National Federation of the Blind of New Hampshire

The National Federation of the Blind of New Hampshire (NFB NH) is a state affiliate of The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) and works to improve the lives of blind and vision loss people in New Hampshire. By providing information and education to its members and the public, the NFB NH is changing what it means to be blind. As a blind person, it is essential to possess a strong sense of confidence in one's own ability and self worth. The National Federation of the Blind of New Hampshire believes blindness is merely an inconvenience and, with proper skills and training, a blind individual can obtain success in his or her personal and professional life. The NFB NH offers many role models for blind children and newly blinded adults. The NFB NH makes it possible for blind individuals to reach their full potential by providing information, scholarships, seminars, support networks and by keeping legislators informed of issues pertaining to blindness.

We offer some of the following things:

*  chapter meetings throughout the state. Our members are diverse and include professionals, students, children, and people who have family members or friends who are blind. If you are seeking information about blindness or about what it means to be blind, join one of our chapters in New Hampshire and meet other blind people who want to let you know that it?s respectable to be blind. *  2 yearly Scholarships to blind students in New Hampshire who are entering or attending high school and college. For more information on our scholarships and how to apply, see the link below in our "How to become Involved" section. *  Free information and support networks to enable newly blinded persons adjust to blindness. Members of the NFB NH reach out to newly blinded persons to help them with problems of adjustment and orientation. *  Advocacy on behalf of blind persons who have met with discrimination in employment, housing, guide dog accessibility, etc. *  Information for legislators on issues pertaining to blindness. *  Newsline for the Blind, which is a computerized speech newspaper reading service via touch tone telephones for to blind individuals. This on-demand service, which is available through our national organization, enables blind readers throughout the state to gain access to information in newspapers in the same time frame and with the same flexibility as their sighted friends and neighbors.  Currently Newsline is not available in New Hampshire But it is available in other states.  To see more information on Newsline, go to http://www.nfb.org/newsline1.htm *  A support and information network for blind diabetics through our state and national Diabetes Action Network. The Voice of the Diabetic is a quarterly publication which is available for the asking. Our national network also has created a Resource List that contains information concerning products and equipment for blind people with diabetes. For more information on our national diabetic resources, see the links in the "NFB Links" section below. *  Informational and interactive annual state convention for blind job seekers, people with diabetes, and parents and educators of blind children. To know about our yearly convention, click on the link below in our "How to Become Involved" section. *  Books, videos and literature to schools and colleges, senior citizen centers and libraries concerning blindness and the capabilities of blind persons.

How to Contact the NFB NH * Call The NFBNH Outreach Phone (603) 524-1945 * Write to NFB NH, PO Box 1696, Laconia NH 03247-1696 * E-Mail nfbnh@localnet.com

Click on any link below to find ways to become involved in NFB NH * NFB NH Electronic Listserv *  NFBNH Calebar of Events *  State Officers, Board Members, Chapters *  Member-At-Large Membership Form (This is a Microsoft Word Document) *  NFBNH Theresa Herron Memorial Scholarship (This is a Microsoft Word Document) *  NFBNH Floyd Callward Memorial Scholarship (This is a Microsoft Word Document) *  NFBNH 2004 State Convention Flyer (This a Microsoft Word Document) *  NFBNH Convention Registration Form (This is a Micrsoft Word Document) *  Support our convention by placing an ad in 2004 Convention Program Ad Book (This is a Microsoft Word Document) *  October 15 is White Cane Safety Day (This is a Microsoft Word Document) *  Frequently Asked Questions about NH Businesses and Guide Dogs (This is a Microsoft Word Document) *  New Hampshire Blind Resources

Important NFB links to click and read more about what the NFB offers. NFB National Web Site NFB Braille Monitor Magazine Online NFB Diabetics Magazine Online NFB Newsline (Reading Newspapers by Phone) NFB Publications & Literature NFB Various Email Listservs Other NFB State Affiliate Web sites

We're Changing What It Means To Be Blind

Blindness does not discriminate. Any individual can become blind in childhood or in later life. You may have a family member, an employee, student, client, or educator who is blind. You may come in contact with blindness or a blind individual on a daily basis or simply in passing. Regardless of the way your contact with blindness occurs, it is in the best interest of every individual to understand it and issues concerning blindness. The National Federation of the Blind of NH (NFB NH) is the state's largest and oldest organization of the blind. It provides self-help programs for blind people of all ages and activities. As blind people, we know the loss of eyesight is not the major problem of blindness. The real problem is the misunderstandings that surround blindness. These misconceptions can lead to well-meaning but harmful actions by the sighted toward the blind. Such actions can result in low self-esteem among blind people. The NFB overcomes this problem through education of the sighted to the reality of blindness and through mutual help among blind people. Such activities make blind people fully-participating members of society. People who are blind earn their living, raise families, and take full responsibility for their own lives. The NFB NH began in late 1950's. It is a membership organization open to everyone who believes in the capability of blind people to help themselves become full participants in the community. Today, the NFB numbers over 50,000 blind people. It has organizations in every state, and local chapters in almost every sizable community. During these many years we have made strong progress toward equality. We have improved employment opportunities and education for blind persons in the state of New Hampshire and in the nation. Our programs evolve as the needs of blind people change. We work to change public attitudes that prevented the blind from being accepted as normal members of the community. Public education and legislation corrected those conditions, and today blind people can secure housing. Most of our members are blind, and our knowledge of blindness comes from our personal lives and our collective experience. The membership of NFB NH sets its programs and policies. Membership is open to blind or sighted persons interested in our mission. To be sure that these programs and policies reflect a true understanding of blindness, the majority of the members must be blind. The members vote on decisions at open meetings. These meetings occur at regular intervals: monthly in local chapters, semiannually at a state convention, and annually at a national convention. The contributions of individuals, corporate donations, foundation grants, and fund raising by members finance all of our programs. Contributions to NFB NH are tax-deductible.