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.
Silicon Valley Council of the Blind is a chapter of the California Council of the Blind (CCB), and all members of SVCB are also members of the American Council of the Blind (ACB), our national organization. One of the benefits of being a part of CCB is to join in on the annual Conference and Convention, which will be held virtually from Thursday, May 1 through Sunday, May 4, 2025. The theme for this year's event is "Revitalize: Aspire to Inspire".
As the world around us constantly changes, how can we find ways to revitalize each other and the community at large, and find ways to aspire to inspire and grow?
The California Council of the Blind is excited to welcome its members, partners, and community members to the 2025 virtual Conference and Convention to be held on zoom.
CCB 2025 Conference and Convention Registration: Below is a link that will take you to the registration form. Once you submit this form, you will be given a link to make payment. You will be redirected to the PayPal website to make your secure payment. Payment is $40.00, and you can pay by PayPal, credit or debit card or call the number noted below and the CCB Office Manager will assist you in registering. Registration will close April 18 at 12:00 noon.
Click here to complete the CCB 2025 virtual Conference and Convention registration form.
or you can call
916-441-2100
for assistance with the registration process.
You can check on detailed programs for the pre-convention sessions, and view the completed convention program at:
https://ccbnet.org/drupal7/node/1016
In our March membership meeting, we elected our delegate and alternate delegate to represent our chapter during convention voting, and to provide us with a brief report of their observations of the convention. Thanks to Nancy Pryor, who will serve as our delegate, and Debee Armstrong, who will serve as our alternate delegate. Consider joining in for the pre-convention and convention activities to learn, meet members from all over the state, and hear from informative speakers about topics pertaining to the needs of the blind and low vision community. Pre-convention sessions are held via Zoom, and no registration fee is charged for the informative, pre-convention activities.
Please note: Due to a scheduling conflict, our May meeting will be held virtually via Zoom. The Zoom information will be shared with everyone in our newsletter and at our April Meeting.
-The California Council of the Blind is excited to welcome its members, partners, and community members to the 2025 virtual Conference and Convention to be held on Zoom.
Please use the link below to register. Should you need any help, please call the CCB office at
1-800-221-6359.
If no one is available, please leave a message and your call will be returned. You have until April 18th at noon to register. If you require alternative format such as Braille, MP3 audio on flash drive, or large print, please specify in the comment section of the form. Alternative format requests made after close of registration cannot be guaranteed. Please register at:
https://ccbnet.org/drupal7/node/1016
-Did You Go to Capitol Hill During the Leadership Conference?
Hill Day had productive meetings! We ask that those who visited their Senators and Representatives fill out this survey for each meeting. If you include multiple members from your state affiliate, please only fill out one survey for each meeting. These surveys help ACB better understand how the Hill outreach went, and what each office is prioritizing. The more detailed the better.
The Community Support Committee would like to congratulate Karen Thomas, who was voted Volunteer of the Month for February. Thank you, Karen, for all you do for our ACB Community!
-Come to Dallas and Bring the Kids!
Are you planning to come to Dallas for the ACB convention, but unsure what to do about your children? Bring them along and enroll them in Kids Explorers Club! Kids Club is open to children ages 5 to 13, and is a safe and fun environment with experienced leaders. A parent or guardian must sign a permission slip and a medical form prior to leaving their child, and the child will only be released to the parent or guardian or their designee.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided Sunday, July 6 through Thursday, July 10. In addition to daily field trips, each day may include swimming, crafts, and other fun activities!
Kids Explorers Club Schedule
Saturday, July 5, 6:30 PM to 9 PM: Meet Kids Club leaders and get to know the other kids. Enjoy games and snacks.
Sunday, July 7, through Thursday, July 10, from 7 AM — to 5 PM, and Thursday, 6:30 PM to 9 PM: While parents are at the banquet, your children will have a final dinner with Kids Club leaders and their new friends.
Please let Janet Dickelman know if you will be enrolling a child in Kids Club. Email her at:
janet.dickelman@gmail.com.
You will need to register each child individually. There will be a daily fee for activities; however, the convention administrative fee for each child will be only $10.
-2025 Walk Theme Winner
It is time to begin to gear up for the 2025 ACB Brenda Dillon Memorial Walk. And the winner of our Walk theme contest is Tyson Ernst, from Seattle, Washington. The 2025 Walk theme is Step by Step Together. Stay tuned for more information about how you can participate in the ACB Walk this year.
-BITS Unleashing RIM Support
Hey ACB Family:
Get ready to be blown away — because we've got some epic news! Ever find yourself wrestling with a tech glitch, wishing for a friendly expert by your side? Whether you're diving into assistive technology challenges or exploring new horizons with BITS education, we're here to help you crush those issues!
We're taking things to the next level by unleashing our RIM support — now with absolutely no restrictions on time limits. That's right: forget the old one-hour cap. With our unlimited RIM access, along with support from our all-star education, mentoring, and IT teams, you have a tech-savvy superhero on call, ready to swoop in and save the day whenever you need help (volunteer availability permitting, of course).
We're all about empowering you, sharing our knowledge, and unlocking your full potential. It's like having a pro right beside you, so you can keep reeling in success on your accessibility journey.
Not part of the BITS family yet? Now's the time to jump in or renew your membership and keep the magic alive! Check it out at:
http://www.bits-acb.org/join
A huge shoutout to Microsoft Corporation for making this incredible service possible!
And if you think this is as far as we go, hold onto your hats, because we're just getting started. Stay tuned for even more excitement!
-Social Security Strengthens ID Proof Requirements, Expedites Direct Deposit Change Requests
Over the next two weeks, SSA will carefully transition to stronger identity proofing procedures for both benefit claims and direct deposit changes. Individuals seeking these services who cannot use their personal "my Social Security" account, which requires online identity proofing, will then need to visit a local Social Security office to prove their identity in person. At the same time, the agency will expedite processing all direct deposit change requests, both in person and online, to one business day.
Joining our list of many streaming services offering audio description is MGM+, owned by Amazon. For some time now, Amazon's Prime Video has been offering MGM+ original programming and other titles with audio description, but the AD tracks were not available on the MGM+ streaming service itself. That has now changed, and we are able to list 101 movies and series with audio description on MGM+. The streaming service costs $7/month, or $59 per year, with a 7-day free trial. You can subscribe to the standalone app or purchase it as a channel subscription through Prime Video or various other places. The link to our MGM+ listing is now a main navigation link, but here is the direct link:
https://adp.acb.org/mgmad.html
Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add eggs, vanilla, and almond extracts, and mix well.
Add Jell-O, and mix very well.
In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, and salt.
Gradually mix the flour into the wet ingredients until soft dough forms.
Take 1 teaspoon of dough, and form round balls.
Place balls on cookie sheet that is lined with parchment paper, spacing them 2 inches apart.
Use thumb or back of teaspoon to make a slight indentation in the top center of each ball, twisting slightly.
Put into a pre-heated 350 degree oven, and bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Edges will be slightly cooked.
Remove from oven, and let cool for only 2 to 3 minutes.
Transfer to cool racks.
Press the chocolate kisses into the center of each cookie while still warm.
Dust with powdered sugar.
Serve. Makes 48 large cookies.
Notes: Suzanne used Cherry Jell-O instead of strawberry, because she thought it would give the cookies more flavor. She put the kisses inside each ball of dough, rather than pressing them into the top center. She also made smaller cookies, so the recipe yielded more than 48 cookies.
In a 4 quart Dutch oven, cook the beef and onion over medium-high heat for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally until beef is thoroughly cooked.
Place a strainer or colander in a large bowl. Line strainer with a double thickness of paper towels. Pour the beef mixture into the strainer to drain. Return beef mixture to Dutch oven. Discard paper towels and any juices in the bowl.
Into the beef mixture, stir the parsley, basil, sugar, seasoned salt, garlic powder, tomatoes with liquid, soup, tomato paste, and water. Heat to boiling over high heat, stirring occasionally. Once mixture is boiling, reduce heat just enough so mixture bubbles gently. Cook, uncovered, for 20 minutes.
In an ungreased 9 by 13-inch glass baking dish, spread 2 cups of the meat sauce. Top with 4 uncooked noodles. Spread half the cottage cheese over noodles. Spread with 2 cups meat sauce. Sprinkle with 1 cup Mozzarella cheese. Repeat with 4 noodles, remaining cottage cheese, 2 cups meat sauce, and remaining Mozzarella cheese. Top with remaining noodles and meat sauce. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, but no longer than 24 hours.
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Bake, covered, for 30 minutes. Remove foil, and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until soft in the center. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving. Yields 8 servings.
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
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.
May
May: Healthy Vision Month.
May 1 through May 4: CCB Annual Conference and Convention.
May 6, 5:30 to 7 PM: Breast cancer support group meeting. For questions, call Lori Scharff at:
516-887-1336