National Federation of the Blind of Arizona
Welcome to the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) of Arizona, the Arizona state affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind. We are changing what it means to be blind throughout the state!
If you are blind or visually impaired, you should know about the National Federation of the Blind of Arizona. Why? Because the NFB of Arizona is an organization of hundreds of people like you working together to promote better services and opportunities in education, rehabilitation, employment, and more for blind persons.
The NFB of Arizona provides encouragement and a network of support and promotes an understanding of the real problems of blindness... the attitudes and misconceptions which we and the general public have about blindness. We believe that, with training and opportunity, the average blind or visually impaired person can lead a perfectly normal life... not just dream about it!
We invite you to explore our site, learn more and contact us.
Apply Now for Our 2013 Scholarship!
On September 13-15 at our annual state convention, the National Federation of the Blind of Arizona (NFBA) will award a $1,000 scholarship to recognize achievement by blind scholars. Please review our cover letter for more information about this exciting opportunity and apply as soon as possible.
May 2013 President's Message
May 6, 2013
Hello fellow Federationists,
This month, we will discuss:
- Quarterly board meeting and philosophy session Saturday, May 11
- State convention auction preparation
- NFBA affiliate fundraising raffle and Arizona Association of Blind Students raffle
- Opportunity to participate as a mentor to University students preparing to become teachers of blind and visually impaired teachers
- Questions and answers about the NFB new program to accept donations of automobiles and other vehicles
February 2013 President's Message
February 1, 2013
Hello fellow Federationists,
Legislative season is upon us again. We have a delegation going to Washington seminar the first week of February, and will be calling on our Arizona legislators later this month.
In this message, we will talk about the following:
- NFBA quarterly board meeting - Saturday, February 9 at 10 a.m.
- NFBA Legislative Update
- Kernel book story referred to at the celebration of the late Bob Eschbach's life
- University of Arizona Master's degree preparation of Teacher of blind andvisually impaired students program application deadline - February 15
- NFB national scholarships application due date is approaching
- Stipends from Jernigan Fund to help first - timers participate in the 2013 NFB national convention
- Details of quiet car rules implementation
- Students' sale of Whozit shaped flash drives
January 2013 President's Message
January 4, 2013
Hello fellow Federationists,
Happy New Year!
Let's talk about the following things this month:
- Washington Seminar
- Arizona Legislative Update
- American Medical Association handbook of first aid and emergency care Available from NLS
- 2013 NFB Writing Contest
- Roots and Wings
December 2012 President's Message
December 4, 2012
Hello fellow Federationists,
We have lots of information to share as the year ends and the new year plans are being made!
- Chapter Christmas parties
- West Valley change to a telephone conference meeting December 12
- Financial assistance available to participate in the February Washington seminar
- NFBA January Caribbean cruise
- Scholarship information
- Condolences for Mike Ruddy's mother
- An article from Anil Lewis regarding Goodwill and fair wages
- Free Talking Prescription labels
- An article by Gary Wunder, as published in the NFB publication for parents and teachers - Future Reflections
- An appeal from our national office to consider using a service called Good Search
November 2012 President's Message
Hello fellow Federationists,
Let's talk about the following things this month:
- November 6 election day voter hotline.
- NFBA affiliate quarterly board meeting by teleconference Saturday, November 10 at 10:00 a.m.
- First NFBA At Large chapter meeting by teleconference Sunday, November 18 at 7:00 p.m.
- November 30 (Visual rehabilitation and technology expo)
- The Arizona Diabetes Action Network holding a holiday raffle.
- Social Security reports the changes in the cost of living for the upcoming year.
- Hadley just released a new business module, "Selling on EBay".
- Louisiana Tech University offering scholarships to future teachers of blind children and adults
- A kernel book selection "Cutting the cake or copping out" by Brooke Sexton
Public Comment Urgently Needed on Proposed Phoenix Area Transit Fare Increases
From Marcus Schmidt, West Valley chapter president
Below you will find city of Phoenix's announcement of November 1st's formal public meeting about the proposed bus fare increases, to take affect next March. This meeting will take place this Thursday from 5 to 7:30 PM at the Valley Metro offices, located at 101 N. 1st Ave on the 10th floor.
It would be great to get a good turn-out of our NFB family, and express our concerns about the financial impact that this increase would have on people forced to live on limited income, as unfortunately many blind people do. If they won't budge on the fair increase, then we should at least insist on retaining -- if not improving -- current service levels on bus, light-rail and dial-a-ride. This would also be a good forum for voicing our opposition to the impending elimination of dial-a-ride's one-mile soft zone.
Please review Valley Metro's press release and take a look at the latest announcements for the latest information on this fluid situation.
If you can't attend this meeting, then please try to attend one of the informal hearings this week (see dates below). Otherwise, you can take a few moments to complete the online survey; if the corresponding link to it below doesn't work, you can find it on the valleymetro.org website.
And, please help me in spreading the word quickly. Thank you in advance for your support.
Arizona Celebrates White Cane Day
The NFBA, in conjunction with the other organizations of and for the blind, is celebrating White Cane Safety Day at the state capitol!
Location: 1700 W. Washington St. Phoenix, AZ
Date: October 15th
Time: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
White Cane Day is a nationally recognized day that brings public awareness to the white cane’s symbolism and importance in the Blind Community.
Special Thanks to the participating organizations who made this celebration possible: Governor’s Council on Blindness and Visual Impairment, National Federation of the Blind of Arizona, Arizona Council of the Blind, Southern Arizona Association for the Visually Impaired, The Blind Merchants of Rehabilitation Services Administration Business Enterprise Program for the Blind.
Please identify your legislative representative and senator by using this link: http://2001.azredistricting.org/ or call 1-800-352-8404, and press zero so the operator can determine your legislators from your address.
Agenda of Events
- 9:00 a.m - 10:00 a.m.: Arrive at the Capitol located at 1700 W. Washington St.
- 10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.: Tour of the capitol museum; 1700 W. Washington St. Copper Dome Building
- 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.: Lunch, donated by the BEP Blind Merchants, served in the Capitol Eatz Cafeteria located in the basement at 1700 W. Washington St.; meet with dignitaries at noon
- 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.: Collect Literature at 1700 W. Washington in the Executive Tower Governor's 2nd floor conference room. (be sure to make time to clear the security) Visit legislative office and deliver white cane day literature.
2012 NFBA Convention Announcement and Agenda
Hello fellow Federationists,
I hope you have all your preparations in place to participate in the 2012 NFB of Arizona state convention! If you haven't yet made your hotel reservation, please do so now by calling the hotel sales manager, Tammy Truax directly at (602) 371-2712.
You can complete the convention pre-registration form online. Go to our website www.az.nfb.org to find the pre-registration form. You can use PayPal to pay the registration and meal costs.
The final 2012 convention agenda is locked in! It may be viewed at the end of this announcement.
If you have been collecting doorprizes, auction items, or NFBA Caribbean Cruise raffle tickets, please bring them to convention! If you sing, please prepare for the hospitality karaoke and the students after - banquet karaoke jail events by reviewing the lyrics of your favorite songs.
You can make a purchase of our many Action Auction items this year through payment of cash, check, or credit card. You can purchase cruise
raffle tickets, Phoenix chapter t-shirts - Cruising For Fair Wages 2012 -the same way!
Whether you are a parent of a blind child, blindness professional, deaf -blind, a blind senior or diabetic, a blind student, or someone new to the rigors and mazes of vocational rehabilitation, there is plenty for you to do and learn at our state convention. Best of all, there is time and opportunity to meet old friends, make new ones, and have a very good time!
Please make the necessary last - minute arrangements, if necessary, today!
Thanks,
Bob Kresmer, president NFBA
1-888-899-6322
Cell: 520-780-3923
Blind People in Arizona to Protest Goodwill’s Subminimum Wages for People with Disabilities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Donald Porterfield
Legislative Coordinator
National Federation of the Blind of Arizona
(520) 850-2180
donaldpfield (at) gmail.com
MEDIA ADVISORY
Blind People in Arizona to Protest Goodwill’s Subminimum Wages for People with Disabilities
Date: August 25, 2012
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Locations: Goodwill Industries
1726 W. Camelback Road
Phoenix, AZ
4995 E. Speedway Blvd.
Tucson, AZ
On Saturday, August 25, members of the National Federation of the Blind of Arizona will participate in a protest outside Goodwill Industries locations in Phoenix and Tucson. The informational protest will raise awareness of Goodwill Industries International, Inc. practice of paying subminimum wages to many of its workers with disabilities. Freedom of information requests filed by the NFB confirmed that Goodwill Industries employees with disabilities have been paid as low as $0.22 an hour. The National Federation of the Blind and nearly fifty other organizations of people with disabilities support legislation, the Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act (H.R. 3086), which would phase out and then repeal the nearly seventy-five-year-old provision of the Fair Labor Standards Act that permits special certificate holders to pay subminimum wages to workers with disabilities.
The National Federation of the Blind will conduct over eighty coordinated nationwide protests in front of thrift stores operated by Goodwill Industries International, Inc., throughout the country on August 25, generally from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. local time. For more information, please visit www.nfb.org/fair-wages.