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.
Linda MacLeod recently gave a powerful presentation about her year-long effort to take Uber to Small Claims Court after three consecutive drivers refused her service because of her guide dog. As a retired attorney, and through her determination and her familiarity with the legal system, Linda successfully won her case and was awarded over $12,000. She now plans to develop a toolkit for guide dog handlers and others who face repeated refusals from Uber drivers. Advocacy has become a true passion for Linda, and we are fortunate to learn from her valuable experiences.
SVCB members continue to make a strong impact by writing letters and making phone calls in response to threatened cutbacks to essential services, such as the Braille and Talking Book Library. As many have pointed out, now more than ever, it's critical that we make our voices heard by reaching out to our legislative representatives.
Please note: our May meeting will be held virtually, per a request from the Vista Center San Jose. We'll send out the meeting link in advance to all members.
Susan Glass, Chair of our Programs Committee, has arranged for a very timely speaker for the May meeting, and it is aligned with the advocacy work that we are doing throughout CCB. Mike L. Marlin, Director of the California Braille and Talking Book Library will be our speaker, and I encourage all to join in for Mike's presentation.
The Community Support Committee would like to congratulate Brad Snyder, who was voted Volunteer of the Month for March. Thank you, Brad, for all you do for our ACB Community!
- BRL Needs You!
The Braille Revival League is putting together a panel of employed people who use braille on the job for a presentation at the convention. We are specifically looking for people who are employed in jobs that would be very difficult to do without using braille. If you, or someone you know in ACB, fall into this category, please contact Denise Colley at
colleyd1952@gmail.com
or
360-280-0077
- Change in How People Receive Money from the Government
On March 25, President Trump issued another executive order related to how people receive money from the federal government. The executive order calls for the distribution of all benefits, such as Social Security benefits and tax refunds, to be issued electronically; paper checks will no longer be issued. As a result, recipients will have to have a bank account, debit card, or digital wallet. The order goes into effect on September 30, 2025. There is some nervousness about the quick six-month turn-around. There have been many employee cuts to both the SSA and IRS. Please share this information with those who still receive their benefits via mail, as it will take time to set up their accounts online.
- EMPOWER VI Seeks Students, Families, and Professionals
The goal of EMPOWER VI is to equip transition-age youth, their families, and the professionals who serve them with virtual supports, to improve postschool outcomes. These virtual programs create opportunities for connection and support, especially for those in rural areas who may not have access to in-person resources. Below are brief descriptions of our current programs, with links to learn more.
EMPOWER VI is recruiting juniors and seniors who are blind or have low vision (from any U.S. state) for their 2025-2026 virtual EMPOWER VI Mentoring Program. For more information about the program and to complete an application, visit:
www.empowervi.org/mentorship
They are also seeking three high school students who are blind or have low vision to join their Student Advisory Board for the 2025-2026 school year. To learn more about this opportunity, visit:
www.empowervi.org/advisory-boards
Starting in the fall of 2025, EMPOWER VI will begin hosting Communities of Practice (CoPs) for adult family members and professionals. CoPs provide an opportunity for family members/professionals to learn and build community. To learn more and fill out an interest form, visit:
www.empowervi.org/communities-of-practice
They are recruiting blind and low vision adults (from any U.S. state) for their 2025-2026 virtual EMPOWER VI Mentoring Program. For more information, or to complete an application, visit:
www.empowervi.org/mentorship
- Flying to Dallas for the ACB Convention?
If you are flying to Dallas for the convention, please read on to learn about obtaining assistance at the airport.
To assist airline personnel Margarine Beaman and her cadre of airport volunteers, please submit the following information if you would like assistance when you arrive at the airport. Remember that there are two airports serving the Dallas area.
Information to submit:
-- Your name
-- Whether you will be arriving at DFW or Love Field
-- The name of the airline you will be arriving on
-- The city you will be traveling from
-- Your arrival flight number (Note: If you have connecting flights, provide information for both flights.)
--Your cell phone number
-- Departure date
-- Departure time
-- Departure airport
-- Departure airline
You can send Margarine Beaman an e-mail with "airline information" in the subject line at:
oleo501625@outlook.com
or call her at:
512-921-1625
This is from a love book Star wrote to someone, I don't know who. I think those of us who have never seen have a lot to learn and appreciate should we someday have sight. And would we want it?
An interesting thing happened recently when we were at a restaurant that's on a balcony inside a bookstore overlooking the store. It was dusk. I was gazing out the window and realized that it would be hard to describe what I was seeing, but since you love my descriptions, especially the unique ones, I tried.
I say: Mike, this is an interesting scene. I see the people down below us looking at books on the shelves. Just behind them I see their reflections on the window. I also see the cars driving down the street outside the window. It looks like they're driving right through the reflection of the people. And I see the reflection of cars on the other side of the street, going in the opposite direction, driving through reflections of the people in the bookstore, as well as through the reflection of the cars on our side of the street. I also see people walking down the sidewalk on our side of the street. They are walking through the reflection of the cars driving through the reflection of people in the bookstore.
You said, "I don't think I ever want to see!" and we both laughed.
You're always interested in perspective. You ask me things like, "How big does the car on the other side of the street look to you?" I say, If I measure it between my thumb and index finger it measures one-half inch, but my mind sees what it knows it is, four feet tall. You say, "I'm going to see some day, and this is preparation. It's more than that. It's opening my mind."
Recipes contributed by Suzanne Smith, from The Way Home, by Kardea Brown
- Low Country Crab Cakes
Ingredients
For the cakes:
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup Mayonnaise
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp Seafood seasoning such as Old Bay
34 butter crackers such as Ritz, crushed (about 1 cup)
1 pound fresh jumbo lump crab meat
vegetable oil for frying
For the sauce:
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tbsp whole grain mustard
1 tbsp prepared horseradish
1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tbsp chopped fresh chives
Directions
To make the crab cakes: In a large bowl, mix together the egg, mayonnaise, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and seafood seasoning. Fold in the cracker crumbs and crab meat until just combined, being careful not to break down the crab too much. Shape the mixture into six 2-1/2-inch patties, trying to make straight sides and flat bottoms. Cover, and refrigerate until firm, for about one hour.
Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
Heat 2 tbsp oil in a large cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the crab cakes in batches, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Cook until golden brown, 2-3 minutes on each side. Remove the crab cakes to a plate or platter, and hold them in the warm oven until needed. Repeat with the remaining crab cakes, adding more oil if needed, and keeping them warm in the oven.
To make the sauce: Mix the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, horseradish, lemon juice, and chives in a bowl until combined.
Serve the warm crab cakes with the sauce. Makes 6 servings.
- Oreo Brownie Delight
Ingredients
For the brownie layer:
non-stick cooking spray
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (plus extra for the pan)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt
1-1/2 cups sugar
12 tbsp (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
2 large eggs
1 tbsp canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup mini chocolate chips
16 Oreo cookies (approximately)
For the cheesecake layer:
24 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
12 Oreo cookies, roughly chopped
Chocolate sauce for serving (optional)
Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spray a 9 by 13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray, then add a little dusting of cocoa powder to the dish; set aside.
To make the brownie layer: In a medium bowl, combine the cocoa powder, flour, and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, mix the sugar, butter, eggs, oil, and vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, and stir to combine. Fold in chocolate chips. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish. Place the Oreo cookies on top of the batter, and space them out evenly.
To make the cream cheese layer: In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese and sugar until the mixture becomes fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating slowly. Then add the vanilla extract, stirring until combined. Pour the cheesecake batter on top of the brownie layer, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle the chopped Oreos on top. Bake until the edges are almost golden brown and the center is a little jiggly, about 45 minutes. Cool, then refrigerate for at least two hours or overnight. Serve with a drizzle of chocolate sauce if desired. Makes 16 squares.
(Copy Editor's Note, This recipe is so over-the-top that you might consider cutting smaller squares rather than the larger ones.)
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
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