Struggling for Change

By Jim Antonacci

Editor’s Note: Our state president, Jim Antonacci, gave this speech at the 2006 convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania.

In the past, I have spoken a great deal about change. We have discussed what types of people help to cause change. We have also noted that the backing of an organization is not only helpful but necessary in affecting that change. It is now necessary to examine more closely the actual struggle that may need to occur if meaningful change is to take place. Furthermore, it may take a different outlook by those people who are directly involved in the struggle.

There are historical examples we can cite. Prior to 1776, it was an accepted fact in the new world that the American colonies should not be ruled by a country that was over three thousand miles away. Problems happening in the new world could not be understood by a government living across a vast ocean. After a great deal of debate, thirteen colonies committed the ultimate act of civil disobedience. They declared themselves to be free and independent of their parent government. This resulted in a war where many of them died or were reduced to financial ruin, even though they won the war. But it was obvious that they placed the needs of the many before their own personal needs. Recently, I had the opportunity to tour Pearl Harbor and visit the Arizona memorial. It made me think of the events leading up to that day when the Arizona was sunk. Japan had already conquered territories in Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands. The United States attempted, through negotiation, to convince them to cease their aggressive actions. The result of these negotiations was an attack on Pearl Harbor that left thousands of young men dead and many more injured. In the case of the battleship Arizona, over 1600 men lost their lives in one instant. Needless to say, this thrust our country into a war that we did not want, but that we were forced to fight. After the war ended, millions had made the ultimate sacrifice. But, if it had not been for those sacrifices, the war could not have been won. More recently, history tells us that slavery was abolished in this country in the mid 1800s, but any person living between that time and the 1960s will tell you that this is not really true. Segregation and Jim Crow laws fostered inequality for a hundred years. Not until the civil rights movement of the sixties, did changes actually occur. As a result of their participation in the movement, many people were categorized as troublemakers, and some, like those who helped to register southern voters, and, of course, Dr. Martin Luther King, were killed. But again, it was the sacrifices made by them that changed the world.

Blind people have been second, or even lower class members of society for thousands of years. In 1940, they decided to do something about that. It was in that year, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, that the National Federation of the Blind was formed. The blind of Pennsylvania were one of the first 7 states to declare that they would no longer be willing to just accept the crumbs from the tables of the sighted, but that they were capable and independent persons, ready to take their places as equal members of society. Unfortunately, not all blind persons felt this way, and it is surely true that the agencies do not agree. There are those persons, both blind and sighted, who still maintain the attitude that blind persons need to be provided for, rather than answered to. Maybe this is why, when there are fights to be won, blind persons know to call the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania. Just as in the historical examples, these are fights that are forced upon us but, when accepted, are fought through to their end. It makes no difference to us that we may be seen as difficult or demanding. The important thing is that we are right.

For example, only days after leaving this convention last year, a number of members of the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania were called to testify in the case of Chris Boone against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The states lawyers demanded every piece of paper from our files dealing with Chris or merit based scholarships. We complied fully and promptly. I understand that the state did not deliver documents requested of them until the night before they were required to do so. Three of the executive officers of the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania were called to testify in the case. As a result of our testimony, and that of others, Chris won her fight against OVR and was originally awarded over $3,000,000 in damages. The court has since reduced the award but it is clear that the state was wrong in its treatment of her and they must answer for their actions. Stanley Nowaczyk's employer was taken to court because a customer of the store did not watch where she was going and tripped over his cane. The jury in the case felt that the employer was negligent in allowing Stanley to travel through the store, unaccompanied, and that they did not post signs to warn customers that a blind man with a cane worked there. An attorney for the NFB of Pennsylvania spoke with the judge's clerk about legal precedents. The judge saw the obvious illegality of such a decision and reversed the jury's findings. The case has been taken to appeal, but it seemed that the appeal judges might not be disposed to reverse the original judge's decision. A little over a year ago, the NFB began working on the passage of legislation to fund Braille literacy, known as the Louis Braille coin bill. Despite opposition from another group of blind persons, the legislation was passed in less than a year. Because of the work of the NFB of Pennsylvania, all nineteen of our federal representatives and both senators were cosponsors of the bill. Lynn Heitz was awarded an NFB national scholarship and it was promptly stolen from her, as a result of reprehensible and illegal policies of OVR. Lynn fought and won an appeal to have the scholarship money returned to her, but the state agency insisted on a review of the originally favorable hearing officer's decision. That decision has been returned favorably. The agency has chosen not to take the case to federal court, and has refunded Lynn's money to her. In light of past decisions, in federal court, this was probably a smart move. Leslie Farrell fought for years to overcome an incorrect Social Security denial. Even his lawyer could not seem to resolve the problem. On March 31st, we met with the attorney and reviewed applicable law and regulations. We stated emphatically that we could not understand why a reversal of the original decision had not yet been received. We also helped Leslie to obtain a comprehensive eye exam report in case it was necessary to provide additional information. Within six weeks of our visit to the attorney, Leslie received a revised decision. Not only was he eligible to receive benefits, but his eligibility was found to begin four years ago. I understand that when the retroactive check was received, it came to a tidy sum. Nothing pleases me more than to tell you of Loretta Cream. She heard that every polling place was to have accessible voting machines for the blind and, when she went to vote last week, she expressed the desire to use that method. She was told that the machine did not work, or that no one knew how to set it up. She did not accept this as an answer, but instead called the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania. We helped her to get in touch with the correct person in the Bureau of Elections and he was eventually able to see to it that the machine worked properly, and that she could vote secretly and independently, for the first time in her life.

All of the persons I have mentioned refused to accept the crumbs from the tables of the sighted and accepted the challenge of fighting for their rights. They also understood that when they needed help that the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania would be there to help them. Last year, we began two new list serves to disseminate information about the NFB of Pennsylvania and to help answer questions. Kristin Smedley posted a question to the list and was overwhelmed by the response. She wrote that she had been researching the problem for seven months and had not yet found the answer. But that after only two hours, members of the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania had fully answered it. We have been responsible for more visible "Meet the Blind" events than ever before. We have had two new papers added to Newsline in Pennsylvania as well as the Associated Press feeds, which are updated every two hours. We had eight parents attend our national convention this year, as well as having two national scholarship winners. Those scholarship winners are special to us as they were both raised in the federation philosophy and are obvious proof that the philosophy works. We will do whatever it takes to meet the challenges of the future. With your help, we can make it possible for blind persons in Pennsylvania to have a real voice in how blindness services are provided, even though other organizations feel that it is better to accept what crumbs fall from the tables of the sighted.

I call to you, my brothers and my sisters, to join with me in fighting for our rights. It is not a battle that we have chosen, but it is one that has been forced upon us. Together we can win the battle. Together we will demonstrate the power of the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania. Thank you.

PA's 2007 Scholarship Winner

By Helen Stephens

Editor’s Note: Helen Stevens was a National scholarship winner at our 2007 Convention in Atlanta, Georgia. Here is what she says about her involvement in the NFB.

My involvement with the NFB began in 2005 when I had the opportunity to attend the Rocket On science academy. This was a great experience for me for many reasons. I was given an opportunity to participate in activities that taught me that my blindness need not limit my life in any way. Most importantly I had the opportunity to meet successful blind adults for the first time in my life. I realized that with some small adaptations, and hard work, a blind person can succeed just as well as his sighted peers. Since then I have had the opportunity to attend two Pennsylvania state conventions, two Washington Seminars, and various other seminars and conferences. This summer I will be taking part in a program at BLIND Inc, and I plan on attending my first National Convention. I have learned so much from interacting with other blind students, and adults, who have shared with me ideas and experiences that have improved my life. As much as I like to learn from others, I enjoy sharing what I know and my experiences with others as well; that is why I enjoy being involved in the Pennsylvania Association of Blind Students and attending Washington Seminar. When I first took the position as PABS board member in 2005, I had no idea what I was doing, but I knew I had the opportunity to do something good while having fun at the same time. That year I played a small part in organizing the annual PABS seminar in January 2006 and the PABS seminar at the 2006 state convention, where I was elected treasurer of PABS. Currently we are in the process of organizing our 2007 student seminar, where our main goal is to reach relatively new NFB members. As I learn more, about blindness, college, and life in general, I feel I will be able to offer more to this organization and my fellow students. Washington Seminar is my favorite NFB function that I have yet attended; the opportunity to share my thoughts and the needs of the blind community, with legislators or their aides is an opportunity I greatly appreciate. It is necessary for blind people to go to Congress and explain to them how Congress might improve the lives of blind Americans, and why those improvements will benefit the nation as a whole. Improving the education of blind Americans, and helping blind people obtain employment, will not only improve the lives of those people directly effected, but also improve the general welfare of the country, and cause more blind people to pay taxes instead of needing social security. Attending Washington Seminar the past two years has taught me that I can make a difference in the lives of people outside my local community, even if those changes take time to have an effect. I plan on attending Washington Seminar as much as possible in the years to come. Overall, I look forward both to learning more from others, and sharing what I have learned and experienced, in the future.

2007 Distinguished Educator of blind children From PA

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) has named Sister Margaret (Meg) Fleming, principal of St. Lucy Day School for Children with Visual Impairments in Philadelphia, as its 2007 Distinguished Educator of Blind Children. Sister was presented with the award during the National Board meeting at the convention which took place at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia.

Sister Meg has taught for more than thirty-five years, eleven of them as a teacher of the visually impaired, in which she taught academic subjects, Braille, access technology, daily living skills, and cane travel. She now draws on all that experience to direct the Roman Catholic Church’s only school for blind students in Philadelphia, a job she has held since 1995.

“Sister Meg’s dedication to blind children, effective teaching strategies, and passionate enthusiasm for learning set her apart, and her conviction that blind children can succeed and be independent if they are taught to use academic tools and blindness skills to compete with their sighted peers makes her an obvious choice to be the NFB’s 2007 Distinguished Educator,” said Harriet Go, a St. Lucy graduate and now herself a teacher of special needs children.

Sister Meg’s professional honors and responsibilities include adjunct faculty member, Pennsylvania College of Optometry, 1993– present; recipient of the Elinor Long Pennsylvania Distinguished Educator of the Year Award for the Visually Impaired, 1992; recipient of the American Cardinals Award, 2003, sponsored by Catholic University; recipient of the Pennsylvania Lynch Award, 2003; recipient of the Recognition Award given by the Pennsylvania Association for the Blind; and president elect of the Penn Del Chapter of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired, 2007.

We are very proud to have Sister Meg here in Pennsylvania and congratulate her on receiving the NFB’s Distinguished Educator of Blind Children Award.

Possibilities Fair

Editor’s Note: On May 9, 2007, the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania hosted its first Possibilities Fair for seniors losing vision. Over one hundred people registered for the event and over sixty-five of those registered had no previous contact with the NFB of PA. The opening remarks at the Possibilities Fair were given by Jim Antonacci. In his own way, President Antonacci brings home why we are part of the Federation Family.

Good morning. I am Jim Antonacci and I am the president of the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania. Welcome to our first Possibilities Fair for Seniors.

Many people asked me what they should expect if they came today. Usually I answered, "If you are expecting to hear about a cure for your blindness, you will be disappointed." But then I thought more about this and I submit that, if you stopped at each of the displays, if you listened carefully to what was being presented, if you opened your mind to what was being said, then you did hear about a cure. It might not have been about what you expected but you did hear about a cure. You see it wasn't a cure for your eyes, but a cure for your mind. It was a cure for ignorance about what to do about your decreasing vision; it was a cure for the distress caused by your vision loss; and it was a cure for your inability to believe that you can live a full and productive life with little or no vision. Also, that you can continue to care for yourself. You can continue to make decisions for yourself and that you can live by yourself without being the person who needs constant care. What you have seen here today is just a small portion of what you can learn to do. Training is available through state services for the blind. They may not be happy to spend as much money as they should for the training, but that is where we come in. We in the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania know the laws and regulations and we will be happy to help each and every one of you to access the services you require. We can help you to apply for the services, and to insure that they are delivered. We will make sure that you are aware of all of your options, not just the one that a caseworker would like you to choose. Remember, that as the National Federation of the Blind, we ourselves are blind people, who know what works and what doesn't.

My hope is that you bring home with you today a renewed hope and determination that you can continue to be the person who decides what you want and when you want it for yourself. Thank you.

The Fear Factor

By Mark Stracks, MD

Editor’s Note: Mark Stracks is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania. He delivered the following speech at our 2007 State Convention.

The story is told of a homeless man who, at the end of the day, sought refuge and shelter inside a rail car in a large urban train-yard. He apparently attempted to close the door, either to conceal himself, or to fend off the elements. To his surprise, the door locked shut, and it was only then he realized that he had shut himself inside a refrigerator car…and there was no way out.

He must have yelled, he might have pleaded, and perhaps he prayed. What is clear, however, is that he managed to write down his thoughts as he felt his demise approaching. He wrote of getting colder and colder, he wrote of finding it harder and harder to breathe. His last words trailed off as he slipped from consciousness. And in the morning, when the car door was opened by attendants, the homeless man was found dead inside. Apparently he had succumbed to the cold and lack of oxygen. But had he? For authorities calculated that he had an ample supply of air to survive the night. And the refrigerator car was broken; the temperature outside never dipping below the mid fifties Farenheight.

I heard this story told at a business conference some years ago. The speaker was trying to make the point that our thoughts are powerful, and that they can literally drive our destinies. I’ve thought about this story a lot over the years. What lessons can we take from this tale?

In the practice of psychiatry, in my profession, I often spend a great deal of time with clients trying to help them understand why they act in certain ways or think about things with certain preconceptions. While it may be considered an oversimplification from a technical standpoint, I have come to believe that people think, feel, and act out of two basic constructs. These are the fear of something, or the desire for something. Sometimes the same thing that is feared is desired, and sometimes the same thing that is desired is feared. Neither is a logical process; this is very important to understand. We are, by nature, emotional beings, and if we do not train ourselves to avoid it, we will, by default, react with emotion.

Why should we choose to think about this topic in the context of blindness? After all, we are gathered here this weekend, the membership of the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania affiliate of a national organization and movement that, for more than the past fifty years, has defined the upward mobilization of blind people. We come here to convene in friendship and brotherhood. We come here to unite on issues important to us. We come here to debate the pathways to our horizons and beyond. Why talk of fear?

I have been an active member of this organization since 1992, and I have been an advocate for blindness for nearly the last twenty-five years. In following all of our legislative, technological, and social achievements as a group, one fact remains puzzling to me. The more we demonstrate that the blind can achieve security, equality, and opportunity, the more obvious it becomes that a number of those who could and should achieve these goals do not. Now, I am not referring to those individuals who strive for their goals but are stymied in there pursuits by inept bureaucracies such as Pennsylvania’s own beloved BVS. I am not referring to those who are the victims of deliberate and calculated discrimination. I am referring to those who never make it out of the starting gate, to those who don’t dare to think beyond where they are to what they want. I would suggest that fear plays a role

What do we know about fear? Fear is defined by Webster’s Dictionary as “anxious concern,” or “reason for alarm.” When it is dramatic we are aware of the cause. Many of us have had the experience of walking along a street when suddenly a car horn honks behind us, or a car alarm goes off nearby. We are startled, we get concerned about what caused the car to honk or the alarm to go off, and we react. The one thing that is always true about fear is that something causes it. There is nothing in the definition of fear, however, that says that any particular thing must cause it, and in fact we find that what evokes fear in one individual often does not in another.

It is the non-dramatic causes of fear, the “little things” that lead us to inwardly question our abilities, our desires, our very goals that I wish to talk about today. I would suggest that consideration of this subject is as relevant for those of us who struggle to advance ourselves in the setting of our own blindness and those who work to help others. It is an important subject for those who are blind and those related to those who are blind. It is important for those who lead in our chapters and affiliates, and this means it is important for all of us because in one way or another, every member of the National Federation of the Blind leads.

The one binding and universal factor of human interaction is that we interact as humans. That is, we bring the entirely of our experiences, beliefs, successes, and failures to the table when we interact with another person. Each experience that we have, good or bad, leaves an impression upon us, and the succession of experiences that we have through a lifetime builds one upon the other. The simplest examples we understand easily. My three-year old daughter counted to twenty-four this weekend. Several weeks ago, she couldn’t count to twenty without skipping fourteen and sixteen. It even became a joke after awhile. But my wife and I would always approach the joke with a giggle and encourage her to keep trying and low-and-behold she even got past twenty. Let us consider a more subtle example, however. I once saw a Vietnam veteran in therapy for nearly a year. This man was isolated from his family; he hadn’t seen his grown children in years. He had grown up a practicing and devout Catholic, and he hadn’t gone to church for years longer than he hadn’t seen his children. As I came to know this man, it became clear to me that this was not the way he always had been. He had considered himself a family man, as I said a devout Catholic, and enjoyed being with people in general. As with many veterans of wars, it was his time in war that had affected him. But he was not a combat soldier; he was in charge of entertainment and helping to orient incoming troops to the culture of Vietnam.

With time and work we both came to understand that it was one tragic experience that this man had in war-time that scarred him. Now, this is the key point. This man had not forgotten the experience; he remembered it clearly. What he had never done was to make the association between what he had gone through and how he had changed. He had never made the association because he had been afraid to make it. What had happened to him caused such guilt, such shame, and such self-reproach in his own mind that in the more than thirty years since the Vietnam War had ended he had been completely unable to deal with the incident on his own. Now, at first glance this may not seem as dramatic as the honking car, and certainly it is far more convoluted. The only real difference, however, when you get right to it, is that we understood what made us fearful when we considered the honking car. This man did not understand, and he paid dearly for it for many years.

This is a very extreme example, but I make it for a reason. In order to understand what drives fear, we must understand ourselves. If I want to achieve a goal, and if time goes on and on and I do not reach that goal, it would be good for me to ask myself what is holding me back. I should make the point here that I believe that people are capable of achieving anything that they want to. It may not be easy, it may not happen quickly, but I see no reason why any person cannot achieve any goal. So, if I am capable and I am not achieving, than why is that so? Assuming that no system is holding me back, assuming that I can navigate any bureaucracy that might want to hold me back, than the only thing left that can be standing in my way is myself. I would suggest, then, that if we come to a point where we think that we are holding ourselves back, it is quite possible that this is occurring out of fear.

We in the National Federation of the Blind are in a very unique position. We stand at the forefront of an ongoing revolution that is moving blind individuals, once relegated to economic and social obscurity to the forefront of the possibilities of achievement. We have the tools to navigate the bureaucracies. We have the expertise to fight wanton discrimination, and we have the knowledge to educate and raise up any individual who is blind. We have these things, and we have used them every day for more than fifty years in our organization. But I return to a question that I raised early on. Why does it seem like so many do not get out of the starting gate? Why do we still seem to leave so many behind?

To give an explanation of every cause of fear is beyond the scope of my talk today. Nor would I suggest that everyone needs to run home and set up an appointment with a therapist to ensure that they have mastered any underlying fears. But I would suggest the following. It is important for all of us to take a long and hard look inside if we are not achieving all that we want to do. It is important to think about the things that we have been taught by individuals or groups of individuals who may have reacted to our blindness out of fear. Certainly society as a whole has done this. Witness the idiocy of the truncated dome. Millions upon millions of dollars spent to allay the fears of those sighted individuals who don’t understand the value of appropriate mobility tools, mobility training, and the confidence that use of these bring to the blind individual. Witness the attempts of organized education to hold blind people back for fear that they simply cannot manage the rigors, or the fear of those educators who would suggest that every blind child need not learn Braille because they don’t want the child to look different, or feel different. Worse, because some fear that their “power” as an educator would be threatened! They don’t seem to worry about the difference that people without high school diplomas feel, or the difference felt by those who can’t find employment because they cannot read effectively. Witness parents of blind children who, albeit out of love, try to protect their children from the bumps, bruises, and lessons of life that sighted children must go through to grow and prosper? Isn’t it at least possible that as we are exposed to these influences over and over again that some of the fears that drive these individuals and groups will rub off on us? Might we start to believe some of the things that they say? Do we see anything in our experiences that suggests another possibility?

The best antidote to fear is understanding, and the best source of understanding comes from association with those with a proven track record in the area of interest. When it comes to blindness, no one understands it better than we do. When it comes to overcoming blindness, no one does it better than we do. When it comes to setting an example for future generations as to how they can achieve their goals and dreams, no one creates an example better than we do. We, therefore, are the response to fear. Our vision, our passion, ourselves; we are the cure, but we must be attuned to the problem. We must understand that surely those outside of our ranks and many within our ranks still carry the fears fostered by sometimes well-meaning, but unknowing people. Fears fostered by people influenced by their own fears, a vicious and perpetual cycle that we in the National Federation of the Blind work hard to break every day. It is not a question of whether we will have to help others deal with their fears, it is just a question of who and when. Probably someone did the same for each of us in the past, perhaps on multiple occasions. Fear is not something to be ashamed of, it is something to be recognized and addressed. When the car honks, fear can protect us. When we let fear of stepping out and being all that we can be rule our destinies, than fear hurts us.

I have been privileged to be a part of and to work in this organization for many years. God willing, I will continue for many more to come. I do so because I believe that we are the best at what we do, and that no one has the ability to help more blind people in a more complete way than we do. This organization helped me to understand myself more than I did before I came to it, and I am certainly not the only one to make that claim. As we move forward in our quests for security, equality, and opportunity let us bear in mind that part of our job is to make the fear factor a null factor. Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself - nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance." Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “You gain strength, experience and confidence by every experience where you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing you cannot do." Andrew Carnegie once said, “If you want to conquer fear, don't sit at home and think about it. Go out and get busy." And as quoted from Wordsworth:

What are fears but voices airy?
Whispering harm where harm is not.
And deluding the unwary
Till the fatal bolt is shot!"

It was true during times of great crises for our country; it was true for my client who fought in Vietnam. It is true for each of us here today. Let us decide once and for all to make the fear factor go away.

The NFB Touching Lives

Editor’s Note: This letter was written by a member of the NFB of Washington following her experience at her first National Convention. The author expressed the impact her first NFB Convention has had on her life and how the words spoken by one person can propel one forward to catching their dreams. Here is what she says.

My experience at the NFB National Convention

The first convention is the one that can change your life. It certainly changed mine. When I was a senior in high school my school guidance counselor reminded me about one simple truth; follow your dreams as far as you can take them. I felt at that time in my life (at age 19) that I could tell the mountains to move and they will move. That's when I really committed myself to becoming a physician. Unfortunately, since than; I ran into a few bumps in the road.

Going to college did not come easy to me when I was in my early twenties; in fact, I dropped out for a time until I earned my first AA degree at the Bryman School in Phoenix, AZ. I was the first person to earn the degree in 1996 in the new program. Going to Bryman was a great learning experience for me. Later I earned my second AA degree from Whatcom Community College in Bellingham, WA (2007). I am now going to attend Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA in the fall.

Somehow I lost my way to my dream recently. In 2004 I did not do very well in a biology class I was attempting. I also washed out in a chemistry class that same quarter. Earlier that year I suffered a back injury and had to eventually take a leave of absence from school. Not a good time to make a critical decision about changing majors from medicine to psychology. I now understand that my decision was based on misinformation, misconception, self doubt and fear. I allowed myself to be ruled by my own doubts and fears. I thought at the time that I made the right decision at the right time. Back to that in a moment.

When I arrived in Atlanta GA on Friday June 29th , 2007, I did not realize that my life was going to drastically change. I am now 37 and a junior in college. I had a great year so far and I was looking forward to having a great learning experience at convention. I did not realize that I would be a part of history nor did I realize that I would blossom into a true advocate.

For some strange reason I felt like I was with family. In fact, I didn't feel overwhelmed nor did I feel shy at convention. I even sang at the showcase of talent. It was fun! I even met the president of the NFB, what an honor. He truly inspired me. I started to discover the old feeling of motivation and drive I thought I lost some time ago. It feels good to rediscover yourself; it keeps you young and tends to force you to look at the world with less cynicism (more idealistic, restored innocence, wisdom & hope).

What the NFB did for me was give me back my voice. I matter in the world. What a strong lesson. Something I never understood until now. We as blind people deserve so much out of life, on the other hand, we must stand up and grab for the brass ring. We must fight for what rights we enjoy. It takes hard work to really go for our dreams and desires. We can't let life pass us by nor can we afford to squander our talents.

That lessen was really thrown in my face during the march for independence. On July 3rd 2007 I was literally a part of history. 1,000 blind people marched down the streets of Atlanta GA , what a sight to see! This was the largest blind march in American History. A proud moment for the NFB (the voice of the nation's blind) we proved that on July 3rd .

I felt a strong sense of pride; but I also felt angry. It was unfair that we were always asked to be patient and wait. We sent a message that we will no longer do this. At that time I decided to really work on learning Braille in Ernest. As the treasurer officer of the Northwest chapter of the NFB of WA in Bellingham ; it was my responsibility to set a good example for our blind and sighted chapter members. I had to change my outlook about being blind. I learned that I had to become more independent and self sufficient.

I found out during the convention that many NFB members were impressed at how well I was getting around the hotel by myself. I did not think I could do it, but I did. The speeches at the march, the sight of the Olympic rings in the park and the reminders of past civil rights marches made me understand how history was being made. We were the first that morning. We made history on that fateful day. We learned the true meaning of freedom, the cry of the warrior. I learned that getting into good trouble was the way to such freedom. We must shake the tree once in a while. I joined two chapters during convention; the performing arts division and the student division (The National Association of Blind Students (NABS)). I helped pass 15 out of 16 resolutions. I was inspired by the speeches and the seminars I attended and I learned a great deal. I also sprained my ankle during the march, but I finished the 5K march. O well fighting for our civil rights can and will be painful at times. Now what changed my life? I have to admit I did not read my agenda carefully. So on July 5th I heard a speech that would change my life and force me to rediscover my dream.

Mark Stracks M.D. spoke to us about how he accomplished his dream about becoming a doctor. He is a psychiatrist in PA. He was able to not only complete medical school but also his residency. His dream was not an easy one to make into a reality, but he did. He reminded all of us that fear can force us to take the easier path. This maybe the safer way out, on the other hand, it is not always the right solution.

I did not realize that I would leave the convention hall in tears. I was angry and bitter. I allowed myself to be cheated and it was my own fault. After talking to my husband and prayer I really understood why I came to convention. I am a true believer in the simple fact that God puts each of us in the right place, at the right time, for the right reason. I was meant to hear the doctor's speech. I will never forget it. I had to let go of my self doubts and fears. I finally had to really trust God and myself. I have to take the dream as far as it will go. Even at 37, it is not too late. It will not be easy, but I have to do it.

After convention I sent an application to the Hadley School for the Blind. I also plan to do research in becoming a doctor, talk to my vocational rehabilitation counselor (She is a great person and keeps me honest), and contact Dr. Mark Stracks for his advice. I also plan to ask for assistance from my NFB family concerning resources and ways to succeed in my science classes.

I look forward to a very promising future and continued growth with the NFB. I am proud to be a part of such a great organization. I am also planning to join the Canadian Federation of the Blind and attend their national convention next year. Thank you to all my fellow brothers and sisters in the NFB for such a great experience. I will treasure it always as the time when my life changed and I became a true advocate for not only myself, but also for all blind people (A true steward of God).

I at last found my voice and my identity. The dream unfolds. See all of you in Dallas next year.

Lisa A. Owen AAS (2), HUC, CAN
Treasurer Officer & Fund Raising Chair
The Northwest Chapter
NFB Member:
The National Performing Arts Division
The National Association of Blind Students
The National Federation of the Blind of WA State
Future Member:
The Canadian Federation of the Blind (CFB)

Reduction of Funding to NLS

Editor's Note: This article appeared in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Only the web version of the article contained a photo of Charles Morgenstern, Treasurer of the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania. This photo and its associated text has been inserted into the article where the editor felt it went with the flow of the article.

Audio books for blind in jeopardy in Pa., nation
By David M. Brown
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, July 15, 2007

Marilyn Hall didn't like to read as a child because it strained her weak eyes.

It was after she became blind that she fell in love with reading.

"I read at least 10 books a month," says Hall, 52, of Wilkinsburg, who, because disease destroyed her retinas, lost nearly all sight by the time she graduated from high school. "I love historical romances, westerns, mysteries."

Hall borrows most of her books from the Library of Congress' talking books program and listens to them on an outmoded cassette player she received about six years ago through the program. She is one of thousands of blind Americans upset that Congress is poised to cut federal money needed to take talking books into the digital world of the 21st century.

Congress authorized the talking books program in 1931. After three decades of using phonographic players and records, the program switched to audiotape cassette players in 1971. Today, the program has more than 750,000 subscribers who share use of 23 million copies of nearly 500,000 titles.

Caption: Chuck is sitting in a chair with his cassette player on his lap.

Charles Morgenstern, of Brighton Heights, has been vision impaired his whole life and enjoys listening to books on his tape player supplied by the Library of Congress. Congress has cut funding that was being used to develop a sightless-friendly technology to help the blind with audio books. Justin Merriman/Tribune-Review

"I am very disappointed in the lack of concern by the Congress for a program that has been the hallmark of services to the blind throughout the world," said Donna Hill, 57, of Meshoppen, Susquehanna County.

Hill, legally blind since birth, is among about 24,000 Pennsylvanians who subscribe to talking books.

The National Federation of the Blind -- the nation's largest organization for the blind, with 50,000 members -- passed a resolution at its convention two weeks ago urging Congress to approve $19.1 million a year from 2008 through 2011 to update talking books technology to digital equipment and recordings.

The Library of Congress hopes to make the upgrade before antiquated cassette machines finally play out.

Congressional budget writers have agreed to funding next year of $12.5 million -- almost $7 million short of what is needed to keep the transition on schedule.

"The program is not devastated, but it will certainly take a much longer period of time," said Kurt Cylke, director of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, a division of the Library of Congress.

"Instead of completing the transition by 2011, it could be 2014 or later," Cylke said.

The funding request hit a snag after the Government Accountability Office in June advised the library service to "identify and consider alternatives for all aspects of the talking books program," including potential use of available commercial products.

That's not as easy as it sounds, say advocates. Commercial products, such as iPods or other digital audio players, are not custom-designed for use by blind and handicapped people.

For more than a decade, the National Library Service planned for transition from cassette tape players and recordings to digital audio players with flash memory card formats. The prototype players have controls designed for easier use by the blind and physically handicapped. The library service has more than 5,000 books available for the new players, and 20,000 are expected to be ready when the program begins in 2008.

"It's the most revolutionary change to these services since the advent of the talking book record in 1934," said Kathleen Kappel, director of the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped division of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh library handles talking book services for 36 counties in Western Pennsylvania.

"We're excited about this whole program, and our readers are looking forward to it," Kappel said.

The proposed budget for the transition passed the U.S. House and is before the Senate. A House subcommittee sought to cut the request from $19.1 million to $7.5 million for 2008, but a compromise left the amount at $12.5 million. The Senate Appropriations Committee adopted the $12.5 million figure.

A spokesman for Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., chairwoman of the House appropriations subcommittee that trimmed the proposal, defended the action. While acknowledging the importance of the program, the allocation was the best the panel could do at this time because of fiscal constraints, said spokesman Jonathan Beeton.

John Pare, spokesman for the National Federation of the Blind, said the reduction will disrupt service to blind Americans.

"For us, there is only one public library. By in effect closing this library -- even for a short period of time -- it's equivalent to closing every public library, every bookstore and every newsstand in the country for sighted people. In short, it is devastating," Pare said.

Jim Antonacci, president of the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania, said the request for an additional $6 million to $7 million a year for four years seems a relatively small amount to keep the technology transition on track.

"We're quibbling about $24 million -- less than $1 million a year over the entire length of the program," Antonacci said. "If that's not a drop in the federal budget, I don't know what is."

Remember the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania in your will; you can do so by employing the following language: "I give, devise, and bequeath unto the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania, 42 South 15th Street, Suite 222, Philadelphia, PA 19102, a Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation, the sum of $___(or "__ percent of my net estate" or "The following stocks and bonds:") to be used for its worthy purposes on behalf of blind persons.”

Have you been asked to contribute to the United Way or a similar payroll deduction plan? If so, please remember the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania by designating us as the charity to which your donations should be applied. Also, many employers have donation matching programs. If you need any documentation of our eligibility under section 501(c(3), contact us at the state office.