|
| |
Presidential Reports
The State of the Affiliate 2005
by Sharon Maneki
Fellow Federationists: When describing the Federation in his 2005 banquet
address, entitled, "The Edge of Tomorrow," President Maurer explained:
"We have come together to forge a mighty movement of the blind, united and with
one voice--a movement with ideals, a determined purpose, a bedrock philosophical
foundation, and a membership committed to mutual support."
What is the purpose of our mighty movement? According to Article II of our
Constitution: "The purpose of the National Federation of the Blind is to serve
as a vehicle of collective action by the blind of the nation; to function as a
mechanism through which the blind and interested sighted persons can come
together in local, state, and national meetings to plan and carry out programs
to improve the quality of life for the blind; to provide a means of collective
action for parents of blind children; to promote the vocational, cultural, and
social advancement of the blind; to achieve the integration of the blind into
society on a basis of equality with the sighted and to take any other action
which will improve the overall condition and standard of living of the blind."
Less formally, President Maurer summarized the purpose of the Federation as "the
reshaping of the patterns of thought of our society to recognize the ability
within us, to value the talent we possess, and to welcome the contributions we
have to make."
Let us examine the ways in which we in Maryland have lived up to fulfilling the
purpose of our movement. How well have we performed to bring the promises in our
Constitution to fruition?
Although it has been quite a few years since the heyday of our demonstrations
against NAC (the National Accreditation Council for agencies serving the blind
and visually handicapped), we have not lost the edge in our marching skills and
in taking to the streets when we must. Early this year, when we learned of the
Bush Administration's plans to curtail the mission of the Rehabilitation
Services Administration (RSA), we knew that the time had come once again for us
to take to the streets. As a vehicle for collective action, Marylanders were
pleased to join Federationists from across the nation on May 26, to tell the
Bush Administration that we will not be bullied into submission while it made
its plans to shut down RSA. From all parts of Maryland--from the East, from our
Cumberland and Hagerstown chapters in the West, and from our chapters in
Metropolitan Baltimore and the D.C. suburbs--we marched upon the U. S.
Department of Education in Washington, to tell Secretary of Education Margaret
Spellings and the Director of the Division of Special Education, John Hager,
that their plans for RSA were ill conceived. We carried many colorful signs and
caused such a commotion that the bureaucrats inside the building had to look up
from their workstations to see what we were up to. The media got our message.
One of our more memorable chants was, “if you listen to John Hager, you will
learn to be a beggar."
The battle to save RSA will be an arduous one. In the ‘less spending is better’
mindset that has taken fashion these days, the closing of RSA's regional offices
and the Office for the Blind is appealing: money can be saved. But in the long
run, these economies are pennywise and pound foolish. They will mean less
monitoring of state vocational rehabilitation programs, which means a lower
quality of services, and ultimately will lead to blind clients who will be less
productive in the marketplace. We will continue to demand quality rehabilitation
services through collective action. This means that we will insist on an
effective and properly funded RSA.
Our collective action to improve the quality of rehabilitation services to blind
persons in Maryland has a long and noble history. On January 1, 2005, amid much
fanfare and acclaim, the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) opened the
Office of Blindness and Vision Services (OBVS). Regardless of what DORS might
say, let us not forget that this office was really created only in response to
our call for a separate identifiable rehabilitation agency for the blind in the
2004 session of the Maryland General Assembly. To the extent that it will have
sole responsibility for blind clients, OBVS is separate. But inasmuch as its
budget is ultimately dictated by DORS itself and OBVS will remain as a minor
element in a huge cabinet level department, OBVS is far from identifiable.
Since we were unconvinced of the efficacy of DORS' latest attempt to reinvent
itself we continued our quest to establish a separate identifiable
rehabilitation agency for the blind in the 2005 session of the General Assembly.
To help us make our case that the separate identifiable agency can offer the
most comprehensive specialized services and has a higher rate of success in
rehabilitation, we called on Federationists Tom Owens, Charles Biebl, Michele
Clark, Denise Rush, David Lawrence, Ray Lowder, Ron Metenyi, and Jim Gashel to
testify before the Senate Finance Committee and the House Health and Government
Operations Committee. In keeping with the old adage that legislators need never
hasten to pass judgments on weighty matters, both committees decided to give
OBVS time to improve rehabilitation, rather than vote for the bills we were
supporting.
Despite setbacks and disappointment, our goal remains true: we will establish a
separate rehabilitation agency for the blind in Maryland. As the late Dr.
Kenneth Jernigan was fond of saying, "we may lose a battle, but we never lose
the war because the war is not over until we have prevailed."
|Although Sue Schaffer, the director of OBVS, is an able administrator, we
believe that the jury is still out on the ultimate success of OBVS. During the
past few months, I have had the opportunity to work with Sue Schaffer on several
rehabilitation cases, and I must say that our relationship has been cordial.
Regardless of our views we will continue to work with her and her office to
advocate for blind clients. The challenge is clear! Sue Schaffer and her staff
will have to demonstrate that OBVS can be transformed into an agency with high
expectations for its clients. Despite its low position in a huge department,
OBVS must become a place where each and every client has an opportunity to reach
his full potential.
During the past year, we continued to concentrate our collective action on
students, the leaders and members of the next generation in our movement.
Students must be able to take advantage of the same educational opportunities
that are open to their sighted peers. With the anticipated increases in future
college enrollments, university administrators know that their campuses will be
faced with shortages of classroom space. Since no funds are being appropriated
for new classroom construction, the University System of Maryland plans to solve
its space problem by promoting the use of online courses to fulfill some of its
graduation requirements. From experience, we have learned that access to online
learning is closed off to blind students unless provisions are initially made
for it.
Since nonvisual access legislation has worked so well for us already, we sought
new legislation to make sure that blind students will have the same
opportunities to take full advantage of online courses and will be able to use
instructional technology such as that provided by blackboard.com and webCT.com.
The National Federation of the Blind is well known to members of the Maryland
General Assembly, and we have our share of stalwarts. Sen. Joan Carter Conway
introduced SB 360 and Del. Henry Heller introduced its companion HB 1142. At the
hearings for these bills, Johnna Harrison and Nicole Fincham gave examples of
the problems blind students face on community college and university campuses.
The General Assembly passed both bills with dispatch. Governor Ehrlich signed SB
360 into law on May 10. This legislation will require the governing boards of
public institutions of higher education to develop a nonvisual access clause for
use in the procurement of instructional technology. The nonvisual access clause,
which must be developed by January 1, 2007, must be consistent with standards
developed by the Maryland State Department of Budget and Management. This law
applies to the University System of Maryland, Morgan State University, St.
Mary's College of Maryland, and the community colleges of Maryland.
Representatives from Blackboard, Inc., an online educational service provider
used on college campuses nationwide, have already visited the International
Braille and Technology Center to learn about nonvisual access. They have assured
us that Blackboard is working toward web accessibility certification from the
National Federation of the Blind. We look forward to the new nonvisual access
standards that will be developed for Maryland's institutions of higher learning.
We will make sure that these standards are in place by the January 1, 2007
deadline specified in this legislation.
The Steps to Success Seminar, sponsored by our student division, is becoming a
regular event on our summer calendar. This year's seminar was held at the
National Center for the Blind on the weekend of August 12 to 14. Seminar
participants gained valuable insight into a successful college experience by
listening to blind students who've "been there, done that." First year students
Quantrise Smoot and Kevin Hatton shared the trials and tribulations of their
freshman years. College veterans Aloma Bouma and Jesse Hartle shared their tips
for success. Two highlights of the weekend were making ice cream and grilling
steaks with master griller President Maurer. By the end of the seminar, students
understood that they should not limit their goals to those imposed upon them by
a society that does not understand the nature of blindness.
Through collective action, we have also extended a helping hand to seniors
facing vision loss. The NFB Jernigan Institute sponsored the fourth annual
Possibilities Fair for seniors who are losing vision on May 12. Many members of
our affiliate volunteered their time to welcome seniors and to demonstrate
nonvisual techniques to maintain independent lives. Through action, friendship,
and good humor, seniors attending this fair learned that there is life after
blindness.
Because of several fundraising activities for our scholarship fund, we were able
to launch our Regaining Independence Stipends for blind seniors. This year, the
first two Regaining Independence Stipends were awarded to Betsy Byerly and
Norman Seward. These stipends enabled them to attend a four day intensive
retreat at the Pearlstone Conference Center, sponsored by Blind Industries and
Services of Maryland, where they learned the alternative techniques of
blindness. This afternoon, Norman will share some of the life changing
experiences that he gained at this seminar.
Our parents division continues to reach out to families facing the challenge of
educating their blind children. This year, our parent's division is again
responsible for bringing several persons to their first NFB of Maryland
convention. Thanks to our parents, our partnership with the Rehabilitation
Department of Blind Industries and Services of Maryland is vibrant and
productive. Through this partnership, BISM now offers KIDS Camp, two sessions of
Tween Retreat, and two sessions of Teen Retreat annually to enable blind
children to develop alternative skills and to gain the confidence to use those
skills effectively. Through the combined efforts of BISM and our parents
division, this affiliate is called on to provide a greater number of successful
role models to serve as mentors to blind youth. I would like to add here that in
addition to our Reclaiming Independence Stipends, and the scholarships that we
will hand out tonight, our fundraising efforts enabled us to provide more than
$5,000 of stipends to Maryland's blind youth to attend BISM's programs.
The four pictures that I have selected for inclusion in our convention agenda
this year illustrate just how well we have done "to promote the vocational,
cultural, and social advancement of the blind." The first picture shows the 2005
Circle of Life class of the Summer Science Academy sponsored by the NFB Jernigan
Institute. We are especially proud of the two Maryland participants, Nathan
Clark from Eldersburg and Jennifer Suchan from Potomac. Will blind students of
today turn out to be the leading scientists of tomorrow? The "experts" say no,
but we know otherwise.
In the second picture, we demonstrate that we know how to enjoy ourselves and
raise money at the same time. Blind and sighted persons danced together in the
Conga Line at our tenth annual crab feast, held each summer to raise funds for
our John T. McCraw Scholarship Program. Three students--Mario Bonds, Nikos
Daley, and Danielle Shives--will receive scholarships at our banquet tonight
because of our crab feasts and other fundraising activities.
The first Federation family, Marc and Patricia Maurer, and their daughter
Dianna, are shown in the third picture as they take in the activities of the
first anniversary celebration of the NFB Jernigan Institute. The music by
Roberta Flack made this celebration an especially memorable occasion.
In the fourth picture, we show that we are a vibrant part of the political scene
in Maryland, as Governor Ehrlich signs the nonvisual access to institutions of
higher education act, into law on May 10, 2005. These pictures are proof
positive that in the 39 years of the history of this NFB affiliate, we have come
a very long way!
Our “Meet the Blind Month” activities in October vividly illustrate how
effective we are in integrating the blind into sighted society.
Our members on the Eastern Shore started “Meet the Blind Month” almost two
months early. In August, the Salisbury Times carried an excellent article
observing the first anniversary of the reorganized Delmarva Chapter of the
National Federation of the Blind of Maryland.
On Saturday, October 8, the Central Maryland chapter sold 125 boxes of Krispy
Kreme donuts at the Wal-Mart in Ellicott City, in spite of an all day seven inch
deluge. Ignoring the forecast for heavy rains issued a day earlier, Chapter
members prepared for the approaching rain in true Federation grit by hastily
purchasing a canopy and tarps to keep the merchandise dry, if not the members.
On this day, the general public was shown an image of blind people braving the
elements just as sighted people might have done.
For the third successive year, the Appalachian Trail chapter sold food and
beverages at the Mummers parade in Hagerstown. The Greater Baltimore Chapter
started a new activity for “Meet the Blind Month” by hosting a chili supper and
showing the Eric Weihenmayer Mt. Everest movie for the Johnson Street
neighborhood.
The Sligo Creek chapter, under the able leadership of its president, Debbie
Brown, conducted not one, but six “Meet the Blind Month” activities. The Chapter
began its whirlwind month on October 1 with its annual buffet and auction for
the John T. McCraw Scholarship Program. As in previous years, this dinner was
held with support from the College Park Council of the Knights of Columbus. From
there it was on to nut sales and distributing NFB literature at the Rockville
Lions Club's annual pancake breakfast. As if that wasn't enough, the Sligo Creek
Chapter topped off “Meet the Blind Month” with it's own Krispy Kreme donut sale
on October 29.
Thanks to Chapter and individual efforts, counties and cities across the state
issued White Cane Safety Day proclamations. Through these proclamations local
officials gained another opportunity to meet their blind constituents. Let us
remember that the entire blind community benefits from our “Meet the Blind
Month” activities.
As we look ahead to 2006, we face many challenges in Maryland.
Among our many priorities, this affiliate must join the digital revolution by
launching its own Web site to promote the expansion and growth of our
organization.
We will continue to improve the quality of education for blind elementary and
secondary students by working with State and local education agencies to have
textbooks ready not sometime during the school year, but on time at the
beginning of the school year.
We must diligently follow up our legislative victory of 2005 to pursue the
development of truly meaningful and user friendly nonvisual access standards for
online learning for blind students attending Maryland's institutions of higher
learning.
We know that our access to the ballot box is threatened because of efforts to
provide additional safeguards for the verification of ballot recounts. While we
will not stand in the way of accurate ballot recounts, we will insist on our
right to cast secret ballots.
We will continue to demand better rehabilitation services to enable blind
persons to become and remain competitive in the workplace. This also means that
we will not hesitate to take agencies to task when they stray too far from their
missions to serve blind people. We will make sure that after its recent
upheavals, Services for the Visually Impaired continues to serve its clients as
it has for so many years.
Many of us in this general session this morning have first hand knowledge of NFB
NEWSLINE®. We will continue to work with NEWSLINE’s® sponsor in Maryland, the
Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, to introduce this wonderful
service to an ever larger audience.
At a recent hearing before the U.S. Senate’s Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions Committee, we learned of new threats confronting the Randolph-Sheppard
Vending Program. We have successfully faced down similar threats in the past. By
working together as a national movement I am sure that we will be successful
again.
I believe that we have the courage, the determination, the ingenuity, and the
Federation spirit to meet all of these challenges in 2006.
I want to close with the words of our national president, our teacher, and our
friend:
"We stand on the edge of another day, and we know that tomorrow is bright with
promise. Nobody else can create the future that must and will be ours; we must
do that for ourselves. And do it we will. ….. Come, and we will make it come
true!"
|
