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.
March is often a transition month, as we look behind us and remember the days of Winter, and know that Spring is around the corner on March 20. During this time, perhaps we may be considering what brings us joy? What talents and gifts do I have and want to offer or develop? Silicon Valley Council of the Blind (SVCB) is a thriving and welcoming Chapter of California Council of the Blind (CCB), and our February meeting and program shed a light on this observation. Susan Glass, chair of the Program Committee, led us through a lively, funny, heart-warming and insightful discussion of the jobs we have had over the years. Susan will be sharing more about this discussion in her article in this issue.
We also discussed the various committees of SVCB, and we thought it may be helpful for all to learn the names of the chairpersons and welcome you to explore joining one of the committees, or to reach out to learn more. Since I joined SVCB and CCB many years ago, I learned a great deal by saying "yes" to joining committees, including a better understanding of advocacy, the needs of the blind and low vision community, planning events and, most importantly, connecting with like-minded people. My participation and occasional leadership has brought me joy and a great deal of satisfaction.
Please review the list below, and refer to our Membership list for the chairperson's contact information, and we encourage you to call to discover more.
SVCB Committees
Membership
Chair: David Hoffman (previously Mike Keithley)
Program Planning
Chair: Susan Glass
Fundraising
Chairs: Carol and Joe Silveria
Legislation
Chair: Mike Keithley (and we need a co-chair due to the advocacy and legislative activity we expect in 2025/2026)
Goodies
Chair: Bev Clifford
Hospitality and Lunches
Chair: Donna Sanchez (with help from members)
Volunteers
Chair: Naomi Grubb
You may have heard the phrase "many hands make light work." I will add to that phrase, and suggest that many hands also warm our hearts and broaden our experiences and outcomes. In future issues of In Touch, we will share information about the upcoming California Council of the Blind virtual convention, and offer information about the work of CCB.
As March unfolds, I wish you the best beginnings, and I give thanks for our community!
Spring is here with its change. The old bows to the new, and both go their ways. "Hum hum, Master, get to it!"
OK, I will. I'm handing the chairmanship of the Membership Committee to David Hoffman. I've been doing this job for at least 10 years, and I've enjoyed it thoroughly. This monthly column is part of the job, and I'm sure David will do better than me. "You mean you hope his dog will do better. I've been a little lax out here in the meadow, but here's to David's success!" David will energize SVCB members, count on it.
We had a great program at the February meeting. Those of us who had a working career talked about amusing adventures and advocacy stories. You should have been there, it wasn't recorded. "Boy, they really do need to get rid of you." OK, peanut!
We hear that the Turners are retiring dog Cora back to the San Rafael school. A sad event, give them a call.
Happy March birthdays to no one. "Really, this is getting bad, but I'm glad to have a birthday in March. Just sing me a song and give me a balloon, Bang! and Why not keep track of dog birthdays and report them? They're more important, anyway." Well, yeah, perhaps. Talk to Dave about that.
So I'll see you all down the road. "He'll be here once in a while; all I have to do is bark and he'll wake up."
As you may have heard, we now have contracts for American Council of the Blind conventions through 2028. Several people have asked me about locations and dates.
2026
Hyatt Regency Saint Louis Arch
315 Chestnut Street
Saint Louis, MO, 63102
Friday July 24 through Friday July 31
Room rate $104
2027
Hyatt Regency Jacksonville
25 E Coastline Drive
Jacksonville, FL
Friday July 23 through Friday July 30
Room rate $119
2028
Hyatt Regency Atlanta
265 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Atlanta, GA, 30303
Friday June 30 through Friday July 7
Room rate $125.00
2025 Hotel Details
Hyatt Regency Dallas
300 Reunion Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75207
Room rates at the Hyatt are $99.00 per night (single or double occupancy), $124.00 (triple occupancy) and $149.00 (quadruple occupancy), plus, tax, which is currently 17.2%.
This is an important piece of information for people who would like to know where to call in response to possible Medicaid cuts or other crucial issues. I called the number below, and it was very interesting to be able to connect so quickly. Not to the representative, though, but to a secretary. I was able to speak to a live person in the representative's office.
To get to the switchboard for Congress, call
202-224-3121.
You will be asked for your zip code, and then when you get the person's name you will be connected to the office of either a senator or a representative. You will be asked for your name, address, and phone number.
Feel free to reach out and share your opinion with people who count!
The Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act
The 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) guaranteed access for people with disabilities, to advanced communications services, telecommunications hardware and software, accessible video displays, user interfaces and digital apparatuses, and required the delivery of audio-described content. For more than ten years, ACB and its members have worked to implement and enforce the CVAA, and in several key aspects we have reached the limits of what the CVAA is able to enforce.
It is time for Congress to update the accessible video and communications requirements of the CVAA. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Representative Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) introduced the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility (CVTA) Act (H.R. 9333 and S. 5121). The CVTA reaffirms our nation's commitment to accessible communications and video technologies for people who are blind, low vision, and deafBlind. Once passed, this legislation will update existing requirements for accessible media, video user interfaces, and video conferencing services. ACB urges Congress to support and pass the CVTA in the 119th Congress.
Offices interested in supporting the CVTA should contact Ireland Lesley in Senator Markey's office.
The Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act
The majority of home-use medical devices and outpatient equipment, utilizes digital display interfaces that are inaccessible to blind, low vision, and deafBlind users. Class 2 and Class 3 medical devices such as glucose monitors, blood pressure readers, and at-home chemotherapy treatments, do not have any non-visual accessibility features like text to speech output, tactile markings, or audible tones built in. As a result, people who are blind, low vision, and deafBlind cannot independently manage their health from the privacy of their own homes, in the same ways as people who are not disabled.
ACB calls on Congress to support and pass the Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act. In the last session of Congress, this bipartisan piece of legislation was introduced in both the House and Senate by Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Senators Mike Braun (R-IN) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), to ensure that medical equipment with a digital display is accessible, and that people with disabilities can take back control of their health. We are hopeful it will quickly be reintroduced. This legislation would require the Food and Drug Administration to consider non-visual accessibility, when approving Class 2 and Class 3 medical equipment and devices with a digital display, to ensure access for patients with disabilities.
Offices in the House of Representatives interested in supporting the bipartisan Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act (H.R. 1328), should contact Michelle Paucar in the office of Representative Schakowsky (D-IL). Offices in the Senate that are interested in co-sponsoring S. 3621 should contact Emily Kane in Senator Hassan's office.
The Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act
Access to websites, applications, and online services impacts most aspects of everyday life, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made digital inclusion more important than ever. There is a need for enforcement standards that clearly state websites, applications, and online services must be accessible to people with disabilities. People who are blind, low vision, and deafBlind face countless barriers when accessing workplace portals, educational platforms, healthcare and public health information, transportation services, shopping, and entertainment over the Internet.
ACB calls on Congress to support and pass the Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act. In the last session of Congress, Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced this legislation (S. 4998), and Representative John Sarbanes (D-MD), along with Representative Pete Sessions (R-TX), introduced a version of the bill in the House of Representatives (H.R. 9021). We are hopeful it will quickly be reintroduced. This bill would establish clear and enforceable accessibility standards for websites and software applications. The Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act would set clear, enforceable accessibility standards, and establish a technical assistance center and advisory committee to provide advice and guidance on accessible websites and applications. It would also authorize a study on addressing emerging technologies.
Senate offices wishing to support this bill should contact Stephanie Deluca in Senator Duckworth's office.
I borrowed the title of this article from one of my favorite Marge Piercy poems. For our Saturday Feb. 15 program, our chapter members each shared stories of our employment history. That history included volunteer experiences, short term jobs, and career opportunities. We laughed together at our embarrassing moments, lamented the more painful ones, and celebrated our successes. Here for our edification is a summary of all the jobs that we've collectively held. Taken together, we emerge as an industrious bunch. So, congratulations to us! Here's the list:
Babysitter
Carl's Jr. cashier
Physical therapist's assistant
Pre-school intern teacher
Care giver
Computer programmer at Hewlett Packard
Store gift wrapper
Fourth grade teacher
Off-site and on-site trainer for Sensory Access Foundation
Long's employee
Burger King employee
Great America employee
Teacher's aid for mentally challenged children
Library receptionist
Nurse's aide
Cooking instructor at the Silicon Valley Independent Living Center
Yardstick Customer Service Employee (draperies)
Homemaker
Parent
English professor
Florist assistant
Outreach administrator for See's Candies
Flute instructor
Customer Support Manager at Bookshare
Word Processing Operator at the San Francisco Environmental Protection Agency
Transcriptionist for Travellers Insurance Agency in Boston, MA
Student Teacher at East High School in Madison, WI
Beta tester for Telebraille at Telesensory Inc.
Court reporter for San Jose municipal courts
Magazine editor
Poet
I apologize if I forgot anyone's contribution or incorrectly stated a contribution.
Here, in its entirety, is the Marge Piercy poem:
To Be of Use
The people I love the best
jump into work headfirst
without dallying in the shallows
and swim off with sure strokes almost out of sight.
They seem to become natives of that element,
the black sleek heads of seals
bouncing like half-submerged balls.
I love people who harness themselves, an ox to a heavy cart,
who pull like water buffalo, with massive patience,
who strain in the mud and the muck to move things forward,
who do what has to be done, again and again.
I want to be with people who submerge
in the task, who go into the fields to harvest
and work in a row and pass the bags along,
who are not parlor generals and field deserters
but move in a common rhythm
when the food must come in or the fire be put out.
Final greetings from the Hh/BC/LGF of your SVCB Giants fan club,
"Garble, garble, garble" ... Oh no, something seems to be wrong with this loudspeaker. Let me try it again.
"Garble... Ahem"... Okay, there's still a little static there, but it'll have to do.
"Attention! Facilities Management is pleased to announce, through me, that the 2025 season of the SVCB Giants now has snacks for the entire year! So, as each month goes by, rain or shine, heat or cold, you will continue to enjoy the delectable contributions of your fellow fans. Furthermore, we wish to thank all of you who have been so generous. We look forward to seeing you each month at our games—but every once in a while, please purchase something from the old Churros Man! We don't want him to feel bad.
This time I'm submitting one of my favorite recipes, which I haven't made in a long time. After re-reading it, I think I'd better plan to include it in a meal soon!
Stir together 1 cup flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and the pepper, and coat chicken in that mixture.
In a large, oven-proof pan, melt butter or heat oil for dredging. Place chicken pieces in the pan, and brown to your satisfaction, flipping once to brown the other side.
While chicken is browning, make the Yorkshire pudding.
In a small bowl, mix 1 cup flour, the Italian Dressing mix, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon baking powder; set aside. In a larger bowl, beat eggs well, and add milk. Stir in the dry ingredients, and beat until smooth.
Pour pudding mixture evenly over chicken and drippings, and bake for an hour and 15 minutes, or until the Yorkshire pudding is puffy and brown.
Cook a bit longer if necessary. Yum yum! Enjoy!
-Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies
Submitted by Sandy Quenzer
Ingredients
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 ripe, medium banana, mashed
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup milk chocolate chips (or semi-sweet)
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (optional)
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease cookie sheet.
Place flour, baking powder and salt in small bowl; stir to combine.
Beat butter and sugars in large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in banana, egg and vanilla. Add flour mixture. Beat at low speed until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips and (optional) walnuts.
(Dough will be soft.) Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Drop rounded teaspoonfuls of dough, 2 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheet.
Bake 9-12 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Let Cookies stand on cookie sheet 2 minutes. Remove cookies to wire racks; cool completely.
Store tightly covered at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
These cookies do not freeze well. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.
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:
didisalvo@msn.com
Audio described shows by TheatreWorks have resumed, with descriptions by Gravity Access Services. Pre-register for tickets that include a free "show talk" 30 minutes before the show, at the TheatreWorks box office at:
650-436-1960
Shows are at the Lucie Stern Theatre or the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. A webpage with a listing of audio described shows is at:
www.theatreworks.org/venues/accessibility.
4. San Francisco LightHouse
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:
www.cclvi.info/archive-lets-talk-low-vision/.
Zoom information is distributed through the ACB Community Schedule email list, or by emailing:
cclviwebmaster@gmail.com.
6. Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors
Departs every Sunday at noon from Pier 40 in San Francisco. Call:
415-281-0212
for information and reservations, or visit:
www.baads.org.
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:
510-843-4398
March 15, 9:30 AM to 1 PM: SVCB monthly membership meeting, Vista San Jose. Discuss possible resolutions for CCB convention, finalize picnic site.
March 15 through March 18: ACB Affiliate Presidents' Meeting and Legislative Seminar. See tidbits in February, 2025 newsletter.
March 17, noon: April newsletter deadline. Distribute spring membership list.
March 23, 1 PM: THE CHER SHOW, with descriptions by AudioVision Bay Area, SJCPA, see notes.
March 29 at 8 PM and 30 at 2 PM: HAPPY PLEASANT VALLEY: A Senior SEX SCANDAL MURDER MYSTERY MUSICAL, with descriptions by Gravity, TheatreWorks MVCPA, see notes.
April
April 1, 5:30 to 7 PM: Breast cancer support group meeting. For questions, call Lori Scharff at:
516-887-1336
April 10 through April 13: The 65th Annual California Teachers and Educators for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CTEBVI) Conference, Higher Ground. Visit:
www.ctebvi.org/conference
for details.
April 19, 9:30 AM to 1 PM: SVCB monthly meeting at Vista Center San Jose.
April 21, May SVCB newsletter deadline.
April 26 at 8 PM, and 27 at 2 PM: THE HEART SELLERS with descriptions by Gravity, MVCPA, see notes.
April 27, 1 PM: SIX, with descriptions by AudioVision Bay Area, SJCPA, see notes.