Albany Becomes More Accessible a Step at a Time
Another step toward improved pedestrian safety was achieved recently when the first in a series of audible traffic signals was installed, and turned on at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Hawk Street, near the Capitol Building in Albany, N.Y., one of Albany's busiest intersections. While there are a few widely scattered audible traffic signals on the outer edges of Albany, the intersection of Washington Avenue and Hawk Street is the first high-volume intersection to receive an audible traffic signal. Several additional key intersections are expected to receive accessible pedestrian signals in the near future.
While the audible traffic signal project has been a very important endeavor of the Capital District Chapter of the American Council of the Blind of New York, the real winners are the members of the blind and visually impaired community, not merely any particular agency.
Many thanks to our chapter's pedestrian safety committee for the countless hours of work which went into this important endeavor.
Good luck to other ACB chapters throughout the country who are working to get audible traffic signals installed in their communities. Never give up, and keep on pushing in the direction of better pedestrian safety. Remember, it is not an impossible task. It is a dream that can come true!
New Discussion List Launched for Librarians and Library Patrons
Library Users of America (LUA), an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind, recently announced that it has launched a new Internet discussion list designed for librarians and patrons to share information and ideas about programs and services at all types of libraries as they affect people who are blind or visually impaired. If you are interested in participating on the list, subscribe by sending an e-mail post to librarytalk- [email protected] or complete the form on the association's web site at http://libraryusers.tripod.com/internet.htm.
$10,000 Drawing to Support Scholarship Fund
A super drawing has been organized to raise funds for the ACB national scholarship program. Only 300 tickets will be sold. The owner of the winning ticket will receive $10,000. The second prize is $500, and third prize is $300. Tickets cost $100 each. If you don't think you can afford to buy a ticket yourself, you can partner with up to four friends to buy the ticket and share the proceeds among yourselves if yours is the winning ticket. Local chapters, state affiliates or special-interest groups, as well as individuals, can purchase tickets to support this worthy cause. The winning ticket will be drawn at the banquet during the 2002 ACB national convention. You do not have to be present to win.
The idea grew from a small committee of NOVA chapter members from northern Virginia, and ACB staff. NOVA receives no money from this volunteer service project. For more information, or to purchase a ticket, contact Billie Jean Keith by e-mail, [email protected], or by phone at (703) 528-4455. Once she has your check in hand, she can mail you a ticket.
AAVL Excited about Convention Events, Programs, and Prizes!
by Teddie-Joy Remhild
The Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss (AAVL) has some wonderful events, fun and prizes planned for the 2002 ACB convention in Houston! Let's start with our AAVL Raffle Fundraiser: How about a three-day, two-night stay at the Orleans Hotel in Las Vegas, located at 4500 Tropicana Blvd. with free shuttles, public transportation and taxis to take you to the strip. This prize also includes two free breakfast buffets and two free dinner buffets. The Orleans also has on its premises a movie complex, several outstanding restaurants and a large swimming pool. Our other prizes include a 20-cassette collection of "Old Time Radio Shows" and a gorgeous "Heart of America" handmade afghan donated by board member Milly Lillibridge. Now that we've piqued your interest with that wonderful assortment of prizes, let us tell you about all the outstanding programs and events scheduled for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of convention week.
Don't forget to join us on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. for the AAVL Musical Mixer with entertainment provided by our own piano virtuoso Al Gayzagian! We'll also have an entertaining luncheon on Tuesday and joint programs with GDUI and SASI. Watch for more details and registration information in coming issues.
NABT'S 2002 Convention Program Is Truly out of This World!
by Carla Hayes
As you read this article, many of you are probably finalizing your plans for the ACB national convention in Houston, which will take place from June 29 to July 6, 2002. As you fill out your pre-registration forms, please allow time during convention week to attend the exciting activities sponsored by the National Association of Blind Teachers. Here is our lineup for the week.
We'll kick off our program on Sunday, June 30 from 8 to 10 a.m. with our annual breakfast. The program topic will be "Impress And Dress For Success: It's All In Your Image." Our presenter will be Lynn Cooper, an image awareness consultant and motivational speaker who is regularly featured on ACB Reports. Just in case you miss the breakfast, or if you have additional questions, there will be two image awareness break-out sessions with Lynn Cooper from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and at 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. This will give you a chance to meet with her in a smaller group setting. Immediately after the breakfast program on Sunday, there will be an NABT board meeting. This is an open meeting; anyone is welcome to attend. The exact time and location of the board meeting will be announced at the breakfast.
On Tuesday, July 2, the NABT business meeting will take place from 1:45 to 2:30 p.m. Come to share your ideas for NABT and to learn more about our organization. After the business meeting, there will be a timely program with an interesting title: "School Violence, Terrorism and Other Emergencies: What To Do Before The Slugging Starts." September 11, 2001 has proven to us that we live in very dangerous and uncertain times. In order to address the concerns that many people have about school safety, we asked a representative from the Houston D.A.R.E. program to come in and present a program for us.
Wednesday, July 3rd will also be a busy day for NABT. From 1:30 to 3 p.m., Cindy MacArthur, the Education Resources Coordinator at the Space Center in Houston will present a workshop titled: "Education From Out Of This World." In this interesting program, you will learn about accessible NASA web sites and participate in stimulating group activities. Then, from 3 to 5 p.m., NABT and FIA will join forces to sponsor a writers' workshop titled: "Teachers And Writers: Applying Writing Without Scotch Tape." The workshop presenter will be Dana Nichols, editor of "Our Special" magazine and college-level writing instructor. This workshop will include exercises to sharpen your writing techniques.
As you can see, NABT has a full and exciting schedule for convention 2002. Why not come and share in the excitement?
IVIE: Taking Care of Business at the 2002 ACB Convention
by Carla Hayes
The Independent Visually Impaired Enterprisers (IVIE) has always been an important part of the ACB national convention, and this year is no exception! Here is what we have planned for convention week.
Many of IVIE's activities will take place on Monday, July 1. We will start with our breakfast and business meeting at 7:30 a.m. Come and share a delicious meal with old friends and new, learn more about IVIE and help us to make important decisions about our dynamic affiliate! Our program will take place on Monday afternoon at 1:45. The name of the program will be "Taking Care Of Business." A panel of blind and visually impaired business owners will discuss successful business practices which they use to meet the needs of their sighted clientele. There will be plenty of time for questions and answers and exchanging ideas.
Throughout convention week, IVIE will have a booth in the exhibit hall. Blind and visually impaired business owners will have the opportunity to buy blocks of time at the booth and showcase their products and services. Be sure to visit the IVIE booth often because different people, products and services will be featured at different times.
So, there's a sneak preview of IVIE's convention week activities. As you plan your days during the convention, be sure to save plenty of time for IVIE. You will be glad you did!
Want to Buy a Horse in Houston?
Where can you go this summer in Houston to enjoy a good horse race, have a glass of wine and mingle with friends, learn about low vision services in the Houston area, or dance to the best music in town? Try the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International. This year's convention program, mixer, dances, and Wednesday Game Night promise to be the best ever planned.
The events begin Sunday morning with everything you want to know about low vision Houston style. Learn about the role of the low vision therapist in the vision rehabilitation team, the low vision clinic at the Houston Lighthouse, and other topics of interest from low vision professionals in the Houston area. That afternoon, enjoy a sneak preview of what's new inside and outside of the exhibit hall with Janis Stanger and vendors who are exhibiting technology at the convention this year. That evening, attend the best mixer CCLVI has ever hosted. But find some time during the day to take a little nap so you can stay up for the highlight of the day: dancing and listening to music the way you like it with Gordon Kent taking requests.
Sunday's activities are just a sampling of what will be available throughout the week. Of particular interest is the program session scheduled for Monday afternoon. Members of the board of directors of CCLVI will join with others in a discussion of issues in rehabilitation for people with low vision. Also scheduled is a panel discussion on different philosophical approaches to training for those who are blind and visually impaired. Particular emphasis will be placed on the impact various approaches may have on those seeking training. The session will conclude with an update on proposed legislation concerning Medicare coverage of vision rehabilitation services.
New to the calendar this year is the Wednesday Game Night. Charles Glaser and Barbara Kron are busily planning the social event of the convention: an exciting night of horse racing, our own spin-off of "The Newlywed Game," featuring married couples well-known to members of ACB, team trivia, Name That Tune and the Dating Game. Anyone looking for a lot of laughs will be there Wednesday night to cheer on their favorite horse, or root for their chosen jockey. Between races, laugh at the antics of our Dating Game contestants, and enjoy finding out how much our couples actually know about each other. And, of course, there will be plenty of team trivia, and Name That Tune with pianist Janiece Petersen.
Friday night, after the banquet, top off your convention week with the CCLVI Texas Farewell Dance with Gordon Kent providing the best dance music in town.
CCLVI invites everyone in ACB to join us this summer in Houston for some of the best programming and activities we have ever planned.
Women's Concerns Committee Program Plan
The ACB Women's Concerns Committee has planned a wide variety of program items for this year's convention to address the needs and interests which are particularly important to women with impaired vision. As you attend our sessions, remember that we are eager to hear from you about how we're doing and where we should go from here.
On Saturday afternoon, June 29, from 3 to 4:30 p.m., we will hear from Mary Mehn, who has been conducting a project called Mammacare, concerned with communicating to various special populations awareness of breast cancer prevention and the need for and technique of self-examination. Following her presentation, Dr. Mehn will be available for the first part of the week by appointment to demonstrate self-examination techniques to individuals.
On Sunday, June 30 from 10 a.m. to noon, committee member Phyllis Burson, a clinical psychologist, will lead a discussion about the kinds of interpersonal relationships women with vision impairment participate in and how skill in managing these relationships can affect their quality of life.
On Wednesday morning from 7 to 8:30 a.m., our breakfast session marks the return of a program which was quite popular the last time it was presented (1993 and 1994). "Breakfast Rolls and Role Models" will feature four women who have been deeply involved in the leadership of ACB.
On Wednesday afternoon from 3 to 4:30 p.m., our own Phyllis Burson will return to discuss the interrelated phenomena of self- esteem, assertiveness and anger as they affect blind and visually impaired women.
And finally, on Thursday evening, July 4, from 7 to 9:30 p.m., committee member Jill Tobin will present a "Fashion Update." Come and learn from Jill about what's hot and what's not.