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 from 9:30 AM to 1 PM the third Saturday of the month and are open to all.
The month of October is significant for blind and low vision individuals, and all those living with visible and invisible disabilities. In reflecting on this month, I encourage you to seek opportunities for your voice to be heard in your own community, network, and circle of friends and families. Just a few opportunities are highlighted in this article.
October 15 is White Cane Safety Day. On October 6, 1964, a Joint Resolution of Congress, HR 753, was signed into law authorizing the President of the United States to proclaim October 15th of each year as "White Cane Safety Day". Within hours of the passage of the Congressional resolution, President Lyndon B. Johnson made history as the first president to proclaim October 15th as "White Cane Safety Day."
On October 15, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM, the National federation of the Blind is organizing a rally in San Francisco at Uber and Lyft Headquarters, to protest Uber and Lyft's practices of denying services to guide dog handlers and those using white canes. Uber headquarters is located at 1725 3rd Street, San Francisco, California, 94158. The link to the interest form and for more information, is:
October is also declared as National Disability Employment Month. Last year, I attended with one of my favorite contacts in the City of San Jose, Disability Affairs Officer, Raania Mohsen, who works with a team to plan the City of San Jose's 2024 Disability Awareness Day. The event will be held on Thursday, October 10, from 10 AM to 1 PM at San José City Hall’s Plaza and Rotunda:
Location: 200 E. Santa Clara Street, San Jose, CA 95113
Description: A free event that celebrates an inclusive community, and provides opportunities for employment, education, and recreation.
More information is available on the Disability Awareness Day event webpage:
Remember that our October program will be presented by our usual representative from the League of Women Voters. And our SVCB Old-Time Radio program, conducted by John Glass and organized by a wonderful committee. Both will be held the same day. Doors open at 1 PM, and the show runs from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM. More info will be noted in this newsletter.
Speaking of Committees, a special shout out to the SVCB Picnic Committee, this year headed up by David Hoffman. The "seasoned" committee members delivered a beautiful day of comradeship, food, and fun! Thanks to all, and see you at the October meeting.
Well King, did you like your picnic hotdogs? "Gogdogs you mean, master. Calling us dogs "hot" is demeaning. We're dogs, dig?", OK, gogdogs it is. So, did you get any gogdogs? "Nah, you left the picnic and forgot to pick them up. Shameful! But someone got them, and that's a good thing, at least they didn't go to waste." That's true and I'm glad for that.
Anyway, the picnic was a very nice event, and things progressed smoothly. "A loud bark to the picnic committee and everyone else who made it such a successful wag."
The October meeting program will be an explanation of local and state ballot measures by reps from the League of Women Voters. I always look forward to this program as it means I don't need the voter guides!
And plan to attend the Old Time Radio Show after the meeting. Fine show. Details will be part of the October phone tree message, so be sure to read them. But the basic deal is that the Old Time Radio Show will happen, between 1:30 and 3:30 PM, with doors opening at 1:00. We will be charging a $5 entrance fee, which includes either two snacks or a drink and a snack, your choice. You'll be able to buy more snacks and drinks for $2. Snacks include individualized bags of popcorn, variety packs with cookies and chips, plus rice krispy bars, and there'll be water, sprite and coke.
It's at the Vista Center San Jose, so if you attend the SVCB meeting, just stick around. If you're not attending the meeting, arrive at 1 PM. You should arrange your return ride before 4 PM so staff can wrap up and go home.
John Glass will be hosting the show, and he'll have several Halloween themed OTR recordings to share. Contact John if you want your spooky favorite heard!
Let's wish happy October birthdays to John Kanze, Donna Sanchez and Michelle McGrew—they'll love you! And though Michelle is in Tennessee and no longer a SVCB member, we still hear from her in meetings through the Zoom connection. That system works pretty well now that the technical problems have been addressed.
If you haven't done so, pay your 2025 dues at the October meeting by giving them to David Hoffman. They're $20. You can also pay through Paypal using the name
svcb@svcb.cc
or with a check using the postal address at the top of this newsletter.
-Press Release: Social Security Administration Digitizes or Removes Signature Requirements for Many Forms, This Move Eases the Burden on Millions of Customers
The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced progress this year to reduce customer burden by transitioning wet (physical) signature requirements to digital signatures for over 30 forms, as well as removing the signature requirements altogether for 13 forms. These actions simplify application processes for people, including removing a potential reason for claims to be sent back or denied.
"Across forms that Americans use most often, we're eliminating as many pain points as possible, from helping people sign at the click of a button to reducing the need to drive or mail something in whenever possible," said Martin O'Malley, Commissioner of Social Security. "This means faster and more error-free processing and better service for our customers, who deserve a government that meets their needs efficiently and effectively."
As a result of this work, SSA will now allow an electronic signature rather than a wet signature for more than 30 forms, which make up 90% of the most commonly used forms by SSA customers in local field offices. Collectively, these forms represent about 14 million signed forms submitted annually.
Furthermore, this year, SSA has removed the signature requirement entirely for 13 of its most commonly used forms totaling about 1 million submissions in volume annually. This includes removing the signature requirement for the Medical Source Opinion of Patient's Capability to Manage Benefits (Form SSA-787, which has a total annual volume of 768,000), the Letter to Employer Requesting Wage Information (Form SSA-L4201, which has an annual volume of 133,000), and Request for Reconsideration-Disability Cessation Right to Appear (Form SSA-789, which has an annual volume of 49,000). Customers may also upload many of the 13 forms online, further reducing the burden felt by customers.
To build on this progress, SSA is considering removal of signature requirements on other forms that would ease requirements on about 1 million additional transactions.
Social Security works to pay the right people at the right time in the correct amount. These efforts ensure we maintain strong anti-fraud protections while removing onerous requirements that are not serving their intended purposes.
These efforts also complement other initiatives to modernize and streamline operations. The agency is expanding paperless communication options for the millions of my Social Security
users so they can see their online Social Security Statement, track the status of their claims, and calculate potential retirement benefits. Notices from across 60 categories are now provided through my Social Security for easy online access by customers, including the Cost-of-Living Adjustment, their SSA-1099, Benefit Rate Increases, Appointment Confirmations, and more. New My Social Security account holders can choose online-only communications with one click, and others are encouraged to transition for an enhanced experience.
For more information on online services, visit Online Services at:
Important Update: Automatic QMB Enrollment for SSI Recipients Starting October 2024
By October 1, 2024, most individuals enrolled in Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid, and eligible for Medicare will be automatically enrolled in the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program. QMB is a Medicaid program that covers Medicare costs, including Part A premiums for those who don't qualify for premium-free Part A, Part B premiums, and cost-sharing, while providing robust protections against improper billing.
Due to SSI's low income and asset limits, SSI recipients are always financially eligible for the QMB program. Yet, many SSI recipients who are currently eligible are not enrolled. The new policy will ensure that those not enrolled will be automatically enrolled by their state Medicaid agency. Individuals will receive notices regarding this change, and can also check their QMB status by contacting their state Medicaid agency, or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE.
Requirements for Automatic Enrollment: The requirements for automatic enrollment vary, based on individual circumstances. Effective October 1, 2024, Free Part A: All states will be required to automatically enroll SSI recipients in QMB when:
(1) they are enrolled in SSI-based Medicaid and
(2) they are eligible for premium-free Medicare Part A.
Part A with a Premium: Some individuals have to pay a premium in order to enroll in Medicare Part A. For those individuals, thirty-six states and DC will be required to automatically enroll individuals in QMB when
(1) they are enrolled in SSI-based Medicaid and
(2) they are enrolled in Medicare Part B. These states are referred to as "Part A buy-in states," and are Alaska, Arkansas, California (as of January 1, 2025), Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. For the remaining 14 states, known as "group payer" states, automatic enrollment of SSI recipients who have to pay a premium remains optional.
Regardless of whether someone meets the above criteria, all individuals eligible for QMB can affirmatively enroll with their state Medicaid agency.
Additional Resources: For more information on automatic QMB enrollment, visit:
From the Vista Client Insights October 2024 e-Newsletter
There's no better day to celebrate the power of the white cane than October 15—White Cane Safety Day. It's the day set aside by the federal government to recognize the independence and skill of people who use white canes. It's also a reminder that laws in all 50 states require drivers to yield the right of way to people with white canes, even when they're not in a crosswalk.
In honor of White Cane Safety Day, here are 10 quirky facts about the white cane, courtesy of Perkins News:
1. Yes, it's legal to take a white cane through security at an airport according to the TSA, but it has to go through the X-ray machine.
2. White canes are white because of George A. Bonham. In 1930, Bonham, president of the Peoria Lions Club (Illinois), watched a man who was blind attempting to cross a street. The man's cane was black and motorists couldn't see it, so Bonham proposed painting the cane white with a red stripe to make it more noticeable. The idea quickly caught on around the country.
3. White canes are going high-tech. Inventors in India, Great Britain, and France have equipped white canes with ultrasonic devices that detect obstacles up to nine feet away. Vibrations in the cane's handle warn users of potential hazards in their path.
4. The standard technique for using a white cane was pioneered in 1944 by Richard E. Hoover, a World War II veteran rehabilitation specialist. His technique of holding a long cane in the center of the body and swinging it back and forth before each step to detect obstacles is still called the "Hoover Method."
5. Most people who are visually impaired don't use a white cane. In fact, only an estimated 2 percent to 8 percent do. The rest rely on their usable vision, a guide dog, or a sighted guide.
6. There are actually three different types of white canes. There's the standard mobility cane, used to navigate. There's the support cane, used by people with visual impairments who also have mobility challenges. And there's the ID cane, a small, foldable cane used by people with partial sight to let others know they have a visual impairment.
7. Unless you're willing to "walk the walk," you can't become a certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist. O&M specialists teach white cane technique to people who are blind, but to become certified, you must spend at least 120 hours blindfolded, navigating with a white cane.
8. Today's modern, lightweight canes are usually made from aluminum, fiberglass, or carbon fiber, and can weigh as little as seven ounces. Some white cane users prefer straight canes, which are more durable, while others prefer collapsible canes, which can be folded and stored more easily.
9. White caning can be fun. The Braille Institute sponsors an annual Cane Quest, where youngsters aged 3-12 compete to quickly and safely navigate a route in their community using their white canes. The contest helps kids master proper white cane techniques and encourages independence.
10. In some states, it's illegal for a person who is not legally blind to use a white cane to gain right-of-way while crossing a street. Get caught in Florida, for example, and you'll face second-degree misdemeanor charges and up to 60 days in prison.
Welcome, fellow fans, to this year's SVCB Giants goodies game! I'm the HH (Head Honcho) of the SVCB Giants fan club—or even better, you can refer to me as the BC (Big Cheese); or if you want to give me some real class by using French, you can say that I'm LGF (Le Grand Fromage). But whatever you want to call me, I'm glad to have you share in all the fun. You'll find comfy seats at the game, always in the shade, and no need to climb up and down bleachers to reach your favorite viewing spot (which is great news for fans with arthritic knees like mine). You will find yourself surrounded by friendly folks who like to talk, but will also keep quiet to learn a thing or two during the play-by-play. But rather than the usual churros at the seventh inning stretch, you will be treated to something delicious soon after you take your seats. Unless, of course, no one has volunteered for the goodies game refreshments, and nothing tasty has turned up. I am confident, however, that this scenario will not play out. Each month at goodies game time, one of you will show up with around 48 pieces of something yummy, either concocted at home or purchased at a supermarket sweet, savory, something! Fruit works, too. We have only ten goodies games a year, and I know that several SVCB Giants fans will step up to the plate to handle one of our game times. To do this, interested fans need to get in touch with me, your club HH… no, either BC or LGF would still be waaaay better! Anyway, I'm almost always available, so contact me either by phone at
or through your SVCB fan club list, to call or email me directly. So, think about it: pick the best month for you, and let me know your choice. I have no doubt that, whatever you decide to bring, you will put the old Churros Man to shame!
From Favorite All-Time Recipes: Campbell's Fabulous One-Dish Recipes
-Shortcut Sloppy Joe's
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time, 15 minutes
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 can (11 1/8 ounces) Campbell's Condensed Italian Tomato Soup
1/4 cup water
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/8 teaspoon pepper
6 Kaiser rolls or hamburger buns, split and toasted
Directions
In a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat, cook beef until browned. Stir to separate meat. Spoon off fat.
Stir in soup, water, Worcestershire sauce, and pepper. Heat through, stirring occasionally. Serve on rolls. Makes about 3 cups, or 6 servings.
For Sloppy pitas, spoon meat mixture into six pita bread halves, and top with shredded Mozzarella cheese.
For Super Joe's: Prepare Shortcut Sloppy Joe's as directed above, except substitute 1 pound bulk pork sausage for the ground beef in Step 1. Add 1/2 cup chopped green pepper in Step 2. Omit water, Worcestershire sauce, and pepper. Serve on four hard rolls, each about 7 inches long, split and toasted. Makes four servings.
-Three Cheese Pasta Bake
Preparation time: 25 minutes
Cooking time: 35 minutes
Ingredients
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's Condensed Cheddar Cheese Soup
3/4 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese (4 ounces)
6 cups cooked Mostaccioli or Ziti (about 3 cups dry)
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons dry breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon margarine or butter, melted
Fresh parsley sprigs or tomato slices for garnish
Directions
In a large bowl, combine soup, milk, and pepper. Stir in Mozzarella cheese. Add pasta. Toss gently to coat. Spoon into 2-quart oblong baking dish.
Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over pasta mixture. In a small bowl, combine breadcrumbs with margarine or butter. Sprinkle crumb mixture in rows over cheese.
Bake at 375 degrees F. for 35 minutes, or until hot and bubbly. Garnish with parsley and tomato if desired. Makes about 6 cups, or 6 servings.
Tip: For a change of pace, prepare Three Cheese Pasta Bake as directed above, except in Step 1 reduce shredded Mozzarella cheese to 3/4 cup (3 ounces), and add 1/2 cup shredded smoked Edam or smoked Gouda cheese (2 ounces).
Note: Mostaccioli are large, 2-inch-long macaroni tubes with smooth or ridged surfaces that are cut diagonally.
Join us for an enlightening presentation featuring Morgan Pimentel, Assistive Technology Specialist with Vista. Morgan's passion lies in the realm of technology, with a particular focus on its potential to empower individuals who are blind and/or have low vision.
During this engaging session, Morgan will share with us her experience with the Ray Ban Meta smart glasses.
What do Ray Ban Meta smart glasses do?
Capture high-quality photos and videos with the ultra-wide 12 MP camera and five-mic system.
Share photos, a video call or a livestream, listen to your favorite playlist and make a call or send a text completely hands-free simply by using your voice, all from your smart glasses.
Get information and control features with your voice—just ask Meta AI.
Coming up on Tech it Out With Vista:
November 1: Google Gemini
December 4-5: Sight Tech Global
January: IOS 18
Disclaimer: Please be advised that participating in internet services such as webinars is not guaranteed to be secure, and any information shared is not private. By registering, you agree to being recorded and having this webinar shared on Vista Center’s media outlets.
From the ACB Community email message for Thursday, September 26, 2024: Natalie Couch via acblists.org.
Be My Eyes and Meta Announce Accessibility Partnership
Be My Eyes to provide "Call a Volunteer" on Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, unlocking hands-free accessibility for blind and low vision people for the first time
San Francisco, September. 25, 2024:—Be My Eyes, the company that connects people who are blind or have low vision with sighted volunteers and companies through live video and AI, is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Meta to provide its award-winning technology on Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses, which blend cutting-edge technology with iconic design.
In a market first, the Ray-Ban Meta and Be My Eyes partnership will allow the user to initiate Be My Eyes' "Call a Volunteer" experience entirely by voice command. Saying "Hey Meta, Call a Volunteer on Be My Eyes" will connect users to a sighted volunteer who speaks the user's language, via a one-way video two-way audio call. Through this integration, the volunteer will see through the lens of the smart glasses in order to provide a real-time description to the user through their open-ear speakers, for everyday tasks such as setting a thermostat, finding the right supermarket aisle, or preparing meals—all while keeping the user's hands free. The Be My Eyes service is completely free for the end user, and already available any time of the day or night.
The "Call a Volunteer" feature on Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses is the first product offering of a wider, combined development partnership between Be My Eyes and Meta, and will be available soon, initially for users in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland, and Australia.
The combined development work will deliver new levels of accessibility for people who are blind or have low vision, and for the first time, will provide hands-free access to Be My Eyes technology and their global network of 7.7 million volunteers. The development partnership is focused around platform-native integration and ease-of-use, with direct input and unprecedented testing from the blind and low-vision community.
For example, the "Call a Volunteer" integration will allow for easy toggling between glasses and smartphone camera, and back again, providing the user with the flexibility of switching between the world view and the selfie view. This level of functionality is only possible through close development co-operation between the two companies.
The integration of the Be My Eyes platform with Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses is also being designed with simplicity and elegance from the outset, and with a suite of hands-free capabilities, which will provide an unprecedented, powerful description tool for blind people at work, school or home.
"The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses hands-free form factor makes them uniquely versatile to serve everyone, including the blind and low vision community," said Freddy Abnousi, VP of Health Technology at Meta. “The “Call a Volunteer” feature is the first product offering of combined development between Meta and Be My Eyes, and we look forward to seeing how it evolves with direct input from this community."
"Our collaboration with Meta launches an experience that addresses something that our community of blind and low-vision users has been requesting for a long time, namely hands-free access to our services." said Mike Buckley, CEO of Be My Eyes. "The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses have enabled that, and with our integration we have now opened a gateway to unprecedented levels of accessibility, unlocking new opportunities for those navigating their daily lives. And this is just the beginning."
"At Meta, our approach to inclusive innovation is a guiding principle that shapes how we build and design our products. We're working to build technologies that are truly reflective of the diversity of our nearly 4 billion global users, and our partnership with Be My Eyes is a significant step towards making the world more inclusive and accessible for people who are blind or have low vision," said Maxine Williams, Chief Diversity Officer at Meta. "We're excited about the potential of this collaboration, and look forward to continuing our work in making accessibility a core part of our product development."
Potential use cases for the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses with Be My Eyes are vast, from assisting with grocery shopping, locating a dropped item, reading important documents, or simply getting a visual description of a complex environment such as a busy airport. Whatever the situation, the glasses combined with Be My Eyes services provide an essential tool that now brings new levels of hands-free accessibility to everyday life.
"As an avid user of Be My Eyes since its launch in 2015, I was excited to test out the integration with Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses," said Chancey Fleet, a tech educator and advocate who is blind. "It's the same core connection between a blind or low-vision user and a sighted volunteer but, now that it's hands-free, I can focus on the conversation and what's happening around me, without the distraction of holding and pointing a phone camera. Last week, for example, I used the integration to find my way through a busy airport, from curbside through security to my gate. Sharing my view from the glasses with a volunteer freed my hands up to manage my bags, react to my guide dog's cues, and use my phone to show my boarding pass. This partnership gives Be My Eyes users a powerful new way to actively explore the world".
As part of their U.S. tour to promote blind cricket and celebrate the opening of their brand-new stadium in India, the Men's Cricket Team for the Blind in India visited Vista Center's San Jose branch on September 10. It was an honor to welcome these extraordinary athletes and celebrate their inspiring journey and the global growth of blind cricket.
Vista Center staff and clients greatly enjoyed this unique opportunity to engage with these incredible athletes, witness their talent and passion, and learn how they are championing inclusivity in sports worldwide. The event was a fantastic success, with many joining in person or virtually to meet the team and learn about their achievements. Attendees particularly enjoyed watching the team's documentary and learning how to play blind cricket from the players....
We are deeply grateful to the Men's Cricket Team for the Blind for their visit and look forward to future opportunities to celebrate such remarkable champions of inclusivity. They expressed their gratitude for being hosted by Vista Center, and we're excited about the possibility of seeing more of them in the future.
When prompted for a participant code, press the Pound key.
Note that the above Zoom call-in information is used for SVCB's virtual link to monthly in-person membership meetings.
2. Shows Described by AudioVision Bay Area
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:
To hear weekly events at the San Francisco LightHouse, call:
415-694-7325.
5. 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 at the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI) Official website at:
7. 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: