes, but frequently it runs longer because of the number
of important topics that I want to cover. With today's digital delivery of
the release, chapter presidents can easily note the run time of the release
and work that into the planning of the chapter agenda. You can read the
other nuggets from the first one hundred releases in the February 1985
issue of the Braille Monitor in the article entitled "Presidential
Releases" (available at
https://nfb.org/Images/nfb/Publications/bm/bm85/bm8502/bm850203.htm).
We only have eleven releases a year-how come? Because we do not have
twelve of course. Actually the reason is that traditionally one is not made
very close to the national convention because the organization is focused
on the activities of the national convention. The President does not want
to scoop any of the happenings of the convention on the release, and
chapters should be discussing the national convention during that month. I
did not examine the archive to determine if there was ever a year when we
had a release very close to the convention because there was something
urgent. However, I can remember years when we have had more than eleven
releases. Typically this means we do not have a release in June, but can
you think of a year when we had a June Presidential Release? It happened in
2017 because the convention was late enough in July that the July release
would have come out immediately before the convention.
We have mentioned the first release by other Federation Presidents.
What was my first release you might ask? It was July 2014, #429. I have
tried to do some different things on the Presidential Release in the time I
have been putting it together. Including my family in the release has been
fun-my son Austin even tries to create his own customary endings now. I
also once invited the Amazon Alexa to offer customary endings-probably the
first time they were offered via the cloud. If the pattern for releases
holds, the five hundredth Presidential Release will be December of 2020-
seems like that presents an interesting opportunity to do something fun.
There are a lot of fun and interesting jobs related to serving as
President of the National Federation of the Blind. The Presidential Release
is one of the fun tasks to tackle. It is not always that the news to be
delivered is joyful, but the release itself-what it represents and the bond
that it allows me to strengthen with members of the Federation-is really
important to me and valuable to our organization. I hope that you will join
me in that bond by making the Presidential Release a priority at Federation
chapter meetings. Equally as important, I urge you to continue contributing
to that bond by giving me feedback and sending customary endings-I would
love to put more young Federationists on the release. If you have great
customary endings but no young Federationists to deliver them, send them
anyway-I have three members that I go to when a recording is needed. It is
my honor to be a part of every chapter meeting within the National
Federation of the Blind. I hope to get to your chapter in person very soon.
Even if I cannot be there in person, I appreciate that I have the
opportunity to offer my perspectives at the meeting. In many large
organizations the primary leader serves at a distance to the members. That
is not the Federation way, and I am glad to continue the tradition of
direct engagement with members at all levels. Remember that together with
love, hope, and determination we transform dreams into reality. Let's go
build the National Federation of the Blind.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Kim Cunningham]
NOPBC 2018 Conference-President's Welcome
by Kim Cunningham
From the Editor: Kim is the president of the National Organization of
Parents of Blind Children, one of the most active divisions we have in the
organization and certainly a highly-visible presence at our national
conventions. The 2018 National Convention will certainly uphold the
standard that has been established, and here is Kim Cunningham and her
capable board of directors to tell us about it:
The NOPBC board would like to invite you to attend our 2018 national
conference this summer. Our conference is held in conjunction with the
convention of the National Federation of the Blind, which takes place July
3 to July 8, 2018, in Orlando, Florida. If you are a family member of a
blind or low vision child, teacher, or professional, you will not want to
miss spending this week with other families across the US along with 2,500
blind and low vision adults. It is our goal to teach you and your family
what it means (and does not mean) to be blind by providing numerous
workshops, activities, and opportunities for mentoring.
Our theme this year is "Tools in My Toolbox." Just as a carpenter has
many tools, so does the blind and low vision person. We want to share how
blind and low vision students are successful both in their personal lives
and in the classroom and how each person uses their tools in different
ways, at different times.
The National Federation of the Blind and the National Organization of
Parents of Blind Children know that blindness is not the characteristic
that defines your child's future. Every day we raise the expectations of
blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind
people and our dreams. Blind children can live the lives they want;
blindness is not what holds them back.
Most toolboxes include basic tools such as a hammer, pliers, wrench,
screwdriver, and saw. Imagine trying to put something together without a
screwdriver or cutting a piece of lumber without a saw. Without the right
tools, your work will be slow and laborious. We want to help you build your
child's toolbox and build his/her confidence. Blindness skills such as:
Braille, a long white cane, Nemeth code for math, Braille music,
magnification, and technology (along with many others) are critical skills
for independence. If your child qualifies for services as a legally blind
student, then your child's weakest sense is going to be his/her vision.
Vision will be the weakest tool in your child's toolbox. Yet there are
those who believe your child should use his or her vision in order to
complete most daily tasks, even if other alternatives might be more
efficient. This is similar to someone believing that a screwdriver is the
best tool to cut a piece of wood. In the NOPBC we believe learning all the
tools will enable students to grow into successful adults with options for
how to live the lives they want. My own daughter's toolbox is full of tools
for her to pick from. She may not use each tool in the same way as another
blind or low vision person, but she has the ability to choose which is best
for whatever task she is doing. She no longer relies on unreliable vision.
My husband and I both use a hammer for different reasons and in different
ways, but we still know how to use a hammer. Braille is like a hammer. Some
students will use it for everything, and some dual media students will use
it along with large or magnified print. If your child's toolbox doesn't
include Braille (or a hammer), he or she might find it difficult to keep up
with work in the classroom. The other students might be hammering away
while the blind and low vision student is hammering with a screwdriver. If
your child's toolbox doesn't include a long white cane, he or she won't
enjoy the freedom of independently traveling where and when he or she
wants. By building your child's toolbox, you will build a better future for
your child.
We are excited to share our workshops with you and your family and
hope to encourage you all to learn about the tools for independence. Our
Youth Track program will give our students ages eleven to eighteen the
opportunity to socialize and learn about independence from other students.
Our NFB Kid Camp will also be hosting a National Federation of the Blind
Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning (NFB BELL) Academy for
children ages three to ten to introduce them to the skills of blindness
from blind and low vision adults.
Last year our young blind and low vision students sold "Megan Bening"
angel pins in memory of NOPBC Board Member Jean (and husband Al) Bening's
daughter Megan. Over $5,000 was raised. Technology was a big part of
Megan's life, and we hope to keep Megan's spirit alive by giving what she
loved. We will be holding drawings for various pieces of blindness
technology purchased from money raised through our NOPBC Megan Bening
Memorial Fund. This drawing will be held during our Family Hospitality
evening, July 3.
We are also gearing up to provide even more Braille and Twin Vision
books for our annual NOPBC Braille Book Fair. During the book fair on the
evening of July 5, families are given the opportunity to choose books free
of charge and have them shipped home courtesy of our UPS and Wells Fargo
volunteers. We are thankful for the numerous Braille books already donated
by families and professionals across the US. We are also thankful for the
monetary donations made which enable us to purchase even more Twin Vision
books. Braille rocks!
The NOPBC board and I look forward to meeting everyone in beautiful
Orlando, Florida, this summer. Please visit our website to register:
http://nopbc.org/2018nopbc or
https://nfb.org/convention.
----------
Minimum Wage Exemption for Persons with Disabilities Eliminated
From the Editor: The State of Alaska Department of Labor and
Workforce Development posted this announcement on its website on February
16, 2018, and the original post can be found here:
http://labor.alaska.gov/news/2018/news18-04.pdf.
Following a regulatory change that goes into effect today, Alaska
employers are no longer allowed to pay less than minimum wage to workers
who experience disabilities. In repealing 8 AAC 15.120, Alaska joins New
Hampshire and Maryland as the first states in the nation to eliminate
payment of subminimum wages for persons with disabilities.
An exemption from paying minimum wage to persons with disabilities
has existed for many years, beginning at the federal level with the Fair
Labor Standards Act of 1938 and in Alaska regulations since 1978.
Historically, minimum wage exemptions were considered necessary to help
people with disabilities gain employment. Experience over the past two
decades has shown that workers with disabilities can succeed in jobs
earning minimum wage or more.
"Workers who experience disabilities are valued members of Alaska's
workforce," said Department of Labor and Workforce Development Acting
Commissioner Greg Cashen. "They deserve minimum wage protections as much as
any other Alaskan worker."
The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development received
written comments expressing support for repealing the regulation that
allowed the minimum wage exemption from the Governor's Council on
Disabilities and Special Education, the State Vocational Rehabilitation
Committee, the Statewide Independent Living Council, and the Alaska
Workforce Investment Board.
The elimination of the minimum wage exemption brings employment
practices into alignment with Alaska Employment First Act of 2014, which
requires vocational services help people with disabilities to become
gainfully employed at or above the minimum wage.
----------
Leave a Legacy by Joining our Dream Makers Circle
For more than seventy-five years, the National Federation of the
Blind has worked to help blind people live the lives they want and, with
your support, we will continue to do so for decades to come. We sincerely
hope you will join our enduring movement by including the National
Federation of the Blind in your planned giving. Our legacy society is
called Dream Makers Circle because those who join it turn dreams into
reality.
You can add the National Federation of the Blind to your will. You
can name the National Federation of the Blind as a beneficiary or partial
beneficiary of a retirement vehicle, life insurance policy, pension,
401(k), or other asset. You can even gift a bank account.
A gift to the National Federation of the Blind is more than just a
charitable, tax-deductible donation. It is an easy way to join in the work
to help blind people live the lives they want and leave a lasting imprint
on the lives of thousands of blind children and adults.
With your help the NFB will continue to:
. Give blind children the gift of literacy through Braille education
. Promote the independent travel of the blind by providing free long
white canes to blind people in need
. Develop dynamic educational projects and programs that show blind
youth that science and math careers are within their reach
. Deliver hundreds of accessible newspapers and magazines to provide
blind people the essential information necessary to be actively
involved in their communities
. Offer aids and appliances that help seniors losing vision maintain
their independence
. Fund scholarship programs so that blind people can achieve their
dreams.
Please consider the National Federation of the Blind in your estate
planning. Visit www.nfb.org/planned-giving or call (410) 659-9314,
extension 2422, for more information. Together with love, hope,
determination, and your support, we will continue to transform dreams into
reality.
Invest in Opportunity
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. You can live the life you
want; blindness is not what holds you back. A donation to the National
Federation of the Blind allows you to invest in a movement that removes the
fear from blindness.
Your investment is your vote of confidence in the value and capacity
of blind people and reflects the high expectations we have for all blind
Americans, combating the low expectations that create obstacles between
blind people and our dreams.
In 2017 the NFB:
. Distributed over seven thousand canes to blind people across the
United States, empowering them to travel safely and independently
throughout their communities
. Hosted thirty-nine NFB BELL Academy programs in twenty-five states
. Provided over one hundred thousand dollars in scholarships to blind
students, making a post-secondary education affordable and
attainable
. Delivered audio newspaper and magazine services to 115,491
subscribers, providing free access to over four hundred local,
national, and international publications
. Hosted the tenth anniversary Youth Slam-a week-long science,
technology, engineering, and math (STEM) camp for blind high school
students
Just imagine what we will do next year and, with your help, what can
be accomplished for years to come. Below are just a few of the many
diverse, tax-deductible ways you can lend your support to the National
Federation of the Blind.
Vehicle Donation Program
The NFB now accepts donated vehicles, including cars, trucks, boats,
motorcycles, or recreational vehicles. Just call (855) 659-9314 tollfree,
and a representative can make arrangements to pick up your donation-it
doesn't have to be working. We can also answer any questions you have.
General Donation
General donations help support the ongoing programs of the NFB and
the work to help blind people live the lives they want. Donate online with
a credit card or through the mail with check or money order. Visit
www.nfb.org/make-gift for more information.
Bequests
Even if you can't afford a gift right now, including the National
Federation of the Blind in your will enables you to contribute by
expressing your commitment to the organization and promises support for
future generations of blind people across the country. Visit
www.nfb.org/planned-giving or call (410) 659-9314, extension 2422, for more
information.
Pre-Authorized Contribution
Through the Pre-Authorized Contribution (PAC) program, supporters
sustain the efforts of the National Federation of the Blind by making
recurring monthly donations by direct withdraw of funds from a checking
account or a charge to a credit card. To enroll, visit www.nfb.org/make-
gift and complete the Pre-Authorized Contribution form, and return it to
the address listed on the form.
----------
Our Public Commitment to One Another as Represented in our
Official Code of Conduct Statement
by Mark Riccobono
Having the opportunity to serve as an elected representative in the
National Federation of the Blind is an extreme honor and one that brings
with it the expectation that we will do our best to represent all blind
people and make them proud. In an effort to formalize standards that have
long been a part of the expectations we have for leaders and members at all
levels in the Federation, the Board of Directors of the National Federation
of the Blind has written a document embodying the principles we will uphold
as national, affiliate, and chapter leaders. Federationists will recognize
that this document formalizes and presents in some detail the long-held
conduct expected of our leaders and makes clear our promise to be the kind
of diverse and welcoming organization represented by our brand.
The standard we expect from our leaders mirrors those we expect of
members and embodies promises we make to one another as we interact at our
chapter meetings and at conventions of the National Federation of the
Blind. A primary one is to provide a safe and friendly environment for
everyone who attends. Our meetings welcome those from diverse backgrounds
who have made advancing the good of the blind a goal that is so important
in their lives that they commit their time and treasure to securing it.
Everyone who attends our events can expect to be safe, to be treated with
courtesy and respect, and to be appreciated for who they are. We make no
distinction based on age, race, gender, religion, educational level, sexual
orientation, or one's affiliation or lack thereof with a political party or
ideology. Here is the formal pledge that we make to one another to ensure
that the Federation is representative, welcoming, and open to all who are
engaged in our cause.
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND CODE OF CONDUCT
I. Introduction
The National Federation of the Blind is a community of members and
friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's blind. The
Federation knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you
or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people,
because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our
dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you
back. To help carry out the Federation's vital mission, this Code of
Conduct sets forth policies and standards that all members, especially
Federation leaders, are expected to adopt and follow.
II. Diversity Policy
The National Federation of the Blind embraces diversity and full
participation as core values in its mission to achieve equality,
opportunity, and security for the blind. We are committed to building and
maintaining a nationwide organization with state affiliates and local
chapters that is unified in its priorities and programs and is directed by
the membership. We respect differences of opinion, beliefs, identities, and
other characteristics that demonstrate that blind people are a diverse
cross section of society. Furthermore, the organization is dedicated to
continuing to establish new methods of membership and leadership
development that reflect the diversity of the entire blind community. In
promoting a diverse and growing organization, we expect integrity and
honesty in our relationships with each other and openness to learning about
and experiencing cultural diversity. We believe that these qualities are
crucial to fostering social and intellectual maturity. Intellectual
maturity also requires individual struggle with unfamiliar ideas. We
recognize that our views and convictions will be challenged, and we expect
this challenge to take place in a climate of tolerance and mutual respect
in order to maintain a united organization. While we encourage the exchange
of differing ideas and experiences, we do not condone the use of demeaning,
derogatory, or discriminatory language, action, or any other form of
expression intended to marginalize an individual or group. The National
Federation of the Blind does not tolerate discrimination on the basis of
race, creed, color, religion, gender identity and expression, sexual
orientation, national origin, citizenship, marital status, age, genetic
information, disability, or any other characteristic or intersectionality
of characteristics.
III. Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy
The National Federation of the Blind will not tolerate discrimination
on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, gender identity and
expression, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, marital
status, age, genetic information, disability, or any other characteristic
or intersectionality of characteristics. Harassment on the basis of any of
these characteristics similarly will not be tolerated. Although this Code
of Conduct establishes a minimum standard prohibiting discrimination and
harassment, nothing in this Code should be interpreted to limit in any way
a person's right to report abuse or harassment to law enforcement when
appropriate.
Sexual harassment is prohibited by state and federal law and also
will not be tolerated by the National Federation of the Blind. Complaints
of harassment may be lodged by a female against a male, by a female against
a female, by a male against a male, or by a male against a female. Sexual
harassment is defined as "unwelcome sexual advances, request for sexual
favors, sexually motivated physical contact, or other verbal or physical
conduct or communication of a sexual nature." The following conduct is
either considered conduct that by itself is sexual harassment, or that has
the potential risk of causing sexual harassment to occur, and this conduct
is therefore prohibited:
. unwelcome inappropriate physical contact or touching;
. repeating of sexually suggestive jokes/references/innuendoes and
comments about an individual's body/sexual prowess/physical
attributes/dress;
. the use of sexually derogatory language/pictures/videos
toward/about another person;
. the use of inappropriate sexual gestures;
. sexually suggestive propositions; and
. explicit or implicit threats that failure to submit will have
negative consequences.
Under this policy, harassment can be verbal, written, or physical
conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual
because of his or her race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation,
gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, marital
status, citizenship, genetic information, or any other characteristic
protected by law; or that of his or her relatives, friends, or associates,
and that a) has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile
or offensive environment; b) has the purpose or effect of unreasonably
interfering with an individual's performance or involvement in the
organization; or c) otherwise adversely affects an individual's
opportunities for participation/advancement in the organization.
Harassing conduct includes epithets, slurs, or negative stereotyping;
threatening, intimidating or hostile acts including bullying; denigrating
jokes; and written or graphic material that denigrates or shows hostility
or aversion toward an individual or group that is placed on walls or
elsewhere on the organization's premises or circulated by email, phone
(including voice messages), text messages, social networking sites, or
other means.
IV. Social Media and Web Policy
All members of the Federation, but especially officers of the
Federation as well as those in leadership positions such as state affiliate
presidents, should follow these recommended guidelines when making comments
online, posting to a blog, using
Facebook/Twitter/LinkedIn/YouTube/Pinterest/Instagram/similar tools, and/or
using other platforms that fall under the definition of social media:
. Promote the mission and branding message of the organization in
comments/posts.
. Recognize that you are morally and legally responsible for
comments/pictures posted online.
. Be aware that the audience includes members and nonmembers of the NFB,
both youth and adults, representing diverse cultures and backgrounds.
. Refrain from using profanity/derogatory language.
. Post/respond with integrity. Though you may disagree with a post, be
respectful and factual. Do not fight or air personal grievances
online.
. Do not post materials that are inappropriate for children/minors to
view/share/read.
V. Conflict of Interest Policy
Each NFB officer, national board member, or state affiliate president
(hereafter Federation leader) is expected to take appropriate
responsibility to protect the Federation from misappropriation or
mismanagement of Federation funds (including funds of an affiliate,
chapter, or division in which the Federation leader assumes a leadership
role).
Each Federation leader is expected to disclose the existence of any
potentially conflicting personal financial interest or relationship to the
full National Federation of the Blind Board of Directors and seek its
review and approval, as specified below. For example:
. A Federation leader must seek board review and approval of his or her
receipt of salary or compensation of any kind from the Federation
(including an affiliate, chapter, or division).
. A Federation leader must seek board review and approval of receipt by
his or her spouse, parent, child, sibling, or other close relative of
salary or compensation of any kind from the Federation (including an
affiliate, chapter, or division).
. A Federation leader must seek board review and approval of any
ownership interest exceeding 5 percent in or of any salary,
compensation, commission, or significant tangible gift from any
commercial venture doing business or seeking to do business with the
Federation (including an affiliate, chapter, or division). This
process will also apply to the review of such interests involving
spouses, parents, children, siblings, or other close relatives.
. In reviewing matters brought pursuant to this section, the officer or
national board member seeking national board review and approval will
refrain from voting.
. Each Federation leader shall take appropriate steps to avoid
unauthorized or inaccurate appearances or official endorsement by the
Federation (including an affiliate, chapter, or division) of any
product, service, or activity that has not been so endorsed. For
example, because the Federation never endorses political parties or
candidates for elected office, any Federation leader participating in
the political process must take care to avoid creating an appearance
of official Federation endorsement.
VI. Policy While Interacting with Minors
For purposes of this Code of Conduct and consistent with most legal
standards, a minor is any individual under the age of eighteen. While
interacting with any minor, a national officer, national board member, or
state affiliate president (hereafter Federation leader) shall recognize
that a minor cannot legally give consent for any purpose even if said minor
is verbally or otherwise expressing consent. For example, a minor may say
that he/ or she consents to physical interaction. However, such consent is
not valid or legal and should not be accepted. A parent or guardian must be
informed and consulted about any action requiring consent from the minor. A
Federation leader shall report any inappropriate interactions between
adults and minors to the minor's parents and law enforcement when
appropriate.
VII. Alcohol and Drug Policy
Although alcoholic beverages are served at some Federation social
functions, members and Federation leaders may not participate in any such
functions in a condition that prevents them from participating safely and
from conducting Federation business effectively or that might cause
embarrassment to or damage the reputation of the Federation. The Federation
prohibits the possession, sale, purchase, delivery, dispensing, use, or
transfer of illegal substances on Federation property or at Federation
functions.
VIII. Other General Principles
In addition to the other policies and standards set-forth herein,
national officers, national board members, and state affiliate presidents
(hereafter Federation leaders) shall adhere to the following standards:
. Federation leaders shall practice accountability and transparency
in all activities and transactions.
. Federation leaders shall foster a welcoming environment at NFB
meetings, events, and conferences that is a cooperative and
productive atmosphere for all members and nonmembers.
. Federation leaders shall interact with NFB staff in a professional
manner and follow proper channels of authority and communication.
. Federation leaders shall positively promote the NFB through verbal
and written communication.
. Whenever possible, Federation leaders and members are strongly
encouraged to handle conflicts or complaints involving other
members privately, directly, and respectfully. Nothing in this
standard is intended to limit a Federation leader's or member's
right to pursue organizational change through appropriate methods
or to limit anyone's right to file a complaint for violation of
this Code when necessary.
IX. Violations and Complaint Procedure
Violations of this Code of Conduct, after first being established
through the process set-forth below, are subject to disciplinary action by
the Federation. Such disciplinary actions may include but are not limited
to counselling, verbal and/or written reprimand, probation, suspension or
termination of officer/leadership duties, and/or suspension or expulsion
from the Federation.
. Any complaint for a violation of this Code of Conduct shall be filed
with the Office of the President for the Federation. The President
shall appoint a committee of no more than four persons to investigate
the complaint and provide a recommendation for action or lack thereof.
The committee shall be comprised of persons not directly involved in
the matters being raised and who can be completely unbiased about the
individuals and issues addressed in the complaint. Every effort shall
be made to appoint a committee reflecting the broad diversity of
individuals in the Federation.
. Complaints shall be treated as confidential in order to protect the
identity and reputation of the person about whom the complaint is
filed and the person filing the complaint.
. All complaints shall be filed as promptly as possible. Except under
extreme circumstances, no complaint shall be accepted or investigated
after a year from the time of the alleged violation of this Code.
. Complaints that turn out to be false and used for the purpose of
harassing, intimidating, or retaliating against someone will be
subject to the same kind of disciplinary action enumerated above.
. Any person dissatisfied with the resolution of a complaint may file an
appeal with the National Federation of the Blind Board of Directors,
which may, in its discretion, take such action as it deems necessary.
No national board member shall participate in the consideration of an
appeal under this Code if such board member is the subject of the
complaint or if such board member cannot be completely unbiased,
impartial, and fair while considering the matter.
X. Minimum Standard
This Code of Conduct is intended to recite a minimum set of standards
expected of Federation members. It sets forth the spirit that the
Federation expects of all of its participants toward each other and toward
those who work with the Federation at all of its levels. It is intended to
be interpreted broadly to instill a respectful, cooperative, and welcoming
spirit in members and in the activities of the Federation.
XI. Federation Pledge and Acknowledgement of Code of Conduct
I, (Federation leader), 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. I further acknowledge that I
have read this Code of Conduct and that I will follow its policies,
standards, and principles.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Maurice Peret]
Changing Attitudes Regarding Education, Employment, and Rehabilitation
through the National Federation of the Blind CAREER Mentoring Program
by Maurice Peret
From the Editor: Maurice Peret began working as coordinator of career
mentoring programs for the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan
Institute in January of 2018. Having gone through the public school system
in suburban Washington, DC, the term "partially sighted" was most often
used to describe his status because of his very limited vision that would
decline completely by the time he was in his early twenties. Although there
was a chapter of the NFB in his area, he knew no blind adults after whom to
model blindness skills or positive attitudes. He finally became a member of
the Federation in 1991 through the mentorship of Ed McDonald who was then
the president of the NFB of West Virginia where Maurice lived at the time.
He has worked in the blindness rehabilitation field since 1999 and
earned the National Orientation & Mobility Certification in 2002. He has
served continuously on the NOMC Training Committee which develops and
upholds the rigorous performance-based standards of the Structured
Discovery Cane Travel (SDCT) training model under the direction of the
National Blindness Professional Certification Board. Maurice is grateful
and excited by the opportunity to provide pre-employment transition-focused
career mentoring programs that he might have benefited from when he was
growing up. Here is what he says:
For seventy-eight years now the nation's largest and most influential
representative organization of the blind, the National Federation of the
Blind (NFB), has developed and nurtured its single most valued and
effective asset: its membership. The collective experience of tens of
thousands of blind men and women, passed down through the generations from
one to another, has contributed to the ultimate success and independence of
countless blind young people to carry the torch of leadership and to live
the lives they want.
The cause of the Federation's successful and long-standing reliance
on and promotion of mentorship as a leadership development tool can be
traced back to before the organization's formation, to the unique and
exemplary relationship between Dr. Newel Perry, an instructor at the
California School for the Blind, and his protégé, Dr. Jacobus tenBroek. Dr.
Perry earned a prestigious doctor of philosophy in mathematics degree with
highest honors in 1901 before returning to his alma mater. He was a supreme
teacher, scholar, mentor, friend, and colleague in his own right. Obviously
Dr. Perry acquired life skills that allowed him to successfully overcome
the myths and misconceptions that prevented other blind people from
achieving similar success. More than a teacher, as a mentor Dr. Perry
openly shared his experiences and strategies with Dr. tenBroek in a manner
that allowed Dr. tenBroek to leverage those strategies to define his own
future. Despite the capability their brilliant academic achievements
demonstrated, both of these great, accomplished men had to struggle to
overcome multiple brick walls to opportunities that society deemed
insurmountable by them on the basis of their blindness. This struggle
served to strengthen their determination to build the kind of national
civil rights organization that would systematically chip away, brick by
brick, at the social barriers that would confront future generations. In
1940 Dr. tenBroek founded the National Federation of the Blind, a
nationwide organization of blind people that believes in the true capacity
of blind people.
Dr. tenBroek explained that the key to Dr. Perry's "great influence
with blind students was first the fact that he was blind and therefore
understood their problems; and second, that he believed in them and made
his faith manifest. He provided the only sure foundation of true rapport:
knowledge on our part that he was genuinely interested in our welfare." In
other words, because he'd fought the same battles and faced the same
barriers, his students believed his interest in their progress as students
and developing humans was genuine and untainted by pity or charity. In the
decades since Dr. Perry taught, research studies have empirically
demonstrated that matching blind youth with successful mentors in this way
increases their effectiveness in making decisions about their futures and
increases their positive attitudes about blindness.
In October of 2004 the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan
Institute received a five-year model demonstration grant from the US
Department of Education Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) to
develop a mentoring excellence program for blind youth between the ages of
sixteen and twenty-six. With this grant, the Federation established a
National Center for Mentoring Excellence to design, develop, implement, and
evaluate a comprehensive national mentoring program to connect young blind
people with successful blind adults. Today we are building on the
quantitative and qualitative data collected from that experience to
establish NFB CAREER Mentoring Programs across the country for blind youth
with a stronger emphasis upon pre-employment transition services as
outlined in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act (WIOA). The NFB
CAREER Mentoring Program combines best practices in mentoring with the
philosophy of the NFB-a philosophy that combines high expectations, a
positive attitude, the value of alternative techniques of blindness, and
the belief that it is okay to be blind. In the end, we hope to instill a
conviction in the blind women and men we serve that they can live the lives
they want and that blindness is not what holds them back.
The empowering role that mentors play in encouraging and modeling
proven strategies and winning behaviors to young mentees can hardly be
overstated. From the time they are very young, boys and girls begin to
think about what they want to become when they grow up. Unfortunately, this
is also the time that society begins to tell blind and visually-impaired
children and their families that not only are they different from other
children, but that this difference means that there will be less expected
of them because they could never measure up to the expectations held for
sighted children. Combined with the tendency for blind and low-vision youth
to be underexposed to blind adult role models who are successful in a
variety of technical, professional, and academic pursuits within the
mainstream workplace, these societal misperceptions of the capabilities of
the blind discourage blind children from using their imagination to combine
their personal interests, aptitudes, and innate talents to dream big about
what they want to be when they grow up.
In the words of Frederick Douglass, "It is easier to build strong
children than to repair broken men." Mentoring has become an effective
strategy used by millions of men and women and thousands of organizations
to offer the necessary guidance and support to combat low expectations and
cultivate success in groups of people who have not traditionally succeeded
in their field. The NFB CAREER Mentoring Program highlights the power of
combining best practices in mentoring with the philosophy of the NFB-a
philosophy that combines high expectations, a positive attitude, the value
of the alternative techniques of blindness, and the solid belief that it is
okay to be blind. Mentors can share personal experience of successful and
unsuccessful strategies for challenging situations including confronting
public and employer attitudes; navigating through programs such as Social
Security and Vocational Rehabilitation; managing accessibility in
education; and learning about access technology and employment
opportunities. Young blind people who are not connected to a network of
blind mentors must continually reinvent the wheel by working through these
challenges on their own. Our NFB CAREER Mentoring Program effectively uses
the resources of thousands of blind Americans who have successfully
navigated the path from education to career success and are willing to
share their experiences and insight with young people.
The NFB CAREER Mentoring Program matches transition-age blind and
visually-impaired youth and young adults with successful blind mentors in
order to: increase knowledge of and participation in the vocational
rehabilitation process, increase postsecondary academic success, and
increase high-quality employment and community integration. But unlike some
mentorship programs where each mentee is matched with a single mentor, the
NFB CAREER Mentoring Program is strengthened by matching each mentee with
two to three. Information is gathered from the mentees about academic and
career goals, hobbies, and extracurricular activities and used to match
them with mentors who share interests or are successful in a career that
matches with the mentee's interests. This method has several benefits,
including an increased exposure to educational, training, and career
opportunities; a diversity of educational and work experiences for a
student to learn from; an extended network of contacts for mentees to
benefit from; increased community involvement and sense of belonging; and a
more robust ongoing support system for the student as he/she tackles the
early years of adulthood.
Blind youth need exposure to positive blind role models who
demonstrate a solid belief in the abilities of blind people and can,
through guidance and example, raise expectations and offer practical tips
and tricks for accessing resources and acquiring skills for success. When
successful blind role models take a concerted interest in the lives of
young blind people, expectations are raised about what can be accomplished.
As dreams become reality, practical lessons are absorbed, often without
even knowing that the learning is taking place. With an intolerably high
rate of unemployment and under employment of working-age blind people in
our nation, knowing what it takes to succeed in the vocation of one's
choosing is critical. Navigating the labyrinth of the special education,
vocational rehabilitation, and other social systems while juggling the
dissidence and mixed messaging of expectation imbalances can become
perplexing and wearisome. The personal knowledge and experience of
successful blind adults helps ground blind youth to internalize the
philosophy that blindness is not the characteristic that defines them or
their future. Every day successful blind mentors help raise the
expectations of blind young people because low expectations create
obstacles between blind people and their dreams. They come to know that
they can live the lives they want; blindness is not what holds them back.
As participants in the NFB CAREER Mentoring Program, blind mentees
travel with mentors in direct learning experiences. This is done using
alternative travel techniques such as the long white cane or guide dog and
by demonstrating how to use public transit systems. Working with one or
more mentors is the perfect environment for observing and practicing
effective self-advocacy skills, all while learning to confront public
misperceptions about blindness with grace, integrity, and respect.
Blind employees as well as blind job seekers must be proficient in
the use of access technology including text-to-speech software, screen
enlargement software, Optical Character Recognition (OCR) programs, and
refreshable Braille displays. Aspiring blind professionals must be prepared
to address how adaptive software and equipment can be used to perform the
essential elements of the job and be able to effectively educate the
employer about how this reasonable accommodation would allow the blind
applicant to be a productive employee. Blind mentors who have successfully
navigated these situations are able to share their strategies with their
mentees.
The confidence derived from participation in a mentoring program
equips blind youth with the ability to own the job interview. Roleplaying
and role reversal exercises are useful activities in anticipating questions
that may arise ahead of time and addressing them knowledgeably and
confidently. Roleplaying between mentor and mentee is also an effective
exercise that addresses social and professional morays such as appropriate
attire, eye contact, hand shaking (e.g. when to and when not to), and being
proactive and articulate in responding to interview questions.
Financial literacy skills are also learned through practice in joint
mentoring activities as blind youth are encouraged to engage in financial
transactions such as paying for lunch or purchasing movie, paintball, or
laser tag tickets. Mentees learn social protocol for calculating gratuity
percentages and guide waitstaff in providing assistance in signing credit
or debit card receipts. They explore banking options, learn to open a
checking or savings account, learn how to balance their checkbook, and use
web-based and mobile apps to track income and expenditures.
Blind mentors provide guidance and empower mentees to effectively
self-advocate and consider options that might otherwise have been
dismissed. Introduction to successful blind college students, tours of
local colleges and universities, and interest surveys inspire blind mentees
to consider or reconsider higher education. There is no substitute for
spending a day or more with a successful blind student or students to
observe how challenges are managed. The National Association of Blind
Students and its affiliated state organizations provide an abundant source
of peer mentors. These experiences also prove valuable in integrating with
other students and faculty, relationships that prove helpful in ways that
are not always immediately recognizable. Because academic readiness does
not always equate to graceful fluidity in public and social interactions,
mock interviews assist blind students with guidance on how to engage
effectively in an interview. Blind mentors provide useful tips on how to
independently negotiate new environments, how to address the issue of
disability prior to or during the interview, interact with Office of
Disability Service staff, and strategize about the management of
appropriate accommodations.
It is widely accepted that job opportunities are generated most
effectively through personal connections. Likewise, successfully employed
or scholastically enrolled blind mentors share with mentees their
accumulated networking experience in professional and academic
associations, service organizations, fraternities and sororities, and
especially through membership in organizations like the National Federation
of the Blind.
Many Federationists have stories of how mentorship by an older or
more experienced Federationist changed their life. For some it was someone
in their local or state chapter; for some it was someone like past
Presidents Dr. tenBroek, Dr. Jernigan, or Dr. Maurer. And most of those
Federationists talk about their determination to pay the time, faith, and
confidence spent on them forward with new and younger Federationists. If
you would like to know more about mentorship opportunities with the NFB
CAREER Mentoring Program, go to www.nfb.org/mentorapplication and submit an
application. If you are that young Federationist who would like to benefit
from the advice and support of a mentor, go to
www.nfb.org/menteeapplication to submit an application to become a mentee.
This is how the Federation helps build a strong new generation of blind
youth to continue changing the world until all of society believes that
blindness is no true barrier to living the life you want.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Allen Harris]
The Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund
by Allen Harris
From the Editor: Allen Harris is the chairman of the Kenneth Jernigan
Fund Committee and was one of the people who came up with the idea of
honoring our former President and longtime leader by establishing a program
to promote attendance at the national convention, where so much inspiration
and learning occur. Here is Allen's announcement about the 2018 Kenneth
Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund Program:
Have you always wanted to attend an NFB annual convention but have
not done so because of the lack of funds? The Kenneth Jernigan Convention
Scholarship Fund invites you to make an application for a scholarship
grant. Perhaps this July you too can be in the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in
Orlando, Florida, enjoying the many pleasures and learning opportunities at
the largest and most important yearly convention of blind people in the
world.
The three biggest ticket items you need to cover when attending an
NFB national convention are the roundtrip transportation, the hotel room
for a week, and the food (which tends to be higher priced than at home). We
attempt to award additional funds to families, but, whether a family or an
individual is granted a scholarship, this fund can only help; it won't pay
all the costs. Last year most of the sixty grants were in the range of $400
to $500 per individual.
We recommend that you find an NFB member as your personal convention
mentor, someone who has been to many national conventions and is able to
share money-saving tips with you and tips on navigating the extensive
agenda in the big hotel. Your mentor will help you get the most out of the
amazing experience that is convention week.
Who is eligible?
Active NFB members, blind or sighted, who have not yet attended an
NFB national convention because of lack of funding are eligible to apply.
How do I apply for funding assistance?
1. You write a letter giving your contact information, and your local NFB
information, your specific amount requested, and then explain why this
is a good investment for the NFB. The points to cover are listed
below.
2. You contact your state president in person or by phone to request his
or her help in obtaining funding. Be sure to tell the president when
to expect your request letter by email, and mention the deadline.
3. You (or a friend) send your letter by email to your state president.
He or she must add a president's recommendation and then email both
letters directly to the Kenneth Jernigan Convention Scholarship Fund
Committee. Your president must forward the two letters no later than
April 15, 2018.
Your letter to Chairperson Allen Harris must cover these points:
. Your full name and all your telephone numbers--label them-cell phone,
home, office, other person (if any).
. Your mailing address and, if you have one, your email address.
. Your state affiliate and state president; your chapter and chapter
president, if you attend a chapter.
. Your personal convention mentor, and provide that person's phone
number.
. Your specific request:
Explain how much money you need from this fund to make this trip possible
for you. We suggest you consult with other members to make a rough budget
for yourself.
The body of your letter should answer these questions:
How do you currently participate in the Federation? Why do you want
to attend a national convention? What would you receive; what can you share
or give? You can include in your letter to the committee any special
circumstances you hope they will take into consideration.
When will I be notified that I am a winner?
If you are chosen to receive this scholarship, you will receive a
letter with convention details that should answer most of your questions.
The committee makes every effort to notify scholarship winners by May 15,
but you must do several things before that to be prepared to attend if you
are chosen:
1. Make your own hotel reservation. If something prevents you from
attending, you can cancel the reservation. (Yes, you may arrange for
roommates of your own to reduce the cost.)
2. Register online for the entire convention, including the banquet, by
May 31.
3. Find someone in your chapter or affiliate who has been to many
conventions and can answer your questions as a friend and advisor.
4. If you do not hear from the committee by May 15, then you did not win
a grant this year.
How will I receive my convention scholarship?
At convention you will be given a debit card or credit card loaded
with the amount of your award. The times and locations to pick up your card
will be listed in the letter we send you. The committee is not able to
provide funds before the convention, so work with your chapter and state
affiliate to assist you by obtaining an agreement to advance funds if you
win a scholarship and to pay your treasury back after you receive your
debit or credit card.
What if I have more questions? For additional information email the
chairman, Allen Harris, at <kjscholarships at nfb.org> or call his Baltimore,
Maryland, office at (410) 659-9314, extension 2415.
Above all, please use this opportunity to attend your first
convention on the national level and join several thousand active
Federationists in the most important meeting of the blind in the world. We
hope to see you in Orlando.
----------
[PHOTO CAPTION: Amy Mason]
Driving Blind on the Information Superhighway-Screen Readers: The Interface
between Us and the Road
by Amy Mason
From the Editor: This is the third article in a series intended to
help users of assistive technology learn to use and get the most out of the
World Wide Web. Navigating the web is possible, productive, and enjoyable,
but there are many parts to the puzzle, and this series of articles is
intended to let readers examine each piece and decide how they will put
together the system that gives them the access they desire to the vast
resources of the internet. With her analytic mind, her vast knowledge of
resources, and her command of language, here is what Amy Mason has to say,
this time about screen readers:
Howdy class. I hope your homework went well. I'm looking forward to
hearing reports on how things have gone for you in your test driving of
alternative browsers. Since our last class, I've been spending a lot more
time with Chrome. I've been pretty happy with Mozilla Firefox for the last
several years, but it never hurts to test drive something different,
especially when your regular car is in the shop (see our blog post on
Firefox Quantum for further details https://nfb.org/firefox-57-and-screen-
reader-compatibility. If you have missed either of the previous "classes"
you can find them in the January and February issues of the Monitor and
catch up.
Screen Readers-Our Dashboard on the Road
The final level of equipment we need to discuss before we can really
start exploring the open road is your blind driver interface: the screen
reader. Like browsers, you have many options available, and they offer
different paths to the same basic information. Also, like browsers, each
screen reader has unique advantages and disadvantages, so once again it is
wise for users to learn more than one when they have the opportunity.
Sadly, unlike browsers, there are many scenarios where you may be tied to a
single screen reader, and you will need to consider carefully your browser
choice based upon what is most compatible with it.
At its most basic, a screen reader is a software package that gathers
information from the operating system and programs on your computer,
tablet, or smart phone, (read "pocket computer") and offers that
information to you in the form of speech and/or refreshable Braille.
Dashboards can vary wildly, from a minimal number of indicators to a mess
of flashing lights and gauges. Choosing the right interface is essential
for making sure you can get where you want to go.
To understand the screen reader's role in working on the web, it is
important to remember a few things about screen readers in general:
1. A screen reader can only relay information that is programmatically
determinable. This is a fancy way of saying that it can only tell you
what it has first been told. For instance, unless a website has been
coded correctly, the screen reader will not be able to understand that
a link is intended to be interactive. It is just like a faulty fuel
sensor; it won't be able to guess and can leave you stranded and
hoping to hitch a ride to the nearest town. Furthermore, it will also
be unable to do anything with that link if the browser doesn't
properly recognize the link and tell the screen reader what it is
supposed to be. This is why we continue to have to work with operating
system creators, browser manufacturers, and web designers to ensure
that each of them is passing important information on so that screen
readers can convey it to us.
2. Even though I just said screen readers cannot guess, some vehicles are
starting to get good at diagnostics and may suggest a fix for that
'check engine light,' telling you to replace the spark plugs even when
the problem is a loose gas cap. We users have to be savvy enough to
understand when the screen reader may be attempting to guess and that
we may know better than it does. The way you do this is a combination
of knowledge of your specific screen reader, the tool you are using,
(website, application, or otherwise) and clues we are able to gather
from the information the screen reader will give us. For instance, if
you come across the word "submit" all by itself at the end of a form,
you may safely assume that this is meant to be interactive even if it
is not read as such and try pressing the button. Keeping with our
driving analogy, an experienced driver knows that sometimes your gas
gauge will complain you are running on fumes because it doesn't
realize you are on a steep hill.
3. When we have this many layers of interaction, more frequently than we
would like something will "go sideways" (Yes that is definitely the
technical term). As such, it is worth learning how to restart
different layers of the chain and to work backwards from the last to
the first to see if you can gracefully recover from trouble. Your
screen reader is at the end of the chain, so it is usually the first
program that it is worth learning how to restart. Therefore, with each
of the screen readers we are covering below, I will include a method
for shutting down and restarting which you can use in a pinch to see
about getting back on the road faster than if you need to perform a
complete system shutdown. The browser and computer are generally
easier to shut down since you have the benefit of the screen reader to
provide you information about those processes, but of course
restarting the screen reader is done without benefit of its
assistance, so learning the commands or setting up shortcuts that will
allow you to do so will be a worthwhile investment of your time.
4. When all else fails, it is important to remember that none of this is
perfect, and it's going to be the case that you will need to reboot
occasionally. Sometimes you just have to get the gremlins out of your
engine, or it's going to keep crashing. Don't blame yourself, and
don't be too nervous about the outcomes. Computers and screen readers
are generally pretty forgiving. Save often, develop your sense of
adventure and humor, and don't experiment with deleting files you
don't understand. By following this advice, you will be just fine when
computing, whether you are cruising the information superhighway or
rocking a spreadsheet.
Just a heads-up here: there are several screen readers you may be
familiar with that I am not going to cover in this article. They fall into
two categories. The first are our mobile and platform specific screen
readers; these will be addressed in a future article since your dirt bike
or smartphone requires a very different dashboard from a Ferrari. The
second are those that hold just a small market share. Some have a very
passionate fan base, but it is not practical to talk about every variant
with its own collector's club. The Back to the Future Delorean dashboard is
iconic, but my wonderful editor might kill me if I submit a three-hundred-
page article nine months late.
If you wish to read up on ChromeVox, I would recommend reviewing my
article "Google in the Classroom: Chromebooks and G-Suite" in Future
Reflections, Vol. 36 No. 3 (Summer 2017). In the case of ZoomText, I would
point to its primary purpose as a magnification tool and not a screen
reader, unless it is paired with JAWS in Fusion. In this case the
references and resources covering JAWS that appear below should be
sufficient to get you started.
For those of you who are curious about the distribution of screen
reader users here and elsewhere, you may wish to look at the WebAIM Screen
Reader Survey #7 at https://webaim.org/projects/screenreadersurvey7/.
And with those bits of advice behind us, let us look at the screen
readers themselves:
JAWS (Job Access with Speech)-Space-age smart cars are here
Operating System Supported: Windows
Compatible Browsers: Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Edge (sort of)
Obtained from: Freedom Scientific, a division of VFO group.
www.freedomscientific.com
Cost: Widely variable-if purchased outright it will cost $970 for home use
and more for business; however, some organizations (employers, educators,
etc.) have deals with Freedom to provide the software to their users at
drastically reduced prices.
JAWS is the last remaining early Windows screen reader. As such, it
has had years and years of work behind it. This means that it offers a lot
of customization-you can spend hours or even days setting this beast up to
work exactly as you like it. Whether you want to use different voices for
different elements, or sound effects to convey information, or even change
how you interact with web forms, you can and likely will need to spend some
serious time customizing JAWS to get the most out of it.
It is well understood by the community. There are more training
materials, both free and paid, for this software than for any other screen
reader on the market. For this reason, it is still often the de facto
option in many workplaces, colleges, and other institutions.
Likewise, there are many (mostly legacy) software packages and some
websites that have been specifically coded to work well with JAWS instead
of to the standards, and, as such, are more likely to misbehave when used
with other screen readers. Hopefully in the coming years this will continue
to change and evolve, but it's a factor that we need to be aware of now.
If there is a screen reader that tries to guess at what's going on in
a misbehaving system, it is JAWS. It will often get things right, though it
is important to be aware of this tendency because, when JAWS gets something
wrong while guessing, it is more likely to really confuse the situation; it
doesn't tend to warn you when it is just a guess.
It's built on a very large existing code base, so you need a more
powerful computer than you might for other screen readers in order to have
it run well. When bugs emerge, it can take more time for VFO to find and
repair them than some of the lighter, more nimble screen readers.
In a nutshell, JAWS is a powerful large software package with a lot
of development hours behind it. This means it will let you set everything
up just the way you like it-everything from variable density in the car
seats and automatic heated seat to the trip movie selections on the built-
in TV-but when things go wrong, you probably need to send it to a
specialist. Your friend who's good with cars probably can't fix this one in
his driveway. Sometimes that complexity can get in your way; automatic
sensors and cameras to keep you in the middle of the lane are great, except
when you need to go around roadworks.
In this vein, JAWS offers pretty comprehensive (if challenging to
initially set up) Braille support and such extreme customizations as
allowing for scripting even of individual webpages and applications.
On the web it attempts to guess at relationships between elements and
labels when they are not explicitly and correctly coded. This is why you
may find that JAWS will read labels on webpages where other screen readers
will not. If you find that the first edit field in a set is unlabeled, but
subsequent ones are, you can bet that JAWS is guessing, and one off. For
instance, if you hear something like "edit, <tab> First name edit, <tab>
last name edit..." you are fairly safe to assume that the first edit field
is where your first name goes, not the second.
Further Resources for JAWS
The help topics and manuals for JAWS are extraordinarily
comprehensive. You will also find links to a wealth of free and paid
webinar information from the manufacturer. You can explore all of these
materials from the Help menu in JAWS itself. If you are looking for a
specific command in the application, press JAWS-Space followed by the
letter J to open up a context sensitive search box where you can search for
commands relevant to your location on the computer. You can also press JAWS-
1 (on the number row) to enable Keyboard learn mode. Pressing this
combination a second time will return the keyboard to its normal state.
One training reference which is especially relevant to your
experiences on the internet is "Surf's Up! Surfing the Internet with JAWS
and MAGic" It is a very powerful and interactive tutorial, even if they
have the metaphor wrong. Although it is JAWS specific, much of the
information in it can be generalized to use with other screen readers as
well, and it may be worth exploring regardless of the tool you choose to
employ. It can be found at: http://www.freedomscientific.com/Training/Surfs-
Up/_Surfs_Up_Start_Here.htm
Restarting JAWS
When you need to quit and restart JAWS and do not have a dedicated
keyboard shortcut created, the most sure-fire method is to exit the program
then open the run dialog by holding down the Windows key and pressing R,
henceforth referred to as Win-R. Then type JAWS followed directly by the
version number of the software you are running. So if you are running JAWS
2018 you would type "jaws2018," and for v. 17 you would type "jaws17"
followed by Enter without spaces.
NVDA (Non-Visual Desktop Access)-The best vehicle for non-drivers
Operating System Supported: Windows
Compatible Browsers: Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, Edge (sort of)
Obtained from: NV Access www.nvaccess.org
Cost: NVDA is free to download, but its development is supported through
donations, so when you first download or when you update, you will be asked
to consider donating to this most worthy application's further development.
You may also choose to purchase higher quality voice packs from several
different sellers, which usually run between $50-$100 for a one-time
purchase.
NVDA is sort of the "anti-JAWS." It is a competent screen reader that
is focused on simplicity and speed, so when using it remember the
following:
. It is highly standards compliant. If the webpage you are reviewing
doesn't offer a label for an edit field and you hit that field with
NVDA, it will not guess what the label should be. Instead, it will
cheerily read back that it is "blank" and leave you to do the
sleuthing to find out what's nearby and likely to be the label for
that item.
. It is extraordinarily nimble-It is updated on average three to four
times a year and often contains significant improvements from one
version to the next.
. It is also quite small and light. NVDA seems like it would probably
run on a toaster, as long as it was running Windows (I'm still waiting
Amazon).
. Although it doesn't offer the same depth of customization out-of-the-
box, much about this screen reader can still be set to suit. Basic
customization is available and very simple to set up. For more complex
or experimental features, a plethora of add-ons can be included to
make it work the way you like it.
Free and paid training resources certainly exist for NVDA and
continue to be actively developed, but they are not nearly as comprehensive
as those for JAWS. They also tend to be of mixed quality when it comes to
the quality of production because they come from volunteers who bring
various levels of knowledge when it comes to content creation. Even so,
these materials are very useful and have the distinct advantage of being
very affordable-when they cost anything at all.
In my opinion the most exciting thing about NVDA is that it is a
screen reader that we as the community have the power to affect more
directly than any other. It is open source, which means that it can be
taken apart and studied, viewed, and improved by anyone with the know-how
and desire. This is much like fixing up a car with your dad-adding pieces
and making it your own with enough time and elbow grease.
NVDA is the screen reader written by blind folks for blind folks, and
it shows. It's not as polished around the edges, and the doors are not
necessarily the same color as the bonnet, especially when it comes to
documentation and training. But it has now been around long enough that
people have started to create pretty comprehensive materials about its use.
Furthermore, due to its free and open source nature, many web developers
are using it to test their work, guaranteeing the best result for everyone.
Further Resources for NVDA
As I mentioned previously, NVDA is a program that has a lot of
support from the community. As such, one of the best resources I've seen
for this software is actually a community resource. Located at
http://accessibilitycentral.net/nvda%20audio%20tutorials.html it provides
several audio tutorials, links to other resources, including the official
help page from NVAccess (https://www.nvaccess.org/help/) and several
different and very comprehensive instructions for downloading and
installing NVDA on your own computer. NVAccess itself has created a couple
low-cost tutorial books which can be accessed from its official help page
along with information for email listservs and paid technical support
options. In the software itself, the user's guide can be accessed from the
Help menu. Finally, like JAWS, it is possible to enter Input Learn Mode by
pressing NVDA-1.
Restarting NVDA
There are a plethora of ways to restart NVDA when it is misbehaving.
They include the following:
. Activate the desktop icon or executable for NVDA while it is running.
The application will shut itself down and restart.
. Press NVDA-Q (Quits NVDA) and choose "Restart" or "Restart with Add-
on's Disabled" to unload and re-load the program.
. Type "nvda" into the Run dialog box in Windows (activated with Win-R)
and press Enter
. When initially installed, by default, NVDA creates a keyboard
shortcut, Alt-Ctrl-N, and pressing this at any time will launch or
relaunch the program. Unfortunately, this conflicts with several
commands available for the Google G Suite of applications. So I would
recommend changing the default shortcut or disabling it if you are a
user of those tools. Personally, I have found that Alt-Ctrl-` (grave
accent, located to the left of "1" on most keyboards) is an excellent
substitute since I am unaware of any keyboard commands that directly
conflict.
VoiceOver-Driving on the Other Side of the Road
Operating System Supported: Mac OSX
Compatible Browsers: Safari, Chrome, Firefox (sort of)
Obtained from: Installed on any Apple Mac Computer built in the last
decade.
Cost: none
Voiceover is the name for all of the built-in screen readers
available on Apple products. However, in this article we are going to limit
our discussion to the Mac because mobile Apple products offer a very
different browsing experience from that offered on the full desktop. With
that in mind, here are the relevant details to keep in mind when you choose
to use VoiceOver as you browse.
You are not behind the wheel of a Windows PC. The paradigms are very
different. Modes of interaction, commands, and controls are all in
different places and work differently from those you may be familiar with
if coming from this environment. In my opinion, using a Mac with VoiceOver
is very similar to driving in the UK, Australia, or other countries where
drivers travel along the left side of the road, not the right. You can be
just as safe, effective, and competent using a machine built for this
environment, but if you are coming from Windows, (or the US and Canada as
drivers) you are going to have to take some extra time to learn how things
have changed, and you may find yourself reaching down to shift gears with
the wrong hand until you grow accustomed.
VoiceOver receives updates at the same time as the operating system,
so it's important to decide just how comfortable you are with change and
possible instability when choosing to update your OS. VoiceOver is the only
choice you have on a Mac when it comes to screen reading, so if a bug hits
which you cannot work around, you will be stuck until Apple offers a patch,
unless you choose to reload an earlier system image to get back on your
feet.
VoiceOver and OSX have a very dedicated fanbase. The number of
VoiceOver users may not be as high as for Windows screen readers, but many
of these folks are very active in sharing their knowledge, so training
materials are readily available.
VoiceOver, although it certainly has its own way of doing things, has
a fascinating combination of traits when it comes to how it's been built to
behave. In standards compliance for local computer programs, it's going to
largely demand standard controls or changes to the desktop software it is
reviewing in order to ensure accessibility. But on the web, it has the
tendency to play guessing games similar to those played by JAWS. As with
JAWS, this is both a blessing and a curse. Further, like JAWS, it is highly
customizable, and getting down deep into the tweaks you can make with the
package is going to be an important part of getting the most out of it.
Like other desktop screen readers, VoiceOver can be relied upon to
offer fairly good access to software and content that is built to be
accessible. This includes websites and browsers. Unlike screen readers for
Windows, though, everything will feel very different until you have learned
how to work with it.
I will admit that even after several years of use I just don't feel
quite as comfortable with this tool. I know many users who swear by it, and
I am pleased that it suits them. That said, I continually seem to muddle my
hands and controls when I use it. All I can say is that in the truest sense
of these words, your mileage may vary. The best way to know is to find a
way to try it for yourself, whether you ask someone to let you try it out
on their machine or take the leap and get your own.
Even as someone who is not quite comfortable driving on the left side
of the road, I can admit there are some really delightful and unique
benefits. For example, on the Mac the Track Pad enables VoiceOver users to
operate the computer in much the same way one operates the iPhone, with
gestures. In my opinion, this is one of the coolest tricks that VoiceOver
has to offer. Browsing the web with just a flick of the finger is really
quite a satisfying experience
Further Resources for VoiceOver
There are a lot of Apple fans in the blindness community. I am not
going to even try to name all the podcasts, articles, and groups available
to get you connected with other Apple users. I will, however, point you to
the group that I find has been of most assistance to me when I've been
looking for tutorials, software reviews, and general information:
www.applevis.com. If these folks don't have what you need, they can
probably point you to the resources that do. It's a whole community of
blind people who are passionate about all things Apple and accessibility,
and I would recommend looking them up no matter what your skill level or
Apple device of choice.
As for VoiceOver internal help, pressing VO-H will provide you with a
large number of resources in the software itself which you can use to learn
how to make the most of this powerful tool. In the Help menu you can find
Command Lists, the User Documentation, and even the simple interactive
tutorial that is offered the first time you turn it on.
Restarting VoiceOver
You can toggle VoiceOver on and off by pressing Cmd+F5 on Macs with
physical Function keys, or by quickly triple tapping the fingerprint sensor
at the top right corner of Macs with the touch bar. If using the touch bar,
a self-voicing menu appears and allows you to toggle VoiceOver on or off.
Conclusions
For those just starting out with a screen reader, your choice to use
Mac or Windows should be guided by what you plan to use the computer for
and your budget. Any of these three can be great options, depending on what
you want to do. When choosing the proper screen reader for browsing, it
honestly comes down to choosing the proper screen reader for you and then
following up with the browsers that work best. Each screen reading
interface is going to handle pages and browsers somewhat differently, but,
like getting behind the wheel of any car for the first time, if you learn
where the controls are and how to use them, you will find that with some
practice you can become an excellent driver with any of these dashboard
setups.
Even so, like with driving, if you have the opportunity and
inclination, you will benefit from getting comfortable with more than one
model of car... I mean screen reader. The more time you spend moving
between the different options, the more resilient you will be when you come
across problems, not only because you will have different tools to choose
from, but also because your mind and reactions will be sharper. Race car
drivers practice in different conditions with all sorts of obstacles and
track layouts so that they can hone their reactions. Your growing
accustomed to unfamiliar screen readers, applications, browsers, and even
OS's will help to improve your reactions, intuition, and skill in the same
way.
As such, I am assigning homework again. This time you have a choice:
In your primary screen reader, endeavor to learn something new. Perhaps you
can find a new plugin for NVDA or discover the shortcuts you can use on the
web to jump between different elements in JAWS. You might even try the
Track Pad for the first time with your shiny Mac.
For extra enjoyment, if you are fortunate enough to have a Braille
notetaker, look at trying to connect it to your screen reader and enjoy the
power of browsing with all the power of both your preferred screen reader
and Braille.
Try something else. Borrow a Mac, visit an Apple store if you are a
Windows user, or try one of the screen readers you don't know as well. Even
JAWS can be downloaded and used in forty-minute mode. You can learn a lot
using it even forty minutes at a time.
One final option: teach someone else. You may feel very comfortable
with the screen reader and computer you use every day. That's great! Share
that knowledge. Some of the greatest gifts I've received from my Federation
friends and family are the gifts of time, teaching, and mentoring. Each of
us is an expert in something; let's share our expertise and make this world
a little brighter for us all.
Class Dismissed!
-----------
Recipes
Recipes this month come from the National Federation of the Blind of
Kansas.
Chicken Enchilada Soup
by Donna Wood
Donna is a retired human rights investigator who lives in Wichita.
She is a past president of our affiliate and currently serves as second
vice president. Here is what she says about this recipe: "This is my go-to
soup that is super-fast and easy. It's so rich and creamy and guilt-free!
It's packed with fiber and flavor. Pumpkin is the secret ingredient that
makes the soup rich and creamy and adds fiber and vitamins."
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1-1/2 cups chopped celery
1 medium chopped onion
1 large red pepper diced
3 cups fat-free chicken broth
3-1/2 cups (28 ounces) mild green enchilada sauce (use medium if you prefer
more heat)
1 15-ounce can pure pumpkin
1 small deli-roast chicken, deboned, skinned, and torn into bite-sized
pieces
1 7-ounce can mild green chilies
1-1/2 cups frozen white corn
1 package ranch-style salad dressing mix
Optional toppings:
crumbled queso fresco cheese
shredded cheddar cheese
crushed tortilla chips
cilantro
chopped avocado
sour cream
Method: In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Sauté
the
celery, onion, and red pepper until slightly tender. Add the chicken broth,
enchilada sauce, pumpkin, chicken, green chilies, corn, and dressing mix.
Simmer for ten to fifteen minutes or longer. Serve with your choice of
toppings.
----------
Shrimp Pasta Salad
by Susan Tabor
Susan is a member who lives in Lawrence and is the wife of our first
vice president Rob Tabor. She has hosted several cooking-related demos at
recent Kansas conventions. She says this is so good that she loves to
double the recipe when she makes it.
Ingredients:
8 ounces elbow macaroni, uncooked
1 pound shrimp, cooked, drained, and chopped into chunks
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup diced green onions
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
2/3 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon celery seeds
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup diced red pepper, for sprinkling over top to add some color
Method: Cook elbow macaroni according to package directions. Combine
all ingredients in a large bowl. Refrigerate for at least an hour so
flavors can blend.
----------
Crockpot Sloppy Joes
by Tom Page
Tom Page is the current president of the Kansas affiliate and is
employed as a professional musician who lives in Wichita. He admits that
the recipe is a little loose, "I'm not sure how to translate from number of
"shakes" to actual measurements, so feel free to play with it."
Ingredients:
1/2 white onion, finely chopped
3/4 pound ground beef or turkey
1 small can tomato sauce
five shakes of salt
six to ten shakes of pepper
six to ten shakes of garlic powder (to taste)
three or four shakes of Italian seasoning
Method: Combine ground beef, tomato sauce, and onions in the
crockpot. Add salt, pepper, garlic, and Italian seasoning; mix together.
Cook on low for at least four hours. Spoon onto buns. Makes 4 to 6
sandwiches.
----------
Pumpkin Bread
by Sharon Luka
This one is a real favorite of Kansas Federationists. Anyone who has
attended our state conventions has probably enjoyed a loaf of Sharon Luka's
famous pumpkin bread.
Sharon lives and works in Salina and serves as our affiliate secretary.
Sharon modestly says, "This recipe was originally taken from a former NFB
Braille paperback cookbook. I have made a few simple modifications."
Ingredients:
3-1/2 cups flour
3 cups sugar
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
4 eggs
1 15- or 16-ounce can of pumpkin
3/4 cup water
1 cup oil
Method: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix all dry ingredients
thoroughly. Make a well in the mixture. In a separate bowl, beat four eggs.
Add eggs, pumpkin, water, oil, and soda to dry ingredients and mix well.
Pour into greased and floured medium-sized loaf pans. Place loaves on a
cookie sheet (the cookie sheet is not required). Bake for approximately
fifty minutes.
----------
Frosted Cappuccino Brownies
by Susan Tabor
These are wonderful, creamy, coffee-flavored, milk chocolate
brownies. They freeze well too, according to Susan.
Ingredients:
2 pounds milk chocolate chips
1/4 cup instant coffee granules or espresso powder
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
8 eggs
3 tablespoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
Method: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease and
flour four eight-by-eight-inch baking pans. Place the chocolate chips and
the coffee granules in a double boiler over simmering water. Cook over
medium heat, stirring occasionally, until melted and smooth. Set aside. In
a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
Beat in the eggs two at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in
vanilla, cinnamon, and salt, then mix in the melted chocolate. Mix in flour
until just blended. Divide the batter equally into the prepared pans, and
spread smooth. Bake for thirty-five minutes in preheated oven, or until the
edges pull from the sides of the pans. Cool on a wire rack. Cover and
refrigerate for eight hours. Cut the cold brownies into bars to serve.
Frosting Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, unsalted
4 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 to 1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 to 3 tablespoons strong-brewed coffee or espresso, cooled
1 to 2 tbsp milk or cream, optional, if needed for correct consistency
1/4 to 1/2 cup cream (if you want to make cappuccino buttercream)
Method: Cream together butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and
cream (if making buttercream instead of regular frosting) using a handheld
mixer or stand mixer. If icing is too stiff, beat in either more coffee or
some milk or cream to make a smooth, spreadable consistency.
After frosting these brownies, the more they set, the better they
taste as the flavors have more time to blend. Twenty-four hours is about
ideal, but it's hard to wait that long! Enjoy!
You can also experiment with the chocolates; use half milk chocolate
chips and half dark chocolate ones, or all dark chocolate, or milk and
bittersweet chips, or all bittersweet chips. Different varieties/strengths
of the chocolate will play with the other flavors in their own ways, so you
may want to adjust the flavors like cinnamon and coffee and vanilla
according to your taste.
----------
Monitor Miniatures
News from the Federation Family
Blindness Summer Transition Youth Learning Experience
Blindness: Learning In New Dimensions (BLIND) Inc. presents Summer
Transition Youth Learning Experience (STYLE) 2018. Spend part of your
summer in STYLE!
The STYLE program offers three separate, five-day, theme-based
educational/recreational programs. All of our programs are delivered by
blind role models. STYLE students will learn skills, gain confidence, and
have fun! Attend one, two, or all three sessions! Day programming and
residential options are available.
Session 1: July 23 to 27: Fitness, Fun, and Friends:
Get fit, have fun, compete! Students will participate in individual
and group recreational activities. Learn about proper nutrition while
preparing healthy meals. Activities may include rock climbing, goalball,
water sports, self-defense, etc.! Have fun while being active and hanging
out with new and old friends.
Session 2: July 30 to August 3: Tech Trek:
Students will explore the world of assistive technology. Computers,
smartphones, tablets, etc. are the tools which will help students achieve
success. Learn to effectively and efficiently use assistive technology in
school, at work, and at home. Sign up for your Tech Trek adventure today!
Session 3: August 6 to August 10: Career Quest:
What jobs can blind people do? Where do you want to work? Students
will explore jobs held by blind people and learn what those jobs truly
entail. Learn what skills are needed to reach your vocational goals. Topics
include résumé building, interview skills, soft skills, finding jobs,
qualifications/experience, and more!
Contact Michell Gip, youth services coordinator, at (612) 872-0100,
Ext. 231, or mgip at blindinc.org for more information or an application. We
can assist you to work with your local vocational rehabilitation agency to
attend the program. The first review of applications will occur on April
30, 2018. Apply today to ensure your space in this program!
Attention Blind and Low-Vision Students!
Are you or do you know a blind or low-vision teen who wants to spend
their summer learning, meeting new people, and having a great adventure?
Join the National Federation of the Blind at our NFB EQ program. NFB EQ is
a jam-packed week of fun and learning.
Participants spend each day engaged in activities designed to
strengthen their knowledge of engineering as well as their problem-solving
abilities. In the evenings, participants hang out with the twenty-nine
other teen participants while exploring the local community and
participating in various recreational activities. Throughout the week,
participants will forge new friendships while increasing their engineering
knowledge, problem-solving abilities, self-confidence, and independence.
To learn more and to apply, visit http://www.blindscience.org/nfbeq.
The Specs:
Who: Thirty blind and low vision teens currently enrolled in grades 9-12 in
the United States.
What: A weeklong summer engineering program for blind and low vision teens.
When: Participants will travel to Baltimore on July 29 and travel back home
on August 4.
Where: The National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute in
Baltimore, Maryland.
Why: To meet new people, learn new things, and have an exciting adventure!
How: Apply Now! Applications are due May 1, 2018.
How Much: There is no registration fee for this program. Visit our
frequently asked questions web page for more details:
http://www.blindscience.org/nfb-eq-faq.
Additional Information:
. To be eligible to apply students must: be enrolled in grades 9-12
during the 2017-2018 school year in a school (public, private,
charter, residential, or home school) in the United States, be
blind or have low vision, and be available to attend the entire
program.
. Participant's transportation to and from the program will be
arranged by the National Federation of the Blind. Students will
travel to Baltimore on Sunday and will travel home on the following
Saturday.
. This is a residential program; students will stay in dormitories at
the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute and all
meals will be provided.
. In the evenings, after the conclusion of the instructional day,
students will be engaged in various social and recreational
activities.
What are people saying about EQ?
"NFB EQ gave me more confidence to keep doing what I want-no one can
stop me! The program opened my eyes to even more options in the field [of
engineering], and it gave me some confidence that I can do some mechanical
stuff that I didn't think I could do before." - Michael, Texas
"At the program, I learned that there is accessible equipment-I can
use equipment that is close to what sighted people use, like Braille rulers
and click rules. At school, the tools for measuring in science aren't
always accessible to me." - Lilly, Alaska
"I increased my drawing skills at NFB EQ. The tactile drawing board
helped me because I could feel what I drew. Visualizations also have gotten
easier [going from drawing to model to prototype]. In engineering, you have
to picture an idea in your mind and then draw it before you can build it.
When you draw it, you can really see how it's going to come together." -
Trey, Kentucky
"I am amazed at how the people involved in organizing this program
made everything so easy for us. From organizing logistics to making sure
the schedule was running smoothly for the students-the whole event was very
successful. The staff's warmth and attention to detail really eased my mind
and made me feel good about leaving my son at the program for the week." -
Mark (father), North Carolina
"I was looking for a rigorous, highly academic science program that
promoted and modeled independence, and the National Federation of the Blind
was offering everything I was looking for. Still, I was hesitant. What if
it wasn't a good use of my students' resources, or what if they weren't
safe? My fears were unwarranted, from start to finish. NFB made the health,
safety, academic rigor, social experiences, and general well-being of our
students paramount. Every detail was professionally planned and handled,
ensuring that every moment, for every student, was as meaningful as it
could possibly be." - Laura (teacher of the visually impaired), Kentucky
Questions?
Send them to: STEM at nfb.org; call (410) 659-9314, extension 2418; or mail to
National Federation of the Blind, 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore,
Maryland 21230.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science
Foundation under Grant No. 1712887. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions
or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s)
and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science
Foundation.
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.
Amazon Prime Discount Available:
Amazon is extending an Amazon Prime discount to Medicaid and EBT
recipients. The cost is $5.99/month or $40/year, normally $12.99/month or
$99/year. Applicants must upload a scan of their Medicaid card.
This offer has all the benefits except the ability to extend the
Prime membership to Household Members. Benefits include Prime Video (a
service similar to Netflix); two-day free shipping; and Amazon Now, a
service available in places where Amazon has a warehouse and can fill an
order within two hours. To learn more about the service and to apply go to
http://www.amazon.com/qualify.
Share Your Story:
The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) in Louisville,
Kentucky, kicked off its 160th Anniversary Celebration with an open house
on their founding day, January 23. As part of this celebration, APH
announced a National Writing Contest. Students and adults who are blind or
visually impaired as well as professionals in the field are invited to
share their stories about the impact of APH products on their lives, as
well as celebrating their personal success stories. Categories, word count,
and topics are as follows:
Grades 3 through 5 (Maximum 250 words)
Official Topic:
The American Printing House for the Blind provides specialized tools
and materials for people who are blind and visually impaired to learn and
to live independently. Write a letter to APH telling us about either
. your favorite APH product: how you use it, and why you love it,
or
. a product you would like to invent for APH: what the product would
be called; how it would be used; and who would benefit from it.
Grades 6 through 8 (Maximum 500 words)
Official Topic:
Louis Braille, a Frenchman, invented the Braille code of tactile
reading and writing in 1821. He died in 1852-six years before APH was
founded in 1858. Write a letter to Louis and tell him either
. how Braille changed the lives of people who are blind or
. how APH has changed the lives of people with vision loss since it
was founded in 1858.
Grades 9 through 12 (Maximum 750 words)
Official Topic:
Think about the career or vocation you would like to pursue as an
adult. Write an essay about how your strengths and interests will help you
in this work. What person (or people) have empowered you to succeed? What
APH product(s) has best prepared you for work in this area, and what
product(s) will you use to become successful in this career or vocation?
Adult Consumers (Maximum 1,000 words)
Official Topic:
APH has celebrated many milestones since it was founded in 1858. For
example: in 1883 a new building was constructed; in 1932 Standard English
Braille became the only tactile reading and writing system produced by APH;
in 1974 cassette tapes were introduced in the Talking Book program; and in
2003 Book Port was offered for sale. Write an essay about significant
milestones in your life. What factors helped you to accomplish remarkable
things and to overcome challenges? What APH product(s) have empowered you
along the way?
Professionals (Maximum 1,000 words)
Official Topic:
Write an essay about the most creative, unique way you have used an
APH product (or products). What is the product and what did it help you (or
a student or adult you worked with) accomplish?
Cash prizes will be awarded to first, second, and third places in
each category. The deadline for all entries is June 1, 2018. For additional
information about rules, eligibility, and evaluation criteria, as well as
official entry forms, please visit the contest website at
www.aph.org/contest/160th-anniversary-essay. Questions? Contact Nancy
Lacewell at nlacewell at aph.org or (502) 899-2339, or Lauren Hicks at
lhicks at aph.org or (502) 895-2405.
For the purposes of this contest, visual impairment is defined as
corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye, or a visual
field limited to twenty degrees or less. This includes those who function
at the federal definition of blindness (FDB), described above, due to brain
injury or dysfunction.
Braille Calendars Available:
I am selling handmade Braille calendars. They are Brailled on larger
Braille pages, and there is space on each page to make your own notes and
mark events, just like sighted people do on print calendars. These are also
good practice for children and adults learning to read and write Braille or
use a calendar and allow teachers and parents to create activities using
tactile markings.
I'm creating these calendars using a Brailler, so there is no set
price. I will discuss with each individual to determine price based on what
they can afford. I will also Braille recipes, words of songs, poems,
stories, and other things that are not under copyright, except computer and
music Braille. Whatever money I get will be used to help me attend the NFB
convention and help others as well. If you are interested, please email me
at adrijana.prokopenko at gmail.com.
State Resource Handbooks Available for Purchase:
I have created thirty-four screen-reader-friendly resource handbooks
containing resources pertaining to the blind and visually impaired for use
by consumers and professionals. This handbook is for the residents of
specific states and includes the many organizations for the blind and
visually impaired covering areas such as employment, housing,
transportation, and more. Currently the handbooks are for Alabama, Alaska,
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida,
Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New
York, Texas, Oregon, Ohio, Nevada, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, North
Dakota, North Carolina, Utah, and Wisconsin.
These state resource handbooks are not available in the following
formats: Braille hard copy, audio, CD, and National Library Service
cartridge.
The handbooks include contact information on the local, regional, and
national level. For more information on pricing, formats, and order form
please contact Insightful Publications by email at insightfulpub at gmail.com,
by phone at (808) 747-1006, or by visiting http://www.in-
sightful.com/orderpage.html.
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.
Braille Watch Wanted:
I am looking for a Braille watch that has a spring and must be wound.
If someone has one for sale, please call Eftyhios Scordas at (331) 245-
8037.
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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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