Future Reflections
Volume 43, Number 1 Winter 2024
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 © 2024 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]
Convention Bulletin 2024
Join us for the biggest event of the year! Start planning your trip now!
Wednesday, July 3 through Monday, July 8, 2024
Orlando, Florida at the Rosen Centre
If this will be your first convention or if you need a refresh, access our First Timer's Guide. (https://nfb.org/get-involved/national-convention/first-timers-guide).
Book Your Hotel Room
For 2024 Convention room reservations, please call the hotel at (800) 204-7234. Ask for the NFB Convention block. Here are important things to know about the rates and booking the room:
Rates: Our 2024 convention room rate for singles and doubles is $129. The room rate for triples and quads is $139.
Taxes and Deposit: Occupancy taxes and surcharges are an additional 13.5 percent.
There is no charge for children under eighteen if no extra bed is requested.
At the time you make a reservation, a deposit of $146 is required for each room reserved. If you use a credit card, the deposit will be charged against your card immediately, just as would be the case with a $146 check.
Cancellations: If a reservation is cancelled before Saturday, June 1, 2024, half of the deposit will be returned. Otherwise, refunds will not be made.
Amenities
- Complimentary in-room Wi-Fi
- In-room safe, coffeemaker, mini-fridge, hairdryer, and a wall-mounted 50" HDTV with a multi-outlet connectivity bar beneath to keep your devices charged
- Guests can enjoy a swimming pool, fitness center, and on-site spa.
- Please note that the hotel is a no-smoking facility.
To assure yourself a room in the headquarters hotel at convention rates, you should make reservations early. The hotel will be ready to take your call beginning January 1.
Registration
Online registration for convention will open in March. Registration will be $25 per person plus $75 per banquet ticket. Register early, because prices go up if you register on site in Orlando. Registration includes the biggest event of the year, access to the event app, and communications on the latest news and events.
Request for Door Prizes
Door prizes are submitted from state affiliates, local chapters, and individuals. Prizes should be small in size but large in value—at least $25. Cash is always appropriate and welcome. Please do not include alcohol. Drawings will occur throughout the convention sessions, with a grand prize of truly impressive proportions drawn at the banquet. If you have a prize that must be shipped in advance of the convention, please email affiliate president Paul Martinez at [email protected] to make arrangements.
Division, Committee, Group Meetings
Over two hundred sessions and meetings happen during Convention. If you are the leader of a division, committee, or group that will meet at Convention, please don't wait to organize. Start planning your agenda, goals, and connections now. Stay tuned for details from the Convention Chair, John Berggren.
Volunteers
Thank you to the hundreds of volunteers who help make the NFB National Convention a big success. If you are interested in learning more about how to get involved, please connect with your state affiliate president. Register early to get access to all volunteer opportunities.
Countdown to Orlando
The best collection of exhibits featuring new technology; meetings of our special interest groups, committees, and divisions; the most stimulating and provocative program items of any meeting of the blind in the world; the chance to renew friendships in our Federation family; and the unparalleled opportunity to be where the real action is and where decisions are being made—all of this means you will not want to miss being a part of the 2024 National Convention. We can't wait to be with you in Orlando in July. Visit nfb.org/convention for more convention details.
Contents
LEARNING AND TEACHING
Helping Out: How Chores at Home May Pave the Way to Future Employment for Blind Youth
by Julie Deden
Hands On? Hands Off!
by Carlton Anne Cook Walker
Why the NFB Is Bringing STEM to You
by Ashleigh Moon
The Filomen M. D'Agostino Greenberg Music School: Coupling Progressive Leadership with the Incredible Power of Music in Education
by Dalia M. Sakas
THE PATH TO EMPLOYMENT
We Have Work to Do: Reflections on Changing the Blind Employment Paradigm
by Mary Fernandez
Discovering My Passion: How My Life Experience Led Me to Become a School Social Worker
by Jhaliyah Anderson
TECHNOLOGY
Teaching and Learning in Google Classroom: An Accessibility Review
by Breean Cox and Sebastian Wcislo
PERSPECTIVES
Beach
by Mia Barone
REVIEWS
Sense of Play
by Dana Meachen Rau, Reviewed by Barbara Cheadle
The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight
by Andrew Leland, Reviewed by Deborah Kendrick
NOPBC NEWS
Meet Cassie McKinney, The New NOPBC President
Welcome to the 2024 NOPBC Convention
by Cassie McKinney
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
The 2024 Distinguished Educator of Blind Students Award
by Carla McQuillan
Expanding Possibilities through Teachers of Tomorrow
by Anil Lewis
Summer Programs Equip Blind Teens for Success
by Julie Deden
Braille Books Program: Empowering Minds and Fostering Literacy
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