e-Connector
News from Colorado Parents of Blind Children (CO-POBC)
Americans", to Colorado’s Senators and Representatives. Inside this issue: Have a great time, Everett!
The NFB Marches on Here is a brief description of Washington the three legislative initiatives being presented to Congress by Accessible Internet the National Federation of the THE NFB MARCHES ON Games Blind at Washington Seminar WASHINGTON 2012: 2012 Book Angel The Washington Seminar is an Program 1. The Fair Wages for Workers important annual event for the with Disabilities Act of 2011 Braille Valentines National Federation of the (H.R. 3086) Blind. Representatives from H.R. 3086 phases out Section Make Your Own Puffy NFB of Colorado will join with 14(c) of the Fair Labor Paint Art other state affiliates to speak to Standards Act, which allows all the members of Congress Scholarship employers to pay disabled about important issues Opportunities workers subminimum wages. affecting blind Americans. We This bill will end this are happy to learn that Everett Blind Link 2012 exploitative practice, giving Romero, vice president of disabled Americans equal February Calendar Colorado Parents of Blind protection under the law to Children , will be joining the earn at least the federal Colorado delegation this year. minimum wage. Everett is the father of two 2. The Home Appliance blind daughters, Emily and th Accessibility Act (HAAA) Editor’s Note: Please feel free Elizabeth. On February 4 and th Despite the existence of non- to contact us if you have an 5 , Everett will be attending visual access technology, the announcement you would like the Parent Leadership Program overwhelming majority of included in the newsletter or if sponsored by the National home appliance manufacturers you would like to add a friend Organization of Parents of Blind are selling touch-screen, flat or family member to the e-mail Children. As the week unfolds, panel, and digital home list. Direct all communications Everett will have the appliances that are completely to: [email protected], experience of walking the halls inaccessible to the blind. HAAA attention Julie Hunter, editor of Congress with fellow NFB calls for a study and minimum members from Colorado to non-visual access standard for present the "Agenda of Blind essential home appliances.
Colorado Parents of Blind Children “E-Connector” February, 2012 Page 1 Volume 4 - Issue 2 3. The Americans with browser. There is no charge for Disabilities Business participation in any of the Opportunity Act (ADBOA following games: Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act allows businesses Apples to Apples owned by socially Monopoly disadvantaged groups to obtain Uno federal contracts. Although Yahtzee BRAILLE VALENTINES Blackjack two-thirds of Americans with National Braille Press creates a Battleship disabilities are unemployed or new Braille valentine every 1000 Miles underemployed, disabled year. For 2012 the valentine people are currently not features a red felt heart with presumed to be socially the words “You’re Fine disadvantaged. ADBOA Valentine” in print and Braille. amends Section 8(a) to add The reverse side of the disabled Americans to the list valentine has a guide to the of those who are presumed to Braille code so the message can be socially disadvantaged, and be interpreted by sighted thus make them eligible for 2012 BOOK ANGEL PROGRAM classmates and friends. A preferential treatment in package of 20 valentines costs obtaining federal contracts. Seedlings Braille Books for $10. Previous year’s cards, are Children is accepting on sale for $7.00 for a pack of registrations for the 2012 Book 20. Order from National Braille Angel Program. Blind and Press by clicking here, or phone visually impaired children who 1-800-548-7323.
are registered will receive two
free Braille books this year. This program was originally ACCESSIBLE INTERNET GAMES called "Anna's Book Angel Project" and was named in We all know that kids love memory the daughter of spending time playing Seedlings’ director who was computer games, and for the killed by a drunk driver in 2001. MAKE YOUR OWN PUFFY most part those games have Each year, blind children who PAINT ART not been available to those were registered received one free book in Anna's name, but unable to see the computer Here’s a recipe for fun! Mix screen. But, thanks to some now, thanks to Seedlings' together equal amounts of generous donors, blind children young, creative blind shaving cream and standard programmers, a growing in the U.S. and Canada can white glue in a large bowl. number of games are available receive two free Braille books (Squirting the shaving cream in to those accessing a computer per year! You can fill out the is half the fun!) Add a few with a screen reader. RSGames registration form on line by drops of food coloring or kids’ now has seven games that can clicking here. paint to create the colors you be downloaded or played want. Use brushes, sponges or directly from with your Web hands to make “gloppy” art. Colorado Parents of Blind Children “E-Connector” February, 2012 Page 2 Volume 4 - Issue 2 Add embellishments such as Information and applications for Colorado Center for the Blind pipe cleaners, leaves, strips of NFB of Colorado scholarships are which matches kids with blind colored paper or anything else available by on the NFBCO website adult mentors. The kids and you want to stick in the “glop”. (www.NFBCO.org) Deadline for their mentors participate in The added pieces will dry in application is April 15, 2012 exciting and challenging place. Dry your artwork activities that help instill ********************** overnight. Ideas: Cut the confidence, and positive center out of a paper plate and SEE THE FUTURE FUND will attitudes about blindness. decorate the ring with puffy potentially be awarding up to Youth Services Coordinator, paint to make a wreath; cut $42,000 to six visually impaired Brent Batron, has hinted that open and flatten a paper or blind college students under Blind Link participants can look grocery sack, decorate with its “Education for Life” forward to gymnastics, puffy paint and let dry Scholarship program. In swimming, kayaking lessons (in overnight…then cut small addition the SEE THE FUTURE a swimming pool), rock shapes from the paper sack art FUND has partnered with the climbing and more Whiz Kids and glue the smaller shapes on Kane Family Foundation to science experiences later in the a piece of colored construction offer two “full-ride tuition” year. paper. Your imagination is the scholarships to two visually For more information about limit! impaired or blind students. BLIND LINK or to get your child (The Kane/See the Future connected with a mentor, recipients must attend CU- contact Brent Batron at 303- Boulder, CU-Denver, or CU- 778-1130, extension 222, or by Colorado Springs.) “Education email: [email protected]. for Life” scholarships do not have restrictions on the college CALENDAR OF being attended. These are all SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES merit scholarships based on UPCOMING EVENTS high academic achievement. THE NATIONAL FEDERATION The deadline for applications is OF THE BLIND offers scholarships March 1, 2012. For more to post-secondary students of all information go to: ages. There are scholarships www.seethefuture.org available from the national organization (the National Federation of the Blind) as well as BLIND LINK from the state affiliate (the Hockey Sports Camp National Federation of the Blind of February 21, 2012 Colorado). Students are encouraged to apply to both organizations. Swimming classes with National Sports Center for the Disabled. Information and applications for BLIND LINK 2012 Dates to be announced. NFB national scholarships are available by visiting the NFB The 2012 BLIND LINK program Contact Brent Batron for website (www.NFB.org) Deadline has announced some exciting details. 303-778-1130, st for application is March 31 , 2012. activities for the coming year. extension 222, or by email: BLIND LINK is a program of the [email protected].
Colorado Parents of Blind Children “E-Connector” February, 2012 Page 3 Volume 4 - Issue 2