(Blind Insight February 2012 Issue)

Editor’s note: Sarai is a senior in High School, and has had the chance to intern with the NFB of Texas office. She was the recipient of the third annual NFB Austin Glen and Norma Crosby Washington DC Student scholarship. This scholarship assisted Sarai in joining 500 other Federationist on Capitol Hill to legislate for the rights of blind Americans. Here is the essay that secured the award:

Blind people have the ability to accomplish anything by using skills gained through either training or experience. However, three issues affect their independence: the use of quiet cars on streets, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and voting technology.

Automobile companies have developed cars that are environmentally friendly, but they are very quiet. This presents a problem for blind and sighted pedestrians. Blind people use the sound of traffic to orient themselves when crossing streets. Quiet cars present a danger because blind people don’t know when they’re present. While most people can see them, blind people need to be able to hear them. People should not be afraid to cross a street simply because a quiet car may be around.

Another challenge to the independence of blind people is Section 14C of the Fair Labor Standards Act, which declares that people with disabilities can be paid below minimum wage. People can’t control that they have a disability, yet this law seems to punish them for it. If a person with a disability works as hard as others, then he or she should be paid equally. The law is unfair and should be amended — equal pay for equal work. .

A third issue that affects blind people is voting technology. Some blind people cannot vote on their own and need assistance with the machines. Blind people have the right to vote anonymously and can’t do that if they have to tell someone to enter their choice. There is a risk of that person purposely or accidentally selecting the wrong candidate, so all voting machines should be accessible to the blind.

Congress plays an important role in passing laws that benefit all Americans, including the blind. Legislation that ensures safe streets, fair wages, and secure voting would increase the independence of blind people to fully participate in society.

With the blessing of our chapter members I was honored to be re-elected to serve as your Chapter President in January 2011. I will tell you from the bottom of my heart that it has been quite the experience. I have learned, listened, and grown to love the beautiful thing that we become when we gather each month. We should be proud of our accomplishments, acknowledge our needs for improvement, and keep marching together toward future successes.

In 2011, this chapter participated in a number of good deeds promoting the good news of blindness to the Austin area. We began by electing a diverse, intelligent, capable, respectable, and hard working board of directors. I thank my colleagues on the board for their help this year. These leaders in the Austin blind movement have represented us as professionals and experts in blindness. I thank Pamela, Janine, Heather, Thomas, Mike, and Angela. Because of you, this chapter continues to succeed. Because of you, I will continue to succeed as a leader in this movement.

We held true to our focus on Youth Initiatives by supporting a High School senior; Krista Akridge of the Texas School for the Blind, to experience the Blind Driver Challenge and the National Association of Blind Student Washington Seminar. With the NFB of Austin financial assistance and mentorship, Krista experienced first-hand the empowering drive, innovation, and voice of the Federation. The investment the NFB of Austin made on Ms. Akridge proved to be worth the expense. This young woman then attended her first National convention in Orlando, and is considering an NFB training center for her rehabilitation. Continuing the spirit of Youth Programming the NFB of Austin hosted its first ever BELL Camp for Blind Children. Together we celebrated the independence of blind people through fun activities in Braille, blindness lessons, and adjustment. Eight students had fun with the NFB of Austin mentors at BELL 2011. We continued to give back to the blind community by sponsoring a Diabetic Awareness March, wrapping gifts for Barns and Noble patrons each holiday season-showing the world what blind people can do, reading Braille to sighted students at the Campfire After School Program, sponsoring and participating in Austin’s White Cane Day celebration, enlightening the Daily Local Newspaper and interested community of the independence and legislative initiatives of the blind, and hosting social gatherings outside our business meetings at local restaurants and member’s homes.

We have expanded our presence on the web thanks to our members and our awesome web master. Thomas Stivers a long time friend of mine has found his nitch in our band. Please join us to celebrate our accomplishments, plans, and federationism at: www.nfbaustin.org. This site makes the Austin blind movement accessible and informative to all. Because of our presence on the web I have received many calls, we gained new members, and our current membership is enjoying this new innovative outlet in furthering our communication with each other and the World Wide Web. Our web page includes: information about blindness relative to Austinites and across the country. The web site continues to promote the calendar of events, meeting podcast, and a message board blogging feature for members. This year we added Blind Insight: our monthly publication written by our members that emphasize the good news of the blind. In addition, we now have philosophy, announcements, Braille awareness, cool pictures, video footage, and much more on our awesome web site. Thomas continues to help us with the call out service that takes a 30-second message, and will call out to all the members on our list.

The Chapter benefited from over 3000 dollars of fund raising efforts. These were represented by a few dances with Dinner’s in the Dark Blind Café events, Holiday Auction, Bake Sales, convention hospitality massages, convention King Size Candy Sale, BELL Camp Registration Fees, and donations. Jane Lansaw and Heather Stivers and their tireless effort organizing the Barns and Noble gift wrapping opportunity also should be recognized for contributing to our finances.

The NFB of Austin has accomplished the networking aspect to our community involvement. We have invited the community to meet the blind on many occasions this year. Our chapter has reached out to community partners such as: The Camp Fire Project-after school program for elementary children, Austin Statesmen-the local newspaper, a summer music camp for elementary aged children, AISD and UT Music Graduate Student Teachers for our BELL Program PE, music, and Art classes, and a private inventor interested in developing blind technology. NFB Austin will continue to broaden our horizons by networking, learning, and shaking hands with community partners.

Finally, we have grown in leadership and membership. The members list of the NFB of Austin has surpassed 100 contacts. We welcome Marcy Gonzalez who has helped our Board of Directors in local projects like: state convention logistics, establishing a presence for a Diabetic Action Network for NFB of Texas, assisting in BELL Camp 2011, and the Dinner in the Dark. We are blessed to have found hard workers such as John Franks, Travis Weed, Taryn Schriewer, Max Nguyen, and Oumar Diallo who have all stepped up this year to help with our chapter projects, events, and fundraisers.

There are a number of areas of improvement in which I hope we work on. First, our voice for the Austin blind needs to raise in volume. As President I have come in contact with agencies of the blind, blind persons themselves, and sighted people that have miss-information about what the NFB really is about. This only means that we aren’t educating the public enough about who we are, where we came from, and where we are going. This begins and ends with a sound philosophy, that in my opinion this chapter can work on establishing. Let’s find our voice, tune it up, and scream the good words, works, and wisdom regarding blindness.

Secondly, because our membership has grown, the chapter needs to find places for everyone. The Austin Chapter membership participation outside of showing up to a meeting has progressed some, but still can use some tuning up. Perhaps this is the fault of your board of directors, it could also be that our membership is unaware of the work that is needed, in fact, I believe it’s a little of both. This needs to change. This is a member’s movement, and we cannot promote our cause without the contributions, voices, strengths, and talents of everyone. Let’s all find a job in this chapter and fit in to this affiliate. Find a job that you enjoy, and take satisfaction from. If you don’t know what to do, ask someone who might have an idea, be open to that idea and give it your best shot.

Lastly, this chapter can work on follow through with the responsibilities it has committed too. The Board of Directors had many dreams our first meeting back in February. I know that we tried many new things, and we learned from each project. I feel with a re-evaluation of our unified philosophy, group participation, and individual commitments we can change what it means to be blind in Austin. I thank you for the opportunity to lead this chapter, and I hope I have represented you well. To next year federationists.

The popular holiday story of the Christmas Carol depicts a man named Scrooge, who despises the holiday season, cheer, giving nature, being Mary and such. Scrooge receives some late night ghostly visitors who show him how his past, present, and future can be heavily affected if one doesn’t take part in happiness, meaningful relationships, and community involvement.  In comparison to my own 30-years of personal experience with blindness this concept rings true as well.  Take note on the following examples of how my Blindness past, Present, and Future have played a significant role in where I am today.

My Blindness past consisted of: cancer in the retinas at 2, loss of total vision at 3, and hurray Braille and canes at 4! In elementary school I learned abacus in the 80’s, Braille N Speaks, Lite’s, Key-Note Goals, Perkins Braille and Print gadgets, and my favorite the clunky Apple2 E, that even had some blind kid video games on it.  This game called Space Invaders was quite annoying for an adult, but I was the kid at the time, so I’m sure I began at a young age providing headaches for my Teacher of the Visually Handicapped as it was referred to then.  I had it pretty good in Elementary school; I was literate, social, the only blind kid in a small town, so a bit of a celebrity, and pretty full of myself.  Blessed with a supportive family, good teachers, and a network of school friends, I at times would pretty much forget that I was blind. Images of my blindness past are: rollerblading with friends, playing football in the back yard with the neighborhood boys, hunting with my dad, first kiss at 12, and doing well in all my classes through the sixth grade.  Middle school brought a new direction in my blindness path.

I was 13, first week at Kenith White Junior High, when my blindness was first ever presented to me which caused me to be embarrassed.  I learned from a friend of mine, that on my street, there were two signs that read: “caution blind child area.”  A young guy interested in remaining cool, and not being singled out as the blind person, I had my friend show me these signs, and without his help took them down, and put them in the family garage.  I found out later that the signs were some local politician’s idea that had approached my loving parents who were just “caring about their energetic and daring blind son’s safety.”  This was an argument that my parents decided to agree to disagree with me, all though the signs stayed down.  “Caution blind child area,” meant people needed to act differently because of me, and I was embarrassed about that.  The dramatic social change in adolescence was in full gear.  I no longer could realistically compete in tackle football. In fact I played the last 3 games when the whole B team failed and the Kenith White Junior High Hawks didn’t even have enough kids to field a team.  Math and Science were no longer solvable with an abacus, I lost my Teacher of the Blind to retirement, and I was struggling with a Teacher’s Aid who was hired to learn Braille who originally wanted to work with the deaf.  Fortunately, I still had some friends, although, my friends began heading down the wrong paths also.

I recall talking one of my classmates who graded my Math homework, in to giving me consistent 85s, whether I deserved them or not.  We got caught, and spent a few days in the in school suspension room together, and that was the last time I ever talked with Rigo.  Who wants to be friends with the blind cheater?  I also had this neat idea that walking without a cane hid my blindness, and therefore people wouldn’t realize I was the only blind person in the room.  That worked up to the point, when at a choir concert I walked off the back risers, twisted an ankle, had some snickers from my peers, and played sick for the next few days.  I would try everything and anything to be cool: which got me in to trouble with my mobility as a blind person, education, and parents.  Walking with the wrong crowd, without a cane, neglecting my studies and holding low expectations for myself and meeting others low expectations of me.  As President of the 8^th grade class, we were responsible for decorating the cafeteria for the Valentine’s dance, and I recall being told by the Student council Sponsor that I was the supervisor, and that I didn’t have to help.  Popular enough to be president, but blind enough to do nothing.  Surely I could have hung balloons, streamers, colored in or cut out hearts.  No one had ever seen a blind person do those types of things, and so the expectations were that I couldn’t.  I accepted this trend of doing nothing, not advocating for myself, getting passed over in education, and equal participation in activities with my peers.  I began to feel sorry for myself. 

I owe all of my success to my blindness present situation.  An awesome mom, who is a teacher herself, who cared, supported, and invested in my education with her heart and love.  She wanted me to be a participant and so talked me in to joining the Future Farmers of America, where I learned to care for a 200 pound lamb, to bulk up for harvesting.  I learned a lot from this experience: responsibility feeding and exercising an animal twice a day, I was able to work with my hands, be outside, and make a new network of friends.  My family also supported my education as a blind teenager, by against my will, recommending that I take Algebra and Geometry over again at the School for the Blind.  Being uprooted and transplanted in to a world of blindness was quite overwhelming at first.  Going from being the only blind person to now having to make friends with blind class and even roommates was quite the experience.  The school for the blind proved to be the answer to many of my educational concerns.  Mainly, because I was able to be guided by a counselor toward applying for scholarships for college, in which I was fortunate to be granted by the NFB of Texas.

If one wins a scholarship from the NFB, it is required that you attend their convention to accept it.  I remember having to miss my School for the Blind prom, to attend a convention in Temple Texas.  Little did I know that I would find the best dance partner of all time at this event?  I got to meet so many successful blind people.  Blind people with real jobs, blind parents, businessmen, pretty girls who danced circles around me with their canes, and and over all presence of confidence, independence, and a positive blind culture.  I found out that many of the cool people I had the pleasure of meeting that weekend all had this boot camp blindness training in nearby Louisiana under this Drill Sergeant named Joanne Wilson.    The very first adult meaningful decision I ever made upon completing High School, was to challenge myself in blindness at this center.  For the first time I had to: cross the interstate, walk from one town to the next, get $100 of groceries home without any car transportation, take a college class, read amd write faster Braille, make a meal for 40 people, build a checker board with my two hands, do something productive with a computer, and have weekly conversations about my opinions, frustrations, and beliefs about blindness with the Sergeant.  You see I may have missed the prom, but I gained a life dance partner with the NFB.  My heavenly ghosts of Blindness Present, or blind guardian angels; Joanne Wilson and her Queen’s Guard.  I recall while in training having to make a pizza for a small group who I wasn’t particularly fond of, and having to clean up someone else’s mess because center instructor rosy Caranza thought it would be a good training opportunity for me.  I promise you Rosy, I now can make a mean pizza from scratch, entertain the four walls around me, and own a pair of these cool shoe looking things that are actual mops to clean and cook at the same time.  Rosy networked me with Jason Ewell who a few years after our training, we traveled the country together building chapters of the NFb, uniting our talents to share the awesome opportunities of the federation.  Because of the NFB, I now had positive blind role models, colleagues, and friends. 

Its meaningful relationships such as the ones I have with the people I just mentioned that assisted me through undergrad and graduate college, and now as a young professional.  Jason use to walk me through college math problems over the phone, rosy always had a listening ear to my daily issues, and Joanne always kept the high expectation that she demands that we succeed.  We cannot buy faith and hope such as that, and for that I am thankful.  For that, I look forward to my Blindness future.  I look forward to continuing to be a loving husband to my lovely wife.  I look forward to advancing my career utilizing my degrees and relative experiences.  I look forward to working with Blind Youth in Texas and across the country with the NFb.  I look forward to being the best friend I can be to others.  I look forward to spending more time with all of you, and getting to know your accomplishments.

APPETIZERS

• Nachos
  
  
  
  • Beans, cheese, tomatoes & jalapenos $5.99
  
  
  • Guacamole & ground beef $7.99
  
  
  • Beef or chicken fajitas $8.99
  
  
  • Veggie Black Beans, white cheese, guacamole & Pico $6.99
  
  


• Quesadillas
  
  
  
  • Sautéed onions, bell peppers, tomatoes & white cheese, served with guacamole, sour cream & Pico de Gallo $5.99
  
  
  • Mushrooms & spinach $7.99
  
  
  • Beef or chicken fajita $8.99
  
  


• Botana
  sampling of nachos top with sour cream & jalapenos, Quesadillas & chicken Flaquitas, served with queso & guacamole $8.99


• Chile Con Queso
  Made With A Fine Blend of Cheeses, Fresh Jalapeno Peppers, Tomatoes And Onion $5.50


• Phillip’s Special
  Chile con Queso, taco meat, guacamole, jalapenos and onions $6.99


• Queso Fresco
  Sautéed tomatoes, onions, fresh jalapeno peppers & white cheese, served with corn tortillas $6.99

  Add chicken or chorizo $7.99

• Hot Latin Kisses
  (6) Jalapenos stuffed with shrimp, cheese, then bacon wrapped & grilled, served with a cilantro sour cream sauce $8.50
• Stuffed Jalapenos
  (6) Stuffed with cream cheese, then breaded and lightly fried $6.50
• Trailer Park Tacos
  (4) Mini brisket tacos on corn tortilla served with jack cheese, pickled red onions & Pico $6.99
• Pastor Nachos
  (8) Tostadas topped with refried beans, pastor pork & cheese, served with guacamole, sour cream & jalapenos on the side $7.99

SOUPS & SALADS

• Sopa de Pollo
  A delicious blend of fresh vegetables, chicken and spices, served with white cheese, Pico, Spanish rice and corn tortillas Small $4.99 Large $5.99
• Tortillas Soup
  A delicious chicken soup topped with tortillas strips, white cheese and avocado, served with Spanish rice, fresh lime & cilantro Small $4.99 Large $5.99
• Guacamole Salad
  Guacamole, lettuce, tomatoes, & cheese $6.99
• Dinner Salad
  Lettuce, tomatoes & cheese, cilantro vinaigrette or ranch dressing $3.99
• Taco Salad
  Ground beef or chicken, served in a crispy flour shell with lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole & cheese, topped with sour cream $7.50

  With fajita beef or chicken $8.99

• Chalupa Dinner
  Two chalupas with beans, cheese, lettuce, guacamole & tomatoes $6.99
  • Ground beef or Chicken $7.75
  • With fajita beef or chicken $8.99

ENCHILADA DINNERS

Dinners are served with Tex-Mex Beans and Spanish rice

• Enchilada Queso
  Cheese enchiladas, topped with chili con carne & Chile con queso (2) $7.99 (3) $8.99
• Beef Enchiladas
  Beef enchiladas, topped with chili con carne & cheese (2) $7.99 (3) $8.99
• Beef Fajita Enchiladas
  Beef fajita enchiladas topped with chili con carne, cheese, sour cream, Pico de Gallo, and guacamole, served with rice & charra beans (2) $8.50 (3) $9.99
• Adobo Enchiladas
  Chicken or cheese enchiladas with salsa ranchera & cheese (2) $7.99 (3) $8.99
• Enchiladas Ranchera
  Chicken or cheese enchiladas, with salsa ranchera & cheese (2) $7.99 (3) $8.99
• Verde Enchiladas
  Chicken or Cheese enchiladas topped with spicy green tomatillo sauce, white cheese and sour cream (2) $7.99 (3) 8.99
• Sour Cream Enchiladas
  Chicken or cheese enchiladas topped with a garlic sour cream sauce and white cheese (2) $7.99 (3) $8.99
• Smoked Barbecue Chicken Enchiladas
  Enchiladas stuffed with smoked barbecue chicken topped with sautéed onions and white cheese (2) $7.99 (3) $8.99
• Shrimp Enchiladas
  Cheese enchiladas topped with shrimp, garlic sour cream sauce and cheese (2) $8.50 (3) $9.99

MEXICAN DINNERS

• Mercado Plate
  Chile con Queso, one crispy taco, guacamole salad, and two beef enchiladas, served with beans and Spanish rice $9.99
• El Plato Bandera
  Three Enchiladas stuffed with chicken or cheese, topped with a garlic sour cream sauce, spicy green tomatillo sauce, salsa ranchera and cheese. Served with Chile con queso, guacamole salad, beans, and Spanish rice $9.99
• Super Platillo
  One beef, chicken or cheese Chile relleno, one taco, one cheese enchilada, one chalupa, Spanish rice and beans $10.99
• Flaco Plate
  Chile Con Queso, One crispy beef taco, guacamole salad, served with beans and Spanish
  rice $8.75
• Combo Plate
  One crispy taco, guacamole salad and one beef or cheese enchilada; served with beans and Spanish rice $8.75
• The “CJ” Plate
  One brisket taco, Chile con que3so and one beef or cheese enchilada; served with charra beans and Spanish rice $8.99
• Fajita Dinner
  Marinated beef or chicken grilled to perfection; served sizzling with grilled onions, sour cream, Pico de Gallo, guacamole, cheese, rice, charra beans and flour tortillas $10.99 for one $20.99 for two
• Mixed Grill
  Beef, chicken, shrimp alambre and spicy sausage grilled to perfection; served with grilled onions, sour cream, Pico, guacamole, cheese, rice, charra beans & flour tortillas $14.99

SPECIALITY DINNERS

• Chimichanga
  A large flour tortilla stuffed chicken or beef fajita, Pico de Gallo and cheese, lightly fried, topped with salsa ranchera, sour cream, lettuce and tomatoes; served with guacamole, beans and Spanish rice $9.99
• Burrito
  Large flour tortilla stuffed with ground beef and beans topped with chili con carne and cheese; served with rice, lettuce and tomatoes $8.99
• Chicken Burrito
  Large flour tortilla stuffed with shredded chicken, poblano peppers, tomatoes, onions, rice & jack cheese. topped with garlic sour cream sauce, served with black beans, lettuce and tomatoes $8.99
• Chicken Flautas
  Seasoned chicken rolled In corn tortillas, fried crispy, served with sour cream, Pico de Gallo, guacamole, beans And Spanish rice $8.50
• Carne Guisada Dinner
  Beef tips cooked in a rich Spanish gravy and served with a guacamole salad, beans, Spanish rice and flour tortillas $ 8.99
• Chicken Chipotle
  Grilled chicken breast topped with onions, peppers, chipotle sauce & cheese, served with guacamole salad, beans and Spanish rice $9.75
• Pollo Poblano
  Grilled chicken breast with onions, poblano peppers & tomatoes, topped with white cheese, served with one cheese enchilada with salsa ranchera, beans & rice $9.99
• Pollo En Ajo
  Chicken breast marinated & sautéed In white wine with tomatoes, onions, peppers, mushrooms, spinach, fresh ajo (Garlic), served over Spanish rice, with black beans & dinner salad $10.99
• Chile Relleno
  Roasted poblano pepper stuffed with beef or chicken and cheese, topped with salsa ranchera and cheese, served with guacamole salad, beans & Spanish rice $10.50
• Camarones Alambre
  (8) Jalapenos stuffed with large shrimp, cheese, then bacon wrapped & grilled, served on a bed of rice, with cilantro sour cream sauce, beans & guacamole salad $14.50
• Pescado A La Veracruzana
  Pan-sautéed tilapia, topped with a veracruzana sauce, sautéed pepper, onions, fresh garlic & green olives in a Ranchera sauce, served with black beans, rice and a guacamole salad $11.99

DESSERT

• Flan $4.99
• Sopapillas $4.25
• Tres Leches Cake $4.99

SANDWICHES

Sandwiches & Burgers served with your choice of chips & salsa or fries

• *Elmer Burger ½ Lb.
  Burger with cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles & onion $7.99 W/Bacon $8.50
• Smoked Brisket Sandwich
  Brisket rubbed with our special spices and slow smoked to perfection for ten hours, served on a bun with pickles & onions $7.99
• *Chulo Burger
  It May Be Cute But It Bites!! Black pepper crusted ½ Lb. burger with fried jalapenos, Jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, & chipotle mayo $ 8.50
• Grilled Chicken Poblano Sandwich
  Roasted poblano chilies, Jack cheese, red onions & tomato $8

VEGETARIAN DINNERS

• Mushroom & Spinach Chile Relleno
  Roasted poblano pepper stuffed with mushrooms, spinach and Rice, topped with salsa ranchera, garlic sour cream & cheese, served with guacamole salad, black beans & rice $9.99
• Vegetarian Black Bean Burrito
  Whole wheat tortilla stuffed with black beans & spinach, topped with your choice of chipotle, garlic sour cream, verde or salsa Ranchera & cheese, served with guacamole salad & rice $8.50
• Enchilada Rico
  Enchiladas stuffed with Pico de Gallo, topped with white cheese, lettuce, tomatoes And Guacamole, served with black beans & Rice (2) $7.99 (3) $8.99
• Spinach & Mushroom Enchiladas
  Enchiladas stuffed with sautéed mushrooms & fresh spinach topped with salsa Ranchera & white cheese, served with black beans & rice (2) $7.99 (3) $8.99

• Fresca Plate
  Guacamole salad, one vegetarian taco, one cheese enchilada with your choice of verde, salsa ranchera or chipotle sauce, served with black beans & rice $ 8.50
• Vegetarian Tacos
  Two large whole wheat tortillas filled with black beans, lettuce, tomatoes and white cheese, served with a guacamole salad $8.25

Tex-Mex beans, black beans, Spanish rice, red and green sauces are made without the use of any animal fats or preservatives. All vegetarian dinners may be ordered without cheese or dairy products.

TACO DINNERS

• Tex-Mex Smoked Brisket Tacos
  Brisket rubbed with our special Tex-Mex spice and slow smoked to perfection for ten hours, served on flour tortillas with fresh onions, cilantro, guacamole salad, Charra beans and Spanish rice $8.99
• Achiote Tacos De Pollo
  Achiote & citrus marinated chicken breast grilled to perfection, diced & served on two flour tortillas, topped with lettuce, tomatoes, sliced avocado & Monterey Jack cheese, served with Charra Beans and Spanish rice $ 8.99
• Tacos Al Pastor
  Delicious marinated pork on two flour tortillas served with a guacamole salad, onions, fresh lime and cilantro, Charra beans and Spanish rice $8.99
• Fish Tacos
  Sautéed or fried tilapia served on two flour tortillas, topped with shredded cabbage & chipotle ranch, fresh lime, Charra beans & rice $8.99
• Shrimp Tacos
  Shrimp breaded & lightly fried to a golden brown,
  served on two flour tortillas, topped with shredded
  cabbage & chipotle ranch, fresh lime, Charra beans & rice $8.99
• Fajita Tacos
  Your choice of our delicious chicken or beef fajitas on two flour tortillas and served with grilled onions, Pico de Gallo, cheese, guacamole, Charra beans and Spanish rice $8.99
• Chicken Chipotle Tacos
  Grilled chicken, in a spicy chipotle sauce on two flour tortillas and served with grilled onions, lettuce, tomatoes and cheese, beans and Spanish rice $8.99
• Crispy Tacos
  (3) Beef or chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, served with beans & Spanish rice $7.99

$6.50 EXPRESS LUNCH SPECIALS Monday-Friday 11:00 Am-2:00 Pm (Except Holidays)

1. One Crispy Beef Taco,
   Guacamole salad & Chile con Queso over chips
2. One Crispy Beef Taco,
   Spanish rice, beans and one cheese enchilada topped with Chile con Queso and meat sauce
3. Three Beef Enchiladas,
   Topped with cheese and meat sauce, served with lettuce and tomatoes
4. Two Chicken Fajita Tacos
   With cheese, Pico de Gallo, rice & beans
5. Two Chicken Verde Enchiladas,
   W/ sour cream sauce, with beans & rice
6. One Chicken Chalupa,
   guacamole salad & one ranchera cheese enchilada
7. A Cup Of Tortilla Soup
   One chicken taco & guacamole salad
8. Chicken Fajita Taco Salad
   With cheese, lettuce, tomatoes & sour cream
9. Three Crispy Beef or Chicken Tacos
   Served with rice & beans

10. Carne Guisada Dinner
    Served with beans & Spanish rice & 2 tortillas

WEEKEND BREAKFAST SAT & SUN Served till 3:00 P.M.

Huevos can be ordered without peppers

• Huevos Rancheros*
  Two eggs any style, with your choice of salsa ranchera, verde or chipotle sauce $5.25
• Migas*
  Two eggs, mixed with tomatoes, onions, peppers, cheese & corn tortillas strips $5.25
• Huevos Borracho*
  Two eggs, mixed with sautéed tomatoes, onions, peppers & cheese $5.25
• Huevos Vegetarian*
  Two eggs, with mushrooms, spinach, tomatoes, onions, peppers & cheese, served with black beans $5.25
• Migas Enchiladas *
  2 enchiladas filled with migas, with your choice of salsa ranchera, verde or chipotle sauce $5.95
• Huevos Motulenos *
  A layered dish of black beans, crispy corn tortilla, two eggs any way you like, topped with a sauce & sliced avocado $5.95

Entrees served with potatoes & beans
You may add these meats to all Entrees

Bacon or sausage $.99 Chorizo $1.50 Beef Fajita $2.99

• Breakfast Quesadilla*
  Two eggs, mixed with cheese and your choice of bacon or sausage, folded in a large flour
  tortilla and grilled to perfection $5.75
• Huevos Carne*
  Two eggs any style, topped with salsa ranchera & served with smoked Tex-Mex brisket $5.99

Entrees served with potatoes & beans

• BREAKFAST TACO* 1.25
  Egg taco & your choice of one item potatoes, beans, bacon, sausage or cheese $.35 for each additional item
• AMERICAN BREAKFAST*
  Two eggs any style
  Served with bacon or sausage, one pancake & fried potatoes $6.25
• Three Pancakes,
  With bacon or sausage $5.25

Water served on request

Frozen Lime Ritas, Bloody Mary’s and Screw Drivers $3.50 Sat & Sun till 5:00 PM

$3.50 Frozen Lime Lunch Rita 11:00 AM-3:00 PM

Tuesday, Thursday & Sunday Nights
$2.99 HOUSE RITAS 5:00 PM TO CLOSE
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Editor’s Note: Marcey joined the chapter in early 2011, and has help to spark an interest in beginning a Diabetic Action Network for the NFB of Texas. She has been instrumental in the logistical planning of our Dinner in the Dark, BELL Program and State Convention. She is one of our new leaders in our local movement. The NfB of Austin is proud and lucky to have Marcy on our side. Here is what she has to say about her life struggle with diabetes.:

My name is Marcey Gonzalez and I am a diabetic. This unfortunate illness has caused me to lose a substantial amount of my vision. My poor management of my health is partly to blame for what I know now to be “legal blindness.” It is my hope to educate those who may be struggling with diabetes through my work in the NFB of Texas.

For millions like me, diabetes is an earth-shattering realization that happened when I least expected it. I was always proactive when it came to every facet of my life, except with my health. I just took it for granted that my health would sort itself out. My whole life changed because of poor management of my health. I will admit that at some point I convinced myself that I would be ready to deal with the complications at age 60 or 70, but that wasn’t the case. I now had to deal with the consequences in my 30s, the prime of my life. What I had not planned on is that life is unexpected, and it isn’t always on your terms.

A body needs maintenance checks, just like every other thing out there in the world. For example, a phone, a common thing that everyone has and utilizes daily for everything from email, to games, to facebooking, and sometimes even phone calls. We buy coverage to protect it, we get warranties, extended warranties, and we keep up with the latest technology updates. We even sit around and talk about which versions are the best, and so the list goes on and on. The question is, why don’t we do those maintenance health checks for our body? Why don’t most of us take those extra precautions by eating well, getting the warranties such as by exercising, etc. This concept should be applied to our own health as well.

I got my first “floater,” a little dark shadow spot, in my eye driving home from downtown after a happy hour, thinking my glasses were dirty. I realized when I got home that it was indeed the effects of diabetes, and something that my doctor had mentioned I was going to acquire. Here it was, and as I looked in the mirror, I had a flashback of all that I could have done – and should have done – and now it was too late. The rollercoaster ride had begun.

Blindness is the leading complication of diabetes. It can also cause other complications such as heart disease, strokes, kidney, foot problems (including poor circulation, ulcers, and amputations), nerve damage (including tingling, pain, and numbness or weakness in the feet and legs), and even depression. Most of us know that diabetes is a disease that affects so many, but you don’t necessarily realize that you could be next. Review the risk factors and symptoms listed. If you have any of the following symptoms, please don’t hesitate to discuss with your doctor.

One step toward the goal of improving your quality of life is education. NFB’s Diabetic Action Network can help by standing unified to support and motivate each other toward better levels of nutrition and fitness. Knowledge is power, and we need to empower ourselves with the tools that will help us fight the battle.

I struggle every day with weight issues, with making those healthy eating choices and having the motivation to exercise. There comes a point when you’re staring down at the scale, your inner voice constantly struggling to choose to eat healthy or not, and to be active or not, and knowing the realities of what could happen if you don’t take responsibility for yourself. I’m not claiming to be the perfect example – by far I am not. But I am declaring a statement of commitment moving forward to make better choices with healthier eating and staying active. Empowerment comes within yourself, making those right choices and knowing that you are a healthier person than you were yesterday. Eventually that will turn into a month, then a year, and before you even know it, you have made a lifestyle change.

A person must be their own self advocate. Fight for what you have left, because it’s your LIFE, and there is nothing more valuable than your healthy self. No instant gratification is worth what you will have to face – along with your family and friends, who are ultimately affected as well.

Just remember “Positive thoughts equal positive results.”

Risk Factors for Diabetes
Age over 45 years old
High-risk race or ethnic background
Being overweight (especially around the waist)
Low physical activity level
High blood pressure
Family history of diabetes
Bleeding gums
History of diabetes during pregnancy

Symptoms of Diabetes
Urinating often
Being very thirsty
Being very hungry
Being more tired than usual
Being irritable
Losing weight
Experiencing blurry vision
Hair loss
Darkening ring around neck

Stay active and be healthy!

Submissions should be e-mailed to: Austin@nfb-texas.org
We are eager to evaluate your ideas, and send the deserving individual to Washington to help us voice the priorities of the blind to our elected legislature.
Sincerely,
The NFB of Austin Chapter

Health and Wellfare

Pam had her birthday in September.

The treasurer reported a balance of $4,282.90.

Presidential Release 398

1. Dr. Mauer told us some statistics from national convention.
2. Registration for Braille Readers Are Leaders starts October 1.
3. The book Thunder Dog has been published.
4. Meet the Blind Month T-shirts are available.
5. Dr. Mauer met with representatives from Google to discuss Google’s accessibility improvements.

Chapter Check-up

Richie told us about his idea to have a monthly newsletter for the chapter. Richie wrote the first article for the newsletter, Meet the Blind Year, which he played from Newsline. The name of this newsletter is Keep Austin Blind.

Old Business

• We will carry the NFB banner for White Cane Day.
• Fred Schroeder will be our national representative for state convention.
• The affiliate is organizing an at large chapter for people interested in being a part of the NFB but who do not live near an existing chapter.
• Richie took several of the mentoring pairs to the Scare for a Cure.
• We discussed locations for the chapter Christmas party. We agreed on December 10 as the date for the party.
• Cokie moved and Thomas seconded that the chapter donate $100 to be divided into five $20 door prizes for state convention. The motion carried. Get any other door prizes or door prize ideas to Heather as soon as possible.

New Business

• We are participating in the Step Out to Stop Diabetes walk on November 5 beginning at 9:00 am at Tech Ridge Center.
• Yolanda’s mother works as the librarian for an elementary school and offered to let members come in and read braille for the kids. Check with Yolanda if you are interested.
• Thomas moved and Cokie seconded that the chapter increase it’s PAC contribution from $10 to $20 a month. This motion carried.

Kimberly and Tommy both answered Richie’s pop quiz for door prizes. One person requested to become a new member and was enthusiastically accepted by the chapter. There were 8 brags and no complaints. The meeting adjourned at 11:57 am.

Listen to the meeting.

Our representatives here in Austin are Lloyd Doggett (democrat), Michael T. McCaul (republican), John R. Carter (republican), and Lamar Smith (republican).

The following call to action comes from Anil Louis.

We need to mobilize and gain quick cosponsor support. Call and/or schedule meetings with your Member of Congress immediately and express your support for H.R. 3086, the Fair Wages for People with Disabilities Act of 2011. Our success is dependent on our efforts to respectfully educate all Members of Congress so that they understand the true employment capacity of people with disabilities. Many of our talking points are listed in the Findings section of the Fair Wages for People with Disabilities bill. The text of the bill can be found at thomas.loc.gov. If you secure an opportunity to speak with the Member or the appropriate staffer, begin the education by sharing the following three points with them:

1. The Tools Exist for Competitive Employment of People with Disabilities. Most people still believe that people with disabilities cannot be competitively employed at or above the federal minimum wage. Rehabilitation services, employment strategies, and adaptive technologies make it possible for people with even the most significant disabilities to obtain employment at the federal minimum wage or higher.
2. It is Illogical for Doubters to Provide Training and/or Employment. For years, those entities that have doubted the capacity of people with disabilities to be competitively employed have been responsible for providing employment at subminimum wages. This is extremely backward logic. Employers that cannot provide the proper training and support for people with disabilities to obtain competitive employment at competitive wages should not be providing training or employment for people with disabilities.
3. Removing the Misconception of Incapacity Provides More Employment Opportunities. Employment of people with disabilities at subminimum wages supports the misperception that people with disabilities are not productive enough to earn competitive wages. This misperception is the largest barrier to the real employment of people with disabilities. By eliminating the legal contention that people with disabilities lack capacity for competitive employment, it is affirmed that when given the proper training, support, and opportunities, people with disabilities can be competitively employed in a variety of vocational environments at competitive wages.

We need you to schedule visits in your local districts immediately and to make your calls to the Member’s local and D.C. offices right now. If they are willing to cosponsor, refer them to the following staffers:

Office of Representative Cliff Stearns (Republican, Sponsor)

James Thomas, Legislative Director/O&I Policy Coordinator
Phone: (202) 225-5744

Office of Representative Tim Bishop (Democrat, Lead Cosponsor)

Joanna Sara, Senior Legislative Assistant
Phone: (202) 225-3826

After you have had your visit or made your call, please provide Mr. Louis with the following information:

Which Member of Congress?

Which State?

Who did you speak to?

Ask the question, “Will the Member cosponsor the Fair Wages for People with Disabilities legislation?” What was their response?

( ) I was only able to express my support.

( ) The Member would like to co-sponsor

( ) The Member needs to research the issue.

( ) The Member can not support this legislation.

( ) Other: Explain________________________________

Please contact Anil Louis if you have any questions. Also, feel free to refer the staffers directly to him (his contact information is at the end of this article).

We have been working toward this goal since the founding of our organization. The time is now for us to fight for Fair Wages for People with Disabilities, H.R. 3086.

“Eliminating Subminimum Wages for People with Disabilities”

Richie Flores is the President of the NFB of Austin local Chapter. He and his wife live and work in Austin. Richie enjoys working with youth, playing music, and sports and recreation. This is what Richie has to say regarding the Austin Chapter’s involvement with “Meet the Blind Month.”

The month of October is a very important month. First, it’s National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Secondly, America’s game of baseball celebrates it’s World Series crowning the World Championship team of the sport. Lastly, it happens to be the month that holds the birthday of your NFB Austin Chapter President. The month of the Libra, home run hits heard around the world, and a national movement to educate about the independence of persons with disabilities. The NFB of Austin chapter would like to Keep Austin Blind but not in the dark about our effort to promote the good news of the blind. We have been hard at work, educating, fundraising, mentoring, presenting, networking, developing, and supporting all things positive relative to blindness in the Austin community. Thank you October for showing up to the ball game, NFB Austin has been waiting for you to join us in celebrating “Meet the blind year!”

First, we began by supporting a Texas School for the Blind student with a scholarship to attend the Blind Driver Challenge, and the Washington Seminar. This allowed us the opportunity to introduce this student to our powerful leadership, advocacy, and follow through. The Texas representatives and their office staff know who the NFB is because of our presence on Capitol Hill early this year. In the month of March our chapter participated in The Blind Café dinner, Q&A about blindness, and concert in the pitch dark. Over 250 individuals were able to benefit from the positive philosophy, knowledge, and federation expertise provided at this event.

In the Second quarter we began by tackling the state legislature. The NFB of Austin marched the halls of the state capitol advocating for the abolishment of House Bill 3629, legislation abolishing the Department for Assistive and Rehabilitative Services. Many of our materials, contact information, and information were presented to our state legislature. This particular Bill was never presented publicly, and so, we consider that a small victory in actively impacting legislation. The chapter was able to host Dinner in the Dark a spin off of the Blind Café, and learned that we have many friends in the community. The Superintendent of the School for the Blind, Work Force Commissioner, Lion’s Club President, Capital Metro Accessibility Coordinator, a few cab drivers, and many more attendees had the chance to meet the NFB at this event. In the month of May we educated Elementary aged students involved in the Camp Fire Project-an after school program geared toward enriching the lives of at-risk-youth. We continued to demonstrate independence through Braille, alternative techniques, and mentoring by meeting with a summer music Camp for school aged children in the month of June. We capped off the second quarter of the year, by introducing 8 blind elementary students to our organization. The NFB of Austin organized, funded, and carried out the Austin Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning (BELL) Camp-a 2-week day camp for blind children emphasizing fun activities in Braille, Mentoring, and alternative techniques.

The third quarter of this year has furthered our introduction of our movement and advocacy to the Austin Community. In July, a local retired Mechanical Engineer, and inventor presented his ideas of creating innovative technologies for the blind. This inventor gathered the information necessary from the actual population he wants to serve in advance to avoid marketing a faulty piece of equipment. Future assistive technologies in the recreational field, object recognition, and GPS software may result from this forum. In August the NFB Austin participated in The Blind Café Version 2-networking, and educating the public while, securing funds for our local Youth Program initiatives. The Blind Café gained us much recognition. An NFB Austin Board Member was featured in an article in the Daily Texan-a University of Texas student News Paper. ABC News also covered the Austin Blind Café on their Internet News service spreading the local issues of the blind even further. Feel free to check this out at: http://multimedianewsroom.us/turning-a-blind-eye.htm

In the final quarter we will focus on conducting much of the same hard work of sharing the spirit of independence of blind people with our community with enthusiasm. In October, “Meet the Blind Month,” Austin will continue its “Meet the Blind Year,” campaign by participating in the annual White Cane Day celebration for the Austin area. NFB Austin will manage the Newsline table, and recruit new blind individuals to the free newspaper by phone service, and NFB members will proudly march the downtown streets with our Whozit banner quoting “Keep Austin Blind,” for this event. In addition, the nfbaustin.org web site will launch the “keep Austin Blind,” magazine-featuring a monthly educational article written by our own membership. An elementary school library has opened their doors to NFB Austin so that we can promote Braille reading, and educate a few classes about blindness. On October 15, the actual historical day deemed “White Cane Day,” the Austin Chapter of the NFB will celebrate with the BELL Camp students we had fun with this past summer. It will be great to see our little friends once again to mentor, learn, and have fun with Braille. On November 5, we will Step Out to Stop Diabetes and promote awareness of one of the leading causes of blindness. We will also be the hosting chapter to our state convention on the weekend of November 11, 2011. It is our mission to create the most hospitable and memorable gathering of Texas blind individuals. Will end the year as we have been doing the last few years’ by participating in gift wrapping during the holidays at Barnes & Noble Book Store. This will give us the opportunity to show the community that the blind love giving back just as much as everyone else in the holiday season.

To conclude, every month is meet the blind month for the NFB of Austin Chapter. The Austin Community is more than welcome to peruse our web site, seek our expertise for advocacy, and socialize with our membership. We look forward to carrying on the tradition of being the home-run hitters, and voice of the blind in this wonderful city we call home. Together, we march for security, equality, and opportunity. Together we can “Keep Austin Blind, but not in the dark!” Happy Meet the Blind Month everyone!

STEP OUT WALK to Stop Diabetes

• November 5th 2011
• Tech Ridge Center
• 2 or 4 mile loop
• Registration 8 AM
• Walk starts at 9 AM