Future Reflections

Volume 39 Number 2                         Special Issue on Ethnic and Cultural Diversity

A magazine for parents and teachers of blind children published by
the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults in partnership
with the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children.

Deborah Kent Stein, Editor

Karin Norington-Reaves sits on a couch with her son, Alex, and daughter, Rachelle.]

ISSN-0883-3419

Copyright © 2020 American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults

For more information about blindness and children contact:
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place, Baltimore, MD 21230 • 410-659-9314
https://nfb.org/nopbc • [email protected] • [email protected]

Join the Virtual 2020 NFB Convention

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, the annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind, originally scheduled for Houston, Texas, from July 14-19, is going virtual. Celebrating its eightieth year, the organized blind movement is delighted to take this opportunity to connect blind Americans for the largest gathering of the blind in history!

The 2020 National Convention will include most of the elements conventioneers expect, with some new twists. Members are requested and non-members are invited to register at no cost for the convention in order to get access to exclusive offers, convention announcements, door prizes, and other content. But, not so fast! Where do we send door prizes? Send door prizes to National Federation of the Blind, Attention: Convention—FS, 200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230. Remember that you must register to be eligible, so don't miss out.

Registration for the convention, as well as details of the convention schedule and logistics as they become available, can be found at www.nfb.org/convention.

Those who booked convention reservations at the Hilton Americas or the Marriott Marquis in Houston will receive a full refund of any room deposit collected. The hotel will contact you no later than May 1 to confirm the amount to be credited. (Please be patient and wait to hear from the hotels; they are severely understaffed during the coronavirus crisis.) Similarly, if you previously registered for the 2020 convention online or through the mail, you will be contacted about your registration fees and banquet ticket purchases.

Mark your calendars for July 14-19, and plan to connect with your Federation family across the country. Additionally, as local conditions permit, Federation affiliates will organize in-person gatherings in conjunction with convention events to enhance the convention experience.

The 2020 convention of the National Federation of the Blind will connect blind Americans from anywhere and build opportunities everywhere. Make plans to be a part of it, and join the largest gathering of the blind anywhere!

Register for the 2020 National Convention

Registrations must be postmarked by May 31. Please register online at www.nfb.org/registration, or complete and mail all requested information on the form below to: National Federation of the Blind, Attn: Convention Registration, 200 E. Wells Street at Jernigan Place, Baltimore, MD 21230.

Registrant Name: __________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________________

City: _________________________    State: ________________   Zip: _______

Phone: ____- ____-______   Email: ____________________________________

Upon registering for the 2020 National Convention, more information regarding the various formats and agenda will be provided as soon as they are available. While registration is free, we welcome and encourage donations to support our ongoing work to protect the rights of all blind Americans.

Please note that the most up-to-date information will be available at nfb.org/convention. If you have questions, please contact [email protected] or call 410-659-9314. We look forward to your participation.

Contents

INTRODUCTION

The Sum of Our Parts
by Deborah Kent Stein

Navigating Toward Equity
A Guest Editorial by Rosy Ramirez Carranza

BUILDING UNDERSTANDING AND FORGING CONNECTIONS

Beyond Eye Reports and IEPs: Connecting with Blind Students from Diverse Backgrounds
by Mandi Bundren

Educating Blind English Learners: A Conversation with Conchita Hernandez Legorreta

Mentoring "Bad" Students
by Melissa Lomax

My Education Narrative: Negotiating School and Culture as a Blind Chinese American
by Colin Wong

Found in Translation
by Trinh Ha

Reflections from Turtle Island: The Intersection of Blindness and Indigenous North American Identity
by Justin Salisbury

BUILDING MOVEMENTS, COMMUNITIES, AND FAMILIES

Lessons from Dr. King
by Ever Lee Hairston

A Conspicuous Family
by Karin Norington-Reaves

Adopted, Adapted, and Advancing
by Ahbee Orton

Cambiando Vidas: How a Small Group of Friends Started a Movement
by Conchita Hernandez Legorreta

NEWS

Learning in the Time of COVID-19: The Impact on Blind Students of Current Guidance Issued by the US Department of Education Regarding Students with Disabilities
by Carlton Anne Cook Walker

Dear Secretary of Education
by Mark Riccobono

Letter Regarding Waivers under the CARES Act
by Mark Riccobono

REVIEWS

Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law
by Haben Girma, Reviewed by Marilyn Green

Crip Camp, A Netflix Documentary
Reviewed by Bre Ausbun

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Celebrating the 2020 Braille Readers Are Leaders Winners

How You Can Help

Announcements

Odds and Ends

     Complete Future Reflections

Why Join the NOPBC?

Are you the parent of a blind/low-vision child? Don’t know where to turn? Have you ever wondered what your child will be capable of when he or she grows up? Are you concerned that your child’s future will be limited by blindness or low vision? Do you have questions about how to parent a blind child? We are here for you.

What is the NOPBC?

Founded in 1983, the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC), a proud division of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), is a membership organization of families, friends, and educators of blind children. We have thousands of members in all fifty states plus Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico.

Who is the NOPBC for?

We have a very inclusive definition of blindness which includes children who have some usable vision. Instead of focusing on what the child can or cannot see, we focus on the child and what she or he wants to be.

NOPBC is for families, educators, and friends of blind children, including those who have some usable vision. We welcome all families of blind children, and many of our children have both blindness and other disabilities.

We help families and blind children themselves maximize the child’s abilities and opportunities; we hold high expectations for all of our children, regardless of any additional disabilities they may have.

Why is the NOPBC a part of the National Federation of the Blind?

As a division of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the largest and most influential organization of blind people in the world, the NOPBC is well informed about the societal, legislative, and technological issues that affect blind people. We enjoy the resources, support, and expertise of fifty thousand blind people who can serve as mentors and role models for us and our children. When we as parents join the NOPBC, our children belong to the Federation family.

What is our mission?

The NOPBC:

Most states have an NOPBC affiliate chapter. You can find your state chapter at http://www.nopbc.org. If your state does not have a chapter and you would like to start one, please contact us. We may be able to offer training and other assistance to start a state NOPBC chapter.

Why Join the NOPBC?

We have been where you are, and we want to support you and your blind child. We know that blindness does not define your child's future. We can connect you with other families and blind adults who can serve as positive mentors and role models. They can teach you the attitudes and techniques that will enable your child to become independent and to succeed in life.  

The NOPBC offers hope, encouragement, information, and resources for parents, families, and educators of blind children. NOPBC provides:

We offer a wide variety of programs, activities, and training to families, children, and youth. One of our most exciting activities is our annual conference. Every year since it was established, the NOPBC has conducted an annual conference for parents and teachers of blind children as part of the national convention of the NFB. This conference has grown to include five exciting days of workshops, training sessions, activities for all family members, including sighted siblings, and countless opportunities to meet blind adults and other families and children from around the country.

Programs, activities, publications, and resources of the NFB and NOPBC

Contact Us:
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
[email protected]
www.nopbc.org

Contents