[NABS-L] Don't delay! Registration for the 2025 Midwest Student Seminar closes in just about 1 week on February 28!

[Ammar Tarin]

Hey Students!



We hope everyone is doing well! This is your friendly reminder that if you
haven’t already, to register for the 2025 National Federation of the Blind
Midwest Student Seminar, hosted by the National Association of Blind
Students!

Here is some information about Marilyn Green and Robert Parsons, two of our
awesome Professional Volunteers that will be joining us at the seminar!

Marilyn Green:

Marilyn’s favorite song is Work That by Mary J. Blige. One fun fact about
her is she has seen the musical Hamilton three times and knows almost all
the words to the musical score.

Marilyn Green owes her professional career to a strong work ethic and
higher education. She earned her B.A. from DePaul University, majoring in
English literature an women’s studies. Her career began in publishing but
challenges related to her vision led her to the Chicago Public Library,
where she empowered her library patrons through literacy programs,
technology trainings, and community education. After 20 years working in
neighborhood libraries, Marilyn transitioned to an executive role at a
blindness agency where her experience in community education  and the
knowledge that she gained through the National Federation of the Blind now
allow her to empower blind people with resources.

*Robert Parsons:*

*Roberts favorite song is Say yes to Heaven- Lana Del Rey. One fun fact
about Robert is English is his second language, with French being his first
and native tongue.*

*Robert Parsons is a certified rehabilitation counselor, certified vision
rehabilitation therapist, licensed professional counselor and doctoral
candidate of counselor education and supervision at Western Michigan
University. Restarting his academic journey in 2015 after blindness, his
decision was motivated from a plethora of factors, including various models
of blind leadership, an absence of effective services for blind students
and the potential for change to be made. Originally interested in pursuing
studies in the realm of law, Robert’s trajectory changed into the field of
counseling and mental health through persistent advocacy and a connection
to rehabilitation for the blind. Serving as a past president of the
Virginia and Michigan Associations of Blind Students, as well as a board
member of the National Association of Blind Students; the transferrable
leadership skills developed and enhanced in these experiences imbued Robert
with the philosophical foundation to pursue his academic and professional
aspirations. Robert is the owner of Rehabilitation WAY, LLC, a private
Rehabilitation Practice, providing access technology instruction, affective
counseling, and career counseling services for clients, while finalizing
his dissertation proposal for submission this year.*

If you want to learn more about Marilyn, Robert, or any of our other
professionals, join us in Chicago for the National Federation of the Blind
Midwest Student Seminar, hosted by the National Association of Blind
Students. The registration deadline has been extended, and registration now
closes in about 1 week on February 28! You can find all the registration
info below!

As blind students, we are encountering unique daily realities that often
remain unrecognized or misunderstood by the people around us. The National
Association of Blind Students is thrilled to invite you to Beyond the
Handshake: Networking in the Windy City, where we will explore these shared
experiences with students from across the region. It will be an engaging
weekend packed with opportunities to challenge your perceptions and network
with blind peers and mentors alike.

Have you ever wondered how to navigate non-traditional career paths or
build a professional network that truly understands your journey? This
year’s theme focuses on career exploration and planning, offering practical
insights and strategies to help you thrive. Together, we’ll dive into how
to forge meaningful connections, open new doors, and envision possibilities
beyond the expected.

You can expect a mix of interactive activities, thought-provoking
conversations, and riveting presentations—with topics covering everything
from securing accommodations to finding identity as a blind person. This
journey promises to empower you to identify new ways of living the life you
want. Regardless of where you are in your education, we hope you will join
us for a weekend of growth and fun from March 7 – March 9, 2025, at the
Holiday Inn Chicago O’Hare Area:

Holiday Inn Chicago O’Hare Area

5615 N. Cumberland Ave. Chicago, IL 60631

You can register at the following link:
https://nabslink.org/civicrm/event/register?reset=1&id=5. Registration
closes on February 28, 2025, so don’t delay!

Rooms can be booked at the following website using the code “NFB”.
www.hiohare.com. Alternatively, you can call (800-465-4329) or
(773-693-5800) to reserve a room by phone using the group name “National
Federation of the Blind Student”. Room rates for a room with two queen beds
are $119.00 per night, and rooms must be booked by February 28, 2025.

The National Association of Blind Students prioritizes its members' health
and safety in all its events. For the safety of all participants, we ask
that if you are feeling ill, please remain home. These policies are
consistent with the National Federation of the Blind of Illinois’s policies
on in-person gatherings.

We are also committed to keeping all members safe. As such, we follow The
Code of Conduct, which you can find here:
https://nfb.org/about-us/history-and-governance/code-conduct, as well as
the Youth Program protection Policy, which can be found here:
https://nfb.org/about-us/history-and-governance/code-conduct/youth-program-participant-protection-policy,
which is upheld  by the National Federation of the Blind.

Alternative Payment Options: We in no way want the $100 registration fee to
prevent any student from attending. If the fee poses a challenge, please
contact Joshua Olukanni at 678-313-1543 or joshuaolukanni2002 at gmail.com.

Please note that both the $100 registration fee and a completed
registration form must be submitted by February 28, 2025, to secure your
spot for this transformative weekend.

If you have any questions regarding hotel logistics, registration, or
anything else about the Midwest Seminar, feel free to reach out to Joshua
Olukanni at 678-313-1543 or joshuaolukanni2002 at gmail.com.

We look forward to seeing all of you in Chicago!

-- 
Respectfully,
Ammar Ahmed Tarin
Board Member, National Association of Blind Students
Board Member, National Federation of the Blind of Arizona
President, Arizona Association of Blind Students
Ammar.tarin at gmail.com
480-580-7874
Live the life you want.