National Federation of the Blind of Kansas Newsletter TAP TRACKS Autumn / Winter 2011 Editorial Staff: Susan Tabor, Editor-in-Chief Susie Stanzel and Tom Page, Associate Editors Materials for the next issue of TAP TRACKS which will be in spring of 2012 should be submitted by January 31, 2012. Send or email your contributions to: Susan Tabor 1234 Tennessee Street Lawrence, Kansas 66044-3226 Phone (home): 785-841-3875 Cell: 785-865-9949 E-mail: souljourner@sbcglobal.net Thank you! From the Desk of the President By Donna Wood, President, National Federation of the Blind of Kansas It is now the second half of 2011 and the first half was very busy for us in the National Federation of the Blind of Kansas. Four of our members went to Daytona Florida at the end of January to be present for our history-making Blind Driver Challenge. At the Daytona Rolex 24 Mark Riccobono demonstrated the car that can be driven by a blind person. Several members attended the Washington seminar in February, where they met with legislators and aides to discuss the issues most impacting the blind. At the end of March, the NFB of Kansas held a leadership development seminar in Lawrence, Kansas. Ron Gardner facilitated this two day seminar. In July approximately 20 members of the NFB of Kansas attended the national convention in Orlando, Florida. A grand time was had by all! A significant issue came to our attention at the convention that would impact many blind Americans. We were made aware of section 511 in the workforce investment act that was to be voted on by the Health, Environment, Labor and Pension (HELP) committee. Section 511 stated that subminimum wages could be paid to employees that were disabled. As an organization we found this to be unacceptable and discriminatory to the disabled. At convention we called the Senators on the HELP committee and passed around and signed a petition to either take this section out or vote down the workforce investment act. Through our efforts we were able to cause the committee to put off the vote. [For comments from Dr. Frederic Schroeder check: http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/word/FKS_Subminimum_Wage_Speech.doc and from former NY governor David Patterson check: http://www.nfb.org/NewsBot.asp?ID=828&MODE=VIEW Ed.] After the convention we came home and continued to work hard on this issue. On Tuesday, July 26, 2011 almost 30 blind and disabled individuals held an information rally in front of Senator Pat Roberts’ office in Wichita. The rallies were held nationwide in each state that had a senator on the HELP committee. As a result of the petitions and rallies and other advocacy, we were able again to put the vote off until September. [For press on the rally check: http://blogs.kansas.com/gov/2011/07/26/blind-workers-picket-for-equal-salary-rights-outside-wichita-senate-office/ Or for a video check: http://www.ksn.com/news/local/story/Blind-persons-protest-proposed-employment-bill/_FicKsgv4E6XlqfI0EGCUA.cspx Ed.] It is now coming up on the fall, and that brings us to our state convention. The National Federation of the Blind of Kansas will be holding our state convention in Wichita at the Airport Hilton, located at 2098 Airport Road Wichita, KS 67209. For reservations call (316) 945-5272. Deadline for room reservations is October 7, 2011. Room rates are $72 per night. Pre-registration for the Convention is $5 and registration for the convention at the door is $10. Tickets for the luncheon on Saturday are $10 each and banquet tickets for Saturday evening are $20 each. This year’s National Representative is Pam Allen (please see her bio later in this newsletter). We will also be presenting a seminar on Friday October 21 from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The workshop is entitled, COLLABORATIVE STRATEGIES FOR EMPLOYMENT SUCCESS. Buna Dahal, formerly on the staff at the Colorado Center for the Blind and now a private consultant, will be presenting this seminar (please see her bio in this newsletter). If you are a member of the National Federation of the Blind of Kansas, you may attend Buna’s seminar free of charge. For those who are not members of NFBKS and want to attend Buna’s seminar, there will be a $75 fee charged. On Saturday October 22, general sessions will focus on the job search, employment, technology and the skills you need to be a confident blind person. We will be giving away Apple gift certificates for accessible Apple products. We will also be giving away a HIMS Book Sense reader. So come and join us and register to get your name in the drawing for one of these great prizes!!! MEET PAM ALLEN Pam Dubel was born in 1970 and grew up in Lancaster, New York. She became blind when she was approximately two years old as a result of retinal blastoma, a type of cancer. Although her parents were shocked by her loss of sight, they fortunately realized that she was still the same child except that she could no longer see. Through love and high expectations, they instilled in Pam a sense of pride and confidence in her ability to succeed. Growing up as the youngest of six children also helped her learn to be independent. Since she was the youngest, nobody, especially the brother a year older than she, let her get away with anything. Pam attended a private Catholic school, where she was the only blind student. Her itinerant teacher provided a sound foundation in Braille, which helped her excel in academics. Her parents expected her to do her best and to engage in activities that would make her a well-rounded person. She participated in horseback riding, skiing, and cheerleading during elementary school. During high school her interests shifted to performing in chorus, doing community service, and having fun with her friends. While growing up, Pam had limited contact with other blind people her age. In general she had no desire to associate with other blind people. She understood that every high school senior experiences some trepidation about the transition to adulthood and independence. However, as high school graduation approached, she began to grapple with questions that her sighted peers couldn't answer. She planned to attend college, and she hoped that she would eventually find a job, but she secretly wondered if she would truly be able to obtain employment. After all, she had had difficulty finding part-time work during high school. She had also never lived on her own, and she wondered how successful she would be at that. Although she entered college with some apprehension, she was determined to achieve her best. Her small liberal arts college provided an exciting environment in which to learn and grow. But those unanswered questions continued to nag at her. If people were amazed that she could accomplish the most insignificant tasks, would they ever treat her as an equal? She realized that she had to meet other blind people with more experience than she who could serve as role models. Her search exposed her to a wide variety of groups and organizations of and for the blind. However, not until she attended a student seminar hosted by the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio did she begin to find the answers for which she had been searching. Although she didn't realize it at the time, the seminar marked the beginning of a new chapter of her life. At the seminar she met Barbara Pierce, president of the NFB of Ohio, who told Pam about the Louisiana Center for the Blind. More than that, she spoke with Joanne Wilson, the director, and arranged for Pam to complete an internship at the center the following May. As soon as that was completed, Joanne invited her to work as a counselor in the children's summer program that year. Pam was a 1991 National Federation of the Blind scholarship winner when she was a senior at Denison University, where she majored in psychology and minored in women's studies. She served as vice president of the Ohio Association of Blind Students and a board member of the National Association of Blind Students, and throughout college she worked summers for Joanne Wilson at the Louisiana Center for the Blind with the Children's Program. After graduation from college Pam decided to become a student at the Louisiana Center for the Blind. She recognized that she still needed to gain some confidence in her skills and in her ability to be a successful blind person. Today Pam Allen is the director of the Louisiana Center for the Blind after having been the director of youth services there for many years. In that position she worked with blind infants and toddlers and their parents and also supervised the training of classroom aides to teach Braille throughout Louisiana. She coordinated summer camps and developed programs for blind children and teenagers. People often ask her what makes the Louisiana Center for the Blind such a special place. She responds, "What sets our alumni apart from those of other kinds of rehabilitation facilities? The answer is that, by attending our center and the other centers conducted by Federationists, students are exposed to the National Federation of the Blind and its philosophy. The NFB is more than an organization; it is a loving family. Regardless of where you are, you can find members of the NFB who can give you support and encouragement when you need it. The NFB also provides a constant supply of role models who challenge you to set goals for yourself." Allen recalls that she used to believe that she did not need other blind people. She thought that being independent meant succeeding without the help of others. Her involvement with the National Federation of the Blind has taught her that this is not true. She has learned that she needs reinforcement from her blind colleagues and friends. Pam lives in Ruston, Louisiana, with her husband Roland Allen, an orientation and mobility instructor at Louisiana Tech University, whom she met at the Louisiana Center for the Blind. She is currently the president of the NFB of Louisiana and secretary of the National Association of Blind Rehabilitation Professionals. In July of 2002 she was elected to the National Federation of the Blind board of directors. Four years later, in 2006, she was elected to serve as treasurer of the National Federation of the Blind. Allen is also involved in a variety of community and professional organizations. She says, "Being elected to the national board has allowed me to give back and to spread the message of our movement." [For more info on the Louisiana Center for the Blind check: http://lcb-ruston.com Ed.] MEET BUNA DAHAL! “The powerful personality generates positive energy and creativity.” -- Buna Dahal A dynamic Leadership Strategist, Buna Dahal is an expert in teaching people how to think out of the box. She has demonstrated this ability by inspiring her clients to discover new, innovative, creative and empowering experiences. Buna is highly skilled in marketing persons with different abilities to the business world. In a staffing market where over 70% of the working-age blind and visually impaired remain unemployed, she has maintained an annual placement rate of over 85%. Buna has consistently achieved 100% placement with her work-experience and intern clients annually. While working as the Employment Specialist for the Colorado Center for the Blind she cultivated an average of 48 employer relations per year since 2000. She has successfully planned, organized and delivered a wide range of training sessions, workshops, seminars and job fairs both locally and nationally. Throughout her years of creating job-readiness curricula, networking events, and staff development programs, Buna has always focused on developing long-term relationships with the hiring authorities and prospective employers. She has well established relationships with Workforce Investment One-Stop Centers. Born and raised in Nepal, Buna has been blind since birth. At 18 she was awarded a scholarship to study in the United States. At an early age Buna realized that she had a dream… not just to survive but to live. She had a desire to spread her wings because she knew there is much more in life than just existing. Today she fully lives her life with confidence and competence by inspiring others across the globe. The national and international media has published numerous articles and interviews touching upon her personal and professional success. In this respect her story was recently featured in CBS-Channel 4 Colorado, Morning News. Buna was invited to present an empowering speech at the United Nations in 2007. In 2006, when Buna went home to visit her family for the first time in 16 years, Nepal Television and Kantipoor Television interviewed her. For promoting literacy she was recognized as a community leader by the City of Littleton, Colorado during the 2004 National Library of the Month celebration. MSNBC hailed Buna Dahal as a “Young Inspirational Leader” in a nationally broadcast interview in 2000. Buna believes, “Retaining the job requires more creativity than obtaining a job.” [For more check: http://www.dynamicbuna.com Ed.] CALL FOR RESOLUTIONS! By Susan Tabor, Editor Each year at our state convention, members bring resolutions concerning changes they’d like to see in services for the blind, both public and private and for changes they’d like to see from entities who are not complying with accessibility laws. This year is no different! Dianne Hemphill is our resolutions committee chair this year. It would be best if she has your resolutions that you are proposing prior to the convention. You may email them to her at: diannehemphill@cox.net or you may snail-mail them to her at: Dianne Hemphill 600 N. Bel Rue Derby, KS. 67037 If you have questions, you may call Dianne at 316-201-1323. The resolutions committee will meet Friday evening; check your agenda when you get to the convention for location information of the meeting, which will take place at 8-00 p.m. Resolutions that pass during a vote of the entire membership on Sunday morning will then be sent on to the appropriate entities. BOARD MEETING? By Susan Tabor Sometimes our NFB State Board has a full general board meeting at the Convention. This year, there will be no board meeting during the Convention unless an emergency meeting is called. The board will meet shortly after the convention. As always check http://www.nfbks.org for ongoing updates. Also to stay in touch register for the home-on-the-range listserv by sending an email with the word subscribe in the subject line to home-on-the-range-request@nfbnet.org Contact us at: National Federation of the Blind of Kansas President, Donna J. Wood 11405 W. Grant Wichita KS 67209 http://www.nfbks.org Registration for the NFBKS State Convention October 21-23,, 2011 Please send registration form and payment to Bob Fuller at 1746 Mississippi St., Lawrence, KS 66044. Please make checks payable to the National Federation of the Blind of Kansas. If you are registering multiple attendees, please include all names of those you are registering. Name: Address:_____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ Telephone: E-mail: Pre-registration: $5.00 Registration at the door: $10.00 Luncheon: $10.00 Banquet: $20.00 Do you plan to attend the seminar entitled STRATEGIES FOR EMPLOYMENT SUCCESS to be held on Friday, October 21 from 1-00 to 5-00 p.m.? If you are a member of the National Federation of the Blind of Kansas, you may attend the seminar free of charge. Otherwise, there will be a $75 fee for attending Friday’s seminar. The convention will be held at the Airport Hilton which is located at 2098 Airport Road; Wichita, KS 67209. Call for room reservations at 316-945-5272. Room rates are $72 per night. The hotel is holding a block of rooms until October 7, after which time any unreserved rooms will be released. Please come and join us in changing what it means to be blind in Kansas! NFB of KS FREE MATTER FOR THE BLIND 1451 Fairview Wichita KS 67203