Future Reflections Volume 32 Number 4

Julia Gebert and Nick Oliver at the NOPBC Fashion Show™

ISSN-0883-3419

For more information about blindness and children contact:
National Organization of Parents of Blind Children
200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place, Baltimore, MD 21230 • (410) 659-9314
www.nfb.org/nopbc • [email protected] • [email protected]

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Taengkwa Sturgell examines books at the Braille Book Fair

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Flinging Open the Closet Listen Now (MP3)
by Deborah Kent Stein

NO LIMITS

Nurturing Your Pearl Listen Now (MP3)
by Carlton Walker

Be Blessed, Be Loving, Be Active! Listen Now (MP3)
by Anil Lewis

Talent, Training, and Trust Listen Now (MP3)
by Dr. Jessica Ewell

A Life without Limits Listen Now (MP3)
by Lindsay Yazallino

WORKSHOPS AND ACTIVITIES

The Dawn of the Age of Tactile Fluency:
Let the Revolution Begin! Listen Now (MP3)
by Al Maneki

Exploring Life's Playgrounds: Independent Movement
for Young Blind Children Listen Now (MP3)
by Mary Jo Hartle

Riding the Youth Track with Recorded
Sounds and Model Trains Listen Now (MP3)
by Steve Hastalis

GENERAL SESSIONS

Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning (BELL):
Changing Expectations for the Blind of America Listen Now (MP3)
by Mark A. Riccobono, Sandy Halverson, Kayleigh Joiner, and Raveena Alli

Ending the Book Famine: Literacy
for the Blind without Borders Listen Now (MP3)
by Dr. Fredric K. Schroeder

STUDENT PERSPECTIVES

Kids for Independence! Listen Now (MP3)
by Anna Walker and Ethan Solano

A Passion for Research Listen Now (MP3)
by Mark Colasurdo

GROWNUP WISDOM

Gifts My Father Gave Me Listen Now (MP3)
by Adrienne Asch

How High Can Tomato Plants Grow? Listen Now (MP3)
by Janna Stein

Parent Power Listen Now (MP3)
by Rosina Foster

CONVENTION CAMEOS

Opening Our Eyes in Orlando Listen Now (MP3)
by Amy Roberts Darlington

Reverse Inclusion: Taking a Sighted
Child to an NFB Convention Listen Now (MP3)
by Faye Corman

AWARDS

Sand and Shoelaces: The 2013 Distinguished
Educator of Blind Children Award Listen Now (MP3)
by J.C. Mushington-Anderson

The 2013 Bolotin Awards Listen Now (MP3)
presented by Jim Gashel

The 2013 National Federation of
the Blind Scholarship Class Listen Now (MP3)
presented by Patti Gregory-Chang

ANNOUNCEMENTS Listen Now (MP3)

ODDS AND ENDS Listen Now (MP3)

Complete Future Reflections

Complete Future Reflections Audio File (Zipped MP3 Version)

Complete DAISY Audio File (Zipped MP3 Version)

Subscription Information

Future Reflections is a magazine for parents and teachers of blind children. It is published quarterly by the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults in partnership with the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children. Future Reflections is available free of charge to subscriber addresses in the US in regular print and audio formats and via email, or it can be read online on the NFB website. Canadian subscriptions are $35.00 per year, and other foreign subscriptions are $75.00 USD per year. Checks should be made payable to the National Federation of the Blind and sent to the NFB, Attention Future Reflections, 200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place, Baltimore, MD 21230.

For an email subscription to Future Reflections, visit <www.nfbcal.org/listserv-signup.html> and follow the instructions.

To subscribe to or unsubscribe from Future Reflections in print or audio formats, send an email to [email protected]. Put “Subscribe to FR” in the subject line and include your preferred medium in the body. Please include your address, whether you are the parent of a blind child, a teacher, or other subscriber. If you are a parent, include your child’s name and birth date.

URL: <https://nfb.org/future-reflections>

Why Join the NOPBC?

Are you the parent of a blind or visually impaired child? Don’t know where to turn?

Founded in 1983, the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC) is a membership organization of parents, educators, and friends of blind children reaching out to give each other vital support, encouragement, and information. We have thousands of members in all 50 states plus Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico.

The NOPBC offers hope, encouragement, information, and resources for parents of blind or visually impaired children. NOPBC provides emotional support and a network of other families dealing with the same challenges you are facing. We also provide information, training, and resources to empower you to take an active role in guiding your child’s development and education. We can provide information on your child’s rights and on the laws and legislative issues that will enable you and your child to become strong and effective advocates.

Have you ever wondered what your blind or visually impaired child will be capable of when he or she grows up? The answer to that question is that blindness/visual impairment does not have to stop your child from doing anything he or she wants to do. We can connect you with other families and blind adults who can serve as positive mentors and role models. They can teach you the attitudes and techniques that will enable your child to become independent and to succeed in life.

What is different about the NOPBC?

Our status as a division of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the largest and most influential organization of blind people in the world, provides many benefits. Our members are well informed about the societal, legislative, and technological issues that affect blind people. We also enjoy the resources, support, and expertise of fifty thousand blind people who can serve as mentors and role models for us and our children. Finally, as our children grow up, they have the Federation to belong to.

No other organization for parents of blind/visually impaired children offers more programs, activities, and training to families, children, and youth. One of our most exciting activities is our annual conference. Every year since it was established, the NOPBC has conducted an annual conference for parents and teachers of blind children as part of the national convention of the NFB. The program has grown to include five exciting days of workshops, training sessions, activities for all family members, including sighted siblings, and countless opportunities to meet blind adults and other families and children from around the country.

What is the mission of the NOPBC?

The purpose of the NOPBC is to:

• create a climate of opportunity for blind children in home and society.
• provide information and support to parents of blind children.
• facilitate the sharing of experience and concerns among parents of blind children.
• develop and expand resources available to parents and their children.
• help parents of blind children gain understanding and perspective through partnership and contact with blind adults.
• function as an integral part of the National Federation of the Blind in its ongoing effort to achieve equality and opportunity for all blind persons.

Most states have an NOPBC affiliate chapter. You can find your state chapter at <www.nopbc.org>. If your state does not have a chapter and you would like to start one, please contact us. We may be able to offer training and other assistance to start a state NOPBC chapter.

What are the programs, activities, publications, and resources of the NOPBC?

• National and State Parent Seminars and Conferences
• Future Reflections Magazine
• NOPBC Website
• Books and Videos
• Blindkid & Other Listservs
• Early Childhood Conferences
• Pop-Up IEP Website
• Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest
• Slate Pals Pen Pal Program
• AAF Free Braille Books Program
• Share Braille Book Exchange
• Writing Contests
• Junior Science Academy
• Youth Slam High School Science Academy
• National Center for Blind Youth in Science Web site
• NFB-NEWSLINE® Newspaper Service
• Where the Blind Work Website
• Free White Cane Program
• Blindness 411 Facebook Group for Teens
• NFB-LINK Mentoring Program
• Scholarship Program
• Straight Talk about Blindness Video Series
• Parent Leadership Program (PLP)