Yesterday, while we were at the NFB’s Jernigan Institute , my mentor Harriet and three of the members of the News Slam (Kayla, Grecia, and I) took part in a press conference and discussed some key blindness issues. The press conference focused on a formal complaint the NFB filed against the Baltimore City schools because of their lack of training blind students in the use of Braille. The lack of Braille, of course, also causes a decrease in graduation rates for those who are blind. And when students are looking for a job, they tend to be held back and/or rejected because they were not able to compete with language-based activities without the key tools blind people use every day
We discussed how the School Board and other organizations can solve this problem and how they can make things better for all blind students. It was the first time I ever took part in a press conference, let alone one that was going to be broadcast on TV and radio. We managed to make it through the press conference, even though it was a little nerve-wracking for a newbie.
In the question-and-answer that followed, we discussed what was holding the schools back from achieving the goals for all blind students in Maryland and possibly in other states. We also learned the percentage of students who are blind or visually impaired and the percentages of students who have graduated or not graduated yet. I never realized that it was so difficult for blind students to get the accommodations they needed in order to do well in school and in life. Overall, the press conference was both thrilling and a little intimidating, but we managed to get through it. There is so much to learn about the needs of blind students and how we can help give them the tools they will need to succeed in life.
Archive for the ‘Interviews’ Category
My First Press Conference
Friday, July 31st, 2009, 08:46 AM By OlaedoGetting to Know More About Barbara Pierce
Friday, July 31st, 2009, 08:26 AM By KaylaMembers of the National Federation of the Blind know Barbara Pierce as the editor of the Braille Monitor. I had the opportunity to interview her while on a bus ride to the Jernigan Institute. As we bounced over bumps, and talked in rather loud voices to hear one another over the clammer, she told me the story of how she survived in college with just a tape player, a cane that reached only to her waste, and a slate and stylus!
Barbara has had retinitis Pigmentosa since age two. She attended a regular public school, and read print. It wasn’t until the summer of her seventh grade year that she learned Braille. However, the only book that she had available to her was a high school physics book. “It definitely was not an ideal situation for someone who had just learned to read Braille. When people are first learning to read they really need something that captures their interests,” she said.
Despite having limited access to Braille she was able to keep up her skills. While in college she changed majors several times and finally decided to pursue English, although she had disliked it in school. Through her college career she had only that Braille which she wrote for her own personal use’ mostly notes for classes. “In college I had the best notes of anyone in the class. I would take notes with my slate and then record them so that they would be coherent.
After graduating from college she married and pursued a career in English. She heard about the NFB while reading a magazine which ironically had been printing some disparaging things about the Federation. . It wasn’t until several years later when someone gave her a voluminous pile of recordings done by the NFB that she became engrossed in the work of the federation. “It was like finding a family that I didn’t know existed!” Barbara remembers. She attended her first convention in 1975 and hasn’t missed one since!
It was a great pleasure meeting Barbara and I hope as the week progresses that I can get to know her better!
My Mentor’s Story: Harriet on the Go
Friday, July 31st, 2009, 08:05 AM By OlaedoHarriet Go originates from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She realized that she was blind from a very young age, but she didn’t know how her blindness would affect her in the future. She went to a school for the blind and she was taught Braille, mobility, alternative activities, and everything and anything that blind students needed in life; it was like a regular school. When it came to adjusting to the environment outside of school, other people made her life difficult
Harriet’s family has always been very supportive. But when it came to her peers, she went through a difficult time. She had to deal with other people and their stereotypes and she had to prove to them all that blind people can do things as well as sighted people. She was sometimes on the outside socially. But as she got older, she got stronger and bolder, and had a stronger belief in herself, especially when the NFB came into her life. .
When Harriet first heard about the NFB Youth Slam, she was at an NFB convention in Dallas. This is her first year as a mentor. She is enjoying it very much. Harriet has enjoyed the entire week, but what she really is excited about the most is the rally at the Lincoln Memorial and the March for Independence in Washington D.C. Overall, as a blind person, she is growing stronger every day and every year. She has taught me a great deal, both as a mentor and a friend.
Aloha From Karl Pangilinan.
Friday, July 31st, 2009, 07:40 AM By DenzelHey everyone, its me with another interesting interview. I had the opportunity to interview my mentor, Karl. He is from Honolulu, Hawaii, which is on one of the islands that make up the state. Karl’s hobbies include Playing the guitar, walking ( which I also do.), hanging out at the beach, and cooking. Karl came to The Youth Slam because he wanted to do at least one good deed for society. He says that being apart of this year’s Youth Slam has been a learning experience for him because he has learned not to live in fear and because his mentees are cool. Karl is having fun laughing with mentees and now realizes that he can relate to other blind people just as I can relate to him.
Growing up was a hard road for Karl. He was born blind, and his parents sheltered him. They felt that he was in the way and helpless, but they also wanted him to be perfect. Karl felt bad and was driven to rebel against everyone. He spoke about his high school life which brought a tear to my eye. Karl was picked on by his sister’s boyfriend and was later abandon by his sister. He also had bad grades because he had no accessible equipment for blind students. Karl says the only things he did well in school were dancing and wrestling, but he had to fight to join the team because he had to prove that a blind guy could wrestle. After high school he left home because he recognized that he had to grow up since his parents weren’t going to be around forever.
So Karl went to a training center in California, where he got the proper training to be a successful blind adult. He says it was scary, but fear drove him to learn quickly. After his training he attempted to attend college to study electronic music. He has one trustworthy friend who also wants him to be successful and live life.
Karl plans to find a job teaching computers. He wants us blind teens to keep our heads up. So, Karl, thank you. I want you to know that you are the best. Thanks for being my mentor. I love you and everyone else here.
Until next time.
Interesting Careers: Interview with Ameenah Lippold
Friday, July 31st, 2009, 06:57 AM By OlaedoAmeenah Lippold is a member of the Department of Defense and also works at a Customer Service where soldiers go for help to find jobs if they need them. She is also one of the helpers in the 2009 NFB Youth Slam. To her her career choice was a leap of faith, so she looks forward to the future. But her life’s career didn’t start out that way.
She grew up in a very supportive family. Her mother recently passed away, but, when she was living, she never told her daughter, “I don’t think you can do this.” She always encouraged Ameenah to do well. Her siblings were just as supportive. They never doubted or questioned her, and they were great with support. Ameenah and her stepfather never really saw eye to eye on things, but he never pushed her aside, which some people do when going through difficult times.
Ameenah had a difficult road getting to where she is today. She was a history major, focusing on the business side of technology and also on science. She worked at the Jernigan Institute, going from site to site and understanding other people’s needs. Not only did Ameenah struggle with her majors in college, but she also dealt with depression and anxiety. She looked for jobs, but she was constantly rejected because of her blindness. She had trouble figuring out the right balance between getting accommodations at work and asking people for assistance when she needed it. Ameenah had Vocational Rehabilitation Services in college, but she had to pay for her own equipment and take a test in order to enter the Institute, which was frustrating.
But, like others, she has made it through. Amina never thought she’d be where she is today, and she is happy and satisfied. She advises those who want to pursue her career to get their blindness skills under their belts, the sooner the better, and to work on becoming more social.
In her spare time Ameenah loves to play the piano and is an avid performer. She is also a devoted Christian, so she goes to church every chance she gets. She loves going to concerts, mentoring, and of course doing NFB-related events.
Amina Liepol is a member of the Defense System Agency and is also working at a Customer Self Service, which is where solders go for help to find jobs if they needed it. She is also one of the helpers in the 2009 NFB Youth Slam. To her, this career choice was like a leap of faith, so she looked forward to the future. But her life’s career didn’t start out that way.
She grew up in a very supportive family. Her mother recently passed away, but she has never told her daughter, “I don’t think you can do this.” She has always encouraged Amina to do well in life. Her siblings were just as supportive because they never doubted or questioned her and they were great with support. Amina and her stepfather never really saw eye to eye on things, but he never pushed her aside, which some people tend to do while going through difficult times.
Amina had a difficult road getting to where she is today. She was a history major, focusing on the business side of technology and also on science. She worked at the Jerrigan Institute, going from site to site and understanding other people’s needs. Amina not only struggled with her majors in college, but she also dealt with depression and anxiety. She also looked for jobs, but she was constantly rejected, due to her blindness. She was also having a difficult time figuring out the balance of getting accommodations at work and asking people for assistance when needed. Amina also had Vocational Rehabilitation Services in college, but the problem was that she had to pay for her own equipment and she had to take a foot test in order to enter the institute, which became frustrating to her.
But, like everyone else, she has managed to make it through. Amina felt that she never thought she’d be here today and she was happy and satisfied in a good way. She advises those who want to pursue this career to put their blindness skills under their belts, the sooner the better, and to learn to be more social.
In her spare time, Amina loves to play the piano and is an avid performer. She is also a devoted Christian, so she goes to church every chance she gets. And she also loves going to concerts, mentoring, and of course, doing NFB related events.
A Speech to Remember
Thursday, July 30th, 2009, 11:48 PM By DenzelI was honored to have been chosen to make a speech on be half of The Maryland Association of Blind Students. “Why,” you ask? The Baltimore public school system is not giving blind students the materials we need in order to be successful in school. MABS is therefore working with the NFB of Maryland to ensure that the next generation of blind students will have proper Braille and cane training, effective assessments to determine appropriate services, and functional assistive technology. I strongly encourage each and every one of you to make sure you and your peers are getting what you need.
While on stage, I was thinking, “God, how am I going to top these two great leaders? Is my hair okay? Are my pants zipped? Oh no! I forgot my speech.” When my name was introduced, I made my way up to the mic telling myself, “Alright Denzel. Remember just like we practiced.” As I began to speak I got extremely nervous, and some of my friends told me I sounded like I was about to cry. But by the time I realized that I was nervous, I was done speaking. I got through it because my pride took over. As I walked off the stage, Ms. Rosy congratulated me, and it was on to the interviews. I felt like my favorite football player, Derrick Mason. The reporter asked me a series of questions, and I did my best to answer them.
I would like to thank my NFB family and all who support me and other blind students. Without your support, blind students in Maryland and all over the United States would have no hope for an education equal to that provided to our sighted peers.
Podcast: Dr. Marc Maurer on Being President
Thursday, July 30th, 2009, 11:02 PM By RonzaThe NFB Youth Slam attracts many dynamic, successful, and inspiring blind people. below you will find interviews conducted by our very own Slam News students, some of whom are reporting for the very first time.
In this podcast, the Slam News Team interviews Dr. Marc Maurer on being President of the National Federation of the Blind.
Podcast: What Weren’t You Allowed to Do in Science Class Because of Your Blindness?
Thursday, July 30th, 2009, 10:42 PM By RonzaWhat’s happening at NFB Youth Slam? What’s on the minds of the mentors and students here at the University of Maryland? What do people really think about blindness and what is possible? Follow our slam news crew as they hit the streets to find out.
In this podcast, the Slam News Team asks blind students what they weren’t allowed to do in science classes because of their blindness.
Podcast: How Has Being at NFB Youth Slam Changed You?
Thursday, July 30th, 2009, 10:32 PM By RonzaWhat’s happening at NFB Youth Slam? What’s on the minds of the mentors and students here at the University of Maryland? What do people really think about blindness and what is possible? Follow our slam news crew as they hit the streets to find out.
In this podcast, the Slam News Team asks blind students how being at Youth Slam has changed them.
Meet the Instructors: Barbara Pierce
Thursday, July 30th, 2009, 10:25 PM By TamasBarbara Pierce was born in Atlanta, Georgia. She moved to the outside of Pittsburgh area as a child. Her least favorite school subject was English, and writing was never her forte. She never imagined that she would make writing her career or that she would enjoy it so much.
As a result of her early dislike of writing, it was difficult for her to decide on a major at Oberlin College. At first, Barbara began working towards psychology, but she later switched to studying biology. Finally, in college, she began to see English as “not just about writing.” Ironically, she dated and eventually married a professor from the English department.
Barbara had substantial usable vision during childhood but lost it with time. Growing up, her family encouraged her to view herself as a regular sighted person. College however made her realize that she was blind and had many challenges.
She was not aware of any National Federation of the Blind programs until her children were born. A county-recruit person helped convince her of the organization’s benefits and to give it a try. By October of 1974, Barbara Pierce had founded a new NFB chapter.
Barbara first heard of the 2007 Youth slam during the planning phase. As the long-time editor of the Braille Monitor, her goal was to report on the program.
In 2009, she was called and given the opportunity to work during youth slam as an instructor.
After graciously accepting this offer, Barbara Pierce began working with students from the News crew. Her main objective is to help them create articles for the Braille monitor, providing editing tips and constructive feedback on their writing in the process.
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