October Blind Coloradan

 

Blind Coloradan Blog

October 13, 2023

Writer, aggregator: Kevan Worley

Contributors: Dan Burke & Erin Daley. With assistance from Lisa Bonderson.

National Federation of the Blind of Colorado, President, Jessica Beecham

jbbeecham@gmail.com

From the aggregator: Here we are in mid-October in the middle of autumn my favorite season. As summer faded into fall we had another highly successful NFBCO 6 Dot Dash 5k and family festival. On September 30 many of us met for dinner and wine tasting at our traditional Spero Winery experience.

Then we moved into Blindness Achievement Equality Month. The centerpiece of which is White Cane Awareness Day. Many chapters were able to get county commissions and city councils to remind citizens of the importance of the long white can through proclamations. Kudos to the Aurora Chapter and the Colorado Springs Chapter. The Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind always holds a celebration for their students, faculty, and families at Acacia Park in downtown Colorado Springs.

For the last several years the last weekend of October has featured our NFBCO state convention. Your aggregator has seen the agenda for the convention coming together. At this writing, I see a post on Colorado Talk from convention coordinator Lisa Bonderson that our room block is entirely sold out. If you still need a room? No promises. But, please contact Lisa and she will try to help. lbonderson@cocenter.org By the time we post this blog I imagine the full convention agenda will be on the website for all the world to see. https://nfbco.org/affiliate-convention The theme of our 2023 convention is science. On Thursday morning October 26^th, we will welcome approximately 70 students of all ages. They will be experiencing a number of science sessions. The fact is with qualified professional teachers, blind role models, accessible tools, imagination, and a belief in the capacity of people who are blind, students can do science. This science fair has been made possible in part by the South Metro Chamber of Commerce. We thank them. Our engagement with the South Metro Chamber of Commerce as part of their Shark Tank event was due to the work of Nate Hecker, Cody Bair, and Andrea Fowler. Thanks to the Wild West and Mile High Chapters for that collaboration.

There is much more to say about the upcoming state convention and we will say it in the blog below. Note: Many of our annual special interest divisions will hold their annual business meetings over Zoom prior to our in-person convention. Many of those meetings will be featured in this blog. So, be sure to attend the division meeting of your choice such as parents, guide dogs, sports and rec. Check the website to see if there are division meetings not highlighted in the Blind Coloradan. I am fond of quoting the late Dr. Kenneth Jernigan. He would say “This will be a wopdollinger of a convention.” Note: Wednesday, October 11^th marks the 25^th anniversary of the death of our great civil rights leader Dr. Kenneth Jernigan. Have you ever read Blindness, Handicap, or Characteristic? Have you ever read The Nature of Independence? These two wonderful presentations are part of the philosophical canon of the National Federation of the Blind. Some of the most impactful reading I have ever done has been the writings of Dr. Kenneth Jernigan. I recommend it to you. I also recommend A Walk in the Fall and attendance at your upcoming NFBCO state convention.

 

A Walk in the Fall

By Dan Burke

From the aggregator: Many people may not know that before moving back to Colorado to provide leadership at The Colorado Center for the Blind Dan Burke served as president of NFB Montana. He also served for a time on our National Board of Directors. There are those who think that blindness is a tragedy that keeps us on our couches and led around by others. This is simply not the case. Here is a vignette from Dan about the joy he gets from his autumn walks.

It’s 75 degrees on this early October afternoon as I turn east onto the Highline Canal Trail with our brindle herding mix, Cleo. the tip of my white cane and my feet leave the hard surface and move onto the soft, fine gravel of the path. It’s a little warm for this time of year, but as I leave the Sunday traffic sounds of one of the busiest of the Metro area’s thoroughfares behind, the sounds along the now almost-always empty canal confirm the season. Midday in this heat, there are no bird sounds. But the crickets are active in the warmth, taking advantage of the last days before winter - the nights have gotten too chilly for them to creak their racket out all night now. I even hear one last, determined cicada.

Julie and I live in the south suburbs, surrounded by houses much like ours in all directions, hemmed in by busy primary and secondary roadways. There is little wild space, though plenty of good parks. This has been an adjustment for me in the ten years since I moved from Missoula, Montana, where a short walk to the back of the campus where I worked put me at the base of Mt. Sentinel and a bracing hike halfway up the mountain to the concrete “M” for Montana. There the entire valley opened before me to the west and the Bitterroot Range on the far side. And that was just a quick walk during the lunch break. For something a little more dedicated, a five-minute drive with a friend to the trailhead leading into the Rattlesnake Wilderness Area was a great evening or Sunday morning’s light adventure. So, the Highline Canal Trail has served as my outlet all these years. I can get away from pavement and concrete and walk as long as I can on the gravel path. It’s one of the real gifts of good urban planning. The dog gets to extend to the end of her leash and sniff till her snout aches. At other times of the year, I hear all kinds of birds - Northern Flickers trill and hammer in the spring, the now all-too-rare Mourning Dove nests somewhere along here each year. If you are out early enough on a spring morning, you can catch the call of a meadowlark across Millikin Park, at the edge of one of the small horse pastures or, more likely, in the fields holding cell towers. It’s a tiny bit wild, just what I crave – a place where the metallic tapping of my NFB cane on hard surfaces gives way to a soft, almost sandy bounce. No, it’s not steep or rough with roots and rocks, and the sound of the suburbs is always present, but it is a break to tap softly, trailing the vegetation on the right to be sure bicyclists going either direction have ample room to pass us. This afternoon, I encountered only three or four, and no other pedestrians. Too warm maybe, or too close to the start of the Broncos game.

The canal also conjures my childhood days in Loveland, where our home was at the northern limit of the town back in the ‘60s. As kids, my brothers and friends and I spent all the time we could get at the “ditch,” which was a canal like this one, lined by huge cottonwoods, its summer-running water bound for irrigated fields to the east. We built forts there, most memorably between two lightning-struck cottonwoods that went down and crossed over one another, and sometimes we’d find a glorious rope swing in one of the standing trees and spent untold hours trying to outdo one another in gymnastic feats out over the water.

As you might guess, walking here is one of the important ways my mind settles itself.

This is what I’m thinking about:  Summer birds are largely gone now. Two weeks ago as Julie and I walked down the quiet of South Bemis Street on our way to the Colorado Center for the Blind in the mornings, passing between Sterne Park and Memorial Park (better known as Rose Park (we heard all kinds of redwing blackbirds in the trees. We heard them for several days on the walk, and on the north side of the Center out by the garden. Blackbirds are noisy in the spring when they first return and are getting busy with nesting but are largely silent the rest of the summer. That week, though, they were flocking up to start their migration south for the winter. The next week, they were gone.

Two days ago on my lunch break, while working from home, I took Cleo for a short walk around the neighborhood. It was the first day of fall and it didn’t get above 60 degrees. Chickadees, blue jays, magpies, and crows stay all winter, and they are calling from the trees. But it was the smell that grabbed my attention - the cool scent of cool earth and grass. It’s a smell you don’t get all summer long, sharper, yet fresh and cool.

Today though, the air is hot and dry. The fall smell of cool earth will return, but not this afternoon. I walk the threequarters a mile to South Clarkson Street, the dog wearing out her nose along the fruitful fringes of the trail, stopping in her tracks when she catches the scent of something truly interesting, and then we turn again onto the sidewalk where the metallic tap of my cane tip returns, and weave our way home through suburban streets.

 

Making the Most of Autumn a Blind Parents Prospective

By Maureen Nietfeld

Before I had a kid of my own, I wondered how blind parents did so many things. One particular thing I was always curious about was how blind parents navigate fun activities outdoors such as festivals, pumpkin patches, holiday events, etc. In Colorado, I have the opportunity to be a part of the blind parents division where a wealth of information, tips and tricks, and fabulous ideas are shared. On one particular community call, the discussion topic was how blind parents navigate these kinds of events. One parent shared that what they do is call ahead and a guide can be provided to assist with these types of events. This fall season, a fellow blind parent invited us to attend Cider Days. This is an annual event in Lakewood, Colorado, that celebrates the community with the highlight of fall and apple cider!!! This event is attended by about 8,000 people and is gigantic!!! It’s complete with tons of booths selling a variety of things, an old schoolhouse complete with demonstrations of quilting and spooling thread, donkey rides, a hay bale maze, face painting, and so much more! My friend also let me know that they had arranged a guide to assist us through the event. Logan is 5 and though we have traversed many of these crazy events, we have never experienced them with a guide. We had the most amazing day!!! Our guide was open and receptive to all of our needs, showed us around the event following a map so we could quickly get to everything we wanted to visit, and all of the kids with us had a great time!! I love that being a part of the blind parents division, we can share with each other all of the ways that we can parent with independence and confidence and that our families get to enjoy everything that our community has to offer.

 

Remembering Tom Anderson

By Julie Deden

In a year already burdened with loss, we lost our beloved Tom Anderson on August 29 to COVID. Tom was only 71 and had recently ended treatment for his second bout with cancer.

Dan and I went to Overland Park, Kansas for Tom’s Celebration of Life on Sept.30. It was wonderful to see Linda and give her a hug and to see many of our NFB of Kansas family, including several CCB graduates.  It was an informal afternoon of some of Tom’s favorite hymns led by Linda, and lots of great stories about Tom.

Tom moved to Colorado from Kansas in December of 1987 to work as the first Braille instructor and residential manager at the Colorado Center for the Blind. Tom and his wife Linda had been members of the National Federation of the Blind for more than a decade by then. In fact, they met at a Federation meeting in the 1970s. tom moved from his native Minnesota to Kansas after they married, where they made their home until coming to Colorado. So, it was a big move and a major commitment for both of them to become part of this new NFB training center.

In January of 1988, the center opened its doors to five energetic students. Tom and Linda lived in the same apartment building as the students, and he was the one who got the students going first thing in the morning. If they were not up and ready to go, he knocked at their doors and even played reveille on his trumpet! For many years, Tom led staff and students in calisthenics each day.  He was initially very nervous about all the challenging recreational activities, such as rock climbing. But he told us all that he knew this was part of the job and he better take this challenge on! Tom became a “rock climber extraordinaire.” He ended up loving climbing and shot up every rock with speed and agility.

In his 27 years of work with us in Colorado, Tom touched hundreds of lives. Tom had a   zest for everything that he did in his life. He never did anything halfway but jumped into things with both feet and a strong commitment. Tom was devoted to his wife Linda, his church, the National Federation of the Blind, and his job at the Colorado Center for the Blind.

His laugh was unforgettable, exuding warmth and authenticity. Tom’s students had fun in Braille class. I often heard laughter as I walked down the hall towards his room. Anya was Tom’s student in 2012. She was one of our international students that year, and so was still learning English and building her vocabulary. She would ask Tom what a word meant and he would say, “We have a dictionary over in the corner, you can look up the word.” When Anya protested that everybody looked things up on the Internet, he answered, “This is Braille class!”

That is the sign of a great teacher. Tom had a knack for teaching several students at once. He always knew just right where they were in their book. He used encouragement and competition to get his students to learn!

Tom’s memory was phenomenal. He remembered every student and when they were at the center. He knew just what year various banquet speeches were given and remembered all of the stories he heard from us over the many years.

Tom frequently ran our philosophy classes on blindness. He talked about his upbringing and his time at the Minnesota School for the Blind and the prevalent low expectations for him and his fellow blind students. Tom exemplified our NFB philosophy and was well-grounded in the history of the National Federation of the Blind.  He knew just what speeches and articles to share with our leaders when discussing various topics.   

Tom built special bonds with his students. He accepted everyone and never judged anyone. He and Linda enjoyed having students over and Linda was often thought of as the CCB mom.

We often talk about our NFB and our center family. This caring and closeness is what truly works in our training! As I mentioned, Tom had a strong faith and was always a leader in his church. He was honored to perform the marriage ceremonies for several staff members and former students.

Tom had a great talent in music. His voice was beautiful. Music was a centerpiece for Tom and Linda in their worship.   Linda played the piano and they loved singing together for their church and other occasions.  So since Tom had this talent, he was always in charge of coordinating Christmas caroling. One year we had little talent in the singing department. After returning back from a singing trip at a nursing home, Tom told me that we dispelled the stereotype that blind people are musical! He lamented that they probably would not want to have us back. 

Tom retired from his position at the center in the spring of 2015. But he did not retire in his life. Tom moved back to Kansas and continued to be a leader in the National Federation of the Blind. On a national level, he served as president of the NFB in Communities of Faith for many years. Back in Kansas, Tom immediately got to work with the NFB of Kansas. He was elected to the state board and took a major role in organizing BELL camps. He chaired the State Rehabilitation Counsel in Kansas. He was so excited when he worked to get regulations changed so that clients would be provided with a stipend and receive residential services when attending training centers like CCB. Tom was a leader, a mentor, and a friend. He was passionate and dedicated his life to making a difference for all of us. Tom, we will pledge to carry your memory on and to carry your spirit of love for life with us always!

From Facebook, here is a picture of our dear brother Tom with a comment from Tom’s brother Toni Donarski. Posted at the time of Toms's retirement from The Colorado Center for the Blind.

 

”This is my brother Miles Tom Anderson aka Tom retirement! I wish to remember this photo. He lived his life with gusto! He loved his work and all the people who he crossed paths with. whether it was a friend, family, students, and yes even strangers. He carried on the tradition in our family of "Never meeting a stranger."

 

Urgent! Urgent! Calling all door prizes and auction items!

This means we are calling on you! Obviously, the door prizes and auction will not heed the call all by themselves. One of the ways we have fun and raise money for the important work we do is our annual auction at state convention. We already have a few deluxe and delicious items that have been donated by divisions and chapters. But we only have a few. Donations of hotel stays, gift baskets, baked goods, arts & crafts, gift certificates for restaurants, and theatre experiences are welcome and appreciated. If you need more information contact me, kevan@nfbco.org phone 303-929-2369. We can provide you with an auction donation letter highlighting our tax exemption for you to use when reaching out to your favorite merchants.

We also need door prizes for convention. This past year our dear friend, our brother Johnny Deden passed away. He provided support and leadership for so much of our work. He took great joy in giving out door prizes at our convention. “Johhny, tell them what they’ve won”. Let's honor John and continue his legacy of joy and giving. Please reach out to ReNae Anderson mother27dragon@gmail.com. Gift certificates and gift cards are always welcomed door prizes. Of course, cash is always king. Please bring your door prizes to convention.

 

Annual blind parents division meeting to be held prior to state convention

Come join the Blind Parents division of Colorado on Tuesday, October 17th, 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. Mountain time. We are so excited to have Terri Rupp as our guest speaker for the evening!! Terri Rupp is the immediate past president of the Nevada affiliate, ultra-athlete, and super mom of 2 awesome kids. Her daughter is a blind child And her son is not. Terry is a wealth of parenting information and we are especially looking forward to her talking to us about the importance of nutrition and the balance of screen time. She will be with us for one hour and is looking forward to all of our questions. You are not going to want to miss this dynamic presentation.

After her presentation, we will brainstorm for our upcoming year as well as discuss the business of the division and hold elections. We welcome all parents, family members, allies, and everyone who wants to be a part of this active and fun division. https://us06web.zoom.us/j/7206208007

 

It's dog time!

Greetings members and friends of The Colorado Association of Guide Dog Users. We will hold our annual meeting prior to the convention. Join us at 1:00 p.m., Sunday, October 22 over Zoom. We will be electing our leadership and discussing the year ahead. Remember our board member and Guiding Eyes trainer extraordinaire Melissa Smith will be facilitating a guide dog session on Saturday afternoon the 29^th at the convention. You will want to attend both of these events. Join us on Sunday the 22^nd over Zoom. And please spread the word. https://zoom.us/j/7206208007

 

We received the following important information from Melissa Allman. We are happy to pass it along.

On September 22, The Seeing Eye presented a webinar about air travel with a guide dog. The webinar was recorded and is now available to the general public through The Seeing Eye website on our Rights.  To access the webinar directly, go to: https://secure2.convio.net/seeing/media/airtravelwebinar092223.mp4?_ga=2.75193426.1193709505.1696881204-1987979641.1691695972

Also, a reminder that The Seeing Eye is conducting an online survey to learn more about the public access barriers guide dog users are facing as they go about their daily lives working their dogs and the impact those barriers are having on guide dog teams.

If you are currently working with a dog, or waiting for your next dog, and live in the U.S. or Canada (or travel there with your guide dog), please complete the survey regardless of where your dog was trained.

Also, if you are blind or low vision and have decided not to work with a dog, you have the opportunity to tell us why. The information you provide will help us improve our advocacy and education efforts.

Thank you for taking the time to share this information with us. The survey will close at midnight on November 30, 2023. Please go to the below link to access the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SeeingEye_Access

Thank you,

Melissa Allman

Senior Specialist, Advocacy and Government Relations The Seeing Eye

 

NFBCO Sports and Rec Division is on the move!

Join the Sports and Recreation Division of Colorado on Monday evening October 16th from 6 PM until 7:30 p.m. Mountain time. We are looking forward to hearing from our guest speaker Dalton Brand about nutrition and some tips about eating well on a budget. Our other special guest speaker for the evening is Brittany Savage. She will walk us down her journey of weight loss. This is an inspiring and motivating story that you won’t want to miss. We will also be sharing with you what Sports and Recreation has in store for you for the Thursday afternoon activity at this year’s state convention!! During the evening we are also looking forward to everyone sharing what they love to do for staying active so that we can share ideas with one another. Will be brainstorming our upcoming year, discussing business for the division, and having elections. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88959026727?pwd=aG1rZDd0MGI0Ly9oYzlJYVFDWjBldz09

But wait! There’s more! NFBCO state convention activities sponsored by our sports and rec division Thursday afternoon October 26 at 1 pm

CHALLENGING YOUR MIND BODY AND SPIRIT

Join us for a fun and active afternoon. Connect your mind and body through movement, a sound experience, mindfulness and meditation, and self-defense. We are excited about the afternoon’s activities, which include a 45-minute session of yoga and a sound experience with Julie Hill.

Enjoy a fully accessible yoga experience with a certified Yogi. She will also guide you through a special savasana that includes a sound experience. She will be playing singing bowls that represent each of the chakras.

Learn basic self-defense from a black belt in taekwondo. This interactive 45-minute session will teach you some techniques around basic self-defense. Learn how to get out of holds and gain strategies to feel safer and more confident in your daily environment.

Take part in a mindfulness and meditation session. This 45-minute experience will discuss some basic benefits of essential oils such as lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus. Learn mindfulness techniques to help gain strategies around feeling balanced and calm throughout your day. Then experience a guided meditation to maximize relaxation. Please bring a yoga mat or beach towel with you for these activities.

At 1:15 gather group to explain the activities and split up into three groups and they are as follows.

Group 1 Yoga from 1:30 until 2:15

Self-defense from 2:30 until 3:15

Mindfulness and meditation from 3:30 until 4:15

Group 2

Self-defense from 1:30 until 2:15

Mindfulness and meditation from 2:30 until 3:15

Yoga from 3:30 until 4:15

Group 3

Mindfulness and meditation from 1:30 until 2:15

Yoga from 2:30 until 3:15

Self-defense from 3:30 until 4:15

Teachers of each class include Julie Hill for yoga and the sound experience, Chaz Davis and Ryan Carsey for self-defense, and mindfulness and meditation will feature Holli Benkelman.

But wait! There is more! Later that day, the first big day of our dynamic convention.

Dining around Park Meadows

Let’s hit the town and check out the Park Meadows restaurants. On Thursday evening, October 26th, choose from one of the listed locations below and enjoy trying a new restaurant while having dinner with your fellow federationists. Here’s how it works!!

Choose the spot you would like to go to and contact the Federation leader with that group. Please RSVP and make sure you give your name and phone number. Note the dinner time that the group will be meeting because they are slightly different from one another. Group leaders need all RSVPs by Monday, October 23rd, no later than 1 p.m. Reservations will be made for the group, and everybody will meet there to enjoy a meal and socialize. Everyone is responsible for their own check and their own tip. We hope everyone will have a great night, with great friends, make new friends, have great conversations, and enjoy a night out. Please note that other than the hotel’s restaurant each location will need to be accessed by an Uber or Lyft. None of them are within walking distance. The group leader can coordinate a plan for people to meet up and share Ubers if they wish. 

Earl’s Kitchen + Bar Restaurant

Leaders are Gary Van Dorn and Ryan Carsey

Reservation time 6:30 p.m.

Text Gary Van Dorn at (303) 863-1150 to RSVP.

Earl’s Park Meadows

https://www.earls.ca/locations/park-meadows/menu/

8335 Park Meadows Center Drive, Lone Tree, CO 80124

 

Cranelli's Italian Restaurant

Leaders are Julie Deden and Dan Burke

Reservation time is 6:30 p.m.

Text Dan Burke at (406) 546-8546 to RSVP.

https://cranellis.com/menu/cranellis

10047 Park Meadows Dr., Unit F, Lone Tree, CO 80124

 

Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant

Leaders are the Colorado Association of Blind Students

Reservation time is 7 p.m.

Text Ellie White at (720) 624-9979 to RSVP.

https://riograndemexican.com/menus/dine-in-menu-lone-tree/

9535 Park Meadows Drive, Lone Tree, CO 80124

 

Clock Tower Grill Restaurant

Leaders are Paul Sandoval and Nate Hecker

Reservation time is 6:40 5 p.m.

Text Nate Hecker at (605) 610-7959 to RSVP.

https://clocktowergrill.net/

9360 Station Street, Suite 100, Lone Tree, CO 80124

 

Sonoma'z Wine Bar is the restaurant inside the hotel.

Group leaders are the Blind Parents Division of the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado.

Reservation time is 5:30 p.m. Immediately after this dinner, the Blind Parents Division will host a pool party at the hotel pool. All are welcome.

Text Maureen Nietfeld at 215-353-7218 to RSVP.

Sonoma'z Wine Bar and Grill

No menu available aside from this information:

“Enhance your dining experience with the perfect complement to our Colorado-inspired dinner dishes—a glass of exquisite California wine. Whether you're savoring a comforting bowl of hearty soup, indulging in gourmet tacos bursting with flavors, or treating yourself to a succulent steak, the addition of a fine wine will elevate your meal to new heights. Our carefully curated wine selection offers a range of varietals and vintages that have been thoughtfully chosen to harmonize with our delectable culinary offerings. The marriage of California's renowned wines with our flavorful Colorado-inspired cuisine creates a memorable and delightful combination that will leave you grateful for choosing us as your dining destination.”  

 

A Call for Resolutions

From the aggregator: Our Colorado Talk listserv readers have probably seen a note from Dan Burke. Dan and Curtis Chong chair our resolutions committee. Resolutions are considered by the committee on Thursday morning of the convention. If voted do pass by the committee the resolution is sent to the floor of the convention. The resolution can be debated and voted upon by the members of the organization present. If passed the resolution becomes policy and guides the work of the organization. If you think there is an item requiring this affiliate's effort please consider drafting a resolution. If you need help with the drafting or process please contact Dan Burke dburke@cocenter.org. Due by Friday, October 20. Many of the successes we have made on behalf of blind people have been a result of resolutions brought by our members. Voting rights, parents rights, pedestrian safety, increased accessibility on state websites, a dedicated unit for blindness under the division of vocational rehabilitation, and much much more!

 

That’s all she wrote for our Autumn blog. Actually, we have much more but we are out of space. So, please read our Thanksgiving blog. See you at convention!

Forward, always forward!

August Blind Coloradan

 

 

Blind Coloradan Blog

August 23, 2023

Writer, aggregator: Kevan Worley

Contributors: Dan Burke & Erin Daley. With assistance from Lisa Bonderson.

National Federation of the Blind of Colorado, President, Jessica Beecham

jbbeecham@gmail.com

 

From the aggregator: This issue is jam-packed. I am particularly pleased by what I would call our cover story or maybe cover stories. Read on and enjoy Erin Daley's profile of Maureen Nietfeld. You will also enjoy our piece about Gary Van Dorn. This reminder, dear readers, we love your ideas, articles, and pictures. There is so much happening in our affiliate. Colorado Center for the Blind summer youth programs are complete. Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind is back in session. Your National Federation of the Blind of Colorado has activities of plenty across the state to keep every member as busy as you want to be. Here I want to give special mention to our Greeley Chapter. Saturday, August 12, they held a low vision and blindness resource fair. They are doing the important work of building the National Federation of the Blind by increasing awareness of and access to products and services that can bring greater independence to blind and low-vision people of Weld County and throughout Northeast Colorado. Greeley has thrown down the challenge. They encourage other chapters to organize blindness and low vision resource fairs in their area. And this reminds your aggregator, me, have you started making plans for Blind Equality Achievement Month? A resource fair might be a good October project to consider.

Two of my favorite days of the year are just around the corner. I love to celebrate the independence and opportunity we think about on White Cane Awareness Day, October 15. This year it falls on a Sunday. Some chapters ask their local county commission or city council to offer a resolution commemorating the importance of white cane awareness day. Let’s call it the centerpiece of Blind Equality Achievement Month. Note this year our friend at the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind will hold a White Cane Awareness Day celebration on Friday, October 13^th. Join us at Acacia Park for the celebration. My second favorite day just ahead is Labor Day. Over the years I have written columns in this blog about the importance of Labor Day to people who are blind. Since our inception. We have worked with determination to ensure workers' rights, fair treatment, and equal pay for people who are blind or disabled. Over the years we have been the leading organization in these efforts. A generation ago we worked to unionize several entities, that were then referred to as sheltered workshops. We have worked tirelessly in Congress, state assemblies, and in other forums to bring about change. At times we have even taken to the streets with picket signs and voices of protest. In the early 1960s, unable to make changes at the state-operated sheltered shop in Denver we, the organized blind movement “shut it down!”  Affiliate pioneers Diane and Ray McGeorge led that effort. Back then it was a small but mighty band of Colorado federationists who did the heavy lifting. They would not accept 2^nd class treatment. Although we have not yet secured a complete victory. Labor Day is a great day to contemplate the gains we have made over the past three generations. Rare is the blind person who continues to be subjugated and demoralized by non-profit and for-profit corporations. We have much more work to do in the area of labor and employment and we will continue our work to lower the unreasonably high rate of unemployment and underemployment among this nation's blind. And we will continue to work to ensure equal wages and equal treatment in the workplace.

So, happy Labor Day! And happy White Cane Awareness Day!

 

The Dash is Coming! Don’t Delay! Please Register Now!

One of the most important fundraisers we do is the NFBCO 6 Dot Dash 5k. More than a run/walk/roll 5k. The 6 Dot Dash has become a community festival. Many of our dear readers already know about the blind beer tasting, the fun and games for the kids, the food trucks, tours of our great training center, exhibits, puppy raiser kissing booth, and our wonderful band, Stray Dog. Please register and please encourage others to join us for our special, joyful, and spectacular community festival. https://runsignup.com/Race/CO/Littleton/6DotDash3

Saturday, September 9, packet pickup opens at 8 am. The race starts at 9 am. There will also be a kid fun run. Colorado Center for the Blind 2233 W Shepperd Ave., Littleton. If you have questions email jbbeecham@gmail.com.

 

A Busy Weekend for the Federation in Colorado

On Friday evening August 25^th, NFBCO and Great Divide Brewing invite you and your friends to the “Braille Ale” release party at Perry’s Pizzeria and Taphouse 1268 Interquest Pkwy #100 Colorado Springs. $1 from every pint sold will be donated to the NFBCO braille literacy and scholarship efforts. This is part of the Great Divide’s series of Charity Pint Nights. The Great Divide will also have Braille Amber Ale at our NFBCO 6 Dot Dash 5k. If you and your buddies are on the front range join us on Friday the 25^th from 5 pm until, whenever for the food and festivities. There will be surprises of plenty. You will also be able to register for the dash!

 

Kickball Potluck Picnic Playday

By Tim Keenan

From the aggregator: Tim Keenan is an active member of our Mile High Chapter, and you can also find him organizing activities with our Wild West Chapter. Here is what he says about Saturday’s extravaganza. (your aggregator thinks someone should bring a rope for tug a war)

When: Saturday, August 26

Where: Eisenhower Park, 4300 E Dartmouth Ave, Denver

Kickball: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Picnic: Noon-4 p.m.

Kickball: Have you ever played beep kickball? Well, neither have we!

Starting at 10:00, we’ll be hosting pickup kickball games that are open to all.

Want to play? Just tell a team captain, and each captain will pick their team to play in a kickball battle for bragging rights of the highest order.

The amount of people who are interested will determine how many games/teams we have.

Picnic: The festivities start at noon. The Mile High Chapter is graciously providing the meat; the rest will be a potluck, with Colorado Federationists bringing scrumptious sides and everything else a picnic needs.

Restrooms: There are restrooms at the park. There are also restrooms in the nearby rec center, but it closes at 1 p.m.

Activities: Aside from hanging with new friends and old, you’re welcome to bring games or any fun group outdoor activity.

What To Bring: We’ve created a Signup Genius, which allows everyone to sign up to bring whatever you can that’s synonymous with a picnic: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F45A4AA28A2F5C34-kickball

This promises to be a day of competition and comradery long remembered – one way or the other!

 

Invitation from NFBCO Aurora Chapter

We received the following from Dale Holden, President Aurora Chapter

Greetings and enjoy the heat. The Aurora Chapter National Federation of the Blind of Colorado will meet August 26, 2023, from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. This meeting will be in person at the Heather Gardens Clubhouse in the mountain view room on the second floor. The address is 2888 S. Heather Gardens Way, Aurora, CO 80014. And the meeting will also be on Zoom. https://zoom.us/j/99119564065?pwd=dXlabzlFSE5jOHdJSWlFdTAzMGQzQT09

 

Dash Registration Celebration

Our colleague Nate Hecker says we are having a registration celebration on Thursday, August 31st at the Alley Bar and Grill 2420 Main St., Littleton, CO 80120. Join us from 5 to 7 p.m. There will be dash team members there to register anyone who has not already registered for the September 9 NFBCO 6 Dot Dash 5k.

 

Gary Van Dorn honored with Minoru Yasui Community Volunteer Award

The Minoru Yasui Community Volunteer Award is presented ten months of each year since 1977 to an unsung volunteer hero in the Denver area for their selfless service to the community.  Gary is the third Federationist to receive the award; Elsie Cowan, in 1977, the first year of the award, Julie Hunter in 2021, and Gary in 2023.

Minoru Yasui, October 19, 1916 – November 12, 1986) was an American lawyer from Oregon. Born in Hood River, Oregon, he earned both an undergraduate degree and his law degree at the University of Oregon. He was one of the few Japanese Americans after the bombing of Pearl Harbor who fought laws that directly targeted Japanese Americans or Japanese immigrants. His case was the first case to test the constitutionality of the curfews targeted at minority groups.

Yasui's case made its way to the United States Supreme Court, where his conviction for breaking curfew was affirmed. After internment during most of World War II, he moved to Denver, Colorado in 1944. In Denver, Yasui married and became a local leader in civic affairs, including leadership positions in the Japanese American Citizens League. In 1986, his criminal conviction was overturned by the federal court.

In 2015, Senator Mazie K. Hirono nominated Yasui for the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award of the United States. On November 16, 2015, President Barack Obama announced that Yasui would receive a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom.

 

From the aggregator: It gives me particular pleasure to write this article. Gary Van Dorn has been a leader in the federation for many many years. He has taken on many roles. Whenever we have asked, he has answered. Even when he is not asked Gary represents. Gary is always in the trenches. He exemplifies the heart and the hard work of a federation leader. It was an honor for a number of us to stand at the mock-up of the 16^th Street Mall landscaping to witness Gary receiving the prestigious award from the Minoru Yasui award committee. Standing at the mock-up was particularly appropriate. Gary has been one of our principal advocates to make sure the new 16^th Street Mall
would be accessible for cane and dog users. The award also came with a $2,000 check. Gary, as is his manner, graciously donated those dollars to NFBCO for our Preservation of Historical Documents Project. As readers of this blog know, this effort is led by the one and only, Blind History Lady, Peggy Chong. Gary has contributed countless hours to our equal access to affordable transportation efforts. Gary organized our Mile High Chapter. He has co-chaired our convention auction for many years. Sometimes the work Gary does is tedious. Most of us would not want to sit in RTD board meetings for hours on end representing us. Gary has been willing to shoulder that often-monotonous responsibility. But of greatest importance to all of us is that he is a member of our family. He is part of our tribe. He is one of our bright shining stars lighting the way to a brighter future. And he does it with charm, kindness, wit, and grace. It's always nice to get a hug from Gary the Bear. 

The wording on the plaque follows:

A Salute to the Spirit of the People. A program of Spark the Change Colorado. Minoru Yasui Community Volunteer Award Presented to Gary Van Dorn August 2023. In Recognition of Outstanding Volunteer Commitment and Service.

 

Are you ready for some football?   

We received the following from dyed-in-the-wool Bronco fan Lisa Bonderson on behalf of our Colorado Association of Blind Students.

The 2023 NFL is right around the corner. You have been kind enough to participate in the Colorado Association of Blind Students football pool fundraiser and they are inviting you to do so again. For all the rules contact Lisa, lbonderson@cocenter.org. Those who make payment before 5 p.m. on Thursday, September 7 will be included for the season. Do please join us again. It’s a fun little pool and helps make the season interesting.

 

Everything That Sparkles: A Profile of Maureen Nietfeld

By Erin Daley

From the aggregator: I was more than pleased to receive this heartwarming profile of our affiliate's second vice president. Written by Erin Daley. Those of you who know Maureen will surely agree with me that this profile captures the essence of our dear friend and colleague. Those who do not know Maureen well will want to get to know her better after reading this article. Here is what Erin has to say.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that you would have to be living under a rock in Colorado to have not heard of Maureen Nietfeld – or at least her infectious laugh that follows wherever she goes. Maureen has worn many hats (and still does) since she became part of the Colorado family in 2009. Her journey to and with the National Federation of the Blind is just as unique as she is, and along the way she has changed the lives of countless students, friends, and Federation members.

Maureen grew up outside of Philadelphia, PA., graduating from Neshaminy High School. She lost her vision at 17, but that was not her first health struggle. Maureen has Von Hippel Lindau (VHL) Syndrome, a rare genetic condition that predisposes her to cysts and tumors in multiple organ systems. While the average age for the onset of VHL symptoms is 26, Maureen was only four years old when her first tumors were found and she received her first surgery. To date, she has had 36 surgeries, including a kidney transplant, multiple brain and spinal surgeries, as well as various eye, bladder, and vascular surgeries. Maureen’s grandmother, mother, and a brother were also diagnosed with this disease, with her grandmother passing away at 38 and her mother recently passing away in 2023 at the age of 69 as a result of this illness.

When Maureen first went blind, she was invited to an NFB meeting but declined due to an instructor telling her the organization was filled with radical types, and not in a good way, more of a weird group of loud blind people that shouldn’t be associated with. However, at 27, she was recovering from her kidney transplant and unable to work as a massage therapist during her recovery. Going through a divorce and moving back home with her parents, she saw her friends and family moving into different phases of their lives and had the same desire. She called VR to get some technology training and was instead encouraged to attend a training center. She looked into a few, but after speaking with Julie Deden, she knew the Colorado Center for the Blind was where she needed to be.

Maureen attended the CCB, joined the NFB, and accepted the position of Residential Manager at the CCB in 2009 – Maureen has never taken the slow lane while navigating through life. She graduated on November 20th, 2009, and, considering her future tenure as a home management instructor and coordinator, it will surprise no one that her delicious grad meal was one of the greats: BBQ pulled chicken, parmesan roasted potatoes, feta Craisin salad, and peanut butter pie. Grad meals are also one of her favorite things about working at the Center – but not for the food. Getting to see each student receive their bell and stand in a room full of people each taking turns to share what they love most about them is a truly special experience. She tries not to take these moments for granted and appreciates how unique this experience is for every student.

Maureen not only found a new purpose and vocation through attending the CCB, but she also found love in fellow instructor David Nietfeld. Quiet and confident, David may not live life at the same volume as Maureen, but their dedication to each other and commitment to leading with kindness and integrity are in perfect step. The two married in August 2011, and welcomed baby Logan into the world in August 2018. Maureen, who had been pursuing her degree in Lifestyle Medicine at MSU Denver, left the CCB at this time to focus on raising her son and finishing her degree. But, lest she have too little on her plate, she also served on the CCB Board of Directors at this time as well as worked for Newsline. She completed a four-month internship at the Center for her degree in 2020, and, upon earning her Bachelor’s Degree, returned as Director of Student Services in April 2021.

In her time with the NFB, Maureen has devoted herself to serving where she is needed. She has previously served as the President of Colorado’s Blind Parents and Colorado Sports and Rec divisions, as well as various positions with the Colorado Guide Dog division, the Denver Chapter, the Colorado State Affiliate, and the National Sports and Recreation Division. She is the current second vice-president of the Denver Chapter the Colorado Affiliate, first vice-president of Colorado Sports and Rec, and board member of the Blind Parents. She has also served on the National Scholarship committee and currently serves on the Colorado State Scholarship Committee. She also was a prestigious Jernigan Scholar, winning this scholarship at National Convention in 2017.

While it seems like she would never have a chance to relax, Maureen absolutely loves her nights at home with her boys, David, Logan, and guide dog Riley. Sitting in their backyard on a swing with a Popsicle or making s’mores in their fire pit is the height of happiness. However, she also loves spending time with friends and anything to do with the water. She loves fashion and everything that sparkles. Sequins, glitter, or rhinestones – especially in pink – are a prerequisite for every outfit. She also loves to listen to books and practice yoga.

Maureen is a mentor to many and can’t sit still if she knows there is a problem that needs to be solved. 6 Dot Dash? She’s on it. Event for the Denver Chapter? How can she help? Stores not providing shopper assistants during the pandemic? Let’s get a team together and work out a solution. Her own mentor, Julie Deden, has helped shape her into the generous and indefatigable leader that she is today. Since she was a student, Julie has supported her and invested in her, giving her life-changing opportunities at the Center that now she is able to share with her students, causing a ripple of change that so many of us are lucky to have benefited from whether we know it or not. Maureen found the NFB not to be a weird radical organization, but one full of fun, passionate, and inspiring people looking to change the lives of the blind and participate fully in society. In turn, she became one of those very people, a tireless advocate, especially for her students, who she strives to do better for every day. Her motto, “Do the next right thing,” is not only a mantra encouraging her to be the person she wants to be, but also the kind of person her mother would be proud of. You don’t have to have known her mother to know that Maureen makes her proud everyday through her fearless spirit, generosity with anyone who needs helps, never-ending courage in the face of overwhelming medical and personal struggles, and her incomparable spirit in overcoming it all. Maureen may love everything that sparkles, but she is the one who shines, brightening the lives of the students she has taught, the students she will teach, and anyone who is lucky enough to hear her unmistakable laugh ringing through the halls, reminding us that there is work to be done, but there’s no reason why we shouldn’t enjoy it.

 

There is more than one way to participate in the dash!

By Maryann Migliorelli

From the aggregator: In this fine piece posted to Colorado Talk and circulated by Maryann to many of her friends and family she shows us all how we can promote the dash. Maryann is the president of our Boulder Valley Chapter. She is a woman of many talents. An expert on hospitality, a facilitator of improvisation, a trainer for the state of Colorado, and an advocate for accessible theatrical events. She is a delightful master of ceremonies. She is also an excellent drummer. In other words, this child of New York City can do almost anything. Unfortunately, she won't be at the dash this year but here is what she has to say about it.

Please consider supporting this wonderful event. I am participating in the 6 Dot Dash virtually in September. The money from this fundraiser benefits the National Federation of the Blind of Colorado scholarship program, which assists blind college students in achieving their dreams. When I was in college, I received one of these scholarships which helped me purchase much needed technology and helped me fund my study abroad cruise. This award helped me build my dream of becoming a hospitality professional, which I was able to do for seven years. I have since transferred the skills I gained in hospitality service to my work as a trainer for the State of Colorado's Unemployment Division. Now I'm asking you to help me build new dreams for deserving blind Colorado students by joining me in the race virtually or in person, supporting The Boulder Valley Braille Bounders team, or donating here. Thank you in advance for your support. Together we can build dreams one step at a time. https://runsignup.com/BrailleBounders?fbclid=IwAR1fkmu8EYuR8m8t5F-6fhqQRXVVPnDo4veVTtkhrtiD7ieJY_8mUT2Lb_M

 

U.S. Access Board Issues Final Rule on Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines

From the aggregator: we received the following important notice from our colleague Curtis Chong. It’s the kind of thing our readers may wish to share with organizations and government authorities at the state and local level. This stuff can be a bit technical, but it is one of the guideposts leading us to greater mobility. Curtis, as always thanks for sharing with our readers. Here is what the man forwarded.

U.S. Access Board Issues Final Rule on Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines

August 08, 2023

Pedestrians with disabilities throughout the United States continue to face major challenges in travel because many sidewalks, crosswalks, and other pedestrian facilities are inaccessible. Today, the U.S. Access Board addressed this inequity by issuing a final rule on accessibility guidelines for pedestrian facilities in the public right-of-way.  These guidelines inform federal, state, and local government agencies on how to make their pedestrian facilities, such as sidewalks, crosswalks, shared use paths, and on-street parking, accessible to people with disabilities.

“The Access Board is proud to issue these guidelines as a critical step toward equal access to the public right-of-way for people with disabilities in America,” remarked Executive Director Sachin Pavithran. “Equal access to pedestrian facilities is crucial because pedestrian travel is the principal means of independent transportation for many people with disabilities.”

The guidelines cover the minimum scoping and technical requirements for various spaces and elements in the public right-of-way, such as pedestrian access routes, which ensure the accessibility of sidewalks, including alternate access routes when the main route is closed for maintenance or construction. Other highlights in the requirements include accessible pedestrian signals, curb ramps and blended transitions, detectable warning surfaces, crosswalks at roundabouts, on-street parking, transit stops, and street furniture. In addition, the guidelines address shared use paths, which are designed primarily for use by bicyclists, pedestrians and other authorized motorized and non-motorized users for transportation purposes and recreation purposes.

The public right-of-way accessibility guidelines apply to alterations and additions to existing pedestrian facilities in the public right-of-way as well as newly constructed pedestrian facilities covered under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Architectural Barriers Act (ABA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Title II of the ADA applies to state and local government facilities, and the ABA requires that buildings or facilities that were designed, built, or altered with federal dollars or leased by federal agencies after August 12, 1968 be accessible. Section 504 covers any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance, including those that require compliance with federal regulations established by Department of Housing and Urban Development, the United States Postal Service, and other agencies.

The guidelines will be mandatory after they are adopted for enforcement by the Department of Justice and the Department of Transportation under Title II of the ADA. They will be mandatory for federal rights-of-way once adopted by the General Services Administration, the Department of Defense, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Postal Service under the ABA, which requires that facilities built or leased by the Federal government be accessible to people with disabilities.

The Access Board provides free technical assistance on accessibility guidelines and standards through its helpline at 1-202-272-0080, extension 3, and by email at ta@access-board.gov from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (ET) weekdays. For technical assistance specifically on accessibility of public right-of-way, including sidewalks, street crossings, and other pedestrian used features, email row@access-board.gov.

That’s all she wrote! Forward, always forward!