Monitor Miniatures

Monitor Miniatures

Braille Monitor
June 2016

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Monitor Miniatures
News from the Federation Family
Blind Parents Needed:
Are you a blind parent, grandparent, foster parent, or caregiver for children? Would you be interested in passing along your knowledge and giving your support to a parent, grandparent, or other caregiver who also happens to be blind? If so, the National Federation of the Blind needs you! If you are willing to serve as a mentor to an expecting parent, a current parent who is seeking support, a grandparent, or someone else who plans to provide extended care for children, please send an email to Melissa Riccobono at <[email protected]>.

As you know, the National Federation of the Blind is the leading advocate for the rights of blind parents and the largest resource network for blind people who are considering being parents. We are continuing to build our resources in this area, and the next step is to formalize a program of mentoring. Mentors will follow-up with individuals they are assigned to mentor and will be asked for ideas about other resources needed to strengthen the network of education, support, and advocacy the National Federation of the Blind provides to blind parents, grandparents, and other caregivers.

If you are an individual who would be interested in being matched with a mentor, please send an email to <[email protected]>. This program is in its beginning stages, but we will do all we can to match you with a mentor as soon as possible.

Finally, please watch for future announcements regarding our Blind Parents Initiative. The National Federation of the Blind wants to gather data and develop truly useful resources for parents who happen to be blind, but in order to do this we will need your help and feedback. We will have at least one survey we will need people to complete, and there may also be opportunities to participate in focus groups, share techniques in short videos, write reviews for particularly helpful or accessible children's products and toys, and much more. We look forward to hearing from you and having you help us build a variety of tools to empower blind parents as they live the lives they want with their children.
Volunteers Needed for Braille Book Fair:
The Braille Book Fair (BBF) has become one of the highlights of the convention for many teachers, parents, blind kids, blind parents, and adult beginning-Braille readers. But the event could not take place without the help of many dedicated, talented volunteers. And that's where you come in. As a past worker or simply an interested supporter of the Braille Book Fair, I hope you can either volunteer or give me the contact information for someone that you recommend.

You do not need to work the entire afternoon or evening, but I do ask that you try to work an entire shift. We especially need people who will be helping customers to come before we open the doors at 5:00 p.m. and to commit to staying until at least 6:30 p.m. Book lovers are great for this shift since you will assist visitors in book decisions/selections.

Shift times are as follows: set-up is 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., and 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.; the event is 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.; clean-up is 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. The room we will use has not yet been assigned, so please see the NFB convention agenda.

If you can help, please contact Sandra Oliver, NOPBC Board Member, at (713) 825-4573 or by email at <[email protected]>. If you contact me using email, please provide the following information: Yes, I can work the following shift(s) ...; my cell phone number that I will have at convention is . . .; I live in (state); or maybe, I’ll check my schedule, but if possible my preference is to work these hours . . .; Braille skills (including if you read by touch or by sight as a sighted person). Note: if you are a parent of a blind child under the age of eighteen (or still in high school or below), we know that you will want to attend the NOPBC annual meeting which takes place just before the BBF, but we would welcome you to work either during the event or on the clean-up shift after the event.
In Brief
Notices and information in this section may be of interest to Monitor readers. We are not responsible for the accuracy of the information; we have edited only for space and clarity.
Disney Offers Special Ticket Pricing to the World Blind Union/ICEVI General Assembly:
Disney World is offering attendees of the World Blind Union/ICEVI General Assembly special ticket pricing, including pre- or post-conference stays. These special offers include after 3 p.m. tickets, which allow you to visit a single park after 3 p.m., or you can add the Park Hopper Option so you can visit multiple parks in one evening; specially priced multi-day tickets that offer pre-arrival savings of 10 percent and are not available at Walt Disney World ticket windows. Buy a two-day or longer full-day ticket, and receive one free admission to an additional Disney experience including a visit to either of Disney’s water parks, Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon, or a round of miniature golf at Disney’s Winter Summerland miniature golf, Disney’s Fantasia Gardens miniature golf, Disney’s Oak Trail golf course (Disney’s nine-hole walking course), or ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

The deadline to purchase tickets through this special offer is August 21, 2016. To purchase tickets, either visit <https://www.mydisneymeetings.com/nfbice16>, or call (407) 566-5600.
Perkins Brailler Repair:
Bring your Perkins Brailler back to life. The Selective Doctor Inc. specializes in the repair of Perkins Braillers and also sells reconditioned Perkins Braillers. The totally reconditioned Braillers sell for $450 for a manual Brailler and $550 for an electric Brailler. All Braillers are guaranteed. Repairs for the Perkins Braillers are $65 for labor on a manual Brailler, plus the cost of parts. You can send your Brailler to: The Selective Doctor Inc., P.O. Box 571, Manchester, MD 21102 using the US Postal Service. Free Matter for the Blind is accepted. It is recommended that you insure it, but it is not necessary. After the repair is completed we will send it back to you with the invoiceand will insure it for $400. The premium presently is $5.50, and this will be added to your invoice.For more information, please call (410) 668-1143 or email <[email protected]>. You can also check out our website at <http://www.selectivedoctor.com./>.
NFB Pledge
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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