Future Reflections
Volume 41, Number 4 Fall 2022
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
ISSN-0883-3419
Copyright © 2022 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]
Contents
PLAY
The Power of Play
by Michelle Murrey and Sarah Erb
Bells and Drums: Fun and Learning with Outdoor Percussion Play
Based on a Conversation with Sue Wiedder and Amber Haer
CANES AND CANINES
Have Cane, Will Travel: A Cane Travel Lesson for Elementary-Level Sighted Children
by Carol Castellano
A Guide Dog in Your Future?
Based on a Conversation with Jane Flower and Ethan Edwards
JOURNEYS
Half-Blind
by Janelle Perez
It's Not Because I'm Blind: Another Look at Sensory Integration Challenges
by Amy Albin
Managing Difficult Behaviors in Children Who Are Blind and Autistic
by Amber Bobnar
ADVOCACY
The Back-to-school Basics: Embracing Communication, Collaboration, Confidence, and Calm
by Elizabeth Rouse
She Fought on Behalf of Her Blind Son
by Ally Markovich
Bridging the Gap and Working Together: The Passage of the BRITE Bill for Blind Students in Missouri
by Gary Wunder
Model Blind Students' Rights to Independence, Training and Education Act
STEM
Stretching the Dimensions of Nonvisual Learning: Blind-Led Youth Programming and Engineering
Presented by Natalie Shaheen
The Accessible Origami Project
by Lindy van der Merwe
The Dynamic Tactile Device: A New Solution to an Old Problem
by Karen Anderson
RESOURCES
Promoting Current Event and Media Literacy with NFB-NEWSLINE®: A Parent's Perspective
by Heather Bird
REVIEW
There Plant Eyes: A Literary and Personal History of Blindness
by M. Leona Godin
Reviewed by Deborah Kent Stein
AWARDS
Announcing the NFB 2023 Scholarship Awards
by Cayte Mendez
The 2023 Blind Educator of the Year Award
by Robin House
The 2023 Distinguished Educator of Blind Students Award
by Carla McQuillan
WHAT'S NEW?
The Action Fund Continues Promoting Braille Literacy, and You Can Help!
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:
- creates a climate of opportunity for blind children in home and society.
- provides information and support to parents of blind children.
- facilitates the sharing of experience and concerns among parents of blind children.
- develops and expands resources available to parents and their children.
- helps parents of blind children gain understanding and perspective through partnership and contact with blind adults.
- functions as an integral part of the National Federation of the Blind in its ongoing effort to achieve equality and opportunity for all blind persons.
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:
- emotional support and a network of other families dealing with challenges similar to those you face;
- information, training, and resources to empower you to take an active role in guiding your child’s development and education; and
- information on your child’s rights and on the laws and legislative issues that will enable you and your child to become strong and effective advocates.
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
- National and State Parent Seminars and Conferences
- Future Reflections magazine
- NOPBC website
- Books and videos
- Social Media
- NOPBC Facebook group
- NOPBC Facebook page
- NOPBC on Twitter
- Blindkid & other listservs
- Parent Leadership Program (PLP)
- NFB Early Childhood Initiatives
- Early Explorers
- Braille Reading Pals
- Early childhood conferences
- Letters from Santa (seasonal)
- Youth
- National NFB Scholarship program
- National Center for Blind Youth in Science website
- Junior Science Academy
- Youth Slam High School Science Academy
- Youth Track at national convention
- Transition workshops
- Slate Pals pen pal program
- American Action Fund
- Free Braille Books program
- Braille Readers Are Leaders contest
- ShareBraille book exchange
- Writing contests
- NFB-NEWSLINE® newspaper service
- National Federation of the Blind (NFB)
- NFB BELL® Academy (Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning)
- NFB-LINK mentoring program
- Free White Cane program
- Free Slate and Stylus program
- NFB Scholarship program
- Straight Talk about Blindness video series
- Where the Blind Work website
Contact Us:
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
[email protected]
www.nopbc.org