Legislative Hotlines, current issues for blind persons:
CALIFORNIA CONNECTION:
800-221-6359, after 5 PM and weekends
WASHINGTON CONNECTION:
800-424-8666, 3 to 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.
Debee Armstrong was traveling at the time of our August meeting, so her presentation on rescue dogs had to be postponed. We will try to get a speaker from the League of Women Voters for our October meeting. Perhaps we can hear about rescue dogs in November.
While reviewing the Zoom recording of our August membership meeting, especially during the business portion, I noticed that the sound was muffled and there was too much echo. We will do our best to remedy this before our next meeting.
Remember to sign up for our picnic to be held Saturday September 17.
Joe Silveria approached me before our August meeting and commented, in his brusque no-nonsense way, that we need to find young people to take over for us to keep SVCB from fading away. He is right. The bad news is that other service organizations are also having trouble recruiting young people. Nevertheless, in my opinion, we need to make this a top priority moving forward.
Enjoy these beautiful summer days while they last. See you at our picnic.
Keep Victor Clifford in your thoughts and prayers. Around three weeks ago he had colon cancer surgery at Kaiser. The good news is that they feel they got all the cancerous tissue, but there was a major complication. His intestines did not wake up after the surgery, and he couldn't leave the hospital until they did. But he is safe at home now, and all bodily functions are wide awake and working as they should. You can contact Beverly Clifford for the latest developments, and even talk to Vic himself if he isn't napping—he'd be happy to hear from you.
Let's welcome our newest member Ray Ojinaga from Cupertino. Thanks for joining, Ray, and we all wish you a happy time with us.
And let's wish happy September birthdays to Donald Reelfs and Mike Keithley.
"Happy birthday to me,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to me and you,
Happy birthday to all!"
Now that wasn't bad at all, King! "Thank you. I mean, got to get a word in somehow!"
Don't forget the SVCB picnic on September 17. Read the picnic announcement in this issue of the newsletter and procedures to make sure VTA Access knows how to get you to the Sylvendale picnic site.
Did you think the ACB Brenda Dillon Memorial Walk ended at the convention in Omaha? Well, that's not the case. You've still got time to make those much-appreciated contributions, helping ACB and/or an affiliate of your choice. Visit
2022 Resolutions, Constitution & Bylaws Now Available Online
Thanks to the efforts of the resolutions committee, constitution & bylaws committee, and Sharon Lovering. Our 2022 constitution & bylaws amendments and resolutions are now available online. You can find the 2022 Resolutions at:
Meet ACB's three newly elected members of the ACB Board of Directors, Gabriel Lopez Kafati, Rachel Schroeder, and Terry Pacheco on the ACB Advocacy Update. They discuss their history with ACB, including why they became a member, their leadership experience, why they ran for a board position, their thoughts on our first-ever hybrid convention, and advocacy issues they're excited to work on. We also find a common theme within their shared experience of ACB as a wonderful and welcoming organization for everyone. Listen at:
Save the Date: ACB's 2022 Audio Description Awards Gala
The American Council of the Blind (ACB) proudly announces the second annual Audio Description Awards Gala on November 29, 2022. The Gala will once again celebrate outstanding achievements in audio description in media and expand awareness of its benefits. Please save the date to join us on Nov. 29th, 2022, to celebrate audio description in media. Visit
In July, ACB Executive Director Eric Bridges was a participant of a Netflix community panel, about accessibility in entertainment, during an accessible screening of "The Gray Man" in New York City. In this article, Forbes describes the purpose of this inclusive event, and how accessibility efforts by Netflix are bringing the disability community together. Visit:
Fitness and exercise just became more accessible with the introduction of the Google Talkback screen reader, on the Peloton Tread! The American Council of the Blind is proud to have collaborated with Peloton, to establish the new Tread accessibility features. ACB is working to shine a spotlight on the inaccessibility and inequities of all aspects of health and wellness, like at-home COVID testing, patient portals and telehealth, or exercise and fitness equipment. We are thankful for the collaboration of partners, like Peloton, who recognize accessibility as an opportunity to grow their community and enhance the lives of people with disabilities. Learn more by visiting:
FCC Public Notice: Accessibility of Televised Emergency Information
On August 9, 2022, the FCC released a Public Notice to remind video programming distributors, including broadcasters, cable operators and satellite television services that deliver video programming directly to the home, of their obligation to make televised emergency information accessible to persons who are blind, visually impaired, deaf, or hard of hearing. This Public Notice also provides information for consumers about where they can find more information about access to televised emergency information, and how to file complaints when televised emergency information is not accessible. For more information about accessible televised emergency information, visit:
You've probably heard about the breathtaking images from the James Webb telescope, but did you know the Webb Space Telescope gallery has several images with detailed alt text included on every image? Swing over to their site to check them all out:
The SVCB picnic is really on for Saturday, September 17. The time slot is 11 AM to 3 PM, and the picnic site is Sylvendale at Hellyer Park. We'll have hot dogs, meat/vegie burgers, salads and drinks. Registration is $20 for SVCB members and $25 for guests. plans for activities are in the works.
This year we're actively working to avoid past problems where Access drivers became very confused when picking us up. Thanks to Victor Clifford and Debee Armstrong, a map of Hellyer park with a focus on the Sylvendale site has been given to VTA Access dispatchers. This should remove confusions, but you need to be precise in specifying the Sylvendale site. But if the reservationist seems confused, ask to be transferred to Mary at VTA Access. Her contact info is:
SVCB members and Vista Center clients should use Discount Code BC27 when ordering. Performances take place at The Tabard THEATRE, 29 North San Pedro Street, San Jose. The phrase "On Demand" means that the show can be viewed by services like Comcast.
Shows Described by AudioVision
For all productions (Golden Gate, Orpheum Theatres, Broadway San Francisco, and Broadway San Jose) tickets are generally on sale four weeks before the production opens. To charge tickets and reserve receivers, call 888-746-1799 (SHN Theaters), or fax your order to 415-581-2121 and ask for AudioVision tickets. If you have any questions, please email:
Audio described shows by TheatreWorks have resumed with descriptions by Gravity. Pre-register for tickets, which include a free "show talk" 30 minutes before the show, at the TheatreWorks box office at:
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 are held on the third Tuesday of the month at 8:30 PM Eastern. Archives are available on the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI) official website at:
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
September 3, 1 PM: OKLAHOMA, Broadway San Francisco, see AudioVision notes.
September 6, 5:30 to 7 PM: Breast Cancer Support Group meeting. Call-in: 605-715-4920; ID: 2776167. For questions, call Lori Scharff at 516-887-1336, or lorischarff@gmail.com.
September 9, 10 at 8 PM and 11 at 2 PM and 7 PM: HERSEY FELDER CHOPIN IN PARIS, MVCPA, see notes.
September 17, 11 AM to 3 PM: SVCB annual Picnic, Hellyer County Park, Sylvendale site; read Picnic Details in this newsletter and the article Update on Transit to the Picnic in the August newsletter.
September 19, noon: Deadline for SVCB October newsletter.
October
October 4, 5:30-7 PM: Breast Cancer Support Group meeting.
October 6, 7 to 9 PM: SVCB Board meeting. If you want to join this meeting, contact SVCB president Rob Turner.
October 15: White Cane Safety Day.
October 15, 9:30 AM to 1 PM: SVCB membership meeting.
October 17, noon: November SVCB newsletter deadline.