ILLINOIS PARENTS ORGANIZE

ILLINOIS PARENTS ORGANIZE

Future Reflections Fall 1991
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ILLINOIS PARENTS ORGANIZE

by Stephen O. Benson
Reprinted from the NFB of Illinois newsletter.

It has become commonplace for Americans to rely too heavily and too easily

on superlatives to describe ordinary, or slightly more than ordinary, events,

books, films, recordings, art, scenery, or people. It is, then, sometimes

difficult to find words that aptly describe the exceptional. I find myself in

this position as I begin to report the events of May 18, 1991. Those who were

with me that day will, I think, have no difficulty at all believing that what we

experienced together really did qualify as extraordinary.

The day dawned damp and cool, a dramatic contrast to what was to come.

Federationists hosted a seminar for parents of blind children at Chicago's Essex

Inn. Debbie Stein, Rita Szantay, and I designed a program whose contents

included: survival skills for the `90s and beyond, independent travel,

technology, low vision, socialization, day-care and pre-school placement, the

individualized education plan (IEP), and the role and impact of the NFB. Parents

of blind children made excellent presentations on expectations for their

children, the role of the professional and unmet needs of these children.
Lunch was an all-too-short 75 minutes. Federationists mingled with parents

to share information from a personal perspective and to answer a myriad of

questions. Parents shared resource information as well as thoughts and feelings

about their blind children. The atmosphere was positive and there prevailed a

genuine warmth.

One of the most important things the Federation offers to parents of blind

children is role models. On May 18, there were role models aplenty. Valerie

Negri, state and national scholarship winner, officer of our student chapter,

and biology major at St. Xavier College, delivered poignant remarks about

survival skills and socialization. Allen Schaefer, a music teacher with

outstanding credentials, talked about competing on terms of equality. Tony

Burda, registered pharmacist and poison information specialist; Cathy Randall,

alderman in the Jacksonville, Illinois, city council; Peter Grunwald,

independent author of children's books; and Steve Hastalis, customer services

representative and recording technician, all participated in the days events in

a palpable and effective way.

Barbara Cheadle, who made keynote remarks and who participated vigorously

throughout the day as National President of the NFB's division for Parents of

Blind Children, and as the parent of a blind child, wrapped up the day's events

by skillfully organizing the NFB of Illinois Parents of Blind Children.
At the

day's end, Federationists, old and new, went away overwhelmed by the amount of

information that had been exchanged, and buoyed up by the harmony that had been

established. It was, truly, an extraordinary and very unusual day.

The officers elected by the NFBI Parents of Blind Children Chapter are:

Suzanne Kuro, Hoff-man Estates, President; Dan Stefek, North Aurora, Vice

President; Debbie Stein, Chicago, Secretary; and Amy Grau, Chicago, Board

Member.

The next meeting of the NFBI Parents of Blind Children's Chapter will

convene at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 21st, as part of the annual convention

of the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois, to be held at the Holiday

Inn in Jacksonville, Illinois.
Parents, this organization is for you and your blind children. Come and

participate in this dynamic, exciting new group and, at the same time,

participate fully in the entire convention. Be a part of the most effective

organization of the blind in the United States.
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