<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN"
"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <html
xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> <head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /> <meta
http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> <meta name="generator"
content="pandoc" /> <title>The Braille monitor, June 2021 – The Braille
monitor, June 2021</title> <style type="text/css">
code{white-space: pre-wrap;} span.smallcaps{font-variant: small-caps;}
span.underline{text-decoration: underline;} div.column{display: inline-block;
vertical-align: top; width: 50%;} div.hanging-indent{margin-left: 1.5em;
text-indent: -1.5em;} ul.task-list{list-style: none;} </style> </head> <body>
<div id="header"> <h1 class="title">The Braille monitor, June 2021</h1> </div>
<div id="TOC"> <ul> <li><a href="#braille-monitor">BRAILLE MONITOR</a> <ul> <li><a
href="#contents">Contents</a></li> <li><a
href="#preparation-and-practice-to-break-records">Preparation and Practice to
Break Records</a></li> <li><a
href="#the-2021-convention-of-the-national-federation-of-the-blind-on-track-to-be-bigger-and-better-than-ever">The
2021 Convention of the National Federation of the Blind on Track to be Bigger and
Better than Ever</a></li> <li><a
href="#national-federation-of-the-blind-proposed-2021-convention-principles-of-engagement">National
Federation of the Blind Proposed 2021 Convention Principles of Engagement</a> <ul>
<li><a href="#voting">Voting</a></li> <li><a href="#motions-and-nominations-from-the-floor">Motions
and Nominations from the Floor</a></li> <li><a href="#resolutions">Resolutions</a></li>
</ul></li> <li><a href="#unlocking-secrets-a-message-from-the-host-affiliate">Unlocking
Secrets: A Message from the Host Affiliate</a> <ul> <li><a href="#section"></a></li>
<li><a href="#convention-host-activities-something-for-everyone">Convention Host
Activities: Something for Everyone</a></li> <li><a href="#are-you-ready-to-crack-the-code">Are
you ready to crack the code?</a></li> <li><a href="#two-challenges">Two
Challenges</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="#every-opinion-counts">Every Opinion
Counts</a></li> <li><a
href="#the-need-for-consent-when-participating-in-orientation-and-mobility-and-other-structured-discovery-adventures">The
Need for Consent When Participating in Orientation and Mobility and Other Structured
Discovery Adventures</a></li> <li><a href="#microaggression-and-syntax-overload">Microaggression
and Syntax Overload</a></li> <li><a href="#surviving-domestic-violence-i-found-my-way-out">Surviving
Domestic Violence: I Found My Way Out</a> <ul> <li><a href="#rainn">RAINN</a></li>
</ul></li> <li><a href="#overlay-technology-does-not-kill-accessibility">Overlay
Technology Does Not Kill Accessibility</a></li> <li><a
href="#the-father-who-showed-no-ignorance">The Father Who Showed No Ignorance</a></li>
<li><a href="#you-can-make-a-difference">You Can Make a Difference </a> <ul> <li><a
href="#plan-to-leave-a-legacy">Plan to Leave a Legacy</a></li> <li><a
href="#fixed-sum-of-assets">Fixed Sum of Assets</a></li> <li><a
href="#percentage-of-assets">Percentage of Assets</a></li> <li><a
href="#payable-on-death-pod-account">Payable on Death (POD) Account</a></li> <li><a
href="#will-or-trust">Will or Trust</a></li> <li><a href="#ways-to-contribute-now">Ways
to Contribute Now </a></li> <li><a href="#vehicle-donation-program">Vehicle Donation
Program</a></li> <li><a href="#general-donation">General Donation</a></li> <li><a
href="#pre-authorized-contribution">Pre-Authorized Contribution</a></li> </ul></li>
<li><a href="#inspiration-aspiration-advocacy-and-travel">Inspiration, Aspiration,
Advocacy, and Travel</a></li> <li><a href="#independence-market-corner">Independence
Market Corner</a> <ul> <li><a href="#sale-and-close-out-items-supplies-are-limited">SALE
AND CLOSE-OUT ITEMS <em>(Supplies are limited)</em></a></li> </ul></li> <li><a
href="#a-bias-view-on-anti-bias-training-programs">A Bias View on Anti-Bias Training
Programs</a></li> <li><a href="#fateful-intersectionality">Fateful Intersectionality</a></li>
<li><a href="#my-journey-to-justice">My Journey to Justice</a></li> <li><a
href="#smart-cities-summit">Smart Cities Summit</a> <ul> <li><a
href="#ensuring-access-through-technology-procurement">Ensuring Access through
Technology Procurement</a></li> <li><a
href="#improving-public-transit-through-collaboration">Improving Public Transit
through Collaboration </a></li> <li><a
href="#nonvisual-access-to-digital-public-services-ensuring-accessible-public-information-through-training-and-policy">Nonvisual
Access to Digital Public Services: Ensuring Accessible Public Information through
Training and Policy </a></li> <li><a
href="#accessible-elections-lessons-learned-for-successful-execution">Accessible
Elections, Lessons Learned for Successful Execution</a></li> <li><a
href="#accessible-pedestrian-spaces">Accessible Pedestrian Spaces </a></li> <li><a
href="#scanning-mapping-covid-19-automated-contact-tracing-and-navigating-indoor-spaces.">Scanning,
Mapping, COVID-19 Automated Contact Tracing and Navigating Indoor Spaces. </a></li>
<li><a href="#enhancing-mobility-through-autonomous-vehicles">Enhancing Mobility
through Autonomous Vehicles</a></li> <li><a
href="#researching-accessible-autonomous-vehicles">Researching Accessible Autonomous
Vehicles</a></li> <li><a
href="#partnering-with-stakeholders-in-the-designdevelopment-of-technology-and-policy">Partnering
with Stakeholders in the Design/Development of Technology and Policy</a></li>
<li><a href="#moving-forward">Moving Forward</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a
href="#my-experience-as-a-leader-and-a-tip-for-others">My Experience as a Leader
and a Tip for Others</a></li> <li><a
href="#giving-20-goes-a-long-wayit-can-take-you-to-new-orleans"><strong>Giving
$20 Goes a Long Way–It Can Take You to New Orleans</strong></a></li> <li><a
href="#when-you-raise-them-right">When You Raise Them Right</a> <ul> <li><a
href="#his-sons">His Sons</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="#recipes">Recipes</a></li>
<li><a href="#monitor-miniatures"><em>Monitor</em> Miniatures </a></li> <li><a
href="#nfb-pledge">NFB Pledge</a></li> </ul></li> </ul> </div> <h1
id="braille-monitor">BRAILLE MONITOR</h1> <p>Vol. 64, No. 6 June 2021</p> <p><em>Gary
Wunder, Editor</em></p> <p>Distributed by email, in inkprint, in Braille, and on
USB flash drive, by the</p> <p>NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND</p> <p>Mark
Riccobono, President</p> <p>telephone: 410-659-9314</p> <p>email address:
nfb@nfb.org</p> <p>website address: <a href="http://www.nfb.org">http://www.nfb.org</a></p>
<p>NFBnet.org: <a href="http://www.nfbnet.org">http://www.nfbnet.org</a></p>
<p>NFB-NEWSLINE® information: 866-504-7300</p> <p>Like us on Facebook: <a
href="http://Facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind">Facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind</a></p>
<p>Follow us on Twitter: @NFB_Voice</p> <p>Watch and share our videos: <a
href="http://YouTube.com/NationsBlind">YouTube.com/NationsBlind</a></p> <p>Letters
to the President, address changes, subscription requests, and orders for NFB
literature should be sent to the national office. Articles for the <em>Monitor</em>
and letters to the editor may also be sent to the national office or may be emailed
to <a href="mailto:gwunder@nfb.org">gwunder@nfb.org</a>.</p> <p><em>Monitor</em>
subscriptions cost the Federation about forty dollars per year. Members are invited,
and nonmembers are requested, to cover the subscription cost. Donations should be
made payable to <strong>National Federation of the Blind</strong> and sent to:</p>
<p>National Federation of the Blind</p> <p>200 East Wells Street <em>at Jernigan
Place</em><br /> Baltimore, Maryland 21230-4998</p> <p><strong>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.</strong></p> <p><em>ISSN 0006-8829</em></p> <p>© 2021
by the National Federation of the Blind</p> <p>Each issue is recorded on a thumb
drive (also called a memory stick or USB flash drive). You can read this audio
edition using a computer or a National Library Service digital player. The NLS
machine has two slots—the familiar book-cartridge slot just above the
retractable carrying handle and a second slot located on the right side near the
headphone jack. This smaller slot is used to play thumb drives. Remove the protective
rubber pad covering this slot and insert the thumb drive. It will insert only in
one position. If you encounter resistance, flip the drive over and try again.
(Note: If the cartridge slot is not empty when you insert the thumb drive, the
digital player will ignore the thumb drive.) Once the thumb drive is inserted,
the player buttons will function as usual for reading digital materials. If you
remove the thumb drive to use the player for cartridges, when you insert it again,
reading should resume at the point you stopped.</p> <p>You can transfer the
recording of each issue from the thumb drive to your computer or preserve it on
the thumb drive. However, because thumb drives can be used hundreds of times, we
would appreciate their return in order to stretch our funding. Please use the
return envelope enclosed with the drive when you return the device.</p> <p>Vol.
64, No. 6 June 2021</p> <h2 id="contents">Contents</h2> <p>Illustration: Preparation
and Practice to Break
Records……………………………………………</p>
<p>The 2021 Convention of the National Federation of the Blind on Track to be
Bigger and Better than Ever</p> <p>by John Berggren</p> <p>National Federation of
the Blind Proposed 2021 Convention Principles of Engagement</p> <p>Unlocking
Secrets: A Message from the Host Affiliate</p> <p>by Sharon Maneki, Al Maneki,
Dezman Jackson, and Scott White</p> <p>Every Opinion Counts</p> <p>by Gary Wunder</p>
<p>The Need for Consent When Participating in Orientation and Mobility and Other
Structured Discovery Adventures</p> <p>by Laura Millar</p> <p>Microaggression and
Syntax Overload</p> <p>by Mary Ellen Gabias</p> <p>Surviving Domestic Violence:
I Found My Way Out</p> <p>by Cheryl Fields</p> <p>Overlay Technology Does Not Kill
Accessibility</p> <p>by Michael Hingson and Curtis Chong</p> <p>The Father Who
Showed No Ignorance</p> <p>by Shawn Calloway</p> <p>Inspiration, Aspiration,
Advocacy, and Travel</p> <p>by Juliette Walker</p> <p>Independence Market Corner</p>
<p>by Terry Boone</p> <p>A Bias View on Anti-Bias Training Programs</p> <p>by
Maurice Peret</p> <p>Super Mama: Cheering for My Blind Daughter</p> <p>by LaShawna
Fant</p> <p>Fateful Intersectionality</p> <p>by Bill Borner</p> <p>My Journey to
Justice</p> <p>by Lisa Irving</p> <p>Smart Cities Summit</p> <p>by Karl Belanger</p>
<p>My Experience as a Leader and a Tip for Others</p> <p>by Ruby Polk</p> <p>Giving
$20 Goes a Long Way—It Can Take You to New Orleans</p> <p>When You Raise
Them Right</p> <p>by Peggy Chong</p> <p>Recipes</p> <p><em>Monitor</em> Miniatures</p>
<p><strong>[PHOTO CAPTION: Dan Parker and Danielle McCann, both with white canes,
smile next to a red corvette that has the NFB logo on the door.]</strong></p>
<p><strong>[PHOTO CAPTION: Dan Parker sits in the driver’s side of a corvette
ready to make a race pass.]</strong></p> <p><strong>[PHOTO CAPTION: Dan stands
with white cane next to his red C6 corvette.]</strong></p> <h2
id="preparation-and-practice-to-break-records">Preparation and Practice to Break
Records</h2> <p>In January 2021 we celebrated our tenth anniversary of the Blind
Driver Challenge and announced accelerating accessibility by continuing the
challenge with an exciting public demonstration of the value of collaboration with
the blind in the development of innovative driving technology. We are collaborating
with Dan Parker to build and operate a car to attempt to break the <em>Guinness
Book</em> World Record for the “Fastest Speed for a Car Driven Blindfolded”
in the fall of 2021. During the weekend of April 30 through May 2, Dan Parker
completed some practice passes driving his C6 Corvette to prepare to break the
record. As part of the practice, he was a participant in the East Coast Timing
Association Arkansas Mile event with approximately 150 others who would also be
making race passes with their cars. The vehicles ranged from corvettes to motorcycles
to even a tractor trailer. As impressive as all of this was, what we found most
impressive was that Dan was in charge of everything related to his car and
participation.</p> <p><strong>[PHOTO CAPTION: John Berggren]</strong></p> <h2
id="the-2021-convention-of-the-national-federation-of-the-blind-on-track-to-be-bigger-and-better-than-ever">The
2021 Convention of the National Federation of the Blind on Track to be Bigger and
Better than Ever</h2> <blockquote> <p><strong>by John Berggren</strong></p>
</blockquote> <p><strong>From the Editor: John Berggren is the chairperson of
Convention Organization and Activities, and it is in this capacity that he provides
this article. He fills so many important roles that listing them would exceed the
length of his article. Let it suffice to say that he is as kind, generous, and
competent as all of his titles imply. Here’s what he has to say:</strong></p>
<p>Here we are in the June edition of the <em>Braille Monitor</em> and heading
into the homestretch for national convention registration. Monday, May 31, is the
last day you can register and still receive many of the benefits of registration.
First and foremost, registration is free to all. Those completing the form will
ensure they receive the latest convention information as it is made available.
Registering by the deadline also allows current members to enroll for voting during
the convention. And, of course, there are the door prizes. What would general
sessions be without door prizes? As they say, you have got to be in it to win it.
Head to <a href="http://www.nfb.org/registration">www.nfb.org/registration</a>
and register today. Those without internet access should reach out to their local
chapter or affiliate for assistance.</p> <p>While there is no registration fee to
attend the National Federation of the Blind 2021 National Convention, please
consider a donation if you are able to do so. Operating the national convention
virtually still costs money. There is a donation option available during the
registration process. Your support is greatly appreciated.</p> <p>Throughout the
pandemic, the Federation has depended heavily on the video conferencing platform
Zoom to keep our members connected. As with our virtual convention last year, we
will again use Zoom to host our roughly two hundred sessions throughout convention
week. This means that whether you are using your desktop computer, a mobile device,
or a landline telephone, you will be able to participate in the 2021 National
Convention from the comfort of your own home. We will again have a webpage dedicated
to Zoom usage that will include dial-in numbers, shortcuts for various platforms,
and other helpful guidance. Look for a link on our convention information page at
<a href="http://www.nfb.org/convention">www.nfb.org/convention</a>.</p> <p>While
Zoom will be our primary platform for broadcast and participation, you will also
be able to listen to the board meeting, general sessions, and the banquet using
several different alternatives. The options include Shoutcast, YouTube,
NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup>, and Amazon Alexa. These same events—and
possibly others—will be interpreted in Spanish, available on a dedicated
Zoom channel.</p> <p>One of the greatest components of our national convention is
the opportunity for each of us to voice our opinions through the power of our
vote. Eligible members will again be able to cast votes in national elections and
for resolutions using either a phone or an SMS text message. To be eligible for
this Federation right, you must do two things: register for convention no later
than May 31 and be current on your NFB dues by May 31. When you register for
convention, you will be asked for the phone number from which you intend to vote.
This is important, as only votes cast from qualified phone numbers will be tabulated.
Keep in mind that if participating in convention using the phone, you will ideally
specify a different number for voting. There will be multiple opportunities to
test the vote-casting process in advance of convention. Stay tuned for details.</p>
<p>For those attendees for whom a mobile device is simply another bodily appendage,
there is good news on the mobile app front. Our convention agenda and exhibit hall
will be available via the CrowdCompass platform, as it was last year. Available
as a mobile app for both iOS and Android devices as well as desktop browsers,
CrowdCompass provides convenient access to the agenda, allows users to join sessions
with the click of a button, customize a personal agenda, explore the online exhibit
hall, and chat with other CrowdCompass convention goers. Further details about
the mobile app will be posted to the NFB website when it is available for download
this June.</p> <p>If this is your first convention and you would like to get a
sense of what to expect, I would strongly encourage you to mark your calendar for
the Rookie Roundup meeting scheduled for Tuesday, July 6, at 8:30 p.m. Eastern.
As for what will be happening throughout convention week, visit <a
href="http://www.nfb.org/convention">www.nfb.org/convention</a> in early June for
the convention agenda. You will find several agenda formats, one of which will be
sure to fit your needs.</p> <p>As we have noted many times, there truly is no
substitute for getting together in person, greeting one another with a hug or a
handshake, and grabbing lunch in the hotel restaurant with an old friend. But that
said, there will be no shortage of excitement this summer when we convene for our
virtual convention. The content will be as relevant, the connections as meaningful,
and the experiences as memorable as you would expect from the largest gathering
of the organized blind. I look forward to meeting you virtually and sharing another
spectacular event this July.</p> <p>----------</p> <h2
id="national-federation-of-the-blind-proposed-2021-convention-principles-of-engagement">National
Federation of the Blind Proposed 2021 Convention Principles of Engagement</h2>
<p>These principles of engagement were adopted by the National Federation of the
Blind Board of Directors on May 13, 2021, for recommendation to the National
Convention. Nothing in these rules of engagement is intended to change Article V,
Section A of the Federation’s constitution. The Convention remains “the
supreme authority of the Federation. It is the legislature of the Federation. As
such, it has final authority with respect to all issues of policy. Delegates and
members in attendance may participate in all convention discussions as a matter
of right. Any member of the Federation may make or second motions [and] propose
nominations.” These procedures simply implement the method for following
the constitution in an electronic convention.</p> <p>The principles and procedures
below are intended to provide clarity and advance notice on how the convention
will be managed in 2021. They are consistent with practices used in previous
virtual conventions. This document will be read at the NFB board meeting on July
7 and then a second time on July 8 after the roll call of states. The intention
is for it to be voted on the evening of July 8. Those eligible to vote on this
proposal will be any enrolled voter present and voting at the session on July 8
as described below.</p> <p>A subcommittee of the board of directors comprising
those who are not standing for election this year shall deal with questions and
issues of credentials for voting. The subcommittee will include Ron Brown (Indiana),
Amy Buresh (Nebraska), Shawn Callaway (District of Columbia), James Gashel (Hawaii),
Carla McQuillan (Oregon), and Amy Ruell (Massachusetts). James Gashel shall chair
the subcommittee.</p> <h3 id="voting">Voting</h3> <ol style="list-style-type:
decimal"> <li><p>To be eligible to vote at the 2021 Convention, individuals must
no later than May 31, 2021:</p> <ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha"> <li><p>Be
active members in good standing of the National Federation of the Blind either
through a state affiliate, a national division, or as an at-large member at the
national level having paid dues for 2021 or being a valid lifetime member.</p></li>
<li><p>Complete the convention registration form including providing a phone number
to be used for voting purposes.</p></li> </ol></li> <li><p>The subcommittee will
validate the list of eligible voters based upon the above criteria by June 15,
2021. The vetting process will include verification that the individual was a
member in good standing prior to June 1, 2021, according to the national membership
database. Any individuals who register to vote through the convention registration
but are not listed as active members will be contacted via email and offered an
opportunity to provide proof of membership. In addition, the Federation affiliate
in their state will be contacted. If no email is given at the time of registration,
the phone number provided for voting purposes will be used to communicate. The
final list of eligible voters for the 2021 convention will be considered final on
June 15, 2021. No exceptions will be made for members who fail to register for
the convention by May 31, 2021.</p></li> <li><p>All individuals who are members
in good standing in 2021, registered for the convention, and provided a valid
phone number for voting purposes will constitute the pool of convention voters.</p></li>
<li><p>All voting will be done via phone.</p></li> <li><p>Any matter must receive
51 percent support of the votes cast by the convention voters present and voting
in order to be affirmed.</p></li> <li><p>Present and voting will mean the subset
of convention voters who actually cast a vote on a given question. Thus, voters
who are indifferent to a matter cannot block its consideration by the convention
by choosing not to cast a vote.</p></li> <li><p>All votes will be allocated two
minutes for vote time. </p></li> <li><p>After two minutes, if the outcome to the
question under consideration is unclear, the chair will poll the delegates by
voice vote for a definitive outcome. </p></li> <li><p>If voting indicates 75
percent support for or against a question prior to the two-minute period elapsing,
the chair may elect to move to the next order of business.</p></li> <li><p>An
opportunity to practice voting will be offered in the convention on a question
that has no impact on the policy of the organization.</p></li> </ol> <h3
id="motions-and-nominations-from-the-floor">Motions and Nominations from the
Floor</h3> <ol style="list-style-type: decimal"> <li><p>Only delegates will be
able to make motions, second motions, and nominate candidates from the floor during
the convention.</p></li> <li><p>Should a member of a delegation wish to make a
motion or nominate a member for election by the convention, their delegate must
bring it forward on their behalf.</p></li> <li><p>A member may petition another
delegate to support their motion especially if the delegate from their own state
will not support the motion.</p></li> </ol> <h3 id="resolutions">Resolutions</h3>
<ol style="list-style-type: decimal"> <li><p>Resolutions to be presented to the
convention must proceed through the resolutions committee process as usual.</p></li>
<li><p>Resolutions being recommended to the convention by the committee will be
posted to the web at http://www.nfb.org/resolutions by 8:00 p.m. eastern or three
hours after the committee meeting (whichever is later) on July 7, 2021.</p></li>
<li><p>Affiliate delegations will be encouraged to discuss resolutions during
their state caucus on July 9.</p></li> <li><p>Those wishing to speak for or against
a resolution on the floor of the convention must submit their interest in doing
so by sending an email to <a href="mailto:resolutions@nfb.org">resolutions@nfb.org</a>
by 5:30 p.m. eastern on July 9. The email must contain the individual’s
full name, state affiliate, number of the resolution they wish to discuss, whether
they are for or against the resolution, and a phone number where they can best be
reached in case there is an issue with the Zoom platform.</p></li> <li><p>Reminders
will be given at each of the general sessions prior to the deadline regarding the
above process.</p></li> <li><p>In determining the amount of debate a resolution
requires, the chair may use the Zoom polling option to get a sense of the crowd,
ask the delegates for their feeling on cutting off debate, or engage some other
strategy outside of the voting system to gauge the sense of the convention.</p></li>
</ol> <p>----------</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Sharon Maneki]</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION:
Al Maneki]</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Dezman Jackson]</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Scott
White]</p> <h2 id="unlocking-secrets-a-message-from-the-host-affiliate">Unlocking
Secrets: A Message from the Host Affiliate</h2> <p><strong>by Sharon Maneki, Al
Maneki, Dezman Jackson, and Scott White</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor:
What a treat we are getting from our Maryland Affiliate as it works to devise new
and clever ways to promote our convention and to build activities that will work
virtually. Here is its latest offering, and I think you will agree it is
spectacular:</strong></p> <p>It is most appropriate to have a discussion about
“unlocking secrets” since Maryland is the home of the National
Security Agency and the National Cryptologic Museum. The National Security Agency
unlocks the secrets of enemy communications and protects United States’
communications from prying eyes. The National Cryptologic Museum illustrates the
accomplishments in these fields throughout history. Countries disguise their
communications by developing encryption/decryption codes. A successful cryptologic
program must be able to both develop strong codes and have the ingenuity to break
other countries’ codes. Encryption and decryption are used in many daily
life activities, such as protecting Zoom communications, protecting online ordering
transactions, banking, etc. At our convention we will unlock the truth about
blindness. Many of our tours will unlock the secrets of ingenuity. At the end of
this article, we have a message for you to encode and decode!</p> <h3 id="section"></h3>
<h3 id="convention-host-activities-something-for-everyone">Convention Host
Activities: Something for Everyone</h3> <p>The activities for the 2021 National
Convention offered by the NFB of Maryland will provide participants with entertainment
and enlightenment. The fun begins with NFB LOL Comedy Night. Come to cheer the
talents of our Federation Family. Help us determine who will win a $200 prize and
a $100 prize by voting for your favorite performers. Laughter is good for your
health and good for your soul. Memories of the individual comedians, skits,
impersonations, and parodies will keep you chuckling throughout the convention.
Consult the agenda for specific date, time, and Zoom information.</p> <p>We are
offering several tours to pique your curiosity. The themes of these tours are
ingenuity and infrastructure, which are the basic features of a system or
organization. We have two tours that describe the infrastructure of important
organizations: the National Federation of the Blind headquarters and the Goddard
Space Flight Center. We also have two tours that will delight history buffs: the
Harriet Tubman Museum tour describes the infrastructure of the Underground Railroad,
which enabled enslaved people to flee to freedom. The B&O Railroad Museum tour
describes the early infrastructure of rail transportation. All of these tours
highlight American ingenuity. To whet your appetite, here is a brief description
of each tour.</p> <p>Did you ever get lost in the NFB Jernigan Institute? You will
not have this problem on our virtual tour of our National Headquarters! This tour
will be unique because the tour guides, Mary Ellen Jernigan and Dr. Marc Maurer,
were involved before there <em>was</em> a Jernigan Institute. They worked with
Dr. Jernigan and will share numerous stories about the development and growth of
what was originally called the National Center for the Blind since we purchased
the building in 1978. They will also describe how they fulfilled Dr. Jernigan’s
dream of creating the first research institute developed solely by the blind.
Those who have never been to our headquarters will be surprised by its size and
the scope of activities that take place here. Those who have visited will learn
something new because we are always creating new ways to use old spaces.</p> <p>As
in the National Federation of the Blind as a whole, we in the state of Maryland
like to reach for the stars. Let us share with you a few facts about an establishment
we are fortunate to have here in the state. This place, located just a bit northeast
of Washington, DC, was the nation’s first space flight center. It is also
the largest combined organization of scientists and engineers in the United States
dedicated to increasing knowledge of the Earth, the solar system, and the universe
via observations from space. You may also be interested in knowing that this place
is the home of John Mather, who won the Nobel Prize in physics for his work on
the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) mission. Finally, this establishment developed
and manages the largest civilian information system in the world. This agency is
of course the Goddard Space Flight Center in the town of Greenbelt, Maryland. Many
thanks to Denna Lambert, a member of NFBMD, who is a project manager in the
management operations directorate at Goddard for helping us connect with the right
people for this tour. Join us during the convention on a virtual interactive tour
of this marvel of an operation. You too can reach for the stars!</p> <p>Take a
visit to the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park & Visitor Center.
Experience Harriet Tubman’s world through exhibits that are informative
and emotive, providing an in-depth understanding of Tubman’s early years
spent in Maryland’s Choptank River region and her legacy as a leader,
liberator, and humanitarian in the resistance movement of the Underground Railroad.
Many people underestimated the intelligence of Harriet Tubman and other enslaved
people. The Underground Railroad had a complex infrastructure with a sophisticated
network of routes and conductors and a coded system of communication. After the
enactment of the 13<sup>th</sup> Amendment to the United States Constitution,
which outlawed slavery, Harriet continued to be an activist for both racial and
gender equality. You will enjoy learning about this Civil Rights activist.</p>
<p>Many of you will remember Anna Kresmer, who was the archivist at the Jacobus
tenBroek Library for many years. Anna will be assisting with audio description on
our tour of the B&O Railroad Museum. The B&O Railroad Museum, a full
affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is dedicated to the preservation and
interpretation of American railroading and its impact on American society, culture,
and economy. The B&O Railroad has been witness to many milestones in Maryland
history, from Baltimore’s development into a major shipping and
immigration hub, to major advancements in transportation and communication
technology, to the fight for freedom and equal rights during the
Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement. On this virtual tour, you will enjoy
wandering through interesting, iconic old buildings and learning about various
types of equipment on the museum’s 40-acre campus.</p> <p>Be sure to consult
the agenda for the specific dates, times, and Zoom information for each of these
tours. Consult the NFB of Maryland blog throughout the time leading up to the
convention to learn about other surprises that the host affiliate may have for
you! Go to <a href="https://nfb.org/convention">nfb.org/convention</a>.</p> <h3
id="are-you-ready-to-crack-the-code">Are you ready to crack the code?</h3> <p>In
order to break the code so that you can read the message from the NFB of Maryland,
you need a little background. Today’s codes are very complex because
cryptologists develop them using sophisticated algorithms with the assistance of
high-powered computers. However this message was encoded by using the basic systems
of transposition and substitution ciphers or codes.</p> <p>A substitution code or
cipher system is a method of encrypting messages in which units of plaintext (the
original message) are replaced (or substituted) with the ciphertext, in a defined
manner, with the help of a key; the "units" may be single letters (the most common),
pairs of letters, triplets of letters, mixtures of the above, and so forth. For
example, a very simple key may consist of the statement,</p> <p>“Replace
each letter of the plaintext message by a letter two units to the right of
it.”</p> <p>Thus:</p> <p>Replace a with c,</p> <p>Replace b with d,</p>
<p>…,</p> <p>Replace y with a,</p> <p>Replace z with b.</p> <p>Using this
key, the phrase “Apple voiceover” is encrypted as: crrngxqkegqxgt</p>
<p>Note that we are simply deleting blank spaces in our plaintext message before
encrypting it.</p> <p>To decrypt a ciphertext (recover the underlying plaintext
hidden in the ciphertext) that was constructed from this key, work backwards.
Thus, every letter of ciphertext is replaced by one that is two letters to the
left:</p> <p>Replace a with y,</p> <p>Replace b with z,</p> <p>Replace c with
x,</p> <p>…,</p> <p>Replace y with w,</p> <p>Replace z with x.</p> <p>Using
this decryption key, from the ciphertext shown above, we easily get Apple voiceover
where we have reinserted the blank space.</p> <p>In a transposition cipher, the
units of the plaintext are rearranged, or permuted, in a different and usually
quite complex order, but the units themselves are left unchanged. For example,
the “Rail Fence Cipher” can be described geometrically so that the
permutation of plaintext may be arranged to resemble a rail fence. For the purposes
of this article, we will describe this transposition cipher as an algorithm:</p>
<p>Divide the plaintext into groups of consecutive four letter quadruple sequences.</p>
<p>From these quadruples, form three “words.” The first word consists
of the first letter of each quadruple. The second word consists of the second and
third letter of each quadruple. The third word consists of the fourth letter of
each quadruple.</p> <p>Combine these three “words” into a single
sequence of scrambled letters to form the Rail Fence cipher text.</p> <p>The blank
spaces in the plaintext are simply discarded.</p> <p>We illustrate Rail Fence
encryption by transposing the plaintext “Apple voiceover.” Since
this phrase contains fourteen letters, we arbitrarily add two letters (we will
use ‘e’ and ‘s’) to get sixteen letters, a multiple
of four. We have four quadruples:</p> <p>appl</p> <p>evoi</p> <p>ceov</p> <p>eres</p>
<p>From the Rail Fence transposition cipher, we have</p> <p>aece</p> <p>ppvoeore</p>
<p>livs</p> <p>Combining these three “words” into a string of cipher
text, we have:</p> <p>aeceppvoeorelivs</p> <p>Note that the first transposed
“word” consists of four letters or 1/4 the length of the plaintext,
the second “word” consists of eight letters or 1/2 the length of
the plaintext, and the third “word” consists of 1/4 the length of
the plaintext. As in the case of the substitution cipher described above, plaintext
and ciphertext also have the same length in the Rail Fence transposition cipher.</p>
<p>To decrypt the Rail Fence transposition cipher, work backwards. Starting with
the cipher text, construct the consecutive quadruples.</p> <p>For the plaintext,
take the first letter of each quadruple, followed by the second and third letters
of each quadruple, followed by the fourth letter of each quadruple. This gives us
the original plaintext phrase “applevoiceoveres.” Inserting blank
space in the correct space and removing the excess letters ‘e’ and
‘s,’ we get the phrase “apple voiceover.”</p> <p>From
these two simple methods of encryption, we can make the cipher text more complicated
by “super-encryption.” For example, we may use a substitution cipher
to encrypt a plaintext message, then super-encrypt that cipher text with a Rail
Fence transposition cipher. The possibilities here are endless.</p> <p>Quite
frequently, we are given the cipher text without knowing the key or keys that were
used to encrypt the underlying plaintext. It is the work of the cryptanalyst to
determine how the encryption was carried out and to recover the underlying key or
keys.</p> <h3 id="two-challenges">Two Challenges</h3> <p>Here is a two-sentence
message to test your encrypting and decrypting skills. To qualify for a $100 prize,
submit your answers by 11:59 p.m. EST, July 5. Submit your answers to <a
href="mailto:convention@nfbmd.org">convention@nfbmd.org</a>. Be sure to include
your name and mailing address with your submission. In case of multiple correct
entries, the winner will be selected by random drawing.</p> <p>1. Encrypt the
sentence:</p> <p>Federation family: come home to the National Convention</p> <p>In
two ways—First, encrypt the sentence with the two-unit substitution cipher
described above to get the first ciphertext. To get the second ciphertext, encrypt
the plaintext sentence with the Rail Fence transposition cipher described above.
Be sure to identify the key used for each ciphertext. In each case, delete blank
spaces and punctuations, and change capitalized letters to lowercase letters.</p>
<p>2. Decrypt the ciphertext:</p> <p>MVUHIHZSRWDQURLRXIDZNRXQOOVKLQUPLRQGVSDWQHQRHIIRLIDQLLLV</p>
<p>Upon decryption, insert blank spaces and punctuations, and correct spelling
errors if there are any. Hint: this ciphertext was multiply encrypted.</p> <p>Enjoy
encrypting and decrypting our message. Good luck. See you on Zoom during the
convention.</p> <p>----------</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Gary Wunder]</p> <h2
id="every-opinion-counts">Every Opinion Counts</h2> <p><strong>by Gary
Wunder</strong></p> <p>I hope that some of you will find this issue of the
<em>Monitor</em> thought provoking. In a time when we find our country so divided,
I am reluctant to do anything that sparks antagonistic arguments. At the same time
I think it is very clear that our membership holds some common views about blindness
and some very diverse views about other issues and the way that they affect us
both individually and organizationally. My hope is that, when you come across a
view that you take issue with, you keep in mind that we are a wide cross-section
of individuals, and while we may encounter discrimination as blind people, blindness
does not discriminate: it can affect anyone and cares not one bit about race,
religion, sexuality, or many other issues that sometimes seem to rise to the level
of making us focus more on our differences than on our shared goals.</p> <p>Almost
all of us think of ourselves as open-minded. The real test comes when we encounter
a view that does not coincide with ours, and we have to decide whether our first
reaction will be defensive or reflective. One of the things I like about written
material is that I have a chance to read it without having to immediately respond.
As one of my best friends said, “I can just immerse myself in what is being
said, let it wash over me, and then, after giving myself the time I need, I can
decide how I’m going to respond.”</p> <p>I don’t expect any
person who reads every one of these articles to agree with what is said. All of
them contain elements that are factual and elements that represent belief that
may be based as much on emotion as rationality. If we don’t really try to
understand rationally and emotionally how our fellow human beings feel, we are
not really as tolerant as we think. I like the line, “I am tolerant of
everyone except the intolerant.” The difficulty, of course, is that I find
it difficult to see within myself the areas in which I lack tolerance, the places
where I show bias, and the resolution to do something about them. What I do believe,
however, is that we can show that resolution and that, organizationally, we are
better for listening to all points of view, even if some of them make us
uncomfortable.</p> <p>I believe that part of the purpose for sharing our hopes,
dreams, and aspirations in this magazine is that we need a place to discuss the
formulation of policy. We know how to set policy through resolutions; but here I
am trying to focus on how we frame the arguments that will go into the best policies
we can achieve. I hope you enjoy this issue; I don’t expect you to be
comfortable with every opinion expressed in every article, but I do expect that
you will credit the individuals who offer them with extending their hearts, their
minds, and their experiences for public discussion in the belief that all of us
will be the better for sharing.</p> <p>----------</p> <h2
id="the-need-for-consent-when-participating-in-orientation-and-mobility-and-other-structured-discovery-adventures">The
Need for Consent When Participating in Orientation and Mobility and Other Structured
Discovery Adventures</h2> <p><strong>by Laura Millar</strong></p> <p><strong>From
the Editor: Laura Millar is a blind outspoken disability rights and queer rights
advocate who is deeply committed to advancing the field of sexual health promotion
for people with disabilities. With master’s degrees in public health and
sexuality studies, Laura conducts research that examines how blind and visually
impaired people learn about and navigate the world of dating, sex, and intimate
relationships.</strong></p> <p><strong>Laura began her work with the goal of
empowering people who are blind or visually impaired. Her passion and expertise
have expanded to educating people with all types of disabilities to help them
comfortably navigate intimacy and physical relationships. Laura specializes in
helping people break through pockets of resistance and navigate shame related to
their disability and/or sexuality.</strong></p> <p><strong>Her work highlights
the importance of creating a culture that centers around consent and strives to
live in a world where talking about and obtaining consent is not only the norm
but expected in every situation! Laura’s current services also include
group education and one-on-one coaching. Training programs are available for
teachers, trainers, group facilitators, and for people with disabilities and their
family members. She can be reached at <a
href="mailto:laura@lauramillar.com">laura@lauramillar.com</a>. Here is what she
says:</strong></p> <p>My confidence grew the moment I stepped out under blindfold
for the first time. I was in my mid-thirties and was finally coming to an acceptance
of my blindness; I was finally getting some much-needed cane training, and I
wasn’t hating it. To be honest I wasn’t loving it either, but it
was a beautiful day, and I was happy to be outside. With each step I could feel
myself exploring the world in a new, exciting, and terrifying way. My feet teetered
off the curb on the left, and I gently felt my instructor’s hands on my
shoulder guiding me back onto the path, a gentle instruction on how to make sure
I located the curb without falling off. We then continued the lesson.</p> <p>It
is important to pause here and let you know that this settled my internal systems.
I realized how close my instructor was to me, and I naively believed that I would
be safe from that point on—that they would make sure I did not fall off
curbs or run into objects.</p> <p>As the lesson proceeded, I continued to learn
new skills as situations arose. About ten or fifteen minutes later I found myself
preparing to cross my first very busy lit intersection. My instructor and I stood
on the corner for what felt like forever deconstructing the intersection, the
sounds, and how I could discern when it was safe to cross. We practiced scenarios
verbally on the street corner until finally I was ready to cross.</p> <p>As I
stepped into the street, I could feel myself veering too far to the right, and
when I reached the middle of the intersection, I could hear cars heading toward
me. I swung my cane to the left and moved back to what I thought was on course,
but I over-corrected; instead of finding a safe path, I instead heard traffic
rushing toward me in the other direction. Nothing made sense, and I started to
feel afraid. I called out to my instructor and didn’t hear a response.</p>
<p>At this point my anxiety was fully activated, and I panicked, fearing for my
safety. Instinctively, and not something I recommend anybody ever do, I ripped
off my blindfold right there in the middle of the intersection. What little vision
I had left was overwhelmed and washed out by a flood of light, which only added
to my anxiety. To this day I am not sure how I got out of the intersection or to
the corner, but I’m sure my instructor was right there and was a big part
of getting me to safety after my poorly thought-out plan.</p> <p>Only after the
fact did I realize that I likely was never in any immediate danger, and they were
helping to direct traffic so I could figure it out on my own. I was always
“safe,” at least in theory, but in the middle of the intersection
when I was getting no response and feeling so threatened, I was terrified, leading
me to react the way I did. I had no foreknowledge that they would be directing
traffic and leaving me to what felt like my own devices, and I think it would have
been very helpful to know!</p> <p>Before the lesson that day, I’m sure my
instructor and I had a conversation about my fears going under blindfold and what
the lesson would be like. We certainly discussed many things before we left and
while we were walking the route. What we did not fully discuss was informed
consent—I was put into a situation that I not only wasn’t prepared
for, but which directly and immediately affected my mental health, my ability to
focus, and my ability to concentrate and learn. In talking with my instructor
about what happened, I was able to share that I felt like I simply did not have
enough information about how they were going to work with me and what to do if I
felt unsafe.</p> <p>I remember that, when I stepped off the curb, I made a mental
note that I was safe because my instructor’s hand reached out to guide me
back on the path before I was able to stumble or hurt myself. That was a completely
nonverbal discussion that resulted in assumptions that, when faced with the problem
later, did not match my reality. When I was struggling in the middle of the
intersection, I assumed that my instructor would be right there to guide me to
safety. After calling out to them and not hearing a response, I reacted by throwing
off my blindfold. What I would have wanted instead, and am now requesting of my
instructors, is that they spend some time not just reviewing the lesson but doing
so from an “informed consent perspective.”</p> <p>This event changed
the trajectory of my career. I had envisioned myself solely working in the blind
community as a sex educator focused on sex education and consent in relationships.
My work shifted to more advocacy-based teaching and training orientation and
mobility instructors, teachers of the visually impaired, and parents and educators
about the importance of consent and informed consent in EVERY situation. I now
take advantage of everyday situations to model consent and demonstrate the agency
(a personal feeling of control over actions and their consequences) and autonomy
that blind people have and can advocate for over their own world and life.</p>
<p>When most people hear of informed consent, they think of a research study or
maybe a visit to a medical doctor, and they would not be wrong. Those are places
where there are ethics review boards and other controls to help assure the humane
and ethical treatment of people. When provided with informed consent, the participant
can ask clarifying questions, request accommodations or modifications, and ultimately
make an educated and conscientious decision about whether or not they want to
participate.</p> <p>In an ideal world, informed consent about going under a
blindfold would include a pre-discussed plan that outlines the activity, including
associated benefits and risks. Preparing this plan should address any concerns,
fears, or limitations the participant might have with the proposed activity. This
plan would include where they were going, the length of activity, the location
and responsibility of the instructor, and the personal safety of the participant,
including the risks they will be taking. It would also outline how the instructor
might interact physically with the participant: where their body was, what
expectations both have about touch, and communication about when a participant
will be outside the instructor’s reach. It is extremely important that the
plan outline what the participant should do when they don’t feel safe,
including how to end the activity.</p> <p>It’s also important to note that
even having a plan and a conversation ahead of the activity may not have stopped
my anxiety attack in the middle of the road. However, I firmly believe it would
have changed the way I reacted to that anxiety as the expectations, risks, and
protections would have been clearer. The idea that folks need to be uncomfortable
to learn is not only outdated, it is downright dangerous. Informed consent would
not have stopped my discomfort, but it would have alleviated a great deal of it.
It would have given me the information that I needed to show up fully empowered
and to make better choices about the situation.</p> <p>My main goal is to emphasize
how important it is that parents, orientation and mobility instructors, teachers
of the visually impaired, and ultimately everyone understand informed consent and
that the methods we use to teach and model consent to blind folks will directly
affect the kind of blind person they will become. A blind person who is treated
with agency and respect, who is given the information that they need to make an
informed decision, is one who can take that agency, autonomy, and respect confidently
with them into their workplaces, relationships, and lives. That kind of empowerment
helps us face the challenges life throws at us and makes the world easier to
navigate.</p> <p>Here is my contact information: Laura Millar MPH, M.A., MCHES
(She/Her)</p> <p>Sexuality educator, consultant, coach, and community organizer </p>
<p>Contact <a href="mailto:laura@lauramillar.com">laura@lauramillar.com</a></p>
<p>----------</p> <p><strong>[PHOTO CAPTION: Mary Ellen Gabias]</strong></p> <h2
id="microaggression-and-syntax-overload">Microaggression and Syntax Overload</h2>
<p><strong>by Mary Ellen Gabias</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor: It
wouldn’t be accurate to say that Mary Ellen Gabias is a frequent contributor
in these pages, but every time she does make a contribution, she brings tremendous
perspective, thought, and insight to the topic she addresses. Her note is written
in response to an article we carried recently about microaggression. I am grateful
for it because it both furthers the dialogue on an important topic and shows that
this publication is a forum for discussion so that we may evolve in our own
understanding and policy positions. Here is what she says:</strong></p> <p>Eighty-one
years and five generations has allowed the NFB enough time to create valuable
tradition. We have handed down statements, beliefs, legends, customs, and information
from generation to generation.</p> <p>We have largely avoided nostalgia, a wistful
desire and sentimental yearning to return to the remembered happiness of a former
time. Partly this is because the times we remember weren't all that great. Partly
we have avoided nostalgia because we understand that it mimics tradition but is
its enemy, because nostalgia is mostly empty illusion.</p> <p>Those of us who have
been part of this movement for more than a generation are most responsible for
distinguishing between our rich and valuable tradition and dangerous nostalgia.
Just because we’ve always done things a certain way or talked about them
with certain words doesn’t mean those habits are immutable. Just because
language is trendy doesn’t mean we should automatically embrace it.</p>
<p>No one doubts the clarity of thought or the profound philosophical insights of
Jacobus tenBroek or Kenneth Jernigan, but even those of us with the deepest
attachment to their words recognize changes in linguistic usage that could make
their speeches—written decades ago—grate on today’s audiences.
It would be odd indeed if the language had remained static. We are wise to modernize
the way we speak to ensure that our language avoids being alienating, but the
words we substitute must also remain true enough to the original meaning to avoid
inadvertently losing the nuanced understanding that has made our philosophy so
powerful.</p> <p>We have set ourselves a delicate task under normal circumstances.
The current political and cultural climate complicates the job immensely.</p>
<p>Syntax overload is the phenomenon of words and phrases that convey a multitude
of meanings, sometimes different meanings to different audiences. The phrase "Black
Lives Matter" is an absolutely undeniable statement of truth as a moral principle.
It incorporates the sad truth that the lives of human beings with black or brown
skins have far too often not been treated with proper respect by authorities and
by our culture. But the phrase also refers to a controversial political organization
that is not universally held in high regard. It is perfectly possible to staunchly
uphold the dignity of Black people while simultaneously disapproving of some of
the policies of the organization bearing the "Black Lives Matter" name. Syntax
overload.</p> <p>For decades the NFB logo was a triangle with the letters NFB in
its center and the words Security, Equality, Opportunity circling it. The logo
was deeply meaningful to our members, particularly those old enough to remember
the battle to remove some of the more draconian restrictions from the Aid to the
Blind welfare system that had kept too many of us extremely insecure. But as logos
go, it was visually boring and static. We wanted a logo that conveyed more vibrant
activity. Whozit was born. Then Whozit was changed to incorporate symbolism
stressing collective action.</p> <p>We used a variety of symbols and phrases to
describe ourselves, but none was elevated to a tag line. The aspirational message,
said in many different ways, could be articulated as "strive to be your best and
work with others so we can achieve our dreams." True, but a bit lengthy. So now
we say, "Live the life you want." The message incorporates freedom of choice and
possibilities. It's pithy, easy to remember and repeat. Syntax overload could
cause us difficulty if the person reading “Live the life you want”
understood “want” as selfishness. Wanting doesn’t mean acting
out of selfishness, but generational syntax overload sometimes complicates
understanding.</p> <p>In February the <em>Monitor</em> published an article called
“An Introduction to the Concept of Microaggressions.” I was intrigued,
partly because it was written by my daughter, but primarily because it was a
sincere effort to describe all too common experiences of blind people in current
terms.</p> <p>Federation literature has always incorporated stories of blind people
facing public misunderstanding, sometimes extreme cases of ignorance. “Of
Visions and Vultures” and “That’s How it Is at the Top of
the Stairs” both include lengthy poignant stories of harm caused by public
misconceptions.</p> <p>NFB training centers have always taught that understanding
public attitudes and learning to deal with them without becoming emotionally upset
or damaged is one of the core tasks of learning to live successfully as a blind
person. Does the word “microaggressions” accurately encapsulate all
the nuances conveyed in our traditional teaching about how best to understand and
deal with public misconceptions? If not, what’s missing? If the word
accurately conveys the concept, does using it increase understanding of the problem
or alienate potential supporters because of syntax overload?</p> <p>The concept
of microaggression certainly includes a sense of inaccurate, unfair, and unwelcome
interactions. If such interactions are thrust upon us, are we victims? Does our
approach to such encounters have any influence on the degree of our victimhood?
Ultimately, where does the power lie?</p> <p>Who among us has not engaged in lively
conversations on this topic? “You wouldn’t believe what happened to
me when I was running errands yesterday!” Often we laugh; sometimes we
share anger and frustration. “If only I’d thought of that snappy
comeback at the time instead of half an hour later.”</p> <p>Sometimes our
response is both graceful and gracious. Sometimes our response is less than we
would wish it had been. Whatever happens, and however we respond, we can talk
about it with one another, decide what it means, how we feel, and what we can
learn for the next time. We know there will always be a next time, perhaps under
different circumstances, but a next time nevertheless.</p> <p>What does it mean
to avoid becoming upset or damaged by misconceptions about blindness? If the
ignorant individual is someone walking past on the street, probably the damage is
minimal and fleeting. If the ignorant person is a potential employer or a potential
love interest, the damage is deeper. The first can be brushed aside; the second
requires introspection at the least and possibly confrontational advocacy. The
first may be a paper cut; the second a knife slash.</p> <p>The concept of
microaggression does not include remedies, other than confronting and attempting
to eliminate microaggressions. The ultimate solution lies in changing the behavior
of the micro aggressor.</p> <p>Traditional Federation discussion of this problem
overtly shifts power to the blind person. We begin with the clear understanding
that we are knowledgeable; the person making the unwelcome comment knows less than
we do. Our role changes in a subtle but very powerful way. It is now our choice
whether to go on our way and politely ignore the comment or to impart what we know
through education. Either way, we’re in charge. We can decide to insist
that the overly helpful and invasive airport employee leave us in peace, or we
can calculate that the confrontation isn’t worth it. But, even if we choose
to go along to get along, we have chosen, and we have done so consciously,
understanding that we’re still the most knowledgeable person involved in
the interaction.</p> <p>Is misunderstanding an offense? If so, every one of us
takes a turn at being offensive to others, because we all have areas of incomplete
or inaccurate understanding. One question we must all ask ourselves is whether we
want our areas of ignorance laid bare for exploration. If so, how do we want it
done? Do we admit what we don’t know in a straightforward manner and request
the education we know we need? If we lack the confidence to admit the holes in
our understanding, is our best bet to try to bluff our way through, acting as if
we know more than we do? Or do we try to avoid any situation where these issues
may arise? Difficult questions that tend to increase empathy for those whose
attitudes about blindness fall short. If those we meet become so afraid of being
offensive or committing microaggressions, might they avoid saying anything they
fear might be offensive, thereby remaining ignorant? Worse still, might they avoid
us altogether?</p> <p>How does our approach to microaggressions (or we might call
them incorrect public attitudes) affect us? Humans tend to find more of whatever
they focus attention on. If we expect ignorance and microaggressions, they will
be everywhere. I was returning home from a Federation event in which the topic of
blind airline passengers being forced to ride in wheelchairs they neither requested
nor needed was discussed at length. Sitting on the airplane, I heard the flight
attendant asking if the wheelchair had been ordered to be at the aircraft door at
our destination. I was fuming! I rang my call bell and explained that I did not
need a wheelchair. “The woman two rows ahead of you who cannot walk needs
one,” the flight attendant said calmly. I had just defended myself against
a microaggression that didn’t exist. At other times, when I wasn’t
even thinking about it, I’ve been approached with an unwelcome wheelchair
at an airport. It was easy to shake off the unwanted chair with an “Oh,
you must have me confused with somebody else” because I was relaxed and
not at all defensive. Due to our history, dealing with airlines is challenging.
Airports are hard places for me to maintain equanimity. In current language, they
trigger me. My task of remaining assertively friendly and clear about my needs
and lack of needs becomes much more difficult because I walk in the door determined
to fend off problems. Trips are much more exhausting due to my negative expectations.
Living my entire life burdened in that way is not a joyous prospect. Living my
life believing that I am a powerful educator capable of dealing graciously and
mostly effectively with members of the public who don’t understand my
blindness is empowering.</p> <p>The concept of microaggression, at least the way
I understand it, fails the test of accurately conveying the full nuance and power
of the old concept of “dealing with public misconceptions.” The term
tends to increase our feeling of victimhood and to keep the power in the hands of
the micro aggressor, since our hope of redress lies primarily in changing them,
something over which we have little control.</p> <p>Syntax overload also comes
into play. My very conservative brother saw the title of the article and immediately
commented that he didn’t want to read an article designed to make him feel
guilty and ashamed. He and I have discussed misunderstanding and ignorance about
blindness many times, and he has always been fully supportive. I teased him about
being triggered by the term microaggression, and he did not laugh as I intended
that he would. Instead, he talked about how uneasy he felt about accidentally
demonstrating a flawed understanding. He was afraid of being mocked and condemned.
Syntax overload.</p> <p>The National Federation of the Blind is neither liberal
nor conservative. It is liberal and conservative. We recognize both the power of
individual initiative and the need for strong community action and support. Societal
polarization makes the line we walk and the balance we maintain much more difficult.
It is easy for me, as a more traditional person, to become unhappy when we use
words closely tied to what is disparagingly referred to as “woke”
culture. I am less aware of ways in which my colleagues who regard themselves as
more socially and politically liberal might be uncomfortable with terms I prefer.
As a general principle, I believe we do best when we avoid syntax overloaded
language. The Federation is uniquely positioned to live out the respect that can
bridge our very dangerous cultural chasms. Doing so will require courage to be
clear about differences between our traditional thinking and nostalgia. There may
be circumstances where we come to believe that our traditional thoughts on a topic
no longer serve us. That has happened before. In 1949, the NFB passed a resolution
asking for two-for-one airfare for blind travellers. In the mid-1960s the debate
was held again, and a two-for-one airfare resolution lost, barely. Today it would
be difficult for such a resolution to find a sponsor.</p> <p>Core Federation
principles have kept me involved for a half century. I love this organization
because it affirms my ability to decide and actively create the life I believe is
best. The Federation understands the fallacy of blind people “making it on
their own” and is committed to the value of collective action and mutual
support. We face discrimination and misconceptions with strength, but we also work
to avoid bitterness and to deal compassionately and hopefully toward members of
the public. I love that we fight when we need to, negotiate when we can, and strive
to help one another become stronger, kinder, and more resilient.</p> <p>My hope
is that, as we think about new ways to say what we have always believed, we continue
to take the time to check with one another so that our language conveys the fullest
and most nuanced understanding of our beliefs that we can possibly express and
that we are mindful of the dangers of hanging on to old language out of nostalgia
or adopting new ways of speaking that damage us through syntax overload.</p>
<p>----------</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Cheryl Fields]</p> <h2
id="surviving-domestic-violence-i-found-my-way-out">Surviving Domestic Violence:
I Found My Way Out</h2> <p><strong>by Cheryl Fields</strong></p> <p><strong>From
the Editor: Cheryl is no stranger to readers of the <em>Braille Monitor</em>. She
had an excellent article in our July 2018 issue entitled “Living in
Silence.” This offering first appeared in a press release dated March 30,
and it is far too good to not put in these pages.</strong></p> <p><strong>Cheryl
is the mother of two and the grandmother of four, three boys and a girl. Cheryl
loves to read, and it is obvious that she also loves to write and is good at it.
She is currently working on a book and is in the final stages prior to publishing.
Perhaps we can coax another article out of her when it becomes available. Here is
what she says:</strong></p> <p><strong>Content Warning: The information found
below has the potential to hurt or retraumatize others. Please prepare to read
about the difficult topic of domestic violence.</strong></p> <p>I am one of six
dynamic and diverse women who are the National Federation of the Blind Survivor
Task Force.</p> <p>The pathway of healing and peace is the journey of a lifetime.
There’s that <em>aha</em> moment of awareness, then, the question, "Now
what?”</p> <p>What is domestic violence? The United Nations’ definition
uses this language: “Domestic abuse, also called ‘domestic
violence’ or 'intimate partner violence’ can be defined as a pattern
of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control
over an intimate partner. It is physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or
psychological—actions or threats of actions that influence another
person.”</p> <p>I was seventeen the first time my boyfriend hit me. Our
tears mingled together as he graphically detailed how I was responsible for his
actions and what would be necessary to prevent him from assaulting me again. I
believed him. We tearfully apologized to each other, and I got a treat, the first
of many dozens of beautiful long-stem red roses and an afternoon of make-up sex.</p>
<p>One of my aunts is a survivor of intimate partner abuse, and she was not fooled
by my boyfriend. She warned me that the love of my life was not a good dude and
to get out while I could. Of course, I didn’t listen to Auntie’s
warning. Her words couldn’t compete with my teenage libido.</p> <p>Eventually
I married that boyfriend, and we started a family. The violence escalated, and
the gifts were elevated, but the exquisite roses remained the same, with sharper
thorns, gouging deep wounds that I thought would never heal.</p> <p>The burning
question on the lips of observers and now readers is, “Why? Why do or did
you stay for so long?” It’s difficult to express the amount of shame,
guilt, and fear associated with intimate partner abuse. When a victim is terrorized
by their abuser who consistently reinforces how unappealing and inadequate the
victim is, the stripping away of her/his self-esteem/self-worth can cause the
victim to believe the abuser. In spite of his/her many flaws, the perpetrator
manipulates the victim into believing he/she is the only person who is able to
love the victim. The fact that my family warned me and I didn’t listen
contributed to the guilt I felt and magnified my inability to make good choices.
Instead, I chose to stay and work harder to be a better mother, wife, and lover
while pretending to be happy.</p> <p>That strategy did not work. Variations of
the assault repeated themselves for many years. Then I had another <em>aha</em>
moment and didn’t know what to do or where to go; I became blind in 1983.
At the time, my daughter was two years old, and my son was five. Not long after
I became blind, I attended the funeral of a classmate I’d known since
childhood. Her name was Sharon. I learned that, as her young son and brother
watched in horror, she was murdered by her soon-to-be ex-husband. Feeling the
grief that day uncovered and exposed the truth. My own life was out of control,
and that made me fearful of the future for me and my children. Within a few short
months, I filed for divorce and fled the city with my children. I wasn’t
healthy, happy, or safe and didn’t know what to do; so again I faked it
until I figured it out.</p> <p>Some years later, while sitting in a support group,
<em>aha</em> happened again. I learned about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
This knowledge made me feel really good. My problem was identified at last, but
I did nothing about it. I was just happy to know I was not the only one. PTSD is
defined by the Mayo Clinic as a “mental condition that’s triggered
by a terrifying event, either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may
include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety as well as uncontrollable
thoughts about the event.” For many years I was unaware of this condition,
and I was a contradiction of emotions and actions, constantly angry and depressed
while being an overachiever, the rescue squad for others when I was barely hanging
on by a thread.</p> <p><em>Merriam-Webster</em> defines healing as “A. to
make free from injury or disease; B. to make sound or whole.” I eventually
became intentional and determined to live a whole life free of injury, hurt, and
trauma. Is it easy? No, but it is worth the journey. Am I better? Absolutely.
After years of believing that being a victim defined me, I put the work into
affirming and reaffirming who I am and how I choose to live my life, believing I
have the right to live the life I want! I have the right to experience hope, joy,
love, and peace with every new sunrise!</p> <p>If you or someone you know is a
victim of relationship abuse, there is hope. Contact your local domestic violence
center, the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), or the NFB Survivor
Taskforce for support or additional resources, and don’t give up!</p>
<p>Resources: <a href="https://nfb.org/survivors">nfb.org/survivors</a></p> <p><a
href="mailto:survivors@nfb.org">survivors@nfb.org</a></p> <p>410-659-9314, extension
2238</p> <h3 id="rainn">RAINN</h3> <p>Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at
800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit the online hotline at hotline.rainn.org.</p>
<p>----------</p> <p><strong>[PHOTO CAPTION: Michael Hingson]</strong></p>
<p><strong>[PHOTO CAPTION: Curtis Chong]</strong></p> <h2
id="overlay-technology-does-not-kill-accessibility">Overlay Technology Does Not
Kill Accessibility</h2> <p><strong>by Michael Hingson and Curtis Chong</strong></p>
<p><strong>From the Editor: Last month we ran an article about overlay technology
marketed as a partial solution to the problem of inaccessible websites. As the
editor of the <em>Braille Monitor</em>, I have not been looking for arguments to
divide us, but I will admit that I’ve been looking for some pushback. Too
frequently I hear nothing about the articles that are published either in support
of or in opposition to their theses. This month’s issue is different, for
while no one is attacking the character of an author, there are challenges to
assertions previously made that all of us can think about as we come to our own
decisions. This article is one of two that call on us to do this.</strong></p>
<p><strong>In the name of full disclosure, we need to state right up front that
Michael Hingson now works for AccessiBe and has the title of vision officer in
the company. This acknowledgment is in no way meant to discount his strong and
significant role in the National Federation of the Blind for almost sixty years
or the fact that he is a frequent guest at state conventions speaking on a wide
variety of topics that do not include advertisement of his company. To our knowledge
Curtis Chong has no financial investment in any overlay company, and his only
interest is seeing that he can do what he wants to do when he wants to do it as
he uses the World Wide Web. Here is their article:</strong></p> <p>As some of you
may know, the authors of this article, Mike Hingson and Curtis Chong, are two
long-time Federationists with a lot of experience advocating for equal access to
technology. After reading the May <em>Monitor</em> article entitled “<a
href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm21/bm2105/bm210510.htm">Overreliance
on Overlays is Counter to Enculturation of Accessibility</a>” by Anil Lewis,
we felt that we should comment about some of the inaccuracies and misconceptions
we believe to exist in the article.</p> <p>What is overlay technology anyway?
Well, for the nontechnical readers among us, the term overlay technology, as used
here, refers to a technique to improve the accessibility (to the blind and people
with other disabilities) of websites by fixing problems before we see them. Suppose,
for example, that a website that we use to send and receive email has a Reply
object (it could be a link or a button) which a blind person can’t activate
with the keyboard. Overlay technology would detect what to us would be this
inaccessible control and modify the code so that we could press the Enter key to
activate it. The screen reader might regard the result as a button or a link, but
whatever the result, we would be able to trigger it by entering a keyboard command.
Overlay technology might also attach a generic text description to a picture which
would otherwise be identified as “graphic” by our screen reading
software. For menus that can be expanded or collapsed only with the mouse, overlay
technology could enable keyboard commands to perform the same function. Some
implementations of overlay technology make one-time changes to websites to address
accessibility issues. Dynamic implementations of this technology regularly scan
supported websites (perhaps once each day), detect changes that could pose
accessibility problems, and make dynamic repairs to fix the accessibility difficulties
detected during the scan.</p> <p>In his article, Anil Lewis declares that,
“The preference of the National Federation of the Blind is for all technology,
including websites, to be accessible at implementation through the integration of
development best practices that include accessibility during the design and
development phase.” He acknowledges, however, that, “Although born
accessible is unquestionably our preference, the problem is that the need for
accessible sites far exceeds the supply.”</p> <p>Life experience has taught
us that when, in a large company, the blind person is but one out of, say, ten
thousand fully sighted employees, coworkers and supervisors (and possibly the
larger organization) are willing to make what they regard as minor or reasonable
changes to adjust to the needs of the blind person. But since everything in the
world is geared for people who can see, the willingness to accommodate drops off
if the cost or effort goes beyond a certain point of what the lawyers might call
“reasonableness.” In an ideal world, it shouldn’t take a
whole lot of extra effort to make a website accessible to the blind. But in the
world in which we live today, the overwhelming majority of programmers, designers,
and analysts who put large systems together do not, as Anil correctly points out,
possess the knowledge and expertise to ensure that their work results in something
that is fully accessible to the blind. If obtaining the necessary knowledge and
expertise is perceived to take too much in the way of extra training, effort,
and/or funding, it is likely to be regarded as an undue burden. When that happens,
issues of accessibility are invariably pushed down in the stack of priorities.
This phenomenon is not limited to larger organizations. Smaller businesses with
fewer employees feel justified in ignoring accessibility issues altogether because
they can argue, with some truth, that there simply aren’t enough people
and funding available to perform the extra work which they say making things
accessible requires.</p> <p>Anil says in his article, “Some companies claim
that these accessibility toolbars, apps, widgets, or plugins allow the user to
enable various accessibility functions such as optimizing for screen readers,
increasing keyboard accessibility, and enhancing color contrast.” We
acknowledge that some companies may indeed make these claims, but what have our
own investigations revealed?</p> <p>We took some time to examine for ourselves a
number of websites supported by overlay technology. We did not find any instances
where overlay technology actually made a website less accessible to a blind person.
But we did find that <a href="http://www.oreo.com">oreo.com</a> displayed menus,
a more accessible shopping cart, and image descriptions which were not present
with its overlay turned off. <a href="http://Www.tupperware.com">Tupperware.com</a>
provided a more accessible shopping cart, better access to menus, and more product
information with overlay access operating. <a href="http://Www.NameCheap.com">NameCheap.com</a>,
when overlay technology was activated, made the web registration process easier
to perform from a nonvisual perspective. One author, Curtis Chong, found an overlay
technology on the T-Mobile website in which the benefit of the technology was not
at all apparent. But again, we did not find a specific website where the use of
overlay technology made it less accessible. Based on this experience, we wondered
what websites Anil was referring to when, in his article he said, “We have
found that in some instances, implementing an overlay makes it more difficult for
a blind person to use a website.” We would be glad to take a look at a
specific website examined by Anil where overlay technology results in less nonvisual
access. Overlay technology should never reduce our ability to use any website or
web-based application.</p> <p>In his article, Anil makes the case that relying
too much on overlays to solve accessibility problems runs counter to the idea that
accessibility needs to be part of the normal course of doing business. We would
agree that there is little hope that accessibility will become integral to the
corporate culture if an organization purchases a working overlay solution, installs
it, and then figures that nothing else needs to be done about accessibility on
the theory that the overlay will address all of its online accessibility problems.
We wish to point out, however, that what Anil calls “enculturation”
around accessibility is equally as unlikely to occur if an organization, large or
small, contracts with a third-party accessibility consulting firm and makes no
effort to enhance the knowledge and competence of its in-house staff regarding
nonvisual access.</p> <p>While it would be truly wonderful if all website owners
made it a priority to learn about nonvisual access and what to do to create and
maintain accessible websites, this is not likely to happen while website owners,
mostly small and intermediate businesses, are focused primarily on getting their
sites up and running so that they can conduct their online business. What is a
company with, say, only ten employees going to do if one or two blind customers
report a problem of access to its website and the accessibility issue is something
that is fairly easy to fix? Should it refuse to install an overlay technology
which can be shown to improve nonvisual access and possibly be less expensive than
contracting with a third-party accessibility expert? For this small company, what
would be the best alternative?</p> <p>We agree with Anil that there aren’t
enough programmers who have been properly trained in the area of accessibility to
ensure that every website published complies fully with well-established accessibility
guidelines. We also support the vision of a fully accessible future in which
students are equipped to enter the workforce with knowledge of and skills in the
principles of accessible design and development and the needs of people with
disabilities. However, we believe that even if, miraculously, every programmer in
the world possessed the knowledge to make websites accessible and began properly
coding for accessibility, their efforts would not be enough to handle the growing
tide of inaccessible websites—websites which are going to be created by
people for whom the sense of sight is integral to everything they do.</p> <p>We
believe that there is a place in our future for both overlay technology that really
works for the blind and traditional coding methods supported with proper staff
training, third-party expertise, and a pragmatic understanding of the benefits
that making a website accessible has to offer. What we who are blind must do is
to learn for ourselves the benefits and drawbacks of both overlay technology and
manual coding, decide where each technology might fit in the overall effort to
improve nonvisual access to websites, and ensure that we have the wisdom and vision
to recognize when a new approach or technology can help us in our quest to achieve
equality and first-class citizenship.</p> <p>----------</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION:
Shawn Calloway]</p> <h2 id="the-father-who-showed-no-ignorance">The Father Who
Showed No Ignorance</h2> <p><strong>by Shawn Calloway</strong></p> <p><strong>From
the Editor: Most readers know that Shawn is a member of the National Federation
of the Blind Board of Directors, the president of the District of Columbia affiliate,
and the co-chairperson of our Diversity and Inclusion Committee. He and his wife
have a daughter six years old. He works for the United States Department of Health
and Human Services as a program specialist and has done so for ten years. His
hobbies are traveling and being a sports fanatic. This is evidenced by his being
a season ticket holder for the Washington football team and the Washington Wizards,
and he loves to play fantasy football. With all of this on his plate, we who read
the <em>Braille Monitor are grateful that he has taken the time to reflect on and
share his experience in forming romantic relationships as a person who is blind.
Here is his story:</em></strong></p> <p>After losing my vision at nineteen years
old, I believed that I would never be in a meaningful relationship with a woman.
Having countless conversations with family members and friends about how to improve
myself to enter a meaningful relationship, I concluded that I had to be successful
in certain phases of my life. First, I had to accept that I was blind. Second, I
had to establish goals that would lead to social and financial independence.
Lastly, I had to work toward being self-confident and self-assured. This last
phase was extremely important because I had to prepare myself for rejection from
women not wanting to date me due to my blindness.</p> <p>After I met the criteria
to complete my three phases, I began dating, and I was met with the surprise of
my life. Most of the roadblocks I encountered to a meaningful relationship were
not created by the women I pursued. No, it was the parents of the women I courted
that created a road block to a meaningful relationship with their daughters.</p>
<p>There were three instances in which I encountered parental ignorance. The
following examples were not the singular factor to having a relationship, but the
attitudes displayed by the parents were clear misconceptions of the capabilities
of blind people. First, as a student at the University of Maryland, I began a
friendship with a young lady who was the sister of my cousin’s friend. We
had good daily conversations leading to our first date, which was to her place of
worship. A few days after our date, she contacted me with some bad news. She
informed me that her mother was not happy that she went out on a date with me.
The young lady said that her mother said, “Your going out with a blind man
is ridiculous; what can he do for you?” I was shocked and disappointed to
hear that her mother felt that I was not worthy to date her daughter.</p> <p>However,
the bad news did not stop there. The young lady informed me that she no longer
wanted to date me and that we could be friends. I asked the young lady, “If
you knew that you no longer wanted to date me, why did you waste your time telling
me what your mother said to you about going out with me?” She replied,
“I do not know. I guess it was something you needed to know.”</p>
<p>My second encounter with parental ignorance occurred while I was pursuing my
graduate degree. I began dating a young lady who was the friend of a high school
classmate’s girlfriend. We talked daily and had wonderful conversations.
We had fun on our social outings together as well. I felt good about our relationship
until I received a disturbing phone call. When I answered the phone, the young
lady was crying. I asked her what was wrong. She said, “My mother and aunt
called me on a three-way call, and they were laughing and making fun of me.”
When I asked her why they were laughing at her, she said, “They said,
‘What can a blind man do for you? You will be taking care of him. He cannot
take care of you.’” Once again, I was disappointed to know that a
parent and an aunt would have these feelings toward me. When I asked the young
lady how she was feeling, she said, “I do not know how I am feeling.”</p>
<p>I asked, “Are we going to continue to date?” She responded by
candidly saying that she did not know. Once I heard the answer “I do not
know,” I decided to end the relationship. I made this decision because I
felt that the young lady was influenced by her mother’s and aunt’s
comments. Therefore, I quickly determined that she did not have a mind of her
own.</p> <p>The last collision with parental ignorance occurred at a friend’s
cookout. I was approached by a young lady at the event, and we began a brief
conversation. After we completed our discussion, we exchanged phone numbers, and
we promised to keep in touch. Once the young lady departed the cookout, I was
approached by a man who seemed to be intoxicated. The man asked me, “Do
you know the young lady you were talking with?” I said, “Yes, and
she seemed to be a nice young lady.”</p> <p>He said, “I know she is
nice because she is my daughter.” The man proceeded to ask me more questions.
He asked, “Do you work?”</p> <p>I said, “Yes, I am a social
worker.”</p> <p>He said, “Do you live alone?”</p> <p>“In
a few weeks I will be living alone because I just purchased a home,” I
said.</p> <p>Finally, the parent made the statement that he wanted to make before
speaking with me. He said, “You seem like a good dude, but please do not
make plans to talk with my daughter again.” He continued, “I raised
her to have the best in life, and I do not need her taking care of a grown
man.”</p> <p>My anger intensified as a result of his comments because his
daughter and I were discussing resources for her boyfriend’s father who
was losing his vision. I had no plans of attempting to date his daughter. As I
departed the cookout, I heard the father yell, “Do not forget what I told
you.” A force of nature lifted my right arm and extended my middle finger,
and I stated, “Tell this.”</p> <p>I do not want to create the
impression that every encounter that I had with a parent was negative. There were
some parents who accepted me, and my blindness was not an issue. However, my last
encounter with a parent became my best encounter with a parent.</p> <p>In the fall
of 2003, I began dating Ms. Latonya Rollins, the woman who would eventually become
my wife. During my courtship, I was confident that a marriage would occur, but
the feelings of confidence often disappeared because I had not met Latonya’s
father. She was from Cleveland, Ohio, and with me living in Washington, DC, it
would be six months before this encounter with her father would occur. In June of
2004, the opportunity to meet Latonya’s father had finally materialized.
This meeting occurred in Ohio at the home of my future uncle and aunt, Michael
and Mary Coles. The event was a family cookout, and all of Latonya’s family
members were present. When I walked through the door, I began introducing myself
to all who were in attendance. Latonya grabbed me and escorted me to where her
father was sitting. She said, “Dad, this is Shawn, and Shawn, this is my
father, Ed Rollins.” We exchanged handshakes, asked the other how he was
doing, and then he continued a conversation with a relative.</p> <p>Due to our
first encounter being brief, I felt as if Mr. Rollins was disinterested in me
dating his daughter. As the festivities continued, I found myself sitting alone
on the back patio. Suddenly someone approached me saying, “How are you
doing?” I said fine, and I realized it was Mr. Rollins. He said, “It
is nice to finally meet you, and I have one question for you.”</p> <p>I
said, “Go right ahead.”</p> <p>He asked, “What are your
intentions with my daughter?”</p> <p>I said, “Well Mr. Rollins,
hopefully one day I will marry your daughter, and I feel I can make her
happy.”</p> <p>Mr. Rollins said, “Well, I think you will be fine;
just respect my daughter, and I think she will marry you.”</p> <p>After
that I felt like a ton of bricks had been taken from my shoulders, and we began
discussing topics ranging from politics to sports. I felt thankful that Mr. Rollins
did not have the ignorant parent syndrome. What made the day much more special
was that Latonya’s entire family, led by her aunt Mary, accepted me, and
I felt as if I was a family member.</p> <p>When I made the decision to propose to
Latonya, I made arrangements to meet with Mr. Rollins to ask for his blessing. As
we walked around Lake Erie in Ohio, I told him that I wanted to marry his daughter,
and I would like to have his blessing. Mr. Rollins stated, “You have my
blessing, and I want to ask you something.” He said, “I hope you do
not think that your blindness was ever a concern for me.”</p> <p>I said,
“No, I never felt that way, but was my blindness a concern for you?”</p>
<p>He said, “Not at all. I just want to be sure that you treat my daughter
right and you respect her. As far as I am concerned, a blind man is no different
from a sighted man, and I know of some sighted men who have treated their wives
pretty bad. So I am judging you on your character and not your blindness. By the
way, stop calling me Mr. Rollins, and call me Dad.”</p> <p>After Latonya
and I were married in 2005, my father-in-law and I continued to converse about
topics ranging from religion to current affairs in society. When I visited Cleveland,
sometimes my father-in-law and I would go to a restaurant and continue our intense
and thought-provoking conversations. I never felt that he was dismissive of my
thoughts or ideas, and he would often call me to gain my prospective on breaking
news regarding sports or politics. My father-in-law was extremely happy that I
became a member of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), which is an
organization that advocates for the civil rights of blind people. Often he would
ask me the same question which was, “What is your organization fighting
for now?” This question would lead to lengthy discussions because he wanted
to know about the details of each legislative priority of the organization. My
father-in-law was so intrigued by the work of the NFB that he attended a national
convention in Orlando, Florida, and he traveled with me to Sumter, South Carolina,
to support me as I delivered a keynote speech at an event conducted by the Sumter
chapter of the NFB of South Carolina. A few days after the event, he told me that
he enjoyed my speech, and he was glad that I married his daughter. This comment
was bitter sweet for me because it reinforced my belief that he believed that I
could be a good husband to his daughter. However, the comment was painful because
my wife and I began to notice that my father-in-law was potentially in the beginning
stages of dementia.</p> <p>After his diagnosis of dementia, my father-in-law began
residing in long-term care facilities to assist him living with his condition. It
was inevitable that our conversations would no longer be lengthy, and I was blessed
just to hear him utter a few words to me. In July of 2020, my father-in-law
succumbed to his dementia. After his death, I prayed that all blind people who
are seeking a lifelong partner would be fortunate to have an in-law like Mr.
Rollins. After fifteen years of marriage to Latonya, as I conduct daily chores
such as taking out the trash, balancing the household budget, preparing a meal
for my daughter, or cleaning the bathroom, I would be telling an untruth if I
stated that sometimes I do not think of the parents who did not think I was good
enough for their daughters. My belief is that these parents were not horrible
people; they just lacked awareness about the capabilities of blind people. If they
would have taken the time to get to know me, I believe their attitudes toward me
dating their daughters would have been different. However, these thoughts are
immediately erased from my memory and overtaken by remembering Mr. Edward Rollins,
the father who showed no ignorance.</p> <p>----------</p> <h2 id="you-can-make-a-difference">You
Can Make a Difference </h2> <p>Blind children, students, and adults are making
powerful strides in education and leadership every day across the United States.
For more than eighty years, the National Federation of the Blind has worked to
transform the dreams of hundreds of thousands of blind people into reality. With
support from individuals like you, we continue to provide powerful programs and
critical resources for decades to come. We sincerely hope you will plan to be a
part of our enduring movement by including the National Federation of the Blind
in your charitable giving and in your estate planning. It is easier than you
think.</p> <p> </p> <p>With your help, the NFB will continue to:</p> <ul>
<li><p>Give blind children the gift of literacy through Braille.</p></li>
<li><p>Promote independent travel by providing free, long white canes to blind
people in need.</p></li> <li><p>Develop dynamic educational projects and programs
to show blind youth that science and math careers are within their reach.</p></li>
<li><p>Deliver hundreds of accessible newspapers and magazines to provide blind
people the essential information necessary to be actively involved in their
communities.</p></li> <li><p>Offer aids and appliances that help seniors losing
vision maintain their independence.</p></li> </ul> <h3 id="plan-to-leave-a-legacy">Plan
to Leave a Legacy</h3> <p>The National Federation of the Blind legacy society,
our Dream Makers Circle, honors and recognizes the generosity and vision of members
and special friends of the National Federation of the Blind who have chosen to
leave a legacy through a will or other planned giving option. You can join the
Dream Makers Circle in a myriad of ways.</p> <h3 id="fixed-sum-of-assets">Fixed
Sum of Assets</h3> <p>You can specify that a fixed sum of your assets or property
goes to the National Federation of the Blind in your will, trust, pension, IRA,
life insurance policy, brokerage account, or other accounts.</p> <h3
id="percentage-of-assets">Percentage of Assets</h3> <p>You can specify that a
percentage of your assets or property goes to the National Federation of the Blind
in your will, trust, pension, IRA, life insurance policy, brokerage account, or
other accounts.</p> <h3 id="payable-on-death-pod-account">Payable on Death (POD)
Account</h3> <p>You can name the National Federation of the Blind as the beneficiary
on a Payable on Death (POD) account through your bank. You can turn any checking
or savings account into a POD account. This is one of the simplest ways to leave
a legacy. The account is totally in your control during your lifetime and you can
change the beneficiary or percentage at any time with ease.</p> <h3 id="will-or-trust">Will
or Trust</h3> <p>If you do decide to create or revise your will, consider the
National Federation of the Blind as a partial beneficiary.</p> <p>Visit our Planned
Giving webpage at <a
href="https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/ways-give/planned-giving">https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/ways-give/planned-giving</a>
or call 410-659-9314, extension 2422, for more information.</p> <p>Together with
love, hope, determination, and your support, we will continue to transform dreams
into reality.</p> <h3 id="ways-to-contribute-now">Ways to Contribute Now </h3>
<p>Since the start of 2019, the NFB:</p> <ul> <li><p>Distributed over eight thousand
canes to blind people across the United States, empowering them to travel safely
and independently throughout their communities.</p></li> <li><p>Delivered audio
newspaper and magazine services to 124,022 subscribers, providing free access to
over five hundred local, national, and international publications.</p></li>
<li><p>Gave over 900 Braille-writing slates and styluses free of charge to blind
users.</p></li> <li><p>Transformed our Braille Enrichment for Literacy and
Learning® Academies into in-home editions offered to blind youth throughout
the United States.</p></li> </ul> <p>Just imagine what we’ll 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.</p> <h3 id="vehicle-donation-program">Vehicle
Donation Program</h3> <p>The NFB accepts donated vehicles, including cars, trucks,
boats, motorcycles, or recreational vehicles. Just call 855-659-9314 toll-free,
and a representative can make arrangements to pick up your donation. We can also
answer any questions you have.</p> <h3 id="general-donation">General Donation</h3>
<p>General donations help support the ongoing programs of the NFB and the work to
help blind people live the lives they want. You can call 410-659-9314 and elect
option 4 to donate by phone. Donate online with a credit card or through the mail
with check or money order. Visit <a
href="https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/ways-give">https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/ways-give</a>
for more information. </p> <h3 id="pre-authorized-contribution">Pre-Authorized
Contribution</h3> <p>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 withdrawal of funds from a checking account
or a charge to a credit card. To enroll, call 410-659-9314, extension 2213, or
fill out our PAC Donation Form at <a href="https://www.nfb.org/pac">https://www.nfb.org/pac</a>.</p>
<p>If you have questions about giving, please send an email to <a
href="mailto:outreach@nfb.org">outreach@nfb.org</a> or call 410-659-9314, extension
2422.</p> <p>----------</p> <p><strong>[PHOTO CAPTION: Juliette Walker]</strong></p>
<h2 id="inspiration-aspiration-advocacy-and-travel">Inspiration, Aspiration,
Advocacy, and Travel</h2> <p><strong>by Juliette Walker</strong></p> <p><strong><em>From
the Editor: This article is based on a presentation Juliette Walker delivered at
the 2020 convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois and is
taken from the Illinois Independent, the newsletter of the Illinois affiliate.</em>
Juliette <em>worked for a public school for twenty-one years, seventeen of them
as a kindergarten teacher. Her loss of vision was abrupt, and she had never thought
of the possibility she might be blind. Juliette was the person her family depended
on, and blindness made her unsure how she could find her way down the stairs, walk
to the corner, and how she could continue to work. The accommodations she had
offered to her students never came to mind as being helpful for her. She currently
serves on the scholarship committee for the affiliate and plans to take on more
activities once employment is again secured. Here is what she says: </em></strong></p>
<p>I am so happy to be here with you this morning! I'm here to tell you how the
National Federation of the Blind changes people's lives—in particular, how
it has changed my life. I'd like to start by giving you a little history about
me.</p> <p>I was born and raised here in the city of Chicago. I am the eldest girl
in a family of five children. I am a product of the Chicago Public School system.
I graduated from Chicago State University with a bachelor's degree in elementary
education, and I received a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from
Loyola University. I worked for the Chicago Public School system for twenty-one
years, until one day I woke up and saw that my world had changed. On that morning
it seemed as though I was viewing the world through a glass marble.</p> <p>I had
to be rushed to my doctor, and from there I was rushed to an ophthalmologist. She
looked into my eyes and saw that something was definitely wrong. She wasn't quite
sure what it was, and she needed a second opinion. I was sent to a retina specialist
where I waited for two hours. They conducted various tests and ultrasounds. Two
hours later, I received the news that I had become a member of the blind community.</p>
<p>Of course I was devastated when I heard this revelation. The doctor told me
there were three things I could do. Trying to find some semblance of hope, I asked,
"What are they?"</p> <p>I hoped she would tell me she might be able to bring my
vision back, but she said, “No, it's gone; there's nothing we can do about
that. What I want you to do is, number one, I hope you didn't drive here."</p>
<p>I said, "No! I couldn't see to drive."</p> <p>She said, "You know what? You
can't drive anymore. That's number one. Number two, you need to fill out disability
paperwork. At this point I don't see you working anymore. And number three, you
need to call a Chicago-based organization that can provide you with rehabilitation."</p>
<p>I just went to work the day before! Yesterday I drove! Now she was telling me
all of those things had changed!</p> <p>I felt horrible about what had happened
to me. I cried in her office, and I went home and cried some more. I cried so much
that my younger sister told me, "Maybe if you stop crying you might be able to
see after all!"</p> <p>I felt I was living through a nightmare—but when
you have a nightmare you wake up. I'd open my eyes, and I still couldn't see. The
nightmare wouldn't end.</p> <p>I did everything the doctor told me to do. I stopped
driving. I called the Chicago-based rehabilitation agency, but they told me they
couldn't help me. I didn't have the paperwork they needed. It would take a while
before they would be able to do anything.</p> <p>I went into a deep, dark depression
over all of this. I went to see another primary-care physician. She asked me a
list of questions, and when I answered them honestly she said, "You are in a state
of depression." I said, "Well, duh! My life as I knew it has changed. It's over."</p>
<p>She said, "I think you need to speak to someone. We have a young lady who has
just joined us. She's a therapist. Maybe you'll like her."</p> <p>I said, "I have
nothing to lose. Why not?" So I went to her, and we talked. She said, "You know
what, Miss Walker? We're going to get you started. We need to figure out how to
make things right."</p> <p>I said, "I don't know if you can make things right. I
just want to make something better."</p> <p>She said, "Let me talk to my professor.
He's blind, and he's one of the best professors I ever had."</p> <p>At that point
my expectations of what I could do had gone totally down the drain. I said, "A
blind professor? I didn't know blind people could be professors!"</p> <p>The only
blind people I knew of were Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder and the gentleman on
the corner who shook his cup and asked for change. I knew I couldn't sing like
Ray, but maybe I could work something out with the gentleman on the corner. We
could shake our cups together or something. But first I had to figure out how to
make it to the corner!</p> <p>The therapist called her professor, and he said,
"Miss Walker, I want you to go to an organization that I think can help you. They
have a support group on Wednesdays for people who have RP (retinitis pigmentosa)."</p>
<p>I said, "I don't have RP."</p> <p>He said, "It doesn't matter. They'll give
you support. It's a group of people who can't see, and you need to be there with
them."</p> <p>I went to the support group, and I met a wonderful bunch of people
there. I had a chance to discuss what was going on with me, and I felt much better
knowing I wasn't the only one. While I was there I met a young lady who told me,
"We can help you with your independent living skills. We can help you learn to
move around. We can help you get your job back."</p> <p>I said, "Please, help me!"
I had nothing to lose.</p> <p>She did help me. While I was there I met a bunch of
other people who were seeking the same things. I also met some people who had been
blind for most of their lives, and they were taking classes. There was a group of
students taking a computer class. One day over lunch they mentioned a meeting
they'd attended with the National Federation of the Blind. They were excited about
an upcoming convention, and they were excited about President Riccobono's speech.
I said, "What are you talking about?"</p> <p>They said, "We're talking about the
National Federation of the Blind. Our chapter meets the second Saturday of the
month at Exchequer Restaurant and Pub in downtown Chicago. You can get a good meal
and a whole lot of new information."</p> <p>I said, "Can anyone go?" They said,
"Yes!"</p> <p>So I went to my first NFB chapter meeting. From the moment I stepped
through the door, I saw blind people moving around independently. I heard people
talking about their new business ventures. I heard them talking about cases they
needed to go home and work on. I thought, there are a lot of people here who are
doing things I used to want to do myself! I heard about authors and lawyers and
business owners. These were professional people—professionals like I used
to be myself.</p> <p>I got inspired. From that moment on, my life changed.</p>
<p>Every time I go to a meeting of the National Federation of the Blind, I get
four things. First, I get inspiration. I move into aspiration. I find new ways to
advocate for myself, and I do some traveling.</p> <p>I get inspired by going to
these meetings. At one time I didn't think there was anything I could do. I found
out I'm still the person I was before I lost my sight. I just have to figure out
a different way to do what I did before.</p> <p>Then comes the aspiration part.
I thought, I might want to go back and do what I did before, but maybe I want to
do something even greater. I changed lives before, but I think I can change many
more lives. I can be the best me that I can be. I can live the life I want.</p>
<p>The third thing is advocacy. Advocacy has been empowering and enlightening for
me. You all are very supportive around the things we go through as blind and
low-vision people. If things are not working out the way we want them to, if we
see that an injustice has been done to us, we can tackle that injustice together.
If you found out that dealing with the injustice done to you can benefit other
people, you can write something called a resolution. You put in your whereases
and therefores and all your specialized language, and we can submit the resolution
at the local level. Maybe it can be submitted at the national level, too. Maybe
we can even turn it into a law!</p> <p>Finally, traveling. When I first lost my
sight, I was afraid to go anywhere. Now I take trains, buses, and planes. I had
the opportunity to attend the National Convention of the NFB in Las Vegas in 2019,
and I got there independently. I went through the convention independently, and
I got home independently. I was so proud to walk among all those white canes and
guide dogs, to hear those canes tapping across the floor! Moving from place to
place and going to those sessions I learned so much! I was so proud to make it
there and get back home by myself! I went to Las Vegas thirteen years ago, when
I was fully sighted. Now here I was, a blind person, and I was able to get there
and back independently.</p> <p>The National Federation of the Blind has helped me
redefine who I am. It has helped me realize I still can live the life I want. I'm
still the same person. I didn't lose my mind; I only lost my sight.</p>
<p>----------</p> <p><strong>[PHOTO CAPTION: Terry Boone]</strong></p> <h2
id="independence-market-corner">Independence Market Corner</h2> <p><strong>by
Terry Boone</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor: Readers will observe that
this offering is authored by Terry Boone. Ellen Ringlein decided to leave the
staff of the Federation but notes that it goes without saying that she is not
leaving the Federation. Her friendly voice on the phone and her warmth in dealing
in-person with customers leave some very fond memories, and we wish Ellen all the
best in whatever new endeavor she pursues.</strong></p> <p><strong>Terry is the
director of services and is a new member of our staff. Her hobbies include traveling,
bowling, and reading to name a few. Here are the Independence Market specials for
June:</strong></p> <p>As a service to our members and the general public, the
National Federation of the Blind operates a blindness products store known as the
Independence Market, which sells mostly low-tech items designed to enhance the
everyday independence of blind individuals. We will be highlighting a different
product every month and listing sale products from time to time.</p> <p><strong>CLICK
RULES</strong></p> <p>This efficient tactile extension measuring tool is a favorite
with blind carpenters. It measures items with an accuracy to within 1/16 of an
inch. The base unit, which measures up to 12 inches, consists of four major parts:
1/2-inch aluminum tube, sliding threaded rod, locking screw, and two 1/4-inch
thick metal stops. The sliding threaded rod, which measures up to 6 inches, is
marked with raised lines in 1/2-inch intervals on the top and 1/16-inch intervals
on the side. Each 1/16 inch movement of the rod also makes a clicking sound. The
addition of multiple 12-inch extensions allows for the measurement of longer
spans.</p> <p>Click Rule with three 12-inch extensions: You can measure up to 48
inches with this tool. AID01R: $95.00</p> <p>12-inch Extension for Standard Click
Rule AID01A: $12.00</p> <p><strong>Metric Click Rule - AID01M: $120.00</strong></p>
<p>This efficient tactile extension measuring tool is available in a metric version
as well, making it a great tool for STEM subjects. The metric click rule measures
items with accuracy to within 1 millimeter. The base unit, which measures up to
20 centimeters, consists of four major parts: 1/2-inch aluminum tube, sliding
threaded rod, locking screw, and two 1/4-inch-thick metal stops. The sliding
threaded rod, which measures up to 10 centimeters, is marked with raised lines in
1-centimeter intervals on the top and 1-millimeter intervals on the side. The
addition of multiple 20-centimeter extensions allows for the measurement of longer
spans. Four 20-centi meter extensions are included, allowing for measurements up
to 1 meter.</p> <h3 id="sale-and-close-out-items-supplies-are-limited">SALE AND
CLOSE-OUT ITEMS <em>(Supplies are limited)</em></h3> <blockquote> <p><strong><span
class="underline">Item</span> <span class="underline">Item#</span> <span
class="underline">Sale Price</span></strong></p> </blockquote> <p>Nine Men’s
Morris: Strategy board game for</p> <p>two players; includes print and Braille
directions AIG74N $10.00</p> <p>Stereo Earbuds with Volume Control AIA47H $5.00</p>
<p>National Federation of the Blind</p> <p>Stoneware Mug (with NFB in tactile
Braille) LSMXX1N $5.00</p> <p>Playing Card Holders (Set of Four) AIG25P $4.00</p>
<p>For more information about the products available from the Independence Market,
contact us by email at <a href="mailto:independencemarket@nfb.org">independencemarket@nfb.org</a>
or by phone at (410) 659-9314, extension 2216, Monday through Friday from 8:00
a.m. to 5:00 p.m. eastern time. Our staff will be happy to assist.</p> <p>----------</p>
<p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Maurice Peret]</p> <h2 id="a-bias-view-on-anti-bias-training-programs">A
Bias View on Anti-Bias Training Programs</h2> <p><strong>by Maurice Peret</strong></p>
<p><strong>From the Editor: Maurice is a fellow who likes to think and to share
what he’s thinking. Often he takes a broader view of issues, suggesting
that they are not as simple as we think they are but are in fact tied to a number
of other things going on in society. In this article he applauds the Federation’s
embracing the evolution of society to be more inclusive and understanding. At the
same time he cautions against being so attached to our differences that we fail
to see our similarities and the causes on which we must unite as blind people.
Here is what he has to say:</strong></p> <p>There has been a resurgence of racial
sensitivity and anti-bias training programs implemented in public, corporate, and
nonprofit sectors in response to the brutal police slaying of George Floyd, Breonna
Taylor, and too many other unarmed Black citizens to name in the summer of 2020.
This led to mass demonstrations worldwide of millions of people from all backgrounds.
Well before this pinnacle moment, the leadership of the National Federation of
the Blind had been engaged in updating our programs and procedures to reflect our
commitment to civil and human rights for all. Ongoing revisions continue to be
made to our code of conduct and training programs designed to embrace the rich
diversity of our membership have been launched. In its fullest sense, this is
intended to create an environment of inclusivity. We continue to innovate educational
training opportunities for our members, including raising awareness and assuming
responsibility for creating environments that do not tolerate harassment of any
sort, including among the most harmful and long lasting of these, sexual abuse.
The NFB is also providing anti-bias training for broad layers of our membership
to address any existing inequities, whether in form or in attitude. As a microcosm
of society, a mass membership organization like ours is simply not immune to the
often poisonous and divisive attitudes and practices that are unfortunately present
in the world we live in.</p> <p>Before I offer an alternative perspective from an
admittedly biased viewpoint, I wish to make clear that my opinions on the question
of sensitivity or anti-bias training programs are general and not to be misconstrued
as in any way opposed to the programs and procedures under development by multilayered
leadership bodies in the Federation. I would also place in context my comments as
coming from a position of strong and long-standing aversion to discriminatory
practices of all forms, whether based on race, national origin, religious belief
or non-belief, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or what too often
gets left out—adherence to dissenting political views, whether within or
without the traditional two-party American political paradigm.</p> <p>As a student
of history, I am particularly interested in the chronicled mass movements in our
country which affected fundamental change of truly historic proportions. These
included, but are not limited to:</p> <ul> <li><p>The Civil War that defeated the
Southern Slavocracy in the United States, (the second American Revolution)</p></li>
<li><p>Establishment of local governments throughout the south during the period
known as Radical Reconstruction in the war’s aftermath that included land
reform</p></li> <li><p>Ascendence of an unparalleled number of Black business
leaders and elected officials throughout the South</p></li> <li><p>Armed Black
defense organizations to confront white supremist bands such as the Klu Klux Klan
and White Citizens Councils</p></li> <li><p>Farmers’ struggles in the 1920s
Jazz Era amidst a mass migration of African Americans from southern states to the
industrial north</p></li> <li><p>Integration of Black workers into industries
during the rise of the powerful movement for industrial unions</p></li> <li><p>Mass
movement of multinational and multiracial working-class people who decisively
crushed Jim Crow legal segregation in the United States</p></li> <li><p><em>Supreme
Court Brown versus The Board of Education</em> decision in 1954 that eliminated
legally sanctioned school segregation</p></li> <li><p>The Montgomery bus boycott
in Alabama that halted apartheid-style separate status for Black passengers less
than a year later</p></li> <li><p>Women’s suffrage and subsequent waves of
women’s liberation movements</p></li> <li><p>Farm workers’
struggles</p></li> <li><p>And the Black, Chicano, and Native American rights and
anti-Vietnam War movements of the 1960s and 1970s.</p></li> </ul> <p>It was these
movements of ordinary people like you and me that pushed back social divisions
among Americans who increasingly found themselves working shoulder to shoulder
and interacting with people from all backgrounds and traditions. This is no less
true today. In fact, in our overwhelming majority, we are more diverse and inclusive
than at any time in history.</p> <p>The fact that systemic racism and other forms
of hideous prejudices exist is unquestionable. My assertion is that the focus
should be on the “system” or systems that perpetuate these irrational
and harmful divisions in the interest of a specific and identifiable class. Although
I have framed much of my description of bias in terms of anti-racism, it is not
intended to ignore the fact that biases are broader than just racial and can be
deeply imbedded. Although having cultivated certain sensitivities in this area as
an activist, I assume no responsibility for these artificial social divisions but
consciously choose to be a fighter against them.</p> <p>At the center of all
negative biases in our class-divided society, meaning attitudes that would belittle
or diminish in status members of minority groups on usually superficial grounds,
is a power dynamic. Power manifests in a great many ways, but in terms of structural
society, power is recognizable in its most controlling fashion in the form of the
state apparatus which holds in its grip law enforcement, the so called “military
industrial complex,” the prison infrastructure which grossly and
disproportionately disenfranchises men and women of color, as well as the political
machinery that is inseparable from its big-money sponsors. I use the term
“disproportionate” since power, by the limited definition of capital
and blunt militaristic force, is in the hands of a relative few as compared to
most of us who can claim none of the above power tools. It is the antithesis of
a truly “representative democratic” process. Ibram X. Kendi, author
and founding director of the Anti-Racist Research and Policy Center at American
University, says “…the origins of racism cannot be separated from
the origins of capitalism… the life of capitalism cannot be separated from
the life of racism.</p> <p>The trouble in my view with many programs that purport
to address bias, either explicit or implicit, is that they target the wrong
audience. They set up a dynamic whereby a group, presumedly of “woke”
experts, sets, and defines parameters of what is to be considered “appropriate”
discourse and behavior by the rest of us who need to be enlightened or corrected.
In 2019, for example, New York City rolled out a new $23 million “implicit
bias” training program for all Department of Education workers. “Anybody
that feels that somehow that process is not beneficial,” said Richard
Carranza, New York Schools chancellor, “they are the ones that need to
reflect even harder upon what they believe.” The <em>New York Times</em>
1619 Project, which has been widely adopted in classrooms across the country, is
another example. Programs such as these are steeped in historic revisionism as
they tend to ignore examples of unified people’s movements in our nation
that drew together workers and farmers of all backgrounds. This misreading of
history disingenuously minimizes the importance of the proud historic record of
resistance that has effectively pushed back, not reinforced racial and other forms
of structural oppression. Instead, its author, Nikole Hannah-Jones, says,
“Anti-Black racism runs in the very DNA of this country.” True enough
as it goes, but the question remains: who benefits the most from racism and other
forms of social disparity? Furthermore, this type of identity politics frames
non-Caucasian people nearly always as victims rather than as architects and movers
of change and progress. When the late Malcolm X was asked by a reporter if his
intention was to raise the consciousness of African Americans to their oppression,
his response was, “No, to awaken them to their humanity.” Many of
these programs fall under a philosophical ideology coined as critical race theory
(CRT) which is a framework in academia and jurisprudence that examines society
and culture as they relate to categorizations of race, law, and power in the United
States of America. It began as a movement in American law schools in the mid-to-late
1980s as a reworking of critical legal theory on race issues. Unfortunately,
theories such as these tend to perpetuate rather than solve the problems of systemic
inequalities by reducing them to purely visible characteristics such as skin color
or appearance. They also tend to be steeped in a politically polarized framework
of what has become known as “cancel culture.” It has been widely
reported in mass media outlets and social network platforms that numerous journalists
and other public figures have lost their livelihoods because of this tacit form
of social censorship under the all too familiar rubric of political correctness.
It stifles not encourages the free exchange of ideas.</p> <p>I would assert that
the mass injustices against our brothers and sisters are largely a factor of class
privilege which focuses upon a power structure that benefits from divisions among
us, diverting attention from them and instead encouraging tribalistic infighting
among us. The fact is that the greater “us” suffer the most from
these divisions, whether African American, Caucasian, Muslim, Jewish, Latino,
Native American, Asian Pacific, female, LGBTQ plus, or whatever classification.
So, whenever the issue of “white privilege” is brought up in a
fashion that demands that we “search internally for our hidden or implicit
biases,” I say, let us instead examine class privilege which has widened
the gap of inequality dramatically over the past several decades and exacerbated
social divisions in society. To illustrate the point, the income gap between
Caucasian and African American workers over the past several decades has actually
narrowed—not because lower paid workers of color rose nearer to those of
White workers, but because the steady decline of real earning power has lessened
for all workers across the board. This assertion does not ignore the glaring truth
that people are treated differently in our society based upon superficial visible
characteristics such as skin color, no indeed. I do not buy into any utopian
illusions of a “colorless” nor of a “classless” society
and do not, therefore, condescend to suggest that we are all treated the same. I
have always valued the privilege of working and collaborating with a wide and
diverse community of people from all sorts of backgrounds and identities. I
appreciate and respect the initiatives that our elected leaders in the National
Federation of the Blind are engaged in to remedy all remnants of inequities in
our organization. I was moved by the presentation at the 2020 virtual convention
of our Black Federation leaders speaking frankly and boldly about their experiences
both as blind people and as Black Federationists in a society that ever burdens
under a legacy of brutal division and strife. My point in all of this is to
encourage us to recognize in one another our common struggles while celebrating
and learning about our differences. Those, like our blindness, do not define us
or our future.</p> <p>----------</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION: LaShawna Fant]</p>
<p><strong>Super Mama: Cheering for My Blind Daughter</strong></p> <p><strong>by
LaShawna Fant</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor: Lashawna has recently done
a number of interviews that have made this publication better. How fitting that
for Mother‘s Day she decided to interview her mom. When many of us think
about the onset of blindness, we quite naturally think of our reaction to it, but
many other people are involved with reactions of their own. My mother long felt
guilt for playing basketball the day I was born. After she died, I spoke about
that guilt with my father. With anger in his voice he said, "She had no reason to
feel guilty. I was the one who threw the ball too high, and if I hadn‘t,
you would almost certainly be able to see.” Here is Lashawna‘s
interview:</strong></p> <p>Over the hills and around the curves of life,
LaShawna’s mom, Vicki, shook her pompoms in the air and cheered for her
blind daughter.</p> <p>LaShawna Fant: Hello, Mama! Thanks for giving me the time
to interview you. Please let the audience know a little about you.”</p>
<p>Vicki Fant: Hello, everyone. At the age of eighteen, I became the mother of
LaShawna. She was my firstborn. She was born with 20/20 vision. I took jobs as a
cook and also in factories to provide for my daughter. I am blessed to have her
as my daughter, along with her two other siblings. Currently I am employed in the
nursing field and enjoy working in my yard.</p> <p>LF: I am blessed to have you
as my mom. I became blind my senior year of high school. What was this like for
you as a mom?</p> <p>VF: I felt like I failed as a mom. I should have been able
to protect you. I cried and cried and cried. You were the person who helped me
with your younger siblings. You were the one who helped your grandfather and
great-grandmother. You had your own car. You had a job and loved playing sports.
It was hard to see you go from having sight to having no eyesight.</p> <p>LF: How
did you adjust emotionally?</p> <p>VF: As time passed I got better. When you first
lost your vision, I thought I would have to take care of you as long as I could.
I prayed so much. It seemed as though I prayed non-stop. As I learned about various
technology and things that would help you live independently, I knew you were
going to be alright.</p> <p>LF: Being you saw me go from vision to blindness in
a matter of three to four months, how did this affect our family and me?</p> <p>VF:
When it first happened, LaShawna, it seemed as though you were going to be in a
very deep depression and self-isolate for a long time. Your brother and sister
were extremely shocked and confused because the vision loss occurred so fast. You
had been the link that held our family together, and when you became blind, it
was like the rug was swiftly pulled from under us.</p> <p>LF: In the early years
of me becoming blind, what were your goals as a mom?</p> <p>VF: My goal was first
to get myself together emotionally and mentally so I could be strong for you. I
wanted to get your confidence up so you could get back in the community. LaShawna,
I also made it a goal to help our family put the shattered pieces back together.
I knew we could still live a happy life despite your lack of vision. I knew that
some way and somehow, you needed to go to college, and I made it a goal to learn
what it would take to make this happen.</p> <p>LF: You have been a super mama
through this process, and I appreciate you. What gave you the strength to allow
me to attend a training center a couple of months after becoming blind?</p> <p>VF:
One of your ophthalmologists in Memphis, Tennessee, made the referral to attend
Addie McBryde Rehabilitation Center for the Blind in Jackson, Mississippi. We went
for a visit to the center, and I learned about the different ways they would teach
you to regain skills such as writing using Braille, walking with a white cane,
cleaning the house, ironing, washing clothes, and so many other things. I believed
in my heart this would help you get back involved in society and live a full
life.</p> <p>LF: After attending two training centers the first year of being
blind, you probably called me fifty times a day to ensure I was good once I started
college and lived in the dorms. What assisted you in settling down and becoming
less worried?</p> <p>VF: I saw your confidence and peace. You were attending
classes, meeting new people, and seeing others from our hometown; you were just
thriving academically and socially. LaShawna, you helped me settle down a lot. I
started seeing you in newspapers, on the local news station in Tupelo, Mississippi,
and you were receiving many honors and awards. You tutored in higher-level math
and English, and this was not long after starting college. I was amazed! It showed
me the power of a determined mind, and it reminded me of the strength you had. I
was a happy mama!</p> <p>LF: You have cheered for me through the different phases
of my life, whether it was college, employment, community involvement, or leisure
activities. What are you most thankful for through this journey?</p> <p>VF: I am
truly thankful that you stayed strong. You made it. It did not break you. You
survived and are still standing today. I have peace in knowing that if I die
tomorrow, you will be okay.</p> <p>LF: What encouragement would you like to give
parents of blind children?</p> <p>VF: Always support your child. Find out what
resources are out there. Never lose hope. Stay involved with the National Federation
of the Blind because you will meet good people. Life does not stop because your
child is blind. The sun still shines.</p> <p>----------</p> <h2
id="fateful-intersectionality">Fateful Intersectionality</h2> <p><strong>by Bill
Borner (he, him, his)</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor: Bill Borner is a
Federationist who lives in Baltimore. He worked in quality control and production
management for Baltimore Spice, Schmidt Bakery, and Cloverland Dairy before losing
his vision. He is married to John Crockett who is his partner of three decades.
They have two grandchildren, ages eighteen and eight. Here is what he says about
being gay and dealing with when and how to announce it when attending a rehabilitation
center not run by the National Federation of the Blind. Enjoy his well-told
story:</strong></p> <p>Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to wake
him.” — The Nazarene, John 11:11</p> <p>So how did you get blind;
was it RP? It seemed a very intrusive question, coming at me during lunch my first
day of orientation for blind skills rehabilitation training. How to answer, and
whether to answer completely, presented a quandary. It had been a very interesting
morning to this point.</p> <p>The day had begun with a workout session with fellow
participants in the program. A fellow trainee offered his physical body for me to
ascertain correct positioning on a particular machine. I begged off, ushering us
instead to the treadmills. As we began stepping in time together, I explained my
dodge from abdominal crunches. I wanted him to know first that I was a gay man.
His hearty laughter put me at ease, simultaneously broadcasting a message of
acceptance to all. Next came Braille class. I was on lesson one struggling with
a “four-letter word.” The Braille teacher offered a hint that this
was something every guy wanted. My fellow classmates chuckled to our teacher’s
quizzical dismay. I let him in on the joke, explaining that I didn’t go
for babes. He laughed nervously as he noted it was, after all, an old book.</p>
<p>So here we are again at my lunch dilemma. I had waded out thus far without
incident, but these next steps would put me in the deep end where harsher judgment
lurked. With trepidation, I ventured onward. My blindness is the result of retinal
damage caused by cytomegalovirus, or CMV. CMV attacks both retinas and small
intestinal linings of persons with compromised immune systems. During the dying
years between the early 80s and the mid-90s, up to 20 percent of AIDS patients
met their makers newly blind. As fate had it, my diagnosis came just as a plethora
of new antiretroviral medications came to market, ending the wave of deaths in
the industrialized world. After a battle during which my retina’s detached,
the new meds finally kicked in. Surgical intervention temporarily restored my
vision, and eventually my immune system largely recovered. The phenomenon of the
terminally ill rebounding is now identified by physicians as the “Lazarus
Syndrome.”</p> <p>I had been ferried back off the river Styx, yet remained
largely on the shore. I permitted the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS to end my career
as a food scientist managing food-processing facilities. I became the editor and
publisher of my condominium association’s newsletter. I contributed my time
to charitable organizations assisting the LGBTQ+ community. I augmented my technical
baccalaureate degree with an associate’s degree in the culinary arts. With
this, I volunteered cooking for a program that feeds homebound cancer and AIDS
patients. Though my vision was beginning to decline, I also volunteered at a
hospice that had been one of the first in my city to care for AIDS patients.</p>
<p>After a decade and a half, I became legally blind. Frustrated that I could no
longer live the life I wanted, I sought advice from my state’s rehabilitation
service. They referred me to a rehabilitation program not officially affiliated
with the NFB, though all of the trainers were Federationists. Though my classmates
were accepting of me, I began experiencing antipathy to my presence from some of
the training staff. I was advised that there were other organizations where I
might feel more comfortable. I was told that I would likely fare better as a
closeted Federationist. I was even informed during a seminar discussion that gay
rights were not civil rights.</p> <p>There were also glimmers of the light of
Federation philosophy. I was urged to abandon my failing vision and see the value
of viewing myself as differently abled rather than disabled. As part of the program,
we attended a local chapter meeting in advance of legislative advocacy at both
the state and federal levels. I was thrilled to be a part of the Federation in
action.</p> <p>Sadly, my rehabilitation was interrupted one morning when I denied
what my ears were telling me in favor of my low vision. I was struck by an automobile
that broke my right leg below the knee. Dedicated Federationists came to my home
as my leg recovered to help me continue my Braille and computer skills training.
I returned to my residential rehabilitation-training program in time to go with
them to the July 2011 Convention in Orlando. I experienced the power of meeting
so many blind people from across the nation. I shared in the revelry of watching
an upcoming Federation leader speed around the Daytona racetrack. It was a pleasure
to meet the man showing off his brand new leather jacket.</p> <p>I had returned
from Orlando newly enthused about my future possibilities; however, I was confounded
by a glaring contradiction. I was being advised to stand proudly as a blind man
and reject the stigma our ablest society confers upon blind people. Simultaneously,
I was hearing that I could not stand proudly as a gay man within the Federation.
Additional unfortunate circumstances led me to question my personal safety. I
withdrew from my training, allowing intolerance and fear to block the inland path
I had seen, retreating to familiar shores. My attendance at chapter meetings
dwindled. I reverted to my internalized ableism, allowing low expectations to
hinder attaining my dreams.</p> <p>Over the next decade, American cultural currents
shifted. I was able to marry the man who has stood by me for thirty years, in
sickness and in health. Joyfully I witnessed the United States Supreme Court
declare that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination
of LGBT employees. Sadly, I also witnessed my nation experience another pandemic.</p>
<p>Within social media, I discovered the Federation was planning a virtual convention
in July of 2020. Reviewing the agenda, I was happy to see LGBTQ+ breakout sessions.
I attended the convention virtually, finding that leather-jacketed blind racecar
driver now behind the wheel of the Federation. I listened tearfully to President
Riccobono’s banquet speech as he extended the light of the Federation to
all blind people, regardless of intersecting characteristics.</p> <p>I have since
taken the Federationist pledge, reintroducing myself to my chapter as a lost
“rainbow sheep” coming home. I am proud to serve on several committees,
to include Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. I have more awakening to do as I
complete virtual classes in UEB and await the end of another pandemic to resume
in-person rehabilitation training. I am proud to have found the NFB undergoing an
awakening of its own. Let us keep moving forward together.</p> <p>----------</p>
<p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Lisa Irving]</p> <h2 id="my-journey-to-justice">My Journey to
Justice</h2> <p><strong>by Lisa Irving</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor:
Lisa Irving is the past president of the San Diego Chapter. At fifty-seven, Lisa
is pursuing her master’s degree in vision rehabilitation therapy (rehabilitation
teaching) from Western Michigan University. Lisa resides outside of San Francisco
with her husband and two cats, Waldo and Kismet. When she has free time, Lisa
enjoys reading. Here is her article about the struggle to get good service and
eventually some compensation from rideshare companies:</strong></p> <p>Do you
remember the Dr. Suess book, <em>Oh, the Places You’ll Go!</em> The lyrical
and whimsical story ignites readers to pursue and to explore their world. That
spirit is reflected in my previous occupation that necessitated travel throughout
the San Diego region during some of the time when I encountered sixty acts of
discrimination in and outside of San Diego. This included missing my shift or
being late to work, drivers screaming at me or making demeaning remarks, and
threatening to leave me and my guide dog on the side of the freeway. Like many of
you, I used Uber and Lyft rideshare services to maximize time and to minimize
stress. Too often, Uber rides were anything but stress-free.</p> <p>So begins my
real-life story about the misadventures when I attempted to use Uber. Five years
ago I needed to drop off paperwork at the Social Security Office. I was refused
service because the driver did not want my guide dog, Bernie, a phlegmatic Labrador
retriever with chocolate brown eyes and flirty eyelashes, in his car. At that time
I had no idea that I would document no less than sixty acts of discrimination.
When I initially began to meticulously document ride denials, harassment, demeaning
remarks, and egregious behaviors, I never in my wildest imagination believed that
I would embark on an almost three-year journey to justice that culminated in what
is thought to be the largest arbitration award against Uber for violating the
Americans with Disabilities Act and California’s version of the ADA, the
Unruh Act.</p> <p>Prior to documenting and filing complaints against drivers, I
excused or minimized the sometimes blatant and other times subtle violation of my
lawful right to be accompanied by my service dog. For a time I assumed the role
of educator and attempted to explain to the driver their legal responsibility to
transport me and my clean and quiet dog guide. Unwittingly, I opened myself up to
no-win situations and bad behavior aimed at me, not Uber.</p> <p>In hindsight I
recognized that I engaged in those dialogues because society and much of the blind
community had convinced me that I was a 24x7 goodwill ambassador of blindness,
and I was obligated to put others at ease and to overlook a multitude of ableist
attitudes Over the past seven years, some life-changing opportunities have reshaped
my mind-set: reviving, growing, and nurturing an NFB chapter; participating in
the 2015 Washington Seminar; and, more recently, pursuing my master’s degree
in the later part of my fifth decade of life.</p> <p>In my evolving mind-set and
strong background in documentation, in 2016 I began to record the discriminatory
behaviors of Uber drivers in vivid detail. I will share tips for documenting
discriminatory behavior and abelist conduct.</p> <p>First, understand what
constitutes discrimination against a disabled passenger and their service animal.
Uber and Lyft are discriminating if they pass you by or otherwise refuse you a
ride based on the fact that you use a guide dog. It is that simple—no
excuses. Next, know Uber’s options for reporting service animal denials
and discrimination against disabled passengers.</p> <p>Next, learn how to take
screen shots and how to activate the video feature on your smartphone. This article
will not discuss how to use these features. For support, find your closest chapter
or at-large chapter through the nfb.org website or the NFB state affiliate website
for your state.</p> <p>Other documenting preparation includes considering which
communication method works best for you. Perhaps you are like me, and keyboarding
works best. Maybe you prefer to use Braille or dark-lined paper and marker. Try
to do the following: I created an electronic folder and named it “Uber
Folder.” Within that folder I had sub-folders. Each folder identified the
year. Creating other folders such as email folders, or a “work rides
2016” folder may also be helpful. Besides storing documentation on your
computer or Braille device, also backup everything with an external hard drive or
thumb drive. Avoid this lesson that I learned the hard way after my former
laptop’s motherboard died.</p> <p>Here is what I recommend when documenting
rideshare-related incidents. After the ride has been requested, take a screen shot
of the driver profile. This is particularly useful if the original driver passes
your ride off to other drivers or Uber disputes the identity of a driver. If you
text your driver, also take a screen shot. Particularly this important if you
identify yourself as blind, having difficulty seeing, or the fact that you use
your guide dog. I emailed the screen shots to myself and left those screen shots
on my phone.</p> <p>Generally, I used Word to write out my complaints. I wrote
down information located in ride history within the Uber app. Each completed or
canceled ride should show up in your ride history. Based on my experience, do not
count on Uber to keep accurate records. Record everything found on the ride receipt
in your ride history. Record the date and time you sent a text or made a call. If
you contact Uber support through the app or online, be sure to write down who you
contacted, the subject, the date and time, and whether a response was received.
I pretty much corresponded from my laptop because I also created a few Uber folders
through my email server.</p> <p>It is also important to write about your interaction
with the driver. In addition to including the driver’s name, color and make
of car, include where you stood, names of witnesses and their contact information,
the weather at the time, and capture as much as you can about who said what. Be
honest if you snapped at the driver, and avoid perceptions and assumptions about
drivers. If you felt demeaned or afraid, write it down.</p> <p>Here are a few
examples of what to include when documenting complaints. On April 15, 2017, driver
Marc drove a pink Tesla. He arrived at my pick-up location, 4200 University Ave,
at 2:56 p.m. Upon arrival the driver asked, “Is that your dog?”</p>
<p>I said, “Yes.”</p> <p>The driver asked, “Is it coming with
you?”</p> <p>I replied, “Yes.” At that point, the driver
drove away.</p> <p>Here is what to include when interacting with an Uber Support
employee when they call you to follow up with your discrimination complaint.
Warning: You may not always receive a call.</p> <p>On December 1, 2016, at 10:55
a.m., Juan P., Uber investigator, called my cell phone. He {they} was following
up about the complaint that I submitted through the Uber app on November 29 at
8:57 a.m. I was informed the call was recorded; this point is important because
attorneys can subpoena Uber for these recordings. Juan asked me to describe what
happened. At this point you should describe what you told the Uber investigator.
Also, provide in the greatest detail you can as much about the questions you were
asked. Ask the investigator what steps are being taken to address the discrimination
and when they will inform you of their decision to suspend or remove the driver
from the platform. More than likely you will get a generic response. Also, do not
hesitate to ask the investigator to read your email or comments from the app’s
support portal. I would preface the request with a comment about wanting to be on
the same page or wanting to ensure I came across clearly. Moreover, I was inclined
to say as little as possible because I trust my documentation. Furthermore, you
have connected written and verbal documentation trails that Uber may or may not
accurately document. Please know that your detailed and organized documentation
could be the crucial key that holds Uber accountable for discriminatory conduct.</p>
<p>In addition to detailed and fairly organized documentation, I also attempted
to use the processes in place at the time of the discrimination. I believed,
especially after the NFB settlement, that Uber would train its drivers and hold
rogue drivers accountable. It did not take me long to recognize that my civil
rights mattered very little to Uber.</p> <p>In 2018 I sought legal counsel. I
reached out to a law firm I previously worked with, the law office of Ms. Jana
Eisinger, Esquire, a Denver-based disability rights attorney. Ms. Eisinger became
the lead attorney in my case against Uber. Ms. Catherine Cabalo and Ms. Tracey
Cown became co-counsel. They work for the San Francisco law firm, Peiffer Wolf
Carr Kane & Conway. For almost three years, these highly accomplished women
invested thousands of hours on my case.</p> <p>Perhaps you are wondering why this
case was not heard in court. Uber and Lyft require passengers to agree to arbitration
or deny perspective passengers access to their rideshare platform. Initially, I
believed that going through arbitration would allow me to make changes that would
make the Uber experience better for me and you. The NFB settlement precludes blind
Uber passengers from seeking injunctive relief. Injunctive relief basically means
changes to policies and practices. However, you and I are not precluded from
monetary relief. I had to work past the distortion that it is wrong to seek monetary
relief. Society as a whole as well as some blind people would have you believe
that you are that stereotypical angry blind person who just wants to sue everyone.
This is not at all the reality. That is, if the laws that were approved by Congress
and the President were upheld to protect our civil rights as people with disabilities,
then we would have no need for arbitration or the courts. We are not the problem;
I am not the problem.</p> <p>I will try to explain the overall sequence of prescribed
steps that ended with the arbitrator’s ruling in mid-March of this year.
I participated in what is called a deposition. Under oath, I was asked a lot of
questions in the presence of my attorneys. Prior to the deposition, the attorneys
helped me to practice answering questions. All questions were answered truthfully
and to the best of my memory. A few months later an arbitrator read my deposition,
our claims against Uber, and their legal team’s responses. Uber delayed
arbitration for a year or longer, which increased legal costs on both sides. An
arbitration date was scheduled for mid-December 2020. My testimony and the testimony
of my witness, Lyn Edward Gwizdak, and arguments from my legal team and Uber’s
legal team and their experts lasted almost five days. The arbitrator, a retired
judge, required both legal teams to provide lengthy summaries with case law and
answers to a few questions. The arbitrator read those summaries and gave both
sides the opportunity to respond to the other legal team’s information.
Thereafter, the arbitrator had a month to make a decision on this case.</p> <p>In
Mid-March 2021, I received a phone call from two of my attorneys. They were elated
to inform me that the arbitrator found in our favor. He praised the “high
quality” work of my legal team and awarded me $324,000 in damages and my
legal team more than $8,000. This is believed to be the highest award in the United
States in a discrimination case involving Uber.</p> <p>So why did I write and
submit this article? It wasn’t to brag about a monetary settlement. It was
because I believe that the civil rights of blind people are important and that
Uber and Lyft still do not get the message. We have the right to go where we want
and when we want, and we have the right to be accompanied by our guide.</p>
<p>----------</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Karl Belanger]</p> <h2 id="smart-cities-summit">Smart
Cities Summit</h2> <p><strong>by Karl Belanger</strong></p> <p><strong>From the
Editor: Karl is one of the most knowledgeable people I know when it comes to
technology, and I am grateful he is willing to help some of his less fortunate
friends when they/I encounter problems. The really wonderful thing about Karl is
that his knowledge extends well beyond assistive technology (AT) where he fields
most of the questions he gets. To show how far beyond AT he goes, enjoy what
follows:</strong></p> <p>I have a love for technology and a passion for improving
accessibility in all areas of life. The nonvisual technology that can be used to
independently navigate through various environments is both beneficial and
fascinating. As cities around the country begin to implement new technologies for
wayfinding and information gathering, it is vital that they are accessible to
those with blind and low vision. Our Smart Cities conference highlighted how access
technology can be used effectively by blind and low-vision individuals to access
various environments’ services including public transportation, voting,
public kiosks, indoor navigation, and autonomous vehicles. Each session brought
together stakeholders from both industry and government to present new technologies
and strategies for improving access in the relevant area. The conference also
discussed the National Federation of the Blind’s Blind Driver Challenge
from 2011 as well as current and future collaboration regarding autonomous
vehicles.</p> <p>With the support of the Maryland Department on Disability (MDOD)
through a Nonvisual Accessibility Initiative (NVAI) grant from the state of
Maryland, the NFB investigates and evaluates the various tools being used for
wayfinding and the strategies for creating accessible public spaces throughout
the year. Our Smart Cities Summit was held on January 28, 2021, and allowed us to
highlight the work being done to create accessible means of making public and
private spaces and services more accessible. Representatives from various academic,
public, and private organizations had an opportunity to share best practices and
network.</p> <p>We kicked off the summit with a welcome from President Riccobono,
highlighting the work we did with our Blind Driver Challenge in 2011 and the
influence it has had in establishing the National Federation of the Blind as viable
partners to researchers and manufactures in the design and development of accessible
autonomous vehicles. Afterward, Henry Claypool, disability policy consultant, set
the tone for the summit with a keynote presentation on “The State of Access
to Smart Cities.” He highlighted the strides made toward the implementation
and use of technology to create more accessible cities and the challenge we face
in our efforts to ensure accessibility moving forward. The rest of the summit
consisted of plenary and concurrent sessions hosted via the Zoom platform. The
following is a brief description of the topics covered:</p> <h3
id="ensuring-access-through-technology-procurement">Ensuring Access through
Technology Procurement</h3> <p>Sharon Maneki, the director of legislation and
advocacy, NFB of Maryland, shared her comments on “The Stakeholder
Difference.” Sharon stressed the importance of stakeholder involvement in
advocating for accessibility, emphasizing the importance of the need for blind
people to be actively engaged in the entire process. She described the tactics
that the members of the NFB of Maryland successfully used to enact legislation in
1998 and 2000 that incorporated nonvisual access requirements into the procurement
process. This legislation was enhanced in 2018 by establishing penalties for
noncompliance by vendors and by updating the 2000 law to reflect changes in current
technology. She explained the nature of the give and take when negotiating the
passage of public policy, referring to it as the “art of the possible.”
Of course, passing the legislation is insufficient if there is no real plan on
how to implement the appropriate practices required to request, evaluate, and
procure accessible technology.</p> <p>Stephen Polacek, an information technology
accessibility evaluator with the Maryland Department of Disabilities, gave a
presentation on “Accessibility Procurement Planning.”</p> <h3
id="improving-public-transit-through-collaboration">Improving Public Transit
through Collaboration </h3> <p>The NFB CENA (Center of Excellence in Nonvisual
Access) has a very productive working relationship with the Maryland Transit
Administration (MTA), and collaborates to enhance the accessibility of Maryland’s
public transit system. Jaime McKay, a transportation planner for MTA, described
the projects that NFB and MTA have partnered on over the past year. These projects
included the evaluation and production of accessible bus schedules using a
print-Braille flipbook, evaluation of various wayfinding technologies at local
light rail and subway stations, and the accessibility evaluation of various mobile
apps that provide public transportation schedule and service information. MTA
demonstrated a commitment to hearing from representatives of the disability
community by expanding its interaction with other disability-focused organizations.</p>
<p>Hindley Williams, an independent living specialist with the IMAGE Center of
Maryland, described how MTA contracted with the IMAGE Center to conduct outreach
during a variety of meetings and conferences of people with disabilities, including
the state convention of the NFB of Maryland. We closed this session with a
demonstration of CharmPass, Baltimore’s accessible bus ticketing and
information app.</p> <h3
id="nonvisual-access-to-digital-public-services-ensuring-accessible-public-information-through-training-and-policy">Nonvisual
Access to Digital Public Services: Ensuring Accessible Public Information through
Training and Policy </h3> <p>Public kiosks have been around for a while, but there
appears to be growth in their utilization as a tool to provide self-service options,
public information, and wayfinding assistance. The NFB is committed to fostering
the partnerships with developers of next generation kiosk technology to ensure
the accessibility of these tools as they are deployed throughout the country. Gina
Winkler, director of product and Kara Tuckerman, lead product designer for IKE
Smart City at Orange Barrel Media, presented along with Drew Nicholson, president/chief
operating officer of Intellectual Technology, Inc, describing the accessibility
features of their kiosk technology. IKE Smart City has developed a mobile interface
to its informational kiosks deployed in several cities across the country. It also
worked with the NFB BUILD, (Blind Users Innovating and Leading Design) program to
gain valuable user feedback. ITI discussed their fully accessible kiosk designed
to provide full access to self-service features at its local DMV.</p> <h3
id="accessible-elections-lessons-learned-for-successful-execution">Accessible
Elections, Lessons Learned for Successful Execution</h3> <p>With lockdowns and
social distancing becoming commonplace in 2020, many states turned to mail-in
voting. With this change came an increased focus for the National Federation of
the Blind on ensuring that the implemented solutions were accessible to blind and
low-vision voters. Lou Ann Blake, director of research programs at the National
Federation of the Blind, discussed recent developments in accessible voting systems
and the guidelines for developers to make their devices and software accessible.
Lou Ann then interviewed Jared Dearing, director of elections for the state of
Kentucky, and Heidi Schissler, legal director for Disability Rights Kentucky. The
discussion covered the challenges faced when working to introduce accessible voting
technologies, and each of them highlighted the steps they are taking to ensure
the right to a private, secure, accessible vote for each blind and low-vision
Kentucky citizen. Following this, Karl Belanger demonstrated the Democracy Live
online ballot marking system, which allows blind voters to independently mark and
print out their ballot.</p> <h3 id="accessible-pedestrian-spaces">Accessible
Pedestrian Spaces </h3> <p>It is possible to create accessible public spaces using
features and technologies that are functional and esthetically pleasing. Peggy
Martinez, principal of Creative Inclusion, LLC, gave a presentation on a variety
of strategies that can be used to improve accessibility for people with disabilities
in the areas of technology, wayfinding, transit, recreation, travel, and
entertainment.</p> <h3
id="scanning-mapping-covid-19-automated-contact-tracing-and-navigating-indoor-spaces.">Scanning,
Mapping, COVID-19 Automated Contact Tracing and Navigating Indoor Spaces. </h3>
<p>The blind have had access to wayfinding technology, like Sendero, that provides
information that assists us to navigate throughout outdoor spaces for years.
However, the technology that provides access to information about indoor environments
in a manner that allows for independent navigation indoors continues to present
a challenge. Mike May, chief evangelist of GoodMaps, the innovator of Sendero,
co-presented with Ruben Kazantsev, co-founder/CEO of IndoorAccess<sup>®</sup>.
They discussed the evolving technologies and the various ways they can be used.</p>
<h3 id="enhancing-mobility-through-autonomous-vehicles">Enhancing Mobility through
Autonomous Vehicles</h3> <p>We were honored to have Dr. Anne Marie Lewis, senior
director of technology, innovation, and mobility policy with the Alliance for
Automotive Innovation to offer a keynote for the beginning of our presentations
on autonomous vehicles. The National Federation of the Blind is proud to have such
a productive relationship with the Alliance for Automotive Innovation. They have
been tremendous partners in helping us enact legislation, like the Pedestrian
Safety Enhancement Act, which makes the world safer for all pedestrians. We look
forward to our continued work together to implement the legislation and policies
that will make autonomous vehicles a reality.</p> <h3
id="researching-accessible-autonomous-vehicles">Researching Accessible Autonomous
Vehicles</h3> <p>Dr. Julian Brinkley spoke to summit participants on his research
toward the design of accessible autonomous vehicle technology. The NFB worked with
Julian while he was a student seeking his doctoral degree. Accessible autonomous
vehicles was his focus then, and we are pleased that he has continued his work as
assistant professor of human-centered computing at Clemson University. The
relationships we establish with researchers is key to ensuring that our voices
are heard in the design and development process.</p> <h3
id="partnering-with-stakeholders-in-the-designdevelopment-of-technology-and-policy">Partnering
with Stakeholders in the Design/Development of Technology and Policy</h3> <p>Our
partnership with autonomous vehicle manufactures is essential if we are to ensure
that our voices are heard and our recommendations are incorporated into the design,
development, and implementation of autonomous vehicle technology. We have established
collaborative partnerships with several automobile manufacturing companies, offering
feedback and participating in the evaluation of various accessibility strategies.
Ellie Casson, head of local public policy, Waymo, and Kenny Montilla, public
affairs manager, Cruise, co-presented during this session to give updates on their
progress. They emphasized the importance of stakeholder involvement in the design
and development of autonomous vehicle technology.</p> <p>At the end of the summit,
we were able to once again highlight our NFB Blind Driver Challenge and offered
a teaser about how we would be accelerating accessibility in 2021.</p> <h3
id="moving-forward">Moving Forward</h3> <p>The event was a success, with many
participants enjoying the day. Some participants commented they would like to see
more discussed about options in rural areas, discussion of accessibility in large
spaces like malls, as well as information on activities outside the United States.
As cities continue to evolve and autonomous vehicles come ever closer to reality,
the National Federation of the Blind Center of Excellence in Nonvisual Access will
continue to work toward the goal of blind people living the lives they want in a
fully accessible city.</p> <p>----------</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Ruby Polk]</p>
<h2 id="my-experience-as-a-leader-and-a-tip-for-others">My Experience as a Leader
and a Tip for Others</h2> <p><strong>by Ruby Polk</strong></p> <p><strong>From
the Editor: Ruby Polk is a strong and committed Federationist from Missouri. She
reveals a lot about herself in what follows, so I will simply note that Ruby is
truly a wonderful asset for the Federation, and she cares deeply about helping
make life better for blind people. Here is what she says:</strong></p> <p>I am a
woman who happens to be blind, an entrepreneur, and a committed member of the
National Federation of the Blind. I have been a member of the Federation for a
long time, joining under our President Emeritus Dr. Marc Maurer.</p> <p>I have
previously served the Kansas City Chapter as president for fourteen years
consecutively. I obtained a seat on the state affiliate board and rose to second
vice president by asking questions of then vice president Shelia Wright and many
others.</p> <p>I love to work at the grass roots of our local chapter, and this
work brought about a lot of continuity when our current president, Daniel Garcia,
came to the office. This forward progress continues. State president Gary Wunder
supported our chapter using inclusion methods way back at the time I joined and
began to take leadership positions.</p> <p>My late husband Pastor Larry Polk and
I attended a national leadership seminar one Labor Day in Maryland and met Dr.
Maurer. After forming a warm relationship with Dr. Maurer, he said to us that he
was establishing a capital campaign. I asked him what that was. He explained that
it was a fund to build our first research institute, later known as the Jernigan
Institute. He said everyone could and should participate.</p> <p>After returning
home, Pastor Polk and I discussed the idea of the capital campaign and called and
spoke to President Maurer again. He said that there would be a Wall of Honor
established, and he would ask people for a ten-thousand-dollar pledge and ask them
to sign the Wall of Honor. We decided to participate to sign that "Wall of Honor,"
and pledge our money we did. We decided that we should put our money where our
mouths were because leaders must be generous in all areas. Leadership is being in
front or in back as long as we are all working together to advance the same cause,
which is blindness.</p> <p>Since it has recently been National Women's Month and
inclusion and diversity are being promoted, this is my one leadership tip. Thanks
to all of you and God bless you and the organization we so proudly share.</p>
<p>----------</p> <h2 id="giving-20-goes-a-long-wayit-can-take-you-to-new-orleans"><strong>Giving
$20 Goes a Long Way–It Can Take You to New Orleans</strong></h2> <p>Each
year thousands of Federation members make donations during national convention.
In 2021, your generosity is still needed to fund our great programs. When you give
$20 or more between April 15 and July 10 2:00 p.m. ET, you will be entered into
the Give 20 Campaign Drawing to win the following:</p> <ul> <li><p>Round-trip
transportation for two for the 2022 NFB National Convention</p></li> <li><p>Hotel
at the convention</p></li> <li><p>Banquet tickets for two</p></li> <li><p>$1,000
in walking-around cash</p></li> </ul> <p>OR take the cash!</p> <ul> <li><p>$2,000</p></li>
</ul> <p>Each $20 donation is a chance to win. Your name will be placed in the
drawing for each increment of $20 you give. Give $100 and you will be entered into
the drawing five times. You must specify one of the following funds in order to
be entered into the drawing:</p> <ul> <li><p><strong>Kenneth Jernigan
Fund:</strong> The proceeds from this fund are used to bring a number of
attendees to their first national convention. It is named in honor of our former
President and longtime leader to promote attendance at the national convention,
where so much inspiration and learning occur. He planned our conventions for more
than forty years and did so much to make them what they are today.</p></li>
<li><p><strong>SUN Fund:</strong> These funds are being set aside in the
event that they are needed to support the Federation during difficult times.</p></li>
<li><p><strong>White Cane Fund: </strong>These dollars go directly to the
general treasury of the Federation.</p></li> <li><p><strong>tenBroek
Fund:</strong> These dollars go to the tenBroek Memorial Fund which owns the
property at 200 East Wells <em>at Jernigan Place</em> in Baltimore for
the benefit of blind people.</p></li> </ul> <p>The funds help our work to change
lives like we did for Annie:</p> <p><em>My name is Annie Ascher, and I am a
recipient of the Jernigan Scholarship Fund. Initially, I was overwhelmed until I
met my mentors from my state affiliate. I was very nervous because I was older
than most participants, was still losing vision, and had no alternative skills.
My mentors helped me understand and overcome my fears in a warm and supportive
manner. They taught me that I could be independent and live the life I want.
Through my first national convention experience and the relationships I built
through that experience, I have come a long way. Today I serve as my chapter
president in Virginia Beach, mentor other first-timers, and share our positive
philosophy with others. At my first convention, I realized that my age was just
a number, and everyone treated me with respect. I am proud to state I am a military
veteran and a proud member of the National Federation of the Blind.</em></p> <p>You
can specify a fund by using our Give $20 online donation form or in the memo if
giving by check. Your donation will be counted for the drawing regardless of which
fund you designate.</p> <ul> <li><p>Donate online now at <a
href="https://nfb.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=45">https://nfb.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=45</a></p></li>
<li><p>Donate via phone by calling our donation line at 410-659-9314, extension
2282</p></li> <li><p>Send a check to: National Federation of the Blind Jernigan
Institute, 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230. Important: Be sure to
designate “Give 20” and the fund to which you are donating in the
memo line.</p></li> </ul> <p>The winner of the drawing will be announced July 10,
2021, at the banquet. Learn more at <a href="https://nfb.org/convention">nfb.org/convention</a>.
Thank you for your support.</p> <p>----------</p> <p><strong>[PHOTO CAPTION: Peggy
Chong]</strong></p> <h2 id="when-you-raise-them-right">When You Raise Them Right</h2>
<p><strong>by Peggy Chong</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor: Peggy Chong,
now known as the Blind History Lady, takes on a question that many of us ask
ourselves as we read about prominent blind people in history: how did their children
turn out? What part did blindness play in the lives of those children? This article
doesn’t answer all of those questions, but it does clearly suggest that
blindness is no obstacle to career success for our offspring. Enjoy the
article:</strong></p> <p>Often blind adults are convinced by sighted family and
friends not to have children for many reasons. If their eye condition is not
hereditary, then excuses such as you’ll not be able to raise them safely;
you won’t know what they are doing; and the worst of them being, you will
be a burden to them, forcing them to grow up too fast and take care of you when
they are still children.</p> <p>All of that is bunk! I can speak from personal
experience and the experiences of many blind friends and acquaintances I know who
decided or were surprised to learn they were going to be a parent. Just like
sighted people, we have our successes and failures. I am convinced that raising
good, successful children requires a lot of skill, love, and luck.</p> <p>As the
Blind History Lady, I haven’t taken much time to learn what the children
of some of the blind ancestors I have researched did after leaving home. But today
I want to tell you a bit about a blind man, how he lived, and what became of his
children. They caught my attention in a blurb about Aaron in a county historical
website. He is a fine example that a blind person can be a great parent and good
role model for his children.</p> <p>Aaron Boyer was born February 17, 1833, in
York, Pennsylvania, the son of Daniel and Rosina Boyer. He was the seventh of
fifteen children. At age twelve he had an accident that caused him to lose most
of his sight, and he dropped out of the Indiana public school near his home. He
worked in his dad’s distillery until he was fifteen when his father sent
him away to work for another distiller to bring needed income into the family.</p>
<p>Aaron began to show signs of rheumatism. Not liking liquor and working in the
immoral alcohol business, he returned to the family farm but did not stay long.
Again, he was sent out to earn his keep. He took jobs as a plasterer and then
worked for the Miami Canal Packet Company, driving a team on a canal packet. In
the fall of 1849, he was so badly crippled with rheumatism that he had to seek
other employment.</p> <p>In early 1850 he worked with a surveying party on the
Cincinnati, Hamilton, and Dayton Railroad. But the inclement weather inflamed his
rheumatism and his eyes, so he was forced to stop working and return to his
father’s house, now in Germantown, Indiana. At seventeen he became totally
blind.</p> <p>Aaron began making brooms at home, selling them himself or through
merchants in the area. He entered the school for the blind in Indianapolis in the
fall of 1856 as a student, but he quickly became the broom shop instructor. After
a year he felt he could do better on his own than staying on as a teacher at the
school, and for a short time he moved to Ohio to start a broom factory.</p> <p>From
1855 to 1864 he primarily manufactured brooms by himself in Wayne County, Indiana.
His first purchase of broom corn was for five dollars, and two dollars of that
amount was on credit. Moving to Crawford County, Illinois, he carried on the same
business until 1866. Aaron next moved to Elmwood, and two years later he moved to
Galesburg and began his own business in a factory measuring fifteen by twenty
feet. He hired sighted men and later women to work for him.</p> <p>His buildings
burned and were re-built, each bigger and more modern than before. Aaron hired as
many as twenty-five men and women to work for him. Although not documented, most
likely his sons worked in their father’s broom shop for a time.</p> <p>Aaron
retired at the age of sixty-four. His factory was turning out 15,000 to 18,000
brooms each year. Five years later he sold the broom factory to some of his former
employees.</p> <p>Aaron married three times. In 1853 he married Elizabeth Buck,
and they had a child who died in infancy. Soon Elizabeth passed away. On October
3, 1858, he married Sarah Harper. She died in 1875, leaving three sons and one
daughter. At the time of her death one son was sixteen, another fifteen, the
youngest son was seven, and his daughter was only four. After raising his children
on his own for two years, he married Julia Mitchell. They had four children, the
first two dying in infancy. Abel and Orris, much younger than their siblings, were
almost a separate family.</p> <p>Aaron died on Christmas Eve of 1903. His two
youngest boys were still in their teens. Their mother died just one year later.
For many families so many losses and half-siblings spaced so far apart could lead
to even more heartache. But Aaron instilled deep love for everyone and a responsibility
not just to family but to the broader community.</p> <h3 id="his-sons">His Sons</h3>
<p>Charles Boyer married and had two daughters. Minnie was a corn sorter for a
broom factory in Paris, Illinois, when the girls were young. Charles worked in a
broom factory until his death in 1933.</p> <p>Andrew Jackson Boyer was born in
1860 and died in 1913 in Cook County, Illinois. He moved to Chicago and became a
broom maker in a large Chicago factory.</p> <p>William R. Boyer was born in 1867,
became a member and soon a leader in the International Broom and Whisk Makers
Union. He rose to the rank of secretary/treasurer. In 1914 he led a strike on
behalf of the girls and young women of the US Broom and Brush factory in Chicago.
The union focused its attention on this factory out of the other twenty-six listed
broom and brush factories in the area because of its pattern of exploitation.</p>
<p>Several newspapers, in particular the <em>Chicago Day Book</em>, followed Will
and the efforts to unionize the shop for more than two years. According to the
papers and Will, the U.S. Broom and Brush Company recruited recently immigrated
young girls to work in its factory at long hours and with wages only a third of
what was paid to other broom and brush makers doing the same work.</p> <p>The
first attempt at unionizing in 1914 was met with hostility. Will and others called
the meeting and told the girls they would not be fired if they came to the meeting
at the Schoenhofen Hall. There were officials who could speak to some of the girls
in their own language. But, at the time of the meeting, two of the foremen were
standing in the doorway across the street and took down names. The next day those
leading the organizing of the girls were fired.</p> <p>The fired girls who could
speak English went back to Will. He ensured that the union hired them a lawyer.
The girls explained how one of the foremen yelled and abused them. Warrants were
sworn out by the union for the arrest of the foremen. Thanks to William, many of
the girls found work in other broom factories before the union was voted in by
the current employees.</p> <p>William also spoke out and worked to bring legislation
to identify convict-made brooms that were sold at a lesser cost than those made
by paid broom makers forcing lower wages in the private broom factories.</p> <p>He
married and had at least one child. William died in 1937.</p> <p>Abel was born in
1886 and was the only child to attend college. He stayed close to home, choosing
Knox College in Galesburg. He worked at many labor-intensive occupations. He
painted houses, raised chickens, and worked as a gardener before becoming a
refrigeration engineer. He worked as a switchman for one of the railroads in town.
He married and had at least four children. By the 1940s he held a position with
the Highway Commission in Illinois, helping to frame the new US highway systems
reaching across the country through Illinois. Abel died in Galesburg in 1973.</p>
<p>The last son born to Aaron, almost thirty years after his oldest living child,
was Orrin, born in 1888. Orrin married and had at least four children. After
working for the railroad and suffering an injury that left him permanently scarred,
he purchased a farm in Cascade County, Montana, and tried farming for a few years.
He served four years in the National Guard in the 1910s. He returned to Galesburg
in 1919. Orrin began working as a police officer for Galesburg that year. He
retired as chief of police in 1945. Orrin died in Galesburg in 1960.</p> <p>It is
clear that Aaron’s blindness did not interfere with his becoming an upstanding
parent and a man who could hold a family together. Each of his children lived
lives in which their father could be proud, and all of them did their small part
to make the world a better place.</p> <p>A note from the Blind History Lady: If
you would like to schedule a presentation, contact me at <a
href="mailto:theblindhistorylady@gmail.com">theblindhistorylady@gmail.com</a>.
You can read more of my books at <a
href="https://www.smashwords.com">https://www.smashwords.com</a>.</p> <p>----------</p>
<h2 id="recipes">Recipes</h2> <p><strong>Recipes this month were contributed by
members of the National Federation of the Blind of South Dakota</strong></p>
<p><strong>Spinach and Artichoke Dip</strong></p> <p><strong>by Beth Albury Konechne
via Lil’ Luna</strong></p> <p><strong>This dip is a delicious appetizer,
usually paired with chips, crackers, or bread. However we also love it as a filling
for stuffed mushrooms. Trust us; it’s a hit at parties!</strong></p>
<p><strong>Ingredients:</strong></p> <p>14 oz. can of artichoke hearts (drained,
chopped)</p> <p>10 oz. box of frozen spinach (thawed, drained)</p> <p>2 teaspoons
garlic</p> <p>1/3 cup mayo</p> <p>8 oz. cream cheese</p> <p>2 cups parmesan
cheese</p> <p>2/3 cup sour cream</p> <p><strong>Method:</strong> Mix ingredients
thoroughly, and then put into an 8 x 8 pan. Bake at 375 degrees for twenty-five
minutes or until the edges are beginning to get crispy.</p> <p>----------</p>
<p><strong>Berry Easy Muffins</strong></p> <p><strong>by Beth Albury Konechne</strong></p>
<p><strong>In our house, this gluten-free and vegan recipe is one of our go-to
bakery items since it works for a lot of dietary needs; it is yummy both for
breakfast or an after-supper treat.</strong></p> <p>This recipe can make either
a dozen (12) muffins or a 9-inch circle cake pan.</p> <p><strong>Ingredients:</strong></p>
<p>1 flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds and 3 tablespoons of plant milk)</p>
<p>2/3 cup plant milk (I like unsweetened vanilla almond milk)</p> <p>2 tablespoons
oil</p> <p>1/3 cup maple syrup</p> <p>2 cups gluten-free Bisquick</p> <p>1 cup
frozen berries</p> <p><strong>Method:</strong> In a mixing bowl, first make the
flax egg. Put in the other liquids and mix. Add one cup of the Bisquick and stir
until smooth. Repeat with the second cup. Lastly, fold in the frozen berries;
please do not thaw. Make sure to grease the pan before adding the batter. Bake at
375 degrees. Check after fifteen minutes. The time can vary depending on the size
of your confection and the type of berries. You can eat as is or top with some
Kerrygold butter.</p> <blockquote> <p><strong>----------</strong></p> <p><strong>Energy
Bars</strong></p> <p><strong>by Mike and Jackie Klimisch</strong></p> </blockquote>
<p><strong>These are very easy, quick bars to make that go over well at any
get-together. They are very nutritious for a snack food.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Ingredients:</strong></p> <p>3/4 cup honey</p> <p>2-1/2 cups peanut
butter</p> <p>2 cups coconut finely grated</p> <p>1-1/2 cups flaxseed ground</p>
<p>4 teaspoons vanilla</p> <p>4 cups oatmeal</p> <p><strong>Method:</strong> Mix
and put in 9 x 13 cake pan. Chill. [Cutting it into bars with a nearly frozen
butter knife can help.]</p> <p>----------</p> <blockquote> <p><strong>Microwave
Nut Brittle</strong></p> <p><strong>by Mike and Jackie Klimisch</strong></p>
</blockquote> <p><strong>Ingredients:</strong></p> <p>1 cup sugar</p> <p>1/2 cup
light corn syrup</p> <p>1/8 teaspoons salt</p> <p>1-1/2 cups cashews, mixed nuts,
pecans, or peanuts</p> <p>1 teaspoon butter</p> <p>1 teaspoon vanilla</p> <p>2
teaspoons baking soda</p> <p><strong>Method:</strong> Spray cookie sheet and metal
spatula with cooking spray. In two-quart microwavable-glass measuring cup or bowl
stir sugar, corn syrup, and salt with a wooden spoon until mixed. Microwave on
high seven to eight-and-a-half minutes or until syrup is pale yellow. Candy syrup
is hot, handle carefully, do not touch mixture. Stir in nuts. Microwave one to
two minutes or until nuts are lightly browned. Immediately stir in butter, vanilla,
and baking soda until foamy. Quickly pour onto prepared cookie sheet; spread evenly
with spatula. Cool; break into pieces. Store in tightly covered container.</p>
<p>----------</p> <p><strong>Fisher Beans</strong></p> <p><strong>by Pam
Fisher</strong></p> <p><strong>Pam Fisher is the second vice president of South
Dakota.</strong></p> <p><strong>Ingredients:</strong></p> <p>1 can pork and
beans</p> <p>1 can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained</p> <p>1 can baby butter
beans, rinsed and drained</p> <p>1/2 pound bacon, cooked and chopped</p> <p>1
pound hamburger, cooked, chopped, and drained</p> <p>1/2-1 onion depending on your
liking, diced and cooked with hamburger</p> <p>1 cup brown sugar</p> <p>1 cup
ketchup</p> <p>1 tablespoon mustard</p> <p>1 tablespoon white vinegar</p>
<p><strong>Method:</strong> Combine all ingredients; mix well in slow cooker and
heat on low four hours or high two hours or until heated through. You can also
put in oven at 350 for 40 minutes. Tip: I like to season hamburger with Lawry's
Seasoned Salt.</p> <p>----------</p> <h2 id="monitor-miniatures"><em>Monitor</em>
Miniatures </h2> <p><strong>News from the Federation Family</strong></p>
<p><strong>McDonald’s and National Federation of the Blind Collaborate on
Self-service Kiosks:</strong></p> <p><strong>Blind Americans Commend McDonald’s
for Commitment to Accessibility:</strong></p> <p>The National Federation of the
Blind, America’s civil rights organization of the blind, and McDonald’s
USA announce a collaboration to make McDonald’s self-service kiosks in
company-owned, U.S. restaurants even more accessible to customers who are blind.
McDonald’s USA’s company-owned restaurants will implement these
enhancements by December 31, 2021.</p> <p>Using new and advanced technology,
enhancements to existing accessibility features include screen-reading software,
tactile keypads, and the ability for customers to connect their headphones or ear
buds to the kiosk and independently place their orders by responding to audio
prompts.</p> <p>“More accessible self-service kiosks are a win both for
McDonald’s guests who are blind and for its company-owned restaurants,
since they will allow us fully independent access to the menu and ordering options
without assistance from restaurant employees or other patrons,” said Mark
Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “We commend
McDonald’s for quickly working with us to implement these innovations and
hope that McDonald’s leadership in the industry will serve as an example
to encourage other restaurant brands to incorporate accessibility into their
customer-service technology plans and specifications.”</p> <p>The enhancements
will be incorporated into 100 percent of existing kiosks in California and 25
percent of existing kiosks in each company-owned restaurant in other U.S. states.
McDonald’s will also incorporate these upgrades into all kiosks that are
installed in any U.S. restaurant after July 1, 2021, including new kiosks that
suppliers are approved to sell to franchised restaurants.</p> <p>McDonald’s
and the National Federation of the Blind will continue to collaborate on training
for restaurant staff in company-owned restaurants and other innovations impacting
McDonald’s guests who are blind.</p> <p>“At McDonald’s,
inclusion means opening our doors to everyone and finding ways to exceed
customers’ unique needs,” Myrna Bell, McDonald’s Senior
Director, Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Strategic Engagement, said.
“We are proud to partner with the National Federation of the Blind to offer
innovative solutions for our customers and help make everyone’s McDonald’s
experience even more accessible and enjoyable.”</p> <p>McDonald’s
kiosks currently include multiple accessibility features, including a reach mode
for guests with reach limitations, a screen magnifier, ample clear floor space,
and a customer assistance call button designed to alert restaurant crew members
that a guest may require assistance.</p> <p><strong>A Few Updates from the National
Association of Guide Dog Users:</strong></p> <p>As the 2021 convention draws near,
NAGDU is busy making changes and modernizing a few things.</p> <ol style="list-style-type:
decimal"> <li><p>NAGDU has a new business number. This number is staffed by the
exec officers. By taking a team approach, we will be able to answer calls and
texts much more efficiently than in the past. The NAGDU number is 346-439-7444.
The purpose of this number is to reach NAGDU board members for questions relating
to guide dog user concerns, member dues, NAGDU events, and other related topics.
Calls or texts to this number will typically be responded to within one business
day. Please note that this number does not replace the NAGDU hot line, which we
are still working on and hope to bring back in the future.</p></li> <li><p>NAGDU
Email Address: If you want to reach the entire board of directors, you can email
<a href="mailto:board@nagdu.org">board@nagdu.org</a>. Just like with the calls
and texts, messages are typically responded to within one business day.</p></li>
<li><p>NAGDU Public Calendar: NAGDU hosts several events every month. Some of
these events include the monthly board of directors meeting held on the last Sunday
of most months, the Yappy social hour held every other Saturday, and the Guide
Dog Matters seminars held on the third Sunday of most months. In addition, NAGDU
also promotes guide dog user related meetings and seminars held by other affiliates
and state divisions within the NFB. While we typically send out emails a few days
before each event, we have also created a subscription calendar that works great
with Android and iOS devices. To subscribe to this calendar, simply follow this
long link from a mobile device or tablet: <a
href="https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/nagdu.org_7eopjofhnd4968m46rcmgrck0s%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics">https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/nagdu.org_7eopjofhnd4968m46rcmgrck0s%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics</a></p></li>
</ol> <p>In closing, we hope to see you at convention this year. NAGDU will be
hosting its annual seminar and business meeting. Because elections will be held
during the business meeting, it is important that you are current with your dues.
These can include dues paid to your local state guide dog user division or to
NAGDU directly. Stay tuned for more details.</p> <p><strong>Tap the 2021 Convention
Concierge Service for First-Time Attendees:</strong></p> <p><strong>This announcement
comes from Tracy Soforenko, the chair of the Kenneth Jernigan Committee.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Make the most of your first convention! Prepare yourself for a convention
experience filled with energy, empowerment, fun, and education.</strong></p>
<p><strong>The Kenneth Jernigan Committee understands that thinking about your
first convention might be daunting, or perhaps there might be many gaps in what
you think you should expect, but we are here for you. As President Riccobono
announced at the May <em>Presidential Release</em> Live, we are launching the 2021
Convention Concierge Service for first-time convention attendees.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Let’s connect you with someone who can help break the ice, tap
into our network, and answer your questions about all things “national
convention.” Email <a href="mailto:rookie@nfb.org">rookie@nfb.org</a> or
drop us a voicemail at 410-659-9314, ext. 2020, by June 15 to let us know that
you are interested.</strong></p> <p><strong>Please include your name, preferred
telephone number, what state you are joining us from, and a few things that you
want us to know when matching you with mentors (e.g. life goals, if you are a
guide dog user, perhaps a parent of a blind child, a student, your hobbies, the
types of individuals you would like to meet, etc.).</strong></p> <p><strong>We
want your first convention to be a space where we grow stronger together with
love, hope, and determination.</strong></p> <p><strong>----------</strong></p>
<h2 id="nfb-pledge">NFB Pledge</h2> <p>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.</p> </body> </html>