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Are you a blind or wheelchair individual and want to participate in sport activities that you usually are not able to participate in due to your disability? Are you age 40 or younger? If so, the International Sports Jamboree provided by the Verizon West Virginia Pioneers is the place for you! The jamboree takes place once a year during the third weekend of July at North Bend State Park in Cairo, West Virginia. The jamboree receives participants from both the United States and Canada with the majority coming from within West Virginia. The participants stay at the North Bend State Park’s lodge for Friday and Saturday evenings. Some of the participants and their family members stay in cabins within the park.

I have been attending a smaller version of the West Virginia jamboree in Runnemede, NJ, for about four or five years before I was first invited to attend the West Virginia sports jamboree in 2008. The first year I attended the New Jersey sports jamboree, I was introduced to a low-riding three-wheel bicycle. Prior to riding the bike, I was unable to ride a regular two-wheel bicycle due to balance problems. But the low-riding three-wheel bicycle allowed me to ride a bike without worrying about my balance. What a thrill it was as I rode around the paved area. Unfortunately, the New Jersey sports jamboree folded in 2012 due to multiple reasons. But luckily the West Virginia jamboree has obtained sponsors, which allows me to keep attending each year. Each year I eagerly await to hear if I will receive the letter asking me if I wish to attend. I never say NO, because the Jamboree is just too much fun to miss.

Most participants arrive some time on Friday, which allows them time to settle in their rooms, time to practice some of the events (especially good if you’ve never attended before), and time to meet old friends and perhaps some new friends. First, I should tell you about the park. The lodge is in the North Bend State Park, which is huge and offers areas for camping, trailors, fishing, and hiking. The lodge is at the top of the hill and the events are held down in the valley. Vans, some equipped to handle wheelchairs, take us up and down the hill all day long. Friday night dinner is held in the pavilion in the valley. Afterwards is one of my favorite parts; the LIVE entertainment (terrific country and gospel singers) at the amphitheater. Rows of seating are carved out in the hill facing the amphitheater.

Saturday morning is the big day. Everyone wakes eagerly for the day to begin, so they can participate in as many events as possible. The participants are anxious, smiling, excited as they enter for the opening ceremony. Roaring, cheering, clapping parents cheer each of the participants as their name is called. Then the fun begins as the blind and wheelchair participants each go to their first event. The day’s events include: a 40-yard dash (my favorite), beeping air gun, team relay, beeping basketball free-throw, golf putting contest, beeping horseshoe toss, beeping Frisbee toss, jam toss, bowling, and the bicycle race (also my favorite). Well, truthfully, I love participating in all of the events! And I should tell you that at each of the events, you get a couple of practice shots first.

Look out as the blind participants as they burn up rubber! They are harnessed up to a chain from a wired-track and we fly down the 40-yards! The 40-yard dash, one of my two favorite events, where I usually burn up the most rubber as I run like the wind to the other end of the track! Pretend Darth Vader is on your trail and run, run, run! They make sure to have two strong men catch me at the end. Next stop, air gun! The blind participants listen very carefully to the sound of the beeper to determine if they are aligned with the center of the target or not. The beeper will change pitch and frequency as you get closer to the middle of the target. Then, it’s fire in the hole! Afterwards you receive the paper target to see how you did. Sometimes, you hit the center and sometimes not!

After the firing range, it is time to see if I can sink a couple of putts. And yes, I had a couple of good putts. The putting contest is a lot shorter distance than what I experience at the golf outings I attend with the Middle Atlantic Blind Golf Association! Then I was off to beeper Frisbee toss where you attempt to throw the Frisbees into a beeping net. For some, it was challenging, especially when homing in on the beeper. But I gave it my best shot. Then, to end the morning, it was time for the jam toss. Jam toss is when you throw bean bags into in a slanted board with a hole. Let me tell you, this is challenging! Trying to figure out just how hard or gentle to throw the bean bag to make it into one seemingly tiny hole! I didn’t do too badly I thought.

After a quick lunch break in the pavilion it was time to try my hand at the basketball free-throw. You receive a certain amount of points for hitting the backboard, hitting the rim, and sinking a basket (of course that is the goal!). Everyone tries their best to sink the basketball, some with the aid of the beeper and some prefer someone tapping the basket rim. I gave it all my best efforts; ding it hits the rim; ding it hit the backboard; whoosh, it goes over the board; swish it goes in! Yeah! I thought I did pretty well.

Next event up: the team relay. Team relay has the blind participant run down the 40-yard dash and the wheelchair participant zooms back down from the other end of the track.

Heigh ho, heigh ho, it is off to bowling I go! First, this is not your typical bowling lane – it’s outside. Secondly, the pins are on a wooden lane lined with felt. And third, luckily, you slid the ball down a ramp onto the lane! So the challenge is to figure out just exactly how to angle the ramp, so the ball goes directly down the center, and luckily, all the pins come tumbling down!

The last event for me would have been the horseshoe toss. Both the blind and visually impaired participants are blindfolded and you attempt to throw the horseshoes at the beeping stake until one of the participants scores 21 points. I had never played horseshoes until I started attended this jamboree and I really enjoy the challenge horseshoes offers. And usually they have tandem bikes (another favorite of mine!). Two bikes are connected together with two bars in between them. A sighted individual is on one and the blind on the other. Going around the track, as fast as I can, is so much fun. I can’t wait for next year!

Saturday dinner is usually the most tender roast beef that they have been cooking all day long. So delicious! Fresh corn on the cob too! Generally, after dinner participants, parents, and volunteers gather at the amphitheater for the award ceremony. As each participant’s name is called, beaming smiles and cheers of delight expound from everyone. The excitement and joy is felt throughout the room. Once the award ceremony concludes we have the talent show, where everyone has an opportunity to perform something. Some people sing, some dance, some played a musical instrument, and some told jokes. Some acts were better than others. I participated in the talent show by singing “All Shook Up” by Elvis Presley. Everyone enjoyed my performance and I believe I did a very good job. Of course mom cheered loudly for me!

And the evening does not end there, but continues with a dance. And this is just no ordinary dance. The volunteers tape bubble wrap on the floor. Each participant, blind or wheel chair-makes no difference, loves to pop the bubbles as they dance the night away! The energized dancers are rewarded with pizza and snacks.

Sadly, Sunday morning we wish all our friends, new and old, a fond farewell, as it is time for each of us to return home. We have been able to experience some sports that we never would have had the opportunity to try. And we can never thank all the volunteers too much for such a memorable weekend at the West Virginia North Bend State Park.

The West Virginia Verizon Pioneers are a non-profit organization. Some supporting Pioneers come as far away as Canada each year! There are many volunteers, young and old, helping the participants to take part in each of the events, cheering them on, and fixing and serving the meals. One volunteer, Bryanna, a West Virginia college student comes every year. She is very short compared to me, but she helps me run in the 40-yard dash. Mom says it’s too bad she already has a boyfriend, because she is so cute! I know, like the rest of the participants, that I really look forward to this event every year. The Pioneers rely on generous donations from businesses and supporting parents to run this event. So if you are a blind or wheel chair individual interested in attending this event, please contact Lonnie Pennington. You will be so glad you did!

If you want more details about the West Virginia jamboree, please contact jamboree chairperson Diana Buzzard at 304 965-1779 or by email at diabuz@frontier.com.

While the majority of individuals can read printed materials visually, blind and low vision individuals often rely on alternative methods such as speech output and Braille to access printed content and achieve literacy.

For those who are blind or have low vision, screen readers are commonly used to read scanned materials, audio books, and websites. These tools convert text into speech, making it possible to enjoy written content without sight. In addition to screen readers, audio books are a popular resource, allowing users to listen to books, documents, and other materials. This technology is essential for maintaining access to written information, offering convenience and independence in reading.

Despite the growing use of technology, Braille literacy remains a cornerstone of access and independence for many in the blind community. Braille is a tactile writing system that allows blind individuals to read and write by feeling raised dots arranged in patterns that represent letters, numbers, and punctuation marks. Braille is unique because it is the only reading and writing system that offers blind individuals complete autonomy over their reading and writing without needing technology.

However, only about 10% of blind individuals are Braille literate. This statistic underscores the need for greater Braille education and the challenges that many blind individuals face in acquiring literacy skills. Braille literacy is essential not only for academic success but also for ensuring that blind individuals have access to the same opportunities as sighted peers in both education and employment. Through Braille, blind individuals can read books, sign documents, take notes, and more, with the independence that sighted individuals experience when using printed text.

The Role of the National Federation of the Blind in Promoting Braille Literacy

Since its founding in 1940, the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) has been a dedicated advocate for Braille literacy. The NFB has worked tirelessly to raise awareness about the importance of Braille as a tool for literacy, independence, and equal access to education. The organization has fought for policies and initiatives that prioritize Braille instruction in schools and institutions for the blind, ensuring that blind children have the skills they need to succeed.

The NFB’s advocacy for Braille literacy has included legislative efforts to increase Braille access in public schools and provide financial support for Braille programs. The NFB continues to promote Braille literacy in schools, libraries, and communities, encouraging educators to offer Braille instruction alongside other accessible technologies like screen readers and audio books.

The BELL Academy: Empowering Blind Youth Through Braille Education

One of the most impactful initiatives led by the NFB to promote Braille literacy is the BELL Academy (Braille Enrichment through Literacy and Learning). Since its launch in 2010, the BELL Academy has focused on teaching Braille to blind children through fun, interactive, and engaging activities. The program offers an immersive environment where blind children can practice reading and writing Braille in a supportive and enriching setting.

The BELL Academy plays a critical role in fostering Braille literacy at an early age. The program helps students develop a strong foundation in Braille and introduces them to the skills they will need throughout their academic careers. Braille instruction at an early age is crucial for preventing academic delays and ensuring that blind children are not left behind in their education.

In addition to learning Braille, students at the BELL Academy also have the opportunity to develop their social skills, build confidence, and connect with other blind children. These programs are vital for instilling a love of learning and literacy, while also empowering children with the tools to succeed in school and beyond.

The Importance of Braille in the Digital Age

In an increasingly digital world, it might seem that technologies like screen readers and text-to-speech software would replace the need for Braille. However, Braille remains essential for the independence and academic success of blind individuals. While speech output technology offers significant access to content, Braille literacy allows individuals to read and write independently, without relying on technology.

For example, Braille is crucial for blind students during exams, as it provides a quiet, independent way of reading and responding to questions. Braille also enables blind individuals to engage with print material in a variety of settings, from reading books and newspapers to filling out forms or following directions in a manual. Braille provides the tactile feedback that enables blind individuals to navigate and function independently in ways that speech output technology cannot fully replicate.

Moreover, Braille literacy supports career development by allowing blind professionals to take notes, write reports, and engage in written correspondence with full independence. In some professions, such as law, science, and technology, Braille can be an essential tool for reading complex materials that may not be available in audio format.

Watch this Video to Learn More About Braille Literacy

To better understand the impact of Braille literacy and how it can change lives, we invite you to watch the following video from the National Federation of the Blind:

Conclusion: Advocating for Braille Literacy and Equal Access

While technology has advanced and provided new ways for blind individuals to access printed materials, Braille literacy remains a vital tool for independence and success. The continued advocacy by organizations like the National Federation of the Blind ensures that Braille remains accessible to future generations, empowering blind youth to excel academically, socially, and professionally.

As we look to the future, it’s crucial to support Braille education and encourage efforts to provide equal access to literacy for all individuals, regardless of sight. Programs like the BELL Academy help make this possible by offering early Braille instruction, giving blind children the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly complex world.

Through continued advocacy, education, and support, we can ensure that Braille literacy remains a critical element of access for blind individuals, allowing them to live, work, and participate fully in society with the same literacy skills as their sighted peers.

I am a legally blind individual with an eye condition called Bardet Biedl Syndrome and have difficulty reading printed materials. Typically, I read using electronic magnifiers such as a Close Circuit TV or Freedom Scientific’s Ruby magnifier. But, these have downsides. A CCTV, especially a desktop version, is not portable, and the Ruby, though it’s portable, is generally for quick reading and it is just one more item for the user to carry with them.

Now, thanks to the advances of mobile technology, there is another way! The National Federation of the Blind has made the dream of reading print for blind, low vision, and print-disabled individuals into a reality with the OneStep Reader (formerly known as the KNFB Reader), a fast, accurate, and easy to use app for an iOS or Android smartdevice. The OneStep Reader mobile app reads print aloud and can be used to read just about any printed material accurately and almost instantly.

It’s so easy. You simply take a photo of the words with your mobile device, and the app reads these aloud with high quality text-to-speech through optical character recognition (OCR). The OneStep Reader has tilt guidance and a field of view report to tell you if you are getting the right photo. It doesn’t matter if you can see that you have the whole page in range or even if it happens to be upside-down. Talk about the miracles of technology!

The OneStep Reader app is really a great tool. I have used it to read my pay stubs and the printed mailing addresses on envelopes. OneStep Reader reads the text flawlessly. I first use the field of view report to make sure I have as much of the document captured as possible, then take a picture. You can also use the tilt guidance feature to make sure the camera is level with the document. If you are scanning a lot of documents, I recommend purchasing a stand to rest the phone or tablet on. The National Federation of the Blind’s Independence Market sells one for $12. We all have smartdevices with us all the time these days, so this app gives you the ability to independently read printed material wherever you are, which is very convenient!

The OneStep Reader can be used to read bills, class handouts, PowerPoint presentations, business cards, song listings on CD cases, books, and so much more. The original device, which was invented in the 1970s by Ray Kurzweil, was the size of a kitchen freezer and it was not portable! Now it is portable and can be downloaded onto any device.

The OneStep Reader is available for Apple and Android devices for varying prices. You can visit the Apple AppStore or the Google PlayStore to find current pricing. The manual is available within the app itself. Step-by-step instruction videos can be viewed at www.perkins.org/resource/knfb-instructional-videos.

You can live the life you want with OneStep Reader!

Please download the KNFB Reader from:

• Apple AppStore
• Google PlayStore

When Apple first introduced the voice assistant Siri with the iPhone 4S in 2011, I can tell you that many people I know were thrilled to say the least. Siri with its ability to translate voice commands has the potential to make life so much easier for blind and low vision individuals. Using voice commands to look up phone numbers and make phone calls is just the tip of the iceberg. In surveying my colleagues in the National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey’s Technology Division (now the NFBNJ Technology Committee), I heard countless other use cases, including creating appointments with reminders, setting wake-up alarms, sending text messages, getting directions, checking the weather, getting word spellings and definitions and even performing basic math.

In short, Siri assists those of us who can’t see by allowing us to use our voices to get things done just by asking. The wonders of modern technology never cease to amaze me.

Many individuals use Siri on their iDevices, but only know a handful of commands. I discovered a complete listing of Siri commands compiled by applevis.com, a website for blind and low-vision users of Apple products, including Mac computers, the iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Apple TV and Apple Watch. You will find Siri commands for all kinds of inquiries. Here are some of the categories:

• Making phone calls (including calling 911 and the fire department)
• Managing phone conversations and voicemails
• Using Apple’s FaceTime
• Finding contacts
• Reading, sending and replying to messages
• Scheduling meetings and conference calls
• Checking calendars
• Receiving reminders
• Making notes
• Posting to Facebook and Twitter
• Using maps and getting directions
• Finding local businesses and restaurants
• Playing music
• Listening to podcasts
• Making mathematical calculations
• Searching the Web
• Looking up photos and videos
• Managing iDevice settings
• Taking dictation
• Getting the latest news, sports, weather, entertainment and stock market information
• And the list goes on.

Despite the wonder of this amazing technology, there are definitely areas for improvement from my perspective. For example, those of us with speech impairments get frustrated with Siri. You know you said a word clearly enough, but Siri doesn’t interpret it correctly. Sometimes my “g” sounds like a “d” so Siri might have trouble that way even when I am speaking clearly. After several repetitions, I usually give up and enter my inquiry manually. I have read that researchers are working on technology that better recognizes unusual voices or speech patterns, so hopefully one day Siri will be able to learn how a particular individual speaks. This would make a big difference to those with speech impairments or people who speak with a hard-to-understand accent and allow us to use Siri more.

No doubt, the next iteration of Siri will bring even more improvements that address some of the existing deficiencies. In the meantime, perhaps Apple developers would like to talk to some of us “real users” with disabilities? We see and hear things from a different perspective and can definitely offer some opinions and useful feedback. Call me Apple!

Editor’s Note: Linda Melendez currently serves as president of the National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey (NFBNJ). I have done 40-yard dashes, but never half-marathon running! What follows is Linda’s presentation on being a half-marathon runner during the 2016 NFBNJ State Convention regarding various recreational activities.

Getting into the game of life began for me November of 2013. My mom had passed away On June 8^th 2013 and I was devastated.  My only son was leaving for basic training. I was a mess mentally, emotionally and physically. In a desperate attempt to help me my son asked if I would work out with him while he got ready for basic training. To be honest, I had no desire to work out. I was morbidly obsess weighing 280 pounds and did not think I could participate in any type of exercise or recreation program.

To my surprise I was wrong. I began slowly and saw results almost immediately because I stayed focused, dedicated and determined. I worked out 4 days a week and lost 120 pounds in 15 months. During this time I evolved into the healthy woman I am today and became a Warrior Princess. I actually fell in love with working out and for the first time in my life I made myself a priority. I was also forming a healthy relationship with food by tracking my food daily and learning about calories eaten and calories burnt. With this new lifestyle I became a participant in my life as opposed to being a spectator. This new lifestyle was empowering for me. On a personal level I had never felt so strong and accomplished.

To help maintain my weight loss I wanted to incorporate a regular cardio regiment that I could enjoy besides going to the gym. I took a running class for beginners and absolutely fell in love with running. I was doing 5K’s runs on a regular basis and the head coach pulled me aside at the end of the six week course to tell me that I could run a half marathon. Doing a half marathon was on my physical fitness bucket list so I was excited when an accomplished runner/trainer saw this potential in me. This coach also voted me class valedictorian.

Three months later I took a 15 week half marathon training class that meet every Saturday in Asbury Park for weekly long group runs. We ran no matter what the weather was from January until April. We were given a schedule of other runs to do during the week so we could build up for our weekly long runs. Each week the runs got longer until we built up to 12 miles. At the end of this training class I ran my first half marathon. It took me 2 hours and 52 minutes but I completed it.  Also, in June of 2016 I joined the Jersey Shore Running Club “JSRC” to strengthen and solidify my relationship and commitment to running.

Everyone was amazed that a legally blind person could achieve this. I was not amazed because I knew I had it in me. The other runners who run by me week after week would always ask “if I was ok”.  My slogan became “I got this!” You see for the past three years since embarking on this journey I have been living the life I want. I continue to exercise regularly, eat healthy and run 2 – 3 times a week.  I also sign up for any races that I can get a ride too or Access Link will bring me too.  I am raising the expectations and awareness of everyone around me and this motivates me even more. I want to show others that being blind will not put limitations on me and dictate what I can or cannot do and accomplish.

Since becoming healthy every January I make a physical fitness bucket list of goals and activities I want to achieve that yeah. In 2017 I will complete another half marathon after knee replacement surgery. In 2018 I will begin my training to run a marathon in 2018. We need to get into the game of life by raising our own expectations. We are stronger than we think we are! We need to set reasonable goals.  We need to be dedicated, determined and focused on meeting them. Let’s all start living the life we want by getting out of our comfort zone. Let’s be a participant in our lives! You got this!  Embark on your journey and get into the game of LIFE!

Additional Information

If you wish to learn more about being a blind half-marathon runner, or about Linda’s story, you can contact her at lindamelendez220@gmail.com.