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THE STUDENT SLATE
Winter 2009
THE VOICE OF ORGANIZED BLIND STUDENTS IN AMERICA
A Publication of the National Association of Blind Students (NABS)
Terri Rupp, President
Jennifer Kennedy, Editor
From the Editor
The following publication is for students written by students. Articles have only been edited for clarification and attempt to maintain the voice of each article’s author. These articles were written voluntarily and the National Association of Blind Students would like to thank everyone who contributed. If you are interested in writing an article or anase contact Jennifer Kennedy through
NABSLink.org.
In this issue:
Editor’s Note: National Association of Blind Students’ President Terri Rupp offers these opening remarks to Student Slate readers:
Since it's conception 42 years ago, the National Association of Blind Students has worked hard to gain equality. We work as a division of the National Federation of the Blind to "Change what it means to be blind." Lord Chesterfield once said, "If we do not plant knowledge when young, than we will not have shade when we are old" I hope this issue of the Student Slate will help bring a bit of shade to a not so distant future.
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Announcing NABSLink.org
by Terri Rupp
Editor’s Note: The following announcement was posted on various National Federation of the Blind listservs regarding an exciting announcement from the National Association of Blind Students.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Terri Rupp, President
National Association of Blind Students (NABS),
A Division of the National Federation of the Blind
(707) 567-3019
Email:
president (at) nabslink.org.
Online Portal Opens New Frontiers for Blind Students
Las Vegas, Nevada (January 12, 2009)-The National Association of Blind
Students announced today the first phase launch of its official web site,
NABSLink.org. The site comes at the commencement of a new campaign to reach
blind and visually impaired students across the country and is a direct
response to the need for centralized information for high school and
post-secondary students. Terri Rupp, president of NABS, said: "Students
play a crucial role in the movement of the organized blind. We rely on the
up and coming generation to keep the momentum fresh, and it was time we did
something to gather all the tools for their success in a single convenient
location to keep that momentum strong."
The site styles itself after a virtual university. Among other features,
NABSLink hosts a Career Center and Bluebook to connect students with a
number of informative tools and resources to facilitate their independence
inside and outside of the classroom. To facilitate communication between
the organization's leadership, membership and the public at large there is
also an official blog and wiki project. The web development team believes
these individual features will help cultivate a thriving repository of
up-to-date information to aid students at various levels in their
educational and professional development.
The NABS Board of Directors is pleased to finally release the first phase of
a project it hopes to continue growing with the contributions and support of
its members and the general public. Anyone is welcomed to help build upon
this foundation. Ultimately the site will foster self-sufficiency and
independence and be one more vehicle to expand opportunities for all blind
students pursuing a myriad of professional paths.
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Editor’s Note: Sean Whalen, former Wisconsin Association of Blind Students president recently completed an internship on Capital Hill. Through his internship, he was given the opportunity to witness the swearing in of the 44th President of the United States of America, Barack Obama. Here is what he had to say:
It was Tuesday January 20, 2009, 1:00 AM, and there I sat with a cell phone plastered to one ear and a land line to the other, listening, as I had been for the past 35 minutes, to rival cab companies here in Arlington Virginia inform me that all dispatch operators were busy and assure me that calls were being answered in the order they were received. That seemed to me a reasonable order in which to answer them, so I continued to hold with the anticipation of witnessing a great moment in American history building inside me. It was, after all, the day that Barack Hussein Obama, a man who I had spent almost two years supporting and virtually my entire October and early November campaigning for in Fairfax, would place his hand on Lincoln’s Bible and take the oath of office, thus becoming the 44th President of the United States. Through the Congressional Internship that I had done in Representative Ron Kind’s office, I was lucky enough to get my hands on a ticket to the Inaugural. On the final day of my internship, the Chief of Staff took me aside, along with one other intern, to inform us that we would each be given one ticket to the swearing in ceremony. I had planned to be a face in the crowd on the National Mall on Inauguration Day, but the promise of gaining entry to the ticketed area added a whole new level of excitement.
As my mind meandered, a tired voice on the other end of the line snapped me back into the moment. “Redtop Cab, may I have your pickup address?” I had a moment’s hesitation as I tried to discern from which phone the voice had come, but after clearing that up, I provided all the necessary information. “We’ll have a cab out in ten minutes.” The man said, and hung up the phone hurriedly. I found it somewhat amusing that I had just spent nearly an hour waiting for dispatch and would now wait only ten minutes for the cab itself. Perhaps they ought to have brought in some drivers and put them on the phones. At any rate, I grabbed my cash, my keys and my cane, and after quadruple checking that my purple ticket was in fact in my coat pocket, headed for the door.
As I stepped out into the 18 degree night to wait for my cab, I felt confident that I would beat the rush to the gates. The metro was not to start running until 4:00 AM and I figured that chartered buses would not be rolling in until around 6:00. I also felt a slight thrill at doing something so ridiculous. Some people, labeled “crazies,” had been queued up since 11:00 the night before. But, let’s face it, the 2:00 AM departure wasn’t completely sane itself.
“Where to?” the driver asked. I told him that I wanted to go as close to the entry gate at 1st and Louisiana Southeast as he could get me. The drive over the river into the District was smooth sailing with no traffic to be found. However, once we entered DC itself, it became clear that “as close as he could get me” wasn’t going to be all that close. All streets around the Capitol had already been barricaded off and there was no way to proceed but on foot. I tried to get some information from the driver about exactly where he was letting me off, but the most I could glean from the conversation was that we were near L’Enfant Plaza. Fortunately, there were police posted at every single corner, and, though they were brought in from all over the US and had no idea where anything was, they could at least tell me which corner it was that they were posted at. I struck out, and through numerous “What is the name of this street?” inquiries, got my bearings and headed south down 2nd street. Crowds were already starting to gather on street corners and the excitement and anticipation were definitely in the air. Once I crossed into the Southeast quadrant, I asked another Inauguration-goer if he knew which way to turn to head toward Louisiana Avenue and the purple gate. He was quite confused. He had been heading up 2nd Street in the other direction looking for the very same gate. It turned out that he was right. When my ticket was given to me, I was told to go to 1st and Louisiana Southeast, but really, the gate was located at 1st and Louisiana Northwest. Either my informant was holding the map upside down, or he was completely sadistic. Either way, I was now headed back in the right direction. I finally arrived, at about 3:30 AM and after over an hour of walking, at my gate. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I had beaten the crowd even more so than I could have hoped. This gate was for tens of thousands of ticketed guests, and I was somewhere between 35th and 45th in line. This is the first time that visions of the front row started to dance in my mind.
Over the next four and a half hours in line, I was part of something that I had never before in my life experienced. Differences in race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, and age and disability seemed to disappear, or more accurately, simply ceased to matter. We all exchanged our stories of how we got there and why we felt it so important to come. We cracked jokes and shared laughs. We sang songs together and took part in group calisthenics to keep the blood flowing to our frozen feet. Most of all, we just took in the atmosphere of palpable excitement and tried to grasp the enormity of what was about to happen. By 6:00, the masses started to pour in. Many, on their way to the back of the line, tried to execute the stop, linger, and be absorbed into the line approach. As you might guess, those of us who had been waiting for hours were having none of that. We called them all out and raised enough of a ruckus that police came and made sure that the people at the front of the line actually belonged there. By 7:00 the sun was up and the opening of the gates felt imminent. And then, finally, at just before 8:00, the gates were opened and the rush was on. The line was no more. In its place was a mass of humanity surging toward the security checkpoints. As I rushed in, a man named Crenshaw from Atlanta, with whom I had been talking a lot in line, shoved me toward a particular checkpoint and yelled over his shoulder, “go there, that one’s short.” And it was. There was one person in front of me. Then it was all metal and electronics on the table, through the metal detector, refill the pockets, and on ahead to the ticket checkers. “Tickets in hand.” They shouted to the oncoming crowd. I whipped the ticket out of my pocket and waved it in their direction as I tried to remain ahead of the majority of the flood of people. From there, it was a footrace. Truth be told, I wasn’t quite sure where to go, but I knew I wanted to get there quick. Some were literally sprinting, most were somewhere between an ultra-brisk walk and a jog. I followed the flow of people until, all of a sudden, I found myself run up against a chest-high metal barricade. Could it be? Oh yes, indeed it was! I had found my way to the very front row of standing room. There were 25,000 seated guests in front of me, but roughly One and a half million standing behind me, all the way to the back of the National Mall.
The next two hours, up until the official start of the program, were spent talking to new people and listening to others exclaim at every new sighting of an A-list celebrity walking about just below in the seated area. At 10:00 the program started, however there was nothing too exciting until 11:30 or so. The huge crowd roared as Joe Biden was introduced and took his oath. We then enjoyed the musical stylings, though actually prerecorded, of Yo-Yo Ma et al. Then, after nearly ten hours in the freezing cold, the moment finally came. Barack Obama took from Chief Justice John Roberts the Presidential oath of office. Though Roberts’ brilliant legal mind couldn’t quite handle memorizing and properly reciting a 35 word oath, it was no less powerful when Obama said “So help me God.” And the 21 gun salute was fired off. It was almost surreal to be right there and among the ecstatic crowd at that moment. He then delivered his Inaugural address. To spare you my political and rhetorical commentary, I will say only this. The speech was absolutely moving. It was inspirational, well-delivered and befitting the moment. The feeling of actually being there and taking part in this great moment in American history was nearly indescribable. It is absolutely an experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
After the ceremony, the mobs of people tried to make their way out of the area. I, being familiar with the area, was a hot commodity. I gave many directions to nearby metro stations and helped untold numbers figure out which trains were going where. Nobody seemed too bothered that I was blind, they were just happy to find anybody who had any reliable information. I plugged my way down Pennsylvania Avenue eight or so blocks to the Eastern Market metro station, hoping that it would be less crowded than other stations in the more immediate vicinity. It was. Rather than waiting for hours to board a train, I was from street to seat in about 40 minutes. Once off the metro, it was a brisk walk home, and a much needed seat on a soft couch in a warm living room to take in the parade and news on TV.
While there are many things that stand out in this story, the fact that I am blind is really not one of them. And, therein lies the message. The Inaugural was a microcosm of life. Were there a few things that I had to do differently than the sighted public? Absolutely. Were there things that it might have been desirable, convenient or aesthetically pleasing to see? Yes, I’m sure. Did my being blind dominate the landscape or dictate what I was going to do? Certainly not. This was an incredible experience, and blindness does not stop us from leading incredible lives.
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Editor’s Note: Alan Wheeler is one of NABS’ most well-known “non-traditional” students and is a leader in the Nebraska Association of Blind Students. He offers these remarks to students facing fears at college and how it can happen for all ages, not just those who are right out of high school.
Not long ago on the NABS list serve, we were addressing certain fears. Let me say that as someone 42-years old, old enough to be the father of some of the kids I go to school with, I have my own fears. Fears of failing classes, fears of being overwhelmed by homework, fears of not fitting in with anyone around me, and the list goes on. Some of those fears are related to my blindness, and just as many aren’t. Some are related directly to what I said about being old enough to be the father of a lot of the people I go to school with.
The thing is, I've had to carry on despite those fears, and despite the fact they gnaw at me on an almost daily basis. If I look at what's in store for me in terms of completing this degree, including figuring out accommodations for classes that I never dreamed I would be taking in a million years, I could chicken out so easily. I could listen to that little voice in my head that says “I am going to blow it and blow it big time!” I don't though, because I know that all the hard work, all the exhaustion, all the stress, anxiety, and nagging doubts will be worth it in the end when I reach that goal of getting my degree! Yes, we as blind people have to work a bit harder, sleep a bit less, but nothing worth having isn’t worth fighting for.
I have jokingly said that students drink because they are giving themselves "self-prescribed anti-anxiety medication." I mention this because of the daily bouts of anxiety I have experienced. I have had days I was moments away from simply throwing in the towel. Thankfully, somewhere deep inside, I know that throwing in the towel is not an option. No matter what anyone says about my blindness, no matter how many struggles I face getting the proper accommodations that I need, no matter how small I feel some days walking around the University of Nebraska Lincoln campus, I have to prevail. I cannot throw in the towel.
All of this is to say that school is about facing your fears, no matter how old you are. You have to look those fears dead on and say "You will not stop me in my tracks, and you will not prevent me from reaching my goal."
I realize this is easier said than done. Believing in yourself is the key and it will unlock an amazing number of doors for you. Do not be afraid to walk through those doors. As a high school friend of mine once wrote in a yearbook, “Tackle the future with ease, don't let it tackle you.”
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Editor’s Note: Bruce Sexton, Board Member of the National Association of Blind Students and an active member of the California Association of Blind Students, discusses how blindness training prepared him for tasks outside his training curriculum.
I began my training center experience at the Louisiana Center for the Blind in July 2000. I arrived during the hottest week of the year that summer, with temperatures above one hundred degrees with intense humidity, something my California blood was not used to. I came to the center thinking I was hot stuff. Soon I realized that just because I had been the most popular student, the president of our student body, and probably the most independent person at the California School for the Blind, Louisiana had something to teach me, and the program turned up the heat. I was challenged at the Louisiana Center like I had never previously been challenged.
I came to the center with the bare minimum in my luggage. When I was dropped off at my apartment to find no food in the fridge and no sheets on the bed, you can imagine my shock and disgust. I thought, “What kind of people drop you off without offering to feed you and give you a comfortable place to sleep?” I was experiencing blind baptism by emersion. With only myself to rely on, I asked around to get some basic information about this foreign place I had just surrendered myself to and someone showed me where the nearest grocery store was. I bought a case of Coca-Cola, cereal, and milk. I slept on a sheet and under my coat that first night. Perhaps I was mistaken when I said I brought the bare minimum, because I didn’t even have an alarm clock. My roommate woke me the first morning, but he went to a leadership seminar the next day, leaving me to my own devices. Miss Joanne, the director of the center at the time, came knocking at my door at 8:30 for the next two days, indicating I had overslept and missed the 8:00 AM roll call. The second day, I’ll never forget, she said, “Three strikes and you’re out.” Needless to say, the staff strongly encouraged me to get an alarm clock and I followed their recommendations.
My cocky attitude about my need for training was that all I needed from the center was a little cane travel and some Braille. That the rest would be a snap. After all, I was a Sexton, right? Oh how wrong I was. At the center I learned confidence, responsibility and maturity, along with a slice of humble pie.
Even though I was not afraid of the power tools in the shop, I learned confidence because I created a project from start to finish. I designed a butterfly-shaped jewelry box using Purple Heart wood. I carved out the pockets for the jewelry and put on the lid. The lid had several components, including the body of the butterfly and the two wings that flip up to reveal the jewelry slots. It took six months of dedicated work. I had never independently created something so incredible in my life. When I finished I felt so good about what I had accomplished.
I graduated in May 2001 and I was on fire. I was confident, a little more mature, and ready to conquer the world. I went home and contemplated college. I had never independently gone through school. A vision teacher had always been there to help me along in my coursework and I was afraid. Regardless, I signed up. I remember going to my first class which was Tai Quan Do. I sat in on the introduction of the class waiting for it to be over so that I could challenge the Sensei. I was going to prove to myself that I could not reasonably take Tai Quan Do. I went up to him after the introduction and asked, “Have you ever had a blind person in your class?” He simply answered “Yes.” I was not going to give up. I then asked “But you have not had a completely blind person in your class, right?” He said “Yes I have.” I asked incredulously “How did it work?” He again, without hesitation said “Well, I have the higher belts mentor the lower ones.” With this I thanked him thinking to myself, there was no way he would remember me while he is teaching.
I went to the next class doubting, but I was not going to let it be myself who failed me. I was going to let it be the instructor. Each time I went I thought, “He’s going to forget to help me and I’ll have an excuse to give up.” He never forgot. He always either showed me the kick or other movement himself or asked a higher ranking belt to assist me. When I understood the movement, I could do it with the rest of the class by obeying his verbal commands, such as “forward kick” or “back kick.” Even when it got to be a complex series of movements I was always with the group! I doubted myself, but I was trained in Louisiana to try things I had never done before. That was my first semester, and I got one “B” two “C’s” and one “D.”
The last semester at my community college I was required to take an art course. I took sixteen units that semester; Statistics, Oceanography, Oceanography Lab, Ecology, Social Anthropology and Ancient Art History. Unlike my first semester, I was confident. I went into my Ancient Art History class excited to challenge myself. I spoke with the professor after class and he had doubts. “How are you going to take a course where everything is pictures on an overhead?” I said “I don’t know, but I’m sure we can figure something out.” Thinking on my feet I said “Isn’t there a book and don’t you have to lecture?” He said “Yes.” I said “Well then, that’s how I’ll know what you’re talking about.” After some of this discussion He finally relented and said the class was going to be an interesting challenge. That night I came up with a plan to take the required tests.
Apparently the professor had doubts because I went to the Disabled Student Services (DSS) office the next day and they greeted me with “So, what class are you going to replace your art class with?” They explained that the professor came to tell them that there was no possible way I could take his class. I enlightened them to the fact that there were no other art classes that I could take since I had such a tight schedule of required transferable classes. We had a meeting with the DSS office and the professor. When they looked through the schedule they found I was telling the truth. There were indeed, no other art classes offered during times that I was not already in another class.
The professor disregarded my methods of taking the multiple choice exams and instead gave me the exams which were intended to punish students. If you missed the multiple choice exam given at the regularly schedule date, the only opportunity you had to take the exam was a take-home essay exam. You had one week to complete an alternative assigned seven to ten page essay. These exams were given to me every two weeks for sixteen weeks. I got a “B” in that class.
My Ancient Art History professor still does not know how I would go on the trips around the world that he goes on with students, but he now knows Blind people can take his class. While the Louisiana Center for the Blind dropped me off without asking whether I needed food or blankets they certainly prepared me for life. Without the expectations that the Louisiana Center for the Blind had for me, I never could have gotten this far. While we all need others to get advice from, we are not always going to have a vision teacher to hold our hands. Our quest for confidence starts with training, but it almost never ends just because we have been trained. I graduated the community college with a 3.5 and am now attending the University of California at Berkeley where my quest for confidence is always transcending to new levels.
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Editor’s Note: Allison Hilliker, longtime Federationist and past member of the national board of the National Association of Blind Students shares some exciting news from one of the largest electronic book libraries available to blind and other print-disabled students Bookshare.org.,
BookShare.org
is an online library of over 43,000 books and 150 daily periodicals in accessible formats including Braille, large print and synthetic speech. These books are available to individuals with qualifying print disabilities like blindness. Site memberships are completely free to all U.S. students who are in K-12, college, or graduate school. This means that members have unlimited 24-7 access to thousands of free books that they can download and read within a matter of minutes. If you're not a student, but would still like to join Bookshare, you can purchase a subscription for only $50 per year that provides the same unlimited access to books.
Bookshare's titles are offered in a variety of accessible formats such as DAISY, BRF, and XML. Those formats enable individuals to read the books in Braille, speech, or large print depending on the hardware or software used. Books can be loaded onto a note-taker like a Braille Note or Pac Mate; listened to on portable players like the Victor Reader Stream or Icon, or read off the computer using your favorite screen reader or screen enlargement program. In addition, Bookshare offers its own free DAISY reading software that you can download. To learn more about how to read Bookshare books, visit our
Downloading Books page.
Bookshare is now adding more than one thousand new books and textbooks a month. The site offers a variety of books to appeal to a wide range of readers. We have a collection of texts and nonfiction titles for when you're busy with school work and studying, and many recreational-type books for when you just want to relax. You can also read dozens of newspapers available for download through NFB Newsline. Each month, Bookshare adds the latest New York Times bestselling books to the collection so that you can read popular current titles at the same time your sighted friends do. The site's browse category feature allows you to view books on subjects like mystery, science fiction, textbooks, romance, poetry, teen books, history and more. If you aren't sure what you would like to read, you can view a list of the most popular downloads or browse the New Books page to see what titles have been added to the library recently.
If you need a book for a class Bookshare can help! Our growing collection of digital textbooks, including U.S. K-12 textbooks from the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Center (NIMAC), helps students with print disabilities find timely access to the books they need for school. Bookshare prioritizes student requests and will try to scan your book and make it available to you through our site. I know the student request process works because I've been a blind student myself, and Bookshare has scanned textbooks for me when I needed them in college. Hundreds of other grade school and university students have been able to get their books in the same way. Since Bookshare scans textbooks, we can't successfully make every book available. Science and math books especially don't scan well. However, since it never hurts to ask, please send us your book requests and we'll try our best to make them available. To request a book, please e-mail
schoolbookrequest@bookshare.org.
For those of you who are already familiar with Bookshare, I have exciting news about the newly-revised Bookshare.org website. The site's numerous improvements in accessibility and ease of use include a streamlined Google-like interface for search functions, better account management tools, easier navigation from a keyboard or with a mouse, and more Braille options for Bookshare members who are blind.
Below is a list of some of the exciting new features that the site offers.
• Downloadable zip file format that eliminates the need for the old unpack tool and makes opening Bookshare books easier.
• Enhanced simple and advanced search capabilities with new ways to sort, view, and save results.
• Ability to search for books by ISBN number.
• Enhanced print enlargement options for website text.
• Customizable account options for setting Braille grade and line length in BRF files.
• Book history feature that allows one to review and re-download any previously downloaded title.
• "Remember me?" option enables members to stay continuously logged in to the site
• Newly-improved version of free Victor Reader software with additional voice options.
• For members who like to submit their own scanned books, powerful new web tools that make uploading and proofreading easier, including a web feature that automatically fills in book data like synopses and copyright info.
I hope you'll decide to join us and become a member of the new Bookshare.org! If you have questions about Bookshare, feel free to contact
support@bookshare.org.
Join and create your own Bookshare account by visiting our
Sign Up page!
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From the Editor: Carlos is a student leader in the Florida Association of Blind Students and currently a student at the Louisiana Center for the Blind. In the following article, Carlos takes us through his adventures abroad.
Studying abroad is an experience of a lifetime. Like any thing that is new, it takes some time to get use to another culture. There are some other challenges that blind students need to consider before setting off overseas.
I remember when I first thought about spending a part of my summer in Spain. I did not know where to begin, and the application process was quite lengthy. After sending my application, I thought that every thing was going to be okay. The international programs staff had some concerns about a blind student going to Spain. Being the assertive person that I am, I wrote a letter to the director of the program, stating how I would succeed in the classroom and how I would travel independently with my guide dog. The letter that I wrote to the International Programs department gave me an opportunity to educate the staff about positive blindness Federation philosophy. After several meetings with staff from the international programs office, my program of study was approved.
My next task was to make sure that all of my accommodations were in place before arriving in Spain. I corresponded with my future professors four months in advance so that I could find out what text books I needed to purchase for class. All I needed to do once I obtained the books was have them scanned, and this task was completed before I left for Spain. I also made sure that the study center in Spain had computers that would support the use of screen readers. Once I arrived there, all I would need to do was install my screen reading software on one of the computers in the study center’s computer lab.
The next step I took was to get all of my guide dogs paperwork in order which would then allow us to travel to Spain with no problems. When traveling to another country with a guide dog, it is important to know that country’s legislation and policies on the use of service animals. This will allow you to enjoy your self, and you will have less to worry about.
As the summer approached, I was anxiously awaiting the day that I was to travel to Valencia Spain. I felt nervous because I did not know what to expect. I must admit that one of my concerns was my ability to understand the city of Valencia, and its layout. Another question that ran through my mind was how was I going to deal with home sickness? As it terns out, I was so busy that I never suffered from it.
The city of Valencia has a wonderful transportation system. I felt that as a blind person, getting around Valencia was easy. The transportation system had a subway line, along with a good bus system. The highlight of my Spanish experience was my planned vacation to the city of Barcelona. I never thought that I would plan a vacation during my time studying abroad but I did. I realized through this experience that I can enjoy and plan a vacation just like any one else. I took the train to Barcelona, and that was the start of an unforgettable weekend.
As I got off the train a Barcelona, I took the subway thinking that I could get to my hotel. As it terns out, my guide dog and I were lost in a city that I had never visited before. I ended up lost for about two hours. The important thing is that I was able to use my orientation and mobility skills to locate my hotel.
The next two days in Barcelona I spent traveling to the different historical sites with the assistance of a tour guide. It was a wonderful experience because I planned it, and I really enjoyed it. For those students that are thinking about studying abroad I recommend that you take advantage of the opportunity. It is an experience that will change your life forever.
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Editor’s Note: During a discussion on the NABS listserv about orientation to college campuses, Jennifer Kennedy, a National Orientation and Mobility Certified (NOMC) instructor, offered some remarks to students. She currently works as an Orientation and Mobility instructor at the Virginia Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Vision Impaired and is a Board Member of the National Association of Blind Students. Here is what her email said in part:
While having a few O&M lessons on campus with an instructor may be helpful, remember that there are many other methods to collect information about your campus to take advantage of. From your dormitory RA to the ladies who work in Dining Services to the people who sit behind you in class, people are everywhere to ask questions. While they are not experts in traveling as a blind person, they are experts on the college because they too, are navigating the same environment you are. Some of the best mapping information I collected as both an undergrad and a graduate student was from college personnel and my fellow classmates. They were the people who knew where I could find the different departments which were not always labeled. They were the people who knew where I could get the best price on my textbooks, find the quietest places to study in the library, get the strongest cup of coffee during finals week, and where to avoid if I did not want to walk on unplowed sidewalks during an Ohio snowstorm.
So how does one make sense of a massive campus with lots of buildings that all look the same with their mazes of sidewalks into a bearable travel experience?
First, I started with learning routes to classes. This is for obvious reasons since class is really the reason you go to college. You may find landmarks such as fountains or parking lots to help keep you on the right path. From there, I begin to map out other places I know I'll need such as the different dining options from my class buildings, apartment, or dorm. As things begin to make more sense, you'll notice alternative sidewalks or landmarks leading to your destination from different places you already know. Setting goals is a good way to keep this all in perspective since a college campus can be more frustration than it is pleasure to travel at first. Set a goal each week to learn where one or two new places are. This may happen by accident, such as you smell Starbucks on the way to English class several times and have now memorized where it is located. You may stop and ask a group of people gathered in an area if they are waiting for a bus or if they are gathered at some other point of interest. As you begin to gain more confidence, your goal may take more effort to find each week. I personally picked a place I knew I would need to go at some point such as the library and from there, worked my way around the library, learning the names of the different buildings around it, even if I didn't have a class there. The next month I'd pick another big landmark and learn what was around it. You can begin to build your mental map and also have points of reference when asking for directions to new places.
Another good thing to do is ride the bus around campus if you have one. I used this technique several semesters and talked to the driver about all the different stops. I would get out at one stop and stand there for awhile, asking which bus had arrived as they pulled up. This helped me figure out which buses I could pick up where, since some buses at Kent State University did not pick up at every stop and some were faster to get to other stops.
Finally, spend some time getting lost. It will inevitably happen, so why not plan on using it to explore? Campuses are full of pedestrians who are usually happy to answer any questions you may have. If the first person cannot answer your question, try the next pair of feet you hear walk by. I found that by allowing myself time to get lost, I was less panicky about being lost when I did not plan on doing so.
I will close my remarks but remember readers, Rome was not built in a day, nor will your mental map of your college campus!
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Editor’s Note: Brandon Young currently serves as President of the Hawaii Association of Blind Students and is a recent graduate of the Louisiana Center for the Blind. He shares with Slate readers his experiences as an intern for the Governmental Affairs office at the National Center for the Blind in Baltimore, Maryland.
I grew up In Hawaii and I have lived there my entire life. I was introduced to the Federation through a camping event where my family met Nani Fife, the affiliate president. Since then, I have been involved in the Federation. I received a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Hawaii of Manoa. I was involved in starting the student division in Hawaii and I have served in many positions in my chapter and state affiliate. I am currently attending the Louisiana Center for the Blind in Ruston, Louisiana. After my training, I intend to get my Master’s degree in Orientation and Mobility. I hope to serve as a travel teacher for a few years and then become an administrator of a Rehabilitation agency.
As I became a more involved member of my state affiliate, I joined a group of people that were serving on our affiliate’s Legislative Committee. The issue that we were working on was Braille Literacy, and to create a Braille bill of legislation in our state. Working on this committee and the experience of our government through my classes in college made me eager to experience our Congress and how it worked. I decided that I would want to work in Congress in conjunction with the NFB. So, I decided that I would intern at the National Center under James McCarthy in the Governmental Affairs department. I had never been to the National Center before, and I had always wanted to go and see the wonderful building where our organization was being run.
I spent the summer of 2006 serving as an intern under the Governmental Affairs department. After many communications between the National Center and me, I left my home in Hawaii and made the long trek to Baltimore. I spent the entire summer from after Memorial Day until late August working on many legislative issues that related to the National Federation of the Blind and blind people throughout the United States.
When I first arrived at the National Center, I helped finish up the Louis Braille Commemorative Coin Bill. I went with center staff to meet with a Senator from Alabama that was heading the committee the bill was under. I went to a couple of hearings about the bill. The bill finally passed the Senate and was signed into law in late July. I also learned about our philosophy of our organization. I was charged to read as much literature about the Federation as I could. I read the entire collection of Kernel books and other books about our philosophy. I then help to write a resolution for the National Convention. The resolution was about the talking books program with the Library of Congress. The program is one that is vital to blind people and it is very important to the mission of our Federation. I also attended many meetings with Legislative Aids about getting legislation starting regarding accessible textbooks for college students. Many blind students face the problem of not having their textbooks in accessible formats and we would like publishers to create a process of turning their books into accessible formats. The language of the proposed legislation is very similar to the language that was used in the legislation for students in K through 12 grade levels. The aids seemed to be very helpful, but none definitely told us that they would create any action on the issue. We as an organization are still trying to get this legislation approved.
I also served in other capacities as an intern at the National Center. I helped test the KNFB reader software. We wanted to make sure that the software worked perfectly before we released the product to the public. This involved me taking countless pictures of text. I also wrote a letter about the quiet cars issue. The Department of Transportation put out a notice regarding the issue that pertained to safety in transportation. I wrote to the agency that they needed to take up the issue of how quiet cars affect blind people. Quiet cars make it impossible for blind people to travel safely and I demonstrated to them of how they could improve the situation. I also helped out in other areas whenever it was requested of me while I was an intern at the National Center. The work was hard but enjoyable. I also attended a meeting in Washington with the Department of Education and I wrote an article in the Parents of Blind Children quarterly magazine about the events.
Throughout my busy internship, I was able to learn and use many tools that I was not aware about before I started. The two major tools I used often were the websites of Thomas and the U.S. Code. Thomas is a website that was created by the Library of Congress. It was named after Thomas Jefferson. The site offers much information about the House, Senate, Supreme Court and the U.S. Code. The U.S. Code is what happens to laws after they come into effect. I have used these two websites often since I have left the National Center.
I also had the privilege to get to know a lot of our National Center staff on a personal level. I spent a lot of time with my department staff. I learned a lot from James McCarthy and James Gashel. I also became friends with Jesse Hartle, Allison Hammerbacker and Wanda Briggs. I spent time with other staff around the center. This gave me a helpful insight of how the staff of the National Center lives on a daily basis.
I got to know a lot of information about how our government works. If I was offered a job in that capacity, I would jump at it in an instant. The summer also gave me an important insight of how our Federation is run and how much our leaders work. I also learned that not all of the work is done at the National Center. I was often assigned to call state affiliate presidents or common members about matters. I enjoyed every moment that I spent at the National Center. I encourage anyone who is interested in working at the National Center to inquire about the possibility. If you can give up a summer or a semester of your time to the Federation, I would definitely recommend it. As my introduction states, I truly spent an entire summer working for the NFB. Although it wasn’t as fun as spending the days of summer at the ocean as I spent my childhood, I would not trade it for anything.
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Editor’s Note: The following announcements may be of interest to students. The National Association of Blind Students does not endorse any of the following authors and is not responsible for their clarity and accuracy. Any questions regarding their content should be directed to authors of the bulletins.
New Jersey Association of Blind Students Update
From Evelyn Valdez, President
Quintina Singleton stepped down as president at our state convention on Nov.7-9th. I was holding the VP position so I'm the president and she is the VP. Upcoming events for 2009 are Braille Tees is the new fundraiser and we are still doing the Tupperware fundraiser that we started in October. We will have a students' seminar in late May in conjunction with the NJ Association to Promote the Use of Braille and there's no title for our seminar yet. Only 3 members from the NJABS board will be attending Washington Seminar: Quintina, Paul Grenier, and myself. We will be taking pictures of the events at Washington Seminar and they will be put on our website: NJABS.org
Youth Slam 2009
The National Federation of the Blind Youth Slam
A 2009 STEM Leadership Academy
Observe! Discover! Evolve!
Launch rockets, invent new things, perform astronomy, examine new technology, learn about engineering, solve crimes like on CSI, design solutions for the environment, meet new friends from all over the United States, play goal ball, watch movies, dance, make podcasts, meet blind role models, and experience many other adventures at the NFB Youth Slam.
From July 26-August 1, 2009, two hundred blind and low vision high school students will stay at the University of Maryland, College Park, to be mentored by blind role models during fun and challenging activities meant to build confidence, expand leadership and advocacy skills, and increase science literacy. Participants will also attend various social events as well as workshops on topics such as leadership, career preparation, and advocacy. The NFB Youth Slam will culminate in an inspiring rally in Washington DC!
Those interested in participating as students or mentors should complete an application by March 1, 2009. After an initial screening process, eligible students will be accepted into the program through random selection. Students and mentors need not have a strong interest in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) in order to participate, enjoy, and benefit from this academy.
If you are interested in being a student or mentor participant or if you'd like to learn more about the NFB Youth Slam visit BlindStudents.org.
Send questions about the NFB Youth Slam to
youthslam@nfb.org.
NFB Youth Slam 2009
Observe! Discover! Evolve!
Karen C. Zakhnini
Education Project Manager
Jernigan Institute
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
Phone: (410) 659-9314, ext. 2293
Fax: (410) 659-5129
Louis Braille Coin Announcement
Exciting News in Honor of Louis Braille's Birthday
Save the date! The Louis Braille Commemorative Coin Launch is scheduled for March 26, 2009. There will be an event to celebrating the coin’s launch at the NFB’s national headquarters. For more information, visit www.braille.org.
--from "Braille.org E-newsletter, Special Edition"
Georgia Association of Blind Students Announcement
Good day ladies and gentleman! It is with pleasure that I make this
announcement. As the president of the Georgia Association of Blind Students,
a few of the students in the division came to me and made a great
suggestion; "Mr. President, can we raise money for the March for
Independence?" Even though we are just starting out as an organization, I
could not turn down this wonderful opportunity. I have challenged them al
to raise at least two hundred and fifty dollars. However, they all say that
we will exceed that goal. Currently we have over thirty individuals on my
team that have pledged to raise as much money as they can.
With that said, I challenge all of the student divisions to form a team and
raise money for the March for Independence. Remember, it is always good to
give back. SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR, GET OUT THERE AND RAISE SOME MONEY!
For more information on how to obtain a team, please contact me by phone or
e-mail. My phone number is 404 291 7791, and my e-mail address is
iwilcox2011@gmail.com.
Isaiah Wilcox
Braille Creative Writing Contest for Youth!
The National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division is hosting a Contest to promote braille literacy and excellence in creative writing among K-12 students. Entries
will be judged on originality and quality of braille. Participants may submit creative pieces in the form of fiction or poetry and there is no charge for entering.
This is a contest for students who use braille. Entries must Be submitted in hand-embossed braille, either on a slate and stylus or on a Braille writer. No computer braille entries will be considered and submissions must be brailled by the entrant.
There are six contest categories, as follows:
Grades K-5
• Elementary Fiction
• Elementary Poetry
Grades 6-8
• Middle School Fiction
• Middle School Poetry
Grades 9-12
• High School Fiction
• High School Poetry.
Elementary students may submit contracted or uncontracted braille, or an acceptable combination of the two. Students in higher grades will be expected to submit stories or poetry in contracted braille.
The contest begins January first, and ends postmarked date April
first. There will be three cash prizes for each of the six categories. First prize per contest is $25. Second prize is $15 and third prize is $5. Submissions for fiction may not exceed one thousand words. Poetry may not exceed twenty lines. Authors may
submit multiple entries and all work must be original and unpublished.
Each entrant must provide an identical print copy for possible publication. Entries must be accompanied by a cover sheet containing the student's information: Name, address, phone, email, title of the entry, school and grade of entrant. Winners will be announced at the Writer's Division meeting during the July 2009 NFB National convention held in Detroit Michigan. Entrants need not be present to win.
Please send contest submissions to Fred Wurtzel, 1212 N Foster, Lansing Michigan, 48912.
If you have questions, E-mail
f.wurtzel@comcast.net.
or call 517-485-0326
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