tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76806294160618683792024-03-13T11:40:42.668-07:00Utah Parents of Blind and Visually Impaired ChildrenThe Utah Parents of Blind Children (UPBC) is a state wide group of parents dedicated to the education and advancement of children with visual impairments - whether blind, partially sighted or having multiple disabilities including visual impairment.UPBC: Utah Parents of Blind Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491931488543839966noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7680629416061868379.post-38241944927820404842015-07-05T13:18:00.001-07:002015-07-05T13:32:25.032-07:00Dinner and Movie in the Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Please join us for a FREE all ages activity for the whole family.</span> </div>
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The fun will start on July 18, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. </div>
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We will be serving a BBQ dinner at the park. </div>
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We will be showing Big Hero 6 in descriptive video at dusk. </div>
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The dinner/movie will be held at Quarry Bend Park 440 E 8680 SO Sandy UT </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZuNYygH3jdCQXl1FbL4cFzXAHT-ppQiqbW8c3F8MRlSB7m8K-qRzhjpovWHcsUO6Tb4nBRjLCcaReVsSW_L7TIWlZAKQk2dPqQqLKNT2WPyBV6aXcyUroI_jjdUjCgXwjTlcRxZAQ1m4/s1600/movie+big+hero+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZuNYygH3jdCQXl1FbL4cFzXAHT-ppQiqbW8c3F8MRlSB7m8K-qRzhjpovWHcsUO6Tb4nBRjLCcaReVsSW_L7TIWlZAKQk2dPqQqLKNT2WPyBV6aXcyUroI_jjdUjCgXwjTlcRxZAQ1m4/s1600/movie+big+hero+6.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />UPBC: Utah Parents of Blind Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491931488543839966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7680629416061868379.post-30994644587824449552015-05-04T07:41:00.000-07:002015-05-04T07:43:14.204-07:002015 State Convention meeting<br />
We would like to thank Chantel Alberhasky for her very informative presentation at our annual UPBC meeting during the convention. She spoke on the difference between an IEP and a 504 plan. I know that I learned some valuable information during her presentation. If any of you need more information or have questions about the difference between a 504 plan and an IEP please contact us.<br />
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Before I share the results of the elections, we would like to thank our UPBC board members that did not seek re-election to the board this year. Thank you Julie Ledford for your wonderful service to the UPBC board as president over the last 4 years. You have made a difference in the lives of many families. Your dedication to the UPBC is what brought many of us to the UPBC. We would also like to thank Andrea Campbell for all of your hard work while serving as secretary. We hope that you will remain friends to the UPBC in the future.<br />
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This years elections brought many changes to the board. The changes are as follows.<br />
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Jerry Phelps-President<br />
Tara Purcell-Vice President<br />
Cara Phelps-Secretary<br />
Nate Creer- Treasurer<br />
Board Member- Cheralyn Creer<br />
Board Member- Kevin Ledford<br />
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We are all very anxious to get to know your families. We are working hard to plan fun activities for the entire family. We hope that everyone will be able to join us. If you have an idea for an activity, please contact us via email or face book.<br />
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UPBC: Utah Parents of Blind Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491931488543839966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7680629416061868379.post-66427558733372326022015-04-30T17:03:00.000-07:002015-04-30T17:03:25.370-07:00National Federation of the Blind of Utah's 2015 convention. Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a 504 plan and an IEP? Has your child's TVI ever suggested removing your child from an IEP and putting them on a 504 plan?<br />
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Our guest speaker this year, Chantel Alberhasky, will be speaking about the difference between a 504 plan and an IEP and what that means for your child.<br />
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Deja Powell will also be speaking about a dance class that she will be offering for blind and visually impaired kids.<br />
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The annual meeting of the UPBC will be on Saturday morning, May 2nd at 10:00 a.m.<br />
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Saturday afternoon at the convention will be filled with great information concerning blind children. Please come for our meeting and stay for the day.<br />
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<a href="http://www.nfbutah.org/" target="_blank">Click here for more information about the 2015 convention</a><br />
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We hope to see you there!UPBC: Utah Parents of Blind Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491931488543839966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7680629416061868379.post-90081844709595655292014-03-20T15:49:00.001-07:002014-03-20T15:51:37.309-07:00My First NFB of Utah/UPBC State Convention! -Tara Pursel<div class="Standard">
It's that time of year again! Time for the NFB of Utah/Utah Parents of Blind Children annual state
convention! You may be thinking to yourself that you'd like to join us, that
you'd like to take the time out of your day, but you're probably wondering
“What's in it for me?” After all, as any parent of a blind child knows, if
you're taking time out of your day, it better be worth it! To you, time is
precious, and there never seems to be enough of it in the day!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was also
skeptical about state convention my first year. I remember how overwhelmed I
felt, but was driven to convention by the need to connect with people who knew
what I was going through, who had been where I had been, and were willing to
offer advice and first-hand experience.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I didn't know many
people in attendance, and thus, tried to keep to myself. That plan was quickly
foiled by so many parents and blind adults alike who went out of their way to
offer their advice and support, their encouragement, and to just make me feel
welcome. These connections are ones I have maintained ever since, and have
proven invaluable in my journey as the parent of a blind child.<o:p></o:p></div>
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There was also much
to be learned from the information provided in breakout sessions, where I
learned about the latest in technology and accessibility, and testing as it
pertains to a child with a visual impairment. And along with there being much
to be learned through demonstrations and classes, we also had a lot of fun over
the course of the three days! We enjoyed some amazing food, played some awesome
games, heard from incredible guest speakers, and enjoyed an exquisite banquet
to finish out an amazing three days. And when all was said and done, I wound up
winning an Ipad Mini! How's THAT for a
door prize?!<o:p></o:p></div>
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After my first
year at state convention, I felt the need to hit the ground running as an
advocate for my child. The drive and determination I felt after that first
encounter with the UPBC will stick with me for years to come, and I'm even
more excited about this year's state convention, now that I know to expect an
amazing experience! I hope you join us this year, and look forward to meeting
you!<br />
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Click <a href="http://nfbutah.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a> for more information about the NFB of Utah Annual State Convention.</div>
UPBC: Utah Parents of Blind Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491931488543839966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7680629416061868379.post-2402129107714399212014-03-06T21:52:00.000-08:002014-03-06T21:55:25.022-08:00Nominate Your Teacher!!!<div align="center" class="normal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 28.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">NOMINATE YOUR TEACHER!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Do you
know a teacher of blind and/or visual impaired students who goes above and
beyond?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">If you do,
we would like to know about them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">The Utah
Parents of Blind Children are sponsoring a contest to find your favorite
Teacher of the Blind and Visually Impaired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<!--[if gte vml 1]><v:roundrect id="_x0000_s1026"
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">To
nominate you teacher:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Write a short essay (max 500 words) telling us why your
teacher is your favorite.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-align: center; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Email your essay to <a href="mailto:upbcmail@gmail.com">upbcmail@gmail.com</a>
no later than April 20<sup>th</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">You may also mail your essay to<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">UPBC<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">c/o Julie Ledford<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">477 E. Truman Avenue<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="normal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">South Salt Lake, UT 84115<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">The
participant who submits the winning essay will receive:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 1.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 16pt;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16pt;">A
two night stay at the Provo Marriott for the National Federation of the Blind of
Utah State Convention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">All meals paid at the NFB of Utah State Convention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16pt;">The
winning teacher will receive:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 6pt 1.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 16pt;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16pt;">A
two night stay at the Provo Marriott for National Federation of the Blind of
Utah State Convention.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">All meals paid at the NFB of
Utah State Convention.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Ø<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;">Check for $100.</span><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Nominations may be submitted by the student or parent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
UPBC: Utah Parents of Blind Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491931488543839966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7680629416061868379.post-30350223784487270882014-02-23T07:20:00.002-08:002014-02-23T07:22:09.832-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The Utah Parents of Blind Children will be holding their annual meeting at The National Federation of the Blind of Utah State Convention <b>May 8-10, 2014</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px;">The NFB of Utah Board of Directors has decided to offer a special rate for everyone that makes his or her hotel reservations by April 17, 2014. If you reserve your room by this date, the room rate will be only $69 per night. After April 17th, Marriott will release our block of rooms and reservations made after this date increase to $89 per night. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px;">There is no cost to make a reservation so please do so as soon as possible to get this wonderful room rate of only $69 per night!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px;">The NFB of Utah State Convention promises to be an exciting and informative event. Please watch for future emails with more details. We look forward to seeing all of you there! </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px;"></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px;">To register for conventions </span><a href="https://nfbutah.wufoo.com/forms/nfb-of-utah-2014-state-convention-registration/" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">click here.</span></a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px;">To reserve your hotel room call: </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px;">1 888 236 2427 and request the </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large; line-height: 27px;">National Federation of the Blind Early Booking Special</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 27px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">or</span> <span style="border: 0px; color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.marriott.com/meeting-event-hotels/group-corporate-travel/groupCorp.mi?resLinkData=National%20Federation%20of%20the%20Blind%20Early%20Booking%20Special%5Eslcvo%60EAREARA%6069%60USD%60false%605/8/14%605/11/14%6004/17/14&app=resvlink&stop_mobi=yes" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: blue;">click here</span></a>.</span></div>
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UPBC: Utah Parents of Blind Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491931488543839966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7680629416061868379.post-79045614237734871522013-04-13T17:27:00.001-07:002013-04-13T17:35:04.241-07:002013 NFB of Utah State Convention/UPBC Workshop<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">
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**Announcement** NFB of Utah State Convention , May 2, 3 & 4 Provo</h3>
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We are very excited about the upcoming NFBU State Convention! This is an incredible opportunity to network with other parents and meet successful blind adults living in our community. Can't attend both days? The UPBC is sponsoring a workshop on Friday, May 3rd. </div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"> </span><span style="color: #444444;"><b>"Assess Your Knowledge on Assessments"</b></span><span style="color: #222222;"> (6-8pm) Participants will learn that a</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">n IEP is only as good as the assessment it’s based on. You will hear the unique expertise and perspective of a Teacher of the Visually Impaired (TVI) who is also a school psychologist. Become better prepared for discussing your child’s IQ and academics assessments that are intended for sighted students. Board Elections will also be held.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222;">Attached you will find the Utah Parents of Blind Children flyer with more information on the Vendor Fair and the UPBC workshop. To register for the NFB convention, visit </span><a href="http://www.nfbutah.org/" style="color: #2a5db0;" target="_blank">www.nfbutah.org</a><span style="color: #222222;">. Please email the </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0ByqNJlk6FKH3Y3BVWUM2OXF1cU0/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">parent seminar registration.</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b> E-mail the Parent WORKSHOP<span style="color: blue;"> </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/0ByqNJlk6FKH3Y3BVWUM2OXF1cU0/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">registration form</span></a> </b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><b>NO LATER THAN April 26th</b></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>: </b></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b> Julie Ledford</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b> President, Utah Parents of Blind Children</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b> <a href="mailto:upbcmail@gmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">upbcmail@gmail.com</span></a></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b> </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal;">Childcare will not be provided, however there are childcare stipends available to support parents. If you are interested in the available childcare stipend or would like more information. Please contact Julie Ledford.</span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Registration at the NFB Utah Convention is required to attend the workshop. </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Cost is $5 per adult or $10 for a family. Please visit </span><a href="http://www.nfbutah.org/" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: windowtext;">www.nfbutah.org</span></b></a><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> for a registration form and to learn more about exciting convention highlights</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">.</span><b style="color: #000cff; font-size: 14px;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: arial;"><b>We look forward to seeing everyone at the convention!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Verdana;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i>The Utah Parents of Blind Children Board</i></b></span></span></div>
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UPBC: Utah Parents of Blind Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491931488543839966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7680629416061868379.post-16153380380521767702013-02-03T20:05:00.003-08:002013-02-03T20:05:55.807-08:00Save The Date - UPBC Meeting at the NFB of Utah State Convention<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ac51O4zEBzzQyPpAw9m0e0NTvKVo1OsG2j2RAMyBd0tWVU51zAEvzYJp2Qv9eXKcwCPYagJaVA2FY_0NaAxX-NjZ1PAW_vVnzfJAL6BRO3Fgkl5VpOR8-OOr4CzSyZgQuJlbCA4qBCmf/s1600/maycalendar2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ac51O4zEBzzQyPpAw9m0e0NTvKVo1OsG2j2RAMyBd0tWVU51zAEvzYJp2Qv9eXKcwCPYagJaVA2FY_0NaAxX-NjZ1PAW_vVnzfJAL6BRO3Fgkl5VpOR8-OOr4CzSyZgQuJlbCA4qBCmf/s1600/maycalendar2013.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The Utah Parents of Blind Children will be holding their annual meeting at The National Federation of the Blind of Utah State Convention May 2-4, 2013.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The Convention will take place at the Provo Marriott in Provo, Utah.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Please mark your calendars.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">More information will be coming soon.</span></div>
UPBC: Utah Parents of Blind Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491931488543839966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7680629416061868379.post-36755603231825869242012-09-09T17:11:00.002-07:002012-09-16T17:32:57.061-07:00IEP Workshop<div style="text-align: center;">
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Utah Parents of Blind Children</span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">IEP Workshop</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Saturday, September 29, 2012</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>9:30am – 3:00pm</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">LOCATION: Division of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired (DSBVI)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> 250 North 1950 West, Salt Lake City</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Child Care will be provided!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For registration please complete and return the<span style="color: blue;"> </span><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/h6z6k2g66ajcmd4/IEP%20Workshop%20Registration.doc"><span style="color: blue;">Registration form</span></a> by Friday, September 21, 2012.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Completed forms may be returned to:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="mailto:upbcmail@gmail.com">upbcmail@gmail.com</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">or</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">UPBC</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">477 E. Truman Avenue</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">South Salt Lake, UT 84115</span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Special Guests:</span></strong> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><em>Carlton Anne Cook Walker</em></strong> works as a Teacher of Students with
Blindness/Visual Impairment in four school districts, holds National
Certification Literary Braille (NCLB), and lives in Boiling Springs, PA.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is also a licensed attorney who maintains
a small solo practice and provides legal representation for several local
governments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Carlton has made presentations on special education advocacy
for blind children to parents, educator sand attorneys since 2007 in seven
states.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She has also provided one-on one
help to parents with IEP-related questions and has contributed to the
development of national publications in the areas of law and education.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Carlton serves as President of the National Organization of
Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC), as a Volunteer Field Representative for the
National Federation of the Blind (NFB), and as a Board member for the
Pennsylvania Parents of Blind Children (PaPOBC), for the National Captioning
Institute (NCI) Advisory Group, and for the Advisory Committee for the Blind of
Pennsylvania (ACBP).<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Carlton and her husband, Steve, are the parents of 11 year
old Anna Catherine, a braille reader and cane user.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have two adult children, Ken and
Stephanie.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><em>Rebecca Turley</em></strong> has been a Parent Consultant and Trainer for the Utah Parent Center since 2007. She helps parents who have children of ALL disabilities find information, resources and supports in their communities. Rebecca presents workshops for the Utah Parent Center including IEP, Transition, Section 504 and Positive Behavioral Supports. Rebecca also serves as the Statewide Volunteer Coordinator for the IEP Coach Program, and the Family to Family Support Group Network. Rebecca understands the importance of systems change and currently serves on several committees including the Utah Special Education Advisory Panel and the Disability Support Council for the LDS church. Rebecca is married with two children and has a 17 year old daughter with several severe disabilities. Her husband Mark is legally blind and is the Salt Lake Chapter President for the National Federation of the Blind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><em>Hollie Murdock</em></strong>: Director, Educational Resource Center/USIMAC Programs at the</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind</span></div>
UPBC: Utah Parents of Blind Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491931488543839966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7680629416061868379.post-80674826958348123342012-07-02T18:06:00.001-07:002012-07-02T18:11:41.513-07:00Annette Newbold Honored<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">On Friday, May 18, 2012 Annette Newbold was presented with the Marla Palmer Award for her dedication to the education of and her love for our children. The award presentation took place at the National Federation of the Blind of Utah State Convention.</span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Annette began her career with the Utah Schools for the Deaf and
the Blind in 1972. After teaching for three years she took a brief hiatus but
returned to USDB in 1983 where she continues to teach today. For over 30 years
she has taught our children it’s respectable to be blind. She has given them
confidence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like us in the NFB she
believes that Braille is an essential ingredient to helping our children to be successful.
She has loved them as if they were her own.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In 2010 Annette took two weeks out of her summer to teach at the
BELL (Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning) Program. This was her third summer ensuring that those who need her
help get it.</span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">The Marla Palmer Award was created by the Utah Parents of Blind Children in honor of Marla's decade of service and countless hours spent helping to ensure our children receive the services they need and deserve. This award is presented to those individuals who exemplify these same attributes.</span><br />
<br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Thank you Annette for teaching and loving our children.</span>UPBC: Utah Parents of Blind Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491931488543839966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7680629416061868379.post-7254276008520310262012-04-29T20:26:00.000-07:002012-04-29T20:26:36.496-07:00NFB of Utah 2012 Annual State Convention<br />
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<b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 20pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">National
Federation of the Blind of Utah </span></b><span style="font-size: 20pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 20pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">2012
Annual State Convention<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">WALKING
ALONE AND MARCHING TOGETHER<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">“Individually,
we are one drop. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Together,
we are an ocean!”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">(NFB:
A Vehicle for Collective Action)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">May 17, 18 and
19, 2012<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Red Lion Hotel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">161 West 600 South, Salt Lake City<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas></v:stroke></v:shapetype></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">Utah Parents of
Blind Children Convention Highlights<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;">A Division of the National Federation of the
Blind of Utah</span><span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 16pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Register online:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.nfbutah.org/"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: blue;">www</span></span></a><a href="http://www.nfbutah.org/"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: blue;">.</span></span></a><a href="http://www.nfbutah.org/"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: blue;">nfbutah</span></span></a><a href="http://www.nfbutah.org/"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: blue;">.</span></span></a><a href="http://www.nfbutah.org/"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="color: blue;">org</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Must pre-register no later
than May 15th to receive the steeply discounted meals which start at $7 per
meal. If you miss the deadline, parents are still more than welcome to come and
listen, but meals will not be available.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">In addition to the NFB Utah general convention sessions and
Saturday evening Banquet, please join us for the following events:<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Thursday, May 17<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>th</sup><o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">5:30pm – 7:45pm – Family Dinner Meeting for Utah Parents of Blind
Children</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Cost: $10 per person over the age of 12; Children 12 and under free
(sign up when registering for the Convention)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Agenda will include:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">We will
have the pleasure of hearing from Mary Jo Hartle, former Director of Education
of the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Time for
parents to share experiences both positive experiences and challenges with the education
of your blind child(ren)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Descriptive
movie and activities for kids</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family: Verdana;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">●<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Information
about the National Federation of the Blind 2012 Convention July 3-8 in Dallas,
Texas<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br clear="all" style="page-break-before: always;" />
</span>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Friday, May 18<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>th</sup></span></span></u></b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Afternoon - Project STRIVE video presentation<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Hear about the Braille Education Literacy
and Learning (BELL) Program<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Evening – Project STRIVE meet the board
dinner</span></li>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Saturday, May 19<span style="font-size: x-small;"><sup>th</sup><o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">We will be having one breakout session this year. This will be offered
Saturday morning and will include the UPBC Board Elections.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Also available:<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Many free Braille
children’s books, IEP help materials, other informational brochures<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">Child Care</span></u></b><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;">:</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Child care will be provided
Thursday evening. A stipend will be available to anyone requiring child care to
support your attendance at the Friday and Saturday sessions. Please contact UPBC
President Julie Ledford at 801-455-3934 or <a href="mailto:upbcmail@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue;">upbcmail@gmail.com</span></a>
if you need a child care stipend.</span></b><b><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>UPBC: Utah Parents of Blind Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491931488543839966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7680629416061868379.post-84253680458936160042012-03-04T15:40:00.009-08:002012-03-04T15:59:27.940-08:002012 NFB BELL Program<div align="center"><a id="1" name="1"></a><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">2012 NFB BELL Program<img style="margin: 5px 10px; border: 1px solid black; float: right;" border="1" hspace="10" alt="Riley Phelps of the Utah BELL session smiles next to his Braillewriter." vspace="5" align="right" src="http://www.nfb.org/Images/nfb/nfbji/Riley%20Phelps.JPG" width="270" height="180" /></span></strong></div><strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning</span></strong> <strong></strong><br /><br /><p><strong>When:</strong> June 11-22, 2012</p><p> </p><p><strong>Where:</strong> USDB Salt Lake Campus, 1655 E. 3300 S., Salt Lake City</p><p> </p><p><strong>Description:</strong> The goal of this program is to provide children ages 4-12** with two weeks of beginning Braille instruction through fun, hands-on learning and activities. The program is <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRamAA34bGUUBmr79k3hyJ8sgCSt9vKF51IbPxOrZYUXS2Ic-jXzVUQX1eruq-hPyDYLgLU1soSUI8lLKiIuq7KSwK4jnsWmYBNxg_79ko9CLlG59i9dBVRQtEWMMLaQ6HIimRxpaulEvt/s1600/Riley+Phelps.jpg"></a>designed to run Monday through Friday for approximately 5 hours. With the addition to crafts, games, and other engaging projects, children may also enjoy field trips to sites related to the BELL curriculum. The BELL Program is in it's 3rd year in Utah. Past participants, parents, and instructors are open to share their experience if you would like more information.</p>**In order to provide quality services, this program will be limited to a maximum of 10 students. Parents will be notified by BELL Program Directors by April 30, 2012 if your child has been accepted into the program.<br /><br />Please <a href="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4098920/Bell%20Utah%20Pre-Application%202012%20.doc">click here</a> for to complete the application.<br /><br />Should you have any questions please contact Wendy Bybee at <a href="mailto:wendy@thebybees.net">wendy@thebybees.net</a>.UPBC: Utah Parents of Blind Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491931488543839966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7680629416061868379.post-11423673736279985442012-02-19T17:14:00.000-08:002012-02-19T18:17:47.844-08:00Equal Work for Equal Pay - Washington Seminar 2012<div><div><div>"The Washington Seminar is an annual event of the National Federation of the Blind to introduce the agenda of blind Americans--the priority issues requiring congressional attention over the coming year. The issues are selected from official positions of the Federation and may address concerns in the following areas: relevant civil rights issues; educational programs and services. Approximately three legislative initiatives are chosen for priority attention during the Washington Seminar." (nfb.org)<br /><br />This year NFB of Utah had approximately 20 members attend Washington Seminar. They spent five days in our Nation's Capital learning about the history of our land as well as sharing their thoughts and feelings regarding equality with our Senators and Congressmen.<br /><br />This years issues presented were:<br /><ol><li><strong>The Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act of 2011: Stop Discrimiation and Promote Equal Work and Equal Pay (<a href="http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/SI/Fair%20Wages%20for%20Workers%202012.pdf">http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/SI/Fair%20Wages%20for%20Workers%202012.pdf</a>)</strong></li><li><strong>The Home Appliance Accessibility Act: End the Digital Divide (<a href="http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/SI/Home%20Appliance%20Accessibility%20Act%202012.pdf">http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/SI/Home%20Appliance%20Accessibility%20Act%202012.pdf</a>)</strong></li><li><strong>The Americans with Disabilities Business Opportunity Act: Help Unleash the Entreprenurial Capabilities of Individuals with Disabilities (<a href="http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/SI/Americans%20with%20Disabilities%20Business%20Opportunity%20Act%202012.pdf">http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/SI/Americans%20with%20Disabilities%20Business%20Opportunity%20Act%202012.pdf</a>)</strong></li></ol><p>Along with the visits to Capitol Hill there was a two day meeting for our parent leaders. This workshop is called the Parent Leadership Program. </p><p>Here are some thoughts from two of the attendees on their experience at Washington Seminar:</p><p><strong><em>Jerry</em></strong></p><p>My name is Jerry Phelps, I had the pleasure to attend the Parent Leadership Program In Washington D.C. I have to say the program was such an eye opener. It was an amazing experience to learn more about the NFB and The parent programs across the United States. I learned a lot abut the IEP process that I was not aware of. I look forward to learning more because like so many parents I always feel like I am not a part of the team but that will change. I<br />was amazed at the speakers that came through our program and gave us insight to not only the issues we were there to discuss but to change my perspective. I have always told my boys that they would never drive but I learned that anything thing is possible if you but your mind to it. I cannot place limitations on my kids nor can I stand by and let society do the same. I look<br />forward to being more involved in the NFB and help to build a stronger program here in Utah. I truly thank everyone for allowing me to be a part of this program. It was a Life changing experience for me.</p><p><strong><em>Josie</em></strong><br /><br />I recently attended the Washington Seminar with both Julie and Jerry. This was a great learning experience of which I learned to how to better provide leadership within our chapter. I enjoyed meeting and learning from other parents as well as active blind adults. I met other parents and advocates and parent-advocates that had great ideas on improving chapter dynamics.<br />This experience was valuable because of the opportunity to see the potential of my child and that there are others, like him, who will support him and fight, lobby, and advocate for his needs.</p><p align="center"><strong>Senator Mike Lee's Office</strong></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnt7Tmf7y0g1OTXtY0E7wzQhQdQV_m_wNe4lQjub12buV1epux4n6knHXiFw1uKat_Fz9bKYkZ5C5mDGHzTepgo1qW66nH74sCbJq5QGEl3CLnnc9m3_YicbvHmAb_-XhWEyyBwf2VXbfC/s1600/Senator+Lee+2012.jpg"><img style="width: 320px; height: 214px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711031412840195730" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnt7Tmf7y0g1OTXtY0E7wzQhQdQV_m_wNe4lQjub12buV1epux4n6knHXiFw1uKat_Fz9bKYkZ5C5mDGHzTepgo1qW66nH74sCbJq5QGEl3CLnnc9m3_YicbvHmAb_-XhWEyyBwf2VXbfC/s320/Senator+Lee+2012.jpg" /></a></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnt7Tmf7y0g1OTXtY0E7wzQhQdQV_m_wNe4lQjub12buV1epux4n6knHXiFw1uKat_Fz9bKYkZ5C5mDGHzTepgo1qW66nH74sCbJq5QGEl3CLnnc9m3_YicbvHmAb_-XhWEyyBwf2VXbfC/s1600/Senator+Lee+2012.jpg"><div align="left"> </div></a><p></p><p align="center"><strong>Senator Orrin Hatch's Office</strong></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLocXBbdpGdHOCD2VgyOqViFcKF6oZb5pJUyBhO1avEAHhmIjKahdpNfAJfK-oNctoyyXMxuZD8R98ktlZYZXX0jWkU7zIgbjeHVDgqUQRWRXwbYpGGGXSqA2EA2d-4yMhF9t1hWok-En/s1600/SDC12007.JPG"><img style="width: 320px; height: 240px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711031845704668930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLocXBbdpGdHOCD2VgyOqViFcKF6oZb5pJUyBhO1avEAHhmIjKahdpNfAJfK-oNctoyyXMxuZD8R98ktlZYZXX0jWkU7zIgbjeHVDgqUQRWRXwbYpGGGXSqA2EA2d-4yMhF9t1hWok-En/s320/SDC12007.JPG" /></a></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGLocXBbdpGdHOCD2VgyOqViFcKF6oZb5pJUyBhO1avEAHhmIjKahdpNfAJfK-oNctoyyXMxuZD8R98ktlZYZXX0jWkU7zIgbjeHVDgqUQRWRXwbYpGGGXSqA2EA2d-4yMhF9t1hWok-En/s1600/SDC12007.JPG"><div align="left"> </div></a><p></p></div></div></div>UPBC: Utah Parents of Blind Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491931488543839966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7680629416061868379.post-65928403155399769952011-05-23T16:51:00.000-07:002011-05-23T16:52:20.701-07:00Summer Bookshare Info<div>Here is a great opportunity to keep up on reading during the summer.</div> <div> </div> <div>Enjoy!</div> <div><br /><br /> </div> <div class="yiv1448686778gmail_quote"> <div style="WORD-WRAP:break-word;"> <div> <div><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://blog.bookshare.org/"><span></span></a></div> <div> <div><b><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="FONT-SIZE:18px;"><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://blog.bookshare.org/2011/05/11/announcing-the-bookshare-everywhere-summer-contest/"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1306194654_0">http://blog.bookshare.org/2011/05/11/announcing-the-bookshare-everywhere-summer-contest/</span></a></span></span></b></div> <div><b><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="FONT-SIZE:18px;"><br /></span></span></b></div></div></div> <div> <div> <div> <h1>Win an iPad 2 in the “Bookshare Everywhere” Summer Contest!</h1> <div>May 11, 2011</div></div> <div> <div>tags: <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://en.wordpress.com/tag/contest/"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1306194654_1">contest</span></a>, <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://en.wordpress.com/tag/summer-contest/"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1306194654_2">summer contest</span></a></div> <div>by <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1306194654_3">Mario</span> Oliveros</div></div> <div> <h2><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.tfaforms.com/203111"><img title="contestbanner" alt="Image of beach with Bookshare Everywhere Summer Contest written in sand" src="http://bookshareblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/contestbanner.jpg?w=600&h=200" width="600" height="200" /></a><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://bookshareblog.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/bkstest1.jpg"><br /></a></h2> <h2><strong>Tell us all the ways Bookshare made your summer fun!</strong></h2> <p><strong></strong>One of the best things about Bookshare is that you can take it anywhere you want. Whether you go on vacation, hang out at a local park, or curl up on a <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1306194654_4">comfy chair</span> at home, you can enjoy Bookshare books wherever you want.</p> <p>This summer, don’t just have fun reading with Bookshare, enter the summer contest and you might win some totally awesome prizes, <span style="TEXT-DECORATION:underline;">like an <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1306194654_5">Apple</span> <span style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1306194654_6">iPad</span> 2</span>!</p> <div> <h2><strong>Who can play:</strong></h2> <p>Contestants must be <span style="TEXT-DECORATION:underline;">U.S. Individual Members</span> of Bookshare in grades K-12 and college. Don’t have an individual membership? Parents or students 18 years old and above can <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.bookshare.org/signUpType?promoCode=contest">sign up today; use promo code: contest</a>! Teachers, got students you want to help provide Individual Memberships? <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.bookshare.org/assets/guides/om-to-im/index.htm"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1306194654_7">Watch this 4-minute tutorial</span></a>!</p> <h2><strong>How to play:</strong></h2> <ol><li>Enter the contest by completing the <a rel="nofollow" title="Contest Entry Form link" target="_blank" href="http://www.tfaforms.com/203111"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1306194654_8">Contest Entry Form</span></a> and guess how many books will be read during the contest.</li><li>From June 1 to August 19, 2011, download and read <em>as many Bookshare books as you can</em>.</li><li>After reading a book, tell us how the book made your summer fun on the <strong>Book Entry Form (LIVE JUNE 1st)</strong>. Submit as many book entries as you want to increase your chances of winning!</li></ol> <h2><strong>How to win:</strong></h2> <h3><span style="COLOR:rgb(255,102,0);"> GRAND PRIZE: Apple iPad 2</span></h3></div> <div> <ul><li>Guess how many Bookshare books will be read by the end of the contest! The contestant who comes closest to the total number of downloaded books, without going over, will win a brand new iPad 2! (The winner must download and read at least one Bookshare book this summer.) Last year, hundreds and hundreds of books were downloaded and read. <strong>How many books will there be this year???</strong></li></ul> <h3><span style="COLOR:rgb(255,102,0);">ADDITIONAL PRIZES: 4 Read2Go iOS apps, 1 HumanWare Victor Reader Stream, 1 HumanWare ClassMate Reader and 6 SanDisk MP3 players! </span></h3> <p>Bookshare judges will review all submissions and select winners based upon the following categories*:</p> <ul><li>Participants who download and read the most books this summer</li><li>Participants who had the most fun this summer (be creative in writing your submissions!)</li><li>Participants who read Bookshare books in the most interesting places</li></ul> <div>*Winners will be selected in each of the following grade sections: K-5, 6-8, 9-12, college</div></div></div></div></div></div></div>The Campbell'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08089376732797049645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7680629416061868379.post-29196884893921995342011-05-23T16:21:00.000-07:002011-05-23T16:23:55.435-07:00Blind How/Project Strive<div class="mall_post_body_text">The NFB of Utah and Project STRIVE have launched a website that we are beta testing. Come test drive. Sign up. Upload videos, audio, articles. Comment, add to favorites and send us any glitch you find :) <a href="http://www.strive.ws/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.strive.ws</a> (Beta site). In future will be <a href="http://www.blindhow.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.blindhow.com</a></div><div class="mvm uiStreamAttachments clearfix" ft="{"type":"attach"}"><div class="UIImageBlock clearfix"><a class="external UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_MED_Image" href="http://www.strive.ws/" title="" target="_blank" ft="{"type":"media"}" rel="nofollow"><img class="img" src="http://external.ak.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=b86d92fd5d2d4d460ddb339f93466d1b&w=90&h=90&url=http%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Fnfb%2Fapp%2Fpublic%2Fsystem%2Fimages%2F94%2Fthumb%2F90971c2.jpg%3F1305282078" /></a><div class="UIImageBlock_Content UIImageBlock_MED_Content fsm fwn fcg"><div class="uiAttachmentTitle"><strong><span><a href="http://www.strive.ws/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">BlindHow</a></span></strong> </div><a href="http://www.strive.ws/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.strive.ws</a><div class="mts uiAttachmentDesc">We allow any member of the site to submit articles, questions, and tutorials.</div></div></div></div>The Campbell'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08089376732797049645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7680629416061868379.post-22967211680430717022011-05-16T10:08:00.001-07:002011-05-16T10:10:35.883-07:00Underconstruction/UpdatingWelcome to the Utah Parents of Blind/Visually Impaired Children's blog. Please pardon us while we are updating the board member and advisory panel's information.The Campbell'shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08089376732797049645noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7680629416061868379.post-27875023388471109922010-03-27T13:34:00.001-07:002011-05-16T09:28:04.940-07:002011 BELL Summer Program<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The National Federation of the Blind of Utah in collaboration with the Utah Parents of Blind Children and Utah School for the Blind is pleased to announce:</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Utah BELL (Braille Enrichment Literary and Learning) Summer Program</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>When</b>: June 13-24, 2011 (Monday-Friday)</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>Time</b>: 9:00 a.m- 3:00 p.m</span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>Where</b>: USDB Salt Lake Campus (Libby Edwards School), 1655 3300 South</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>Cos</b>t: $50 for both weeks.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b>Description</b>: The goal of the program is to provide children ages 4-12 with 2 weeks of beginning Braille instruction through fun, hands on learning and activities. In addition to crafts, games, and other engaging projects students will also enjoy field trips to sites relates to the BELL curriculum. This program is limited to a maximum of 10 students.</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Wendy Bybee and Annette Newbold are the Program Coordinators and will be working 2 certified teachers of the visually impaired throughout the week. For more information please contact Wendy (wendy@thebybees.net) or Annette (</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; ">annetten@usdb.org)</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">To view a video of last year's BELL program click <a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=d341b069b33ba644100115&skin_id=601&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url">here</a></span></span></span></p>UPBC: Utah Parents of Blind Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07491931488543839966noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7680629416061868379.post-31984026810849813132010-02-09T10:54:00.000-08:002010-02-09T11:11:59.689-08:00Louis Braille Carnival<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WT6ZvMjB8WM/S3Gx_nVnP6I/AAAAAAAAAsE/8q6qD3D5lUg/s1600-h/IMG_3971.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WT6ZvMjB8WM/S3Gx_nVnP6I/AAAAAAAAAsE/8q6qD3D5lUg/s320/IMG_3971.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436321931662409634" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WT6ZvMjB8WM/S3Gx_A7Ys0I/AAAAAAAAAr8/mWaqzwe2fRw/s1600-h/IMG_3966.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WT6ZvMjB8WM/S3Gx_A7Ys0I/AAAAAAAAAr8/mWaqzwe2fRw/s320/IMG_3966.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436321921351856962" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WT6ZvMjB8WM/S3Gx-slF1PI/AAAAAAAAAr0/GlDhHoTEpSE/s1600-h/IMG_3960.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WT6ZvMjB8WM/S3Gx-slF1PI/AAAAAAAAAr0/GlDhHoTEpSE/s320/IMG_3960.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436321915889636594" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WT6ZvMjB8WM/S3Gx-LVz07I/AAAAAAAAArs/vHC3ZUy1OfM/s1600-h/IMG_3956.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WT6ZvMjB8WM/S3Gx-LVz07I/AAAAAAAAArs/vHC3ZUy1OfM/s320/IMG_3956.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436321906967172018" /></a><br />On Saturday, February 6, 2010 the UPBC held their first Louis Braille Carnival! <br /><br />Thank you to the 20+ blind mentors and role models who networked with families and ran the carnival games (Bingo, Fishing, Cake Walk, Tactile Twister, Fortune Telling, Toddler & Game Rooms)! Thank you to the 40+ families (100+ children) who came with their children to spend an afternoon with us! Thank you to Bill Gibson and his positive staff at DSBVI for the wonderful accomodations! Thank you to Sharon from Changing Faces <a href="http://www.changingfacesut.com/">http://www.changingfacesut.com/</a> for your time, talent, and discount! Thank you to Marcus at A lot of Fun Stuff <a href="http://www.alotoffunstuff.com/">http://www.alotoffunstuff.com/</a> for the discount and setting up and taking down the popular bounce houses! Finally, thank you to our supportive families for coming early to set up and staying late to clean up! <br /><br /><br /><br />Braille is beautiful and can be fun too!<br />Utah Parents of Blind Children BoardAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7680629416061868379.post-873548731875237162009-11-30T22:16:00.001-08:002009-11-30T22:24:21.527-08:00Opportunities GaloreIf you are on the UPBC email list, you are probably darn sick of the plethora of emails I have sent out. There are some amazing opportunities for blind and visually impaired children and teens coming up in the Spring and Summer. Spread the word, mark your calendars and apply if you have any interest.<br /><br />Braille Readers Are Leaders Contest (now- January)<br />UFB Braille Challenge Book Club (now-March)<br />Utah Braille Challenge- March 5, 2010 (deadline February 5)<br />NFB Junior Science Academy (ages 8-12)-July 28-August 1 or August 4-8th (deadline March 1)<br />NFB Law Program (ages 12-16)- April 16-20 (deadline February 1)<br /><br />Please contact me at: palmermommy@q.com if you want more information or a direct link.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7680629416061868379.post-45482464391923586952009-09-24T10:49:00.000-07:002009-09-24T11:07:32.183-07:00Seeing Burgon: Blind, deaf teen lives her life to the fullest<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WT6ZvMjB8WM/Sru1XoI19SI/AAAAAAAAArk/yM6eWzoavZ4/s1600-h/Burgeon+Guitar.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 202px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WT6ZvMjB8WM/Sru1XoI19SI/AAAAAAAAArk/yM6eWzoavZ4/s320/Burgeon+Guitar.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385097196967687458" /></a><br />Deseret News<br /><br />Published: Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009 8:23 p.m. MDT<br /><br />Where do we begin a story about Burgon Jensen?<br />We could start with a cursory introduction: She's an 18-year-old honors student at Hillcrest High School.<br />We could describe some of her activities — she rides horses, skis, rock climbs, shops, hikes, and reads and writes prolifically, among other things. If you really want to know who she is, read her poetry. (You will if you read on.) She also sang and danced in a school play and was voted to the school's Peer Leadership Team by her peers.<br />We could continue the introduction with a description — she is slender, with long, silky hair the color of honey and vivid blue eyes that tremble but do not see.<br />Oh, and we could also mention that Burgon Jensen is blind and deaf. (Now go back and reread the previous paragraphs.)<br />Burgon is as pleasant as a Sunday morning — serene, guileless, humorous and perceptive — and everyone who interacts with her tends to gush like this:<br />"She's one of the most inspirational students I've ever worked with," says Karen Brown, a teacher and counselor for 28 years who works at Hillcrest High. "It's not because she's blind and I feel sorry for her. There's something about her. Everyone sees this specialness in her."<br />"People are so drawn to her," says Burgon's mother Katie. "Adults, more so. So many people have commented on her charisma or aura."<br />Let's take care of some business before we proceed. Burgon was born with retinitis pigmentosa, a progressive disorder that eventually leads to blindness and sometimes hearing loss, as well.<br />She was diagnosed as legally blind at 3 months, and doctors fitted her with tiny glasses. ("She looked like a Cabbage Patch baby," says her mother Katie.) She remembers colors now only as emotions. She lost all of her sight during her fourth and fifth years — about the same time she began to lose her hearing. Over time she needed increasingly stronger hearing aids, which provided limited sound — she could hear if someone talked closely and directly into her right ear and there was no other noise in the room. About 18 months ago, her hearing dropped dramatically to almost nothing.<br />She prepared for this life of silence and darkness. She began learning both types of Braille at 3 — Grade 1, in which each word is spelled out, and Grade 2, a form of shorthand. Two years ago she began to suspect that a complete hearing loss was inevitable, but decided not to tell her parents until months later. She insisted on studying sign language classes, even when her mother lobbied against it because it was such a difficult challenge. Burgon learned sign language so fast that her teacher told Katie it was too exhausting — he couldn't physically keep up with her and her insatiable appetite for more — so he cut back her class time.<br />"She was so sad (about losing her hearing)," says Katie. "It was like a death. I would ask her, 'Can you hear me?' and she would make excuses, blaming it on background noise or something like that. She admitted later that she knew it was going and that's why she had wanted to study sign language."<br />Wait a minute, you're wondering, how can a blind person interpret sign language? She cups her hand softly around the signer's hand as the latter signs, a la Helen Keller. It requires a deft touch, flowing with the movement of the signer's hands and fingers. This is how she "listens" to the sermons in her LDS ward.<br />"Mom said it would be hard and it was," says Burgon, "but I had a feeling I would need it."<br />When Burgon was a child, her mother insisted she learn to write, as well. She managed to learn the task before she lost her sight completely, aided by a large magnifying glass that beamed the image on a screen. "It's not pretty but she can do the job," says Katie.<br />This is a bright, motivated, fearless teen. She earns A's and B's in mainstream high school classes. She scored in the 95th percentile in geometry in a year-end statewide test, taking a Braille-like version of the test.<br />She runs, hikes, skis, skateboards, sculpts animals from clay, takes the family dog for walks, jumps on a trampoline, rides horses, cooks, helps her mom clean up, even assembles 100-piece puzzles. She tried yoga and judo for a while, once flipping her brother onto his back during a playful moment at home.<br />"I like the fact that I can do what anyone else can do," she says. "It's a thrill. You have to trust your hands and feet."<br />One day last year she announced to her mother that auditions for the school play were being held — that day. Kids had been preparing for weeks to sing a solo for the audition. Katie and Burgon showed up just to watch. After the last of the scheduled tryouts was completed, the adviser asked if anyone else wanted to perform. Burgon stood up and made her way down the aisle, with her shocked mother at her side. The only sound in the auditorium, which was filled with about 100 kids, was the tapping of Burgon's cane on the floor.<br />"What are you doing?" Katie asked her daughter.<br />"No regrets," said Burgon, who hadn't lost her hearing completely at the time. "Just get me out of here as soon as I'm done."<br />"What are you going to sing?"<br />"I'll surprise you."<br />One of the strict rules of the audition is that clapping is forbidden. When Burgon was finished singing "Anything for You" from "Oliver," she received a standing ovation from parents and peers, many with tears in their eyes.<br />"Normally, she's off-key, but this time she was on," says Katie. "She sang like an angel. If we had a 10th of her courage … ."<br />She passed the audition and performed in the play. Classmates led her on and off stage and cued her at the onset of a dance or a song by squeezing her arm or tapping her shoulder. She danced in four dances and never missed a step.<br />"From the beginning, we thought we were going to be the teacher, but we are the students," says Burgon's father, Bruce. "We're learning from her all the time."<br />How could a man not be changed for the better who has gently applied mascara to his daughter's unseeing eyes on mornings when his wife must leave early for work?<br />As fate would have it, Burgon has been gifted with a patient, nurturing family — Bruce, a graphic designer, Katie, a school librarian, and a 21-year-old brother, Garrett, whom Katie calls "the best brother ever."<br />Some teenage boys might have balked at holding their little sister's hand as they walked with their friends to the bus stop each morning, but not Garrett. His friends drew her into their group and she became everyone's little sister. She was included in so many Boy Scout meetings that she eventually was given her own Scout shirt and Scout nickname (Little Fox).<br />"In her environment, she's as normal as can be," says Bruce. "She moves around very well, and she's very independent. She takes care of herself. She is fanatical about taking care of her hair, and she can do a lot of her makeup herself."<br />Burgon spends much of her time with her family. She and her mother like to go to the mall, where Katie scouts out clothes for Burgon, who then runs her deft hands over the clothing, feeling the texture and the style before passing judgment — "No, that's not me." "Those sleeves are weird." "There are too many buttons." "It's too ruffley."<br />One of Burgon's favorite activities is a simple trip to the grocery store with her father. He turns it into a game, picking food items and asking her to identify them based on smell, shape and texture. "Her sense of smell is off the charts," says Bruce.<br />During drives in the car, the family provides a narrative of what they are seeing, although, if it's familiar territory, Burgon usually knows where they are.<br />"Can you imagine how horrible it would be to sit in a car and see nothing?" asks Katie.<br />Burgon's hands are her eyes. During a recent visit to the LDS Church museum, she ran her hands and fingers over every inch of a large sculpture of a pioneer family pulling a handcart. During visits to a dinosaur museum and a high-end art exhibit, Burgon and Bruce were told to ignore the "Absolutely No Touching" signs — she could touch anything she wanted, which she was only too glad to do.<br />"That's how she sculpts," says Bruce. "She feels the dimensions and shapes, then it goes in the memory bank and she can reproduce it."<br />Among her many other interests, Burgon developed a deep love of books as a young child when her parents and maternal grandmother spent long hours reading to her. On a recent Monday, Katie brought home six Braille books from the library and by Thursday Burgon was finished with them.<br />All that childhood reading produced a side benefit: For lack of a better way to describe it, she doesn't talk like a typical deaf person. During those long reading sessions, she heard the words pronounced correctly over and over and was able to imitate them.<br />Now she reads with her fingers at about the same speed as most people do with their eyes — books, church magazines, Seventeen magazine. (She complains that the Braille version doesn't include coupons.) It's a remarkable thing to watch, as she runs her right index finger over the words, trailed by the left index finger as backup.<br />Burgon, who was named after her grandmother's maiden name, is hopeful that she will regain much of her hearing. In January, she underwent cochlear implant surgery in her left ear. Surgeons cut into the side of her head and implanted enough hardware to open a Radio Shack — a microphone, a speech processor, a transmitter and receiver, an electrode array and even a magnet. But it takes a year or more for the brain to remap and learn to interpret sounds. She is just starting to make sense of what she is hearing. The sound of her own flip-flops or birds in the yard have caused her to stop and ask her mom, "What was that?" Recently, she has been able to hear the songs of the Beatles, her favorite group.<br />Burgon utilizes other technology that enriches her life — a Braille typewriter; a PAC Mate, a small computer that, among other things, converts her Braille input into a readable format for her teachers; a special laptop that displays information from the Internet in Braille and provides oral directions and descriptions to help her navigate the Internet; a VictorStream, an iPod type device that allows her to download books. She also listens to movies specially made for the blind that describe what is happening on screen, in addition to the dialogue.<br />The machines are her connections to the outside world. Otherwise, she is isolated in many ways. She is popular enough that her peers voted her to the Peer Leadership Team, but she walks through the crowded hallways alone and does little socializing. Her closest friends are blind kids who attend other schools.<br />"The kids at school are nice," says Brown, "but she doesn't have a close friend. The other kids would say hello, but she can't hear them and so she doesn't say anything in return, so after a while the kids don't even try. … And she knows when she's a project. She just wants to be a regular kid."<br />Burgon has produced a notebook of her own poetry, which provides an intimate glimpse into her world, especially this one, "Most Painful of All."<br />Because you ignored me<br />You never tried to hit me<br />With the shame of sticks and stones<br />You never saw me bleeding<br />You never broke my bones<br />You never pushed or shoved me,<br />Or called me hurtful names.<br />You never saw the tears that fell,<br />You never saw the pain.<br />But now I hope you hear me,<br />For what I have to say,<br />You never did do any of these things,<br />But you did look the other way.<br />Don't look the other way.<br />"It's hard at school," Katie says. "It's awkward to meet new people. Kids are insecure, and if someone doesn't say hi back to them they take it as rejection, but Burgon doesn't hear them. It's scary for them to walk up to her. They're intimidated by her."<br />Burgon understands her peers' point of view. "Kids know they'll have to be patient with me, they'll have to commit themselves," she says. "If we hang out together, they know they're going to have to explain things and help me. I don't do things as fast as other kids. They're going to have to show me things by feel." Burgon continues, "One of the hard parts about being blind is that I'm awkward to approach. People don't know how to talk to me … or get my attention. And some kids talk to me like I'm 5."<br />She visits her school in the summer to practice finding her classrooms, but when school is in session there are inevitable hazards. She has been accidentally bumped, elbowed and hit in the face.<br />Burgon maintains a sense of humor about her life. She has a T-shirt that reads: "I never forget a face — but for you I'll make an exception." Once she caught her mother asking her where she had placed her keys: "The blind leading the blind," she pronounced. She likes to tell her family, "Beauty is in the mind of the beholder." Another T-shirt: "What you see is what you get."<br />She has even discovered certain advantages to blindness. Years ago her father caught her reading in the dark under her covers late one night, long after she was supposed to be asleep. Other girls have to stop reading when the lights are turned out, but not Burgon.<br />"I didn't know you were doing that," Bruce said.<br />"I've been doing it forever," she confessed.<br />Someday Burgon wants to be a psychologist for the deaf and blind to help them with their special challenges. She already has begun reaching out to others. She reads Braille for kids at libraries and schools and tutors a blind man with cerebral palsy in math. After some of her presentations to groups, she opens it up for questions about her challenges, but it is sometimes uncomfortable — for the audience.<br />"The parents are shooshing their kids not to ask questions, but she wants them to," says Katie.<br />When Katie asked Burgon what was the one thing she wanted communicated in this story, she didn't miss a beat. "The worst thing anyone could do is to pity me or feel sorry for me," she said. "There's nothing to feel sorry for. I'm this way for a reason."<br />Says Katie, "She never says why me. She knows why she is here."<br />"I'm used to it," says Burgon. "Some people, when they first go blind or deaf, they're really frustrated and think something's against them. But since I've had it all my life I'm used to it and I'm happy the way I am, and I'm prepared to live that way."<br />"Who Am I?"<br />I'm known by most as the "Blind Girl,"<br />By others "The girl that can't see."<br />When I walk, I walk with the aid of a cane,<br />But that's all people really know about me.<br />You may see me walking unnoticed somewhere<br />Or maybe just sitting alone<br />My courage is constantly tested,<br />And my flame of hope is frequently blown.<br />You may see me smiling at nothing,<br />And usually I don't say a word,<br />But please don't get the wrong impression,<br />Because this doesn't mean I'm unheard,<br />I'm willing to speak to those who listen,<br />I'm willing to listen to those who speak,<br />I want to help those who stand in the shadows,<br />I want to give hope to the weak<br />I was sent here with eyes that couldn't possibly judge<br />To teach people the meaning of the word sincere<br />Because in the end, what you see can often deceive you<br />And things aren't always what they appear,<br />So now you know my story,<br />Why I'm called "The Blind Girl."<br />By others "The girl that can't see"<br />When I walk, I walk with the aid of a cane<br />But now you know so much more about me.<br />— Burgon Jensen<br />e-mail: drob@desnews.com<br />© 2009 Deseret News Publishing Company | All rights reservedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7680629416061868379.post-49943871359033719582009-09-24T10:23:00.000-07:002009-09-24T10:38:00.094-07:00Introducing New USDB SuperintendentThe following is an article that was posted in the Salt Lake Tribune regarding the new superintendent at USDB. Shortly after Mr. Noyce was named superintendent, I received a personal letter introducing himself and inviting the UPBC to meet with him anytime to discuss concerns and/or give input. Some members of the UPBC had the opportunity to have our first (of what I hope to be many productive meetings) with Mr. Noyce yesterday. One of his goals is that USDB will become the premiere resource for children with sensory impairments throughout the state of Utah. Mr. Noyce, you have a lot of work ahead of you to make this happen. We are behind this goal and support it 100%.<br /><br /><br />Schools for the Deaf and Blind name Chief<br />By Lisa Schencker<br />The Salt Lake Tribune<br />Updated: 08/07/2009 09:00:46 PM MDT<br /><br />The Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (USDB) has a new leader.<br />The Utah State Board of Education on Friday named Steven W. Noyce as USDB superintendent. Noyce most recently served as the executive director of the Tucker-Maxon Oral School in Portland, Ore., and formerly was an education program director at the Utah School for the Deaf, where he supervised both signing and oral programs.<br />"I am very supportive of families making a choice in what best meets a student's needs in education," he said in a statement. He also said large print and Braille books must be made available for students in a timely manner. Noyce beat out three other finalists for the job.<br />He will replace Timothy W. Smith, who has been acting superintendent since former superintendent Linda Rutledge retired in July 2007. Parents seeking reforms have long looked forward to the appointment of a new superintendent.<br />Over the past decade, USDB, which serves 2,200 students, has endured fiscal crises and allegations of mismanagement. Parents sued the school in 2006, accusing a teacher of abusing children, and more recently USDB has seen infighting over educational strategies and limited resources.<br />Tribune reporter Kirsten Stewart contributed to this storyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7680629416061868379.post-62291103825032758302009-08-31T11:45:00.000-07:002009-08-31T11:51:07.253-07:00Public Service Announcement- Kris CoxThe Executive Director for the Utah Department of Workforce Services says her blindness is one characteristic among many. This public service announcement was created with the help of the Center for Persons with Disabilities at Utah State University. For more information contact JoLynne Lyon at 435-797-1977or Sachin Pavithran at 435-797-6572.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZS33i1xQCk">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZS33i1xQCk</a>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7680629416061868379.post-54742725309306341432009-07-28T22:07:00.000-07:002009-07-28T22:20:20.215-07:00Why Are You Trying to Make That Child Blind?The NFB's National Convention was recently held in Detroit during the first week of July. Some of the highlights of the convention are the family seminars, activities, and network opportunities the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC). The Utah Parents of Blind Children is a division of this organization. Carol Castellano, is the current President of the NOPBC and gave an excellent speech during the general session. I encourage every parent that has a visually impaired child to listen.<br /><br />You can listen to this speech by going under "Favorite Articles" on the right hand column and clicking the title link.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7680629416061868379.post-34916499479052082732009-04-20T22:45:00.000-07:002009-04-20T23:02:05.841-07:00Slate and Stylish<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WT6ZvMjB8WM/Se1fA3QXHUI/AAAAAAAAAgA/NeISoe5zquo/s1600-h/deja+powell.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 220px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WT6ZvMjB8WM/Se1fA3QXHUI/AAAAAAAAAgA/NeISoe5zquo/s320/deja+powell.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327018402686377282" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Check this out.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">You know someone is web savvy when they have time outside of their full time job and hip social life to network with their 400 friends on facebook and blog on a regular basis.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">One of my favorite blogs to visit is Deja Powell's site: </span><img style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/Marla/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">http://slateandstylish.blogspot.com She is open, honest, witty, and shares personal stories about her life and blindness. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Deja is a cane travel instructor in Salt Lake City and recently graduated with her MA in Educational Psychology. She received her bachelors from Utah State in Journalism. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">On facebook she shares: "I love dancing, my family, chocolate, listening to music, genuine people, football and the smell of paint. I hate ketchup, arrogance, icey roads, cancer, selfishness, sweet potatoes and milk."<br /><br />Deja, two words. You rock. Keep up the great work! We are lucky to have you back in Utah!!<br /></span></span><div id="info_section_info_personal" class="profile_info" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><dl class="info"><dd><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/s.php?q=I%20love%20dancing"></a><a href="http://www.facebook.com/s.php?q=sweet%20potatoes%20and%20milk."><br /></a></span></dd></dl></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7680629416061868379.post-27641557634571671902009-03-10T12:21:00.001-07:002009-03-10T12:33:23.312-07:00Science Without Sight is Exciting Camp & Transition to Independence Parent Seminar<span style="font-size:130%;">I</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">t's that time again! The "Science Without Sight Is Exciting" Camp & "Transition to Independence" Parent/Professional Seminar will be here before you know it! Registrations are officially being accepted now!</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" > <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Please visit www.nfbutah.org to register online.</span><br /><br />When?</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Saturday, May 16, 2009. (8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.)</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />Where</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">? University of Utah Campus. Salt Lake City, Utah </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />Who’s Invited</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">? Blind and visually impaired students in 4th-12th grade, parents, and professionals.</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />For Students</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">: “Science without Sight is Exciting” will be a fun and educational experience for Utah's blind and visually impaired students. Each student will be able to explore and experiment in many areas of science, natural history, and engineering.</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />For Parents & Professionals</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">: Transition To Independence Seminar is an opportunity for parents and professionals to learn about the skills and tools essential for the independence of blind and visually impaired youth. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Keynote speakers</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> include Donna McNear, renowned Teacher of the Visually Impaired and Kristen Cox, Director of Utah Department of Workforce Services and blind mentor.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Lunch</span>: Lunch will be provided for everyone! Please register early!!</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Cost</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">: Absolutely Free. There is a $25 deposit per family and professional that will be reimbursed when you check in for the event. The $25 deposit will not be refunded to “no shows.” Please call Marla Palmer at 801-797-9760 if you need help with the $25 fee.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><br /><br />Registration</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">: </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" >Early registration deadline is Mar. 31, 2009</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:trebuchet ms;" >. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Final registration deadline is Apr. 30, 2009. </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Early Registration: Families or Professionals who register by March 31st will be </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">entered into a drawing for a $100 cash prize. Must be present to win. Registration is </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">limited to 30 students, so early registration is strongly encouraged.</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;" ><br /><br />Travel Stipend:</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> The first 10 Utah families to register who are required to travel more than 60 miles (one way) to the U of U and who wish to stay in a hotel Friday evening may be reimbursed for up to $75. To claim the hotel reimbursement, you must present the hotel receipt at the event. It is your own responsibility to make hotel arrangements if you choose this option. If professionals are interested in this stipend, please confirm on the registration form.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Transition to Independence Seminar Keynote Speakers:</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Donna </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WT6ZvMjB8WM/Sba-zDeA_ZI/AAAAAAAAAes/EaR7MAcQ5SY/s1600-h/donna+mcnear.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 94px; height: 132px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WT6ZvMjB8WM/Sba-zDeA_ZI/AAAAAAAAAes/EaR7MAcQ5SY/s320/donna+mcnear.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311642594843884946" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">McNear is an itinerant teacher of the blind and certified O&M instructor from Minnesota with 30 years experience in the field. Mrs. McNear is a sought-after National and International speaker. She is a frequent consultant to the US Department of Education and to Humanware Corporation, helping them develop assistiv</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">e technology activities to support Braille literacy. Mrs. McNear was honored in 2007 as the recipient of the Distinguished Educator award for Lifetime of Service from th</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">e Council of Exceptional Children- Division of Visual Impairments. </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br />Kristen C</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ox is the Executive Director for the Utah Department of Workforce Services, a</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WT6ZvMjB8WM/Sba-4zR80QI/AAAAAAAAAe0/48ZTscja--4/s1600-h/kris+cox+workforce.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 160px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WT6ZvMjB8WM/Sba-4zR80QI/AAAAAAAAAe0/48ZTscja--4/s320/kris+cox+workforce.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311642693577527554" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ppointed by Gov</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ernor Huntsman. Mrs. Cox served previously as the Maryland </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Secretary of Disabilities and was the running mate of Maryland governor Robert Ehrlich in the Maryland </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2006 gubernatorial election. Mrs. Cox also served as Special Assistant to the Commissioner of Rehabilitation Service in the US Department of Education, where she helped develop national initiatives to promote employment and independence for individuals with disabilities. Blind from a progressive visual impairment at age 11, Mrs. Cox sets a personal example of success and is an inspiration to many blind youth. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Utah Parents of Blind Children thanks the Utah Division of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired Advisory Council and the National Federation of the Blind of Utah for their generous financial support. We are also grateful to the Department of Biology at the University of Utah for providing space for this event.</span></span><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">If you have any questions, please email Marla Palmer at palmermommy@q.com</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><br /><br /></span>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0