By: Jennifer Dunnam

2016 has continued to be another busy and productive year for the National Federation of the Blind of Minnesota. Our Annual state convention took place in Rochester, and the approximately 118 people in attendance made an energetic, interesting, and joyful gathering.  Elsewhere in this and future issues of the Bulletin, you can read further details about the many activities that took place, the things we learned, the positions we passed, the work we got done, and our plans for the future. Thanks to all of the many people whose hard work and creativity made the convention a success!

On September 12, we held our 35th annual Walk for Opportunity. In addition to being another excellent event hosted by our Rochester chapter which has had such a busy year, it was one of our best fund-raisers yet.

One of the resolutions we passed at the convention dealt with a fund-raising campaign involving asking people to make videos of themselves trying to accomplish everyday tasks while blindfolded. Although medical research is important, fund-raising should not be done in a way that perpetuates the low expectations that keep blind people from being hired for jobs, being allowed to parent our children without interference, and all the other ways we participate in the world. We have learned over long experience that short simulations of blindness most often add to the fear and misconceptions that so many hold about blindness. The outcry against the damaging effects of this video campaign was strong and persistent all around the country. Federationists from all walks of life spoke out with powerful videos of our own, telling the stories of how real blind people, with the right training and opportunity, get things done safely and effectively and live our lives to the fullest every day. As a result of our efforts, the campaign was ended early with promises to assist with giving real information about the capabilities of blind people.

In the Federation we work very hard to break down barriers to our ability to access the information we need to do our jobs, complete our class work, and engage in countless other activities that are now done using technology. Our work on these issues is absolutely essential if we are to participate on an equal basis with the rest of society. Yet, this video campaign reminds us that other barriers that are older, sometimes less obvious, more artificial, and yet more persistent, must continue to be torn down. We must work together to learn how these affect us internally so we can understand and counteract the effect they have on society at large.

The National Federations of the Blind of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio have joined together to offer the Great Lakes regional Braille Readers Are Leaders contest for kids, grades K-12. Contestants compete to read the most braille pages, going against other kids in similar grades across all five states. The contest runs from December 1, 2016 to January 20 2017, encouraging children to be proud of their braille reading ability and to work to improve their skills—while possibly winning prizes in the process. For the complete contest rules, registration form, and the reading log form, visit http://www.nfbofillinois.org, then go to the link called “Great Lakes BRAL Contest.”

Mark your calendars for an exciting milestone coming up! Our Central Minnesota chapter will host its thirtieth annual spaghetti dinner fund raiser on Friday, January 20th, 2017. Everyone should come and enjoy some of the best spaghetti you'll ever eat, while supporting our work in the Central Minnesota area!

All of our chapters throughout the state have been finding fresh and effective ways of raising expectations about blindness and of reaching more people who need the support and education we have to offer. Activities include helping to organize and engage blind people who are part of the Somali community, planning an event to give information and support to blind seniors, and hosting a craft show. Everyone keep up the great work!

May this holiday season be joyous and rejuvenating for us all!