Terri Wilcox is Secretary for the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan. A goal of this 50 state organization is to increase literacy among the blind, and that means Braille. Braille is literacy for the blind just as reading print constitutes literacy for sighted people. Yet only ten percent of blind children are currently being taught Braille. Join Terri at the Downtown Library on Sat., Jan. 14, 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm to learn more about this initiative and the many other ways she is working to level the playing field for everyone in Michigan.

This list of Greatest Inventions for Physically Impaired people came to our attention from Best Online Colleges.com. Is there anything you would add or remove? With technology changing so quickly, it would be great to elicit input from you, our patrons! Their website is worth a gander if you are looking for on-line higher education programs, too.

While Mary Stack was born with a rare medical condition called pseudohypoparathyroidism, which limits her mobility, she has competed in a range of adaptive sports since the age of sixteen. As a measure of how far her ability and determination have taken her, Mary recently returned from the ParaPan American Games in Mexico with a bronze medal for lifting 280 pounds! This gave her the first women’s Paralympic powerlifting medal ever for US women at these games. Mary works as a Sports Coordinator at Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living and is training for the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. She will talk about this and other aspects of her life at the Malletts Creek Branch on Saturday, Dec. 10, 3-4:30 pm.

The National Center for Physical Activity and Disability (NCPAD) offers a free personalized, online physical activity and nutrition program for people of all abilities. NCPAD’s “14 Weeks to a Healthier You” offers individualized exercise and nutrition recommendations based on your preferences and abilities, plus online or telephone support. It’s like having your own personal trainer at home! The NCPAD motto is “Exercise is for Every body." They believe that everyone can benefit from a personalized exercise routine.

Many people who have a chronic health condition or disability stop exercising after they experience a big change in their movement abilities. A panel of five exercise specialists from Chelsea, Ann Arbor and Saline will be at the Traverwood Branch on Thursday, Oct. 27, 7-8:30 pm to talk about a much healthier approach for anyone who has had this experience. They will show how fortunate we are in Washtenaw County to have so many resources that integrate medical care with fitness programming. In addition, Chelsea is partnering with Stockbridge and Manchester to help with sustainable access in rural areas. Please come ready to learn and ask questions. This event is part of UM Investing in Ability Week.

Join the Living with Low Vision group each month at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center. Each meeting features a guest speaker or an activity for individuals with low vision. The group meets on the second Wednesday of each month from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. The October 12th meeting will feature Dan Furton from the Michigan Commission for the Blind. If you have questions, contact Gale Oren at (734) 763-9468 or goren@umich.edu.

Washtenaw Library for the Blind and Physically Disabled @ AADL welcomes Gerald Rickert, who has been dealing with blindness for 30 years (since the age of 17) to discuss the interesting turns his life has taken and his many accomplishments. The talk on Tues., Oct. 4 will cover his education, work experiences, owning a business, travel, sports and helping visually impaired people use adaptive technology. He practices his hard won skills with veterans through his job at the Ann Arbor VA Hospital, and is working to start a local bowling league especially for people who are blind.

Gerald Rickert | Malletts Creek Branch | Tues., October 4 | 7-8:30 pm

A new 3-person team bowling league made up of totally blind, partially blind and fully sighted bowlers will begin play at 7:00 pm every other Thursday evening beginning Sept. 8 at Colonial Lanes in Ann Arbor. The cost is $10 per week plus a one-time sanction fee of $15-$25. The league will follow all standard rules of league bowling such as alternating lanes, using the foul lights, and using a 90% handicap. Bowlers will have the opportunity to participate in state, regional, and national tournaments if he/she wants to.

A blind bowler uses a guide rail that is aligned on the first board outside the gutter on the approach so it doesn’t interfere with the bowlers.
• The rail is 12 feet long and is placed on the left side of the approach if the bowler is right handed, and placed on the right side of the approach if the bowler is left handed.
• The bowler holds the rail with one hand and the bowling ball with the other hand. The bowler walks on the approach toward the pins like a person does with normal vision.
• This rail is not like the ramp that persons in wheelchairs use. It is constructed with PVC pipe tubing that is round and is held in place by bowling balls setting on the feet of the rail.

A sighted bowler will spot pins for the blind bowler by telling them what pins are still standing, if any, after rolling the first ball. In addition, the fully sighted bowler will monitor the rail to maintain straightness so it doesn’t become out of alignment causing the bowler to roll the ball into the gutter.

You don’t need to have your own team, but if you have 3 people who want to bowl together, that would be even better. Please contact Gerald Rickert, at 734-845-3064 or Email Gerickert@gmail.com for more details on how to get involved.

Wild Swan Theater has been delighting young audiences by staging original versions of classic myths and tales for 31 years! A big reason it is so loved, besides their awesome energy and talent, is because they integrate American Sign Language, audio descriptions and touch tours as key components of everything they present. AADL invites everyone, grade 4 and up, to experience how this is done on Thursday, June 2, 7-8:30 pm at the Downtown Library. Artistic Directors Hilary Cohen and Sandy Ryder will give an interactive workshop on how they weave accessibility into all their productions to create inclusive, live theater at its best.