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<div id="header"> <h1 class="title">The Braille monitor, July 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="#a-toy-story-at-jernigan-institute">A
Toy Story at Jernigan Institute</a></li> <li><a
href="#top-legal-terms-our-readers-might-want-to-know">Top Legal Terms Our Readers
Might Want to Know</a></li> <li><a href="#rise-up">Rise Up!</a></li> <li><a
href="#the-nfb-science-and-engineering-division-and-the-nfb-national-association-of-blind-students-joint-stem-zoom-conference-meeting-report-for-february-28-2021">The
NFB Science and Engineering Division and the NFB National Association of Blind
Students Joint STEM Zoom Conference Meeting Report for February 28, 2021</a> <ul>
<li><a
href="#title-methods-for-the-blind-to-electronically-read-and-write-mathematics-from-primary-school-through-college">Title:
“Methods for the Blind to Electronically Read and Write Mathematics from
Primary School through College” </a></li> <li><a href="#reading-math">Reading
Math</a></li> <li><a href="#writing-math">Writing Math</a></li> <li><a
href="#learning-math">Learning Math</a></li> <li><a href="#doing-math">Doing
Math</a></li> <li><a
href="#title---where-humanities-social-science-and-engineering-collide-perspectives-on-the-value-of-interdisciplinary-study-and-research">Title
- Where Humanities, Social Science, and Engineering Collide: Perspectives on the
Value of Interdisciplinary Study and Research </a></li> <li><a
href="#combinatory-play">Combinatory Play:</a></li> <li><a
href="#toolsresources">Tools/Resources:</a></li> <li><a
href="#title---trial-and-error-toward-faster-methods-of-learning-stem-skills-as-a-blind-student">Title
- Trial and Error: Toward Faster Methods of Learning STEM Skills as a Blind Student
</a></li> <li><a href="#wrap-up">Wrap up: </a></li> <li><a href="#contacts">Contacts:</a></li>
</ul></li> <li><a href="#creating-access-in-the-arts-and-beyond">Creating Access
in the Arts and Beyond</a></li> <li><a href="#when-i-was-almost-the-victim-of-my-implicit-bias">When
I Was Almost the Victim of My Implicit Bias</a></li> <li><a
href="#a-response-from-the-league-of-women-voters-of-colorado">A Response from
the League of Women Voters of Colorado</a></li> <li><a
href="#changing-the-world-one-ballot-at-a-time">Changing the World One Ballot at
a Time</a></li> <li><a href="#to-educate-or-alienate">To Educate or Alienate</a></li>
<li><a href="#making-it-through-adversity">Making it through Adversity</a></li>
<li><a href="#discrimination-against-the-blind-isnt-just-a-sighted-thing">Discrimination
Against the Blind Isn’t Just a Sighted Thing</a></li> <li><a
href="#i-wanted-to-walk-a-mile-in-those-little-high-heeled-shoes">I Wanted to Walk
a Mile in Those Little High-Heeled Shoes</a></li> <li><a href="#my-jury-experience">My
Jury Experience</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="#ways-to-contribute-now">Ways to Contribute Now
</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="#feeling-through">Feeling Through</a></li> <li><a
href="#why-i-am-proud-to-be-blind">Why I am Proud to Be Blind</a></li> <li><a
href="#telling-an-uncomfortable-and-unconventional-story">Telling an Uncomfortable
and Unconventional Story</a></li> <li><a
href="#bernies-story-it-takes-a-village-resourcefulness-and-cosmic-alignment">Bernie’s
Story: It Takes a Village, Resourcefulness, and Cosmic Alignment</a> <ul> <li><a
href="#it-takes-a-village-or-borough">It Takes a Village (or Borough)</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-overbrook-school-for-the-blind-to-catholic-high-school">From
Overbrook School for the Blind to Catholic High School</a></li> <li><a
href="#necessity-is-the-mother-of-invention">Necessity is the Mother of
Invention</a></li> <li><a
href="#navigating-the-campus-and-classes-at-villanova-university">Navigating the
Campus and Classes at Villanova University</a></li> <li><a
href="#stars-aligned-1-nsa-is-calling">Stars Aligned #1: NSA is Calling</a></li>
<li><a href="#stars-aligned-2-the-optacon">Stars Aligned #2: The Optacon</a></li>
<li><a href="#stars-aligned-3-eyes-for-life">Stars Aligned #3: Eyes for Life</a></li>
<li><a href="#bookshare-opens-door-to-a-new-world-of-books">Bookshare Opens Door
to a New World of Books</a></li> <li><a href="#stars-aligned-4-sara-joins-the-village">Stars
Aligned #4: Sara Joins the Village</a></li> <li><a href="#time-to-pay-it-forward">Time
to Pay It Forward</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="#independence-market-corner">Independence
Market Corner</a> <ul> <li><a href="#athletic-balls-with-bells">Athletic Balls
with Bells</a></li> <li><a href="#rattle-soccer-ball---aig79b-23.00">Rattle Soccer
Ball - AIG79B $23.00</a></li> <li><a href="#beeping-frisbee---aig46f-15.00">Beeping
Frisbee - AIG46F $15.00</a></li> </ul></li> <li><a href="#recipes">Recipes</a>
<ul> <li><a
href="#eating-crab-at-the-national-convention-banquet-some-recipes-from-the-host-affiliate">Eating
Crab at the National Convention Banquet: Some Recipes from the Host Affiliate</a></li>
</ul></li> <li><a href="#monitor-miniatures"><em>Monitor</em> Miniatures </a></li>
</ul></li> </ul> </div> <h1 id="braille-monitor">BRAILLE MONITOR</h1> <p>Vol. 64,
No. 7 July 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: Facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind</p>
<p>Follow us on Twitter: @NFB_Voice</p> <p>Watch and share our videos:
YouTube.com/NationsBlind</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. 7 July 2021</p> <h2 id="contents">Contents</h2> <p>Illustration: A Toy
Story at Jernigan Institute</p> <p>Top Legal Terms Our Readers Might Want to
Know</p> <p>by Valerie Yingling</p> <p>Rise Up!</p> <p>by Ronza Othman</p> <p>The
NFB Science and Engineering Division and the NFB National Association of Blind
Students Joint STEM Zoom Conference Meeting Report for February 28, 2021</p> <p>by
Neil Soiffer, Gene Kim, Newton Nguyen, and Louis Maher</p> <p>Creating Access in
the Arts and Beyond</p> <p>by Precious Perez</p> <p>When I Was Almost the Victim
of My Implicit Bias</p> <p>by Patti Chang</p> <p>A Response from the League of
Women Voters of Colorado</p> <p>by Karen Sheek</p> <p>Changing the World One Ballot
at a Time</p> <p>by Mark A. Riccobono</p> <p>To Educate or Alienate</p> <p>by
Nancy Burns</p> <p>Making it through Adversity</p> <p>by Svetlana Ehlers</p>
<p>Discrimination Against the Blind Isn’t Just a Sighted Thing</p> <p>by
Gary Wunder</p> <p>I Wanted to Walk a Mile in Those Little High-Heeled Shoes</p>
<p>by Danielle McCann</p> <p>My Jury Experience</p> <p>by Dana Ard</p> <p>Feeling
Through</p> <p>by Lisa Bryant</p> <p>Why I am Proud to Be Blind</p> <p>by Jonathan
Mosen</p> <p>Telling an Uncomfortable and Unconventional Story</p> <p>by Gary
Wunder</p> <p>Bernie’s Story: It Takes a Village, Resourcefulness, and
Cosmic Alignment</p> <p>by Laura Deck</p> <p>Independence Market Corner</p> <p>by
Terry Boone</p> <p>Recipes</p> <p><em>Monitor</em> Miniatures</p> <p>[PHOTO/CAPTION:
Dr. Fauci bobblehead and Helen Keller Barbie sit on President Riccobono's chair.]</p>
<p>[PHOTO/CAPTION: Dr. Fauci bobblehead and Helen Keller Barbie hang out in the
newly designed family room in the Jernigan Institute.]</p> <p>[PHOTO/CAPTION: Dr.
Fauci bobblehead and Helen Keller Barbie eat lunch with President Riccobono and
Education Programs Coordinator Karen Anderson at a table with sandwiches and soups
in front of them.]</p> <p>[PHOTO/CAPTION: Dr. Fauci bobblehead and Helen Keller
Barbie stand at the mic of a podium with the NFB logo backdrop behind them.]</p>
<h2 id="a-toy-story-at-jernigan-institute">A Toy Story at Jernigan Institute</h2>
<p>The Jernigan Institute is a place where many Federationists and friends come
and go throughout the year for programs, meetings, and more. During the COVID-19
pandemic, the building has been closed to the public; but in May, we opened the
door to a couple of special friends, Dr. Fauci and Helen Keller.</p> <p>Dr. Anthony
Fauci was one of the lead members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force and
has served as the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases since 1984. Today, a bobblehead version of him with his arms crossed
wearing a white doctor’s coat, a tie, a light blue button-up shirt, dark
suit pants, and brown shoes sits in the Office of the President where he enjoys
time away from the spotlight of the media. Local members who came to the vaccine
clinic in May had the chance to take a selfie with Dr. Fauci by a podium and
National Federation of the Blind backdrop.</p> <p>Additionally, Mattel introduced
Helen Keller Barbie in May 2021 as part of its inspiring Women Series. Keller was
an educated deafblind advocate. The Barbie wears a full-length striped skirt and
a ruffled lacy blouse with a high collar inspired by her time as a student in the
early 1900s. Her black hair is in a neat bun at the back of her neck. She is
holding a book labeled BRL, which means Braille. Helen Keller Barbie has traveled
through the floors of the Jernigan Institute and now resides on the second floor.</p>
<p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Valerie Yingling]</p> <h2 id="top-legal-terms-our-readers-might-want-to-know">Top
Legal Terms Our Readers Might Want to Know</h2> <p><strong>by Valerie
Yingling</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor: Valerie is in charge of coordinating
our legal activity, and in addition to being organized, she is articulate. She is
also patient, kind, and friendly, but all of this is already known to those of
you who have had the pleasure of interacting with her. Here is her latest effort
to better inform us as we read about the Federation’s progress in legal
matters:</strong></p> <p>The National Federation of the Blind has influenced our
nation’s legal landscape through high-impact disability rights litigation.
NFB cases such as <em>National Federation of the Blind v. Target Corp.</em>, <em>HM
v. Oceanport Board of Education</em>, and <em>Brown et al v. Maryland Department
of Public Safety and Correctional Services</em> have driven disability rights case
law forward for the nation’s blind and set precedence for other disability
rights groups.</p> <p>We know that the NFB’s legal work is important, but
do we always know what a judge’s order or a consent decree mean in terms
of success? Civil court terminology can be confusing or counterintuitive. This
list of top legal terms is designed to help our members better understand our
successes and why NFB’s legal program is a central component in our work
to remove barriers between blind people and their dreams.</p> <ol style="list-style-type:
decimal"> <li><p>Amicus curiae: Latin for “friend of the court;”
plural is amici curiae. Someone who is not party to a lawsuit may advise on the
subject of the lawsuit through the filing of written briefs; the court decides
whether to consider the information.</p> <ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha">
<li><p>Used in a sentence: In April 2021, the National Federation of the Blind
joined with other disability rights groups to file an <a
href="https://browngold.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2021-04-22-Winn-Dixie-Amicus-Brief-ISO-Rehearing-En-Banc-ACE.pdf">amicus
curiae brief</a> in the <em>Winn-Dixie Stores v. Gil</em> web accessibility
case.</p></li> </ol></li> <li><p>Consent decree: A court-ordered resolution approved
by all parties. In comparison, a settlement agreement is not immediately court
enforceable. To enforce a settlement agreement, a party would have to file a breach
of contract action, which could be a lengthy and expensive process.</p> <ol
style="list-style-type: lower-alpha"> <li><p>Used in a sentence: The National
Federation of the Blind and Atlantic Cape Community College entered into a <a
href="https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-and-two-blind-students-resolve-complaint-against">consent
decree in 2015</a> to resolve charges of discrimination by blind students and to
establish new accessibility policies and procedures for the school.</p></li>
</ol></li> <li><p>Declaratory relief: A court ruling regarding someone’s
rights.</p> <ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha"> <li><p>Used in a sentence:
In our <a
href="https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/walmart-sued-blind-maryland-residents-over-self-service-checkout-kiosks">complaint
against Walmart</a>, the National Federation of the Blind seeks declaratory relief
regarding how Walmart’s use of inaccessible self-checkout kiosks violates
the Americans with Disabilities Act.</p></li> </ol></li> <li><p>Dismissal with
prejudice: A court order that prohibits an identical lawsuit from being filed in
the future. In contrast, dismissal without prejudice would permit an identical
lawsuit.</p> <ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha"> <li><p>Used in a sentence:
The National Federation of the Blind’s May 2021 voting rights settlement
with the state of Maine <a
href="file:///C:\Users\vyingling\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\complaint%20link%20pending">dismissed
our charges with prejudice</a>.</p></li> </ol></li> <li><p>Injunction: A court
order that restricts one or more parties from taking a specific action.</p> <ol
style="list-style-type: lower-alpha"> <li><p>Used in a sentence: The National
Federation of the Blind filed for a preliminary and permanent injunction in our
2020 Pennsylvania voting rights case, <a
href="https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.pamd.124827/gov.uscourts.pamd.124827.1.0_2.pdf"><em>Drenth
v. Boockvar</em></a>.</p></li> </ol></li> <li><p>Jurisdiction: A court’s
authority to issue a ruling on a case and otherwise enforce the law.</p> <ol
style="list-style-type: lower-alpha"> <li><p>Used in a sentence: The United States
District Court for the District of Maryland has jurisdiction over claims raised
on behalf of blind prisoners in <em><a
href="https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/maryland-settles-discrimination-case-blind-inmates-14-million">Brown
v. Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services</a> et
al</em>.</p></li> </ol></li> <li><p>Moot: When a dispute does not exist because
it has been resolved or determined to have never existed.</p> <ol style="list-style-type:
lower-alpha"> <li><p>Used in a sentence: The National Federation of the Blind
joined an appellate court amicus brief for <em><a
href="https://casetext.com/case/segal-v-metro-council">Segal v. Minneapolis Metro
Transit</a></em> after the district court found no evidence of discrimination and
ruled that the plaintiff’s request for damages were moot.</p></li> </ol></li>
<li><p>Petition for writ of certiorari: Asking a higher court, usually the United
States Supreme Court and state level supreme courts, to review a lower court’s
ruling. Petition for writ of certiorari is sometimes referred to as “cert
petition” or “cert.” When a court denies a petition for writ
of certiorari, it means the lower court’s ruling stands.</p> <ol
style="list-style-type: lower-alpha"> <li><p>Used in a sentence: In 2019 the <a
href="https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm19/bm1910/bm191002.htm">US
Supreme Court denied a petition for writ of certiorari filed by Domino’s
Pizza</a>, thereby upholding the lower court’s ruling that a blind man
could file suit under the ADA because he could not use Domino’s website to
order a pizza.</p></li> </ol></li> <li><p>Remand: When a higher court sends a case
back to a lower court, usually because information or facts are disputed.</p> <ol
style="list-style-type: lower-alpha"> <li><p>Used in a sentence: The Fourth Circuit
Court of Appeals remanded <em><a
href="https://nfb.org/sites/default/files/images/nfb/publications/bm/bm16/bm1606/bm160602.htm">Reyazzudin
v. Montgomery County, Maryland</a>,</em> in 2015 because facts remained in dispute,
including whether the County reasonably accommodated Ms. Reyazuddin and other
factors.</p></li> </ol></li> <li><p>Stay: To halt proceedings temporarily or
permanently.</p> <ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha"> <li><p>Used in a
sentence: The court stayed litigation in <em>Irving v. Berryhill</em>, the <a
href="https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-and-two-blind-individuals-file-lawsuit-against-ssa">National
Federation of the Blind’s lawsuit against the Social Security Administration</a>,
during the parties’ settlement discussions.</p></li> </ol></li> <li><p>Summary
Judgment: When a court rules on a case without a trial or further proceedings. In
such cases, a court is saying that even if it accepts all of a particular
party’s alleged facts as true, the facts do not actually violate the law.</p>
<ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha"> <li><p>Used in a sentence: The National
Federation of the Blind filed an objection to New York State Board of Elections’
motion for summary judgment in our <a
href="https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-and-others-sue-new-york-over-inaccessible-online">2016
lawsuit regarding the state’s inaccessible online voter registration
system</a>.</p></li> </ol></li> <li><p>Vacate: To withdraw or invalidate.</p> <ol
style="list-style-type: lower-alpha"> <li><p>Used in a sentence: In our <a
href="https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/national-federation-blind-and-others-settle-lawsuit-against-united-states">2018
lawsuit against the US Department of Education</a>, the National Federation of
the Blind, alongside the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
(NAACP) and Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA), sought a judge’s
order to vacate § 108(t) of the 2018 OCR Manual and reinstate the manual’s
appeals process.</p></li> </ol></li> </ol> <p>For more information about the
National Federation of the Blind’s legal program, please visit <a
href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program">https://nfb.org/programs-services/legal-program</a>
or contact Valerie Yingling, legal program coordinator.</p> <p>----------</p>
<p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Ronza Othman]</p> <h2 id="rise-up">Rise Up!</h2> <p><strong>by
Ronza Othman</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor: Ronza is the president of
our National Federation of the Blind of Maryland, but this is not her life. She
does what she can for the rest of us, but she also makes sure to live a life that
is integrated. Here is a bit of what she said to our convention in Maryland:</strong></p>
<p>Recently, I had the opportunity to tackle an item from my bucket list. I’ve
always wanted to go parasailing, but I could never quite do so. For those of you
who might be curious, parasailing involves being harnessed to a large sail that
resembles a parachute and being towed behind a fast-moving boat. The speed of the
boat creates an air current that pushes the parasailer up several-hundred feet
into the air.</p> <p>I’ve experienced several obstacles to being able to
parasail. Sometimes the weather didn’t cooperate and the wind was too strong
to safely go up. Sometimes the water was too choppy or the current too strong to
permit safe parasailing. Sometimes my travelling companions decided they wanted
to do something else instead at the last minute. One time there was a traffic jam
and we missed our appointment. Another time the wife of the boat’s captain
went into labor.</p> <p>Finally, a few weeks ago, the weather decided to cooperate;
the current was perfect; my fellow travelers agreed to the experience come hell
or high water; we stayed within walking distance from the marina where our boat
would set sail; and to my knowledge my captain’s wife was not in labor.
There was only one problem—I was recovering from the coronavirus and had
virtually no energy to sit upright, let alone walk to the marina, board the boat,
fasten myself into the harness, and swing myself back onto the deck of the boat
when the sail ended.</p> <p>But I was committed! I was going to literally <em>rise
up</em> regardless of what it took. I dug deep and found the energy to walk to
the marina; to board the ship; to find my balance as I stood on deck; to fasten
my harness and emergency parachute; to step over rigging and lines, around the
sail bar; and sit down on the deck of the boat at the very edge. Then, I rose.
And it was incredible!</p> <p>I spent about ten minutes atop the world. I felt
the wind in my hair, the sun on my face, and the energy and joy pumping through
my blood. Then the captain dipped me into the ocean, and I got seawater in my
nose. But I rose up again and swung myself onto the deck—and for those of
you who have been parasailing, I stuck the landing like an Olympic gymnast.</p>
<p>Why am I telling you all about parasailing? Because my experience is a great
metaphor for what we in the NFBMD experienced this past year. Despite unprecedented
challenges, we were determined to rise up, and we did! <em><strong>We</strong></em>
don’t know how to do anything different as Federationists after all.</p>
<p>Andra Day’s song “Rise Up” includes the following lines:</p>
<blockquote> <p>I’ll rise up</p> <p>I’ll rise like the day</p>
<p>I’ll rise up</p> <p>I’ll rise unafraid</p> <p>I’ll rise
up</p> <p>And I’ll do it a thousand times again</p> <p>And I’ll rise
up</p> <p>High like the waves</p> <p>I’ll rise up</p> <p>In spite of the
ache</p> <p>I’ll rise up</p> <p>And do it a thousand times again.</p>
</blockquote> <p>We in the NFBMD rise up unafraid, in spite of the aches, and
we’ll do it a thousand times again.</p> <p>----------</p> <p><strong>[PHOTO
CAPTION: Neil Soiffer]</strong></p> <p><strong>[PHOTO CAPTION: Gene Kim]</strong></p>
<p><strong>[PHOTO CAPTION: Newton Nguyen]</strong></p> <p><strong>[PHOTO CAPTION:
Louis Maher]</strong></p> <h2
id="the-nfb-science-and-engineering-division-and-the-nfb-national-association-of-blind-students-joint-stem-zoom-conference-meeting-report-for-february-28-2021">The
NFB Science and Engineering Division and the NFB National Association of Blind
Students Joint STEM Zoom Conference Meeting Report for February 28, 2021</h2>
<p><strong>by Neil Soiffer, Gene Kim, Newton Nguyen, and Louis Maher</strong></p>
<p><strong>From the Editor: Most articles in the <em>Braille Monitor can be read
by anyone regardless their education or background. But some articles are for a
specific audience, and this is one of them. If you are beyond learning or using
mathematic beyond the simple four functions, this article may not be for you, but
if you are a student who must take a course in Science, Technology, Engineering
or Mathematics and aren’t sure how to do it using today’s assistive
technology, this piece is right down your alley. If you want to find a career path
in STEM, you will get some real world examples of what works, how well it works,
and what accessibility issues we need to work on before your grade or your profession
depends upon it.</em></strong></p> <p><em><strong>Thank you to Louis Maher for
taking the time to write this up, and thank you to the two Federation divisions
that offered the seminar.</strong></em></p> <p>The National Federation of the
Blind's Science and Engineering Division (SED) and the National Federation of the
Blind's National Association of Blind Students (NABS) held a joint Zoom conference
on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) on Sunday, February 28, 2021.
This is a summary of the presentations given at this conference.</p> <p>Unlike
most <em>Braille Monitor</em> articles, this article will not explain everything.
Also, the article does not have references for all the devices and programs
discussed here. The purpose of this article is to summarize many of the tools and
techniques that allow the blind to be successful in their STEM careers.</p> <p>A
recording of this meeting is available at: <a
href="https://tinyurl.com/NFB-SED-2021-NABS-STEM">https://tinyurl.com/NFB-SED-2021-NABS-STEM</a>.</p>
<p>Trisha Kulkarni is the president of the National Association of Blind Students
(NABS), and she welcomed the audience to the annual NABS/SED joint conference on
how blind individuals are succeeding in Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics (STEM) fields. She introduced John Miller, president of the Science
and Engineering Division (SED), who was the moderator for the evening.</p>
<p>President Miller thanked the speakers for presenting at this event. He said
that often a student may have only one science or math requirement to fulfill for
that student's degree and said that the SED members would be glad to help students
overcome their technical problems.</p> <p>A summary of the presentations follows:</p>
<h3
id="title-methods-for-the-blind-to-electronically-read-and-write-mathematics-from-primary-school-through-college">Title:
“Methods for the Blind to Electronically Read and Write Mathematics from
Primary School through College” </h3> <p><strong>Speaker: Neil Soiffer</strong></p>
<p>Neil Soiffer was a principal architect of MathML, the standard for putting math
on the web. He was the main developer of MathPlayer, which is used with NVDA to
make math accessible in Web, Word, and PowerPoint documents. He has published
numerous papers on math accessibility and is a member of various standards groups
concerned with accessibility on the Web and elsewhere. He currently chairs the
MathML Refresh community group that is working on greater browser support for
MathML along with updating the MathML standard. He received a BS in math from MIT
and a PhD in computer science from UC Berkeley. He has worked at Tektronix's
Computer Research Lab, Wolfram Research (Mathematica), Design Science (MathType,
MathPlayer), and has now formed his own accessibility company, Talking Cat
Software.</p> <p><strong><span class="underline">Presentation:</span></strong></p>
<h3 id="reading-math">Reading Math</h3> <p>Status</p> <ul> <li><p>There has been
huge progress in the last several years.</p></li> <li><p>In the past, most websites
used images for math.</p></li> <li><p>Now MathML is mostly used (often present
for screen readers only). Last year when I looked, maybe 80 percent of sites that
had math were accessible. Five years ago that number might have been 20
percent.</p></li> </ul> <p>How it Works</p> <ul> <li><p>MathML is the standard
for math on the Web. Part of HTML. Tags like <mfrac>, <msqrt>,
<msup> are used.</p></li> <li><p>Screen readers see those and convert them
to speech and Braille (Nemeth Code). E.g., <mfrac> indicates fractions,
<msqrt> becomes “the square root of," and <msup> indicates
"super scripts."</p> <ul> <li><p>Special cases for natural speech like, msup with
a “2” for the exponent is pronounced "something squared.”</p></li>
<li><p>The quality of the reading varies; more on that later.</p></li> </ul></li>
</ul> <p>Side note: If you do not know Nemeth Code, try to learn it! Every VI
teacher I know says the most successful students are the ones proficient in Nemeth
Code.</p> <p>Where it Works</p> <ul> <li><p>Reading MathML works in JAWS, NVDA,
VoiceOver, and ORCA in webpages.</p></li> </ul> <ul> <li><p>JAWS and NVDA will
also read math in Microsoft Word, and NVDA will read it in PowerPoint.</p> <ul>
<li><p>Caveat – must convert to MathType format first for NVDA.</p></li>
<li><p>JAWS recently added support for the native math editor in Word.</p></li>
</ul></li> <li><p>EPUB ebooks</p></li> </ul> <blockquote> <p>You can read this
format with JAWS/NVDA using the Thorium program. Two sources for accessible books
are RedShelf and VitalSource Bookshelf online.</p> </blockquote> <ul> <li><p>On
the Mac: VitalSource Bookshelf both the App & Online version are accessible.</p></li>
</ul> <ul> <li><p>For Kindle books: JAWS and NVDA using the PC App are accessible.
Note: MathML is much less common in Kindle books.</p></li> </ul> <p>Screen Reader
Reading Differences</p> <ul> <li><p>For text there are a few differences such as
how “Dr.” is handled: (Dr. Smith lives on Smith Dr.).</p></li>
<li><p>For math, there are lots of differences.</p> <ul> <li><p>Many special cases:
mixed fraction -- “one and one half” versus being read without the
"and." The result sounds like “one half,” etc.</p></li> <li><p>Example
that NVDA, JAWS, and VoiceOver do mostly right: NVDA says "two and one third times
nine and five eights is greater than twenty-two;" JAWS says "two and one third
dot operator nine and five eights greater twenty-two." VoiceOver says "mix fraction
two fraction start one over three end of fraction dot operator nine fraction start
five over eight end of fraction greater than 22."</p></li> <li><p>Superscript:
generally, you will hear “x superscript k end superscript” or maybe
“x raised to the kth power.” All will do simple special cases like
“x squared,” but only a few will say “inverse sine”
for "sine to the minus one (x)."</p></li> <li><p>NVDA says "the inverse sine of
x," while JAWS says, "sine to the power of minus one x."</p></li> <li><p>NVDA+MathPlayer
is by far the best as it knows many more rules for reading math the way it is read
in a classroom. It offers several options in terms of ways to read and speak.
There is also a “Speech Rule Engine” which is used with MathJax,
but assistive technology does not use it.</p></li> <li><p>VoiceOver is probably
the weakest in that it only knows a few things like “squared” and
“cubed.”</p></li> <li><p>The problem with the lower-case letter "a"
– In math mode, NVDA says "a + a squared + a cubed," while JAWS says "ua
+ ua squared + ua cubed." NVDA uses the long 'a' sound while JAWS uses the short
sound of the letter "a."</p></li> </ul></li> </ul> <ul> <li><p>Navigation</p> <ul>
<li><p>For a large equation, reading it all at once can be hard to understand.<br
/> Example: NVDA (y-y1) equals ((y2-y1)/(x2-x1)) times (x-x1).</p></li> <li><p>NVDA,
JAWS, and VoiceOver support navigating an expression; NVDA has the most
flexibility.</p></li> </ul></li> </ul> <h3 id="writing-math">Writing Math</h3>
<p>WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get)</p> <ul> <li><p><a href="ChattyInfty">ChattyInfty</a>
(<a href="https://www.sciaccess.net/en/ChattyInfty/">https://www.sciaccess.net/en/ChattyInfty/</a>)
– allows you to write text and math.</p></li> <li><p>So does Word + MathType
(via TeX – more later)</p></li> <li><p>WIRIS/MathType for the Web –
sort of accessible.</p> <ul> <li><p>You hear “blank” then the
character as you move around.</p></li> <li><p>No way exists to have the expression
read back to you other than moving character-by-character.</p></li> </ul></li>
<li><p><a href="https://accessibility.pearson.com/resources/aee/index.php">Pearson
Accessible Equation Editor</a> (<a
href="https://accessibility.pearson.com/resources/aee/index.php">https://accessibility.pearson.com/resources/aee/index.php</a>)
– supports both Nemeth input and output. In Beta.</p></li> </ul> <p>ASCIIMath</p>
<ul> <li><p>Simple calculator like notation: ()s, /, ^, _, sqrt</p></li> <li><p><=,
alpha, or (infinity), sub(subset), …</p></li> </ul> <h4 id="tex">TeX</h4>
<ul> <li><p>TeX is for writing documents but designed for math-oriented
documents.</p></li> <li><p>LaTeX is an extension (a set of commands) of TeX.</p></li>
<li><p>Basics of TeX Math</p> <ul> <li><p>Names: \alpha, \leq (less than or equal
char), \int (integral char)</p></li> <li><p>Grouping: {}</p></li> <li><p>Notations:
\frac, \sqrt, ^, _</p></li> </ul></li> <li><p>The only way to know if you got it
right is to listen to it.</p></li> <li><p>If you use Word, get MathType (which is
not accessible as a WYSIWYG editor). You can type TeX, convert it to regular
notation with alt+\, listen to it, and convert it back to TeX with alt+\ to fix
it if it is not right.</p></li> </ul> <h4 id="section"></h4> <p>Markdown</p> <ul>
<li><p>A simple markup language using plain text.</p></li> </ul> <blockquote>
<p>Typing # will generate heading 1, typing ## will generate heading 2, …</p>
</blockquote> <ul> <li><p>* will generate a list</p></li> <li><p>Can do italics,
bold, links, …</p></li> </ul> <ul> <li><p>Extensions for tables and math
via ASCIIMath and TeX</p></li> </ul> <h3 id="learning-math">Learning Math</h3>
<p>Some sites that make use of MathML that are tutorials or explanations</p> <ul>
<li><p>Wikipedia</p></li> <li><p>One Mathematical Cat</p></li> <li><p>Khan Academy
(has a video focus, so less accessible)</p></li> </ul> <h3 id="doing-math">Doing
Math</h3> <ul> <li><p>Desmos is accessible in JAWS/NVDA/Mac/iOS. It is a sophisticated
calculator for equations and graphing. Both Nemeth Code and UEB input and output.
Audio traces for graphs. Also supports generating embossed graphs.</p></li>
<li><p>Mathshare – step by step derivations</p></li> <li><p>Statistics</p></li>
<li><blockquote> <p>R (use RStudio Server – web-based version)</p>
</blockquote></li> <li><blockquote> <p>SAS has done a lot of work on accessible
charts and graphs (JAWS/NVDA/MacOS).</p> </blockquote></li> <li><blockquote>
<p>SPSS – JAWS/MacOS – graphics are not accessible.</p> </blockquote></li>
</ul> <h3
id="title---where-humanities-social-science-and-engineering-collide-perspectives-on-the-value-of-interdisciplinary-study-and-research">Title
- Where Humanities, Social Science, and Engineering Collide: Perspectives on the
Value of Interdisciplinary Study and Research </h3> <p><strong>Speaker: Gene
Kim</strong></p> <p>Gene Kim is a sophomore at Stanford University studying symbolic
systems, a program that explores the crossroads of computer science, psychology,
philosophy, and linguistics. He is an undergraduate researcher with Stanford Shape
Lab and has worked on projects in data visualization/sonification and haptic/multi-modal
accessibility devices. He lost most of his vision about four years ago from
progressive retinal detachment and while he started his nonvisual STEM journey
recently, he is excited to share his experiences/techniques with everyone.</p>
<p><strong><span class="underline">Presentation:</span></strong></p> <h3
id="combinatory-play">Combinatory Play:</h3> <p>“Combinatory Play”
was coined by Einstein and is the process of making connections from seemingly
unrelated fields to come up with innovative/creative ideas.</p> <p>Examples of
Combinatory Play include deep learning neural networks in computer science (inspired
from neuroscience/the anatomy of the brain),</p> <p>The first ever printing press
(Gutenberg printing press) that combined aspects of coin presses and wine presses,</p>
<p>The Google search engine algorithm was inspired by system of frequency/popularity
of research citations in academia,</p> <p>Nike’s high traction rubber shoe
design was inspired by the shape of a waffle maker, and Steve Jobs borrowed from
calligraphy to design the impactful Mac typefonts, etc.</p> <h3
id="toolsresources">Tools/Resources:</h3> <p>Resources and tools that helped Gene
study STEM.</p> <ul> <li><p>Orion TI84+ talking and graphing calculator with
sonification for reading graphs</p></li> <li><p>Desmos accessible online calculator
for equations and graphing with sonification for reading graphs</p></li> <li><p>Talking
LabQuest which allows the blind to perform laboratory measurements</p></li>
<li><p>Sensational blackboard/Draftsman which allows the blind to read and produce
sketches. It can be used to show tree structure of programs.</p></li> <li><p>Arduiono
for prototyping electronic circuits and code</p></li> <li><p>Blind arduiono group:
<a href="http://blarbl.blogspot.com/">http://blarbl.blogspot.com/</a><br /> The
Blind Arduino Blog is a collection of news and information about blind makers
working with Arduino. It includes tutorials, advice, and recommendations of
particular interest to blind people working with electronics and microprocessors.</p></li>
<li><p>Freecodecamp: <a href="https://www.freecodecamp.org">https://www.freecodecamp.org</a><br
/> Learn to code—for free.<br /> Build projects.<br /> Earn certifications.</p></li>
<li><p>For web development: learn HTML to structure a website; JavaScript to make
a site interactive; and cascading style sheets (CSS) to learn how to control the
visual aspect of your site (color, fonts,…).</p></li> <li><p>NVDA web
developer plug in: <a
href="https://github.com/ajborka/nvda_developer_toolkit">https://github.com/ajborka/nvda_developer_toolkit</a>
NVDA addon which supports blind and visually impaired developers with tools that
help them better understand visual layouts, independently create appealing user
interfaces, and comply with popular universal access guidelines such as the
WCAG.</p></li> <li><p>Chrome web development tools.</p></li> <li><p>Program-L
(worldwide blind programmer’s mailing list. Job postings, questions, and
more): <a
href="https://www.freelists.org/list/program-l">https://www.freelists.org/list/program-l</a></p></li>
<li><p>OpenSCAD (for 3D design): <a
href="https://www.openscad.org/">https://www.openscad.org/</a></p></li> <li><p>NY
ITP: <a
href="https://wp.nyu.edu/ability/nonvisual-soldering-workshop-at-itp/">https://wp.nyu.edu/ability/nonvisual-soldering-workshop-at-itp/</a><br
/> Nonvisual Soldering Workshop</p></li> <li><p>The Science and Engineering
division's STEM Mentorship Program, which is</p></li> </ul> <p>discussed in the
next section.</p> <p>Numpad shortcuts for writing math: <a
href="https://www.irongeek.com/alt-numpad-ascii-key-combos-and-chart.html">https://www.irongeek.com/alt-numpad-ascii-key-combos-and-chart.html</a></p>
<p>--------------------------------------</p> <h3
id="title---trial-and-error-toward-faster-methods-of-learning-stem-skills-as-a-blind-student">Title
- Trial and Error: Toward Faster Methods of Learning STEM Skills as a Blind Student
</h3> <p><strong>Speaker: Newton Nguyen</strong></p> <p>Newton Nguyen is a PhD
Candidate at Caltech, where he is developing the next generation's greenhouse gas
observation network. He was previously employed at Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory and was on the NASA science team for the CLARREO climate satellite
mission. He cofounded the Blind STEM Mentorship Program, Caltech Disability
Coalition, and serves on Caltech's Graduate Admissions Committee. Newton holds a
MS in environmental science and engineering from Caltech and a BA in geophysics
from Berkeley. </p> <p><strong><span class="underline">Presentation:</span></strong></p>
<p>Newton is working on a PhD in environmental science and engineering. How was
it for him to work on these subjects?</p> <p>In California, the university is
responsible for accommodations inside the classroom, and state agencies are
responsible for accommodations outside the classroom. Note that the student is
responsible for coordinating these efforts.</p> <p>Newton did not know this in
his first undergraduate semester. He dropped out of his calculus class because he
had no books. His first semester was a crash course on how accessibility works.</p>
<p>Newton advises:</p> <p>1. Work on your accommodations months ahead of time. It
can be difficult to get state support. It may take months to get books in accessible
form.</p> <p>2. Get a personal assistant who can serve as a scribe and reader for
those times when accessible educational material and equipment are not available.
Textbooks often do not come on time, and there are often inaccessible classroom
handouts and inaccessible laboratory equipment.</p> <p>3. Get proper skills. Learn
how to read and write mathematics. Use the tools discussed in the talks presented
above.</p> <p>Lessons learned by Newton:</p> <p>1. How to reach out for help:
locate the individuals with the knowledge and resources that you need.</p> <p>2.
You do not know what you do not know. You will need mentors.</p> <p>3. You will
have to know how to acquire technical skills on your own. It can be difficult to
find resources online to answer your specific questions.</p> <p>4. Newton did not
have a community to work with him. He was the only seismic engineering student in
his university system.</p> <p>The Science and Engineering division's STEM Mentorship
Program was developed by Newton Nguyen, Gene Kim, and Kennedy Stomberg. The program
seeks to pair STEM students with mentors. One of the program's activities is to
host a monthly STEM seminar where students and mentors can discuss STEM techniques.</p>
<p>To join the program, and for questions about the program, write to <a
href="mailto:newton@caltech.edu">newton@caltech.edu</a>.</p> <p>Newton is working
on a Wikipedia page to explain methods that will enable the blind to perform STEM
tasks. He wishes to develop a one-stop page for blind STEM techniques.</p> <h3
id="wrap-up">Wrap up: </h3> <p>John Miller and Trisha Kulkarni thanked the
individuals who produced the STEM meeting including Ashley Neybert who handled
the Zoom logistics.</p> <p>If you wish to learn more about NABS, including how to
become a member, go to: <a href="https://www.nabslink.org/">https://www.nabslink.org/</a>.</p>
<p>If you wish to join the SED, go to: <a
href="http://www.nfb.org/divisiondues">http://www.nfb.org/divisiondues</a>.</p>
<p>Dues for NABS and SED are $5 a year.</p> <p>Individuals may join the NABS and
SED email discussion groups at <a href="http://nfbnet.org">nfbnet.org</a>.</p>
<h3 id="contacts">Contacts:</h3> <p>If there are any questions about the National
Association of Blind Students, please contact Trisha Kulkarni (<a
href="mailto:nabs.president@gmail.com">nabs.president@gmail.com</a>).</p> <p>If
there are any questions about the Science and Engineering Division, please contact
John Miller (Phone: 858-774-9286, <a
href="mailto:Johnmillerphd@hotmail.com">Johnmillerphd@hotmail.com</a>).</p> <p>If
there are any questions about this report, please contact Louis Maher (Phone:
713-444-7838, <a href="mailto:ljmaher03@outlook.com">ljmaher03@outlook.com</a>).</p>
<p>----------</p> <p><strong>[PHOTO CAPTION: Precious Perez]</strong></p> <h2
id="creating-access-in-the-arts-and-beyond">Creating Access in the Arts and
Beyond</h2> <p><strong>by Precious Perez</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor:
Precious is currently the president of the National Federation of the Blind’s
Massachusetts Student Division and a board member of the National Federation of
the Blind Performing Arts Division. She is also a tenBroek Scholarship winner,
meaning she has been acknowledged twice by the NFB for her academic accomplishments,
leadership, and willingness to make a difference in the world. She will do her
student teaching in the fall and will graduate in December prepared to teach music
and performance. Here is what she says about taking the initiative to get an
internship and making it all it could be:</strong></p> <p>I first encountered Mark
Degarmo Dance through the Berklee Career Manager in the fall of 2020. At the time
they had posted a full-time community engagement internship position for school
credit, and I thought it could be a great experience. I applied then, but didn't
have as much availability as I knew they would have wanted. I saw the job posted
again, this time listed as a ten-hour position in December of last year. I knew
an internship would be really helpful with my credits, and I wanted to gain new
experience in the nonprofit sector within an arts discipline I was always interested
in—dance.</p> <p>I got a part-time teaching job right after I was offered
the internship for the duration of the spring semester. When I wrote back to my
now supervisor Hannah DeGarmo about not being able to put in as much time as they
deserved and needed, her response was to offer me the opportunity to create and
lead independent projects around my interests, putting in as much time as I was
able. I'd never seen a company do anything like this, and it was so refreshing.
I knew right away that the company's intentions were genuine and that I'd be happy
to be a part of the team.</p> <p>I began by writing a proposal for my independent
projects. As a blind Latina performer myself, I knew I had a unique perspective
to offer.</p> <p>Mark DeGarmo Dance (MDD) is a small nonprofit dance company based
out of New York City that provides dance education to underserved communities and
also puts on virtual performances. As a remote intern, I proposed building
connections between MDD and the NFB Performing Arts division, potentially having
the company advertised in our newsletter and via our listservs or a membership
call. I also proposed expanding MDD's outreach to Spanish-speaking communities,
as well as ensuring that their web presence and virtual events were optimized for
accessibility. My projects were enthusiastically approved, so I set out with my
overall goal being to further the company's mission of accessibility and inclusion
not just in statement, but in practice.</p> <p>My first task was creating a document
to keep track of web accessibility. I listed the elements to check for: labeled
buttons and links, radio buttons, check boxes, images with alt text, form fields,
combo boxes, and headings. I spent my five hours for a few weeks going through
each page of the website testing each of these elements with multiple screenreader
and browser combinations including NVDA with Firefox, NVDA with Chrome, Jaws with
Chrome, VoiceOver with Chrome, and Voiceover with Safari. I noted any images that
weren't identifiable and any aspects of the pages that worked or didn't work with
different combinations. Once completed, I checked MDD's social media pages, noting
the need for alt text on the majority of images and posts made. I found that the
website was fairly accessible overall, and there were only a few things to fix.
I connected with two fellow interns, one who dealt with social media, and the
other who dealt with the website to discuss my findings and explain anything they
needed to know about what alt text is and what screen readers are and what they
do.</p> <p>My next task was something I wasn't expecting, but it was great experience
nonetheless. MDD had a virtual event coming up, so part of my job was to find
organizations that we could push the press release out to who would also share
it. I was able to find a fair amount of local organizations in Massachusetts, as
well as circulate the information through the NFB performing arts networks.</p>
<p>My final project is one that also encompasses accessibility. I realized that
I couldn't market MDD's events to the blind community if they weren't fully
accessible. The first thing I did was look into captioning, and I found that Zoom
had recently integrated this, so MDD was able to go in and set this up. The next
thing I did was to research organizations and companies that provided audio
description services. I created a spreadsheet containing all of the information
requested by MDD regarding pricing and live versus pre-recorded virtual events.
I'll be following this up by reaching out to the founder of the audio description
project and the creator of the database I found with a ton of contacts to inquire
about volunteer audio description options given that MDD is a small company with
a budget.</p> <p>My time with MDD is coming to a close, and I will soon be handing
off all of the information. I've passed this to a fellow intern who will continue
where I left off on the search for audio description to make MDD truly accessible.
I can honestly say that this company is committed to accessibility and inclusion
for all and has been completely receptive to my perspective, my feedback, and my
work. It is important for me to talk about my experience because it relates to
the arts, to dance, but most of all, to access needs. This company has demonstrated
what it really means to follow through with a commitment to access and inclusion
in truth. Creating accessible experiences and opportunities begins with a seat at
the table, and MDD pulled out a chair for me and saw the significance in my
expertise. These are the steps I took to help create a more accessible and inclusive
space within the nonprofit sector and the arts. This is a conversation about
advocacy, but it is also a positive example. Any company looking to cement its
mission within these causes should look to Mark DeGarmo Dance for an example on
where to start. I am confident that even after my departure as an intern, they
will use this new information to continue evolving and moving forward to achieve
equal access and inclusion for all.</p> <p>----------</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Patti
Chang]</p> <h2 id="when-i-was-almost-the-victim-of-my-implicit-bias">When I Was
Almost the Victim of My Implicit Bias</h2> <p><strong>by Patti Chang</strong></p>
<p><strong>From the Editor: Patti is a tireless worker on behalf of the National
Federation of the Blind, but her life isn’t captured in that one phrase.
She is a caring wife, mother, and a reflective thinker. We are all blessed by her
reflections, so enjoy one she has chosen to share:</strong></p> <p>When I was in
school, the most productive way to get printed material into my brain was by
working with human readers. Sometimes I was fortunate enough to have a book on
tape, but generally what I wanted was not available, and getting at it was not
nearly as efficient as using a competent human being who could turn directly to
the page I wanted to read, skim by paragraph, and help me review information I
had underlined or highlighted. It gave me experience in hiring, supervising, and
occasionally firing people who simply could not do the work I needed done.</p>
<p>Knowing that I utilized live reading services, one day I got a call from Fred
Sanders who directed the Michigan State University's disabled student service
office. His request was that I take on another reader. I was already about three
weeks into the term and had all the people I needed, so my answer was an immediate
no. His response was that he had a really nice fellow who was in an honor society
named Tower Guard, and the people in that organization were required to give a
certain number of hours as volunteers. He explained that the young man he wished
me to hire had tried making tapes, but because of his accent, no one could understand
him. My initial no was reinforced with the thought that I have no reason to hire
a reader no one could understand, and I assumed I would be part of that group. I
went on my way, glad the decision was made and the conversation concluded.</p>
<p>It turns out that the director was nothing if not persistent. About a week
later, he gave me a call and proceeded to take another tack at advancing his
argument. He told me that I was taking Spanish, that this reader knew Spanish
fluently, that I could certainly use good help in that area, and the director
simply couldn't tell a man willing to donate service hours that he had no takers.
For reasons that I don't remember now, I said yes. Perhaps it was his sheer
tenacity, but I made it perfectly clear that the young man’s job was
provisional and that I was making no commitment it would work out. I thought that
at a very minimum I could work on my Spanish accent, which at that time was
atrocious. It still is for that matter.</p> <p>So it was that this kind young
gentleman named Francisco who was born in Honduras of Chinese ancestry came to
read for me. Interestingly I found no difficulty in understanding his accent; if
anything, I had a hard time getting him to talk except when he was reading. He
was one of the shyest people I knew.</p> <p>I found him intelligent and quite
competent. The reading sessions were pretty much what I expected, except that I
noticed that he would stick around for a time after we were done, and he would
find convenient excuses to drop by. This made almost no impression on me at the
time, but my roommate told me that it was obvious Francisco was interested in me.
I confidently replied no. I was certain that the only reason he was hanging around
was that he wanted to learn English and that I was doing him a favor by patiently
teaching him. I got a similar message from my then boyfriend who said that Francisco
was interested, and I gave his concern all the consideration I thought it deserved,
which was about zero. This was simply a working relationship, and although I might
like him, I would never consider dating anyone who worked for me. It crossed lines
that would make supervision difficult, and besides, they were just seeing things
that weren't there.</p> <p>It turns out that early on in our involvement Francisco
told his brother that he was interested in me, and he made a conscious decision
to wait out the then boyfriend who he was sure I would eventually break up with
since he was a “jerk.” About a year into what I thought was a good
working relationship after the boyfriend was history, Francisco announced that he
was quitting. I was amazed; at that point he was actually getting paid, his
volunteer work already having been completed. In confusion I asked him why he
didn't want to work anymore, and I assured him I thought that our working relationship
was going fine. His answer was clear and direct: "I am quitting because you won't
go out with me as long as I work for you." I was taken aback but had to admit that
what he said was true.</p> <p>In looking back on that year, I realized that I was
ignoring Francisco despite signs from my roommate and former boyfriend because I
never envisioned myself marrying anyone other than a white man. The thought of
doing anything different was inconceivable to me. I was limiting my own possibilities
by the implicit biases I carried with me, ones that I simply saw as truth, the
way life worked, the way things were to be. I realized that this particular bias
was one that I had never thought through but had simply considered so self-evident
that it required no thought.</p> <p>Once I recognized my bias and decided to move
beyond it, it didn’t take more than two or three dates for me to realize
that I was taken with Francisco as well. But isn’t it amazing that he had
to do something as dramatic as quitting his job for me to give him the slightest
consideration as a romantic partner? Now, after thirty-seven years of marriage,
it is hard to believe what I almost let slip away. What a cost both of us would've
paid for my bias, not to mention the wonderful human beings we brought into the
world, our daughter Julia and our son Johnathon.</p> <p>I have taken the time to
write this article because I think we often approach the idea of eliminating bias
as something we do for others. But as my own case so clearly demonstrates, I am
the person who benefited most from the elimination of implicit bias, and it was
well worth the thinking, the soul-searching, and the challenging of what seemed
unchallengeable. I now enjoy something beyond any monetary value that could be
assigned. We like all couples have definitely had our ups and our downs; but our
song, “Still the One,” pretty much says it all. What would we be
missing if I held onto the conviction that my partner must be white?</p>
<p>----------</p> <h2 id="a-response-from-the-league-of-women-voters-of-colorado">A
Response from the League of Women Voters of Colorado</h2> <p><strong>by Karen
Sheek</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor: In the May issue we ran an article
by Curtis Chong about the opposition of the League of Women Voters to legislation
being considered to make it easier for blind people to cast votes privately and
independently, including from their home. The League of Women Voters takes issue
with some of the characterizations of what was portrayed as its position, and we
gladly print them here. The League’s response is written by its president,
and we appreciate the dialogue. We will no doubt have more conversation on this
topic as our nation and its blind citizens negotiate systems that are both accessible
and secure:</strong></p> <p>In response to Curtis Chong’s opinion piece
published in the May 2021 edition of the <em>Braille Monitor</em>:</p> <p>With
respect, Mr. Chong misstated or left out significant points regarding the League
of Women Voters’ stance on ballot security for those living with disabilities,
in particular around SB21-188. While we agree completely that elections should be
open so that every voter can vote privately, independently, and in a manner that
doesn’t require extraordinary effort and negotiation, we also know that
the threat of ballot tampering weakens confidence in our democracy. Actual ballot
tampering disenfranchises the voices of voters who deserve to be heard and, unlike
bank transactions, is difficult to trace because we have an election system designed
for secret and anonymous ballots.</p> <p>LWVCO never opposed SB21-188. We had an
<em>Amend</em> position until the print disability amendment passed; then we
supported the bill. Curtis Chong worked with LWVCO on April 4th to identify an
appropriate print disability amendment.</p> <p>Update: As of May 20, 2021, <a
href="https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb21-188">SB21-188</a> with the print disability
amendment is awaiting the governor’s signature. The amended bill has LWVCO
support.</p> <p>LWV’s mission is “Empowering Voters. Defending
Democracy.” LWV does not stay clear of politics; we stay clear of partisan
politics. We want to empower voters who need electronic ballot return but
simultaneously defend democracy by not encouraging abuse of electronic ballot
return—a process which is vulnerable to hacking.</p> <p>Mr. Chong stated
that some SB21-188 testimony pointed to “security loopholes—even
that part of the system which today permits voters with disabilities to receive
and mark their ballots electronically.” LWVCO only gave testimony that the
electronic return of a ballot is a concern. The current electronic ballot marking
and returning a paper ballot is not a concern.</p> <p>We leave it to election
integrity experts to dispute other points that Mr. Chong made.</p> <p>We also
stated the LWVCO position in our op-ed:</p> <p><a
href="https://www.coloradopolitics.com/opinion/colorado-must-limit-use-of-electronic-ballots/article_5764f466-9e76-11eb-b10a-bb6964cd9bda.html%20">https://www.coloradopolitics.com/opinion/colorado-must-limit-use-of-electronic-ballots/article_5764f466-9e76-11eb-b10a-bb6964cd9bda.html</a></p>
<p>----------</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Mark A. Riccobono]</p> <h2
id="changing-the-world-one-ballot-at-a-time">Changing the World One Ballot at a
Time</h2> <p><strong>by Mark A. Riccobono</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor:
This op-ed is reprinted with permission from <em>The Hill</em>, April 16,
2021.</strong></p> <p>In his 1988 children’s novel “Matilda,”
celebrated author Roald Dahl penned the line “Somewhere inside all of us
is the power to change the world.” When applied to voting, this sentiment
becomes doubly relevant. To have the power to change the world, we must first have
the power to make our voices heard through a ballot. For many blind Americans,
making our voice heard presents its own set of unique challenges. The For the
People Act (S. 1), currently in the United States Senate, sets out to rectify some
of these problems but misses the mark in a few critical areas.</p> <p>In 2002,
the Help America Vote Act was signed into law, requiring every polling location
to have at least one accessible ballot-marking device. This was a great leap
forward in accessible voting because these machines allow blind and print-disabled
persons to complete their ballot privately and independently. However, with the
resurgence of hand-marked paper ballots in recent years, a new problem has been
created. Ballot-marking devices will frequently print a paper ballot that differs
in both size and style from traditional hand-marked paper ballots used by the
majority of voters. Because so few non-disabled voters use the ballot-marking
devices, the distinguishable ballot produced by the machine prevents blind and
other disabled voters from having a secret ballot. If officials can determine
which bloc of voters a specific set of ballots came from, it becomes possible to
discriminate against those voters; and if a particular polling location has only
one or two disabled voters using the machine, those voters might as well sign
their ballot. To ensure that blind and print-disabled voters can cast both a secret
and independent ballot, it is essential that S. 1 be amended so that at least two
ballot-marking devices are required in each polling place and that those ballot-marking
devices are actively and specifically offered to voters without disabilities.</p>
<p>Furthermore, more Americans than ever before are choosing to vote by mail;
therefore, it is essential that blind Americans not be excluded from this opportunity.
In that regard, S. 1 must be amended to ensure that the process for requesting,
completing, and submitting a vote-by-mail ballot is nonvisually accessible. In
this regard, nothing in the bill should limit or alter a state’s obligations
under Section 301(a)(3)(A) of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 and Title II of
the Americans with Disabilities Act as amended. This would ensure that Congress
is preserving the accessibility requirements of these two landmark laws.</p>
<p>Ensuring the accessibility of in-person and vote-by-mail balloting will guarantee
that blind Americans are able to exercise their right to vote in a safe and secure
manner without having to wait in long lines and crowded areas for extended periods
of time. It is essential to incorporate these two edits into the bill to guarantee
that blind Americans have the same opportunity to vote privately, independently,
and secretly that is provided to voters without disabilities. Without these
amendments to the bill, Congress would be reversing decades of progress in voting
rights for Americans with disabilities.</p> <p>The National Federation of the
Blind has conducted numerous blind voter surveys in order to establish a set of
voting best practices. Additionally, we have worked to develop numerous innovations
in this field over the past decades. We are fully prepared to help Congress in
any way that we can in order to guarantee that all Americans, especially blind
Americans, can confidently participate in our electoral democracy so that we too
will be able to exercise our power to change the world.</p> <p>----------</p>
<p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Nancy Burns]</p> <h2 id="to-educate-or-alienate">To Educate or
Alienate</h2> <p><strong>by Nancy Burns</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor:
Nancy Burns is a loyal, longtime member who does her best to deposit a nugget of
real value to the <em>Braille Monitor</em>. What she has to say is always thought
provoking, and this offering is no different. What she offers is her perspective
on our obligation to educate the public and the absolute necessity that we mingle
if real integration is to occur. Here is what she has to say:</strong></p> <p>As
blind or visually impaired people, we are frequently confronted with demeaning
and sometimes insulting questions or comments from the general public. The difficulty
is how to respond to these situations without alienating anyone. The sighted public
generally has little if any connection with someone who happens to be blind, and
therefore long held false assumptions seem to kick into place.</p> <p>From my
years of dealing with such encounters, it has come to my attention that the common
belief is that it would be impossible for the sighted person in question to perform
typical daily tasks without vision. The truth of the matter is that such opinions
are accurate. As blind people we know that it takes training and a positive attitude
to become a confident and competent individual. The National Federation of the
Blind has for decades provided support and training in these areas. The challenge
then becomes how to respond to such a person. These encounters occur all too
quickly, and we must think on our feet without hesitation. This is challenging
and much easier said than done.</p> <p>A lively discussion centering around these
issues took place during a recent group meeting, and a number of desired responses
to these comments were shared. The range of responses went from the use of sarcasm
to an attempt to find humor in the situation. Several examples of rather thoughtless
questions were reported. Who picks out your clothes for you? Do you know where
you are going? Will your dog take you to the right location? May I move your stick?
These are just a few of the commonly asked questions. The answers seem relatively
simple to those of us who happen to be blind. Occasionally there may even be a
bright side to these encounters. Dialog between blind people and the general public
does not always occur, but occasionally we are able to clarify a situation. The
more we are out there and seen walking independently, catching buses for work,
being involved in daily activities, or getting involved in civic organizations,
the more we are viewed as “normal.” Each of us is an ambassador of
the truth and must respond politely to those never-ending comments from uneducated
or unthinking people. It is the responsibility of each and every one of us to wear
a badge of independence and to share the responsibility of educating and not
alienating the sighted public.</p> <p>The flip side of this is our responsibility
to support and educate one another. A proven fact is that we, as blind individuals,
are the best instructors for others who happen to be blind. A perfect example of
this is the fact that in the past only sighted people taught the use of the long
white cane. NFB training centers now exist in which capable blind people administer
and work in these programs. We also serve as peer counselors for our blind sisters
and brothers. There is no better source of learning than from one another. Questions
from how to take college exams to how I coordinate clothes or prepare a meal for
my family can be easily answered by a blind friend.</p> <p>The National Federation
of the Blind, as a result of its very existence, provides huge opportunities for
training and confidence building. The structure of this nationwide organization
provides opportunities to learn and to assume leadership roles. Self-confidence
will be gained, and sharing this experience with others who happen to be blind is
the very backbone of the National Federation of the Blind.</p> <p>----------</p>
<h2 id="making-it-through-adversity">Making it through Adversity</h2> <p><strong>by
Svetlana Ehlers</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor:</strong> <strong>Svetlana
is one of our younger members in the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri,
but you wouldn’t know it from the presentation she made at the 2021 affiliate
convention. It has appeared in the <em>Blind Missourian,</em> the newsletter of
the National Federation of the Blind of Missouri. Here is what she said:</strong></p>
<p>Have you ever lived on a farm? Living on a farm you can learn so much, like
watching a chick hatch. You watch the poor chick struggle and struggle and struggle.
Then you see a tiny crack in the shell, so you decide to pull the shell apart
because you feel sorry for the chick. Once you pull the shell apart, the chick
will eventually die because it must first build its strength by pushing its wings
against the shell. It needs that adversity to survive. Adversity can be a blessing
as it will grow your confidence, determination, and faith in Jesus Christ.</p>
<p>I was born in Armenia; Armenia is located north of Iran and east of Turkey. I
was born at twenty-four weeks; I just didn’t want to waste any more time.
Just call me an over-achiever. Poor planning on my part: my eyes didn’t
develop right. So my parents could not care for me, and they put me in an orphanage.
Over the next nine-year-period, I moved from a hospital to two different orphanages
and a blind school. I don’t remember much about my first orphanage, but I
remember this one person named Guion who was abusive. She would hit me if I talked
or moved. Sometimes I felt she would just hit me for no apparent reason. I also
had a friend named Samvel. He was like a brother to me. We were each other’s
anchor. I don’t know how I would have survived without him there. He went
with me to my second orphanage and to the blind school. I was hoping that when I
moved the abuse would stop, and it did for about a week.</p> <p>After that week
the abuse started again. But it was different in this new orphanage. The orphanage
staff let the other kids play, but Samvel and I had to just sit and listen to them
because we were both blind and couldn’t get around on our own. If I got up
from my chair, I would immediately be hit. I think my blindness was considered a
burden to the staff. When we went to bed, we had to be asleep as soon as we put
our heads on the pillow. Most of the time that was very difficult because it was
scary at night. So I just pretended to be asleep and listened to the other kids
being hurt by the staff. I started thinking that this was normal, so I figured
out ways that I could avoid being abused.</p> <p>One day a priest named Father
Grigor and his wife Anahit came to visit the kids with disabilities. They took
Samvel and me and some of the other kids to church every week. They even took us
on vacation to a lake for a week. This was the only place where I felt safe and
the only time I ever felt loved. This is where Father Grigor introduced me to God.
I think this helped me to see that there was something good in life. But then we
had to go back to the orphanage. This made me very upset because I had to go back
to that place.</p> <p>That same year Samvel and I went to the blind school. The
school was not abusive, but I did not learn much. They brushed my hair and teeth,
and they even dressed us. I didn’t even learn how to lift a fork to my
mouth. I just put my mouth on the plate and pulled food in. My mom called it my
puppy dog eating. If I hadn’t gotten adopted, I would have been finished
with school by the age of fourteen. People in Armenia believe that children who
are blind don’t need to obtain an education above an eighth grade level.</p>
<p>Then one day the orphanage staff told me that the Americans were coming to
steal my organs. I’ve seen kids disappear before. So I was scared when my
new mom came and took me away. Once I was adopted, my life changed very quickly.
At first I was very immature. My mom said that because I couldn’t touch
anything all my life, I made up for lost time and touched everything. Remember I
see through my fingers. Imagine me going out to dinner with family and friends.
Everyone else looks around to see what each person ordered, but for me, my hands
immediately went into everybody’s plates.</p> <p>My mom taught me how to
read Braille, and then my whole world opened up. Everything that I couldn’t
see in the orphanage I could now see in books. Since then, I’ve never
stopped learning. My goal is to become a lawyer, and I am going to do what it
takes to achieve that goal.</p> <p>Are you wondering what happened to Samvel?
Well, he got adopted also. Remember Father Grigor and Anahit, the people that took
us to church? I think once I was being adopted they realized they could lose us,
so they adopted Samvel. Most people in Armenia don’t care about kids with
disabilities, but these folks did. I commend them for going against their culture,
because not only did they adopt Samvel, but they also adopted another child from
that orphanage who had challenges. Today Samvel is a beautiful opera singer doing
concerts all across Eastern Europe. Samvel’s life will be very different
from mine. He finished school at the age of fourteen. Because of this, he will
not be able to support himself in Armenia. The good thing is that he has a family
who can support him. God has a purpose for everything that he does. “For
I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to
prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jerimiah 29:11.</p> <p>I wouldn’t wish for anyone to go through what I had
to go through in Armenia. It was a horrible experience. No child should ever have
to endure that type of abuse. But everyone has adversity in their lives. Some
experience adversity more often and to a greater or lesser extent. What matters
is how you view your adversity. We can become a victim of our adversity, or we
can grow from the challenges that God gives us. I choose to grow from my adversity,
and I am going to encourage you to teach your children to grow from theirs as
well. Adversity can be a blessing because it will grow your confidence, determination,
and faith in Jesus Christ.</p> <p>First, let’s talk about confidence. If
I had not gone through the challenges I did, I would not be the person that I am
today. “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in
which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself,
‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes
along.’” Eleanor Roosevelt. When you let your kids experience
adversity, they will be more self-reliant as an adult. For example, if your child
is having a problem with their friend, let them talk to their friend so that they
can resolve the issue. Once you let them do that, they will build a sense of
self-confidence that will get stronger with time. Dr. Laura Markham says,
“Manage your own anxiety so you don't make a habit of rescuing your child.
Instead, when she gets into a jam, support her in brainstorming possible solutions.
If you lecture, teach, or solve the problem for her, you're teaching her that she
can't solve things herself.” (Markham) Also, God commands us to have
confidence. Joshua 1:9 states, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and
courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will
be with you wherever you go.”</p> <p>Adversity builds determination. This
year I wanted to learn how to put wood in our wood stove. I kept telling myself
that I couldn’t do it. It was just too hard, and I was afraid that I would
touch the flames—ouch! Finally, I decided to use the fireplace tongs to
put the log in the fire. I figured out that this wasn’t going to work, so
then I tried to put the log in the fire with my gloved hand, and it worked! I had
to stop thinking about the negative aspects about putting wood in the fire. You
might think that is easy, but again I am totally blind. If I were to touch the
flames, that would be very bad. I did melt my dad’s firefighter gloves.
You see, they are not designed to actually be in the flames.</p> <p>He was very
surprised, but I haven’t burned my hands. That is okay right! “I
really believe in the old expression that what doesn’t kill you makes you
stronger. It’s through adversity that you find the strength you never knew
you had.” Christie Brinkley.</p> <p>Lastly, my faith in God has greatly
increased. When I think back to the past, I thank God for what he let me endure.
If I did not go through hardships, I would have not reached out to God. So, I
encourage you to thank God for your hardships. “… adversity is not
the time to abandon the faith that has brought us this far. Instead, we should
ask the Lord to use the adversity as a tool to strengthen our trust in Him. Let
us pray that God will give us courage, boldness, wisdom, and faith as a result of
walking through adversity.” Pastor David Delman (Delman) When you trust in
the Lord, he will help you through hard times. “I can do all things through
Christ who gives me strength” Philippians 4:13. God is not going to take
that hardship away, but he will help you through it.</p> <p>After listening to
this speech, what do you think about adversity? Should we wait until the child is
a grown adult to experience adversity, or should we let them start experiencing
little adversities now? I hope that you start now because it will greatly increase
their confidence, determination, and faith in Jesus Christ. Remember to let your
little chicks break out of their shells on their own.</p> <p>----------</p>
<p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Gary Wunder]</p> <h2
id="discrimination-against-the-blind-isnt-just-a-sighted-thing">Discrimination
Against the Blind Isn’t Just a Sighted Thing</h2> <p><strong>by Gary
Wunder</strong></p> <p>Reading Shawn Calloway’s story in the June issue of
the <em>Monitor</em> got me thinking about my first romantic relationship, and
what a pleasant thought and a life changer that was. I was raised during my teen
years in a small town with a sign saying population 216. Like every young man, I
wanted to date, but besides a date for the junior senior prom, mostly I struck
out. In my town and in those times, the boy drove the car that picked up the girl,
and without a car, there was nothing to do. Our town had a gas station and a post
office; neither helped with romance unless one was dating from afar.</p> <p>My
life changed when I came to the University of Missouri Columbia and found that I
could walk almost anywhere I wanted to go. The bank, the restaurant, the movie
theater, and a nice park were all within my ability to reach without first having
to arrange or beg for a ride. It didn’t take long after coming to campus
to realize that there was more to college than books. There were girls, women,
and one of them in particular liked me and I liked her. I love the touch of the
hand, the embrace so much different from hugging mom, and the way it felt when
she put her head on my shoulder. I felt more alive than I had ever felt.</p> <p>She
was not at all concerned about the fact that I was blind, but, like the fathers
in Shawn’s experience, there was rough sailing ahead. In my story, however,
the father was blind, and he was quite sure that his daughter could do quite a
lot better than a relationship with a blind man. My girlfriend’s father
did not work outside the home. He had very little self-confidence, and one of my
girlfriend’s wishes was that she could get him in contact with people who
might help change his perception of what life might have to offer if only he had
a different view of himself.</p> <p>After an eight-week summer program, I went
off to get myself a guide dog. Sam, my girlfriend, was still uppermost in my
thoughts, so one of the first people I called using the payphone at the school
was her. When her father realized to whom she was talking, I heard him say,
“He’s not calling collect, is he?” That might’ve been
a reasonable question from any father, no matter how well he could or could not
see.</p> <p>It is strange to think about what motivates us in the work we do
because sometimes those motivations seem contradictory. I was motivated by people
who did things I didn’t think blind people could do and therefore opened
up opportunities to me I didn’t think existed. I was motivated by blind
people who broke down barriers so that I could go to school, hire human beings to
read to me, receive special tape-recording equipment that would let me use books
on tape, and the programs gave me enough money to buy food and other necessities.
But I’m here to tell you that I was also motivated by that father who
thought his daughter deserved better than to date a blind man. I might not be able
to change his life, but what if I could change life for people of my generation
and those who would come after?</p> <p>My girlfriend and I were both young; we
drifted apart without a single bad word or argument, and almost two decades later
we started to write to one another. She was never quite sure how much her
father’s opposition played in our drifting apart. The part of her who valued
being rebellious thought that it played no part at all, but the part who loved
her father and wanted to be the good daughter also knew that his opinion did
matter.</p> <p>There is no question that we want to change the opinion of the
sighted public about our worth as human beings and our ability to participate in
society, but it is equally true that we want to change the minds of other blind
people who cannot envision the opportunities open to them if only they can believe
in themselves and other blind people. When we pledge ourselves to go build the
Federation, it is not organizational momentum or preservation of some legacy that
we are talking about. It is talking about having a mechanism to bring about
effective change, a structure that lets blind people talk among ourselves, venture
to risk new ideas leading to opportunities, and knowing that we have the support
of one another as we attempt the traditional or untraditional. If we are to have
a hand in building the world we will live in and in the world our children will
inherit, we need the right tools, and one of the most important is the National
Federation of the Blind.</p> <p>----------</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Danielle
McCann]</p> <h2 id="i-wanted-to-walk-a-mile-in-those-little-high-heeled-shoes">I
Wanted to Walk a Mile in Those Little High-Heeled Shoes</h2> <p><strong>by Danielle
McCann</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor: Danielle is our director of social
media, and as excited about that as I am, the thing that brings me real joy is
that she is willing to write more than 280 character Twitter posts and several
paragraphs on Facebook. She writes articles, and I think they are fantastic. Here
is her latest offering:</strong></p> <p>When I was little, I wanted nothing more
than to be a Barbie. I was obsessed with tearing open those hot pink cardboard
boxes I saw in the store with those beautiful girls smiling behind the clear
plastic sleeves. Brush, check; tiny plastic heels, check; incredibly gorgeous
doll, check check check. In my mind, the fact that she was white, blue-eyed, super
thin, and able-bodied were noted but not so much that I stopped dreaming of my
own life of pink luxury.</p> <p>When the “ethnic” dolls came out,
my parents started buying me the one named Theresa. She had a darker skin tone,
brown eyes, and brown hair. She still had Barbie’s figure, and her eyes
weren’t like mine, but she was a little bit closer to looking like me; my
dream was even closer at hand.</p> <p>In May of this year, decades after I put my
Barbie fantasies on the shelf, Mattel released the Helen Keller Barbie, and I got
a little bit choked up when I heard. It took me a while to figure out why this
doll was making me feel emotional. I texted my brother about her immediately and
rambled on to my husband about my long-forgotten love for Barbie, all the while
trying not to cry.</p> <p>I finally realized that what was making me feel this
way was my seven-year-old self, recognizing herself in the Helen doll. In recent
years, Mattel made a concerted effort to change the body shape of its flagship
toy. In addition to “Classic” Barbie, there are now dolls who are
shorter, taller, and curvier, like me. They have also made efforts to construct
facial features that represent different ethnicities more accurately. Knowing that
there is now a doll who is disabled just feels like we’re getting somewhere,
like maybe today’s generation of children who play with Barbies will have
the chance to see themselves and more easily imagine themselves being able to
achieve their dreams despite perceived limitations. It is my hope that Mattel and
other toy manufacturers continue to be inclusive when they think of their next
big idea.</p> <p>As an adult, I am nostalgic for the days when all I had to worry
about was finding the perfect outfit for my doll or hiding the fact that I cut
her hair from my mom. Though I never got to walk a mile in Barbie’s little
plastic heels, I definitely have mostly pink footwear. I guess there are some
things we’re not meant to grow out of.</p> <p>----------</p> <p>[PHOTO
CAPTION: Dana Ard]</p> <h2 id="my-jury-experience">My Jury Experience</h2>
<p><strong>by Dana Ard</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor: Dana Ard is the
president of the National Federation of the Blind of Idaho, and in that role she
displays so much of what it means to be a loyal, hard-working Federationist. She
takes her responsibilities as an advocate seriously, and when we win a right, she
doesn’t try shirking the responsibility that goes along with it. We are
blessed by her contributions to the <em>Monitor.</em> Here is her latest
offering:</strong></p> <p>I received my first-ever jury summons letter in
mid-February. Since the dates that I was to appear were during convention week,
I requested a postponement and was soon notified by mail that my dates of service
would be April 5 to 9. I was told that I would have to call in at the end of each
weekday to find out when I needed to appear at the Ada County courthouse. I called
in on the Saturday night before the Monday which began my time of service. I
learned that I would need to appear at the courthouse on April 5 at 12:30. When
I arrived, I was checked in through security, and a marshal escorted me to the
fourth floor and into the large room where the prospective jurors were to wait.
There was an informational video played describing jury service.</p> <p>An hour
after arrival, about thirty-five of the one hundred-plus prospective jurors were
given placards with a number on them. We were told to line up in order and move
to a room where we would be interviewed. My number was seven. The judge, Michael
Reardon, asked questions that focused on our critical thinking and analytical
skills as well as rooting out and learning about our biases. Near the end of his
questioning, he asked if there was anyone who had never been summoned for jury
duty. I raised my placard, because although my husband was called at least five
times, I had never been summoned for jury duty. He then asked who was excited to
serve on a jury. I raised my placard, and I was invited to speak. I explained that
I was honored to be there even if I wasn’t selected. I stated that I wanted
to fulfill my civic duty and serve on a jury. After a short recess, we returned
to our room for a few more comments from the judge, and then the selection began.
Numbers were called: four, six, and then my magic number, seven. I was selected
to serve on the jury for the trial!</p> <p>The defendant in the trial was accused
of knowingly possessing, depositing, and attempting to cash a stolen third-party
check. I took Braille notes on all of the witness testimony as well as the guidance
from the judge on what we had to consider when deciding this case of grand theft.
When we began deliberations, I thought the case was a slam-dunk. I believed that
the defendant was guilty beyond a reasonable doubt; but, surprisingly, not everyone
agreed with me initially. After approximately two hours, we reached consensus that
the defendant was indeed guilty as charged. Following our rendering of the verdict
in court, we learned that the defendant had two prior charges similar to the one
on which we had just convicted him.</p> <p>I am proud to have been able to exercise
my civic responsibility as a juror. I am hopeful that my service will demonstrate
to judges and attorneys that blind people should not be disqualified from jury
service based solely on blindness.</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> <h4 id="fixed-sum-of-assets">Fixed
Sum of Assets</h4> <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> <h4
id="percentage-of-assets">Percentage of Assets</h4> <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> <h4 id="payable-on-death-pod-account">Payable on Death (POD)
Account</h4> <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> <h4 id="will-or-trust">Will
or Trust</h4> <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 <a
href="https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/ways-give/planned-giving">Planned Giving
webpage</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>In 2020, the NFB:</p> <ul> <li><p>Distributed 5,278 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 124,813 subscribers, providing free access to over five hundred local,
national, and international publications.</p></li> <li><p>Introduced 1,107 young
blind children and their families to non-visual learning through Braille Reading
Pals and the Early Explorers program.</p></li> <li><p>Continued our Braille
Enrichment for Literacy and Learning® Academies as 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> <h4
id="vehicle-donation-program">Vehicle Donation Program</h4> <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> <h4
id="general-donation">General Donation</h4> <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
our <a href="https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/ways-give">Ways to Give webpage</a>
for more information. </p> <h4 id="pre-authorized-contribution">Pre-Authorized
Contribution</h4> <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 <a href="https://www.nfb.org/pac">PAC Donation Form</a> online.</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: Lisa Bryant]</strong></p>
<h2 id="feeling-through">Feeling Through</h2> <p><strong>by Lisa Bryant</strong></p>
<p><strong>From the Editor: For almost two years now, we have been involved in an
effort to “Let Us Play Us.” The idea is simple: when a blind person
is portrayed, whether on Broadway, on television, or on the big screen, we want
blind people considered for these roles. It is not surprising that people with
other disabilities want the same. Here is an interview conducted by our own Lisa
Bryant, a member of the Keystone chapter of the National Federation of the Blind
of Pennsylvania. Lisa is a freelance writer, and when she heard about this movie,
she decided to see if she could get an interview for the <em>Braille Monitor</em>.
She asked, they said yes, and here is our outstanding article:</strong></p>
<p><strong>“I welcome the industry to invite more of us to the table.
Let’s take this and build upon it.”</strong></p> <p>—Robert
Tarango, deafblind actor in <em>Feeling Through</em></p> <p><em><a
href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056241/"><strong>The Miracle Worker</strong></a></em>
is undoubtedly the most famous movie featuring a deafblind character. Based on
the autobiography of <a
href="https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Story-of-My-Life/Helen-Keller/Enriched-Classics/9781416500322"><strong>Helen</strong>
<strong>Keller</strong></a>, who was deafblind, the film also tells the story of
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Sullivan"><strong>Anne Sullivan</strong></a>,
Keller’s blind teacher. In the film, Sullivan is the only person able to
reach Keller—transforming her from a wild, frustrated young girl, misunderstood,
and even feared by her own family, to a tender and in her way, communicative
Helen.</p> <p>That was in 1962. The film received multiple Oscar nominations with
its two lead actresses winning for their roles. Patti Duke, a sighted and hearing
actress played Keller, while Anne Bancroft, also sighted, played the role of
Sullivan.</p> <p>At this year’s Oscars, <a
href="https://www.feelingthrough.com/"><em><strong>Feeling Through</strong></em></a>,
a short film by <strong><a href="https://www.feelingthrough.com/workshops-demos">Doug
Roland</a></strong> was nominated for its portrayal of a deafblind character. But,
unlike more than fifty years ago, <em>Feeling Through</em> casts <a
href="https://www.feelingthrough.com/new-page-3"><strong>Robert Tarango</strong></a>,
who is deafblind in real life as Artie, the deafblind character in the film.</p>
<p>Based on a true encounter Roland had one night in New York City, the eighteen-minute
short tells of a chance meeting between Tereek, (played by <a
href="https://www.feelingthrough.com/new-page-3"><strong>Steven Prescod</strong></a>),
a young man wondering where he will sleep that night, and Artie who is making his
way home from a date. To help Artie, Tereek learns on the fly how to communicate
with him; mainly using the <a
href="https://www.alldeaf.com/threads/what-is-print-on-palm-pop-and-why-i-use-it.73694/"><strong>print
on palm</strong></a> method.</p> <p>“I knew I wanted to cast an actor who
was deafblind,” said Roland who contacted the <strong><a
href="https://www.helenkeller.org/hknc">Helen Keller National Center (HKNC)</a></strong>
in the very beginning of the project. He added that it was important that he make
the film alongside the community it portrayed.</p> <p>Roland worked closely with
Christopher Woodfill, associate director of HKNC, who is also deafblind. According
to Roland, Woodfill provided a host of potential “Arties” from a
nationwide pool of actors.</p> <p>Yet, after several in-person and remote auditions,
the role of Artie remained open. That is until interpreter Erin Quinn suggested
Tarango who worked in the kitchen of the center. Although Tarango had no professional
acting experience, Roland said he knew almost instantly that they had found their
Artie.</p> <p>For Tarango, it was a day he will never forget. “I was working
in the kitchen as an aide, just doing what I do every day,” said Tarango.
That is until his boss summoned him to a meeting in another building on the
center’s campus. “I thought I was in trouble,” said Tarango,
never imagining he would become the first deafblind actor cast in an Oscar-nominated
film.</p> <p>But when Roland first approached Sue Ruzenski, Ed.D. and CEO of <a
href="https://www.helenkeller.org/"><strong>Helen Keller Services</strong></a>,
the parent company of HKNC, she was initially cautious, wondering if the team’s
efforts were sincere and if they really did “get it.” “I
first thought here is a completely different field coming through. What are their
understandings, and will they be respectful?” said Ruzenski. “They
could have their own agenda, and it might not be aligned with our community,”
she added. It seemed like a risk.</p> <p>However, once the two teams met, Ruzenski,
who is also co-producer of the film, was assured it was a risk worth taking.
“Doug was a listener and a learner from the start,” Ruzenski said;
adding that Roland was intentional in keeping her and HKNC included at every
turn.</p> <p>As co-producer, Ruzenski assisted with a variety of resources from
fundraising to accommodations such as both voicing and signing interpreters. For
Roland, providing these and other accommodations never felt burdensome but instead
gave even more value to making the film.</p> <p>“It feels like the wrong
approach to look at working with people with disabilities as an extra cost or an
extra challenge,” Roland said. Adding that, “Anytime we work with
people who are different from us, we learn more about our world and ourselves.”
He also said there was the ripple effect of providing a transformative teaching
moment for the film crew. Perhaps more important than providing accommodations is
a genuine and respectful treatment or in this case portrayal of persons with
disabilities.</p> <p>In <em>Feeling Through</em>, Artie seems to quickly trust
Tereek, in one scene handing Tereek his wallet to pay for a juice. Perhaps not
surprisingly, Tereek helps himself to a ten-dollar tip (you will have to watch
the short for the conclusion to this scene).</p> <p>During one watch party, viewers
were mostly pleased with the film’s treatment of a deafblind actor. But
some questioned that scene as unrealistic.</p> <p>Marsha Drenth is a longtime
Federationist and president of the Pennsylvania Association of the Deafblind. She
said it was great to have a film giving attention to deafblindness and reaching
Oscar-level recognition. “But I don’t think any deafblind person
would just hand over their wallet.”</p> <p>In addressing the criticism,
Roland notes that when there are too few stories or examples of a certain group,
the one more publicized story becomes representative of an entire
community—“which is what we shouldn’t do,” he said.
Roland also urges viewers to look at the full context of the film rather than
isolating the one scene.</p> <p>As for future projects, Roland, Ruzenski, and the
HKNC team are collaborating on developing a curriculum for high school and
college-aged students. One goal of the curriculum is to break down fears and
hesitancy in communicating with a deafblind person. Ruzenski plans to involve
deafblind staff at HKNC in developing the program.</p> <p>As for Tarango, who was
born deaf, being in the film was fulfillment of an acting career he thought was
deferred when he later lost his vision as an adult. He has not so subtly hinted
at wanting to do a <em>Feeling Through</em> part two, and he hopes to have been
an inspiration to others in his community. “Look at what I just did! You
can do it too!” said Tarango.</p> <p>To hear her full interview on <em>Blind
Abilities</em> with both Robert Tarango and Doug Roland go to: <a
href="https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/blindabilities/FeelingThrough.mp3">https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/blindabilities/FeelingThrough.mp3</a>,
and to watch <em>Feeling Through</em> with audio description go to: <a
href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM_7_BofpPQ">Feeling Through (with audio
description) - YouTube</a></p> <p>Deafblind Awareness Week is June 27-July 3. For
more information go to <a href="https://www.helenkeller.org/hknc/dbaw">HKNC:
Deafblind Awareness Week 2021 (helenkeller.org)</a></p> <p>Lisa Bryant is a
freelance writer living in Philadelphia. She is an active member of the Keystone
Chapter.</p> <p>----------</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Jonathan Mosen]</p> <h2
id="why-i-am-proud-to-be-blind">Why I am Proud to Be Blind</h2> <p><strong>by
Jonathan Mosen</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor: Jonathan Mosen is a familiar
name not only to <em>Monitor</em> readers but to those who are familiar with
podcasts and personalities who have been prominent in blindness technology for
the last couple of decades. Here is something he posted on March 5, 2021, and it
is with his permission that we reproduce it here:</strong></p> <p>I often mention
on my <em>Mosen At Large</em> podcast that I am proud to be blind. Recently, I
was challenged by a listener and asked how I can possibly be proud of having a
serious, debilitating condition.</p> <p>I am glad to say that disability pride
and blind pride as a subset of that is on the rise. Yet it is an incomprehensible
concept to some.</p> <p>I keep a gratitude journal, where I write at least ten
things every day for which I am grateful. So it was easy for me to consult that
journal, where I have often written of things relating to blindness for which I
am grateful and write this piece on why I am proud to be blind. You can hear the
audio of this in <em>Mosen At Large</em> episode 119, and I have also uploaded
the audio to this page, but here is the text of what I said in case you prefer to
read it.</p> <p>I am profoundly proud to be blind. I am proud of the fact that as
a kid, when my older siblings would have been found out for reading at night, I
read in the dark as much as I liked, a Braille book tucked under the covers on
winter nights.</p> <p>I am proud to be blind, because it connects me with a proud
history. I share a characteristic with a man who gave us the priceless gift of
functional, efficient literacy. Louis Braille was an example of “nothing
about us without us” in the 19th century, long before we used that phrase.
His genius invention was derided by sighted people who were certain they knew what
was best for us. He was ridiculed. His code was driven underground, and his books
were burned. But he prevailed, because he was blind. He devised his code for
himself; he gave it, at considerable personal cost, to all of us.</p> <p>I am
proud to be blind because of all the other blind people who followed in Louis
Braille’s footsteps, blind people innovating and inventing for our collective
advancement, imagining a better future, and making it real. Whether it be Larry
Skutchan with his methodical mind and interminable patience, or Ted Henter with
his zeal and entrepreneurship, or David Costution and Glen Gordon who believed
that Windows could be truly useable and then made it come true, or the blind people
now working on the inside of mainstream companies who are our champions; we dreamed
it, we created it.</p> <p>I am proud to be blind because blind people are the
reason the thirty-three RPM record was developed, initially so talking books could
be distributed more efficiently.</p> <p>And speaking of talking books, I am proud
to be blind because blind people are the reason talking books exist. Now sighted
people are using them too.</p> <p>I am proud to be blind because the original
reading machine was created for us. We started the journey of digitizing printed
text that resulted in the scanners that are still commonplace in offices today.</p>
<p>I am proud to be blind because long before the term PDA was in the lexicon of
sighted people, we were taking notes, keeping track of appointments, and reading
books on devices like Keynotes and Braille ’n Speaks.</p> <p>I am proud to
be blind because we were one of the reasons computers started to talk. Technology
is better because of blind people. There are so many examples of technology when
we, proudly, have been the blind who led the sighted.</p> <p>I am proud to be
blind because I am not influenced by someone’s physical appearance, but
instead gain information from the tone of a voice and the words that are said.</p>
<p>I am proud to be blind because it has made me a more lateral thinker, developing
and refining alternative techniques to access a wide range of information so I
can thrive in a largely sight-dependent world.</p> <p>I am proud to be blind
because, even though my other senses aren’t sharper than anyone else’s,
in fact I have a dual sensory loss, like many blind people, I use them well. It
makes me smile when I can tell what type of audio processor is being used on a
radio station or when another blind person can tell the kind of car that’s
passing simply by the sound it’s making, or when a blind person gives
another blind person an instruction like, “When your cane hits a pole on
my street that emits a fifth octave A-Flat, you’re outside my house.”</p>
<p>I am proud to be blind because of the legacy of great blind civil rights leaders
around the world. Often ostracized and branded radical troublemakers, they confronted
and are still confronting today the tyranny of low expectations and the disabling
decisions society has chosen to make. They challenged the damaging, fundamentally
flawed notion that we had neither the ability nor the right to achieve
self-determination, and that it wasn’t necessary for society to be accessible
or inclusive or accepting. Their belief in a fairer tomorrow has unshackled us
from institutions and shattered disempowering paternalism. Their tenacity has seen
the increasing availability of better training, much of it driven by blind people
ourselves, and increased opportunity through civil rights legislation.</p> <p>I
am proud to be blind because, as a subset of the world’s largest minority
(disabled people), blind people led the way in the disability movement, securing
legislative victories long before they were common for much of the rest of the
sector. I am grateful every day of my life for those blind people who took on
those difficult causes, displayed tenacity, and stated their cases again and again
and again until progress was slowly but surely made. I am proud of the personal
responsibility I feel as a blind person to always cherish and defend, never take
for granted, and constantly build upon the legacy of civil rights victories that
I have inherited and benefited from. I am mindful that they must not be squandered,
and I am proud to stand up, be counted, and do my moral duty to advance that legacy
so that the next generation has even more opportunity than I have had.</p> <p>I
am proud to be blind because it has shaped who I am, it is part of my identity,
and it has helped define me. I accept that. I embrace that.</p> <p>I am proud to
be blind because in being blind I contribute to the rich tapestry and the diversity
of humankind.</p> <p>I am proud to be blind because, no matter how many negative
signals are sent, I know that being blind makes me no less a person of worth.</p>
<p>I am proud to be blind because the opposite of pride is shame, and my blindness
is nothing to be ashamed of.</p> <p>I am proud to be blind and therefore share a
characteristic with talented people from all walks of life. Blind people are
parents, devoted, loving parents, some of whom have had their babies literally
snatched from their loving arms, an atrocity no capable and loving parent should
endure, and all for no other reason than people getting it horribly wrong about
blindness. I am proud that we as blind people show those parents love, solidarity,
and a steadfast determination to get those children back where they belong.</p>
<p>Blind people are in factories and farms, law practices and legislatures, sandwich
shops and start-ups. I am proud of the blind teachers, software developers,
businesspeople, mechanics, transcribers, musicians, and even medical doctors.
There is very little we can’t do, and there are few professions where you
can’t find a blind person, often to many people’s surprise. The only
trouble is, the world doesn’t necessarily know that. And that’s the
biggest reason I am proud to be blind. Because every day, just by getting on with
my life, I defy the odds in a disabling society; we defy expectations where there
is little disability confidence. When people tell us we can’t, we show them
that yes, we can. It can be exhausting sometimes. We may get knocked down, and
sometimes we may feel like we’re out for the count. But eventually, most
of us get up again. We apply for that one more job. We work around that inaccessible
website. We keep calm and carry on when we’re treated like a helpless child
in the street or when walking into a store or when yet another rideshare driver
declines to take our guide dog. That takes guts; it takes tenacity. The odds are
stacked against us, but we march on, we make progress. Go us!</p> <p>Yes, I am
proud, proud, a thousand times proud to be blind.</p> <p>----------</p> <h2
id="telling-an-uncomfortable-and-unconventional-story">Telling an Uncomfortable
and Unconventional Story</h2> <p><strong>by Gary Wunder</strong></p> <p>There are
many themes readers of the <em>Braille Monitor</em> will find familiar that raise
our emotions and often our defenses. I’m going to tell you a story about
an airport adventure. What goes through your mind? Perhaps it is being offered
unwanted help. Perhaps it is being asked whether you are a frequent flyer or
whether you would like the flight attendant to review the safety procedures for
the 737 aircraft. Seldom does your answer matter: you are going to hear that
review.</p> <p>But I warn you that this is a different story. It is not a typical
<em>Braille Monitor</em> airport story in which I am asked “Where are you
trying to go,” or told “Stand right there until I can get you some
help.” Because it is none of those things, I offer it with some reservation
but with the feeling that perhaps I have an obligation to say that sometimes the
well-intentioned efforts of sighted folks have turned out to work to my benefit.</p>
<p>One evening I land in St. Louis, an airport I’m pretty familiar with,
and I realize I don’t have much time until my connecting flight. I am
offered assistance, but just when that assistance will show up is a question mark.
I politely decline the assistance, throw on my backpack, grab up my laptop, turn
to the right, and off I go lickety-split to make my next flight.</p> <p>I’m
really feeling good about how fast I’m going, quite glad for my mobility,
and really excited about the fact that whether or not I make this plane is under
my control and not someone else’s. What a wonderful thing independence is.
How often have I depreciated the gift by taking it for granted.</p> <p>All of a
sudden, two men ahead of me, one to my right and one to my left, yell stop! As a
child, I actually had classes in which I was conditioned to stop on a dime when
somebody yelled that word. So I did my best to stop, thinking I would explain to
them that their good intentions were unnecessary, when I forcefully collided with
the arms they had extended in front of me. Indeed that brought me to the stop they
had suggested and one I would not have accomplished in time on my own. At the time
of the forced collision, my cane tip fell down the first of what was a long flight
of stairs. I had trotted off in the wrong direction, confusing the even and odd
number of the gates. At the speed I was moving, the cane would not have given me
sufficient time to stop. The stairs were steep, there were a lot of them, and each
year I hear about someone who dies by falling down a flight of stairs.</p> <p>I
understand that responding to what the cane tells me should be second nature, and
most of the time it is. In this case, however, knowing that I knew exactly where
I was, where I needed to go, and how little time I had to get there, I was traveling
like a calorie-burning fiend. Their action, unsolicited and at the time unwanted,
may have saved me from broken bones, saved me from some permanent disfigurement,
or even saved me from death. I was lucky. They did the right thing. They violated
my boundaries, assumed they knew something that I didn’t, and, without my
permission, took matters literally into their own hands. What to say but thank
you.</p> <p>This was certainly not Gary Wunder at his finest. It is not the story
I usually tell about the man who can go to any airport in any city, find any hotel,
eat in any restaurant, make his presentations, and go back home safely. And yet,
this is a true story, one that today finds me safe and comfortable thanks to the
willingness of people to get involved when I didn’t know I needed them. It
is hard to show gratitude while feeling stupid, but it can be done, and the
gratitude and the lessons that came from the experience are ones from which I have
learned. Let firetrucks travel like firetrucks. Let me travel at a speed that
makes sense, not just for my safety but for the safety of those around me. I will
not go at a snail’s pace, in fear of what my next step might bring, but
neither will I outwalk the device that tells me whether or not the next step is
a safe one.</p> <p>I was the beneficiary of good, kind people. My trek that day
represented both independence and interdependence. In that story is a respecting
of my space (no one tried to stop me from going on my own), and it is also a clear
violation of my space, thanks be to God.</p> <p>After several in-person national
conventions, I have gotten articles that express anger about how fast some people
travel in the hotel when we are in what might be characterized as rush-hour traffic.
I have normally toned those articles down to remove some of the bitterness and
have often thought about Dr. Jernigan’s notion that many blind people go
through a stage of rebellious independence. That may be a necessary part to
rehabilitation, but I had no such excuse, and I think the warning to 2022 convention
travelers on the run may serve some purpose. At some level we are talking about
making the convention a safe space, and I think this should be part of our Federation
evolution. We can and must take the time to be kind, and even when there is no
yellow light, we should always proceed with caution when the health of others and
ourselves is at risk.</p> <p>----------</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Bernie Perella]</p>
<h2 id="bernies-story-it-takes-a-village-resourcefulness-and-cosmic-alignment">Bernie’s
Story: It Takes a Village, Resourcefulness, and Cosmic Alignment</h2> <p><strong>by
Laura Deck</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor: This is not a traditional
<em>Braille Monitor</em> offering. Its author is not a Federationist; its subject
is not a Federationist though he makes substantial yearly donations because he
believes the Federation has made significant contributions to his life. He believes
NFB-NEWSLINE<sup>®</sup> has been nothing less than a Godsend and wishes he
had the benefits of it much earlier in his life. “Many times I wanted to
discuss current events with my colleagues but could do so at only the most
superficial level. I had the news but not the depth. Now what I have is timely
and in full, and I couldn’t be more delighted. I love information, and
NFB-NEWSLINE is a very big part of that.</strong></p> <p><strong>Laura Deck works
for Bookshare, and it gets its fair share of credit here; but since we support
it, that’s fine with me. Enjoy this well-written article about a real
pioneer in breaking down barriers for blind people and showing some very influential
sighted folks that we can cut it on terms of equality:</strong></p> <p>Despite
losing his sight at age seven, Bernie Perella’s journey took him from a
small town in Pennsylvania to Villanova University, a career at the National
Security Agency, and a rewarding, active life without limits.</p> <p>On the surface,
Bernie Perella’s life is not that different from others who came of age
after WWII: son of Italian immigrants; idyllic, small-town childhood; college
graduate; professional career; and satisfying retirement. But dig a little deeper
and a fascinating story emerges. Bernie credits his fortunate life to “the
village” that nurtured him growing up, a heavy dose of resourcefulness that
helped him navigate daily life, and four momentous occasions “when the
stars aligned.” When I spoke to Bernie, he was sitting by his pool in Cape
Coral, Florida, waiting for his turn to get the COVID vaccine.</p> <h3
id="it-takes-a-village-or-borough">It Takes a Village (or Borough)</h3> <p>Downingtown
is a borough about thirty miles west of Philadelphia. Bernie grew up there with
his extended Italian family starting in the 1940s. As a young boy, he had problems
with his vision. Unfortunately, none of the attempts to save it were successful,
and he lost his sight at age seven.</p> <p>Bernie’s parents were the first
members of his village. Although they had only minimal formal education, they
found the strength and courage needed to raise a blind child so he could have the
best chance to succeed in the sighted world. “My parents provided a wonderful
blend of parenting. My mother was protective, but not overly protective. My father
encouraged me to try things that I might not otherwise try to do,” says
Bernie. “I think they could be an inspiration to parents of other visually
impaired children.”</p> <p>The next member of the village was Bernie’s
one-year-older brother, Frank. During their childhood and teenage years, the two
were virtually inseparable. They could often be seen running through the open
fields, playing and fishing along the banks of Brandywine Creek, and in the evenings
playing games with other kids in the neighborhood. “Because of Frank and
through his eyes, I felt like any other kid in the neighborhood, and I always felt
that I was accepted by them,” says Bernie.</p> <p>The village grew larger
because of the extended family and the many neighbors who lived close by.
“Neighbors watched out for me. They would call out in Italian to warn me
when they saw me trying to cross the street,” Bernie recalled. “Since
there weren’t many cars in the neighborhood, I could ride my bike without
falling off or hitting anything. I had extremely good hearing and relied on
echolocation to navigate. Frank and I would run around the track at the local high
school, and I could guide myself by hearing where the gravel track ended and the
curb began.”</p> <h3 id="from-overbrook-school-for-the-blind-to-catholic-high-school">From
Overbrook School for the Blind to Catholic High School</h3> <p>When the time came
for Bernie to begin school, his parents realized that the only option was to send
him to a residential school for the blind. He enrolled at the Overbrook School
for the Blind in Philadelphia, which was thirty miles away. Bernie says, “It
was difficult for my parents to leave their son in the care of strangers, and it
was frightening for me because my parents were not there to provide comfort and
reassurance.” As a result, the staff and teachers at that school became
members of the village. There he learned Braille and life skills as well as
traditional subjects. “When I got to high school age, however, I was worried
that the world I was about to enter was not a blind world, so in 1956 I left the
school,” he says.</p> <p>At that time, mainstreaming did not exist. The
only option was the Catholic high school, and the priest said Bernie could enroll
if he could do the same work as everyone else. That September, he sat in class
with all the other students who could see and he couldn’t. “That
was an interesting and exciting time for me. The students thought I was a
curiosity.” However, as the year progressed, a few of the students offered
to read materials for Bernie, and he became lifelong friends with several of
them.</p> <h3 id="necessity-is-the-mother-of-invention">Necessity is the Mother
of Invention</h3> <p>Bernie had a few textbooks in Braille and relied on the
Volunteer Services for the Blind (VSB), a group in Philadelphia that transcribed
books into Braille or recorded them on tape. Bernie says, “Everyone at VSB,
members of my village, were willing to jump through any hoops in order to get the
materials I needed in Braille or on tape.” He continues, “My mother,
who never graduated from high school, would record my chemistry textbook while I
was at school, even though she didn’t understand a word.” He took
notes in class using a Braille slate. After three years, he graduated. It was a
very proud day for his parents when Bernie gave the valedictory speech.</p> <h3
id="navigating-the-campus-and-classes-at-villanova-university">Navigating the
Campus and Classes at Villanova University</h3> <p>Bernie’s knack for
inventiveness accelerated when he entered Villanova. At that time there were no
ADA requirements, and most if not all universities had no programs in place to
support students with disabilities. Villanova was no exception, and the teachers
had no clue how to deal with the four blind students who enrolled that year.</p>
<p>Bernie was on his own in the classroom, but he received some much-needed help
from his brother and a few friends who were students at Villanova. Bernie says,
“Without their help, getting through the initial enrollment and learning
how to navigate the campus would have been much more difficult.” Recording
lectures was only partially useful when professors didn’t explain what they
were writing or pointing to on the chalkboard. As a math major, equations were
especially difficult since <a
href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nemeth_Braille#:~:text=The%20Nemeth%20Braille%20Code%20for,first%20written%20up%20in%201952.">Nemeth
Braille code</a> for mathematics and science wasn’t widely available.</p>
<p>With the help of a volunteer, Bernie invented his own math notation. His academic
accomplishments were impressive, but they didn’t negate the frustrations
of sitting alone at 2:30 a.m. trying to do homework without the books. “I
didn’t know what the future would hold. All I could do was keep moving
forward in spite of setbacks,” says Bernie. Before Bernie finished at
Villanova, his brother Frank went off to join the Air Force. Bernie says, “I
found it ironic that I was visually impaired, and my brother could fly jet planes
for the Air Force.”</p> <h3 id="stars-aligned-1-nsa-is-calling">Stars
Aligned #1: NSA is Calling</h3> <p>After four years of trials and tribulations on
campus, he started interviewing with different companies. Interviews were often
frustrating. The interviewer would say, “I don’t know if this job
will work out because I don’t understand how you can even dial a
telephone.” Bernie would respond, “I can dial faster with my left
hand than you can with your right.” Even though he was right, it didn’t
get him the job.</p> <p>Bernie really wanted to interview with NASA, but the
sign-up sheet was full, so he put his name on another sheet. It turned out he was
interviewing for the National Security Agency (NSA). The discussion went very
well. The interviewer said, “If we proceed, you have to come to Washington,
DC, for further interviews.” “Name the time and place,” said
Bernie.</p> <p>The stars aligned and Bernie embarked on a rewarding career at the
NSA as a mathematician, programmer, and systems analyst. “It was a wonderful
job, and I learned a lot. I earned the respect of my colleagues, and they
didn’t view me as blind.”</p> <h3 id="stars-aligned-2-the-optacon">Stars
Aligned #2: The Optacon</h3> <p>“In the early days of my work, there was
no easy way to read anything let alone mathematical equations.” Much of
the material was classified, so Bernie couldn’t send it out to be recorded.
A colleague recorded several programming manuals for Bernie, and another NSA
employee, a mechanical engineer, designed and built a device that allowed Bernie
to read computer punch cards. Together with a blind friend at IBM, they figured
out how to adapt a computer printer to print Braille. “It was primitive,
but better than nothing,” recalls Bernie.</p> <p>In 1972, Bernie learned
about the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optacon">Optacon</a>, a handheld
device with a camera that translates print into a tactile facsimile of the letters.
He secured funding to research the device and attended training in Palo Alto,
California. “It was like learning to read all over again, but this time
with printed letters. Printed alphabet letters were not part of my mental
cognizance,” explains Bernie. The Optacon was the start of a new chapter
in Bernie’s saga. Finally, after much practice, he was able to read computer
manuals and many other printed documents.</p> <h3 id="stars-aligned-3-eyes-for-life">Stars
Aligned #3: Eyes for Life</h3> <p>The stars aligned once again when on a chilly
fall day, Bernie and his friends went to the horse races. One young woman in the
group offered to walk with him. “I didn’t know it then, but I was
starting a walk for life. Susanne became my wife and eyes. I thought I was getting
a new set of eyes with the Optacon, but I didn’t know that I was getting
a new set of eyes for real.” Susanne was a librarian and served as the head
of the library at the Federal Trade Commission and the US Treasury Department—a
career woman as Bernie describes her.</p> <p>“Susanne introduced me to the
great outdoors, and we embarked on a wonderful journey filled with experiences of
camping, hiking many trails in state and national parks, and overseas travel,”
Bernie recalls. They joined bird watching groups, took birding courses, and found
themselves racing across fields in the dark of night, creeping through swamps on
the eastern shore of Maryland, and slogging through the jungles of Costa Rica,
all in search of interesting birds. “America the beautiful, purple mountains
majesties, spacious skies—many haven’t seen those things, but I
have.”</p> <p>Susanne was a good researcher and a great reader. She would
often read articles from the newspapers to Bernie. “She often lamented that
she wished I could somehow read the paper myself,” recalls Bernie. They
undertook an effort to discover their ancestral roots which involved many trips
to the National Archives and to different places in search of old records.</p>
<h3 id="bookshare-opens-door-to-a-new-world-of-books">Bookshare Opens Door to a
New World of Books</h3> <p>Unfortunately, Susanne later died from breast cancer,
and Bernie grieved for a time. Eventually, he met a woman who works with the autism
community who took him to the Closing the Gap conference. There he learned about
<a href="http://www.bookshare.org">Bookshare</a>, the world’s largest
library of accessible ebooks for people with reading barriers, and he signed up
in 2008. Growing up, he was frustrated that he couldn’t read the books and
newspapers that everyone else was reading. “With Bookshare, I have access
to all the <a href="https://www.bookshare.org/browse/collection/194327"><em>New
York Times</em> bestsellers</a>, other popular books, and even newspapers through
the <a href="https://www.bookshare.org/browse/periodical">NFB-NEWSLINE</a>.”
Bernie enjoys reading the <em>New York Times</em> and listening to books using
his <a href="https://www.bookshare.org/cms/reading-tool-wizard/read-daisy-audio-player">Victor
Reader Stream</a>. “Susanne’s dream of me becoming an independent
reader is now a reality,” says Bernie.</p> <h3
id="stars-aligned-4-sara-joins-the-village">Stars Aligned #4: Sara Joins the
Village</h3> <p>Following retirement and the subsequent passing of his wife,
Bernie’s hoped-for life in the golden years was turned into chaos. “We
had many plans for doing things and going places,” says Bernie. “For
several years I seemed to be moving aimlessly through life hoping that some new
opportunity would present itself,” Bernie recalls. Then, in an unexpected
surprise, the stars aligned once again and Bernie met a new friend, Sara, on an
internet-dating site. Sara is a retired elementary school teacher who spent many
years helping students with learning disabilities learn to read. When the two met,
they connected almost immediately. Sara is now the latest member of Bernie’s
village, and life became fun again. After spending a couple of winters in Puerto
Rico, they decided to build a new home in Cape Coral, Florida, where they now
live. Bernie says, “We had lots of fun working on the new house project;
Sara picked out all the colors, and I enjoyed working with a kitchen planner to
design the kitchen I always wanted.”</p> <h3 id="time-to-pay-it-forward">Time
to Pay It Forward</h3> <p>“A few years ago I was at a Villanova reunion,
and my friends and I talked about the importance of giving back,” says
Bernie. “My life has been blessed, so I decided to make donations to the
NFB and to Bookshare. I really value the NFB-NEWSLINE service provided by the NFB
and the books and software for social good mission that Benetech stands for and
the communities it serves. I hope that my contribution pays for Bookshare memberships
for adults who can’t pay, and the money will go wherever it’s needed
to advance the goals of Bookshare.”</p> <p>As our conversation comes to a
close, Bernie says, “I want neighbors to say, ‘That’s
Bernie’s house over there;’ not, ‘a blind man lives in that
house.’” Given the fascinating chapters in his life’s saga,
I guarantee the neighbors say, “That’s Bernie’s house.”</p>
<p>----------</p> <h2 id="independence-market-corner">Independence Market Corner</h2>
<p><strong>by Terry Boone</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 people. We will be highlighting a
different product every month and listing sale products from time to time.</p>
<h3 id="athletic-balls-with-bells">Athletic Balls with Bells</h3> <p>These
standard-sized, rubber balls have bells inside that jingle when the ball is in
motion.</p> <ul> <li><p>Basketball: orange AIG08B $15.00</p></li> <li><p>Football:
brown AIG09B $15.00</p></li> </ul> <h3 id="rattle-soccer-ball---aig79b-23.00">Rattle
Soccer Ball - AIG79B $23.00</h3> <p>Now it is easier than ever to play soccer with
this rattle soccer ball. This regulation size five ball features dozens of rattles
carefully installed between the layers of the ball near the outside. These many
rattles make the ball easy to hear when it is in play.</p> <h3
id="beeping-frisbee---aig46f-15.00">Beeping Frisbee - AIG46F $15.00</h3> <p>You
can have hours of indoor and outdoor fun with this soft, beeping Frisbee. This
foam disk is covered in bright-orange nylon and contains a continuously beeping
locator, which can be switched on or off. The beeping unit can be removed and used
as a separate audible beacon. The Frisbee measures 7-1/2 inches in diameter and
is 1-1/2 inches thick.</p> <p>The following items are closeout specials, and the
prices have been reduced:</p> <p><strong><span class="underline">Item</span> <span
class="underline">Item #</span> <span class="underline">Sale Price</span></strong></p>
<p>4X coil aspheric stand magnifier AIL109M $5.00</p> <p>Metal Braille Clothing
Labels (Numbers 1-25) AIG72B $7.00</p> <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>We still have the 2X
Illuminated Magnifier with 6X Insert and Folding Handle available for $5.00, and
the Plastic Letter Writing Guides and the Plastic Envelope Writing Guides are
still on sale for $1.00.</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>
<h2 id="recipes">Recipes</h2> <p><strong>Recipes this month were contributed by
members of the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland.</strong></p> <h3
id="eating-crab-at-the-national-convention-banquet-some-recipes-from-the-host-affiliate">Eating
Crab at the National Convention Banquet: Some Recipes from the Host Affiliate</h3>
<p><strong>The Host Affiliate is encouraging every banquet attendee to eat something
crab. Here are some recipes in case you need some ideas. Some of these recipes
were taken from earlier editions of the <em>Braille Monitor</em>, reprinted here
for convenience. Some are brand new to <em>Monitor</em> readers. Enjoy!</strong></p>
<p><strong>Easy Crock-Pot<sup>®</sup> Cream of Crab Soup</strong><br />
<strong>by Will Schwatka, from the April 2013 <em>Braille Monitor</em></strong></p>
<p><strong>Will Schwatka manages the recording studio at the Jernigan Institute
and is the voice of the <em>Braille Monitor</em>, <em>Future Reflections</em>,
and other publications produced by the NFB. He is a member of the Greater Baltimore
Chapter.</strong></p> <p><strong>Ingredients:</strong><br /> 3 cans condensed
cream of potato soup<br /> 2 cans condensed cream of celery soup<br /> 4 large
cans evaporated milk<br /> 1 stick butter<br /> 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce<br
/> 8 ounces Velveeta cheese, cubed<br /> 1 pound crabmeat, shell bits removed<br
/> Old Bay seasoning to taste</p> <p><strong>Method:</strong> Combine all ingredients
except Velveeta, crabmeat, and Old Bay and heat on low in crockpot until hot,
about an hour. Add cubed Velveeta, crabmeat, and Old Bay to taste. Heat on low
until Velveeta has melted, about a half-hour. Serve.</p> <p><strong>Cracker
Crab</strong></p> <p><strong>by Marie Cobb</strong></p> <p><strong>Marie Cobb is
a long-time Federationist who is a member of the Greater Baltimore Chapter. Her
reputation as a gourmet cook is legendary.</strong></p> <p><strong>Ingredients:</strong></p>
<p>1 tablespoon butter</p> <p>1 medium onion, chopped fine</p> <p>2 tablespoons
green pepper, chopped</p> <p>2 tablespoons chopped celery</p> <p>Dash of salt and
pepper</p> <p>1 teaspoon mustard</p> <p>1 tablespoon lemon juice</p> <p>1 pound
crabmeat</p> <p>¼ cup cracker crumbs</p> <p>4 ounces cream</p> <p>½ cup
grated sharp cheese</p> <p><strong>Method:</strong> Place butter into frying pan
and sauté onion, green pepper, and celery. Add salt and pepper, mustard,
lemon juice, crabmeat, and cracker crumbs. Steam together for two to three minutes.
Add cream and mix well. Pour into a greased flat Pyrex baking dish. Bake about 45
minutes at 350 degrees. During the last several minutes of baking time, add the
sharp cheese and bake until melted and a little brown. Serves six.</p> <p><strong>South
Mountain Mushroom Caps</strong></p> <p><strong>by Marie Cobb</strong></p>
<p><strong>Ingredients:</strong></p> <p>1 large onion, chopped</p> <p>2 pounds
large mushrooms</p> <p>1 teaspoon basil</p> <p>1 tablespoon parsley</p> <p>1 green
pepper, chopped</p> <p>1 teaspoon dry mustard</p> <p>Breadcrumbs</p> <p>½
pound Monterey Jack cheese</p> <p>1 pound crabmeat</p> <p>Butter</p>
<p><strong>Method:</strong> Sauté mushroom stems in butter with basil, onion,
parsley, pepper, dry mustard, and bread crumbs. Cool. Add in crabmeat. Stuff
mixture in mushroom caps, top with grated cheese, and bake at 350 degrees for
about twenty minutes or until stuffing mixture is golden brown. Serves four to
six.</p> <p><strong>Choptank Crab Fritters</strong></p> <p><strong>by Marie
Cobb</strong></p> <p><strong>Ingredients:</strong></p> <p>2 cups sliced bamboo
shoots</p> <p>1 cup chopped onion</p> <p>4 tablespoons soy sauce</p> <p>1 teaspoon
salt</p> <p>1/8 teaspoon pepper</p> <p>1 teaspoon ginger</p> <p>8 eggs, lightly
beaten</p> <p>1 pound crabmeat</p> <p>½ cup butter</p> <p><strong>Method:</strong>
Combine all ingredients except butter, adding the crabmeat last. In a frying pan,
heat the ½ cup of butter. Drop the fritter mixture by large spoonfuls into
the hot butter. Fry to a golden brown, turning once. Makes eight to twelve
servings.</p> <p><strong>Crab Dip</strong></p> <p><strong>by Katie Cameron</strong></p>
<p><strong>Katie Cameron is blind at heart and a good friend and member of the
Greater Baltimore Chapter.</strong></p> <p><strong>Ingredients:</strong></p> <p>1
cup lump crabmeat (12 ounces)</p> <p>4 bars cream cheese (8 ounces each)</p> <p>1
pound, 8 ounces, shredded mix cheese or favorite cheese</p> <p>1 cup apple juice</p>
<p>1 cup mayonnaise</p> <p>1/4 cup mustard</p> <p>1 teaspoon garlic powder</p>
<p>3 tablespoons minced onions</p> <p>3 teaspoons Old Bay seasoning, to taste</p>
<p><strong>Method:</strong> Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl,
add ingredients except four ounces of the shredded cheese, stirring well. Place
in large casserole dish and bake for forty minutes. When done, spread remaining
cheese on top. Serve hot or cold. Goes great on bread, crackers, and bagel chips.</p>
<p><strong>Crab Imperial</strong></p> <p><strong>by the late Arthur Segal, from
the February 1994 <em>Braille Monitor</em></strong></p> <p><strong>Arthur Segal
had a long NFB career. He served both as president of the Merchants Division and
of the NFB of Pennsylvania for many years. When he moved to Maryland in about
1982, he continued his activism both in the Greater Baltimore Chapter and in the
affiliate. For many years, he was Santa Claus at the MDPOBC and Baltimore Chapter
Christmas parties. He was also a gourmet cook.</strong></p> <p><strong>Ingredients:</strong><br
/> 1 pound blue crab backfin meat<br /> 1 cup mayonnaise<br /> 2 tablespoons
ketchup<br /> 2 tablespoons prepared mustard<br /> 1 tablespoon Worcestershire
sauce<br /> 2 tablespoons chopped parsley<br /> 2 tablespoons chopped dill<br />
Generous grinding of fresh white pepper<br /> 8 to 10 drops hot sauce (approximately)</p>
<p><strong>Method:</strong> In a large bowl, combine all ingredients. Butter a
2-quart baking dish and put mixture in it. Sprinkle with a small amount of
breadcrumbs and dot with butter; bake at 375 degrees for twenty minutes. You can
also use individual dishes and handle in the same manner. Crab Imperial also makes
a good stuffing. This recipe can be used to stuff eight Cornish hens, eight squab,
rockfish, or fish fillets.</p> <p><strong>Maryland Crab Cakes</strong></p>
<p><strong>by the late Arthur Segal, from the February 1994 <em>Braille
Monitor</em></strong></p> <p><strong>Ingredients:</strong><br /> 1 pound crabmeat<br
/> 1 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning<br /> 1 tablespoon mayonnaise<br /> 1 tablespoon
chopped parsley<br /> 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce<br /> 1 tablespoon baking
powder<br /> Generous grinding of fresh white pepper<br /> 1 teaspoon dried ground
mustard<br /> 2 generous-size pieces of bread with crust removed, broken into
small pieces moistened with milk so that bread is moist but not sopping wet</p>
<p><strong>Method:</strong> In a large bowl mix all ingredients thoroughly and
form into eight patties for sandwiches with a two-patty presentation (four large
patties for a dinner serving or thirty-two small balls for appetizers). Heat oil
(preferably peanut) in an iron skillet, frying cakes or balls on both sides until
golden or crisp to touch. Marylanders eat their crab cakes on crackers or hamburger
buns and with mustard or hot sauce.</p> <p><strong>Maryland Crab Cakes</strong></p>
<p><strong>by Darlene Barrett Price, from the October 2018 <em>Braille
Monitor</em></strong></p> <p><strong>You can never have too many crab cake recipes!
Darlene Barrett Price is a long-time Federationist who has held many leadership
positions over the years. She is president emerita of the Central Maryland
Chapter.</strong></p> <p><strong>Ingredients:</strong><br /> 1 pound backfin
crabmeat or any lump crabmeat<br /> 8 saltine crackers<br /> 1 egg, beaten<br />
2 tablespoons mayonnaise<br /> 1 teaspoon mustard<br /> 1/4 teaspoon Worcestershire
sauce<br /> 1/2 teaspoon Old Bay seasoning<br /> Salt to taste<br /> 2 tablespoons
vegetable oil</p> <p><strong>Method:</strong> Place crabmeat in bowl and check
for shells. In another bowl, finely crush crackers and add remaining ingredients.
Gently fold in crabmeat, just enough to combine all ingredients. Shape into six
crab cakes and refrigerate for one hour. Heat two tablespoons of vegetable oil in
nonstick frying pan. Sauté crab cakes until golden brown.</p> <p>----------</p>
<h2 id="monitor-miniatures"><em>Monitor</em> Miniatures </h2> <p><strong>News from
the Federation Family</strong></p> <p><strong>A Miracle in Our Midst:</strong></p>
<p>As the editor of the <em>Braille Monitor</em>, I receive many pieces of good
news in my incoming mail. This one is particularly good. It is from Joe Ruffalo,
and he certainly has experienced his share of illness. Here is what he said in
response to an error he found in the <em>Braille Monitor</em> and my response:</p>
<p>Gary, thanks. Yes, feeling great. I still have several doctor appointments over
the next several weeks, but here is the beautiful news: After the thirteen-hour
surgery, all stage four and stage five cancer was removed. When one of the doctors
provided this news, in addition five additional specialists all agreed that no
cancer was remaining, and no chemo and radiation would be needed, I was called
the miracle man. I owe the miracle to God and the many prayers I received from my
Federation family throughout the country. My son and sister received nearly four
hundred emails providing prayer and positive thoughts. Many provided personal
stories when I met them at chapter meetings, over the phone, and at state and
national conventions.</p> <p>After spending 141 days in several hospitals and
rehab facilities, coming home was like being reborn. Gary, I am blessed that God
has given me an additional opportunity to care, share, grow, and to make a difference
to raise expectations to live the life we want. I will forever be grateful to Him
and to all of my extended family.</p> <p><strong>Convention Concert:</strong></p>
<p>The National Federation of the Blind and its Performing Arts Division present:
One Voice, a fundraising convention concert!</p> <p>Join us Tuesday, July 6, at
8 p.m. eastern, anywhere and everywhere to watch blind performers of all styles
showcase their abilities on our virtual stage. Enjoy a night of performance and
support our work changing what it means to be blind, one stage at a time. It'll
be an event that you won't want to miss, so gather the whole family.</p> <p>To
get tickets visit: <a href="http://www.nfb.org/concert">www.nfb.org/concert</a>.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online or by calling the Independence
Market.</p> <p>We share one voice. We are stronger together. We unite for #NFB21!</p>
<p><strong>Elected:</strong></p> <p><strong>The Tidewater chapter of the National
Federation of the Blind of Virginia held elections on April 17, 2021, and the
following officers were elected: Stewart Prost, president; Jennifer Blinsmon, vice
president; Deborah Prost, secretary; Matt Albright, treasurer; and board members
Renee Rogers and Earl Chapman. Congratulations to the newly elected board
members.</strong></p> <p><strong>New Book Available:</strong></p> <p>Peggy Chong
writes: It is finally here—what you have all been asking for: my first book
in print. Get your copy today! Read Don Mahoney, Television Star, about a man who
decided to keep his blindness a secret and did so for almost ten years. Please
get yours, and encourage others to purchase a copy today. This book is a great
story for school and public libraries to include in their persons with disabilities
collection. Here is the link to the print copy: Don Mahoney: Television Star:
Chong, Peggy: 9781098082956: Amazon.com: Books (<a
href="https://www.amazon.com/Don-Mahoney-Television-Peggy-Chong/dp/1098082958/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Peggy+Chong&qid=1623116661&sr=8-1">https://www.amazon.com/Don-Mahoney-Television-Peggy-Chong/dp/1098082958/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Peggy+Chong&qid=1623116661&sr=8-1</a>).
Here is my ebook series online: Smashwords – The Blind History Lady
Presents—a Series by Peggy Chong (<a
href="https://www.smashwords.com/books/byseries/24325">https://www.smashwords.com/books/byseries/24325</a>).</p>
<p><strong><em>Monitor</em> Mart</strong></p> <p><strong>The notices in this
section have been edited for clarity, but we can pass along only the information
we were given. We are not responsible for the accuracy of the statements made or
the quality of the products for sale.</strong></p> <p><strong>Victor Reader Stream
for Sale:</strong></p> <p>I recently acquired a Victor Reader Trek and am enjoying
it so far. With that said, I am ready to part with my ever reliable, dependable
Victor Reader Stream 2nd generation, which has been serving me well for seven
years.</p> <p>The Stream is in good working order with one minor glitch. (It is
a senior you know!) In order to hear the sound, you need to plug in either a pair
of headphones or an external speaker via the headphone jack located directly to
the right of the SD card slot. I am including with the Stream a 4 GB SD card, but
it can also take an SD card up to 32 GB. I am asking $100 for it but open to
negotiation. If you are interested, please contact Brian at 609-680-8488 or at <a
href="mailto:bmackey88@gmail.com">bmackey88@gmail.com</a>. First come first served!
Thank you.</p> <p>----------</p> <p><strong>NFB Pledge</strong></p> <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>
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