Report on Parent Activities at the 1995 NFB Convention

Report on Parent Activities at the 1995 NFB Convention

Future Reflections Spring 1996, Vol. 15 No. 2
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REPORT ON PARENT ACTIVITIES AT THE 1995 NFB CONVENTION
by Barbara Cheadle
[PICTURE] Enthusiastic participation was the order of the day at the 1995 Annual Meeting of the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children.
[PICTURE] Pam Dubel, Angela Howard and Zena Pearcy (left to right) perform in the "Little Things Mean A Lot" skit.
[PICTURE] Kathy Austin and her display of toys at the Toy Workshop.
[PICTURE] Dr. Hilda Caton, winner of the 1995 Oustanding Educator of Blind Children award.
[PICTURE] Soo Kee Reed of Alaska gets a convention orientation lesson from Maria Morais.
[PICTURE] Briley Pollard of Virginia draws for the door prize at Family Hospitality night. Assisting her are Loretta White (right) of Maryland and Julie Hunter (left) of Colorado. [PICTURE] Ruby Ryles discusses the fine points of advocacy at the 1995 IEP Workshop. [PICTURE] NFB Camp is a great place to make new friends- just ask Amanda Jones (left) and Dacia Luck
Although there is only one blind member in our family of
five-Charles, our seventeen-year-old son-the National
Federation of the Blind became, early on, a family affair. We
quickly discovered that each of us was welcome, and each of us
had a contribution to make. All three of our children have
sold NFB candy, attended monthly Federation chapter meetings,
held a picket sign, and cheered the presidential report at NFB
National Conventions. They've had lots of company in these
endeavors, too. Hundreds of sighted children of blind members,
blind kids, and sighted siblings participate in Federation
functions with their families.
The theme of the 1995 Parents Seminar, "The Benefits of
Growing Up in the National Federation of the Blind," focused
on this unique characteristic of the NFB. Blind adults,
sighted parents, blind kids, sighted kids of blind parents,
and sighted siblings came together during the morning session
to talk about the significant impact the National Federation
of the Blind has had in their lives.
The seminar got off to an inspirational start with
remarks by NFB President Marc Maurer and President Emeritus,
Dr. Kenneth Jernigan. They challenged parents to stay for the
entire convention. They described how the actions taken at
this year's convention, and the years that follow, will
determine much of what their children's future opportunities
will be. Therefore, they explained, it behooves parents to
become active in the NFB so they, too, can help shape the
future for the next generation.
Ramona Walhof led the formal agenda with a presentation
called, "Blindness-What it Means in the Mind of a Blind Child"
(see page 13 in this issue). In her speech, Mrs. Walhof
examined the natural process by which a blind child comes to
understand blindness and, ultimately, how they learn to feel
about themselves as blind people.
Next were two panels, "But I'm not Blind...What can the
NFB Mean to Me?" and "Blindness, the NFB, and Me." On the
first panel Charles Brown, President of the NFB of Virginia,
described the value of the NFB in his life as a partially
sighted individual. Joanne Wilson, Director of the Louisiana
Center for the Blind and the blind mother of five sighted
children gave a lively account of the many values and skills
her sighted children learned through their intimate
association with the NFB.
The final panel of the day featured children and youth
and was (as might be expected) enthusiastically received by
the audience. Wayne Pearcy, an eight-year-old blind boy, gave
a delightful speech. Angela Sasser, a blind teen from
Louisiana, and Maria Wurtzel, the sighted daughter of blind
Federationists Fred and Mary Wurtzel, expressed themselves
with clarity and sincerity. The last youth on the panel, John
Earl Cheadle, sighted sibling to blind Federationist Charles
(Chaz), "spiced" his presentation with humor and a "wry"
twist. Bill Cucco, the only adult on the panel, held his own
with the youth as he described the role the NFB has played in
life as the sighted father of a blind daughter.
The last item on the general session agenda was a skit
performed by blind students and staff members of the Louisiana
Center for the Blind. Written by Braille instructor Jerry
Whittle, "Little Things Mean a Lot" (see page 31) gave parents
a lot of not-so-little things to think about concerning the
ways they might be stifling their children's needs for
blindness skills and independence.
During the lunch break parents had the option of buying
a box lunch and attending a Toy Workshop moderated by Margie
Watson, president of the Wisconsin Parents of Blind Children,
and presented by Kathy Austin, a Discovery Toy dealer from
Virginia. Both women are parents of blind daughters and are
active in the National Organization of Parents of Blind
Children.
Following lunch parents were presented with a choice of
twelve different concurrent workshops. The three-hour
"Beginning Braille for Parents" workshop was, as usual,
conducted by Claudell Stocker, Braille expert and former
director of the Braille Unit of the Library for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped. There was also a "Questions and
Concerns About Braille" session moderated by NOPBC First Vice
President and 1992 winner of the Outstanding Educator of Blind
Children award, Ruby Ryles. Dr. Hilda Caton, the 1995 winner
of the award, was also on hand to answer questions about her
"Patterns" reading series.
Blind Federationists Barbara Pierce and Gary Wunder
handled the sensitive topic of "Social Skills, Personal Care,
and Independence of Blind Youth" to a standing-room-only
crowd. Loretta White, parent leader from Maryland and chairman
of the NOPBC Committee on Blind Multiply Handicapped Children,
also spoke to a record number of parents about techniques and
resources for parents of blind multiply handicapped children.
Two sessions of "Parent Power" was so well received that the
workshop will undoubtedly be repeated in 1996. These sessions
were conducted by parent leaders Carol Castellano, New Jersey;
Barbara Freeman, Washington; Keri Stockton, West Virginia;
Kathy Arthurs, Ohio; Dawn Neddo, Michigan; and Joe Larson,
Nebraska.
Three different sessions were held on different aspects
of cane travel and mobility for blind kids. Joe Cutter, a
pediatric mobility specialist from New Jersey, and Doug Boone,
an independent mobility consultant from Nebraska, gave
generously of their time not only during these workshops
(which they conducted) but throughout the convention in
private appointments with parents. One of the most exciting
events of the afternoon was the session for parents of
deaf-blind children. Moderated by Sally Ruemmler, chairman of
the NOPBC committee Parents in Partnership for Deaf-Blind
Children, the workshop featured presentations by Sandra
Andrews, a deaf-blind services consultant in Kansas; and Dr.
Douglas Geenens, an adult and child psychiatrist with
experience in the identification and assessment of psychiatric
needs of individuals with dual sensory loss.
Throughout the afternoon parents also had the option of
dropping into the "Show Time" room to view videos on a variety
of blindness topics. Especially popular was the new NFB video
about Braille literacy, "That the Blind May Read."
Blind teens had an opportunity to get together Saturday
afternoon for a Convention Orientation session. Adult blind
members of the NFB took the youth out in small groups to
explore the hotel. The experience also gave the kids a chance
to get to know each other and to meet blind adults.
While moms, dads, and older brothers and sisters were
busy with these activities, youngsters from age 5 to 12 were
having a great time on a field trip to a nearby kids amusement
park. Carla McQuillan, who owns and operates a Montessori
preschool in Oregon, organized dozens of other blind
volunteers to chaperone some eighty children on this trip.
After a long day, parents and children were ready to
relax and socialize that evening at the informal Family
Hospitality night sponsored by the NOPBC. Children gathered
around the piano, played games, and looked at books while
parents chatted, compared notes, and exchanged ideas along
with addresses and phone numbers. One exciting high point of
the evening was a drawing for a $50 bill.
The next large gathering for parents was at the Annual
Meeting of the National Organization of Parents of Blind
Children on Monday afternoon, July 3, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
As usual, the agenda was packed with a combination of
business, reports, presentations, panels, and election of
officers. Dr. Hilda Caton, the 1995 recipient of the
Outstanding Educator of Blind Children Award, described the
background and development of the Patterns reading series,
which she edited some years ago. Other speakers included Laura
Felty and Dr. Christopher Craig. Laura was the top
Print-to-Braille winner in the first annual National Braille
Readers are Leaders contest about twelve years ago. She is now
a certified teacher of blind children. Laura gave a compelling
talk about how important and beneficial Braille has been in
her life. Following this theme, Dr. Craig talked about the
survey he conducted on the emerging literacy of blind
children. Interspersed between speakers were drawings for new
and used toys donated by members. This was so popular that a
committee was formed to solicit toys and other items for next
year.
The last item on the agenda was a panel of parent leaders
who talked about the challenges of organizing local parent
support groups. Joe Larson, Nebraska; Pat Jones, Tennessee;
Margie Watson, Wisconsin; Lisa Mattioli, Pennsylvania; and
Michael Wolk, also of Pennsylvania described different
experiences and problems. All, however, persevered and
succeeded in creating a stable organization where parents can
work together to better the lives for blind children in their
communities.
A report from the nominating committee followed by
elections concluded the meeting. NOPBC officers and board
members for 1995-1996 are: Barbara Cheadle, President; Ruby
Ryles, First Vice President; Carol Castellano, Second Vice
President; Marty Greiser, Secretary; Julie Hunter, Treasurer;
Michael Wolk, Board; Joe Larson, Board; Pat Jones, Board; and
Kathy Arthurs, Board.
On Wednesday evening NOPBC conducted an Individualized
Education Program (IEP) workshop. Led by Ruby Ryles and
Barbara Cheadle, the program explored the nuts and bolts of
how the IEP works, what blind kids should have on their IEPs,
and strategies for increasing the chances of getting a good
IEP. One segment of the workshop specifically addressed the
role of the parents' advocate in the IEP meeting. Following
the pattern set at the workshops earlier in the week, the room
was packed with enthusiastic parents and NFB members eager to
learn.
The convention general sessions, which began Wednesday
morning and concluded on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. (3-1/2
days-Thursday afternoon was left open for tours), was packed
with speakers and topics of the utmost interest to parents.
Parents who stayed for the entire convention had the
opportunity to hear nationally known professionals from the
National Center on Educational Restructuring and Inclusion,
Dr. Alan Gartner and Dorothy Kerzner Lipsky speak on
"Inclusion for all: Building on the Tools of Blindness." They
also got to be part of an important dialogue with
representatives from the publishing firms and associations
regarding "Braille Literacy, Braille Texts, and Braille
Bills." Dr. Sally Mangold, well-known for the materials she
developed for use in teaching children fast, efficient Braille
reading, was also on the convention agenda to talk about "The
Importance of Braille Literacy in the Education of Blind
Children."
Learning continued after sessions and meetings as parents
gathered together in rooms, restaurants, and even in the halls
or outside the elevator. Professionals such as Joe Cutter,
Doris Willoughby, and Ruby Ryles volunteered their time and
made appointments with parents and their children to give of
their knowledge.
The 1995 NFB convention will be remembered for many
reasons. Not the least of them will be the burgeoning group of
enthusiastic parents and children who came to soak up
knowledge about blindness from thousands of blind people who
are committed to the positive philosophy and message of the
National Federation of the Blind.

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