New Board

The following people have been elected to the executive board for Michigan:
Fred Wurtzel, President
Michael Powell, First Vice President
John Scott, Second Vice President
Corda Moss, Secretary
Paulette Powell, Treasurer

Sight Seer Radio Reading Service

This wasn't on the original agenda, but we heard from The Sight Seer Radio Reading Service, providing programming to the greater Grand Rapids area and throughout the world on the Internet. They have a partnership with AT&T to have a phone line and modem provided to you if it would help you to receive the service.

The Business of Tech

No matter, what your business is, you need financial backing to succeed. You have to be a risktaker. It's just as important to know what your business is as well as what your business is not. These thoughts came from Mike Ellis, owner of MEE, Inc.

Michigan Electronic Library

Any Michigan resident with a State ID can access the Michigan Electronic Library for free. This provides access to hundreds of databases which can be useful for job searches and research.

Equality in Technology

Steve Timmer, President of the Michigan-based Premier Assistive Technology, bases much of his research and product development on the notion that if a program is designed for a mass market, the appropriate accessibility features can be inherently included. If a website is accessible, but it takes a blind person eight times as long to use, is it really equal? These are issues of design, not necessarily accessibility.

The Vital Skills of Blindness

Tim Paulding, former graduate of the Louisiana Center for the Blind was asked about the three skills that he feels are most important for a blind person.First, mental mapping and travel skills, especially because of the building layouts. He would volunteer to make a delivery to help him learn the layout of an area. Second is computer skills, period, no questions asked. "If I didn't know how to access the Internet, I would be absolutely lost." Finally, the confince and the attitudes that were attained from the center were vital. This sets in your mind the notion that you are capable of doing the job. Using alternative techniques can lead to a more efficient lifestyle.

KNFB Reader Reduced Price

Ron Brown announced that the Kurzweil NFB Reader is currently being sold for a sale price of $3,195.00, a $300 savings. Call the national office at 410-659-9314 for details.

Blind Merchants Division

We're proud to announce that a new blind merchants division was formed on Friday, which seems appropriate given the convention theme, "The business of blindness." Stay tuned for more information on the site, soon.

Welcome

Welcome to the convention blog for the NFB of Michigan. Watch this blog for the latest convention news and be sure to listen live at http://www.nfbmi.org.

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