An affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind, the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan (NFBMI) is an organization that believes in the full capacity of blind people and has the power, influence, diversity and determination to help transform their dreams into reality. MCM sat down with NFB Flint-Genesee Chapter President Sheila Fulmore, Vice President Leo Napier and Chapter Secretary Felecia Bradford to chat about what their volunteer organization does and how they help the blind and visually impaired.
According to Fulmore, there are six active NFB Chapters in Michigan and chapters in all 50 states. Composed of blind and interested sighted persons of all ages, their families and friends, the NFB Flint-Genesee Chapter was reorganized about a year ago. At that time, there were just six active members, which has now grown to 40. “We had to build everything up from the ground up,” Bradford shares. “We hit the ground running.”
NFB members have gone to Washington, D.C. to meet with senators and members of Congress to talk about enhancing services for the visually impaired. Pictured (L-R) are: William Chapman, Robert Parsons Jr., Sheila Fulmore, Michigan Congressman Bill Huizenga and Felecia Bradford.
To get the organization back into action, a picnic was held in July 2022 to raise awareness of the NFB, what resources they provide and to recruit new members. “It was a major success!” Bradford exclaims.
Leo Napier, who is blind, is also a famous professional wrestler (aka “Father Time”). He connected with Joseph Byrd of Pure Pro-Wrestling to help raise funds for NFB through wrestling events. A clock that was handmade by a blind person was raffled at an event. “This raised quite a bit for us,” Napier shares.
Members of the 501c(3) nonprofit organization work together to ensure that blind persons can live the life they want. “We support each other,” Fulmore says. Most of the NFB members are blind but there are five who are not, Bradford adds.
“There are a lot of things that blind people can do now that they didn’t used to do.”
– Leo Napier
According to Bradford, one of their events helped make it easier for people who are blind or visually impaired to vote. A Voters Outreach was held at Hasselbring Senior Center in October 2022 at which people were trained to use voting machines that were designed to help the visually impaired cast their ballots. “We will do this again this October at a different senior center,” the secretary notes. “It will be an annual event.”
Members of the NFB statewide have done much to advocate for the blind. They have gone to Washington, D.C. to meet with senators and members of Congress to talk about Social Security, medical devices and website accessibility for the visually impaired. They advocated having the Braille system available on ATM machines. “That happened because of the Federation of the Blind,” Napier reports. “A lot of people don’t know that. There are a lot of things that blind people can do now that they didn’t used to do.”
In June, the NFB Flint-Genesee hosted the NFBMI three-day conference for visually impaired youth, “Raising Expectations, Accessing Life” (REAL) at the Hilton Garden Inn in Downtown Flint. Pictured (L-R) are: Amari Stewart, Robert Parsons Jr., Otis Lewis, Leo Napier, Felecia Bradford and Sheila Fulmore.
In June, the NFB Flint-Genesee hosted the NFBMI three-day conference for visually impaired youth: Raising Expectations, Accessing Life (REAL). The conference was held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Downtown Flint. According to Fulmore, the developmental program offered a variety of interactive opportunities for kids kindergarten to eighth grade. Kids 14 and older attended a variety of workshops and vocational training sessions.
The NFB Flint Chapter meets on the first Thursday of every month at the Flint Public Library. The meetings are open to anyone who wants to attend. “Our organization helps a lot of people,” Fulmore points out. “I couldn’t do it without these wonderful officers, board of directors and our members. We also get great support from our state affiliate.”
“I want to see people live the lives they want and to love the gifts that have been given to them.”
– Sheila Fulmore
Since its beginning in 1940, the NFB has been working toward the ultimate goal of helping blind persons achieve self-confidence and self-respect, and the complete integration of the blind into society on a basis of equality. “‘To live the life we want’ is our motto,” Fulmore says. “I want to see people live the lives they want and to love the gifts that have been given to them.”
The NFB’s outreach includes:
- Assisting blind persons to acquire the skills of independence,
- Helping blind persons to develop confidence in themselves through many service activities,
- Teaching blind persons the skills of leadership through active participation in conventions, chapter meetings, and civic activities,
- Encouraging blind seniors to continue their active and meaningful lifestyles,
- Preparing blind students for productive tax-paying careers through academic and training scholarships,
- Informing diabetics about their options for coping with vision loss,
- Supporting parents and friends of blind children with information about the capabilities of the blind,
- Protecting and promoting the civil rights of blind persons through public education and legislative action,
- Advocating for policies that eliminate discrimination and guarantee equal access to educational programs and high quality rehabilitation, and
- Educating the public through seminars, community activities and our publications.
