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 1:00 PM, the third Saturday of the month and are open to all.
Building relationships with our community raises awareness about the needs and lifestyles of people who are blind or have low vision. I'd like to share two recent examples that grew out of inviting guest speakers to our monthly meetings.
In March, we heard from Derek Yee, Associate Engineer in Traffic Signal Design for the City of San Jose. Following his presentation, Derek reached out with questions about preferred colors for truncated domes and other aspects of his work. I connected him with a valuable resource, Gene Lozano—one of the most knowledgeable individuals within the California Council of the Blind (CCB) on transportation and intersection design. Gene shared relevant resources and guidelines tailored to the needs of blind and low vision travelers.
Derek has since introduced SVCB and Gene to leaders within San Jose's Planning and Policy Team. Through these conversations, the team has expressed enthusiasm about partnering with SVCB. As Gene noted in an email, it is a rare opportunity for CCB and SVCB to be included in planning decisions at this level, and it all began with Linda MacLeod inviting Derek to speak at our meeting. We will keep you informed as this collaboration develops.
In April, we were thrilled to host Dev Shah, a high school student from Sunnyvale, and an international Rubik's Cube competitor. Dev shared that his best time for solving a scrambled cube is an astonishing eight seconds. Anyone who has attempted a Rubik's Cube can appreciate this achievement.
Dev also wanted everyone to have the opportunity to try solving a cube, so he created an accessible version using 3D printing and symbols instead of colors. He brought several of these cubes and worked with attendees to try solving them. He also generously donated eight cubes for SVCB's use.
Each time we invite a student to present, we gain another ally in our community. While we don't know exactly where this connection will lead, one thing is certain: Dev will carry forward a deeper understanding of the people he met here, into his future endeavors.
Our program speakers not only educate us, but also help expand our community. This shared understanding benefits both SVCB members and our speakers alike.
Finally, a reminder: our May meeting will be held virtually. Please do not come to the Vista Center San Jose in May. We will resume in-person meetings in June.
Well King, she's happy, and I am also. I mean, we've got a new, bright Star peacefully shining in a dark place somewhere in the cosmos.
"Yes, I know. I saw her passing by the Rainbow Bridge, and I asked her if she needed an escort. She said, 'No, I'm going where the Lord told me to go, and I'll call you if I need you. Wait for Master'."
Very good, King, all is well! But I thought I'd tell a little story in Star's memory.
It was shortly after we started dating, and we were driving to a Safeway near Star's apartment. She suddenly put on the brakes and said, "I almost ran over something," and out of the car she went. She came back with a little doll made of wool stretched over a metal frame. "That was there just for me to find; give it a name, and we'll keep it between us on the front seat."
Well, I'm not good at making up names, especially on the fly, but I came up with "Anticrash," since we didn't!
And we kept it for 34 years and 3 cars, and it's on my desk now, protecting my computers from crashing.
"Well, Master, it was me who kept things from crashing, but you humans never knew that."
Star did, and she thanks you secretly.
Star passed on April 24 at 9:05 PM, at hospice in El Camino Hospital. There was a prayer for peace and a comfort blessing, and all the family was there.
Important: Our May membership meeting will not be in person, as Vista Center will be hosting the quarterly Lions eye glass event. So, the meeting will be on Zoom. Just use the Zoom information in the Event Calendar to log in.
At our April meeting, Dev Shah from Wilcox High School in Sunnyvale talked to us about his tactile Rubiks cubes. He loves competing in tournaments where the average time to get the identical shapes on all sides of a cube is 8 seconds. He made 8 3D tactile cubes for people to take home. I got one, but haven't managed to solve a problem once!
We don't know what will be happening at the May program, but all you have to do is pay attention to the coming phone tree message. I'm sure we'll hear all about the CCB convention.
Let's wish happy May birthdays to Denish Desai, Trish Foley, John Glass, Susan Glass, Lynda Johnson, Jane Lacasio, and Abby Tamara.
We are so excited for our 20th anniversary of the ACB Summer Auction! We will have two days of the appetizer auction, starting on Thursday, July 9th and Friday, July 10th, with the main auction being on Saturday, July 11th starting at 5 p.m. Eastern time. If you have any questions, please reach out to Leslie Spoone at:
lesliespoone@cfl.rr.com
or call:
(407) 929-9837
Happy bidding!
-Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act Reintroduced in Congress
We're thrilled to announce that one of ACB's legislative imperatives, the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility (CVTA) Act, was reintroduced in Congress on April 16th. This bipartisan bill updates the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) to ensure people with disabilities can fully access today's communication and video technologies.
The CVTA Act would:
Strengthen closed captioning and audio description for TV and streaming
Make accessibility features easier to find and use across devices
Improve access to video conferencing platforms
Expand equitable access to 9-1-1 services
Ensure accessibility rules keep pace with emerging tech like AI and virtual reality
ACB has been working alongside a broad coalition of disability advocates to move the CVTA Act forward, and we need your help to keep the momentum going!
The ACB Angels program offers a meaningful way to celebrate and remember someone special while supporting the mission of the American Council of the Blind. Each ACB Angel is recognized on ACB's website with a photo and a personalized written tribute, ensuring their story and impact continue to inspire the ACB community.
Gifts can be made by individuals or collectively as a group. Contributions of any size are welcome, and can be combined to reach the $500 minimum donation. To start the process, please visit the ACB Angels page at:
https://is.gd/y7HlfM
-Looking to Share a Room at Convention?
Are you looking to share a room at the Hyatt in St. Louis? If so, please reach out to Janet Dickelman via email at:
janet.dickelman@gmail.com
She'll need your name, whether you have a room reserved, if you have a guide dog, if you mind sharing a room with someone with a guide dog, and if you'd like to share any pertinent information such as age range for a roommate, or if you are a night owl, an early riser, etc.
She'll connect potential roommates via email, and if for any reason either roommate feels that sharing a room wouldn't be a good fit, no problem; we'll find another roommate for you.
-Develop Accessible Audible Information Messages for Work Zones
Subject: Seeking participants who are blind or have low vision for a research study
You can help determine the work zone audible messages to be used when sidewalk closures are required in work zones. Audible information devices using a speech message are intended to provide information to pedestrians with visual disabilities that are equivalent to visual signage for notifications of sidewalk closures, and to indicate a temporary path around a construction area. Such messages are required by PROWAG, but there are no requirements or guidance as to the nature of the messages.
Accessible Design for the Blind is looking for volunteers who are blind or have low vision, who cross streets independently, and are an adult at least 19 years of age, to participate by being interviewed. The interview will be conducted over the phone with a member of the Research team. The interview will take about 45 to 60 minutes, you will be compensated with a $25 Amazon eGift card, and you will be entered into a drawing for one of two additional $125 Amazon eGift cards.
If you are interested in participating in this study, or if you have questions, please send an email to
Speech.Messages@outlook.com
and indicate that you would like to schedule a time to be interviewed.
To keep this article at a reasonable length, I've not given details of every presentation. A great deal of hard work produced a wonderfully informative convention for CCB members, and I wish I did not have to summarize it. If you look at the convention program on our website, you'll be able to read the biographies of our speakers.
CCB held its Spring convention virtually, over several weeks. On April 16, we started off with Keys to the Convention, an informational session that explored rules of polite conduct for attendees, and how to be a good Zoom citizen. The way in which voting by phone will be conducted was explained in detail. We also covered a guide to Robert's Rules of Order, including motions and amendments, point of inquiry, point of order, point of information, parliamentary authority, and standing rules. Understanding all this terminology helps members feel like they belong and can make meaningful contributions.
Questions from attendees were also answered, of course, and the best part was how a variety of voices presented all this information. This, along with all other pre convention sessions, was open to everyone regardless of whether they'd registered. Once the main convention began, though, everyone was able to hear it streamed through ACB media, and all members were able to vote by phone. Only those registered for the convention were able to vote or comment on Zoom.
-Friday, April 17, was games night, and everyone who wanted got a chance to play a fun round against an opponent. The Games Committee was super creative at finding interesting ways for us to laugh and socialize over Zoom.
-Saturday at noon, the Convention commenced with the Resolutions Committee crafting and adding final touches to the resolutions to be voted on. And in the afternoon, California Diabetics in Action took us through a day in the life of a diabetic, with many voices from the affiliate contributing. Topics included getting motivated to exercise, healthy eating, and technology used to independently monitor blood sugar.
-Sunday, April 19, the Housing Committee discussed help and resources especially for those seeking a good place to live. Warren Kushman detailed laws that protect renters, as well as laws to protect apartment and house owners. Often tenants' rights conflict with the owners' rights, and it was also interesting to see how federal laws are changing. Members of the committee reminded the audience to contact their local independent living center if they needed to work with an advocate.
-April 20-22 (Monday through Wednesday), regular Credentials, Bylaws, and Nominations Committees met to conduct business.
-On Thursday, April 23, we enjoyed a presentation from the cable company Spectrum, which discussed their accessible set top box. But for those of us not on Spectrum, their free Spectrum Access app was the most interesting part of the presentation, as it contains 1300 audio described shows you can access for free without needing to log in or be a Spectrum subscriber. The catch is that you have to watch the show to enable the audio description track to play, as the app is able to sync the audio with the program you are watching.
-The Resolutions Committee met again on Saturday, April 25, followed by a presentation from Guide Dogs about their O&M immersion program, which is open to any blind person, regardless of whether they intend to use a guide dog. If you know blind adults who are uncomfortable getting out and going places, please recommend they apply for this program. It's completely free, and it gives one-on-one training to folks, no matter what stage of learning they are at. As a personal note, I took the training even though I have good O&M skills because, due to hearing loss, I had become afraid to cross streets. The program helped me know for sure when I could and when I could not safely hear traffic.
At 4 PM, IDC (Inclusive Diversity of California) and CLUA (California Library Users of America) showed a series of three described films called "Disabled Renegades," produced by a blind filmmaker and aired on PBS. She also was extensively interviewed during the presentation, and the films were full of pathos and fascinating life stories.
At 6 PM, we learned more about rights for seniors, how to apply for Medi-Cal, and services that assist seniors with a variety of needs. The focus wasn't so much on those living in nursing homes but how to ensure a senior, especially one with a visual impairment, can continue to live independently in their community, even with limited income.
-There were a few nights after that without any program, and the board meeting was held on Wednesday, April 29. Guillermo welcomed many updates and announcements from the audience; the meeting wasn't just for the CCB Board.
-Thursday night, April 30, with the pre-convention activities over, the main CCB Spring Convention began. The usual activities, like In Memoriam, and treasurer’s and credentials reports, were followed by a first reading of proposed bylaws amendments.
-Friday, the convention began streaming on ACB Media 8. The first session, from 1 to 4:30, had three presentations. Kolby Garrison, ACB's staff person responsible for digital accessibility compliance, spoke about advocating for access.
Next, we heard from a panel of blind individuals who had to overcome barriers to achieve career success. It was fascinating to hear the journeys of three people with a variety of jobs and from different generations speak so candidly.
Last, we learned about the Blind Advisory Committee, which guides the department of rehab towards making better choices for blind clients.
The Friday evening session began with an inspiring speech from President Guillermo Robles, and when the recording comes out, I urge you to listen to that. He emphasized the organizational improvements CCB has made, and the distance we still need to travel.
All officers on the nominating slate were voted in by acclamation; in fact, nobody opposed any of them. For the Board, however, two seats were contested with impassioned speeches for both sides. We in the CCB are always positive, unlike our gubernatorial race, so nobody had anything negative to say about any candidate. The Friday session ended at 10 PM.
-Saturday's session convened at 9 AM, with ACB Executive Director, Scott Thornhill, giving us the year in review. It was exciting to hear about all the advocacy in which ACB is now involved. After that, we heard about the many state advocacy efforts which are actively engaged with our CCB Governmental Affairs Committee. Not only are we fighting for equality in both private and public life, but we are also building coalitions with groups whose needs are similar. The Alliance for Aging and Vision Loss also spoke about its advocacy for visually impaired residents of nursing homes.
At 11, we heard from a panel of blind artists: a filmmaker, a painter, and a photographer. How they adapted to succeed in these roles with creativity and resilience was a fascinating story.
Peggy Chong, The Blind History Lady, was the first speaker for the afternoon session, telling biographical vignettes about folks in our past. We next heard from two speakers well-versed in fall prevention. Not only did they have tips for low vision folks, but also for completely blind seniors who must avoid falling. Balance, confidence, and preparing spaces for safe movement is key. The session ended with a debate about amendments to the bylaws.
Our banquet speaker, Dr. Joshua Miele, is a blind scientist, disability scholar, and author. His insights perfectly captured this year's Beyond Barriers theme. Of course, awards were also given, and even virtual food! Laughter and congratulations were plentiful.
-Sunday was the final day of the convention, with a business meeting beginning at 8:30. Resolutions were discussed and voted on. There were also some suggestions from the membership about changes they'd like to see in convention planning, and in CCB in general. President Robles ensured that everyone who wanted to express an opinion got to do so.
Greetings for the final time from your Local Phone Service Goodies Sweepstakes Coordinator,
Hooray and Hallelujah! That one special sweepstakes entrant I wrote the song for last month, has finally agreed to bring goodies! That means none of you SVCB members will go hungry as you wait for your meeting to start. Thank you to that one special person who stepped up at the last minute, and thanks SO much to the rest of you who had already activated your sweepstakes status.
But here's the bad news: NONE of you were able to solve our puzzle, and therefore we cannot award any of you with our fabulous grand prize! I'm tearing up just thinking about what you have lost! And since nobody has won it, I cannot even reveal what it was! And to our knowledge, no one tried to guess the answer to the puzzle, so we will not award a consolation prize, either. Such a shame!
Still, in case someone did try and is seriously flummoxed, here are the clues again, just to refresh your memory before I provide the solution:
Look THREE times at the number 715-154-9519. You'll get a GRADE of A if you figure out this puzzle.
The trick to resolving the puzzle, is to focus on the words that were in all caps, in the two sentences of the clue, namely the words THREE and GRADE. (Is this starting to give you braille readers an inkling?) If not, I will spell it out.
The pivotal clue is that we are dealing with Grade III braille. So, when you study the number given in the first sentence of the clue (which is 715-154-9519), and you read it using Grade III braille, here's what you come up with:
In the number 715-154-9519, the number 7 is the letter g. The next two numbers, 1 and 5, combine to create the number 15, which is the letter o. The same goes for the next 1 and 5, so you have a second o. Then comes the number 4, which gives you the letter d. The following two numbers are 9 and 5, which are the letters i and e. And the final two numbers, 1 and 9, merge to make the number 19, which is the letter s. So, we now have a word comprised of the letters g, o, o, d, i, e, s, which (trumpet fanfare and drum roll, please), spell the word GOODIES!
So, on behalf of the Local Phone Service Goodies Sweepstakes Team, I, their Team Coordinator, sincerely hope that you have enjoyed your puzzling journey, and we are sorry that we couldn't grant any of you a prize.
So, with all good will, and wishes for a wonderful munching experience in 2026, we bid you a fond farewell.
From a booklet called Elite Gourmet Easy Egg Cooker
Ingredients
10 hard boiled large eggs, chopped
1-1/2 cups diced celery
2/3 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
2 tablespoons chopped green pepper
1 teaspoon finely chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1/2 cup crushed potato chips
Directions
In a bowl, combine all ingredients except cheese and potato chips, and mix well.
Pour into a greased 11 by 7-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese and potato chips.
Bake, uncovered, at 375 degrees for 25 minutes, or until heated through.
Makes 8 servings.
-Outrageous Double-Chocolate White Chocolate Chunk Cookies
From Betty Crocker Cooking Basics
(Copy Editor's note: This was our Cookie of the Month for April 2026).
Ingredients
1 bag (24 ounce) semi-sweet chocolate chips (4 cups)
1 package (6 ounce) white chocolate baking bars
1 cup butter or margarine (2 sticks), room temperature
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 large eggs
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/3 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup pecan or walnut halves
Directions
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
In a 1-quart saucepan, heat 1-1/2 cups chocolate chips over low heat, stirring consistently until melted. Cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes, but do not allow chocolate to become firm.
Meanwhile, cut the white chocolate baking bars into 1/4 to 1/2-inch chunks, and set aside.
In a large bowl, beat the butter, brown sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and melted chocolate until light and fluffy. With a wooden spoon, stir in flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir in remaining 2-1/2 cups chocolate chips, white chocolate chunks, and pecan halves.
For each cookie, spoon dough into a 1/4 cup dry ingredients measuring cup, and level off with a knife on an ungreased cookie sheet. Drop the dough about 2 inches apart.
Bake 12 to 14 minutes, or until set. Center will appear soft and moist.
Cool on cookie sheets for 2 minutes, then remove to a cooling rack using a rubber turner. Cool cookie sheets between batches.
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
May: Healthy Vision Month
May 7, 7:30 to 9 PM: SVCB Board meeting. All members invited, contact Alice Turner.
May 16, 9:30 AM to 1 PM: SVCB monthly meeting on Zoom, see notes.
May 18: June newsletter deadline.
June: Glaucoma Awareness Month
June 2, 5:30 to 7 PM: Breast cancer support group meeting. For questions, call Lori Scharff at:
516-887-1336
or email:
lorischarff@gmail.com.
June 4, 7:30 to 9 PM: SVCB board meeting.
June 20, 9:30 AM to 1 PM: SVCB membership meeting at Vista Center San Jose. Schedule your ride to leave before 1 PM.