This week on Helping Hand we’re welcoming back the National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii. HPR All Things Considered Host Dave Lawrence speaks with Virgil Stinnett, Vice President of the NFB of Hawaii and Katie Keime, Secretary and State Convention Coordinator. The National Federation of the Blind is a national organization, and the NFB of Hawaii are members of our community who are blind, speaking for themselves, advocating on behalf of the blind and those with vision challenges. They have an upcoming local state convention September 27 through 29 at the Elks Lodge on Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki.
In this interview, they detail many ways people can help the organization, including contacting them to volunteer to offer rides to people who are blind around the state, especially on islands other than Oahu, as well as reaching out to employers with a request to consider hiring blind employees and offering job-shadowing opportunities for people facing blindness to experience the workplace. They discuss an upcoming summer 2020 program to provide specialized training in Braille and other life skills for children growing up with blindness, and detail several ways people can offer support for this.
Helping Hand is a weekly feature airing on HPR1 stations statewide as part of All Things Considered, and then archived online here. Fridays Helping Hand connects with an organization, event or topic that offers assistance to people with disabilities and people and animals among the most vulnerable.
Contact the National Federation of the Blind of Hawaii:
Website: hawaii.nfb.org
Email: 808virgil@gmail.com
Phone: (808) 722-4243 (to reach Virgil)
Find all the previous Helping Hand segments.
State Convention Details:
It all kicks off Friday, September 27th at 3:00 p.m. with The National Association of Blind Merchants. That evening they welcome everyone to an opening reception at 6:00 p.m. with pupus and a cash bar.
The convention begins Saturday, September 28th with registration at 8:00 a.m., with the program beginning at 9:00 a.m. Saturday and ending on Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
Saturday evening, they will present a banquet with NFB National Representative, Norma Crosby, National board member and President of the NFB of Texas. The banquet Cash bar opens at 5:15 p.m. followed by the dinner banquet, awards, educational scholarships, and our keynote speaker. The evening events take place from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
All weekend long, they will be welcoming exhibitors, giving away door prizes, presenting speakers and offering many other activities.
Registration Information
People can learn more here. Folks can register by submitting the $50 pre-registration fee by mail or pay at the door. The registration fee includes your name in the hat to win door prizes; the Friday reception; the Saturday breakfast, lunch, and evening banquet; and Sunday, breakfast.
