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Vol. 64, No. 6 June 2021
Gary Wunder, Editor
Distributed by email, in inkprint, in Braille, and on USB flash drive, by the
The National Federation of the Blind
Mark Riccobono, President
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THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND KNOWS THAT BLINDNESS IS NOT THE CHARACTERISTIC THAT DEFINES YOU OR YOUR FUTURE. EVERY DAY WE RAISE THE EXPECTATIONS OF BLIND PEOPLE, BECAUSE LOW EXPECTATIONS CREATE OBSTACLES BETWEEN BLIND PEOPLE AND OUR DREAMS. YOU CAN LIVE THE LIFE YOU WANT; BLINDNESS IS NOT WHAT HOLDS YOU BACK. THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND IS NOT AN ORGANIZATION SPEAKING FOR THE BLIND--IT IS THE BLIND SPEAKING FOR OURSELVES.
ISSN 0006-8829
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Vol. 64, No. 6 June 2021
Illustration: Preparation and Practice to Break Records
The 2021 Convention of the National Federation of the Blind on Track to be Bigger and Better than Ever
by John Berggren
National Federation of the Blind Proposed 2021 Convention Principles of Engagement
Unlocking Secrets: A Message from the Host Affiliate
by Sharon Maneki, Al Maneki, Dezman Jackson, and Scott White
Every Opinion Counts
by Gary Wunder
The Need for Consent When Participating in Orientation and Mobility and Other Structured Discovery Adventures
by Laura Millar
Microaggression and Syntax Overload
by Mary Ellen Gabias
Surviving Domestic Violence: I Found My Way Out
by Cheryl Fields
Overlay Technology Does Not Kill Accessibility
by Michael Hingson and Curtis Chong
The Father Who Showed No Ignorance
by Shawn Calloway
You Can Make a Difference
Inspiration, Aspiration, Advocacy, and Travel
by Juliette Walker
Independence Market Corner
by Terry Boone
A Bias View on Anti-Bias Training Programs
by Maurice Peret
Super Mama: Cheering for My Blind Daughter
by LaShawna Fant
Fateful Intersectionality
by Bill Borner
My Journey to Justice
by Lisa Irving
Smart Cities Summit
by Karl Belanger
My Experience as a Leader and a Tip for Others
by Ruby Polk
Giving $20 Goes a Long Way—It Can Take You to New Orleans
When You Raise Them Right
by Peggy Chong
Recipes
Monitor MiniaturesCopyright 2021 by the National Federation of the Blind
In January 2021 we celebrated our tenth anniversary of the Blind Driver Challenge and announced accelerating accessibility by continuing the challenge with an exciting public demonstration of the value of collaboration with the blind in the development of innovative driving technology. We are collaborating with Dan Parker to build and operate a car to attempt to break the Guinness Book World Record for the “Fastest Speed for a Car Driven Blindfolded” in the fall of 2021. During the weekend of April 30 through May 2, Dan Parker completed some practice passes driving his C6 Corvette to prepare to break the record. As part of the practice, he was a participant in the East Coast Timing Association Arkansas Mile event with approximately 150 others who would also be making race passes with their cars. The vehicles ranged from corvettes to motorcycles to even a tractor trailer. As impressive as all of this was, what we found most impressive was that Dan was in charge of everything related to his car and participation.
[PHOTO CAPTION: Dan Parker and Danielle McCann, both with white canes, smile next to a red corvette that has the NFB logo on the door.]
[PHOTO CAPTION: Dan Parker sits in the driver’s side of a corvette ready to make a race pass.]
[PHOTO CAPTION: Dan stands with white cane next to his red C6 corvette.]
by John Berggren
From the Editor: John Berggren is the chairperson of Convention Organization and Activities, and it is in this capacity that he provides this article. He fills so many important roles that listing them would exceed the length of his article. Let it suffice to say that he is as kind, generous, and competent as all of his titles imply. Here’s what he has to say:
Here we are in the June edition of the Braille Monitor and heading into the homestretch for national convention registration. Monday, May 31, is the last day you can register and still receive many of the benefits of registration. First and foremost, registration is free to all. Those completing the form will ensure they receive the latest convention information as it is made available. Registering by the deadline also allows current members to enroll for voting during the convention. And, of course, there are the door prizes. What would general sessions be without door prizes? As they say, you have got to be in it to win it. Head to www.nfb.org/registration and register today. Those without internet access should reach out to their local chapter or affiliate for assistance.
While there is no registration fee to attend the National Federation of the Blind 2021 National Convention, please consider a donation if you are able to do so. Operating the national convention virtually still costs money. There is a donation option available during the registration process. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Throughout the pandemic, the Federation has depended heavily on the video conferencing platform Zoom to keep our members connected. As with our virtual convention last year, we will again use Zoom to host our roughly two hundred sessions throughout convention week. This means that whether you are using your desktop computer, a mobile device, or a landline telephone, you will be able to participate in the 2021 National Convention from the comfort of your own home. We will again have a webpage dedicated to Zoom usage that will include dial-in numbers, shortcuts for various platforms, and other helpful guidance. Look for a link on our convention information page at www.nfb.org/convention.
While Zoom will be our primary platform for broadcast and participation, you will also be able to listen to the board meeting, general sessions, and the banquet using several different alternatives. The options include Shoutcast, YouTube, NFB-NEWSLINE®, and Amazon Alexa. These same events—and possibly others—will be interpreted in Spanish, available on a dedicated Zoom channel.
One of the greatest components of our national convention is the opportunity for each of us to voice our opinions through the power of our vote. Eligible members will again be able to cast votes in national elections and for resolutions using either a phone or an SMS text message. To be eligible for this Federation right, you must do two things: register for convention no later than May 31 and be current on your NFB dues by May 31. When you register for convention, you will be asked for the phone number from which you intend to vote. This is important, as only votes cast from qualified phone numbers will be tabulated. Keep in mind that if participating in convention using the phone, you will ideally specify a different number for voting. There will be multiple opportunities to test the vote-casting process in advance of convention. Stay tuned for details.
For those attendees for whom a mobile device is simply another bodily appendage, there is good news on the mobile app front. Our convention agenda and exhibit hall will be available via the CrowdCompass platform, as it was last year. Available as a mobile app for both iOS and Android devices as well as desktop browsers, CrowdCompass provides convenient access to the agenda, allows users to join sessions with the click of a button, customize a personal agenda, explore the online exhibit hall, and chat with other CrowdCompass convention goers. Further details about the mobile app will be posted to the NFB website when it is available for download this June.
If this is your first convention and you would like to get a sense of what to expect, I would strongly encourage you to mark your calendar for the Rookie Roundup meeting scheduled for Tuesday, July 6, at 8:30 p.m. Eastern. As for what will be happening throughout convention week, visit www.nfb.org/convention in early June for the convention agenda. You will find several agenda formats, one of which will be sure to fit your needs.
As we have noted many times, there truly is no substitute for getting together in person, greeting one another with a hug or a handshake, and grabbing lunch in the hotel restaurant with an old friend. But that said, there will be no shortage of excitement this summer when we convene for our virtual convention. The content will be as relevant, the connections as meaningful, and the experiences as memorable as you would expect from the largest gathering of the organized blind. I look forward to meeting you virtually and sharing another spectacular event this July.
These principles of engagement were adopted by the National Federation of the Blind Board of Directors on May 13, 2021, for recommendation to the National Convention. Nothing in these rules of engagement is intended to change Article V, Section A of the Federation’s constitution. The Convention remains “the supreme authority of the Federation. It is the legislature of the Federation. As such, it has final authority with respect to all issues of policy. Delegates and members in attendance may participate in all convention discussions as a matter of right. Any member of the Federation may make or second motions [and] propose nominations.” These procedures simply implement the method for following the constitution in an electronic convention.
The principles and procedures below are intended to provide clarity and advance notice on how the convention will be managed in 2021. They are consistent with practices used in previous virtual conventions. This document will be read at the NFB board meeting on July 7 and then a second time on July 8 after the roll call of states. The intention is for it to be voted on the evening of July 8. Those eligible to vote on this proposal will be any enrolled voter present and voting at the session on July 8 as described below.
A subcommittee of the board of directors comprising those who are not standing for election this year shall deal with questions and issues of credentials for voting. The subcommittee will include Ron Brown (Indiana), Amy Buresh (Nebraska), Shawn Callaway (District of Columbia), James Gashel (Hawaii), Carla McQuillan (Oregon), and Amy Ruell (Massachusetts). James Gashel shall chair the subcommittee.
by Sharon Maneki, Al Maneki, Dezman Jackson, and Scott White
From the Editor: What a treat we are getting from our Maryland Affiliate as it works to devise new and clever ways to promote our convention and to build activities that will work virtually. Here is its latest offering, and I think you will agree it is spectacular:
It is most appropriate to have a discussion about “unlocking secrets” since Maryland is the home of the National Security Agency and the National Cryptologic Museum. The National Security Agency unlocks the secrets of enemy communications and protects United States’ communications from prying eyes. The National Cryptologic Museum illustrates the accomplishments in these fields throughout history. Countries disguise their communications by developing encryption/decryption codes. A successful cryptologic program must be able to both develop strong codes and have the ingenuity to break other countries’ codes. Encryption and decryption are used in many daily life activities, such as protecting Zoom communications, protecting online ordering transactions, banking, etc. At our convention we will unlock the truth about blindness. Many of our tours will unlock the secrets of ingenuity. At the end of this article, we have a message for you to encode and decode!
The activities for the 2021 National Convention offered by the NFB of Maryland will provide participants with entertainment and enlightenment. The fun begins with NFB LOL Comedy Night. Come to cheer the talents of our Federation Family. Help us determine who will win a $200 prize and a $100 prize by voting for your favorite performers. Laughter is good for your health and good for your soul. Memories of the individual comedians, skits, impersonations, and parodies will keep you chuckling throughout the convention. Consult the agenda for specific date, time, and Zoom information.
We are offering several tours to pique your curiosity. The themes of these tours are ingenuity and infrastructure, which are the basic features of a system or organization. We have two tours that describe the infrastructure of important organizations: the National Federation of the Blind headquarters and the Goddard Space Flight Center. We also have two tours that will delight history buffs: the Harriet Tubman Museum tour describes the infrastructure of the Underground Railroad, which enabled enslaved people to flee to freedom. The B&O Railroad Museum tour describes the early infrastructure of rail transportation. All of these tours highlight American ingenuity. To whet your appetite, here is a brief description of each tour.
Did you ever get lost in the NFB Jernigan Institute? You will not have this problem on our virtual tour of our National Headquarters! This tour will be unique because the tour guides, Mary Ellen Jernigan and Dr. Marc Maurer, were involved before there was a Jernigan Institute. They worked with Dr. Jernigan and will share numerous stories about the development and growth of what was originally called the National Center for the Blind since we purchased the building in 1978. They will also describe how they fulfilled Dr. Jernigan’s dream of creating the first research institute developed solely by the blind. Those who have never been to our headquarters will be surprised by its size and the scope of activities that take place here. Those who have visited will learn something new because we are always creating new ways to use old spaces.
As in the National Federation of the Blind as a whole, we in the state of Maryland like to reach for the stars. Let us share with you a few facts about an establishment we are fortunate to have here in the state. This place, located just a bit northeast of Washington, DC, was the nation’s first space flight center. It is also the largest combined organization of scientists and engineers in the United States dedicated to increasing knowledge of the Earth, the solar system, and the universe via observations from space. You may also be interested in knowing that this place is the home of John Mather, who won the Nobel Prize in physics for his work on the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) mission. Finally, this establishment developed and manages the largest civilian information system in the world. This agency is of course the Goddard Space Flight Center in the town of Greenbelt, Maryland. Many thanks to Denna Lambert, a member of NFBMD, who is a project manager in the management operations directorate at Goddard for helping us connect with the right people for this tour. Join us during the convention on a virtual interactive tour of this marvel of an operation. You too can reach for the stars!
Take a visit to the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park & Visitor Center. Experience Harriet Tubman’s world through exhibits that are informative and emotive, providing an in-depth understanding of Tubman’s early years spent in Maryland’s Choptank River region and her legacy as a leader, liberator, and humanitarian in the resistance movement of the Underground Railroad. Many people underestimated the intelligence of Harriet Tubman and other enslaved people. The Underground Railroad had a complex infrastructure with a sophisticated network of routes and conductors and a coded system of communication. After the enactment of the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which outlawed slavery, Harriet continued to be an activist for both racial and gender equality. You will enjoy learning about this Civil Rights activist.
Many of you will remember Anna Kresmer, who was the archivist at the Jacobus tenBroek Library for many years. Anna will be assisting with audio description on our tour of the B&O Railroad Museum. The B&O Railroad Museum, a full affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American railroading and its impact on American society, culture, and economy. The B&O Railroad has been witness to many milestones in Maryland history, from Baltimore’s development into a major shipping and immigration hub, to major advancements in transportation and communication technology, to the fight for freedom and equal rights during the Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement. On this virtual tour, you will enjoy wandering through interesting, iconic old buildings and learning about various types of equipment on the museum’s 40-acre campus.
Be sure to consult the agenda for the specific dates, times, and Zoom information for each of these tours. Consult the NFB of Maryland blog throughout the time leading up to the convention to learn about other surprises that the host affiliate may have for you! Go to nfb.org/convention.
In order to break the code so that you can read the message from the NFB of Maryland, you need a little background. Today’s codes are very complex because cryptologists develop them using sophisticated algorithms with the assistance of high-powered computers. However this message was encoded by using the basic systems of transposition and substitution ciphers or codes.
A substitution code or cipher system is a method of encrypting messages in which units of plaintext (the original message) are replaced (or substituted) with the ciphertext, in a defined manner, with the help of a key; the "units" may be single letters (the most common), pairs of letters, triplets of letters, mixtures of the above, and so forth. For example, a very simple key may consist of the statement,
“Replace each letter of the plaintext message by a letter two units to the right of it.”
Thus:
Replace a with c,
Replace b with d,
…,
Replace y with a,
Replace z with b.
Using this key, the phrase “Apple voiceover” is encrypted as: crrngxqkegqxgt
Note that we are simply deleting blank spaces in our plaintext message before encrypting it.
To decrypt a ciphertext (recover the underlying plaintext hidden in the ciphertext) that was constructed from this key, work backwards. Thus, every letter of ciphertext is replaced by one that is two letters to the left:
Replace a with y,
Replace b with z,
Replace c with x,
…,
Replace y with w,
Replace z with x.
Using this decryption key, from the ciphertext shown above, we easily get Apple voiceover where we have reinserted the blank space.
In a transposition cipher, the units of the plaintext are rearranged, or permuted, in a different and usually quite complex order, but the units themselves are left unchanged. For example, the “Rail Fence Cipher” can be described geometrically so that the permutation of plaintext may be arranged to resemble a rail fence. For the purposes of this article, we will describe this transposition cipher as an algorithm:
Divide the plaintext into groups of consecutive four letter quadruple sequences.
From these quadruples, form three “words.” The first word consists of the first letter of each quadruple. The second word consists of the second and third letter of each quadruple. The third word consists of the fourth letter of each quadruple.
Combine these three “words” into a single sequence of scrambled letters to form the Rail Fence cipher text.
The blank spaces in the plaintext are simply discarded.
We illustrate Rail Fence encryption by transposing the plaintext “Apple voiceover.” Since this phrase contains fourteen letters, we arbitrarily add two letters (we will use ‘e’ and ‘s’) to get sixteen letters, a multiple of four. We have four quadruples:
appl
evoi
ceov
eres
From the Rail Fence transposition cipher, we have
aece
ppvoeore
livs
Combining these three “words” into a string of cipher text, we have:
aeceppvoeorelivs
Note that the first transposed “word” consists of four letters or 1/4 the length of the plaintext, the second “word” consists of eight letters or 1/2 the length of the plaintext, and the third “word” consists of 1/4 the length of the plaintext. As in the case of the substitution cipher described above, plaintext and ciphertext also have the same length in the Rail Fence transposition cipher.
To decrypt the Rail Fence transposition cipher, work backwards. Starting with the cipher text, construct the consecutive quadruples.
For the plaintext, take the first letter of each quadruple, followed by the second and third letters of each quadruple, followed by the fourth letter of each quadruple. This gives us the original plaintext phrase “applevoiceoveres.” Inserting blank space in the correct space and removing the excess letters ‘e’ and ‘s,’ we get the phrase “apple voiceover.”
From these two simple methods of encryption, we can make the cipher text more complicated by “super-encryption.” For example, we may use a substitution cipher to encrypt a plaintext message, then super-encrypt that cipher text with a Rail Fence transposition cipher. The possibilities here are endless.
Quite frequently, we are given the cipher text without knowing the key or keys that were used to encrypt the underlying plaintext. It is the work of the cryptanalyst to determine how the encryption was carried out and to recover the underlying key or keys.
Here is a two-sentence message to test your encrypting and decrypting skills. To qualify for a $100 prize, submit your answers by 11:59 p.m. EST, July 5. Submit your answers to [email protected]. Be sure to include your name and mailing address with your submission. In case of multiple correct entries, the winner will be selected by random drawing.
1. Encrypt the sentence:
Federation family: come home to the National Convention
In two ways—First, encrypt the sentence with the two-unit substitution cipher described above to get the first ciphertext. To get the second ciphertext, encrypt the plaintext sentence with the Rail Fence transposition cipher described above. Be sure to identify the key used for each ciphertext. In each case, delete blank spaces and punctuations, and change capitalized letters to lowercase letters.
2. Decrypt the ciphertext:
MVUHIHZSRWDQURLRXIDZNRXQOOVKLQUPLRQGVSDWQHQRHIIRLIDQLLLV
Upon decryption, insert blank spaces and punctuations, and correct spelling errors if there are any. Hint: this ciphertext was multiply encrypted.
Enjoy encrypting and decrypting our message. Good luck. See you on Zoom during the convention.
by Gary Wunder
I hope that some of you will find this issue of the Monitor thought provoking. In a time when we find our country so divided, I am reluctant to do anything that sparks antagonistic arguments. At the same time I think it is very clear that our membership holds some common views about blindness and some very diverse views about other issues and the way that they affect us both individually and organizationally. My hope is that, when you come across a view that you take issue with, you keep in mind that we are a wide cross-section of individuals, and while we may encounter discrimination as blind people, blindness does not discriminate: it can affect anyone and cares not one bit about race, religion, sexuality, or many other issues that sometimes seem to rise to the level of making us focus more on our differences than on our shared goals.
Almost all of us think of ourselves as open-minded. The real test comes when we encounter a view that does not coincide with ours, and we have to decide whether our first reaction will be defensive or reflective. One of the things I like about written material is that I have a chance to read it without having to immediately respond. As one of my best friends said, “I can just immerse myself in what is being said, let it wash over me, and then, after giving myself the time I need, I can decide how I’m going to respond.”
I don’t expect any person who reads every one of these articles to agree with what is said. All of them contain elements that are factual and elements that represent belief that may be based as much on emotion as rationality. If we don’t really try to understand rationally and emotionally how our fellow human beings feel, we are not really as tolerant as we think. I like the line, “I am tolerant of everyone except the intolerant.” The difficulty, of course, is that I find it difficult to see within myself the areas in which I lack tolerance, the places where I show bias, and the resolution to do something about them. What I do believe, however, is that we can show that resolution and that, organizationally, we are better for listening to all points of view, even if some of them make us uncomfortable.
I believe that part of the purpose for sharing our hopes, dreams, and aspirations in this magazine is that we need a place to discuss the formulation of policy. We know how to set policy through resolutions; but here I am trying to focus on how we frame the arguments that will go into the best policies we can achieve. I hope you enjoy this issue; I don’t expect you to be comfortable with every opinion expressed in every article, but I do expect that you will credit the individuals who offer them with extending their hearts, their minds, and their experiences for public discussion in the belief that all of us will be the better for sharing.by Laura Millar
From the Editor: Laura Millar is a blind outspoken disability rights and queer rights advocate who is deeply committed to advancing the field of sexual health promotion for people with disabilities. With master’s degrees in public health and sexuality studies, Laura conducts research that examines how blind and visually impaired people learn about and navigate the world of dating, sex, and intimate relationships.
Laura began her work with the goal of empowering people who are blind or visually impaired. Her passion and expertise have expanded to educating people with all types of disabilities to help them comfortably navigate intimacy and physical relationships. Laura specializes in helping people break through pockets of resistance and navigate shame related to their disability and/or sexuality.
Her work highlights the importance of creating a culture that centers around consent and strives to live in a world where talking about and obtaining consent is not only the norm but expected in every situation! Laura’s current services also include group education and one-on-one coaching. Training programs are available for teachers, trainers, group facilitators, and for people with disabilities and their family members. She can be reached at [email protected]. Here is what she says:
My confidence grew the moment I stepped out under blindfold for the first time. I was in my mid-thirties and was finally coming to an acceptance of my blindness; I was finally getting some much-needed cane training, and I wasn’t hating it. To be honest I wasn’t loving it either, but it was a beautiful day, and I was happy to be outside. With each step I could feel myself exploring the world in a new, exciting, and terrifying way. My feet teetered off the curb on the left, and I gently felt my instructor’s hands on my shoulder guiding me back onto the path, a gentle instruction on how to make sure I located the curb without falling off. We then continued the lesson.
It is important to pause here and let you know that this settled my internal systems. I realized how close my instructor was to me, and I naively believed that I would be safe from that point on—that they would make sure I did not fall off curbs or run into objects.
As the lesson proceeded, I continued to learn new skills as situations arose. About ten or fifteen minutes later I found myself preparing to cross my first very busy lit intersection. My instructor and I stood on the corner for what felt like forever deconstructing the intersection, the sounds, and how I could discern when it was safe to cross. We practiced scenarios verbally on the street corner until finally I was ready to cross.
As I stepped into the street, I could feel myself veering too far to the right, and when I reached the middle of the intersection, I could hear cars heading toward me. I swung my cane to the left and moved back to what I thought was on course, but I over-corrected; instead of finding a safe path, I instead heard traffic rushing toward me in the other direction. Nothing made sense, and I started to feel afraid. I called out to my instructor and didn’t hear a response.
At this point my anxiety was fully activated, and I panicked, fearing for my safety. Instinctively, and not something I recommend anybody ever do, I ripped off my blindfold right there in the middle of the intersection. What little vision I had left was overwhelmed and washed out by a flood of light, which only added to my anxiety. To this day I am not sure how I got out of the intersection or to the corner, but I’m sure my instructor was right there and was a big part of getting me to safety after my poorly thought-out plan.
Only after the fact did I realize that I likely was never in any immediate danger, and they were helping to direct traffic so I could figure it out on my own. I was always “safe,” at least in theory, but in the middle of the intersection when I was getting no response and feeling so threatened, I was terrified, leading me to react the way I did. I had no foreknowledge that they would be directing traffic and leaving me to what felt like my own devices, and I think it would have been very helpful to know!
Before the lesson that day, I’m sure my instructor and I had a conversation about my fears going under blindfold and what the lesson would be like. We certainly discussed many things before we left and while we were walking the route. What we did not fully discuss was informed consent—I was put into a situation that I not only wasn’t prepared for, but which directly and immediately affected my mental health, my ability to focus, and my ability to concentrate and learn. In talking with my instructor about what happened, I was able to share that I felt like I simply did not have enough information about how they were going to work with me and what to do if I felt unsafe.
I remember that, when I stepped off the curb, I made a mental note that I was safe because my instructor’s hand reached out to guide me back on the path before I was able to stumble or hurt myself. That was a completely nonverbal discussion that resulted in assumptions that, when faced with the problem later, did not match my reality. When I was struggling in the middle of the intersection, I assumed that my instructor would be right there to guide me to safety. After calling out to them and not hearing a response, I reacted by throwing off my blindfold. What I would have wanted instead, and am now requesting of my instructors, is that they spend some time not just reviewing the lesson but doing so from an “informed consent perspective.”
This event changed the trajectory of my career. I had envisioned myself solely working in the blind community as a sex educator focused on sex education and consent in relationships. My work shifted to more advocacy-based teaching and training orientation and mobility instructors, teachers of the visually impaired, and parents and educators about the importance of consent and informed consent in EVERY situation. I now take advantage of everyday situations to model consent and demonstrate the agency (a personal feeling of control over actions and their consequences) and autonomy that blind people have and can advocate for over their own world and life.
When most people hear of informed consent, they think of a research study or maybe a visit to a medical doctor, and they would not be wrong. Those are places where there are ethics review boards and other controls to help assure the humane and ethical treatment of people. When provided with informed consent, the participant can ask clarifying questions, request accommodations or modifications, and ultimately make an educated and conscientious decision about whether or not they want to participate.
In an ideal world, informed consent about going under a blindfold would include a pre-discussed plan that outlines the activity, including associated benefits and risks. Preparing this plan should address any concerns, fears, or limitations the participant might have with the proposed activity. This plan would include where they were going, the length of activity, the location and responsibility of the instructor, and the personal safety of the participant, including the risks they will be taking. It would also outline how the instructor might interact physically with the participant: where their body was, what expectations both have about touch, and communication about when a participant will be outside the instructor’s reach. It is extremely important that the plan outline what the participant should do when they don’t feel safe, including how to end the activity.
It’s also important to note that even having a plan and a conversation ahead of the activity may not have stopped my anxiety attack in the middle of the road. However, I firmly believe it would have changed the way I reacted to that anxiety as the expectations, risks, and protections would have been clearer. The idea that folks need to be uncomfortable to learn is not only outdated, it is downright dangerous. Informed consent would not have stopped my discomfort, but it would have alleviated a great deal of it. It would have given me the information that I needed to show up fully empowered and to make better choices about the situation.
My main goal is to emphasize how important it is that parents, orientation and mobility instructors, teachers of the visually impaired, and ultimately everyone understand informed consent and that the methods we use to teach and model consent to blind folks will directly affect the kind of blind person they will become. A blind person who is treated with agency and respect, who is given the information that they need to make an informed decision, is one who can take that agency, autonomy, and respect confidently with them into their workplaces, relationships, and lives. That kind of empowerment helps us face the challenges life throws at us and makes the world easier to navigate.
Here is my contact information: Laura Millar MPH, M.A., MCHES (She/Her)
Sexuality educator, consultant, coach, and community organizer
Contact [email protected]
by Mary Ellen Gabias
From the Editor: It wouldn’t be accurate to say that Mary Ellen Gabias is a frequent contributor in these pages, but every time she does make a contribution, she brings tremendous perspective, thought, and insight to the topic she addresses. Her note is written in response to an article we carried recently about microaggression. I am grateful for it because it both furthers the dialogue on an important topic and shows that this publication is a forum for discussion so that we may evolve in our own understanding and policy positions. Here is what she says:
Eighty-one years and five generations has allowed the NFB enough time to create valuable tradition. We have handed down statements, beliefs, legends, customs, and information from generation to generation.
We have largely avoided nostalgia, a wistful desire and sentimental yearning to return to the remembered happiness of a former time. Partly this is because the times we remember weren't all that great. Partly we have avoided nostalgia because we understand that it mimics tradition but is its enemy, because nostalgia is mostly empty illusion.
Those of us who have been part of this movement for more than a generation are most responsible for distinguishing between our rich and valuable tradition and dangerous nostalgia. Just because we’ve always done things a certain way or talked about them with certain words doesn’t mean those habits are immutable. Just because language is trendy doesn’t mean we should automatically embrace it.
No one doubts the clarity of thought or the profound philosophical insights of Jacobus tenBroek or Kenneth Jernigan, but even those of us with the deepest attachment to their words recognize changes in linguistic usage that could make their speeches—written decades ago—grate on today’s audiences. It would be odd indeed if the language had remained static. We are wise to modernize the way we speak to ensure that our language avoids being alienating, but the words we substitute must also remain true enough to the original meaning to avoid inadvertently losing the nuanced understanding that has made our philosophy so powerful.
We have set ourselves a delicate task under normal circumstances. The current political and cultural climate complicates the job immensely.
Syntax overload is the phenomenon of words and phrases that convey a multitude of meanings, sometimes different meanings to different audiences. The phrase "Black Lives Matter" is an absolutely undeniable statement of truth as a moral principle. It incorporates the sad truth that the lives of human beings with black or brown skins have far too often not been treated with proper respect by authorities and by our culture. But the phrase also refers to a controversial political organization that is not universally held in high regard. It is perfectly possible to staunchly uphold the dignity of Black people while simultaneously disapproving of some of the policies of the organization bearing the "Black Lives Matter" name. Syntax overload.
For decades the NFB logo was a triangle with the letters NFB in its center and the words Security, Equality, Opportunity circling it. The logo was deeply meaningful to our members, particularly those old enough to remember the battle to remove some of the more draconian restrictions from the Aid to the Blind welfare system that had kept too many of us extremely insecure. But as logos go, it was visually boring and static. We wanted a logo that conveyed more vibrant activity. Whozit was born. Then Whozit was changed to incorporate symbolism stressing collective action.
We used a variety of symbols and phrases to describe ourselves, but none was elevated to a tag line. The aspirational message, said in many different ways, could be articulated as "strive to be your best and work with others so we can achieve our dreams." True, but a bit lengthy. So now we say, "Live the life you want." The message incorporates freedom of choice and possibilities. It's pithy, easy to remember and repeat. Syntax overload could cause us difficulty if the person reading “Live the life you want” understood “want” as selfishness. Wanting doesn’t mean acting out of selfishness, but generational syntax overload sometimes complicates understanding.
In February the Monitor published an article called “An Introduction to the Concept of Microaggressions.” I was intrigued, partly because it was written by my daughter, but primarily because it was a sincere effort to describe all too common experiences of blind people in current terms.
Federation literature has always incorporated stories of blind people facing public misunderstanding, sometimes extreme cases of ignorance. “Of Visions and Vultures” and “That’s How it Is at the Top of the Stairs” both include lengthy poignant stories of harm caused by public misconceptions.
NFB training centers have always taught that understanding public attitudes and learning to deal with them without becoming emotionally upset or damaged is one of the core tasks of learning to live successfully as a blind person. Does the word “microaggressions” accurately encapsulate all the nuances conveyed in our traditional teaching about how best to understand and deal with public misconceptions? If not, what’s missing? If the word accurately conveys the concept, does using it increase understanding of the problem or alienate potential supporters because of syntax overload?
The concept of microaggression certainly includes a sense of inaccurate, unfair, and unwelcome interactions. If such interactions are thrust upon us, are we victims? Does our approach to such encounters have any influence on the degree of our victimhood? Ultimately, where does the power lie?
Who among us has not engaged in lively conversations on this topic? “You wouldn’t believe what happened to me when I was running errands yesterday!” Often we laugh; sometimes we share anger and frustration. “If only I’d thought of that snappy comeback at the time instead of half an hour later.”
Sometimes our response is both graceful and gracious. Sometimes our response is less than we would wish it had been. Whatever happens, and however we respond, we can talk about it with one another, decide what it means, how we feel, and what we can learn for the next time. We know there will always be a next time, perhaps under different circumstances, but a next time nevertheless.
What does it mean to avoid becoming upset or damaged by misconceptions about blindness? If the ignorant individual is someone walking past on the street, probably the damage is minimal and fleeting. If the ignorant person is a potential employer or a potential love interest, the damage is deeper. The first can be brushed aside; the second requires introspection at the least and possibly confrontational advocacy. The first may be a paper cut; the second a knife slash.
The concept of microaggression does not include remedies, other than confronting and attempting to eliminate microaggressions. The ultimate solution lies in changing the behavior of the micro aggressor.
Traditional Federation discussion of this problem overtly shifts power to the blind person. We begin with the clear understanding that we are knowledgeable; the person making the unwelcome comment knows less than we do. Our role changes in a subtle but very powerful way. It is now our choice whether to go on our way and politely ignore the comment or to impart what we know through education. Either way, we’re in charge. We can decide to insist that the overly helpful and invasive airport employee leave us in peace, or we can calculate that the confrontation isn’t worth it. But, even if we choose to go along to get along, we have chosen, and we have done so consciously, understanding that we’re still the most knowledgeable person involved in the interaction.
Is misunderstanding an offense? If so, every one of us takes a turn at being offensive to others, because we all have areas of incomplete or inaccurate understanding. One question we must all ask ourselves is whether we want our areas of ignorance laid bare for exploration. If so, how do we want it done? Do we admit what we don’t know in a straightforward manner and request the education we know we need? If we lack the confidence to admit the holes in our understanding, is our best bet to try to bluff our way through, acting as if we know more than we do? Or do we try to avoid any situation where these issues may arise? Difficult questions that tend to increase empathy for those whose attitudes about blindness fall short. If those we meet become so afraid of being offensive or committing microaggressions, might they avoid saying anything they fear might be offensive, thereby remaining ignorant? Worse still, might they avoid us altogether?
How does our approach to microaggressions (or we might call them incorrect public attitudes) affect us? Humans tend to find more of whatever they focus attention on. If we expect ignorance and microaggressions, they will be everywhere. I was returning home from a Federation event in which the topic of blind airline passengers being forced to ride in wheelchairs they neither requested nor needed was discussed at length. Sitting on the airplane, I heard the flight attendant asking if the wheelchair had been ordered to be at the aircraft door at our destination. I was fuming! I rang my call bell and explained that I did not need a wheelchair. “The woman two rows ahead of you who cannot walk needs one,” the flight attendant said calmly. I had just defended myself against a microaggression that didn’t exist. At other times, when I wasn’t even thinking about it, I’ve been approached with an unwelcome wheelchair at an airport. It was easy to shake off the unwanted chair with an “Oh, you must have me confused with somebody else” because I was relaxed and not at all defensive. Due to our history, dealing with airlines is challenging. Airports are hard places for me to maintain equanimity. In current language, they trigger me. My task of remaining assertively friendly and clear about my needs and lack of needs becomes much more difficult because I walk in the door determined to fend off problems. Trips are much more exhausting due to my negative expectations. Living my entire life burdened in that way is not a joyous prospect. Living my life believing that I am a powerful educator capable of dealing graciously and mostly effectively with members of the public who don’t understand my blindness is empowering.
The concept of microaggression, at least the way I understand it, fails the test of accurately conveying the full nuance and power of the old concept of “dealing with public misconceptions.” The term tends to increase our feeling of victimhood and to keep the power in the hands of the micro aggressor, since our hope of redress lies primarily in changing them, something over which we have little control.
Syntax overload also comes into play. My very conservative brother saw the title of the article and immediately commented that he didn’t want to read an article designed to make him feel guilty and ashamed. He and I have discussed misunderstanding and ignorance about blindness many times, and he has always been fully supportive. I teased him about being triggered by the term microaggression, and he did not laugh as I intended that he would. Instead, he talked about how uneasy he felt about accidentally demonstrating a flawed understanding. He was afraid of being mocked and condemned. Syntax overload.
The National Federation of the Blind is neither liberal nor conservative. It is liberal and conservative. We recognize both the power of individual initiative and the need for strong community action and support. Societal polarization makes the line we walk and the balance we maintain much more difficult. It is easy for me, as a more traditional person, to become unhappy when we use words closely tied to what is disparagingly referred to as “woke” culture. I am less aware of ways in which my colleagues who regard themselves as more socially and politically liberal might be uncomfortable with terms I prefer. As a general principle, I believe we do best when we avoid syntax overloaded language. The Federation is uniquely positioned to live out the respect that can bridge our very dangerous cultural chasms. Doing so will require courage to be clear about differences between our traditional thinking and nostalgia. There may be circumstances where we come to believe that our traditional thoughts on a topic no longer serve us. That has happened before. In 1949, the NFB passed a resolution asking for two-for-one airfare for blind travellers. In the mid-1960s the debate was held again, and a two-for-one airfare resolution lost, barely. Today it would be difficult for such a resolution to find a sponsor.
Core Federation principles have kept me involved for a half century. I love this organization because it affirms my ability to decide and actively create the life I believe is best. The Federation understands the fallacy of blind people “making it on their own” and is committed to the value of collective action and mutual support. We face discrimination and misconceptions with strength, but we also work to avoid bitterness and to deal compassionately and hopefully toward members of the public. I love that we fight when we need to, negotiate when we can, and strive to help one another become stronger, kinder, and more resilient.
My hope is that, as we think about new ways to say what we have always believed, we continue to take the time to check with one another so that our language conveys the fullest and most nuanced understanding of our beliefs that we can possibly express and that we are mindful of the dangers of hanging on to old language out of nostalgia or adopting new ways of speaking that damage us through syntax overload.
by Cheryl Fields
From the Editor: Cheryl is no stranger to readers of the Braille Monitor. She had an excellent article in our July 2018 issue entitled “Living in Silence.” This offering first appeared in a press release dated March 30, and it is far too good to not put in these pages.
Cheryl is the mother of two and the grandmother of four, three boys and a girl. Cheryl loves to read, and it is obvious that she also loves to write and is good at it. She is currently working on a book and is in the final stages prior to publishing. Perhaps we can coax another article out of her when it becomes available. Here is what she says:
Content Warning: The information found below has the potential to hurt or retraumatize others. Please prepare to read about the difficult topic of domestic violence.
I am one of six dynamic and diverse women who are the National Federation of the Blind Survivor Task Force.
The pathway of healing and peace is the journey of a lifetime. There’s that aha moment of awareness, then, the question, "Now what?”
What is domestic violence? The United Nations’ definition uses this language: “Domestic abuse, also called ‘domestic violence’ or 'intimate partner violence’ can be defined as a pattern of behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. It is physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological—actions or threats of actions that influence another person.”
I was seventeen the first time my boyfriend hit me. Our tears mingled together as he graphically detailed how I was responsible for his actions and what would be necessary to prevent him from assaulting me again. I believed him. We tearfully apologized to each other, and I got a treat, the first of many dozens of beautiful long-stem red roses and an afternoon of make-up sex.
One of my aunts is a survivor of intimate partner abuse, and she was not fooled by my boyfriend. She warned me that the love of my life was not a good dude and to get out while I could. Of course, I didn’t listen to Auntie’s warning. Her words couldn’t compete with my teenage libido.
Eventually I married that boyfriend, and we started a family. The violence escalated, and the gifts were elevated, but the exquisite roses remained the same, with sharper thorns, gouging deep wounds that I thought would never heal.
The burning question on the lips of observers and now readers is, “Why? Why do or did you stay for so long?” It’s difficult to express the amount of shame, guilt, and fear associated with intimate partner abuse. When a victim is terrorized by their abuser who consistently reinforces how unappealing and inadequate the victim is, the stripping away of her/his self-esteem/self-worth can cause the victim to believe the abuser. In spite of his/her many flaws, the perpetrator manipulates the victim into believing he/she is the only person who is able to love the victim. The fact that my family warned me and I didn’t listen contributed to the guilt I felt and magnified my inability to make good choices. Instead, I chose to stay and work harder to be a better mother, wife, and lover while pretending to be happy.
That strategy did not work. Variations of the assault repeated themselves for many years. Then I had another aha moment and didn’t know what to do or where to go; I became blind in 1983. At the time, my daughter was two years old, and my son was five. Not long after I became blind, I attended the funeral of a classmate I’d known since childhood. Her name was Sharon. I learned that, as her young son and brother watched in horror, she was murdered by her soon-to-be ex-husband. Feeling the grief that day uncovered and exposed the truth. My own life was out of control, and that made me fearful of the future for me and my children. Within a few short months, I filed for divorce and fled the city with my children. I wasn’t healthy, happy, or safe and didn’t know what to do; so again I faked it until I figured it out.
Some years later, while sitting in a support group, aha happened again. I learned about post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This knowledge made me feel really good. My problem was identified at last, but I did nothing about it. I was just happy to know I was not the only one. PTSD is defined by the Mayo Clinic as a “mental condition that’s triggered by a terrifying event, either experiencing it or witnessing it. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety as well as uncontrollable thoughts about the event.” For many years I was unaware of this condition, and I was a contradiction of emotions and actions, constantly angry and depressed while being an overachiever, the rescue squad for others when I was barely hanging on by a thread.
Merriam-Webster defines healing as “A. to make free from injury or disease; B. to make sound or whole.” I eventually became intentional and determined to live a whole life free of injury, hurt, and trauma. Is it easy? No, but it is worth the journey. Am I better? Absolutely. After years of believing that being a victim defined me, I put the work into affirming and reaffirming who I am and how I choose to live my life, believing I have the right to live the life I want! I have the right to experience hope, joy, love, and peace with every new sunrise!
If you or someone you know is a victim of relationship abuse, there is hope. Contact your local domestic violence center, the Rape Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN), or the NFB Survivor Taskforce for support or additional resources, and don’t give up!
Resources: nfb.org/survivors
[email protected]
410-659-9314, extension 2238
Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit the online hotline at hotline.rainn.org.
by Michael Hingson and Curtis Chong
From the Editor: Last month we ran an article about overlay technology marketed as a partial solution to the problem of inaccessible websites. As the editor of the Braille Monitor, I have not been looking for arguments to divide us, but I will admit that I’ve been looking for some pushback. Too frequently I hear nothing about the articles that are published either in support of or in opposition to their theses. This month’s issue is different, for while no one is attacking the character of an author, there are challenges to assertions previously made that all of us can think about as we come to our own decisions. This article is one of two that call on us to do this.
In the name of full disclosure, we need to state right up front that Michael Hingson now works for AccessiBe and has the title of vision officer in the company. This acknowledgment is in no way meant to discount his strong and significant role in the National Federation of the Blind for almost sixty years or the fact that he is a frequent guest at state conventions speaking on a wide variety of topics that do not include advertisement of his company. To our knowledge Curtis Chong has no financial investment in any overlay company, and his only interest is seeing that he can do what he wants to do when he wants to do it as he uses the World Wide Web. Here is their article:
As some of you may know, the authors of this article, Mike Hingson and Curtis Chong, are two long-time Federationists with a lot of experience advocating for equal access to technology. After reading the May Monitor article entitled “Overreliance on Overlays is Counter to Enculturation of Accessibility” by Anil Lewis, we felt that we should comment about some of the inaccuracies and misconceptions we believe to exist in the article.
What is overlay technology anyway? Well, for the nontechnical readers among us, the term overlay technology, as used here, refers to a technique to improve the accessibility (to the blind and people with other disabilities) of websites by fixing problems before we see them. Suppose, for example, that a website that we use to send and receive email has a Reply object (it could be a link or a button) which a blind person can’t activate with the keyboard. Overlay technology would detect what to us would be this inaccessible control and modify the code so that we could press the Enter key to activate it. The screen reader might regard the result as a button or a link, but whatever the result, we would be able to trigger it by entering a keyboard command. Overlay technology might also attach a generic text description to a picture which would otherwise be identified as “graphic” by our screen reading software. For menus that can be expanded or collapsed only with the mouse, overlay technology could enable keyboard commands to perform the same function. Some implementations of overlay technology make one-time changes to websites to address accessibility issues. Dynamic implementations of this technology regularly scan supported websites (perhaps once each day), detect changes that could pose accessibility problems, and make dynamic repairs to fix the accessibility difficulties detected during the scan.
In his article, Anil Lewis declares that, “The preference of the National Federation of the Blind is for all technology, including websites, to be accessible at implementation through the integration of development best practices that include accessibility during the design and development phase.” He acknowledges, however, that, “Although born accessible is unquestionably our preference, the problem is that the need for accessible sites far exceeds the supply.”
Life experience has taught us that when, in a large company, the blind person is but one out of, say, ten thousand fully sighted employees, coworkers and supervisors (and possibly the larger organization) are willing to make what they regard as minor or reasonable changes to adjust to the needs of the blind person. But since everything in the world is geared for people who can see, the willingness to accommodate drops off if the cost or effort goes beyond a certain point of what the lawyers might call “reasonableness.” In an ideal world, it shouldn’t take a whole lot of extra effort to make a website accessible to the blind. But in the world in which we live today, the overwhelming majority of programmers, designers, and analysts who put large systems together do not, as Anil correctly points out, possess the knowledge and expertise to ensure that their work results in something that is fully accessible to the blind. If obtaining the necessary knowledge and expertise is perceived to take too much in the way of extra training, effort, and/or funding, it is likely to be regarded as an undue burden. When that happens, issues of accessibility are invariably pushed down in the stack of priorities. This phenomenon is not limited to larger organizations. Smaller businesses with fewer employees feel justified in ignoring accessibility issues altogether because they can argue, with some truth, that there simply aren’t enough people and funding available to perform the extra work which they say making things accessible requires.
Anil says in his article, “Some companies claim that these accessibility toolbars, apps, widgets, or plugins allow the user to enable various accessibility functions such as optimizing for screen readers, increasing keyboard accessibility, and enhancing color contrast.” We acknowledge that some companies may indeed make these claims, but what have our own investigations revealed?
We took some time to examine for ourselves a number of websites supported by overlay technology. We did not find any instances where overlay technology actually made a website less accessible to a blind person. But we did find that oreo.com displayed menus, a more accessible shopping cart, and image descriptions which were not present with its overlay turned off. Tupperware.com provided a more accessible shopping cart, better access to menus, and more product information with overlay access operating. NameCheap.com, when overlay technology was activated, made the web registration process easier to perform from a nonvisual perspective. One author, Curtis Chong, found an overlay technology on the T-Mobile website in which the benefit of the technology was not at all apparent. But again, we did not find a specific website where the use of overlay technology made it less accessible. Based on this experience, we wondered what websites Anil was referring to when, in his article he said, “We have found that in some instances, implementing an overlay makes it more difficult for a blind person to use a website.” We would be glad to take a look at a specific website examined by Anil where overlay technology results in less nonvisual access. Overlay technology should never reduce our ability to use any website or web-based application.
In his article, Anil makes the case that relying too much on overlays to solve accessibility problems runs counter to the idea that accessibility needs to be part of the normal course of doing business. We would agree that there is little hope that accessibility will become integral to the corporate culture if an organization purchases a working overlay solution, installs it, and then figures that nothing else needs to be done about accessibility on the theory that the overlay will address all of its online accessibility problems. We wish to point out, however, that what Anil calls “enculturation” around accessibility is equally as unlikely to occur if an organization, large or small, contracts with a third-party accessibility consulting firm and makes no effort to enhance the knowledge and competence of its in-house staff regarding nonvisual access.
While it would be truly wonderful if all website owners made it a priority to learn about nonvisual access and what to do to create and maintain accessible websites, this is not likely to happen while website owners, mostly small and intermediate businesses, are focused primarily on getting their sites up and running so that they can conduct their online business. What is a company with, say, only ten employees going to do if one or two blind customers report a problem of access to its website and the accessibility issue is something that is fairly easy to fix? Should it refuse to install an overlay technology which can be shown to improve nonvisual access and possibly be less expensive than contracting with a third-party accessibility expert? For this small company, what would be the best alternative?
We agree with Anil that there aren’t enough programmers who have been properly trained in the area of accessibility to ensure that every website published complies fully with well-established accessibility guidelines. We also support the vision of a fully accessible future in which students are equipped to enter the workforce with knowledge of and skills in the principles of accessible design and development and the needs of people with disabilities. However, we believe that even if, miraculously, every programmer in the world possessed the knowledge to make websites accessible and began properly coding for accessibility, their efforts would not be enough to handle the growing tide of inaccessible websites—websites which are going to be created by people for whom the sense of sight is integral to everything they do.
We believe that there is a place in our future for both overlay technology that really works for the blind and traditional coding methods supported with proper staff training, third-party expertise, and a pragmatic understanding of the benefits that making a website accessible has to offer. What we who are blind must do is to learn for ourselves the benefits and drawbacks of both overlay technology and manual coding, decide where each technology might fit in the overall effort to improve nonvisual access to websites, and ensure that we have the wisdom and vision to recognize when a new approach or technology can help us in our quest to achieve equality and first-class citizenship.by Shawn Calloway
From the Editor: Most readers know that Shawn is a member of the National Federation of the Blind Board of Directors, the president of the District of Columbia affiliate, and the co-chairperson of our Diversity and Inclusion Committee. He and his wife have a daughter six years old. He works for the United States Department of Health and Human Services as a program specialist and has done so for ten years. His hobbies are traveling and being a sports fanatic. This is evidenced by his being a season ticket holder for the Washington football team and the Washington Wizards, and he loves to play fantasy football. With all of this on his plate, we who read the Braille Monitor are grateful that he has taken the time to reflect on and share his experience in forming romantic relationships as a person who is blind. Here is his story:
After losing my vision at nineteen years old, I believed that I would never be in a meaningful relationship with a woman. Having countless conversations with family members and friends about how to improve myself to enter a meaningful relationship, I concluded that I had to be successful in certain phases of my life. First, I had to accept that I was blind. Second, I had to establish goals that would lead to social and financial independence. Lastly, I had to work toward being self-confident and self-assured. This last phase was extremely important because I had to prepare myself for rejection from women not wanting to date me due to my blindness.
After I met the criteria to complete my three phases, I began dating, and I was met with the surprise of my life. Most of the roadblocks I encountered to a meaningful relationship were not created by the women I pursued. No, it was the parents of the women I courted that created a road block to a meaningful relationship with their daughters.
There were three instances in which I encountered parental ignorance. The following examples were not the singular factor to having a relationship, but the attitudes displayed by the parents were clear misconceptions of the capabilities of blind people. First, as a student at the University of Maryland, I began a friendship with a young lady who was the sister of my cousin’s friend. We had good daily conversations leading to our first date, which was to her place of worship. A few days after our date, she contacted me with some bad news. She informed me that her mother was not happy that she went out on a date with me. The young lady said that her mother said, “Your going out with a blind man is ridiculous; what can he do for you?” I was shocked and disappointed to hear that her mother felt that I was not worthy to date her daughter.
However, the bad news did not stop there. The young lady informed me that she no longer wanted to date me and that we could be friends. I asked the young lady, “If you knew that you no longer wanted to date me, why did you waste your time telling me what your mother said to you about going out with me?” She replied, “I do not know. I guess it was something you needed to know.”
My second encounter with parental ignorance occurred while I was pursuing my graduate degree. I began dating a young lady who was the friend of a high school classmate’s girlfriend. We talked daily and had wonderful conversations. We had fun on our social outings together as well. I felt good about our relationship until I received a disturbing phone call. When I answered the phone, the young lady was crying. I asked her what was wrong. She said, “My mother and aunt called me on a three-way call, and they were laughing and making fun of me.” When I asked her why they were laughing at her, she said, “They said, ‘What can a blind man do for you? You will be taking care of him. He cannot take care of you.’” Once again, I was disappointed to know that a parent and an aunt would have these feelings toward me. When I asked the young lady how she was feeling, she said, “I do not know how I am feeling.”
I asked, “Are we going to continue to date?” She responded by candidly saying that she did not know. Once I heard the answer “I do not know,” I decided to end the relationship. I made this decision because I felt that the young lady was influenced by her mother’s and aunt’s comments. Therefore, I quickly determined that she did not have a mind of her own.
The last collision with parental ignorance occurred at a friend’s cookout. I was approached by a young lady at the event, and we began a brief conversation. After we completed our discussion, we exchanged phone numbers, and we promised to keep in touch. Once the young lady departed the cookout, I was approached by a man who seemed to be intoxicated. The man asked me, “Do you know the young lady you were talking with?” I said, “Yes, and she seemed to be a nice young lady.”
He said, “I know she is nice because she is my daughter.” The man proceeded to ask me more questions. He asked, “Do you work?”
I said, “Yes, I am a social worker.”
He said, “Do you live alone?”
“In a few weeks I will be living alone because I just purchased a home,” I said.
Finally, the parent made the statement that he wanted to make before speaking with me. He said, “You seem like a good dude, but please do not make plans to talk with my daughter again.” He continued, “I raised her to have the best in life, and I do not need her taking care of a grown man.”
My anger intensified as a result of his comments because his daughter and I were discussing resources for her boyfriend’s father who was losing his vision. I had no plans of attempting to date his daughter. As I departed the cookout, I heard the father yell, “Do not forget what I told you.” A force of nature lifted my right arm and extended my middle finger, and I stated, “Tell this.”
I do not want to create the impression that every encounter that I had with a parent was negative. There were some parents who accepted me, and my blindness was not an issue. However, my last encounter with a parent became my best encounter with a parent.
In the fall of 2003, I began dating Ms. Latonya Rollins, the woman who would eventually become my wife. During my courtship, I was confident that a marriage would occur, but the feelings of confidence often disappeared because I had not met Latonya’s father. She was from Cleveland, Ohio, and with me living in Washington, DC, it would be six months before this encounter with her father would occur. In June of 2004, the opportunity to meet Latonya’s father had finally materialized. This meeting occurred in Ohio at the home of my future uncle and aunt, Michael and Mary Coles. The event was a family cookout, and all of Latonya’s family members were present. When I walked through the door, I began introducing myself to all who were in attendance. Latonya grabbed me and escorted me to where her father was sitting. She said, “Dad, this is Shawn, and Shawn, this is my father, Ed Rollins.” We exchanged handshakes, asked the other how he was doing, and then he continued a conversation with a relative.
Due to our first encounter being brief, I felt as if Mr. Rollins was disinterested in me dating his daughter. As the festivities continued, I found myself sitting alone on the back patio. Suddenly someone approached me saying, “How are you doing?” I said fine, and I realized it was Mr. Rollins. He said, “It is nice to finally meet you, and I have one question for you.”
I said, “Go right ahead.”
He asked, “What are your intentions with my daughter?”
I said, “Well Mr. Rollins, hopefully one day I will marry your daughter, and I feel I can make her happy.”
Mr. Rollins said, “Well, I think you will be fine; just respect my daughter, and I think she will marry you.”
After that I felt like a ton of bricks had been taken from my shoulders, and we began discussing topics ranging from politics to sports. I felt thankful that Mr. Rollins did not have the ignorant parent syndrome. What made the day much more special was that Latonya’s entire family, led by her aunt Mary, accepted me, and I felt as if I was a family member.
When I made the decision to propose to Latonya, I made arrangements to meet with Mr. Rollins to ask for his blessing. As we walked around Lake Erie in Ohio, I told him that I wanted to marry his daughter, and I would like to have his blessing. Mr. Rollins stated, “You have my blessing, and I want to ask you something.” He said, “I hope you do not think that your blindness was ever a concern for me.”
I said, “No, I never felt that way, but was my blindness a concern for you?”
He said, “Not at all. I just want to be sure that you treat my daughter right and you respect her. As far as I am concerned, a blind man is no different from a sighted man, and I know of some sighted men who have treated their wives pretty bad. So I am judging you on your character and not your blindness. By the way, stop calling me Mr. Rollins, and call me Dad.”
After Latonya and I were married in 2005, my father-in-law and I continued to converse about topics ranging from religion to current affairs in society. When I visited Cleveland, sometimes my father-in-law and I would go to a restaurant and continue our intense and thought-provoking conversations. I never felt that he was dismissive of my thoughts or ideas, and he would often call me to gain my prospective on breaking news regarding sports or politics. My father-in-law was extremely happy that I became a member of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), which is an organization that advocates for the civil rights of blind people. Often he would ask me the same question which was, “What is your organization fighting for now?” This question would lead to lengthy discussions because he wanted to know about the details of each legislative priority of the organization. My father-in-law was so intrigued by the work of the NFB that he attended a national convention in Orlando, Florida, and he traveled with me to Sumter, South Carolina, to support me as I delivered a keynote speech at an event conducted by the Sumter chapter of the NFB of South Carolina. A few days after the event, he told me that he enjoyed my speech, and he was glad that I married his daughter. This comment was bitter sweet for me because it reinforced my belief that he believed that I could be a good husband to his daughter. However, the comment was painful because my wife and I began to notice that my father-in-law was potentially in the beginning stages of dementia.
After his diagnosis of dementia, my father-in-law began residing in long-term care facilities to assist him living with his condition. It was inevitable that our conversations would no longer be lengthy, and I was blessed just to hear him utter a few words to me. In July of 2020, my father-in-law succumbed to his dementia. After his death, I prayed that all blind people who are seeking a lifelong partner would be fortunate to have an in-law like Mr. Rollins. After fifteen years of marriage to Latonya, as I conduct daily chores such as taking out the trash, balancing the household budget, preparing a meal for my daughter, or cleaning the bathroom, I would be telling an untruth if I stated that sometimes I do not think of the parents who did not think I was good enough for their daughters. My belief is that these parents were not horrible people; they just lacked awareness about the capabilities of blind people. If they would have taken the time to get to know me, I believe their attitudes toward me dating their daughters would have been different. However, these thoughts are immediately erased from my memory and overtaken by remembering Mr. Edward Rollins, the father who showed no ignorance.Blind children, students, and adults are making powerful strides in education and leadership every day across the United States. For more than eighty years, the National Federation of the Blind has worked to transform the dreams of hundreds of thousands of blind people into reality. With support from individuals like you, we continue to provide powerful programs and critical resources for decades to come. We sincerely hope you will plan to be a part of our enduring movement by including the National Federation of the Blind in your charitable giving and in your estate planning. It is easier than you think.
With your help, the NFB will continue to:
The National Federation of the Blind legacy society, our Dream Makers Circle, honors and recognizes the generosity and vision of members and special friends of the National Federation of the Blind who have chosen to leave a legacy through a will or other planned giving option. You can join the Dream Makers Circle in a myriad of ways.
You can specify that a fixed sum of your assets or property goes to the National Federation of the Blind in your will, trust, pension, IRA, life insurance policy, brokerage account, or other accounts.
You can specify that a percentage of your assets or property goes to the National Federation of the Blind in your will, trust, pension, IRA, life insurance policy, brokerage account, or other accounts.
You can name the National Federation of the Blind as the beneficiary on a Payable on Death (POD) account through your bank. You can turn any checking or savings account into a POD account. This is one of the simplest ways to leave a legacy. The account is totally in your control during your lifetime and you can change the beneficiary or percentage at any time with ease.
If you do decide to create or revise your will, consider the National Federation of the Blind as a partial beneficiary.
Visit our Planned Giving webpage at https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/ways-give/planned-giving or call 410-659-9314, extension 2422, for more information.
Together with love, hope, determination, and your support, we will continue to transform dreams into reality.
Since the start of 2019, the NFB:
Just imagine what we’ll do next year, and, with your help, what can be accomplished for years to come. Below are just a few of the many diverse, tax-deductible ways you can lend your support to the National Federation of the Blind.
The NFB accepts donated vehicles, including cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, or recreational vehicles. Just call 855-659-9314 toll-free, and a representative can make arrangements to pick up your donation. We can also answer any questions you have.
General donations help support the ongoing programs of the NFB and the work to help blind people live the lives they want. You can call 410-659-9314 and elect option 4 to donate by phone. Donate online with a credit card or through the mail with check or money order. Visit https://www.nfb.org/get-involved/ways-give for more information.
Through the Pre-Authorized Contribution (PAC) program, supporters sustain the efforts of the National Federation of the Blind by making recurring monthly donations by direct withdrawal of funds from a checking account or a charge to a credit card. To enroll, call 410-659-9314, extension 2213, or fill out our PAC Donation Form at https://www.nfb.org/pac.
If you have questions about giving, please send an email to [email protected] or call 410-659-9314, extension 2422.by Juliette Walker
From the Editor: This article is based on a presentation Juliette Walker delivered at the 2020 convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois and is taken from the Illinois Independent, the newsletter of the Illinois affiliate. Juliette worked for a public school for twenty-one years, seventeen of them as a kindergarten teacher. Her loss of vision was abrupt, and she had never thought of the possibility she might be blind. Juliette was the person her family depended on, and blindness made her unsure how she could find her way down the stairs, walk to the corner, and how she could continue to work. The accommodations she had offered to her students never came to mind as being helpful for her. She currently serves on the scholarship committee for the affiliate and plans to take on more activities once employment is again secured. Here is what she says:
I am so happy to be here with you this morning! I'm here to tell you how the National Federation of the Blind changes people's lives—in particular, how it has changed my life. I'd like to start by giving you a little history about me.
I was born and raised here in the city of Chicago. I am the eldest girl in a family of five children. I am a product of the Chicago Public School system. I graduated from Chicago State University with a bachelor's degree in elementary education, and I received a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from Loyola University. I worked for the Chicago Public School system for twenty-one years, until one day I woke up and saw that my world had changed. On that morning it seemed as though I was viewing the world through a glass marble.
I had to be rushed to my doctor, and from there I was rushed to an ophthalmologist. She looked into my eyes and saw that something was definitely wrong. She wasn't quite sure what it was, and she needed a second opinion. I was sent to a retina specialist where I waited for two hours. They conducted various tests and ultrasounds. Two hours later, I received the news that I had become a member of the blind community.
Of course I was devastated when I heard this revelation. The doctor told me there were three things I could do. Trying to find some semblance of hope, I asked, "What are they?"
I hoped she would tell me she might be able to bring my vision back, but she said, “No, it's gone; there's nothing we can do about that. What I want you to do is, number one, I hope you didn't drive here."
I said, "No! I couldn't see to drive."
She said, "You know what? You can't drive anymore. That's number one. Number two, you need to fill out disability paperwork. At this point I don't see you working anymore. And number three, you need to call a Chicago-based organization that can provide you with rehabilitation."
I just went to work the day before! Yesterday I drove! Now she was telling me all of those things had changed!
I felt horrible about what had happened to me. I cried in her office, and I went home and cried some more. I cried so much that my younger sister told me, "Maybe if you stop crying you might be able to see after all!"
I felt I was living through a nightmare—but when you have a nightmare you wake up. I'd open my eyes, and I still couldn't see. The nightmare wouldn't end.
I did everything the doctor told me to do. I stopped driving. I called the Chicago-based rehabilitation agency, but they told me they couldn't help me. I didn't have the paperwork they needed. It would take a while before they would be able to do anything.
I went into a deep, dark depression over all of this. I went to see another primary-care physician. She asked me a list of questions, and when I answered them honestly she said, "You are in a state of depression." I said, "Well, duh! My life as I knew it has changed. It's over."
She said, "I think you need to speak to someone. We have a young lady who has just joined us. She's a therapist. Maybe you'll like her."
I said, "I have nothing to lose. Why not?" So I went to her, and we talked. She said, "You know what, Miss Walker? We're going to get you started. We need to figure out how to make things right."
I said, "I don't know if you can make things right. I just want to make something better."
She said, "Let me talk to my professor. He's blind, and he's one of the best professors I ever had."
At that point my expectations of what I could do had gone totally down the drain. I said, "A blind professor? I didn't know blind people could be professors!"
The only blind people I knew of were Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder and the gentleman on the corner who shook his cup and asked for change. I knew I couldn't sing like Ray, but maybe I could work something out with the gentleman on the corner. We could shake our cups together or something. But first I had to figure out how to make it to the corner!
The therapist called her professor, and he said, "Miss Walker, I want you to go to an organization that I think can help you. They have a support group on Wednesdays for people who have RP (retinitis pigmentosa)."
I said, "I don't have RP."
He said, "It doesn't matter. They'll give you support. It's a group of people who can't see, and you need to be there with them."
I went to the support group, and I met a wonderful bunch of people there. I had a chance to discuss what was going on with me, and I felt much better knowing I wasn't the only one. While I was there I met a young lady who told me, "We can help you with your independent living skills. We can help you learn to move around. We can help you get your job back."
I said, "Please, help me!" I had nothing to lose.
She did help me. While I was there I met a bunch of other people who were seeking the same things. I also met some people who had been blind for most of their lives, and they were taking classes. There was a group of students taking a computer class. One day over lunch they mentioned a meeting they'd attended with the National Federation of the Blind. They were excited about an upcoming convention, and they were excited about President Riccobono's speech. I said, "What are you talking about?"
They said, "We're talking about the National Federation of the Blind. Our chapter meets the second Saturday of the month at Exchequer Restaurant and Pub in downtown Chicago. You can get a good meal and a whole lot of new information."
I said, "Can anyone go?" They said, "Yes!"
So I went to my first NFB chapter meeting. From the moment I stepped through the door, I saw blind people moving around independently. I heard people talking about their new business ventures. I heard them talking about cases they needed to go home and work on. I thought, there are a lot of people here who are doing things I used to want to do myself! I heard about authors and lawyers and business owners. These were professional people—professionals like I used to be myself.
I got inspired. From that moment on, my life changed.
Every time I go to a meeting of the National Federation of the Blind, I get four things. First, I get inspiration. I move into aspiration. I find new ways to advocate for myself, and I do some traveling.
I get inspired by going to these meetings. At one time I didn't think there was anything I could do. I found out I'm still the person I was before I lost my sight. I just have to figure out a different way to do what I did before.
Then comes the aspiration part. I thought, I might want to go back and do what I did before, but maybe I want to do something even greater. I changed lives before, but I think I can change many more lives. I can be the best me that I can be. I can live the life I want.
The third thing is advocacy. Advocacy has been empowering and enlightening for me. You all are very supportive around the things we go through as blind and low-vision people. If things are not working out the way we want them to, if we see that an injustice has been done to us, we can tackle that injustice together. If you found out that dealing with the injustice done to you can benefit other people, you can write something called a resolution. You put in your whereases and therefores and all your specialized language, and we can submit the resolution at the local level. Maybe it can be submitted at the national level, too. Maybe we can even turn it into a law!
Finally, traveling. When I first lost my sight, I was afraid to go anywhere. Now I take trains, buses, and planes. I had the opportunity to attend the National Convention of the NFB in Las Vegas in 2019, and I got there independently. I went through the convention independently, and I got home independently. I was so proud to walk among all those white canes and guide dogs, to hear those canes tapping across the floor! Moving from place to place and going to those sessions I learned so much! I was so proud to make it there and get back home by myself! I went to Las Vegas thirteen years ago, when I was fully sighted. Now here I was, a blind person, and I was able to get there and back independently.
The National Federation of the Blind has helped me redefine who I am. It has helped me realize I still can live the life I want. I'm still the same person. I didn't lose my mind; I only lost my sight.
by Terry Boone
From the Editor: Readers will observe that this offering is authored by Terry Boone. Ellen Ringlein decided to leave the staff of the Federation but notes that it goes without saying that she is not leaving the Federation. Her friendly voice on the phone and her warmth in dealing in-person with customers leave some very fond memories, and we wish Ellen all the best in whatever new endeavor she pursues.
Terry is the director of services and is a new member of our staff. Her hobbies include traveling, bowling, and reading to name a few. Here are the Independence Market specials for June:
As a service to our members and the general public, the National Federation of the Blind operates a blindness products store known as the Independence Market, which sells mostly low-tech items designed to enhance the everyday independence of blind individuals. We will be highlighting a different product every month and listing sale products from time to time.
This efficient tactile extension measuring tool is a favorite with blind carpenters. It measures items with an accuracy to within 1/16 of an inch. The base unit, which measures up to 12 inches, consists of four major parts: 1/2-inch aluminum tube, sliding threaded rod, locking screw, and two 1/4-inch thick metal stops. The sliding threaded rod, which measures up to 6 inches, is marked with raised lines in 1/2-inch intervals on the top and 1/16-inch intervals on the side. Each 1/16 inch movement of the rod also makes a clicking sound. The addition of multiple 12-inch extensions allows for the measurement of longer spans.
Click Rule with three 12-inch extensions: You can measure up to 48 inches with this tool. AID01R: $95.00
12-inch Extension for Standard Click Rule AID01A: $12.00
This efficient tactile extension measuring tool is available in a metric version as well, making it a great tool for STEM subjects. The metric click rule measures items with accuracy to within 1 millimeter. The base unit, which measures up to 20 centimeters, consists of four major parts: 1/2-inch aluminum tube, sliding threaded rod, locking screw, and two 1/4-inch-thick metal stops. The sliding threaded rod, which measures up to 10 centimeters, is marked with raised lines in 1-centimeter intervals on the top and 1-millimeter intervals on the side. The addition of multiple 20-centimeter extensions allows for the measurement of longer spans. Four 20-centi meter extensions are included, allowing for measurements up to 1 meter.
Item Item# Sale Price
Nine Men’s Morris: Strategy board game for
two players; includes print and Braille directions AIG74N $10.00
Stereo Earbuds with Volume Control AIA47H $5.00
National Federation of the Blind
Stoneware Mug (with NFB in tactile Braille) LSMXX1N $5.00
Playing Card Holders (Set of Four) AIG25P $4.00
For more information about the products available from the Independence Market, contact us by email at [email protected] or by phone at (410) 659-9314, extension 2216, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. eastern time. Our staff will be happy to assist.
by Maurice Peret
From the Editor: Maurice is a fellow who likes to think and to share what he’s thinking. Often he takes a broader view of issues, suggesting that they are not as simple as we think they are but are in fact tied to a number of other things going on in society. In this article he applauds the Federation’s embracing the evolution of society to be more inclusive and understanding. At the same time he cautions against being so attached to our differences that we fail to see our similarities and the causes on which we must unite as blind people. Here is what he has to say:
There has been a resurgence of racial sensitivity and anti-bias training programs implemented in public, corporate, and nonprofit sectors in response to the brutal police slaying of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and too many other unarmed Black citizens to name in the summer of 2020. This led to mass demonstrations worldwide of millions of people from all backgrounds. Well before this pinnacle moment, the leadership of the National Federation of the Blind had been engaged in updating our programs and procedures to reflect our commitment to civil and human rights for all. Ongoing revisions continue to be made to our code of conduct and training programs designed to embrace the rich diversity of our membership have been launched. In its fullest sense, this is intended to create an environment of inclusivity. We continue to innovate educational training opportunities for our members, including raising awareness and assuming responsibility for creating environments that do not tolerate harassment of any sort, including among the most harmful and long lasting of these, sexual abuse. The NFB is also providing anti-bias training for broad layers of our membership to address any existing inequities, whether in form or in attitude. As a microcosm of society, a mass membership organization like ours is simply not immune to the often poisonous and divisive attitudes and practices that are unfortunately present in the world we live in.
Before I offer an alternative perspective from an admittedly biased viewpoint, I wish to make clear that my opinions on the question of sensitivity or anti-bias training programs are general and not to be misconstrued as in any way opposed to the programs and procedures under development by multilayered leadership bodies in the Federation. I would also place in context my comments as coming from a position of strong and long-standing aversion to discriminatory practices of all forms, whether based on race, national origin, religious belief or non-belief, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or what too often gets left out—adherence to dissenting political views, whether within or without the traditional two-party American political paradigm.
As a student of history, I am particularly interested in the chronicled mass movements in our country which affected fundamental change of truly historic proportions. These included, but are not limited to:
It was these movements of ordinary people like you and me that pushed back social divisions among Americans who increasingly found themselves working shoulder to shoulder and interacting with people from all backgrounds and traditions. This is no less true today. In fact, in our overwhelming majority, we are more diverse and inclusive than at any time in history.
The fact that systemic racism and other forms of hideous prejudices exist is unquestionable. My assertion is that the focus should be on the “system” or systems that perpetuate these irrational and harmful divisions in the interest of a specific and identifiable class. Although I have framed much of my description of bias in terms of anti-racism, it is not intended to ignore the fact that biases are broader than just racial and can be deeply imbedded. Although having cultivated certain sensitivities in this area as an activist, I assume no responsibility for these artificial social divisions but consciously choose to be a fighter against them.
At the center of all negative biases in our class-divided society, meaning attitudes that would belittle or diminish in status members of minority groups on usually superficial grounds, is a power dynamic. Power manifests in a great many ways, but in terms of structural society, power is recognizable in its most controlling fashion in the form of the state apparatus which holds in its grip law enforcement, the so called “military industrial complex,” the prison infrastructure which grossly and disproportionately disenfranchises men and women of color, as well as the political machinery that is inseparable from its big-money sponsors. I use the term “disproportionate” since power, by the limited definition of capital and blunt militaristic force, is in the hands of a relative few as compared to most of us who can claim none of the above power tools. It is the antithesis of a truly “representative democratic” process. Ibram X. Kendi, author and founding director of the Anti-Racist Research and Policy Center at American University, says “…the origins of racism cannot be separated from the origins of capitalism… the life of capitalism cannot be separated from the life of racism.
The trouble in my view with many programs that purport to address bias, either explicit or implicit, is that they target the wrong audience. They set up a dynamic whereby a group, presumedly of “woke” experts, sets, and defines parameters of what is to be considered “appropriate” discourse and behavior by the rest of us who need to be enlightened or corrected. In 2019, for example, New York City rolled out a new $23 million “implicit bias” training program for all Department of Education workers. “Anybody that feels that somehow that process is not beneficial,” said Richard Carranza, New York Schools chancellor, “they are the ones that need to reflect even harder upon what they believe.” The New York Times 1619 Project, which has been widely adopted in classrooms across the country, is another example. Programs such as these are steeped in historic revisionism as they tend to ignore examples of unified people’s movements in our nation that drew together workers and farmers of all backgrounds. This misreading of history disingenuously minimizes the importance of the proud historic record of resistance that has effectively pushed back, not reinforced racial and other forms of structural oppression. Instead, its author, Nikole Hannah-Jones, says, “Anti-Black racism runs in the very DNA of this country.” True enough as it goes, but the question remains: who benefits the most from racism and other forms of social disparity? Furthermore, this type of identity politics frames non-Caucasian people nearly always as victims rather than as architects and movers of change and progress. When the late Malcolm X was asked by a reporter if his intention was to raise the consciousness of African Americans to their oppression, his response was, “No, to awaken them to their humanity.” Many of these programs fall under a philosophical ideology coined as critical race theory (CRT) which is a framework in academia and jurisprudence that examines society and culture as they relate to categorizations of race, law, and power in the United States of America. It began as a movement in American law schools in the mid-to-late 1980s as a reworking of critical legal theory on race issues. Unfortunately, theories such as these tend to perpetuate rather than solve the problems of systemic inequalities by reducing them to purely visible characteristics such as skin color or appearance. They also tend to be steeped in a politically polarized framework of what has become known as “cancel culture.” It has been widely reported in mass media outlets and social network platforms that numerous journalists and other public figures have lost their livelihoods because of this tacit form of social censorship under the all too familiar rubric of political correctness. It stifles not encourages the free exchange of ideas.
I would assert that the mass injustices against our brothers and sisters are largely a factor of class privilege which focuses upon a power structure that benefits from divisions among us, diverting attention from them and instead encouraging tribalistic infighting among us. The fact is that the greater “us” suffer the most from these divisions, whether African American, Caucasian, Muslim, Jewish, Latino, Native American, Asian Pacific, female, LGBTQ plus, or whatever classification. So, whenever the issue of “white privilege” is brought up in a fashion that demands that we “search internally for our hidden or implicit biases,” I say, let us instead examine class privilege which has widened the gap of inequality dramatically over the past several decades and exacerbated social divisions in society. To illustrate the point, the income gap between Caucasian and African American workers over the past several decades has actually narrowed—not because lower paid workers of color rose nearer to those of White workers, but because the steady decline of real earning power has lessened for all workers across the board. This assertion does not ignore the glaring truth that people are treated differently in our society based upon superficial visible characteristics such as skin color, no indeed. I do not buy into any utopian illusions of a “colorless” nor of a “classless” society and do not, therefore, condescend to suggest that we are all treated the same. I have always valued the privilege of working and collaborating with a wide and diverse community of people from all sorts of backgrounds and identities. I appreciate and respect the initiatives that our elected leaders in the National Federation of the Blind are engaged in to remedy all remnants of inequities in our organization. I was moved by the presentation at the 2020 virtual convention of our Black Federation leaders speaking frankly and boldly about their experiences both as blind people and as Black Federationists in a society that ever burdens under a legacy of brutal division and strife. My point in all of this is to encourage us to recognize in one another our common struggles while celebrating and learning about our differences. Those, like our blindness, do not define us or our future.by LaShawna Fant
From the Editor: Lashawna has recently done a number of interviews that have made this publication better. How fitting that for Mother‘s Day she decided to interview her mom. When many of us think about the onset of blindness, we quite naturally think of our reaction to it, but many other people are involved with reactions of their own. My mother long felt guilt for playing basketball the day I was born. After she died, I spoke about that guilt with my father. With anger in his voice he said, "She had no reason to feel guilty. I was the one who threw the ball too high, and if I hadn‘t, you would almost certainly be able to see.” Here is Lashawna‘s interview:
Over the hills and around the curves of life, LaShawna’s mom, Vicki, shook her pompoms in the air and cheered for her blind daughter.
LaShawna Fant: Hello, Mama! Thanks for giving me the time to interview you. Please let the audience know a little about you.”
Vicki Fant: Hello, everyone. At the age of eighteen, I became the mother of LaShawna. She was my firstborn. She was born with 20/20 vision. I took jobs as a cook and also in factories to provide for my daughter. I am blessed to have her as my daughter, along with her two other siblings. Currently I am employed in the nursing field and enjoy working in my yard.
LF: I am blessed to have you as my mom. I became blind my senior year of high school. What was this like for you as a mom?
VF: I felt like I failed as a mom. I should have been able to protect you. I cried and cried and cried. You were the person who helped me with your younger siblings. You were the one who helped your grandfather and great-grandmother. You had your own car. You had a job and loved playing sports. It was hard to see you go from having sight to having no eyesight.
LF: How did you adjust emotionally?
VF: As time passed I got better. When you first lost your vision, I thought I would have to take care of you as long as I could. I prayed so much. It seemed as though I prayed non-stop. As I learned about various technology and things that would help you live independently, I knew you were going to be alright.
LF: Being you saw me go from vision to blindness in a matter of three to four months, how did this affect our family and me?
VF: When it first happened, LaShawna, it seemed as though you were going to be in a very deep depression and self-isolate for a long time. Your brother and sister were extremely shocked and confused because the vision loss occurred so fast. You had been the link that held our family together, and when you became blind, it was like the rug was swiftly pulled from under us.
LF: In the early years of me becoming blind, what were your goals as a mom?
VF: My goal was first to get myself together emotionally and mentally so I could be strong for you. I wanted to get your confidence up so you could get back in the community. LaShawna, I also made it a goal to help our family put the shattered pieces back together. I knew we could still live a happy life despite your lack of vision. I knew that some way and somehow, you needed to go to college, and I made it a goal to learn what it would take to make this happen.
LF: You have been a super mama through this process, and I appreciate you. What gave you the strength to allow me to attend a training center a couple of months after becoming blind?
VF: One of your ophthalmologists in Memphis, Tennessee, made the referral to attend Addie McBryde Rehabilitation Center for the Blind in Jackson, Mississippi. We went for a visit to the center, and I learned about the different ways they would teach you to regain skills such as writing using Braille, walking with a white cane, cleaning the house, ironing, washing clothes, and so many other things. I believed in my heart this would help you get back involved in society and live a full life.
LF: After attending two training centers the first year of being blind, you probably called me fifty times a day to ensure I was good once I started college and lived in the dorms. What assisted you in settling down and becoming less worried?
VF: I saw your confidence and peace. You were attending classes, meeting new people, and seeing others from our hometown; you were just thriving academically and socially. LaShawna, you helped me settle down a lot. I started seeing you in newspapers, on the local news station in Tupelo, Mississippi, and you were receiving many honors and awards. You tutored in higher-level math and English, and this was not long after starting college. I was amazed! It showed me the power of a determined mind, and it reminded me of the strength you had. I was a happy mama!
LF: You have cheered for me through the different phases of my life, whether it was college, employment, community involvement, or leisure activities. What are you most thankful for through this journey?
VF: I am truly thankful that you stayed strong. You made it. It did not break you. You survived and are still standing today. I have peace in knowing that if I die tomorrow, you will be okay.
LF: What encouragement would you like to give parents of blind children?
VF: Always support your child. Find out what resources are out there. Never lose hope. Stay involved with the National Federation of the Blind because you will meet good people. Life does not stop because your child is blind. The sun still shines.
by Bill Borner (he, him, his)
From the Editor: Bill Borner is a Federationist who lives in Baltimore. He worked in quality control and production management for Baltimore Spice, Schmidt Bakery, and Cloverland Dairy before losing his vision. He is married to John Crockett who is his partner of three decades. They have two grandchildren, ages eighteen and eight. Here is what he says about being gay and dealing with when and how to announce it when attending a rehabilitation center not run by the National Federation of the Blind. Enjoy his well-told story:
Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to wake him.” — The Nazarene, John 11:11
So how did you get blind; was it RP? It seemed a very intrusive question, coming at me during lunch my first day of orientation for blind skills rehabilitation training. How to answer, and whether to answer completely, presented a quandary. It had been a very interesting morning to this point.
The day had begun with a workout session with fellow participants in the program. A fellow trainee offered his physical body for me to ascertain correct positioning on a particular machine. I begged off, ushering us instead to the treadmills. As we began stepping in time together, I explained my dodge from abdominal crunches. I wanted him to know first that I was a gay man. His hearty laughter put me at ease, simultaneously broadcasting a message of acceptance to all. Next came Braille class. I was on lesson one struggling with a “four-letter word.” The Braille teacher offered a hint that this was something every guy wanted. My fellow classmates chuckled to our teacher’s quizzical dismay. I let him in on the joke, explaining that I didn’t go for babes. He laughed nervously as he noted it was, after all, an old book.
So here we are again at my lunch dilemma. I had waded out thus far without incident, but these next steps would put me in the deep end where harsher judgment lurked. With trepidation, I ventured onward. My blindness is the result of retinal damage caused by cytomegalovirus, or CMV. CMV attacks both retinas and small intestinal linings of persons with compromised immune systems. During the dying years between the early 80s and the mid-90s, up to 20 percent of AIDS patients met their makers newly blind. As fate had it, my diagnosis came just as a plethora of new antiretroviral medications came to market, ending the wave of deaths in the industrialized world. After a battle during which my retina’s detached, the new meds finally kicked in. Surgical intervention temporarily restored my vision, and eventually my immune system largely recovered. The phenomenon of the terminally ill rebounding is now identified by physicians as the “Lazarus Syndrome.”
I had been ferried back off the river Styx, yet remained largely on the shore. I permitted the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS to end my career as a food scientist managing food-processing facilities. I became the editor and publisher of my condominium association’s newsletter. I contributed my time to charitable organizations assisting the LGBTQ+ community. I augmented my technical baccalaureate degree with an associate’s degree in the culinary arts. With this, I volunteered cooking for a program that feeds homebound cancer and AIDS patients. Though my vision was beginning to decline, I also volunteered at a hospice that had been one of the first in my city to care for AIDS patients.
After a decade and a half, I became legally blind. Frustrated that I could no longer live the life I wanted, I sought advice from my state’s rehabilitation service. They referred me to a rehabilitation program not officially affiliated with the NFB, though all of the trainers were Federationists. Though my classmates were accepting of me, I began experiencing antipathy to my presence from some of the training staff. I was advised that there were other organizations where I might feel more comfortable. I was told that I would likely fare better as a closeted Federationist. I was even informed during a seminar discussion that gay rights were not civil rights.
There were also glimmers of the light of Federation philosophy. I was urged to abandon my failing vision and see the value of viewing myself as differently abled rather than disabled. As part of the program, we attended a local chapter meeting in advance of legislative advocacy at both the state and federal levels. I was thrilled to be a part of the Federation in action.
Sadly, my rehabilitation was interrupted one morning when I denied what my ears were telling me in favor of my low vision. I was struck by an automobile that broke my right leg below the knee. Dedicated Federationists came to my home as my leg recovered to help me continue my Braille and computer skills training. I returned to my residential rehabilitation-training program in time to go with them to the July 2011 Convention in Orlando. I experienced the power of meeting so many blind people from across the nation. I shared in the revelry of watching an upcoming Federation leader speed around the Daytona racetrack. It was a pleasure to meet the man showing off his brand new leather jacket.
I had returned from Orlando newly enthused about my future possibilities; however, I was confounded by a glaring contradiction. I was being advised to stand proudly as a blind man and reject the stigma our ablest society confers upon blind people. Simultaneously, I was hearing that I could not stand proudly as a gay man within the Federation. Additional unfortunate circumstances led me to question my personal safety. I withdrew from my training, allowing intolerance and fear to block the inland path I had seen, retreating to familiar shores. My attendance at chapter meetings dwindled. I reverted to my internalized ableism, allowing low expectations to hinder attaining my dreams.
Over the next decade, American cultural currents shifted. I was able to marry the man who has stood by me for thirty years, in sickness and in health. Joyfully I witnessed the United States Supreme Court declare that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination of LGBT employees. Sadly, I also witnessed my nation experience another pandemic.
Within social media, I discovered the Federation was planning a virtual convention in July of 2020. Reviewing the agenda, I was happy to see LGBTQ+ breakout sessions. I attended the convention virtually, finding that leather-jacketed blind racecar driver now behind the wheel of the Federation. I listened tearfully to President Riccobono’s banquet speech as he extended the light of the Federation to all blind people, regardless of intersecting characteristics.
I have since taken the Federationist pledge, reintroducing myself to my chapter as a lost “rainbow sheep” coming home. I am proud to serve on several committees, to include Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. I have more awakening to do as I complete virtual classes in UEB and await the end of another pandemic to resume in-person rehabilitation training. I am proud to have found the NFB undergoing an awakening of its own. Let us keep moving forward together.
by Lisa Irving
From the Editor: Lisa Irving is the past president of the San Diego Chapter. At fifty-seven, Lisa is pursuing her master’s degree in vision rehabilitation therapy (rehabilitation teaching) from Western Michigan University. Lisa resides outside of San Francisco with her husband and two cats, Waldo and Kismet. When she has free time, Lisa enjoys reading. Here is her article about the struggle to get good service and eventually some compensation from rideshare companies:
Do you remember the Dr. Suess book, Oh, the Places You’ll Go! The lyrical and whimsical story ignites readers to pursue and to explore their world. That spirit is reflected in my previous occupation that necessitated travel throughout the San Diego region during some of the time when I encountered sixty acts of discrimination in and outside of San Diego. This included missing my shift or being late to work, drivers screaming at me or making demeaning remarks, and threatening to leave me and my guide dog on the side of the freeway. Like many of you, I used Uber and Lyft rideshare services to maximize time and to minimize stress. Too often, Uber rides were anything but stress-free.
So begins my real-life story about the misadventures when I attempted to use Uber. Five years ago I needed to drop off paperwork at the Social Security Office. I was refused service because the driver did not want my guide dog, Bernie, a phlegmatic Labrador retriever with chocolate brown eyes and flirty eyelashes, in his car. At that time I had no idea that I would document no less than sixty acts of discrimination. When I initially began to meticulously document ride denials, harassment, demeaning remarks, and egregious behaviors, I never in my wildest imagination believed that I would embark on an almost three-year journey to justice that culminated in what is thought to be the largest arbitration award against Uber for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act and California’s version of the ADA, the Unruh Act.
Prior to documenting and filing complaints against drivers, I excused or minimized the sometimes blatant and other times subtle violation of my lawful right to be accompanied by my service dog. For a time I assumed the role of educator and attempted to explain to the driver their legal responsibility to transport me and my clean and quiet dog guide. Unwittingly, I opened myself up to no-win situations and bad behavior aimed at me, not Uber.
In hindsight I recognized that I engaged in those dialogues because society and much of the blind community had convinced me that I was a 24x7 goodwill ambassador of blindness, and I was obligated to put others at ease and to overlook a multitude of ableist attitudes Over the past seven years, some life-changing opportunities have reshaped my mind-set: reviving, growing, and nurturing an NFB chapter; participating in the 2015 Washington Seminar; and, more recently, pursuing my master’s degree in the later part of my fifth decade of life.
In my evolving mind-set and strong background in documentation, in 2016 I began to record the discriminatory behaviors of Uber drivers in vivid detail. I will share tips for documenting discriminatory behavior and abelist conduct.
First, understand what constitutes discrimination against a disabled passenger and their service animal. Uber and Lyft are discriminating if they pass you by or otherwise refuse you a ride based on the fact that you use a guide dog. It is that simple—no excuses. Next, know Uber’s options for reporting service animal denials and discrimination against disabled passengers.
Next, learn how to take screen shots and how to activate the video feature on your smartphone. This article will not discuss how to use these features. For support, find your closest chapter or at-large chapter through the nfb.org website or the NFB state affiliate website for your state.
Other documenting preparation includes considering which communication method works best for you. Perhaps you are like me, and keyboarding works best. Maybe you prefer to use Braille or dark-lined paper and marker. Try to do the following: I created an electronic folder and named it “Uber Folder.” Within that folder I had sub-folders. Each folder identified the year. Creating other folders such as email folders, or a “work rides 2016” folder may also be helpful. Besides storing documentation on your computer or Braille device, also backup everything with an external hard drive or thumb drive. Avoid this lesson that I learned the hard way after my former laptop’s motherboard died.
Here is what I recommend when documenting rideshare-related incidents. After the ride has been requested, take a screen shot of the driver profile. This is particularly useful if the original driver passes your ride off to other drivers or Uber disputes the identity of a driver. If you text your driver, also take a screen shot. Particularly this important if you identify yourself as blind, having difficulty seeing, or the fact that you use your guide dog. I emailed the screen shots to myself and left those screen shots on my phone.
Generally, I used Word to write out my complaints. I wrote down information located in ride history within the Uber app. Each completed or canceled ride should show up in your ride history. Based on my experience, do not count on Uber to keep accurate records. Record everything found on the ride receipt in your ride history. Record the date and time you sent a text or made a call. If you contact Uber support through the app or online, be sure to write down who you contacted, the subject, the date and time, and whether a response was received. I pretty much corresponded from my laptop because I also created a few Uber folders through my email server.
It is also important to write about your interaction with the driver. In addition to including the driver’s name, color and make of car, include where you stood, names of witnesses and their contact information, the weather at the time, and capture as much as you can about who said what. Be honest if you snapped at the driver, and avoid perceptions and assumptions about drivers. If you felt demeaned or afraid, write it down.
Here are a few examples of what to include when documenting complaints. On April 15, 2017, driver Marc drove a pink Tesla. He arrived at my pick-up location, 4200 University Ave, at 2:56 p.m. Upon arrival the driver asked, “Is that your dog?”
I said, “Yes.”
The driver asked, “Is it coming with you?”
I replied, “Yes.” At that point, the driver drove away.
Here is what to include when interacting with an Uber Support employee when they call you to follow up with your discrimination complaint. Warning: You may not always receive a call.
On December 1, 2016, at 10:55 a.m., Juan P., Uber investigator, called my cell phone. He {they} was following up about the complaint that I submitted through the Uber app on November 29 at 8:57 a.m. I was informed the call was recorded; this point is important because attorneys can subpoena Uber for these recordings. Juan asked me to describe what happened. At this point you should describe what you told the Uber investigator. Also, provide in the greatest detail you can as much about the questions you were asked. Ask the investigator what steps are being taken to address the discrimination and when they will inform you of their decision to suspend or remove the driver from the platform. More than likely you will get a generic response. Also, do not hesitate to ask the investigator to read your email or comments from the app’s support portal. I would preface the request with a comment about wanting to be on the same page or wanting to ensure I came across clearly. Moreover, I was inclined to say as little as possible because I trust my documentation. Furthermore, you have connected written and verbal documentation trails that Uber may or may not accurately document. Please know that your detailed and organized documentation could be the crucial key that holds Uber accountable for discriminatory conduct.
In addition to detailed and fairly organized documentation, I also attempted to use the processes in place at the time of the discrimination. I believed, especially after the NFB settlement, that Uber would train its drivers and hold rogue drivers accountable. It did not take me long to recognize that my civil rights mattered very little to Uber.
In 2018 I sought legal counsel. I reached out to a law firm I previously worked with, the law office of Ms. Jana Eisinger, Esquire, a Denver-based disability rights attorney. Ms. Eisinger became the lead attorney in my case against Uber. Ms. Catherine Cabalo and Ms. Tracey Cown became co-counsel. They work for the San Francisco law firm, Peiffer Wolf Carr Kane & Conway. For almost three years, these highly accomplished women invested thousands of hours on my case.
Perhaps you are wondering why this case was not heard in court. Uber and Lyft require passengers to agree to arbitration or deny perspective passengers access to their rideshare platform. Initially, I believed that going through arbitration would allow me to make changes that would make the Uber experience better for me and you. The NFB settlement precludes blind Uber passengers from seeking injunctive relief. Injunctive relief basically means changes to policies and practices. However, you and I are not precluded from monetary relief. I had to work past the distortion that it is wrong to seek monetary relief. Society as a whole as well as some blind people would have you believe that you are that stereotypical angry blind person who just wants to sue everyone. This is not at all the reality. That is, if the laws that were approved by Congress and the President were upheld to protect our civil rights as people with disabilities, then we would have no need for arbitration or the courts. We are not the problem; I am not the problem.
I will try to explain the overall sequence of prescribed steps that ended with the arbitrator’s ruling in mid-March of this year. I participated in what is called a deposition. Under oath, I was asked a lot of questions in the presence of my attorneys. Prior to the deposition, the attorneys helped me to practice answering questions. All questions were answered truthfully and to the best of my memory. A few months later an arbitrator read my deposition, our claims against Uber, and their legal team’s responses. Uber delayed arbitration for a year or longer, which increased legal costs on both sides. An arbitration date was scheduled for mid-December 2020. My testimony and the testimony of my witness, Lyn Edward Gwizdak, and arguments from my legal team and Uber’s legal team and their experts lasted almost five days. The arbitrator, a retired judge, required both legal teams to provide lengthy summaries with case law and answers to a few questions. The arbitrator read those summaries and gave both sides the opportunity to respond to the other legal team’s information. Thereafter, the arbitrator had a month to make a decision on this case.
In Mid-March 2021, I received a phone call from two of my attorneys. They were elated to inform me that the arbitrator found in our favor. He praised the “high quality” work of my legal team and awarded me $324,000 in damages and my legal team more than $8,000. This is believed to be the highest award in the United States in a discrimination case involving Uber.
So why did I write and submit this article? It wasn’t to brag about a monetary settlement. It was because I believe that the civil rights of blind people are important and that Uber and Lyft still do not get the message. We have the right to go where we want and when we want, and we have the right to be accompanied by our guide.
by Karl Belanger
From the Editor: Karl is one of the most knowledgeable people I know when it comes to technology, and I am grateful he is willing to help some of his less fortunate friends when they/I encounter problems. The really wonderful thing about Karl is that his knowledge extends well beyond assistive technology (AT) where he fields most of the questions he gets. To show how far beyond AT he goes, enjoy what follows:
I have a love for technology and a passion for improving accessibility in all areas of life. The nonvisual technology that can be used to independently navigate through various environments is both beneficial and fascinating. As cities around the country begin to implement new technologies for wayfinding and information gathering, it is vital that they are accessible to those with blind and low vision. Our Smart Cities conference highlighted how access technology can be used effectively by blind and low-vision individuals to access various environments’ services including public transportation, voting, public kiosks, indoor navigation, and autonomous vehicles. Each session brought together stakeholders from both industry and government to present new technologies and strategies for improving access in the relevant area. The conference also discussed the National Federation of the Blind’s Blind Driver Challenge from 2011 as well as current and future collaboration regarding autonomous vehicles.
With the support of the Maryland Department on Disability (MDOD) through a Nonvisual Accessibility Initiative (NVAI) grant from the state of Maryland, the NFB investigates and evaluates the various tools being used for wayfinding and the strategies for creating accessible public spaces throughout the year. Our Smart Cities Summit was held on January 28, 2021, and allowed us to highlight the work being done to create accessible means of making public and private spaces and services more accessible. Representatives from various academic, public, and private organizations had an opportunity to share best practices and network.
We kicked off the summit with a welcome from President Riccobono, highlighting the work we did with our Blind Driver Challenge in 2011 and the influence it has had in establishing the National Federation of the Blind as viable partners to researchers and manufactures in the design and development of accessible autonomous vehicles. Afterward, Henry Claypool, disability policy consultant, set the tone for the summit with a keynote presentation on “The State of Access to Smart Cities.” He highlighted the strides made toward the implementation and use of technology to create more accessible cities and the challenge we face in our efforts to ensure accessibility moving forward. The rest of the summit consisted of plenary and concurrent sessions hosted via the Zoom platform. The following is a brief description of the topics covered:
Sharon Maneki, the director of legislation and advocacy, NFB of Maryland, shared her comments on “The Stakeholder Difference.” Sharon stressed the importance of stakeholder involvement in advocating for accessibility, emphasizing the importance of the need for blind people to be actively engaged in the entire process. She described the tactics that the members of the NFB of Maryland successfully used to enact legislation in 1998 and 2000 that incorporated nonvisual access requirements into the procurement process. This legislation was enhanced in 2018 by establishing penalties for noncompliance by vendors and by updating the 2000 law to reflect changes in current technology. She explained the nature of the give and take when negotiating the passage of public policy, referring to it as the “art of the possible.” Of course, passing the legislation is insufficient if there is no real plan on how to implement the appropriate practices required to request, evaluate, and procure accessible technology.
Stephen Polacek, an information technology accessibility evaluator with the Maryland Department of Disabilities, gave a presentation on “Accessibility Procurement Planning.”
The NFB CENA (Center of Excellence in Nonvisual Access) has a very productive working relationship with the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), and collaborates to enhance the accessibility of Maryland’s public transit system. Jaime McKay, a transportation planner for MTA, described the projects that NFB and MTA have partnered on over the past year. These projects included the evaluation and production of accessible bus schedules using a print-Braille flipbook, evaluation of various wayfinding technologies at local light rail and subway stations, and the accessibility evaluation of various mobile apps that provide public transportation schedule and service information. MTA demonstrated a commitment to hearing from representatives of the disability community by expanding its interaction with other disability-focused organizations.
Hindley Williams, an independent living specialist with the IMAGE Center of Maryland, described how MTA contracted with the IMAGE Center to conduct outreach during a variety of meetings and conferences of people with disabilities, including the state convention of the NFB of Maryland. We closed this session with a demonstration of CharmPass, Baltimore’s accessible bus ticketing and information app.
Public kiosks have been around for a while, but there appears to be growth in their utilization as a tool to provide self-service options, public information, and wayfinding assistance. The NFB is committed to fostering the partnerships with developers of next generation kiosk technology to ensure the accessibility of these tools as they are deployed throughout the country. Gina Winkler, director of product and Kara Tuckerman, lead product designer for IKE Smart City at Orange Barrel Media, presented along with Drew Nicholson, president/chief operating officer of Intellectual Technology, Inc, describing the accessibility features of their kiosk technology. IKE Smart City has developed a mobile interface to its informational kiosks deployed in several cities across the country. It also worked with the NFB BUILD, (Blind Users Innovating and Leading Design) program to gain valuable user feedback. ITI discussed their fully accessible kiosk designed to provide full access to self-service features at its local DMV.
With lockdowns and social distancing becoming commonplace in 2020, many states turned to mail-in voting. With this change came an increased focus for the National Federation of the Blind on ensuring that the implemented solutions were accessible to blind and low-vision voters. Lou Ann Blake, director of research programs at the National Federation of the Blind, discussed recent developments in accessible voting systems and the guidelines for developers to make their devices and software accessible. Lou Ann then interviewed Jared Dearing, director of elections for the state of Kentucky, and Heidi Schissler, legal director for Disability Rights Kentucky. The discussion covered the challenges faced when working to introduce accessible voting technologies, and each of them highlighted the steps they are taking to ensure the right to a private, secure, accessible vote for each blind and low-vision Kentucky citizen. Following this, Karl Belanger demonstrated the Democracy Live online ballot marking system, which allows blind voters to independently mark and print out their ballot.
It is possible to create accessible public spaces using features and technologies that are functional and esthetically pleasing. Peggy Martinez, principal of Creative Inclusion, LLC, gave a presentation on a variety of strategies that can be used to improve accessibility for people with disabilities in the areas of technology, wayfinding, transit, recreation, travel, and entertainment.
The blind have had access to wayfinding technology, like Sendero, that provides information that assists us to navigate throughout outdoor spaces for years. However, the technology that provides access to information about indoor environments in a manner that allows for independent navigation indoors continues to present a challenge. Mike May, chief evangelist of GoodMaps, the innovator of Sendero, co-presented with Ruben Kazantsev, co-founder/CEO of IndoorAccess®. They discussed the evolving technologies and the various ways they can be used.
We were honored to have Dr. Anne Marie Lewis, senior director of technology, innovation, and mobility policy with the Alliance for Automotive Innovation to offer a keynote for the beginning of our presentations on autonomous vehicles. The National Federation of the Blind is proud to have such a productive relationship with the Alliance for Automotive Innovation. They have been tremendous partners in helping us enact legislation, like the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act, which makes the world safer for all pedestrians. We look forward to our continued work together to implement the legislation and policies that will make autonomous vehicles a reality.
Dr. Julian Brinkley spoke to summit participants on his research toward the design of accessible autonomous vehicle technology. The NFB worked with Julian while he was a student seeking his doctoral degree. Accessible autonomous vehicles was his focus then, and we are pleased that he has continued his work as assistant professor of human-centered computing at Clemson University. The relationships we establish with researchers is key to ensuring that our voices are heard in the design and development process.
Our partnership with autonomous vehicle manufactures is essential if we are to ensure that our voices are heard and our recommendations are incorporated into the design, development, and implementation of autonomous vehicle technology. We have established collaborative partnerships with several automobile manufacturing companies, offering feedback and participating in the evaluation of various accessibility strategies. Ellie Casson, head of local public policy, Waymo, and Kenny Montilla, public affairs manager, Cruise, co-presented during this session to give updates on their progress. They emphasized the importance of stakeholder involvement in the design and development of autonomous vehicle technology.
At the end of the summit, we were able to once again highlight our NFB Blind Driver Challenge and offered a teaser about how we would be accelerating accessibility in 2021.
The event was a success, with many participants enjoying the day. Some participants commented they would like to see more discussed about options in rural areas, discussion of accessibility in large spaces like malls, as well as information on activities outside the United States. As cities continue to evolve and autonomous vehicles come ever closer to reality, the National Federation of the Blind Center of Excellence in Nonvisual Access will continue to work toward the goal of blind people living the lives they want in a fully accessible city.
by Ruby Polk
From the Editor: Ruby Polk is a strong and committed Federationist from Missouri. She reveals a lot about herself in what follows, so I will simply note that Ruby is truly a wonderful asset for the Federation, and she cares deeply about helping make life better for blind people. Here is what she says:
I am a woman who happens to be blind, an entrepreneur, and a committed member of the National Federation of the Blind. I have been a member of the Federation for a long time, joining under our President Emeritus Dr. Marc Maurer.
I have previously served the Kansas City Chapter as president for fourteen years consecutively. I obtained a seat on the state affiliate board and rose to second vice president by asking questions of then vice president Shelia Wright and many others.
I love to work at the grass roots of our local chapter, and this work brought about a lot of continuity when our current president, Daniel Garcia, came to the office. This forward progress continues. State president Gary Wunder supported our chapter using inclusion methods way back at the time I joined and began to take leadership positions.
My late husband Pastor Larry Polk and I attended a national leadership seminar one Labor Day in Maryland and met Dr. Maurer. After forming a warm relationship with Dr. Maurer, he said to us that he was establishing a capital campaign. I asked him what that was. He explained that it was a fund to build our first research institute, later known as the Jernigan Institute. He said everyone could and should participate.
After returning home, Pastor Polk and I discussed the idea of the capital campaign and called and spoke to President Maurer again. He said that there would be a Wall of Honor established, and he would ask people for a ten-thousand-dollar pledge and ask them to sign the Wall of Honor. We decided to participate to sign that "Wall of Honor," and pledge our money we did. We decided that we should put our money where our mouths were because leaders must be generous in all areas. Leadership is being in front or in back as long as we are all working together to advance the same cause, which is blindness.
Since it has recently been National Women's Month and inclusion and diversity are being promoted, this is my one leadership tip. Thanks to all of you and God bless you and the organization we so proudly share.Each year thousands of Federation members make donations during national convention. In 2021, your generosity is still needed to fund our great programs. When you give $20 or more between April 15 and July 10 2:00 p.m. ET, you will be entered into the Give 20 Campaign Drawing to win the following:
OR take the cash!
Each $20 donation is a chance to win. Your name will be placed in the drawing for each increment of $20 you give. Give $100 and you will be entered into the drawing five times. You must specify one of the following funds in order to be entered into the drawing:
The funds help our work to change lives like we did for Annie:
My name is Annie Ascher, and I am a recipient of the Jernigan Scholarship Fund. Initially, I was overwhelmed until I met my mentors from my state affiliate. I was very nervous because I was older than most participants, was still losing vision, and had no alternative skills. My mentors helped me understand and overcome my fears in a warm and supportive manner. They taught me that I could be independent and live the life I want. Through my first national convention experience and the relationships I built through that experience, I have come a long way. Today I serve as my chapter president in Virginia Beach, mentor other first-timers, and share our positive philosophy with others. At my first convention, I realized that my age was just a number, and everyone treated me with respect. I am proud to state I am a military veteran and a proud member of the National Federation of the Blind.
You can specify a fund by using our Give $20 online donation form or in the memo if giving by check. Your donation will be counted for the drawing regardless of which fund you designate.
The winner of the drawing will be announced July 10, 2021, at the banquet. Learn more at nfb.org/convention. Thank you for your support.
by Peggy Chong
From the Editor: Peggy Chong, now known as the Blind History Lady, takes on a question that many of us ask ourselves as we read about prominent blind people in history: how did their children turn out? What part did blindness play in the lives of those children? This article doesn’t answer all of those questions, but it does clearly suggest that blindness is no obstacle to career success for our offspring. Enjoy the article:
Often blind adults are convinced by sighted family and friends not to have children for many reasons. If their eye condition is not hereditary, then excuses such as you’ll not be able to raise them safely; you won’t know what they are doing; and the worst of them being, you will be a burden to them, forcing them to grow up too fast and take care of you when they are still children.
All of that is bunk! I can speak from personal experience and the experiences of many blind friends and acquaintances I know who decided or were surprised to learn they were going to be a parent. Just like sighted people, we have our successes and failures. I am convinced that raising good, successful children requires a lot of skill, love, and luck.
As the Blind History Lady, I haven’t taken much time to learn what the children of some of the blind ancestors I have researched did after leaving home. But today I want to tell you a bit about a blind man, how he lived, and what became of his children. They caught my attention in a blurb about Aaron in a county historical website. He is a fine example that a blind person can be a great parent and good role model for his children.
Aaron Boyer was born February 17, 1833, in York, Pennsylvania, the son of Daniel and Rosina Boyer. He was the seventh of fifteen children. At age twelve he had an accident that caused him to lose most of his sight, and he dropped out of the Indiana public school near his home. He worked in his dad’s distillery until he was fifteen when his father sent him away to work for another distiller to bring needed income into the family.
Aaron began to show signs of rheumatism. Not liking liquor and working in the immoral alcohol business, he returned to the family farm but did not stay long. Again, he was sent out to earn his keep. He took jobs as a plasterer and then worked for the Miami Canal Packet Company, driving a team on a canal packet. In the fall of 1849, he was so badly crippled with rheumatism that he had to seek other employment.
In early 1850 he worked with a surveying party on the Cincinnati, Hamilton, and Dayton Railroad. But the inclement weather inflamed his rheumatism and his eyes, so he was forced to stop working and return to his father’s house, now in Germantown, Indiana. At seventeen he became totally blind.
Aaron began making brooms at home, selling them himself or through merchants in the area. He entered the school for the blind in Indianapolis in the fall of 1856 as a student, but he quickly became the broom shop instructor. After a year he felt he could do better on his own than staying on as a teacher at the school, and for a short time he moved to Ohio to start a broom factory.
From 1855 to 1864 he primarily manufactured brooms by himself in Wayne County, Indiana. His first purchase of broom corn was for five dollars, and two dollars of that amount was on credit. Moving to Crawford County, Illinois, he carried on the same business until 1866. Aaron next moved to Elmwood, and two years later he moved to Galesburg and began his own business in a factory measuring fifteen by twenty feet. He hired sighted men and later women to work for him.
His buildings burned and were re-built, each bigger and more modern than before. Aaron hired as many as twenty-five men and women to work for him. Although not documented, most likely his sons worked in their father’s broom shop for a time.
Aaron retired at the age of sixty-four. His factory was turning out 15,000 to 18,000 brooms each year. Five years later he sold the broom factory to some of his former employees.
Aaron married three times. In 1853 he married Elizabeth Buck, and they had a child who died in infancy. Soon Elizabeth passed away. On October 3, 1858, he married Sarah Harper. She died in 1875, leaving three sons and one daughter. At the time of her death one son was sixteen, another fifteen, the youngest son was seven, and his daughter was only four. After raising his children on his own for two years, he married Julia Mitchell. They had four children, the first two dying in infancy. Abel and Orris, much younger than their siblings, were almost a separate family.
Aaron died on Christmas Eve of 1903. His two youngest boys were still in their teens. Their mother died just one year later. For many families so many losses and half-siblings spaced so far apart could lead to even more heartache. But Aaron instilled deep love for everyone and a responsibility not just to family but to the broader community.
Charles Boyer married and had two daughters. Minnie was a corn sorter for a broom factory in Paris, Illinois, when the girls were young. Charles worked in a broom factory until his death in 1933.
Andrew Jackson Boyer was born in 1860 and died in 1913 in Cook County, Illinois. He moved to Chicago and became a broom maker in a large Chicago factory.
William R. Boyer was born in 1867, became a member and soon a leader in the International Broom and Whisk Makers Union. He rose to the rank of secretary/treasurer. In 1914 he led a strike on behalf of the girls and young women of the US Broom and Brush factory in Chicago. The union focused its attention on this factory out of the other twenty-six listed broom and brush factories in the area because of its pattern of exploitation.
Several newspapers, in particular the Chicago Day Book, followed Will and the efforts to unionize the shop for more than two years. According to the papers and Will, the U.S. Broom and Brush Company recruited recently immigrated young girls to work in its factory at long hours and with wages only a third of what was paid to other broom and brush makers doing the same work.
The first attempt at unionizing in 1914 was met with hostility. Will and others called the meeting and told the girls they would not be fired if they came to the meeting at the Schoenhofen Hall. There were officials who could speak to some of the girls in their own language. But, at the time of the meeting, two of the foremen were standing in the doorway across the street and took down names. The next day those leading the organizing of the girls were fired.
The fired girls who could speak English went back to Will. He ensured that the union hired them a lawyer. The girls explained how one of the foremen yelled and abused them. Warrants were sworn out by the union for the arrest of the foremen. Thanks to William, many of the girls found work in other broom factories before the union was voted in by the current employees.
William also spoke out and worked to bring legislation to identify convict-made brooms that were sold at a lesser cost than those made by paid broom makers forcing lower wages in the private broom factories.
He married and had at least one child. William died in 1937.
Abel was born in 1886 and was the only child to attend college. He stayed close to home, choosing Knox College in Galesburg. He worked at many labor-intensive occupations. He painted houses, raised chickens, and worked as a gardener before becoming a refrigeration engineer. He worked as a switchman for one of the railroads in town. He married and had at least four children. By the 1940s he held a position with the Highway Commission in Illinois, helping to frame the new US highway systems reaching across the country through Illinois. Abel died in Galesburg in 1973.
The last son born to Aaron, almost thirty years after his oldest living child, was Orrin, born in 1888. Orrin married and had at least four children. After working for the railroad and suffering an injury that left him permanently scarred, he purchased a farm in Cascade County, Montana, and tried farming for a few years. He served four years in the National Guard in the 1910s. He returned to Galesburg in 1919. Orrin began working as a police officer for Galesburg that year. He retired as chief of police in 1945. Orrin died in Galesburg in 1960.
It is clear that Aaron’s blindness did not interfere with his becoming an upstanding parent and a man who could hold a family together. Each of his children lived lives in which their father could be proud, and all of them did their small part to make the world a better place.
A note from the Blind History Lady: If you would like to schedule a presentation, contact me at [email protected]. You can read more of my books at https://www.smashwords.com.
Recipes this month were contributed by members of the National Federation of the Blind of South Dakota.
Spinach and Artichoke Dip
by Beth Albury Konechne via Lil’ Luna
This dip is a delicious appetizer, usually paired with chips, crackers, or bread. However we also love it as a filling for stuffed mushrooms. Trust us; it’s a hit at parties!
Ingredients:
14 oz. can of artichoke hearts (drained, chopped)
10 oz. box of frozen spinach (thawed, drained)
2 teaspoons garlic
1/3 cup mayo
8 oz. cream cheese
2 cups parmesan cheese
2/3 cup sour cream
Method: Mix ingredients thoroughly, and then put into an 8 x 8 pan. Bake at 375 degrees for twenty-five minutes or until the edges are beginning to get crispy.
Berry Easy Muffins
by Beth Albury Konechne
In our house, this gluten-free and vegan recipe is one of our go-to bakery items since it works for a lot of dietary needs; it is yummy both for breakfast or an after-supper treat.
This recipe can make either a dozen (12) muffins or a 9-inch circle cake pan.
Ingredients:
1 flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseeds and 3 tablespoons of plant milk)
2/3 cup plant milk (I like unsweetened vanilla almond milk)
2 tablespoons oil
1/3 cup maple syrup
2 cups gluten-free Bisquick
1 cup frozen berries
Method: In a mixing bowl, first make the flax egg. Put in the other liquids and mix. Add one cup of the Bisquick and stir until smooth. Repeat with the second cup. Lastly, fold in the frozen berries; please do not thaw. Make sure to grease the pan before adding the batter. Bake at 375 degrees. Check after fifteen minutes. The time can vary depending on the size of your confection and the type of berries. You can eat as is or top with some Kerrygold butter.
Energy Bars
by Mike and Jackie Klimisch
These are very easy, quick bars to make that go over well at any get-together. They are very nutritious for a snack food.
Ingredients:
3/4 cup honey
2-1/2 cups peanut butter
2 cups coconut finely grated
1-1/2 cups flaxseed ground
4 teaspoons vanilla
4 cups oatmeal
Method: Mix and put in 9 x 13 cake pan. Chill. [Cutting it into bars with a nearly frozen butter knife can help.
Microwave Nut Brittle
by Mike and Jackie Klimisch
Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/8 teaspoons salt
1-1/2 cups cashews, mixed nuts, pecans, or peanuts
1 teaspoon butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons baking soda
Method: Spray cookie sheet and metal spatula with cooking spray. In two-quart microwavable-glass measuring cup or bowl stir sugar, corn syrup, and salt with a wooden spoon until mixed. Microwave on high seven to eight-and-a-half minutes or until syrup is pale yellow. Candy syrup is hot, handle carefully, do not touch mixture. Stir in nuts. Microwave one to two minutes or until nuts are lightly browned. Immediately stir in butter, vanilla, and baking soda until foamy. Quickly pour onto prepared cookie sheet; spread evenly with spatula. Cool; break into pieces. Store in tightly covered container.
Fisher Beans
by Pam Fisher
Pam Fisher is the second vice president of South Dakota.
Ingredients:
1 can pork and beans
1 can red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can baby butter beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 pound bacon, cooked and chopped
1 pound hamburger, cooked, chopped, and drained
1/2-1 onion depending on your liking, diced and cooked with hamburger
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon mustard
1 tablespoon white vinegar
McDonald’s and National Federation of the Blind Collaborate on Self-service Kiosks:
Blind Americans Commend McDonald’s for Commitment to Accessibility:
The National Federation of the Blind, America’s civil rights organization of the blind, and McDonald’s USA announce a collaboration to make McDonald’s self-service kiosks in company-owned, U.S. restaurants even more accessible to customers who are blind. McDonald’s USA’s company-owned restaurants will implement these enhancements by December 31, 2021.
Using new and advanced technology, enhancements to existing accessibility features include screen-reading software, tactile keypads, and the ability for customers to connect their headphones or ear buds to the kiosk and independently place their orders by responding to audio prompts.
“More accessible self-service kiosks are a win both for McDonald’s guests who are blind and for its company-owned restaurants, since they will allow us fully independent access to the menu and ordering options without assistance from restaurant employees or other patrons,” said Mark Riccobono, President of the National Federation of the Blind. “We commend McDonald’s for quickly working with us to implement these innovations and hope that McDonald’s leadership in the industry will serve as an example to encourage other restaurant brands to incorporate accessibility into their customer-service technology plans and specifications.”
The enhancements will be incorporated into 100 percent of existing kiosks in California and 25 percent of existing kiosks in each company-owned restaurant in other U.S. states. McDonald’s will also incorporate these upgrades into all kiosks that are installed in any U.S. restaurant after July 1, 2021, including new kiosks that suppliers are approved to sell to franchised restaurants.
McDonald’s and the National Federation of the Blind will continue to collaborate on training for restaurant staff in company-owned restaurants and other innovations impacting McDonald’s guests who are blind.
“At McDonald’s, inclusion means opening our doors to everyone and finding ways to exceed customers’ unique needs,” Myrna Bell, McDonald’s Senior Director, Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Strategic Engagement, said. “We are proud to partner with the National Federation of the Blind to offer innovative solutions for our customers and help make everyone’s McDonald’s experience even more accessible and enjoyable.”
McDonald’s kiosks currently include multiple accessibility features, including a reach mode for guests with reach limitations, a screen magnifier, ample clear floor space, and a customer assistance call button designed to alert restaurant crew members that a guest may require assistance.
A Few Updates from the National Association of Guide Dog Users:
As the 2021 convention draws near, NAGDU is busy making changes and modernizing a few things.
In closing, we hope to see you at convention this year. NAGDU will be hosting its annual seminar and business meeting. Because elections will be held during the business meeting, it is important that you are current with your dues. These can include dues paid to your local state guide dog user division or to NAGDU directly. Stay tuned for more details.
Tap the 2021 Convention Concierge Service for First-Time Attendees:
This announcement comes from Tracy Soforenko, the chair of the Kenneth Jernigan Committee.
Make the most of your first convention! Prepare yourself for a convention experience filled with energy, empowerment, fun, and education.
The Kenneth Jernigan Committee understands that thinking about your first convention might be daunting, or perhaps there might be many gaps in what you think you should expect, but we are here for you. As President Riccobono announced at the May Presidential Release Live, we are launching the 2021 Convention Concierge Service for first-time convention attendees.
Let’s connect you with someone who can help break the ice, tap into our network, and answer your questions about all things “national convention.” Email [email protected] or drop us a voicemail at 410-659-9314, ext. 2020, by June 15 to let us know that you are interested.
Please include your name, preferred telephone number, what state you are joining us from, and a few things that you want us to know when matching you with mentors (e.g. life goals, if you are a guide dog user, perhaps a parent of a blind child, a student, your hobbies, the types of individuals you would like to meet, etc.).
We want your first convention to be a space where we grow stronger together with love, hope, and determination.
I pledge to participate actively in the efforts of the National Federation of the Blind to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for the blind; to support the policies and programs of the Federation; and to abide by its constitution.
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