Lesson Purpose: Discussion of NFB philosophy during a chapter meeting is one of the best methods to build a cohesive and informed chapter body. The topic of this lesson is one possibility from a nearly inexhaustible supply that can be drawn from NFB literature, sponsored programs, activities and/or initiatives. Presenting a philosophically based discussion is important for both new and established members; it quickens the understanding and acceptance of our beliefs and promotes a genuine and lasting commitment to the Federation’s work.
[Instructions for the Discussion Leader: Helpful notes to aid the discussion leader will be enclosed in brackets [ ] and are not intended to be shared with the members.]
[We all know that we are the largest consumer group of the blind, with 50,000+ members. But how many members know of the scope and variety of resources that we have collected and/or created to help us do our work? How many members can name off our programs, work groups, communication forums, types of literature, services, awards and scholarships, and other types of resources? There is strength in knowing how strong we are.]
[The Structure of the Lesson: A. Read the introduction found in section 1. B. Read down through the questions and answers found in section 2.]
[In your own words, present the following information to the members.]
--Introduction- “The name of this month’s philosophical discussion is, “Our National Federation of the Blind, Its Resources And Gifts.” We all know that we are the largest consumer group of the blind in our country, in fact, in the world. Yet it is not our size that is of the greater significance in our importance to humanity in changing what it means to be blind. Our true gift to the world and impact upon change, comes with our philosophical approach and the collective body of knowledge, the programs, goods and services that we have created and make available. And so, how many of you can name and explain, and can help others to know the scope of all our Federation’s resources?
Let us take a quiz on the NFB’s available resources that we currently offer. This is not a test upon which you will be graded. This is a learning tool to assure yourself that you are knowledgeable of what you are part of and can be proud.”
-A- What is an affiliate of the NFB and how many are there?
Answer: An affiliate is a network of local chapters, usually within the boundaries of one of our states. The number of affiliates are- 52: all 50 states, plus The District of Columbia (DC) and Puerto Rico.
-B- What is the minimum number of members to start a chapter and how many local chapters are there?
Answer: The minimum number to start a chapter is 5. And the current count is 700+.
-C- Which state has the most local chapters?
Answer: South Carolina with 100+.
-D- What is a division of the NFB, how many are there and can you name 5 of them?
Answer: A division is an organized group having common career or life interests, with a constitution, officers and members. There are 26 divisions: Agriculture and Equestrian, Assistive Technology Trainers, Classics, Antiques, and Rods or Special Interest Vehicles, Deaf-Blind , Diabetes Action Network for the Blind, Human Services, National Association of the Blind in Communities of Faith, National Association of Blind Entrepreneurs, National Association of Blind Lawyers, National Association of Blind Merchants, National Association of Blind Office Professionals, National Association of Blind Piano Technicians, National Association of Blind Rehabilitation Professionals, National Association of Blind Students, National Association of Blind Veterans, National Association of Guide Dog Users, National Association to Promote the Use of Braille, National Federation of the Blind Amateur Radio Division, National Federation of the Blind Krafters , National Federation of the Blind Seniors , National Organization of Blind Educators, Performing Arts , Public Employees , Science and Engineering ,Sportsand Recreation , Travel and Tourism , Writers' Division.
-E- The NFB also has what is called, “interest groups.” What are they, how many are there and name at least 5 of them?
Answer: An interest group is an informal collection of people who have common interests and wish to share skills, information and ideas. There are 11. They are : Blind Musicians Group, Blind Parents Group, Blind Professional Journalists Group, Educators of Blind Children (Group), Geordi's Engineers (Group), Legislative Initiatives Discussion Group, Living History (Group), NFB in Judaism (Group), NFB Ham Radio Group, Orientation and Mobility Group, Web Masters Group of the NFB.
-F- How many standing committees does the NFB have to handle important tasks such as awards, special events or trusts, etc.? Name at least 5 committees.
Answer: There are 31 and they are as follows: Ambassadors Committee, Blind Educator of the Year Award Committee, Committee on Assistive Technology, Committee on Automobile and Pedestrian Safety , Committee to Empower Underserved Populations , Cultural Exchange and International Program Committee, Distinguished Educator of Blind Children Award Committee, Dr. Jacob Bolotin Award Committee, Employment Committee , Imagination Fund Committee, Jacobus tenBroek Award Committee, Jacobus tenBroek Memorial Fund Committee, Kenneth Jernigan Fund Committee, Library Services Committee, Loan Fund Committee, Membership Committee, Newel Perry Award Committee , Newsletter Publications Committee , NFB-NEWSLINE® Program Steering Committee, PAC Plan Committee, Planned Giving Committee, Promotion, Evaluation, and Advancement of Technology Committee, Public Relations Committee, Research and Development Committee, Resolutions Committee, Scholarship Committee, Shares Unlimited In NFB (SUN) Committee, Spanish Translation Committee, White Cane and Affiliate Finance Committee.
-G- Getting good training in blindness skills is not available in all states. The NFB has created several training centers, how many, where are they and what are their names?
Answer: There are 3 Training Centers- #1 Colorado Center for the Blind, Located in Littleton, Colorado. (Called CCB for short.)
-#2 BLIND, Incorporated (Blindness: Learning in New Dimensions, Incorporated) located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Called Blind, Inc. for short.)
-#3 Louisiana Center for the Blind, located in Ruston, Louisiana. (Called LCB. For short.)
-H- What is the name of the NFB’s world renowned institute that was opened in 2003?
Answer: The Jernigan Institute- Its mission statement is: The National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute leads the quest to understand the real problems of blindness and to develop innovative education, technologies, products, and services that help the world’s blind to achieve independence.
-I- What are the 5 major programs of the Jernigan Institute?
Answer: Braille Literacy, Education Resources & Programs, the Independence Market, the Jacobus tenBroek Research Library, and Technology.
-J- What are the NFB’s major programs for blind youth?
Answer:
-From the Jernigan Institute:
-Junior Science Academy: This is a STEM program for children in grades three through six. The program offers hands-on experiences, tactile materials, and innovative nonvisual teaching methods. It also offers corresponding parent workshops to provide parents/guardians with the tools and knowledge that they need to help their child succeed.
-NFB Youth Slam: This bi-annual STEM program for high school students ages 14-18 strives to empower blind and low vision youth through hands-on experiences designed to build confidence and increase science literacy.
-Mentoring for Young Adults: The National Center for Mentoring Excellence (NCME) was established to develop and facilitate model mentoring programs, based on established best practices for mentoring that can be replicated throughout the country. These programs match blind and low vision young adults with positive blind role models who demonstrate good blindness skills, incorporate an exemplary philosophy on blindness into their daily lives, and are successful in their chosen careers.
-NFB Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning (BELL) Program: This is a two-week Braille intensive summer program for low vision students.
-Braille Reading Pals Program: This program is a non-competitive early Braille literacy program for blind infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and older children. The goal of this program is to expose the family and the child to Braille and to encourage parents (or other responsible adults) to read aloud to or with their children.
-Braille Readers are Leaders Program: The Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest is a national contest for students who read Braille, kindergarten through twelfth grades, and all adult Braille readers. The purpose of the program is to promote the joy of reading for pleasure, to promote a pride in Braille as a viable literacy medium equal to print, and to demonstrate the importance of independent reading in the development of Braille literacy skills.
-Braille is Beautiful: A diversity awareness program for sighted children, wherein sighted students are taught how to read and write the Braille alphabet code and so by increasing their sensitivity to and understanding of blind persons.
-The NFB Leadership and Advocacy in Washington, D.C., (LAW) Program: An experience providing blind and low-vision students in grades six to nine, or ages twelve to sixteen, with a unique opportunity to explore the inner workings of our country’s government, its history, and its culture, while staying at the headquarters for the National Federation of the Blind in Baltimore, Maryland. In addition to learning about grassroots legislation efforts, how resolutions are passed, and how blindness legislation is created, participants will become familiar with advocacy work for blind individuals and available resources for blind students and adults.
-National Convention Youth Track: Each year at our national convention, the Jernigan Institute partners with the NFB’s National Organization of Parents for Blind Children (NOPBC) to provide a variety of seminars and social activities designed to provide a more meaningful convention experience for blind youth. These activities help foster independence, raise expectations, and promote positive attitudes about blindness.
-Youth Outreach Seminars: Visits to the National Center for the Blind (NFB headquarters in Baltimore, MD) are customized to meet the needs of particular youth groups. Activities include confidence-building experiences, philosophical discussions, and workshops on transition goals and college preparation.
From the NFB Training Centers:
-Colorado Center for the Blind:
.."Summer for Success" College and "Earn and Learn" High School Program.
.."Initiation to Independence" Middle School Program.
.."Confidence Camp for Kids" Elementary School Program.
-BLIND, Incorporated (Blindness: Learning in New Dimensions, Incorporated):
..PREP, The Post-secondary Readiness & Empowerment Program- allows teenagers to learn the skills they need to keep up with their peers and prepares them to attend college or join the workforce.
..-The Buddy Program- teaches children ages 9 to 13 that being blind is OK and they can have as much fun as anybody else.
-Louisiana Center for the Blind:
..Infant & Toddler Program- For parents with children who are blind.
..Buddy program- An innovative summer program for blind children in grades four through eight.
..STEP program- Striving for Success Summer Training & Employment Project- providing adult role models and summer employment to teenagers.
-K- What are the NFB’s major programs for blind working age adults?
Answer: From the NFB Training Centers- all 3 have long term (6-9 months) training programs to provide coping, blindness skills and all that is needed for independent living and employment.
-L- What programs does the NFB have for older adults?
Answer: From the NFB Training Centers- all 3 have short term programs for persons over 55 ears of age to learn coping and blindness skills.
-M- What programs or resources does the NFB have for parents of blind children?
Answer:
-National Organization for Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC): The NOPBC is a division of the National Federation of the Blind and serves as a voice and support to hundreds of parents across the country.
-Beginnings and Blueprints Early Childhood Conference: How can you as a parent help build your child into the best individual they can be without a successful blueprint to follow?
-The Pop Up IEP— An online resource designed to assist parents in the IEP process.
-N- What programs or resources does the NFB have for promoting Braille literacy?
Answer:
-Braille.org — An online portal rich with Braille-related resources including access to: Braille literacy campaign materials, online modules to learn Braille, accurate information about Braille, current research about Braille and Braille literacy, NFB Braille literacy programs and resources, dynamic links to producers of Braille, sellers of Braille books, and other related sites that are found to provide quality Braille-related resources.
-The Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar — In July 2008 the NFB established an unprecedented and comprehensive Braille literacy campaign marked by the most significant investment in literacy for the blind ever — raising $8 million for Braille literacy.
-NFB Share Braille — a consumer-driven online community allowing for the free exchange of used Braille books.
-Braille Reading Pals — An early literacy program that gently encourages and rewards parents for reading daily with their blind or low vision children ages 0-7 (or older if the children have developmental delays) who are not yet reading.
-Braille Readers are Leaders — a national contest for Braille students, kindergarten through twelfth grades and, this year, for adults!
-BELL Program — a demonstration program to help provide intensive Braille instruction to low vision children during the summer months.
-Braille Certification Training Program — Courses in literary, mathematics, and music transcribing as well as literary and mathematics proofreading for Library of Congress certification.
-Braille is Beautiful: This innovative diversity awareness program for sighted children teaches sighted students how to read and write the Braille alphabet code and increases students’ sensitivity to and understanding of blind persons.
-Braille Research Consortium: The National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute is cosponsoring, with the National Center for Severe and Sensory Disabilities and the Bresnahan-Halstead Center on Disabilities, a conference on Research in Braille.
-National Federation of the Blind Partners with Santa to Promote Braille Literacy: Each Christmas time, Santa will enlist the help of the elves at the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) Jernigan Institute to get Braille letters out to hundreds of blind boys and girls during the Christmas season.
-The International Braille and Technology Center: A comprehensive evaluation, demonstration, and training center, complete with over $2.5 million worth of nearly all of the tactile and speech output technology now available to the blind, the IBTC serves as a rich resource for vendor-free advice on all aspects of access technology.
-O- What kinds of educational outreach, programs and services does the NFB currently have going on for teachers of the blind?
Answer:
-NFB Teacher of Tomorrow Program. The program mission is to connect enthusiastic students who are preparing to teach blind children with the support, resources, and positive blindness philosophy of the National Federation of the Blind. (For 16 participants)
-Resources for Teachers of the Blind: From promising practices to tactile bulletin board ideas, learn how teachers of the blind can provide more meaningful experiences and learning opportunities for blind and low vision students.
-Teachblindstudents.org: This site is designed to help recruit interested individuals into the field of teaching blind students. Learn about other opportunities available for those new to the field.
-P- The National Federation of the Blind distributes many different magazines, newspapers, newsletters, speeches, reports, books, and other pieces of literature to inform the public (blind and sighted) about the true nature of blindness and about issues of interest to the blind. Can you name at least 5 titles?
Answer:
-“The Braille Monitor-“ The leading publication of the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), this magazine is published eleven times a year and covers blindness-related events, activities, and issues.
-The “Web log,” or blog, of the National Federation of the Blind- features news and commentary on issues affecting the blind.
-“Future Reflections-” A quarterly magazine (published by the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults in partnership with the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children) offers parents and teachers a multitude of resources and information based on the positive NFB philosophy.
-“Slate & Style-” A quarterly magazine produced by the NFB Writers’ division. It showcases short fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry and “how-to-do” articles written by blind authors.
-“Kernel Books-“ This influential series of booklets is made up of inspirational stories written by blind people about themselves.
-Speeches and Reports- Key NFB speeches delivered by our esteemed leaders Jacobus tenBroek, Kenneth Jernigan, and Marc Maurer. Included in this section are national convention banquet speeches, presidential reports, resolutions, and President Maurer’s presidential releases.
-Literature- Topics covered by NFB literature include Braille, discrimination, education, seniors, low vision, parents, students, technology, and more! (All can be ordered and many are available for immediate download. All through the Jernigan Institute.)
-Audio and Video Center- We are building a comprehensive page of all of our audio and video available on the Internet. (Available through the Jernigan Institute.)
-Q- What is the name of the one-of-a-kind research library that the NFB has created and is part of the Jernigan Institute?
Answer: The Jacobus tenBroek Research Library supports NFB members and other researchers interested in any non-medical aspect of blindness, including (but not limited to): The education of blind children, disability law and policy, the history of attitudes toward the blind, literary works by blind authors.
R- What is the name of the NFB’s own store where blindness products for independent living can be purchased?
Answer: The Independence Market and it has hundreds of products available for sale. (Also part of the Jernigan Institute.)
-S- Annually, the NFB seeks out and makes many awards to individuals for outstanding service to the blind and/or scholarships to worthy blind students. How many scholarships will the NFB give out to college students in 2011? And, name at least 2 special awards given out each year at our national convention?
Answer: -In 2011, 30 national scholarships worth from $3,000 to $12,000.
-In 2011 there will be 3 awards:
... The Jacob Bolotin Awards: this program is funded through the generosity of Dr. Bolotin's nephew and niece, Alfred and Rosalind Pearlman. $50,000.00 is shared between individuals or organizations who represent the finest efforts being made today by and on behalf of blind people throughout the United States.
..Blind Educator of the Year Award: given to a teacher who happens to be blind and is an outstanding teacher and role model.
..Distinguished Educator of Blind Children Award: an outstanding teacher who promotes good blindness skills, independence and responsibility as a blind student.
-T- To promote and ease communication between members, the NFB has “Mailing Lists,” (email listservs). (Found at www.nfbnet.org) How many are there and can you name at least 3?
Answer: There are 145 public mailing lists, serving over 6,000 subscribers. Examples are: (starting with the letter A-) NFB of Alabama List ---- extending down through the alphabet to the Writers’ Division. (Lists have been created for different groups, such as affiliates, divisions, chapters, and topic areas.)
-U- The NFB has a service to keep blind people informed with what is happening within their own communities, country and the world. It’s access to the newspaper. What is this service called?
Answer: NFB-NEWSLINE(r) allows those who cannot read conventional newsprint due to a visual or physical disability to access publications as well as television and job listings over the telephone, on the Web, or by download to digital talking book players or MP3-playing devices. (300+ local newspapers. And it is free to the listener.)
-V- the NFB monitors, creates/sponsors and actively supports legislative efforts. What event does the NFB hold each year in Washington DC?
Answer: Washington Seminar
-W- From time to time, the NFB will provide education/training events on issues or other types of opportunities other than blindness skills, important to the blind. Can you give at least 2 examples?
Answer:
-Jacobus tenBroek Disability Law Symposium- Bridging the Gap between the Disability Rights Movement and Other Civil Rights Movements.
-NFB/eBay Entrepreneurs Project: training blind persons who use access technology to set themselves up to sell on EBay.
-X- The NFB will promote research and development of useful technologies for the blind. Can you name at least 2 recent highly publicized technologies?
Answer: the KNFB Reader Mobile, BLIO, The Blind Driver challenge.
-Y- Can you think of at least one ”Free Give-Away” sponsored by the NFB? (Besides the hundreds of different types of literature.)
Answer: A free white cane- We believe that independence and freedom to travel are so important to the quality of life of blind people that every blind person should have a cane, regardless of ability to pay.
-Z- The NFB owns property in Baltimore, MD, our National Center. It consists of several buildings. Do you know how much square footage of “work space we have and use to conduct our business?
Answer: Nearly 1 half million.