Who wants money???

If you are a blind college student, or future blind college student. YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY. Of all things I've endorsed on this blog, this is NUMBER ONE! This scholarship is how I learned about and entered the blindness field, it literally changed the course of my life. The scholarship is ALL CASH and it's a HUMUNGO opportunity. Don't miss it, I'm super serious...

If you want me to forward you the application, leave your email in the comment box and I will forward it to you.

THE 2012 NFB SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Dear College Students:

Are you legally blind and will you be a full-time college student in the fall 2012 semester? The National Federation of the Blind Scholarship Program Application Form is online at www.nfb.org/scholarships along with all rules for eligibility and additional information. (A print application form is available upon request.)

Our Scholarships:
  1 for $12,000
  1 for $10,000
  2 for $7,000 each
  4 for $5,000 each
22 for $3,000 each
plus additional gifts to each winner

The deadline to submit the application form and all required support documents is three months away­March 31, 2012­so there is still plenty of time, especially if you have the other required documents ready to upload from your computer to the online application form. 

We prefer DOC, DOCX, and RTF file formats, though we accept PDF. We prefer PDF for school transcripts and SAT/ACT scores.  We also accept documents via mail or as attachments to an email.

Students, it is never too early to begin to assemble your documents.  Please read the details on the 2012 program right now by going to our website at www.nfb.org/scholarships. The “Submission Checklist” on our website lists the full set of requirements and the FAQ page provides additional information on what the scholarship committee expects to find in a winning application packet. 

More good news – In addition to this national scholarship program, many of our state affiliates have their own scholarship program for blind students living in their state or attending college in their state. When you contact your state’s NFB president to set up your personal interview, be sure to discover whether the state affiliate has a statewide scholarship program.  (You must request the interview before the deadline; the interview itself may take place after the deadline if you and the president wish.)  For contact information, go to www.nfb.org, then to FAST FACTS, then tap on the Presidents List and follow the links to your state.

Cordially,

Patti Chang, Esq.
Chairperson, NFB Scholarship Committee
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
       at Jernigan Place
200 East Wells Street, Baltimore, MD 21230
Office:  (410) 659-9314, x2415
E-mail:  scholarships@nfb.org
Website:  www.nfb.org/scholarships

P. S.: The deadline is March 31, 2012.

Update!

Baby Makayla is home now!


For the newest update read this story?

But this should never happen again!!!

If you missed the beginning of this story, click here!

A Letter of Support

In moments of my discouragrment, I am forever thankful for my friends in the National Federation of the Blind. When opposition comes, as it surely will, a simple "endorsement" reminds me the fights worth fighting for.
---
Dear friends,

I am forwarding this to you on behalf of Deja Powell. However, the issue she discusses effects us all, every one of us. It does not seem like a huge deal to some to be denied a ride on the Alpine Slide. However, what else will be denied, denied to you or to someone you love, Will it be a job, or the chance to go to a university? Will it be the opportunity to get a job or live in a location of your choice.

Right now in our state there are children who need the benefit of Braille and our system denies them the opportunity because of technicalities or budgets or other reasons less easily understood.

I whole-heartedly urge us to rally around Deja and help educate the society in which we live. The operators of the Alpine slide will allow an eight year old child to go down the slide alone, but not Deja. Is she less capable than an eight year old child?

There are times when an olive branch is more likely to bring about positive change. And, indeed, we will try that approach as well. Our Board of directors has discussed passing a board resolution requesting that the operators of the Alpine Slide allow us to discuss this issue and observe that blind adults are just that, adults. Public awareness comes in many forms and I believe a warm discussion with a clear demonstration of ability is sometimes a good way to help folks understand that blind and visually impaired people are capable of participating meaningfully in society.

Still, there are many who are willing to either sit on the side lines and let others lead the way,. There are others who will criticize the efforts to make life more enjoyable and meaningful for ourselves. Never-the-less, Deja is a talented and skilled blind adult and I urge us all to support her and all of us as we step forward in unity to make a change in the public's perception of who we are and what we are capable of doing.

Again, I urge each of you to consider joining Deja and many other blind people on August 22.

Sincerely,
Ron Gardner
President, National Federation of the Blind of Utah

Youth Slam...Shattering Misconceptions

In the summer of August 2007 I got the distinct honor of attending and participating as a mentor for the National Federation of the Blind's 2007 Youth Slam. A science camp for blind youth put on by the NFB and Johns Hopkins University.


It was the largest gathering of blind youth, being taught by blind mentors, anywhere in the country! I worked on a media team that helped put together the following video of our experience...



It was a real honor to be part of something so fabulous! You can also click here for more details on this year, 2009's Youth Slam:

When: July 26-August 1, 2009

Where: University of Maryland, College Park

Gee how lucky can ya get!?!

Remembering Ruston Continued...


I have all-to-commonly been referred to as, "The Most Un-Lucky Girl Alive!" Not a title I'm proud of but one I can't argue with really. Don't get me wrong, I'm lucky in a lot of ways but I'm also quite unlucky in a lot of ways too...

Since coming to Ruston I can honestly say there has Never, Ever been a dull moment, not even for a second. But instead of talking about the sad, unlucky experiencing I've had I choose to share a few somewhat funny, somewhat "what the ?" moments.

Since arriving in Ruston...

A car blew up in front of my apartment, for some still unknown reason (luckily no one was in the car at the moment), it was like living in a James Bond movie (without the gorgeous leading man...see, so unlucky).

Photo Description: James Bond with a tux on holding a pistol.

I got hit by a car by some lady who was too busy enjoying her Taco Bell and never even stopped to check on me, I mean truly, I can understand the importance of food and all, heck I love food, but please don't run me down in the process, (unless you plan on buying me a few gorditas, at least).

Photo Description: The Taco Bell Chihuahua with a speech bubble that says, "Yo No Quiero Taco Bell"

I had to call the Ruston police on one too many occasions (they know me there...I'm like a "valued customer" or something).

And while it's not technically in Ruston, I got thrown up on while on a flight from Ruston to Dallas which happened right after I got knocked down the escalator backwards, by a Disney Princess back-pack wearing 6-year-old (they always look so cute and innocent). That was a stinkily painful day!

Photo Description: Little girl wearing a pink and purple backpack smiling.

Anyone wanna take me to Vegas?

I didn't think so.