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.
For those who joined the May SVCB meeting virtually, you may know that I was unable to attend because I was participating in the Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) Orientation and Mobility Immersion (OMI) one-week program at the San Rafael campus.
Several months ago, Deborah Armstrong led a discussion about this opportunity after attending the same class in Santa Rosa. The program provides blind and low vision individuals with an immersive learning experience focused on effective orientation and mobility skills using a white cane.
I first learned structured orientation and mobility (O&M) skills in 1997, when I still had a significant amount of functional vision. Longtime Vista Center clients may remember Alec Karp, who helped me in ways I cannot adequately describe. Alec gave me the competence and confidence to navigate my world professionally at See's Candies, Inc., as well as through public transportation and recreational activities, including hiking with my white cane.
Fast forward to 2005, when I was matched with my first guide dog, Kato, from GDB. That partnership marked the beginning of 20 years working with two amazing guide dogs. My previous guide dog, Cora, crossed over the rainbow bridge after 14 years of dedication and partnership.
So why am I sharing this background with you?
Simply put, the free OMI program is highly personalized. Participants are matched with their own O&M instructor for the week. I was fortunate to be paired with Regina from the Earle Baum Center of the Blind in Santa Rosa, now part of the San Francisco Lighthouse. Regina has 19 years of O&M instruction experience, all with the Earle Baum Center.
During our opening meeting, Marc Gillard, Director of the OMI Program, explained that the program is based on adult-learning principles, where each participant identifies personal goals and desired outcomes. Unlike guide dog training, where the focus is on building a partnership with a dog, this experience focused entirely on me and my own mobility skills. Here are a few "aha" moments I experienced. Since the program is highly individualized, others may have very different experiences:
Learning cane and orientation skills with only light perception is dramatically different from learning them with partial vision. While this was not a major revelation, I discovered that the muscle memory developed from traveling with partial vision—and then spending more than 20 years traveling with guide dogs—is deeply ingrained. For example, when listening to traffic patterns at intersections, I kept turning my head to face the near-parallel traffic more clearly. Unfortunately, that movement also shifted my body position and affected my ability to travel in a straight line. That muscle memory is incredibly powerful, and it took intense focus to overcome the habit.
The program takes a holistic approach. Participants are offered audiology evaluations, and the opportunity to work with a physical therapist on posture, breathing, and other important skills. This comprehensive approach recognizes that many factors contribute to safe and effective travel.
Whenever my cane encountered a wall in a corridor, I tended to overcorrect, creating a "ping-pong" effect instead of maintaining a straight path. Learning to make subtle micro-adjustments became an important new skill that I am still working to build into muscle memory. It requires daily practice.
Moving learning from the "head" to the "body" felt very similar to learning a new sport.
At the end of five hours of daily instruction, my brain was far more exhausted than my body. I trained physically for a year to prepare for this experience; I only wish I could have trained my brain as effectively!
In conclusion, GDB continues to look toward the future of guide dog partnerships, and this holistic approach is truly unique. I now know with certainty that I will complete the application process for my next guide dog, and I will do so with a much stronger foundation in orientation and mobility skills.
It is important to note that this program is not designed to require participants to apply for a guide dog. The goal is to provide an immersive experience that develops critical skills for safe cane travel. If desired, participants may spend a morning doing a practice session with a guide dog in training.
"Oh my, I've been trying that for ages. What happened?"
I went to the bank and asked my caregiver to get some cash for me, and when she came back, she said that she pressed the wrong button and got $3,200 in $50s.
"Too bad it wasn't kibble, can't eat paper!"
Well, I decided to keep that big wad, and trickle $50 bills for 6 months or so.
"You know, I was wondering what the big lump was all about."
And I still got some!
So, let's wish happy June birthdays to Ken Carey, Victor Clifford, Allen Jones, Sandy Quenzer, Alice Turner, and Art Takahara.
ACB Forward Initiative is ACB's five-year strategic planning effort focused on listening, learning, and preparing the organization for the future. Previously known as the Legacy and Future Readiness Initiative, the project has a new name but the same purpose: to build on ACB's strengths, preserve what members value most, and ensure the organization is ready for the next 10 years and beyond.
ACB, and the world around us, has changed in recent years, including how people connect, communicate, participate, and lead. ACB Forward Initiative is designed to help the organization adapt to these changes while staying true to its identity and values.
ACB is currently midway through Year 1, known as the Scan phase. This phase is focused on listening and learning from members and stakeholders so that future decisions are based on real experiences, not assumptions. Hearing directly from members and stakeholders is essential because ACB is a member-driven organization, and strong planning depends on understanding what members value, what is working well, and what could be improved.
As part of this effort, ACB members and interested stakeholders are invited to complete the ACB Forward Initiative Focus Group Interest Form if they would like to be considered for a virtual focus group between June and August 2026.
The form allows you to share your interest and provide basic information about your experiences and involvement in ACB. This helps the project team select participants in a way that reflects a broad range of perspectives across the organization.
We encourage members and stakeholders from all backgrounds and experiences to complete the form, including affiliate chapter members, members-at-large, Community Program participants (even if you are not a member of ACB), scholarship recipients, longtime members, newer members, and others across ACB.
Not everyone who volunteers will be selected. Participants will be chosen intentionally to ensure a balanced and inclusive group representing many different viewpoints. However, every response is valuable and helps support a thoughtful and representative listening process.
Your voice matters. Completing the interest form is one way to contribute to ACB Forward Initiative and help shape the future of the organization.
Hannah Aarom Park
Communications Coordinator
American Council of the Blind
225 Reinekers Lane, Suite 660
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
(T) 202-467-5081
(F) 703-465-5085
-Experian Wants You on Its User Experience and Accessibility Research Panel
The customer experience research team at Experian, one of the three U.S. credit bureaus, would like you to join our user experience and accessibility research panel! By being part of this panel, you'll be invited to participate in research projects where you can share your feedback on Experian's digital products and services to make them more useful and accessible.
Participating in research projects with us is free, voluntary, and easy to do:
* You'll complete a brief survey to join our participant panel.
* You'll receive emails informing you about upcoming research projects to apply for based on your survey answers.
* If chosen for a project, you'll meet with an Experian researcher via Zoom on your phone or computer to explore the Experian app or website and provide feedback.
* You'll receive monetary compensation for each research project you participate in.
Our goal is to make the Experian app and website more valuable and accessible to everyone, but we can't do that without the voices of real people like you. If interested, please complete our panel sign-up survey here:
https://survey.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6WlsFhwu49BzNd4.
-Ski for Light to Rendezvous in West Yellowstone
Ski for Light, Inc. (SFL) will celebrate its 52nd international week in West Yellowstone, Mont., where active adults with visual or mobility impairments will gather to learn the basics of cross-country skiing January 17-24, 2027.
West Yellowstone is a perfect skiing venue for the 2027 Ski for Light International event. The terrain includes long flat areas that will be perfect for beginners, as well as hills that will challenge and thrill more advanced skiers.
Each visually or mobility impaired participant is paired with an experienced, sighted cross-country skier who acts as instructor and on-snow guide for a week of skiing, sharing, and learning. First-time skiers will be introduced to basic techniques, while returning skiers will have an opportunity to enhance existing skills. While the focus of the week is cross-country skiing, there are plenty of after-ski activities where participants have an opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new ones.
Join participants from across the U.S. and around the world. Applications and additional information will be available in July at:
www.sfl.org.
Meanwhile, join our community on Facebook
Ski for Light, Inc.,
and check out our YouTube channel
Ski for Light International.
(Web Note: The link did not work for me in Firefox, but did in Chrome and Edge.)
-PBS Offers Audio-Described Content
PBS fans—did you know that PBS offers audio-described content for many of its programs? Enjoy popular shows like NOVA, American Masters, Independent Lens, Masterpiece, and more with audio description. With thousands of audio-described episodes available, people who are blind or have low vision can fully experience many of their favorite PBS shows.
You can access PBS programming for free on your TV or mobile device using the PBS App, or online at:
www.PBS.org.
(Copy Editor's note: I am bringing back to our newsletter a column we used to have years ago called "In-House." It was created to inform us of any concerts in which our members would be performing and that they wanted to advertise Having been a soprano in a choir for years, I know how much we appreciated having family and friends come to our concerts, so when you see the "In-House" title, do take a look at what's inside.)
Music, music, music
by Katherine Stewart
It is time for Spring concert performances. Thirty years of harmony and pride—Rainbow Women's Chorus will be performing two concerts. The first is on Saturday, June 20 at 7:30 p.m., at the 1st Congregational Church, 1980 Hamilton Ave, in San Jose. The second performance will be on Sunday, June 21 at 3:30 p.m., at the Santa Clara University recital hall, 114 Franklyn Street in Santa Clara.
Tickets are thirty dollars, twenty-five dollars for seniors. For more information, please contact me at:
408-335-8568, or
kcstewart107@icloud.com.
Darrin: Who is Diane Harms? How would you describe yourself?
Diane: I usually start with what I look like. I'm about five feet tall, and right now my hair is a little longer than it should be because I need a trim.
Darrin: Where were you born?
Diane: I was born on March 6, 1959, in Enid, Oklahoma. I was three months premature, and it was snowing when I was born. My parents had to follow my uncle's truck through the snow just to get to the highway and eventually to the hospital.
Because I was premature, they put me in an incubator and turned up the oxygen. Back then, they didn't know that too much oxygen could cause blindness. I went down to about one pound, five ounces, and I stayed in the hospital until Mother's Day.
Darrin: How long did you live in Oklahoma?
Diane: Only about a year. My family moved to San Jose around 1960 or 1961. We had relatives here, my dad didn't want to farm anymore, and my parents thought the schools would be better for me.
Darrin: What was it like growing up blind in San Jose?
Diane: Honestly, when I was a kid, I just played with the other kids. Everything felt pretty normal. I don't remember a lot of discrimination or kids being mean to me. I went to regular schools, but some of them had resource rooms for blind students.
Darrin: When did you start learning blindness skills?
Diane: I started learning braille in first grade. I read braille books, brought books home during the summer, and learned to write braille, too. I also learned to type in around second or third grade.
Darrin: When did you start using a cane?
Diane: Not until high school. Before that, I just walked carefully and slowly. I had mobility training in school, but I didn't really like using a cane. After high school, I went to Guide Dogs for the Blind in San Rafael and got my first guide dog.
Darrin: What was that experience like?
Diane: Back then, the first time you went, the program was four weeks. At first, you worked with an instructor instead of a dog, and then on the third day you received your guide dog. We practiced routes, went on solo routes, and even went to San Francisco. It gave me a strong foundation in working with a guide dog.
Darrin: What did you do after high school?
Diane: I went to junior college and took general education classes. I tried computer programming, but I didn't like it. I also explored transcription and court reporting. Eventually, I returned to court reporting because the technology was improving.
Darrin: What made court reporting possible for you?
Diane: I won a contest sponsored by IBM. Through that, I received a court reporting machine, computer, braille display, and printer. That made a huge difference. Court reporting school was still very hard. You had to pass speed tests, accuracy tests, and a written exam. Eventually, I passed and became a court reporter.
Darrin: How long did you work as a court reporter?
Diane: I worked as a court reporter for about 20 years.
Darrin: What advice would you give others?
Diane: Keep learning the tools that help you be independent. Sometimes you may have to try different paths before finding the one that works, but that's okay. You just keep going.
Recipes contributed by Suzanne Smith from the Wheel of Fortune Collectible Cookbook
Weeknight Fish and Chip Tacos
Ingredients
1 (11.4-ounce) package frozen fish sticks
6 6-inch flour tortillas
3 cups coleslaw mix
1/2 cup coleslaw dressing
1 cup coarsely crushed salt-and-vinegar potato chips
Directions
Bake fish sticks according to package directions. During the last 5 minutes of cooking, wrap the tortillas in foil, and place in oven to warm through.
Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine coleslaw mix and dressing, and stir until well mixed.
Evenly divide fish sticks down center of each tortilla. Top with coleslaw and potato chips. Fold up tortillas, and serve.
Makes 6 servings.
Potluck Bubbling Baked Beans
Ingredients
6 slices bacon
1 large onion, coarsely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (8-ounce) can baked beans
1 (5-ounce) can small lima beans, drained
1 (15.5-ounce) can kidney beans, drained
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup ketchup
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°.
In a medium skillet over high heat, cook bacon until crisp. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate. Sauté onion and garlic in pan drippings.
In a 9 by 13-inch baking dish, combine remaining ingredients. Crumble bacon, and add to mixture. Drain onion and garlic, reserving a small amount of pan drippings. Add onion mixture and reserved pan drippings to baking dish, and stir to combine.
Bake for one hour, or until mixture is heated through.
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
June: Glaucoma Awareness Month
June 20, 9:30 AM to 1 PM: SVCB membership meeting at Vista Center San Jose. Schedule your ride to leave before 1 PM.
June 15, noon: July newsletter deadline.
July
July 2, 7:30 to 9 PM: SVCB Board meeting. All members invited, contact Alice Turner.
July 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.
July 18, 9:30 AM to 1 PM: SVCB Monthly membership meeting, Vista San Jose, please schedule your return ride home before 1 PM. Begin plans for White Cane Safety Day and Employment of People With Disabilities Awareness month.
July 19, 1pm: The Employee Dharma Handbook, with descriptions by Gravity, MVCPA, see notes.
July 20, noon: August newsletter deadline.
Fri. Jul 24 through Fri. Jul 31: ACB 65th Annual Conference and Convention. Hotel: St. Louis Hyatt Regency Arch Hotel.
Reservations: call (888) 591-1234, group code G-ACBL.