Happy Halloween!

Good morning,
I hope everyone is stocked up on goodies for all the ghosts and goblins in your neighborhood! I am expecting about 200 cuties at my house.

I want to give a huge shout out to Bob, Johnye and Sarah when have kept the blog going during my recent medical crisis. Proud to report I am doing better and can even drive now!

If you have insurance issues, please give Shelly or I a call as soon as possible. I am getting booked up.

Enjoy the beautiful weather!
Dr. Janet

ANOTHER REASON TO EAT YOUR BROCCOLI

Compound in broccoli may slow signs of aging Published October 28, 2016.  

Fine lines creeping across your face, and the inevitable aches and pains that come with your advancing years- if you, like most, want to delay the depressing signs of aging, new research suggests a simple answer: Eat your greens. Evidence suggests it's more than just an old wives tale, and that by eating more broccoli, cabbage and avocado you can ward off the signs of aging. A key compound, known as NMN- nicotinamide mononucleotide- lurking in the green fruit and veg helps slow the physical signs of aging, and can rejuvenate the metabolism. Tests on mice showed it reduces typical signs of ageing including skeletal muscle issues, poor liver function, lower bone density and declining eye function. As well as worsening insulin sensitivity, immune function, body weight and physical activity levels. Professor Dr Shin-ichiro Imai at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis said: "We have shown a way to slow the physiologic decline that we see in ageing mice. This means older mice have

SOMETHING YOU MIGHT FIND INTERESTING

This was sent to Dr. Ford from Dick and Donna Walker.

This is Donna again. Wanted to tell you about the Legend Oldies radio. They are an internet radio station based out of Indianapolis started by, and staffed by all blind and visually impaired persons. You can listen using a computer, on the telephone, using Tune In on a phone or tablet, on a VR Stream or even on an Amazon Echo or Tap.

 

Besides their great request music shows, they have started a show on Wednesday mornings, from 8:00 to 10:00, our time called the Coffee Club. They have discussion topics, guest speakers and product demos. It is primarily geared to blindness accessibility and issues. Some of your folks might enjoy tuning in. I sent you a link to the station web-site and would be glad to help anyone figure out how to listen any way that they find easiest for them.

 

walkercutoff@att.net

 

The link is

 

http://www.legendoldies.com/

 

A MERRY HEART DOES GOOD LIKE A MEDICINE

Yes, Sir! 

A young soldier was up before his commanding officer for a reprimand. After going through a list of his misdemeanors the CO says, "And another thing, I didn't see you in camouflage practice this morning." "Thank you, Sir," the soldier replied. 

Say What? 

A couple's happy married life almost went on the rocks because of the presence in the household of old Aunt Emma. For seventeen long years she lived with them, always crotchety, always demanding. Eventually, the old girl passed away. On the way back from the cemetery, the husband confessed to his wife, "Darling, if I didn't love you so much, I don't think I would have put up with having your Aunt Emma in the house all those years." His wife looked at him aghast. "My Aunt Emma!" she cried. "I thought she was 'your' Aunt Emma!" 

Old Is... 

• I signed up for an exercise class and was told to wear loose-fitting clothing. If I had any loose-fitting clothing, I wouldn't have signed up in the first place!
• Wouldn't it be nice if whenever we messed up our life we could simply press 'Ctrl-Alt-Delete' and start all over?
• Stress is when you wake up screaming and then you realize you haven't fallen asleep yet.
• My husband says I never listen to him. At least I think that's what he said.
• If raising children was going to be easy, it never would have started with something called labor!
• Brain cells come and brain cells go, but fat cells remain forever.

Shorts 

• I used to be a banker, but then I lost interest. 
• If a tomato is a fruit, does that make chilled ketchup a smoothie? 
• If there were a Pessimist Award, I doubt that I could win it. 
• I'm always disappointed when a liar's pants don't actually catch on fire. 
• I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. I just can't put it down. 

BE ALERT TO OPEN ENROLEMENT STARTING NOVEMBER 1ST

Time to Check Your Health Insurance 

 

Why is now a good time to take a closer look at your health care needs and options?

 

2017 Open Enrollment November 1, 2016 open enrollment begins   December 15, 2016 enroll before this date to have coverage January 1, 2017   January 31, 2017 open enrollment ends

If you're uninsured or looking for more affordable health insurance, the “open enrollment” period is the time to visit healthcare.gov or your state’s exchange. During “open enrollment”, private health insurance options can be reviewed and coverage can be purchased. People with low and moderate incomes may be able to get financial help to pay for health insurance coverage. Assistance to pay for premiums and other cost-sharing may be available for individuals and families, depending on which plan is purchased. If you get health insurance through your employer, Medicaid or Medicare, you are not eligible for this assistance. You can also sign up for insurance outside of the open enrollment period, if you lost your job, married, divorced or had a baby. 

 

You may enroll in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) at any time, year round.Certain requirements must be met to qualify for these public programs. Medicaid provides long-term services and supports to people with disabilities.

 

Do you already have health insurance through the Marketplace? 

 

It is also important to update your income and household information in the Marketplace to make sure you get the assistance that is available.

 

• This is a good time to check your health insurance coverage and see if it still meets your healthcare needs.

• You may enroll in a different plan each year or you will be automatically re-enrolled in your current plan or a similar one by December 15, 2016.

• If a new plan does not cover your providers or services, seek more information about transition rights.

• You should carefully read all health insurance notices and updates.

 

Why should you check your coverage?

 

• Even if you like your current health plan, new plans may be available and premiums or cost sharing may have changed since last year.

• Even if your income has not changed, you could be eligible for more financial assistance.

• If your income has increased, updating your information with the Marketplace will help avoid paying future penalties.

 

If you have a disability or a health condition, pay attention to details or possible changes: 

 

• Are a broad range of health care providers included in the health plan’s network of providers?

• Are there enough medical specialists in the network to meet your needs?

• Are needed medications included in the plan’s list of covered drugs?

• Is there adequate access to non-clinical, disability-specific services and supports?

• Does the plan have service limits, such as caps or limits on the number of office visits for therapy services?

• Are mental health services covered to the same extent that other “physical” health benefits are covered?

 

Are you or your family members uninsured?

 

Most individuals will be able to get health insurance coverage regardless of pre-existing health conditions or prior denial of coverage. Interested individuals can go online, enter information and review insurance options. Information on monthly premiums, deductible costs, doctors, hospitals and which drugs are covered by a plan should be available. Enrollment is limited to individuals who live in the United States, are U.S. citizens, nationals, or non-citizens who are lawfully present, and not currently incarcerated.

 

If you have not signed up for an insurance plan, it is important to note that you may be subject to a fee for not having health care coverage. If you or your dependents do not have insurance that qualifies as minimum essential coverage for tax year 2016, you may have to pay either 2.5 percent of your household income with a maximum of what the national average premium is for a bronze plan, or a flat fee of $695 per uncovered adult and $347.50 per child under 18, with a maximum of $2085 -- whichever is higher.

 

Where to get help?

 

Purchasing health insurance can be complicated. If you or your family member needs assistance with understanding the options, healthcare.govcan help. This website has information about seeking assistance in local communities, explanations of health insurance terms, enrollment information, assistance with out-of-pocket cost estimation and much more. There is also a 24-hour phone line for consumer assistance at 1-800-318-2596 to call for help.

 

In addition, each state has health insurance “navigators” to assist individuals with enrollment in health insurance plans. Individual health plan information should be available in late October 2016 on the website. If you would like more information on specific topics, the National Disability Navigator Resource Collaborative(http://www.nationaldisabilitynavigator.org/) has a comprehensive set of materials available on disability issues and the Affordable Care Act.

 

Website:  www.healthcare.gov

 

Phone:  1-800-318-2596 (Available 24/7 with access to 150 languages)

 

TTY:   1-855-889-4325

 

In-Person Assistance Resources: localhelp.healthcare.gov

1825 K Street, NW, Suite 1200 • Washington, DC  20036 • PH 202/783-2229 •FAX 202/534-3731 • Info@c-c-d.org • www.c-c-d.org

THINGS YOUR DOCTOR NEEDS TO KNOW

10 things your doctor wants you to know By Julie Revelant Published October 24, 2016.  

Between the time devoted to insurance paperwork and large patient panels to keep up with financial pressures, most doctors have just 15 minutes to spend with each patient. That's not nearly enough time to address every health concern and doctors agree. In fact, 59 percent of physicians wish they had more face time with their patients, a survey by locumstory.com found. Although your time spent in the exam room isn't likely to get any longer, doctors say there are ways to make your appointment more productive. 1. Suffer from erectile dysfunction? Get your thyroid checked. Studies show men with both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are more likely to also have erectile dysfunction . In fact, 79 percent of men with thyroid dysfunction also have ED, a study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found. If your energy is low, you have fatigue, constipation or notice your mood has plummeted, it could mean that you've had an underactive thyroid for some time, which is a common problem doctors see. "Thyroids don't tend to fail quickly...so the onset can be somewhat slow and prolonged," said Dr. Kevin Gebke, a sports medicine and family physician at Indiana University Health in Indianapolis, Indiana. 2. Know your family history. "Life events matter, however small or irrelevant they may seem at the time," said Dr. Amy Doneen, medical director for the Heart Attack and Stroke Prevention Center in Spokane, Wash., and adjunct professor for Texas Tech Health Sciences Center. Family history can clue your doctor into your risk for conditions such as a transient ischemic attack or mini stroke, type-2 diabetes, atherosclerosis and blood clotting disorders, macular degeneration and cerebral arteriosclerosis, which can lead to dementia. "When you start putting the pieces together, you can start to paint this picture of what people in their 40s and 50s are experiencing," she said. 3. These two tests could prevent a heart attack. "We don't have to wait for someone to suffer a heart attack to know they have heart disease," Doneen said. Although risk factors like cholesterol and blood pressure are important, two tests- a carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) which looks for plaque and measures inflammation in the arteries and the coronary calcium scan can help identify and treat vascular disease before it becomes dangerous. 4. You might have sleep apnea and not know it. Chronic fatigue is a symptom of sleep apnea whether you're male or female, obese or thin, and whether your partner can hear your snore or not, Dr. Avram R. Gold, medical director of the department of medicine's sleep disorders center at Stony Brook University in Smithtown, New York, said. Insomnia, migraines, IBS, fibromyalgia and TMJ are all signs that you could have sleep apnea, too. The problem is that there is not a universal way to diagnose sleep apnea, so many doctors don't recognize it, Gold said. 5. Check your blood pressure more than once a year. Current guidelines state that a normal blood pressure is 140/90 or less for people between the ages 30 and 59 and 150/90 for those 60 and older. Yet recent research suggests that blood pressure of 120/70 should be the ideal. "If we were to intervene earlier on blood pressure and not tolerate those levels, people would be a lot healthier," Doneen said. For those 75 and older with high blood pressure, a target of 120 for systolic pressure was shown to reduce rates of cardiovascular events by 33 percent and reduce the risk of death by 32 percent. A good rule of thumb? "Know your blood pressure and check it often," Doneen said. 6. Be good to your gut. For people who have problems such as bloating, constipation and IBS, "they have in their minds this idea that, 'I'll be fixed when I can eat whatever I want,'" Dr. Lisa Guisana, a naturopath in Tustin, California, said. Not only are gut problems often a sign of food sensitivities, eating a diet full of processed foods, fast food and overdoing it on alcohol are oftentimes what contributes to GI symptoms in the first place. "What really needs to happen is a mind shift towards eating the foods that are actually food and that our bodies were intended to eat," she said, adding that that includes things like eating more fruits and vegetables and avoiding foods with GMOs, pesticides and hormones. 7. Fasting blood sugar and A1C are not enough. Nearly 30 million people in the U.S. have type 2 diabetes and 8.1 million are undiagnosed. Insulin resistance is the leading cause of type 2 diabetes and also the most common cause of vascular inflammation and artery damage. "What we're finding is people are waiting until they're diabetic to find out they've had this syndrome for the past 20 years," Doneen said. Although most doctors only check fasting blood sugar and A1C, the best way to diagnose insulin resistance is with a fasting glucose tolerance test. The test isn't covered by insurance but it's only $25. "If we catch people early enough, it's a preventable condition," Doneen said. 8. Don't eliminate foods from your diet. If you have a food allergy panel, realize that it can show two different results on the same day. Some people will decide to eliminate all of the foods from their diet that are shown to be allergenic. But this is a mistake because doing so can make the microbiome- the collection of 100 trillion healthy and harmful bacteria that live in and on our bodies and are essential for our health- less robust. "Diversifying the diet will help diversify the microbiome, which will help everything else in the body work better," Guisana said. Of course you should avoid foods you've had an allergic reaction to or those that you've eliminated and thus feel better. 9. Take stress seriously. Whether it's work, family or financial stress, everyone feels the effects. In fact, 72 percent of adults say they feel stressed about money at least some of the time, according to a report by the American Psychological Association. Not only can stress lead to a host of chronic infections and health conditions, but the adrenal glands can eventually burn out when they can't keep up with the demands for hormone output. And without optimal adrenal function, our bodies can't respond to stress either, Guisana said. 10. Chronic problems take time. If you have a chronic health condition, it's likely that you had several underlying dysfunctions in your body before you started to have symptoms. If you have a doctor who can devote the time to finding the root cause, that's a good first step. Although you want to feel better right away, realize that it can take time and you may even experience what looks like a setback. "I try to impress upon people that true healing is not always a linear process, " Guisana said. "This didn't happen overnight so it's not going to reverse overnight. 

DO YOU USE MELATONIN?

The right way to take melatonin supplements, according to a sleep doc By Kathleen Mulpeter Published October 22, 2016.  

Jet lag always seems to get the best of me when I travel. I've tried prescription sleeping pills, well-timed 'cup's of coffee, and even gradually adjusting my sleep schedule in the days leading up to a trip. But I hadn't used melatonin to help regulate my sleep cycle, so when Sundown Naturals Adult Melatonin Gummies ( landed on my desk a few days before a recent trip to Europe, it seemed like fate. I packed a handful in my carry-on, thinking at the very least they'd help me get a few hours of shuteye during the flight. That's when my love affair began: Unlike sleeping pills, melatonin helped me drift off to sleep easily on the plane, yet didn't leave me feeling groggy upon arrival. I ended up taking them every night during the trip to help my body clock adjust to the new time zone (with minimal jet lag!) ; and then, back in New York, to ease into Eastern Time again. But two weeks later-definitely no longer jet lagged-I still find myself reaching for these gummies before bed. For me, it's less about falling asleep and more about the quality of my rest. I've been snoozing soundly throughout the night and waking up feeling super-refreshed. But is that how you're supposed to use melatonin? And even though it's a natural sleep aid, is it possible to become addicted?  The right way to take melatonin I reached out to Chris Winter, MD, medical director of the Martha Jefferson Hospital Sleep Medicine Center to get his take. The good news, he says, is you won't become physically addicted to melatonin supplements-at least not in the way you can get addicted to prescription sleeping pills, for example. But that doesn't mean you should make a nightly habit out of taking them. "You should give yourself a time limit, such as for four or five days," he says, adding that they should be taken for a very specific reason, such as during an unusual bout of insomnia or when you're traveling across time zones. "When that thing has run its course, you should stop. The reason for this, Dr. Winter explains, has to do with the way our body's internal clock functions. When the sun sets and it gets dark outside, this alerts the brain's pineal gland that it's almost time to go to sleep. The pineal gland, in turn, begins to secrete melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle. The next morning, melatonin levels drop, signaling to your body that it's time to wake up.  "When someone starts taking melatonin for the first time, they're experiencing a surge of the hormone from the supplement in addition to the natural nighttime secretion they're already getting from their brain," he says. As a short-term fix, melatonin can be helpful for adjusting your internal clock. "It's a good way to re-create circadian rhythms when they've been disrupted," Dr. Winter says. It starts to become problematic, though, if you take melatonin supplements every single night. "For chronic melatonin users, your body's circadian rhythm can get pushed back over time," he says. "So if your brain was naturally secreting melatonin every evening at 7 p.m., it may start to think it doesn't need to secrete it until 11 p.m., for example, because that's when you've been taking a melatonin pill. In other words, you could sabotage the effectiveness of your body's internal clock.  Some people can also become psychologically dependent on the idea of taking a supplement to fall asleep. "It's like a baby blanket," says Dr. Winter. "It's not actually curing anything, but if it becomes a habit, people will feel nervous to go to bed without it. They'll start thinking, 'I didn't take melatonin, now I'm going to wake up during the night and feel horrible the next day. Then they have anxiety about not being able to sleep. And as for that whole sleeping-through-the-night benefit I've come to love? Dr. Winters insists it's better to simply wake up and fall back asleep naturally rather than rely on melatonin. "If you wake up in the middle of the night, you might feel groggy the next day, yes-but that will teach your brain to help you sleep more efficiently the following night. A smarter sleep strategy Rather than becoming dependent on melatonin to fall asleep, Dr. Winter suggested I start cultivating a routine that supports my body's circadian rhythm. "Create a quiet environment around dinnertime," he says. In other words, I should dim the lights earlier in the evening, turn off the TV (no more post-work Stranger Things binges on Netflix), and enable that "night shift" setting on my iPhone. "This will signal to your brain that it's time to start producing melatonin, and you'll fall asleep more easily a few hours later. To feel more alert in the morning, he recommended scheduling A.M. workouts and using a "wake-up light" to make my bedroom feel sunnier in the dark winter months. I've started using the Philips Wake-Up Light With Colored Sunrise Simulation which gradually produces natural-looking light a few hours before wake-up time and also functions as an alarm clock with soothing nature sounds. Most importantly, I'm putting away the melatonin gummies until my next big trip, which happens to be a 20-hour flight to Australia-I'm pretty sure I'll need them for that. 

A FEW THINGS TO LAUGH ABOUT

But The Sign Says... 

One October, my wife and I spent a vacation on Washington's Olympic Peninsula. We were eager to visit the rain forests near the coast, but we heard that snow slides had made some of the roads impassable. Although apprehensive about the conditions we might run into, we drove on. Sure enough, we had gone only a short way up the High Rain Forest road when we saw a sign: "Ice 10 miles." Five miles farther on, there was another sign: "Ice 5 miles." The next one was, "Ice 1/2 mile." We practically crept that half-mile. When we came to the last sign it was outside a small grocery, and it read, "Ice 75 cents." 

Turnabout 

An amateur photographer was invited to dinner with friends and took along a few pictures to show the hostess. She looked at the photos and commented "These are very good! You must have a good camera." He didn't make any comment, but, as he was leaving to go home he said, "That was a really delicious meal! You must have some very good pots." 

Not Again 

A waiter brings the customer the steak he ordered, with his thumb squarely on top of the meat. "Are you crazy?" yells the customer. "Don't bring my meal with your hand on my steak!" "What," says the waiter, "you want it to fall on the floor again?" 

Sorry about the goodly gook

Sorry, we were trying to give you all the info about the upcoming NFB Convention. I sent the email from Dick and Donna to JOHNYE but obviously cut and paste did not work!

Thanks Bob and JOHNYE for all the help and hard work. Thanks to Dick and Donna for keeping us in the loop. If you have any questions or concerns, just give Donna or Terry a call.

Have a great week!
Until tomorrow,
Dr. Janet

UPCOMING NFB STATE CONVENTION IN HOT SPRINGS

Back to Message

From:Johnye Pryor

 

Begin forwarded message:

 

From: Janet Ford <dr.janet.ford@gmail.com>

Subject: Fwd: FW: NFBAR State Convention 2016 Edited by A 2

Date: October 18, 2016 at 3:48:12 PM CDT

To: JOHNYE PRYOR <johnye.pryor@sbcglobal.net>

 

Please post the agenda on the blog. One day handled!

 

 

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Dick and Donna Walker <walkercutoff@att.net>
Date: Tue, Oct 18, 2016 at 1:47 PM
Subject: FW: NFBAR State Convention 2016 Edited by A 2
To: Cassondra Williams <Cassondra.Williams@dhs.arkansas.gov>, Ralph Burns <ralph.burns@sos.arkansas.gov>, "Bartlow, Kirsten" <Kirsten.Bartlow@agfc.ar.gov>, Chris Brown <cabrown6969@gmail.com>, Susan Austin <susanhaustin@yahoo.com>, Sharon Giovinazzo <sgiovinazzo@wsblind.org>, Jimmy Sparks <jsparks1206@outlook.com>, Joe Sexson <jsexson@live.com>, "Ana.sheeler" <ana.sheeler@yahoo.com>, April Scurlock <a1teacher02@hotmail.com>, David Henry <rockinh57@cox.net>, katy.morris@dhs.arkansas.gov, Gustavo.Manzanales@dhs.arkansas.gov, Elizabeth Whitaker <Elizabeth.Whitaker@dhs.arkansas.gov>, Ron Owens <owens1@hughes.net>, Tracie Owens <owens2@hughes.net>, Owen Thomas <Owen.Thomas@dhs.arkansas.gov>, Owen Thomas <owthomas@live.com>, Patricia Thompson <pat.nfb@att.net>, Aundrea Sheeler <arspurplegirl@cox.net>, Tanya VanHouten <vanharris62@gmail.com>, Larry Wayland <lhwayland@sbcglobal.net>, Toni Fraser <tfraser@arkansaslighthouse.org>, Jim Pearson <jim.pearson@dhs.arkansas.gov>, Mary Douglas <Mary.Douglas@dhs.arkansas.gov>, Darly Swinson <daryl.swinson@gmail.com>, Janet Ford <dr.janet.ford@gmail.com>, Dana Christiansen <dchristiansen73@yahoo.com>, rebecca.r.myers@gmail.com, James Henry <rockinh57@icloud.com>, robertfagan69@comcast.net, Susie Sexson <ssexson@hotmail.com>, Sha Stephens <sstephensarilc@att.net>, Sharmeaka Terry <sharmeaka98@gmail.com>, Tevin Bailey <tmbailey2398@gmail.com>, Christy Lamas <Christy.Lamas@dhs.arkansas.gov>, Charlie Cain <charlie.cain@dhs.arkansas.gov>, ccn@chrisnestrud.com, eyeopeningsolutions@gmail.com, essmile@cox.net, josh lester <jlestermusic@gmail.com>, jd@library.arkansas.gov, jsregister@sbcglobal.net, Jeff Ruple <jeff-ruple@sbcglobal.net>, billjohnson72227@yahoo.com, kelly@library.arkansas.gov, Kara.aaron@va.gov, dickseifert@sero.email, Shawn Smith <arkansas_blindnet@aetn.org>, www.margaret@paragould.net
Cc: walkercutoff@gmail.com



Good Afternoon-Attached you will find the Agenda for the 2016 National
Federation of the Blind of Arkansas state convention. If you have any
questions or need additional information: please feel free to contact Terry
Sheeler or Me.

We hope that you'all will be able to join us in Hot Springs, but even if you
cannot; share this information with others who might benefit from attending.
Thanks!


   Donna Walker, 1ST Vice President
   NFB Arkansas


-----Original Message-----
From: Teresa Sheeler [mailto:tosheeler@cox.net]
Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 10:26 PM
To: walkercutoff@att.net; walkercutoff@gmail.com
Subject: NFBAR State Convention 2016 Edited by A 2

 

Sent from my iPad

 

 

NFBAR State Convention 2016 Edited by A 2.docx4/ 12

·         

·         

Fayetteville, AR 72703  

tosheeler@cox.net

Welcome to the 57th annual state convention of the

National Federation of the Blind of Arkansas.

Greetings from the Officers and Board of Directors.

Board of Directors

Terry Sheeler, President, Fayetteville, Arkansas

Donna Walker, Vice President, Malvern, Arkansas

April Scurlock, Second Vice President, Mt. Ida, Arkansas

Joe Sexson, Secretary, Royal, Arkansas

Jimmy Sparks, Treasurer, Little Rock, Arkansas

Board Members

Ron Owens, Plainview, Arkansas

Gary Hall, Fort Smith, Arkansas

Ana Sheeler, Fayetteville, Arkansas

David Henry, Bentonville, Arkansas

Parliamentarian

Wally Thomas, Conway, Arkansas

We are pleased to welcome Carla McQuillan as our

national representative.

About the National Federation of the Blind of Arkansas

·         

The National Federation of the Blind of Arkansas (NFBAR), an affiliate of the National

Federation of the Blind (NFB), is an organization of blind people and their friends. We

believe in the full capacity of blind people; we have the power, influence, diversity and

determination to help transform our dreams into reality. Our members work together for a

brighter tomorrow by raising the expectations for blind people everywhere so that blind

persons can live the life they want.

Who We Are

The National Federation of the Blind of Arkansas is a 501c(3) nonprofit made up of blind

people of all ages, their families and friends. Our strong local chapters and well-trained

leaders help newly blind people adjust to vision loss, and promote the full participation

and integration of blind people in our communities. We bring our collective experiences

together to effect change at the state and national level.

What We Do

• Assist blind persons to acquire the skills of independence

• Help blind persons to develop confidence in themselves through our many service

activities

• Teach blind persons the skills of leadership through active participation in

conventions, chapter meetings, and civic activities

• Encourage blind seniors to continue their active and meaningful lifestyles

• Inform diabetics about their options for coping with vision loss

• Support parents and friends of blind children with information about the

capabilities of the blind

• Protect and promote the civil rights of blind persons through public education and

legislative action

• Advocate for policies that eliminate discrimination and guarantee equal access to

educational programs and high quality rehabilitation

• Educate the public through seminars, community activities and our publications

Hotel Information:

·         

Comfort Inn and Suites: 320 Nash St., Hot Springs, AR 71913.

Phone: (501) 881-4758 Standard room rate: $99.00+tax per night.

Studio & suites: $120.00+tax per night. Each hotel reservation comes

with a complimentary hot breakfast bar.

Registration at Convention:

The NFBAR registration desk is located in the hotel atrium. The desk

will be open  to register from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Thursday October 27,

7:30 – 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. on Friday October 28 and 7:30 –

9:00 a.m. on Saturday October 30. The registration fee is $65.00 per

person. Banquet tickets are $30.00 for each Adult and $15.00 for each

youth (Age 7-12). Tickets are free for children (Age 6 and under). All

convention participants must register to be eligible for convention

meals, door prizes, hotel convention rates, and to participate in all

activities. Name badges should be worn throughout the convention.

Both print and Braille agendas are available at the registration desk.

Event times and locations are listed in the agenda. All meetings are

open (except the Nominations Committee meeting).

Door Prizes:

You may be the lucky winner of a fabulous door prize. Names will

be drawn throughout the convention, general sessions and banquet. To

be eligible to win, you MUST be registered for convention and present

in the room when your name is drawn. (The only exception will be the

people scheduled to work at the registration desk). All donations of

door prizes should be turned in at the NFBAR Registration Table.

Change for Change (Formally known as Miles for Pennies):

Collect your coins to help the Arkansas a=liate reach our

transportation goal.  Transportation is a major hurdle across Arkansas

and we want to change that. We challenge all to collect coins and bring

them to NFBAR to help us work toward our goal and make this change

across Arkansas.

Exhibits: Hotel Atrium:

         Exhibitors will be available Friday and Saturday.

         Please visit our NFBAR Independence Market.

         NFB literature and information will be available.

        

NOTE: Please be courteous and turn off all cell phones during convention meetings

and the banquet

·         

2016 CONVENTION AGENDA: HALLOWEEN EDITION

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Thursday

 

6:00 – 7:00 p.m.: Registration ~ Hotel Atrium.

 

7:00 – 10:00 p.m.: Pool Party Social ~ Pool Area

 

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Friday

7:00 – 10:30 a.m.: Complimentary full hot breakfast bar ~ Hotel

Breakfast Area

 

7:30 – 9:00 a.m.: Exhibits ~ Hotel atrium

 

7:30 – 9:00 a.m.: Registration ~ Hotel atrium

 

8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Change for Change challenge buckets ~

National Park Meeting Room

 

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

  

GENERAL SESSION

~ National Park Meeting Room ~

 

9:00 – 9:05 a.m.: Call To Order (NFBAR President: Terry Sheeler)

 

9:05 – 9:10 a.m.: Convention Welcome

 

9:10 – 9:30 a.m.: Agenda Details, State Report, and Announcements

(NFBAR President: Terry Sheeler)

 

9:30 – 11:00 a.m.: Cooking Low & Slow Tips and Tricks

 

9:30 – 11:00 a.m.: Creation Corner

Beaded pumpkin, Beaded corn, Fall center pieces and Custom

Bracelets

 

◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆

 

·         

!!8!D/63 (No Formal Plans)

 

!!8!.,B0

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GENERAL SESSION

~0#3@~

 

!10

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3/2?3/29=/

/7C///021/

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3F5

.,0400/1

//0000

G00

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3H%30

03.>20

2H3300/0

F3/100002/

/00

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202010I

2201//

///I

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/02100//012

1/02231/000

03//0102

/0//34)DD02K

1/0212L

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·         

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/

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#420&

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#3@

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787@<!7$C12&

B0#3@

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78 @B0

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 8!!/2(342BN2

033>/3242L/

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/2L203 B0

#3@

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Saturday

 8!02003B0

63

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