NABS Notes | September 2020

“Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.” -Alan Cohen

Welcome to the September edition of our NABS Notes! While many of us find ourselves up to our eyeballs in assignments, barely catching a breath long enough to set up our fantasy football lineups each week, we hope you’ll still take the time to read up on all things new with NABS. Read on to learn more about our upcoming events and updates from committees. In this edition you will find:

A Message from the Board
September Blog Post
September Episode of the NABS Now Podcast
Committee Updates
Stay Connected—NABS Social Media

Celebrating a Season of Change with NABS!

Fall is upon us! In addition to cooler temperatures and the start of a new school year, we are also entering a busy state convention season. The NABS Board is thrilled to be joining in on the fun by sending national student representatives to virtual events hosted across the country. If your state is interested in having a NABS representative at your next event, please reach out to Trisha Kulkarni at nabs.president@gmail.com with the relevant details.

We are also thrilled to be approaching the month of October, best known as Meet the Blind Month. It is an important time for us to outreach to our communities and showcase our authentic selves. October is not only a month to reflect on our experiences, but also a time to shape our futures in ways that will benefit generations to come. Make sure to stay connected on our NABS listserv, social media, and committee calls to get involved with our Meet the Blind Month festivities and initiatives!

September Blog Post | Tips to Master Time

Take a moment to read this month’s blog post, which features advice from four students across the nation on how to most effectively manage time. If you’ve ever struggled with time management, you’ll benefit from these detailed tips. No need to rewrite the system. Instead, learn from the shared successes of others!

September Episode of the NABS Now Podcast | Getting Involved – Not As Scary As You Think

Please NOTE: This content was created before the COVID-19 pandemic. Please ensure that you are following all safety guidelines when becoming involved on your campus.

College is an exciting time of exploration and discovery. Many students enjoy branching out through new clubs, sports, and other activities while earning their degree(s). In this episode, students share their campus involvement experiences and offer tips for making the most of your campus involvement. From funny, embarrassing, and serious and meaningful experiences, this episode is sure to prepare you for campus life.

Thank you to special guests: Tarik Williams, Santiago Hernandez, and Robert Parsons Created and produced by: Seyoon Choi & Nina Marranca

Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or see our Anchor page for more ways to listen!

Committee Updates

Celebrate Meet the Blind Month & White Cane Awareness Day with NABS!

The NABS Outreach Committee challenges you this October to take pride in your blindness and celebrate Meet the Blind Month. Take a moment to learn something new and share it with a friend! Start by educating yourself, if you haven’t already, on White Cane Awareness Day (October 15,) and, don’t forget to join us for our next committee meeting, taking place on Sunday October 11 at 8:00 PM EDT. For questions on how to get involved, email Nina Marranca at ninam0814@gmail.com.

Finding our Footing, Funding our Journey!

The NABS Fundraising Committee is off to a great start this fiscal year with four fully registered and paid leagues of fantasy football participants. We would like to thank all the students, Federationists, and NABS allies who helped to make this initiative a great success. Looking forward, the committee is excited to plan an innovative Meet the Blind Month initiative. Stay tuned to social media and our listserv for future announcements. We also invite you to join us for our next committee meeting on Sunday, October 11 at 9:00 PM EDT. For questions on how to get involved, email Robert Parsons at Robert.E.Parsons@wmich.edu.

Advocating to Maintain ADA Rights & Updating Scholarship Resources!

The Legislative and Self-Advocacy Committee has been working to both create and protect opportunities for blind students. We have been rallying blind students, friends, and families to ask our Senators to preserve the protections granted to us under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. To learn more, read this letter written by the National Federation of the Blind and sent to Senator John Cornyn, who introduced the SAFE TO WORK ACT in late July. We have also been working hard to update our scholarship database to ensure that blind students are given an opportunity to find the necessary funding that helps us reach our educational and career goals. Join our next committee call on Sunday, October 18 at 8:00 PM EDT. For questions on how to get involved, email Justin Salisbury at president@alumni.ecu.edu.

A Division Dedicated to Diversity!

The NABS Diversity and Inclusion Committee is celebrating yet another successful start to the fiscal year, welcoming many new members to our efforts moving forward. In addition to our two committee meetings since national convention, we were proud to facilitate the September NABS Membership call, which featured the topic of National Hispanic Heritage Month. Please feel free to join us for our next committee meeting, which will take place on Sunday, October 18 at 9:00 PM EDT. For questions on how to get involved, email Shane Wegner at shanew@outlook.com or join the committee GroupMe, where members coordinate our activities.

And don’t forget our monthly membership call, taking place on Sunday October 25 at 9:00 PM EDT!