NASA is looking to increase the number of students with disabilities pursuing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers through our regular internship programs. This is not a program for students with disabilities. We are trying to recruit more students with disabilities into our regular internship programs. Disability means both physical and mental disabilities. Internships are a good way to get real-world experience. However, this is not an employment program. NASA jobs can be found at <http://www.usajobs.gov>. Students can apply for Summer 2018 now! The deadline for submitting applications will be Thursday, March 1, 2018. We will begin extending offers to students in mid-to-late January and will continue until all positions are filled. If you would like to subscribe to an announcement-only list about NASA internships for persons with disabilities, please send an E-mail to nasainterns-request@freelists.org<mailto:nasainterns-request@freelists.org>

with ‘subscribe’ in the Subject field, OR by visiting the list page at http://www.freelists.org/list/nasainterns.

We encourage you to apply early because the best opportunities are likely to be filled early.

Plus, your likelihood of being selected decreases the longer you wait. Don’t be surprised if you don’t see many internship opportunities in November. They start to appear in numbers in mid-to-late December. You can register for an account anytime at http://intern.nasa.gov/. All material that you wish to have considered must be uploaded to the OSSI website. No documentation will be accepted that is E-mailed or snail mailed.

Internships run for ten weeks for undergraduate and graduate students. Internships run for six weeks for high school students. The exact starting and ending dates are not known yet. All student interns get paid. The 2018 stipend

amounts are not known yet.   The high school

stipend for Summer 2017 was $2,100.00 for a six-week internship. The Summer 2017 undergraduate stipend for a ten-week internship was $6,000.00. The Summer 2017 graduate stipend for a ten-week internship was $7,500.00. As an intern, you are responsible for your own housing.

NASA internships for college and high school students are also offered during Spring, Fall and Year Long Sessions at http://intern.nasa.gov/.

NASA has internships for high school students and for rising freshmen through doctoral students in STEM fields. A rising freshman is a high school student who has been accepted to an accredited institution of higher learning, i.e., a college or university, at the time of the internship.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 for college and 3.0 for high school; however, applicants must understand that the competition for internships is keen. High school students must be at least sixteen years old at the time the internship begins.

Internships are available at all NASA centers nationwide. It is important to remember that applying is a two-step process. The first step is to fill out everything in the online application. The second step is to select and apply to specific internship opportunities.

Students can submit a completed application whether they apply to an opportunity or not.

However, applying to opportunities has the advantage of allowing applicants to be considered by mentors who work in disciplines of interest and at a particular center. Applicants may apply to as many as fifteen opportunities.

Not applying to an opportunity means that prospective interns will be hoping that a mentor happens to read their applications rather than directing their applications to mentors in fields and at centers of interest.

Students who are selected for Summer internships will receive an offer letter by E-mail sometime after mid-January 2018. They will then have five calendar days to either accept or reject the offer through their account. The offer will automatically expire after five calendar days if no action is taken.

Please feel free to contact me for more information or help with applying.

 

Kenneth A. Silberman, Esq.

U.S. Supreme Court, Maryland, & Patent Bars B.A., M.Eng., J.D.

NASA Engineer & Registered Patent Attorney Education Office Code 160 NASA/GSFC Mailstop 160 Bldg. 28 Rm. N165 Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA

Voice: (301) 286-9281

Fax: (301) 286-1655

E-mail: kenneth.a.silberman@nasa.gov<mailto:kenneth.a.silberman@nasa.gov>

Office Location:                 Building 28 Room W151

October 11, 2017

Memo To:  Executive Officers, Board Members, Chapter & Division Presidents & Others

From:  Frank Coppel, President

Positive Note 1626

Greetings Fellow Federationists:

This past Wednesday afternoon, October 4, at approximately 4:40 p.m., a very special and wonderful event occurred in the Coppel family.  Our son, Matt and his wife, Brielle had their third child, Norah Brielle, who entered this world weighing six pounds ten ounces, and who was twenty inches long.  Mom, Dad, and Norah came home Friday and are all doing well.  Shelley and I feel very blessed to now be the grandparents of four grandchildren (Asher seven, Eli, four, Aubrey, three and Norah).

We have an announcement from Debra Canty, President of our Sumter Chapter regarding Meet the Blind Month.  “We are joining with our national organization and observing, October as Blind Awareness Month and October 15th as White Cane Safety Day as well. Kudos to Lee and Laura Colclough-James, chairpersons for decorating the fair booth. We hosted a booth at the Sumter County Fair where we raised blind awareness in the community. We shared information, received info about people who are blind, passed out brochures, flyers, pamphlets, Kernel Books, offered bus fund tickets and a variety of complimentary candy to show our appreciation for them stopping by the fair booth to learn more about blindness.

Several chapter members will attend churches during the month to bring blind awareness to the faith based community through their attendance and church bulletins.  I will be a guest on the Good Morning Sumter radio show to share information about Blind Awareness and White Cane Safety Day as well.”

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the chapters who have already sponsored, or who are planning to sponsor, a Meet the Blind Month activity in their respective community during the month of October.  As I stated in previous Positive Note, a Meet the Blind Month activity is a great way to educate the public about blindness and to recruit new members to your chapter.

Governor McMaster has proclaimed October 15, 2017, as White Cane Safety Day.  Below, is his proclamation:

“State of South Carolina – Governor’s Proclamation

WHEREAS, the white cane is a simple yet effective tool of independence that contributes to the self-sufficiency of the blind and visually impaired and symbolizes their ability to achieve a full and independent life and their capacity to work productively in competitive employment; and

WHEREAS, the white cane is a symbol of dignity and determination as well as a tangible reminder that individuals with impaired eyesight are able to go, to move, to be, to compete and to contribute with all others in society and to lead full, independent and productive lives; and

WHEREAS, established by the National Federation of the Blind, the annual observance of “White Cane Safety Day” emphasizes the need for all Americans to be aware of the presence of disabled persons in our communities and to work together to keep the streets, highways, sidewalks, walkways, public buildings and facilities, and places of public accommodation amusement and resort safe and functional for the disabled; and

WHEREAS, the 2017 observance of “White Cane Safety Day” provides an opportunity for people across the Palmetto State and the nation to renew their dedication to eliminating barriers for the blind and visually impaired and to recognize their value as individuals, employees and productive members of our communities.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Henry McMaster, Governor of the great state of South Carolina, do hereby proclaim October 15, 2017, as WHITE CANE SAFETY DAY throughout the state and encourage all South Carolinians to show respect for those who carry the white cane, to honor their many achievements, and to reaffirm our commitment to improve access to basic services and opportunities for blind and visually impaired persons.

Henry McMaster, Governor, State of South Carolina”

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future.  Every day, we raise the expectations of blind people because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams.  You can live the life you want:  blindness is not what holds you back.  Joining me for comments in this Positive Note is the President Emeritus of the NFB of SC.  Here is Dr. Capps.

In this Positive Note we are spotlighting another active supporter of the Federation.  I am speaking of Loretta Green who is the President of the Upper Dorchester Chapter and a member of the NFB of SC Board of Directors.  Loretta Green was born in New York City and moved to South Carolina when she was 13 years old.  Loretta is married to Henry Green.  They have two sons, Henry Montrell and Andre Lashaun.  They also have seven grandchildren. Loretta has five brothers and seven sisters and she is the daughter of Alma Brown and Philip Morant.  She attended Saint George high school and furthered her education at Miller Mott Technical College.  While attending there Loretta was on the Dean’s List and President’s List.  She worked for the South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs in the Dorchester School Districts Two and Four.  Loretta also worked with the Wells Fargo Mortgage Company, and currently is employed by the NFB of SC Successful Transitions team.

Loretta Green found out about the NFB from the MUSC’ low vision clinic.  She has been a part of the federation family for 10 years.  She is the President of the Upper Dorchester Chapter of the NFB of SC and is on the Board of Directors for the NFB of SC. She also resides on the South Carolina State Library Board of Directors.   She also attends Rocky Bottom Children’s Camps as a Counselor.  Loretta has attended eight national conventions and seven state conventions.  Her hobbies include cooking, travel, and spending time with her grandchildren.  She attends Saint Matthews Baptist Church in Reevesville where she is a member of the Pastor’s Eight Board.  She loves working with the youth for they are our future.  As adults we need to continue to show them how to love and respect each other.  Loretta truly is living the life she wants and sharing what she has learned with others.  Congratulations Loretta Green for a job well done!

We regret to report of the death of Harry Lee “Red” Goodwin on last Friday, October 6.  He was 90 years old.  At the time of his death he resided in Chesnee, SC.  “Red” was a widower but he was survived by seven children, nine grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.  He was a student at the SC School for the Blind for a number of years.  I knew him as I was also a student there at that time.  To the best of my knowledge I have not seen “Red” since he was in School in 1944.  Occasionally I would hear from someone who knew about his activities.  We extend sincere condolences to his family.

Final Thought:  Are you living the life you want?  If not, why not?

Governor McMaster Makes Proclamation