NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND OF TEXAS67th Annual Convention

“Taking Care of Business”November 9-11, 2018

Radisson Fort Worth North Fossil Creek2540 Meacham Blvd

Fort Worth, TX(817) 625-9911

CONTACT US

1600 E HIGHWAY 6, SUITE 225ALVIN, TX 77511

(281) 968-7733 (Main)(281) 968-7634 (NFB-Newsline)(281) 968-7684 (Youth Services)

www.nfbtx.org

HOTEL INFORMATIONThe Radisson Fort Worth North Fossil Creek is

headquarters for the 2018 convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Texas. Room rates for this year are $90.00 per night, plus applicable tax.

REGISTRATIONAll convention attendees are encouraged to register.

Registration with the convention entitles you to the convention room rate and qualifies you to win door prizes. If you have pre-registered for the convention, please go to the pre-registration table located in the Lower Foyer (across from the front desk) to pick up your registration packet.

If you did not pre-register, you may register and purchase banquet tickets when you arrive at the convention. The onsite registration fee is $30.00, and banquet tickets purchased onsite will cost $40.00 each. Registration will be located in the Lower Foyer and will be open at the following times:

Friday, November 9, from 1-5 PM.Saturday, November 10, from 7:30-8:45 AM and from Noon-2 PM.

We will adhere to these timelines strictly so our registration workers can participate in all convention activities. We must provide the hotel with a final count related to the banquet. Once that guarantee has been made we will only make banquet tickets available until we sell out. So, I encourage you to get your tickets early.

EXHIBITSExhibits will be located in the Flatiron Room and will be

open at the following times:

Friday, November 9, 11 AM to 6 PM.Saturday, November 10, 7:30-9 AM and noon-4 PM.

Exhibits will be closed during the general session. Please see the back page of this agenda for a list of exhibitors.

DOOR PRIZESWe will draw for a variety of door prizes during each

general session and at the banquet. You must be registered with the convention in order to have your name placed in the drawing, and you must be present when your name is called in order to win.

Jeanetta Price will serve as our door prize chairperson this year. If you have door prizes to contribute, please see to it that you get them to Jeanetta as soon as possible. You may contact her at the hotel beginning on Friday, November 9. If you need to discuss door prizes prior to the convention, please call our office.

NFB-NEWSLINE®NFB-NEWSLINE® will have a table in the exhibit hall,

and people who stop by the table will have an opportunity to win a $100.00 prize just for completing our survey. This opportunity is available to blind and visually impaired convention attendees, as well as parents of blind children and professionals who work with blind children and adults. New subscribers who sign up

during the convention will also be entered in a separate drawing for another $100.00 prize. Both drawings will be held on Sunday, November 11 just prior to adjournment.

An afternoon Silver Bells Senior Training Program will also be presented during the convention. The training will include information about using NFB-NEWSLINE® Texas, as well as providing access to training in areas such as daily living, other access technology, and an introduction to nonvisual techniques. The training will be held in Westbrook B and C, from 2-5 PM, on Friday, November 9. Come and join us.

HOSPITALITY Come and join us as we celebrate our 67th anniversary with

some Texas-style hospitality. Visit your friends, have a drink at our cash bar, and enjoy some light refreshments. NFB-NEWSLINE® Texas is the sponsor for our food, and we hope to see all registered attendees there. The fun will begin at 5:00 PM and run until 6:30 PM. Hospitality will take place on the Upper Terrace. Come and enjoy!

BANQUETThe annual banquet of the National Federation of the Blind

of Texas will take place on Saturday, November 10, beginning at 7pm, in the Spring Palace/Westbrook Room. Everette Bacon, president of the National Federation of the Blind of Utah and a member of the Board of Directors of the National Federation of the Blind, will be our keynote speaker. Jose Marquez will emcee the program, and scholarships will be awarded during the banquet. Proof of purchase must be shown at the door. Tickets are available online for $35.00 each, through November 4. If you miss the deadline to pre-register and to purchase banquet

tickets, a limited number of tickets will be available for purchase onsite for $40.00 each.

Following the banquet, we encourage everyone to come out and show their talent by joining in our Karaoke Night. Terrence “Mr. W” Gutierrez will serve as our DJ, and we promise an entertaining evening.

A cash bar will be open before the banquet begins, and it will open again for karaoke.

TXAGDU MEET & GREETThis year, the Texas Association of Guide Dog Users

(TXAGDU) is hosting a meet and greet for current and potential guide dog users. Come and join TXAGDU on Friday, November 9, from 3-5 PM, in the Courtright Room. Our members will be happy to answer questions about all issues related to the use of guide dogs.

SERVICE ANIMAL RELIEF AREAThe hotel has designated a relief area for service animals.

The designated area is at the rear of the hotel. To get there, you should exit the rear doors and cross the back parking lot. After crossing the back lot, you will find an open field which may be used to park your service animal.

A WORD FROM OUR SPONSORSThis year, we are pleased to have five convention sponsors.

Our Extra Mile sponsor is NFB-NEWSLINE® Texas. We are also proud to have VOTEC as a Live the Life You Want sponsor, Vanda Pharmaceuticals as a Determination sponsor, Texas Central-the Texas Bullet Train as a Hope sponsor, and

Christal Vision as a Love sponsor. NFB-NEWSLINE® is one of our programs and will be featured throughout the weekend.

AGENDA

Friday, November 9, 2018

11:00 AM-6:00 PM – EXHIBITSFlatiron Room

1:00-5:00 PM - REGISTRATIONLower Foyer (Across from Front Desk)

2:00-5:00 PM - NEWSLINE: TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS FOR BLIND SENIORSThis session is intended to provide blind people, ages 50 and up, with strategies for integrating NFB-NEWLINE® TEXAS into their lives, while also teaching other high-tech and low-tech lessons for living a more independent life as a blind senior.Hosted by NFB-NEWSLINE® TEXASElizabeth Wisecarver, NFB-NEWSLINE® TEXAS CoordinatorWestbrook B & C Rooms

3:00-5:00 PM – TXAGDU MEET & GREETMembers of the Texas Association of Guide Dog Users will be available to talk with convention attendees regarding the use of service animals. If you are considering a guide dog or just want to learn how to advocate for your local members who may encounter issues when using their dogs in public places, come and join our division members. They will be happy to engage with you on this subject.Courtright Room

5:00-6:30 PM – HOSPITALITYLight refreshments will be served. Everyone who is registered for the convention is welcome to attend. A cash bar will be available to people who are of legal drinking age. Upper Terrace

6:30-7:30 PM – BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGThis meeting is open to anyone attending the convention. It is a planning meeting for the coming year. Come and find out what the board has planned for 2019. Picket Room

7:00-10:00 PM – TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS FOR OUR BLIND KIDS: JUST ENOUGH TO KNOW BETTER A SEMINAR BY THE TEXAS PARENTS OF BLIND CHILDRENCome and join Federation leaders, professionals who work with blind and visually impaired children, and other parents as we teach you how to teach, support and advocate for your child.Kim Cunningham, President Texas Parents of Blind ChildrenParker Room

7:00-10:00 PM – RING THE BELL: TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS BY LEARNING BRAILLEBlind and visually impaired children and their sighted siblings should come to learn about Braille, access technology, and other nonvisual skills during this three-hour session designed to introduce them to our Braille Enrichment for Literacy & Learning Academy. Children, ages 4-12 are welcome to attend. Westbrook B & C Rooms.

7:30-8:00 PM – RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEEGlenn Crosby, ChairpersonResolutions are how the organization makes policy. This committee determines which resolutions should be considered by the full convention. Like most Federation meetings, everyone is welcome to attend.Picket Room

7:30-10pm - TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF BLIND STUDENTS: TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS IN THE CLASSROOM AND BEYONDBlind and low vision students, young professionals, and those exploring career choices should join TABS for their annual gathering. Harry Staley, President Texas Association of Blind StudentsCourtright Room

10 PM - MIDNIGHT – BINGO NIGHTSponsored by the National Federation of the Blind of Texas, Fort Worth, Dallas, and Arlington ChaptersWestbrook A Room

Saturday Morning, November 10, 2018

7:30-8:45 AM - REGISTRATIONLower Foyer

7:30-8:45 AM - EXHIBITSFlatiron Room

7:30-8:45 AM - NFB-NEWSLINE® TEXAS LEADERSHIP BREAKFASTChapter presidents should designate no more than two people to attend this breakfast. It is intended for presidents and/or Newsline Ambassadors.Westbrook C Room

GENERAL SESSIONGeneral sessions on both Saturday and Sunday will take place in the Meacham Room

9:00 AM – CALL TO ORDER

9:05 AM – INVOCATIONRhanda Hasley, President National Federation of the Blind of Texas, Dallas Chapter

9:10 AM – WELCOME TO FORT WORTHRonnie Bellomy, PresidentNational Federation of the Blind of Texas, Fort Worth Chapter

9:25 AM – THE SCHOLARSHIP CLASS of 2018Lara Sowell, ChairpersonNational Federation of the Blind of Texas Scholarship Committee

9:40 AM – TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS ON THE NATIONAL STAGEEverette Bacon, Board MemberNational Federation of the Blind

10:15 AM – TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS AT VR SERVICESLarry E. Temple, Executive DirectorTexas Workforce Commission

10:30 AM – BUSINESS ENTERPRISES OF TEXAS: HELPING BLIND TEXANS TAKE CARE OF BUSINESSMichael Hooks, DirectorBusiness Enterprises of Texas

10:50 AM – USING AIRA TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESSMaria MacMullin, Director of Programs & Development at AiraDirector, Do More Foundation

11 AM – THE BLIND STUDENT TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEMNazanin Heyderian, Ph.D CandidateUniversity of Texas at El Paso

11:20 AM – TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS ON THE RIVERWALK: A BLIND STUDENT MARKETING A TEXAS LEGENDEmeline Lakrout, StudentUniversity of Texas at Austin

11:30 AM – CAREER MENTORING 2018 GRADUATION CEREMONYKayleigh Joiner, Assistant Program ManagerMika Baugh, Project Planner

NOON - ADJOURN

Saturday Afternoon

The first two hours of Saturday afternoon will be spent in concurrent breakout sessions covering special interest topics. All sessions will begin promptly at 2:00 PM and end at 3:50 PM. There are six sessions to choose from, but everyone is welcome to visit as many sessions as they wish. Exhibits will also be open during this time.

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS WITH THE LONG, WHITE CANEThis family cane walk is intended to show parents, blind and low vision kids, sighted siblings, and others who are interested how the white cane can be used as a tool of independence. Participants will travel around the hotel with instruction from cane travel teachers who use the structured discovery method of travel.Facilitated by Kim Cunningham, President TPOBC and her corps of cane travel instructorsWestbrook C Room

TAKING CARE OF FEDERATION BUSINESSThis session will focus on how you can help to improve NFBTX programs by serving as a volunteer. Specific volunteer opportunities will be discussed, and attendees will also have an opportunity to talk about other ways they want to give back to the Federation by volunteering their time, talent, and energy.Glenn Crosby, ModeratorPicket Room

SPANISH SPEAKING MEMBERS TAKING CARE OF BUSINESSThis breakout session is intended for people whose native language is Spanish. Our Spanish Language Committee has developed a program to teach Federation philosophy and some history, while helping our Spanish speaking members develop ways of participating actively in the organization. This session will be conducted entirely in Spanish.Jose Marquez & Daniel Martinez, ModeratorsWestbrook B Room

NFBTX YOUTH PROGRAMS TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS FOR TRANSITION AGE AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALSThis session will provide students, those looking for work, and young professionals with information they need to become more successful. This will be an interactive program.Hosted by TABS and CAREER Mentoring StaffMeacham Room

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS WITH TECHNOLOGYThis session will provide you with information about current and future access tech that will help you live the life you want.Raul Gallegos & Jeanine Lineback, ModeratorsParker Room

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS WITH READY ACCESSThis session is designed to discuss ready access to the polling place and other aspects of life that involve technology. Join Doug Towne and the folks from VOTEC as they host a listening

session related to updated technology that allows blind voters to improve their privacy during the voting experience.Douglas Towne, FacilitatorCourtright Room

GENERAL SESSIONMeacham Room

4:00 PM – TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS IN OUR COMMUNITIES: CHAPTER REPORTS

4:25 PM – TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS FOR THE BLIND OF TEXAS: THE PRESIDENTIAL REPORTNorma Crosby, PresidentNational Federation of the Blind of Texas

5:00 PM - ADJOURN

Saturday Evening, November 10, 2018

6:30 PM - ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENTA cash bar will be available until the banquet begins. It will reopen for Karaoke NIghtSpring Palace/Westbrook Rooms

7:00 PM - BANQUETJose Marquez, Master of CeremoniesSpring Palace/Westbrook Rooms

9:30 PM-MIDNIGHT - KARAOKE NIGHT WITH MR. DOTS 2, 4, 5, 6

Spring Palace/Westbrook/Flatiron Rooms

Sunday Morning, November 11, 2018

7:30 AM - LONE STAR CHAPTER BREAKFASTThis is the annual, face-to-face, meeting of the at-large chapter. Chapter members are welcome, and convention attendees who live in a rural area and want to know more about the chapter are invited to attend as well. Barrons Room

TEXAS ASSOCIATION OF GUIDE DOG USERS BREAKFASTThis is the annual meeting breakfast for TXAGDU. This is an open meeting that anyone may attend. The cost for this breakfast is $20.00 per person. Westbrook A Room

GENERAL SESSIONMeacham Room9:00 AM - CALL TO ORDER

9:05 AM – INVOCATION

9:15 AM - ELECTIONS

9:35 AM - SECRETARY’S REPORTLouis Maher, SecretaryNational Federation of the Blind of Texas

9:40 AM – TREASURER’S REPORTEmily Gibbs, TreasurerNational Federation of the Blind of Texas

10:00 – TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS WITH NEWSLINEElizabeth Wisecarver, Program CoordinatorNFB-NEWSLINE® Texas

10:20 AM - RESOLUTIONSGlenn Crosby, ChairpersonNational Federation of the Blind of Texas Resolutions Committee

10:40 AM – LEGISLATIVE UPDATENorma Crosby, PresidentNFBTX

11:00 AM - ADJOURN

LIST OF EXHIBITORS

The following exhibitors are participating in the 2018 convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Texas. We thank all of them for joining us.

Extra Mile Level Sponsors NFB-NEWSLINE® Texas

Live the Life You WantVOTEC, Corp.

Determination Level SponsorsVanda Pharmaceuticals

Hope Level SponsorsTexas Central: The Texas Bullet Train

Nonprofits or AgenciesBookshare.OrgCriss Cole Rehabilitation CenterGuide Dogs for the BlindHouston Area Visually Impaired Network

(HAVIN)Texas Talking Book ProgramThe Seeing Eye

For Profit Companies or OrganizationsAira