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.
Happy September to all! For me—and perhaps for many of us in the chapter—September signals the arrival of fall, new beginnings, and a bit of crispness in the morning air. One of the wonderful aspects of living in Northern California, especially in our area, is that summer often stretches well into October. We truly get the best of both seasons.
We had another inspiring program in August, with Abby Tamara sharing her knowledge and experience as a UX (User Experience) volunteer, supporting students of all ages and education levels. One of her key takeaways was that when you design without involving your audience throughout the project, the result is often a poor design. The reverse is also true—full involvement leads to creativity and meaningful outcomes for everyone involved. Abby is a long-time chapter member, and she's always generous in sharing her insights. Thank you, Abby!
We're also pleased to welcome Darrin Harvey as co-chair of the Membership Committee, joining David Hoffman. David continues to do an outstanding job maintaining our membership roster, welcoming new members, and enrolling them into the chapter. Many of us enjoy his in-person interviews with fellow members at our monthly meetings. In addition to his membership role, David also serves as our chapter treasurer, with valuable support from Victor Clifford as bookkeeper. It's a full plate, and David balances it all with grace and dedication.
As I've noted before—and it bears repeating—we're fortunate to have such a strong and generous group of long-term members, volunteers, and new members. Your willingness to jump in and contribute is truly a hallmark of SVCB.
Darrin will be assisting me in reviving our In Touch member spotlight column. With over 63 SVCB members, not everyone is able to join our monthly meetings, and this column is a great way to help us all stay connected. In this issue, we're featuring Darrin himself—so when he reaches out to invite you to be spotlighted in a future issue, you'll already know a bit about him.
And finally, don't forget—our annual SVCB picnic is just around the corner on Saturday, September 20! Details are included in this newsletter, and have also been shared via email and phone tree. Rob and I look forward to this event every year, and we hope to see you there!
Birthdays, Picnic Reminder, and Is It Thanksgiving already?
Please assist me by cheering for the following SVCB members celebrating birthdays in September: Mike Kiethley, Lisa Quan, and Diane Wetzel.
Since we only have 3 names this month, I extended the list of famous folks with September birthdays.
Other birthdays in September: Estee Lauder, Yvonne DeCarlo, Rocky Marciano, Boxcar Willy, Conway Twitty, Lily Tomlin, Barry Gibb, Gloria Estafen, Terry Bradshaw, Crista Macaulaffe, Salma Hayak, Alan Ladd, Kitty Carlisle, Paul Harvey, Keanu Reeves, Damon Wayons, Bob Newhart, Michael Keaton, Jane Curtain, Jeff Foxworthy, and let's not forget (although some of us would rather forget) Weasel Zappa, son of rock star Frank Zappa.
Bonus birthdays for Anglophiles: Prince Harry, and Freddy Mercury.
As you may have heard about 50 times, our September membership meeting is our annual picnic. Do not book rides to the Vista Center on that day. Sign-ups will be accepted until Friday, September 12, through Victor Clifford or myself, and the event is Saturday, September 20, from 11 am until 2 pm, with the following details:
Location: Edward Cottle picnic Area within the Marshall Cottle Park, 5283 Snell Avenue, San Jose
95136.
For those with access to a vehicle, parking is free for those with disabled placards or disabled license plates.
The picnic is $20 for members and $25 for non-members. Non-members can pay the member fee of $20 if they join SVCB for 2026.
Please make payments through PayPal at svcb@svcb.cc, or via check to the P.O. Box listed at the top of this newsletter.
If you are signing up for the picnic between now and Friday, September 12, please contact David Hoffman to place your food order. That is, how many hamburgers, hot dogs, or veggie burgers you will want. He can be reached at:
Davidhoffman1965@gmail.com
or at:
408-316-4155
Access Paratransit has been informed to have enough drivers available and to have supervisors on site. The picnic will be held from 11 AM to 2 PM so please book your rides accordingly, as there may be another booking for the site afterwards that is. Do not book your return ride any later than 2 pm if you can avoid it.
Lunch will be served at noon with snacks before that. There will be sodas and water, BBQ sides such as potato salad, coleslaw, and cookies for dessert.
The Fundraising Committee will be holding a 50/50 raffle at the picnic, so bring your cash. The last raffle awarded $81 to the lucky winner.
Is It Thanksgiving Already?
(Writer's note: Last month in this space, I wrote about accessible technology. I will come back to that topic in future issues.)
No, it is not really Thanksgiving already, even in Canada where it is celebrated on the second Monday in October. Why do I mention this at all? Well, frustratingly, I have already heard ads for Halloween, and the spooky candy is already on sale everywhere, and it has been for at least 2 weeks now. Urgh! Gurhrhrhrhrhrhrhrh! While this annoys me to no end, I figure I would hop on the bandwagon and start Thanksgiving traditions early. So here is what I am thankful for:
The founding members of SVCB; our diverse membership and dedicated volunteers. I especially am fond of our beautiful diversity. From all walks of life, we come together with wonderful stories of fun, adventures, advocacy, and overcoming trauma and challenges. As a group, we have learned, leaned, laughed, and shared sorrow and tears. Each of us brings a different approach to what it means to be a person with a disability, and we never turn anyone away. These, and many other things, are what I am thankful for. In this space, we plan on bringing some of these stories to you—stories from members we do not see often. Some have moved away, and some face other life challenges. Some are busy advocating for disability rights, spending time with family, or travelling to conferences and bringing back their experiences. It is very important to keep this momentum going by growing our membership, keeping ourselves informed, and helping each other navigate the complex dynamic that is our community, state, country, and world. We are all touched in some way by these ever-changing and scary landscapes. So gather your family, friends, and neighbors, and bring them to our SVCB family. Be proud because whatever you do today, even if it is just taking it easy or working very hard, you are affecting positive change. Thanks for listening.
(Note from the chapter president: In this month's President's Message, I shared that Darrin Harvey will be serving alongside David Hoffman as co-chair of the Membership Committee. As part of this role, Darrin will be inviting members to participate in this Member Moment column. We thought it would be fitting to start with Darrin himself, so you'll know a bit about him when he reaches out.)
Getting to Know Darrin
Darrin Harvey was born and raised in Hayward, CA, where he lived until March 2024, when he moved to Palo Alto with his girlfriend, Suman. At 35 years old, Darrin is one of the youngest members of SVCB, though he proudly considers himself an "old soul".
He is a financial planner and business consultant, and hosts his own podcast, "Financial State of Mind", which focuses on personal finance literacy. Darrin is in the process of converting his business into a nonprofit organization with the mission of serving underserved communities, including blind and low vision individuals, as well as senior citizens. He believes that many in these groups share similar financial challenges, particularly those on fixed incomes.
Darrin incorporates a variety of access tools and technologies in both his personal and professional life. A Mac and Apple user, he utilizes Zoom magnification and text-to-speech features on all his devices. He's currently learning VoiceOver with the help of his access technology trainer. Darrin also uses ChatGPT and other AI-powered tools to assist with his work and organization. As a Department of Rehabilitation client, he learned how to use a white cane and a handheld monocular when navigating his community.
Darrin shares that regular morning exercise is essential for his productivity—and serves as a form of therapy. He relies on technology such as Alexa to stay organized and on schedule. He's also becoming more disciplined about taking breaks to rest his eyes, and incorporating non-visual tasks throughout the day.
One of Darrin's most significant life challenges has been the gradual loss of his vision. Another deeply difficult period was serving as the primary caregiver for his father, who had both Alzheimer's and kidney disease, all while Darrin was a legally blind man in his twenties.
Despite these challenges, Darrin is grateful for a strong support system. He counts his girlfriend Suman, his adopted family, close friends from high school and college, his therapist, and his professional network as key sources of support. Communities like SVCB have also provided invaluable emotional and practical support.
"No matter where you are on the blind spectrum, there's a connection that only another low vision or blind person can truly understand", Darrin says. "For me, it's incredibly important to have role models who are like me. It reminds me that I can achieve whatever I set my heart on."
On a lighter note, Darrin describes himself as a "big nerd" who loves collectibles. He owns nearly 100 sports bobbleheads—mainly Warriors, Giants, and A's—and over 50 pairs of shoes, which is impressive given his size 17 feet!
One experience he's especially looking forward to is an upcoming trip to Washington, D.C., with Suman, where he'll reconnect with family members he hasn't seen in over 15 years.
NCAV is a coalition of disability advocacy groups working toward full access to accessible voting for people with disabilities. ACB has been a member since the beginning of NCAV's founding.
-Financial Platform Accessibility Outreach
We are seeking feedback from individuals who are blind or have low vision regarding the accessibility of the websites and mobile apps of major financial platforms such as Fidelity, Vanguard, Merrill Edge and others.
Our goal is to better understand how accessible and user-friendly these platforms are for screen-reader users and others who rely on assistive technologies.
Your insights will help identify areas for improvement, and advocate for more inclusive digital experiences in financial services.
Please email:
Accessibility@ACB.org
with any feedback on the financial platforms you use; have attempted to use; or have used in the past.
Thank you in advance for your time and insights.
-The ACB Mini Mall Is Back Online
We're pleased to announce that the ACB Mini Mall has officially reopened with a refreshed and reorganized shopping experience. Our merchandise is now grouped into updated categories, including the newly created "Convention" section. Among the latest additions are two exciting products unveiled at the recent convention: a sleek new fanny pack, and a charming plush bulldog dressed in an ACB sweater.
-ACB National and ADP Official Social Media Platform
Get connected with ACB and ADP through our official social media platforms! ACB is active on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Mastodon, YouTube, and now TikTok! You can access our ACB National accounts on our official ACB website at:
https://www.acb.org/home
You can also access our ADP accounts on our official ADP website at:
https://adp.acb.org/
Each platform will be linked to their respective social media icons both on the top and at the bottom of the homepage.
-Be My Eyes and Amtrak Partner to Pilot Innovative Visual Interpretation Technology for Blind and Low Vision Passengers. (Edited from the ccbl email list.)
Be My Eyes, the world's leading Customer Accessibility Management platform for people who are blind or have low vision, announced a partnership with Amtrack to launch a pilot program that brings on-demand visual interpretation to blind and low vision passengers at key Amtrak stations.
The initiative will allow passengers to access live, real-time assistance from trained visual interpreters via the Be My Eyes mobile app, providing support with navigating station environments, finding gates, reading signs, and more, all through the user's smartphone camera.
The three month pilot, launching this summer, will deploy the service at 16 stations in the Northeast Corridor, including high-traffic hubs such as New York Penn Station, Philadelphia 30th Street Station, Boston South Station, and Washington Union Station. These locations were selected to provide data across a range of environments.
The project itself is part of a wider initiative within Amtrak to enhance the travel experience for blind and low vision passengers, and to make Amtrak a more equitable and independent travel option for passengers preferring greater autonomy, rather than solely relying on staff assistance.
The service will be provided at no cost to passengers, and will be accessible via the Be My Eyes app on iOS and Android devices. Agents responding to requests through the Be My Eyes software platform are trained professionals, who deliver high-quality visual interpretation through secure, real-time video connections. Upon opening the app, customers will be able to select the service directory option, and look for Amtrak under Travel and Transportation.
Pending the results of the pilot, which will be assessed through usage metrics, rider feedback, and operational performance, Amtrak and Be My Eyes may expand the program nationwide across Amtrak's network of stations.
-Special Offer for Rides from GoGoGrandparent: 2 Free Rides
GoGoGrandparent, makes getting around simple and stress-free. Our easy-to-use transportation service connects you to reliable rides with just a phone call. No smartphone or app is required.
One volunteer activity my husband and I love doing together is pet therapy. I have my guide dog, and have done pet therapy with my previous four guides as well. It is an activity I can also do when my guides retire. My husband is sighted, so his golden retriever is just a pet. He's also done pet therapy with my retired guides and several rescue goldens.
Here in Silicon Valley, we belong to two active organizations.
Furry Friends is a local group that visits agencies in teams. We have mostly dogs, but a few cats and rabbits as well. We visit schools, both for children and adults with developmental delays, as well as assisted living and memory care facilities. We also have the "reading buddies" program at libraries, where children between the ages of 6 and 12 read to our pets.
Unlike Furry Friends, Love on a Leash is a national organization. Their rules are slightly different, though we visit similar facilities. We don't have to visit in teams, for example, which means I can visit Ivy Park Assisted Living by myself, which is walking distance from my home. Love On a Leash visits more libraries with their Read To Pets Program, and also visits prisons and psychiatric facilities. Love On a Leash visits the San Jose airport to interact with frazzled passengers. We also have a few cats in Love on a Leash.
With both organizations, visits last an hour. Pets must be certified by the organization as friendly and under control. Pets are always on leash and covered by the organization's insurance. Handlers wear badges with their picture and a picture of their pet, and use a special leash. Pets often wear scarves with the organization's name.
Unlike service animals such as guide dogs, therapy pets never live at the facility; they only visit. Whereas a service animal assists a person with a disability to perform daily activities, a therapy pet provides emotional support. Legally, therapy pets do not have any special protection: any public place can refuse them admittance.
If you are interested in becoming a therapy pet handler, or are looking for a pet to visit a friend or relative, do remember that random dogs and cats should not be visiting facilities as they are not certified or covered by insurance.
Besides the two mentioned, other pet therapy groups exist, including Therapy Dogs International, Delta Society, and Alliance of Therapy Dogs. There are also many strictly local groups throughout the country. Each group has its own rules: for example, many do not allow cats. Furry Friends requires each team to have a captain, and team members must wear a uniform with the Furry Friends logo. Furry Friends also requires handlers to attend a training to become a member, and if they want to be part of reading buddies they must attend a second training, and their pet must get a second certification. Once a pet is certified, any Furry Friends member can handle it, so my husband and I often switch dogs on a visit.
Love on a Leash requires members to visit ten times on a supervised probation before becoming fully certified. Handlers and pets are certified separately, and since I am not currently certified to handle my husband's golden, we cannot switch dogs on those visits.
Therapy Dogs International does not permit service dogs to do pet therapy, so for that group my previous guide dog was handled by my husband only after he retired. However, together they obtained a highly sought certification to provide comfort in disaster service. To pass this grueling test, my retired guide successfully crammed himself into a fire engine with sixteen other dogs and handlers in a simulated emergency. He also had to lie quietly while vehicles with screaming sirens zoomed all around him.
Delta Society probably has the strictest rules, and dogs must have perfect obedience skills before becoming certified. Since our rescue goldens are somewhat wild, they would not qualify for Delta Society.
It is important to check an organization's rules to ensure you know what matters to them, and if it matches what you are expecting.
At some agencies, handlers sit with the pets and clients are brought to them. In other places, handlers walk around, visiting patients in their rooms or in a central community room. At libraries, pets lie quietly on blankets while librarians bring children in to read for around 15 minutes, one child at a time.
All therapy groups have web pages, and are on Facebook as well. Search for the words "Pet Therapy," plus the name of your county, to locate and contact them.
Good news for guide dog handlers who have suffered multiple ride-share denials in California. NFB is sponsoring a pilot program (you do not need to be a member of NFB to participate) to provide services and support for individuals who are interested in pursuing small claims court actions against Uber and Lyft for denials of rides due to your guide dog. You must have suffered 3 ride share denials in the last 2 years in Santa Clara, Alameda, or San Francisco Counties, and have informed the drivers via text, phone, or in person that your dog is a guide dog. If you are interested in pursuing such claims (Which can total up to $12,000 plus costs), please contact Tim Elder at:
telder@trelegal.com
for more information.
An SVCB tradition began many years ago, pre-COVID, titled Cookies of the Month. One of our members, Michelle McGrew who moved to Tennessee with her husband, was one of the members who launched this tradition. When we resumed meeting in person the tradition resumed, and for our members it is a huge highlight of our meetings. The bakers who generously support our love of homemade cookies, with some bakers bringing cookies more than once, are as follows:
Debee Armstrong, Anna Bolino, Lorraine Brown, Mary Castellano, Bev Clifford, Perla Kohs, Susan Morgan, Nancy Prior, and Suzanne Smith.
If you are interested in joining this wonderful list of bakers, please contact Bev Clifford for more information. Thanks to all for making our meetings much sweeter!
(Copy Editor's note: The first recipe listed here was one of our Cookies of the Month for August 2025.)
Brownie Cookies
From Pacific Grove Feast of Lanterns Cookbook
Ingredients
2 eggs
1/4 cup oil
1 package Pilsbury family-size brownie mix
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or heath bar chips
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In large bowl, combine eggs and oil by hand. Stir in brownie mix, and mix well. Stir in chocolate chips.
Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto lightly greased baking sheets.
Bake for 8 to 12 minutes. Cookies will be soft to the touch.
Cool 1 to 2 minutes before removing from baking sheets. Cool completely.
Makes approximately 48 cookies.
Quick Chicken and Noodles
From Favorite All-Time Recipes: Campbell's Fabulous One-Dish Recipes
Ingredients
1 tbsp. vegetable oil
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (about one pound)
1 can (10-1/2 ounces) Campell's condensed chicken broth
3/4 cup water
1/2 tsp. dried basil leaves, crushed
1/h tsp. pepper
2 packages (3 ounces each) Campbell's or Ramen Pride Chicken-flavored Ramen noodle soup
1 package (10-ounces) frozen peas and pearl onions
1/4 tsp. paprika
Directions
In 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat in hot oil, cook chicken for 10 minutes, or until browned on both sides. Remove chicken, and set aside. Spoon off fat.
In same skillet, combine broth, water, basil, and pepper. Heat to boiling.
Return chicken to skillet. Add noodles and peas. (Reserve seasoning packets for another use.) Return to boiling.
Reduce heat to low. Cover, and cook for 5 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink and vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally to separate noodles.
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
or visit:
www.theaudiovision.org.
3. TheatreWorks, 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
or email:
boxoffice@theatreworks.org.
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
or visit:
www.borp.org.
-Calendar
September
September 4, 7:30 to 9 PM: SVCB Board meeting. Interested SVCB members are invited.
September 13: deadline to register for picnic.
September 15, noon: October SVCB newsletter deadline.
September 20, 11 AM to 2 PM: Picnic! Contact David Hoffman.
October: Employment of People with Disabilities Awareness Month
October 2, 7:30 to 9 PM: SVCB Board meeting.
October 7, 5:30 to 7 PM: Breast cancer support group meeting. For questions, call Lori Scharff at:
516-887-1336
or email:
lorischarff@gmail.com.
October 12, 1 PM: AND JULIET, with descriptions by AudioVision Bay Area, Broadway San Jose, see notes.
October 15: White Cane Safety Day.
October 18, 9:30 AM to 1 PM: SVCB Monthly membership meeting, Vista San Jose. Consider Constitution and Bylaws amendments. Appoint Holiday Party Committee chair.
October 18, 1:30 to 3 PM: Old-Time Radio show, Vista San Jose.
October 20, noon: November SVCB newsletter deadline. Distribute Constitution and Bylaws if necessary. Publish slate of 2026 SVCB nominees. Distribute fall membership list.
October 26, 1 PM: SOME LIKE IT HOT, with descriptions by AudioVision Bay Area, Broadway San Jose, see notes.