Whats going on at the NFB National Convention 2013?

RIGHT now this week The NFB National Convention is going on in Orlando Florida . Lots of great stuff is going on.  This year I am NOT at convention but hope to make it back again next year.

Abby speaking at 2012 NOPBC Annual Meeting at the NFB Convention

I am working really hard at keeping myself updated since I can't be there. I thought I would share what I know. I will be updating this post throughout the week all the way till it ends on Saturday July 6 2013 (so come back)  

Agenda of 2013 NFB National Convention https://nfb.org/images/nfb/documents/pdf/national-convention-agenda-2013-web.pdf

Social Media 

Twitter hashtag search for convention tweets #nfb13 

Facebook hashtag search for Facebook posts #nfb13 (this is a new feature not used by users much)

National Federation of the Blind's twitter feed https://twitter.com/NFB_voice

NOPBC Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/331066810353777/

NFB National Convention live feed 

Listen Live to events at the convention https://nfb.org/convention-streaming-schedule  

The feed will be active during the following times (EST)

Wednesday, July 3 

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. NFB Board Meeting

Thursday, July 4

9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. NFB General Session

2:00 - 5:00 p.m. NFB General Session

Friday, July 5

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. NFB General Session

2:00 - 5:00 p.m. NFB General Session

Saturday, July 6

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. NFB General Session

2:00 - 5:00 p.m. NFB General Session

7:00 - 10:00 p.m. Annual NFB Banquet

RNIB Insight Radio Podcasts 

This is a new thing this year and I hope RNIB does it again. 

Link to ALL RNIB Podcasts related the 2013 NFB National Convention (more podcasts are added each day)  http://www.insightradio.co.uk/podcast-feed.html?category=special_features%2Fnfb_convention_2013

Links to Parent Related Podcasts 

Monday July 1st NOPBC Conference: the Morning session that includes Dr Maurer's Kid Talk, Anil Lewis, Great panels of successful adults and students and Carlton Walker's pearl speech http://www.insightradio.co.uk/podcast-episode.html?category=special_features/nfb_convention_2013&name=2013-07-03_parents_conf-session_tx.mp3

Monday July 1st Interviews related to NOPBC Conference   http://www.insightradio.co.uk/podcast-episode.html?category=special_features/nfb_convention_2013&name=2013-07-03_parenting_tx.mp3

Convention Highlights: NOPBC Kid Panel

Abby spoke on the Kid Panel at the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children's annual meeting at the NFB national convention.

She worked hard writing what she said and rewriting it. She wrote it all in braille so she could read it. She practiced it over and over again and put a lot of thought in what she said. I am really proud of the work she did.  FYI  when she says what she wants to be when she grows up she says (since its hard to hear) A Race Car Driver, a Engineer, and a Princess.

Three kids who were on the panel

Part 1 - Julia who is in 6th grade. She is small for her age and that is what she is talking about in the beginning.  It was a well written speech for a child so her age. The beginning is cut for privacy. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULg-HH6tBi4


Part 2 which includes Abby and Hank  . Hank is blind child whose parents had to go to court to get him braille. This still happends this day and age and it happens more often than people think. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2x58OBcEnM 

Back from the NFB Convention

Abby and I just got back from the national convention of the National Federation of the Blind. It was in Dallas Texas for 7 days and it was a great week.. We are still recovering.  

I have more stuff to write about that will fit in one post.  So look for a series of post about convention. 

Some of the highlights to look out for is 

NOPBC Style Show

The NOPBC Kid Panel that included Abby

Highlights from the NOPBC conference for parents. 

NFB General Sessions 

Fun with Friends

The Braille Book Fair and Braille Literacy

New Resources

Abby on the exhibit floor

 

Busy Start to Summer

Well the kids have finished the school year.   I have a feeling summer is going to go by so quickly that we will find ourselves in the start of the school year in no time.

Abby has just finished the first week of two weeks of extended school year (summer school for braille pretty much) .  She is having so much fun. I have also been encouraging her to read. The only way she can get better is to practice. She likes to be motivated by cash.  Smart girl.

Yes Abby is really touching a penguin at Seaworld

The first week in July Abby and I were in Florida for the National Federation of the Blind's national convention and NOPBC conference.  So much in my head I am slowly working through it all but it was great.  I promise to do some blogs about it.  Abby leaerned a lot and  I learned even more. My sister Tricia even came.

Abby exploring with with sleep shades on. 

Abby has some other things coming up this summer. I will share soon.  So not a lot of rest for her.I have started to realize that I think we have passed a year since she became affected by LHON.  (she became affected well before we first realized in August.)  Crazy year and I think on this side of it all it was much more good than bad.

Abby posing in front of a Shamu sculpture.