The NFB of Tennessee would like to invite you to our 2024—2025 Live the Life You Want: Educate and Equip to Empower Seminar Series, a series of seminars for blind or low-vision adult that is geared to expand a positive philosophy of blindness and increase independence.
This seminar series is composed of ten courses held over Zoom. The format has changed this year. Uncontracted and contracted braille will be held twice per week for three months each. In addition, there will be one other seminar during each month, lasting three to four weeks. All sessions will be starting at 7:00 p.m. CST/8:00 pm EST (unless indicated by the instructor), with Uncontracted Braille and Understanding the Psychology of Blindness kicking the series off starting the week of October 1st. There will be a sign up for the first four seminars starting in September. A second sign-up will take place in December for the seminars that will run from January through May. Registration will close one week prior to the start of each of the two terms. Stay tuned to your e-mail for the announcement of each seminar registration.
The classes being offered are:
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Take Control and Gain Independence with Organization and Labeling: Starting in May
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Whether at home or office, little frustrations add up and the feelings of “I can’t” may seem overwhelming when you have experienced sight loss. In this 4-week course, we will go over methods, techniques, apps, and handy products to help create systems of organization and labeling in your home or office. By learning and applying tips and tricks that work for you, you will be working towards feeling more in control, confident, independent, and productive each day.
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A Group Therapy Experience: This group therapy class is designed specifically for blind and low-vision individuals to explore the psychological aspects of living with blindness. Through guided discussions, participants will delve into topics such as identity, self-esteem, emotional adjustment, and social interactions. The course will offer a supportive environment to share personal experiences, build coping strategies, and develop resilience. Led by James Brown, a blind person and graduate of Trevecca's master’s in counseling and psychology Program, this class aims to empower participants by fostering self-awareness, enhancing emotional well-being, and promoting a sense of community.
- Advancing Through Advocacy: Starting in March. Leveraging Networking and Social Capital for Success: This dynamic course is tailored for blind and low-vision individuals seeking to enhance their life opportunities, navigate college, and secure and maintain meaningful employment. Participants will learn how to effectively use advocacy, build strong networks, and leverage social capital to overcome barriers and achieve their goals. The course will cover strategies for self-advocacy, networking with professionals and peers, and accessing resources that can open doors to new opportunities. Through interactive sessions, guest speakers, and practical exercises, participants will gain the tools and confidence needed to thrive in academic and professional environments.
- Assistive Technology Options and Resources (beginner to intermediate): This three-week seminar will introduce you to assistive technology that can help you perform everyday tasks more efficiently. It will also provide you with resources to help you get it or learn how to use it.
- Cooking with Confidence (beginner to intermediate): Starting in January. Learn to make breakfast, lunch, and dinner! In the first session, participants will start the Day Out Right with quick and easy breakfast ideas. In the second session they will continue with Make ahead tasty and nutritious lunches. Finally, in the third session, they will learn to prepare healthy and delicious dinners. Participants will also learn safe intermediate knife skills and various culinary terms.
- Getting to know Your iPhone: This course will focus on making participants more proficient in the use of their iPhones by increasing their skills in iPhone operation including navigating to and between apps, between pages, etc.; app management including downloading apps, managing apps on the home screen, closing apps, and more; and text editing including moving around in text to make edits, copying and pasting, and more.
First week
- Familiarize yourself with the iPhone.
- The difference between Siri and Voice Over.
- Gestures and what they do.
Second week
- Exploring the phone and messaging app.
- Exploring the settings app.
- Exploring the app store.
- Downloading apps.
Third week
- The rotor.
- Editing text.
- Apps that are specifically designed for the blind.
Fourth week
- Podcasts.
- Accessible gaming.
- Social media apps.
- Artificial Intelligence
- Uncontracted Braille (grade 1):
Participants will learn to read braille letters, numbers, and basic punctuation marks. Participants will explore ways to use braille in daily activities and to make the workplace more accessible using braille. Participants will also learn survival braille, which is sufficient for reading signage such as bathroom signs, elevator signs, etc., label foods and other items, etc.
- Contracted Braille, Grade 2 starting in January:
Participants who have foundational skills in uncontracted braille will learn to read contracted braille. They will also learn about tools for writing in braille.
- Excelling with Excel (beginner to intermediate): starting in April.
This course is designed to instruct computer users who are blind in Excel skills including, but not limited to, using the ribbon, setting Windows and JAWS options, navigating Excel, workbook creation/management, workbook navigation, spreadsheet creation/formatting, using formulas and functions, and database creation, using a screen reader.
- Working With Word (beginner to intermediate): Starting in February.
This course is designed to instruct computer users who are blind in Microsoft Word skills including, but not limited to, using the ribbon, setting Windows and JAWS options, navigating and selecting text, saving and opening documents, basic document formatting, and proofreading using a screen reader.
We appreciate our instructors and want to be able to compensate them. Registration is $10.00 for each seminar. If you are not a VR client, you are responsible for paying the $10.00 registration fee. If you are a VR client, VR has agreed to cover the registration fee and other fees for the courses. If you are interested, please register on our site. VR clients should reach out to their VR counselor and let them know you are interested and that you have registered for the seminars.
Registrants must be at least 18 years of age. Also, registrants must be blind or low-vision, a blind professional, or a family member of an individual that is blind or low-vision.
For information or assistance with registration, e-mail to educatetoempower@nfbtn.org or call toll-free, 800-318-4201, or 629-236-2428.