June 1 Blind Coloradan Blog

   

 

Writer, aggregator Kevan Worley.
Contributors Dan Burke & Erin Daley

Here is what you need to know-

Greetings dear friends and colleagues

 

Welcome to our June Blog. As we go to post we are waiting for the Colorado Senate to vote on HB2110. We have appreciated the incredible support of Colorado Cross Disability Coalition, CCDC. Thank you to CCDC executive director, friend and ally Julie Risken. Thanks to Dan Burke and Curtis Chong for realizing the importance of the legislation to the blind of Colorado. Thanks to Curtis and Dan for leading our effort but mostly thanks to our members and friends. So many called members of our general assembly to let them know how important equal access is for us. According to at least one Senator of my acquaintance, “Tell your guys I’m good! You guys are blowing up my phone.”… This just in, as we are posting this. We find that HB2110 is on the way to the Governor’s desk. This will mean two huge legislative successes for NFBCO in this legislative session. “Much more to come!”

 

 

A hop, skip and a jump

Colleagues and friends,

We are approaching some of the best, most informative, motivating, and just downright fun events for all members and friends of NFBCO.

Our annual national convention is just a hop away. Whether or not you were able to register for the convention, “Everywhere and anywhere” you can still participate over zoom and other platforms. July 6-10th is the time for people who are blind, families of blind children, educators, and professionals in the field of blindness to join together for a week of special interest meetings, powerful presentations, and an address from the president of The National Federation Of the Blind, Mark Riccobono. There will be so much to explore and enjoy. If you have questions about the upcoming convention please call 303-778-1130 Ext 219. You can email questions to assitance@nfb.org.  So, hop on into the convention.

 

Colleagues and friends,

We are approaching some of the best, most informative, motiving, and just downright fun events for all members and friends of NFBCO.

Our annual national convention is just a hop away. Whether or not you were able to register for the convention, “Everywhere and anywhere” you can still participate over zoom and other platforms. July 6-10th is the time for people who are blind, families of blind children, educators, and professionals in the field of blindness to join together for a week of  special interest meetings, powerful presentations, and an address from the president of The National Federation Of the Blind Mark Riccobono. There will be so much to explore and enjoy. If you have questions about the upcoming convention please call 303-778-1130 Ext 219. You can email questions to assitance@nfbco.org. So, hop on into the convention. https://nfb.org/

Skipping ahead. The NFBCO Comcast  6 dot dash is a go! Register now. Saturday, September 18 on the beautiful grounds of our Colorado Center For The Blind. We are looking for sponsors, exhibitors, and volunteers. It will be here before we know it.

Jumping ahead. The annual state convention should be on your calendar. We plan to be in person. We will have some virtual components. President LaBarre and his team are working through what all of that will look like. If you have state convention ideas? Send them to the president slabarre@labarrelaw.com. Hope to see each and every one of you soon. At 1 or all of these big events.

 

Extra Extra!

Know your rights. Thursday, June 10 Mountain Time At 5! Join a panel of experts on blind parents rights. Melissa Riccobono, first lady of the National Federation of the Blind will join a panel of experts and our usual, crazy Mountain Time at 5 hosts. Parents with disabilities have rights. Many of these rights have been secured through our work. Join us for the discussion.

 

 

 

Here your all important Zoom coordinates

https://zoom.us/j/97417562247

Meeting ID: 974 1756 2247

One tap mobile: +13462487799,,97417562247#

Dial by your location: +1 346 248 7799

Meeting ID: 974 1756 2247

 

 

 

 

 

Getting a Job is kind of like Learning How to Dance

By Julia Zanon

 

From the aggregator: some people retire from a long and highly successful professional career and go fishing, travel the nation, take up basket weaving, be a greeter at Walmart or lay by the pool but not our Mile High chapter member Julia Zanon. She seems to know how to relax and stay involved in numerous interesting pursuits. This includes writing these wonderful profiles for our blog. Thank you Julia Zanon and now lets me Shane Clark!

 

As we explore the topic of employment, it is heartening to find out that networking and being open to change does lead to success.

 

Think of the first time you tried to dance. There is that initial feeling of uncertainty to give it a try, because, after all, you might look silly or stupid, or you might crash and burn, or you could get rejected. Then there is the inner voice that asks, "What if I try it and it is fun and I find out that I am good at dancing?" You figure out that if you try it with your friends, there is a safety net of support. So, you learn a few patterns and moves, you gain confidence and are soon ready to take bigger risks.

 

Speaking of dancing, Shane Clark has been taking dance lesson since last year - salsa, bachata, swing, tango and more. He was not sure what to expect, and ended up liking it more than he thought. He has found that he has gained more confidence in himself. Shane is teaching us a lesson about being open to change, getting a little help from your friends and being willing and motivated to try something new. In Shane's life, he has been open to new experiences and has found that networking led him to his current career, working as a tax examiner for the state of Colorado. Shane stated," I got interested because it was something different than I was doing before, and honestly I was unemployed so I needed a job. My friend works there too and started before me, so figured it was a good thing." He also said that he enjoys the stability and traditional 40-hour work week afforded by his current employment.

 

In high school, Shane was not sure what he wanted to do for a career. He knew he liked business and numbers, so he earned a business degree in college. He was confident with his skills using computers and technology and knew what he needed in order to adapt job tasks to meet his accessibility needs. He lives in Littleton, where he is imagining his future by following his passion with music. He is still working on this chapter in his career and has been playing drums since he was a kid.

As a member of the Mile High Chapter, what does Shane have to say about NFBCO?

"I am very new to the NFB, but I know it’s a good group of people who support each other and the community. They advocate for blind people and help them whenever they can. It’s also good for socializing, and realizing you’re not the only person going through what we do."

 

 

Big Thanks for Big Success of May 14 Vaccine Clinic

From Dan Burke and our great Colorado Center for The Blind staff and students

 

Last Friday’s vaccination clinic here at the center was a huge success, and we want to give a huge shout-out to our partners, Vive Family Wellness, St. Benedict’s Health and Healing Ministry, and the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition for helping us make it possible for 29 people to get their first Moderna shot on May 14. The convenience was a big draw for staff, students and folks in the neighborhood to drop in, and that was the beauty of the event.

Sure the taco truck was outstanding, too. I mean, really outstanding!

The clinic for the second shot will be held on Friday, June 11 from 1 to 4 p.m.

But here’s some more really great news – If you couldn’t make it last week to get your first shot, you can still sign up to get the first shot on June 11. If we get enough people signed up for their first shot on June 11, we may be able to hold a third clinic for this latter group to get the final shot in July. Even if we don’t have a third clinic, our partners will ensure that arrangements are made for everyone to finish the full vaccination four weeks later.

If you want to get your first vaccine on June 11, please contact Maureen Nietfeld ASAP, mnietfeld@cocenter.org or (303) 778-1130, ext. 233. We need the lead time to ensure we have enough doses of the vaccine for that date.

 

Try blind hockey for free!

From the aggregator: We are excited to post the following announcement. In recent years more blind people are learning about and playing hockey adapted for blind players. Note, in 2019 Jessica Beecham, President Sports and Rec Division presented a resolution concerning blind hockey to the National Convention. The resolution passed I would encourage you to read it. And here is information about how people who are blind of all ages can experience the great sport of hockey.

 

Resolution 2019-20: Regarding Calling for a Study Group to Ensure Equitable Access to Blind Ice Hockey

https://nfb.org/resources/speeches-and-reports/resolutions/2019-resolutions#20

 

This is a clinic for blind and visually impaired skaters to try hockey and no experience is required.

Sessions to include current and former USA Blind Hockey team members. Plus, instruction from Colorado Avalanche Alumni, Ice Patrol, mascot Bernie, Avalanche Amateur Hockey Development Staff and USA Hockey Volunteers.

All equipment will be provided but bring your own if you’d like! Please arrive 45 minutes prior to the start of your session for check-in.

 

SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 2021

SERTICH ICE CENTER (COLORADO SPRINGS, CO)

Youth (Ages 4-16): 1:15 PM - 2:30 PM, register at https://tryhockeyforfree.com/event_detail/242

Adult (Ages 17+): 2:45 PM - 4:15 PM, register at https://tryhockeyforfree.com/event_detail/244

 

SATURDAY, JUNE 26, 2021

BIG BEAR ICE ARENA (DENVER, CO)

Youth (Ages 4-16): 3:45 PM - 5:00 PM, register at  https://tryhockeyforfree.com/event_detail/243

Adult (Ages 17+): 5:15 PM - 6:45 PM, register at  https://tryhockeyforfree.com/event_detail/245

For more information, contact the Colorado Avalanche Amateur Hockey Development Department at amateur.hockey@teamkse.com

 

 

Colorado Center for the Blind

Take Charge with Confidence and Self-Reliance

Yes, we'll be in-person in June, but we only have room for ten kids, so be sure to complete the application for your child. It will be a week of fun and learning!

June 21 to 25

Confidence Camp is back for the summer of 2021! If your blind or visually impaired child between the ages of 4 and 10 would enjoy a one-week day program focusing on independence and lots of fun, then Confidence Camp is the answer!

Students will work with certified Teachers of Blind Students as well as blind mentors in a variety of age-appropriate areas such as cane travel, independent living skills, and Braille. Students will also have the opportunity to prepare their own lunch and participate in recreation activities. Students will use a long white cane during the week-long program, and they will also have opportunities to further enhance their non-visual skills by using sleep shades.

Confidence Camp will be held at the Colorado Center for the Blind from Monday June 21 to Friday June 25, 9 am to 3 pm.

If you live in the Denver Metro area and are interested in having your child attend Confidence Camp, please complete the application.

Donations of $100 are welcome, but otherwise there is no cost.

If you have any questions or need assistance registering, please contact Director of Youth Services Martin Becerra-Miranda, mbecerra@cocenter.org or by calling (303) 778-1130 Ext: 223.

SIGHTLESS STENOGRAPHERS DO JOB 'BLIND CAN'T DO'

 By ROBERT BYERS.

Denver Post Staff Writer

From the aggregator: Ok. I love this article so much. I had to steal it from our Colorado Talk list. Thanks to Peggy Chong, the blind history lady, and our dear colleague Julie Hunter for finding this wonderful piece from 1953. The article mentions Dianne Brown of course we all know her as our longtime dynamic leader Dianne McGeorge.

              The blind do a full day's work, get paid a full day's wages and make their own way without extra help in a world of sighted persons at Colorado General hospital's medical records library.             

What started out as a pilot demonstration on the wide variety of jobs which blind persons can hold down despite their handicap has turned into profitable day-to-day experience whereby the library gets its work done efficiently, correctly and swiftly.

              Right now, three blind persons, are working as stenographers in the library, transcribing from dictaphones medical history summaries, surgery reports and letters for Colorado General doctors. A fourth. John Friel of 3339 Race street, is in training.

               It's the kind of work most persons would say "the blind just can't do.'' The library is an integral part of Colorado General operation. Everything that happens to a patient must be recorded and filed for future use. Doctors use literally thousands of dictaphone cylinders a year, recording procedures and treatments and results.

 RECORDS TRANSCRIBED.

               Ruby Williamson, director of the library, decided last winter that transcription of these records is work the blind-with proper training-could do. Even sighted stenographers need special training for the job to acquaint themselves with the medical "language" used.

               Miss Williamson contacted Claude Tynar of the Colorado Industries for the Blind, Inc., who referred to her three blind persons he believed suited for the job. They were Mrs. Diane Brown, 21, of 525 Washington street; Keith Black, 25, of 945 Pennsylvania street, and Mildred Snow, 22, of 801 Logan street, all totally blind, but all with the ability to use a typewriter.

               The three began their "medical jargon" course in January, learning prefixes, suffixes and word roots so as to enable them to recognize words used by the doctors in their reports. They mastered such jaw breakers as thromboangitis obliterans, a form of gangrene, and learned to distinguish between "ilium," meaning of the bone, and' "ileum," meaning of the intestines, both pronounced exactly the same.

               Main disadvantage faced by the blind, Miss Williamson said, was that they couldn't use the standard 1,700-page Dorlands Medical Dictionary like sighted persons. What they learned had to stick in their minds.

Each did make about 1,200 Braille cards for most often used words and roots, and then thoroughly mastered the meaning of syllables used in combinations, such as in synarthrosis-syn- meaning together, and arthro- meaning joint, or an immovable joint.

               Since mid-May, the three have been doing their work side by side with sighted stenographers and are more than holding their own.

               "We show them no favors and expect the same work from them as we do from persons who can see," Miss Williamson said. That may sound a little testy at first brush, but according to Black- a native of Boise, Idaho, who worked his way through the University of Oregon despite his blindness--"that's just the way we want it."

               "We don't want 'busy work' like they give school children to keep them out of trouble" he said.  "We want a purposeful job and the opportunity to work and live in society without special considerations."

 

Tech tip from Curtis Chong

 

From the aggregator: Pretty much everyone in the federation family knows of Curtis Chong. A recognized expert and long-time teacher of access technology. Curtis has been active in the federation since the early 1970s. But as you can read he still loves his toys.

Greetings and felicitations:

I have been using a Logitech K380 Multi-Device Bluetooth keyboard (about $39.95) with an iPhone. This little guy, which runs on two triple-A batteries, supports a Bluetooth connection on up to three different devices—such as an iPhone, iPad, and another iPhone<smile>. On the iPhone, there is a Phone app which we use to make telephone calls. I have discovered that when you go into the Phone app and open the Keypad, you can use the keyboard to enter in the phone number you want to dial; once dialed, you simply press Enter to establish the connection. Even better, once the connection has been established, you can continue to use the keyboard to enter numbers such as the numeric commands you might want to enter while reading a newspaper with NFB-NEWSLINE®, including the Star and Pound commands.

 

From the aggregator: Just a couple more quick notes for the Director of our youth services and the confidence camp kiddos: What did the science book say to the math book? “You’ve got problems.”

A guy goes to his dr and says, Dr, Dr! “I broke my arm in 12 places” Doc says, “Well then stop going to those places”

 

That’s It for This Edition of the Blind Coloradan.

Forward, always Forward!