KABVI NEWS
Published
Quarterly By
An
Affiliate of the American Council of the Blind
Volume 54 Winter 2011 No. 4
Return to:
KABVI
603 SW Topeka Blvd., Suite
304
Topeka, KS 66603
KANSAS ASSOCIATION for the
BLIND and VISUALLY IMPAIRED
Corporate Office, 603 SW
Topeka Blvd., Suite 304 B
Topeka, Kansas 66603
Telephone: 785-235-8990 or,
in Kansas only, 1-800-799-1499
E-mail:
kabvi@att.net
Web site:
www.kabvi.com
Editor, Associate Editor,
Nancy Johnson Ann Byington
714 SW
Wayne Ave. 909 SW College
Topeka,
KS 66606 Topeka, KS 66606
(785)
234-8449 785) 233-3839
Supermom1941@sbcglobal.net
abyington@cox.net
Chairman of the Board and
President
Ann Byington
909 SW College Avenue
Topeka KS 66606
(785) 233-3839
abyington@cox.net
The purpose of KABVI NEWS, published by the Kansas Association for the
Blind and Visually Impaired, Inc. (KABVI), is to promote the general welfare of
the blind and visually impaired in Kansas. KABVI NEWS shall reflect the
philosophy and policies of the Association, report the activities of its
members, and include pertinent articles pertaining to blindness and low vision.
Publication Policy: Send us your news, views, articles, and features.
Materials in braille, on tape, on computer disk (Microsoft Word, plain text, or
ASCII), or typewritten (double-spaced) will be considered. When quoting from
other published materials, please include dates and sources. Unsigned material
will not be considered for publication. If you send a stamped, self-addressed
envelope, original materials will be returned. Articles for publication must
reach the editor by January 22, April 22, July 22, and October 22 of each
year. Editorial staff reserves the right to edit submitted materials.
Membership renewal letters are sent annually to persons who have not
paid dues. If responses are not received within a reasonable time, names of
those persons will be removed from KABVI’s mailing list and their subscription
to KABVI NEWS discontinued. Membership is open to anyone who is
interested but is not required for receipt of KABVI NEWS. A membership renewal
form on which you can indicate your newsletter preferences can be found at the
end of each issue. Thank you for your cooperation.
***
Table of Contents
KABVI Computer Refurbishing
Program Is Ready to Go! –
by Jonathon Marcotte,
Technology Committee Chair
A Look at KABVI’s Mission –
by Nancy Johnson, Editor
How to Participate in
Statewide Conference Calls
2011 KABVI Resolution
Summary – compiled by Nancy Johnson, Recording Secretary
Report from the Board of
Directors, by Nancy Johnson, Recording Secretary
Envision Seeks Subjects to
Participate in National Clinical Research for the BrainPort®Vision
Device Clinical Study
Giving Thanks is Good for
Your Psychological Outlook
TSA Cares, A Toll-Free Helpline
to Provide Information and Assistance to Passengers with Disabilities and
Medical Conditions
Chapter Chatter, compiled by
Nancy Johnson
In Memoriam
Membership Application
Scholarship Application
***
KABVI Computer Refurbishing
Program Is
Ready to Go!
by Jonathon Marcotte,
Technology Committee Chair
Here at KABVI headquarters,
in Topeka, we have a computer-recycling program. Carolyn Thomason and I are
working hard every week to get previously donated computers up to a working
state using Windows XP, and including MS Office 2003 and the assistive
technology of the purchaser’s choice.
All computers provided will
have the previously listed operating system and programs but the cost of each
computer will be determined by the processor speed. All computers will come
with a monitor, keyboard and mouse. The price for the set will be:
366 MHz $50
733 MHz $75
1 to 1.9 GHz $100
2 and above GHz $150
The computers will be
delivered and training on how to use some of the programs is provided. The
charge for delivery of the computer is negotiable, but there is no cost for
training.
Though KABVI will continue
to accept donated computers, due to the MS program, RRP, that we are working
through, we can only accept computers with, at the minimum, 1.3 GHz processor
and 512 MB of RAM. This is due to Windows XP no longer being offered after the
50 licenses, we currently have, are sold. Windows 7 will be offered following
this and it requires a larger processor and more RAM.
If you are interested in
purchasing one of these computers, or you have an old computer to donate, please
contact the KABVI office.
Phone: 785-235-8990 or in
Kansas, toll-free at: 1-800-799-1499. You can reach us by email at: kabvi@att.net.
***
A Look at
KABVI’S MISSION
By Nancy
Johnson, Editor
Before I get
onto my soapbox, I want to wish every reader of KABVI NEWS a blessed holiday
season and a fantastic 2012 ahead! I also want to apologize for the lateness of
the newsletter and thank Ann Byington for helping me in a pinch. I’m half-way
through my last course in my program to achieve a Masters degree in education
with emphasis on adult education and training and got a bit bogged down in the
writing of papers. The end comes January 13, 2012. Now to that soapbox!
“KABVI strives
to increase the independence, opportunity, and quality of life for all blind and
visually impaired Kansans, and to assist us in taking our rightful place as
equals among our sighted peers.”
It’s our
mission – the task the organization set for itself years ago. The task
encompasses three elements – independence, opportunity, and quality of life.
What does each of these words mean? What is KABVI doing to increase them?
The resolution
summary lists seven services the state discontinued throughout the years. Are
people with visual impairment and blindness today deprived of independence,
opportunity, and quality of life? Or do they believe they are because they do
not understand what they need to do to achieve them?
We who belong
to KABVI believe independence, opportunity, and quality of life are possible.
Many, as I do, believe we have achieved those goals. How did we do that?
Answering would take too long.
As a part of
my coursework, I looked at what is available for individuals newly experiencing
vision loss and discovered in the process that, according to Lighthouse
International, one of every six 45 year-olds, and one of every four adults 75
and older reported visual impairment. Additionally, 94% did not use available
rehabilitation services and 60% did not know such services exist. The total
annual cost of visual impairment for adult Americans is approximately $51.4
billion, and most of that falls on taxpayers. People do not obtain routine
dilated eye exams. Thus, they do not receive early diagnosis and treatment for
conditions that cause significant vision loss and can lead to blindness.
Few
organizations provide public education – let alone education related to vision
loss. I suggest this might be a direction for KABVI, particularly in light of
the reduction in rehabilitative services. We need to teach people that
independence, opportunity, and quality of life are possible, but they must be
pursued by each of us in our own ways whether we experience vision loss or
blindness or not. Until individuals realize more than one way exists to be
independent, many people simply give up and thus lose opportunities and
experience diminished quality of life.
Of the
services the state took away, which might KABVI, to some extent, replace? I
think some are possible, though they will of necessity be provided differently
than they were provided by the state.
1.
Prevention of
blindness – KABVI certainly can work in this area by developing a public
education program.
2.
Social Workers
for the Blind – KABVI might provide similar services, at least to a limited
degree. The social workers contacted individuals to determine they were aware
of and received whatever of the available services they wanted.
I visualize public education
and annual contacts as feasible activities, though funding is the first issue
for consideration. For KABVI to work toward accomplishing its task – its
mission – we need to get organized, and start doing. After January 15, I can
work toward organizing the public education program and a direct contact program
in conjunction with the resource information and referral services KABVI already
provides. If you’re interested in being involved, contact the KABVI office with
your name and phone number.
***
How to Participate in State
Wide Conference Calls
Conference calls are held the third Monday of each month from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Your Conference Telephone
Number: (712) 432-6100
Participant Pass code:
126083# (pound sign key on your telephone)
Your
Replay Telephone Number: (712) 432-6190
How
To Join the Conference:
1.
Dial 1-(712) 432-6100 and
2.
Enter the Pass Code 126083 followed by # (pound sign key).
If the conference is not in
session, the system will put you on hold until the moderator arrives.
During the Conference - Conference Commands:
Press *3 – Exit Conference
Press *4 – Help Menu
Press *6 – Mute Individual
Line
***
2011 Resolution Summary
Resolution 1101
The Kansas Association for
the Blind and Visually Impaired (KABVI) worked diligently with the Statewide
Council on Independent Living of Kansas (SCILK), the Kansas Legislature, and
Governor’s office to successfully adopt amendments to K.S.A.38-2201. As a
result of these efforts, Section (C) of that Statute now states: “(c) Nothing
in this code shall be construed to permit discrimination on the basis of
disability.
(1) The disability of a
parent shall not constitute a basis for a determination that a child is a child
in need of care, for the removal of custody of a child from the parent, or for
the termination of parental rights without a specific showing that there is a
causal relation between the disability and harm to the child.
(2) In cases involving a
parent with a disability, determinations made under this code shall consider the
availability and use of accommodations for the disability, including adaptive
equipment and support services.”
Despite the clear intent of
this change in statutes, KABVI has been contacted by several blind or legally
blind parents who have had children removed from their custody. While the
initial removal of the child or children has not always related to concerns
about the blindness or visual impairment, even after the initial concerns have
been completely corrected, the restoration of custody to the visually disabled
parents has, within KABVI’s experience, always, and therefore frequently, been
delayed while issues related to the parent’s blindness or visual impairments
have been investigated. This clear pattern suggests the Kansas Department of
Social and Rehabilitation Services (SRS) is flagrantly violating Kansas Laws.
The Disability Rights Center
of Kansas (DRC) is the most appropriate advocacy entity to address these
situations of discrimination. The DRC of Kansas expressed reluctance to become
involved with these situations, and in some cases, has done so only after
considerable advocacy involvement from KABVI. Similar discriminatory behavior
on the part of officials of the State of Missouri recently resulted in negative
national press coverage concerning discrimination against blind parents by that
State.
KABVI calls upon SRS to
immediately educate all employees and contractors involved with child custody
issues or investigations concerning children in need of care, concerning the
content and meaning of K.S.A. 38-2201 (C); The organization calls upon the DRC
to more highly prioritize work with cases of discrimination against disabled
parents that result in child custody issues and to work with KABVI to educate
judges and other court officials in Kansas who are involved with child in need
of care situations concerning K.S.A. 38-2201 (c).
KABVI may find it necessary
to initiate selected press involvement concerning discrimination of blind
parents in Kansas unless patterns of discrimination described in this document
promptly cease, but would prefer to see SRS take all necessary steps to insure
that such discrimination by its agents is ended without the involvement of State
or national press scrutiny.
Resolution 1102
(SRS has taken several
actions to discontinue specialist services to assist Kansans who are blind or
visually impaired, including but not limited to.
3.
Discontinuing
the policy of providing specialist vocational rehabilitation counselors;
4.
Eliminating
all but one and a half rehabilitation teacher for the blind positions from State
government, thus failing to provide Statewide coverage
5.
Closing the
Kansas Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired (KRCBVI);
6.
Discontinuing
specific prevention of blindness services;
7.
Discontinuing
the Social Workers for the Blind program;
8.
Reducing the
number of Business Enterprise Blind vending opportunities in the State by more
than half;
9.
Discontinuing
comprehensive Braille training and the housing and maintenance of a Braille
collection
The State of Kansas, when
closing the KRCBVI, provided KABVI with its Braille collection, but has offered
no ongoing funding to maintain and grow this collection, thus resulting in
KAVBVI spending several thousand dollars per year of its limited funding to
maintain what was formerly a state owned and maintained Braille collection.
The one remaining employee
of the State of Kansas who was an information and referral professional
specializing in blindness and visual impairment recently retired, and the State
of Kansas has not expressed an intent to refill her position.
SRS is being massively
re-organized, further complicating newly blind or visually impaired Kansans’
ability to determine what services are available, and even more importantly,
where and how to apply for them.
KABVI is the only statewide
entity in the state of Kansas to currently maintain both an office and a toll
free telephone listing which has the words “blind and visually impaired”
included in telephone listings and signage and KABVI staff receive at least 10
information and referral calls per week concerning resources for blind and
visually impaired Kansans, and many of these callers tell us that they have
called SRS only to be told by SRS workers that they have no idea what to tell
people about blindness and visual impairment now that SRS does not do those
kinds of services anymore.
Envision, a comprehensive
not-for-profit provider of blindness and visual impairment services, has chosen
not to maintain the words “blindness and visual impairment, in its listings, and
is therefore often not recognized by uninformed individuals needing specialized
services due to visual impairment.
KABVI maintains a
comprehensive cadre of knowledge and resource information about blindness,
visual impairment, and services available in Kansas.
KABVI urges the State of
Kansas, and Envision, to provide ongoing funding to KABVI to hire at least a
half time, professionally compensated, information and referral/resource
specialist to assist Kansans who have questions about blindness and visual
impairment, or who require specialized referrals and resources because of these
conditions and that the information and referral number be widely advertised via
public service announcements, presentations on radio reading information
services, telephone news services, and through the Kansas Talking Books program.
Resolution 1103
Two years ago, KABVI
proposed Legislation which would create a Commission for the Blind and Visually
Impaired that functions at parity with those duties currently authorized in
Kansas statutes for the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
When a hearing was held on this proposed legislation, Kansas Rehabilitation
Services director, Michael Donnelly, stated he was taking a “neutral” position
on the legislation, and then quite clearly spoke in opposition to it.
Mr. Donnelly successfully
took the position that blind Kansans did not need to have a Commission which
would place services and functions available for blind Kansans at parity with
those provided to Kansans who are deaf and hard of hearing and instead supported
a weaker Advisory Committee on blindness and visual impairment that was created
by Executive Order 1001. This Committee has no legislative authority to plan
for or significantly influence services for Kansans who are blind or visually
impaired, and in fact only receives information from SRS.
KABVI urges Governor Sam
Brownback, and SRS Secretary, Rob Siedlecki, to include in their legislative
packages for the 2012 session of the Kansas Legislature, enabling legislation,
to establish a Kansas Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, which has
parity in duties and functions with the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard
of Hearing. The KABVI Legislative Committee is directed by this organization to
provide a draft of this Legislation, along with a copy of this resolution, to
Governor Brownback and Secretary Siedlecki.
***
Report from the Board of
Directors
By Nancy Johnson
President Ann Byington convened the meeting of the board of directors of the
Kansas Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (KABVI) at the Holiday
Inn Hotel in Wichita, Kansas October 30, 2011. Ten directors, office manager
Colleen Talley, and three guests, including Melanie Brunson of the American
Council of the Blind (ACB), attended.
Ratification of Henry Staub,
Jonathon Marcotte, and Marilyn Lind, directors newly elected by the members at
the annual meeting, was completed.
Officers elected by the
membership and approved by the board included President Ann Byington, vice
president Jonathon Marcotte, treasurer Bob Chaffin, corresponding secretary
Michael Byington, recording secretary Nancy Johnson, And membership secretary
Mikel McCary.
Resolutions adopted by the
members during the annual business meeting were ratified.
The
technology committee inventoried computers on hand for refurbishment and found
70 computers, 12 unusable. The committee ran into several roadblocks, but these
are in process of being overcome. Eight computers are ready to have programs
installed.
Packets for scholarships
were provided to members of the Kansas Association for Education and
Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired. The scholarship application
will be placed on the kabviyouthconnection.com website. Application deadline is
April 15, 2012. The organization is seeking new ways of advertising its
scholarships.
If you have not done so, go
to kabviyouthconnection.com and see what the youth committee developed.
Participation is welcome. Content must be of interest to young people.
The 2012 legislative
committee was appointed with Judy Davis as chair and Michael Byington as
co-chair. Other members will be added in the near future.
Nancy presented an action
research project demonstrating the need for public health education regarding
the need for routine dilated eye examinations for the prevention, treatment, and
rehabilitation of vision loss. She suggested this should be a program for KABVI
to develop.
Melanie Brunson explained
ACB’s database. It will benefit KABVI by helping track membership and can be
used in conjunction with the database the organization already uses.
Lawrence and McPherson sent
information to KABVI regarding upcoming conventions. Discussion of the next
location was deferred to a later conference call.
As requested by the members
during the annual meeting, monthly conference calls will be held at 7:00 the
third Monday evening of each month. The purpose of these calls is to provide an
opportunity for participants to share concerns and ideas and for leadership to
share information.
Meetings to plan the 2012 Eyes Wide Open golf tournament will begin shortly
after the convention.
KABVI supports the Kansas
Youth Empowerment Academy (KYEA) in its effort to provide a disability mentoring
day. KYEA provides services to youth with vision impairments and blindness and
needs mentors for that population.
Colleen Talley is working on
a grant proposal to pay her salary for 2012. Without such funding, KABVI will
not be able to pay the small salary we are now.
The cost of producing KABVI
NEWS has gone up. Envision made some changes in their procedures. The cost
increase is being investigated.
Next board meeting is
planned for January 21, 2012, at 10:30.
***
Envision Seeks
Subjects to Participate in National Clinical Research for the BrainPort®Vision Device Clinical Study
The study
may give people who are blind a chance to see electronically.
Wichita-
The Envision Foundation announced today that the Envision Vision Rehabilitation
Center (EVRC) has been chosen as a site for a clinical trial research study to
evaluate the safety and efficacy of the BrainPort vision device in subjects who
are blind. The EVRC is one of seven sites across the nation, selected by Wicab,
Inc., the study sponsor to participate in this clinical trial research study,
This 12-month study allows subjects to use the device at home after completion
of initial clinic screening and training.
The BrainPort vision system consists of a
postage-stamp-size electrode that is placed on the tongue, a base unit, a
digital video camera, and a hand-held controller for zoom and contrast
inversion. Visual information is collected from the user-adjustable head-mounted
camera and sent to the BrainPort base unit. The base unit translates the visual
information into a stimulated pattern that is “displayed” on the tongue. The
tactile image is created by presenting white pixels from the camera as strong
stimulation, black pixels as no stimulation, and gray levels as medium levels of
stimulation, with the ability to invert contrast when appropriate. Users often
report the sensation as pictures that are painted on the tongue with
Champagne
bubbles.
With the current system, study participants have been able to recognize
high-contrast objects, their location, movement, and some aspects of perspective
and depth. Trained participants use information from the tongue display to
augment understanding of the environment.
Eligible
subjects must be between the ages of 18 and 79 years of age and have had a
medical diagnosis of blindness (light perception or no light perception) for at
least 6 months. Blindness may not be a result of cortical injury, such as a
traumatic brain injury or stroke. Subjects must have completed rehabilitation
(such as orientation and mobility training with a white cane or guide dog).
Previous use of the BrainPort vision device, pregnancy, regular tobacco use and
allergies to nickel or steel exclude participation in this study. Participants
should be able to easily commute to and from downtown Wichita,
and are required to make four quarterly clinic visits in addition to the initial
training sessions.
If you are
interested in participating in this clinical study, please visithttp://vision.wicab.com/index.php,
and contact Shannon Riley, Research & Analytics Associate, Envision at (316)
440-1528.
Founded in 1933, Envision is a Wichita-based
not-for-profit agency that provides employment, public awareness, professional
education and vision rehabilitation services to individuals who are blind or low
vision.
David C. Austin
Manager of Public
Relations & Events
Envision
Foundation
610 N. Main St.
Wichita,
KS 67203
316.440.1518
www.envisionus.com
***
Giving Thanks Helps Your
Psychological Outlook
Excerpt from The Associated Press, November 22, 2011
WASHINGTON (AP) - Count your blessings this Thanksgiving. It's good for
you.
While it seems obvious
gratitude is a positive emotion, psychologists for decades rarely delved into
the science of giving thanks. But in the last several years they have, learning
in many experiments that it is one of humanity's most powerful emotions. It
makes you happier and can change your attitude about life, like an emotional
reset button. Especially in hard times, like these.
Beyond proving that being
grateful helps you, psychologists also are trying to figure out the brain
chemistry behind gratitude and the best ways of showing it.
"Oprah was right," said
University of Miami psychology professor Michael McCullough, who has studied
people who are asked to be regularly thankful. "When you are stopping and
counting your blessings, you are sort of hijacking your emotional system."
And he means hijacking it
from out of a funk into a good place. A very good place. Research by McCullough
and others finds that giving thanks is a potent emotion that feeds on itself,
almost the equivalent of being victorious. It could be called a vicious circle,
but it's anything but vicious.
He said
psychologists used to underestimate the strength of simple gratitude: "It does
make people happier... It's that incredible feeling."
One of the reasons gratitude
works so well is that it connects us with others, McCullough said. That's why
when you give thanks it should be more heartfelt and personal instead of a terse
thank you note for a gift or a hastily run-through grace before dinner,
psychologists say.
"Gratitude also serves as a
stress buffer," Emmons said in an e-mail interview. "Grateful people are less
likely to experience envy, anger, resentment, regret and other unpleasant states
that produce stress."
Scientists are not just
looking at the emotions behind gratitude but the nuts-and-bolts physiology as
well.
Preliminary theories look at
the brain chemistry and hormones in the blood and neurotransmitters in the brain
that are connected to feelings of gratitude, Emmons said, and the left
prefrontal cortex of the brain, also associated with positive emotions like love
and compassion, seems to be a key spot, especially in Buddhist monks. However
it works in the brain, Emmons said there is little doubt that it works.
Emmons, who has conducted
several studies on people from ages 12 to 80, including those with neuromuscular
disease, asked volunteers to keep daily or weekly gratitude diaries. Another
group listed hassles, and others just recorded random events. He noticed a
significant and consistent difference. About three-quarters of the people
studied who regularly counted their blessings scored higher in happiness tests
and some even showed improvements in amounts of sleep and exercise.
Peterson also asked people
to write down nightly three things that went well that day and why that went
well. That took longer to show any difference in happiness scores over control
groups, but after one month the results were significantly better and they
stayed better through six months. Peterson said it worked so well that he is
adopted it in his daily life, writing from-the-heart thank you notes, logging
his feelings of gratitude: "It was very beneficial for me. I was much more
cheerful."
Emmons actually encourages
people to "think of your worst moments, your sorrows, your losses, your sadness
and then remember that here you are, able to remember them. You got through the
worst day of your life ... remember the bad things, then look to see where you
are."
"In order to be grateful for
something, we have to remember that something good happened," Peterson said.
"It's important to remind ourselves that the world doesn't always suck."
***
TSA Cares, A
Toll-Free Helpline to Provide Information and Assistance to Passengers with
Disabilities and Medical Conditions
(Excerpted from a message by Kimberly Walton, Special
Counselor Transportation Security Administration, provided by Laurie Mehta,
Guide Dog Users Inc., Legislative Chairperson.)
On the quarterly
TSA Disability Coalition teleconference held last week, we informed our members
that TSA planned to launch TSA Cares, a toll-free helpline to provide
information and assistance to passengers with disabilities and medical
conditions and their families before they fly. We are excited to announce that
TSA Cares is now available and accepting calls.
Travelers may call TSA Cares toll free at 1-855-787-2227, prior to
traveling, with questions about screening policies, procedures and what to
expect at the security checkpoint. Travelers who are deaf or hard of hearing can
use a relay service to contact TSA Cares or can e-mail
TSA-ContactCenter@dhs.gov. The hours of operation for the TSA Cares helpline
are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. EST, excluding federal holidays. After
hours, travelers can find information about traveling with disabilities and
medical needs on TSA’s website at:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/disabilityandmedicalneeds/
When a passenger with a disability or medical condition calls TSA Cares, a
representative will provide assistance, either with information about screening
that is relevant to the passenger’s specific disability or medical condition, or
the passenger may be referred to disability experts at TSA. TSA recommends that
passengers call approximately 72 hours ahead of travel so that TSA Cares has the
opportunity to coordinate checkpoint support with a TSA Customer Service Manager
located at the airport when necessary.
For more information about TSA Cares, go to:
http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/disabilityandmedicalneeds/tsa_cares.shtm
***
Chapter Chatter
Compiled by Nancy Johnson
Southwest Kansas Association for the Visually Impaired (CKAVI) learned
techniques for making life around the home easier for people with low vision.
One suggestion was to mark the edges of tables and cabinets with tape in a
contrasting color. The annual holiday luncheon was held in November, and the
group does not plan to meet in December.
Central
Kansas Association for the Visually Impaired (CKAVI) successfully held its
annual bake/craft sale. Several nice items were raffled. CKAVI is now on
Facebook. You can type CKAVI into the search area on your personal Facebook
page or request to join the group by sending e-mail to
CKAVI@groups.facebook.com. You can also join KABVI on Facebook by entering
KABVI into the search area on your personal page or
KABVI@groups.facebook.com.
Western
Kansas Low Vision, Tara Keesling, provided two helpful articles, one about
driving and one about lighting, that will appear in later issues of KABVI NEWS.
Thank you, Tara!
Editor’s Note: Information from the Braille Forum, the publication of the
American Council for the Blind, is not published in KABVI NEWS. Please review
your Braille Forum so you don’t miss anything.
***
In
Memoriam
Michelle
Shelly Linn Studebaker,
33, of Topeka, went home with the Lord on Wednesday, September 21, 2011. She was
born to John P. and Kathy M. Studebaker on February 9, 1978, in Topeka. Michelle
attended Topeka West and transferred to Washburn Rural High School, where she
graduated in 1996. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Washburn University with a
degree in Social Work in 2001. Michelle worked for St. Francis Hospitals Human
Resource Dept., Student Services at Washburn University, Topeka Public Schools
in both the Visually Impaired and Hearing Impaired programs, Kansas Disability
Rights Center, and then later went to work for the Kansas Rehabilitation Center
for the Blind and Visually Impaired. She attended Grace United Methodist Church,
Topeka. Michelle is survived by her parents, John and Kathy Studebaker, Topeka;
a brother, Jeff (Janet) Studebaker, and their son, Jack, Topeka; a sister, Julie
(Mark) Hafenstine, and their daughter Brianna and son Ryan, Lawrence;
grandmother, Eleanor Studebaker, Topeka, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Paul Studebaker, Gail and Ila
Kingsley, and guide dog, Inca. Memorial contributions may be given to Kansas
Specialty Dog Services, 124 W. 7th Street, Washington, KS 66968. To leave the
family a special message online, visit www.PenwellGabelTopeka.com.
Michelle Studebaker
***
Conrad Jacob Lauck
Conrad J. Lauck, 58, passed
away peacefully on November 27, 2011,
at Manor Care Health Services in Topeka, Kansas. He was born July 18, 1953 in
Greeley, Colorado the son of Henry F. and Lorraine R. (Brittian) Lauck. He
attended school in Greeley. Conrad was an over the road truck driver for many
years. He had traveled to every state in the union except Alaska and Hawaii.
After he lost his eyesight, he enjoyed listening to television and a wide
variety of music, visiting with his friends, drinking dark roast coffee and
“coca-cola.” He earned a ham radio license and belonged to a ham radio club. He
felt very useful to truck drivers and their families, especially in the winter
months. If a trucker got stranded, he could contact Conrad and in turn Conrad
would telephone their family with the much-appreciated message that their driver
was “OK” and would be home as soon as possible.
Conrad lived at Landmark Plaza apartments with the help of several
personal care assistants until he had to move to Manor Care due to Multiple
Sclerosis. He will be sadly missed by his friends, family and the staff at both
facilities. His jokes and laughter always brought joy to those around
him. Conrad is survived by his mother, Lorraine Slemp, Greeley, CO; daughter,
Brooke Renfroe, Oroville, WA; 4 grandchildren; sister, Jentry (Jack) McNeese,
Pierce, CO; 2 brothers, Henry (Lola) Lauck and Fred (Daisy) Lauck, both of
Greeley, CO; several nieces and nephews; and his two best friends, Nancy D. May
and Mark Kauffman, both of Topeka. He was preceded in death by his father and
step-father, Ralph Slemp. A private service and scattering of his ashes will be
in the mountains of Colorado.
***
Tony “Lewis” Haverland
Tony “Lewis” Haverland died on
Thursday, Nov. 24, 2011
at a Topeka hospital. He was 46.
Mr. Haverland was a former
client at the Kansas Rehabilitation Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired,
and an accomplished writer. He had hoped to pursue a career in writing, and had
already written, but not completed, a novel. He expressed another aspect of his
creativity by making white canes with decorative handles.
Memorial contributions may be
made to the Tony “Lewis” Haverland Memorial Fund and sent in care of the Jones
VanArsdale Funeral Home, at PO Box 43, Lebo, KS 66856.
Jim “Red” Cottle
James
William Cottle, 64, of
Topeka,
KS, passed away suddenly on
November
7, 2011.
Jim is survived by his wife of 41 years, Reita Fox Cottle, his two sons James V.
and David Cottle, and his sisters Marla Bowles of Lawrence, KS and Jan McKinney
Darrah of Manhattan, KS, as well as many nieces and nephews and their families.
He gave freely of his time to many charitable organizations, and was generous
and loving to all he knew and met.
In Remembrance of (Jim) Red
Cottle
By Ann and Michael Byington
Jim (Red) Cottle died
suddenly in November, 2011. He was known to many who have attended KABVI
conventions.
We watched as the house next
door was auctioned off. We wondered who would buy a house next door to our
purple one, which at the time was much more of a stand-out than it is now.
Red became our neighbor, and
became our friend as well. He additionally became a friend of many other KABVI
members and blind associates whom we introduced to him. Our association with Red
started mostly because he did driving for us, taking us to and from the airport
in Kansas City when we traveled to out-of-state conventions. He spent time at
our state KABVI conventions as well. We hired him to do some driving for
conventioneers, and he did even more as a volunteer. Red and the Byingtons went
to and from Washington, Kansas with at least two of Ann’s most recent guide
dogs; he videotaped a part of our graduation with one of them.
Because our blind friends
met Red through us, many of them also hired Red to do some driving, reading, or
other assistance when it was needed. Anyone who worked with Red once was always
willing to do so again.
We could not ride with Red
for so many miles without learning a lot about each other. Red, Michael and Ann
could talk about anything and everything: dogs, cell phones, computers,
politics, and places throughout the country we had visited, food, restaurants,
the past and the future.
Ann knew that, when she was
alone for whatever reason, if there was a major or minor catastrophe, she could
call Red and he would come to try and help. When Michael was away at his
internship in Wichita, Red served as mail sorter and reader, shopper,
dog-finder, and so much more. I hope Red got as much pleasure out of spending
time with us as we did him. He was a good friend and we will miss him.
***
2012 KABVI Membership
Application
____
Enclosed is $10.00 for my 2012 KABVI dues.
___
Enclosed is $250 for my Life Membership.
NAME:__________________________________
ADDRESS:_______________________________
CITY_____________________STATE:_________
ZIP:_________TELEPHONE:_____-___________
E-MAIL
ADDRESS: _________________________
Are
you:
___Legally blind ___Visually impaired ___Deaf-blind ___Sighted
I would
like the KABVI NEWS and THE BRAILLE FORUM in:
__Braille __Large print ___ Cassette __ Regular print ___E-mail
___ I
do not want these publications.
I am
including a tax-deductible donation to KABVI in the amount of $______.___.
SEND
this form and your enclosed check to:
Robert
Chaffin, Treasurer,
1105
Centennial Blvd.
Hays,
Kansas 67601.
***
KANSAS ASSOCIATION FOR THE
BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED, INC.
ESTHER V. TAYLOR
SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION SUPPLEMENTAL SHEET
The Kansas Association for
the Blind and Visually Impaired (KABVI) will award two $1,000 scholarships to
visually impaired students enrolled in an academic, vocational, technical or
professional training program beyond the high school level. The KABVI
scholarship committee will accept applications from residents of Kansas enrolled
in a college, university or technical school. Material must be postmarked on or
before April 15, 2012. Send the completed application and all supporting
documents to: Robert Chaffin, 1105 Centennial Blvd., Hays, Kansas 67601
Esther V. Taylor, for whom
this scholarship is named, was a charter member of the Kansas Association
for the Blind and Visually Impaired. She became a music teacher and taught at
the Kansas State School for the Blind. Esther helped craft early special
education laws in Kansas long before special education became a mandate of the
Federal government. In her eighties, Esther wrote an autobiography, "The
Professor's Family" about herself and her sister, Eleanor, exploring the
challenges of growing up and becoming educated as blind women during the early
1900's. Esther particularly wanted blind students to be problem-solvers and as
resourceful as their sighted peers in coping with the challenges of academics,
employment and everyday life.
NOTE: Please DO NOT MAKE
copies of this application as committee members, who are blind or visually
impaired themselves, will be reading Xeroxed copies of your application using
CCTV’s and/or scanning software. To request additional copies of this material,
call (800)-749-1499 or e-mail
kabvi@att.net.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To be
eligible for a scholarship the applicant must:
(1) Be a visually impaired
student admitted to a post-secondary training program for the 2012-13 school
year
(2) Be a resident of Kansas
(3) Submit a completed,
application form together with the required supporting documentation postmarked
on or before April 15, 2012.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION
To be
considered for a scholarship the student must submit the following items:
(I) A completed application
form:
(2) An autobiographical
sketch (please update if you have applied previously) of no more than two
double-spaced, typewritten pages. This sketch should include goals, strengths,
weaknesses, hobbies, honors, extracurricular activities, achievements, etc. This
must be typed; hand-written material will not be accepted.
(3) A certified transcript
from the school presently, or most recently attended.
(4) Two letters of
recommendation from current or recent instructors
(5) Proof of acceptance from
a post-secondary school. Entering or transferring students must submit a letter
of acceptance from the admissions office.
(6) Certification of visual
status on the form attached to this application.
Recipients of this scholarship will receive a one-year free membership to KABVI.
KANSAS ASSOCIATION FOR
THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED, Inc.
Esther V. Taylor
Scholarship Application Form
I.
PERSONAL DATA
A.
Name, mailing address, and telephone number:
Name:
____________________________
Address ___________________________
County ____________________________
Phone number ______________________
B.
Are you a U.S. Citizen? Yes No __
II.
EDUCATION INFORMATION:
A. Name and address of
the school you are currently attending or have completed (Secondary and
post-secondary schools) _________________________________________
1. Enrollment
status: ____ Full-time ____ Part-time
2. Number of hours completed to date. __________
3. Major ____________ GPA (based on 4.0 scale)
4.
Degree/certificate/diploma sought; BA, BS, MS, etc.____________
5. Date you expect
to receive it. ___________
B. Name and address of
the school you plan to attend during the semester for which you are applying for
this scholarship (if different from A. above):
__________________________________________
1.
Enrollment status: ___ Full-time ___ Part-time
2.
Number of hours you are planning to take per semester _______
3. Major _____________________________
4. Degree/certificate sought: BA, BS, MS, etc. ____
5. Date you expect to receive it: ___________
III.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION:
Are you eligible for other
financially based student aid? Yes_____ No_____
IV.
ESSENTIAL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Completed
application.
B. Typed
autobiographical sketch: include work experience, extracurricular activities,
and/or volunteer service.
C. Certified transcript
from the school you are attending or most recently attended.
D. Two letters of
recommendation from current or recent instructors.
E. Proof of acceptance
from a post-secondary school.
F. Certification of
visual status on the attached form.
Certification of Visual
Disability
(This form is to be
completed by an ophthalmologist, optometrist, physician, vocational
rehabilitation counselor, or independent living center counselor.)
I certify that
____________________________ is known to me and is visually Impaired as
specified by the following definition:
"Visual acuity best
corrected with conventional spectacles or contact lenses of 20/60 or worse in
the better eye, or a visual field restricted to 20 degrees or less in each eye."
This also includes those certified as legally blind.
Date of examination:
______________________
This is a permanent
condition: Yes _____ No _____
Certifier’s Name:
______________________________
Degree:
____________________________________
Title/Agency:
_______________________________
Address:
___________________________________
Phone:
____________________________________
Signature:
_________________________________