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<div id="header"> <h1 class="title">The Braille Monitor, December 2021</h1> </div>
<h1 id="braille-monitor">BRAILLE MONITOR</h1> <p>Vol. 64, No. 11 December 2021</p>
<p>Gary Wunder, Editor</p> <p>Distributed by email, in inkprint, in Braille, and
on USB flash drive, by the</p> <p>NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND</p> <p>Mark
Riccobono, President</p> <p>telephone: 410-659-9314</p> <p>email address:
nfb@nfb.org</p> <p>website address: <a href="http://www.nfb.org">http://www.nfb.org</a></p>
<p>NFBnet.org: <a href="http://www.nfbnet.org">http://www.nfbnet.org</a></p>
<p>NFB-NEWSLINE® information: 866-504-7300</p> <p>Like us on Facebook: <a
href="http://Facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind">Facebook.com/nationalfederationoftheblind</a></p>
<p>Follow us on Twitter: @NFB_Voice</p> <p>Watch and share our videos: <a
href="http://YouTube.com/NationsBlind">YouTube.com/NationsBlind</a></p> <p>Letters
to the President, address changes, subscription requests, and orders for NFB
literature should be sent to the national office. Articles for the <em>Monitor</em>
and letters to the editor may also be sent to the national office or may be emailed
to <a href="mailto:gwunder@nfb.org">gwunder@nfb.org</a>.</p> <p><em>Monitor</em>
subscriptions cost the Federation about forty dollars per year. Members are invited,
and nonmembers are requested, to cover the subscription cost. Donations should be
made payable to <strong>National Federation of the Blind</strong> and sent to:</p>
<p>National Federation of the Blind</p> <p>200 East Wells Street <em>at Jernigan
Place</em><br /> Baltimore, Maryland 21230-4998</p> <p>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. <strong>THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF
THE BLIND IS NOT AN ORGANIZATION SPEAKING FOR THE BLIND—IT IS THE BLIND
SPEAKING FOR OURSELVES.</strong></p> <p>ISSN 0006-8829</p> <p>© 2021 by the
National Federation of the Blind</p> <p>Each issue is recorded on a thumb drive
(also called a memory stick or USB flash drive). You can read this audio edition
using a computer or a National Library Service digital player. The NLS machine
has two slots—the familiar book-cartridge slot just above the retractable
carrying handle and a second slot located on the right side near the headphone
jack. This smaller slot is used to play thumb drives. Remove the protective rubber
pad covering this slot and insert the thumb drive. It will insert only in one
position. If you encounter resistance, flip the drive over and try again. (Note:
If the cartridge slot is not empty when you insert the thumb drive, the digital
player will ignore the thumb drive.) Once the thumb drive is inserted, the player
buttons will function as usual for reading digital materials. If you remove the
thumb drive to use the player for cartridges, when you insert it again, reading
should resume at the point you stopped.</p> <p>You can transfer the recording of
each issue from the thumb drive to your computer or preserve it on the thumb drive.
However, because thumb drives can be used hundreds of times, we would appreciate
their return in order to stretch our funding. Please use the return envelope
enclosed with the drive when you return the device.</p> <h2 id="contents">Contents</h2>
<p>Vol. 64, No. 11 December 2021</p> <p>The 2022 National Convention: It’s
Time to Start Our Planning</p> <p>by John Berggren</p> <p>Why Should We Do DEI?</p>
<p>by Ronza Othman</p> <p>What it Means to be a Federationist</p> <p>by Jennifer
Bazer</p> <p>When Print-Only Documents Preclude Privacy</p> <p>by Valerie Yingling</p>
<p>Twenty Truths Never to Forget</p> <p>by Dr. LaShawna Fant</p> <p>Transforming
and Accelerating Accessibility: The Need for the Organized Blind Movement to
Innovate through Inclusive Design</p> <p>by Sina Bahram</p> <p>Blind Equality
Achievement Month: Yet Another Thing that Makes October Special</p> <p>From Seed
to Harvest</p> <p>by Jerry Moreno</p> <p>Words Matter</p> <p>by Maurice Peret</p>
<p>Reflections on Race, Religion, Disability, Sex, and Broader Issues</p> <p>by
Kenneth Jernigan</p> <p>NFB 2022 Scholarship Program</p> <p>by Cayte Mendez</p>
<p>The 2022 Blind Educator of the Year Award</p> <p>by Robin House</p> <p>The 2022
Distinguished Educator of Blind Students Award</p> <p>by Carla McQuillan</p>
<p>2021 Social Security Updates</p> <p>by Jesa Medders</p> <p>How about One New
Year's Resolution for Your Federation Family</p> <p>by Gary Wunder</p> <p>More on
Equality vs. Equity</p> <p>by Daniel Garcia</p> <p>Christmas Recollections</p>
<p>by Mary Ellen Gabias</p> <p>Independence Market Corner</p> <p>by Terri Boone</p>
<p>Keystone Chapter’s Second Annual Virtual Talent Show Is an Even Bigger
Success This Year!</p> <p>by Lisa Bryant</p> <p><em>Monitor</em> Miniatures</p>
<p>[PHOTO/CAPTION: John Berggren]</p> <h2
id="the-2022-national-convention-its-time-to-start-our-planning">The 2022 National
Convention: It’s Time to Start Our Planning</h2> <p><strong>by John
Berggren</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor: John Berggren is the coordinator
of Convention Organization and Activities. He is also a member of our national
staff at the Jernigan Institute and handles more than any one person should be
expected to do with competence and kindness second to none. Here is his annual
convention update:</strong></p> <p>An idiom dating back to the 1800s tells us the
“third time’s the charm.” After two years of pandemic,
quarantine, and virtual conventions, we are counting on a healthy dose of charm.
Our virtual conventions were successful beyond expectations, but it has been far
too long since we have had the opportunity to gather in one place and experience
the power and strength of the Federation in person. We intend to do just that when
we convene in New Orleans next summer for the National Federation of the Blind’s
2022 National Convention.</p> <p>Those of you who are longtime Federation convention
goers may recall our 1997 convention when we were last in New Orleans. We set our
current in-person attendance record that year. Wouldn’t you like to be part
of the next attendance record? Mark your calendar for January 1 with a note to
make your reservation for our triumphant return to normal-ish.</p> <p>The Marriott
New Orleans will serve as our headquarters hotel while right across the street is
the Sheraton New Orleans providing the balance of our sleeping rooms and activity
space. The hotels sit astride the storied Canal Street at 555 and 500 Canal Street
respectively, only blocks from the mighty Mississippi River and even closer to
the historic French Quarter. Both hotels offer a range of dining options as well
as fitness centers. You’ll find a rooftop pool at the Marriott while the
Sheraton features a Starbuck’s in its atrium lobby.</p> <p>The nightly rate
for both the Marriott and the Sheraton is $109 for singles and doubles. Triples
and quads can be booked for $119 per night. In addition, the combined sales tax
and tourism support rate is 16.2 percent, and there is a hotel occupancy fee of
$3.00 per night. To book your room for the 2022 convention, call 1- 800-654-3990
after January 1. For each room, the hotel will take a deposit of the first
night’s room rate, taxes, and fees and will require a credit card or a
personal check. If you use a credit card, the deposit will be charged against your
card immediately. If a reservation is cancelled before Monday, June 1, 2022, half
of the deposit will be returned. Refunds will not be issued for cancellations made
beyond that date.</p> <p>The 2022 convention of the National Federation of the
Blind will be a truly exciting and memorable event, with an unparalleled program
and rededication to the goals and work of our movement. The action begins on
Tuesday, July 5 and will conclude on Sunday, July 10 when the gavel falls at the
conclusion of the banquet. The agenda will again be chockfull of seminars, committee
and division meetings, and other breakout sessions. Open to all, the National
Federation of the Blind’s Board of Directors will hold its annual meeting.
General convention sessions will be filled with informative and inspirational
presentations. And of course, attendees can look forward to exploring the exhibit
hall and capping the week off with the banquet. </p> <p>Remember that as
usual we need door prizes from state affiliates, local chapters, and individuals.
Once again prizes should be small in size but large in value. Cash, of course, is
always appropriate and welcome. As a rule, we ask that prizes of all kinds have
a value of at least $25 and not include alcohol. Drawings will occur throughout
the convention sessions, and you can anticipate a grand prize of truly impressive
proportions to be drawn at the banquet. You may bring door prizes with you to
convention or send them in advance to Tammy Green of Louisiana’s Greater
New Orleans Chapter at 4401 Kennon Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70122.</p> <p>The best
collection of exhibits featuring new technology; meetings of our special interest
groups, committees, and divisions; the most stimulating and provocative program
items of any meeting of the blind in the world; the chance to renew friendships
in our Federation family; and the unparalleled opportunity to be where the real
action is and where decisions are being made—all of these mean you will
not want to miss being a part of the 2022 National Convention. To assure yourself
a room in the headquarters hotel at convention rates, make your reservations early.
We plan to see you in New Orleans in July.</p> <p>----------</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION:
Ronza Othman]</p> <h2 id="why-should-we-do-dei">Why Should We Do DEI?</h2>
<p><strong>by Ronza Othman</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor: This article
was taken in large part from the Maryland <em>Spectator</em>, the newsletter of
the National Federation of the Blind of Maryland. Ronza is our affiliate president
and is very active in our diversity, equity, and inclusion effort. She makes a
splendid argument that all of us bring to the organization those things we value
and make us who we are. At the same time, she makes it clear that we need to be
respectful of others and not let the things we value put off others who hold
different points of view. We are an organization made stronger by including people
of all religions, all races, and all identities. If blindness is a cross-section
of society, to be representative we must also be that cross-section. As you read
her remarks, really try to be in her place and feel what she has felt. Ask how we
can conduct ourselves in a way that honors our faith while also honoring the faith
of others.</strong></p> <p><strong>Included here is the editor's note that introduced
her article in the Maryland <em>Spectator:</em></strong></p> <p><strong>[Editor's
Note: In recent years the National Federation of the Blind and the Maryland
affiliate have begun devoting time, energy, and resources to incorporating Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles into our thinking and programming. One
question some have asked is why the NFB has placed such an emphasis on DEI and
how DEI impacts our core mission of helping blind people live the lives they want.
The article that appears below attempts to answer that question and will hopefully
spark a dialogue among the membership.]</strong></p> <p>How does an organization
with thousands of members from different backgrounds, experiences, and interests
but with one shared commonality come together to embrace diversity, equity, and
inclusion (DEI)? We listen, we hear, we think, and we grow. This is how we've
faced every challenge in our eighty-year history, and we'll be stronger for the
experience.</p> <p>In the past few years, I've been visiting with members of all
of our chapters and divisions to talk about what diversity, equity, and inclusion
means to each of us and how we can incorporate DEI into our programs. I've learned
that on this issue, like every other, our members are a cross-section of society.
Some believe DEI is critical to our future and integral to our present. Some
believe DEI is important but will over time enhance what we do and that societal
shifts will be absorbed into the NFB naturally. Some believe DEI is not something
on which we should focus our energy and resources because we have other more
important work to do.</p> <p>I fall into the camp of individuals who believe we
need to take active steps to incorporate DEI into our programs. More, I believe
we need to talk about DEI in a way that changes thought patterns. I don't believe
DEI should solely be programs we operate or trainings we give—though both
are important. I believe DEI is a mindset, and I believe it is critical to our
future as an organization.</p> <p>Diversity means understanding all of the ways
we are different from one another. This may be based on protected factors like
race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity,
LGBTQ status, and so on. But different characteristics may also include political
affiliation, generational membership, life experiences, ideology, economic status,
geography, and basically any other characteristic we can think of. Equity means
creating full access, opportunity, and advancement for everyone irrespective of
their differences. Inclusion is the extent to which people feel a sense of belonging
within an organization. Diversity is about our differences, equity is about fairness
regardless of those differences, and inclusion is about the culture that celebrates
those differences, makes everyone feel welcome, and fosters fairness. All three
are interrelated but distinct from one another.</p> <p>I believe that the NFB has
come a long way in terms of incorporating DEI into its mindset. But I believe some
of our members haven't yet understood or bought into the need for it in what we
do organizationally. This is why I am writing this article.</p> <p>I am brown. I
am Palestinian-American and the daughter of refugees whose family won the green
card lottery days before I was born. I am Muslim, and Arabic is my first language.
I am a cisgender woman. My family was very socio-economically disadvantaged when
I was growing up. I am an attorney. I am a survivor of trauma. I am blind. These
are some but not all of the characteristics that comprise me. These are some of
the characteristics that make me diverse, and when I join most groups, these are
some of the characteristics that make me different, or these are some of the
characteristics that make me the same as others.</p> <p>For example, most members
of the NFB, but not all, are blind. Our sighted members are statistically fewer
than our blind members, but we need their perspectives and experiences for the
NFB to work, e.g., parents of blind children, educators, sighted partners, and
family members. I am cisgender, and statistically I am in the majority. But we
need all gender identities to participate and feel included in order for our
organization to work. I am brown, and statistically that means I am in the minority.
But we need people of all races in order for this organization to work. I am
Muslim, and that means I am in the minority, but we need those from all faith
backgrounds and also those who don't ascribe to a faith tradition to participate
and feel included in order for our organization to work.</p> <p>I didn't always
feel that my differences were welcome in the NFB and in the blindness community
as a whole. I struggled a great deal early on as a result of being a Muslim. I
have severe dog allergies, so if I tried to avoid being around service animals,
people made comments about how my entire religion hates dogs (which is untrue).
I remember a state convention when an invocation was very spiritual, and the
speaker commanded everyone to "stand up and embrace Jesus Christ as your Lord and
Savior." In Islam, though we believe in Jesus, it is sacrilegious to refer to
Jesus as the Lord and Savior. I did not stand up, and another member sitting next
to me began pulling on me, physically forcing me to stand. I told her I was
intentionally not standing, and she told me I was being rude and disrespectful.
I tried to resist, but in the end her physical strength forced me to my feet. It
wasn't possible to make this a teachable moment during an invocation where people
are supposed to be silent. This was a humiliating and demoralizing experience. It
could have been avoided though, if my neighbor would have respected my differences
and created an inclusive environment for me. It also could have been avoided if
the speaker thought ahead of time about the fact that many members of the convention
were not Christian and had given a more inclusive invocation.</p> <p>More recently,
I attended a chapter meeting that began with a prayer. I was not expecting the
prayer, and it echoed some of the same language about Jesus Christ as the Lord
and Savior. I felt blindsided by it and did not have the opportunity to step away.
I thought long and hard about whether to share my discomfort, and ultimately, I
decided I had an obligation to do so. If I, as a state president, stay silent,
then how could I expect non-elected leaders to speak up? I realized it was my duty
to share this perspective. This too is why I am writing this article.</p> <p>The
NFB is an organization founded around our shared commonality of blindness. We come
together to educate, advocate, and lead on issues important to the blind. We bring
our differences with us because they are integral to who we are. We possess shared
differences, e.g., our race, our religion, our gender, and gender identity. But
we also have to recognize that sometimes, by incorporating a particular characteristic
that is important to some of us but not all, we are excluding others of us.</p>
<p>I've heard from people who have said they believe the NFB is a Christian
organization and that they do not feel welcome as non-Christians. I understand
why they feel that way because sometimes my fellow members impose their particular
characteristics on me, so I feel that way too. This is the anatomy of a
majority—the majority doesn't often realize that others think differently
or have different characteristics. This is usually not intentional—it is
just how majorities work. I believe we have come forward a great deal, but we
still have work to do. Every member should feel welcome in the NFB irrespective
of any characteristic they possess, and it is incumbent upon all of us to create
that inclusive culture.</p> <p>I have also heard from some that the people who
are insisting on incorporating DEI are trying to prevent people with certain
differences from participating in the organization, e.g., those who are religiously
devout. I challenge that notion and vehemently disagree. Those of us who come from
underrepresented communities have had to carve out our space so we can educate
everyone on our particular characteristics. This is true in society, in history,
everywhere. The majority has a lesser need to carve out its own space because it
already has space in the mainstream. The majority should not be silenced but should
be open to listening as well as speaking, to learning as well as teaching, to
hearing new ideas as well as sharing its own.</p> <p>Let me be clear. We are asking
for people who are not part of underrepresented populations to be inclusive; we
are asking them to think about things they say and do that impose their particular
characteristics on all of us. I am not, for example, asking blind Christians to
stop being Christian. I am asking them to consider that words they use in an
invocation may more than exclude me—their words may alienate me. I will
commit to do the same when thinking about people who possess characteristics that
are different from my own.</p> <p>I believe we in the NFB have made a great deal
of progress in DEI during the past decade. I believe we have more progress to
make. The NFB Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee is leading the way for
us nationally, and the NFBMD DEI Committee is providing advice and guidance to
the affiliate and local chapters. I implore each of you to remember that DEI isn't
a concept to be advanced only by those who are underrepresented. It is the
responsibility of each and every member.</p> <p>----------</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION:
Jennifer Bazer]</p> <h2 id="what-it-means-to-be-a-federationist">What it Means to
be a Federationist</h2> <p><strong>by Jennifer Bazer</strong></p> <p><strong>From
the Editor: Jennifer is the president of the National Federation of the Blind of
South Carolina. Each week her affiliate generates a brief newsletter called
"Positive Note," and this is issue 1837. Here is what she says about being committed
to the National Federation of the Blind and then showing that commitment through
work:</strong></p> <p>Greetings Fellow Federationists. I have some thoughts about
what it means to be a Federationist. This has been weighing on my mind for a while.
I hope that I can convey the intent of my thoughts.</p> <p>If the Federation is
near and dear to your heart, why do some members come to one meeting a year just
to vote but never the eleven other meetings during the year? Why only give
suggestions or criticisms but never be willing to help make things better? Why
only complain but never actively be involved in committees, chapters, divisions,
or groups? Why pick and choose chapter or division members who get called and
reminded of a meeting or a special event and conveniently forget about those who
may not agree with our views, who frustrate us, or who we don't think are cool?
As leaders, officers, and members, why don't we promptly return calls, emails, or
texts? It is great that we have fun in our chapters and divisions, but why do we
often lose sight of doing the work of the Federation? During our meetings, we
should be focusing on explaining and demonstrating the NFB philosophy, planning
ways to advance the quality of life of the blind, and sharing news about local,
state, and national NFB activities. Why do we want so badly to hold office and to
have a title, but then not actively and consistently participate? What good is
the title if those holding it aren't willing to also put in the hard work to build
the Federation?</p> <p>In Luke 12:48, it states, "From everyone who has been given
much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much,
much more will be asked." I say these things not to lambast anyone but as a call
to arms for us all to step up our game. Let's all put in the time, the work, the
sweat equity, elbow grease, late nights, and early mornings. Let's show up to
meetings and activities, not just because we want to be there, but because it is
what is asked of us as Federationists. Let's build our friendships with one another
so that when conflict does arise, we can address it in a positive, thoughtful way,
come to a resolution, and continue on the road toward success. Let's show others
in our cities, counties, states, and nation that we are a unified movement that
can support our members, carry out our plans, and still power on to do the work
we have chosen to do. We each have paid our dues to be a member. No one has forced
us to do so. If we are moved enough to become a member, let's put the work into
it, so we are making the most of the time we have together and to learn about the
many and varied things this awesome organization has in store.</p> <p>Keep your
word; live with authenticity, integrity, and passion. Don't let others steal your
joy. Have high expectations for yourself and others. Be a light in someone else's
darkness. I am asking all of us to show up, step up, and rise up. Let's go build
the National Federation of the Blind!</p> <p>----------</p> <p><strong>[PHOTO
CAPTION: Valerie Yingling]</strong></p> <h2 id="when-print-only-documents-preclude-privacy">When
Print-Only Documents Preclude Privacy</h2> <p><strong>by Valerie Yingling</strong></p>
<p><strong>From the Editor: Valerie is no stranger to these pages. She handles
many of our legal issues, and her extension is one of the most dialed at our
Jernigan Institute. She coordinates much of our legal work and is the primary
collector of information when we need examples that should be addressed. Here is
what this outstanding member of our staff has to say about documents being made
usable by the blind:</strong></p> <p>Applying for, renewing, and modifying state
benefits such as Medicaid, SNAP, and TANF should be a private, independent, and
accessible process for all applicants and beneficiaries, including those who are
blind. State agencies with practices of sending print-only communications and/or
using inaccessible websites and web forms violate the effective communication
requirement in the Americans with Disabilities Act<a href="#fn1" class="footnote-ref"
id="fnref1"><sup>1</sup></a> and jeopardize blind individuals’ ability to
secure health care coverage and food and cash assistance.</p> <p>This is why in
2019 the National Federation of the Blind and members of the NFB of Indiana,
Christopher and Sarah Meyer, filed a lawsuit against Indiana’s Division of
Family Resources and Family and Social Services Administration. The lawsuit demanded
that the state agencies send notices and communications in Braille or in an
accessible electronic format, when requested by applicants or beneficiaries, and
that the agencies remediate access barriers on their websites.</p> <p>For years,
Indiana’s Division of Family Resources and Family and Social Services
Administration told Christopher that they simply did not have the capacity to
produce Braille communication. Even after attorneys contacted the agencies on
behalf of Christopher and Sarah, and the agencies agreed that they would provide
Braille communications, they still did not send any Braille. Both Christopher and
Sarah lost critical state benefits because they were not notified in a format they
could read of time-sensitive requests for information.</p> <p>The NFB knows that
Christopher and Sarah’s experiences are not unique. NFB’s legal
program hears from members across the country who request but do not receive
accessible communication related to government services and from members who have
lost needed health care coverage, food assistance, and cash assistance because
benefit information and notices are not accessible.</p> <p>President Riccobono
has stressed that “state and federal agencies that administer government
benefits and programs have been required to communicate effectively and accessibly
with all current and potential beneficiaries for decades. Today, technology makes
effective communication easier than ever, but agencies throughout the nation are
still failing to meet this legal and moral obligation. The National Federation of
the Blind is committed to fighting for blind people like Christopher and Sarah
Meyer when state agencies flout the law.”</p> <p>We are now closer to
securing equal access for our members, but the devil is in the details, and the
struggle is ongoing. Earlier this year, the NFB and Christopher and Sarah Meyer
resolved our lawsuit against Indiana’s Division of Family Resources and
Family and Social Services Administration. The agencies agreed to many settlement
terms that have improved access to health care coverage, food assistance, and cash
assistance for the blind in Indiana. The agencies agreed to:</p> <ul> <li><p>Provide
Braille or large print communication within two to five days of a request and
ensure that the agencies’ contractors provide the same.</p></li> <li><p>Train
staff on proper Braille production according to the standards set by the Braille
Authority of North America.</p></li> <li><p>Establish Braille quality assurance
measures.</p></li> <li><p>Issue an accessible print communications policy and
provide training for staff on this policy and accessible format requests. The
policy will include that, for any document requiring a timely response, the deadline
for response will not begin until the accessible document is sent.</p></li>
<li><p>Establish an accessible format complaints and feedback process.</p></li>
<li><p>Establish, distribute, and make publicly available a web accessibility
policy.</p></li> <li><p>Ensure that the agencies’ websites and any web-based
forms, applications, services, or transactions are accessible.</p></li> <li><p>Conduct
annual web accessibility training and testing.</p></li> <li><p>Train staff to
escalate calls from blind users who encounter web access barriers.</p></li>
<li><p>Establish a volunteer user accessibility testing group.</p></li> <li><p>Make
mandatory that any new contract entered into requires contractors’ websites
to be accessible.</p></li> <li><p>Require contractors to conduct pre-release
accessibility testing of new websites and updates and to monitor websites for
accessibility.</p></li> </ul> <p>The <a
href="https://nfb.org/sites/nfb.org/files/files-pdf/Meyer%20Settlement%20Agreement%20ACE%20with%20all%20signatures.pdf">full
settlement agreement</a> is available via NFB’s legal webpage: <a
href="https://nfb.org/sites/nfb.org/files/files-pdf/Meyer%20Settlement%20Agreement%20ACE%20with%20all%20signatures.pdf">https://nfb.org/sites/nfb.org/files/files-pdf/Meyer%20Settlement%20Agreement%20ACE%20with%20all%20signatures.pdf</a>.</p>
<p>This settlement is worthwhile reading. It is not only an important resource
for blind residents of Indiana; it can be a powerful tool for NFB members in states
that do not yet provide accessible benefits-related communication. The settlement
terms provide an effective how-to guide for states needing to implement alternative
format, web accessibility, and other related processes. It can help these states
avoid expensive and time-consuming litigation; and most important, it can raise
expectations and afford blind individuals with the same access to state benefits
and services as our sighted peers.</p> <p>For further reading, please visit:</p>
<ul> <li><p>May 27, 2021, <a
href="https://nfb.org/sites/nfb.org/files/files-pdf/Meyer%20Settlement%20Agreement%20ACE%20with%20all%20signatures.pdf">Meyer
v. Sullivan Settlement Agreement</a>:
https://nfb.org/sites/nfb.org/files/files-pdf/Meyer%20Settlement%20Agreement%20ACE%20with%20all%20signatures.pdf</p></li>
<li><p>August 6, 2019, <a
href="https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/blind-hoosiers-file-lawsuit-against-indiana-division-family-resources">Blind
Hoosiers File Lawsuit Against the Indiana Division of Family Resources</a>:
https://nfb.org/about-us/press-room/blind-hoosiers-file-lawsuit-against-indiana-division-family-resources</p></li>
<li><p>August 6, 2019, <a
href="https://nfb.org/sites/www.nfb.org/files/files-pdf/meyer-stamped-complaint-6aug19-ace.pdf">Meyer
v. Sullivan Complaint</a>:
https://nfb.org/sites/www.nfb.org/files/files-pdf/meyer-stamped-complaint-6aug19-ace.pdf</p></li>
</ul> <p>----------</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Dr. LaShawna Fant]</p> <h2
id="twenty-truths-never-to-forget">Twenty Truths Never to Forget</h2> <p><strong>by
Dr. LaShawna Fant</strong></p> <p><strong><br /> From the Editor: It is always
with joy that we find new authors coming to these pages, and though LaShawna is
not new, she is close enough to it that we appreciate her finding a place for her
talent in the <em>Braille Monitor</em>. I find these truths uplifting and quite
fit for the holiday season:</strong></p> <p>As we navigate through life, we should
learn and gain more wisdom. It is central for us to possess gratitude and appreciation
for our lives. The following list is not all-inclusive and is not in any specific
lineup based on importance. Indisputably, the fabric of life certainly adorns some
lovely and outstanding moments.</p> <p>As long as you have a pulse, there is time
to make a change.</p> <p>Wherever you go in life, be positive, polite, and true
to yourself.</p> <p>Maintaining peace of mind is priceless.</p> <p>Exercise and
healthy eating have numerous significant benefits.</p> <p>There is always one
reason we can be thankful.</p> <p>Give people their flowers while they are
living.</p> <p>Time is something you can never get back.</p> <p>Happiness and
worth are not based on the quantity of worldly things you acquire.</p> <p>Sticking
to your financial budget helps you rest well at night.</p> <p>If you fall, do not
stay there. Get up and do better the next time.</p> <p>As much as possible, try
to start early and plan. Procrastination can yield countless unhealthy results.</p>
<p>Life is short; make the best out of every day!</p> <p>Tell the truth, even when
it is not popular.</p> <p>You are never too old to learn something new.</p>
<p>Whatever you do for others, always do it from your heart.</p> <p>Secure a circle
of friends who are strong for you and not a drain.</p> <p>Respect and manners will
take you a long way.</p> <p>Be sure to tell your loved ones how much you adore
and appreciate them.</p> <p>Your life still has value, purpose, and meaning.</p>
<p>You can live the life you want. Blindness is not what holds you back.</p>
<blockquote> <p>----------</p> </blockquote> <h2
id="transforming-and-accelerating-accessibility-the-need-for-the-organized-blind-movement-to-innovate-through-inclusive-design">Transforming
and Accelerating Accessibility: The Need for the Organized Blind Movement to
Innovate through Inclusive Design</h2> <p><strong>by Sina Bahram</strong></p>
<p><strong>From the Editor: This presentation was one of the more exciting we
received during our 2021 National Convention. One of the things that made it
exciting is that it was delivered by a former scholarship winner who has gone on
to create a business based on innovation and accessibility for all. The thrust of
his presentation is simple: don’t just think of yourselves as you advocate
for accessibility, but act in a way that you would have others act when it comes
to accessibility for you. Here is what he says:</strong></p> <p>SINA BAHRAM:
Mr. President, thank you for such a kind introduction. You can tell it's been
a long day. Good evening, everyone. My name is Sina Bahram coming to you from
North Carolina under this thunderstorm late in the evening. I want to tell
you a little bit about what I do and talk about inclusive design.</p> <p>I run a
company called Prime Access Consulting or PAC for short. It is a really cool job.
I'm incredibly privileged. This week alone, one conversation was around how we
make holograms accessible. The other one was when I was told, “We have an
immersion room, and we have only projectors and no electricity on the walls. So
how do we make things inclusively designed for everybody whether you can see or
hear or use your feet to walk around?”</p> <p>These are some of the
conversations I get to have and some of the amazing spaces I get to play in. And
the reason that I get to play in those spaces is because of this philosophy of
inclusive design.</p> <p>We all talk about accessibility: those things that are
done especially for persons with disabilities. Sometimes it is defined as the
things done for those who depend on assistive technologies. But really what it
comes down to is that there's a difference between that and inclusive design.
Inclusive design is a way of thinking that allows us to design experiences, places,
buildings, services, products, what have you, in such a way that it is usable by
the widest possible audience—in such a way that it doesn't introduce
barriers. It means doing things upfront and not making things accessible after
the fact.</p> <p>The common example of this stuff is things like the curb cut,
right—critical for some audiences like those with mobility differences.
But it is augmentative and helpful for everybody. Easy examples are parents with
strollers or people with luggage at the airport.</p> <p>We don't think of certain
other things as inclusive design but they are. Think of audio description that is
not only helpful for those of us who are blind and use it on services like Netflix
and so forth but also my friend who is autistic uses it. I was over at his house.
We have a pretty irreverent relationship. “You know you can see,
right?”</p> <p>“Yeah, I do. But I use it for the emotional content
I want to know in certain dramas in which it is hard for me to detect emotional
content.”</p> <p>We see this with visual description in art galleries. It
is useful for those who can see, not just for those who can't because it lets you
know what's going on. And it lets you have a guided looking experience.</p> <p>So
if you really want to think about this difference, here is one way of looking at
it. At the National Museum of African American History and Culture, there is the
Greensboro County counter. It is an exhibit on segregation, detailing the violence
portrayed against the men of color that sat at the counter during the civil rights
movement in this country.</p> <p>If you go there and you're a wheelchair user,
you're asked to roll down to the end of the counter where it's been lowered
a couple of inches. Now this is accessible, right? But we think in the work that
we do at PAC that if you're a black woman in a wheelchair rolling up to this thing,
you're asked to roll down to the end of the counter. It is accessible and legal,
but it is in no way inclusive. That's the work that we try to do. That's the kind
of situation that we try to avoid in the world.</p> <p>So we need to remember that
a lot of us know these facts, these numbers. We hear them all the time. Twenty-five
percent of the people in the world have a disability. Your chances of experiencing
a disability is one out of two over the age of thirty-five. We all have different
abilities and skills and ways of interacting with the world, and we need to get
out of these silos.</p> <p>A lot of the work we do concentrates on understanding
we need to be able to build coalitions amongst groups of persons with disabilities,
whether it's deaf folks and blind folks and autistic folks and so forth because
only together can we overcome some of the incredibly significant challenges that
are facing us today and in the near future. We need to understand this doesn't
take away from our individual causes; making the world more inclusive is not
against the mission of the NFB. But we need to understand we have these amazing
talents and expertise that we can bring to these conversations and only together
through realizing that when something is inaccessible or othering for one group
of people, it is inaccessible and othering for all of us. That's the underlying
ethos behind the work that I do and what I tend to believe in.</p> <p>Why does
this matter? It matters because we live in the most accessible time in the world!
And you know what else is simultaneously true? We live in the most inaccessible
time in the world. We've become pretty complacent as persons with disabilities
when it comes to the way we think, especially about technology. A lot of us are
enamored with our various touchscreen devices—Phones and iPads that have
built-in accessibility, and those are wonderful things. They should be celebrated.
The thing is that, over the next four years, there will be more inaccessible
experiences created than in the history of humanity. That's the nature of exponential
progress. That is what we're up against. If we don't do something about that and
we don't do something about that together, then we are absolutely out of luck.</p>
<p>You see, we can't be talking about accessibility because if we're having a
conversation around accessibility, it is already too late. That's a post facto
conversation. We need to be talking about inclusion and inclusive design upfront.</p>
<p>Take for example some current events. The ACLU right now has a major campaign
against facial recognition. They are not bad people, but they are really stigmatizing
facial recognition as a technology and for good reason. Facial recognition technology
has been used to perpetuate massive harm and violence, especially against marginalized
groups such as persons of color in this country. Here's the thing: a lot of us
use facial recognition all the time not only to do something like unlock our phones
but to understand who's in a photo because Apple has built in artificial intelligence
into our devices. Someone who is autistic can use facial recognition technology
to detect emotional content either on a video stream or through image recognition.
These things really matter, but these policies that are being put forth are being
put forth by well-meaning people. They're being put forth by folks who want to do
good and prevent harm in the world. However, they're deeply ableist. They're deeply
naive solutions to complicated problems.</p> <p>So we need to work together and
have a unified voice, especially amongst all persons of varying abilities. Otherwise,
my friends, we have absolutely no chance of solving these problems and making sure
our voices and our roles in the world are represented in the way that we want them
to be.</p> <p>This is a little bit of doom and gloom, so what can we do about it?
We can think inclusively. When we have an experience, we don't only think about
ourselves in terms of was that described or was this available in Braille? Go
beyond that. Was there sign language? What would I have done if I didn't have the
privilege of being able to walk there? Was there a ramp to get access to that
thing? We need to be thinking about all of our brothers and sisters and fellow
humans that have various abilities because we need to then be surfacing these
issues and problems when we notice them in the world. So, to state what I hope is
obvious, we can be helping each other and by doing so, of course, help ourselves.
We need to also be able to bring on board allies. This means, for example, the
individuals who are creating experiences. I work with thousands of designers and
developers every single year. Me and my team work across hundreds of different
products in the industry, whether it is health care or in museums in which we do
a ton of work. A lot of these people are simply acting first from a lack of
education about accessibility and inclusive design. And second of all, they come
from a place of not knowing what it is they can do. They're told one thing and
expected to quickly become an expert in certain matters, but they're not set up
to win.</p> <p>We need to be able to group together with other persons with
disabilities—with other groups—to establish education pipelines, to
establish unified messaging, and to really go after legislatures on this topic so
that we are unified in our approach. This is so because there is an avalanche of
new technologies headed our way. It will blow your mind what is going to happen
between now and 2030. It is not a mathematical exaggeration to say that it will
be more than all of humanity has experienced since there have been people on this
planet. If we realize that that is true, we cannot be complacent and satisfied.</p>
<p>Now being unsatisfied does not mean being ungrateful. I have the privilege of
working with some incredible people every single day. Some of those people say,
"I didn't even know computers could talk." That's where some people start. Other
people are like, “I think I know everything about accessibility,”
and after a couple of conversations with my team, they realize they don't.</p>
<p>We all have different journeys we're walking on, but we cannot be complacent
in that. We need to be grateful but pushing forward with incredibly fervent
behavior. If we don't, then we're going to be left behind at a rapidly accelerating
rate.</p> <p>I invite you to think about your personal experiences. Think about
going through the world in whatever capacity you do, whether it is education,
whether it is in the practice of law, whether it is in technology or in music or
in anything that it is that you do. Think about those experiences not only from
the viewpoint and through the lens of blindness, which we in this group of people
and in this virtual room do such a good job at. But also view this under the lens
of making sure that these experiences and these environments that we have the
privilege of existing in are as inclusive as we possibly can make them for our
fellow humans.</p> <p>Now this has some practical consequences. It means that when
we notice something like there's no captions on a video, we need to be complaining
about that just as hard as no audio description. It means that when we notice that
there's no sign language interpretation at a dramatic event, it is just as important
as not having audio description. Things like this are a way that we can start
building consensus that there is a unified need. A lack of inclusiveness is not
an option. We need to make our environments less disabling.</p> <p>Remember that
old argument about the real problem of blindness being physical disability or
primarily socially constructed. It is not the individual who is disabled. It is
the environment that is disabling. We need to work together to make sure that our
environments are not disabling as we move forward throughout the world.</p> <p>In
closing I just want to say thank you so much to all of you for your time. Thank
you, Mr. President, for your invitation to speak to the convention this evening.
I hope everybody has a wonderful convention. Have a good night, everybody.</p>
<p>----------</p> <h2
id="blind-equality-achievement-month-yet-another-thing-that-makes-october-special">Blind
Equality Achievement Month: Yet Another Thing that Makes October Special</h2>
<p>In October one of the ways we introduced the shift from Meet the Blind Month
to Blind Equality Achievement Month was by asking leaders in the Federation to
write blog posts; one for each letter. We wanted to feature perspectives on what
each of these things means to our movement. We’ve compiled the posts here
in case you missed them on the blog. Your comments are welcome and encouraged both
in the <em>Braille Monitor</em> and through our other communications channels,
one being <a href="mailto:communications@nfb.org">communications@nfb.org</a>. Here
are the blog entries for each letter:</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Mark Riccobono]</p>
<h3 id="on-blindness-equality-and-achievement-who-defines-us">On Blindness,
Equality, and Achievement: Who Defines Us</h3> <p>by Mark Riccobono</p> <p>Language
is a fundamental building block to creating patterns of understanding. For centuries
the term “blind” has been used to articulate negative concepts and
to identify individuals who, because they possess the characteristic of not being
able to see, are assumed to be less capable than others. This began to change in
1940 when we, the blind of the nation, organized a movement to decide for ourselves
what our future would be and to redefine blindness by shattering the stereotypes.</p>
<p>Kenneth Jernigan set forth one of the strongest articulations of our understanding
about blindness in the 1960s with his reflections on <a
href="https://nfb.org/sites/default/files/images/nfb/publications/books/books1/kj07.htm">"A
Definition of Blindness"</a>
(https://nfb.org/sites/default/files/images/nfb/publications/books/books1/kj07.htm).
This understanding has been reframed and restated in many ways including in my
own writings. Consider my 2020 banquet speech “<a
href="https://nfb.org/resources/speeches-and-reports/banquet-speeches/language-action-and-destiny-lived-experience">Language,
Action, and Destiny: The Lived Experience of the Organized Blind Movement</a>”
(https://nfb.org/resources/speeches-and-reports/banquet-speeches/language-action-and-destiny-lived-experience).
As I note in that speech, use of the word “blind” is not merely
appropriate, it is essential to reflecting the belief that it is respectable to
live and compete on terms of equality as a blind person. We use the word
“blind” because we reject the outdated notion that blindness is a
tragedy that limits the possibilities. For us, the word “blind” has
power and meaning. For those who are vision-centered, “blind” evokes
fear and uncertainty. Language reflects belief, and we will not sell out our
beliefs. We, the blind, follow our words with the action of living the lives we
want. The result of our persistent and collective action is our shattering of the
old meaning of blind and creating a new, stronger, authentic meaning.</p> <p>People
frequently tell me that people know what blind means, and it cannot be changed.
That is not my experience. I thought I knew what the word “blind”
meant until I met the members of the National Federation of the Blind. They
demonstrated something different, and they helped me own the word and define its
meaning in a new way in my own life. When I used the word with confidence and
began backing it up with actions—like traveling independently—my
confidence and beliefs grew. This was a process of understanding for me, and the
growth and learning continues even today. I want to help others have that same
transformational journey.</p> <p>People sometimes say to me that when we use the
word “blind” it leaves them out because they still have some eyesight.
This demonstrates that we have more to do toward creating understanding that blind
is a broad definition. We want those experiencing progressive changes in their
eyesight to recognize that they have a common interest and bond with other blind
people even if they do not yet fully identify with others who are blind. It is in
fact the diversity of experiences with blindness that have helped shape our
philosophy about living the lives we want as blind people.</p> <p>I do not think
about being blind anymore. It is part of who I am and how I experience the world.
Before I embraced blindness as a characteristic and learned the techniques to
compete in the world, I thought about what I could or could not see all the time.
Lifting that burden gave me the freedom and power to focus my energy on the things
I need to do to pursue my own dreams.</p> <p>October has long been an important
month for teaching others about the capacity of blind people. We used to designate
it as “Meet the Blind Month.” That work was valuable as it helped
us get to be better known in our communities. However, we are rebranding it this
year as “Blind Equality Achievement Month” in order to raise the
expectations even farther. We want more than to just be met; we want you to stand
with us for equality, opportunity, and security. We want our nonblind friends,
family, and colleagues to come to know that the definition of blind is best shaped
by our lived experience not by the misperceptions of those who have not lived with
the characteristic of blindness every day. For those who are not blind, yet, as
it certainly may happen if you live long enough, that when that day comes we want
you to know that it is a new beginning and not an end.</p> <p>We, those individuals
who identify as blind people and who will not let that one characteristic define
our future, have determined to redefine “blind” in the world. We
invite you to join us in sharing this new definition, this authentic understanding,
so that all blind people may live the lives they want.</p> <h3
id="finding-my-way-to-equality-coming-home-to-the-federation">Finding My Way to
Equality: Coming ‘Home’ to the Federation</h3> <p><strong>by Linda
Melendez</strong></p> <p>As long as I can remember, I’ve never quite fit
in with the intersecting communities in my life. Although I’m of Puerto
Rican descent and my full name is very much Latin, I’m white-passing so
the Latinx community didn’t accept me. Meanwhile, my fair skin, freckles,
and red hair didn’t get me very far within the white community. They kept
me at arm’s length because of my name and accent. Needless to say, I had
to fight for equality within these spaces.</p> <p>When my son Logan was six years
old, I attended my first National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey convention
on my own. The following year, Logan came with me, and though I enjoyed myself at
both conventions, it wasn’t until my son was nineteen that I really became
an active member; Logan’s encouragement and belief that I needed the
Federation in my life convinced me to join. By this time in my life, I had
experienced discrimination and exclusion because of my race, being a single mother,
and my blindness. I came in to the NFB hoping that I would find a place where I
fit in.</p> <p>We fight tirelessly as an organization for equality in areas from
education to legislation, employment to health care and so much more. I have never
felt as though I had to fight for equality within the Federation family. As a
newer member of the organization, I benefited when Joe Ruffalo took me under his
wing, and through his mentorship, I have felt empowered to push for equality for
all blind people. I’m honored to be leading the charge here in New Jersey
as affiliate president. 2020 was my first year in this position, and I advocated
for the rights of blind parents before the state judicial committee. The expectation
is for the bill to be signed into law before our next National Convention. I’m
also proud to say that to date, two-thirds of our representatives have signed on
to the Access Technology Affordability Act (ATAA), another piece of legislation
that gives blind people equal footing in society.</p> <p>When I attended my first
National Convention, President Riccobono said something that really sealed the
deal for me. During the Rookie Roundup, he said to new members, “welcome
home.” Those words truly changed my life. For the first time, I felt that
I truly belonged. I felt accepted and equal to everyone else within the movement.
All of the things that kept me from full and equal participation within my community
are now strengths that I use in the Federation. I like to think of myself as
“Abuela [Grandma] President.” I am teaching my two-year-old grandson,
Lucas Matthew, to see people as equals no matter our background. I proudly pay
membership dues for Lucas every year and will do so until he’s eighteen.
My hope is that he is inspired to lead his generation to the place where equality
for all is the rule, not the exception.</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Anil Lewis]</p>
<h3 id="celebrating-our-milestone-achievements">Celebrating our Milestone
Achievements</h3> <p><strong>by Anil Lewis</strong></p> <p>I made my decision to
become a member of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) after attending an
NFB of Georgia meeting and listening to the speaker make an impassioned plea for
the membership to do everything possible to ensure that a young blind student
receives Braille instruction in his classroom. I soon pledged to participate
actively in the effort of the National Federation of the Blind to achieve equality,
opportunity, and security for the blind and have subsequently shared in many
significant milestone achievements as part of the world’s most transformative
group of blind people.</p> <p>Reclaiming my life through the acquisition of the
alternative skills of blindness (Braille, cane travel, access technology, and
independent living skills) all nested in the NFB philosophy of belief in the true
capacity of blind people was a significant personal achievement. Establishing a
positive self-concept of myself as a blind person, developing the necessary
problem-solving skills, and recognizing the need to fight for full participation
while accepting full responsibility allowed me to achieve professional success
and serve as an active member of our movement.</p> <p>I shared in securing several
significant achievements as a member of the Georgia affiliate of the NFB. In
addition to securing Braille instruction for many more blind students, NFB of
Georgia members were able to support the passage of the Audible Universal Information
Access services legislation, which funds the NFB-NEWSLINE® in Georgia. We
were able to work in concert with the Georgia Secretary of State’s office
to make Georgia the first state with nonvisually accessible voting machines in
every precinct and every election.</p> <p>The struggle is real, and progress does
not come as quickly as we would like. We have overcome many of the barriers of
the past that prohibited us from being considered as equals, and if the world was
static, we may have achieved the fundamental equality we seek. However, the world
continues to evolve, and we must evolve with it. Therefore as the methods of
providing education evolve, we will still need to struggle to ensure that blind
students receive appropriate Braille instruction and have access to accessible
learning materials. As voting technology evolves, we will still need to struggle
to ensure that blind people have the right and ability to cast a private independent
ballot. Likewise, as the nature of the jobs and the skills required to perform
them evolve, we will still need to struggle to eliminate the barriers that prevent
blind people from securing competitive integrated employment.</p> <p>In fact, this
month, we have an opportunity to reach a tremendous milestone in the elimination
of Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which allows employers to legally
pay workers with disabilities less than the federal minimum wage. A Proposed Rule
by the Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled,
known as the AbilityOne Commission, has recently been posted to the <em>Federal
Register</em> instituting a prohibition on the payment of subminimum wages under
14(c) certificates as a qualification for participation as a nonprofit agency
under the Javits-Wagner-O’Day Program (<a
href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/10/12/2021-22118/prohibition-on-the-payment-of-subminimum-wages-under-14c-certificates-as-a-qualification-for">https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/10/12/2021-22118/prohibition-on-the-payment-of-subminimum-wages-under-14c-certificates-as-a-qualification-for</a>).
Each of us should take time to comment so that we can all celebrate this milestone
once it is achieved.</p> <p>Blind Equality Achievement Month is a time for us to
intentionally focus on celebrating our milestone achievements to remain motivated
to continue along this sometimes difficult and frustrating path toward full
citizenship. As we remain focused on our destination, we should revel in our
journey. As we continue to make rational, incremental progress toward achieving
our goals of equality, opportunity, and security, we will measure our progress by
the many milestones along this path to freedom.</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Gary
Wunder]</p> <h3 id="the-magic-of-a-month-and-should-we-be-celebrating">The Magic
of a Month and Should We be Celebrating?</h3> <p><strong>by Gary Wunder</strong></p>
<p>For the last few weeks, we have been writing about Blind Equality Achievement
Month, focusing a bit of attention on each letter that encompasses our approach
to October and the effort that we make to change people’s perceptions about
what it means to be blind. We saved the toughest questions for last: Why a month?
Have we achieved enough to celebrate? And why should the blind get special
attention?</p> <p>So, what is a month? <em>Merriam-Webster</em> says it is “a
measure of time corresponding nearly to the period of the moon's revolution and
amounting to approximately four weeks or thirty days or 1/12 of a year.”
So as much as I respect and rely on <em>Merriam-Webster</em> that really doesn’t
get us very far because it tells us what we already know. I could play a little
bit with the romantic notions about the various stages of the moon, but I’m
not sure that would tell us anything about why a month is the appropriate measure
of how long we should celebrate the achievements of the blind or focus our energy
on receiving equal treatment.</p> <p>Maybe we can start by admitting that a month
is an arbitrary period when we are talking about how long a celebration should
be. Perhaps what we should be discussing is not why a month is the obvious choice
for our program but instead figure out how to take best advantage of this measure
of time.</p> <p>If we want to send a message to people, we must realize that they
are busy and offer it at times when they may be available to receive it. A month
lets us choose from all the weekdays that end in Y, and we may take the same
advantage of weekends to catch those who are otherwise occupied during the week.
A month is long enough to let us schedule multiple activities and not wear people
out by trying to squeeze those activities into a week.</p> <p>Some people are
concerned less about the unit of time but instead are focused on the appropriateness
of celebrating achievements by blind people. They ask why we should be celebrating
when there is so much work still to do. The acknowledgment of achievement suggests
that work pays off, and this is important if in fact we have more work to do,
which we most assuredly do. We need some time to do cheerleading to get people
excited about what blind people have done but, more importantly, about what blind
people can do. For some this excitement may translate into extending opportunities
to people they had previously considered incapable. For others it may mean taking
a step that they previously thought foolish, unrealistic, or imprudent. Encouraging
a person to dream is a positive step, but helping them to act on that dream is
truly a noble leap forward.</p> <p>One question that is periodically raised is
why blind people should highlight our own achievements given there is already
Disability Awareness Month? If we are engaging in needless duplication, it is a
poor use of our resources and time. A compelling argument for me has always been
that blindness is feared more than any other disability, and polls have suggested
that it is feared second only to cancer when it comes to health conditions. A
significant reduction in eyesight is specific in the life changes it can bring
about, and answering those fears must be equally specific. Generic terms are fine
when crafting legislation to broadly address human rights or trying to define
large groups of people. But when it comes to problem-solving, people are looking
for specific solutions, and being responsive must mean we are specific in discussing
our life experiences and the alternative techniques we daily employ.</p> <p>Is
there a reason to focus energy and attention on the quest for equality and the
achievements that have sprung from it during the month of October? The answer
isn’t found in some book of wisdom; it is found in us. If we believe that
the pursuit of equality of opportunity is worth it, we share that passion with
the public. If we believe that our achievements are worth sharing with the world
that too often undervalues us, we will do it. If our life experience is that
“we should do that sometime” is less effective than “let’s
do that next week,” then we will rally behind the idea of Blind Equality
Achievement Month and focus on making who we are, what we do, and what we can
bring to our communities more visible in the thirty-one days October gifts to us.
I think we should, know we can, and fervently believe we will.</p> <p>----------</p>
<h2 id="from-seed-to-harvest">From Seed to Harvest</h2> <p><strong>by Jerry
Moreno</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor: Jerry lives in Matthews, North
Carolina, and he has been in the Federation since May 1994. Within a month of
being introduced to the National Federation of the Blind, he found himself on a
bus to visit the National Center for the Blind, now known as the Jernigan Institute.
He remembers being very impressed by Joe Ruffalo and thought that he had never
met anyone with more enthusiasm. One thing he learned on that bus was that if you
didn’t want a job, you shouldn’t sit anywhere near Joe Ruffalo. At
the time Jerry did not consider himself a blind person but only a person who might
be losing his vision. He refused to use a cane, no matter the bruises that came
from being unable to see what was ahead of him.</strong></p> <p><strong>Jerry is
now retired but worked as a social worker, and at one point in his career he was
the manager of an office that found him supervising 170 people. He recalls walking
up to the door, reaching for the door handle, and being asked by a bystander
“Can you manage.” His response was, “I hope I can; I’m
the director of this office.” Here is what Jerry has to say about nurturing
the right kind of attitude that will lead to employment and the many benefits that
come from it:</strong></p> <p>WHY NOT WORK? This question is asked by many blind
people. However, some blind folk ask ... Why work? They ask this question because
of a lack of understanding. For if they only realized that in them is the potential
to succeed, that the possibility already exists in them to succeed, they would
not even think of failure.</p> <p>Consider a tomato plant seed. It has all the
potential to become a fruit-bearing plant given the proper set of circumstances.
All that is necessary to become a tomato is already in the seed. Contemplate that
for a while. Think of yourself as a seed. Are you planted in fertile ground or
are you on the shelf?</p> <p>A seed on a shelf is useless. It cannot produce
anything. It will stay a seed for all its life. Until planted, it will never bear
fruit.</p> <p>However, with the proper conditions the planted seed will bear fruit.
What are the proper conditions? Conditions such as prepared soil, sufficient water
and nutrients, sunlight and heat, and a weed-free and obstacle-free environment
are important in the growth process. These will enable the seed to grow and
flourish.</p> <p>What conditions do you need to produce fruit? You start by
understanding that you are like a seed. All you need to be successful is already
in you. You need to foster the proper conditions for growth.</p> <p>Your ground
needs to be broken up or plowed. This means that you must understand and believe
in yourself that you can make it. If you do not, you can never rise above your
own expectations. It would be like a seedling trying to pierce the hard soil or
roots trying to pierce hard ground. Without the ground being broken, the seedling
cannot pierce the top soil or the roots cannot absorb sufficient water or nutrients.
In the example of the tomato plant, it would grow a little but never produce any
fruit. Eventually it would shrivel up and die.</p> <p>As for you, if you do not
believe in yourself, you would exist but not prosper. You would never succeed at
the game of life.</p> <p>But, if you do believe in yourself, you start the process
of growth. Once you break the shackle of ... I CANNOT ... you allow thoughts of
success to enter your mind and begin to nourish your victory.</p> <p>Like a seed
would have trouble growing in hard or stubborn ground, a stubborn mind will do
the same for success. Break up the hard ground and allow your victory to grow!</p>
<p>Once the ground is broken, then the seed can be planted. Sufficient water and
nutrients are needed at this next level of growth. Water and nutrients represent
education and training.</p> <p>Without the sustaining force of water and nutrients,
a fledgling seedling will dry up and die. The same will happen to you if you do
not seek training or an education.</p> <p>Roots search after water and nutrients,
not the other way around. The roots actively seek these life-sustaining forces.
You, too, must vigorously explore all possibilities of enhancing your job
marketability. Adequate education and training will strengthen your abilities and
allow you to grow into the employee that is inherent in you. After you receive
sufficient education and training, you can enter the job market knowing you have
something to offer, a fruit worthy of harvest!</p> <p>Sunlight and heat contribute
to the growth process of the plant. The lack of the sun's life-producing rays
would leave a plant weak and listless. Eventually, it would wither and die.</p>
<p>Sunlight and heat symbolize networking and camaraderie. The sun's rays shed
light on the plant thus enabling it to produce fruit. Networking's illuminating
effect sheds light on things such as available services, training, and adaptive
equipment. The fruit of employment is nurtured by these and many more.</p>
<p>Networking leads to job opportunities, the fruit of any prospective employee.
However, to hear about these opportunities, you must be in contact with those who
know. You must turn to people who already are working and ask them how they got
their job. As a leaf gravitates toward the sun and turns toward it, you also must
seek out those that are presently employed and learn from them.</p> <p>Various
plants have a diverse tolerance to cold. A prolonged cold spell will greatly affect
the size and amount of any fruit. Without networking, you run the risk of no
harvest, that is, no job! Throughout the United States, there are meetings of
chapters of the National Federation of the Blind that you can attend. You can get
on the Jobs-nfbnet.org mailing list. The only way you can find out about these
things is by asking. Do not be left out in the cold; come to chapter meetings,
conventions, and in so doing you will network!</p> <p>The warmth of camaraderie
will nurture you and give you companionship. Knowing that there are blind people
who have already traveled the road you are about to take will alleviate any fears
that you may have.</p> <p>Associating with successfully employed people will have
an advantageous effect on your attitude. It is always better to identify with
positive people than negative. Do not be dragged down; be lifted up, and associate
with those who can help you.</p> <p>Weeds and obstacles can have an adverse effect
on the growth of any plant. Weeds can choke a plant to death. There are those in
society who have hindered the opportunities of blind people to succeed. Most are
unintentional, due to a lack of education or information. Nonetheless the result
is the same. The choking effect of misconception and ignorance need to be pulled
up as a weed from the root and destroyed. As a plant needs a weed-free environment
to be fruitful, when given a weed-free environment, the blind can be just as
fruitful as their sighted peers.</p> <p>Some obstacles to plant growth may have
nothing to do with soil or climatic conditions. Improperly planted seeds may become
fodder for the birds. Shallow-planted seeds will not survive. If you are not
prepared for employment, or even greater, for life, you run the risk of being
eaten up alive.</p> <p>Most obstacles are either avoidable or removable. Knowledge
and wisdom will help to expose and extract any obstacle in your way. To be fruitful,
you must first learn what the obstacles are and then how to avoid or remove
them.</p> <p>How sad is it when you see someone who thinks they have Mount Everest
in their way when it is only an anthill. The rich history of the National Federation
of the Blind is replete with examples of dislodged Mount Everests. Floyd Matson's
<em>Walking Alone and Marching Together</em> chronicles many a mountain turned
anthill. This book is essential reading for all blind people.</p> <p>Do not be
weighted down with excess baggage. Life has enough of its own. Learn and be
unshackled from unnecessary burdens. Glean from those who have walked in the past
and join them.</p> <p>A seed cannot be planted upside-down. The position it starts
in does not have any effect on the harvest. When a farmer sows seed, he is not
interested in how the seed lands on the ground but is concerned with how the ground
is prepared and maintained. He knows that proper preparation and care will promote
a plentiful harvest, a harvest worthy of his effort.</p> <p>Like the seed, no
matter what position you find yourself in, you have the potential to be fruitful.
It might take some effort on your part, but it can be done. If you give up and
stay at home, like a seed on a shelf, you would have the capacity to bear fruit
but would not be fruitful.</p> <p>After you plant a tomato seed, do you expect to
grow a tomato overnight? No, everyone knows that some time has to elapse between
the time you sow the seed and the time you enjoy the fruit of your labor.</p>
<p>Yet, some people who have planted themselves in the employment field lose hope
when they do not see instantaneous results. Just like there is a growing season
for tomato plants, there is a growing season for you. If you do not realize this,
you can become discouraged and quit. This would be like the farmer planting a seed
today and digging it up next week because he could not see any growth. Quitting
interrupts the growth cycle and never leads to fruit. A farmer would never dig up
a seed to see if it is growing! How foolish this sounds, for this would ruin any
chance for a harvest. Knowing that he has done all that he could, he has enough
confidence in the idea of seedtime and harvest to wait with anticipation. If you
have been diligent and set the growth process into motion, you can wait patiently
with expectation.</p> <p>You should look over your circumstances as the farmer
might look over his newly planted field. He would stand there and picture the
prospective harvest. Picture yourself employed and successful. You must be just
as pregnant with success as that field is with a crop.</p> <p>The farmer is in
control of everything except the weather conditions. Common sense dictates what
and when to plant. You would not plant oranges in Alaska. Therefore, using common
sense and good farming techniques, a farmer can logically expect a bounteous
harvest. So, too, you can expect to produce fruit in the same way.</p> <p>Why not
work? The choice is yours. You decide if there will be an employment harvest or
not. It starts with a decision. Make the right choice, and the growth process is
set in motion. Make the wrong choice, and you will remain unemployed.</p> <p>Remember,
a seed on the shelf bears no fruit. By following the aforementioned principles,
you can learn to overcome any and all obstacles. Plant yourself and produce a
bountiful harvest!</p> <p>----------</p> <h2 id="you-can-make-a-difference">You
Can Make a Difference </h2> <p>Blind children, students, and adults are making
powerful strides in education and leadership every day across the United States.
For more than eighty years, the National Federation of the Blind has worked to
transform the dreams of hundreds of thousands of blind people into reality. With
support from individuals like you, we continue to provide powerful programs and
critical resources for decades to come. We sincerely hope you will plan to be a
part of our enduring movement by including the National Federation of the Blind
in your charitable giving and in your estate planning. It is easier than you
think.</p> <p> </p> <p>With your help, the NFB will continue to:</p> <ul>
<li><p>Give blind children the gift of literacy through Braille.</p></li>
<li><p>Promote independent travel by providing free, long white canes to blind
people in need.</p></li> <li><p>Develop dynamic educational projects and programs
to show blind youth that science and math careers are within their reach.</p></li>
<li><p>Deliver hundreds of accessible newspapers and magazines to provide blind
people the essential information necessary to be actively involved in their
communities.</p></li> <li><p>Offer aids and appliances that help seniors losing
vision maintain their independence.</p></li> </ul> <h3 id="plan-to-leave-a-legacy">Plan
to Leave a Legacy</h3> <p>The National Federation of the Blind legacy society,
our Dream Makers Circle, honors and recognizes the generosity and vision of members
and special friends of the National Federation of the Blind who have chosen to
leave a legacy through a will or other planned giving option. You can join the
Dream Makers Circle in a myriad of ways.</p> <h4 id="fixed-sum-of-assets">Fixed
Sum of Assets</h4> <p>You can specify that a fixed sum of your assets or property
goes to the National Federation of the Blind in your will, trust, pension, IRA,
life insurance policy, brokerage account, or other accounts.</p> <h4
id="percentage-of-assets">Percentage of Assets</h4> <p>You can specify that a
percentage of your assets or property goes to the National Federation of the Blind
in your will, trust, pension, IRA, life insurance policy, brokerage account, or
other accounts.</p> <h4 id="payable-on-death-pod-account">Payable on Death (POD)
Account</h4> <p>You can name the National Federation of the Blind as the beneficiary
on a Payable on Death (POD) account through your bank. You can turn any checking
or savings account into a POD account. This is one of the simplest ways to leave
a legacy. The account is totally in your control during your lifetime and you can
change the beneficiary or percentage at any time with ease.</p> <h4 id="will-or-trust">Will
or Trust</h4> <p>If you do decide to create or revise your will, consider the
National Federation of the Blind as a partial beneficiary.</p> <p>Visit our <a
href="https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/ways-give/planned-giving">Planned Giving
webpage</a> (https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/ways-give/planned-giving) 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> <h4 id="vehicle-donation-program">Vehicle
Donation Program</h4> <p>The NFB accepts donated vehicles, including cars, trucks,
boats, motorcycles, or recreational vehicles. Just call 855-659-9314 toll-free,
and a representative can make arrangements to pick up your donation. We can also
answer any questions you have.</p> <h4 id="general-donation">General Donation</h4>
<p>General donations help support the ongoing programs of the NFB and the work to
help blind people live the lives they want. You can call 410-659-9314 and elect
option 4 to donate by phone. Donate online with a credit card or through the mail
with check or money order. Visit our <a href="https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/ways-give">Ways
to Give webpage</a> (https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/ways-give) for more
information. </p> <h4 id="pre-authorized-contribution">Pre-Authorized
Contribution</h4> <p>Through the Pre-Authorized Contribution (PAC) program,
supporters sustain the efforts of the National Federation of the Blind by making
recurring monthly donations by direct withdrawal of funds from a checking account
or a charge to a credit card. To enroll, call 410-659-9314, extension 2213, or
fill out our <a href="https://www.nfb.org/pac">PAC Donation Form</a>
(https://www.nfb.org/pac) 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: Maurice
Peret]</p> <h2 id="words-matter">Words Matter</h2> <p><strong>by Maurice
Peret</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor: In this time of social change, I
find that I particularly like the title of this article. Although I do my best to
stay up-to-date, listen to every point of view I can, and seem to spend most of
my time reading, there are many terms I do not understand, yet I see them used in
our literature, some of which I have some responsibility for editing. Several
years ago someone wrote an article in which they opined that this condition really
sucks. I replaced the word, and my young assistant laughed. She said it was a
commonly used word and that I should not shy away from it. She said she could well
understand the origin of the word that I initially understood but that it had
changed and was now part of the common parlance. Of course she did more than laugh
at me. There are times when she cautioned me against words that I wanted to use.
I wanted to refer to Dr. Jernigan and Dr. tenBroek as intimates, but again she
suggested that there was a disconnect between my understanding of common day usage
and what I was intending to say.</strong></p> <p><strong>I have been reading a
book by Ibram X. Kendi about being an antiracist, and I was struck by these
sentences: “Definitions anchor us in principles. This is not a light point:
If we don’t do the basic work of defining the kind of people we want to be
in language that is stable and consistent, we can’t work toward stable,
consistent goals.”</strong></p> <p><strong>As a reader of the <em>Braille
Monitor</em>, I’m not sure that I have ever been properly introduced to
the term “othering.” I believe it means to consider a group different
from oneself and to see that difference as negative rather than positive. The
Oxford dictionary offers these synonyms: rejected, excluded, shunned, spurned,
rebuffed, snubbed, scorned, ostracized, and repudiated. I take from this that the
term refers to a group considered so foreign that I pretend that I cannot relate
to their experience or feel I have no obligation to see the world as they experience
it.</strong></p> <p><strong>So what about other terms that float into the language?
One I recently questioned was “woke.” This word can be troublesome
because the definition is not as clear. It depends on when the word was used and
by whom. In its simplest form it means to have passed from sleep to consciousness,
but other definitions definitely exist, and this is when things get complicated.
To some the word woke means to be mindful of current issues and to be supportive
of them, particularly as they relate to social movements. To some the word means
a decision to be aware that what is reflected in your life may be very different
in the lives of others. To some the word evokes all that is offensive about
political correctness, and to call someone woke is not to flatter or compliment
but to say they have bought into division and the fragmenting of society. To them
it embodies all of the evils of “cancel culture,” yet another term,
and the ideology of victimhood. So when we use words like this one, we better be
certain that we understand the different meanings it has and think about whether
our concept can be explained as well with other words that make clear our
meaning.</strong></p> <p><strong>All of this is to say that I want us to be careful
in the language we use. The <em>Monitor</em> should not be a tool that divides
us, but neither should it be so antiseptic that we avoid understanding the issues
our fellow blind people experience.</strong></p> <p><strong>Now for a word about
Maurice before he begins speaking for himself. He is not easily categorized
politically. He spends a lot of time reading, and some of the characters that are
treated unfavorably in our culture are ones he believes are misunderstood. If he
believes that Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin have points of view with which he
agrees, the fact that we print his comments does not mean that the National
Federation of the Blind or the <em>Braille Monitor</em> has an opinion about these
revolutionaries. What it does mean is that we believe Maurice has opinions that
we benefit from organizationally if we share them, come to understand them, and
can then decide with reason what we will take and what we will reject in our own
view of the world.</strong></p> <p><strong>So, in furtherance of better communication
about issues of importance to us today, here is what Maurice has to say:</strong></p>
<p>I have previously written in these pages about the pitfalls of popular social
trends such as is engendered in identity politics while we in the National Federation
of the Blind continue to celebrate and embrace our differences and
“otherness.”</p> <p>An interesting debate from 2019 about whether
identity politics is tearing our society apart can be found via a British program
called Intelligence Squared at <a
href="https://youtu.be/hVMYfuzhbxk">https://youtu.be/hVMYfuzhbxk</a>.</p> <p>I
recently engaged with some leaders of our diversity and inclusion initiative about
the use of the term "ally" as part of the conversation around diversity. Popular
linguistic conventions creep up in social discourse, which we sometimes accept by
rote without much analysis. We could discuss the efficacy of the use of the
“N” word, the "B" word, “queer,” or other language
adopted by some members of marginalized groups. Parenthetically, it has become
difficult for me to keep up with all the alphabetic augmentations encompassed in
the LGBTQAI+ category. I know what L, G, T, B, and Q stand for, but I wonder what
the AI is for and whether the plus simply is intended to include those not yet
integrated into the acronym.</p> <p>My personal measure has been to consider
whether any of these terms are ever used to uplift rather than disparage others.
I never heard the term “blink” in reference to a blind person or
“gimp” in referring to someone who uses a wheelchair until I went
to college. While it might sound playful to some within the disability community
to implore terms such as these under the justification of “taking the term
back” and rebranding it for our own purposes, I don’t think a very
strong argument can be made that they are anything but derogatory. Others may
argue that it is in the eye (or ear) of the beholder.</p> <p>In another more recent
instance, the term “cisgender male” was used in reference to me. I
had never heard this term before that utterance. While this came from a colleague
whom I admire and respect, I have wondered ever since about it being hung around
my neck. It is not a term that I claimed nor necessarily accept. A person who used
the term frankly did not know me well enough to put me into such a box. One might
say that, well, Maurice is married and has children and thus and such, but as we
all know, these are not definitively exclusionary criteria. We must be careful in
our pursuit of group affinity and identification with oppressed people groups not
to unwittingly alienate ourselves from a broader and stronger majority whom,
together, I am confident can conquer all remnants of racism, nationalism, sexism,
ableism, and all forms of oppression.</p> <p>A reference was made during our
exchange to the civil rights movement in this country. It is noteworthy to consider
the substantial number of Caucasian people—freedom fighters—who
literally positioned their bodies as shields to defend black protesters under the
tremendous disciplined leadership of the Congress on Racial Equality (CORE), Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr.'s Southern Christian Leadership Conference, the Black
Panther Party, as well as a host of other Black-rights organizations. It is true
that young people from many racial groups and backgrounds shed blood in the
struggle. The term that unified these fighters was "Freedom Riders," not allies.
In the huge militant industrial labor battles of the 1920s and 1930s in this
country, made up in large part of immigrant workers, solidarity was a concept
shared among comrades, again, not allies. Ally was a term reserved for those
individuals, and they were usually heroic individuals of which history is plentiful
with examples, but who were nonetheless from alien class forcers or interests.
For example, they would include secretaries and messengers of bosses who were
planning attacks on striking union workers. Their contributions to the struggle
were no less appreciated, but they were not strictly "comrades-in-arms union
members."</p> <p>The reason why I respectfully but firmly reject the term ally is
that it creates a socially-artificial and embattled barrier among us and can imply
a certain hierarchy. For instance, we hear of allies when studying interimperialist
wars throughout history. Most United Nations or so-called peacekeeping military
adventures are dominated by United States military brass, (read Iraq, Yemen, Syria,
and Afghanistan), as was true during the two world wars. In those instances, a
hierarchy existed between European, British, and smaller and weaker powers and
the dominant United States Armed Forces. In every theater of operation, United
States political and military leaders gave the orders to all other operational
troops.</p> <p>Just as a way of contextualizing where I am coming from, my political
and historic orientation can be summed up as not fitting neatly within political
conventional categories of left or right. Instead, I adhere to a historic continuity
that goes back to Marx and Engels, Lenin and Trotsky, Eugene V. Debs and Hellen
Keller, and other past leaders of revolutionary caliber. Within that proud tradition,
it would not necessarily be inaccurate to say that my views are rather orthodox.
The problem is that my views are neither very popular nor widely well understood,
which I think is quite sad since it represents an important part of our collective
history. I have always had a deep and abiding interest and appreciation for folks
who come from so many varied backgrounds and nations. My mom, a single parent and
French immigrant who raised me, possessed what I consider a healthy distrust of
power and authority. I evolved my thinking beyond merely iconoclastic rebellion
chiefly because I am more interested in results in matters of justice and equity.
I am more interested in expressing what I am for as opposed to what I am against,
which is too easy for all of us to do. I look to leadership from the likes of
those such as Malcolm X., Nelson Mandela, Cesar Chavez, Ernesto Che Guevara, and
others who have demonstrated a capacity to lead truly mass movements. In so doing,
I would joyfully submit myself to the discipline and conduct inspired by such
leadership. That would, in my humble opinion, make me a soldier in the struggle
rather than an ally. Colin Wong expressed this beautifully in his wrap-up as
moderator of the diversity panel presentation during the NFB 2021 National
Convention. I am so heartened and inspired by strong and vibrant leadership that
is represented in our various areas of work in the Federation, which I believe to
be the hope and strength of our movement in all its diversity and inclusivity.</p>
<p>President Riccobono’s banquet speech was most illustrative as he recounted
the rough racial waters the Federation navigated during the 1950s and 1960s Jim
Crow era, along with the rest of the nation. Unfortunately, this has not always
been so prolific in the literary historic account of our movement. It is often
said that history is always written from the point of view of the victors, although
this is rather simplistic. I look at this from a decidedly internationalist
perspective, as well. Malcolm used to remind us that while African Americans,
Latinos, indigenous Americans, Asian and Pacific Islanders, along with those of
us with disabilities suffer the indignities of a minority class in the United
States, that fact is not reflected in much of the world’s composition. In
building truly effective mass movements, therefore, I believe we must come to
understand our capacity to come together in united action. Our experiences are
not the same, and I would not suggest otherwise. To consider another angle, the
so-called progressive left liberals in this country completely missed the mark in
maligning whole swaths of people who could and should have been considered
“allies,” to borrow the term, in the political theater that led to
the election of Donald J. Trump. They wrote off these people by consistently
vilifying working-class voters throughout the Midwest, Appalachia, and the South
who voted in large numbers for Bernie Sanders during the Democratic primaries but
for Trump in the general election. Many of these folks have been and continue to
be economically, socially, and culturally devastated by the steady economic decline
and slow-burn deindustrialization occurring over the past several decades. Many
of these workers hold bitter memories of the Clinton dynasty’s dismantling
of the social net, “ending welfare as we know it,” bloating the
prison population in the name of the “war on drugs,” far more than
occurred even under the Reagan administration, etc. It has been observed that the
last true liberal president this country had in terms of policy was Richard M.
Nixon.</p> <p>To mention so-called “white privilege” to a laid-off
coal miner in Kentucky; Pennsylvania; Alabama; or West Virginia, where I lived
for several years, will likely provoke an animated response. That does not make
these people definitively racist. Backward ideas about the “other”
certainly exist throughout our society. I nonetheless hate to see so many of the
gains we have made as a people be subverted by trendy language shortcuts as, again
in my humble opinion, is used in the term “ally,” no matter how
well-intended.</p> <p>I am reminded of a speech presented by the late great
Federation leader, Dr. Kenneth Jernigan in an October 1994 issue of the <em>Braille
Monitor</em> entitled “Reflections On Race, Religion, Disability, Sex, and
Broader Issues” in response to a letter accusing him of racially insensitive
language in presenting a distinguished award to Ms. Doris Johnson. [That article
appears immediately following this one.] In his article, Former President Jernigan
stated “Despite the attempts of some of our detractors to create a race
problem in the Federation, we have never had one, and I doubt that we ever
will.” With the passing of some twenty-seven years and a different era in
the Federation notwithstanding, this assertion can certainly be debated and
discussed. Clearly members of our movement have experienced treatment beneath
their dignity and worth as human beings and as comrades in our movement. Nonetheless,
I believe that Dr. Jernigan passionately expressed the unified focus of our
collective strength and power.</p> <p>Finally, I believe that using the term
“ally” condescends to set a lower standard of the capacities of
folks who happen, by accident of birth or upbringing, to be Caucasian, Christian,
or whatever dominant American cultural divide. To rise to a level of solidarity
that inspires one to be willing to lay down their lives for their brother or sister
of any background is a friend, a brother or sister, a fellow combatant or, if you
will, a comrade is more than an ally. Those who help in a cause not directly their
own should have a term that raises one to the level of an equal: not an overlord,
not the driver of the cause, but not an underling whose investment of time,
treasure, and even personal risk is discounted.</p> <p>----------</p> <p>[PHOTO
CAPTION: Kenneth Jernigan]</p> <h2
id="reflections-on-race-religion-disability-sex-and-broader-issues">Reflections
on Race, Religion, Disability, Sex, and Broader Issues</h2> <p><strong>by Kenneth
Jernigan</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor: This is the piece Maurice
referenced in the article that precedes this one. It originally appeared in 1994,
so some of Dr. Jernigan’s perspective would certainly be different had he
been in the audience when “Not Blind to Color in the Federation: A Panel
on the Experience of Black and Blind in America” was presented by Ever Lee
Hairston, Denice Brown, Ron Brown, Bobbi Pompei, and Tarik Williams at our 2020
National Convention. Those who believe they can predict how he would alter this
article in 2021 fail to appreciate how often we who tried to guess his positions
on things turned out to be wrong because he had more perceptiveness than we gave
him credit for at the time. If we ever find ourselves in the position of not being
able to read or consider articles, books, plays, television shows, and movies
simply because they reflected how things were or how they were perceived when
written, we will certainly subtract from not only our understanding of history
but all the ways in which it has influenced the building of what we now consider
to be the reality of today. I hope you enjoy this article:</strong></p> <p>The
opponents of the organized blind movement have never understood our strength and
unity. Failing to comprehend, they have made a mystery of it, hinting at all kinds
of sinister controls and machinations. But the secret is no secret, and the mystery
is no mystery.</p> <p>We deal with only one set of issues--those related to
blindness. As an organization we deal with nothing else. Moreover, if a thing is
not a problem, we refuse to call it one even if somebody insists that it is.
Finally, we treat each other like brothers and sisters--not the way some folks
treat their brothers and sisters but the way they should treat them. We care about
each other; we defend each other; and we consider each other's feelings.</p>
<p>Recently two Federationists (a husband and wife) wrote to me about something
I said at this year's National Convention in Detroit. They felt that my comments
about Doris Johnson when I presented the Distinguished Service Award to her at
the banquet were inappropriate. They felt (and, incidentally, they are White) that
the comments were racially insensitive. Despite the attempts of some of our
detractors to create a race problem in the Federation, we have never had one, and
I doubt that we ever will.</p> <p>In the circumstances I might have answered these
two Federationists superficially or simply have brushed their comments aside, but
this is not the way we treat members of the family. These are sincere, thoughtful,
dedicated Federationists. They deserved a reasoned response, and I did the best
I could to give them one. I also took the occasion to expand the question and to
write for a broader audience, you who read the <em>Monitor</em>. Here are the
letters and the remarks I made at the banquet:</p> <p>July 20, 1994</p> <p>Dear
Dr. Jernigan:</p> <p>Greetings. We are both still catching our breaths after the
whirlwind week of convention. We hope you had as wonderful a time there as we
did.</p> <p>We are writing to you concerning the Service Award presented to Doris
Johnson at the convention banquet. While introducing her, you described her at
length as an unsophisticated "self-effacing" volunteer who cheerfully toiled at
"humble" tasks with no expectation of recognition or thanks. In our opinion, the
portrait of Ms. Johnson was stereotypical and degrading, like the portrayals of
Black women that have appeared in the literature for hundreds of years.</p> <p>Our
objection to the language used to describe Ms. Johnson stems from our fear of the
repercussions that may come from such racially insensitive comments. It doesn't
matter if Ms. Johnson is in fact exactly as she was described; she could even have
written the portrait herself. What matters is the political message that such a
description sends. We fear that some people may come to the conclusion that the
Federation thinks all Blacks fit the stereotype of the introduction. This could
only lead to a weakening of our organization, both in membership numbers and
internal harmony.</p> <p>Thank you for considering what we have said. We welcome
your response if you have time to put it to paper, but all we ask is that when
someone is introduced in the future, that the audience not be able to identify
without a doubt the race of the person before they step onto the stage.</p>
<p>Respectfully,</p> <p>cc: President Marc Maurer</p> <p>Baltimore, Maryland</p>
<p>July 28, 1994</p> <p>Dear:</p> <p>Thanks for your recent letter. I have given
careful thought to your comments, and it is hard to respond without sounding
defensive.</p> <p>As you know, I am not much for political correctness. What was
said of Doris Johnson during the presentation of the award could with equal accuracy
have been said of my daughter, who works by Doris's side doing the grueling
preparation of seminar and similar meals. Except for the fact that she is my
daughter, Marie would also have received a Distinguished Service Award, and the
comments would have been the same.</p> <p>In your letter you say:</p> <p>"...
[A]ll we ask is that when someone is introduced in the future, that the audience
not be able to identify without a doubt the race of the person before they step
onto the stage."</p> <p>Surely you are not implying that what I said could not
with equal accuracy have been said of a member of the Caucasian race, for that
would imply that Whites are too good to work in the kitchen and that only Blacks
can do such work--an insult to both races, and a fallacy into the bargain.</p>
<p>Doris's family (people of culture and good taste) were present at the banquet
and heartily approved of what was said. In fact, they provided much of the
background. They were deeply moved and, I am sure, would be hurt by any reflection
on the nature and content of the presentation.</p> <p>Be that as it may, your
letter raises a broader question, one that deserves comment. Let me begin with
something that may not on first examination seem relevant to what we are discussing.
We do not have a Black caucus in the Federation, and I for one will fight to see
that we never do. The concept is demeaning to Black Federationists. It implies
that our Black members cannot make it in competition with the rest of us. I have
talked with a great many of our Black members, and (not withstanding a dogmatic
few) I believe the overwhelming majority are as opposed as I am to a separate
Black bloc.</p> <p>At times we have had as many as two Black national board members
(one of them a Vice President) and as many as nine Black state presidents, all
serving at the same time--not because they were Black but because they were
dedicated Federationists, who were politically savvy and had fought their way up
through the ranks just like everybody else. Of course, we have seven or eight
Black state presidents today. I haven't counted lately. It doesn't matter.</p>
<p>If every member of the national board and every state president were Black, it
should not be a matter of concern. It should not, that is, unless color was the
reason for the election. By the same token (token, not tokenism) it should not
matter if all national board members and all state presidents were non-Black--not
unless color was the reason. But there are some (hopefully not very many) who
would object to either situation.</p> <p>Some time ago, somebody asked me whether
one of our state presidents was Black. I said that I didn't know, and I was telling
the truth. How would I have known unless somebody had told me? The old tired cliche
that "you can tell them by their voice" is not only racist but also provably false.
We had a reason not too long ago to fill out a paper concerning the racial
composition of our staff here at the National Center for the Blind, and I was told
that I had omitted one of our Black staff members. This person had worked for us
for several years, and I had no idea what his color was. What difference did it
make? I couldn't see him; I couldn't tell by his voice; and I had never asked.
The people who hire in our organization are blind, and they don't use color as a
litmus test.</p> <p>There is a basic premise in the functioning of the Federation,
one that goes back to the very beginning. It is easy to understand, objectionable
to a few, and (in my opinion) largely responsible for the harmony and effectiveness
we have enjoyed. It is this: we treat each other like brothers and sisters, and
we deal with only one issue--blindness. We have Black racists, White racists, and
mostly neither. We have pro-abortionists, anti-abortionists, and many who don't
give a hoot either way. We have right wingers, left wingers, and people who claim
they are centrists. We have religionists, atheists, agnostics, and many who don't
bother about it. We have elitists, red necks, and plenty of pseudos. We have those
who favor women's lib, men's lib, gay rights, the Nation of Islam, the Ku Klux
Klan, and Rush Limbaugh. Yet, we live in harmony with each other.</p> <p>The reason
is no mystery. We deal with one issue, blindness--and we don't impose our
non-blindness views on our fellow Federationists. All of us are happy to have the
rest of us work in any other cause we like, just so long as we don't intrude that
cause into the Federation--and especially just so long as we don't try to make
each other discuss it and accept our view of it.</p> <p>When the Vietnam War was
at its height, one of our members (he called himself a dove) wanted us to discuss
and pass a resolution condemning the war. I told him I would oppose it.</p> <p>"Oh,"
he said, "so you are a hawk!"</p> <p>"It doesn't follow," I said. "If somebody
wants to introduce a resolution supporting the war, I will oppose that, too. More
than that: I will oppose discussing the question at all. We are an organization
to deal with blindness, not Vietnam--and not anything else." He wasn't very happy
with me, but I believe the overwhelming majority of Federationists would have
been.</p> <p>When we were organizing in Florida three or four years ago, one of
the members wanted us to go on record as opposing abortion. I was chairing that
meeting, and I told him that I not only objected to our adopting the resolution
but to discussing it. I told him that before we could consider the merits of the
question, the members would have to agree that they wanted to talk about it. I
further told him that the members had the right to decide not to discuss an issue.
Everybody in the entire meeting except him thought we should not consider the
matter, and we didn't--but I know that many of those present felt that abortion
was wrong. None of us objected to his holding his view on abortion; none of us
objected to his going out and trying to get the rest of society to believe as he
did; but we felt that the Federation was not the proper forum.</p> <p>For my part,
the concept of a disability group or caucus in either of the major political
parties would be counter-productive and offensive. We are not as helpless and
incompetent as that implies, and if the idea should ever take hold, we would likely
forever to be limited to minority status and disability matters. This is my personal
view, one that may not be shared by other Federationists--and I am content to have
it that way.</p> <p>Having given you this background concerning Federation traditions
and practices about race and similar issues, I want to return to the specifics of
your letter. When you say that the audience could identify without a doubt the
race of the person receiving the award before she stepped onto the stage, I am
curious to know how. I have reviewed my remarks and herewith enclose a copy for
your examination. As far as I am concerned there is not one sentence or word in
the entire presentation which identifies race, with the possible exception of the
fact that Doris attended Morgan State University. Even that is not definitive
since a few White students now go there.</p> <p>Was it that she grew up in a
poverty-stricken rural area of the South? That is the setting in which I grew up,
and so did many others in the Federation, White and Black alike. Was it because
her family were share croppers? That is no identifier. My family had the same
experience, living on somebody else's land. When I was a child, my father cut and
hauled telephone poles for a dime apiece, and he often worked from sunup until
dark for fifty cents. He milked the cows and did other chores after the day's
work. Besides the share of a crop, the pay was often in apples or molasses or
whatever else was available. There wasn't enough money to do otherwise.</p> <p>Is
it because Doris did cleaning chores and housework to pay her way through school?
When I was a boy, I shined shoes with the same objective. Is it all right for
White boys to shine shoes for low pay but not all right for Black girls to do
similar work? Is it perhaps that Doris came from a large family? My father was
the thirteenth child in his family, and I remember a neighbor woman (White,
incidentally) who had twenty-one children. Was it that Doris worked in the fields
when she was not in school? My brother and all of the other children in our
neighborhood did the same thing, and I would have done it too if my family had
believed I could instead of thinking blindness was a bar.</p> <p>Then, if it was
not Doris's childhood background, was it her adult experience--her training in
home economics and cosmetology, her interest in her church, her volunteer work in
hospitals? If not that, was it the description of her work in helping in the
kitchen at the National Center for the Blind? Obviously somebody has to cook and
clean, and equally obviously the somebody has to be either paid or volunteer. Have
we come to the place where it is acceptable for a White male to do kitchen work
but unacceptable for a Black female to do it?</p> <p>If I have still not identified
the reason why it was obvious to the audience that Doris was Black before she ever
stepped onto the stage, was it perhaps my description of her attitudes and
behavior--that she is modest, self-effacing, unassuming, and willing to work
tirelessly without expectation of reward? Surely these characteristics (though
admittedly possessed by a shrinking few regardless of race) are admirable, not
demeaning. You say that these traits are the stereotype of Black women, and I
answer: "Not today." Unfortunately the present-day stereotype of the Black female
is that she is rude, pushy, bad-mannered, long on discussing her rights, and short
on considering the rights and feelings of others. Although that stereotype fits
some Black women (and a great many White ones, too, as well as a lot of males of
all races), I think it is false, characterizing only a minority. Humility, good
manners, willingness to work, a desire to give, and a spirit of dedication without
a corresponding wish for self-aggrandizement are still (even in today's society
of skewed values) worth recognizing, praising, and rewarding.</p> <p>Let me move
to another aspect of the situation. How should I have made the presentation? I
might have said that Doris was an outstanding leader and that the award was being
given to her for that alone. Such a presentation would not have been believable,
would not have given pleasure to Doris, and would not have helped the organization.
Doris is not an orator, a center-of-the-stage planner and rallier of the troops.
She is a solid, hardworking member--and she likes it that way. Her contributions
are of real value, and the Federation was recognizing that fact and telling her
that she is appreciated.</p> <p>I could have made the presentation in such a way
as not to indicate the kind of work Doris does for the movement, but this would
have been vapid and inappropriate. I could have talked of her work without mentioning
her qualities of humility and avoidance of the limelight, but such a presentation
would not have been accurate or complete. Moreover, it would have had racist
overtones, implying that a Black person cannot be portrayed as gentle and
service-oriented while a White person can.</p> <p>Of course, we could have refrained
from giving her the award at all because of the kind of work she does and because
of her unassuming spirit. But that seems unfair and counter-productive. It would
have been the worst kind of elitism.</p> <p>Doris Johnson is a rare human being.
She is strong without being "pushy." She is humble without being weak, modest
without being spiritless. Unlike so many, she does not demand constant petting,
nor does she insist on forever being told how great she is. She simply sees what
needs to be done, and does it. I wish we had hundreds more like her.</p> <p>In
your letter you say: "It doesn't matter if Ms. Johnson is in fact exactly as she
was described; she could even have written the portrait herself." As you reflect
on the matter, I hope you will decide that this is not exactly what you meant. It
is all very well for us to care about classes of people, but I think it is even
more important for us to care about individuals. What Doris wants and how she
feels are important factors in the equation. If we move human beings like pieces
on a checkerboard to accomplish overall strategies and to satisfy the needs of
this or that segment of society, we dehumanize ourselves and the entire process.</p>
<p>You wrote to me in unadorned candor. I hope you are willing for me to do likewise
in response. I respect you (both of you)--and for many of the qualities that earned
Doris her award. I hear good things about you and believe you have a great future
in the movement. It must be obvious that I have given time and careful consideration
to your letter. Think about what I have said, and tell me how you feel about it
if you want to. Whatever your reaction, let us work together to make the Federation
better and stronger than it has ever been.</p> <p>Sincerely,</p> <p>Kenneth
Jernigan</p> <p>President Emeritus</p> <p>National Federation of the Blind</p>
<h3 id="distinguished-service-award-presentation-doris-johnson">DISTINGUISHED
SERVICE AWARD PRESENTATION: DORIS JOHNSON</h3> <p>Doris Johnson was born and raised
in South Carolina, the second of nineteen children--all with the same parents if
anybody wants to know. She has always been a hard worker. She worked her way
through high school by cleaning the principal's house before classes every morning.
She then caught the train and went to school. After getting home, she would work
in the fields until dark. (Her parents were share croppers.) After it was too dark
to work outside, she would study for school the next day.</p> <p>After high school
Doris went to Baltimore, where she worked her way through Morgan State University,
graduating with a degree in Home Economics in 1956. She has always been active in
her church and was the secretary of the church Sunday school for many years. While
teaching at a Baltimore beauty and barber college, Doris earned the Outstanding
Teacher of the Year Award on two separate occasions. She also helped prepare many
students for their state licensing examination. For many years Doris went to
Montebello State Hospital in Baltimore and did the patients' hair as a volunteer.</p>
<p>Let me turn now to Doris's work with the Federation. Because she is quiet and
unassuming, few people know how much she does. She does over a thousand hours of
volunteer work every year at the National Center for the Blind. She does everything
from erasing tapes and labeling cassettes to manning (or, if you like, "womaning")
NFB booths at local events. In the kitchen she is invaluable. She comes early and
stays late, until the last dish is done. When there is a seminar or a meeting of
any other kind, Doris is always willing to help in whatever way she is needed.
Doris, you exemplify the spirit of our movement, the best that is in us, and the
essence of service to others. I have here a brass plaque on polished walnut wood
that I want to present to you. It is the tangible manifestation of the love we
have for you and the appreciation of what you are and what you do.</p> <p>NATIONAL
FEDERATION OF THE BLIND</p> <p>DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD</p> <p>PRESENTED TO</p>
<p>DORIS JOHNSON</p> <p>YOUR ENERGY AND COMMITMENT ARE FREELY AND ABUNDANTLY
GIVEN</p> <p>YOUR DEVOTION AND SPIRIT INSPIRE YOUR COLLEAGUES</p> <p>No task is
too humble</p> <p>No hour too early</p> <p>No job too much</p> <p>THE BLIND OF
THE NATION GIVE YOU THIS AWARD</p> <p>WITH LOVE AND APPRECIATION</p> <p>JULY 6,
1994</p> <p>----------</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Cayte Mendez]</p> <h2
id="nfb-2022-scholarship-program">NFB 2022 Scholarship Program</h2> <p><strong>by
Cayte Mendez</strong></p> <p>The National Federation of the Blind is pleased to
announce our 2022 scholarship program. We offer thirty scholarships to blind
students from across the United States and Puerto Rico who will be enrolled in
full-time post-secondary degree programs during the 2021-2022 school year. These
scholarships will be awarded at our 2022 National Convention, which will take
place in New Orleans.</p> <p>The application period begins December 1, 2021, and
closes at midnight EST on March 31, 2022. Go to <a
href="http://www.nfb.org/scholarships">www.nfb.org/scholarships</a>. To apply
during the four-month open period: read the rules and the submission checklist,
complete the official 2022 scholarship application form (online or in print),
supply all required documents, and request and complete an interview by an NFB
affiliate president. Remember, the only way to win is to apply!</p> <p>----------</p>
<p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Robin House]</p> <h2 id="the-2022-blind-educator-of-the-year-award">The
2022 Blind Educator of the Year Award</h2> <p><strong>by Robin House</strong></p>
<p><strong>From the Editor: Robin House is an experienced educator in her own
right, with many titles to her name. She was named Blind Educator of the Year in
2018. She chairs the 2022 Blind Educator of the Year Award Selection Committee,
and she holds a Master of Education, is a Licensed Professional Counselor, and is
a Registered Play Therapist. What is harder to convey is that, for the tremendous
admiration we have for her accomplishments, the thing that makes us blessed is
that Robin is Robin and that she chooses to be an active part of us. This is what
she says:</strong></p> <p>A number of years ago the Blind Educator of the Year
Award was established by the National Organization of Blind Educators (the
educators’ division of the National Federation of the Blind) to pay tribute
to a blind teacher whose exceptional classroom performance, notable community
service, and uncommon commitment to the NFB merit national recognition. Beginning
with the 1991 presentation, this award became an honor bestowed by our entire
movement. This change reflects our recognition of the importance of good teaching
and the affect an outstanding blind teacher has on students, faculty, community,
and all blind Americans.</p> <p>This award is presented in the spirit of the
outstanding educators who founded and have continued to nurture the National
Federation of the Blind and who, by example, have imparted knowledge of our
strengths to us and raised our expectations. We have learned from Dr. Jacobus
tenBroek, Dr. Kenneth Jernigan, Dr. Marc Maurer, and our current President Mark
Riccobono that a teacher not only provides a student with information but also
provides guidance, advocacy, and love. The recipient of the Blind Educator of the
Year Award must exhibit all these traits and must advance the cause of blind people
in the spirit and philosophy of the National Federation of the Blind.</p> <p>The
Blind Educator of the Year Award is presented at the annual convention of the
National Federation of the Blind. Honorees must be present to receive an appropriately
inscribed plaque and a check for $1,000.</p> <p>Nominations should be sent to Ms.
Robin House by email to <a href="mailto:robin@mindsrealm.net">robin@mindsrealm.net</a>
or by mail to Stix ECC, 647 Tower Grove Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110. Letters of
nomination must be accompanied by a copy of the nominee’s current
résumé and supporting documentation of community and Federation activity.
All nomination materials must be in the hands of the committee chairperson by May
1, 2022, to be considered for this year’s award. For further information
contact Robin House at 314-265-6852, or <a
href="mailto:robin@mindsrealm.net">robin@mindsrealm.net</a>.</p> <p>----------</p>
<p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Carla McQuillan]</p> <h2
id="the-2022-distinguished-educator-of-blind-students-award">The 2022 Distinguished
Educator of Blind Students Award</h2> <p><strong>by Carla McQuillan</strong></p>
<p><strong>From the Editor: Carla McQuillan is the president of the National
Federation of the Blind of Oregon, a member of the national board of directors,
and the owner and executive director of Main Street Montessori Association,
operating two Montessori schools. She is the chairman of the Distinguished Educator
of Blind Students Award Committee, and she has written this announcement seeking
applications for the 2022 award:</strong></p> <p>The National Federation of the
Blind will recognize an outstanding teacher of blind students at our 2022 National
Convention taking place in New Orleans, Louisiana, from July 5 through July 10,
2022. The winner of this award will receive the following:</p> <p>An expense-paid
trip to attend the convention</p> <p>A check for $1,000</p> <p>A commemorative
plaque</p> <p>A place on the agenda of the annual meeting of the National Organization
of Parents of Blind Children to make a presentation regarding the education of
blind children, and</p> <p>The opportunity to attend seminars and workshops that
address the current state of education of blind students, as well as a chance to
meet and network with hundreds of blind individuals, teachers, parents, and other
professionals in the field.</p> <p>The education of blind children is one of the
National Federation of the Blind's highest priorities. We are committed to offering
and supporting programs that enhance educational opportunities for this group.
Please help us recognize dedicated and innovative teachers who provide quality
education and meaningful experiences and opportunities for their blind students.</p>
<p>Q: Who is eligible for this award?</p> <p>A: Anyone who is currently a teacher,
counselor, or the administrator of programs for blind students.</p> <p>Q: Does an
applicant have to be a member of the National Federation of the Blind?</p> <p>A:
No, but attending the 2022 convention of the National Federation of the Blind in
New Orleans is required.</p> <p>Q: Can I nominate someone else for this award?</p>
<p>A: Yes. Applicants can be nominated by colleagues, parents, supervisors, or
friends who have first-hand knowledge of the individual’s work with blind
students.</p> <p>Q: How would I apply?</p> <p>A: You can fill out the application
at the end of this article or find it on our website at
https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/distinguished-educator-of-blind-students-award-form-fillable.pdf</p>
<p>Q: What is the deadline to submit an application or make a nomination?</p>
<p>A: All applications must be received no later than May 1, 2022.</p> <p>Please
complete the application and attach the required documents specified in the
application. If you are submitting a nomination for someone other than yourself,
please answer the questions to the best of your ability. Your experience and
observations of the nominee will assist the selection committee in their decision.
Questions? Contact Carla McQuillan at 541-653-9153, or by email at: <a
href="mailto:president@nfb-oregon.org">president@nfb-oregon.org</a>.</p> <h3
id="national-federation-of-the-blind">National Federation of the Blind</h3> <h3
id="distinguished-educator-of-blind-students-award">Distinguished Educator of
Blind Students Award</h3> <h3 id="application">2022 Application</h3> <p>Deadline:
May 1, 2022</p> <p>Name: _______________________________________________________</p>
<p>Home Address: _________________________________________________</p> <p>City,
State, Zip: _________________________________________________</p> <p>Phone: (H)
____________________ (W) ____________________________</p> <p>Email:
______________________________________________________</p> <p>School/Program:
______________________________________________________</p> <p>Address:
_____________________________________________________</p> <p>City, State, Zip:
_________________________________________________</p> <p>Please list any awards
or commendations you have received.</p> <p>How long and in what programs have you
worked with blind children?</p> <p>In what setting do you currently work?</p>
<p>Briefly describe your current job and teaching responsibilities.</p> <p>How
would you describe your philosophy of blindness as it relates to the education of
blind students?</p> <p>What are your thoughts on teaching Braille and cane travel?
When and at what age would you begin? How do you determine whether to teach print
or Braille?</p> <p>What was your most memorable experience working with blind
students?</p> <p>Why should you be selected to receive this award?</p> <p>Email
is strongly encouraged for transmitting nominations; letters of support and other
relevant materials should be included as attachments. Applications sent by mail
and postmarked by the deadline will also be accepted. Send all material by May 1,
2022, to Carla McQuillan, chairperson, Teacher Award Committee, <a
href="mailto:president@nfb-oregon.org">president@nfb-oregon.org</a> or by mail
to:</p> <p>522 65th Street, Springfield, OR 97478, Phone: 541-653-9153.</p>
<p>----------</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Jesa Medders]</p> <h2 id="social-security-updates">2021
Social Security Updates</h2> <p><strong>by Jesa Medders</strong></p> <p><strong>From
the Editor: Each year we update vital numbers about Social Security for recipients
and those contributing to Social Security so that our readers can get what they
deserve from this crucial program. We cannot make you an expert on all of the
provisions that might apply to you, but this is a very good general update and
can point you to areas in which you should do further self education.</strong></p>
<p>It's that time of year again when we provide you with information regarding
annual adjustments to the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental
Security Income (SSI) programs. In 2022, approximately seventy million Americans
will see a 5.9 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase in their benefit
amounts. Thus, come January, monthly checks will be higher.</p> <p>The 2022 amounts
are below along with some general concepts pertaining to the Social Security and
Medicare programs, in case you want to better understand or refresh yourself about
your rights. The COLA (if any) is based on the consumer price index (CPI-W), which
measures the rate of inflation against the wages earned by the approximately 173
million workers across the nation over the previous four quarters starting with
the third quarter of the previous year.</p> <h3 id="tax-rates">Tax Rates</h3>
<p>FICA and Self-Employment Tax Rates: If you are employed, you know that you do
not bring home everything you earn. 7.65 percent of your pay, for example, is
deducted to cover your contribution to the Old Age, Survivors, and Disability
Insurance (OASDI) Trust Fund and the Medicare Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund.
6.20 percent covers OASDI, and 1.45 percent is contributed to the HI Trust Fund.
Additionally, your employer is required to match this 7.65 percent for a total of
15.30 percent.</p> <p>For those who are self-employed, there is no "employer" to
match the 7.65 percent, which means a self-employed individual pays the entire
15.30 percent of their income. These numbers will not change in 2022 regardless
of whether an individual is employed or self-employed. As of January 2013,
individuals with earned income of more than $200,000 ($250,000 for married couples
filing jointly) pay an additional 0.9 percent in Medicare taxes; this does not
include the above amounts.</p> <h3 id="maximum-taxable-earnings">Maximum Taxable
Earnings</h3> <p>There is a ceiling on taxable earnings for the OASDI Trust Fund,
which was $142,800 in 2021 and will jump to $147,000 in 2022. Thus, for earnings
above $147,000, there is no 6.20 percent deducted for OASDI. As for Medicare,
there is no limit on taxable earnings for the HI Trust Fund.</p> <h3
id="social-security-disability-insurance-ssdi-quarters-of-coverage">Social Security
Disability Insurance (SSDI) Quarters of Coverage</h3> <p>The OASDI Trust Fund is
kind of like an insurance policy. You have to pay a premium to participate.
Therefore, to qualify for Retirement, Survivors, or Disability Insurance benefits,
an individual must pay a minimum amount of FICA taxes into the OASDI Trust Fund
by earning a sufficient number of calendar quarters to become fully insured for
Social Security benefits.</p> <p>In 2021 credit for one quarter of coverage was
awarded for any individual who earned at least $1,470 during the year, which means
that an individual would need to earn at least $5,880 to be credited with four
quarters of coverage. In 2022 the amount increases to $1,510 for one calendar
quarter or $6,040 to earn four quarters of coverage for the year.</p> <p>A maximum
of four quarters can be awarded for any calendar year, and it makes no difference
when the income is earned during that year. Basically, the taxes you pay into the
OASDI and HI Trust Funds are your premiums to take part in the Social Security
and Medicare programs. The total number of quarters required to be eligible for
benefits depends on the individual's age. The older the individual, the more
quarters are required. Furthermore, a higher average income during an individual's
lifetime means a higher Social Security or SSDI check when benefits start. Remember
the above quoted numbers for quarters of coverage to become fully insured are only
minimum amounts.</p> <h3 id="trial-work-period-twp">Trial Work Period (TWP)</h3>
<p>This concept is often misunderstood. The amount of earnings required to use a
trial work month is not based on the earnings limit for blind beneficiaries but
instead on the national average wage index. In 2021 the amount required to use a
TWP month was only $940, and this amount will increase to $970 in 2022. If you
are self-employed, you can also use a trial work month if you work more than eighty
hours in your business, and this limitation will not change unless expressly
adjusted.</p> <h3 id="substantial-gainful-activity-sga">Substantial Gainful Activity
(SGA)</h3> <p>The earnings limit for a blind beneficiary in 2021 was $2,190 per
month and will increase to $2,260 in 2022. Again, it's important to remember this
is not the amount of money an individual makes to use a trial month. This is to
say that the TWP can be exhausted even if your income is well below $2,260 per
month. See the above information about the TWP.</p> <p>In 2022 a blind SSDI
beneficiary who earns $2,260 or more in a month (before taxes but after subtracting
unincurred business expenses for the self-employed, subsidized income for the
employed, and impairment-related work expenses) will be deemed to have exceeded
SGA (Substantial Gainful Employment) and will likely no longer be eligible for
SSDI benefits.</p> <h3 id="supplemental-security-income-ssi">Supplemental Security
Income (SSI)</h3> <p>The federal payment amount for individuals receiving SSI was
$794 in 2021 and will increase to $841 in 2022. For married couples, the federal
monthly payment amount of SSI will rise from $1,191 to $1,261.</p> <h3
id="student-earned-income-exclusion">Student Earned Income Exclusion</h3> <p>In
2021, the monthly amount was $1,930 and will increase to $2,040 in 2022. The annual
amount was $7,770 in 2021 and will be $8,230 in 2022. The asset limits under the
SSI program will remain unchanged at $2,000 per individual and $3,000 per married
couple.</p> <h3 id="able-act">ABLE Act</h3> <p>Signed on December 19, 2014, the
ABLE Act has a significant impact on resource limits associated with the SSI and
Medicaid programs for those who were blind or disabled by the age of twenty-six.
Traditionally, SSI beneficiaries have been required to adhere to strict resource
limits: such as a maximum of $2,000 in the bank for an individual receiving SSI
benefits. Under the ABLE Act, however, the amount deposited in an ABLE Account
can be much higher. ABLE Account contributions must be designated specifically
for purposes such as education, housing (with a cautionary warning to follow),
employment training and support, assistive technology, health, prevention and
wellness, financial management, legal fees, and funeral and burial expenses. The
required implementing regulations are being enacted in most states. Check with
your financial institution of choice for a status of ABLE Act regulations in a
specific state and to see if an ABLE account is right for you.</p> <p>As to the
warning about ABLE Account contributions for housing, it is important to note that
SSI beneficiaries may still face the traditional $2,000 resource limit for ABLE
Account funds designated for housing. Thus, SSI beneficiaries should consider the
many other purposes not subject to the traditional resource limits when making
ABLE Account contributions, since there are also tax advantages associated with
ABLE accounts.</p> <p>For more information write to <a
href="mailto:SocialSecurityInfo@nfb.org">SocialSecurityInfo@nfb.org</a>.</p>
<p>----------</p> <h2 id="how-about-one-new-years-resolution-for-your-federation-family">How
about One New Year's Resolution for Your Federation Family</h2> <p><strong>by Gary
Wunder</strong></p> <p>When people are kind enough to give critical feedback about
our <em>Braille Monitor and other publications of ours</em>, two suggestions
emerge: run more articles on more subjects and draw more authors to our pool of
contributors. Both of these are completely consistent with my hope for our flagship
publication, so I'd like each reader to think about becoming an author. So many
of us fail to realize that our story is worth telling and that, whether we consider
ourselves writers or not, we at the <em>Monitor</em> can help.</p> <p>I had a
Federation friend tell me a story about some difficult times in his life. I was
floored and asked him to write it. He thanked me for my enthusiasm about what he
had said but told me he really wasn't a writer. I asked if he would consider
letting me be a ghost writer, assuring him it would go under his name and that
never would I reveal my role. He agreed, I had him tell me the story again, and
I wrote it down. I was nervous because this was a fantastic story. I sent it to
him and waited on pins and needles for him to call back. When he did, I couldn't
contain myself! "Was the article okay?"</p> <p>"It made me cry. You know, it wasn't
until I saw it in writing that I realized just how emotional this was to me." We
played with some factual changes, and the story ran. We are all the better for
his sharing, and I loved being a silent partner.</p> <p>Sometimes all of us have
experiences we vow never to share and to take to our graves, but let's not make
an important story one of them. This is your <em>Braille Monitor</em> not just as
a reader but as a contributor. The same is true for our Blog and our Story Bank.
Let your Federation family and others we have on our lists know about your
experiences, your insights, and your thoughts about what should comprise our
Federation agenda. Help us continue to be relevant, and let’s do it in a
way that people find interesting.</p> <p>Send your <em>Monitor</em> ideas to
gwunder@nfb.org or call me at (410) 659-9314, Extension 2360. Our Communications
Team is always glad to get stories, so please write us at <a
href="mailto:communicationsteam@nfb.org">communicationsteam@nfb.org</a>. There is
no downside to this. Let us all share and grow together.</p> <p>----------</p>
<p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Daniel Garcia]</p> <h2 id="more-on-equality-vs.-equity">More
on Equality vs. Equity</h2> <p><strong>by Daniel Garcia</strong></p> <p><strong>From
the Editor: Daniel is the president of the Kansas City, Missouri, chapter of the
Federation and a member of the affiliate’s board of directors, serving as
the corresponding secretary. He is a deep thinker, who is very courteous and
deliberative in the expression of his opinions. He is a frequent poster to the
chapter presidents’ list, and he is also good at sharing what he finds with
others. Getting reactions is exactly what was hoped by the authors and by your
editor, so thank you to Daniel and to others who have constructive thoughts. Here
is his letter to the editor:</strong></p> <p>Until I read the October 2021
<em>Braille Monitor</em> article titled “Reframing the Fight for Civil
Rights: Understanding the Discourse on Equality Verses Equity from a Social Justice
Perspective” written by Dr. Evette Simmons-Reed, Dr. LaShawna Fant, Dr.
Carolyn Peters, Mr. Kane Brolin, and Mr. Lee Martin, Sr., I thought that the words
equality and equity were synonymous. I am very grateful to the authors for having
taken the time to explain the not-so-subtle difference between the two words.</p>
<p>I do agree that blind people ought to take more ownership of the political
process. Though we are a 501(c)3 organization and cannot support a particular
candidate, I do think that as an organization we should strongly support the
concept that blind people should run for office.</p> <p>I have done much reflecting
on this article, and it seems to me that equality is a more aspirational idea
whereas equity provides the framework for how to achieve this objective. It is
precisely for that reason that I do not believe that we should change our NFB
pledge. When we recite the pledge, we are not thinking about the day-to-day tactics
that we employ to move our movement forward. Instead, we recite the pledge to
energize ourselves about what the future will bring.</p> <p>In 2021 we use language
differently than in 1974 to express political and social ideas, and I am sure that
in 2074 people will use different language than we do. It would not be practical
to keep changing the pledge to conform to the language of the time because if we
do this often enough, the NFB pledge will cease to have meaning. Let us keep the
pledge the way it is while using this article as a starting point to educate our
members about how to achieve equality.</p> <p>----------</p> <p>[PHOTO CAPTION:
Mary Ellen Gabias]</p> <h2 id="christmas-recollections">Christmas Recollections</h2>
<p><strong>by Mary Ellen Gabias</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor: This
article is reprinted from the December 2009 issue of this magazine. Here is the
way it was introduced: Mary Ellen Gabias and her husband and four children live
in Kelowna, British Columbia. She is a longtime Federationist, who has been sharing
her insights about blindness with <em>Braille Monitor</em> readers for many years.
This is what she has learned from trimming Christmas trees:</strong></p> <p>I’ve
learned a lot about blindness from reading NFB speeches and from discussions with
friends. But I’ve come to realize my deepest learning has resulted from
moments seemingly unrelated to blindness.</p> <p>Who would think the events
surrounding our Christmas tree could teach so much about blindness and about living
in a family? Our childhood Christmas tree ritual was unvarying. After the annual
family party hosted by the parents of blind children in Toledo on the last Sunday
before Christmas, Mom and Dad drove all five of us sugar-hyped children to the
lot where a local charity sold Christmas trees. Mom and Dad decreed the price we
would pay. My siblings argued vociferously about the aesthetic appeal of long
versus short needles. I applied the sniff test. If a tree smelled good, it was
all right with me.</p> <p>Before the advent of commercial Christmas tree
stands–devices designed to promote domestic tranquility–we plunked
the tree in a bucket while Dad fabricated supports to hold it in place. By the
time the tree was standing straight with the inevitable bare spot facing the corner
where it wouldn’t show (or at least not much), we all understood why the
Christmas promise of peace on Earth and good will toward men continues to elude
humanity.</p> <p>The world owes a profound debt to the inventor of modern Christmas
tree lights with each bulb on an individual circuit. Earlier strings of lights
operated from a continuous circuit. If one bulb burned out, the whole string was
useless. My brothers and sister spent hours of frustration and tedium finding the
precise bulb that had put a string of lights out of commission. I learned quickly
to stay out of the way until the lights were finally shining.</p> <p>I come from
the find-an-empty-spot-and-stick-an-ornament-there school of tree decorating. One
of my brothers agreed. We cheerfully hung bulbs and treasured family ornaments
wherever we could reach. Mom and another brother believed in order and balance.
They followed behind us, rearranging what we’d done so that colors and
types of ornament were distributed according to a plan. To avert potential wrangling,
Mom assigned each of us a task. One child hung all the balls. Another hung the
homemade ornaments. Mom hung the delicate items. I put wire hangers or thread
loops on any ornament needing them. Then I looked for a bare spot and asked the
members of the family who cared about balance if the ornament in question fit into
their aesthetic plan. At the end I hung the icicles.</p> <p>I’ve never seen
icicles like ours on any other tree. Other people had crystal icicles. Ours were
plastic, but they looked like ice and were shaped like the icicles that hung from
trees and fences after an ice storm. Mom bought them for her first Christmas as
a new bride, and I made her tell the story every year. My brothers thought I was
a little silly, but those icicles came to symbolize Christmas for me. Even after
I was an adult living far from my family home, Mom would save the icicles for me
to put on the tree when I arrived home for Christmas.</p> <p>Nobody made any
pronouncements about blindness during our annual ritual. Certain things were simply
understood. Everybody had a role to play. Dad and the boys got the tree up while
Mom and my sister told them whether it was straight. Dad supervised the stringing
of the lights while Mom fixed supper. Then Dad sat back and stayed out of the way
while the rest of us did the decorating. Blindness didn’t keep me from
participating; it did affect how I participated.</p> <p>Decorating a tree is such
a family thing. When I moved away from home, I never bought a tree. I always spent
Christmas with my family; why bother with a tree in an apartment that would be
empty on Christmas anyway?</p> <p>Paul and I were married in January, 1989. Like
me, he traditionally spent Christmas with his family. In 1988, with our wedding
less than two weeks away, we decided to spend our first Christmas together at my
apartment in Baltimore. Paul is a university professor; at the time of our marriage
he was teaching in Colorado. He arrived in Baltimore on December 22. We went
shopping for our first Christmas tree on the way home from the airport. The pickings
are pretty slim three days before Christmas. We did our best, but the tree that
we finally strapped to the roof of Mary Ellen Thompson’s car belonged in
a Peanuts holiday special, not a living room.</p> <p>Our Federation friends came
to the rescue. Someone loaned us a spare tree stand. John Cheadle led the crew
that tied the tree up to a hurriedly installed bracket in the corner. Without the
rope to keep it in place, the curved trunk was in danger of toppling. We bought
strings of lights, and people began arriving, bearing ornaments as gifts. Even
the Cheadle children got into the act; their homemade ornaments continued to hang
on our trees every year for more than a decade. I brought out the food and hot
cider, the tree was quickly trimmed, and its peculiar shape was forgotten in the
fun of that impromptu party. Then, on Christmas morning, I opened a box of crystal
icicles sent by my sister. Christmas was complete.</p> <p>By the next year we were
living in Fredericton, New Brunswick. We invited Paul’s university colleagues
to a tree-trimming party. Once again we provided the food, and our friends
ceremoniously hung the ornaments they had brought and told stories about their
own Christmas tree experiences. It was a wonderful way to connect with people we
were coming to know.</p> <p>Visiting assistant professors lead a nomadic life.
After one year in Fredericton, Paul accepted a position in Kelowna, British
Columbia. By the Christmas of 1990, there were three of us. Joanne couldn’t
walk, but at ten months she crawled very efficiently. We decided to build a
barricade to protect the tree and keep her safe. We also chose not to have a
tree-trimming party.</p> <p>I don’t remember how we got the tree home and
who helped us ensure that it was standing straight. I do remember Paul checking
every light bulb on every string of lights and attaching the strings to the
branches. “Wouldn’t it be better to get someone sighted to do
that?” “How will you know if the lights are spaced correctly and
look right?” All my assumptions rose to the surface.</p> <p>“What’s
so difficult about wrapping lights around a tree?” Paul asked me. “You
can feel whether a branch has a light on it. You just have to be systematic.”</p>
<p>Before I began hanging ornaments, I had someone check. Paul was right. I found
I could use the same principle for hanging ornaments. I asked my reader to check
my work; I’d missed a few spots and made others too crowded, but the needed
changes were really very minor.</p> <p>Our family Christmas tree stories are every
bit as human as the ones I lived in my childhood. We bought a tree the Christmas
Paul’s mother died, but neither of us had the heart to decorate it. It
stood bare in our home as a reminder of the hope that comes with Christmas.</p>
<p>Nobody got around to decorating the tree the year Jeffrey was born at home on
Christmas Eve, either. One year our tree came home in a taxi. Big Al, the cab
driver, teased us for years about how long it took him to get all the needles out
of his car.</p> <p>Whenever toddlers were in our home, my decorating principle
was simple: block off the tree to prevent unauthorized climbing, and put only
unbreakable ornaments near the bottom.</p> <p>No matter how earnestly we might
have wanted to recreate idyllic Christmases from famous pictures, we had finally
to accept that Norman Rockwell never had to deal with real children. Paul found
a wood lot where we could choose our tree and cut it down ourselves. What a
wonderful tradition for the children! While Paul cut the tree the children had
chosen, they complained about the cold and asked where to find the bathroom. Now
we choose our trees at a local nursery, where hot apple cider is never far away.</p>
<p>Family history seems to be repeating itself. Paul and the children choose the
tree. Now that they’re older, they help him set it up, and everyone has
something to say about which way to turn it to hide the inevitable bare spot. The
children check for burned out bulbs and help their father string the lights. As
they get older, Dad’s role in this part of the project diminishes. I mediate
decorating disputes between the order-and-balance contingent and the
find-an-empty-spot-and-stick-an-ornament-there crowd. To this day the icicles are
mine.</p> <p>------------</p> <h2 id="independence-market-corner">Independence
Market Corner</h2> <p><strong>by Terri 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 every-day independence of blind people.
We will be highlighting a different product every month and listing sale products
from time to time.</p> <h3 id="products-of-the-month">PRODUCTS OF THE MONTH</h3>
<p>MEN/LADIES 3-BUTTON POLO SHIRTS: These 100% cotton shirts come in sizes small
to 5XL (men) and sizes x-small to 3XL (ladies). All are available in three colors
– black, navy, and red.</p> <p>IMP21 $24.00</p> <p>MEN/LADIES LINED NYLON
JACKETS: These jackets are perfect for those rainy, windy, or brisk weather days.
Sizes small to 5XL (men) and sizes x-small to 3XL (ladies). Available in black,
navy, and red.</p> <p>IMJ21 $30.00</p> <p>TUMBLER: Hot/Cold 16oz tumbler available
in black with white NFB logo. Keeps beverages hot or cold for hours.</p> <p>IMT21S
$8.00</p> <p>TALKING KITCHEN SCALE (VOX 3000): This scale can weigh up to 6.6
pounds (3,000 grams) with 0.1-ounch (1 gram) precision. Items can be weighed on
the weighing platform or in the plastic bowl which is included. The bowl has a
capacity of six cups. The scale also features a tare function that allows you to
zero out the weight already on the scale.</p> <p>AIK40T $35.00</p> <p>TALKING
KITCHEN AND MULTIPURPOSE SCALE (VOX-2): This scale can weigh items up to eleven
pounds (5,000 grams) on its 5-inch, square, stainless steel weighing platform with
0.1-ounce (1 gram) precision. It also features a tare function, high/low volume
switch, and speaks in four languages (English, Spanish, French, and German). The
unit uses four AA batteries (included).</p> <p>AIK47S $40.00</p> <h3
id="sale-and-close-out-products">SALE AND CLOSE-OUT PRODUCTS</h3> <p>NINE MEN
MORRIS GAME AIG74G $10.00</p> <p>CUBE CLOCK AIG73S $5.00</p> <p>CAMERA BAG AIA48B
$1.00</p> <p>For more information about the products available from the Independence
Market, contact us by email at <a
href="mailto:independencemarket@nfb.org">independencemarket@nfb.org</a> or by
phone at (410) 659-9314, extension 2216, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to
5:00 p.m. eastern time. Our staff will be happy to assist.</p> <p>----------</p>
<p>[PHOTO CAPTION: Lisa Bryant]</p> <h2
id="keystone-chapters-second-annual-virtual-talent-show-is-an-even-bigger-success-this-year">Keystone
Chapter’s Second Annual Virtual Talent Show Is an Even Bigger Success This
Year!</h2> <p><strong>by Lisa Bryant</strong></p> <p><strong>From the Editor: Lisa
has of late been a frequent contributor here, and I, for one, am grateful. I love
her spirit, her ability to communicate, and the diverse activities on which she
writes. Enjoy her latest offering that springs from her commitment to our
organization:</strong></p> <p>Last year, when the Keystone Chapter in Philadelphia
began planning its first virtual talent show and fundraiser, one of the first
things to decide on was its name. There were clever suggestions that attempted to
incorporate blindness and talent, like Visions of Talent or Talent Beyond Vision.
But it was Chapter President Harriet Go’s suggestion of Believe You Can
that stuck. This past October, the chapter held its second annual show/fundraiser
which also purposedly coincides with <a
href="https://nfb.org/blog/blindness-equality-and-achievement-who-defines-us">Blindness,
Equality, and Achievement Month</a> and <a
href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/blind-equality-achievement-month/white-cane-awareness-day">White
Cane Awareness Day</a>.</p> <p>Fourteen artists were featured this year (only
slightly fewer than last year), representing a wide variety of demographics and
forms of talent. Some did cover performances while a few other performed original
works. Genres included rock, folk, R&B, and contemporary Christian. And for
comic relief, Mike Karsok of the at-large Massachusetts chapter did a standup
routine that took him to the finalist round. Many performers were from the
Pennsylvania area, but Atlanta, Georgia; Vancouver, Washington; and Nashville,
Tennessee, were also in the house–or rather on the screen. Winners were
determined by audience votes.</p> <p>Taking first place was <a
href="https://www.tiktok.com/@musical_poet/video/7024663794433445126?_d=secCgwIARCbDRjEFSACKAESPgo8CyIj4rIy0WUD%2BgHK7g008T6PtUc9YVd%2Bm0ENX3C1mdd2uPyde5cxhFygO8%2BVgZHCYJjlFcsUqH0SWiS7GgA%3D&checksum=04cc8f7ce450b05f0abb8329ba9d13a075d2c34a11aa834237d0650ed74e83a7&language=en&sec_uid=MS4wLjABAAAA8DCZthfFY3rjXwtu0y8Uwzfs7oJ6lVBQqS4Avop9UNdvLCMWZgoQRO55XLnh_3X2&sec_user_id=MS4wLjABAAAA8DCZthfFY3rjXwtu0y8Uwzfs7oJ6lVBQqS4Avop9UNdvLCMWZgoQRO55XLnh_3X2&share_app_id=1233&share_author_id=6746788754218550277&share_link_id=FBC3F11B-E6D6-4B44-A570-ECB45DE50130&tt_from=copy&u_code=d8jle67akmm0bc&user_id=6746788754218550277&utm_campaign=client_share&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=copy&source=h5_m&_r=1&is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1">Jasmine
Eiland</a> of Vancouver, who at thirteen years old is the show’s youngest
performer. The win comes with a $150 cash prize. Jasmine, a singer, songwriter,
and musician (playing over five instruments) covered “Wake Up” by
Julie and the Phantoms. Although she has competed before, the Believe You Can show
was her highest placement. But she’s not stopping there. Jasmine is currently
auditioning for <em>America’s Got Talent</em> and plans to audition for
<em>The Voice</em> next year.</p> <p>For Jasmine, music is a deeply personal
experience. On a recent <a
href="https://www.icantcu.com/believe-you-can-talent-show-winner-jasmine-eiland/">podcast</a>
hosted by Keystone member David Goldstein, she described the inspiration behind
self-learning a new song or instrument. “When I hear a song, I have to feel
and embrace the lyrics,” she said, and she has already given thought to a
musical career. “I would really like to go professional with my music and
songwriting. I would like to be one of those artists that is well known by a select
few people but not overly popular. I [want my music to] stand the test of
time,” she said.</p> <p>Jan Lattuca, 72, won second place for her rendition
of Prelude in C Minor, by Chopin. The win comes with a $100 cash prize. As a
classically trained pianist, it is not surprising that Jan also took first place
in last year’s show. But for Jan, it is about more than just performing.
“Winning the affirmation of many in the voting audience was something I'll
never forget; but it was also a truly fun way to raise funds for the chapter.”
She said.</p> <p>Simon Bonenfant, 19, also of the Keystone Chapter, placed third,
winning a $50 cash prize. Simon, who began singing and playing the piano at four
years old, performed “You Should Be Here” by Cole Swindell in
remembrance of a friend who recently passed away. For Simon, music is somewhat of
a ministry. “I want my music to inspire people. I hope it will bring them
closer to God,” he said.</p> <p>The success of last year’s show
helped Keystone increase the prize monies offered for this year. And the chapter
surpassed its 2020 fundraising by 20 percent. But that was only part of its mission,
which brings us back to the name of the show.</p> <p>“In the NFB, we know
that blind people have the capacity to transform our dreams into reality,”
Harriet said, “and this show is mainly about inspiration. Despite blindness,
and whether a veteran or novice, we want our performers to believe in themselves
as they reach for their goals,” she added. And the chapter hopes attendees
were equally inspired.</p> <p>More than half of the performers were new to Believe
You Can including Harriett, who this year traded in her host’s hat and
joined the virtual stage. Although a very new violinist (less than a year), seeing
the great talent from last year boosted her confidence. “I thought, if
others can do it, I can too,” she recalled.</p> <p>The show also welcomed
its first deafblind artist, Alice Eaddy of the Pennsylvania Association of Deafblind,
performed an a cappella piece by Demi Lovato. This was Alice’s first time
on the NFB stage, and she said the chapter helped make the event seamless. She
found it helpful that the team directly involved her communication facilitator,
and the mandatory sound checks before the show provided helpful feedback.</p>
<p>Now a signature fundraiser and awareness event, Believe You Can is already
scheduled for Saturday, October 15, 2022.</p> <p>For the White Canes Connect
Episode on the 2021 Believe You Can Virtual Talent Show, go to: <a
href="https://www.icantcu.com/white-canes-connect-episode-05/">https://www.icantcu.com/white-canes-connect-episode-05/</a></p>
<p>To hear the full interview with Jasmin on the iCantCU podcast, go to: <a
href="https://www.icantcu.com/believe-you-can-talent-show-winner-jasmine-eiland/">https://www.icantcu.com/believe-you-can-talent-show-winner-jasmine-eiland/</a></p>
<p>----------</p> <h2 id="monitor-miniatures"><em>Monitor</em> Miniatures</h2>
<h3 id="news-from-the-federation-family">News from the Federation Family</h3>
<p><strong>Elected:</strong></p> <p>The National Federation of the Blind of Indiana
elected officers at its most recent convention October 10, 2021. Diane Graves,
president; Ron Brown, vice president; Lee Martin, second vice president; Abby
Fleenor, secretary; Kane Brolin, treasurer; and members of the board Ray Montgomery,
Michael Lauf, Tammy Hollingsworth, and Tyler Sherck. Congratulations to our new
officers and board members, and a heart-felt thank you to those who have served
with distinction for so long.</p> <h4
id="whats-buzzing-with-the-national-federation-of-the-blind">What’s Buzzing
with the National Federation of the Blind?</h4> <p>It’s that time of year
when the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) gives a little help to Santa Claus.
Through the Santa Letter/Winter Celebration Program, children ages birth to ten
can receive a Braille letter from Santa or a Winter Celebration letter in Braille.
Both of these letters will be produced in English and Spanish. The request form
for this program will also be in English and Spanish. We are so excited to expand
this program to not only folks who celebrate Christmas but also to those who
celebrate other winter holidays or just the winter season itself.</p> <p>Children
will not only receive a Braille letter but other fun activities for you and your
family to enjoy over the winter season. The letter and all of the activities will
be sent in print too for those in your family who may not read Braille.</p>
<p>Beginning on November 8, parents, grandparents, and others can request the
Braille packet online, via fax, or by email. The packets will start being mailed
the first week in December. Make sure you get your request in early since the
deadline is December 17. This will ensure that the packet is received before the
winter season ends. You can find more information and request your letter at <a
href="https://nfb.org/programs-services/early-childhood-initiatives/santa-letters">https://nfb.org/programs-services/early-childhood-initiatives/santa-letters</a>.</p>
<h4 id="get-our-monthly-e-newsletter-imagineering-our-future">Get our monthly
e-newsletter, <em>Imagineering Our Future:</em></h4> <p><em>Imagineering Our
Future</em> is the monthly e-newsletter of the National Federation of the Blind.
It features a message from President Mark A. Riccobono and highlights our most
recent news, stories from members, action items, and upcoming Federation events.
Sign up to receive <em>Imagineering Our Future</em> in your inbox here: <a
href="https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/imagineering-our-future">https://nfb.org/resources/publications-and-media/imagineering-our-future</a>
or visit our home page which has a link to subscribe.</p> <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> <h4
id="justice-department-secures-agreement-with-rite-aid-corporation-to-make-its-online-covid-19-vaccine-registration-portal-accessible-to-individuals-with-disabilities">Justice
Department Secures Agreement with Rite Aid Corporation to Make Its Online COVID-19
Vaccine Registration Portal Accessible to Individuals with Disabilities</h4> <p>The
Justice Department and the US Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of
Pennsylvania today announced a settlement agreement with Rite Aid Corporation that
will help people with disabilities get information about COVID-19 vaccinations
and book their vaccination appointments online.</p> <p>Rite Aid’s COVID-19
Vaccine Registration Portal, currently located at <a
href="https://www.riteaid.com/covid-19">https://www.riteaid.com/covid-19</a>, was
not accessible to some people with disabilities, including those who use screen
reader software and those who have a hard time using a mouse. For instance, the
calendar on Rite Aid’s website used for scheduling vaccine appointments
did not show screen reader users any available appointment times, and people who
use the tab key instead of a mouse could not make a choice on a consent form that
they needed to fill out before scheduling their appointment.</p> <p>“Equal
access to healthcare is one of the most important rights guaranteed by the Americans
with Disabilities Act,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of
the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “As the nation
continues its response to the COVID-19 pandemic — through booster shots,
vaccinations for children under twelve, and ongoing outreach to those still in
need of initial doses — people with disabilities must be able to schedule
potentially lifesaving vaccine appointments as easily as people without disabilities
can.”</p> <p>Under today’s settlement, Rite Aid has agreed to make
content about the COVID-19 vaccine, including the forms for scheduling an appointment
to get the vaccine, conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG),
Version 2.1, Level AA. WCAG is a set of voluntary industry guidelines for making
information on a website accessible to users with disabilities. Rite Aid also must
regularly test the pages of its website about vaccine scheduling and information
and quickly fix any problems that keep people with disabilities from being able
to use these pages.</p> <p>“As technology increases, the internet is where
people gain access to information about COVID-19 vaccines and schedule a vaccination
appointment,” said Acting US Attorney Bruce D. Brandler for the Middle
District of Pennsylvania. “Individuals with disabilities, including those
with visual impairments and those who cannot use a mouse, must be given the same
access to that information and the ease of scheduling appointments online. Since
the beginning of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, private companies have
partnered with the United States. Today, with the help of Rite Aid, we make great
strides in that continuing partnership by ensuring individuals with disabilities
have the ability to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination independently and
privately.”</p> <p>This matter was handled jointly by the Disability Rights
Section of the department’s Civil Rights Division and Civil Rights Coordinator
Michael Butler of the US Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of
Pennsylvania. Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires
public accommodations like drugstores and grocery stores to provide individuals
with disabilities with full and equal enjoyment of goods and services, such as
vaccines. The ADA also requires public accommodations to ensure effective
communication with people with disabilities, including by using auxiliary aids
and services like accessible technology.</p> <p>For more information on the Civil
Rights Division, please visit <a href="http://www.justice.gov/crt">www.justice.gov/crt</a>.
For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free
ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit <a
href="http://www.ada.gov">www.ada.gov</a>. ADA complaints may be filed online at
<a href="http://www.ada.gov/complaint">www.ada.gov/complaint</a>.</p> <h4
id="south-baltimore-gateway-partnership-announces-550500-in-new-community-grants">South
Baltimore Gateway Partnership Announces $550,500 In New Community Grants</h4>
<p>The South Baltimore Gateway Partnership (SBGP) is excited to announce $550,500
in new Community Grants to support thirteen projects across South and Southwest
Baltimore. This round of funding was highly competitive, attracting proposals
totaling more than $1.1 million. Since its establishment in 2016, SBGP has invested
over $14.7 million through Community Grants and other initiatives. Community Grants
are awarded based on previously determined criteria, including alignment with
strategic goals. SBGP Community Grants funding is provided by the Local Impact
Grants generated by video lottery terminals, including at the Horseshoe Casino
Baltimore.</p> <p>GraceCity Church’s “Good Neighbor Nutrition
Education” program was awarded funding this cycle to provide sustainable
nutrition education to families to cultivate enhanced cooking literacy and encourage
healthy relationships with food. Executive Pastor Christin Hanigan states that
the funding will “help fulfill SBGP’s commitment to the health and
well-being of our friends and neighbors in Sharp-Leadenhall. As a result of
SBGP’s generous support, we can build on our long-standing and productive
collaboration with the families of this historic community to promote the success
of all its extraordinary residents. We are profoundly grateful for this additional
opportunity to serve.”</p> <p>The LET’S GO Boys and Girls “Grow
through STEM” program will serve the Lakeland and Westport communities.
“This award will allow partnership between LET’S GO, schools, and
community organizations in South Baltimore that will uplift youth social and
emotional well-being. “Together, we will implement after-school STEM
programs, youth employment and career readiness mentorship, and family engagement
events. Holistically, our initiatives will create and sustain self-identity in
South Baltimore youth that support successful careers, economic mobility, and the
ability to make positive and meaningful change in their own lives and communities,”
says Debbie Dininno, Regional Director for Baltimore.</p> <p>The National Federation
of the Blind (NFB) was also awarded funding to develop the first museum dedicated
to the civil rights movement of blind Americans. “As America’s
transformative advocacy organization of blind people, proudly headquartered in
South Baltimore’s Riverside community for over forty years, we are honored
and pleased to receive this grant,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the
NFB. “It will help us plan our museum dedicated to the civil rights movement
of blind Americans, allowing us to share our story with and foster understanding
among our neighbors in South Baltimore, as well as visitors from across our nation
and the world.”</p> <p>In addition to the projects described above, other
funding awarded this cycle will support:</p> <p>“Urban Runoff Reduction
Project,” a school-based program designed to address environmental issues
by involving students in stewardship to improve the watershed. (Living Classrooms
Foundation)</p> <p>“Reach High Baltimore,” a project aiming to
improve diversity, year-round inclusion in rowing and access to the Middle Branch.
It will include a pilot to feature robotics competitions and swimming instruction.
(Baltimore Rowing Club)</p> <p>“Preserving Families,” a program
supporting pet families experiencing housing crises. (BARCS)</p> <p>First floor
renovation for the Ebenezer African Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the oldest
standing churches in Baltimore and a venue for community engagement and support.
(Ebenezer Kingdom Builders, Inc.)</p> <p>“There were so many amazing projects
requesting funding this grant cycle. It’s very clear that the communities
know what they need and want for their neighborhoods, and we’re honored to
support them as they reach their goals,” says Brad Rogers, Executive Director
of SBGP.</p> <p>SBGP also funds Transformational Projects around the District,
such as Reimagine Middle Branch and the Middle Branch Fitness and Wellness Center
in Cherry Hill. Enhanced Services beyond the baseline services provided by the
City are also supported by SBGP. In July 2021, SBGP announced $6 million of Enhanced
Services funding for parks and programs in South Baltimore, including the future
renovation for the Carroll Park recreation center, which will be overhauled after
being closed to the community for 20 years.”</p> <p>“We’re
pleased to support the important work these organizations and their teams are
doing to enhance Baltimore,” says Horseshoe Casino Baltimore Senior Vice
President and General Manager Randy Conroy. “The more than $550,000 in
Community Grants issued this cycle represents an ongoing commitment to improving
the lives of Baltimoreans through a diverse range of initiatives that touch a wide
range of needs in our city.”</p> <p>A new round of SBGP Community Grants
funding will be available this coming winter in 2022. Organizations can visit <a
href="https://sbgpartnership.org/community-grants/">https://sbgpartnership.org/community-grants/</a>
to learn more and apply.</p> <h4 id="blind-people-have-a-chance-to-make-corporate-contacts">Blind
People Have a Chance to Make Corporate Contacts:</h4> <p>Disability:IN is the
leading nonprofit resource for business disability inclusion worldwide. Disability:IN
NextGen Leaders are college students and recent graduates with disabilities.
Students are matched one-on-one with mentors from Disability:IN Corporate Partners
across all industries like Google, JPMorgan Chase, Microsoft, Boeing, and Pfizer.
We are committed to increasing opportunities for individuals who represent all
segments of diversity. POC [people of color], women, veterans, and members of the
LGBTQIA+ community with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply.</p> <p>The
deadline to apply is January 7, 2022 at <a
href="http://www.DisabilityIN.org/2022NextGenLeaderApplication">www.DisabilityIN.org/2022NextGenLeaderApplication</a>.</p>
<p>You can read more about our program here <a
href="https://disabilityin.org/what-we-do/nextgen-leaders-initiatives/apply-faq/">https://disabilityin.org/what-we-do/nextgen-leaders-initiatives/apply-faq/</a>.</p>
<h4 id="us-department-of-labor-relaunches-earn-website">US Department of Labor
Relaunches EARN Website: </h4> <p>The US Department of Labor today announced the
newly redesigned Employer Assistance and Resource Network on the Disability
Inclusion website. Supported cooperatively by the department’s Office of
Disability Employment Policy and Cornell University, the EARN site offers resources
to help employers of all sizes and industries recruit, hire, retain, and advance
people with disabilities and develop disability-inclusive workplace cultures.</p>
<p>The redesigned website highlights four essential components of the employment
lifecycle – recruitment, hiring, retention, and advancement and explores
how including people with disabilities in each of these areas helps employers meet
their workplace diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility goals.</p> <p>The
resources include online training courses, useful checklists, policy guides,
videos, and recorded webinars on issues related to disability inclusion. The site
also offers information on topics such as workplace mental health, employment
issues related to coronavirus, inclusive telework, federal contractor requirements,
and the benefits of neurodiversity in the workplace.</p> <p>Celebrating its 20th
anniversary in 2021, ODEP promotes policies and coordinates with employers and
all levels of government to increase workplace success for people with disabilities.
The agency supports policy development and technical assistance centers, including
EARN.</p> <p>EARN is a free resource that helps employers tap the benefits of
disability diversity by educating public-and private-sector organizations on ways
to build inclusive workplace cultures. Visit the site at <a
href="https://askearn.org">https://askearn.org</a>.</p> <h4
id="mastercard-launches-the-touch-card">Mastercard Launches the Touch Card:</h4>
<p>October 25, 2021</p> <p>Jill Davison, Global Communications, Mastercard</p>
<p>2.2 billion people around the world have visual impairments</p> <p>Unique
notches on the Touch Card's short side allow the person to distinguish it between
a credit, debit, or prepaid card.</p> <p>Mastercard extends its commitment to
inclusivity by introducing a new accessible card standard for blind and partially
sighted people, called the Touch Card. There are few effective ways for the visually
impaired to quickly determine whether they're holding a credit, debit, or prepaid
card, particularly as more cards move to flat designs without embossed name and
numbers. Mastercard is addressing this challenge with a simple yet effective
innovation.</p> <p>"The Touch Card will provide a greater sense of security,
inclusivity, and independence to the 2.2 billion people around the world with
visual impairments," says Raja Rajamannar, chief marketing and communications
officer. "For the visually impaired, identifying their payment cards is a real
struggle. This tactile solution allows consumers to correctly orient the card and
know which payment card they are using."</p> <p>With the new Touch Card, Mastercard
has improved upon a current design standard by introducing a system of notches on
the side of the card to help consumers use the right card, the right way, by touch
alone. The new Touch Card credit cards have a round notch; debit cards have a
broad squarish notch; and prepaid cards have a triangular notch. The standard has
been designed to work with point-of-sale terminals and ATMs, ensuring it can be
deployed at scale.</p> <p>Mastercard's concept has been vetted and endorsed by
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) in the U.K. and VISIONS/Services
for the Blind and Visually Impaired in the U.S. The card was co-designed by IDEMIA,
the global leader in Augmented Identity, providing trusted solutions in the physical
as well as digital space.</p> <p>"As the banking industry responds to new trends
and developments, it's critical that any innovation brings progress for everyone,
including those with a visual impairment," says David Clarke, RNIB's director of
services. "We're very pleased that Mastercard understands how important it is that
blind and partially sighted people have equal and independent access to their own
finances."</p> <p>"Innovation should always be driven by the impulse to include,"
adds Rajamannar, who is also the company's Healthcare president. "With one in
seven people experiencing some form of disability, designing these products with
accessibility in mind gives them equal opportunity to benefit from the ease and
security of a digital world. No one should be left behind."</p> <p>Mastercard has
been embedding its signature melody at checkout counters worldwide, a signal to
everyone—the sight impaired in particular—that their card transaction
has gone through successfully.</p> <p>Mastercard's launch of the Touch Card
underscores its commitment to inclusivity. It follows the introduction of True
Name™, designed in support of the transgender and non-binary communities.
The company's commitment as a brand is to not only stand against inequity but to
be an agent for change.</p> <p>----------</p> <h2 id="nfb-pledge"><strong>NFB
Pledge</strong></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> <div class="footnotes"> <hr /> <ol> <li id="fn1"><p><a
href="https://www.ada.gov/effective-comm.htm">https://www.ada.gov/effective-comm.htm</a><a
href="#fnref1" class="footnote-back">↩︎</a></p></li> </ol> </div>
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