Here
is what you need to know
From the Aggregator:
We are putting this issue of the Blind
Coloradan to bed on Veterans Day. We have not the words to express our thanks
and profound appreciation for the heroic men and women who have given so much
service to this country. A special thanks to our Veteran members and to all who
have served or are serving. Thank you for making it possible for us to have the
liberty without which there may not be a National Federation of the Blind.
So much to post. We will need a few
blogs to catch you up on all the news of importance to the blind of Colorado.
As we protect and connect the blind of Colorado through the holidays. We hope
you will be informed and inspired by the blogs we post in the weeks to come.
With a heart of appreciation for all of our members, allies, friends, Colorado
Center for the Blind staff and students, wonderful sponsors, and others who
read and contribute to this blog, and service to the blind and vision impaired
of Colorado, thank you. Remember that the NFBCO hotline is checked regularly,
303-778-1130 ext. 219. As is our assistance@nfbco.org
email address. If you are in need during this time of pandemic, throughout the
holidays, please call or email your Federation family. We can offer advice,
advocacy, and may be able to connect blind folks in need with helpful
resources. We realize most of us are pretty self-reliant blind folks. But these
are tough times. We will help if we can.
On October 9,
Colorado Center for the Blind staff and students walked from the center to our
apartments, a total of 2.2 miles or 3.54K. It was our celebration of October's
Meet the Blind Month, White Cane Day and our NFB of Colorado/Colorado Center
for the Blind Comcast 6 Dot Dash. Our route took us west to the South Platte
River and then across it.
Throughout this blog, our non-blind friends will enjoy a few pictures snapped by CCB volunteer extraordinaire Mike Thompson. Fall is always beautiful in Colorado.
A Message of Thanks, Faith, and Love from Scott LaBarre, President, National Federation of the Blind of Colorado
THANKS FEDERATION
FAMILY!!
It is, perhaps, in this turbulent year that I am more thankful than ever for my Federation family, and I just want to take a moment to express my gratitude. Without you, this year would be so much more difficult to navigate successfully. There are two major reasons why this is so.
First, when the COVID-19 Pandemic shut us down, I did not have to create a new community or find a new mechanism to cope with the isolation that so many have had to face. My family was already there, ready to support me. Not only were you there, you were ready to shift to a virtual environment almost immediately with great creativity and love. In particular, our Colorado Federation was the first to offer Zoom meetings, our now famous Mountain Time at 5. Many other affiliates recognized our success and copied our concepts.
The other major reason is that our philosophy is much more than one addressing blindness, it is a meaningful philosophy for leading a successful and enriched life. Just as we do not let our blindness negatively define us or artificially limit our futures, we have not permitted this awful Pandemic and all the other strife to hold us back and detour us from our ultimate goal. In fact we have grown and strengthened our roots during these difficult times. I think we have proven our belief that no force on this Earth is strong enough to preclude us from reaching the time when society views us first as fellow humans who simply experience the world in a different way and not as broken sighted people. This is not to make light of the serious barriers we face because of our blindness or the tragic loss caused by the events of 2020, but rather it is to say that we have the community and a strong set of values and beliefs that allow us to emerge from tough times prepared to meet the future with hope, love, and success.
Before I conclude these brief remarks and as we greet the coming holiday season, the LaBarre’s want to wish each an everyone of you a healthy, safe, and joyous season. We are truly grateful for your presence in our lives.
It is in this troubled year that I find deepening value in some of our core values. Together with love, hope, and determination, we transform our dreams into reality. Despite this difficult year, I am filled with that hope, energy, and love by participating in our Federation because my expectations are raised, my contributions make a difference to me and to others, and I can celebrate the realization of my dreams with my Federation family.
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold Participates in NFB
State Convention Election Discussion
Friday afternoon, October 30, featured
a powerful convention General Session. One of the most anticipated items was a
presentation from and a planned Q&A session with Jena Griswold. Her staff has been
working closely with our Chair of the accessible ballot initiative to fully
implement the 2019 accessible voting legislation. Even with a general election
in full swing, Secretary of State Jena Griswold took her valuable time fielding
our questions, engaging with our Committee Chair Curtis Chong, and pledging to
continue to consider options to make the process even more “blind user
friendly.” You can listen to the entire conversation at NFBCO.org.
Did You Vote?
We don’t care if you voted for Kanye,
Charlie Brown, Pat Paulson, or Paul Sandoval for President. But, in order for
us to continue making progress toward our goal for complete accessible secret
independent voting, your input is crucial! Blind friends, please take just a
few.
Complete our national
voter survey today!
Going for The Gold!
From the aggregator: you have heard
that old great George Jones Country Western song, “The Race is On.” Well, the
race is over for 2020. Thanks to all of you for participating in The Dash! We
offer a special note of thanks to our Gold Sponsors: Blackstone Consulting
Inc., Spectrum, LaBarre Law, First Bank, Philadelphia Insurance.
You
can find The Dash results here.
The Monday, November 9 Mountain Time
at 5 featured the final pep rally for this year’s Dash. If you missed it, you
can enjoy a recording of our revelry on our NFBCO YouTube channel. It was more
fun than humans should be allowed to have. Until next year, may the spirit of
The Dash be with you.
Migs House of Improv
Greetings All,
Sunday, November
15, 1:00 p.m. Mountain time is your opportunity to become a better version of
yourself by joining Migs House Improv. Whether you have acted before or just
want to experience the fun for the first time, come join us for two
action-packed hours of improv hilarity.
Dare to let your
fellow improvisors make choices that guide your amusement and growth.
Join us at the
Zoom coordinates below, and let the fun begin.
You are cordially invited to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Migs House Improv Zoom Meeting
Time: Nov 15,
2020 01:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7202842318?pwd=NlJ2NDJIZFk5S2J2MVZHUkVzaklKQT09
Meeting ID: 720
284 2318
Passcode: 632282
One tap mobile
+17207072699,,7202842318#
Colorado Department of Labor and
Employment Met with Mixed Emotions from NFBCO Membership at State Convention
From the aggregator: One of the most
interesting discussions at the recent state convention occurred during the
presentation by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment and the CDLE
unit, Blindness and Low Vision Services, BLVS. Blind Coloradan readers know
that NFBCO has been the spearhead of accountability, efficacy, and change
within the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation for decades. It was partially
due to our efforts along with then State Representative and former rehabilitation
counselor, now Lieutenant Governor Diana Primavera that brought about a
distinct unit within the administration to focus on the real needs,
aspirations, and goals of DVR clients who are blind or low vision. When Joe
Barela, Executive Director, of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
addressed the convention during our Friday afternoon General Session, he began
his remarks by regaling us with the history of the transfer of DVR from Health
and Human Services to the Department of Labor and Employment. Director Barela
seemed not to know that we were there at the time, he was not. We worked very
closely with his predecessor, CDLE Director Ellen Golombek. After working with
stakeholders to guide the ambitious effort to bring the Division of Vocational
Rehabilitation from the mammoth agency Health and Human Services, HHS, over to
the Department of Labor and Employment, as well as to establish Blind and Low
Vision Services with her trademark care and capacity she subsequently left the
agency for a position in Washington, D.C. Mr. Barela seemed unprepared to field substantive
questions from blind consumers. He wasn’t there during the time of the
transitions that took place 5 years ago. We were. We drove the change and we
collaborated with our state partners to implement the change. Following
Director Barela’s presentation, we heard from Krista Hedlund who for almost 2
years now has served as Manager of Blindness and Low Vision Services. Leaders
of the Federation served with other stakeholders on the final round of
interviews that recommended Krista Hedlund for the BLVS manager position. It
was an honor as well as a right and a responsibility to be an integral part of the
process. After all, this individual would be following the first manager of
BLVS, Julia Zanon. Zanon had vast experience working within the division
serving both blind and general rehab clients over a long and distinguished career.
She was responsible for a smooth transition into the new BLVS unit. Over the
past 2 years, it is clear that the unit has been extraordinarily successful in
meeting the needs of blind consumers. There is no waiting list. Clients are
being served. Wages for employment closures are up. Collaborations with
counselors around the state who are not specifically assigned to the unit are
working well. The unit is successful by most any measure. Manager Hedlund
provided a glowing and rather detailed report during her presentation.
However, when it came to a thorough,
responsive discussion of one of the most important employment programs for the
blind within her unit, Director Barela and Manager Hedlund were mum! As one
Federation member put it, “they both seemed like deer in the headlights. It
seemed like they couldn’t get out of our convention quick enough. This lack of
responsiveness and lack of respect is something we haven’t seen from agency
administrators in a long, long time.” Although both Director Barela and Manager
Hedlund had been well advised of the format of the session and the time allotted
for their presentations. They both indicated that they had meetings scheduled
for 3:00 and had to leave the convention of the organized blind of Colorado
without engaging in a full discussion of the problems plaguing the Business
Enterprise Program. Krista Hedlund, who has assumed day-to-day management of
the Business Enterprise Program following the departure of long-time BEP
Program Manager Dan Whalen last Spring, refused to answer substantive questions
put to her by our State President Scott LaBarre. When Scott respectfully posed
direct questions, she would not provide answers related to the operators’ claim
of lack of oversight and active participation. Manager Hedlund hid behind the process
fiction that the operators’ appeal was still in progress. Scott rightfully
pointed out that this was not the case. She had already formally denied the
grievance submitted by the elected committee of operators. The committee had
not yet decided whether or not to take the next formal steps to appeal her
ruling. Therefore, attorney LaBarre suggested that she was indeed free to
comment.
Note, you can read the resolution passed by
the convention regarding the disruptions and discord within Business
Enterprise Program here. We urge Blind Coloradan readers to listen to
the full
discussion with CDLE here.
It is important to commend the Division,
Manager Hedlund, and her dedicated staff for the great work they are doing to
support blind consumers on their path to employment. It is important to
recognize the collaboration the unit has with our Colorado Center for the
Blind. But it is equally incumbent on the blind of Colorado to point out not
only the abject failures now prevalent within the Business Enterprise Program
as well as to express our outrage at the way the blind of Colorado, assembled
in annual convention, were treated. It is very reasonable to expect the agency
to set about making the change demanded in resolution 2020-05.
We urge you to review resolution 2020-05 to
gain an understanding of the disfunction within the Business Enterprise Program
of Colorado. As Krista Hedlund left the Zoom stage without providing answers to
our questions, I received a text from a member that said, “what is she doing?
This is the most important meeting of her constituents all year. Unless she has
a 3:00 meeting with the Governor she should cancel. She should spend time at
our convention and learning from the blind of Colorado who hired her.”
We think it is also important to point out
that one of the first items of business for Joe Barela upon his joining the
Governor’s cabinet, was to appoint a new Director of Division of Vocational
Rehabilitation, DVR. As most readers of this blog know, in spite of precedent
to the contrary, consumers were barred from taking part in that appointment
process. At that time, we wondered if that would establish a pattern of
exclusionary behavior from the new Executive Director.
Note: Following this presentation the
convention heard from Lieutenant Governor Diana Primavera. The Lt. Governor
reaffirmed her long-standing partnership with the National Federation of the
Blind of Colorado.
Prior to their hasty departure from
our Convention, Executive Director Barela and Manager Hedlund promised our
membership that they would engage in serious discussions about the future of
the programs affecting the employment of the blind in our state. Since then,
President LaBarre has been involved in two long and detailed conversations with
Director Barela. LaBarre indicates that significant commitments have been made
to improve the BEP and other programs but that we must remain vigilant and
strong to transform these verbal commitments into reality.
Join Springs
Chapter Meeting, Saturday, November 14, 10 a.m. For All The Zoom Info Email assistance@nfbco.org.
Now Therefore Be It Resolved by The National Federation of the
Blind of Colorado Assembled at our 66th Annual State Convention
From the aggregator: WHEREAS, the
convention is the supreme governing authority of the Federation; and
WHEREAS, we are a grassroots civil
rights movement; and
WHEREAS, resolutions are a way for
members to make their thoughts, ambitions, challenges, hopes, and dreams come
alive in Federation policy; and
WHEREAS, these policies are the
foundation for and guide the effort of the Federation in the months and years
to come. We considered a variety of resolutions at the recent convention. The
membership passed all 7 resolutions recommended by the committee. We encourage
you to read
the resolutions in full here. We will be discussing each of these
resolutions in future posts of the Blind Coloradan.
Getting the Rest, Relaxation, and Mindfulness We Need to Nourish the Body and Spirit
Join co-hosts Maureen Nietfeld, Jessica Beecham, and Clinical Nurse Educator Shauna Jatho for a refreshing Mountain Time at 5 Zoom! Wednesday, December 2nd. The program is just what we need in the midst of the holidays. Learn about and enjoy some mindfulness exercises lead by Maureen. Learn more about Non-24 sleep disorder from Shauna Jatho. Ask your questions about non-24 sleep disorder, mindfulness, meditation, and relaxation. Of course, Jessica Beecham will have some of her famous tips and tricks.
For information email assistance@nfbco.org or call the hotline, 303-778-1130 ext. 219. We’ll get back to you when we wake up.
Governor Appoints New Members to Colorado School for the Deaf and
the Blind Board of Regents
Governor of Colorado, Jared Polis,
announces appointments to the CSDB Board of Trustees. We welcome Michael
Merrifield, of Colorado Springs and Meghan Klassen of Denver. Michael was a
long-time member of the General Assembly. Meghan is the Executive Director of
the Anchor Center for Blind Children. They are both dear friends of NFBCO. We
know they will serve CSDB well.
https://www.stl.news/colorado-governor-polis.../355082/
Calling All Parents! Calling All Parents!
It’s time to celebrate the holidays
with the Colorado Organization of Parents of Blind Children, COPBC, and our
NFBCO Blind Parents Division. It’s a big family holiday party with raffles,
gifts, fun and games, and love Saturday, December 12 from 2 to 4. They will be
making two crafts. A Santa Claus and candy canes.
For Santa Claus you will need:
One paper plate,
One red and black crayon or marker and to make
it tactile we recommend a glitter pen,
Three buttons to make it tactile,
And several cotton balls.
For the candy cane craft you will need:
A package of pipe cleaners,
And a package of pony beads.
For more information and to find out how you can help plan the festivities, and/or if your family needs assistance with purchasing items for these crafts to be able to participate please be in touch with Maureen Nietfeld by November 25th, 215-353-7218.
Bringing Santa’s Magic to Your Blind Children
From the aggregator: So, I asked Siri,
“how old is Santa Claus?” Siri said, “I hear you get on the naughty list for
asking that.” Hey parents, stay off the naughty list! Request a Braille letter
from Santa from the North Pole, the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan
Institute.
Every December, the National Federation of the Blind helps Santa send letters in Braille to young blind children across the country.
Nothing promotes reading like a letter from
Santa! Last year's letter inspired Louise to Braille her own letter to Santa to
leave with milk and cookies, since, as she put it, "Santa must be able to
read Braille if he can write it!" Thank you!
How did it start? Well, more than ten years ago, Santa asked us to be his honorary elves. Ever since, we've been helping him send letters in contracted Braille to blind children who are ten years old and younger in the United States. Along with the Braille letter, Santa includes a print letter so that those who might not read Braille can follow along. He also includes other fun holiday activities.
Submit your requests between November 9 and December 16.
Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind, CSDB, Celebrates White
Cane Awareness Day in Song
The Bulldog Band put their own
blindness spin on the classic Journey song, Don’t
Stop Believing. It’s all about their journey with a long white cane. If you
were not able to join the opening ceremony of our 66th Annual State
Convention you missed this joyful version. Check it out! Thanks, and go
Bulldogs!
Make a Joyful Noise
We’d like to thank choir director,
President of our Mountains and Plains Chapter ReNae Anderson and our
extraordinary Producer Engineer Kevin Kovacs, along with all of the members of
the NFBCO virtual Convention choir. You guys were almost as good as the Bulldog
band. It was wonderful to hear the choir at times during the convention. I can
think of no greater example, no greater exhibition of the family teamwork it
took to put this performance together virtually. As we often say in the
Federation, our movement is made strong through individual actions collectively
focused. As we approach the season of giving and thanks it gives us great joy
to celebrate the harmony of this affiliate. It took a lot of people working
closely together to put on our one-of-a-kind NFBCO virtual convention. In order
to present content of substance this year, we needed a different kind of
logistical coordination and technical expertise. We are truly in the debt of
the team of Curtis Chong, Paul Sandoval, and Kevin Kovacs, among others. And we
offer congratulations to the
splendid music performed by our choir.
A Note to Motivate Myself and Clarify My Path by Maureen Nietfeld
From the Associate Editor: The Braille Monitor is the flagship publication of the National Federation of the Blind. We often link you, dear reader, to articles we find interesting in the Braille Monitor. Those of you who read the Monitor will know that the November issue carried an article from our affiliate secretary and sister Maureen Nietfeld. During this time of great challenge and tremendous change we thought you might be interested in reading the entire article. She shows that you can be inspiring and motivating without being maudlin. She shows why she is our brilliant and undaunted Maureen Bassmaster Nietfeld. We offer you this article in love, peace, and Thanksgiving. Here is how Gary Wunder, Braille Monitor Editor extraordinaire began the piece.
From the Editor: People who remember the scholarship class of 2019 will remember Maureen Nietfeld. She faces more obstacles each day than many of us will face in a lifetime, yet she does not complain. What follows is a diary and a motivational talk she gave to herself. When a friend saw it, Maureen was encouraged to send it to the Monitor to see if there was anything worth publishing. She did, we did, and now you can benefit. When I read this, I think of the number of pity parties I’ve attended on my behalf and how often I’ve seriously considered giving up. Whatever Maureen may have considered, giving up was not what she did. Enjoy!
I let blindness and many medical problems act
as a barrier to my ultimate dream of getting my degree, so in January of 2017,
I made the decision that I would no longer let this be. I started going to
school at Metropolitan State University of Denver and set my goal to pursue a
bachelor’s degree in lifestyle medicine with a minor in pre-healthcare. It was
also in January 2017 that a repeat MRI of my brain indicated that I would
ultimately need another brain surgery and a treatment of stereotactic
radiation. It seemed that my never-ending cycle of barriers was beginning
again. I had said to myself that I was going to finish this degree no matter
what challenge would meet me in the years to come. My journey began, and the
challenges over the next three years were definitely not in short supply.
In February 2017 I had my first round of
stereotactic radiation. The doctors assured me that there would be no side
effects, and I could go about my life the very next day. Unfortunately, I fell
in the 1 percent, and within one hour after radiation my brain began to swell.
I had to begin a regimen of high doses of steroids to combat the brain
swelling, and for the next two years, due to the brain pressure, I would throw
up pretty much every single day. I continued to make it through my first
semester. After discussing the need for a very dangerous brain stem surgery, we
decided to schedule it in May so I could finish my semester. My plan was to
recover over the break and begin summer classes in June.
Around this time, I was also notified that I was selected as one of the thirty finalists in the NFB national scholarship process. This meant that I would be going to national convention in July. I figured that having surgery in May would allow me plenty of time to begin school in June and attend the convention in July.
The surgery was definitely more complicated than anyone anticipated, and my recovery was nothing like I had ever experienced in the thirty-plus surgeries prior to this one. The surgery caused severe damage to my right side, and I was left with the inability to use my right hand and arm. Ultimately the function and feeling in my right hand would never return, and I am left with increased balance issues and pain. I attended the national convention in July with the assistance of my mother and a wheelchair. I was awarded the top scholarship that year. To say that I was elated would be an understatement. My colleagues in the organized blind movement supported me again with not only this unbelievable honor but funding that would help me pursue my academic and vocational goals. I was more than elated. But I really had no earthly idea how I would finish my degree. How would I be able to finish school not being able to use a computer anymore, having to relearn so much, and living in this awful pain? I knew that the National Federation of the Blind believed in me, and therefore I had to find the strength to continue to believe in myself. My friends and loved ones rose up to support me as well, and I knew that together we would find a way.
Learning to type one-handed was not an option
because I had already been doing that. Due to a stroke when I was twenty-five,
I had limited feeling in my left hand. I had been one-handed typing all these
years using my right hand, and now that was taken away as well. I ultimately
learned to be left-handed. Through the use of an iPhone, readers, and scribes,
I continued with school. One of my dearest and best friends, Erin Daley, has worked
tirelessly as my reader scribe. We developed a fantastic way of working
together, and I was filled with promise that, with these modifications, I had
found a solution. I was able to complete the summer courses that year and
continued with the fall semester. I was also able to return to work as a home
management instructor at the Colorado Center for the Blind. I continued to just
slowly figure out my world with this additional disability. Travel became a
major struggle, having to use my left hand and dealing with all of the balance
issues, but I was able to receive a guide dog. Reilly has been an amazing
addition to my life and my family’s life.
Nine months later I was continuing a slow
recovery but ultimately felt like I was regaining my life. In February we
received the biggest shock of my life—I was pregnant! I was always told that
pregnancy would be too risky for me. Pregnancy can cause a progression in my
disease and ultimately more tumors could grow. I also have a kidney transplant,
and pregnancy could cause my transplanted organ to fail. There were so many
fears, but the joy of this amazing miracle stifled all of them.
I continued to go to work, school, and adjust to my new normal. I was a new guide dog handler, a person with a multiple disability, and soon I would be a mom. On August 13, 2018, we went to the hospital, and I was in labor. Logan wouldn’t actually arrive until August 15 due to some major complications. I had become preeclamptic, my brain was swelling, and my kidney was failing. The physicians and nurses worked tirelessly around the clock to keep me stable, and Logan and I pulled through. The next seventeen days were the hardest of my life. Logan had to stay in the NICU because he was only thirty-four weeks. I was sicker than I think I ever had been in my life and was struggling every day. Eventually, after what seemed like an eternity, that nightmare ended, and we were able to bring Logan home. We had decided that I would leave my job at the Colorado Center for the Blind and stay home to be with Logan. I continued to attend school and was able to find employment that allowed me to work part-time from home.
Once again, I was adjusting to my new normal. I was no longer a home management teacher at the Colorado Center for the Blind, but I was more than thrilled to be a mom. I loved every minute I got to be with Logan, and I continued to recover and took that fall semester off to adjust to our new life. I returned to school that January, and soon after the terrible headaches began again. It was the summer of 2019. The convention of the National Federation of the Blind was in Las Vegas, and of course David and I attended. It really became evident to me that something was very wrong that week. I constantly had terrible headaches, dizziness, and just knew something was wrong. When we got home, I made an appointment for my routine MRI of my brain. It showed that an existing brain tumor had gotten significantly larger, and we would need to operate. They wanted to operate that September, but I opted to deal with the side effects I was experiencing until December so I could complete another semester of school. On December 5, 2019, I had to get another brain surgery. This would make my thirty-fifth surgery. I was able to work with my teachers that semester and finished two weeks early. I was able to submit all my work in advance and took my finals early. I then had forty days to recover until the next semester.
The semester of spring 2020 I took eighteen
credits, meaning I only had five credits to complete in summer of 2020. August
13 has been an amazing day in my life. That day nine years ago David and I were
married, two years ago I went into labor with Logan, and I received an email
from my university that my bachelors of science in lifestyle medicine with a
minor in pre-healthcare had been awarded.
Three years, two brain surgeries, brain
radiation, and a baby later I am finally a college graduate!! I wrote this down
as a reminder to myself and one day to Logan that dreams can become reality. No
matter what challenges lie ahead, we all have the strength to rise up and face
them.
#MyCaneMyIndependence An Effort by a Non-Blind Teenage Member
Only a couple of days before this
year’s White Cane Awareness Day we received a note from Rishika Kartik. She is
a thoughtful, imaginative young woman. She is also committed to equity for all.
She had the idea that we could begin using the hashtag #MyCaneMyIndependence
during our White Cane Awareness Day activities. Maybe it is something we want
to focus on a bit more extensively next October. There just wasn’t time to pull
the trigger on such a thoughtful campaign this time. It is all of the members
like Rishika who make our Federation family what it is. Thank you, Rishika!
#MyCaneMyIndependence.
Audio Information Network Brings News, Views, and More to the
Blind of Colorado
From the aggregator: as our First Vice
President, Jessica Beecham, said when offering appreciation to AIN, “AIN is
like a sister entity to NFB-NEWSLINE here in Colorado. They bring content not
available from NFB-NEWSLINE. NFB-NEWSLINE brings content that is mostly not
available through AIN.” We received the following important notice from AIN’s
energetic Executive Director Kim Wardlow. We hope you will participate in the
survey. This is what she says;
I
enjoyed participating in the virtual NFBCO Conference. Thank you to everyone who stopped by the AINC
booth! There is still time to
participate in the short survey to tell us what type of audio information would
benefit you. We will draw the names of
two survey participants who will receive a $25 Amazon gift card. The link for the survey
is here.
NFBCO Activist Jennifer Spears Starts Up New Business With 10% of
Sales to Benefit Colorado Center for the Blind
From the aggregator: if you are going
to shop online, why not support our colleagues and friends this holiday season.
At the recent NFBCO State Convention many door prizes and auction items came
from La Bella Baskets, “the Spearit of Giving.” We thought you might want to
read this announcement from Jennifer Spears.
I am writing to inform you of a fundraiser I have started by means of a nice side business. The company is called La Bella Baskets. My page is called Spearit of Giving. The beginning is spelled like my last name Spears rather than the standard spelling of spirit. Catchy, no?
La Bella Baskets
has products within the following categories:
Gift Baskets
Candles and
Accessories
Cookies and
Cookie Bouquets
Flowers and
Plants
Chocolate-Covered
Treats
Jewelry
Personalized
Items
There is also a section called La Bella Boutique where customers can find items for $20 and under. On top of that, we offer candle, cookie, flower and discount memberships.
Please visit
spearitofgiving.labellabaskets.com for more details.
Ten percent of
sales will be donated to the Colorado Center for the Blind.
Thank you for your time.
Jen
NFB-NEWSLINE Mobile 3.0 with KNFB Reader Basic Released
Free iOS App Now Available.
The National Federation of the Blind has released version 3.0 of NFB-NEWSLINE
Mobile to the Apple App Store. The brand new, redesigned app not only allows
subscribers to access all of the content available through NFB-NEWSLINE from
their iPhone, iPad, or other iOS device, but includes a free basic version of
the KNFB Reader mobile app. This is a powerful new tool from NFB-NEWSLINE. For
information, go to the app store or learn all about NFB-NEWSLINE at www.nfb.org. Are you a subscriber to
NFB-NEWSLINE? If so, thank you! I’ll bet there is more content up there that
will excite you than you have even discovered. Search around. It is a powerful
service. Want to give someone an easy gift this holiday season? Assist your
blind brothers and sisters to get signed up for NFB-NEWSLINE. They will thank
you, and together we will be building the National Federation of the Blind.
That’s It for This Edition of the Blind Coloradan.
We wish for each and every one of you a safe
and joy-filled giving of the thanks.
Forward, always Forward!
