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Welcome to the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa Home Page |
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The National Federation of the Blind of Iowa (NFBI), an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind, is a consumer organization of blind and sighted people of all ages from across the state of Iowa who work to improve the lives of all blind persons in Iowa and throughout our country. NFBI is a tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization. We welcome your support and contributions. Local chapters of the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa meet monthly to address issues of importance to the blind. These include, among other things, transportation, public awareness of the blind, and access by the blind to services and technology. One chapter has taken on an educational project for its community. Blind men and women write, produce, and host a local cable station talk show which informs the public about issues of concern to the blind and elevates the public's understanding about the true capabilities of people who are blind. Local chapters also serve as a support group for the Blind. People who lose their sight later in life desperately need the help and encouragement of others to return to the lives they knew when they could see. Most people, when they become blind, do not know of any other blind person in their city or family. They have no role model or mentor to assist them in their adjustment to blindness and their quest to return to a fulfilling life. Chapter members provide the essential links to help, encouragement, and services. As a statewide organization of blind Iowans, we work to influence and improve state programs that affect the blind. These include programs to provide materials to the blind in formats other than print, efforts to provide independent access to the ballot box, and services designed to help the blind obtain and retain employment. We advocate for the blind by serving on statewide boards or committees. We work to educate our members about services to which they are entitled. We work with parents of blind children to provide them with the information they need to help their children achieve their dreams of success. NFBI brought NFB-NEWSLINEŽ to the state of Iowa and continues to provide customer support for this service. NFB-NEWSLINEŽ provides, at no cost to blind individuals, the following telephone features:
With NFB-NEWSLINEŽ, subscribers can select which paper, section, or article to read; and they can read the paper at any time--day or night. To obtain an application for NFB-NEWSLINEŽ, contact Peggy Chong at (515) 277-1288. You may also apply online for NFB-NEWSLINEŽ. If you are the parent of a blind child, you will be interested in our Iowa Parents Of Blind Children Division! This division was formed as a result of a four-year program where a small handful of Federation members met on the second Saturday of each month with parents and their blind children at "Saturday School" where parents were introduced to the positive philosophy of blindness espoused by the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa and the National Federation of the Blind. Parents were taught to believe that their blind child could achieve just like their siblings who have sight. If you are a parent of a blind child, a grandparent, or perhaps you know someone who is a parent of a blind child, and would like more information, you may contact the division president, Carrie Thomson at e-mail Carrie National Federation of the Blind of Iowa
Do you own a cell phone? Can you use it to its fullest capabilities? Will it work with a cell phone screen reader? What is a cell phone screen reader anyway? Do you wish you could use your cell phone to do more than just make and receive phone calls? Do you really have to spend hundreds of dollars to get a cell phone that is nonvisually accessible? And what about this iPhone? Is it really accessible to the blind right out of the box? Where can you go to find answers to all your questions? The National Federation of the Blind of Iowa is holding its first ever seminar on nonvisually-accessible cell phones. It will occur on Friday, September 17 at the Downtown Des Moines Marriott Hotel, located at 700 Grand Avenue, from 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M., followed by a pizza supper. You are invited to attend! The cost per participant is $20. This topic was among the most requested topics by you, the consumer, and we listened! This seminar is being held in conjunction with the 2010 Convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa, which will run from Friday, September 17, through Noon on Sunday, September 19. Seats will fill up fast, and space is limited. Please fill out the enclosed reply form and return it TODAY! Send the form to: National Federation Of The Blind Free White Cane ProgramThe White Cane is a tool used by the blind to travel independently as contributing, productive members of our communities and is recognized everywhere as a symbol of independence. The NFB is giving, free of charge to the user, straight fiberglass canes. The canes are available in the following lengths: 53, 55, 57, 59, 61, and 63 inches. Any blind individual in the fifty states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico may request a cane for their personal use. Requests may be made as often as every six months. For more information, or to order your free white cane, Visit this link to learn more America is a nation in crisis regarding Braille literacy!How many children in America are not taught to read?The answer is 90 percent if the children are blind. Most Americans are shocked to hear this statistic. And we should be. The blind read and write using Braille, so why is our educational system failing to teach Braille to so many children? Why are these children being denied the opportunities that come with a proper education? What if you could not read and write? Where would you be today? There are three primary reasons for this educational crisis: (1) there are not enough Braille teachers; (2) some teachers of blind children have not received enough training; and (3) many educators do not think Braille instruction is even necessary. To bring critically-needed attention to this educational crisis, the United States Congress authorized the minting of the 2009 Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar with a portion of the sale of each coin going toward a revolutionary and comprehensive Braille literacy campaign. Be A Part Of The Solution!The law authorizing this 2009 silver dollar requires that any coins not sold by midnight on December 31, 2009, be melted down. Time is of the essence--a 90 percent illiteracy rate is not acceptable and the opportunity to purchase this coin will soon be gone. National Federation of the Blind of Iowa 2010 ConventionWe usually equate the Fall of each year with college football and other activities. But it's also the time of the year when the members of the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa hold our annual state convention. Here, we discuss many pertinent issues concerning the blind, such as the braille literacy crisis in America, issues concerning our senior blind population, on-time textbooks for college students, issues concerning parents of blind children, etc. We cordially invite educators, employers, the senior blind, college students who are blind, and others to attend. The site of the 2010 convention of the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa, which will be held September 17-19, will be the elegant downtown Des Moines Marriott Hotel. Located at 700 Grand Avenue, this spatious facility boasts luxury rooms with large desks, easy chair, data ports, high-speed internet, hair driers, coffee pots and a luxury bedding package. There is also a 24-hour on-site sundry shop as well as a beauty salon and barbershop. It is also a nonsmoking facility. Additionally, enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner at the beautiful Rock River Grill daily. Room rates will be $75 per night across the board. To make your room reservations, you may either call (515) 245-5500 or toll-free (800) 228-9290 and tell them you are making reservations for the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa convention. Reservations must be made by 5:00 P.M., September 5, 2010. Read More About the 2010 NFBI Convention The National Federation of the Blind of Iowa is changing what it means to be blind in the state of Iowa. We know the world should not change to meet all of our needs, but we believe and demonstrate through our many projects and programs that Blind people, given the proper training and opportunity, can lead productive lives in our society. The National Federation of the Blind of Iowa is an affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind: 200 East Wells Street At Jernigan Place, Baltimore, Maryland 21230; phone: 1-410-659-9314; e-mail: nfb@nfb.org; on the web at www.nfb.org. Read Issues of the Following NFB Publications:
Read NFB Kernel Books OnlineKernel Books are books about blind people written by blind people. These books tell what blindness is like--and what it isn't like--and seek to get to the heart of blindness. Read Kernel Books Online NFB of Iowa Contact Information NFB of Iowa Press Releases If you have questions about the National Federation of the Blind of Iowa, you may either send a message to the president or call (515 771-8348. |