THE TEXAS STAR
Vol. 19, No. 3
July 2011
Heather Abel, Editor
President’s Message
Carol Edwards
Membership News
Noelia Dillingham
Let the Bids Rise!
Kenneth Semien, Sr.
Tales from the Treasurer
Neil Finley
The Alamo Council Celebrates Its Silver Anniversary
Larry Johnson
Please Come to Austin in August
Stephen Kerr
Beaumont Area Council - Looking Ahead
Kenneth Semien, Sr.
Houston Council Happenings
Bob Bartlett
South Plains Council
Neil Finley
BRLT - 50 and Counting
Larry Johnson
Guide Dog Users of Texas
Cindy Finley
Library Users of Texas
Peggy Garrett
Advocacy and Legislation Committee
Willie Barber
Nominating Committee Report
Cindy Finley
From the Resolutions Committee
Bob Bartlett
Member Morale Article
Cindy Finley
Summary of May 7, 2011 Board Meeting
Carol White
Destination Wonderland
Barbara J. Madrigal
In Memory of Paul Veilleux
Becky Collier
Remember
Kenneth Semien, Sr.
Apathy or Advocacy: Which Shall We Choose?
Larry Johnson
Toll-free number: 866-929-2228
[Note: Articles printed in The Texas Star are submitted by the
subscribers and are not necessarily reflective of the membership
as a whole. The articles express only the opinion of the author.]
-2President's Message
Carol Edwards
Hi! I hope you all had a good spring. It is now summer and
we need to make sure we drink plenty of water and make sure our
pets do also! When you receive this, the ACB National
Convention will be over, and I hope any of you who were able to
attend had a great time.
ACBT has been very busy working on our ACBT State
Conference which will be held August 25-28. You should have
received your registration form by now. Please fill it out and return
it as soon as possible. Our host chapter is working on interesting
workshops and an interesting banquet speaker.
ACBT is bringing Marlaina Lieberg, who is the ACB
Secretary, to be our National Guest and speaker at our
luncheon. We will be having an auction on Saturday evening after
the banquet. Kenneth Semien, Sr. is our Fundraising Chairman
who is in charge of the auction. We are asking our chapters to
donate items for the auction, but encourage individuals to donate
items, too. Door prizes will be accepted from anyone who wishes
to donate. We have a new Webmaster; his name is Mike Firth
from Dallas. His wife, Gigi, is a member of our Dallas chapter.
Please contact him when your chapter has changes they need to
make on the website.
ACBT has been very busy during this legislative session. On
May 6, 2011, many members spent the day at the State Capitol.
Larry Johnson, Willie Barber, Kenneth Semien, Sr., Stephen Kerr,
and Carol Edwards were on the podium with the Speaker of the
House as a resolution was read dealing with pedestrian safety. In
the Gallery, Ginger Kraft, Joyce Watson, Cynthia Julun, Allen
Cole, and Susan Merrick from AT&T were there for support. We
have had several members who have been sick, in the hospital,
or have had surgeries. We wish everyone speedy recoveries and I
know all of our ACBT family will be keeping everyone in their
prayers. Take care, and talk to you in the fall!
-3Membership News
Noelia Dillingham
We still have time to get more members, but the deadline for
folks who want to vote at the State Conference is July 12th.
We are still working on the Bay Area Council of the Blind
organization. Ms. Belinda Skloss is still busy getting more
members.
As of this date, we have 379 members and hope to add
more every chance we get. Now is your time to ask people to join
our ACBT organization.
See you all in Austin in August, God willing.
Let the Bids Rise!
Kenneth Semien, Sr.
The 2011 ACBT Auction, scheduled for Saturday, August
27th during the ACBT Conference in Austin, will have items that
you may strongly desire to take home with you. Therefore
everyone is encouraged to bring extra cash and/or your
checkbook. You can also plan in advance to partner with
someone else to purchase items. The Participants Drawing will
allow your name to be entered into a special drawing for a Gift
Bag with a variety of items. Your name goes into the drawing
each time you make a purchase.
If you haven't participated in one of the ACBT Auctions in the
past, make this year the year to join us to witness what happens
during an auction. Come expecting this one to be more than just
buying items. Come and have fun with humorous and enlightening
moments that will be presented by our licensed and award
winning auctioneers. It will also be enjoyable to witness the bids
as they rise in support of ACBT continuing to grow and achieve its
goals and objectives that provide enhancements to the lives of
blind and visually impaired Texans.
I would like to express my appreciation to those who have emailed a description of the items they have collected and
encourage others who haven't to help by doing so once items are
obtained. Together we can make the auction a worthwhile event.
-4Please be reminded that items can be sent prior to travel
time for the Conference to ensure that they will be available and
ready to present before the auction begins. Send items to the
attention of Lettie Jackson at Travis Association for the Blind,
2307 Business Center Drive, Austin, TX 78744.
Contact Kenneth Semien, Sr. with questions or comments by
sending e-mail to semien@sbcglobal.net or call (409) 866-5838.
Tales from the Treasurer
Neil Finley
I hope everyone is having a great summer and looking
forward to the conference in Austin. Since the conference is
August 26-28, I just want to remind you that, while people can join
ACBT at any time during the year, only members as of July 12,
2011, will be certified to vote at the 2011 conference. The
postmark date is used for date of membership. As you recruit new
members, please send the following information with dues: Name,
address, phone number, Braille Forum format (large print,
cassette, Braille, email), The Texas Star format (large print, CD,
or email, or it can be read from the ACBT listserv), fully sighted
(yes or no), email address (optional). If you have any questions,
please contact me: Neil Finley, ACBT Treasurer, 4831 – 52nd St.,
Lubbock, TX 79414; (806) 795-0216; ncfinley@sbcglobal.net.
See you at the conference.
The Alamo Council Celebrates Its Silver Anniversary
Larry Johnson
None of our members could remember when it was that our
chapter was formally established. So we asked the IRS. And
that’s how it was that we learned that the Alamo Council of the
Blind was legally incorporated on June 3, 1986, 25 years ago. So,
we had a birthday cake at our June membership meeting and
sang Happy Birthday to ourselves.
The program speaker at our June meeting was a senior staff
-5person with the San Antonio Office of Emergency Management
who talked to us about early warning notification, evacuation
procedures, and special accommodations for individuals with
disabilities during a disaster or citywide emergency.
Our speaker in May was the radio personality and entertainer
Sonny Melendrez who delighted and inspired our members with
his humorous and moving personal stories and experiences. And
in July, we will have representatives from the San Antonio Red
Cross to explain and demonstrate to us how even blind
individuals can perform CPR and other lifesaving procedures.
In June we began the series of sensitivity training classes for
VIA paratransit van operators. Under this new contract, we are to
train 170 VIA van drivers by the end of the year. At the same time,
we continue to train all newly hired van operators with Star
Shuttle, which is the company contracted by VIA to provide about
50% of its paratransit service. It’s keeping us plenty busy.
It took two years of relentless work with the City of San
Antonio and the Texas Department of Transportation to finally get
a full traffic light and accessible pedestrian signal installed on
Roosevelt Road in front of the San Antonio Lighthouse for the
Blind, but we got it done. There are now over 75 street
intersections equipped with accessible pedestrian signals
throughout San Antonio.
In August at our general membership meeting, we will again
be awarding scholarships to two deserving blind or visually
impaired college or college-bound students. And finally, we are
excited to report that a successful grant application request is
going to allow us to charter a tour bus and help many of our
members travel to Austin to attend the state conference in
August. Make way, here we come!
Please Come to Austin in August
Stephen Kerr
The 2011 ACBT State Conference is fast approaching, and
all of us from the Austin Council of the Blind invite you to the
Hilton Austin Airport Hotel, 9515 New Airport Drive, August 25-28
-6for a weekend of exciting activities, informative workshops, and
the chance to see old friends and, perhaps, make some new
ones.
By now, you should have received your registration packet in
the mail. Please have it filled out and sent back to us no later than
August 23. If you didn’t receive a packet, you’re having problems
with getting assistance in filling out the forms, or if you’ve
misplaced it, you may request a packet to be emailed to you, and
you can fill it out and email it back to us. Just be sure to either
mail your payment before the conference, or pay when you come,
but we need your registration forms prior to in order to guarantee
your preferences of reading format of the conference program,
dietary needs, etc. If you’d like a copy emailed to you, please
contact our Registration Coordinator, Sherri Stepan, at:
thestepans@yahoo.com
We have lined up a wonderful guest speaker for the
Saturday night banquet. Her name is Ellen Bomer. Ellen was at
the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, when it was bombed by AlQaeda 12 years ago. After being trapped for hours under the
wreckage, Ellen was finally rescued. The attack left her blind, and
she will share her journey from multiple surgeries and therapy to
the adjustment of adapting her sight-oriented mind to a life of
blindness. She has written a book about the experience, which
she will be exhibiting at the conference. She’ll also be conducting
a water aerobics workshop in the hotel pool that same Saturday.
We’re thrilled to have Ellen as part of our conference, and you
won’t want to miss her story.
Along with Ellen’s water aerobics workshop, we are in the
process of planning a diabetes education workshop, a
Transportation in Texas workshop, and an education panel. More
information on these and other workshops will be listed on the
ACBT website: www.acbtexas.org, as well as the Austin council
site: www.acbaustin.org
You’ll also have an opportunity to purchase T-shirts bearing
the theme of this year’s conference: employment, empowerment,
and education. The shirts are $11, and can be ordered prior to the
conference by sending a check to me, Stephen Kerr, at: 2200
-7Panther Trail, Apt. 510, Austin, TX 78704. Please make checks
payable to Austin Council of the Blind, and write “T-shirt” in the
memo line. All orders must be made no later than July 31, so we
know how many to order from the designer.
Once again, AT&T has graciously agreed to sponsor our
Sunday Morning Awards Breakfast this year, as they have done
the past several years. A special thanks to Susan Merrick from
AT&T for her help in securing the sponsorship.
If you are an exhibitor, and would like to have a table at the
conference, there’s still room for you! The cost is $35 per table.
To receive an exhibit letter and form, please contact our Exhibits
Coordinator, Kevin Ratliff, by email at: kevin-ratliff@sbcglobal.net.
As of this writing, we have not heard of any problems with
making reservations at the hotel for the conference. In case it’s
needed, the group code is ACB. The hotel has done an excellent
job in preparing for the conference, and we believe you will be
very impressed with the staff’s service and attention to detail. We
can’t thank the Hilton personnel enough for the great job they are
doing to make this conference a success.
Feel free to check the ACBT website, our Austin Council
website, and the ACBT ListServ for updates as we get closer to
conference time. As always, if you have any questions, please
contact me, Stephen Kerr, by email at: kerrsteve@att.net or by
phone at: (512) 925-9080. You may also contact Judy Jackson,
Conference Coordinator, at: jjackson143@suddenlink.net or by
phone at: (940) 255-9241.
We’re excited about this year’s conference, and we don’t
want you to miss it! See you in Austin in August!
Beaumont Area Council - Looking Ahead
Kenneth Semien, Sr.
Greetings from the Beaumont Area Council of the Blind
(BACB)! As you all know, hurricane season began on the first day
of June. Members of BACB began the Emergency Preparedness
Awareness Project during the month of May to alert citizens of our
community about the importance of planning ahead for
-8unexpected emergencies, including, but not limited to hurricanes.
We have distributed the 2011 Extreme Weather Information
Sheet and encouraged individuals to pack items now in order to
avoid a sudden panic if we were to experience any type of
disaster. We believe that it is better to plan and not need it rather
than a need arising without having planned.
Beaumont kicked off the Community Outreach Program
during the month of June and is excited about what the program is
likely to accomplish. It is our hope to identify more individuals who
are blind or visually impaired by contacting local assisted living
facilities and apartment complexes designated to serve
individuals with disabilities. In an effort to spread the word of our
efforts, notices were sent to a core group of churches, as well.
Our initial plans are to meet with individuals at their place of
residence while placing an emphasis on identifying their personal
needs, especially those who may not be able to attend our
monthly meetings.
It’s really invigorating to find those anxious for positive
interaction with others facing similar issues. We have developed a
Fun Finders Team and equipped them with a list of museums,
parks, events and more to make individuals aware of the fun
things they can do during the summer. Making a difference will be
our main goal.
We are in the planning stages for the 3rd Annual Disability
Awareness Extravaganza scheduled for Thursday, October 13,
2011, from 10:00 am – 12:30 pm at the Rogers Park Community
Center located at 6540 Gladys Street near Dowlen Road in
Beaumont.
The Extravaganza is held in accordance with National
Disability Employment Awareness Month and White Cane Safety
Day. During the Extravaganza, there will be an exciting array of
segments that include a good news report, appreciation and
achievement awards. A tribute to disabled veterans, inductions
into the Beaumont Senior Honor Society, special guests,
information booths containing helpful resources, and more.
Everyone is invited! Until next time, make it a fun and exciting
summer.
-9Houston Council Happenings
Bob Bartlett
June was an interesting month for the Houston Council, as I
am pleased to report that Ed "Doc" Bradley celebrated his
birthday and lived to talk about it. We are also pleased to report
that his wife, Linda, is recovering nicely from her recent surgery.
The bake sale we held on April 30 was a fine success, as
our cooks always do a great job. Plus, the Food-a-Rama location
selected for us by Peggy and Michael Garrett was super as many
shoppers simply could not stand the hit to their waistlines and
chose to donate without buying a thing. Well Done!
Looking ahead, we will be honoring scholarship winners at
our Scholarship Luncheon on August 20, 2011 at the Hobby
Marriott where we held our conference last year. If you are in the
neighborhood, come on by.
Our Houston radio reading service just released their new
digital receivers, so now many of us are benefiting from crystalclear reception coming from digital channel 8.4, part of the KUHT
Houston PBS spectrum. And remember, custom recording service
is available for any qualified client in Texas. To apply go to the
web site (tapingfortheblind.org) or call 713-622-2767.
South Plains Council
Neil Finley
I read this morning that 236 counties in Texas have outdoor burn
bans. That is tragic and can put a damper on the activities of
Texans who enjoy spending time outdoors. However, the South
Plains Council found an alternative that was very interesting and
kept us cool at the same time. We went to the Silent Wings
Museum for our June meeting. This museum features the gliders
and glider pilots of World War II and their contributions. Lisa
Howe, Education Director for the Silent Wings Museum, was our
tour guide and gave a great presentation that included a hands-on
portion. She unloaded a foot locker and showed us the uniform,
C-rations, artillery, and personal items of a typical World War II
soldier. The M-1 Grand rifle she passed around was very exciting!
-10We were also able to touch a replica of a glider and get a very
real idea of how they worked and the great importance they
played in the war. In April, we had a very interesting presentation
by our own Stanley Dahm on U.S. currency. He presented each
member with a dime from 1964 that was mostly silver and is worth
$2.10. We also brought candy for Easter. In August a presentation
is planned in anticipation of White Cane Safety Day.
As the heat continues, try to stay cool and watch out for each
other.
BRLT - 50 and Counting
Larry Johnson
I am really excited to tell you that BRLT, the Braille Revival
League of Texas now has 50 members, as of June 17, and more
may join before the August conference. Our Membership
Committee has done a truly outstanding job. Thank you Becky
Collier and committee members.
As you know, the annual ACBT state conference is when
BRLT also holds its annual meeting and Open House program,
and this year we have planned a fantastic, special, double
header. The BRLT Friday afternoon program, from 3:00 pm to
4:30 pm, will open with a performance of the wonderful play, "Who
Will Read to Me?" written by Ann Foxworth, and performed by
BRLT members. This will be followed by a provocative and
stimulating round-table discussion entitled “The Role of Braille in
the 21st Century in the Education of Children Who Are Blind or
Visually Impaired.” The panelists will include visually impaired
Braille users, parents of visually impaired children, and education
and rehabilitation professionals. The diverse opinions and
viewpoints promise to make for a lively discussion.
Our exhibit table on Friday and Saturday will offer for sale
the popular Braille Word puzzles, our Tasty Treats of Texas
cookbook in Braille or Large Print, and a final few Braille
American flags.
For the second year, BRLT will be awarding a $1,000
scholarship to a deserving college or college-bound student who
-11is visually impaired and a Braille reader. And, we are absolutely
thrilled and very proud to announce that this year we are
partnering with All Blind Children of Texas to jointly offer a second
scholarship of $1,000 to a young, visually impaired student.
Special thanks to Betty Huffman for her support to help bring this
about.
Finally, we will be holding elections, and hearing committee
and officer reports during our business meeting on Saturday
morning, 9:00 am to 10:30 am. I hope you all will make the trip to
Austin in August to join us.
Guide Dog Users of Texas
Cindy Finley
Hello, Guide Dog Users of Texas is ready for the 2011 ACBT
state conference in Austin. GDUTX has exciting plans for our
Friday afternoon program meeting and Saturday morning
breakfast meeting. Our Friday afternoon program meeting time is
4:30 pm to 6:00 pm, and our Saturday morning breakfast meeting
will be from 7:00 am to 8:45 am. Of course we are looking forward
to seeing old friends and meeting new ones.
Guide Dog Users of Texas is challenging ACBT members,
chapters, and other affiliates to contribute some really great items
to the ACBT auction. Ask businesses that you frequent to donate
an item that you think would be a really great auction item.
GDUTX has had a rolling duffle bag donated and we are filling it
with goodies that will entice both a two-legged and four-legged
auction attendee. So bring your dollars and be ready to bid on
whatever items suit your fancy. However, GDUTX is hoping that
our auction donation will bring in the top bid.
Take care, and we will see you at the end of August.
Library Users of Texas
Joan Cox, President and Peggy Garrett
Are you a library user? Do you enjoy reading a book in
-12Braille or listening to a recorded book? If so, join Library Users of
America – Texas Chapter, and strengthen the voice of Texas
consumers.
Eighty years ago, the National Library Service was
established to ensure that blind and visually impaired persons
would have access to a broad scope of information, as well as
choices in leisure reading.
In 1992, Library Users of America – Texas Chapter was
organized and its members have monitored legislation locally and
nationally regarding the maintenance and improvement of this
service. Fortunately, the Director Of The Talking Book Program in
Austin, Ava Smith, and Stephen Biles, Public Awareness
Coordinator, have worked closely with LUA of Texas, asking for
consumer input and keeping all users up-to-date with the many
changes brought about with the digital conversion. Stephen Biles
will be present and speaking at the LUA annual meeting, Saturday
morning during the upcoming ACBT Conference in Austin.
You are invited to join LUA and lend your efforts to sustain
this valuable service. The dues for annual membership are
$15.00 and include membership in the national Library Users of
America. You also will receive the newsletter, “The LUA
Ledger.” We look forward to seeing you in Austin!
Advocacy and Legislation Committee
Willie Barber
Hello ACBT Family, I am honored and proud to announce
that the Advocacy and Legislation committee accomplished many
of the goals we set forth to the 82nd Texas legislators. As you
remember, this past January we sent letters to all members of the
Texas Senate, as well as the House of Representatives, and
other governmental officials/organizations, stating concerns of
ACBT such as, continuing funding for our Blind Children’s
Programs, Vocational Training for the Blind, keeping DARS
separate from DADDS, and many other issues dealing with
protection for individuals who happen to be blind or visually
impaired. In addition, we, ACBT, played a major part in getting
-13two laws passed in our great state of Texas. The first one deals
with the “Pedestrian Safety Law” (public awareness of those who
have special challenges and more stringent penalties for
violators), and secondly, bringing some uniformity among the
paratransit systems in Texas (when applying for permission to
utilize paratransit in another city, they have two business days to
notify you of your status). Also, here is a list of some of the other
House Bills we supported and had success:
1. House Bill 1: Many areas, but particularly those that dealt
with DARS/DBS.
2. House Bill 243 (illegal to text while driving): It passed in the
House of Representatives and Senate, but the Governor
vetoed the bill during the Texas special session.
3. Senate Bill 54: (Teachers have to have a Texas Teacher’s
Certification to teach children who are blind or visually
impaired).
4. House Bill 1105 and Senate Bill 513: (Highways built
through cities have to have sidewalks and appropriate
crossings).
5. House Bill 2651: (Paratransit system notification of eligibility
of status within two business days).
There are hosts of other House Bills we advocated for in
support of organizations who have special challenges. Also, I feel
we strengthened our relationship with DARS/DBS during this 82nd
Legislation period, through the collaborating efforts of ACBT and
the Staff of DARS/DBS fighting for adequate funding and saving
programs for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
In conclusion, I’m looking forward to our State Conference in
Austin to provide an update of the Advocacy & Legislation efforts,
goals, and aspirations for the family of the American Council of
the Blind of Texas. Also, I want to “THANK ALL THE
COMMITTEE MEMBERS, CHAPTER PRESIDENTS, AND ACBT
MEMBERS” who provided their time, intellect, and hard work in
protecting the rights for our great organization and those
Individuals who are blind or visually impaired in this great state of
Texas. I “SALUTE YOU ALL!!!”
-14Nominating Committee Report
Cindy Finley
Hello, your nominating committee would like to submit the
following slate for the 2011 ACBT elections. We will be voting on
two director positions that are currently held by Michael Garrett
and Larry Johnson. Both men are eligible to serve one more fouryear term. The biographical sketches for these two candidates are
included at the end of this article. Additional candidates can be
nominated from the conference floor, but each one must have
agreed to serve, as well as provide a biographical sketch to be
read at that time.
Thank you to Joan Cox and Karen Eitel for serving on the
nominating committee with me.
Michael Garrett
Fellow ACBT members, I am Michael Garrett and I am
seeking another term on the ACBT Board of Directors.
In terms of my background, my lovely wife, Peggy, and I
reside in Missouri City, which is a suburb of Houston. I am a
retired banker with 28 years of experience in the investment
industry. I have been a member of ACB for roughly 20 years,
serving the organization in a number of capacities at the local,
state, and national levels. I currently serve as second vice
president of our local chapter. On the national level, I serve as
current chairman of ACBES. I hold a position as a board member
with a number of special project and committee assignments,
including ACB's Resource and Development Committee, the
Budget Committee, and a special committee working with ACB
Radio.
As a member of ACBT, I also have been around the board in
a number of capacities over the years, sometimes totally at my
own expense. During my latest stint on the Board, I served as
Chairman of the Public Relations Committee. In that time, our
committee had oversight in the production of ACBT's Pedestrian
Safety PSA and the Pedestrian Safety power point presentation. I
was instrumental in getting the PSA aired in the Houston market.
-15Even after relinquishing the position of chairing the Public
Relatioins Committee, I continue to promote the PSA and the
power point presentation. Over the past year, I served on ACBT's
Advocacy and Legislation Committee. I was one of three official
ACBT representatives in Washington, DC, at the ACB Legislative
Seminar. With this critical state legislative session approaching, I
organized the first of several meetings with top management of
DARS/DBS which was held in Houston. I have participated on
several advocacy-related conference calls and initiated a number
of other calls to state legislators regarding the issues that confront
us as Texans who are blind or visually impaired.
Hopefully, this gives you a glimpse of my passion for our
great organization. I not only have a passion to serve, but also, if
I'm elected, you have my assurance that you'll see my continued
commitment to serve ACBT to the best of my ability.
Larry Johnson
Hello. My name is Larry Johnson and I would be honored, if
elected, to serve another term as Director on the ACB of Texas
Board. I have been a member of the American Council of the
Blind for around 25 years.
Currently, I am President of the Alamo Council of the Blind,
President of the Braille Revival League of Texas, and Chairman
of both the ACB of Texas Transportation and Public Relations
Committees. I also serve on two ACB national committees,
Employment Issues and Environmental Access. I am also the
Chairman of Bexar County’s Technical Access Advisory
Committee for Persons with Disabilities, and am one of just two
public members who serve on our local transportation system’s
Board Ad Hoc Committee for paratransit policies.
I would like to help our organization significantly grow its
membership and influence across the state, train and mentor
more of our young people into leadership roles within the
organization and in their respective communities, and teach the
strategies and power of advocacy to all our members, so that
together we will improve the quality of life for all Texans who are
-16blind or visually impaired.
From the Resolutions Committee
Bob Bartlett
The ACBT Resolutions Committee is still waiting to hear
from you, and particularly those who will attend the ACB
convention in Reno in July. If you come back filled with important
ideas that you think our state conference should take a position
on, please get in touch with me by phone at 713-645-6370 or by
email at rlb19@hal-pc.org. Please let positive action, not
procrastination be your motivation!
Member Morale Article
Cindy Finley
By the time you read this, our country will have celebrated its
235 birthday. Independence Day honors the birthday of the
United States of America and the adoption of the Declaration of
Independence on July 4, 1776. On that day, the Second
Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of
Independence, announcing the colonies' separation from Great
Britain. The Constitution provides the legal and governmental
framework for the United States, however, the Declaration, with its
eloquent assertion "all Men are created equal," is equally beloved
by the American people.
Although our country is not perfect, Americans are privileged
to celebrate our independence on July 4 of each year. France
also celebrates their independence in July. It is called Bastille
Day. The people of France stormed the Bastille which was a
prison, and let out all of the prisoners on the 14th of July in 1790.
Since then France has not been a monarchy as it was before.
People with disabilities celebrate a landmark federal
disabilities law on each July 26. On July 26, 1990, President
George H. W. Bush signed into law the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990. The ADA recognizes and protects the civil
rights of people with disabilities and is modeled after earlier
th
-17landmark laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race and
gender. The ADA covers a wide range of disabilities, from
physical conditions affecting mobility, stamina, sight, hearing, and
speech to conditions such as emotional illness and learning
disorders. The ADA addresses access to the workplace (title I),
state and local government services (title II), and places of public
accommodation and commercial facilities (title III). It also requires
phone companies to provide telecommunications relay services
for people who have hearing or speech impairments (title IV) and
miscellaneous instructions to Federal agencies that enforce the
law (title V). Regulations issued under the different titles by
various Federal agencies set requirements and establish
enforcement procedures. To understand and comply with the
ADA, it is important to follow the appropriate regulations.
If you would like to receive notifications by E-mail when new
ADA information is available, go to
https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDOJ/subscriber/new?c
ategory_id=USDOJ_C26. Also, if you would like general
information about the Americans with Disabilities Act, or want to
file a complaint, the ADA hotline is 800-514-0301.
Summary of May 7, 2011 Board Meeting
Carol White
Barbara Madrigal, Assistant Commissioner, DARS-Division
for Blind Services, spoke on affairs of DARS. Criss Cole is being
re-designed. Some comments were that the nine-month program
was too long, needs more customization of the program and more
focus on employment, and technology training should be
integrated into all areas of Criss Cole. Once it is fine-tuned, it will
be taken to consumer groups to receive their input. She
encouraged us to tour the Career Center facility. DARS fared
quite well in the legislature with funding for blind children and
rehabilitation services. Barbara’s assistant, Mel Fajkus, wanted to
thank ACBT for all the support that we have provided to Blind
Services since he and Barbara as state employees are limited in
what they personally can do. He said that ACBT came through
-18when they really needed them.
Noelia said the Bay Area Council of the Blind which includes
several communities on the outskirts of Houston will be a new
chapter. Noelia, Allen, and Ginger are planning to go to Waco in
May to establish a new chapter.
Larry thanked Ginger for compiling the information on 11 of
the transit companies throughout the state that provide paratransit
service. It was reported in The Texas Star, and a book of this
information is being considered.
Kenneth Semien, Sr. gave the fundraising report. He asked
for anyone sending an item for the 2011 ACBT Auction to send an
e-mail to him at semien@sbcglobal.net with a description of that
item in order for items to be cataloged before the event. Contact
him if you wish to be a worker for this event. Professional licensed
auctioneers have volunteered to perform the auction. He is
planning to have the names of everyone who participates in the
auction to be placed in a drawing. He has participated in a
webinar/conference call and other phone calls presented by
Greater Giving, which helps non-profit organizations to collect
more funds by accepting credit and debit cards during fundraising
events such as the auction by using a virtual terminal provided by
Greater Giving. Kenneth is exploring the option of accepting
online donations and payments through Greater Giving or PayPal.
The members of the Public Relations committee continue to
work toward getting out our video and our public service
announcement regarding pedestrian safety on television. Larry
Johnson encouraged all the other chapters to continue to use
those instruments as well as the public service announcements to
be distributed to local radio stations. He had requested a set of
PSAs that National had developed. There are about six PSAs,
some of which were done by Willard Scott. He made copies and
distributed them to all chapters. Stephen and Larry created three
locally produced PSAs focused on pedestrian safety to be
distributed to radio stations. He made CDs and distributed them to
each chapter representative present. Stephen said that many
radio stations now prefer to receive their PSAs through MP3
electronic mail. Please contact either Stephen or Larry and they
-19can transmit the PSAs to local radio stations electronically.
However, they may just want to copy the disk into their computer
and give the original back to you so you can take it to another
station.
Willie asked if there was a way to get our information to
ophthalmologists. Larry responded by saying that this is a topic
that we need to raise with Barbara Madrigal. He thinks that DARS
could do much more in this area of educating ophthalmologists
about the services. Cindy stated that the South Plains chapter has
distributed brochures to some clinics, and ophthalmologist and
optometrist offices. Possibly, the Public Relations committee
could give the chapters some guidelines to go by in this endeavor.
Willie Barber’s Advocacy and Legislation committee wrote a
letter stating our concerns, and sent that letter to all 150 members
of the Texas House of Representatives and 31 members of the
Texas Senate, the Lieutenant Governor, the Governor, and to
other organizations. This letter was collaboration between our
state president and the committee members. As a result, many
representatives called him to ask about the letter and the
concerns that we have. That led to many meetings, some
personal and some by telephone conference. They also met with
Barbara Madrigal at DBS. He stated that he was very impressed
with the students who attended the Carolyn Garrett Legislation
conference. He would like that group to grow and he hopes we
can incorporate it with our vision of having a leadership training
program of advocacy and legislation for our future in the state of
Texas. He met personally with 92 of the 150 members of the
House of Representatives along with staff members.
Larry then spoke of a bill that he calls the “Sidewalk Bill,”
House Bill 1105 and Senate Bill 513, which requires the Texas
Department of Transportation to put in sidewalks whenever they
do any road work on highways or streets that go through town.
Last month TXDOT released a memo indicating that they will
begin doing this.
Larry stated that it is very important to help develop and
mentor other members to come forward and play a significant role
in the leadership and advocacy efforts of ACBT. He suggested
-20working with our scholarship winners, and having the chapter
presidents involve their younger members. He proposed that we
organize a leadership advocacy training workshop early next year.
Carol Edwards interjected that this is already in the works for
January 2012.
Stephen Kerr gave some of the conference details.
Registration papers should be mailed by the beginning of July. He
hopes to have all the information on the Austin and ACBT web
sites.
Willie moved that the American Council of the Blind of Texas
acquire a post office box for our organization. It was seconded by
several people. This box will be only for financial purposes.
Motion carried.
Marlaina Lieberg was chosen to be our national
representative for the ACBT conference.
Mike Firth has volunteered to be our new webmaster. He is
the husband of Gigi Firth of the Dallas chapter. Also, a web site
committee has been formed. Heather Abel is the chairperson and
committee members are the president (Carol Edwards at this
time), Bob Bartlett, and Mike Firth. Mike’s information will be on
the group listserv and in the July issue of The Texas Star. His email address is mikefirth@sbcglobal.net.
Noelia stated that we will not have membership cards this
year. Instead, a person’s name with no spaces will be placed in
an article in the Texas Star. If you see your name, just call the
ACBT toll free number 866-929-2228 and press the number 2 for
Noelia’s number. She will send a check to you for $25.
Destination Wonderland
Barbara J. Madrigal, Assistant
Commissioner, Division for Blind Services
Judging by the turnout, it was not only a hot idea, but in spite
of the heat later in the day, a great success! This was one of
those special gatherings that give our consumers and their
families an important opportunity to increase social skills, gain
confidence, and network with other families, providers, and
-21resources. We are talking about “Destination Wonderland,” the
Morgan’s Wonderland Family Conference, a two-day event
sponsored in partnership by DARS Division for Blind Services,
Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and Education
Service Center Regions 6, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, and 20.
On June 16th, 1400 consumers and family members
converged in San Antonio at Morgan’s Wonderland. Three
hundred families served by DARS Division for Blind Services
were selected to attend the event. On Thursday evening, a Meet
& Greet was held at each of the two hotels where the families
stayed, and families took the opportunity to meet and share with
other families. Name tags showing city of origin encouraged
interactions. The Division for Blind Services (DBS) prepared
business cards with contact information for each family group so
parents could easily exchange information. It was exciting to see
parents connect with each other and make plans to stay in touch,
stating “I have your information and I will be calling you next
week!” And a few lucky families won door prizes donated by
various vendors and DBS field offices. The indoor swimming pool
was a popular place for the kids and their parents after the Meet &
Greet.
On Friday morning, over 85 volunteers consisting of DBS
staff, TSBVI staff, Education Service Center Region 6
consultants, and numerous teachers of the visually impaired from
across the state showed up early to make sure everything was in
place for the big event. Once the setup was completed, the
volunteers helped with Spanish translation, special activities, and
access to rides, providing information and park support.
There were also over 37 vendors and resource providers
sharing information and helping families access and learn about
additional services. The resource tables encircled the gym and
continued into an adjoining room, resulting in a constant stream of
visitors. There were, not surprisingly, more visitors as the
thermometer crept up over 100 degrees!
In addition to all the attractions in the Park, families also had
the opportunity to participate in a number of special activities
planned by our partners. TSBVI had the gym filled with games
-22and fun activities to challenge our consumers and their siblings.
They also conducted an orientation and mobility (O&M) activity
facilitated by TSBVI’s Edgenie Bellah and O&M Specialists from
across the state. Education Service Center Region 11, under the
leadership of Olga Uriegas and Susan Trigg, provided a morning
arts and crafts activity. In the afternoon Debra Leff and Jayme
Wratchford from Education Service Center Region 13 provided
Early Literacy activities. Texas Association for Parents of Children
with Visual Impairments (TAPVI) facilitated a make-and-take
project. And special guest 12-year-old Reed Deming, an up and
coming local talent, provided a lunch time concert in the
amphitheater. Then the stage was turned over to our very own
DBS consumers, who entertained their parents and new friends
with an outstanding talent show.
To pull off such a great event, we had a number of wonderful
sponsors and donors. The Lions Clubs provided a tasty lunch of
hot dogs, chips, cookies, and fruit for all the families, vendors, and
volunteers. Costco provided bottled water for the participants to
keep everyone hydrated. The San Antonio Lighthouse for the
Blind made sure all the families had a cloth bag to carry all their
goodies and information. Embassy Suites assisted with hotel
rooms and provided a pizza and movie deal for the families. Blue
Bell made sure everyone got a much needed cold ice cream treat
in the afternoon.
The record heat of 104 degrees did not seem to deter
anyone from having a marvelous time. One parent stated “I have
never seen my child smile so much, and he is still smiling!”
Another parent was heard saying “My son just came alive today;
this has been wonderful.” A mom who had five young kids stated
that Morgan’s Wonderland was a park where her family could
come and everyone got to participate, and this was the first time
they could enjoy an amusement park as a family. Parents and
kids alike expressed their appreciation to get to attend this event.
Tara McKain, parent of Lexi, stated, “We had the best time ever!
Lexi had a blast and they had so many indoor things to do that we
did not even get hot. She caught three fish in the lake and
enjoyed every moment of it! We can’t thank you enough! Thanks
-23again!” At the end of the day, there were a lot of tired kids and
parents, but they all reported that they had a great time! It was
clear that many good things happened in the Park that day. We
know that an event like this is not possible without a team effort,
and DBS is pleased and honored to get to partner with such great
agencies and organizations. Thanks to everyone for their hard
work and, especially, to our families for participating!
In Memory of Paul Veilleux
Becky Collier
August 11, 1946-January 26, 2011.
On January 26th, 2011, our ACB family lost a dear friend,
Paul Veilleux. How do you put into words what a terrific,
compassionate, fun-loving, and hardworking guy Paul was?
Although we did not meet Paul until rather recently, 2006, he
became a strong and vibrant supporter of ACBT from the moment
he joined our Dallas chapter. He offered his computer talents to
develop a brochure and banner for us to use at various events
such as White Cane Day, Braille Awareness Day, and Tech
Olympics. He was elected as our president and served from 2008
through 2010. During this time we all got to better know and love
Paul and all the enthusiasm he brought to ACBT. Although there
were many issues and concerns in our chapter, Paul rose above
all that and was compassionate to and mindful of each and every
person’s views. He worked diligently on the 2008 Dallas ACBT
State Conference, making it a pleasant and educational
experience for everyone. Paul also worked to improve and update
our ACBT web site. When Paul was elected ACBT state second
vice president last September, he was very surprised and
humbled by ACBT’s vote of confidence in him. Immediately after
coming back home from our conference, Paul began working and
making plans for projects to raise money for our organization. He
was in the process of contacting all the guide dog schools and
packagers of the various dog food companies to develop a fund
raising and public awareness campaign where our ACBT logo
would appear on the products. He also was very excited about
-24attending the leadership conference in Washington, DC, with our
Texas delegation.
As for me, there are so many memories of Paul. He would
greet you with a big teddy bear hug and give you one also in
leaving. Many of these hugs were accompanied by his infamous
big old back pack which we all teased him about.
I remember sharing DART rides together where he would
give his DART coupons to pay for someone’s ride, or give
packages of peanuts to the children who often would ride with us.
He made many, many phone calls of support and care. Paul was
quick to give praise to others. Last September in Houston, he took
the opportunity to recognize our pianist, Karen Eitel, and express
his appreciation for her dedication to playing for us throughout the
conference.
He became our chapter president at a rather difficult time
and helped us work through many tough issues. Paul enjoyed his
singing group with Patrick Higgins and Joann Murray when they
would go sing for nursing homes. But most of all, I knew Paul as a
very giving, compassionate, and caring man. He’d go out of his
way to do for others, and was fair in letting chapter members
express their varying comments in controversial issues. He
wanted to make sure every person had a say in chapter concerns.
The last time I saw Paul at the hospital, he was so surprised
that I would take off work to come to see him. He welcomed us
with those big teddy bear hugs. My last email from Paul was
signed “Love & Peanut Butter” which is the kind of caring he
always showed to others in wanting them to smile and be happy.
For myself, I will treasure the friendship I had with Paul. I feel
a deep loss in losing a dear friend. I know our Dallas chapter, all
of ACB Texas, and all ACB national will miss him tremendously.
We love him a lot!
Following are a few memories from others:
Paul had a brilliant mind, a quick wit, a smile as big as
Texas, a heart full of love and music, a "big bear hug," and he
topped it off with an old sloppy hat.
Paul was a good friend and was there to talk when you
needed him. If you needed information, Paul would do whatever
-25he could to get it for you and was always there to help in any way
he could. We loved Paul and will miss him so much. (Ginger and
Allen)
I never met a person more committed to uplifting those
around him. Paul was a compassionate and positive force in the
world, and in ACBT. I will miss him very much. (Ann Foxworth)
"Some people come into our lives and quickly go.
Some stay for a while and leave footprints on our heart and we
are never, ever the same." Such a person was Paul. We will
dearly miss him. (Larry)
Although it has been a few years that I have known Paul, I
have witnessed Paul being a caring and friendly person. Paul was
always willing to give of himself to help someone else. He
dedicated much of his time to assising the American Council of
the Blind of Texas and its members in an effort to make things
better for us all. I commended him for the professional manner in
which he contributed a lot to making what I call our best Annual
Convention held in Dallas a success. I will always remember his
excellent and detailed plans to ensure that we had all the
information we needed to make our visit to Dallas a great one.
Most recently, we were selected to be on a team that would travel
to Washington, DC, in February of this year to advocate for blind
and visually impaired Texans. Paul was willing to cooperate and
participate in making plans for our trip, although he wasn't feeling
well. I will truly miss Paul.
Remember
Kenneth Semien, Sr.
* Remember that your presence is a present to the world.
* Remember that you are a unique and unrepeatable creation.
* Remember that your life can be what you want it to be.
* Remember to take the days just one at a time.
* Remember to count your blessings, not your troubles.
* Remember that you'll make it through whatever comes along.
* Remember that most of the answers you need are within you.
* Remember those dreams waiting to be realized.
-26* Remember that decisions are too important to leave to chance.
* Remember to always reach for the best that is within you.
* Remember that nothing wastes more energy than worry.
* Remember that not getting what you want sometimes becomes
a wonderful blessing.
* Remember that the longer you carry a grudge, the heavier it
gets.
* Remember not to take things too seriously.
* Remember to laugh.
* Remember that a little love goes a long way.
* Remember that a lot goes forever.
* Remember that happiness is more often found in giving than
getting.
* Remember that life's treasures are people, not things.
May God bless your day with peace, joy and love.
Apathy or Advocacy: Which Shall We Choose? Larry Johnson
This July the ADA turns 21. So, what has it done for me?
Has it gotten me a job, installed accessible pedestrian signals at
the intersections I use, put in detectable warnings where I walk,
made the power company send me my bills in Braille, forced
manufacturers to make a microwave oven, TV remote, washer
and drier that I can use without sight, or convinced people to stop
treating me like a helpless, pitiful burden on society?
No, it has done hardly any of that. So, why should I care
about the ADA? Why should I celebrate? The ADA hasn’t done
anything for me.
A better question to ask is: What have I done to help the
ADA live up to its promise? How many phone calls have I made,
emails or letters have I sent, meetings have I attended, hours
have I spent advocating for my rights and those of other
individuals with disabilities to elected officials, business owners,
and the general public?
We have a choice. We can focus on all that has not yet been
-27accomplished by the ADA. We can lament the huge government
deficits at the state and federal levels, the record high general
unemployment, the widespread housing foreclosures, and the
stagnating economy, and we can surrender ourselves to apathy
and inaction. And who would blame us?
It’s easy to give up, to listen to and believe the politicians’
forecast of gloom and doom. It’s easy to tire of the struggle, the
never-ending daily struggle of trying to right the accumulated
wrongs of more than 200 years of American history.
But still, we have a choice. Yes, it’s a difficult choice. It is the
choice to have the courage and commitment to advocate for
change. Being advocates means believing that our efforts can
make a difference.
Things will get better for persons with disabilities only when
people with disabilities themselves are convinced that it is up to
us to make them better. We can no longer afford to waste our
time or energy in blaming society, public officials, or our families
or friends for the state of affairs we’re in. Nor does it serve any
useful purpose to portray ourselves as helpless victims of a cruel
society. We are in charge of our destiny. We have in our hands
the power for change.
We stand at an historic crossroads. Will we choose the way
of apathetic surrender and dependence, or the way of selfdetermination and self-advocacy?
Projects and activities are financed by annual dues,
fundraisers, and tax deductible donations made to ACBT by
members, friends, and other interested persons. ACBT
appreciates the continued support of its members and friends. For
more information about ACBT, please contact any state officer,
director, or your nearest chapter, call 866-929-2228 and leave a
message, or visit www.acbtexas.org.
American Council of the Blind of Texas, Inc.
President
1st Vice President
2nd Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
Past President
Carol Edwards
Noelia Dillingham
Kenneth Semien, Sr.
Carol White
Neil Finley
Dr. Ed Bradley
A publication of the American Council of the Blind of
Texas, an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind
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