Speaking of Gratitude: Givers of Freedom and Creators of Opportunity
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From the Editor: The following speech was delivered at the New Mexico state conference of the Association for the Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AERBVI) on February 26, 2004. Tonia Trapp is president of the Albuquerque chapter of the NFB of New Mexico. Her husband is Greg Trapp, the director of the adult rehabilitation training center of the New Mexico Commission for the Blind. Here is Tonia's story:
New Mexico School for the Visually Handicapped Adopts a New Orientation and Mobility Policy
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by Dianna Jennings, Superintendent, New Mexico School for the Visually Handicapped Reprinted from volume 7, number 3, of How’s Now, a publication of the Council of Schools for the Blind, COSB.
Editor’s Note: When I visit the campus of a school for the blind for the first time, there are two things I always look for and that forms the foundation of my opinion of that school.
39 Years Ago Newsman Had Front Row Seat to Beatles History
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From the Editor: Art Schreiber is president of the NFB of New Mexico. If you talk to him for any length of time, you will quickly learn that much of his working life was in radio and that he still has lots of contacts in media circles. Not many Federationists know, however, that Art was one of two American reporters sent to cover the first Beatles concert tour of North America in 1964. The story of that adventure has nothing to do with blindness, but it is an interesting glimpse into the life of a Federation leader.
Receiving a High School Diploma in New Mexico
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Reprinted from Volume 7, Number 4, of Howe’s Now , a publication of the Council of Schools for the Blind, COSB.
Why I Am a Federationist
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From the Editor: Tonia Trapp is the secretary of the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico and president of the Albuquerque Chapter. She works as an advocate for the New Mexico Protection and Advocacy System. At the 2002 convention of the NFB of New Mexico Tonia delivered the following speech telling her audience why she is a Federationist. This is what she said:
Blindness Needn’t Be All That Bad
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From the Editor: Sometimes optimistic blind people are dismissed by those, both sighted and blind, who have little experience of blindness, as Pollyannaish or out of touch with reality. If we express contentment with playing the hand fate has dealt us, even worse if we dare to laugh at our difficulties and refuse to rail against them, people often dismiss us as unworldly or unbalanced. Surely we would all agree that being forced to adjust to blindness late in life is not easy.
Anthropologist’s Hands See Details of History
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From the Editor: Many people don’t believe us when we say that blind people are engaged in most of the occupations you can think of. One of our scholarship winners last summer was Cheryl Fogel, working on a Ph.D. in archeology. Here is a story from Cheryl’s home state about another woman who is interested in old bones. The story first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal on June 5, 2001. It is reprinted with permission.
On Blindness
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From the Editor: The following article is reprinted with permission. It first appeared in the May, 2001, issue of Prime Time, a publication for seniors in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Art spent a lively career inradio and now serves as President of the NFB of New Mexico. We have modified the text only by removing local telephone numbers, which would not be helpful in a national publication. Both Art’s advice and attitude, however, are universally healthy and accurate. This is what he says:
The Greatness of the Arena
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From the Editor: Ivan Lopez is a 1999 National Federation of the Blind Scholarship winner. His life has not been easy, but he has learned never to give up and never to become so busy that he cannot extend a hand to help someone else along his way. He has recently become a chapter President in New Mexico. He brings to this new job all the thoughtfulness and energy those who know him have come to expect. He has a firm grasp on the essence of leadership. This is what he says:
Why I Am a Federationist
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From the Editor: Larry Hayes is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind of New Mexico. He is also a Past President of the San Juan Chapter in Farmington. A number of affiliates plan a convention agenda item each year titled "Why I am a Federationist." It is modeled on a talk by the same name that Dr. Jernigan gave many years ago. That speech has always been a favorite in the recorded literature of the organization, and this agenda item allows the rest of us to consider the question and answer it for ourselves.