[PHOTO/CAPTION: The Ley family: Eileen holding Jon Carlos, Tom, and Maria]

Braille Monitor

January

2005

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My Parents

Are Blind

by

Maria Rivera Ley, as told to Brooke Lea Foster

The

Ley family: Eileen holding Jon Carlos, Tom, and Maria

From the Editor: The

following article first appeared in the September 2004 issue of Parents

magazine. Eileen and Tom Ley are longtime leaders of the Federation. They live

[PHOTO/CAPTION: Nancy Burns]

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January

2005

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Focusing

on Literacy

by

Nancy Burns

Nancy

Burns

From the Editor: Nancy

Burns is president of the National Federation of the Blind of California. She

reports here on an exciting new Braille literacy project in California and the

materials now available to help other affiliates spread the word and the skills.

This is what she says:

[PHOTO/CAPTION: An entrance to Fourth Street Live]

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January

2005

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The Third

Time with Even More Charm

by

Cathy Jackson

An

entrance to Fourth Street Live

From the editor: Cathy

Jackson is president of the National Federation of the Blind of Kentucky. She

lives and works in Louisville. Here is what she has to say about our 2005 convention

Those who have visited the National Center for the Blind know that the

walls in public areas have been decorated with framed r

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January

2005

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A

young Jim Omvig glides across a lake on waterskis.

David

Venit scales a climbing wall at a Meet-the-Blind-Month celebration at

Baltimore's Inner harbor

Barbara Loos sits on the floor to read a Braille book to Mikaella Besson.

Kenneth

[PHOTO/CAPTION: Tai Tomasi]

Braille Monitor

December

2004

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Reflection

on the Holidays and the Federation

by Tai Tomasi

From the Editor:

Here is a Christmas story with a difference. Tai Tomasi is a graduate student

in public administration who lives in Salt Lake City. Next year she plans to

enter law school. She currently works full-time in childcare and goes to school

full-time in the evenings. In addition to all this, she serves as secretary

[PHOTO/CAPTION: Miles Hilton-Barber]

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December

2004

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The

Blind Pilot Flying the Channel

by Miles Hilton-Barber

Miles

Hilton-Barber

From the Editor:

Sunday, July 4, convention delegates were delighted by a presentation from a

blind adventurer who lives in Devonshire, England. His brother Geoff Hilton-Barber

had described to the 1998 convention his own solo voyage as a blind sailor from

[PHOTO/CAPTION: Curtis Chong]

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December

2004

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Accessibility

to Microsoft Products

by Curtis Chong

Curtis Chong

From the President:

In early September, I asked Curtis Chong and Ann Taylor to participate in a

meeting with developers of technology at the Microsoft Corporation. As Federationists

know, Mr. Chong serves as an assistant director of the Iowa Department for the

[PHOTO/CAPTION: Caroline Rounds]

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December

2004

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My

Convention Treasures

by Caroline Rounds

Caroline

Rounds

From the Editor:

The preceding article captures the excitement of attending the NFB annual convention

for the first time. The following reflection expresses the pleasures more experienced

Federationists find at a convention. Caroline Rounds is the second vice president

The Journey from Plumb Confused to Peachy Keen

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December

2004

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The

Journey from Plumb Confused to Peachy Keen

by Mary Tadum Chappell

From the Editor:

Mary Tadum Chappell is a 2004 McDonald Fellowship Winner, chosen by the NFB

of Virginia. Because of this fellowship she attended her first NFB national

convention in July of 2004. Those who did not attend the convention last summer

[PHOTO/CAPTION: The Galt House at night]

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2004

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Convention

Bulletin 2005

The

Galt House at night

It is time to plan

for the 2005 convention of the National Federation of the Blind. This year we

will return to Louisville, Kentucky, home of the Kentucky Derby and site of

the memorable 2002 and 2003 NFB conventions.

We will again experience