Author: BPI Admin

BPI Announces 1st Convention scholarship Winner

It is with great pleasure that the Blind LGBT Pride International scholarship committee announces the winner of the first ever BPI convention scholarship!

 

After reviewing all applications, and conducting subsequent phone interviews, we are excited to announce that Tiffany Taylor of Farmington Hills Michigan is the recipient of this first ever award!

 

Tiffany currently serves as Legislative and Advocacy Co—Chair. She also volunteers as a proofreader, speaker and fundraiser for Seedlings Braille Books. She has also served as President of the Disabilities Awareness Group on the Campus of Adrian College. Tiffany holds a Bachellor’s degree in Theater. In the past, she has worked with blind and visually impaired youth in various capacities. It is Tiffany’s hope to empower and educate both blind and LGBT individuals and help bring them to their fullest potential. In doing so, she hopes to bring down stereotypes facing both Blind and LGBT individuals.

 

As a recipient of this award, Tiffany will receive round trip airfare to and from Las Vegas, lodging at the Riviera Hotel and Casino, BPI’s convention package, which includes tickets to all BPI sponsored activities, workshops, and a ticket to the ACB banquet. The scholarship committee extends their congratulations and best wishes to Tiffany in her future endeavors.

The committee thanks those who applied and encourages those applicants to apply next year.

 

With Pride,

 

2014 Scholarship Committee

 

Andrea Damitio, Chair

Leah Gardner

Geno Stone

Gabriel Lopez

Guillermo Robles, President

Blind Pride Walks in Las Vegas…Say What?!

BPI is walking in Las Vegas to raise money for the American Council of the Blind (ACB) and BPI!  Yes, we’re taking advantage of this year’s innovation to the ACB Walk fundraising, and donating half of our donations to Blind LGBT Pride International!  Both of these organizations are doing great work, and could very well use more funds to do even more great work!

 

Recently, at the national level, we’ve finally gotten the Treasury to make the next generation of paper currency tactilely identifiable for us, we’ve made some kind of noise mandatory so we all can hear a “quiet car” coming, and we’ve got the government working on medication labels that will allow us to know what and when a prescription drug should be taken.  Things we are still working on:  getting Medicare to pay for some of the expensive equipment we need to be able to live independently such as “reading machines”, making sure multi disabled kids are getting the skills needed to be educated and prepared for living and working independently to the extent possible, and working to reduce the 70 percent unemployment rate among blind and visually impaired people.  Believe it or not, there’s still a lot to do.

 

Here’s how you can participate:

1.  Sign up with the Blind Pride team, walk in Las Vegas or “virtually” anywhere on July 13, and raise money from your friends and family.  (Go to acb.org and follow the link to the Brenda Dillon Memorial Walk to register under the Blind Pride team.

or

2.  Donate to ACB and BPI by credit card online by going to https://walk.acb.org/donation#main-content, or by sending a check payable to ACB to :

American Council of the Blind

6300 Shingle Creek Parkway, Suite 195

Brooklyn Center, MN 55430

(please be sure to indicate that the check is for the Walk, and that President Guillermo Robles is the solicitor on the Blind Pride team)

 

For further questions, please visit our contact page at http://blindlgbtpride.org/contact and choose to write the President.

2014 BPI Convention schedule

Need info regarding this year’s BPI convention schedule?  The website has lots of information you will need for the week – hotel, transportation and schedule info.  Visit http://blindlgbtpride.org /convention for details.

 

Don’t forget to share that page with your social media networks by clicking the share buttons at the bottom of the page!

BPI 2014 Elections

It’s time for Blind LGBT Pride International elections!

 

The open seats this year are:  president, treasurer, board member-at-large 3 and the 9th board seat created at 2013 convention.  You may nominate yourself or someone else for one of these positions.  All info is due by May 15, 2014 by 5:00 P.M. EDT in order to be included on the ballot.

 

Send your completed nomination forms and/or questions to elections@blind-lgbt-pride.org.

 

*note:  You must be a member in good standing before submitting your forms.

Department of Justice files Statement of Interest in title III lawsuit involving point-of-sale devices

The Justice Department has filed a Statement of Interest in private litigation pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, David New v. Lucky Brand Jeans.  In that case, plaintiff has alleged an ADA violation based on Lucky Brand Jeans’ use of touch-screen point-of-sale devices that do not allow individuals who are blind to independently enter their private personal identification number when making an in-store purchase using a debit card.  Among other things, the Department’s Statement of Interest addresses the proper framework for evaluating the title III ADA claim at issue in this case.

To find out more about the ADA or statement of interest, call the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD), or access its ADA.gov website.

2014 BPI Convention Scholarship

2014 BPI Convention Scholarship

Application Process, Requirements, & Criteria

 

Blind LGBT Pride International, BPI is thrilled and delighted to announce that we will be offering the first ever Scholarship, to attend the annual ACB national Conference & Convention,

which will be held in Las Vegas Nevada this year!

 

Our 2014 recipient will receive round trip airfare to Las Vegas, lodging, our BPI Convention Package, which includes tickets to all BPI sponsored activities, workshops, and a ticket to the ACB Banquet. 

 

APPLICATION PROCESS –

 

Note: submissions MUST be received by email at scholarships@blind-lgbt-pride.org,

By May 7, 2014, NO LATER than11:59 PM EDT.  The recipient will be named on May 21.

 

Please submit the following information on a cover sheet:

– Name

– Address

– City, State/Province, Country, Zip

– Phone number you are best reached at

– Email Address

            – Length of time you have been a member of BPI?

            – Include a statement indicating that you are both the following by April 7, 2014:

– at least 18 years of age, a BPI member in good standing, and if chosen, you agree to attend all events, and meet all conditions as they have been expressed and posted under the requirements section of the 2014 BPI Scholarship Information located  on the official BPI web site at www.blind-lgbt-pride.org..

 

REQUIREMENTS

– Must be over 18 years of age.

– Must be a BPI member in good standing, as of April 6, 2014.

 

The 2014 BPI Scholarship Recipient will be responsible to –

– Submit a cover sheet as outlined above.

– Submit a 1 page essay as outlined below.

– Write an article for our post-convention “Inside Out” Newsletter, detailing your experience at the ACB convention, and attendance at the BPI sponsored activities, & workshops.

 

Attend the following:

– all BPI sponsored activities & workshops, including the Annual Board Meeting & Caucus,

– all ACB General Sessions, and

– the ACB Farewell Banquet.

 

 

Essay Details –

Please submit a 500 word SA which includes your thoughts on the following points:

– What experience would you be able to bring to BPI, as a volunteer, and potentially in a future Leadership role?

– How and why would coming to the ACB convention and participating in BPI be of help to you personally?

– What do you hope to gain and learn from the overall experience?

– How do you see yourself using the knowledge that you will gain from this experience to “Pay It Forward” to BPI, and to your fellow members?

 

 

  • – BPI is not responsible for any room charges and incidentals that may be incurred during the recipient’s stay.
  • * – BPI is not responsible for any expenses not specifically outlined in this award package, including, but not limited to, lost luggage, medical expenses, and any expenses related to any unforeseen emergency, or anything related to any agreement, or situation, which the recipient may incur, or enter into, on their own accord.