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Braille Monitor

Vol. 61, No. 11 December 2018

Gary Wunder, Editor

Distributed by email, in inkprint, in Braille, and on USB flash drive, by the

The National Federation of the Blind

Mark Riccobono, President

telephone: 410-659-9314
email address: [email protected]
website address: https://archive.nfb.org
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Letters to the President, address changes, subscription requests, and orders for NFB literature should be sent to the national office. Articles for the Monitor and letters to the editor may also be sent to the national office or may be emailed to [email protected].

Monitor subscriptions cost the Federation about forty dollars per year. Members are invited,
and nonmembers are requested, to cover the subscription cost. Donations should be
made payable to National Federation of the Blind and sent to:

National Federation of the Blind
200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
Baltimore, Maryland 21230-4998

THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND KNOWS THAT BLINDNESS IS NOT THE CHARACTERISTIC THAT DEFINES YOU OR YOUR FUTURE. EVERY DAY WE RAISE THE EXPECTATIONS OF BLIND PEOPLE, BECAUSE LOW EXPECTATIONS CREATE OBSTACLES BETWEEN BLIND PEOPLE AND OUR DREAMS. YOU CAN LIVE THE LIFE YOU WANT; BLINDNESS IS NOT WHAT HOLDS YOU BACK. THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND IS NOT AN ORGANIZATION SPEAKING FOR THE BLIND--IT IS THE BLIND SPEAKING FOR OURSELVES.

ISSN 0006-8829

Each issue is recorded on a thumb drive (also called a memory stick or USB flash drive). You can read this audio edition using a computer or a National Library Service digital player. The NLS machine has two slots--the familiar book-cartridge slot just above the retractable carrying handle and a second slot located on the right side near the headphone jack. This smaller slot is used to play thumb drives. Remove the protective rubber pad covering this slot and insert the thumb drive. It will insert only in one position. If you encounter resistance, flip the drive over and try again. (Note: If the cartridge slot is not empty when you insert the thumb drive, the digital player will ignore the thumb drive.) Once the thumb drive is inserted, the player buttons will function as usual for reading digital materials. If you remove the thumb drive to use the player for cartridges, when you insert it again, reading should resume at the point you stopped.

You can transfer the recording of each issue from the thumb drive to your computer or preserve it on the thumb drive. However, because thumb drives can be used hundreds of times, we would appreciate their return in order to stretch our funding. Please use the return envelope enclosed with the drive when you return the device.

Vol. 61, No. 11 December 2018

Illustration: Art of Leadership 2018 Listen Now (MP3)

Convention Bulletin 2019Listen Now (MP3)

Authentically Blind on Stage and Screen: One Blind Actress Transforms
Obstacles into Stepping Stones Listen Now (MP3)
by Marilee Talkington

You Help Make Dreams Come TrueListen Now (MP3)
by Patti Chang

The Federation CenterListen Now (MP3)
by Marc Maurer

A Heartfelt Thank YouListen Now (MP3)
by a BELL Parent

Jury Duty as a Blind StudentListen Now (MP3)
by Vejas Vasiliauskas

Playing Your Hand: A Blind Songwriter Doing What It
Takes to Live the Life He WantsListen Now (MP3)
by JP Williams

Accessible Cardtronics ATMsListen Now (MP3)
by Valerie Yingling

Social Security, SSI, and
Medicare Facts for 2019Listen Now (MP3)
by John Paré

Helen Keller No More in TexasListen Now (MP3)
by Norma Crosby