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</style> </head> <body> <div id="header"> <h1 class="title">The Braille Monitor,
February 2022</h1> </div> <h1 id="braille-monitor">BRAILLE MONITOR</h1> <p>Vol.
65, No. 2 February 2022</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: <a href="mailto:nfb@nfb.org">nfb@nfb.org</a></p>
<p>website address: <a href="http://www.nfb.org">http://www.nfb.org</a></p>
<p>NFBnet.org: <a href="http://www.nfbnet.org">http://www.nfbnet.org</a></p>
<p>NFB-NEWSLINE® information: 866-504-7300</p> <p>Like us on Facebook: <a
href="http://www.Facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind">Facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind</a></p>
<p>Follow us on Twitter: @NFB_Voice</p> <p>Watch and share our videos: <a
href="http://www.YouTube.com/NationsBlind">YouTube.com/NationsBlind</a></p>
<p>Letters to the President, address changes, subscription requests, and orders
for NFB literature should be sent to the national office. Articles for the
<em>Monitor</em> and letters to the editor may also be sent to the national office
or may be emailed to <a href="mailto:gwunder@nfb.org">gwunder@nfb.org</a>.</p>
<p><em>Monitor</em> subscriptions cost the Federation about forty dollars per
year. Members are invited, and nonmembers are requested, to cover the subscription
cost. Donations should be made payable to <strong>National Federation of the
Blind</strong> and sent to:</p> <p>National Federation of the Blind</p> <p>200
East Wells Street <em>at Jernigan Place</em><br /> Baltimore, Maryland 21230-4998</p>
<p><strong>THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND KNOWS THAT BLINDNESS IS NOT THE
CHARACTERISTIC THAT DEFINES YOU OR YOUR FUTURE. EVERY DAY WE RAISE THE EXPECTATIONS
OF BLIND PEOPLE, BECAUSE LOW EXPECTATIONS CREATE OBSTACLES BETWEEN BLIND PEOPLE
AND OUR DREAMS. YOU CAN LIVE THE LIFE YOU WANT; BLINDNESS IS NOT WHAT HOLDS YOU
BACK. THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND IS NOT AN ORGANIZATION SPEAKING FOR
THE BLIND—IT IS THE BLIND SPEAKING FOR OURSELVES.</strong></p> <p><em>ISSN
0006-8829</em></p> <p>© 2022 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. 65, No. 2 February 2022</p> <h2 id="contents">Contents</h2>
<p>Raising Expectations Every Day: The Challenge of the Federation's Community
Standards</p> <p>by Mark Riccobono</p> <p>National Federation of the Blind Code
of Conduct</p> <p>The Determination to Achieve Excellence or Tying Another Knot
in the Family I Created</p> <p>by Ever Lee Hairston</p> <p>Marci Carpenter: Leader,
Trusted Friend, and Beloved Spouse</p> <p>by Gary Wunder</p> <p>Longtime CFB
President Mary Ellen Gabias Retires</p> <p>by Doris Belusic</p> <p>The KNFB Reader:
Its History and Evolution</p> <p>by Gary Wunder</p> <p>Psychiatric Hospital Access
Barriers: A Call for Change</p> <p>by Jolean O’Connell</p> <p>Who Is
Responsible for the Blind?</p> <p>by Steve Jacobson</p> <p>Blessed Are the Givers</p>
<p>by Hannah Neff</p> <p>Interview with Celebrity Stylist Sabrina Gilleylen</p>
<p>by LaShawna Fant</p> <p>Independence Market Corner</p> <p>by Terry Boone</p>
<p><em>Monitor</em> Miniatures</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Mark Riccobono]</p> <h2
id="raising-expectations-every-day-the-challenge-of-the-federations-community-standards">Raising
Expectations Every Day: The Challenge of the Federation's Community Standards</h2>
<p><strong>by Mark Riccobono</strong></p> <p>"Yesterday and tomorrow meet in this
present time, and we are the ones who have the responsibility. Our final climb up
the stairs will not be easy, but we must make it. The stakes are too high and the
alternatives too terrible to allow it to be otherwise.... We will continue to
climb. Our heritage demands it; our faith confirms it; our humanity requires it.
Whatever the sacrifice, we will make it. Whatever the price, we will pay it."
— Kenneth Jernigan</p> <p>In the National Federation of the Blind, we have
worked to set a high standard in our expectations for ourselves, for each other,
and for those around us. While our advocacy and program work is focused on raising
expectations among others in the blindness field or the broader society, we also
recognize that we cannot require others to do what we are not prepared to do for
ourselves. Meeting that internal expectation is complicated when you consider the
challenges of bringing together fifty-two diverse local organizations of the blind
(our state affiliates), a couple of dozen special interest divisions, and thousands
of people into a unified movement. It is made even more complicated because that
movement must operate within a broader society with many competing perspectives
and priorities. Despite the challenges, our movement has persisted because as
blind people we have continued to take responsibility for changing and evolving
the movement to meet our expectations. This has sometimes come with great struggle
and debate, but it has always resulted in the blind having a stronger sense of
ownership in our movement.</p> <p>During the last year, we have done what was not
easy to do, and we have emerged with a commitment to high expectations that is
stronger than ever before. Our challenge now is to meet those expectations. Before
we do that, we should reflect on the significant journey we have taken—a
journey we have taken because our hopes for tomorrow demanded that we examine who
we are and how we sustain our togetherness. History will remember that this year
was even more significant because we did so during a worldwide pandemic where our
togetherness was as fragile as it has ever been as a result of physical distancing
and tremendous uncertainty throughout society.</p> <p>The time has come for me to
share my perspective on the journey we have taken in the set of expectations we
call the Federation's Code of Conduct. This article only covers the recent efforts.
Certainly, the conduct of members and appropriate standards for leaders and
affiliates has been a topic of discussion throughout the history of the movement,
and I do not attempt to capture that in this article. I feel it is most helpful
to tell this story from my perspective, but what you read below is to the credit
of hundreds of Federation members. Not every detail of the journey is documented
here, and certainly there are many key players who are not named. Most importantly,
I want to personally and professionally thank the individuals who have privately
and forthrightly shared with me their stories and experiences in order to shape
my own thinking. I continue every day to value the faith that you have and continue
to place in me every day. Your stories will continue to be carried in my heart as
I work on behalf of this organization. Some of you may have even forgotten what
you shared with me, but I have not forgotten, even if I was sometimes slow to put
it all together in my own mind. Our progress belongs to you, and I am honored to
have been part of the journey.</p> <p>I first became an elected leader in the
Federation in 1996 when I was chosen to serve as president of the newly formed
Wisconsin Association of Blind Students. My first real opportunity to learn about
the expectations for leaders of the organization came at a student seminar held
at the national office in the early months of 1997. I understood from that gathering
and ones that followed that the organization expected a level of professionalism
and caring to be shared among members. This expectation came from years of
interaction among members who created these standards: at times through policies,
sometimes through the leaders they elected, and at other times through the common
unwritten understanding that developed. It was only a year after that when I
observed my own affiliate president utilizing the power given to her by the members
to limit participation in the organization rather than building up those around
her. This was the beginning of my own journey to becoming an affiliate president,
where I served for five years before coming to be on staff at our national office.
My own leadership experience within the Federation taught me the importance of
acting when confronted with difficult circumstances and recognizing the wisdom of
the members of the movement.</p> <p>In 2014 the convention elected me to serve as
President of the Federation, and I continue to be humbled and challenged by the
honor of representing the many diverse members of this organization. Shortly after
my election, Pam Allen, who was serving as our treasurer at the time, reported an
incident she had learned about regarding the conduct of another officer of the
organization. There was no roadmap for what to do next. The Federation's Constitution
gives the board of directors authority to act, but there was no specific written
way to guide my response or how I would document that response. Instead, I acted
upon my understanding and leadership experience. However, after that challenging
experience in the first few months of my presidency, I thought there must be a
more systematic means of responding to these situations. At the same time, we had
a significant transition of long-time affiliate presidents. While my attention
was on working with the new corps of affiliate-level leaders on effectively
coordinating work of the movement, I continued to ponder what other structures we
needed. From time to time, I would raise the question with other leaders of the
organization, and I attempted to educate myself by talking to members about their
own experiences. There was still much I would come to understand over the coming
years.</p> <p>In early 2017 I decided that we needed to develop a written document
of expectations that we could socialize throughout the Federation. I began plans
to pull a group together to start the drafting of such a document based upon
leaders who had expressed great interest in the idea in my previous conversations.
In the spring of 2017, it became clear that preparations for the national convention
were going to prevent substantive progress on this initiative; thus, plans were
made to start after the convention with the goal of presenting something to the
national board at its fall meeting. However, we already had a stronger awareness
that there was more we could do to encourage the appropriate behavior that I had
always learned was expected within our movement. When I got up to address the
Federation staff who would be participating in the 2017 convention, I specifically
asked them to be alert for situations in which sexual misconduct might occur and
to intervene as appropriate and certainly to report back if they witnessed anything.
This was certainly not bystander training as we would want offered today. It was
my own recognition that, in addition to developing responses, we needed to be more
effective in our proactive efforts to prevent these situations where we could.</p>
<p>In the fall of 2017, we began drafting a comprehensive document which we later
started calling the Code of Conduct. In the process, I continued to try to learn
from the individual stories of members within the movement. It was hard to hear
about experiences where people felt they were harmed by others in the organization,
and I felt very personally responsible in my position as President. The stories
I heard were so very different from what I knew about the Federation that it took
a lot of emotional energy to sort out what we could do to strengthen our work
together.</p> <p>We did not reach our original deadline of having the Code document
ready to be vetted and approved by the board during the time of its meeting in
December of 2017. While the board discussed the plans for the Code, it did not
approve the original version until January 26, 2018. In that first version of the
Code, we encouraged each affiliate to adopt an identical policy at the local level.
We also encouraged each elected leader to sign signifying that they agreed to
abide by the policy. It quickly became evident that our approach would need some
refinement to be effectively implemented.</p> <p>During 2018 we made members aware
of the Code and worked on getting leaders of the organization to understand how
to implement it. We also prepared some internal procedures for the way we would
handle reports we received at the national level. In addition to discussing it on
the <em>Presidential Release</em> and distributing the Code in the <em>Braille
Monitor</em>, we invited affiliates to discuss the Code at local meetings. We
highlighted and invited feedback on the new Code during the meeting of the National
Federation of the Blind Board of Directors held during the 2018 National Convention.
It was not until the fall of 2018 that we received our first report to be investigated
at the national level. It is fair to say that, in responding to and internally
investigating that matter, we learned a lot. It immediately became clear we needed
to do more work on our procedures, and many people involved in the early group of
reports we investigated gave honest and invaluable feedback about how to improve
our work.</p> <p>At the fall meeting of the Federation's Board of Directors that
took place on November 30 and December 1, 2018, the board reviewed the Code
implementation and decided it needed enhancements. The board approved edits to
the Code which were dated December 1, 2018. The minutes from that meeting also
reflect additional discussion:</p> <blockquote> <p>The board reviewed a number of
other plans for strengthening the organization’s Code of Conduct practices.
Best practices are being drafted to assist leaders in conducting Code of Conduct
investigations. Once the procedures are developed, they will be reviewed by a
third party with expertise in investigations to ensure that they are informed by
best practices used by other membership organizations. In addition, an online form
will be established as well as a voicemail box so that individuals who believe
they have a legitimate grievance under the Code of Conduct have many ways to file
a formal complaint. The board expressed the need for continued training of leaders
regarding the expectations of the Code of Conduct and its implementation at the
local level.</p> </blockquote> <p>As a result of the board's work to improve
implementation of the Code of Conduct, it decided to revise the Code in April of
2019. The most significant policy change at that time was to eliminate the need
for affiliates of the Federation to establish their own Codes. The board recognized
there were a number of problems with having each affiliate respond to certain
reports of misconduct. This change was also consistent with the Federation's
longstanding practice that national policies of the organization apply to affiliated
local organizations as part of the charter of affiliation with the Federation.
Specifically, the board recognized that reports of sexual misconduct required a
consistent response and that the national organization was in a better position
than state affiliates to provide a clear, consistent, and accountable response to
concerns raised by members.</p> <p>During the summer of 2019, a consultant was
hired to review the Federation's Code and related procedures and then to provide
recommendations. This was an important step in the board's continued efforts to
understand how to implement an effective framework across a diverse volunteer-driven
organization. In addition, during the 2019 National Convention several seminars
were held to support the values outlined in the Code of Conduct and empower members
to help guard against inappropriate behavior. At its meeting in December of 2019,
the board of directors discussed recommendations by the external consultant,
especially the opportunity to improve internal procedures for investigating reports
when they came to the organization. The board set forth plans to make improvements
in 2020. Normally that work would have taken place prior to the convention in
2020, but the emergence of the coronavirus in March set that work back many
months.</p> <p>At its virtual meeting on December 4 and 5, 2020, the Board of
Directors considered the Code and future improvements to be made. Specifically,
the board discussed the need to explore using an external investigator for certain
reports of sexual misconduct due to the nature of those concerns. The board also
discussed the need for more training to help all leaders and members better meet
the standards for our community that were and are articulated in the Code of
Conduct. At the meeting, the board adopted edits to the Code with the understanding
that more significant changes would come in the next year. None of the members of
the board, including myself, recognized how true that would be in the months
ahead.</p> <p>While the board was meeting in December 2020, a series of posts to
Facebook began to emerge making allegations about the National Federation of the
Blind and our affiliated training centers. On the day following the board meeting,
Sunday, December 6, 2020, I pulled together a meeting with the executive directors
of the NFB training centers to discuss the emerging allegations. Everyone in that
meeting affirmed their commitment to ensuring that our programs are responsive to
allegations and as safe as possible. Each of the center directors also agreed to
fully cooperate with any investigations by the Federation that might become
necessary. During the following week the NFB Board of Directors issued a statement
regarding its support for survivors. During that same week one Facebook post called
specifically for both Pam Allen and me to resign as officers of the Federation.
I immediately sent the post to the other officers of the Federation and noted that
both Pam Allen and I would cooperate with any investigation of our past actions
the board felt was necessary. The board met at the call of Second Vice President
Ron Brown to discuss the allegations. At that meeting, the board decided that it
had no evidence to cause it to withdraw its support for Pam Allen or for me in
carrying out our duties as officers of the Federation. At that same meeting, the
board asked that I write a broader letter to the membership about the allegations.
Members of the board agreed that they would review the letter and sign onto it if
they supported the contents.</p> <p>As I considered what I would write to the
members of the Federation, I went back to the feelings I described above. It makes
me really sad that anyone would be harmed in the course of their participation in
the Federation. I also felt a degree of frustration that the efforts we had been
putting forward to make improvements had not yet created the sense of safety and
action that I was personally committed to overseeing. I thought about my own
daughters who have grown up in the Federation and may decide to participate actively
in the organization someday. I reflected also on the stories that survivors had
shared with me during the preceding years. I knew there was still much more for
me to come to understand about the pernicious impacts of sexual misconduct within
our society, including our organization. I also felt a degree of guilt for what
I understood then but did not understand years before. What could I write that
would say in words all that I felt? The result was a combination of what was in
my heart and also a set of actions I was committing to lead. Those actions were
made easier to commit to by the fact that the board had already made plans for
2021 at its meeting earlier in the month.</p> <p>In the letter that was the
culmination of my heartbreak, soul searching, and the most rational thoughts I
could muster, I referred to my own mistakes—a recognition that I was still
growing and evolving in my own understanding of these important issues. I have
detailed some of that evolution above. This letter of apology was posted to our
website on December 16, 2020, and it was supported and signed by all members of
the national board. Read the letter at <a
href="https://nfb.org/blog/open-letter-apology-president-riccobono">https://nfb.org/blog/open-letter-apology-president-riccobono</a>.</p>
<p>In the time between the NFB board meeting on December 4-5 and the release of
the letter on December 16, I had one consistent message for leaders and staff of
the organization. I called for everyone to "lean into the situation" in front of
us. I had a great deal of uncertainty about what we did not know, but I had a lot
of confidence about the journey we had already been heavily invested in during
the past four years. When repeatedly asked about the motives of those making and
spreading charges of impropriety, I reminded folks that our concentration should
be on getting at the truth regardless the source of the allegations.</p> <p>The
board of directors had already put significant time and energy into this journey,
and it was time to accelerate our efforts. We began networking through the movement
to find out who else might be out there as a potential partner. This was when we
first reached out to RAINN, which is the nation's largest anti-sexual violence
organization.</p> <p>On the afternoon of December 17, 2020, an open letter addressed
to "Members of the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind and
Members of the Board of Directors of the National Blindness Professional Certification
Board" was posted to the internet. This letter was signed by forty individuals.
The open letter permitted people to sign on in support. This letter was later sent
to me via email on December 28, 2020, and it included the name of approximately
five hundred people who had signed it. The letter called on the Federation to
examine its work and to make substantive changes. It also asked that changes be
made at our affiliated training centers. It went on to make similar suggestions
regarding the National Blindness Professional Certification Board (NBPCB). The
Federation coordinates with the NBPCB, but as an organization we do not manage or
have the ability to directly change the policies of that certifying body. The
letter highlighted a number of allegations and referenced broadly the social media
posts which were being organized around the hashtag #MarchingTogether. The letter
closes by stating, "We are sincerely hopeful for action to be taken by the NFB
and NBPCB Boards. We were encouraged that many of our points were acknowledged in
the apology released by NFB on December 16, 2020. While we think this an excellent
step forward, we insist that it be backed up by survivor-led actions. We thank
you for your recognition of these top priorities of blind people today."</p> <p>It
turns out that on the evening of December 17, 2020, we had a previously scheduled
meeting for state affiliate and national division presidents to give some Federation
updates. At that national meeting via Zoom, I acknowledged the current concerns
and pledged our commitment to do the work necessary to strengthen our organization.
My personal notes from that call suggest that we did not talk about anything else
beyond the #marchingtogether concerns. I acknowledged that some on the call had
signed the open letter that was released earlier that day and invited those
individuals to be active in the work going forward.</p> <p>Apparently, there was
a Christmas holiday in 2020, but it is mostly a blur for me. I spent much of the
final weeks of the year talking with members, our training center leaders, and
potential partners in the work we intended to do. During this time I also began
putting together the framework for the survivor-led taskforce. That group of six
women, including Marci Carpenter, Cheryl Fields, Sarah Meyer, Daphne Mitchell,
Briley O'Connor, and Kathryn Webster, did the most significant work of 2021 for
the Federation. They ensured that survivors were clearly in the lead in our efforts,
and they gave endlessly of their time and energy to bring people into the conversation
in a safe and supportive manner. I met with them weekly from January to June, and
I cannot express just how important their commitment and thoughtful work has been
to making our organization stronger and safer. When you encounter these ladies at
Federation meetings, I invite you to thank them for the difference they have
made.</p> <p>On January 4, 2021, I hosted the <em>Presidential Release</em> live,
where I announced our partnership with RAINN and the establishment of the survivor-led
taskforce. On January 6, 2021, the NFB Board of Directors met to establish a
Special Committee to perform an independent investigation of the organization.
The board resolution authorizing this action states its purpose to be: ". .
.overseeing and directing an internal investigation of allegations of abuse
(including sexual misconduct and abuse) by NFB members, participants, or staff at
NFB or NFB-affiliated events or facilities, including its affiliated training
centers and its state affiliates. . ."</p> <p>During the meeting the board affirmed
our use of an external investigator for all matters involving sexual misconduct.
We had identified Tonya Bana as a local investigator we wanted to work with and
began onboarding her after the board meeting.</p> <p>Prior to the meeting of the
board, I was interviewed by Justin Wm. Moyer of the <em>Washington Post</em>
regarding the allegations and my letter of apology. In the interview the reporter
wanted me to make certain commitments about things we planned to do, but I continued
to message that we were open to everything. I knew that the board was likely to
authorize establishment of a Special Committee when I talked to the reporter, but
the board had not yet fully discussed and approved the investigation, so I could
not commit to it in the media. During this interview and all media inquiries in
2021 about these matters, we were very clear that we would not talk about the
details of specific allegations. We have held this stance to protect information
about survivors and to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information that
the organization has about specific matters. The downside to this strategy is that
there are a number of stories that circulated in 2021 that the Federation knows
not to be accurate from our investigations, but they remain unchallenged. We have
consistently heard from survivors that protecting their stories is the right thing
to do, so we will continue to maintain that priority going forward.</p> <p>I set
a very aggressive timeline for the work with RAINN, our survivor-led taskforce,
and the Special Committee. At the meeting on January 6, I advised the board that
our goal was for our work with these three aspects of the initiative to be completed
in time for us to fully report to the national convention which, in its role as
the supreme authority of the organization, should determine whether the actions
taken have been adequate. That timeline turned out to be overly aggressive, although
I still believe it was the right goal to set. In particular, the Special Committee
determined that it could not adequately complete its work by the time of the
national convention.</p> <p>During the following months, considerable time, energy,
and organizational effort were spent on pushing our safety and support initiatives
forward. Our survivor-led taskforce was holding multiple meetings each week; the
Special Committee was compiling hundreds of documents, generating and receiving
correspondence and conducting interviews; and we were making temporary enhancements
to our internal Code procedures as we went along. We suspended changes to the Code
of Conduct itself until we received recommendations from our stakeholders about
specific policy changes the board should consider. However, with the introduction
of the external investigator, we had to develop new procedures for processing
reports that came to the organization. In early February we made that even more
complicated by stating that we would accept a report of an incident regardless of
when it happened. Since 2018 the Code had stated a preference for reports of
incidents that occurred within the past year. The intent of the board was always
for that statement to encourage timely reporting so action could be taken. It was
clear that it was perceived differently, and some felt it was an outward attempt
to silence reports. We originally lifted the time limitation until August, but
the board later extended that through the end of 2021 so that there was adequate
time to complete all the improvements that were needed.</p> <p>During that same
time, we provided RAINN with documents so they could give us recommendations on
our processes. Concurrently, we planned to do level-setting training with key
leaders of the organization. During the first six weeks of the spring, we trained
over seven hundred Federationists. Those trained included all members of our
affiliate boards, staff, students, and board members of NFB training centers,
employees and key contractors of the Federation, national board members, and
members of key committees in order to give everyone a common understanding of the
factors that impact sexual misconduct. We also performed a community-wide survey
to understand the baseline for our efforts going forward. Most significantly, we
recognized that we needed a mechanism for capturing feedback from members who
cannot access online surveys, so we built an accessible telephone-based survey
tool that we can continue to build upon in our future surveys to build the
Federation.</p> <p>We also reviewed and updated our agreements with the NFB training
centers and established a memorandum of understanding with the NBPCB to ensure we
effectively shared critical information on a regular basis. BLIND Incorporated,
the Colorado Center for the Blind, and the Louisiana Center for the Blind are all
independent 501(c)(3) organizations with boards of directors which oversee their
operations. These centers affiliate with the Federation in a manner similar to
state affiliates of the NFB. We revisited the procedures and understandings we
have with these training centers to improve our coordination, and we made plans
to do this on a more regular basis going forward. I now have a regular monthly
meeting with all of the board chairs and executive directors for our affiliated
training centers. We received and investigated a number of Code of Conduct reports
from past incidents specifically involving individuals associated with our three
NFB training centers. Our centers fully participate in all investigations. As of
this writing, there are no employees at any of our three training centers who have
been the subject of substantiated Code of Conduct reports to the NFB. We can all
be proud of the deep commitment to safety and support that these centers have
demonstrated. They have all agreed to make improvements and have actively worked
to engage students, staff, and other supporters in building upon the work that
has been done in the past.</p> <p>The first quarter of 2021 was extremely packed
with the work detailed above. As we entered the first week of April, I realized
it was probably time to update the membership on our work. I began to draft an
update which was released to the NFB website as an Open Letter on Safety and
Support Progress on April 15, 2021. The letter can be found at <a
href="https://nfb.org/blog/open-letter-safety-and-support-progress">https://nfb.org/blog/open-letter-safety-and-support-progress</a>.
This letter was the first public announcement of the Special Committee. Prior to
that time the Special Committee was getting its processes established and collecting
background documents. Since the Special Committee was operating independently, we
were following their lead as to when we could announce their existence. When I
informed the Special Committee of my plans to release an update letter, the timing
was right for the announcement of their work. This was one factor leading to the
Special Committee needing to extend its timeline as the April announcement caused
a significant influx of information that they needed to sort through before
concluding their report.</p> <p>In the months leading up to the 2020 National
Convention, the Board of Directors had a number of important items to consider as
it waited to receive recommendations. The board reviewed the oversight of youth
programs directly managed by the Federation and established a youth program
participant policy to articulate the practices already being used at the national
office. In addition, the board considered forward leaning things it could do to
create better supports among the Federation family. One initiative that came from
those discussions was the adoption of a proposal on June 10, 2021, to recommend
to the convention that the Survivor Assistance to Facilitate Empowerment (SAFE)
Fund be established. That resolution was passed during the 2021 convention, and
the board is still finalizing the selection of a third-party administrator to
assist with the program.</p> <p>In late June the board received an interim report
from the Special Committee. The board met to consider the report and ultimately
decided to release the report publically immediately before the convention. Members
of the board had reservations about releasing an interim report without having
the whole scope of the committee's findings. It also was concerned that, despite
an earlier communication that the Special Committee would not use names in the
report, a small number of people were named. However, the board felt that it was
in the best interest of the organization to make the information publically
available prior to the convention. The April 30, 2021, statement from our Special
Committee can be found at: <a
href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/safety-support/letter-nfb-community-special-committee">https://nfb.org/programs-services/safety-support/letter-nfb-community-special-committee</a>.</p>
<p>The NFB Board's statement that accompanied the release of the interim report
on June 29, 2021, can be found at <a
href="https://nfb.org/blog/statement-nfb-board-directors-regarding-final-report-special-committee">https://nfb.org/blog/statement-nfb-board-directors-regarding-final-report-special-committee</a>.</p>
<p>During our 2021 national convention held on the Zoom platform, the convention
considered presentations from the Special Committee and the Survivor-led Taskforce.
We also disclosed to the convention the work that was ahead for the board in
improving our Code of Conduct commitments.</p> <p>Coming out of the convention
there was considerable discourse about the constitutionality of the actions being
taken by the Board of Directors under the organization's Code of Conduct. These
concerns were not raised by the delegates during the convention, but the Board of
Directors still met to discuss the concerns raised. As a result, the NFB Board of
Directors Statement Regarding NFB's Constitution and Code of Conduct was released
on July 24, 2021, and it can be found at: <a
href="https://nfb.org/index.php/blog/nfb-board-directors-statement-regarding-nfbs-constitution-and-code-conduct">https://nfb.org/index.php/blog/nfb-board-directors-statement-regarding-nfbs-constitution-and-code-conduct</a>.</p>
<p>In short, the NFB Board of Directors believes it is acting within its authority
under the organization's constitution in establishing standards and processes for
determining behavior that is unbecoming of a Federationist. Despite this, the
board has committed to accepting feedback on the constitutional questions and is
currently considering whether it has any recommendations to propose to the 2022
convention.</p> <p>As it relates to the organization's Code of Conduct, the second
half of 2021 was spent sorting through the recommendations and solidifying processes
that were only temporarily in place. The board had substantial recommendations
from the Special Committee, the Survivor-led Taskforce, and RAINN to consider. In
addition, we continued to support our affiliated training centers in examining
their procedures. We have assisted them in developing stronger response protocols
for handling reports of misconduct. In September a meeting of the executive
directors and board chairs for each of the centers was held at the national office.
This was the first time this group had been together in person in a couple of
years. A number of collaborative efforts came out of that meeting that will
strengthen the work being done by the outstanding staff at these centers. In the
meantime, the national board prepared for the next report of the Special Committee,
which was to be delivered in November. In addition, we established a new Blind
Survivors Group within the Federation to maintain a specific space for survivors
to come together, share resources, and assist in informing the work of the
organization.</p> <p>By the end of October 2021, the NFB Board of Directors had
drafted a new revision of the Code. Knowing that the board would meet in early
December, we dedicated the month of November to continuing to collect and sort
through feedback from the membership about the proposed draft. The participation
of members in reviewing and commenting on the draft was impressive. In general,
there was widespread support for the draft, but a number of substantive suggestions
were received that helped make the document clearer. One of the most significant
changes was limiting the general time for reports under the Code of Conduct. The
draft stated that any report would be accepted regardless of time, but we clearly
heard from the membership that a timeframe was necessary to create healing and
stability in the community. The board vigorously debated this at its December
meeting but ultimately decided on the five-year standard that had been proposed
by the survivor-led taskforce with some important exceptions. The board specifically
states this in the Code as an exception, “One example of an exceptional
circumstance in which the above time limitation may not apply is a report of sexual
misconduct which could be subject to criminal prosecution.” As with the
past, the goal is to encourage people to report the information they have into
the Code process so we can consider it and track it over time.</p> <p>At its
meeting in early December, the Federation's Board of Directors spent considerable
time on the safety and support efforts, actions taken under the Code of Conduct,
and forward leaning policies. Those in attendance describe it as one of the hardest
board meetings they had ever attended in the Federation. The objective from my
point of view was to bring closure to the items that we could reasonably settle
before the end of the year. Here is a quick summary of the actions that came out
of the meeting.</p> <p>We reviewed the final report of the Special Committee and
voted to publicly release it to the membership. The final report was released with
a statement by the board on December 8, 2021, and it can be found online at: <a
href="https://nfb.org/blog/statement-nfb-board-directors-regarding-final-report-special-committee">https://nfb.org/blog/statement-nfb-board-directors-regarding-final-report-special-committee</a>.</p>
<p>We extensively considered the work of the Special Committee and whether members
of the board felt there were unanswered questions that the board needed the
committee to investigate. The board voted unanimously to sunset the Special
Committee and acknowledge it for having successfully completed its charge. The
Special Committee sunset occurred when the final report was released on December
8, 2021.</p> <p>We discussed in detail the feedback on the draft Code of Conduct,
and the board voted on specific changes to appear in the final version. The board
decided that an additional meeting to finalize the Code of Conduct after the agreed
upon changes were made would be needed. The NFB Board of Directors met on December
19, 2021, and finalized the version of the Code that is effective as of the writing
of this article on the fourth of January, 2022. This is the fourth time the Code
has been revised. The presentation of the Code online has been enhanced, and it
is now available in a variety of formats online. You can visit the Code of Conduct
link found on every page of the Federation's website or navigate directly to <a
href="http://www.nfb.org/codeofconduct">http://www.nfb.org/codeofconduct</a>.</p>
<p>We finalized initial eligibility criteria for the SAFE Fund consistent with
the convention resolution and directed the President to identify a third-party
administrator suitable to the confidential administration of this fund.</p> <p>We
established a subcommittee to plan for ongoing training related to supporting the
Code of Conduct and building a safer community throughout the Federation.</p>
<p>We reviewed the progress on clearing Code of Conduct complaints that have been
backlogged during 2021. As of January 1, 2022, there were still a couple of dozen
reports that were received in 2021 and were yet to be fully investigated and acted
upon by the organization.</p> <p>We discussed the role for the new Code of Conduct
Committee that is referenced in section XI of the Code of Conduct.</p> <p>As we
open 2022, I have a great deal of pride and confidence in the work we have done.
Where I was very uncertain in December 2020, I now believe we have looked as deeply
and as honestly as possible at our past and our work and that we have made positive
changes for our future. The work above represents nearly one million dollars of
unbudgeted expenses by the Federation. However, it was money and time that was
well spent. Our policies, procedures, tracking, record keeping, and response
systems are all better for the initiatives we have pursued and the actions we have
taken. Unlike many organizations that spend money on defending themselves and
their past actions, the initiatives and expenditures above are investments in
determining the facts, acting on them, and using the learning from these unfortunate
experiences to make our organization an even safer and more welcoming community.</p>
<p>What remains left undone is a significant amount of healing in our community.
The combined circumstances of a worldwide pandemic, social uneasiness with resolving
long-standing injustices, and honestly examining allegations about our organization
and many of its leaders has been emotionally draining on the people of our movement.
We have the opportunity to make 2022 about renewing our commitments to march
together and strengthening the bonds of faith and friendship that make the work
of the movement most fulfilling.</p> <p>In that spirit, let me offer some final
and somewhat general comments about the journey I have laid out above.</p> <p>The
journey we have taken with the Code of Conduct has been perplexing to many members
of the organization who have not been subject to the misconduct of others or
directly witnessed people being harmed. I can relate to this experience since the
things I have learned about the harm human beings do to other human beings is so
far from my own values and behaviors. This is a form of heartbreak we must endure,
for we are about truth, compassion, and helping people be all we can.</p> <p>We
also need to acknowledge the truth that it hurts when we experience people we love
exposed for bad behavior, but we hurt even more for those who are the victims of
that behavior and feel the greatest obligation to them. The Federation's Code of
Conduct is not meant to be punitive. It is to make clear the behavior we expect
at Federation activities and to detail what must be done when that behavior falls
short of what we expect. We decide what the standard is for our movement, and we
have always expected more within the community we have built than the rest of
society has expected of us. This means we need to do the right things when people
violate the standards we set, even when they are very hard to do.</p> <p>We have
been open and honest about the journey we have been on. In fact, we proactively
informed our partners and funders in early January 2021 about the work we were
undertaking and about the discussion of these topics in social media. We invited
our partners to ask questions and gave them information they requested. Federation
leaders have accepted many invitations to talk about these situations publicly
and have not avoided the hard questions although, as noted above, we have maintained
that we will not discuss the specifics of individual incidents. Most recently, I
was invited to address the December meeting of the National Council for State
Agencies for the Blind (NCSAB) where I detailed to all of the agency leaders the
work shared above and our commitments going forward. While I discussed these topics
with the convention, I have not written an article for the <em>Braille Monitor</em>
on this topic in the past year and you might wonder why. The reason is that I felt
that it would not be appropriate to lay everything out from my perspective until
the Special Committee did its work and until the Board of Directors considered
those findings. I have tried very hard not to interfere or inappropriately influence
the work of the Special Committee. I believe that group—Sharon Krevor-Weisbaum,
Denise Avant, Tim Elder, and Ronza Othman—did an outstanding job sorting
through an incredible amount of information. I suspect that even that group of
people will be surprised by some of the personal reflections I have shared here
as this is the first time I have put everything together in one place.</p> <p>Our
organizational commitment to a meaningful and powerful Code of Conduct did not
start in December 2020. Nor should we judge every element of the past by our
understanding of today. We have been on a journey which continues into the future.
Without doubt, in another five or ten years we will make changes that seem obvious
to us at that time that have not been a priority or even understood as important
in this moment. We need room in our movement for growth and learning to occur.
That is not to say we should go easy on people who do harm, but it is to say that
we have an obligation to teach what is appropriate and to help people apologize
and overcome mistakes they have made.</p> <p>The Federation has a lot of power to
set appropriately high expectations for behavior, but there are still limits to
be recognized. Every allegation we receive should be adequately investigated and
should not cause further harm to either survivors or those accused. The conclusions
drawn from investigations are shared only with those affected. This means that we
have deliberately refrained from addressing questions other than those dealing
with the procedures we have developed and follow. While silence can be construed
as guilt or confirmation, we regard this as less important than confidentiality
and conducting fair and impartial investigations. We have worked diligently to
avoid an adversarial process in which disparaging the character of one person may
be used to serve the interest of another. Again, silence has been the result, and
we have chosen to suffer the consequences that its interpretation may cause rather
than violate what are, for us, core principles of fairness to all parties. We have
an obligation to take the reasonable steps necessary to inform leaders in the
organization when sanctions have been placed on the participation of other
individuals, and we will continue to seek the most effective and responsible way
to carry out that responsibility. Yet we are not the sexual misconduct jurors for
the entire blindness field. Certainly, the Federation has always spoken out against
agencies where we learn blind people are being abused. We also need those agencies
and their leaders and boards to step up and fulfill their responsibilities. We
are prepared to share our practices and the standards we have evolved and use in
our organization. We are even prepared to keep known offenders from participating
in Federation events. However, we need others in the blindness field to adopt and
implement high standards alongside our work.</p> <p>Much of what I have detailed
above feels like a lot of change in a short amount of time to those who have not
been working on it day to day. From my perspective, this is good change, necessary
change, and change for the sake of building our future together. I invite you to
hold that Federation bond of faith tightly with me and to recognize that, although
we have been through an unparalleled time of uncertainty, we are emerging stronger
for the experience as an organization. Let us remember that marching together we
are so much stronger than walking alone; that this movement of blind people and
our friends and allies is the most powerful force for raising expectations for
the blind in the world. Our work is not finished, but we can feel proud that we
have completed an important and necessary milestone in that work. Thank you for
continuing to meet the challenge of building the National Federation of the Blind
and maintaining a high set of standards for a community which so many of us value
as our Federation family.</p> <p>----------</p> <h2
id="national-federation-of-the-blind-code-of-conduct">National Federation of the
Blind Code of Conduct</h2> <p>Updated December 19, 2021</p> <p><strong>Table of
Contents</strong></p> <p>I. Introduction</p> <p>II. Who Must Follow This Code and
When?</p> <p>III. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy</p> <p>IV. Nondiscrimination,
Anti-Harassment, and Retaliation Policy (General)</p> <p>V. Sexual Misconduct
Policy</p> <p>VI. Social Media and Web Policy</p> <p>VII. Conflict of Interest
Policy</p> <p>VIII. Policy While Interacting with Minors</p> <p>IX. Alcohol and
Drug Policy</p> <p>X. Other General Principles</p> <p>XI. Violations and Reporting
Procedures</p> <p>Reporting</p> <p>Processing Reports of Sexual Misconduct</p>
<p>Processing Other Reports of Violations of This Code</p> <p>Notifications</p>
<p>General Principles of Report Resolution</p> <p>XII. Minimum Standard</p> <h3
id="i.-introduction"><br /> I. Introduction</h3> <p>The National Federation of
the Blind is a community of members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams
of the nation’s blind. The Federation knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations
of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people
and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you
back. To help carry out the Federation’s vital mission, this Code of Conduct
sets forth policies and standards that all associated with the Federation community,
as defined below, are expected to adopt and follow. This written Code was first
established on January 26, 2018, by the NFB Board of Directors, who review and
update it regularly to reflect current practice and the continuous feedback of
Federation members. The strength of our Federation community depends upon each
individual doing their part to uphold the commitments we make through the principles
outlined in this Code.</p> <h3 id="ii.-who-must-follow-this-code-and-when">II.
Who Must Follow This Code and When?</h3> <p>Adopting and implementing a strong
Code of Conduct enables the Federation to carry out its vital mission. The standards
set forth in this Code apply to all members, employees, program participants,
event attendees, contractors, and volunteers.</p> <p>Hereafter, all those subject
to this Code shall be referred to as “covered parties.” As a national
policy, it applies to any national division, group, or committee; all state
affiliates; all local chapters or divisions of affiliates; and other affiliated
programs of the organization (e.g., NFB training centers).</p> <p>The Federation’s
Code applies to both in-person and virtual settings and governs all interactions
reasonably associated with NFB-sponsored/related activities. Specifically, the
Code applies to covered parties in the following situations:</p> <ul> <li><p>NFB
events (including affiliate conventions, the national convention, workshops,
seminars, and trainings)</p></li> <li><p>Other NFB-sponsored events including
formal and informal meetings and social gatherings at NFB-sponsored events at the
national, state, or local levels (including group meals, activities, and mentoring
activities)</p></li> <li><p>Travel related to NFB activities (including transportation
and accommodations)</p></li> <li><p>NFB's national headquarters, affiliated training
centers, or other locations hosting Federation programs</p></li> <li><p>Any activity
where an individual is serving as a representative of the Federation.</p></li>
</ul> <h3 id="iii.-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-policy">III. Diversity, Equity,
and Inclusion Policy</h3> <p>The National Federation of the Blind celebrates and
embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values in its mission to achieve
equality, opportunity, and security for the blind. We are committed to building
and maintaining a nationwide organization with state affiliates and local chapters
that is unified in its priorities and programs and is directed by the membership.
We respect differences of opinion, beliefs, identities, and other characteristics
that demonstrate that blind people are a diverse cross section of society.
Furthermore, the organization is dedicated to continuing to establish new methods
of membership and leadership development that reflect the diversity and full
inclusion of the entire blind community. In promoting a diverse and growing
organization, we expect integrity and honesty in our relationships with each other
and openness to learning about and experiencing cultural diversity. We believe
that these qualities are crucial to fostering social and intellectual maturity.
We recognize that our views and convictions will be challenged, and we expect this
challenge to take place in a climate of tolerance and mutual respect in order to
maintain a united organization.</p> <p>While we encourage the exchange of differing
ideas and experiences, we do not condone the use of demeaning, derogatory, or
discriminatory language, action, or any other form of expression intended to
marginalize an individual or group. The National Federation of the Blind does not
tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, gender
identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, marital
status, age, genetic information, disability, political affiliation, or any other
characteristic or intersectionality of characteristics.</p> <h3
id="iv.-nondiscrimination-anti-harassment-and-retaliation-policy-general">IV.
Nondiscrimination, Anti-Harassment, and Retaliation Policy (General)</h3> <p>The
National Federation of the Blind prohibits discrimination on the basis of race,
creed, color, religion, background, gender identity and expression, sexual
orientation, national origin, citizenship, marital status, age, genetic information,
disability, political affiliation, or any other characteristic or intersectionality
of characteristics. Harassment or retaliation based on any of these characteristics
similarly will not be tolerated. Although this Code of Conduct establishes a
minimum standard prohibiting discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, nothing
in this Code should be interpreted to limit in any way a person’s right to
report abuse or harassment to law enforcement when appropriate or to take other
action outside of the Federation.</p> <p>Under this policy, harassment can be
verbal, written, or physical conduct that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion
toward an individual, or their relatives, friends, or associates, because of their
race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression,
national origin, age, disability, political affiliation, marital status, citizenship,
genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law and that (1)
has the purpose or effect of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive
environment; (2) has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an
individual’s performance or involvement in the organization; or (3) otherwise
adversely affects an individual’s opportunities for participation/advancement
in the organization.</p> <p>Harassing conduct includes epithets, slurs, or negative
stereotyping; threatening, intimidating, or hostile acts including bullying;
denigrating jokes; and written or graphic material that denigrates or shows
hostility or aversion toward an individual or group that is placed on walls or
elsewhere on the organization’s premises or circulated by email, phone
(including voice messages), text messages, social networking sites, or other
means.</p> <p>Retaliation of any form is strictly prohibited by this Code, whether
that retaliation is based on someone’s protected characteristics (as outlined
in Section III of this Code and elsewhere) or whether the retaliation is based on
the actions, beliefs, or opinions of someone else covered by this Code who is not
otherwise violating this Code. Anyone who retaliates against someone who is
exercising their right to report violations of this Code is subject to discipline
under Section XI of the Code.</p> <h3 id="v.-sexual-misconduct-policy">V. Sexual
Misconduct Policy</h3> <p>The National Federation of the Blind prohibits sexual
misconduct of any kind. Generally, sexual misconduct is a non-legal term used to
describe a broad range of sexually inappropriate behavior, which includes
inappropriate jokes, inappropriate touches, sexual harassment, sexual assault,
and rape, and which may or may not be criminal.</p> <p>The following list illustrates
specific behaviors that are deemed unacceptable under this Code. This list is not
meant to be all-inclusive, but rather indicates the types of actions, both in-person
and online, that are subject to disciplinary action by the NFB.</p> <ul> <li><p>The
NFB prohibits child sexual abuse. Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse that
includes sexual activity with a minor. A child cannot consent to any form of sexual
activity, period. Child sexual abuse does not need to include physical contact
between a perpetrator and a child. (See Section VIII of this Code for the
Federation’s additional policy regarding interaction with minors.)</p></li>
<li><p>The NFB prohibits sexual assault of any kind. This is sexual contact or
behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the victim.</p></li> <li><p>The
NFB prohibits rape of any form. The precise definition of rape varies state by
state.</p></li> <li><p>The NFB prohibits sex-based discrimination of any form.
Sex discrimination involves treating someone unfavorably because of that person's
sex, including the person's sexual orientation, gender identity, or pregnancy.</p></li>
<li><p>The NFB prohibits sexual harassment of any kind. This is unwelcome sexual
advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a
sexual nature when:</p> <ul> <li><p>Submission to such conduct is made either
explicitly or implicitly as a term or condition of an individual’s
participation or advancement within the Federation community.</p></li> <li><p>Submission
to, or rejection of, such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for
decisions about an individual’s participation or advancement within the
Federation community.</p></li> <li><p>Such conduct has the purpose or effect of
unreasonably interfering with an individual’s performance or creating an
intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.</p></li> </ul></li> </ul> <ul>
<li><p>For the purposes of this section, offensive conduct may include, but is
not limited to, offensive jokes, slurs, epithets or name-calling, physical assaults
or threats, intimidation, ridicule or mockery, insults or put-downs, offensive
objects or pictures, and interference with work performance or performance in the
Federation community.</p></li> <li><p>The NFB prohibits online sexual harassment.
Online sexual harassment is using technology—such as photos, videos, social
media, gaming platforms, and dating apps—to engage in harassing, unsolicited,
or non-consensual sexual interactions.</p></li> <li><p>The NFB prohibits relationship
abuse, intimate partner violence, dating abuse, or domestic violence. This is a
pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another
partner in an intimate relationship. Multiple forms of abuse can be present at
the same time in abusive situations.</p></li> <li><p>The NFB prohibits sexual
exploitation. This is taking sexual advantage of another person without consent,
including, but not limited to (1) causing or attempting to cause the incapacitation
of another person in order to gain a sexual advantage; (2) causing the prostitution
of another person; (3) recording, photographing, or sharing identifiable images
of private sexual activity or the intimate parts of another person; (4) allowing
third parties to observe private sexual acts; (5) engaging in voyeurism; or (6)
knowingly or recklessly exposing another person to a significant risk of sexually
transmitted infection, including HIV.</p></li> <li><p>The NFB prohibits stalking
of any form, including when it is based on a romantic or sexual interest in another.
Stalking is a pattern of repeated and unwanted attention, harassment, contact, or
any other course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a
reasonable person to feel fear.</p></li> </ul> <h3 id="vi.-social-media-and-web-policy">VI.
Social Media and Web Policy</h3> <p>All covered parties under this Code should be
mindful that the general public frequently does not distinguish between personal
views and official ties to the National Federation of the Blind. Therefore, covered
parties should take care to make clear distinctions so that their role within,
and messaging of, the National Federation of the Blind is not publicly confused
with their personal statements of opinions and beliefs. Individuals should consider
their role within the Federation community and whether their commentary on social
media or other communication channels might reasonably be attributed to their
elected or appointed role within the Federation. A pattern of public communications
mixing personal viewpoints with Federation positions or policies using an
individual’s personal social media or communication accounts that has the
effect of harming the programs or public outreach of the organization may be
considered as a violation of this Code. In addition, inappropriate use of social
media or other communication accounts that are owned by or in the name of the
National Federation of the Blind, any of its state affiliates, or an affiliated
training center is a violation of this Code.</p> <h3 id="vii.-conflict-of-interest-policy">VII.
Conflict of Interest Policy</h3> <p>National Federation of the Blind officers,
national board members, state affiliate presidents and their boards, division
presidents and their boards, local chapter presidents and their boards, employees,
and contractors with independent decision-making authority on behalf of the
organization (hereafter, “Federation leaders”) are expected to avoid
all conflicts of interest. A conflict of interest arises when a person’s
personal or professional interests interfere, or even just appear to interfere
with the interests of the Federation. A conflict may arise if a Federation leader
takes action or has personal interests that make it difficult for the Federation
leader to effectively perform their duties to the Federation. The common factor
in all conflict-of-interest situations is the division of loyalty, or the perception
of a division of loyalty, between the leader in performing their duties as a leader
of the organization and their personal and other interests. In specific, Federation
leaders are expected to take appropriate responsibility to protect the Federation
from misappropriation or mismanagement of Federation funds (including funds of an
affiliate, chapter, or division in which Federation leaders assume leadership
roles).</p> <p>National board members, national division presidents, and state
presidents are expected to disclose the existence of any potentially conflicting
personal financial interest or relationship to the full National Federation of
the Blind Board of Directors and seek its review and approval, and all other
Federation leaders are required to disclose conflicts of interest to their governing
boards, as specified below. For example:</p> <ul> <li><p>A Federation leader must
seek the appropriate board review and approval of their receipt of salary or
compensation of any kind from the Federation (including an affiliate, chapter, or
division). With respect to this section, it is assumed that it is not a conflict
of interest for an employee or contractor under the ultimate supervision of the
national President to receive a salary and other compensation for work performed
for the Federation. Nothing in this Code prohibits an employee or contractor from
holding office in any state affiliate, local chapter, or division of the
Federation.</p></li> <li><p>A Federation leader must seek board review and approval
of receipt by their spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, sibling, or other
close relative of salary or compensation of any kind from the Federation (including
an affiliate, chapter, or division).</p></li> <li><p>A Federation leader must seek
board review and approval of any ownership interest exceeding 5 percent in or of
any salary, compensation, commission, or significant tangible gift from any
commercial venture doing business or seeking to do business with the Federation
(including an affiliate, chapter, or division). This process will also apply to
the review of such interests involving spouses, domestic partners, parents,
children, siblings, or other close relatives such as aunts, uncles, and
cousins.</p></li> <li><p>In reviewing matters brought pursuant to this section,
the officer or national board member seeking national board review and approval
will refrain from voting, and the same procedure will apply to other Federation
leaders seeking approval from their boards.</p></li> <li><p>Federation leaders
shall take appropriate steps to avoid unauthorized or inaccurate appearances of
official endorsement by the Federation (including an affiliate, chapter, or
division) of any product, service, or activity that has not been so endorsed. For
example, because the Federation never endorses political parties or candidates
for elected office, any Federation leader participating in the political process
must take care to avoid creating an appearance of official Federation
endorsement.</p></li> </ul> <h3 id="viii.-policy-while-interacting-with-minors">VIII.
Policy While Interacting with Minors</h3> <p>For purposes of this Code of Conduct
and consistent with most legal standards, a minor is any individual under the age
of eighteen. While interacting with a minor, any adult that is a covered party to
this Code must recognize that a minor cannot legally give consent for any purpose,
even if said minor is verbally or otherwise expressing consent. For example, a
minor may say that they consent to physical interaction. However, such consent is
not valid or legal and should not be accepted. A parent or guardian must be informed
and consulted about any action requiring consent from the minor. Covered parties
shall report any inappropriate interactions between adults and minors to the
minor’s parents/guardians and law enforcement when appropriate. Covered
parties should consult state and local requirements regarding mandatory reporting
to determine when reporting is required. The National Federation of the Blind's
Board of Directors maintains a Youth Participant Protection Policy to facilitate
a high standard of oversight related to the organization’s youth programming.
For more detailed information regarding sexual misconduct and minors, see Section
IV of this Code.</p> <h3 id="ix.-alcohol-and-drug-policy">IX. Alcohol and Drug
Policy</h3> <p>Although alcoholic beverages are served at some Federation social
functions, members, employees, contractors, event attendees, volunteers, and
program participants may not take part in any such functions in a condition that
prevents them from participating safely and from conducting Federation business
effectively or that might cause embarrassment to or damage the reputation of the
Federation. The Federation prohibits the possession, sale, purchase, delivery,
dispensing, use, or transfer of illegal substances on Federation property or at
Federation functions.</p> <h3 id="x.-other-general-principles">X. Other General
Principles</h3> <p>In addition to the other policies and standards set forth
herein, all covered parties shall adhere to the following standards:</p> <ul>
<li><p>Practice the principles of accountability and transparency in Federation
activities and transactions.</p></li> <li><p>Foster a welcoming environment at
NFB meetings, events, and conferences to create a cooperative and productive
atmosphere for all members and nonmembers alike.</p></li> <li><p>Positively promote
the NFB through verbal and written communication.</p></li> <li><p>Handle conflicts
or reports involving other covered parties privately, directly, and respectfully,
whenever possible. However, nothing in this standard is intended to limit a covered
party’s right to pursue organizational change through appropriate methods
or to limit anyone’s right to file a report for violation of this Code when
necessary.</p></li> <li><p>Recognize the diversity of personal boundaries, respect
the boundaries of others, and support others in upholding their boundaries.</p></li>
</ul> <h3 id="xi.-violations-and-reporting-procedures">XI. Violations and Reporting
Procedures</h3> <p>Violations of this Code of Conduct, after first being established
through the process set forth below, are subject to disciplinary action by the
Federation. Such disciplinary actions may include but are not limited to counseling;
verbal and/or written reprimand; probation, suspension, or termination of
officer/leadership duties; and/or suspension or expulsion from the Federation.
The below procedures detail how the NFB Board of Directors intends to carry out
its responsibilities under Article III, Section E, of the Federation’s
Constitution.</p> <h4 id="reporting">Reporting</h4> <ul> <li><p>Regardless of how
they are filed, all reports regarding violations of this Code will lead to the
same response procedures as outlined below.</p></li> <li><p>All reports of violations
of this Code of Conduct can be filed in one of the following ways:</p> <ul>
<li><p>Completing the online Code of Conduct reporting form</p></li> <li><p>Sending
an email to <a href="mailto:code@nfb.org">code@nfb.org</a></p></li> <li><p>Leaving
a voicemail at 410-659-9314, extension 2475</p></li> <li><p>Giving a verbal or
written report to a designated responsible leader of the Federation. Responsible
leaders include national board members, affiliate board members, local chapter or
division board members, national division board members, Federation employees,
and staff/board members of NFB-affiliated training centers.</p></li> </ul></li>
<li><p>Except under exceptional circumstances, the Federation will only accept
reports of sexual misconduct that took place no more than five years prior to the
filing of the report.</p></li> </ul> <h4 id="processing-reports-of-sexual-misconduct">Processing
Reports of Sexual Misconduct</h4> <ul> <li><p>Any report filed pursuant to this
Code will be reviewed immediately to determine if the report includes violations
of Section V, Sexual Misconduct, of this Code, which will activate specific response
procedures for the organization. Specifically, all reports alleging sexual
misconduct, as defined in Section V, will be immediately referred to the
Federation’s external investigator.</p></li> <li><p>The investigator will
investigate the matter fully and fairly and give all involved parties a full
opportunity to participate in the investigation. At the conclusion of the
investigation, the investigator will prepare a report of factual findings and
recommended actions that will be forwarded to the President as well as to a panel
of three other members of the national board. The panel will review the report
and make recommendations to the President for issuance of a decision. If the
President has a conflict in the matter, another officer of the Federation will
serve as the deciding official.</p></li> <li><p>The parties to the report will be
informed of the decision and any disciplinary actions. A petitioner or respondent
dissatisfied with the resolution of a sexual misconduct report may file an appeal
with the National Federation of the Blind Board of Directors. Absent extenuating
circumstances, an appeal must be filed within thirty days of the date of the
initial ruling. The appeal will be heard by an appeal panel comprised of three
board members who have not yet been involved with the report or the decision and
who do not have conflicts of interest. The principal purpose of an appeal is for
the appeal panel to determine whether the disciplinary action taken or not taken
was clearly unjust.</p></li> <li><p>Except under exceptional circumstances, the
Federation will accept reports of sexual misconduct for a period of five years
prior to the filing of the report. However, when the report involves a minor, the
Federation will accept a report filed within five years of the minor acquiring
the age of eighteen. Regardless, individuals are encouraged to file reports as
soon as possible and when it is safe for the individual to do so. One example of
an exceptional circumstance in which the above time limitation may not apply is
a report of sexual misconduct which could be subject to criminal prosecution.</p></li>
</ul> <h4 id="processing-other-reports-of-violations-of-this-code">Processing
Other Reports of Violations of this Code</h4> <p>As explained above, all reports
received are first reviewed to determine if they include violations of Section V,
Sexual Misconduct, of this Code, which would activate specific response procedures
for the organization. Once it is determined that a report does not activate response
procedures related to Section V, the report will be reviewed by the President and
the Federation's legal counsel. If either or both of these individuals have a
conflict, the report will be referred to other officers of the Federation. In this
way, two individuals will determine the course of action for addressing the
report.</p> <ul> <li><p>The report will first be evaluated to ensure that it
requires the review of the national organization. Issues that can and should be
handled by state affiliates or national divisions of the Federation will be referred
back to the local or division level with a request that the national President
receive a full accounting of the resolution of the matter. The Code of Conduct
process is not intended to take away the ability of affiliated organizations to
deal with conflicts and disputes locally as part of their responsibility as elected
leaders.</p></li> <li><p>When the matter cannot reasonably be handled locally
(with guidance from the national board of directors), when conflicts exist that
make it difficult for affiliate/division leaders to avoid conflicts of interest,
or when the matter is clearly within the responsibility of the national Board of
Directors, the President (or their designee) will serve as the deciding official
and will appoint a panel to investigate the report and present findings and
recommendations. The investigatory panel shall include no more than three persons
who have been trained in Federation procedures for investigating internal Code
violations. The panel shall be comprised of persons not directly involved in the
matters being raised and who can be unbiased, impartial, and fair about the
individuals and issues addressed in the report. Every effort shall be made to
appoint a committee reflecting the broad diversity of individuals in the
Federation.</p></li> <li><p>The parties to the report will be informed of the
decision and any disciplinary actions. Either party then has the right to appeal
the decision to the NFB’s Board of Directors. Appeals shall be filed within
thirty days of the original decision unless extenuating circumstances exist to
extend the deadline.</p></li> <li><p>Except under exceptional circumstances, the
Federation will accept reports for a period of five years prior to the filing of
the report. Regardless, individuals are encouraged to file reports as soon as
possible after the incident has occurred. If it is determined that the matter will
not be investigated for whatever reason, the deciding official will communicate
this decision in writing to the individual filing the report. An appeal of the
decision not to investigate may be appealed to the full national board which may
in its discretion decide to fully investigate the report.</p></li> </ul> <h4
id="notifications">Notifications</h4> <p>Disciplinary decisions made under this
Code are significant actions to protect the Federation community. Therefore, the
board has established an internal policy to guide providing appropriate notice to
the leaders, the Notification of Leaders Regarding Code of Conduct Violations.
Key national and affiliate leaders as well as certain employees and strategic
partners will be informed of the name of the individual being disciplined, the
type of discipline (e.g., probation/suspension/expulsion), and the state where
the individual resides. The notification policy is intended to balance privacy
with safety within the Federation community. No details regarding the report, the
reporting party, or individual survivors will be shared in the notification process.
Requests for information regarding membership status of any individual should be
directed to the Office of the President, but this information will only be
disseminated to individuals who are eligible to receive notifications according
to the policy. In limited but significant circumstances (i.e., investigations
involving (1) rape, stalking, or other violent sexual acts; (2) unwanted physical,
written, or verbal contact of a severe or pervasive nature; or (3) any misconduct
of a sexual nature involving a minor), an accused individual will be directed to
immediately cease all participation in the organization while the investigation
is conducted, and leaders who are critical to monitoring the participation of the
individual will be notified. Once an investigation of this type has concluded,
those who were notified of the investigation will be notified of the outcome even
when the result is no disciplinary action.</p> <h4
id="general-principles-of-report-resolution">General Principles of Report
Resolution</h4> <ul> <li><p>Reports and supporting documentation filed pursuant
to this Section shall be treated as confidential to the fullest extent possible.</p></li>
<li><p>Anyone filing a report concerning a violation or suspected violation of
this Code must be acting in good faith and have reasonable grounds for believing
the information disclosed indicates a violation. Any allegations that prove not
to be substantiated and that prove to have been made maliciously or knowingly to
be false may be viewed as a possible violation of this Code and may be investigated
pursuant to the provisions of this Section.</p></li> <li><p>Retaliation is a
significant offense that is subject to discipline under this Code. Individuals
are encouraged to report incidents of retaliation using the above reporting
procedure, especially if they have been retaliated against for previously filing
a Code of Conduct report, participating in an investigation, or implementing
decisions. In addition, an investigation will be initiated whenever the leaders
reviewing reports and/or the external investigator feels a report has been made
for the purpose of retaliation or to silence other members of the organization.</p></li>
<li><p>The failure of a responsible leader to address and/or report violations of
this Code is, in and of itself, a violation of this Code.</p></li> <li><p>The
President shall appoint a Code of Conduct committee that will review data and
procedures regarding reports filed under this Code. The committee will monitor
actions under this Code, gather feedback from the Federation community about the
Code, assist in educating the community about the Code and procedures, and make
recommendations to the national board as needed.</p></li> </ul> <h3
id="xii.-minimum-standard">XII. Minimum Standard</h3> <p>This Code of Conduct is
intended to outline a minimum set of standards expected of covered parties. It
sets forth the spirit that the Federation expects of all of its participants toward
each other and toward those who work with the Federation at all of its levels. It
is intended to be interpreted broadly to instill a respectful, cooperative, and
welcoming spirit within covered parties to this Code and in the activities of the
Federation.</p> <blockquote> <p>----------</p> </blockquote> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION:
Ever Lee Hairston]</p> <h2
id="the-determination-to-achieve-excellence-or-tying-another-knot-in-the-family-i-created">The
Determination to Achieve Excellence or Tying Another Knot in the Family I Created</h2>
<p><strong>by Ever Lee Hairston</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor: Given
that February is Black History Month, what a wonderful time to get and run this
article. Many who read this will know about Ever Lee’s struggles and the
significant accomplishments she has lived. She grew up as a part of a
sharecropper’s family, got an education, taught business education in
Camden, New Jersey, and then spend a couple of decades as an administrator in the
Intoxicated Driver Resource Center located within the Department of Health and
Human Services in that state. She is a member of the National Federation of the
Blind Board of Directors and has served both as the vice president and president
of the National Federation of the Blind of California. In all these capacities,
she has made being of service to her fellow human being her top priority because
this is that the core of the identity she sees as Ever Lee Hairston.</strong></p>
<p><strong>These are her external accomplishments, but the more important and
internal affirmations often come from somewhere else. Frequently, we measure our
success by what our children and grandchildren think of us, and what follows is
not only a testament to Ever Lee; it is also a testament to the reverence her
family feels for her. Here’s what she says:</strong></p> <p>Some of you
know about my family history. My family lived on a plantation, and though we were
anything but poor in spirit, we did know poverty, did know what it was like to be
treated as second-class citizens, and did know, whether we called him by that name
or not, the experience of living on the master’s plantation. I remember
struggling with dreams: what was something to cheer me during the day and what
might really come to pass in my life. Adjusting those expectations was molded by
my experience in the civil rights movement and the phenomenal leadership of Dr.
Martin Luther King. I had the pleasure of marching with him and absorbing his
words and dreams into the fabric of my soul. Dr. King helped me define myself as
a black woman, but what about also being blind? Would I have a future including
children, providing a home, and one day being the matriarch of my family? Through
its pioneering work, the National Federation of the Blind helped me live and
clarify the answers to those questions.</p> <p>All of this flashed through my mind
when, on June 14, 2021, my granddaughter Breanna and her fiancé Anthony and
his parents drove from Northern California to Los Angeles. They invited the family
to lunch. It was very quiet as we sat waiting for our food to be served. I suggested
that we have a table topic for discussion. Everyone laughed at my idea, and at
that moment Brianna stated, “I have a topic.” Then she asked the
sixty-four-thousand-dollar question: “Grandma, will you officiate at our
wedding?” I was extremely shocked, but I knew how important it would
be to achieve this extraordinary opportunity. It didn’t take me long to
realize I could not bask too long in the glory of being asked because we had only
six weeks between that extraordinary lunch and the equally monumental wedding over
which I was to preside.</p> <p>I experienced many thoughts as I began to plan:
what will I wear? What about my nails and hair? What shoes will I wear? How will
I use my cane to remain independent? Will it work in the sand? Do I want it in
the picture or out of the way for the moment? Can I hold it and still read the
Braille for my presentation? How can I ensure that the color of my Brailled cards
doesn’t conflict with the colors of the wedding—the answer was clear:
use clear plastic cards. Then came perhaps the most important questions: What do
I have to do to obtain a license, and how long will that take? Dealing with these
issues one at a time, finally I was ready, and imagine my relief when the license
arrived one week before the wedding.</p> <p>On July 26, 2021, I had the honor and
privilege to officiate at my granddaughter’s wedding. The ceremony took
place on the beautiful beach at Half Moon Bay, California. There I shared
with the couple some of the requirements for maintaining a happy and
fulfilling marriage:</p> <ol style="list-style-type: decimal">
<li><p>Trust—Suspicion or jealousy has no place in a happy marriage.</p></li>
<li><p>Open Communication—Practice telling the truth, the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth.</p></li> <li><p>Honor each other’s point of
view.</p></li> <li><p>Self Confidence</p></li> <li><p>Generosity—Share,
give freely.</p></li> <li><p>Forgiveness—Do not hold onto resentments.</p></li>
<li><p>Gratitude—Thank your spouse every day.</p></li> </ol> <p> </p>
<p>Love is patient. Love is kind.</p> <p>Love is not envious or boastful or arrogant
or rude.</p> <p>It does not rejoice in wrong things, but rejoices in the truth.</p>
<p>It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all
things.</p> <p>(First Corinthians 13: 4-7)</p> <p>The bride and groom recited
their thoughtful vows to each other, followed by an exchange of rings as a
symbol of their love and commitment. To seal the marriage, they jumped over
a broom, an African American tradition. By the authority vested in me in the state
of California, I pronounced Anthony and Breanna husband and wife. A long kiss
ensued.</p> <p>Their original plans for a destination wedding were cancelled
because of the pandemic, but the wedding was a success. And, for my part, I could
walk away with a supreme sense of gratitude; Preparation, preparation, preparation.
The hard work paid off; Mission accomplished with love!</p> <p>----------</p>
<p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Marci Carpenter]</p> <h2
id="marci-carpenter-leader-trusted-friend-and-beloved-spouse">Marci Carpenter:
Leader, Trusted Friend, and Beloved Spouse</h2> <p><strong>by Gary Wunder</strong></p>
<p>Marci Carpenter was born in 1959, the youngest of three children gifted to
Rodney and Betty Carpenter. It was clear early on that her vision was limited.
Within a month the family realized her eyes were not tracking. That being
acknowledged, the message about whether she was blind was slow in coming and
frustratingly unclear. That lack of clarity would be a problem during many of
Marci's formative years, but she believes every experience has value in helping
to form character and in understanding her fellow human beings.</p> <p>Marci's
father loved to fish, and she loved it as well. He also shared his love of
professional football with her, and these created a tremendous bond between them
for which she will be eternally grateful. Fishing is but one of many outdoor
activities she remembers. Being a person who spends quality time outside is very
important to her. Walks are a way of relieving stress, but just the wind and the
sun are a part of her life balance that includes enjoying and being thankful for
nature.</p> <p>As much as she needs and enjoys physical activity and being outside,
Marci also is a lover of books, and reading is one of her major pastimes. It has
taken her to places and given her experiences through the adventures of others
that she has been able to incorporate into her life. She credits reading with
helping her appreciate and respect differences in people, respect their cultures,
and do so with acceptance and a real appreciation of who they are and the values
they hold dear.</p> <p>Marci remembers loving elementary school, but as she went
through the experience of public education, she met with the taunts that our
not-so-innocent children are masters at delivering. When she was teased and bullied
at school, she was told not to take nicknames such as Blindy, Bat, and Four Eyes
seriously because, after all, she was not blind; she just couldn't see as well as
some. But, when it came to attending little league softball games, she was told
she might be injured because, being blind, she couldn't duck or get out of the
way of foul balls.</p> <p>These contradictions were apparent in what her parents
wanted from her and from her school. They wanted her to learn Braille, but for
her to use a cane was out of the question. When she took a typing class, she could
read from a large print book and type the material, but when the teacher put things
on the board for transcription, Marci could not read them. Though she suggested
alternatives, Marci was told that since she could not do the work in the way it
was prescribed, she should immediately leave the class. This was the year after
the passage of landmark legislation known as Public Law 94-142 but before regulations
were in place. Though no one was happy with Marci's expulsion, she was not encouraged
to be an advocate, and no one stepped forward to demand what would have been a
reasonable accommodation. The term wasn't yet in law or regulation, but the concept
made sense long before it was recognized as a legal mandate.</p> <p>Interestingly,
when the physical education teacher decided there was no place for Marci in his
class, her parents decided to fight back, and alternatives in which she could
participate were adopted. This was yet another contradiction for Marci to reconcile:
why was there fighting for accommodations in one class and a passive acceptance
in one that might be equally important?</p> <p>Marci was drawn to involvement in
public activities by her mother's work in their community. The family matriarch
created a park, helped get funding for a historical society, and later was
instrumental in the creation of a museum. With this family tradition and orientation,
in third grade Marci had her first opportunity to move onto the public stage and
do public speaking, her talk being about the magnifiers she used in class. The
hope was that better understanding in the student body would mean less bullying,
and the chance to address her schoolmates would bolster her self-confidence. The
latter came to pass, but the abuse remained a problem.</p> <p>Even with the
adversity, Marci was determined to remain positive and active. At the request of
her class, in her freshman year she went to the school's principal and asked
permission for the school to host a parade. The principal agreed but said it would
take the concurrence of the city council to close off several of the town's streets.
Marci went before the council, got permission, and the parade was a success.</p>
<p>Primarily as a result of blindness and the ambiguity about whether or not she
was blind, Marci developed contradictory feelings about school. In a place down
deep, she loved it; but with the bullying and the denials, she remembers wanting
to flunk out, get it over, be done with the conflict. Given that it was always
assumed she would go to college, there wasn't much of a future in acting on the
emotions that came from the hurt in her heart that urged her to give up and quit.
Her feelings about school were further complicated by the fact that she easily
made good friends, and the mutual benefit they provided was a source of real
joy.</p> <p>In high school she remembers going to school games on the bus the
school provided for the team's rooters. In getting off at the event, she soon
learned that if she ran to keep up with her classmates, she might stumble and get
unwanted attention. If she didn't run, she would fall behind and never find her
group at the game. Running was the better of two bad choices, but again she did
not tell her friends she was blind because she wasn't sure where she fit in the
world of the blind and the somewhat sighted.</p> <p>Even with her intelligence
and enthusiasm, Marci realized her academic performance was hampered. In working
on a senior term paper, she found that notes she quickly wrote were unreadable.
She needed more than print; she really did have a significant problem, but blindness
still wasn't the word she and others would use to identify it.</p> <p>Her first
work with any blindness entity was with the Hadley School for the Blind and the
correspondence course in typing that would substitute for what she had been denied.
After that came rehabilitation through the Washington Commission for the Blind.
There she received good skill training, but the program did not fundamentally
tackle the way she felt about herself. Although she read speeches by Dr. tenBroek
and Dr. Jernigan while there, it wasn't until 1981 that she met the National
Federation of the Blind. Here she came to understand that both skills and attitude
figured into what life could be for blind people and that she was indeed a blind
person. These Federationists were suggesting she was blind and that was okay.
"These people took me from thinking of myself as a broken sighted person to a
proud blind person. It is hard to put into words the difference in those two
perspectives. One leaves you feeling you want to be invisible; the other makes
you say, I'm a normal, capable woman, and I'm here to live, compete, and be seen
for the full human being I am."</p> <p>Marci has had her share of disappointments
in looking for jobs. She once applied for a job preparing food. The requirement
was to take food from a freezer, place it in a microwave oven, and then sell it
to the waiting customer. She was denied on the grounds she might slip and fall.
That rejection didn't stop her. In the paid job she values most, she worked in
the University of Colorado disability services office. She helped students gain
needed resources and is proud that she brought to that job the philosophy of the
National Federation of the Blind: ask only for what you need, and since you are
the person with the most to win or lose, do for yourself whatever you can. Don't
let your success depend on the work of others. She emphasized to students that
any skill learned in college would prepare them to be better employees, teaching
them to deal with an ever-changing world and giving them practice at the "think
outside the box" paradigm required of so many successful blind people.</p> <p>One
message Marci would like to communicate is that she is not what the stereotypic
Federationist is portrayed to be. She does not hold some highly prestigious job
requiring multiple undergraduate and graduate degrees. She has multiple disabilities
including hearing loss, asthma, and Essential Trimmer disease, which is similar
to Parkinson's in its manifestations. She deals with chronic depression and wrestles
with anxiety, but she demonstrates that none of this stops her from living an
active and happy life with her husband Raymond Spicer, partners and soulmates
since 2007. She was elected president of the National Federation of the Blind of
Washington in 2014, and canvasing affiliate members reveals they couldn't be
happier with their choice. She leads by example, leads with wisdom, leads with
compassion, and leads by emphasizing that there is nothing more important than
clear and frequent communication.</p> <p>Marci is particularly proud of the role
she has played as a part of the National Federation of the Blind Survivor Task
Force. As a person who has suffered from sexual and emotional abuse, she knows
the feelings, relates to the stories, and provides a path leading to hope and
healing. "This has taken more time over the last year than I thought it would,
but I consider it time well spent. I want people to know that we listen to them,
we believe them, and we intend to make our organization better as a result of
experiences expressed through their stories."</p> <p>When asked what she would
like to say about her life and her work in this organization we share, Marci says:
"I am a testament to the fact that what people think it takes to be a leader in
the Federation is way too narrow. As I mentioned during my acceptance speech at
the 2021 National Convention, I was out of the Federation for about a decade, but
when I came back, I was welcomed with open arms. All of my experiences make me
certain that the Federation is more needed today than ever before. I'm proud to
be a part of it, and I urge those who think that they can't become a part to think
about my life, my contributions, and how they might follow a similar path. We must
go forward together, and through the organization we nurture and support, this is
exactly what we will do."</p> <p>----------</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Mary Ellen
Gabias]</p> <h2 id="longtime-cfb-president-mary-ellen-gabias-retires">Longtime
CFB President Mary Ellen Gabias Retires</h2> <p><strong>by Doris Belusic</strong></p>
<p><strong>From the Editor: This article was originally printed in <em>The Blind
Canadian</em>, Volume 20, December 2021, a publication of the Canadian Federation
of the Blind (CFB). Readers of the <em>Braille Monitor</em> know about the stellar
work of Mary Ellen Gabias, her work as a former member of our national staff, her
marriage to Paul, their move to Canada, and their starting of an organization
similar to the Federation in its philosophy and being run by the blind. Here, in
substantial part, is the article:</strong></p> <p>It is with mixed emotions that
we in the Canadian Federation of the Blind see the retirement of our longtime
president, Mary Ellen Gabias. Of course, it is hard to let go of a president like
her!</p> <p>The position of president is demanding, and Mary Ellen served in this
capacity from May 2012 until this past September of 2021. Before that she served
many years as our first vice president. She fulfilled her roles with dedication,
dignity, diplomacy, wisdom, and spirit. This she did while giving generously of
her time, knowledge, experience, energy and friendship. Mary Ellen was mentor
extraordinaire.</p> <p>Mary Ellen, along with her husband, Dr. Paul Gabias, founded
Federationism in Canada in 1992 and founded the CFB in 1999. Paul, a psychology
professor at the University of British Columbia Okanagan, received an honorary
doctorate from the University of Victoria in 2000 for his work in bringing
Federationism to Canada. Due to their vast early involvement in the National
Federation of the Blind in the United States, Mary Ellen and Paul knew the importance
and value of such an historic, grassroots, membership-driven, advocacy and mentoring
organization—by the blind and for the blind—and knew what such an
organization can offer to the blind. They wanted to bring this successful blindness
movement model to Canada. Until then, Canada knew no such thing, and for many
blind Canadians, Federationism was something foreign and new, an eye-opener, no
pun intended. It was what blind Canadians needed—this knowledge that one
can learn to be more independent, confident, successful, and live the lives we
want if given appropriate blindness skills training, information, and opportunities.
We learned about not bending to societal low expectations or to the stigmas and
stereotypes of blindness. We learned about being advocates for the greater good
and being advocates for ourselves in our own daily lives. We learned about the
importance of having a positive can-do attitude toward our blindness. We learned
about the NFB-style long, white cane—better for mobility—and to view
our canes with pride instead of shame, to see them as tools of ability, not
inability, of independence, not dependence. And we learned about powerful Federation
philosophy:</p> <ul> <li><p>We are an organization of blind people speaking for
ourselves.</p></li> <li><p>We believe blindness is a characteristic and not a
handicap, that blindness is not what defines us or holds us back.</p></li> <li><p>We
believe with proper training and opportunity blind people can compete on terms of
equality with sighted peers. Blind people can do almost anything sighted people
do; sometimes we just use alternative techniques.</p></li> <li><p>We believe the
real problem of blindness is not the lack of eyesight. It is inequality in society,
low expectations, an old charity model, and the lack of positive information about
blindness and the abilities and achievements of blind people.</p></li> <li><p>We
believe it is respectable to be blind and that the white cane is an empowering
tool for independence and a symbol of freedom and pride.</p></li> </ul> <p>Through
Paul and Mary Ellen, we gained knowledge about the three world-renowned United
States NFB intensive blindness skills training centres and about NFB annual national
conventions—the largest gatherings of blind people in the world, at about
3,000 attendees each year! We’ve met many Federation leaders and members
and have listened to and talked with many successful role models: blind lawyers,
blind educators, blind business people, blind writers, and blind parents.</p>
<p>This takes me back to the early Federation days in Canada, when in 1997 Paul
and Mary Ellen, at major expense, sponsored over ninety of us Canadian newbies to
attend and experience our first-ever NFB convention, held that year in New Orleans.
That was some week! Talk about educational, inspirational, and life-changing
experiences for many of us who had never known that such events, that such learning
grounds, existed. This was mentorship at its best!</p> <p>Yes, it was Paul and
Mary Ellen’s mission to expose blind Canadians to the benefits of Federation
conventions, to bring together blind people, to learn from each other. They felt
it was critically important that we in Canada know the value of attending these
NFB conventions, but also to hold our own Canadian Federation gatherings—hence,
our CFB conventions! The value of these conventions should not be underestimated.</p>
<p>Mary Ellen was instrumental in our CFB conventions, including writing and
presenting many informative and entertaining speeches and banquet addresses, which
are preserved for all to read on CFB’s website, and published within issues
of our own CFB magazine, <em>The Blind Canadian</em>, which she also helped
establish.</p> <p>Mary Ellen was very instrumental in areas of blindness advocacy,
including many government-related issues, such as equitable library service. She
must have written hundreds of letters over the years. She gave media interviews,
attended important meetings, ran our monthly national CFB meetings, and helped
plan and attended our rallies/ protests, as CFB advocated for positive change.
Among these were several human rights cases and issues such as the need for better
blindness rehabilitation services in Canada. Mary Ellen was also a strong advocate
opposing Canada’s old, pervasive charity model, which in many ways has held
the blind back, especially the working-age blind. The list of her advocacy work
goes on and on.</p> <p>When I mentioned that Mary Ellen was mentor extraordinaire,
it wasn’t an exaggeration. She was knowledgeable on so many aspects concerning
blindness and has helped many people on their own blindness journeys. And since
she is the mother of four grown children, she has been able to offer a lot of
experiential guidance to those who asked about blind parenting.</p> <p>Because of
the Gabias family, our thinking in Canada has shifted about blindness, about
ourselves, and about possibilities. All this and more is what Federationism is
about. We, the blind in Canada, were given this gift of knowledge—an
awakening. Today, Federationism is growing and expanding across this country. We
owe a great deal of gratitude to Mary Ellen and Paul for all of their hard work
and a HUGE THANK YOU to Mary Ellen as she retires from the president’s
chair. May your retirement be joyful! But luckily for us, we still get to keep
you, one chair over – as our Immediate Past President!</p> <p>----------</p>
<p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Gary Wunder]</p> <h2 id="the-knfb-reader-its-history-and-evolution">The
KNFB Reader: Its History and Evolution</h2> <p><strong>by Gary Wunder</strong></p>
<p>Many articles have been and will continue to be written about the magic of
Braille. Less well covered is the magic of print and what it has meant to be a
blind person who cannot read it directly and the need and yearning for the
secreted-away information.</p> <p>I can’t count the number of times running
my hands over what to me were smooth surfaces. Their texture would vary a bit
since the smoothness of a written newspaper was rougher than what people called
the shiny magazine. I noticed that the texture of book pages could be different,
but my fingers could not discern any patterns that would let me read what my
parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles would read and make come alive for me.
Dad read me the news; mom read me the product catalogs. If it was a product I was
interested in receiving for a birthday or Christmas gift, maybe she would read it
to me once, twice, or even ten times if I could get her to do it. Woe be to the
person who had a good story, for I never tired of hearing them read.</p> <p>I
decided that if I were ever to write a science fiction book, one of the first
things it would contain would be a reading machine that would unmask print. In
1975 a pioneering inventor named Raymond Kurzweil demonstrated an early version
of his product to James Gashel, the head of our Washington office at the time.
Jim got a demonstration for then-President Jernigan, who subsequently introduced
it to the leadership of the National Federation of the Blind. It wasn't long before
demonstrations of it appeared in the <em>Braille Monitor</em> based on Ray's
presentation before the national convention. I could see my dreams coming true,
print almost being hearable and touchable, and I knew I was living in exciting
times and was a part of a cutting-edge organization.</p> <p>Time moved along,
prototypes became products, the cost of those products dropped from $50,000 to
$30,000 to $20,000, and eventually they became affordable for some of us to have
at our local library. When the product was able to run using an off-the-self
scanner and a personal computer, some of us could even have this technology at
home. What a magical time in which to live—one in which I could walk into
the public library, rejoice in the scent of all those books, and realize that they
didn't just belong to someone else but were mine to read as well. I got a library
card, checked out four books, scanned them, and then proudly posted them to
Bookshare.</p> <p>To some extent print had been conquered, but only if one was in
the right environment. A leaflet handed to me on the street was still unreadable.
A memo passed out at a work meeting was the same. The information was right in
front of me but not really. A sign on the door conveyed no information except that
there was information I couldn't have. Would that ever change? The science fiction
reader in me said it certainly would; the realist in me said it wasn't likely to
be soon enough to help me.</p> <p>On October 22, 2001, many assembled for the
groundbreaking that would begin our dream of building the Jernigan Institute. At
that ceremony President Maurer talked about what the blind needed and how, through
our organization, we might get some of those things. One he talked about was a
handheld reader, something that could be taken to the print rather than the print
being taken to it. What made this different from science fiction was that he wasn't
talking about something that would happen in 2050; he and Ray Kurzweil, the restless
genius, were discussing publicly whether such a machine would be commercially
available in four years or five. What would it cost? What would it look like? No
one really knew, though President Maurer did hold a little box he thought might
approximate the size of the unit, one he called a pocket-sized reading machine.</p>
<p>Ray Kurzweil and the NFB started putting action behind those publicly spoken
words nearly a year later when President Maurer approached the officers and Board
of Directors with the proposal to start building software that would run on smaller
machines. No machine was yet available to undertake the task of capturing a picture,
processing the poor image that was likely to come from a user who couldn't easily
focus, and then do the optical character recognition. But Ray Kurzweil believed
that the power of technology would double every eighteen months, and that meant
that by the time the software had been developed and tested, there would indeed
be the hardware to run it.</p> <p>By 2004 we had a version of the software that
would run on a PC under Windows and used a camera. What magic to hear the click
of a camera and within two or three seconds hear the reading begin. In a year the
software was running on a smaller machine, and by 2006 the KNFB Reader was being
produced and sold. It was not exactly pocket-sized, but it was handheld, it was
portable, and it was, without a doubt, a reading machine. The machine consisted
of four discrete parts: a camera, a PDA, a circuit board that connected those
devices both electronically and mechanically, and a leather case. The discrete
parts all arrived at our headquarters separately, and Will Schwatka, the voice of
the Federation in so many reading projects including this magazine, was the project
manager charged with assembling them. He was assisted by Lou Anne Blake and none
other than David Patrick Maurer, the son of Marc Maurer, our Immediate Past
President, and Patricia Maurer, our organization’s First Lady. Each member
of the team got a bin and oversaw the product assembly, loading the KNFB software,
and then testing each unit. Will Schwatka remembers the excitement of working with
such groundbreaking technology. "I remember taking one of the units home, showing
it to my friends, and watching as they marveled at this organization I was working
for that did such cutting-edge work. After giving them a demonstration, some of
them wanted to know if they could buy stock in the new machine." Will remembers
his work fondly as "one of the coolest jobs I have ever had."</p> <p>For my part,
I remember buying a machine and flying home while experiencing my first look at
an in-flight magazine. On that flight I learned two lessons: the machine could
read a magazine, but not everything the machine could read was worth reading.</p>
<p>Though we had a portable reading machine, it wasn't ideal. The more technology
we use to deal with blindness, the harder it is to decide what to carry and what
to leave at home. With the KNFB Reader, there was the machine and then two chargers:
one for the PDA and one for the camera. If I had to choose among a phone, a book
or book reader, a device to read print, and either a laptop or notetaker, would
there be enough print to justify a reader? Sometimes my answer was yes, and
sometimes it was no.</p> <p>But that technology Ray talked about kept evolving,
and soon the KNFB Reader was on the cell phone. The Nokia N82 had a five-megapixel
camera and a brighter Xenon flash. The phone also had a computer fast enough that
within two or three seconds of the flash came well-articulated text, and the
accuracy was surprisingly good. A reader in our pocket was real. Now I and other
KNFB users didn't have to make a choice between phone and reader; they were the
same.</p> <p>Sometimes technology change is beneficial, and at other times it is
just plain inconvenient. For blind people the iPhone was a breakthrough that has
made tremendous changes in the way we can benefit from portable technology. Having
out-of-the-box screen reading was the model we wanted, and the thought by Apple
that went into making touchscreens a blessing and not a barrier rocked our world.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the 2009 introduction of this device presented a big problem
for the KNFB Reader. Of course, many of us wanted an already accessible iPhone,
but the camera used in the initial versions lacked the resolution we needed and
didn't let us control important elements in getting an image that could be recognized
and put into text. Once again the KNFB Reader was a standalone one function machine
and something of a frustration for those of us who wanted the power of the iPhone
and Android devices that soon followed. As these other smartphones became available,
Nokia's interest in maintaining the phones we loved faded. Finding sources and
convincing people that the phone that ran the software would continue to be
supported required significant effort.</p> <p>Our desire to have the KNFB Reader
run on a smartphone and specifically at first the iPhone was intense, but we could
not simply wish technology development forward, especially when that technology
belonged to someone else. It wasn't until 2014, almost five years, until the iPhone
brought sufficient camera resolution and the ability to control it with software
that a version came to market. Jim Gashel has stories to tell about being at an
Apple store all night so he would be first in line for the newest version. Finally,
our waiting paid off, and we were able to get an image we could use. The KNFB
Reader indeed was then able to be on popular and readily available smartphones
and the newly available computer power they contained. Our unique Field of View
Report was eventually replaced by a simpler tone for focus, and our pictures got
better. So too did the recognized text we read.</p> <p>Having a product on the
market challenged and stretched us from the beginning. We had to dedicate resources
to development, and Mark Riccobono, our newly-elected President, established a
special LLC for the KNFB Reader. We had to figure out a way to market it and asked
Michael Hingson to undertake the task. We had Scott White handling our bulk sales
to schools, rehabilitation agencies, and private agencies that wanted to help
bring portable reading to the blind. Rachel Olivero was involved at every level
in this process, being one of our most faithful testers and helping to set our
direction as the product moved forward. Joel Zimba handled technical support and
spurring on the development of the product. Hai Wyn Lee was one of our most helpful
testers and brought along many good ideas that found their way into the product.
In addition, almost one-hundred NFB volunteers were involved in our work and spent
countless hours testing, troubleshooting, and talking up this new technological
miracle.</p> <p>But the NFB is not so much in the business of business. We are
advocates, and a part of that advocacy is being pioneers. We prove something can
be done, and we aren't disappointed when someone does it better. In a generous
move in the spirit of providing what we can to blind people, the National Federation
of the Blind Board of Directors decided to provide the KNFB Reader without charge
in its NFB-NEWSLINE® application. Though the version does not offer some of
the interfaces in the full version, it does allow for the same scanning and reading
for which this product is known.</p> <p>Unlike when we began the effort to develop
a pocket-sized reading machine, blind people now have Microsoft SEEING AI without
charge, and several commercial offerings with good recognition and responsiveness
are available for less than thirty dollars.</p> <p>The time has come for us to
turn over the KNFB Reader to Sensotec, one of the developers that has been with
us in this since the beginning. This company will change the name of the app, will
take over its maintenance, and offer whatever upgrades it wishes. Owners of the
KNFB Reader need not worry; their product will be supported.</p> <p>Like the
Speakquilizer, the KNFB Reader will be remembered for not only demonstrating a
product but bringing it to the market for blind people. In keeping with our
tradition, when things evolve, we move on to another challenge to improve the
lives of blind people.</p> <p>I am proud of what we did, grateful for being allowed
to live through it, and glad for whatever small part I played in testing and
eventually buying our machines. When dreams come true, they must be replaced;
thank you NFB for opening a space for a new science fiction dream and making my
day-to-day interaction with the world just a little bit fuller and considerably
easier.</p> <p>----------</p> <h2
id="psychiatric-hospital-access-barriers-a-call-for-change">Psychiatric Hospital
Access Barriers: A Call for Change</h2> <p><strong>by Jolean O’Connell</strong></p>
<p><strong>From the Editor: As an organization we are very proud that we represent
all blind people and that blind people are a cross-section of those who make up
the world. The difficulty has always come when we get to decisions about what we
can and should do for blind rights when there are other issues that complicate
things. In the case of mental illness, we have tended to defer to those who work
with the mentally ill for two reasons: we have regarded the professionals who work
with the mentally ill as experts and have been very aware of our lack of expertise
when it comes to understanding the meaning of a diagnosis and how to react to it.
It is a bit humorous to think about the latitude we have given to professionals
in this field, given the difficulty we have at times faced with those who believe
they know more about blindness than we do. Every analogy breaks down, of course,
and I think many of us are still very unclear about what decision-making faculties
are compromised by mental illness and which are simply deemed as prerogatives by
the professionals. Again, we have little knowledge of how to run institutions and
have been hesitant to assert what we do not know. All of this has sometimes meant
that we may have overlooked fundamental human rights or not given them the priority
they deserve simply because figuring them out and then asserting them is more
difficult than in cases that don’t involve institutionalization.</strong></p>
<p><strong>Jolean O’Connell is making her first appearance in the <em>Braille
Monitor</em> with this article. I hope many of us will be informed by what she
says, seriously consider her experiences and recommendations, and figure out a
way to assert the rights of blind people that should help to make all of us happier,
more functional human beings. Here is what Jolean says:</strong></p> <p>Greetings,
all. In my nineteen years of life, I have been admitted to psychiatric hospitals
a total of eight times. I come to you with my experiences of inaccessibility and
to talk with you about the way the lack of education about blindness on the part
of hospital staff gets in the way of quality care. I want to make clear the ways
we can address these injustices and implement positive changes in facilities that
deal with people who are undergoing mental health issues.</p> <p>I became a cane
and Braille user at the age of four, so you can imagine how vital these two things
are to my life. They are almost more than tools—they are a part of me.</p>
<p>More often than not, those of us who are nonviolent by nature are integrated
with those who are rather aggressive. This poses many issues affecting my having
and using my books and canes. The problem with hardcover books is because of the
spines that can be broken and used as weapons against others or oneself. The same
is true with the canes that can easily be used as weapons.</p> <p>For the first
six times I was hospitalized, the keeping of my books and canes was not a big
issue. Those problems began my seventh and eighth visits. I’ll start with
the seventh. I could not get access to books, because I was too far away from a
location in which Braille books were stored, and it would have been quite inconvenient
if someone were to drive such a long distance to bring them to me. I was only
there for eight days. My cane was taken, but I fought for it and got it back two
days later. I had lice, which was treated hours after I was admitted, so I was
doing “human guide” with patients and staff alike until my cane was
returned. I was afraid the heads of those assisting me would become infested, too,
and it was a very depressing and uncomfortable situation. Treatment for lice is
done twice within a week’s time, which is why there was cause for worry.
The second round is to ensure that every bug has been killed. Therefore, to say
that I was relieved when my mobility aid came into my possession again is a vast
understatement.</p> <p>During my stay, I was put on a women’s trauma unit,
where aggressive patients do not usually reside. We are all grown. The psychotic
patients were put with us trauma patients, so I was constantly in danger, and
therapy groups were very few and far between because of the nonsense actively
overwhelming our unit. I sat in chairs for hours as people drew pictures, played
Pictionary, or watched television. I had to be content with nothing but the
horrifying sounds of individuals being attacked and my own despair to keep me
company. We were fortunate and got to use the phone frequently, because with COVID,
visitors are not allowed. Discharge day did not come soon enough. It haunts me,
even now.</p> <p>I am strongly against medications for a multitude of reasons.
Therefore, I was allowed to get information about another treatment option but
did not take it up due to potential medical complications, which I would not have
been in a position to deal with at the time. I expressed my concern to the individual
who had let me discuss this drugless path, and my doctor told me I could not
participate in it since I could not read the consent. I was so exhausted that I
didn’t think to tell him that forms could be read to me, so I just tried
to explain my reasons and let this pass. The point is, if someone is interested
in a treatment option and is blind, not being allowed to go through with whatever
it may be because it is in print is unacceptable.</p> <p>My final hospitalization
is brief, yet, in a way, more horrifying. I was on a unit with both males and
females this time; all of us are adults. It sounded like my cane would be taken,
but I got out of that one, so I had it for the entirety of my stay. I was close
enough to a place where books could be delivered, and thankfully they let me have
them. We had only three therapy groups per day, which meant more hours spent doing
practically nothing.</p> <p>Discharge time is where things take a turn for the
worse. I was signing a form, both cameras and humans keeping a very watchful eye.
My signature is illegible more often than not, and a staff member had an issue
with this fact, even going so far as to say that she couldn’t let me leave
with that. She had someone look at how I signed other things, and another staff
member said, “Barely,” which was humiliating, at best.</p> <p>I was
almost literally trapped, because I can't write what they judged as legible print,
and an employee wouldn't sign as a witness saying I got the information I was
supposed to have. I have only ever been on locked units, and this was one. Sobbing,
I finally exited the premises, terrified that I would be brought back immediately
by staff for showing such strong emotion. I have never recovered.</p> <p>Were
there some people who had tried to make such environments such as these as accessible
as they could for me? Absolutely. And I thank them, greatly. However, the injustices
run rampant, and I am quite tired. I refuse to sit by, whether I am on the in- or
out-side. I propose that we, as the National Federation of the Blind, come together
to eradicate the nonsense and conduct advocacy work with psychiatric hospitals
all across the country. I encourage you to come forth with your stories.</p> <p>To
the hospitals, I say that canes are just as much a mobility aid as wheelchairs.
Putting us in wheelchairs and taking away our autonomy is not providing us with
the proper accommodation. Please have areas within the building or something of
the sort for blind patients, or research how to incorporate audio description so
that we may watch movies and television along with the others in the many hours
that we have spare time. Those are just a few things you can do to improve the
quality of care for the blind. We deserve so much better. We are humans, too.</p>
<p>----------</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Steve Jacobson]</p> <h2
id="who-is-responsible-for-the-blind">Who Is Responsible for the Blind?</h2>
<p><strong>by Steve Jacobson</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor: Steve Jacobson
is one of my favorite people. He is kind, thoughtful, deliberative, and insightful.
He thinks a lot about what he wants to say and then says it in a way that is both
clear, informative, and friendly. Here is what he says about believing in and
taking responsibility for ourselves:</strong></p> <p>Last June, Gary Wunder
described an experience he had at an airport where two people physically saved
him from a fast and ungraceful trip down a flight of stairs that probably would
not have ended well for him. Around that same time, I read some other discussions
on our email lists regarding independence, including the notion that it was no
longer a relevant term. This caused me to think some about independence,
responsibility, and even the role of help that we receive. Even though we live in
a changing world, our ability to succeed as blind people is affected by these
factors. Let me set the stage for this discussion with a fictional trip through
an airport. However, while fictional, certainly some of my own tendencies are
represented.</p> <p>Jack is a blind college student who has solid skills and is
an experienced traveler. As he returns to school after the holidays, he has to
change flights fairly late in the evening, and he doesn't have much time to get
from one plane to the next. If he misses his connecting flight, he has to spend
the night in an uncomfortable plastic chair at the airport. He has been at this
airport before, so he has a pretty good sense of where he has to go.</p> <p>It
had been a long day already, and Jack was tired. His cane technique left something
to be desired as he raced down an uncarpeted hall to his next flight, but it was
still adequate to detect most obstructions. He had just traveled this same route
in the opposite direction when he went home for his break only a week ago. As he
traveled quickly down the hallway toward the departure gate of his next flight,
he heard someone shout from some distance away that he should be careful. Although
he acknowledged this warning, people were always saying that to him. There are
those who would urge him to be careful when getting out of bed in the morning.</p>
<p>Suddenly, Jack's cane and then his foot struck something that threw him off
balance. His other foot quickly flew from beneath him, and he was momentarily
flying through the air until he landed with some impact on his back, cushioned
only slightly by his backpack. The Braille notetaker that he had around his neck
went flying, and he heard the sound of gurgling water coming from inside his
backpack. His first thought was "There goes that extra bottle of water I
purchased."</p> <p>An airport employee quickly arrived on the scene to see if Jack
was hurt. Fortunately, he only had a few scratches and bruises, but the inside of
his backpack was a mess, and his Braille notetaker appeared to be damaged as well.
It turned out that Jack had collided with one of those wet floor signs that one
often finds in public buildings. That caused him to trip, but his other foot landed
on the wet, slippery floor. He was lucky and knew that he could have been hurt
much more seriously.</p> <p>Does Jack have any kind of legal recourse? Were there
some violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act? Could there have been some
kind of warnings in place that would have prevented this accident? Perhaps all of
the above could be true, but that is for another article that would need to be
written by one of our lawyers.</p> <p>Throughout the life of the National Federation
of the Blind and for years before our founding, blind people have been working
hard to move from the back rooms of our families and almost complete dependency
to become able to manage our own homes and be caregivers for others. This has been
a long, complicated, and difficult journey which has required a lot of effort on
our part as blind people. We have not completed that journey yet, although we have
made great progress.</p> <p>This journey is not an easy one. The "Wet Floor" signs
that are placed in our path can be frustrating. It is not unreasonable for us to
look for easy solutions. Still, part of this journey means that we must be willing
to accept responsibility for the actions that we might take in a careless moment.
We have a pretty good set of skills that, if correctly used, really can keep us
safe. It is only natural that, as human beings, we are going to occasionally
stretch those skills beyond their limits. We need to remember that sighted people
stretch their skills with negative consequences every day. One has only to look
at the frequency of car accidents to realize this is the case. It is therefore
very important for part of Jack's analysis of his experience to be what he should
have done differently, as Gary did in his article.</p> <p>Some might say that
Jack's biggest mistake was not taking seriously the warning he received to be
careful. Yet, for us to become dependent upon such help or to assume that others
will always be there to save us from ourselves would be a major step backward in
our journey to independence and self-sufficiency. To continue this journey, we
must separate areas where help is sometimes required from those areas where we
can manage situations on our own by developing and refining our skills. This leads
us to the terms "independence" and "interdependence."</p> <p>On one of our email
lists, someone said that independence is no longer a relevant goal for blind
people. Nobody is truly independent, and what we must strive for is interdependence.
It was further said that one could only claim they were independent if they could
live by themselves on an island. In my opinion it is dangerous for us to follow
that path, discarding independence as a meaningful goal.</p> <p>Independence and
interdependence are two very separate things. They are not mutually exclusive;
all of us, blind or sighted, are dependent in one way or another on other people.
Interdependence is not a goal to be achieved, but rather, it is a description of
the status quo. Certainly, one should have a goal to manage interdependence
effectively, but one cannot "become" interdependent, because all of us are already
interdependent.</p> <p>Independence is less a description of how things are than
a goal to be achieved. Rather than being an absolute state that requires one to
survive alone on an island, it is a relative term. Independence may not mean the
same thing for all of us. For one thing, many more of us have disabilities in
addition to blindness than was the case fifty years ago. Yet, striving to do as
much as we can do independently is as relevant today as it ever was, even if it
has different meanings for different people. Here's why.</p> <p>Most people with
whom we interact picture blindness as having their eyes closed. What they imagine
is how blindness looks without any training in the alternative skills of blindness
and without the experience we have as blind people. Since most people mean well,
many will tend to warn us of dangers they see based upon closing their eyes. For
example, more than once I've had someone join me as I was walking, warning me of
every curb or uneven surface, only to go their own way when their route diverged
from mine. They gave no thought of how I got to the point where they joined me
and little thought to what would happen to me when I continued on my route without
their constant council. They only thought that the information they provided me,
even if distracting, was necessary while they were traveling with me. Of course,
I tried to view such encounters as opportunities to educate, and I hope I am
generally successful.</p> <p>Another example of how this can work involves a
conversation I had with someone when I was out for a walk. They warned me that
there were three cars parked along the street on which I was walking during the
next two blocks. I replied with a smile that my cane would find them. However,
they noted that they had observed me running into a parked car before our
conversation. What actually happened was that my cane contacted a car, and I then
walked around it as was supposed to happen. However, my cane contacting the parked
car was interpreted as "running into the car." In other words, my success was seen
as a failure in their eyes, because they did not understand the purpose of my
cane.</p> <p>Yet another example of this process occurred when I was once stepping
on an escalator with which I was familiar. A well-meaning member of the public
rapidly approached me from behind and grabbed my cane arm just as I was ready to
step aboard. As they approached, they were saying "No, no, no!" Their intervention
threw me off balance. I grabbed the railing, and they partly grabbed me as we
stepped aboard. I do not remember exactly what was said, but it was to the effect
that it was a good thing they were there to catch me. They had no idea that they
had accidentally caused the problem they thought they had solved, and the experience
reinforced, in their mind, the need to help me. Had I not carefully thought through
what happened, I could easily have wondered what I did wrong.</p> <p>The point
here is that assistance is not always helpful even though there are instances when
we might need it. If we don't have some faith in ourselves and the skills we have
developed, such help can undermine the confidence we have in ourselves. If I had
not had confidence in my abilities, I may have believed I narrowly escaped an
accident on the escalator and that I could not avoid the parked cars. The idea of
striving for independence is necessary to offset this unintended consequence of
certain kinds of help. The journey we are traveling is sometimes like walking
uphill. It is harder to move forward than it is to slide back.</p> <p>So, what
does this mean in our fictional scenario above? If we're honest with ourselves,
it isn't really that fictional. Most of us who travel have found ourselves being
a little sloppy in our travel techniques after a long day and in a familiar
environment. Still, Jack's mistake was not that he didn't immediately put on the
brakes when someone told him to be careful. His mistake was in being a little
sloppy with his travel techniques. While it might have been appropriate to thank
the person who offered the warning, his concern going forward has to be how to
avoid making the same mistake in the future. In other words, the main lesson is
not that we're lucky that there are sighted people everywhere to help us if we
need it. Rather, it needs to be how we can avoid making the same mistake again so
we don't need to assume that someone must be present to rescue us. Interdependence
also includes the need for each of us as blind people to help one another to
strengthen our skills and also to learn from one another how to avoid common
mistakes.</p> <p>One of the greatest gifts I receive by being a member of the
National Federation of the Blind is to be surrounded by others who, through their
instruction and by their example, can show me how to overcome those areas that
challenge me. Together, we can all continue traveling this uphill journey toward
living even more meaningful lives as full participants in society. This means,
though, that we must be responsible for ourselves.</p> <p>----------</p> <h2
id="blessed-are-the-givers">Blessed Are the Givers</h2> <p><strong>by Hannah
Neff</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor: This article was sent to me by Dana
Ard, the president of the National Federation of the Blind of Idaho. It is reprinted
with the kind permission of the publisher, and any changes are made to conform to
<em>Monitor</em> style. Here is the way Dana introduces the article:</strong></p>
<p>Jordana Engebretsen was presented with the National Teacher of Blind Children
award at the NFB National Convention in July. She has high expectations for the
blind children that she teaches and expects them to do things that others feel
are impossible. This article describes a Christmas activity that took place last
Saturday, December 8, 2021, in Coeur d’ Alene and was published in the
<em>Coeur d’Alene Press</em>. Jordana is a member of the NFB Treasure Valley
Chapter.</p> <p>Ten-year-old Emilia Paulding, a visually impaired student, hands
a hand-decorated Christmas card to Rhonda McCann of Post Falls at Evans Brothers
Coffee Roasters on Saturday.</p> <p>Smiles, carols, and cards filled the room as
a group of happy givers prepared to bless the community.</p> <p>Six visually
impaired students, guided by volunteers, spent their Saturday crafting Christmas
cards, putting together goodie bags, and practicing Christmas carols at North
Idaho College, preparing for their show that afternoon at Evans Brothers Coffee
Roasters in Coeur d'Alene.</p> <p>“I feel like we all had a lot of fun,”
said student Jessalyn Wright, 14. “I know I definitely had fun making the
cards and the packages, and practicing the songs.”</p> <p>Six-year-old
Aubriella Gibson said she was a little scared singing in front of everyone at
first but had fun. She said her favorite part was giving the gifts after the
performance.</p> <p>The event was put together by Jordana Engebretsen, a teacher
for the visually impaired.</p> <p>“The main thing is for them to understand
that they are not alone,” Engebretsen said. She also says she wants the
students to have the opportunity to give so they can understand it’s more
of a blessing to share with others.</p> <p>“I know in my own life, if I
give I get more reward than receiving,” Engebretsen said. “That’s
what I want the kids to feel.”</p> <p>Engebretsen has been blind for more
than twenty years and contracts her teaching services through TechMission. Every
few months, she hosts the students for a “My Environment” activity.
It’s a chance for them to socialize and enjoy doing things on their own.</p>
<p>“It’s really important that they know other people that are like
them and that they enjoy things in a different way, but they can enjoy it
together,” said Tina Johnson, a volunteer and teacher for the visually
impaired. Johnson said she got a lot of joy out of watching the kids do activities
on their own that other people will unintentionally help them with because they
think the kids need assistance when they don’t.</p> <p>Carla Carnegie, of
Willow Song Music Therapy in Otis Orchards, Washington, came out to help the
students perform at the coffee shop. Carnegie worked with student Alex Owens,
thirteen, since he was seven.</p> <p>The crowd, including Rhonda McCann of Post
Falls, cheered as the kids sang their Christmas carols, including solo performances.
“It was amazing,” McCann said. “I just think they’re
amazing kids.”</p> <p>----------</p> <h2 id="you-can-make-a-difference">You
Can Make a Difference </h2> <p>Blind children, students, and adults are making
powerful strides in education and leadership every day across the United States.
For more than eighty years, the National Federation of the Blind has worked to
transform the dreams of hundreds of thousands of blind people into reality. With
support from individuals like you, we continue to provide powerful programs and
critical resources for decades to come. We sincerely hope you will plan to be a
part of our enduring movement by including the National Federation of the Blind
in your charitable giving and in your estate planning. It is easier than you
think.</p> <p> </p> <p>With your help, the NFB will continue to:</p> <ul>
<li><p>Give blind children the gift of literacy through Braille</p></li>
<li><p>Promote independent travel by providing free, long white canes to blind
people in need</p></li> <li><p>Develop dynamic educational projects and programs
to show blind youth that science and math careers are within their reach</p></li>
<li><p>Deliver hundreds of accessible newspapers and magazines to provide blind
people the essential information necessary to be actively involved in their
communities</p></li> <li><p>Offer aids and appliances that help seniors losing
vision maintain their independence</p></li> </ul> <h3 id="plan-to-leave-a-legacy">Plan
to Leave a Legacy</h3> <p>The National Federation of the Blind legacy society,
our Dream Makers Circle, honors and recognizes the generosity and vision of members
and special friends of the National Federation of the Blind who have chosen to
leave a legacy through a will or other planned giving option. You can join the
Dream Makers Circle in a myriad of ways.</p> <h3 id="fixed-sum-of-assets">Fixed
Sum of Assets</h3> <p>You can specify that a fixed sum of your assets or property
goes to the National Federation of the Blind in your will, trust, pension, IRA,
life insurance policy, brokerage account, or other accounts.</p> <h3
id="percentage-of-assets">Percentage of Assets</h3> <p>You can specify that a
percentage of your assets or property goes to the National Federation of the Blind
in your will, trust, pension, IRA, life insurance policy, brokerage account, or
other accounts.</p> <h3 id="payable-on-death-pod-account">Payable on Death (POD)
Account</h3> <p>You can name the National Federation of the Blind as the beneficiary
on a Payable on Death (POD) account through your bank. You can turn any checking
or savings account into a POD account. This is one of the simplest ways to leave
a legacy. The account is totally in your control during your lifetime and you can
change the beneficiary or percentage at any time with ease.</p> <h3 id="will-or-trust">Will
or Trust</h3> <p>If you do decide to create or revise your will, consider the
National Federation of the Blind as a partial beneficiary.</p> <p>Visit our <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>Since the start of 2019, the NFB:</p> <ul> <li><p>Distributed over
eight thousand canes to blind people across the United States, empowering them to
travel safely and independently throughout their communities</p></li> <li><p>Delivered
audio newspaper and magazine services to 124,022 subscribers, providing free access
to over five hundred local, national, and international publications</p></li>
<li><p>Gave over 900 Braille-writing slates and styluses free of charge to blind
users</p></li> <li><p>Transformed our Braille Enrichment for Literacy and
Learning® Academies into in-home editions offered to blind youth throughout
the United States.</p></li> </ul> <p>Just imagine what we’ll do next year
and, with your help, what can be accomplished for years to come. Below are just
a few of the many diverse, tax-deductible ways you can lend your support to the
National Federation of the Blind.</p> <h3 id="vehicle-donation-program">Vehicle
Donation Program</h3> <p>The NFB accepts donated vehicles, including cars, trucks,
boats, motorcycles, or recreational vehicles. Just call 855-659-9314 toll-free,
and a representative can make arrangements to pick up your donation. We can also
answer any questions you have.</p> <h3 id="general-donation">General Donation</h3>
<p>General donations help support the ongoing programs of the NFB and the work to
help blind people live the lives they want. You can call 410-659-9314 and elect
option 4 to donate by phone. Donate online with a credit card or through the mail
with check or money order. Visit our <a href="https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/ways-give">Ways
to Give webpage</a> for more information. </p> <h3
id="pre-authorized-contribution">Pre-Authorized Contribution</h3> <p>Through the
Pre-Authorized Contribution (PAC) program, supporters sustain the efforts of the
National Federation of the Blind by making recurring monthly donations by direct
withdrawal of funds from a checking account or a charge to a credit card. To
enroll, call 410-659-9314, extension 2213, or fill out our <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>[PHOTO CAPTION: LaShawna
Fant]</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Sabrina Gilleylen]</p> <h2
id="interview-with-celebrity-stylist-sabrina-gilleylen">Interview with Celebrity
Stylist Sabrina Gilleylen</h2> <p><strong>by LaShawna Fant</strong></p> <p><strong>From
the Editor: LaShawna is a wonderful source of information who has graciously
responded to our request for more authors on more subjects. I start with the two
words thank you, but it is hard for the gratitude I feel to be carried by two
small letter groupings. Here is Lashawna's latest contribution:</strong></p>
<p>Note: In August and October of 2021, Sabrina Gilleylen shared with members of
the National Federation of the Blind on behalf of the Black Leaders Serving for
Advancement of Blind Professionals Working Group. The celebrity stylist generously
offered information concerning hair, make-up, and skincare during these events.
My purpose in doing this interview is to share her work and accomplishments with
a larger audience.</p> <p>Dr. LaShawna Fant: Hello, Sabrina. I truly appreciate
your agreeing to do this interview. Please introduce yourself to the readers.</p>
<p>Sabrina Gilleylen: My name is Sabrina Gilleylen. I am from Amory, Mississippi.
I have one amazing and talented son named Tyler Jayden. I have seven brothers and
sisters, an amazing father who served thirty-five years in the military, and a
resilient mother who is an angel in human form. I am a celebrity hairstylist,
writer, and mentor. I love to sing, shop, and travel around the world. I also
enjoy going to the movies, acting, doing voice-over jobs, and spending time with
family.</p> <p>LF: That is very interesting. In your earlier years, what did you
plan as a career?</p> <p>SG: In my earlier years, I wanted to be a famous movie
star, singer, and fashion designer. I would draw pictures of hairstyles and clothing
during school hours, and afterward, I would go home to bring them to life on my
dolls. My father was an elder in the church, and my mother was an evangelist. The
church was all I knew. My brothers, sisters, and I would travel to churches all
around Mississippi singing gospel songs. We were like the Jackson five. I would
lead just about all the songs at church. I also sang in competitions in school
and college.</p> <p>LF: What prompted you to journey into the field of being a
stylist?</p> <p>SG: It all started at the age of five. I would watch my mother
style and braid my sisters' hair. She would also cut my brothers' hair. My mother
was a seamstress, drummer, and singer. She was a woman of many talents. We did
not have the money to go to the barbershop or salon, so she became the stylist
and barber. My mother wanted to be a hairstylist, but she couldn't due to her
having children so fast and traveling the world with my father in the military.
I knew that there was more than just styling hair behind a chair. I wanted more.
I moved to a fruitful area which was Atlanta, Georgia, and surrounded myself with
people who were doing the same thing I wanted to do.</p> <p>LF: How long have you
been a celebrity stylist?</p> <p>SG: I have been a celebrity stylist for big name
celebrities for over seven years, but in all honesty, I have been a celebrity
stylist for seventeen years. The reason I say this is because I have called all
the people who have sat in my chair celebrities. If not for my regular clients,
I would not be who I am today.</p> <p>LF: That's amazing! It is great for you to
value each of your clients like that. Sabrina, in your profession, what are some
of your goals?</p> <p>SG: One of my goals is to create my own make-up line catering
to the visually impaired community. I also want to open a hair school that caters
to people with scalp and skin disorders. I want to become a Trichologist. My goal
is to bring healthy hair back and to grow healthy hair all over the world.</p>
<p>LF: As a celebrity stylist, what are some opportunities you have been blessed
to get your hands into?</p> <p>SG: As a celebrity stylist, I was blessed to work
with the late Charles Gregory, who was my mentor. I invested in his class "Cinema
Secrets." This class taught me everything I needed to know about the TV, film,
and movie industry. He worked on projects with Tyler Perry’s "Madea," Halle
Berry, Cicely Tyson, and many, many more. He was a true legend in the hair industry.
Also, in my career, I have been blessed to work with great people such as Jewel
Tankard, Travis Scott, August Alsina, and Big Boi (from OutKast), to name a few.
The first professional TV series I worked on was <em>The Walking Dead</em>, season
six. I just finished working on the movie <em>Rumble in the Dark</em>, starring
Aaron Eckhart and Bella Thorn.</p> <p>LF: Those were some awesome opportunities!
What are some things you aim to represent or display when working with clients or
on sets?</p> <p>SG: I aim to represent loyalty, honesty, and trust. I aim to
execute the visions the of the producer, writers, and directors. I aim to create
and bring their visions to life. I will make sure that my clients are taken care
of in the best way possible by listening to their needs, desires, and wants as
well.</p> <p>LF: Sabrina, what are a few tips you would like for people to remember
concerning overall self-care and beauty?</p> <p>SG: The number one tip I would
love to share is to drink plenty of water every day and to enjoy and live life
every day like it's your last. Moisturize your skin daily. You can take daily
vitamins such as Vitamin D, C, and E.</p> <p>LF: That is truly some beneficial
information. Where can people find out more about your products and a published
book you are included in, Sabrina?</p> <p>SG: You can find me on Facebook and
Instagram: Msbrina00</p> <p>My webpage: <a href="http://www.ladybrina.com">www.ladybrina.com</a></p>
<p>LF: We are so thrilled you agreed to share with the members of the National
Federation of the Blind in a couple of public events. Why were you so willing and
honored to do this?</p> <p>SG: Making people smile and happy is my passion. I love
to enhance the beauty of every soul that I encounter. It is what I was born to
do.</p> <p>LF: Who have been some of your inspirations, mentors, or role models?</p>
<p>SG: The number one role model in my life is God. He's the best role model ever!
During my journey, my role models have been my mother, Linda Gilleylen, Jewel
Tankard, Joe Dudley, Charles Gregory, Anita Lynsey, George Stone, and Regina Baker.
These individuals have been very influential in my life since I have been in the
hair industry.</p> <p>LF: Thanks for sharing in a public forum with members of
our organization and friends on behalf of the working group Blind Professionals.
What are some final words you would like to impart?</p> <p>SG: Live life every
day as if it's your last day on earth. Be kind to everyone. Love as God loves.</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="product-of-the-month">PRODUCT OF THE MONTH</h3> <p>TALKING NON-CONTACT
THERMOMETER: This infrared thermometer provides an almost instant reading of body
temperature in either Fahrenheit or Celsius. To use the thermometer, simply point
it at your forehead from a distance of two to four inches and pull the trigger.
The results are spoken in either English or Spanish and displayed in 1/2-inch-high
numerals on a backlit LCD screen. The thermometer also has a room temperature
mode. The unit powers off automatically and uses two AA batteries (included).
AIM07T $50.00</p> <p>TALKING ORAL THERMOMETER: This clinical thermometer gives
temperature readings in either Fahrenheit or Celsius. Power-on the thermometer
and wait for the prompt to “please measure” before inserting the
thermometer under your tongue. In eight seconds, the result is spoken and displayed
in 3/4-inch-high numerals on a backlit LCD screen. Six languages can be selected,
including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Russian. The unit powers
off automatically. Uses three AG13 (1.5V) batteries (included). AIM03T $18.00</p>
<p>LADIES GOLD BRACELET BRAILLE WATCH: Montiel Swiss watches are known for their
"flat look" design, craftsmanship and styling. This gold quartz Braille wristwatch
has two raised dots at the 3, 6, and 9 o'clock hours. It also features a gold-plated
adjustable bracelet band and gold-plated case. AIB37GB $155.00</p> <h3
id="sale-and-close-out-products">SALE AND CLOSE-OUT PRODUCTS</h3> <p><em>THE
PROPHET</em> (by Kahlil Gibran—Audio) LSA32CD $5.00</p> <p>(READ BY KENNETH
JERNIGAN)</p> <p><em>THE PROPHET</em> (by Kahlil Gibran—Braille) LSA32B
$7.50</p> <p>CAMERA BAG AIA48B $1.00</p> <p>MONOCULAR WITH CASE AIL75M $3.00</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. ET. Our staff will be happy to assist.</p> <p>----------</p>
<h2 id="monitor-miniatures"><em>Monitor</em> Miniatures </h2> <h3 id="in-brief">In
Brief</h3> <p><strong>Notices and information in this section may be of interest
to <em>Monitor</em> readers. We are not responsible for the accuracy of the
information; we have edited only for space and clarity.</strong></p> <h3
id="holman-prize-for-blind-ambition-for-2022-now-open">Holman Prize for Blind
Ambition for 2022 Now Open!</h3> <p>Now in its sixth year, the Holman Prize for
Blind Ambition annually awards three blind people from anywhere in the world, up
to $25,000 each to carry out an incredible idea that will shatter misconceptions
about blindness.</p> <p>The Holman Prize is named for James Holman, a blind
19<sup>th</sup> century explorer, (<a
href="https://holman.lighthouse-sf.org/who-is-james-holman/">https://holman.lighthouse-sf.org/who-is-james-holman/</a>)
who is the most prolific private traveler of anyone, blind or sighted, before the
era of modern transportation.<br />  <br /> The only qualifications to submit
an application to win a Holman Prize are that you must be blind or legally blind,
be eighteen years old by October 1, 2022, and speak English. All you have to do
is make a ninety-second video pitching your idea, upload it to YouTube, and then
fill out the application form on the Holman Prize website.</p> <p>But if you’re
not quite ready to upload your ninety-second YouTube pitch and fill out the
application, there’s no need to worry. Applications close on March 20 at
11:59 p.m. Pacific. Your idea can literally be on any topic, as long as you are
the originator and leader of your ambitious Holman Prize objective and you are
blind or legally blind: technology, the Arts, Braille, accessibility, transportation,
travel, community, learning a skill, teaching a skill, launching a business,
providing a service—smashing any boundary and changing perceptions.</p>
<p>You will have until March 20, 2022, to submit your application, but don’t
leave it to the last minute: during the application period, you can be collecting
as many ‘likes’ on YouTube as possible so that you’re in the
running for the “People’s Choice Award.” The applicant whose
video has the most ‘likes’ automatically goes through to the
semifinal.</p> <p>Please note: we know just how different applications will need
to be during this time of the pandemic. While we recognize this will be a factor
for the scope of some peoples’ ideas, we encourage you to think big and
imagine your Holman plan without taken the current constraints too much into
consideration. If your idea is successful, we will do everything we can to work
with you and help you make it happen. Don’t let the pandemic blunt your
ambition!</p> <p>We are thrilled to announce that Waymo is again sponsoring the
Holman Prize for Blind Ambition this year. Thank you Waymo for your continued
support of this global prize. Want to see examples of great pitches? Check out
the 2020 Holman Prize Finalists playlist: <a
href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U43xqY4_JGk&list=PLBgTkRMP5uazmdIST_cKOG4BXGNXjQJP1">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U43xqY4_JGk&list=PLBgTkRMP5uazmdIST_cKOG4BXGNXjQJP1</a><br
/>  <br /> Check out our Holman Prize frequently asked questions: <a
href="https://holman.lighthouse-sf.org/faq/">https://holman.lighthouse-sf.org/faq/</a>,
and if you don’t find your answer there, email us at <a
href="mailto:holman@lighthouse-sf.org">holman@lighthouse-sf.org</a>. We will be
glad to give you any further information you need. </p> <p>Spread the word
about the Holman Prize and follow Holman Prize on Facebook, Twitter, and
Instagram. We can’t wait to watch your Holman Prize 2022 application videos
and celebrate your Holman Prize idea with you.</p> <p>----------</p> <h2
id="nfb-pledge">NFB Pledge</h2> <p>I pledge to participate actively in the efforts
of the National Federation of the Blind to achieve equality, opportunity, and
security for the blind; to support the policies and programs of the Federation;
and to abide by its constitution.</p> </body> </html>