Legislative Hotlines, current issues for blind persons:
CALIFORNIA CONNECTION: 800-221-6359, after 5 PM and weekends
WASHINGTON CONNECTION: 800-424-8666, 3–9 PM and weekends
DISCLAIMER: This publication contains announcements from the Silicon Valley Council of the Blind and is also a forum for opinions relating to blindness issues. Signed articles reflect the views, and research, of their authors.
STATUS: SVCB is a 501(c)3 non-profit, tax-exempt organization under the California Council of the Blind.
Monthly in-person meetings are held at the Santa Clara Valley Blind Center (Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired San Jose). Meetings run 9:30 AM to 1 PM the third Saturday of the month and are open to all.
On Monday March 1 I received my first COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine. By Thursday I had a terrible cough and little energy. Over the next twelve days I experienced times where I could barely get out of bed. I lost my sense of taste and smell. I either got COVID-19 when I went for the vaccine at Kaiser, or less likely had a reaction to the vaccine itself. Thankfully after sixteen days I am now nearly symptom free. Please do not take the COVID-19 virus lightly. Continue to wear a mask, and maintain social distance even when you are fully vaccinated. COVID-19 is a serious business. I feel anger when I hear about those who refuse to mask up.
Birds are chirping as I write this message on the first day of Spring. It feels so good to be back in the world with interests and activities beyond the narrow consciousness one experiences when ill. When it warms up again, you will find me sitting in the sun with a good braille book.
Planning for our CCB virtual convention is ongoing and progressing nicely. Please take an interest in our parent organization and complete your convention registration. There is so much going on at the state level.
I look forward to speaking with you all at our next membership meeting. Stay safe and take COVID-19 seriously.
Star doesn't like working online, but despite the fact that she can't drive anymore and I get rides and groceries online, she wants to be able to do it herself. But when she goes online, she gets in snarls trying. "I pity Master trying to help: why it even gets me confused."
So in one of our social meetings, Gogo Grandparent was mentioned. After you sign up, you can use just three phone numbers to get Uber and Lyft rides, plus pick up prescriptions, order groceries and meals from restaurants, get over-the-counter medications, and access people to help around the house. They have plans from Basic for $25 a month to Total Care for $499 a month. And their services hinge on just the telephone. Us old farts no longer need a smartphone, though having a cell phone is recommended. They'll even work with drivers to make sure you won't have trouble with your guide dog. "Who'd ever have trouble with me!" Well, remember those cab drivers who didn't like all your hair. "My hair?—what's that!"
Unfortunately there's a caveat. It's likely you won't be able to register online without sighted help. I think there are major accessibility problems, and I had to call them on Star's behalf to finish the registration. The phone number is 855-464-6872, and the website is:
We had a nice program at our March meeting. Toni Eames from the Fresno chapter talked to us about her love for animals and how she advocates for guide dogs. "I'm gonna check her out." She'll think you a card, that's for sure!
Toni has an article in the just-out Blind Californian on her South African Safari. You can hear her presentation at:
Let's wish happy April birthdays to Anna Bolino, John McNulty, and Dawn Wilcox. We often hear from "Dawn from the north" on our social hours. Join us every Wednesday at 4 PM!
Hey, get registered for the CCB convention! The registration URL is:
The convention is from April 22 to 25. There will be chapter and state-wide affiliate events from April 5 to the beginning of the convention. We will have our regularly-scheduled SVCB membership meeting on Saturday, April 17.
Mike Keithley is SVCB's delegate, and Susan Glass is alternate. If we can help, please contact us.
Be on the lookout for the Spring membership list. It'll be a bit thin this time: we've lost a few members.
We are now in the middle of March as I prepare this report for the April 2021 newsletter. Joe and I were fortunate to receive our second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, and my hope is that many of you have as well.
The Fundraising Committee had a very short meeting by phone on March 8, 2021 at 7:30 PM. Present were: Naomi, Rob, and myself. We talked about items that are available for future virtual auctions as long as we need to continue to meet via Zoom. We could still use some more donated items that would be suitable. So if you have something that you would like to donate to our auctions, you can call me at 888-652-5333 to leave a message that will be forwarded to me, or look me up on our membership list to call me directly. You can also send me an email at fundraising@svcb.cc, or check the membership list and email me directly. Noel Runyan sent me an email letting me know that he had three items he would like to donate. I will tell you more about them in our next newsletter. The next fundraising committee meeting will be on Monday, April 12, 2021 at 7:30 PM.
We had another virtual auction at our SVCB meeting held on March 20, 2021. The items auctioned were:
A braille checkers game that was donated by SVCB. The starting bid was $10. Gail Roe gave us a high bid of $15.
A braille double six domino game that was donated by SVCB. The starting bid was $10. Perla Kohs gave us a high bid of $10.
A vintage porcelain figurine of Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer's Apprentice, from the Disney Collection Disney Magic Memories "Fantasia," that was donated by Joe and Carol Silveria. The starting bid was $30. Gail Roe gave us a high bid of $35.
A vintage porcelain figuring of Dopey and Doc dancing with Snow White, from the Disney's Collection Disney Magic Memories "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," that was donated by Joe and Carol Silveria. The starting bid was $30. Gail Roe gave us a high bid of $35.
A beautiful woven throw that would be good for covering up while watching TV or reading a book, that was donated by a friend of Carol Silveria. The starting bid was $20. After a small bidding war, Perla Kohs gave us a high bid of $35.
Thank you to all who participate in and donate to our virtual auctions. You are all helping to keep fund-raising funds coming in while we continue to meet on Zoom.
We will continue to keep all of you informed of changes as they occur. As always, please stay safe and well!
Due to the reduction in service quality provided by VTA, Gail, Perla, and I have decided to reorganize the Transportation Committee. We will now hold monthly meetings on the fourth Thursday of the month at 6 PM over Zoom.
In taking a leadership role, I will try to give each meeting a purpose and each member an action item, so we can become part of the solution. Any ACB member, inside or outside of SVCB, is welcome to join. I have already invited Daveed Mandell, who is both a member of the Bayview chapter and on the ACB's National Transportation and Environmental Access Committee, to join us and offer his insights.
Many of our members have a number of complaints about inadequate VTA service, and Gail was working hard to compile them. I've decided to make it easier for us all by creating an internet mailing list and a folder in the Cloud so information is more easily shared. I'm aware that everyone isn't on the Internet, but the idea here is to have a single place where we can gather documents and audio trainings on transportation advocacy. It's also a place where we can document members' complaints. Without documentation, we do not have the clout we need to get our voices heard. So if you are not on the Internet, please register your complaints with someone on our evolving committee who is, so your experiences can be logged. Dates, times, and names can help make documentation more relevant.
If you wish to join our mailing list, please subscribe by sending an email to
I will regularly post a link to our shared folder in the Cloud so you can take advantage of any meeting recordings, trainings, or information I continue to gather. You will also be able to add to that folder. I've already collected many documents on efforts to reform transportation in the Bay Area by disability coalitions, plus I have grabbed all of ACB's national training podcasts on transportation advocacy and leadership.
A few ideas of possible tasks for this committee include:
* Maintain a document containing descriptions of transportation issues experienced by members.
* Research how to apply for a seat on the CTMA (County Transportation Mobility Access)
* Speak with other CTMA members to discover their core issues and begin coalition building.
* Research how VTA is funded
* Contact our local political representation which has influence over VTA's decision making.
* Learn what other CCB and ACB chapters have done to improve their public and paratransit services.
* Follow any congressional bills, both state and national, that affect transportation.
* Prepare a petition to submit formally to the VTA after signatures are obtained.
* Develop action items for each committee member
* Begin to brainstorm and then work toward a central issue for which we want to advocate.
You are welcome to join our committee. Please email or phone me:
The nonprofit organization, Bay Area Older Adults, is hosting a virtual multisensory park tour using Zoom. To register for the tour, please contact Dr. Anne Ferguson from Bay Area Older Adults by email
or call 408-774-0593 and leave your full name, the program you want to register for, and your phone number and email address, so we can send you the Zoom link and phone number to call in. We will call you if there are any unexpected changes to the program.
Thursday April 8 2021 from 3:30 to 4:30 PM: The Three Lakes of Joseph D Grant County Park. On our journey at Joseph D Grant County Park, we will learn about the wildlife supported by San Felipe Creek, the San Felipe Restoration Project managed by Valley Water, tarantulas, and more! Then we will travel on four miles of trails that take us to three lakes to hear the birds playing in the oak trees and drinking the lake water.
When most people hear the word "fat," they conjure up images ranging from fried chicken to double chocolate cake. On the other hand, hearing the word "FAT" conjures up images for us of suitcases, ticket counters, security check points, and airplanes. As travel addicts, we cannot resist a stir of excitement on arriving at Fresno Air Terminal (FAT) accompanied by our frequent flyer Golden Retriever guide dogs Echo and Escort.
As blind travelers, we find FAT, with its gates located along a straight corridor, an easy airport to navigate. Passing through security, the Golden boys stroll down the narrow hallway until we arrive at the gate. Along the way, we smile and the dogs wag their tails as passersby comment on how beautiful and well-behaved the Golden boys are. While waiting in the lounge for the boarding announcement, fellow passengers are permitted to pet Escort and Echo as long as they remain in a Down Stay.
When boarding is announced, our Goldens follow the ground crew member to the waiting plane. FAT does not have jet ways and the dogs must guide us along the tarmac to the bottom of the stairs leading into the plane. With the thunderous sounds of propeller and/or jet engines warming up, our hearing is temporarily obliterated. It is times like these when working with a dependable guide dog is particularly exhilarating.
For most of our trips, transfers have to be made in Dallas, Los Angeles, or Salt Lake City. Faced with a long layover, we take the opportunity to get the dogs out for relief. As a result, the safest and most convenient relief areas at these and other airports have been scouted out.
Until recently, the dogs used the only weed patch at the Los Angeles airport complex. To our and the dogs dismay, on our last trip we discovered the area had been upgraded by removing the weeds and replacing them with flowers. Not realizing this transformation had taken place, we permitted our canine partners to relieve in this newly beautified area. On the way back to the terminal, we were told the gardener was standing nearby, glowering at the desecration of his handiwork! Next time, an alternative relief area will have to be found!
Our canine assistants are not only a source of independence and pleasure for us, they also delight and distract other passengers. A favorite story involved a little boy on a Delta flight who was restless and noisy during our cross-country trip. As he and his mother were leaving the plane, little Johnny, observing the Goldens, loudly exclaimed: "Mommy, look! Those dogs were on the plane and nobody even knew it!" Sighing with exhaustion, she replied, "Yes, Johnny! But everyone knew you were on board!"
On a U.S. Air flight, we were fortunate to be bumped up to first class, and were sitting in the middle section of a wide-bodied plane with lots of space in front of us. A family traveling with three-year-old twins asked if the girls could pet our dogs. Our guides will remain in a DOWN STAY position in order to enjoy the benefits of the caresses of admiring fans. The children sat quietly for over an hour petting and cooing over the dogs. It was a mutual admiration society! The parents were so delighted with their temporary respite from child care that they jokingly suggested we coordinate our flights with their future travel plans!
All of our guide dogs have been frequent flyers, and for many years our previous guides, Kirby and Ivy, were our constant companions. During a layover, Toni and a flight attendant took both dogs into the women's rest room to offer them water. While Toni took Ivy into the toilet stall, the American Airline escort offered water to Kirby. At this time of his working life, Kirby was quite distinctive, having lost his left front leg to amputation from cancer. A preschooler, entering the rest room with her mother, exclaimed with surprise at Kirby's tripod status. At that point, the attendant left the rest room to bring Kirby back to Ed. As Toni emerged from the stall with four-legged Ivy, the child shouted with glee, "Look, mommy! The doggy is all fixed! It has four legs again!"
Because of the dogs' presence, we sometimes meet celebrities in our travels. On a flight to New York, we met Carroll O'Connor and had a chance to chat with him. To our delight, the head flight attendant announced Mr. O'Connor was on board, as well as celebrities Escort and Echo! While waiting to pick up our luggage, Carroll and his wife came over and took the opportunity to pet and chat with the boys. We were saddened recently to learn about the death of this great actor and dog lover.
On the last leg of an extended business trip, we were feeling the effects of being on eight planes in eleven days. After dozing for most of the flight, we got up to stretch our legs and use the facilities. Ivy and Kirby were asleep under the seats in front of us, a place generally used for carry-on luggage. Apparently, during the few minutes we were away, an unexpected adventure took place. Not realizing a gluttonous Golden Retriever was curled up under her seat, (a passenger) placed an open box of expensive cookies in that space. Imagine Ivy's delight when, without having to move a muscle, she was presented with this delectable treat! Imagine the passenger's consternation when, reaching for a cookie, she found a slimy empty box!
Returning to our seats, a distressed flight attendant reported this infraction of guide dog etiquette. Despite the fear of chocolate toxicity, we were so tired and giddy we could only laugh. Before pulling ourselves together and apologizing to the passenger, several silly scenarios were conjured up. In one, the passenger was entering a baking contest. She had worked for years developing the perfect cookie, and was on her way to enter her confections in an international cookie fair. However, in one gulp, Ivy destroyed her years of work. In the other scenario, the passenger's husband adored the cookies sold by a particular bakery in Florida. She only traveled to Florida once every three years, and always brought back a box of his favorites. We empathized with his disappointment as she walked off the plane, empty cookie box in hand.
On a non-stop cross-country flight on United, a flight attendant asked what would happen if our dogs needed to relieve themselves during the trip. We responded in a serious tone, "The pilot would simply have to land the plane." Quite startled, the attendant replied, "I'm so sorry. That simply isn't possible!"
While changing planes in Los Angeles, an Air Canada counter clerk inquired about the dogs' weight. "Aren't we scheduled to fly to Montreal on a 747?" we inquired. "You certainly are," responded the clerk, "but this information is required to balance the plane." Recognizing we were dealing with an official immersed in rules and regulations, with straight faces we endeavored to provide accurate weights for our guides. After all, we didn't want to be responsible for the plane tilting to one side!
People always ask where the dogs fly when they go on board with us. When we pre-board and have the dogs go under the seats in front, passengers cannot believe two large dogs can fit in such a confined space. Since they are neatly tucked away by the time other passengers board, we are frequently asked what happened to them. To tease some of those who inquire, we'll sometimes say we folded them up and put them in the overhead compartment! Of course, we then point to the boys lying contentedly at our feet and dispel the mystery!
For us and our fellow travelers, the Goldens act as a social icebreaker. Many people who would not think of talking to a stranger feel no qualms in approaching us and our canine assistants. Since the dogs are usually tucked away when other passengers board, and based on the cookie caper, we usually warn the passengers in front that two dogs are under their seats. On more than one occasion, this interchange has resulted in great benefit. Going to a veterinary conference in Tulsa, it turned out the person in front of Ed was a veterinarian attending the same conference. He owned three clinics in Tulsa and asked us to speak to his staff.
Thus the magnetic canine personalities we travel with continue enriching our lives in a multiplicity of ways.
Peter Andrew Proscia, age 61, passed away on March 1st, due to complications from a recent cancer diagnosis. Pete was born in Glen Cove, NY and spent his childhood in NY and MA before his family relocated in the 70s to Los Altos Hills, CA. Pete attended high school and college in the Bay Area, making lifelong friendships that continue to this day. Pete was always known as someone who would go out of his way to help others. While working at Telesensory Systems in Mt. View, Pete met Phyllis, and (they) were married in 1984. Pete proudly took on the role of father to Phyllis' two boys, Brian and Jeff, raising them with love, guidance, and enjoyment. Pete's passions were skiing, backpacking, and music. He was lead guitarist in System 9, a Bay Area band during the 80s. Pete and his wife, Phyllis, moved to Grass Valley, CA in 1992 to join a startup company in the video editing industry. In 2000, when his father, Vito Proscia retired, he became President/CEO of Innovative Rehabilitation Technology, Inc. (IRTI), a family owned business offering products and services for the visually impaired. Pete leaves behind his loving wife of 37 years, Phyllis. Sons, Brian (Tia) Smits, and Jeff (Michele) Smits. Grandchildren, PJ, Ariella, and Talia. Siblings, David (Sharyl) Proscia, Cathy (Bill) McKinney, Laurie Proscia, Janie (Brooks) Proscia-Sines, and nine nieces and nephews. He will also be greatly missed by his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Lynne and Bill Cardwell, and numerous friends and extended family members. Pete is preceded in death by his parents, Vito and Marion Proscia, and nephew, Cooper Proscia. No services are planned at this time.
APPLY FOR THE $1,500 FRIENDS IN ART ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP
Friends-in-Art (FIA), a nonprofit organization with the mission of creating spaces where visually-impaired artists and audiences thrive, offers an annual $1,500 scholarship to college students who are legally blind and live in North America.
If you are a high school senior or a college student planning to, or are currently majoring in the field of music, art, drama, or creative writing, and are blind or visually impaired, we encourage you to apply!
Note: Legal blindness is defined as an individual who has a visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the corrected eye and/or 20 degrees or less visual field in the corrected eye.
and complete the application, and upload/mail the required materials, including documentation of visual impairment from a medical professional or Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, per the directions on the form by June 15, 2021.
Please direct any questions to Peter Altschul, FIA's scholarship chair, via email at
Yesterday Master lost his iPhone. He looked all round, up and down, frantic frantic, bedroom, his desk, tic tic, and finally asked Star to help. He always feels bad about asking her for help since it's painful her looking up and down, but "she has the magic," he says.
So they finally take a rest, and Master feels the waste basket.
Tabard Theatre shows: To order tickets, call the Tabard Box Office at 408-679-2330 and speak to Marilyn Watts, or visit tabardtheatre.org/.
SVCB members and Blind Center clients should use Discount Code BC27 when ordering.
Performances take place at The Tabard Theatre, 29 North San Pedro Street, San Jose, CA 95110.
Contact the theatre for the current schedule.
San Francisco LightHouse
To hear weekly events at the San Francisco LightHouse, call 415-694-7325.
Let's Talk Low Vision
The monthly "Let's Talk Low Vision" conferences from the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI) can be accessed as podcasts at www.airsla.org/cclvi.asp.
If you want to participate in these conferences, visit
Departs every Sunday at noon from Pier 40 in San Francisco. Call 415-281-0212 for information and reservations, or visit www.baads.org.
Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program (BORP)
BORP believes that everyone should have access to the unique challenges that outdoor recreation provides, and makes every effort to accommodate each person's needs, including providing transportation and volunteer support. For event listings, call Lori Gray at 510-843-4398, or visit www.borp.org.
Calendar
April 1, 7 to 9 PM: SVCB Board meeting to fool the President. If you're not on the Board but want to attend this meeting, contact SVCB president Rob Turner.
April 1-3: Tabard Theatre presents ERMA BOBECK: AT WIT's End, see notes above.
April 6, 5:30 to 7 PM: Breast Cancer Support group. Call-in: 605-715-4920; ID: 2776167. For questions, call Lori Scharff at 516-887-1336, or lorischarff@gmail.com.
April 16 through 17: The 61st Annual CTEBVI Conference, Tipping Point, will be held online.
April 17, 10 AM: Monthly SVCB Meeting.
April 19, noon: May newsletter deadline.
April 20: Let's Talk Low Vision: BARD (Braille audio and Reading Download), see notes above.
Thursday, April 22 to Sunday, April 25: CCB Conference and Convention, visit