GDUI Seeks to Develop Minority Outreach Committee
Have you ever had an encounter with someone about your dog guide and sensed that his/her fear, hesitation or hostility were related to a negative stereotype? Are you a member of a racial or religious minority group which seems not to share your attitudes about blindness or dog guides? At the ACB convention, you may be able to help bridge some gaps that divide us all.
Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI) will hold an informal gathering of people from minority groups who use dog guides. The purpose of this meeting is to develop a Minority Outreach Committee for GDUI to assist in education about cultural diversity within our membership and the general public and minority groups. In this first discussion, we want to identify potential committee members and simply get a feel for the types of issues that concern people in racial and religious minorities, as well as dog guide handlers who interact with members of these minority groups.
The discussion is scheduled for Tuesday, July 4 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the GDUI suite. For more information, contact Jenine Stanley at (614) 766-5524 or Jane Sheehan at the GDUI national office, (888) 858-1008.
Idaho convention elects new officers
The American Council of the Blind of Idaho held a one-day convention in Idaho Falls on May 6 to elect officers and establish programs for the year. The new president is Travis Beck, who is a vendor in the Idaho Falls area, and an enthusiastic supporter of chapter development and membership growth. The Idaho chapter has made a serious commitment to build four chapters in Boise, Twin Falls, St. Anthony’s and Coeur d’Alene. We encourage anyone who knows visually impaired people in these four cities and wishes to share their names and telephone numbers with ACB of Idaho to contact Travis Beck at (208) 524-4459 or e-mail him at tbeck89882@aol.com.
Deaf-Blind Concerns Committee
It’s a new millennium, with new regulations, new styles, new ways and — hopefully — new attitudes. This year, the Deaf-Blind Concerns Committee will host three interesting and invigorating gatherings during the week of the ACB national convention.
On Monday, July 3, we offer a tour of the McDowell Rehabilitation Center in Louisville. The tour will include a dinner, a social gathering and a chance to exchange names, e-mail addresses and enjoy conversations. If there’s any time left over, we will try to host a rap session before returning to the hotel.
On Wednesday, July 5, there will be a joint meeting with the Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss which will include a presentation by Martha Bagley. She has worked for many years with people who are elderly or deaf-blind. There will be a panel presentation by three active ACB members which will cover several issues and include time for questions and answers. If you are visually impaired and have had difficulty hearing lately, come to this meeting.
On Thursday, July 6, Janis Friend from the McDowell Center will present a seminar on employment and people with deaf-blindness. Got questions? We’ll try to provide the answers!
The committee plans to address the issue of transportation during at least one of these sessions. There may be additional gatherings during the week, so check the convention newspaper every day. If you will need to use an assistive listening device for any of our scheduled sessions, please mark that information on your pre-registration form so that we will have enough devices to distribute. If you have any suggestions, questions, opinions or gripes, call Patty Sarchi at (207) 947-5550 or e-mail her at psarchi@mint.net.
NAPVI Invites Parents to Attend IDEA Training Workshop
The National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI) invites parents to attend a unique workshop and presentation on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) on Wednesday, July 5th from 1:30-4:30 p.m. The workshop will highlight specific information related to the education of children who are blind or visually impaired. NAPVI is offering registration scholarships for parents who attend; the scholarships are made possible by a grant from the Delta Gamma Foundation’s Service for Sight. Child care will also be provided. Pre-registration by June 9th is required to secure child care and scholarships. Call the NAPVI national office at (800) 562-6265. Families are also invited to join NAPVI's hospitality reception from 5-7 p.m. immediately following the educational parent meeting.