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"Supporting
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THE STUDENT
ADVOCATE
VOLUME XV. NUMBER III
SPRING 1997
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
A note from the Editor
President's Message
NABS Convention Plan
Washington Report
World Wide Web Accessiblity project
Rehabilitation Teaching
NABS Chapters Updates
Note from the Editor
by: Keith Wessel
Hello, all, and congratulations on making it through yet another semester. Finals can't be far off for most of us. My best wishes to everyone in wrapping up your classes. Also, let's offer a big pat on the back to this year's graduates. May the future hold success for all of you. It's been a busy time for the NABS board, planning for the convention in July. In this issue of the Advocate, you'll rind the convention schedule. We've got a great line-up this year. I hope your summer plans can include a trip to Houston to join the fun. Also in this issue, the news from Washington -- reports from four NABS members who recently traveled to Capitol Hill to learn about leadership and advocacy. Rob Cook takes the mystery out of Vocational Rehab. How did your rehab counselor get that job? And what are all those acronyms they use? Plus you'll find information on scholarships and internships for the visually impaired. I hope you've enjoyed this year's Student Advocates. I've had a great time putting them together. It's a lot of fun to pass on new and interesting information to you, the member. As usual, I encourage you to send submissions for next fall's edition to the ACB national office or myself. The greatest part of this organization is the diversity of the membership. A great way to share that is an article in this newsletter. Have a great rest of the semester, and happy reading!
Special thanks to ... Delta Gamma Foundation for the financial support that makes possible this edition of The Student Advocate.
From the Desk of the President
by: Mike Gravitt
By the time you read this, it's probably near the close of the semester or quarter, if it has not yet passed. I hope that it has been a good one for you. Mine has been good, albeit very busy.
As I write this, it has been less than three weeks since I experienced one of the greatest feelings of my life, that of being involved with our country's legislative process. It happened when I attended the Josephine L. Taylor Leadership Institute (JLTLI) and the "Tell It to Washington" seminar cosponsored by the American Council of the Blind (ACB) and the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). Thanks to NABS and to ACB, four other students attended with me: Jonathan Avila and Samantha Schmucker (both of Virginia), Kimberly Waegele (Colorado) and Michael Stahl (Massachusetts). The conference was a great experience for all of us.
The first part of the conference was the JLTLI. During this session, attendees separated into one of three work groups of their choice. All NABS representatives chose to attend the workshop on the education of blind and visually impaired children. We discussed several techniques to use in the classroom to teach students who are blind or visually impaired. We talked about educating teachers, parents and professionals on how to assist these children more appropriately and provide an accessible, inclusive classroom environment. AFB has written a National Agenda with much more information than I am including here. Contact AFB if you would like to read their National Agenda. I am not doing it near enough justice in this article. AFB's phone number is 212-502-7600.
The second part of the conference, hosted by the American Council of the Blind, was the "Tell It To Washington" seminar. Each attendee was given materials to review on current legislation that affects blind or visually impaired people, with extra packets distributed to give to members of Congress. We reviewed different pieces of legislation, and then it was off to Capitol Hill for prearranged meetings with members of Congress and Congressional staff. Each participant met with at least three or four members or their aides. ACB definitely made its presence known on Capitol Hill.
I met with Congressional aides from Senator Chuck Robb's office and Representative Owen Pickett's office (both from Virginia). As it was my first visit on the Hill, I did not go alone. I was accompanied by Ken Jessup, former president of the Old Dominion Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired. Jonathan Avila and Samantha Schmucker, also rirst-timers on the Hill, joined us. Following are some comments given to me by Jonathan and Samantha, and an article by Kimberly Waegele on her experience is featured elsewhere in this newsletter.
Jonathan wrote, "The Congressional aides, Sam, Mike, Ken, and I discussed the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities and Education Act (IDEA), modifications to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, social security linkage, and the telecommunications bill. Our discussion seemed to go well with acknowledged support of nearly all of our views. During the day, we traveled around Capitol Hill, once meeting Representative Newt Gingrich. I am thankful that I had the opportunity to participate in this important legislative movement. I look forward to working with the NABS and ACB to further our political goals. I hope in the future I will be able to have this opportunity again."
Samantha says, "I will never forget the experience I had on Capitol Hill ... Talking with the assistants was awesome. It was very exciting explaining our positions on the [issues] while these laws were being looked at by both the House and Senate. I think my group accomplished a lot. The assistants were generally well-informed about the laws we were discussing. They were also extremely generous with their time."
I do not think I have to say anymore. We all had a great time and a good experience. Bumping into Newt Gingrich at breakfast was somewhat of a highlight. If you would like to know more about the issues discussed above, look in issues of The Braille Forum or call the ACB National Office.
In summary, our opinions as citizens of the U. S. can and do matter. I urge you to keep up with legislative issues, not only in the area of blindness, but with any legislation that may affect you. The Braille Forum is a great publication to utilize in this respect. You can also call the Washington Connection from 6:00 PM to midnight (Eastern time) on weekdays and all day Saturday and Sunday at 1-800-424-8666 to find out more. Make your voice known! Tell your Congressperson how you feel! Write letters, send faxes, and do whatever it takes!
I also want to share a few thoughts regarding the national convention. I have worked hard to get a program together for this year. Again, the NABS Convention will be held during the ACB National Convention, July 5-12. 1 strongly urge you to go. I have attended for the past two years and have learned so much and made memories that will never die. I want you to have the same experience! Remember, NABS is here for you. Contact me with ideas, concerns, or comments. My number is (804)575-7408; e-mail address is mgravitt@halifax.com; home address is: 108 Ratliff Drive, South Boston, VA 24592.
Have a great spring and a hot summer!
As college students we have enough to worry about, and the U. S. Department of Education has introduced a way to apply for federal student aid that could make life a little easier.
It's called FASFA Express - an electronic financial aid application. All you need is a computer with Windows 3.1 or higher and a modem.
From July 5 through July 12, the National Alliance of Blind Students will be holding their annual convention in conjunction with the national convention of the American Council of the Blind. The convention will take place in our country's fourth largest city, Houston, Texas.
The main hotel and location of convention events is the Adam's Mark, which is already full. The overflow hotels are the Marriott West Side (call 713-538- 8338) and the Red Roof Inn (call 713-7859909). The reservation cut-off date for the hotels is June 21; rates start at $46 and go to $59 (not including tax). The Adam's Mark will provide shuttle service from the overflow hotels. There should be a great line-up of events at the convention! Make arrangements to attend now.
Following is the tentative line-up of activities for NABS.
SATURDAY, JULY 5, 1997: 8:00 PM: NABS "Welcome To Houston" Social, a time for students to get to know each other and mingle (refreshments served)
SUNDAY, JULY 6, 1997: 7:30 AM: Breakfast for scholarship winners, the scholarship committee, and NABS officers and invited guests (by invitation only)
MONDAY, JULY 7,1997: 1:00 - 1:30 PM: What is the National Alliance of Blind Students? NABS leaders give newcomers and scholarship winners an overview of NABS, moderated by Mike Gravitt, NABS President
1:30 - 2:00 PM: Educational Aid From ACB, presented by John Buckley, Chairman of ACB's Scholarship Committee
2:00 - 2:15 PM: Break
2:15 - 2:45 PM: Becoming Involved with Other Blind Students in Your State, led by leaders of NABS affiliates and other active NABS members, moderated by Mike Gravitt, NABS President
2:45 - 3:15 PM: How Can Students Become Involved In ACB? Presented by Oral O. Miller, Executive Director, American Council of the Blind
3:15 - 3:30 PM: Break
3:30 - 4:15 PM: Speaker from Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic Ooint program with Visually Impaired Data Processors International (VIDPI) - not yet finalized)
4:15 - 4:30 PM: Break
4:30 - 5:30 PM: Accessible Research Tools On the Internet Ooint program with VIDPI, not yet finalized)
TUESDAY, JULY 8, 1997: 1:30 - 2:15 PM: How to Communicate and Interact with Sighted People in a College or University Environment, presented by Dr. Phyllis Burson, Silver Springs, MD
2:15 - 3:00 PM: Reflections on the Early Times of ACB, presented by Dr. Brad Burson, Silver Springs, MD
3:00 - 3:15 PM: Break
3:15 - 4:00 PM: Getting the Most out of Your Professors, presented by Paul Edwards, President, American Council of the Blind
4:00 - 4:45 PM: Accessibility of College Entrance Exams, discussion with INVITED guests: Steve Speicher (ACB Board and NABS Governor), Sean Barrett (ACB Board), John Buckley (ACB Board and Scholarship Committee Chairman), Steve Hazlemozer (1996 ACB Scholarship Winner), and Kimberly Morrow (1996 ACB Scholarship Winner)
4:45 - 5:00 PM: Break
5:00 - 6:00 PM: Informal Discussion for Non-Traditional Students, moderated by Melissa Mann, President, Blind Students of Texas
WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1997: 7:30 AM: Breakfast for NABS Affiliate Presidents, NABS Board of Directors, and other invited guests (by invitation only)
1:30 - 2:00 PM: On Capitol Hill Students Tell Their Experiences at the JLTLI and the "Tell It To Washington" Seminar in Washington, DC, panel to include Mike Gravitt (VA), Jon Avila (VA), Samantha Schmucker (VA), Kimberly Waegele (CO), and Michael Stahl (MA)
2:00 - 4:30 PM: Business Meeting
THURSDAY, JULY 10, 1997: 1:30 - 2:00 PM: National Industries for the Blind Internships and Job Opportunities, presented by Kathy Gallagher, Rehabilitation Specialist, National Industries for the Blind, Alexandria, VA
2:00 - 2:15 PM: Iliad Knowbot: the Accessible, Text-Based MetaSearch Engine via Email -What Is It and How Can It Benefit Us? Presented by Brenda Cavenaugh, Research Scientist; Rehabilitation, Research, and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision at Mississippi State University
2:15 - 4:30 PM: Business Meeting and Wrap-Up
7:30 PM: NABS Comedy Club with the PC Cowboys! Humorous and politically correct country music. These guys have views on everything from animal rights to protecting the environment. (They are in favor of both.) Yessirorma'ameebob! It's as lonesome as an endangered wolf at an NRA gun range out there in PC Country. Door will open at 7:00 PM - CASH BAR AVAILABLE!
Attention, students! Do you know anyone who may qualify for the award mentioned in the following announcement?
The Lighthouse Inc. invites nominations for its 17th annual Pisart Vision Award, a $15,000 prize and accompanying sculpture which is given to people who have made a noteworthy contribution to the prevention, cure or treatment of severe vision impairment or blindness.
Open to citizens of any country, the award will be presented in New York City in September 1997. The award is provided through the will of Madame Georgette Pisart, a long- time Lighthouse volunteer and widow of Fernand Pisart, a Belgian diplomat and businessman.
The application deadline is Saturday, May 31, 1997.
Further information is available at http://www.cyberpulse.com/lighthouse/ - OR - By e-mail from: awardsg@lighthouse.org.
WASHINGTON REPORT
by: Kimberly Waegele
[Editor's Note: The following article by Kimberly Waegele is the one mentioned by Mike Gravitt in his President's Message.]
Enriched with this nation's most significant history, Washington, DC is an exciting place not only to visit but also to learn and make a difference. Every major decision affecting U. S. citizens is made in D.C. Recently I had the opportunity to represent Colorado and the National Alliance of Blind Students in Washington, DC at the JLTLI seminar and the "Tell it to Washington" legislative workshop. In conjunction with these events, I also had the opportunity to lobby Congress with the American Council of the Blind for four new bills.
At first the thought of lobbying scared me. The title "lobbyist" carries a certain stereotype, such as a pushy political activist. The actual process of lobbying also seemed too complex. With all of these thoughts in my mind, I was not certain if I was capable of doing the actual lobbying.
However, after ACB legal advisors gave a briefing and preparation seminar, I felt confident and ready to "tell it to Washington!"
I met with four of the eight Congressional aides from Colorado from the offices of Senator Wayne Allard, Joel Hefley (District 5), Scott McInnis (District 3) and Dan Scaefer (District 6).
Propositions to Congress were quite complex. We are striving for the re- authorization of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, Social Security Linkage, the reauthorization of IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities and Education Act) and ensuring access to telecommunications technology.
During the JLTLI (Josephine L. Taylor Leadership Institute) seminars, I had the opportunity to listen and participate in goals for the education for children who are visually impaired. Since I am visually impaired and was misdiagnosed and given the wrong accommodations during the elementary and high school years, I found these seminars especially intriguing. I served on a committee that is setting the guidelines to diagnose children with visual impairments. A lot of new concepts were discussed and, hopefully, will be implemented into the mainstream public school system soon.
I would recommend that every person get involved with events like this. Unfortunately this country has been stricken with large-scale political apathy. Voting has suffered a great loss in recent decades, and few people think their Congresspersons will listen to them. From my experience in Washington, I was relieved to learn that all of my Congressmen and their staff members were completely attentive and were also supportive of the issues we were purposing.
This was one of the most enlightening educational experiences I have ever had! Although it was some work, it was well worth the time. With these types of programs and the support ACB and JLTLI offer, I expect a bright future for blind people in the twenty-rirst century!
Black Hill State University will host its sixth annual Retreat for Visually Impaired Persons from July 26 through August 2, 1997. The Retreat brings together blind and visually impaired people from all over the country for a week of study, relaxation and fun in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Classes in western history, politics, Native American culture, music and creative writing, taught by university faculty, will be combined with field trips to many nearby tourist attractions including historic Deadwood, Devil's Tower and Mount Rushmore. Depending upon participant interest, plays, concerts, museums, nature walks, crafts, trail rides, picnics and fishing trips are often included in the activities. Also, there will be free time for participants to follow individual interests. Sighted guides are available to assist when necessary.
For more information, see our Web site at http://www.bhsu.edu/ - OR - Contact: Ms. Verla Fish, Director Extension Services Black Hills State University Spearfish, SD 57799-9508
World-Wide Web Accessibility Project
As students, the field of technology presents challenges to us constantly. The below statement from the Secretary of Education is good news to us all and demonstrates the government's desire to lend a helping hand where possible. Statement by Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley on the establishment of the World Wide Web Accessibility Project - April 3, 1997 America's rush to the Information Superhighway risks leaving behind a crucial element of our population -- our nation's 49 million persons with disabilities. The Internet has fast become one of the great inventions of our lifetimes. Yet for some citizens, this dazzling medium may offer about as much usefulness as the Pony Express.
Many Web pages cannot be accessed by people who are blind or have limited vision. Many home pages incorporate graphically-based technology that limits the accessibility of individuals with disabilities. Audio clips are of little use to those who are deaf or hearing impaired. To address these and other concerns, we are pleased to join the National Science Foundation in contributing up to $800,000 for the new World Wide Web Consortium's Web Accessibility Initiative. This effort will guide the development of industry-sponsored specifications to make the Internet accessible to all. Exciting possibilities like descriptive video, video captioning and innovative input devices will be explored. The department welcomes the opportunity through our National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research and the Office of Special Education Programs to build on its longterm support of rehabilitation engineering and accessibility. Learning online must not become a new fault line in American education, dividing the haves and have-nots. The Internet is the blackboard of the future. This also applies to the increasing role of the Internet in the workplace and as a means of regular communication. All persons - disabled and non-disabled - deserve access to information that promotes excellence in education, work and social understanding.
QUALIFIED PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE: REHABILITATION
TEACHING FOR THE BLIND & VISUALLY IMPAIRED
by: Rob Cook
Ever wonder about the folks who work in the field of rehabilitation (rehab) services for the blind and visually impaired? Even after successfully negotiating my rehab goals in 1995, 1 wondered how some folks who serve as rehab counselors got their jobs. Most of the individuals that I have had experience with seem to be concerned and able to do their jobs, but how do they get those positions? Why do so many rehab counselors, teachers, and administrators have backgrounds or educations in fields other than rehabilitation? As those public rehab entities are funded through the U.S. Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) in conjunction with their state rehab programs, are there no regulations that cover the educational or vocational eligibility of applicants for rehab service positions?
My hope in writing this article is twofold; persons who have an interest in rehab services for the blind and visually impaired need to know why there are so many "quasi-qualiried" rehab employees, and, secondly, with this information in hand, they will understand how they might impact the existing rehab system with a graduate degree in rehabilitation teaching for the blind and visually impaired. In a sense this article is a note on an academic and career objective that could lead to a potentially great job in rehab services. My belief is that we could surely use some input in the rehab field from individuals who have visual impairments and have gained an education and a certification in the field. At the least this article should give readers an idea as to how graduates may enter one of the most accessible job markets in the country.
In our wonderfully rich and diverse nation, there have never been enough academically qualified or certified rehab teachers or counselors for the blind and visually impaired. According to many academic and professional sources, including the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER), there are approximately three employment opportunities for every certified graduate in rehab teaching in our country; this also holds true for graduates of accredited orientation & mobility programs. In most states, these statistics are nearly equal for the number of openings for certified rehab counselors. Understand, though, there are many openings in the rehab field for counselors and teachers, but very few applicants have gone through an accredited university rehab teaching or counseling program. This is not the case with orientation and mobility instructors, as O&M certification from an accredited university program is a must in most situations and facilities that handle visual impairment education. The NFB reserves the right to hire noncertified O&M instructors, though few employers in the field would consider employing a noncertified O&M instructor.
As there are so few certified rehab applicants in the field when job openings arise, the only opportunity for local or regional rehab systems administrators to obtain adequate employees is to accept and interview applicants who have degrees or experience in related human services fields. In this way, we rind many rehab personnel being hired that have backgrounds or degrees in sociology, psychology, social welfare or other such fields. Individuals who are hired are scrutinized to a degree which assures administration that they are capable of surviving the learning process required of any new rehab personnel. But do they understand much about disabilities or about the specialized services required for people who are visually impaired or blind? What sort of service assessment or provision would you expect from an individual who was learning about the unique services, needs and materials for his/her assigned population in the first few weeks or months of the job? Obviously it is important to the academic and vocational objectives of any independent visually impaired or blind student to receive knowledgeable support through their counselors and teachers. The services provided by most rehab counselors, though, completely differ from those services provided by rehab teachers for the blind and visually impaired. Counselors generally assist in planning and coordinating the services which are to be provided through the consumers overall rehab services plan or IWRP. A rehab teacher provides the basic education that an individual with blindness or a visual impairment will need to survive as an independent addition in the community. These services are commonly referred to as Personal Adjustment Training or PAT.
Few counselors tread on the domain of a rehab teacher (RT), for a rehab teacher generally works within a training center for the blind and visually impaired or in the field as an itinerant case worker. Interestingly enough, a teacher may easily advance to the position of full counselor in many state rehab bureaucracies, but few counselors ever become teachers who serve a specific set of needs in the rehab organization, which is why it is important to remember who has the ability to fill more rehab positions in our slow growth job market!
A RT's position can be understood this way: a RT is often the first rehab person actually to work with a client. The counselor may make the initial contact and establish the consumer 9s eligibility and will probably even write the entire service plan for the client, but the RT is the hands-on "independence educator" for the new, visionimpaired consumer. This is especially important to an individual who is newly visually impaired or blind. It would be of great importance to have an individual who is trained in the field of vision impairment and who may be visually impaired to meet, assess and train a consumer who is newly blind or visually impaired. Who can best understand someone who is only beginning to adjust to the difficulties of a new visual impairment but a peer? What does a RT actually teach? The curriculum at an orientation or training center for a visually impaired student is quite diverse and intensive and will assist the student/consumer in overcoming the inconveniences of the disability and set the him/her on the path towards full independence.
A rehab teacher trains people who have low vision, who are severely visually impaired or who are totally blind. The teaching is concentrated in two specific areas: adaptive living skills and adaptive communications. These two areas have several specific disciplines within them that are taught to consumers as needed. Most RTs develop an individualized program of instruction for students to enhance their functionality and independence. Instruction in adaptive daily living skills (ADL) includes personal, medical and home management, adaptive kitchen skills, personal hygiene, and lessons in adaptive or low vision aids and equipment. In the area of adaptive communications, there may be instruction in braille, handwriting skills, keyboarding and adaptive computer skills and lessons in an array of adaptive communications equipment. If the student is unfamiliar with the National Library Service, the Braille & Talking Book Program in their region or Recordings for the Blind & Dyslexic, he/she may be instructed on how to use these programs, along with instruction on the use of the necessary equipment provided for such programs. There are many other ADL and communications related areas that a RT may teach: oral and social communication skills, personal finances, clothing care and labeling, leisure and recreational skills or finding readers and personal assistance. Center-based RTs rarely instruct learners in O&M, due to the presence of an instructor who is specifically charged with that duty. Itinerant RTs, though, often instruct newly blinded or visually impaired consumers in the best O&M techniques for home and near home use, such as mobility from the door to the mailbox.
There is a huge diversity of duties in the RT field, and the general public is often included in a RT's instructive domain. RTs are frequently asked to give in-services or volunteer training to new agency personnel. They might be invited to local schools or hospitals for speaking or educational engagements. Of course, every rehab employee has to deal with case management and the constraints of time management, but relief may come in the forms of job site assistance or support group organizations. The diversity of duties and opportunities for innovation in the RT field is unusual and probably has no equal in the rehab services field, and the starting annual salaries are comparable to entry level rehab counselors.
For anyone who has an interest in working with the visually impaired, there are several accredited RT programs throughout the nation, making it easy to rind one that meets your location, curriculum, and faculty preferences. Nearly all RT education is done at the graduate level, and all RT certification is achieved through Masters programs. Most schools have RSA funding for qualified students who are enrolled in rehab teaching or counseling programs, and they are constantly seeking qualified applicants. RSA funding is based on the need for more qualified and certified rehab personnel and should prove that we need more academically trained, professional rehab personnel in our country! Doesn't the idea of sharing your abilities and independent lifestyle with individuals who are new to vision loss entice you?
In the Fall of 1995, my fiance and I traveled cross-country to see some more prominent university RT programs. With a phone call to AER headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, we obtained a list of RTaccredited universities, and we set out to visit and choose one for our final academic efforts. Though we could not afford to visit all the schools on the list, we visited schools that appeared to have the most diverse concentrations in curriculum. We hope to return to Alaska to work in the field of RT, serving rural and indigenous populations there. As many schools seem to concentrate primarily on their own state's rehab concerns, we were hard pressed to locate a university that suited our unusual needs. We chose Western Michigan University due to several faculty members' rehab experience in sub-Arctic regions. There are surely university programs to suit your specific needs. The following section lists some schools we are familiar with, but it does not reflect any school's superiority over another. We merely had experiences at these schools, and no choice should be made on the basis of the following list. There are several other universities with rehab programs, and all are of excellent quality. Go and investigate! Locate schools through either AER or the National Rehabilitation Association (NRA) and call or write the universities you are interested in to figure out their value to you as an individual who is interested in helping people who have vision impairments. GOOD LUCK!
The list below contains university names, programs which may be offered, people to contact for further information and their phone numbers:
Western Michigan University programs in rehab teaching, 0 & M and the only dual rehab teaching and counseling degree in the country Contact: Dr. Susan Ponchilla Department of Blind Rehab Western Michigan University 3404 Sangren Hall Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5111 Dept. Office: (616) 387-3455 Dr. Ponchilla: (616) 387-3450
University of Northern Illinois at DeKalb - Program in RT is one ofthe most accessible and well-funded in the nation. Contact: Professor Patty Koenig Dept.,of Educational Psychology, Counseling & Special Education Northern Illinois University DeKalb, IL 60115-2854 (815) 753-8456
University of Massachusetts @ Boston - a well known program in RT and has options in 0 & M and rehab counseling Contact: Dr. Bob McCully Rehabilitation Teaching Program
Graduate College of Education Univ. of Massachusetts a Boston Boston, MA 02125 (617) 287-5000 Assistant Chair, Allan White: (617) 287-7643
University of Arkansas @ Little Rock - excellent new programs in rehab teaching, counseling, O&M Contact: Dr. Pat Smith Department of Rehabilitation Univ. of Arkansas (& Little Rock 2801 S. University Avenue Little Rock, AR 72204 (501) 569-3169
Pennsylvania College of Optometry - programs in rehab teaching, 0 & M, and low vision rehab Contact: Prof. Maureen Duffy Pennsylvania College of Optometry Dept. of Graduate Studies in Vision Impairment 1200 West Godfery Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19141 Office: (215) 276-6290 Ms. Duffy: (215) 276-6297
Texas Alliance of Blind Students President: Melissa Mann
Melissa reports that it has been a quiet Spring in Texas. In late May the excitement
will pick up, as they head to El Paso for their state convention. "After
we fill up on tacos, we'll be electing all new officers," she says. Of
course, they're all looking forward to the ACB convention in July in their fine
Lone Star State. Melissa encourages all of y'all to join them for that great
week.
Old Dominion Alliance of Blind Students (ODABS) President: Mike Gravitt
It looks to be another great year for the ODABS, Virginia's NABS affiliate.
As of now we have 22 paid members for 1997 including several new members! Recently
ODABS has spent time doing publicity to gain new members as well as putting
together our first newsletter of the year for our membership. We will soon be
planning for our convention, which will be in conjunction with the Old Dominion
Council of the Blind and Visually Impaired. We are also going to start building
a web page. At least three students in Virginia are also making arrangements
to be at the ACB National Convention in July. If you know anyone that would
like to become involved in ODABS, please put them in touch with Mike Gravitt.
Illinois Alliance of Blind Students President: Keith Wessel
Illinois is still recovering from the recent fall-through of our Access Technology
workshop. No one RSVP'ed to a day of learning about the latest in assistive
technology, meeting other visually impaired students from Illinois, and enjoying
the best pizza south of Chicago. Rather than hiding in the corner, though, we're
going to try even harder to encourage student participation in the state. Our
state convention in October will be held in the Chicago suburb of Schomberg.
The location should give a lot more students the chance to get involved. In
addition to the convention plans, we are continuing to work on boosting membership
and making others aware of the organization.
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