A blind graduate student at Penn State said one of the main problems that the blind deal with is not the lack of sight, but the general public's misconception of blindness.

Cary Supalo (graduate-chemistry) is working to combat those misconceptions by serving as president of the newly formed Happy Valley chapter of the National Federation of the Blind.

The chapter was established in October, joining more than 700 other local chapters around the country.

Though the Happy Valley chapter has only been in existence for a few months, its members are involved in many different activities both nationally and in the local community.

In addition to working with the NFB's national organization, the local chapter will work to advocate the rights of blind people in the area, Supalo said. Some of the issues the group is addressing now include looking into better public transit, reducing job discrimination by changing the attitudes of employers, asking local restaurants to incorporate Braille menus and adding non-visual access to voting facilities for blind people in the Centre County region.

"What the community may think we want may be different than what we actually want," he said.

Since its beginning in 1940, the National Federation of the Blind has grown from about 20 members from seven states to more than 50,000 members from all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

The organization works to integrate blind persons completely into society, said Patricia Maurer, director of community relations for the national organization.

"We think (having a new chapter in State College) is a wonderful idea. The more people that . . . become aware, the more we can change attitudes," Maurer said.

"I think that (the creation of the new chapter) will really help not only the student population but also the population in general," said Jim Antonacci, president of the National Federation of the Blind of Pennsylvania. "This will really give people a vehicle through which they can express themselves, and it will help people to develop a more positive view of blindness."

Both Antonacci and Supalo said that the NFB had helped them to manage personal issues.

Friends told Antonacci about the organization in high school. He was impressed because the organization "had a very positive message about blindness."

Supalo's experience was similar. He became involved with the organization after high school and was impressed with the activities of the members.

"The world tends to open up when you realize 'I can do anything I want to do,' because chances are you're going to achieve what you want to do," he said.

In two weeks, Supalo hopes to speak in front of Congress to discuss the Blind Empowerment Act, which among other things will increase the amount of money an individual can earn through salaries in one month and still remain able to receive Social Security.

The group has many goals and Supalo thinks the members have the confidence and motivation to achieve them.

"We're a resilient group. We'll find a way to do it someway somehow," he said.

Supalo said the Happy Valley chapter will have a series of general information meetings for students and community members. It meets at 4 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month, but there isn't a permanent meeting place yet. People interested in joining the club can call Supalo at 234-4NSB. More information regarding NFB programs can be found at the organization's Web site, www.nfb.org.