The Braille Examiner
Spring 2007
A Publication of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois
Editor: Connie J. Davis
Co-Editor: Deborah Kent Stein
President: Patti Gregory Chang
Contact Information
President: Patti Gregory Chang, president@nfbofillinois.org.
Editor: Connie Davis, (773) 338-6922, condav850@yahoo.com.
Co-Editor: Deborah Kent Stein, (773) 631-1093, dkent5817@worldnet.att.net.
Print & Braille Duplication: Carmen Dennis, (773) 583-0899, carmen88@comcast.net.
Tape duplication & Distribution: Pittman Enterprises & Associates, pittman.e.a@cometlink.com, (773) 779-1856, fax (773) 779-2763, Debbie Pittman
Staff Reporters: Jennifer Justice & Meghan Joost
Proofreaders: Constance Canode, Carmen Dennis & Meghan Joost
Announcements
Address and format changes should be mailed, e-mailed or phoned to
Connie Davis.
Problems with the print newsletter should be addressed with Carmen
Dennis.
Problems with the cassette or Braille edition should be addressed with
Debbie Pittman.
Problems concerning the electronic version should be addressed with
Connie Davis.
Members with e-mail addresses are kindly requested to receive their
newsletter in electronic format to help defray production costs.
PRESIDENTIAL REPORT
By Patti Gregory-Chang
Since our last Braille Examiner issue, our Board of Directors met twice to plan upcoming events. Board members continue to attend meetings of the Kankakee Heartland Chapter, and we are happy to see new faces there along with those of our indispensable veterans.
At our 2006 NFBI convention we passed a resolution calling on the Illinois School for the Visually Impaired (ISVI) to update its Braille textbooks. Over the past few months we have worked extensively with the parents of ISVI students, who share our concerns about textbooks at the school. I am thrilled to report that a total of $175,000 has now been allocated to update textbooks and technology at ISVI this year. Furthermore, we occupy a seat on the working committee, which will help select the school's next superintendent. I am honored to have been asked to address the graduating class at ISVI's commencement ceremony this year.
NFBI representatives attend meetings of both Blind Service Planning Council BSPC) and the Library for the Blind Committee. We are actively pursuing a seat on the State Rehabilitation Council (SRC).
Our fundraising efforts continue to bear fruit. Carson's coupon sales went well during the first weekend in March, and we received a $2,000 grant from the Andrew Foundation to be used toward scholarships. Joe "Show Me the Money" Monti tells me that our certificate order for March exceeded $4,000.
We sent eleven people to Washington Seminar in February and talked with all of our Illinois legislators. Our Legislation Committee is compiling information on our members' representatives, and we will begin follow-up visits soon. In March, Lori Brown went to Washington to attend hearings on the Federal Library Bill, which will help fund Newsline(r). She met personally with her legislator, Ray LaHood, who serves on the relevant committee.
As to legislation on the state level, the Honorable Senator John Cullerton introduced our technology bill, SB511. The bill has already passed out of the Illinois Senate. We have a house sponsor aligned, and other groups are working with us for the bill's passage. The chance that it will become law improves each day.
Our Seminar Committee and Press Committee worked tirelessly to spread the word about our Spring Student Seminar, "Opening Doors, Opening Minds". The number of press contacts we had for this event was unprecedented. Information about the seminar was boldly posted on the web pages of the Illinois School for the Blind and the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind. The Guild for the Blind sent out a special e-mail message to everyone on its mailing list.
The seminar was a resounding success, with twenty-two students in attendance. We actually had to turn down twelve additional applicants for this event, which shows the level of interest and need. Both ISVI and ICRE-Wood actively encouraged their students to join us. I am very proud of the team effort that went into this undertaking. You can read more about the seminar elsewhere in this issue.
Scholarship and internship applications have arrived, and the
Scholarship Committee will have its hands full. The Web Page Committee plans to meet soon and add to our website. Our Advocacy Committee is
helping blind people deal with the Department of Human Services at this writing.
National Convention is fast approaching. The NFBI Board set a goal for Illinois to increase our number of attendees to sixty this year. Let's all work hard to encourage and assist others to go. Fifteen people from Illinois have signed up to take part in our "March for Independence" already, and we hope to have at least five more.
The NFBI State Board will meet on Saturday, April 28, at 3:00 p.m., at St. Christopher's Church, at 545 S. East Avenue, prior to Games Night.
Finally, plans for state convention are well under way. The greatest challenge is to arrange speakers and activities that will be fresh, exciting, and thought-provoking. If you wish to assist in any way, please let me know at (773) 307-6440 or pattisgregory@comcast.net.
I feel privileged to be a part of this movement and to know all of you. Let's keep the momentum going!
CHAPTER NEWS
NEWS FROM THE BLACKHAWK CHAPTER
By Robert Gardner
The NFBI Blackhawk Chapter holds monthly meetings the second Saturday of each month at 1:30 p.m. Our meeting place is the South Moline Township Center located at 637-17th Avenue, East Moline. Rides to chapter meetings can be arranged.
One recent meeting featured a presentation by a representative of MetroLink, the bus system on the Illinois side of the Quad-Cities. The presentation gave an outline of routes and other information to enable the blind to use the regular bus system for transportation around town. Another recent program was a description of the Washington Seminar, an NFB event where we talked to our Illinois legislators about legislation we favor. Our meeting in March was a group discussion of the "tricks" we've discovered to help us overcome everyday problems in our lives.
Our April meeting will feature a talk by John Tebockhorst, a successful blind vendor. The May meeting of the Blackhawk Chapter is still in the planning stage. Our June meeting will be a special event, taking place at the Gardner home on the banks of the Mississippi. Our program will be a cane travel session, and we will do outdoor grilling after the meeting. We will not have a meeting in July, and as usual, our August meeting will be replaced by our annual picnic.
The NFBI Blackhawk Chapter publishes a monthly newsletter, Hawk Talk. The newsletter is available on the NFB IL-Talk listserv, on the Internet, and on the NFBI website. It can also be sent by E-mail or snail mail.
We are the blind speaking for the blind, and are changing what it means to be blind in the Quad-Cities and northwestern Illinois.
CHICAGO CHAPTER NEWS
By Debbie Kent Stein
Through the efforts of the Program Committee, chaired by Connie Davis, the chapter incorporates programs into most monthly meetings.
At the January meeting the "Dishwashing Tape" sparked a spirited discussion. The Dishwashing Tape is a talk given by Dr. Kenneth Jernigan to students at the Iowa Commission for the Blind. Our February program was a presentation about diabetes, led by Francisco Chang, and including Carmen Dennis, LeAnne Mayne, Dave Meyer and Ken Staley. In March Jae Jin Pak gave a thoughtful and sensitive presentation about his work with victims of sexual abuse. Patti Gregory-Chang presided at the January and February chapter meetings while Debbie Stein was out of town.
As the chapter board and members decided last fall, we are also using chapter meetings as an opportunity to offer lessons in Braille and mobility. Following the January meeting eight Federationists traveled by bus and walked 2 blocks to Boston Blackie's Restaurant. A trip to Greek Town after the March meeting involved a ride on the subway and a walk of several blocks. February and April Braille activities have involved Brailling playing cards for Games Night and working with one member on Nemeth Code for mathematics.
Games Night is a brand-new chapter fundraiser, organized this year by Connie Davis and Carmen Dennis. On April 28, right after the NFBI board meeting, participants will gather at St. Christopher's Church in Oak Park for an evening of fun, food, and fellowship! Tickets are on sale at $25 for adults and $10 for children ages five to fifteen. Test your wits and your luck at Scrabble, Monopoly, Backgammon, and an assortment of card games. Plan to join us! Bring your friends and your kids, too!
If you have a taste for M and M's, Hershey's Almond, or Reeses Pieces, give a shout for a Chicago Chapter member. Our Spring Candy Sale is in full swing. We're also selling tickets to a White Sox-Seattle Mariners game, to be played at Cellular One Park on August 11. Many thanks to Ken Staley and Dave Meyer for all their hard work putting these fundraisers together. Thanks to Connie and Carmen for their work on Games Night, and to Joe Monti for making the arrangements at St. Christopher's. And many thanks to everyone who has sold candy, White Sox tickets, and Games Night tickets! Your efforts keep the chapter running smoothly.
On April 14, the Chicago Chapter elected the following officers and board members: Debbie Stein, President; Patti Gregory-Chang, First Vice-President; Anthony Thomas, Second Vice-President; Connie Davis, Secretary; Carmen Dennis, Treasurer; Mary Lou Grunwald, Debbie Pittman, Jemal Powell and Bob Widman, board members.
Chicago Chapter meetings are held on the second Saturday of the month at 1 P.M. at the Exchequer Pub and Restaurant, 226 S. Wabash, Chicago. We hope to see you there!
NEWS FROM THE FERRIS WHEEL CHAPTER
By Cathy Randall
The Ferris Wheel Chapter has invited more speakers during the past year than ever before. We continue to devote more of our time and energy to ISVI-related matters. Students and program administrators have expressed their appreciation for our involvement.
Our March meeting featured students from the ISVI Transition Living Program who talked about their current off-campus jobs. Paul Drake, student job coordinator for ISVI, also spoke about the expanding program for ISVI student employment in the greater Jacksonville area.
Our chapter continues to seek vital funding from The Prairieland United Way and other service clubs in Jacksonville. We hope to schedule a hiking and canoeing trip to a nearby Nature Conservancy refuge in early June.
KANKAKEE HEARTLAND HEADLINES
By Ruth Isaacs
On March 10, 2007 the Kankakee Heartland Chapter elected the following officers: Bill Isaacs, President; Frank Einfeldt, Vice-President; Carol Kwaak, secretary; Ruth Isaacs, treasurer and Raymond Kwaak, board member. At our April 7 meeting we viewed a video about Joan Phelps, the first blind woman to climb Mt. McKinley. The Kankakee Heartland Chapter meets at the Bourbonnais Public Library, 250 W. John Casey Drive.
WASHINGTON SEMINAR: ADVENTURES ON CAPITOL HILL
By Rob Hobson
Last January I was privileged to attend the National Federation of the Blind's Washington Seminar. It was held January 29 through February 1. The seminar kicked off with a lot of action-packed informational meetings on Monday. These meetings prepared us to present our issues when we visited our representatives in Congress. After the Q and A session the fun began. We were encouraged to role-play with volunteers who posed as political officials. I found this very helpful. I have advocated for my college, but that was on the state level. I was a little nervous, and role-playing really helped me understand how I was going to present the information.
The Great Gathering In was held on Monday night. This is the largest meeting of blind people I have ever attended, only second to National Convention. More than five hundred people were there. The main room was so full they wired a second room with speakers. I chose to stay in the main room and stood by the wall in the back. Dr. Maurer ran the meeting and several guests were invited to speak. We received a lot of information about the NFB, including a report on current programs. The second half of the meeting was devoted to the issues we would bring to our legislators. The meeting really served as a pep rally to get everyone motivated and excited.
On Tuesday eleven blind Illinoisans set out on a long walk to the Capitol. The trip was marked by a small adventure. At one point three of us turned right when we should have turned left. We did not realize our mistake until we checked behind us for the rest of the group. Meanwhile, the others had noticed that we were missing and stopped to wait for us. After a minute or so, I called Annette Grove and we turned around and caught up with the rest of the group. That was the only time I got lost, unless you count when Bob Gardner and I missed the cab and got left behind at the hotel. It was no problem; we hailed another cab and caught up with them.
We had appointments with someone in every congressional office for the state of Illinois. I personally met with aides in seven offices. We actually met three congressmen directly: John Shimkus, Jerry Weller, and Jerry Costello. Jerry Weller is the congressman in my district. During the first meeting I chose not to say much. I wanted to gain a full understanding of how the meetings work. I did have practice, but I got nervous. At the rest of the meetings I spoke up on the issues. We divided into groups of three or four. We decided as a group who would present what. As a student, I was usually appointed to talk about the accessible textbook issue.
Going to Washington Seminar really gave me an idea how things work in Washington, D.C. We as citizens have the power to change laws if we choose to voice our opinions, backed with information and justification. And of course we need to treat officials with respect.
This brings up a good story. When I was waiting for my congressman to finish voting, I happened to strike up a conversation with representatives of another organization. I will not give the name. These persons met with my congressman ahead of me. I could hear them yelling at him for over five minutes, asking for funding. When my congressman finally met with my group, let's just say he was not in a great mood. So I guess my point is: when you speak with a political official, remember to be respectful. If you rub them the wrong way, officials will probably not want to help you.
I want to thank the Illinois Affiliate and the Chicago Chapter for sponsoring me. Without their funding, I would not have been able to attend. I also would like to thank Annette Grove for spearheading the trip. With her leadership, Washington Seminar went off without a hitch. Many thanks also to Lori Brown and Syed Yousufuddin for helping to schedule the meetings with the congressional offices.
Over all, I loved Washington Seminar. If you haven't attended yet I urge you to make every effort to go; you will not regret it.
NATIONAL CONVENTION ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE
By Kelly Doty
The National Federation of the Blind of Illinois has funds available through the James Chappell Memorial Award to aid those who need financial assistance in order to attend the National Convention in Atlanta. Those who anticipate they will need this funding should apply by using the application found on the NFBI website at www.nfbofillinois.org. Send the completed form to President Patti Gregory-Chang or call her at (773) 307-6440. The deadline for applications is May 15, 2007. Anyone receiving financial assistance will be notified as soon as possible after the deadline. The NFBI expects recipients to contribute some funds themselves and to participate fully in the convention.
SAVING MONEY FOR NEWSLINE(r)
By David Meyer
Those who have used Newsline(r) on a consistent basis over the past several months have probably noticed an announcement from time to time asking us to help minimize Newsline's(r) phone bill.
It has always been a good idea to help the Federation by using local numbers and/or certain long-distance numbers to call Newsline(r). It is especially important for us to do so at this time. For several years, the National Federation of the Blind was able to secure federal funds, which were applied to the payment of phone bills. These earmarked funds were never a single legislative item. Rather, they came in the form of riders to other legislation, which passed in Congress. This did not occur in 2006. Consequently, this year no federal money is available to assist the Federation in the payment of telephone bills associated with Newsline(r).
How can you help the Federation hold down expenses? The easiest way to assist us in this matter is to use a local Newsline(r) number. Many area codes have a phone number, which can be used to call Newsline(r). For example, the phone number in the 708 area code where I reside is 708-498-1222. If you want to learn your local number, call the National Federation of the Blind toll free at 1-866-504-7300. The National Office will provide you with a local number to use, so long as there is one in your area. If you do not have a local number, you can dial 888-882-1629 to access Newsline(r).
If your primary telephone is a cellular phone, or if you use a cellular phone to call Newsline(r), your charges will always be the same, regardless of the telephone number you use. Cellular plans give you a specific amount of time you can use your phone each month, based on your particular plan. For example, a person may pay $50.00 a month for 500 minutes that can be used any time to call anywhere. If you use a cellular phone to call a "toll free" number and talk for ten minutes, you are charged for ten minutes of telephone time, just as you would be if you called a local number or a friend who lives across the country. With this in mind, Newsline(r) has two long-distance numbers that you may use, which will cost the Federation the same as a call from any local area code. They are 1-202-448-3007 and 1-228-246-0248. You may use your cellular phone to dial either of these numbers from anywhere in the United States, and your charges will remain the same as they are from your local area code.
If you have a telephone package on your landline, which permits you to make an unlimited number of long-distance calls for no charge, and you find that you do not have a local number you can use to call Newsline(r), you should use either of the two long-distance numbers listed above. If you have a local number to use in order to reach Newsline(r), you may find it advantageous to use that number, as you will not have to dial an area code.
Here in Illinois, a person may, if he has a basic phone plan, be charged for a long-distance call, even when dialing numbers within his area code. If you are concerned that you might be charged for a long-distance call when dialing your local Newsline(r) number, you should continue to use the toll free Newsline(r) phone number, which is 1-888-882-1629.
If you are a regular user of NFB Newsline(r), you can look forward to many new and exciting happenings such as new newspapers, television listings and more. If you have yet to use NFB Newsline(r), call Debra Hurley of the Illinois Talking Book and Braille Service at 800-665-5576. She will be glad to take your application over the phone. If you have a computer and would like to receive an application via e-mail, please call me at 708-209-1767 or e-mail me at datemeyer@sbcglobal.net.
Give Newsline(r) a try -- you'll like it!
WORKING THE SYSTEM
By Allen Glickman, with Debbie Stein
Even if you've lived in Chicago all your life, I bet I can tell you some things about the city that will surprise you. For example, you might not know that there is an island on the Northwest Side. You might not know what I'm referring to when I say that. But if you've worked for the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) for as long as I have, you learn a lot of surprising things.
I started riding the CTA when I was eleven years old. Because of my disability I knew I'd never be able to drive. I was going to rely on public transit to get me where I needed to go. I got very proficient using the system when I was in high school. I went to Spaulding High, and I took the trains back and forth to school every day. Sometimes I went back to school in the evening too, to go to a social organization they had there. I learned a lot in those years.
After I graduated from high school I worked for a while at Jewish Vocational Services. Then I went to work with the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind. I operated a vending stand at the corner of Montrose and Kimball on Chicago's North Side. Some of the kids in the neighborhood gave me a lot of trouble. One day a kid set my stand on fire while I was in it. Luckily people in a nearby drugstore heard me calling for help. After that I decided it was time for me to work somewhere else.
I really needed a job just then. Roberta and I wanted to get married, but I felt I should have a job before we took that step. It was my dad who gave me the idea of working for the CTA. Before I interviewed for the job I studied the map and learned all of the bus routes. I could recite all of the routes in five minutes and twenty seconds, forward or backward. I started my job at the CTA on March 29, 1976.
At first I worked as a clerk in the Sales Department, selling monthly passes. Then I ended up as a messenger. I delivered packages of passes to places all over the city. One time they sent me to Carver High School, all the way down at 131st and Ellis. You can't go any farther and still be in Chicago! It took me so long to get there, by the time I got back with the receipts the office was closed. I couldn't turn in the receipts until the next morning.
Early in the 1980s CTA started a Special Services department. It provided rides for people with disabilities who couldn't use the regular trains and buses. There was a fleet of twenty accessible buses to take people door to door. I knew all the drivers by their badge numbers. I handled vouchers, stamping them in.
I worked with Special Services until June of 2006. Then Special Services became Paratransit, run by the PACE system.
I'm still with CTA. I work in Customer Service now. When people request bus schedules and other information, I put together a packet and send it out to them. They call me the mail fairy. My boss tells me, "Just give them what they ask for", but I try to put in extra information that people might find useful. They can't ask for something unless they know it exists, right? They might request the schedule for a particular bus route. I send them the schedule they ask for, and I add a brochure about special passes they might not know about.
Some people say that my job at CTA is easy. Nothing is entirely easy. I've learned a lot about the CTA and about the city of Chicago. I try to do my best and give people the information they need.
About that island on the Northwest Side - it's called O'Hare Airport! It's only connected to the rest of the city by the smallest bridge of land. Maybe you didn't realize that. When you work for the CTA, it's the sort of thing you learn.
IN MEMORIAM
The Passing of a Federationist: Ray Flesher
Fellow Federationist and former first vice-president of the Kankakee Heartland Chapter passed away on February 8, 2007 at Manor Care Health Service.
Taken from the Kankakee Daily Journal: "He was a counselor for Mendel High School in Roseland, Illinois and a teachers counselor at the Hadley School for the Blind in Winnetka, Illinois for twenty years, retiring in 1990. He was born August 21, 1923, the son of Max and Josephine Holdreigh Flesher. His wife, the former Nora Dubin, whom he married October 10, 1954, died February 28, 2002. He was a member of the Catholic Faith, the Moose Lodge, the Kankakee Lions Club, the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois, Manteno-Bourbonnais Rotary Club, and a lifetime member of the Kankakee Radio Society. He helped found the Kankakee Journal phone-in for people with sight impairment. He enjoyed traveling all over the world and loved to go to the YMCA to swim."
A Farewell to Pennie Lilly
By Sharon Howerton
In mid-November, 2006 many of us lost a friend and colleague, Pennie Lilly. She had been injured in a fire in her apartment in mid-October, and did not recover. I knew Pennie in a peripheral way as a client and colleague. I met her in 1978 a few months after I became a counselor with Illinois rehab (then called DVR and later ORS). I thought about interviewing people who knew Pennie better than I did. Obviously there were many of them, especially, most recently, her fellow instructors at the Illinois Center for Rehab and Education (ICRE-Wood) in Chicago. Then I decided perhaps that would be too difficult for them. Some of them worked very closely with her day after day. When I called them after her death I found that reliving their relationships with her was very painful for them. So instead let me focus on the details I know about Pennie, including the things I admired about her.
When I met Pennie in 1978, I was a new young counselor. As it turned out, she was only about four years older than I was. She was one of my first clients who had a college degree. Her son was young then, and she wanted to go to work. Over time I learned that it was difficult for a mom with no work experience to change her life and enter the workforce. But Pennie was a persistent soul to be sure.
She and I spent many hours in meetings while she trained at the Lighthouse. She learned various kinds of transcription programs, which were the order of the day back then. Unfortunately, I do not think she ever succeeded in getting a job through all that training.
Whenever Pennie and I ran into each other over the years, she'd greet me with, "Hey, Stranger!" About twenty years ago I learned that she had been hired to work as a rehabilitation teacher out of our office in Peoria. From personal experience, I knew a little about racial attitudes in central Illinois back then. I worried that clients would not welcome an African American woman, especially an outsider to the community, from Chicago of all places. Pennie knew no one there. She had to find a place to live, locate a driver, and still be concerned for her son living back in Chicago. I cannot imagine the difficulties that she must have encountered in that job. But once again, she never said no and gave it her best. She was determined to work.
Pennie had another opportunity for work in state government when she was hired to be a rehab instructor at ICRE-Wood in Chicago about seven years ago. She taught Braille and activities of daily living there. The ICRE staff is small, and in those classes, one worked closely with other instructors. There were generally about three of them who taught together day after day. Pennie taught cooking and other household activities. She would see many students several times a week. Over the years she touched many lives. I believe it is important for those who lose vision later in life to see that one can live a full life as a blind person. Pennie could vouch for that.
Pennie, we thank you for the woman you were in life and for the persistence you always showed. Your family, friends, colleagues and students will surely remember you. We'll see you when we see you, stranger!
IN MEMORIAM: TERRY McCabe
By Jae Jin Pak
What do you say about Terry McCabe? He had a loving and giving spirit. He had a talent and gift for finding nicknames -- nicknames that fit each person he met.
Terry loved to read, talk, and have fun. He was a true advocate for the blind community. He was committed to voicing issues that face the blind community through his activities with the NFB. He lived his life on his own terms. Even when folks disagreed with him, he forged ahead. His warm and welcoming spirit was shown in the overflow of people who came to say good-bye at his service on an overcast Wednesday afternoon in Florida. There were family, friends, members from the local NFB and Lions clubs, and volunteers. All were people that Terry touched in his life.
Terry was my best friend. I could depend on him to listen and always to give me support or set me straight when I made mistakes. We had countless laughs, talks, debates and even arguments. But all of it was fun and had meaning.
Terry McCabe was a kind and caring man, with all the good that goes with this simple statement. I will always carry him with me, and I treasure the nickname he gave me like all of you will too. Rest in peace my friend.
IN MEMORY OF MARIE PORTER
By Sharon Howerton
If you have been in Chicago for any length of time, and knew or worked with the Guild for the Blind, you probably knew Marie Porter. It took many years before I felt comfortable calling her Marie. Her son Dave was a classmate of mine early in elementary school, and of course she was Mrs. Porter back then. I believe that she and Mr. Porter worked with, and perhaps organized, a group called Parents of the Blind (POB). My parents were never very comfortable with that sort of thing, but I think I remember hearing about the group when I was young.
What I did know for sure was the Guild. According to Dave, Marie Porter was synonymous with the Guild since 1962, when it was the Catholic Guild for the Blind. When Marie started with the Guild in 1962, she was the first woman in her family to work. First she worked as a proofreader and later as a teacher of Braille. Dave says she taught Braille there for twenty-six years. She wrote a book called So What About Braille?, as a support to teachers. Among those of us who cook, who has not used her wonderful A Leaf from Our Table? It was one of the first cookbooks I ever bought and, though it is well worn, it is still one that I frequently use. I probably will never make every recipe in that book, but I have definitely made some good ones. It was always fun to see Marie Porter's name as the contributor. I asked Dave one time if she actually made all of the things attributed to her in that cookbook. He assured me that she did.
In keeping with her love of Braille, Marie found a way to make drawings using the Perkins Brailler. She called them Braillables. She used to show them to me, but somehow they never made a lot of sense to me. Marie was proud of them, as were her children and grandchildren. She so hoped that her drawings would be better received. For her they were a labor of love and creativity. Perhaps we can call them a precursor of today's tactile graphics, which don't make a lot of sense to me either!
In 1987 Marie became the executive director of the Guild, a difficult place for a woman with ideas and no administrative experience. She held the position until she retired in 1993. At about that time I remember telling Dave I thought something was wrong with Marie. I thought she was having trouble hearing. But it was much more complicated than that.
In 1994 she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Her husband Tom took care of her until he died in 2005. Her children and caregivers helped as well, rotating weekends among themselves and devoting their lives to the mom who had devoted herself to them.
Mr. and Mrs. Porter were married for fifty-five years and were the parents of five children. Marie was the grandmother of fifteen grandchildren and the great-grandmother of eleven. She was the aunt of many nieces and nephews. She was an ardent believer in the philosophy of the NFB.
Marie Porter passed away on February 7, 2007 due to complications of Alzheimer's disease and kidney failure at the age of 80.
Marie's quiet, behind-the-scenes demeanor is something I remember well. She would probably be amazed at the number of people who remember her, whether from her many years at the Guild, her Braille instruction, the books she wrote, the drawings she made, the classes she taught or any number of other things she did as she passed through this life. It has been an honor for me to present this picture of Marie Porter to you. Thank you, Marie--Mrs. Porter--for all you have done.
IABS AND NFBI OPEN DOORS AND MINDS
By Ronza Othman
The Illinois Association of Blind Students and the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois hosted a student seminar on March 30th and 31st. The content portion of the conference took place at Saint Xavier University in Chicago. Student participants and the members of the NFB who organized the event stayed at the Double Tree Hotel Chicago Alsip.
The seminar drew twenty-two student participants from a wide age range and varied educational experiences. The Illinois School for the Visually Impaired (ISVI) and ICRE-Wood were each well represented. Several students plan to begin their college coursework in the fall. Others are working on undergraduate and graduate degrees. Additionally, a number of participants are exploring whether to attend vocational programs or college-level classes.
The goal of the seminar was to foster student development and educational excellence in Illinois. In order to accomplish this, the seminar focused on skills students would find necessary to success in both the academic and real worlds. Among these skills were Braille, mobility, and technology. By emphasizing these areas, the conference exposed students to the NFB philosophy and the belief that blind individuals are capable of both fully functioning and also excelling in a sighted world.
The Seminar began on Friday evening with a game of String Ball. One team pitched a ball, which was attached to a string, making it easier to hear it as it approached; the other team batted at pitches. Following this exercise in teamwork and healthy competition, the seminar moved to Barocco's Pizza for dinner. The participants and organizers enjoyed some truly spectacular pizza.
The seminar participants engaged in a mobility exercise. The students walked a portion of the way back to the conference facility. They navigated through a residential neighborhood as well as a college campus. They were encouraged to use canes and sleep shades. The purpose of this exercise was to expose the participants to independent travel using mobility tools and strategies.
Later in the evening, the seminar participants became better acquainted with one another through an icebreaker. Each participant received a card with a word or part of a phrase written on it in Braille and print. Each person then had to find the card that completed the phrase. For example, "Macaroni" found "Cheese," and together they made "Macaroni and Cheese." Once a pair found one another, they got to know each other. They then each introduced their partner to the group. The icebreaker proved to be fun and interesting. The seminar then adjourned for the evening and the participants returned to the hotel.
On Saturday morning, the participants traveled to Saint Xavier for breakfast and the day's seminar activities. After breakfast, the participants were shown clips from movies depicting blindness. The clips sparked discussion about attitudes toward blindness held by the world and depicted in the Arts. Periodically throughout the day, the participants viewed other clips and discussed their relevance, accuracy, and consequences. The discussions were lively, provocative, and enlightening.
IABS President Ronza Othman served as Mistress of Ceremonies for the remainder of the seminar. NFBI President Patti Gregory-Chang and National Association of Blind Students (NABS) President Ryan Strunk each welcomed the participants to the seminar. The first panel consisted of students Lori Brown, Kelly Doty, Ryan Strunk, and Ronza Othman, who discussed various aspects of their educational experiences. They each focused on some of their trials and tribulations as blind students and suggested strategies for overcoming obstacles.
The first panel of the day focused on technology. "Opening Doors and Windows" exposed students to the various types of technology available to them. Panelists discussed and provided demonstrations of the PacMate, BrailleNote, Braille Lite, WindowEyes, Jaws, Pico, Traveler, and K-NFB Reader. They explored which technology worked best in certain circumstances as well as how to acquire this technology. Participants were invited to test some of the technology during breaks. With technology playing such a vital role in educational success, this panel proved instrumental to the students.
Later in the morning, the participants participated in a scavenger hunt. The purpose of this exercise was to further expose students to mobility techniques as well as develop teamwork skills. The students were broken up into five teams and given a list of places to visit and items to collect. They found the Library, Admissions Office, Cafeteria, and Conference Room; they received copies of the "Braille Examiner," "Student Slate," kernel books, and NFBI First Aid Kits. The team that returned in the shortest time won a prize and bragging rights.
A panel focusing on "Tips and Tricks" followed lunch. There, panelists discussed various resources available to students. Such resources included scanning programs, the Office of Rehabilitation Services, Book Share and Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic, and other blind and visually impaired people. The panelists discussed different approaches to problem solving and techniques for finding resources in the community. The goal of this panel was to demonstrate that creative and innovative solutions to challenges exist, and students need only find them.
The seminar then featured a panel entitled "To Tell or Not to Tell," which discussed approaches to informing others about one's blindness. The panelists outlined strategies for disclosing visual impairments on college, scholarship, and employment applications. They examined when it is appropriate to disclose one's blindness and when it may be less prudent. Panelists also shared stories involving dating and relationships, social activities, and volunteer placements highlighting when disclosure did or did not become an issue. The panel provided a forum for students to consider how they think about their own visual impairments as well as how they want others to view them.
The final panel of the day, "Inquiring Minds", furnished students with an opportunity to ask questions of the seminar organizers and one another. The questions ranged from "What have you gained from your blindness?" to "When did you first realize you were different?" to "What strategies do you use to gain independence from family members who don't understand your abilities?" This discussion was especially poignant and stimulating. The students and organizers shared deeply personal experiences, which illustrated how much we have in common regardless of age, education, or background.
The Student Seminar hosted by IABS and the NFBI served to bring blind and visually impaired individuals together. We learned that whether we're students of institutional learning or students of life, we share much in common. Whether we are long-time Federationists or just glimpsing the world of the organized blind, we walk the same path, overcome the same hurdles every day, and learn many of the same lessons. Whether we attended the seminar as student participants or as organizers, we each learned that by opening our minds to the possibilities, we would force open doors of opportunity for the blind.
REMOVING THE ACCESS BARRIER TO STATE EMPLOYMENT
By Bill Reif, Chair, NFBI Legislative Committee
At our 2005 State Convention, the NFBI resolved to seek legislation that would require units of state or local government to consult with blind employees and with representatives of the blind community when changing or upgrading their computer software or internet-based services. This resolution grew out of our recognition of the problems created for blind employees and for blind persons accessing government services when agencies use software or web design that is not accessible. The legislation that we discussed would allow blind persons to "beta test" software to assure that it not only allowed the computer to talk, but that it also permitted blind employees to interact with their computer as efficiently as sighted persons.
To that end, the Legislative Committee drafted a bill that was roughly based on a model information access bill drafted by our national leadership. I believe that versions of this bill already have been adopted by three or four states.
Our original bill, sponsored by Senator John Cullerton in early January, applied to all units of state and local government, as well as to all entities with which those units contracted or which received state or local funding. The bill would also have put the Department of Central Management Services, in consultation with representatives of the blind community, in charge of determining that the software met the defined standard for non-visual accessibility before the governmental unit or other entity could proceed with the purchase or installation. Finally, the bill would have permitted a blind person for whom non-compliant software presented a barrier to sue the entity, and to collect three times their actual damages plus reasonable attorney's fees should they prevail.
This bill was introduced as Senate Bill (SB) 511. Not surprisingly, the bill drew much opposition from agencies concerned that the mandates would increase the costs associated with evaluating and purchasing software. Municipalities and non-governmental units also objected to what they considered unwarranted interference in their purchasing decisions.
Mary Grunwald and I attended two meetings in Springfield with representatives of these agencies and other concerned parties. We reassured some that our intent is actually to prevent the problems associated with retrofitting solutions to inaccessible systems. Thus began the process of negotiating and collaborating with numerous parties without whose cooperation there could be any legislation. There were compromises on all sides, as reflected in amendments to the proposed bill.
Not all of those seeking changes were opposed to the concept. Some parties, including the Illinois Assistive Technology Project, made suggestions that broadened the bill's applicability to information systems not covered by the original. The bill also moved the responsibility for developing applicable standards from the Department of Central Management Services to the Department of Human Services. This change was made with the understanding that standards would be similar to web accessibility standards already proposed in Illinois and to standards already applicable on the federal level under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Code. The proposed bill also applies to those with other disabilities to the extent that reasonable standards can remove barriers to their information access. Taken from the bill, (for the time being) were provisions permitting the blind to seek an injunction or to recover damages for non-compliance.
On Thursday, March 29th, the Senate unanimously passed our amended bill. Although this bill has been amended from the original, the standards we can help formulate may replace much of what was taken out. In fact, without our continued vigilance and input, the bill will do little to change our access to government information.
Meanwhile, the bill now will move to the house, which returns from its Easter break April 17th. Representative Sarah Feigenholtz, who is Chair of the House Human Services Committee to which this bill will probably be assigned, has stated her willingness to sponsor the bill there. House passage should take less time, as the negotiations with state agencies and other stakeholders have already taken place. Nevertheless, we need to make sure this bill keeps progressing through the House, which is considering thousands. I will let you know to which committee it is assigned; or you can periodically check the bill's progress at www.ilga.gov and search for SB 511.
Please take time to drop your senator a note thanking him/her for supporting our bill. Now would also be a good time to learn who your representative is, if you don't already know, and to contact his/her office_ An easy method is to visit the Elections Commission link at www.elections.state.il.us, go to the Voter Information link, and then to a "Find districts/officials" link that will take you to a form in which you can enter your address.
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