Walking Alone and Marching Together: California, Here We Come!

Walking Alone and Marching Together: California, Here We Come!

Future Reflections Spring 1996, Vol. 15 No. 2
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WALKING ALONE AND MARCHING TOGETHER: CALIFORNIA, HERE WE COME!
1996 National Federation of the Blind Convention
June 29 - July 5
Anaheim Hilton Hotel
Anaheim, California
[PICTURE] Dr. Frederic Schroeder, Commissioner, Rehabilitation Services Administration
[PICTURE] Sally Ruemmier
[PICTURE] The Exhibit Hall has an impressive array of aids, appliances, computer technology, resource materials, toys, t-shirts, food, and more.
[PICTURE] These deaf-blind youth (from left to right): Alan Bodily, Keri-Ann Ruemmier, and Colleen Perkins are thoughtfully absorbed in President Maurer's speech at the 1995 Convention Banquet.
[PICTURE] Counselors and their charges head for the Kids Trip bus at the 1995 convention.
Picture yourself in this scene: You have just arrived at
the Anaheim Hilton Hotel with your family for a much needed
vacation. You called months in advance but it was still tough
getting a room. The reservation clerk mentioned something
about a convention going on this week. You thought she said it
was an organization of blind people, but no, you must have
misunderstood. Why in the world would that many blind people
want to get together for a convention? What would they say?
What would they do? Besides, you can't imagine how they could
get there in the first place. And how would they get around in
the hotel? Surely the hotel couldn't afford to provide guides
for that many blind people! But as you walk into the hotel
lobby your jaw drops-there are at least fifty blind people
with white canes in the lobby and more are coming in from a
bus outside!
You pick your jaw up off the floor, gulp, and head for
the hotel registration line. Just then your small daughter, in
that piercing tone that small children reserve for the express
purpose of asking embarrassing questions in public, calls out,
"What are those white sticks all those people are carrying,
Daddy?" Horrified, you start to hush her when you hear a deep
chuckle behind you. "That's all right", the voice says, "We
don't mind talking about our canes. We're not embarrassed or
ashamed of them, or our blindness. Besides, how can a kid
learn if she doesn't ask questions?" You turn around and watch
as a pleasant looking man in a business suit bends down to
show your daughter his cane. As he talks about how the cane
allows him to go places independently you notice how the blind
people around you are moving about. Some are walking by
themselves, many are laughing and talking in groups, and you
see some families with small children. You notice that many of
those who are guiding or directing others are carrying canes,
too. There is even a little boy with a cane walking around and
exploring the lobby by himself while his parents check in. The
scene isn't what you had imagined at all. These people are
clearly capable of getting about without a lot of fuss or
special help. But you still wonder-capable or not-why all
these blind people want to get together. What will they talk
about
Your attention swings back to your daughter's
conversation just in time to hear your daughter ask that very
question. Curious, you listen as the man explains. The
explanation is short. (You wonder if the man has children.
Maybe your daughter will ask.) But your mind is whirling with
new ideas when he finishes. You now know that this is the
National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Convention, and these
people have come here to "change what it means to be blind."
Well, they have already changed some notions in your mind
about blindness! And there was something else he said, too,
that caught your imagination. Something about "Walking Alone
and Marching Together." He said it was the title of a book
about the history of the organized blind movement-the NFB.
It's all about how blind people organized over 50 years ago to
change attitudes, beliefs, and even laws so blind people can
achieve true independence and equal integration into society.
What an ambition! Yet, from the scene in the lobby it looks
like the NFB is well on the way to achieving this goal.
Thinking of the lobby you decide it's time to stop musing
and get into the registration line before it gets any longer.
As you move into the line you notice a girl about your
daughter's age just ahead of you. She's carrying a cane, too.
You wonder if your daughter will ask the girl about her cane.
But, no, that's already old hat to your daughter. She is more
interested in comparing their respective Barbie dolls. A blind
couple with a baby move into the line behind you. Your wife
turns around and begins to coo over the baby. Soon both
mothers are involved in an animated conversation about
teething, finger foods, and other baby matters. This, you
reflect with an unexpected surge of anticipation, will not be
an ordinary vacation!
That's the scene at the Anaheim Hilton Hotel on Friday,
June 28, 1996, as you might experience it as an onlooker. Now
imagine the same scene but from the perspective of a
convention participant, not an outsider. Think of the
possibilities for learning, networking, and personal growth!
If you are the parent, relative, or teacher of a blind
child-or if you are a blind youth-the Anaheim Hilton Hotel is
THE place to be between Saturday June 29, 1996, and Friday,
July 5. Some 2,500 blind people and hundreds of parents of
blind children will be converging at this one point in space
and time. They will be there to learn, to share, to network,
to celebrate victories, to applaud progress, but most of all
they will be there to make history. For it is during this week
that dreams will be shared about what we-blind people and
parents of the blind-want the future to hold for the blind,
and it is at this convention that plans and strategies will be
laid to make those dreams come true. We invite you to come and
be a part of this tremendous, history-making experience!
The week of activities will begin on Saturday, June 29
with a day-long seminar for parents and educators of blind
children. The theme for this year's seminar is borrowed from
Dr. Matson's book about the history of the NFB-Walking Alone
and Marching Together. The seminar will begin with a general
session in the morning and conclude with concurrent workshops
in the afternoon following lunch.
The powerful imagery evoked by this year's theme carries
over into every topic on this year's agenda. For example,
topics on the morning agenda will include: * Marching Together: The NFB Convention-What's in it for Me?;
* Walking Alone: How Blind Kids Develop Self-Reliance;
* Marching Together: A panel of parents of deaf-blind children
and parents of blind multiply handicapped children; and
* Walking Alone: Resisting the Helping Hand Syndrome.
In the afternoon participants may choose from a wide
range of workshop topics. We are especially thrilled and
honored to have Dr. Fred Schroeder, Commissioner of the
Rehabilitation Services Administration, U.S. Department of
Education, as a guest presenter at our seminar. Dr. Schroeder
will conduct an afternoon workshop on the topic Getting Ready
for the World of Work-Blind Youth in Transition. Dr.
Schroeder, who was appointed to his position as Commissioner
by President Bill Clinton, is a long-time leader in the
organized blind movement.
Dr. Schroeder began his career as a cane-travel
(mobility) instructor with the Nebraska Services for the
Visually Impaired in 1978. He later moved to New Mexico where
he became the administrator of the low-incident programs
(services to the blind and to the deaf) in the Albuquerque
schools. It was there that he became known nationwide for his
innovative approach to providing canes and orientation and
mobility instruction to blind and visually impaired children
as soon as they entered the school system at age 5. Now, of
course, it is becoming common practice to provide canes to
children even younger. But in the 1980's this was an unusual
practice. In 1986 Dr. Schroeder was selected to head up the
newly formed New Mexico Commission for the Blind, the agency
responsible for providing rehabilitation services to that
state's blind and visually impaired population. During these
years Dr. Schroeder also served on numerous national and
international boards of organizations for and of the blind,
including the National Federation of the Blind, the Braille
Authority of North America, the International Council on
English Braille, and the National Association of Blind
Educators.
In addition to his professional expertise and commitment
to the consumer viewpoint, Dr. Schroeder brings to the topic
of transition a personal perspective. He was once a blind
teen-ager himself. Parents, teachers, school counselors,
rehabilitation transition counselors, and anyone else
interested in the problems and progress of blind youth in
transition will want to make this workshop a priority.
The three-hour Beginning Braille For Parents workshop
will once again be conducted by Claudell Stocker, a nationally
known Braille expert. Mrs. Stocker has voluntarily conducted
these workshops for the National Organization of Parents of
Blind Children for several years now. They are extremely
popular. Since there is a limit on the number of persons who
may participate in this workshop we urge readers who want to
attend this workshop to fill out and send in the
pre-registration form on page 8.
The Blind Kids, Friendships, and Fitting In workshop is
an outgrowth of last year's workshop about social skills. We
had many requests to repeat and/or expand that workshop this
year. Parents can do many things for their children, but they
cannot force social acceptance or create friends for them.
Children must do this for themselves. However, there are ways
parents can make the pathway to social acceptance and
friendships smoother and less difficult. And this is
important. One component of the "Marching Together" theme is
learning how to work and play harmoniously with sighted peers
in a broad range of social settings.
Last year, through the efforts of Sally Ruemmler,
chairperson of the NOPBC's Parents in Partnership for
Deaf-Blind Children committee, we had an explosion of interest
in the workshop "Meeting the Needs of Deaf-Blind Children."
The committee is once again hard at work to make this year's
workshop another outstanding success. The committee is
especially interested in focusing on early childhood needs and
resources.
The workshops described above are less than half of the
workshop topics offered this year. Other topics for the
afternoon of Saturday, June 29 include Parent Power; Resources
for Blind Multiply Handicapped Children; Self-Reliance and the
White Cane; Self-Reliance and Braille in the Classroom; and
several segments on Tips on Alternative Techniques.
Registration for the seminar will begin at 8:00 a.m. and
the session will begin at 9:30 a.m. Fees are $10.00 per family
or $8.00 per person. You may also pre-register for the seminar
using the form on page 10. If you do not pre-register please
plan to arrive early Saturday morning for registration. There
is an additional fee for the Braille Workshop (see the
pre-registration form). The afternoon workshops will conclude
at 5:00 p.m.
Concurrent with the seminar will be two exciting field
trips for children ages 4 to 18. NFB Camp will also be open on
Saturday to provide child care for babies and children up to
age 12. More details about the trips and the NFB Camp is given
later in this article.
Saturday evening the California affiliate of the NOPBC
is hosting a Family Hospitality from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
in one of the NFB Camp rooms. Our California parent group has
some wonderful plans in store for the evening. For example,
there will be a fabulous door prize (must be present to win)
offered that evening, and other surprises, too. But the
highlight of the night will be a talent show. This is NOT a
contest! The purpose is to have fun, and give the kids a
chance to experience performing in front of a friendly,
receptive audience. Blind children and families of blind
children may enter the talent show. To sign up, or to get more
details contact Donna Sexton, 8689 Galindo Court, Dublin,
California 94568; (510) 833-1863. But don't sign up your
teen-ager, yet-we have special plans for him or her!
Karen Mayry, president of the NFB of South Dakota and
former high school teacher, is in charge of our
NOPBC-sponsored Convention Orientation Session for Youth. This
year's session will take place concurrently with our Family
Hospitality event on Saturday night, June 29. The session will
be a combination of party activities-ice-breakers, games,
music, and door prizes-and practical convention orientation
activities. For example, blind volunteers will take the kids
out to show them the physical layout of the hotel. They will
discuss how the convention is organized, what to expect from
it, what meetings they might want to attend, and how to have
fun at the convention in a safe and appropriate manner. The
session will be a great chance for youth to get to know each
other and to meet some neat blind adults.
As exciting and as informative as Saturday is going to
be, it is only the beginning of a week of exceptional
opportunities for parents to learn about blindness. A huge
exhibit hall, a tour of a nearby local educational summer
program for blind children, an IEP Advocacy Workshop, the
Annual Meeting of the National Organization of Parents of
Blind Children, a play performance by blind students, a talent
show, a musical contest, a Sensory Safari exhibit,
miscellaneous technology workshops, and much, much more is on
the docket for the 1996 NFB convention. Here are the various
details and, where appropriate, pre-registration forms so you
can make your plans and reservations for the convention.
Hotel Reservations
As usual, our hotel rates are the envy of all who hear
about them. For the 1996 convention they are: one in a room,
$45; two in a room, $47; three in a room, $54; and four in a
room, $57. In addition to the room rates, there will be a tax.
At the time the arrangements were made with the hotel, that
tax was just under 15 percent. There will be no charge for
children in a room with parents as long as no extra bed is
required. If you want to come a few days early or stay a few
days late, convention rates will apply.
You may make reservations in one of two ways. You may
write directly to the Anaheim Hilton, 777 Convention Way,
Anaheim, California 92802-3497, Attention: Reservations; or
call (714) 750-4321. DO NOT CALL THE HILTON TOLL-FREE NUMBER
TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATION! They make take your call and promise
you a reservation, but the reservation will NOT be valid!
Reservations must be made directly with the Anaheim Hilton in
Anaheim.
Airports and Ground Transportation
There are two major airports one can use when flying into
the Anaheim area. They are Los Angeles International Airport
and John Wayne Orange County Airport. It may be easier to
find a flight into Los Angeles International, but John Wayne
is closer to the Anaheim Hilton. A shuttle is available from
the Los Angeles International Airport to the Anaheim Hilton
for $22.
Convention Dates and Schedule

Here is the general outline of convention activities:
* Saturday, June 29-seminar/workshop for parents of blind
children, Job Opportunities for the Blind workshop,
miscellaneous workshops, Kids' Trips, Family Hospitality,
Convention Hospitality, Youth Convention Orientation.
* Sunday, June 30-convention registration ($10 per person),
exhibit hall open for business, first meeting of the
Resolutions Committee (open to observers), Youth Convention
Orientation and Meeting, miscellaneous committee and division
meetings.
* Monday, July 1-exhibit hall open all day, meeting of the
Board of Directors (open to all), tour of a local summer
program for blind kids, Annual Meeting of the National
Organization of Parents of Blind Children, and various
division and committee meetings.
* Tuesday, July 2-opening general session, exhibit hall open
before session and at noon, evening gala event, and evening
IEP Advocacy Workshop.
* Wednesday, July 3-general morning session, afternoon open
for tours, exhibit hall open before session and all afternoon.
* Thursday, July 4-general sessions, exhibit hall open before
session and at noon, banquet, after-banquet party.
* Friday, July 5-general sessions, exhibit hall open before
session, adjournment.
Miscellaneous Information
NFB information tables will be set up in the hotel
(usually near the hotel registration area). Details about the
locations of Saturday, June 29 events (such as the parents
seminar, Kids Trips, and NFB Camp) will be available at these
tables.
The complete NFB convention agenda, in print or Braille,
is available only to those who register for the NFB
convention. Convention registration opens about 10:00 a.m.
(maybe earlier) on Sunday, June 30. The registration fee is
$10 per person. There is no pre-registration for the
convention. Each person must be present to register for him-
or herself. Anyone who fails to register for the convention is
not eligible for the convention hotel room rates.
Banquet tickets generally do not exceed $25 and should be
purchased at the time you register. We have a system called
the Banquet Ticket Exchange which gives you the option of
selecting in advance the people with whom you wish to sit at
the banquet. The procedure is explained at registration and
again early in the convention session.
Hospitality and convention information will be available
at the Presidential Suite and the NFB of California Suite
throughout the convention. The locations and phone numbers of
these suites will be listed in both the pre-convention agenda
(available at the NFB information table) and the convention
agenda.
The NFB of California is putting together some wonderful
tour packages for convention. Details will be in the Braille
Monitor and at the NFB information table when you arrive. If
you do not get the Monitor and would like some information in
advance, write or call National Organization of Parents of
Blind Children, Convention Information, 1800 Johnson Street,
Baltimore, Maryland 21230; (410) 659-9314.
KIDS TRIPS
Editor's Note: For the past three years Carla McQuillan,
President of the NFB of Oregon, the blind mother of two
children, and owner/director of a Montessori preschool, has
organized and directed special field trips for children and
youth during the day-long seminar held for parents. Mrs.
McQuillan brings to this task outstanding administrative
skills, high standards, and an intuitive understanding of
children and their needs. Needless to say, the trips are
always a huge success. Here is what Mrs. McQuillan has to say
about what she has organized for this year:
The smell of the ocean and the thrill of the Giggle Wheel
Ride are just around the corner! Wondering what we are talking
about? Well, here at the National Federation of the Blind of
Oregon, we've been working long and hard at getting ready for
the Kid's Trip that takes place during Parent's Seminar on
June 29th during National Convention in Anaheim, California.
After many phone calls and a few last minute schedule changes,
here it is at last, the KIDS TRIP agenda!
ADVENTURE CITY
Ages 4 - 10 Cost: $16 Includes: bus fare, lunch,
and unlimited use of rides and attractions.
For our trip to Adventure City, a new theme park designed
specifically for young children, the excitement begins on the
city bus that leads straight to the thrills. Our day at
Adventure City will begin with an interactive and educational
puppet show that will be for us alone to enjoy before the park
opens to the general public. During the shows we will learn
about "What you should do if you get lost," "Being kind to
others," and will feature a special visit from Dandy McRandy
the Mystery Caper. Excitement and entertainment await with
roller-coasters and other pulse-quickening rides. If you're
the kind of kid that prefers to keep your feet a little closer
to the ground, there's a petting zoo, shows, and a 20 horse
carousel! There will also be game areas and concession stands
for which you may want to bring some extra spending money.
TRAIN TRIP TO THE BEACH
Ages 10 - 18Cost: $16Includes: train and bus fare
admission to Scripps
What a day at the beach we have planned for you! All
Aboard! We'll begin the day by traveling Southwest on Amtrak's
San Diego commuter train. We'll experience the thrill of the
railroad as we begin our trek to enjoy the wonder of the
Pacific Coast. Next we'll spend some time letting the warm
sand sift through our toes as we beachcomb, chase the waves,
or build a sandcastle. Then we'll take the city bus to the
internationally known Scripps Institute of Oceanography for a
hands-on guided tour of the aquarium. Please bring money for
lunch and any snacks or souvenirs you wish to buy.
Sound too good to be true? Well, it isn't if you make
sure your reservations are made by May 15, 1996. Space is
limited so make your reservations as soon as possible! Mail
the following pre-registration form to Kids Convention Trips,
3988 Main Street, Springfield Oregon 97478. For more
information phone (503) 726-6924.
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