In addition to our projects, many other exciting events take place at the NFB Youth Slam. From our sports and games night to our Youth Slam talent show, the Slam News team has the inside scoop on what’s happening all over campus and beyond.
Click on the link below to listen to the 2009 NFB Youth Slam Talent Show.
http://www.blindscience.org/ncbys/YouthSlamAudio.asp?SnID=353399484
The 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, NFB President, who discusses kissing.
On Wednesday afternoon, a press conference took place at the National Center for the Blind. It announced that the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) had filed a complaint against the Baltimore City Public School system with the Maryland State Department of Education. The complaint states that the Baltimore City Public Schools do not provide their students with the important, essential things such as the proper equipment, skills, or testing assessments. The NFB proposed that the school systems allow us to help determine appropriate services for blind students. We are still awaiting a response from them.
We interviewed the NFB’s press contact, Chris Danielson. We asked him questions involving both sides of the story. For example, we asked him why he believed the school system wouldn’t take the time to properly assess their students. His response was that most schools want to treat blind students as if they weren’t blind. However, other considerations like the lack of financial resources and qualified personnel play a major part as well.
We also asked him why most students are denied the right to a second assessment. The answer to that is simple: most students don’t know their rights.
Chris believes that over a hundred students in the Baltimore school system are not getting the proper tools they need. He admits he’s not sure how many students drop out per year but is certain the numbers are quite high. Though he knows Baltimore is a struggling school system, he feels that that is no excuse to sell their blind students short.
Finally, we asked him what the NFB planned to do to ensure that students receive a quality education in Baltimore City. He indicated that our plans include pilot programs to teach elementary school students Braille and mobility, and to educate the students and their families on their rights.
While sitting in the audience, I watched as my fellow blogger and native Baltimorean, Denzel Ferges delivered a speech. It seems slightly ironic to me that this would be happening in the city where the NFB headquarters are. I’m sure it’s nothing any of us expected and no one liked. For, I know Denzel personally and he always seemed so together, so collected. But underneath the surface, he struggles with things he cannot do because his school system failed to give him the proper resources and training. It was an honor for me to be able to support Denzel and all of our fellow blind students in and outside of Baltimore by attending the press conference.
When I went to the NFB’s headquarters I listened to a press conference on the crisis of poor Braille instruction in the Baltimore City school system. I am proud of the actions that the NFB is taking by filing a formal complaint. This is one step to make sure that every blind or visually impaired student should and will learn Braille.
After the conference I went to see the remarkable technology exhibited in the NFB’s International Braille and Technology Center. Afterwards
We went to the talent show and it was pretty good — I can’t exactly tell you who was my favorite. All of them were.
The trip to the NFB National Center was a great experience and I can’t wait to see what else is in store.
Whether it’s whipping up a delicious recipe, managing his own restaurant, or coaching his children’s soccer team. Willie Black doesn’t take no for an answer if he wants to pursue any of his passions.
Willie Black works at a variety of jobs. He is the manager of several snack bars for the Federal Court, operates his own culinary business, manages a restaurant, and is pursuing a bachelors degree in Culinary management.
Willie has always had an interest in food. “I love the way two people can cook the same thing and it always tastes different,” Willie said. It turns out that Willie was encouraged by his mentors in the National Federation of the Blind to try to pursue his dream of being a chef, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Hello to all readers!
Once again, it is Tomi journaling directly from the one and only, extraordinarily slammy Youth Slam! Well, a lot of people do slam into me with their trays during meals, but perhaps that’s a story for future article.
We had a sports night two days ago, and I thought I’d record my experience.
Each of us was assigned to a sport based on our top five choices, which we all selected during registration.
I was assigned to goalball. As a longtime goalball player, I already knew how to play this sport.
Readers who are not familiar with Goalball can watch several YouTube videos like the
U.S. VS. Japan competition
But I will also explain the sport.
We went to the Armory, the loud, echoing building where we had our dance. The goalball field was set up there. Tactile tape on the floor outlines the three wings (Left, center, and right) on each side of the court. Each team consists of three players, so a total of six are required to play.
Our group was divided into two subgroups: Those who already knew how to play goalball and those who didn’t. I was part of the players group, so for us they recapped ball blocking techniques.
Goalball is a special sport because you use your body a lot to block the ball. In addition every player is blindfolded. When you are blocking, you must carefully observe where the ball is rolling. You throw your body to either the left or right, depending on where it is coming from. Protecting vital body parts such as your face is also important, so you can shield your head with your hands. If you do not block the ball, it scores a goal by rolling and staying in the field. Sometimes the ball bounces out of bounds simply by hitting something like your leg, and that is still considered a block.
On the other side of the room those new to the sport learned how to throw the ball because that task is also quite an experience. A highball is one that is thrown too high and flies across the court. When throwing, it’s important to face the field and throw as if you were bowling the ball, sort of rolling and throwing at the same time.
Although we had time to play for only half an hour, Goalball gets very intense, with fast throws and blocks. It’s a fun sport, and I encourage both blind and sighted readers to check it out and play on a team if one is in your area. One future project I’m considering is setting up more teams across my city. I believe that both blind and sighted players would enjoy this sport equally. It’s fun and intense!
I interviewed the receptionist here in Annapolis hall. I asked her some questions. Even though she was busy, she took the time to answer them, which I appreciated because it was an interesting interview. Here are some questions I asked her:
Q. How do you feel about blind people being here?”
A. I was shocked and wondering what their going to do about the bathroom because there is no Braille. I then mentioned how one of my friends wasn’t so lucky.
Q. Do you think that the blind will be able to get around?
A. She mentioned that she has a relative who is blind and very independent.
Q. Would you be comfortable with a totally blind person driving around?”
A. “No, I wouldn’t.” I then mentioned ongoing tests of self-driving cars.
Q. Do you wonder how we read Braille?
A. Yes I really do wonder how blind kids do it. I then showed her how we do it. She was really interested.
A. Would you consider going out with a blind person? (For the record she has a boyfriend.)
A. Yes, if there were chemistry.
I thought it was a really good interview. Her name is Monica, so, when you see her, thank her for letting us know about how some of the University students here feel. Remember, say hi to her and smile.
Tuesday night was pronounced Sports Night, a change from our science and engineering track coverage. Right after dinner, everyone was separated according to the sport they chose before coming here. I was put into the Goalball category with most of my Georgia Girls team. Ah, the memories.
The walk there was a pretty long one but it was fun. None of us were in our usual pods or tracks so it gave us all an opportunity to interact with and meet some of the other 200 students we wouldn’t have met otherwise.
When we got there, we were sorted into groups of people that had played and groups of people who hadn’t. There were about ten of us who had actually played on teams, four of us from the Georgia team. Then, we were further split into two teams and handed knee pads and eye shades. Most of the players were girls and we were almost all wearing flip-flops. Therefore, pretty much all of us played shoeless, a practice that would result in some embarrassing moments.
After we were all outfitted, we needed a scrimmage game starter. I wasn’t a starter, but when I came into the game, our team was losing and they thought putting me in the center would solve things. Big mistake, guys!!! I was fine for about the first thirty seconds. Then, it was my turn to roll the ball. I stood up, backed up to take my roll, and tripped. The ball rolled smoothly down the court, but sadly, so did my face. No one laughed, except me, and for that, I was both happy and relieved. I felt like a fool, but at least I was a fool having fun.
Our team still lost, but it was fun nonetheless. At one point, the ball was passed to me, and in waiting for the game whistle, we got a delayed game penalty. It was really fun though.
I am now a high school graduate so playing Goalball with my team is virtually impossible, unless I want to do it on the national level. But for me, Goalball is a hobby and I love it. Being there that night reminded me of how much I’m going to miss my old high school game.
The 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 Mike May, who discusses regaining his sight.
Listen to the Podcast by going to
http://www.blindscience.org/ncbys/YouthSlamAudio.asp?SnID=353399484
The 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 Mike May, coordinator of the Way Fun.
