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 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.
As I begin my fourth and final term as SVCB president, there are several issues that I plan to address before the next administration takes office. In no particular order they are:
1. Our committees and their members need to be documented and displayed on our website. Our chapter basically runs itself and our committee assignments gradually became informal and undocumented.
2. Our awareness and coverage of local, state and national legislation needs to be enhanced. When we receive legislative alerts asking us to write letters, send emails and make phone calls, we need more members to respond.
3. Attracting new members, especially those who are young and enthusiastic, is a must for SVCB to remain strong and vibrant.
4. Until the California Council of the Blind regains its nonprofit tax status, we cannot raise funds. Therefore, it would behoove SVCB to obtain our own; if that proves to be feasible.
5. We need a backup plan for our Zoom broadcast in case I have to miss a meeting. I expect to have one in place before our March meeting.
Remember, if you have ideas for guest speakers, contact either me or Susan Glass.
As I write this message, the day is sunny and warm. Enjoy this beautiful weather while it lasts. Talk with you at our Zoom meeting Saturday February 18.
Kinda short this month, not much going on. We had a very nice program at the January in-person meeting where Zeeanna Bunch, a visually impaired Realtor in Morgan Hill talked to us about her business and how she copes. It was interesting to note how little she used rehab and organizations like CCB and ACB. I came away feeling that they were losers in regards to Zeeanna's success. It seems that family and close friends were much more helpful. Through the Tech Grant program, SVCB gave Zeeanna a monitor that she uses in her work, and she thanked us.
In February our membership meeting will be on Zoom. Be sure to check the Event Calendar for call-in information. Also note that during the June meeting, we will discuss whether to continue having an in-person meeting on odd-numbered months and zooms during even-numbered months.
"But who cares about me." Kinda low, eh. "Yup, my fur is still wet from all the rain." Well come in out of the cold and roll around the carpet!
The 2023 SVCB budget will be distributed with this newsletter, and we'll approve it at the February meeting. In addition, we'll be electing delegates and alternate delegates for the CCB Convention.
Below is information for attending the CCB Convention:
Announcing The 2023 CCB Hybrid Conference & Convention
When: March 31-April 2, 2023
Where: Hilton Sacramento Arden West
And on the Zoom Webinar platform
To secure your room registration you can call
(916) 922-4700 Extension 1
mention group rate code "COB."
Room Rate including tax: $139.37*
*Reflects cost per night at check out, after $10.00 complimentary subsidy by CCB.
Last day to get this room rate is March 9, 2023. After this date, the group rate will not be available.
The Hybrid Main Event will again be preceded by a virtual pre-convention that will include meetings and activities hosted by our fantastic CCB Chapters, Affiliates, and Committees. The hybrid main event will include exhibitors, great panels and speakers, and of course good friends!
We are excited to announce that Tabitha Kenlon will join our staff to fill the newly created position of Audio Description Project (ADP) Coordinator. The ADP Coordinator will help facilitate the day-to-day activities of the Audio Description Project program. In this role, Tabitha will report to Clark Rachfal, the Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs, and will assist with public policy related to audio description; build and maintain partnerships and relationships with external stakeholders, and advocate to expand access to audio description and the necessary access technologies. Learn more about Tabitha at:
-Apply to Become a DKM First-Timer or a JPMorgan Chase Leadership Fellow
We're honoring the Legacy of Durward K. McDaniel (DKM) as we announce that we are now accepting online applications for the Class of 2023 DKM First-Timers and Class of 2023 ACB/JPMorgan Chase Leadership Fellows. To be eligible for consideration, each applicant must be age 18 or older, blind or visually impaired, current on ACB membership dues, and never have attended an in-person ACB conference and convention. For full details, see the articles in the January 2023 Braille Forum and February E-Forum. Access the 2023 Award Application by visiting:
The ACB Mini Mall is proud to announce the addition of several new exciting items: A new ACB Hooded Sweatshirt in navy blue with a white ACB logo embroidered on upper left, available in sizes M-3XL and sells for $40.
A new ACB Full Zip Hoodie in navy blue with a white ACB logo screen printed on the upper left, available in sizes M-2XL and sells for $55.
A new Rubbermaid Chug Tritan Bottle. These 24-ounce bottles are translucent aqua with the black ACB logo. They sell for $20.
A white plastic LED Safety Clip with an LED neon green light, and the ACB logo in black. The plastic safety clip helps improve visibility and is perfect for walking, running or cycling at night. The clips can attach to the back of your shoe, around your wrist, belt loop, or even on a dog's collar or harness. They come with 2 CR3032 replacement batteries, work for approximately 70-100 hours, and sell for $12.
where you can shop and buy your ACB items when it's convenient for you. If you try to purchase any of these new items online and the item is out of stock, please call:
(612) 332-3242
so we can reserve the item for you when a new order is received.
-Elf Pets: A Fox Cub's Christmas Tale
On December 24th, ACB & The Lumistella Company aired a special audio described broadcast of the animated holiday special, "Elf Pets: A Fox Cub's Christmas Tale," to make holiday cheer more widely available to all. This holiday program also featured an audio described production of Rory Hoffman's "The Twelve Days of Christmas", a visit from Santa himself and phone calls from kids. To access the event recording, visit:
-Apply for the $2,000 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 and an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind (ACB), offers an annual $2,000 scholarship to college students who are legally blind. If you are a high school senior or a college student engaged in the fields of music, art, drama, graphic arts, and/or creative writing, and are blind or visually impaired, we encourage you to apply!
In addition to being legally blind, applicants must: Maintain a 3.0 GPA; Be a full-time student or work 32 or more hours per week while attending college part-time; and Be involved in their school/local community. To find out more or to apply, please visit:
Be sure to highlight your arts-related activities while completing the application form so that we will know you are interested in applying for the FIA scholarship. Please also note that completion of the application process will make you potentially eligible for other ACB scholarships.
Deadline: February 14, 2023.
Please direct any questions to Peter Altschul, FIA Scholarship Chair, at:
Sunday Edition and Guide Dog Users Inc., have partnered to recognize some amazing guide dogs. Sunday Edition will collect nominations from March 1st until May 15th. Then a committee from GDUI and Sunday Edition will select 10 Furry-Tail recipients to be awarded at the convention program. Submissions should include a written testimonial of 500 to 750 words, including the story of the guide dog with anecdotes and accomplishments. Please include any memorable moments from the life of the nominee. Also be sure to note who is the handler and who will represent the handler and nominee at convention. If you have one, send along a photo of the nominee and the team. And include any folks who wish to share stories and memories of the nominee.
Please send your nominations (no earlier than March 1st) to
Expanding the descriptions of artworks on museums' websites and audio tours is perhaps the most significant way these institutions are becoming more accessible to people with a range of vision conditions, from partially sighted to completely blind.
At the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, which includes the Legion of Honor and de Young Museum, a traditional artwork audio description runs about 250 words, while the expanded texts may be as many as 330. In several Bay Area museums, work on making those descriptions more inclusive is a priority. Learn more at:
ACB's 2023 Leadership Conference will feature both a virtual and an in-person component. The ACB Presidents' Meeting and Legislative Seminar will take place virtually from March 4-7, and will include a Fireside Chat on Sunday, March 5. Review ACB's 2023 Legislative Imperatives. The in-person portion of the Leadership Conference will take place at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town from March 9-12 in Alexandria, Virginia. During the in-person portion of the Leadership Conference, ACB will host an Accessible Currency Rally at the White House. Attendees will also have the opportunity to take part in multiple exciting and informative tours around the DC area. Tours include the White House Visitor Center, U.S. Botanical Gardens, Jefferson Memorial and U.S. Capitol, George Washington's Mount Vernon estate, and several historic DC Monuments. ACB member-only registration for the 2023 Leadership Conference opens January 31, with registration access for all opening on February 7. The deadline to register is February 28. For more information, visit:
Tabard Theatre presents: The Super Secret Society: A Playable Play
In-person: February 11-19. Livestream: February 11 and 12. On Demand: February 13-March 13
The Super Secret Society of Spectacled Spectators welcomes you to a unique experience exploring timeless literary classics, technology, art, the inexorable march of progress, and other ideas that will be anything but the expected. In this play, you will delve deeper into the secrets of the past—and the future.
Inspired by contemporary comedy classics of the American stage (like The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), this irreverent comedy invites you on a theatrical journey like no other. It is a wild and hilarious blend of traditional theatre, immersive design, improvisation, and acrobatics, with the addition of some cutting-edge technology, including use of Artificial Intelligence that marks some significant "firsts" in theatre history.
Each night, our star is joined by a special guest from the local arts and culture sector to perform the show. These guests choose a classic author of the night, and share their experiences about the work of that literary giant. Except there is one catch: They do all this while performing in a play that everyone else has rehearsed ... except them!
So grab your spectacles, bring your sense of play, and join the rest of the Spectators for a once-in-a-lifetime romp!
This show is included for Main Stage subscribers. Masks are encouraged but not required. Vaccination is no longer required.
These two recipes were contributed by Suzanne Smith, who must have a whole room filled with cookbooks! This month, she has provided us with some hot, hearty meals for our winter enjoyment.
-Minestrone Soup
From Better Homes Special Interest Publication: Simply Perfect Italian—100 Family Favorites from Start to Finish in 30 Minutes
2 (14-ounce) cans chicken broth seasoned with Italian herbs
2 medium carrots, finely sliced (one cup)
1/2 cup ditalini thimbles (or tiny bow-tie pasta)
1 medium zucchini, chopped (one-and-a-quarter cups)
1 (14 and 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes with onions and garlic, undrained
1 (15 or 15 and 1/2 ounce) can white kidney beans (cannellini) or navy beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil or spinach
bottled hot pepper sauce (optional)
Combine broth and carrots in a large saucepan, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer, covered, for 5 minutes.
Stir in pasta, and simmer uncovered, for 8 minutes, or until pasta is just tender. Add zucchini, undrained tomatoes, and beans. Heat through. Sprinkle each serving with basil or spinach just before you plan to eat. If desired, pass bottle of hot pepper sauce. Serves 4.
-Southwest Mac and Beef
From Favorite All-Time Recipes:
Campbell's 75th Anniversary Cookbook, Cooking in Minutes
1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 (10 and 3/4 ounce) can Campbell's Condensed Cheddar Cheese Soup
1 (10 and 1/2 ounce) can Campbell's Condensed Beef Broth
1 soup can water
1 (15 ounce) can stewed tomatoes
1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chilis
1/2 cup elbow macaroni, uncooked
In a 4 quart Dutch oven over medium heat, cook beef, onion, and cumin until beef is browned, stirring to separate meat. Spoon off fat.
Add soup, and stir until smooth. Stir in broth, water, tomatoes, and chilis. Heat until boiling. Add macaroni, and reduce heat to low. Cook for 12 minutes, or until macaroni is tender, stirring occasionally. Makes 6 cups or 4 servings.
Note: For extra fire, serve with hot chili peppers.
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.
3. Shows Described by AudioVision Bay Area (formerly 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 that include a free "show talk" 30 minutes before the show, at the TheatreWorks box office at:
8. 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:
Feb 10 and 11 at 8 PM, and 12 at 2 PM: IN EVERY GENERATION, TheatreWorks, MVCPA, (see notes).
Feb 11 through 18: THE SUPER SECRET SOCIETY: A PLAYABLE PLAY, Tabard Theatre, (see notes and the Tabard article in this newsletter).
Feb 18, 9:30 AM to 1 PM: Virtual SVCB membership meeting. Approve 2023 budget.
Feb 18, 1 PM: DEAR EVAN HANSEN with descriptions by AudioVision Bay Area, Broadway San Francisco, (see notes).
Feb 20, noon: March SVCB newsletter deadline.
Feb 26, 1 PM: MEAN GIRLS with descriptions by AudioVision Bay Area, Broadway San Francisco, (see notes).
Feb 26, 1 PM: MY FAIR LADY with descriptions by AudioVision Bay Area, Broadway San Jose, (see notes).
March
Mar 2, 7 to 9 PM: SVCB Board meeting. If you want to join this meeting, contact SVCB president Rob Turner.
Mar 7, 5:30 to 7 PM: Breast Cancer Support Group meeting.
Mar 10 through Mar 14: ACB Affiliate Presidents' Meeting and Legislative Seminar. Capitol Hill Day is Tue. Mar 14. (See Tidbits article in this newsletter.)
Mar 13 through Mar 17: 38th Annual CSUN Conference, visit:
www.csun.edu/cod/conference/sessions/ for details.
Mar 18, 9:30 AM to 1 PM: In-person SVCB membership meeting.
Mar 20, noon: April SVCB newsletter deadline.
Mar 31 through Apr 2: CCB Conference and Convention. (See Membership Corner in this newsletter.)
Mar 31 at 8 PM, Apr 1 at 8 PM and Apr 2 at 2 PM: FANNIE with descriptions by Gravity, MVCPA, see notes.