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 20 marks the first day of spring, and I recently came across a noteworthy quote from Helen Keller:
"I am thankful that in a troubled world no calamity can prevent the return of spring."
We live in a world that contains calamities, and yet Spring brings the feeling of hope for the future.
One of the gifts of living in Northern California is that we experience all four seasons, just not as dramatically as our friends and family on the East Coast, or in the Midwest. Yet appreciation for spring is not limited to places with harsh winters. Spring invites us to open the windows, breathe in the first blooms of flowers, and listen to the songs of birds. It encourages us to reflect on new beginnings.
What new beginnings are lying dormant in your life, waiting to come alive? It may be a new daily practice, a commitment to explore a hobby, or a desire to renew something set aside during the cold, rainy days of winter.
Spring is also the time when the California Council of the Blind launches our annual Conference and Convention. This year's virtual theme is "Beyond Barriers." I am honored to serve as co-Coordinator of this year's Conference and Convention, which begins on April 16 with a session titled "Keys to Convention." If you are new to the CCB Conference and Convention, this will be an informative and interactive session designed to introduce you to the basics. Pre-convention begins Saturday, April 18, and runs through Monday, April 26. The main event takes place Thursday, April 30, through Sunday, May 3.
During March, we will select the delegate and alternate delegate to represent SVCB during the voting sessions. SVCB will cover the $40 registration fee for our delegates. However, full participation in Conference and Convention activities may be the greatest reward of all. We will review the duties of delegates at our March meeting.
The full Conference and Convention program will be posted on the CCB website during the first week of March at:
https://www.ccbnet.org
Registration opens April 1 and closes April 15. Registration materials will include everything you need to know about the planned activities for the 2026 CCB Conference and Convention.
Rob and I look forward to seeing you at the March meeting!
Yes, that is it for this month. There were no other babies in the hospital in February. None. Anywhere.
March Birthdays: Sandy Quenzer.
Well, who would have thunk it! For a second month in a row only one birthday.
We are missing birthdays from a few members, so if you were born in February or March please let us know. Otherwise that is a lot of cake for John and Sandy to eat on their own.
Scene: a long and wide field full of light and powdery snow. The field is surrounded by paths that run around and through it, with lots of trees and bushes for dogs to do their necessities. As it always seems to be, it is mid-afternoon, and with the sun peeking around clouds there is a breathtaking rainbow on the horizon. Temperatures are perfect, as is the cool water stream that runs through the field as far as the eye can see. King, a Royal Black lab, is lazily lounging on his back reading his favorite book, The Little Prince. Canines of all sizes, shapes, and colors are playing, sleeping, nibbling on snacks, and catching up with the latest gossip.
Speaking of which Calvin comes running up to King, leaps over him, and doing a backflip, runs circles around him. King rolls his eyes and pretends not to notice. Calvin speaks, hardly out of breath.
"Oh, I know you are too proud to acknowledge me, you on your throne, but I just heard the great news that your Master, Mike, recovered from his injury. Such good news."
Looking up in feigned surprise, King gently rubs his chin as if contemplating Buddha or Confucious, and casually remarks: "Oh, Calvin, good to see you. When did you get here? Yes, Mike has always been a resilient and masterful member of his community, and very little would keep him away from his commitments."
Rolling over to scratch his back, Calvin looks distractedly at the sky and hums his response. "Who Let the Dogs Out"—or something like that."
Being polite, King asks, "And how is your person doing?"
"Oh, great," replies Calvin. "Working his tail off at his...
"Humans do not have tails, Calvin. How many times do I have to tell you that?"
"Yes, King, I know, but IF he had one it would be worked off, with his new job and all. Yes indeed, but I know he missed me, because he talks to me in his dreams almost every night. I sure miss him, especially going to those meetings with all those other dogs. Sometimes when we went there, people would drop food, maybe not even always by mistake. Anyway, wanna play in the snow? I love diving into it so only my nose shows."
"Oh, Calvin, you are such a child."
"And you, King, are too stuffy sometimes. Let your hair down, take a deep breath ... Oh, and one more thing."
"What, Calvin? What is it? Can't you see I am reading this book? You should read it. It is about ...
Just at that moment, Calvin smacked King on the rump, yelled "YOU'RE IT!!!" and padded off.
With a hearty harumph, eyes rolling, King mused, "Such a juvenile."
Ten minutes later, they were still chasing each other all around the snow trails and through the streams. They played until they ran up to the House at Pooh Corner.
After a thorough search and interview process, I am excited to announce we have hired a new member of the Accessibility Consulting and Compliance Services program area.
Grace Hart has been brought on as our Operations Administrator, Advocacy and Accessibility. Grace will support and engage in activities with Claire Stanley, Kolby Garrison, and our Legal Counsel position currently being filled.
We welcome Grace to the ACB team, and look forward to her contributing tremendously to the work in ACCS.
Feel free to send your own welcome to Grace through her new email address,
GHart@ACB.org
-2026 Legislative Imperatives on ACB Media 9
The 2026 ACB Legislative Imperatives are now available for your listening pleasure on ACB Media 9 and as a convenient podcast. You can catch the imperatives being aired at the top and bottom of each hour on ACB Media 9. If you prefer on-demand access, the podcast is readily accessible here:
https://pnc.st/s/acb-business/a379bab2/2026-acb-legislative-imperatives.
For your reference, the 2026 Legislative Imperatives include:
The Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act.
The Medical Devices Nonvisual Accessibility Act.
The Websites and Software Applications Accessibility Act.
Each imperative is first read in English, followed by the Spanish version.
-Thrift Stores Seek Your Stories
The ACB Thrift Stores are looking to strengthen the connection between their shoppers, donors, and the mission of ACB. To support this effort, they are seeking real-life examples that highlight how ACB has made a meaningful difference in the lives of its members. These examples should be a few sentences to one paragraph in length.
Selected submissions will be featured on the stores' social media channels and displayed on signage at the registers. Impact examples will be refreshed quarterly throughout 2026.
If you have questions or would like to submit an impact example, please contact Chris Sawyer at:
csawyer@acb.org
A new version of the official U.S. online passport renewal application was launched in October 2025! The passport renewal team took an accessibility-first approach to building the application, and worked hard to ensure it could be easily navigated using assistive technology. While there are always optimizations to be made, accessibility remains a top priority. The American Council of the Blind has been a critical partner in achieving this goal.
We'd love to hear your feedback using online passport renewal. Join us for a listening session on Tuesday, March 24th, at 1 P.M. Eastern to share your thoughts and ask questions. Please see the ACB Community Events daily schedule for Zoom details.
-Research Study Seeks Participants
BVI Market Research, in partnership with the University of Southern California (USC), is conducting research to support the development of a wearable navigation device designed to assist blind and visually impaired individuals with independent travel and wayfinding.
After completing this initial screener, participants will be directed to a short USC survey. While this specific USC survey is not compensated, individuals who qualify may be invited to participate in future research opportunities, many of which are compensated.
In addition, by joining the BVI Research participant database, individuals will:
Be notified of future compensated research studies
Occasionally be invited to uncompensated screeners used to identify candidates for larger, paid projects
Have opportunities to contribute directly to the development of accessible technology
-HKNC Summer Youth Vocational Program
HKNC's Summer Youth Vocational Program (SYVP) helps youth explore careers through hands-on work experience at multiple job sites. You'll dive into STEAM projects, experience activities like adaptive surfing, and develop self-advocacy skills, all while discovering your strengths. SYVP is about exploration and possibility, giving you the confidence and skills to shape your own future.
The program runs from July 6 to July 31.
Program Highlights
STEAM Activities: Engage in hands-on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math projects
Adaptive Surfing: Combine physical activity with social-emotional learning, self-determination, and career awareness
Motivational Speakers: Hear inspiring stories from leaders and changemakers
Self-Empowerment and Advocacy Workshops: Build confidence, communication, and self-advocacy skills
Work Experience: Participate in real-world job tasks and workplace readiness training
Camp-Ability with Lauren Lieberman: learn to set goals by exploring the outdoors through inclusive adventure and nature-based learning
Greetings from your Local Phone Service Goodies Sweepstakes Coordinator (even I'm getting tired of the acronym!).
Here's a little song for the one special sweepstakes entrant needed to fill out the goodies roster for 2026.
June will be bustin' out all over,
For all those who love SVCB.
They'll assemble without warnin'
On a lovely summer mornin',
Hopin' goodies will be waitin' there for free.
They'll come in June—
June June June;
Yummy food in June, June, June!
There now: How can you resist activating your sweepstakes status when someone singles you out with a song just for you? And even though you'll be the last person to do so, you are still eligible to try for our grand prize, if you have solved our puzzle that is. But even if you haven't, don't let it stop you from being the one to tickle the tastebuds of your fellow SVCB members. They're counting on you! So be a mensch, and contact Bev Clifford by phone at 408-638-9743 to leave a message, by email at goodies@svcb.cc, or by looking up her personal information in your local phone service membership directory to contact her that way.
And here, for what I fervently hope will be the last time, are the clues to our sweepstakes puzzle. We would be so disappointed if no one figured it out, since it's a whopping good prize! I guess if nobody arrives at the solution, our team might have to come up with a consolation prize, which wouldn't be nearly as spectacular as the original. And then we'd have to spoon feed you the answer to the puzzle, so you wouldn't lose sleep wondering what it could be. Ah well, as I said, here are the clues one more time.
Look THREE times at the number 715-154-9519. You'll get a GRADE of A if you figure out this puzzle.
Don't give up, keep trying. you still have another month. I'll get back to you then.
I'm giving Suzanne a break this month, and am presenting you with two of my own favorite appetizer recipes, one of which I just made for a party I attended last weekend. Unfortunately, I can't tell you what cookbooks they may have come from. I got the meatball recipe from Bernice Kandarian years ago, but I've modified it so much that I named it after myself. I had sampled and enjoyed the Pinwheels at a Christmas party, found out that my friend Vera Buescher had made them, and asked her for the recipe. Enjoy!
1 cup fine fresh breadcrumbs (or use seasoned stuffing mix)
1/2 medium onion, minced
1/4 cup milk
1 egg, beaten
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon parsley flakes
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Marinade
12 ounces chili sauce
10 ounces grape jelly
Directions
With clean hands, mix together all meatball ingredients. Form into small balls. Place meatballs on the rack of a buttered broiler pan, with foil over the bottom part of the pan to catch any grease. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes if using ground beef or Impossible Burger, and for an hour if using ground turkey or chicken.
Meanwhile, mix chili sauce and half of the grape jelly in a large bowl, mashing the gobs of jelly into a pulp by using a potato masher or by pushing them through a strainer. (Reserve the other half of the jelly for another use.) When meatballs are done, let them cool slightly, and gently remove from the broiler pan. Dump them into the bowl with the marinade, and stir until they are all completely covered. Marinate overnight, but longer is even better.
In medium bowl, stir together cranberries, green onions, and salami. In large bowl, mix cream cheese and garlic powder until well blended. Then using a sturdy spoon, thoroughly combine the two mixtures. Spread mixture evenly on top of center portion of tortillas (about 3 inches wide). Trim unused portions of tortillas, leaving about 1 inch margin on each side to be used for rolling. Gently and firmly roll the tortillas into long log rolls. Place rolls in freezer for 30 minutes to make cream cheese firmer for cutting.
Remove rolls from freezer. Use a ceramic knife to trim ends as needed, and cut rolls into pinwheels (about 1 to 1-1/2 inch). Makes 48 to 56.
Notes: Although the recipe says to use a ceramic knife, we don't have one, and we've always used just a regular knife with no problem.
You can spread these out on wax paper for ease of removing them from whatever container or cookie sheet you use.
They are easy to make as an appetizer, or serve them with a holiday dinner. You can make them a couple of days ahead of time and keep them in a covered container in the refrigerator.
If it happens to be Christmastime, you can find green tortilla wraps, and the pinwheels are very pretty served on a glass platter with a holly sprig or two.
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
March: Eye Donor Awareness Month
March 8, 1 PM: The Book of Mormon, with descriptions by AudioVision, SJCPA, see notes.
March 15, 1 PM: Primary Trust, with descriptions by Gravity, MVCPA, see notes.
March 19: Register picnic site.
March 21, 9:30 AM to 1 PM: SVCB monthly membership meeting, Vista San Jose. Elect delegates for CCB convention. Discuss possible resolutions for CCB convention. Confirm picnic site. Distribute spring membership list. Make your departure ride to arrive before 1 PM.
March 23, noon: April newsletter deadline.
April
April 2, 7:30 to 9 PM: SVCB Board meeting. All members invited, contact Alice Turner.
April 4, 1 PM: MJ: the musical, with descriptions by AudioVision, Broadway SF, see notes.
April 5, 1 PM: Beetlejuice, with descriptions by AudioVision, SJCPA, see notes.
April 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.
April 18, 9:30 AM to 1 PM: SVCB monthly membership meeting, Vista San Jose. Schedule your departure ride to arrive before 1 PM.
April 20: May newsletter deadline.
April 26, 2 PM: Come From Away, with descriptions by Gravity, MVCPA, see notes.